Adventures of Sinbad and Layla

Forgiveness

After Sinbad and Layla returned to the palace, the atmosphere between them was tense.

For ages, days in fact, she didn't speak a word to him. She was still incredibly angry at him. But at the same time, she wouldn't let him out of her sight. She clung onto him, scared that he would disappear.

"Layla, please talk to me," he begged desperately. "Say something."

They were both sitting on the hammock on their balcony. He was holding her face, trying to get her to give him some sort of response.

"Shout at me if you have to. Please..."
She finally looked into his eyes. "Why did you do it?" she asked.
He took a deep breath, still surprised she spoke to him. "It was the only way."
"Why didn't you tell me in the first place?"
"Because I know you wouldn't let me do it alone. And I didn't want anything to happen to you."
"So, you decided to sacrifice yourself?" A tear rolled down her cheek. "Do you have any idea what would have happened to me if you died?"
He sighed, brushing away her tear with his thumb. "You would have been alive."
She shook her head. "On the outside maybe. But I'd be dead inside without you."
He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry..."
She breathed shakily, trying her best not to cry. "You didn't even speak to me... You tell me everything. I've been your best friend since we were babies. I'm your wife... You hid everything. Don't you trust me anymore?"
"Don't say that, Layla. Please..." He kissed her lips quickly before pulling away to look at her face. "Of course I trust you. More than anything. That's why I knew you would be fine in my absence. Esra and Sindria would continue to thrive with you here. But if something happened to you, I would have fallen into darkness."
"Everything you did... Granting my wishes, making love to me... You were saying goodbye, weren't you?"
"Yes..."
"And you made me promise to stay inside so that I wouldn't find the battle."
"Which really you should apologise for breaking," he joked.

She shot him an angry glare. The Djinn didn't kill him but that look almost did.

"I'm joking. I'm sorry. You have no idea how grateful I am that you got there just in time. You saved me. It was my greatest mistake not telling you, but..." He held onto her hands and clutched onto them desperately. "I couldn't let anything happen to you. The day you died traumatised me. And it will for the rest of my life. I hate it when you get just a scratch. There was no way I could take you into battle."
"I know, Sin..." She shook her head and pecked his lips. "I know. But please don't do something like that again. I can't live without you either. We live together, we die together. That's how it's meant to be. Whether it's in battle or of old age, it will always be us forever."
"You're right." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. "I'm sorry."
She nodded. "I know you are."

***

Layla was simply grateful that Sinbad was still alive. All of her anger towards him was gone and he did his utmost to keep her smiling. However, as they ate dinner together with the Jafar, Hinahoho and Sharrkan, the topic returned to what had happened.

"You know, Layla," Sharrkan began, "I can't believe you forgave Lord Sin so easily."
Sinbad chuckled nervously. "What?"
"I know it's shocking," she said. "I've beat him up over smaller things than that. But I understand why he did it in the way he did. I didn't tell him that I was going to die giving birth to Esra because I wanted to see him happy."
Sinbad looked at her with an annoyed frown. "That's right. You did do that to me."
She rolled her eyes. "At least I actually died. You couldn't even do that properly."
"Hey, I would have died if you didn't come and save me."

The generals were confused by their argument.

"Wait..." Jafar sweat dropped. "Are they fighting over who died the best?"
Sharrkan shrugged. "I still think he should have a bigger punishment."
"I have to agree," Jafar nodded.
"Me too," Hinahoho added.
Sinbad frowned. "Why are you even here? You were supposed to be in Imuchakk."
"Hang on," Layla spoke up. "Don't change the subject. I'm interested in what they have to say."
"But, Layla-"
She held her hand up to him. "Hush. Go on, Sharrkan. What do you suggest?"
"Well, I was thinking of a proper punishment," he said.
Sinbad clasped his hands together. "Layla, please," he sobbed.
"And what sort of punishment do you suggest?" she asked, completely ignoring her husband.
Sharrkan snapped his fingers. "Maybe sleep in separate rooms for a month."
Sinbad looked horrified but Layla shook her head. "That would be a punishment for me too."
Then Hinahoho thought of an idea. "What if we brought Shujae back?"
Sinbad glared at him. "Don't. You. Dare."
"How about make him swim around the island five times?"
"Please, no."
Layla sighed. "They're all great suggestions but I know Sin has learned his lesson." She looked at him and smiled sadly. "I know that he will never do anything like that again because seeing my hurt was punishment enough. My heart won't be able to handle it. Even now my heart still breaks over what could have been..."

Sinbad could feel the guilt wedging deeper into his heart. He knew how much it would continue to hurt her even though he was alive. But then he realised something.

"Wait a minute," he suddenly said. "Your punishment is to make me feel guilty?"
Layla smirked, any hint of hurt disappearing. "Yep."

The worst punishment for Sinbad was seeing his wife upset and hurt and that's why she was going to use that against him. She laughed evilly, sending chills through the King and his generals.