KZ and Princess BD, part 2

The wedding is celebrated with great honours and style, as befits the marriage of a princess who is an only child and heir to the largest and wealthiest kingdom in the known world. <q cite="15th cent prose, p. 61">Ever since Rome was founded, there was never as great a celebration as there was for the wedding of the two maidens, for it was believed that **she** was a man</q>. </style> <img src=https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-my/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/11/13194459/TheFeast1.png alt="The wedding feast" height="375" width="650"> </div> Once all the food had been eaten, all the new songs composed specifically for this grand occasion sung, and all the wishes offered to the newlyweds, Hayat al-Noufous is taken to the bride's chambers to be readied for her husband and for her wedding night. The servants <q cite=p. 592, 1001Nights p.78> lit candles and lights for them and spread their bed with silk sheets</q>. Meanwhile, Boudour goes for final prayers and then is, too, led to her wife's chambers in great pomp. Boudour begins by <q cite=p.66>securely locking the door</q>. Then,[[Boudour pretends to be ill]] [[Boudour approaches her wife]] [[Boudour goes into the wash room]]

Boudour feels violent cramps and senses as though her menstrual cramps are about to start. She touches her womb and her breasts which she had taken care to wrap carefully. She can barely breathe because she had tightened the bandage around her chest so tightly. Her tears flow, and she has difficulty controlling her sobs. She is terrified of what could happen at any moment. She is in great anguish both mentally and physically. She prays and prays, hoping for a miracle. [[Boudour goes into the wash room]] [[Boudour hears a voice]] [[Boudour approaches Hayat al-Noufous]]

</style> <img src=https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-my/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/08/12215841/smallestSahiqat.png alt="Boudour and Hayat in the bedroom" height="300" width="400"> </div> <q cite=p. 592, 1001Nights p79>Boudour sat down next Hayat al-Noufous and kissed her.</q> She then told Hayat al-Noufous that this was an important day in their lives that will forever be remembered. Then, [[Boudour holds Hayat al-Noufous's hands]] [[Boudour tells Hayat al-Noufous that...]] [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]]

Boudour is sweating. Her heartbeat is racing. Her whole body is throbbing. She does not know what to do. She is afraid to reveal her true sex to Hayat al-Noufous. She fears even more keeping her biological sex hidden. What is **she** going to do? [[Boudour sits on the bathroom tiles]] [[Boudour hears a voice]] [[Boudour decides to do her ablutions]]

Even before Boudour's body had reached the freshly laundered sheets which smelled like roses at dawn, Boudour resumed her prayers to God and the Virgin Mary, invoking their Mercy. As she prayed and prayed, Boudour felt something growing inside and outside of her. She was terrified. She reached her arm down along her body and realized that now she had somehow, miraculously, become a man, a real man, with the necessary bodily member that would forever turn any potential sin into a sacrament. God had heard her prayers. </style> <img src=https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-my/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/11/13194424/TheChange4.png alt="Boudour is miraculously changed into a man" height="375" width="650"> </div> Boudour turns to Hayat al-Nofous, kisses her and hugs her. <q cite=13th century verse epic, p. 70,>On this night, Croissant was conceived</q> [[THE END-Huon de Bordeaux (13th century epic)]]

Boudour held her wife's hands and kisses her again on the cheeks and between her eyes. She caressed her and hugged her. Then she told her that: [[Wedding nights are stressful]] [[Boudour is very tired]] [[Boudour offers to tell her a tale]]

She has great repect for her and for her father, the King. She also tells her she is beautiful and desirable. And she adds that she herself (Boudour) felt undeserving of the great honour bestowed upon her because of her alleged lower socioeconomic class <"Miracle Play and 15th century prose epic, p. 60">. Boudour kisses Hayat al-Nofous between the eyes and tells her that neither of them should rush into what is going to be happening that night. She kisses her again, sighing. Hayat al-Noufous starts panting. Terrified, Boudour cannot wait any longer. And so, [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]] [[Boudour pretends to be ill]] [[Boudour offers to tell her a tale]]

