Date : 14.12.2011
Title : The Hassansins' Secret
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 10 of ?
Rating : M
Pairings : Zolm/OC
Warnings : Some Sexual Content, Romance, Angst, Maybe Some Strong Language.
Spoilers : Possible references to Prince of Persia : The Sands of Time.
Disclaimer : I do not own anything to do with the Prince of Persia franchise. This plot and any O/C's are mine.
Summary : (AU) The Hassansins take on a mission that leads to the discovery of a secret from their past, one that could change their futures forever and Zolm finds out that maintaining emotional detachment isn't always quite that easy.
Zarina eyed Zolm warily as he told her what the next phase of his plan involved and when an opportune moment arose she said,
"So…you wish me to remain on the throne of Parthia, once you get the palace back for me…" she said, confirming what he had explained and Zolm looked away, his hand reaching for the snake that was hanging precariously from a stone pillar beside him.
"Your people seem happy enough with you, I see no reason to change things…" he said and Zarina folded her arms across her chest.
"You mean you see no reason for them to know that I am not the rightful Queen…that they should be kept in the dark about the fact that I am an imposter…" shaking her head she glared at him, "…and what exactly do you get out of all this?"
"You think that Azzam will make a better ruler?" Zolm answered her with a question of his own, his steel eyes holding hers in a challenge and Zarina was the first to look away, huffing as she asked again,
"What is it that you want?"
Zolm glanced at Setam briefly before returning his attention to the snake that was curling itself around his arm. What he wanted had come as a surprise to even him and even though he knew that his men were hardened warriors, men that were not afraid of hardship, the kind that would follow him into any battle or undesirable situation without question, he also knew that the old Persian King's betrayal had wounded them deeply, their honour and pride not easily tampered with.
"As Queen you will let it be known that the Hassansins have been re-grouped and that we serve the Kingdom of Parthia…"
Zarina blinked at him and let out a small, brittle laugh.
"You want me to risk mine and my Kingdoms' reputations by hiring you? You were disbanded because you became merciless killers…" she began then stopped as Zolm snapped his head around to face her angrily.
"No! We did only what we were asked to…and when the King couldn't handle the consequences of his requests he cast us aside, blaming us for becoming the feared warriors that he had wanted us to be. He betrayed us…"
Zarina regarded both Zolm and Setam for a moment or two, her mind processing everything he had said and everything she had learnt before eventually nodding slowly.
"Alright…I suppose there would be less chance of me getting kidnapped again if you were around and you could keep Azzam away…but there is one thing…"
"And what is that?" Zolm asked looking at her, his tone neutral and his head cocked to one side slightly.
"There will be no further killing of any baby girls born to the Hassansins…it is a barbaric and outdated custom and I will not have it…" Zarina said and to both hers and Setam's surprise, Zolm nodded once.
"Very well…"
Setam looked at Zolm as he wondered where all of this was coming from. Why was their leader suddenly striving for bigger and better things for them again…? Why was he agreeing to the change to their age-old rule and custom…?
Only one reason sprung to mind.
Dasmine.
OoOoOoO
Dasmine dished out chicken and rice with one eye on Zolm and the Queen and she almost missed Setam's bowl and he cleared his throat to catch her attention.
"Sorry," she murmured, giving him an extra spoonful of rice for his trouble and Setam grinned at her frown as her eyes strayed back to Zolm and Zarina.
"Is she dining here or in her cell?" she asked and Setam glanced behind him before turning back to Dasmine.
"Looks like you're about to find out," he replied, moving away and Dasmine saw Zolm and Zarina approaching her.
She tried to act nonchalant as Zolm reached for two bowls and held them out for her to fill, but eventually she had to look at him and she found him staring at her, his gaze making her breath catch and she thought she saw a flicker of a smile play upon his mouth before he said,
"Her Majesty will be moving to a room of her own, prepare a bed for her…"
Dasmine's eyes flicked to the Queen who smiled rather smugly at her and Dasmine looked back at Zolm with some confusion.
