حَدائِقُ الحَمْراء

The Gardens of Alhambra

الفصل الأول: الأَسيرُ

Chapter One: The Captive

في السَّنَةِ الأَخيرَةِ مِنْ حُكْمِ غَرْناطَةَ، حينَ كانَتِ الحُروبُ تَشْتَعِلُ عَلى الحُدودِ، جيءَ بِأَسيرٍ إلى قَصْرِ الحَمْراءِ. كانَ فارِساً قَشْتالِيّاً يُدْعى رودريغو، طَويلاً أَشْقَرَ الشَّعْرِ بِعَيْنَيْنِ زَرْقاوَيْنِ كَالبَحْرِ.

In the final year of Granada's rule, when wars blazed at the borders, a captive was brought to the Alhambra palace. He was a Castilian knight named Rodrigo, tall with blond hair and eyes as blue as the sea.

رَأَتْهُ الأَميرَةُ زُهْرَةُ مِنْ شُرْفَتِها وَهُمْ يَقودونَهُ مُكَبَّلاً. شَيْءٌ ما في نَظْرَتِهِ الشّامِخَةِ رَغْمَ القُيودِ أَثارَ اهْتِمامَها.

Princess Zahra saw him from her balcony as they led him shackled. Something in his proud gaze despite the chains sparked her interest.

كانَتْ زُهْرَةُ في الخامِسَةِ وَالعِشْرينَ، ابْنَةَ السُّلْطانِ الأَخيرِ، امْرَأَةً مُمْتَلِئَةَ الجَسَدِ بِبَشَرَةٍ زَيْتونِيَّةٍ وَعَيْنَيْنِ سَوْداوَيْنِ عَميقَتَيْنِ.

Zahra was twenty-five, daughter of the last Sultan, a full-bodied woman with olive skin and deep black eyes.

"مَنْ هذا الأَسيرُ؟" سَأَلَتْ خادِمَتَها.

"Who is this captive?" she asked her maid.

"فارِسٌ قَشْتالِيٌّ، يا سَيِّدَتي. أَسَرَهُ جُنودُنا في المَعْرَكَةِ الأَخيرَةِ."

"A Castilian knight, my lady. Our soldiers captured him in the last battle."

"أُريدُ أَنْ أَراهُ."

"I want to see him."

الفصل الثاني: زِيارَةٌ لَيْلِيَّة

Chapter Two: A Nocturnal Visit

في تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ، تَسَلَّلَتْ زُهْرَةُ إلى السِّجْنِ مُتَنَكِّرَةً في ثِيابِ خادِمَةٍ. وَجَدَتْ رودريغو جالِساً في زِنْزانَتِهِ، عَيْناهُ تَلْمَعانِ في الظَّلامِ.

That night, Zahra crept to the prison disguised in servant's clothes. She found Rodrigo sitting in his cell, his eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"مَنْ أَنْتِ؟" سَأَلَها بِالعَرَبِيَّةِ المَكْسورَةِ.

"Who are you?" he asked in broken Arabic.

"أَنا... مُجَرَّدُ خادِمَةٍ جاءَتْ لِتَرى الأَسيرَ الشَّهيرَ."

"I am... merely a servant who came to see the famous captive."

ابْتَسَمَ. "خادِمَةٌ بِيَدَيْنِ ناعِمَتَيْنِ وَعِطْرٍ مَلَكِيٍّ؟ أَنْتِ أَميرَةٌ، أَلَيْسَ كَذلِكَ؟"

He smiled. "A servant with soft hands and royal perfume? You are a princess, are you not?"

احْمَرَّ وَجْهُها. "كَيْفَ عَرَفْتَ؟"

Her face reddened. "How did you know?"

"في بِلادي أَيْضاً أَميراتٌ فُضولِيّاتٌ."

"In my land too there are curious princesses."

جَلَسَتْ أَمامَ قُضْبانِ زِنْزانَتِهِ. "لِماذا تُحارِبونَنا؟"

She sat before the bars of his cell. "Why do you fight us?"

"لِأَنَّ مُلوكَنا يَأْمُرونَنا. لكِنّي شَخْصِيّاً لا أَكْرَهُكُمْ."

"Because our kings command us. But personally, I do not hate you."

الفصل الثالث: دُروسُ اللُّغَة

Chapter Three: Language Lessons

عادَتْ زُهْرَةُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ. في البِدايَةِ كانَتْ تُعَلِّمُهُ العَرَبِيَّةَ، وَهُوَ يُعَلِّمُها القَشْتالِيَّةَ. لكِنَّ الدُّروسَ تَحَوَّلَتْ إلى أَحاديثَ، وَالأَحاديثَ إلى مَشاعِرَ.

Zahra returned every night. At first she taught him Arabic, and he taught her Castilian. But the lessons turned into conversations, and conversations into feelings.

"في بِلادِكَ، هَلِ النِّساءُ مِثْلي مَرْغوباتٌ؟" سَأَلَتْهُ ذاتَ لَيْلَةٍ.

"In your land, are women like me desired?" she asked one night.

