He was dying. He'd ignored the first two arrows and kept on fighting but
now the pain was too intense. He watched helplessly as Merry and Pippin
were taken away by the Uraks. He'd failed them. He failed them all. He
had betrayed Frodo who he'd sworn to protect. The ring had been
tempting him since he'd first laid eyes on it. He'd tried so hard to fight it
but it had simply become too much. The promises of the ring that he
could take it and save his city from the enemy. The faces of his family
and his people swam in front of him as it became more painful to breath.
His father who had placed so much faith in him, his perfect son stared at
him with contempt. He'd failed him. The city he loved so much would
fall to ruin and it was all his fault. His vision was beginning to blur as
the Urak who had fired the arrows that were killing him stood in front of
him, its bow drawn. It would be over soon. He would go to that Hall of
his ancestors with his failure on his head. Just as the Urak was about to
finish him for good a dark shape knocked it away. It was Aragorn! His
king heard his call for aid and had come to help him. Too bad he'd
arrived too late. He watched as the King and the Urak battled. It seemed
the beast was going to win when at last Aragon chopped its head off.
"They took the little ones," Boromir gasped as Aragorn knelt by his side.
It was too late for him, but perhaps the others could save Merry and
Pippin.
"Where is Frodo?" he asked next.
"I let Frodo go," Aragorn said.
"Then you did what I could not," Boromir said. He could not die with
this secret on his conscious. "I tried to take the ring from Frodo"
"The ring is beyond our grasp now"
"Forgive me," he begged Aragorn. "I did not see. I betrayed you all"
"No, Boromir," Aragorn said. "You fought bravely"
"The world of men will fall, Gondor will be destroyed."
"I do not know what strength lies in my blood," Aragorn said. "But I
swear to you I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail"
"Our people," Boromir gasped in wonder. He'd been angry but a day ago
at Aragorn's lack of faith in his own people, at his unwillingness to
stand up and take his place as the King. But now with this pledge, and
the determination he saw in the other man's eyes he knew that his city,
his people were in good hands. He could die in peace knowing that.
"Please," he gasped. Aragorn seemed to understand what he wanted and
lifted Boromir's sword so he could grasp it. He felt the smooth hilt in
his hand and clasped it to his chest.
"I would have followed you to the end," he pledged himself to Aragorn.
"My brother, my captain, my king!" And with those final words the light
faded from Boromir's eyes.
Tears blinded her eyes as Elena ran through the halls of the white tower.
He was dead. Boromir was dead. Her brother, her big brother, the man
who had been her protector since the day she was born was dead. A scout
had come to the tower bearing a message from Faramir. Boromir's horn
had been found on the river bank cloven in two. Denethor had recieved
the news very badly. Unwilling to let the man see her tears she had fled.
Her journey brought her out to the practice field. The same field where
Boromir had taught her to fight with the sword. That seemed so long
ago. Before darkness had filled thier land. Before their mother had died.
When she was still innocent.
"Oh Boromir," she whispered to the sky. "How am I to go on without
you?" She did not even know how her brother had died. Was it orcs, or
something more foul. Did he fight bravely to the end or was he
slaughtered mercilessy. An image of her brother's body lying slaughtered
alone in the woods filled her mind, and brought fresh tears to her eyes.
She had begged him not to go on this quest to Rivendell. Somehow she
had just know that something bad would happen. But Boromir's love of
his country would not allow him to heed her advice.
"My lady," a soft voice said to her. Elena lifted her head and saw Aleia,
her old nurse standing before her.
"He's dead, Aleia," Elena said through her tears. As though saying it
aloud would make it easier to accept. The white haired woman who had
cared for her since she was a baby gathered Elena in her arms. Aleia had
always been more of a mother to her than her real mother had. She found
comfort now in the woman's arms.
"He was a brave man," Aleia said. "He will be greatly mourned. But you
must put your tears away for the moment and go to the great hall.
Someone has come who you will want to see"
"Faramir?" Elena asked, desperately wanting to see her other brother,
needing to see him, nedding to know he was safe.
"Go and see," Aleia said. Elena gathered her skirts and hurried to the
white tower. She paused in front of a mirror to check her appearance. He
carefully adjusted her hair and smoothed her wrinkled skirts. There was
nothing to be done for the puffiness around her eyes. She had obviously
been crying, but she trusted that no one would hold that against her at
this time. She took a deep breath and walked into the throne room,
staying to the side the way a proper lady of the house would. Her heart
fell then rose again when she saw that it was not Faramir, but
Mithrandir. She was happy to see the wizard, though he had changed
dramatically. His scraggly gray hair, and beard were gone as well as his
gray robes and pointed hat. His hair and robes were now pure white.
There was a small male child with him with unusually large feet.
"Hail Denethor, son of Ecthelion, lord and steward of Gondor" the
wizard greeted the steward. "I have come with tidings in this dark hour,
and with counsel." Denethor looked up at the wizard with rage in his
eyes.
