~*"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair~* Khalil Gibran



Days passed ever since Faris decided to declare a cold war against his father, Sheikh Mubarak. He had been furious when the man in front of Raghad questioned him matters that did not concern anyone but him. Faris valued his father more than anyone, but he had boundaries that should not be crossed. He had been enraged, however, when that woman with big brown eyes stood before him and pleaded for Khalid's life, Faris knew he could not play the enemy anymore. She was named his spouse when winter had just started and now after countless months summer had commenced to open its door and so did his dishonest heart.

Faris knew his father would lose yet another battle if he allowed his woman to reside in his heart. He had never envisioned for events to take such a twirl, the hatred that roared in his chest no longer twisted the cords of his heart in a way that breathing was hard for him. Now Raghad was a woman he looked at, a woman that tempted him to sketch her face in his mind when she was not present. The new changes in him were not noticed by Faris, until Umm Mubarak, his grandmother stated the apparent.

At first, the groom denied saying his ploys that involved her brother, Badr led him to ponder about her. However, soon when he commenced recalling the way Raghad had requested him Faris understood that it was him who kept thinking of the woman with big brown eyes. With a sigh, he rose to his feet from where he sat leaning against a palm tree and made his way to Nasser who dueled with one of his knights.

When he reached the training ground, Faris frowned at the small assembly. "I do not know when I permitted the Borkan men to rest while training." He stated in a loud voice for everyone to hear. The men in the small crowd, among which Nasser was present as well turned around to look at Faris. Nasser smiled whereas others paled a little.

"Peace be with you as well brother," Nasser pulled his shoulders back and stood in front of a person attempting to conceal them. "The reason for Borkan men to flee from their duty is rather amusing, and I am certain once you unveil the reason you will commit the same."

Faris shook his head at his sibling. "And may I ask what is this ground that had led my men to neglect their duty?"

"I would rather you discover it yourself," Nasser smirked at Faris but did not move away.

"Very well." Faris nodded and made his way to Nasser. When he stood in front of him, the man stared down at knight of knights due to his height. Faris attempted to conceal the smile that threatened to decorate his lips. He placed his hand on Nasser's shoulder and pushed his form to the side. As soon as the individual who stood behind Nasser came into view the smile that hid leaped onto his lips. "Abdullah!" Faris exclaimed not being able to sustain himself.

The man named Abdullah stepped forward and hugged his cousin, his friend. "I was gone for two years only to come back and find you married." Abdullah thumped Faris on his back then moved away from him and placed his hands on the knight's shoulders. "Ya Salaam, Faris, matrimony has indeed changed you."

Faris threw his head back and laughed aware of how Nasser ushered his knights to resume their training. "I would have waited for you to return from Medina, but when a man wishes to marry nothing can stop him."

"I see." Abdullah turned to the side, and they walked away from the men. "Well then do tell us who is this courageous woman who originated this light in your dead eyes?"

Faris inhaled, perplexed that Abdullah witnessed what others could not when he was not even masking it from them. "Are you prepared to discover the truth?" They sat on the palm mat and observed the knights.

"When have your doings never baffled us?" Abduallh laughed. Faris turned to look at him and noticed the Noor that welcomed his face the man had indeed changed drastically. Two years ago, Abdullah had departed for Medina to gain further insight on Islam and memorized the Holy book in a way that now he was entitled, Sheikh.

"You should know by now to expect anything from me." Knight of Knights cracked his fingers.

"Yes, but this is rather unpredictable. I believed you would wait for my return." Abdullah smiled.

"It occurred too quickly."

"She belongs to what tribe? Is your spouse from the Borkan?"

"She belongs to the Rashideen," Faris uttered the words and watched as Abdullah's eyes widened.

"Naam?"

"She does."

"How? How on earth did Sheikh Mubarak accede to this marriage?" Abdullah turned to face Faris.

Faris smirked darkly, "Father was the man who arranged this marriage, ya Abdullah."

Abdullah remained hushed for a while staring ahead clearly muddled. "There must be a reason for Sheikh Mubarak to consent to this marriage, something of grave urgency."

"Her sibling annihilated a man from the Borkan." With that Faris revealed everything to his closest friend. He even told Abdullah of the hatred Raghad possess for him and how he cannot seem to open his world or heart for the woman.

Silence followed them for a few minutes. "Indeed, a lot has occurred. Forgive me for asking this," He glanced towards Faris who gave him a nod to proceed. "Have you ever endeavored to extinguish the resentment?"

Faris looked away and shook his head. "Abdullah, Raghad is not a woman you can tame she has an opinion of her own."

"Raghad?"

