Gimli grasped the horse's reins tightly as it trotted over the rocky ground, glancing over his shoulder as the wooden arches of Meduseld faded behind the mountain peaks as the people of Rohan drew closer and closer to Helm's Deep, their last refuge as Saruman's desire for power grew. With a quiet sigh, he focused his attention once more on the large line that trailed lazily through the rocky outcroppings that dotted the plains, their arms filled with that which was most precious to them as they struggled to guide their children along. Up ahead he could see Aragorn conversing with Theoden's niece as she lead her horse, her fair hair shimmering over her shoulders as she tilted her head back with a laugh.
Gimli chuckled at himself to this and raised a hand to absently stroke his beard, but blinked and rested it firmly upon the reins once more as his delicate balance was nearly upset. Still, he decided as he adjusted himself with a quick fidget, it was nice to see some affection on a day like today. His daily source of amusement, when not provided in one way or another by Legolas, was made up of Amera and Boromir keep their eyes off one another. While they had never publically made their relations known, it was more than obvious to the remaining members of the Fellowship that they cared greatly for each other in a way that distinctly went beyond mere companionship.
However, Amera had been in a profoundly miserable state all day and he had watched her expressions shift from anger to disappointment to remorse as she had silently led her horse onward, dark shadows beneath her normally vibrant eyes. He pitied the young gentlemen who had sauntered towards her, flashing a brave grin as he had clearly attempted to make some sort of flirtatious conversation with her as she trekked. Gimli had been unable to overhear the conversation, but had roared with laughter as the lad had fled from her but a few moments later, Amera no doubt working her speech craft as well she ever did.
Boromir had ridden ahead with Aragorn, his jaw set as his face was void of any emotion, but had trotted ahead beside Theoden as Eowyn had walked past and begun to talk to the ranger. His proud eyes had been distant and once Gimli had thought he had caught him nodding off in the saddle, though was quickly awoken as his steed tripped over the uneven ground, and suspected he had received as little sleep as Amera.
"Legolas, get over here." Gimli called out to the elf ahead of him, ushering him closer as he muttered, "Do ya' know what happened between Amera and Boromir, then?"
Legolas shook his fair head as he replied, walking in time with the horse as he softly replied, "I know not, but I saw Amera sitting atop of the guard towers in the dead of night and she was yet there when I saw her this morning."
Gimli nodded and tilted his chin towards Amera's back up ahead, "Amera, lass! Won't you come walk with us for few minutes."
Amera perked a brow slowly as she glanced over her shoulder, but came to a stop until the dwarf and elf were even with her, then blankly questioned, "Have you need of something, Gimli?"
"You and Boromir are avoiding each other." Legolas suddenly intoned from beside her and Gimli sighed quietly, shaking his head as he replied, "You're not exactly the most subtle creature, are you, Legolas?"
Amera glared darkly and turned her head as she replied, "I wish not to talk of it. Perhaps you might try interrogating Boromir if you have wish to know further of his business."
Normally Gimli would have been angered by such a cold response, but bit back his tongue as he then realized how truly pained Amera was over what had passed between her and the Steward's Son, for while she was often sarcastic, her silver tongue was never truly venomous, save for now. "Legolas, go talk to Aragorn."
"But why?"
He rolled his eyes, casting a forceful gaze towards the elf as he repeated, "Go talk to Aragorn."
The elf blinked and silently treaded away in obvious confusion. Once out of earshot, Gimli looked towards Amera once again and gently stated, "You know, lass, you can talk to me if you want."
Amera attempted a wavering smile that quickly faded as she brushed her hair absently behind her ear, quietly replying, "I wish not to trouble you with such foolishness, Gimli."
"Amera," Gimli nodded firmly as he held his gaze to her, "I care about what plagues you because we are friends, and from the sense I've gotten, you haven't exactly had many of those in your life, have you?"
She was silent for a long moment, glancing downward briefly before issuing a small nod in reply.
"Well, as a friend, we've a sort of unspoken agreement, which means that we tell each other things and try resolve what worries us. That make sense to you, lass?"
Amera blushed slightly and nodded, softly replying, "It does."
Gimli carefully raised a hand to absently stroke his beard for a moment before gesturing to her, "Love's not supposed to be easy, you know that, don't you, Amera?"