Boudour kneels down to pray with Hayat al-Noufous behind her. Boudour hesitates, wondering if she should pull her wife so they can pray side by side, but decides against it, fearing that this small gesture might somehow betray her true sex. Boudour invokes God, calling for His mercy, His blessings, and her tears rush from her eyes, coming down her cheeks. She prays for such a long time that: [[Hayat al Noufous falls asleep next to her]] [[Boudour falls asleep in the midst of her prayers]] [[They both hear the rooster crowing and the morning begin to shine]]

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Boudour soon starts stretching herself on her prayer mat. Hayat al-Noufous moves slowly and sits by her side, gazing at her lovingly. She sighs. She does not know what to do. She hesitates. Then, [[Hayat al-Noufous feels emboldened ]] [[Should Hayat al-Noufous call her father?]]

Boudour draws Hayat al-Noufous to her and talks to her softly. She tells her that there is no reason to rush into anything and that they had plenty of time ahead of them. Hayat al-Noufous blushes because she desired Boudour a great deal. [[Hayat al-Noufous responds...]] [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]] [[The newlyweds hear someone move from behind their bedroom door]]

She yawns, stretches, then yawns some more. She has no idea how she is going to be able to perform that night, and how she will be able to face Hayat al-Noufous this night or meet the King the next day. Boudour looks at Hayat al-Noufous and ... [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]] [[Boudour offers to tell her a tale]] [[The newlyweds hear someone move from behind their bedroom door]]

Boudour sits down on the bed, and starts with these words: <q>Once upon a time, there was a great King ruling over the greatest Empire of Persia. This king was just and beloved by all his peoples, and he was feared by his enemies. This king had one daughter whom he loved above anyone</q> <img src="https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-my/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/08/18131053/Ha%CC%84ru%CC%84n_al-Rashi%CC%84d.png"> The tale that Boudour tells Hayat al-Noufous has not been written about yet. It is thus your opportunity to continue writing this tale and participate in its growing network. Please take 10 minutes to write down the rest of the tale. Then you will have the opportunity to start over again and make other choices to read another end. [[Write your own end to this tale]] [[start all over again]]

Adressing herself to Boudour, Hayat al-Noufous says: <q cite=13th century epic prose, vv. 7074-75, p. 60>Dearest beloved. I have waited a long time already for this day. No one is forcing me to marry you. I have married you happily and willingly. I wish to be with you if it pleases you, if you are willing to have me</q> Upon hearing these words, Boudour blushes. [[Hayat al-Noufous feels shy ]] [[Hayat al-Noufous feels emboldened ]] [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]]

So she withdraws from Boudour. She wonders to herself if Boudour loves her or if she is humiliating her. She hesitates then, [[Hayat al-Noufous feels emboldened ]] [[Should Hayat al-Noufous call her father?]]

Hayat al-Noufous draws closer to Boudour and starts kissing her first on the cheeks, then on the lips, faster and faster, then more and more passionately. Boudour lets Hayat al-Noufous kiss her. She remains passive at first, but then she too starts kissing Boudour and hugging her tightly. Hayat al-Noufous tells her: <q cite=13th century verse epic, v. 7185, p. 67>Besides kissing, I don't mind hugs But as to the love that is said to be intimate I request to be exempt from it</q> Boudour is relieved to hear Hayat al-Noufous's words. She hugs and kisses her again between the eyes, then, [[Boudour lies down in bed]] [[Boudour offers to tell her a tale]] [[The newlyweds hear someone move from behind their bedroom door]]

Boudour is relieved. She is careful not to wake up Hayat al-Noufous. Deep down, Boudour knows she has nothing to fear anymore. Nothing further will happen that night. <q cite=13th cent verse epic, v. 7191, p. 68>That night, there were no screams or fights. The night ended, and the day shone</q> Boudour slept very poorly that night. She remained anxious and worried. Very early the next morning, well before Hayat al-Noufous woke up, [[Boudour gets up]] [[Boudour hears a knock on the door]]

