The sun wasn't up yet, and so very few people were about to see the two shadows sliding along alleyways, making their way to the edge of town. They were so silent that even those who were already awake at this early hour didn't see anything out of the ordinary. No one witnessed their flight except for perhaps the stars, and if they took notice then they kept their silence.

Jasmine paused behind Aladdin as they took a moment to look out for any signs they were being observed. They were hand in hand, as they had been ever since leaving their hideout. She felt Aladdin squeeze her fingers as they moved forward once more, a silent reassurance, and she returned the gesture.

This was the riskiest thing Jasmine had ever attempted, and that included running away from home without so much as a single coin. This whole plan was just taking the running one step further. When she had absconded from the palace, she hadn't really thought about the risks too much, mostly because she was largely ignorant of them. Now she knew better. They were fleeing into a hostile environment armed with nothing more than a pack each containing food and water for three days. There was a definite possibility she would die in the desert and no one would even know what became of her.

She knew all this, and yet she also knew that she was making the right decision. She was prepared to face the heat and cold of the desert, the scarce food and even scarcer water, and the many days of walking ahead. She was prepared to face all this and more, as long as Aladdin was at her side.

Last night she had joined her body with Aladdin's, but the experience had been so much more than physical for her. She had felt different after, not in her flesh, but in her heart. The act of love had changed her feelings for him ever so slightly, but profoundly. She had loved him before, but now that she knew what it felt like to be his, completely, she knew that she wanted to remain his for the rest of her life.

She thought it was strange how she had fallen so quickly for this boy who had nothing, when not a single prince in the long line of her suitors had managed to grab her attention for more than a moment. Strange also how only weeks ago she had been completely opposed to her impending marriage, had run away from home specifically to avoid it, but now did not think marriage would be so bad if Aladdin were the one she were marrying. She already felt that she was married to him in body and soul, if not by law.

But she knew also that as a princess, she would never be allowed to be with him. All the new, good feelings she had discovered since she met him would be gone, and she would be alone again.

It was time to leave her old life for good.

As they approached the gate, Aladdin dropped her hand and adjusted his pack across his back. For her part, Jasmine made sure her face was covered by the hijab she wore, the better to conceal her identity. She eyed the guards as they drew nearer the gate. They looked tired, and seemed to only be half paying attention to the thin line of people leaving the city. Perhaps they would be able to make it without incident after all.

Jasmine's stomach was tying itself in knots. They were almost there. Just a few more steps…

Suddenly, and without any warning, she felt a tug on her hijab. It fell off, baring her face. She gasped and whirled around, coming face to face with a guard standing just behind her. He leered at her and grabbed her arm. "Lookee what I caught, boys!" he called to the other guards. "Razoul's two favorite street rats!"

Jasmine wasted no time on the fear that exploded in her heart. Instead she brought her knee up sharply into her assailant's groin, which resulted in a groan of pain and his immediate release of her arm. She turned back toward the gate, but saw that it was now blocked by the guards, and more were closing in fast. She froze, unsure what to do.

Aladdin, however, was already in motion. He seized her hand and pulled her toward the gatehouse, the only avenue that yet remained unblocked by guards. It was a crazy plan—there were sure to be more guards in the gatehouse—but Jasmine had to trust that Aladdin knew what he was doing.

They flew through the door and up the stairs, the guards shouting and stampeding after them. One guard came rushing down the stairs towards them, and Aladdin grabbed his arm and used his momentum to send him flying headfirst into the oncoming mob. Jasmine did not dare waste time to look back and see if it would slow them up. She kept her feet moving, pounding up the stairs after Aladdin. She gasped for breath and her legs started to ache, but she could still hear the sounds of pursuit, and she knew that they would soon be trapped at the top of the tower.

They dashed into what looked to be the armory. Aladdin slammed the door after them and bolted it, then overturned a rack of spears. It landed with a crash and a clatter right in front of the door, blocking their pursuers. His face set in a grim frown, Aladdin grabbed a sword from another rack, as well as a coil of rope, and started for the stairs on the other side of the room, Jasmine right behind him.

One more flight of stairs, and they emerged, panting, on the battlements. But there was no time to rest, for one more guard was ready and waiting for them. Unlike the one that had dashed down the stairs, this one had heard the noise of the chase and was prepared for them. Aladdin barely had time to raise his sword to block the first downward swing of the guard's weapon.

The two men faced off, swords raised, the guard sneering, Aladdin grim and determined. "It's over, street rat," the guard laughed. "There's nowhere to go from here. The only way down is back the way you came, and every guard posted on this gate is after you. No point in resisting now."

"So, what? You're expecting me to just give up and play dead?" Aladdin flashed a grin, but there was no humor in his expression.

"I was thinking of something a little more permanent than playing," the guard growled, and swung his sword again.

