Just been watching Prince of Persia; Sands of Time with Jake Gyllenhaal.
Who is yummy, yummy, muscles and tummy if I do say so myself.
Also, anyone else think it's a fairly Titanic moment when it's all "I won't let go… oh sorry Tamina, my bad..."? Just me?

Disclaimer; Prince of Persia is not my universe. If it was Prince Dastan would be rolling around in my bed right now. With me :)

I am the second wife. I live in the lap of the luxury with many servants around me, obeying my every whim. I have everything that I need and should want for nothing.

But I do.

I want for family. I want for freedom. I want for love.

Mine was a political marriage to Prince Dastan of Persia. His first wife is the beautiful Princess Tamina of Alamut with whom he is besotted. I knew I could never interfere with this love, I wouldn't begin to try. How could I interfere in a love which I wanted for my own?

My father offered me to Persia when the royalty came to dine in our city. My previous potential-fiancée was dining with us too and I am certain that it was he who convinced the Prince to take my hand despite it not being in his nature to marry more than one. My previous potential-fiancée was a fat, leering man with a purple face. His eyes would wander, only to be shortly followed by his hands. Prince Tus and Garsiv did not notice my displeasure at his wandering hands but Prince Dastan did and discussed my situation with the Princess Tamina. Surprisingly Princess Tamina agreed that it was the best way to free me.

The wedding lasted three days with Tamina ever present. She and I became great friends over the course of those three days. She taught me to pray like the people of Alamut, taught me how to ride a horse and other such things. We would talk about our lives in separate cities but found we were similar in many ways. Over those three nights Dastan and I were expected to retire to our room but there we did nothing. It was awkward for the first night until we talked. I was extremely nervous, it was something I had never done before, talk with a man as if he were my equal. But Dastan made it easy for that to be easy, seem much more natural than it was.

For those three nights we spoke until we could speak no more. He told me of his life on the streets and I told him of my wish to be able to wield a sword, having watched my brothers do so for years, albeit with a rush of red on my face. He took my wish seriously and began to teach me how to fight when he had the chance. At first I held back but he coaxed me from my embarrassment by making sure we would only practice in private, or with Tamina. The only time we're ever truly alone is during the nights where he is expected to stay by side and when he teaches me to run across buildings as Tamina has no wish to learn the skill.

I began to watch my new husband, whose own eyes never strayed from his beautiful first wife. I watched him interact with his men, I placed bets on his fights generally picking against him. He'd been off the streets for too long, the men fought dirtier than he now. I will never tell him of course.

He is a great man, his life on the street giving him the humility that there should be in a future king. I'm afraid to say that I fell in love with him over the course of time.

I keep to myself when out of their company. Interacting with servants is not allowed and I find the other concubines dim-witted, only caring about the jewels on their back and being presented before their Princes in such a manner that would put them in higher favour. So I spend my days fighting with the boy soldiers at my command who I believe to look upon me as more than just someone they fought with. I must admit that I quite enjoy the attention and sometimes practice more for that rather than to develop my skills. I spend a great deal of time with Dastan's men, organising fights, foot races and the gambling that too often occurs. I ride out, always accompanied by other soldiers who take me to a plain where I can ride more freely. Other women think me odd to ride and fight and never shop but will never say so to my face nor to Tamina's although we can still feel their whispers. I read copious amounts of books in the many libraries, reading about worlds that I can only dream of visiting.

King Sharaman also began to allow me to pray with him seeing my religious and studious nature. He requested that I be his company during the banquets and sometimes I dance for him as I'm a good dancer, with no hint of bias. Prince Tus and Garsiv entrust their children to me sometimes to teach them lessons that I have previously learnt in my home city. I teach them many things in the great libraries, play with them in the gardens. I yearn for a child of my own even though I knew I will never have one from Dastan unless it was asked of me. I started to think that in my old life, that may have happened.

Whilst I love both Dastan and Tamina, one as a sister and one as a man that I wished would be a true husband at least once; they have only taken me into a new prison. A prison where my every wish was obeyed, my every whim catered for and my every complaint appeased. A gilded, beautiful birdcage where I could only escape on my husband's or his wife's behest, because where he went she would surely follow. In my old prison I knew I could not ride or fight or fall in love with a prince. I knew exactly what was expected of me and could play along accordingly, manipulating my new husband any way I wanted. I could have my child and encourage my husband's wandering hands never to touch me again. It would be a content existence, instead of Dastan showing me an exciting, loving existence that is never quite tangible.

Here I am floating in a sense of my own meaningless, save the time I spend with Dastan, listening to his wild adventures, laughing with his men as he loses another match, running with him like a free woman. Or the times I pray with Tamina, dance for King Sharaman and teach the children knowing I will probably never have one of my own with Dastan.

I am the second wife.

I live in the lap of the luxury with many servants around me, obeying my every whim. I have everything that I need and should want for nothing.

But I do.

I'm thinking of writing an add-on to this.
Because I think Dastan would be in love with her, even if he is in love with Tamina.

What say you gentle chaps?
(I really shouldn't writing A/N's when I'm this tired. Seriously.)