Dear Reader,
I actually got reviews last chapter! I was thrilled. If you read this, please review. It's wonderful to get reviews. By the way thank you for pointing out my mistakes. I've fixed some of them and addressed a few more in this chapter. Please tell me if you find anymore.
-LunarLitLover
P.S. Emirs are princes, the Sultan is the king of the country, Nazihah means equal and Saihah means useful.
Recap: Yasmine had a fight with her father about marriage.
Chapter 2-Nazihah (Saihah)
Decisions and Disguises
When Princess Yasmine came rushing into her rooms, I knew something was wrong. Probably another one of those stupid emirs that the Sultan is trying to force on her.
"Nazihah, I can't believe him," she said, after pulling her silky curtains down over the entrance to her apartments.
"Who? Your father? I understand, Yasmine. Well I guess I don't really understand about suitors and emirs and all, but I do know how it feels to be forced to do something you don't want to do."
Yasmine blushed, "Oh, Nazihah, I haven't ever made you do anything like that have I?" She was certain in the answer but asked nonetheless.
"No, of course not. Not you. But you're not the only one in this palace. Just because you're my friend doesn't mean there aren't others here who are opposed to treating a slave like dirt."
"Oh, Nazihah, you know you're not my slave. You're my Nazihah, my equal," she kneeled on the marble floor to take my hands.
"To everyone else, I'm just Saihah. I'm just there for them to use," I said this with bitterness although there was truly not much in my heart.
"So am I, Nazihah. So am I." Yasmine gazed into space, as if seeing a different world. Her mind seemed to have returned to her plight.
I was puzzled by this comment. I didn't envy the princess, but I didn't believe she was abused either. Yasmine might have been going through a rough time with this marriage business, but she didn't have an incredibly tough life. "You're a princess, Yasmine. You were spoiled since before you were even born. How can you say you're just an object for others to use?" A pretty critical statement for a slave to give to her princess. But Yasmine and I were best friends. I had been talking to her like this for years.
"Nazihah, all the emirs want to use me to get the crown. Then I'm just an object to produce an heir. My life after that is spent being a gorgeous statue at the Sultan's right hand for people to admire."
"I never thought of it like that," I admitted. "Is that what's bothering you?"
"Yes, but that's not all. I fought with my father. I've never argued with him like that before."
"Yasmine!" I knew that it was illegal for anyone, even a princess and the Sultan's own daughter, to argue with him. Punishable by death. But, of course, I also knew that the Sultan would never kill Yasmine for arguing with him. He was a man who dealt out punishments when called for, but not to Yasmine. Not to his only daughter. Not to his only reminder of his late wife, the Malika. Although Yasmine denied it, her father loved her and cared for her very much. Nevertheless, it was only wise for Yasmine to tread carefully.
"He said I must pick a husband within the week, or he will," Yasmine continued. "But it doesn't matter."
"Why not?" I asked.
"Nazihah," she stood up quickly, as if she'd made up her mind about a new daring feat like the ones she usually thought up. She continued, "You're my friend, right?"
I nodded. Of course I was her friend. Ever since she'd chosen me as her personal handmaiden, she'd been the best friend I'd ever had.
"I'm going to ask you to do something for me. I don't want to ask, but I need help. If you ever get found out it will be disastrous. That's why I need to make sure we're friends. I would never ask this of a slave, but of a friend…"
"What is it, Yasmine?" I couldn't keep the apprehension out of my voice.
"I'm leaving. I need help disguising myself and help getting out of the palace. You can pretend you never woke when I left. Father will be livid, but you'll be alright if I leave a note saying that you are to stay in your current position or I will never return. Yes, that'll work. Otherwise he'll kill you."
I gulped.
"Don't worry, we'll all be perfectly alright. You'll be safe and I'll finally get to leave the palace." Her eyes were so bright with the possibilities that it was a shame to crush her hope. But I had to stop this. For her own good.
I tried everything I could think of to put the notion out of her head, but nothing seemed to work. I even threatened to tell her father but she saw through my bluff. In the end, I just had to listen to what she had to say.
"Nazihah, I have to go. I have to try to live my life. I'm not made for this. You can't put me in a box my whole life and expect me to be content. I have to try. I f I could offer you a chance at freedom, you'd take it wouldn't you?"
She'd hit the spot. My heart's desire: freedom. She knew I'd jump at the chance to be free, but that just wasn't an option when you were born from a slave's womb. And I knew Yasmine would grant me that freedom if she could. But it wasn't possible. However, she expected the same from me; that I would give her the chance to live free if the possibility presented itself. Well, here was the possibility.
"What needs to be done?" I asked, with a heavy heart at what I'd decided to do.
We talked logistics for a bit and finally were ready to leave in the wee hours of the morning. Yasmine, with the kohl and rouge off her face and her beautiful black hair cropped short, looked like a completely different person. Appearing like slave women, we had no problems in getting across the palace grounds to the outer wall. It was finally time for goodbyes, something I was horrible at. Reaching up to embrace Yasmine one last time, tears began to well in my eyes. She noticed.
"Oh, Nazihah, don't worry. We'll see each other again. I'll return someday. I promise."
Having nothing better to do, I nodded, making a mental note to remember this promise. And I felt a great emotion welling within me as Yasmine climbed up the tall tree and over the wall into her new life. A poorer life. A harder life. But a freer life. And finally, a life in which I envied.
I wished her luck as her drab clothing disappeared over the wall which was the only barrier between freedom and imprisonment.
Preview: Aladdin sees Yasmine in the market place being mistreated by a royal guard
