Jasmine found herself more confused than ever. She'd at first refused to let Razoul go back to his guard post as she wanted to talk about the wonders she'd seen. She'd relented when he pointed out that if he was noticed to not be at his post, he'd likely end up handing his head to Jafar and then where would she be?

Instead she came outside and sat on the steps talking excitedly to him about all they'd seen. It was around three in the morning before she started yawning and said good night.

Unseen by him she stopped behind the curtains and looked back at him. Why was he acting so cold and distant? She'd kept dropping hints that he could be excited about what they'd seen but he didn't respond. For a moment back at the tower she'd thought she'd seen a different and gentler man but now he was as cold, hard, and efficient as ever.

Maybe she could surprise something out of him? She peeked around the curtain at the corner and said softly so it seemed as if she was deep in her apartments. "Good night, Razoul, and thanks once again for the lovely evening."

He turned his head slightly but not enough to see her and for a moment the ice melted and she saw something behind his eyes, struggling to get out and express itself. Longing and desire for her melded together for an instant in his eyes, rocking her to her core, and then he said softly. "Good night, my Princess." And then even more softly. "My love."

He begins to sing softly:

"She's a princess as pretty as she can be;

While I'm so ugly as you can plainly see.

Her beautiful face could launch a thousand great ships;

While mine is so ugly they'd drive me off with whips.

She moves and walks with grace like an angel of light,

But I am only an ugly man who delights

In the radiant light from her beautiful soul.

And if it was ever to her whispered and told

That I love her with all the being in my heart,

Then she would turn and shrink and from me so depart.

My only dream is that on someday she will know

Of my love and come to my arms and never go.

It will never be as I am an ugly man

And I will always love her as much as I can."

Her heart hammered. She had figured out that he cared for her but it was obviously more than that. If he loved her, then it was impossible. She was a princess and he was a commoner. No. She shook her head. He was anything but common. She wanted to respond to that love just as she had to his gift at the tower but she knew if that happened and they were caught it might be both their heads.

But then again how did she even know if what she felt was love? She needed to talk to someone and preferably a woman. Then she remembered Sarah and her offer.

She went to a drawer and got out some of the gold coins her Mother had left her and she'd locked away, not needing them until now. She smiled softly. She would use the dagger as her excuse to talk to Sarah.

The next morning she waited until Salim had relieved Razoul and gone behind his potted plant to sleep and then a few minutes later, putting on her simple costume she just walked by him, out of the palace, through the kitchen and gone.

She didn't see Salim open one eye and grin as she left. His job was to keep people out. If the Princess wanted to go somewhere he wouldn't worry about it. Let Razoul take care of it. He went back to sleep not even understanding the trouble this was going to cause. Razoul had been afraid of Salim's lack of intelligence and now he was being proved right in that fear.

Unfortunately on her way through the kitchens Jasmine was also noticed by a certain Grand Vizier who was using his invisibility spell to torment the cooking staff. He recognized her immediately and grinned evilly. This was perfect. She was vulnerable and undefended. With her and her resistance to his staff out of the way he'd be free to take over Agrabah. Her murder would be so heinous that he could easily order Razoul's execution for failing to protect her.

It took Jasmine a few inquiries and a few small coins but she was finally directed from the morning market to the simple hut where Sarah and Isaac lived with their children. She rapped on the door and entered when she heard Sarah's voice asking her to come in.

It took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dim light and then she saw Sarah turning away from a bowl filled with dishes that she'd just cleaned. Sarah wiped her hands and came forward to give her a quick peck on the cheek. "Mary, how nice to see you again." She stepped back. "But where's your uncle?"

"He's on patrol, today; so I came alone. Is the dagger still for sale?" Jasmine hated lying but was rewarded as Sarah's face lit up.

"Why, yes it is. I'll get it for you." Sarah hurried back to a corner of the hut and took down a small box.

Jasmine's eyes were adjusting and she could see little Rachel playing with a doll. Jacob was in the next room behind a curtain talking to someone. Another member of the family?

Sarah came forward and held the opened box out for her inspection. "As I said the other day. This is a bargain at three hundred drachma."

"All right, I'll take it." Jasmine said and knew she'd made some kind of mistake as Sarah's face registered shock before she nodded. But what had she done?