Knight of knights nodded. "Yes. The only woman who stood before me and dared to glare in my eyes."

Abdullah chuckled. "By Allah, I believe this matrimony was meant to occur. Tell me, do you wish to live a tranquil life?"

"I may be heartless, ya Abdullah but not brainless." Faris glanced at his friend sideways.

"Very well, then entertain this old friend by apprising him of how exactly you attempted to make your life serene?"

Faris looked at Abdullah and stared at him for a long minute. "You are indeed a friend, but there are somethings I must conceal from you."

Abdullah grinned. "That indicates, ya Faris that you have never attempted to make it peaceful."

Faris nodded recalling all he had done for his woman. Indeed, he was ruthless, but that was how his heart was. He knew he unfastened a door for Raghad and observed when she walked up to him with those innocent eyes. Faris would have never waged war against his father then again ever since Raghad was named his he commenced committing deeds his brain could not comprehend. Faris knew he had accepted his enemy's daughter as his spouse, but he did not know how on earth could he make his life tranquil.

"It appears to be just as you utter, ya Abdullah. How was your life in Medina?"

**

A few days until Raghad would witness her first Eid in this tribe. It felt bizarre and lonely to be away from her younger sister, Maha. She yearned to see her father and make sure he was well. With Khalid being the prisoner of this tribe, it was impossible to wish for Badr's presence even the guards he had stationed were nowhere. She could breathe again. Raghad could breathe ever since Faris told her that Khalid would live that she would see Khalid every day.

Raghad lifted her head to look up at the sun that had started to warm the earth. She was sewing a jalabiya for Jazze in the courtyard accompanied by nothing but the wind and the glorious sun. Ramadan was about to come to an end it ached her heart to see this blessed month coming to an end. The alienation she felt from the people of the Borkan tribe seemed to perish before her eyes in this Holy month, and she was horrified that once it ended her soul will be targeted again.

"Raghad binty can you unlatch the door I am peeling the onions. "Umm Faris's voice hauled her out of her contemplation.

"In sha Allah," Raghad called back. She placed the jalabiya on her side rose to her feet and walked towards the wooden door. When she unlatched the door and pulled it open, she unconsciously stepped back. There stood before her Nasser and his sibling who caused her heart to shimmer.

"Salaam Alaikum." Nasser greeted. She watched as a wicked smile spread on his face. The giant of a man glanced at Faris then at Raghad and without any warning, he placed the sack of potato that he was carrying in Raghad's hands.

"Oomph." As soon as the weight of the sack befell on her Raghad's body hunched over and she struggled to stand still.

When the man watched Raghad struggle with the sack, he laughed, "What a strong spouse you have here Faris. I do not know how she will bear your children if she cannot carry this sack." With that, he made his way into the house. Raghad looked at Faris who had an impassive look on his handsome face he bent down to walk through the door and took a few steps away from her. When his sight moved away from her eyes the wind around them twirled disheartened by his behavior. Raghad pressed her fingers around the sack and swallowed at the weight that threatened to break her spine in half.

Just as she was about to stand straight and take a step back a broad chest came into her view she beamed. She lifted her head to look at him and when her eyes clashed with his cryptic ones something within her shivered she felt her heart quiver as if it was frozen as if it stood in the midst of a hurricane that was brewing in his eyes!

"Is the sack weighty?" She heard his deep voice question her. Raghad nodded unable to speak. "Then why did you not tell him so?" He inclined his head to where Nasser left.

The bride dropped her gaze. "Nasser frightens me."

He chuckled so silently that she would not have heard if Faris had not bent down to face her. "More than I?" The knight peered into her eyes and Raghad could tell Faris was searching for her fear the terror she once had for him. She smiled knowing he would fail for the fear he had once formed was long gone. When and how even she could not tell for the answer to that query was concealed from her heart as well. Perhaps it was his forbearance towards her family, or maybe it was the gleam in his eyes that even caused the moon to blush.

"My hands are aching." She whispered, and her shaky voice caused him to smile. Before Raghad could inhale another breath, Faris took the sack from her.

"Bint-ash-Sheikh," Faris moved forward few steps. However, he stopped and looked over her shoulder towards Raghad. "What Nasser said is indeed true you are very frail, a prince's spouse must not be fragile for their offsprings," Faris smirked when color tingled her fair cheeks, and her doe-like eyes widened. He shook his head at Raghad and made his way towards the cookery.

**

The tribesmen had just finished the tarawih prayer. Raghad folded her prayer mat whispering verses of Quran under her breath as she made her way to the cot and sat down. Her feet throbbed, and eyes tingled. The bride took off her scarf and lay back feeling her eyes close the second her head touched the pillow.

