IMPORTANT!

Before reading this chapter I want everyone to imagine Faris. We all know that he is a dangerous man, a man who knows no fear a man who is powerful, handsome and an individual who creates fears in the hearts of beholders. Well, now you may proceed.

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~*And the writing is still : to you, with you, about you, because of you and for you.~*





Far away in a land away from the Borkan tribe twilight perished welcoming the tip of a majestic sun, an orange radiance that swept every blade of grass coating the landscape in an artistic golden glow as if the sun had molted. The mist commenced disappearing, and exposed droplets of dew on the palm trees and spider webs causing the animals to stir. The sunrays penetrated through the clouds indicating the end of rain and the dreadful night.

After a few hushed hours, Faris's eyes shot open. He moved his left hand when an intense urge of emptying his stomach hit him. His brain felt numb like the world had frozen. Faris blinked a few times to clear his mind why could he not recall anything. Where was Raghad?

When he placed his left hand on his side, his fingers touched soft, glossy hair. Suddenly, Faris sat bolt straight with a heaving chest as if he had sailed a distance when memories of what he had committed a few hours ago rushed in his mind, Ya Allah! Sweat beaded his forehead despite the chilly night and ran down his bare chest. Slowly, almost afraid he moved his head to the side and hissed when he saw his spouse, Raghad fast asleep beside him.

The knight's hand trembled when he ran it over his hair. In a trice, he shot out of the cot wore his kandoora and dashed out of his chamber, leaving his headdress and sword behind. The sky was still dark outside when Faris walked through the narrow hallway and pushed open the wooden door of Sheikh Mubarak's house. His eyes searched for something desperately in the dark, was it his humanity? Was it his soul? He did not know.

"What have I done?" Faris questioned himself and walked away, away from his sin the hell he molded with his own hands. He stepped in a puddle created by the rain, but the man did not pay heed to it as he made his way towards a well. Once there, he filled a bucket with water and doused it over his head when the water touched his feet Faris repeated the action a few times disregarding the cold that scratched at his skin.

Knight of knights sat on the wall of the well with his head in his palms. "Ya Allah, what have I done?" He murmured. "How can I commit such a sin? How can I do this?" He growled, enraged, lost. How can he be so weak in front of Satan? After a while, Faris looked around the tribe his desolate eyes fell upon an illuminated window, and he knew it was Abdullah, his friend was awake to worship his Lord when the world was asleep.

Slowly Faris stood to his feet and walked towards Abdullah's small house where he lived alone. When he reached the door, he inhaled and exhaled a few times and knocked on the wooden door. After a while, Abdullah opened the door and his brows knit when he took in Faris's state. "Ya Sheikh, what has happened?" He interrogated agitated.

Faris stepped into the house that was when his feet wobbled, and his form collapsed. At once Abdullah shut the door and squatted next to Faris. "Faris...Ya Faris, what has happened? "Abdullah panicked, baffled. In his thirty summers, he has never seen the prince of knights weak. Faris, a man who stood resolute as a mountain, his voice that rumbled like a roaring lion an untamed beast. However, now, here witnessing his leader, his prince in this vulnerable state caused sweat to run down Abdullah's spine.

"I have committed a great sin, ya Abdullah. I do not know what swathe my soul." Faris hissed eyes downcast with a deep frown on his pale, handsome face.

Abdullah grabbed his shoulder and swallowed. "What have you done?" His voice was cold for this moment Faris was not his leader he was not his kin he was a wrongdoer.

"I-I committed a grave sin. I-I touched her without her consent." Here hot water commenced soaking his lashes, and the wind ceased. The wind gaped at him with wide petrified eyes for Faris shattered the hearts of the younger members of the wind.

Abdullah let go of his shoulder and looked around his throat parched. "How? No. You would never do this. Your fear for your Lord is too much for you to commit such an act."

Faris turned his head to stare at Abdullah with scarlet eyes. "I hear her pleas in my brain. I destroyed her, ya Abdullah. I ruined my spouse I ruined the woman I have come to love."

Abdullah inhaled a shaky breath and sat down thunderstruck. Ya Allah. "Why did you commit such an unpardonable sin, Faris? The woman is already residing in hell. Why would you make breathing unbearable for her poor soul as well?" Abdullah seethed infuriated disregarding the fact that the man before him was drenched, or the fact that the night's cold shook his massive form.