She counted out the coins into Sarah's hand and if anything Sarah's face showed even more shock and confusion. She handed over the dagger in its box and then stared at the gold coins in her hand.

Jasmine suddenly had the feeling she had to get out of here. That somehow she was revealing herself to this woman. This whole trip had been a mistake. "Thank you, I have to go now."

She turned back to the door and was halted as Sarah said. "It's not just the dagger you came for is it? Are you in trouble, Mary?"

Jasmine swallowed. "No more than usual." She might as well ask as long as she was here. "I want to know how you know you're in love; especially when it's impossible for that love to be returned. Is it all just in your imagination then?"

Sarah slid the coins into a small purse at her belt and shook her head as if coming out of a fog. "That's a loaded question. Every woman can convince herself she's in love when she wants to believe it. Unfortunately some convince themselves and then find they married a person they never really knew."

"But as for the impossible love? That's even more dangerous. That which is forbidden looks sweeter because it is forbidden." She shook her head again as if trying to clear it. "Are you saying you're in such a situation?"

This woman was too smart Jasmine realized. It'd really been a mistake to think she could ask such a question and not reveal too much. "Yes." She said not knowing what else to say.

Sarah leaned forward and touched her hand. "Let me say this first. Love is when you care for the other person as much or more than you do yourself and it doesn't go away or fade. It grows stronger with every passing day and every breath you take. If you're in a situation where the love has been forbidden then you'll just have to wait. If it fades, then it was the situation and not really love."

"But what do I do if it doesn't fade?" Jasmine whispered.

"Then you have a new problem." Sarah told her. "And that I can't advise you on." She leaned forward. "It's Razoul, isn't it? You've been forbidden to marry him, haven't you?"

Jasmine panicked. This was too close. "Thank you very much, but I have to go." She grabbed the dagger in its box and fled.

Sarah ran to the door and saw her vanish down the street. She frowned as she saw several men detach themselves from the shadows and follow Mary. She knew those men and they meant Mary no good. "Jacob." She called. "You have to run and find Razoul for me. Tell him Mary is in trouble. The Ratz Gang is following her."

"Yes, Mama." He was out the door in a flash.

Sarah shook her head as she patted her heavy purse. "That was so strange. It was like she never heard of bargaining before and then those questions about love."

"That's because she's never had to spend her own money before." Iago pushed the curtains aside and hobbled out using a crutch. His body was wrapped in bandages and smelled of ointments. "Why should she? After all she's the Princess of Agrabah."

"Princess Jasmine." She gasped. "She was Princess Jasmine?"

"The one and the same." He looked up at her. "You'd better run and help her. She's going to need it." When she hesitated he snapped. "You don't think I'm capable. I can't even fly."

She grabbed her cloak and stuffed something in her pocket. "Iago, watch my daughter." Then she was gone.

Iago walked over to where Rachel played with her doll. "Looks like it's just you and me, kid."

"And Dolly." She told him.

"Sure." He told her. "We make a great team."

Jacob quickly found Razoul. It was just like he'd always heard the elders, the ones who sat in the shadows and watched their neighbors, the ones who had the most interesting stories, say that. "Wherever shouting crowds gather, there you'll find Razoul."

At the moment Razoul was standing back, supervising the city guard while they broke up a very vicious tavern brawl. Ignoring the protests of people Jacob dived between the watchers legs and rolled so that he came up near Razoul who looked down at him. "Jacob? What are you doing here?"

"It's Mary, Razoul!" He shouted as he was pulled to his feet. "Mother sent me. Mary's being chased down Market Street by the Ratz Gang."

"No." Razoul whispered. She was in deadly danger and might already be dead. He turned and grabbed two of the guards who were dragging a beat-up man off. "Let this trash go. It's a set up! Follow me!"

He turned and drew his sword and set off running down one of the side streets that would allow him to shortcut to Market Street. As he ran, he prayed to Allah that he'd be in time to save the woman he loved more than his own life.

Jasmine didn't realize she was being followed until she was more than halfway back to the palace. She only became aware when people ahead of her blanched and ducked in their doorways or ran down alleys. She turned and saw five men rushing towards her. One was tall with a yellow beard and the other four were dark and short with black beards. The tall one drew a dagger and this was a signal to the others who drew their daggers.

