Although Farah was to have an official Persian wedding, she was to have a small Indian ceremony as well with her ambassador and some of the accompanying servants present. This was the last time many of them would see Farah before they made their way back home. In some ways, the ceremony was like a farewell to not only to them, but also to her nation, her home, and her culture. Farah decided to not dwell on it too much and rather elected to spend as much time possible with those who would be returning to India.

A day before the wedding, Farah dressed in a yellow sari decorated with fuchsia, green, and gold embroidery. Her long dark hair was braided with yellow flowers, and additional ornaments and jewelry fashioned from flowers were placed on her head, arms, and head. Henna was carefully applied to her hands, arms and the top of her feet. As she sat with her henna-covered hands and arms facing up, her servants danced around her singing traditional songs, some that made her blush and others that made her nostalgic. The servant who was applying henna chose a corner of her wrist to write Sherfiruz's name.

"Oh, that's no fun!" yelled one of the servants with a gleam in her eye. "Why not the ankle! Make it a struggle for him to find it!" she said mischievously, eliciting giggles from all the other women around her.

Farah's face turned warm and she did not smile. She knew what they were referring to. It was a custom. The bride had the groom's name hidden in her henna design and it was up to the groom to find it…on their first night together. She shuddered internally. That was the last thing on her mind. Damn these women! Everyone is otherwise so prim and proper about this subject and tell you that 'good' girls don't talk about this, but when the time comes, they make cryptic jokes and giggle, and no one tells you what it's even like! I don't even want to think about that right now…

After the henna ceremony was over, Indrani had ordered Farah to get some rest for the ceremony the next day, and Farah returned to her quarters, light cloth tied loosely over her hands and feet so she could sleep with the henna. As she lay on her bed, Farah found it extremely uncomfortable to sleep with her bound up hands and feet. Annoyed, she gave up and just lay flat on her back with arms at her sides and legs straight in front of her. This is going to be a long night..she thought to herself mournfully.

Morning

It seemed like her eyelids had barely started to droop when Indrani shook her awake gently.

"Lady Farah" she whispered

"Ughhh" grunted Farah in response

"Today is your wedding day, my Lady" said Indrani a bit more firmly. "No time to be lazy. Up!"

Farah forced herself to her feet and into the bath that Indrani had prepared for her. As she was washed and anointed with oils, she remained expressionless and stoic, not wanting to make herself emotional in any kind of way.

Once cleaned, Farah was dressed in a beautiful hand woven red and gold silk banarasi sari. Red color was applied to her lips, black kohl to her eyes, as well as gold and black powder for her eyelids. Indrani herself took out the traditional gold jewelry, an heirloom from Farah's late mother and helped Farah put it on. As she put on gold bangles and matching armbands, the other servants pointed out the dark reddish-brown of her henna.

"My Lady, this is an auspicious sign! It means your husband will love you deeply" remarked Kalyani.

Farah remained silent. She really didn't know what to expect. As her hair was woven into a braid and wound up and pinned in the back. Indrani also produced a string of jasmines and proceeded to drape it around her hair.

"Where did these come from?" asked Farah, surprised to see the fresh flowers.

"A gift from princess Yasmin and her mother Lady Anemone" said Indrani with a smile. "The little princess picked these for you with a servant from one of the gardens. Lady Anemone strung them together and gave them to Neeti for you."

Farah heart warmed, and she smiled for the first time that day. Lady Anemone was genuinely being very kind to her. Despite her illness, she had taken the time to string the flowers together to. Farah made a mental note to thank her in person sometime later. A sudden pang of sadness filled her at the same time as she thought about little Yasmin and Lady Anemone's words

I don't have much time left...

"Alright then," said Indrani pointing a mirror toward Farah, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Farah looked at herself in the mirror for a long time, trying to absorb her own image. This might be the last time she herself in such clothing. A lump formed in her throat, but she cleared it away and placed her feet in a pair of embroidered slippers. It's time...No looking back now...

"I'm ready" she said turning to Indrani.

***********************************************************8

The ceremony itself was very simple. A small area was set up for the Indian priest to perform the traditional Indian marriage rites. The king was there in a simply embroidered Persian garb. When Farah entered, dressed in all of her splendor, the king felt a tug on his heart. Yes, Roshanak was an attractive woman with her smoky eyes, and Anemone was an angelic beauty with her amethyst eyes, pale skin, and light golden curls, but there was something different about Farah that drew him in. Something hypnotic. Perhaps it was her large, dark eyes, framed with thick eyelashes combined with her oval face and delicate, innocent features combined with her dusky complexion. That and the extensive history he shared with her that spanned different timelines. Farah's beauty was striking, yet it seemed so natural, not forced or overdone.

As a part of the ceremony, the King and Farah placed flower garlands around each other's necks. When it was her turn, Farah had to tiptoe to reach the King and stumbled a bit. Immediately, he caught her, his hands catching her near the hip area. He felt her stiffen at his touch and immediately removed his hands. She looked up apologetically and whispered a formal apology before bowing her head.

