Here it is.  The first part of Blood and Water.  I hope that you enjoy it.=
  


Disclaimer:  I do not own Hadji Singh, Nala Singh, Pasha, Haresh, or any
member of the quest team.  The ideas and plot of the story is mine and all
extra characters.  I am not doing this for money so please don't sue. My b=
ank
acount couldn't handle it.

Category: Alt, Hadji Fict, (Anything else?)

Blood and Water
By: Babe

The teachings of the elders
always stated that blood was
thicker than water. But, which
is more important? The blood
which forms you or the water
that sustains your life.

Part 1



=09Sheela Irshad looked at the tiny baby nestled in her arms.  Pride swell=
ed
inside her chest.  her God sent, she called him.  Her little angle.  Her f=
irst
born son.  Born of a Sultan.

=09She had nothing except hope for her son, that he may carry on the line =
of
great Bangalore leaders.  Her dreams were filled with her young son dresse=
d in
golden robes and rings for each finger.  His name would be known to all
leaders, near and far.

=09Her dreams were short lived, however.  She knew that her son=92s father=
 would
never let him become Sultan.  He would never let his people know that he h=
ad a
son out of wedlock.  The chances that the Sultan would also receive a heir=
 by
his true wife were great.

=09Sighing,  Sheela brushed a lock of jet black hair out of her baby=92s e=
yes.
=93Someday, my son,=94  she whispered.  =93Someday your time will come.=94
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

=09Nala Singh looked over at her husband, Sultan Haresh Singh, who was sit=
ting
at the head of the table.  His face was creased with distress as he listen=
ed
to the bickering consultants before him.  His head adorned a silken turban=
 and
his body was clothed in an embroidered robe.  After shifting in his chair,=
  he
caught his wife=92s eye and sent her a pleading look.

=09Nala chuckled to herself and continued to eat her food.  =93Today will =
be the
day,=94 she though to herself.  She had considered telling him the news be=
fore
but something always interrupted her announcement.  She had to tell him be=
fore
he would notice, or find out from one of his many workers.  She hoped that
wouldn=92t happen since this was not the kind of news one would like to he=
ar
from one=92s gardener.

=09Gathering up her courage, and rubbing the red gem which hung around her=
 neck,
Nala Singh stood up.  Everyone at the table stopped their bickering and be=
came
silent.  Her husband shot her a questioning glance.  =93I am sorry for
interrupting you,=94  Nala said quietly, =93but I need to speak to my husb=
and.
Alone.=94

=09The people among the table started to speak to each other, each questio=
ning
the queen=92s request.  A man, around the age of thirty, stood up in prote=
st.
=93But my sultaness,=94 the man started, =93we must finish our plan tonigh=
t.  The
people will not wait any longer. =93

=09Haresh looked at his wife who kept a blank expression.  He then looked =
at the
man. =93Pasha, I=92m sure that we can finish that after dinner.  My wife s=
eems to
need to tell me something.=94

=09With a slight scowl on his face, Pasha bowed and exited the room. After
making sure that everyone was out of hearing distance, Haresh looked at hi=
s
wife expectantly. 
=93What is it my dear?=94 he asked her. 

=09Nala waited a few moments before answering.  =93I have very important a=
nd
exciting news to tell you.=94

=09Haresh watched his wife pace across the room.  Her linen skirt swished
against the white marble. He waited for her to continue.

=09=93Since I first married you, your goal was to serve the people.  Your =
life was
dedicated to rule Bangalore so that everyone could live in peace.=94  Nala=
 came
to a stop before her husband and took his hands in hers.  =93Your rule is =
long
but it is not everlasting.  It is time for you to have a successor.=94

=09Realization dawned in Haresh=92s eyes.  A slow smile crept onto his fac=
e.  =93You
mean...=94 he started.

=09Nala nodded, her happiness plain on her face.  =93In eight months you w=
ill have
an heir to the throne.=94

=09Haresh stood up quickly and hugged his wife.  He did not have to lose s=
leep
at night wondering who would follow him as being Sultan of Bangalore anymo=
re.
There had been many failed attempts and Nala and himself were reaching the=
 age
where they would not be able to produce an heir.  He no longer had to worr=
y
about leaving the throne to someone not of his blood.  

=09Stroking her ebony hair, Haresh whispered in his wife=92s ear, =94 When=
 did you
find out?=94

=09=93Four weeks ago.=94 Nala pulled back a little to look into her husban=
d=92s eyes.
=93I began to feel ill.  I went to the doctor=92s quarters so that he coul=
d give
me something to soothe my illness. After he examined me, he informed me th=
at I
was not experiencing the flu but rather the beginning of pregnancy.=94

=09=93You have known for two weeks and you only tell me now?=94 Haresh ask=
ed, slight
look of hurt flashed across his face.

=09Nala brought one of her hands to his cheek and smiled.  =93I knew you w=
ere busy
with the taxation laws.  I didn=92t think that it was the right time.  Bes=
ides,
I wanted to make sure I was pregnant before I told you.=94

=09Haresh leaned his lips close to his wife=92s.  The moment before their =
lip met
he whispered to her, =93My wife, we finally have an heir.=94

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

=09When the pregnancy was announced to the court, it was decided that ther=
e
would be a great feast to celebrate.  A select number of the empire was
invited to the party.  Dressed in their formal attire, the people dined on=
 the
chef=92s most prized dishes and drank the finest of wines.  The expecting
parents were the center of attention, receiving praise and congratulations=
.

