The Storyteller's Daughter

"You think you have seen my heart, but that ca

Look again, Shahrazad. Then tell me what you see."

And she looked, and answered, "Love."

At this, a great ray of sun burst into the hall and illuminated her face. Shahrazad cried out and covered her eyes. Suddenly realizing what had happened, Shahrayar gave a great shout and took her into his arms.

Only then did he perceive that a great commotion raged all about them.

"Seize them!" the usurper was shouting from his throne. "They have broken rules of the trial! Neither by word nor touch could Shahrazad find out her husband. Let them be seized and put to death at once!

But now a thing happened that none expected. Most of the rest of the prisoners cast off their filthy robes to reveal themselves ready for battle, for they were armed. Swiftly, they formed a protective circle around Shahrayar and Shahrazad.

"Not while I still live," one said.

And from the ranks of the observers in the hall a voice called out, "See! It is Shazaman!"

At this, a great cry of joy went up from the people, common folk and courtiers alike. For they perceived that Shazaman had come to his brother’s aid at last, and if he prevailed, all might be free of the tyrant's yoke.

Still, things might have gone ill, for the hall was filled with many soldiers who were even now drawing their swords. But before blood could be shed, Shahrayar himself stepped forward.

"Hear me!" he said in a great ringing voice, and at the sound of it, the soldiers stayed their swords. "A great choice is in your hands," Shahrayar said. "By your deeds will the heart of our nation arise once more or fall.

"Think! Look into your hearts as I have looked into mine. Will you live in darkness or in light? For which you will have depends on what is in your hearts as much as what is in the heart of the one who sits upon the throne. But this, I think you know already. Choose swiftly, then, strike hard, and make every stroke count."

For a moment nothing happened, and it seemed to Shahrazad that the entire hall was filled with figures made of stone. Then two things happened, both at once. The leader of the soldiers stepped forward just as the usurper himself unsheathed his sword.

"The first one of you to make a move toward him in friendship, I will slay myself."

"No!"

At the sound of Shahrazad's voice, all turned to her in astonishment. The protective ring around her parted, and she moved to stand beside Shahrayar.

"Let no blood be shed," she entreated. "For I can see into the hearts of all here as well as I can see into my own. Therefore I say to the usurper: It will do no good to fight, for you can never win. The hearts of the people belong to King Shahrayar."

At this, a great shout went up: "Shahrayar! King Shahrayar!"

But the usurper was so far gone, no words of reason could reach him. "Brothers! To me!" he cried. Not one of them moved, for those loyal to Shazaman had them in their power. And so it was 'Ajib who stepped forward, all alone. It had been his voice that first proclaimed Shazaman's presence. It had been his plan that had smuggled Shazaman, the vizier, and those whom they most trusted into the palace to aid Shahrayar. For he had seen that a small force might prevail where a larger one would not.

"I am your brother," said 'Ajib."Though I do not think you called to me. Hear now what I proclaim to all. I will serve you no longer. Instead I offer my sword to King Shahrayar. The true king and his heirs, now and forever will I serve, and may my deeds wash away the dishonor that has stained our house."

"Traitor!" the usurper shouted. But when he would have sprung upon Ajib, Shazaman stepped forward and struck him down, placing his naked sword across his throat.

"Say what you wish, and I shall make it happen," he told 'Ajib. "I will be your brother, if you wish his life."

"No, do not kill him," 'Ajib said. "For I think it will be worse for him if he stays alive. His own greed and jealousy will eat him up. But gladly will I take you for my brother, for these others I here disown."

"Then you must take me for a brother also," said Shahrayar. At this, 'Ajib knelt at Shahrayar's feet and wept, even as soldiers hauled his former brothers away.

"Forgive me!" he cried.

"There is nothing to forgive," Shahrayar said. “For it is already done. Come now, help to prepare our victory celebration. You know your way about the kitchens, I think?'

'Ajib laughed as he rose to his feet. “I do. But first let us see about a bath for you, my lord."

And in this way were Shahrayar and Shahrazad united in truest love and Shahrayar restored to his throne. And all without a single drop of blood being spilled upon that day, for of bloodshed there had been enough.

Chapter 21

A L L T H E T H R E A D S A R E W O V E N U P

And so it was that Shahrayar came into his own again, a better and wiser man and therefore a better and wiser ruler than he had been before. For through his ordeal and his own trial, he had come to see the secrets of his own heart and thereby learned the way to look into the hearts of others. And also through the love he bore to Shahrazad did he learn this, for had it not been her heart that had showed him how it might be done?

For six full days celebration banquets went on throughout the kingdom, but in the great city that surrounded Shahrayar's palace most of all. Each day new caravans arrived from Samarkand, laden with delicacies from both near and far. The best of these were distributed to the people, and the king grew daily in their love.

On the seventh night when all the revelry was done, Shahrayar gathered those he loved best and trusted most around him in his private quarters. And these were his brother, Shazaman; his vizier, Nur al-Din Hasan; and also Nur al-Din's youngest daughter, Dinarzad. It goes without saying that Shahrazad was there, for except when he attended to affairs of state, she was never far from her husband's side. Also present was young 'Ajib, and he stood close to Dinarzad. When Shahrayar noticed this, he regarded his vizier with raised eyebrows. Nur al-Din shrugged his shoulders, and Shahrayar smiled. And so were many things decided without words that would bring great happiness in years to come.

When all were assembled and at their ease, Shahrayar stood and beckoned Shahrazad to his side. "Hear now the will of your sovereign," he said. "Tomorrow morning will it be proclaimed throughout the land that the lady Shahrazad is no longer in peril of her life. For I will have no other wife but her to the end of my days. And therefore, I hope her life may be a long one!"

When the vizier heard this, he shed tears of joy, and so did Dinarzad. But Shahrazad did not weep, for she knew this already. Instead she regarded her husband with shining eyes. Eyes that could now see his countenance as well as his heart. For in fulfilling her destiny, the heavy cloak of blindness had fallen from her eyes.

Then 'Ajib stepped forward. "Lady, I bring you a gift," he said. "Though, it is hardly mine to give since it is already yours." At this, he moved to the window and drew aside his much travel-stained cloak to reveal Maju's ebony trunk.

"I hid this from my brothers on the night you were taken," he said. "For I think my heart knew even then that I had done a great wrong. Then I took it with me when I went to Samarkand, so that your father might know I was speaking the truth when I said I wished to help restore to you your freedom and Shahrayar to his throne."