Work Text:
"Beyond these walls, Malik,
Something is waiting for me, I know it."
The gardens, Namir sat by the fountain, a large pool to catch his tears ; weeping, he often spent his days feeling helpless and as if no one dared to listen to him.
"I don't understand, Malik.
I never get to do a thing on my own, I always have to have someone watching me, and I know. . . I know Grandfather is worried."
How could he not be at the loss of his son and daughter-in-law ; Namir's parents.
Namir's father, Jassem had been strong and brave —— Namir had only heard so much about his courageous heart and efforts to try and better understand his people for the day he'd become his own father ; Sultan.
Sultan Jassem Najimubir of Glittering Oasis with his wife by his side, Aliyah of the Asim family.
Yet it never happened, no it never happened because his grandfather is still here and the ones who passed were Namir's parents in an assassination turned successful —- such event had the Sultan so concerned for his family that any outings into the kingdom had been limited.
Parades never featured the Prince —— it was for his protection, though such events were big such as their Ababwa festival to honor the Generous Prince who had once visited many lands with gifts for the people of each kingdom ranging from gold coins to food ; he brought feasts for even the poorest peasants and he provided these gifts in the form of a flashy parade.
The Sultan of this land so long ago had been so taken with the Prince's generosity, he'd offered the Prince shelter and the hand of the Princess.
The legend implies a happy marriage, though Namir couldn't help but wonder if the Princess ever had say or did they just decide to live her life for her? Was every decision made on behalf of those around him?
"But why should I have to suffer because of his fears?"
Prince Namir Najimubir, the only heir and descendant of the Sultan Hamza Najimubir of Glittering Oasis.
He had to be kept under strict watch, never left out of the sight of guards or beyond the ground of the Palace.
He wanted to go outside? He shall have a large back garden to enjoy ; to roam about freely and feel the air and sun against his skin ; his hair to flow in the breeze but like a bird he remains caged.
Malik never spoke, giving a sympathetic nod to Namir ; he knew how restless the prince he served became.
"I don't want to be part of a parade, not really. . ."
A sigh.
"I just can't stand being cooped up like this.
I feel like a prisoner,"
"In a really, really nice prison,"
A soft chuckle came from Namir as he sat on the ground by Namir's feet, lazily scrolling through his phone ; he'd been going through the usual Magicam scroll of funny video trends and leaving likes —- Likely filling up the inboxes of the few friends he had and Namir's own account —— One thing he wasn't allowed to have.
"I know that."
Namir returned his chuckle, his lips curved —- A smile at something other than a scheme to get out rather than be trapped in or a prank run through halls despite how dignified the two were supposed to be.
"Still. . . I mean that I just feel. . . Trapped."
He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a little huff.
"Though sitting around moping isn't going to do anything about it, I know that."
His eyes fell towards his rings, "I suppose I'll be getting a new one of these soon enough."
Marriage.
On top of it all, Grandfather needed to secure a marriage for his only heir too.
"Not that I want it. . ."
No, it never crossed Namir's mind ; of course he knew it'd happen one day but for him, he would have preferred it be for love.
From brides chosen to be presented to suitors as an alternative just to secure his own happiness —— Not one seemed genuine.
All were after the title, the money and prizes that come with it still rumors persist.
I hear the Prince is very Beautiful.
I hear the Prince is very Charming.
I hear the Prince is. . . Well-tempered.
Praises sung with golden boxes filled with jewels and sparkling jewels in hand, yet not one mattered to the Prince.
No, Namir did not care for jewels or gold or sweet words that were laced with nothing but flattery —— Any attempt to woo without truly knowing who he is.
No, if he was to marry, it'd be because he was in love with the person.
"Yet another choice I can't make —— UGH!"
A splash filled with so much aggression.
"It's just for the festival,"
Malik's tone, a light in the storm of Namir's heart as if guiding him back to shelter and safety.
"As soon as the Ababwa Festival is over, we'll be back at school."
School, the one haven where Namir hadn't been bound rules and social expectations, no walls to hide him.
He was just live everyone else.
Being a Prince was near commonplace although he'd certainly command looks when his last name is called —- Not a member of the Najimubir family had been seen for generations outside of their Sultan and even his appearances were rare.
The Sultan would appear rarely for such festivals, the Ababwa Festival being one of them ; it was about the rich giving to the poor after all ; all the elites including nobility would travel from surrounding kingdoms and within Glittering Oasis itself to parade through and give not only a show for the people who now had two days off and the merchants had the ability to mark up prices for the tourists, but it was also a Festival to give back to them.
Provide them with golden coins and treasures —- though the majority were chocolate for the children watching the parades —— and fine foods.
A feast between people of all walks of life.
At its core, it should be two whole days that Namir could be part of but there had been one crucial line that oculd not be crossed.
Namir was the only heir, and as such he had to be in the Palace.
It would be fine to risk something happening to Hamza, as long as they had their heir safe.
As long as he was safe so that if something happened to the reigning Sultan, Glittering Oasis would always have someone to fall back on.
"And for what it's worth, for the time being. . .Kalim'll be here."
His cousin.
A most favoured person.
If ever Namir were to have a best friend growing up before Malik, it had been Kalim.
Though perhaps some would consider it sad due to the fact that they are blood so your family cannot possibly be your closest friend, in Namir's case there had been no one else.
"That's true,"
But with Kalim came Jamil.
A frown.
The realization of having to be around him.
He may think he hides it well, but Namir can see through him ; a deceitful snake through and through, though he couldn't tell why, there was something about the tone that the Viper took with Kalim that Namir just could not stand.
The venom that hide behind every work, no matter how much he tried to play the part of dutiful servant.
Not to mention talking down to his cousin as if he were a fool —— Kalim had always been the wisest person that Namir has known.
He had an intelligence to him that it seemed most of the world was blind to, not Namir though ; no, had he more access to his cousin, he'd be the one Namir seeks out wisdom from.
Wisdom when his Grandfather wouldn't be reliable.
"Jamil will be there."
Low and punctuated with an eyeroll.
"I guess we'd better get planning then,"
Malik's cheeks has pushed up in a grin, one that could only highlight the sharps of his teeth.
"Oh are you thinking up something devious already?
I think since he's expecting a brat, we'll have to give him a brat."
The Ababwa Festival would begin tomorrow, and Namir would certainly raise the stakes ; he has already pulled the dressing gaudy and putting on a whiny shrill voice —- Irking Jamil provided a form of entertainment when they were forced to be together, it was one of those few things he had control of.
"But we have to step it up a notch this time —- It can't just be the same thing as—- OH!"
A giggle followed Namir's excitement.
"Kalim has a magic carpet, and he's likely bringing it with him for the parade,"
Golden eyes widened —- he knew where the Prince had been going with this.
"As fun as it sounds, you don't exactly pair well with heights. . ."
"I know that but could you imagine the look on Jamil's face if Kalim and I were to tear up the halls on a magic carpet?"
A brow cocked paired with that devious expression, Namir had been up to something and the idea had him nearly ready to burst out laughing.
"Its the kind of thing he wouldn't expect."