It wasn't long after cleaning off the blood from battle and changing out of their clothes did Amdiriel and Aragorn find themselves being lead into the House of Healing. The ladies of the house were working vigorously to try to save as many people as they could as Amdiriel looked around. Amdiriel was about to ask a servant where she could find her brother but heard Irolas call her name. "Irolas." she said as she approached him quickly, pulling him in for a hug. "It is so good to see you alive Captain." said the man. "Likewise Lieutenant...Captain Faramir?" Amdiriel asked. "Come, he has been awaiting your arrival." said Irolas before he led the couple over to the corner of the room.
Amdiriel could not help the gasp that left her lips as she caught sight of the several bandages that were wrapped around her brother, two around his torso and another around his shoulder. "Faramir." Amdiriel whispered as she knelt beside him. "He's expected to make a full recovery, we just don't know when he will wake." Amdiriel nodded as Irolas then turned to leave to give the siblings some privacy. Amdiriel bit her lip as she could feel the tears start to burn in her eyes. "I'm here brother, I'm home and I will not be leaving. I know you would not have me waiting by your side while the city needed tending to so I will do my duty and tend to the people. But you can take your time to heal. I'll be here when you wake...I promise." Amdiriel whispered and place a soft kiss on her brother's forehead. As she turned she felt a hand grab hers causing her to turn back and see the eyes of her brother flutter open. "You sure did take your time coming home." he joked.
Amdiriel chuckled as she fell back to her knees beside her brother as he learned up to hug her, both siblings holding each other as if the other would disappear with the wind. "I missed you." Amdiriel whispered. "I missed you too. There is much to discuss." Faramir replied as he groaned and pulled away. "He must rest my lady." said one of the women from behind them. "Of course." Amdiriel and turned back to her brother. "Go aid the others. I will be here when you are done." Faramir told her. "Promise me?" Amdiriel asked. "I promise." Faramir replied as he laid back down and gave her hand one final squeeze before letting his eyes fall shut and welcome the peaceful slumber. "I love you brother." she whispered before turning back to the love of her life. "He will be fine. If he's anything like his sister he will recover in just a few short days and will be out there trying to defend the city." Aragorn told her. Amdiriel chuckled "That's what worries me." she replied as Aragorn pressed a gentle kiss to her temple.
The two walked through the House, helping where they could until the rush calmed. The two searched until they found Eomer siting with a still unconscious Eowyn. Aragorn and Amdiriel approached the two, both sitting on each side of the woman. Amdiriel then carefully lifts Eowyn's damaged arm, to see the dark scratches caused by battle. Amdiriel and Aragorn looked at each other knowing the damage was the internal darkness growing from the poison from the wound. Amdiriel dipped a clean cloth into the water before passing the bowl to Aragorn and carefully began to clean her forearm, while she murmured in Sinderian, hoping to aid in riding the poison from Eowyn's blood. Aragorn too wets his cloth and wipes Eowyn's forehead, murmuring healing to her. Suddenly Eowyn begins to breathe heavily as she then comes to, eyes fluttering open as she looks up at Aragorn in amazement. The fear and grief that once filled her brother's eyes are now filled with hope as Eomer thanks them. Eowyn looks to Amdiriel who has a small smile on her lips. "Rest. Your body needs it." Amdiriel said before she got up and left the trio, feeling it was not her place to be there any longer.
It wasn't long till the ladies of the house were pushing Amdiriel out of the house, knowing she had spent her energy on the battlefield and then in the house, helping them. "It is time to retire, my love." Aragorn whispered to Amdiriel as she was nearly falling asleep next to her brother's bed. "You are no good to him exhausted." Aragorn told her, Amdiriel sighed and nodded. Aragorn escorted the sleepy lady to her room. He instructed Amdiriel to wash up while he grabbed her a clean change of clothes to sleep in until he heard hiss in pain. "Amdi, are you alright?" Amdiriel didn't reply, trying to play off the pain as she took the clothes from Aragorn. He was about to let it go until he saw blood soaking through the upper sleeve of her dress. "Love, what happened?" he asked. "It's just a small cut." she replied but Aragorn knew better and took Amdiriel's arm in his hand, using the other hand to pull off the sleeve from her shoulder, revealing a bleeding four-inch cut just below her shoulder, a black color outlining the cut. "The Nazgul?" he asked to which Amdiriel nodded. "Change carefully and stay here. I'll be right back." he told her and headed for the door. "Aragorn, I'm fin-" she tried but was cut off as he turned back to her and pointed his finger at her. "Ah, stay." he ordered and pointed to the bed then left, closing the door behind him.