Aladdin managed to block him, but Jasmine could see right away that he was outmatched. Aladdin held the sword awkwardly—it was probably his first sword fight, while the man facing him was a professional who knew how to use the weapon. Jasmine cast around frantically for something, anything she could use. She had to do something to help or Aladdin would be killed.

She snatched up a spear lying propped against the battlements. The guard was stupidly ignoring her, secure in his belief that a mere woman was no threat. She swung it with all her might at the guard from behind, and the haft of the spear connected with the backs of his knees. He cried out, stumbled, and fell, leaving himself open for Aladdin to bring the pommel of his sword down on his temple, stunning him.

Aladdin looked at her, taking in her white-knuckled grip on the spear, her heaving shoulders, her flushed face, and finally met her eyes. He smiled at her. "How'd I ever live without you?" he said softly, as though talking to himself.

Jasmine felt a rush of warmth at his words, replacing the stark fear that gripped her. She gave him a shaky smile back and reached for him. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her. Their embrace was brief but firm, and seemed to convey what words could not at that moment.

Then the moment was over, and Aladdin swept up the rope he had dropped. He crossed the roof to the edge of the wall and tied the rope tight to the battlements as Jasmine watched for their pursuers, spear still in hand. When he was satisfied the rope was secure, he held his hand out to Jasmine. "Ladies first," he grinned, and she laid her spear down and allowed him to help her over the edge of the wall onto the rope.

This was, again, something Jasmine had never done before: shin down a wall with only a rope to hang on to. But this was the only way out, and she was going to give it her best shot. The wind was high, and plucked at her clothes and hair, causing the rope to sway more than she was comfortable with. It took her a few shaky tries to get her hands and feet situated, Aladdin whispering instructions and encouragement all the while. She began to move tentatively down the rope, her feet braced against the wall. Once she was several feet down, Aladdin swung himself over the wall onto the rope as well, far more graceful than she had been.

It was then that the lull in the danger broke. As Aladdin dropped over the wall, Jasmine saw a figure on the battlements. It was the guard they had taken down, who had obviously recovered his senses while they were busy with the rope. She shouted a warning to Aladdin, who looked up in time to see the man raise his sword. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to defend himself. He'd had to leave the sword behind so he could use both hands to navigate the rope. Now he clung to the rope with his right hand while he raised the other to protect his face from the blade that was slashing down upon him.

Jasmine heard his pained cry and watched with her heart in her throat as his grip on the rope slackened and he began to fall. The guard made a wild lunge to grab him, but the move was poorly conceived. He may have been still dizzy from his head wound, or he may have just been caught up in the moment, but he missed his target entirely. He gave one startled cry as he overbalanced and tumbled over the parapet to the ground far below.

Jasmine was not focusing on the guard just then—her more immediate concern was Aladdin. He was sliding down the rope, unable to maintain a one-handed grip, and he would soon be on top of her. Jasmine did the only thing she could think to do. She took her feet from their braced position on the wall in front of her and slid down as fast as she could.

She could feel her palms instantly heat up and begin to burn, abrading on the rough rope. She didn't let go or stop though, just closed her eyes and prayed that she would survive this. Before she knew it, the rope had left her hands completely and she was falling the remaining ten feet to the ground. She hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from her lungs, and rolled. She heard the soft thump as Aladdin landed just after her.

Jasmine groaned. The last thing she wanted to do was get up, but it was what needed to happen next if they wanted to get away. She staggered to her feet, head spinning, and looked around.

Aladdin was still on the ground nearby. She immediately went to him and took his arm to help him up. He hissed in pain, and she quickly withdrew. The palm of her hand came away wet and sticky and dark with a substance she didn't want to think about. She felt ill. "Aladdin? Are you—"

Aladdin got to his knees, then struggled to his feet. "Come on. We have to get moving," he said, his voice shaky and hoarse.

"But your arm—"

"I'll be all right for now." He paused, looked at the body of the guard crumpled at the base of the wall. "I don't know if he's still alive or not. Either way, we're going to get the blame for it. We have to get out of here." He met her eyes as he finished speaking, and she could see the fear and pain warring for dominance in his expression. She nodded. It was time to go. He extended his hand to her and she took it once more, curling her fingers around his, trying to draw strength from the way his gripped hers.

Hand in hand they ran, stumbling and slipping in the shifting sand, into the soft glow of the pre-dawn light.

A/N: I'm back! At long, long, long long long last, I give you the next chapter. It took me quite a bit of editing and revising to get this chapter to be remotely what I wanted, so I hope it's up to par. Updates to this story will probably continue to be slow, unfortunately, but I hope there will be no more gaps of several months. Thank you all very much for sticking with this story, and thanks to everyone who reviewed and gave me encouragement to continue. It is greatly appreciated. :)

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