SciFiFan96: Have you noticed that when you shorten Thorondor's name, you get the Nordic thunder god? But when you shorten Hayreddin's name, you get the stuff that horses eat. =S hahahaha...totally random i know, sorry about that. But as to your question...now that would be telling wouldn't it? =P...what I will say is that this fic is being written in deference to the cannon...specifically in deference to the events of the Horus Heresy...so its not AU. The whole path of this fic is being written based on the tantalising teasers about the lost Primarchs dropped throughout the Horus Heresy novels. Sorry if I'm being vague...but I'm sure most of the readers can see where this fic is going...but I'd still rather not spoil it outright.

I'll take this moment to also thank everyone who has supported my efforts thus far. You guys are awesome!

Premonitions and Fear

The journey back to Nuba had been almost relaxing despite the brutal weather of the desert. Isan felt as though her happiness was some sort of protective veil that made the harshness of the desert seem unimportant.

Their departure or rather, Hayreddin's, had been met with an outpour of grief by the people of Ain. It would not be a stretch to say that the whole city had come to see them off, filling the streets, the rooftops and the walls to get one last glimpse of the young man who had aided them.

The Elders of Ain had stood before them and like the chieftains before; they had given Hayreddin and his companions gifts. After the formal exchange of pleasantries, Elder Nebud had broken protocol to step forward and embrace Hayreddin.

"Thank you for everything," the Elder had said. "I don't suppose I could convince you to stay? We'd love to have you."

Hayreddin had smiled and shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, but I've been away from home for too long."

"I understand," Nebud had answered. "But if you ever change your mind, we'll always have a place for you."

Nebud turned to his companions and inclined his head to them. "All of you."

The Elder reached up to clap Hayreddin's shoulder with his remaining arm. "If you ever have need of Ain's aid, call us and we shall answer."

That had been over two weeks ago. Hayreddin and his companions had made good time and were within several days of arriving home. Isan had shared a camel with Ravenna the whole journey, ignoring the snickers and teasing comments thrown their way. Sometimes Isan would throw back a witty comment of her own, making everyone laugh. On the other hand, Hayreddin had been very quiet during the journey, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the others. When asked, the young man had smiled and answered that he was simply anxious to get home.

That night they camped at an oasis only two days away from Nuba. Most of them had gone to sleep after eating, dreaming of home. A few were on watch; Ravenna among them. Left on her own, Isan decided to have a chat with Hayreddin, perhaps she could find out what was troubling him.

To her surprise, she found Hayreddin sleeping. In all the years she had known him, Isan rarely saw him sleep. Hayreddin was leaning against a tree, his body wrapped in a woollen blanket. His breathing was slow and even. Hayreddin's hair blew across his face in the light breeze and Isan raised the blanket and tucked it around him more snugly to make sure he would stay warm. She couldn't help but smile at the sight; Hayreddin looked so peaceful.

As she turned to leave though, she heard a murmur. Isan turned to see Hayreddin murmuring in his sleep, his head turning left and right. She considered leaving, but curiosity got the best of her so she knelt close to listen.

"…I'm scared…please…listen…"

Isan frowned and waited, hoping to hear more.

"…father…please…listen…"

To Isan's shock, tears were falling from Hayreddin's eyes.

"…no…no…stop…help me…"

Isan reached over and shook Hayreddin by the shoulder. With a jerk, Hayreddin woke up, gasping as though he had been drowning. Isan cupped his face, running her thumbs across his cheeks to wipe his tears to help calm him down.

"Are you alright, Hayreddin?" asked Isan. Hayreddin nodded his head as his breathing slowed down. "What was that all about?"

"A dream," answered Hayreddin slowly, and Isan rolled her eyes.

"I gathered that."

Hayreddin sighed. "A nightmare. I saw Nuba burning…no it was more than that…I saw the whole world burning."

"You said something about your father," said Isan and Hayreddin looked puzzled.

"Atta? What did I say?" he asked.

"Something about listening and stopping something," answered Isan and Hayreddin frowned.

"No, I can't remember anything…" answered Hayreddin and he looked away, as though trying to remember something before shaking his head. "Isan, I know this must sound crazy, but I'm going ahead to Nuba. Will you tell the others for me?"

"What, like right now?" asked Isan. "By yourself?"

"Yes, I…I feel that something's happening at Nuba," answered Hayreddin. "Something bad; I really can't explain it. Please don't try to stop me."

Isan looked into Hayreddin's eyes and saw that he was serious. "Well then, I'll come with you."

"You don't have to-" began Hayreddin but Isan was already on the move.

"I'll get Ravenna," she said. "You can tell the others."

Hayreddin sighed and nodded, but Isan saw the grateful smile on his face.

XI XI XI

The Wall had been breached.

For the first time in ten years, the pirates had broken through the wall. They swarmed into Nuba in the middle night, setting homes ablaze and killing at will. The people of Nuba had been too confused to react at first before terror finally overtook their senses. Some forty people were killed before the town's defence forces were able to rally and drive the pirates back.

Despite that, the sense of security and safety once provided by the Wall had been shattered. The people were frightened; suddenly it was dangerous to make permanent settlements in the town, it was dangerous to have so many possessions in Nuba.

During this time of fear and confusion, Beduin came forward with the words and guidance of the spirits. He spoke of how the Wall's failure was proof of their mounting anger, of how the words of Hayreddin had been lies. What had happened was just the beginning, unless the people of Nuba repented and returned to the old ways.

