Feriha Hatun (Ertugrul's Wife)

Chapter 17

 TW: mentions of rape 

Feriha was resting in the tent with Ertugrul sat beside her. She was thankful that he decided to stay with her, because she didn't feel like herself and she knew she wouldn't for a while. He was reading the Qur'an out loud for her. She loved the way his voice took on a melodic tone as he read Surah Rahman to her.

She felt completely relaxed and soothed as she sat quietly listening. It was only when her eyes started shutting that she felt a pain in her stomach and sat up abruptly. She leaned over her bed and threw up into a nearrby bowl. Ertugrul's eyes widened as he loooked up at her from his reading. He quickly and carefully placed the Qur'an in it's cover and onto the table.

"Feriha, my love, are you ok?" He asked with concern after she stopped vomiting. She took a breath and was about to answer when she retched again and threw up. "Feriha!" Ertugrul exclaimed as he helped her move back onto the bed and lay her down. "What's wrong? Why are you throwing up. "I don't know Ertugrul! If I did I would tell you!" She suddenly yelled at him.

They were both shocked at her tone of voice. "I-I'm sorry Ertugrul, I never meant to shout. I'm just so tired!" She said before passing out. "Akcakoça! AKCAKOÇA!" Ertugrul shouted as he ran out his tent, looking for the doctor. The doctor emerged from his tent and swiftly moved to Ertugrul.

"What is wrong my Bey?" He asked as he approached. "It's Feriha, My wife! She was resting when all of a sudden she leaned over the bed and threw up. Then she said she was tired and passed out!" He spome quickly. Akcakoça ran back to his tent, grabbed two medical bags and ran with Ertugrul back to the tent.

Hayme Ana and Suleyman Shah had heard the commotion and left their tent to see why their son was yelling for the doctor. They headed into the tent and saw Akcakoça checking Feriha's pulse. "It seems the cause for her passing out is fatigue" he announced. "Now as for the vomiting it could be an after effect of almost dying. However as she looks extremely tired too, I wouldn't overlook the thought that she might be pregnant" the doctor spoke, continuing her analysis.

"What has her behaviour been like? Anything out of the ordinary. "Well she shouted at me when I asked her if she was ok and she did seem a little clingy before I started reading Qur'an to her" Ertugrul answered. "Hmmm, mood swings are another symptom of pregnancy. So I do think there is an even chance of her being pregnant to struggling to recover from near death" the doctor finished.

"But how, how could she be pregnant. Since she came back, we've barely spent time alone. And when we have we've just talked, eat or slept. I've been cautious with her since she was first returned to us" Ertugrul asked. "Well she might just be ill then..." he trailed off a little, lost in thought. "What are you thinking Akcakoça?" Suleyman Shah spoke up.

"Well, with her symptoms, it does seem like she could just be ill unless..." Akcakoça trailed off again, not wanting to finish his sentence, because if what he said turned out to be true, he wouldn't know what to do. "Unless what? Finish your sentence! Please!" Hayme Ana begged him. "Well, you did say she was captured by the mongols for two years right? During that time they clearly tortured her from the injuries she had when she fled and was brought back to us by Bamsi. Now, we all know the Mongols are capable of all kinds of torture. But the worst kind, the one that would affect the wife of a Bey most would be rape" Akcakoça told them.

"What?! No, no, no! They couldn't have, not to my beautiful daughter!" Hayme exclaimed distraught. "Is there a way to know for sure?" Suleyman Shah spoke. "As she seems to only started experiencing symptoms today, they would have done it to her recently. Most likely, shortly before her escape. If so, there is likely to be bruising in her crotch area. For that we would need one of the midwives to check" he answered the unsettled Bey. "Call a midwife immediately then!" Suleyman Shah commanded Abdurrahman after summoning him.

*****

A short while later, the alp returned, a midwife hurrying behind him. "As soon as she was filled in, the room was cleared out and Ertugrul and his parents stood around anxiously. None of them said a word as they waited, silently praying for Feriha's wellbeing. Aykiz, Selçan, Gokçe and Gundogdu entered the tent having heard from others of Ertugrul's shouting.

"What happened mother? Why are you all looking so unhappy?" Selçan voiced. Hayme Ana remained silent, so Suleyman Shah spoke up "Feriha has fallen ill, so we are waiting for the verdict" he told her. "What?" Aykiz asked in disbelief. Suleyman Shah was going to elaborate, when the midwife walked out. "There is bruising visible and what also appears to be the marks of handprints on her thighs, the skin is red. I'm sorry to say, I am almost certain that Feriha was raped."