She opened her eyes with a sudden gasp and felt the cold, familiar earth beneath her body as the night air swirled around her. Sitting up, she blinked and looked around in confusion, instantly recognizing the willow that draped its leaves above her head like a gentle curtain and the roots that encircled her soft bed of grass, for she had rested there for nearly a thousand years. She slowly rose to her feet, swaying slightly as her legs steadied themselves, then narrowed her eyes and scanned the dark forest before her, casting her gaze over the roots and branches illuminated in the soft moonlight.
"Merry? Pippin?" She tried to call out as she spotted their tiny forms amongst the forest, staring at her with small smiles, but her voice was but a whisper. Swallowing hard, she tried to cry out once again but her words were carried away by the chill breeze as it swirled her tattered robes around her slender body. Without so much as a farewell, Merry and Pippin turned and disappeared into the shadows, walking further and further into the forest. Her heart pounded, for she knew they would not be safe, and she raced after them, bare feet silently streaking over root and fern as she fled deeper in Fangorn.
The forest around her whispered, ancient words in forgotten tongues that were bird song and rustling leaves, but no matter how fast she ran, Merry and Pippin were always just in front of her, blending into the darkness. The whisperings grew louder and louder until her ears ached, her chest heaving as her weary feet flew across the earth. She reached out to them, her pale fingers grasping for their cloaks, but suddenly tripped and fell heavily to the ground. She gasped, her ribs aching from the impact as she searched for the cause, running a hand through her tangled curls as she pulled her hair back from her face.
Her eyes widened as she stared at a battered crown, dented and dirtied as it lay upon the soft bed of grass. She recognized from the statues of Annuminas and knew it to be the crown of Elendil, the circlet that rested upon the heads of the kings of Gondor. It rested there, reflected but a shade of its true glory as such was hidden beneath dirt and grime. Her hands trembled as she reached out to it and she shivered as she felt the cool steel against her fingertips. She lifted it as delicately as one would a child, straining to cleanse it and restore it to its true majesty as she rubbed the tattered ends of her robes over the intricate patterns that spread across its surface.
A sudden wave of heat rushed over her and she looked up in terror as the forest behind her burst into flames, the whisperings become shrieks and wails that broke her heart in their absolute desperation. She screamed as her scars rippled with pain but a moment later, her head tilting back as the intensity of the agony paralyzed her. The heat grew more and more severe, the flames growing fiercer and closer as the forest sobbed around her and she rose to her feet, the crown grasped by white knuckles as she sprinted.
She screamed for Merry and Pippin , her lungs and eyes burning from the smoke as the flames seemed to lick pads of her feet. She searched in desperation through the forest, her voice cracking in despair as she could not see them and knew the fire was roaring but a moment behind her.
Spotting a gentle pond before her, she sobbed with relief and dove into the cool familiar, letting the icy chill rush over her burning skin as she plunged into the darkness. Bubbles rose from all around her and there was no light as she struggled to rise to the surface, her chest heaving as the crown threatened to slip from her fingers as she thrashed her arms.
"Amera."
She froze as the soft, broken voice of Nienna whispered to her from the darkness. Her eyes widened as a moment later the familiar tendrils of light banished the inky blackness that enveloped hair, swirling around her ankles and wrists as their gentle caress eased some of her pain. They glittered a delicate blue, glowing radiantly as they danced around her.
"Trust in me, Amera," Nienna whispered once more, echoing through the water and Amera's eyes widening as the swirls of light sank into her skin, disappearing into her body as she felt a sudden surge or power run through her. "Go now, with all haste that is afforded to you." She gasped, her heart racing as she felt pure, effortless energy coursed through her veins, swirling through muscle as her body flickered from within. Her veins glittered as the pale, blue light spread and body trembled with the unfamiliar intensity, heat and nature and purity rippled through every inch of her.
