Forest

On the appointed day, Isabella waits at the entrance to the forest, sitting atop a stunning sleek horse. She wears a gown of deepest red silk, a ruby necklace at her throat. She must remind the sultan that she is royalty, not a commoner whom he may take at his pleasure. Thought part of her will not admit that she liked the look in his eye when she stood up to him in her chambers...

As she waits the air is warm and fresh, and the birds' song echoes throughout the treetops. She closes her eyes for a moment to listen.

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Isabella wis startled when she hears the king and his guards approaching, When the sultan approaches her, smiling widely and disarmingly. Isabella smiles back. As he raises her chin, bringing them to eye contact, she listens to Ibrahim's translation.

"You are very welcome, my lord. I should thank you for the invitation.."

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She smiles ever so slightly as he calls her Princesa. "Yes, let us begin." She knows he is truthful about keeping her safe, for as long as she is a prisoner and is treated well, she knows she is more precious alive than dead.

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A nice breeze wafts through the trees as they begin the ride, She listens to Ibrahim's interpretation of the sultan's words and replies:

"Thank you. My father taught me when I was young. He was an expert horseman himself and wanted his children to be such as well."

She feels tears coming as she thinks of her family, from whom she has been separated for too long.

"You are quite skilled yourself, my lord. I noticed your stables are filled with many fine breeds of horses."

Isabella listens to the interpreted words, and as she begins to reply she hears the sultan call out her name. Suddenly her horse rears back and Isabella is take by surprise. Clenching the reins and the pommel, she holds on for dear life. And then she feels herself begin to fall.

Stunned from the fall, the wind is knocked from Isabella's lungs. She sees Sultan Suleyman approaching her and is slowly able to get up. He extends a hand to her and, a litle embarrassed, begins to reject his help.

"I am fine," she is able to say, smiling and nodding to emphasize. "I should have been more careful."

Isabella is suddenly lifted into Suleyman's arms, and she can appreciate his strength. She is still embarrassed but glad that he came to her aid. He mounts behind her and she is more aware of his presence.

"Thank you.." she says to him very quietly.

She listened to Ibrahim's interpretation and looked down at the road before them.

"I wonder why you did invite me here. I doubt you take all your political prisoners riding." She nearly laughs at the thought. "But.. I am glad I'm here. It is a nice day."

Isabella listened to the translation and gasped a little. Knowing she was blushing she kept her face staring straight ahead, yet she felt a small anticipation.

"May I ask.. what do you do with the special ones?"

Isabella cleared her throat nervously, the pain in her leg was bothering her more and more.

"Yes, I think I shall rest after the fall I had.."

She felt silly for showing such interest in what his plans for her entailed, and hoped her reaction did not betray her true feelings.

She shivered as he spoke to her, not understanding exactly what he said, but finding some hidden meaning in the way he said it. They keep riding until they reach her garden house, and suddenly they are alone, the guards going back to their posts.She looked up questioningly at Suleyman.

Isabella smiled politely. "Thank you, I have been shown great care while I've been here."

Relief swept through her as he smiled at her.