thanx for the lovin' reviewers! heres my next chapter, hope you like :D

Chapter 12: The pain of love

Dúniel sat quietly in the shadows as she watched the festivities around her. The feast was both inside and outside the Hall, and outside there were several large bonfires. People were dancing and talking loudly and happily, eating until they were ready to burst. And all she could do was think of the kiss she had shared with Arash, their secret kiss full of a passion she had never experienced. She understood why he'd pulled away, why he'd stopped, but it hurt so much. The more he pushed her away, the more she desired to be his. And she could see in his eyes that he desired her. The cruelty was almost overwhelming.

"Dúniel!"she looked up to see her brother beckoning her over to where the rest of their family stood, by the doors. Sighing, she stood and made her way over.

"What troubles you, sister?"he asked, smiling gently at her. She shrugged and looked away. Eldarion sighed."Miniual is about to receive her gift."Dúniel looked up again, curiousity in her eyes.

"It must be good if you are keeping me in such suspense."Miniual said, grinning ear to ear.

"I'm flattered."the look on Miniual's face was priceless as she turned to see a smiling Elboron behind her. Faramir laughed at the sheer joy in his son's face.

"I thought you weren't coming until later!"Miniual managed.

"Should I leave?"Elboron teased. She grabbed his hand, shaking her head.

"No, no, you must come and dance with me!"she said, dragging him away.

"I fear your son has stolen my daughters heart."Aragorn said, looking like he wasn't sure if he approved how besotted they were. Faramir grinned.

"Ah, they are young. It would be a good match in a few years, with your blessing."

"I would give it."he grinned."I am glad to see my daughter so happy."

"Come, Dúniel, you and I will join them so we can keep an eye on them."she smiled as her brother pulled her onto the dance floor, and let her feet move automatically. When the dance finished, Eldarion lifted her chin.

"Where are you?"he asked gently."You are certainly not here."

"I thought he'd come tonight."she said quietly, not meeting his gaze.

"Dúniel, you will see him again tomorrow."she looked at her little sister standing nearby, and smiled as Elboron flirted quite obviously with her. Eldarion saw the longing look in Dúniel's eyes."Ah."

"What?"she said, glaring.

"You want him here so you don't feel so lonely?"he said quietly.

"What do you know?"she hissed.

"Do not be like that, please."his gentle voice calmed her anger."I know it must be hard to see Miniual with the man she will most likely wed, but don't torment yourself. Your time will come."

"No, it won't."she whispered harshly."You know it won't."Eldarion looked away, hating that she spoke the truth. No lord would have a bride so marked.

"I will always be there to take care of you."he said quietly.

"But one day you will be a father, and have no time for your spinster sister."

"You shall help me keep the children in line, I promise you."he laughed. Eldarion grinned suddenly."Ah, I see something that will lift your mood."

"Elboron isn't kissing her, is he?"she asked, turning. She smiled as she saw Arash weaving through the crowd. Eldarion pushed her slightly.

"Go and dance with him."he said."I promised Merenwen a dance."Dúniel immediately left, pushing through the crowd until she almost ran into Arash, who looked relieved.

"There you are."he said, gesturing they should move out of the crowded area by the tables.

"I didn't think you were coming."she said quietly.

"I almost didn't."he admitted.

"Is it because of earlier?"Dúniel asked hesitantly. He shook his head.

"No, princess, my father did not wish me too come."

"Why?"he shrugged.

"I came anyway."

"Good evening."they turned in surprise at a tall young woman who stood beside them. Dúniel's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Good evening."she said quietly. Arash bowed politely, much to the woman's obvious pleasure.

"I was hoping your majesty could spare your young man for a dance."she said, eyes on Arash.

"He does not belong to me, Baraní."she sneered at Dúniel.

"You two have been attached at the hip since he arrived. Are you sure?"seeing Dúniel ready to let her tongue lash out, Arash gently lay a hand on her arm.

"I would gladly accept your offer, Lady Baraní, but I promised my friend the next dance. Perhaps after?"this clearly was not what the young woman was expecting.

"You would ask a lady of Gondor to wait while you waste your time with her."she snarled quietly.

"Do not speak to me like that."Dúniel hissed."I am your princess."

"I'm sure your father would be very unhappy to discover his little girl has become the enemy's whore."Baraní whispered, thinking only Dúniel could hear. Arash grabbed Dúniel quickly before she could attack the other woman, and glared.

"I have never met so many people so disrespectful of their leader. I should have you arrested for treasonous talk. You may find yourself someone else to dance with."she shrugged, clearly just trying to pick a fight now.

