thanx for the reviews! heres another bloody long chapter. EDIT fixed spelling mistake, tell me if i missed one

Chapter 14: Exposed!

"Tar-Elessar?"Arash said quietly. Aragorn turned and smiled.

"Close the door, lad."Arash obeyed but stayed near it, wondering what would happen. "Come over here, I'm not going to bite."Aragorn said, gesturing to the fire. Arash hesitated, not knowing why, then moved forward, grateful for the warmth."My son tells me you tasted salt on the ice?"

"Yes, Tar-Elessar."he frowned slightly, then sighed.

"It pains me that someone could stoop low enough to go after my children instead of me. You have done a courageous deed by saving Merenwen, and I shall not forget it, no matter how these talks end up."

"Thank you. I would never have forgiven myself if I hadn't caught her so quickly."

"Neither would I. I'd be blaming myself to no end."Aragorn grinned."But you seem to have become a shining beacon for my family, Arash. If I may say, you are quite unlike your father."

"I know."Arash said."I am like my mother. She often talked of the wonders of Gondor to me before she..."he trailed off, and turned away to hide the immense pain on his face.

"I am glad that you and my children have proven to me and my people that it is not impossible to be friends with Harad. It gives me hope. And I must thank you for what you have done to Dúniel."Arash paled slightly.

"Done? I-I haven't-"

"I meant that you have brought her out of her shell."Aragorn said, eyes dancing with amusement."Don't let the rumours bother you. I haven't seen her so happy for many years. It does me good to see her smile and laugh again. But I worry about her too."

"As do I."Arash admitted."I know how lonely she was before I came. I hate to think what my leaving will do to her. I know I will be just as hurt to say goodbye."Aragorn looked at the young man for a long moment.

"So, what can the King of Gondor give to his daughters rescuer?"

"I-I don't want anything."Arash stammered quickly."It is alright."

"I am indebted to you, Arash. The saving of my child will not go unrewarded."Arash looked and felt very conflicted.

"There are things I would ask you, but they are not appropriate at all."

"Like what? The hand of my daughter?"At this, Arash went bright red and stepped back.

"I wouldn't dare!"he gasped. Aragorn laughed.

"Please, give me some clue."Arash folded his arms nervously.

"I would ask that I could remain here when my father leaves."he said quietly. Aragorn blinked, clearly surprised."I have no desire to return to Harad. Minas Tirith is a beautiful city, filled with life and kindness. I have friends here now. There is nothing for me in Harad."

"What of this niece Dúniel spoke to me of?"Arash looked down.

"I don't even know if she's alive."he said quietly. Aragorn looked like he wanted to ask Arash to expand on this strange comment, but decided to remain silent and change tack.

"What would you do if I allowed you to stay?"Arash shrugged.

"Become a guard? I didn't think that far ahead but..."a cheeky grin passed over his face,"perhaps the hand of your daughter would come into it."Aragorn made a noise that was clearly a laugh disguised as a cough.

"I'm sure we'd find a suitable place for you."he stared at Arash some more."Is that what you would ask me?"

"Perhaps. I really don't know."

"Why don't you think on it? Come and talk to me again in a week. I don't think you staying here is out of the question, but it won't be easy."Arash bowed.

"Thank you. I will take my leave. I would like to visit Merenwen, if I may?"

"Come with me then."Aragorn said, opening the door.

Feeling that he should not have allowed the King to open the door for him, Arash walked through and let Aragorn lead him to Merenwen's room. She was sneezing furiously as they walked in, but grinned broadly as her father and Arash entered.

"Thank you so much!"she said, and sneezed again. Arash grinned.

"I am glad to see you are alright, little princess."he said.

"Aren't we all?"Aragorn murmured."I'm surprised your father hasn't come to make sure you're alright."

"He knows I'm made of good solid stock."Arash said, thumping his chest. Merenwen giggled as he winced slightly."I won't deny that I have some nice bruises coming."

"Look at the ones you gave me!"Merenwen said, pulling up her sleeves to reveal the marks, where Arash had clearly grabbed her to pull her out. Arash went slightly pale.

"I'm sorry."he said, looking terribly guilty, but Merenwen laughed.

