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“I’ll Never Leave You”

An original story inspired by Disney’s Aladdin saga

by Disney Princess

Dedicated to Kim, my fanfic confidante, without whose inspiration this story would not have been completed.

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Chapter 1

A Fright in the Marketplace

            “Now, with the sacred kiss, you are wed,” the Sultan declared proudly.  Aladdin and Jasmine smiled at each other before leaning in for perhaps the most magical, special kiss of their lives...the kiss that would forever join their lives into one.  They slowly closed their eyes as their faces moved closer...

            Jasmine’s eyes fluttered open.  She sighed, slightly disappointed by the dream.  For the past month, she had dreamed of nothing but her upcoming marriage to Aladdin, but she had never gotten to see that kiss.  Oh well, she thought.  It only gives me more reason to anticipate the real thing!  She sat up in her bed, noticing a small but sharp pain in her head.  Ignoring it, she got up and dressed for breakfast.

~*~

            Aladdin awoke to the desert sun streaming in through the tattered curtain of his hovel.  He sat up and stretched his arms over his head, a smile appearing on his face as he stifled a yawn.  He looked around his decrepit home to see his friends Abu and Iago fast asleep, being lazy as they enjoyed doing so much.  Carpet was stretched out on the ground and appeared to be just an ordinary rug.  Needing someone to talk to, Aladdin picked up a tarnished old oil lamp and rubbed it, releasing his big blue friend, Genie.

            “Al,” Genie yawned, “what is it?”  He was wearing a white nightshirt and a pink stocking cap.

            “How do I look?” Aladdin asked, tugging at his gold-trimmed purple vest to smooth out any wrinkles it may have gotten from having been slept in.

            Genie snapped his fingers and his pajamas vanished.  He quickly looked his friend up and down.  “Oh, you have shoes!” he teased, noticing the fine boots on Aladdin’s usually bare feet.  “New outfit?”

            “Yeah, from Jasmine,” Aladdin replied, a content smile crossing his face at the mention of his fiancée’s name.  The smile quickly faded.  “But you didn’t answer me!”

            Genie sighed and shook his head.  “Al, you look fine!  What’s going on that’s got you all worked up about this?”  It wasn’t like Aladdin to be so concerned about his appearance.  He hadn’t asked questions like that since shortly after he and Jasmine became engaged.

            “I’m going to the palace.  Jasmine invited me for breakfast,” Aladdin explained.

            “Hello!  Earth to Al!” Genie said, playfully hitting Aladdin on the head.  “You’ve gone to see Jas almost every day for three years now!  Why are you suddenly so concerned about it today?”

            Aladdin shrugged.  “I don’t know, Genie.  Just...well...you know, with the wedding in just a month I guess I just still feel a need to impress her, even if she doesn’t need it.  I want her to know that she’s worth dressing up for...that I love and care about being with her.  I still want to try and prove myself worthy of her.  I love her so much.”

            Genie grinned.  “I know you can’t wait until after the wedding, eh, Al?” he teased, winking an eye and nudging his friend with his elbow.

            Aladdin blushed.  “It’s more than that, Genie...much more.  I just don’t ever want to be apart from her.  I know we’re already together a lot, but...it’s not enough!”  He ran a hand through his thick black hair.  “I can’t explain it, Genie.”  He shrugged again.  “I just can’t believe a street rat like me is marrying the most beautiful, wonderful woman on Earth.”

            Genie just smiled.  “Well, you’d better go before she sends a search party after you.”

            Aladdin sighed and shook his head before whistling for Carpet.  The two of them landed in front of the main entrance to the palace where Rasoul, the Captain of the Agrabanian Guards, stood.

            “What are you doing here, street rat?” Rasoul asked Aladdin gruffly.  As the wedding was coming closer, Rasoul was acting even nastier than usual to Aladdin, and their few moments of peace seemed now to be a thing of the past.

            Aladdin frowned.  He’ll never let me live down my past, will he?  “I’m here to see Jasmine,” Aladdin answered.  “Just like every day,” he couldn’t resist adding.

            “What does a well-bred woman like Princess Jasmine see in a street rat like him?” Rasoul muttered under his breath as he closed the door behind Aladdin.

            Once inside, Aladdin was immediately greeted by the Sultan.  “Good morning, my boy!” the monarch said happily to his soon-to-be son-in-law.

            “Good morning, Sultan,” Aladdin replied.  “Have you seen Jasmine yet today?”

            The Sultan shook his head.  “Not yet, but I believe I heard her getting up.  She should be down shortly.”  Sure enough, Aladdin turned around to see his fiancée approaching.

            “Good morning, my Princess,” he said, kissing her hand.

            “Good morning, Aladdin,” Jasmine replied wearily.

            “Are you alright?” Aladdin asked, concerned, noticing the unusual weakness in his beloved’s voice.

            “I’m fine,” she replied, ignoring the worsening pain in her head.

            Aladdin looked at her skeptically but said nothing.  He and Jasmine walked out to the garden hand in hand, not saying anything.  Aladdin noticed that Jasmine’s hand felt cold and clammy.  When they arrived in the garden, Jasmine gently pulled out of Aladdin’s grip and took a seat on the edge of the fountain.  Aladdin sat beside her, but she didn’t acknowledge his presence.  He frowned.  Something wasn’t right.  “Jasmine?” he asked.

            “Hmm?” she responded, seeming startled to hear someone calling her.

            “Are you sure you’re OK?  You’re awfully quiet this morning.”

            Jasmine looked back at him.  He noticed she seemed a little pale.  Her usually warm, loving brown eyes seemed cold and distant.  “Are you saying I usually talk to much?” she asked him harshly.  Aladdin couldn’t tell if she was serious or joking, so he didn’t answer her.  “I told you, I’m fine,” she continued.  She forced a smile.

            Aladdin still hesitated to speak, but luckily one of the servants came out to the garden carrying a silver tray of fresh fruit and two cups of tea.

            “Thanks,” Aladdin said, taking the tray.  He handed Jasmine a cup and flipped her an apple.  “So, did you sleep well?” he asked her.

            She smiled again, and this time her smile was sincere.  “I had another dream about our wedding.  I can’t believe how close it is!”

            Aladdin nodded.  “Soon we’ll truly be together forever.”  He lifted his cup.  “To us,” he declared, smiling at Jasmine.

            “To us,” she repeated, toasting him.  She sipped her tea, but didn’t touch any more of breakfast after that.

            “Jasmine, you’re not eating.  Please tell me what’s wrong.”  Aladdin took his fiancée’s hands in his own and gently rubbed them.

            Jasmine sighed.  She didn’t want to worry Aladdin with her problems, but she knew he would only worry more if she said nothing.  “I just have a headache and don’t feel very hungry.  That’s all.”  She managed another smile and, pulling one of her hands out of Aladdin’s, gently caressed his face.  He jumped and pushed her hand away.  Jasmine looked hurt.

            “I’m sorry, Jasmine.  I was just startled.  Your hands are really cold!  But here.”  He took her hand again and pressed it against his cheek.  She gave him a weak half-smile, but truthfully the longer she stayed outside, the worse she felt.  Try as she might, she couldn’t keep from showing the pain in her eyes.  The longer Aladdin gazed into those distant eyes, filled with fatigue, the less convinced he was by her insistence that she was fine.  But he decided that starting an argument about it wouldn’t do anything.

            Jasmine turned away from Aladdin and allowed her mind to wander.  Her head was throbbing now and she felt increasingly weak.  Looking at the food in front of her made her stomach churn.  She forced herself to keep smiling so Aladdin wouldn’t worry about her, but in her heart she knew that Aladdin knew her too well.

            “Jasmine, I’m worried about you.  You really don’t seem like yourself today,” Aladdin told her, his voice filled with concern for her.

            Jasmine looked back at him and let out an aggravated sigh.  “For the hundredth time, Aladdin, I’m fine!” she replied with a slight edge in her voice.  Seeing the hurt look on Aladdin’s face, she continued in her normal, gentle voice.  “I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to snap at you.  You’re right, I don’t feel my best today, but I assure you, it’s nothing serious.  I’m sure it’s just the pre-wedding jitters.”  Again she smiled, but Aladdin couldn’t help but notice how unsure her smile looked.  It wasn’t the sincere, perfect smile of the woman he loved.  That magical aura that made her whole face brighter wasn’t there.  Seeing Aladdin staring at her quizzically, Jasmine added, “Trust me,” and a bit of that life returned to her face.  It didn’t last.  She involuntarily contradicted herself.  Though the desert air was scorching, she shivered.  Aladdin noticed, but didn’t say anything right away.

            “Jasmine, do you want to go inside?” he asked after an unusually awkward pause.

            She shook her head, even though the idea sounded fabulous.  I can’t say yes, or he’ll realize that something really is wrong, she thought.  “How about we go to the marketplace instead?” she blurted.  The instant the words left her lips she regretted saying them.  The marketplace meant the strong aromas of spices, perfumes, and fruits.  She nearly doubled over just thinking about it.  Still, she knew she could force herself to handle it, for Aladdin’s sanity.  Or at least she hoped she could.

            “I don’t know, Jas...that might not be such a great idea.”  He saw the pleading look in Jasmine’s eyes and sighed.  “Well...OK.”

            Jasmine smiled mischievously.  “Let’s sneak out.  Over that wall,” she said, pointing to the tree that she had used to scale the palace walls herself three years ago when she had run away and met Aladdin.

            “Jasmine, if you don’t feel well, maybe we should just walk,” Aladdin protested, but Jasmine was already halfway up the tree.  She felt light-headed as she climbed higher, but she kept going.  Aladdin sighed and shook his head as he stood up to follow Jasmine.  Sometimes, my Princess, you’re too stubborn for your own good, he thought.  He opened his mouth to tell her so, but decided that he probably wasn’t one to talk.  It wasn’t as if she had never said the same thing about him.  He followed her over the wall.  The two of them wandered to the front of the palace and strolled along down the street.  As she had expected, the overpowering scents of the marketplace surrounding her intensified both Jasmine’s headache and her nausea.  She held tight to Aladdin’s arm to keep her balance.

            “Look, Mama!  It’s Princess Jasmine!” a young girl in the streets called to her mother.

            “And Aladdin!” shouted the girl’s brother.

            The attention of the people of Agrabah quickly shifted from their daily shopping to the princess and hero of their city.  Young children raced to them, despite the disapproval of their parents.

            “Wow, Aladdin!  You’re the greatest hero ever!  My name is Babkak and I want to be as brave as you when I get big!” a little boy gushed in admiration.  “I’ve been practicing how to fight monsters like you do, see?” Babkak added, pretending to wield a sword.

            Aladdin smiled proudly.  “Gee, thanks!” he remarked, not really sure of what else to say.  No one had ever really wanted to be like him before.  Mussing the child’s hair, he added, “Keep up the great work!  You really know how to use a sword!”  Babkak beamed and fell silent, unable to believe what he had heard.  He just stared at his idol in awe.

            Meanwhile, Jasmine was distracted by a little girl of about four.  “Wow, you’re the princess?  What’s it like to be a princess?  How do you get to be a princess?  Your name is Jasmine, isn’t it?  My mama named me Jasmine after you!  Since I have a princess name, does that mean I can be a princess too?”  Unable to answer all of young Jasmine’s questions t once, Princess Jasmine just smiled, trying not to let the child see how much all the questions made her head spin.

            Soon the couple was surrounded not only by adoring children, but admiring adults who claimed to only be there to retrieve their children, but really wanted their own glimpse of the young man and woman who would one day rule over them.  Other passersby who were able to see Aladdin and Jasmine through the crowd gathered in the circle, curious to see what was going on.  It wasn’t long before seemingly all of Agrabah was surrounding Aladdin and Jasmine.  As the crowd grew larger and the empty space around the young lovers and the crowd grew smaller, Jasmine’s dizziness became intolerable.  She swayed in a feeble effort to keep her balance.  Her vision blurred and Agrabah became a swirling pattern of color before everything around her went black.

