Zarqa, al Malika, al Ealia

al-Malika al-Ealia Zarqa bint Amar

Physical Description

General Physical Condition

Very thin. She doesn't eat much. She doesn't have much of an appetite.

Body Features

Fair-skinned, thick raven-black hair, long but piled on top of her head, behind a tiara always.

Facial Features

Love-heart shaped face; small, rounded nose; sleek brows, raven black; full lips, and cheeks.

Identifying Characteristics

The royal blue silk tied around her head, covering her eyes that were stolen from her. Also a few beauty spots on her left cheek - three dots, in a triangle.

Physical quirks

She's ambidextrous, always has been. Scrunches her nose when thinking, or skeptical. Her walk is slow, every step considered, because otherwise she'll fall over, and her posture is rim-rod straight. Her head always held high, looking forward. Never hunched, or self-pitying.

Special abilities

She can kinda see the future. But it's so far in her ancestry, and she's never been taught how to wield this particular power, so it drives her a bit mad. Just a little.

Apparel & Accessories

She glides along the palace corridors in long and draped dresses, all sequined and beaded, with long loose sleeves, shackled at her wrists. They catch the light from every angle, and dazzle whoever is passing by. When out and about, if ever, she never dons a cloak, because she wishes to be seen as she is, never hidden from anything. Her shoes are flat sandals, comfortable, and convenient. Her steps are never heard.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Zarqa was a commoner, not from a noble house. Not known for anything. Though she was a bit strange, because she did often spout a bit of nonsense. It's not her fault, of course. Her ancestors were Fidayan, and the power of Sight seeped into her blood. So she didn't have many friends. Because she'd say things they didn't like to hear, about their futures, about their relationships. So loner she became. She was beautiful, always had been, but it wasn't enough for her friends. But it was enough for the future malik. Saleh spotted her at one of the Siada celebrations. He was with his armed guards, lonely as always, and their eyes met. He couldn't look away. Neither could she. He wasn't bad looking either, but what she really couldn't look away from was the shadows pouring out from underneath his thawb, crawling out of his fingers. He approached her, and they began chatting. She didn't say anything about the shadows, because she knew who he was. And she also wasn't sure what they meant. Well, in that one conversation, Saleh decided he was going to marry her, and she, shy and alone, accepted. Because, the more she looked in his eyes, the less the shadows obscured her own. She became enamored with him, and he with her. Their engagement was quick, and all throughout the land, everyone knew that Saleh was ready to marry, and the lucky bride was envied the kingdom-over. Because grown-up Saleh had outgrown his awkwardness and weirdness, and grew into his handsomeness, and height. The girls were heart-eyed at him. And Zarqa was the lucky girl to catch him. His parents weren't all that thrilled. After all, she was just a commoner. But his mother cared too much for him to deny his love, and his father was just glad it was a human. He also didn't think he was going to die, so who cares who Saleh married? She'd never be malika. What an arrogant bastard.
Well, during their engagement, Zarqa was given lessons on etiquette and how-to-be-a-princess. She lived at al-Qasr, and didn't see much of her family anymore - they were compensated, of course. Her parents were poor as heck, so they had no qualms with sending her off to be married to the amir. Zarqa tired of it a little, but she loved Saleh and he loved her, and they were happy. Her inane spouting amused Saleh. She never spoke of the shadows she saw on that first day. They all but disappeared - because his heart was happy for once in his life. She spoke to him of a future that was bright and lovely, and he adored every word she said. Until the shadows in his mind became too thick. She began to see them again, dark clouds following him. The visions she spoke of with him now were desperate and harrowing, and he no longer adored them, no longer wanted to hear it. He implored her never to speak of them again, and their relationship became strained because of it. They were still polite and courteous and loved one another, but they never had conversations on a deeper level, or really connected with one another. The clouds that followed him around became thicker, and she thought that perhaps he was in danger, or feeling depressed. So she showered him with love, spoke only words of love and happiness to him, made him feel golden. But the clouds never thinned, never dissipated, and for the first time, she thought that maybe the darkness she could see mirrored the darkness that swam inside him.
When she fell pregnant, she was ecstatic, and so was Saleh. They rejoiced together, but soon she withdrew from him, afraid of his darkness, afraid of having him near her baby. He confronted her about how she shrunk away from him - which was difficult for him because he'd never conquered his fear of rejection, but he cared for Zarqa, and really thought she cared for him, so he asked her why she was avoiding him, and why she wouldn't let him revel in their miracle. And she burst into tears. She blubbered, "There are so many clouds, Saleh, so much black, so much darkness. I know there is gold inside you, but it is being suffocated by all the black, and I can't have that near my baby. I can't." Boy did that shock him, and upset him, and he watched her crying like her heart was breaking. And he did the hardest thing he ever had to do. He turned away. He told her she sounded insane and that he thought she knew never to tell him her inane ramblings. So he began to ignore her, even though he just wanted to feel their baby kick. But Zarqa stayed indoors more, the people being told that her pregnancy was hard on her. It wasn't. It was the best time of her life.
And then, Zaria, the Heiress was born, with golden bronze skin, and fire in her hair. And Saleh accused her of being unfaithful, which was crazy. But she couldn't understand what was happening. The truth all came out, from the Safia al-malika, and their world was turned upside down. The malik and malika were assassinated, Zarqa was blinded, and Saleh was left as the crown Malik of the kingdom. Zarqa cared for nothing, save the fact that she could no longer gaze upon the most beautiful face of her bint.