Faris held his head in his hands and drew in a breath. "I do not know. Abdullah you know I would never hurt a woman. You know she is not just a woman she is my spouse, Abdullah. My spouse," his deep voice trembled when he said the last word. "I do not know how I touched her. I do not know how I destroyed her." Faris whispered aware how his tears touched his lips.

Abdullah looked at him and sighed. "No matter how incensed you were, Faris, you should not have gone near the woman."

"I do not remember."

"What?"

"By Allah, much of what has occurred is obscure in my brain. I do not recall what transpired. Why I did what I did. By Allah, Abdullah I do not recall much of it." Faris shook his head frustrated. There was something else behind a dark veil in his brain something he had to remember, however every time he attempted to push the veil aside something prevented him.

"What are you talking about?" Abdullah sat in front of Faris, frowning.

"There was something amiss before I went in the chamber. Something I cannot recollect."

Abdullah recalled the previous night. Something was wrong with his behavior the man had appeared unwell when he departed for the house. "Faris what you did is indeed grave," the knight lifted his head to look at him. "However, if what you say is true then there must be something else, something your brain refuses to unveil."

Knight of knights closed his eyes to remember, however, his eyes shot open as terrified, doe-like eyes appeared before him. "What have I done?" He growled, desperate.

A few minutes ticked by in silence. "I know you are remorseful of your actions, and yearn to repent," Faris nodded and placed his clenched fist on his lips. "You must seek forgiveness of your spouse."

"I cannot confront her. I must not confront her." Faris looked away guilt-ridden. "If I stand before her she will succumb, her soul will wither before my eyes."

"And if you do not ask for her forgiveness your Lord will not forgive you."

At this Faris's body commenced quivering terribly and tears filled his eyes. "Abdullah, I do not know if my Lord will forgive me. I do not know."

"Do not forget that your Lord is the most merciful. However, you must face Raghad first," Faris closed his eyes at the mention of her name. Just when he permitted his enemy's daughter to reside in his heart, everything perished leaving his soul and mind naked to the eyes of the evil. "Now you must go back." Abdullah placed his hand on Faris's shoulder then rose to his feet. With a last glance towards Faris, he walked away to a small chamber on their right leaving the leader of Borkan tribe with his desolate thoughts.

**

Darkness commenced opening its door for light, and the bride stirred from a dreamless nightmare. Raghad opened her eyes to shed more tears as she recalled what had occurred a few hours ago. She sat up and enveloped the quilt around her form with trembling fingers. Pain, a desolate pain shredded her heart causing sobs to meet air. Raghad disregarded her bare back, ignored her hair that cascaded down her back like a bewitched waterfall and mourned for her life, wept for her innocence.

So rapt in her wretched life she did not discern a light knock on the door, she did not notice Shouq opening the door or calling her name. Raghad gasped aloud when cold fingers touched her shoulder, and she recoiled. "Do not touch me I beg of you, please."

"Raghad it is me, Shouq." The sister-in-law addressed in a tender voice shell-shocked at the bride. "What happened? Where is Faris?" At this, the bride lifted her head only to encircle her arms around Shouq and bury her face in her neck.

"Shouq. I wish to go back. Take me back to Badr please I beg you. I-I."

Shouq cupped her face in her hands. "By Allah, inform me what has happened. You are petrifying me Raghad."

The Rashdeen shook her head. "There is nothing to be uttered, nothing left to be verbalized. Please, help me flee from this miserable place. Take me to my father's tribe I cannot stay here anymore. He has ruined me."

Shouq gasped, and her face turned palled. "What? No. Faris would never do that. Faris cannot commit such an evil sin." She shook her head eyes wide.

"Shouq you gave me your word you told me that whenever I desire your aid, you will be present there. I need you to take me away from here." Raghad held her hands in her cold ones.

"Raghad please tell me what you say is not true." Shouq gulped.

The bride ignored her comment. "Shouq I cannot breathe. I feel my heart tear inside my bust I feel it bleed soaking my veins. I beg of you take me to Badr." Raghad whispered like a deranged being.

