rosethorn: as always, thanks so much for the beta work. not that you don't
already know what happens, but i hope you like this chapter.
nuola: thanks for the continued support with the writing process. it means a lot. and i'm glad that you like it!
alynna lis eachann: i dunno, WILL boromir have amnesia? i guess you'll find out.... hehe.
festesfootman: glad you like it. : )
thanks for everyone else's reviews. if you would like to be added to an update notice list and get an email when i post the next chapter, just leave a note. and i hope that you enjoy this chapter. oh, by the way, i have to up the rating for later chapters, so i hope you don't mind..... ; )
standard disclaimers apply.
~~--~~*~~--~~ Chapter Two: The Awakening ~~--~~*~~--~~
The first sign of light that pricked through the darkness encompassing Boromir's vision woke him from a groggy slumber. He opened his eyes and scanned around the room in which he lay. It was a plain room with a simple painting hung on the wall and a bedside table. There was a window to his right that let in the bright morning light, the cause of his awakening.
Lifting his arm from his side proved to be a difficult task as he noticed that most of his upper torso was wrapped in tight bandages. Why they were there, he was not sure, but whatever the wound, it caused him much pain. He groaned in irritation and let his arm fall the inch back to the bed.
Only when he did this did he realize that he was not alone. A young woman lifted her head from the cradle of her arms and met his eyes. Her mouth came open as if to speak, but the words did not come.
"Who-" Boromir began to speak, but his voice was raspy and his throat dry from lack of fluid. "Water," he whispered.
The woman reached over to the bedside table and poured water into a small glass from a pitcher. She rose from the chair in which she had been seated and sat on the edge of the bed. She lifted the glass to his lips and let the water flow into his mouth until he was satisfied.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And where am I?"
"My name is Adele, and you are in the house of my cousin, Amiens," she replied. "You have been asleep for three days, Stranger."
Boromir closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"How did I come to be in this place?" he asked.
"You were found on the bank of the Anduin, and brought here by my cousins Aidan and Airsyn." She set the glass she had been holding in her hands back on the table. "Tell me, who are -you-?"
Boromir opened his eyes and looked over at her, a look of concentration on his face. He lay there thinking for several long moments.
"I do not know."
Adele was about to say something when Sesile walked in the room, clasping her hands together as she saw Boromir awake for the first time. She rushed over to the bed and sat on the other side, reaching up to check his temperature.
"Who are you?" he asked as she ran her hands over his face.
"My name is Sesile, and you are in my home, Stranger. Speak your name and do not be afraid."
"He does not know his name, Cousin," Adele answered.
Sesile looked at Adele curiously.
"Surely then you must know where you came from?"
Boromir shook his head in frustration as the knowledge that he sought to find would not surface. Perhaps questioning of his state of health would bring answers.
"Can either of you tell me why I am wrapped in bandages? Or perhaps why I feel as though I have been shoved over a cliffside?" Boromir looked pleadingly at the two women.
"You are wrapped as such because there are three arrow wounds in your chest. It was either leave the wounds open to the air and infection or cover them and let you be uncomfortable. As to your soreness, we do not know. We had hoped that you might tell -us-," Sesile said.
"I remember nothing more than waking up moments ago."
Sesile sighed in frustration.
"It has been a day since your wounds were last checked, so we will need to unwrap these bandages and tend to them," Adele said, seeking Sesile's approval.
"Yes," Sesile said. "Adele, bring in his things so that he may look at them and hopefully remember himself."
Adele nodded and left the room to go in search of where Sesile could have hidden his things. In her absence, Amiens entered the room. He stood in the doorway, glaring at Boromir as he lay in the bed.
"I see that you have awakened," Amiens said. "What has happened to you?"
Boromir opened his mouth to speak, but Sesile beat him to it, giving him a look that told him to hold his tongue.
"He does not remember a thing, Amiens. Not even the smallest detail."
"Do you know your name?"
"I do not," Boromir said, his voice filled with pain as Sesile inspected his wounds. He bit his lip as her fingers touched the swollen flesh around the arrow wounds.
Adele entered at that time carrying the green metal leaf and the arrow head that had been lodged in his shoulder. She walked toward Sesile to give her the objects, but Amiens stepped in her way and took them from her hand.
"This was found on you," Amiens said as he held the leaf up for Boromir to look at. "Do you know what it is?"
"I do not."
"This arrow was pulled out of your shoulder on the night you arrived. It is most assuredly an orc arrow. Do you remember anything of orcs?"
"I do not."
Amiens sighed and laid the objects down on the bedside table. He glared at Boromir for several moments before leaving the room.
Sesile watched her husband leave, and put her own work down several moments later.
