Araiel awoke the next morning and was given a tour of the palace. She found it very ornate much more so than Minas Tirith which was a fortress. This was a palace en-laden with gold, jewels, silks, and treasures beyond compare. The Prince was, however, too busy to accommodate her with the tour. He was occupied with affairs of state since the closing of the king's death had to be dealt with.

Hamir had spent the past two days in his study, reading forms of different things to keep his little corner of the world running as smoothly as possible. His best friend and advisor had told him numerous times to put that aside and pay attention to his betrothed, but Hamir had been unable to do so.

The day of the wedding arrived all too soon. Two days of oil baths, perfumes, skin creams, and preparations were given to Araiel for the wedding. She disliked all the attention given to her, but she was friendly to the maids, and they enjoyed her presence.

Araiel looked at herself in the mirror, and her vision became blurred as the tears began to fall from her eyes. She was about to be married to a man she did not even know. And then she noticed his face within the mirror. At once, she attempted to be strong.

Hamir had come into her room to talk to her a little before the wedding, to clear things up. She was so young; Araiel was very probably unlearned on what happened after the wedding. He didn't wish to scare her. But when he'd walked in, he'd seen the tears falling down her cheeks, so seeing what was wrong became his first priority

"Araiel?"

She turned and instantly dried her eyes. "Forgive me my lord, perhaps I am growing ill." She turned around once again not brave enough to face him.

He shook his head. "Perhaps you should just call me Hamir, since we will be married this afternoon. I do not want my wife to call me 'my lord.'" Then he paused stood in front of her to wipe her eyes.

"This must be a new sight. A bride weeping on the day of her wedding."

He laughed a little. "I only hope they are tears of joy, not of sorrow," he murmured.

"I am afraid they are tears of fear."

He nodded a little. "What are you afraid of?" he asked softly.

"My prince, please...I know your father has just passed away, and it is required of you to marry to become king and to unite our two kingdoms, is there any way possible this day could be delayed?"

Hamir thought a moment. It was the day of the wedding...all of the preparations were complete. As it was a mostly private wedding, it was possible that the day could be put off for a few more days... So he nodded. "Yes, it is possible. On one condition, though."

"Yes."

He smiled warmly. "Call me Hamir," he told her.

"The condition has been accepted...Hamir."

"I apologize, Araiel. These two days, I should not have been in my throne room attending to state affairs. My advisor was right. I should be with you. And I intend to within the next few days or how long it will take you to walk down the aisle. I shall inform the people you need more time. And I wish to spend the remainder of the day with you. When you are finished undressing from your wedding gown, will you meet me near the stables? If you do not remember the way, I will have someone escort you."

"Yes, I will come."
"Thank you…Araiel."
Hesitantly, he brushed his fingers against her cheek. The slightest tough caused a bolt of energy to be sent up her spine. It was so brief, and he disappeared from the tent within a moment.

Araiel changed from her wedding dress into a pale blue riding outfit. She fixed her hair into a bun for the assumed ride ahead and quickly met Hamir at the stables as he requested. He had saddled the horses already, and was only waiting for Araiel to arrive. She was impressed by the stables when she first was shown them. The mounts were proud and strong, the horses calm but determined when in battle. They were a different breed compared to the ones she was accustomed to within Rohan, but they were fair all the same. Hamir saw her enter, and smiled cordially.

"I know these lands best, so it should be I that teach them to you," he told her.

She nodded and pulled herself up into the saddle of the horse without even the slightest effort or hint of help from Hamir.

He observed the grace and poise by which she did it. "You are very strong," he told her as he jumped up onto his horse's back. He had intended to help her into the saddle, but it pleased him to know she could take care of herself.

"Whereas my sister was more intrigued by affairs with court and social life, I kept to the great outdoors and my philosophy books. Horse were my best friends. Are my best friends."

He nodded as he began towards the portcullis that led to the outer bailey. "A strong friendship with your horse is important. I admire that you were not afraid to acquire that, or have a fear of the wild," he said.

