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~*Had I told the sea What I felt for you, It would have left its shores, Its shells, Its fish, And followed me,~* Nizzar Qabbni



Raghad's toes curled in pain as Shouq wrapped the cloth around her wound on her left shoulder. "The wound on your palm just turned into a scar and now you have this." Shouq sighed checking her handiwork to see if the clothing was secure around Raghad's shoulder. The sword had pierced her skin inches away from her throat, a gash that had led them to enfold the cloth in a way that it hugged her shoulder's rotator cuff. Shouq had made Raghad wear a gown that it only left her shoulders to be bare and help with the treatment and allowed her hair to torrent down her back to shield her skin.

Raghad remained silent for what had occurred a while ago exhibited in her brain. Shouq had been searching for Raghad when she had not returned with Jazee and had found them in the middle of a gruesome battle. She had then guided the wounded bride back to her chamber and treated her like a sister a mother Raghad yearned to have. "This wound will take more time to heal than the previous one, Raghad." Shouq sat back on her knees in front of her. They were seated in Faris's chamber, Raghad on the cot while Shouq in front of her treating the wound her brother's sword had gifted.

"I am aware." The bride shivered from cold, she wanted to conceal her bare shoulders but knew she could not, not when Shouq was still inspecting if the cloth was secure enough.

"Raghad you know he would never harm you. Indeed, Faris is forbidding, but he would never harm a woman, especially his spouse." Shouq took Raghad's hands in her soft ones and looked up at her.

"He was there, standing before me. Your brother handed the sword to him. He watched as Abdelaziz lifted the blade towards me, Shouq, he watched." Raghad swallowed the tingle in her parched throat.

"I know, I saw, but believe me, Faris knew what he was doing."

"How so, by allowing his wife to be wounded by a madman."

"I do not know what he was pondering, but Faris would never do this intentionally." Shouq reasoned.

"Shouq I am knackered I need to res_" The women looked towards the door when a light knock was heard. Instantly, Shouq picked the cloak she had brought and draped it on Raghad's shoulders in time for the door to open and reveal Faris.

The sister tied the knot of the cloak around Raghad's throat securely. "Rest. I shall come back soon," Raghad gave a nod as Shouq rose to her feet grabbed the tools and herbs and made her way to the door. "Be gentle." Were the words the bride heard her utter to Faris before she closed the door behind her.

Raghad did not lift her head for she was furious, livid. No matter how many times Shouq denied the fact that he would never harm a woman Raghad knew better. The gash on her shoulder confirmed that what others pondered of him was not an illusion. Then why did her heart desire his presence? Why on earth her eyes yearned to see him? From the corner of her eye, Raghad watched as he took a step forward then another and at last made his way to her. The fear she had beheld returned and Raghad felt her neck dampen with sweat and heart pick its beat.

When he halted before her, Raghad did not lift her head she knew she sat on his cot but the dread that coursed through her immobilized her. She swallowed again when Faris slowly lowered his massive form in front of her, on the same spot Shouq had been seated a while ago. He sat before her on his knees, even though Raghad was seated on the cot the man came face-to-face with her.

They sat there in silence, Raghad denied meeting his gaze while Faris merely gazed at her. Her fingers trembled from the emotions that build within her like a volcano. Raghad was scared of him, it was like she traveled back to the first night where he had held her hands and traced her henna with his lean fingers.

Suddenly, she saw his right hand move to her throat, however, she still denied meeting his gaze. The bride gasped out loud and here her head snapped up to meet his gaze when Faris's fingers held the knot of her cloak. "Wh-hat are you doing?" She demanded, perplexed.

Faris stared at her for a moment then his finger untied the knot. "I need to see." Was all he murmured. Raghad wanted to protest but she could not, she wanted to flee and hide but at the same time, she wanted to stay to let him witness what his sword had done to her. How could she flee when his eyes spoke legion when his eyes promised her something she was not aware of?

Raghad stopped breathing. She peered into his eyes and he returned her gaze. The only difference was her eyes were wide with horror his, on the other hand, were dark, enigmatic. When at last Faris pushed the cloak further and Raghad's collarbone came into view her hand shot up to grab his. "Stop."

"I need to see." He responded in that taut voice again and she knew the beast before her was grieving. Gradually her hand came down and Faris pushed the cloak back to reveal her bare shoulders. Just when the cold air kissed her skin Raghad shivered and dropped her gaze. She remained utterly still as if her soul had abandoned her body like she was merely a statue when Faris brushed aside her glossy hair from her shoulder to have a better view.

He was the man who had defended Badr, Faris was the man who pardoned Khalid. A man she despised a man who had lowered his gaze in her father's presence a man who tormented her, wounded her. When she shivered again the wind hushed its members for it knew the bride was in pain, however, it thought wrong. The shivers that ran through her form were caused by the fingers that untied the clothe on her shoulder extremely gently.

When the cloth was undone the man took a deep breath and growled. Raghad raised her head to look at him, but his eyes glared at her shoulder. "You should have moved." Faris's deep voice reached her ears.

"You should have been quicker." She assembled her courage to whisper those words for that moment she felt exceptionally shy. She had never willingly unveiled her hair in front of this man and now she sat before him with her bare shoulders, her skin under his stare.

"I did not ponder that the fool possessed the audacity to lift my sword."

"You think highly of your men."

"My sword." He touched the side of her wounded shoulder, his eyes displaying the battle in his brain.

