GonBor- A Gonca hatun and Boran alp story

A Memory

Third-person P.OV

(Many years ago)

A man in alp clothing walks around Sogut, a Kayi symbol on his uniform. Behind him is a little boy with brown hair around  5 years old. The little boy happily skips around, waving a small wooden sword. The man walks to the dervish lodge and a much younger Sheikh Edebali greets him. Alongside the Sheikh is another man, slightly younger, holding the hand of a little girl. The little girl with braided hair hides behind her father. The little boy watches as his father greets the two men. 

"What's your name, alp?"  Sheikh Edebali asks, bending down in front of the boy. "I'm Boran alp!" The boy says proudly, he then turns to the girl. "What's your name?" He asks the girl who looks up at her father. Her father urges his daughter to talk and the girl turns back to the boy. "I'm Gonca." She says quietly, and Boran just looks at her before waving around his sword. "I have a sword!" Gonca grabs the little wooden sword that sat against the wall. "I have a sword too!" She exclaims, and Boran's little face scrunches up. "But, you're a girl. Girls can't be alps." He says in confusion.

"I bet I'm a better fighter than you." The little girl shoots, and Boran's head snaps up. "No, you aren't." "Yes, I am" "You can't beat me!" "Yes, I can."  The three men share a glance as the two bickers back and forth. Soon the bickering turned into a competition, little swords swung and clanked against each other. Gonca ducks under the sword and darts behind Boran. As Boran looks around in confusion, Gonca taps his head with her sword. 

The men break into laughter at the pair and Boran stomps his foot on the ground, an angry, but cute look on his face. "That's not fair," the boy whines. "I win! I told you I could beat you, Boran!" Gonca bounces around while Boran pouts, arms crossed. His father bends down whispering something in his son's ear. The boy's face lights up and he runs over to Gonca. "I'm the fastest boy in my tribe, I bet I could bet you in a race!" He exclaims and soon they both take off, wooden swords in hand. The men look at each other and watch the pair disappear into the market.

A week later Boran's father is killed in a raid, Boran sits by the bridge silently crying, looking at the water. Adding to the heartbreak, Boran's mother falls sick. Boran spends his days outside, quiet and watching. Soon Boran's mother is lost in the sickness, Boran becomes an orphan. He talks to only 4 people. Gunduz Abi, Savci Abi, Osman and Konur. Together, they train to become alps and Boran doesn't return to Sogut. The next time Boran visits Sogut, he's a teenager and the girl he played with had vanished from his mind.

Gonca's mother passed while giving birth to Gonca, her father worked alongside Sheikh Edebali. Her father is sent on a mission to spy on a Byzantine Castle. Gonca sits with her best friend, Bala in worry. 2 weeks later, news arrives. Gonca's father has been discovered and was killed by the commander of the castle. Gonca sits quietly on her stool near the pottery stand and watches everyone who comes by.  Soon, the boy she had played with vanishes from her mind.

Gonca hatun P.O.V

I stare at the wall of my tent, replaying the memory that had appeared in my head. 'That little boy, is Boran?'  I think as the memory fades from my head.  So, I had met Boran before, as a little girl. 'Those eyes can only belong to one person.' The whole memory seems so strange, but I recognized the other people in the memory. My father, I recognized and Sheikh Edebali who looked much younger. Something must have happened since it's the only memory I have with a little Boran.  'I should ask my Sheikh about it. He would be able to tell me about it.'

I sit next to Sheikh Edebali and Bala as I tell them about the random memory. When I finish, Edebali smiles at me.  "You did once meet Boran alp as a little girl, but soon after that Boran's parents passed away. He didn't come to Sogut anymore." Edebali tells me and I nod, I know Boran is an orphan. "Your father also became a shaheed, soon after as well. That's why it's the only memory you can recall." I nod in understanding. 'That makes a lot more sense now.'  "Why were you so interested in that memory, Gonca'm?" Sheikh Edebali asks me, a smile playing on his face. I feel my face heat up as I struggle to find an answer. Bala and her father share a smile and begin talking about other things.

I look out the open door, and I see someone in a black cloak walk past quickly. As I continue to look on, I spot Boran and Goktug following behind him carefully.  My brow furrows in confusion and a few minutes later, I ask for permission to leave. I find Boran pacing outside the inn a fuming look on his face.  A couple of feet away from him, Goktug stands glaring at the door in annoyance and anger. Boran spots me and his expression softens as he walks toward me. "What happened, Boran?" I ask when he's close to me. Boran sighs, "Erhan, he's back."

I stare at Boran in shock, "How?" Boran looks away, fists clenching at his sides. "He's in disguise, we keep following his traces, but he just disappears. It's clear, he's no longer alone. Someone's on his side."  I set my hand on his arm, "You'll find him, Boran. I know you will, and he'll pay for everything." Boran nods, "Now I do have something to tell you that'll make you happy." I tell him and he cocks his head in curiosity. I tell him about the memory I had and he listens intently. "You were a pretty cute little kid," I say quietly and Boran laughs, his cheeks tinged pink. "Hey, what do you mean "were"? You don't think I'm still cute?" Boran says pouting. I stifle my laugh at his goofy antics before Boran goes back to his duty.

A/N: Hello hello, I have been expecting you. My brain randomly played out that scenario with little Boran and Gonca and I had to write about it. Next chapter, we'll get back to the Erhan issue, so look forward to that. Also, I only have a little more than a week left of school! Yaaay!  Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you later! (Well not really, but you get what I mean.)

As always Salaam and have a great day!