She listened as the gates opened before them, and they set out together upon the horses. He instantly began galloping hoping to spur her on and see what kind of adventurous spirit she possessed. This appeased it of course, and she immediately started to speed up. She caught up with him rapidly and even begun to outrun him. With good reason...Araiel was lighter and having relatives in the land of Rohan home of the horse lords, she was indeed a skilled rider even more so than a warrior such as Hamir

Hamir laughed aloud when he saw Araiel's horse's flanks before him. He kept up the chase and continued laughing until they reached the tropical oases that wasn't too far. "You ride very well, Araiel," he told her.

She looked up from her horse. Thank you. I apologize I had to best you. I learned well in Rohan."

"The horse lords," Hamir said. "I should hope you did, and it appears very much so. And no need to apologize."

He slowed their riding to an easy canter as they went through the trees. "I wish to take you to a place I often visit here. It is rather far in, but we will return before dinner."

She smiled. "I am in no great hurry."

"Yes, I have noticed. Elves normally never are. Indeed, neither am I." He returned her smile. "We have until you say so before the wedding commences once more," he informed her as he surveyed the area.

"If it was my life and all my choices, it would not be for a very long time."

Hamir cast her a sidelong glance with a little bit of a sly, smug grin, but continued riding. "Is that so?" he asked, not bothering to try to hide his smugness.

So she was beginning to fall for him. It pleased him, for he didn't want to live in an arranged marriage without love.

"Hamir...I was in love with someone long before I met you."

She wished she could take back the words once she uttered them. They made him wince a little. Not exactly what he had been thinking. So, he kept quiet, staring forward a little indifferently.

"I apologize. I had no need to say that," she replied quickly.

He smiled a little sullenly. "'Tis all right. Think nothing of it, Araiel," he told her quietly. "Who is this man that has stolen your heart?"

"His name was Aerin. He was a hunter who lived on a farm outside Gondor. Not exactly the kind of man a princess should fall in love with."

"Indeed," Hamir agreed, "I would wager your father was close to furious."

"He never knew. Aerin and I kept our friendship a secret."

"I see. It must have been a difficult feat." He paused. "Am I the only one you have told, or did you confide in perhaps your lady's maids?"

"My sister no one else."

"A wise decision. Lady's maids have tendency to speak more than they should," he said. "Especially the ones in my palace."

She shrugged. "I never noticed. I never had many lady's maids. My sister took most of them. I was more independent."

"A good trait in a woman," Hamir commented. "Independence. Most men would prefer their wife to be the opposite, though." That made him think that he might have been a last resort to marry her off, not just affairs of peace and matters of state.

"When my father received your letter and came in to speak with me about it, I was crushed," she began. "I knew if you had chosen my sister, she would have instantly run away. She's too stubborn for it. I was always the one who was more interested in politics and concerned for the state of my country. My duty to my people is more important than my heart even if it doesn't feel like it. But I was crushed knowing you merely chose me over her because I was the fairer."

He laughed. "That is true. But I have heard a few good things about you, Araiel. From what could be either rumor or truth, you seemed the better choice. I don't want a wife to sit by my side quietly. Or a silly one. I wish for a companion to care for, and for her to care for me likewise. I was hoping, in the least, that you would be a better choice for that than your sister."

"My sister would have driven you mad.. She speaks her mind every moment."

He grinned at that. "Being outspoken has its own ups and downs. I suppose, from that comment, that your sister expresses the downs of it?"

"Yes, she would tell a Uruk he was ugly."

Hamir laughed aloud. "I doubt she would live to tell the tale, much less finish her sentence," he told her. "But you appear to be wiser about your words. For that, I am grateful."

She sighed, "And yet, sometimes I wish I were as brave as she. I wish I could follow my heart without looking back without care for what happened tomorrow only today.

"But for that, you are wary. It is good to be ready for anything, as wariness brings. You think ahead before you speak, it seems."

"Yes," she nodded. "Sometimes, I wish I didn't."

"It can be a bothersome trait," he agreed, "taking up the time you could use to further a point or perhaps save someone, but still it is useful, nonetheless."

