~Chapter 35~

Noella

The next time I looked in a mirror, I couldn't recognize myself. I felt like Genie had almost completely changed my DNA all the way down to my skin tone, but I knew it was for appearances. Aladdin had to sell his royal persona and I aided in that parading around as his sister. Genie spared no magic with our entrance into Agrabah. It was a colorful, loud, and celebratory affair. Abu was turned into a large, grey elephant for our parade into the city and Aladdin and I rode on his back. I wasn't remotely nervous about anything until we got off Abu, boarded the carpet, and flew through the palace doors. We were welcomed kindly by the Sultan, but the princess wasn't too keen on our arrival. Aladdin looked so hurt by the way the princess had stormed out, but I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't read too much into that," I whispered to him, "I'm sure she misunderstood why we're here."

"I hope you're right." Aladdin nodded.

"Well, it seems that maybe our guests should leave considering their presence upset the princess so much." A tall man wearing black and red robes replied coldly.

"Jafar, certainly we can't do that." The Sultan insisted, "These two have come a long way and it would be rude for us to show them out without offering our hospitality after such a long journey to get here. No, they stay for as long as they would like." He nodded determinedly.

"Thank you, your majesty." Aladdin replied as we both bowed politely.

"My boy, would it be too much to ask for a ride on your marvelous carpet?" The Sultan asked.

"Certainly." Aladdin replied.

Aladdin helped the Sultan on the carpet and quickly he sped off. As the Sultan flew wildly around the room, Jafar circled Aladdin and I curiously.

"I must say, you two don't look much related…" Jafar commented.

"Do any siblings? Unless they're twins." I replied calmly.

"Where are you from?" Jafar asked twisting his beard curiously.

"Oh, a several days ride from here." Aladdin said.

"I'm sure you've never heard of it." I added with a casual shrug.

"Try me, my dear." Jafar hissed.

I glanced at Aladdin and he looked like a deer in headlights, so I thought up a lie and I thought it up quickly.

"Newcastle." I said.

"What?" Jafar snapped.

"Just as my sister said." Aladdin agreed.

As a suburb near Seattle, I technically wasn't lying and I was right that Jafar had never heard of it.

"If your brother is the suitor, then why are you here?" Jafar pressed clearly trying to make me uncomfortable, but I stood my ground remembering the persona I was trying to show.

"How dare you ask me such things!" I said slapping Jafar quickly across the cheek.

He looked stunned by my outburst and so did Aladdin.

"You have no right to question our motives in being here. I should have you get lashed for such behavior."

"My apologies, highness." Jafar said backing off leaving the room looking very angry.

Shortly after Jafar left, the carpet flew back down as the Sultan bounded happily off the carpet after the very wild ride.

"Where did Jafar get to?" The Sultan asked as he rejoined us.

"He upset my sister, so she told him to leave us be." Aladdin replied.

"Oh my dear, I'm so sorry he was rude. I'll speak with him promptly. Now, I'll summon some servants to show you to your rooms."

"Thank you, your majesty." I smiled as both Aladdin and I bowed a final time before we were escorted to our rooms.

Aladdin and I were given two large guest rooms within the palace just across the hall from one another. After the servant left us alone to our devices, Aladdin and I checked out the room together just getting the layout of the place. Aladdin brought out the lamp giving Genie the okay to come out. As Genie rose from the lamp, he greeted us all with a bright smile.

"This is the most fun, I've had in ages."

"Thanks for getting us here, Genie." I nodded.

"Yeah and at least the hard part is now over." Aladdin added.

"I beg to differ, Al. I heard how mad the princess was...besides she said she had already chosen a suitor." Genie pressed.

"She's worth it Genie. Besides, she hasn't even met me properly yet." Aladdin insisted fluffing out his robes.

"Didn't you meet her before?" I clarified.

"Yeah technically." Aladdin shrugged, "But I was a street rat then...she wouldn't remember me. I want her to know me as I am now."

"I think you should tell her the truth." I insisted, "Honesty is the best policy in my book."

"Point for Noella." Genie agreed poofing up a tally mark on a chalkboard.

Aladdin in a sudden gruff pushed away the board.

"You guys are ganging up on me. You don't understand!"

"We're just trying to help." I said putting a hand on his shoulder, but Aladdin quickly shook it off.

"Well don't...just let me handle this. I will show her my true self." He nodded determinedly.

"As you parade around as someone you're not." I muttered under my breath.

"You know what Noella? Why don't you go do what you came here to do and let me do what I came to do." Aladdin said angrily.

I was so caught off guard by his sudden attitude, I went into defensive mode.

"Fine, whatever." I snapped.

You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. Carpet fell to the ground and Genie shrunk down in size sitting on the lip of the lamp just as I got my hand on the door to leave.

"What are you doing?' Aladdin asked Genie.

"I don't like choosing sides, but I'm sorry Al, I'm with Noella on this one."

"Well, why don't you leave too?" Aladdin said a little too harshly.

"You're my master kid. I go where you go." Genie replied.

