Disclaimer: I do not own The Wrath and the Dawn. It belongs to Reneé Ahdieh. The dialogue and action in the Khalid/Shahrzad scenes are from the book.

A/N: Thank you, thank you to my reviewers and readers!

Not much to say this time, except I finally re-remembered the Rajput's name is Vikram...so this whole time I should have been saying Vikram instead of the Rajput, since that's what Khalid calls him! Sigh. Oh well, now I know.

Chapter 11: The Sultan of Parthia

(Corresponds with Chapters: The Falcon and the Tiger and Two Crossed Swords of The Wrath and the Dawn, pages 235 - 254)

Invites were sent out to all of Khalid's bannerman to come visit the palace at the same time as the Sultan of Parthia in order to meet his queen. The general had been hesitant about the idea at first, but Jalal helped convince him that the sight of Khalid and Shahrzad would help eradicate the public's notions that Khalid was a murderous and weak boy king. Seeing them together could show them they were rulers their people could support and believe in.

Two weeks passed since then, and the day had finally arrived when all of the emirs would arrive. Khalid rose for the day feeling slightly anxious, mostly nervous for how his visiting uncle would treat Shahrzad. He hoped he did the right thing by keeping her at the palace.

Things between him and Shahrzad had...smoothed over for the most part since the night she told him the tale of Mehrdad the Bluebearded. Despite his slight resentment towards her, he ate dinner with her each night and made light conversation about the day's events. She would then conclude each evening with one of of her stories, and then he would leave her chamber.

However, he refused to touch her or embrace her. He wasn't ready to, not after what she said to him in their last moment of passion. He needed to be sure that her affection for him was true and that she wasn't trying to gain control over him again. He could not risk her smashing his heart again so soon. He needed more time to recover from the wound she already gave him, which he still had not completely forgiven her for.

Plus, he certainly wasn't ready to give her the answers she so desired.

But he wasn't sure he ever would be able to.

After one of his servants assisted with dressing him in his cream colored qamis and brown mantle, Khalid wrapped a crimson tikka sash around his waist. Dismissing the servant, he went to stand in front of the mirror.

Every time he looked at his reflection, he was instantly reminded of his father. It aggravated him that he had the face of his father's as well as some of his unflattering personality traits. Everyday, he wanted to smash the mirror into a million pieces.

But tonight he had to prove to his people that he was not his father. His previous actions may have shown the public that he was ruthless like his father, but he was different now...well, he was trying to be.

Normally, he wouldn't be so jittery about such an event, but everything was different when Shahrzad was involved. He knew she was capable of handling herself, but if the Sultan of Parthia insulted her in any way...there would certainly be hell to pay.

Picking up his sword and attaching it to his sash, he left the room.

As Khalid stood facing the enormous double doors to the audience hall and waited for his wife, he fidgeted with the gold ring on his right hand. He was feeling more and more apprehensive as time went on. Plus, it seemed that Shahrzad was running a bit late, but she knew how important -

At that precise moment, he heard footsteps approaching. He quickly turned his body to the direction they were coming from.

And what a sight to behold.

Left breathless, he couldn't take his eyes off of Shahrzad when she came around the corner. He didn't even notice Vikram escorting her. She was stunning, to say the least. Her ensemble was different from what she usually wore, and her only jewelry were some bangles around her wrist. Her ebony top and sirwal trousers and sleeveless bright blue mantle were dazzling, and her eyes, which seemed cat-like today due to her make-up, completely mesmerized him.

As she came nearer, she gave him a small smile and he outstretched his right hand, eager to touch her. She grabbed hold of it, and Khalid felt his nerves immediately fade away at the physical contact.

He noticed she looked down at his hand, and she grazed her thumb over his ring which was adorned with two crossed swords.

"It's my standard," he began to say. "They're -"

"Twin shamshirs," she finished for him.

"Yes."

Suddenly, Shahrzad froze and hesitantly looked back up at him. Why did she suddenly seem fearful of him…?

"The general told you I saw the tournament?" she asked him.

He had forgotten she wasn't aware that he knew. He wanted to laugh. "Of course."

Shahrzad huffed. "Of course."

"You look beautiful," he told her as he continued to look into her eyes and interlocked his fingers with hers.

"So do you," she said softly.

"Are you ready?"

"Are you?"

Now that she was here with him...he was. He smiled at her. Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed it.

"Thank you, Shazi. For standing at my side."

She nodded in return.

Reluctantly, he turned his face away from her as Vikram pushed open the door. Still holding onto Shahrzad, he pulled her forward as he stepped into the hall. They were at the top of a staircase that diverged into two. He began heading toward the left one, but felt Shahrzad pause her steps. He looked back at her and saw she was looking at the other staircase. There was no way he was letting go of her, and he wanted to show everyone that they were a united pair. He grasped her hand more tightly as he continued walking, and she came alongside him as they descended the staircase.

When they reached the bottom, they stopped, and Khalid turned his eyes back on her. She was looking around her in awe of the size and grandness of the room and craning her neck to see every part of it. Suddenly, fright appeared in her eyes. Khalid gave her hand a gentle squeeze in an attempt to calm her. She turned her face to him and gave him a brief, small smile.

"If it pleases our esteemed guests...the Caliph of Khorasan, Khalid Ibn al-Rashid...and the Calipha of Khorasan, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran," the announcer's loud voice boomed from above.

As soon as he spoke, the room went silent as everyone turned their heads to face them. He could see that the majority of the eyes in the room weren't looking at him, but at Shahrzad.

Khalid then led her to the dais that was in the center of the room and took his place at the head table. Letting go of his hand, Shahrzad sat beside him.

"Is this seat available?" Khalid heard his cousin ask Shahrzad as he approached the table.

"That depends. Is it for you?" she replied. He saw that Jalal went ahead and sat to her right anyway.

