Salam and hello my readers, hope you guys are well. Insha'Allah y'all will like this chapter.

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~*Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity~*



Seven nights traveled over the sand dunes ever since Faris's grandmother returned from Umrah, along with a hurdle Raghad did not desire at all. Not even a day sailed by where that woman was not present, either in the house or when she went to the well to fetch water. Raghad attempted to disregard her presence and was fortunate as long as she did not allow her eyes to land on Adhari.

Raghad smiled at Jazee and Faris's other younger cousins who were congregated around her in the rear of the house, near the chicken fence to learn how to recite the Quran. Umm Faris had overheard her daughter-in-law a few nights ago recite the holy book and requested that she taught Jazee how to read and recite the Mushaf in an impeccable manner and Raghad was exceedingly beatific to have such a noble task upon her.

While the children did their reciting Raghad sauntered around terminating her daily duties. She glanced at the children over her shoulder then bend down to fill the goat-skin with water Shouq had brought from the well not a while ago. She hissed when droplets of chilly water dribbled down on her aqua gown and a shiver enfolded her body.

"Raghad, binty." Suddenly a voice called out for her.

Raghad sighed then looked up from her task to see Umm Faris amble towards her. With a radiant smile on lips the bride rose to her feet. "Na3am Aamty?"

"You must send the children to their home for now," Raghad frowned. "I failed to recall that I had to send butter for Fahad's aunt as she is out of it," she fixed the side of the shawl."I shall be joyous if you deliver this, binty."

Raghad glanced down at her hands to see a mud bowl filled with fresh butter. She smiled. "Insha'Allah Aamty do not fret. Is there anything else I can aid you with?"

"La ya Raghad. You already have done enough. Very well, you must depart now before Shamma speaks of this with her brother, Mubarak. Bu Faris adores his sisters immensely." Umm Faris laughed and Raghad joined grateful that it was not Adhari's mother she had to interact with.

The bride swathe her large black shawl around her head and form then ambled up to Jazee in order to apprise them to depart. Raghad sighed when she witnessed the despondent look in Jazee's heavenly eyes. She knelt before the young girl with the bowl in hand and placed her other hand on Jazee's small shoulder. "You must not despair. I shall return soon, and when I do we shall have some yogurt."

"But Shouq commanded me to not have yogurt."

"I will persuade her, do not worry, hayati."

Jazee's eyes lit up like the radiant sun up in the sky. "Wallah?"

The sister-in-law nodded with a smile on her lips. "Now run along and play." Jazee cackled then sprinted away with her Mushaf protected in her tiny hands.

Raghad stood up, dusted her gown and made her way to the front of the house. She dropped her head as she stepped out of Sheikh Mubarak's house. The tribe was animated as always, tribesmen and women who were immersed in their daily lives passed her now and then. As she proceeded further her eyes took in the women who sat on palm mats and twirled yarn on drop spindles. Children froliced in small circles and young boys battled each other with tiny wooden swords. Raghad stood still for a while to peer at the massive cauldron on open fires and the smoke that rose towards the sky.

The days in her tribe haunted her, what Bu Hammad had verbalized tormented her ever since she encountered him. Was Badr really present here in this tribe? Could it be he watched her this very moment? If he was, why on earth was Faris hushed? Was the beast awaiting a right juncture? Her thoughts were disturbed when a few men on horses passed by, she cleared her throat and walked forward to the well eyes on the knight who made his way to the well. The knight dismounted his horse once the women retreated he then poured water in a bucket for his horse to quench it's thirst. At the sight of the man she recollected something and growled.

"Ya Allah. I did not ask Aamty for the location of the house." Her fingers kneaded her forehead as agitation forged in her form. How can she be so inattentive and do not question Umm Faris! Standing on her place next to a palm tree Raghad contemplated weather to return or ask a passerby. She was not acquainted with the Borkans and did not like the notion of asking for their help.

With another exasperated sigh she pivoted around to saunter towards the house. However, halted when her gaze landed on something, or rather someone. Far away, almost hundred feet from where she stood was the training ground, encircled by almost ten knights while others rested in the tent at the mouth of the ground. It was something else that caught her eye, something that caused her to tilt her head and frown.

Faris stood in the middle of the ground with his long sword in hand and eyes on the man who stood in front of him, his opponent in training. Raghad watched bewildered as Faris al Fursan engaged into his battle, she gasped and subconsciously took a step back at his actions. Never in her life had she come across a man who moved with such poise when a sword was in hand. Indeed what they uttered around the tribes was true, the long, gleaming sword was not just a blade it was a part of his gigantic body. It moved when he desired, struck with such ease that the beholders believed the sword to be made of feather, but Raghad knew better.

She observed as Faris avoided the attacks and watched with wide eyes as he charged with astounding speed. He did not have a headdress, his hair that fell on his broad shoulders swayed with every move he did. His black thobe that fell on his knees and black sarwal made him appear like a true warrior with no apprehension what so ever. Raghad knew that it was not only she who stood there to watch him, the men that assembled around were flabbergasted just as much as she was. His grace, the way he pounced at his opponent with no perturbation was exactly like her beloved brother, Badr.

She frowned at the thought of her brother and closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened her eyes again Raghad perceived that she stood a feet or so away from the training ground. What on earth? Raghad bit her lip hard and attempted to veil her face, she dropped her gaze ready to rotate. It all occurred in few seconds, one moment Faris held his sword high in the air prepared to strike the other his gloomy, desolate eyes fell on her and a loud clung of swords rang in the air.

