Timur- About Belia

Timur hears a scream come from the other side of his wall; Belia. He knocks on the doors dividing the two rooms, concerned.

"Belia?" When she doesn't answer, Timur tries the knob and opens the door. Belia is sitting on her bed with the most terrified look on her face. "Belia? Are you okay?" he asks softly. Belia looks over at him and slowly shakes her head. Timur goes over to her and sits next to her; that's when he sees the holoframe. It's of a young Belia, Queen Haimati, and King Tushar, but Timur doesn't recognize the three boys in the image. As far as he is aware, Belia is an only child. Timur awkwardly puts his arm around Belia in an attempt to comfort her. She stiffens at his touch but eventually melts into his arms, crying. When Belia seems to have run out of tears, and Timur's shirt sleeve is fairly damp, Belia attempts to compose herself.

"I… I'm sorry," she says with a sniffle.

"Don't be. Is there something I can do for you; get Kya?" Timur asks, feeling guilty. "Do, do you want to talk about it?" Belia shakes her head, and Timur is somewhat relieved. He holds her close and rubs Belia's arm. "I came to tell you dinner is going to be ready, but if-"

"No, I'll be okay." Belia gets up and goes into her bathroom, Timur taking this as his cue to leave. He goes back to his side of the room and makes a mental note to ask Belia who the other boys in the picture were after dinner. Timur waits for Belia to come out of her room so he could escort her to the dining hall. She comes out, and the first thing Timur notices is her hair. Belia had pulled her long, white hair up and into a neat and intricately braided bun. Timur offers his arm, and they walk in silence. They're the last to arrive; even Karolek and Belia's guard beat them there. Timur pulls out Belia's chair before sitting down. His mother eyes him from across the table.

"Now that everyone is here, let's eat." His father claps his hands, and servants bring out the food. "How have you adjusted?" he asks Belia.

"Well, thank you. Your palace is very grand."

"Yes, our ancestors wanted to show their power and wealth, so the palace was built. Every ruler has added something to it. My grandfather installed the landing pads and watchtowers, my father added the garden in the center of the palace, and my contribution has been the recreation center for the staff and their families to use."

"Have you decided what you're going to do?" the Empress asks. Timur puts his utensils down, knowing where his mother is going with this.

"No, Mother, I haven't, but I'm sure I'll think of something; like maybe another garden, a private garden," Timur clarifies, thinking back to Belia's garden. "Or maybe I won't do anything." His mother gasps at the break of tradition.

"Timur tells us you have a garden on Krystaliv, how is that accomplished?" the Emperor asks Belia.

"Well, with my planet's technology, we live in bio-domes. I took an old science station and converted it to house my plants." Timur looks at his father, and he seems impressed with Belia. As the meal goes on, so does the conversation, and Timur could tell Belia was beginning to get more comfortable. Dessert is brought out, something Timur missed when he was on Krystaliv; sweets. The servants present Timur's favorite. He looks over at Belia, who seems slightly confused and disgusted at what was placed before her. Timur leans over and whispers in her ear.

"What's wrong?"

"What is this?" Belia asks.

"It's chocolate, chocolate pudding to be exact. You don't have chocolate on Krystaliv," Timur says, remembering the lack of sweets.

"No, we don't. Is it safe to eat?"

"Just try it. I'm sure you'll like it." Timur takes her spoon, scoops up a little, and feeds it to Belia. Her eyes light up, and Timur smiles. "Told you."

"I've never tasted anything like it."

"You two enjoying yourselves?" the Emperor asks with a smile. Both Timur and Belia blush.

"We don't have anything like this on Krystaliv," Belia says. Timur quickly hands Belia back her utensil and begins eating his own dessert, slightly embarrassed that he did something considered highly romantic in front of his parents.

After dinner, Timur and Belia are invited to join the Emperor at the recreation center he'd discussed. Timur knows where his father will be, where he always is at this time- the combat gallery. When they enter, the Emperor finishes taking out his holographic opponents. Belia jumps at the shots. "There's my favorite son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law," he says with a grin. He hands Timur a gun. "Would you like to join us, Princess?" Belia looks conflicted but agrees, to Timur's surprise.

