Prologue Part 2

She was thinking about what had transpired with the King as she sat solitarily in her private Temple Garden. Only she was allowed to enter here. The birds in the garden were asleep and only the chimes of little bells danced in the wind while the golden lanterns illuminated the space. It was a tiresome day listening to accounts of the dead and damage. She had left the Persians to their mirth and prayed for the souls of the departed. Yet it was not that which brought her out to the garden. She could not understand why she was sad at the prospect of her marriage. Tamina was a Princess and as with all nobility, there was no marriage for love. It was for money, power, status, protection. It was for anything but love. She had never thought about whom she would marry and therefore she never expected feelings to be attached to the decision. However, her melancholy state surprised her. What was she expecting?

Her thoughts were suddenly disrupted by a sensual giggle and then a ghastly gasp. She turned to find one of the Persian dancers, her midriff bare, except for the hands of Prince Dastan around her. She released herself from his grip and ran away while Prince Dastan stood combing his hair back with his hand. Tamina followed the girl out of the labyrinth of the sculptured garden and turned to the Prince.

"Princess Tamina," he placed his hands behind him and gently bowed.

"Prince Dastan," she acknowledged and turned away.

For the first time, Dastan was embarrassed at his behavior and looked for a way to ease into conversation. Why he thought she deserved an explanation, he did not know.

"I… I was looking for you….as…" he stammered.

Tamina rolled her eyes realising at his voice that he yet remained in the garden.

"Prince Dastan, this Garden is for my use only and therefore would have appeared secluded to you and your… companion," she stated after careful use of words. Tamina boiled in anger at what she thought was the disrespect towards her Kingdom.

"Well actually Princess… I did need to meet you as the King wished me to return this to you."

She heard the dagger being released from a sheath and she quickly stood up from the seat. He was returning her most treasured possession, but Tamina could not let go of the chance to speak her mind on his behavior.

"Prince Dastan, while I do appreciate the return of a stolen good of mine which your father is making you return, I must caution you against using my palace and particularly my private rooms for your personal immoral pursuits," she stated, her voice mirroring the cold of her eyes.

Dastan nervously shifted on his feet, "Princess I might be intoxicated…"

"Clearly," she added infuriating him more.

"Yet," he stated more firmly, "I do recognise your attempt to tell me how to live my life. You fail to realise that your Kingdom is now under Persian rule which means I can go anywhere I want and with anyone I desire."

There was that word again- desire. Dastan could not understand why that word keeps coming up in his thoughts when she was involved.

"And you fail to realise that you are making merry while my people are mourning the loss of their loved ones," she replied.

And here came the other thing she made him feel- shame!

"I don't have to stay here and listen to you lecture me on all things moral," he said as he calmly strode towards her. "Perhaps I will keep this dagger as an apology from you."

"Give back what you stole Persian!"

Dastan opened his mouth for a witty remark but the rustling of leaves and a gasp from Tamina's lips silenced him. He stood there looking at her for perhaps a second but it seemed an eternity. Then he saw blood dripping from her arm right before collapsing into his arms as he lunged forward.

Dastan felt another razor sharp spike wiz past him. His mind did not have time to understand what was happening in the quiet of the night and his weapons were earlier discarded, he only had the dagger to shield them against the attack.

However, in his hurry he pressed the jeweled hilt and suddenly his mind was torn from his body. He was there only looking down on him and the Princess. His body glowed amber and he saw all in reverse. As sudden as its beginning, the mirage ended and he was thrown back into his body.

"And you fail to realise that you are making merry while my people are mourning the loss of their loved ones," she replied.

He stood, gaping at the dagger in his hand, gasping words out.

"Did you see that?" he mumbled.

"See what?" she asked as annoyed as confused by his questioning.

He looked at her and suddenly remembered the attack. He jumped forward pushing her away but before he could protect himself, Dastan looked down to see three sharp spikes protruding out of his chest.

"Dastan!" Tamina gasped again. He fell onto the ground and brought the dagger to him. He placed his thumb on the ruby as the Princess screamed him not to.

This time, Dastan looked on as time reversed and he got a good look at the assailant hidden in the dark- Hassansin!

He released the jewel and he was back in front of the Princess.

"And you fail to realise…" before she could finish her sentence, Dastan sprung at her, breaking her fall with his own body. He pressed her on to himself as she tried to push herself away at what she thought as molestation.

"Well I never! Unhand me you… you," she shouted as she tried to straighten up.

"Shut up woman!"

He turned her again and straddled her between his thighs.

"Sound the alarm! SOUND THE ALARM," he screamed.

The spikes once again whizzed past and he covered her with his body. Tamina knew that something was wrong and did not protest as the Prince lead her into the thick hedges as the alarms rang throughout the kingdom.

"Tamina, listen to me," he whispered.

"Tamina? How dare you address me like that?"

"Really," he said surprised, "we're under attack, I saved your life and you are concerned about the title I use especially after you called me by my name."

She looked at him, so close to her lips, "I will never call you by name!"

He started to protest but remembered that it took place before he rewound time. Dastan shook his head in annoyance. Only this woman can steal his thoughts as such.

"Princess Tamina, is there any way out from here… a secret…"

Before he could complete his sentence, Tamina turned and led him through the intricate gardens to a waterfall and slipped behind it. They ran along the marble floor for a few minutes when Dastan pulled her again.

