God, MONTHS it's been. But hope the wait was worth it. :D

"With You By My Side" and "I Bow to No One" by Gibbons.

In terms of Nanda Parbat's description, thanks go to the second chapter of "The Natural Conclusion" by EasfitHadia on AO3. There's also female nudity near the end (three young women, but nothing perverted, and absolutely natural), which I am unashamed to present. Taking things TOO safely prevents creativity.

Chapter Ten

With You By My Side, I Bow To No One

It's just like going home a second time.

Dick hardly was ever in Nanda Parbat except for a few times in his youth. Once, when his parents were still alive and their caravan traveled. Another time, when Bruce first visited to broker a truce with the al Ghul family, and fell in love with Talia.

The war provided more opportunities than in the past, and now he was here with all of his friends.

Kori held him in her arms - well, he held onto her around the waist while she latched onto his shoulders and kept him from falling - while everyone else was on dragon-Gar's back. He felt safe with her, not only knowing she wouldn't allow him to slip from her hold, but she'd catch him if that happened. He looked forward to bringing her to Nanda Parbat's treasured oasis at one point before the blood.

It was like flying through the oceanic larimar gem, through vibrant blue and wispy white, and they broke through when the land came into view.

Nanda Parbat consisted mostly of great mountains bearing several ancient tribes who also allied with the League of Shadows for generations, and within three opened areas were villages and oases. The al Ghul fortress and estate were at the center of the interconnected mountains, carved from the stone by the gods and painted with stylized shapes and plant life, composed of rose-gold sandstone and some ivory sections revealed by the peeling and cracking of years. Shades of blue, gold, and green dominated the mosaic, ivory, and painted woods. It exquisitely popped out against the rugged mountain terrain and overlooked a cliff above the closest village.

"It's beautiful!" Kristine yelled, laughing. She wrapped her arms around Jason from behind and leaned into him, which brought a smile to his brother's face. Dick could see it all and felt his heart soar within his ribs as they descended towards the estate's main gate.

They're in love.

He thought it was about damned time, too, always knowing they'd been made by the gods for each other.

They had to arrive at the gates because if any of the elite guards spotted the great green dragon, they'd attempt to shoot Gar down, so the main gate was the answer. The blue glinted and glimmered like the lapis now in the Belt of Gotham -

- and waiting in the center of the rosy sandstone and lapis blue archway of the gate which unleashed two dozen cannons ready to fire from its northern walkways, was the figure of a woman waiting for them below as the dragon descended; they must have assumed Gar was a threat until their leader barked at them to stand down, that these were the guests. Some idiots within the League, after all, as soon as they spot a green dragon coming their way.

"Quite the ride you have, Richard," Talia al Ghul told him when he and Kori landed first, his lady beside him with her palm on his lower back. She exuded relaxation and welcome even during these times: a chemise of crushed, ivory velvet, joined with the necklace from Bruce a long time ago, which was a golden heart of lacy metal inlaid with diamonds and emeralds forming a flower.

He gifted it to her just before Damian's conception.

Bruce seldom spoke of it these days, but he never stopped loving the deadly vixen before him and his friends.

"Princess Koriand'r, it's an honor to be graced with your presence again."

"Yours as well, Lady Talia." The Tamaranean bowed barely to the waistline, hair falling over both shoulders and shimmering with streaks of ruby.

"Jason! My undying habibti, you're here - the both of you!" She took them both into her arms, one around the other. Her loose mane flew out behind her like a raven's wing. She might be the leader of this small but extremely proud nation, an unbeatable warrior, but she was also a mother. She then released them after a warm forehead kiss to each young man, giving her attention to the rest of their merry brood. "Captain Harper -"

"Not anymore, my lady," Roy interrupted, reaching out and accepting her hand, laying a dainty one on the back. "It's solely Mr. Harper, as you must know."

She lifted her chin with a sly smirk. "You will always be captain to me. And my goodness, Lian, you've grown into a remarkable young lady." The girl blushed and gave herself a twirl, skirt in both hands, making everyone laugh. A whooping whistle earned rolling eyes and upcoming laughter.

"Your supreme ladyship," Garfield intoned, still in his magnificent beastly form which reached the height of the great gate, and bowing his head, feather-like wings halfway closing behind him. "Garfield, at your service." He then shifted back to his human form, the wings shrinking into his back, the spike-like crown behind his head slipping back inside and being replaced with hair. Everything was replaced with the human form of Garfield Logan, his hands proudly on his hips and his teeth bared with that grin Dick taught him if it would make him feel happy, back in their early days.

Talia rumbled in her throat. "Charming to the last. Your shapeshifting gifts can be beneficial in battle." Gar preened visibly. And the last person... "Kristine Crane. We meet at last."

"Lady Talia," the witch answered, curtsying. She looked up when the woman walked over to her and raised her face for further inspection, and once Talia was satisfied with what she saw, she released Kristine's face from both hands and clapped them once.

"Come inside. The evening feast will be served by sunset. Enjoy your stay, and then we shall discuss the worst to come."

