Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters from the movie and/or video game.

Chapter 9:

Tamina inhaled the sweet burning incense and oils of the High Temple trying to calm herself before beginning her rituals. There was a soft haze in the air of the room from the candles and incense, but it was welcoming to her. However, it was not as calming as Tamina had hoped it would be.

As she prepared for her rituals, her mind kept wandering. She would try to clear it and focus on the task at hand, but the moment she felt she was safe from her own thoughts they would return to the pressing subject she was trying to avoid. Dastan's face kept floating to the forefront of her mind. Even as she forced him to the back of her mind, a part of her wanted him to remain in the front.

She shook her head once to try and physically remind herself of what she was supposed to be doing. Siriah walked over to her and held out an oil basin for her. Tamina dipped her index finger into the basin and traced an outline of a star onto her opposite palm. She repeated the action on her other hand and on her forehead before accepting the dagger Siriah had smuggled out of the royal bedchambers.

Tamina raised the dagger above her head with both hands while muttering a prayer, then replaced the dagger onto its pedestal in the center of room. With her head bowed, she took a few steps back and kneeled on the step of the altar to begin the rest of her prayers.

This was the silent part of the ritual and Tamina was thankful it was so. Her thoughts again returned to Dastan.

He was the first man that she could not completely understand but she had no problem trusting him. There was no need for pretenses with him; they were already married. Though he could choose to marry again under Persian laws and traditions, she was stuck with him. There was no escape. That was a destiny that Tamina was prepared to live with, what her training had prepared her for. No emotional attachment to her husband; a political marriage.

Yet she was more worried about her new husband when he was sick than any other person she had ever met. She had tried to convince herself that people were always concerned when their friends were in danger, that she was merely acting the part of a dutiful wife. But she knew better. The feelings of worry that he had generated by passing out were not merely dutiful feelings; they were deeper than that, stronger too.

And then it hit her.

She recognized the signs now more clearly than she had allowed herself to in previous days. The desire for him to open up to her, the need to open up to him. Her worry for his life as he lay motionless in their bed night after night. Their constant arguing that she thrived on. Everything was beginning to resolve itself in her mind and Tamina could not believe that is was possible. She had only known him for two weeks; been married for ten days. Six of those days were spent locked in a cage or prison cell; the other four her husband was unconscious. It was not possible.

Tamina ended her prayers quickly. She left the altar and more than a few very confused guardians in her wake as she rushed passed them and out of the temple. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she needed to be alone to think.

The palace servants barely had time to bow and move out of her way as she passed them. Normally, Tamina would try to acknowledge them as she walked by with a smile or nod of the head, but her mind was too preoccupied with her epiphany to even attempt it.

She reached a secluded part of the palace that was reserved for dignitaries and diplomats to explore when they visited. She wanted to sort out her feelings before she acted on any of them. Tamina walked into one of the rooms and slammed the doors shut before anyone could find her. She leaned heavily against the door.

"It is impossible," she thought out loud. "Nobody can fall in love in so short a time." She began slowly pacing the length of the room. "But Dastan did, he told me as much. It is impossible," she repeated trying to convince herself what she was saying was true.

She walked back and forth arguing with herself about how unreasonable such a claim was, but also realizing that no matter how unreasonable it was, it was also very true. Her less than even tempered side fervently denied that she could be so easily swayed by the charms of the youngest Persian prince; it kept arguing that it was impossible. But even as she thought the words, Dastan's voice spoke in her head the same words he had said to her when they had successfully escaped Kosh's prison: "difficult, not impossible."

Dastan was becoming crankier by the minute. He was bored and sick of lying in bed. Tamina had not been back since the morning and the sun was starting to set. Tus and Garsiv had also been busy planning for an attack and had not been by since the healers left.

The irritated young prince threw the blankets off of him and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He got up and slowly shuffled out to the balcony he had yet to explore.

"A couple days," he muttered under his breath as he made it to the railing without any problem. "I'll be fine tomorrow."

He leaned heavily on the railing and looked out over the city.

He smiled as he realized how many different roofs he would be able to explore as soon as Kosh was handled. Dastan's eyes roamed from roof to roof as he imagined his path through the top of the city. Arching his neck to see further to his left as he planned his escapades reminded him of just how sore his body was. He let out a small gasp as his muscles ached and rolled his neck from side to side to try to relieve it.

Dastan caught a glimpse of the gardens below him. They were beautiful from what he could see in the fading light. The trees were very green in contrast to the white walls and he could see a corner of what he assumed was a fountain through the canopy of trees.

