The four men finally surveyed the dead bodies around them. It was a miracle. Four men against an army of hundreds. But then Rami realised this wasn't that much of a miracle. Only a few decades ago had forty men fought against an army of millions. Even though they had all died they had succeeded in not letting the enemy lay a hand on their Guru. It was called the battle of Chamkaur di Garrhi, the greatest last stand in history.

There was an air of pride around all the four men, but the arrogance soon got to Rami's head. And not in a good way either. But all that shattered when he saw Jurie's crumpled body lying on the ground.

Her name escaped his lips. He quickly rushed to her side, checked her pulse and breath. It was all there and steady. She will survive. She had to. She was just unconscious that's all.

He brought her into his arms and picked her up, holding her close. Babbar looked at him in a surprised manner, as did Sweden. But Takashi's face was as emotionless as stone. This was the first time in one hundred years that the two families fought together. And together they were a force to be reckoned with.

Rami decided to break the tense silence "We need too..."

But murmuring around him interrupted him. He looked around, the tribe's men and women had emerged from their hiding places taking the four men in curiously. Finally a tall athletic woman along with a wizened old man and another woman stepped forward, the man spoke and Rami bowed his head in respect. This man was obviously the chief. And as for the women he wasn't sure.

Now was the time he was glad that he had bothered to learn many different languages. The chief spoke in the common language mostly spoken around South Africa.

"So this is the fabled Arabian Knight and the Princess of Shadows. Never in my life have I thought that I'd see these two warring families together. But we are grateful for your help, so in return we will help you."

Rami bowed his head grateful "We appreciate your hospitality your greatness."

The wizened old man smiled. "This is my wife Bophelo and my daughter Farai. They will take the Princess and look after her well."

The tall athletic woman who must have been Farai took Jurie in her arms. Rami was reluctant to leave Jurie but nonetheless let her go. Never had his heart felt so torn. The old man surveyed Rami's mutilated abdomen and frowned.

"You are to come with me. We will fix you up."

Rami followed the chief.

~~~~~

The Amaarwa tribe's medical skills were magic. If magic could be painful.

He only hoped Jurie wasn't going through much pain. They had opened up his abdomen and fixed up all his organs. None of the sedatives seemed to work, he could feel every incision pierce his flesh, sending waves of pain across his whole body.

Finally he relaxed when they applied a salve to his body that seemed to cool and relax the tense burning muscles.

"Apply this twice a day and you will be better in about a month." One of them said handing him a large jar of the ointment. It was made from the fruit of the Altheda plant, a plant said to help cure all diseases. Even though not many people believed in its effectiveness, there was no mistaking its potency.

Rami inwardly smiled. And Dr. John Druitt told me that I wouldn't heal for a very long time! All those Englishmen who believed that they were superior in all fields including medicine have another thing coming. This tribe by far outperforms any of those lousy doctors in terms of medicine. Hah! And they call us apes! Exclaimed Rami in his head.

"Am I allowed to walk?" Asked Rami.

"Of course but very lightly and definitely no running." Said one of the healers.

"How is Jurie faring?"

"She is fine. Traumatized but fine. We believe the headache may have been caused by some sort of traumatic event that she had tried to ignore."

"She was raped. Or at least almost raped. I'm not too sure though and she was unconscious the whole time."

"Well Rami you should be proud. Protecting a woman's dignity is rather honorable."

Rami nodded glumly. "Am I allowed to see her?"

The healer nodded and gestured for Rami to follow.

~~~~~

When he reached the hut where Jurie was supposed to be resting he saw Takashi come out. His tall and rather slim figure hung lankily despite the lean muscles, Rami found it hard to believe that this was the same graceful fighter that he had fought alongside only an hour ago.

There was one word to describe this encounter. Awkward.

"How was your operation?" asked Takashi breaking the silence.

"Painful" replied Rami rather bluntly.

"You're truthful. Rather blunt but truthful. I like that."

There were thousands of ways Rami could reply to that in his own arrogant fashion but he didn't instead he lowered his eyes nodded and mumbled a quiet thank you.

Takashi sighed, seeing this wasn't going anywhere. He too found it hard to believe that this morose quiet young man was the same boisterous arrogant man he had fought with. "Thank you Rami for saving my cousin from being utterly demoralized. I..."

"Save it Takashi...I know how you feel. You don't need to explain. But I'm not too sure I saved her..."

"You did she still had her leggings on."

"Oh." Was all a flustered Rami could say.

"I know we are supposed to be enemies but...I owe you one..."

"This is exactly why I said to save it Takashi. I probably won't see you again. No more owing each other. It makes everything complicated. Are we clear?"

Takashi was slightly taken aback but nodded "You're right, it would make things more complicated."

"Is she alright?"

"Yes. She's sleeping."

"May I see her?"

For a moment Takashi looked critically at the Montague boy as of deciding whether Rami would pose a threat to Jurie or not. Rami almost thought that Takashi would kill him right there and then, but surprisingly Takashi nodded and walked away.

Opening the door Rami felt relief wash over him. She was asleep and was smiling. Her face looked as lovely and as fresh as a raindrop. There was a chair next to the bed where Rami supposed he should be sitting.

Despite it's seemingly weak materials the chair was sturdy and held his weight.

He took her hands in his. He had read many stories where one would talk to another while they laid on bed asleep or injured. But he couldn't think of anything to say. Besides that was kind of weird. He always found himself cringing at those parts in the story.

He studied her features. There were clear and regal. But mostly they were beautiful. Then by a strange impulse he leaned forward and their lips met.

The kiss was lingering and soft. Her lips were velvet like against his own and he found himself falling deeper into it.

Then thoroughly disgusted in himself he pulled away. He was just as bad as Ajax. Stealing a kiss from her without her permission. He only hoped she would have no recollection of this.

But then her eyes fluttered open.

~~~~~

Hey guys so how was it?! I wonder how Jurie is going to react to this. Does she even know about this kiss? How do you find their ever flowering relationship? And how about Takashi and Rami's moment...wasn't Rami a bit of a dick? We'd like to know your opinion in the comment box below. Actress for Jurie above we are still trying to figure out who she is.