"I think they're brilliant!"she exclaimed, then sneezed several times. Arash felt slightly relieved, then sensed someone standing behind him. He turned and grinned as Dúniel peered over his shoulder.

"Impressive."she said, eyes running over her sisters arms. "I'm glad you didn't have to pull me out."

"You're a lot heavier than she is for a start."Dúniel gasped and hit his arm hard, making him wince.

"If your going to be like that!"she snarled and left the room. Arash sighed and covered his eyes, trying to ignore Aragorn's laughter.

"She's only joking lad."he said."Come on, I'll get a guard to take you to the Hall. Dinner should be ready soon."

Dúniel raced out of the Houses and hid by the doors, laughing silently as she made a snowball. She jumped when she heard angry Haradric coming from nearby. She started creeping over. As a royal heir, she was fluent in Sindarin and Rohirric, and once her tutors had found out of her fathers plans, they had begun Haradric, and been astounded at how quickly she'd picked it up. She wasn't fantastic, but knew enough to get by. Knew enough to understand what Mazid was yelling furiously.

"-they all come back alive?"Mazid was yelling.

"Arash saved the child."Dúniel stifled a gasp as she heard Canion's voice speak fluent Haradric. She halted by the edge of the wall, listening hard.

"Why would he do that? What is he playing at? I should box his ears-"

"Perhaps he thinks it is a good way to achieve your plans. You've seen how hard it is for him to get close to the -"he said a word she didn't know, but she knew they were talking about her,"and saving her sister might be the thing he needs to complete it."

"But I have been telling him to find out information on the hellhole, and he has told me nothing!"

"Perhaps she has told him nothing."

"He's playing around with her, I know it! Getting attached. She should be dead in his sheets by now! I didn't bring him here to have fun!"Dúniel slid into the snow, horror and betrayal clutching her heart.

"But what can you do? For all we know, he could be trying his hardest."

"But he could also have switched sides."Mazid snarled."Useless street scum. Perhaps I need to give him another warning, with a time limit this time. Because if he hasn't done her in by the end of the week, I'll do it myself!"

She stayed very still as Mazid stomped off towards the door, and watched Canion wander off into the night. Dúniel couldn't quite believe what she'd heard. Could it be true? She stood slowly, the words swimming around in her head. Perhaps she'd misinterpreted some words...it was possible, she wasn't completely fluent. She was barely aware of the tears on her cheeks as she returned to the light of the Houses.

"There you are!"she looked up with a gasp as Arash bore down on her, Miniual trotting by his side, and quickly wiped her tears away."We've been looking all over for you, it's dinner time."All she could do was nod, and stayed close to her sister as a guard escorted the three of them away.

"Wait for me!"they stopped to allow Eldarion to catch up, who grinned and immediately stared chatting animatedly to Arash. Dúniel ate quietly at dinner, still thinking hard.

I sense guilt in him, always, all the time...he was sent to kill me? To get information, bed me and kill me? Why? What would that achieve? What could make him so heartless? she glanced at Mazid, who was talking to one of his guards. He is an evil man. He desires war, not peace. We can all sense that. And I feel he may kill me before Arash does...I should tell Ada...but he'll send Arash away...

She found herself horribly conflicted over this, but the words of Mazid strangely enough cleared Arash of malice. Arash had had more than enough opportunity to kill her, he knew she desired him. And she had told him many things that would advantage an enemy during war. He was stalling, putting off his job. But what could force him to do such a horrible thing like murder? He watched Arash laughing as Eldarion told him a very ripe joke. Family...perhaps that was it. She knew he missed his mother deeply, and she could see how much his niece meant to him when he'd spoken of her. Perhaps Mazid was blackmailing him. What should she do? Should she go with her gut, and give him the benefit of the doubt, or her upbringing, and tell her father? She couldn't believe that he could kill her. She couldn't believe he would betray her like that, after everything else she'd been through. And when she remembered how he'd kissed her, when he'd told her he cared for her only that morning...it felt real. She jumped when a hand touched hers, spilling her drink on her dress.

"Oh no!"she cried, burning with embarrassment as she tried to mop up the mess.

