A/N: I know I haven't updated this fanfiction in forever. Writer's block took over and held me prisoner for a while. But, I managed to break free. So, here's the new chapter! Enjoy and be sure to review!
Aladdin watched as Jamine took a sip of the water that lay next to her. Her fever had finally broken after two long nights. However, she still looked pale and couldn't move around as much as she would have preferred.
"You should eat." He set a plate beside her and looked at her. However, she avoided his eyes and stared at the bed. She had been like that since he had yelled at her that day.
"I'm not hungry." She tried to sound cold and nonchalant but sounded dead and drained instead. Aladdin saw that dark circles had appeared under her eyes, a result of the nightmares that plagued her at night.
"You have to eat." He sighed, unsure what else to do. When she didn't reply, he moved beside her and grabbed the plate.
"Very well. I guess I have to feed you." He broke off a morsel of food and raised it towards her mouth. When she didn't open her mouth, he put the food into his own mouth and chewed.
"Hmm, taste a bit salty. What do you think?" He broke off another piece and held it to her mouth. Again, she didn't open her mouth and instead turned away. He sighed and put the plate down.
"Jasmine, please eat." He looked over at her but she refused to look at him.
"Please leave me alone, Aladdin." As she said it, Aladdin heard tears enter her voice and felt his heart tighten. She sounded so weak and helpless, so unlike herself.
"No. You're going to eat and I'm not leaving here until you do." He growled at her, placing the plate beside her. Suddenly, she spun to face him, her eyes blazing with tears and anger mixed with pain.
"Fine!" She shoved some food into her mouth and quickly swallowed before washing it down with some of the water.
"Happy?! Now, leave me alone." As she said it, her resolve broke and tears cascaded down her face. Aladdin looked at her as she turned away and covered her face, her body shaking as she sobbed.
"Why are you doing this to me?" She asked as heart wrenching sobs shook her body. She hiccuped before she turned to look at him with her tear-stained face.
"Why are you playing with my feelings?" The sorrow and vulnerability in her voice and face was too much for him. Without a word, Aladdin grabbed her and pulled her into his embrace.
"Shhh, don't cry." He soothed her as she sniffed. He felt something welling inside him at her sobs but forced it back down. When she had calmed down enough, Jasmine raised her head from his shoulder and gave him a weak smile.
"Thank you." She whispered as she wiped her eyes.
"What happened to your mother?" Aladdin's question took her by surprise. It had been two days since she broke down in front of him and he had comforted her. Since then, he had been nicer towards her, although his feelings were nowhere close to love.
Jasmine knew that he would never be able to feel the same about her like she felt about him but she didn't care. He was nice to her and cared about her, which was good enough for her. When she didn't respond, he moved to sit beside her.
"Jasmine," He paused and turned her towards her.
"You can tell me. You can trust me." He whispered to her.
"Do you trust me?" She looked up at him and saw sincerity in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, she gave a shaky smile and nodded.
"To be honest, I really don't remember it too much. I was 3 at that time." She began, thinking back to that night 13 years ago.
"I remember Mother and I had gone somewhere to visit someone. Father wasn't with us when we went. We were riding through the desert when our carriage was stopped and the guards who were with us were killed." She paused, trying to remember just what had happened.
"No, one of the guards survived and helped Mother and I escape. We were running and being chased by these men in cloaks who had swords in their hands. We ran and ran but they caught us. And wounded the guard with us." She stopped and her eyes grew wide as the events came back vividly.
"One of the men grabbed Mother and dragged her away from me. I remember I was hiding behind a sand dune. The entire time, she was screaming for them to have mercy on her and her child. Then, the screaming stopped and the men disappeared. After they left, I crawled towards Mother, who was sobbing silently. The sand around her was red and she was bleeding from her chest." Tears had begun to roll down Jasmine's cheeks and she started to tremble.
"The guard made it to us and Mother told him to get me home. Then, she told me she loved me and kissed my cheek. That was the last thing she said to me." Aladdin looked over at Jasmine, who was now sobbing into her hands. He reached over and encircled her in his arms as she shook with sobs.
"After that, Father never let me out of his sight. I was always upset but now I realize that he just wanted to protect me." She sniffed into his shoulder.
"He must be so worried about me right now." She felt Aladdin freeze before she pulled away and looked at him. For the first time, she saw guilt and regret in his face.
"Aladdin?" She whispered his name and saw him close his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Jasmine. I shouldn't have kidnapped you. I think I made a mistake." He said, opening his eyes. Jasmine felt her breath freeze in her throat as she saw all the anger and darkness in his eyes disappear.
"This little brat is delaying my plans." Jafar snapped as he closed the door to his secret room. He mumbled something to him and moved towards his desk.
"I thought those three fools would have captured her already, but someone killed them." He said, referring to the three cutthroats he had sent into the desert earlier that month.
"Why does it matter? You can still take control of the kingdom, can't you?" Iago asked, landing beside Jafar's hand.
"No! Not as easily as I had hoped. Even if I do dispose of the Sultan, that little brat can return and destroy my plans." He snarled, grabbing Iago.
"I thought that her running away would have been a good thing, but it's actually quite bothersome! Until her dead body shows up, I can't do anything." Jafar pounded the table in frustration and anger.
"Aladdin?" Jasmine looked over at Aladdin, who was tending to the camel. They were both outside getting fresh air, something Aladdin had allowed her to start doing after the day she had broken down in his arms.
"Yes?" He answered, not looking at her.
