Though time was pressing on them there was still a call for celebration. The people of Rohan did, after all, have victory at Helms Deep. Everyone was gathered in the Golden Hall of Edoras for a great feast, and for one night they would forget about the threats on Mordor. Amdiriel wore a dark blue floor-length dress with long sleeves with a silver belt and silver embroidery along the neckline, followed with her headdress that she had left behind in Rohan long ago that was rose gold and had a dark blue stone in the center.
Not a word was said as everyone sat and watched as Éowyn who was dressed in a light baby blue gown, approached the King Théoden with a goblet a wine in her hand. Once in front of her Uncle, she held up the goblet and bowed before him. Theoden stood proud and tall as did Éomer who stood behind him to the right. Théoden then took the cup and Éowyn took her place on the left side of the King behind him, parallel to her brother. At this everyone then stood to their feet, cups of either wine or ale in their hands. Amdiriel stood between Aragorn and Legolas as they stood in the front row and Gimli on the other side of Legolas.
"Tonight we remember all those who gave their blood to defend this country." Théoden said and then held out his goblet. "Hail the victorious dead." he said echoed by his people. "Hail!" they all said and took a drink but Amdireil and Aragorn hesitated for a moment, each thinking of all they lost before taking a drink. Amdiriel sighed as her mind went back to the images of the battle. There was never a true victory without sacrifice, she that but it didn't make it any easier for her when they would lose men.
Before they knew it the party was in full swing, the women were talking amongst themselves at the tables while the men were either eating, drinking, or both.
Almost immediately Gimli started gloating about how much he and his kinsmen could drink Legolas however remained silent until Éomer decided that the honorable way to settle the conflict was by a drinking contest. They along with a group of soldiers got whisked away over to where the barrels of ale were.
Éomer then hands Legolas a pint of ale. "No pauses. No spills." he tells them. "And no regurgitation." Gimli said. Amdiriel was surprised that Legolas said nothing but instead played dumb. She knew he could drink a lot, she had been among the celebrations at Mirkwood, not only was their wine strong then the simple ale of Rohan but elves could drink for a good while before feeling the effects of the alcohol.
"So it's a drinking game?" Legolas asks.
The men around them cheer. "Last one standing wins." Gimli says. They then start to laugh as Gimli starts to drink his pint. Amdiriel raises her eyebrows in question as Legolas sends her a 'don't tell' look causing Amdiriel to smirk. Legloas then looks down at the mug in his hand hesitantly before he brought it to his lips. She reminded herself to tell Legolas that he was a good actor. Amdiriel was soon joined by Aragorn who offered her an ale. "What do we have here?" he asked. "Well our two very loving friends have engaged in a battle of drinks to see who is superior in the capability of holding liquor." Amdiriel explained. "Oh well, I can definitely see that." Aragorn teased and motioned to the cups that had started to pill up in front of both the elf and the dwarf. "Well, then do not ask stupid questions and you will not get sarcastic answers my lord." Amdiriel replied, taking a drink from her ale while Aragorn chuckled, giving her a kiss on the side of the head.
"Does Gimli know about how much the elves of Mirkwood actually drink?" Aragorn whispered to her. "With the way that Legolas is acting no but even if he did Gimli would still try to outdo him." Amdiriel stated. "Very true." he said and continued to watch the show.
Each competitor had at least 10 empty cups in front of them and they were still going but Amdiriel could tell the effects of the alcohol wearing on Gimli but it had yet to show on Legolas, who was easily downing the beverages given to him by Éomer."I say Gimli passes out in less than two minutes." Aragorn said to Amdiriel who shook her head "I say one." she challenged.
Gimli then let out a gross fart, causing everyone to look at him in disgust but the dwarf is not fazed "Hehehe." laughs the Dwarf "It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women." he slurs in his drunk state.
Legolas then looks down at his hand "I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me." Legolas said with something in his voice that made him sound a little off. Amdiriel had to bite back a laugh at his acting.
Gimli slams his empty glass down "I told you, he can't hold his liquor." he said. Suddenly his eyes go cross and Gimli falls backward, his feet flying over his head. It was that Amdiriel broke into laughter as well as the men around her.
"Well, game over." Legolas says with a smirk before taking another mug from Éomer. "I'll go help poor Gimli to bed." Aragorn told Amdiriel who then motioned to Legolas for help.
Amdiriel chuckled as she watched them try to carry the heavily intoxicated dwarf, she could only hope that he would not puke on is friends. Although she was sure that if he did he would not care. Amdiriel walked across the room, greeting and smiling at those who greeted her. She found that most women seemed to be intimidated by her but that was something she had been used to for a long time. The men however liked her, she was like them just trying to protect that which she loved.
Amdiriel was in the corner of the room, waiting for Aragorn, watching as he and Legolas walked out of the shadows of the hall. Amdiriel could not help the smile that came upon her face as she watched Aragorn's eyes scan the crowd looking for someone as he walked through the crowd. Once his eyes fell on her his lips curled into a grin. Amdiriel watched as he tried to weave his way in and out of the crowd to get to her.