"Adele, come and finish my work. I need to speak with Amiens."
Sesile left the room and Adele walked over, picking up where Sesile had left off. She picked up the small jar of salve that Sesile had been spreading on the swollen areas around the wounds and began to massage the cream in.
"Pay no attention to Amiens," she said softly. "His words may be harsh, but he is only trying to protect his family."
"Is he frightened of me?"
"Anyone new to him is a threat. He has been weary of strangers for some time now."
"Are -you- frightened of me?"
Adele lifted her hand from his chest and stared at him, a flush color rising to her cheeks. She looked at her hands and spoke calmly. "No, I am merely curious. It has been a long time since I last saw anyone not of my blood."
"How long have you lived here?" Boromir asked as she began to re-wrap his torso. "Is it so far from any other civiliations that you do not get many visitors?"
"I lost count of the days, but it would be close to assume two years that I have lived here. We live on the borders of the Riddermark, and company does not come. You are the first."
"Where were you from before you came to live here?"
"I come from Edoras. My father sent me to live here with my cousins becaue Evil grew too close for his liking. He feared for my safety."
"Who is your father?" Boromir asked as Adele finished wrapping his chest.
"Theoden King."
Boromir's shock must have registered on his face, for Adele laughed as she stood away from the bed. The medicines and bandages were packed in a large bag and set in the corner.
"I ask only that you do not treat me as you would a royal. I find comfort in normalcy, and it has been a long time since anyone refered to me as 'princess'. I find the title rather obsene."
Boromir nodded and asked, with a worried look upon his face, "Adele, what will become of me?"
"It is uncertain right now. My cousin's heart is not black, so you are welcome here until your wounds are fully healed, and that will be weeks from now. Do not let these worries trouble you."
Boromir smiled at her thoughtfulness and consideration of his questions. But still one lingered in his mind.
"Adele?"
"Yes?"
"What will you call me since my true name is uncertain?"
The question caught Adele off guard as she stood in the doorway of the guest room, her hand on the frame.
"I think I should like to call you Talen. I know not what it means, but it suits you all the same."
Boromir smiled again as he watched Adele leave the room. If 'Talen' were the name she found to be true to him, then to that he would hold.
~~--~~*~~--~~
a/n: *gasp* will boromir / talen ever recover?!?! what will become of him? and what about aragorn and the rest of the fellowship? will they ever find him? read, REVIEW, and i'll give you all the answers to your questions next chapter!
nuola: thanks for the continued support with the writing process. it means a lot. and i'm glad that you like it!
alynna lis eachann: i dunno, WILL boromir have amnesia? i guess you'll find out.... hehe.
festesfootman: glad you like it. : )
thanks for everyone else's reviews. if you would like to be added to an update notice list and get an email when i post the next chapter, just leave a note. and i hope that you enjoy this chapter. oh, by the way, i have to up the rating for later chapters, so i hope you don't mind..... ; )
standard disclaimers apply.
~~--~~*~~--~~ Chapter Two: The Awakening ~~--~~*~~--~~
The first sign of light that pricked through the darkness encompassing Boromir's vision woke him from a groggy slumber. He opened his eyes and scanned around the room in which he lay. It was a plain room with a simple painting hung on the wall and a bedside table. There was a window to his right that let in the bright morning light, the cause of his awakening.
Lifting his arm from his side proved to be a difficult task as he noticed that most of his upper torso was wrapped in tight bandages. Why they were there, he was not sure, but whatever the wound, it caused him much pain. He groaned in irritation and let his arm fall the inch back to the bed.
Only when he did this did he realize that he was not alone. A young woman lifted her head from the cradle of her arms and met his eyes. Her mouth came open as if to speak, but the words did not come.
"Who-" Boromir began to speak, but his voice was raspy and his throat dry from lack of fluid. "Water," he whispered.
The woman reached over to the bedside table and poured water into a small glass from a pitcher. She rose from the chair in which she had been seated and sat on the edge of the bed. She lifted the glass to his lips and let the water flow into his mouth until he was satisfied.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And where am I?"
"My name is Adele, and you are in the house of my cousin, Amiens," she replied. "You have been asleep for three days, Stranger."
Boromir closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"How did I come to be in this place?" he asked.
"You were found on the bank of the Anduin, and brought here by my cousins Aidan and Airsyn." She set the glass she had been holding in her hands back on the table. "Tell me, who are -you-?"
Boromir opened his eyes and looked over at her, a look of concentration on his face. He lay there thinking for several long moments.
"I do not know."
Adele was about to say something when Sesile walked in the room, clasping her hands together as she saw Boromir awake for the first time. She rushed over to the bed and sat on the other side, reaching up to check his temperature.
