Virago | 2018 Wattys Shortlist

six: part four

S I X

Yraqia,
2021

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SONG OF SONGS 4:10-11

How delightful is your love, my bride. How much more pleasing than wine and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice! Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue

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Mature Content.

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In many ways, the Royal Chambers had changed. The light in there was dimmer than she last remembered, casting the entire place in an ethereal orange light. The room had a new smell to it too, something like vanilla and hyssop.

The stone floors looked shinier, as well as the crystal chandelier that hung above the bedpost. The handwoven Persian rug near the bed was new as well as the silks that adorned the bed.

Hadassah stood at the frame of the door, marvelling at the little changes that she could spot about the room.

"It looks different," she said.

She felt a hand press against the small of her back, accompanied by her wife's potent scent. Nura stepped passed the threshold of the room and spread her arms wide.

"Welcome to our matrimonial abode. I promise I'll share my dreams with you as we pillow talk, keep all of the secrets of your heart maintained within these four walls. I can't wait to fall into your arms every night and to celebrate you... and us," Nura said.

Hadassah crossed the threshold and joined her wife in the middle of the room, eyeing her with wide eyes.

"I can't wait to supply you with all the comfort you need when the world is too grim, peace for when the world is chaotic and all the love that I can muster within me. I'm excited to share my dreams with you and I hope you feel the same way about yours," Hadassah replied.

Nura's smile was wide and mesmerising.

She was still dressed in her silk dress from the wedding reception, with the heavy crown still on her head, henna covering her hands and strings upon strings of jewels fashioned around her head. Hadassah looked the same, both of their foreheads also dripping from the oil they'd been anointed with.

They'd only made it official a few hours ago, the reception had followed soon after, taking up most of the afternoon.

Most of it had been a blur of elaborate clothing and fancy speeches for Hadassah, her only concern was reciting the vows and doing the nikkah and once that was out of the way, nothing else mattered.

Hadassah would forever remember how it felt to finally kiss Nura in front of a crowd of thousands, solidifying their union. They were now one in the eyes of the world, state, Allah and Yahweh.

The ceremony had only validated what was already law in their hearts, Hadassah had been Nura's long before that day and even long before the time she had spent in the palace as a candidate. Hadassah was sure that from birth, her purpose was to wholly and wonderfully Nura's. And she had done it.

"These are my favourite," Hadassah said, picking up one of the pressed flowers on the sheets as she sat down beside her wife.

"I made sure they used the ones you like," Nura replied with a proud smile.

Hadassah leaned a bit closer to kiss her wife on the mouth. Nura cupped her chin and pushed into the kiss, her lips urgent yet soft.

She felt her hands reaching up and she disconnected the kiss so that her wife could slide the crown off of her head. It was beautiful thing, far bigger than the small crown she'd worn during the period of her engagement and heavier too.