"Girls!" cried Princess Badra. "Magrib is coming!
I must look my best.
Bring me my pearls."
Her attendants ran in circles, and one went downstairs to open the gate.
When the princess heard Magrib's footsteps in the hall, she opened the door.
"Welcome!" she said with a smile.
"Come in, dear man."
The magician didn't know what to say.
Usually she didn't want him around her.
"Princess, I—," he said shyly.
"Oh, you look so handsome," said the princess.
"Sit down! No—not there—sit here!"
The princess took Magrib's hand and led him to the cushion beside her.
"I have been so lonely," she said.
"You must visit more often."
"Princess, I'm so glad to hear you say that," said Magrib happily.
"I've been sad long enough," said the princess.
"Tears will not bring Aladdin back.
So I'm not going to think about him."
She moved a little closer to Magrib.
"I'm going to think about you."
"Oh, Princess," sighed Magrib.
He tried to give her a kiss.
But the princess suddenly jumped up and said,
"We must have wine!"
"You are so kind," said Magrib.
"We should get to know each other—"
"Oh, we will," replied the princess.
"But first, let's make a toast."
She poured wine into two cups.
"To our happiness!"
"To our happiness!" said Magrib.
The princess took a tiny sip.
Magrib drank all his wine in one gulp.
The princess poured more wine.
"Good wine," she said and took another sip.
Magrib emptied his cup, and she poured him more wine.
Magrib drank cup after cup until he felt a bit sleepy.
"Another toast!" shouted the princess. "To Magrib!"
Magrib drank, giggled, and fell over backward.
The cup fell from his hand.
And he started to snore—loudly.
"Aladdin!" called Princess Badra, leaping up. "Come!"
Aladdin rushed in, pulled the lamp from Magrib's coat, and rubbed.
Smoke poured from the lamp and the high melody returned.
"Your wish is my command!" said the genie.
"Ah, it's you, Aladdin!"
Then he saw Magrib on the floor.
"I never liked him."
"Genie," said Aladdin, "fly this palace home!"
"I hear and obey, master!" said the genie.
The genie picked up the palace and started to fly.
Aladdin and Princess Badra hugged each other as they flew home.
The palace landed with a thud, which woke up Magrib.
When he saw Aladdin, he stood up and screamed with rage.
Then he jumped out the palace window and ran away.
Well, you must imagine the sultan sadly looking out his window that morning.
Suddenly Aladdin's palace came down from the sky.
His daughter was waving from the window.
Full of joy, the sultan hurried down the red carpet to greet the happy couple.
He ordered his guards to bring Zeba to the palace for a big party.
Everyone in the kingdom was invited to celebrate his daughter's return.
Everyone but the grand vizier.
He had to stay in his room.
Aladdin and Princess Badra never saw Magrib again.
They lived long lives and had many children.
In time, Aladdin became sultan.
He ruled in peace and the people loved him.
So this story has a happy ending.
That's another reason my king likes it so well.
Would you like to hear another story?
Oh, not today, but some other day.
I know a thousand more!
Would you like to hear the one about . . .?
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