"مِثْلَكِ؟" نَظَرَ إلَيْها. "تَعْنينَ جَميلاتٍ؟"

"Like you?" He looked at her. "You mean beautiful?"

"أَعْني... مُمْتَلِئاتِ الجَسَدِ."

"I mean... full of body."

اقْتَرَبَ مِنَ القُضْبانِ. "في بِلادي، امْرَأَةٌ بِجَسَدِكِ تُعْتَبَرُ حُلْمَ كُلِّ فارِسٍ. نَهْدانِ يَمْلَآنِ اليَدَيْنِ، وَوِرْكانِ لِلْإِمْساكِ، وَبَطْنٌ ناعِمَةٌ لِلاسْتِلْقاءِ عَلَيْها."

He approached the bars. "In my land, a woman with your body is considered every knight's dream. Breasts that fill the hands, hips to hold, and a soft belly to lie upon."

شَعَرَتْ بِحَرارَةٍ تَسْري في جَسَدِها. "أَنْتَ تُغازِلُني، أَيُّها الأَسيرُ."

She felt heat flow through her body. "You are flirting with me, captive."

"أُغازِلُ الحَقيقَةَ فَقَطْ، يا أَميرَتي."

"I flirt only with the truth, my princess."

الفصل الرابع: في الحَديقَة

Chapter Four: In the Garden

بَعْدَ أُسْبوعَيْنِ، أَقْنَعَتْ زُهْرَةُ والِدَها بِأَنْ يَجْعَلَ رودريغو خادِماً في الحَدائِقِ بَدَلاً مِنَ السِّجْنِ. هَكَذا أَصْبَحَتْ لِقاءاتُهُما أَسْهَلَ.

After two weeks, Zahra convinced her father to make Rodrigo a servant in the gardens instead of prison. Thus their meetings became easier.

ذاتَ لَيْلَةٍ، في حَديقَةِ الأُسودِ حَيْثُ تَتَدَفَّقُ النَّوافيرُ، وَجَدَتْهُ يَنْتَظِرُها.

One night, in the Court of the Lions where fountains flowed, she found him waiting for her.

"جِئْتِ،" قالَ بِفَرَحٍ.

"You came," he said joyfully.

"لَمْ أَسْتَطِعِ البَقاءَ بَعيدَةً."

"I could not stay away."

اقْتَرَبَتْ مِنْهُ حَتّى شَعَرَتْ بِأَنْفاسِهِ عَلى وَجْهِها. "هذا خَطيرٌ، يا زُهْرَةُ. إذا رَآنا أَحَدٌ..."

She approached until she felt his breath on her face. "This is dangerous, Zahra. If someone sees us..."

"لا أُبالي. حَياتي كُلُّها كانَتْ سِجْناً مِنَ القَواعِدِ. أُريدُ أَنْ أَشْعُرَ بِالحُرِّيَّةِ وَلَوْ لِلَحْظَةٍ."

"I don't care. My whole life has been a prison of rules. I want to feel freedom even for a moment."

قَبَّلَها. شَفَتاهُ دافِئَتانِ عَلى شَفَتَيْها. ذَراعاهُ القَوِيَّتانِ تَلُفّانِ جَسَدَها المُمْتَلِئَ.

He kissed her. His lips warm on hers. His strong arms wrapping around her full body.

الفصل الخامس: خَلْفَ النّافورَة

Chapter Five: Behind the Fountain

قادَها إلى مَكانٍ مَخْفِيٍّ خَلْفَ النّافورَةِ الكَبيرَةِ، حَيْثُ الظَّلامُ يَحْميهِما مِنَ العُيونِ.

He led her to a hidden place behind the great fountain, where darkness protected them from eyes.

"أُريدُ أَنْ أَراكِ،" هَمَسَ. "كُلَّكِ."

"I want to see you," he whispered. "All of you."

بِيَدَيْنِ مُرْتَجِفَتَيْنِ، أَزالَتْ ثِيابَها. ظَهَرَ جَسَدُها الأَبْيَضُ المُمْتَلِئُ في ضَوْءِ القَمَرِ. نَهْداها الكَبيرانِ مُسْتَديرانِ كَقِبابِ قَصْرِها، وَبَطْنُها ناعِمَةٌ مُنْحَنِيَةٌ، وَوِرْكاها عَريضَتانِ خَصْبَتانِ.

With trembling hands, she removed her clothes. Her white, full body appeared in the moonlight. Her large breasts round as the domes of her palace, her belly soft and curved, and her hips wide and fertile.

"يا إلهي،" تَنَهَّدَ رودريغو. "أَنْتِ أَجْمَلُ مِنْ حورِيّاتِ جَنَّتِكُمْ."

"My God," Rodrigo sighed. "You are more beautiful than the houris of your paradise."

خَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ فَظَهَرَ جَسَدُهُ المَفْتولُ وَذَكَرُهُ المُنْتَصِبُ. أَخَذَها بَيْنَ ذِراعَيْهِ وَقَبَّلَ عُنُقَها.

