Author's note: I've gotten 3 reviews already! And I'm really happy that I
received them. It means that someone's reading this stuff after all!!
Anyhow, please keep reading! And please keep reviewing.you can send as many
as you like! I only want to try to improve my story and Chapter 4 isn't far
behind. I have it all planned. Don't worry, it won't get really sad until
the end. And that's quite a while behind. I think I'm going to start one or
two more fanfics. One might be Faramir version of this story, or maybe the
narrative version, so that you can have both side's point of view. I won't
ditch this one, Ariaelle is a great character to play with. Really mature
and strong, and yet.very young. So stay tuned. I'm still here.
Boromir
As Faramir left, I felt more and more nervous. When I was finally alone with Boromir, he turned to me and eyed my dress. "Are you cold?" he asked.
Yes, I was shivering. And yes, I was cold. "No, my lord." I lied. "But thank you." I could tell that he knew I was lying. Brothers.those two were of a kind, and yet, they were so very different.
Respecting my wish to be left alone, he set off at a slow pace, waiting for me to catch up. I waited three steps and followed him, because such was the rule when one follows another of higher rank. I wondered why they hadn't just told me the location of my chambers? They didn't expect me to be like the rest of the empty headed court ladies, did they? Well, I thought, maybe I shouldn't have chosen such fancy clothing.
He stopped suddenly and turned around. I almost bumped into him. "Walk up here, will you." He said, gesturing beside him. I frowned.
"My lord, I should be three paces behind you." I said.
"Lady, you should be listening to me." I immediately did what he told me to do.
He smiled, "Don't worry. I'm not going to bite."
I nodded, "I figured as much, my lord."
He smiled, "It's good that you will answer me now. Don't be shy." At the end of the hall, he stopped again and put a hand on my shoulder, "That way." he wheeled me to the left.
"My lord, I would like it very much if you didn't." I said stiffly.
He looked down at me and took his hand off my shoulder, "As you wish, then." He murmured.
We walked on in silence. At length, he slowed his pace even more and eventually stopped.
"Do you like windows?" he asked suddenly. I nodded, raising an eyebrow. "I believe you'll be staying for awhile, am I correct?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Would you rather have a room up here in the fourth circle with windows? Or perhaps in the third, near the kitchens? What did Faramir tell you?"
"Oh, my lord, he didn't."
"I'm sorry?" he asked.
"My lord Faramir did not tell me anything of my rooms." I said slowly.
"You mean he was lying? To Father?"
"Oh, my lord Boromir, please do not tell your father about this! Faramir only wished to help me answer him." I exclaimed.
Boromir was taken aback. Apparently, he didn't expect me to defend Faramir so strongly. My only hope was that he would not realise my feelings toward his brother, as I barely understood them myself.
"Well, then which room would you like." He sighed at length.
"I'll just take the fourth circle, my lord. Thank you." I murmured.
He nodded curtly and with a swish of his cape, strode on. I fell in beside him, lost in thought. Finally he reached a door and as he reached for the doorknob, drew his hand back again. He undid a buckle at his throat and took off his cloak.
"It's cold outside." He explained, seeing my confused look.
"Oh no, my lord, I'll be fine." I said, refusing it.
"You'll freeze." And with that, he put the cloak around my shoulders and moved away as I buckled it on myself. I gave him a small smile. He respected my wishes, it seemed, and I gratefully accepted the cloak he had warmed before giving it to me. Boromir slid open the door and I followed him through. As I stepped outside, I realised that he had meant well. The air I breathed out froze and faded before my eyes.
Boromir's pace had quickened and I hurried my steps to follow him. He turned and I was at the very edge of the circle. I could make out the many guards and sentries. The banner of the White Tree waved in the wind. It was such a beautiful view. The fields of Pelennor stretched before Minas Tirith, and beyond, the Mountains. So beautiful, and yet, so dangerous. One of the guards greeted Boromir and I. I nodded back and he smiled a little. After a small exchange of words, Boromir bade him 'goodnight' and we left. He pushed open one of the doors and shut it behind us.
I beheld a corridor lit by torches. Entirely grateful for the warmth, I smiled inwardly. Boromir stopped in front of a door.
