Aerin urged his horse forward. They were not out of the sandstorm yet. Though he could barely see through the blinding grains plagued by the never ceasing wind, he knew this terrain perfectly. He could walk it blindfolded, and the horse knew it as well. They soon found the secret cavern where he often rested from days of travel. A single well was dug into the ground providing enough water for a days rest. He knew he should rest for only a mere hour. When dusk fell, he needed the night and its shield to give him the advantage. Aerin was not without his connections. He knew well that the Daughter of Gondor was missing. He knew well who had abducted her. He knew well where she was secured…

Tairan took her arm within his firm grasp. He lightly held it, but considering he was a good foot or two taller than her and his arms were three times the size of her own, she felt it more painful than he intended. She followed in silence as he led her to the sword practice ring. He handed her a makeshift practice one. The edges were dulled purposefully. She grasped it firmly in her hand, and he seemed surprised that she lifted it well. She stood a few feet away from him as he raised his weapon.

"I do not enjoy this," she stated glumly.

"You will not always have the luxury of using your bow. Begin, please. How would you attack me?"

She sighed, hesitating for a moment, and then stepped forward with a lunge, her sword aimed at his chest. In one swift move, he knocked the sword from her hand, and it fell to the ground.

"Too eager, wrong footwork, and wrong method. Really, princess…I expected better from a royal of Gondor and an elf at that."
"Their bloodline runs through my veins along with their genetics. I do not possess good skill with the sword. But I can best any mortal and many elves at archery."

"As I have seen. But there comes a day when you can not always use your bow as I said. You must resort to such methods of sword when necessary."
"That is why I often carry two long knives. I can wield them with proficiency."
"I will enjoy seeing your display. But for now, I will teach you some methods of swordplay I have learned."

Tairan approached her, picked up the sword at her feet, and predatorily circled her. She flinched when he reached behind her and placed the sword in her hand once again.

"First lesson, how to hold a sword and how to move a sword. Different swords must be held in different ways. For example: this is a lighter sword. A practice one. You would be carrying a much heavier sword if you were to engage in a real battle. I will show you various motions with this sword."
Tairan moved in front of her taking his sword in hand. His first moves were full circles and semi-circles. She was impressed by how powerfully he used it, but she didn't let it show. He then showed her various diagonal cuts, which (when used), were deadly and fatally wounding to the body. He extended his arms, and pointed the tip of the sword diagonally from her left shoulder to her right hip. His circle came and ended just inches from her right side. He noticed her flinch several times at the close proximity. She was unused to such immediacy, but Araiel soon mastered the techniques. She listened hoping to distract herself from the constant growing pain within her abdomen. She learned well, and at the end of the day, he was proud of what she had accomplished. A full feast was prepared for them, and he led her to the dining hall as soon as they had finished dressing.

When they sat down to dinner, he eyed her as she filled her plate and ate hurriedly. Raising an eye, Tairan rubbed a thumb across the rim of his goblet.

"Well, you have worked hard today, and I see good reason for you to be famished. I was quite impressed by your display today. You make a fine swordsman."
"Woman," she corrected.

"Woman," he agreed. "Araiel, I would think we could come to some sort of an…arrangement."

"Abducting me from my home, my husband, and forcing me to work in the hot sun in a foreign land all day has not helped strengthen my fondness for you Tairan," she hissed.

Oddly, he smiled at this. "I find you very changed from my first encounter with you. You have become braver with your words and your actions. Please believe I do enjoy your spirit, Araiel. I relish the chase."
"My sister has rubbed off on me. And no, I am only brave when the situation demands it such as now. And the hate I bear you can offer no other form of conversation but sarcasm and insults."
"Well, then I shall accept those for now."

The remainder of the dinner was spent in silence, but as Tairan walked the fatigued princess back to her room, he surprised her with something.

"I had them bring her this afternoon while we were fencing."
She gazed in stunned silence at the beauty that stood tethered to a fencepost beside her tent. The horse neighed at her approach, but elven grace and calmness aided in settling animal's nerves. She was beautiful from her hooves to her flanks to her mane. The horse was entirely white with a cream colored mane and tail which she flicked in greeting to the princess as she came near. Araiel settled a soft hand on the mare's muzzle, and the horse met her with a pair of icy blue eyes.

"I know of the abiding love of horses within Gondor. I thought you perhaps would enjoy her company."
"She's beautiful," Araiel smoothed her hand along the horse's powerful chest.

"And very excitable, but you seem to get along well with her."

"Why are you doing this, Tairan?" she turned to him.

"Doing what?"
"Trying to make me care for you when you know I could never?"
"Oh…you couldn't?" when his eyes narrowed, and he approached her forebodingly, she felt unnerved but held her distance. "You seemed to enjoy my company today."

She did not respond, and he swiftly took the advantage and closed the distance between them. She felt helpless to do anything when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lips firmly. Araiel missed the touch and the protection of a warm body next to her. When the sensations engulfed her again, she closed her eyes and thought back remembering. Those stubborn strands hanging over his head, that earthy scent, his strong muscles holding her…Aerin. With what strength she had left, Araiel suddenly pulled back clutching her stomach.

"Leave me alone!" she exclaimed.

