Chapter 3
Ali waited for a few minutes until a guard opened up the door for him and let him inside. He then greeted Ali bowing low to him.
"Thank you for letting me in." Ali said looking at the guard kindly.
The guard could stand up shocked. No prince had ever thanked him for such a small act like that. Most of them just walked past him or just ignored him. However, this prince not only acknowledged him, he thanked him as well.
"It's no problem Prince Ali. I will go let The Sultan and The Princess know that you've arrived." The guard replied returning his smile.
Ali nodded his thanks again as the guard walked away. He leaned back in thought against the wall with his arms crossed. He wanted to get Bulu, Najima and Jordan some much needed help. However, if the orphanage or anywhere else wasn't acceptable to him and this courtship failed, he would take them back to Ababwa.
His thoughts were interrupted when he saw The Sultan and The Princess walking towards him. He stopped leaning on the wall and waited for them to come to him.
"Prince Ali, is it? Welcome to Agrabah my boy!" The Sultan said bounding up to him. Normally the princes that he encountered would only nod and give a look of contempt, but Ali bowed low and gave him a smile before speaking.
"Thank you for having me Your Highness. It's a pleasure to be here." Ali replied standing back up after the bow.
"Well I'm glad you've decided to come! I assume you came because you want my daughter's hand in marriage? I imagine you wouldn't be here unless you want the courtship with my daughter." The Sultan said without noticing Jasmine giving him a glare.
Jasmine didn't want to be viewed as an object or a prize anymore. The only reason she willingly came down here to meet a prince for once was because she heard that he wasn't pompous or self-centered. She was beginning to despair and was ready to dismiss him quickly just like he did the others. However, she wanted to see what he had to say.
"No. I would like to get to know Princess Jasmine properly." Ali said before turning towards Jasmine and looked at her directly in her eyes. "I don't view her as a prize or an object to be won. I want to get to know who she is a person and see where it goes. If that's ok with her of course." Ali said before bowing to Jasmine and then standing up with a kind smile on his face.
Jasmine was trying to stop her tears and the curves of her lips twitching upwards. She was trying to keep herself from hoping that he was truly different from every pompous prince she had come across and scared off. Was he truly different?
However, as she saw him stand back up and give a kind smile, she tried to detect any malice or cunning in his gaze. When she could detected kindness and mirth from him, she couldn't help but smile back.
Unfortunately, Jafar had made his presence known coming down the stairs and appeared right next to both The Sultan and Jasmine. Ali could only give the man an emotionless look waiting for him to speak. He wouldn't judge anyone by their looks. He would only judge someone once he saw their actions. But this man was definitely shady and quite threatening. Ali observed him interacting with The Sultan and Princess.
"Hello Jafar! My most trusted advisor, how are you?!" The Sultan said happily. Ali noticed however that Jasmine was tenser and frowning towards him.
"Hello Sultan. I am doing well." Jafar said scoffing towards him. He then turned towards Jasmine and took her hand. "Princess Jasmine, you look more beautiful every day."
Jasmine pulled her hand out of Jafar's and crossed her arms together. "Hello Jafar." Jasmine said with disgust. She hated this man with every fiber in her being.
Ali kept observing and concluded that this Jafar guy was bad news. The Sultan was naïve when it came to him. While the Princess knew he was up to something shady. He would need to steer clear of him at all costs. And that staff of his seemed odd as well. Maybe he'd talk to Genie once he had a chance and see if it was something to be worried about.
"And who might this be?" Jafar said as he looked down on Ali with a look of detest.
Ali could only keep his temper in check as he took a deep breath before answering. "You know it's polite to introduce yourself before asking for others names."
Jasmine looked at Ali with a look of astonishment. No prince had ever stood up to Jafar like that. Or even noticed what she had figured a while back. Jafar was underhanded, repulsive and evil. She could tell that from looking at him. She was still troubled that her father still kept him around.
Jafar only looked down at the prince with an aghast expression. He never had to deal with a prince who actually didn't treat him with respect or show at least a little fear. But he couldn't detect anything from the boy. He couldn't feel anything from him. And that was a little scary.
"I am the Grand Vizier of Agrabah! The most trusted advisor to The Sultan. I am Jafar." Jafar said in a grand way. He figured that those titles would at least intimidate the young prince. However, Ali didn't back down or show any fear.
"I am Prince Ali from Ababwa. Nice to meet you." Ali said with an unreadable expression on his face. Years of royalty taught him how to conceal his emotions. And right now he was grateful for it. He felt nothing but disgust around this man.
"Likewise. But dare I say if you pursue the hand of Princess Jasmine in marriage, you won't have it. She will never be yours. She will only be in the hands of a true leader." Jafar sneered at Ali.
