Amdiriel's body was ashore and though her body was there her mind was not.
"Amdi. Amdi. Amdiriel, you must wake." She heard a female voice say. Amdiriel groaned "Five more minutes." The voice that had called her then laughed. Amdiriel shot up, she knew that laugh. She turned and saw the woman in front of her. The woman's face glowed while her brown hair flowed perfectly and her brown eyes were full of life. Amdiriel's eyes filled with tears. "Mother." she said and threw her arms around the woman and sobbed. The woman wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her close. "Shh, shh it's alright." she said. It took Amdiriel a few minutes but she calmed down. They pulled away from each other, her mother smiling down at her. "Oh my beautiful daughter, it had been a long time. How terrible fate has been to you." she said. "Boromir?" Amdiriel asked. "Right here, dear sister." said a deep male voice. Amdiriel jumped up as she turned. She ran and jumped in the arms of her brother who laughed and held her tight.
When her brother finally put her down she turned and looked to her mother. "I guess this means I really did die?" Her mother looked to Boromir and then back to Amdiriel who caught the look and who herself had a confused face. "You have but you are to go back." her mother told her. "What?" "You must there are people who are going to need you." Boromir said. "But I need you, I need you, both." She told them. Amdiriel's mother let her hand cup her face so she could look into her eyes "I know dear, but our time is over. You, however, are not done. Your task is not yet complete." her mother said. "I don't want to go back. I sacrificed everything for my country and look at what I got back in return, everything was ripped from me!" Amdiriel reminded them as she moved away from her mother. Her mother sighed "Darling I do not at all justify your father's actions, what he did was wrong on so many levels but you must return. If you do not than darkness will endure and conquer all maybe not in the land but in the hearts of people you love."
"Aragorn?" she asked. Her mother nodded "And others but him mostly, you were his hope, he will continue on in the war to honor you but when it ends, he will find no reason to continue on. You are his one and only without you, he will succumb to darkness...just like you nearly did."
Amdiriel remembered that day she had been fighting to stay strong for so long but she was crumbling. She was finding it hard to push on and was ready to end it all as she felt the darkness creep into her mind.
Amdiriel looked to the ground that was a bright light. "I don't want to be without you." She told them as the tears filled her eyes. She just got her mother and brother back and now she was to give them up again. "You were never alone, Amdi." Boromir told her as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Your brother is right. We are always there, we will guide you in what you must do. We will always watch over you." Her mother said. "I know it may not have been how we imagined it but we will be beside you each step of the way and we won't ever leave." Boromir told her, Amdiriel nodded her head sadly. "It is time." Her mother said. Amdiriel hugged her mother tightly "None of what happened to us is your fault, my dear. It was our time. We are so proud of the woman you are and will become. I love you so much." She told her daughter. Amdiriel didn't want to let go."I love you too." Admiriel chocked out There were so many things that they would never get to discuss expect maybe in another life. The woman pulled away but not before Amdiriel's mother placed a gentle kiss on her daughter's forehead. Amdiriel then turned to her brother. Boromir could see the tears streaming down his sister's face. "This is not the end." He told her. "Then why does it feel like it?" she asked. Boromir shook his head "It is just a goodbye until I see you again." He said with a small smile "Oh and I and Theoden are tied in duels but we have another match set for later." Boromir told her, causing Amdiriel to chuckle. "Tell him I love him?" Boromir nodded and wrapped his arms around his sister. "Be strong, look after Faramir, and reap havoc on Mordor." Boromir told his sister. Amdiriel nodded. "I love you." He whispered to her and kissed the side of her temple. "I love you too." Amdiriel whispered back. She pulled away as she felt a slow pull on her, she knew it was time. Amdiriel did not resist, she knew it was pointless to try. She watched as her mother and Boromir faded into the distance.
Amdiriel opened her eyes "May the grace of the Valar protect you." she heard the voice of both her brother and her mother say in a light whisper. Amdiriel groaned, her body was sore from the fight and the plunge. That was when she heard the familiar neigh of her beloved steed. She hadn't even noticed that the animal was lying next to her until she turned over, making her wonder how long it had been since Rohal had found her. She knew Rohan had gone on, not daring to look for her, for not only should she have not survived but it was far too dangerous to send search parties, with the people left with little protection and the possibility of there being more wargs in the wilderness.
