A/N:: Okay... I'm honestly quite afraid to post this due to how faded the fandom is now, though this idea has been lingering in my head for weeks and I couldn't go without writing for it. Also, Out of Character moments warning. Possibly, anyway.. Okay, I won't be annoying any longer, On with the chapter!-
'You may have friendships with members of another kingdom, though you may never fall for one.
For one day, you may meet them in conflict.'
The code of the kingdoms was simple. A set of rules followed by each kingdom. Rules that- if broken- can call for severe punishment. All people of the kingdoms knew them, all people learnt them as children and are taught to abide by them no matter the outcome.
Eden knew she had broken one of the most strictly applied rules when she'd begun meeting with him. The man who was once a Genie, just like her and her father. She knew exactly what would happen when she'd found out she was expecting children. They would be half kingdom. Half Agrabah, and half Orieon. They wouldn't be welcome in her kingdom if anyone found out who their true father was. There was only one request she could make from him.
She hadn't known the other girl he spoke of when they'd meet, she only assumed she was someone from Agrabah. Eden didn't know he had kept his meetings with her from the other girl. When she'd met Dalia she felt slight guilt tear at her heart, giving herself a mental backhand for thinking she was only a friend of his. Though it seemed when they had finally met, Dalia had been told about his secrets and the spell he had used on her the day of Jafar's attack on Agrabah.
Eden understood why she wasn't happy about the information. He had lied to her. She truly hadn't expected for Dalia to accept to raise Lian and Omar with him, to take them to Agrabah and to never tell them they were half blooded. She hadn't imagined saying her farewell would be so difficult. Both of them knew they had done wrong; Sunil by how he had treated Dalia and her for falling in love with a member of another kingdom.
The chance to ask the question was right in front of her. Jasmine was not the same as other rulers. Agrabah would be good for her.
"Sunil!" Eden's voice rasped. She was truly worried now. He turned back to look at her as the few guards that accompanied them tended to settling the two children. Dalia was watching them with little emotion on her face. Eden knew that he had hurt her. She drifted her eyes back to him, swallowing the air trapped in her throat. "Can I go with you?"
His eyes widened and he turned the rest of the way to her, his hands quickly interlocking hers. "What about your father?"
Father. The word echoed around Dalia's head. He met her family. That hurt. She had never seen Sunil act such a way, he had barely taken the time to get to know Jasmine before he had dragged her out. He hadn't made the effort to build up a friendship with the only person she had left and yet he had taken the time to meet Eden's parents. And because he had used his magic I had never noticed. The thoughts felt like shards of glass piercing her skin. He really had used her.
"My father would find out what I've done one way or another. I have nothing here for me, I want to stay with you." Eden had tears brimming her eyes, the dark brown colour swimming from the glare of the moonlight, her black hair was plastering to the side of her head despite the cool breeze that whirled around them. Her knuckles were lightening the longer their hands stayed together. Sunil was silent for a few seconds before he took a sharp intake of breath, pulling her into a tight hug.
Eden assumed this meant he had accepted, a feeling of relief flooding through her as he pulled away, taking her hand again to lead her onto the deck. The guards gave small glances to both of them before their glares travelled to Dalia, quiet mutters of sympathy and discussion jumping between the group before they spread to where she guessed were their usual posts.
It wasn't the fanciest boat she had been on, she and her father had had numerous masters that had boats larger than the gates of a kingdom. Although she knew it would do well, it was larger than it seemed. Sunil let go of her hand, stepping away to talk with one of the guards. Eden took the moment to wander, stepping through the small doorway. She tried to be as quiet as possible, she knew that her children had been settled below deck.
Soft steps behind her caused her to turn, her vision meeting Dalia's darkened eyes. Eden couldn't help but gulp, straightening her dress in an effort to distract her thoughts from drifting. Dalia stepped further inside, the door swinging shut behind her. The room was much darker now.
Dalia cocked her head, though her expression remained unreadable. "You owe me, Eden." Eden was taken aback by how tough Dalia's voice was, it wasn't what she expected from a Princesses handmaid. Eden swallowed again, she didn't understand at first. "Excuse me?" Was all she managed to choke out without her tone cowering, something about Dalia made a shiver run up her spine.
The deep determination in Dalia's voice was enough to make her step backwards. "You asked us to take these children. They are mine. You gave them up, Eden, just because you're coming back to Agrabah with us does not mean you'll be raising them on our way. They're already old enough to go on without your help. I can't have my own children, Eden. Lian and Omar will not be finding out who their real mother is. Do you understand me?"
