Chapter Text
Princess Jasmine lounged in her throne, but despite her comfortable slump and her legs dangling over the arm of her seat, she was intently reading a new bill that an assistant vizier had presented to her. It was no secret that the princess enjoyed lazy days and self pamper sessions, but there was no doubt she took her work seriously.
“Sultan,”
Hm. She’d still have to get used to that.
Jasmine looked up from the scroll in her hands to see her Captain of the guard standing patiently before her.
“Captain,” she sat up and put the papers down beside her. “What can I do for you?”
“Your highness, this message arrived for you this morning.” He produced a sealed letter for her. She took it from his hands, then looked at him questioningly. He answered her expression, saying,
“We don’t know who it’s from.”
She sighed and broke the seal. She scanned the letter quickly.
“Captain?” she asked, not taking her eyes off the paper in front of her. “ How much time do you need to ready a room?”
“A room, Highness? That all depends on the type of guest you plan on receiving.”
“We are to expect one Shahryar, Sultan of the Eastern Kingdom. He wants to meet me.” The two shared a look and then Jasmine returned to the letter.
“He says he’s ‘eager to meet with the Sultan who saved the Magic Kingdom.’” She tried to hide a smirk. “Well if that’s what he wants, that’s what he’s gonna get. Captain! Have a servant ready the room! Prepare the stable for his horses. Tell the cook that a banquet is to be expected!”
“Yes, your highness.”
A servant scurried nervously into the room as the captain left, her arms overflowing with scrolls. She was a little thing and the hot headed, stubborn, outspoken sultan gave her chills.
“Your highness,” she squeaked.
“Yes?” Jasmine had returned her attention to the bill and was nestling into another comfortable slump. The servant nervously produced the scrolls to the princess.
“These just came in from the viziers. You are to look over them at once.”
Jasmine looked up at the servant who quickly added,
“I- I mean as soon as you can. I mean, whenever suits you best, your highness.” She gave an exaggerated bow. Jasmine sighed, hopping off her throne. She stood the sweating girl on her feet and took the scrolls from her.
“Tell the viziers I will have these read by the end of the week,” she said, gently. Then a thought came to her. But not now… I have something I must do.
. . .
It was hard to get away, but she managed. After excusing the servant and informing one of her maids that she was under the weather and would not need anyone to check on her, Jasmine stole away into the city. Nobody would notice her absence, as she had already made up an excuse, and certainly nobody would notice the unremarkable girl in a brown hood strolling through the marketplace.
“Sugar dates! Sugar dates and beans! Sugar dates and pistachios!”
“Fresh fish! We catch em, you buy em!”
“Would the lady like a necklace? A pretty necklace for a pretty lady…”
Voices filled the square and although Jasmine had no plans on stopping, she couldn’t help but enjoy the walk. The first time she ever snuck out of the palace she wandered here. The marketplace was never quiet as people bought and sold or haggled for a better deal. It was comforting, the constant noise. The zip of a coin purse strings being pulled shut. The soft moo of cattle. A cleaver cutting through fresh meat. And the never ending cluck of hens.
Jasmine was so distracted by her surroundings that she didn’t see the man in front of her and walked right into him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
“No, no,” the man brushed himself off. “My fault entirel- why, Princess!”
Jasmine looked up and saw none other than Prince Achmed standing before her. He was alone. That on its own was odd. Not only that but he was dressed in his princely attire. How on earth was he not drawing the attention of the citizens? He seemed to catch on to her way of thinking and answered for her,
“I come out here a lot. They’re used to seeing me by now.”
“You come to the marketplace? Alone?”
He nodded.
“It helps me clear my head. Besides, if I don’t get out of my stuffy old palace I feel as though I may suffocate.”
Didn’t she know it! Funny. To think all this time she had thought Achmed to be pompous and silly. Truth was, they seemed to have more in common than she realized. She was brought out of her reverie when a hand waved in front of her face.
“Princess?” Achmed asked. “I said, what brings you out of the palace? And in disguise?” He grinned.
“Oh, this?” She wondered if she should be truthful. She had never told anyone before. Achmed smiled at her, his eyes appeared understanding.
“If you don’t wish to tell me, you don’t have to. I’ll admit I shouldn’t pry.”
“No, it’s alright. I’m actually going to visit Ja’far.”
Achmed had never been told the truth about Ja’far’s end. No one had, in fact. As far as anyone aside from the princess knew, he had passed away. Killed by a soldier in the battle. Jasmine had wanted to give him a hero’s funeral, like he deserved, but she knew he would not want that. The citizens already didn’t think of him as heroic. So instead, she “buried him” privately with no ceremony.
“I see,” Achmed chewed his lip. “And you... have to sneak out to see him?”
“No one else mourned him.”
There was a silence as neither knew what to say. Achmed looked at his feet. He started to kick at the sand beneath his golden shoes.
“Would you,” Jasmine began, tentatively. “Like to come with me?”
Achmed’s head snapped up. Go with her? To visit Ja’far? The two had never really seen eye to eye but it would be a lie to say that Achmed did not like him. He actually admired the vizier very much.
He paused.
“Alright,” He said.