Thank you so much Tamara96Phillips for the amazing BANNER>>

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*A beautiful woman delights the eye; a wise woman, the understanding; a pure one, the soul*

Badr winced at his sore, benumb legs. He was famished and knackered and did not know where to proceed once he ambled out of the house. He needed to pray then return back to Raghad for she needed him. Badr turned his head left and studied the mud houses. Indeed, it crossed his mind to build mud houses in his tribe but he knew he father would never accede to such a suggestion. Sheikh Faisal cherished his traditions and wished to always have a firm grasp on them.

"Salam alikum, ya Sheikh." greeted a voice from his other side. Badr twisted his head right to see a familiar face, a face he had seen at the wedding.

"Wa alikum as salam, Adel." he replied, then made his way towards Faris's friend.

"I was ordered to wait here for you, in order to escort you to where the tribesmen are convened." Adel grabbed the ends of his black headdress and tossed them over his shoulder.

"I cannot ya Adel. I must perform my prayer and return back in the house." Badr took note of the frown that knit the man's brows from his words. He knew the tribesmen waited for him to join them, but he did not have any interest in their gathering what so ever.

"Insha'Allah," Adel gave a nod, "Come with me." then rotated around and gave his back to Badr and strode away.

Badr prayed his Magrib prayer in a small tent far from the house he left. Once he was done he remained in that position for a while to do tasbeeh on his fingers. He had forgotten his prayer beads back in the tent in his tribe, which saddened him for he never left the tent without his misbaha. When at last he was contented with the number of verses he murmured, sagr al fursan rose to his feet, twisted around to take a step forward, but halted in his track.

"I heard you came out to pray." Faris bend a little to step in the tent.

Badr felt his wrath ascend, Faris was the only person he did not desire to cross paths with. Badr clenched his fist, aware that if he uttered a word massacre will occur. "Indeed, I did." His cold voice responded as he took a step to come face-to-face with Faris, his intolerable brother-in-law.

"Now that your have graced us with your presence you shall accompany us as well." Faris al Fursan suggested sternly.

They glared at each other for a while, Badr knew he had inflamed the man. The look that materialized on his face apprised Badr that surely Faris's patience hung from a thin yarn. "I have far more indispensable matters to attend to then to listen to Borkans."

"Surrounded by wolves and yet the deer has the hardihood to fight," Faris smirked, "Very well. I shall see you at repast." with that he took a step back to depart.

*

After Shouq helped Raghad pray and introduce Batool and Jazee to the bride, feast was served for Raghad. She denied to touch it, Shouq endeavoured to convince her, but the bride merely shook her head. When Badr returned back to sit in front of his sister, Shouq dissolved in the back and sat behind the women to survey the brother who ate. It was then Raghad decided to touch her food. Badr ate a little for her sake for he knew soon he had to leave for the feast. He was glad that her tears had ceased, her form was frail from all the tears that betrayed her eyes.

The young girl who had given him water in the mud bowl once again appeared to take away the feast, by now he was certain she was Faris's sibling, there was striking resemblance between the two. He counted his heartbeats to know the minutes he would spend there with his beloved sister. His ears heard every sound, the women who nattered, the crickets that chirped just outside the room, the wind that swayed the bushes, the herds that moved in their fence.

"Raghad, I must leave now." Badr murmured when he lost count of his heartbeats. "I do not believe I can return or I shall return." He stared at her when a deep frown became visible on her face.

Raghad bit her lip then looked up at him like a child at his mercy. She blinked a few times to propel back the tears. Badr saw the transformation in her, he witnessed how goose-flesh arose on her skin and how pallid she went. "You must understand, Raghad, this is where I leave you." the brother added and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

"Do not desert me, brother." a silent sob escaped her lips when she encased her fingers around his wrist.

Badr clenched his jaw when his heart commenced to pulse faster. "Raghad, you must not be weak, my dearest." he consoled.

"I do not want to be weak, stay by my side." she implored, those words rammed a sword through his chest.

"I cannot, Raghad. I apologies for my actions. By Allah, tomorrow you will find me here, day after that and day after. As long as your heart desires I will stay by your side." the corner of his lips lifted in a desolate smile. He despised seeing his sister in this situation, then again what other choice did he have?

