Chapter 2

Sometimes days can feel like an eternity when your own fate rests in someone else's hands. The hours dragged on; the clock moved as sluggish as possible, almost as if it were taunting Aladdin. Four days had come and gone, but his future was still hanging in the balance. Alone in his hovel, he couldn't tear his thoughts away from Jasmine and what was possibly happening at the Counsel. Had she even seen them yet? Was she already on her way home with the news that would destroy their relationship? News that could destroy his life?

Rubbing his hands over his face, he sat on the ledge of his hovel and stared at the palace. He should've known something's in life were too good to be true. He was never meant to walk in the palace, to hold hands with a Princess, to be untouchable to the guards … to have a real future. That was never meant for a person like him, a street rat, no matter how good hearted and well intentioned. No matter how many times he tried to change who he was.

The facts were simple. He was dirt to most rulers, except the few he had saved at one instance or another, and he had to understand that no matter what he did or who he saved, he would always be gutter trash to someone. Staring down at his hands, he almost sneered at the calluses, the proof of workmanship and a soiled lifestyle. If only royalty teemed within his blood and if only Allah had smiled down upon him, things would've been different. He wouldn't have had to make his life by the magical powers of a genie, but rather by the riches he would've been born with.

Genie could conjure up all the wealth in the world for Aladdin, and yet it wouldn't make a difference to many above him. As long as he lived in the streets, he was assured to die in the streets. Sighing, he closed his eyes and hung his head forward. His throat began to tighten and his heart began to race. Aladdin swallowed and fought back the tears.

He buried his face within his hands and sighed. Although the sun was brightly shining down on him as it set in the distance, he felt cold. Time and time again his life was stripped away just as he finally felt accepted. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Jasmine over something so trivial, especially by people whom he had never known and would probably never meet.

Aladdin longed for someone to talk to, even Iago. Wishing him and Abu would return, he rose and began to pace back and fourth, lost again in thought. The last few days had been spent incessantly wondering what was happening, what the final word would be, and if he was even worth the trouble and potentially damaging Jasmine's name and reputation. His nights were endless, and he barely had gotten any sleep since Jasmine had left. 

Turning back to the Palace once again, he felt sorrow and frustration blend within his heart. "I can't sit around here anymore," He said with a groan as he left his hovel. Briskly walking to the palace in hopes of the Sultan perhaps cheering him up or just keeping his mind away from his problems, he approached the gates with unyielding determination on his face. When Rasoul moved to block his entrance, Aladdin sighed exasperatedly. "Let me in Rasoul." He said harshly, in no disposition to fool around with him or his usual moodiness.

"I don't have to," He jeered.

"I'm not playing, Rasoul. Get out of my way." Aladdin tried to move past him, but he blocked and placed a hand on his sword, nearly unsheathing it. "You've got to be kidding." Rasoul's face hardened, the standard hatred was unusually searing.

"Once that letter arrived," Rasoul began. "You were officially declared incompetent as anything but a street rat, as you remember. Meaning, you won't ever rule." He grinned malevolently and leaned towards him and lowered his voice. "Meaning, you have no business here." Laughing, he turned away from him. "Get out of here, street rat, or I will lock you up." He smiled as he tapped on his sword handle. "Still think I'm kidding?"

Aladdin turned and left, ignoring Rasoul's taunts and laughter with the other guards. Fists clenched, he took his breaths slowly to keep from losing control and attacking him. He should've known Rasoul would pull something like that, yet it only proved his point that even though the Sultan and Princess had accepted him, few others would.

Aladdin stopped walking when he reached the base of his building, the long climb up didn't particularly appeal to him, especially since it was only to go to an empty home. Turning back towards the Palace, his determination set over him. Shaking his head, he began walking towards the pier. Without Carpet or Genie, he had no plausible way by land to get to Dukhān, and so a ship was his only quick alternative. Feeling the weight of his money sash, he figured it enough to get him there.

As he approached the docks, a wall of seawater and a gust of ocean air greeted him. It always calmed him to smell the sea, to feel the offshore breezes. He glanced around and saw one of the last remaining ships pull away from the harbor. Before he could find another ship, they began leaving almost simultaneously until nothing remained in the marina.

As the remaining threads of hope began to diminish, a soothing, sultry voice came from behind him, "You look lost sailor, wander away from home?" She quipped. Aladdin turned as his gaze fell upon a stunning woman, carrying a basket that looked three times her own weight. Dropping it on the dock, she brushed her hair out of her eyes, and swept it behind her ears. She wore a simple red halter that was so short and tight it caused a temporary hiccup in Aladdin's system. Her pantaloons were rugged and well worn, and fit her snugly, especially in the back, he noticed.

Inwardly scolding himself, Aladdin shook off his impulsive attraction, and scoffed lightly, running a hand through his hair. "Not really. I live in Agrabah. Just more disappointed I couldn't catch a ship." He noticed his hands were clammy and subtly ran them on the side of his pants. He felt the back of his neck begin to sweat. Why was it suddenly so hot?