Tears flow down her beautiful face, as she prays and prays. She is anxious about waking up Hayat al-Noufous or anyone else in the palace. She fears being discovered and her true sex revealed. Were that to happen, Boudour knows she would face sure death. She calls upon the Lord with despair: <q cite=v. 7105-8, 13th c verse epic, p. 63>Glorious God, who lives in Trinity Take Pity on this weary body/heart Who has to get married by force</q> Suddenly, she feels a presence near her. A light shines near her. [[Boudour hears a voice]]

The angel says to her: <q cite=14th century play, v. 2438, p. 62>Dear Boudour. Have faith. Do not fear nor doubt. Your honour will be preserved. Go sleep with your wife</q> Boudour is terrified. She does not know what to make of these words. She does not know if the voice she hears is that of an angel or of Satan. The voice repeats the same words twice more. Boudour feels feverish. She puts her hand on her forehead, and she heads to the marital bed where [[Boudour lies down in bed]] [[Boudour wakes up Hayat al-Noufous]]

He sees his daughter crying, and sees Boudour whom he thinks is a man, sitting respectfully on the bed. The King does not know if Boudour had shamed his daughter in any way, or if his daughter (like her own mother and so many other girls before her) had been scared by what always happens on the wedding night between a husband and his wife. So the king asks Hayat al-Noufous: <q cite=13th century verse epic, p. 69>Daughter, he said, How is it to be married? Sire, she said, The way I like it</q> The king smiles, salues the young couple and leaves the room. At that moment, [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]] [[Hayat al-Noufous feels emboldened ]] [[Boudour cannot believe her ears]]

Boudour prefers to tell her wedded wife right away the truth, rather than wait and be tortured like that. With tears flowing from her eyes, and a trembling voice and body, Boudour tells Hayat al-Noufous: <q cite=v. 2581, 14th cent miracle play, p. 64>Lady, I place myself in your mercy... I want to reveal to you my entire story... know that I am a woman like you Daughter of a king and a queen... I have breasts: feel them. Have mercy on me, for God's sake</q> <q cite=p69>Hayat al-Nofous listened, she was horrified</q>. Hayat al-Noufous rubs her eyes over and over. She doesn't know what to make of these words. She is not sure how to react or what to say. [[Should Hayat al-Noufous still uphold the sacrament of her marriage?]] [[Should Hayat al-Noufous call her father?]]

Hayat al-Noufous starts screaming, calling for her father who immediately enters the bedding chamber. He sees his daughter crying, and sees Boudour whom he thinks is a man, sitting respectfully on the bed. The King does not know if Boudour had shamed his daughter in any way, or if his daughter (like her own mother and so many other girls before her) had been scared by what always happens on the wedding night between a husband and his wife. So the king asks Hayat al-Noufous: <q cite=13th century verse epic, p. 69>Daughter, he said, How is it to be married? Sire, she said, The way I like it</q> The king smiles, salues the young couple and leaves the room. At that moment, [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]] [[Hayat al-Noufous feels emboldened ]] [[Boudour cannot believe her ears]]

Does biological sex matter, Hayat al Noufous wonders, or is the sacrament of the marriage that she had just sworn in front of her family and God more important? Hayat al-Noufous hesitates for a few minutes which seemed like an eternity to Boudour. And then she responds with these words: <q cite=v. 2612, 14th cent play, p. 66>There is no need to speak further of this. Put yourself at ease, because everything you have me here I promise to conceal. And I will show you such honor As a woman must show her husband. In all matters, I swear this upon my soul. Now will I ever hold you less dear</q> [[Boudour cannot believe her ears]] [[Hayat al-Noufous feels emboldened ]] [[The newlyweds hear someone move from behind their bedroom door]]

The voice is coming from all around her, from deep inside of her head. She rubs her eyes and invokes God's name. She does not understand what is happening to her. [[Saint Michael in person had irrupted in the room ]] [[The King in person had irrupted into the room]]

