GonBor- A Gonca hatun and Boran alp story

The End of an Era

(We are back with the✨d e p r e s s o  e x p r e s s o✨- I'm sorry that was a bad joke)

Boran Alp P.O.V

The preparation for the migration has been made, and the weather has cleared enough to move the caravan. The first convoy will be sent today with most of our supplies. Osman Bey appointed Bamsi Bey as the head of the convoy, and he would be leading the group to Domanic. Cerkutay, Aygul, Gencebey and Saltuk were going with him. Along with Turhan alp, who had come to our tribe from Germiyan lands, wanting to fight with us.

I think it's pretty crazy that young alps are riding alone from far away lands just to join our cause. But, there's always a suspicion around them considering, they practically came out of nowhere. Turhan, however, seems to be the youngest, and he seems like the kind who play with their younger siblings during all their free time. (This is the vibe I got when Turhan came lol.)

We check over the carts, doing the last check to make sure everything is in place. Goodbyes are said and they set off, hooves marking the ground as they ride out of the tribe.  "Haydi, prepare the horses, we're going to Sogut." Osman Bey says to us as he turns to go into his tent.  Soon later, we too, ride out of the tribe, heading to Sogut.

Osman Bey wants to remodel Sogut, making it a center for the state he will build. We walk around as Osman Bey talks to builders and merchants. "Bey, we should have the perfume shops towards the front of the market, so pleasant scents can welcome the people." The builder says and I think, 'That's actually a pretty good idea.' Osman Bey nods, and a few minutes later, he turns around. "I will go see my Sheikh, I will be back in a little while." 

Just as Osman Bey goes to walk away, Baysungur runs up to us. "Osman Bey!" He calls, and Osman Bey stops, turning back around, "What happened, Baysungur?" "Bey, Togay just left Inegol Castle with Nikola's men, but Nikola is not commanding them. They are heading upland, towards Domanic." Baysungur says hurriedly and Osman Bey's eyes widen slightly. "They are going to attack the caravan, we need to hurry!"

We ride as fast as we can, hoping to get there in time, but the sight we see is exactly what we didn't want to see. "Bamsi Bey!" Osman Bey calls out as he jumps off his horse and runs toward him.  I quickly follow, Bamsi Bey leans against Cerkutay, blood spilling from multiple wounds in his body. "Bamsi Bey, Tell me what happened!" Osman Bey asks with a tear in his eyes, "My lion, Ertugrul's brave son, My Osman. I was afraid I would die without becoming a martyr."

Tears well up in my own eyes, 'All he wanted was to become a martyr.' "It was in my destiny..." "No... no." Osman bey says, shaking his head, "I was to be granted martyrdom while migrating upland." But Osman keeps shaking his head, "No, Bamsi Bey! We will migrate to many more lands together! We will fight together!" Osman starts to cry, "Don't, don't!" Bamsi Bey takes a breath, "My sons, don't you see? My destiny is not protecting me from the hands of death." 

Osman Bey sits back slightly, a realization hitting him and I close my eyes. 'Bamsi Bey's time has come," I tell myself, but it pains me to believe it. "May you be granted many migrations with our tribe, my children." Goktug clutches Bamsi Bey's hand, "Don't leave us here without a father, Bamsi Bey!" He cries, and Bamsi Bey shakes his head, "My children." He says as he addressing us all, "My Boran... Aygul... Goktug..." He looks past us, "Turhan Alp, Give me... give me my swords." 

Turhan gets up silently, handing both swords to Bamsi Bey.  "Cerkutay... these swords belong to you," Bamsi Bey says, holding the swords up to Cerkutay. Cerkutay takes them, crying into Bamsi Bey's shoulder. "My Osman," Bamsi Bey starts, "Tell me, Bamsi Bey." "My children are now entrusted to you. I now know you will take my revenge." Bamsi Bey struggles to take a breath but keeps talking.

"But first... think about your targets," Bamsi bey coughs violently, blood spilling from his mouth. "My Osman... My Osman, I never doubted the state you will build, but the state is never-ending and eternal. Think about this." Bamsi lets go of Osman's armor, falling back into Cerkutay's arms. "Ertugrul Bey?" He calls and at that moment it hits me, 'He's leaving.'

"Abdurahman Gazi... Hafsa..." He says smiling, "Aybars, Aslihan." He calls the name of his two children, that he outlived. "Shahadat vaktidir, (It is time for Shahadat,)" Bamsi Bey looks up to the blue sky. "Ashadu Allah Ilaha Ilallah wa Ashadu anna Muhammadan Abduhu wa Rasooluh. (I bear witness that there is no deity, but Allah, and that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His servant and messenger.)" His head drops to the side, "Baba?" Cerkutay calls, with no answer.

I sit back covering my eyes as tears spring from my eyes. A million moments, a million memories flash through my head. Bamsi Bey teaching me how to swing a sword, how to throw a dagger, how to shoot an arrow. The time he bought me my kopuz, the times he would take us hunting, and the time he took us on a snow trip. The way he laughed, and joked at Osman's wedding, the way he joked and laughed at my wedding. 

And his strength. He lost his best friend, Dogan alp. He lost his wife and his teenage daughter in the sickness that spread through the tribe. His son was martyred on his wedding day. He helped his son's killer to the right way and watched him be martyred as well. He lost so many of his friends along the way, his Bey died in his arms. He watched a boy that he had trained himself, a boy who he watched grow up, turn out to be a traitor. 

Goktug rides beside me as we take Bamsi Bey's body to the tribe. "If it weren't for him, I would be dead," Goktug says quietly and I look at him. "I tried to kill myself when I found out Konur's injury was too severe. I tried to slit my own throat. Bamsi Bey stopped me." I sigh, remembering that time where Goktug held a dagger tightly to his throat. "I tried again after that, when Konur passed away," Goktug says, turning to me. "I almost did that time," he touched a faint scar on his neck. "But, he didn't let me. He stopped me, told me I had a duty. A promise."

An Era is coming to an end. And we will carry the torch to the future.

A/N: Dang, that was sad. I watched the scene again and had the sad music playing in the background which made it super depressing. Phew, I need a break, Imma go watch Mickey Mouse and Blues Clues, anyone wanna join?

Also, I made some coffee-stained paper. (If you don't know what that is, it's just a way to make a paper look like an old document.) I'm drawing a battle map on one, but on the other, I'm going to pretend it's a letter from the Sultan and send it to my cousins. They'll totally freak out.

Salaam and Have a great day!

-Laraib