Chapter 16: Dreams and Nightmares

Princess Jasmine was immensely grateful to be back in her rooms, mainly because she was in the embrace of her mother, the sultana of Agrabah and the best person Jasmine had ever known.

"I've missed you so much," Jasmine said, trying not to whimper. It had been so long since she had done this. She felt like her heart might shatter.

Jasmine's mother stroked her daughter's hair and murmured, "I know, sweetie. You've been such a strong girl, but I'm sure it's been hard."

Jasmine shook her head, burying it further into her mother's lavender dress. The princess might be crying right now but she still had her pride. She said, "It has not been so very difficult and Rajah has been a great help to me." Jasmine would never forget the day she had found Rajah laying by her mother's throne. She had known he was for her. "Thank you for sending him to me."

Jasmine's mother was not fooled by the princess's stately tone or brave words. The sultana grabbed the princess's chin with her delicate fingers and tilted it up. She said, "Rajah is a fine companion, but you don't have to hide your feelings, sweetie. I know your little star tiger hasn't been enough."

The princess closed her eyes and swallowed a sob. She could not stop crying.

Jasmine loved Rajah. He was her best friend and wonderful, but her mother was right. "I am trying my best," the princess said, "but sometimes, I just feel so alone."

The princess gazed up at her mother then. They were alike in many ways. More than one courtier had called Jasmine a miniature version of the unusually tall sultana. Jasmine liked the comparison, but since her mother's death, it had also scared her. The sultana had been a legend and as many people loved to remind the princess, Jasmine was still just a girl.

Seeing her mother again brought those feelings to the surface and the little princess admitted, "I don't know if I'll ever live up to your legacy."

The sultana smiled gently down at her daughter. "You are fretting over gossip, sweetie. You have to learn to ignore those fools at court. They do not have vision like we do. I can see that you are well on your way."

"You truly think so?" Jasmine asked. More times than she could count she had wanted to consult with her mother to see if she had done right. The princess did her best to stay positive and confident, but doubt had a way of creeping in.

Against everything Jasmine had ever been told, the sultana assured her, "I know so. Someday soon, you might even surpass me," the sultana added with a wink.

Jasmine flushed. "Oh…I don't know about that. I still have so much to learn. I never realized how…big Agrabah is. It's wonderful, mother! Did you know…"

Jasmine told her mother of Agrabah and her excursion with Aladdin. The princess did not care that her voice was pitched higher than it should be or that she was surrounded by the pinks and purples of her old room.

Her mother was here, listening to her.

That was what mattered.

When Jasmine stopped to take a breath, her mother was somehow able to lean forward, while still hugging her. Their faces were centimeters apart, when the sultana said, "It truly sounds like an adventure worthy of a Shebali Queen. Only…" the woman paused.

"Only what?" Jasmine asked.

The sultana sighed. "Sweetie, you've grown into such a bright, sweet-tempered, well-mannered, and beautiful princess, so I can't begin to fathom why you have neglected your most important duty."

"I don't understand," the little princess said in alarm, "What do you mean?"

"Come now, sweetie. Surely, your father has told you," her mother said. The sultana smiled at the princess, but it was less warm than before. Her mother's arms had become cooler too like Jasmine was being swaddled in dew-dampened silks.

"I'm sorry," the little princess began, "I really don't-"

Then Jasmine gasped from the sudden pressure of the sultana cuddling her close.

"Everyone knows …" the sultana began as the world shifted around them. The cheerful girly decorations and stuffed animals morphed into bare dingy walls and a single worn-out red bed.

Jasmine clung to her mother, feeling even smaller than before.

The sultana continued to hold her daughter tight and speak sweetly. She said, "the princess's first duty is to…marry!"

The last word landed like a lead weight and suddenly Jasmine was not hugging her mother anymore. Instead, the princess was enveloped in the large flaccid arms of Prince Nadim.

Jasmine might have screamed, but she could not breathe with him squeezing her so tight. While she struggled, the prince spoke, but it was her mother's voice and her father's voice, and countless others that she heard when he said "You must marry so that you can produce an heir worthy of Agrabah. That's all a beautiful princess is really good for."

That's not true!

