my proclaimation to the world: one day i will see snow! until that moment, i must contain myself by writing about it :D enjoy this next bit!
Chapter 11: Pretty words
"Arash! Come back inside!"
The young man sighed heavily. He'd woken to find the ground covered in a white blanket. Such was his excitement at seeing snow for the first time, he ran out wearing only his breeches. And then discovered just how cold it was. He returned to his room and stood by the fire to defrost while his father glared at him.
"This charade tires me, boy. How much longer must I wait for you to finish her off."Arash was glad he was facing the fire so Mazid couldn't see the furious look on his face.
"I don't know, I told you."he said in a calm voice."I don't want to risk moving to quickly because she'll get frightened and suspicious."
"At least move a bit faster."Mazid said sarcastically, and left the room. Arash slammed his fist into the stone, then bit his lip as pain shot through his hand.
Dúniel woke a little later than she intended, and dressed quickly so she wouldn't miss breakfast. She pulled on her mittens and a good pair of boots that she could hide under her skirts, and wrapped her scarf and cloak around her. She then hurried from her room, tying her hair as she waded through the snow. She could see a few groups hurrying into the hall ahead of her when she was suddenly attacked from behind. She cried out as the snowball threatened to run down her neck and shook her head furiously, then turned, expecting to see Merenwen. Arash grinned, looking quite prepared to run.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that!"he laughed.
"Remind me how old you are?"he smiled broadly.
"Harad has attacked Gondor!"he called."Do they have the mettle to retaliate?"Dúniel gave him a strangely frightening smile.
"Gondor does not back down from a challenge, even if they have not yet had breakfast!"
In one quick movement, she bent, grabbed a handful of snow, compacted it quickly and threw it. He ducked. She was expecting that, and laughed as he caught the snowball full in the face. She then hurried over, grabbed another handful of snow and grabbed his coat, letting the snow slide down his back. He yelped and leapt surprisingly high, trying desperately to shake the snow out.
"That's not funny, it's freezing!"he yelled as Dúniel fell to her knees, laughing so hard she was crying.
"Gondor wins!"she cried, raising her hand in victory. Arash finally managed to dislodge the snow and shivered.
"This time."he grumbled, and pulled her to her feet.
"Now let's go and eat something warm before we get frostbite."she said, dragging him towards the warm Hall."By the way, Gondor does not approve that you attacked from behind."
"If I ran in front of you, I'd have lost the element of surprise."
"That's not the point."she stopped them just outside the Hall doors."You never told me where you learnt to pick pocket."she gave him a look that gave him the impression she could read his mind. Arash sighed.
"There are parts of my life I am not proud of."he said quietly. Seeing he would divulge no more, she scowled and walked into the Hall."Dúniel, wait."he said, hurrying after her and catching her wrist."There are some things I can't tell you. Surely you of all people understand that?"
"Don't you dare presume to know me."she snarled, suddenly furious."You never tell me anything about yourself. You know nothing about me."
"Why are you so angry?"he asked, frowning."So I don't want to tell you how I learnt to steal, so what? There are more important things than worrying about that."
"Like what?"
"Like you still don't trust me."he said coldly. Dúniel met his gaze for a long moment, then looked away, shrinking.
"I, I just thought friends told each other things."she said quietly, aware of the gaze of half the Hall on them, very aware Arash still held her wrist. He frowned slightly.
"You mean secrets?"she nodded. He seemed very surprised by this, and straightened slightly."You'd trust me with a secret."
"Would you trust me to keep yours?"he stared at her, then smiled slightly.
"Depends how big the secret is."he said mysteriously.
"Dúniel, are you ever going to come and eat breakfast?"she jumped and glared at her brother. Arash seemed to realise he still held her wrist and let her go quickly.
"We are talking." she said acidly.
"And freezing. Come and eat something warm, the pair of you. Arash, join us so that you may continue your argument."
Dúniel looked quite prepared to slap her brother, but chose to simply storm past him, reminding herself it wouldn't be good for a princess of Gondor to be hitting her brother in front of so many people.
"Goodness, she's in a mood."Eldarion said as he and Arash followed more slowly.
"She's been acting strangely since I met her this morning."Arash said, frowning slightly in confusion.
"I'm sure she'll get over it soon."he noticed with some surprise that Dúniel sat beside Miniual, something that didn't happen very often. Eldarion ordered a chair fetched for the young Harad, and he sat opposite Dúniel, who pointedly ignored him.Arash grinned at Merenwen, who sat beside him.
"I hope you will not become a nasty thief lord, little princess."he laughed, pulling several sausages, eggs and bacon onto his plate. Merenwen giggled.
"He didn't even feel me take it."she laughed.
"Thank you for being such a fine teacher."Eldarion said snarkily."Next time, teach her something less criminal."
