𝕌𝕞𝕦𝕥 丨ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖

ƈɦǟքȶɛʀ ʄօʊʀ

The arrow reached its target. My eyes only wandered to see where it had hit, after the soldiers had shielded the Sultan, and swords had been placed at Elcin's throat. It was a snake. It writhed on the ground, as we all turned back to Elcin.

'Lower the swords!' The soldiers moved away from Elcin Hatun, and everyone sheathed their swords as Elcin walked towards us. She turned towards Melik Tapar.

'I pointed my arrow to the one who was going to hurt the Sultan, Melik Hazretleri. If you had seen the snake approaching the Sultan, it wouldn't have been necessary that I had pointed my own arrow, or you may have misunderstood me.' Sultan Melikshah walked forwards, and I edged my way to Tapar to calm him. 'You proved you are a skilful hunter with both your hawkeyes and throwing skills. Yet, you need to be careful while pointing an arrow at me again. Send your voice before the arrow. Or another arrow also hunts you down.' He smiled at her, before turning away. I walked alongside Tapar, who was red from anger. I placed my hand on his forearm.

'Melik Hazretleri. Please be calm. Her actions have been proved of. She wasn't trying to kill our Sultan, and you know it.' 'Ah, Cennet Hatun. It's precautionary. Our Sultan has many a-enemy, and we must always have our walls up. But what Sultan said was true. She should have shouted first! Even if it was you she was saving, I would...' I look up into his eyes. 'You would what?' 'I- um, nevermind. Let us go with the Sultan.' 'Oh, ok. Let's go.'

We were in the hunting camp, around a map on the table, Sultan Melikshah explaining about how he felt about the consistency of his soldiers.

'I'm very pleased with the situation of the soldiers. We'll practice more from now on. Be ready.' Tapar nodded. 'It will be helpful, Sultan'im. Our soldiers, who will take the Anatolian field are also with us. They are learning now to fight in Anatolia.' 'And my soldiers, who were given to me by Your Grace, Sultan Melikshah and the Karahanli state, are also training in the grounds near Kinik Tribe, Sultan'im. They all wait for orders from you.' He nodded, just as the door opened.

In walked Kamac, with a worried expression on his face. 'My Sultan. Ebul Kasim is waiting to be accepted before you.' The obvious discomfort could be seen on Elcin Hatun's face, as Sultan Melikshah accepted. 'Send him in.' He sat down on his chair, as Ebul Kasim walked in, hand on his chest.

'My Sultan.' He was rather breathless. 'Welcom, Ebul Kasim. What happened? Why are you like this?' 'I wouldn't want to bring bad news, but you have to learn this as soon as possible. On our way, we came across an overturned carriage. There were two hatuns in it. They were Terken Hatun and MahMelek Hatun.' Melikshah stood up, as I and Tapar gasped. 'What are you saying, Ebul Kasim?! What were they doing on the hunting ground?' 'They were injured, my Sultan. I couldn't ask. I sent them to the palace right away.' 'Kizim, Hatun'im. Terken Hatun is pregnant! Tapar, Cennet! Come with me, we need to go to the palace right now! Hunting practice is over!'

We all walked out together, concern lathering my thoughts. Although I had disliked Terken Hatun a lot, I had not hated the baby in her belly. She had wished for a son for a long time, and I felt the pain of losing a child for Melikshah. I had loved MahMelek as a sister, beloved to me and everyone. She was a beautiful, young girl, exposed to the state too early in life.

We mounted our horses quickly, and started out in a fast gallop. None of us spoke as the tension rose for the concern of the Sultan's wife and daughter. The only sounds heard, were the horses' neighs and the pattering of hooves. I was riding beside Tapar, who was clutching so tightly onto his horse's reigns, that his knuckles were going white. It was his own sister that he was scared for, though I doubt he couldn't care any less about his step-mother who had plotted against him many times.

We finally arrived at the palace, where everyone was in rush. There were maids running around with jugs of water and towels, and soldiers running about. We all dismounted as we heard where Terken and MahMelek were. The Sultan made his way to Terken, as I went to MahMelek Hatun's room. She was sat crying on her bed, cleaning her blood stained face with a wet towel. I almost sighed at the sight of it, then immediately sat beside her, my arms hugging her towards me. After all, she was my own blood.