Author's Note: For those who you checking this story out, this is the sequel to Aeliniel and I not only highly encourage you to go read it, but I recommend it because you're not really going to understand what's going on if you don't! For those who are here because of Aeliniel, I am very excited to continue Amera's story and hope you enjoy it as much as my first story! (Also, if Nienna does not ring a bell, a quick google search will do the trick.)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Pippin did his best to cushion his fall with his bound hands, but nonetheless winced as his aching body collided with the rocky earth. He heard Merry groan from beside him and was comforted in this as he shifted onto his side, for any sort of noise from his injured friend meant that he as at least well enough to know what was going on around him. His eyes swept briefly to the gash that cut down Merry's forehead and he knew despite his nearly convincing attempts, Merry was in great pain and very weak. They were both weak from the hours spent on the rough backs of the orcs, prodded and poked by the crude edges of their fearsome armor as they were roughly tossed from carrier to carrier. He had lost all sense of time, closing his eyes and imagining he was breathing the sweet, smoky air of the Green Dragon back home instead of the sweaty musk that clung to his captors. He thought of Frodo and what he so desperately hoped had been his escape, of Strider and the others, and finally, of Amera and Boromir.

He could not erase them from his mind's eye, despite his best attempts. Even now, he felt the hot sting of tears as the brutal crack of Amera's head replayed again and again, her pale hand outstretched as her dark hair had flowed over her shoulders as she lay still. Worse yet, he closed his eyes and felt a tear slide down his dirtied cheek, was the way Boromir had cried out to her, his eyes wide as he had known he could do nothing but watch her fall. And Boromir himself, he trembled slightly as the steady flow of tears increased despite his attempt to hide his emotion for Merry's sake, how slow the rise and fall of his broad chest had become, how he had stared at the arrows plunged deep within his chest and had realized, no doubt, that he was going to die.

"It'll be alright, Pip." He looked over to Merry, who gave him a faint, tired smile.

Pippin swallowed hard and nodded, being as strong as he could for his friend.

Merry was quiet for a second, shifting his gaze to look around at the grunting orcs that surrounded them, panting and growling amongst themselves in their thick tongue. After a moment, he turned back and attempted his smile once more, "At least Frodo's safe, remember that if nothing else, Pip."

Pippin shuddered inwardly as he imagined his cousin as a fellow captive and was comforted by Merry's reminder. No matter what happened, Frodo was safe. His spirits were raised slightly by this and he responded with a little grin of his own, whispering, "You know what I could use right now, Merry?"

Merry slowly raised a brow, giving Pippin an odd look as he slowly shook his head. Pippin grinned at this this and whispered with a quick wink, "I'd kill for some a pint."

Merry's smile widened exponentially as he rolled his eyes, unable to resist a quick laughter as he retorted, "You're an idiot, Pip."

However, their brief moment of happiness was shattered as Merry received a sudden, fierce kick to the back from on the orcs. The beast sneered, his bloodshot eyes hazy in the moonlight as he growled, "That's enough of that, rats." He lowered his brutish head, spittle flying from his thick lips as he snarled, "If I catch you yappin' away one more time, I'll send Shakrat over ere' and you," He grabbed Pippin's face and pulled it close, his breath hot as he emphasized each word, "Don't want that."

Pippin swallowed hard and nodded furiously before the orc released him with a snort of disgust and wandered away to rejoin his companions, who had taken no notice of the brief interaction. He glanced towards Merry who flashed him a brief smile, but raised his bound hands to his lips and shook his head. Contented by this, well, as content as one could be when held captive by a marauding band of terrifying creatures, he rolled onto his side and buried his head into the bristly grass as he dreamt of the Shire, slowly but finally drifting asleep.

However, his rest was short-lived as he found himself awakened by the sudden thumping of the ground beneath him as iron-clad feet ravaged the soft earth. Blinking in confusion, he lifted his head and watched as another group of Uruk-hai appeared, their thick bodies glistening with sweat beneath the moonlight as they panted and came to a rest. The leader of that company that had taken Merry threw down the sword he had been sharpening as walked over to greet the newcomers and Pippin instantly lowered his head as he passed, pretending to be asleep once more.

