LONG LOST (A Sungurtekin Bey Fanfiction)

42.

There was no one in the marquee, nor in his tent which by the way was going to be his mother's as he was shifting out today to his own across the marquee. To find Nuray, he rushed to Halime's tent.

"Do I have permission, Halime Sultan?" He asked and started pacing up and down the marquee. Halime needed some time to adjust herself. He knew that there was something wrong with Sadetin Kopek that made Nuray ran inside the marquee. She was from the palace, so was Sadetin. Her father was an Emir, and so was Sadetin.

"Gel, Abi." Came Halime's voice. When he raised the curtains, he saw her sitting in the bed beside Halime and with his nephew in her arms. Halime was also sitting upright, Covering herself with a white cloth. Sungurtekin smiled at them and went to have a look at his nephew. He had Ertugrul's features. The same hair, the same eyes, the same nose.

"Gunduzum!!" He coaxed him. Nuray smiled and placed the baby in his arms. Sungurtekin placed a light kiss on his forehead.

"He is Ertugrul." Nuray smiled to Halime.

"He didn't take one thing from me." Halime sighed.

"You sound jealous, sister." Sungurtekin smiled, eyes still lingering on the features of the baby.

"He is my firstborn," Halime said in a matter of factly tone.

"What happened outside?" Nuray asked, changing the subject.

"Sadetin Kopek wanted his margrave back, We gave him his head." He told them. Halime and Nuray gasped, looking at each other eagerly. Then he placed Gunduz back in the cot and placed the cot in Halime's reach. After that, he turned to Nuray.

"Gel sana!"

Nuray raised her head. He was looking at her with a grave expression. All the enthusiasm was gone. Nuray turned to Halime who was staring at them both awkwardly then she stood up silently and followed him outside the tent. Halime's gaze had followed them with worry. They were together, she had seen it but had not asked Nuray how it happened. She was just happy for them. But now there was something that didn't seem right.

Outside in the marquee, in front of the beylic chair, they both stood, face to face.

"Why did you run inside?" He asked without preamble.

"I couldn't stand there. Death scenes make me feel nauseous." She lied confidently.

"Do you think I would believe that?" He raised his brows at this.

"Well, you have to."

"No, I don't have to. Tell me the truth." He shook his head and demanded.

"Are you going to force me now?" She asked, tying her hands to her chest and came to a step further.

"I can force you, you know!" A mischievous smile appeared on him as he said this. It felt good to argue with her. Nuray stared at him for some time. She was going to tell him so why not now.

"Alright. That man was there, the night I was...." She stopped and looked down at her hands. "The night my father was killed."

"Emir Sadetin?" Sungurtekin asked bewildered.

"Yes, and he was giving the orders." Nuray nodded. That cannot be true. He could have considered him one of the most dangerous men alive but killing an Emir of the state... That he had not expected from him. So he asked.

"Are you sure?" Nuray scoffed at this and looked at him.

"Well. A man kills my father," Raised her forefinger in front of his face. "Orders me to be killed," the Second finger. "His man tramples my honor." Third finger. "For years that person came in my dreams and deprived me of sleep." Fourth finger. "I think that is enough to remember the face of a person? Don't you think?" Sunugurtekin just kept smiling at her. "He is the traitor in the palace." She said after some time.