Chapter 6

Boromir Returns

"Colleen? Are you in there?" Colleen looked back at the door to her room. It had been days since she had left her room. Every night the same voice came back, whispering the same things in her ear.

'He will pass, princess of Eleni…leaving you alone to walk the earth, fading as you go on…'

And every night she fought with it. Even if she were to walk alone, that would be fine because she would have the memories of Boromir's love with her.

Slowly her brother walked in, taking in everything and then letting his eyes fall on his sister, who sat on the balcony off of her room. He made his way to her and leaned on the rail of the balcony.

"When did you come back?" Colleen forced a smile on her face and looked up at her brother.

"Very early this morning. I wanted to come see you sooner, but I was too tired and so I slept." He grinned back at her and looked over the railing. "How have you been since I left, dear sister?"

"Alright...Boromir has been taking very good care of me."

"So I have heard." Edan smirked at his sister.

"From whom?" Colleen quirked an eyebrow and stared at him with a smile.

"When I was coming into Gondor all the towns people were talking about you two. How you are always holding hands when you walk around and how they can see the love for one another pour through your eyes." Edan turned and leaned his back against the railing to see his sister's face. Colleen felt heat rush to her cheeks and smiled brightly, thinking about Boromir and herself. Edan's smirk turned into a soft smile as he watched his sister ponder on Boromir.

"So you do love him…I am happy for you." He spoke softly, feeling happy his sister had truely found someone that would love her like he had. His thoughts drifted to his heart, Aurora. He remembered their first meeting, their first conversation, their first embrace…first kiss. He also remembered how in love he was with her and how in love he still was with her. Even after being married for 3 years..he was still as in love with her as he had been on the first day they had met. He had looked as Colleen does now; like a love sick puppy.

"Do not take true love lightly, dear sister. Grasp it and hold on for dear life for you may never find it again." He spoke softly again as Colleen nodded and smiled. It became quiet and for many minutes as neither said anything. When Edan finally spoke his voice was soft and sad.

"I have also heard that you have not come out of your room since Boromir left for Ithilien..." Colleen's smile fell slowly from her face as she looked down at her hands in her lap. She said nothing and waited for her brother to speak again.

"You cannot hide in here forever, Colleen. It is not good for you." Edan spoke louder, worry seeping into his voice.

"I am not hiding, Edan...So you should not worry." She whispered softly and looked back towards Mordor. She could feel the great evil radiating from the tower that sat beyond the hills of ash. She could see the eye in the far distance that had awoken and she knew that there was soon to be a greater war then the one at Ithilien…and she knew Boromir would be drawn into it.

"Then what is it? Is it that you fear for Boromir?" Edan kneeled down next to his distraught sister and took her hand in his. When Colleen didn't answer he took it as a yes and gently squeezed her hands. "Boromir is a great warrior and I know that he would not let himself fall. Especially, knowing that you and your love for him are here waiting for him to return."

"I do worry for Boromir…but not because of the war he is in now…The eye has awoken...and I can feel it is searching for the ring, Edan..." Colleen turned and looked back at Edan. He swallowed a large lump in his throat, staring intently at the young woman that spoke softly of the terrible evil that had taken their parents away many years ago. "Boromir will be taken off into the war with Mordor...and I fear that he will not survive...I fear walking this earth, facing the ages of it without him by my side…"

"Colleen..." Edan squeezed her hand gently, trying to think of what to say. "Boromir will not pass. This I promise. He loves you too greatly to allow that to happen."

"Anything can happen, Edan. Even when you do not plan it." Colleen sighed and looked at her's and her brother's hands.

"Yes, except when a man like Boromir loves a woman, like you, so much he will not allow for anything to take him away. Not even death…Love is a great strength."

Colleen shook her head feeling tears spill from her eyes. She looked over at her brother, struggling to voice what her mind was telling her to voice.

"A voice has spoken to me these many nights he has been gone…she says that she has seen him die…she says she has seen him leaving me to fade like the elves..." She looked down at the ground of the balcony and swallowed the lump in her throat. "I fear she is telling only truth and no lies."

They both fell silent.

"What will you do then?" Edan asked cautiously, fearing her answer. Colleen looked up and towards Mordor.

"I do not know…" It became silent between the siblings for many moments. "I love him so much…I would give up anything just to spend one lifetime with him…"

Edan nodded, not excatly liking her answer. The siblings sat together for the rest of the day. Neither one spoke for they didn't need to. Each one knew what the other would say.

By sunset the two had said their good nights and went their separate ways. Colleen sat on her bed, quietly contemplating. She flicked her wrist and a feather appeared between her pointer and middle finger. It was soft like silk and pure white like the stone that built Gondor. She twirled it in her fingers and bit her bottom lip, thinking of her kingdom adn her people. She moved herself so she was leaning back against the headboard of the bed and continued to think as she twirled the feather.

"I would give up anything for you Boromir...vel meus porro vita..." She flicked her wrist and the feather disappeared from her fingers. She slowly stood and walked to the railing of the balcony. Her eyes carefully scanned the city of Gondor below and then her eyes fixed on Mordor.

"Vos mos non ducere sertum abs ipse…" Colleen turned away from Mordor and looked back down on the city. "I will not let you…"

"Will not let me what?" A voice came from behind Colleen, causing her to freeze. She slowly turned around to see the smiling face of the man she loved.

"Boromir..." She raced to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I missed you so much."

"And I you, my love." Boromir wrapped his arms around her tightly, remembering the feel of her in his arms. "Oh how I have missed you…"

"Come and sit. Tell me of the battle." Colleen took his hand and pulled him to her bed where they sat against the headboard. Colleen leaned her head on his shoulder, listening to him speak of the battle. Soon, she found herself falling asleep and struggled to stay awake.

"You should sleep..." Colleen shook her head, declining Boromir's suggestion.

"I do not want to. I want to spend more time with you now...For I fear this is but a sweet dream that I shall soon awaken from and find that you are still gone in Ithilien." Boromir laid his head gently on hers and pulled her tighter to him.

"Fear not, for when you will awake I shall be right here; body and soul." Boromir gently put her under the bed spread and kissed her forehead.

"I love you Boromir..." Colleen whispered as she snuggled herself into the warmth of the bed.

"I love you too, Colleen." He then left to his own room to find sleep from the sleepless nights he found in Ithilien. His dreams were filled of tomorrow and what he was planning to do with his hearts keeper.

vel meus porro vita - even my long life...

Vos mos non ducere sertum abs ipse - You will not take him from me...