"Anything else?" she asked, her heart feeling suddenly inexplicably heavy when Zolm shook his head and replied,
"Not just now…"
Dasmine watched as he and Zarina made their way back to the fireplace and she sighed heavily and left the dining hall to go and tidy the kitchen.
Zolm had made her no promises that afternoon, but she had felt like something had changed irrevocably between them…or at least it had for her. She didn't want to be wrong. Biting her bottom lip she left the kitchen and made her way up the stairs and chose a room further along the same corridor as her own for Zarina and fetching clean linens she dutifully made up the bed. She had just finished when the Queen herself spoke from the doorway.
"He's quite attractive in a strange kind of way isn't he…"
"Excuse me?" Dasmine said, turning to look at the other woman who smiled as she entered the room further.
"Zolm…there is something about him. Tell me Dasmine, does he have many women? The thought of being taken by one such as he…" Zarina trailed off, but there was no mistaking what she meant and Dasmine felt her spine stiffen at the thought of having the beautiful Queen as competition for Zolm's affections.
"You would have to ask him that…" she replied, going to move toward the door, but she stopped as Zarina said,
"I think that since the Hassansins will be serving me soon it makes sense that their leader and I form another kind of partnership…don't you think?"
Dasmine had no idea what the Queen was talking about when she mentioned the Hassansins serving her, but the thought of the other woman and Zolm filled her heart with dismay and she could do no more than mutter a hasty, "Excuse me…" before dashing off.
Needing some air she made her way down to the courtyard where a fire for the evenings' meditation had already been lit and she stood before it, staring into the flames as she tried to make sense of what Zarina had said. Why would the Hassansins work for her…? And would Zolm want to entertain the other kind of partnership she had mentioned too…?
Wrapping her arms around herself, she hugged herself as she shivered slightly against the rapidly cooling air. She sensed Zolm at her back before his arms encircled her waist and she couldn't help the thrill that went through her as he pulled her back against his chest.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" he asked, his mouth at her ear and the stubble at his jaw tickling her cheek and she closed her eyes for a moment before turning in his arms and looking up at him.
"Thinking about you…" she told him, watching as one of his eyebrows raised with interest.
"Oh?" he said and she frowned at him, making him add, "What troubles you?"
After a moment or two, Dasmine ventured, "What's going on with the Queen? She says that you and the men are going to be serving her soon."
"It is nothing for you to worry about…" Zolm replied, threading a hand into her hair, but she shook her head.
"And should I also not worry about the fact that she wants to form another kind of alliance…with you…?"
Zolm was not surprised to learn that Zarina's thoughts were heading in such a direction; he had sensed the change in her attitude toward him earlier at the evening meal, but what he was surprised at was Dasmine's obvious insecurity.
Tightening his hand in her hair he pulled her closer and lowered his mouth to hers and immediately desire flared between them and Dasmine leaned more fully into him, her hands going to his waist to steady herself as her head swam.
Breaking their kiss before he was tempted to lay her down next to the fire, Zolm released Dasmine and reached into his robe and she watched, her eyes widening as he produced an intricately carved armlet made from what looked like gold and her breath caught as he reached for her left hand and slid the ornate piece of jewellery onto her upper arm.
Dasmine was not ignorant of any Hassansin law or custom and she knew only too well what this now meant, but as though he felt the need to confirm it for her anyway Zolm said,
"You will become my wife two days from now."
Dasmine glanced at the armlet happily before reaching out to wrap her arms around Zolm's shoulders.
"It's beautiful, thank you," she said excitedly, knowing that as a youth, Zolm would have carved the armlet out himself as was the Hassansin way, ready to give to the woman he would choose to be his wife in the future. She had dreamt of this moment for many years and now it was upon her she could scarcely believe it. All her fears about Zarina melted away as Zolm wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her, his mouth going to her neck as he carried her inside.
OoOoO End of Chapter Ten OoOoO