TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF MIDAS
An Original Story Inspired by Disney's Aladdin.
written by
Eva Luz Villalón Turrubiates
January 1999.
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Some of the characters are Disney's Property. Other ones were created by me.
Queen Amaranth was created by Sedeara.
There are some references to Queen Amaranth and Sultan Hamid of Agrabah. To
fully understand that part of the story I suggest you to read Sedeara's
wonderful story "Flower in Full Bloom".
--------
To my grandfather, Arnulfo Turrubiates, whom I never knew but who has been a
great inspiration in my life.
--------
Special thanks to my dear friend Sedeara. Without her help, advice and
support this story would never been finished.
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"... I knew exactly what I wanted for my family: the best.... I couldn't
give up
and go back empty handed.... but the weeks turned into months and the months
turned into years.... I came back to Agrabah one night... but I couldn't
find my
wife... or my son... I thought my family was lost forever..."
CHAPTER ONE
It was a hot afternoon in Agrabah. A tall and handsome middle aged man
dressed
in the Royal Agrabanian Army uniform entered the stables and smiled when he
saw
a young man working hard taking care of his horses. The boy was around 17
years
old and he'd been obviously working very hard because his black shirt was
dirty
and soaked with sweat. The young man saw the older man standing there and
smiled. His brown big eyes sparkled when he smiled widely.
"Dad! I didn't noticed you were here...."
"I can see that, my boy.... you're lost in your work, aren't you? But look
at
these horses! They are beautiful, son! You've been working so hard.... you
should
take some rest...."
"I'm fine, dad... I love doing this... I love horses... someday I hope I
could
be as good horseman as you are... and a fine soldier too, just like you... I
want to serve my kingdom!"
"And you will be, son.... I'm sure about it.... but you are still very
young."
"I'm not, dad... I'm seventeen.... when you were at my age you were already
training in the royal army...."
"I know son, but you have no need of that.... besides you help me a lot
taking
care of the horses here at home and also watching over your mother... how's
she
feeling today?"
"She's fine, dad. She's a strong woman. I know we were worried about her
illness
in the past weeks but she's totally recovered now. Don't worry about her....
how
was your day, dad?"
"Busy as always.... but I'm happy... to serve my kingdom and my sultan is my
honor... and you and your mother are my pride.... now come with me, Cassim,
you
need to take a bath and change your clothes.... it's almost dinner time...."
"Yes dad..."
"Good boy..."
During dinner, Hassan's wife was talking:
"Today I went to the marketplace to get some food, Hassan... there I was
hearing
rumors of some troubles between Agrabah and another kingdom... I can't
remember
the name.... is that true?"
"Well, sometimes the rulers of the other kingdoms become very greedy....
I've
heard some rumors too at the palace but... I really don't think we should
worry
about that... thank Allah our Sultan is a wise man... if there's any trouble
I'm sure he'll find the way to solve it in a diplomatic way.... don't worry
about that."
"I hope so... I'd hate for you to go to the war once again..."
"But mom," -young Cassim said- "Agrabah hasn't been in war since I
remember....
I really don't think that we should worry about that either.... besides, if
there's any war, Agrabah would win for sure.... especially having my dad as
a
Captain of the Royal Army..."
Hassan and his son exchanged smiles. His mother sighed:
"I hope you are right.... I hate wars.... your father has served Agrabah in
two
wars... and it has never been easy for me."
"As I said, our sultan can fix any trouble in a diplomatic way.... no need
to
worry, Aseelah, Agrabah's never been more peaceful and prosperous...."
Aseelah smiled at her husband.
"Well, sometimes I forget that you are a royal soldier.... it's something
you
have in your blood, Hassan.... and even Cassim now has this desire to serve
the
kingdom..."
Cassim smiled proudly and his father nodded.
"I know, but he's still young.... he's learning all from me here at home....
I
want him to go to school and be a cultivated man.... the Royal Army can
wait...
someday my son will be the General of the Royal Army.... and who knows?
Maybe my
grandson will be...." Hassan rolled his thought in his mind for a moment,
realizing that there was not a higher status for a soldier than general...
so
what could his grandson be, then? "My grandson will be the Sultan..." he
laughed.
Cassim smiled and his mother stood up, taking the dishes off the table and
putting
her hand on his son's shoulders:
"Your father's always been a dreamer...."
"It's not a dream, Aseelah, you'll see, our grandson will become Sultan....
the
greatest hero in all the Seven Deserts.... you'll see... my father was a
Royal
Soldier.... I'm a Captain... Cassim will be a General.... and my grandson
will
be the next Sultan!"
Aseelah smiled gently and left the room. Cassim stood up:
"I think I'm going to help mother with the dishes, dad.... I don't want her
to
work so much after her illness...."
"Cassim, wait...."
"Yes?"