=09Haresh was about to make a speech concerning his wife when he spotted a
familiar woman standing in the corner of the room.  Her hair was done up i=
n a
high bun and covered with a sheer blue cloth.  She wore a white dress with=
 a
dark blue sash across her left shoulder.  In the middle of her eyebrows wa=
s a
small blue jewel.  A small pearl hung from the end of the jewel.

=09The Sultan let out a small sigh, excused himself from his wife, and hea=
ded
towards the woman.  When he reached the woman he was favored with a smile.

=09=93Good evening your Highness,=94 the woman greeted him with a small cu=
rtsy.
=93It=92s been a long time.=94

=09=93Not long enough,=94 Haresh replied.  If the woman was stung by his w=
ords, she
did not show it.

=09=93My dear Haresh,=94 the woman cooed, =93is that any way to talk to th=
e mother of
your first born?=94

=09Upon hearing her words a shocked expression came across Haresh=92s face=
 and
then was quickly replaced with anger.  =93This is my wife and I=92s day.  =
How dare
you come here and try to ruin it, with false rumors no less?=94

=09=93Oh, but if only they were false,=94 she answered with a smug express=
ion
leaving her.  =93I had him a week ago.  His name is Imad.=94

=09Haresh glanced behind himself to check if anyone was listening.  Satisf=
ied
when he saw that everyone was wrapped up in the festivities, he spoke.  =
=93How
do you know he is mine?=94

=09=93You are the one that was with me that night.=94

=09Remembering the incident, Haresh=92s expression went from anger to cold=
 and
neutral.  =93Knowing you, you have probably laid down with half of the men=
 in
this palace.=94

=09The woman was enveloped in fury.  =93How dare you say that.  The son is=
 yours.
I am not the palace harlot.=94

=09=93I simply refuse to think he is mine.  Even though you slept with me,=
 you
have probably slept with another after.  Nothing would be stopping you.=94

=09The woman started to tremble, her disgust with the Sultan plain on her =
face.
The whole palace seemed to stop.  The people who had been quietly
eavesdropping had called the argument to the party=92s attention.

=09The woman didn=92t seem to notice as she glared at Haresh.  =93You take=
 my word,
you Highness.  I, Sheela Irshad, will make sure that my son will get what =
it
his by law.  The throne will be his!=94  The woman then turned on her heel=
 and
stormed out of the banquet hall.

=09The people watching the party looked at Haresh, who was still looking d=
own
the hallway which the woman had left by.  He then turned around and faced =
the
guests.  =93My friends, I am sorry for the interruption.  It seems that on=
e of
my dear friends has decided to play a small trick on me.=94

=09The crowd shot the Sultan skeptical looks.  The Sultan just shrugged.  =
=93I
guess that different people have different ideas of what is funny and what=
 is
not.  Please do not let this little joke damper the celebration.=94

=09With that, Haresh motioned for the band to start playing.  The conducto=
r
shook his head as if he was clearing it and then started the orchestra.  T=
he
people at the party stood for a moment, discussing what had happened, and =
then
decided to continue with the festivities.  

=09Haresh sighed and went to his wife, who was on the balcony and looking =
at the
stars.  As soon as he got to her she started.  =93Do you honestly believe =
that
I=92m going to believe that story, you are mistaken.=94  Nala crossed her =
arms
across her chest.  =93I do not appreciated that the day we announce that w=
e are
getting an heir, a woman I do not know barges in here claiming the throne =
for
her own son.=94

=09Haresh placed his hands on Nala=92s shoulders, his eyes were pleading f=
or
understanding.  =93My wife, it was just a woman who was not happy with her=
 life
and wanted into the palace.  The only way that she could find to get into =
the
palace was by saying her son was mine.=94
=09
=09Nala broke out of her husband=92s grip and continued to watch the stars=
, not
enjoying the serene view.  =93I would love to believe you but it could be
possible.  I am not by your side every hour.  I do not know every single t=
ask
that you perform.=94
=09
=09Haresh cursed under his breath.  If she suspected, of all people, that =
the
rumor was true, his name would be ruined.  =93How could one night make...=
=94 he
wondered before walking up to his wife and placing an arm around her.
=93Please, you must believe me.  We are already going to receive an heir, =
why
would I have to go to another to receive one?=94

=09Nala closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  When she opened them, she=
 faced
her husband.  =93You know how hard it has been...  We didn=92t think that =
it would
happen.=94

=09Haresh took one of her hands and kissed it.  =93My dear, I have never g=
iven up
hope.  I would rather not have a son if his mother was not you.=94

=09Nala smiled a little.  =93I hope so.=94 Nala then took his other hand i=
n hers.
=93We still haven=92t decided on a name.=94

=09Haresh squeezed her hands and looked off into the sky.  =93What do you =
think we
should name him?=94

=09Nala looked off the balcony, watching the people file out of the palace=
.  She
had giving a lot of thought to what she would name her son.  She finally
decided on her father=92s name.

=09She smiled at her husband.  =93We shall name him Hadji.=94

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Well, that's the end of part one.  I hope that you enjoyed it.  Comments,
suggestions, and criticisms are appreciated.  Thank you for reading.

Babe


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