"Raghad look at me." Shouq hissed frightened from the woman who wept before her. "Look at me Raghad!" She repeated when the woman searched the room for something inconspicuous not meeting her gaze. "Inform me what happened."

Unable to bear the grief and dishonor the bride swathed her hands around her sister-in-law and disclosed everything. As she spoke, warm tears trickled down Shouq's eyes and kissed her cheeks. Ya Allah! Faris what have you done. She thought, caressing Raghad's hair. "And then suddenly he stopped_" Everything else was a blur to Shouq when she heard those words. Slowly she pulled back from Raghad but held her shoulders. "What did you just utter?" Her voice was a whisper, a plea.

At this, the forlorn wind halted, holding its breath for it yearned to know the truth behind those words. The wind placed its hand over its heart and listened, counting the excruciating seconds that ticked by.

Raghad stared at her for a while, and Shouq knew what she was thinking. "He stopped after I begged him incalculable times, weeping. That monster stopped once I brought his Lord's name when I begged him for the sake of his Maker." Raghad hissed, moving away from Shouq.

The sister-in-law sighed in relief and her shoulders hunched visibly. Alhamdulillah! She knew that her brother would never commit such a sin, even though Faris was a barbarian a brute who possessed no heart he placed his religion his fear for his Lord about all. However, Shouq would dare not defy the fact that what he did to his spouse was indeed a crime, a terrible sin and for that, he was her sinner as well.

"I do not know why he would do this; Faris would never harm a woman."

"Are you certain about that Bint Sheikh Mubarak?" Raghad growled, and her bottom lip trembled in both anger and despondentness. She pulled back the quilt to show the scar on her bare shoulder. "What is this?" Raghad yelled. "Do not tell me that a man like him is incapable of harming a woman. He is more than capable of doing more than harm."

Shouq blinked a few times to conceal her tears and held Raghad in her arms. "I am sorry; by Allah, I am profoundly heartbroken to hear this." Shouq desired to tell her that Faris was guiltless that he stopped himself and his demon before he could ruin both; however, she knew that it was not the time to bring that in front of Raghad when the woman was extremely demoralized.

"Come. Come with me let me help you dress." Shouq stood up held Raghad's form close and walked to the mattress on the other side of the chamber. She then turned on a lantern, rummaged through one of the chests, and pulled out a gown for Raghad with a long scarf. Shouq helped Raghad perform ablution then assisted her with the clothes without leaving her sight for a second.

"You must sleep." Shouq dropped the scarf over Raghad's head.

"No, I cannot. If I close my eyes the nightmares will suffocate me."

"Please if you do not sleep your body will be exhausted." she gently pushed on the bride's shoulders until Raghad rested her head on the pillow.

"Promise me that you will stay beside me." Raghad grabbed her hand. Shouq inhaled at how vulnerable the woman was. She nodded and sat there with Raghad until she welcomed slumber.

**

Right after the tribe was finished with Fajr prayer and after countless persuasion from Abdullah, Faris entered Sheikh Mubarak's house. Thankfully, no one was in sight as he made his way to his chamber feeling his throat go dry. How can a man such as himself commit this act? Last night was not the first time when flames of his heart collided with the roaring thunder that twirled in her chest.

The knight ran his hand over his messy hair that fell on his shoulder in waves. Faris knew his soul, he knew he possessed no heart, but he would never hurt his woman not the woman with big brown eyes, not the woman who played with the cords of that dead heart. Faris commenced recalling yesterday's events he had met with Marwan then sat along with his knights until the sun had slept. What was Marwan here for what did the man desire from Faris? He blinked his eyes a few times to stop the pain and stood before the door of his chamber.

For the first time in his thirty-two summers, Faris Mubarak Al Borkan hesitated. He never held back when it came to descending on the battlefield never pondered about his life or the consequences before drawing his sword in the midst of his enemies. However, today at this moment he held back, Faris hesitated.

Before he could open the door, his eyes fell upon dates in the mud pot by the shelf. Instantly, an invisible force unshackled within his brain and Faris took a step back. Marwan...the dates! Faris cradled his head in his hands as fury clawed at his heart. Poison, he had been poisoned. The man poisoned him. His poison was the reason why Faris's brain stopped listening to his commands and destroy Raghad's chastity.

