Amera rolled up the sleeves of her gown with a sigh of frustration towards the excess fabric that continually managed to get in her way as she scrubbed away the thick layers of dust that coated the feasting tables. She would have much preferred to clean in a set of robes or, even better, her leggings and tunic, but Eowyn had been kind enough to lend her a few spare gowns and she, in turn, would wear them. Still, she awkwardly scratched her shoulder blades through the heavy material, she was not required to enjoy wearing the homespun clothes.

It had been a quiet morning, the city silent as its people went about their business, their grief as fresh as the raindrops that fell from the grey sky above. She had been briefly woken in the night and had instinctively grown defensive as a shadow appeared beside her bed, but was calmed as Boromir's strong arms had wrapped around her, his warm body resting protectively against hers as he had crawled in beside her. And so, as the morning came, she had rested her head on his chest in absolute comfort, closing her eyes as she listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat in contrast to the gentle raindrops that fell against the stone roof above them.

Boromir had left to join Gandalf and the others in counseling Theoden and while she had initially prepared to accompany them, Gandalf had rather awkwardly explained that he doubted Theoden would be accustomed to the advice of someone who appeared to be a young woman. Flustered and annoyed, she had nonetheless known that this was not her battle to fight and had instead gone in search of something to do to pass the time. Walking through the village at the bottom of the hill had initially proved to be worthy of interest, for she desired to see how Edoras differed from Annuminas, the only other city of Men she had ever known, but decided it would be best to not dirty the borrowed gown.

So, she had decided to pass the time by attempting to restore Meduseld to its former glory, searching until she found a few rags and a bucket of water to begin the cleaning. She was perfectly content to stare into the dark, intricate designs of the oak tables as she scrubbed them down, absently humming the tune of a melody whose words she had long forgotten. It was pleasant work, deeply gratifying as she saw the proud sheen of the feasting tables slowly return as she worked away the thick layer of dust and grime. However, she glanced over her shoulder in confusion as a startled gasp suddenly surprised her.

"My….my lady!" Amera found herself staring into the pale blue eyes of Theoden's niece, who looked at her with absolute horror as she rushed forward. Amera blinked in confusion as the woman's pale hand reached towards the rag, her head dropping in embarrassment and shame as she stammered, "I must apologize for this great dishonor."

Amera perked a brow, shooting her a curious look as she slowly backed the rag away from her outstretched hand. "I'm afraid I don't understand…"

Eowyn blinked once, a slight blush rising in her pale features as she murmured, "You are a guest in these halls yet you clean them. And-" Her voice grew to a tentative whisper, "You are the Lake-Daughter, if such is true."

Amera smiled softly and brushes a lock of hair away from her eyes. "You need not apologize for I do so out of my own will and," She nodded once, "My name is Amera and I would have you call me such, for we are to be friends, I should think."

Eowyn looked up, a small smile crossing her pretty features as she replied, "Well, if nothing else I should ask that I at least join you."

"Suit yourself." Amera tossed another wet rag to her as she turned her attention back to the table. They scrubbed in silence for a few minutes and she examined Eowyn from the corner of her as they worked, for while they had briefly met before she had never truly had the time to look over Theoden's niece. She was proud and fair in the nature of the women of Rohan, her beauty strong and unapologetic, though Amera could see worry and fear in her eyes as she scrubbed the table beneath her hands. Her pale hair flowed over her shoulder and backs, beautifully emphasizing the sky blue of her eyes. As she hid a grin, Amera noticed the muscle in her arms as she cleaned.

However, her gaze lasted a moment too long for Eowyn took notice of it and blushed, awkwardly stating, "If you wish to stop, my la…Amera, I will gladly finish that which you began. One of your position should not be reduced to cleaning soiled tables."

Amera burst into laughter at this, her soft voice ringing through the empty hall as Eowyn stared at her in confusion. Waving a hand as she gathered her breath and turned back once more the work, she grinned and stated, "All I really did for roughly a thousand years was clean, Eowyn, you need not worry that I am uncomfortable with such work."

The hall was silent for a few more moments save for the sound of rags upon old oak until Eowyn gently questioned, "So, what they say about you is true, then?"

Amera shrugged, kneeling to run the rag over the bench as she replied, "I suppose that rather depends on what 'they' say, for I'm afraid I generally not made privy to such."

There was another pause and Amera realized she had unintentionally embarrassed the woman, though Eowyn replied after a moment, "They say that you were born of water, that you protected Annuminas far to the East."

"This is true."

"They said that you swore loyalty unto the kings of Arthedain, remaining ageless until a true king of Gondor should return."

"Also true."

There was a slight cough. "And I had heard that you bathed in the blood of those who dared enter your city."

"Wait, what?" Amera banged her head against the table as she flinched, cursing under her breath as she rubbed the back of her head gently. "What exactly did you say?"

