Beyond The Realms

Chapter 47

Within a couple of days our allies arrive and a short while later the royal princes Arham and Yaman too arrive with their armies.

" It is easy to recognise you with the crown " quips Prince Yaman as soon as the gate of the fort opens in his welcome.

Prince Arham grins looking at me " I bet you missed me " . He now sports a scar that runs along the left side of his stunningly handsome face I'm sure it is from the vicious dothrekkans

" Looking at the new addition on my face ?" He smirks as his exotic golden eyes smoulder with a teasing light
" I know , chicks dig scars "

I roll my eyes at him , He is ridiculously gorgeous enough as it is he won't need any scar to attract female attention through somehow he makes that also look good
" I'm just very glad you could come "

But apparently I have become happy too quickly. As Ghazanfar informs us in the study " For each of our single soldier Ayelet will have at least ten more"

" What about our remaining allies ?" Jabeen asks looking hopeful.

" None ready to stand against Ayelet "

Her face falls " If our army had equal numbers to hers we could at least have had one less disadvantage "

" We at least need one more army " Ghazanfar says running a hand down his dark beard
" But seeing how most of our allies have refused to aid us I do not think it is possible to hope for arrival of one "

Jabeen curses under her breath.

I would have joined her too but suddenly the loud thunderous ringing of the bells pierce the air .

" Ayelet's army is here " Jabeen says shock and horror mixing in her expression but I see a fierce light flicker to life in her eyes " If fighting in this war is the last thing I do before I die I won't be sad about it " I look at my cousin wanting to tell her not to think about death but that's hard to do when the possibility of it is quite literally standing at our gates armed with a army that is bigger than ours.

Though I feel like I have been given too little a time with them but reality says we will loose lots of people today , many will die in this war.

Jabeen smiles at me knowing what is going through my head and pulls me in a quick hug
" Do not blame yourself for any of this cousin , it is an honor to fight for you "

I push away the urge to burst into tears and tuck away my emotions, for my kingdom needs a clear headed , brave princess and this is what it will get.

I fix my eyes on the commander of my army " What is the battle plan ?"
" We will intercept her forces near the foot of the Seher mountains " Ghazanfar says pointing at the mountain range on the map where the archers of all armies which include mine and all my allies are to be positioned at as they rain death on steel on our enemy.

" I will be leading the armies in the right " Prince Ruslan declares tracing a valley that will clash with the enemy force as soon as they emerge from the mountains. " Yaman will come in from the left and ....." The Prince continues explaining the battle plan swiftly put precisely to all the other royal princes and Princesses who command armies of their own and had come to my aid.

Hearing Prince Ruslan speak about leading the attack makes the anxious knot in my chest that had never quite let me since the horrible dream this morning tightens further.

I can't shake away the feeling that Prince Ruslan is walking into danger. I know it is a war , everyone of us is in danger here but still .....the gut feeling inside me only intensifies. " Don't lead " I say looking at the prince who has now momentarily paused to look back at me.

" What are you talking about ?" Jabeen asks bewildered just like everyone else present her " This is a war he will have to lead and command his army"

'Of course' I swallow realising what I'm asking is next to impossible in this situation. " At least don't be at the front lines " I fix my eyes on him earnestly " Promise me you will not be at the front lines "

" I will have to be the one leading the attack " The Prince says " My absence as the commander will not only make my army weak but it will also destroy their morale "

I feel colour draining from my face as desperation and worry cracks my voice and the feeling of premonition threatens to choke me, "Don't go"

Jabeen arches an eyebrow fully aware that I'm acting strange and looks at me questioningly " Why are you so adamant about Prince Ruslan not leading his army?"

I give her a pleading look but she along with everyone else gathered here can't make any sense of my behavior as they fail to understand why I would stop the more than capable Prince from fighting in the front lines .

I fleetingly glance at the said Prince who's face as always betrays nothing of what he is thinking .

Commander Ghazanfar takes it upon himself to explain things to me
" The Prince has been leading the army for our cause from a long time now ,the soldiers trust his commandership and----"

" I don't want him fighting in the front lines " I repeat myself this time pleadingly looking at my cousin hoping she would understand but she frowns in obvious confusion " Why are you so against him leading the army and----? "

All the others gathered here look equally anxious and confused. Ayelet is literally knocking at our doors and I'm holding them all up.

Taking in a deep breath, I squeeze my eyes shut bracing myself for what I'm about to do next . 'Stop being a coward already , just get this over with ! '

I have the entire sentence framed in my head but when I open my mouth the words tumble out of it on their own will in a graceless and unflattering mess
" I'm in love with him and I'm terrified by the thought that something bad will happen to him"

When I pop open a single eye in the room full of Djinns , Jabeen is the first one react
" Finally !" She grins at me widely " It's about time you told him "

Ghazanfar gives a small smile and goes back to discussing the battle plan once again before hurriedly moving out of the study to acquire his weapons and steed , and head out to the war.

" Let's give Ayelet a crushing defeat " His voice is loud and clear and the others begin to head out behind him while I remain rooted to the spot realising what I had just done and cringe at myself .

This isn't how I had planned to let him know about my feelings, not at all .

" Aww ! I thought you had a thing for me sweetie " Arham says walking out of the study with a rakish wink
" You broke my heart "

" Don't listen to that idiot " Emir says following his friend out " We all knew about your feelings for Ruslan "

The study is emptying pretty quickly but I feel Prince Ruslan's silent presence as I have always felt , though I'm too nervous to look at him after my cringe worthy confession .

I'm waiting for him to say something , anything

But maintaining his usual silence and the fathomless mask over his face he walks out of the study.

No talk. No reaction .
Nothing at all !

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