"This will be your room, then." He declared.
"Thank you, my lord." I said, curtseying.
"There are servants. If you ring, they will come." Boromir opened the door, stepped in, indicating the bell.
I thanked him and stood at the door, waiting for him to leave. He didn't, but lingered, walking around the room. I raised an eyebrow. What was he doing now?
With ease, Boromir lit the torches. I sat down on the bed, sighing. I took off the cloak he had lent me, got up, and stopped. I didn't know how to do it. Should I curtsey, or just give it to him, or put it on him? I dismissed the last idea. There was no way I would put his own cloak on him.
He turned around once and beheld me as I stood, holding his cloak, unsure of what to do. He straightened and came towards me. I swallowed; it was too late to curtsey. "Thank you." He murmured, and I realised that I had held the cloak in front of me. He took it from my hands and I made the mistake of looking up at him, as his eyes locked to mine. I tried hard to tear away because I could not let him see. I shut my eyes and felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Are you alright? Do you wish to see a healer?" he asked, concerned.
"No, I'm fine, my lord." I replied, avoiding his eyes.
He took his hands off and headed towards the door. There, he spun around to face me again, and said, "Good night, my lady."
I replied with, "And to you, my lord." And he shut the door behind him.
I paced the room back and forth, thoughts pouring out of me. Did I let him see? Did I make a fool of myself? Where are my saddlebags? I think I need a bath. I'm tired and I want to sleep. But what if he truly saw?
Frustrated with myself, I sat on the bed and took three deep breaths. Okay, what do I do now? I need my saddlebags. I need to change, I need a bath, and I need some food. I got up and rang the bell. Within a few minutes, a young boy had arrived at the doorway. He was maybe twelve summers, thirteen at most. The boy had big blue eyes and straw coloured hair. He was slim and had an honest little face. He bowed most charmingly and asked, "My lady? Did you ring?"
"Yes." I said, getting up, "Would you please tell me the way to the stables? I arrived here today and my saddlebags are still down there."
"My lady, would you be Lady Ariaelle of Imladris?" he asked, his wide eyes on my elven dress. They strayed to my pointed ears and I tilted my head sideways.
"Yes. Actually I am." I said, a little surprised.
"Oh, my lady, your brother brought your bags to his own chambers." He said.
"Really? Whyever did he do that?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
"Well, my lady, he and Lord Mariol were waiting for you in the stables. But you didn't come." He explained.
"I see." I paused. "Where would they be now?"
The boy looked momentarily confused by my question, but grasped the meaning, "In the fifth circle, my lady. I could get them for you." He offered.
I pondered his answer, but thought better of it. There were many valuables in there, from jewelry to robes to my mother's portrait. "No, it's all right. Would you please tell me how to get there.and to my brother's chambers?"
"Of course, my lady." He said.
But before he could begin, I cut in, "What is your name?"
"My name? Oh.err.Eladion," he stammered.
"Thank you."
Realising that I had cued him to start, he began. "Well, ah, get out of this corridor the way you came in. And then turn right, you should still be on the outside of the circle. Keep walking until you see a set of stairs on your right. These are long and wide stairs, not the small alley ones. There are many alley ones, but you must not mistake those for the circle's main stairs." I nodded. "Go up those stairs. At the top, turn to your right and keep that way until you see the banner of the White Tree. Not the Stars. That's where one of the Steward's sons reside." I swallowed.
Eladion, misreading it, said, "Well the Steward's other son lives on the other side of the White Tree, but his chambers have a different way to go in." I frowned. "Anyhow, at the White Tree, turn left and find a door. The door with a star. Now, the Steward's son's door is also marked with a star because the one your brother resides in was the Steward's son's room when he was much younger, or so my father says." I nodded and he finished. "Well, those are your brother's chambers. And he's very lucky to have such a nice room."
"Thank you again, Eladion." I smiled.
He bowed, "Would you like anything else, my lady?"
"Some dinner, it doesn't really matter what, and.someone who could draw a bath for me." He blushed and nodded.
"I'll go get someone to do that." I smiled gratefully and went out into the hall.
I thought about how the conversation started and was struck by a sudden question. "Eladion? How did you know about my saddlebags?"