~o~

Nanda Parbat's culture was enriching, in great contrast to Tamaran.

Her homeland was a jungle, a paradise of green running through with the widest rivers and plentiful streams for families and villages. Life thrived from the insect life and fauna, the flora unlike any other found in the world, and the waters untouched by man's corruption; waterfalls poured from the greatest of trees, not just through the earth and into chasms. Birds of paradise...protea which is a cross between something fuzzy and leathery...anthurium...vines and trees of trumpet shapes...sweet pink flowers fair as maidens... These florae would be wild in the jungles and grasses and adorn the royal family's residence as well as every subject's. While the former's palace was the greatest and resided amongst the jungle's deep heart, its matter, the arched walls and their smaller internal sections, and niche areas protecting from the worst of storms to hit, the bridges over every water source - all of it made from stone given from the mountains where X'Hal herself was said to reside, her essence living on in the jungles and wildlife. The subjects also lived around the forestry, as well as within, so that their leaders proved equality to those looking up to them.

Despite being located to the north and welcoming winter for a mere three months, Tamaran's climate was very mild and humid even during the snowfall. It was a utopia in every sense, but the last time she heard of home, Komand'r had been rendering their way of life a shell of its former self that Kori was afraid of finding out further details on the landscape.

Nanda Parbat was below it, east on the map, but its weather was torrid and hot, cool only at night and during the winter, and inside thanks to the sandstone. There never had been snowfall once except up in the mountains, so the al Ghul castle was the only lucky spot to receive it. Their water sources in the mountains and below in the valleys were precious and treated like divine beings. The architecture was devoid of human artworks, consisting solely of stylized shapes and plant works; all she knew was that it was forbidden in this culture to show sentient figures in the motifs. The overuse of marble, precious woods, mosaic glass pieces, ivory - it was a tasteful abundance that only gods could manufacture, just like this bedroom given to her and Richard. The ceiling above the bed was extravagant in red, gold, and black flora, the blankets golden silk and the sheets soft as the sands. Beside it, on the ornate gold table, was a pristine silver tea set and a bowl of various fruits. Outside that window was a splendid view of the great sea leading out to the north.

For a moment, Koriand'r could almost see her old homeland, and felt a pang for it, knowing her sister's actions were manipulated by another without her knowledge.

Kom was spurned on by childhood jealousy and resentment, twisted into someone her family didn't recognize. After this war, the younger princess wasn't sure if they could ever get back to the way things were.

Like the exuberant child she used to be before she was sold off, she squealed and let loose on the bed she and her beloved would share, lying flat on her stomach. Behind her, Dick laughed and set down his possessions on the floor next to the sofa and ottoman set, all covered with more extravagant fabrics, but there was no sound of him sitting down. Frowning, Kori lifted her head and looked over her shoulder, seeing him wrapping his arms around himself as if unsure of his next move. Uncertain. No, that wasn't right. They were in familiar surroundings, and he was safe away from where he'd been before. She read his body language well.

Kori slid off the bed, backward, and gracefully stood on both feet. She didn't care to smooth out her skirts.

"Richard...look at me."

A long moment existed before he did that, but when he smiled at her, there was no doubting the love there and in his eyes, but the lines on his face were forced. "Come here, my heart," she coaxed, extending her arms out to him.

"Kori," he said hoarsely, "why?"

"Because I want you to rip away what she's done to you. We have time before the night falls. Reclaim what was taken from you, and I won't fight back."

She then reached for the shoulders of her dress, and within moments, a lavender puddle was around her feet. She stepped out and walked towards him, breasts flouncing and hair flying out behind her like a sheet in the wind. Dick was frozen on the spot, pupils dilated like black holes. He reached out for her with one hand, though halted midway and curled his fingers inward. He would have pulled it back if she hadn't snapped hers out and latched onto his wrist. "Dick," she insisted. "Don't be ashamed." He looked to the side, but she stopped him by putting a palm to that cheek, returning his gaze to hers. He winced a little at the stern look she gave him.

"Kori, I -"

"No, none of that. What did I tell you? I told you she will pay, and it will happen one way or another. Whatever was on your mind, that's where it belongs and will remain: in. Your. Head. She tried to assert her power over your life this way, which she had no right to do. Start taking it back this way, and I have the patience of X'Hal herself," Koriand'r swore without a breath. She tugged him towards the bed they would share, and that was where she fell back on its surface, this time on her back, hair spreading out like an angel's halo in the art of scripture.

"Touch me and love me like you still do."

She repeated it in her native tongue, which finally released his inner, passionate beast she knew wasn't gone like water splashing the fire into nonexistence.

The princess let her noble heart take control. As for their baby, she knew no harm would come.

She decided to close her eyes and enjoy the touches like she always had. Tamaraneans' bodies were different from humans, unstoppable thanks to the power of the sun and nature's gifts. And that meant no sexual turmoil. It would have been a dream come true to pass that ability onto her beloved Richard, dear Jason, and the other humans to make them happy - but the consequence could be overpopulation in the end or anything of the worse sort.

