Chapter Fifteen: Meeting Prince Ali
Aladdin fidgeted. It was just him and Khaleel in the rather dark receiving hall. Well, Jafar and Hakim were in the room as well, but that was hardly any comfort. "Where are they?" he whispered.
"Relax," Khaleel whispered back. "It's just the nerves. Everything will be fine. We are rather last minute, you know."
"Right," Aladdin said. Released a breath, rolling his shoulders and forcing himself to relax.
Then the doors creaked open.
"Here they come," Khaleel said. "Remember: breathe, relax."
Aladdin nodded. He inclined a light bow as the Sultan entered, leading Princess Jasmine and her handmaid. He could do this. He'd done it before. Just don't focus on the fact that his princess is in the room and watching his every move.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Prince Ali," the Sultan said.
"A greater pleasure to meet you and your family, Noble Sultan," Ali answered, deepening his bow.
"I am afraid I am unfamiliar with Ababwa," Jafar said.
"It is to the East," Ali answered. "We have strong allies in various kingdoms. However, there may be some, who would be unable to find our kingdom for we are protected from those who would wish to destroy us."
"Hm, that is very useful," the Sultan said. "I may ask you later if it is known how your kingdom achieved this security."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Ali said with a deep nod. Depending on Jafar's presence or absence, he may offer the truth of the situation. Hopefully he wouldn't be questioned too intently if he brought up family genies.
Jasmine felt herself intrigued by Prince Ali. Now much closer than the balcony, there was a very good possibility that her street rat with the thieving monkey was actually royalty in disguise. However it seemed as though he had more secrets than just that perhaps.
His servant lightly nudged him with an elbow.
"Khaleel," the prince almost hissed.
"Mind wandered," he whispered in return. "Gift presentation."
"Ah, right, thank you," Prince Ali said. Clearing his throat, he turned back to them. "If it would please, Your Majesties, we have brought gifts to show our goodwill."
"We will most assuredly accept these gifts," Baba answered.
The Ababwan valet clapped with a shout.
It was a small comfort to Jasmine that even Prince Ali was startled by the sound in the great hall.
"What have I asked you about that?" Prince Ali said in a low voice but not a whisper.
"My apologies, Your Highness," he answered as the doors behind them opened.
A portion of the parade troupe they'd seen before entered, lining up on either side of the room.
"We offer you spices, golden camels," Prince Ali said, "little spoons made of gold–"
"Spoons," Dalia said, at least feigning intrigue.
"Jams, and jewels," Prince Ali finished.
"Jams?" Jafar asked, echoed by his parrot.
"Jams just so happen to be one of our finest exports," Prince Ali answered, defending the choice of gift. "You will never find any finer tasting jams in your life, nor will you find any of the seedless varieties anywhere else."
"Much thanks to the insistence of a resident sweet tooth," the valet offered candidly.
"Which benefits everyone else as well," Prince Ali said as though it was a long-standing joke.
Jasmine smiled. Apparently the prince appreciated sweets, jams in particular. "I suppose the spoons are intended for those who wish to eat the jams straight from a personal pot?" she asked.
The prince jolted as though caught in the very act. "If one so desires, yes," he admitted. Another clearing of the throat as though setting himself on track once again. "And one final gift." He gestured to an object covered in a cloth.
At a nod, the servants standing on either side lifted the sheet away. A wooden drum of some sort, set in a frame with a handle for turning.
"We use it to make frozen cream," Prince Ali said. "We will offer a demonstration whenever you wish."
"We will most certainly look forward to this demonstration, Prince Ali," Baba said.
"And what do you hope to buy with these great and rare riches?" Jasmine asked.
"A moment to speak with you and learn more of you," Prince Ali answered.
"You believe my time is able to be bought or sold?"
"Your Highness," the valet said, "he considers time with you so precious, he would consider himself fortunate if you counted these treasures worthy of giving him a mere moment in exchange."
Jasmine raised her eyebrows. This was a change.
"I fear that even if I offered the wealth of my entire kingdom, it could not pay for a full hour in your presence," Prince Ali said.
His valet and accompanying servants all looked at him in shock. His valet even mouthed something that looked like "wow."
The prince froze, his eyes slightly widening. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" he asked, his face darkening with red.
