A/N: I am sorry I didn't update in a while….got side tracked a little! However, I did do research on the Achaemenid Empire during 500 BC, and throughout this time it was ruled by Darius I of Persia. I read that during his reign there was a Babylonian Revolt which involved several cities that he had to go to suppress each one. So, I am going to use this part of history somewhat in the story, but not completely mostly it's going to be fictitious. And the Prince's name is no longer going to be known as "The Prince" since technically he is no longer a prince therefore he will be known as "Shah or The Shah" which just means king. I am not going to use the name "Dastan" because I just think the movie hardly represented the Prince or the storyline in the game. But the Prince does have a name which is "Sharaman" the same name as his father probably fitting because fathers usually name their sons after themselves. Please review and enjoy!

A/N: Definitions:

Tigris River: A historic river that runs through southern Turkey to Iraq.

Hydarnes: Is a historical Persian Immortal who was known to participate in the Perso-Greek wars. Also I think his name means "The Ripper" in Persian or maybe that was his nickname. And the Immortal in this story is not going to be the same as the historical one.

Assyrians: Original ancient people of Mesopotamia, which is around the Euphrates –Tigris rivers modern day Iraq, north east Syria, south east Turkey, and south west Iran. They were once together with the Akkadian Empire but then split into Assyrians and Babylonians/Akkadians.

Ashur: The capital of the Assyrian Empire in modern day Iraq.

Dareios: Persian for maintaining well.

Disclaimer: I do not own Prince of Persia.

Chapter 9: Hindrance

"Where did you get this?" She managed to utter as her knees dug deep in the sand while gripping the amulet for dear life. The sensation of the cold beads in her hands once again felt overwhelming to Farah as the memories flowed through her mind. She really wants, no needs to know how or who gave this precious item to a man like this Immortal? However, when she peaked up the Immortal stood towering over her with a mystified expression. Farah wondered what he is thinking at the moment or what does he know, and then she felt the amulet again in her hands. "Please." She pleaded looking into his eyes asking him to show mercy. He looked down shifting his head in deep thought, and Farah sighed while looking at the amulet again knowing all too well what the next words are going to be.

"It does not matter." He said while looking away from her and Farah could have guessed that he was going to say that as she continued to look down without acknowledging his words. She felt the sand stick on her lips as it blew past them making her hair fly with it. Farah did not want to fight him anymore, and she felt so defeated by him. But, she knew that if she showed that she is defeated then he will roll all over her. She needs to pick up her courage and show no fear to him. From the tingling feelings inside the pits of her gut she summoned strength and power to have valor against him.

"You know." She whispered then looked up at him in his hazel eyes. "I will not leave this spot until you give me an answer." She threatened and after she said it she noticed for the first time that in his eyes he felt defeated too. He didn't want to fight anymore either, and she could tell by the sympathetic tint in his eyes pleading her to stop making things difficult for him.

"I can't tell you." He squeezed out of his gritted teeth as he looked away again and Farah firmly gripped the amulet for courage. "Just accept-"

"I can't until you tell me who you are!" She screamed standing looking straight at him. He no longer looked scary or intimidating to her, but in fact he looked like a scared little child. She could see it in his awe struck expression as it waivered from anger to fear.

"Step away or I'll-"

"You will do what?" She whispered harshly now inches away from him. She knew that the sudden demonstration of fierceness caught him off guard, but he soon recuperated narrowing his eyes at her as he tried to seem threatening again. They stared at each other for a while trying to break one another. His hazel orbs flared into her dark brown ones as his knuckles turned white from the fists at his sides.

"Alright, I'll tell you some things." He finally said trying to break the intensity between them, but Farah hardly softened her visage. "I have direct orders from a person that is of higher authority than me to safely take you to your home." He explained and Farah loosened her intenseness wondering if that is it, if true then he is here to help her. "Then I am instructed to take you back to Babylon after you visit your family." There it goes, she thought. She knew there had to be a catch with what he is going to do and she narrowed her eyes at him. "And that." He said as he pointed at the amulet. "Was given to me to show you that I have genuine intentions." He finished and Farah is left wondering if that is all and what about this mysterious person. She opened her mouth to ask and he interrupted her. "Before you ask me, who my superior is. I am not telling who it is nor am I telling why." He answered for her, and although she felt dissatisfied with the information she sort of felt secured by it.

