Hello Everyone!

Deliriously good to be back and thank you so much for hanging around and waiting for me.

This story is playing high on romance/angst and low on adventure so hope you will be agreeable. Plus we might go adult later. PLEASE stick around till the end and give me some time to write. I love you all for your wonderful thoughts and words of encouragement. Await your reviews.

Thank you Singular Toast for beta reading!

Love

A

Prologue Part 1

She stood on the dais as they dressed her, washing away the designs painted on yesterday. Tears streamed down her face but they were not of sadness. They were tears of fury at the actions of the Persian princes. A message could not be hurried to the King as they camped and now she had to play the part of the submissive princess until he arrived. She knew that the young princes would get a fleecing. More than anything, she needed to retrieve the dagger from the youngest son of King Sharaman- Prince Dastan. Her thoughts were focused on that goal when she felt heavy eyes on her through the silk drape of her chamber.

He did not expect this. He has seen enough surrenders and forfeits. But since the first time he felt her gaze on him, he was captivated beyond reason. He felt discomfort at her tears and turned away, the part he played to evoke them weighing heavily on his conscience. It also made it worse that Tus wanted her killed if the King did not approve their marriage. Shamefully, he had given the promise. Shame was what he deeply felt again as she turned to meet his eyes.

He cleared his throat, afraid that his voice would betray his feelings, and walked in to face her.

"I'm to present you to the King your Highness," he said with all the male bravado he could muster. He wanted her to talk back, scream, and shout anything. Yet all he got in reply was a turn of her head, tearing her gaze from him.

However, even that failed to vanquish his feelings towards her. He turned to leave but not before he let his eyes once more bask in her beauty. He traced her form from her feet to her beautiful eyes, and walked away.

Dastan was surprised how the image of her eyes replaced his feelings of shame with that of, he dared say, desire. She was the most exquisite creature he had ever seen and he has seen many exquisite creatures. The thought made him smile. As much as being the adopted son of the King had its down days, the women were indeed a perk. His children would never be in line for the throne, and with that brought the reassurance that anyone he bedded was only after pleasure, just as he was. Well for pleasure and pretty things; the ladies loved the pretty jewels he would bestow on them and Dastan could not get enough of the pretty willing things on his bed.

However, being the crown prince also meant that princesses such as this one were his for the taking. Tus was indeed a lucky man which brought him to a very important thought. He could not think of his future sister-in-law with desire. He had to make sure that he despised her to ensure that there was no desire whatsoever.

His visit also dragged Tamina out of the thoughts that plagued her mind. She had expected to see Prince Tus wanting to present her but she realised that he must be looking for the elusive weapons she supposedly sold to Persia's enemies. She knew satisfaction would be hers when the King set them straight. However, there was one matter she would still have to deal with- her marriage to Prince Tus.

Tamina was the last in line of royal blood. As written in the sacred prophecies, no child will be borne by her. She was called by the Gods to be the guardian of the sacred dagger and the one to be untouched. She was put on earth to be the only one who could go down to the sacred Sandglass Chamber. This also meant that she had to make an advantageous yet very political marriage which would ensure her people were kept safe after her passing. With that the dagger would be lost until the dawn of the next guardian. A marriage to either of the two Princes of Persia was thought of a few years ago but she could not make that decision. However, maneuvered by the Gods, fate had made that decision for her.

She rushed out into the corridor, and the Persian Guards boxed her in. Prince Dastan casually straightened himself.

"So, I'm escorted by Prince Dastan, the Lion of Persia. Must feel wonderful winning such a claim for destroying such an innocent city," she spat in anger.

Dastan moved to the head of the guard and tapped on his shoulder, "Oh, a pleasure to meet you too, Princess. And allow me to offer, that if punishing the enemies of my King is a crime, then it's one I'll gladly repeat."

Tamina boiled in anger. "Then you are a true Prince of Persia. Brutal. Without honor."

At that time, they reached the Great Hall where the festivities could be heard from. Dastan turned to her.

"Don't make the mistake of thinking you know me, Princess," he said as he turned to look at her.

"Oh," she glared back at him, "and what more is there?"

Dastan's heart skipped a beat. No one had spoken to him like this before. Yes he had been spoken down to as an adopted son, but this was different. This was a woman who was unafraid to speak her mind. He smiled to himself. With that mouth, he will have no difficulty staying away from her and the feeling she enticed.

"Wait here with Her Highness," he turned to her again, "if you can manage it. I suggest a hint of humility when you're presented to the King. For your own good."

She sneered at him in anger and disdain but the flash of the dagger around his waist made her tolerate this nonsense. Yet it was not the situation that angered her now. It was the Prince. She knew he was the one that breached the Eastern gates and put her in this position. It did not matter that he was possibly the most handsome man she had laid her eyes on. No, it did not matter. At least that is what she told herself.

She could hear the King sing his praises as the Prince presented the King with treasures of her people- the prayer robe of Alamut's Regent.