"Perhaps you come to explain this." Denethor said holding up the cloven
horn. "Perhaps you come to tell me why my son is dead." Elena watched
Mithrandir's reaction. He seemed surprised, though not by the fact that
Boromir was dead.
"Boromir died to save us, my kinsmen and me," the child said coming
forward. With a start Elena realized he was not a child at all, but a very
small man. Now that she looked at him closely she saw that though his
face was youthful, his eyes were those that had seen great danger. Her
eyes widened when she saw the blue ribbon tied around his shoulder.
Her ribbon. The one she had given to Boromir.
"He fell defending us from many foes," the young man said kneeling
before the throne. "I offer you my service, such as it is. In payment of
this debt." Elena was fasicinated by the little man. She sensed little
physical strength in him, but she could tell he possessed great courage.
Denethor regarded the little man with scorn.
"This is my first command to you," he said harshly. "How did you escape
and my son did not so mighty a man as he was?" The little man stared
hard at the steward.
"The mightiest man may be slain by one arrow. Boromir was pierced by
many." Elena felt her heart clench painfully. Horrible images filled her
mind of her brother's body laying somewhere pierced by many arrows
and surrounded by the corpses of his enemies. She longed now to speak
to the little man, she needed to know every detail of her brother's death
no matter how horrid. Mithrandir poked the little man with his staff and
forced him to his feet.
"My lord," he addressed Denethor. "there will be a time to grieve for
Boromir but it is not now. War is coming. The enemy is on your
doorstep. As steward, you are charged with the defense of this city.
Where are Gondor's armies?" Elena knew where they were. Denethor
had sent them off to defend Osgilliath and the surrounding areas. Sent
them to their deaths if the reports from Faramir were anything to go by.
So many reports of the enemy gathering strength that Denethor had
ignored, Elena had read. Haradrim gathering in the East, ships of
Corsairs from the sea, more and more orcs leaving Mordor everyday.
The Westfold burnt, Theoden's people fleeing to Helm's Deep to escape
Saruman's forces. And now Mithrandir was here confirming everything
she had been dreading.
"You still have friends," Mithrandir said. "You are not alone in this
fight. Send word to Theoden of Rohan. Light the beacons." Elena looked
hard at Mithrandir. Could the Rohirrim help them. Would they help
them? Elena turned to stare at Denethor, hoping and praying that he
would listen to Mithrandir and send for help. Denethor glared at the
wizard.
"You think you are wise, Mithrandir. Yet for all your subtleties, you
have not wisdom. Do you think the eyes of the White Tower are blind? I
have seen more than you know. With your left hand you would use me
as a shield against Mordor. And with your right you'd seek to supplant
me. I know who rides with Theoden of Rohan. Word has reached my
ears of this Aragorn, son of Arathorn." Elena's heart leaped into her
throat. Arathorn's son rode with Theoden? The king was at last returning
to Minas Tirith? She looked to Mithrandir for the truth in the steward's
words and found it in the wizard's eyes. She would not allow herself to
show emotion but inside her heart was bursting with happiness. At last
the king had come back. At last all her wishes were coming true.
"I tell you now," Denethor snapped. "I will not bow to this Ranger from
the North, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship." Elena stared at
the steward in shock. How could he be saying this? It was true that the
Stewards had ruled Gondor for many years but it was always meant for
the steward to step aside when the king returned. Had Denethor's pride
led him to refuse to step down. Was the man actually that hungry for
power? Looking at him now, and seeing only the man who had beaten
and raped her when she was only fifteen years old, she knew that he was.
"Authority is not given to you to deny the return of the king, steward,"
Mithrandir said firmly. Denethor stood up and looked down on
Mithrandir in fury.
"The rule of Gondor is mine!" he snapped. "And no others." In disgust
Mithrandir turned and strode quickly from the throne room, followed by
the little man. Elena stared at Denethor in horror and disgust as he
cradled the horn in his hands. She shook her head and hurried from the
room. She hurried outside to the courtyard where Mithrandir stood at the
edge of the tower staring toward Mordor. Elena felt her heart freeze
every time she looked toward it. Faramir was out there. Defending
Osgilliath, the last barrier between Mordor and Minas Tirith. "Please let
him be safe," she prayed silently. If Osgilliath fell, she shivered. She
didn't want to think about it.
"Mithrandir," she called. The wizard turned at her call and greeted her
with a weak smile.
"My dear Elena," he greeted her taking her hands. "I am sorry to come to
you under these circumstances. And I am sorry for the loss of your
brother." Elena felt her resolve break at the mention of Boromir.
"How did it happen Mithrandir?" she asked. Mithrandir stared at her for
a moment as though deciding how much he should tell her.