She washes herself slowly, praying with each movement, calling on the Lord to send her a sign, a message, a way out. She breathes deeply, hoping for a miracle. She is not sure what and how that could even occur. She keeps glancing at the door, worried that the light breeze coming from the window might open it. She secretly hopes that by taking her time in the bathroom and by concentrating on perfecting every movement of her ablutions, Hayat al-Noufous would have fallen asleep. After staying in the washroom a long while, Boudour has no choice. She walks slowly out. Hayat al-Noufous is on the bed, waiting for her. [[Boudour invites Hayat al-Noufous to pray with her]] [[Boudour approaches her wife]] [[Boudour offers to tell her a tale]]

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Boudour realizes she must calm herself down and think. She begins to breathe deeply, slowly, focused on quieting her mind and her racing heart. Whenever she had taken such steps in the past, her heart told her what to do. She prays that this ancient breathing technique and meditating strategy, learnt long ago from her Chinese wetnurse, will work again in this case. [[Suddenly, Boudour jumps to her feet]] [[Boudour decides to do her ablutions]] [[Boudour hears a knock on the door]]

She can no longer keep her secret burried inside of her. She feels her soul is going to explode, that every movement she makes betrays her, every sound from her mouth screams of her lies. [[Boudour decides to tell the truth to Hayat al-Noufous]] [[Boudour opens the window and looks down]] [[Boudour has a plan]]

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She walks to the door to ensure that it was still securely locked. She also puts her ear against the wooden frame to see if anyone was syping on the newlyweds on their wedding night. She knew such behavior was customary. Not hearing anything, Boudour prays some more, looks at her beautiful wife who was smiling in her sleep, and she wonders what to do. She was feeling very tired because of the disturbed first night as a married woman. So, [[Boudour lies down in bed]]

Croissant, the son of Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous (or, in some French versions of the story, of Yde and Olive) is conceived. This is how this tale in the 13th century French epic of Huon de Bordeaux ends. [[Read here the complete story you have just created]]

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Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous look at each other, anxiously. Did they actually hear a movement right outside their bedroom door? Boudour had locked it carefully upon entering the room, earlier in the night. Is it possible that someone was hiding outside and overheard them? Who could have been so bold? What will happen now? [[Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous hug each other tightly]] [[Boudour jumps to her feet and runs to the door]] [[Hayat al-Noufous runs to the window]]

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Boudour presses her ear to the wooden frame and grabs tightly the door handle. She does not hear anything, or ... does she? She wonders... [[is it the wind?]] [[is it a spy sent by the King?]] [[is it a jealous courtier?]]

Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous look at each other with terror in their eyes. They are scared. How long had someone been spying on them? What has this person heard exactly? And who was it? [[Boudour opens the door]] [[Hayat al-Noufous lies down in bed]] [[Hayat al-Noufous runs to the window]]

After three days spent hugging, kissing and caressing her wife every evening, Boudour takes the decision to reveal her biological sex to her legally wedded wife. <q cite=p. 595, 1001Nights p.81>Boudour spoke to Hayat al-Noufous in a soft-spoken,feminine voice and this was her true, natural voice, and she unveiled the truth about her situation... She told her what had happened to her and her beloved husband Qamar al-Zaman. And she showed Hayat al-Noufous her genitals and said to her, "see I am a woman with genitals, a vulva, and breasts."</q> As Boudour spoke these words, she uncovered herself, pulled down her pants, and her dress. Hayat al-Noufous listened in silence. [[Hayat al-Noufous was surprised]] [[Hayat a-Noufous was pleased with the news]] [[Hayat al-Noufous reached out to touch Boudour's body]]

She evaluates the distance from the window to the ground. She hears the security dogs roaming and she sees the watchmen's lights in the distance.She looks up to the sky and wonders: [[should she jump down?]] [[Might a nightingale come to her window as in ancient Celtic tales?]] [[Where her beloved Qamar al-Zaman might be]]

