Hello everyone! I am so happy to present this new chapter to you after being in a hiatus for so long. Thanks for sticking with the story. Happy Reading :)
Chapter 7
"You impulsive bastard!" Mounting frustrations surpassing threshold capacity for self-control and tolerance, Prince Ali unleashed a fury of curses as he barged through his bedroom door and berated himself for what transpired in the ballroom. No doubt it all would have ended much worse had he not swiftly removed himself from the situation and successfully reined in his emotions long enough to do so. But even still, as a guest, he should not have acted so irrationally. Although personally unapologetic for punching the Southern Isles ambassador, he fretted over the impending repercussion his actions would surely wrought for Queen Elsa and her kingdom. Sighing the exasperated Persian unconsciously raked his fingers through his hair while his mind promptly wandered back to when his perfectly wonderful night turned awfully sour.
"Would you relax already?" Noting a hint of weariness intermixed with amusement in her tone, Ali swiftly stopped his clumsy dancing and sheepishly grinned at Elsa who merely shook her head in response. It seemed he finally drained the queen of her patience with his awkward and horrible attempt at leading them through the waltz. But when her mesmerizing cerulean eyes captured his, they instead reflected utter kindness and complete understanding as Queen Elsa politely suggested, "If it helps… Someone once told me that… Dancing is an artistic form of expression. So just do what feel natural to you. Let the rhythm and music guide your movements. Close your eyes and block everything else out if you have to. Pretend that… right now, it is only you and me in the room."
Heeding her advice, Ali breathed in deeply and closed his eyes momentarily. He exhaled the tension out before flickering his eyelids open, interlacing his fingers with hers, and proceeding to assume the proper position. Then instantly the former John Doe, as though born gifted with such abilities, gracefully whisked the queen around the ballroom floor. With their gazes firmly locked onto each other, they glided and swiveled in perfect unison. Time nearly crawled still. And in that peculiar minute, the Persian prince grew distinctively aware yet completely oblivious all at once as the surrounding faded into nothingness and her stunning visage sprung into prominence. Everything about Elsa overwhelmed his senses. Her twinkling eyes hypnotized him. Her tender smile captivated him. Her mint perfume intoxicated him. Her gentle touch enraptured him. Gradually he felt himself slipping away until the abrupt end of the song jarred him out of his stupor.
Beads of sweat trickled down his brow and the sound of applause rang inside his ear. Breathing hard Ali glanced down to find an equally out of breath Elsa starring right back at him. He slowly pulled her up from her dipped and bent back position into an upright one, drawing the tips of their noses inches apart. Brown eyes remained transfix on blue ones until a hand on his shoulder caused the prince to break his gaze from the queen and to face the stranger. As if roughly slapped awake amidst a summer dream, the dumbfounded Persian prince stared at the curly red-headed gentleman in a brightly colored military uniform adorned with several medals. With a grin on his face, the smartly dressed red haired man inquired, "May if I cut in? I'd be honored to have the next dance with the Queen."
Quickly Ali untangled his fingers from Elsa's and instantly withdrew his hold around her. Wanting to remove himself from the embarrassing situation, the prince promptly bowed his head and rapidly strolled off the floor. He looked back over his shoulders just as the trill of the violin announced the next song. For a brief second, the former John Doe foolishly believed catching a sparkle of disappointment and longing in the queen's blue eyes before vehemently waving the ludicrous notion out of head. Although it felt so natural at the time, he thought it inconceivably uncanny for a once foul-mouthed sailor like him to flawlessly dance with a gorgeous blonde-haired queen. Snatching a goblet full of red wine from a wandering server, Ali emptied the stinging liquid into his mouth with a shaky hand as his muddled mind attempted to comprehend his surrealistic experience a moment ago.
"Oh what a lovely couple they make! I think he is the one… Yes… He is definitely perfect man for her to marry. Don't you agree?!" An annoying familiar voice perked up and disrupted his contemplation. Sending a peeved look at Prince Grigor next to him, the former John Doe set his goblet down and closed his fingers into a fist. He gritted his teeth and fought the urge to smack the cocky grin off the Southern Isles ambassador. But then Ali slowly sighed and gradually unclenched his fist. Not wanting to create a public scene and give Grigor the satisfaction of ruffling a reaction out of him, the Persian prince sternly crossed his arms and blankly stared ahead with his most indifferent expression.
