Chapter Four: The King of the Wood

"Run!" Boromir bellowed. Merry and Pippin ignored that as they hurled stones at the Uruk Hai. Boromir heard a bow bend and turned as an arrow thudded into his flesh. Pain washed over him and he could hear Merry and Pippin crying out in dismay. Boromir gathered himself and lunged at the orcs again. He had killed several more when the second arrow pierced him. Again pain threatened to overwhelm him. Boromir stumbled back, then threw himself forward with the courage of a dying soldier. Pain didn't matter, he wouldn't let it matter. The third arrow ended his onslaught. Merry and Pippin lunged to his aid as he slumped but the orcs lifted them and carried them away. No. The orc archer stood over him, bow raised to deliver the final blow. Aragorn arrived and attacked the archer. He thrust it away from Boromir, sword flashing. The archer managed to knock him down and Aragorn stabbed it with his dagger, rolling clear. He grasped his sword again and cut the thing's head off. He had killed the archer but Boromir was beyond aid.

As Aragorn knelt over his dying friend Boromir whispered, "I would have followed you to death my brother, my king." With those words, Boromir, son of Denethor and Captain-General of Gondor breathed his last.

The three watched the funeral boat bear Boromir away, then turned to the task of freeing Merry and Pippin. None of them saw a golden lion in the trees, taking in the scene.

The golden lion's teeth bit into the elvan boat, drawing it to shore. The man inside appeared to be sleeping but for the lack of breath and reaction to the boat's change of direction. Ah, my friend. If only I could have fought beside you. Lance pulled the boat up on shore and retrieved Megilenelen. Please Aslan, bring him back to me.

"My son, this is what you would ask of me? You do not wish your freedom from the Dark Ones spell?" Another lion, more golden then Lance had appeared. Lance looked down at Boromir.

He is my friend Your Majesty. I want to be human again but… Lance's head came up If I must remain as I am then so be it. Please, give him another chance. Lance bowed his head, waiting for Aslan's reply.

Aslan chuckled. "Well said, my son." The lion strode to Lance's side. He gazed at Boromir for a moment. "Be whole, Boromir son of Denethor." Boromir's chest began to rise and fall again as the words left Aslan's mouth. Aslan turned to Lance. "I release you from the Dark magic that bound you to this form."

Lance's eyes closed and his form glittered a moment. When the glow faded, Aslan looked into a young man's blue eyes. A hint of golden lurked but Lance appeared to be no more than a young warrior.

"It is well. Bear Megilenelen well, my son." Behind them, Boromir stirred. "I will send the unicorns so that you may catch up with your hobbit friends." Aslan turned and saw that Boromir's sword was broken. "For Boromir, I will give you Estelnarnia. Ride for Rohan and find your friends."

Boromir struggled for consciousness. Merry, Pippin. Dimly he heard "…find your friends" and then, somehow, Boromir knew the speaker was gone. A hand rested on his shoulder. "Boromir."

Boromir's eyes opened and he looked up at a stranger. "Who?" The other was as tall as he was, clean shaven and had dark brown hair. The eyes were blue, though Boromir thought he saw a flash of gold deep within them. The other man smiled and extended a hand to help Boromir up.

"It's me, Lance."

Boromir's jaw dropped open as he finally recognized the other's voice. "But you fell."

Lance nodded and he slid a sword from its sheath. "Megilenelen was there, driven into the rock. As soon as I touched it, I and the sword were safe. But it took me some time to pick up your trail." Lance's eyes flicked down. "If only I had found the Fellowship sooner."

At those words Boromir remembered and his skin began to crawl. "How can this be? I died, defending the hobbits."

"Yes."

Boromir's head snapped up. "Are we dead?" he asked in a whisper.

"No. The King of the Wood brought you back."

"No being has such power."

"One does. He created the world after all. He calls back who he wills, Boromir." Lance turned to see Boromir's gaze drop.

"I do not deserve it," Boromir whispered. "I betrayed the Fellowship and tried to take the Ring from Frodo."

"And then you died defending Merry and Pippin. If you think that I will abandon you because the Ring was able to overpower you, you are wrong." Boromir looked into Lance's eyes. "If the Ring weren't so evil, there would not have been any need for a quest." Lance considered. "I know it does not seem like it now, my friend, but in the end this may have been for the best. Now, though, our mounts arrive."

Boromir stared at the two horses trotting up. One had a coat the color of fire; the other was black as midnight. "Where did they come from?"

Lance offered Boromir Estelnarnia. "Aslan, King of the Wood, sends them. We've some hobbits to rescue."