The pregnant Rudabeh was in great pain and unable to give birth. Suddenly, Zal remembered the Simorgh's magic feather. Burning it, the magical bird Simorgh appeared. The bird arranged for a caesarean birth - according to the story, the first ever performed. She healed Rudabeh's wound with her magical feathers, and delivered Rudabeh son, a baby so big he is described as 'a lion cub'. He will be named Rostam.

Rostam was a miracle baby. Within 5 days he had grown into a boy, and within weeks he had grown to the height and strength of a young man. As a child, he was the only person able to kill a white elephant that was rampaging through the palace.

As Rostam grew older, it became clear that he had the potential to be a great warrior. His father Zal promised to find a horse worthy of him - one that would be courageous in the midst of battle. Rostam was given the pick of all the horses that roamed Zabolestan and Kabolestan. He picked a mare who was famous for his speed and spirit. This horse was almost impossible to catch - for three years warriors had attempted to tame it and had failed. Rostam was impressed:

'Its body was a wonder to behold,

Like saffron petals, mottled red and gold;

Brave as a lion, a camel for its height,

An elephant in massive strength and might'

Defying all expectations, Rostan was able to catch and mount the horse. He named it Rakhsh, the Persian word for lightening. Rostam felt it was fated that Rakhsh was his horse. They went on the have many adventures together.

While out hunting Rostam awoke from his sleep to find Rakhsh had gone missing. He was distraught at losing his beloved horse and he tracked him as far as the city of Samangan. Here he greeted the King and asked for his help to find Rakhsh.

While in Samangan, Rostam met the king's lovely daughter Tahmina. The Shahname describes her as elegant as a cypress tree. One night she came to his room:

' My name is Tahmineh; longing has torn

  My wretched life in two, though I was born

  The daughter of the king of Samangan,

  And am descended from a warrior clan.

  But like a legend I have heard the story

  Of your heroic battles and your glory,

  Of how you have no fear, and face alone

  dragons and demons and dark unknown

  Of how you sneak into Turan at night

   And prowl the borders to provoke a fight,

   Of how, when warriors see your mace, they quail

   And feel their lionhearts within them fail.

   I bit my lip to hear such talk, and knew

   I longed to see you, to catch sight of you,

   To glimpse your martial chest and mighty face-

   And now God brings you to this lowly place.

   If you desire me, I am yours, and none

   Shall see or hear of me from this day on.'

But their time together was brief, because once Rakhsh was found, Rostam departed for his homeland. Nine months later Tahmina gave birth to a son Sohrab, who grew up to be a warrior like his father Rostam.  

On his quest to rescue King Kavus from demons, the hero Rostam had to succeed in many trials of courage and strength. In this part of the story, Rostam was asleep, unaware that a huge 80 metre long dragon was approaching. He was woken up several times by Rakhsh, his faithful horse. But each time, the Dragon made itself invisible, and Rostam fell back to sleep. However, at last Rostam saw the dragon and drew his sword to kill it. With the help of Rakhsh, he was able to sever the dragon’s head.