Hey everyone! Thank you for the reviews once again, as always I love to hear from you all. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry it took me a little while to get this one out. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris.
Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in Elvish.
Number 45: Decisions
Two days passed and Amaris spent her days in the house of healing helping take care of Eowyn, Merry, and others with minor injuries. Her nights she spent walking the corridors of the palace because she found she could not sleep and walking helped numb the ache in her leg. Legolas had been busy with Aragorn, Gandalf, Eomer, and others supervising the removal and burial of bodies and other matters. Amaris hadn't seen him since he showed her to her room the first night after the battle and she missed him.
Dawn was approaching and Amaris found herself in one of the gardens. She slowly walked over and sat on a stone bench that sat by a flower bush. She sat down and smoothed out her skirt. Legolas had found her several plain dresses to wear while new leggings and tunics were being made for her. Amaris looked towards the rays of the sun and closed her eyes as the light hit her face. She took a deep breath but slowly covered her nose. The smell of death still hung in the air, and it overpowered the smell of the beautiful flowers she sat by. Amaris heard someone approach and turned to the right only to see Legolas enter the garden.
"There you are," Legolas said as he walked over to her. "I have been looking everywhere for you." He paused when he reached the bench and he slowly sat down next to her taking her hands into his. "Amaris, you look so tired. You must rest. You have not slept in days and it is starting to show." Amaris looked down at their hands and sighed. Legolas lifted one hand away and placed it under her chin. He raised her face so she was looking at him. "Even an elf needs rest Amaris." Legolas looked into her eyes and Amaris suddenly felt all of her worries disappear, if only for that moment. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Amaris lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close. She never said a word and Legolas said no more. She just sat there wrapped in his arms as he spoke calming words in elvish to her. Soon she found herself drifting of to sleep in Legolas' arms.
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Legolas felt her breathing steady and soon her body went limp against him and he knew she had fallen asleep. He smiled, picked her up, and carried her to her room. As he approached the door he sighed because he didn't know how to open the door without waking Amaris. He stood for a moment when he saw Eomer emerge from his room down the hall a little ways. "Lord Eomer!" Legolas exclaimed quietly so not to wake Amaris. Eomer looked at him and smiled as he made his way over to him.
"How can I help you Prince Legolas?" Eomer asked in a whisper. Legolas smiled.
"Amaris has finally taken to rest, unfortunately she fell asleep in the garden," Legolas spoke in a whisper and Eomer smiled. "Could you please open the door to her room for me so I may place her in bed?" Eomer nodded his head.
"Of course." Eomer stepped over and held open the door for Legolas and Legolas walked inside. "I am glad to see she finally has rested. She has not for some time and all of us were beginning to worry for her." Legolas gave him a slight smile.
"I am glad as well." Legolas paused and looked down at Amaris who was asleep with her eyes closed and then up at Eomer. "Thank you for your help." Eomer smiled and bowed his head before quietly closing the door and leaving Legolas alone with Amaris. Her bed was still turned down and for that he was thankful. He laid her on the bed and then removed her boots. He lifted her legs up and placed them under the blankets and then covered her body with the blankets. He looked at her and smiled before placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "Sleep well, meleth nîn." Legolas went to stand when Amaris reached up and grabbed his hand.
"Please stay Legolas. I do not want to be alone anymore. I need you," Amaris pleaded with her eyes half open looking at him. Legolas felt a waive of loneliness and fear come from her and his heart nearly broke in two. Legolas paused for a moment before he spoke and he heard Gimli making his way down the corridor. He gently squeezed her hand.
"I will stay. First I must tell Gimli where I am in case I am needed. I will return in just one moment." Legolas raised her hand to his lips and placed a gently kissed her hand before quickly making his way to the door. He opened it and saw Gimli just as he reached the door. "Gimli?" Legolas asked as he stepped into the hall. Gimli stopped and looked at Legolas.
"What is it laddie?" Gimli asked in his usual gruff voice. Legolas smiled and walked over to him.
"Amaris has finally fallen asleep but she woke and is afraid to be alone. I will be with her if you shall need me." Gimli just smiled and shook his head.
"I believe we can manage laddie. Just take care of the lady. We all know she has not faired well these past few days." Legolas put his hand on Gimli's shoulder and smiled in thanks before he returned to Amaris' room. Gimli just smiled and continued on his way down the corridor.
Amaris heard Legolas come back in and raised her hand to him. Exhaustion finally hit her and she felt so weak. "Legolas?" she asked and he moved quickly taking her hand.
"I am here, meleth nîn," he said as he sat next to her on the bed. Amaris smiled and patted the bed.
"Lay with me." Legolas smiled and nodded.
