Jasmine eagerly waited for the birth of her new baby brother or sister. She was an intelligent one year old, squealing with delight when she laid her hands on her mother's stomach. She would giggle and smile whenever she felt the soft kicks of the newborn inside of the queen. Jasmine looked very much like her mother with soft black hair and golden skin.
It began as an ordinary spring day inside of the palace. The queen led her daughter out to the palace gardens. She held onto Jasmine's chubby hand and let her other hand rest on her stomach. The scent of the lilies and fresh blooms of jasmine always left a sweet smile on her face. Jasmine pulled out of her mother's grasp and ran to the fountain. She giggled as she put her hand into the water, playing with the fish. The sun glistened against Jasmine's soft curls that bounced playfully as the young princess moved. The young queen couldn't have asked for more. Women weren't expected to find love and happiness. She knew she loved her husband and it pleased her to know that he felt the same. The sight of her happy child warmed her heart and she was certain her new baby would be another blessing as well. The soft kicks ensured her thoughts.
Suddenly the soft kicks grew to jabs of unmeasurable pain. The queen gasped and held her stomach. Jasmine looked up and saw her mother. Her face was tightened into an expression of fear and pain as the jabs became unbearable. Jasmine stared, holding an orange fish in her hands as her mother fell to the ground. The sun disappeared behind the clouds and Agrabah darkened as the queen began to scream. The sound echoed within the palace. Razoul, the captain of the guard was the first to hear it. He was disciplining one of the other guards. "I better not catch- Queen Liliana?" He turned his head in the direction of the wails. The Sultan was the next to hear her screams. He got up abruptly and started running towards the garden. Razoul was almost there with two other guards following. They found the queen lying on the ground beside the fountain. Jasmine was petting her mother's forehead. "Aw bedder?"
The Sultan arrived, out of breath. Queen Liliana reached her arm for her husband and choked out. "The...baby.." His eyes widened and he turned to one of the three guards. "Fetch the physician immediately! Do not waste time!" The Sultan ordered. Razoul and the other guard rushed over to the queen. They gingerly lifted the queen up and carried her to the nearest bedroom. The Sultan followed with Jasmine in his arms. He looked at his wife as they set her on the soft mattress. It distressed him to see his wife in such agony. 'If only I could do something to ease the pain..' He walked over to her and held her hand. "Everything will be fine, Liliana." She squeezed his hand weakly. "..Of..course.."
The royal physician entered the room. "You called, your Majesty?" His eyes wandered over to the writhing body of the queen. He walked quickly over, recognizing that she was in labor. "I'm terribly sorry, but you and the young princess will have to wait outside. She's about to give birth." The Sultan twitched, out of nervousness. "She will be OK, right?" The physician ushered the Sultan and the toddler out of the room, remaining silent. The Sultan fidgeted outside of the door and cringed when he heard his wife's screams. Jasmine clutched onto her father's neck, frightened. "Don't be scared, Jasmine. Everything will be OK." Her father tried to comfort both of their fears. He put Jasmine on a chair and began to pace. The sultan glanced over at the door on every seventh pace. He continued in this fashion for an eternity, boring the young princess to sleep. Finally the door opened and the physician held out a little baby girl. She opened her eyes which at first glance appeared to be black but, in truth were a dark sapphire. He smiled and carried the baby over to Liliana. "Love, we have another beautiful baby girl. She has your eyes." The Sultan kissed the baby's forehead. There was no response from the queen.
"Love?" The Sultan looked over to the queen. She was drenched in dark, warm blood and remained still and lifeless. He held the baby with one arm and reached for his wife's hand. His arm trembled as he held her hand. It was cold and limp. The Sultan broke into deep sobs that racked throughout his body when he discovered that the queen had no pulse.