Yasak - Forbidden (A Goktug Alp/Kongar Love Story)

Chapter 42

Hours passed, and the night turned into day as Melike left the healer's tent after re-dressing her wound. Sumeyye waited for her outside and smiled at her. "How is it?" she asked. "Better, Alhamdulillah," said Melike. "Alhamdulillah." Sumeyye couldn't stop smiling- the news of Goktug and Melike's betrothal had sent her over the moon with happiness for her friend. She sighed as she locked arms with Melike. "I'm so happy for you, Melike," she said gleefully. "I cannot believe this has finally happened...I'm so proud of you." Melike smiled at her, and squeezed her arm. "Allah is the best of planners, Sumeyye," she said softly. She sighed; "But I can't help but feel worried for him when he went off for battle this morning..." Sumeyye chortled and smirked at her mischievously.

"Now you know how I feel everytime your brother leaves for war," she said. "Yes...I don't know how you can tolerate it," whimpered Melike, as they walked toward the middle of the tribe, where Selcan and Bala were talking. Melike felt suddenly concerned. "It looks serious Sumeyye...what if something bad happened?" she wondered aloud to her friend. "Tovbeh, Inshaallah not, Melike'im," whispered Sumeyye. "Think happy thoughts." "Melike! Sumeyye!" Bala was bouncing up and down with happiness. "They did it! Osman Bey conquered the Kulucahisar!" "Allahim, cok sukur!" exclaimed Sumeyye, whilst Melike silently thanked God, her eyes closed. "Alhamdulillah! Who sent the news?" "Zulfiqar dervish did, and they will send another messenger when they're ready for us to visit the castle to witness their victory," said Selcan with a smile. "Selcan Ana, is Goktug alright?" Melike couldn't stop herself from asking, and Sumeyye and Bala giggled quietly, whilst she flushed at herself. Selcan smiled wider, and said, "Goktug Alp is perfectly fine, kizim. Zulfiqar told me that he was one of the fiercest on the battlefield. Cok sukur, we didn't suffer many losses." "Allah, thank you," whispered Melike, tears in her eyes. "I was worried- even though I knew I would be able to accept it if he was martyred."

"That is how it is when your men leave the tent to go off to war, Melike," said Selcan wisely. "You may be left behind, but the remedy of reunion will always be worth the pain." Melike smiled, finally finding herself agreeing with the words she had heard over and over since she was a young girl. Suddenly, Gonca ran up to them from the direction of the stables, and said, "Selcan Ana, the dervishes are ready to go to the castle with Sheikh Edebali." "Will we stay here, or will we go to the castle?" asked Sumeyye. "Both of you may go with Bala," said Selcan. "I'm sure they will be waiting for you. But be careful with your wound, Melike- if it weren't that your brother and Goktug insist for you to come and see them, I would not allow you to go, for it is vital that you have rest." She gave Melike a stern eye at this, and Melike replied in a meek voice, "Yes, Selcan Hatun, I will be careful." "And I will make sure of it," said Sumeyye firmly, and Bala couldn't help but giggle slightly.

"Good. Now get along now, don't keep them waiting," said Selcan with a smile, and the girls rushed off toward the stables, where their horses, Zulfiqar and a couple other dervishes were. Sheikh Edebali was waiting for them at the dervishes' lodge out on the hills, and they were to stop there first before going to the castle. As Melike saddled up Jarrah, she heard someone clear their throat behind her. She turned to see none other than Dundar Bey's second son, Hazal Hatun's Bahadir. She furrowed her brow slightly and felt her stomach recoil- she hoped that whatever he wanted to talk about wasn't related to Goktug and her engagement. "Bahadir Bey, welcome," said Melike politely. "I heard you left to visit Yavlak Arslan Bey. I hope he is well." "I did, Melike Hatun," said Bahadir, his voice slow, and Melike could hear a tone of suspicion in it. "He is well. But that is not why I am here." "Then why are you here, Bahadir Bey?" asked Sumeyye, who walked over with her horse's reins in hand.

"Where are you all going?" he demanded, as he glared up at Bala and Gonca who were already seated on their own horses. "To the castle, Bahadir Bey," said Melike honestly. "Why?" asked Bahadir, his expression suddenly confused. He scoffed. "Are you women honestly planning to take on Sofia by yourself to avenge Osman Bey? Especially you with your wound, Melike Hatun-" "We do not need to, for Osman Bey has already taken his own revenge," said Bala, a tint of smugness in her voice. By then, Bahadir's eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. "What on earth are you saying, Bala Hatun?" asked Bahadir. "My husband faked his death to trick Sofia, and in the night he, Gunduz Bey, Bamsi Bey, Abdurrahman Gazi, Boran Alp and Goktug Alp snuck out of the tribe with a handful of Alps, dressed as a dispatch of soldiers from Constantinople and ambushed the Kulucahisar. We have just got news that their attack was successful- the castle has now fallen to Kayi Rule," explained Bala, barely able to keep the triumph in her voice down, as Sumeyye and Gonca openly smirked. Melike nodded, as she narrowed her eyes at Bahadir Bey, who looked as if he were about to explode.