Sabır (Patience) - Kurulus Osman

Chapter 2

The drums were beating, and everyone was anxious to see who was coming. They peered at the entrance of the tribe to see Osman, his alps and Ceyda trotting in. The tribe cheered their return, and the arrivers nodded and smiled at the people as greetings and thanks were heard throughout. Osman told one of the soldiers to put the horse he brought along in the stables. Then, he and Ceyda rode to the front of the tribe, Ertugrul Gazi's marquee.

"I will go inside," Osman informed, tying his jet black horse's reins to the mini stable near the marquee.

"Is there anything I can do, Bey?" Ceyda asked hopefully after she tied her dusky horse, Ceylan.

"Just keep an eye out, and meet your family. It's been a long time."

She sighed and nodded. Maybe I can help someone, she thought while walking around. Not much has changed... Suddenly, she heard someone call her name, "Ceyda? Where were you all these years? What happened? Decided to finally do something useful?" It was Zohre hatun.

"Good evening to you too, yenge. I was on a mission. What happened? Why are you so bitter?" Ceyda snorted, annoyed yet curious about her usual bitter mood.

"Ah Ceyda. We can't even say Hatun to your name. Should we call you Alp or Bey because you sure act like it? Interfering in men matters, going on missions. You are a burden to all the Alps. You even have their eyes on you. Have you no shame?"

What is she going on about? "What are you talking about Zohre Hatun? Speak for yourself. Do not involve others with your evil thoughts."

"Why not? I am speaking on everyone's behalf. You are the tribe's talk."

"What... don't you have anything better to do?"

"Don't you? Why don't you come to the Rug House? See how things are done?"

Ceyda reluctantly did as she was told. She didn't have anywhere to go anyway. Zohre, knowing her lack of experience, told her to complete the most beautiful rug they made. Ceyda did not know what to do, so she followed her instincts. She cut the rug into pieces.

"What are you doing?" asked one of the Hatuns, with horror. "Oh no!" cried another. "How dare you?" accused another.

Zohre roughly grabbed Ceyda's arm and squeezed it. She then brought Ceyda up to face her. By now, the women stopped working to see what would happen, and the people around stood to watch as well. "What have you done? You ruined our most precious rug!"

"If you knew I could not do it, you should not have told me to in the beginning," she spat, pulling her arm out of Zohre's grip.

"How was I supposed to know you couldn't do the simplest of things? Not even the rugs, you wouldn't be able to cook for your man or your children if you even have any. With your skills, I doubt any man would want you... except for your body, though that's also impossible."

"Ana, what are you saying?" asked Aygul, who had just arrived.

At Zohre's words, Ceyda was furious, "What did you say?...What did you say?!" She advanced closer to Zohre, threatening to hurt her.