            “Jasmine!!!!” Aladdin called, shaking Jasmine’s shoulders.  She was unresponsive to his touch, but he felt her faint breath on his neck.  The stunned Agrabanians moved closer to the unconscious princess.  Young children sobbed with fear as parents and other adults simultaneously shouted their advice to Aladdin, who couldn’t understand a word out of the jumbled shouts of the people.

            “What’s all the commotion about?” a gruff voice bellowed above the crowd.  Aladdin looked up to see Rasoul pushing his way past the people.  He froze when he saw Jasmine, lying pale and motionless in the street.  He glared at Aladdin.  “What have you done to her, street rat?” he demanded.

           Aladdin fought to keep his annoyance from showing as he replied.  “Jasmine said she wasn’t feeling well this morning, and I guess being surrounded by a crowd of people in the heat was too much for her to handle and she fainted.”

            “Everyone move back and give the princess some air!” Rasoul barked to the crowd.  Turning back to Aladdin, he continued.  “How could you let the princess leave the palace if you knew she was ill?  I thought you cared about her.”

            Rasoul’s words stung Aladdin.  He had always been insecure, growing up on the streets with no one to turn to for guidance...no one there to love him.  He didn’t always feel sure of himself, but the one thing he never doubted was his love for Jasmine.  She filled a void he had felt in his heart since his mother died.  And to have someone merely suggest that he didn’t care about her hurt him more than all the times he had been called ‘street rat’ combined.  “Rasoul, I told her I didn’t think it was a good idea, but you know how Jasmine is.”  Aladdin’s voice sounded dry and flat; he knew that putting any emotion into his words would give Rasoul the satisfaction of hearing how hurt he felt.

            “Well, are you just going to stay there and leave her to dehydrate out in the sun?” Rasoul retorted, not paying any attention to what Aladdin said and ignoring the fact that there were other people there watching him humiliate the boy.

            Aladdin silently scolded himself for failing to think of that sooner.  He lifted Jasmine’s head and brought her into a sitting position.  Sliding his arms under hers, he lifter her up like a newborn child.  Carefully holding her over his shoulder, he noticed how much heavier her slender body seemed when she was unconscious.  Trying to ignore the disapproving glares of Rasoul and the stares of the citizens of Agrabah, Aladdin carried his princess back to the palace.

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Chapter 2

Uncertainty

            “Ala- Jasmine!” the Sultan cried when he saw his daughter’s limp body in Aladdin’s arms.  “My boy,” he asked Aladdin gently, “what happened?”  Aladdin opened his mouth to speak, but Rasoul interceded before he could utter a single word.

            “The street rat- er, Aladdin,” Rasoul began, remembering reluctantly how Jasmine and the Sultan insisted on his using Aladdin’s real name, “foolishly allowed Princess Jasmine to leave the palace, even though the Princess told him she wasn’t feeling well, and she fainted in the street.”  He sent Aladdin a smug grin.

            The concerned Sultan looked to Aladdin.  “Aladdin, since I did ask you,” he said kindly, frowning at Rasoul, “could you tell me what happened?”

            “Your Highness, Jasmine did say that she didn’t feel well, but she insisted it was nothing and suggested sneaking out to the marketplace.  I told her I didn’t think it was a good idea, but...”

            The Sultan managed a smile despite his worry.  “But my daughter wouldn’t hear it.”  Putting a hand on Aladdin’s free shoulder, he said gently, “Don’t worry, my good lad.  You know how Jasmine is.  Nothing you could have done would have stopped her.  Now, take her to her room and I’ll be along shortly with the Royal Physician.”

            Aladdin carried Jasmine up the stairs and down the hall to her quarters.  As he entered the room, Rajah growled, but stopped when he realized it was Aladdin.  Panic crossed the tiger’s face when he saw Jasmine.  He looked questioningly at Aladdin.

            “It’s OK Rajah,” Aladdin reassured him.  “Jasmine’s sick, but I’m sure she’ll be fine,” he said, unsure of how much of what he said he himself actually believed.  He set the Princess on her bed, allowing her head to rest on her pillow.  He sat beside her and placed a hand on her forehead, which burned with fever.  Aladdin lovingly brushed away the hair that stuck to her face.  He then took her hand, which was still clammy despite her fever.  Rubbing it gently, he whispered to her.  “Jasmine?  Jasmine, can you hear me?”  Jasmine didn’t open her eyes, but Aladdin thought he felt her hand twitch ever so slightly.  He grasped it tighter and gently kissed it.  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Sultan arrived with Amahl, the Royal Physician.

            “What happened, boy?” Amahl asked Aladdin, who sighed and recounted the events for the third time.  The more he explained it, the harder he scolded himself for letting any harm come to Jasmine. 

“Did she tell you any of her symptoms?” the Physician inquired.

“She umm...had a headache and wasn’t eating.  That’s all I know.  Oh yeah, and her forehead is burning, but her hands are freezing.”

Amahl nodded.  He felt Jasmine’s forehead and searched for a pulse in her wrist.  He put his ear over her lips so he could feel her breath on his cheek, then shook his head.  “Her breathing and her heart seem fine.  I have no reason to believe the Princess or anyone could have prevented this from happening.”

“Have you ever seen anything like this before, Doctor?” the nervous Sultan asked, taking his daughter’s other hand.

The Physician nodded.  “I’ve seen symptoms like this before in various levels of severity.  I don’t know what causes them to show up, but they seem to strike suddenly and forcefully.”

“Will she be alright?” Aladdin asked, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Amahl shook his head.  “I don’t know.  As I said, the severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. I can really give her is an herbal mix that will relieve the suffering, but only time will cure her.  Many people have recovered from this sort of illness, but others...” he trailed off.

A determined look appeared on Aladdin’s face.  “Well, not Jasmine!” he said firmly.  Grasping Jasmine’s hand tighter, he whispered, “Promise me, my Darling, that you won’t give up.  I love you.”

Jasmine’s hand twitched again, and this time her eyes opened a little.  Her whole body ached.  For once in her life, she really did feel completely helpless.  But when she saw her fiancé holding her hand, she managed a small smile.  “Aladdin...” she murmured softly, her voice frail and hoarse.

“It’s OK, Jasmine, I’m here,” Aladdin assured her.  He temporarily felt a sense of relief seeing her awake.  “Do you need anything?” he asked.

Jasmine shook her head slightly.  “I’m just exhausted, Aladdin.  I need to be alone and just rest.  It’s nothing personal, but-”

Aladdin pressed a finger to Jasmine’s lips, silencing her.  “Shh... I understand, my Princess,” he interrupted softly.  “You need to rest and get better.  Sweet dreams.”  He kissed her forehead gently and left the room, gesturing for the others in the room to follow.  They did so and gathered in the hall outside the door to Jasmine’s chamber.

“Doctor, will my daughter be alright?” the Sultan asked anxiously.  He wanted to hear the truth, knowing that of course the doctor wouldn’t have said it right away in front of Jasmine if it weren’t good.

Amahl shrugged.  “I honestly don’t know,” he admitted.  “As I told Aladdin, it’s very hard to tell.  Right now, she looks weaker than most people I’ve seen come down with these symptoms; but then again, the Princess has always been a strong young woman.  We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Aladdin ignored the Royal Physician’s uncertainty for now.  “She’ll be fine,” he told the Sultan, speaking with the determination he knew was in Jasmine’s heart, if not his own yet.  “Jasmine’s a fighter.  If she can beat Mozenrath, she can beat this.”  He turned back to Amahl.  “When will she be well again?”

The old doctor sighed.  “Well, if she pulls through-”

“When she pulls through,” Aladdin corrected, wishing that deep down he felt as confident as he sounded.

“Generally the symptoms last anywhere from two weeks to a month.  Full recovery can take two months, longer in some instances.”

Aladdin tried hard not to show his disappointment.  He knew that even if Jasmine did recover, their wedding would probably have to be postponed.  Yet, though the idea of that did upset him, right now the wedding was the least of his worries.  Nothing was more important than making sure Jasmine would be alright.  As long as he still had her, nothing else mattered.

“I’ll inform the people, Aladdin, and as soon as Jasmine is well, we’ll set the new date,” the Sultan declared, as if he had read Aladdin’s thoughts.

Aladdin just nodded.  Though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, deep down inside he was truly afraid for Jasmine.  He wanted so much to be strong for her, but something deep inside his mind wouldn’t let him.  He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had been through this before.  He feared the worst for Jasmine, no matter how hard he reminded himself of her strength.  In his mind, thoughts of losing her bombarded him.  Sure, she was strong and usually healthy.  She had the most determined spirit of anyone he’d ever met.  But Aladdin’s life had been too full of good-byes for him to ignore the possibility.  He’d lost his mother when he was only four, and his father...Aladdin didn’t think he ever met his father.  He certainly had no memory of him.  Aladdin’s world was devoid of all the love and happiness most young children had.  Any friends he’d had had either traveled away with caravans or been lost to illness.  Yes, he had Abu, but he longed for human companionship too.  Meeting Jasmine changed his life in more ways than Aladdin himself could know.  She saw beyond the “street rat” so many others in Agrabah hated.  When he was with her, he really did feel like a Prince, for she respected and listened to him, something no one had ever done before.  There was nothing Aladdin couldn’t tell Jasmine, and even when he couldn’t find the words to say something, she could read them in his eyes.  She knew him like no one else did.  Even when they had their disagreements, they always realized how silly the causes for their arguments were before either of them could change his or her feelings for the other.  Nothing Jasmine had ever done or could ever do could make him love her less, and he knew the feeling was mutual.  Jasmine was so much more to Aladdin than just his fiancée.  She was his closest friend...the one he trusted to always love and care for him...his shoulder to cry on...his Princess, not by her title, but by her love.  Her real kingdom wasn’t in Agrabah; it was in his heart.  Every time he gazed into her eyes, he felt himself fall more deeply in love with her, and he knew he’d never stop falling.  She’d never completely understand all she meant to him, how she made him feel whole in ways he never thought he would.  To Aladdin, Jasmine was the world.  And he couldn’t bear to let her be his next goodbye.

“When can I see her?” Aladdin asked.

“I don’t know, boy.  I don’t think that’s a good idea.  The Princess could very well be contagious.  You could get sick too,” the Physician replied grimly.

“I don’t care!” Aladdin snapped.  “The woman lying ill in that room means more to me than anything else in my life!” he cried.  “I don’t *care* what happens to me; I just have to watch over her.  I need to know that she’s alright.”  He shut his mouth, slightly embarrassed to have caused such a scene, but Aladdin felt no regret.

“Doctor,” the Sultan interceded kindly, “I’ve learned that it’s unwise to make decisions for my daughter, but I am certain that she would want to see him when she wakes up.  I consider Aladdin to be like a son to me, and if you allow it, I want Aladdin to see my daughter if Jasmine wants it that way.”  The old monarch smiled at Aladdin.

Amahl thought for a moment, still not convinced, but he couldn’t help but pity Aladdin.  “Well...I want to wait another day to see if she worsens, but if you feel you *must* see her, I suppose, if her condition doesn’t change, you may do so tomorrow.’

“Thank you,” Aladdin said.  “I’ll be back then,” he told the Sultan.  Turning back to Amahl, he added, “Take care of her.”  With that, he left the palace.

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Chapter 3

Aladdin’s Nightmare

            Aladdin took the most secretive, out-of-the-way route back to his hovel, not wanting to be mobbed with questions again.  Finally, he arrived at his home.  As he climbed the stairs, he could hear Genie talking to Carpet.

            “What do you mean ‘checkmate’?  I was supposed to win this time!  It says right here in the Agrabah Oracle!  ‘The stars see triumph in your future,’” he read, showing Carpet a piece of grey paper with some strange symbols printed on it.  Genie frowned and snapped his fingers.  The chessboard and the paper disappeared.  “Hmph,” the blue Genie pouted, crossing his arms across his chest.  “That’s the last time I believe their horoscopes,” he groaned to Abu, who was too busy squabbling with Iago to care.  None of Aladdin’s friends had seen him coming.  It was Abu who saw him first.

