Chapter 15 – A Viper's Deal

Aladdin began toying with a loose string on his trousers, nervously waiting for the sultan to compose himself. He glanced behind him in hopes that Jasmine had returned, yet to his dismay the door remained closed. Swallowing his nerves, Aladdin straightened his posture and waited for the man to maintain his sobs. The moment the princess had left them, Hamed released his agony. No one blamed the sultan as they shifted awkwardly nearby, however it was unnerving to see the once proud ruler reduced to such a state.

Aladdin wasn't sure how to feel as he stood back watching. Jasmine had been quick to accept the man's corruption and almost instantly felt the relief of forgiveness. The thief, however, was not so sure that it had been earned. After all, it had been Hamed who appointed the vizier. As a boy, Aladdin had heard whispers surrounding the foreign man that had been promoted so quickly. The people had known all along of Jafar's distrustful nature and it had been Hamed who ignored their concerns. However, given the way a few guards stared at the thief accusingly, the thief was reminded that he too had only just been revealed. So, instead of confronting the elder, he held his tongue and waited for his sobs to slow.

"What have you done to my daughter?" He sniffed. Aladdin flinched, knowing that a lesser man would have taken offense to the sultan's accusation. However, he stilled his anger; imagining his own state of mind had a daughter of his own endured what the princess had. Aladdin almost smirked, knowing that by now the prince would be in pieces had their roles been reversed. Meeting the sultan's gaze, he chose his words carefully.

"I have done nothing to harm Jasmine," he assured. Hamed glared accusingly, before narrowing his eyes in challenge.

"Then you would step away from this marriage willingly?"

Aladdin's throat tightened. Two months ago, the answer would have been easy. It was, of course, what the princess had desired. Yet now, the thought of losing her was a terrifying notion. He thought of the way she had slowly warmed to him their first month, to the nights they had shared since their recent 'wedding'. Memories of the love she had whispered into his ear sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. Surely she would reject her father's proposal of separation?

Aladdin sighed quietly, knowing exactly what he would do.

"If that is what she wants," he swallowed roughly.

The sultan appeared relieved before his eyes widened once more.

"And so our search for a successor continues."

"Search?" Aladdin scoffed before remembering to control his attitude. "You already have one."

"I will not force my daughter to remain in this loveless marriage," Hamed glared once more. Aladdin's mind twisted darkly as he hardly refrained from exclaiming that the man knew nothing of love; nor of his own daughter.

"I wasn't talking about me," he bit his tongue to hold himself from shouting. "You've been searching for a replacement yet you have failed to see that she was right in front of you."

"Jasmine?" The elder appeared to relax. "She cannot…"

"She can," Aladdin snapped as his patience met its end. "Your foolish search has caused enough harm already. Now you have a chance to mend your mistakes."

"It has not been done for a thousand years," Hamed shook his head.

"Then see it done," Aladdin challenged. "Let her make you as proud of her as I am. As proud as her people are."

The sultan gazed upon him. The thief had almost mistaken his stare for disgust, before his features softened into deep thought.

"Who are you?" Hamed met his eyes sternly and the thief became puzzled at the question.

"Prince Ali," he replied. The sultan, however, only narrowed his gaze. Rising to his feet, the elder stood over him with his grand height. The thief refrained from swallowing, as he began to realize just how powerful the man could be. The sultan towered over him with a voice that emanated strength and a glare that could level cities. In a turn of a second, Aladdin felt that he had once again been reduced to a small boy cowering in the streets.

"Who are you," he emphasized again.

Aladdin shifted nervously, wishing that Jasmine had been there to guide him. Uncertain how much of the truth he should divulge. Would they slay him for his past sins?

"My name is Aladdin," he watched the elder carefully. His mind wrestled for a proper answer. He was a thief, a commoner, a nobody. For the first time in a great while, the insecurities crippled the thief as he felt as weak as ever before. Aladdin quickly shook his fears and recalling Waleed's training once more, he met his gaze evenly. "The adopted son of a king."

"Have you come to steal my throne?" Hamed glared. "To steal my daughter?"

Aladdin felt his own temper rising, before reminding himself how quickly the man could strip him of his beloved. The prince composed himself, taking a deep breath before answering.

"I love her," he spoke sternly. Threatening the sultan from daring to challenge his heart after everything the ruler had caused.

"That is not what I asked," Hamed remained stern. "Jasmine is loved by all who meet her."

Aladdin wasn't sure whether to smile at the claim or sigh at his difficulty. "I haven't come to steal anything."

"Your majesty," Hakim cleared his throat. Glancing nervously between the two of them, he met the sultan's gaze. "I can vouch for the prince. The people are quite taken with him."

The captain turned his gaze to Aladdin as his mouth fell open in awe at the admission. Hakim sighed before smiling lightly to Hamed.

"And the princess as well."