Meanwhile Prince Grigor ignored the Persian and indicated towards Elsa's red-headed dancing partner, "That is Prince Harry of England. After his older brother, nephew, and niece… he is fourth in the line of succession to one of the most powerful and richest kingdom today… Someone close enough to garner influence over the English crown yet understand his place is far from it… Someone who lacks the ambition to rule… Someone who poses no threat to usurp or undermine her authority… The perfect tool to manipulate and take advantage… A strong political alliance with the prominent kingdom of England shall undoubtedly lengthen the longevity of her rein and surely bring prosperity to Arendelle. Yes, indeed… Prince Harry is the perfect marital match for Queen Elsa."
Ali stared at him dumbfounded as he listened to the Southern Isles ramble. Then the confused Persian prince hollowly laughed and openly challenged, "Am I hearing you right?! You really think that… that English prince is the one for Elsa? Not only that… you are fine with them… being together?! Sorry, but I call bullshit! I know how you obsessively chase after Elsa. And the way you leer… It's disgusting! So drop this supposed innocent act of yours… presenting yourself to be a selfless martyr. You are not fooling me. Not one bit. And if I can see passed your false mask… Then I am certain someone as perceptive as the queen will also. A pretentious prick like you will never have a place in her heart."
The once smirking Grigor frowned and grew silent. Suddenly his face contorted into seething anger as he retorted in a deep growl, "Yes, I am painfully aware that my marital chances with the queen are slim to none. Even so… that will keep me from expressing my devotion for her. And the best way I know how is to put my political skills and experience to good use… Push trade negotiations in her favor. Protect her from greedy and ambitious monarchs. Counsel her towards the right decisions. Prevent her from making the wrong ones… Everything in my power to ensure her reign be long and prosperous… Anyway that I can be of service to her... Get my hands dirty if need be… I am forever at her disposal."
Then the Southern Isles ambassador menacingly stepped towards Ali as he menacingly snarled, "That is the lengths I am willing to go for her. And someone as pathetic as you have the audacity to say I do not deserve to be with her?! While I am of actual use to Queen Elsa… You, on the other hand… What possible redeeming quality do you have to offer? From what I hear… You are a despicable free-loader who takes advantage of the queen's kind hospitality... who drinks without reserve and acts like a fool… who contributes nothing significant… Honestly, I cannot for the life of me understand what she sees in you! Of what benefit are you to her?! Why would she possibly keep around for this long? Unless…"
Eyes widening in awful delight and mouth lifting into a gleeful sneer as Prince Grigor exclaimed, "Of course! How can I have been so blind?! That standoffish and cold personality of hers certainly fooled me. But still… I should have known. After all, Queen Elsa is a woman… with womanly needs to satisfy… And if a simple scallywag who randomly sailed in from out of nowhere… If she is willing to have a gruff bumpkin like you then… there might be hope for me yet. So tell me you, lucky dog, you… How is the queen? Is she a screamer… Does she melt easy? She must be… So much pent up sexual frustrations dammed up behind that icy façade for hers... Those quiet type of whores tend to be…"
Prince Ali clenched his fist and pummeled a spot on the wall where he pictured Grigor's ugly mug to be as he belted out in a hellish growl, "Should have beat that ass senseless!" Ignoring the numbing pain radiating through his arm, he unleashed a few more punches in an attempt to alleviate his rage. The Persian prince eventually stopped and warily sighed. In a moment of eerie introspection, he briefly glanced down at his bloody hand, and then aimlessly glanced around the bedroom before his eyes sharply focused on a reflection of himself on the mirror. There, staring right back at him, stood a man he no longer recognized.
Dressed in fine brightly colored garments, he morphed into one of those despicable aristocrats he once criticized for their vanity. And yet the dripping blood from his hand and his disheveled appearance demonstrated that an unruly part of himself always remained. Despite his best efforts adjusting to his new life, he became nothing more than… A savage disguised in gold and silk. Repulsed by the false image before him, he felt an overwhelming queasiness settle in that propelled him to search for his old travel sack and to gather his personal belongings. As he packed the items away in a panicked fury, the former John Doe questioned why he allowed himself to transform so drastically and why he decided to stay in the castle for this long.
