Chapter 19: Forbidden love

For a long moment there was silence. Dúniel sensed Arash's surprise, felt him tense slightly in shock, and her heart fell.

I am such a fool, she thought mournfully, he likes me, but not as much as I care for him...

"Dúniel, you would give me such a valuable treasure?"he asked suddenly. Dúniel's eyes shot open and he smiled at her surprise. He took her face gently in his hands."You stole my heart long ago."he whispered. Dúniel continued to stare in shock.

"You...I...really?"she whispered, a hint of desperation in her voice. He smiled slightly.

"You seem surprised."

"Arash, I have a giant scar on my face, and on my shoulder! I have a horrible temper and I treat you like dirt-"

"Not as often as you used to."

"I-I don't understand."she whispered."How could you possibly want me?"

"You understand pain, betrayal, loneliness. When I'm with you, I feel whole in a way I never thought I would. Yes, we argue and frustrate each other, and my temper's not much better than yours,"he laughed,"but Dúniel, you and I match in a way that I didn't think two people could."

"Arash..."she managed."That was so beautiful."

"I'm rather impressed myself."she smiled and wrapped her arms loosely around his neck.

"I do want to be with you."she whispered."But no one must know, or we're both dead."

"I know. This will be our Secret."she grinned broadly, trying to remember the last time she was so happy. Arash smiled at her affectionately."If I kiss you, will you think it's because I'm using you, or because I care for you?"she looked at him for a long moment.

"If I kiss you back, how will I know you won't be thinking the same thing?"

"Perhaps we should experiment."

"Let's."

He tugged her forward and they kissed with a hunger and passion that surprise themselves, holding each other tightly in spite of their sore injuries. They fell back onto the bed, pulling away briefly for Dúniel to pull Arash's jacket and shirt off, then resumed kissing wildly while Arash struggled with the laces of her corset. After a few moments, Arash drew back with a confused frown and pulled Dúniel upright, glancing over her shoulder in a vain attempt to undo the knot that trapped her in the dress. It was extremely difficult, especially when Dúniel started kissing his neck tenderly. Eventually, Dúniel pulled back and tried to undo the laces herself, but to no avail. Temper finally gone, Arash drew his dagger, but Dúniel grabbed his wrist.

"How will I explain my laces being cut?"she whispered.

Arash furiously slammed the dagger back into its sheath and rolled off the princess, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and burying his face in his hands, the romantic mood completely killed. Dúniel felt extremely hurt and rejected by this reaction.

"You can't get into my skirts, so you don't want me anymore?"she demanded angrily. Arash lifted his head and glared furiously.

"Don't start, you know how I feel for you. It just frustrates me that we are so close to being something that would mean the world to me and...I can't even get you out of your dress!"

"But...you don't have to take off my dress to make love to me!"she cried, voice cracking. Arash's eyes softened when he realised how much of a prat he'd just been and lowered his head, shame growing.

"Dúniel, come here."he said, swiveling around on the bed to face her. When the princess didn't move, a tear streaming down her cheek, he sighed heavily and gently took her hand.

"I know that you and I could be together without us undressing, but I would like to know the body of my beautiful woman before I made love to her."he explained softly, stroking her cheek."I want to know your curves and scars and skin, before I soiled you forever."

"I don't think being with you would soil me."Dúniel said defensively, but the hurt in her voice was gone.

"I refuse to use you like meat, Dúniel. You are far too special to me. You would allow me to be your first time, and I will not ruin that for you by making it a rush job."Dúniel suddenly giggled, blushing brightly. Arash frowned slightly.

"What?"she shook her head.

"I used to think that any man who had to be with me would want to make it a rush job."she said sadly."You've changed so much for me, and it's so confusing...half the time I can hardly believe this is real. I mean, when I was scarred, I thought I would always be alone, always be a virgin, and eventually throw myself from the top of Minas Tirith."She missed the frightened look in Arash's eyes as she moved closer to him."My deepest fear is that I will die alone, and a virgin. I don't want that Arash. And we were almost together, maethor veren vuin."she kissed him gently."I want to be your lover."she murmured gently.

"I want to be yours, dear princess."he managed, overwhelmed by the love pounding through his veins."I guess we shall just have to wait until you wear something I can get you out of."he slid back so his back was against the bed head and pulled the giggling princess into his lap, kissing her forehead gently as she rested her head on his shoulder."Why did you wear this thing, anyway?"he asked, fingers tugging hopefully at the laces. Dúniel was silent for a long moment.

"I-I wanted you to notice me."she said quietly. She felt him smile.

"Dúniel, you didn't have to wear a contraption like this to make me notice you. Can you breathe?"