It was difficult to see what was going on, for he did not wish to risk moving and being discovered to be awake, so he subtlety shifted his body as best he could to get a clear view of the scene. Ugluk, for so the other orcs called him, approached the panting orcs with a low growl, his thick braids of hair swinging as he swung his arm in anger. "What took you maggots so long?" He snarled, looking over the small group with contempt.

One of the exhausted Uruk-hai looked up, removed his helm as he desperately tried to explain, his voice stammering between heaving gasps. "We couldn't go fast, not with the condition that one's in." He jerked a finger behind him and Pippin shifted, his eyes widening in horror as he caught a brief glimpse of a large object dropping roughly onto ground, released from the arms of an orc. No matter how he moved, he could not see how big it had been, his mind whirling as he prayed Frodo was not the captive.

He cursed under his breath with frustration as Ugluk moved to look over the captive and he was unable to see anything but the figures of the orcs before him. After a pause, Ugluk roared, spit flying from his lips as he growled, "Who did this? Sharkey'll ave' our skins for this!"

"It ain't our fault!" Another piped up, his voice revealing frustration, "Lurtz lost control and forgot orders!"

Ugluk spat, cursing loudly in that dark, thick tongue and Pippin was grateful he was unable to understand the meaning beneath the harsh vocals and guttural grunts. "Put it with the others!" He finally roared, turning swiftly as he strode to rejoin his own company, "And if one of you lays a hand on-"

One of the exhausted orcs sneered at this and Pippin was unable to make out the beginning of his statement as he interrupted Ugluk, only able to make out, "-As good as dead, anyway!"

Ugluk looked over his shoulders, baring his fangs as he snarled, "You'd best be hopin' that doesn't happen or all of you lot will be answerin' to the wizard yourselves." The orc swallowed hard at this and grew silent. Pippin quickly lowered his head as he passed, shutting his eyes tightly as his boots crushed the thin blades of grass but a few inches from his own face mercilessly. He heard as the new company of uruks grunted and growled amongst themselves in low voices, but resisted a sudden flinch, for he heard a small thud where Ugluk had just passed and felt something brush his arm.

Pippin waited a moment, biting his lip in fear, and very tentatively opened one eye to examine what had just been dropped beside him. He blinked, trembling as he kicked Merry with a sudden twitch of his foot to wake, swallowing hard as he stared the figure beside him, at the hand that lay outstretched before him, pale beneath the dried blood that caked delicate fingers.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

She was drowning, flailing madly in the darkness with aching limbs as the icy chill encircled her body and dulled her senses. She was unable to tell which direction was up, or which was down, and she tried to cry out but water poured into her throat, choking her as she struggled blindly. Every part of her body screamed in agony, her scars seemingly lit aflame as her head pounded with intensity to steal what little breath remained in her lungs. Slowly descending as the weight of the water took her and swirled her dark hair around her, she wept as the images of those lost to her flooded her mind.

The proud tilt of Earnur's jaw as he had turned from her, never to be seen again. The sobs of the dying at Fornost who she could not save, their blood staining her boots as she had fought on. Gandalf's fingers slowly slipping against the stone before he had fallen into the darkness of Khazad-dum. The aged faces of kings, soon to die, that had visited in their youth, so very noble and now so feeble.

And Boromir, his shining green eyes glazed with pain as he had cried out to her, his proud chest rising and falling slowly with the weight of two arrows as he had fallen. The chest her head had rested against in Lorien and had lulled her to sleep with its steady heartbeat, that had pressed against her own as their burdens were eased, if only briefly, as their lips had met.

