"And so…my people. It is with a joyous heart…that I present to you…you new ruler…Sultan Aladdin!"
Aladdin waved just as shyly as he first had while the insatiable crowds cheered his name. Jasmine held his hand from behind, a bright and happy smile on her face. 'See…they know you're from of them." Jasmine whispered in his ear, holding his arm close. "They know you will always keep their best interests at heart come hell or high water."
"But…being responsible for so many people…" Aladdin looked down. Nothing but a sea of faces he couldn't even make out from upon the high balcony. "Jasmine…I've ever only been responsible for myself."
"That's not true." She said as her father continued to make his speech. "You've saved lives of this city and others countless times. The people look up to you as their savior!" he kissed his cheek. "You've been training in politics for the better part of a year now. With a little court time you'll be fine. And besides, father has consented to stay on in an advisory capacity until you've got the hang of things."
"And you'll be here?" he asked, a questioning look in his handsome brown eyes.
Jasmine smiled. "I will always be here Aladdin. To support you in all you do as your Sultana…your wife…"
"My love." Aladdin whispered and showed off his charmingly crooked grin. Jasmine nodded mutely, her heart thudding against her chest.
She'd had her doubts at first. Already, as heir apparent, Aladdin was coming under close scrutiny from the councilors and other kingdoms. His being of common birth did not help his situation. They remained in awe of his heroic exploits and determination, but wondered if this brazen street rat was ready for the mantle of the throne.
"He is a good boy and his heart is in the right place." Had been one advisors opinion. "But he is not educated enough to take on the full weight of the crown. You, your majesty, have been preparing to stand beside your husband as co regent of Agrabah and it's provinces ever since you were a child. You were read law books instead of children's bedtime stories. Your waking moments were spent in study and judicial governing. His were spent in…"
"Scrounging off the street to survive." It had not been Jasmine's voice that spoke in Aladdin's defense, though she had been prepared to do it. It was the Sultan's. The council quieted as the elderly man raised his voice.
"I have spoken with Aladdin in private many times. We here…safe and secure in our noble estates and holdings, can not possibly imagine the daily strife and degradations those not lucky enough to be born wealthy endure." He stood and somehow managed to look every councilor in the eye. "Children who can only half fill their bellies with stale or maggot eaten bread, mothers who must beg off others to try and feed a dying babe, husbands forced to steal to support a family and then come home with their arms lobbed off, their poverty stricken kin how doomed to death."
This was the harsh cold reality. The truth of a street rat's life. It was fun when you were dodging guards and managing enough to eat. But sooner or later, you had to return home to the gutters, where the buildings were crowded so close they kept out day light. Where the walls did not keep out the freezing cold of a desert night. You trusted no one, for they would kill you for scraps of meat on a bone. A knife was on every corner, and a mugger down every dark alley.
Jasmine knew she could never completely understand the world Aladdin came from. It was so vastly different from her own. She was not a foolish, or vain princess. Not like many of the others she'd met. She truly cared for her people, she would die for them. But for all her noble birth she could not understand them. She could not live as they had lived and know how to fix it.
But she was in a position of power enough to marry one who did.
And love him even more for being one of them.
The advisors had conferred and agreed. Aladdin would become Sultan after due training. Until he was ready however, The Sultan had agreed to stay on and keep him down the right path.
Aladdin is the best thing to have as a Sultan. Jasmine told herself. These blue bloods, their rules and vain pride…she could handle that blindfolded. But Aladdin had bled the same blood that now watched him ascend the throne. He had suffered through bad economy and war as only those who can not defend themselves can. And, when he had found a djinn and could have taken it all for himself, he did nothing but risk his life on a tri weekly basis for them.
Aladdin was set up to become the most beloved Sultan in history.
I will be there for him through everything. Jasmine hummed as Aladdin kissed her and went to make his first speech to the people. No notes, no script. He had rejected any proposition to allow his words to be dictated for him. Aladdin would speak from the heart as he always had. Nothing else.
"Your husband will be a fine ruler."
Jasmine looked to see his father's lover, Queen Hippsodeth standing beside her, dressed to the nines in a Galifemme version of court attire. Despite the peaceful occasion, it could be seen that the warrior queen kept a knife strapped to her thigh as well as a clever long pin to tie her hair back. "I believe so Queen…"
"Ah…but we are fellow rulers now. We may address each other in less than stiff formal ways…Jasmine." Hippsodeth smiled and winked.
Jasmine retuned the warm smile. In truth, this seemingly hardened war woman had become a second mother to her. She knew that as soon as Aladdin was fully settled into his new role, the ex-Sultan of Agrabah was running off to Themascara with his wild, winged horse riding lover. In her heart she wished them all the best of luck. "I have always thought of you dearly Hippsodeth." She admitted.