"I shall teach her how to tie ones hair with ribbons."he proclaimed. Eldarion and his sisters all stared at him, then burst out laughing, Dúniel unable to help herself.
"Arash, you with ribbons in your hair would be criminal."she laughed.
"I think I'd look rather pretty."he said, mocking hurt. If anything, this made them laugh all the more.
"Are you trying to kill my children with laughter, young man?"
Arash turned to see Arwen standing behind him, temporarily silencing him with her overwhelming beauty. He managed to stand and bowed deeply.
"Forgive me, Undómiel, but it is my nature to be cheeky."Arwen smiled suddenly, laughing lightly.
"You are certainly not what I expected."she said warmly."It is good to see that my children think so highly of you. I see great things ahead for our countries."
"I certainly hope so, Undómiel."Arwen smiled radiantly again, then took a seat at the head of the table, gesturing for Arash to sit.
"Where is Ada?"Merenwen asked, scrambled eggs hanging off her chin. Arwen reached over with a hanky and wiped her clean.
"He's taking the day off, to prepare for tonight. He was snoring when I left."
"What is happening tonight?"Arash asked.
"My mother loves to celebrate the changing seasons, in the manner of her people,"Eldarion said,"and seeing as we've had the first snow, we will be having a feast tonight to officially begin the winter months. It will also be used to celebrate Miniual's fifteenth birthday, which is coming in two days."
"I encourage you to come, and your father."Arwen said, smiling at her son."It will keep you warm if anything."
"I would be honoured to come."Arash said, nodding."I will do my best to bring my father, but I'm afraid he may not attend. He caught my cold."Arash chuckled evilly, creating a wild sensation in Dúniel's body, surprising and shocking her. Was she so easily seduced by even his laugh now?
"Dúniel, are you quite well?"Arwen asked suddenly."You look quite flushed. Is your cold coming back?"
"No, no, Nana, I am well. I may have eaten a little too much."she answered, not meeting her mother's gaze.
Arwen looked at her daughter for a long moment. It was obvious to her, at least, that Dúniel had become extremely fond of Arash, even besotted without realising it. She was clearly trying so hard to keep his friendship, but there was something else that her daughter was hiding, even from herself. Sighing quietly to herself, she made a mental note to have a talk with her daughter that night.
"Good, because I want to see you all there tonight."
"Will I be able to open one of my gifts, Nana?"Miniual asked excitedly. Arwen and Eldarion exchanged a glance.
"Oh, I think you will get a fine gift tonight."Arwen said mysteriously.
Dúniel looked at her brother, who was trying hard not to grin. When they left the table, she grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
"What is this gift?"she asked, curious. Eldarion laughed and kissed her forehead.
"You will see, Dúniel. The look on her face..."he trailed off, laughing. He nodded as Arash headed towards them.
"Come, I demand a rematch."he said quietly. Dúniel laughed.
"And you will only loose again."
"Oh, Arash, I meant to ask,"he turned as Arwen bore down on them,"how are you adjusting to the weather? I doubt you would have seen snow before."
"The snow is beautiful, Undómiel, though it is nothing compared to the fine lady who stands before me."he said. Arwen laughed.
"Oh, you are a bold one!"he grinned shyly, blushing at Dúniel's scowl.
"It is colder than I thought, but your people have provided me with good warm clothes."he said, wriggling his fingers that were encased by leather gloves."In Harad, we lived by the coast, so I've seen a bit of rain, and at night, it get's very very cold, but that is because it is so hot during the day. This is unlike anything I have experienced, and I am grateful that I was able to come."
"You could charm the scales off a snake."Arwen said, grinning."If you require anything, you need only ask."
"Thank you."he said, bowing. Arwen kissed her children and floated off, looking quite pleased.
"You have gained the Queen's favour."Eldarion said.
"You have bewitched her with your words."Dúniel added, grinning.
"I was only speaking truthfully."he said smoothly.
He found himself shivering at her gaze. He could see in her eyes that she was growing very fond of him, but her past experiences held her back, quite understandably. But it was his own feelings that were causing him such guilt and pain. He did think her beautiful, intelligent and quick witted, but the loneliness in her really drew him in, loneliness he felt and shared. Everything inside him screamed to be close to her. His father's words constantly replayed themselves in his head, infuriating him. But what choice did he have but to do what his father wanted? He knew he was putting off finishing off the princess, if only because he found himself wanting to be with her more and more. He knew what was at stake if he didn't kill her. It may not seem important to some people, but...
He sighed and raked his fingers through his short black hair.
"You seem troubled."Dúniel said suddenly, breaking his confused thoughts. He blinked and shook his head.
"No, princess, I am fine. Just...thinking."a flash of irritation sparked in her eyes.