Education

She went to a commoner school, didn't do anything too impressive, and then she married Saleh, and had etiquette classes, and royal classes.

Employment

Malika of Inqaa. The top career.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Zarqa isn't proud of much, but she is proud of the way she rose up after her blinding and took back her power, and inspired the kingdom to overcome adversity and struggles. The royal blue silk she wears across her eyes, the colour of the kingdom, the colour of the eyes that were stolen from her, shows the world that she can not be so easily beaten, and that they can also conquer their fears, their struggles, and come out better than they ever thought possible.

Failures & Embarrassments

Well, the fact she was blinded in the first place, really. But it's cool. She fixed it.
Also, she was an unlikable teenager, and maybe she made people flee before her, especially this one guy who was absolutely gorgeous, and who she thought might have liked her. But no, no. He was trying to humiliate her when he invited her to a party. What a douchebag. She got the last laugh, though. Sorry, Hani.

Mental Trauma

Being blinded in the night by assassins. Never being able to see her child again. Feeling distant from her because of it. Also, because of all the thoughts swirling through her head, the visions and futures she sees, she is a bit unstable. True a lot of the civilians look up to her, but just as many think she is mad. She is afraid of so many things. Her dreams are full of terrors. Can you blame her? She shared a bed with a monster for decades.

Intellectual Characteristics

Considering she's blind, she can get around quite well by herself. She has a stick of course, and does her fair share of bumping, and can't tell exactly where things are. But her other senses are a lot more in tune. She is a great speaker. She had to be taught to be more eloquent, before she married Saleh, but she picked it up rather quickly. She doesn't command a room, and she isn't concise in her speech. In fact, she often rambles and goes on tangents. But her linguistic ear is good. Most wouldn't call her logical, since she rambles like a madwoman, and sometimes laughs at nothing. But she is musical. Her humming is heard throughout the corridors of al-Qasr. Even her speech has a musical lilt to it.

Morality & Philosophy

Death is her constant companion. Only because her visions are so dark. She feels death everywhere. Understandable, since she lives above a dungeon where people are tortured and killed all the time. But she doesn't really think about her own death. There's too much to think about.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

She only cares about her daughter. She wants the best for her, and will do anything for her. Zarqa doesn't have big plans for the future, she doesn't want to change the world. Her mind drives her mad enough as it is. But she will give the world for her daughter's happiness. And lately, Saleh's been getting on her last nerve. She may need to put him in his place.

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Her eyes don't work, but the rest of her works overtime. She has bionic hearing, and a sense of smell that'd rival a hound. She can weave a tale from nothing but frayed edges. But she often gets carried away. Her daughter enjoyed that when she was little, but as she grew, her mother's madness seeped through the edges of her world, and she preferred to avoid her altogether. And that probably made Zarqa lose a bit more of her reality, too.

Likes & Dislikes

Doesn't care much for food, at all - sweet or savoury. She eats only enough to survive. Some malika. Hates being malika to be honest. She loved Saleh in the beginning and so being his amira was enjoyable, but ever since the birth of her daughter and the loss of her sight, nothing felt the same, and Saleh especially didn't feel the same. Not when his parents died, nor when he was crowned, nor any moment after that. She dislikes games. Never plays board games, never did even before her sight was gone. She enjoys intellectual conversations, that go deep into a person's psyche, and the world as a whole.

