Chapter 10: The Second Wish

Lily knew nothing about the Kingdom of Syria but had faith James wouldn't lead a Princess to her untimely death—or she wished she had that faith. Lily bit her lip and twisted her hands in her skirts nervously. The guard was from Mercia and she hadn't counted on that. In fact she hadn't counted on them meeting the entire royal court of Syria. Lily whipped her head around to Prince James but if he had detected the switch of Cokesworth for Mercia, he didn't say anything.

James bowed to the King, sweeping his hand below his waist in ceremonial respect. She squinted her eyes closed in shame as she curtsied to the white bearded king and his court. Lily had used her small town of Cokesworth for her title. Remus and Lily had assumed that nobody in Agrabah would make the connection between Mercia and it's main fishing port where Lily was born. Lily prayed that the King did not ask any further questions or she would be caught. She didn't have Sirius to help her.

She was a fraud without the genie.

King Albus waved his hand to the band that was playing and a hush fell around the crowd. Lily's green eyes scanned the crowd; almost worried she'd find King Voldemort face among them. He'd have her executed on the spot for playing Princess. Little kids stared at the carpet floating effortlessly at Lily's side and kind adults smiled at Lily and her Prince but no one held a dastardly smile.

Yet.

"Prince James," King Albus blue eyes were wide with wonder, "Why, I haven't seen you since Queen Euphamia's funeral."

"James!"

Duke Frank, ever the cheery fellow, appeared through the crowd and Lily half sighed in relief. When the Duke spotted Lily he laughed loudly and passed his cup off to a servant so he could envelope Lily and James into a hug. Lily and James exchanged a laughing glace as drunk Frank proceeded to kiss each of their cheeks.

"What a surprise!" Frank pressed his hands against Lily's shoulders, "I wish you would've told me you were planning on visiting!"

"It was quite last minute." Lily promised Frank who laughed and clapped James on the back.

"I hope you forgive me for never visiting?" James said diplomatically to King Albus, "I never had the ability too until now."

"I'm surprised your father and Bellatrix let you out of their sight." Frank crossed his arms over his white robes, raising a brow inquisitively.

Lily and James exchanged a look that only made Frank laugh again and wink at them knowingly. Lily had a feeling James didn't want everyone to know they'd snuck out of the palace together. She bit her lip and smiled at the floor with James moved so he stood directly next to her, their hands brushing together.

"We were taking a quick tour of the Kingdoms." James replied to the King as well as Duke Frank, "And I asked if we could stop to join the festival, my mother used to talk about them."

"Your mother loved the festivals." King Albus agreed, "She'd be happy to know you are taking your Princess back to show her your home roots here in Syria."

Lily's head shot up and she swallowed when he saw King Albus was staring directly at her. His blue eyes were piercing through her and for a moment she felt like the entire gig was up. King Albus had to know she was a complete fraud. She was so worried about the King, she barely noticed James blush and awkwardly kick the floor at the mention of her as 'his' princess.

"She's her own Princess." James told the King, "Certainly not mine."

Albus' eyes stayed trained on Lily, "And Princess Lily, I don't believe we've met. Tell me, how's Mercia doing?"

Lily's heart felt trapped in her chest, "I—" she faltered over her words, "I don't really-"

Thankfully, and bizarrely, James jumped into the conversation to rescue her, "Lily has been spending time in Agrabah, haven't you Lily?"

Lily turned her eyes and saw James was giving her a look, one that she wasn't able to place. She was even more shocked when he reached out his hand and took hers, without pause. She swallowed before turning her eyes back on King Albus.

"Yes, your majesty." She curtsied again, "If I do not offend, your Kingdom is the prettiest I've ever seen."

King Albus' cheeks crinkled when he smiled, "Thank you, Princess."

"I expect she was growing tired of the desert." James joked, looking sideways at her, "Coming from the North."

"Indeed." Lily said, awkwardly staring at James, trying to figure out why he was suddenly so…odd.

"Well, you both may stay as long as you wish," Albus announced, "We can make up rooms for you in the—"

"Unfortunately, "James interrupted, "Lily and I are expected back soon and won't be staying long."

The King nodded and James bowed so Lily followed his example and curtsied. Suddenly, the music started back up and people began talking and dancing again. The King gestured to the festival, encouraging the pair to explore a bit before leaving.

Duke Frank raised an eyebrow at Lily and James when the exchanged a look of relief, "You both snuck out."

Lily winced and James laughed, "You caught us."

"Don't let Bellatrix find out." Duke Frank took a wine glass from the servant, "That stupid woman would start a war."

