Tears slip down her fair cheeks in crsytaline streams. "Lord Elrond called on Faramir, not you. I don't understand why you have to go."
Her pain stings his heart, burning and aching. Were it up to him, he'd cradle her lithe body in his strong arms and never let her go. In another life, he would already have wed her, had children. A ghost of a smile crosses his face but it's fleeting. His beloved's body trembles with each sobbing breath she takes. That life is nothing more than a far off dream land. He places his calloused palms on her smooth face and wipes away her tears. "You know my father. If he wishes me to go, then I must. Nothing will change his mind."
She inhales deeply and leans into his hand, the light pressure bringing slight comfort to them both. "What if you don't come back?" Her eyes fall as a fresh round of tears threatens to spill over her puffy lids. Her voice cracks and her words pierce his heart with the force of a thousand arrows, "I need you Boromir."
The solider raises his eyes to the moon outside the open window. It's pale light streams in, swathing them in its cool silvery glow. His sad eyes fall to her as he places a hand under her chin. "Taelin," he breathes. He touches his forehead to hers, "I have the opportunity of a lifetime, to make this world a safer and better place. One where our children can grow and live long, full lives without fear of Mordor knocking on their doors."
"Our children?" She smiles and so does he.
"Yes. Our children." He scoops her into his arms and carries her to the bed where he holds her firmly agaisnt him. "I do not wish to leave you. I'd give up everything to be with you right now. You must know this."
Taelin wraps her hand around his bicep as she lays against his chest. Feeling his heart beat so strongly beneath his tunic, she smiles. "I do." His fingers dance through her hair because he knows it's one of her greatest comforts. Wet circles dampen his shirt from where she lies and again he feels his own heart breaking. "You know I must be going. It's nearly dawn."
"Please," she whispers, begging. "Just a little longer."
Boromir kisses her forehead and breathes in deeply. He doesn't want to forget the sweet lavender smell of her skin. "I will come back to you Taelin. I swear it." His grip loosens as he moves out from under her. He fastens his sword around his waist and opens the door to her small hut. Picking up his shield, he looks upon her once more. "You've always looked so beautiful in the moonlight."
Taelin runs across the room and leaps into his arm. Burying her face in his shoulder, she cries. "I love you."
A tear slips down his cheek and into the red hairs of his beard, "And I you. I swear to you my love, upon my return we will make our love known and all of Gondor will celebrate our life together. I will make you my wife. I will give you children. I will come back." Placing one last kiss against her soft lips, he crosses through the door.
She watches him mount his white mare though everything inside her is screaming to run after him, to make him stay. He pulls the reins and glances at her one last time before digging his heels into the horse's sides. She waits until the clatter of hooves against cobblestone can no longer be heard and he is merely a speck in the distance before returning inside. The door shuts with a faint thud as she leans her back against the sturdy wood. Her hands lay flat against her belly, where the life they made together is just barely starting to grow. "Please come back to us."