Beyond The Realms

Chapter 35

" Do you know the story behind the sword you have ? " Jabeen questions about the sword Prince Ruslan had given me as we are sitting in the library reading .

" I only know that it belonged to a couple who shared a tragic love " I reply looking up from the book I've been reading my stomach twisting with unease.

Jabeen mulls over my answer for a second and then stands up " I have read their story in one of the books here.... " moving her eyes towards the numerous tall shelves around us as if she could spot the book by the simple back she asks " Should we ask Aamir below to help us out ?"

" No " I decline instantly I would rather not read a doomed love story but despite myself my curiosity is piqued " Will you tell me the story ?"

" Tell you the story ?" Jabeen repeats
" my memory of it might not be perfect. I have read it a long time ago"

" It's alright "

" If you say so " She shrugs " There are lot of versions of this story and a lot of people have read this one over the centuries "

" Go ahead " I prompt my cousin.

" In the ancient times when the practice of selling Djinns was prevalent there was a slave named Antarah Ibn Saddad , he was know all over for his bravery . His master valued his bravery a lot and bestowed him with the title of
'Black knight ' He was a warrior in spirit , tough but gentle and was in love with the beautiful and kind daughter of his master , Abla . They secretly met each other away from the prying eyes of the tribe and other slaves near a rock . It was during one of these secret rendezvous that Antarah had gifted Abla the sword which was a replica of his own sword , yet a feminine version by forging it with his own hands. But later , The master came to know about them and...." my stomach falls to my feet as the story seems to be reaching to it's climax. Jabeen continues " Some versions say that angry master had ordered both the lovers to be killed . Some say they surrendered themselves to the groove of daråkth for eternity and ....." She pauses " The most brutal one says that when the master found out about them he was so furious that his daughter of high blood was in relationship with a lowly slave that he had her killed and left Anatrah alive to suffer who wept over the loss of his love for centuries and centuries driven mad with grief until he finally found a way to kill his immortal self and finally be with her forever "

I unglue my tongue from the roof of my mouth which seemed to have gone completely dry " None of the versions are nice "

" That is the reason why their love is called tragic " Jabeen says her voice soft " I feel very sad for them "

" Me too "

Antarah and Abla had a great love but a terrible fate .

" Death of a loved one is horrible " Jabeen says her dark eyes looking glazed " They say time heals every wound but it is incapable of healing this one "

My heart clenches at her words and the emotions that ring in them .It is clear that she had lost someone dear to her
" Who ?" I question gently squeezing her shoulder ,letting her know in silent way that if she isn't comfortable talking about it she doesn't have to.

" My parents "

I don't even know what words I can offer to console her , all of them seem to fall too short in front of her loss so I remain silent .

" It is said that my father and my mother used to live with our grandmother in this fort . Our kingdom has had peace for a long while but the thing with peace is that it never stays for long there are always people around eager to destroy it . When the war broke out and the enemy army entered the fort though both my mother and grandmother knew how to fight .Grandmother was never the one to indulge in violence even if it meant saving her own life and my mother was then with child my father had fought to to protect them both but....." Her voice breaks and I don't ask her to continue .