Love, War, and Time

Chapter 1: Passing through

India was warm and dark as the Persian army camped in the sand domes near the royal palace of a India. The soldiers sat around numerous fires laughing and telling story of their home's and battles they fought. In the large tent the Prince of Persia and The King of Persia sat at a small square wooden table looking to their map. "We'll be in the Indian palace by high noon, hopefully we will pass though without incident." King Sharaman sighed feeling fatigued from the days journey.

"Father, might the Indian king give of lounging?" Prince asked seeing that his father was tired. "Possible my son, but you needn't worry. The King of India is an agreeable man by reputation." He smiled. "Also I hear he is quiet the joker."

Prince smiled at his Father's lightness. "The Soldiers complain mostly of the heat an our preserving water but I think it's because they haven't had a women in their bed for so long." He sighed standing up and rolling the map up into a tube and his Father laughed. "Rest easy now son, we shall be in the cool palace of India and I need you with in full strength we be there for a while with our provision being so little now." Sharaman said taking his large dazzling sword off his waist and resting it on the table. "Father?" Prince said standing holding the map in one hand.

"Yes, my son?" He said with a light laugh knowing his son would go on and on with questions when the opportunity was presented. "Nothing, it don't matter. You must rest." Prince said putting the map in the corner of the tent as the King laid on his fur cot. Prince looked to his father one last time hearing him snoring and he smiled. It was just like at home in Babylon, his Father always fell asleep right away and woke up without protest or complaint.

Prince walked out and looked to the west seeing the small oasis of cool trees near the Indian Palace, you could hardly see the top of the domes they were so far away. "You all had better rest, were starting bright and early!" Prince called with his voice filling the empty night. The men groaned and put away their cards away and slowly walked to there small tents.

Prince sighed walking to his own tent that was beside his Father's. He took off his brass plated armor and his sword belt that thumped to the floor, then he took off his turban that was blue like his shirt and had a gold band around it. Prince ran his fingers through his dark hair. His hair was slightly long stopping at his jaw where his hair hung about his face covering his strong and handsome features and his surprising green eyes. He stood firm and proud and walked with determination in each step.

Prince sighed and flopped on his cot feeling sleep and he put his right hand on his forehead and listened to the men murmuring in slow quiet conversation. He turned on his side looking to the small scar on his arm that he got when he was younger training to be a perfect warrior. His skin was a honey brown and he sighed wishing he was home swimming along the beach of Babylon as he would when it was too hot for his training.

And ever so slowly his eyes closed and he was asleep.

In the palace of India the Princess Farah of India stood at her balcony looking to the swaying trees as a quiet night wind passed through. She was beautiful and strong as people would find her character to be. Her hair black as night and smooth a silk and skin brown and decorated with a simple henna on her right forearm and on her ankles. And she wore a slightly glowing gold medallion that her mother entrusted to her before she died. Her hair was out and down her back as she looked up to the sky with her mysterious brown eyes. She wear a crisp white skirt and a wrap top that was also white to bed.

She couldn't sleep knowing that the Persianarmy was only miles from her beloved home. She never trusted soldiers least of all Persians. She thought them glory seeking scoundrels who cared nothing for life and righteousness, she didn't even like her own warriors ; she thought fighting for land and other things ridiculous. But she was stressed of having the Persian army come this way, would they start a war hoping to take her palace as a jewel? Questions of War ran though her head like a bird after it's pray.

"Princess, why are you still awake at this hour?"

Farah turned around startled looking to the royal Vizier who was bowing holding his snake like staff in his hand as he always did with his mischievous smile. "I should ask you the same thing, why are in my chambers sneaking about?" Farah frowned holding her arms. "Please your grace, I mean you no harm, I was simply checking on you. You seemed worried about the news of the Persian army passing though." He said simply.

Farah's dislike for the Vizier was a strong as her dislike for soldiers. She always found him sneaking about with his staff and smiling that strange smile, it was as if he a hiding something. "I am quiet well, although I am not thrilled to see how lightly my father is taking this." She said turning around looking back to the forest. The Vizier walked toward Farah with his staff making a slight clanking sound against the marbled floor.