Suddenly a soft melodic voice swiftly halted the tumultuous waves of thoughts in his mind still, "What happened out there?! You left before…" Her voice trailed off as a flabbergasted Queen Elsa leaned back against the closed door with her left hand resting against the now frozen doorknob. Silently her shocked blue eyes implored him. Then a gust of glacial winds swept across the room when the queen closed the distance between them and pleaded, "Please… tell me this is not what I think… If this has anything to do with Prince Grigor… I will have him escorted out of the castle immediately… Just please… Talk to me… Let us calmly work it out before making any rash decisions… You know you can speak to me freely."
Caught paralyzed by her unexpected entrance, Prince Ali instantly felt guilt swell within and shamefully glanced away from her piercing stare. First in a hush whisper and then more progressively passionate, he despondently replied, "Sorry, Elsa… Clearly I… I don't belong here… To walk around with a fake smiling mask… To pretend to know why Egyptian silk is superior to Chinese ones… To act civil with someone you secretly despise to the core… If that is what it means to be of noble blood, then I don't care to be one. There is just no way someone like me, who is so irritably hotheaded, can keep such pretenses. Besides, the only reason that I lasted this long is that…"
A hollow laugh escaped his lips as he nervously raked his hand through his hair and wearily declared, "I really like you, Elsa… Not because some journal told me I do… Not because we have a history together… But because, in these past few months, I genuinely grew to adore you. The real you... A tea fanatic whose eyes light up whenever she discovers a new favorite blend… A bookworm who will forego sleep for a good novel… A loving sister who puts her family first and will protect them from harm no matter what… That's why I need to leave. I get it that you're a queen who must act in the best interest of her people and kingdom. But I cannot watch you waste your life away to marry someone for status. So go ahead and pick among your many suitors. I simply refuse to bear witness to such a disastrous union!"
Hastily throwing his pack over his shoulder, Ali briskly headed towards the door intending to stroll out but then Elsa softly uttered something under her breath that caused him to pause. A sly and gleeful grin tenderly graced her face as she gently repeated, "I choose you… Yes, it is true that, as queen, I have the opportunity to levee my marriage for power… But I am perfectly competent and skillful enough to lead my kingdom towards prosperity on my own. So rather than someone who presents an arbitrary political advantage… I want someone who I can enjoy life's simple pleasures with… Someone who I can openly share my frustrations and pitfalls without judgement… Someone who I can love and who can love me for me, not for my title… That's why… I want you and nobody else."
In that moment, an overwhelming surge of emotions captivated him as a pair of sparkling cerulean eyes directly gazed into his incredulous brown ones. Her tender glance and affectionate words utterly disarmed him. Unable to resist it much longer, Prince Ali completely gave in and finally acted upon a growing desire he had been suppressing since he met the blue eyed, blonde-haired queen. In one fluid motion, his backpack seamlessly slid off his shoulder as he swiftly cupped her chin in his free hand and immediately captured her lips with his. Desperately satiating an unquenchable hunger, they instinctively deepened the kiss while hands freely explored familiar yet uncharted territories. For the first time ever, the grateful Persian prince minded not and rejoiced in the fact that he was such an impulsive bastard.
Sweet chirping of birds outside and bright glowing of sunbeams roused an exhausted Elsa awake. Reluctant to leave the bed, she drew the blanket over her shoulder tighter as she rolled over onto her left side to avoid the light shining through the windows. Suddenly her forehead bumped into something softly firm, causing her eyes to shutter open and her muscles to tense. The shocked queen instantly retracted her head and quickly propped herself up with her elbow. Realization struck her while she glanced back and forth between the disarray of crumpled clothes littered around the disheveled room to the quietly snoring Persian sleeping sideways next to her. A content smile graced her face as Elsa eased back under the covers and curled up against Prince Ali's exposed back.
