text: [Themes: fan fiction, biblical]
  
  The prophet left. I turned to the five sons of Jehoshua and say to them, "Go, tell Achish of what we have spoken. I will stay. My host will not attack me." So, the five mount their horses and leave.
  
  I stand with Gamaliel. I hope that my betrothed wife isn't unpleasant to look at. Oh what is her name? Tirzah, that is her name. Her father was a noble man, so that must have passed along to her. My father may not approve of one who does not shine like the sun.
  
  Through the gates, I see the people within. Soldiers stand at attention to honor my presence, but the people stand among the streets as well. I suspect most had never set foot in this still strong fortification before I arrived. Many fled their crops and their fields to find safety. Their grime is upon them like snow on the White Mountain. Some of the people are filled with tears and prostrate themselves on the ground to worship their god of sand. Others eye me with suspicion. I would have done the same, though some of them even dance.
  
  I see the prophet come with seven old men and one veiled woman. They stand before me though they do not bow before me. Now knowing what exactly I should do, I hand the priest my olive branch.
  
  "Peace," I say to all of them.
  One of the elders, who has a long and white beard, replies, "Your servants thank Darius son of Dimnah. We gladly accept your gracious gesture. We apologize for having no seat, but our humble town has no seats worthy for this occasion. Come. Let us draw the contract between our two nations."
  
  One of the elders takes out a scroll and writes in what the priest tells him. I see it is in both their tongue and my tongue, but I understand their tongue well enough to see it is the same words as mine. The document reads what we agreed upon.
  
  "Now that we have drawn our agreement," says the white bearded elder, "Let us sign it so that it may be law across both of our lands." The priest Gamaliel signs the document with his name.
  "Is there wax," I ask, "So that I may sign the paper with my ring?"
  "No," says the prophet, "We do not have wax, thus you must sign it with your hand."
  
  I take a quill from and elders hand and sign my name.
  
  "Now," says Gamaliel the priest, "our nations are at peace. Tirzah, the daughter of Ramiah, is now your wife."
  I turn to Tirzah and say, "Greeting daughter of Ramiah. I am deeply saddened to hear that my army and I had killed your brother and father, for your father was a great man. May we live in peace together as our two nations will live in peace."
  With her veil still down, she says to me in a youthful voice, "Your words are most kind, Darius my husband. Forgive your servant's veil. I am still in morning for my father and brother." I hear sorrow in her voice.
  "I hear your words with an open heart. You may morn however long you wish." Am I being too lenient or formal? I wish Achish were here to help me with these things.
  "Thank you," she says.
  "Do you have items or servants that you wish to take with you?" I ask, "I will most certainly take all that is yours if you so desire."
  "I have three chests full of my items," she replies, "Though I let all of my servants flee to their households before your army came. I wish for them to stay in their homeland that they have known. Also, please let me say farewell to those I know here. I will then meet you at your camp."
  "Yes, say your final greetings," I say. She leaves.
  
  I ride back and meet Achish between our camp and Bir Kale, for he was coming to see me.
  
  "Oh wise Darius!" he says, "You have solved both of your problems with your whit instead of your sword."
  "Yes," I state, "Now, we can return home, and I can present a wife before my father."
  "I heard your wife is the daughter of Ramiah. Do you like her?"
  "I do not know, but she seems to have a heart for her servants. Perhaps I will love her, though now my line will be established."
  "Yes, let us return to camp." My friend rides back to my men.
  
  I turn around. The gate is open and the town is celebrating.
  
  > be Honorable
  "Ashich," I say, "Tell my men to feast on the food which we still have. It will be a feast for my wedding and a feast for our return home. Also, tell my men to remain honorable and not stir mischief in the town tonight."
  "I will," he replies.
  
  After dismounting my horse, I make my way to my tent. I see the dust and old blood, and realize that this is no place for a woman. I tell a guard to find a broom and another to fill a bucket with water. After receiving both, I clean my own tent. The rug at my feet becomes its bright red once again. My armor does not shine, yet it no longer has dried blood. My bed, the only true bed in the camp, is free of all dust after I shake out its sheets.
  