With that, I shut the door behind me with a slam and went across the hall to my own room for some alone time. Angrily, I paced for a few moments and I ripped off the veil over my face. It really was an impractical thing to have draped over my mouth. How do people eat with these things? Once my temper cooled off, I just laid on my bed staring at the ceiling trying to come up with my plan. Joel was still missing in action and finding him in this large city would be tricky, but no matter, I would have to talk with the princess regarding the mirror. I couldn't afford anymore distractions. Before long, there was a knock on my door and honestly, I hoped it was Aladdin coming to apologize. I always hated leaving things angry between people I care about and I just wanted to make sure we were still friends. I opened the door just wide enough to find the princess herself standing there.

"Y-Your highness." I said bowing awkwardly opening the door wide.

"Norah, us girls have to stick together. Would you join me for tea?" Jasmine asked.

"Now...just us?"

"Just us." She nodded.

"It would be a pleasure, your highness." I agreed.

"Please, enough with the formalities. It's Jasmine." She pressed as she gestured me to follow her down the hallway.

She escorted me to her room and I stepped beyond the door and my jaw might as well of hit the floor. Her room was huge decorated with navy tapestries with a large cozy bed and vanity in a corner. Then there was a space with a sofa and chair combo. Finally, there was a door leading out onto a large balcony. It was at least twice the size of the balcony at Adam's castle. Jasmine pulled me inside and had us sit on some large feather pillows on the floor as she handed me my tea. It was piping hot, so I blew cautiously. The flavor was unusual and quite strong. I felt like it bit my tongue and wouldn't let go. It made me think of black licorice and cinnamon mixed together. Definitely a palate cleanser.

"I hope you don't think me rude, Norah." Jasmine said.

"I'm sorry?" I said confused by her comment.

"Earlier in the throne room, it wasn't directed at you."

"And my brother hardly deserved your wrath, you haven't even spoken to him."

"Yes I know, the anger just came out of frustration." Jasmine explained, "It was harsh of me to release it all on him."

"You should get to know him. He's a sweetheart." I smirked trying to talk Aladdin up.

If Aladdin ever found out about this, I would deny everything.

"Yes maybe, but what does it matter. I have a fiance and father will make the announcement soon. He's waited for my decision since I became of age, so he won't want to delay." Jasmine sighed.

"Seems like you need to get outside the boundaries of palace life." I said raising a brow.

"That's a desire, I wish you could grant." Jasmine replied.

We talked for several minutes getting to know each other. Well, I got to know her before I planned to ask her about the mirror. Soon, a knock was heard at the door.

"Who is it?' Jasmine called out.

"It's your fiance." The voice replied.

As I sipped my tea, I saw a large body or something move from the curtain outside leading out to the balcony. Curiously, I looked to see what it was and I screamed when I saw a large tiger who came bounding in the room.

"Norah, don't be afraid...Rajah is tame and my best friend." Jasmine explained.

"You need to get some two legged friends." I mocked.

In my fear, I dropped my tea spilling it on the floor breaking the cup and with the scream, the man outside the door came in a panic. However, my heart leapt with joy as the person who entered was none other than Joel. He smiled warmly at me that cheeky grin that I had missed since I left him before. My eyes welled up, but I held back as I ran to him hugging him tightly as he too wrapped his arms around me.

"Joel…" I sighed as we pulled away after a few seconds.

"In the flesh." He replied smiling wide.

"Mind explaining, Joel?" Jasmine immediately chimed in, "How do you know her?"

"Jasmine, this is Noella." He replied and I watched Jasmine's face as I could see her putting the pieces together.

"Oh okay." She laughed lightly, "That makes much more sense. Nice alias, Norah." She winked at me, "So Prince Ali?"

"Just my friend. No relation." I answered.

"Wow, everyone in this room was holding up a facade. Joel as my fake suitor and you." Jasmine said nervously, "Nobody else can know…" Jasmine pressed grabbing my hands determinedly. "It's imperative this stays between us."

"My lips are sealed." I said miming a lock on my mouth.

Shortly after, we all were summoned down to have dinner with the Sultan and Jafar, the vizier. Joel frowned as we parted ways for dinner and he escorted Jasmine down to dinner. I followed, but not before I wrote a small note on a piece of paper I found in Jasmine's room. Once I got down to the dining hall, I tried to pass Joel the note, but Jafar got in my way pressing that I sit by him. The Sultan was at the head while Jasmine was at his right hand and Jafar his left. Joel sat beside Jasmine and across from me. Finally, Aladdin joined us sitting on my left. Dinner conversation was casual with the Sultan asking Aladdin about our travels. Jafar was determined to make conversation with me and I didn't like it.

"So in Newcastle, have suitors come for your hand, my dear?"

"I'm unmarried." I replied simply as I picked away at my food in front of me.

"Countries would go to war over such a thing for a woman your age unmarried." Jafar insisted.

"No, wars over marriages are foolish. It sickens me when I hear of such things." I replied.

"Well, Agrabah will have to play nice with Newcastle, won't we?" Jafar hissed.

As dinner progressed, slower than I would have liked with Jafar probing me all evening, I found an opening to give Joel my note. I watched him as he discreetly opened it up under the table. When he looked up at me, he winked in acknowledgement. On the paper, I told Joel to meet me in the garden's after sundown.

AN: Hey Readers! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Oh snap, Jafar being slapped on the face...after all, Noella needed to put him in his place. ;)

As always, stay tuned for more. Things will really start to ramp up in upcoming chapters. Until next time...