Eden felt a rush of sympathy from her head to her toes. Dalia can't have children. She assumed it was another reason finding out that Sunil had used magic to make her leave had made such an effect. He had made her say she wanted something that she could never have. "Of course, Dalia." The words left her mouth before she had a chance to think about them.
If truth be told, Eden had only asked to leave with them because she wanted to stay with Sunil. She hadn't even been thinking about the children during that moment. She had almost forgotten she had broken part of the code. She had almost forgotten those two children were even there.
Dalia turned, swiftly slipping back out onto the deck once Sunil had stepped inside. She wondered how long Dalia had been avoiding him, she hadn't even heard them acknowledge eachother. His voice erased any of her worries as he stepped over to her side, taking her hands once again. Eden leant up to place a light kiss on his cheek. "Are we leaving?" A laugh that was all too familiar to her now brought a smile to her face, his grip on her hands tightening. "We're going home."
"Omar! Be careful!" Dalia's concern laced her words like thorns to a rose, watching him get closer and closer to the edge of the boat the more he tried to beat their youngest guard. Lian sat beside her, watching her brother roughhouse. She couldn't understand the appeal. Dalia looked down at her, her expression softening. "Don't you want to play with your brother?" Lian shook her head, humming her answer before shifting closer into her mother's side. "I don't ever want to leave you. I want to stay with you forever and ever!" The childish bounce to her voice caused Dalia to chuckle. Lian and Jasmine would surely get along well. The trip home was taking longer than they expected, it had taken more years than they had expected, though it had only given her more time with them. She couldn't ask for anything more.
Eden watched from the higher deck. She had truly forgotten the fact Lian and Omar were her children now, she enjoyed watching them, though she enjoyed having no responsibility for them even more. It gave her more time with Sunil. A squeal left her lips as a pair of arms wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her back and spinning her around before his grip moved to her wrists. "My lady." Sunil gave a playful bow. "Would my princess care for the water?"
One of her eyebrows raised, her hair falling over her shoulder as her head lifted. "I'll have you know, I am quite the swimmer." He straightened, rolling his eyes. "What a shame, I would have played the part of the miraculous hero." Eden shook her head, turning her gaze to the water behind them. His own followed.
"We'll be arriving to Agrabah very soon." Eden felt a burst of excitement at his words, quickly replaced partly with a strange shyness. "Will Jasmine like me?" She mumbled, though Sunil clearly heard. And he sighed in response, his expression hardening slightly.
"Everyone likes you! Eden, you're perfect and if Jasmine can't see that then she's a crazy person. Anyway, it's Aladdin that I'm wanting you to meet."
Aladdin, the boy he had told her about many times before, the one who had freed him and the one who had played the biggest part in defeating Jafar. Maybe Sunil was right, Jasmine may have been the Sultanah but that didn't mean that Aladdin, as the vizier, had no authority. If he accepted her then Jasmine would have to, surely. Eden turned back to her original position, looking out at the seemingly endless water. Though she could faintly see the silhouette of land and buildings, getting clearer by the second. The weather was turning on them, she could tell by the dark grey clouds that were quickly spreading overhead. She only hoped they'd be away from the water before the storms started.
Eden's head lowered into a curtsey. Jasmine had clear distaste written on her face at the sight of her and Sunil. Aladdin turned his attention to his friend whilst Jasmine branched away to Dalia. The clouds were just starting to drip and she wasn't interested in talking to the person who had lied to her handmaiden. Jasmine wasted no time sitting down beside her, Hakim having taken Lian and Omar quickly to the palace, Jasmine kept her voice down. "Are they?.." she trailed off, Dalia's silent nod was enough of an answer.
Jasmine sighed. "I can see that you care about them, Dalia. They're both a lot like you." Her voice was soft. She didn't pay attention to Aladdin and Sunil or the stranger beside him. Dalia turned to her, taking a brief glance to the group before focusing on Jasmine again. "I wouldn't trade them for the world. I don't appreciate what he did to me. I wouldn't have left you at all if he hadn't had used his magic." The words were pure truth, had Dalia had the chance she would've never left Jasmine's side, she'd hated boats and traveling since the days she was young. She swallowed before continuing, her hands fiddling with the bracelet she was wearing on her left wrist. "But I'm grateful that she didn't want her kingdom to know. I would've never been able to raise children if Eden hadn't come along. She owes me for taking them, though if I had the chance I would do it all again."
Jasmine nodded, giving a small smile and a light squeeze of Dalia's hand before standing. "It's going to storm, very soon. We should get back. Lian and Omar are probably wondering where their mother is!" Dalia laughed, standing to follow the Sultanah as Aladdin and the other two continued before them.