Duke Frank introduced them to everyone he could. They were both handed food and drink at each stand they stopped at. Everyone exclaimed to James about how much he looked like his mother and Lily can tell it pleased him. She also noticed that he deflected questions about his father, the sultan.

She decided to ask James about it as they watched a group of kids play with horseshoes. She waited until the people around them were invested in the game, unconcerned with the Prince and the Princess in the corner of the court.

"James?" James' hazel eyes flashed from the court to Lily in seconds, "what happened to your mother?"

James blinked quickly but then he brushed off his sadness quickly, "I was little and she got really sick."

"That's awful." Lily ran her fingers through the tassels of the magic carpet, floating lazily next to her.

James nodded solemnly, watching her fingers; "My father found her a few weeks later in her garden." He pulled his eyes away so he could glare at the ground angrily, "My father had never been the same."

Lily touched his arm attentively and he looked down at her in a way that made her stomach roll.

"What happened to your family?" he asked, something lashing dangerously behind his eyes.

"Nothing." She lied, "My family lives in Mercia."

Lily cleared her throat and turned away from him, walking amongst the baskets that held fruit from the harvest. She spotted apples and smiled to herself. They were green and she resisted asking James if he'd like one.

Lily looked down at her hand, startled when James grabbed it from behind to yank her back into his person. She turned her head and found he was gazing at her so intensely that her palms suddenly felt clammy. She dropped his gaze but James was strangely sweet as he tucked a finger on her chin, making her look at him.

"What happened to your family Lily?"

Lily swallowed and turned away, ignoring him. She couldn't tell him anything about her family but she wanted too. She wanted to tell James that her mother got sick when she was little but recovered and sells pies at the local bakery. She wanted to complain about her sister who was too busy climbing the social scale to care about her little sister. Lily wanted to tell James all about the life she'd left behind in Mercia.

"My father is sick." James told her sincerely, "He's not sure of anything anymore."

Lily raised an eyebrow at the Prince before she grabbed two apples and he followed her to where the carpet was waiting. She sat on the carpet and he sat down next to her. Lily rolled one of the apples down her arm to James, who caught it without surprise. He leaned into her just as the carpet began rising them above the castle walls so they could have privacy.

Fireworks burst in the sky marking the end of the harvest festival and Lily stared at the magical bursts of color—so identical to Sirius' magic. She bit into her apple and stared out over the fairylike Kingdom that James had brought them too. James slipped his hand into hers again and Lily forced herself to be brave and to look at him.

"It's all so magical." he leaned in so their lips were inches apart, "Isn't it?"

Lily was no longer paying attention to the fireworks. All she could see, think, and hear was Prince James. She could see his hazel eyes glinting playfully in the night. She was thinking she might want to kiss him. She definitely heard his sharp intake of breath when she leaned close so that their noses were touching.

And that's when he almost made her fall off the carpet.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was a Prince." He placed a hand against her cheek softly.

"Hm?" she hummed nonsensically.

"In the market."

"The marke—"

Her voice faltered as he pulled away from her triumphantly, pointing his finger at her as he blinked frantically at being caught in her lie. Lily dropped her apple and it rolled down the carpet. James used his hand, slowly lifting her crown so he could pull the golden veil away from her hair. James' hand traced the lines on her face and then pulled strands of her red hair forward and over her shoulders.

"You are the girl from the market!" he insisted, eyes wide, "I knew it."

"James—" Lily grabbed the crown again and placed it on her head, wincing as the cold metal scratched her scalp without the veil James was clutching in one hand.

He interrupted her, "Why did you lie to me?"

Lily flinched, "I'm sorry."

"Did you think I was stupid?"

Lily shook her head; "No!" she denied quickly, "I didn't think—"

"You didn't think that I wouldn't figure it out?"

"No."

"Stop lying." James snorted and rolled his eyes, crossing his arms like a child.

The golden veil fell onto the carpet beside him. It shimmered like Sirius' magic and in a way it had been made by Sirius to veil the truth from the Prince. It was literally and metaphorically a representation of her secret: she wasn't a Princess of Mercia.

"Who are you?" James commanded and he looked more like a King than he ever had, "Tell me the truth!"

Lily whispered, "The truth?" She looked down at Carpet who waved her on, giving up hope. "The truth...the truth is..."

She couldn'ttell James the truth. She couldn't or she'd never get Remus his happy ending. She'd never free the genie from the lamp in the folds of her dress. She'd never be able to help anyone and not even Sirius could help her now. James squinted at her, waiting for answers.