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She remembers the Lais of Marie de France and how at times, a bird came to sad ladies who cried at their windows and who got transformed into handsome princes. Might this not happen to her as well? [[Boudour looks to the sky searching for a bird]] [[Boudour hears a knock on the door]] [[Boudour closes the window]]

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She had opened the door so abruptly that a vase sitting on the side table by the bedroom entrance fell down in shatters. It was a very expensive piece that had been gifted to the King by the Emperor of India in his last official visit as a gesture of friendship. Its loss was likely to become a diplomatic blunder. No one was outside, though Boudour thought she saw the curtain on the side move slightly. Was it the wind? or was someone there? [[Boudour shuts the door]] [[Boudour calls out]] [[Boudour rushes outside the room]]

She pulls the cover over her head, holding her breath. Her heart beats incontrollably.This is an option that has not been written about yet. It is thus your opportunity to continue writing this tale and participate in its growing network. Please take 10 minutes to write down the rest of the tale. Then you will have the opportunity to start over again and make other choices to read another end. [[Write your own end to this tale]] [[start all over again]]

She then goes to the bridal bed where Hayat al-Noufous was lying, her head hidden in the heavy silk gold embroidered coverlet. [[Boudour lies down in bed]] [[Boudour lifts the cover off from Hayat al-Noufous's face]]

She sees tears rolling down Hayat al-Noufous's beautiful face, her whole body shaking with sobs, and the bedsheets wet with all the tears that had been shed. Boudour feels guilty to be the cause of so much sadness, confusion, and anxiety on a day that is supposed to be the most memorable one of any young girl's existence. [[Boudour holds Hayat al-Noufous's hands]] [[Boudour pulls down her pants]] [[They both hear a discreet knock on the door]]

With tears flowing down from her eyes, Boudour tells her story to a bewildered Hayat al-Noufous: <q cite=v. 2581-608, 14th cent play, p. 64-65>Lady, I place myself in your mercy For the comfort you showed me I want to reveal to you my entire story And the reason why I feel such discomfort. Know that I am a woman like you, Daughter of a king and a queen... And in order to protect myself from dishonor I did not show myself as a woman, But have dressed and acted as a man... I am a woman like you And I have breasts. Feel them. Have mercy on me, for God's sake</q> [[Hayat al-Noufous listened in horror]] [[Hayat al-Noufous reaches to touch Boudour's breasts]]

They look at each other again. Then Boudour slowly gets up and walks slowly to the door. This time, she is tired. She is no longer able or willing to pretend. She is ready to face whatever destiny throws at her. [[Hayat al-Noufous' mother was at the door]] [[The king's most trusted servant was at the door]]

She had gotten up early because she wanted to collect the beds' sheets, as was customary in the kingdom. That honour belonged to none other than her. They were to be displayed on the palace walls in all pump and left there for everyone to see. They would be the indisputable sign of her daughter's virginity, of the legitimacy of the marriage and of the heirs that would one day govern the realm. She had waited long enough for that day. Fortunately, Hayat al Noufous who knew her mother well <q cite=p. 596, 1001Nights p.83>had awaken well before the morning call to prayer. She had taken a chicken, taken down her pants, screamed after killing it, and spread its blood over herself and over the sheets. She had then hidden the chicken, put her pants back on</q>, and pretended to be sleeping. Hearing her daughter scream, the queen pretended to be concerned and entered the room, hiding a smile. [[The queen approached the newlyweds]] [[The queen started ululating]] [[The queen called onto her husband]]

The servant told Boudour that the King was inviting her to a ritual bath in which she had to bathe naked in front of his entire court. The ritual bath was scheduled in just less than one hour from now. Boudour had to get ready. Then the servant bowed down and left. [[Hayat al-Noufous gets up from the bed]] [[Boudour falls down to the floor, praying]]