"Not well. Mind you, I am being held by a wonderful man..."he chuckled.

"And what exactly did you want me to notice?"Dúniel giggled again, nuzzling his bare chest gently.

"Arash?"

"Mmm?"

"What is your deepest fear?"he blinked.

"Goodness. There's so many..."he paused, thinking, and gently tugged the tie from her hair, watching her gorgeous black hair cascade over her shoulders."Perhaps never finding who was behind my mothers murder. Maybe never having a family to love and protect. Losing you."she straightened slightly and smiled.

"You are such a lovely man sometimes."

"Sometimes?"she smiled broadly. He grabbed her shoulders, tugged her forward and kissed her hungrily for a moment before pulling away. Dúniel seemed breathless."How about now?"he teased.

Dúniel couldn't help but grin. She lay back down on him again, gently stroking his strong chest muscles. Apparently he liked this, because his grip around her shoulders tightened, and a soft groan left his lips. Smiling, she teasingly kissed his collarbone, and giggled when he shivered.

"Wench."he managed. She smiled innocently.

"Do I pleasure you?"he raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a rhetorical question?"

"Is that?"he smiled and stroked her back.

"Teach me to say something in Sindarin."he whispered.

"What?"

"I wish to give you a name, as you have given me one already, though I'm unworthy of it."

"Liar."he laughed.

"How do I say 'rose of the north'?"Dúniel blushed with pleasure.

"Meril en forod."he repeated it several times, trying to make it stick, then smiled."Yes, you are my beautiful meril en forod." Dúniel smiled shyly.

"Can...can I see you tonight? After dinner?"Arash looked shocked.

"Dúniel, I don't want you running around the city at night time, especially after what happened yesterday-"

"I can take care of myself."

"I know!"he said, frustrated."But I can't lose you. I don't want to feel the pain of knowing you died coming to be with me."his voice shook slightly. Dúniel nodded sadly."Wait until tomorrow. Wear one of your normal dresses, please."he stared at her face for a long moment."Are you sure about this, Dúniel?"

"About what?"

"Us. Are you really willing to betray your people and dishonour your family for me?"

"They won't ever find out."she said determindly."I would do anything to be yours."he looked at her a little longer.

"I just want to make sure you know what you're doing, and you're not letting your loneliness get the better of you."

"I know exactly what I'm doing."she said angrily, pulling from his grip.

"Dúniel, please don't-"

"Do you really think I'd be here, or I'd offer myself to you, if I didn't care for you as deeply as I do?"

"No, I know you wouldn't."he said, taking her cheek in his palm."But I just want to make sure that we don't have one night together and you realise you don't feel that way for me, or you think you made a mistake. I don't think I could start the heartache." Dúniel's anger died, and she nuzzled his palm with her nose.

"I know we will be happy together."she whispered."Maybe it was our loneliness and the fact we've both been hurt badly did bring us together, but we have a stronger connection because of it."he smiled.

"I know, my meril en forod. I can believe that our feelings are true."

"Good."

"Princess, what have you been doing?"her handmaiden, Laereth, cried in horror. Dúniel glanced at herself in her mirror and saw just how filthy she was. She giggled slightly.

"Help me out of this bloody thing."she groaned."I'm going to have a bath and I'm not coming out until I can see my skin again."it irritated her at how quickly Laereth undid the laces of her corset and left to fill a bath.

"Where's Arash when I need him?"she muttered, smiling as she remembered their wonderful day together. She bathed herself thoroughly then dressed in a much more comfortable dress. Then, as promised, she and Eldarion burned the horrible dress.

"There's a little less evil in the world."Dúniel said, grinning as they made their way to dinner. Eldarion grinned.

"Where were you today?"he asked, smiling at her gently. She shrugged.

"Here and there."her father smiled as she neared their table.

"Arash wishes to speak to you briefly. Do you want me to fetch him?"she asked. He nodded and Dúniel soon returned with her dark friend, who bowed nervously.

"Tar-Elessar, I was wondering if I could have a private word with you tomorrow. It regards my rewards and...something else Dúniel has convinced of me."he smiled briefly at the princess."She wants to prove I'm a better man than I am, and I don't wish to disappoint her."

"Arash..."Dúniel said quietly, squeezing his hand briefly.

Aragorn looked at the young man for a long moment. He knew the young man before him had a good heart. He would take his wife's, and Dúniel's,word over anyone else's. He could see the love in her eyes, and if he searched hard, could find it hiding in Arash's. Aragorn pushed his silver hair from his eyes.

"Do you wish my daughter or son to be there as well?"Arash seemed surprised.

"Perhaps Dúniel, as she knows me well now, no offense."he nodded to Eldarion."I feel she is in a better position to keep things clear."Aragorn leaned forward.