"Oh, um.I'm one of the stable boys too." He said.
"Mmm.I see." I nodded.
"I'll go get the food then, my lady?" he asked, turning around.
"Yes, please do."
And with that he went off down the hall and I went the other way. Out the door I went.
Into the clear, starlit night.
Boromir
As Faramir left, I felt more and more nervous. When I was finally alone with Boromir, he turned to me and eyed my dress. "Are you cold?" he asked.
Yes, I was shivering. And yes, I was cold. "No, my lord." I lied. "But thank you." I could tell that he knew I was lying. Brothers.those two were of a kind, and yet, they were so very different.
Respecting my wish to be left alone, he set off at a slow pace, waiting for me to catch up. I waited three steps and followed him, because such was the rule when one follows another of higher rank. I wondered why they hadn't just told me the location of my chambers? They didn't expect me to be like the rest of the empty headed court ladies, did they? Well, I thought, maybe I shouldn't have chosen such fancy clothing.
He stopped suddenly and turned around. I almost bumped into him. "Walk up here, will you." He said, gesturing beside him. I frowned.
"My lord, I should be three paces behind you." I said.
"Lady, you should be listening to me." I immediately did what he told me to do.
He smiled, "Don't worry. I'm not going to bite."
I nodded, "I figured as much, my lord."
He smiled, "It's good that you will answer me now. Don't be shy." At the end of the hall, he stopped again and put a hand on my shoulder, "That way." he wheeled me to the left.
"My lord, I would like it very much if you didn't." I said stiffly.
He looked down at me and took his hand off my shoulder, "As you wish, then." He murmured.
We walked on in silence. At length, he slowed his pace even more and eventually stopped.
"Do you like windows?" he asked suddenly. I nodded, raising an eyebrow. "I believe you'll be staying for awhile, am I correct?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Would you rather have a room up here in the fourth circle with windows? Or perhaps in the third, near the kitchens? What did Faramir tell you?"
"Oh, my lord, he didn't."
"I'm sorry?" he asked.
"My lord Faramir did not tell me anything of my rooms." I said slowly.
"You mean he was lying? To Father?"
"Oh, my lord Boromir, please do not tell your father about this! Faramir only wished to help me answer him." I exclaimed.
Boromir was taken aback. Apparently, he didn't expect me to defend Faramir so strongly. My only hope was that he would not realise my feelings toward his brother, as I barely understood them myself.
"Well, then which room would you like." He sighed at length.
"I'll just take the fourth circle, my lord. Thank you." I murmured.
He nodded curtly and with a swish of his cape, strode on. I fell in beside him, lost in thought. Finally he reached a door and as he reached for the doorknob, drew his hand back again. He undid a buckle at his throat and took off his cloak.
"It's cold outside." He explained, seeing my confused look.
"Oh no, my lord, I'll be fine." I said, refusing it.
"You'll freeze." And with that, he put the cloak around my shoulders and moved away as I buckled it on myself. I gave him a small smile. He respected my wishes, it seemed, and I gratefully accepted the cloak he had warmed before giving it to me. Boromir slid open the door and I followed him through. As I stepped outside, I realised that he had meant well. The air I breathed out froze and faded before my eyes.
Boromir's pace had quickened and I hurried my steps to follow him. He turned and I was at the very edge of the circle. I could make out the many guards and sentries. The banner of the White Tree waved in the wind. It was such a beautiful view. The fields of Pelennor stretched before Minas Tirith, and beyond, the Mountains. So beautiful, and yet, so dangerous. One of the guards greeted Boromir and I. I nodded back and he smiled a little. After a small exchange of words, Boromir bade him 'goodnight' and we left. He pushed open one of the doors and shut it behind us.
I beheld a corridor lit by torches. Entirely grateful for the warmth, I smiled inwardly. Boromir stopped in front of a door.
"This will be your room, then." He declared.
"Thank you, my lord." I said, curtseying.
"There are servants. If you ring, they will come." Boromir opened the door, stepped in, indicating the bell.
I thanked him and stood at the door, waiting for him to leave. He didn't, but lingered, walking around the room. I raised an eyebrow. What was he doing now?