            “Awaddin!” the monkey cried, leaping over to Aladdin and throwing his arms around his friend’s neck.  “Hewo!”

            “Hi, Abu,” Aladdin said dryly, rubbing Abu’s head gently.  Sensing the lack of warmth in his friend’s voice, Abu gave Aladdin a puzzled look and let go of him.  He ran over to the still-sulking Genie and pulled on his arm, jumping up and down and pointing to Aladdin.

            “OK, OK, Monkey-Boy, what...?”  Genie stopped when he saw the very sad Aladdin.  “Oh, hi, Al!” he said cheerfully, hoping to brighten his friend’s spirits. 

            Aladdin forced a weak half-smile, but the sadness lingered in his voice.  “Hi Genie,” he said.

            “Aw, Al, why the long face?” Genie asked, stretching out his own visage.  “I would think that seeing Jas would put you in a better mood than this morning!”  Aladdin just hung his head and walked over to the window, taking a seat on the ledge.

            “Hello!  Earth to Aladdin!” squawked Iago.  “What’s your problem?”  Aladdin sighed and said nothing.  He just stared out at the palace, which today didn’t seem so impressive or beautiful.  It couldn’t be...not if Jasmine was suffering inside.

            Abu scampered back over to Aladdin and sat next to him.  Aladdin’s despondency was mirrored in Abu’s face.  The little monkey nuzzled against Aladdin’s leg.

            Aladdin smacked the ledge he was sitting on, startling his friends.  Abu and Iago ran and hid behind Carpet.  “It’s not fair!” Aladdin shouted.  “Why Jasmine?  What did she do to deserve this?”

            “Jasmine?  Al, what do you mean?  What happened?” Iago asked, sounding concerned for once.

            “Jasmine’s...really sick,” Aladdin said with a wavering voice.  “They don’t even know if she’s going to...”  His voice trailed off and he buried his face in his hands.  His eyes burned with tears, but he refused to cry.  He had to be strong...or at least look like he was.

            Suddenly, a soft blue arm encircled him.  “Al, I’m sorry,” Genie said.  “But you know Jas won’t give up.”  Aladdin said nothing.  He wanted to believe Genie, but that fear wouldn’t go away.  “Look on the bright side, Al,” Genie continued.  “She’ll be better soon and you’ll have more time to plan the wedding.”

            Aladdin swallowed hard and then looked at Genie.  “Bright side?  Genie, I don’t even know if there’s going to be a wedding!” he snapped.  “Maybe it’s easy for you to be calm and make jokes, but you weren’t there.  You didn’t see her collapse like that.  You didn’t hear the doubt in the doctor’s voice.”  Aladdin’s voice softened a little.  “Look, I’m sorry I yelled.  I know it’s not your fault, Genie, but-”

            “I’m sorry too, Al,” Genie apologized.  He put both his arms around Aladdin.  Abu and Carpet joined in the group hug, and even Iago perched on Aladdin’s shoulder and put a wing around his neck.

            “You tell anyone about this, Al, and you’ll regret it,” grumbled the parrot.  Aladdin had to smile.  He knew Iago cared, even if he’d never admit it. 

“Thanks guys,” Aladdin said, stifling a yawn.  “Ah...I’m exhausted.  It’s been a rough morning. I’m gonna rest a little.”

Genie nodded.  “We’ll get out of here for a while.  You relax.  You need to pull yourself together.”

“Thanks again.”  But Genie and the others didn’t hear Aladdin; they were already on their way out.  Aladdin lay down on the stone floor of the hovel and shut his eyes...

~*~

“What’s the matter, Mama?” a much younger Aladdin asked a sickly young woman who sat on the floor of their makeshift home on a rooftop.

The woman extended a thin, nearly skeletal hand and ran it through the little boy’s hair.  “Don’t you worry, my little Aladdin,” she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.  She looked fondly into her son’s eyes, but all he saw was the thin, pale face and distant look in her eyes.  “Everything will be fine,” she lied, forcing herself to hide the pain that stabbed at her whole body.  She was suffering enough; she couldn’t bear to tell her little boy the truth.

Aladdin smiled and through his arms around his frail mother.  If she said everything would be alright, then he knew it would be.  “Can I have a kiss goodnight, Mama?” he asked.

“Of course, dear,” his mother replied, kissing her young son’s forehead softly.  “Goodnight, Aladdin,” she whispered.

“’Night, Mama!” he answered.  “I love you.”

As he closed his eyes, he heard his mother whisper, “I love you too, my Aladdin.”

The next morning, Aladdin awoke early.  The sun had just risen and, looking out the window, Aladdin saw that the marketplace was empty.  He looked over at his sleeping mother and walked over to wake her up.

“Mama!” he called, shaking her shoulders.  She didn’t stir.  He tried again.  “Mama!”  Still no response.  “MAMA!” he cried.  Aladdin fell silent when he looked at his mother’s face.  She looked...different.  Her skin was too pale.  Her lips were too blue.  Suddenly, young Aladdin realized that his mother wasn’t going to wake up.  “Mama...NO!” he wailed.  He buried his face in his lifeless mother’s blanket and sobbed.  “Mama...Mama...”

~*~

“Al!  Snap out of it!” Genie said, shaking Aladdin.  “Wake up!”

Aladdin looked frantically around the hovel before remembering all that had happened.  He looked up at Genie, his face flushed with embarrassment.  “Thanks for waking me up,” he said.

Genie didn’t ask questions.  He had a good idea that there was definitely a connection between Jasmine’s illness and Aladdin’s calling for his mother, but he didn’t want to dwell on it.  If Aladdin wanted to talk, then he would.  But for now, he just comforted his friend.  “It’s OK, Al,” Genie said, giving him a hug.  He gestured to Abu, Iago, and Carpet.  “We’re all here for you if you need us.”

Aladdin didn’t say anything.  He just wanted to think.  That’s where I’ve seen it! he realized fearfully.  The loss of appetite, the aches, the sudden fever...he knew it was to familiar.  His mother...she had gone through the same thing...and, like Jasmine, she had promised Aladdin that she’d be alright.  But...

Aladdin gently pulled out of Genie’s embrace and shook his head, trying to force the memory of that awful morning out of his head.  For years it had lurked like a dark shadow in his mind, but he had always somehow managed to concentrate on his happier, though few, memories of his mother.  Now, however, he could recall all to vividly her lifeless body.  He remembered back to when she first began to feel sick, and suddenly he understood that strange feeling of déja-vu that gripped his heart when Jasmine collapsed.  He felt as if he had been torn in two.  His heart sank in his chest as he grappled with the knowledge before him.

Sensing that Aladdin might want more time alone, his friends again left to go to the marketplace.  As soon as he was by himself, Aladdin let his tears fall.  They fell for his mother...for the father he never knew...for Jasmine...and for himself.  Nothing he could do could ever make anyone understand the pain he felt.  Emotions he’d bottled up for years flooded out with his tears.  It was the first time he’d genuinely cried since the loss of his mother.  Fear, sorrow, and even anger filled his thoughts.  He remembered when Agrabah had been judged by the Ethereal.  He’d nearly lost Jasmine then.  The memory made his muffled sobs harder.  Then, he had been angry...to shocked to cry.  Now, that hopelessness haunted him again.  But this time, there was no one to bring Jasmine back if he lost her again.

~*~

“Princess, can you hear me?” Amahl asked Jasmine.  He was in her room, trying to determine her condition.

The Princess’s head nodded ever so slightly, but she winced at the pain the slight motion caused.

Amahl double checked Jasmine’s pulse and breathing rate.  They seemed fine, but her forehead still burned.  “And can you sit up?”

Jasmine tried to rise, but she just didn’t have the strength to support herself.  She let her head drop to her pillow again.

The Physician shook his head.  “I’ll be back in a moment, Princess,” he said, exiting the room.

Jasmine couldn’t remember a time she ever felt worse.  She forced herself to take her mind off the pain, but it wasn’t easy.  She let her thoughts go to Aladdin.  She knew he must be worried.  Don’t worry, my love, she thought.  I once promised you that I’d never leave you, and I meant it.  I’m not going to give up...not now.  She whispered a prayer in her weak voice.  “Allah grant me strength to go on...for my Aladdin.”  She then closed her eyes and an image of Aladdin’s face filled the darkness.  “Don’t worry, my darling.  I’ll never leave you...ever,” she whispered.

~*~

Aladdin wiped his eyes, hoping Genie and the gang wouldn’t be back just yet and find him a wreck like he was.  He looked out at the darkening sky and decided he should probably try and get more sleep.  He didn’t know if he’d be able to, but he shut his eyes and lay down.  As he drifted off, he could have sworn he heard a familiar voice whisper to him.  “Don’t worry, my darling.  I’ll never leave you...ever.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 4

Hope

            “Genie, why didn’t you wake me up earlier?” a frantic Aladdin asked the next morning.

            “Sorry, Al!  I didn’t know I was supposed to!” Genie replied.

            “But-” Aladdin stopped, realizing Genie was right.  “Still, how could I let myself sleep in like that?  Jasmine...” He stopped and sighed.  “I’m gonna go see her.”

            “Aren’t you going to eat anything?” Genie asked.

            “I’m not hungry.”

            “Don’t get too excited, Monkey!  I’ve got dibs on Al’s food!” Iago declared.  Abu shot the parrot a dirty look and climbed up onto Aladdin’s shoulder.

            “No, Abu,” Aladdin said, setting the monkey down.  “I’d love to bring you, but I think we should wait and see first.”

            Abu understood, but he still felt sad as he watched his best friend leave.

~*~

            Aladdin arrived at the palace and was relieved to see that Fazaal was posted at the gate, not Rasoul.  He proceeded to enter and, once inside, raced up the stairs and ran down the hall to Jasmine’s room.  He saw that the door was shut.  The Sultan was pacing outside the entry.

            “How is she?” Aladdin asked.

           The Sultan shrugged.  “The physician said she’s been drifting in and out of deliriousness.  When she’s thinking clearly, she seems to be alright, but when the fever affects her, it hits her hard.”  The Sultan paused and smiled at Aladdin.  “I’m glad you’re here, my boy.  She’s been asking for you.”

            Aladdin opened his mouth to say something, but just then, the door to Jasmine’s chamber opened and Amahl stepped out.

            “Aladdin!  What perfect timing.  Jasmine wants to see you.”

            Aladdin nodded and quickly hurried into the room.  If he hadn’t been outside already this morning, he would have thought it was night.  The lamps were out, save for one right beside Jasmine’s bed, and the curtains were drawn.  The room was silent and still for a moment, when suddenly a familiar voice called out.

            “Aladdin?”  Jasmine’s voice was frail and fragile, but to Aladdin, it was the most beautiful sound in the world.

            “Yes, my love.  It’s me.”  He took a seat beside her bed.  “How do you feel?”

            “Exhausted.  And I’m so cold,” Jasmine whispered.

            “Shh...” Aladdin hushed her.  “You’re alright.  I’m here for you.”  He softly kissed her forehead as he caressed her face gently.

            Jasmine grasped his hand and pressed it to her cheek, which Aladdin still thought felt warm, even though Jasmine said she was freezing.  “Aladdin,” she whispered.  “Why does this have to happen?  Why now?”

            “I don’t know, Jasmine,” Aladdin replied, wishing he knew.

            Jasmine frowned and was silent for a moment.  She suddenly released Aladdin’s hand and forced herself to roll over on her side.  “You shouldn’t be here,” she said.  “Please go.”

            Aladdin was hurt.  “What is it?” he asked, surprised by her sudden change.

            Jasmine looked back at him with tear-filled eyes.

            “What’s wrong, my Princess?” he asked.  “I thought you wanted me here.”       

            “I was foolish to ask you to come.  I shouldn’t have been so selfish...I can’t ask you to suffer for me.”  Jasmine’s voice began losing more strength as she spoke.  “Go...I don’t want you to be sick too.”