The sultan watched his captain carefully. After a moment passed, Aladdin almost allowed himself to relax at his sigh. Hamed returned his attention to the thief, though this time with soft eyes.

"Jasmine," the sultan cleared his throat awkwardly. "Is she happy?"

Aladdin stopped himself from offering him confirmation. He thought of her desires, knowing that her joy would not last so long as certain rules remained. "As well as she can be."

"And what does that mean?" Hamed asked cautiously.

"She wants to be with her people," the thief met him with a stern gaze. However, instead of glaring at the sultan, he poured every ounce of desperation into his stare as he begged his audience. "I pray that you would reconsider her limits."

"It is not so simple,' he sighed. "It is dangerous out there."

"As dangerous as a sorcerer behind your own walls?" Aladdin pointed.

The sultan glared for a moment, stilling every inch of the thief. However, he surprised them both as he began to chuckle.

"I think my daughter's courage has worn off on you."

The thief practically swallowed at the sultan's shift in mood.

"Well, I might have used the term stubborn," Aladdin smirked; imagining the playful punch his wife would give him had she witnessed his jest. The tension lifted, if only for a moment and the thief was pleased to see the sultan's smile.

Behind them all, the doors burst opened. The entire room flinched and Aladdin reached for his sword before recalling that it had been taken.

"Your majesties!" A young man rushed into the room before bowing hastily. Both men were visibly annoyed by the interruption, but the servant pushed himself into the room without proper notice.

"Not now, boy," the sultan groaned.

"I beg your pardon, your majesty. But it's the princess," he stated quickly. "The handmaid found her in the dining hall, unconscious."

Whether it be from exhaustion or a desire to ignore the words, Aladdin's mind struggled to catch up to his boiling heart. When it finally had, his feet were moving in an instant. Ignoring the sultan's inability to react, nor the captain's hesitation, he ran.

Aladdin ran faster than he had ever before. Faster than his exertions on the streets when racing for his life from guards and slavers. He could hear his own heartbeat when he saw his wife's body; lying limp on the floor. Dalia knelt by the princess, holding her head from the hard ground.

"Jasmine!" He gasped as he fell to his knees beside her, hastily pulling her from the cold marble into his arms. She groaned slightly at the movement, though could manage nothing more than a turn of her head. His free hand ran along her body, searching for any sign of what harmed her. He traced the fabric above her scar, but there was no injury to be found. "What happened?!"

"I don't know," the handmaiden answered with a quiver in her voice. "She was alone when I found her."

"Jasmine," her name fell off the tip of his tongue while his hand caressed her face, but he was distressed to find no fever.

"Where is the healer?!" the sultan shouted from behind them.

"He is inspecting the tea," a servant answered.

"The tea?" Hamed questioned.

Aladdin's eyes closed tightly as whispers of various poisons erupted throughout the hall. His forehead fell against his wife's, begging her to wake from this horrid joke. However, the moment never came. If it weren't for the subtle bump of her pulse against his thumb, he would have feared that she had been lost.

Aladdin's lips fell against her ear, whispering her name once more. "Wake up, my love."

He begged and prayed for any bit of movement, but her body remained limp. Behind them, the healer whispered stories of similar ailments. His muddle brain was so focused on the fading heat of her body and slow pulse at her neck, he could only make out bits and pieces of the man's prognosis. However, it only took one word to set his heart ablaze. Cobra.

The prince tensed instantly as rage consumed him. His lids clenched tighter as he thought of only one who would think to harm the princess. He wasn't sure how the vizier managed, but there was no doubt that it was he who was responsible. After all, only a snake could possess venom.

The gentle touch of soft fingers fell upon his arm and Aladdin opened his eyes to see Dalia's look of terror. The handmaid didn't even need to speak for him to read her desperate plea to act. Nodding lightly, he carefully lifted his wife into his arms; laying her to rest upon a comfortable sofa. The room hushed at the movement and the thief could feel all sets of eyes turn to him.

Ignoring the intruding gazes, he stripped the cord from his neck before carefully closing her fist around the pendant she had given him so long ago. He cradled her hand, bringing her knuckles to his lips.

"I'm going to make you better," he promised with a long kiss. His eyes clenched once more to combat the flood of tears that threatened to break him. He kissed her again, before carefully resting her arm against the sofa and then once more at her forehead. "I promise."


Beneath a dark glare and determination, Aladdin's trembling heart betrayed his confidence. There was no choice but to ignore his terror, for it would cripple him in an instant; rendering him useless when Jasmine needed his strength.

Abu chittered nervously at his shoulder, but the thief had no will to comfort the monkey; having to pour all his strength into refraining from falling to his knees in despair. He cursed himself time and time again, wishing that he had managed to sneak even the smallest sample of medicine from Ababwa. However, he forced himself to focus on the current path, knowing that the past could not be changed.

