A/N – The sultan will seem out of character throughout much of the story, that is intentional for the circumstances of this AU.

Chapter 7: A Prize Lost & A Prize Gained

Their footsteps echoed through the palace halls as Jasmine walked alongside the prince. By the time they reached the dining hall the moon had already taken its place in the sky. She felt embarrassed when her stomach growled, but Ali offered no indication that he noticed.

Jasmine spared him a glance as they walked. The walls guarding her heart cracked in the slightest, allowing a surprising level of warmth to pass through. The day had been filled with pleasant surprises and for the first time in years she did not look upon the future with distress. She was simply amazed at who it was that had given her a shred of hope.

Ali met her gaze when he noticed that hers lingered. For the first time since their marriage, she did not feel the urge to sneer.

"What?" He finally asked.

"It's a shame," she smiled lightly. "Had our circumstances been different, I might actually like you."

"Thank you, I think." He chuckled and she joined a moment later. Silence fell upon them for a short time before he nervously cleared his throat. "I was telling you the truth. It had not been my intention to take your throne, especially not against your will."

Jasmine searched his gentle gaze, looking for any sign of deceit. However, all that she found was a polite smile and eyes filled with an impossible affection. The man perplexed her. She had done nothing to warrant his kindness and yet, in a single day he had given her more than she ever deserved. Her body shivered just the slightest and she could have sworn that she could feel her heart unravelling.

Jasmine swallowed in attempt to combat the dryness of her throat. Say something, she commanded herself. As they entered the dining hall, she wrestled for the proper words.

"Jasmine!"

They both flinched as the sultan stormed through the door. Behind him, Jafar clutched his staff with a wicked expression. His angry gaze fixated upon the pair.

"Have you lost your mind, girl?"

"Baba?" A chill ran through her spine. The tone was unusual, even for her father. Never had the man sounded so cruel, not even when he forced her marriage.

"You have disobeyed every order I have given you," he growled as he neared. "What were you thinking?!"

"I am not a child, baba," she met his gaze coldly. "If I were, I wouldn't have spent the day with my husband."

Jasmine hoped Ali would not be disturbed by the retort. To her relief, his gaze remained unchanged as he took his place beside her.

"Do not test me, child."

"With all due respect, your majesty, I would ask that you do not speak to my wife in such a manner." Ali spoke before she was given the chance.

"Mind your tongue, boy. You are not sultan yet," the man retorted.

"It was by your own words that I be lifted in status the moment we married," Ali fired back. "Have you already forgotten our marriage agreement?"

"If I may," Jafar stepped beside the sultan. His chin raised in a clear invitation to challenge. "It was also agreed that you must first gain the sultan's favor on the matter. Or by his royal vizier."

"Right. I am to act only when the matter benefits you, right Jafar?" the prince mocked.

"I strive only to empower our great city," Jafar growled.

"By caging its rulers?"

Jasmine could have sworn to have seen Jafar's eyes glow red, but quickly shook off her foolish imaginations. His fist tightened around the staff as he glared to her father.

"Enough of this!" The sultan snarled. "You do not have the right to challenge me, boy."

"I have the right to defend my wife," he replied. Even Jasmine could hear the prince's own irritation building. She stood back, watching two fires attempt to drown the other with fuel. How ironic, she thought to herself. Her mind screamed to take-action, to step between the two men and end their senseless bickering. Yet, her heart flared from newfound fondness. The feeling held her at Ali's side. Straightening her back to match her partner's defiance, she smirked at Jafar's fiery glare. The emotion nearly overwhelmed Jasmine and her fingers twitched as she debated taking the prince's hand. A surge of delight raced through her as she came to realize that she no longer had to fight alone. She had an ally.

"I will not have you challenging my authority." The sultan's anger continued to surprise the princess. Until recently, the man had been a beacon of patience. Yet here he was, yelling as irrationally as a stubborn child. "I am sultan! I have the right to command my daughter."

"She is not your property anymore!" Ali shouted.

Jasmine flinched. Not because of the tone, but because of his choice in words. The flicker of emotion that she had allowed to slip through was tossed away as anger consumed her. Anger and a hint of sorrow. The instant loss of hope stunned her as she struggled to cope with Ali's betrayal.

"But I am yours?" She hissed. The room fell into an eerie silence. Ali appeared taken aback at the claim, but she refused to accept it. Her face reddened as she furiously scolded herself for allowing even the slightest hint of warmth towards the prince. "Am I your pet, prince Ali?"

