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*~If my survival caused another to perish, then death would be sweeter and more beloved.~*Khalil Gibran



Glimpse of what happened in the last chapter



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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Faris dressed in the clothes that Shouq had bought for him in Abdullah's house. Once clothed in a black kandoora, Faris came out of a chamber to see his sister sitting there on a Mattress waiting for him. "What are you still doing here?" He demanded with a clenched jaw.

"I am here to apprise you something of great importance."

"Shouq I do not possess time for that. Leave."

"No," she rose to her feet. "You will hearken to me, Faris. You have to listen to what I have to utter."

"My men await me." Faris wore his headdress and grabbed his sword.

"Give your sister a few moments." Shouq pleaded when Faris made his way to the small door. "I beg of you." Knight of knights halted his back to Shouq. "Faris, why did you do this sin?" Shouq watched as he inhaled. "I know you. I know you would never raise your hand on her. I must know the reason behind this." Shouq took a step forward, petrified of him.

"I do not recall much of what happened, sister," Faris growled.

"What do you mean?"

Faris threw his head back to glare at the ceiling and informed her of Marwan's doing and their dispute. "And I, Shouq, I the man who would kill others to protect and shield women, ravished her."

"Oh, Faris." Tears streamed down Shouq's eyes as she made her way to him and stood behind his massive form. She mourned the change of events, wept that her valiant brother cursed himself for a sin he did not commit. Shouq wept.

"You have heard what you desired to know. Now. Depart." He took a step forward his back rigid.

"No Faris you must listen to what I have," Shouq wiped her tears. "Raghad disclosed everything to me," she heard him inhale a breath. "She told me, "With a shake of his head the knight of knights took another step set to leave the house. "She informed me that you stopped, Faris." At this, the man turned around at such a speed that Shouq stepped back.

"What did you just verbalize?" His voice was intense, almost hoarse.

The sister swallowed from the look that materialized on Faris's face. His forehead creased and eyes narrowed like a vicious wolf. "You stopped." She watched as a frown appeared on his pale face, and Faris growled.

"She appraised you of this?" He peered at Shouq, muddled. Uncertainty whizzed behind the veils in his eyes.

The sister took a step and nodded. "She did."

"Ya Allah," His hand landed on the hilt of his sword and Faris stared ahead. Shouq knew that her beloved brother went through a mental turmoil with his sanity.

"You stopped engaging in a terrible sin, Faris. Even though they poisoned you, and yet you did not obey the satan's command." Shouq's bottom lip trembled when she took note of the quiver in Faris's hand.

"You have blessed my heart with a great news, Shouq. May Allah bless you." The knight looked down at her his eyes scarlet.

Shouq took a step forward and gradually enveloped her fingers around Faris. Her tears soaked Faris's robe a sob escaped her lips when the man encased his bulky hands around her. Ever since he was named Raghad's spouse, her beloved brother had transformed into something she could not comprehend. Indeed, there was yearning for Raghad in his eyes, but Shouq knew how arduous it was for him to unlock a door for Raghad. She knew both Faris and Raghad traveled through countless misfortune to reach their destiny and Shouq did not desire for that love to perish for a mere misunderstanding.

"Go to her, Faris. Tell Raghad that you were poisoned tell her everything." Shouq begged.

"Not now. I must go to Marwan."

"Raghad. Your spouse is more important Faris," She pulled back and rested her hands on his broad chest.

Faris moved away. "The boiling blood in my veins will not rest until I will drench my hands in Marwan's blood." Shouq stared at him in anguish knowing she could not do anything to change his mind. In her, twenty-one summers no men in these lands dared to plot against Faris. Not because he was the son of a notorious man, but because he was a man who formed an army so mighty that any tribe would think twice before plotting against the Borkan. Faris was the man who brought leaders to their knees, a man who welcomed a cold shiver in the hearts of those who stood before him.

"Fari_" She stopped when the man lifted his hand.

"Go home they need your aid Shouq." They both knew whom he meant by 'they' Shouq gave a nod of her head and watched as he marched away with a stiff back.

Faris held his sword in his hand as he left Abdullah's house. As soon as he was out, the man whistled for Tufan, his horse. It took his loyal horse a few moments to gallop up to the knight of knights. Faris was a sight to behold, his resentment and ferocity that boiled in his blood blazed in his eyes like an inferno. Upon seeing him, Abdullah sprinted up to Faris.

"Where are you going?" He demanded, eyeing Faris's sword. The knight disregarded him and made his way forward with Tufan beside him. "Faris." Abdullah stood before him, stopping the knight in his track.

Knight of knights stared at him with dead eyes. "I have been tormenting my soul for a crime I did not commit, ya Abdullah."

"What do you mean?"

"Her innocence is as it was the day she stepped foot in the Borkan tribe." His voice was deep, so sharp that it ripped the wind's pinions.

Abdullah ran his hand down his face. "But you-"

"The Rashideen disclosed to Shouq that I," he swallowed and looked away from Abdullah towards the sky. That moment he articulated to the wind; he announced his pain that battled within his heart like a turbulent tornado. Faris's heart roared his hushed plea, he begged it to shield him from his own monster. The knight's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed again attempting to contain his rage and hopelessness. "That I stopped, Abdullah. I did not ruin her or myself."

At this Abdullah sighed, "Alhamdulillah." He murmured the words under his breath a few times. "Then apprise me where are you going?"

"To Marwan."

"La ya Faris. You mustn't hasten."

He glared at Abdullah. "Marwan must not breathe another day. I will not allow that. I will slaughter him for the evil that he has committed against a prince!"

"Faris, if you do so another bloodshed shall arouse."

"Then be it." The knight of knights took a step forward to leave, but Abdullah grabbed his arm. "Faris ponder on it. Perhaps this is what he wants. Marwan desires you to come he wishes for you to engage in a crime that would smear your name in blood."

Faris shook his head and took another step forward. "Hamdan." The knight hollered for his cousin.

Within a few seconds, Hamdan came rushing up to Faris. "Naam wald 3ami."

"Prepare my knights." Faris hoisted an eyebrow when Hamdan did not move. "Are you questioning my orders, cousin?" He growled and moved to tower over Hamdan.

"I cannot dare to do that my prince, however, what must I inform your men." Hamdan reasoned.

"That this, ya Hamdan are my orders." Those dark eyes turned into a glower.

"Faris at least go to Sheikh Mubarak notify him of the events that took place yesterday." Abdullah voiced his thoughts, desperate.

"What has happened here yesterday?" Came a voice that turned Faris's blood cold. He hissed under his breath, clenched his fist to conceal the quiver in them and finally turned around to meet the person he had invited yesterday.

Badr.

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I KNOW! But this is what I could do. I swear its so hard, I don't have time to watch anything, heck I don't have time to go out and get some quality time. Being so busy and then pushing your brain to write with the same standard as before (I hope it is) is really really hard.

Queens_realm my insta account.





Sry 4 da mistakes.