Arabian Nights: 238th Night: Julnar of the Sea - 9

The following night Shahrazad said:
The king saw the old woman, the young man, and the young women walk on the surface of the water, until they reached the palace, while Jullanar stood at the window to welcome them.  They saw her standing at the window, and happily leapt and flew like birds, and in the next instant stood beside her.  One by one they embraced her tearfully, telling her how much they missed these three years. Jullanar kissed her brother's head, and his hands and feet, and did the same to her mother and cousins.  They sat for a while expressing their anguish over her disappearance. Then they inquired about her present situation.

"When I left you," said Jullanar, "I came out of the sea and sat on the shore of the Island of Moon, where a man found me, and later he sold me to a merchant.  He was familiar with this palace and he brought me here and sold me to the king of this city for ten thousand dinars.  I have had a happy life with him. He is fully devoted to me, and forsaken all his concubines and slave girls.  He has even neglected the affairs of his kingdom."

"O sister, get ready," said her brother, "let us leave at the earliest, towards our home."

The king has been listening to their conversations, and he was frightened of losing her and his child in her womb.

But Jullanar laughed and said, "O brother!  You should know that the king I am living with is loving, kind and a generous man.  He has never treated me badly or offended me, and he has given me the best of lives."

But morning overtook and Shahrazad lapsed into silence.


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