Disclaimer: See first chapter.

A/N: My sincere apology to my readers. There were some personal issues that I won't go into, and then some minor medication adjustment issues, all of which conspired to make me completely lose my train of thought with this story. And then I got back to school and started having to think about writing my thesis, which has pretty much taken over my life. But I will be continuing this story. I promised myself, and you all, and it will happen. It might take longer, however, since I have this epic 100 page paper looming over my head, in addition to my normal classes.

But now I own the movie, so I can watch it as many times as I want to make sure I'm getting the characters right.

I know these first few chapters are very much into the personal feelings and inner thoughts of Tamina, and there isn't much actually going on plot-wise, but beginning next chapter, the plot really starts, so we'll have many interactions with other characters and therefore less of the in depth one-on-one.

READ PLEASE SO YOU DON'T GET CONFUSED/MAD AT ME LATER: I have decided to define the government of Alamut some this chapter. I'm making no claims as to whether this is accurate to the games/movie, though I am pretty sure it's in keeping with the movie. Alamut seems to be a relatively autonomous city, since though it's being accused of betraying the King of Persia it's treated as an enemy rather than a conquered state to be disciplined. Furthermore, since the Princes, even Tus, seem to know nothing about Alamut, it doesn't seem that they're under any sort of direct control of the Persian empire. There's obviously an agreement that they will live as this little holy city and stay out of trouble, as well as assisting when called upon and not actively working against the Persians, but I don't think they're a vassal state. All of this will make sense when you actual read the chapter, and are going, "Wait... more kings? But..."

Also, to whoever told me my chapters needed to be three times the length of my previous ones... if you'd like something specific, please write it yourself. Otherwise, please allow me to write my story. And thanks for making me laugh, as well.

Invictus

Your very existence becomes my sacred mission's bane

He did not let go of her hand as she had expected him to. Though it had started as a ritual gesture, the grip of Dastan's strong fingers around hers now felt like a more intimate connection to the prince. Not intimate in the way her maids sometimes whispered of the word, with connotations that made them blush and giggle, but more in the way of knowing. Dastan knew her, in a way she didn't understand, and while she certainly didn't have the same knowledge of him, his firm grasp on her hand was a tangible and slightly jarring reminder that she would know him soon.

And yes, it had crossed her mind that she would know him the way the maids giggled about.

If she had spent any less time as a child learning self control, she had the horrible feeling she would have been blushing. And worse, Prince Dastan seemed to know it.

"What are you thinking, Princess?"

If there was one thing she knew, it was that he was honorable. He would, therefore, feel personally responsible for the destruction of her city. Therefore, she deliberately chose a topic that would play to his guilt and distract him from attempting to pry her actual thoughts out of her. "Unimportant thoughts, Prince. Details of the repairs to Alamut, how to present our engagement to the Council. Things with which you need not trouble yourself."

Immediately his face went from smug to contrite. "Princess, allow me to apologize again for being taken in by my uncle's treachery. I did not try hard enough to stop my brothers from listening to Nizam's advice after my father specifically told Tus not to invade Alamut. The only excuse I can offer is that my brothers had more military experience than I had, and I deferred to their opinions."

She watched him out of the corner of her eye, and decided his apology was sincere. "We do not hold you responsible, Prince Dastan. You were not in command of the army, and I am told by my generals that you were responsible for the minimal loss of life to my people." When he flushed at the implied praise, she smiled a little. "The Lion of Persia, they call you. Brave and strong, and handsome too, if the stories are to be believed."

"Are you teasing me now, Princess?" Though the question was softened by the pink blush rising on his cheeks, she immediately retreated as far as his still tight grip would allow her.

"I don't believe I know you well enough for that, Prince Dastan." For a moment, she had slipped into a familiar sort of banter, a teasing that seemed second nature to her whenever she looked at him. It was comfortable to tease him, knowing that he'd fumble for a few seconds to find an answer and then change the subject to cover his lack of suitable response.