Aragorn came back not 5 minutes later, with a bowl of water, a clean cloth, bandages, and his herb pouch in hand. He smiled softly to find Amdiriel changed out of her clothes sitting on the bed with her cut and shoulder exposed to the air. Aragorn put the items in his hand on the bed carefully before dipping the cloth in water and gently running it over the drying blood and open wound, causing Amdiriel to hiss in pain. "I am sorry." Aragorn whispered as he blew on it, hoping to soothe her skin. Aragorn proceeded to carefully clean the wound and bandage it with some Athelas, causing Amdiriel to his in pain again. He hated hurting her but knew if the would-be to heal without infection, he had to hurt her a little but it didn't hurt his heart any less.
"Thank you." Amdiriel whispered to Aragorn who had just finished up her bandage. Aragorn leaned down and place a soft kiss on the skin of her shoulder before she kissed his lips, wrapping their hands in each other's hair. "I love you." Aragorn whispered to her as he laid her on the bed. "I love you too, so stay." Aragrn nodded and kicked off his boots before climbing under the blanket, Amdiriel leaning her head on his chest as he wrapped his arm around her protectively. "Rest, my king." Amdiriel mumbled as she drifted off to sleep causing Aragorn to chuckle as he kissed her hair before he too drifted off to sleep.
"Frodo has passed beyond my sight." Gandalf said as he then walked across the hall of the throne room as everyone stood in a circle. "The darkness is deepening." he added. "If Sauron had the Ring we would know it." Aragorn stated his back turned to the others. "It's only a matter of time. He suffered the defeat, yes but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping." Gandalf informed them.
"Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?" Gimli asks from the late Steward's chair as he smoked his pipe. "Because thousands of orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." Gandalf told him. Gimli quickly shut up and was sent into thought.
"I've sent him to his death." Gandalf whispered to himself. "No there's still hope for Frodo." Aragorn said as he turned to face the wizard. "He needs time and safe passage through the land, we can give him that." Everyone gave Aragorn a confused look. "How?" Gimli asked, voicing the question on everyone's mind. "Draw out Sauron's army. Empty his land by gathering our full strength and march upon the Black Gate." Aragorn explained causing Gimli to start choking on smoke. Amdiriel rolled her eyes but tapped her friend on the back.
"We can not achieve victory through strength of arms." Éomer stepped forward. "Not for ourselves but we can give Frodo his chance if we can keep Sauron's Eye fixed on us. Keep him blind to all else that moves." Aragorn told them. "A diversion." Legoals said in understanding. "He would not expect for us to make a move like that. Not this close to the previous battle." Amdiriel stated.
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" Gimli said pipe in his mouth. "Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait." Gandalf told Aragorn. Aragorn gave the wizard a small smile "No, I think he will." he said. Immidienatly, Amdiriel knew what he was going to do and thought she trust Aragorn she did not know if this plan would work. Everyone dispersed, sending the word that they were to march on Mordor soon and all things needed to be prepared to the best of their abilities.
"The Palantir? You think that is the best course of action?" Amdiriel asked when the two were finally alone. "I do and I will be facing it alone." Aragorn replied. "Aragorn?" "I have to Amdi. I let you face the Nazgul alone, that was your demon. This one is mine. I have to face my fear and as much as I wish for you to be beside me I have to do this alone." he told her as he place a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure?" Amdiriel asked to which Aragorn nodded. "Okay, but you meet me in my room right after, promise?" Aragorn smiled expecting nothing less from the woman he loved as he kissed her lips softly before they were called away to their duties.
Hours later the sun had gone down and Aragorn had left Amdiriel alone with her brother to face the Palantir alone. "Something is on your mind and it is not just Aragorn." stated Faramir. "There is something I need to tell you." Amdiriel admitted. Faramir could see the fear in her eyes as she glanced down at her hands. Faramir raised his hand, placing it under her chin so she would look at him. "Amdi, it's just me. You can tell me." he tells her. "It's my fault." Amdiriel admits after a moment "Boromir's death was my fault, Faramir." Faramir shook his head "You know that's not true. Boromir joined this quest knowing the risk and died to help protect us and this quest." Faramir told her. "Then why do I feel so guilty?" Amdiriel asked. "Because you loved him and you miss him. Aragorn told me about what happened Amdi, there was nothing you could have done. You can not control the chaos, all we can do now is continue to fight on, to honor his sacrifice and that of those who came before us. Know that neither of us ever blamed you for mother's death and I do not blame you for Boromir's either. They did what they did to protect us, so we could live on and end-all of this. And they loved us more than anything."