He removed his clothes, revealing his muscular body and erect member. He took her in his arms and kissed her neck.

"رائِحَتُكِ كَالياسَمينِ،" هَمَسَ وَهُوَ يَنْزِلُ بِقُبُلاتِهِ نَحْوَ صَدْرِها.

"You smell like jasmine," he whispered as his kisses descended toward her chest.

الفصل السادس: رَقْصَةُ الماءِ وَالنّار

Chapter Six: Dance of Water and Fire

أَجْلَسَها عَلى حافَةِ النّافورَةِ المُبَلَّلَةِ وَرَكَعَ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْها. بَدَأَ يَلْعَقُ زَهْرَتَها بِلِسانٍ ماهِرٍ.

He sat her on the wet edge of the fountain and knelt between her thighs. He began to lick her flower with a skilled tongue.

"آهٍ، رودريغو!" أَنَّتْ. "لَمْ أَشْعُرْ بِهذا مِنْ قَبْلُ!"

"Ah, Rodrigo!" she moaned. "I have never felt this before!"

اسْتَمَرَّ يَلْعَقُها وَيَمُصُّ بُرْعُمَها حَتّى وَصَلَتْ إلى ذُرْوَتِها الأولى. جَسَدُها يَرْتَجِفُ، يَداها تُمْسِكانِ بِشَعْرِهِ الأَشْقَرِ.

He continued licking her and sucking her bud until she reached her first peak. Her body trembling, her hands gripping his blond hair.

ثُمَّ قامَ وَدَخَلَها واقِفاً، رافِعاً إحْدى ساقَيْها المُمْتَلِئَتَيْنِ. صَرَخَتْ مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ وَالامْتِلاءِ.

Then he rose and entered her standing, lifting one of her full legs. She cried out from pleasure and fullness.

"أَنْتِ ضَيِّقَةٌ كَبَوّابَةِ الجَنَّةِ،" أَنَّ.

"You are tight as the gate of paradise," he moaned.

الماءُ يَتَناثَرُ حَوْلَهُما مِنَ النّافورَةِ، وَهُما يَتَحَرَّكانِ في إيقاعٍ مُتَصاعِدٍ.

Water splashed around them from the fountain as they moved in an escalating rhythm.

الفصل السابع: الذُّرْوَةُ في الحَمْراء

Chapter Seven: Climax in the Alhambra

أَنْزَلَها عَلى العُشْبِ النّاعِمِ وَاسْتَلْقى فَوْقَها، جَسَدُهُ يُغَطّي جَسَدَها الفاتِنَ. دَخَلَها بِعُمْقٍ وَبَدَأَ يَتَحَرَّكُ بِقُوَّةٍ.

He lowered her onto the soft grass and lay above her, his body covering her enchanting body. He entered her deeply and began to move forcefully.

نَهْداها يَهْتَزّانِ مَعَ كُلِّ دَفْعَةٍ، وَأَرْدافُها تَرْتَطِمُ بِالأَرْضِ. كانَتْ تُحيطُهُ بِذِراعَيْها وَساقَيْها، تَجْذِبُهُ أَعْمَقَ داخِلَها.

Her breasts swayed with each thrust, and her buttocks struck the ground. She surrounded him with her arms and legs, pulling him deeper inside her.

"أَنا قَريبَةٌ!" صَرَخَتْ.

"I am close!" she cried.

"وَأَنا أَيْضاً، يا حَبيبَتي!"

"And I as well, my beloved!"

وَصَلا إلى الذُّرْوَةِ مَعاً. صَرَخَ رودريغو اسْمَها بِالقَشْتالِيَّةِ وَالعَرَبِيَّةِ وَهُوَ يُفْرِغُ نَفْسَهُ داخِلَها. وَصَرَخَتْ هِيَ صَرْخَةً كَتَمَها فَمُهُ بِقُبْلَةٍ.

They reached the peak together. Rodrigo cried her name in Castilian and Arabic as he emptied himself inside her. And she let out a cry that his mouth silenced with a kiss.

الخاتِمَة

Epilogue

سَقَطَتْ غَرْناطَةُ في العامِ التّالي. وَفي الفَوْضى، هَرَبَ رودريغو وَزُهْرَةُ مَعاً إلى شَمالِ أَفْريقيا.

Granada fell the following year. And in the chaos, Rodrigo and Zahra fled together to North Africa.

هُناكَ، اعْتَنَقَ الإسْلامَ وَتَزَوَّجَها. وَعاشا في مَدينَةِ فاسَ، يَتَذَكَّرانِ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ حَدائِقَ الحَمْراءِ حَيْثُ بَدَأَ حُبُّهُما المُحَرَّمُ.

There, he embraced Islam and married her. They lived in the city of Fez, remembering every night the gardens of Alhambra where their forbidden love began.

وَيُقالُ إنَّ شَبَحَيْهِما لا يَزالانِ يَتَجَوَّلانِ في حَدائِقِ القَصْرِ في اللَّيالي المُقْمِرَةِ.

And it is said that their ghosts still wander the palace gardens on moonlit nights.

انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | The End