First of all, EID MUBARAK EVERYONE, Insha'Allah this Eid will be blessed and you guys will have lots of fun.

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~*~*Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream.~*~*Khalil Gibran

"You must get up ya Raghad, they have been here for a while now," Badr gently tugged on her quilt.

"I do not wish to," she spat, turned her face from her brother. Badr stood there agitated, he knew if Raghad were to oppose and set her mind, not even the unsurpassable men on earth could alter her mind, only Allah could.

She was just like their father.

Badr pursed his lips and peered down at his prepossessing sister; her hair curtained the pillow and covered the side of her creamy skin. "Raghad, I wish to annihilate the man who has taken your hand but that would cause my brother's life and blood will downpour on both tribes," he leaned down," Ya Raghad habibti, I will be by your side till the day I die. When you depart from this house and if he harmed you by Allah...I will kill him," he growled the last part as he poured out the fury that flared in his heart.

Badr cringed as tears rushed in those honey-brown eyes. Raghad sat up and encased her quivering arms around his neck. Badr enfolded her form in his hands, her thick glossy hair tangled around his arms. Slowly he crouched and sat on his right knee then pushed his other knee on the ground in order to come face-to-face with his precious sister. He caressed her hair and whispered words in order to console her.

Raghad knew every word he uttered were accurate. Badr was the only one who comprehended her disposition far more than anyone in their blessed family. She felt his grip tighten around her when a sob sounded from her lips. His large hand skimmed her hair that cascaded like a brown waterfall down her back. Raghad turned her face only to bury it in the nape of his neck and shed those excruciating tears that soaked his thobe.

"Ya Allah," he groaned, "Raghad do not weep no more, wallahi (By God) it is beyond my strength to control my rage when my angel cries," he vocalized, his voice deep as emotions tingled his throat.

"You are the only one that understands me Akhi (brother)," Raghad pulled back and dropped her gaze instantly when her eyes met Badr's.

"Do not speak that way, Raghad and what reason has propelled you to think such disturbing matters?" he demanded kindly, as he brushed his fingers on her cheeks to wipe her tears.

"K-Khalid is always dutiful to what father commands and he has always been inhospitable with me. Mother does not understand my heart and even if she did, she does not possess the power to come to my aid and Salem_," Raghad trailed off leaving a path of tormented words that almost suffocated Badr.

"Do not ponder on such things my Raghado," he called her by the name only he was granted to pronounce. "Stand up and prepare yourself," Badr let go of her when he pulled his hands away her lustrous hair fell back on her shoulders. He then grabbed her wrists, rose to his feet and stood her up as well.

When the brother was almost out of her quarter, Badr looked over his shoulder in her eyes, "He is here, he escorted his mother if you wish to_," before he could finish a forbidding wrath engulfed her eyes.

"I will not do such a thing," she hissed.

Instantly Badr lifted his finger to put it firmly on his lips, she whipped her head away from him. If it were a man who raised his voice in front of him, by Allah, Badr would have provided a glimpse of his fury to that discourteous man. However, this was Raghad, the source of his life, the sun to his sombre world. His dearest sister, he merely exhaled and strode away.

Ragahd fumed with unfathomable rage that swam on the edge of her patience. How can Badr even consider such an idea? He wanted her to see his face. She wiped her tears harshly as she prepared herself. Raghad threw her thick plait over her shoulder and wrapped her shawl around her hair. She did not enter the main tent instead Raghad walked around. Once outside she shivered from the chilly wind that roared as if forewarning her of a peril. Just when she took few steps away, the wretched girl crossed paths with her father's sister, Amna.

The petite women held a silver tray with a dallha(pot) and silver mugs decorated on top. Amna grinned when her eyes fell on her niece. "Good, now that you have graced us with your presence you shall serve your guests," Raghad bit the wall of her cheek.

"I do not want to meet them," she whispered.

"Tsk my dear, do not say that. They have been waiting for you. We had to tell them you visited the creek with Noof," Amna held her gaze.

Raghad frowned, "Why not inform them of the truth, ya khalti?" She inquired.

Amna tusked again then pushed the tray in her hands, "Do not demolish your father's name further. Your brother has already done enough of that," with the pitiless remark Amna went inside their main tent.

Raghad stood there astounded, her lips trembled but she swallowed and decided to not display her resentment to her undesirable visitors. With a deep scowl on her beautiful face she walked in, her gaze down aware every eye stared at her in utmost interest. "As-salaam Alaykum," Raghad murmured and lifted her head when she walked in the tent.