"Legend says that you did not spare mercy upon those who trespassed, that you…you bathed in their blood."

"Absolutely not." Amera huffed, taking her anger out on a particularly difficult stain as she retorted, "I can assure that is in no way true and I'd ask you to inform any who speaks of such that they are, in fact, completely wrong."

Eowyn grinned at this and Amera was happy to see her finally relax, her shoulders no longer stiff as she brushed her flaxen hair over them. "I did not presume you to be of such character when first we met and I am glad to hear it confirmed." She paused, "May I ask how you came to travel with such an assorted company, Amera?"

Amera exhaled, laughing softly to herself as she struggled to find the best way to relay such a tale. "Well, for better or for worse, I disobeyed the orders of Elrond Halfelven and set out behind them from Imladris many months ago."

"You disobeyed his commands?"

Amera shifted slightly and shrugged, "Well, I suppose I was not explicitly forbidden to accompany them, so I rather disregarded his strong suggestions."

"Would you mind telling me of your companions?" Eowyn smiled shyly, "For I must admit I have never encountered one of the first born nor a dwarf before."

Amera rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand for a moment, gently laughing as she replied, "Well, not all of my original companions are here, but those you have met are the finest men you could hope to meet. I know you have met Gandalf or Mithrandir, whichever you call him, before and surely you have garnered your own impression of him by now." Eowyn nodded and she grinned, continuing as she worked away at the dust, "Legolas is quiet and fair in the way of the elves and I should think him unrivaled in his skill with a bow. Gimli is…sturdy, as I suppose is a way to put it, staunch and loyal to any whom he calls friend. " Amera bit her lip absently, squinting her eyes as she struggled to define her friends, "Boromir is proud," She snorted, "That is certain, but with it comes strength and kindness, for he wishes naught but the best for those around him. And Aragorn is a true leader, quiet but noble in his actions, for he desires neither fame nor approval."

"May I ask something personal of you, Amera?" Eowyn stated after a long minute and Amera absently shrugged in reply, "I had seen that you and the lord Aragorn are quite close," She looked down and Amera slowly raised both her brows as she detected a slight brush, "Is there something between you two, if…if you do not mind my inquiry?"

Amera stared at her for a long moment, then burst into near hysterical laughter as Eowyn watched in horror. Tears rolled down her face as she shook her head from side to side, unable to form words as she struggled to gather air. "No!" She gasped after a few more moments, doing her best to control herself so as not to make Eowyn more uncomfortable than she no doubt already was, "I assure you a thousand times over that there is nothing between Aragorn and I."

"May I confess something to you, then?"

"Oh, um, certainly."

"I am jealous of you, Amera."

Amera tilted her head in confusion, setting down the rag as she quietly questioned, "How so?"

Eowyn sat down on the bench beside, her eyes lighting with a strange fire as she smoothed out her dress and lowered her voice almost conspiratorially, "Do you not see it, Amera?" She laughed quietly, a smile crossing her features, "You are able to defend what you love with all your strength, to draw your blade in defiance of that which threatens your home, unburdened by that which is expected of us as women! You are able to pass beyond the walls of your city without a guardian, to roam the vast wilds as you please. Amera," her voice lowered to a whisper, "You are free."

"Do not envy me, Eowyn." Amera's voice was empty and low, her eyes distant as any trace of humor disappeared.

"I…I do not understand." Eowyn stammered.

"I am free, yes, but it has come at a great cost." Amera paused, closing her eyes briefly. "My hands are forever stained with the blood of those who I have slain, the cries and sobs of the wounded forever haunting my dreams. Time and time again, my liberty has come with great loneliness, for I can never belong to any race of this earth; I will forever be a stranger no matter what lands I pass through. My duty has burdened me to where I thought I would I would break beneath it, only to struggle onwards." She paused as she saw the fear in Eowyn's eyes and sighed, a bittersweet smile appearing as she murmured, "I do not regret my path or that which has been asked of me, but I would not wish upon another, not even an enemy."

And without another word, Amera silently rose and excused herself, leaving a startled Eowyn behind with rag in hand.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Amera blinked as Boromir stormed past her, gritting his teeth as he ran a hand angrily through his auburn hair. She opened her mouth to inquire as to what was wrong, but did not have the chance as he flung open the doors to the outside of the hall and shut them swiftly behind them. She raised both brows as her gaze traveled to the room from whence he had come, overhearing frustrated voices that clearly struggled to remain calm as their volumes rose and fell. She took a careful step closer to the doorway, straining to make out what Theoden and the others were saying, but quickly pretended to have an interest in a nearby tapestry as Gandalf left the room.