Amdiriel chuckled as Rohal nudged her with his nose in her cheek. "Alright. I'll get up." She whispered to the horse. Amdiriel groaned again as she sat up, she looked and felt around her body, not feeling any fatal wounds which was good. She did, however, realize that her sword, curved dagger, and pendant from Boromir were missing. Amdiriel would have pouted at the thought, her last tie to her brother was gone but what good that have done. Maybe, in the end, she just wasn't meant to have it. Amdiriel slowly and carefully pulled herself onto Rohal. "To Helms Deep." She told the horse but he already knew that.
Luckily, the horse knew where he was going because Amdiriel was exhausted but she could slowly feel herself gain strength. Oh, how she would love to have a nap when she reached the fortress. She should naturally be there by midday at a nice easy trot. But that was not to be, a loud noise of what sounded like marching could be heard. Amdiriel steered Rohal to see what the noise was. What she was greeted by was terrifying, a large uruk-hai army marched toward her and towards Helms Deep. Amdiriel gasped at the numbers they had, she then pulled on Rohal's reins. "Run boy run" boy run" she told the animal that didn't need to be told twice.
Unknown to Amdiriel, in Gondor, her brother was just receiving news of the attach coming to Helms Deep. He knew that Saruman would strike Rohan and Sauron would strike Gondor, but Gondor was weak without any help from it's former allies but he knew his father was a stubborn and prideful man, so he would never send word for aid. But he also had another concern, some halflings they had come across in the wilderness.
"My men tell me that you orc spies." Said Faramir as he approached Frodo and Sam. "Spies?! Now, wait just a minute." Sam said offended. "Well if you're not spies, then who are you?" he questions but the two remained silent. Faramir then sat on a rock across from them, growing impatient. "Speak." Frodo was then the one who spoke up "We are hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name and this is Samwise Gamgee."
"Your bodyguard?" Faramir teased. "His gardener." Sam clarified
"And where is your skulking friend? That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favored look." Faramir asked a very hesitant Frodo who lied. "There was no other." Sam then looked a little hesitant as Frodo continued after a moment "We set out from Rivendell with eight companions. One we lost in Mória. Two were my kin. A Dwarf there was also, and an Elf. And two men and a woman, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir and Amdiriel of Gondor."
Faramir looked intensely at the hobbit at the mentions of the two names. He swallowed and asked, "You're a friend of Boromir?" "Yes... for my part." replied Frodo.
Faramir then stood to his feet and walked a few feet away from the two, Before he turned back to the hobbits "It will grieve you then to learn that he is dead." The jaw of both of the hobbits dropped. Sam looked to Frodo who asked. "Dead...how? When?"
"As one of his companions, I'd hoped you would tell me." Faramir replied. "If something has happened to Boromir, we would have you tell us." said Frodo. Faramir took a moment before he replied "His horn washed up on the river bank at six days past, it was cloven in two. More than this, I know it in my heart, he was my brother and Amdiriel, my sister." The realization then dawned onto the two hobbits as to who this was, this was the third and final sibling of the trio they were told about.
"I guess you do not know then if Amdiriel is alright." Faramir said. "They were both alive and together the last we saw them." Sam admitted while Frodo nodded in agreement. "Do you know of the spell?" Faramir asked. The two nodded "Did she break the spell over Aragorn?" He asked. The two hobbits' eyes widen in shock. "Aragorn?" asked Frodo "Aragorn is he long lost lover?" Sam asked but Faramir sighed, he knew if they did not know it was Aragorn his sister's lover then the spell had yet to be broken. He could only hope she was okay now.
Faramir sat off alone, deep in thoughts. He thought back to the night of the eve of the battle for Osgiliath. It would be the last time the three siblings would be together. They sat around the fire with other soldiers, laughing about anything and everything. Their smiles gave the men around them hope, a hope that the war would end. Amdiriel then sang a song fro the men, a song she always sang before going into a large battle she called 'Calls Me Home'. They would be together all through the night until the next morning until Amdiriel would have to leave. He missed her more than ever now when all he wanted to do was make sure his little sister was alright.
In Helms Deep, Aragorn had just entered where the king had set up his war room. Théoden could see the toll of the death of the woman they both loved in different ways took on him. Théoden told Aragorn to come as he leaned over the maps. Aragorn was about to go right into the work that needed to be done but the king stopped him. He put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder "There may be no words to help you deal with the pain of her passing." Théoden told Aragorn, knowing he was speaking of Amdiriel "When Théodred died Amdiriel said something. She said that the war was over for them, that they could finally rest. I take comfort in that." he told him. Aragorn sighed but he knew what he said was right, she was at peace and it made him feel bad that he wished she would come back. But little did they know that she would.