They surrounded her and began herding her towards an alley at her back. Somehow she knew that if they got her in there, she wouldn't be coming out. "What do you want?" She snapped.

The tall one grinned. "Why everything you have." He waved the dagger in the direction of the alley.

"My uncle is the head City Guard. You harm me and he'll make you pay." She told him.

"I doubt that." One of the smaller ones said. "He's answering a disturbance across town. He'll find only your bones, unless you think you can offer us something we want more than you."

"How about your lives? Turn around and leave and live or stay and die." She drew the dagger from its sheath.

The five paused and stared at the shining blade. "You told us she was unarmed." One of the short ones said to the tall one accusingly.

"She was supposed to be. At least that's what Jafar told me." He grinned. "Look at the way she's handling the blade. She's a novice. This will be easy." He stepped forward waving his blade before him. The others spread out, forming a wall.

She stabbed with the dagger and he contemptuously struck it aside, almost tearing it from her grasp. "As I said. Easy." His companions grinned.

Jasmine's eyes widened as she saw someone burst through the crowd that had gathered to watch. One of the short ones turned to see what she was staring at only to meet a leather bag swung by a very determined woman. There was a thud as his forehead was bashed in by a very heavy bag filled with gold coins and he collapsed. The woman slashed with a dagger, drawing a grunt of pain as a second assailant staggered back clutching his arm and then she was beside Jasmine with her back to the wall.

"How do you like the odds now?" Sarah snapped at the three remaining thugs. "Since you're fighting two women then that will put you at the disadvantage."

"Two women? Three? No difference." The tall one growled. "You take the new comer, boys. The Princess is mine."

He lunged forward and his knife knocked Jasmine's feeble blow aside. Beside her Sarah was fighting for her life against two determined thugs. The tall one grabbed Jasmine by the throat and slammed her into the wall behind her, causing her to gasp and drop the dagger. He then backhanded her hard, sending her to the rough cobblestones. He grabbed her by the front of her shirt and hit her again, drawing blood.

Behind him Razoul saw Jasmine go down and more felt than saw the blow that drew her blood. A red haze came over his eyes and filled with a killing rage he attacked. The thug backing up for a new lunge at Sarah was the first to meet that whirling blade and the first to die.

Unheeding the tall one took his dagger and pointed it at her eye. "Good bye, Princess. Jafar says you're no longer needed."

There was a silver arc that crossed his throat. He got a stunned look and then collapsed as his head bounced away from his body. Through her tears Jasmine saw Razoul standing over her former assailant, panting heavily and holding his sword.

Behind him guardsmen were subduing the remaining assassins and others were helping Sarah to her feet and then Razoul crouched down beside her, having sheathed his sword. He tentatively reached out his trembling hand. Had he been in time to save her? In that moment his love for her was clear for her to see. "Princess, are you all right?"

She had started to say 'do I look all right to you?' and then the words wouldn't come as she realized what that look of love in his eyes meant to her. Instead, in spite of all her pain, she found herself saying. "I'm fine now that you're here." And flung herself into his surprised arms.

She had just found that a lot of her questions she'd asked Sarah about love now had answers. She also knew in that moment how she was going to handle the problem of Jafar.

She wouldn't let go and when he told her he'd call a carriage, she said. "No. I command you to carry me back to the Castle like this."

"Why?" He asked. "Is there a reason?"

"Yes. If they see you carrying me all bloody and beat up after your patrol saved me, then no one is going to even ask why you weren't protecting me better. Instead I want them asking who knew I'd run away and set those thugs on me. I plan to shout those accusations. I'm going to make it very hot for Jafar."

He grinned. "That's my Princess."

"This is only the beginning." She told him grimly. "If Jafar wants a war, I'll give him one. Now when we reach the gates this is what I want you to do."

She was right about the reaction at the palace. The gates were flung open and guards were summoned and the Sultan came running. "Jasmine, are you all right?"

She had Razoul set her on her feet and didn't even have to fake being unsteady. She took her father's hands in hers. "No, Daddy, I was nearly murdered but Razoul and the city guard saved me; I owe him my life."

"And we thank you, Razoul." The Sultan said with a nod to Razoul before he turned back to her. "But who tried to kill you? Who would dare?"

