Sitting in her chambers, Tamina reflected upon what Prince Dastan had said to her. Why had he wanted her to meet him in the gardens? What did he intend to do? The sun was fast approaching the horizon and Tamina felt nervous. She knew not why. What had she to worry about? Prince Dastan wasn't going to hurt her. He'd shown only the purest of intentions so far. He'd proved himself worthy. But how did she know that? He hadn't proved anything. She barely knew the man and here she was, assuming she'd deciphered his intentions. Since when did dirty, heartless Persians have any true intentions? They wanted only to benefit themselves and if their actions seemed to prove otherwise, it was only because they were working at an angle, coming in through the back, not the front. But something about Dastan seemed different. Tamina still felt comfortable and safe around him. She felt that his boyish grin and gruff laugh were familiar. Everything about him was inviting for Tamina, even the battle scars and powerful build. But she couldn't understand why. These, feelings or thoughts (what was she to call them?), were strange. Far too strange. And with the way that he had presented the dagger to her, knowingly, it set her over the edge. Something had happened. But what? The feelings and familiarity she felt for him were things unattainable in the one minute that the dagger possessed in its power to turn back. Had something more happened? Had Dastan, in fact, saved or attempted to destroy the world by unleashing the gods' wrath upon the Earth? But how could seh have let that happen? Question upon questions compiled in her mind but no answers were ever given and therefore she felt overwhelmed.

Nothing was clear anymore. She knew that she would always protect the dagger with every fiber in her being. How had she let it slip into the wrong hands? And how had the possessor of those hands figured out about the dagger? They needed knowledge, knowledge which was only held within the minds of her council, who had all sworn to her with their lives that they would protect the dagger and its' secrets forever. And if they'd sold that information, Alamut would no longer be pure. It would be corrupted and poisoned by insufferable Persians, scheming and vile. And now Tamina was betrothed to one. One that quite possibly, attempted to destroy the Earth. How could she have been so stupid as to accept the proposal of a man without knowing him? Because she felt 'comfortable' around him? What folishness. But funny, really. One minute ago she felt as if she almost loved him but now, he was someone who had corrupted the Guardians. Someone who attempted to change the course of destiny because of his greed. The world would suffer because of him. Or would have, had it no been for whoever saved them. Or had it been him that saved them?

Her thoughts came to her at random intervals, every time a new idea being planted in her head only to be replaced by another that left her back at square one. Everything was so confusing now. She looked out towards the balcony to see that the sun, brilliant rays of orange and pink clashing together in a war of dominance again, was molding into the Earth, becoming one. Tamina sighed and got up, making her way slowly to the gardens.

***
Dastan sat in the gardens, thinking of the dress the Princess had worn today. He'd definitely...appreciated it. But that was a matter for another time. Right now, he was waiting for Princess Tamina to meet him here. Had she forgotten? No, she surely wouldn't. The sun had just begun to touch the horizon. She would be here soon enough, he thought. But then again, the Princess was never one to do as was expected. He laughed to himself. That was something that he, despite having hated it at first, had learned to love about her. He loved so many things about her. He loved how she did what was right, no matter what. She carried honor and duty with her. But, she had enough pride to match that honor, and that pride had led them into some unfortunate situations. But, he did not care. He would take nothing of their adventure back. If it hadn't been for that, he would never have learned to love Tamina, and she him. Though, she'd forgotten everything. It was as if nohting had ever happened. Her memory was wiped clean. And that, he could not stand to live with. But the situation was soon to be fixed. Hopefully. As long as she met him here. But it was already getting dark and he saw nohting of her. Dastan sighed and decided she most likely wasn't coming. Approaching the doors that connected the gardens to the castle, the Prince heard a small voice behind him. "Dastan?" He turned to face his betrothed.