Almost Heaven

By- An Unknown Foreign Beauty

Chapter 5- Promise of Tomorrow

There were two more guards in the garden today. Jasmine turned away from the balcony and sighed.

The number of the guards was increasing outside her door since the break-in last night, even the plants in the garden had been trimmed short so that no one could climb into her room anymore. She was sure that it was Jafar's idea. He seemed to know every word passed behind every closed door of the palace. She wondered how he found Aladdin's presence in her chamber last night. It was felt like she was being watched. She was tired of being watched all of her life. She could not take this anymore.

She let Dalia wrap a golden mantle around her shoulder and headed towards the sultan's inner chamber. It was the only place Jasmine knew she could find her father alone.

Most of the time he was surrounded either by his viziers or guards or the dignitaries from foreign lands especially the grand vizier Jafar. Since her mother's death, Jasmine could hardly remember speaking with her father alone, except for a few occasions when they visited the queen's grave together. And every day she felt they were growing apart- her being immersed more and more in her studies and secret adventures and him being more and more spending time with the council. None of them seemed to know what was happening in each other's life.

She trailed her hand alone the ornate walls along the corridor. She had seen these walls like this since she was a baby in her mother's arms, and even today nothing changed. Only her world seemed to become more and more limited with each passing day. Every day she was feeling like a prisoner.

Several voices raised in debate in the Sultan's inner sanctum. Jasmine stopped, her ears picked up Jafar's voice clearly among others. "Our enemies grow stronger every day. Last night ago a thief broke into the palace. I am sure he is a spy from some enemy kingdom," Jafar said, his cold voice out of place in the warm room. "We need to forge a military alliance with Skånland by the princess' marriage with Prince Anders. Give the prince another chance to meet her in the harvest festival…"

Jasmine frowned. Now Jafar was complaining about her. He seemed to live to keep her grounded, to show her place as a woman in the world.

"Which enemy?" the Sultan interrupted. He was not in the mood to hear Jafar criticize his daughter yet again.

Jafar's fingers tightened around the staff in his hand. "Shirabad continues to poke their nose into our politics. I am sure the thief is working from them. "

"Shirabad is our ally," the Sultan corrected. This was a conversation he and his vizier had had already—many, many times. He was tired of all of these. Yet for some reason, he seemed to always end up agreeing with the man in the end…. "You would drag us into a war with our oldest-"

"Spy from Shirabad?" Jasmine couldn't believe Jafar blaming her mother's kingdom just because he suspected a random person as their spy. She walked inside and spoke, voice echoing off the walls of her father's study, her eyes catching the anger in her father's face. Out of the corner of her eyes, she watched Jafar's fingers tightening around his cobra staff, but she ignored him and strode beside her father, and took his hand. "Why would they try to spy on us?" she asked, turning her gaze towards the vizier. "If not for Shirabad, we'd have no access to inland trade. And are you sure there was a thief really broke into the palace?"

The sultan smiled meeting his daughter's eyes. For a moment Jasmine thought she had seen the pride in her father's eyes, for supporting him against his council. He tore his gaze from his daughter, and nodded, "No, Jafar. Hakim confirmed to me there was no thief in the princess' room that night. You need to turn your attention away from the princess and concentrate on something productive."

Jafar's cheeks reddened. For a moment Jasmine wondered he could burn her into ashes if he had power. His lower lip trembled, yet his voice was cold as he spoke, "I can, my Sultan. And you can allow your daughter to run free for the mere sentiment."

And finally, the sultan lost his patience.

"Jafar." He bellowed. Anger flashed in the Sultan's eyes. Jasmine gasped. She had never expected the vizier gaining so much power to speak to her father like that. She kept her hand on his shoulder and felt a muscle twitching under her touch.

"Remember your place."

"Baba." Jasmine kept holding her father's shoulder firmly, feeling him still shaking under her touch. Waves of anger were rising inside her too. She could feel her cheeks burning. "Calm down." She whispered, kneeling beside the old ruler, trying to calm down his anger. She again turned her fiery gaze towards the vizier, "How dare you to speak to your sultan like that?"

"My Sultan." Jafar seemed to ignore her completely and stepped between father and daughter. He moved his staff; Jasmine could feel a strange heat radiating from the golden cobra head.

"An ally in Skånland could improve our situation," he said to the Sultan.

Jasmine watched her father nodding with the vizier's movement, as if unable to control himself anymore. Slowly he turned his head to her, gaze unfocused. "Yes," he said. "If you would give Prince Anders a chance, we can forge a military alliance with his land."

"Baba." Jasmine was surprised by the sudden change in her father's decision. "Why?" She couldn't believe he was actually considering Jafar's decision. Every time he seemed frustrated with his vizier, but he needed up agreeing with him at the end.

The Sultan did not seem too interested to answer her question. His expression grew serious, as did his tone as he spoke. "I'm not getting any younger, my dear. We must find you a husband, and Prince Anders is a fine choice…"

"What foreign prince could care for our people as I do? The first thing he does to sign a slave trade treaty since his arrival. Our kingdom is drowning into poverty. Can we find a better solution? Can't I lead—"

"You cannot be sultan," her father said, cutting her off. "It never happened in history."

