Chapter Eleven came quicker than I expected. Now that I'm balancing all kinds of time between this fic and my studies, well, maybe I'll finish this sooner than anticipated. I was listening to Idina Menzel's album I Stand (2008) and the title song of the album reminded me so much of Savannah, so, I'm going to say give it a listen and perhaps you'll make the correlation, too!

On another note, another Aladdin novel was recently released entitled, "The Forbidden Wish" by Jessica Khoury. The story couples Aladdin with a Jinni, and their trials and tribulations. If anyone is interested, give it a shot :). I picked up my copy yesterday!

So, lets talk fic! In all honesty, I checked out some clips from "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" and I noticed I butchered some parts from the film. But, you know what? That's alright. I don't think anyone likes direct relation to the film(s) in question, anyway. We had enough of a dose of that from "Memories of a Distant Love" and there were complaints that I did too much of film depiction. I actually like the way I've set this up, now that I look at it. In a way, it makes sense.

To my lovely friend who has been leaving me feedback in terms of Aladdin and Savannah, do not get too mad at me for what I've done in this chapter, this fic is not over yet!


Chapter Eleven- Never Give in Until There's Nothing Left

"Savannah, come here." A weakened voice trembled from the doorway where a young child, no older than eight, stood.

Clutching a moth eaten stuffed animal, the young girl with the wild hair took small steps towards crackling wheezing breaths, and phlegm filled coughs, leaning over to spit into a bucket what wasn't phlegm. The mother smiled gently, her bloodshot eyes taking in her daughter's quiet movements. She was sad to leave this world, to leave her child. Her husband had died two years prior in a battle with the palace guards over a loaf of bread and some fish.

Her husband had saved her from a world of heartbreak. He provided the best he could until jobs became scarce. A man did anything for his family, and so he took to stealing. Desiree did not want that kind of example for their daughter, but she could not argue with the shifty fingers that fed their bellies. Her husband had saved her from all but this.

"Savannah, mommy wants to tell you a story." She had spoken in low tones since she began coughing up blood, her skin sallow, and fingers frail and brittle. She had been two weeks bed ridden, but was fortunate to have taken friend with the local baker before she fell ill. The baby faced baker stopped by daily to check in on the two ladies. Desiree would never be able to repay him, and he knew it, but was happy to be there for her and her daughter in their time of need.

Little Savannah plopped down beside her mother's bed, placing on the mask her mother forged from cloth to filter her breathing. Whatever this was, Desiree could take no chances. Chapped lips cracked in a smile. "There. Now, this is a story of life."

"Life?" Savannah repeated, blinking with her wide eyes.

"Yes, my love, life. You see there was a little girl, and she was all alone. Allah had called her mommy and daddy back to come live with him and the little girl was on earth for a very important reason. Her reason was to see to it that there was love and kindness in a world that may not have a lot in it."

"So, what did the little girl do?" Savannah asked.

"The little girl made sure that there was a dose of love in every morning when she woke and right before she went to bed. The little girl started doing the right things instead of wrong, which was unjustly and unkind. She sought to do the right thing for as long as Allah needed her down there." Desiree caught a lump in her throat, Savannah passing her a ladle of water. She swallowed, struggling slightly, but managed it down.

"She could have lived her life selfishly and took everything she wanted. But, what would she have then? No, no matter how much she may have wanted something, she couldn't take from someone else."

"Unless a loaf of bread like daddy?"

"While daddy should not have taken any of the food, you're right, that was wrong. But, he was being responsible, and making sure his family survived."

"So, it was wrong but right?"

"In a way," Desiree uneasily replied, allowing herself to mull this over as her daughter figured her mother's lesson out.

"Daddy was confusing."

Desiree laughed and leaned against the bed for support. "Daddy was a good man and Allah knows he loved you. My moral of the story, my love, is to be good. The little girl lived a good life following those guidelines. Do not take what does not belong to you, and do not hold onto what you know is not yours."

Savannah clutched her stuffed animal closer to her. "Okay, mommy, I won't. I'll be a good girl. Will that make you better?"

Desiree's smile dropped slightly. "No, my love, it won't. But, it would make me very happy."


Her mind swam, fingers caressing his shoulders, one hand lingering and intermingling in the locks that curled at the end. She opened her eyes to take in his face, his eyes contently closed, and lips doing what lips naturally did. They consumed another pair when not conversing. Her body yearned for his, but her mind caused everything to crash to a halt. Her hormones screeched to a stop as her estrogen placed hands on hips and tapped a foot against her subconscious, impatient and seeking to return to the rather passionate mission.

Savannah's conscience caused her to pull away from Aladdin, cupping his face into her hand as the two panted, gathering themselves against the tentative situation. He stared at her, dumbfounded and offered her a quizzical look on top of it. She bit her bottom lip, cursing herself for stopping. Her mother's words echoed into her head, testing the tale of the little girl. Aladdin had gone so far for Jasmine, so, therefore, he was not hers.

"You belong with your princess. There was a reason you went on this journey."

"You don't listen, do you? The reason was to open my eyes." Aladdin chuckled, reluctant to let her go. "Sav, look at me. Then what is the sense of marrying if not for love?"

"Al, Jasmine can give you a life I can't. Your father left to give you a better life. I have a home here with these guys. I'll probably marry Omar, have some kids, and train them to be little thieves." She looked at him intently into the eyes that were begging her to stop pushing him away.