            Aladdin clasped Jasmine’s hand again and kissed it repeatedly.  “Jasmine, I don’t care what happens to me.  It doesn’t matter.  I’m not going to leave you.  Just promise-” Aladdin’s voice caught in his throat.  He took a deep breath and continued.  “Promise that you won’t leave me.”

            “Aladdin, how could I?  I love you.  I have you to live for.  I’m going to be fine, my love.  I’ll never leave you.  I’ll be fine.  I promise.”

            “And you, my Princess...you are my life...my everything.  I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

            “I can’t imagine where I’d be without you either,” replied Jasmine.  “I wasn’t thinking that day I ran away...putting myself before the people.  It was silly of me, and selfish.  But I can’t regret any of it.”

            “It brought us together,” Aladdin finished with a smile.  He looked into Jasmine’s dull eyes, and she tried to smile, but she just didn’t have the strength.  “Don’t worry, Jasmine,” Aladdin said, noticing her disappointment.  “You’re going to pull through this.  I won’t let you give up, do you understand?  You’ll be better than ever.  Then, Jasmine...then we’ll finally be married,” he said softly, brushing her hair out of her eyes and smiling at her.  “I can’t bear to spend another day or night alone.  I need you, Jasmine.”

            This time, Jasmine was able to smile.  “I love you,” she said weakly.  Her eyes met Aladdin’s and neither of them moved for a long moment. 

            “Is there anything you need?” Aladdin asked suddenly, breaking the chilling silence that hung in the room.

            “I just need to get some more sleep.”

            Aladdin nodded.  “Sweet dreams,” he whispered.  With that, he left the room.  He started walking down the hall, but something in his heart told him to stop.  If he couldn’t be beside Jasmine, he had to be nearby in case she needed anything...or if anything were to happen to her.  He turned back and stood at her door, listening for any sounds from within her chamber.  Aladdin was unaware of how much time passed as he stood there.  His attention was focused on the door opposite him.  Behind it, his desert flower, his Jasmine, was wilting, and all he could do was hope and pray that she would revive.  Suddenly, he heard a moan from behind the door.  He looked frantically down the hall in hopes of seeing Amahl or the Sultan, but he found neither.  Aladdin hesitated for a moment, but when he heard the sound of muffled sobs through the groaning, he hurried into the room.

            “Jasmine!  Are you alright?” he asked.

            Jasmine grimaced to try and stop her tears.  She was half-asleep, but she couldn’t fall fully into slumber.  Whenever she seemed to be dozing off, her body would begin trembling and aching.  She could barely think or move.  One look at her was all Aladdin needed to know she was worse off than before.  Her face was paler, her eyes were duller, and she seemed to be in a dream state.  After a few moments, she reentered reality and spoke.  “I...I’m fine.  Well...maybe not that fine,” she admitted.

            Aladdin pressed one of Jasmine’s icy hands to his cheek as he bit his lip to keep from crying himself.  He thought for a moment, then thought of an idea.  “I’ll be right back,” he whispered, quickly leaving the room.

            Jasmine just lay on her bed, alone again.  Why is he doing this? she wondered.  Why is he so good to me?  Why does he risk himself for me?  Jasmine recalled all of the far too many times when she had taken Aladdin’s love for granted...the times she had doubted it...and the times she had doubted the strength of her own love for him.  She had never wanted to hurt him, but she had seen too many people feign affection...too many people pretend to love someone...too many people fail to see the magic and beauty true love held.  She didn’t want to become like that.  She had once almost stopped believing herself.  How could she?  She had always been a romantic, but she had seen too many suitors toy with her affections to keep trusting love to find a way.  She always hoped, only to be disappointed.  Jasmine had still had her dreams, but she had nearly reached a point where she felt that they would never be more than that...just dreams.  She was holding out for nothing.  Aladdin...Aladdin had opened her eyes.  He made her believe again.  She trusted him.  But sometimes she felt that she couldn’t trust herself enough to love him.  Her fantasies had been shattered, and not even Aladdin knew how insecure that made her feel.  She was a Princess after all; she was supposed to be dignified and strong.  But when she would encounter former suitors at royal functions, or hear rulers discussing the economic benefits of an arranged marriage between their children, her doubts in herself would return.  She couldn’t help but wonder...were her feelings true?  Were they real?  And...were Aladdin’s?  Even though she trusted him, she felt she needed him to prove that his love was true, and she felt that the only way to test the strength of her own feelings was to deny them.  It sounded silly, but she felt she needed to feel the guilt to know that what she felt wasn’t just something she imagined.  She remembered Prince Uncouthma...leading on another man to see if hers could handle the jealousy...to prove to herself that there really was no other man who made her feel the way Aladdin did.  She remembered all the silly fights she had started with Aladdin, and her heart filled with regret.  Her stomach began tying in knots as guilt and remorse consumed her.  She felt that she had been so selfish...so heartless.  She had trapped herself.  The laws hadn’t; her bitterness was her own prison.  Though deep in her heart she knew that there was more to her than what she dwelled on now, Jasmine didn’t care.  She could only curse the girl she was those few years ago.  Yet for all the times she had hurt him...all the times she had neglected him...Aladdin never left her.  Over the past three years, he had proven his love fore her time and time again in both word and deed, not because he passed her “tests,” but because, no matter what she did, he still supported her, and forgave her.  He forgot the incidents that now nagged at Jasmine’s conscience.  He moved on.  Through the time they’d been together, Jasmine discovered what she really knew all along.  The love between Aladdin and herself was the most pure, the most real, and the most beautiful she could ever hope for.  The trust and devotion they shared could never be broken.  Aladdin would never really know all he did for Jasmine.  He was her rock, her comfort.  He was the one who helped her break down the walls that separated her heart from him.  He freed her from her solitude, and from herself.  Reflecting on this, tears flowed from Jasmine’s eyes.  How can he still love me? she wondered.  After all I’ve done...after all I’ve failed to give him?  He deserves someone who doesn’t question his love.  Someone who gives her heart freely and openly, not guarding it from pain.  Jasmine wept and wept into her pillow.  She felt so helpless and so unworthy of such a magical love as Aladdin’s.  This was how Aladdin found her when he returned to the room.

            “Jasmine, what’s wrong?” he asked gently.

            Jasmine heard the tenderness in his voice and couldn’t stop her tears from flowing harder.  “Don’t worry about me,” she said.  “I just feel so awful!”

            Aladdin embraced his beloved and let her cry into his chest.  “Shh...” he whispered.  “It’s OK, Jasmine...you’ll be alright,” he said lovingly.

            Jasmine pulled out of his arms.  That’s not what I mean, she wanted to say.  But all she asked was “Where were you?”

             Aladdin picked up a small cup from Jasmine’s vanity.  “Drink this,” he urged.  “It’s some herbal tea I fixed for you.  Well, with the help of the royal cook, of course.  But anyway, it’s supposed to settle your stomach.”  He held the cup to Jasmine’s lips, and she sipped.

            “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

            “What for?”

            “For everything.  For being such a burden to you, not only now, but before this.  For ruining our wedding...”

            “Jasmine, don’t be silly!” Aladdin interrupted.  “I’m disappointed about the wedding, but there’s nothing we can do about that.  Do you really think I’d be mad at you for this?  I’d rather wait until you’re well so the day can be magical.”  He handed Jasmine the cup again and continued as she drank.  “And don’t let yourself think for an instant that you’re a burden to me.  I love you, Jasmine, and I’m here for you no matter what.  Just as any good husband cares for his wife.”

            “But Aladdin-” Jasmine began.

            Aladdin silenced her before she could finish her sentence.  “I know what you’re going to say, Jasmine, and don’t.  I know that we’re not married yet.  I know that legally and officially you may not be my wife yet.  But I love you.  You’re more to me than a girlfriend or fiancée.  I know I’m not great with words, but I do know that those aren’t words strong enough to begin to describe how I love you.  And I know I don’t know much about marriage, but I do know how to love you.  That’s what matters more to me than anything in the world.  Don’t you see?  We’re already one, Jasmine.  No words or ceremonies have to tell that to the world.”  Aladdin pulled the empty teacup from Jasmine’s lips and kissed her softly.

            Jasmine was silent, but she felt a new surge of life within her.  A new ray of hope.  A glimmer of strength.  Something inside her heart made her feel as if she could suddenly leap out of bed and dance.  And that was love.  Moments ago, she had wanted to give up.  She had wanted Aladdin to find someone better.  But now, he called her his wife.  In that moment, Jasmine finally felt able to forgive herself for all she had done.  She suddenly understood.  A smile found its way to her face.  When Aladdin faced her again, hope sprang within him as well.  In her smile, he saw the life.  He saw the magic.  Relief flooded his thoughts, for he knew, though it wouldn’t be easy, that Jasmine was going to get through this.  It was just a matter now, not of ‘if,’ but of ‘when.’

            Aladdin stayed with Jasmine until he could see the sky darkening through a crack in the heavy curtains.  By now, Jasmine was beginning to fall asleep.  “Sleep well, Princess,” he whispered, leaving the room.

Over the course of the next few days, Aladdin continued to visit Jasmine.  Slowly, gradually, he began to notice changes in her.  Energy returned to her, and there was a little color in her face.  Little by little, he saw strength and determination come back to her eyes.  Though the physician didn’t want to change his uncertain outlook yet, Aladdin knew the truth in his heart.  Jasmine was going to be all right.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 5

The Healing Powers of Love

“I do not dare despond, for thou art all too dear unto my heart.

‘Tis only hope so fond, the blisses of waiting

That soothe while creating the pain they impart.”

                                                -“Non posso disperar,” by S. DeLuca

                                                English words by Dr. Theodore Baker

           Before Aladdin or Jasmine knew it, three weeks had passed.  The time seemed to fly because, no matter how slowly, Jasmine was regaining her strength, and to Aladdin, time spent with her was never long enough.  He began to notice that glow in her eyes shining a little brighter each day.  Her weak, raspy voice became rich and sonorous once more.  Both Aladdin and Jasmine felt filled with hope and anticipation.

            One day the next week, however, Aladdin awoke and couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of disappointment.  He couldn’t place the feeling right away, but then it hit him.  This was supposed to be The Day.  The day when he and Jasmine would begin their new life together.  He would finally be part of a family.  It was supposed to be the day that their dreams came true.  This morning was supposed to be the last time they were apart.  But instead, Jasmine was ill and Aladdin was restless.  Still, he thanked Allah that his most precious treasure was alive and that soon all this would be just a memory.  At least I still have her, he thought.  That’s all that matters.  We’ve waited this long already.  What’s a little longer?  Not bothering to wake his friends, Aladdin left for the palace.

            At the gate, Rasoul was back on duty.  But to Aladdin’s surprise, the Captain let him in without any comments.  Aladdin proceeded up the stairs to Jasmine’s room, but found it empty. 

            Jasmine...Aladdin froze outside the door.  He knew she was all right...but where was she?  Had she gotten worse?  Had she been kidnapped?  It wasn’t possible that she was...  Aladdin couldn’t finish the thought.  He knew it was a fear ungrounded, but he couldn’t help but worry.  Where could she be?  Maybe she was well, running through the palace.  Maybe...

            “Aladdin!” a familiar voice behind him called, but, to his disappointment, it wasn’t Jasmine’s.  Still, he was happy to turn and see the Sultan approaching the empty chamber.  “I thought you may have come here,” he said with a cheerful smile.

            Aladdin sighed with relief seeing the old monarch’s happiness.  Still, he had to ask.  “Good morning, Sultan.  Where’s Jasmine?”

            The Sultan chuckled.  “Jasmine?  Oh, my boy, you should have seen her last night after you left.  She was insisting that she was sick and tired of being shut in the dark and that she needed some fresh air.  Well, Amahl and I were hesitant to move her at first, but we thought it might be a good idea.  It seemed reasonable to let her rest somewhere else.  At least then the illness wouldn’t linger in her room.  So this morning we moved her into one of the guestrooms up in the tower, overlooking the city.  It’s brighter and the window is bigger, so we thought it was a good place for her.”

