LONG LOST (A Sungurtekin Bey Fanfiction)

33.

Everyone was gathered in the tent of the Kayi marquee. Gundogdu was resting in the bed. Artuk bey was checking him thoroughly while Hayme was sitting beside him. His brothers Ertugrul and Sungurtekin were standing at the foot of the bed. Selcan along with Halime ran inside. Halime stood by the brothers and Selcan dropped herself beside Gundogdu with worry.

"You have a fever, bey! You must rest completely!" Artuk said. Gundogdu nodded slightly. He was looking so pale as if all the blood had drained out of him. Artuk sighed and stood. He had examined him fully.

"Do not worry, Artuk bey!" Selcan said. "I will not leave him alone for a moment!" Artuk nodded. He had no doubt about that so he stood up followed by Hayme. Gundogdu smiled at his wife.Just as Artuk was passing by the brothers, Sungurtekin stopped him.

"Artuk bey!" He said. Artuk stopped and turned to them. Everyone was now gathered around him. They had questions popping in their minds but no one was daring to ask.

"As I understand, Abi's arm is much worse than we think!" Ertugrul said finally. Artuk just stared at them. He had a grave expression on his face. Hayme glanced at Sungurtekin, a begging in her eyes to ask him about Gundogdu's condition.

"Artuk bey, What makes you anxious that much?" He asked.

"Say it, For God sake!" Selcan wiped her tears.

Artuk was still confuse as if to tell them or not! But Gundogdu made his job easy.

"Artuk bey, they are my family! I have nothing to hide from them!" Artuk nodded and sighed.

"This abscess is a big trouble." He spoke finally.

"What trouble, Artuk bey?" Hayme asked immediately.

"I have never seen abscess that reached to the bone in one night, Hayme hatun!" Artuk said. There was something in his voice that made every person in the tent worried as hell. "If we cannot dry it, I am afraid of the things that can happen to him."

"Tell me, Artuk bey!" Hayme was handling the whole situation bravely. "I know this abscess well! It was on the back of Suleyman Shah. Tell us and let us take measures!"

"If we will not dry the wound, it will mix up with the blood! And it will kill him!" Artuk spoke.

Sungurtekin squeezed his eyes shut while Ertugrul bit his lower lip in pain. Halime immediately held Selcan who had her palm on her mouth to suppress her cry.

"Is there another remedy for this illness?" Ertugrul asked.

"I hope we will dry the wound, Bey!" Artuk said in deep thought.

"Inshallah!" Sungurtekin said. It was hard for them to see Gundogdu in bed like this. He had always been active just like the other two. There was still hope for him. But Artuk bey was not finished yet!

"But I might have to cut his arm to prevent it to mixing with blood!"

Sungurtekin stared at him in disbelief and turned to see Gundogdu. Gundogdu gave him an assuring smile. Sungurtekin stood there for some time then left the tent. He was numb.

Cut his arm?? His brother may die of it!!.

Just when he thought that he would be able to get his brother back, fate had played with him badly. Gundogdu waa the one, with whom he had all his memories as a brother. When he had lost Ertugrul and Dundar were very young. Dundar was only a baby at that time. Ertugrul had been a child at that time who would always come to his elder brother telling him his achievements in the training center. So yes, all the happy memories he had were with Gundogdu. They both used to spent a lot of time together. He had even witnessed the moment when Gundogdu had confessed his love for Selcan in front of him. He even remembered the moment when he qas was being captured and the last thing he saw before hing deep into darkness was the sight of Gundogdu, searching for him while he was being taken far far away. He didn't know where he was going, he had not even noticed Artuk bey coming out of the marquee and stopping beside him. There was greif in his eyes as he stared at a bewildered Sungurtekin. But Sungurtekin kept on walking and the last thing Artuk saw, he was standing in front of Selcan hatun's or more precisely Nuray hatun's tent! He must have asked for permission that's why Nuray hatun came out of the tent. There was a glint of anger in her eyes as she saw him standing there but then may be it was just Artuk bey's illusion. She let him inside the tent. Artuk sighed and turned to the healing tent where he had to prepare another dose of Gundogdu's medicine.