[8] JAWAD

JAWAD

They require my attention in the court. The guard sent to call me gave a vague explanation of the case. I heard something about a girl and Zina. I'm not sure of what I heard.

They are a lot of people in the court. The carved wood and table arranged in u shape around the room. A part of the table and chairs reserved for the queens and princesses is veiled with transparent linen to avoid men gazes.

The space in the middle is where the judgment will be carried out. I see Zayd seated in one of the chairs in the middle with some kingdom elders. I sight a hidden spot close to the edge. I'll rather take that spot. No one will know I'm present.

The case hasn't started. Abi will have been the judge if he wasn't ill. Zayd is the next in line, so he takes up the responsibility. It has been long since any case was tabled in the royal court. The knowledgeable elders end most cases, but since this involves Zina and a palace member. It must be judged here.

All attentions turn to the entrance when the cry of a lady sounds. Her face is fully covered. Two guards are dragging her arms. They drop her on her knees in the middle of the room. She raises her head, but her face is still covered. I can only see her side view. She's holding the veil closely over her face like she doesn't want to be seen.

"What has she done?" Zayd's voice thunders around the room. A guard scurries to his front. He lowers his head.

"She's accused of committing Zina, she was caught and there are witnesses to the incident." The guard says. If she committed Zina, Where's the man? It takes two people to commit Zina. Why is she the only one here? Maybe the man's case is to be judged differently.

"Why did you commit Zina?" Zayd directs his question to the lady. She releases her hold on the veil she's wearing, but it covers the part of her face directed to me, so I can't still see her.

"I did not commit Zina." Her voice is sharp and unwavering. "I'm innocent, I'm being lied upon." Her voice seems familiar, and I'm interested in learning more about the case. One who's guilty won't sound... so sure.

"There are witnesses against you... how can you explain that?"

"I don't know how..." her voice quavers. "I don't know."

"Guards bring in the witness." Two of the guards go out of the entrance. They return with three women who walk in line towards the middle of the room.

"Say what you saw." Zayd commands.

"We,"

"I,"

"When," the three women start to speak at the same time.

"One at a time!" Zayd bangs his hand on the table. The woman in the middle, steps forward. She bows her head.

"My lord, I and my sisters..." she points at the two other women behind her. "We were on our way back from the market when we saw Amna. The window to her house was open. We saw her with a man, his face was covered-"

"That's a lie. You're lying, I don't know you." The lady stands from her kneeling position. That's when I see who she's, Amna-the maid with the blue eye. What is she doing here, and why is she accused of such a grievous sin? I scoot closer in my chair to pay more attention.

"Shut up and get on your knees." Zayd yells at Amna. She reluctantly gets back to her kneeling position. "Continue." He turns to the witness.

"We entered into the house, and she scrambled to put her clothes on. The man hid, we were unable to see him. We threatened to report to the palace, and she said we could do our worst. She said she'll continue and never stop." Amna shakes vigorously in her kneeling position. She's crying. I haven't known her for long, but she doesn't seem like someone who will do such. The story is not valid.

"Is that so?" Zayd asks the two other women. They both shake their heads in affirmation. Amna continues protesting and crying, but no one pays attention. I don't like that she's treated this way, I have to do something.

"I'll pass the sentence now." Zayd intertwines his hand on the table. "The lady is found guilty, and she'll be whipped 100 times." Is that how to pass a judgment? Without any interrogations and none of the elders are saying anything. I see disapproval on some of their faces, but why are they not stopping Zayd from passing a wrong judgment?

"Guards start the punishment." Zayd orders. I can't allow her to be punished. I must do anything in my power.

"Is that how to treat the Amir's fiancée?" I step out of my hidden spot to the middle of the room. The guards are already near her with the whip in their hands, but they stop when they see me. Everyone present has a shock expression on. They didn't expect to see me. I move closer to where Amna is kneeling.

"Is that how to treat my wife to be?" I say again. My loud confession turns everywhere quiet. They all look confused. I'm confused also, I know I needed to help her, but calling her my fiancée wasn't what I expected. I did so, maybe because her thoughts have filled my mind. I have said it, I can't change it and I don't regret it.

"What do you mean?" Zayd questions, His face hard like stone.

"I know my fiancée, and she isn't capable of doing what you're accusing her of." I say. Amna looks at me and my face turns to her. She doesn't thank me verbally, but I can see it in her eyes. It gives me more reason why doing this isn't a wrong idea. "Stand up." I whisper to her. She arches her brows and reluctantly stands. "Walk away from this room."

"But-" she tries to dispute.

"Walk away and don't turn back. No matter what anyone says. I'll take care of this." I whisper. She turns to me and a heart wrecking tear falls from her left eye.

"Shukran." She says, then walks away.