"I'm afraid you will need to do a better job than that, Amera, if you wish me to believe you were not eavesdropping." Gandalf sighed as she turned to him, realizing any attempt to fool the wizard would surely be a lost cause. He looked tired, she saw, his eyes distant as she quietly inquired, "And am I to assume negotiations are not going as smoothly as you would have wished, Gandalf?"

He sighed again, frustration creeping into his voice he paced the corridor before her, "They are not going at all, in case you are curious, because neither Theoden nor Boromir are unable to put aside their accursed pride for but a moment! With each moment we waste Saruman grows stronger and if those two had their way, they would argue pointlessly till the forces of Isengard stood outside their very door!"

"Do you want me to try and talk to him, then?"

"I cannot guess it will be much use, but perhaps he will listen to you as he did not to Aragorn and myself." Gandalf shrugged, leaning on his staff as he nodded to her, "If you can persuade him to put aside his blasted stubbornness and see past his thick skull, I will try calm Theoden."

Amera awkwardly nodded, attempting a small joke as she replied softly, "Well, I suppose I'll just have to tell him in those exact words, won't I, Gandalf?"

He glared at and she scurried off quickly to the outside, shutting the proud, tall doors behind her as she breathed in the afternoon air. The rain had cleared off somewhat from the showers this morning, but a grey haze hung over Edoras and lazy, dark clouds circled around the white peaks in the distance. She breathed in the comforting, earthy smell of the rain and lifted the bottom of her gown delicately as she made her way down the stone stairs, searching for any sign of the angered son of the Steward.

She found him a few moments later, gazing out from atop a small watchtower over the swaying plains that separated him from his beloved home. Amera quietly approached from behind him, recognizing the proud, fierce gleam in his eyes as the chilled breeze stirred his hair around his jaw. He flinched as her hand brushed his, but relaxed as she stepped beside and looked out at Rohan. She could see the rain approaching across the copper plains, dark clouds gathering and growing ever closer as the breeze began to pick up.

"Did Gandalf send you?" Boromir questioned emotionlessly from beside her, sighing quietly as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Yes," Amera murmured as she ran a hand gently up and down his back, "But I would have come nonetheless, Boromir." He was silent at this and she shifted to stand before him, softly inquiring, "What troubles you?"

Boromir's jaw set as he swallowed hard, anger evident in his voice as he struggled to contain himself, "Theoden spurns the aid of Gondor, claiming that he needs no further help in defending his own people, despite all that I have told him." He drew a frustrated breath, his voice rising slightly as he waved an arm to the hall behind them, "He claims that Gondor has sat by idly and watched as his people suffered the rising tide of Isengard." He shrugged off her touch as his hands clenched the wooden panel before him, "Does he not know that his people have enjoyed their simple lives for so long because it has been paid for by the blood of Gondor? By the sweat and tears of the soldiers who have died before my very eyes! How dare he question Gondor's loyalty in such times as these!"

He looked away, fury shining in his eyes and Amera was silent as she watched him. A raindrop fell upon his tightened hand and she gently brushed it away, spreading her slender fingers over his calloused ones as she murmured, "Turn to the village down the hill, Boromir, and tell me what you see."

Boromir looked at her in confusion and she tilted her chin down the hill. He sighed after a long moment, letting her hand rest upon his, and replied absently, "I see people going about their business."

Amera then stepped beside him, linking her fingers between his own as she rested her head against his shoulder. "And what is it those people desire, love?"

He shrugged, "What any do. They wish for peace and comfort, for a better life for their children than they themselves had."

"And is it the same in Gondor?"

"….Yes." He looked to her, unsure of her reasoning. She smiled faintly as she looked out at the thatched cottages and carts that scattered the dirt streets, her dark hair swirling over her shoulders as the storm clouds grew closer. Her voice was soft, but a whisper that was nearly carried away by the breeze. "And just as your father wishes to give his people that which they desire, so does Theoden. He fears disappointing them, to betray them in his duty by failing to make the right choice, Boromir."

He sighed quietly, blinking away a teardrop that slowly coursed its way down his head as he held Amera closer while she continued, "Understand that his actions, as strange and rude as you may find them to be, are not born out of malice, but of the great desire to do what his best for his people, even at the cost of rebuking an ally in his misgivings."

Amera closed her eyes in comfort as his lips gently rested upon the top of her head, his breath warm against her curls as he drew her close. Laughing quietly now, he murmured, "Diplomacy suits you, Amera."

She grinned and shifted her head, kissing him softly for a moment before replying, "You had best go inside now, lest I suffer Gandalf's wrath later."

He turned to towards the stone stairs that led to Meduseld, but briefly glanced over his shoulder with an affectionate smile, his eyes gentle as he calmly stated, "Thank you, Amera."

She crossed her arms nonchalantly, smirking faintly as she leaned against the pillar of the watchtower, "I've had to counseled lords far more stubborn that you, my dear Boromir, make no mistake of that."