Not One Sided

3. A declaration

Elçin's POV

He pressed my mouth and held my hands at the back before I could turn and see who it was. I tried to get rid of his hold but he grew even more closer and whispered in my ear,

"You still have time. Come with me, 'll provide you whatever you want. I'll also let Anatolia live with peace. We just have to unite against that scoundrel Melikşah."
 
He tried touching me abruptly, bringing his face closer to my neck. Very disgusted by his touch, I bit his fingers with my teeth and with my leg kicked him on the ground, backwards. I shouted to the soldiers. As I was about to unveil his mask to see his face, he slashed my arm with a knife and ran away. All I could see were his 'blue' eyes.

My arm hurt very bad. After a few moments, I got up gathering some consciousness to see Burçak and a few others surrounding me.

I immediately got up and interrogated the guards about the matter.

"Where is he?"

"Elçin hatun, sorry but he had already escaped. We couldn't catch hold of him."

"Ne? What do you mean by sorry? First tell me, where were the guards? How did he enter? So much has happened and you're just saying sorry." I screamed in exhaust.

"Two of our guards had fainted here. It was probably a plan of their's. They poisoned the guards so as to enter. And we were on the other side, just came after hearing of the incident."

"Yeter artık! Yeter!" I don't want to hear anymore.
My arm kept bleeding. Meanwhile, Burçak showed her concern.

"Hanımım, I've called the healers. They'll dress your wound. Please don't stress yourself much for now. You need to take rest."

While she was dressing my wound, a few tears dropped from my eyes. I was broke, not on what exactly happened with me, but that I couldn't do anything this time.
I almost failed. He stepped in my yurt, presented a cheap proposal, touched me abruptly, threatened me and even hurt me, yet escaped.
My soldiers couldn't even catch hold of him. It was all my fault.

"Hanımım, why don't we ask help from Sultan Melikşah? He'd definitely help if he hears of this situation."

"What help 'll we ask for? What would I say? That i was sent to fulfil my duties and this is how I'm doing it. We'll not ask for help from him. I'll make it very sure that hereafter nothing as such takes place. I'll ensure that the guards are more alert, and I myself am ready to risk my life for our people, no matter what."

"But hanım this isn't a small thing. They had the courage to threaten you.."

"Trust me, I won't let things go wrong again."
I assured her and asked her to leave so that I could rest.

My mind was burdened. I was disturbed. Very disturbed. Couldn't stop my tears which were a result of many sorrows. I assured her, but deep down, I was broken...

Melikşah's POV

Two days later

"O My people, citizens of the Seljuk state. I stand before you to make a declaration. You are all aware that Başulu was innocent and now she is no more. Since many years, this secret was kept closed. None of you know about it. Sencer is my son."

Their faces turned almost pale with shock.

I further added,
"Eighteen years back, when I was a Melik, I had to give up on my son for the welfare and protection of this state. I know that you all have many questions. Most of you might be disappointed. But all I did was just for the sake of our state. It hasn't been easy for me too. Seventeen years of rule until now and sacrificing every happiness of mine for this state. I don't want to lose my people's trust."

Most of them silently heard my words. I was quite surprised because I expected them to rebel over.

One among them questioned,
"Sultanım, why did you keep it hidden then? You could've told us about this earlier. Why now? There can be dangers even now."

"I found this as the right time to disclose everything. Since years, I was waiting for a right time. Now that I've lost much, I can't keep it hidden anymore."

I placed my hands over Sencer's shoulders and told,
"Here after he'll be known as Melik Ahmet Sencer."
Sencer's eyes were filled with tears.

Hace too looked quite satisfied.

A few from the crowd came forward and spoke,
"Sultanım, you've been ruling since seventeen years and we haven't distrusted you over anything. We expect that your legacy continues and we don't stand disappointed. InşaAllah!"

"Amin."

A few minutes later, I was seated on my throne. While Kamaç entered the hall.

"Sultanım, we've received a letter from Anatolia."

_______________

Hanımım - My lady
Yeter artık! - It's enough!
InşaAllah - God willing