The grin that had graced Amdiriel's face soon faded when she caught Éowyn in the corner of her eye walking gracefully towards Aragorn. Aragorn looked to where Amdiriel was staring, stopping when he saw Eowyn approaching him. Amdiriel watched as the fair lady offered Aragorn a goblet of wine. Aragorn carefully accepted it, raising it to his lips to drink before he placed it back in her hand. Amdiriel could see the look of hope and love that Éowyn held for the man in front of her, Amdiriel could feel her heart clench in pain as she turned to leave. Amdiriel hated to admit it and would never admit it out loud but she was jealous of Éowyn, she was everything Amdiriel could never be. And the worst part was that she knew Aragorn cared for the Lady of Rohan and that maybe that care could one day turn into love. The words that she had said to her uncle the day she left Rivendell rang in her head 'If he loves another, I will go leave Middle-Earth with you.' Amdiriel's feet lead her out of the Hall to a little corner of the wall that faced the plains which if followed would lead to her homeland. The music and joyous cheers faded from her mind as she looked to where the mountains joined the starry midnight sky but her mind was so consumed she could not fully appreciate it.
Surely, the kingdom of Gondor would flourish under Éowyn's rule, she had after all been prepared her whole life to be queen, to one day take over and rule a country. Unlike, Amdiriel who grew up as a soldier. To serve and protect her people was her duty till death release her from that oath. Éowyn was raised to be a queen, Amdiriel to be a warrior. Éowyn still had an innocence to her, yes she had seen what evil did but not to a full extent. She was still innocent and her ignorance was blessed, for Amdiriel prayed she would never have to carry the burden she did. But that innocence was something Amdiriel would never be able to take back.
"Now what is the most beautiful woman in all of Middle-Earth doing out in the cold alone?" Aragorn asked from behind her. Amdiriel turned to look at the man who was holding her cloak in his hand as he approached, she had been so in thought that she hadn't even heard him come. "Éowyn is inside so I do not know what you are talking about." She replied as she turned away, she hadn't meant for it to come out like it did but it just did. Aragorn was surprised at her answer but he approached her all the same and rested her cloak over her shoulders but Amdiriel did not move. He sat himself next to her and tried to make him look at her. When she would not look at him, he knew something was wrong.
"What is wrong, my love?" he asked. Amdiriel had tried to keep herself from wincing at the name but Aragorn saw it. "Hey, what did I do?" he asked carefully but Amdiriel shook her head. "Nothing." After a few moments of silence Amdiriel spoke up "She's a better choice." she said. Aragorn looked at her confused but Amdiriel didn't dare look at him. "Éowyn is a better choice for a queen, Aragorn. She could be the queen I could never be, she can heal the people and heal the relationship between Gondor and Rohan. There is so much of her that I can not be Aragorn. Gondor deserves more than a dishonored and banished captain and so do you." She told him.
Aragorn could not believe what he was hearing or how she could think so lowly of herself. How could she not see how much he loved her but then he remembered that she had been alone for such a long time. "Amdi. Amdiriel please look at me." he asked her but she did not. She feared if she did she would change her mind and take everything back. Not that it mattered because Aragornsighed loudly and placed his hand under her chin to turn her head so she would look at him. Amdiriel did her best to hide the tears in her eyes but Aragorn could see right through her.
"Amdi, you are so much more than just a banished captain to Gondor. You are their hope and the most capable person to rule and heal them because you know what they have been through, you were there when you were needed. You are the most beautiful, kind, compassionate, loving, stubborn, and the strongest person I know. You know when it is time to fight, to push others to be their best but you know when they just need a hug. I love everything you are Amdiriel the beautiful part, the broken parts and the scared ones. I love how you see me for me and not Lord Aragorn. You are not afraid to call me out on things, to challenge me. I love how you have always been there for me, even when I did not know it. I can not think of anyone better to rule Gondor with." He told her.
Amdiriel looked to protest "But Aragorn." But he cut her off "Do you remember the night when you gave me this?" he asked her, motioning to the necklace that hung around his neck. Amdiriel nodded in reply. "I told you that night I was going to marry you that night because I could not imagine anyone else beside me. There is no one else I would rather go into battle to, no one else I would rather face all of Mordor with, no one else I would rather rule with, and no one else I would rather love. I will make every decision for Gondor as long as I get to be selfish this one time. Either you sit on the throne next to me or no one does. I love you and only you, nothing no power in Mordor, no ring and not even Sauron himself could keep me from loving you with everything I am." he confessed to her.
Amdiriel let the tears fall down her face at his words. Immediately she pressed her lips to his for a passionate kiss. Amdiriel let her hands wrap themselves in his hair as his one hand rest on her waist pulling her close to him and the other held the back of her neck. Aragorn let his tongue swipe across her lips, asking for permission to enter which Amdiriel let him have. "I love you." Aragorn whispered against her lips. "I love you too, Aragorn, more than you could ever know." Amdiriel whispered back before kissing him again, each pouring as much passion and love into the kiss.
A few minutes later, the two returned inside, feeling much better than they had when they left. Inside they went to stand next to Gandalf who was watching Merry and Pippin dance on one of the tables while singing with their ales in their hands. They all clapped along with the crowd.
"No news of Frodo?" Amdiriel asks the wizard.
Gandalf shakes his head in sorrow "No word. Nothing." he replies.
"We have time. Every day Frodo moves closer to Mordor." Aragorn reminds him. Gandalf turns to the two and asks "Do we know that?"
Aragorn looks to Amdiriel and then replies to Gandalf "What dies your heart tell you?" Gandalf gave the ranger a smile "That Frodo is alive. Yes. Yes, that he is alive." Gandalf said and then looked back to where the two hobbits had started dancing again. Merry nearly slipping off the table in the process but caught himself. That caused the room to chuckle as Aragorn looked to Amdiriel, the love in his eye for her was evident as the sun as he laced their fingers together.
They were not sure what was to happen next. They did not know how they were going to return to Gondor. They did not know how to rule and deep inside there was a part of them that was scared but they knew together they would face it. Together, they would do all they had to. Together they would face Mordor alone if they had to as long as they knew the other would be there with them.