Everyone in the room was too angry or upset to even try and talk, and Aredhel was too scared to do it.

Her father had neither looked at her for two days, so she didn't know what was he up to.

Turning to look at Elphir now and then, she found herself smile at him, actually forgetting about Boromir's presence in the room.

Not surprisingly, Denethor was the one who broke the heavy silence. "It is up to you to decide now, my Lord." he said quietly, looking at Aredhel's father. "I will not speak in stead of my son, and he's already expressed his own will."

Lólindir glared at Elphir before to return the Steward's stare, sighing. "I have nothing to say, Lord Denethor. I am just ashamed for such a deplorable conduct coming from my daughter and Lord Elphir. I thought him trustworthy, else I would not have allowed him to spend that much time with Aredhel."

"Oh, but he is!" Boromir intervened decidedly, "Believe me, my Lord, he is. My cousin is a very noble man, do not mark him as a rogue just because he's fallen in love with a woman meant for someone else. 'Tis something you cannot plan or control, it just happens."

"You have a point, Lord Boromir" Lólindir nodded, "But pray tell me what are we going to say to repeal your wedding, then. What you think people would say?"

"Let them say what they may." was Boromir's quiet reply, followed by a shrug. "Anyway 'tis none of their business. I'm sure you don't want to see your daughter married to a man that she doesn't love. And who doesn't love her."

Aredhel finally turned to look at Boromir, meeting his eyes.

She had to apologize for her bad behaviour towards him. For even now he was acting as an honoured man.

"I would like to say something" she hesitatingly said then, standing up when Lord Denethor nodded.

"I am...very sorry for my behaviour. And I want to apologize for I've been a vixen towards Boromir. He had always been kind and gentle even if I didn't deserve it. Maybe I was just too upset to see it. Father... you were trying to force me to marry someone I couldn't stand, while I was... and I am in love with someone else. I was angry at you but I took it out on Boromir... I'm sorry for that. I wasn't meaning to be the cause of all those troubles..."

Denethor sighed, but said nothing and just looked at his nephew first and then at his heir. Who was now smiling slightly.

"I'll accept your apologies if you'll accept mine in return. I've been.. very rough towards you lately. I didn't mean to." Boromir said, casting an eye over Lólindir. "Since everything between us is sorted out you will have the last word, my Lord."

"Let her decide." the man replied curtly, obviously not pleased by the turning of the events, and yet unwilling to decide in stead of his daughter. Then he stood, bowing his head slightly, and walked to the door.

Sighing deeply, Aredhel looked at her father's back while he was exiting.

"He will never forgive me" she murmured at herself, before to turn and look at Elphir, hinting a sad smile.

"You know what my decision is... don't you?I want to marry you..."

"I want to marry you just as well" Elphir replied, leaning to caress her cheek and then turning to look at his uncle. "If you are granting us your blessing, my Lord."

At first Denethor merely raised an eyebrow in response, staring sternly at the couple. When Boromir cleared his throat and smiled eloquently, though, his features softened a bit. "It is agreed." he said, nodding briefly. "I will speak with your father, Elphir."

"Thank you" Aredhel just said, finally smiling brightly at her beloved Elphir.

The fire was crackling into the wide fireplace, and Amarie put on another block of wood, to keep the room warm enough for the night.

Faramir had been with her for the whole afternoon, while his brother was in council with his father, and then with Aredhel and her family.

Amarie had feigned nonchalance at such matter, not allowing herself to be scared about what that vixen could say against Boromir.

If something would have gone wrong, it would have been the end of their lovestory.

However, Faramir's presence had helped her not to get bored and downhearted, thus now that she was alone, the girl even smiled at herself when she heard Boromir's unmistakable footsteps coming from the corridor.

He even knocked before peering inside, a bright smile lighting his face.

"Have you missed me as much as I've missed you, beloved?" he asked upon entering the room, and even cared to lock the door before walking to the couch and sit with her. "Because I've missed you terribly today. And I have some pretty good news for you.. well, for us."

"And..what good news?" she purred, sitting onto his lap and playfully nuzzling at his neck.

"I've missed you... I always miss you when you aren't with me... I think I'm dangerously addicted to you by now..."

"Oh, that's good indeed." Boromir smirked, bending to kiss and mark her cheek with a light bite. "Mostly because you'll have to deal with me for a long, long time.. then because 'tis just the same for me, and also because I won't marry her at all.."

"You--" she began, wide eyed, lightly retreating to be able to look in his eyes.

She needed some moments to realize what was he implying, and as the exact meaning of his words sunk in, Amarie smiled brightly, exulting and hugging him fiercely.

"How did you manage to do it? I-I was afraid that her father wouldn't have agreed".

"Well.. it seems that Elphir and Aredhel are actually very much in love" he explained, still smiling. "She's even kind of nice towards him.. and she's apologized, too. It's strange to see her so.. polite"

Boromir couldn't suppress a chuckle at the thought, and tightened the embrace while kissing his Amarie again. "We're free now.."

Free. He was just hers now.

And she was awfully happy at the mere thought.

"I love you... Do you want me to bring there some wine? We should celebrate that victory".

"I most definitely second that. But.." Boromir grinned, standing up after another kiss. "I will get the wine. And I will be back in no time, just wait for me here. Or better rid yourself of some clothes, most unnecessary since the room is well warm, and wait for me in bed." he chuckled, his grin widening even more.

"As you wish" she grinned back, winking at him while he was exiting the room.

Once alone, Amarie stood up, unlacing her bodice and letting it fell on the floor.

All of her dresses soon were removed, and while walking barefooted to the wide bed, the girl extinguished all the candles in the room, thus the only light was that of the fire merrily crackling in the fireplace.

When Boromir returned, she was lying in bed, waiting for him with an enticing smile on her face.

Of course that was what the warrior was hoping for. The door was locked again, and the bottle was set on the nightstand along with the two silver goblets. Boromir then took a pace backwards, staring at her all the while, and unhurriedly slipped off the finely embroidered tunic, setting in on a chair. Undertunic, black leggings and heavy boots were just next, and he was slipping undercovers to gather her into his strong arms.

"I think I might like this concept of celebration.." Boromir said softly, handing her a goblet and then filling it with wine. "Very much."

"Oh but it's not a problem!" she grinned wickedly, gently nibbling at his chin. "We can celebrate like this everytime you want it...I think I like it, too..."

Then, taking the goblet he was handing her, the girl waited for him to fill his one, before to raise it to the ceiling, staring longingly at her beloved.

"To our future together".

"To us." Boromir smiled, leaning to kiss her gently on the lips before to take a swig from his goblet. Then he set it on the nightstand again, along with Amarie's, and settled down to embrace her tightly again.

"You won't mind to have Faramir as my best man at our wedding, will you?"

THE END