It was with these thoughts that the spirit of the Aeliniel grew so heavy with despair, her very form weighed down by countless burdens, that she was no longer able to fight. This was to be her end and she embraced it in her weariness, for she could not go on any longer. Her pale eyes closed in peace as her hands gently rose above her head and slivers of dark curls slipped between her fingers as her body was suddenly limp. She gave into the water that swirled around her, allowing herself to be slowly pulled down deeper and deeper into the darkness.

"Aeliniel."

A whisper rippled through the water, but she did not stir. There was silence once more as she sank, yet after a moment the soft, feminine voice reached out yet again to her, so profoundly gentle in this world of pain and suffering that it stirred her weary soul. "Aeliniel."

Her eyelids flickered and her soft mouth opened slightly, but the burden was yet too great.

"Do not give up, Aeliniel, not yet."

A faint weeping reached her, echoing through the lightless waters as she stirred ever so slightly. Mustering what energy she had left, the Aeliniel whispered weakly, "I cannot endure this."

The voice grew in strength and comfort now, no longer whispering as it called out to her. "It is not yet your time."

"But I am so very weary…"

"You can do this, child, for I believe in you."

The voice exuded confidence, a promise that stirred up hope in her. Slowly, but surely she opened her eyes, exhausted by the effort and whispered in return, "Who are you?"

She heard soft laughter, like the tinkling of chimes by morning breeze, as it whispered to her, "I created you." The Aeliniel shifted in confusion, her eyes opening as she searched through the darkness for the source, quietly responding, "You are Evendim?"

She gasped once more as suddenly a light appeared above her and shone down through the dark waters, illuminating her pale, bare form. The glowing beams themselves, first hazy through the water, twisted with a life of their own and swirled around her, tracing along her ankles and fingers like delicate ribbons that glittered bright with the warmth of the noonday sun as they graced her bruised skin. The voice called out, louder than ever before as it questioned, and the swirls of pure light blinding in their intensity as they gathered speed, "And what caused those waters to ripple? What stirred the cool blue of Evendim to give life? From where came the hope and light that fills your spirit and shines through you, child?"

Amera trembled, terrified by the questions she could not answer, of the assumptions of her creation that now lay shattered around her like shards of broken glass and the power of the creature that spoke to her through the shadowed waters. There was a long pause and the tendrils of light slowed to wrap around her like a blanket, gently warming her as she closed her eyes in relief from the icy chill. The voice was softer now as it had realized its intensity and grew closer, seeming to whisper into her ear. It was a sweet and sad, as if the woman it had belonged to had seen so very much, yet still held hope. "I wept for Gondor as it was torn asunder, for the lust for power and greed of men moved them to abandon their home and the tombs of their forefathers, for the history left behind in marble monuments and high, shining walls." The voice briefly paused, choked with emotion, and Amera felt her heart weak with pity as it continued through gentle weeping, "I wept for the city of Annuminas, once a beacon for all Men, to be so forsaken."

A single word rippled through the water, a name that she recognized, deep within her soul. Nienna.

Amera's eyes widened as the light that shone down upon her, once so very far away, as if she had been looking upwards from bottom of a deep well, suddenly grow closer and closer. She then realized she was moving, propelled towards the surface by the soft rays of light that now hung from her like a robe, swirling around her slender ankles and through her hair like ribbons touched by a gentle breeze. The voice continued and Amera imagined a small smile upon the face of its source as it rippled to her, "I give hope unto those that cry out for it, my beautiful Aeliniel, and through you this is fulfilled."

Amera lowered her head in shame, tears appearing in her eyes as she trembled, struggling to contain her grief as the water swirled around her as she ascended slowly to its surface. Her voice was but a whisper, choked with emotion, "Then I have failed you, my lady." She paused briefly, closing her eyes as tears streaked down her bruised and bloodied face, "Earnur fell and so the line of kings was ended. Gandalf fell and such precious light was lost. And-," Her voice cracked as she sobbed, "Boromir is dead."