For the first time in ten years, people were listening.

XI XI XI

Babar glanced out the window of his shop at the empty street. Since the pirate attack, Nuba had suddenly turned into a ghost town. People did their business in hushed voices behind closed doors, no longer daring to do so openly for fear of offending the spirits further.

Babar had noticed how Beduin had gained more followers since the attack and suspicion had taken root in his heart. In the past, people had listened to Beduin because of the constant danger and fear of the pirate attacks. Since the Wall had ended the threat of the attacks, it was Beduin who stood to gain most from the sudden breach.

"What are you thinking about?"

Babar shook himself out of his thoughts to look at Ani. His wife was looking at him with concern and his brow furrowed.

"I think we might have to leave Nuba for a while," he answered.

Ain looked puzzled. "Just because of this one attack? The guards drove them off, didn't they?"

"Yes but if it happened once, it can happen again," replied Babar, his expression darkening. Because someone would let them in again.

"Ani, pack our things," said Babar as he wrapped himself up with a turban and shawl to mask his face. "Only what we need. Be ready to leave quickly."

Ani wanted to ask more questions, but the unusually serious look on Babar's face stilled her tongue. She nodded in agreement. But she could not stop herself from asking one last question.

"Where are you going?"

Babar paused for a moment before turning to look at her. "I need to be sure."

That this wasn't just a fluke.

"If I'm not back within the hour, go ahead without me, head for Ain and find Hayreddin."

"Leave without you?" repeated Ani, looking horrified. "Nearly forty years together and you…"

Babar silenced her by pressing a finger to her lips. "Please Ani, do as I say."

"Babar…"

Babar kissed his wife on the forehead and left, leaving Ani alone in the darkened shop.

XI XI XI

There was an air of danger around Nuba that made the hairs on the back of Babar's neck prickle unpleasantly. He found himself avoiding the main streets and taking the back alleys, steadily making his way towards the market square, which he would have to cross to get to the Wall.

When he emerged from an alleyway leading into the market square, a familiar voice reached his ears.

"…we have lost forty souls because we foolishly listened to daemon's honeyed words! If we stay on this path, how many more would we lose? Hundreds? Thousands? The failure of the Wall is the absolute proof of the spirits' displeasure! We must return to the old ways!"

Beduin was standing on a crate, ranting away as he always had for the past ten years. But this time, there was a crowd of nearly a hundred people before him, holding on to his every word.

The sense of danger heightened for Babar as he discreetly crossed the square towards the Wall. Beduin had made no secret of his anger towards Babar and Ani for adopting Hayreddin. With all those people listening to the spirit-speaker, frightened and confused, Babar feared that they might do something drastic if they knew who he was.

Like kill him.

When Babar reached the Wall, he quickly located the captain's cabin behind it and entered. The captain of the fortress was Rizal, a veteran soldier who had served in one of the neighbouring cities along the coastline for years before coming to Nuba. The man was nursing a wound from the battle, and looked up when Babar entered. The captain was roughly twenty years younger than Babar, but he had an air of toughness about him that had come with years of service. He looked at Babar warily.

"Who are you?" asked Rizal in a rough voice. He looked tired and irritable.

"Peace, captain," answered Babar, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I just wanted some answers."

The captain growled. "So do I, old man. I've had frightened people coming in here accusing me of being slack in my duties."

"What actually happened?" asked Babar.

Rizal shook his head. "Damned if I know. We saw the pirates coming and were preparing to shoot the bastards from the top of the Wall…but then the gates were opened and they got through."

"So the Wall wasn't breached?"

"Not in the way the old spirit-speaker says," answered the captain with a growl. "After the battle, I found my men who were on duty at the gates had been killed. Daggers in the back. The pirates must've had an inside man."

Or someone else deliberately let them in.

The thought hung between them and fear clenched Babar's heart. The shawl slipped down his face slightly. Rizal saw his face and frowned.

"Hang on, I know you…" he began before his eyes widened in recognition. "You're Hayreddin's father! You've got some nerve coming here!"

Babar fearfully backed away as the captain stood, but there was no anger on the man's face, only concern.

"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you," said Rizal. "But I can't promise those people outside won't. The old spirit-speaker's been cursing Hayreddin and everyone associated with him. He's got those people pretty riled up; it's not safe for you here."

Rizal got up and called two of his men. He gave them instructions to escort Babar home using routes avoiding the market square.

Rizal turned to look at him. "Go home and get out of Nuba. Things are going to be rough here for awhile."

"Thank you, captain," said Babar, bowing his head.

Rizal nodded and gestured for him to leave.

The journey back through the back alleys felt even more dangerous than before, and the fact that his two escorts were silent did little to soothe Babar's nerves. One of them was young man, clearly just as nervous as Babar was. The other was a veteran; he was calm; his eyes full of cold determination that unnerved Babar. The thoughts running through his head did not help either.

There's no proof, but if Beduin did let the pirates in…

He must've had help…if it was him….

But that means I can't trust anyone…

At the last thought, a chill ran down Babar spine as he realised that included Rizal and the two men with him. Just as the thought ran through his head, a blow struck him in the back of the head, sending Babar crashing to the ground.

As his world slowly darkened, Babar heard the younger guard shouting.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Babar couldn't make out the veteran guard's reply, but he heard the unmistakable sound of a sword being drawn.

Babar lost consciousness.