CHAPTER 12

 Hayal had started exploring the multiple passageways that were in the underground passageway. She had been waiting for this day for a while. She had begged Kongar to go for their safety and because she wanted to be alone while exploring. Kongar pleaded to stay with her but it was no use. She practically shooed him off. She started down the first passageway with her lantern in her hand until it lead to two more passageways. "Well, it looks like that I will find a treasure or something today. This place is filled with secrets and stuff!" she excitedly whispered to herself. She suddenly heard footsteps from behind her and when they started to fade away, she continued on. She put the lantern down in the middle and started walking further down the tunnel. She suddenly saw that the light was gone. She turned around and walked back to the middle point where she saw the lantern sitting there nicely. "You didn't think you could get away with this alone huh?" she heard a familiar voice say. That person immediately started to tickle her and she couldn't help but laugh so hard. She turned around to see who it was, she saw it was Kongar. Her smile fell. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go?" "You did, but I got bored, so I came back," he explained a little shamefully. She thought to herself for a moment. "Fine, you can stay, on one condition! You will listen to my instructions unless it's a grave matter and/ or I let you. Is that clear?" she asked, making herself as clear as she possibly could. He nodded in return with a pout on his face. Hayal slapped him on the arm, letting him know that she knows it's fake. He smiled and started going down the original path with the lantern in his hand. She started walking after him and almost slipped on a medium rock. He caught her just in time and they stayed like that for a while, Hayal being fallen into Kongar's arms. She was at a loss for words again as she looked into his eyes. Eventually, they disconnected their gaze as they snapped back into reality. "Are you okay?" Kongar asked. "Yes, I'm fine. Th-thank you," she stuttered out as she stood back up. She quickly started walking away, trying to take in the current moment. "Thank Allah no one else was there. Otherwise..." she was cut off by a voice calling Hayal. She couldn't understand who it was. She heard male and female voices. Then she heard some inaudible fighting. Hayal was scared and didn't know what to do. So she immediately started to run. "My love wait!" she heard a voice call out from behind. She instantly recognized who's voice that was. Batur. You will never stop chasing me will you, she thought. Suddenly, she heard the sound of weapons clinking. Oh shoot. They must've caught each other, Hayal thought. She decided that she should go back when she heard someone approaching her. She didn't dare turn around and she started to run as fast as she could to the nearest escape. Turns out her plan wasn't the smartest one. "Hayal! HAYAL! Why are you running from me Hayal? Hayal!" Batur shouted out. She felt someone grab her arm and tug her back. When she turned around, she saw a pair of dark brown eyes. "Hayal. Look at me. I love you and you know that. Don't you love me? Don't you trust me?" he asked, his eyes softly watering and his voice shaking. "I saved you from him. Come on it's time to head back to the tribe," he said softly. "I can go back by myself!" she said angrily and pulled her arm out of his grip. She turned around and starting walking out, realizing how she had just ruined everything that she could've had in her hope of this day being better.

"Hala haber yok," Halime said as she looked at the tribe's entrance again. "She's been gone for 2 days and she still won't turn up. Where has she gone?" "This was expected from a girl like her wasn't it? She is so impulsive anyway, just like her father," she heard a voice say from behind. "Ah, Zohre hatun. Where do you know of her father from?" Halime countered. "Word spreads around quickly hatun. And I believe Selcan hatun was the one who told me-" "With Halime Sultan's permission of course, Zohre hatun," Selcan hatun countered back. "Yes of course, with my permission. Turgut bey entrusted his daughter with us because I am his best friend's wife. I hope you don't have a problem with that," Halime said. "No no, why would I have a problem with that. I'm just stating the facts around here. No need to stress out. But what would happen if she found-" "Don't you DARE think about that Zohre Hatun! We already have enough to trouble us. We don't need you and her troubling us on top of that! Now go leave us in peace and ask your son where Hayal was if you so truly care about her," Selcan said and shooed her off. "Selcan. I'm scared that she will go tell everyone she knows and the news will soon reach Hayal. What do we do about that? How can we safeguard the secret?" Halime asked worriedly. "Well, we just have to pray that no one tells her. Or she doesn't find out on her own," she replied. They both stayed outside their tent in the hope for some good news.

Osman, Bala, and his alps were all staying in their secret cave. Ever since the incident at the bazaar, Sheikh Edebali had asked if he could stay there too, which Osman obviously said yes to. They couldn't risk the chance of getting caught in the tribe while their enemies lived there. Since Balgay and Alisar were staking out in the tribe, Sofia decided to join their party. They called it, "The Great Kayi Ruling" since they were in charge of the tribe now. Dundar happily accepted them all since Alisar accepted them. Osman felt bad for leaving his mother, aunt, siblings, and friends there, but he needed someone to watch over the tribe and stand up for it. Dundar was too weak to do that, so Bamsi, Selcan, and his very own mother were the only ones who were left. Gonca would come and go to bring news. She had just come back with some news right now. "Gonca Hatun, what is the status of the tribe?" Osman asked. "It's not good my bey, all our enemies are now residing in the tribe, and by the way they are acting, it looks like they aren't moving soon," she reported. Osman looked down, ashamed that this was his tribe, the Kayi tribe, one of the strongest Oguz tribes. He knew that the longer Dundar was in control, the more trouble they would be stepping into. He quickly got up and started getting ready to leave. "Osman bey, nerede gidiyorsun?" the Sheikh asked. "I'm going to stop Dundar from creating problems," he replied. The Sheikh tried to stop him, but he knew that it was no use. He just prayed that he wouldn't get into too much trouble.

Kongar was lying on the floor in the middle of the passageway when he suddenly woke up. He looked around, confused for a second. Then he realized that Batur had come and taken Hayal away. He also had a small wound on his arm because of the combat. He slowly got up and walked to the nearest exit where he saw a small cloth with a very delicate flower pattern on it. He picked it up and looked at the back. He was confused at what it said at first since he thought that it was in Turkish (I don't know what language they spoke back then aaaa), but then realized that it was in Mongolian. She is a clever girl, he thought to himself. The note said "Go to the tribe quickly. Balgay or whoever you serve will be awaiting you. You must get there before me and you must say that I lost the girl, I couldn't find her. And for the quickest way, go through the Valorian Forest. I hope you understand. From Hayal." Kongar smiled, but then frowned, as he read through the note thoroughly one more time. She clearly still recognized the fact that they were enemies. However, he knew that he was able to maintain a relationship with her, one that Hayal didn't even realize he was establishing. After all, she's a fierce girl who can be naive at times...

Right?

A/N: OK HEY EVERYONE I'M BACK AFTER 2 FRICKIN MONTHS YES 2 FRICKIN MONTHS

Before I start I will warn you a rant is coming up

Sooooo

The reason I was gone for 2 months was because I had WAY too much schoolwork. Like my teachers gave me so many projects that it was becoming very overwhelming. I even had spring break last week and I spent that on doing schoolwork, projects, AND taking an exam. Yes, during my spring break. I know that you guys are probably mad at me and I'm sorry for the kind of short and crappy chapter but I want to keep you guys happy. I just want to say that I may be able to update one more time before April but after that, I'll probably update in my summer break because I have A LOT of exams in April and May. Also, Ramadan is coming up in April so I have to prepare for that. 

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and, I'll see you in another chapter!