She stumbled at this, her face turning crimson as she looked horrified and opened her mouth to reply, but was silenced as Gimli absently waved a hand, "We all know, lass." He grinned at her, "If you've been meaning ta' keep it a secret from us, the fact that you two can't keep yer' eyes off each other was a bit of a giveaway. So, now that that's out of the way, how about you tell me what happened?"
He listened intently as she explained the situation, then perked a brow as she finished and questioned, "Well, last time I checked, you've got your king up ahead, lass, go have him revoke the penalty."
"It is not that simple, Gimli," She sighed deeply and looked at her feet as she walked, "Only the king of Gondor may abolish my banishment, but until Aragorn is coroneted beneath the White Tree, Elendil's crown placed upon his head, he only remains heir to the throne and has no power in the matter."
"And he knows this?"
"Yes, as does Gandalf."
"So why did you not tell Boromir?"
Gimli watched as Amera walked in silence, her eyes distant as he saw remorse flicker in them. Finally, her reply was so soft he had to strain to make out her words, "Because I did not want him to be burdened by the knowledge."
"Well, pardon me for thinking so," Gimli stroked his beard thoughtfully as he replied, "But isn't that a wee bit selfish of you? I should think, you two being as close as you are, that he's earned the right to share whatever is troubling you, don't you think?"
She swallowed hard and replied, "My heart is broken anew every time I think of it, Gimli." She sighed and her eyes grew distant once more, "I remember every minute of that day, the way the light streamed through the windows, of the way the breeze seemed so cold to my shoulder, the way it felt when my world was shattered because of my own pride."
"Then why don't you go tell him that, Amera?" She looked at him in confusion and he elaborated with a shrug, "Why don't you tell him how much it hurt you, lass? Why not be honest with him, open up to him and let him see your pain so he understands why you were so reluctant to bring it up, even if it's all these centuries later?"
Her voice sank to a whisper that trembled with repressed emotion and Gimli then saw the deep, agonizing pain as it flickered in her stormy eyes, kept hidden away beneath a thousand other burdens for so long and only now ripped to the surface as she replied, "I should not think it that easy, Gimli."
"I don't see why it needs to be difficult, Amera," He sighed, allowing a hint of frustration to creep into his voice, "Mind you, we dwarves understand the earth, what you can feel between your fingers and craft in forges, all that remains unchanged. So, even after all this, I don't quite understand just what exactly you are. I don't get how you're so old but look so young or how exactly you're made from water or whatever that sort of thing is, but I know," He gave a firm nod, "That you'd be a fool to let your past get in the way of your future, lass."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Aragorn watched as Boromir glanced over his shoulder with an angry sigh, his eyes focusing on Amera as she strolled beside Gimli behind them, her normally shining face somber as she led her horse over the rocky plains amidst the rest of the people of Rohan. She had been quiet ever since Gandalf's leaving the day before, he knew, but something had changed last night and whatever it had been, Boromir had been deeply impacted, as well.
While the captain of Gondor had never been one to favor smiling, his jaw had been firmly set for the duration of the day, his eyes rippling with hidden emotion as he had ridden onward. Aragorn knew that Boromir had thought the plan to leave for Helm's Deep to foolish, viewing the decision as an admittance of weakness and any weakness in his mind was a defeat. He had practically had to drag him away from Theoden earlier as the two had begun to argue yet again, their voices fiery as their words were cold. He had considered fetching Amera to intervene, but had quickly come to realize the two were avoiding each other for some reason or another. Both were exceptionally and infuriatingly prideful in their own ways; Amera as quiet as Boromir was vocal, but each suffering from this same flaw.
Aragorn had wished to question Boromir earlier, but had been interrupted by a shy Eowyn who had questioned him about both his age and past. He had seen Boromir listen intently from the corner of his eye as they rode on, taking further note of the history of the ranger who was to be king. There had been a silent understanding between the two ever since Amon Hen, a sort of subtle acknowledgment of respect between them both. It was not as if such as not been present before, but Aragorn had realized that Boromir no longer held question to his lineage, no longer doubted his true identity.
Once Eowyn had trailed behind to help a struggling woman with her children, Aragorn finally turned to his friend and questioned, "What troubles you, Boromir?"
"Nothing." His reply was swift and cold, providing further evidence that something was, indeed, troubling him.