The King raised an eyebrow and shook his head but said nothing. This was neither the Farah he met in Azad nor the one who had fought alongside him against the vizier in Babylon. Why was she behaving like this? Was she feigning shyness out of formality, or was she actually repulsed by him? He could not understand her behavior.

Nevertheless, the ceremony had ended, and now both Sherfiruz and Farah were to make an appearance together in a large outdoor area that opened into the gardens, where ministers and crowds of nobility had come to wish the King well on his marriage. Before this happened, however, one of the king's advisers pulled him aside with an urgent message. Farah stepped aside to give them their privacy, and as their conversation appeared to be a lengthy one, she decided she might stretch her legs for a bit and walk around the gardens for a while. As she walked about, admiring the beauty and craftsmanship, she was reminded of the last time she had been here she and Sherfiruz had fought that evil vizier Zurvan. Had they not had to worry about sand monsters or the vizier, it would have been a beautiful experience simply exploring and enjoying the wonder around them with Sherfiruz as her guide.

"What is this place?"
"
It is the heart of the hanging gardens. These are the instruments of life, regulating and running everything."

Farah's flashback was brought to an abrupt halt when she heard a sound.

"I have my orders" said a sharp and rather rude familiar female voice.

Bahar... thought Farah to herself But what was she doing here?

Wrapping her clothes tightly around her body as to not make any rustling noises, Farah tiptoed behind a tree and positioned herself next to a shrub in order to get a better view of the source of the sound. In a small clearing ahead stood Bahar with a man who was dressed in a servant's garb but had a quiver of arrows and a large bow on his back.
"Are you certain you know what is expected of you" inquired Bahar in a rather condescending tone.

If the man was annoyed with Bahar's tone, he simply did not show it.

"We will strike as soon as as everyone is present," he said tonelessly, devoid of any emotion.

"Remember, for His Majesty and for everyone else, injure but do not kill. As for the Indian savage, kill her. My Lady send these to make sure you will get the job done" said Bahar, handing the man two pouches. The man opened the larger pouch to reveal gold coins. The smaller pouch contained a small vial with a thick-looking liquid.

"Be quick and do not be seen!" said Bahar, almost with a hiss. "Use the tallest tree, as that will give you the best view. You will report to My Lady one hour after the deed is done. Now go!"

The man nodded and he and Bahar both quickly ran off in opposite directions, cautiously looking around to see if they were being followed or watched. Meanwhile, Farah remained in her hiding spot, almost paralyzed with both fear and anger, her heart pounding with both anxiety and rage. Anemone had been one hundred percent correct when she said that Roshanak would try something like this the day of the wedding. Farah was the target of this assassination plot, but there would be other victims who would be seriously injured. And that vial…

Poison...Farah was almost sure of it. Most probably a plant-based poison that if hit deeply enough could paralyze one's body and breathing. Having practiced archery her whole life, Farah was familiar with the use of poison and fire arrows in warfare. Anger filled her once again, but she forced herself to calm down and think with reason. She knew what was about to happen, and she had to find a way to protect her own life and prevent anyone else from getting seriously injured. Carefully, she made her way back to outdoor area, which was now filled with the wedding guests. You will not win, Roshanak!

"My Lady, where have you been? You disappeared and were gone for almost an hour" whispered Indrani with concern as Farah returned.

Farah glanced up at Sherfiruz and the minister, who seemed to be finally wrapping up their conversation. Phew, I don't think they noticed.

"It was nothing, Indrani. I just went for a walk to get some air" replied Farah neutrally. She reminded herself that she had to act perfectly natural in front of everyone. Reaching down into the folds of her voluminous sari, she touched her hidden bow reassuringly. She was not going to make this easy at all for Roshanak.

Farah and King Sherfiruz finally took their places on a platform in the open area in front of the large crowd of guests. As one of the ministers droned on about the King's marriage signifying a union to India, Farah turned her attention to the trees above as she tried to locate the tallest one. Luckily for Farah, she had been blessed with both excellent vision and hearing. Sure enough, she located a silhouette partially hidden between the thick branches, arms positioned to shoot, but the trajectory was headed straight for Sherfiruz, not her. Beads of sweat broke out on Farah's forehead. The man aimed, drawing his arm back…It's now or never Farah! Do it!

"ASSASSINS!" yelled Farah suddenly and pushed the King to the left.

"What the…?" exclaimed the King as he stumbled to his left. A second later, a slew of arrows landed first into the post. Had it been a few seconds later, they might have landed in his head.

Chaos broke in the crowd. People ran right and left screaming for their lives.

"GUARDS!" yelled one of the ministers. "PROTECT THE KING! FIND AND SEIZE THE ASSASSINS!"