Rohal ran across the plains even on the into the safety of the fortress, not stopping until they were inside. Luckily the guards recognized who she was and let her in immediately. The people made way for the battered woman, her horse leading her into the center where the stairs were located. "She's alive! Amdiriel is alive!" echoed among the people, traveling quickly. Amdiriel dismounted her steed as a growl came from behind her, she knew that growl. Gimli was pushing his way through the crowd that surrounded her.
"Where is she? Where is she? Get out of the way. I'm gonna kill her!" Amdiriel turned around and looked to the dwarf who was beyond happy to see her. "You are the luckiest, the canniest, and the most reckless person I ever knew!" he then hugs the woman. Amdiriel smiles and hugs back the dwarf. "Bless you, lassie!" he said with a large smile. Amdiriel then pulled away from the dwarf. "Gimli, we must hurry. Where is the king?" Gimli nodded towards the hall "Go, I will be there soon." he told her. Amdiriel nodded and walked in the direction he told her.
She was adjusting her clothing, trying to look like less of a mess. Her mind was so preoccupied that she nearly ran into Legolas by accident. The two just stood in front of each other. "You're late." Legolas said, his eyes then trailing to her tattered clothes and wounds "You look terrible." "Why thank you, that is exactly what a woman wants to hear." Amdiriel replied. The two stared at each other for a second more before they both cracked into smiles. Legolas then pulled Amdiriel into a tight hug. "Are you alright? How did you?" he asked. "I do not know but I am alright." she replied as they pulled away. "Aragorn?" she asked. "Inside...you know how you thought he could do without you, he could not...he is speaking with the king." he told her. Amdiriel stood there for a moment and processed what he said. Legolas smiled at her before he then followed her to the correct hall.
Inside the two men, she was looking for were discussing strategies. The doors swung open, causing everyone to look up but what they saw was unbelievable. In walked Amdiriel, to the room, she had bruises and cuts on some of her exposed flesh, her clothes were torn, her hair dirty and in a messy braid but she alive and that was all that mattered.
"Amdiriel?" the two men asked as the stood to their feet. Théoden came forward asking if she was okay as he hugged her Aragorn stood and watched, he couldn't believe it, she was alive. She looked to him as he walked forward carefully. "You're alive?" he asked. Amdiriel nodded "I am." she told him, she could see the pain in his eyes. Aragorn put his hand out, he was scared that it was all just an illusion of his mind. He felt his hand come into his contact with her cheek. She was real. His thumb rubbed against the dirt on her cheek. His eyes filled with hope at the realization. Amdiriel could tell that he wanted to say something but nothing was coming out. Amdiriel leaned into his touch and looked up at the ranger. "Later." she told him, Aragorn nodded.
Amdiriel looked to the king. "My lord, I hope that in the time that I have been absent you have made some type of preparation. War is coming, a great host is on it's way to us." she told them.
"A great host you say." said Théoden. "All Isengard is empty." Amdiriel replied.
"How many?" asked Théoden. "10,000 strong at least." she told them. Théoden looked at her in disbelief "10,000?" he asked. "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall." She informs them. Théoden looked down in thought but then had a face of determination, he turned to lead them out of the hall "LEt them come." he said confidently.
They all followed behind the king as he gave orders to prepare for the battle that night.
"I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall." Theoden said to Gamling who nodded and went off. Théoden then walked out to stands at the gate of Helm's Deep, speaking to Aragorn, Amdiriel, Legolas, and Gimli. "We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg." Théoden said proudly. "This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad." Gimli reminded him but Théoden stepped in front of the dwarf "I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." he told him and continued to walk on the others following behind.
"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them." Théoden said his back still to the others as he walked on.
"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child." Aragorn told him. "You of all people, know that, my lord." Amdiriel said to the king. Théoden stopped in his tracks and turned to the two, drawing close to them
"What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance." said Théoden. He turned to leave again but Aragorn's words stopped him. "Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."
"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead." Théoden told Aragorn who then said "Gondor will answer."
Théoden growled "Gondor?! Where was Gondor when the Westfold fell?! Where was Gondor when our enemies closed in around us?! Where was Gon… " Théoden stopped as if realizing who stood before him. "No, my lord Aragorn, we are alone." Théoden said.
"As much as I hate to admit it, he is right. Denethor would never send aid our way and if he did, I fear they would not arrive in time." Amdiriel said to the man. "So alone we stand?" Aragorn asked, wondering if she had any ideas. "Alone we stand." Amdiriel replied.