DISCLAIMER: The characters and locations of Lord of the Rings do not belong to me. They belong to JRR Tolkien, New Line Cinema, and probably a host of other people I've forgotten. I'm only borrowing them for a little entertainment, and I'll put them back when I'm finished with them. Amareth, however, belongs to me and I would like to be consulted before she is used in any other works. Evendim and Ithil-valon have standing permission to use any of my characters in any fics they choose. Celos and Celon are used with Ithil-valon's permission.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE WARNING! This story is set in an alternate universe. This means that some of the features, faces, and places might differ slightly from the original. This is intentional and WILL NOT result in canon characters behaving in out of character ways.

THIS STORY IS NOT A MARY SUE. If you want one of those, please look elsewhere. I don't care for Mary Sues, and I don't write them. It does, however, feature an original character in a starring role. She is not superwoman, she is not God, and she is not irresistible. She's just plain human, with all our faults and strengths.

THIS STORY IS ALSO NON-SLASH.

DEDICATIONS: To Evendim, who first gave me the courage to post in this fandom and has given me such pleasure with her own AU series. I would never have been so bold without your help, thank you from the bottom of my heart. To Ithil-valon, who has been more than a loyal friend and has helped me through some really tough times of late, and who has been the best beta-reader anyone could ask for. And to AJ, without whom my life will be a lot poorer. Rest well, my darling. You are sorely missed.

Love the story? Hate it? Think I should be burned at the stake? I'll never know unless you review!

Chapter Twenty Five

Amareth woke suddenly in the night. They had been together for weeks, as they were meant to be. They were once more in tune. But something had wakened her, something strange, and it made her nervous.

She went in search of her husband, her thoughts jumbled. Usually she could bring them under control within a few minutes of waking, but this was... well, it was weird. She couldn't gather her thoughts.

She found him a short way away and settled to the ground next to him, taking his hand in hers. "I woke and you were gone," she said simply. Maybe that was why she was so unsettled.

"Something stirs in the night," he replied softly, his fingers tightening on hers. "Not evil, but strange. It is disturbing."

She let her head rest against his shoulder. "I'll never be in touch with the world the way you are," she said softly, "but I have my own link to it." One hand trailed in the soft earth once more. "I don't feel anything different. What is it, do you think?"

"I don't know." Haldir was searching, trying to find the elusive thing he felt, but it didn't want to be found. He finally sighed and just held her. "Tomorrow, the Lady leaves for the Havens. She will sail for Valinor."

Amareth went very, very still. "I know she's asked you to go along," she said softly.

He kissed her gently. "I could not leave my heart," he said simply. "I will be here with you, forever." The words rang softly into the darkness, seeming to hang there for a moment before moving on.

"I love you." Tender words, spoken with genuine emotion.

They rested that way for a time, until dawn's light touched the horizon. Amareth still didn't know what had awakened her, but a thread of unease had settled into the back of her mind. Then they both rose, going to take their leave of the Lady Galadriel.

After that, things were quiet. The unease remained, and it traveled down the bond, unsettling Haldir as well. Neither of them could understand what it meant. The trees continued to give them solace and companionship, and the life running through them gave Amareth the peace she had so desperately missed in Minas Tirith. Yet even though they were uneasy, they were at peace. They stayed together always, never out of sight of each other.

Then one morning, everything changed. They were walking along the banks of the Celebrant when Amareth stumbled and would have fallen had Haldir not steadied her. But when he reached out to her -

- he couldn't touch her. She was fading from his sight as he reached for her, as though she were a ghost. She was calling out to him, screaming his name, but her voice was fading as quickly as her form. He tried to touch her, to grasp her hand, but his fingers passed right through her. As quickly as that, she was gone.

Birds rose from their roosts as they heard a howl of loss and anguish. They wheeled about, disturbed, as the sound went on and on, and then just as abruptly, stopped.

Then there was silence.

To be Concluded...