Disclaimer: I do not own The Wrath and the Dawn. It belongs to Reneé Ahdieh. The quotes in the scene with Shahrzad are from the book.

A/N: Many, many special and great thanks to Dumpling and be-you-tiful23 for your reviews! Getting those reviews basically made my week and motivated me to continue this story! So thank you very much to you guys, and to all who are still reading :)

This chapter actually features scenes of my own creation! Therefore, I really agonized over this chapter. Every time I re-read over it, I kept changing things. Here's hoping it turned out okay! I also named a character, who I don't believe is ever named in the book, but he does appear in the scene with Shahrzad carrying a bunch of scrolls, so I felt he needed a name.

Enjoy! (I hope)

Chapter 4: Archery

(Corresponds with Chapters: Despina and the Rajput, Draw Weight, and By the Light of a Single Candle, pages 40-67 of The Wrath and the Dawn)

When he met with his advisors that morning, he was hit with a barrage of questions:

"What have you done?"

"Why did you let her live?"

"Why was the execution moved to tomorrow?"

"Did she threaten you?"

"What did she do to you to cause you to do this?"

He ignored all of them. Instead, he simply told them it was his decision, and the execution would indeed take place the following morning.

Immediately after the brief meeting, Khalid made his way to the servants' quarters to speak with the head servant. Since Shahrzad would have the day to herself, he felt it would be wise to make sure people were watching her, so he decided she needed a handmaiden. Perhaps, Shahrzad would be more open with another girl and share her secrets with her. Then, he could convince the handmaiden to reveal them. The steward advised that Despina would probably be the best choice.

Shahrzad also proved she was dangerous...she was able to convince him to let her live another day, after all. She certainly wasn't afraid of stirring up trouble. He would need a member of his own personal bodyguard to watch her. He figured the best swordsman in Rey would be perfect for the task.

He couldn't risk underestimating Shahrzad's cunningness and strength. He had already taken too many risks with her.

By the afternoon, the whole palace was buzzing with the news that the caliph's latest bride survived the dawn.

When Khalid had gone outside to practice with his sword with some of his soldiers, he overheard servants and soldiers whispering about it. He knew it would cause some commotion, but some of them almost seemed...excited about it. He wasn't sure what to think of it, but he hardly cared what anyone else thought of him or his decision to let her live another day.

After duelling with one of his soldiers, General al-Khoury appeared beside him and requested to speak to him privately. Khalid expected he would have a few words for him. In fact, he thought he would've come to him sooner to reprimand him for what happened that morning.

He hung up his sword in the sash around his hips and went for a walk through a nearby garden with the shahrban. Khalid's bodyguards followed behind them at a distance.

"Khalid, what have you done?" he questioned him furiously in a hushed tone. "Do you realize what you are doing to yourself? You are risking the health of you and your kingdom for a girl! Why were you even in her room last night?"

"I needed to talk with her. Why would a young girl like her volunteer for this?"

"I don't know, but she willingly came to be executed. And yet, you did not execute her!"

"It's only one more day," he said coolly.

"But you won't be able to sleep tonight. Be concerned for your health, Khalid! You have a kingdom to lead!"

"I'll be fine going without sleep for another night. It's not like I haven't been without sleep for a few nights before." Khalid waved him off.

"But the sooner she dies, the sooner you can be rid of this curse!" the general reminded him quietly.

Khalid stopped. It was true he was somewhat close to being done with the curse, which he wanted more than anything. Shahrzad was his seventy-second bride being offered up for it. Only twenty-eight more to go. But would he really ever be fully rid of this curse? The pain of having to take away so many innocent lives could very well eat away at him for the rest of his life.

"Be careful, Khalid," the general added, less enraged. "I have a bad feeling about this girl."

"You haven't even met her."

"I don't need to. She's already trouble."

Khalid just shook his head at him. He knew she was wreaking havoc on his life, but he didn't want his uncle to know he agreed with him. For the remainder of their stroll through the garden, the two walked in silence.

When they reached the end of the pathway, he found a few of his soldiers in a sword match. Khalid was about to go join them, but was prevented from doing so when one of his advisors, Murshid, appeared before him, carrying many scrolls.

"Sayyidi," he said tentatively. "There are, uh, quite a few matters that require your immediate attention. I have received many proposals for changes in the kingdom."

Khalid sighed. He wasn't in the mood to tend to such duties...not right now. Not when he had a certain someone occupying his brain. Someone that he shouldn't be thinking about...and he desperately wanted to use swordfighting to distract himself.

He hesitantly picked up one of the scrolls from Murshid's arms and had only read the first few words when one of his servants approached him..

"Sayyidi," he said urgently and bowed before him. "The queen is in the courtyard."

He had asked a few additional soldiers and servants to keep a watchful eye on Shahrzad and to let him know of anything important. But he didn't understand what was so earth shattering about this news? She wasn't forbidden from going outside...

The servant continued. "She's practicing archery, sayyidi. With Jalal."

Now he understood the peculiarity of her actions. All the women he knew never engaged in such activities. Why would she practice wielding a weapon? And what was she doing with Jalal?

"I told you she was trouble, sayyidi," the general said from beside him.

When Khalid and the general arrived at the courtyard, along with some of his soldiers and Murshid, Khalid spotted Shahrzad immediately. He was shocked when the servant told him, but he felt even more bewildered to actually see Shahrzad engaged in archery lesson with Jalal.

Who was this girl? And why wasn't she sewing or fretting about her makeup and clothing like other typical girls?

He watched her intently. She seemed to be getting along well with Jalal. They were even laughing together. But why were they laughing?

