Sweet Obsession

Chapter 9 Part 1

Chapter Nine

Loula

A full week had passed since Nidal’s departure, and this morning would be the day the king and Billal, with the rest of the soldiers who were left behind, would ride out to meet up with Nidal and his army. My heart was pounding as I dressed quickly and raced out of the bedroom. I had to see Billal before he left. I did not want him to leave without a proper good-bye.

Billal saw me run to him. Smiling, he opened his arms, and I fell into his embrace. He wrapped his arms around me. Everyone watched, including the king and queen. Only the queen understood my actions. The others just stood there openmouthed. But I did not care. Billal and I shared a special friendship. I wanted him to go in peace and return to me healthy and happy. It would be hard for me to step aside and watch him go. He was the second man that I cared about who was leaving for war. I was afraid for his life. I did not know if he would return to me, so I wanted him to go to war peacefully with a clean mind. It would be safer that way. So I stood on my tiptoes and gave him a good-bye kiss. Surprised, Billal took this opportunity and kissed me back passionately, as all the onlookers watched with amusement.

The king rode away and led his men who followed him toward the war. Billal turned and waved wholeheartedly to us. I waved back with tears in my eyes, not knowing if I would ever see him again. After all, they were going to war. When they disappeared from our view, I looked at the queen and noticed she was staring at me. I tensed. She witnessed everything, and I hoped she did not get the wrong idea.

She smiled at me. “Well, that was very noble of you, sending a man to war with a lot of unspoken promises. It is a good way to bring him home safely. If he has something to look forward to, chances are, he will come running home when all this is over.” She smiled. “But tell me, my dear. What will you tell him when he does come home?” She arched her eyebrow while she waited patiently for me to reply.

“I just want him to have a clear head when he is fighting. I want him to come back to us. He is a fine man, and if he went to fight with a cloudy mind, then it would be very dangerous for him. I’m sorry if I was misunderstood. I am sorry if you are displeased with my actions. But I meant well.” I hoped she believed me.

The queen smiled at me. “I know exactly what you were doing my dear, and I would have done exactly the same thing if I were you. I know your heart was in the right place,” she assured me. She gave me a warm hug, and together we walked into the palace for brunch.

We ate in silence. Neither one of us was very hungry. We nibbled our food and drank our tea, and when we finished, the queen asked if I would like to accompany her to the rose garden. I politely declined faking a headache and asked to be excused. When I reached my room, I ran inside, tore my clothes off, put on my nightgown, and slipped into bed. Even though it was the middle of the afternoon, I was sleepy. Not having had any real sleep for days, the fatigue finally caught up with me, and I fell asleep instantly.

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