A heavy snowstorm the night before meant that it would be difficult to go outside. Servants were digging the paths clear, but they wouldn't finish for some time. So Rion and Ari were in the training room. They had spent a lot of time here over the past few days, since Mir seemed to be avoiding Rion.

Rion had managed to use a trick of his father to disarm Ari in an earlier fight, and now he was teaching it to her. He wondered about not telling her and just using it as an advantage in their fights, but decided it wouldn't be fair.

Once he'd finished showing her the move, he stepped backwards and smiled. "Try it now." She began with a few cautious strokes which he parried, then she brought her sword round and with a flick of her wrist sent Rion's sword out of his sword and skimming across the floor.

It landed at the feet of a young woman dressed in soldier's uniform. She clapped a couple of times, smiling.

"I see you're learning some new moves, Ari," she said, "think you can beat me yet?"

"Lis!" Ari exclaimed, and Rion saw the expression of surprise and delight on her face. She dropped her sword on the mats and ran to the woman, embracing her. "When did you get back?"

"Just now," Lis replied, "I was a little worried we wouldn't get through when the storm struck last night, but I'm here now."

"How long for?"

"Only until midwinter. After then I have to go back." Rion stood nervously while the two greeted each other, feeling rather lost as to what was going on. Finally Ari glanced towards him and led Lis over.

"Rion, may I present my sister, Princess Lisben of Tharden. Lis, may I present Prince Eldarion of Gondor." Rion bowed formally, as Lis curtsied.

"Father said that we had a noble guest in the palace, but he never said how noble," Lis said. Rion wondered momentarily at the definition of guest.

"Thank you, your highness," Rion said. He studied Lis closely. She looked similar to Ari, but was taller and her arms were better muscled. There was a recent cut on her chin and Rion noticed some bruises. All of which would heal quickly.

"Rion, do you mind," Ari said, "but I'd like to talk to Lis for a bit."

"Of course," Rion replied and went to where the guards were waiting by the door. He was about to go back to his room, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy that Ari wanted to be with Lis. Was this how Mir felt? That sudden thought made him change his mind, and instead he headed to Mir's room.

Mir was staring out the window when Rion went in. He shot Rion a glare filled with more anger than he had ever seen in his friend before.

"Had enough of spending time with your spy friend?" Mir snarled.

"Spy? What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Mir spat, "That girl is just trying to get information out of you, and you're stupid enough to fall for it."

Rion felt anger raging up inside him, and didn't bother to contain it. "I'm not stupid!" He'd come here to see Mir, and he was angry with him for no reason, why shouldn't Rion be angry back?

"Then why are you spending time with her? You think it's alright to give her information in exchange for a nicer room? It's not treachery if the prince does it?"

The anger that filled Rion was so strong for a moment all he could do was stand there, astounded. The accusation struck him like a blow to the heart. "I would never betray my father," Rion said, venom filling his words.

Mir turned away from him, staring out the window and leaning heavily on the windowsill. "I'm sorry, Rion," he said so quietly he barely heard. The anger drained out of Rion as he saw his friend's shoulders begin to shake with silent sobs. He hurried and placed a hand on Mir's arm.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"Everything," Mir replied, "we're stuck in this place and you're spending all your time with her. Trying to make friends with the people here. It's like you've given up."

"I haven't given up," Rion told him, "I will never give up. I just don't see why we should make our time here any more miserable than it is. Besides, Ari might let something slip she doesn't realise."

"Like what?"

"Well, I know two ways out of the palace now. There are the doors in the hall, and the back door she took me through when we went to see the dragon. And she's been practising fighting with me, so when it comes to escape I won't be out of touch."

"I thought she was using you," Mir said with a slight smile, "but it seems it was the other way round." Inwardly Rion flinched at that statement, but he didn't let his friend see how much it hurt him. He wasn't using Ari. He liked her and liked being around her. He wasn't using her. Was he?