Hakim guided the prince to the cell, walking with equal fervor.

"What are you going to do?" The captain asked.

"I need answers," he answered evenly.

"Do you think this is wise? Jafar manipulated the sultan into bending to his will, what makes you think he cannot overtake you?"

"I broke the staff," he reminded.

"He's a sorcerer," Hakim scolded impatiently. "He has other means of treachery."

"He's the only one with an answer," Aladdin glared. "I will not sit idly and watch her die."

"Very well," Hakim sighed. "The third cell on the left. Call if you need me."

Aladdin nodded in thanks before walking into the dark hall. Doing everything in his power to mask his desperation, he squared his shoulders before standing at the cell. Jafar was turned from him, staring at the cold wall.

"Prince Ali," the vizier chastised. "Or do you prefer Aladdin? Or perhaps thief?"

"I'm not in the mood for games," the thief growled. "What did you do to her?"

"Has something happened to the princess?" Jafar asked in boredom. "That certainly is a surprise."

"Spare me," Aladdin spat. "What did you do?"

"What I have done?" Jafar chuckled coldly. "Perhaps you should be more careful where you place your trust."

"What are you talking about?"

"A simple lesson that I learned long ago. Not even your closest allies can be trusted," he sighed. Had the thief's wife not laid dying on a healer's bed, the sullen voice might have caused a hint of sympathy. The vizier did not expand in his story as he turned slowly to meet his gaze. "I have a proposition for you. I happen to know of a way to save the princess. The only way."

"The healers are working on an antidote," he shook his head.

"Spare me the foolishness, boy. If you had any faith in their abilities, you wouldn't be standing in front of me now." Jafar smirked. "There is a cave nearby. And in it, a simple oil lamp. Retrieve it for me and I will spare your princess."

"A lamp?" The thief nearly scoffed. "What good is a lamp?"

"I would think that of all people you would know better than to trust appearances," Jafar challenged calmly. "With the lamp in my hands, I will have the power to heal even the most dire of wounds."

"Why on earth should I trust that you can save her?" Aladdin glared.

"You're wasting time on your childish questions," Jafar rolled his eyes before smirking. "Tell me, has the princess begun coughing up blood yet?"

Had a set of bars not been protecting the vizier, Aladdin had no doubt that his hands would be around his throat. Jafar chuckled when the thief failed to compose his disgust.

"It seems to me that you have two choices. Free me so that I may take you to the cave or, you may sit at her bedside and watch her die. And I assure you, it won't be pleasant." Aladdin did not believe himself to be a violent man. The only time he struck another was from an unfortunate mishap during his training long ago. Now, however, his hatred had the gentle prince imagining vicious ways to harm the vizier. "She won't last the night. You know I speak truly."

The thief turned away. A quick, but no doubt feeble attempt to hide the few tears the he had failed to contain. His mind raced for an alternative, but failed to produce anything of value. His heart trembled with every moment that passed, knowing that Jasmine slipped further away each second.

"The sands are falling quickly, boy. I would suggest you choose quickly." Jafar taunted.

"If you try to deceive me," he began.

"Yes, yes," the vizier rolled his eyes. "You'll run a blade through my heart."

Aladdin smirked without humor. "I don't need a weapon."

"We have a deal then?" Jafar raised his brow.

Alarm bells rang throughout his mind as he continued to wrestle for a decision. There had to be another way. Above him, a flash of red caught his eye as the parrot croaked. In his mouth was a key, no doubt to Jafar's cell. Aladdin sighed, knowing that this was all a dreadful trap. And yet, he failed to find an suitable alternative.

Iago dropped the keys at the thief's feet and begrudgingly, Aladdin bent down to pick them up. Turning back towards the vizier, he met his dark gaze. "Deal."


Review Replies

Jellybean – Aw thank you so much! I began my writing journey as a reader, so I know all too well the emotions that come with investing yourself in a fic that ends up abandoned. I never want to be that person, but I understand why it happens. I am glad you are enjoying the story and I very much hope that I am able to finish it for you! :)

UIa – I hope it was an interesting surprise! Thanks for reading! :)

Denz-El – You never have to apologize for not reviewing! :) Glad you enjoyed the last two chapters! I think I know what you mean when you mention the reference to Carpet, he's not actually part of the story yet. Unless I totally referenced him without remembering O.o which would be embarrassing for me! Haha Genie is coming up! We'll learn more about his involvement very soon. I didn't know about those Andrew Lang stories, that sounds intense! I'll have to look into that a bit more. Thanks as always for reading and reviewing!

KorrieChan – I always promise to leave on a happy ending :)

Classified Director 101 – I hope the chapter was worth the wait! Thank you very much for your lovely compliments! :)

Monica . bazinga – Haha I'm sorry! I think that is the final cliff hanger chapter. Thanks for reading!