The voice was quiet for a moment as Amera wept, her frail shoulders shaking as the weight of the Aeliniel bore down upon her. Slowly, the tendrils of light reached up to caress her face, warming her as they brushed away tears while the voice murmured gently, something like laughter in its words, "Shhh, love, for already have I intervened on your behalf." Amera opened her mouth to inquire further, but the voice continued and its quiet laughter was so immensely beautiful she felt tears spring once more into her eyes as it continued, "You have done so very, very well, Aeliniel, all these years. You have fought so valiantly despite that which has been placed upon you and for that, I am proud of you."

The voice paused and Amera looked upwards once more, towards the light that grew closer and closer, shining down upon her and battling the shadows that lingered in the dark waters around her. It continued once more, but Amera heard soft regret and the presence of tears as it whispered, "I had not known what all this would been asked of you, child….I could never have foreseen where your path might take you. And, while I have shed many tears for the struggles set before you over these many years, my heart is yet glad for all that you have become, for your choice to stand alongside these Free Peoples and fight though such was not asked of you."

Amera was silent as she reached the surface and the shining ribbons slowly fell away from her, dissolving into the pure light that rippled above her head, just a movement away. She extended a hand towards where light and water met, but paused for a moment and whispered, "Do you truly believe I can do this, my lady?"

The voice laughed once more and swirled around her, warming her weary soul with its comfort and confidence. "With all my heart. Go now, my beautiful Aeliniel, and remember, the name Dagorwen was bestowed upon you for a reason. Within you lies the strength to banish the great darkness that now threatens all of Middle-earth."

Amera looked up at the radiant beams that shimmered down upon her and whispered to herself as she reached her hand above the water and into the air, her voice filled with quiet determination and promise as her eyes closed as she left the shadows behind.

Dagorwen.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Pippin held his breath as Amera's eyelids slowly trembled, gently cradling her head as best he could in his bound arms. Merry was breathless beside him, his eyes wide as they waited for some sign of movement from their friend. Finally, Pippin saw the pale, flickering blue of her eyes as her long lashes parted. He sobbed briefly with relief, tears streaming down his face as he looked down upon her.

She looked so very broken, for one eye was black and nearly swollen shut as she gazed up at him. Her cut, bloodied lips moved slowly to reveal a faint, tired smile and he awkwardly brushed away a stray tear that fell upon her bruised cheek. He glanced briefly to her the side of her head and inwardly cringed with pain as he saw the raw gash that rested upon her scalp, the dark hair surrounding it matted with dried blood. Around her throat were the images of the thick fingers that had choked her, contrasting vividly against her pale skin.

Still, she lived and for that he rejoiced. Amera blinked once, slowly, and lifted a trembling, bloody finger against his cheek as she stroked it. Her voice cracked slightly as she whispered, the tired smile playing around her lips, "I thought I had lost you."

Pippin smiled at his battered friend, though his heart was heavy as he realized how very weak she was. As he took notice of the crude bandage wrapped around her shoulder where the arrow had been withdrawn and the arching plane of her shoulder blades through her hauberk as he held her, he knew she had been lucky just to survive the rough travel. From beside him, Merry spoke up, his voice bright as he no doubt tried to comfort her and whispered, "Your lessons saved my life, Amera. If you hadn't have taught me how to parry, I'd have been done for."

She laughed softly at this for a moment, but Pippin's eyes widened with fright as her back suddenly arched as she began to cough, her frail body shaking with its intensity as she gasped in pain. He quickly laid her back down as gently as he could, hurrying to appear asleep once more as Ugluk approached. Holding his breath, he was still as the massive uruk leered over him and growled to Amera, "Keep it down or else."

Pippin heard her swallow hard and assumed she had nodded, for the sounds of his brutish footsteps grew quieter as he walked away. He waited for a few more moments, then opened his eyes and moved to whisper to her. However, even in that brief amount of time, her eyes had already closed and he watched her chest rise and fall as she slept. Relieved by this, he carefully brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes and looked over her, his eyes tracing the dark bruises that crept along the angles of her striking features.

He knew then, that no matter what, he would not let anything harm her.