The myriad of emotions that crossed her lovers face broke Aisha's heart.  She desperately wanted to go to him, to wrap her arms around him, to kiss his fears away, and tell him everything would be alright.  But she knew him well enough to know that he was far too enraged, and that he needed to work his fury out in other ways.<br/><br/>Nodding her understanding of his instructions in regards to Layla, Aisha promised herself that she would do everything in her power to make the newcomer feel comfortable and welcome.  It was what Tarkus wanted, and she couldn't bring herself to add more pain and worry to that which he was already feeling.  When he reached for her, she grasped his hand in both of hers and pressed her lips to the back of his fingers in a gesture of love and support.<br/><br/>"We'll be ready and waiting for your return, my Prince," she whispered as he turned and mounted the several small steps that took him out of the bath. She focused her attention on Layla, who seemed to be quivering in fear.  Aisha had rarely seen Tarkus this angry, although she had been witness to more than one occasion of his rage, but she knew that he would never, ever, strike her. Or any woman.  And yet, it was obvious that Layla had been expecting him to.  Only the Gods knew why she had been put through the trials she'd been through, and only the Gods knew why she'd been brought into the Royal Court.  The coolness Aisha felt towards the battered woman melted somewhat as she realised that it was only by the grace of the Gods that she herself had been spared such ordeals.<br/><br/>"It's going to be okay, Layla," Aisha soothed as she slipped an arm around the shaking woman's shoulders.  "Tarkus will put things right, I promise you.  And you needent be afraid.  He would never hit you."<br/><br/>Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Tarkus slammed his fist into the stone pillar, making her statement seem somewhat empty.<br/><br/>"Sire!" she exclaimed, pulling away from Layla and making for the steps, intent on going to him.  Surely he'd just done himself a serious injury? But he didn't cry out, or give any indication that he had felt any pain, and the head concubine paused in confusion as he glanced back at them and then strode purposefully out of the bath.<br/><br/>She turned back to Layla, a perplexed look on her face.  However, the sight of the woman with her face in her hands, backing away from the side of the pool in fear, reminded Layla of Tarkus' instructions.  She crossed the distance between them in just a few strides and wrapped her arm around her shoulders once again.<br/><br/>"Everything will be okay, Layla...truly it will."  She tried to direct the frightened woman towards the steps, steering her out of the pool.  She wrapped a large, fluffy towel around her still quaking shoulders before doing the same to herself.  "Come, let us get you settled in.  And some food, perhaps?  You look hungry."