As they made their way out of the castle, Alia took careful note of exactly how Luca was walking to the outside. Right, left, left, right, she repeated constantly, moving her head all around to try and memorize important markers.
Seeing her look all about, Luca knew that she was likely memorizing the route to try and escape. He laughed, "My love, the garden may be outside the castle, but there is a 30 foot wall around the garden, there is no way past the walls."
Feeling like a failure, Alia felt embarrassed and hung her head down in defeat. Luca lifted her up to nuzzle his nose against her hair. "Sorry, my love, it's all to protect you. I couldn't bear it if someone were to hurt you while you enjoy your garden."
Hearing this, she couldn't help but smile, but it brought confusion to her heart. She couldn't help but feel at home with this man, but he had kidnapped her and he hurt people. And he had slaves. These were all terrible things.
All semblance of confusion vanished as he carried her outside. Surrounded by flowers of all sizes, colors, and scents, Alia was in awe. A small brick pathway twisted and turned and as Luca walked her down the path, she felt like she was in a dream. Pink roses, yellow tulips, orchids, blue roses, red roses, purple tulips, white carnations, each flower and color drew her eyes in. Within all the flowers, beautiful lush green bushes were accompanied by even more lush grass, breathing life into Alia's soul. Her smile grew wider and wider with each turn, and Luca felt more and more proud as her smile grew. He knew how to make her happy, and he would continue to do so every moment of every day. Her eyes had twinkled in joy, but they grew even more as they approached the center of the garden, its pride and joy. A massive 40 foot waterfall consisting of 3 smaller waterfalls fell with the sound of waves rushing down the fall into the pool beneath. If she hadn't known better, Alia would have thought that she was in a national park, the view was that beautiful with a sky blue background and tall trees accompanying the waterfall.
Alia gently turned and motioned, indicating that she wanted to be let down. Reluctantly, Luca set her on the floor, but continued to hold her hand, to communicate and to ensure that she was safe. Dragging him along, Alia made her way to the pool as if in a trance. She silently pulled her nightgown upto her knees so that her feet and legs could sit in the water. Displeased, Luca let out a little growl, but said nothing. He knew that he was close and the guards knew better than to look at her.
Watching her continue to watch the waterfall, it was clear to Luca that they would be here for a while. He quickly whispered to a slave standing nearby that they should have lunch set up here without so much as a sound. He didn't want to distract her. But as he was explaining his instructions, he was startled by a loud giggle.
He spun around, looking for the source, hoping it was Alia, and was stopped in his tracks. Alia was holding a bunny, gently stroking it as it wriggled in her hands, its nose and face burying into her stomach, twitching. She looked so beautiful and serene, her lips parting as she let out another giggle and beamed down at the bunny. Luca was dazed.
Alia didn't even notice the man staring at her. All she saw was the adorable bunny in her lap that was tickling her with its nose. With her legs swinging carelessly in the water, she let herself escape into her happy place. She wasn't going to lie, this garden was pretty damn close to the happy place she had always built in her memories.
Not wanting to move his eyes for even a second, he beckoned the women he had been speaking to earlier back close to him. He whispered new instructions to them and had the two of them scatter as he went to lean against a nearby tree, watching her continue in delight.
Not soon after, one of the women returned with two more bunnies, which she silently placed near the Queen. Alia squealed as she half turned to pick another one up. In that much time, her first bunny squirmed its way to freedom and Alia frowned. The woman standing near her wordlessly began to chase the escaping bunnies and bring them back to her while Alia played with the ones near her. In order to have better access, Alia spun around, remaining seated so that the pool was to her right and Luca could now see her face on. That was not Alia's intention and she was very aware of his steady gaze, but she didn't care. It was bunny playtime and she was in her happy place.
Luca smiled watching his Queen get more and more excited as other slaves brought bunnies in from the other parts of the garden. He had ordered that no less than a dozen bunnies be released into the gardens, for his Queen to play with, and clearly it was the right order to give. Soon, she was surrounded by 9 bunnies and the five women who had brought them near her were chasing the runaways nonstop, ensuring that their Queen was constantly surrounded by the bunnies.
As it was running around, one of the bunnies accidentally hopped into the water. Alia shrieked and tried to grab it but in the process, she fell in the water, her right side hitting the water with a satisfying splash. Luca's eyes flashed and he ran over to her quickly. Kneeling near the edge of the pool, he reached in and grabbed her left arm gently and pulled her up so that her head was out of the water. Scolding himself internally for not being closer, he proceeded to reach in and grab her legs to completely lift her out of the water. Alia was not making it easy, still trying to reach back in for the bunny that was a good 15 feet from her.
Luca sighed, "Slave! Go get the damn bunny!" One of the women bowed and slipped into the water, wading as she made her way towards the struggling creature. She grabbed it and waded over to the grass near Alia and Luca, silently offering the Queen the squirming animal. Alia grabbed it and instantly began rubbing its body, trying to give it warmth. Looking about her frantically, she saw nothing to wrap the bunny in that would keep it warm for long. Even her clothes were soaking. But her eyes stopped as she saw Luca's hands resting over her shoulders.