The horse, startled by the sudden scene, reared up on its hind legs giving Araiel her chance to retreat into the tent where Louisia stood. Tairan cursed angrily and took a hold of the horse's bridle bringing it down with his brawny grip. When she finally calmed, he stood outside the tent and yelled loudly.

"I will come back for you in the morning, princess. You will embrace your destiny soon. Goodnight."

He emphasized the last word roughly and left the tent. Louisia held the frazzled princess in her arms and noted the tears on the poor girl's face.

"Do not worry, my lady. Your husband will come for you soon, I am certain."
"Yes, and Tairan will cut him to pieces," she replied despondently.

"Now, now, you must not think that way. Think of all you have to look forward to. Please, princess, you need rest. The bed is ready for you."
"I cannot allow you to sleep on the ground again, Louisia."
"No, my lady. I will sleep in another tent tonight if you wish. I shall be in the tent next to you. If you need me at all, please do not hesitate to come in. I will be steps away."

Louisia kissed her head once again and quietly issued out of the tent knowing that the princess needed sleep, and as long as she remained in the tent, Araiel would not sleep. Dejected and miserable, Araiel reluctantly crawled into bed only to discover movement beneath her. She raised her eyes as something poked her back, and she nearly fell to the ground when hearing the familiar whisper.

"Ari, please don't speak, lass, quiet…"

Slowly, he crept out of his hiding spot beneath the bed and stood before her holding a finger to his lips. He lifted her into his arms and motioned her to follow him. Silently, Aerin took out a dagger and cut a hole in the back of the tent. She then noticed two of the guards that normally stood there were now on the ground face forward in the dirt. Araiel pursed her lips together and followed Aerin out of the circle of tents.

"Now," he whispered in the shadow of one of the larger ones. "Do exactly as I say. Put on this cloak," he handed her a tightly wrapped bundle which she immediately unbound and slipped it over herself. "Tie your hair into a knot on your head like this."

He gave her a piece of leather, and she did as he instructed. He then took out a small jar and emptied its contents into his hand. She wrinkled her nose at the smell, but did not object when he rubbed it across her face. "Good, your skin is brown. Just hold the cloak tight almost like your cold, and come with me. I have a horse waiting."

Aerin proved more clever than his word. He knew they would be watched as they left the circle of tents on the horse. They were given glances, but anytime they were stopped, Aerin spoke in the language of the Harad, and the soldiers instantly retreated from view and issued into the tents once again. They finally issued out of the camp where Aerin set his horse at a gallop and left the camp in the dust. Araiel merely tucked her head into his back as he rode on. She did not know how far into the desert they were. He did not slow his pace, but continued riding for more than an hour at a gallop. Finally, the scenery began to change into more rocky formation and soon to grass which she rejoiced at seeing. Trees began to appear, and they found themselves lost within a thick forest. At least, Araiel was lost, but Aerin seemed to know exactly where he was going. Still, he did not speak until they were out of the forest.

"What did you tell them, Aerin?"

He turned to look behind him and she recognized the familiar smug grin on his face.

"I told them that ye had the Plague, and I was taking you far out into the desert and back t' ye're homeland. No one wanted t' come near ye, and the smell of that ointment was enough."

She giggled, and then her eyes rose when she noticed a faint gleam in the distance. As the hill dropped beneath them, she widened her eyes noticing a small harbor within the distance.

"The Sea! We are going to the Sea!" she finally broke the silence.

"I've a ship there. We must get ye as far away from the Harad as possible."
"What do you mean? You're not taking me back to Gondor."

He grunted. "Araiel, try t'understand. It's not safe for you. I will send a message to Hamir, but he can't even protect ye at this point."
"Where are you taking me, Aerin?"

"To Rivendell. The sons of Elrond still dwell there, and they will grant you safe conduct into their lands. You have always wanted to meet your ancestors, and they can grant you protection. When Hamir has resolved this situation with his brother, then he can come for you. But I must keep you safe."
"Honestly, Aerin, I don't think anyone can keep me safe now but Hamir. I don't think Rivendell is the right place for me now."
"In this situation, I'll decide what's right for ye."

"Stop!" she ordered him.

He sighed. "Is that what ye want, Ari? You want to go back to your beloved prince who didn't even protect ye this time around?"
"It was my fault, Aerin! I shouldn't have gone to sleep in a room alone. I just didn't want to be near him that night. That's why I went to my room."
"And why didn't you want to be near him?"

She sighed. "Because…because I couldn't rub you off of me. I couldn't forget the way you looked, the way you smelled, the way you felt. I didn't want to lose that."

He rubbed his eyes. "What do you want, Ari? I can't protect you if I'm not with you. And I can't stay with you if you go back to him."
"And what do we do about this?" she pointed to her wedding ring.

"That's something ye must decide, angel. I can't make it for ye. But I will tell ye this much. You broke my heart once. I think I can stand t'lose ye again. I'll build myself up again somehow. Just go back to being my pirate self. But if ye want me, and if ye want to stay with me, I will love ye until the day that we die. And I will be with ye forever. You're the best thing in the world that's happened to me, angel. Without ye, there's just a hole in my heart that only ye can fill."