"Trust in me, Amera," the voice whispered, "And through you the darkness will be banished."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Amera sat up as she gasped in desperate want of air, her eyes stinging as drops of sweat rolled from her forehead into her eyes as she blinked in absolute terror. She frantically ripped back the cloak that covered both her and Boromir, scanning her arms and fingers for any sign of the lights that had swirled beneath her skin, coursing through her like glittering veins. Upon seeing no marks across her flesh as the moonlight fell upon her, her dream slowly began to fade, its intensity carried away by the night breeze as it danced across her shoulders and neck.
There was a mumble from beside her and she felt Boromir stir, taking slow, steady breaths as she wiped her sleeve across her forehead and began to quiet her beating heart. She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled faintly as he rolled onto his side, burying his face into the extra cloak they had bundled together as a makeshift pillow. The pale light fell upon the fresh scars that ran jagged along his cheekbone, as fierce as he was, and ran a finger along his jaw as he grumbled incoherently and pulled the cloak further over him. Biting her lip, she stroked her fingers along the proud features of his noble face as the son of the Steward slept with a peace he was robbed of in his waking hours.
Then, the images of the dream flashed through her mind with an intensity that frightened her as she trembled, closing her eyes as she swallowed hard and sought to banish them. A moment later, she carefully slid from Boromir's side and rose, covering him carefully with the cloak and pressed her lips to his brow, wishing nothing more than to slumber beside him and feel the warmth of his strong body as his arms sheltered her from the chill, night air.
But it was not to be.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Amera, where have you been?" Boromir grumbled as he ran a hand sleepily through his hair, then perked a brow as he took notice of the bundle of supplies she had rested against the wall as she frantically gathered her belongings together, "And..why?"
Amera looked up, her eyes glittering with a strange light, but Boromir swiftly turned as a calm voice behind him stated, "You had a vision, did you not, Amera?"
Boromir looked back to Amera, who was still for but a moment, then went back to hurriedly packing all that was hers and felt anger rise in him. Casting his prior drowsiness aside, he cast a narrowed gaze to Legolas and growled, "I would rather hear such from Amera if it be true, friend elf."
"Aye, lass," Gimli grumbled, crossing his arms over his stout chest as he slowly approached, "I'd like an answer as to why Legolas is waking me up in the middle of the night and tellin' me we need to find ya'."
Amera ran a hand through her tousled hair, sighing deeply as the moonlight revealed the flush in her pale cheeks. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper as she tilted her chin to Legolas, "Could you sense it?"
"I could."
Boromir looked between the two, now more hurt than angry that Legolas understood the situation better than he did. He took note that Gimli appeared just as confused, practically swaying on his feet as his stifled a loud yawn with a calloused hand. "Come on now, Amera, How about you fill in the rest of you as to just what exactly's going on?"
"I…I need to leave for Fangorn." Her voice was soft and Boromir detected a tremor in it as she responded to Gimli, but met his gaze. "I know not why, but I cannot ignore such a call as this."
Silence.
"So, you mean to tell me you had a dream," Boromir walked forward, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he cast a careful glance over her, "About trees or something of the like, so you feel compelled to set out across the plains of Rohan, which are now doubt crawling with Saruman's minions in the dead of night?"
He instantly regretted that he had let his hurt guide his words, for he saw the pain in Amera's pale eyes as she paused, then murmured lowly, "I did not ask for this, Boromir." He waited for her to elaborate, but her jaw was set as the breeze swirled her messied hair around her shoulders.
There was yet more silence, but it was broken as Gimli grunted, "Well, we should get started packing then, eh?"
The next hour was then filled with them scurrying about the fortress as best they could in order to help Amera prepare as quickly as possible. Boromir kept his anger to himself as he silently aided the others, watching as Amera seemed uncharacteristically jumpy, her fingers twitching by her sides as she moved with an urgency that almost alarmed him. She was constantly biting the corner of her lip or running her hands through her hair, her normal grace all but vanished. Even more confusing to him was the fact that she continued to stare at her hands and arms when she thought the others were not looking, her eyes narrowing as she seemed to almost be searching for something along the pale angles of her flesh.