  Outside, the merry cries of partying reach my ears. I walk through my camp and past jubilant faces. The men sing me praises and bless me for my marriage. The smell of wine reaches my nose, yet I do not know how the drink came in such large amount.
  
  Standing on the road and several yards outside of camp, I see Ashich. His form is darkened by the setting sun, but I know it is him. He is sitting in the dirt of the road, and his eyes are transfixed on Bir Kale.
  
  "Why do you never celebrate like my men and I?" I ask my friend.
  "I gain more knowledge when I study when you party, yet now I am here for a different purpose. When your wife would approach, I would rush to you and say, 'you wife approaches.' But now, I cannot surprise you. for you are here with me."
  "You are thoughtful."
  "It is wise to be thoughtful to one about to be king."
  "Yes, that is true." I ask, "Where did we get such wine from?"
  "Do not worry, my lord. An elder from the town asked if we wanted their wine, for they are making merry as well. I took twelve of your men and went. I saw that they were drinking from five large barrels, so I asked for those since they were not poisoned. We took them back and gave it to your men after one tasted each for poison."
  "Did you hear of my wife?"
  "Yes, she said to me 'I will come before the sun sets'. That is why I wait here now, for she must be approaching soon. Her voice was like honey."
  "Is it common for marriages like mine to occur in these lands like my own?"
  "Yes, their nation is at peace with a small city you never heard of before, and their king has a daughter to the prince of the small city."
  
  A silence envelopes the two of us. We sit together and the bonfire and drinking occurs behind us. My heart races faster than a chariot.
  
  "Do you know how I should act? Of course, I will be courteous, but this battlefield is one that I have not traverse before." I say to my friend.
  "Treat her well, lie with her in bed, say pleasant things... if it is an act, then do not do such things. A king must be truthful while his servants lie for him. I am a servant, but you are a king. Both of you know that you care not for the other like lovers or friends. She should have enough of a mind to know that."
  I nod.
  "Behold!" exclaims Ashich, "There she is now."
  
  I look ahead, and I see her approaching alone with only a donkey and a companion. On her donkey, I see her chests.
  
  "Ashich," I say, "I do not know if I feel dread or excitement. Perhaps this feeling inside me is all at once. What has fate thrown me into?"
  "You," says Ashich, "are doing this to inherit your father's kingdom."
  
  > greet your Wife
  I walk up to meet her. She is still veiled, and I believe she may be frightened. She is a stranger among a people who she must've grown to despise. When we meet, she leaps off her donkey with surprising grace.
  
  "I see that you are familiar with this type of creature," I say.
  Her hands lay awkwardly at her sides and twitch as if she cannot find their proper place. She replies, "Yes, I have ridden on these before many times. I heard you are a grand rider on horseback."
  "You are correct," I say. Then, I pause. We both stand and stare at each other as my arms are crossed. Only Ashich looks comfortable. I thank the gods that she seems as off balance as I. "Oh," I continue, "This is Ashich. He is my most trusted friend."
  Ashich says, "It is a great honor to meet you, my lady. While the circumstances of your marriage are not what you may have expected, I heard that it is the will of your God, and Darius is a man who is noble in blood but even moreso in heart." He bows before her.
  "Please," she says, "Do not bow for me. I implore of you, no man, woman, or child should bow. It was a custom of my father, and I wish to uphold that tradition."
  "As you say, my lady," Ashich says. He stands tall again. If Ashich agrees, then I will as well.
  "Shall we come into my camp," I say. "We will leave tomorrow, but tonight my men will be jubilant."
  "I can take your donkey and your chest," my friend tells my wife, "Would you want any of your chests brought to your tent tonight?" He takes the reins of Tirzah's donkey
  "No," she says. Her voice seems to be very soft, "But thank you for doing this for me, Ashich." He walks ahead of us.
  
