Salamu Alikum and Eid Mubarak. I pray everything is going great and you guys are having an amazing Eid. Enjoy the chapter.

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"My lover asks me:

"What is the difference between me and the sky?" The difference, my love, Is that when you laugh, I forget about the sky" ―Nizar Qabbani.

A tempest rose in Badr's heart as soon as he wrapped his arms around Raghad, his sister. The Rashideen felt his throat tickle to such an extent that severe emotions ascended in his chest. The bitter weather around them turned his blood frost in his veins just from her mere sight. Ya Allah! The world around the brother dimmed, he did not care where he stood, it did not matter that he stood a few feet away from the door of the masjid where men commenced to pray Fajr. Badr moved his right hand and placed it on Raghad's head to sooth her. Her broken sobs were like sharp daggers that tore through his thudding heart.

"Raghado," he whispered in a hushed voice, petrified that his voice might betray him. "Raghad habibti do not weep. For Allah's sake do not shatter me."

At his words, he felt her trembling hands grasp his robe tighter and tears soaked the front of his kandora. "I have longed desperately to see you, Badr. My heart, this foolish heart has been thirsty over two wretched moons." Raghad cried and pulled away to examine his face. Her ravenous eyes took in his face, his white headdress that hid his hair and the brown thobe that hugged his form. Ya Allah! She missed him dearly.

Badr smiled a smile which reached his tranquil eyes to pacify them. He rested his palm on her right cheek and wiped a tear with his thumb. "You have gained weight, Raghado."

In between her sobs, Raghad chuckled. She noticed traces of dark shades under his eyes and knew her beloved brother was exhausted and wondered what could have caused Badr restless nights.

Right when he heard the Imam go into the first Rakat, Raghad enveloped her arms around him once again and Badr felt his heart shudder in anguish. He desired to shut his eyes and send prayers to his Lord for bestowing him the sight of his sister. However, when he hugged Raghad once again his eyes fell upon someone and just from the sight of that individual his benevolent eyes turned dark and icy. Eagle of Knights, Badr, stood to his full height and looked Faris straight in the eye not letting go of his sister.

Badr observed as Faris came to a standstill, his gloomy eyes upon them with no sentiments whatsoever. Countless thoughts ignited the Rashideen's brain, the reason behind Raghad's journey, Faris's words on his wedding and the culprit who yearned to kindle a fire between the tribes. Slowly, Badr let go of Raghad, brought his hand to grab hers but swiftly lifted his gaze up to meet hers when he witnessed the headdress on her palm. Raghad shook her head to dismiss the subject for the time being. Badr gave a nod which said they will discuss this later. With that, Sagr Al Fursan tenderly grabbed her elbow and turned her around so that she stood next to him in a manner that now they both faced Faris Al Fursan.

It was a gesture Faris comprehended very well, a display that unveiled incalculable words yet they were unspoken. His gaze traveled to where Badr's pale fingers encased Raghad's elbow. Faris pushed his shoulders back for he knew that mere gesture was a challenge from Badr. The man wanted him to perceive that Raghad was his sister, that this was his tribe and Faris was just a guest, an unwelcomed guest.

Faris Al Fursan stood where he was as Badr made his way up to him his hand still holding Raghad's elbow. He looked at Faris recalling the words of his man who had informed him of his journey. Badr knew this arrival would change a lot of matters he knew he would go against many, even his father, Sheikh Faisal.

The siblings now stood in front of Faris. The groom kept his eyes on Badr but from his peripheral vision, he saw his woman wipe her tears not willing for him to see them, not that it mattered to him that moment, not when Faris stood in front of the man he yearned to have a battle with, his sagacious brother-in-law.

"Salamu Alikum, ya Faris."

"Wa Alaikum As Salam, Badr."

Faris disregarded those who gawked at them, petrified that a bloodbath would occur and the treaty would perish. With a last glance towards the Knights, tribesmen entered the Masjid seeking refuge in Allah's house. It was their first time to confront each other in Raghad's presence. Badr did not want his sister to witness his lethal form and Faris did not wish to be benevolent to Badr merely because his bride stood there, so he remained hushed.

"What brings you here, Prince?" Badr questioned.

Faris smirked for he knew the gleam in Badr's eyes. Faris knew that the Rashideen was well aware of the ground behind his visit. However, the man concealed it with a question. "The weather of this tribe is rather pleasant. Which is why I pondered to pay a visit."

Badr gave a nod comprehending his unspoken message. He wanted to converse alone and not in Raghad's presence. "Very well. Join the men in prayer. I will, in sha Allah, be here soon." With that Badr turned to look at Raghad. "Yalla." He beamed at her then led his sister away from Faris who did not even lift his gaze to look at his spouse. Not that she desired to look at him.

Raghad's wide eyes watched in darkness as few men rushed to catch up with the Imam, closely followed by their children who yawned or stumbled on their feet. By Allah, she had thought that she would never pay a visit to this tribe, she knew the Borkans would never permit her to be a guest at her father's tribe. However, Subhan'Allah, here she was, walking towards her father's tent with her beloved brother alongside her.

"You are rather silent." The voice she longed to hear reached her ears.

"Nothing, the journey was bothersome." She whispered suddenly extremely bashful.

Badr stopped by a nearby well then came to stand in front of Raghad. He observed as Raghad dropped her gaze to her hands unwilling to meet his eyes. His eyes fell on her wound and he clenched his jaw, infuriated. If she were in his tribe and she was wounded, Wallahi, Badr would have tormented those who had caused his sister dismay. He desired to know how this wound marred her palm but knew he could not, not when she would not even look at him.

