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

CHAPTER 26

"Goktug...Goktug...GOKTUUUUUUG!"

Osman let out a cry of pain, thinking his friend was lost. "No, Goktug," he cried. "Goktug..."

Melike's sobs wracked her body as she cradled Goktug in her arms, holding him tightly to her chest. She shook him multiple times, hoping desperately that he would awaken...but he never did.

"N-no, don't leave me, Goktug," she cried, her tears streaming down her cheeks, dripping onto his face and into his beard, as one of her hands clutched at his chest. "Please, I beg you, do not leave m-"

Her sentence was cut short and her heart skipped a beat when she suddenly noticed that his was still pounding against his chest.

Lightly, faintly, quietly...but surely.

She froze, wondering if she were dreaming. She grabbed his wrist and felt his pulse beating. She then hurriedly placed a shaking finger under his nose; his warm breath grazed her skin...he was alive. Relief immediately overwhelmed her so much she thought she would throw up right then and there.

"Osman Bey, he is still alive!" she squeaked, her eyes releasing even more tears- tears of joy this time. "Osman Bey, he is alive! Goktug, oh, Goktug..." She peppered his face with countless kisses out of relief, and hugged him closer. Osman stared, then reached for Goktug and placed his own palm on his chest- and felt the same beating heart that Melike had.

"Allahim, cok sukur..." he gasped out. "Allah, thank you...Alpler! ALPLER!" He looked around at his Alps; "Goktug Alp is alive!" he yelled. "Take him to safety, now!"

Boran and three other Alps immediately came to their aid, and pried Goktug gently from Melike arms. They carried him away to a safe spot, away from the battle, where he would not obtain any more injuries.

Melike wiped her eyes and drew out her sword once more, ready to fight. She threw herself into the battle again, swinging her sword and taking the lives of all the unfortunate men who chose to attack her. One after the other, a large number of the castle's remaining soldiers became victim to her blade, and toppled dead at her feet, whilst the others were being dealt with by Osman Bey, Boran Alp, Bala Hatun, Bamsi Bey, Aygul Hatun and the rest of their troops who had conquered the fortress with them.

Soon, the stone floors of Kulucahisar were once more covered in blood as the battle raged on, Turk against Byzantine- and the Turks were winning, with Osman Bey at the lead. Their Alps and warriors very easily overpowered the surprised and unexpecting soldiers of Aya Nikola, and it was not long before many of them were dead.

As Melike fought, her eyes fell on Helen, who was barking orders at her soldiers to keep fighting on- though she herself, had not joined in the battle. She stared; "Helen..." she whispered, and a hot pain and surge of anger filled her stomach at the location of a particular scar.

"HELEN!"

She let out a cry of anger as she stood up and made a run toward the female Byzantine commander, and Helen's eyes widened when she saw her. "Damno!" she cursed in Latin. "Damn it!"

She pushed her soldiers in front of her, and immediately ran to escape. Melike scoffed; "Oh no you don't!" she snarled, and continued to push through the crowd to chase her. "You are not going to escape me just like that! I am not letting you out of this fortress without killing you first!" Osman saw her chasing Helen, and turned to Bala. "Bala, go after Helen with Melike and Aygul!" he shouted. "Take her at all costs, either dead or alive!" "I am on it, Osman!" cried Bala, as she and Aygul ran after Melike, who was still in pursuit of Helen.

"Helen!" Melike shouted after her, craftily making her way through the twisted streets and alleys of the castle. "Helen, you cannot escape me!"

"Melike, she is going to go through the back!" Bala yelled. "Stop her- argh!" Melike whirled around and saw that Bala and Aygul had suddenly been ambushed by three soldiers. She stopped in her tracks, and was about to break her route to assist them when Aygul cried out to them, "Both of you go! Get Helen! I will deal with these bastards!" And deal with them she did- as soon as she had spoken, she skewered one of her attackers in the chest with his own sword, and only two others were left.