As he watched he did not hear the door to his room open or the soft footsteps of his wife as she walked into the room.

"I see you have discovered the balcony," Tamina said as she finally walked out and found him at the railing. She stopped in the doorway with her hands at her side.

Dastan turned around, startled a little, and then smiled. His agitation dissipated as he looked at her.

"I'm planning my next escape. This chamber is a little confining for my taste."

"What are you doing out of bed?" Tamina asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and walked over to him. "Didn't Sharim tell you to stay in bed for the next few days and regain your strength?"

"Yes he did, but he obviously doesn't seem to know how boring that can be. Besides I'm allowed to go for walks."

"Short walks and only within the palace," Tamina corrected him.

"How do you know any of this? You have been gone all day."

"I have my ways," she smiled mysteriously. "Really, you should get back to bed Dastan."

"I am fine standing right here," he responded. "I need the fresh air anyways; I hate being stuck inside all day."

A silence settled over them. Tamina leaned over the railing next to Dastan and closed her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath then opened her mouth to speak. Dastan beat her to it.

"Are there many gardens like the one down there around the palace?" he said pointing to the garden he had been looking at.

"Yes," Tamina said. "They are the most beautiful in the city. I also find that they are very relaxing in the summer heat. When you are feeling better, I will show you around the palace if you are interested."

"I would like that very much," Dastan smiled at her. "I think it's about time I learned something else about this city besides its deep dark secrets."

Tamina laughed softly at his comment. Dastan's smile widened. It was a sound that was unfamiliar to him, but he liked it. It suited her.

"You already know more than you were ever supposed to. I assure you there is nothing else like the dagger hiding under our city."

"That is a relief," he answered. "Is protecting your dagger always so intense? I mean, are people always after it?"

"No not always. The story of the dagger is essential to the religion in Alamut, but the power of the dagger is knowledge only known to the guardians. And, now you," she added.

Dastan shifted uncomfortably. He wasn't sure how Tamina was going to handle the fact that he had shared the secrets of the dagger with his brothers. He knew that Tus and Garsiv would never exploit the power of the dagger; that's why he had trusted them with the information. But if the people of Alamut didn't even know that the Gods they worshipped had instilled such power in their dagger, was it right that Tus and Garsiv knew?

"Dastan, are you all right? Should I send for the healers?" Tamina asked as she noticed the odd expression on Dastan's face.

"No, no, it has nothing to do with that," Dastan said as he shook his head. "Maybe I should go lay down for a bit."

He turned and walked a little more easily to the bed than he had earlier. His muscles were starting to loosen up, but his throat was tightening.

Tamina walked into the room a second after him, wondering what had changed so suddenly. She watched him walk steadily toward the bed before she went to change into her sleeping clothes. When she returned to the bed, Dastan was sitting on the edge with his back to her.

"Tamina, I told Garsiv and Tus about the dagger," he said over his shoulder. He turned to face her.

The young princess stood frozen next to her side of the bed. Her facial expressions ranged from shock, to anger and back to shock so quickly, Dastan wasn't sure what she was going to do.

"How much did you tell them?" she demanded quietly.

"Everything."

Tamina slowly turned her back to him and sat on her side of the bed. She didn't say a word to him for a full minute, but her breathing became more rapid.

"I know the information can be dangerous," Dastan started. "But Tus and Garsiv would never try to use the dagger for their own power, I'm sure of it."

"Why, Dastan?" she asked in a whisper. She sounded betrayed and the sound tore at Dastan's chest.

"I told them about the Hassansins and how they are connected to Kosh. I had to tell them the whole story so that they understood why the Hassansins were working for Kosh. It was necessary for them to know, and they will use every resource they have to protect it."

Tamina took a deep breath and lifted her hand to rub her temple. She dropped her hand back to her lap and turned to face Dastan for the first time.

"I will have Siriah bring them and you to the High Temple first thing tomorrow morning," she said. "I will need to speak with them."

Dastan stared at her in surprise.

"You are going to trust them with this?" he asked.

"I have no choice in the matter," she replied. "They already know and the only way I can ensure they do not try to steal the dagger, is to relay to them the danger that it poses if its power is abused."

"They are not a threat to your dagger, Tamina," Dastan insisted.

"Anyone who knows the power the dagger holds is a potential threat. Everything changes with time; a friend today may be a foe tomorrow. Your own family has born witness to this just a few weeks ago."

