Dear Reader,

This is where Yasmine finally reunites with her father, but nothing seems to have changed. I think it's not bad, and I hope you enjoy it. I will not be able to update for another 3 weeks, because I'm going to Alaska and don't expect to have access to fanfiction up there. Please hang with me; I'll update as soon as I get back.

-LunarLitLover

Preview for Next Time: Admin, Ayska, and Ali's feelings on Fatima really being Princess Yasmine

Recap: Admin and Ayska and their wedding party are on their way to Jiddah, when royal guards search their belongings for a missing diamond. They do not find the diamond, but recognize Yasmine instead and take her back to the Sultan, revealing her true identity in the process.

Chapter 14: Yasmine

Regrets and Reuniting

Father's camp loomed ahead. It was, of course, large and elaborate and it could be seen a couple of miles away.

However, my head and heart were too busy waging war to notice. I only realized we were close when I began to hear noise from the camp. Many servants and slaves were busy running here and there to finish their tasks and fulfill their duties. I grimaced at this, forgetting what a large part of palace life these people were.

We rode right up to Father's grand tent, and he bustled out immediately, obviously under the impression that his missing jewel had been found. But when he saw only a guard and a common woman, he looked confused.

"What is this?" he asked harshly.

"Majesty!" My guard dismounted from the horse; then he lifted me off. Bowing low before Father, he began to explain. "We were checking a nearby camp for the missing diamond, and this woman was there."

"What do you think I want with a common woman?" Father interrupted.

"But she is not a common woman, Your Majesty!" the guard said, bowing low again. Father glared at me in disgust, for I wasn't bowing low before him. "I recognized her," the guard continued. "It is Her Higness, Princess Yasmine!"

Father's eyes grew wide. "Yasmine…? My…my…daughter Yasmine?"

I did not look up. My eyes were still watering and the face cloth of my black abaya was soaked with my tears.

But the guard answered instead, "Yes, Your Majesty; it is Princess Yasmine! I am sure of it! For, you see, I recognized her because I have been her personal guard since the Malika passed…and she was such a young girl then! I've known her all that time!"

Father's eyes flashed at the guard. He was a loose talker and very bold to speak of my late mother in front of Father.

"I wish to make sure," Father replied, now getting his bearings. "Come here, please, Yasmine, if that's who you are."

I walked forward; it wasn't as if I had another choice. I continued to look down, purposely avoiding Father's gaze. But once I reached him, he lifted my chin and removed my face cloth.

He recognized me immediately. "Oh, Yasmine…" Tears glistened in the corners of his eyes.

It was only then that I truly looked at my father, who I hadn't seen in nearly a year. He was definitely older and wearier looking than the last time I'd seen him. His beard was longer but thinner and his eyes carried bags under them. His body was thinner and frailer, as well. I couldn't believe only a year would change him this much.

But then, I couldn't believe it had been an entire year! I hadn't seen my own father, who I'd been with every day of my youth, once in the past 11 or 12 moons!

And even though I would have given anything to be back in camp with Ali, I was glad to see Father. It was a blessing that I was able to see him again. Even though we had many differences, I still loved him and I had missed him.

He stroked my cheek, and more tears leaked out of my eyes. "Oh, Yasmine, I can't believe we have you back…I can't believe…" He planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Oh, Father, I am glad to see you!" I said honestly.

He smiled before leading me into his tent.

Once inside, he made everyone else leave, including Ja'far. I was surprised at this, but also relieved, so I didn't argue. He made me sit near the tray of Shai tea, and then he joined me, bringing his own cup.

He was still in a state of relief and shock. "Yasmine, I can't believe it! I thought there was news of the missing diamond, but, no, it's you! Of course you're a better diamond to have back! But I can't believe it! We…we thought you were dead! Oh, thank Allah! You found your way back to me! But what happened? Where were you? And what was this letter you wrote and left for me? Was that real? What have you been doing? Why did you leave? How have you survived? How…"

"Father, stop! Let me just tell you, alright?" I said, with a bit of frusturation.

He nodded.

"Well, as my letter told you, I left. On my own accord; I ran away. I couldn't live in the palace any longer, and I was not about to marry one of those stupid emirs you kept pushing on me! So I left! I went to live in a commoners' place – and I'm not going to tell you where – but I love it there! And I've got a job and everything! And I have all kinds of friends! And I was on a trip for a wedding party now! And I intend to go back to it!"

Father had been getting redder and angrier during my incomplete summary of my life after the palace. At my last statement, though, he exploded, "What! You think you're going back to rejoin those commoners! I don't think so, Yasmine! Now that you're back, you're here to stay! And you will do what you're told! You will come with us to the summer retreat in the mountains at Ta'if! And you will marry as soon as possible and come back to live in the palace! I don't know what's gotten into you! Running away and all! But it will not happen again, Yasmine! And I will make sure of that! You are the future Malika of this country, and I will not see you residing on the street and being friends with commoners! I will not have it!"

My happiness at seeing my father again evaporated in an instant. He was the same closed-minded man I'd remembered; he still insisted on me living a life that was not suited to me. And I knew fighting with him again would not change his mind; if my leaving for a year would not change it, a little yelling certainly wouldn't.

So instead of screaming, I rose and stormed out of the tent.

Father followed me outside. "You two," he said to two female servants nearby. "See that Princess Yasmine gets proper clothing and show her to Ja'far's tent. It is to be her's now. Tell Ja'far and his dependents to come and see me and I will move them into another tent." The two girls looked at him in astonishment, clearly thinking he was crazy to think his daughter was back. But then Father pointed to me and said, "There she is! Get going!"

They then went to work immediately, and before I knew it, I was laying in a tent of my own, dressed in fancy clothes and jewelry, occupying a mattress that was not my own.

It was now dark and time for me to sleep, but I knew such a thing would be impossible. I, instead, cried quietly into a pillow, desperately trying to forget my predicament. I had thought through every possible scenario to get out of this situation, but none would work. The entrance to my tent was guarded, as were all the horses and camels. Even if I could escape the camp, I wouldn't get far in the desert. I could, of course, try to do so during the day while traveling on an animal of my own, but there was no doubt in my mind that I'd be chased down by the guards in a matter of moments. No, it looked as if I was trapped, and that certainly did not appeal to me.

Things were as they had been before I'd left. Father and I were fighting, Ja'far still had a lot of power, I was required to fill a pointless role, and I still had to marry a selfish emir. However, now I didn't know if I would have Nazihah back, I had tasted the outside world and would have more trouble giving it up, and I have lost many great friends. So in many ways, my predicament was worse than it had been before I'd left.

But my situation wasn't truly horrible for any of those reasons. This time, it was absolutely terrible because I had betrayed and lost the only man I'd ever loved.

And there was no way I'd ever get him back.