Chapter Four

It was Legolas' turn to speak about his home. As they walked, Legolas described the Woodland Realm in glowing terms of affection. Gimli's remarks about the Mirkwood had been anything but complimentary, and Boromir was a bit surprised. But to Legolas it was home, and he obviously loved it. Boromir noticed that Legolas spoke of his father, the only family he had left, in much the same way that Boromir spoke of Denethor. It gave Boromir the courage to speak about his own father a bit more freely than he had before.

"Can I ask you something personal?" Boromir said, quietly. He glanced quickly at the elf who nodded his assent. Boromir went on. "Do you ever wish that you had been born ordinary?"

"Ordinary?" Legolas looked at the man. "I don't know if I understand you." Boromir flushed, unaccountably, but went on.

"Do you ever wish you had been born the son of a carter or a farmer? Someone who would just live an ordinary life."

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "How did you know? There were times when I dreamed that I was the child of a lowly forester. Then I wouldn't have to sit through hours and days of council meetings. But there were times when I was proud and glad to be the son of the King as well."

Boromir nodded. "That's it, exactly. But then, I wonder if farmers and foresters demand perfection from their sons, as well."

"I expect all fathers want their sons to be more than they are." Legolas said.

"Stronger, faster, better. But, Legolas, did your father ever make you feel that you were enough, just the way that you were?"

Legolas thought for a moment. Memories of his father's disappointments in him came readily to mind, but he had to search for one of unconditional acceptance. Boromir took his silence for a denial.

"My father is proud of what I have accomplished," the man went on, "and of what I will accomplish. I wonder if he has ever been proud of me. I wonder if he will ever be proud of what I am doing now."

Legolas looked up sharply. "Boromir, what we do now is the most important thing that can be done. Your father must understand that. Had he been in council with us, he would have agreed to Gondor's part in it. You have his confidence, else why would he not come himself, or send another?"

"Faramir wanted to come." Boromir muttered.

"Your brother?" Legolas asked.

"Yes. Father would not let him. He said he would be swayed by the will of Wizards and Elves."

Legolas chose his words carefully. "Do you now feel that you were swayed?"

Boromir laughed bitterly. "Oh, yes. But not by Gandalf or Elrond. By the courage of Frodo. In that moment, Legolas, everything felt right." He sighed. Legolas reached over and took the man's hand, squeezed it.

"Then hold on to that moment, Boromir. That moment was truth, no matter what else you may feel now. That choice was the right one. Remember that you are not alone."

Boromir was touched and squeezed Legolas' hand back in gratitude. "Thank you, Legolas." He dropped the elf's hand and looked away. "I appreciate your advice. You do seem to have the knack of helping me set my mind back into the right paths."

Legolas smiled, and the light in his eyes lifted Boromir's heart. "You must miss your younger brother." The elf continued. "But I think your father made the right choice in sending you."

Boromir grunted. "You're very optimistic today."

Legolas shrugged. "Today is beautiful, I am with good companions, what more could I want."

Boromir thought about this for a moment. "Do you miss being with your own kind?" he asked.

"Sometimes," Legolas replied. "I miss the music most of all. Aragorn is not a bad singer, but the dwarf sounds like a bucket of rocks being dropped." They both laughed at that. "I haven't heard any songs from you, Boromir. Do the men of Gondor leave the music to the women?"

Boromir shifted the weight of the great shield he bore and smiled. "No, men do sing in Gondor, but lately it seems to be more dirges than happy tunes."

"I think we'll leave the dirges to the dwarf. Perhaps the sound of his voice will raise the dead." They both chuckled some more. "Go on, sing something for me. Lessen my homesickness." Legolas urged. "There must be something you know and it would help to pass the time. Even a child's lullaby will do."

"Very well, if you insist. I do recollect an epic ballad that may satisfy you."

Boromir began to sing softly in a voice deeper than Legolas expected. The ballad had a simple but martial tune. Soon the hobbits were clustered around him, listening intently as they walked. Boromir sang on , not knowing that ahead of him, Gandalf was grinning and humming along to himself.

"That was wonderful, Boromir," Pippin exclaimed, at the song's end. "Will you sing another?"

Boromir seemed both surprised and pleased at the hobbit's praise. He smiled awkwardly and looked at Legolas.

"Yes, by all means." Legolas said gaily. "You have a rich voice my friend, and it does one good to hear it."

Boromir felt a little foolish as he dredged through his memory for songs he knew, chose another and began.

