The Silver Rose: The Story of Aisha

Chapter One

I was born not far from Egypt, in a land called Suniria, a place now long lost and forgotten. I was happy at my father's court, even when there were scandals of my sister's harlotries I enjoyed living there for the sun always shone and the land was always fertile. I loved my father, I love him even now when I am alone and without reason to live except only to be the ornament of a fiend who calls himself a man.

I had two brothers who were the first born males in our family, Tiriao and Helios. I never really got to see them due to the fact that they had gone off to the pharaoh and gotten married in Egypt. I remember even know when they teased me because of my shining emerald eyes. My ancestors had come from Greece centuries ago but know after many years we took pride in calling ourselves Egyptians. I don't know if my father loved my mother since I was too little when she died to ever take notice of things. She was Egyptian born and that was why my brothers and sister Eianara had inherited the dark, olive colored skin. Karicia and I, on the other hand, had inherited a lighter shade.

Yes, Karicia was beautiful and being the eldest sister to me and my little sister Eianara, she was entitled to all things first after mother's death. I had no jealousy of her beauty for even if she was beautiful she was a scandalous slut who would use a man no matter his status for a few nights pleasure. I myself had scandals indeed but they were not serious enough to lower me in such a way. I never wanted to marry, to have a man rule me was something that was far beyond my mind. That's why I created every single way to get out of any marriage that I disagreed to. There were always rumors in Suniria. The people loved me but they had the habit of using idle gossip more than respect. Yet, what they said had truth in it; that any man who fell in love with me would only fall to their doom. Truth is, I knew this since I was a child. Since I was born it was a prophecy as we did among many of our culture.

There came the day, of course, when I could not escape marriage and for the first time I knew that I would have to yield or risk losing my honor and father's respect. My father who had fought at many wars and had seen many men die for our cities neighbor, Egypt, was glad to see that other men were fond of study rather than getting themselves killed. He had heard of a Greek man who in his time was very well known and respected and he decided to invite him along with his apprentice.

The day they came was the worst of days for me. It was just a month before my wedding and everyone at court was thinking me married already and to make things worse, I was to be married to a Roman! I had for the first time, accepted my fate. Meanwhile other's fussed about what I should wear and the jewelry I should use, I sat as stone, cold and uncaring, knowing that I would be like the rest, a woman only in use for bearing children and to adorn a man's side.

There was a great feast not only because of the Greek scholars but because of my much awaited marriage. I would always wonder why my father never decided to marry Karicia and then I would remember that it would be no use and she would only dishonor the family as a whore. Meanwhile Eianara was only but a child of eight, not yet fit for marriage.

There were dancers and bonfires with food that would last days! The mood indeed was joyful but inside I felt only numb to any feeling. I had seen my future husband and he was quite handsome indeed with but a scar of war on his left check and deep dark set eyes with black hair. He looked young and kind and I hoped that he would be as he looked; a kind man who would let me run free and let me have my will as did my father with me. Yet, since that moment I knew that he would be the type of man who would drink to an excessive point since he was already stumbling upon himself and as he smiled at me. That day his smile was no more than a sloppy grin. I could do nothing but turn away in disgust. I was but thirteen! That was foolish though, I was old enough to marry.

Men looked at me as if they were starving men and I was a piece of meat not a rich warrior's daughter, as I sat by myself near the bonfire looking at the dancers. It was disgusting, did they think that I was like Karicia who would sleep with all of them at once if chose to do so right now? Even the Greek's apprentice looked at me in such a way and yet it was different somehow. Rather, he was studying me in way that made me shiver nervously. He was handsome indeed for he had beautiful black hair and such dark eyes that were hidden by dark, long lashes. His smile at me was not like that of my future husband, it was open and inviting. He had fair skin and then his Greek master, I suppose, spoke to him in his ear when he noticed that I was the object of his attention. He looked at me and then a sadness seem to fill him but it was gone in an instant as if he would not let it stand in his way. By that time I figured that I had been looking at him for quite a long time and scowling, I rose from my place and decided to walk into the night gardens.

I walked, enjoying the night air that surrounded me. The paths were lined with small torches while flowers bloomed over me. Everything was quiet, even the drunken voices of the guests were no longer audible. I wished that I could take away all the gold I had and run away to live among the Greeks and the Romans without having to marry. I was dressed in veils brought from the very city of Alexandria, I looked like an Egyptian princess to others but I felt a peasant inside.

"You must be the fair Aisha?" Someone asked behind me. As I turned I found myself facing the Greek's handsome apprentice.

"I am." I answered bluntly. " What business do you have with me?" I spoke in my formal tone of voice that I used among important guest. He appeared to be somewhere near seventeen but I was never sure how old he really was.

"I am Aubrey Karew." He said smiling as he bowed and to my surprise I found him quite charming. He had a certain power about him and I found it quite interesting and alluring. Surprisingly I smiled and laughed lightly.

"You do not need to bow to me for I am not a princess!" I said laughing. "Besides bowing like that reminds me of that formal bow that my future husband does."

"I see you that you are not so fond of him . Why is that so?" he asked. He spoke our language well with only a slight accent.

"Is it that obvious that I do not?" What was wrong with me? How could I speak so freely to someone I barely knew! "I do not like a man who drinks and cares only about bedding women and I am guessing that he is like that from what I've seen so far."

He looked at me for a moment and it seemed as if he were trying to figure something out about me through my eyes. He spoke in a silent whisper "There's something about you, your eyes they are...startling."

I was left speechless but I was used to such comments. Was it that my eyes were the ones that would bring men to their doom as my prophecy stated? Was it my eyes that were the ones that men were captured by? I only stood there gazing at him with almost pity. Poor young man, I thought, he doesn't know that if he decides to fall in love with me he will fall to his doom for I belong to another. I could've wept for him but I had never wept except for the time when I knew that I would be married against my will.

"You should not speak so." I spoke to him harshly concealing my grief.

"Forgive me." he said softly regaining his composure once again. "When is it that you are to be married?" He asked me.

"Within a month, if not sooner." We walked through the small lighted path and to my surprise I found that for the first time I felt comfortable among a man. "Is the man you are with...your father?" I asked, trying to change the uncomfortable subject of marriage.

"No. He was my master and I his slave. He has freed me now and thinks of me as his son since he has no one else. Now I am his apprentice. He is kind but I believe he is nearing his death..." I knew that speaking of the man's death was hard for him, I could hear it in his voice. We walked silently for a moment and then decided to sit on the edge of the large fountain.

He looked at me as I looked at him. "You know," I said, "you can't fall in love with me..." He put his hand to my cheek, it was warm and I stopped speaking as I closed my eyes. No! He can't fall in love with me, I thought at that moment.

"Why?" he said finally. "Is it because of your curse? I have heard of it, yes, but I don't believe in them." He did not know that he would never have me because I could not escape this marriage as I did the others. He kissed me at that moment and I could think of nothing except of the troubles that I would have. Yet, if I escaped other marriages, why not this one? My father would surely let me marry such a well taught man but still my mind told me otherwise.

"Aubrey," I said, making up my mind, "Meet me tomorrow morning at the isolated ruins near the temple of Isis not far from here." I said to him as soon as I heard the voice of my sister Eianara calling for me. "I must go!" I said to him. He tried to kiss me but my sister's voice was so close now, that I had to pull away.

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