  "May I ask questions?" says my wife.
  "You may." I glance both ways on the road. Nobody is near on either side of us. My arms finally relax, and I see that hers are no longer twitching awkwardly.
  "Why did your men nope rape our women and pillage our towns as harshly as the other nations?"
  "I saw no purpose. Your people fought well, and an army of fear stirs more courage in the defenders."
  "Is it true that you have no other wives or concubines? I thought your father had sixty concubines and six wives."
  "Both are true. I did not pursue pleasure among women much to the displeasure of my father. I was happily doing so until his verdict today though I have lied with harlots."
  "Will you take more wives or some concubines?"
  "I do not wish to please my father. Tell no others but Ashich this, but my father is mad and I hate him. I pray to the gods that his soul may find torment in The Pit. He would want me to take many women so that my seed may continue, but I do not want his soul joyful."
  "Your words are treasonous, are they not?"
  "Yes, but soon I will be king. I will present you before my father, and he will say 'she is good'. Then, he will die, and I will be troubled by him no longer."
  "This is why my God made me become one flesh with you."
  "Excuse me? May you elaborate?"
  "I will lie with you tonight, then we will become one. It is my religion's doctrine; however, my people will always have a voice beside your throne. Come. take me to your tent." She takes my hand. I am dumbfounded by her... her straightforwardness. My father's wives and concubines or those of other men would never say such things, yet she says these on our wedding night. "Come. Come."
  
  I nod and take her with me. My face has a smile, but my soul wonders. What woman have the gods tied me to?
  
  Men clap and holler praise to us as we pass by, yet none bow. Ashich must have already spread her wishes. I take her to my tent and past my guards. They each take three steps forward. I suppose it is to make us feel private.
  
  Tirzah turns around and closes the front flaps of the tent as I light two lamps. She takes off her veil, though her back is to me. She says, "My time of morning is now over. Darius, I do not know you, but tonight I will know you. I... I also forgive you."
  "You forgive me?"
  "I will see my father and brother again. Both would be glad to die if they knew what would happen. I am not a man, so my position is powerless, but my God has lifted me up from the ashes of misery to this place."
  "Your words are not ones I expected, but..." What do I say? I took her family from her, and now I have taken her country from her. Yet, she forgives me? "I accept them."
  
  She turns around, and I see her face. In the flickering light of my lamps, I see a beauty I thought to not exist in these lands. Her face looks like a rock softened by the sands of the desert. Its curves are smooth like the sun. Her eyes are like two lilies on a still pond.
  
  "Your desert clothes hide your beauty like a clam hides a pearl," I say. I take hold of her hands. They feel rough.
  "My garments are simple, for my people are simple. We are not one's to be extravagant." She drops the brown clothing to the ground. I see her nakedness. "I apologize that what you see is small."
  "I see that you are not an idle person. Your body shows that you have toiled before."
  "Yes, I worked in the fields of my father's house. I looked outside and saw others work, so I did what they did so to honor my God."
  
  I nod. I take off my sword and all clothing as well.
  
  "You are truly a sight I enjoy to see," she says. "Come into me so that we may become one." She lies on the bed. I lie next to her and kiss her. Our night is pleasurable.
  
  > Traveling to Baskent
  I awake in the morning without my clothes on. My wife in pressed against me. I arise from my bed and put on my clothes. I look back to her. Her eyes are open.
  
  "I apologize for waking you, Tirzah," I say.
  "No, I was awake before you awoke," she stands. She is already dressed.
  "You went back with me into my bed."
  "Yes, would you rather have me not do that anymore?" she asks. Her face almost appears to pout. She looks younger now, and my stomach sinks.
  "No, that is fine, but how old are you?"
  "Does that matter?"
  "Not unless you are still supposed to be playing." I put on my clothes.
  "Your eyes deceive you. I have long since passed marriageable age."
  "Your youth is with you still."
  "I will take that as kind words." She smiles. "What are your customs with wives? With my people, I am to be proper, dreadfully and horribly proper, in all manner when with other people. I may be myself in personal settings."
  "I only see my father's wives and concubines being proper, but I do not speak to them in private," I say.
  "What about your mother?" Her face is puzzled.
  I scratch the back of my head and say, "She was poisoned by my father though none will admit such things. He grew tired of her, so he killed her instead of sending her to some house, for she had grown very fat."
  "Darius, I..." she pauses. "Do you remember your mother's death?"
  "Yes."
  "I remember the body of my father after he was retrieved from the battlefield." Her face is resolute, but I see a tear on her cheek.
  "You may say whatever you like in my presence. When I am king, you may say what you like to whomever you say."
  "Your words are like the sweet dew of the morning."
  "Come, I shall show you many wondrous things, for my home of Baskent is a pearl in a clam."
  