"I sometimes dress as a commoner to escape the pressures of Princess life." Lily stared at her fingernails then added with less convincing tone, "But I really am a princess!"

James frowned his knees touched hers softly, "Why didn't you just tell me?"

Lily shrugged gawkily, "Well, you know, um...royalty going out into the city in disguise, it sounds a little strange, don't you think?"

James smiled perceptively, "Not that strange."

James wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his side. Lily let her head fall into the curve of his neck and hated how much she loved it. She hated that she was falling for Prince James because she'd only planned on getting Remus his happy ending and Sirius his freedom. She hadn't expected to have Prince James sweep her off her feet so deliberately.

Lily hated that she took such a big risk flying to Syria with James just to make him happy.

James and Lily made sure to say goodbye to King Albus and his court. King Albus made James promise to visit with his father on trade discussions. Duke Frank gave Lily a hug and told James he'd be back in Agrabah after he visited Mercia on a diplomatic mission.

James refused to let go of Lily as the carpet took them back up and into the clouds. They magically floated back into Agrabah as the sun raised high back into the sky. James seemed perfectly contest having her in his arms the entire flight back. He didn't talk but he kept his arms around her tightly, as if afraid she'd disappear. Lily fell asleep in his arms, so tight like blankets around her. James woke Lily up when Carpet finally came to a quiet stop in front of his curtained balcony. James unwrapped himself from Lily and Carpet formed a set of steps for James to descend from.

Once James was back on flat ground Lily leaned forward when he reached a hand out. He placed his hand against her cheek and she knew she was doomed the minute her heart started racing.

"This was the most fun I've had, ever." He told her softly.

He slowly leaned forward to kiss her but Carpet bumped Lily up and their lips met sooner than expected. The chaste kiss sent a tingle right down to her toes. Lily never wanted it to end because the way he cupped her face so fondly made her knees weak. The scariest part was that she wasn't the one who ended the kiss—he was.

James ran his fingers through her red hair and his eyes searched her face as he pulled back slowly. He took one step backwards, then another, taking his sweet time. His hazel eyes were scanning her up and down, staring like she was the Queen of Egypt. Lily breathed in deeply as he smiled a cute lopsided smile.

She was falling for him.

When James disappeared behind his curtains Lily whispered to Carpet to take her to her own balcony. It was on the balcony where she found Sirius. He was playing with cards on a table set overlooking the garden. She smiled in bewilderment as she jumped off the caret effortlessly.

"What are you doing up so early?" she asked the Genie.

"Where wereyou?" Sirius moaned at the sight of her, dropping his card excitedly, "You've been gone for hours."

"I went flying." She shrugged unimportantly.

"Alone?" Sirius seemed surprised but then she blushed and Sirius waggled his eyebrows, "Ohhhh." He looked quite proud of himself, "I see my matchmaking worked."

"Matchmaking." She scoffed, "Please."

"When you free me I should look into it as a hobby." Sirius replied, "You and James are definitely destined for marriage."

She snapped heatedly, "But seriously, why aren't you asleep?"

"You have my lamp," Sirius raised an eyebrow at her, "I have to sleep…in the lamp."

"Oh Sirius!" she cried, pulling the lamp from underneath her dress and holding it out, "I'm so sorry, James took me—"

Sirius held up a hand to stop her from babbling and yawned.

"Don't want to hear it sister," smoke formed around Sirius, "See you tomorrow."

He disappeared into the lamp and she sighed, tucking the lamp back under her dress. Lily wrapped her hair up in a scarf and was about to put on a new dress when a knock came at her door. Not knowing whom it could be, Lily wrapped another headscarf around her red hair, which had long fallen from its elegant bun. James had been running his fingers through the red strands on their way back from Syria.

Lily opened the door and four sets of hands grabbed her. A gag was tied around her mouth quickly and her eyes scanned around her swiftly, looking for the source of the abduction. A deep voice shouted as she kicked out. Shackles were placed on her feet and her hands.

The men were palace guards, she realized, recognizing the emblems. Another guard tied Carpet in a knot around her bedpost when it tried to race to her rescue. Lily's eyes were watering from receiving a fist to her jaw after her well-aimed kick sent a guard to the ground.

"Well she certainly put up a fight." a female voice said disrespectfully.

Lily let out a muffled shout when Bellatrix appeared, leaning on her snake shaped staff with a malicious grin. Bellatrix's red veil was covering her curly black hair; reminiscent of the many Syrians Lily had seen with James. The only difference between Bellatrix the Vizier and the Syrians were her eyes—they were spiteful.

