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It began with an incident with one of Olba’s sisters—she had come back to the palace, weeping, and no one, not even Olba himself, could console her. It took some hours, but eventually, Olba was able to get the story from her. Nisreen—the sister in question--, had fallen in love with a young merchant, and the feelings were reciprocated. The problem came up when the idea of marriage was discussed. Though Sindria was a country of refugees, the young merchant’s father absolutely refused to consider Nisreen as a suitable bride for his son, who had received a proper education befitting his status. Nisreen was dirty, poor, and uneducated—not to mention an ex-pirate! There was no way he could allow such a union to occur. The news enraged Olba, but time and experience had tempered him. Instead of killing the fat old merchant at once, Olba petitioned Alibaba. No one but Alibaba and the old merchant knew exactly what happened after Olba spoke to Alibaba, but the next day, Alibaba paid a visit to Nisreen, encouraging her to get up and wash her face, as it would be bad luck to take a crying girl shopping for her bridal trousseau.
No one knew, but everyone could at least guess that Alibaba had paid a prompt visit to the old merchant. Alibaba’s reputation proceeded him—he had conquered several dungeons, had helped destroy Al-Sarmen and bring down the Kou Empire—the list went on. It was hard to say no to Prince Alibaba—especially when he promised a sizeable dowry. After he took Nisreen out, Alibaba also proceeded to ensure that the rest of Olba’s sisters would also have proper dowries—the ones who had already married were given proper gifts to make up for their lack of dowry. It wouldn’t be fair, after all, to not give equally to everyone. It was the right thing to do. And that’s all Alibaba would say when asked. There was no other answer for him; he simply did what should have been.
Morgiana knew this would be his answer; she heard the story shortly after Alibaba had left with Nisreen. Later, the next day when they had lunch together, she didn’t mention what she had heard. If Alibaba wanted to talk about it, he would mention it. And he did.
“You know Nisreen, Olba’s sister, right?” He asked; Morgiana nodded. Alibaba looked up to the sky, something odd in his eyes. “She reminds me a lot of Cassim’s little sister. She has the same kind of personality that Maryam did.” There is a sort of lonely look in Alibaba’s eyes, something very sad. “I paid her dowry, and bought her a few things for her wedding yesterday. I think I went a little overboard because I couldn’t do anything like that for Maryam.” Morgiana listened intently to him. ‘A few things’ was an understatement; he had bought all sorts of household goods and clothing for Nisreen, not to mention the trinkets. She didn’t contradict him about that detail. “And so, I was thinking,” he continued, fidgeting a little as he spoke, “That I should do the same for you.”
Morgiana was stunned, and it took a moment for her to respond. “That will not be necessary,” she said, trying to find the right words. Alibaba freed her, had let her become his strength, and had protected her so many times. Truth be told, she should be the one paying for his dowry. “I still have money of my own.” Which was also true.
Alibaba shook his head. “No, someone should do it for you. Your father isn’t around, so someone else has to do it.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “Or do you think it would be better for Masrur to do it?” Morgiana shook her head. It would be more appropriate, but she didn’t want that, either. Alibaba looked to her, confused. It couldn’t be—“You are going to get married, right? You’re a hard worker, and cute to boot. If you wanted, you could find a husband in an hour.” Morgiana blushed, puffing her cheeks. She wasn’t prepared to take this kind of conversation. Not with him, at least. He was quiet for a moment, but said one last thing: “Just think about it, okay? We’re meeting Aladdin at the port tomorrow; we can leave early and just look and see if there’s anything there for you.”
Morgiana frowned; she didn’t want to. But it was hard to turn down Alibaba, especially when he was being so earnest like this. It wasn’t as if there wasn’t anything neat to see in the market, besides. “Just to look,” she said, very firmly. There wouldn’t be anything for him to buy.
No one knew, but everyone could at least guess that Alibaba had paid a prompt visit to the old merchant. Alibaba’s reputation proceeded him—he had conquered several dungeons, had helped destroy Al-Sarmen and bring down the Kou Empire—the list went on. It was hard to say no to Prince Alibaba—especially when he promised a sizeable dowry. After he took Nisreen out, Alibaba also proceeded to ensure that the rest of Olba’s sisters would also have proper dowries—the ones who had already married were given proper gifts to make up for their lack of dowry. It wouldn’t be fair, after all, to not give equally to everyone. It was the right thing to do. And that’s all Alibaba would say when asked. There was no other answer for him; he simply did what should have been.
Morgiana knew this would be his answer; she heard the story shortly after Alibaba had left with Nisreen. Later, the next day when they had lunch together, she didn’t mention what she had heard. If Alibaba wanted to talk about it, he would mention it. And he did.
“You know Nisreen, Olba’s sister, right?” He asked; Morgiana nodded. Alibaba looked up to the sky, something odd in his eyes. “She reminds me a lot of Cassim’s little sister. She has the same kind of personality that Maryam did.” There is a sort of lonely look in Alibaba’s eyes, something very sad. “I paid her dowry, and bought her a few things for her wedding yesterday. I think I went a little overboard because I couldn’t do anything like that for Maryam.” Morgiana listened intently to him. ‘A few things’ was an understatement; he had bought all sorts of household goods and clothing for Nisreen, not to mention the trinkets. She didn’t contradict him about that detail. “And so, I was thinking,” he continued, fidgeting a little as he spoke, “That I should do the same for you.”
Morgiana was stunned, and it took a moment for her to respond. “That will not be necessary,” she said, trying to find the right words. Alibaba freed her, had let her become his strength, and had protected her so many times. Truth be told, she should be the one paying for his dowry. “I still have money of my own.” Which was also true.
Alibaba shook his head. “No, someone should do it for you. Your father isn’t around, so someone else has to do it.” He paused, thinking for a moment. “Or do you think it would be better for Masrur to do it?” Morgiana shook her head. It would be more appropriate, but she didn’t want that, either. Alibaba looked to her, confused. It couldn’t be—“You are going to get married, right? You’re a hard worker, and cute to boot. If you wanted, you could find a husband in an hour.” Morgiana blushed, puffing her cheeks. She wasn’t prepared to take this kind of conversation. Not with him, at least. He was quiet for a moment, but said one last thing: “Just think about it, okay? We’re meeting Aladdin at the port tomorrow; we can leave early and just look and see if there’s anything there for you.”
Morgiana frowned; she didn’t want to. But it was hard to turn down Alibaba, especially when he was being so earnest like this. It wasn’t as if there wasn’t anything neat to see in the market, besides. “Just to look,” she said, very firmly. There wouldn’t be anything for him to buy.