Amongst silent trees promising to hold his deepest secrets
With the setting sun producing long shadows
Aragorn remained wishing against all
that he could turn back time..
Bits of chestnut-colored earth were encrusted in the blood-soaked yellow mane of hair. Newly fallen supple leaves every color of autumn blanketed his frame like a makeshift shroud. Only tiny sections of the intricately gold-trimmed burgundy cape to remained visible. The regal color served as a reminder to Aragorn, although none was needed, that this was no ordinary warrior. No ordinary man. He was a treasured son of Gondor.
Though the body was lifeless and void of all warmth it didn't matter.
Never before such a beautiful, wild, golden thing had he seen.
Strong
Noble
Honorable
No longer willing to conceal his love, Aragorn allowed the tears which were pooling and stinging his sadden eyes to flow freely. Lying his full weight upon the slain form he cradled his brow against Boromir's motionless face. Aragorn's strong, weathered fingers weaved through the leaves covering Boromir's body, creating a place to rest his hand upon his chest.
With all the inner-strength he could muster Aragorn held him steadfast.. attempting to bring their bodies as close together as possible. If he could have, if it were physically possible, the Ranger would have pulled Boromir into the very depths of his soul.
Distraught
Heart-broken
Trembling
Aragorn's voice quavered as he spoke just above a whisper.
"You still possess a magnificence even now and death's pale touch has yet to affect you*. Your rose-colored cheeks and unforgettable green eyes still emit a love for life. I witness nothing but beauty in you at this moment. Not death's vile corruption of flesh. No memories of you on less-than-stellar days. All I see and all I ever will recall is the glorious splendor of what you once were.
I shall deny my mind's compulsion to permanently etch a last memory of you covered in blood and screaming in pain. No. That I will not allow. My memories of you shall not be tainted with such an atrocity. Regretfully it is only now that you have departed that I find the courage to tell you how I feel.
I wish I would have told you how much you meant to me. How every day I spent by your side I did so while watching your every move. Every day my admiration for you grew and how on the days we were apart that you never really left me. How easily thoughts of you consumed me. I daydreamed about us, even though you and I could never be.
Of two hearts
Two minds
Our bodies as one
Worshiping you in silence was torture, but it was something I was willing to do. I would rather suffer miserably daring to say not a word for fear you might reject me. Or, if not, and my advances were welcomed, I feared the unrighteous indignity you would endure from your disapproving and cruel father.
Not divulging my true feelings was like denying a starving man the very substance needed for survival. Instead I watched with mute admiration, suckling upon your strength, humor and beauty. I fed upon every precious moment for years until I was assured I wanted nobody other than you.
Boromir..
With all devoted passion a man can possess I say to you truly.. I love you. And no matter what the future winds may bring my way, my heart shall remain forever yours. Certainly you were all that I could have ever needed in this world.
I should have told you.
You deserved to know.
I should have told you.
And with my silence you died alone.
Be at peace my love, for I shall never be.."
* 'and death's pale touch has yet to affect you'- inspired by William Shakespeare-Romeo & Juliet-Act V, Scene 3 'and death's pale flag is not advanced there'.