warrior's heart

WAR

I am sorry, some of you will stop reading warrior's heart after this chapter.
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Nawfal looked at his reflection in the mirror before him. He was now in full armour, adjusting the straps of his arm plate and remembering his conversation with Marliyah,

"Promise me my queen, promise me that you would not follow me to the battle field. I know in your heart that you want nothing more than to fight by my side but I need you to remain here. You are the firm hand that would keep things in order in my absence.

"Please Marliyah, please stay".

She brought his hands to her face and cupped them and with unshed tears said,

"You are my life habibi. My safety is your safety and I promise to remain until you come back. You have to come back" , she said the last part desperately, silently begging with her actions what she could not say with words.

They held unto each other, as though it was the last time they would be together again, desperate to allay their fears. He placed a longing kiss on her crown and stayed for a moment, reluctant to let go until she stepped back and with a sparkle in her eyes that he would hold dearly to, said,

"Go Nawfal Al Fateh. Destroy that sad excuse of a man and come back to us."
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"Look after one another sons, you are each other's eyes and limbs on the battle field. You have to come back to your mothers and wives."

Ammati, who could not control her tears, said to Nawfal,Murad and Marwan. Safwanah had woken up and with the support of her family, had been healing remarkably from the attack. She made Marwan promise to destroy Pasha for what he had done.

Murad walked to where Marwa was standing and took her hand in his. Their Nikkah had been conducted the day before, on her request. She had said that she did not want him to leave without her being legally his. She wanted to know herself as Murad's wife. He had been beyond pleased and Abu Ussam had been called to conduct the Nikkah, with Nawfal as her waliy. The walimah was to be held when the men returned from the war.

"My wife, my love, do not cry, please, your tears will only stop me from going" he said, wiping her tears with his thumb.

"Look after yourself for me and look after everyone, they need you, she needs you". He  looked to where Marliyyah was standing, at the terrace in the palace,her face covered with a veil. It was the custom of the royal family that the Queen's face be covered and that she stayed on the terrace to send forth her warriors to war. She was after all, the epitome of motherhood and strength and from where they stood, Marliyyah represented just that. She was clad in a pure white dress with a covered face and she held the flag that bore the emblem of Heman, her Eagle, her Nawfal.

After the general prayers being led by Abu Ussam for the safety of the men in battle and their safe return home, the royal trumpet was blown and all men stood at attention, ready to leave. The soldiers from Aswan and Misrah had come to join them, with General Farouk and sultan Imran as well as Abu Murad and his army general, Abdullah.

After much persuasion, their fathers had agreed to stay back in Heman, while their sons went to war.

Nawfal and Murad stood before the men they were to lead, two thousand men, while Marwan and General Al Basha led the other half. They had four thousand soldiers and were outnumbered by a thousand.

"We march in the name of Allah towards the oppressors and to victory by His Grace!"came Ali's booming voice.

He was to lead the archers when they got to the battlefield. The trumpet was blown one last time as all men turned to look up at Marliyah.

She let the flag open and it swayed powerfully, showing the Eagle and it's sharp vision. Nawfal's eyes met with hers and she conveyed all that she felt for him in that one moment, their souls doing the speaking.

The men then turned back and began to march towards battle.

Bring him back to us Ya Allah, Marliyyah said, putting her hand on her stomach.

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"Ali, you and the archers will take the foot soldiers. Our spies mentioned that their armour is made of flammable material although it looks like steel from a distance.

"Ammu Farouk and Marwan's soldiers will break into a thousand men, with both of you leading one part each. Murad and I will do the same."

As they spoke, they heard the unmistakable sound of drums and knew the enemy were very close.

"We all know what to do, is it not?" Nawfal asked and the men nodded.

"Very well, let us go fight."
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"Brothers! Today, under the guidance of Allah, we stand firmly to fight the men who threaten to snatch our homes and disrespect our women! We stand to fight a man who has no fear of Allah and commits atrocities with no mercy.

There is no place for these vile men on our land and we would send them away, even if we have to lay down our lives for that!"

Nawfal rode from one end of the army to the other, encouraging his men and brothers in battle.

"May victory be ours in the name of Allah!" He yelled and the men repeated after him.

Fazil Beig sat atop his devil of a horse and looked at his soldiers,arrogance in his stance.

"They're numbers are nothing compared to yours! A mere four thousand to a whooping five thousand! They have been outnumbered.

Kill them I say! Kill them and their women become yours! I hear the women of those lands are the exquisite kind" he said in a lecherous way, to which the men laughed mockingly.

"Destroy them all! But leave Nawfal Al Fateh to me!"

"Long live Boa and long live Fazil Beig! He yelled, praising himself and his men repeated after him.

The drums were hit once again and thus began the age old battle between good and evil.
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Marliyyah laid on the bed, holding on to Nawfal's  Qamees tightly. She heard shuffling sound coming from the room and she rose from her position, alert.

Before she could react, the 2 men rushed forward and grabbed her.

The last thing she remembered was Nawfal's Qamees falling from her hands before the slipped into a forced sleep.

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Did I frighten you with my opening line?! I'm sorry! I wanted to pull your legs a little. Here is your late Ramadan gift and a pre Eid gift! May Allah accept our acts of Ibadah, Ameen. Let's hear your thoughts on the chapter through your amazing comments and of course your votes! Until next time? Ma'asalam.