Jasmine wanted to bellow it, but only a wisp of air escaped her mouth.

Nadim leered down at her and said in a slurred high-pitched coo, "Don't fret, sweet Jazzy-mine. I'll make sure you'll never be lonely again."

Then the prince bent forward to kiss the princess. There was no escaping him this time. His breath overwhelmed her with its sweet sickening smell. His lips were wet and dripping with slimy yellow mucus.

Once again, Jasmine attempted to scream. She opened her mouth as wide as she could to force some sound out of her lungs, but instead of a desperate frightened wail, there was a loud:

CLONG!

Jasmine's eyes flew open. She gaped at Syreeta whose cream-covered plump hand was centimeters away from the princess's face.

The animal merchant returned Jasmine's shocked gaze with her own look of surprise. Then the woman pulled her hand back and smiled at the princess. "Sweetie-wheatie," she simpered innocently, "you're-" but she was cut off, by another:

CLONG!

Syreeta glanced out the tent with a small frown. "Whatever could that be?"

While Syreeta looked outwards, Jasmine focused on her immediate surroundings. The princess was not at the palace with her mother but she was not with Nadim either.

Jasmine remembered that she had been having a rather dull luncheon with Syreeta. The princess felt relief wash over her and for a moment, she thought she was safe.

However, that was before Jasmine noticed Abu asleep on an ottoman chair. The monkey's eyes were closed and he was snoring peacefully despite the fact his entire body was encased in what looked like a slick, thin, shiny rope. A shiver went through Jasmine and she knew what she would find even before she looked down:

Coiled about her were the same cold, slick, thin, and shiny, rope-like creatures:

Typhlopids.

Aladdin had certainly not been exaggerating about their size. All of the typhlopids were still partially submerged in the ground so estimating their exact dimensions would be difficult. However, considering that a normal typhlopid's length could be measured in centimeters, this breed was exceptional.

Their size was not the only characteristic that made these typhlopids unusual. This was the first instance Jasmine knew of where typhlopids had adapted to live in dry sand. The princess pondered what other properties might be augmented for these specimens. As expected, they did not have eyes, but at this size, the princess predicted that their fangs would be rather dangerous. Then there was their intelligence and strength. Would-

"Do you like my pets," Syreeta purred, breaking through Jasmine's rapid-fire analysis. "They are rather unique," Syreeta said merrily, "larger than your average blind snake and their bite is quite poisonous too."

"They are impressive," Jasmine agreed, having to force the words out thanks to the constrictive grip of the typhlopids around her chest.

Syreeta giggled, "Sweetie-wheatie, you are the most polite and tame thing."

"Thank you, Miss Syreeta," Jasmine rasped, the snakes seemed to be crushing her even more, but she persisted. Going into her negotiation mode, the princess managed to say, "I hope…that we…can continue our…discussion."

This made Syreeta cackle. "Very witty, Sweetie-wheatie, but that game is over, my pet. I expect you to be a good girl and not question your Mama."

"Bu…"

There was no warning.

One instant Syreeta was smiling indulgently at her. The next, the woman had slapped the princess hard enough to make Jasmine's head twist.

Jasmine yelped like a small animal. Her cheek burned with the sudden pain that was so much worse than the last slap the princess had received. Tears pricked Jasmine's eyes and against her will, she began to cry.

"There now, Sweetie-wheatie," Syreeta gripped Jasmine's chin tightly between three fingers and tilted the princess's head up so high that it became impossible for Jasmine to open her mouth. Then the woman reached into her dress pocket and produced a dainty handkerchief.

"There now," Syreeta repeated as she wiped away Jasmine's tears. "Don't you fret, my pet. It'll ruin the look of your fine eyes and we wouldn't want that now, would we? You just be a sweet, tame, quiet, little…"

Syreeta paused, staring intently at the princess. She was wearing the same warm motherly expression as before, but Jasmine felt colder than ice under the inspection of this woman's dark eyes.

"Filly!" Syreeta declared suddenly. "Yes, a filly," the animal merchant nodded to herself. "Whores are so common you know, but a well-bred horse, that'll be just perfect!"

Jasmine had absolutely no idea what the deranged animal merchant was talking about.

