"I do not understand," Timur said as he tried to process his father's words. "Why would I have a problem if I did not do it? I am as angry as you that Princess Mairwen is hurt!"

"I doubt that very much. You are the one who benefits from the princess being unable to shoot her bow." Renat spat.

"If you did not do it, then you surely know who did," Devrim added. Although his words were calm, it was clear that his anger bubbled just below the surface.

Mairwen looked at the two men with Timur. The first looked angry that the Chieftain's son had been accused, but the second was inching his way to the tent's exit. The movement was noticed by Orhan as well.

"Qulu!" Orhan called.

The young man froze with a crooked grin. "Yes, Chieftain?"

The Chieftain motioned the short man forward and furrowed his brow. "You have been very quiet. Normally you would jump to Timur's defense before he could get out a single word."

Qulu became serious. Knowing all eyes were upon him, he held his nose high in the air. "Well, there is no way that Timur would stoop to any such method. And why would you think the bowstring was cut? Perhaps it was just frayed from all the practice."

Mairwen's lips became very thin. She gave the Chieftain's son a weary glance as she held her head. "Timur, you need to pick better followers."

Junayd, who had been watching quietly, shook his head. "Or at least smarter followers. This one is an idiot."

"I do not understand." Qulu tried to act innocent.

Gritting his teeth, Timur answered. "No one said that the bowstring was cut. But by the angry faces of the accusers, I can see that is exactly what happened. How could you, Qulu?!"

Realizing he was cornered, Qulu was quick to defend himself. "It was for the cause! I only wanted to discourage the Princess to ensure victory. Your victory, Timur."

"An empty victory, Qulu," Timur hung his head. He pinched the bridge of her nose as he felt his head begin to ache.

Orhan crossed his arms and grunt. "Do you see your problem now, my son? When you are a leader you must make sure that what others do in your name is something you would be proud of."

"I am not proud of this, father. Qulu, you must leave the Dunespeople. I will give you all the possessions you require to leave." Timur said quietly. The edge in his voice was a mix of anger and grief.

"Surely he cannot do that, Chieftain!" Qulu fell at Orhan's feet.

"You should plead with the Emperor or at least Her Highess. My punishment will be far greater." Orhan looked down in disgust at the disgraced Dunesman.

Sensing the Emperor's anger, Qulu quickly grabbed hold of the hem the Princess's garment and kissed it. "I swear I did not mean to hurt you. I only wanted to discourage you..." he begged as he bowed repeatedly. The pompous man of the past was gone in an instant.

Eira pushed away Qulu before he could bother the princess further. Mairwen sighed. "If it is alright with my father, I will let Timur deal with it."

Devrim pressed his lips together, but nodded. Renat glared at Qulu before helping Mairwen get comfortable again in the large stack of cushions.

"Take your things and go, Qulu. I will not tell anyone of your treachery." Timur pointed toward the exit.

Sensing it was his best option, Qulu fled the tent without another word.

"Forgive me and my blindness to what others were doing. Of course I will withdraw from the Fate's Dilemma. I forfeit." Timur placed his hand on his chest and gave a half bow.

"You will not withdraw!" Mairwen stood up in indignation. She ignored the dizzy feeling in her head as she faced the her challenger. "People may think I did this to myself to force your hand. I will win fair and square. We will compete in three days."

"Mairwen..." Devrim and Renat said at the same time. The Emperor gave the scientist a dirty look. He knew the boy had been calling his daughter by her given name only, but hearing it was another thing entirely. Renat bowed his head to give the Emperor the floor.

"My daughter, you are not well enough to compete. Beyond that, you have no bow." Devrim touched Mairwen's cheek gently. She pulled away.

"I will be fine. And I will borrow a bow." Mairwen brushed aside his concern.

"Please…" Renat reached toward her but was also rebuffed.

"You cannot stop me. Neither of you can." The princess teetered slightly, and blinked away the pain above her eye. "And Timur: do not go easy on me. I do not want anyone to think I won from pity."

Timur gave a half-smile. He admired her strength and tenacity to push through her pain. "Yes Your Highness. I shall do my best. The Fates will decide." While the Emperor, Renat and Eira tended to Mairwen, Timur went to his father and had a whispered conversation.

Orhan nodded as his son spoke with a furrowed brow. When the younger man left, they heaved a sigh of relief and Mairwen finally relaxed on her cushions with a groan. "What did Timur say?" She asked.

Orhan pulled at his chin. "Timur admitted—for the first time in his life, mind you—that he may have been wrong. My son actually apologized to me. He said that in his haste to reach his goal, he did not think about the consequences of his method."

"I am glad something good came from this mess," Mairwen sighed and closed her eyes with a gentle smile.

"Can Timur teach my son that lesson?" Devrim wondered.

"If the Prince hasn't learned it by now, Your Majesty, he will find it out on the battlefield," Junayd responded gravely.

"I think," Devrim began, but was hushed by Renat. The men looked over and saw the scientist sitting next to the sleeping princess and holding her hand. The Emperor bit his tongue. "I think we should let the princess rest. Everyone but Eira should leave," he whispered.

Renat let go of his love and headed out with the rest. Mairwen reached for him in her sleep, but Eira offered her hand instead. "He will be back, Your Highness. For now, rest."

———————

Three days passed quickly, and under the healer's watchful eye, Mairwen was given permission to compete. United in one cause, both Renat and Devrim had tried to coax the princess into delaying, but she refused.

"You are as stubborn as your mother," Devrim had said at last.

After the news got out that the Princess's bow had broken (but not that it had been sabotaged), a new weapon was fashioned as quickly as possible.

Out in the official arena, Mairwen examined the bow carefully for any flaws. It was the first time she had been in the tournament area that had been created. It was a long thin track with a target at the end and room for spectators on both sides. Already a large number of people were gathered to watch. They were so tightly packed that it was difficult to both breathe and see.

Mairwen pulled back the string to half-draw and winced. Her injured wrist was still tender where it had been cut. "It will work," she told those watching with a forced grin. The crowd cheered.

"Don't you want to test it out?" Renat asked. He had seen how meticulous the princess usually was.

"No," she answered firmly. In a lower voice that only he could hear she added. "I think that I only have a few shots in me before my arm stops cooperating. No use wasting them on practice."

Renat nodded his understanding. "Very well, Your Highness!" He called loudly for those around to here. "I will escort you to His Majesty for his blessing." As they made their way to one end of the field where a canopy was constructed to shade Devrim and Orhan, Renat made one final plea. "Please…"

"If you are going to tell me to postpone, you may as well offer yourself for target practice, because I have no interest in hearing it." Mairwen smiled and waved at the crowd, who cheered and offered their best wishes she passed.

"This morning you called me your love and this afternoon you call me a pincushion. That is quite the turn around," Renat joked.

"Arrow cushion," Mairwen corrected him. "And I much prefer you as my love." She caressed his face, making his ears burn.

They reached the canopied area at the end of the field and the pair along with Eira bowed before the Emperor. Timur joined them and also paid his respects.

Orhan stood from his seat. He looked at each competitor in turn. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, father," Timur answered.

"I am ready," Mairwen agreed.

"Then if it pleases His Majesty, we will begin." Orhan took the center of the arena and addressed the eager crowd. He announced the conditions of the Fate's Dilemma and the rules for those who were not familiar with the arrangement. "Five arrows will be shot at increasing distances. The best competitor with the best aim overall will be declared the winner. Timur will take the first two shots."

The younger man with the gold-rimmed eyes bowed his head before the princess. "I am sorry," he said.

After everyone had cleared the field, Timur took the mark that was the closest to the target. The first arrow sang through the air, hitting the target dead center.