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 as always to all who are reading! It makes me so excited to look up the traffic stats for this story! And thanks so much to reviewer Directioneronfire and the guest reviewer who reviewed the first chapter this weekend! Reviews make me uber happy!

So where this story is now is the part in the book where we finally start getting Khalid's perspective for some scenes. Therefore, those scenes are skipped over in this fic. Instead, I try to briefly mention what had happened, so hopefully this story still makes sense! If you have the time, you should go back and reread the chapters from the book if you want a complete refresher!

Chapter 8: Sword Fighting Limitations

(Corresponds with Chapter: Misbegotten Oaths and The Honor of Betrayal of The Wrath and the Dawn, pages 169-196)

Khalid and Shahrzad made their way back to the palace, holding hands. The two walked in a comfortable silence, and Khalid, despite his exhaustion, couldn't stop replaying their kiss over and over in his head.

He didn't remember the last time he felt like he was in a complete state of bliss, or if he ever did.

He couldn't believe he had found such a treasure, and that Shahrzad - Shazi - was his. He never wanted to let go of her ever again. He never wanted to experience losing her.

When they reached the palace courtyard, she tried to pull away. He assumed she didn't want anyone at the palace to see their interlocked hands, but he wished everyone would see. He wanted everyone to know that she was his and that he truly...cared for her. She was not just a girl he married. She was more than that. He grabbed her hand more tightly.

A group of guards were waiting for them outside of the palace, as was expected. What wasn't expected was General al-Khoury to be among them. Khalid eyed him suspiciously, but the general didn't notice as his own eyes were too focused on glaring at Shahrzad.

"Sayyidi," the shahrban said as he bowed.

"General al-Khoury. It is late. I did not expect to see you until morning."

The general scowled. "My king's whereabouts remained uncertain. As such, I cannot stand about idly, waiting for the dawn."

"Your vigilance is appreciated," Khalid replied coolly, but despised his uncle for mentioning the dawn. He needed to make sure he understood that he wouldn't be killing his bride.

"I'm sure it has been a taxing evening, sayyidi. I would be happy to escort the queen to her chamber."

"That is not necessary. I will take her there myself. Then I would like to speak to you in the antechamber."

"I will await your arrival, sayyidi," the general replied with a nod.

Khalid then headed down the hallways of the palace, with his grip still tightened around Shahrzad's hand. Staring down the long corridors, the palace suddenly felt so constricting to him. It was a reminder of his duties and the looming presence of the curse. It was a place that had brought him such pain and nightmares. Tonight provided him the opportunity to forget about those burdens, temporarily. Being with Shahrzad...he was able to forget about everything else, and he reveled in it.

But now his head was pounding, and his eyelids were so heavy from the lack of sleep. He couldn't think clearly. The world around him almost felt non-existent. The only proof he had that he was actually living and breathing was the touch of Shahrzad's hand.

She attempted to let go of his hand, but he held on even tighter. She was his only link to reality. Her hand was the only way he could believe that what happened that night was real. He wasn't ready to let go of that night.

That evening, he would surely need to see the faqir. The exhaustion was slowly causing him to lose his mind.

They reached Shahrzad's chamber, and Khalid shared a nod with the Rajput who was standing guard.

It was only when the two of them were inside Shahrzad's room that he was finally willing to let go of her hand.

She turned to him tentatively. "Why does General al-Khoury dislike me?"

"He sees a threat," Khalid replied.

There was no denying that she was a threat...a threat to disrupting just about everything in his life. And he welcomed it gladly.

"Why does he see a threat?"

"Because he doesn't understand you."

"Does he need to understand me? Because I don't understand him."

If she doesn't view herself to be a threat, would she finally tell him why she volunteered?

"So are you ready to answer my questions, then?" he asked her.

"What questions?"

She really needed to stop playing coy with him.

"I'll answer your questions when you're ready to answer mine."

"Khalid - "

He couldn't allow her the opportunity to unravel him so he had to bid her goodnight. He kissed her brow and brought his hand to her waist. "Sleep well, Shazi."

"Thank you - for the adventure," he added after staring into her eyes for a moment.

"You're welcome."

He smiled at her and momentarily considered spending the night with her as she stared back at him.

However, he knew he had to go. Now wasn't the right time for that...especially now that things have changed between them. Plus, he really needed to see the faqir. He wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to take the increasingly painful aches in his head.

"Good night, Shahrzad."

"Good night, Khalid."

After the faqir paid him a visit to help relieve the aches in his head and the heaviness of his eyelids, Khalid found he was actually able to rest that night. He wasn't able to sleep, but he was able to peacefully lay in his bed as he thought of the night's events.

He didn't know what Shahrzad was doing to him, but he constantly craved to be in her presence and always found himself feeling elated to be with her. He felt less haunted by the ghosts of his mistakes and failures.

He was relieved that Uncle Aref seemed to somewhat understand how he felt about her after talking with him that evening, and he finally understood that he needs to protect the queen, not kill her. When he promised to protect her that evening, Khalid felt some of his worries for her safety disappear. At least he would no longer have to stress over anyone in the palace hurting her.

But he was of course still left troubled by the fact her family disappeared and what she was hiding from him. She still had her secrets, and the general had not yet been able to figure them out.

Perhaps, Despina knew something.

