The next day, the city of Edoras was in mourning. They were to bury their prince, a final goodbye. Amdiriel and the others were eating breakfast when a guard approached them. "I apologize for the interruption but the king wishes to see you, my lady." Amdiriel nodded her head and stood to her feet. It may have been decades since she roamed the halls of Meduseld but she knew where the guard was leading her. Not too soon Amdiriel found herself outside of Théodred's room. The guard bowed and left her in the hallway. Amdirield shut her eyes for a moment to take in a deep breath before she walked in since the door was already open.
Amdiriel took in the sight, Théordred's room had not changed much since they were kids, except for the weapons he had were now real ones and the bed was much larger now. That is now were Théodred's body laid, dressed in his finest armor, beside him his father sat on the bed until he saw Amdiriel enter. He stood to his feet as she walked, her eyes filled with tears as she saw that her friend was truly gone.
"It has been a long time, my lady." Théoden said. "It has, nearly a year since I last saw you. I wish it were under very different circumstances." Amdiriel replied. The two then turned to look at the bed. Théodred's face was now pale white, nothing like the tan skin he usually had from being outside for many hours of the day, for he hated being inside. "He loved you like a sister, Amdi, always spoke so highly of you and the times you shared." his father told her. Amdiriel nodded her head as a tear fell from her eye. "I know and I loved him too...I am going to miss him very much. All this is not how I thought it would be." she told the king. "Nor I." he replied.
"I am sorry Amdi...Lord Aragorn told me about Boromir's fate only days before Théodred..." Théoden said. "I find comfort in knowing that Boromir is with mother and they were both there to help lead Theodred to the hall of both our fathers and that the war has ended for them...they can rest now." Amdiriel said. "Yes, I am sure they will look after each other." Theoden said. Amdiriel chuckled "They would be trying to best each other in duels like when we were younger." she said. Theoden chuckled too, remembering when they would spend hours of dueling in the fields to see who was better than the others, acting like children when they would lose.
"I have a favor to ask of you." said the king, Amdiriel nodded " Éomer will not be able to be here, I ask that you would stand in his place..." Amdiriel looked to the man "I know it would have meant a lot to Théodred." he told her. Amdiriel nodded, Théoden went over to the drawer and pulled something from the inside it. Théoden turns around and in his hands was one of Amdiriel's headdress that she had forgotten on one of her peace missions to Edoras before everything happened. "He kept it?" she asked. "Always said you would need one and that you wouldn't have one and when that day came he could brag about how he would save the day...and that a princess always needs a crown." he said and placed the headdress on her. Amdiriel smiled as Théoden the placed a hand on her shoulder, no words were said nut they didn't need to be said. They both knew they had to be strong, for the people.
"I will give you a moment." he told her and left the room. Amdiriel waited till he was gone to turn back to her friend. She looked over at him and smirked because he looked peaceful. What she said was true, the war was over for them, they were at peace and that was all she could hope for. "I will avenge all of you, I promise...be careful and don't let Boromir win all the fights. I love you, I love all of you." She said and then leaned down and kissed his forehead.
Amdiriel then heard a knock on the door, she quickly wiped away her tears and turned. "I am sorry but the ladies have to finish preparing." Éowyn said timidly at the door. "No, no I understand." Amdiriel said and turned to face the woman. She was beautiful, her blond hair was pulled into a bun, pale skin, and a gold headdress with small golden flowers on it. "We haven't been properly introduced, I am Amdiriel." She introduced herself. Eowyn offered her a small smile, "I know, Théodred and Éomer spoke of you often." she told her. "All good things I hope." Amdireil commented. "I am Éowyn, Éomer's younger sister." Amdiriel smiled " Éomer and Théodred spoke of you often as well, all good things." Amdiriel told her. The two offered each other small smiles. There was a moment of silence before Amdiriel spoke again. "I am sorry about Éomer's banishment and about Théodred, I know it is not an easy time and my words can do very little." she told her and then glanced back at where her friend's body laid. "I am truly sorry." Amdiriel said, trying to not let a sob escape her but Éowyn could hear the pain in her voice. "Thank you." Whispered Éowyn before Amdiriel left.