Kori opened her eyes again when his hands abandoned her breasts, coming to rest on her hips. Dick was starting to strip, but the bulge in the front of his trousers was evident, making her giggle before she swallowed it upon seeing his face. His skin was red. No trace of shame.

And she could hear his heartbeat calm down to a steady rhythm after the one associated with impending fear.

Ah, there's hope yet, she thought when his naked body finally pressed with hers, her arms snaking around his strong shoulders, and their lips mating.

~o~

There were two great bathhouses - one for men and the other for women.

Time for gentleness and peace. Losing yourself in the weightlessness of nature's nourishment...

There was herself, Lian, and now Kori. And you could almost smell what was left of - "Oh, good gracious!" the youngest had exclaimed, covering her mouth with both hands, turning into Kristine who laughed it off, taking note that the maidservants who would tend to their needs didn't mind in the slightest; they were highly trained to expect this kind of talk in a place of water and comfort.

Within four walls and golden marble etched with ruby and black symbols, the water glowed like turquoise stones as if the spirits were there to assist. Candles lined both of the shorter edges of the pool, allowing the women to have more room on either opposite side. They'd helped unlace each other, then handed over their dresses to the handmaidens until they finished bathing. All wrapped in semi-transparent sheets.

In Nanda Parbat culture, fully bare flesh was permitted to be seen only between husband and wife or couples devotedly in love, or parents and children from birth to toddler years. Unlike some of Gotham's ways, or even Tamaran's.

In other words, matters of the flesh were taken deadly seriously almost to the point of fanaticism.

"Have you seen what majestic views are offered?" Lian asked, enthused at being in a new place she'd heard of only through her father and brothers not by blood. "These desert conditions make it hard for such beauty to exist all about this land, but within the high walls of the garden courtyard are vines of exquisite purple-pink bougainvillea, snowy white jasmines - I can still smell them! - orchids in the windowsills with every color known to man, and how can you leave out bright, bold, and fiery hibiscus which is native on some islands outside the mainland?!" She pranced about the pool through the entirety of explaining her experience, while Kristine sat right next to one of the bowls filled with lapis lazuli scented with oranges and frankincense. Oh, my, we both have the same gardens within our sights. There is no shortage of the proud beauty of the palace's glorified, handmade nature.

"Any water sources, like a fountain?" Kori asked, sliding right into the pool before them, the sheet around her floating to the surface whilst hiding her body from view.

Lian giggled, finally stopping and coming to a stop next to her mentor, kneeling and reaching to touch the water with her fingers, sighing at the feeling. "At the center of the courtyard of blinding white and sunlit gold is the fountain of lapis blue, with water flowing into a pool surrounded by roses, which are also present in the windows and around, at the bases of the garden walls."

Kristine finished for her: "Water lilies in the fountain?"

"Yes!"

Their time in the hammam - the name for the bath - came to an end in no time, and the girls attending to them came to inform them that the gowns they'd arrived in were washed and would be returned to their rooms in no time, so until then, they were given new ones. Each befitted every young lady's traits.

"Oh, my, this is more than I would have - it's beyond what I would have back home!" Lian gasped, twirling around in her new gown, which befitted her youth and innocence. It was colored peach like the fruit, harmonizing with her fair skin, with delicate icy roses and leaves throughout, ending at the wrists and the end of the skirt, finished with billowing trousers and slippers. Holding her hair back on either side to her ears were jewels of gold and blushing pearls.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Kristine could hardly believe the woman she was seeing. This was a tad more scandalous than she was accustomed to; the ladies of the Wayne court would have gossipped about it and she'd never hear the end of it. Running across her forehead were oval-cut diamonds and square-shaped ones within roped gold. Her stomach was bared between the red blouse ending at her elbows, printed with golden flowers, the skirt belted with an emerald sash and being the same gold, shimmering like coins and without a stitch work.

"Fit for a princess, the both of you!" Kori exclaimed, being one to talk when she herself was garbed in silver with gold jewels and threads, her midriff also exposed, and the sleeves transparent. Within her curls of lava were brooches of golden lotuses placed with emeralds and rubies. "Even if you never become one yourselves, then it's in your hearts and souls."

Once a princess, always a princess.

All three girls were dressed up and ready for dinner, and could hardly wait until their men saw them.

Habibti - Arabic for "my love".

Tamaran has tropical paradise influences, and as a result, I found Deviantart user little-spacey's "Jungle Castle Stock" images. And among the real-life flora mentioned for Tamaran, protea is a cross between an artichoke and a thistle blossom and is native to Africa. And the "pink as a fair maiden" refer to the Medinilla magnifica.

Human figures in Islamic artwork are forbidden, but can someone please tell meh why?

When Talia speaks of love, it comes from a description of a ring named "Meet by Chance" on the website lovebirdforever.

"A Noble Heart" by Gibbons - when I was doing the Kori and Dick scene in the room they're assigned...came together without trouble, but it was essential to start helping Dick regain his dignity, and we ARE in a fantasy world, so anything can happen.

A hammam is a name for a Turkish bath, Middle Eastern steam bathing.

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