Hamir was silent a few moments until they neared a small clearing. "Ah, just a few more moments, and we'll reach our destination. I hope you don't mind water."

"I lived in the north, Hamir. I know how to swim very well."

He smiled. "Yes, I didn''t ask if you could swim. I asked if you minded water."

"No, I enjoy it."

Hamir nodded. "Good."

As he spoke, they reached the clearing he had been thinking of. There was a spring, with a waterfall dropping into it. The greenery around it looked planned, but on the contrary, it was all accidental. She surveyed the tropical foliage, the exotic flowers. It was a place Hamir frequented to clear his head.

She dismounted looking in awe at the beautiful scene. "It's incredible."

"I am glad you approve."

Hamir dismounted as well and took the reins from her. He led the horses over to a clearing he'd appropriated for the horses and instructed them to stay there. Then, he went over to Araiel and slowly took her by the waist as he slid off. She noticed his hands linger there for a moment or two.

He smiled. "This is my hiding place."

"Your hiding place?"

"Yes, everyone needs one now and then I believe."

They approached the spring, and Hamir calmly kicked off his shoes and removes his tunic. Araiel looked on curiously as he removed his waist shirt and casually climbed into the water. Araiel slowly approached and dipped her bare feet in. The sun was hot and already shedding its rays upon her. The dense foliage around them made everything even more uncomfortable. Hamir looked at her waiting for her to make a move, and she finally did. He was her fiancé after all, and there was no sense in sitting upon the bank all day. Araiel slowly peeled away her outer dress, and once she did, the Prince spoke.

"What is that" he said rather loudly startling her.

Araiel looked down at herself. She was wearing nothing but her under shift and a corset of course. Hamir stood up out of the water and approached her. There was a sullen look on his face as if he was displeased about something.

"Turn around," he ordered simply.

Araiel did wondering what he was about when she felt the corset loosening. She let out a deep breath something she could not normally do as he unfastened it and let it slip to the ground.

"You have no need to wear those atrocious garments. They are not suited for women and I will not have your ribs broken by them."

She nodded unsure of what else to say. She was somewhat startled by his sudden aggressiveness, but she was also pleased that he did not care about the fashion of Gondor. He cared about the person underneath the clothes and did not wish her to harm her body in any way.
Slowly, Araiel walked into the cool and inviting water and then dipped her head back soaking her hair to her skin. It felt marvelous compared to the searing air outside. Hamir watched as she floated upon her back. He could tell she was a good swimmer. He slowly swam to her side.

"What are you looking up at?"

"Just the trees and the sky. They're so bright. So beautiful."

"I agree, but I believe the person looking at them is even more beautiful."

"Getting a little cocky are we, Hamir?" she giggled coming to stand. "Well that's all right. You can live up to it."

"I was not talking about me," he grinned. "But to stay on point, then you do find me attractive?"

"I'd be a fool not to," she replied.

Hamir rubbed a wet hand across her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into the strong and warm hand. Hamir let his eyes drift over the princess. She was so exquisite. The sort of woman that could tempt any man with a mere glance of the eyes. Araiel did not realize at first that her white under shift was completely drenched and clinging to her skin or the fact that the Prince was so close to her that she could feel his breath upon her face. But she did not care. In fact she welcomed it, and Hamir took his chance. His arms encircled her waist, and his mouth kissed hers. The kiss was soft and tender It was not the first one she had received, but something about the atmosphere and the way he did it made her feel as if it was. Araiel slowly widened her mouth inviting him in, but he pulled away leaving her wondering.

"Does this mean I am growing on you?" he asked.

She met his eyes with a smile. "Perhaps…as long as you keep kissing me like that." She did not know why she added the last part. Maybe she was a bit like her sister.

"Then you are not afraid of me?" he asked her.

"No," she replied. "Not anymore."

"Will you name the day, my princess. I cannot keep my kingdom waiting for an eternity."

"Three days time, my lord. Three days time and I will gladly walk down that aisle and be your bride forever. On one condition."

"And what is that?"

"Kiss me again."

"Your offer has been accepted."

And Araiel closed her eyes once again.