She walked down the halls, trying to keep herself together, almost running into Aragorn who she hadn't noticed, coming to look for her. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked." Amdiriel nodded her head as the tears just seemed to keep on coming. Aragorn knew she wasn't so he grabbed her hand and lead her down the hall to the room he shared with Legolas and Gimli, knowing they were both outside.
He closed the door behind them and pulled Amdiriel into his chest, she wrapped her arms around him as he held her close as she let out a few sobs into his chest. "Shh, it's alright. It's okay to not be okay." he told her as he ran a hand over her hair. "No, I can't. I can't fall apart...not yet." she said starting to calm down. Aragorn nodded "What can I do?" he asked. "Can you just hold my hand until you have to let go?" she asked. Aragorn's heart broke at her vulnerability but he nodded. The woman in front of him had been through so much in the last few days losing her brother and then losing a close family friend who was like a brother in less than a week and here she was still trying to be strong for everyone around her. Amdiriel pulled away and wiped her face. "I am sorry." she said and motioned to the slightly wet spot on his chest, though it was barely visible. Aragorn just brushed it off thinking it was silly. "How did you know where I was?" she asked him. "Théoden thought you might need some comfort and told me where to find you, it looks like he was right." He said with a smile. "Thank you." Aragorn laced their fingers together teaching feeling the sparks fly across their skin just at they had the first day they met.
Aragorn then led Amdiriel out of the Hall, where everyone waited. The city's people were lined up on each side of the road, dressed in black, in front of them one line of soldiers on each side. The crowd and soldiers had formed a path out of the city's walls to the tomb where Théodred would be buried. In front of the tomb was where Éowyn and the other woman of the Hall stood. It would be four soldiers first and then those who carried Théodred, who laid in his armor, sword in hand as well as white flowers. Behind them would follow Théoden, then Amdiriel and behind her would be Gimli and Gandalf and then Legolas and Aragorn, behind them would be the other servent and members of the Hall, they would all follow the path until they reached the tomb.
They all stood side by side until the soldier emerged from the Hall, slowly carrying Théodred's body. Aragorn gave Amdiriel's hand an encouraging squeeze before he let go so she could fall in line after Theoden. Silence and a few sobs from both men and women could be heard upon the crowd as they walked. Amdiriel did her best to hold her head tall, knowing it was what Éomer would be doing. When they reached the tomb the soldiers slowly passed Thoedred's body to the women who then pushed him into the tomb, his final resting place. As they did Éowyn sang a Rohirric lament Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended
Giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende on Meduselde
Thæt he ma no wære, his dryhtne dyrest
And maga deorost Bealo
Amdiriel watched quietly, on the outside she was doing fine but on the inside, she was falling apart. How could all of this happen? She knew it was war but still. Love was the price she paid, every day. What else would be taken from her she wondered, what else would evil try to take from her?
Amdireil had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed the people around her start to disperse until she, her friends, Gandalf and Théoden were the only ones standing there. Aragorn told Legolas and Gimli to go ahead and head back into the city that he would wait with Amdiriel. Once they were gone Aragorn joined her side, she said nothing but after a few more minutes she knelt down and picked up two of the flowers on the ground. She then grabbed Aragorn's hand with her free one. She knew it was time to leave Théoden to grieve on his own, for Gandalf would look after him.
She led Aragorn back into the city walls, no words spoken, she led him to the wall where he had found her the day before. The wind was picking up with the sun starting to set in the distance. She then let go of his hand and plucked each pedal from the two flowers and let them fall into her hand. Aragorn remembered seeing Amdiriel do this long ago when she would miss her mother, he suspected one flower for Théodred and the other for Boromir. When all the pedals were pulled from the flowers she cupped her hands together and brought them up to her face, she then let out a breath, blowing the pedals into the wind and watching as they were picked up and carried off into the sunset. Aragorn said nothing watched with sad eyes at what she did. When it was over he looked to Amdiriel and noticed the tears along her face. Still looking into the distance a sob escaped her and her knees buckled. Aragorn caught her, lowering her to the ground as she wept into his shoulder, his heartbreaking for her from all the pain she carried from not only the last week but the last 33 years.
