warrior's heart

chapter 22

##Assalamualaikum dearest readers,Pardon any mistakes Please!##

Two months later......

Sultan Imran was now able to walk holding a walking stick without any body's support. His steps were still slow and deliberate but he was walking better nonetheless. Marliyyah was beyond happy to see her father hale and hearty and walking again. The colour had returned to his pale skin and he was eating well. The news had spread wide in the kingdom that their sultan was awake and healthy again to which they were pleased. To show their happiness,they brought different fruits and vegetables as well as goat milk to help him recuperate fully.

Even the weather had improved and summer was showing it's effects on the beautiful flowers that bloomed in gardens.

The sultan wanted to wield a sword again. He was tired of holding just a walking stick and so he walked into the armoury and picked up a sword. Because he had not regained his strength fully,he was not able to hold it with one hand and had to use two of his hands to lift the sword. As he swung the sword with all of his might,it was met by a block and clink sound from another sword, general Farouq ' s sword.

"Masha Allah, it is good to see you wielding a sword again ya sultan,"said Farouq, smiling. Sultan Imran smiled back and said, " my dear friend, I have said it before and I will say it again,it is not befitting of a friend to call his own friend by a title. Imran is my name and that is what you must call me,is that clear? " He scolded lightly.

Farouq smiled again, "very well Imran" he said, stressing the name and both men laughed. After a moment of silence, Imran said, "I cannot help but notice the look of worry on your face,tell me dear friend, what bothers you? "

"Imran, I am afraid our dear liyyah might have made a big mistake which might be too late to rectify."

Imran's face crinkled in confusion. "Mistake? What mistake might that be?"

"Alot has happened during your period of illness. Pray, let us sit and I shall recount the details of what happened."

He told him of the attack by Tha'abaan and the proposal by Fazil beig as well as that of sultan Nawfal Al-fateh,which Marliyyah rejected in a not so subtle manner.

"Ya Allah,my dear dear liyyah,she made a grave mistake by rejecting The sultan. From what you have told me and I know you are not a poor judge of character, he is a responsible and capable young man. Honestly speaking, he is the only one who can protect her from that evil in human form,may Allah forgive me for saying that about a fellow human being . I may be selfish when I say this but our military is not as strong as his. He is a young man with new ideas on warfare and military tactics as well as weapons. With this marriage,we will become stronger,the alliance will make our soldiers to be more equipped and educated, our people will be safer and Fazil beig will have no chance against us. I will convince her to accept this alliance, however, I will like you to write a letter re inviting the sultan,this time around from the sultan of Misrah,if possible,he should come not as a sultan but as a stranger for I wish to keep his visit discreet until In Sha Allah something fruitful comes out of it. I shall go and speak to my daughter, In Sha Allah, She will listen to me. I shall leave you now, ma'asalam.

With that, both men parted ways, each to his appointed task.

...........

Sultan Imran found his daughter in the small madrasah, which was a school that was built in the palace to teach the children of the palace staff and to also teach the staff who wanted to learn. He stood by the door watching with a smile as she taught the little children and could not be more proud of her. She was like her mother in many ways,her gestures, her elegance,her bravery and her pure heart. His heart ached as he remembered his beloved wife. He did not wish for his daughter to suffer the same fate as her mother and this increased his resolve to convince her to marry sultan Nawfal. She looked up and saw her father standing at the door way and she smiled cheerfully, before asking saffiyah to take over for her and excused herself.