"Look, son.... maybe Aseelah thinks I'm really just a dreamer... but I'm
not....
I have all the faith in the world in you, Cassim, do you understand? I
expect
only the best from you... you are my only son and even if we are not rich
people, well, we live quite well... we have what we need to survive and we
have
a family... that's the most important, Cassim.... you're not a child anymore
and
very soon you'll be thinking about marriage and you'll have your own
family....
and your family, son, they deserve just the best.... I expect great things
from
you."
Cassim smiled:
"Don't worry dad... I won't let you down...."
"That's my boy! Well then, go to help your mother.... I'm going to prepare
some
stuff for tomorrow...."
Later that night Cassim saw his father who was on the roof of their little
but
cosy house. He was staring at the sky. Cassim knew that his mother was
already
sleeping and he could say that something worried his dad. He went to his
father's side:
"Father... are you all right?"
"Cassim! Come boy.... come here... sit.... look at the sky.... isn't this
the
most beautiful night you've ever seen? All those stars...."
"Yes...." Cassim sat beside Hassan and looked at him. Hassan returned the
look
and sighed.
"I don't want your mother to know this, son..."
"It's about the war, isn't it dad?"
"It is... today we received orders... we must prepare ourselves. The war is
close, son... the Sultan of the Kingdom of Agkar is getting very annoying...
our
Sultan can't keep this as a diplomatic affair anymore.... and if Agkar
wants to
invade Agrabah, then we'll be prepared for receiving them as they deserve....
we're going to the mountains in the northern side of the land and we'll keep
them
there.... they won't get close to Agrabah...."
"When are you going?"
"In a week or so.... I know I must tell your mother about this but.... I
don't
want to worry her... not yet...."
Cassim lowered his eyes. There was silence for several minutes, Hassan
looking
at the sky and Cassim looking at his shoes. After some minutes Cassim spoke:
"I want to go with you, father...."
"What?"
"I'm a man.... I want to protect my people... my kingdom.... I want to serve
my
Sultan.... and I want to go with you, dad..."
Hassan sighed and put his arm around his son's shoulders:
"Cassim, boy, I know you are a man.... I know you can join us and I know
you'd
be a fine soldier.... but I need you here, with your mother.... do you
understand me?"
"But father, I...."
"Cassim, listen to me, you are not a kid anymore, you are a man.... and I
know
that you think that you only can prove yourself to me going to the war but
that's not true my boy.... you don't need to prove anything to me.... you
don't
need to go to the war.... I'm going to fight for you and for your mother....
that's why I need you here, Cassim.... you'll be the head of this house
until I
return.... and I need to trust you in that.... that's what I need from you,
son...."
Cassim ran his hand across his silky black hair.
"But father I.... I want to prove I'm a man... that I'm not a coward,
that--"
"Son," -Hassan interrupted him- "sometimes a man needs more bravery to stay
with
his family than to leave.... do you understand?"
Cassim looked into his father's eyes. Then lowered his gaze.
"I understand, dad.... and you can trust me... I'm going to take care of my
mother until you return.... you'll be proud of me..."
"I'm already proud of you..." Hassan embraced his son. "Now let's go to take
some rest... and not a word about this to your mother, is that clear?"
"Yes dad..."
"Cassim...."
"What is it, dad?"
"I hope someday you'll be as proud of your boy as I'm of you!"
They shared a smile and went inside the house. It was such a dark and cold
night. And cold was Agrabah's spirit the next days, when the news of the
upcoming war stopped being just rumors and became facts. Even the young
Sultan
made a royal announcement of the war to the people of Agrabah. He told the
people that even if Agrabah was a peaceful kingdom, he was not going to let
some
greedy Sultan try to invade Agrabah's lands. The Royal Army was prepared to
protect the people and the kingdom. Agrabah hadn't been in war for many
years
and the peaceful citizens were very worried. They knew that the war was not
going to hit the city itself, since the royal army would stop the enemy at
the
mountains but anyway, the people feared for all those brave warriors who
would
put their lives on the line to save the lives of the people of Agrabah.
The day before the Royal Army left Agrabah, Hassan spoke with his wife.
Cassim
didn't know what they said to each other but he knew they stayed there,
talking
for hours. His mother was sad but she knew Hassan's responsibilities. After
a
hug and a kiss, Hassan left his wife and went to the stable, where he found
his
son. Cassim smiled sadly:
"Father.... your best horse is ready...."
Hassan patted the horse's head. "He's truly the best horse I've ever seen,
son... you are taking very good care of them all.... I'm sure this will be
the
best horse I've ever ridden in a war..."
Cassim just nodded but said nothing. Hassan put his reassuring arm around
his
son's shoulders. After a while Cassim managed to say in a voice that was
about
to crack:
"I'm going to miss you, dad..."