"As you wish." He stood and removed his quiver and long knives as well as his boots and outer tunic before crawling into the bed and laying on top of the blankets. Amaris rolled over to him and sighed when she couldn't wrap her arms around him under the blankets. Legolas smiled and sensing what she wanted, he crawled under the blankets and she wrapped her arms around him tight. Legolas kissed the top of her head and Amaris smiled. "Rest Amaris. I will not leave you and if I have to I will wake you." Amaris nodded and rested her head on his shoulder and slowly went back to sleep.
Legolas soon found himself dozing as Amaris laid asleep in his arms. Her steady heart beat and breathing lulled him asleep. The last thought on his mind as he gave into sleep was how he could not wait to spend eternity falling asleep just as he was that very moment.
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Nine hours later there was a knock on Amaris' door and Legolas stirred awake. Amaris slowly woke and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked and Legolas smiled at her.
"I do not know but there is someone at the door," Legolas said as he rose from the bed. Amaris sat up and looked out the window and sighed as Legolas walked over and opened the door. "Gandalf." Amaris brushed out her hair with her fingers and stood from the bed. Gandalf walked in and smiled at Amaris.
"I am glad to see that you have finally rested Amaris," Gandalf said and smiled. Amaris smiled and nodded. Gandalf looked at Legolas and then at Amaris. "We will be meeting in two hours to discuss what must be done to aide Frodo and Sam. It shall be Aragorn, Gimli, Eomer, both of you and myself." Legolas bowed his head and Amaris nodded. Gandalf smiled and took his leave from the room. Amaris sighed and looked at Legolas who smiled at her. She walked over to him and gave him a hug. Legolas smiled and wrapped his arms around her.
"Thank you Legolas," Amaris whispered and her breath brushed against his neck causing him to shiver. Amaris smiled when she felt his body tremble slightly. She pulled away from him only to see a confused expression gracing his fair face.
"For what, meleth nîn?" Legolas asked as he cupped her cheek. Amaris smiled.
"For finding me and comforting me. You always seem to do that." Legolas smiled and kissed her lightly.
"That is what I am for meleth nîn. I shall always comfort you when you need it." Amaris nodded.
"And I you, even though you may not always admit it when you need comforting." Legolas chuckled and kissed her again. When they broke the kiss Legolas looked at her and smiled a beaming smile.
"We should get something to eat before the meeting. I know you have not eaten." Amaris nodded and walked over and slid on her boots as Legolas put on his outer tunic, boots and his weapons. He stood by the door waiting for her as she braided her hair in one long braid down her back. "Are you ready, meleth nîn?"
"Yes." Amaris took Legolas' hand and they made their way to the kitchen to have something to eat before the meeting.
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Amaris stood between Legolas and Eomer in the throne room as Gandalf began to speak.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight," Gandalf said. "The darkness is deepening." Amaris' heart began to beat steadily once again.
"If Sauron had the ring we would know it," Aragorn said with a sigh as he approached Gandalf. Amaris nodded as she listened to the two men.
"It is only a matter of time," Gandalf began. Amaris looked at him with a furrowed brow. Does he really believe that Frodo and Sam will not succeed? Amaris thought to herself. "He has suffered a defeat, yes...But ...behind the walls of Mordor the enemy is re-grouping." Everyone remained silent. Amaris was about to speak when Gimli huffed and spoke first.
"Let them stay there...Let them rot!" Gimli exclaimed. "Why should we care?" Amaris looked at him and then back at Gandalf.
"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," Gandalf said as he looked at Gimli. Amaris closed her eyes and saw what she had seen when her soul was taken from her. She took a breath and opened her eyes when she heard Gandalf speak. "I've sent him to his death." Amaris shook her head and Aragorn spoke what she was thinking.
"No...There's still hope for Frodo," Aragorn said as he looked at Gandalf. Gandalf turned and looked at him. "He needs time, and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."
"How?" Gimli asked. Aragorn turned and looked at him.
"Draw out Sauron's armies, empty His lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate," Aragorn said as he looked at Gimli, Legolas, Amaris and Eomer. Gimli coughed.
"We can not achieve victory through strength of arms," Eomer said with uncertainty lacing his voice. Amaris looked at him but he remained focused on Aragorn.
"Not for ourselves...but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us!" Aragorn said then he turned to Gandalf. "Keep Him blind to all else that moves." Amaris smiled and nodded.
"A diversion," Amaris and Legolas said together. They looked at each other and shared a smile before turning back to face Gandalf.
"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait." Gandalf said to Aragorn. Amaris shook her head and stepped forward.
"Sauron will take the bait," Amaris said as she walked to Gandalf. Everyone looked at her confused. "He will take it because you have something he wants." Gandalf furrowed his brow and stepped towards her.
"We do not have the ring," Gandalf said.
"True, we do not have the ring, but there is something else that he wants and you have it," Amaris said with her eyes never leaving Gandalf's.
"What is that Lady Amaris?" Eomer asked. Amaris turned around and faced him but turned her eyes to Legolas.
"Me."