"So, why have you asked us here?" Timur questions as he gets ready for his turn in the sim.

"Are the two of you ready for what lies ahead of you?" Timur's father asks as the simulation starts. It was set for the most advanced setting, and Timur has trouble focusing, something he's never had a problem with.

"What do you mean?" Timur asks, shooting a hologram.

"I'm not sure about on your homeworld," the Emperor says to Belia, "but here, the idea of any Voynan, let alone the Crown Prince marrying an alien, is unheard of and frankly seen as taboo. The media and the general public are having a field day with it." The program ramps up as Timur continues to succeed.

"It is not taboo, as you call it," Belia says, "but interspecies marriages are very rare."

"Sir, behind you," Karolek warns as a hologram attacks from behind; Timur shoots it.

"I just want to make sure the two of you know that after the ceremony, both worlds may be in some state of chaos."

"You make it sound like you're going to die soon," Timur says, and the Emperor laughs.

"No, or at least I hope not. I want to have grandchildren." Timur catches a glimpse of surprise cross Belia's face. Timur had never thought about having children with Belia; is it even possible, biologically speaking. It is then that Timur realizes he will be the last full-blooded Voynan Emperor of Voyna. He gets lost in thought about the future.

"Timur, look out!" Belia yells. Timur turns and is knocked to the ground by one of the holograms. Before he can even blink, Belia's guard, Rin, is between him and the holographic enemy. He takes the hilt off his belt and ignites a kind of energy or plasma sword. He skillfully jabs it into the hologram's torso and up into its head. When he pulls the sword out, the hologram disappears. Rin disengages the blade, hangs the hilt back on his belt, and returns to Belia's side. The simulation ends. Karolek helps Timur to his feet.

"Thank you," Timur tells him, not knowing what else to say. Rin clicks his heels in salute. "What is that some kind of energy or plasma sword?" Rin gives him a nod.

"Not much for words, is he?" Timur's father says to Belia.

"No, he isn't," Belia says with a laugh, "Especially since Rin is actually mute." Another surprise.

"Would you like to try, Princess?" The Emperor asks, holding a gun out to her. Belia hesitates and takes the weapon from him.

"I'll be fine, Rin." Her guard takes a step back, and Belia readies herself. Timur primes his weapon as well, just in case. Belia takes a deep breath and rolls her neck and shoulders as the simulation starts. Timur watches in slight awe as Belia makes short work of the holograms. She quickly surpasses his high score, and even his father's and Karolek's; Timur is impressed.

"Well, it seems you better stay in line," Timur's father says to him, "or else your wife may take you out." The Emperor laughs, but no one else finds it funny, especially not Karolek. "All joking aside, you two are going to have a very challenging relationship. This has never been done before, and from what I know about people, people don't like new and different ways of doing things."

Later that evening, Timur gets word from a servant that a particular someone demanded his presence. Immediately Timur felt ill when the servant said her name. Timur dismisses Karolek for the evening and goes to a familiar room on the palace's opposite side. She sits on the mock throne, legs crossed, fingers interlaced, and a look on her face that could kill.

"Ivanna-" Timur says, but she cuts him off.

"Don't you 'Ivanna' me!" she says, standing. "I go away for a month and in that time not one call, and when I come back, I hear, from the media no less, that you're engaged to another woman, and that said woman isn't even Voynan!"

"That's-"

"No excuses, Timur." Ivanna descends to be face-to-face with Timur.

"It's not like I had a choice, Ivanna," Timur tells his now ex-girlfriend. "It was either to marry her, or we go to war with Krystaliv."

"So you chose her over me?"

"It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is that simple. You clearly don't love me enough to fight for me. You chose to marry that Krystaliv whore over me."

"Belia is not a whore," Timur says harshly. "She is one of the kindest people I've met. The Krystaliv people as a whole aren't like what we've heard." Ivanna scoffs.

"What have they done to you? You aren't the Timur I know, the Timur who wouldn't be pushed around, who didn't care as long as he got his way, and was willing to do anything to get it. What happened to my Timur?" Ivanna goes up to Timur and makes him look at her, holding his chin in her hands. Timur bats them away.

"Maybe he grew up," he replies firmly. "Now, if you will excuse me, I am tired and wish to retire for the night." Timur turns to leave, but Ivanna grabs his wrist.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!"