Her lips wobbled and she dropped her gaze, "As you wish, Badr." Raghad vocalized in a wretched voice. Badr took in a deep shaky breath, gave a nod and rose to his feet leaving her behind to confront her fate.

Time trod over the rocky mountains of the desert and women began to depart for their houses. Raghad did not pay heed to them, she merely glared at her hands in her lap. She was exhausted, exceedingly exhausted, it felt as if she stood under the blistering sun for days. There was a nasty throb in her head, as if needles sewed her veins in a thick, bloody robe. She desired to scream and scream until the pain in her brain evaporated.

In a trice, midnight approached, the wolves began to howl and scorpions abandoned their holes to hunt. "You must wash your face, binty." Umm Faris placed a silver bowl of warm water in front of the bride.

"I do not wish to." Raghad dismissed with a shake of her head, the jewellery she wore around her neck scratched at the soft skin.

Shouq glanced at her mother, apprehension noticeable in eyes. The mother and daughter were the only ones left in the room to prepare the bride for Faris. Promptly, Shouq settled a small piece of Oudh wood on a coal to give the room a pleasant fragrance then walked up to the bride.

"Raghad, your eyes are scarlet you must rinse them with water," she squatted down next to her then leaned forward. "At least perform ablution." Shouq took the bowl of water from her mother's hands. The mother and daughter watched Raghad for a while, when they were about to give in, Raghad lifted her veil and Shouq grinned encouragingly at her sister-in-law.

Strands of her brown hair trailed across her face, the bride pushed her hair behind her ear then dipped her palms in the bowl. Raghad splashed water on her face three times then dropped the velvet shawl, she did not give them the chance to wipe the water off her face. Shouq stood up with the bowl in hand, she exhaled and followed her mother out of the chamber.

They left a petrified, fragile woman alone in the chamber, alone with her affliction and despondency. The Borkans did not discern that they ripped off her wings and hurled her in a dark, soulless prison.

Suddenly, her senses picked up voices from outside the door, her eyes went wide and heart commenced to dart inside her bust, so fast that her breath hitched in her throat. Terror, remarkable fear crawled at her form like ravenous ants. She dug her teeth in her bottom lip when the door of the room creaked open and walked in a very tall, lean figure. Her body quavered like a leaf when she perceived that the man stood there, by the door for a few seconds, eyes set on her.

He then shut the door behind him and locked the latch. By Allah, if felt as if the air in the chamber turned colder from his lethal presence, she could feel it in her bones. The man did not come near her, to Raghad's astonishment he faced Qibla and prayed Nawafil. Raghad clenched her fists in a tight grip and glared at the rug in front of her. The man who had came to annihilate her father, her brother was here. The one who yearned to destroy her tribe was her man. Ironic, that the beast dreaded among most Arabian tribes was right before her own eyes.

Al Rashideen women cursed Faris al Fursan, they cursed the woman who would be his bride. The women pitied the poor girl who would bear his children. It peeled off her skin that it was she who was his bride, that it was she the women cursed. How can her luck be so unfaithful to her? How can her tranquil world shatter into pieces within a month?

A cold sheet of precipitation beaded her forehead when the man finished his prayer. Faris remained in that position for a few minutes then rose to his feet, slowly. The chamber right before her eyes begin to darken, with all the strength she could muster the bride pushed open her eyes. From the light of the lantern she saw that Faris took off his ghatra (headdress) then ambled towards her in cautious steps. Instantly, she enfolded her arms around her and shut her eyes. Raghad could not do it, she was not valiant enough to face him.

The rustling of clothes near by tore her fortitude and flamed her brain. Silence utter silence unfurled in the room. After a pause she felt air touch her soaked cheeks and Raghad knew Faris had unveiled her.

"As salamu alikum." greeted a glacial, immensely cold voice close to her.

She tightened her eyes and a single tear rolled down her right eye. With an intake of breath Raghad opened her eyes to come face-to-face to the terror of the night, nightmare of many men. Faris Mubarak Al Borkan.

Faris sat crossed feet in front of Raghad, he peered at the woman who was his bride now. His hawk-like eyes attentively surveyed the tear that trickled down her eye to her cheek. She feard him and he knew it. That thought caused pride to blossom in his chest. The only woman who dared enough to glare in his eyes trembled right before him.

The corner of his eyes wrinkled slightly when Raghad opened those big brown eyes and that doe-like eyes clashed with his for a split second then dropped to the ground. He frowned, the imprudent girl was not contented to be his, instead she shed tears, the red rims of her eyes proved that.

