Chapter 4

 It's "Tomorrow"! A lot will be happening so I hope you guys are ready!

It was sunrise and Hayal set out to go to the cave. Emine was just about to set out to go to the tribe. Selcan had set out to go to the tribe before sunset yesterday due to some conflict with Zohre. The tribe was not doing well, especially after Alisar's visit, everyone is scared that the Mongols will really be coming. Dundar was so chill and said that it was nonsense and that Alisar would protect them, even though he gave them a warning message. Bamsi Bey didn't believe that one-bit. Selcan, Bamsi, Abdurrahman, Gunduz, Ayse, and Emine were sitting in Ertugrul Bey's marquee thinking about what to do. They had clearly heard Alisar's warning message and were now worried that Dundar really wasn't going to take this seriously. Hayal had just reached their secret cave where Osman and his alps were waiting. "Selam Aleykum Abi." "Aleykum Selam bacim. How are things going in the bazaar?" "Things are going well. Alisar is paying a lot of visits to the bazaar. He made two in one day!" Hayal explained. "Well, if Alisar is anywhere then it's probably bad news. Anywa-" he was cut off by footsteps. It was Bala and Hayal smiled. "Bala? How did you get here?" Osman asked. "I have the answer to that Abi," "Well then, tell me," Osman demanded. "Ok abi."

*a few hours earlier*.

"Are you sure about this Bala?" Hayal asked for the millionth time. "Yes, I'm sure. It's the only way that I can reach Osman," Bala countered. "Ok fine. But be careful while following me. It's not safe these days, especially with Alisar after you like a mad dog." "Ok ok, I will be careful." Bala and Hayal agreed on the idea of her following Hayal to Osman's secret cave to talk about Alisar's problem. She would follow her from a close enough distance, but not so close for them to think that they are together. Hayal waited outside the cave until Bala had arrived. She would be at the entrance of the cave and wait until Hayal had finished talking about how the bazaar was going.

