The Swordsmith's Beloved of Toledo | حَبيبَةُ صانِعِ السُّيوفِ في طُلَيْطِلَة
"In the forges of Toledo, a master swordsmith's lonely wife finds fierce passion with the young apprentice whose hands shape steel by day and her body by night."
حَبيبَةُ صانِعِ السُّيوفِ في طُلَيْطِلَة
The Swordsmith's Beloved of Toledo
الفصل الأول: مَدينَةُ السُّيوف
Chapter One: The City of Swords
في طُلَيْطِلَةَ، حَيْثُ تُصْنَعُ أَمْضى سُيوفِ الأَنْدَلُسِ، عاشَ الحَدّادُ الأَعْظَمُ يَحْيى بنُ قاسِمٍ. رَجُلٌ في السِّتّينَ، أَصابِعُهُ ماهِرَةٌ لكِنَّ ظَهْرَهُ مُنْحَنٍ وَعَيْنَيْهِ ضَعيفَتانِ.
In Toledo, where the sharpest swords of Andalusia were forged, lived the greatest blacksmith Yahya ibn Qasim. A man of sixty, his fingers skilled but his back bent and his eyes weak.
زَوْجَتُهُ، صَفِيَّةُ، كانَتْ شابَّةً في الثّانِيَةِ وَالثَّلاثينَ. تَزَوَّجَها قَبْلَ عَشْرِ سَنَواتٍ حينَ كانَتْ فَتاةً يَتيمَةً، وَأَعْطاها بَيْتاً وَطَعاماً، لكِنَّهُ لَمْ يُعْطِها حُبّاً.
His wife, Safiya, was young at thirty-two. He married her ten years ago when she was an orphan girl, and gave her a home and food, but he never gave her love.
جَسَدُها مُمْتَلِئٌ كَسُيوفِ طُلَيْطِلَةَ، قَوِيٌّ وَجَميلٌ. شَعْرُها أَحْمَرُ كَالنّارِ التي تُصْهَرُ فيها المَعادِنُ، وَعَيْناها خَضْراوانِ كَزُمُرُّدِ الأُمَراءِ.
Her body was full like the swords of Toledo, strong and beautiful. Her hair was red as the fire in which metals were smelted, and her eyes green as the emeralds of princes.
"يا زَوْجي،" كانَتْ تَتَوَسَّلُ، "تَعالَ إلى فِراشي."
"O my husband," she would plead, "come to my bed."
"أَنا مُتْعَبٌ يا صَفِيَّةُ. السُّيوفُ تَنْتَظِرُني."
"I am tired, Safiya. The swords await me."
الفصل الثاني: المُتَدَرِّبُ الجَديد
Chapter Two: The New Apprentice
وَصَلَ حَسَنُ بنُ طارِقٍ إلى الوَرْشَةِ في رَبيعِ ذلِكَ العامِ. شابٌّ في السّادِسَةِ وَالعِشْرينَ مِنَ القُرْطُبِيّينَ، طَويلٌ عَريضُ الكَتِفَيْنِ، بِعَضَلاتٍ صُلْبَةٍ كَالحَديدِ الذي يُشَكِّلُهُ.
Hasan ibn Tariq arrived at the workshop in the spring of that year. A young man of twenty-six from the Cordobans, tall and broad-shouldered, with muscles hard as the iron he shaped.
"أُريدُ أَنْ أَتَعَلَّمَ صِناعَةَ السُّيوفِ،" قالَ لِيَحْيى.
"I want to learn the craft of swordmaking," he said to Yahya.
"الطَّريقُ طَويلٌ وَصَعْبٌ."
"The path is long and difficult."
"أَنا مُسْتَعِدٌّ."
"I am ready."
رَأَتْهُ صَفِيَّةُ مِنَ النّافِذَةِ. قَلْبُها دَقَّ بِقُوَّةٍ. لَمْ تَرَ رَجُلاً بِهذا الجَمالِ مِنْ قَبْلُ.
Safiya saw him from the window. Her heart pounded hard. She had never seen such a handsome man before.
"مَنْ هذا؟" سَأَلَتْ زَوْجَها.
"Who is this?" she asked her husband.
"مُتَدَرِّبٌ جَديدٌ. لا شَأْنَ لَكِ بِهِ."
"A new apprentice. He is no concern of yours."
الفصل الثالث: نارُ الوَرْشَة
Chapter Three: The Fire of the Workshop
مَرَّتِ الأَسابيعُ. كانَ حَسَنُ يَعْمَلُ في الوَرْشَةِ طَوالَ النَّهارِ، جَسَدُهُ يَلْمَعُ بِالعَرَقِ وَعَضَلاتُهُ تَتَحَرَّكُ تَحْتَ جِلْدِهِ.
Weeks passed. Hasan worked in the workshop all day, his body glistening with sweat and his muscles moving under his skin.