"Yeah, you did," his valet said. He lightly cleared his throat. "The, uh, personal gift?"
"Oh! Right," Prince Ali said. "Jalil?"
A guard came forward but instead of approaching Jasmine or Baba, he gave the wooden jewel-inlaid box to his prince.
Prince Ali nodded his thanks, handing his scepter to the man. He then approached Jasmine. As he came nearer, Jasmine finally received her confirmation. It was him. Aladdin, the thief from the market. She'd hardly dared to allow herself to believe it was possible. So was that truly possible? Yet, he had said he could give her and Dalia pointers for the next time they switched roles. Could this truly mean–?
"Princess Jasmine," Prince Ali said, interrupting her thoughts, "I was told you loved books and maps. When asked, you requested this volume. I hope that you will accept it as a gift, if not in courtship then between two allies, future rulers of their respective kingdoms." He opened the lid to reveal a copy of The Tales of Shehrabad. No, not just any copy. It was the very same one Mother used to read to her. The one she had entrusted to Aladdin. "We have copies of similar titles in our libraries," Prince Ali said. "I hope we found the one you wished."
Jasmine carefully lifted up the book from its satin bed. She leafed through the pages, catching snatches of familiar stories. Finding the clear script of Mother's handwritten note in the front. "Thank you, Prince Ali," she said, hugging the book to herself. "I accept the gift and the friendship behind it."
"How would you have learned of this book?" Jafar asked, breaking the moment. Had there been a moment to break?
"I met his representative in the market," Jasmine said, saving the prince. "He mistook me for Dalia and asked what the princess would wish. I answered him honestly." She met the valet's eyes, searching for his name. "Is that not right, Khaleel?"
"Indeed, Your Highness," he answered with a slight bow and hardly a blink. "Shall I apologize for the misunderstanding?"
"None needed," Jasmine answered, meeting Aladdin's eyes.
He offered a reserved smile as he bowed and started walking backwards. Halfway back he stumbled on his robes. Before he could fall however, a child darted forward with enough push to keep him upright.
Steadied on his feet again, Ali whirled on the girl that everyone was staring at. "Dhandi?! What are you doing here?" he demanded, crouching down to meet her eyes. He was shocked, frustrated, but not angry surprisingly.
"I've missed you," the girl answered. "And I've always wanted to see Khaleel lead one of your entry parades."
"Eden's probably worried sick about now," Ali said.
"I left a note," the girl said, unrepentant.
The prince groaned before straightening and turning back to them, hands gently but firmly on her shoulders. "Your Majesties, my ward, Dhandi."
"Hello," Dhandi greeted with a wave.
"You already have a family started," Jasmine noted.
"Broadly speaking, yes," Ali admitted.
"He got me off the streets," Dhandi chirped. "Said he couldn't be happy when he knew someone was suffering in his city."
"Is that so?" Jasmine asked with a smile. What were the chances of meeting a prince with the same belief she had concerning their people's happiness? "I suspect you have quite a few brothers and sisters then."
"Nope, just Al," Dhandi answered. "Most folks don't find themselves on the streets in Ababwa."
"So, Prince Ali is not your baba?" Dalia asked.
Dhandi shook her head. "I've never had a baba, at least not a good one."
"So, Ali is your brother?" Jasmine asked.
Dhandi nodded, half-swinging side to side as she clutched Ali's hands that still rested on her shoulders. "He's the big brother Mama never gave me, a brother I'd like to think coulda protected us from bad baba."
Jasmine saw Ali's heart crack in his eyes. His hold shifted to hug the girl in tender protectiveness. "You don't have to say anything more about him unless you want to," he said quietly.
"Not yet, big brother," she said. "I'd rather brag on you."
Ali's smile did not quite reach his eyes but close enough. "At the same time, you are giving a terrible first impression of me."
"How am I doing that?" she asked.
"We are formally meeting the Royal Family of Agrabah, and you are being very informal."
"Oohh," she drew out. She straightened, setting his hands aside before smoothing her rich though simple dress. "Your Majesties," she greeted with a curtsy. "I apologize for my rude appearance and not being properly dressed for the occasion." Dhandi boldly met Jasmine's eyes. "Will you at least give my brother a chance, Princess? He's been looking for you for forever."
"Dhandi," Ali said, "almost there but a little too free."