She spun around, looking at him. He was wearing a leather jacket. She pointed towards his jacket, remaining silent. Luca was puzzled, "My Queen, my jacket?" Alia nodded, lifting up the bunny, trying to get him to understand the silent message. Luca understood, but he wanted her to speak, so he asked like a child, "What about my jacket?" Alia motioned that he should take it off, gently pushing one end off his shoulder. He continued to tease, "You want to cuddle under it?" She shook her head furiously and pushed the other shoulder off. "My love, I don't understand. Do you want me to buy you a jacket like mine?" She again shook her head and tried to pull it off of him. But he was not stopping his game, not until she said what she wanted. "You have to tell me, love."
Alia sighed, exasperated. She prayed he wouldn't get angry at her, but she needed something warm for the bunny now. "I want to wrap the bunny in your jacket, please," she said, keeping her eyes cast down in fear. It didn't matter how strong she was when she ran away or in her mind, she was terrified of him and his anger.
Luca smiled. There we go, he thought to himself. But he didn't like that she had her eyes cast down and that she was so meek. He knew she was capable of making demands, he wanted that Alia. He gently placed his hand under her chin and pulled her face up so that she was looking into his eyes. "My love, remember what I said. You command, you don't ask. Everyone here, even me, is yours to command."
He then slipped off his jacket and handed it to her. She took it with a trembling hand and quickly wrapped the bunny in the jacket, continuing to rub it. Near her, the women tried not to stare. The King had just given the Queen his favorite jacket, one that cost near $1500 to wrap a bunny in. Without saying a word.
They stayed like that for a few moments, with Alia staring at the bunny, trying to warm it, and Luca staring at her, trying to spread warmth to Alia. He knew that she was cold from being wet but for some reason, she was saying nothing. And these damn women were staring, instead of anticipating their Queen's needs as they should be.
"You! Go grab something warm for your Queen to be wrapped in," he barked out. The woman he pointed to bowed and ran.
While she was gone, another set of women walked into the garden, carrying three dome covered trays. Along with bringing other bunnies, Luca had given the order for dinner to be brought to the garden. As the women set the trays down and removed the domes, Alia's mouth began to drool. The tray in front of her was a plate filled with the home of her family, Punjab. There was rice, saag (traditional mustard leaves and spinach dish), chitte chhole (white garbanzo beans), bhindi (okra), rajma (kidney beans), and dahi (curd) all placed in little bowls in a large plate that also contained a roti and raw white onion pieces, similar to the thalis she had grown up eating. One additional bowl remained covered with a lid and while Alia was curious to know the contents, she had the bunny in her arms. Somehow, they knew her favorite Punjabi dishes and prepared them in the same way she used to eat them at home.
What she didn't know was that Luca's tracker had contacted her sister and learned all of her favorites, under the guise of being a coworker trying to surprise her. Luca had instructed his kitchen slaves to learn exactly how to make these foods and hired a Punjabi woman to come teach them. Seeing Alia almost drool at the sight, Luca knew that they had learned well.
Alia shifted to try and grab a bite while holding the squirming but shivering bunny with one hand, but was stopped in her tracks. "Have you forgotten, my angel?" He whispered, almost seductively. She shuddered in response, but moved her hand back to the bunny. Of course, he would want to feed her. Glancing at the tray beside him, Luca ensured that they were eating the same thing. He had looked up how to eat Punjabi food traditionally and called upon a few of his slaves to learn all the Punjabi traditions and mannerisms so that they could teach him.
Luca very carefully constructed a bite for Alia, knowing that she was subtly watching him. He offered his hand to her in case she didn't think he was doing it right. On feeling no tap, he felt a slight pang of victory, as he brought the bite to her lips and she took it without question. Stroking her hair, he asked, "Does it taste good, my love? Did I do it right?" She nodded, her hands full with the bunny, embarrassed at the moan that she repressed as she tasted the food.
It reminded her of home, a place that she hadn't been to in years. She had no home now, and even though she could cook Punjabi food, her cooking was mediocre at best, so she never felt the same satisfaction. But something about this moment, about this food, drew her back to home.
Luca continued to feed her taking his own bites in between hers. He took a break when the blanket for Alia had arrived to tenderly wrap it around her. Through it all, his eyes remained fixed, never leaving her face as she smiled sadly, almost lost in her own world. He hated that she was sad, but he was curious about the story behind it. But he also knew that she wouldn't tell him now, she needed time. So, he did what he did every meal, he encouraged her in between bites, "My love, you are so amazing, I love you so much. You are so amazing."
Like breakfast this morning, Alia couldn't help but feel joy and care from his actions. She was terrified on the whole and she wanted to run away, but this moment, she felt serene with him.
Like it was meant to be.
Like a moth being drawn to a flame, something was drawing her in to him.