"My talk is not treasonous, is it, old friend?"Dúniel tried to pull herself from the Harad's grip and failed, glad everyone around them was too distracted by the party to notice the bitch fight.

"My father will hear of this."Dúniel snarled.

"Yes, run to your father, princess."she glanced at her scar and disgust crossed her face."Thial úan."Arash heard the small gasp leave Dúniel's mouth, and her rage seemed to die as Baraní gave her a satisfied look and stalked away.

"Let me go."she said angrily, pulling herself from his grip."Why did you stop me?"

"Because she is not worth you getting into trouble."he said quietly."She should not speak to you like that."

"She never used to."Dúniel seemed to shrink."She was my dearest friend before..."her lips tightened."Now she hurts me the worst. Now everyone will be saying I'm your whore."

"Don't be silly, Dúniel."he smiled."Why would you be my lover? I am the enemy. Now,"he took her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor,"forget about her and show me this dance."

Dúniel found herself once more completely consumed by her thoughts as she and Arash danced. Why would you be my lover, he'd asked. Had there been a hint of regret there? She looked up into his dark face, thinking hard.

I would be your lover. she found herself thinking. Yours alone. No other man would ever kiss me, no other man would stand up for me as you do. I would be yours forever.

So entrenched in her thoughts was she that she didn't noticed the empty pint glass, and stepped right onto it. She cried out as her ankle twisted sharply, and started to fall. Arash managed to grab her tightly, holding her as she moaned in pain.

"Dúniel!"he whispered, and scooped her into his arms, ignoring the whispers of the crowd. Kicking the glass under the table, he sat her on the bench and took her face.

"Did I hurt you?"he whispered. She couldn't meet his gaze.

"I'll have a nice bruise in the morning."she said, holding her waist."I'm sorry."she murmured.

"Why?"

"I shouldn't have been thinking."she hid her face in her hands, ignoring the throbbing pain of her ankle.

"You did look a little distracted."he said, smiling a little."You were thinking about that wretched woman, weren't you?"she didn't move, then nodded slightly."What did she say to you?"there was a long silence.

"She said I look like a monster."she whispered. Arash was horrified.

"Do you want me to get your mother?"Another nod. He pulled one of her hands away from her face and kissed her fingers."You'll be alright."

He disappeared, then soon came back with her parents in tow. Aragorn immediately knelt and felt her ankle gently while Arwen sat beside her, wrapping her arm around her shoulders and kissing her temple.

"You just twisted it. You'll be alright."Aragorn said, smiling gently."Getting into the wars, aren't we?"Dúniel smiled slightly.

"I'll take you back to your room, love."Arwen said, helping her daughter to her feet."Thank you, Arash."Arash, who was looking obviously disappointed that she was leaving so soon after he'd arrived, bowed.

"Think nothing of it, please. Good night, princess."

"Good night."Dúniel said quietly, letting her mother take her away.

Arwen sat her daughter on her bed then lowered herself beside her.

"How do you feel?"she asked, wiping Dúniel's tears away.

"My ankle really hurts."she whispered.

"It will pass."Arwen sighed gently."I've been meaning to talk to you, my love. I'm sorry I've been so busy-"

"It's alright."Dúniel said quickly."You have a baby to care for. "

"But you are also my baby."Dúniel shivered as her mothers eyes searched hers."You can tell me anything, and it would be our secret. Anything at all."

"What do you want me to say?"

"I want you to tell me about Arash."Dúniel suddenly looked terrified.

"I am not his whore, I swere it, it's just a rumour-"

"Dúniel!"Arwen cried, looking quite surprised."I have not heard that rumour, I assure you. If I had, your father would have heard it before me and he'd be here. Look, I've seen how you look at him. And I see that he returns your affections."she quietened, and Dúniel soon filled in the quiet.

"He, he stands up for me, Nana, he looks after me! He kissed me, Nana!"Arwen's eyebrows raised but she stayed silent."And I kissed him and when I'm with him I feel like I'm on fire, and like I want to be with him all the time. I, I think of shameful things, Nana, things I know I shouldn't, but I can't stop, because I want it, I want it so badly and he's the only one who could give it to me!"she stopped, panting, and felt strangely light. Arwen digested her daughter's words then continued.

"Tell me these shameful thoughts, my love."she said quietly."Then perhaps it will help ease the pain."Dúniel reddened and looked close to tears.

"Don't tell Ada."she whispered, clutching her mother's hand."Please, I shame him enough, don't tell him."

"You do not shame him, and you never will."Arwen said gently."But I swere, this is our secret."Dúniel took several deep breaths, not aware of the tears on her cheeks.