"Yes, yes, there's a nice simple animal look," Syreeta cooed. "Now…why don't we-"

There was a stentorian:

ROAR!

Syreeta's head jerked up to look outside again. Then she tsked and her voice became even more high-pitch and infantile as she said, "I suppose I now know what made that racket from earlier. Really now, to be interrupted at the best part."

She pouted down at Jasmine and said, "Take my word for it, Sweetie-wheatie. Men make the worse pets. Can't follow orders to save their lives."

Syreeta tittered like she had said something incredibly droll before she sighed. "Oh, well, well, I'm really sorry to leave you," Syreeta tugged Jasmine's chin this way and that, "but your Mama has to go make sure her tiger skin doesn't walk away."

Syreeta released Jasmine's chin. Then she took off what Jasmine had thought was a thick beaded necklace and threw it at the doorway. When it landed, Jasmine realized it was yet another typhlopid.

"Lali-loo will watch over you," Syreeta promised, before kissing Jasmine and Abu both on the head and whispering, "Be good while I'm gone now and I'll be back soon!"

With that, the woman stood up and strolled out of the tent.

Jasmine waited until she could not hear Syreeta anymore. Then the princess turned to Abu and said as loud as she could, "Abu! Wake up!"

It was not loud enough. The words came out as a whisper and the monkey gave no indication that he heard them.

Jasmine considered her situation. She was trapped by these venomous typhlopids in Syreeta's tent. She was unable to move and could barely speak.

Princess Jasmine was a very capable political woman and nearly an adult. She was clever, resilient, and a determined problem-solver. Over the years, the princess had frequently surpassed what others thought possible, so it pained her to admit that this time her hands might be literally and figuratively tied.


A/N: Today is 5.19.2022 and my 5-year anniversary of being on this site is coming up this month, so please allow me to get sentimental for a bit. Of Rats and Royals is technically my 6th fic (though I consider it to be my 5th because of how Crimson Tiger was published.). Regardless Of Rats and Royals is very much a middle child.

When I published this fic, I was in a bad place. I knew that publishing chapters usually made me happy, so I decided to start publishing a fic I had been working on for a while. I was quite excited because I was so sure Of Rats and Royals' following would soon outshine its sequel, Rajah's Curse because unlike it, this fic isn't a crossover.

However, that obviously didn't happen and in reality, this fic has and probably will always be in Rajah's Curse's shadow. That's not to say I don't like Of Rats and Royals because I do. I have really enjoyed highlighting the differences between our titular rats (Aladdin and Abu) and royals (Jasmine and Rajah). This fic made me like my version of Aladdin as a character again. And I'm very proud of my balancing act between Jasmine's naïveté and her intelligence. I'm also so happy for the support I do have. All I'm saying is that this fic has had a rough life. And honestly, after going through all my other fics and thinking about it, I think Of Rats and Royals' middle child status is what makes it special for me. So, yes, the fact that this fic keeps going through unplanned hiatuses is a selling point to me as a writer. Let me explain:

I'd been trying to finish publishing this story since October last year. I kept waiting for the muse to visit and bless my climax with the extra spice it needed to be just so. She helped with Tiger's Circus and I thought it was only a matter of time. However, it's been over six months and I realized recently she probably isn't coming.

Luckily, the end of this story is already drafted. I thought I could not finish a story without being in the mood, but I pushed myself this month and found I was wrong. I'm very pleased with how this chapter came out and I am ready to do more, muse or no muse. So, I plan to edit the last 6 or so chapters and publish them this summer. I am really looking forward to delivering the ending of this fic and showing you all what is in store for Jasmine, Aladdin, Abu, and Rajah.

Thank you so much for reading and waiting folks. I'll break one of my unspoken rules and offer you my apologies for all the hiatuses this fic has taken. You have my excuses, but yeah. I'm sorry. I've really appreciated your support through all of this and I hope that by the end of the summer you will feel that the wait has been worth it.

I also want to thank you all for listening to this self-indulgent prattle. If for some reason you're curious about my other thoughts on my other fics or what I'm building up to this month, keep an eye out for uploads from me this May as I celebrate my 5-year anniversary of being on this site.

Otherwise:

Until we meet again!