"That girl is far too adventurous. Not fit to be a proper lady," his uncle said.

Khalid wasn't so sure he agreed with him.

He noticed Despina caught a glimpse of him from across the courtyard and watched her quickly run over to Shahrzad and Jalal. The two of them looked in his direction. Terror spread across their faces before they froze. It almost amused him.

Well, it was time for him to make his entrance then.

He made his way across the courtyard, and the rest of his party followed him. He stopped himself a few paces before Shahrzad and Jalal, who were both standing very still and watching his every movement along with everyone else around him.

"Captain al-Khoury," he said quietly.

"Sayyidi," Jalal replied as he bowed. "I was just showing the queen how to use a bow and arrow."

"I can see that. The question is why."

"Because I asked him," Shahrzad blurted out, and he turned to face her.

He couldn't figure this girl out. Here she was, not properly dressed like a lady, with her mantle missing and her hair tied back messily. A case of arrows was also hanging from her shoulder.

"Then I redirect the question to you."

She was about to become her fiery self with him. He could tell from the look in her eyes.

"Do I need a reason?"

"I asked for an explanation. Not a reason."

"They're the same thing."

"Not necessarily."

"Actually, they are. Regardless of your perspective on the matter, I simply wanted to learn, and Jalal agreed to teach me."

She called the captain by his first name. These two were friends, already? How did she even happen to meet him?

"Jalal?"

"Yes. Jalal."

"And what have you learned from Jalal?"

"What?" His question took her by surprise. She had already surprised him so many times, it was about time she felt the same way.

"If he's been teaching you how to shoot a bow and arrow, you must have something to show for it. Unless he's an abysmal tutor."

Jalal began to laugh. "If you'll recall, sayyidi, I believe I had a hand in teaching you when you were a boy."

It was true. Jalal made him into a decent archer. He wasn't perfect at it, but decent enough thanks to Jalal.

"Jalal-jan," Jalal's father stated intensely.

Khalid didn't mind at all what Jalal had said. "Though archery has never been my strong suit."

"Your words, sayyidi. Not mine," Jalal replied with a smile.

"Jalal! That's enough," the shahrban reprimanded him. "He is your king!"

Jalal bowed.

His words didn't really bother Khalid though. It was true about his archery skills. He wished he was better at it, and Jalal did his best to teach him. He just didn't have the talent for it.

Khalid looked at Shahrzad. "Well?"

She looked back at him with her mesmerizing hazel eyes, then proceeded to set up the arrow in her bow. He watched her carefully as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before releasing the arrow. The arrow soared towards the target and landed in one of its legs.

It was a solid shot. Not perfect, but he was certainly impressed with Shahrzad's skills. He wouldn't tell her that though. She was too confident already.

"Amazing," Jalal praised her. "Despite never taking aim, you actually hit the target that time. In a fashion."

"It's because you're such a good teacher," Shahrzad said cheerfully.

Khalid almost let a smile appear on his face. He was amused that Shahrzad would actually attribute her skills to someone other than herself. She was so fiercely independent, he couldn't tell if her remark was true or she was pretending to be nice to Jalal.

"Is it?" he heard Jalal whisper to her.

"In a fashion," she replied. "Nevertheless, I did hit the target...rather, I hit one of its legs."

"Which would have been a remarkable shot, had it been intentional."

"But we've already established that I didn't aim. Regardless, I think I did fairly well, don't you?"

"What do you think, sayyidi? Does the queen pass your test of merit?" Jalal turned to him.

She certainly passed, but he wouldn't dare inflate her ego after all the torture she had put him through for the past day and a half.

"She missed the target," he simply said.

Shahrzad glared at him at she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She definitely was displeased with his comment. It almost thrilled him to see her ferocity.

"Perhaps my king would care to demonstrate the proper technique?" She offered her bow and arrow to him.

She knew how to get back at him with everything he said and challenge him. He couldn't tell if it frustrated him or if he admired her more for it.

He moved towards her and accepted the bow and arrow. As he did so, his fingers touched hers, and he was taken aback from the sensation he received from touching her. In that moment, he wanted to grab her hand and hold on forever.

Realizing what he was thinking, he pulled away. He continuously felt like he was losing his mind every time he was near her like this.

He set his arrow, took aim using the sights, and released it. It spiraled in the direction of the target, and landed close to the bull's-eye. It was a decent shot, but he wasn't proud of it. He failed in front of the others...but it mostly bothered him that Shahrzad witnessed him fail. But why would he care what she thought of him?

"Not bad, sayyidi," Jalal said.

"It is acceptable. Nothing to boast about." He handed the bow and arrow back to Shahrzad. He was so disappointed in himself, that he didn't dare look in her eyes to see her reaction in case they were unimpressed.

He started to walk away.

"Sayyidi?" At the sound of her voice, he stopped, but refused to look at her. "Perhaps you wouldn't mind -"

"Jalal can teach you. He is far more proficient than I." The thought of being able to spend more time with her did sound...alluring. But she needed to learn how to shoot perfectly. Jalal would be the best one to teach her. It never troubled him before that his shooting skills with the bow and arrow were merely adequate, but now he almost felt envious of Jalal and his abilities...because he would be the one teaching her.

He wasn't sure what this feeling was that came over him concerning Shahrzad.

"Fine," she said, sounding annoyed.

He continued to walk away, but soon stopped himself again. "Shahrzad?"

"Yes?"

"I'll see you tonight."

The general's eyes widened upon hearing him say that.

He wasn't sure if it was the best idea either, and yet the words escaped his lips before he could stop himself. He found being near her to be completely intoxicating. He wouldn't be able to stay away from her for long.

What had she done to him?