LONG LOST (A Sungurtekin Bey Fanfiction)

16.

Under the shade of bright moon and dim stars, they both were resting. Noyan had been taken to Carvansarai, so with him inside they had no choice but to stop and rest there for the night. They both were sitting across each other with their backs leaned with the trunks of the trees. 

It was cold and the forest floor was damp due to the dew. But Sungurtekin had suggested to not lit a fire in order to keep their mission a secret.

"If anyone will see the smoke rising, they will definitely come to check." He had said.

As a result they had to sit in the cold. He was fine as he had spent his life in much more colder weather but he was worried for Delir Demir. Delir Demir was fighting hard with cold by shrinking more and more in his place.

Sungurtekin stared at him for some time and then stood up from his place. He looked around and came to sit beside Delir Demir. Demir looked at him in question.

"You must be cold." Sungurtekin said and took his hand in his own. Then he started to rub it slightly providing him the heat from his body.

"You do not need to do this, beyim!" Delir Demir said.

"Yes I do!" Sungurtekin smiled and kept rubbing his hands. Delir Demir sighed.

"What is love, Delir Demir?" He asked after a while.

"Love is obedience. There are different levels of love. Some have a very slight spark of love in them. Some are so merged in the lake of love that they are not able to come out and see the light outside. These both are dangerous. The first one for the person who is being loved. The later for the lover himself for he forgets that there is Someone who created him. Someone who wants him to do more and more. But the person is not willing to come out of the circle of his love!" Delir Demir said.

"What kind of love is good then?" Sungurtekin asked.

"The one that does not let you go astray from the path of the Creator! The one that does not cause you to forget what is your real purpose of coming in this world. If it does, then not only the love of a man and woman is dangerous but also the love for nation, the love for land, the love for family are fatal!" Delir Demir sighed.

"And when does one know that he is in love?" Came the next question.

"When a person feels himself complete in the presence of someone or something, he should know that he is in love!"

Sungurtekin remained silent for sometime then raised his head,

"I think I am in love then!"

Delir Demir smiled. He took his hand out of his grip slowly and placed them on Sungurtekin's thigh with affection.

"I think I know who is she!" He said.

"Do you?" Sungurtekin turned to him. "Okay lets hear it then!"

"Nuray Hatun!" And the glint in Sungurtekin's eyes was enough to tell him that he was right. They both smiled at each other and placed their heads back on the trunk of the tree.

                  .........................

The next day Tangut came to the Carvansarai. Sadettin welcomed him and offered him a seat beside him.

"What do you want from me?" He asked Sadetin. Sadettin stared at him for some time than smiled.

"Kill Noyan and be the commander of Ogedei."