Amdiriel let out a sob as she collapsed against he older brother's chest. "Shhh. I got you. I love you." he whispered to her, knowing she blamed herself for so long. Aragorn had come to him hours before and explained to him their brother's death and how he knew Amdiriel blamed herself for his death even though there was nothing she could have done. There was only so much Aragorn could tell her, to make her not blame herself. Faramir knew that sometimes she just needed her brother to tell her that it was all going to be okay and that he loved her.
After a bit Amdiriel gather herself and Faramir sent her back to her room, knowing that not only did she need her rest but that Aragorn would need her.
Amdiriel had finished changing out of her clothes and into her nightgown when a knock came at her door. The door opening and in entered, looking as if he had seen a ghost. Before Amdiriel could even ask if he was alright, he had made his way across the room and smashed his lips against hers. Amdiriel could sense the urgency and the need in the kiss, she could only imagine what the Palantir showed him. The two continued to kiss until the need to breathe overpowered them. "Aragorn." Amdiriel panted but for she could even ask what was wrong Aragorn spoke. "You are to stay in the city tomorrow." He told her. "Excuse me?" Amdiriel asked, believing she heard wrong. "You are to stay and defined the city should the battle go ill." Aragorn explained. "That is not happening." Amdiriel said as she stepped out of the man's embrace. "Amdiriel, you have to understand. You are the next line of defense as queen." Aragorn tried as he followed her towards the balcony but Amdiriel whipped her head around "No, as queen I am to remain at your as we face the evil of Mordor together. Just like we have ever since this quest started. Faramir can hold the city in our absence." Amdiriel countered. "As queen, your duty is to the people and I as king am telling you that the people need you to stay behind." Aragorn argued almost raising his voice. "Then find another queen, Aragorn, one who will bend to your will because I will defy you on this matter." Amdiriel said and headed out to the balcony. "Amdi, please." "No, Aragorn, you don't get to try to place the guilt on me for this. I will face Mordor either by your side or next to my men. I am fine with either and there is nothing you can do to stop me, so good night my lord." Amdiriel dismissed him without another word. Aragorn sighed but left the room, too frustrated in his own mind, knowing he did not want to say anything to make the situation worse. So he left, slamming the door as he did causing Amdiriel to flinch as the tears streamed down her face silently. "Stupid men." she muttered as she wiped the tears away.
Amdiriel laid awake, staring at the ceiling, her argument with Aragorn replaying over and over in her head. Amdiriel finally rose from her bed and walked out to the balcony and looked out over the city. It was late at night so only the torches of the streets were lit. She knew she should not have snapped at Aragorn and she could have handled his request better even if her decision did not change. She knew he could not understand the pain she went through without him already. She was never the good maiden to wait at home for her knight to return and he knew that when he started courting her and he had said nothing when the discussion of marching upon Mordor occurred so what had changed?
It was a soft knock that broke Amdiriel out of her thoughts "Come in." Amdiriel said but did not turn around, she knew who it was the moment the door opened. Aragorn quietly shut the door behind him and searched the room until he found the form of his love out on the balcony, to bothering to turn around.
"I can't rest when we argue." Aragorn stated but Amdiriel said nothing. Aragorn let out a deep breath and approached her carefully. "Amdi, please look at me, my love." With a deep sigh, Amdiriel turned around, noting the redness around his eyes, a sight that would only be there if he had been crying. "My decision remains the same, my lord." Amdiriel tells him. "I know." "Tell me what changed. You did not objectify my accompanying you in the throne room, so what changed?" Amdiriel asked. Aragorn looked down guilty he was about to answer but Amdiriel bet him to it. "The Palantir? I died didn't I, that was what Sauron showed you." Aragorn shut his eyes but nodded, knowing it was useless to lie to her. Amdiriel wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close while he wrapped his arms around her waist, placing his head in the crook of her neck. "I just want to protect you. I can not lose you." Aragorn admitted. "I know but I can not lose you again either. I lost you once and it nearly killed me. I would not survive losing you a second time forever." Amdiriel told him. "I know, I am sorry." Aragorn said as he pulled away to see the eyes in Amdiriel's eyes. "I stand by your side now and forever or not at all. We started this together, so let me finish this with you." Amdiriel said to which Aragorn nodded and raised his hand, letting his thumb wipe away the tears. "Together." he confirmed as leaned down and kiss Amdiriel. She could feel his tongue traced over her bottom lip, asking for entrance to which she let him in as she wrapped her hands in his hair as he cradles her cheek in one hand, his other hand tugging her hip closer to him. "We should rest." Aragorn whispered against Amdiriel's lips as his forehead rested against hers. Amdiriel nodded and lead Aragorn back into the room to her bed. The two climbed into the bed, holding on to each other, knowing that the next day could change everything.