"Wa alikum as salam." he then heard a small, shaky respond which brought a smile to his lips.

Faris sat there on purpose and stared at Raghad. He knew his gaze demoralized her. He waited for more tears to cascade down those eyes but they did not. Then he looked down at her hands, long, slim fingers intertwined in a firm grip, the shake in them did not miss his eagle eyes. Indeed, the women before him was prepossessing, every word they pronounced about Sheikh Faisal's daughter was true. However, that beauty did not commit bizarre acts to his heart, for him she was mere a woman, nothing more than that.

Then, just like a flash he moved his hands. His long, cold fingers took hold of her warm, delicate wrists. Faris heard her gasp but did not pay attention to it for his mind twirled, her skin was exceptionally soft, so soft that no silk could be compared to it. He frowned when he perceived that her vein throbbed rapidly. To dishearten his bride further, the beast gently pulled her hands towards him and halted in the space between them. Faris stared at her henna, the henna Salem had chattered about. The kid was right it looked beautiful on her creamy hands. He then grabbed the fingers of her hands and caressed her palms with his thumbs.

"I never envisioned that the woman I met by the cliff would remain hushed when I will ultimately stand before her, "his thumbs traced the lines of her henna. "I believed you would act like a princess of Rashideen tribe. However, you are nothing but a terrified gazelle." He pronounced, eyes on her palms.

Faris clenched her hands tighter when Raghad attempted to pull them back. "One thing you must comprehend, bint ash Sheikh," he looked up to her to see Raghad glare at him with such hatred it made him grin. "Do not dare deny my commands. Speak to me when I question you otherwise remain silent. If you be mindless enough to enrage me," he leaned in and Raghad backed away instantly. "I will not be lenient." and finished.

"What makes you ponder that I will most certainly commit what you command?" the bride spat, those big, brown eyes incensed.

Faris leaned in further, so close that he could see ever inch of her face, so close that her breath fanned his face. "You will act as I say, or else I will slaughter your dearest brother in his slumber, eliminate every member of your tribe. Then I will terminate you." his deep, dangerous voice threatened.

"You cannot hurt Badr." Raghad endeavoured to free her hands which only caused Faris to press harder on her lean fingers.

"He is in the midst of Borkans, one word from Faris can end his pitiable life." the groom whispered.

"L_Let go of me." Faris heard her hiss in a silent voice, he watched as warm water swam in her brown eyes.

"I will when I wish to." the knight rebuked, he dropped his gaze to stare at the veins on her wrists. Then he let go of her left hand and raised his head to look in her eyes, those eyes that reminded him of dawn. Faris began to recite verses of Quran under his breath so that she would not hear. For a long while he recited then lifted his right palm and placed it on her forehead and tenderly blew on her face.

His eyes darkened in fury when Raghad turned her face away. "Do not flatter yourself, princess. Those were read on you so that you will be wise and not commit foolish acts to shame my name." he vocalized nastily, let go of her other hand and rose to his feet.

Raghad gasped panic-stricken and Faris chuckled and sauntered towards the lantern. After a moment he blew it off then rested on his cot. Faris turned on his side well aware that she could see him with the help of the moon that permitted it's light to linger in the chamber through the window near the ceiling. His sharp eagle eyes could see the glare she directed towards him. Faris narrowed his hawk-like eyes when his woman wiped her soaked cheeks, swathe her arms around her delicate body and shuddered. This vexed Faris al Fursan, he turned on his other side that faced the mud wall and closed his eyes.

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Some comments in the last chapter pissed the crap out of me. I don't understand how it went from my story to women being weak or Arab women being weak? Some of the readers said I was dragging it, so let me tell you this again, if you wanna read a book where they fall in love in the first chapter and have kids in the second then you can find stories like that in the spiritual category. I am here to write a BOOK, with a plot which makes sense. I am not here to take shit from my readers, you guys should respect the author who works her ass off just to bring a nice chapter but no, some of the readers have to bring down her enthusiasm with your immature comments.

I don't have to ask if you guys liked this chapter, because I know you did. Do not forget to vote and have a lovely day :)

Bint ash Sheikh= Daughter of a Sheikh.

Misbaha= Prayer beads.

Sorry for the spelling and grammar mistakes.