Paths of Peril -- A Dynasty Broken Book II

By Adara

At long last, Boromir reaches Imladris and Elrond treats him to some Elvish healing. I swear that this is Boromir's last mishap (unless you can call his looming death a mishap). I took a snippet of dialogue from the FOTR movie. It fit so perfectly into Aragorn's discussion of Minas Tirith.

The Last Homely House

Boromir could swear he smelled smoke. And was that faint sound in the distance music? Surely a burning forest either surrounded him, or he was dead. The Man of Gondor jerked fully awake. He was lying in an enormous bed centered within an airy room with lofty ceilings. A shaft of sunlight through an uncovered window momentarily blinded him, and he squeezed his eyes shut. A pleasant chuckle to his right let him know he was not alone.

"I am glad to see you finally awake. You have slept the better part of two days." Boromir turned his head and slowly opened one eye. When his vision adjusted to the brightness, he saw an old Man garbed in a drab gray robe belted at the waist. He was puffing on a long pipe. Recognition of his visitor came slowly. When he spoke, Boromir's voice was only slightly better than a croak.

"Mithrandir. We in Gondor have not seen you for many a year. I suppose I should say I am pleased to see you." The old wizard chuckled again at Boromir's rather dry tone.

"The older you become, the more you sound exactly like your father, the Lord Denethor. Who, by the way, I saw recently during my brief stay at Minas Tirith."

"You saw Father? How fares he? And my brother… did you also see Faramir?"

Mithrandir drew deeply on his pipe before offering a reply. "Aye, and aye again. Your brother gave me a letter to deliver to you, but for the life of me I cannot remember where I left it." Seeing Boromir's expression of dismay, the wizard hastily added, "It is with my belongings. Never fear, I shall find it. As to your father's wellbeing… I believe we should leave that subject for another time. Right now I wish to know how you are." Mithrandir rose from his chair by a window and moved to stand beside Boromir's bed. The Man was frowning, for the wizard's words had alerted him to possible trouble at home. He started to ask a question, but was interrupted by a deep, but lyrical, voice.

"Lord Boromir, you look much better this morn. I hope you have an appetite, for I have ordered breakfast to be served within the hour." Without waiting for an answer, the newcomer moved to the bed and grasped hold of the Man's wrist. Boromir reacted to the unexpected contact by yanking his arm free and reaching for a dagger that was not at its customary place at his waist. The Elf's look of amusement and the wizard's laughter made him soon realize that the Elf only meant to examine his pulse. Boromir shrugged his shoulders and extended his arm. "At least the fall didn't damage your reflexes," the tall being said dryly.

"Allow me to introduce you to Elrond Peredhil, Lord of Imladris." Mithrandir's eyes twinkled merrily beneath his bushy brows. Boromir looked from the wizard to the Elf and back again.

"My apologies, Lord Elrond. I have not been myself of late. I am unused to being injured so often, and so badly, in so short a time. I assure you that the Steward of Gondor did not rear his children to be so ungracious. I must apologize."

Elrond made a dismissive gesture with the hand that was not holding the Man's wrist. "Your pulse is steady and much stronger than it was when my son and his friends brought you home. Haldir says you are unused to Elves and their ways, and have little tolerance for either. If your stay at Lothlorien was unsatisfactory, then perhaps we can be more accommodating."

Boromir watched the Elf's face closely for signs that he knew about Eledwhen and the verbal fights between himself and her grandparents. If Elrond was aware of what took place in the Golden Wood, he gave no indication. Finally satisfied with the Man's vital signs, Elrond pulled back the covers and began examining the broken limb. "You were very fortunate, Lord Boromir. As painful as this must have been for you, it is not a serious break and should mend quickly. Haldir did an excellent job of setting the leg and I deem that it shall heal perfectly straight. Perhaps you might want to thank him?"

Although Elrond's words were formal, there was just the barest hint of a smile lurking behind his dark eyes. Boromir sighed. Haldir had certainly told the Lord of Imladris about their verbal fights. "In truth, I am grateful for Haldir's help and fear my bad mood has not allowed me to show it. I would welcome the chance to speak with Haldir as soon as possible."

Elrond glanced toward the room's arched opening. The Elf of Lorien swept aside the soft fabric covering the door, as though bidden to do so by an unspoken command. He bowed formally from the waist before moving gracefully to the bed. "Although you apologized in Caras Galadon for your previous rudeness, I accept this apology as well. I hope some day to observe you in good humor."

Boromir laughed. "If you wish to see me when I am more myself, then perhaps you would like to accompany me on my journey home. The Golden Wood is most certainly on the way and, too, I have reason to stop there, as you well know." Elrond and Mithrandir looked curiously at the Man and Elf. Although both smiled pleasantly, neither offered to enlighten their host with an explanation. Haldir was the first to break the silence.

"I am afraid I must return immediately to my homeland and will, therefore, be unable to look after you. I pray that the fates are much kinder to you on the return journey and that you have no more mishaps. Perhaps you would like for me to take a written message? I believe there is someone there who would be interested in knowing whether you managed not to get yourself killed." Haldir's smile was almost, but not quite, a smirk. Boromir's eyes narrowed, but he bit back the scathing retort that came to mind.

"That is most kind of you. I shall write as soon as may be." Haldir bowed formally to Lord Elrond, then nodded his head respectfully toward the wizard before exiting the room. Boromir could tell that those left were about to burst from curiosity, but he was not prepared to discuss his private affairs with strangers. "I greatly feel the need for sleep. Perhaps you will be so kind, Lord Elrond, to see that I receive writing materials?"

