Hi Everyone

Thank you so much for your reviews. I am really thrilled that you like reading it! Pease stick around and I promise to make it worthwhile. Also, I have the next fic lined up in my head, a modern fic.

Anyway, let me do this asap.

Chapter 3

"Priestess," she completed her sentence. Tamina looked at Dastan, looking for a reaction but was met with confusion.

"What?" he asked.

"A priestess. I am one of the priestesses in the temple," she clarified and awaited his response.

"Jasmines and sandalwood," Dastan said to himself.

"What?"

"You smell of jasmines and sandalwood from the temple," he looked up at her and suddenly his lips curved into a smile. He turned to shield his softer side.

"Why didn't I think of that," Tamina mumbled after his answer, making Dastan turn.

"What did you say?"

"Er… I said I should have told you that. That is why I helped you - I see the truth in people. You did not kill your father," she said in a gentle tone hoping that the priestess act, which is not a compete lie, would help her.

"How… how to you know the way around the desert so well as if the very map is etched in your mind?" he asked with his curiosity aroused at the new revelation.

"Religious school. We learnt known maps. I… I know how to track because of my father and brothers… who are no more," she said and at the mention of father and brothers, Dastan's mind went back to his.

"I have to get to Avrat and you will help me," he said as he turned to check the horse for mounting.

"What?" she gasped.

"To Avrat, where my father will be buried," he repeated, slowly annunciating each word.

"I heard where! It was more of an 'are you insane'-what than 'I did not hear you'-what," Tamina said hysterically. She managed to get the man out of a terrible situation only for him to risk his life; and the dagger, again.

"Nizam will be there. He's the only one I can trust," he replied over his shoulder as he picked up the saddle.

Tamina rushed to him and pulled the other end of the saddle to his surprise. "So you are insane. That place will be crawling with Persian soldiers and worse, do you really think you can trust anyone in your family?" Tamina said knowing that if he is caught, she will lose the dagger. She had to discourage him but his mind seemed to be made up as he pulled the saddle hard from her grip as a reply. Tamina was losing hope and wit!

"Good luck getting into Avrat. Actually, good luck on your way to Avrat," she mocked and crossed her hands.

"I don't need luck, I have you," he said matter of fact as he dropped the saddle and copied her pose.

"What?"

"Was that a 'are you insane'-what or 'I did not hear you'-what?" he asked, copying her earlier words.

"Still in 'are you insane'. Well, I am not coming with you," she shot back and turned in a huff.

Dastan stood quiet in contemplation and replied with a simple 'fine'.

Tamina was surprised at the lack of interest and the swiftness of acceptance of her answer. Perhaps the Prince was gentler than she thought.

He offered his hand as to thank her and he looked into her eyes. Tamina looked at his hand so inviting and then raised her eyes to his, blue and engulfing as before. She felt her left hand involuntarily lay on his.

It lasted a second and suddenly he twisted his hand around grabbed her wrist and brought her other hand to a rope. Tamina stood in shock as her wrists were bound by Dastan in front of her very eyes.

"Wha... what are you doing?" she screamed.

"I'm taking you prisoner," Dastan replied calm as ever.

"What?"

He looked at her. "Still the 'are you insane' one," she replied in answer to his stare.

"I asked you and you said you would not come. So now I am taking you prisoner so that you have no choice in the matter," Dastan smirked.

Tamina struggled against his grip on the tied rope to no avail. He was strong and pulled her more into his body, their faces a breath away from each other's.

"I am a Prince of Persia and you will..."

"Oh yes, you clearly showed you are a true Persian Prince. You have no respect for life and you would slay any that stood in your way. Selfish, brutal and without honor. You amass your fortunes in the blood of the innocent and..." before she could finish he gripped her face in her hands.

"Don't talk about my family as such. My father rules... ruled honorably and where we went, order and prosperity flourished. Alamut was a mistake and I knew it," he pushed her face away and turned in shame at how he manhandled her.

He was never disrespectful to anyone - man or woman - but the rage and loss he felt ignited a beast. At one moment, he was calm as possible and yet rage at mention of his family defamed was too much to bear. He turned towards the figure next to him, startled but standing her ground against his anger.

"You will lead me to Avrat and you will tell my Uncle what you know about the robe. Then you will lead us to it so it will prove my innocence," Dastan said with a hopeful voice.

"Grief has made you weak. Do you think that a mere counterfeit will be able to prove your innocence?" she questioned with a hint of concern.

"I just need a chance!"

"You are wanted for the King's murder! Possibly a bounty is placed on your head and every single barbarian must be looking for you. By morning, your portrait will be everywhere," Tamina reasoned.

"That is why you will lead me through the dessert," he replied as a matter of fact.

"This is madness," she said again.

"It is not madness! I did not kill my father and I will not miss his funeral," he said.

"And yours!"

He pounced at those words, "What would you have me do? Live my whole life with this guilt?"

"Go back to Alamut," she suggested hoping he will take the bait. Dastan stood with his head hanging and turned his head to her.

"I will take you back to Alamut, Dastan and I can get you to the elders who will help us. They will listen to me and they can..."

"They cannot do anything for me," Dastan whispered.

"But that is where Persian presence will be the least! You are accused of killing the sovereign for your own personal gain! The two places they will look for you are in Avrat and Nasaf," she said as she tried to release herself from the rope.

"Nasaf?"

"Well when you fail miserably at Avrat and if your head is intact, you will want to go to Nasaf to speak to whomever," she argued, making Dastan's head jerk up in surprise. How did this woman read him so well?

She stepped close. "If you want my help, you need to listen to me."

"Listen to you? You're the one bound, and if you keep on going like this, gaged," Dastan threatened.

"I'm not afraid of you. You are accused of murdering the King of Persia! It's your face they are hunting. Me? I am some obscure servant who you dragged off, nay kidnapped when I tell my side of the story. So will they believe that some stupid girl orchestrated an escape?" she taunted.

"They are hunting for you too," he remarked.

"They do not know my face. I can escape to anywhere while you… " she stopped instantly regretted the words spoken in rash. They were, however, enough for Dastan's mind to work.

He stepped towards Tamina and had that annoying smirk on his face making her traced him in disgust with her eyes.

"That is true, no one has seen your face," he said in deep thought.

She tried to step back but Dastan simply reached and grabbing her tied wrists, pulled her to him hard. She struggled against him which only made him press her closer to him.

"Please Dastan, do not do this to my honour," she pleaded.

"Your honour? I simply want to see your face so you will not trick me," he replied.

"I promise you, I will not," she said eagerly to portray trust.

"Too late," he kept his hand on the fold of her veil at the side as she shook her head and body to escape him. "Stop fidgeting! All I will find will be all your wrinkles, warts and crooked teeth," he said with a laugh as he flicked her whole veil off.

He involuntarily gasped and his lips parted.

Tamina's veil earlier covered her hair, face - except the eyes - neck and shoulders. But now, he saw her face, her hair, her neck and the curve to her shoulders. The wide crescent neckline of her tunic bordered her cleavage. There was only the moonlight but he can see her. She was beyond beautiful. Her skin was as a pearl and her long hair cascaded down her back. Dastan just stood bewitched.

A stand of hair fell on her right cheek and he slowly reached up, rested his palm on her face and pushed the hair out with his thumb. She held her breath. This was the first time a man had touched her and it was not fear that she felt but a strange excitement. He was bewitched by her and his mind left him from the present state of affairs.

In that distraction, Tamina grabbed the dagger off his belt and pushing him off held it in front of her.