            Aladdin’s grin spread across his whole face, and when he heard how stubborn Jasmine was being, he couldn’t help but laugh a little.  “Sounds like she’s herself again!” he remarked.  He couldn’t have asked for better news.

            “Well, it would appear so,” said the Sultan.  “I’m assuming you want to see her?”

            Aladdin nodded, too elated to speak.  He followed the Sultan down the halls of the wing and up yet another flight of stairs.  They stopped outside a large, bright chamber.  The door was open, and Aladdin saw sunlight streaming in through the large window.  The curtains had been thrust open, increasing the brightness.  Indeed, this room was the exact opposite of the somber, desolate atmosphere that had been created in Jasmine’s room.  Then, Aladdin looked into the center of the room and saw the Princess herself, her face illuminated with the morning sunlight, sitting up in her bed.  Her hair was mussed and hung limply in her face, she looked exhausted, and her fine clothes were wrinkled, but Aladdin thought she looked beautiful.  It was clear that she was still not completely well, but her face shone with the joy and life Aladdin had so missed in her.

            “Jasmine...” he whispered.  Seeing her happiness, an expression of equal joy appeared on his own face.  Jasmine opened her arms, and Aladdin ran to her, embracing her as if he was never going to let her go.

            “Thank you, Aladdin,” was all she whispered as she sat there with her arms around him.

            “Ahem!” called a deep voice.  Aladdin and Jasmine looked to see Amahl standing over them, but the look on his face was far from annoyed.  Watching the young lovers made him too smile.  “Well, well.  I must say, Princess, in the course of the last few weeks, you have gone from being one of my most doubtful cases to the most promising.  I don’t think you’re contagious anymore, and I think you’ll be just fine in a matter of days.”

            “Thank you for everything, Doctor,” she replied.

            Amahl nodded.  “All in my duty, Princess.  I’ll be back later.”  With that, he disappeared down the hallway.

            Jasmine brought a hand to her forehead and winced a little.  “Ow,” she moaned.  But the pain was noticeably less than she had been used to, and she was able to manage a sheepish grin as she cringed.

            Aladdin brushed a hair out of Jasmine’s eyes.  “Here, my Princess, lie down.  It’s OK... the worst is almost over.”

            Jasmine reclined with a smile.  She kept her eyes fixed on Aladdin’s as he took a seat next to her.  Seeing him smiling down at her...feeling his touch against her hand.... it all gave Jasmine so much renewed energy.  Her spirit was soaring, even if her body was still confined to the bed.  She knew it wouldn’t be for much longer.

            That whole morning, and through the afternoon, Aladdin stayed beside Jasmine.  They had the day to themselves with few interruptions, a rare event for them.  Even the interferences were brief.  Amahl would come in to give Jasmine some medicine, and a servant brought the two of them lunch, but that was it.  At first, though, an unusual sense of distance and awkwardness was evident as they engaged in idle conversation.  Both Aladdin and Jasmine were aware of it, and neither liked it.  It seemed odd that they would suddenly not know what to say to each other after all they had been through together.  Maybe it was the excitement or the situation, but still, neither of them liked the awkward

silence that occurred periodically in their conversation.

            As the hours passed, however, that warm familiarity between them returned.  By late morning, they found themselves conversing once more like two people destined to be together, not like strangers.

            Later on in the afternoon, however, both Aladdin and Jasmine fell quiet again.  But this time, the silence wasn’t awkward or unnatural.  Sitting there, both Aladdin and Jasmine’s eyes filled with a look that neither of them had seen before.  Neither could quite decipher its meaning, but they knew it must have something to do with what the day should have been.  They saw love...joy...even longing.  But they just smiled.  Aladdin rose and walked over to a divan against the windowsill, where he sat down once more.  He looked out at the city, but his eyes kept going back to Jasmine.  He smiled at her.

            Finally, Jasmine forced herself to stand, something she hadn’t done without help since she’d fallen ill.  She slowly walked to the divan where Aladdin sat.  As she went to sit down, she lost her balance, since her legs had been weakened from spending so much time in bed.  Aladdin quickly leaned forward and caught her.  Their eyes met and stayed that way as Aladdin, in a trance-like state, pulled Jasmine to her feet and let her sit beside him.  Aladdin was stunned.  Sure, she had fallen, but she was walking again.

            Jasmine noticed that he seemed shocked and laughed a little.  “Didn’t I tell you I was feeling better?  I think Father and the doctor are overestimating how much time is left before I’m well again.  I think I’ll go crazy if I have to lie down for one more day!”  She smiled and leaned her head against Aladdin’s shoulder as his arms enveloped her.  “What do you think it will be like?” she asked as she nestled against Aladdin’s chest.

            “What?” Aladdin asked, caught off guard.

            “The wedding,” she replied, pronouncing the words as if they were part of a prayer...sacred.

            Aladdin shrugged and thought for a moment.  He didn’t think it was a good time to tell Jasmine how scared he was.  In fact, he didn’t know if he’d ever had the heart to tell her.  The last thing he wanted was for her to think that he didn’t want to marry her.  Allah knew that nothing was further from the truth.  But still...he didn’t know anything about being a husband, or raising a family, or ruling a kingdom.  He did know that he loved Jasmine, but for the first time in his life, their love didn’t seem like enough of a reassurance.  He was afraid of letting her down.

            “Aladdin?” Jasmine asked.  “Are you all right?”

            “Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied quickly.  “I was just thinking...”

            “Nervous?” she asked with a giggle.

           “Uh...no!  Of course not!” Aladdin hated lying to Jasmine, especially after all the trouble it had gotten him into before, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth.  He didn’t want to hurt her.  But after reflecting for a moment, he just didn’t feel right keeping secrets from her.  He took a deep breath before beginning.  “Well...maybe a little, but, Jasmine, I love you.  Isn’t this the next step for us?”  The quick answer didn’t begin to express all that went through Aladdin’s mind, but at least it wasn’t a lie.  He did feel that they had been engaged for so long that it did feel like the right time for them to marry, but why, he wondered, did he still feel so hesitant? 

Jasmine just nodded, but her silence bothered Aladdin.  Did I say something wrong? he thought.  “Well, you’re not nervous are you?” he asked casually, secretly hoping that she was as scared as he was.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she answered.  “I feel a little jittery every now and then, but you’re right.  The time has come for us, just like we knew it would.”  Her thoughts were incredibly similar to Aladdin’s, but she couldn’t bear to tell him either.  How could she?  But she knew she was a lot more worried than she allowed herself to show.  She’d never had much interaction with married couples, and her heart was filled with unanswered questions about the life that lay ahead of her, but she had no one to go to for answers.  This was one situation where she couldn’t go to Aladdin or her father...she needed a female confidante.  The only other woman she felt close enough to trust to keep her secrets was Sadira, but even she couldn’t help Jasmine with this.  It was then when Jasmine longed to have a mother, or anyone who could advise her on how to be a good wife, and eventually bear children.  But at the same time, Jasmine had finally trusted herself enough to place full confidence in her love for Aladdin.  The love that she felt with everything in her mind and heart.  And she was able to discover the depths of her love because she finally understood that of Aladdin’s.  Though she knew they would face many situations in their lives that neither of them would know just how to handle, and she wasn’t as unafraid of those as Aladdin thought, she trusted that they would find the answers together, for she finally realized that their hearts held all they needed for that.  As Aladdin held her close, Jasmine temporarily felt her fears melt away.  A peaceful smile spread across her face.

            Aladdin nodded.  “I still can’t believe it.  We’re so close, Jasmine.”  He held her tighter and looked up at the ceiling, thanking Allah for giving him the friend, the lover, the mentor...the soulmate he thought he would never have...in Jasmine.  He turned his eyes back to her smile and suddenly felt calm.  At that moment, though his worries were far from gone, he felt some sort of certainty, for he knew he had his destiny wrapped in his embrace.  His future...their future...shone for him in Jasmine, and this comforted him more than anything else could.

“Jasmine?”

“What?”

“Well, I couldn’t help but thinking that today...”

“...Should have been The Day,” she interrupted.  “I’m so sorry,” she added, her voice suddenly weak again.

“Aw, don’t be sorry, Jasmine,” Aladdin said, stroking her hair.  “I didn’t mean it like that.  I was just thinking that it was...almost a good thing that today wasn’t The Day.  Here we are, admitting all these fears on the day they should have ended.  Do you understand what I mean?”

“Almost,” Jasmine replied.  “But I don’t think there will ever be a day when we don’t have any doubts or worries about our lives.  We can’t know everything that will happen, but we have to accept that.  Anyway, I do think you’re right, though.  I’m glad I got to talk to you...to spend some time with you before the wedding.  At least some good came out of this.”

“Yeah.”  Aladdin remembered how he had gotten annoyed when Genie had pointed out the time they would have before the wedding.  But now, though he hated to think that Jasmine had ever been so ill, he did feel grateful that she was all right now, and that they did have this extra time before the wedding.  He wanted it to come, but, wedding or no wedding, time alone with Jasmine was precious to him.  He whispered her name softly.

“What is it?”

“Have I ever told you that I love you?”

“Aladdin...” Jasmine giggled.

“Because I do.  I knew the first time I saw you that you were special.  Don’t ask me to explain it, because I can’t, but I knew.  I just had this feeling that there was some sort of...connection...between us.  That something...magical...was about to happen in my life because of you.  And I was right.”

Jasmine smiled.  “I knew when we were climbing the rooftop get to your home and I tripped.  I was scared at first,” she admitted with a shy smile.  “Do you remember?  You caught me and wouldn’t let me go.  Not that I would either!” she added with a laugh.  “But I remember standing there, shocked, just staring at you.  I suddenly realized that something very real and very strong was starting.  I can’t explain it either, but whatever it was that came over me, even though it wouldn’t make sense to anyone, seemed perfectly right to me...and I just knew.”

Aladdin smiled.  He remembered perfectly.  He too had felt something at that time.  He already knew that she was more that just a pretty girl.  He’d seen lots of pretty girls before.  None of them ever made him feel what Jasmine did.  He knew from the beginning that there was something deeper with her, even though they hadn’t spoken a word.  But at that instant, he realized that Jasmine felt it too.  They had hardly said anything to each other...they didn’t even know each other’s name yet.  They just realized that what was happening to them was stronger than anything either of them had ever experienced before, and possibly than anything they ever would again.  And they were continuing to realize how powerful true love really was.

Aladdin looked out the window behind him and saw the sun setting in the sky.  It was beautiful.  From the palace tower where he and Jasmine sat, he saw Agrabah, radiant as it was the night he and Jasmine met.  “Hey, Jasmine, look!” he said.  She lifted her head from against his chest and turned to face out the window.  A gasp caught in her throat as she marveled at the beauty.  The sky was streaked with red, orange, purple, and gold, and the sun shone with an intense light as it began its descent.  It was so familiar...

“Why, it’s just like-” Jasmine didn’t finish her sentence.  As she turned from the window to Aladdin, his eyes silenced her.  He was looking at her as if he had never seen her before...as if he couldn’t see anything else but her.  She looked back at him, slightly confused, but then he shook his head and broke out of his daze.  Maybe I imagined it, she thought.

“Jasmine?” he asked.  “Do you remember anything else that happened that day?  Or anything that didn’t happen?”  He had a mischievous grin on his face.

Jasmine pressed a finger to his lips and pretended to look as if she was scolding him.  “Aladdin, you know I’m sick,” she half-teased.

Aladdin slowly let his face move towards Jasmine’s.  “The doctor said you probably weren’t contagious anymore,” he replied flirtatiously.

