Hi! I haven't given anyone a lot of time to review the last chapter, but I want to try and post a lot before Christmas. I have actually finished the story, I'm just giving it to you in pieces. I worked for a long time to finish quickly so that I could write Eowyn's part without being tainted by her attitude in Two Towers. Just from the trailers she seems like a total spoiled brat, and I wanted to like her at least a little when I wrote her. Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
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Estel sat quietly in the room that held the Shards of Narsil, his ancestor's sword. Though he held a book open, he hadn't turned a page, so occupied was he with his thoughts. Thoughts about the Ring, the Hobbits, thoughts about Arwen. His beloved Arwen, immortal but doomed to love a mortal man. He doomed her. Estel's thoughts were interrupted when Boromir entered the room. The Ranger watched this new arrival, very clearly a Man of Gondor. Boromir felt his stare and turned. "You are no elf!" he couldn't help but exclaim.
Estel did not feel like explaining the whole foster son of Lord Elrond position, so he simply said, "The Men of the South are welcome here."
Boromir felt uncomfortable with this man's gaze. It reminded him of Elrond's piercing eyes. "Who are you?"
"I am a friend of Gandalf the Grey's" Gandalf? Who... oh Mithrandir! The old wizard had come to Gondor the year before to search Minas Tirith's library. Though he himself had not been there, Faramir had and had told Boromir, before he left for Imladris, that Mithrandir had been searching for references to Isildur's Bane. Perhaps that was why this Man was here.
"Then we are here on common purpose... friend." Estel just stared at him and Boromir turned away, uneasy. That was when he noticed a statue holding up a broken sword. Boromir stepped over to it and picked up the hilt-piece.
"The Shards of Narsil! The blade that cut the Ring from Sauron's Hand." A symbol of the Kings of Gondor. The birthright of the line of Isildur, the line who could challenge the rule of the Stewards. The broken sword mentioned in his dream. Again Boromir felt the strange man's gaze. "But no more than a broken heirloom." As he slammed the blade on the pedestal it fell and clattered to the floor. Boromir paused where he was walking for a moment, but continued on, not wanting to stay in the same room as that Man.
While he walked through the halls, he berated himself for his rudeness. //Just because someone makes me feel unsettled, is no reason for just walking out without even a formal farewell. I have learned that since I was a child.// Boromir turned and strode back to the room. //Perhaps he knows something of this council tomorrow.// He saw the Man leave the room and was about to call out when a beautiful elf woman followed the stranger.
The elf gently laid her hand on the Man's arm. "Come, walk with me Estel." Boromir froze in his tracks. Estel! Suddenly he connected the Man with Faramir's Ranger foster brother, the one in love with the elf Arwen. Boromir glared at the retreating couple. //Well, Ranger, we finally meet, though you do not know it. And I would have it stay that way. I will not give you the chance to steal Faramir's love. I am his brother, and you will not take my place.//
The council was held the next morning, the sun smiling upon the representatives of the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. Elves from Mirkwood and the Grey Havens, dwarves from Erebor, Men from Laketown as well as Boromir, the lone representative of Gondor, and Gandalf the Grey. The small man seated next to the wizard startled Boromir. He seemed to be a child, yet the Man of Gondor felt that it was not so. Lord Elrond stood next to a stone pedestal and welcomed all guests. After his ever so optimistic speech, (A/N: I am being *really* sarcastic here.) Elrond told the small man, whose name was Frodo Baggins, to place the Ring on the pedestal. Boromir leaned forward as he realized that this was the Ring that was Isildur's Bane. "So it is true."
The members of the council looked at Boromir as he stood to speak. "In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark, but in the west a pale light lingered. Voices cried out 'Doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.'" Entranced by the lure of the Ring, Boromir reached out to touch it. "Isildur's Bane." Seconds before his hand could touch the Ring, Elrond stood, calling his name in warning. Suddenly Gandalf stood, yelling out in the Black Speech of Mordor:
***Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul*** Lord Elrond held his head as if in pain, the other elves not faring well either. The ground shook and the sky grew dark as ash. Boromir felt himself rocked back into his chair.
***Ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!*** The earth quieted as everyone on the council breathed a sigh of relief. Lord Elrond glared at the wizard. "Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris!"
"I do not ask for pardon, Master Elrond, for the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil!" Thinking he had made his point, Gandalf turned to be seated. But Boromir, having felt the Ring's power, would not let the subject rest.
Standing up again, the Man of Gondor disagreed with the wise Istar. "It is a gift! A gift to the foes of Mordor! Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe!" Boromir pointed accusingly at the elves, dwarves, and even the Laketown men. "Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
"You cannot wield it! None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master." Boromir looked at Estel. His antipathy towards the man leaked out in his voice.