Aragorn let her cry until she couldn't cry anymore, she had severed that and so much more for everything she had been through and everything she continued to give. When Amdiriel calmed herself she apologized to the man again. "You have no need to apologize, you have every right to feel this way. You have every right to fall apart." he told her, his hand cupping her cheek and whipping the tear that lingered there. "Thank you for everything. I do not mean for you to carry me as a burden." she whispered. "Do not ever think of yourself as such. You are allowed to have feelings. They are not a burden not to me, they remind us that we are human. I know you are strong and that you will get through this and I promise to be at your side to make sure of it." he told her. Aragorn could feel himself lean into her, ready to kiss her but then what sounded like Gimli was calling out their names. Both of them could feel their cheeks turning pink like the evening sky. Though both of their heart sank at not being able to have that moment, Aragorn got up and helped Amdiriel to her feet before leading her into the Golden Hall to see Gimli discussing dinner.
The Great Hall was in a commotion when two young children; a boy and his younger sister were escorted into the Hall by Gandalf. The children had been driven from their homes by the wild men sent from Saruman. The children had been riding for days and were exhausted. Éwoyn tended to them bringing them food and water as Théoden sat on his thrown head in hand in frustration, Gandalf next to him. Aragorn sat at one of the tables in the hall facing the king smoking his pipe, Legolas stood, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed and Amdiriel mirrored his posture on the pillar next to him. While Gimli sat across from Aragorn drinking ale and eating stew.
"They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the Wildmen are moving through the Westfold moving as they go. Rick, cot, and tree." Éwoyn said and covered the children with another blanket as they ate their soup. Aragorn glanced back to give a look to both Amdiriel and Legolas who looked at the ranger, wondering what was to be done.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is now driven by fear of Saruman. Ride out and meet him ahead on. Draw him away from your women and children." Gandalf told the King who was now looking at the two children. Gandalf placed a hand on the king's armrest "You must fight." he said.
"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak." Aragorn informed the King. "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King." he said.
Théoden got up from his throne and walked to the middle of the Hall "They would be three hundred leagues from here by now." Theoden told Aragorn as he then walked about the room for a moment in thought " Éomer can not help us." he said. Gandalf then stood from his seat to say something but Théoden cut him off "I know what it is you want from me but I will not bring further death to my people... I will not risk open war." he told Gandalf sternly.
Aragorn pulled his pipe from his mouth and told the king. "Open war is upon you whether you would risk it or not." Théoden turned to Aragorn "Last I looked, Théoden not Aragorn was king of Rohan." The king stated pointedly. No one said anything so Amdiriel pushed herself from the post "But you know in your heart what he says is true. The city is undefendable. Saruman and his army will come. War is inevitable at this point and time, what is our choice is how we decide to fight it." Again the room went silent. Amdiriel didn't care what the others they thought for they all knew she had earned her right among them long ago. Amdireil was not going to let Rohan go down like this.
"So what is the king's decision?" Gandalf then asked. Théoden thought for a moment "Let me look over and some maps. I shall lay out a plan. I will inform you in the morning." Said the king, he then left to his chambers. Amdiriel was soon to go to bed after that, her emotions had been spent on the day. She bid them all goodnight and left quickly.
Aragorn watched her go with worry in his eyes. "She will be alright, Aragorn, she just emotionally drained right now." Gandalf told him "Which she has every right to be. She watched her brother die in her arms and just buried a close friend in less than a week of each other." Aragorn reminded him. "She just needs rest. She will be fine. She is a warrior after all." Gandalf said and said he would retire as well.
Across the way Éowyn had heard what had been said about the woman in question, she wondered how someone could be so strong and brave while going through what she had. Her eyes then traveled to Aragorn who just continued to smoke his pipe deep in thought. She was sure a lot plagued his minds as did all f theirs but they would have to wait to morning to find out their next plan of action.