In the midst of the chaos, Farah ran over and examined the tips of the arrows that had been shot at the king. Sure enough, they were covered in the same solution she had seen in the vial. Quickly, she pulled out her bow from her clothes and carefully grabbed the arrows that had been shot. Aiming for the top of the tallest tree, she sent three of the poison-tipped arrows into the midst of the branches.

"AARGH-AAAHHH!" shouted two figures from the tree before they began a ten foot dive downwards to their deaths.

On the ground, assassins dressed in black with covered faces appeared in the crowd, brandishing swords. Roshanak really planned this out, didn't she? thought Farah to herself. Initially thinking of running in the other direction, she stopped dead in her tracks when she heard a high-pitched scream. Turning back, she saw a small figure with a messy blond braid almost being trampled by the crowd.

"Oh no, Yasmin!" said Farah. How did she get out here by herself? Thought Farah.

Weaving through the confused crowd, she made her way to the little girl, getting bumped and scratched left and right.

"Yasmin!" she yelled. "Give me your hand!"

The little girl saw Farah through her tearstained eyes and put out her small arm. Farah grabbed the child and lifted her into her arms and stood up when she noticed one of the assassins in the distance ready to slash her with his blade.

"You will pay for what you have done!" screeched the assassin.

Holding the child to her chest, she quickly ducked and rolled to the side near a bush, establishing a distance between the assassin and herself. Sticks and stones ripped her clothes and scratched her skin. Releasing Yasmin from her embrace, she quickly checked her and noted that she was unharmed.

"Yasmin dear, I need you to stay behind this bush" she said calmly but firmly.

The little girl's green eyes were filled with fear, but she nodded and scrambled behind the shrub.

Farah, on her knees, got her bow and arrow and waited until the assassin who had threatened her was within a decent range. She then jumped out of the bush and shot an arrow directly at this chest.

"UGHHRR" yelled the assassin as the arrow plunged into his chest, releasing a torrent of blood.

Hearing and seeing the demise of his companion, another assassin spotted Farah and charged at her full speed.

"YOU BITCH!" he yelled, sword drawn.

Before he even got close, a large sword plunged through his middle.

When Farah looked up, she saw the King. Covered in blood and grime, he held out his hand to Farah, who gratefully accepted it. Farah also bent down and picked up Yasmin, who was still trembling.

Upon noticing Yasmin, the king's face paled. "Yasmin! What were you doing-"

He was silenced by a single look Farah gave him. She shook her head side to side as if to say "Not now"

Farah held the girl to her chest and patted her head and back. "There, there…" she whispered.

Yasmin trembling eventually slowed, and she ended up falling asleep in Farah's arms.

While the events of the afternoon were chilling, the King couldn't help but notice Farah's change in behavior when danger struck. She pushed him out of the way and in doing so, she had saved his life. Although her attitude had been distant towards him, her actions against the assassins had proved otherwise. Not to mention her decision to put her own life in danger to save Yasmin. Now, that was the Farah who had accompanied him in Babylon. The woman who refused to leave anyone behind.

As the King became lost in his own thoughts, Farah cleared her throat.

"Your Majesty…?"

"Yes," said the King, somewhat dejected that Farah had returned to her formalities.

"May we be excused? I think the Princess has had enough for one day" she said motioning towards the sleeping child in her arms.

"Yes, of course" said the King nodding. Patting Farah on the shoulder and Yasmin on the head he bid them farewell. As he watched them return to the palace accompanied by a guard, another guard approached him.

"Report" said the King

The guard dipped his head. "Yes, your Majesty. There were assassins in the tallest tree and others who were hiding on the grounds. Some were killed by you, a few others by Lady Farah, and there are two who seem to have disappeared. We are searching the premises for him. We have also taken the bodies of the others for an investigation."

"Keep the search going" said the King. "Also, make sure that Lady Farah and Princess Yasmin are given extra protection."

The guard nodded in the affirmative and went off. Sherfiruz sighed with his head in his hand and rubbed his temples, his brow furrowing. An assassination attempt the day of his marriage to Farah and an assassin still at large! This was certainly not the way he wanted his Farah to begin her life in the palace. He would have to find a way to make it up to her. He promised himself he would protect her...He could not, would not not lose her...again.


Notes:

1. I have and will continue to take some cultural and historical liberties with this piece (nothing ridiculously out of place, I hope), but this should not be an issue as the POP games kind of already do that. I just wanted to go ahead and make that clear.

2. In many South Asian (and some other) cultures, when a bride gets henna, her groom's name is hidden somewhere in the design and the groom is supposed to find it.

3. In SOT, I know Farah wasn't always the most consistent archer, but in T2T, she seems to have gotten better. In my story, she is extremely skilled by this point in time.

4. Just in case anyone is wondering, a lot of inspiration for the palace drama/politics in this fanfic comes from having watched a lot of historical-type period dramas from various countries.