Knowing? How would she know that? And there was the reason it was so dangerous to trust him. Something was not quite right, here, and he was keeping secrets that she was relatively certain were not only huge but potentially dangerous.

"Of course not, Princess. But I don't particularly mind." She glanced over at his expression, finding it difficult to read. On the one hand he looked slightly amused, and at her expense. On the other hand, he looked a little sad, which made very little sense. Why should he look sad that she teased him back?

"Have I upset you, Prince Dastan?"

"Oh, no, Princess. My apologies for giving you that impression." He stopped walking and released her hand.

"You seem to be apologizing to me quite frequently, Prince." She smiled tentatively, ignoring the sudden chill where his hand had been. "I can only hope you will have less need to do so in the future, as it is not a particularly firm basis for a marriage." This felt so normal. It shouldn't feel normal, but it did. She was used to interacting with men through the barrier of her rank and position, but Dastan was different. He was of similar rank, and he seemed to have some knowledge of the secrets that had so long kept her isolated from the world, and that made everything so much more confusing.

He smiled widely at her attempt at a more lighthearted mood. It was the first complete and real smile she'd seen from him, free from any of the self-mocking or sadness she'd seen so often on his face or in his eyes. "I believe you're right, Princess. I believe you're right."

She fought back her discomfort and smirked at him. "Of course I am, Prince Dastan. I am always right."

"I will have to remember that." He took a half step forward, prepared to continue their walk, and then paused, glancing back down at her hand.

His expression was uncertain, as though he wanted to reach for her hand but wasn't sure if he should. Making a spur of the moment decision, she held out her hand for him to take, wrapping her fingers around his when he did.

She couldn't look at him, a blush rising on her cheeks despite all her childhood training, and so she began speaking as they resumed walking.

"Do you know what will be expected of you as the King of Alamut, Prince Dastan?"

"King?" There was surprise and a little panic in his voice. "I am to wed a Princess, not a Queen."

The urge to smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth. So brave in battle, but the thought of being in charge made him so worried. "I am only the Princess of Alamut because I am unmarried as of yet. When I marry, I become Queen, and my husband the King. It has always been so."

"I see." There was the vaguely panicked note again. Really, he was such a strange man.

"That is not the role to which I was referring, Prince Dastan. When we marry, you will be a Guardian as well." She waited to see what his reaction to the information.

"Guardian?" His voice was carefully neutral, and she realized that he was too smart to let on anything he knew. "What does that entail, exactly?"

"You will be responsible for the safeguarding of the culture and the treasures of Alamut. My people will become your people, our causes yours. Among other duties, you will be in charge of the city's military forces." She paused for a moment, appreciating the irony. "Perhaps you can help prevent another day like this one."

"I will certainly do my best, Princess." His tone was contrite, and she spoke quickly to head off another apology.

"As my husband, King, and Guardian, you will support me as Head Priestess, Queen, and Guardian. You will be my protector in my duty."

"I am to protect you?" He stopped them again, though he did not release his grip on her fingers, and used his free hand to turn her chin towards him. She could not help but meet his gaze now, and it was utterly serious. "I will do my duty, Princess. Whatever happens, wherever you duties might take you. I will protect you, at all costs."

There was something more beneath his words. She searched his eyes, trying to find the secrets he was keeping from her. He would protect her at all costs? He seemed to have something specific in mind. "I trust that you will, Prince Dastan."

"Do you?" He smiled a little ruefully. "You have more faith than I do, Princess."

He was so frustrating! He made little sense with his cryptic statements and secrets hidden behind smiling eyes. He swore to protect her, and yet claimed to doubt himself in that task. He looked at her with tenderness and knowledge, but sadness as well. It was like he mourned a great loss, and she reminded him of it, yet his pain seemed to be eased by her presence.

"You confuse me, Prince."

He laughed at that. "I apologize, Princess. I do not intend to."

"I rather believe you enjoy it." She smiled up at him. "But suppose I shall forgive you this once."

"My thanks, Princess." He bowed slightly, and they moved to continue their circuit of the garden. They were nearing the door to the temple again, and she found herself unwilling to reenter the building.