"Why is she going, Jawad, I'm not done here." Zayd bellows. He looks as if he can shred anything into pieces.

"She's innocent. She has to leave." I grit out. I glare at him one last time. "No one! I mean, no one will bring this case back or talk about it unless they want to face my wrath." Zayd is quiet now. He knows better than to mess with me. I turn and walk away.

****

The Sultan requests my presence. I'm in front of his chamber now. I've been expecting this since the incident in the court two days ago. "I'm here, Abi." I say. He's standing beside his bed. He turns to face me.

"Jawad, it's good to see you."

"Shukran Abi." He looks at my feet, then looks at my face again.

"I heard you have someone you want to marry." I thought he's going to ask about how I disrespected Zayd's order.

I don't make empty promises, I have to fulfil it. "Yes, Abi, I do." I answer. He rubs his chin like he's deep in thought, then he stares at me.

"Does that mean the bridal selection won't hold?"

"Yes, Abi, there is no need for it." A surge of relief passes through me. I never liked the idea of the bridal selection, but I couldn't disapprove it because Abi suggested it. Getting married to Amna is better than a stranger. She's a stranger, but not a stranger to my heart.

"Okay... it'll be cancelled. When do you wish to get married to the lady? It shouldn't be late." Abi says. I can't make a final decision without consulting her. I have to ask for her consent. Will she agree? What if she doesn't? I'm not only-

"Jawad," Abi pulls me out of my trance. "You haven't answered."

"Insha Allah Abi soon."

"Ok, don't make it late." He pats my shoulder.

****

"Amir, Amir." Haider jogs towards me. He bows, then looks at me. "One of the women has been found."

"Where's she?"

"She's in the dungeon."

I walk with Haider to the dungeon. I asked Haider to find one of the women who testified against Amna. I've been waiting until when they will be found. "Bring her out." I instruct Haider when we are in front of the cell she's locked in. I remove my sword from its scabbard, then drag it on the floor to frighten her.

She's thrown in front of me. Her kneels and hands on the floor. "Raise your head." I say. She slowly brings her head up. Her eyes widen when I bring my sword close to her face.

"Why did you lie against the lady?" She shifts her face away from my sword.

"I told them I didn't want to do it." She cries loudly. "They offered money and I needed it, so I accepted. I'm very sorry." She joins her palm in front of her face. "I'm sorry, please don't kill me."

"Who sent you?" she stares at me, her cries stops and her lips trembles.

"If I say it, he'll kill me."

"Who sent you?" I bring my sword dangerously closer to her face. She sucks in a deep breath.

"It's... Ayman... it's him who sent us to spread false rumour and testify against her." I lower my sword. He was the one who assaulted Amna. What does he want from her? He has to pay for his sins.

"Let her go." I turn to Haider. "Make sure she doesn't say anything to anyone."

"Ok Amir." I continue to hear her shukran's until she's dragged away from my sight.

****

Today, I don't wish to be hidden. I'm dressed in a regal clothing. I climb Aqwa, and we gallop towards the Abdulrahman's household-Ayman's house. I know he'll be very pleased to have the Amir in his house. Passersby stop to watch the long hidden prince gallop through their streets. I halt Aqwa and get down when we get to my destination.

"Is Ayman in?" I ask the girl standing in front of the house. Her face pales when she sees me, her eyes widens.

"Ay..man is in." she stammers.

"Can I go in?"

"ye...s...es" I smirk then make my way in. The building is magnificent also, but not nearly as large as the palace. I see an elderly woman in the hallway.

"Amir Jawad?" her eyes widen. She almost lost her stepping, but I catch her.

"I'm here to see Ayman." I say. She quirks her brow and scrunch her face.

"He's in his room, but I'll get him."

"There's no need. I'll like to see him in his room." I smirk. "Can you direct me?"

"Go to the end of the hall, the room by the left." She explains.

"shukran." I say, then start walking to her directions.

The room is widely open. Even if I'll waste no second to lunge into the room and strangle him, I still say salam.

"Who is disturbing my peace?" he yells. I take a step in.

"A visitor you weren't expecting." He stands up from his bed immediately he sees me.

"What are... you... doing here." He stammers. I take a sit on his bead and cross my legs over each other.

"I came to give you a reward." I smirk at him. "A reward for what you did."

"What do you mean? Get out!" he barks. I stand swiftly, then pull my sword out of the robe I'm wearing. He pales when I raise the sword. My expression is now hard and serious.

"Put the sword... away." He quavers. I stride to where he's standing.

"What if I don't?" I bring the sword to his arm. I cut through his flesh until I see blood dripping from his arm. His shouts of agony fill my ear. "That's for what you did to Amna. Whenever you try to slander a woman again, you'll touch your arm and decide against it." I clean my sword with his clothing, then walk out of his room.