Not One Sided

8. Two Choices

Melikşah's POV

We reached Anatolia. And there she stood to greet us.

"Sultanım.." she greeted me.

"Elçin hatun, what's happening here? Why are the matters getting worse day by day?"

"Sultanım, actually..."

Before she could complete, the crowd from behind interrupted.
"Sultan Melikşah has arrived!"

I asked all of them to gather together so that I could attend the matter.

The others stood a level below us.

"What has happened here? Why are all of you so restless?" I asked in a loud voice.

A lady began,
"Sultanım, after you were gone, Elçin hatun joined hands with Markus. We were against it but she convinced us saying that we'll prosper and Markus wont harm us again. Yet just two days later, one of his men misbehaved with my daughter. What explanation does she have now? We care about our lives. We don't want to be thrown into the fire because of such a ruler."

A few others too spoke, "Yes, Sultanım we all witnessed it."

I turned towards Elçin hatun. She remained silent.

"Elçin hatun, what do you've to say on this?" I asked stiffly

"Sultanım, I was very alert day and night. Especially, since the incident that happened with me. I really hadn't seen any other man entering or leaving their yurts while I was awake all the time. On my part, I don't trust them. Maybe they're lying."

"Why would we lie? Stop justifying yourself Elçin hatun!" Another man shouted.

"Yeter! Did I ask you to speak?You should've the manners of how to speak and stand before a Sultan." I shouted in a loud tone.

"Moreover, how can I trust you all completely? Perhaps what Elçin hatun is saying is right. Do you have any other witness or evidence?"

"Sultanım, One of the soldiers saw him escape that day." The woman further added.

I asked them to call the soldier and interrogated him.

"Ewet Sultanım, I saw him. He had escaped."

"Vay be! What's your duty? What is it? To guard! And you can't even do that properly and come up with an excuse that he escaped?"

"When did you see him? I asked you the other day, so you told you hadn't seen anyone. Why are you lying?"
Elçin hatun shouted

"Dur! Elçin hatun." I signalled a hand.

"Sultanım, your father Sultan Alp arslan had opened the doors to Anatolia. But now, our bonds with Seljuk state are weakening. We want you to deliver proper justice and help us live in peace. Also we don't want Elçin hatun to work with that scoundrel Markus anymore."

The lady spoke whereas others too nodded their heads approvingly.

"Elçin hatun, do you have something to say?" I asked her.

"I just have one thing to justify on my part. I joined hands with Markus, just to reveal his identity to the Seljuk State. Otherwise, he would've kept threatening us fearlessly, and also would've harmed the Seljuks. I had no intention of betrayal. That's it!"

She replied in a very calm but confident way.

"Elçin hatun is at fault. But you all are equally responsible. If I'm not very sure about her betrayal, I don't very well trust either of you on this incident. Hence, I've made a decision."

I turned towards Elçin hatun and asked,

"Elçin hatun, I'm presenting before you, two choices.
One is, leave Anatolia and join hands with Markus. But this time, very honestly. No betrayal on any side. Then you can do whatever you want. No more ties with Seljuks.
Second, stay on our side and obey to whatever I say. You'll only follow what I order! I ain't forcing you. You're free to make a choice."

"Sultanım, I choose the right path. And that's with the Seljuk state. But.."

I interrupted.
"No buts. You've decided this and it should be final."

I asked her again if this was her final decision, and she replied without making any eye contact,
"Ewet."

"Since Elçin hatun has decided this. I too 've taken a final decision.
I ain't dethroning Elçin hatun from her position. She'll continue to rule Anatolia. But, there are certain conditions."

___________________

Yeter - Enough
Ewet - Yes
Vay be! - Wow!
Dur - Stop