"Speak, friend, for I would have your heart lightened." Aragorn quietly replied and Boromir shifted in his saddle, his auburn hair rustled by the chill breeze as it swept across the endless plains. He sighed softly and Aragorn could him struggle to word his emotions, finally settling with, "Amera has told me of her banishment."
Aragorn was silent for a long moment, then simply nodded in return.
Boromir bit his lip in anger, working to keep his voice down as he replied, "How could she not tell me, Aragorn? How could she not let me know that it was my ancestor who banished, who caused her such pain?" He swallowed hard and looked away, growling, "How could she tell you? Have you been the one who has dried her tears, who has tried to heal the scars left by her past, who has held her close as she trembles in nightmares? How could Amera tell you?"
Aragorn said nothing, his heart aching in longing for Arwen as he realized how truly and deeply Boromir loved Amera. He had never mentioned Amera in a romantic context, only speaking of her as a companion when questioned of it, Aragorn had seen the way Amera looked at him as they would pass each other. For a brief, split moment her eyes would shine with a glimmer of something he had never seen within her until of late, a sudden sheen of a joy unique to her flickering gaze. He knew that Boromir would sneak away to her room at night, but had never made mention of such. He had always wondered if perhaps Amera had cared more for Boromir than he of her, seeing in him the noble pride of the kings she had served so long ago and if Boromir, like nearly any man would given Amera's striking beauty, had simply returned her advances.
But now, he could see how truly distraught the normally unshakeable Boromir was over this matter, recognizing the great pain in his eyes, burden that fell upon his shoulders and the regret that haunted his smile. For better or for worse, Boromir truly did love the proud, equal parts shy and savage creature with those rippling, stormy eyes that was Amera.
Aragorn finally replied, his voice soft and even, "Though I wish not to excuse her actions, Boromir, I would have you know that it broke her heart even to tell me, to recount what was said unto her even after a thousand years."
"Then why would she not come to me, Aragorn?" He sighed, his anger fading to pain as he ran a hand absently through his hair, "Does she not trust me to share such a burden as this?"
Aragorn was quiet for a long moment, then shrugged and replied, "Have you thought that because she cared for you she did not wish for you to know further pain, pain that would surely come with such a realization?"
Boromir blinked at this, taking a deep breath as he stared off, his forest eyes scanning the distant peaks of jagged mountains as he appeared to take this in, finally murmuring, "I feel the weight of the mistakes of my ancestors upon my shoulders, Aragorn, knowing that what blood courses through my veins came from the one who banished Amera, who drove her from that which she had cared for and loved for an age, even if it was out of pride and fear." He turned to face his king then, bearing his emotions as he asked, "Can we ever truly escape the faults of our fathers, Aragorn? Are we doomed to ever follow in their footsteps?"
Aragorn had not the chance to respond for a sudden commotion broke out ahead and he tightened his reins as the shrill whinnies of horses echoing as men drew their swords, women and children shrieking as they ran past and away from the source of the chaos. He then heard the cry of "Warg riders!" ahead and drew his sword instinctively as Boromir did the same, his jaw setting firmly as his fingers tightened around the familiar grip of the pommel.
A moment later and Legolas sprinted past with the bewildering speed of the eldar, his bow at the ready as he hunted down the servants of Saruman. Gimli galloped beside Aragorn and he blinked in surprise as he saw Amera sharing the saddle with him, her dark hair streaming over her shoulder as he caught the glimpse of steel at her side.
"Amera, you must stay with the women!" Aragorn called over the dizzying chaos, struggling to be heard amidst the terrifying cries of both women and horses.
"What are you talking about?" She called back in obvious confusion, her eyes dark as she kept the horse at a steady pace, "I can fight, Aragorn, you know this!"
"The women will need protection, Amera! Stay with Eowyn and guide them to Helm's Deep!"
"I will be of no use here!"
"Amera!" He roared, losing his temper as time was wasted, "I command you to this!"
He saw the surprise and pain in her eyes as she froze, but slid from the saddle a moment later nonetheless, her jaw set as she turned to run back towards Eowyn and the women who sobbed in fear. However, Amera looked over her shoulder one last time as her feet effortlessly flew over the rocky ground, her flickering eyes meeting his own for a brief moment.
As Aragorn galloped away, he watched her eyes trail to Boromir, fear appearing in them as she watched the king she was bound to and the man she loved ride into a battle she could not partake in.