"Why did you do it? Why did you permit him to injure me, Faris? Look at me," She demanded, and his eyes clashed with hers. Far away just beyond the sand dunes waves collided as the wind twirled dangerously. "I am shattered. My sibling wished to annihilate you, my father is on the verge of dying and you," she clenched her jaw, "You wish to unite with another woman and you allowed your man to wound your spouse. Look at me." Her voice grew louder with every word that sounded from her lips.

"We both stand on the same ground now." Faris peered at her. She knew he meant his pardoning towards Rashid, but Raghad was infuriated, so heartbroken. He commenced binding the cloth around her wound his fingers that caressed her skin now and then robbed her of her breath.

"Why did you ponder that Abdulaziz would not lift your sword?" He frowned when she verbalized his name.

"Because he is from my tribe." His face transformed into something so vicious it unnerved her.

"But you were mistaken."

"I believed I had formed such a notion of Faris that a man like Abdulaziz would shatter before he goes against him."

Raghad chuckled in derision. "Well look at me now."

"I am looking at you," Faris hissed and grabbed her uninjured arm. "You think, bint-ash-sheikh that I do not see the blood caused by my sword a sword that has never tasted a woman's blood." He was so close to her so close that Raghad took note of a scar just above his right eyebrow, so close she saw her pale reflection in his inky eyes. "I will destroy him." He snarled not looking away.

A shiver tumbled down her spine from the darkness that shadowed his eyes. No more bloodshed, Raghad had had enough with carnage and death. "No."

"What?" The fingers that held her arm started tracing patterns on her skin.

"Do not kill him."

Faris simpered, incensed. "He brought this verdict upon him."

"I am aware; however, he mustn't be terminated." At this, his fingers halted and Faris's eyes turned misty, a mist so dense it caused the lingering fog outside shudder.

"Raghad you were almost annihilated under my watch. Abdulaziz dared to challenge his leader in front of this tribe."

She nodded her head vigorously causing her hair to cascade forth captivating his eyes. "His brother was murdered and the one accountable for that sin is still out there. In his eyes justice has not been served."

"Did he not hearken my verdict? Does he doubt his leader's ability to serve justice?" Faris pulled his hand back but did not move away.

"Rage makes us commit terrible acts." She murmured baffled at the situation and how natural it felt to converse with this man without any hatred.

Faris inclined his head back and stared at the ceiling of their chamber and it was then Raghad took note of his clothes. They were dirty, and he was unaccompanied by his headdress and robe. Out of nowhere, a pain so severe whizzed through her form Raghad groaned and held her shoulder and when at last she looked up the bride gasped and moved away. "You must rest bint-ash-sheikh." He verbalized as if anguished.

He had moved in when the pain had seized her, so close that his musky breath fluttered her eyelashes. Raghad's lips wobbled when her brain came to a screeching halt. The fiend before her enveloped her in a feeling she had only experienced in Badr's presence, he was looting her senses, he was invading her thoughts. "I will, but you must give me your word that he shall live."

Faris exhaled. "Do not ask for a kindness which is beyond me."

She blinked, and a tear rolled down her eye. Kindness. Memories displayed in her mind, she recalled her days in this tribe the times Faris had aided her, shielded her. She pondered him to be a barbarian a man who would destroy her but this man with pitch black eyes had done the opposite. He confronted a sword for her, his enemy's daughter he forgave Rashid who wounded him and yet he spoke of not possessing virtue. "Is it?"

He chuckled at her inquiry. Faris grabbed the robe and encased her bare shoulders from his burning gaze. "The Rashideen always veer towards the same phrase. Now you would say if we Rashideen can forgive the death of a leader you, ya Faris can pardon a fool who acted under the spell of his rage."

"Can you pardon a fool who acted under the spell of his rage, ya Faris?" She repeated his words in a small voice.

Faris's eyes welcomed mirth. "Why must you entreat for such a condition? He has wounded you, mocked your spouse in a manner that is beyond pardoning." His fingers tied the knot, instead of moving away he entangled his lean fingers in her hair.

"The man was not being rational."

"So are you."

"Am I?"

"Yes, ya sheikha," His fingers swathe her locks around them. His head throbbed no, not because he was exhausted but because of the woman before him. Ever since she was named his spouse Faris had displayed benevolence and he knew he would not kill Abdulaziz not when she implored him with those big brown eyes. It was these doe-like eyes that had prompted him to snap, Faris knew he could have handled Abdulaziz, but when he recalled her fear-stricken eyes a monster took over him. He was certain that the fool would never seize his sword but his faith on his men had clouded his judgment and the shock of that wavered his movements and he, Faris was unable to shield this woman from his own blade.

By Allah, Faris knew he would rip Abdulaziz's head apart when his eyes witnessed her blood, the crimson blood that urged him to demonstrate an unwanted temperament in front of tribesmen. He shook his head at the memory. "You must rest," The groom ordered and moved away and rose to his mighty height. He watched as Raghad dropped her gaze with a frown. "Raghad," he called, and she lifted her head. "Wallahi you are nothing but a hurdle," The man bend so now his eyes reflected her form. "I will not terminate him, now rest before I change my mind."

He swallowed when Raghad's lips transformed into something he had never envisioned. Her smile dimmed the world around them and the stars up ahead did not pay heed to the notion that her smile looted their beauty. "And you say you do not possess kindness."

"An incautious woman is to be blamed for that compassion." His hawk-like eyes took note of how she swallowed and bit her lip. Faris shook his head then rose to his full height. "Sleep." He ordered and made his way out of the chamber leaving a smiling Raghad behind him.



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