She cringed but her spirits lifted when she heard the King politely refuse the gift which in his own words should be with the people of Alamut. She smiled, confident that the King will help her as planned.

Tamina heard her being announced and, holding her head up high, she glided in. Dastan turned to her, amazed at the grace she displayed, that only she could display, at the face of adversity. He averted his eyes remembering that he had a promise to keep.

"Tus wishes to make a union with her people through marriage. It is my deepest wish that this win your approval," he said it with the loyalty he owed his brother.

King Sharaman looked at her, standing tall against the Persian Empire.

"In all my travels," he announced for all to hear, "I have never looked upon a more beautiful city, your Highness."

Tamina smiled and bowed in reply. What she wanted to state was that the King should have seen it before his horde of camel-ridding illiterates descended upon it, cheered on by his three eager sons. But she held her tongue.

"Perhaps Dastan, the Princess and I should speak away from this merriment," the King said as he extended his hand to Tamina.

The crowds parted as they made their way out to the parlor, but against her good judgment she turned to look at Prince Dastan. He was laughing and filling a chalice to the brim, dimming her hope that he may have seen her as something worth noticing. She turned away and at that same moment, Dastan turned hoping to catch a glimpse of the Princess who had made a mark in his heart.

In the quiet of the parlor, the King turned apologetically, left alone with only Tamina.

"Princess my family cannot be forgiven for this," he shook his head in anger and shame.

"Good King Sharaman," she reached to him, "your sons did not know and saying it is a holy city is a grain of truth, like a grain of sand from the sandglass."

"What an apt explanation," he said as he sat down, tired from the journey.

"King Sharaman, I think we both know your sons were misled to attack the city. Yet it concerns me that this seems like more than a mere misunderstanding. The proof against the Kingdom, the intricate scheme, the forgery… it is too well planned out."

The King looked at her with deep concern. "You suspect that someone may know of the dagger?"

"I fear that someone already knows of the dagger and that we tried to take it out of the city," she confessed.

The King pondered for a minute until a word hit him hard.

"Tried?"

She sat next to him. "Your Highness, the dagger was sto… found by Prince Dastan…. It is on his person now."

Sharaman stood up in anger and started to pace.

"Those boys! We must recover it from him… before he wages it on gambling."

Tamina gasped in shock yet she had faith in King Sharaman. Her father died young, poisoned by none other than the Hassansins. But before he passed away, in his deathbed, he shared the sacred secret with the Persian King to protect his daughter. King Sharaman was renowned for his piety. He protected the holy city with enough focus to ensure its safety without drawing undue attention. Years the city was left untouched. Now this happened and it proved his theory that his sons were too immature to share this secret with him. He will only share with one and he had not yet made the decision which son will be the guardian of the secret.

"King Sharaman?"

Tamina's soft voice brought him back.

"I suggest that we play this matter down, continue on our way as what this is played out to be, a siege on the Kingdom by an Empire, while we ensure the safety of the dagger. I do believe that your sons are not participants in this evil plan, only pawns," she shared.

"Yes… we will discuss more soon… and I release you from whatever wager Tus…"

"About that," she interrupted, "King Sharaman…"

Her words were lost in her embarrassment at the topic she had to now discuss.

"I… I am aware that my father shared with you the… condition… that is to say that I cannot… that I am barren," she finally said, not wanting to make eye contact with the King.

"Therefore," she spoke after a brief silence, "my marriage will ultimately result in my husband's Kingdom ruling Alamut."

She looked at her hands neatly folded on her lap. She shook her head to pull herself from the strain of this topic.

"King Sharaman, with your blessing and guidance, I know Alamut will be well in the hands of your sons. They may be unruly boys now but they are your sons… I do not doubt that Prince Tus will be as wise a King as you," she said.

"Ah," King Sharaman smiled, "you wish to hold Tus to his bargain."

She finally looked at him and nodded.

"I have often thought of you as a daughter-in-law yet shamefully, my selfishness prevented me from the offer," he confessed. "Tamina, you are a Princess of the best nature. But with Tus, you will be a fifth wife… it is not a position for a Princess."

The room fell quiet until he spoke again, "Sadly, Garsiv married just over two seasons ago and his wife is with child. It is not right to force this marriage now or even if we wait for a year. Dastan, well that boy is yet to settle down let alone marry. However, he should be blessed with sons and daughters one day through his marriage."

"Prince Tus however, his wives had borne him four sons and two daughters," she stated.

"Princess Tamina, the shame of being only a fifth wife and not producing a child…"

She placed her hand on the King's. "Is no shame compared to cowering away from protecting my people."

King Sharaman looked at her eyes, eager and pleading to accept her term. She only thought of her people as always. None of his sons deserved her!

"If, if, you are certain, I have no objection. Let us announce the engagement tomorrow to all… I think we have had enough excitement for today," he patted her hand to comfort and escorted her back to the merriment.