That instant Faris knew that he would soak his hands in Marwan's blood. The knight will terminate Marwan and his tribe with his bare hands. How brave of Marwan to poison knight of knights in his tribe surrounded by his knights? How dare he plot such a notion? Faris clenched his fist and swallowed seeing red.

Slowly the knight pushed the door open. Faris waited there by the door for a few seconds then took a step in. There she was the woman who had welcomed fear in the heart of a beast. He watched her rest on the mattress fast asleep unaware of his sinful presence. He took another step in. "Don't," a small voice caught his attention. Faris turned his head to the side and saw his sister, Shouq sitting beside Raghad in the dark. "She cannot see you at this moment, Faris. The girl does not have the fortitude to face you."

"Leave Shouq," Faris ordered his eyes on Raghad. He did not want his sister to see him in such a state. "Leave us." He ordered in a hushed voice. Shouq exhaled, rose to her feet and slowly departed from the room. Once she shut the door behind her, the knight made his way towards Raghad, his spouse. However, he came to a halt when she stirred in her sleep, and her eyes opened.

He watched her blink twice then leap to her feet stumbling. Faris could not look into her eyes he could not bear the resentment he witnessed in them. They stood there in silence none of them desiring to utter a word. At this moment, Faris felt as if he was a speck of dust in front of a vibrant star.

Raghad watched him avert his gaze and here anger, an unfathomable rage ascended in her soul hiding her fear. "Look at me." She demanded when Faris did not turn to look at her. Raghad took a step towards him then another and finally reached him. It was clear that the man was penitent of his doing she saw it in his eyes, and it gave her strength. "I will never hurt you and if I ever hurt you I am your sinner," Raghad spoke the words he had told her the other day in downright coldness.

Indeed, Faris did not ruin her, but the memories of what had occurred haunted her and she knew she would never forgive him for that. When the man denied meeting her gaze Raghad seized his kandoora and attempted to shake his massive form. "I will not weep before you. I will not morn for your doings know this Faris, I despised you, and I will loathe you as my enemy till I breathe my last. "Here the man looked into her eyes and Raghad inhaled.

"Why? Why Faris?" Tears brimmed her eyes, and her grip tightened on the fabric of his kandoora. "Just when I accepted my fate with you. Why? Do you despise me to such an extent that you desired to ruin your spouse the woman of your own house?" Faris looked away when she uttered those words. "Look at me." She yelled.

The knight lifted his gaze. "Do not kill me, Raghad. Do not place me in a fire only you can extinguish. Do not bend a sword that has never witnessed rust."

Raghad gave a laugh a cold laugh that resembled darkness. "And you dare to ask for forgiveness." Faris attempted to grab her hands. However, Raghad pulled away as if burned. "How dare you, Borkan?" Hot tears trickled down her cheeks." What else do you want from me? My tribe, my will, my sibling and now my virtue."

"I am your sinner, Raghad."

"You are more than that. You are a demon who knows no remorse. A man who only knows how to obliterate a man I am unfortunate to pair with."

In a swift movement, the knight grabbed her waist and Raghad screamed in terror. "Look at me," he whispered her words. "Do not you see the repentance that is tearing at my chest. I beg of you, Raghad, look at me." Faris inched closer, but the bride pushed at his chest in fury.

When he inched closer Raghad pushed at his chest with all the might she could muster and the other second her palm connected with his face. With her chest heaving, she stepped back and glared at him. "Do not touch me. Do not appear before me. I might have considered you as my spouse for a day or so, however, now you are my foe."

Knight of knights peered at her, his jaw clenched and after a while, he parted his lips to whisper. "I, Faris Mubarak al Borkan beg for your mercy. By Allah, if you do not forgive my soul, this knight before you shall perish."

Raghad took another step back. "Then be it. Perish so that it shall be between you and your Lord."

Faris swallowed and stood straight. "Fe Aman Allah." He murmured those words and marched away leaving a distraught Raghad behind in her misery.

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Do people on Wattpad even write books that are worthy of reading? Seriously, the other day I wanted to get some inspiration and I was disgusted to see the books here on Wattpad. Suggest me some good books to read.