"And what, would a Ranger know of these matters?" Estel did not answer, surprised at the anger coming from the Man who had at least tried to be friendly towards him the night before. Suddenly, an elf jumped to his feet behind Boromir.
"This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Boromir's eyes widened. After he had returned home, Faramir spent many days in the library of Minas Tirith in his spare time, though he would not say for what. One day, Boromir had crept into the library to see what his brother seemed so interested in. Leafing through the ancient papers, he read about the line of Kings through Isildur, and of the Dunedain of the North. There was little to be found on either subject, but Boromir was able to figure out that the Chieftains of the Dunedain were descended from Isildur. The last name on the list was Arathorn son of Arador. If Estel was the son of Arathorn than that meant...
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?"
"And Heir to the throne of Gondor."
Aragorn did not seem too
pleased that the elf had spoken. ^Sit down, Legolas.^
The elf, Legolas, obeyed, though reluctantly. Boromir
also sat down, though not before glaring at Aragorn and proclaiming that Gondor
did not need a king. Elrond declared that the Ring must be destroyed, and Boromir shook his head in frustration. A dwarf, Gimli,
tried to destroy the Ring with his axe and only managed to get thrown
backwards.
Elrond frowned at the dwarf. "The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here posses. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this." The silence was deafening. Boromir couldn't believe that there was anyway to walk into Mordor without being killed, and said so. The same blasted elf that had defended Aragorn jumped up again and started yelling at Boromir, reiterating what Elrond had said. Then Gimli rose, shouting at Legolas, never even paying attention to Boromir's arguments. Soon the whole council began arguing. Boromir's blood heated in anger as Gandalf began bellowing at him for being foolish enough to want to risk using the Ring.
Everyone quieted down, though, when Frodo announced that he would take the Ring to Mordor. Boromir couldn't believe it. That small, helpless child, given Sauron's greatest weapon? Yet no one objected, and the Man of Gondor did not feel like quarreling anymore. First Gandalf promised to help the hobbit, then Aragorn, which made Boromir narrow his eyes in anger. The elf, Legolas, also agreed to go, and Gimli soon after. Boromir was certain that the dwarf had volunteered only to aggravate the elf. Sighing, Boromir too offered his services, knowing that he had to return to Gondor anyway. To everyone's surprise, three more hobbits, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, rushed into the council area and insisted on being taken along. Before the entire council decided that they wanted to go, Elrond announced the Fellowship of the Ring.
Boromir's eyes traveled to each of his companions. Mithrandir, the wizard Denethor distrusted and Faramir respected. Gimli, the dwarf, short, but with a toughness that showed he could fight. Legolas, the elf, a fair being, but with fierce eyes. Four hobbits, small, the most likely to be hurt in the event of an attack. //They will need to be taken care of.// And last, Aragorn, Ranger and King in exile. Boromir seethed at the man's smugness and royal air. Not only would he take his brother's admiration, but also the rule of Boromir's beloved country! How could this man rule Gondor, when he didn't even care enough about it to help in its time of need. Aragorn wanted to destroy the one hope Gondor had to survive! //I will not let Gondor fall because of one man's weakness. Somehow, I will find a way to save my country. . . and my brother.//
~*~
Nearly two months had passed since the Fellowship had left Rivendell. Mithrandir had fallen with the Balrog. The Company stayed with the elves in Lothlorien for nearly half the journey, much to Boromir's discomfort, for he felt out of place among the immortals. //How Faramir spent seven years living with them is beyond my comprehension.// thought Boromir as the Fellowship floated down the Anduin. He frowned. //He spent seven years with them because he feared for his life if he came home. The elves cared for him when he thought his family did not.//
"Boromir is anything wrong?" The Man jolted out of his thoughts.
"Nothing is wrong, Pippin. Why do you ask?"
"Well, you've quit rowing." Boromir looked down and realized that though his hands were gripping the oar, he wasn't paddling.
"Forgive me, Little Ones, my thoughts have wandered." Pippin exchanged glances with Merry as Boromir began rowing again. Both hobbits hoped that the Man, who had become good friends with them, was not thinking about the Ring. They knew they had to protect Frodo, but they did not want to fight their friend. Neither considered the possibility that Boromir's thoughts were not on the Ring, but on his brother, and the troubles of the past.
It was the fifth night the Fellowship spent on the shores of the Anduin. Boromir kept watch while all the others slept. Well, almost all of the others. Next to him 'slept' Samwise Gamgee. The hobbit stubbornly protected his master and did not feel comfortable having Boromir being the only one awake. The Man turned slightly to him. "Why are you still up? You should get sleep while you have the chance."
