Chapter 5

 This is 'Tomorrow Part 2'

Hayal woke up to feeling a sharp pain in her back. She looked around to see that she was in Dundar Bey's marquee, lying on her back. Everyone was huddled around her to see her condition. Emine noticed her start to shift around. "Hayal! Thank Allah you are awake! We were so worried about you!" Emine exclaimed. "Wh-what happened to me?" Hayal asked. "You were shot by one of the Mongol soldiers. They never meant for it to hit you though apparently, but I don't believe it." Emine said accusatively. "Oh, well... how are our uninvited guests outside? Did they leave yet?" Hayal asked again. "Don't worry about them, we fended them off. However... they took Dundar Bey with him," Emine replied sympathetically. "Well, I appreciate all of you watching over me when you guys should be watching over the tribe. Thanks," Hayal said gratefully. "If you excuse us, Hayal and I would like to talk about something personal." Hayal glared at Emine as if she said what was on her mind. "Of course, kizlar. We will wait outside for you two," Selcan said politely. They all got up and left the tent leaving Emine and Hayal behind. "I also need to talk to you about something," Hayal immediately spoke up. "Why did you keep it a secret from me that you were the Sultan's daughter? You kept saying that you were from some noble tribe. Why keep it from your best friend?" Hayal said and started breaking into tears. "I - well... it's complicated," Emine started, tears also seeping out from her eyes. "I had to to keep myself and all of you safe. Otherwise, I wouldn't have ever kept it from you." Now Emine was crying hard. "Well, why did you come here?" Hayal asked softly. "I never wanted to live in a palace full of politics, life was too perfect. I needed something different than being stuck in walls 24/7. Also, baba sent me here to protect me from those barbaric Mongols, who were about to take over the palace. Being sent here was the biggest blessing from Allah ever Hayal, palace life is horrible." Emine shuddered, remembering times when she was in the palace. "I came here and was here to stay from the palace, like Halime Hatun, except Ertugrul Bey saved her." Emine was 4 years older than Hayal, in her mid-twenties, but she and Hayal were inseparable despite the age difference. "Enough small talk about palace life, what did you want to tell me Emine?" "The Mongols leader, Kongar, I'm afraid he may do something to you. I'm afraid that he will come after you." "Why are you saying this Emine? What does this have to do with me?" Emine didn't speak. "Emine, this silence does not sound good. Please! Tell me something!" "Hayal, I have thought through this over and over in my head, and I think that it's best for you to not go out of the tribe, alone," she said slowly. "W-what?! No! You can't do this to me! You can't tell me to not go out of the tribe alone. Do you think that I am this young that I have to go out with someone? I'm 19! Not 9! I can take care of myself! I don't need someone to always be with me!" Hayal shouted, angry as could be. "Hayal. Look. I know that you are responsible enough to go out on your own. But I'm scared that something is going to happen to you. I don't want you to get hurt. Especially because..." Emine trailed off. "Because what?" "Because you are Ertugrul Bey's daughter and my dad and your dad told me to look after you," Emine said, hesitantly. "Emine, bacim, why are you so hesitant? If there is something else that you need to tell me then tell me!" "No. It's nothing Hayal. I hope you get better soon," Emine said and left the tent in a hurry. "I know you are hiding something from me," Hayal said to herself. "And I will do whatever it takes to find out."

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Osman had gone to Sogut to see the situation there. He found the Mongol soldiers surrounding the whole place, treating them like they were captives from 10 years ago. One of the Mongol soldiers went inside the inn to report to a short man with messy gray hair. "Komuntan Balgay, Osman and his alps are here." "Bring me Osman, Cerkutay" Balgay said in a deep voice and almost sounded like his voice was jerking. Cerkutay left. "Commander Balgay would like to see Osman!" he called out. Osman went inside the innhouse. "Ah. So you are the famed Osman Bey." "I don't have time for fancy words. Tell me what you want from me and my tribe." Nothing. I just want all of Anatolia. And for you Turks to die! As for you Osman. I will give you two options. Either you become my Sanjak bey and live, or you die just like everyone else." "I will never become your Sanjak Bey! I'd rather die than live with that shame!" Osman replied. Just as he finished, Kongar walked in. "Ahh, my bravest warrior Kongar. Did you bring me what I wanted?" "I was able to bring Dundar, Commander Balgay. However, we were not able to catch Gunduz as one of the girls got shot by one of our soldiers. He ran out of our grip as well as Emine Hatun." Hayal, Osman thought. Please don't be mad at me. I promise I'll explain everything to you, he said deep inside himself. "Guzel, now, I want you to go and raid the port bazaar. Bring me Sheikh Edebali and put the bodies of the others out on display." "As you order, Commander Balgay," Kongar replied with a smirk on his face as he left the inn. No, not my Sheikh. Not my Bala, Osman thought. "Now, Osman. Prepare to die!" But before anyone else could touch him, he knocked out all the soldiers and ran up the stairs. He jumped out of the window and made his way down. "What happened in there, bey'im?" Boran asked. "No time for that! We have to go and save our Sheikh!" Osman said hurriedly. 

They all got on their horses and left, praying that nothing bad will happen to them.

A/N: Hey y'all! I'm sorry for the short chapter but I have a lot of schoolwork these days. Next week I will try to post more because I'll be on break but I can't guarantee anything. I hope you enjoyed it!

If any of you celebrate Thanksgiving and have a break then I will say have a safe Thanksgiving! 

~Emuns <3