"This is ridiculous." She spat as she turned away from him to think about her situation.

"Yes it is." He agreed with a little sarcasm embedded in his voice. "But now at least we can move on." He said that with genuine, Farah noted. She had to give him respect since he isn't as cold hearted she first thought. Now, that she knew what his intentions are she felt the immediate relief coming over her tired body. "We are coming close to the Tigris." Farah hardly paid attention to his words as she thought about the mysterious person who had ordered the Immortal, wait what's the name of this Immortal? Farah turned to face him as he began to dig through supplies in his pack. "What's your name?" She asked, and he looked at her again in confusion.

"What?" He asked.

"What's your name?" She asked growing impatient.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because it's common courtesy!" She yelled irritation clearly emitted in her voice.

"I'm not telling you." Farah growled in frustration as she threw her hands on her hips, does everything have to be a fight this guy? She was about to snap back when he interrupted her. "Hydarnes." He caught her completely off guard.

"What?" She blurted out.

"Hydarnes!" He yelled back.

…

The delicately sun tanned woman clad scantily by a thin transparent blanket reclined next to him as he watched her breath in and out. Her infinitely long black hair has spread itself across to the other side of the bed and covered his chest. The smell of all kinds of ointments and sensuous fragrances filled the sunny room. She felt so warm to him that it felt like she gave off an aura that would warm him up too. He felt so warm that beads of sweat covered his chest and made his hair damp. However, he dared not move to wipe away the sweat because it would wake her up. She stirred awake anyway as her beautiful emerald eyes slowly opened to see him. A tingling feeling erupted all over his body when she opened her eyes, and he couldn't help but grin. He began to rub her soft neck making her smile also.

"My Prince." She whispered, and the words felt so good to him. He longed for a woman to say his title like she did. If only she was his wife then he would experience the same feeling every day in the morning to wake up to a beautiful willing wife. A woman that agreed to everything he did, and never doubted his actions.

"My..." He stopped himself in mid-sentence as he realized what he was going to say. She looked at him now with awareness. Love? Should he label her with such a unique feeling, but she is not an ordinary woman. "Dear." He covered it up, and she knew that he did but she seemed to have accepted as she closed her eyes again.

"I have to go." She said sleepily, and he instinctively flinched as the words left her full lips. He didn't want the warm feeling to leave.

"You don't have to leave." He said through clenched teeth and she dreamily grinned. She leaned over and pressed her pleasant lips on his. He guiltily captured them, and refused to let them go but she forcefully removed herself from him.

"Tell me will you ever forget me?" She asked him, and he cringed his eyes not understanding what she meant. Then her perfect body became transparent and a sense of urgency overcame him.

"What's going on?" He yelled in confusion as he reached out to her and his hand went through her transparent body. A look of surrealism came over him as he looked at his hand in disbelief.

"Don't forget me!" She screamed as she instantly turned into sand in front of his horrified eyes.

…

"Kaileena!" He screamed as he sat up in his bed breathing fast with sweat coving his bare chest and face. A look of fear on his face as he looked to the side of his bed noticing that there is no sand. He slammed himself back on the bed then he blew a sigh of relief as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. It's all a dream, he thought. The chilly night winds blew which made him cold as he stared at the ceiling. What's the meaning of this? He snapped out of it when he heard a couple of knocks on his door.

"Shah Sharaman! Please it's urgent!" He wondered what the fuss is all about as he lazily got off his bed and robed himself. The loud knocks on the continued as he grudgingly took long strides to the door.

"I'm coming." He muttered under his breath then opened the door to see the messenger almost tumble over. Quickly, the short plump messenger stood straight when he saw the king standing in front of him.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you my majesty." He apologized as he bowed his head and Sharaman rubbed his eyes from sleepiness. "But this is urgent!"

"What is?"

"The Assyrians are assembling against us!" Sharaman's eyes became wide from astonishment, how could he have been so blind to not see such a gathering.

"Impossible." He muttered to himself as he looked down to think about to do. However, he didn't have time to think when he heard the loud shouts of anger outside his own palace.

