Disclaimer: I do not own anything that belongs to Tolkien's estate.  I do own the Sea Hawk/Lady Eirien, and would like to be asked if you want to use her in a story.  Evendim, however, has permanent permission to use any of my characters that she would like to in any story she wishes to write.  Cerris, Ancir, and a few others belong to Evendim and you should ask her before you use them.  Thanks, ED!

Author's note: This story takes place a few weeks after the events in The Sea Hawk, which is set in Evendim's wonderful AU.  I recommend that you read her stories and then the Sea Hawk before you tackle this one.  It'll save time and answer a lot of the most commonly asked questions, like how Boromir survived Amon Hen.  LOL

Dedications:  To Evendim, who created this wonderful AU where Boromir didn't get the short end of the stick and who has graciously allowed me to play in her playground.  You go, girl!  Love your stuff, always!  And to my darling AJ, without whom I would never have had the courage to post even one chapter of any of my stories.  Love you, babe, don't ever change.  J

Chapter Four: Duty

Eirien checked her appearance once more.  She had to look just right.  It was her future husband she was about to meet, after all.

For honor's sake, she must go through with this.  She had given her word to her people when they had come into her care, and she would keep it.  Even though her responsibility was lessened, now that Dalos had come forward, she still had a duty to them.  She could understand all the reasons they had given her for this marriage, and she could not argue. 

Her heart was frozen in her chest.  Duty, she would carry out.  This Cerris she was to wed would have no cause for complaint; but there were things he must know before the ceremony was complete.  She would not have him tricked into this, nor ordered as she had been.  He would have the right to refuse her.

This decision had not come easily.  Long into the night she had considered her options.  She had wept, and she had considered.  The pale hours of dawn had come slowly to her, just as realization of her position.  She had no choices.

Boromir.  Her heart would forever belong to the Captain-General, whether they were together or not.  She only prayed that he would one day forgive her for this betrayal.

She stepped back from the mirror and drew on her cloak, then left her room with a purposeful air.  She would find her future husband, and she would lay everything on the table for him.  A princess she might now be, and as such a good match, but she had been a pirate as well, and there were a few other things he should know before agreeing to this travesty of a marriage.

Her feet carried her out into the passageway, but then she halted, troubled.  Was there nowhere she could go to find solace?  Then she remembered Boromir had mentioned a sanctuary, a place of peace.

The guards had fallen in behind her and she snorted rather inelegantly.  "If you must hound my steps, then direct me to the Sanctuary I've been told of.  I need some peace, and what better place to find it?"

As one, the two men bowed to her and fell in step with her, guiding her to the room, and taking up stations nearby.  "There is only the one entrance, my lady," the taller one said softly.  "We will be waiting when you return."  He sounded apologetic, and she bit her tongue against the snarky response that threatened, settling for nodding and stepping inside.

Boromir had been quite honest about this place, it seemed.  A sense of peace flooded over her as she drew farther into the room, though it barely lightened the heaviness in her heart.  She crossed to the small altar, unaware until it was too late that she was not alone.

"Your pardon, my lady," came a deep voice from nearby.  Eirien whirled to face the speaker, her heart in her mouth.  "I did not realize another had come here.  Shall I leave you?"

"No, that isn't necessary," Eirien replied as she regained her composure.  "I shouldn't intrude on your vigil.  I can return later."

"To have come here, my lady, your distress must be great indeed."  He came forward slightly and she drew in a deep breath.  "Shall I depart that you may unburden yourself?  Or shall we sit and talk of our woes together?"  He gestured to the single stone bench near the altar.

Eirien gave a significant nod toward the entrance and he laughed softly.  "No one would gainsay you here, lady.  The Sanctuary is a place of privacy and reflection.  None would intrude upon you.  Now, shall I go, or stay?"

Eirien gave an answering laugh and gestured to the bench.  "Stay, please.  I would have this one brief moment to imagine that my life was my own, and my decisions my own to make."  The sorrow and despair she had tried so hard to shake returned full force, and she sank to the bench, her eyes on the altar, trying desperately to stifle the tears that threatened.

He settled beside her, his concern evident in his words.  "What has distressed you so?" he asked quietly as he took her hand in his.  She made no move to draw away, and he took the encouragement to tip her face up so he could see her clearly.

Eirien held back a gasp as she truly beheld him.  His eyes, so clear, hauntingly grey, were full of concern for her.  "I should not trouble my lord with my petty problems, sir, and if it is only dire distress that brings one here, I should be ashamed to take you from your own vigil."  Again she had the feeling that she knew this man, though she had never seen him before.

"Ah, but my distress cannot be eased, my lady.  My feet have been set upon a path that I sorely wish I need not tread, but duty demands.  Duty always demands, she never requests.  I came here to seek counsel from my father, but his spirit is markedly silent." 

Eirien gave a soft laugh and timidly squeezed his hand.  "Duty is a harsh taskmistress, almost as harsh as the sea.  My duty to my people takes me into the unknown, uncharted waters, and it frights me.  I must wed a man I have never seen, much less the one I have given my heart to.  And I fear his anger when he learns of my past, of my indiscretion."  A single tear traced down her cheek and he wiped it away gently.

"Fear not, my lady.  If he is any man at all, he will forgive all when faced with your beauty."  His deep voice was soothing.  "Why do you fear his wrath so?  Surely he cannot be such an ogre."

"I would have him know everything of me, for in all fairness, I cannot force him to do this, not as it has been decreed.  He must know, that he might make his own decision, something that has been denied me."  Eirien took a deep breath before continuing, her voice quite matter of fact.  "I have, in my life, been a pirate, a Ship's Captain, and now it seems I am a princess as well.  I have loved men, but none more so than the one I have given my heart to, the one I must betray in the name of duty and honor.  And he shall never truly know that I love him still, for this betrayal will wound him deeply.  It will wound him unto death were he to discover the secret I have kept from him, knowing I must leave him."  She turned haunted eyes to her companion's face, tears glistening but unshed.  "My soon to be husband must be told, for I would not have it said I came to him in dishonor."

"Then perhaps you should seek him out, lady," he said softly.  "If he is an honorable man, he will accept you for who and what you are, not toss you aside as unfit.  Indeed, were I able to choose a wife, I would choose someone as honorable and beautiful as you, for you hide nothing.  Even were you round with another's child, I would cherish you, for you are above all else honest to yourself and to everyone else.  That is why you fear, is it not?"

Eirien returned his gaze, shock rooting her to the bench.  "How --- how did you know?" she whispered as the blood drained from her face.  "Does it show, then?"

He chuckled as he drew her near to him.  "It was an educated guess, lady," he explained as he settled her against him.  "And do not fear, I will take no liberties, but as we are both in need of comfort, let us enjoy the closeness for a time."

They stayed that way for a time, until the shadows had lengthened along the passageway.  "I must go," she said softly.  She placed a chaste kiss upon his cheek and hastened from the Sanctuary toward her room, to freshen herself for that night's dinner engagement and the first meeting with her betrothed.

TBC