Omar jumped forward, narrowly missing Lian's eye before he was pushed away by her hands, knocking her down again almost immediately after, earning a genuine yelp from his sister. Dalia's voice caught his attention. "Omar, let your sister up. She's not as hotheaded as you." He groaned his playful annoyance, moving away from her and watching her rush to Dalia's side, sitting down next to her as if her life depended on it. Lian looked up, her shoulders hunching in cower and her voice quieter than usual. "I don't want to fight anymore." Dalia placed her hand on Lian's shoulder again in an effort to comfort her. "Lian, darling, you know I'll always keep you safe." Omar continued his own game, seeming to be fighting with an imaginary swordsman.
The sound of the doors closing and a familiar pattern of footsteps caused Dalia to stand, nudging Lian behind her as Eden glanced to both of them once before focusing on Dalia. "I'm sorry about this, I know the storms started around an hour ago but I need you to grab me something I left on the boat." She looked down at the two children again, Omar had now also moved to his mother's side. "Take these two with you, they'll need to know storms soon."
Dalia shook her head, almost looking astonished by the order. "It's dangerous out there when such storms are blaring! If you need something, find it yourself." She hoped palace life wasn't going to Eden's head already.
Her suspicions seemed to be confirmed when Eden opened her mouth again, her tone was full of spite this time, a cocky glaze on her eyes. "Well, there is a patrol out right now, they'll be around for you! And if you refuse again then I'm sure the dear children would love to hear a secret me and you have been keeping?" The pitch of her voice heightened as her words went on. She was teasing.
A flicker of doubt flashed across Dalia's face, glancing to the doors, to Eden, and then to the corner for a glimpse of her children. It took her a moment before she nodded, reluctantly nudging past Eden with Lian and Omar by her side. Guards were on patrol. They'd be perfectly safe outside. Allah loved these children, if anything was to happen they would be protected by Allah. Simple.
The water was far more aggressive than she had anticipated. The beams to the boats were weakened from the waves and the water crashed over them with every movement. Dalia had caught a glimpse of the patrol a few moments ago, though the knot in her stomach only tightened. Lian was stuck to her side, gripping her hand. Omar was stuck close by but was far more relaxed, he seemed to be enjoying the cold night air.
Dalia leant down infront of them, her voice was far more serious than they'd ever heard it before and both of them stood listening to every word she spoke. "Both of you go right infront of me. I need to be able to reach you. No games, no tripping eachother. I want you to watch exactly where you step and I want you to go slow. Am I clear?" Both of them nodded vigorously. Dalia swallowed, nodding once before standing and allowing Omar to go forward, lifting one foot to the thin wood and then stepping further on. He hadn't realised how deep the water was below him. Lian followed after, much more cautiously, assuring her foot was level with the plank before lifting up her other, following her brother step by step.
There was a louder roar from somewhere beside them. "Walk faster!" Lian screeched, terror piercing her voice. "Something's coming!" As Omar sped up, Dalia glanced sideways to see a much larger wall of water, carrying older wood and odd debris ahead of it. She wanted to push them forward but it was far too much of a risk. She only managed to cry to them before the water darkened her vision. If she didn't know there were harder things in the water, she'd have sworn she felt someone's hand push her further out. Dalia was thrust under the waves by the force of the flood, she opened her eyes but all she saw was darkness and faint outlines of whatever the water was carrying with it.
With her lungs screaming for air, she clawed her way up and burst out, gasping. Her hand struck something familiarly hard and she grasped at it as tightly as she could to pull herself back to the side of the wooden walkway. She couldn't see them. Dalia stared at the water in horror. My kids! Where are you?! Any hopes they had struck for the boat vanished when a wail was heard from further out to the water. Allah help me! Lian's cries cut off when a wave pushed her under. Dalia launched herself further out, she couldn't see a thing except the outlines she was able to percept, the storm seemed to be worsening second by second.
She reached out and managed to grasp sodden fabric, pulling Lian closer to her and pushing back to the beams. Her eyes were closed. "Wake up!" Dalia screeched, though her words were cut short by the ache in her chest, she felt her heart beating far faster than it should've been. "You have to swim!" She swore she saw the silhouette of Eden by the waters edge as she tried to push Lian to the wood, but she slipped from her grasp and another wave crashed overhead. No! Omar had gripped himself to much older wooden markers, but the current pushed him further away until he was torn from it. Dalia tried to grab him, but he was ripped away from her with a sharp cry.
"Dalia! Dalia! Come to me!" There was a frantic shout from the shore. She saw Jasmine reaching her hand as far as she could, her eyes wide with alarm. Dalia was only dimly aware of Jasmine's hand wrapping around her wrist and pulling her on to the shore. One of the guards loomed over her, "What in Allah are you doing?!" Hakim's voice was more than alert. Another shape appeared beside him, she barely recognised her as one of the other maids, Liyla. She was seen by the water many times a day. "What is she doing in the water?!"