"Oh, it's very simple, Daddy. It was the Grand Vizier, Jafar. One of the assailants told me."

Jafar came pushing through the crowd, looking like he'd run a long way very fast. "That's a ridiculous accusation, Princess. You're obviously upset and need a physician's care."

"I need you with your head on the executioner's block, murderer." She snapped.

Jafar turned to the Sultan and held out his snake staff whose eyes began to glow. "The Princess is upset and needs to be confined. Her mind has become unhinged." He turned and cast the glow of the staff on all those there. "I think we all agree that she's very sick."

"Yes, yes." The Sultan nodded his head. "The Princess needs to be taken care of." The rest of the guards and servants all nodded.

"Razoul, now!" Jasmine commanded.

Razoul took three quick steps forward and seized Jafar's staff in his hands. He ripped it from the astonished Grand Vizier's grip and raised it over his own head.

"Oh, no." Cried Jafar.

"Oh, yes." Snarled Jasmine.

Razoul brought the staff down with all his strength against the cobblestones. There was an explosion and a puff of black smoke. When the smoke vanished the snake staff was in pieces and everyone was shaking their heads as if they'd just woken up.

"What? What? What's happening?" The Sultan looked around in bewilderment.

Jasmine stepped forward and put her hand on her father's shoulder. "Jafar has been controlling everyone for years, Daddy. He's been robbing the treasury and making you do what he wants. Only I and Razoul were apparently immune. Since he couldn't control us, he tried to murder us."

The Sultan turned red and pointed a finger at his Grand Vizier. "Guards, arrest the former Grand Vizier. Jafar, your head will roll for this."

"I think not." Jafar snarled and hurled a magic powder which exploded in a billowing cloud of pink smoke. When the smoke cleared he was gone, leaving the grasping guards with nothing.

"Guards, I want him found. Search the entire city." The Sultan ordered.

Jasmine put her hand out to stop Razoul from going with them. "I need you here." She said. He reluctantly agreed and sheathed his sword.

"Now, Jasmine, I want to know why you were outside and not in your quarters." The Sultan demanded.

"It was Jafar's doing. He made you issue so many strange orders that I felt like the walls were collapsing inward on me. I had to get out or choke. That was apparently part of his plan to get me away from those assigned to protect me. Salim was apparently put to sleep by Jafar, leaving me a clear path to the outside." Salim who'd been sweating, expecting her to call for his head for his neglect, abruptly relaxed. She gave him a look that left him no doubt that they would have words later, a lot of words. "Daddy, Jafar then sent those thugs to murder me. Razoul saved me with the help of a very loyal family whom we need to reward."

"Of course, dearest, we shall." He reassured her. Then he got a stern look, dropped her hand and put his fists on his hips. "And I want you to promise me you'll never leave the palace alone like that again. After all Jafar is still out there."

"Yes, Daddy, I promise I will never leave the palace alone like that again." She grinned at Razoul.

"Very good." The Sultan said. "And now I want the Physician Royal to examine you and make sure you're all right. You look horrible."

"Yes, Daddy." She said meekly.

The Sultan when he visited her in her room later seemed lost and confused without his Grand Vizier but was full of concern for her.

She reassured him she was going to be fine and then told him she wanted to change her security arrangements to better protect herself. He gave her a smile. "Of course, of course, my lovely. Do what you think best. I'm sure Razoul will advise you." He hugged her and gave her a kiss. As he started to leave he turned and said. "Oh dearest, I just got a return mail from the Prince of Del Mor, he'll be here to court you in three weeks. Then you can get married." He bumbled off, muttering about grandchildren.

After he left, she snarled. "Over my dead body. I'm marrying whom I want to and you don't get a say in which prince it is. I'm sick and tired of being everyone's little doll that they manipulate to get what they want."

"Razoul." She called. His welcome face appeared in her doorway.

"Yes, Princess?" He bowed.

"Razoul, I'm changing the security arrangements. From now on you're my personal bodyguard. You answer only to me and no one else." She could feel her head throbbing but she had to finish this before she collapsed. "That means no longer standing there in my doorway. That was one of the silliest arrangements I ever heard of. You had no way of seeing if anyone was coming in the window to kidnap me. From here in the central area you can see all entrances and windows. Also, I'm having a door with locks installed. You'll screen all callers through a small opening at the top."