"I did not give you per-" Shahrzad began to say, but was cut off by Jalal.

"Good evening, sayyidi," Jalal said emphatically. Khalid just looked at him, internally amused by this conversation. Shahrzad scrunched up her nose in dismay.

"Don't do that, my lady. You ruin your face when you do that," Jalal joked.

"Good evening, Jalal," Khalid finally said. "And I disagree," he added softly. Her face was always beautiful to him.

Jalal laughed. "My apologies, then. If you would permit me this indulgence in its place, sayyidi: I do believe every man here is currently reassessing his notion of beauty."

Now, he was correct with that statement.

Shahrzad blushed. "Stop it," she said.

"Now, that...ruins nothing," Jalal told her.

"At last, we agree on something," Khalid replied while keeping his eyes on Shahrzad.

"If it pleases our esteemed guests...the Sultan of Parthia, Salim Ali el-Sharif," the announcer called out, causing some of Khalid's nerves to return. Almost everyone in the room stood up, and Khalid noticed Shahrzad was moving to stand up with Jalal, but he quickly reached out his hand to stop her from doing so. When she turned to him with a questioning glance, he shook his head. As the king and queen, they were not to show the kind of respect that made it seem like they were his subjects. It was the other way around: he needed Salim to know he was to obey them.

Khalid allowed his thumb to graze across her arm, needing the touch of her to help soothe him. Then he let go and stared at his uncle as he came to the dais and sat to his left.

"Khalid-jan!" Salim exclaimed. Khalid hated how Salim pretended with him. He didn't need to bother faking his happiness and using that term of endearment. "Are you not going to introduce me to your new wife?"

Well, that was the real reason he came after all. Giving a fake smile as he looked at him, Khalid spoke. "Of course, Uncle Salim. It would be a privilege to introduce you. Shahrzad, this is my uncle by marriage, Salim Ali el-Sharif. Uncle Salim, this is my wife, Shahrzad."

Salim gazed upon her, looking too enthusiastic in Khalid's opinion. Khalid turned his head so he was staring out into the crowd. He would have to work harder to control his temper around his despicable uncle, which was only marginally easier when he was looking away from him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lord." Shahrzad smiled back at him as she bowed her head.

"By all that is holy, Khalid-jan - she is a vision."

Khalid clenched his teeth as he essentially regarded his wife as some pretty object not worthy of speaking to.

"A vision with eyes and ears, my lord," Shahrzad retorted, softening Khalid's rage. She surely had Salim's attention now.

Salim let out a false laugh as his eyes widened. "Stunning and silver-tongued. What an interesting combination! I can see I will have quite a time getting to know you, my lady Shahrzad."

"Quite a time," Shahrzad said. "I look forward to it, my lord."

Khalid could tell that Shahrzad was getting under Salim's skin, and he couldn't be prouder. She definitely was able to handle herself. He didn't need to worry about shielding her...she knew how to fight.

"As do I," Salim replied.

"If it pleases our esteemed guests, dinner is served!" the announcer exclaimed.

Servants came marching down the staircases, carrying trays of food and delivering them to each of the guests. They set their plates of food before them, but Khalid found he wasn't terribly hungry. His simmering anger toward his visiting uncle had ruined his appetite.

After pouring himself some wine, he leaned back into his cushions.

"Have you no appetite, nephew? Perhaps it has mysteriously disappeared. That can happen when one is - troubled."

Khalid chose not to respond. Instead, he continued to drink his wine.

"Or...is it possible you are concerned your food seeks to lash out at you in response to some inexplicable offense?" Salim added with a laugh before winking at Shahrzad.

Khalid's anger continued to flare up, but he still said nothing. He had to remain calm.

Shahrzad grabbed an olive from Khalid's plate and consumed it. "His food seems fine to me, my lord. I'm not certain which inexplicable offense you might be referencing, but rest assured, his food is quite safe." Shahrzad winked back at him. "Would you like me to taste your food as well, Uncle?"

Jalal howled with laughter, and Khalid couldn't help but let a slight smile appear on his face.

Salim continued to grin. "Truly silver-tongued, my lady Shahrzad. I'd ask where you found her, Khalid-jan, but…"

Animosity toward his uncle flooded through him. He curled his right fist into a ball beneath the table. He despised the man.

"Why would you be curious as to where he found me, my lord? Are you in the market?" Shahrzad questioned him in a pleasant tone.

"Perhaps I should be. Have you any relatives, my lady? Maybe a sister?"

"I do have a sister, my lord," Shahrzad replied after a pause.

Khalid's body went stiff. What was Salim doing? Why would he be asking about her family? Khalid focused his eyes on Salim to analyze his every word and movement to figure out what he may have been insinuating. His right hand moved closer to Shahrzad as if ready to protect her if necessary.

"Am I not dangerous enough, Shahrzad? Perhaps too forgiving of the women in my past? Too willing to let them live?"

Khalid wanted to take out his sword and slash him across the face. Many of the guests overheard Salim and began discussing his words with those around them.

"No, Uncle Salim. You are simply too old," Shahrzad stated.

The room became dead silent, and Khalid froze at her insult.

After a minute, one of the guests began to laugh, followed by another man, and soon every guest was chuckling. Even Salim chimed in, but he glared at Shahrzad as he did so.

His wife was certainly a fighter and knew exactly how to stir up trouble...and he was so thankful for it.

His body relaxed and he leaned back into the cushions. He allowed his right hand to play around with his wife's bracelets, and he was once again left wondering how he ever managed to be blessed with such a bride.

A/N: Did everyone see last week how The Rose and the Dagger is coming out a week earlier now? I'm so excited, yet freaked out because I really want to finish this fic before the sequel is released!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day! Happy Easter to all who celebrate! :)