At the end of the day, Boromir felt a little hoarse from the amount of singing he'd done. The hobbits had been enthraled with him. His sagas had been full of heroic deeds and glorious battles. Even now their heads were crammed with it. Boromir settled at the base of a large tree and stretched his long legs out to get comfortable. A slight rustling in the branches above him caught his attention. Crooking his neck he peered through the limbs until he caught sight of a booted foot. Smiling, he called up.

"Ho! Legolas!" He grinned. "What news?"

"The stars are wonderfully bright tonight," the elf replied. "Come up and see."

Boromir began laughing. "I haven't played in trees since I was a boy!"

"Hence your grim outlook." Legolas joked back. He swiftly descended and offered his hand to the man. "Come I dare you!"

""Then I must!" Boromir replied. He stood and let Legolas pull him up to the leafy bough. Again, he was amazed at the strength of the lithe elf.

"This way," Legolas said, leading his friend upwards. Boromir was nervous at the thinness of the limbs Legolas rested on. The elf seemed not to notice and urged the man to climb higher. With trepidation he followed. Reaching the top, he balanced himself precariously and looked up.

The night sky was ablaze with stars. Diamond sparks on the black velvet of the sky moved something within him. Boromir stared with admiration at them. The elf made a small sound of happiness, and Boromir turned to look at him. Legolas' face was full of rapture. Starlight glinted in his hair and eyes. Once again the elf's eyes seemed almost luminous. Boromir realized that he was holding his breath.

"I have heard," Legolas said softly, "that the sea is wondrous to look upon, and Valinor can break one's heart with it's beauty. But for me, there can never be anything to touch my soul like this."

Boromir felt privileged to share this moment with his friend. The naked joy on the elf's face against the backdrop of the night's splendor was a sight that would stay with him always.

His eyes bright in the starlight, Legolas turned to his companion. "Thank you, Boromir."

Boromir was so startled by this he nearly slipped. Legolas reached out to grab him, and the magic moment was broken. "For what?" Boromir asked, feeling foolish again. What would his father say if he injured himself falling out of a treetop? He started to laugh at himself.

Whatever Legolas had been about to say was interrupted by Aragorn's voice, calling in crisp Sindarin. Legolas called something back and shrugged. "Duty calls," he told the man simply, and began to descend through the branches.

Boromir followed, feeling as though something precious had been taken from him. Why had Aragorn called right then? Couldn't the Ranger, always so considerate of everyone's feelings, have waited just a few seconds longer? Irritated, he dropped heavily from the last branch. He could hear Legolas and Aragorn, speaking quietly. He thought he caught his name, but wasn't sure. He told himself that he was being irrational, but a small burst of laughter from Aragorn cut through him like a knife. All the lightheartedness he'd felt with Legolas disappeared in an instant. He arranged his blankets and lay down, seething with rage.

"You're not spending too much time with him, are you?" Aragorn asked, concerned. The Ranger was unaware of the effect his conversation was having on the man.

Legolas shrugged. "I don't think so. I am surprised at what we have in common. He is a good man facing difficult choices in his life. Thank you for suggesting I get to know him."

"Just be careful, Legolas."

"Of what?"

"Of getting in too deep." Aragorn said, cryptically. "He's a man, when all is said and done."

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "So are you. Should I be worried?"

Aragorn laughed at that. But he wouldn't explain why.

Legolas gathered his kit and moved to the tree Boromir was stretched beneath. He shook out his blanket, and spread it next to the man. In his present irrational mood, it made Boromir even angrier. He sat up.

"I don't need a nursemaid, Legolas!" he hissed. Legolas looked up at him, honestly surprised.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, bewilderment on his handsome face.

"I'm not going to do anything stupid. You don't have to keep an eye on me every second."

"I was going to go to sleep, actually. Gimli is on watch, so his snoring won't keep me awake."

"Oh" Boromir stammered, confused. "I just thought..."

"You thought what? That I have been spending these past days with you because Aragorn ordered me to?"

"No! Well, maybe." Boromir started, but Legolas, angry now, began to roll up his blanket.

"Never mind. If my presence offends you, I have other places to go." He stormed off and swung himself up a nearby tree. The branches rustled furiously for a moment, then all was still.

Boromir slumped down under his tree again and held his head in his hands. Pippin looked over at him but was whacked back down by Merry. Boromir felt alone, as he hadn't in days. Since Legolas had begun staying with him.