"I also plan to add more security in the approaches to my room but I'll have to do it slowly until Daddy realizes there's more money than he thought."

"You will move your possessions from that small, dark cubicle that they gave you in the palace to the large room across the hall from mine. I will expect you to be available whenever I ask and I also expect you to give me as much privacy in my quarters as I need."

She smiled at him. "That means we will be meeting in the central area here to discuss things whenever either one of us wants. I find myself greatly in need of advice on things I have no experience with. You will fulfill that need."

She sighed. "I'm afraid that means you'll have to find someone else to be the head of the city guard. I can't have you off chasing robbers when I need to talk with you. I'm sure you have someone in mind."

"Princess, I'm not sure I could find someone to do the job as good as I can."

"Razoul, no one is indispensable. If you really want advice on who to choose, I'm sure Sarah or Hasim would be glad to council you as they have had to interact with them over the last few years and know who's honest and who's not. I'll give you a week to get that done."

"Yes, Princess." He sighed. He would miss being the city's guardian.

"Now, I need to rest and I have one last command for you." She waited until he nodded. "Good. I'm going to get some sleep and." She stifled a sob. "I'm done being brave for the moment. Every time I shut my eyes I see that horrible man with his dagger. Please sit here and hold my hand until I get to sleep. Will you do that?"

He sighed. "Yes, Princess."

She smiled softly as she took his hand. "Good. I know how you feel about me and what my feelings are for you, and I also know we'll never have any more than we have now, but what I need right now is a friend."

She laid her head on her pillow and he thought she was asleep but she opened one eye. "I also expect you to start getting more sleep after you turn over the city guard responsibility. You'll do me no good being half dead on your feet. Good night, my friend." This time she stayed asleep.

"Good night, my Princess." He told her. If he never had any more than this, sitting here holding her hand, he would be content. He turned so he faced the door and made sure his sword was ready.

Later, when he was sure she was sleeping soundly he removed himself to the central room where he could guard her better. He sat in a chair where he could see all entrances and thought about what had just happened.

He knew this arrangement was not going to last. The conventions of society would soon reassert themselves with Jafar gone and she'd be surrounded once more with ladies in waiting and the like and he'd be relegated back to his guard post.

It turned out that during the night Jasmine awoke and had the same thought. She had deluded herself. This was an impossible situation and it was not going to last. From somewhere an old dried up maiden aunt was going to emerge and reinstitute all the conventions that Jafar had broken down. Then she would be back in her prison to be auctioned off to the highest bidding prince and Razoul would be removed, never to return. Did she want that? And if she didn't, what was she going to do about it? She had told him they could have nothing more but did she really want that? She had a decision to make.

Sometime about three in the morning he heard her moving about in her room. She seemed to be restless and was pacing around like she was wearing a circular path in the floor. This went on for some time. Abruptly she stopped. There were two quick steps and she pushed the curtain to her room back. She was still in her pale blue nightgown and she tossed her head back, throwing her unbound black satin hair in waves behind her.

She looked at him intently for a moment, and he felt sweat breaking out on his forehead. "I've been thinking." She said. She tossed her hair back again. "Allah, what an understatement, as that's all I've been doing for the last hour." She regarded him intently. "I've been thinking among other things about what Sarah told me about love and forbidden love and the need to be patient. I've also realized I don't have much time."

"Princess, I don't understand." He told her, watching in fascination how her unbound black satin hair seemed to flow around her and mold to her body.

"Neither do I." She declared. "And you know what? I've decided to hell with being patient."

She made three quick steps across the room and abruptly sat down in his lap. She pushed his turban off his head. "There. That's better." She looked deeply into his eyes and he saw the same terrible longing that was mirrored in his own. "I don't think you're an ugly man at all. Also, I intend to find out whether this love is true by doing something about it." She leaned forward and kissed him.

There was a clatter as he dropped his sword for the first time in his life and then his arms went about her and he gently held her close, conscious of her injuries, and kissed her back. Kissing was all they were going to be able to do and they had all night to do it in and they proceeded to do just that. Iago if he'd been there would've said something like 'oh, yuck.'