Last night was unexpected. And wild. Very much unlike their first night together, which had been tender and sweet. For compared to his timid and gentle self in the past, who constantly hesitated and persistently inquired about her well-being as if handling delicate china, the Persian demonstrated a fiercely passionate and utterly unreserved side of him the queen had never witnessed before. It felt as though she unleashed a once-caged animal celebrating in his new-found freedom. And his beastly energy completely overwhelmed her as the prince pleasantly surprised her in progressively more innovative and compelling ways. Nevertheless, she joyously reveled every second of their outlandish escapades as they unknowingly trashed the bedroom into its current disastrous state. No doubt she would have to secretly ask the servants to rehang a painting or two and to replace a broken vase they have knocked over in the process.
Shuffling movements snapped Elsa out of reveries as a half-awake Ali gradually flipped over to face her and groggily greeted, "Well… Good morning to you too, Majesty. Hope you enjoyed last night as much as I have." Somehow through heavy eyelids flickering open and close, the Persian managed to pull off an impressively telling playful smirk. As Prince Ali wrapped one arm around her shoulders and draped the other draped across her back, she rolled her eyes at him before she repositioned her head over his chest and rested her hand on his abdomen. For a blissful moment, she quietly relished in their closeness and simply listened to the soothing rhythm of his breathing with shut eyes.
After long while, Elsa off-handedly remarked, "This is nice… Last time, you left in rush before we had a chance to… I woke up that day to an empty bed… Wondering when I would see you again." Instantly she regretted her statements when she felt the Persian prince tense and tighten his hold over her. He then tersely declared his old self ignorant and foolish for missing out on the opportunity to cuddle with her the morning after. Despite his words, guilt still gnawed at the back of her mind for bringing up such a sensitive topic so she wiggled out of his embrace and lifted her head to directly face him. She opened her mouth intending to apologize until her eyes gravitated towards the ink marks on his chest.
Astounded Elsa traced the black lines with her fingertips while an amused Ali explained the origin of his tattoo, "Oh that! There's a story behind that… When I was still sailing with Captain Morgan, a particularly nasty storm relentlessly battered the ship with massive waves as tall as mountains all night long. We hopelessly stumbled back and forth across the deck… And mind you, they were some of the burliest men I have ever met… Yet the mighty sea swatted us around like flies. Needlessly to say, some of the crew began praying to their Gods. Believing it to be punishment after a promiscuous night at the brothel a night prior, they promised that if they survived they would remain faithful to their wives from then on. Sure enough, their prayers were answered a few minutes later when the sea finally calmed."
Hollowly chuckling the prince recounted, "As soon as we landed ashore, those men rushed to have tattoos of their loved ones done. That storm, though a funny coincidence, seriously turned the men around. Many of them took quite some time off to spend them with family. I suppose, in a round-about way, I was the same… After that night, I started thinking about leaving the ship and crew to learn about my past. Because, here I was clinging for my life against the ship's rails… Surrounded by chaos as the howling gale winds toppled the main mast… And yet the only thing at the forefront of my mind was this specifically peculiar image of a snowflake. The whole thing was truly bizarre… Anyways, I wanted to commemorate that night along with the crew so I had this snowflake inked on my chest… right above my heart like the others."
Tears of joy slowly welled up in her eyes as Elsa silently listened to the story for, unbeknownst to the amnesiac prince, it was non-other than her signature snowflake that Ali had permanently marked on his body with amazing accuracy down to the most miniscule detail. She continued to admire the tattoo until the Persian titled her chin up to face him. Noting the glimmer of concern and confusion in his eyes, the queen smiled reassuringly as she dabbed her eyes dry. Then she gave his hand a comforting squeeze as she began to explain the snowflake's significance only to be interrupted a few minutes later by a so familiar knock on the door. Immediately Elsa bolted sitting straight up on the bed and covered her mouth with her right hand while her left hushed a confounded prince.
"Ali?! Good morning… Are you awake? If not, then never mind… But if you are, do you happen to know where Elsa is? She's not in her room and… I know she came here to talk with you last night. By the way, are you alright? When you stormed off…" While Anna awkwardly rambled on, Elsa mimed to Ali not to reveal to her sister that she was in the room with him. When the prince goofily grinned in response, she urgently repeated her instructions and strongly emphasized how she wished not for her sister to discover them in this manner. She briefly relaxed when he eventually nodded in head only to instantly tense up again as Anna once again worryingly inquired Ali about her whereabouts.