"I-I dreamed last night that he shared my bed."at this Arwen looked visibly shocked, but quickly drove this away for her daughter's sake, who hadn't even noticed."He lay beside me, and held me tightly. He spoke to me so gently, and told me he loved me. He loved me."she had to speak the words again, knowing it would be the last time she heard them."He told me he would make me his wife, and we would raise a large family together."Dúniel's tears were now fast and heavy, and her voice was clogging with desire, desire for the dreams that she knew would never come.

"And I wanted to stay there, to stay asleep. I cried when I awoke, Nana, cried myself back to sleep. I want to be with him, Nana. I thought I loved Gwarth, you know that. But what I feel for Arash is so much more cruel and powerful, it hurts me."she turned to her mother, shaking."What if I fall in love with him?"she whispered."What if I already have?" Arwen then wrapped her arms around Dúniel and held her tightly, rocking her gently as the princess sobbed uncontrollably into her shoulder.

"Sell vuin." she whispered gently."My poor Dúniel. I can't imagine what you feel right now, my love, nor can I pretend. But if you feel so strongly for him, perhaps you should no longer spend time with him."

"No!"Dúniel whispered, pulling away."No, don't say that! I will be good, I swere, he will not know how I feel."

"It is not that I worry about. I see love in your eyes, my dear, and I fear for you at winter's end, when he will depart. I have seen you waste away once because of a man, I couldn't bare it again. I am glad, that you have let love in your heart, but it pains me that it is for a man you can't be with. Perhaps if your fathers talks go well, perhaps then you could have a chance, but...Mazid is proving tiresome. I fear his intentions are not for peace."Dúniel looked up.

"As do I."she sniffed gently.

"I would ask you one thing."Arwen said."Does he make you happy?"Dúniel smiled through her tears.

"Yes. He does. When he's around, I don't feel lonely anymore."Arwen smiled.

"Then I am happy that your lonliness is passing."

"Is there no hope for me Nana?"she whispered. Arwen smiled.

"Yes, my love, there is hope. You will find the happiness you seek."Dúniel pulled her boots off, wincing at her sore ankle.

"Thank you, Nana."she said quietly."Thank you for talking to me."

"Don't ever think I would turn you away."she whispered, taking Dúniel's sore ankle and gently rubbing it.

"Can I speak to you?"Arash turned in surprise to see Dúniel standing at the entrance of the Harad rooms, looking very apprehensive.

"Yes, come and walk with me."he said, offering his arm."How is your ankle?"

"Alright."she said, limping gently."Nana wrapped it for me to support it, but it's fine, thank you."

"What is so important you felt the need to come so early to visit me."

"There is a fear in my heart Arash, and questions I must ask you to make it leave. But I'm afraid, because I don't believe you'll tell me, even if you know. I'm afraid you'll just push me away again, and that would only prove to me I'm right-"

"I care for you."he said very suddenly, stopping and looking at his boots. Dúniel's mouth was in an 'O' for a long moment.

"What?"she managed.

"I care for you."he said in a tiny voice."I can't hide it from you any longer."

"Really?" she whispered, her hand tightening on his arm."I care for you too."he blushed furiously, but smiled."But that was not what I needed to ask you."he seemed very surprised, and went redder.

"Oh, I'm, I mean, you see-"she laughed happily at his awkwardness, glad in her heart that he felt at least something for her.

"The questions I have are delicate, and will probably upset you. So I propose a game."

"A game? You do confuse me."

"I want to learn more about you. And I guess there are things you wish to know about me. The game is called Trust. I ask you a question, and you tell me the absolute truth. Then you do the same for me. They can be about anything. Anything. "her hand moved to her scar."We keep these secrets because we trust each other. But if either of us tell another, then there are dire consequences."

"I can keep secrets."he said quietly, feeling very nervous.

"As can I."she said, smiling."So after breakfast, I will take you somewhere private. I have no desire for eavesdroppers."

"Are you sure? What if someone sees us? They will think we are lovers."Arash said, finding he wouldn't mind so much if it were true."Or that I will kill you."

"I know my way around, and I know how to shake off a follower."Dúniel said, smiling mysteriously."And you shouldn't worry about rumours, my friend. What chance is there that they will come true?"leaving him dying to answer the question, they continued up the the Hall.

"What about me killing you?"he asked hesitantly.

"Make it quick."she said, glancing at him."If you would betray me so deeply, then at least make it quick so I will not suffer hurt again."she turned away, missing the stricken look on his face."Besides, if you wanted me dead, I'd be dead. I believe you won't hurt me."

"I'm glad. Because I won't."

"Good."

Authors note:

Baraní - fiery woman
Thial úan - you look like a monster
Sell vuin - beloved daughter