"That's not what I…" He tried before she cut him off.

"I am no one's prize!" She glared at all three of them. There was a list brewing in her mind, a list miles long of things she wished to say to them. Horrid, despicable descriptions of the men attempting to rule her very being. She had their attention, and aside from Jafar the two appeared mortified by her claim. She surprised even herself when she simply walked away. None of them bothered to stop her as she stomped into the hallway, fuming until reaching the once comforting walls of her bed chambers. Rajah perked his ears upon her entrance.

Fool, you are a fool! She berated herself again and again.

Her hand moved to wipe the tears from her cheeks and her jaw clenched tightly. How could Ali be so cruel? How could she have betrayed herself? She had known that he couldn't be trusted; that it was all part of the prince's grand design. That his attempt to gain her favor was no more than a mere step whatever his ploy might be. After all, with her compliance, a long list of benefits would await him. Shaking her head once more, she lamented that she had fallen right into the prince's trap.

As the fury faded, the sorrow rooted in its place. Jasmine closed her eyes tightly, but nothing could stop the tears from flowing. Burying her face into her knees, she released the pain. The day's joy had been nothing more than a false dream and now she was left to mourn the shattered pieces of hope.

Rajah rested his head against her shoulder and after several minutes passed, she rewarded his loyalty with a pat. Jasmine's head ached by the time the tears finally stopped and she didn't even bother to wipe their paths along her cheek. Her forehead came to rest against the large animal.

"I was happy today," she admitted to the large cat. Releasing a deep breath, her arms wrapped around him. Her heart ached even more than it had on her wedding night as once again a bright future was taken from her. "I should have known it wouldn't last."

Rajah released a moan of sympathy before she finally rose to her feet. Before crawling into the bed, she commanded her friend's obedience.

"Do not let him near me."


A soft rumble in the sky woke the princess slowly. At a second flash, she opened her eyes to the unique sight of raindrops at the balcony. Her head continued to throb though to her relief it appeared that the agony had fled her heart. She silently wondered if the emptiness felt better than pain.

Twisting in her bed, she moved to sit so that she could see properly. Agrabah only saw a few nights of rain each year and though her heavy eyes rebelled, she refused to miss their gentle sounds.

Her bare feet were cold against the marble floor as she carefully stepped around Rajah. Ali's couch remained as empty as her heart, but as she approached the balcony she noticed the figure sitting just at the edge of the shelter.

"You're awake," she stated without emotion. Ali flinched but was quick to relax.

"I can't sleep when it rains," he answered. She thought it odd, as the weather had just the opposite effect upon her. Jasmine sat in a chair near the edge of the room's cover, just enough to avoid the sky's wrath.

"I find it peaceful," she stated.

"Most people do."

"But not you," she observed.

"I nearly froze as a boy," he answered. Jasmine startled and met his gaze but the prince merely shrugged. "It was a cold night and I couldn't find shelter. Then I nearly drowned in the flash flood that followed."

She watched him in surprise. Ali remained composed, so much so that she would've believed his tale to be a lie. However, there was the slightest hint of fear in those eyes as he gazed out into the storm. She considered allowing a shred of sympathy to slip through, however a quick reminder of his betrayal stilled her emotions. For a moment, they sat together in silence, staring at the gentle rainfall.

"I chose my words poorly."

Jasmine flinched at the break in silence, despite the gentleness of his tone.

"I have never thought of you that way. You are not a prize to be won." He finally met her gaze before continuing. "That is what I had wanted to instill in your father."

"You managed to fool me once today," she stated without emotion. "Do you truly think me a fool to believe you again?"

"No, I suppose not," he admitted with a sigh. "But, I hoped you might be merciful."

"An odd term to use," she scoffed. "You speak as if I threatened you."

He shook his head slowly before sighing gently.

"Everyone speaks as if torture is the fastest way to resolution. But physical pain is easy. You bandage the wound and rest until your healed. Then everyone praises your scars for surviving." He spoke quietly. She could not resist casting a confused glance at him, searching for his point. "No one can tell when a heart's been broken. All it takes is a few careless words and the damage is done. The worst part is, there's no bandage I can give you to fix it. I can only beg your forgiveness and hope that you will show mercy."

She waited a moment, searching for any sign of treachery. Jasmine prided herself as an excellent judge of character, and yet, the man continued to stump her. Desperation lingered at the back of her mind. Desperation to experience the day's joys again and it nearly convinced her to accept his apology. However, she shook her head gently; she would not cling to false hope. She hardened her heart in preparation to deny the prince any leniency. Then the sky roared after a flash of light.