Jasmine’s eyes slowly closed as Aladdin’s face moved closer and closer to her own.  “Well, I guess you’re right,” she conceded with a smile.  Before she could say anything more, their lips met.  Aladdin was still holding her close in a gentle embrace, and she threw her arms around his neck.  In the glow of the setting sun, Aladdin and Jasmine shared a long kiss.  It was both tender and passionate; playful and powerful.  It was as if they were reliving the evening in Aladdin’s hovel when they met...only this time, everything went the way it was supposed to.  As they kissed, the world around them disappeared.  Nothing else was real to them except the kiss and the safety they found in each other’s arms.  All the pain and unhappiness that had plagued them over the past few weeks vanished.  Jasmine slid over a little so she was sitting closer to Aladdin, and he held her more tightly.  After a long while, Aladdin and Jasmine slowly parted their lips. Though the kiss had ended, that wonderful feeling of nothing but their love being real remained.  The dreamy look in Aladdin’s eyes and the warm smile on Jasmine’s face said all the words that raced through their minds but refused to be said, lest the moment be spoiled.

Suddenly, that look returned to Aladdin’s eyes.  His eyes turned to Jasmine’s and stayed there.  Again, it was as if he was seeing her for the first time.  As if he had never kissed her before.  Again, she was confused.  But soon, she was looking at him the same way.  Again, déja-vu came over them both.  The way they were seeing each other now...it was just like after their first kiss.  Almost...there was something different.  It wasn’t a very obvious difference, but a difference nonetheless.  The joy, the affection...it was stronger than before.  Deeper, somehow.  Neither of them spoke.  Neither of them moved.  They were lost in each other’s eyes, when suddenly Jasmine leaned forward and quickly kissed Aladdin.  It wasn’t passionate like before, but quick and playful.

“What was that all about?” Aladdin teased afterwards.

“That?”  Jasmine replied coyly.  “I just thought I should let the most important person in my life know that I love him.”

“Really?” Aladdin asked, playing along.  “Who might he be?”

“Oh, just...someone,” Jasmine continued, still playing the game.  “Someone I love and trust with all my heart.”

“Anyone I know?” he asked, taking her hands.

“Oh Aladdin.” Jasmine laughed.

Aladdin laughed too as he turned to look out the window again.  The last rays of sunlight had vanished beneath the horizon and the stars were slowly beginning to dot the sky.  Aladdin stood up quickly.  “I guess I should go now,” he said, letting go of Jasmine’s hands.

She sighed.  “I wish you could stay a little longer.”

“I do too,” he said.  “But I have to go.  It’s getting late.”

“Just a little?” Jasmine pleaded.  “Please?”

“Jasmine, I don’t think it’s a good idea.  If I hadn’t been here all day...if this were a date...maybe it would be different.  But that’s not the case.  We’re in here.  What would your father think?  Or Rasoul?”

“Father knows us better than that, Aladdin.  Even Rasoul does.  They know that nothing would happen.  They know that what we have is stronger than that.”

“I know, Jasmine, but I don’t want to take the chance of anyone saying anything untrue about you.  I won’t let them hurt you.”

“Aladdin-”

“Jasmine, I know that I nothing would happen.  I know that you know that too.  But not everyone does.  And Rasoul...well, even though he knows it too, he hates me, Jasmine.  He would do almost anything to take me away from you, and you can’t deny that.  He can say what he wants about me, but I don’t want to take the chance that he might slander you to ruin me.  He might not, but what if he did?  You know what would happen if he were to make something up and enough people believed him...”

“Aladdin, you don’t even know that he’ll do anything!”

“He’s not stupid, Jasmine,” Aladdin admitted.  “Everyone in Agrabah knows what this day...what this night...should have been.”

“But Aladdin, I’m not asking for all night!  I know someone would be bound to get ideas then.  I’m only asking for a few more minutes.  Please?”

Aladdin sighed and sat down beside Jasmine again.  She rested her hands on his shoulders before she leaned against him. He gently put his arms around her. 

“I love you, Jasmine,” he whispered softly in her ear.

Jasmine slowly closed her eyes, unaware of how tired she was.  “Mmm...” she sighed.  As she sat there in the embrace of her beloved Aladdin, her mind began to wander, filling with memories of all they had shared and dreams of all she knew they would.  A serene smile spread across her face as she drifted off to sleep in Aladdin’s protective arms.

At first, Aladdin didn’t even notice that Jasmine had fallen asleep.  He just sat there holding her, loving stroking her long black hair.  He stayed there for a while until he noticed that the night had fully settled in.  The absence of servants’ footsteps in the hall also indicated that it was late.

“Jasmine,” he whispered, “I have to go now.”  She didn’t answer.  He tried to loosen her embrace, but she wouldn’t move.  He tilted her chin up towards him to find that she was lost in a deep slumber.  He shook her shoulders gently, but she still did not respond.  It was then that Aladdin realized he didn’t have the heart to wake her.  She had been so sick; she needed her rest.  Besides, she looked so beautiful and peaceful, completely still except for the rising and falling of her chest as she breathed softly.  She was completely silent.  Her face was so tranquil.  Aladdin kept his arms around her, knowing he could never let any harm come to her.  After a while, his eyes began to close, but he fought to keep them open.  Though having Jasmine asleep in his arms filled him with a calm he hadn’t felt in days, the truth of the matter was that Jasmine’s virtue would be at stake if anyone were to walk in.  He could be in trouble, too, but it was Jasmine, not himself, he was concerned for.  Aladdin promised himself that he wouldn’t fall asleep.  He wouldn’t give anyone reason to believe that anything was happening that could jeopardize their marriage.  Jasmine was merely exhausted, and he would never dream of doing anything that could get her in any sort of trouble.  He loved her too much; he would stay awake all night to defend her if he had to.  Looking down at her, Aladdin could scarcely believe that the beautiful, amazing woman with her head against his chest as she slept in his arms would very soon be his wife.  He never envisioned himself in any sort of serious relationship, let alone an engagement, and never did he dream that he would marry the Princess of Agrabah herself.  Aladdin still didn’t know why Jasmine, who could have any man she wanted for her husband, and who deserved someone who could give her everything, loved him, a poor boy with nothing to offer but his love for her.  But, by Allah, he was glad she did.  Sure, he remembered all she had told him about the princes who had hoped to court her.  He remembered how heartless she said they had been.  Still, he couldn’t believe that there was not one wealthy, yet kind man who had sought Princess Jasmine in marriage.  Someone more deserving of her love.  But, though he may never understand why, Princess Jasmine of Agrabah, for whose hand in marriage nearly every prince and sultan in the Seven Deserts had traveled from afar and risked their life, loved him.  She loved him enough to ease the pain in his heart that was caused by the absence of a mother’s love or a father’s love in his life.  Though he would always wish he could have known his parents better, Jasmine gave him the new beginning he needed.  He knew the day was near when he and Jasmine would become one heart...one body...one soul.  One day, they would have children of their own, and Aladdin, and Jasmine too, would feel the strength of the love between parent and child, something neither of them fully knew.  What lay ahead for them was truly a world completely unlike that which he knew.  Aladdin was afraid to enter it, but at the same time, he wasn’t about to change his mind for the world.

            He sighed contentedly.  As he gazed at Jasmine again, brushing loose hair out of her face, he realized how easy it was to stay awake for her.  In fact, he doubted that there was anything he couldn’t do for her...anything he wouldn’t do for her.  In his mind, the night was better spent this way than it would be had he gone to sleep himself.  His arms were feeling stiff from holding her, but he didn’t care.  His happy thoughts lessened his aches.  As he smiled at Jasmine, he felt them lift.  Just thinking of the level of pain he had felt before, and the type of agony Jasmine had gone through over the past few weeks, made any discomfort he felt seem minor.  As the hours passed and Aladdin became more and more tired, one glance at Jasmine was all he needed to know that he could last the night.  For Jasmine, he could.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 6

Renewal

            Finally, a ray of sunlight peeked over the horizon and Agrabah welcomed the dawn.  Sunlight streamed in through the window, creating a soft glow around Aladdin and Jasmine.  Aladdin was exhausted, yet so happy.  He loved the feeling of Jasmine being in his arms as the new day began.  After roughly two hours, she stirred.  Her eyes slowly opened, and Jasmine found herself face to face with her beloved Aladdin.  She gasped in surprise, but once she remembered why she was there, she smiled.  She felt like another person at that moment.  She was always so strong and independent, but there was something safe and wonderful about Aladdin’s embrace that made her want only to be protected.  She didn’t ever want to leave those arms.  After a moment, a single word escaped her lips...Aladdin’s name.             

            Aladdin had heard her call him countless times over the past few years, but at the moment, his own name had never sounded so wonderful.  Hearing it, Aladdin drew Jasmine close and buried his face in her hair.  As he held her, a few tears began to flow from his eyes.  Tears not of sadness, but joy and relief.  Jasmine was all right.  She was alive.  He couldn’t have wished for anything better. 

            At first, Jasmine was a little startled, having never seen Aladdin sincerely cry before, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him against her.  “It’s all right, Aladdin.  I’m here,” she whispered.

            After a moment, Aladdin regained his composure and looked once again at Jasmine.  She smiled but said nothing.  Her eyes were filled with understanding and once again, Aladdin felt himself falling deeper in love with her.  “I’m sorry, Jasmine,” he said, wiping the last few tears from his eyes.  “It’s just like you said.  You’re here.  And I can’t believe it, Jasmine.  You’re here.  You’re OK.  And you’re mine.”

            “Forever yours, Aladdin,” Jasmine said sweetly just before Aladdin kissed her.

            Suddenly, the door to the room swung open.  Aladdin’s eyes bolted open and he quickly pulled away from Jasmine.  Startled and hurt, she looked at Aladdin, a questioning expression in her eyes.  The fear in his face told her that something was wrong.  She turned to see Amahl, her father, and, just their luck, Rasoul, standing in the doorway.

            “What are you doing here, street rat?” Rasoul growled, narrowing his eyes at Aladdin.  “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

           Aladdin looked at the Sultan for help, but he and Amahl only seemed confused.  He looked to Jasmine, who nodded.

            “Rasoul...Sultan...” Aladdin began.  “I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not what it seems.  Not like that at all.”

            “Then what is it?” the unconvinced guard grumbled impatiently.

            “Well, I was staying with Jasmine yesterday, you know, taking care of her and stuff like that, and just being nearby in case anything happened to her, and uh...” He paused, suddenly at a loss for words.  One mistake, one misspoken word could give the completely wrong idea, and with Rasoul present, Aladdin couldn’t afford to make that mistake.

            “It was my fault, Father,” Jasmine interceded.  She sent Rasoul a dirty look for his harsh treatment towards Aladdin, but continued calmly, knowing that, though she hated to think so, Rasoul would more readily believe her word than Aladdin’s.  And she wasn’t about to let him get away with insulting her fiancé the way he was.  “At sunset last night, Aladdin got up to leave, but I convinced him to stay.  It was only supposed to be a little longer, but well...he sat down next to me, and I guess I fell asleep, because I don’t remember anything else.”

            “And?” Rasoul pressed, still not moving his glare from Aladdin.

            “That’s all there is,” Aladdin said.  “Sorry to spoil your story, Rasoul,” he thought to himself, but decided the words were better left unsaid.  Instead, he added, “I knew this would happen, so I just stayed awake all night yesterday just to prove that nothing happened.”

            Jasmine looked at Aladdin.  “You didn’t!” she said.  He just smiled and hugged her.

            Rasoul looked skeptically at the Sultan.  “I don’t know, Your Highness.  It still sounds questionable to me.”

            “Nonsense, Rasoul,” the Sultan refuted.  “I know my daughter, and I know Aladdin.  If they say that’s all that happened, well, then I trust them.”  He looked at Aladdin and Jasmine kindly, and they nodded.  “Well then, no problem then.  Jasmine, how are you feeling?”

            “Wonderful,” she said happily.  “I don’t think I’ll be cooped up in here more than another day.”

            Amahl chuckled.  “Well, I don’t know about that, Princess.”

            “Jasmine,” she corrected.

            “Yes...Jasmine...of course.  Well, as I was about to say, you do seem well enough that you should be up and about by the end of the week.”

            “A week?” Jasmine begged, looking to her father.  “But...but...but I feel better now!  And Aladdin and I want to reschedule the wedding!”  Aladdin nodded in agreement, inwardly laughing.  Yes, it sounded to him like Jasmine was herself again.