"I'm afraid you've worn out your welcome, Princess." Bellatrix lifted Lily's chin and sneered when she saw blood on Lily's cheek.

Lily struggled against her bonds as the Vizier walked around her, eyes scanning her up and down, "I wrote the Kingdom of Cokesworth and came to find it was actually Mercia you claim you are from."

Lily winced and the Vizier looked delighted at Lily's aversion, "Imagine my surprise," the Vizier continued, "When I learned from Mercia's ambassador that Mercia doesn't even havea Princess." the Sultan's Vizier simply snorted as she turned away from Lily waving her hand like she was disposing of trash, "Make sure she's never found."

Suddenly, everything went black.

When Lily woke up next it was from her body hitting the floor roughly. Her feet were tied along with her hands. The rock around Lily formed a pit and Lily didn't fancy he noises she was hearing just inches away from her body. Something slithered over her slippers and Lily struggled against her bonds, trying to rip at the bonds on her mouth with her tied hands. Just then snakes slid towards her, shaking their rattling tails. Lily squealed and backed up against the rock in terror.

One of the snakes lunged and bit her through her dress. At first she felt nothing but the pierce of the fangs and then a terrible pain erupted in her bloodstream, coursing up her leg. Lily kicked out and the snake flew but her movements worked up the hundreds of other snakes surrounding her, slithering dangerously. When she kicked the lamp tumbled out from under her skirt, landing on the dirt floor only feet away from her. Lily struggled to rub the lamp, her muscles in her legs rippling and the venom taking hold of her senses quickly. The lamp, unsettled by her movement, rolled down and rubbed against her fingers. It shook and Sirius emerged, not noticing the snakes around them.

"Unless you're waking me up to set me free did you really have to do that?" He asked mutely, "Otherwise I'm getting back into-"

Lily's vision wobbled in and out as she felt the venom take hold of her ability to control her body movements. When Lily didn't answer Sirius finally noticed they were not in the palace. Not even close. Another snake slithered over her leg and went to strike her but Sirius turned it into a butterfly without even blinking.

"Lily!" Sirius kneeled over and held her face, "You can't cheat on this one! I can't help you unless you make a wish!"

Lily reached out for him with her tried bonds, eyes fluttering against the venom.

Sirius looked terrified, "Lily you have to say, "Genie I wish you would save my life."Got it? Okay. C'mon Lily!" He grabbed Lily by the shoulders and shook her.

Lily's head went up, and then fell.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Sirius wrapped an arm around her and snapped his fingers. Her bonds broke off and then all of a sudden, they were out of the pit and the pain in her body started waning. Lily collapsed to the ground, coughing up bile. Her fingernails dug into the dirt as Sirius slapped his hands against her back. Lily's lungs burned like they never had before and her legs were shaking as magic purged her system of the venom.

Once she stopped shaking she looked up at Sirius, her eyes watering, "Sirius!"

He reached out for her, wrapping her into a hug, "Don't you scare me like that!"

Lily hugged the genie back fondly, tucking her head into his chest as she tried to level out her breathing again. She was still shivering but Sirius looked like he was unscathed, even though the deadly vipers had surrounded them. Even in a near death experience, Lily marveled at Sirius' magic. She coughed again and pressed her forehead against his chest, so thankful for him.

Sirius patted her hair, "Oh, Lil. I'm gettin' too of fond of you, kid." Lily smiled up at him and he laughed, "Not that I want to pick out curtains or anything."

He let go of Lily and she took her time to stand up.

"What happened?" Sirius asked, worry threaded in his voice.

"The Vizier, Bellatrix." Lily's brow furrowed, "She's wrote to my Kingdom and was informed of Mercia's lack of Princess' in succession for the throne."

"What about James?" Sirius asked quickly and Lily sobered.

"I'm sure she's told him by now." Her shoulders fell and she felt defeated.

"You don't know that." Sirius argued, "There's something off about that Vizier. I don't like her."

"Yeah well we don't have to like her," Lily finally stood up, wobbling on her feet, "But we do have to make sure she doesn't do anything to Remu—Oh no Remus!" she faltered when she thought of her friend back at the palace, "Sirius." She concealed her distress, "Sirius, that was my second wish, wasn't it?"

Sirius looked guilty, "Yes, I'm sorry." He held out his hands when she started panicking, "I'm not allowed to interfere in life or death situations of my masters."

Lily pressed her eyes closed, "What are we going to tell Remus?" and then she opened her eyes as she thought about the other boy at the palace she'd grown fond of, "What am I going to tell James?"