*now*

"Eh, my clever little sister. You have grown too fast. I remember when we brought you. I was 5 or 6 and you were around 1. I was so happy that day, I was so excited for a little sister," Osman finished, tears starting to come out of his eyes. He pulled Hayal into a hug and blinked his tears back. "Eh Bala hatun. You came here to talk to me about something. Haydi söyle." "Osman bey, can we talk about this outside, it's a little personal." Of course, we can. Alpler, I will be back in a minute." They walked out of the cave Hayal following them. Osman gave a puzzled look at Hayal, then she explained that she already knew everything. "Tell me my moon-faced. What is it that worries you?" "It's, it's..." "It's Alisar," Hayal said for her. Osman's eyes widened and his mouth opened up a little. "What is it that this soysus is causing problems for you." "He... he wants to marry me," Bala blurted out and started crying. Osman was now very furious. "So he wants to marry you eh?" "That's also why Alisar was visiting so much. We thought that telling you would be the right thing." Hayal explained. She put her arm around her friend and pulled her into a hug. "You did the right thing. No one, and I mean no one, can hurt my moon-faced. And Alisar is the biggest köpek in the world. Together, we will bring his end." "Yes we will, abi,"  Hayal responded confidently. Bala got out of Hayal's grip and wiped away her tears. "I should get going. Baba will be waiting for me." "Ok, Bala. But be careful. I don't want you wandering everywhere in this condition." "As you order, Osman bey," Bala said playfully and he laughed, pulling Bala into a tight hug before she left. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me," Osman said with a wink. Bala smiled. She then got on her horse and left. Hayal and Osman started walking back inside the cave. "So, back to business. I am assuming that Selcan Ana and Emine baci are back at the tribe, right?" "Yes, Osman Bey." "Good. Convey my message exactly as I am about to say it to them. You will stay in the tribe after this, tamam?" Her eyes lit up. "Ok. what is the message." "Here is the message. According to what my scouts have reported, the Mongols are actually coming, no joke now. Me and my alps will be heading to Sogut to see the situation. Tell everyone to be careful." "Ok. I will see you all soon." She headed out of the cave, got on her horse, and left.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Will Hayal be coming, kizim?" Selcan asked. "I don't know Ana," Emine answered. As if right on cue, Hayal entered the tribe. "Well, we found our answer," Emine said. She ran up to Hayal and helped her off her horse, then hugged her. "Hayal! I was so worried about you!" "Um... why? You knew where I was going. Is there a problem?" Hayal was very confused. "Umm... we have news to break to you." "Ok... what is it?" "Batur Bey... wants to marry you," Emine exhaled. "WHAT!!! I HEARD THAT NEWS BEFORE AND YOU TOLD ME THAT IT ISN'T HAPPENING. AND NOW YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS??? ALLAH PROTECT ME FROM GOING CRAZY!" Hayal stormed off to the marquee. She pushed the doors open. When Zohre, Dundar, Aygul, and Batur saw her expression, everyone got scared. "WHY DID YOU MAKE THIS DECISION WITHOUT ME HAVING A SAY IN IT, HUH? YOU ALL KNOW THAT I HAVE NO INTEREST IN GETTING MARRIED, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR SON." Hayal shouted. Emine, Selcan, Bamsi, and Abdurrahman came in, followed by Gunduz and Ayse. "What is going on here? Why are you shouting, Hayal?" Gunduz asked. Hayal had broken down into tears already and Emine and Ayse were trying to calm her down. She loosened from their grip and went up to Zohre Hatun, who had put her in this mess. "You are the one who put me into this mess, Zohre Hatun. I will make you pay for it," Hayal threatened. "Hayal, know your limits. You are threatening a beys' wife here. Do you know the consequences of continuing your behavior?" Dundar threatened back. "Hayal is a Bey's daughter, our bey's daughter. She knows her limits, Dundar Bey. What about your wife? She wants your son to marry Ertugrul Bey's daughter and you will have no objection? In fact, let me ask you this. Did you know that Zohre wanted to marry Batur to Hayal?" Selcan asked, shielding Hayal. "I wanted to marry Hayal myself," Batur announced. Everyone turned and looked at him in shock. He, Batur Bey, wanted to marry Hayal, himself, Ertugrul Bey's daughter. "May I ask son what reason do you have of wanting to marry her?" Dundar asked. "I do not find it necessary for me to share the reason why in front of everyone. Can we talk about this at a later time, baba?" "Of course, son," Dundar said proudly. "Now, go back to doing your duty." "As you order, baba," and he walked out of the tent. "I will make your whole family pay for this," Hayal muttered under her breath. Emine nudged her with her elbow and Hayal smiled. Hayal started thinking for a minute. Is this some plan of theirs to marry me to get the power of the beylic, or does Batur actually love me? Hayal shook out of her thoughts. She couldn't be thinking about this, not now. Just then, the doors opened, Batur's eyes wide in panic. "What happened, son?" "Baba...Mongols ." Everyone rushed out the door, their weapons in their hands. Hayal took her sword out of its sheath. "How and when did the Mongols come?" Hayal thought out loud. "No time to think of that kizim. It's time to fight." Dundar said. But Hayal couldn't get the thought out of her head. When and how did the Mongols come?

* yesterday evening*

Three hooded figures entered the inn. "Welcome, sir. Would you like me to prepare some food for you?" "Yes, and the biggest room in this place." "As you wish, sir," the innkeeper said. They were led to their room and they sat down in a circle and warmed up a bowl of water over the fire. They opened their hoods a little. One of them had a gray, shaggy beard and was short. He was making strange noises from his mouth. By the way he was acting, he was clearly their leader. The other man was a little shorter and had a thin mustache and his face. The last man was taller than the others and had a neatly trimmed, dirty blonde beard. Their leader took out his dagger and cut the palm of his hand over the bowl, his blood dripping from his hand. "Tomorrow, we shall destroy all the Turk tribes here, unless they bow down to me, the all-powerful Balgay," Balgay announced. "Cerkutay," Cerkutay straightened. "Tomorrow, you shall bring me the heads of the beys who dare disrespect me," Balgay ordered. "As you order, Commander Balgay," Cerkutay bowed his head down. "Kongar," the tall man looked up at Balgay. "You will raid the Kayi Tribe and bring me Gunduz and Dundar. They will have to obey me no matter what. Is that understood?" "As you order, Commander Balgay," Kongar said with a smirk. "Tomorrow, we shall have all of Sogut in our hands!" Balgay cackled. 

