Chapter Sixteen: Some Girl Fun

Jasmine ran her hand over the collection of gowns from years gone by. Most gowns weren't saved, but these were special made from festivals. Some never worn because the seamstresses had insisted on sewing the growing princess at least two or three different choices. She turned and almost laughed at Dhandi's gape-mouthed expression.

"All of these are yours?" the girl asked, barely touching a finger to one dress before jumping back.

"They were," Jasmine answered. "Don't you have gowns like this in Ababwa?"

"Not this many or so pretty," Dhandi answered. She looked down. "The viziers and some nobles don't think I should be dressed better than their own daughters. I've seen them bribe the seamstresses to keep my dresses simple. I don't bother Ala-, Ali about it because I know he has his own problems with them."

"So you let him believe or tell him that you prefer simpler dresses," Jasmine said, gently, kneeling before her.

Dhandi nodded. "Royal life is still weird to me sometimes, and I figured I'm helping Ali by not causing trouble."

Jasmine offered her a smile. "As the ward of Ababwa's sultan, you deserve to be dressed as a princess. And, tonight, you will be." She waved her arm to encompass the entire room. "Explore and touch to your heart's content. Even play dress-up if you want to."

"Really?" Dhandi asked.

"Of course," Jasmine said. "From one princess to another."

The girl laughed before diving in between the hanging gowns, disappearing aside from her slippered feet. "Hm. They're so soft." She peeked out, dark eyes sparkling. "How did you not wear them out from wearing them all the time?"

Jasmine chuckled. "Some of them I never wore because they were made for one festival and by the time the next rolled round, they didn't fit right somehow."

Dhandi's eyes bugged out. "I can't even imagine that," she said.

"And here are the headpieces," Dalia said, carrying in an open-air crate.

Dhandi cried out in delight before racing forward to look at the various cloth tiaras and veils. She pulled out a veil of deep blue sprinkled with silver stitching like starlight. "I love this one!" she cried. She tossed it over her head and clasped it under her chin with her hand. She twirled, giggling in delight, not noticing that she actually had the top trailing behind her.

"Here, let me help you with that," Jasmine said, grinning. The girl paused as the princess set the veil properly on her head, fixing the top silver comb into her hair.

Dhandi beamed even brighter as she caught the wide, trailing corners of the large square and twirled again. "I want to wear this tonight."

"Well that narrows down the gowns," Dalia said, settling onto a nearby cushion.

"At least a little," Jasmine agreed, even if she refused to leave the task until Dhandi had been at least partially satiated for dress-up and pretty clothes.

"Oh!" Dalia cried out.

Jasmine turned to see that Dhandi had set a red and gold woven tiara and veil upon her friend's head. It was too small, but the girl looked so pleased with herself.

"You have to join in the fun too," Dhandi said. She rummaged through the headdresses again before finding a rich pink and gold veil. She hurried back to Jasmine's side.

Jasmine ducked down to allow the girl an easy reach to her head. She lifted her head again as Dhandi giggled in delight.

"Three princesses," she declared, "getting ready for a royal ball."

Jasmine met Dalia's eyes. How long had it been since they played that game? Much longer than most girls their age, she was sure. Mother's death had caused both of them to grow up faster than Mother would have liked.

"Well, then, Princess Dhandi," Dalia said with a feigned haughtiness, "let us see what we have in our meager wardrobes."

"Yes, Princess Dalia," Dhandi said, dropping into her role as well. "Come, Princess Jasmine."

Jasmine grinned and joined the fun. She lost track of time as they looked through the gowns and "modeled" some of them. Only Dhandi was able to actually put any of them on, but Dalia and Jasmine both would make a show of holding a dress to their front and draping the sleeves over their arms.

They were hardly halfway through the gowns when it was time for lunch. They settled in the room just outside the large closet to eat, though Dhandi insisted that they change their headdresses for the fine event. Jasmine ensured that Dhandi's chosen headdress was set aside special for the evening.

The feigned haughtiness and high society play was dropped though they still addressed each other by their titles. As they ate the light lunch and drank some tea, Jasmine decided to ask Dhandi a few questions.

"Princess Dhandi, can you tell me more about your brother?" she asked.

"He's the best," Dhandi said. "He had gone into the city to escape from the viziers and nobles. They really like to bug him. He only planned for his escape to last a month, but he stayed with me for five." She saddened. "We were still recovering from the sultan's death. We hadn't really heard anything from the prince. Most of the messengers were silenced. It was a bad time for everyone, not just me. Mama had left one night, but she never came back. When I asked Ali about it, he said that I wasn't to worry about it but if I still wanted to know when I was older, he would tell me then.

"After those five months, I found Eden. I think I scared Ali a little bit when I introduced them. But everything was good, and then once he freed her, he took us both to live with him in the palace. I think he had been secretly working with Khaleel to get a place for me ready."

Dhandi saddened. "Sometimes he leaves for really long times. I hadn't seen him for three months before today."

"Oh, that's horrible," Dalia said.

"It's okay," Dhandi said. "He always comes back with lots of stories to share. I just really miss him sometimes. And there are times when he'll come back and Khaleel and Eden won't let me see him immediately. They think I don't know that he's been hurt real bad, but . . . I've snuck into the room when they weren't looking. I'm always allowed to see him a day or two later, but he never tells me what happened to have the grownups so worried about him."

So, Ali was potentially an adventurer who occasionally stumbled into trouble.

Dhandi smiled again. "But he's still the best thing that has ever happened to me. I just want to see him be happy, like he helped me to be happy."

Jasmine returned her smile. She hoped to speak with Ali, if not before than during the Harvest Festival. She now had more than enough questions that needed answers. But as they finished their meal, she set her questions aside for another few hours of fun with her young guest.

Author's Note: Was this potentially a filler? Maybe. But I just wanted to have a peek at three "princesses" having some fun together. It also gives Jasmine a chance to learn more about Aladdin from someone close to him.

Hope you enjoyed this light-hearted chapter. The Harvest Festival coming up next chapter. Any theories about what will happen? I would love to hear them. :-)

Anyone interested, I am in the midst of Chapter Four in my NaNoWriMo project, a little over 16,000 words. (Actually, five units since I also wrote a prologue.) Sherlock and John are just on their way to Dartmoor via Exeter. (Yes, I researched train scheduling and destinations during Preptober. Hopefully it successfully pays off, and past train experience will help.)

Until next time.