Her eyes wavered a little when she witnessed her guests smile at her in a way that it gleamed in their eyes. It muddled her; she twisted her neck to her left and saw her mother, to her stupefaction Umm Badr sat near them comfortable. Raghad disregarded it; this was certainly not the moment to ponder on why her mother did not display a horrified look on her face.

She gracefully sat in front of her guests and placed the tray just inches away from her. "This is my daughter, Raghad," her mother introduced. Raghad baffled her senses when her gaze lifted to them shyly.

"Wa-Alaikum-Salaam. Masha 'Allah Ayesha you have a beautiful daughter," the elderly women in front of her expressed to Umm Badr but her eyes focused on the beauty that sat there. "Binty, how are you?" the woman's eyes twitched, those intelligent eyes that clearly had witnessed uncountable predicaments.

"Alhamdulillah (Thanks and praises to God) I am well, Khalty," Raghad replied in a firm voice.

The woman grinned, "This is my elder daughter, Shouq," she then gestured towards the young woman next to her. Raghad met her eyes, dark hazel eyes. Something about the eyes was immensely familiar. The young woman was indeed beautiful Raghad then noticed.

The way Shouq's eyes glistered Raghad's wrath subsided and tranquility took over from the look in them. Raghad smiled, she gifted them a small smile that lifted the corner of her lips. "She is beautiful," Shouq whispered to her mother.

Raghad gaped at her flabbergasted aware how her pale neck prickled with blood. "Binty Shouq, do not forget yourself," Umm Badr praised and Shouq gave a small laugh.

When tea was served by Raghad, she noticed their eyes were transfixed on her which fractured her aplomb. However, she also took note of how very pleasant and composed her guests were. The Borkan women conversed about her, exceptionally cautious to not mention their son's name. Raghad was grateful for that and her heart lulled a little when she perceived Shouq comprehended her disquietude.

In the middle of their animated conversation, her mother-in-law pulled out a black velvet sack and revealed an awe-inspiring gold ring. The mother-in-law who sat beside her took hold of Raghad's hand gently, smiled up at her, showered her with blessings and with praises to Allah she pushed the ring on her finger. Raghad went rigid, her heart commenced to pump faster in her bosom; she thought by Allah they could hear it.

The ring was made of pure gold, with an alluring purple gemstone that sat on it like the crown on its domain. Raghad did not want to wear it, she desired to yell that on their faces but she could not as many elderly women of her tribe had gathered here to attend the ceremony.

Raghad felt tears tingle behind the veil of her eyes. She bit her wobbling lip when her eyes clashed with her mother. Ayesha had tears in her eyes; she shook her head at her beloved daughter to not allow the tears touch her cheeks. Raghad inhaled and averted her gaze only to stare in Shouq's eyes. Raghad was aware Shouq had the knowledge of her terrified heart.

Women that sat around them gave her their blessings, while Raghad glared at the ring that knotted her fate with that vicious barbarian. Every ounce of fortitude she owned was tested that moment for her to not weep. Raghad sat there for a prolonged while, only God was aware of the amount of grief her heart felt.

At last, it was announced that the guests shall feast with the Rashideens. Raghad excused herself and walked silently out of the tent. Despaired she turned around the tent and walked a bit further away, her tribe was engrossed in their daily activates, no one aware of her bleeding heart. When she raised her head, at once the reluctant bride hid behind the tent only to lean her head a little and watch with wide, horrified eyes.

Her brothers, Badr and Khalid conversed with a man, a very tall man. She narrowed her eyes when they took note of the black turban on his head, his hair fell gloriously on his broad shoulders. He was indeed an angel. That was when her world crashed down into pieces at the very sight of him. The hand that wore his ring clasped on her mouth and tears unleashed their hands from the chains of her eyes. It was him! The man she had glared when the Borkan attempted to invade her tribe. He was the man at the creek!

Her head fell down as more salty tears streamed down her big beautiful eyes, unaware that someone had raised their head to stare at her weep. That someone had known Raghad was there the moment she walked by and hid behind the tent to watch him.

That person had dropped his gaze so that she would see who she belonged to, for he was already aware of his price. Raghad looked up and her light brown, heavenly eyes collided with dark ones, her heart howled at her and Raghad backed away as if burned, she rotated and marched away on trembling feet.

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Awww poor Raghad, I feel so bad for her. Let me know what you think about this chapter in your COMMENTS and don't forget to VOTE!

Check the pic of SHEIKH FAISAL on the side and *EID MUBARAK. *

Binty means Daughter in Arabic .

Khalty means Aunt.

Habibti means dear one or beloved one.

As-salamu alaykum means peace and blessings be upon you.