"Since when do you not have words to pronounce to me?" His voice was so gentle that it made her lift her head.

"Since when do we need words to converse, ya Badr?" She replied then added. "There is so much that I yearn to speak to you about. Oh, ya Badr there are certain actions done by you that need an explanation to soothe my heart, but now that I stand before you I cannot."

He smiled aware she meant the Knights that shadowed her on his command and bobbed his head. "In sha Allah on the right time, I shall unveil everything." With that, they commenced walking again in a hushed silence.

Raghad glanced over her shoulder and knew they were far away from the Masjid. She bit her bottom lip at the reason why they were present here in this tribe. If Faris could not clear Badr's name mayhem will befall upon them, and her father would not be able to endure that.

Her father.

"Is...is father well?" She inquired.

"He is, um, he is well Alhamdulillah." Badr beamed at her but Raghad could have sworn there was something in his voice that swayed the moment he verbalized those words.

"Is he in the Masjid?"

"No."

Raghad frowned. Her father would never delay his prayers nor would he pray in his tent unless something rather ominous has occurred. "Badr," She dreaded. "What is the matter?"

Eagle of Knights halted and rotated around to face her. "Why must you think that something is the matter?" He grabbed her wounded hand in his and examined it with intense eyes as if asking the wound to vocalize and unveil its unwanted arrival.

"You have never hesitated in responding to me, Badr."

He exhaled. "Raghado, do not fret," He took hold of her elbow yet once again."Come, let us go and see mother, she would be immensely joyous to meet her daughter." Raghad gave a nod and followed him to their father's enormous tent which was situated in the heart of the tribe.

A sudden roar ejected in her heart the moment Raghad witnessed her father's tent. The last time she saw that exact Khaima she was distraught and drowning in her own affliction. But right that instant, she was terrified, horrified of seeing her father she so wished to embrace in her arms and plant a kiss on his beloved forehead. Like Faris had once mentioned, if she does not accept her situation how on earth would she persevere. Raghad knew very well that what her father did was to guard his tribe, his family and herself.

They reached the gigantic tent and Raghad halted by the door, she took in a deep breath, murmured Bismillah then entered. Her throat constricted at the memories that rushed in her brain. She stared around attempting to not shed a tear. At her broken sight, the wind twirled around her, wishing to tame the pain that rammed in her heart.

"Ummaya, come see who is here," Badr called taking off his sandals.

An invisible force tied its rope around her throat and held to her place. Raghad merely gazed, unaware of Badr's gaze on her or her wide eyes that searched around for something.

"What is the mat_"Umm Badr halted when her eyes landed on her daughter. She gave a cry and marched up to where Raghad stood and encased her cherished one in her embrace. "Ya Allah. Ya Allah!"

Raghad met Badr's eyes and from the desolate look in them, she started to weep, letting her mother know how much she missed them, letting her Ummaya know that she loved her profoundly. Slowly she wrapped her arms around her mother tightly just to make sure she was not in an illusion. Her brain hissed every time a sob escaped her mother's lips. She knew Raghad knew there was not even an ounce of rage within her towards her family, all she felt that moment was the commiseration, and extremely weak.

The wind outside the tent lulled to a gentle breeze for it knew that the hearts of the mother and her daughter called out to each other. It knew the desert was no longer dry for it witnessed the sight of the daughter before it unfurls its wings to welcome the new sun. The trees in the tribe rattled their leaves waking up the birds that slumbered in their nests just to deliver the news.

"Habibty Raghad," Umm Badr pulled back only to cup her daughter's face in her warm hands. Her desperate eyes roamed over Raghad's face searching for any sign of suffering. "You have quenched my heart. Come, come inside." She ushered the bride inside as soon as she took off her sandals.

Raghad glanced at Badr who beamed at her. "Remain here. I will accompany you soon, in sha Allah. First I have to make certain our guest is well accommodated." He stepped closer to her then placed a kiss on her forehead and departed.

Badr inhaled as he ambled towards the Masjid. He shook his head as he recalled Raghad's words. Indeed he had hesitated in answering her, then again what could he tell her? Soon she will witness the hell her departure has unleashed upon their family. As soon as he reached the Masjid he greeted his tribesmen who came out and took off his sandals then went inside. His jaw clenched when his eyes landed on the man who stood in the middle of the only mud room in their tribe and prayed. He thrust his rage within him then walked up to where Faris stood and commenced to pray.

It was then for the first time in their life two foes stood alongside each other before their Lord. There was no blood feud, no threats, no killings that mattered when the servants stood in prayer to their Lord. That moment Raghad's pain for a while subsided in Badr's heart as he prostrated to his Master with Faris next to him. Badr carried on with his prayer as Faris finished and remained seated on his place and started to recite adhkar on his fingertip with his dark eyes looking straight.

Badr concluded his prayer with Salam and then sat on his place looking at the lantern that hung by the mimber. He murmured his supplications in an inaudible voice with his back poised and eyes taut. After a while, both knights stood to their full heights. Badr tossed the ends of his headdress behind him and Faris wore his long sword around his waist. With that, the Borkan and Rashideen rotated around to leave the Masjid recalling their rage, the killing, the blood feud and Raghad's misery.

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Hope you guys enjoyed this Eid and this is my Eidiya for everyone :)) Thank you so much for the love and support I feel so blessed to have such amazing readers who leave those beautiful long comments which always bring a smile on my face.

☾ *Eid Mubarak *☽

Habibty= Beloved one

Sagr al fursan= Eagle of knights

Faris al fursan= Knight of Knights

Raghado= Her nick given to her by Badr.