"But you have," the girl said.
"Do you always allow the women and children of your kingdom such freedom?" Jafar asked with disdain.
Ali visibly bristled, subtly putting himself between Jafar and his ward. "We respect them in Ababwa," he answered. "My mother ruled Ababwa since I was four-years-old, when my father abandoned us and our people. She alone was sultan until she died three years ago. Yes, there are some unspoken rules of decorum that are followed by all, not just women and children. Dhandi has been fending for herself on the streets up until two years ago. She is still learning royal protocols."
Dhandi hugged his arm. "Ali," she said quietly, a hint of fear in her eyes. "It's okay."
Ali drew in a deep breath before slowly releasing it. "I do not take kindly to insults towards my mother," he told Jafar coldly. "Be it direct or indirect."
Khaleel coughed. "Formal audience still in progress," he said in a flat, low voice.
Ali winced, wrapping the arm Dhandi held protectively around her shoulders. He met Jasmine's eyes with a nervous cringe. "Is this mess ruining all my chances or is it actually helping in a convoluted way?"
Jasmine smiled. "I believe so."
"That doesn't answer which way," Dhandi said.
"We shall see at the Harvest Festival," Jasmine said.
"Yes," Baba said. "You and your ward are most welcome to join us."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Ali said with a bow, Dhandi quickly following with a curtsy.
"Does Dhandi have a festive gown?" Jasmine asked.
Ali turned to the girl with a raised eyebrow. "I highly doubt it."
"I believe I still have some gowns from when I was her age," Jasmine said. "And I'm sure if not, we can have something made special."
"Dhandi?" Ali prompted.
"Thank you, Princess Jasmine," Dhandi said, her face lit like the sun. She then peeked at Ali. "Am I in trouble?" she asked.
"You can enjoy your day here and the Harvest Festival," Ali said. "But after the festival, you are going home and Eden will decide your punishment. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Dhandi said.
Jasmine smiled, holding out her hand for the girl as she hugged her restored book close. "Would you like to join me and Dalia?"
"Go ahead," Ali said with a smile, nudging her forward.
Dhandi laughed as she ran forward and caught Jasmine's hand. "Do you have blue or pink?" she asked.
"We have the rainbow," Dalia answered as they headed off.
Jasmine glanced back. She was highly intrigued by this prince and hoped to uncover the mystery between Ali and Aladdin.
Aladdin released a long breath. That had somehow managed to go both rougher and smoother than he had planned.
"We saw to it that rooms were prepared for you before we came," the Sultan said. "Perhaps during the festival, you shall demonstrate how you can freeze cream."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Aladdin said with a bow. "If we do not meet again before, we shall see you at the Harvest Festival."
The Sultan nodded before following his daughter out, Jafar not too far behind.
"Wow," Khaleel said. "I can't believe how you managed to both stumble about and keep everything together at the same time."
"With your help, Khaleel," Aladdin said. "Let's get everyone settled." He smiled around at those who were present. "Everyone has more than earned a good rest."
It actually wasn't until after the noon meal that Aladdin allowed himself to collapse upon the bed in his guest chambers. He barely even heard Genie come out to celebrate some more with Khaleel over the success of the parade.
Author's Note: Phew. I love the live action, but this scene had me wanting to crawl under my theater seat. Aladdin was making a fool of himself. Naturally since he wasn't a real prince. So, there was more than one reason why I had to change things. I also took a crazy guess as to what the wheel/"expensive" thing was. I honestly have no idea. There's my guess. If someone knows what that contraption was, I'd be very interested in learning what it actually is.
And example number one of the characters running away from me. I'm pretty sure I hadn't planned for Dhandi to pop up here, but she wanted to see her big brother/guardian again so she snuck along for the ride when the two wizard genies weren't looking.
So, how do you think things went? Think Aladdin stands a chance? Do you think Jafar suspects at all yet? Let me know down below.
And for anyone who has followed along from any of my other stories, writing of The Two Hobbits is now paused for NaNoWriMo while I see how much I can cover in a rewrite of Baskerville, a sequel for my Sherlock/Kingdom Hearts crossover. For those curious, Thorin's Company is currently trapped in Mirkwood, and my progress in my NaNo project is just a couple hundred words short of five thousand.