"Tell me about yourself, Prince Dastan. I dislike knowing so little of the man who will be my husband."

"What would you like to know, Princess?"

"Why did your brother say 'royal blood or no?'"

"You are certainly direct, aren't you, Princess?" He smiled at her. "I was not born a Prince."

"How then did you become one?"

"I was born in the slums of Nasaf. I lived there until one day when the King came into the marketplace, where I was running from a nobleman's guards. He... saw something in me, I suppose. He took me in, raised me as his own."

"You love your father dearly, don't you?"

The fond smile on his face was answer enough for her. "More than nearly anyone in this world. He gave me family, a home. He gave me my brothers. I owe him everything."

"He saw in you what you are. A king by nature, if not by blood."

"And soon one by marriage, apparently," he added with a grimace.

His expression drew a small laugh from her. "Yes, that too."

"My brothers are never going to let me hear the end of this." He rubbed a hand over his face in an exasperated manner. "I was supposed to be the only one of us with no eye on the throne, and here I am, becoming a king before Tus."

"You are close to them, your brothers."

"Extremely. Family is very important to me, Princess. Yet you haven't mentioned yours."

"They are not alive to mention." Seeing his expression shift instantly to sympathy, she hurried to reassure him he had not touched a painful nerve. "My father died when I was very small. I barely remember him, only a few vague memories of being a child in a glittering room watching him conduct court business. My mother died six years ago, just after I took over the role of High Priestess. I have ruled my country since then, with the help of the Council."

"You have no siblings?"

"None. I suppose I might have had some, had my father lived. My mother was never inclined to remarry, and as there was an heir it was unnecessary."

"An heir?" He looked surprised. "But you're..."

"Female?" She enjoyed the sheepish look on his face. "We are not so obsessed with men in Alamut, Prince Dastan. The High Priestess of Alamut must, by definition, be a woman, and so it is often the oldest female child who inherits, sometimes even if she has elder brothers. Where Persia might be defined by politics, we are a holy city. Women cannot serve on the Council, but passing a most important, sacred role to someone who merely married into the royal family would not be a popular move. That would be like giving the throne of Persia to Tus' first wife because she married the oldest son."

"I see your point," he laughed, "having met his first wife. Beautiful and kind she may be, but sensible she is not."

"Having raised the subject..." She struggled for a way to express herself appropriately. "Things are a little different here in Alamut than they are in Persia."

He glanced at her quizzically, and she blushed, twisting her fingers in his in embarrassment. "How so?"

"As the line passes more or less through the female side, you will not be permitted to take any other wives."

She felt a little better when his eyes widened in shock and his mouth dropped open. "Take other... Princess, I don't know what my brothers or my father think on the subject, but I can assure you," and here he not only pulled her to a stop but gently grasped her face in both hands so she was forced to meet his gaze, "You are more than enough for me. I cannot imagine I would be tempted to do such a thing as marry another, to insult you in such a manner. Besides," he flashed a grin that had her cheeks darkening further, much to her chagrin, "I think that if I were to express interest in such a thing that you would most definitely put me in my place."

There was no response she could make to that that fell within the realm of acceptable conversation with a man she hardly knew, so she changed the subject instead. "Prince Dastan, I believe your brothers will be wondering what is taking us so long. We should return."

He allowed himself to be led back towards the door to the temple, but just before they stepped through he leaned in and murmured next to her ear, "As you will be the only wife I shall be having, do not doubt that nothing will stop me from keeping you safe. Even if that means protecting you from yourself, or your duty."

And then they were in the crowded room again, a sudden burst of noise and laughter erupting as people noticed their joined hands. Dastan was pulled away by his brothers for back-slapping and manly embraces, and Tamina was left to stare after him, two thoughts dominating her thoughts as she surrendered to the giggles and gossip of her handmaidens.

He knows.

He will not let me die.

A/N: Done. Finally. Thanks to everyone still reading, let me know what you thought, and if you have questions, please ask!