Jasmine's heart crumbled at Ali's shiver. Before her mind caught up to her actions, the princess' hand was already at his own.

Ali's eyes glossed over the touch in surprise, but to her relief it did not linger. Breathing a bit heavier than usual, his fingers hesitantly closed around hers. His palm was sweaty, but to her continued amazement, the feeling didn't repulse her.

Given the way he swallowed deeply as if fending off a wave of terror, mixed with the gentle quiver of his skin, she managed to forget their estranged relationship. If only for a moment, she saw only a broken soul in need of mending.

"How long have you ruled?" She asked in a feeble attempt to distract him from the sky.

"Not long," he cleared his throat. "The king's passing was very sudden. Since I do not yet meet the age requirement to be crowned king, I was surprised when his brother encouraged me to take the throne. But I…"

Another flash brought about a tighter grip. When she winced from his strength, he quickly whispered an apology before relaxing his grasp.

"For most of my life I was refused the opportunity to leave." He continued. "As prince, I could finally break my own chains."

"You were trapped?" She asked in surprise.

"In a way," he explained. "Though even I was free to roam our own streets."

He paused before sneaking a glance in her direction.

"If I had known that they were keeping you from leaving, I would have taken you outside sooner."

She stilled the affection in her heart at his promise, suspicious of its truth. However, for a change, she was willing to hope for the better.

"I suppose I didn't make it easy for you," she admitted. He remained quiet while his gaze returned to the storm.

"I am planning some travels soon," he started. "I left Ababwa without a ruler, I would like to make sure they are safe."

"How long will you be gone?" She asked; surprised by the sudden rush of anxiety. She thought of their argument with Jafar earlier. Though their spat with the sultan had not ended as she desired, for a moment she had basked in the excitement of having an ally. Not even Dalia, her greatest friend, would have stood at her side while Jasmine spoke so bravely. She was surprised to find that she did not want the prince to leave.

"Shouldn't be more than two weeks." He met her eyes once more. "Unless we're having fun."

"We?"

"I was hoping that you might consider joining me."

A spark of excitement shot through her, before reality swiftly doused the flame. Shaking her head, she whispered coldly. "My father would never allow it."

"We already discussed it," he explained. "He agreed that a wife deserves the right to travel with her husband."

"Baba said that?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ali merely shrugged.

"He became much more reasonable after your vizier left." The prince started smiling. "You should have seen Jafar's face when I asked him to fetch the sultan some tea."

"You didn't," she barely contained her smirk. After assuring her again they both shared a laugh. "It feels good, knowing that someone else in this country despises that man."

"Is he always so…" His free hand waved in the air as he searched for a proper term.

"Yes. Whatever you're thinking, yes," she nodded with another chuckle.

"What if I was going to say handsome?"

"Well, then maybe you can be his wife." She prided herself for not missing a beat. Ali's laughter was timed perfectly to avoid the turmoil of another lightning strike. Together they sat, watching the storm wreak its final moments of havoc before the rain began to slow.

"We didn't play your game tonight," she noted aloud.

"I figured that I lost the rights to tonight's compliment," his tone turned serious. "Perhaps a few nights."

"I suppose you did," she nodded. His thumb moved slightly against her skin, sending a shiver up her arm. She thought of the children at the orphanage; of Amala, who falsely credited her for caring for the orphans. For the first time, she found it easy to answer his question. "You're thoughtful. And kind."

"Wow," his brow raised. "That's two."

"You can count?" Her sarcasm lifted them both in an oddly joyful laughter.

"And a third." He smirked once more, before his eyes fell to hers. "You're smiling?"

"You are astoundingly observant today," she shook her head with a smile.

"You should be careful, princess. I might start to think that you actually like me."

"Well, now you're just being ridiculous." They laughed again, though this time it felt different. Despite her better judgment, she heart fluttered under his gentle gaze. For a while longer, they sat in silence.

"I like your smile." He finally admitted.

"I haven't had much reason to smile," she reminded evenly. Ali watched her carefully, but refrained from pressing. Instead, he merely squeezed her hand in reassurance. Jasmine swallowed nervously when realizing the rain had stopped. She slowly pulled her hand from his before casually wiping the sweat from her palm. The prince released her in an instant and cleared his throat.