"But…." Jasmine stood up from her father's side, hands clenched in frustration. "What does that Prince Anders know our people? I have read…" She wanted to scream. Even the head guard Hakim nodded sympathetically behind her.

Jafar's slick voice cut in. "Books!" he said, this time the one to laugh at the idea. "But you cannot read experience, Princess."

"Better a leader who cares for her people than—"

Jafar stopped her. "Actually, it isn't," he said, shaking his head. His dark eyes grew darker and his voice dripped with arrogance. "Ignorance is dangerous. People left unchecked will revolt. Walls and borders unguarded will be attacked. A thief had already broken into the palace inside your garden. You are not safe to rule."

But there was no thief… Jasmine wanted to say…. He is more than you see…..

"I'm afraid Jafar is right, my dear," the Sultan said. "The world is a dangerous place. I must appoint more guards outside your door. "

Nodding, Jafar didn't bother to hide his smile of pleasure at hearing the Sultan's agreement. Emboldened, the vizier stepped forward and put a hand on Jasmine's shoulder. She tried not to visibly shudder at his touch, but her stomach roiled. "We each have an important role to play, Princess. Why not focus on what you do so well and leave these more serious matters to us?"

Jasmine's mouth dropped open and her hands clenched at her sides. Before she could even respond, her father walked near her and took her hand, "I have invited Prince Anders to join the harvest festival next week. I wish you will be there, daughter."

Jasmine could never deny her father's wish. Since her mother's death, she was the only person he seemed to keep all of his expectations. She could never win this argument if he requested her like this. She patted his hand and sighed, "I will, Baba."

.

.

.

Aladdin stood in a small alley next to the entrance of the market. The sky above was purpled by dusk, and the mixture of spices, sweat, and livestock filled the autumn air with the heady perfume of life, in all its abundance. The kingdom was getting ready for the yearly harvest festival. Ships from far and abroad reached the port at this particular time of the year. The bazaar was full of people, buying and selling goods from all over the world. Business seemed to at its peak. And it was a golden opportunity for a street thief. There was a stall selling exclusive fabric imported from Egypt. A rich looking woman was toying with a bright aquamarine dress from the pile, examining the color contrast against her chocolate skin.

No, it doesn't suit her, Aladdin thought instantly, this color could be perfect contrast against Dalia's bright brown skin.

Dalia….Aladdin felt his cheeks reddening at the thought of the name. He hadn't been able to visit the palace since he was shot. His hand felt the necklace in his pocket, resting comfortably there. He remembered faintly sleeping beside her, with his head in her lap, but it seemed like a dream. He might have drifted into slumber again because when he opened his eyes, she was gone. But his whole being was screaming again for her touch, lay his head in her lap, feel her touch against his burning skin.

Shaking his head, Aladdin began to move through the market. Now was not the time to get lost in daydreams. He had more pressing and real issues—like finding lunch. As his growling stomach was now reminding him, it had been a day since he had eaten anything. His injury prevented him from roaming around the street for the last few days. Morgiana tried her best to keep him supplied with foods, but he also knew, like him, she had to starve if she needed to keep him well fed.

He pressed his hand over his aching side and continued moving through the streets. His fever was coming back, and injury had slowed him down a bit. He eyed the spiced buns from Saja's stall but discarded the idea. The woman had the keenest eyes in the Agrabah. He was no mood in running from the guards today. Heading in the opposite direction, he continued planning his day.

On his shoulder, his best friend Abu chattered away. Nodding absently in reply as the monkey let out a particularly shrill set of screeches, Aladdin nearly bumped into a woman. Startled, he took a step back. But then a large smile spread across his face as he took in the beautiful familiar face.

"Dalia," He grinned.

Dalia pulled her dark grey cloak tight about her. She threw a concerned gazed at the man in front of her, grabbed his arm, and pulled him aside.

"What are you doing out here?" She scolded, pressing him against a wall and looked at his face for a while. Aladdin raised his hand and wiped away the drops of sweat from his face. Certainly, his looks didn't improve from a day of starvation and illness. He shuddered when her soft hand brushed against his fevered forehead.

"Is it your job to follow me everywhere?" He tried to wave her concern away with a crooked grin on his face.

Jasmine's cheeks flushed. But she noticed the way he was slurring his speech, she even thought that there was a slight flirtatious tone in his voice, but then she decided to blame the blood loss.

"You must not leave your bed." Jasmine wanted to smack his head for leaving his bed so early. It was a great deal escaping the palace after the incident of the fateful night. But she could not stop worrying about this impossible person. She had a strange feeling of being watched, still, she couldn't stop herself from finding the injured thief.

"Let's go back to your home." She said swallowing the temptation "You need rest."

"I am alright." He tried to use his best convincing tone, and waved towards the vendor haggling with price with their customers, "Besides there was no way to find food in my hovel."

"Oh!" Jasmine suddenly realized what made an ill man leave his bed. She lifted her gaze to look at the man beside her, his tired sweaty face. He might have been starving for days. Her heart overflowed with affection for him. At the palace she never imagined leaving her bed even she caught a minor cold. What a life her people were leading when she had all the luxuries of the world. It was not fair.

