Talking to the Moon ✔

-Chapter: Twenty Three

I was told that Asad and Aqib would escort me down to the hall and that they were waiting at the end of the hallway.

My heart fluttered in excitement. Nala and her ladies had changed my physical appearance - not completely, though. I had made sure that my essence remained. I did not want to look like a doll among the noblemen. I wanted to look like me. I was Ayah Beizeen, a normal village girl, unique in her own way. It is what my parents had taught me. It is what I wanted to be remembered as.

"Wow." Asad breathed when he caught sight of me and I grinned.

Aqib looked at me in disbelief, "Why didn't I meet you before? I would have married you."

I rolled my eyes and he grinned cheekily. From the little that I had come to know about Aqib, I knew that he was hopelessly in love with his wife. It was beautiful what they had. Even if he met me before, he would not have married me.

"In all honesty, you look incredible." He told me.

I smiled in gratitude. He winked at me before standing on my left side.

Each man took one arm of mine and escorted me down the stairs and out of the private palace to the main palace where the banquet was being held. There were already people there in the courtyard, chatting to each other. The women looked enthralling in their lavish style and expensive jewellery.

"We don't fit in," Asad muttered to me as we made our way across the courtyard to the entrance of the Main Palace hall. I looked at my brother and shook my head. We did not.

Aqib looked ill at ease. He belonged to the people. He smiled and chatted to people as we made our way to the main palace hall. He complimented the women and thanked the men for coming. He played his part well.

The main palace was larger and grander. It was the centrepiece of the citadel and was meant to overlook the entire city. It was a visible show of power and strength. A message to the enemies - beware. As we entered, I was mesmerised by the size of the hall. All this while I had thought that it was Master Maha's hall that was large but this was ten times larger. I could hear my brother gasp beside me as we admired the architecture. The entire ceiling was covered with ceramic painting. There were verses in Arabic written in calligraphy on the sides of the ceiling.

Not wishing to look like fools staring at the ceiling, Asad and I looked down. The amount people already inside was intimidating. An instinct told me to run back to my chambers and never return. Stewards walked around the people with trays containing sherbet, one of them offered to us. My brother declined but I grabbed. At least my hand had something to do rather than being limp on my sides.

"I have never been this nervous," Asad said to me.

"You don't have to be," Aqib answered, "I will be there with you all the time."

Among the crowd of colourfully dressed people, I could easily spot Prince Omar. He stood taller than most of the men and his demeanour made him stand apart. I could not help but think that he looked very handsome in his dark green coat. Maybe he felt my gaze on him because he stopped his serious conversation midway with a nobleman and turned towards us.