"I'm so sorry."Arash said, handing her more serviettes."Here-"

"Let me do that, highness."a serving girl said, swooping down and cleaning the table.

"Dúniel-"

"Just leave me alone!"she yelled as Eldarion reached over for her hand.

Ignoring his hurt face, she stood and raced from the building, sobbing hard, ignoring the stares she got from the stain on her dress. Back in the Hall, the royal children and Arash were left stunned at her sudden exit.

"I've never known a woman to be as quiet as her then leave with such a racket."Arash said, clearly impressed."I feel so bad to embarrass her like that."

"She'll get over it."Eldarion said, standing."Come on Miniual, time for bed."

"You sound far to much like Ada."she complained. Eldarion grinned.

"Why thank you. You leaving with your father?"

"I suppose. Unless you want to hold my hand as well?"Eldarion shook his head as Miniual laughed.

"I can think of much lovelier hands to hold. Shall we?"Arash watched the pair leave the Hall and sighed.

Dúniel filled her wash bowl with water then stripped, rubbing the sponge over herself to rid the shameful stickiness of the wine. She knew she'd overreacted - again - and should've laughed it off, but no, she had to embarrass herself more. Swearing angrily, she threw the dress into the corner. It would have to be thrown out now, wine was impossible to get out. She'd liked that dress. Shivering, she slid her nightgown on and stoked the fire in her outer chambers. She then wrapped a blanket around herself and sank into the couch in front of the fire, wiping her tears.

Tomorrow was Miniual's birthday, so she couldn't talk to him then ...it would have to wait. She could ask him later, when they were playing Trust. But what would he do when she asked? She didn't care if he did finish her off, she was just frightened of what would happen to her family if his intentions were so horrible. She heard her brother and sister return, and ignored the knock at her door. She heard a sigh of frustration, then the sound of doors closing. She had almost dozed off when there was another knock at the door. Groaning, she stood.

"Eldarion, leave me be!"she cried.

"Dúniel?"she blinked.

"Arash? Go away! You shouldn't be here!"
"I know! I'm sorry about dinner time-"sighing, she opened the door a crack and glared at him.

"Can't this wait until morning? My father will kill you if he finds out you're here!"

"I'm worried about you."he said, and she hated that his tone was genuine."You've been acting strangely since we left the Houses-"she opened the door wider and pulled him into the room, determined to get to the bottom of his mystery.

"You want answers?"she demanded, closing the door."So do I! Because I heard something horrible and I just don't know what to do."

"I don't understand."he said, standing by the fireplace and shivering. She walked over to him, pulling her blanket tighter around her.

"You answer my question, and you'll know the answer to mine."she hissed. Arash looked at her face, and saw a deep hurt and betrayal in her eyes.

"What happened?"he asked, and she could sense the guilt and shame pouring off him.

"I am going to ask you, and I hope that you will be honest. Because this will only end two ways. Either you tell me what's going on, or you kill me."Arash was visibly shocked by this remark.

"What do you want to know?"

"The real reason you were brought here."she said in angry Haradric. He paled, and gasped slightly.

"You speak my tongue?"

"I can listen in it too!"she said furiously, ignoring the bitter tears in her eyes, the sick feeling in her stomach."So tell me why you are really here! Tell me it isn't true!"she cried desperately."I can't handle another betrayal Arash. Tell me the truth!"Arash was horrified. How could she know? How had she found out?

"What would you do, if I told you?"he asked.

"I don't know."she whispered."I don't want to lose you, Arash. Tell me. Please."he sighed heavily. He had wanted to tell her, he couldn't deny that. Deep inside himself, he knew he wanted her to know, so they could get past this lie he was living.

"Mazid is the leader of the resistance in Harad that still follow Sauron, still believe he will fulfill his promises."he said quietly. Dúniel was horrified, unable to believe that man could sit in the same room as her father and lie so easily. "He brought me here because he wants war. He brought me here to find out Gondor's weaknesses, the city's, and the Kings."he looked up at Dúniel, who shook slightly.