"Let me buy you some food." She tugged his arm.

"Where did you get the money?" Aladdin was surprised.

"A kind of borrowed." She winked, "Besides today I really don't want to run away from the guards."

The memories of their first meeting bought a smile across Aladdin's lips. He grinned and pulled her closer. "Stay close. There are many to snatch the money from you."

"I have my eyes on you, thief," Jasmine rolled her eyes.

With that, two of them left the safety of the shadows and darted out into the bustling crowds of Agrabah's most active outdoor market. They had their arms full of food within half an hour. Jasmine knew Aladdin was eyeing her with awe. He himself hadn't seen so much food in his life. Possibly no one to care for him ever. She took his hand and gently pressed it. "It's alright. Let's go home." She whispered. Aladdin nodded.

Aladdin was nearly leaning on her shoulder when two of them finally reached the hovel. Jasmine shifted his weight over her one shoulder and carried the basket of bread in another. When they reached near the dirty mattress over the floor, he pulled his arm away and waited docilely while the princess swept the covers back; then he laid down and looked at her with a foolish grin while she arranged bread on a plate for him. There was strange domesticity in the picture. He didn't know why, but somehow it felt so natural to see Dalia moving around his little home.

Maybe someday... an unconscious smile tugged at his lips...their home.

"Here," He snapped back to the reality as Dalia placed a plate full of bread in front of him. "Thank you." He smiled and took a bite, but it tasted like cotton in his fevered mouth. He swallowed a portion and lied down. Jasmine looked back at him, with no attempt to hide her anxiety. She calmly poured cold water into a bowl and dabbed a cloth in the water. She placed the wet cloth over his burning forehead. Aladdin closed his eyes. It felt so unreal to be cared like this. No one, except his mother, cared for him like this. He opened his eyes again to find a pair of beautiful brown eyes watching him with concern. Even her voice trembled a bit when she said, "Care to tell me how you are feeling now?"

He was feeling tired. And grateful. He looked at the gorgeous woman beside him. He really didn't deserve her.

"In heaven," He said without looking away, "And you are one of the hoors in heaven."

Jasmine had dealt with enough of his flirtation today. Now she was clearly annoyed. "Here we have bread for almost a week. Promise me, you will not be running in the road until you are healed." Her voice was almost commanding.

Aladdin's eyes were burning. Her tone strangely reminded him of his mother. She used to scold him whenever he did something naughty.

"Promise." He said as his fascinated gaze moved over her. Her shining hair tumbled over her shoulders in a gloriously untidy mass of a dark river, framing a face of heartbreaking beauty. Her skin was as smooth as polished mahogany, her brows delicately arched, and her lashes thick and curly. Her eyes were like a pair of dark deep pools as they worriedly searched his face, trying to assess his condition. Her mouth was vulnerable and soft—as soft as the breasts that swelled at his eye level above the bodice of her lace-edged cream blouse, practically begging for his touch. But it was her mouth Aladdin wanted to taste first. He tightened his hand on her upper arm, drawing her closer. He reached for her, slid his hand behind her neck and pulled her close.

"Aladdin..." Jasmine gasped as she fell over his chest.

"Hush..." Aladdin silenced her, his hands removing a stray hair from her face.

The urge was irresistible, Jasmine tilted her head, to meet his warm brown, sensual eyes and her heart began to beat fanatically in her chest. His warm breath brushed her temple, trickling the skin there. Unknowingly, her arms found their way around his neck, meeting the sensitive place of his nape. The magic was more when his lips were only an inch away from hers, and then suddenly a shadow of a bird flying outside the widow engulfed two of them. Jasmine startled and looked outside. Her keen eyes caught a shadow moving below.

Someone like a royal guard.

Her suspicions were right.

THEY WERE BEING WATCHED!

She didn't know who it was, but she knew her presence would bring more danger to Aladdin. She moved her head away a secant before his lips reached her.

"I have to go." Her voice laced with sorrow.

"Dalia," She was about to rise, but his hand caught her arm. "Stay." There was a strange plea in his voice.

Jasmine's heart was breaking. They were close….so close….still...

"Not today." She sat beside him and moved a piece of stray hair from his face. "I need to help the princess for the harvest festival."

"I'll meet you at the harvest festival." Aladdin grinned and pressed a kiss on the back of her hand.

"No." Jasmine quickly pressed her hand over his mouth. "Don't even dare to do that. The palace is heavily guarded. You will be in danger."

"Really?" A mischevious smile laced Aladdin's lips as he fixed his gaze on the princess's frustrated face, "You don't know me yet, Dalia."

Jasmine shook her head in frustration. She really didn't know what to do with this man. She couldn't get over him either. And it frustrated her even more.

Her frustration made him laugh. And his laughter made the tension lighter. She forgot the danger waiting for her outside, instead, a warm fuzzy sensation filled her beings. With him, she felt different, free.

She did not know why. She needed to find it.

Tell me what do you think? It's a horrible chapter, written in a bit hurry. After 2 weeks of break, I am a bit rusty.

Reviews, faves, follows will be awesome.

Next chapter- The harvest festival