"What was this about a rematch?"Eldarion said, noticing Dúniel's anger.
"He tried to beat me up with snowballs this morning."Dúniel said, smiling slightly."Ismote him thoroughly."Eldarion grinned.
"Well done!"he praised."If you like, we can help this battle."
"Am I to be completely outnumbered?"Arash grinned.
"Of course not. Boys against girls, I say."he nodded at his sisters who looked eagerly at Arash, who laughed.
"Two against three sounds better."
"And the other children tend to join in too."Eldarion said."We will not be alone."
Dúniel shrieked and ducked as yet another snowball was thrown at her. She turned to her sisters and the ten commoner girls who'd appeared out of nowhere to assist in taking down the boys, whos ranks had also considerably increased.
"Throw!"she called, and they threw their missiles, laughing as the boys ducked and hid behind each other. Their battle had taken them to the fifth circle, where amused parents watched their children battling with the royal family.
"Come on, let's get them!"Eldarion cried.
The boys all picked up a handful of snow and ran at the girls, who screamed and scattered, each being pursued. Dúniel giggled as her brother and Arash pursued her and her sisters.
"You two take the big ugly one. I've beaten Arash before."they laughed and turned, jumping on their surprised brother. Dúniel danced back, grinning at the approaching Harad.
"Come on, Harad, you going to come and catch me?"she called, and spun and raced off.
He followed her, throwing a well aimed missile at her neck. She stumbled and he caught up to her, grabbing her around the waist before she stumbled straight into a stone wall.
"You alright?"he asked, as she brushed the snow away.
"Yes. Thank you."she said, almost fainting from the pleasure of his touch.
"Good."she cried out as he suddenly swept her off her feet and threw her into a large snow drift. Dúniel tried to continue an assault, but was laughing to hard.
"I don't remember when I last had so much fun."she cried, grinning.
"So Harad has equaled the draw."
"Not if I can get you down!"she managed to pull herself out of the drift and grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him into the snow, but instead slamming rather hard into a wall, winding her. Arash didn't help by accidentally slamming into her.
"Sorry."he said, pulling away and holding her as she bent over.
As she tried to breathe, he glanced around curiously. They had run further from the group than intended, and this part of the fifth circle looked quite deserted and dark. He felt it wasn't safe for either of them to be there.
"We should get back."he said, turning and grinning as she straightened.
"Ah, you surrender!"she teased, not really noticing how close they were. Arash noticed, realising it as her breasts brushed his arm with her laboured breathing. This aroused emotions he knew he shouldn't feel, and he found himself moving closer.
"Arash, are you alright?"she whispered, putting a hand to his cheek, then her eyes widened as his body pressed against hers.
Pure emotion drove them forward, kissing hungrily and desperately, arms wrapping around each other. Dúniel was vaguely aware of him pulling her scarf off, and gasped as he pulled away to start kissing her neck passionately. She dug her fingers into his hair, pulling him closer in a desperate effort to be near him.
"Arash..."she groaned."Don't stop."his lips soon found hers again, but suddenly broke away. Arash was breathing hard, and saw the hunger in her eyes, could sense it in his own.
"I can't."he whispered."I shouldn't. But I can't stop myself."Dúniel gently stroked his cheek, passion burning through her body.
"I know."she whispered, voice tantalizingly husky."It's alright. I don't want you to stop."she felt very disappointed when he pulled back and handed her scarf back. She sighed heavily and wrapped it around her neck again.
"I'm sorry."he said quietly."I can't give you false hope. Nor me."
"False hope is better than none."she whispered, looking into his brown eyes."Is it me? Because I'm scarred, and so..."he reached out and ran his gloved fingers over her scar.
"No, my dear princess."he said."It is me. You are a beautiful, wonderful woman, and you deserve a far better man than me. There are things about me that would frighten you, that would make you regret ever wanting to kiss me. And even then, I will most likely be leaving at the end of winter. What could we have?"
"I would give you anything, tell you anything."she whispered, taking his hand."No other man has ever looked at me as you do. I would give anything to be yours."he looked at her in shock.
"Do you only desire me because I'm the only man who's ever shown interest in you?"he asked suddenly. Dúniel went a little pale and pulled away.
"That's not fair."she whispered, tears threatening. She looked at her feet."I am sorry. I should never have said those things. Forgive me. You are right, Ada is right. Nothing can come of this but heartache."he pulled back his sleeve and revealed the band she'd made for him.
"You made this for me as a symbol of our friendship."he said quietly."I don't want to loose that."
"Neither do I." she walked past him and back towards the snow battle. Arash closed his eyes and groaned, regret filling his body, then quickly followed her.
Author's note:
So, er, I actually intended to start the feast in this chapter, but one does love to procrastinate :D so i guess that'll be happening in the next issue. thanx for reading!