He waited patiently as she said her farewell to Legolas, who smiled with a knowingness that raised Boromir's ire further, and as she accepted a long, warm embrace from Gimli who made her vow to be safe and keep her wits about her, even if he didn't understand what exactly she was doing. As the dwarf's loud footfall finally faded as he retreated back into the keep, Amera finally approached him.
There was a deep sadness in her eyes and despite his conflicting emotions, he found himself wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, breathing in the scent of her hair as she kissed his shoulder and buried her face into the space between his chest and neck. They were still like this for a moment, but then Amera whispered her dream to him without his prompting, her voice trembling as she spoke of fire and water. She was silent when she finished and he knew not what to say, for he was equally bewildered. He had prided himself on never taking stock in legends nor magic, of tales of the unnatural and the fae, for his concerns were with stone and steel, that which he could touch and take and know to be real.
And Amera was none of this things, for she was all at once familiar and then unimaginably foreign. He had decided that one day, when all of…this was over, he would try and understand the pale light that appeared in her stormy eyes, the strange grace that guided her motions and the lingering sadness behind her rare smile. But, until that day, should it ever come, Boromir was content with the quick, feral grin, tousled hair and proud tilt of jaw that was his Amera.
"I would not have you leave, Amera," He murmured to her as he rested his forehead against her own, closing his eyes and continuing, "I know not what is it become of Rohan in your absence."
She was silent and he felt her tremble as she whispered, her fingers reaching to brush gently along his cheek, "The Rohirrim should be honored to have such a valiant warrior of Gondor by their side when the battle arrives." Amera pressed her soft lips against his in a moment that stole his breath away, then finished, "My captain of Gondor."
His heart raced at this and he was unable to keep the pride out of his voice as he pulled her closer, encircling her slender, familiar waist with his hand, "If I had my way, love, I'd never let you out of my sight."
Amera sighed at this, a faint smile appearing upon her face, "But such is a luxury not afforded to us, Boromir."
"Then I will dream of it." He kissed her deeply before she could reply, sighing as he felt her delicate hands brush over his chest and shoulders are she returned his motion. Boromir took note of every inch of her as they let their fears melt away, if only briefly, keeping to memory the gentle brush of her fingertips, the arches of her shoulder blades as they moved beneath his hands and the gentle moan that escaped her lips at his touch.
They remained like that for a few minutes, but Boromir did not protest as Amera gently broke the kiss and began to gather that which she needed for the journey. He walked beside her through the silent narrow streets as they approached the gates of Helm's Deep, surprised but warmed as Amera's fingers had laced with his own, humored that she had made no note or mention of it. They stepped outside the fortress as Amera saddled a horse and laced the reins carefully, then turned to him.
"Boromir, what are you…?"
"I want you to have these, Amera." He finished unlacing his bracers and handed them to her, the emblem of the White Tree glittered in the pale light. Her eyes widened as she briefly protested, then softened as he helped her adjust the leather cords to fit over her forearms. She ran a finger over the intricate swirls carved into the leather, then looked back up to him as he muttered simply, desperately trying to hide his emotions at her leaving. "Don't let this be that last time I see you, Amera."
She was still for a moment, her beautiful eyes flickering with absolute sadness, then she flung herself into his arms and kissed him deeply. He held her close, groaning at the desperation and need that her lips arose within him, holding her close as her hands brushed through his hair and over his jawline. A moment later and she was already on her horse, holding the reins carefully in her hands as she adjusted her sword by her side, looking down to him as a tear coursed down her cheeks.
"I love you, Boromir."
He smiled to hide the aching of his heart, but knew Amera could see it in his eyes. "And I you. Now ride fast, Amera, and know that the hope of men travels with you."
She smiled then and it stole his breath away, but her cowl was suddenly lifted and her cloak swirled around her as the horse galloped over the plains, as swift as any he had ever seen as it carried the Aeliniel and the woman he loved further and further away. He climbed the stairs of Helm's Deep and stood beneath the great statue that adorned its courtyard, watching as Amera slowly disappeared from his sight.
