Thabita in his Palace
© Karin Ever Glow, 2025 and beyond. All rights reserved.
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Please note that this story is ongoing. Updated as soon as it is written. This means there might be some changes to previous versions without notice.
Amenokal (Sheik Khalid Saif Amir)
It had taken much longer than he had intended. But finally he was able to pick up Thabita and bring her to his palace. She still didn’t know who he was. Note even who she was. Her health still fragile, because of the hardships she’d endured. And tomorrow, tomorrow, he would take her to his palace.
He had heard that her kindness won everyone over during her stay in the camp. She even insisted on helping the other women with their chores when she started to feel better. They’ve protested, of course, a guest was a guest. Not someone who they would ask for help. Yet, she insisted she wanted to do something.
The women gave her light cooking tasks. And she started to learn their language too. He had heard that she asked a few time of information about him, but she learned nothing. The only thing his people told her that he was honourable, trustworthy, and kind. She even asked if he was married. They confirmed. Not even his own people knew he was engaged.
Much later than intended, they arrived at the camp. In the morning, just before their departure, he had received an unexpected call. First from his best friend, updating him about his investigation into the kidnapping of Thabita. And after that from his youngest sister. Telling him that she had very good news. And indeed, the news was good. She and her husband were expecting their first child.
He was eager to leave directly after those calls, but he could not do that without insulting the clan. Therefore, he stayed another hour, talking with the leader and members of the clan. Thanking them for their continuously support. It was already after midday before they were able to leave. They had to hurry to the camp where Thabita was, to not arrive too late.
A Warm Welcome
Just before sundown they arrived at the camp where they received a warm welcome. He was anxious to see Thabita, but she wasn’t among the people waiting for him. After welcoming him, the women urged him to sit down at the not yet lit, campfire.
When one of the women turned around to go into the kitchen tent, he heard her breath catch. Some men turned and they caught their breath too. He turned around, still standing, and immediately his legs started to shake. And he also caught his breath.
There was Thabita, in front of her tent. He was stunned. And he felt his legs tremble. He knew she was beautiful before he met her. The photos he had seen told this much. But now. She was a stunning beauty. The rest and the healing environment of this camp had done her extremely well. Even her pale skin had become a beautiful light golden sun kissed colour.
She walked towards him with red cheeks and made a courtesy bow. He took her elbow and felt sparkles fly from her to him. Almost 100% sure that she felt the same, by the confused look in her beautiful eyes, he helped her standup right.
Celebrating with the Camp
“No need to bow for me, it’s me Amenokal”, he said. Shy, she looked up and nodded. He asked for a cushion and helped her sit down, next to him, at the campfire. And then he asked the stunned leader and his wife to sit with them again. These weren’t normal circumstances, and the clan leader felt that the woman was extremely important to the Sheik. Even though she had no idea herself.
In a brief private interlude with the clan leader, during which the Sheik offered him compensation for the festivities, all clan members were invited to join in the celebration. To celebrate that Thabita was healthy again (at least physically). And this was thanks to all the residents of this small community.
The Sheik, Thabita, who was still not aware of his high position in the country, thanked the people and asked them to celebrate with him. With them. Offering drinks and food to the people himself. Urging them to sit down and relax.
First, the people of the camp felt onerously to sit down with the Sheik and let him do their work. But he remembered them that Thabita had no idea who he was, and he begged them to celebrate with them. They deserved that. So they did, not being able to refuse a request of their Sheik. Who they also had to call Amenokal, instead of “Sheik Khalid Saif”.
But it didn’t take long, and they started to enjoy the evening as much as the royal guests and their clan leader and family. It wasn’t strange to celebrate with their leader and his wife. The people of the clan were honoured and much appreciated by their leader. They needed each other, and a clan leader could not lead a clan without the respect and love of its people.
It was an evening and the beginning of the night, full of happiness and celebration. Celebrating of life of the woman who survived the desert. Although, still suffering from memory loss, Thabita was happy and had a warm feeling inside.
And when she looked at Amenokal she could see a future with him. For herself. But still, she didn’t know who she was. She might be married or engaged. She needed to find out where she came from and who she was before she could start a new life.
When she looked around, she saw that they were the only ones still outside. People in the desert tend to go to bed pretty early. Day always arrives too quick. She said good night to Amenokal after he walked to her tent. Knowing that tomorrow morning, she’ll travel with him to his house.
A Pretty Gift
Early in the morning, a woman of the camp work her up. Just after a few hours sleep. But she woke up happy and well rested. The woman who woke her up brought her a cup of tea and gave her her bag with the belongs she had with her when she was rescued. She also gave her a beautiful leather shoulder bag with blue Tuareg decorations. Thabita could not refuse such a beautiful gift.
The bag was extraordinary and already packed with her belongings. And on top of her belongings, the woman had added some of the sweets she learned to love while she was living with them. Homemade of course.
