Dead
By Bohemian Storm
"I had a dream," Boromir murmured, his eyes turned toward the darkening horizon.
"I did not like what I saw."
Aragorn lifted an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"The White City had fallen." His eyes drifted downward to his gloved hands.
They twisted in his lap. "There was nothing but rubble and ash."
Aragorn watched him. "It burned?" he asked finally.
Boromir looked startled, as if he had forgotten he was not alone.
Silence fell with the night. The warriors drifted in their own thoughts about
their quest and their journey. Aragorn did not expect Boromir to speak again
that night.
"It burned," he confirmed finally and Aragorn was snapped from his silence.
"You know this will not come to pass," he said, reaching toward the Son of
Gondor. His fingers brushed the back of Boromir's hand, coming to rest on his
wrist. "I will not let your city burn."
"Can I trust you to keep your promise?"
Aragorn's hand tightened on the wrist. "I will do whatever it takes to keep my
vow to you." He tried a smile. "You did have a dream, after all."
Boromir shook his head and looked away. His other hand came up to cover
Aragorn's, squeezing it tightly. His fingers were trembling.
"Your brother would not let it be so even if I could not keep my promise."
Boromir raised his eyes and stared at Aragorn. "You made a vow. Do not abandon
me now."
"I will not," Aragorn said. "I will never abandon you."
The warrior smiled very gently. Aragorn watched the curve of his lips, wishing
for one more kiss from them. It was silly. Boromir was dead.
"Not even in my death?" Boromir asked.
Aragorn's smile faded. "You know you are already dead."
"And you will not abandon me in favour of something new? Something more
exciting? You will keep your promise, will you not?"
"Always," Aragorn murmured, leaning toward the warrior.
He felt the lips beneath his for barely a moment before they were gone. The
night air was warm, but there was no body beside him, no warrior whom he had
been speaking to. There was no one to keep a promise to and yet he would do it.
The Son of Gondor had had a dream, after all.
End