𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐝𝐨𝐦

02

Halima sensed the discomfort and asked him what was wrong. Khalifa looked at his bride, touched by her genuine concern for his well-being, "Don't worry about it," he said with a reassuring smile  

Abdur Rahman shook his head and sighed. He hadn't wanted to bring up this feeling of unease he had in the room earlier, but it was too strong to ignore any longer. After a few moments of contemplation Khalifa finally spoke: " He sighed, his eyes darting around the room. "I don't know, Halima. Something feels off. I can't shake this feeling of unease."

Halima sat up, pulling the sheets up to her chest. "What do you mean? Is there something specific that's bothering you?"

He hesitated before speaking. "I can't put my finger on it. It's just a feeling... like we're being watched or something."

Halima's heart rate began to quicken as well. "Ya, Allah. She uttered words of spirituality to calm her heart.

With a solemn expression, he gazed into her eyes and spoke softly, "I apologize. This isn't the wedding night you had envisioned." 

His words left her crestfallen, and she blushed as she replied, "No, of course not."

As he got up from the bed, he averted his gaze and expressed his concern, "I don't think the castle is safe. There might be an underground shelter where we could spend the night. We should plan to leave the shelter tomorrow disguised as regular citizens."

Halima tightly gripped Abdur Rahman's hand and reassured him, "Don't worry, Allah is with us."

His lips twisted into a sad smile as he looked down at her. "I know Allah is with us, my love. But we must also take precautions to ensure our safety." He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before standing up, "I will pray for a bit. Stay here and prepare for our departure."

Halima nodded, tears prickling the corners of her eyes. She hated feeling so helpless and vulnerable, but she knew he was right. They couldn't take any chances with their lives. As Khalifa left the room, she began to pack whatever essentials she could find, wrapping clothes and food items in a large shawl. She checked the room one last time and, after ensuring nothing was left behind, she headed towards the shelter where they were supposed to spend the night.

As the night wore on, Abdur Rahman couldn't help but feel grateful for the shelter. It was cold and damp, but at least they were safe. Halima sat next to him, her head timidly resting on his shoulder. She whispered, "What do you think will happen?"

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, "I don't know, my love. But we must be prepared for anything. We'll stay alert and keep our wits about us."

Halima nodded, her eyes filled with fear. "I'm scared, Abdur Rahman. What if we don't make it out alive?"

His heart ached at the sight of her fear. He knew he had to be strong for both of them. "We'll make it out alive, Halima. I promise you that. We'll find a way to escape and figure out what is happening."

He had been through countless treacherous battles, but this one felt different. The air seemed to be charged with an unknown danger; it was almost as if something dark lurked around the corner. 

With a determined expression, Abdur Rahman turned to Halima, advising her to be prepared for the worst. He stood up and made his way to the small window of the shelter, peering out to assess the situation outside. Faint footsteps and muffled voices could be heard, suggesting the need for a quick and unnoticed escape.

Abdur Rahman turned back to Halima and motioned for her to follow him. They crawled out of the shelter and into the darkness, careful to avoid detection. As they made their way toward safety, Halima looked up at the starry sky and prayed for Allah's protection.