"Who are you?" he asked as she ran her hands over his face.
"My name is Sesile, and you are in my home, Stranger. Speak your name and do not be afraid."
"He does not know his name, Cousin," Adele answered.
Sesile looked at Adele curiously.
"Surely then you must know where you came from?"
Boromir shook his head in frustration as the knowledge that he sought to find would not surface. Perhaps questioning of his state of health would bring answers.
"Can either of you tell me why I am wrapped in bandages? Or perhaps why I feel as though I have been shoved over a cliffside?" Boromir looked pleadingly at the two women.
"You are wrapped as such because there are three arrow wounds in your chest. It was either leave the wounds open to the air and infection or cover them and let you be uncomfortable. As to your soreness, we do not know. We had hoped that you might tell -us-," Sesile said.
"I remember nothing more than waking up moments ago."
Sesile sighed in frustration.
"It has been a day since your wounds were last checked, so we will need to unwrap these bandages and tend to them," Adele said, seeking Sesile's approval.
"Yes," Sesile said. "Adele, bring in his things so that he may look at them and hopefully remember himself."
Adele nodded and left the room to go in search of where Sesile could have hidden his things. In her absence, Amiens entered the room. He stood in the doorway, glaring at Boromir as he lay in the bed.
"I see that you have awakened," Amiens said. "What has happened to you?"
Boromir opened his mouth to speak, but Sesile beat him to it, giving him a look that told him to hold his tongue.
"He does not remember a thing, Amiens. Not even the smallest detail."
"Do you know your name?"
"I do not," Boromir said, his voice filled with pain as Sesile inspected his wounds. He bit his lip as her fingers touched the swollen flesh around the arrow wounds.
Adele entered at that time carrying the green metal leaf and the arrow head that had been lodged in his shoulder. She walked toward Sesile to give her the objects, but Amiens stepped in her way and took them from her hand.
"This was found on you," Amiens said as he held the leaf up for Boromir to look at. "Do you know what it is?"
"I do not."
"This arrow was pulled out of your shoulder on the night you arrived. It is most assuredly an orc arrow. Do you remember anything of orcs?"
"I do not."
Amiens sighed and laid the objects down on the bedside table. He glared at Boromir for several moments before leaving the room.
Sesile watched her husband leave, and put her own work down several moments later.
"Adele, come and finish my work. I need to speak with Amiens."
Sesile left the room and Adele walked over, picking up where Sesile had left off. She picked up the small jar of salve that Sesile had been spreading on the swollen areas around the wounds and began to massage the cream in.
"Pay no attention to Amiens," she said softly. "His words may be harsh, but he is only trying to protect his family."
"Is he frightened of me?"
"Anyone new to him is a threat. He has been weary of strangers for some time now."
"Are -you- frightened of me?"
Adele lifted her hand from his chest and stared at him, a flush color rising to her cheeks. She looked at her hands and spoke calmly. "No, I am merely curious. It has been a long time since I last saw anyone not of my blood."
"How long have you lived here?" Boromir asked as she began to re-wrap his torso. "Is it so far from any other civiliations that you do not get many visitors?"
"I lost count of the days, but it would be close to assume two years that I have lived here. We live on the borders of the Riddermark, and company does not come. You are the first."
"Where were you from before you came to live here?"
"I come from Edoras. My father sent me to live here with my cousins becaue Evil grew too close for his liking. He feared for my safety."
"Who is your father?" Boromir asked as Adele finished wrapping his chest.
"Theoden King."
Boromir's shock must have registered on his face, for Adele laughed as she stood away from the bed. The medicines and bandages were packed in a large bag and set in the corner.
"I ask only that you do not treat me as you would a royal. I find comfort in normalcy, and it has been a long time since anyone refered to me as 'princess'. I find the title rather obsene."
Boromir nodded and asked, with a worried look upon his face, "Adele, what will become of me?"
"It is uncertain right now. My cousin's heart is not black, so you are welcome here until your wounds are fully healed, and that will be weeks from now. Do not let these worries trouble you."
Boromir smiled at her thoughtfulness and consideration of his questions. But still one lingered in his mind.
"Adele?"
"Yes?"
"What will you call me since my true name is uncertain?"
The question caught Adele off guard as she stood in the doorway of the guest room, her hand on the frame.
"I think I should like to call you Talen. I know not what it means, but it suits you all the same."
Boromir smiled again as he watched Adele leave the room. If 'Talen' were the name she found to be true to him, then to that he would hold.
~~--~~*~~--~~
a/n: *gasp* will boromir / talen ever recover?!?! what will become of him? and what about aragorn and the rest of the fellowship? will they ever find him? read, REVIEW, and i'll give you all the answers to your questions next chapter!