<div class="floatleft">(http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/5700000/Kingdom-Of-Heaven-kingdom-of-heaven-5751717-400-225.jpg)</div><hr/><strong>Name:</strong>Rashid<br/><strong>Race/Culture:</strong>Bedu<br/><strong>Location:</strong>The Crimson Palace (continued from The Thirteen Monkeys)<br/><strong>Day/Time:</strong>Yaus al-Niwt (Day of Houses), Amt (first month) of Alak Paret (Harvest Season), Late Morning<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Shazadi<br/><hr/><br/>Rashid looked down at Shazadi with concern etched over his face, the way she blindly reached out for him lit a protective, possessive flame inside of him, and he hugged her close, his hand tenderly dabbing cold water upon her brow. He had just wrung it out again after freshly dunking it in the cold waters when she returned to herself. He listened attentively, knowing it would be a fool who ignored the visions of a seer.<br/><br/>"Forewarned is forearmed as they say Shazadi. When we leave, whatever threat you saw will not touch a hair upon your head." Rashid promised gently, trying to soothe her. His eyes showed pain in the knowledge that his presence had caused her to see a vision of violence on a day sacred to her for seeking out pleasure. A smile parted his lips when she remarked that he was always there to catch her. His reply was so quiet that even a whisper could have silenced it. "Always and forever."<br/><br/>When she asked him if he was in love with her, his hand paused in it's ministrations to her brow, his eyes locking upon hers. There was a depth of emotion roiling beneath his placid surface, the winds of doubt and indecision tugging at his soul, but finally, with a self deprecating smile he answered her.<br/><br/>"Shazadi, I have been in love with you since that first night we spent together, talking and tangling our bodies together under the silver glow of the desert moon. I have few friends, I am a poor wandering pilgrim who goes where the wind sends him. Few can understand why I do what I do, and fewer still are interested in being friends with someone who will not linger long where they live." He spoke slowly, no trace of self pity rested in his voice, no, it was self awareness. He knew what he was, and what others saw of him. "When you and I connected that night, I knew I had found a kindred spirit, an oasis of calm where I could come and rest my weary soul beside the light of your beauty and wit. But I know I am not the sort of man whom women look for in affairs of the heart. And I know you are not a woman easily tied to one man, so I have never spoken of it."<br/><br/>His face was a mixture of regret and hope, Rashid was worried that his revelation would force Shazadi to distance herself from him, a fate he desperately wished to avoid.<br/><br/>"I am sorry I forgot myself and mentioned it. Sometimes my tongue gets carried away when it is complimenting your charms." He said in a soft voice.