Sam was embarrassed at having been noticed. "I'll sleep when I'm comfy, thank you very much."
There was a pause. "You do not trust me."
"I don't like the way you've been looking at Mr. Frodo, not at all."
"I will not hurt him." The hobbit glared at him skeptically. Sam was sitting up by now. Boromir laughed. "You certainly are a suspicious fellow." His face grew solemn. "But very loyal. Frodo is lucky to have you." Sam tried not to look pleased at the comment. After all, he did not trust this Man. "I have a favor to ask of you."
The hobbit looked at him warily. "What is it?"
"If I do not survive this war... "
"Now none of that talking. We're all going to make it."
Boromir smiled sadly at the halfling's optimism. "Perhaps, but as a warrior I must think of those things. If I don't survive, I want you to give this to my brother, Faramir." He handed Sam a sealed letter. The hobbit reluctantly took it.
"Why ask me to do it? Why not Strider or one of the other Big People?"
"Because I know that even if you do not like me, I can trust you."
Sam put the letter in his pack. "Alright, I'll give it to him."
"Thank you." The hobbit settled back into his bedroll to try and sleep. "Sam?"
"Yah?"
"Tell Faramir... " he paused. "Tell him that I'm sorry. Sorry for everything." Sam was curious now, but felt it wasn't his place to inquire.
"I will. Good night."
"Sleep well."
Boromir smiled as he heard a mumbled, "Yah, right." Sighing, he stared up at the stars. Faramir loved the stars. //Another thing he must have learned from the elves. Because of me and my blindness.// "I'm sorry." He wiped a tear away, but not before Sam saw it glistening on his cheek.
~*~
Boromir tried to focus his wavering eyes on the sharp, black arrow pointed at him. He felt his body failing, three orc arrows already insuring his fate. Suddenly a blurry figure knocked the orc, and the arrow, away from Boromir. It was Aragorn. As the Ranger fought the orc, Boromir fell to the ground. Fire shot through his body. Realizations of failure caused the Man to groan. //I failed. I failed Frodo. I failed Merry and Pippin. I failed Father, Gondor. I failed Faramir.// As he thought of each person, their faces wavered before his eyes, each one blaming him. Everyone except Faramir. Faramir just smiled in understanding. Though Boromir heard no words, he felt his brother's forgiveness. Faramir forgave him. //How can he? After what I have done?//
"Boromir!" Aragorn stumbled to the Lord of Gondor's side. Boromir focused on the Ranger who could be King.
"They took the Little Ones!"
"Stay still."
Boromir shook his head slightly. "Frodo, where's Frodo?"
Aragorn looked at him sadly. "I let Frodo go." Boromir felt a wave of relief. Frodo was safe, the quest could go on.
"Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the Ring from him." No pride left, Boromir confessed his horrible deed.
"The Ring is beyond our reach now."
"Forgive me, I did not see." //I did not see how it nearly turned me into my father. I could have killed Frodo, just like Father could have killed Faramir.// "I have failed you all."
"No, Boromir! You fought bravely. You have kept your honor." Honor? Boromir would have smiled bitterly had he the energy. //I have no honor. I failed.// Aragorn began pulling out an arrow, but Boromir stopped him. "Leave it. It is over. The world of Men will fall and all will come to darkness," It was already darkening as Aragorn seemed to move farther away. "and my city to ruin."
Aragorn looked on helplessly. A man, someone he would even call a friend, was dying and the healer in him raged at his inability to release him from death's grip. Death, the Doom of Man. "I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you, I will not let the White City fall. Nor our people fail."
Boromir smiled despite the pain. Aragorn was beginning to accept his destiny. Perhaps, just perhaps, hope was left. Yes Estel, hope. Boromir vaguely wondered why he hadn't thought of that before. "Our people. Our people." He felt for his sword, which Aragorn placed in his hand. If Aragorn accepted being King, then Boromir accepted being the King's servant. "I would have followed you my brother," //For you are brother to my brother.// "My captain." //Had I listened to you, perhaps the little ones would be safe.// "My King." //Protect my people. Protect Faramir.// As Aragorn faded into darkness, Boromir felt himself falling away. A slight breeze blew by, and with it flew the spirit of Boromir Denethor's son, heir to the Stewardship, beloved of his people.
"Be at peace, son of Gondor."
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I admit. I like Boromir, no matter how he acted towards Frodo. I felt he was just desperate to save his people after years of continuous war. I always feel sad when I see the end of the movie. Sean Bean does a great job. I hope Faramir is played just as good. By the way, he may have died, but we haven't seen the last of Boromir.