Dastan's jaw locked and his back stiffened as he remembered the treachery of his uncle.

"I understand that you felt it necessary to share the information with your brothers in order to ward off one threat and, as the ruling monarch of the city, I am very grateful for that. But as the matriarch of the Guardians of the Sands of Time, I am afraid the potential dangers to the dagger have only increased," Tamina continued.

She got up to put out the few candles that were still alight in the room; Dastan did not move.

"How can I put your mind at ease that Tus and Garsiv will not ever come after the dagger?" Dastan asked quietly when Tamina had returned to the bed.

"There is nothing you can do. Their actions will be the telling sign when the temptations of the dagger's power present themselves."

She lay down next to him on the bed just as she had when he was unconscious; only this time, she faced away from him.

Tamina was gone before Dastan awoke the next morning. He had managed to get himself into a sitting position much easier than the day before and was pleased with himself for being such a fast healer. There was a knock on the door before he could get up.

"Enter," he yelled to the door.

A handful of servants entered the room. Some were carrying linens, others bowls full of clear looking liquids. They bowed to the prince before one of the women in the center of the group stepped forward.

"Good morning, Your Highness," she said with another low bow. "I am Siriah. Princess Tamina has requested you and your brothers meet with her in the High Temple this morning."

"Yes, she mentioned it last night," Dastan said.

"I must prepare you to enter the temple as you are not a guardian; your brothers are being prepared as well."

"What exactly does this preparation entail?" Dastan asked skeptically.

"Nothing more than a bath," Siriah replied. "If you will follow me to the bathing room?"

When Dastan entered the bathing room, he was impressed to say the least. The room was not too large, but had a large circular pool in the middle of it. Sunlight shone through the large arched windows from the opposite side of the door. The same ornate symbols and shapes that adorned the throne room and Dastan's bedchambers lined the door and ceiling of the bathing room.

Servants began undressing him and helped him into the large pool. The water was warm and relaxing against Dastan's sore body. He sunk into the water and allowed his limbs to go limp.

He walked over to one of the benches that was submerged under the water and sat down. The servants sitting at the edge of the pool began washing his arms and hair with oils, being mindful of his healing left shoulder. When they were finished, he took a breath and sunk beneath the water.

As soon as he exited the bath and was dry, the servants began dressing him in white linen robes. Siriah tied an amulet around his neck; a small red jewel in a gold setting.

"Is this part of the preparation?" he asked playing with the jewel around his neck.

"For what the princess has in mind for you, yes," Siriah asked.

Dastan looked down at the jewel in his hand and examined it. It looked just like the one that Tamina wore around her neck which contained a small amount of the Sands of Time.

"We are to meet your brothers on the way to the temple," Siriah explained. "Please follow me."

Dastan fell into step behind Siriah and remained silent as they walked through the palace. They met up with Tus and Garsiv who looked as if they had bathed as well. Their hair was wet and looked oily. Garsiv looked less than pleased that he smelled of flowery oil; Dastan smirked at him.

"Don't you look nice, brother," he said to a scowling Garsiv. "You smell pretty too."

Garsiv's scowl deepened.

"Do you have any idea what this is about?" Tus asked before Garsiv could reply.

"Yes," Dastan said as they followed the other guardians to the temple. "The High Priestess wishes to speak with us about the dagger."

"Isn't Tamina the High Priestess?"

Dastan nodded.

"You've been conscious for about a day and you've managed to upset her so much, you are referring to her by her formal titles?" Tus said.

Dastan nodded again like a child being scolded.

Tus tried to hold in his laughter, but Garsiv let it all out.

"The Lion of Persia is afraid of his little wife," he laughed.

"I'm not afraid of her," Dastan tried.

The guardians led them up multiple staircases and through countless passages that all looked the same. They seemed to circle around and double back, though Dastan was sure they never walked down the same passageway twice. Dastan could see how easy it would be for someone to get lost in the corridors and smiled. They stopped outside a tall, ornately decorated door that he had seen before.

"Wait here, please," Siriah said as she walked through the door and closed it behind her.

Dastan looked at his brothers who looked just as curious as he did. They waited for a few minutes before Siriah reappeared.

"Please cover your heads before you enter," she instructed. They did as they were told and she opened the door for them to enter.

Tus and Garsiv looked over to Dastan.

"After you, little brother," Tus said with a grand wave of his hand.

Dastan walked passed Tus with a glare and into the High Temple.