She smiled, assuring herself it was because of the opportunity, not the handsome local that she was feeling suddenly giddy. "Well, you seemed to have glanced over the best vessel in the harbor." She pointed towards her own ship, docked in the corner of the port. It was substantial in size, he noticed, and well taken care of. "That's my baby," She declared with pride, sighing as she looked over it as well. "Sapphire." She introduced, and turned back to him. The name fit, Aladdin decided. It was small, but had its worth, just like a jewel. He had only ignored it because it seemed lifeless and abandoned.

"Where's the crew?" He asked, as he looked the ship over, bow to stern.

"Well, there's me, and my first mate, Hamal." She paused as his attention turned back towards her. She already liked the softness of his eyes and the ease of his demeanor. "He's probably asleep in his cabin. Not one for working when he doesn't have to." Aladdin looked at her, waiting for her to continue. "That's all." She assured when she saw his puzzlement. "Not much is needed for that ship, she's a fine craft. I don't like paying people who I don't need."

"Fair enough," Aladdin shrugged. Without even noticing, he began walking with her towards the ship. Her hair was short, neatly cropped to her shoulders, black as slate and smooth as silk. For unknown reasons to Aladdin, he felt the sudden urge to run his hand through it and prove if it was as soft as it looked. Scolding himself once again, he trained his eyes on the boat and kept them there, even as she began to speak.

"So, are you interested? She'll take you anywhere you need to be, and she's fast. Not a lot to her, but it keeps her sleek and swift." She was eager to make the deal, it had been days since she and Hamal had made a decent pay. Sure, there wasn't much to the guy, but she was sure he had potential. Plus, she enjoyed the way he looked at her, seeing her for something more than just a piece of meat. Almost as an equal. It wasn't often that a lady like her was treated equally by a man that wasn't inferior to her, especially by an impending customer, so it was a welcome change.

Aladdin didn't need to think it over. He wanted to get to the Counsel as soon as possible, no matter what it took. He nodded and smiled lightly. "Yeah, this will work."

She looked him over hesitantly. "You're not going to ask how much?" She questioned in bewilderment and looked over his drab garments. She wasn't one to snub such a person and reminded herself of her own clothes. Yet, also knowing the kind of money she had, made her wonder, surely a man like him couldn't afford a lengthy trip, but still …

Aladdin smiled and gave in account to his street-rat attire. "Appearances can be deceiving." He quoted and began to board the ship. "I'll pay you once we arrive."

Watching him walk onto her ship, she felt something flutter in her stomach and create a certain clarity within her. Something felt … incredibly right with this. Once he was aboard, he turned back to her and for a moment they became uncontrollably lost within each other's eyes. Neither knew what the other was thinking, but the tension between them was evident enough. Only knowing him for a few minutes, she was skeptical, but felt a flame burn within her heart and warm her blood as she spoke with him. She liked the way of him, and by her standards that was a compliment. Perhaps everything in life truly did happen for a reason.

"By the way," He shouted down, "My name's Aladdin."

"Nice to meet you Aladdin." She smirked and turned towards the ropes attached to the dock and began unraveling them.

He looked down at her, perplexed. He waited a moment, before calling back down, "I didn't get your name …"

She looked up at him for a moment before laughing lightly, "That's because I didn't give it." Untying the last of the ropes, she flung them onto the ship and quickly boarded. Rushing past Aladdin, she went down below and banged on a cabin door. "Hamal!" She shouted eagerly, rapidly slamming her palm on his door. "Come on, we got a job!" As soon as she heard rustling on the other side of the door, she went back to the deck.

"So, Aladdin," She smiled smugly, "Where are we headed?"

His eyes clouded over, and his posture became stiff. "Dukhān." He said sharply, gazing out to the ocean. His previous light mood had suddenly vanished as if a dark, looming obscurity had abruptly taken shape over his thoughts. It almost pained her to see his gentle character harden.

"That's not a problem, shouldn't be more than a week's trip." She said cautiously. She wanted to know what business he had in Dukhān, knowing quite well that was where the Rulers met. Perhaps, she was letting her imagination run away with her, since he didn't look the type that dealt with Sultans. Personally, she didn't care for them. She saw royalty as stuffy old men who bitterly squabbled day in and out about matters that didn't affect them one-way or the other, and prissy pampered women who would rather die than break a nail.

So, what possible matter could a commoner like him have to do with the Counsel? She stopped her thoughts immediately, and remembered Aladdin's previous words; 'Appearances can be deceiving …' She looked him over once more before heading up to the bridge and pondering over those words.

Turning back towards Aladdin, she looked him over once more and felt a tug in her stomach. "Aladdin," She said softly, waiting for him to turn. When he did, and she saw in his eyes the anger and tension had vanished nearly as quickly as it had arrived, she grinned. "My name's Samirah."

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To Be Continued …

Please R/R!