"Ivanna, let go of me."

"Answer me this, do you love her?" Ivanna questions. Timur's not sure how to respond, and so he doesn't. He pulls his arm out of her grasp and leaves. Timur returns to their shared quarters and finds the doors connecting the rooms wide open. He pokes his head into Belia's half to find her sleeping. As he readies for bed himself, Timur hears Belia moan and talk in her sleep. Her breathing becomes fast and hard. Timur looks into her room again to check on her. She's violently turning her head from side to side, and her mumbles become more like shouts. The only word Timur could understand is "no". He goes over to her bed.

"Belia?" Timur whispers. He can see her forehead is covered in sweat. "Belia?" Timur brushes her hair off her forehead, and Belia socks him square in the jaw.

"Timur?" Belia asks, her voice sounding dry.

"I came to see if you were alright. You were talking in your sleep; I assumed you were having a nightmare," Timur tells her, adjusting his jaw. She sits up."May I ask what it was about?" Belia pulls her knees into her chest; Timur thought this makes her look small. "Or, I could just go back to my room." He starts to leave.

"No," Belia says, grabbing his wrist, "stay."

"This wouldn't have to do with the holoframe you were looking at earlier, would it?" Belia bites her lower lip. Timur sits down on the bed next to her. "Belia, you can tell me, after all, I am going to be your husband." Belia looks up at Timur and turns to pull the holoframe from under her pillow. He watches the image move. Tushar laughing as Haimati seemingly is scolding the others. A young man stands laughing, elbowing another young man who is making faces. A boy pulls on a young Belia's hair, which makes her angry, and she retaliates. Eventually, they all settle and smile for the final image. "Who are they?" Timur asks, pointing at the three boys. "I know those are your parents, and that's you, but who are the other three?"

"They're my older brothers," Belia says quietly.

"I didn't know you have siblings."

"Had. They were killed not long after this was taken. It's the only image I have of them."

"What happened?"

"Six years ago, my two older brothers, Hareph and Edur, decided, against Father's wishes, to go on a tour of the domes. There was a mass upheaval going on. Hareph and Edur thought they would listen to the public's grievances and see what they could do to help. My twin brother, Bela, snuck out and joined them. While in transit to another dome, their hover was attacked. The assailants killed the guards and took my brothers hostage. Then, in front of the cameras and a small crowd, the leader of the attack ranted and raved about the injustice of the monarchy and what all we had done wrong." Belia pauses and looks at the image. "My brothers were eventually brought out. Hareph begged them to let Edur and Bela go; Edur pleaded for Bela as he was only a child. Instead, they took Bela and injected him with some kind of torture drug. It affected his mind, made him go into a state of psychosis, caused his eyes and nose to bleed from the mental strain. Hareph and Edur were incensed, but beaten back into order as they continued." Belia pauses again. "They then brought Hareph up and just decapitated him, symbolizing cutting the head off of the monarchy. Hareph's head hadn't even finished rolling before they turned to Edur. They stabbed him over and over again." Belia closes her eyes. "When soldiers finally arrived, the platform was covered with blood. The soldiers killed those on the platform who put up resistance and arrested the rest of the crowd. Edur was still alive, but he died on the way to the medical facility. He'd been stabbed over fifty times, according to the doctors." Belia hugs herself. "I was kept in the dark about the details of the incident until I went looking for answers as to why my brothers were gone and why everyone was acting so strangely around me. I found the evidence taken for the trials, the video, medical reports, images…"

"What happened to the third brother, your twin?" Timur asks.

"You know those few times I suddenly left?" Timur nods. "It was to go see Bela."

"He's still alive?"

"Yes, but mentally unstable. That drug did things to his mind in both the figurative sense and the literal sense. He's gotten a little better over time."

"No wonder you have nightmares," Timur mumbles. After an awkward pause, Timur gets up to go back to his room.

"No, please stay. At, at least until I fall asleep again." Timur sighs and gets into bed next to the Princess. He starts humming an old lullaby his mother sang to him when he was a child. Belia's tense at first, but slowly she relaxes and falls asleep. Timur, too tired to get up, drifts off as well.