Drilis Ertugrul: A New Love

Chapter 5

2 weeks later.. Gunduz and Fatma have grown closer together, but Fatma is still in pain because of Summaiyah Hatun

Halime woke up to the sound of two voices. Ertugul and Gunduz were sitting inside the tent and talking to each other. "Halime! My Halime, Gunduz and I are having an important discussion, please join us". Halime got up, tied her hair into braid and wore a white headscarf. She then went to sit next to Gunduz. "Tell your mother what we were just discussing, Gunduz" Ertugul said. Halime turned to Gunduz and waited for him to speak. Gunduz hesitated before saying " Ana, as you can probably tell, I love Fatma Hatun, I didn't mean to say what I said at dinner at loud, but I couldn't control myself. Fatma is the most beautiful and brave girl I have ever met". Halime smiled and looked at Ertugul. " I'm so happy to see the days where my son is talking about love and getting married" Halime grinned. " I never said anything about getting married Ana" Gunduz smiled. Halime rolled her eyes teasingly before saying " My Gunduz, Will you love a woman without marrying her, this is against our religion and our traditions, until your wedding with Fatma Hatun is fixed, keep your distance and lower your gaze" Halime explained. Gunduz chuckled before saying " I doubt you and baba did that when you weren't married yet". Ertugul laughed and Halime tried not to. She gave Gunduz a stern look, and Gunduz said meekly " Sorry Ana". Halime smiled. " Leave now Gunduz, I must speak with your Ana privately". Gunduz left the tent and Ertugul turned to Halime. " First come here and give me a hug, my beautiful wife". Halime wrapped her arms around Ertugul and Ertugul kissed her forehead. " My bey, have you seen how deep in love our Gunduz has fallen for your niece Fatma" Halime said. Ertugul grinned " Yes, my gazelle eyes, I have seen, he is hopelessly in love with her, just like I was with you". Halime blushed and Ertugul continued speaking " In fact, I still love you as much as I did that day when the gazelle brought us together, my Halime". "I love you even more, my bey" Halime replied. " Do you think that Gunduz is mature  is mature enough to get married?" Ertugul asked Halime with a smirk on his face. " Give him some time, bey, I can remember clearly that it has been 20 long winters and springs since his birth. In the coming months, he may prove himself". Ertugul nodded and said " Eyvallah Halime Sultan". Ertugul got up and went to do his regular bey duties. Halime Sultan removed her white scarf and got dressed in a dark blue dress with matching earrings and headdress. She then put her dagger in her sheath and walked out of her tent. Today was a day when she was starting her morning later than she had wanted to. Everyone was already awake and getting on with their work. Halime Sultan had a very busy day ahead of her. She walked calmly to the rug house, saying Salam to all those who she passed. When she finally reached the rug house, she saw all of the women sitting and weaving rugs. She looked around, most of the faces she saw were familiar, Aslihan Hatun was walking around and observing the Women's technique, Selcan Hatun was teaching a young girl how to weave and Hafsa Hatun was making the most vibrant and colorful dye for the rugs. However, there was one face that Halime had never seen working at the rug house before, it was Fatma Hatun. Halime greeted all the ladies at the rug house and walked towards where Fatma was sitting, at the back of the rug house, carefully weaving her rug that she had clearly just started making today. There was only a few knots tied. "kolay gelsin, kizim" Halime said to Fatma. " Thank you, yenge" Fatma replied. " When did you decide to start working in the rug house?" Halime asked kindly. " I was getting bored and upset sitting in my tent, all alone, just thinking about how my mother turned out to be a poisonous traitor, I decided to use my skills to help Kayi tribe" Fatma explained. Halime put her hand on Fatma's shoulder and said " Thank you my dear". Selcan Hatun had overheard their conversation and turned to Fatma and said " Fatma'm, you can come and live with me in my tent for at least a few days if you're feeling lonely. You are like my daughter and I am like your mother". Fatma smiled and responded " Thank you, yenge, I shall move my things to your tent, this evening". Selcan nodded her head and got back to her work. Halime got up and went to work on her rug. 

After a long day of working at the rug house, Halime thanks all the women for their hardwork and tells them to go home and rest. All the women start filing out of the rug house and Halime announces something as they are leaving. " Hatunlar! I have an important announcement. Ertugul Bey is holding a feast tonight, in celebration of conquering Lefke Kalesi". Everyone laughed and cheered in delight. Fatma Hatun smiled, it was another chance for her to spend time with Gunduz. Fatma walked towards her tent so that she can get her things and move into Selcan Hatun's tent, however as she was walking there, she met Hafsa Hatun, wife of Bamsi Beyrek. " Good evening, kizim" she said. " Good evening Hafsa..." Fatma responded, not knowing whether to call her hatun, yenge, or something else. " Ana" Hafsa replied. " Hafsa Ana" Fatma nodded. " I would like to introduce you to my daughter, Aslihan, she is the same age as Savci". Fatma smiled as a young girl with green eyes and a pretty smile walked towards her, she looked around 14 years old, 3 years younger than her, why was she being introduced to her? " You two girls talk, I must go and help prepare for the feast tonight" Hafsa Hatun explained. Fatma nodded at her politely and turned to Hafsa and Bamsi's daughter Aslihan. As soon as Fatma was about to open her mouth to speak and try to have a normal conversation, Aslihan pulled out a dagger and put it against Fatma's throat. Fatma was shocked, such a young girl was this bold. " Stay away from Gunduz Alp, Fatma Abla, stay away from him or I'll make you regret it". Fatma pushed the dagger away easily and stepped closer to Aslihan. " What is it you?" she asked angrily. "I have loved  Gunduz since I can remember, he is my childhood crush, I will marry him someday, stay away from him" Aslihan replied.  Fatma laughed and rolled her eyes slightly. " Aslihan Baci (sister), Gunduz is 5 years older than you, and he is not in love with you, you are still a child". " You are only 3 years older than me, but you act like you are 10 years older than me, know your place Hatun!" Aslihan replied. Fatma noticed that Aslihan still had the dagger in her hand, she flicked it out of her hand and it fell to the ground. Fatma then walked towards her tent, muttering to herself. Aslihan burned with rage. Even though she was young, and nowhere near as strong and brave as Fatma, What would her anger allow her to do?