"Dúniel, bring him to my rooms after breakfast tomorrow, will you?"she nodded."I would still like to bring my son, if you don't object."

"No, I don't. I..I fear that I shall let you all down."he looked very downcast and, though they hid it well, he saw his daughter taking Arash's hand again.

"Don't think on it yet lad. I believe anyone is redeemable."

"Ada, did you arrest Canion?"Dúniel asked suddenly. Arash looked up. Aragorn nodded.

"He's not saying anything, but we've searched his room. He's involved in something, we'll catch him out in the end."

"Good."Arash said quietly. He bowed deeply."I'd appreciate it if my father doesn't know why I'm coming to see you."he said quietly. Aragorn nodded. Arash smiled at Dúniel then returned to his table, where Mazid immediately started questioning him.

"Ada, he's had a terrible childhood."Dúniel said quietly."And I know he's loyal to me. He will be to you if you give him the chance."

"We'll talk about this tomorrow love. Eat up."he smiled and gestured for her to sit.

Arash sat in his shirt and breeches, silently tuning his violin. He was terrified of what the next day would hold. He needed to hear something soothing to comfort him. He started to play, letting the calming tune relax his tense body. He jumped out of his skin when a stone banged on his window. A moment later, another followed. He felt the blood leave his face.

"She didn't." he whispered, putting the instrument aside and opening the window, carefully protecting his head for any stray missiles. Below his balcony he saw a figure hooded and cloaked tightly against the swirling snow.

"Are you insane?"he hissed furiously. Dúniel pushed her hood back.

"Help me up, it's freezing!"she whispered loudly.

Groaning, he reached down, grabbed her good hand and hauled her up, his side wound screaming in pain. She helped pull herself over, knowing she was hurting him, and hurried to the fire, shivering as Arash closed the window.

"Dúniel, do you have any idea what will happen if-"

"Shut up and hold me."she hissed, shivering. Rolling his eyes in frustration, he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"You are an idiot for doing this."he said, pulling away once her shivers died."How could you risk your life like that! After what I said to you! After what happened yesterday!"

"I had to see you."she whispered, eyes glistening with hurt."I'm so frightened about what might happen tomorrow, and I just wanted to talk to you...I heard you playing Arash."she said, gesturing to the violin."You play beautifully."he shook his head.

"Come on, I'm taking you back."

"No."she sat stubbourly."Please, play for me."Arash looked like he was quite prepared to fulfill his fathers orders. She sighed and looked away."I'm sorry I came, Arash. I just wanted to be with you again."she sat on the edge of his bed. "If you play for me a little I'll go back. I'm sorry."Arash slumped into his chair.

"It's alright, dear princess. It's nice to have some company."she risked a smile as he picked up his violin.

"Did I hurt you very much?"she asked, pointing to his side.

"Yes. But I don't think anything is broken." Dúniel turned her attention to his violin.

"It's lovely."she said as he ran his fingers over the strings. He smiled.

"I take care of my possessions."he said, and started to play.

She smiled as he closed his eyes, not letting anything distract him as he played a lovely tune she didn't recognise. Dúniel swallowed hard and silently pulled off her boots, hands shaking slightly. She was terrified of what she was about to do, of what he would do...would he accept her, or reject her? But she had to do this, she had to. The chance to be his...she couldn't let that pass. She stood and walked in front of him. Arash faltered when he heard her remove her cloak and opened his eyes. It was a long time before he closed them again. Dúniel stood naked before him, clearly terrified but holding her head high. His eyes searched her body, clearly approving.

"No wonder you were so cold."he managed, finally realising he was staring.

She didn't seem to mind. Arash carefully placed the violin aside then stood. He could see in her eyes she was frightened he would reject her. How could he reject the woman who'd stolen his heart. He slowly reached up and stroked her cheek.

"Dúniel, you are so beautiful."he whispered. She smiled slightly.

"When you say it, I can almost believe it."she said quietly. He took her arms gently, loving the touch of her soft skin.

"I'm going to ask you one last time, because I want to be with you more than anything in Arda."he said seriously."Is this what you want? Are you sure?"

"Yes."she said, with such conviction he had to believe her.

"If you want to stop, at any time, I'll understand."she smiled shakily.

"I know. I know you'll take care of me. I trust you."He squeezed her shoulders, then walked to his door and locked it.

"The last thing we need is someone walking in."he said, and kissed her.

yayness, they finally gets together :D and i finally update. sorry for the wait, you wouldnt believe how busy i am hope you liked!

Maethor veren vuin - Dear brave warrior
Meril en Forod - rose of the north
Laereth - song woman