Boudour knows that this is going to be the end of her and of Hayat al-Noufous. It was clear that someone had denoucned them to the king. Maybe it was that sound she had heard earlier. It must have been someone spying on them to ensure that the wedding had been consumated. What is going to happen now? Boudour prays out loud with tears rolling down her eyes: "Oh Lord, Of Sweet Mary, how can my innocence be explained? No one will believe me? Qamar al-Zaman, my sweet husband, why did you abandon me?" [[Hayat al-Noufous puts her hand on Boudour's shoulders]] [[Budour faints]] [[Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous hear the sound of military music]]

</style> <img src=https://cdn.vanderbilt.edu/vu-my/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2019/11/13194319/TheBridalChamber4.png alt="The lovers embrace" height="375" width="650"> </div> This is an option that has not been written about yet. It is thus your opportunity to continue writing this tale and participate in its growing network. Please take 10 minutes to write down the rest of the tale. Then you will have the opportunity to start over again and make other choices to read another end. [[Write your own end to this tale]] [[start all over again]]

The sound was coming from the palace main courtyard. Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous instantly understood that this music was the preparation for the ritual bath. They understood that all the key members of the King's cabinet would be present. They would all witness the ritual disrobing of Boudour and her public dishonor. What did Boudour do to merit such an end? And what did Hayat al-Noufous do to merit such a marriage and disgrace. [[Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous hug each other tightly]] [[Boudour slowly gets up]] [[Hayat al-Noufous blames Boudour]]

She knows that her death is near. Nothing short of a miracle could save her from the ritual bath and the King's wrath and punishment. Nothing could prevent her public downfall now. Boudour kisses Hayat al-Noufous and begs her forgiveness. She then does her ablutions and prays for her soul and for mercy on Hayat al-Noufous and herself. She is now ready to face whatever comes her way. She opens the bedroom door and follows the servant who is awaiting her, with a long white bath towel wrapped up and placed on a gold platter. [[Hayat al-Noufous follows her]] [[Hayat al-Noufous runs to the window]] [[Hayat al-Noufous prays]]

Regarldess of what happens now, Hayat al-Noufous vows to remain faithful to Boudour and to the marriage oath she had taken. Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous, led by the servant, arrive to the palace court where Hayat al-Noufous had often played as a child. Today is not a play day anymore. She sighs. The courtyard was filled by all the most important viziers, judges, and loyal courtiers of the king. In the middle, a massive bath was already prepared, filled to the rim with water. This is where Boudour was to be publically disrobed and dishonored. [[Hayat al-Noufous falls to her father's feet]] [[Boudour is asked to disrobe]] [[A light suddenly erupts blinding all those present]]

It was a white stag that had erupted in the courtyard. No one knew whence it had come from. There was a deep sigh and strong exclamations from everyone present. White stags were miraculous beings and were an omen. [[everyone begins running towards the white stag]] [[The king orders his people to remain calm]] [[An angel speaks to Boudour]]

There was a great clamor, total chaos, and cheers from everyone. A white stag in the main palace courtyard had never been seen before. And everyone wanted to approach, see it, catch it perhaps. What no one knew, not even Boudour, Hayat al-Noufous, or the King himself is that the white stag was a divine intervention, a diversion from the ritual bath. God had heard Boudour's prayers. God knew she was innocent. God wanted to protect her, to show His Mercy, to let her live and be happy. The sudden appearance of the white stag was just the first in a series of miracles about to take place in plain sight. [[Boudour removes her clothes]] [[Boudour disappears from view]] [[Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous are transformed into angels]]

The angel reassures Boudour about the public disrobing, telling her that God in person had not forgotten her and will reward her faith in him. [[Boudour removes her clothes]] [[The king comes closer to Boudour]] [[The king orders logs to be brought]]

And the most extraordinay miracle had just taken place. Right there, in front of all attendees, in front of the King himself, in front of Hayat al-Noufous, Boudour appeared as a man, a well endowed man, a man with all the requisite and expected body parts. Everyone gasped in shock. Hayat al-Noufous started to sob incontrollably. Boudour could be heard praying, thanking the Lord for his mercy. [[The king runs to Boudour]] [[The king orders that the spy be killed]] [[The viziers and judges start to clamor]]

