next part of this little yarn. hope you like!

Chapter 8: Raindrops are falling on my head

Dúniel smiled broadly when she felt a tap on her shoulder, but it died when she saw her father there. He looked stunned at her response.

"Expecting someone else?"he teased."I haven't seen you smile like that for years."He was more than surprised when his eldest daughter blushed slightly and looked away.

"Do not think I'm not happy to see you, Ada."she said quietly. Aragorn frowned slightly, then shrugged.

"Your mother and I will be dining alone tonight, and Eldarion's on guard duty later tonight. Will you take your sisters to bed after dinner?" Dúniel nodded.

"Of course Ada."

"Don't leave it too late, it looks like there's a thunderstorm coming."he kissed her hair and walked away.

Dúniel turned back to look at her siblings. Miniual was staring gloomily at her plate while Merenwen was chatting happily to Eldarion. She suddenly noticed Arash standing by the door with his father. They were clearly angry with each other, but were trying to hide it by speaking pleasantly in their native tongue.

"Why must I do this, father? Why must we hurt them?"

"You know why, boy. You're not getting afraid, are you?"Mazid said nastily.

"I don't want to hurt her!"Arash cried."Why can't be just be at peace with them?"

"It is because of them that we lost the war, Arash, it's because of them Lord Sauron fell! It is up to us to fulfill the promises he made. I want this war, and you need to learn about sacrifice!"

"Sacrifice! Don't you mean slaughter?"Arash said bitterly. Mazid struggled to keep the smile on his face.

"I didn't bring you here for tours and nice living, I brought you here to do a job, a job for our people!"

"But-"

"And you will do it! You know the consequences if you don't."Arash looked up at the table where the royal children sat, guilt writhing inside him."I don't care how you do it, kidnap her, throttle her, I don't care, just do it! Make it obvious that it was you, and make it obvious just how close you got to her. The loss of a daughter will be enough to change his mind."

"How can you do this, father? Sauron is dead! It is over! We need to look to the future, not the past!"

"Enough of your cheek!"Mazid snapped."One more word, just one more..."Arash paled slightly.

He opened his mouth, then closed it and stalked up to the table. He felt Dúniel's gaze on his angry face, and tried to smile.

"Good evening."he said, bowing as he reached the table.

"I'm glad you came."Dúniel said, beckoning him to his seat. "How do you feel?"

"A little sore."he admitted, wincing as he sat."But Glíriel assures me I'll be running around like a chicken soon."Merenwen giggled madly, while the older three struggled to hide their smiles.

The five soon fell into conversation, ignoring the despairing glances that were sent in Arash's direction by the young women of the court. Making sure Eldarion, Merenwen and Miniual were distracted, Arash leant over towards Dúniel's ear.

"Enjoying yourself?"she asked quietly. He nodded.

"Indeed, but is there a time or place you and I can speak more privately?"he whispered. To his joy and conflicting guilt, a broad smile lit up her face.

"Really?"

"Dúniel?"she jumped and looked at her brother, who was watching them suspiciously. Something had changed in the way his sister and Arash acted around each other, and he wasn't sure he approved."Perhaps you'd like to share what is so amusing?" she scowled darkly at her brother, but then an idea popped into her head. She casually picked up her fork and stared at the pork on it.

"I was only asking what it is they say about men with big boots."she said, innocently eating the mouthful.

Eldarion went white, and even Arash looked slightly pale. Merenwen and Miniual, however, looked up in interest.

"What is it then?"Miniual asked. Arash swallowed nervously.

"Big socks."he managed. Dúniel was hiding her face in her hands, clearly laughing quietly.

"Is that all?"Miniual asked, clearly disappointed.

"Indeed."Eldarion answered quickly, looking very relieved. Arash, feeling proud of his quick thinking, glanced at Dúniel, who poked her tongue out at Eldarion."Yes, I get it, mind my own business."he grumbled."I do sometimes think you were found in the forest, Dúniel."

"Don't we all."she teased. She turned back to Arash."I will talk to you about it tomorrow morning."

"You are going to be my doctor again?"he asked, a little too hopefully. She smiled at his reaction.

"No, I think Glíriel can take over. I will be visiting."

"Oh. Alright then."he said, feeling a little disappointed.

"I know she can talk your head off, but she's very nice."

"I'll take your word for it."he grinned suddenly."You and I have the strangest friendship."Dúniel blinked in surprise.

"You mean because we are supposed to be enemies?"she asked, picking up her goblet.

"There's that. It's just, one minute we're fighting like orcs and the next, we get on so well."