"He wanted me to get close to you, to seduce you. He said that once your father sees his daughter in my bed, dead and no longer a virgin, he will have no choice but to retaliate. I don't want any of this."he said angrily."I want peace with Gondor, like my mother did! I can't do what he asks, and I know that he will kill you himself if I don't! He told me he would kill my niece if I didn't finish you off! I-I can't let him do that!"he said, burying his face in his hands."I know it might not seem like a hard sacrifice, but she's all I have left. I can't lose her! And I can't lose you! I don't tell him anything, Dúniel, and I could never kill you! Yes, I only started talking to you because of his psychopathic orders, but the feelings I have for you are real! I truly care for you, and I...I don't know what to do anymore."he sat heavily on her coach and hid his face again."I don't know what to do." Dúniel stood staring at him for a long moment.

"Did you salt the lake?"

"No!"he cried, looking horrified."I had no idea that was there! But I can guess who made it happen."he said darkly.

"What about Canion? How long has he been a traitor?"she demanded. Arash looked genuinely confused.

"Canion? What are you talking about?"

"I heard him arguing with your father in Haradric! He knows what you are here to do!"Arash looked horrified.

"I-I had no idea. If he's my father's spy, why doesn't he get information from him?"

"Because Canion's a probationary soldier, he's only just joined up! They aren't told anything!"

"I swear I didn't know."he said quietly. There was a long moment of silence.

"Why would I think that you not willing to sacrifice your niece's life would make you a horrible person?"she asked finally. He looked up at her, clearly surprised. He had expected her to call the guards, or yell herself blue, or something much more aggressive.

"I don't know...seeing as it was your life I'd be taking to spare hers, I thought you'd feel a little...differently."she could sense his relief, relief at being able to confess his terrible guilt. She found herself sitting beside him.

"I don't know what to do either."she whispered."I know I should go to my father, but...he would send you away. But Mazid said if you didn't finish me off by the end of the week he'd do it himself."Arash looked up, horrified.

"What?"he said, a furious look growing on his face."No. I won't let him hurt you."

They were both stunned at how well she seemed to be taking this, but he supposed that because she'd already heard the gist of it, she'd had time to absorb it.

"Arash, if you told my father now, perhaps you could be his spy instead."she said quietly."I think he would be more lenient on you if you tell him sooner rather than later."Arash looked away.

"He would be furious with me."he said dejectedly."Besides, if I can so easily betray my own country, how can you be sure I won't do the same for yours?"

"When I found out, I couldn't believe what Mazid was saying. I couldn't believe that you would ever do anything so horrible. It is not in you to murder. There is a light in you that is not in your father. My father sees that you are better than him. I think we could convince him that you mean no harm."he straightened and looked at her.

"Do you care for me so much that you'd risk your fathers faith in you to see me safe? You'd stand up for me and speak for me even though I was brought here to kill you?"

"Arash, you saved me from the darkness that consumed my heart."she whispered, touching his cheek gently."You see who I am and you put up with my horrible temper. You've showed me a loyalty and friendship like no one else. I would do anything to keep you safe and here."he smiled gently.

"I shall wait a few days. I don't want to spoil your sisters birthday."she nodded.

"And we can play Trust again. I know a secret place we can go where no one will eavesdrop."

"You still trust me? You're still fine to be alone in a room with me?"

"Do you see anyone else in here?"she pointed out. He smiled slightly.

"I can't believe how well you're taking this. Thank you for believing in me. It's been a long time since anyone has."

"I won't deny it's hard for me to swallow but...I feel that you are telling me the truth. Thank you for trusting me."she smiled, standing."Come on, you'd best get back to your room."he stood, seeming smaller than normal. Dúniel surprised them both by hugging him tightly.

"Be careful."she whispered, pulling away slightly."You and I still have a lot to talk about."he nodded, and gasped slightly as she moved forward and kissed him. Before he could recover, she pulled back, smiling slightly.

"Time to test your hiding skills."she said, opening the door and glancing around.

"Dúniel."she found herself being pulled out of the doorframe and into his arms, melting at his gloriously wonderful kiss. After a moment she pulled back reluctantly.

"You'd better go."she whispered, smiling slightly.

"No matter what happens, I will always care for you, Dúniel. I swear I will protect you from him."

He kissed her forehead and waited for her to check on last time before disappearing into the snow.