Osman rushed toward Arta and knelt beside her "Arta, Arta!" when he saw no response, he turned his head toward one of the guards "Go and bring a doctor, quickly!"

"No offense, but I think I have strengthened your rule in Persia by doing this favor to you." Mahoe said looking confident.

"There was no need to bring a head in front of us!" Osman said with anger and disgust in his voice while placing Arta's head on his lap.

"But I needed to bring evidence for you!" Mahoe said as a matter of fact.

Sultan who was silent the whole time stood up from his throne and approached Mahoe. He smiled a smile that did not reach his eyes "We were looking for King Darian, his son and the remaining of his army for a long time already. So should thank you for your service."

Mahoe bowed looking pleased and even more confident in himself "About his son and army. Rest assured my king that they will never be any trouble to you at all. Kian, his son died a few days after the battle from some severe wounds, although I may have facilitated his departure to the other world a bit." He laughed. "And the rest of his army are dead or fled far away from this empire. So you don't need to worry about anything my king." He said happily and glanced back to the audiences who were witnessing the whole thing in silent and some were watching Mahoe with disgust and some with jealousy.

"Where is this damn doctor?" Osman roared angrily to one of the guards while he was holding Arta's lifeless body in his arms. She looked so pale and the blood has drained out of her face. He took off his robe and covered her body with it. It was the second time that this robe was covering her fragile body.

"Take her to her chambers." Sultan said to his son.

Osman lifted Arta in his arms and quickly walked out of the hall.

"So Mahoe tell mem what do you want in return for your service." Sultan came closer to Mahoe, looking in his eyes.

Mahoe bowed again, this was the moment he was waiting for so long "Nothing my king just to be at your service is the greatest honor for me." Trying to flatter Sultan, it was now or never so he continued "I was hoping to remain as the governor of Marv. As I said before I just want to serve you."

"Of course, of course. Is there anything else that you wish for?" Sultan asked.

Mahoe who was getting even more confidence said "to be honest I spent a lot of money from my own pocket as well as Marv's treasury to kill King Darian and his soldiers. I didn't want to mention this but since you are so generous and kind to ask, I dared to say it. Marv's treasury is as empty as a desert and since you have opened the main treasury, I was hoping that you could grant me some of that wealth not for myself of course but for the people." He bowed again.

Sultan walked closer to Mahoe and put his hand on his shoulder "Of course! Anything else?"

"No my king that was all."

Sultan turned his back to him and while tightly squeezing the grip of his sword. With a sudden move, he drew out his sword, turned and cut Mahoe's throat.

Mahoe dropped on his knees and was looking at Sultan questionably. He was pressing his hand on his throat, unable to talk. Everyone was shocked by Sultan's action.

"How stupid you are? Ha? Did you think that I'll trust someone who has betrayed his king? A king who was from his own people." Sultan looked so angry. No one expected such action from Sultan.

Sultan looked at the crowd in front of him and said "Conspiracy and betrayal are the devil's idea." Then turned his face to his right were Mehoe's lifeless body was drowning in his own blood and spat.

He sat back on his throne and ordered to take Mahoe's body out and kill all his men who were accompanying him.

"Bury the king Darian's head with respect somewhere in the palace so her daughter could at least mourn for him."

Sultan took a deep breath and composed himself while putting his sword back into its scabbard. He clapped to attract people's attention. "Well this wasn't the feast I was planning for you." he laughed and the crowd in front of him laughed with him.

"Anyway, Mahoe got what he deserved, but now let's forget about it." He paused and then continued "The reason for this feast was actually to announce very delightful news. The news of the crown prince marriage." He smiled to the people "I have chosen princess Arta as prince Osman's wife." Everyone in the hall was murmuring. Most of the people were shaking their heads in disagreement and obviously, they looked displeased, but no one dared to say anything loudly.

"But uncle.." it was Azim who stepped forward and dared to question Sultan's decision. He looked utterly shocked and angry. "how could you choose an infidel wife for the crown prince. He will be Sultan one day, how would you expect that people accept her as their queen? This is impossible." Almost everyone nodded or said something in agreement.

Sultan laughed "who said that princess Arta will be his only bride? I'm sure even you have two wives back home and you are still craving for more." Everyone laughed. Azim hissed in annoyance and stepped back.