The following afternoon, Khalid found himself outside the door to Shahrzad's chamber. He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing or why he was there. He simply wanted to see her. Perhaps, they could go for a walk around the grounds, or she could tell him another tale, or something. He was continually drawn to her, and he just wanted to spend time with her.

When he knocked on the door, Despina opened it.

The handmaiden appeared startled by his presence and quickly bowed. "The queen isn't here, sayyidi."

"Where is she?" Khalid asked her gently.

"She went to practice shooting in the training grounds, sayyidi," she replied. "I was feeling a bit ill this morning, so I didn't go with her. But I'm feeling much better now and was about to go join her," she swallowed. "Would you like to go with me, sayyidi?"

Khalid nodded. "Yes, thank you."

He would love the opportunity to see his queen practicing archery, now that he knew how truly skillful she was at the sport.

The two began to walk down the corridor in uncomfortable silence. Khalid hardly knew the girl who always appeared nervous in his presence, and he was never great at conversing with others, especially females. However, he hopedthat she would have answers about his queen and decided to seize this opportunity.

"Has Shahrzad mentioned her family at all? And where they might be?" Khalid asked her.

Despina shook her head. "She has only mentioned her father's occupation, sayyidi. Nothing else."

"What about why she volunteered?"

Despina shook her head again.

"Have you learned anything about Shahrzad?" he asked her candidly.

"She's brave and not afraid to disregard the rules, sayyidi," Despina said and then sighed. "Things you already know."

Khalid nodded. "Well, if you learn of any of this, please do inform me as soon as possible."

Despina nodded.

As they headed outside, Khalid couldn't help but notice that the sky looked a bit gloomy, like it would rain soon.

Rain.

Could it really rain today as his bride lives? He would have to wait and see.

The two of them were approaching the courtyard, when he saw a peculiar sight that he didn't expect to see.

Instead of seeing a bow being held between Shahrzad's arms, he saw her carelessly waving around a scimitar against Jalal.

A scimitar?

He and Despina quickened their strides and stopped a few paces behind Shahrzad, watching her.

"Don't you dare dismiss me, Jalal al-" he heard Shahrzad shout, but she didn't finish her sentence.

Khalid saw Jalal's eyes meet his as he muttered something he couldn't hear. The Rajput was also nearby, with his own sword unsheathed.

"By Zeus, Shahrzad!" Despina called out. "Is this what happens when I leave you alone? You get into a sword fight with the captain of the guard?"

Shahrzad turned to look at them.

He watched her carefully, wondering what she would do next in her sword fight that he assumed she must have started.

"Well?" Despina asked.

Khalid turned his eyes to the handmaiden, wondering what made her think she could speak to the queen in such a manner.

"I apologize, sayyidi. I did not mean to address the queen informally," she said before bowing.

"You don't have to apologize, Despina," Shahrzad told her. "I did not get into a fight with Jalal. We're merely trading a few...lessons. Apparently, I am not that gifted with a sword. There are, in fact, limitations to my greatness."

"Thank the gods," Despina remarked.

Limitations?

There was no way the woman who was his bride, his air, and his queen, had limitations.

"Limitations plague us all, Shahrzad. Don't take it to heart,"Jalal told her with a smile. Shahrzad dropped the sword to the ground.

But Shazi was extraordinary. His Shazi could not give up so easily. He would not let her.

"What limitations?" Khalid asked her softly.

"For one, I can't seem to wield a sword. And that seems to be a basic premise of swordsmanship," she replied.

Well, then he would have to teach her. He would not allow her to be anything short of remarkable.

"Pick it up," he instructed her.

After a pause, she bent down and picked up the scimitar with both of her hands.

Khalid took a few steps back and pulled out his own sword.

"Try to hit me," he told her.

Shock came over her face. "Are you serious?"

Khalid didn't respond. He continued to stand there, waiting for her to strike.

After a moment's hesitation, she awkwardly swung the sword at him, but he effortlessly blocked it with his own. He grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her close to him.

"That was awful," he told her honestly in a gentle manner. "Again."

"Can you offer some direction?" she asked in a slightly irritated tone.

"Widen your stance. Don't throw your entire body into the movement. Only your upper body."

She followed his instruction, but she clearly was annoyed. She took another swipe at him, but once again, he warded it off. In doing so, he placed his arm on her waist and had the blade of his shamshir pressed against her throat.

"Do better than this, Shazi," he breathed in her ear. "My queen is without limitations. Boundless in all that she does. Show them."

He wanted the world to know her greatness.

She stepped away from him and lifted the sword.

"Smaller movements. Quicker. Lighter. I don't want to see you act before you do," he ordered.

Once again, Shahrzad struck her sword, and again, Khalid stopped it with his. He could hear the Rajput grunt with dissatisfaction.

She just needed a few more tries. She would get the hang of it, he was certain.

After a few more unsuccessful attempts, the Rajput came up to her and kicked her back foot so it was moved back further. He then gestured for her to keep her head up.

"Like - this?" she asked the Rajput, who simply cleared his throat and returned to where he was previously standing.

Seeing her standing there like that...he couldn't help but let his eyes shine with pride.

No one would ever find a weakness in his queen.

A/N: So just want to warn you all...so far, I've pretty much been able to post a new chapter every weekend, but this coming weekend, I'm going out of town. So it might take over a week for me to update again, and I am so very sorry :(. I will try very hard to do another update before I leave, but we shall see!

Thanks again for reading!