"Fear not Princess, the Persian soldiers are honorable fighters." He smiled putting his hand lanky hand on Farah bare shoulder. She winced pulling away from his hand. "I doubt that, Vizier. All soldiers are the same they kill until they get their glory." She seethed. "Please be more calm in this matter, there will be no confrontation." The Vizier walked away with an smug grin on his face as he strode out her chambers. Farah sighed closing her eyes and turning to her room. She walked though the gates of her window that was covered by light lien and she walked to her bed feeling tired.

She would be calm but not completely, there was never telling what would happen with an army at your door step. Farah lightly pushed back the see-through mesh that was around her circler bed and laid on the soft warm white sheets feeling sleep taking over her and relaxing her. And in no time she was asleep.

The next morning Prince awoke with his Father and dressed putting his sword back on and his turban on his head and got to his horse waking the men who slowly rose and they grabbed their swords and ate whist they walked. Prince rode by his father who looked straight ahead. Prince looked from his Father to the Indian palace that was coming into view slowly as it was high morning going to the afternoon. And for some reason the Prince--as they drew nearer to the palace with each step-- felt uneasy, almost worried, that the army passing though a place as fragile as India was a bad idea. But he said nothing to his Father of this he didn't want him to think he wasn't ready to fight if they had to.

Just as the King predicted, they were at the Indian palace by high noon, the palace was beautiful with stone figures, smooth cool marble floors and smooth carpets. Prince looked up as he walked through the threshold of the palace to the throne room. "My friends." The Indian king greeted with his arms open. Sharaman embraced the Indian king with a smile and Prince stood back watching feeling that the India king was quiet a short chucky man with a friendly face.

There high guards stood on either side of the king protecting him. Prince looked back up seeing the stand glass ceiling that was sparkling down making the room seem like the inside of a rainbow and around the room was a second floor she saw a female wearing a yellow dress move away. Prince frowned and looked away as he watched the Vizier walk toward the his liege. "We are honored to have you as our royal guest." The Vizier bowed to Prince and the King.

Prince nodded without saying a word but he simply observed. "Thank you for letting us into your kingdom. We travel a long way and we hope that we could stay until we have all the provisions we need." Sharaman said. "Delightful." The Indian smiled. "We would love to have you stay here."

"Father, They should come and go as quickly as possible."

Prince turned seeing the beautiful Farah, she was frowning. Prince felt his heart skip a beat but he maintain his posture and appearance. "Farah my dear, these men mean no harm." The Indian King smiled. "Excuse my daughter Farah, she had such a strong opinion on soldiers and war." He said to The Persian king who nodded. "Please don't be rude, Farah." He smiled.

Farah folded her arms and looked to each other Persian guards and then stopped on Prince with a sneer. He looked away simply and went to his Father hoping to avoid that angry Princess. "Please let my servants show you to the bath and your sleeping arrangements, and we may eat later."

Prince and his Father bowed as the servants showed them the way. Prince walked past Farah and time seemed to have slowed down as his eyes locked with Farah hard eyes. He slowly looked away feeling a chill go along his back. He had never seem such despise in a women's eyes until he met the Princess of India.

Once The Prince, The King, and the guards that they had with them left, Farah frowned to her Father as he sat on his throne with a smile. "I don't understand your hospitality to these savages." Farah sneered walking to her Father. "Farah, hush. You should have respect, they are just men in need." He said. "Father, how can you think that when they are here with swords and armors. You can't be so naive to think that they don't want to fight." Farah said frowning even more. The Indian king sighed feeling stressed. "Daughter, These men want nothing but provisions and shelter until they are ready to leave." He said trying to reassure his Daughter.

Farah scoffed and unfolded her arms. "You just don't listen, Persian's are blood lusting people." She said. "You have to be at least on your guard, Father." Farah sighed smoothly her hand over her medallion. Farah walked over to her Father and kissed his cheek. "I'll skip supper, I have some reading I want to catch up on." She said and left the throne room with head yellow dress shimmering as she walked through sun light.

The Prince took off his shoes slowly thinking of the beauty of the palace holding the venom of the Princess. She was beautiful--yes-- but she was also unwelcoming and the look in her eyes made him feel even more unwelcome and uneasy. He took of his shirt and white pants and his weapon's lay near his armor and he dived into the large bath that was much deeper then his as home and he swam under for a while and came to the surface. He flipped his hair back and sighed.

"Don't get us to it."

The Prince turned around in the water looking to Farah who was standing at his sword with her arms folded. "Is this how you treat your guest by barging in on then whilst their nude." He said coldly. "Ha, I could hardly call you a guest, Prince of Persia." She said with disgust. "Your more or less a fly buzzing around my kingdom."

