Rostam and Sohrab

Adopted from Shahnameh
(The Book of Kings)
by Ferdosi
Thousands of years ago, Rostam Dastan, passed the famous seven heroic adventures, but once he was also captured by the
hand of the fate.
Once , he was drawn to Samangan. He set his horse, Raksh, free and got some forty winks for an hour. Rakhsh went further
and was captured by some men from Samangan. They had no idea whose horse it was. When Rostam woke up, he traced the
horse and passed Iran s border to find Rakhsh in Samangan. The news was spread soon and everybody rushed to visit the
famous Iranian hero.
The king and his court also hurried to welcome him. Knowing why Rostam was there, the king explained, "If you stay with
us overnight, we'll try to find your horse." Rostam accepted the king's invitation and attended a feast held at
the king's palace.
When the feast was over, a maid entered Rostam's room holding a candlestick and letting her princess step into the room.
Rostam asked, "Who are you? " The princess replied, "It's Tahmineh, the king's only daughter who has rejected many
princes in the world to reach the man of his dreams Rostam." Rostam said, "But I'm going to return to Iran tomorrow
morning." Tahmineh responded honestly. "I'm ready to pay the price for my dream."
The same night Rostam asked for Tahmineh's hand from the king. The king got extremely delighted when he heard the
news. They held a kingly wedding party the same night.
The next morning, the king kept his promise and brought Rostam's horse, Rakhsh. Rostam opened his armlet and gave it
to Tahmineh, saying, "Wear it on my daughter's hair or my son's arm to be a sign of a father who always missed him or her
from far away.
When Sohrab was ten, he asked Tahmineh, "Who's my father?" Tahmineh assured him, "You are Rostam's son, but you
shouldn't talk about your father to anyone because if your father's foes, know this secret, they'll kill you to take revenge on
Rostam.
Some years later, Sohrab went to his grandfather, the king of Samangan, and told him he was thinking of
attacking Iran and defeating Keikavoos, the king of Iran, to give the crown to Rostam. The king , gave him his army for the
war. Tahmineh told his brother Janderazm, "My dear brother, you've to show Rostam to Sohrab to prevent the son fights
the father. Spies brought the news about the military expedition to Keikavoos and about Rostam's unseen son.
When Samangan's army arrive the White Castle , Gordafarid the daughter of Gajdahm, who was a brave warrior, got
prepared to fight. Sohrab rode towards Gordafarid. He followed her, caught up with her and beat her in the head so that
her helmet fell off. Gordafarid's long silky hair was released, staring at her, Gordafarid called out, "You'd better go back to
your own country and live happily in peace!
Sohrab told the commanders of his army, "We'll attack the castle
tomorrow morning and demolish everything there."
Tomorrow morning, Iranian army departed to the borders while Rostam, was in front of his own army. Arriving the White
Castle, Rostam climbed into the castle. Jenderazm, Sohrab's uncle, rushed towards him and Rostam killed him, not
recognizing him in dark. Therefore, the only person who could mark Rostam to Sohrab was dead. When Sohrab found
Jenderazm sdead body threatened to kill all the Iranians to take revenge.
Sohrab attacked the Iranian Army on his own. Rostam rushed towards Sohrab. Sohrab chuckled, "You are not my opponent, old
man! Tell me your name and origin." Rostam said, "Every warrior's name is half of his personality, and anyone who knows his
name will overcome him. They started fencing. At the dusk, the two warriors separated in dust and blood to take a rest.
"You can't beat me, " said Sohrab. Rostam replied, "Life has seen many warriors like you and me. We'll continue fighting
tomorrow morning. It'll be as god wills." They both returned to their campsites and washed themselves.
The second day of combat, they both got off their horses and started to wrestle. The sun was high in the sky shining brightly, but
the two warriors were still clinging to one another forcing and sweating, yet neither one could move the other. Suddenly, Sohrab
shouted havoc and picked Rostam up and dropped him on the ground, pulled out his dragger and wanted to cut his head when
Rostam spoke out, "When a young warrior beats an older one, if he's able to defeat him the second time, he can behead him."
Sohrab dropped his dragger and stood up from Rostam's chest. The second combat was also over, then.
It was the third day of combat, in no time, Rostam pulled out his dragger and stabbed Sohrab before he could get up. Lying down
on the ground in his blood, Sohrab sighed, "I suffered all this pain to visit my father, but I'm sure he will take revenge on you, no
matter where you may hide." Startled, Rostam asked, "Do you have any signs of him? I'm Rostam." Sohrab said, "You are
Rostam? I am Sohrab, Tahmineh's only son. You can see my armlet if you tear off my chain mail." Rostam took off his chain
mail and saw his own armlet on Sohrab's arm. Rostam held his son's head on his lap and cried.
Rostam didn't want to leave Sohrab alone, but he had to rush towards the Iranian Army to stop them fighting. Rostam was quite
disappointed. He went to his brother, and asked him take his message to Samangan's army commander. "Sohrab was killed
because of your deceit and your king's tricks. If you had told him the truth, the son wouldn't have fought the father and wouldn't
have been killed.
Rostam demanded one of the Iranian commander to go to Keikavoos and ask him for some antidote. When Keikavoos
received the message said, "If I give them the antidote, and if Sohrab is recovered, it won't take long he and his father will
attack me and take away my life and throne." They put Sohrab on a stretcher to take him to Keikavoos. Rostam strolled in
front of them to get some antidote from the king for his bravery and devotion.
A few steps left to the king's tent, a messenger announced, "Rostam! You'd better come back. Sohrab has given way
to death. He doesn't need any antidote anymore. He doesn't need the king's kindness."