Shaking her head at him, a trepid Elsa anxiously watched as Prince Ali coyly winked at her before replying to the princess, "No, Anna. I do not know where she is… she is certainly not here… Not at all in this room with me… But I can tell you that she was here last night and that she left after we talked. Sorry, I have not seen her since as I went straight to bed right away. Though I would not worry too much… Maybe she's gone on a morning stroll… Enjoying the view and discovering new sceneries… Maybe she's returned waiting for you at the breakfast table to tell you all about her little adventure… Regardless, I am sure she will show up sooner or later. And if she is not back by morning tea time, then we can form a search party."
Luckily Anna bought the prince's little charade as the princess openly agreed with him before bidding Ali farewell. When she finally heard her sister's footsteps disappear, Elsa nervously raked a hand through her hair and wearily sighed, "That was too close of a call. If Anna caught us in bed like this… Not sure I can handle her reaction… Much less explain to her whatever this is…" Her voice trailed off as it dawned onto her that, despite last night's events, they have not truly established nor defined the relationship. Anxiously Elsa wrapped her arms around herself while her mind swiftly played out various scenarios to figure out the best way to broch the subject. Then suddenly she felt a pair of arms snake around her waist and a pointed chin rest over left shoulder.
Softly Prince Ali whispered into her ear, "I love you, Elsa. I honestly do, but… I cannot marry you." Within span of less than a second, the queen experienced a whirlwind of emotions, first elated and then hurt. A sick knot in her stomach rooted deep as she buried the pain far down. After a moment of paralyzed shock, Elsa instinctively pushed away from Ali only to firmly stay in place when his strong arms ardently denied her escape. Hastily the Persian prince pleaded, "Wait! Let me finish. I cannot marry you, because… I do not feel I deserve to, at least not yet. So I want you to give me the chance to prove it to you and to myself. But most of all… I want to make sure that you are choosing to be with me… And not the ghost of me."
Stunned Elsa wordlessly turned around to glance directly at him as Ali gradually loosened his hold over her. Somberly he continued, "It has been over half a year since I lost my memories. And I doubt they will return anytime soon… probably not at all. This kills me to ask, but I do not want to give you any false sense of hope that the Prince Ali you once knew might return… So I need to know, Elsa. Is there is any part of you that only choose me, among your sea of suitors, because of the physical resemblance to my former self?" Her heart sank at the trepid glint in the Persian's eyes. Unconsciously her hands slowly caressed every inch of his face from the roots of his flowing dark straight hair to the sharp stubbles on his chin like a blind child learning braille for the first time.
"Perhaps at first, but now…" Sweetly Elsa flashed the prince a tender smile while she gently laid down her hands on top of his and proudly reaffirmed with a squeeze, "I hopelessly fell in love with the man you are deep down… A man with impeccable character… Yes, you are crass and highly opinionated… Hard-headed and hot-tempered… And you have the grace of a newborn fawn stumbling to keep upright. Even with etiquette lessons, it will take you a lifetime to master the basics… But nonetheless, I have long accepted and loved you for all your faults. For I know no other like you who can turn their weaknesses into strengths… Stubbornly fighting for what you strongly believe in… So grounded in personal values that nothing, most especially not the trappings of aristocratic lifestyle, steers your moral compass astray… Your heart of gold… that is why I love you."
Caught off guard when the prince suddenly peeked her cheek and beamingly grinned, "I love how you have so much faith in me, that I do not even have for myself. The current me needs a lot of work. I still have to come into terms with me of the past and the me now… Also not sure how I fit in with your world yet. But nevertheless, I can promise you this… I promise to stay and work hard every single day in order to become an honorable man truly deserving of your affections. For when we are both ready… I suppose I'm a bit traditional in this sense… But when the moment is right… It will be me asking you for your hand in marriage." Overwhelmed with unparalleled joy, Elsa merely nodded her head in response and tightly embraced Ali as hope swelled up deep inside her like never before.
Hope you thought the chapter worth the wait :) Please leave me a review here or post on my FB page (whatever is easier for you). Anyways, medstudent life is pretty rough... almost did not think I would be able to keep my promise to post this month. With that said, I will not be able to update or even begin writing the next chapter until summer break. So make sure to periodically check my FB page for news. Until next time :)