"Do you remember who arrested your mother?" She saw him pause before he turned and looked at her.
"Why?" He asked, obviously puzzled.
"Just curious. It's fine if you don't want to tell me." She quickly said, shaking her head and turning away.
"It's fine. I'll tell you." He finally replied after a moment of silence.
"It was a tall man. I don't remember too well, but he was a dark, bony man with a cobra-headed scepter." At that, Jasmine gasped and covered her mouth.
"Jafar." She breathed.
"You know him?" Aladdin turned towards her, his eyes full of passion. She nodded.
"My father's Grand Vizier. He's a sinister man who I've never trusted."
"Aladdin, my father didn't kill your mother. Jafar did." She replied, watching as his face became dark.
"Jafar. Where can I find him?" He asked her.
"He's at the Palace. But, you can't get to him. He's one of my father's most powerful officials." She replied, watching as his face fell.
"I see." She felt sorry for him and tentatively placed her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm very sorry." She whispered. Without saying a word, he turned and headed towards the shack, leaving her alone.
Aladdin let out a sigh as he leaned against the wall. He had made a mistake. He shouldn't have kidnapped Jasmine. She and her father had nothing to do with his mother's death. It was all Jafar. He had taken his anger out on the wrong people and taken Jasmine away from her father, who was probably at his wit's end.
He looked up as Jasmine entered the shack. She looked over at him and gave him a quick smile before she retreated into the room. As Aladdin watched her leave, he made up his mind. He had to fix this mes he had created.
"Jasmine," He began as he headed towards the room. Just as he entered, he froze, his eyes on Jasmine. Her hair was opened and flowing out behind her. As he looked at her, Aladdin realized just how beautiful she really was.
She turned and looked at him, her doe eyes sparkling in anticipation.
"Yes, Aladdin?" She asked, her voice barely audible. Aladdin felt his own words freeze in his throat and just stared at her. Finally, he managed to pull himself out of his trance and gestured towards the door.
"Do you want to go for a ride?"
"Jasmine, I'm really sorry that I kidnapped you." Jasmine looked over at Aladdin, who was looking at her with haunted and remorseful eyes. She gave him and smile and shook her head.
"I forgive you, Aladdin. Besides, it wasn't your fault. You were confused and misguided." She softly replied.
"I know, but I was too reckless and uncaring. I caused your father to worry and I put you in danger as well." He said, to which Jasmine shook her head.
"But, you saved me and protected me since. And, you've never done anything horrible to me." She reached out and touched his hand. He looked down at her hand and then gave her a smile.
"By the way, where are we going?" Jasmine asked. They had been riding for a while but she had no idea what direction they were headed in.
"Just somewhere." Aladdin replied, hoping she wouldn't question him further. She seemed to accept his answer because she nodded and returned her attention to directly in front of her.
"We're almost there." Aladdin thought to himself as Agrabah came into view. He pulled the camel and caused it to slow, allowing Jasmine to move ahead.
"Goodbye, Jasmine." He whispered as he turned the camel around and headed in the opposite direction. The winds had picked up, which worked to his advantage as it erased the trail his camel left.
He knew that she would be found and taken back to the Palace, which was where she belonged. She didn't belong with a street rat like him. No, she was the Princess and would soon be the ruler of Agrabah. He smiled and looked over his shoulder at her before he slowly disappeared into the desert.
"Aladdin, this is Agrabah!" Jasmine gasped, excitement obvious in her voice. She excitedly nudged the camel to move forward, unable to control her joy and happiness. She would get to see her Father! Aladdin had brought her back.
"Thank you, Aladdin!" She smiled and turned around to thank him. However, the smile disappeared from her face as she saw that he was no longer behind her.
"Aladdin? Aladdin?!" She yelled, turning the camel around. Where could he have gone? He was right behind her. Her eyes darted back and forth, looking for him. However, all she saw was sand.
"Aladdin! Come back!" She yelled, nudging her camel. She felt her heart sinking as she saw no sign of him or where he had gone. Tear streaming down her face, she realized that he had meant to leave her all along. That was why he had asked for her forgiveness.
"Aladdin! You idiot!" She sniffed, wiping her eyes. No, she had to find him! However, at that moment, she heard yelling behind her. She quickly looked over her shoulder and saw that the royal guards had spotted her.
"Princess! We've found you!" They began to run towards her and Jasmine felt her heart sinking and breaking even more. If they caught her, they would take her back and she would never see Aladdin ever again.
"Aladdin! Come back! Please!" She yelled but he didn't appear, despite her pleas. She turned and sighed as the royal guards caught up with her.
"Princess, we've found you. Are you hurt?" They were asking her as they took the rein of the camel and turned the animal around, leading her into the city. She looked over her shoulder, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Goodbye, Aladdin." She sniffed before turning around again.
Aladdin heard Jasmine's pleas and felt his heart breaking but forced himself to remain where he was.
"She's better off without me." He whispered to himself, although his heart didn't agree with him. He looked over his shoulder at Agrabah, which was almost gone.
"You love her." A voice whispered in his head. He sighed and shook his head.
"But, we can never be together." He replied, pain and bitterness in his voice.
"Come on." He nudged his camel and continued moving forward, further and further away from Agrabah and Jasmine.
So, I finally updated! A lot happened in this chapter. I felt that my readers needed to see the romance blossom, and tried to show it. Hopefully, I succeeded. Yes, our lovers parted ways and I left you guys with a cliffhanger. I'll update as soon as I can though. Until then, enjoy this chapter! And remember to review!
-DramaQueen95