كانَتْ صَفِيَّةُ تَجِدُ أَعْذاراً لِدُخولِ الوَرْشَةِ. تَأْتي بِالماءِ وَالطَّعامِ، عَيْناها لا تُفارِقانِ حَسَناً.
Safiya found excuses to enter the workshop. She brought water and food, her eyes never leaving Hasan.
ذاتَ يَوْمٍ، وَيَحْيى غائِبٌ في السّوقِ، دَخَلَتْ لِتَجِدَ حَسَناً وَحْدَهُ أَمامَ الكيرِ.
One day, with Yahya absent in the market, she entered to find Hasan alone before the furnace.
"أَحْضَرْتُ لَكَ ماءً."
"I brought you water."
"شُكْراً يا سَيِّدَتي."
"Thank you, my lady."
"لا تُسَمِّني سَيِّدَتي. اُدْعُني صَفِيَّةَ."
"Don't call me my lady. Call me Safiya."
"هذا لا يَليقُ. أَنْتِ زَوْجَةُ أُسْتاذي."
"That is not proper. You are my master's wife."
"وَماذا في ذلِكَ؟"
"And what of it?"
الفصل الرابع: الحَديدُ المُنْصَهِر
Chapter Four: The Molten Iron
تَقَرَّبَتْ مِنْهُ. حَرارَةُ الكيرِ تَجْعَلُ الهَواءَ ثَقيلاً.
She approached him. The heat of the furnace made the air heavy.
"أَراكِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ،" قالَ حَسَنُ بِصَوْتٍ خافِتٍ. "وَكُلَّ يَوْمٍ أَجِدُ صُعوبَةً في التَّرْكيزِ."
"I see you every day," said Hasan in a low voice. "And every day I find it difficult to concentrate."
"لِماذا؟"
"Why?"
"لِأَنَّكِ أَجْمَلُ مِنَ النّارِ التي أُحَدِّقُ فيها."
"Because you are more beautiful than the fire I stare at."
"الحَديدُ أَمْ أَنا؟"
"The iron or me?"
"أَنْتِ. الحَديدُ بارِدٌ مُقارَنَةً بِكِ."
"You. The iron is cold compared to you."
أَمْسَكَتْ يَدَهُ. كانَتْ خَشِنَةً مِنَ العَمَلِ، لكِنَّها دافِئَةٌ.
She took his hand. It was rough from work, but warm.
"زَوْجي لا يَلْمِسُني مُنْذُ سَنَواتٍ."
"My husband has not touched me for years."
"كَيْفَ يُمْكِنُ لِرَجُلٍ أَنْ يَتْرُكَ كَنْزاً مِثْلَكِ؟"
"How can a man leave a treasure like you?"
الفصل الخامس: في غُرْفَةِ الأَدَواتِ
Chapter Five: In the Tool Room
قادَتْهُ إلى غُرْفَةِ الأَدَواتِ في خَلْفِ الوَرْشَةِ. أَغْلَقَتِ البابَ.
She led him to the tool room at the back of the workshop. She closed the door.
"هذا جُنونٌ،" قالَ.
"This is madness," he said.
"الجُنونُ أَنْ أَموتَ مِنَ الشَّوْقِ وَأَنْتَ أَمامي."
"The madness is to die of longing while you are before me."
قَبَّلَها بِعُنْفٍ. شَفَتاهُ ساخِنَتانِ كَالحَديدِ المُنْصَهِرِ.
He kissed her violently. His lips were hot as molten iron.
"مَذاقُكِ حُلْوٌ كَالعَسَلِ."
"Your taste is sweet as honey."
مَزَّقَ ثَوْبَها. ظَهَرَ جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ، أَبْيَضُ كَالفِضَّةِ في ظَلامِ الغُرْفَةِ.
He tore her gown. Her full body appeared, white as silver in the darkness of the room.
"يا إلهي!" هَمَسَ. "جَسَدُكِ أَجْمَلُ سَيْفٍ صَنَعَتْهُ يَدايَ."
"My God!" he whispered. "Your body is the most beautiful sword my hands have made."
الفصل السادس: صَقْلُ السَّيْف
Chapter Six: Polishing the Sword
أَلْقاها عَلى طاوِلَةِ الأَدَواتِ. قَبَّلَ نَهْدَيْها الكَبيرَيْنِ، لِسانُهُ يَدورُ حَوْلَ حَلَمَتَيْها.
He threw her on the tool table. He kissed her large breasts, his tongue circling around her nipples.
"أَقْوى!" صَرَخَتْ. "عامِلْني كَما تُعامِلُ الحَديدَ!"
"Harder!" she cried. "Treat me as you treat the iron!"
عَضَّ حَلَمَتَها بِرِفْقٍ. صَرَخَتْ مِنَ اللَّذَّةِ.
He bit her nipple gently. She cried out from pleasure.
"أَنْتِ تُريدينَ القُوَّةَ؟ سَأُعْطيكِ القُوَّةَ."