The king was angry, mad to have been deceived and by a woman, at that. He was angry that his daughter had been disgraced and by extension that he, the most powerful King on earth, had been dishonered. He was ready to burn Boudour alive and with her, his own daughter, the apple of his eye. [[The King asks for the logs to be lit up]] [[The King calls his executioner]] [[The Kings wonders if he should not torture them first]]

The king is relieved to see that Boudour had the requisite and expected male organs that made him a legitimate husband to his daughter, the father of the future heir to the kingdom. He embraces Boudour and his daughter, Hayat al-Noufous, blesses them, and apolgizes to them both for his mistrust, and promises to make them his official scions. [[Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous embrace publically]] [[The King orders a new celebration]] [[The king orders that the spy be killed]]

The king is angry against the spy whom, he believes, lied to him. He had sworn to him that Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous had committed a heinous crime, a crime against nature, the worst imaginable sin. And the king had believed him. He had almost committed a crime himself, by rushing to kill his beloved daughter with his honorable son-in-law. No punishment could ever satisfy his pain. Even as the king was thinking about the worst torture, the most despicable death that the spy deserved, God once again intervened. God softened the King's heart and mind. And the king forgave the spy. He forgave him in order not to spoil the day of celebrations that he wanted to proclaim. [[The King orders a new celebration]] [[The viziers and judges start to clamor]]

Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous are relieved. They know that they are now officially acquitted and nothing, no one could smear their reputaion again. They walk away, hand in hand, back to their bedchambers. They lock the door and let a deep sigh out. Boudour's sexual transformation is not permanent, however. [[THE END-Miracle de la Fille d'un Roy (14th century play)]]

As he orders the celebration, [[Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous embrace publically]]

In the fourteenth century French Drama, entitled Miracle de la Fille d'un Roy, one additional miracle soon takes place: Boudour reverts to being a woman and the text ends with a double marriage of Boudour to Hayat al-Noufous's own father and of Hayat al-Noufous to another noble king. [[Read here the complete story you have just created]]

[[Read here the complete story you have just created]]

Hayat al-Noufous felt as though she was fainting. She was terrified and could not believe what she had just heard. She rubbed her eyes and could not believe what they saw. She could simply not comprehend that her husband, the man to whom she had publically and in front of God sworn love and loyalty, her wedded husband was in fact a woman. [[Should Hayat al-Noufous call her father?]] [[Should Hayat al-Noufous still uphold the sacrament of her marriage?]]

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Hayat al-Noufous's surprise did not last too long. She smiled with relief, then laughed. She was very happy with the news she had just heard. She told Boudour not to worry, that her secret was safe with her, that she too would pray for Qamar al-Zaman's safety and that she would send the best servants to search for him. Surely he would be found. Then, [[Hayat al-Noufous reached out to touch Boudour's body]] [[Hayat al-Noufous gets up from the bed]] [[Hayat al-Noufous offers to tell Boudour a tale]]

Hayat al-Noufous was from being angry at what Boudour had just revealed to her. The fact that Boudour was a woman, not a man, put Hayat al-Noufous more at ease. She had lived her entire life surrounded by women and so was far happier being married to another woman as she had no experience and no idea how to behave with a man. She smiled as she sensed that Boudour's revelation would deepen their friendship, increase their intimacy and heighten pleasure. From that moment onwards, Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous <q cite=p. 595, 1001Nights p.82>spoke, played, laughed with each other, and slept </q>only when they heard the rooster crowing or the muezzin call Muslims to dawn prayer. One week later, after spending one entire night laughing, hugging, and kissing, they slept later than usual. They did not wake up with the crowing of the rooster or the call to prayer. They woke up after hearing a sound. [[Hayat al-Noufous' mother was at the door]] [[The King in person had irrupted into the room]] [[A servant was at the door]]