"Clearly we are too similar."Dúniel teased. He laughed.

"Clearly."They finished dinner, and Eldarion excused himself.

"You girls should head for your rooms, there's going to be a mighty storm."he said, with all the sourness of one who will be standing in it all night."Arash, who will be taking you back to the Houses?"

"My father."he said, standing."I should go if the rest of you are as well. Thank you for hosting me at your table, I very much enjoyed it. See you tomorrow."he added quietly to Dúniel, who smiled gently.

"Come on you two. Fred, take my hand."Merenwen obeyed, waving at Arash as she passed. Miniual looked at him for a long moment before turning away with a deep blush.
"Come, Miniual."Dúniel said gently.

Her sister trudged heavily towards her, shrugging off a comforting hand. Sighing, Dúniel lead the two the the royal rooms. Miniual's was first, and she slammed the door without so much as a good night. Merenwen insisted on being tucked in, and Dúniel pulled her doll from under her bed and tucked it in her arms.

"You have a crush on Arash, don't you?"she asked, yawning. Dúniel kissed her forehead.

"Go to sleep, you little monster."Merenwen giggled, and fell asleep before her sister had left the room and closed the door. Sighing, Dúniel walked over to the parapet and leaned against it, staring down into the city.

"Why does she have to be right?"she whispered, holding her face in her hands."I can't."

"Can't what?"Dúniel spun and instinctively lashed out, catching Arash across the face in a surprisingly powerful slap. He stumbled back, holding his cheek and staring in surprise.

"You! You little...!"she spluttered, to enraged to even verbalise all the names she wanted to call him."You scared ten years off my life!"she yelled furiously, trying to slow her racing heart.

"Sorry, I thought you heard me."he managed, still looking shocked. Dúniel deflated.

"You walk like a cat."

"So do you."

"Good thing you didn't hit me then."she said. She glanced around."Why are you here?
Shouldn't you be with your father?"

"Probably. But there's something I had to do first."

"Well, now you've done it, you should go back to the Houses before I beat you up myself."

"Scaring you was not what I came here for."he whispered, moving forward. Dúniel took a step back and felt the wall on her legs.

"Arash, what-"

"I wanted to apologise again."he interrupted, his brown eyes staring hypnotically into hers."What I did was completely...I am not worthy to be kissing a beautiful woman like you."Dúniel snorted softly.

"I am not worthy to be kissed."she said, shrugging."You don't need to apologise again Arash."he seemed to shrink a little."How did you get past the guards?"she asked suddenly. He grinned, his white teeth bright in the dark night.

"I know how not to be seen."

"You did well, worthy of a ranger."he snickered.

"If only."he looked up and smiled gently."Why do you look sad?" Dúniel looked away.

"You would laugh at me if I told you."

"I won't, I promise."they both jumped when they saw a bolt of lightning flash over the Pelannor. A few moments after, the deep rumble of thunder rolled over them.

"I feel so foolish."she said quietly."It's been so wonderful having you as a friend, I forgot you're not going to be here forever..."she trailed off, trying to keep the tears from her eyes."I don't want to be alone again."she whispered. He smiled and gently stroked her cheek.

"You won't be, I swere it."she surprised both of them by moving forward and hugging him tightly, tears silently streaming down her cheeks. Another rumble of thunder rumbled around them as Arash wrapped his arms around her. "I will write to you, and come back and visit."he said quietly, ignoring the spitting rain that fell on his face.

"We'd best get you back to the Houses."she said suddenly, and pulled away from him."I don't want you getting sick after all the work I've done."

"Won't you get in trouble for being alone with me?"

"Not if no one sees."she said with a cheeky grin.

She moved forward and kissed his cheek, then walked past him towards some stairs. Arash grinned and hurried after her. They had quite an enjoyable time dodging the guards as they made their way to the Houses, Dúniel occasionally glancing at the threatening clouds. The spitting rain was becoming heavier, and the lightning more consistent. Suddenly, the rain came down so hard they could barely see each other, and a freezing wind started to blow.

"We must hurry!"Dúniel cried, taking Arash by the hand."We'll catch out death in this cold!"

they ran as quickly as they dared over the slippery roads, and finally saw the inviting warmth of the Houses of Healing in front of them. Dúniel shivered violently, and saw Arash looked no better off. They snuck in a side door and stood dripping for a moment.

"Come on, my room's not far. We need to get near a fire."Arash said, pulling her down the quiet halls. He pushed his door opened, their sounds masked by the ferocity of the storm outside.