With ease, Boromir lit the torches. I sat down on the bed, sighing. I took off the cloak he had lent me, got up, and stopped. I didn't know how to do it. Should I curtsey, or just give it to him, or put it on him? I dismissed the last idea. There was no way I would put his own cloak on him.
He turned around once and beheld me as I stood, holding his cloak, unsure of what to do. He straightened and came towards me. I swallowed; it was too late to curtsey. "Thank you." He murmured, and I realised that I had held the cloak in front of me. He took it from my hands and I made the mistake of looking up at him, as his eyes locked to mine. I tried hard to tear away because I could not let him see. I shut my eyes and felt his hand on my shoulder.
"Are you alright? Do you wish to see a healer?" he asked, concerned.
"No, I'm fine, my lord." I replied, avoiding his eyes.
He took his hands off and headed towards the door. There, he spun around to face me again, and said, "Good night, my lady."
I replied with, "And to you, my lord." And he shut the door behind him.
I paced the room back and forth, thoughts pouring out of me. Did I let him see? Did I make a fool of myself? Where are my saddlebags? I think I need a bath. I'm tired and I want to sleep. But what if he truly saw?
Frustrated with myself, I sat on the bed and took three deep breaths. Okay, what do I do now? I need my saddlebags. I need to change, I need a bath, and I need some food. I got up and rang the bell. Within a few minutes, a young boy had arrived at the doorway. He was maybe twelve summers, thirteen at most. The boy had big blue eyes and straw coloured hair. He was slim and had an honest little face. He bowed most charmingly and asked, "My lady? Did you ring?"
"Yes." I said, getting up, "Would you please tell me the way to the stables? I arrived here today and my saddlebags are still down there."
"My lady, would you be Lady Ariaelle of Imladris?" he asked, his wide eyes on my elven dress. They strayed to my pointed ears and I tilted my head sideways.
"Yes. Actually I am." I said, a little surprised.
"Oh, my lady, your brother brought your bags to his own chambers." He said.
"Really? Whyever did he do that?" I asked with raised eyebrows.
"Well, my lady, he and Lord Mariol were waiting for you in the stables. But you didn't come." He explained.
"I see." I paused. "Where would they be now?"
The boy looked momentarily confused by my question, but grasped the meaning, "In the fifth circle, my lady. I could get them for you." He offered.
I pondered his answer, but thought better of it. There were many valuables in there, from jewelry to robes to my mother's portrait. "No, it's all right. Would you please tell me how to get there.and to my brother's chambers?"
"Of course, my lady." He said.
But before he could begin, I cut in, "What is your name?"
"My name? Oh.err.Eladion," he stammered.
"Thank you."
Realising that I had cued him to start, he began. "Well, ah, get out of this corridor the way you came in. And then turn right, you should still be on the outside of the circle. Keep walking until you see a set of stairs on your right. These are long and wide stairs, not the small alley ones. There are many alley ones, but you must not mistake those for the circle's main stairs." I nodded. "Go up those stairs. At the top, turn to your right and keep that way until you see the banner of the White Tree. Not the Stars. That's where one of the Steward's sons reside." I swallowed.
Eladion, misreading it, said, "Well the Steward's other son lives on the other side of the White Tree, but his chambers have a different way to go in." I frowned. "Anyhow, at the White Tree, turn left and find a door. The door with a star. Now, the Steward's son's door is also marked with a star because the one your brother resides in was the Steward's son's room when he was much younger, or so my father says." I nodded and he finished. "Well, those are your brother's chambers. And he's very lucky to have such a nice room."
"Thank you again, Eladion." I smiled.
He bowed, "Would you like anything else, my lady?"
"Some dinner, it doesn't really matter what, and.someone who could draw a bath for me." He blushed and nodded.
"I'll go get someone to do that." I smiled gratefully and went out into the hall.
I thought about how the conversation started and was struck by a sudden question. "Eladion? How did you know about my saddlebags?"
"Oh, um.I'm one of the stable boys too." He said.
"Mmm.I see." I nodded.
"I'll go get the food then, my lady?" he asked, turning around.
"Yes, please do."
And with that he went off down the hall and I went the other way. Out the door I went.
Into the clear, starlit night.