In return, she asked if she was allowed to come back in the future. Explaining, she had felt so loved, so welcome that the clan became her family. The wife of the clan leader had told her that she would always be welcome within the clan. No need to inform them beforehand.
They helped her clothe in simple traditional clothes. Clothes that would help protect her from the sand and heat. Everyone would wear simple clothes to protect them from being robbed by desert robbers, because they looked wealthy.
With tears in their eyes, she said her goodbyes. But she felt, in her whole being, this wasn’t the last time she would see the people who healed her and saved her life.
Travelling to Amenokal his House
In the beginning of their trip, she felt extremely sad. The people in the camp had been so lovingly towards her. And now again, she was going towards uncertainty. “Again?” she said to herself. “What again?” “Did you say something?” A voice, came from her right.
She looked up, shocked. He replied that she shouldn’t be afraid of him. That he could never hurt her. She mumbled something and told him that she was anxious, leaving the camp. Leaving the people who saved her. Even though, he was initially the one who did save her life.
Anxious, also, because she still had no memory of who she was. Where she came from. And where she was even in Saharaya. It was clear, not speaking the language very well, that she wasn’t a native inhabitant of the country island.
He felt a pang of shame. He knew perfectly well who she was. But to protect her, he couldn’t tell her yet. Only if her kidnappers were caught could he tell her about her origins. And who he was. Until then, everything would be kept a secret. And a dangerous one it was.
What he could and did explain was that he would visit a good doctor in a private clinic with her. Specialised in memory loss after trauma. She also would have a complete body check up to be sure there would not be late negative results of her unwanted desert walk.
During their travel, they were talking and just enjoyed the silence of the desert. Until one of the men called the Sheik and pointed with his finger towards something that looked like danger. “A sandstorm is coming it’s way up to us”, he shouted. Immediately after, he said that the camels were starting to bend their front legs so they could bend down the rest of their body too.
Camels are perfectly capable of handling the desert climate. And even a sandstorm. Just before a sandstorm, their instincts tell them to lie down, which they do. If they’re carrying people at that moment, they can dismount and hide behind their camel. Hiding their body part like head and hands in their clothes specially made to survive a desert and its sand storms.
Everyone who once touched desert sand knows the feel of it. It is much finer than the sand on most beaches. Desert sand is often finer than beach sand because strong winds continuously transport and erode the grains, while water-based processes on beaches tend to leave behind coarser, angular particles.
Amenokal tried to protect Thabita with his body from the sandstorm. Without touching her. He felt that when he would touch her, he would not be able to let her go. And that was dangerous. Not only for her, but also for him. An unmarried Sheik with an unmarried foreign woman, that could give a completely wrong idea. And he wouldn’t want that for Thabita. Nor for himself.
Luckily, the sandstorm was short-lived, and they were able to travel further within one hour. Still, they needed to make progress. Otherwise, it was needed to stay overnight in the desert. There was another option, though, which he considered. Calling a helicopter for Thabita and himself.
They were almost within the reach of mobile devices. Because he didn’t want Thabita to be exposed much longer to the desert heat, he asked one of the men to arrange the helicopter. She was still healing after her last horrendous adventure, and too much heat would do her no good.
He explained Thabita that they would travel further with a helicopter. That they had to go a short 20 minutes before they would be picked up. Also explaining that it would be better for her health not to stay any longer in the burning hot sun.
After about 20 minutes, she could see that they were driving towards a small oasis. Just when she noticed the oasis, she heard the sound of a helicopter coming closer. When they arrived he helped her off her camel who looked at her with its beautiful dark eyes with big lashes. She gave him a pet on its head and thanked him for keeping her safe during the trip.
A quick nod was given to the guards of the caravan. And after taking her hand, Amenokal run with her towards the just landed helicopter. The helicopter flew away the minute they got in.
In the safety of the helicopter, Amenokal told her they were going to the palace of his father. Which wasn’t a complete lie. His late father had built the palace. He didn’t tell her his father passed away years ago, though.
After helping her out of the helicopter, they walked together towards the palace. He instructed his personal not to call him “Sheik” but Amenokal. And hopefully they didn’t forget this. And even more important that they had instructed their children, even the younger and youngest ones, to do the same.
Fully aware of the danger of being exposed, he felt nervous. And he said quick prayers to keep his secret until she regained her memory. And he could tell her himself who he was.
But for now, Thabita was in his Palace!
Left & Right Featured Image made by Karin using Bing AI Images & Canva AI.
Isla Storme’s Writings
© Karin Ever Glow, 2025 and beyond. All rights reserved.
All content on this website, including text, images, graphics, logos, and other materials, is the intellectual property of Karin Ever Glow and it’s writers unless otherwise stated.
Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of any material from this website without prior written permission is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action for copyright infringement.
If you believe that your copyrighted work has been used on this site without authorization, please contact us immediately at Isla dot Storme @t KarinEverGlow dot gr to resolve the matter promptly.