Elrond nodded politely and withdrew from the room, followed closely by the wizard. As they walked down the hallway, Mithrandir began chuckling. "All right, I shall ask the question if you will not. Who in Lorien would desire a letter from the Lord of Gondor? Hum?"

The Peredhil shook his head. "I warrant I can find out. There are no secrets in my domain."

* * * * * * * * *

Boromir was setting his seal to the back of the envelope containing his letter to Eledwhen when the Ranger rapped lightly. "May I enter?" Boromir nodded absently as he blew on the warm wax to cool it. Setting the letter aside, he wiped the wax from his signet ring before sliding it back on his finger. Aragorn, in the meantime, had drawn up a chair beside the bed and settled into it, his long legs stretched in front of him. "To whom do you write, if I may ask?"

Boromir gave him a narrow stare and resumed his examination of the wax seal. Finding it satisfactory, he then turned to his examination of the Ranger. So the Lord Elrond sends a Ranger of the North to poke about in my business. Then it is true that Elves are possessed of an insatiable curiosity. Denethor's son smiled amiably at his guest and settled comfortably against the large and incredibly soft pillows bracing his back. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company, master Ranger?"

Aragorn tried to suppress a smile, but could tell by the tightening of the other Man's jaw that he had not been altogether successful. He assumed a deferential posture by bowing his head and folding his hands in his lap. "I have just returned from another sweep of the outlying lands and thought to see how you are mending."

"Have you not spoken to the Lord Elrond, then? For he and Mithrandir stopped by this morning." Boromir put on his best politician's smile and waited for the game to play itself out. He knew that Elrond had sent the Ranger to learn for whom the letter was meant, and he also knew that the Ranger knew he knew. Aragorn studied Denethor's heir thoughtfully before throwing his head back and laughing. This was not what Boromir had expected and he frowned. Noting the other Man's consternation, Aragorn wiped a tear from one eye and cleared his throat.

"I am sorry, but this situation is too amusing not to laugh. By your demeanor I surmise that you already know part of the purpose for my visit. It is true that the Lord Elrond is nearly bursting with curiosity over the intended recipient of that letter."

Boromir shook his head and allowed a faint smile to brighten his noble features. "I would have been disappointed had he not sent you. My father would never allow correspondence to pass from the Citadel without knowing first its content and destination. The Lord of Imladris is certainly within his rights. However, this is of a personal nature and I shall not reveal to whom I send it. The Peredhil will have to remain curious. Unless, of course, the Tree Elf spills his guts."

Once again Aragorn threw back his head and laughed until tears sprang to his eyes. Boromir finally relaxed and laughed companionably. "So, now that my duty to the Lord Elrond has been satisfied, I may now turn to my own purpose for coming here, for I sincerely desire to know how you are getting along with those injuries."

Boromir's right hand made a sweeping gesture toward his left leg. "My leg is mending nicely, according to the Lord Elrond. The ribs are merely fractured and are of no importance. I should be able to sit a horse well enough to travel in little more than the passing of one moon. It is my hope that our host will lend me a horse from his stables so that I may return to my city as quickly as possible. These are dark times and every Man is sorely needed."

Aragorn held Boromir's eyes with his keen gaze before lowering his head. The Ranger appeared to study his hands as he asked casually, "And what of your mission? Have you learned the answer to the riddle of your dreams?"

Boromir shifted his position in the bed so that he was staring directly into the other's face. "I see you have had more than a few passing words with Haldir. He is too chatty by far. Perhaps I should not entrust this letter to his keeping, since he will probably read it and bandy about its contents. Elves cannot be trusted." The Ranger gave Boromir a hard stare. His eyes had narrowed and a vein stood out prominently on his forehead. "I have angered you, Ranger of the North. I forget that you are friendly with these creatures."

Aragorn lowered his eyes slowly and Boromir sensed that a fire smoldered beneath the otherwise calm exterior. When the Man finally spoke, his words were carefully measured. "Aye, I am a friend to the Elves and they, to me, in kind. The Lord of Imladris reared me since I was naught but a wee child, so do not say to my face that an Elf cannot be trusted. I have entrusted them with my very life and have never been disappointed. This I cannot say of the race of Men."

Boromir snorted. "Then you have never been to Gondor, for my people are ever true to their word. We are a proud and noble race. Our rulers were descended from the Numenorean exiles that fled to Middle-earth with Elendil. No Man may question our resolve… or our honor."

Aragorn studied Denethor's son thoughtfully. "Nay, my Lord Boromir. I would not question your honor, no more so than I would question the honor of my Elven brethren. Perhaps you will understand more fully before your visit here ends." The Ranger rose slowly and stretched his long limbs gracefully, much as a cat does. Boromir had to admire his lean warrior's form.

"I believe you would make a formidable opponent, or ally. Perhaps I can persuade you to journey to Gondor with me? There is nothing more beautiful in Middle-earth than the sight of the morning sun shining down upon the White Tower of Ecthelion."

"I have seen the White City, long ago. If we are destined to travel together, I shall be glad to accompany you to your homeland. But first you must have the answers for which you traveled so far and suffered so much. Lord Elrond has called for a Council, and I believe you are expected to attend. Until then, I suggest you enjoy your status as an invalid, for I suspect that your time away from battle is rare, soldier of Gondor." Aragorn bowed formally and quietly left the room, leaving Boromir staring thoughtfully after him.

To be continued