  We exit the tent, so I say to a guard who still stand father away, "Bring Ashich to me if he is available. We have spent too long away from our households, thus we should depart today."
  The soldier leaves without further prompting. I look at the sun rising, and red bleeds from the fiery circle. I feel a hand touch mine. It is soft than mine, but the grip is powerful. I turn my head, and Tirzah looks to me with a trepid gaze. I do not force her hand away.
  
  "I am captured by a foe who I cannot defeat," I say to my wife.
  "Yes," she says. "My Lord works in mysterious ways."
  "Will you see to it that he will find favor in me?"
  "I can do only so much, for He is a jealous God who wishes for you to worship Him alone."
  I nod.
  
  Ashich comes to us and says, "My thoughts were with you during the night. You wish to leave? Indeed, the men are almost ready. If you wish, I have secured a large wagon for you which is to be pulled by two horses."
  "Yes, take us to it."
  "Follow me," he says.
  We follow Ashich, and he takes us to the wagon. I cannot tell if it for a peasant or for meager traveling, yet I say, "This will do. I have much I wish to explain to my wife."
  
  He leaves us, and I say, "I will help you up onto the wagon."
  "Such an offer is kind, but may I show you something instead?"
  "I thought you have shown all to me last night."
  "I am not referring to our copulation," she says as her cheeks blush slightly. "Watch this."
  
  She grabs the side of the wagon, for the bed is at the height of her chest. Then, she hoists herself onto the bed almost as if she floated upon it.
  
  I say, "Truly truly, what you have done is most surprising. You have beauty and strength. Is there not any flaw that you possess?"
  "I have many flaws, for all do," her head turns down to look at her feet. "I do all to not show them to you."
  I climb up to her and say, "I will know them after enough time passes. Why do you not tell me now?"
  "May I lie my head on your shoulder in public?"
  "I see that as fine."
  "Thank you." Her head then lies upon my shoulder. "I question why my Lord allows such things to occur like what happened to me. I have lost my family, so no worth is given to me. I was sold... perhaps married would be more fitting word, to a heathen who caused my beloved father's death. Truly, I had no substantial say in the matter. Yet, here I am about to ascend into power beyond that of almost any woman. Why must my God do such things? I know you cannot answer, yet here I am in a hidden turmoil."
  
  I do not know what my lips should say, so I sit there as her head rests upon my shoulder. Soon, a man comes up in the cart with me, and he takes hold of the horses' reigns. We depart with the rest of my army as Tirzah falls asleep. My mind cannot help but wonder if she does so to make me like her more.
  
  The rhythmic rolling of the cart soothes my mind. My eyelids become like stone, for they grow heavy. Sleep takes hold of me, but before I surrender myself, I am awakened by a voice.
  
  "Darius," says my wife, yet her voice is distant. Her eyes are open, but her body looks asleep. Her face is like that of her prophet when he prophesied of my marriage. Are these even her words that come from her lips?
  
  She continues, "You shall love the Lord, Ancient of Days, with all of your heart. Thus, the Lord will bless you abundantly. Do you not believe?" She sounds far away, yet her head is on my shoulder. "As proof, your father shall die as he orders death upon Tirzah your wife, a faithful servant. Love her dearly. Then, you shall know that God is god and the only god."
  
  Her eyes close. She appears asleep as if nothing had transpired, yet the words ring in my ears. I am troubled in my soul.
  
  > No, That Was Not a Prophesy
  We continue on, and I do mention what Tirzah said to me. I explain to my wife the workings of our courts and the city of Baskent, for it has walls to protect from bandits. I say that the palace has four levels so that she may look out upon the city and upon our fertile lands.
  
  When we reach the city, Tirzah and I step off from the wagon and walk. flowers are thrown upon my army as we travel through the gates and into the streets. The crowd cheers, "The Great King has slain his hundreds, but Prince Darius has slain tens of thousands!" They glorify me. They worship me.
  
