Chapter 14

Confrontation

Robin, Much and James sobered only slightly in the mile hike to Salahadin's palace. The men were elite warriors though and scaled the wall of the garden easily. Once inside the garden the men began to move toward the harem with little concern for the noise they made.

At the harem's door Wafeyy growled softly in warning. Robin leaned down and muttered Wafeyy's safe word. The lion settled back into his place, comforted by the sound of Robin's voice. Robin stepped onto the ledge and pushed open the lattice worked doors open in front of him. Walking arrogantly into the harem Robin headed toward where he knew Noor's chamber was. Much and James followed behind him; neither yet sober enough to realize that this might be a bad idea.

When Robin reached Noor's door he threw it open without the courtesy of a knock. Noor sat up from her bed in shock. It was four in the morning! Who would be coming into her room at this hour?

"I see that you're exhausted from your exertions this evening, Milady." Robin said cruelly.

Noor rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Robin? Do you realize that it's the middle of the night?" What was he doing here now? She had waited for him for hours after the King had left and he hadn't come until now? Rising from her bed Noor pushed the hair back from her eyes. The three men seemed to sway in front of her. Wrinkling her nose, Noor asked "Robin are you drunk?"

"That is unimportant milady. What is important is that I want the truth from you."

"Why, Robin? You won't believe what I tell you anyway." Now Noor understood why Allah had forbidden strong drink.

"Because milady, I have come to some important decisions tonight. One of them is that I deserve to hear the truth from you. The second is that I do not love you; you have enchanted me and I am free from you." Robin ran his fingers through his hair. What was he doing? He had forgotten how lovely she was before he came to confront her. His knees felt weak and his head was spinning. Robin didn't want to fight with her; all he really wanted right now was to lay down somewhere where the room did not spin.

Noor sighed. So this was how he wanted to be? In a few hours he would regret this conversation and Noor hoped that she could keep his damage to a minimum. Backing away from him Noor placed herself near the pull cord. In a soft voice she asked, "fine Robin. What do you want to know?"

"Tell me what happened tonight!"

"You know what happened you were here." Remain calm and he will sober up and see reason, Noor reminded herself.

"No, Noor I want to know what happened after King Richard sent us away. He drew the curtains and a few moments later we saw Nadira leaving the dining hall. King Richard didn't call for us again for over two hours Noor. What happened?" Robin screamed at her. Did she think he was a fool?

Noor sighed. "Robin, you are mistaken. When King Richard drew the curtains he began to focus his attention on Nadira. I began to take ill from the heat and excused myself. I assumed, rightly, that my company wouldn't be missed. The woman you saw leaving the dining room was covered yes?"

Robin, James and Much all nodded. Much began to wonder if perhaps Noor's story was true. They really hadn't been able to see which woman it was and why would King Richard admit he had failed to bed a Queen and contented himself with a harem girl. It wasn't like any of them would ever know any different. Robin meanwhile refused to believe that he had mistaken the identity of the woman leaving the dining room.

"If King Richard spent two more hours in my palace, he did it in the company of Nadira. Robin, I was here waiting for you."

Robin's mind clouded over with rage. Noor actually believed he was stupid enough to believe that? He had seen her with his own eyes! Robin stepped toward her. He thundered "don't lie to me Noor!"

Noor cowered in front of him. "Robin! I'm not lying I promise you. I love you! Please you must know that I would keep my promises to you."

Robin couldn't stand to listen to her anymore. Her words were clouding his already muddy mind. Before he knew what he was doing, Robin had hit her across the face with the back of his hand. Noor lay huddled next to the bed, a livid mark across her cheek. The sound of Robin striking Noor had sobered all three men instantly.

Much looked at Robin in shock! His master had never struck a woman before. This morning Much would say that it was impossible. He and James lunged forward and grabbed Robin by the arms. Robin meanwhile stood there stunned; he had no idea what had possessed him to strike Noor.

"Master, you are drunk! Please come back to camp. You are acting crazy. Come now before you do any more harm!" Much pleaded with him.

Robin stared at his hand in shock. Looking up he saw Noor, crying and struggling to stand. "Noor, I'm, I'm" Robin stuttered.

Noor pointed her finger at him. "I curse you Robin of Locksley, Earl of Huntington. For your sins I make you a doer of good deeds. That will be your overriding desire in life above all others. You will give up everything you hold sacred to do good for all others. You will never again raise your arms in war against another. You shall only fight to protect yourself and those you love. I curse you! You shall find no peace here or any other war! I curse you to face your crimes every day that you draw breathe. Robin of Locksley I curse you with the knowledge of what you are!" With that Noor reached out and touched his face.

Robin's mind was flooded with images. In those brief moments he saw each and every man he had ever killed. He saw himself through their eyes and felt them die of the wounds he had inflicted. He saw their families, widows and orphans he had created. He saw all those he had left behind in Locksley without someone to care for them. He saw a heartbroken Marion crying as he rode away in a quest for glory. He saw the life he could have had with Noor flash before his eyes. The room began to spin and Robin lost consciousness.

Much stared at Noor in shock. Looking at James he began to drag the unconscious Robin toward the door of Noor's chamber. She looked at him.

"Much, I have some herbs you should give him in the morning. If you wait I'll give them to you." Noor said quietly.

Much continued to stare at Noor and slowly nodded at her. Noor reached into her medicine box and removed a hangover cure she kept in case Salahadin had over indulged in his wine. It would clear Robin's head tomorrow but he wouldn't enjoy it.

"Noor?"

"Yes, Much?" Noor handed him the packet of herbs.

"Were you telling my Master the truth?" Much placed the herbs in his pocket.

"Yes, Much. Now take him and go; before he gets himself into any more trouble."

"Tomorrow when he is sober I'll bring him back and he can apologize Noor. I know he did not mean it. It was the drink talking through him. Then you can remove your curse on him Noor. Right?"

Noor hung her head. "No, Much, I cannot. Robin's curse has already been fulfilled. It is placed on him and no magic on Earth can remove it. I'm sorry. Now go."

Much stared at her silently. He nodded and then he and James moved toward the doors of the harem.

When they were gone, Noor closed the door behind them and collapsed onto her bed. She lay there until dawn, when she finally sobbed herself into a fitful sleep. Miriam sat next to the bed making comforting sounds and stroking Noor's hair like a child.

As Noor drifted into sleep Miriam thought to herself 'this is why Allah is generous with young fools in love. They create enough pain for each other without his wrath.' Miriam sighed to herself. Noor would survive this, every woman had, and she would as well.