***

"He's a handsome boy," Lis commented as she watched Rion leave.

"I guess he is," Ari replied, "I hadn't given it much thought." From the expression on her sister's face, she knew Lis didn't believe that.

"So," Lis said innocently, "have you been to the hayloft yet?"

"Lis!" Ari exclaimed, shocked at the suggestion.

Lis began laughing, "Oh I forgot, you don't think that's romantic enough."

"Rion is a good friend," Ari said, though she could feel herself blushing as she said it. Lis raised her eyebrows with an expression that said all to clearly what she thought of their friendship.

"So you're telling me you haven't even kissed yet?" Lis asked in that innocent tone that had occasionally fooled their father, but never Ari.

"No we haven't," Ari replied sharply, but her thoughts strayed to that time on the side of the hill, when she thought Rion would bring his lips to hers.

"You want to though, don't you?" Ari blushed slightly, and didn't say anything. That blush was all the answer Lis needed.

Much later they sat in Ari's room, talking. Ari told her everything that had happened since Rion had arrived, carefully avoiding taking the bait of her sister's teasing. In return Lis told her all that had happened to her. While one might think Lis would have a more exciting time than Ari, most of her tales were of gruelling toil and boredom.

"And worst of all," she said, "there are these stupid rules about not getting involved physically with members of the regiment."

"I think that was the whole purpose of you being sent," said Ari smiling, "You've always been a little too interested in getting inside men's trousers."

"Not always," Lis responded, "only when the occupants of those trousers are good looking." Both girls laughed. "Besides," Lis went on, "you're hardly the one to talk. You should hear yourself go on about Rion. 'Oh he's so charming', 'he knows how to make me smile'."

Ari was sorely tempted to hit her sister, but didn't rise to the challenge. Instead she used the tone their father always used when lecturing, and said, "I have always acted in a way that befits one of my position. I have behaved with utmost dignity in accordance with my rank."

Lis almost exploded with mirth, "You sound just like Father! If you start talking about duty and royal obligations I'll never be able to look him in the eye again."

"That never seemed to be a problem before. You used to be able to look him in the eye when telling such incredible falsehoods as 'I'm a good daughter who would never do anything you wouldn't approve of.'"

"And still he never seemed to believe that one."

"I wonder why that might be."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door and a servant entered. "Princess Lisben, the king sends for you," he said.

"I'd better go face the wild beast," Lis said with a grin at Ari, and followed the servant out. Ari sat thinking for a while. She thought about what Lis had said regarding Rion. He was handsome, and she did enjoy being around him, but did she think of him as something other than a friend?

***

Rion was finishing his breakfast when there was a knock on the door. He was surprised and puzzled, since neither Ari nor Mir bothered knocking.

"Come in," he called. It was Lis who entered, now dressed in an elegant gown and truly looking like a princess.

"I talk with me sister about you yesterday," Lis said, sitting opposite Rion, "She likes you."

"I like her," Rion said, not entirely sure where this conversation was leading to.

"I'm glad. She's a nice girl, but she hasn't had much experience with boys."

"Experience?"

"I just wanted to let you know that if you do anything to hurt her I'll rip out your heart and make you eat it," Lis said. Rion wondered if she was joking, but the fierce expression on her face said otherwise.

"I've no intention of hurting her," Rion said.

"Good," Lis smiled, "though I doubt she'd spend so much time with you if you were the sort of person who enjoyed hurting others."

Lis stood, "Now I've got to go and join my father for breakfast." She made a face of terror at that. Rion watched her go, thinking of all the times he'd tried to avoid formal dining with his parents. He found himself wondering something he had been wondering for a while. Was this family so much different from his own? Ari and Lis seemed to act with King Ramel the way he acted towards his father. Was King Ramal so much different from King Elessar?

The answer came at once: of course he was. His father would never sanction the kidnapping of two innocent boys. But, despite the speed at which the answer came to him, there was less forcefulness behind him than there had been on previous occasions when he thought it.