Golden Bird

"Will you be all right?"

"No, I won't." She answered tersely and turned her back to him. "Just leave me alone."

He nodded and went for the door, but before stepping out of the room, he glanced back at her and wondered if he would ever tame this golden bird.

The next morning, Sara awoke with bright sunlight streaming in on her from the two arched windows to her right, and as she took in her surroundings, she realized it was all true. She hadn't just dreamt a terrible nightmare, she was living it. She clutched the sheet at her throat and held her breath in fear as the curtain leading to the bathroom, parted. Yasmine's dark face appeared, and Sara sank back into the pillows in relief. She did not want to see him again just yet.

"Good morning." Greeted Yasmine in a light, cheerful voice. "You slept soundly. It was a good sleep, a healing sleep. Do you feel better?"

Sara smiled, unable to feel any anger towards the small girl, "Yes, thank you. I do feel a little better."

"Good!" Yasmine nodded with satisfaction and went to the large wardrobe against the wall opposite the bed. She opened the elegantly carved wooden doors to expose a colorful array of long flowing gowns, and turned gleefully to Sara.

"These are for you. Which shall you wear today?"

Sara was dazed. "Mine? But how ...?"

Yasmine giggled. "They are yours now. These dresses were a gift to Rashid's mother from our father for giving birth to a son, but she died shortly after he was born and never had the chance to wear them. She was English, you know."

Sara shook her head. "No, I didn't know that," she replied, as she got up to look more closely at the dresses. She chose one of pale peach with shimmering silver threads running throughout the fine silk fabric. Once dressed, Yasmine gestured for her to sit at the mirrored, gilt vanity table. She complied and Yasmine picked up the silver hair brush from the polished surface, and began to brush out the long golden hair. She chatted about her brother as she worked, and Sara could hear the adoration in the young girl's voice. Yasmine clearly thought her brother could do no wrong.

"Does your brother have many wives?" Sara found herself asking. She could imagine Rashid with a harem.

"Oh no! In fact, that has been a subject of many discussions in the women's quarters. Many think it is long past due that he marry and get an heir. But Rashid is different. He was educated in America-at Harvard." She beamed with pride.