Date : 07.06.2012
Title : The Hassansins' Secret
Author : ElaineDex
Chapter : 14 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.
The Hassansins made light work of getting their leader to one of the palace bed chambers whilst Dasmine ran to the kitchens to gather what she would need, snapping at the servants there as if they were her own as she ordered them to help her gather hot water and linens and specific herbs for a healing poultice.
Zarina watched on silently, willing to let Zolm's whore do all the hard work in pulling him from the gates of death, after all she was the Queen, why should she get her hands dirty…
Dasmine raced back to the bed chamber were Zolm lay, glad to see that his men had removed the top half of his clothing as she had told them to and she got straight to work bathing and cleansing the wound and mixing the various ingredients for the poultice to a pulp which she then applied to the deep gash in his side. She glanced up at his face from time to time as she worked, her eyes full of worry as he moaned in pain, beads of sweat beginning to break out on his forehead and she turned to Setam.
"His fever is starting already…"
Setam moved closer, uncertain what to do and his eyes went to Zarina, not liking the way she was glaring at Dasmine.
"Bring a pitcher of cold water and a clean cloth," Dasmine said to one of the palace servants who was hovering nearby, but she hesitated, looking to the Queen who nodded and the girl then darted off to do Dasmine's bidding.
Whilst she waited for the cold water to arrive, Dasmine finished packing the wound and tore strips of linen to wrap around Zolm's abdomen to secure the packed poultice.
"I'll need to keep checking the wound and changing the dressing. We need to hope it doesn't become infected," she said to no-one in particular and Setam stepped closer, resting a hand upon her shoulder.
"You've done well Dasmine," he told her and Zarina watched them, another plan forming in her mind.
Dasmine didn't reply, merely kept her eyes upon Zolm's face, willing him to open his eyes.
The cold water arrived and she took it from the palace servant with a murmured thanks, setting the pitcher on the bedside table and dipping the cloth into it before beginning to bathe Zolm's face and neck, knowing that she needed to try and bring his temperature down.
Setam turned to the rest of the men.
"Let us give him some peace, come, we need to dispose of Azzam and his men."
Turning to Zarina he said, "Your Majesty, I trust it will be acceptable for us to take refreshment and rest within the palace walls whilst we await Zolm's recovery."
It wasn't really a question for whether Zarina agreed or not, he had no intention of leaving his leader or Dasmine alone in the palace.
"Of course…" Zarina replied as gracefully as she could, "…I will have the kitchen prepare you all something to eat…"
Setam inclined his head gratefully and then he and the other Hassansins filed out of the room, Setam glancing over his shoulder one last time to see that Dasmine had not looked up from her tending of Zolm and he sighed, fear for his leader's life settling in his heart as he turned his head away and followed the other men.
Zarina waited until the men had gone before she stepped closer and hissed at Dasmine.
"The only reason I'm letting you stay with him is because I know that you will do your best not to lose him…so…make sure he doesn't die and I might let you live when all this is over…"
Dasmine blinked at Zarina, too in shock over what had happened to Zolm to even try to understand what the woman was talking about and so she didn't reply, merely turned to dip the now warm cloth into the cold water again and wrung it out before returning it to Zolm's heated skin.
Zarina narrowed her eyes at Dasmine before huffing and turning on her heels and leaving the room, barking at her servants as she passed them.
"Aid her if she requests, but when he awakens I want to be informed immediately…"
OoOoOoOoOoO
What should have been their wedding day came and went with Zolm still unconscious and fighting a fever. Word had been sent to the lair to the Hassansins' women of what had happened and that they should remain there until further notice.
Dasmine had only left Zolm's side when she needed to relieve herself, Setam having brought her a change of clothing on the first day and food intermittently throughout the following days for which she was grateful.
Zolm had opened his eyes once or twice, his piercing blue stare resting upon her for mere seconds before he had sank back into his deep sleep and she had wept, wishing he would awaken properly and speak to her…
Zarina looked in once or twice, but never stayed long much to Dasmine's relief.
Sometime during the night on the fifth day, Dasmine was awoken by movement at her side and she raised her head to see that Zolm was awake, his hand moving gingerly over his wound.
"Don't touch that!" she said, sitting up and reaching for his hand and he turned his head to look at her.
"Dasmine…" he said her name, his voice hoarse and she smiled and leaned down closer to him, so happy to see him awake that tears pooled in her eyes.
"Don't you ever scare me like this again…" she said gently, her fingers moving over the rough stubble on his jaw and he narrowed his eyes as though trying to recall what had gone on.
"Azzam…?" he asked.
"Dead...Setam finished him off after he hurt you," she replied and Zolm nodded, recalling that he had been distracted by the snake that Zarina had foolishly been trying to control and he wondered why she had tried to get involved when she had been told to wait in her chambers.
"The palace is Zarina's again…?" he said and Dasmine nodded, keeping her fears about the Queen's threats to herself, after all, Zolm was awake and he wouldn't let her be parted from him now.
"Let me get you some water," she said, scrambling off of the bed and moving to pour him a goblet of cool water.
Helping him to raise his shoulders and head from the pillows she pressed the cup to his lips and watched as he drank thirstily.
"Not too much straight away…" she warned and Zolm stopped, leaning back against the pillows, hating feeling so weak and vulnerable.
"Are you hungry?" Dasmine asked and Zolm looked at her, not sure that he was.
"I can wait for breakfast," he said, his eyes running over her face and he saw the dark circles of worry beneath her eyes.
Moving his hand to the warm spot she had vacated next to him he said,
"Come back to me…rest with me until morning…"
Dasmine needed no further coaxing and she moved back onto the bed and curled into his side, careful not to press against his healing wound.
OoOoOoOoO
Setam looked at Zolm as he lay propped up against the comfortable pillows, a disgruntled expression upon his face making him look even fiercer than normal despite his weakened condition.
"It is good to see you awake my friend," he said and Zolm nodded, not accustomed to being in such luxurious surroundings…it set his nerves on edge.
"Zarina is sticking to our bargain?" he asked, glancing at Dasmine as she prepared fresh dressings for his wound.
"It seems so. She has given us food, comfortable lodgings and appears to be getting on with arranging the palace back to how it was before Azzam…" Setam replied, resisting the urge to say that he still didn't trust the Queen as far as he could throw her…walls had ears…
Zolm was far from stupid though and sensed his second's worries. He was about to speak when the chamber door opened and Zarina walked in, her eyes fixed on Zolm.
"It is wonderful to see you awake at last," she said, her fingers holding tightly to the small vial she held in her palm, its contents the second step of her plan.
Setam stepped back from the side of the bed as Zarina drew closer and he exchanged a look with Dasmine which told her to keep calm as the other woman reached out to touch Zolm's arm.
"How can I ever thank you for giving me my home back?" she said and Zolm's eyes flickered with fire.
"You haven't forgotten our deal already have you your Majesty?" he said, "You know what we want…"
"Of course," Zarina said, "…and you shall have all you desire once you are back on your feet and well enough to oversee things for yourself…"
Zolm nodded once, his eyes going to Dasmine again as she began to move forward with a tray of fresh bandages and salve.
"I need to change Zolm's dressing now," Dasmine said, avoiding the Queen's stare as she placed the tray down next to Zolm's legs and Zarina nodded, moving casually to the table where the pitcher of drinking water sat. She waited until Setam was distracted helping Dasmine before she quickly emptied the contents of the vial into the pitcher and then moved away and toward the door.
"I will check on you again later…" she said, "…be sure to eat and drink lots of water to help build up your strength…we have a lot to discuss…"
End of Chapter 14