"This marriage is a political one. We need Persians to accept us as rulers. There are already lots of uprising all over Persia, lots of bloodsheds. We suppress one and many new ones appear. This marriage can calm down these rebellions a bit. I'm sure everyone understands my intentions and there won't be any disagreement with my decision." After a few silent seconds "Very well!" Sultan said looking as happy as ever. "Let's continue with the feast." He clapped, music started to play, and half-naked dancers entered the hall to entertain the guests.

***

Osman put Arta in her bed and knelt beside the bed. The doctor came in, Osman stood up.

"What the hell took you so long? Hurry now!"

The doctor bowed and went to check Arta. He examined her pulse then put his hand on her forehead and then opened her eyes. He stood up and faced Osman.

"I'm sorry to tell you but she is in a critical situation. Her fever is so high, and first we need to bring down her fever before it becomes too late."

"What? What do you mean too late?"

Before the doctor got to explain, Arta's body started to shiver suddenly and violently.

"This is one of the things that I was afraid of." The doctor rushed back to Arta's bed. "Come and help me my Prince. We have to open her mouth."

Osman held her hands and put his weight on her upper body to prevent her from moving while the doctor was trying to open her mouth and placed a thick leather between her teeth.

After a couple of minutes, Osman could felt that the shiver was going away gradually until she laid motionlessly. He carefully and slowly released her hands and lift his weight from her body.

The doctor took out the leather thing and examined her again. "we need to bring down her fever immediately."

"Tell me what to do?" Osman asked.

"We need cold water and cloths."

Osman ordered Nahla who was standing by the door to bring water and cloth. She was crying silently and praying to Allah for Arta's health.

Very soon Nahla came back with a bowl of cold water and a few cloths.

"Take these herbs, boil them with water for a few minutes then pour it in a bowl to cool down." The doctor gave instructions to Nahla and she quickly left with the herbs.

"Tell me something to do as well. I cannot just stand still and do nothing." Osman said looking worried.

"I wanted to ask the maids to take her clothes out and cover her with damp cloths. There is nothing much to do just wait and be ready if another similar attack happened to her."

"No need for maids, she is my future wife. I'll do whatever is needed." Osman said to the Tabib who was not looking really convinced but what could he do. He was the crown prince.

He gave the cloths to Osman "damp these cloths with the cold water and then cover her forehead, hands, and legs with them. Repeat this every few minutes. I'll come back and check on her soon." He bowed and left Osman alone with Arta.

Without hesitation, he put the cloths in the water and rushed to Arta. He put the quilt away. Then he sat by her side and carefully hugged her frail body and started to undo the ties on the back of her dress. When the dress became loose he slowly pulled down the straps on her shoulders and then pulled the dress out.

Now she was only in her undergarments, a silk cloth that was covering her breasts with matched silk shorts.

For a second Osman was just staring at her body. Maybe that was a bad idea. What was he thinking? Undressing her when she is at her most vulnerable state. It was so difficult to focus and not to touch her soft and perfect body. He wanted to kiss her from head to toe.

For a second he decided to call for Khadijeh to do the job but then he couldn't bear the idea of not being by her side even for a second. So he focused on the job and tried to suppress what he was desiring with all his body and soul.

He did as the doctor told him, damped the cloths then placed them on her hands, legs, and forehead. He repeated the procedure every couple of minutes.

He knew that he loved Arta but doing something that a maid could do and being this much worried for her, frightened him. What had happened to the cold-hearted Osman who had never cared for any woman? What was this faith that had tied him with a Persian princess? A princess who had lost everything because of them. He knew by heart that even if she marries him forcefully, he could never have her heart. That was too painful for him to think about it right now.

When he was placing one of the cloths, he saw a fingers-shaped bruise on her arm. "What is this?" he was examining the bruise more closely when someone knocked on the door. "Come in."

The doctor came in with a bowl in his hand. He approached Arta and put his hand on her forehead.

"I don't see much improvements in her condition. This is not good. Let's feed her this portion."

Osman lifted Arta on the bed and hugged her from back in a half-sitting position. The doctor brought the spoon to her lips. After feeding her a couple of spoons full of medicine they placed her back on the bed.

"What now? What can we do for her now?" Osman asked looking concerned.

"Unfortunately, nothing much could be done, except to wait and pray."

"This is ridiculous! I cannot just sit and see she is dying in front of my eyes. Maybe you are not good enough. I should find another Tabib to come and treat her." he looked angry and the doctor felt threatened.

Osman took a deep breath. He knew that this Tabib was the best they had and he was telling the truth. "Get out!" Osman said to the doctor.

When the doctor left Osman hugged Arta and walked toward her dressing room and from there to the stairs that were leading to the bath hall.