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Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time- Aftermath
Ch1. Aftermath
They stood beneath the sun shaded by the foliage of Alamut's palace courtyard. Princess Tamina looked at the man who stood before her, rugged and battle-worn. It was as if he had seen a great many things. He stood before her, smiling as if he knew her. Yet she had never met this man before.
"Prince Dastan, you conquer us, yet you appear to have the desire to right your nation's brashly committed crimes. Why is that?" Tamina asks raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at the young prince's calm demeanor and previous actions. He shifts his gaze towards the fountain before looking back at her with eyes that held no guile, only truth.
"I saw a man who I considered family seek power through killing his own. I sought to protect my family, to foil his scheme-to create my own destiny," Dastan responds.
"And how did you come to know such things?"
"You would not believe me if I told you," says Dastan, walking towards the balcony that overlooked all of Alamut, " There are a great many things I have seen recently, and they have made me a new man. A man capable of…capable of a higher purpose. A man my father can be proud of."
"Yet you invade my city and kill my people. Is it not your destiny to be a brutal Prince of Persia?"
"I seek to right my wrongs! We make our own destiny Princess," defends Dastan before muttering to himself, "The sand shows a great many things."
"What did you say?" Tamina says turning sharply to glare at Dastan's previous words. "About sand. What did you say?"
"Only that sand hold many secrets buried in its vastness. I have seen its power, and it has revealed the error of my ways."
"You are a terrible liar, Prince Dastan. While that may be true, the look in your eyes says otherwise. What is it that you have seen?" asks Tamina fearing the worst.
"I know about the Sands of Time that are contained beneath the city. I know that the dagger controls its flow. I have experienced its power. You knew this once."
"How-how do you know such things!" hisses Tamina drawing nearer to Dastan, "Such knowledge is kept even from my closest advisors. It is never supposed to leave the walls of Alamut! That is what you came for isn't it Persian? The dagger? It's power?"
"No, we were led to believe that Alamut had forged weapons for the enemies of Persia. You must know my words are the truth. My uncle, Nizam, sought the dagger to turn back time. To erase the actions that saved my father in his youth. He wished to take the throne, to prevent my brothers from ever having been born."
"I do not know what to believe. Your brother, Prince, seeks amnesty from the political backlash of Persia's allies. Is that not why you are to be my husband?"
"If you shall have me," whispers Dastan, and for the first time Tamina realizes how close they actually are. She could feel the humidity of his breath fanning out across her face. All of the sudden his lips looked quite inviting, something about them made her wonder what it would be like to kiss them.
Turning away abruptly Tamina stalks back towards the fountain as she says, "As if I could ever find such an unrefined, sacrilegious, royal swine fit to share my burden of protecting the dagger. But, for the sake of my people I suppose we will just have to get along won't we?"
"You mocked me, you know. In that time. You mocked me at every turn you got," laughs Dastan with disdain. "You lied to me continuously to save your precious dagger. You even tried to seduce me the night we escaped from Alamut, tried to kill me rather, and you would have succeeded if it were not for the dagger."
"It appears that either I am not as good a guardian as I should have been, or you are not nearly the warrior your people make you out to be, Lion of Persia."
Dastan takes steps towards Tamina who still refuses to look him in the eye. "Princess, you dragged me into a whirlwind of danger and trouble with that, that thing you call a gift from the Gods," she glares at him, appalled at his actions before he continues, "I know you find that I, this lowly Prince of a nation you so detest, could have wielded the dagger, but you have no knowledge of the whole story. The sacrifice and pain it took to prevent my uncle from destroying Alamut, Persia, even the entire world."
"Well then, we have time husband-to-be so why don't you tell me your story of pain and sacrifice," sneers Tamina, "Did you have to give up a concubine? Or was your horse saddled wrong when you rode to massacre my people this morning?"
Dastan blatantly ignores Tamina's rude comments and guides her to sit down at the edge of the fountain, an action she performs with hesitance. However, within moments she has regained her façade of cold serenity, looking intently at Dastan as if silently commanding him to give his story.
