When the evening was over Amade retired to Lord Bain's rooms and Gwern joined them.

"King Aragorn's coronation will take place in twenty days' time. I would suggest sending the army home and returning again for the coronation with a smaller escort," said Gwern.

"Perhaps your highness should remain a guest in Gondor, and myself and Marshal Gwern could make the journey to the Northmark and back," Bain suggested.

Gwern looked about to object but caught himself. Amade knew why Bain wanted her to remain.

"No," she said evenly, "I will journey with you." She stood. "Make the preparations necessary," she asked Bain and he inclined his head. "I will retire now."

Gwern stood and walked with her.

"Gwern," Amade started, as they walked along the dark corridor, "are you thinking of retiring from your post?" she asked as directly as she could, trying not to let her fear show.

He stopped and turned to her. She struggled to hold his gaze.

"In a sense. I have been thinking of it," he said softly, "I must admit."

"I see," Amade said, shocked by his response. "And what if I should think of retiring from mine?" she asked flippantly.

"It is not the same," he murmured.

"You mean that I don't have a choice."

"You are bound by blood, my Queen," he answered.

"Whereas you are bound by nothing," she said bitterly.

He opened the door to her chambers and ushered her in. Amade was struggling to keep her head.

"You are wrong," he said and looked as if he wanted to say more.

She didn't know what to say or do. She felt the earlier confusion rising again in her chest.

"What are your plans regarding the future king?" Gwern asked in a tight voice.

"What?" she cried, turning towards him.

"Have you chosen whom you will marry?" he asked again. "The king of Rohan?"

Amade shook her head. "Would you have me annex the Northmark to Rohan? Perhaps I should, and let him sort out the outcry that will follow."

"The Dol Amroth Princes?"

"I don't want any of them. They are strangers."

"You'd get to know them in time."

"I said, no!"

"Don't be stubborn, Amade. You cannot choose just to please yourself."

"Why shouldn't I please myself?" she cried. "Am I not the Queen? If my people wanted a sacrifice, they should have killed a goat!"

He was quiet for a while. She realized that he was struggling not to laugh, and it took the wind out of her anger.

"And what would you do to please yourself?" he asked softly.

"You claim to know all else about me," she said defiantly. "Do you not know?"

He stepped towards her. She went on.

"You, who punish me by hinting that you wish to retire, to start a family?"

"I do want a family," he said softly. He was right in front of her now. He reached out both hands and wiped her wet cheeks. Amade had not realized she was crying. "I want a wife to hold, to come home to, to love." Amade watched him, her eyes wide. Still cupping her face, he lowered his mouth to hers, but stopped just before touching her. The bloody cheek the man had, she thought and flushed once again with anger.

And she rose the rest of the way and met his mouth with hers.

His kiss was slow, and thorough. She opened her mouth to him, and he pulled her close. She was so near that she could feel his heat, his heart beat, and the lines of his body.

"Does this please you, my Queen," he asked hoarsely in between slow, drugging kisses.

Her cheeks were red and her lips swollen. "Who knew that scolding mouth of yours could please so well," she said, and a chuckle rumbled in his chest.

"It can do better," he whispered against the skin below her neck.

"What will Lord Bain say?" Amade asked.

"About my pleasing mouth?"

She laughed and pulled out of his arms.

"About the Northmark's future King."

"I have taken the liberty of speaking to him," Gwern said, watching her closely. "Or rather, he has spoken of it to me. It will not come as a surprise."

"You've spoken to him? Yet he's been urging me to find a husband in Gondor!"

Gwern smiled. "He wanted to speed matters along. Help you to reach certain conclusions."

"Underhanded to the last," she muttered. "What else have you already planned and discussed with Lord Bain?"

Gwern pulled her back and kissed her.

"You think if you kiss me I'm going to forget all about how you always get your way?"

"I was hoping kissing would remind you. My silly girl," he laughed, his eyes lighting up.

"Foolish man, you dare to call your Queen a silly girl!"

"She's always taken it well."

- The End -

Author's note:

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.

Always love to hear your comments! :)