Jasmine was about to yell until she heard Ali speak. "She isn't property. She's a human being with thoughts and emotions. She should be free to make her own choices and decisions. Not have it forced upon her by anyone." Ali said not backing down from Jafar's intimidation tactics.
Jasmine stared wide eyed at the prince in front of her. He truly did understand her and how she felt! She felt trapped by all this. And she wanted to have the freedom to make her own decisions.
"Anyways, your highness?" Ali said turning away from Jafar who stumbled through his words unable to retort to the brave prince's words.
"Yes, my boy!" The sultan replied.
"Listen, on the way here I came across 3 kids and played with them for a little while. Their parents died a couple days ago and they've been on their own since. They badly need food and medical help. Can you please get them some help? I'll pay whatever the expenses cost." Ali said. He didn't know how else to tell them aside from just saying the whole story.
"But why bother Prince Ali. It's just 3 small kids. Why trouble yourself over them?" Jafar asked Ali with an evil smile.
Ali's hands started clenching into fists as his anger began to seep past his emotionless facade. "Because they needed help and I could help them."
"But you are a prince. You are royalty. Helping people who are beneath you like this is unbecoming of royalty." Jafar said trying to make Ali ever angrier. Maybe when he snaps, The Sultan would send him away. And he would get 1 step closer to taking over Agrabah and the world. Jafar was no fool. He knew this prince would be a huge threat if he stuck around.
"I won't turn a blind eye away from anyone I can help. And I won't turn a deaf ear when someone asks me for help either." Ali said with an almost deadly look on his face. If he was pushed a little more, he would destroy this rat faced monster in a heartbeat.
Ali turned away from Jafar and took a deep breath before bowing low to the Sultan. "Please help these kids Your Highness. They'll die if they don't get the help they need. I beg of you!"
Jasmine wide eyed stared got even wider. This prince was begging for 3 poor little kids to get help. She could detect only genuine emotions from Ali. He was begging on those kids behalf for help. Her father never really did much for the poor population here. And if she ever became the Sultan, she wanted to help everyone. So while her father was stunned at this, she spoke up instead.
"Yes Prince Ali. We have plenty of room in the palace and we could definitely help them. I would like to meet them too." Jasmine said with conviction as she stared at Ali's face.
"Well my daughter thinks it's fine so I guess it should be alright. Those kids can stay here until you need to leave Prince Ali." The Sultan said with a smile.
"But sir-" Jafar started to protest but he was caught off by The Sultan.
"The place is so big and can get lonely sometimes Jafar. Having some lively faces around here would be nice!" The Sultan said stopping Jafar's protest.
Both Ali and Jasmine gave Jafar smug looks before turning away. Ali bowed low before The Sultan and Jasmine. "Thank you both so much!"
"Ok then I shall see you all later for dinner then." Jafar said angrily before storming away. They would pay for this later.
The Sultan then went away saying he would get some servants to prepare help for the kids coming in and be ready for the guests which left Ali and Jasmine all alone.
However, it was a comfortable silence as they both smiled at each other before Jasmine made her way towards Ali and stood next to him.
"Hello Princess Jasmine. How was your day today?" Ali said looking down at Jasmine with a kind smile.
"It went well Prince Ali. Nothing unusual. How was your trip here?" Jasmine said returning his smile. She would normally be a little more reserved, but for some reason she didn't feel any need to worry about this man.
"You don't have to call me prince you know? Just Ali is fine." Ali replied still grinning.
"Well then don't call me princess then. Just Jasmine is fine for me too." Jasmine said still returning the grin.
"Ok Jasmine but as for how my trip went, well..."
Before they knew it, they were telling each other about how their days were and making small talk. By the time The Sultan returned with the servants, Ali and Jasmine were already cracking jokes and laughing together. The Sultan smiled softly at the 2. Maybe he should've brought Prince Ali a lot sooner.
"Alright Prince Ali. The servants here will be more than happy to take your luggage and escort you and your friends to their rooms." The Sultan said with around 7 servants behind him ready to assist the Prince.
"Yes of course. Thank you very much." Ali replied with a smile. He then turned to Jasmine before speaking again. "After me and my friends get settled in, do you want to go for an evening stroll and then you can meet the kids?"
Jasmine nodded immediately with a smile and a small blush. This prince was already the best one she had ever come across. For once she was looking forward to spending time with a suitor.
Ali returned the smile and blush as well. From what he noticed about the princess, he was very impressed. She stood her ground, was truthful, and very kind as well. He wanted to spend time with her too and get to know her better.
Ali walked outside the door with the servants in tow. He couldn't wait to tell all his friends the good news!