"When we met the last time, my brother was marching into the dagger's room as a conqueror intent on making you his wife. He was speaking to you, but you were looking at me. Rather you had taken a very keen interest in my belt and the strange dagger that it held. I had defeated your retainer earlier, and had taken the dagger as a prize. I don't know what possessed you to accept my brother's proposal, but I am willing to bet that you needed to get closer to me. You needed to get closer to the dagger. My brother attempted to take the dagger from me as a gift, but my uncle stopped him. Tus knew nothing of the dagger, but obviously my uncle had other plans. My brother was sent to look for the rumored forges of Alamut, but it was my uncle's ploy to begin the search for the tunnels you collapsed, the tunnels that would lead him to the Sands of Time. I was given the task of presenting you to my father as the one who breached the city. I had not yet procured a gift for him, and Tus gave me the cloak of Alamut's regent. Little did I know that Nizam had poisoned the cloak and moments after I have him the damned thing, it burned him to death. Garsiv immediately labeled me a murderer and you took my hand and led me over the balcony, into the pool below. We made our escape from the city and into the desert," begins Dastan as Tamina is riveted to his story. The Prince recounts her attempted murder/seduction, which resulted in his using the dagger. He reminds her of her constant deceit in the Valley of the Slaves and in Nasaf. The meeting with his uncle is recapped along with the realization that his uncle had framed him for his father's death. He weaves the tale of their reunion in the desert and their capture by Sheik Amar. The Hassansin attack that night is told with brevity as he moves on to tell her of their journey to the Secret Guardian Temple, Tamina's readiness to relinquish her life to stop Nizam, and Garsiv's death. Dastan did not neglect to include their touching conversation at that moment when she was ready to plunge the dagger back into the mountain and fulfill her 'destiny'. "I wasn't ready to let you go then, and I'm not ready to let you go now."
"What happened next?" asks Tamina afraid that if she allowed herself to gaze upon the broken and tormented look in Dastan's eyes she would break.
"We defeated the remaining Hassansins that had not escaped and stole back to Alamut, intent on retaking the dagger from where it rests now. When we arrived in the city Nizam had nearly reached the Sands. Amar's man managed to defeat the spiked Hassansin at the cost of his own life. Nizam naturally raised the alarm, but Amar provided the diversion we needed to sneak back into the palace. I needed to convince Tus that I was not the traitor, so I did the only thing I could. I told him our story," continues Dastan.
"And how did you convince him of this? He couldn't possibly believe such a wild tale," says Tamina quietly not sure what to make of this tale.
"I told him how to activate the dagger. Then I plunged it into my chest," Tamina gasps at Dastan's statement. "You were there watching behind the curtain. I felt your gaze on me as I died. Tus activated that dagger though, and he paid with his life for that as well. Nizam took off with the dagger and we made for the tunnels below the city via a secret passage you opened. Rubble activated the collapsing floor in the tunnels and I barely made it to the Sands' antechamber. There was a Hassansin waiting there. He would have killed me if you hadn't seized his viper and slashed him in the face as it was about to bite. It was in that moment, I knew that I could never be apart from you again. We kissed for a good few moments before we were spurred into action. Nizam was descending from the surface. I fought with Nizam and I had the upper hand before he threw you off the edge of the platform. I caught you, but…but.. I can't continue, Princess."
"No, you have come so far. Please tell me what happened Dastan," says Tamina softly. For the first time she looks at his face, and the pained and shamed expression it holds eats at her heart and serene façade. She reaches out with a slender hand and cups Dastan's cheek and turns his head to face her. "I'm here Dastan. Tell me what happened."
The young Prince takes a shuddering breath, steeling his nerves before finding his voice once again. "Nizam threw you off the platform and I caught your hand. You told me that it was not your destiny to stop him. You told me that it was my destiny and that I had to let you go, that you had fulfilled your purpose. You let go of my hand, and I couldn't keep hold. You slipped away from me and into the darkness. I still remember the fear in your eyes. You weren't ready to let go and neither was I, but you still did it. I fought with Nizam again, but he released the sands. I managed to knock him away and reseal the dagger's hilt, but the released sands took hold. I then found myself here in Alamut just after I had discovered the dagger, and you know the rest of the story."
"It takes courage and a noble nature to undertake what you did Prince," says Tamina- the façade is back in place. "I have no choice, but to believe you for only one who has wielded the dagger could know of such burdens."
Tamina's voice is calm and measured, but inside she is close to snapping. The weight and severity of what had transpired weighs on her mind. She had died? It was a heavy concept to come to terms with. And there was the subject of the man before her. Haunted was the best word to describe him. Haunted by the battles, the deaths of his family, haunted by losing everything.
"I believe you Dastan, but I do not know if I can trust you. You scaled Alamut's walls and took the city by force. However, I know you to be a good man. You stopped what you knew to be wrong, and accomplished a great task. You have saved the world and the world shall never know. You gave up the dagger knowing its power-a lesser man would not have done as such."
"I would not expect it to be so, but I was told once that some souls were meant to be together-always not matter how the Sands of Time have flowed."
"Yet you say you wish to make your own destiny. How hypocritical."
Dastan almost snorts at the derisive tone of Tamina's voice. It was just like when they first met. A woman incensed by the conquering of her people. The somber nature of their conversation is lifted.
