warrior's heart

Chapter 51

P.S UNEDITED

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Marliyyah woke up with a start, her hands going to her belly. She get something was amiss and so she got up, made wuduu and then performed Raka'atainil Fajr, before she stood up for the Fajr prayers.

When she was done, she remained on her mat and made dua.

"Ya Allah, I know not what this feeling is, but, it is there nonetheless. It is a feeling I cannot shake off no matter what I do. Ya Rabbi, keep my husband safe, keep my brothers and family safe. Keep all of the soldiers safe and grant us victory against the oppressors.

She remained in her position on the mat, afraid that her leaving it would spell room for them all.

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"Marliyyah, ammati is requesting....." Marwa's eyes widened at the mess she saw in marliyyah' s chambers.

Something was amiss.

She went towards the hammam and knocked on it door. When she knocked thrice without a response, she tried it's knob and found it unlocked, so she turned it and opened the door, calling Marliyyah's name.

She found it empty and knew something terribly wrong had happened.

As if to confirm her suspicions, she saw the curtains placed wrongly and when she parted them, she found a rope that went all the way to the floor.

"Ammati!" She called running out, someone had taken Marliyyah!

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Nawfal sat atop his horse with Marwan and general Al-Basha beside him. The flag of Heman swayed gently with the breeze, in all its glory.

Fazil Beig and Pasha also sat on their horses, I'm their side of the battle field. Even with their losses, they outnumbered Nawfal's army by a thousand men.

Nawfal turned to look at his soldiers.

"Brothers, today we stand here to fight for our homes, our wives and mothers and for our children and their future. We would fight them to the last man or die trying. May victory be ours by the will of Allah."

Just then, the first streaks of sunlight broke through the clouds. Nawfal adjusted his helmet and drew our his sword.

It was time.

May victory be ours in the Name of Allah!"

The chorus rang through the fields and beyond as men matched towards each other, towards victory or death.

There were planks of metal against metal as the men fought, some getting injured and others paying the ultimate price with their lives.

"I see your wife has recovered fully. Is she missing ow my arms felt sound her? My strength as a man....."

"Arrrrgh!" Marwan roared, outraged at how the older Pasha was referring to his attempted rape of Safwanah. He threw his sword on the floor and lunged himself at Pasha, pushing him back with  all of his strength, before lifting him up and throwing him on the floor.

Pasha grunted but recovered quickly and dodged Marwan's fists, using his elbow to hit Marwan on his back. Marwan tripped but regained his balance and turned, swiftly using his armoured hand to punch Pasha. He heard a satisfactory crunch and took another swing at Pasha until he saw blood.

He found a discarded sword and moved to slit Pasha' s throat when he was momentarily blinded by sand in his eyes.

"You coward! you cannot fight fairly like a man and so you respect to deceitful means!" Said Marwan, as he tried to clean off the sand. Pasha took the opportunity and used the hilt of his sword to hit Marwan's chest, before delivering a blow to his head.