Kabul - Acceptance: Sequel to 'Yasak - Forbidden' (A Goktug Alp Love Story)

CHAPTER 1

Dedicated to my Goldfish, my best friend and biggest supporter of both BurDah and GokMel.

"Melike Hanim?"

A rosy-cheeked young woman of about eighteen or nineteen looked down from where she was standing on a cart helping the other women load the tent skeletons for tribe relocation. She saw a small, dark-haired boy of about six years old looking up at her with wide eyes. She smiled at him and got down from the cart, and stood in front of him.

"Ahmet, hayirdir?" she asked, kneeling to his height and gently caressing his arms. "These are for you," he said sheepishly with a blush on his face, and passed her a bunch of multicolored wildflowers. "MashaAllah, these are lovely!" exclaimed Melike and inhaled the sweet scent of the flowers. "Thank you, Ahmet." "Your welcome, Melike Hatun," said Ahmet with a happy smile on his face, glad that Melike appreciated his small yet sincere gift. "Do you know where Bala Hatun is? I have flowers for her too." "She's over the other side of the camp, helping out Gonca Hatun and Hazal Hatun," said Melike, and pointed with her thumb in the direction of where Bala was working with Gonca and Hazal. "Thank you, Melike Hatun!" said Ahmet and hugged her, taking Melike by delightful surprise. "Ah, you're welcome," said Melike, and squeezed him tight before letting the young boy run off toward the area where Bala was working.

It had been one year since Osman Bey had led the Kayi Tribe to successfully capture the Kulucahisar Kalesi, and plenty had happened since. With Sofia's death and defeat, it not only brought the Kayis' power to more fame and glory, but invited more threat along with it. Melike had fought in battle after battle throughout the previous year, along with her husband Goktug and her brother Boran, under the command of Osman Bey. He had not yet become the actual Bey of the Kayis, yet he had become their general and had led nothing but successful armies of the strongest and most powerful Alps and soldiers. He too, was becoming very well known throughout the land, and was the pride of the Kayis- though due to his young age, many of the older and more experienced Beys around began to grow envious and wary of his power, including his own uncle, Dundar. Melike was glad that Osman had the support of his older brother, Gunduz Bey, but she did wish that Dundar Bey would not be so problematic. He had caused multiple troubles for their tribe and had been responsible for the loss of many martyred soldiers, but Osman Bey and Gunduz Bey kept on forgiving him and giving him many second chances. It confused Melike and her family, but they knew better than to meddle in Osman Bey's personal business.

As for them, Melike had been happily married to Goktug for about a year already. He, unlike many husbands and Beys throughout the land, allowed Melike to fight alongside him and her brother with their tribe's Alps. Not only that, but he made time to train her almost every day, to teach her all he knew so she could rise to become an even more powerful warrior than she already was. And that day, they were making the final arrangements for the tribe that was migrating to lower lands for the coming winter; they were with many of the women and children, packing up the last of their tents and belongings to bring to their destination. Melike was assisting Gonca Hatun and Bala Hatun- Osman Bey's wife- whilst her husband and older brother were working on the other side of the tribe. They had been there since the previous night, and were very nearly ready to get going.

As Melike helped strapped the last of the tent skeletons into one of the horse-driven carts, she heard a familiar voice call her name from behind.

"Melike Hatun!"

Melike's insides recoiled slightly at the voice; she knew it all too well. She turned around to see Hazal Hatun, Dundar's wife walking toward her. She pasted a false smile on her face and stood up to greet her. It looked as if she were coming from where Bala and Gonca were to speak to her. "Hazal Hatun," she greeted her. Her expression was haughty, as always. Her chin was slightly jutted out, her nose stuck in the air, and she walked with a sashay that made Melike wonder how on earth a human being could walk in such a way. "An Alp told me that Goktug Alp is looking for you," she said, her voice laced with poisonous pompousness. "He is helping Boran Alp load the weapons into the caravans." "Thank you, Hazal Hatun," said Melike and began to walk away, but Hazal stopped her. Melike raised an eyebrow at her, questioning her actions. Hazal sighed; "I was really hoping for a wonderful, bright and steadfast young woman like you to marry a man of a proper title and background," she said. Melike furrowed her brow. "What do you mean, Hanim'im?" she asked.