  Ashich and some of my finest warriors march ahead clearing a path so that I may step through. I feel great jubilee, for I am home. How could my father, even in his inanity, deny me my ascension? I have the favor of the people, for our wealth will soon increase even more than now. Our chests will be full of riches and our barrels will be overflowing with wine.
  
  We reach the gate of my father's palace.
  
  "Look," I say to Tirzah, "This will be our palace. Inside is a garden that is the envy of all nations. The rooms house all that we need. We will stay at the top where we would be the first to the the sun rise in this city. The domed roof is more advanced than any roof that has ever sat upon a building."
  She nods.
  "Are you worried?"
  "This is all new to me, for these things were not among the people of my home."
  "Soon, this will all be yours," I say as I lay my arm on her shoulder.
  
  We enter the garden. I see a mold on the garden which causes it all to rot. I say, "See this? Such is the kingdom under my father. I will take away the rot at my ascension." I turn to Achish and my finest warriors and tell to them, "Come with me and my wife while we go to our Great King." Thus, they walk with us.
  
  We enter the palace and walk up the stairs. My wife takes my hand and says, "How can one live among such wealth. Do you not see the tapestries of such vibrant colors? Look at them. Why must only our eyes see them?"
  "But, these are delicate. They would be destroyed if we let it out where a thief could steal it in the night."
  "What about the dome? It is a marvel of construction as you say, but it does not sit upon any other building here."
  
  We reach the top of the stairs. We sit on a wooden bench that shines when light lays upon it. Until my wife and I are summoned, then we must wait, so I speak to Ashich and Tirzah about ruling this kingdom.
  
  After the sun has moved from one spot to another across the sky, the door opens. Through it is a fat man who is garbed in an adviser's clothes. He says, "The Great King wishes for Darius, the prince and son of our Great King, and his wife to present themselves before him."
  "May we take our men?" I ask.
  "No." His round body and face which would look distasteful on an ass's rump disappears back into the doorway. Tirzah and I enter. Around my father are many guards and advisers. He sits upon a throne covered in gold, but sprinkles of red dot the gold. The king lets out a cough like that of a vulture and covers his mouth with a piece of white cloth. When he sets it down, it is red.
  
  Before either of us could say anything, my father cackles, "Wrong! You are unworthy to even stand in my presence, you harlot from barbaric lands!"
  Before I could open my mouth to retort, my wife speaks to him as if she is possessed by some fiery rage, "How dare you say such things to me. You are but an uncircumcised decrepit waste for life. You were the king when your nation invaded my land. I place the death of my father and the death of my brother upon your soul. May God strike you down where you are and may worms eat your flesh!"
  "Ki-", he man coughs again, "Guards k-."
  
  Then, he falls over and and dies.
  
  Those words were true. My wife spoke correctly when dreaming. No, this was the will of the gods, for they have always favored me.
  
  I look at the guards to see if they move against me, but they bow instead. My wife, still breathing heavily, cries silently. She takes a firm hold on my hand. I say, "Do not bow before my wife, for she does not wish it. Neither do I. Throw the body among the pigs, so that they may feast upon his diseased flesh."
  
  I pause for a moment. I am king. I look to my wife, and she smiles. My heart falters from her, and I know I should appease her god.
  
  I say, "Ashich, come in." Thus, Ashich enters along with the other men. I say to them, "Have an altar be built so that my wife may worship her God."
  
  > Epilogue: A Hardened Heart
  After his father died, Darius allowed the Insanlar to worship their God, and he protected them. He was loved by the Lord's people, for his wife always whispered words into his ear that were pleasing to God. But, the Lord had struck the loins of Darius with a curse so that he may not bear children, thus he sired no children as king.
  
  His wife, Tirzah, was a woman after God's own heart. She adopted a son named Elhanan from the Insanlar into the family of Darius, and when Darius died Elhanan became king. Unlike Darius, Elhanan worshiped the Lord, so the Lord blessed Elhanan greatly. All the men, all the women, and all the children who lived under Elhanan's rule said to themselves, "Look at what passion Elhanan worships this god of the desert. Let us worship this god as well."
  
  By this manner, nations beyond the Insanlar came to know the Ancient of Days.