Chapter 12

The hall of the wedding was filled with the fragrance of incense for the gods and the hymns and prayers echoed through its domes. The princess was given every comfort and position by the King. Tamina sat at the very front, head low with her veil covering her eyes, raising her gaze only to look at Prince Dastan who had not taken his eyes from her. She remembered the day of their marriage negotiations, as he stared at her then and his comments of her beauty. Those eyes they were not. They were not gentle and longing for it was of disdain now. The ceremony of bonding the bride and groom started and their minds flooded with memories of their own wedding. The priest started to chant words of love, promise, trust and fidelity and Tamina for the first time straitened her head to lock eyes with Dastan. Suddenly, the whole room bust out in applause bringing them back to reality.

Throughout the event, Dastan ensured that he avoided the Princess as best as he could. He laughed, ate, drank in her plain sight but away from her just so that he could be spiteful. Tamina convinced herself that she deserved the cold treatment she subjected him to half of their marriage but it was the flirting that sent a knife through her. Dastan was leaning against another princess from the back and was whispering to her making her laugh. At that, moment, he looked up to meet her eyes. Tamina's vision blurred with watering eyes and she turned to the delegate who was speaking to her and excused herself, almost running out of the room. Dastan saw the whole thing and so did Tus.

"Brother may I have a word," Tus lead Dastan off to the balcony.

"That was low Dastan. Even for me, that was low!"

"What was? Speaking to another woman when she does not want me?" he said taking a gulp of wine soon after.

"No flirting with them in plain sight," Tus was angered.

"Oh I am to be a celibate puppet to her?"

"No Dastan you are to be her husband to her!"

"We are no longer as she wished!" Dastan spat.

"You never gave the proclamation! You are still married and you will treat her with respect Dastan," Tus exclaimed as he walked off.

"You should know with your many wives. It must be very respectful to have them all to fuck," Dastan mocked making Tus walk back in anger and cupping his neck from the back.

"I will put that comment down to wine and stupidity! Listen to me. If you love her, your plan to hurt her is a double edged sword. If you do not love her, have the decency to give her the proclamation and walk away," Tus advised before returning to the dinner.

Dastan took the last gulp and threw the cup over the balcony. He hated knowing in his heart the truth, no matter what he does he knew his wrong and he knew his feelings for her as he knew his own mind.

Tamina did not have to look up to know it was Dastan who had come in from the balcony. She has her back turned to him and he still was not in the reflection on the mirror she was looking at. "You should not be here Dastan," she said quietly as she turned round to meet his eyes. She held her night coat at the waist and stood up to face him. He stood there stiff, his breathing was heavier and as his chest rose, it flashed his toned torso. The longing each had for the other burned their skins.

"It is you who should not be here! Tell me Tamina why are you here?" Dastan's words fell hard on Tamina's heart.

"Your father invited me and I wished to present as a sign of goodwill between our kingdoms."

"Always the diplomat, are you not? Since there is very little 'goodwill' between since you accused..."

At the words Tamina raised her voice, "I did not accuse you on purpose Dastan my heart was in the correct place. I need to protect the Dagger of Time and my people. "

"It's always that Dagger of Time. Do you see anything beyond it?"

"I have always told you, it is my calling and I will not sacrifice it. I did it for the good of all," she reasoned.

"And it does not matter who you trample on to get there? Tell me Tamina why are you here looking for me? With your gift and your little speech about your songs and prayers for my safety. You said that with the same lips you used to defame my family and me," he walked to her.

"I meant what I said today, you are in our thoughts..."

"STOP!" Dastan shouted as he moved inches away from Tamina's face, "You took my heart as a play thing and you dare to come back to kick it around some more. Though out Garsiv's ceremony you look at me with those eyes, bewitching me and torturing me," he spat.

"I never forced you to look at me, I never forced you to marry me and I never forced you to say those hurtful wards today when I wanted to make amends. How do you think I feel when you disappear without a word and promising me a proclamation that never came?" Tamina retorted inches from his face. His body was aching to feel her embrace, her lips driving him mad.

"You came here with only one wish to keep me in your skirt..." before Dastan could finish, Tamina raised her right hand to slap him. Dastan caught her hand and placed it behind her with his. As Tamina struggled, he pulled her even more into his body. The night coat had opened and her chest was heaving with anger and the craving she had for Dastan's touch who could not take his eyes off her lips as they stood. Tamina tried to push herself out of the struggle with her free hand on his chest but this only ignited Dastan's passion to hold her even closer.

The next thing Tamina felt was his lips on hers, searching and pushing deep into her. She closed her eyes, she opened her lips letting him deepen their kiss which was a far cry their first. His mind was fogged with the passion and longing he had for her. Feeling her surrender to him, Dastan let go of her hand knowing that restraint was not required and used his hands to encircle her waist. She felt so small in his hands. In one swift motion, Dastan lifted her and placed her at the edge of the bed never parting their lips.

On the night his brother wed his bride, Dastan, wanted to finally claim his. He separated from her lips, propped himself up with his knee and with one hand around her waist, he carried her up so that she rested her head on the pillow. His kisses were not sweet or gentle but ravaged her lips and parting, moved to Tamina's neck. For her part, she did not resist. She could not.

Dastan supported himself with his left hand and rested his forehead on hers. He slid his other hand down her left side tracing her being and started to hike her night gown up. Tamina's skin burned at his touch on her thighs forcing her eyes closed and arching her back in pleasure of his touch shamefully overtook her senses. He propped her knee up and placed himself between her thighs. Both could feel the raging passion but except for their breathing, there was no sound. In one motion, Dastan pushed his hips against Tamina's and once again captured her lips. Tamina arched her back in pleasure and freeing her lips from his, she gasped his name.

At that moment, it is as if his heart separated from his body and his carnal lust for her. In his mind, this was not an act of love, she did not love him. She will do this and she will let him have her to forge a marriage to protect her people. He will always protect her, always, but if he takes her maidenhood, she can be with no other. Someone she may love. He knew what he had to do for love he has for her.

He broke away from her and sat at the edge of the bed, head on his hands, trying to release himself from this madness. Tamina, in her shock at losing Dastan as suddenly as his affections could not make what had happened. She struggled to catch her breath.

"Dastan," she whispered reaching to touch him.

With his back still towards her, he picked a scroll he had been carrying earlier from the floor. He was too ashamed of his actions to look at her. He was in disbelief of how much control he gained over her through the loss of his.

"I came only to give you this. As promised Princess, the proclamation confirming our annulment. I...I will never bother you again," and with those words, he kept the scroll on her table and without as much as a glance, left the same way he came. Tamina in great pain, squeezed her coat shut with her hands and sobs shook her whole body. To her, he had no more regard for her and she never was able to ask for forgiveness or confess her love.

That night, Tamina and Dastan were both broken in confirming their fate to be without each other in false belief of the others disdain when there was only love, in truth, between them.