Thousand & One Nights: 5: Queen Enters The Court

The vizier went home, conveyed king's message to Shahrazad: "The king asked me to send you alone." Shahrazad was very happy. After preparing herself, and packing what she needed, went to her younger sister Dinarzad, and said, "Sister, listen what I am saying, when I reach there I will send for you. And when you come, and see that we had finished with it, say, 'Sister, if you are not sleepy, tell us a story.' Then I would begin the story, and the story would lead him to reason, and he would stop his killings." Dinarzad wished her a happy ending.

At nightfall, Shahrazad arrived at the court of Shahriar, walked to the quarters of the Queen. Terracota oil lamps were lit everywhere. 
"I am a one day Queen, a one day Shahbanu" thought she, "I am Shahrazad Shahbanu." She said to herself in the flickering flame of terracota oil lamps.

"Shara..." called out Shahrazad, and the chief female servant Arashshara came running to Shahrazad Shabanu.

"Call the vizier."

Vizier came. "I am Shahrazad Shahbanu, no more your daughter," said Shahrazad.  "And I am Shahbanu, even if it is for this day," she continued.  "Ask my sister Dinarzad to come to me."
Vizier was surprised to hear the words of the Queen. But he was impressed by her authority.

When the vizier returned with Dinarzad, Shahbanu said to Arashshara:

"No wine should go to the king's chamber, inform the cellar keeper."

Arashshara took her order to the cellar keeper and returned, took hold of the Queen's packet. Vizier took leave of them.

They entered the antechamber of the queen, Arashshara put the Queen's packet on one of the stone benches, and Shahrazad sat on a bench putting her elbows on the table befor her.
"How desolate!"  Shahbanu said, "not even  the footsteps of toddlers, or children"

"All the bandakas fled after the massacre and one day union followed by murder," said Arashshara. Hakim came, a young man of around forty. With leave from the Queen, Arashshara and Dinarzad went out. Queen asked the physician  to be seated. She, being a the daughter of vizier know Hakim very well.
Hakim already knew the daughters of vizier. He is also aware of Shahrazad's pursuits of learning in old stories of kings and queens, the history of tribes and tribal chieftains, of different cultures and different philosophies, and her grip and understanding of the polity through day today contacts with the dynasty.

"Sarkar Khanum Shahrazad," saluted Hakim, I congratulate you for taking this adventurous step. May God bless you."
"Sepasgozaram," said the Queen, "What is happening to Saray-e Soltani? Why so much misogyny?"

"Kings are prone to this kind of disease. Their lifestyle takes away the bah out of them, coupled with th scene of the killed Lady in compromising pose with her paramour. And it has caused him to go out of his mind. Now he must undergo treatment for several months to regain his bah. You must be very patient with him. Take every precaution not to be get killed. Disarm him in every respect, but be compassionate to him. Never seek any advice from anyone, depend on your own discretion. Inform me when he is ready for treatment. "See you!  Khodāhāfez." With these words Hakim departed.

The three women were in front of the king's Chamber. The door is opened.  The king is seen in his bed. "Wait  here for some time," said the queen, and she entered, and closed the door behind her. Taking her robes away she marched towards the King. The king looked for his sword. There was no sword.
"Where is my sword, who has taken it?"
"I have disarmed you. I am the Queen. Now enter me, if you can," said the she.
"No. I cannot. Look at me," said he, raising himself from the bed, undressed. The queen saw it, the reason for his misogyny.
"Dress yourself, and be gentle, I am calling my sister."

Dinarzad entered, and she was with the Queen and the king, till he was recovered.  Shahrazad assumed all the responsibilities of King and she ruled the kingdom. To engage Dinarzad her sister began to tell the stories.

End of the Section 














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