"I'll have to stay here tonight."Dúniel said, moving near his fireplace."It's suicide to go back. I hope Eldarion's alright."

"He'll be fine."Arash said, opening a cupboard in the room and pulling out a towel."Here, wrap this around you."he said, handing it to her.

Dúniel obeyed, shivering. She'd never felt so cold in her life. Arash bent down and put some more wood on the low fire, and soon it was roaring. Dúniel stood as close as she dared, but felt no warmth. Arash glanced at her, the light of the fire casting an eerie shadow over him.

"How do you-"

"You should change."Dúniel said quickly."Get out of those wet clothes."Arash went red.

"What about you?"

"I've seen you half-naked before, what do you think the chances are I'll do the same for you?"Arash grinned suddenly.

"Depends if you let me kiss you again."Dúniel blushed furiously.

"I'll be fine. You get changed."she turned her back.

"I'm not sure about this."he said, not moving.

"Hurry up, before I turn around."frowning and knowing this was one battle he wouldn't win, Arash grabbed some clothes his father had brought him and put them on the bed. He quickly stripped off his breeches and pulled on the dry ones, watching the princess the whole time.

"Are you done yet?"she asked lightly as he pulled off his shirt.

"I'm half-naked, if that's what you mean."he said, laying his wet clothes in front of the fire.

Dúniel turned, her eyes moving over his now familiar frame, wondering how he could look so amazingly attractive in the firelight.

"I'll go find you a dress."he said, straightening.

He started when he saw how close Dúniel was to him. Moving forward, she gently kissed him then pulled back. Arash suddenly pulled her close again, and they kissed long and hungrily, feeling barely able to breathe. After a while they pulled back, Dúniel shivering in his arms.

"..."she managed, as he pressed a hand to her forehead.

"You're burning up."he whispered, concern in his voice.

"From the way you just kissed me, I'm not surprised."she gasped, but had to admit she felt a little off colour.

"We've got to get you into a hot bath."he said, taking her around the shoulders."Come on." he lead her out of the room and to the lounge where the healers put their feet up. Glíriel stood when she saw Arash lead a soaked Dúniel into the room.

"She's getting a fever, I couldn't get her warm enough in time."he said quickly as the old woman held the princess's face in her hands.

"Come on, dear, we'll give you a bath, then you'd best stay close to us."she looked at Arash and narrowed her eyes suspiciously at his bare chest."What exactly were you doing outside?"Arash reddened slightly and opened his mouth.

"It's my fault."Dúniel whispered."I wanted to see him."she shivered and hunched slightly, looking very pale.

"You should have a hot bath too." Glíriel said, still frowning slightly at the young Harad.

"Come on, follow me."She lead Dúniel to one of the baths, and sent a younger healer to fetch some towels and a night dress, then shooed Arash into another. He soon reemerged to find Glíriel sending a guard to fetch the King and Queen.

"Glíriel, if I'd known she was so bad, I would've brought her sooner."he said, feeling absolutely awful. Glíriel gave him a strange look.

"You must've made a large impression on the princess for her to come running through a thunderstorm to see you."Arash met her gaze and gave away nothing."She just has a cold. Any longer, and it could've been much worse."

"I'm sorry."he said quietly.

"You'd best go to bed, young man, I have to take care of her."she said.

Arash wondered what the old woman was thinking, and turned and made his way back to his room. Glíriel sighed heavily.

"What is wrong, Glíriel?"the younger healer, Neliel, inquired.

"The poor child has been alone for so long I worry about what she might do. She's very fond of him."Neliel looked horrified.

"You don't think she'd do anything silly, do you?"

"I don't know, that's why I'm worried. If you'd spent years of your life being alone and suddenly had someone who showed interest in you...you could do things you might not normally do."

"I'm not in love with him."a defiant voice said from behind them. They turned to see a shivering Dúniel standing behind them, glaring.

"Princess-"

"I'm not!"she said angrily."I'm allowed to like him!"

"I know, I know." Glíriel said soothingly. "Come, you'd best get to bed."Dúniel scowled heavily, but felt too ill to say anything. She let Glíriel lead her to an empty room and snuggled under the sheets, mind feeling heavy.

"I don't love him."she whispered when she was alone."I can't..."she trailed off, worried about her own thoughts that betrayed her.

Authors note:

I would like to say that I have absolutely no experience with kissing/hugging etc and am basing the feelings and emotions on what ive read in other books and fanfics. damned emotional hurdles of life. thank you for reading this rant :D

Glíriel: song daughter
Neliel: third daughter