"I'm so flattered you think of highly of me, I thought you would have gave me the title of dirt." He grinned seeing that what he said made her angrier. "Joke all you like, Prince. But I know you warriors do anything but rape and pillage." She frowned. "I heard about you Princess, but I guess they were wrong. Instead of being a forgiving, loving, and peaceful person. Your just a child who can't have her way." He shot back. Farah lifted her yellow and white dress a little and stooped down picking up his sword.

The Prince clutched the small dagger he had in his left hand underwater. Farah stood up gracefully and smirked. "I wonder. How many men have you kill, Prince? Surely hundreds from the weight of the sword." She took the sword from it's sheath and it sparkled. Farah held the sword at length and smile. "You shouldn't assume, Princess." He said looking to her darkly. "Why not? All of my assumptions have been true even since I was but a child." Farah shot back and slipped the sword back in it's sheath and dropped it to the floor.

"Don't worry, I won't want to start anything so I suggest you keep you distance. I don't like being around your kind." She said walking out. Prince sighed and looking to his hand that was gripping the sliver knife. "Women." He said rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

Later the Prince sat in guest chambers looking to the smooth sheets that he found relieving. He found sleeping on the sand domes very uncomfortable. The Prince walked to the large window that was open blowing the cold night air into the room. The White curtains blew as he slowly walked to the window and seat on the seal of the window looking to the crescent moon. His mind fill with the intoxicating venom of Princess Farah, he liked her spunk but disliked her harsh feelings toward him and his entourage. He sighed and looked to the sky. It somehow looked different from where he was from but the stars told a whole different story for him. After a while he reluctantly went to bed.

Farah was once more in her white two piece sleep wear, but since tonight was oddly chilly and not helping her mood anymore. She was at the balcony looking to the crescent moon. She would always look to the sky where her Mother told her that she'd be watching her from. Farah sighed and looked to her left down to where the Prince was supposed to be sleeping. She would kill him in his sleep but she thought against it because what her kingdom needed was unity and peace. Not war. So she thought she must be a perfect example. The Indian people were very hospitable to the Persia's although she didn't fully understand why. But to see that her people were getting along with them was a good act of peace.

Hopefully they would be out before she could have time to even get use to their presence. Farah took her shawl and wrapped it around her arms trying to stay warm. She turned and gasped seeing the Vizier smiling to her and then bowing. "I really hate your sneaking in my chamber." Farah sighed trying to regain her calm composure. "A thousand apologies Princess, I was just wondering if you would be still practicing your archery in the morning. Your Father wants to be there to talk with you." He smiled. Farah shivered at his smile. "Yes, I will but why should it be any concern to you? You are never invited to my practices and I'd like to keep if that way." Farah frowned. The Vizier bowed and sneered secretly to the floor and when he stood up he smiled. "Why yes as you wish, good night Princess." He smiled and bowed. Farah couldn't help but feel strangely helpless in his presence as if we were a cat cornering a mouse.

When he left Farah took a breath and put her hands on the railing on her balcony and shook her head. 'I have to convince Father to get rid of the strange Vizier.' She thought and then finally retired to bed.

When the Vizier left Farah's chambers he frowned. "Damn wench." He cursed out loud. The Vizier was a companied by a few India soldier that were under his command. "Did you get the medallion?" One asked. The Vizier frowned. "No, I didn't get it fool, She's always awake." He said gripping his staff and hitting it on the floor. "Sir we have to make a plan, the Persia's are here we have a small window we have to hurry." Said another looking slightly panicked. "Don't fret, men." The Vizier sighed calming himself. Tomorrow when the Princess is about with her bow and arrow we will meet in the throne room and I will reveal my new plan." He smiled. "Yes Zurvan." The men choired quietly. The Vizier gave himself a name to when he was to be successful in his plan. The Vizier grinned smugly and walked the other way. 'There's nothing she can do about it.' He chuckled under his breath and left for his chambers.

This is my first Prince of Persia Fanfic so hopefully I'm doing okay. Usually I'm doing Cardcaptor Sakura fic's. But I hope I'll do my best and hopefully it's interesting. I'm a little nervous about it but I'll update soon. Hopefully It'll be good. Looking forward to the reviews.

Peace.

Sakura123