Date : 04.08.2016

Title : The Hassansins' Secret

Author : ElaineDex

Chapter : 19 of 20

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.

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No-one knew how long it would take for Zolm to re-awaken following his being forced to drink Sharad's antidote and so all the Hassansins, save for Setam, had retreated to their private quarters to spend time with their women and families.

Setam stayed by Zolm's side, loyal as ever and waiting patiently for some sign of movement. He sat by the hearth opposite to where their Leader still lay prone on the long wooden dining table, his fingers toying with the armlet that Dasmine had entrusted him with.

He sighed heavily wishing that they had never taken on Azzam's mission, but what was done was done and all he could hope for was that everything worked out as it should…for everyone. He looked up as he heard Zolm beginning to stir and standing, he crossed to find his friend just beginning to open his eyes.

OoOo

Dasmine had stayed in her chamber as long as she could, washing and changing and pacing back and forth. Unable to settle though she had gone to the kitchen, her intent to prepare something for the men and their guests, but once there she had discovered that the other women had not been idle in their time at the Lair and there was nothing for Dasmine to do. She sighed listlessly, feeling too miserable to be either thankful or annoyed that her domain had been taken over. Maybe it wouldn't even be her domain for much longer…what if Zolm banished her? What if his rejection of her was to become her reality? Yes, she had given Setam her armlet to return to Zolm, but she hadn't meant it…but what if Zolm took it and didn't want to give it back to her? Her breath rushed out of her at the thought and she closed her eyes, trying to get a grip of her over active imagination. Why had she let her insecurities get the best of her?

When eventually she was calm, of a fashion, she opened her eyes and spying a basket of apples, she picked two from the pile and putting them into the pockets of her skirts, she made her way out to the stables.

The Hassansins' horses where all varying shades of black, but none so dark as Zolm's and she headed straight for him, easily able to pick him out from the others.

Damis lifted his head and snorted into the air as he sensed her approach and for a moment Dasmine paused, giving the huge animal a moment to catch her scent. Much like his rider, Damis (named so for his colour) was stubborn and rarely let anyone close, but for some reason she was one of the exceptions to his rule. He took a few steps sideways and snorted again before he settled and dipped his head, his signal that she could come closer and Dasmine did so, reaching out a hand to stroke his velvety nose first before moving to gently pat his neck.

He snuffled at her skirts and Dasmine smiled fondly.

"There is no fooling you is there," she said, reaching into one of her pockets for an apple which Damis quickly demolished once she held it out to him on the flat of her palm.

Resting her head for a moment against the horse, Dasmine was about to feed him the second apple when she felt the animal shift and instinctively she knew why.

Zolm.

Turning her head, she saw him stood but a few feet away from her and though she tried to gauge his mood, he appeared stoic, his headdress and cloak like a dark and dangerous shroud around him and her breath grew shallow, especially when he raised a hand and she saw that he held the marriage armlet.

"This belongs to me…" he stated, his voice controlled and measured and before Dasmine could open her mouth, which he knew she would, he added, "…as do you. Never doubt why you are the one who wears it, no matter what."

Tears blurred Dasmine's eyes and for a moment she remained still, that was until he spoke again.

"In two days from now, you will become my wife…"

And that was when she closed the short distance between them, reaching to throw her arms around him as he met her, his arms encircling her to lift her against him.

"I love you…I'm sorry…" Dasmine breathed against the skin of his neck and Zolm closed his eyes. "As am I," he replied, pressing his mouth to the shoulder he knew he had bruised and Dasmine gasped and lifted her head to look at him.

"No…that wasn't you…it was Zarina's doing."

She kissed him then, unable to wait any longer; needing to feel close to him again. She felt it had been far too long. Eventually he lowered her to her feet and slipped the armlet back into place upon her upper left arm and she was just about to run her fingers over the intricate pattern in the gold when Damis nudged her from behind with his nose and Zolm reached around her to push at the animal's neck.

"He wants the other apple I brought for him," Dasmine told him, turning to face the horse and fishing out the final treat, she offered it to him and he snuffled at her hair, seemingly in thanks before taking the apple and devouring it with a gusto that once again took her by surprise.