"I'm going to miss you too, son.... I'm going to miss you and your
mother....
but this won't take long, you'll see.... in a couple of weeks we'll be here
again talking about our adventures.... don't be sad..."
"Yes..." Cassim tried to smile.
"Now, you'll be the head of this family until my return... and I want you to
take good care of the house, good care of the horses, good care of my
business
and most of all, good care of your mother.... I trust you son.... I know
you'll
do it just fine..."
"I will, dad... I promise.... you'll be proud of me..."
"I'm proud of you already...."
"But even if I know that I must stay here with mom and everything...
well.... I
really wanted to go with you.... you're the best captain the Royal Army has
ever
had and I want to be just like you.... there's so much I want to learn from
you...."
Hassan laughed. "You want to have adventures in the war, son.... I know
how this is.... I also wanted that when I was at your age, boy.... but don't
worry....
you'll be a good soldier when it's your turn.... you'll be the General of
the
Royal Army.... you'll be the King... "
"And my son will be a Sultan." Cassim smiled.
"And your son will be a Sultan." Hassan assured.
They stayed there for a long moment staring at the night sky. Then Hassan
said:
"Just remember boy, family must be your priority number one.... your family
will
be your ultimate treasure... never forget that...."
"I won't dad..."
"Well, that's all then.... I need to go to take a good rest... I must wake
up
really early in the morning.... good night son."
"Sleep well.... father."
Hassan rubbed his son's messy hair and smiled. Then he went to his
bedchamber.
Cassim stayed there in the stables for a long time, thinking about his
future
and praying to Allah for his father.
The next morning the Royal Army left. Cassim would never forget how his
father looked in his armor, proudly wearing the uniform of the Captain of
the
Royal Army. He saw his father as he said his goodbyes to his wife Aseelah.
They embraced and kissed. Then he came and lovingly patted his son's
shoulder.
Cassim gave his dad the reins of his horse. Hassan climbed his horse and
smiled
to Cassim.
"Don't forget anything I've told you, son...."
"I won't dad.... trust me..."
"And take good care of your mother."
"I will."
"I'll be back soon.... well, it's time to go....."
"May Allah be with you!" Aseelah called. "Take care, Hassan."
"Good luck father.... "
"May Allah be with the both of you... good luck to you too, son... and never
forget that I love you two!"
They shared a look for a long moment. Hassan spurred his horse and slowly
joined
the files of the Royal Army. Cassim put his reassuring arm around his
mother's
shoulders. He didn't know it at the moment, but it was the last time he'd
see
his father alive.
The news came to Cassim and his mother a couple of weeks later. A royal
messenger came to their home to inform them officially of the death of the
Captain Hassan. He died in an ambush but he was brave until the end. A true
hero. His body was returned to the family as well so they could bury him
with
all the honors he deserved. The Sultan sent them his sympathy and a medal to
acknowledge the bravery of Hassan. Cassim was totally down with the news. He
loved his father deeply. He knew he must be strong for his mother. She
needed
him more than ever and he was not going to fail his father. He promised him
he
was going to take care of the house and of his mother during his father
absence
and he was going to keep his promise.
Cassim and his mother buried Hassan with honors. Lots of people of Agrabah
were
there, even some guards from the palace. After all it was not every day
that
someone was considered hero of the city. But after the funeral they were
totally
alone.
Cassim tried desperately to find a job. He knew they weren't rich people
but
they weren't poor people either, so he was sure he could handle the
situation. He was going to work really hard for his mother. But his mother
was
not a strong or healthy woman. She was ill and when she knew of the death of
her
beloved husband, she did fall to the bed once again, with some strange
illness.
Cassim called all the doctors of Agrabah but they all coincided that it was
an
illness born from sadness. Their science could do nothing against the pain
of
the heart. But there was something really bad about that. Because Cassim was
taking care of his mother all day and night long, he didn't get any job,
instead
he was spending every single cent they had paying the doctors and the
medicines.
Slowly but steadily they started to lose all they had without even noticing
it. The
illness of Aseelah lasted for almost a year and in that amount of time
Cassim was
forced to sell lots of things to pay his mother's medical services. But that
was
not enough for her....
Exactly a year after the death of his father, his mother died too.
In a year Cassim lost both of his parents. And when he finally noticed, he
had
nothing to live. No money, no horses, no furniture, nothing. He only owned
his
old house, but soon he was forced to sell the house too. He needed money to
survive, to start a new life. But he had no experience in business, so he
got
from the sell of the house very little. He wanted to continue his studies,
as
his father wanted. He tried to convince his studies with some job but no one
wanted to hire a young student, because people considered them useless for
physical work. Cassim tried so hard to make something of himself, but in a
few
months he had absolutely nothing. Not even a place to sleep in. With the
death
of his parents his life was forever changed. In a very short amount of time
Agrabah forgot the son of its hero.
Touched by the Hand of Midas by Evi