"We can use force against them-"

"We are not going to hurt them!" He sneered at the man, and the messenger cowered over as he noticed that the Shah didn't seem so pleased at the moment. And, indeed Sharaman didn't feel pleased at all by the sudden outburst from the Assyrians. It's a difficult time in Persia, a time where unity is needed. He looked down at the pitiful messenger eyeing him with frustration rimming his eyes. "Anything else you want to tell me?" He asked, and the messenger shook his head feverously. With a disgusted sigh the Shah left his chambers to meet his advisors. He wondered why the sudden need for a revolt from the Assyrians; it seemed that the Assyrians were happy under his rule. The loud clamor of angry voices in high tones caught his attention when he approached his throne room. All five of his advisors argued with one another on what action to take against the treacherous Assyrians. Fingers covered with colorful silk clothing pointed in every direction blaming another person. He wondered if being the ruler of this kingdom is really going to be this tough such as going through an economic depression, rebuilding an empire, and suppressing revolts. It all seemed too much for him, and he pondered how his father had managed to tame everything. "Enough." Once the word came out of his mouth the advisors immediately halted in their tracks as they realized that their ruler is in the same room. Simultaneously, each advisor old or young fell to their knees bowing to the young monarch. Honestly, he didn't want to be bowed to at this moment from his advisors, he needs their advice right now. He dismissed the bow with a wave of his hand and the advisors stood up, but they still kept their eyes glued to the ground.

"How long has it been since the revolt of the Assyrians began?" He demanded with a booming voice that echoed across the room sending shivers down the spines of the advisors.

"We...we just received word-"

"How long has it been!" He demanded with a threatening edge in his voice to the stuttering advisors.

"It's been days." One of the advisors said and the Shah's eyes became wide from shock, days? It's been days since the Assyrians revolted and only now he is receiving news of it. How did this happen? The advisors are supposed to keep track of everything. Anger fueled him as he realized how much of a failure his advisors are and they sensed the disapproval also.

"And I only found out now?" He asked with obvious sarcasm in his voice and all the advisors gulped in fear.

"We just-"

"It's been days! You are supposed to keep track of everything that goes around in this kingdom!"

"I know my duties my lord, but the unrest of the changing economy-"

"No excuses!" He growled at the lead advisor and the scared advisor stepped away from the scowling Shah. He looked at the rest of the advisors and saw the eminent fear in their eyes from their ruler. The Shah didn't want to be an intimating or angry ruler, but its times like these that he had to show his aggressive side so that another mistake like this won't happen again. His blood flow started to cool down and his breathing became easier as he relaxed a bit. "Is there anything else I should know?" He asked with the anger leaving in his voice.

"It seems the Elamites are also revolting." The blood flow and hard breathing came right back to him and it seemed like his head would explode any minute.

"What is the use of keeping you if you are not going to tell me anything!" He yelled again as his knuckles turned white from his fist.

"My lord-

"Get out of my sight! I don't want any of you in my court anymore!" He bellowed at the advisor, and at first the advisors didn't move believing that he didn't mean it. Until they saw his furious red face, and anger in his eyes. "Leave!" He demanded again, and the advisors scurried out as fast as they could knowing that the Shah won't give them another warning. The Shah didn't even pay attention to the advisors anymore as they ran out of the court. He sighed in frustration and ran his fingers through his tangled hair. What to do? He thought to himself, its seems that everyone else in his kingdom failed to do anything. The only person that can do anything is himself and he only trusted himself in keeping this empire intact from now on. The guard near the doorway caught the Shah's eye as he gestured the guard to come to him. "I want half of the Immortals to come with me to Ashur, and tell them to meet me outside the gates within a half hour. The other half of the Immortals I want to keep a lockdown on Babylon tell them to not allow any more visitors to Babylon nor anyone to leave Babylon." He ordered, and the guard nodded then began to walk to the door. "Also, tell Dareios to meet me outside the Babylonian gates too!" He said after he thought further about who will take over the Babylon when he left, if there is one person he can trust it is Dareios. When the guard left to tell the Immortals the Shah wanted to slouch over his throne. But, he knew that his sleepiness should be put on check because he needs to come up with a plan to subdue his kingdom. Clad only in a finely crafted robe he felt the first chills of the early morning winds from outside. A half hour is all he has to make all of his plans, but first he needs to get into his armor once again after so many months of not wearing any kind of armor. It's going to be long a journey, and he could only wonder what is going on with Farah at the moment.