"Oh? Even when I kidnapped you and tried to make you into a Galifemme?" The two women laughed lightly. "You know…on the level of business between our kingdoms…some of my troops have expressed a desire to be on Agrabah's guard."
"Really now?" Said Jasmine with an eyebrow arched. "That would be…interesting…" she tilted her head slightly to the thoroughly over maculated Rasoul who now stood to one side, protecting the new Sultan.
"I know you have no fighting female troops here." Hippsodeth said casually. "There will be those who come to challenge Agrabah's new breed of rule. Having a street rat on the throne is more than unconventional. It's unheard of."
"Perhaps the more unconventional we are the less people will question it." Jasmine concluded and nodded her head. "Tell those who wish it that Agrabah's Sultan and Sultana will welcome their skills in battle with open arms."
"And the bulky fellow over there?" The Galifemme Queen pointed to Rasoul with a jab of her thumb.
"Will get over it and treat them like every other warrior." Jasmine stated firmly. "Besides…I'll have to get used to having other women around sooner or later."
"Ah…you mean the harem."
So they had finally hit upon that sordid business.
Jasmine sighed. "I doubt it will be for a little while. I haven't even managed to get pregnant yet." She touched her perfectly flat belly. It was common courtesy not to give a reigning Sultan slave women until after his Queen was impregnated. This was an unwritten rule, not always obeyed, but given Aladdin's precarious position Jasmine doubted they'd receive a lush flower girl on the doorstep tomorrow.
"But eventually other Sultans will begin to send their third and fourth princesses, their concubine's daughters, female prisoners of war…" Hippsodeth said the last with a sniff of disgust. There was some bad blood there. "How will you welcome them?"
"It's high right as Sultan…if not high duty to have many women and therefore produce many heirs. More than half our nobility is composed of my half brothers and sisters…cousins…fifth cousins…" she rolled her eyes. "The list could go on forever."
The Galifemme sighed. "I suppose so."
Jasmine smiled…knowing what her fellow Queen was thinking. "In case your wondering…father has given the members of his harem a stipend from the treasury to live off of for the rest of their days. He did it about a week after your first date."
"Really now…?" Hippsodeth suddenly seemed to stand a bit taller. "So…I suppose that means Aladdin will have to start his out from scratch."
The two women glanced at each other and began to laugh rather loudly. A few advisors looked over at them, but did not ask question. Women, who knew why they did what they did?
The crowd gave an enthusiastic cheer, signaling that Aladdin had finished his speech. Being a coronation affair, a feast was declared through out the kingdom. Food in such abundance that even the beggars would go home with full bellies. Though most of the people would eat on the propped table in the marketplace bellow, lower ranking nobility and the royal court would attend in the dining hall, awaiting the presentation of their new royal couple.
The first thing Aladdin received as he entered the hall was a heart smack on the back from his large blue friend. "Way to go little buddy!" Genie punctuated each word with flair as a big brass band erupted from behind him and colorful bits of paper exploded. They began playing a slightly off version of 'Hail to the Chief' while Genie made up with words as he went along.
"Thanks Genie." Aladdin chuckled and tried to restore his turban from where it had fallen. He felt a little more comfortable now with his friends in place than in front of thousands proclaiming himself as ruler.
A sharp whistle rang through the hall. "Check out the fancy duds." Iago perched on Aladdin's shoulder and inspected the fabric. "Chinese imported silk. Nice stuff…you know you could get a good knock off down on 42nd St. for half the price."
Jasmine shooed the bright macaw away. "This is 100 real Iago." She assured him. "I wouldn't put the new Sultan in anything less."
"Come on Jas…" Aladdin blushed brightly. "You know I'm never going to get used to this whole Sultan of the land thing. It's feel so odd to have people bowing and saying your majesty all the time." He looked directly at a young page, a boy no older than nine carrying a bowl of fruit towards the banquet hall. He gasped as Aladdin smiled at him and accidentally dropped the bowl of fruit on the ground, spilling things everywhere.
Aladdin's face went warm but Jasmine just laughed. "Silly child! He won't bite you." She reached forward and helped set his basket right as Aladdin collected the fruit. The child murmured a shy thanks, intentionally not raising his eyes to meet theirs and scurried off as fast as he could.
"See! That's what I'm talking about!" Aladdin shook his head. "When I was just your husband people treated me differently."
"Well you are Sultan now." Jasmine said.
