The Past and an Attack

                                    

                                          
Gonca hatun P.O.V
                          
Boran and I sit against the wide base of the same tree, hand entwined. We both look up, gazing at the bright colors of the sky in the early morning. "Do you have any siblings?" I ask, suddenly curious as I had never heard him talk about any family except his parents. "I did," Boran replies quietly, his eyes glazing over like a memory floating through his head. I squeeze his hand, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, Boran'm." Boran sighs, looking down, "No, I should talk about her."
                          
"I had a little sister, my baby sister, Aylah. 5 years younger than me, and she was the joy of our tent. Her eyes were dark but always sparkled as she happily babbled and played with her toys all day long. I thought she was the cutest baby ever." Boran looks back up, smiling slightly before continuing, "I lost her the same day I lost my father. In a Mongol raid. We were in our tent when the soldiers burst in, and my mother grabbed her sword and started to fight. She told me to run, she said she would protect Aylah, and when I was almost out the door..." Boran pauses, painfully swallowing, "They killed her. They killed my little Aylah."
                          
"My mother shouted, yelling for me to run to the tent where the other children were. I ran outside, trying to avoid all the fighting around me when another Mongol spotted me and swung his sword. Turgut Bey saved my life that day, he gave me his dagger and got me to the tent." I hold Boran's hand, kissing his knuckles as a reminder that I was there with him. "Later that day, I found out my father was killed too, and my mother was heartbroken. So heartbroken that she fell ill and never recovered." 
                          
"Does anyone else know about it?" I ask and Boran nods, "Osman, Gunduz and Savci know,  Konur and Ertugrul Bey knew too. I never told Goktug though, I didn't want him to feel bad about the whole Mongol thing." Boran sighs again, looking down at our hands, "Well, that's my story. You?" I just shake my head and Boran laughs, "cool."
                          
Boran alp P.O.V
                          
A little while later, Me, Goktug, and the tribe beys stood in Osman Bey's tent. "Thanks to the information we got from Simon and Petrus, we can defend Sogut against Nikola's attack. We will use the Flying Flame in the tunnels, taking out the soldiers sent through there." Osman Bey says, circling Sogut on the map with his arrow. "Goktug, Savci Bey, Aygul and Cerkutay will be in Sogut. Make sure everyone is inside their homes. Move those who live near the tunnels to another building. No civilians will be hurt." Goktug and Savci put their hands to their chests, in affirmation. 
                          
"Boran, Gunduz Bey, you will be with me and we will attack Nikola and Kalanos head-on."  "How will we do that, Osman Bey?" Gunduz asks, and Osman Bey nods, pointing back at the map. "A running attack. We will have to be very precise with our timing, but I believe we can surround them on our horses. We will fire arrows at them, thus catching them off guard." Gunduz nods, and Osman Bey turns to me. "Boran, you will command the archers, make sure they are prepared and understand the plan." "As you order, Bey."  "It's time for battle."
                          
I circle my horse around, eyes scanning over the group of alps. Bows crossed over their armor and arrows fill their saddlebags. "Alplar, Be ready. You will fire on my signal, not a second early. Understood?" I saw loud enough for them all to hear, and receive nods from them all. "Some of us will become martyrs in this battle, so if you have wronged anyone here, or hold a grudge against them, this is your time to apologize and give your blessing." I watch as the alps turn to each other, quiet sounds of talking. They all turn back to me, hands pressed to their chests in unison. I return the gesture, "Haydi, May our battle be blessed."
                          
We ride our horses behind Osman Bey and I hold the reins of the horse with one hand, holding the other to my side. When we spot Nikola's men, I hold my hand up, and grab my bow, pulling it over my head. The other archers follow my signal and hold their bows at their sides. I hold my bow in the air as a signal before breaking my horse into a run after Osman Bey. I let go of the reins and load my bow, a glance behind me tells me the archers followed. I keep my bow loaded and when Osman Bey gives the signal, I yell out. "Archers! FIRE!" I shoot my arrow and hear the others whiz by me. Perfect.
                          
Apparently, Malhun hatun was joining us, I really don't understand her. She'll either be on our side or constantly criticizing us. It makes absolutely no sense, but today she seemed quite happy to fight alongside us. She didn't even protest when Osman Bey put her alps under Gunduz's command. I stop firing when all of the soldiers put their shields up and jump off my horse. I clip my quiver of arrows onto my belt and throw my bow over my head, so it was across my chest. I draw my sword and rush into battle beside Osman Bey.
                          
One of the soldiers fires an arrow towards Malhun hatun, just as I'm about to shout out a warning, Osman Bey sees it. He picks up one of the soldier's shields from the ground and holds it out blocking the arrow. As Malhun Hatun stares at him, Osman Bey throws the shield down and goes back into the fight. I stumble back as someone hits me in the jaw, I duck under their swings and roll to the side. I thrust my sword at him and kick him to the ground.
                          
After the battle, the injured are taken care of, and news of success comes from Sogut. We ride back into the tribe with the happiness of victory. I smile, looking around as I hear little Ahmet's voice ring out. "Osman Bey geliyor! (Osman Bey is coming!) Osman Bey geliyor!" Voices of praise and happiness fill the air as the tribespeople stop their work and watch us ride into the tribe. We all get off our horses, greeting people. Gonca comes up to me smiling, and I smile back as she kisses my hand. "May your victory be everlasting, Boran." I grin, "With your prayers, Gonca." 
                          
We watch Osman Bey lift Ahmet onto his horse, getting the horse to trot forward. People are happy and the air is pleasant. All while our enemies burn in defeat.
                          
A/N: Yay! I posted this one on time. The whole part of Osman and Malhun's wedding- I couldn't watch it, it was way too cringe. And Bala was depressed the whole time. Gonca's face in that entire scene perfectly sums up my emotion. I think for my story Malhun will become good, but she won't marry Osman or anything. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed it!
                          
Salaam and have a great day!
                          
-Laraib