"Princess?" he started. Her attention had already been focused on the prince, even before he started anxiously playing with the cord at his neck; a seemingly growing habit of his. She nearly chuckled at his expression, confused by his sudden fight for words.

"Yes?" She asked when the moment drew too long.

"I... I want to tell…" His struggle continued a moment longer. The battle only caused her curiosity to grow, before he finally sighed. "We should get some sleep."

Jasmine waited a moment longer, curious to see if his courage would take a stand. However, as he reluctantly rose to his feet, she nodded in agreement.

Ali offered a hand on instinct and she found herself staring at his outstretched arm. His own eyes widened, as if only just realizing his actions. Just as he began to retreat, she reached to accept his grasp. The prince gently pulled her to her feet, where he stood waiting beneath her gaze. The nearness caused her to tense as he stared a bit too intensely. Surely he would not try to kiss her?

Jasmine attempted to hide her shiver, sneaking a glance at the sleeping tiger. Before he could be tempted she slipped around the prince; hoping the actions were subtle enough to go unnoticed. However, even she could spot Ali's wounded expression in the dark. He quickly composed his sorrow, burying it behind a smirk.

"Still don't trust me?"

"Do you blame me?" She challenged a bit harsher than what was deserved. Jasmine regretted it instantly, as he sighed away his mask; revealing his true offense.

"I've had ample opportunity to take advance of you, princess," he sighed. Even Jasmine was surprised at the hint of impatience. Her temper swelled lightly, before he took a step closer. Rajah released a low growl, but Ali remained unchanged. "I would think if anything, you could trust that I have no interest in doing so. I promised that I would not hurt you."

"You said it yourself," she stiffened. "There is more than one way to harm someone."

Ali was visibly disturbed by the retort. Whether it was frustration or shame that he felt as his own words were used against him, she could only guess the cause. He sighed deeply before hiding his gaze into the floor.

"Are you afraid of me?" he whispered.

"What?" She raised her brow.

"It's a simple question," his gaze rose to meet her own. She had never felt so small beneath the prince's stare. When she refused to answer, he sighed in frustration. "Tell me our future."

Jasmine struggled to understand his intentions. Did the prince expect her to pledge a number of children? Or perhaps promises of joy and bliss?

"Is it to follow this same path?" his brow raised. "To take one step forward, only to fall back another two?"

Her heart recoiled. Was the prince giving up? Even worst, why did the possibility trouble her? Only a day ago she would have reveled in the idea, yet now, she was uncertain. Jasmine struggled to maintain her emotions while sorting through a list of small deeds she could offer to appease the troubled man. Another compliment, perhaps? Or a simple embrace?

No. She was quick to reject the idea, fearing whatever misleading door would be opened to him. Softening her gaze, she cleared her throat.

"I thought we took a few steps today." Jasmine watched him carefully; gaging his reaction. "Do you disagree?"

His eyes bored into her own; searching, for what she did not know. After another moment, he sighed, "If you think so."

She reached once more for his hand, squeezing it lightly.

"I take small steps," she explained. "I would think you'd know that, given your experience with heels."

She had hoped to see him laugh, but she supposed that the light smirk would do for now. Ali's gaze softened before quickly pulling his hand from her grasp. Though his expression calmed a bit, she could still see in his eyes that he remained disheartened. Once more she found herself pondering over the prince; curious of his true intentions.

"Is it truly my heart that you're after, prince?" She asked forthrightly. She wasn't certain what information she would gain, nor if it could be trusted. However, she was tired of swaying pointlessly around in this foolish dance. Ali was surprised by the boldness, but her recovered quickly.

"Princess," he sighed. "I just want you to be happy."

She doubted the claim. Why on earth would this man hold a single care for her own heart? Their day together had been warming, yet even now they knew nothing of one another. He had no duty to protect her heart.

"I've been broken for a long time," she reminded. "I can't even remember what that feels like."

A tear slipped to her cheek as the words escaped, but she ignored its presence. Ali cast her a sympathetic gaze as they stood together in a haze of confusion, waiting for the other to speak until finally he sighed.

"I will try to help you find it," he spoke seriously, while his eyes narrowed. "But, I cannot do it alone."

Jasmine swallowed nervously, waiting just a moment before nodding in understanding. The agreement appeared to still his troubles as he bid her a good night. She followed a moment later and for a blissful moment as her head hit the pillow, she felt at peace.


A/N – For anyone concerned, this will be our final big "fight" between the two before we finally gain some real progress on their relationship. I won't drag this slow burn on forever ;) Cupid incoming

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