Not One Sided

27. It's about care

  Elçin's POV

I woke up in the morning. A little later he came to my yurt.

"Elçin, nasılsın?"

"Iyim, sultanım.."

"Elçin, we'll leave today afternoon, InşaAllah. You pack up.."

"Today?"

"Evet."

"Tamam. Sultanım...what happened the last night.."

"Elçin, I just want you to be happy. That's it. Now you'll return again as my wife. Intially, you may not get the same respect as Terken has got, but I'm sure as the days pass, everyone 'll understand."

"Sultanım..I'm not coming with you."

"Ne? One second you say tamam and the other second, not coming. Ben anlamiyorum."

"I can't force myself in a place where I don't get the same respect and trust as others do. I'm fine here."

"What are you saying, Elçin? Everything'll be better as the days pass. You'll be respected as my wife and a Selçuklu hatun. But regarding love--bak elçin, I respect you and care about you. But my love for Terken is eternal. I may not be able to give you the same."

"N-Ne?"

"You shouldn't be so surprised, Elçin. Isn't it obvious? No matter what, she is my wife, my crown. None can replace her. O benim Tacım!"

"Elçin..Elçin!"
I woke up exhausted as ağabey patted my cheeks.

"Neoldu Elçin? Did you see a bad dream?"

I nodded slightly.
He caressed my cheek and told,
"Tamam, just a dream."

"Abi, when did you come? And it's afternoon, why didn't anyone wake me up?"
My head was almost bursting with pain.

"I came a few hours ago. And canım, you were tired and unwell. So we thought not to disturb you. "

"Elçin, canım why do you do this to yourself? Why do you get involved in such things that eventually hurt you?"
He asked holding my hands.

"Ağabey, what did I do?"
My tone increased suddenly.

"Tamam-tamam.Don't get so hyper canım. I just want you to be safe and sound. And those bastards 'll be caught soon, InşaAllah."

He placed his hand over my cheek and told,
"Hadi, freshen up and come for lunch."

And he left.

Melikşah's POV

Our soldiers were still in search of the others. It was almost evening and I returned.
Elçin sat alone near the bonfire. I approached her and sat beside her.

She gave a little smile and then turned her face.
I assumed that something bothered her, so I began the conversation.

"We've held three of Markus' men captive. They 'll be taken to Isfahan and punished. Markus has fled ama we 'll catch him soon, InşaAllah."

She didn't reply so I further asked,
"Elçin, neoldu? What's bothering you?"

"Hiç."

"Hadi, Tell me."

"I don't understand what's going on in my mind. I mean these incidents, one after the other, seems like they all have a link ama I don't get it."

She sighed.

"Elçin, bak--"
I held her hand. It was burning with fever. I placed my hand over her cheek to check.

"Elçin, you're burning with fever. Didn't you have the medicinal soup?"

She switched her gaze a little and that made me understand that she didn't have it.

I sighed and scolded her.
"Elçin, why are you so careless and stubborn? Why don't you take care of yourself?"

"I had it in the afternoon, but-"

"But forgot it now? Obviously, how would you remember if you stuff your mind with unnecessary thoughts."

"Tamam, Sultanım. Don't scold me."

"I don't trust you on this. Hadi, kalk! Go to your yurt. I'll ask them to heat a bowl of it."

I took her to her yurt and after a few minutes, came with the bowl of soup.

She was seated on the bed, and her hair open. The yurt smelled of her fragrance.
Her hair which was unseen by my eyes since so long, appeared very beautiful. I couldn't admire its beauty the previous night as much as I admired it with the bowl of soup in my hand.

I went forward and sat on the bed beside her. I put the spoon forward to feed her.

"I'll have it on my own, sultanım. Don't you trust me with this as well?"

She asked smiling a little.

"It isn't about trust, Elçin. It's about care."

She didn't turn her gaze away this time but looked at me as I fed her the soup.

When finished with the soup, I placed the bowl on the table. She laid on the bed and I covered her with the blanket, passed my hand over her forehead and told,

"Iyi Gecelar"

I was about to leave the yurt but she held my hand.

______________________

Hiç - Nothing

Kalk - Get up

O benim tacım - She is my crown