Something grazed her cheek, and Raghad groaned in her sleep. When she felt the light caress on her cheek again, she moved her hand to grab it and placed the source beneath her head. After a moment the thing she had rested her head on pinched her cheek. "What on earth." Raghad opened her eyes only to sit straight at once, and in doing so, the movement caused her hair to conceal the side of her face.

"My chamber and now my cot, bint-ash-Sheikh what else do you plan to take?" Faris mocked.

Raghad pushed her hair behind her ear and glanced at him. "I did not think that I would fall asleep." It was his hand she had settled beneath her head, his hand that caressed her cheek. Raghad bit her lip and took in his stance. Faris was on his knees in front of the cot he was dressed in a brown kandoora with his white headdress on his head.

"And here you are, sleeping."

Raghad placed her feet on her ground they were so close that her ankles brushed against his kandoora. "I was exhausted. I did not know, prince, that I am not allowed to rest in my chamber."

"Your chamber?" Faris moved up to side beside her. Their shoulders touched, but none looked at each other they faced ahead staring at the wall.

"Then where else have I been staying all these moons?" Raghad gathered her hair on her left shoulder. After the incident with his sword, it did not disturb her to unveil her hair in front of Faris anymore. He was her spouse after all. Suddenly she gave a small laugh recalling something. Her laugh made him move his head to his left and raise an eyebrow. "What will happen to his union, Faris?"

She watched as he faced ahead and pursed his lips. "What have you envisioned the end of this marriage to be?" He questioned.

"I do not know."

"If you ask me this question I am certain you have the answer to it as well."

Raghad was silent for a while. "I had once claimed that I would take my life the day I will be named your spouse." Faris was bewildered by her words and it was visible in his eyes, ever since they were united, she had never witnessed a look such as this one on his face.

"Knowing that taking your life is a sin." He composed himself.

"You are feared amongst many."

"Do I terrify you to that extent, bint-ash-Sheikh?"

"What do you ponder?" Raghad verbalized a twinkle in her eyes.

Suddenly Faris moved himself and Raghad in such a way that now they faced each other. She took note of how his eyes landed on her exposed neck then back on her face. "Then we must teach you how to fear me." She frowned when a dark look emerged on his face, and Raghad stood up. "Must I inform you how the women given away for the sake of peace are treated?" The knight stood up as well.

Raghad attempted to take a step back, but Faris read her intentions and grasped her shoulders before she could move away he pulled her towards his body. "Faris what are you doing?" Raghad stammered perplexed. He disregarded her plea and with that Faris committed something he had never envisioned. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and Raghad went still. If not for her rapid breathing he would have thought her dead.

Once again, the bride pushed on his chest and with a growl, he tightened his hold on her waist and brushed his cheek against the delicate skin of her neck. Faris pulled back from Raghad to see fear all over her beautiful face his eyes fell on her trembling lip and peculiar contentment surged in his heart like a gratified eagle. To unnerve her further Faris dragged his lips from her jaw to her chin, and that is when her body went numb, and she collapsed into his hard chest, completely numb.

Knight of Knights pulled back but held her waist. Faris brought his lips near her ear, "This is what men do to women who are given away for the sake of treaty and peace, Raghad." He moved away and watched as her form collapsed on the cot. After a moment he crouched down, so they were face-to-face. "Tell me bint-ash-Sheikh do you still not fear me?"

Raghad looked at him at the monster who caused her heart to weep in horror. She peered into his pitch-black eyes that promised something even the wind could not utter. Why was she not horrified? Why did his presence cause her to feel protected? Why was this beast, her enemy lulling her heart?

She shook her head slowly, and Faris laughed.

At the sound of his laughter, something ignited within the wind something that sounded so much like the soundless laughter. The stars up ahead gleamed so vividly that the crescent had to shield her eyes. The surrounding trees danced in the breeze and the wolves smiled howling their joy.

Faris leaned in, "And here I thought I would succeed."

"When have you ever?" Raghad blinked at him.

"With a certain woman, I never appear to do so." He grabbed her chin with his fingers. "What will be the end of this matrimony should not grieve you, Raghad. Time will disclose everything you must worry about today about Khalid not about what is engraved on the parchment of our future."

"You will not take another spouse then?"

He bit the side of his lip to conceal a smile. "That is something I cannot promise you." She glared at him, and the man smirked. "Sleep, my knights wished me to attend an assembly." He jerked his head towards the cot and stood up.

"When shall you be back?"

"Soon."

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Next chapter In sha Allah will be updated on Eid and I assure you it'll be a SHOCKING one ;)



Sorry for the mistakes!