Liyla moved closer, seemingly making room for another two people before pulling Jasmine away. Dalia barely managed to keep her eyes open. "My kids.." her voice rasped. "Save.. my kids.." Sunil's face appeared beside Hakim, his eyes wide with horror. "Are you telling me they're in the water?" Dalia nodded, far too exhausted to speak. Liyla was already bounding to the water's edge. "If those children are in there, they're going to be in big trouble!" She called over her shoulder. Her sister, Zara, was already racing after her. Hakim ran along, tracking them from the water's edge.
Sunil crouched beside Dalia. She didn't know where Jasmine had went. "They'll find them, I promise." He moved away from her, she knew he was still there, though his darkened silhouette was no longer visible to her. Dalia allowed her eyes to fall shut. Allah help my children! This is my fault for coming! They have done nothing wrong, take me if you must, but please, spare them!
She layed still. Everything hurt. The ache in her lungs and her chest she could now confirm as both panic and pain, feeling the cold air rush around her and the water run off her hands. Her eyes opened weakly when she heard footsteps approaching. Hakim was the person she could dimly make out. "Did you find them?" Her voice held hope despite the effort it took to speak.
"Yes," he stuttered. "We found them."
Dalia hauled herself to her feet, "Where are they?!" Hakim turned, Sunil stayed where he was, she had only just managed to see him a few feet from the city gates. She wondered if she had truly seen Eden those few minutes ago, if she had, she was gone now. Wordlessly, Hakim led her down the shoreline, stopping at a thick dune of sand that she couldn't quite see over with her blurred vision. She was limping now, she couldn't tell if the drips on the side of her head were blood or water. She didn't care. Hakim stopped and beckoned Dalia forward with a nod.
Liyla and Zara stood over two dark silhouettes, smaller than others she'd seen. Zara looked up, her eyes brimming with pity. "I'm so sorry.." she sighed, her sister took over the words. "We couldn't save them.."
A ghastly shriek split the air. Dalia wondered where the horrid noise was coming from until she realised it was coming from her. She shut her mouth with a snap and took a wobbly step towards them. Her legs buckled and suddenly she was kneeling beside them, desperately nudging both of them in turn. "Wake up little ones!" She urged, though her words were accompanied by broken sobs, the soaked fabric being gripped in her fists. "We made it back! You're safe now!" But the shapes fell limply under the movements of her hands, and she couldn't see through her vision, but she knew that two pairs of eyes stayed closed.
Dalia pressed her hand against Lian's cold shoulder. "You promised you would never leave me!" She whispered. You promised you would keep me safe. Lian's voice echoed inside her head. "I'm sorry!" She wailed. "I was just trying to keep this secret! I'm so sorry!"
Hakim spoke up. "I don't know what happened to make you leave the palace, but we need to take these children back to the grounds." For a moment Zara and Liyla seemed to grieve with her, before nodding. "Me and Zara will take one of them each. Dalia, follow Hakim. " The sisters moved to lift the limp forms, Hakim waiting for only a moment before following behind them. The water hadn't calmed, it seemed to have gotten even worse. For a second Dalia thought about jumping right back in, before she turned away. Her feet were dragging, her legs were telling her to stop moving. She couldn't bring herself to care, she felt numb.
Allah. What did I do?
Hakim had led her the quickest way to the palace's medical wing, though she had barely noticed until she had been approached by Adil. Another horrific shriek left her lips at the sight of Zara and Liyla going a different way, feeling Hakim and Adil pulling her back. "No! Let me see my kids- I have to see my kids!" Her screams were met with nothing but stronger pulls. It took a while for the ordeal to truly catch up to her, her legs buckling again and her head suddenly aching as though she had been hit with a golden brick. Something was sticky on the side of her head, she could barely lift an arm to tell if it was blood. Adil gave her his balance and layed her back on one of the beds, the rest of them thankfully vacant. She couldn't feel if she was crying, it could have been tears and it could have been water.
Adil sighed. "I'm so sorry, Dalia." She was tired of hearing it. He needed to let her leave. Her silent demands were treated with indifference, feeling him begin dabbing warm cloth to the side of her head and the cuts from splintering wood on her arms. Where's Jasmine?!
He hadn't given her anything, though she again allowed her eyes to slip shut. She was exhausted, though her heart was still racing and her lungs still felt strained, her head pounded. She knew any sleep would be dreamless, but she knew she needed it. Adil wasn't protesting against it, so she allowed the darkness to close in around her with lasting questions. Allah. What did I do?