"What is happening?"

"Clearly we are under attack," she said as a matter of fact.

He pulled her back again as she turned away. "That was a Hassansin and this," he said as he held the dagger in front of her, "just turned back time."

"I think you've hit your head," she said trying hard to hide her shock at the statement.

"And I think you are not telling the truth. Maybe I should do it aga…"

"No!"

She screamed back and closed her eyes. "I… I think it would be best if we wait for your father to be in this discussion."

She led him carefully to a heavy marble door but he ensured that he push the door ajar and scout the area for any threat. They were safe.

Dastan quickly learned that it was just one assailant and not an attack by an enemy army. Tus has been whisked away to safety from his search party in the Alamutian tunnels, his father the King was shielded in the safe room with half of the Persian guards, the Princess was hidden in the secret pathway behind the waterfall while Garsiv and Nizam ensured that the Palace was secure. It was dawn when Dastan finally came to the Princess and took her to where the King was. It was time for answers.

The three of them stood in the empty room after Tamina narrated the history of the Sandglass. Dastan slowly turned the dagger in his hands.

"Father, you knew this?"

"My boy, the late King only had me to trust and I would have passed my knowledge to one of my sons. I had not decided which one yet, though it seems God has decided for me," the King advised.

Tamina walked to Dastan and reached out her hand. "May I please have the dagger back Prince Dastan?"

He looked again at the dagger. "Why do they want you dead?"

She folded her hand back and clasped her waist. "They do not want me dead… they want my beating heart."

"The Hassansin wants to fall in love with you?" he laughed.

"No," she said in annoyance, "they need my beating heart to enter into the sandglass chamber,"

The Princess was the link the Gods and only she could step into the sacred Sandglass Chamber. It is believed it is her heart that can grant access to the holy place. Keeping her alive was a danger as she is the only one who knows how to return the Dagger to the Gods. It also brought the realisation that the Persian might was connived to attack the city to gain an entry into Alamut. The Sandglass of the Gods was a secret only few would know, sworn to silence. For Hassansins to know, it meant that an Alamutian had broken that vow. The King and Dastan both knew that the Persians have brought this upon the Alamutians and Princesses life, for the second time. The Hassansins were of Persian creation and they had killed her family. Now they seem more powerful and determined to get through to the Sandglass. That was the exact resolution the King wanted but Dastan and Tamina did not expect the exact plan he had in mind.

"No," said both of them in unison at the Kings suggestion that Dastan take the Princess away alone.

"Take the Princess to the Eastern Villa," the King advised, "away from here where there are enough eyes and Hassansins would have already mapped out every single step of the Palace."

But both Dastan and Tamina turned to the King at the suggestion.

"Father, the spy who first alerted us to Alamut's dealings with Koshkan would know who the perpetrators are, or at least lead us to them, for he was the one who instigated this attack. Garsiv may not be brought into this… this secret God Sand issue but, he is good at tracking and even better at getting information from reluctant confessors," Dastan concluded.

The King nodded in agreement. "So I assume you both agree to Dastan keeping you away and safe until we put right our transgressions?"

He looked at them and as no reply came from the two, the King sighed and exited requesting the guards to secure the room once again.

Silence followed.

"What," Dastan finally spoke, "does the inscription mean?"

"Our lives are forever in the hands of the Gods," she replied.

Dastan stood up and came to her. He extended the dagger to her. "Well your life it seems is in my hands and you better pray I protect you better than you have done so far Gods."

She took the dagger from him but looked at him in anger. He noticed that, her lips pressed together to prevent a snarl that crept in the corner of her lips. Now he notices her lips! He had to change topics and remember that his objective was notto like her.

"My father is right… I have to get you out of here and no one should know. We will sneak out and go to the Eastern Villa as soon as possible," he said.

She knew of the Eastern Villa or rather had heard stories of Prince Dastan's escapades there, for there were many. He was known for his strength, bravery, and loyalty, but most of all for being a libertine. She knew that his presence there with a woman was not going to raise alarm, although she might be seen as a woman of loose morals. It did seem a small sacrifice to protect the dagger no matter how much she could not stand to be in his presence.

"Give me time to settle my state's affairs and we… we can leave here," she finally spoke.

"Good, but you cannot bring all your pretty dresses, scarfs, jewelry and hundreds of maids to suit your fancy," he laughed.

Tamina was infuriated at him lumping her under the frivolous woman he kept company with. Even more, she could not believe how he was conducting himself so casually after hearing and seeing the power of the dagger.

"I can assure you Prince Dastan that I am perfectly capable of feeding and dressing myself, although I'm sure you will miss my hundreds of maids," she stated sarcastically.

Dastan laughed as he reached for the door. "I assure you I will have no shortage of ladies but you will have a shortage of maids… although I can help you with the undressing."

At his words, Tamina gasped and looked as if she would punch him.

"Well I never!"

He just laughed and opened the door. "That's maybe why you are still unwed."

As soon as Dastan stepped out and closed the doors behind him, his smile disappeared. He knew it was a bad habit of his, using humor to cover his feelings of fear and insecurity, and today's shock at what has transpired.

He needed a drink!