Author Notes: So, here is the beginnings of a new obsession of mine. I only discovered this movie about 2 weeks ago, when I went searching for a movie in boredom. It's turned into another obsession of mine!

Without giving much away, you can expect some Dastan/Tamina romance of course. There's also the return of the Hassansins and hopefully some more of your favourite characters from the movie!

Reviews are my fuel. Actually my obsession if my fuel, but reviews help :)

I also have a tendancy to get distracted easily by a little thing called University Exams, so I don't know how often this will be updated. The best way to keep up to date is to add it to your alerts! Hope you enjoy. Prince of Persia and its respective characters are copyright of Disney. Enjoy!

Woffles92

Prologue - A Dead Man's Plea

Hooves thundered onto the sun baked earth as the night black horse galloped, so fast, it was almost as though you could see the hounds of hell snapping at it's feet. The rider kept glancing nervously over his shoulder, as if expecting someone to be following him, even though nothing could be seen through the cloud of brown dust that they were creating. At the edge of the valley, a fortress loomed into view. His mouth was dry, and he was unfathomably tired, but he pressed on, knowing that he would pay a heavy price were his precious cargo delivered late.

"Open the gate!" he cried anxiously as he approached the hilltop palace at speed. Somewhere inside his orders were obeyed and the heavy metal gate was hoisted. Without stopping, the rider ducked through, only missing the slowing moving portcullis by a hair's breadth.

In the courtyard, warriors in black practiced their skills with strange but deadly weapons. Few people inhabited this place, and those that did spent their day working in the surrounding fields, or kept out of trouble, locked away their houses. The rider continued through the deserted streets until he reached the largest building at the centre of the city where he halted his horse abruptly. It whinnied in protest and then snorted loudly. Sliding from the saddle, the messenger walked purposefully toward the building, handing the reins of his steed to a groom as he passed. The guards knew his face and didn't hinder him in his progress. As he passed through a courtyard he glanced at the whirling dervishes dressed in black. Even just watching made him dizzy, so he couldn't imagine how they could keep it up for long periods of time.

Finally, he made his way to the foot of a tall tower.
"I'm sorry Kazim," said a sentry who was stationed at the entrance, "But he's not to be disturbed."

"Trust me old man," Kazim hissed arrogantly, "He'll want to be disturbed for this."

"I must insist…"

But Kazim shoved him aside, and proceeded to climb the stone steps two at a time. Clenched in his gloved fist was a role of parchment, the cargo which he was so eager to deliver.

At the top of the tower there was a dark room, sparingly lit by candles, and heavily scented by incense. By the window, a shadowy figure sat stationary. Without even stopping to announce himself, Kazim strode across the room to the figure, ignoring the instant headache that the strange incense gave him. He considered that whatever they were burning was the reason they were all half mad, and he hoped that he didn't have to spend too long subjecting himself to it.

He was but a few steps from the man when a black snake leaped from it colied position on his shoulder. It hissed viciously, and would have certainly made an attack on the messenger had it's owner not become suddenly animated and grabbed it mid-flight. He retracted his arm and stroked the serpent, soothing it as a mother would an infant.

"You better have a good reason," he said with a calm yet icy voice, "for interrupting my meditation."

"I'm sorry, but I was instructed that this was to be sent with the highest priority."

With a curt bow, he handed over the parchment.

The serpent master studied the scroll.
"This seal is broken," he noted with an air of caution.

"It must've been crushed en-route," Kazim explained breathlessly, "I was given the strictest instructions that it wasn't to leave my hands until I got to you."

He opened the scroll and began to read.

Hassansin,

If you are reading this, then I am dead and have desperate need of your services.

You have been very useful to me in the past and I know you will not fail me.

I was reluctant to have to consider this alternative, but in the event of my death, accidental or pre-conceived, this is the course of action which I beg you to take. You must trust me that you will be rewarded in the end.

The letter was detailed and precise, on where, when, and what was necessary for him to take this 'course of action'.

It was signed, Nizam.

The Hassansin looked up from the parchment and regarded the messenger with cold blue eyes. As he did, he whispered to the snake which had settled around his arm. In response, she unwrapped herself and made her way slowly towards Kazim who began to back away from the approaching reptile.

"Don't move," the Hassansin commanded, "She won't attack you unless you move."

"Stop it!" Kazim hissed as the snake slowly ascended his leg. A single bead of sweat popped onto his forehead and rolled down his face.

The Hassansin stood up and approached him. Slowly, he circled Kazim and came to rest by his ear.
"One thing you must remember when carrying messages," he uttered with his voice barely more than a whisper, "Is not to read them."

"I didn't!" was his innocent protest as he felt a slithering up the front of his chest. Kazim's eyes widened and there was a flash of terror as the serpent settled itself so as it was looking him directly in the eye. It rocked slowly, sizing up its prey.
"Zolm, you can't leave me like this! Stop this vile thing!"

Pausing before he left, the serpent master turned back to the messenger, and offered some final words of advice.
"Don't move."

He left the petrified man in the middle of the meditation room and descended the tower. As he reached the foot of the long spiral staircase, the sound of a blood curdling scream reached his ears. It lasted only a few moments before there was silence again. The sentry posted at the bottom of the stairs shot him a confused and frightened look as he passed.

In response, the corners of Zolms's mouth turned up in the smallest, yet deadliest of smiles.
"I told him not to move."