Disclaimer: I don't own Aladdin!

ﺶO Espírito do Deserto ﻀ

Last Time: All the while, an impatient genie confined in his lamp began to be angered by the warmth of a certain body.

Chapter V. Ana Ayesh

Jewelry that shimmered in its fine gold tints, enchanting materials of cloth that would make any fine dress or turban, spices and herbs that could make food of superb taste and a throng of people that filled the narrow streets. The market of Agrabah was always something of interest to those that visited the city. Unlike other markets in the Middle East, Agrabah had a large and strange variety of things to offer the general public.

Jade walked through the market place with little interest - having been in the caravan for so many years made her see the market of any city indifferently. She walked through the constricted paths that never seized to amaze her how the structure helped the streets keep cool.

By now, the lamp at her side had begun to vibrate. Turning into a dark alley she took the lamp out and unleashed the genie from its miniature prison.

"It's about time you released me from that blasted bottle." He spoke angrily as his eyes rummaged around the surroundings.

"How far is the palace from here?"

"Not too far, we are very close…but it would be better if you did not show up dressed like a peasant."

"On the contrary, how am I to be a lost princess if I come here looking like I've been pampered to death?" Jadé asked looking at Jafar with a single eyebrow lifted in question.

"And how do you suppose you shall explain that you are in fact a princess if you have nothing to prove it with?" Counter argued the genie.

Rationally, Jafar's argument was true, but then so was hers…it didn't make sense if she came to the palace looking like a princess then saying she was lost…all that it would prove was that she was mad…but if she came to the palace doors wearing her rags with no proof of being royalty… she might as well consider herself dead. "Perhaps if I had a trinket of some sort? Some sort of object that proved what I say is true?"

Jafar pondered her words while staring aimlessly at the people who passed on the street. "There was this one royal family in Thebes where the women of royal blood were marked with quotes from the Qur'an on their backs in calligraphy and some other sacred texts in hieroglyphs..."

"Tattoos?" Questioned Jadé curiously. She recalled her uncle mentioning a noble family that moved from Thebes to Cairo who sought out his help financially. If she was correct that line had been broken by bad investment and inconvenient marriages. "I believe I know what family you are talking about, I think they no longer exist among the ranks of royalty for a good few years."

"Yes," answered Jafar looking at her in genuine surprise, "not many were aware of their fall…it was a rather discreet business, I had only happened to come across them on my travels in my youth, they were already near broke then. The Sultan never took any interest in them; they were too far off and too poor to be of any interest."

He looked at her with his smirk that made her feel even more suffocated in his presence with a non-existent heat that threatened to consume her. She quickly regained control of herself and said "I…suppose that would make them the perfect family for me to pose as?"

"Evidently. Here are your tattoos," he said with a flourish of his hand which led to a vivid pain in her back that almost threatened to bend her over, "and here is your trinket." He added the latter with another flourish which made appear a bracelet made of lapis lazuli in the shape of small beetles.

Jadé grabbed the bracelet and rubbed her back and shoulders. "You could have warned me about the tattoos you know."

Ignoring her protests he grabbed her forcefully by her arm and pulled her towards him. "Now listen you silly girl, you must play your part well. I admit that the Palace guards are not the brightest but that can equally your curse as your blessing. If you fail to impress them, you will not reach the Sultan. Do you understand?"

Like an angry animal Jadé bared her teeth and hissed, "Unhand me!"

Jafar let go of her harm making sure to give her a little push with his release. "I believe I made myself clear. Remember, that this deal is in both of our benefit. Once we are inside the Palace I will grant you your first wish. Good luck."

And with that he became a red cloud that sucked itself back into the black lamp.

She stared at the bracelet in her hand and while placing the lamp within the folds of her ragged clothes. Looking towards the palace she thought to herself:

What have I gotten myself into…?

Yes I know I haven't updated since like forever. But since the middle-east has become an interest that has presently been revived I've tried to edit the story and most importantly edit Jadé who was pretty much a Mary Sue when I first started.