"You spoil him," Zolm said, though there was no reproach in his tone and Dasmine turned to face him again. "As I will you…come inside and let me get you…" she stopped as Zolm cut her off. "I need to return to the palace…"

Dasmine shook her head, fear stealing into her heart again.

"No…I don't want you to go there…what if…"

Zolm cupped her cheek in his palm.

"I cannot let what Zarina has done go unpunished. All will be well…she will never come between us again…" he took a breath when he saw that she did not look truly convinced. "You told me that you trusted me…is that still the case?" he asked.

"Of course," Dasmine replied without hesitation and Zolm nodded. "Then trust me now. The Queen of Parthia needs to understand that no-one controls the Hassansins…no-one but I."

Dasmine bit her bottom lip and raised a hand to cover his where it rested against her cheek, her eyes holding his for the longest time.

"Alright," she eventually replied, her tone resigned, "But at least let me check your wound and get you some food you before you go…please?"

Zolm sighed inwardly, but relented with a brief nod of his head and placing his hand at the small of her back, he guided her from the stables and back toward the main body of the Lair. He needed to go over his plans with Setam and the other men anyway and he could do that whilst they ate.

OoOoO

At the palace Zarina had taken her time in her huge sunken marble bath, imagining having the Hassansin leader in there with her and a part of her hoped that he would return to find her still immersed in the milky water, but as time went on the Queen realised that she would have to get out or risk getting wrinkly skin…and that would never do.

After she had been dried and pampered and re-dressed by her maids, she tried to pass the time lounging upon her luxurious bed, imagining how Zolm had dealt with the little servant girl and his Second, wondering had he tortured them before he killed them or had he ended their lives swiftly…but then no. Mercy was not a Hassansins' strong point.

However he had done it, he was taking his sweet time about returning to the palace and Zarina was beginning to get more than a little agitated at being kept waiting. She rolled onto her back and sat up, gasping as she saw a figure stood by the bottom of the bed. Unfortunately it was not whom she had been expecting.

"Mother dearest…what are you doing here?" she asked eyeing Sharad somewhat warily.

OoOo

The large dining hall looked completely different with the addition of the women and children and from where Dasmine sat, being waited upon for a change, it seemed strange and she wondered if Zolm meant for them all to live together this way in the future. It would be an adjustment, but not necessarily unwelcome. The wives of the other Hassansins had been kind to her and seemed pleased that she was Zolm's choice for a wife. Her eyes shifted to where her betrothed was sat with the other men, all of them leaning into the table as they no doubt discussed their next course of action and she wished again that he wouldn't return to the palace. She didn't want him anywhere near Zarina and her magic potions.

"We have much to organise in two days," the voice of Nefrat's wife broke into Dasmine's musings and she turned to smile at the other woman.

"Yes…" she replied, "…and I am much grateful for all of your help…"

Nefrat's wife beamed and said, "Do you know what you will wear?"

Dasmine's mind went immediately to the day she had gone to the market to buy fabric with Gool and had been taken prisoner by Azzam's men and Gool…well, Gool had fought and lost and then faced Zolm's wrath.

Someone had put the packages from the back of the cart in her room in her absence, but she had not touched them as yet.

"I have fabric…" she began and Nefrat's wife touched her arm excitedly. "We will help you to make something beautiful to present yourself before your man in…" the other woman paused and glanced to Dasmine's left, causing her to look in that direction too and she smiled as she saw Zolm stood a few feet away and when he held out his hand to her she stood and glancing back at Nefrat's wife she said, "Thank you…and forgive me, but may we speak of this again later?"

"Of course…" Nefrat's wife replied, smiling at Dasmine before nodding at Zolm in polite acknowledgement of their Leader's presence.

Dasmine made her way around the table and placed her hand in Zolm's following him as he led her from the hall and all the way up to her chamber. Once they were inside, he closed the door and bolted it and Dasmine bit her bottom lip as he came to stand behind her, his hands coming to rest upon her hips.

"You wished to tend my injury…" he murmured against her ear, his tone telling her that he had a little more than that in mind and she couldn't help but sway her behind a little against him before she turned in his hold to face him, her hands going to the fastenings of his tunic.

"Yes…I need to give you a thorough checking over…" she got no further before Zolm's mouth covered hers as he began to back her toward her bed.

End of Chapter 19