Virtues & Personality perks

Very sweet, and loving, and considerate. Before her life was changed, she would do anything for the people she loved. That's why she showered Saleh with love when she thought he was in danger. She would do anything for those she cares for. She is friendly, and understanding, and welcoming. Someone the people of Inqaa are happy to look up to. Very kind, and offers herself and her things with no hesitation. That's where her daughter gets it from. Though her daughter also has some weirdness from her dad. What a mix.

Vices & Personality flaws

She can be a little depressive. There are times where she spends days on end just walking the palace corridors, going from room to room like a phantom. Dwells on her losses. Gets stuck in a loop of her own past.

Personality Quirks

Hums everywhere she goes. Adds to her phantom imitation. She never notices, but she often hums the music that her husband plays on his oud.

Hygiene

She doesn't worry about hygiene. She has handmaidens who do it for her. Sometimes she sits in the bath until the water is ice cold, and her skin is wrinklier than a prune. Because she has nothing else to do. Gosh, how depressing.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Sami, the Charming, her husband's cousin, is her friend. And so is the Keeper of the Menagerie, Ayman. She spends lots of time there, and he enjoys her conversations, and company. She stays away from Sali, because that girl is wild. She checks in on Meriel a lot, because she is sickly, and Zarqa is a kind woman. However, she's probably not the best visitor since she's a bit depressive. Still, Meriel doesn't really have much choice of companion. Her mother is old, and tired, after all.

Family Ties

Her daughter, her husband, and his family. Plus her parents and two brothers, but she hasn't seen them in many moons. And not just because she's blind.

Religious Views

She believes there is some higher being, though she doesn't know what or who. She sees so many futures, she sometimes says random things, prays to beings she doesn't know, that are from religions she's never practiced, because she sees more than just her own future.

Social Aptitude

Weird. She's always been weird. Though she is uncommonly kind, she's never had people flock to her. Because her kindness is kind of canceled out by her odd predictions. Very polite, though she hardly ever goes out anymore really. She sees the same faces day in, and day out. Even at yearly feasts and festivals, she barely makes contact with anyone. She sits atop her throne, makes whatever speech she has to, and then retreats inside herself, listening to the festivities. Sometimes her husband will engage her in a short discussion. Ask her how she's doing. She doesn't know why he does it. It's not like he tries behind closed doors. But perhaps that's the reason - because people can see them. Anyway, she isn't a social butterfly.

Mannerisms

Goes off on tangents. Speaks in riddles. Sometimes smiles to herself and nobody understands why. Will spout sentences that seem nonsensical. Will sometimes go off in a fit of passion and grab hold of whoever's closest tightly, or push people away.

Hobbies & Pets

Buthyana, her husband's cat, doesn't seem to like her, so she keeps an ear out for her pitter-patter. There is a menagerie in al-Qasr, and in there is kept many animals - birds of different creed, cats of all sizes, peacocks, and lizards, snakes and frogs. It is a place full of sounds and smells, and Zarqa enjoys staying there, even if it does bring her sadness to see all these animals locked up. But where can they go, otherwise? The menagerie is open to all those in the palace, so this is where she has most of her conversations. She also enjoys gardening. Though she cannot see her glorious gardens, she does enjoy the smell of fresh dirt, and the feel of it underneath her hands. She often joins the palace gardeners in their work - with assistance from her handmaiden - and they really love when she joins them.

Speech

Begins a lot of sentences with 'do you know...' even if she's not asking an actual question. Asks a lot of rhetorical questions. Her voice is clear, but she speaks so fast sometimes, her words tumble over each other. Loves giving compliments. It makes her happy, and comes very naturally to her. She doesn't swear, and doesn't exactly speak in metaphors, but her words are confusing. People don't understand because they don't know the truth.

Wealth & Financial state

She's the malika. Nuff said.

Current Location

al-Qasr

Ethnicity

Human

Honorary & Occupational Titles

al-Malika al-Ealia

Year of Birth

1162 AA 38 Years old

Birthplace

al-Ghani

Gender

Female

Eyes

Piercing blue, round and wide

Hair

Raven black, always piled atop her head

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Fair

Height

173cm

Quotes & Catchphrases

"The monsters may have taken my sight, but they left me what's most important - my heart. And I will use it to rise above, and govern my people."