"In this life, especially in Agrabah, you can't live for love. Love will kill you. This is reality."

"Omar? Now I know you're messing with me. Don't do this, Savannah. Let me give you what you deserve. And what are you even saying? We've survived before, the two of us."

"I am," she replied. "Jasmine must be worried at the palace, sick. You belong as a prince, Aladdin. Your voice and vision will be good for Agrabah. You and Jasmine make a good team."

She knew that sounded like a load of bullshit, but, she had to think quickly. This game of push and pull was growing weak and weary, they toyed with one another. She gave into her desires and then pushed him away. Perhaps she wanted him fed up so he would be through for good. Once he was finished, she could proceed to be finished, as well. If only her mother could see her now, she'd be fuming at her daughter's actions. This was not how to handle a situation like this.

"Then why did you reciprocate? Why do you keep doing this?"

She swallowed, and hard, forcing herself to say the following, "Why else? There's no harm in having some fun."

The words stung, Aladdin wouldn't hide it. However, knowing Savannah, he knew what she was doing. She either truly believed he belonged with Jasmine and the life he always dreamed, or she never really forgave him for what happened. He shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Then too bad I didn't have fun when I had the chance." Aladdin then proceeded to storm off, down the corridor and up the stairs, back to the other men who chorused their cheers upon his return.

"It's a damn shame," Savannah groaned and slid down onto the floor, resting her head against the cold stone wall.


"Killing the innocent I cannot allow, but my enemy? My son, you've done me proud!" Cassim chuckled and clapped Aladdin on the back. "Come, I've something to show you."

Aladdin lifted his eyes to his father and nodded, allowing the elder to take the lead and guided him down a separate corridor from where Aladdin had left Savannah. He ran his fingers through his hair as his father revealed the crest that bore similarity to the crest on his dagger. The crest was a key, which opened the double doors and the two gained entry.

"I am the only one who knows about this room. And now you, of course."

Aladdin stared blankly as he absorbed the contents of the room. "What is this place?"

"I come here to think. I know you know why I left, but I know you don't believe me. I wanted to show you. The Hand of Midas is real."

"The Hand of Midas is a myth."

"It's the Ultimate Treasure, I'm telling you." Cassim lit kerosene torches that aligned the walls, trailing to another set of double doors that unveiled the outside, claps of thunder and strokes of lightening gave Aladdin insight to something hidden beneath the ocean. It gleamed and it piqued his interest. Cassim grinned and beckoned his son further.

"Look here. This is what the Hand of Midas is capable of." He shone the torch over the water, a sunken ship of gilt lied beneath. "It turns any object it touches into solid gold. Gold, Aladdin!"

No words. Aladdin could not find the appropriate words to describe what he was witnessing. Had his father slipped into madness over an artifact? However, the Oracle brought him to his father, so maybe there was truth behind this myth.

"But, the only way to find the Hand is to find the Oracle."

"Come with me to Agrabah, dad. Come to my wedding."

Again with the convincing of the wedding; Cassim only knew what it was to be a leader to a bunch of destitute mongrels. Gussy up and flaunt about to a load of royals? How could he pull that off?

"Leave this behind, dad. Maybe what you need is a fresh start again." All things considered, Aladdin was impressed, but that didn't change what needed to happen. "Please, think it over."

Cassim heard that plea in his son's voice and sighed. "Fine, fine, I shall return to Agrabah with you and join your wedding. This is what you are sure of?" There was something cooking in Cassim's mind then. The Oracle was in the palace, the palace where the wedding would be held. Was this something he could pass up? He would seek the Oracle, find the Hand, return to Aladdin and give him a grand wedding gift. Yes, all would set themselves straight.

Of course, he would have to do this without Aladdin knowing, he couldn't hurt him all over again after the boy was practically gushing. He was skeptical, but he was being as a boy should and wanting his father.

"I love Jasmine," Aladdin said, although it seemed more so to convince himself. "Jasmine loves me, and we'll be happy together."


Cassim assembled Omar and Babkak. Babkak, reluctant to go, was promised a pardon by Aladdin to the Sultan as a misunderstanding in regards to Babkak. Everything would be explained and it would be fine. Aladdin tried to assure himself. The remainder of the thieves remained back at the den.

"You are not flying that carpet in my presence. Carpets are for sitting, not for riding. Now, off that blasted thing before you snap your neck."

Grinning, Aladdin was beaming as his father sounded like a father. Cassim prattled on about the dangers of what he was doing until Aladdin gave in and took up a stallion. Savannah rode with Cassim as he lashed at her, as well, for trying to ride the supernatural entity. Aladdin looked away from her and Omar peered on the two of them. The best thing to do, he thought, was to stay out of it.

"So tell me of this princess of yours," Cassim tried to make light conversation. Aladdin glanced over to his father. He was excited that he was making an attempt to turn things around for the better. Give up the life of crime for the life he initially wanted. It gave Aladdin hope of things finally turning out for the better. Finally, after scrounging for all those years of belonging, he finally found it.

"All I can say, dad, is that you're going to love her." He grinned.

Little did they know, Aladdin had not finished his initial mission of initiation. Sa'luk emerged from the water, tossing a large shark onto the shore, dead. His chest heaved, cracking his knuckles, they thirsted for blood as did he. Now, more than ever, he ached to destroy the father and son duo who wanted him perished. He glanced in the direction of the galloping horses and growled. In the meantime, Sa'luk had been developing a plan that would end all of his concerns.