Chapter 9

For that night, such a short time, Dastan was able to forget about what was happening outside of the palace walls. And it seemed, at the present time, Tamina was enjoying the same feeling. She sat with him, enjoying the ambience of the dining hall. Every once in a while, she would turn to look back at Dastan and smile, as she was conversing with his brother's wives.

Dastan would have been deliriously happy if they hadn't had the prospect of leaving for Alamut hanging heavily over their heads. He had a beautiful, wonderful wife and she was already carrying his child.

If that blasted dagger…no, no, he thought to himself. The dagger is what brought them together. Dastan couldn't bring himself to curse the reason he had said wife.

Dastan had come a long way from orphaned street child to a Prince of Persia and now he would be a ruler of Alamut with Tamina. And he would be the father of the next guardian of the dagger.

Without realizing it, he was grinning madly, ear to ear.

"What has put such a smile on your face, dear prince?" Tamina asked, whispering in his ear. She was reveling in the jealous look she was receiving from the other prince's wives; apparently Tus and Garsiv were not as appreciative of their significant others.

Dastan pulled her onto his lap in one swift movement, causing the people around them to laugh and smile at their easy display of affection.

"I was just thinking how wonderful it is that you're giving me the chance to be a father," Dastan said honestly.

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, you are going to be the father to the next guardian of the dagger," Tamina explained.

"If it is a girl," he added.

"True enough," Tamina said. "But if I am correct, as I usually am, your child, boy or girl, will still have a heavy task ahead of them."

Dastan laughed heartily. "I doubt its going to be easy being a child of Persia and Alamut, that much is true."

"Just being our child will be rough, let a lone one of Persia or Alamut," Tamina replied. "Growing up and learning the only way to fully protect the dagger was by giving up my life…"

"That certainly must not have been easy, princess, yet you took on the task bravely," Dastan said sympathetically.

Tamina did not need Dastan to feel sorry for her. While being the guardian of the dagger was not always easy or pleasant, it certainly wasn't much of hardship. She lived in a palace, behind walls and gates that had only been breached by Dastan, who now stood by her side to protect her and the city. And, of course, the Hassansin who now held the dagger.

"Dastan, it…" Tamina began. "It was not more difficult than…"

"Growing up on the street?" Dastan replied.

He didn't mean it quite as harsh as it came out.

"My life wasn't so easy for a while, but I am extremely content now knowing that everything happens for a reason and that my life serves a purpose."

"Did you ever know your parents?" she asked.

"No," he replied. "I was a child on the streets for as long as I can remember."

"I literally owe Dastan my right arm," Bis said, interrupting their moment.

He had been into the wine since he had heard the bad news of the stolen dagger. Bis was the man who followed Dastan into battle without question or thought, but this dagger…this dagger might be the end of him.

"Bis…" Dastan said warningly. "Maybe you should just go get some sleep," Dastan said. "Tomorrow is going to be another long day."

"I am fine, Dastan. Tamina, princess," Bis slurred happily. "Dastan saved my arm and my life many times. Once, I somehow wound up in front of the king's soldiers in the marketplace. I s'pose I surprised the horse, because it reared, throwing the man off," Bis explained, acting the whole scene out in front of them. "My punishment was removal of my arm, although I don't quite understand it…"

"They wanted to take his arm and were very close to doing so, but I stopped them," Dastan said quickly, effectively finishing the story. "Bis, sleep, please, before you make a bigger fool of yourself."

"No, no. I owe you my life, Dastan," he said getting misty-eyed.

Tamina giggled at the man before him while Dastan sat embarrassed. He rested his head on Tamina's shoulder. Nothing he could say was going to get Bis to go to sleep.

"Let yourself enjoy this, husband," Tamina said. "Tomorrow might not be as pleasant."

"Princess, as long as you are with me, things will be pleasant," Dastan said, breathing heavily in her ear.

The wine he'd had was starting to get to him as well, but it was affecting him differently. Dastan's eyes were getting heavy and he was having increasing difficulty keeping his eyes open.

"Dastan, perhaps you should consider going to get some sleep yourself," Tamina said. "You will need your sleep as well,"

Dastan shook himself and smiled his charming smile.

"And risk Bis telling everyone terribly embarrassing tales of a younger me? I think not."

That moment, Bis yawned, stretched and promptly fell face first on the floor. He was fast asleep.

"I don't think you're going to need to worry about embarrassing tales this evening, sir," Tamina replied.