            “Soon enough, Dearest,” the Sultan replied firmly, but gently.  “We’ll see what happens and what Amahl thinks.  But first, you and Aladdin need to get your rest.”

            Aladdin sighed.  “I’ll be along in a minute.”

            The Sultan nodded and left the room.

            Amahl, put a hand to Jasmine’s forehead and, finding no fever, said to her, “Well, Prin- er, Jasmine, just a few days more and I’m sure you will be fine.  Let me know if you need me between now and then.  Maybe we can have you out of here sooner.”  With a smile, he too left the room.  Only Aladdin, Jasmine, and Rasoul remained.

            The guard gave an exasperated sigh.  “I’ll give you two a few minutes,” he agreed reluctantly.  He turned to go, but stopped in his tracks.  Turning back to the young lovers, he added, “And I’ll be standing right outside the door to make sure that this time you leave, street rat.”  Finally, he went.

            “Aladdin, they’re right,” Jasmine said.  “You should get your rest.  You shouldn’t have stayed up like that, my love.”

            “Aw, Jas, it’s no use.  I don’t know if I can fall asleep now without knowing that you’re safe beside me.”

            Jasmine nodded. “I understand completely.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep either.”  She smiled knowingly.  “But soon enough we’ll talk to Father and set a date and at last be one.  Never alone again.”

            “Goodbye, Jasmine,” Aladdin whispered, softly kissing her farewell.  Rasoul said nothing as Aladdin made his way down the hall, for which Aladdin was grateful.  He walked down to the wing opposite this one to his own quarters, too tired to go back to his hovel.  He had rarely used this room, not wanting anyone to think that he was marrying Jasmine because she and her father gave him charity.  He could, in fact, remember using the room only a few times since they had housed “Prince Ali Ababwa” some three years ago.  But now he was exhausted and had no qualms about flopping down onto the soft bed.  Try as he might, though, for all his exhaustion, Aladdin couldn’t find himself able to sleep.  His thoughts kept returning to Jasmine.  He felt so alone without her, for he now knew what it was like to end a day and not leave her side.  He knew what it was like to hold her close through the night and watch her sleeping.  Aladdin sighed.  He could just imagine Genie teasing him about it.  Aladdin suddenly felt that the wedding couldn’t come soon enough.  As nervous as he was, he was tired of waiting.  He was excited about it, not only because Jasmine was beautiful.  He’d seen pretty girls before.  Besides, what he shared with Jasmine was much stronger than any sort of physical attraction.  He had once thought he had loved Jasmine for her beauty, but he had been proven wrong.  He remembered when Mirage had taken advantage of that notion and turned his Princess into a serpent woman.  But rather than destroying the love he had for Jasmine, the experience only strengthened this love.  He discovered that he loved her regardless of her appearance, and he would do anything to be with her, even if it meant as a snake.  He learned why he really loved Jasmine...because she was Jasmine.  She was selfless and loving and spirited, although sometimes moody or stubborn, but she always got over that.  She was certainly more than beautiful.  She was able to love him, knowing perfectly well that he was a street rat of common blood, but believing him to be a Prince.  No one else had ever seen him like that....as more than a street rat.  Aladdin also didn’t care if Jasmine was rich, for he didn’t love her for being a Princess; he loved her for being his Princess.  It felt so good to realize how much he loved that woman, and to know that he was still falling for her.  He never wanted anyone to catch him.  He wanted to keep falling forever.

            Finally, after about an hour, Aladdin gave into his exhaustion.  He journeyed to his dreams, where there was only himself and Jasmine.

~*~

Meanwhile, Jasmine was also having difficulty falling asleep.  She had gotten back into the bed, but she didn’t even feel tired.  Besides, the soft bed didn’t seem nearly as comfortable as Aladdin’s embrace.  Maybe it was because the bed was not her own, but being held by Aladdin was such a familiar feeling that it soothed her.  Right now, she didn’t want to be anywhere but near him.  Any excuse to be with him, any reason why he should be beside her, any reason was fine with her.  And very soon, we’ll have all the time in the world...to live in the power of our love.  We’ll never be apart again, she thought.  She knew that she really should rest if she wanted to finally be well, she was too excited.  For the first time since she and Aladdin had met, she felt the total reality of where they were now.  Very soon, she would be Aladdin’s wife.  Aladdin’s wife... The words echoed in her mind over and over.  Now, at last, that title seemed less like something in a far-away dream and more like something real.  This was really happening.  She and Aladdin were going to be getting married.  In fact, the journey of married life should have begun for them already.  But yesterday, that thought still seemed like little more than that: a thought.  Now, it was not only a realized truth, but it was just out of reach.  Jasmine turned over in the bed again, growing more bored by the minute.  She really hated being confined like this.  She hated being sick.  She wanted to run around.  She wanted to talk with her father and reset the date for the wedding.  The wedding was all she could think about now.  The future was a mystery, full of situations unlike any she had ever faced.  But a new, uncertain adventure with Aladdin was, to her, worth infinitely more than a certain and secure life alone.

Jasmine never did fall asleep that afternoon.  She knew she had to be getting well, for she suddenly felt restless and frustrated.  She tossed, turned, and repositioned herself over and over, but she just didn’t feel tired or comfortable.  A sigh escaped her.  She was grateful to be out of her room, which had begun to feel more like a prison than a haven, but now she wished she had at least brought some of her things from her own room with her to this one.  She had absolutely nothing to do, and it aggravated her.  For some reason, she thought of her old faerie tale book tucked away amidst some of her clothes.  She wondered if anyone in the palace even knew she still had it.  Her father had once, when she was twelve, called her “too old” for that book.  After all, she had just reached an age where she had begun to receive a few suitors.  Jasmine smiled, remembering how she had resented that comment.  Her outburst of temper surely must have proven that twelve was indeed still an age where she could still be a child, at least in some ways.  She always knew that some girls did marry that young, but Jasmine knew that it was too soon for her.  Maybe she was too idealistic, but she couldn’t help it.  Part of her still at nineteen still clung to the ideals that her stories held.  She’d kept the book hidden for seven long years.  She had grown and changed much in those years, but even when she felt foolish for still waiting for her real-life faerie tale to begin, she never fully gave up hope.  Sure enough, Aladdin entered her life, and now she was certain that she was right to believe in her dreams. 

The hours passed, and Jasmine became more and more impatient.  She couldn’t stand the confinement any more.  She had too much energy now to just lie there and sleep all day.  Suddenly, the door to the room, which had been open a crack, creaked open.  Thrilled with the prospect of someone to distract her as the hours dragged on, Jasmine leapt up and ran to the door as Rajah sauntered in.  She hadn’t seen him much since she’d fallen ill, and she now threw her arms around his neck.  “Oh, Rajah.  I’ve missed you!”  The tiger licked his mistress’s face and rolled over on his back.  Smiling, Jasmine scratched his belly.  Her smile turned to laughter as, like a young kitten, Rajah began swatting at the stray hairs that hung in Jasmine’s eyes.  Being able to laugh and enjoy herself made the time seem to pass much faster.  In fact, she was so absorbed in playing with Rajah that she didn’t even notice that Aladdin and her father had entered the room until she almost knocked them over.  The Sultan smiled down at his young daughter as Aladdin suppressed a laugh.  Jasmine just looked up at them with a sheepish grin on her face.

“I think you’re feeling better now, Dearest,” the Sultan said.

“Do I really have to stay cooped up in here for the rest of the week?” his daughter pleaded.

The Sultan chuckled.  “Well, I don’t know, Dearest, but we thought that you might like a little company.”

Jasmine grinned and nodded emphatically as Aladdin gestured out into the hallway.  In came Genie, Abu, Iago, and Carpet.

“Aw, look at all of us here and together again!” Genie gushed.  “Group hug!” he called, taking everyone in his arms.  When he set them down, Abu scampered to Jasmine and grabbed onto her arm, not letting go.

“We’ve missed you, Jas,” Genie said.

“Who wouldn’t miss her?” Aladdin added, putting one hand on Jasmine’s shoulder and mussing Abu’s fur with the other.  The monkey released Jasmine’s arm and ran to give his master a hug.

“Jeez, Princess,” Iago complained.  “It’s a miracle this guy didn’t make you sick a long time ago with all this mushy stuff.”  He rolled his eyes at Aladdin and Jasmine.

“I missed you too, Iago,” Jasmine said with a laugh.

Carpet “laughed” and pulled on Iago’s tailfeathers.  The parrot whirled around, but couldn’t figure out what had happened, since Carpet was acting innocent.  Then Genie whipped out a chessboard and waved Carpet over to him.

“This time, Rugman, you are going down!” Genie said in a deep voice.

Iago and Abu began arguing with each other, and Rajah went over to join in the fray.

“Hmm....maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all,” Aladdin said to Jasmine.

She shook her head.  “I’ve missed them.  Craziness and all.”

“Are you sure, Dearest?” asked the Sultan.

Jasmine nodded.  “I need a little excitement.  I think I’ll go crazy myself if I have to stay shut up in a room one more day!”

Aladdin and the Sultan exchanged a smile.  They both knew that there was no point arguing with Jasmine anymore.

“Well, Dearest...let’s see what happens tomorrow morning.  I think you have been away from us long enough.”

Jasmine threw her arms around her father.  “Thank you!” she exclaimed, feeling ready to burst with excitement.

“Darn!” Genie cried suddenly as he realized he had just lost yet another chess match to Carpet.

Everyone laughed.  “Maybe next time, Genie,” said Aladdin.

The day was spent much like that: everyone was laughing, joking, and they were all enjoying themselves.  Genie zapped up some dinner for everyone and provided some entertainment.  First he performed a one-man-band act, then he became a chorus of singing, dancing Genies all wearing glitter jackets and hats, dancing in a kickline.  He did a stand-up comic routine and closed with a silly magic act.  By the time he was done, everyone else in the room was laughing so hard that his or her sides hurt.  The dreary emotions that had affected all of them, even Iago, who would never admit to worrying about anyone, lifted.  The atmosphere was light and cheerful, devoid of any sense of somberness or tenseness.  Iago and Abu stuffed their mouths full with food several times, and no one could help but laugh at the expressions on their faces when both the parrot and monkey discovered they might have overdone it.

At last, it was Genie who decided that they should best be going.  Carpet gave a salute and Genie, Abu, and Iago hopped on.  “Al, aren’t you coming with us?” Genie asked.

“You guys go ahead,” Aladdin replied.  “I’ll be along in a few minutes.”

“C’mon, let's get out of here while we still can!” Iago groaned.  “I can’t stand any more mushy stuff!”  With that, Carpet whisked out of the room.

“Why didn’t you go with them?” Jasmine asked Aladdin.

He winked at her and turned to the Sultan.  “Your Highness, I want to talk to you before I go.”  He sat down beside Jasmine and took her hand in his own.

“What is it, my good lad?”

“Well...your daughter and I have been engaged for a long time now, and since the wedding has already been postponed once, I was wondering...could we reset that date?  Tonight?  I don’t know when we’ll have the chance to talk alone like this again,” he added with a laugh.

Jasmine smiled widely at Aladdin as her father answered.  “Well, Aladdin...I suppose you have a point there.  Jasmine, do you feel all right?  Is right now a good time for you?”  She nodded, thinking that the question was a bit silly.  “Well then, very good,” the Sultan said happily.  “Now let me think.  Many of the guests decided to remain in Agrabah until after the ceremony rather than return home, so that’s good.  We have a pavilion already.  Although, it will need to be redecorated.  Some of the guests have left already so...” he trailed off and thought for a moment before turning back to Aladdin and Jasmine.  “When do you two think would be a suitable time?”

“Right now!” they answered in unison, laughing.  Then Aladdin and Jasmine looked to each other for a moment, a questioning look on both their faces before Jasmine nodded.

“Two weeks,” Aladdin said firmly, rubbing Jasmine’s hands softly.

“What?  So soon?”