"You want strength? I will give you strength."
نَزَلَ إلى بَطْنِها المُمْتَلِئَةِ. قَبَّلَها وَعَضَّها.
He descended to her full belly. He kissed it and bit it.
"اسْتَمِرَّ! لا تَتَوَقَّفْ!"
"Continue! Don't stop!"
وَصَلَ بَيْنَ فَخِذَيْها. فَتَحَهُما بِقُوَّةٍ وَلَحَسَ زَهْرَتَها.
He reached between her thighs. He spread them forcefully and licked her flower.
"آآآهٍ!" صَرَخَتْ. "هكَذا! بِالضَّبْطِ هكَذا!"
"Ahhh!" she cried. "Like this! Exactly like this!"
الفصل السابع: الضَّرْبَةُ الأَخيرَة
Chapter Seven: The Final Strike
خَلَعَ ثِيابَهُ. جَسَدُهُ كانَ مَنْحوتاً كَتِمْثالٍ، وَذَكَرُهُ صُلْبٌ كَسَيْفٍ مِنْ طُلَيْطِلَةَ.
He removed his clothes. His body was sculpted like a statue, and his member was hard as a sword from Toledo.
"خُذْني!" أَمَرَتْهُ. "اِخْتَرِقْني كَما يَخْتَرِقُ السَّيْفُ الدِّرْعَ!"
"Take me!" she commanded him. "Pierce me as a sword pierces armor!"
رَفَعَ ساقَيْها عَلى كَتِفَيْهِ وَدَخَلَها بِقُوَّةٍ.
He lifted her legs onto his shoulders and entered her forcefully.
"يا اللهُ!" صَرَخَتْ. "أَنْتَ تَمْلَأُني!"
"Oh God!" she cried. "You fill me!"
بَدَأَ يَتَحَرَّكُ بِعُنْفٍ. الطّاوِلَةُ تَهْتَزُّ وَالأَدَواتُ تَسْقُطُ.
He began to move violently. The table shook and the tools fell.
"أَقْوى! أَسْرَعُ!"
"Harder! Faster!"
جَسَدُها المُمْتَلِئُ يَرْتَجِفُ، نَهْداها الكَبيرانِ يَتَأَرْجَحانِ، وَصَوْتُها يَتَعالى.
Her full body trembled, her large breasts swung, and her voice rose.
"حَسَنُ! حَسَنُ!"
"Hasan! Hasan!"
الفصل الثامن: السَّيْفُ المُكْتَمِل
Chapter Eight: The Complete Sword
"أَنا قَريبَةٌ!" صَرَخَتْ.
"I am close!" she cried.
"أَنا أَيْضاً! مَعاً!"
"Me too! Together!"
زادَ قُوَّتَهُ. الضَّرَباتُ أَصْبَحَتْ كَضَرَباتِ المِطْرَقَةِ عَلى السِّنْدانِ.
He increased his force. The thrusts became like hammer strikes on an anvil.
"آآآهٍ!" صَرَخا مَعاً وَهُما يَصِلانِ إلى ذُرْوَتِهِما.
"Ahhh!" they cried together as they reached their peak.
أَفْرَغَ نَفْسَهُ داخِلَها، حَرارَتُهُ تَمْلَأُ رَحِمَها كَالحَديدِ المُنْصَهِرِ يَمْلَأُ القالَبَ.
He emptied himself inside her, his heat filling her womb like molten iron fills a mold.
اِنْهارا مَعاً، أَنْفاسُهُما ثَقيلَةٌ.
They collapsed together, their breaths heavy.
"هَلْ نَفْعَلُ هذا ثانِيَةً؟" سَأَلَتْهُ.
"Will we do this again?" she asked him.
"كُلَّ يَوْمٍ. كُلَّما غابَ زَوْجُكِ."
"Every day. Every time your husband is away."
الخاتِمَة
Epilogue
اسْتَمَرَّتْ لِقاءاتُهُما الخَفِيَّةُ سَنَواتٍ. وَيَحْيى العَجوزُ لَمْ يَعْرِفْ أَنَّ أَفْضَلَ سَيْفٍ صَنَعَهُ تِلْميذُهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنَ الحَديدِ، بَلْ مِنَ الحُبِّ المُحَرَّمِ.
Their secret meetings continued for years. And old Yahya never knew that the best sword his apprentice made was not of iron, but of forbidden love.
وَيُقالُ إنَّ حَسَناً صَنَعَ سَيْفاً سَمّاهُ "صَفِيَّةَ"، وَهُوَ الآنَ في مُتْحَفِ طُلَيْطِلَةَ، وَلا أَحَدَ يَعْرِفُ سِرَّ اسْمِهِ.
And it is said that Hasan made a sword he named "Safiya," and it is now in the Toledo museum, and no one knows the secret of its name.
انْتَهَتِ القِصَّة | The End