A.N.: Thanks so much for all your reviews and alerts people – you are making me one happy fanfic writer :-). As promised here's the next update with Dastan and Tamina. Hope you like it.

The sacred city of Alamut seemed like it had been extinct and was now void of all life. But it was a common picture in the city coming noon. People normally didn't stay outside when the sun stood in it's zenith and burned down mercilessly. Even though alamut was a city famous for it's fountains and there was no problem with water supplies, it was still a very warm climate and nobody who could avoid going outside, spend any time out in the streets around noon and the next three to four following hours. The streets crowded again at night but right now they were deserted.

In the palace high above the city, what little bit of wind found it's way to the city was caught in the wide open windows and allowed a gentle breeze to go through the rooms. It was more bearable to get through those burning hot summer middays than it ever could have been down in the city where the heat seemed to just linger and stand still in between the small alleys. It was almost comfortable but only as long as one stayed inside one of the many chambers or hallways of the palace.

Princess Tamina - royal leader of the sacred city of Alamut and as of late engaged to the youngest of the three Persian princes who had asked for her hand in marriage, having the blessing of his oldest brother for it and giving her a gift she wasn't entirely sure he even knew how much it had meant to her and still did, was sitting on the edge of a bed in one of the guest chambers in the royal palace, smiling to herself and sipping on a cup of cold water from time to time. The two guards at the door told her her every action was being watched and even though the Persian Empire - through the oldest prince Tus - had declared peace upon her city there still was a certain... suspiciousness lingering in the air. The princess however had not planned on doing anything sinister. She was just... watching.

She had entered Prince Dastan's chamber - the man she was supposed to be married to in just a couple of days - about half an hour ago and ever since then she had been sitting here on the edge of his bed watching him sleep. It was a strange but satisfying experience to have a chance to watch him like this. He just seemed so much more... peaceful when he was sleeping. But it was only natural. After all he had no chance to talk back at her right now.

The princess found herself grinning. She still couldn't explain what exactly it was that she was feeling for the Persian prince but she knew deep in her heart that there was some deep rooted spiritual connection between them that ran deeper than any political thought or even love could have been. At times it felt like he knew her, knew things about her she had never told him, knew her like they had spent a lot more time together than those past three days... She felt like she had known him longer and deeper than those careful first steps of getting to know each other had allowed...

It were times like these when she though about what he had told her upon their first meeting. That he had found some sort of new spiritual consciousness upon coming to her sacred city and that even though it seemed it had only taken a short time, this city had managed to change him... Considering the "wedding present" he had presented her with, telling her he was only giving her back something that already belonged to her, Tamina sometimes wondered if Dastan knew more about the dagger and it's powers than he was supposed to... She didn't dare ask him though... Maybe one day when they were closer and had actually gotten a chance to grow as a couple... Even though the idea of marrying the Persian prince actually appealed to her, she was still worried where this union would lead... They were different... or maybe they weren't...

She shook her head in confusion and suppressed a sigh. It were exactly those thoughts that made her feel so strange around him. She tried to be the perfectly trained, noble woman she was supposed to be but prince Dastan seemed to know a side of her she was carefully trying to hide and that was just so similar to his own character. The adventurous, carefree, fast acting part of her that barely ever had a chance to get to the surface and that the Persian prince managed to get to whenever they did as much as talk to one another. She was happy for that... Actually it was more than that... she liked him for that, maybe - with time - would even love him for that...

"Have you been watching me, princess?"

Tamina winced when she heard Dastan's soft mocking tone. She had been so deeply lost in thought, she hadn't even realized the prince had woken up and had propped himself up on his elbows, now grinning at her. She felt like she had been caught doing something that was forbidden but she called herself stupid for even thinking of this. This was her palace and she had every right to be in her future husband's chamber for as long as she wanted. She quickly recovered from her initial feeling of surprise and gave him a soft smile, shaking her head gently.

"No. I have been watching over you. It's what a wife is supposed to do. Or so I've been told..."

"You're rehearsing then? You're not my wife yet."

"I thought we agreed that you would not mock me."

Dastan had been unable to keep the comment to himself. Just as during the time they had spent together when they had tried to safe the world from his uncle's treachery and prove his innocence in the events causing his father's death - things that had never even happened now that the dagger and the sand had turned back time and Dastan had been able to prevent all this - he enjoyed teasing Tamina. She looked absolutely adorable when she was angry with him, especially if she was trying to hide that anger as she did now. She was trying to be the perfect princess she was supposed to be and Dastan could tell how hard it was for her to achieve that...

He knew her well enough - even though Tamina had no idea about that - to know she actually was a lot more... impulsive than her title as princess would have allowed. He rose both hands in defeat and gave her a soft smile, apologizing for his behavior. She was a lady - he sometimes had to remind himself of that fact - and he was supposed to be a perfect gentleman around her. It wasn't always easy though. He felt so much closer to her than he really was...

"I apologize. How long was I asleep?"

"About 8 hours. It's almost noon now. You came back to the palace very early this morning. At least that's what the guards told me. I wouldn't know. I was asleep."

"Do I hear reproach in your voice, mylady?"

"You need to rest, prince."

"And you need to stop worrying princess. One might believe you are actually happy with this union the way you are caring for me."