"Embarrassing Dastan stories? I might have a few of them," Garsiv said, approaching them from across the room.

"I'm not going to win this battle tonight, am I?" Dastan asked.

"I don't think so," Tamina said.

"Hey Tus!" Garsiv shouted across the room at his older brother. "Come here, we're telling Dastan stories."

It was a good thing that Dastan was a good sport; into the evening hours, stories were told in his "honor". Tamina learned far more about her new husband, but to her credit, she did not join into the laughter in the room.

But soon it became very late in the night and Dastan and Tamina had a very long journey back to Alamut in the morning.

"Brothers, I must bid you a good night," Dastan said. "And if I don't see you in…"

"Don't be stupid, Dastan," Garsiv said. "We're going with you."

"What?" he asked. He was shocked; why would his brothers go with him?

"Tus and I decided that you're going to need our help, particularly because Tamina is in her present condition."

"I cannot ask you to do such a thing," Tamina replied, eyes beginning to rim with tears.

"You aren't asking, princess," Tus said. "You are family now. And we protect our family," he smiled encouragingly.

"We don't even know what we're doing yet," Dastan argued. "You can't—"

"Neither can you," Garsiv said. "You cannot blindly run out into the desert. You cannot launch a campaign with just you and your pregnant wife."

"This dagger is mine to protect, and none of you should be running off to protect anything," Tamina said. "Including you, Dastan."

All three men stared at her, saying nothing.

"What?" Tamina asked.

"Tamina, princess, with all due respect, you are pregnant. You cannot go out and expect to fight a Hassansin," Dastan said.

He knew he was playing with fire here. Dastan knew Tamina wasn't going to take no for an answer, but it had to be said.

"I am going to take you back to Alamut and then I am going to find the dagger. You will remain safe behind Alamut's walls and protect our child."

Tamina opened her mouth and closed it, attempting to say something. But she didn't know what to say. She felt she needed to argue with her husband, but Dastan was right. She needed to protect the child growing inside of her, because they were going to be the next guardian of said dagger.

However, if the dagger was gone, it wouldn't matter if it had a guardian or not.

"All right," Tamina said quietly.

The men were staring at her once more in shocked silence.

"What was that?" Dastan asked her.

"All right. You're right. I'll stay in Alamut. You can find the dagger and bring it back," she said. "I am going to go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning, gentlemen."

She bid her good nights to the prince's wives and excused herself from the room, leaving everyone shocked in her wake.

"What just happened?" Dastan asked, once he and his brothers were the only ones left in the hall.

His brother's wives had departed shortly after Tamina and let the brothers discuss their plan of action for the morning and the days to come.

"I think your wife just agreed to what you ask of her," Tus smiled.

"I should probably feel better about this then," Dastan replied. "Why don't I?"

"I couldn't tell you," Garsiv said. "But you were always the sensitive one."

Dastan sent an evil look in his brother's direction in response.

"I wouldn't worry about it, Dastan," Tus said. "Tamina is a smart woman. And she's a strong woman. She knows what she has to do, for her kingdom and for the both of you."

The three princes of Persia got no sleep that night. They spent the entire night planning out a strategy for the upcoming days. Tus had gotten information about the Hassansins fromt their father and they were going to use the secret information against them. Hopefully, the secretive group hadn't changed any of their practices.

The next morning, Tamina was awoken by panicked shouts from all around the palace. With her eyes closed, she focused on what the people were shouting.

Fire.

Fire?

Tamina was trying to process the situation as Dastan came crashing into their chambers, still dressed in his clothes from last night's feast. His eyes were wild as he ran into the room.

"Are you all right?" he asked, clearly panic stricken.

"I'm fine," Tamina replied quickly. "What's going on?"

"Nasaf is under attack. Probably the Warlord Kosh. Do you know where my armor is?"

He was talking so quickly that Tamina barely had enough time to process that he was looking for his armor. And what did people need armor for? They needed it to do battle.

"No, you can't go fight," Tamina said.

"I have to go fight," Dastan said. "I have to defend Nasaf. Tus and Garsiv are waiting for me," he said, pulling on his breastplate.

Tamina was fighting back tears, but she had to help her husband.

"Then let me help you get ready properly," Tamina said as one stray tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.

A/N: Okay, there was my newest update. I am so sorry that I took so long putting it up here, but real life called.

Please, feel free to leave a review, in fact, I totally encourage it! I would love to have my night brightened by many reviews. (hint, hint)

Thank you all in advance!