The young lovers nodded.  “We could have Genie send out messages to the caravans that already left.  That’s the fastest way to make sure that they’re back in time.  He could even ask some of the guests who originally couldn’t come if the new date is better for them.  The farthest kingdom is still close enough that the guests would be able to arrive in Agrabah in time,” Aladdin explained.

The Sultan still seemed unconvinced.  “I suppose, but...we still have to reorder flowers and remake all of the food and...”

“Genie could...no, we all could help with that stuff,” Aladdin insisted.

“Please, Father,” Jasmine begged.  “We’ve waited so long already.  It’s been three years.”

“It will take lots of effort on the parts of both of you.”

“It’s worth it,” Jasmine said.

“It sure is,” added Aladdin.  He and Jasmine shared a triumphant smile.  They knew they had won.

“In that case, I agree.  We shall hold the ceremony two weeks from tomorrow.  Although, I hope you realize that this means we will have to cancel the Royal Wedding Parade and the surprise gala I was planning.  There simply won’t be enough time.”

Jasmine was only half-listening as she leaned into Aladdin’s open arms. 

“Darn,” Aladdin whispered sarcastically.  Jasmine suppressed a giggle.  They were relieved to be rid of an unneeded formal dinner.

“Well, I’d better go now,” Aladdin said after a moment, releasing Jasmine and rising to his feet.  “Goodbye, Sultan.  And thanks,” he said with a nod to Jasmine’s father.  “Goodnight, Jasmine,” he whispered to her.  He tenderly kissed her forehead and then left the room.

“Thank you, Father,” Jasmine said when Aladdin had gone.

“Well, Dearest...you love him.  I want you two to be happy.  And you’re right.  You’ve waited so long, and it is time for you.”  His voice had a bittersweet tone.  “My Jasmine...getting married.  Now that it’s so close I can’t imagine why I tried to rush this before.”

Jasmine’s eyes grew damp.  She hadn’t really thought of marriage this way.  She knew she wouldn’t be leaving her father, but... Her childhood was really over, and in just a few weeks she would take the ultimate step from girlhood to womanhood.  She threw her arms around her father.  “Don’t make me cry,” she said, forcing a laugh.  “I’m not going anywhere,” she assured.  “I’ll still be right here in Agrabah.”  Still, both she and her father knew that something would be different.  Jasmine could see it in her father’s eyes as he pulled back from her.  Looking at her, his eyes filled with sadness.

“Jasmine, you look so much like your mother did.  She would be so proud if she could see you now.”

“I hope so,” Jasmine replied in a soft voice.  There was a moment where neither of them spoke.  Both were afraid of the tears escaping if either of them said more.

“Well, Dearest, I’ll let you get your rest,” the Sultan said.  For the first time in years, he tucked Jasmine into bed like a little girl.  “Sleep well,” he said, giving her a kiss goodnight on her forehead.  “I love you.”

“I love you too, Father,” Jasmine replied as her father blew out the lamps and left the room.

Somehow, Jasmine was able to peacefully fall asleep that night.

~*~

“There you are, Al!” Genie said happily.  “So, what was the important stuff you kids had to talk about, if I might ask?” he inquired with a grin.

“Not just us.  The Sultan too.  We were just talking about...all the stuff that’s happened lately and, uh...” Aladdin was so happy he could barely talk.  “Well, what happened was-”

“Will you get to the point already?” Iago squawked impatiently.

“Here, Al, sit down before you hurt yourself!” Genie teased, seating Aladdin on the steps of the hovel.  “So, what is it?”

“We reset the date.  The wedding is two weeks from tomorrow,” Aladdin told his friends with a grin.

“Oh, just what I need.  MORE mushy stuff,” Iago grumbled.  But even he couldn’t keep from adding, “Congratulations, Al.”  No matter how unconvinced it sounded, for Iago, that was a huge gesture of happiness.

Abu and Carpet high-fived.

“All right, Al!” Genie said.  “Group hug!” Everyone present was again swept up in one of Genie’s big embraces.  Once Genie set the down, the tone of the conversation became more heartfelt.

“Al, I can’t believe you’re finally tying the knot!  I haven’t been this stunned since I found those mutant space goats in my underwear drawer!”

“Yeah, it seems kind of strange, doesn’t it?” Aladdin replied, ignoring the last part of Genie’s comment.  “You know what else is strange?”

“Sure!  This is!” Genie thrust a three-eyed, green, slimy creature in Aladdin’s face. “Piggy piggy piggy!” he cried.

Aladdin looked terribly confused.  Genie was so weird.  “Well yeah,” he conceded.  “But...I can’t think of anything but Jasmine anymore.  Even after all this time, she still just...fascinates me.  The sound of her voice...the sweep of her hair...”

“The size of her shoes!” Genie teased.  Again, Aladdin ignored him.

“I can’t explain it Genie.  I just seems like we’ve been together longer than we have been.  It’s always been that way.  The moment I saw her, you know why I had to save her life?  Well, there were a lot of reasons, but something in my mind just made me think, ‘I know her.’  Genie, it’s like I’ve always known her!  This whole thing is...is like some sort of dream!  Only it’s real.  More real than anything.”  In fact, both Aladdin and Genie felt as if the conversation was part of a dream.  It was as if they had spoken nearly the same exact words before.  Off in the corner, Abu and Iago winked at each other, for they knew that they had once overheard snippets of that very talk while hiding in the garden.

~*~

Aladdin got up the next day feeling very at peace.  It was the first time in weeks that he woke up and felt no fear and no worry.  He sighed happily and decided not to open his eyes or rise immediately.  He just wanted a little time to think...a few moments purely to himself, not to worry about the future or long for answers from the past, but to reflect on the present. No interruptions.  No distractions.  Just total serenity.  He didn’t know how long he laid there for.  It seemed like forever, but a blissful forever.  He drifted in and out of slumber and just felt happy.  At the moment, he had no cares and no problems.

Whatever this peaceful sense of nothingness may have been, it was broken by a dream so realistic, so wonderful, he couldn’t help but be drawn into it.

In it, he heard Jasmine’s voice softly call his name.  “Everything’s all right,” she whispered as she stroked his hand and pressed it to her cheek.  “Thank you, my love.”

Aladdin suddenly couldn’t stand to settle with an image in his mind anymore.  He wanted to REALLY see Jasmine.  But when he opened his eyes so he could get up and go to the palace, he realized that this wasn’t a dream at all.

“Please wake up,” Jasmine pleaded, not noticing Aladdin opening his eyes.

He turned over to see the newly risen sun creating a soft aura around Jasmine.  The signs of illness had left her.  She looked radiant in the light of the dawn.  She was clean and dressed in a fresh new outfit.  The light danced in her deep brown eyes as the desert breeze played with her hair.  When she smiled, Aladdin once again thought that this had to be a dream.  “Jasmine?  Is it really you?”

“I’m sorry,” she said.  “I thought you would be awake already.  I guess I didn’t realize how early it was.  I was up before the sun this morning,” she added with a laugh.

“Are you OK?  Does anyone know you’re here?” Aladdin asked her, rising to his feet and smoothing the wrinkles out of his own clothes.

Jasmine nodded as she found her way into Aladdin’s arms, running a hand through his hair.  “I was already cleaned up and dressed when Father came in to see me this morning.  It took a little persuasion, but I convinced him to let me come see you.”

“Oh Jasmine,” Aladdin sighed with a smile.  The Jasmine he knew and loved had returned.  He drew her close and brought her into a long, tender kiss, silently thanking Allah for bringing her back to him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Epilogue

Two Weeks Later...

            Carpet set Aladdin down in his place at the wedding pavilion.  Confetti flew through the air, and the bustling citizens of Agrabah, led by Genie, rejoiced with singing in the streets.  The day had arrived.  This morning, the people would finally witness the long-awaited marriage of their Princess Jasmine and their hero, Aladdin.  Aladdin’s fears, which had nearly subsided in the few weeks before, crept back into his mind slowly and forcefully as the guests began to enter and take their seats.  He watched as they looked up at him...pointing...whispering...smiling.  He began asking countless questions in his mind.  What were they saying?  Was it about him?  What were they pointing at him for?  Were those smiles of sincerity, or did they mask mockery?  His robes, which were actually rather comfortable, suddenly made him feel even more self-conscious.  They were too...fine.  Perfect for Prince Ali...but not Aladdin.  Did everyone else see him as worthy of taking on the responsibilities of a prince, or did they think that just looked like a street rat trying too hard to appear regal?  More importantly to him, what did Jasmine think?  He knew it was a ridiculous question, to which he knew the answer, but the longer he stood there alone, the more nervous he felt.  The pavilion was nearly filled with guests.  Aladdin gulped, when suddenly Genie appeared beside him.

            “Bad news, Al!” he panicked.  “The boutonnieres clash with the cummerbunds!”

            Aladdin was in no state to realize that Genie was joking.  “Genie?  Isn’t it a little late for that?”

            “They’re here...” Genie observed after an outburst.  “AHHH!”  He ran from the room in the form of a rabbit with a large watch, continuing to panic and mumble to himself.  He quickly reappeared dressed in fine robes.  He lifted a long horn to his lips and played a quick fanfare, then soft, beautiful music filled the air.  Flower girls marched down the aisle, dropping soft petals as they passed.  A young boy from the city carried a banner of white and gold.  Then came the Sultan, being brought in on a chair carried by four guards.  To Aladdin’s relief, Rasoul was not among them.  As the Sultan was lowered to the ground and approached the spot where Aladdin stood, Aladdin bowed formally.

            “Don’t look so solemn, boy!” the Sultan chuckled.  “This is a happy day!”  Aladdin managed a smile as Genie made a comment from where he stood with Carpet and Abu.

            Suddenly, a pair of white doves lowered a fine white and gold carpet to the floor of the aisle.  The music swelled as a pair of peacocks moved in front of the pavilion entryway.  Every guest’s head turned to the back of the pavilion as the ornate birds parted their feathers to reveal Jasmine, who looked happier than ever as she smiled shyly at Aladdin.

            “Wow,” he murmured in awe, as he had the first time he had ever seen her.  As their eyes met, Aladdin’s fears melted away.  In Jasmine’s eyes, he saw only joy.  

Jasmine smiled at the guests as she slowly proceeded down the aisle.  Aladdin watched her, entranced by her every move.

            To Jasmine, the march seemed almost like an unending dream.  It almost seemed too good to be true.  But it was.  This was much, much more than just a dream.  It was a dream...a wish...come true.  She paused in front of her father.

            “I never thought this day would come.  Now I’m afraid that it has come all too soon,” the Sultan said softly.

            “Oh, Father,” Jasmine replied, giving him a hug.  When she stood and looked up, she saw Aladdin smiling warmly at her.  She stood motionless for a moment, just gazing into his eyes.  They had an expression like her own, filled with happiness and brimmed with tears of joy.  Aladdin reached out an arm to her and she took it.  They ascended the small flight of stairs to the platform where everyone would see their lives become one.

            “Well, we’re here,” Aladdin said to her when they were in place.

            “Together forever,” the young bride added, nuzzling against her groom.  As they stood there, Aladdin and Jasmine knew that it was a promise from both of their hearts.  Their fears, their worries...they were gone.  Standing there together, moments away from becoming husband and wife, they reflected on all that they had been through.  Their love had survived social barriers, misunderstandings, magic spells, quarrels, illness, and even death itself.  For three long years, the magical love that they shared had been tested time and time again, and yet it continued to grow stronger and shine brighter every moment.  Both of them knew that it would only continue to grow as time passed.  The journey lay ahead; the future shone like an “endless diamond sky” in their eyes as finally, after so many challenges and new discoveries, Aladdin and Jasmine prepared to enter into yet another whole new world...together.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

Disclaimer:  Aladdin, Jasmine, and the rest of the characters in this story, with the exception of Amahl, are the property of and children of the minds of the dream makers at the Walt Disney Company.  They are copyrighted 1992-1996 and used without permission for no monetary gain.  Epilogue adapted from Walt Disney Home Video’s Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996).  Amahl the physician is an original character of mine and may be used only with my consent.