Raghad looked up at the sound to find Faris's sword by his feet and his narrowed, deceased eyes on her. His opponent and his fellow knights peered at the knight with wide eyes for this has never occurred before. Faris al Fursan was never vanquished in his battle, not to the men he trained. She surveyed as Faris shook his head in absolute rage, bend down to snatch his sword from the dirt, sheathed it and spoke to the men around him then commenced to walk, stride towards her. How did he know that it was she, his spouse when her face was veiled? Raghad did not permit him to reach her, she held the bowl tighter and scurried away, aware there was a shadow behind her.

The thought of him being after her caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand and her hands trembled. What will he commit? How imprudent of her to go where no women was allowed to be present, a place where men, where knights trained! A voice in her brain coaxed Raghad to chance a glance over her shoulder, she bit her lip and almost sprinted to the nearby palm trees next to an abandoned house. She concealed her form with the help of the palm tree then turned to face the tree, Raghad placed her free palm on the wood and leaned scarcely to the right to see if Faris was in sight.

When her wide, discomposed eyes did not locate him she heaved a sigh, pulled away from the tree gradually and turned around only to scream. He stood there, with his large, sturdy arms crossed over his broad chest. His head ever so slightly moved to the side and hair swayed with the breeze that danced around them. The wind shivered and fluttered it's wings, the sun peaked over the clouds at the man who stood before his bride. The birds in trees forewarned the creatures for they knew Faris was enraged. Raghad's heart thumped in her bust ready to decamp, she did not know what to verbalize. How would she inform him that she had no intentions of being there and watch him battle. How on earth would she apprise him that it was not her aim to disturb his war and gift him a defeat from his knight.

Raghad dropped her gaze, inhaled then looked up in his inky eyes. "I..."

"Are you not aware that women from this tribe are not permitted to be present where knights practice?"

"I am well aware, but I_"

"What ya sheikha?" He growled, brows knit.

Raghad remained hushed for a while then exhaled. "I was astray and did not know where to proceed."

Faris hoisted an eyebrow. "Wallahi? Then how come you were aware where I was? If you are attempting to dishonor my name know this bint-ash-sheikh the consequences shall not benevolent."

Wrath ascended in her form. "How am I capable to do so with only my eyes visible ya Borkan? I will not distress myself if you believe me or not. I was astray and my wretched eyes fell upon a brute ready to slaughter even his own knights." She hissed through clenched teeth.

"Do not fabricate your actions. I have been most lenient with you, most patient ya sheikha. Do not tempt me, for when I am incensed not even your cherished brother can shield you."

She clenched her jaw as her lips wobbled in downright fury. "Indeed I am cursed to be paired with you." With those words she tried to walk away, but halted when his large, cold fingers encased around the hand that held the bowl.

"What is this?" He demanded eyes not on her rather on the the bowl. Raghad looked up and glared at him which Faris returned with the same passion. "Where were you heading to?" He investigated again.

"Let go of my hand or by Allah I shall scream." She growled and here Faris's lips twisted from the corners with a twinkle noticeable in his eyes.

"Very well scream." He challenged.

Raghad searched around them and sucked in a harsh breath. They stood in a place with not many tribesmen around, even if there were she distrusted they would interfere in matters when it regarded the beast, Faris al Fursan.

The bride twisted her wrist in order to unshackle her hand from his grip. However, all her attempts were in vain. His grasp was like a whip she knew if she endeavoured a little more her fragile bones will fracture. "I did not shadow you around like a halfwit. Unlike some women in your tribe I do posses my dignity and you, ya sheikh are not a person I would wish to glance at. So rest your heart."

"It is well rested," he smirked, amused at her words. "Very well, if you say you are not an imbecile I shall have mercy on you and believe in what you utter. Then respond to my inquiry where were you heading to?" Faris lessened his hold around her delicate, soft wrist but did not let go.

Exhausted Raghad sighed. "Umm Nasser," his brows rose in wonderment when she did not pronounce Umm Faris. "Requested to deliver this to sheikh Mubarak's sister, Shamma. I failed to ask where she resided and wandered around until a barbarian caught sight of me." Raghad snatched her hand haughtily from his hold.

"Why did you not ask the people of this tribe, they would have gladly instructed you. Or that notion did not cross paths to your mind." Faris shook his head in sheer mockery.

"I am not acquainted with anyone in this tribe aside from your siblings. And I do believe that people in your tribe are not noble enough to direct a Rashideen."

Faris gave a nod and peered at her, there were no emotions in those eyes that resembled the dark sky on a cloud night, he merely stared. "Does it rattle you that much bint-ash-sheikh?"

"Pardon?" Raghad took a step away and her back came in contact with the tree.

"You did not pay heed and verbalized that you do not act like most women in this tribe. You do not follow the prince around." He simpered. The wind around them lulled at his words, the birds up ahead smiled and took flight.

"Ya Allah." She closed her eyes then walked away from him. After a moment Raghad clenched her jaw when she heard him chuckle.

"Go to the camel fence nearby, third house belongs to them." Faris's cold voice approached her ears with the wind. She looked behind over her shoulder to see he already walked away, the movement caused his broad shoulders to move and the thobe that fell on his knees fold and unfold around his legs.

Raghad ran a hand down her face knackered from the encounter. Why could she not disregard him? Her heart was pallid from the exchange of words they had every time they crossed paths. How was she to reside with him until the day her piteous soul deserted her body? Was it because of Adhari that he treated her in such an discourteous manner? If so why did it knot her senses and caused her blood to sprint against time?

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I know it's short, but the next chapter is almost ready and I will update real soon. So let me know what you think in your comments.

Queens_realm my insta account for the stories and the vids I make for my stories.



3amty or Aamty= Aunt or mother-in-law.

Hayati means my life, but there it's used like 'oh sweetie'

Na3am or Na'am= Yes.

Umm Faris= Faris's mother.

Wallah= Really.

Sry bout the mistakes.