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She lifted the covers off them who were pretending to be still sleeping. The queen's piercing eyes searched for the bloody pants and sheets. Then, [[The queen started ululating]] [[The queen called onto her husband]] [[The queen congratulated her daughter]]

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Ululating, the queen did not hesitate to wake up everyone in the palace. She had to share the news of the consumation of the marriage. An heir could have already been conceived. [[The queen called onto her husband]] [[The queen removes the bedsheets]] [[The queen congratulated her daughter]]

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The queen is not shy at irrupting in the bridal chamber, nor is she shy waking the newly weds up, shooing them out of bed and removing the bedsheets herself. She does not wait for her husband to arrive, and she refuses to be helped by any of her servants. She was proud of her daughter, proud of her son-in-law, proud of the legitimacy of the marriage. She was also secretly relieved that her daughter had not shamed the family and that she behaved like an obedient wife. Only after removing the sheets does the queen remember decorum. [[The queen congratulated her daughter]] [[The queen gives the sheets to the servants]] [[The queen salutes the couple and leaves the room]]

The sheets were to be displayed on the palace walls with no delay. New celebrations were ordered for that evening. The entire kingdom was invited.

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It was unusual for a servant to wake up a prince and a princess. It was even more unusual that someone wakes up a newly wedded couple who had not even been together for one full week. But this servant who was Boudour's most trusted ally had come with some important news, news that could not wait, and that could not be divulged in public. Boudour's servant told her that Qamar al-Zaman had found her and that he had arrived in the Kingdom the previous night. He was sleeping in town but was coming to meet the King and ask him to liberate his beloved Boudour. As soon as Boudour heard this news, she knelt to pray and thank the Lord for his mercy. She also hugged Hayat al-Noufous and kissed her between the eyes, and caressed her as she was accustomed to doing. [[Hayat al-Noufous started to cry]]

She sobbed uncontrollably. She had fallen in love with Boudour. With Qamar al-Zaman's return, she wondered what would happen to their relationship and to their love. Boudour sat next to her, wiped her tears with her kisses, fondled her body softly and reached into those places only she knew how to caress. Boudour's touch comforted Hayat al-Noufous greatly and she returned Boudour's kisses and caresses. Then, Boudour got up to prepare herself for meeting both Qamar al-Zaman and her father-in-law the King. Boudour told the King her entire story. She also told him that with Qamar al-Zaman's return, she abdicated in his favor and requested that Qamar al-Zaman take Hayat al-Noufous as his second wife. This is what she said: <q cite=p. 609, 1001Nights p.85>By God, for me like for her: A night for me and a night for her. And I will live together with her in one house because I have gotten used to her</q>. [[THE END--1001 Nights]]

Qamar al-Zaman was happy to be reunited with his wife Boudour who changed her clothing and became a woman publically again. As promised also, he took Hayat al-Noufous as second wife. <q cite=vol2p. 67, 1001Nights p.86>Qamar al-Zaman governed his kingdom as perfectly as he contented his two wives, with whom he passed alternate evenings. Boudour and Hayat al-Noufous lived together in harmony, allowing the nights to their husband, but reserving the day for each other.</q> And this is how the three of them lived happily ever after. This is how the tale of Qamar al-Zaman and Princess Boudour in the One Thousand and One Nights ends. [[Read here the complete story you have just created]]

Boudour begins by kissing Hayat al-Noufous on the cheeks, then on the forehead. She then turns to Hayat al-Noufous's mouth, hesitates, then touches it with her lips in the most delicate way. Hayat al-Noufous's lips were warm and red with desire. They tasted of strawberries and of jam.. so sweet, thought Boudour. She wanted to linger some more on Hayat al-Noufous's lips, hesitated, then withdrew. She took her wife's hands in hers and looked deep in her eyes. She looks in her eyes blurred by her tears. This is an option that has not been written about yet. It is thus your opportunity to continue writing this tale and participate in its growing network. Please take 10 minutes to write down the rest of the tale. Then you will have the opportunity to start over again and make other choices to read another end. [[Write your own end to this tale]] [[start all over again]]