Hi everyone… here you go the last Chapter of Part One. After a little break, I will start updating asap. Thank you so much for your kind reviews which encourage me on =) I truly enjoy making a PoP fan enjoy. Look forward to your reviews and Part Two!

Chapter 10

She opened her eyes and immediately felt her eyes water with the sharp pain of a throbbing head. Within seconds she realised she is bound, gagged and laying in a corner in a moving caravan. There was no light coming in but she could hear the movement of what seemed like soldiers. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and turned her head to scan her surrounding, gasping as her eyes made out a man at the opening of the caravan. He scoffed at her surprise and instantly jumped out, calling for a royal guard.

Her mind panicked as the memory of the ambush and realisation that they are now captured flooded in. Within minutes the caravan stopped and she was dragged out. Tamina tried to hide her face from the guard who was standing by as he lowered her gag and then she heard his voice. It was evening and there was enough light from the setting sun and she saw Dastan in a distance.

"Dastan," she said but was met with heavy slap making her fall on the floor.

"It's Prince Dastan, you whore," the guard corrected.

Dastan's anger boiled. He shouted at the guard and ran towards her with Garsiv following him from a distance. He kneelt next to her and fought to keep his hands from holding her face.

"Tamina, Tamina are you ok?"

There was dried blood from a cut to her forehead and now fresh blood started to pour from her cut lip from the slap. Her eyes watered at his sight as he used his thumb to swipe some blood off her chin.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"Everything is fine. I am found innocent," he said as he removed his scarf and covered her face. He knew she did not want to be exposed. "Nizam found the man who poisoned the robe and I am proven innocent. They have been looking for me all this time. It's over."

Tamina's mind tried to wrap around his words but many questions flooded her. Who was the man who poisoned the king? How did they know where they were?

"Das... Dastan what if it's a trap?"

"No, I trust my brothers. It's over," he exhaled and helped her up as Garsiv reached them. He looked at Dastan's gentle ways with her and the position of helping he was in.

"Dastan," he called, "Let the guards do their job."

"Untie her," Dastan barked at the guard who had hit Tamina but he looked nervously at Garsiv.

"Garsiv she saved my life," Dastan looked at his brother. Garsiv just nodded in reply.

Tamina rubbed her wrist from the pain of the tight ropes and looked at Dastan. He was to protect her and now, he is opposite to her, standing with the other Persian prince. She knew that they would part ways now. She will ask for the dagger and they will separate forever, nothing but memories of each other.

"She is Alamutian? The maid who helped you escape?" Garsiv questioned.

"No… she was a slave being taken to Lurs. I rescued her in Avrat and used her to escape. I am alive because of her," Dastan replied but Tamina stood in confusion of the trail she was under and the lie he told his brother. Garsiv looked stern but before he could continue, he was called by a guard about a message from Tus. Dastan took the chance to speak to Tamina. He went close to her.

"Listen to me, you must go to Nasaf," he whispered.

"Nasaf? But you... You promised," Tamina gasped.

After he was captured, Garsiv had narrated the incidents in the past month. The robe had been poisoned by the very priest who offered the fake to Tus as uncle had discovered. Nizam had found more evidence of the weapons sales to Koshkan and even worse, the Hassansins. Alamut has been annexed by Persia with no way in or out, including secret passages had been found and collapsed. The Princess of Alamut is under house arrest. In reality, Alamut did not exist anymore. Nizam is yet leading the search and prosecution for the arms but the brothers were requested to be together at Nasaf to put a unified stand for the Empire.

There was more, the Hassansins have attacked whoever was in the Water Temple which Tamina held secret. Dastan had questioned how Garsiv discovered him only to receive the answer that Nizam's spies knew where he was headed. He had many questions, too many coincidences and things Uncle Nizam had discovered. But he did not have time to think.

He trusts Garsiv. He knows he is honorable as he is brutal. Now he wants Dastan to accompany him secretly to meet Uncle Nizam halfway. "There is a treacherous plot against Persia," Garsiv had told him, "Trust no one and only we must know the real state."

These words were echoing in his mind as he looked at her.

He cannot reveal anything to her. That is why he protected her with a fake story as, if Garsiv knew she Alamutian, she would be branded a spy. On the other hand, if he let her go, she will be a refugee or a prisoner.

"I know what I promised… Tamina remember how I trusted you? I need you to trust me now. You must go to Nasaf," he said hurriedly looking if Garsiv could see him with her. She was confused at this rash turn of events.

The dagger is safe with the location only known by him. If she is set free now, she could meet Asoka and trace the terrain to where they have been to locate the dagger. Or should she just ask him now where the dagger is? Should she listen to him and stay, she will be yet a prisoner but without chains. Tamina closed her eyes and prayed for no more than a second, asking the Gods what she should do. A soft voice in her heart gave the reply.

"I will stay," she said, "with you."

"Tamina, I have to go."

"No… No don't leave me," she pleaded.

"I have to go but I will come to Nasaf soon," he assured.

Before she could speak again, Dastan heard Garsiv approach and separated from her.

"Brother, we must go now," Garsiv said.

Dastan nodded in reply and turned to the commander of the guards.

"Take her to Nasaf and make her a member of the staff. She is to be allowed to practice her religion and keep her face covered at all times as she wished. She is untouched and to remain untouched. If anyone should lay a hand on her, I would break them myself. She saved my life and I have claimed her," Dastan commanded.

He looked at Tamina as she stood by the guard who first struck her. Even though her face was covered, he can sense that she is crying.

"Thank the princes for their goodwill," the guard demanded.

"Thank you, your highness," she whispered.

"Bow," the guard commanded again.

Dastan moved to stop her but Garsiv subtlety placed his hand on Dastan's wrist to stop him. Tamina looked at Dastan. They were equal every day since they met and here she had to bow to him. Tamina lowered her head and curtseyed, piercing Dastan's heart.

He turned against his will as her head was bowed and walked away. It was better that he not see her face.

Dastan started the journey with Garsiv immediately towards Alamut but not before advising Roham to remind the guard who manhandled Tamina what pain is. He had Bis by his side once again.

Tamina sat at the back of a caravan not knowing where she would finally end up. She had never been alone in her life and being without Dastan was a painful challenge she did not want to face. She closed her eyes and felt the safety of the dagger but she feared for his life.

Asoka, finally having dug himself out of the city, was tracking Tamina but he could not be further. He remembered what was told to him by the Council-Princess Tamina must not know anything about the happenings in Alamut. She is no longer the regent but a guardian and any news of her people's suffering will take her away from her calling. Her only duty is the dagger and Asoka must ensure that even if he had to lie. She needed to be safe and free of Alamut.

The only person who felt his plan coming to place was Nizam.

"It was brilliant I must admit," Zolm said as he got back from the trance he was in.

"Yes, why chase him when we can vouch his innocence and bring him to us," Nizam laughed.

"I see him now, clearly. He is coming to you with Prince Garsiv. Whatever made him invisible to me is now gone as that day I saw him in that village, gambling away," he narrated from his vision.

"And all I have to do now is to take the dagger," Nizam said to himself, "no matter the cost."

END OF PART ONE