She was rolling her eyes now. She had tried to turn her face so he would not see but she hadn't been quick enough and Dastan had to grin. Teasing her was just so easy and it was too much fun to stop it. She was looking for composure, trying to be a perfect princess but still he could hear the muttered little curse that escaped her lips. He chuckled a little, sat up completely and grabbed her hand now, giving her a warm smile...

"I wonder if you will ever learn not to mock."

"As far as I remember we agreed there wouldn't be any mocking until we know each other better."

"Maybe my memory is a little fuzzy but when did we manage to do that. You've barely been here at my side, prince."

"You have no idea..."

The words slipped before Dastan had a chance to stop himself. It was hard sometimes to remind himself that Tamina had no idea what had happened with her and him and the Persian royal family before the dagger had turned back time and Dastan had been able to change the events, prevent them from happening. He often wished he could just tell her all about it and as Tamina was a guardian to the dagger and the sands of time, maybe she would have believed him. But he knew it was wrong to tell her about things that had never even happened. It would not change her feelings towards him or the fact that she needed the time he already knew they had had to get to know one another better. He just needed to be patient... and he needed to keep his mouth shut.

"Sorry?"

"Nothing. I am sorry, princess and I have to apologize again. But my father is arriving in a couple of days and I want everything to be prepared and ready when he arrives."

"Still you need to rest. There are other people here who can take care of preparations you know. Delegate."

Dastan let go of Tamina's hand and nodded in agreement, the chuckle still very visible on his face. He climbed out of bed and splashed a bit of water into his face from the small basin that was right next to the bed and that must have been filled by one of the servants while he had still been asleep. He debated changing into fresh clothes but given the fact that he would probably spent all afternoon overseeing the preparations for his father's arrival it seemed sort of senseless. He was already late anyway. He hadn't been supposed to sleep so long... He gave Tamina another smile, assuring her he would be fine and was supposed to leave the chamber when she stopped him.

"I'll try to remember that. I'm sorry mylady but I fear for now I have to leave you alone once again."

"Dastan."

He was surprised hearing her say his name. He had asked her to do so and she had agreed, offering the same to him but so far she had either just called him by his title or had used his name in combination with the title and therefor he had acted the same way towards her. He didn't mean to be rude. But now she had called him by his name and a sincere, almost shy smile had appeared on her face as she was struggling with her feelings but finally told him what she had wanted him to know.

"I am happy with this union."

"So am I, Tamina. You have no idea how happy."

He would have loved to go back to her right now, kiss her and tell her everything he knew and she didn't. Everything they had gone through together in another time that had no never happened, how he had fallen in love with her, had tried to safe her and how she had been willing to sacrifice her life... But instead he just swallowed hard and kept all those words where they belonged - deep down in his heart. Instead he gently grabbed the princess hand and planted a soft kiss on her fingers.

"I will be back as soon as I can, I promise."

"I'll wait...

Dastan hadn't been able to hold up to his promise. It was already dark outside when he returned to the palace and he felt tired and dirty from a long exhausting day full of preparations for his father's arrival. A messenger had arrived late in the afternoon, letting them know that the king would be here in another 4 days... It was barely enough time but Dastan - and everyone else helping to prepare for the king's arrival and the wedding - had to make due with what little time they had.

He had debated paying Tamina a quick visit but the way he looked and felt right now it just seemed wrong. Now it was time to clean up and actually change into something clean and comfortable and afterwards he would visit the princess and spent some time with her. After all that was what he had promised and breaking a promise was the last thing he wanted to do to Tamina.

His chamber was dark, not even a single torch or candle illuminating the room. Only what little light from the torches in the hallway fell into his chamber gave a little bit of illumination and Dastan immediately felt the presence of somebody else in his chamber when he entered it. He reached for the sword he was wearing and hid back a curse when he realized who the man was, standing at the balcony of his chamber.

"Bis!"

His friend turned around abruptly, obviously not even having heard Dastan enter and unaware of the danger he had put himself in with sneaking into the prince's room like let go of his sword and breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad he had detected his friend before attacking him. This could definitely have ended ugly if he had been more impulsive... Even though it was hard to see in the dark room, there seemed to be an apologizing gesture on his friend's face who seemed in a hurry to leave all of a sudden.

"I'm sorry to intrude like this but I needed to be someplace quiet and I knew you weren't back yet. I'm sorry. I'll leave."

"No. It's fine. Just stay. I just came here to change and then I wanted to see Ta... the princess anyway."

"Mmhhh."

Dastan, who had been about to slip out of his dusty shoes, looked back up at his friend in surprise. He had practically known Bis all his life and there had never been a single time when his friend had not used a chance to mock and tease him if it presented itself. Dastan had expected some rather inappropriate comment about him and the princess but nothing... He frowned, worry creeping up inside of him. This wasn't like Bis.

He stopped his efforts to change and stepped next to his friend, resting his arms on the balcony and looking out into the night with him. His voice was low, barely more than a whisper and he hoped to reach his friend and make him talk. It took a long while but finally Bis told Dastan what was on his mind and now that his friend brought it to his attention he actually felt bad about not even having allowed that thought to enter his mind so far...

"What are you thinking about?"

"Keyla. I'm thinking about Keyla..."