*now*

The Mongols came raging into the tribe, killing everyone in their way. "So this is what Alisar meant," Dundar murmured. He finally understood. Hayal let out a small sigh of relief. The Mongols had now stopped at the foot of the steps. Their leader was a tall man with blonde hair and big, blue eyes. He clearly didn't look like your regular Mongol, who would be short with smaller eyes. "I am Commander Kongar, and I am here to make you shepherds perish. Dundar! Gunduz! From now on, you are nothing but small goats wandering around lost! Commander Balgay is the ruler of these lands! WE WILL DESTROY ALL OF YOU!" He bellowed. "We Kayis never bow down to anyone! And we will NEVER give up Sogut!" Bogac Alp shouted. "How dare you speak to me like that! Your death shall be from my hands!" Kongar yelled. "BOGAC! NO!" Batur yelled. "From now on, we will answer with our swords." He said. Hayal flinched. He was standing so close to her that it was making her really uncomfortable. Emine saw her expression and pulled her to her side, making her nearly fall over. Kongar cut Bogac's throat. Hayal and Emine looked at each other. He got off his horse and started making his way up the steps. Batur ran down to mourn Bogac. Hayal felt the tension ease for a second, but when he got closer to her, she could feel the tension rising and she felt scared. Hayal, no. You can't be scared. You have to stand up for yourself and your tribe, she tried explaining to herself. She stared into his big, icy blue eyes and felt at a sudden loss of power. His eyes pierced through her as she saw her reflection of her hazel green eyes through him. She couldn't do anything, she felt lost. Emine, seeing this as a good chance, tried to stab him in the back, but he was too fast. He grabbed her wrist and forced the dagger out of her hands. "Hmm... you must be Emine Hatun because you look just like your parents, the Seljuk Sultan's daughter. You are coming with me." Emine moved to the Kayi Tribe because she didn't want to live in a palace and wanted to be safe from the Mongols. Hayal's eyes widened on two things, one, that she was the Sultan's daughter, and two, he was taking her best friend away from her. She opened her mouth to say something but was unable to as Kongar stared directly into her again. She mustered up all her energy and finally said something. "Stop staring at me like that and let my friend go you idiot! And get the hell out of this tribe!" Hayal yelled, finally feeling relieved. "Oh, so you finally were able to speak to me. I will say this to all of you, GET THE HELL OUT OF THESE FREAKING LANDS!" he yelled again. This time, Hayal couldn't say anything back. Two other Mongol soldiers came and chained Gunduz and Dundar and dragged them off the marquee steps so he could take them. Dundar didn't try to shake free, he went as if it was normal for this to happen. Gunduz, on the other hand, was trying his best to get out of their grip. He was successful and ran back up to the marquee steps, taking a grasp of the pole next to him and his wife so they couldn't take him back again. "Running away from us eh, Gunduz Bey?" Kongar said and smirked. Hayal looked away, she couldn't face him. They took Emine and dragged Gunduz back forcefully. Hayal stepped back and turned around to go inside. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't believe what just happened

She just let the Mongols take her best friend. And her best friend kept the biggest secret from her. She turns around to head inside when she felt a sharp pain in her back. She fell to the ground instantly. "Hayal! Hayal! Kizim!" were the last words she heard before the world went black. 

A/N: Hi you guys! I decided to do a double update (The super long chapter) because there was so much to write. I hope you enjoyed it :)