"That boy…" he gestured to where the child had run off. "His father is Amdahl, the stable hand. I used to go down and share a bottle of wine or some simple conversation with him whenever I had the time. Yesterday I came by to ask for a horse to ride and he bowed so low his beard scraped the floor. He wouldn't meet my eyes or refer to me as anything but 'Your majesty' or 'Sultan Aladdin'."
Jasmine sighed and looked around the hall. They still had a few minuets before anyone would expect them in the dining room. "Aladdin come here." She pulled him off into a side room and locked the door behind them.
"Jasmine wha…" She placed a soft finger against his lips and shushed him.
"Aladdin what is happening now is a sad but unavoidable fact. No…" she made him stop before he could speak again. "Aladdin you are…weather you like it or not…no longer a street rat. That means you loose all the carefree…cavalier privileges that come with it." She rested her head against her husband's chest. "We are the royals now. Your children, their children, and their children's children will be born into privilege as long as our line continues. It's a trade –off. You have given up everything the common man once had…and in return you are bestowed with power over thousands of lives and the security of knowing that your lineage will be forever blessed with the same."
"Seems like a weak trade." Aladdin murmured and Jasmine chuckled.
"It may now…" she pressed his hand to her belly. "But when you watch me swell you'll be happy to know that our babies will be provided for."
Aladdin closed his eyes and kissed Jasmine longingly. "I'm sorry…I'm being so selfish."
"No you're not. You don't like the duty but you're accepting it anyways." Jasmine could smell the heat and wildness of the desert sands on his flesh. No palace perfume of Asia, no incense or spray could cover that wonderful scent from her nose. Something stirred in her chest and traveled down ward, boiling in her stomach and tingling through her pelvis. She looked up at Aladdin with her large hazel irises and willed him to see what she was thinking.
I love you.
I know this is hard, I know your doing all of this for me.
But I see what you can do for our people.
And I love you.
Aladdin gently caressed her chin and whispered 'I love you.' in her ear. He moved his fingers across the nape of her neck and down her back, clutching the cusp of her hip as she ground her thighs into his. "Jasmine…" he moaned and began to move his soft lips down across her cheek and over her neck.
"Aladdin…" she whimpered as his hands quickly found a way under the layers of clothing and between her hips. They played gingerly along the outer rim of her tight little pussy, teasing the wetness with a single, probing finger. Jasmine hiccupped and giggled as he began to run his lips against the crest of her wonderful breasts.
The her turned sultan gave a low, breathy chuckle and slipped one breast out just enough to uncover the nipple. As his mouth lowered, his hands lifted, picking Jasmine up against him and setting her down on a wardrobe, skirts pulled up around her waist. "Aladdin…their waiting for us." She warned, her sense of duty returning for a brief instant.
Aladdin slipped two fingers deep inside her body, wriggling them around slowly. "Let them wait." He whispered in her ear and sent his ravishing tongue against her dark, perky nipple. Jasmine's mouth opened in a shriek but Aladdin covered her lips with his hand. "But they will come looking if they hear us." He grinned and began to slip his fingers in and out of her little wet slit.
Jasmine bit her lip and closed her eyes, leaning back against the wall as her love continued his pleasuring of her body. It amazed her how much he enjoyed this. When she was younger, and the search for a husband just beginning, her old wet nurse had warned her about men.
'Some are like dogs, rutting with their tongues lolling out and thrusting like fools.' She smiled suddenly, a strange, dreamy look in her kind old brown eyes. "But some simply know where to touch…how to play…and take true enjoyment in their women." She had sighed and finished dressing Jasmine for the latest prince set to court her.
He knows where to touch. Jasmine's voice caught in a scream as Aladdin found the small, hidden nub of pleasure at the top of her delicate femininity. Without another word he bowed his head, resting her hips on his shoulders and pulling her pink silk onto his strong mouth.
Aladdin's tongue slipped along her folds as though he would never tire of tasting them. He loved the little twitched and curves of her body as they moved and responded to his advances. He rubbed a hand along her rump, squeezing tightly and raking his nails gingerly across her flesh. He could feel her clit hardening in his mouth already and her juices flowing more freely. He opened his mouth to drink Jasmine down.
"Your majesties?" A voice from out in the corridor called. "Sultan Aladdin… Sultana Jasmine? Where have you gone too?"
Jasmine gave a sharp squeak and Aladdin came up from under her dress, his cheeks bright red and chin glistening. "Someone's come looking for us." She whispered hurriedly and hopped off the wardrobe, her knees weak.
Aladdin groaned but helped her pull her skirts straight and fix the tiara now tilted on top of her hair. "We will continue this later…" he promised quietly as they opened the door and headed out for their reception.