"Mithrandir," she begged. "Please tell me everything." Mithrandir
nodded. He then proceeded to tell her of his discovery that the One Ring
had been in the shire all these years, he told her of a halfling named
Frodo Baggins who had left the shire accompanied by his gardener and
his cousins Merry and Pippin, who she learned was the halfling with
him. She stared at the halfling so full of questions for him, but holding
her tongue until Mithrandir had finished. He told her of Saruman's
betrayal, and the council of Elrond where the fellowship of nine
companions, the four hobbits, an elf, a dwarf, and two men, Aragorn son
of Arathorn, and Boromir was formed. "We set out from Rivendell,
danger at our heels every step of the way." He proceeded to tell her of a
treacherous journey over Charadhas and through Moria where he battled
a balrog of Morgoth.
"After I fell, I know only that I was sent back to complete my task. I
know little of the details of how your brother was slain. But I'm sure
Pippin here will tell you when the time is right." She glanced at the
halfling and gave him a weak smile. Mithrandir continued his story of
his rejoining Aragorn, Legolas the elf, and Gimli the dwarf in Fangorn
Forest and their journey to Rohan. He told of the freeing of Theoden
from Saruman's evil influence and the battle of Helm's Deep. He then
told of the destruction of Isengard and the vision Pippin saw in the
palantir.
"So the reports are true?" Elena said feeling suddenly sick to her
stomach.
"I am afraid they are," Mithrandir said gravely. "And now I fear your
father will use even his grief as an excuse to cower"
"He's been cowering for years," Elena said in disgust. "All the reports he
has ignored, refused to do anything about. He sends men out to fight
while he sits safely at home. His pride has turned to madness. If
Osgilliath falls there will be nothing to stop Sauron's army from
marching on Minas Tirith. What are we going to do Mithrandir?" The
wizard stared down at her and touched her shoulder lightly.
"Everything that we can, my dear." Elena sighed. She was glad that
Mithrandir was here. As long as they had the White Wizard there was
still hope. She looked down at the halfling who was staring up at her
with wide eyes.
"Mithrandir," she said slowly. "I would like to speak to your friend
alone, if you would not mind." Mithrandir nodded to her.
"Yes," he said. "I suspect you have much you want to ask him. I must go
and see the state of Gondor's defenses." Elena waited till Mithrandir had
gone before she turned to the halfling.
"Well, I fear we have not properly been introduced," she said to him. "I
am Elena, lady of Gondor"
"Yes, my lady," the halfling said bowing to her. "Peregrin Took of the
shire, at your service. Boromir spoke of you often"
"Really?" Elena asked. "What did he say about me"
"Well he said that you were beautiful. And he was quite correct if you
don't mind my saying so." Elena laughed lightly. She liked the little man.
"He said that you were a very lively child, but the death of your mother
made you very sad. But he said that he could still see the child you use to
be if he looked hard enough." Tears came to her eyes as she listened to
the halfling. She sat down on a bench and folded her hands in her lap.
"He taught Merry and I, Merry is my cousin, he taught us how to fight.
He said he taught you too"
"Yes," she said wiping tears from her eyes. "that seems like such a long
time ago"
"He gave me this," Pippin said pulling the ribbon from his shoulder. "He
said you gave it to him." Elena took the ribbon from him. It looked
different from the last time she had seen it, as though it had had a very
hard journey.
"I gave this to him the night before he left Minas Tirith. He told me that
our father thought that the ring had been found. That he wanted Boromir
to bring it back to Gondor. I had this horrible feeling of dread. I begged
him not to go, but Boromir's sense of duty to Denethor would not allow
him to stay. I gave him my ribbon, to remind him what he was fighting
for. To give him hope"
"He gave it to me, after we left Lothlorien. Just before Frodo left us, just
before he...died. I think he was trying to give me hope. For what it's
worth my lady, it has. Even at the darkest times, when it seemed that
there was no hope at all, I looked at your ribbon and I just couldn't give
up."
"Pippin," Elena said slowly. "How was Boromir killed"
"We were outnumbered by Urak Hai. Frodo had decided that for the
good of all of us, he had to leave. The ring, you see, was calling to
Boromir. Tormenting him. It would have taken all of us eventually.
Merry and I tried to lead the Uraks away from Frodo, to give him a
chance to get away. There were so many of them. They were closing in
on us. Then out of nowhere Boromir came and he defended us. There
were so many of them but he fought them, singlehandedly. When the
first arrow pierced him, he still kept fighting. It took three arrows to
bring him down. The Uraks carried Merry and I away before Boromir
breathed his last breath." Elena heaved a huge sigh as she listened to
Pippin. Though she had needed to know, the halflings words had done
nothing to quell the sense of dread she felt. It hurt her heart to think of
Boromir tormented by the ring's call. It was a small comfort to know
that in the end he'd been able to resist the ring and had fought bravely,
defending those smaller than him.
"Are you all right my lady?" Pippin asked her. Elena wiped a hand across
her eyes.
"Yes, I am fine. Thank you for telling me this. Now if you will excuse
me, I'd like to be alone"
"Of course, my lady," Pippin said. "I should go and find Gandalf." He got
up and scampered off. Elena stared at the muddy tattered ribbon in her
hand for a long time before collapsing in tears.