"Princess, if I may be so bold. Would you grant me a kiss?" requests Dastan extending his hand towards hers. He knows it is completely out of conduct, and that he was putting himself in a difficult situation. Hesitantly she places her much more delicate digits into the palm of Dastan's calloused hand. What could it hurt, right? Tamina rationalized it in her head. They had kissed before, what could be different now?
Pulling Tamina to him Dastan leans down and allows his forehead to touch hers. Raising his left hand to her cheek he cradles her face before allowing his lips to brush hers. He gently presses his lips to hers and holds for a few moments before he realizes there is no response from her. He quickly backs away and turns to face outwards towards the city of Alamut. He should not have pushed her so quickly. She did not remember their journey, the feelings that had grown since their escape from these very walls.
The moment their lips touch she feels it. An electric current passes between them, the roughness of a few grains of amber sand on her moistened lips. The visions all come at once veiled in an amber vortex of sights and sounds. Dastan's capture of the dagger. The king's death from the poisoned regent's cape, and their subsequent escape from Alamut. Her deceit in the Valley of the Slaves, and their eventual capture. The somewhat comical escape from said valley and the Ostrich induced riots. Their positions in the King's funeral procession and Dastan's witty comments. Abandoning Dastan to his uncle. The sandstorm. The Hassansins and their near death experiences. Recapturing the dagger. Dastan's unwavering faith in his brother Tus, and his death. Descending into the caverns and tunnels beneath Alamut to stop Nizam. The death of the final Hassansin and their passionate kiss below the city. Their skirmish with Nizam. And her sacrifice to save the world- her own death.
She remembered it all, but most importantly she remembered Dastan. The infuriating man that had become someone she cared deeply for. She remembered what he said to her before they went to see Tus. "This won't be the last time we'll be together." He had kept his promise then, and he had kept it now. Tears well in her eyes as she opens them to find Dastan's back to her his head hung low, much unlike the man she had taunted in the desert.
"I'm so sorry Princess. Forgive my boldness, I did not mean-" starts Dastan before stopping, his emotions getting the better of him.
"Dastan?" she weakly says his name. His shoulders shift but he remains staring away from her. Shaking she walks forward towards him. Gently she wraps her arms around his torso and rests her head on his armor clad back and whispers to his ear, "You kept your promise. It was not the last time we would be together."
Dastan hears her sweet words flow into his ear and he stiffens. How? She didn't remember moments ago- then how? He spins around in her arms and pulls her to him tightly embracing her. She looks up at him with teary eyes and rests her chin on his chest.
"Tamina…You remember?" he asks looking hopefully down at her perfect features. She nods and tears of joy roll down her face. Without warning Dastan leans down and captures her plump lips in a passionate kiss and this time she does not hesitate to reciprocate. They stand there wrapped up in their own world until they hear loud clapping from the stairs behind them. The two almost spring apart as if caught doing something they should not have. Bis, Garsiv, and Tus stand at the entrance to the courtyard bemused smiles on their faces.
"Brother! I am glad you are taking this proposition so well, but lest you forget, father must give his consent," roars Tus with laughter. Garsiv and Bis laugh along with him amused by the blushing prince.
"Come! Father approaches let us inform him of your desire to wed your Princess. We must prepare gifts for him," says Garsiv tucking his helmet beneath his arm. The three turn to walk back into the throne room. Dastan looks to the stunning woman next to him and lays a kiss to her lustrous brown hair.
"I thought I had lost you forever," says Dastan quietly his head resting atop Tamina's.
"Now or before?" she asks content to stay wrapped in Dastan's arms.
"Both. What made you remember? I thought only the holder of the dagger is aware of its effects."
"The sand, it was on your lips. You were right, the sand does show many things, and it has reunited us."
"Then we are truly blessed my love."
"Perhaps we are my not-so-noble Prince."
"Even now you mock me Tamina. How is that? We are reunited against all odds and you still manage to taunt me at every turn."
"I can't have my husband-to-be resting on his laurels now can I? I must keep you on your toes. I won't have you become bored of me. I intend to keep you forever."
"And you shall, there is no woman who could best you in wit or compare to your beauty."
"Flattery will get you nowhere Dastan. Now, let us greet your father. We must make sure that history does not repeat itself lest we be on the run again."
"Of course my lady," replies Dastan before placing a hand at the small of her back to guide her back inside the palace.
A/N: So what did you guys think? I saw the movie last week and it got the creative juices moving. Hasn't been Beta'd so if there's any mistakes let me know. Also I'm not sure whether or not to make this a one-shot or an actual story. I guess it could go either way right now so I need you guys to read and review to tell me what you want me to do. Thanks for reading and please don't forget to review!
Thanks,
GATX-105b