Sirius placed his chin on her head as he drew her in for a hug, "The truth, Lily."

Lily didn't think the truth or magic could save them from the breakdown Remus Lupin was certain to have when she told him what happened. She'd promised him the second wish and now it was gone. They'd never be able to save Nymphadora and free Sirius.

Lily went right to Remus' chambers when Sirius magicked them back to the palace. Lily's old friend was sleeping in blankets piled high and looked peaceful. Lily dreaded having to deliver the news about her used second wish.

"Remus."

He woke up with a start but when he spotted Lily in her rumpled dress and with a bruised face he sat up, "What happened?"

"Remus, I have bad news."

Remus threw his covers off and placed a hand on her cheek when he noticed her tears, "What's wrong? What's happened?"

Sirius leaned against the bed frame and explained while Lily struggled to get words to come out of her mouth, "The Sultan's Vizier just tried to kill Lily."

"What?" Remus looked ready to march into the throne room and challenge Bellatrix, "Lily are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Lily muttered, eyes watering, "Sirius saved me."

"Oh thank God." Remus relaxed, pulling Lily into him for a quick hug.

Lily shook her head against Remus' hold, "Remus, wait, there's one more thing…I had to use a wish."

Remus pulled back sluggishly and gawked at her, "Wait, what?"

"I'm so sorry," she said as Remus unwrapped himself from her, "Remus I had no choice—"

"You used your second wish?" Remus' brown hair fell into his eyes and he looked over at Sirius for confirmation.

Lily tried to explain, "Sirius couldn't save me without me wishing—"

"So that's that." Remus glared at Sirius bitterly as he cut Lily off from apologizing, "he can't do anythinguseful at will but he can change our wardrobes and make an entire Kingdom believe you're a Princess-"

"I don't control the way the Genie magic works mate." Sirius said hastily with a scowl, "I can't use magic to save someone's life unless it's a wish."

"What a useless waste of powers," Remus stood up out of his bed angrily and poked a finger into Sirius' chest, "What good are you if you can't save people without an all strings attached card?"

"Remus." Lily chastised sadly.

"I didn't know the Vizier was going to try and murder Lily." Sirius glared back at Remus, "She's my Master, I listen to her. Not you."

"You know what?" Remus muttered bitterly, "It's fine."

"Remus—" Lily stood up from his bed and tried tog rab his arm but he ripped away from he grasp.

"I'm happyhe used that wish to save you." Remus' face looked hopeless as he dropped it into his own hands, "It's not like he could've saved Nymphadora…not if his so-called magichas so many rules and loopholes."

Sirius crossed his arms, "All magic comes at a price, Remus."

"Sirius!" Lily begged in-between her two best friends, "Remus, please don't—"

There was a cloud of smoke, and Sirius had disappeared into his lamp. Remus snorted, seemingly disgusted by the genie. Lily rounded on Remus.

She insisted, "He wanted to help you just as much as I did."

Lily stomped away from Remus, her silken shoes slipping on the marble floors. The silk shoes belonged on someone else's feet. The palace walls were echoing her footsteps and they sounded so hollow alone without companions.

"Where are you going?" Remus shouted after her briskly.

"Well the royal Vizier did just try to kill me," she replied coolly, "and despite what you think I don't really want to live under the same roof as a ruthless killer."

"What are you going to do?" Remus moaned, "Why can't we just give up and go home?"

"What home?" she demanded and he soured, "Remus, we haven't have a proper home since we ran away from Mercia."

"Then why don't we go back, right now?" he insisted quickly when her hand grabbed the door handle, "We can take your carpet and find Nymphadora without…"

"No," Lily said.

"Why not?" Remus' fists curled into his sheets.

"Because I'm not going to run again Remus." Lily replied simply, "I'm not going to let a corrupt royal ruin another Kingdom."

Remus blinked cruelly at Lily, "You heard the Genie," he said pettily, "All magic comes with a price, Lily."

"I'm certain I've already paid it." Lily said shamelessly, "I wished this to help you."

"You wished this to get closer to the Prince." Remus accused her, "Face it, you've been head over heels for James since you met him in the market!"

Lily turned away from Remus resentfully, "I can't believe you think I did this all for myself."

"Don't try and pretend," Remus said as she pulled the door open, "You wanted the Prince to fall in love with you. You wanted to live in this palace. You wanted to go on this grand adventure. It's always been about you."

Her lip wobbled and she sent Remus one last fire-filled glare, "Then I guess I got what I wanted."