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.

By Honor Betrayed

Chapter Eleven: Aftermaths

The wedding had been exceptional, given that most of the persons involved were there unwilling.

Boromir had, at the conclusion of the ceremony, duly toasted bride and groom, then pled duty and withdrew. Eirien watched him leave, her expression deliberately blank, but her heart was breaking. Then she turned back to her new husband, a smile gracing her lips and her sorrow pushed far deep down in her heart so he would not see.

Cerris did not deserve her scorn for this. No, that she lay firmly at her father's door. He had argued and pleaded with her until the small hours of the morning that this was the only way, but she had turned deaf ears against him. Boromir would likely have been a valid choice, had he not fallen ill. But her father, triple curse him, had not thought to wait until it was known he would live. And he had been the attending physician! No, it had been his wish to see this done as soon as possible, and that had meant Cerris.

Speaking of which, her new husband had taken her hand while she was distracted, and was now rubbing anxious fingers over the new cut he had discovered there. "What is this," he inquired softly as he pressed his lips to the wound. "How were you injured, Eir?"

She gently withdrew her hand from his and gave him another smile. "It's nothing," she replied in the same soft voice. "A vow I took, nothing more. It will heal." Aye, a vow indeed. She had sworn on her own shed blood she would never set foot in Hollin, nor ever again count herself as her father's daughter. It mattered not to her that circumstances might force her to break that oath. If they did, she would adapt, but she would never willingly call him father again. He was dead to her.

"It is not nothing, my heart, and you should have it seen to." Cerris' voice remained soft, but there was a hint of steel in the words. "I'll have you taking no chances with your health, Eir, not when you carry our future." His eyes moved quickly to her still flat belly and returned to her face.

He made their excuses and asked that their mounts be readied after the break of fast the next day, in order to return to Lossarnach and begin their new life together. Then, he drew her with him to the privacy of their borrowed chambers, settling her upon the bed and taking a seat nearby. "We must talk about this, Eirien my dearest. I do not understand why you feel this need to harm yourself."

"Try being me for one hour and you'll understand, Cerris," she snarled back as she bounced up off the bed to pace agitatedly. "I'm sorry, you didn't deserve that," she murmured as she dropped to the floor and rubbed her cheek against his knee. "But I swore a blood oath that I would never again address that man as my father, nor would I set foot in his kingdom." Her eyes glittered with tears she would not shed. "You are all I have, Cerris, all I have that is my own, save my child. I swear on my honor that I will be a good wife to you, and give you no grief. But I cannot be bound to the keep, nor to your side. I must be free, Cerris, if not to sail, then to roam as I choose. To take the wind from my sails would be to take my life. I would wither and die, should I not have my freedom."

Cerris pulled her into his lap, his arms holding her against him but loosely enough she could move away if she wished. Her head remained cradled against his shoulder. "I could no more cage you than you would allow yourself to be caged, my darling Eirien," he murmured against her dark hair. "We truly know too little of each other. What can you do, besides engage in piracy?" he teased with a small smile.

She grinned up at him, suddenly playful. "Well, I can ride well, used to train the horses for riding when we were on land. I could do that, if you like. Make the Lossarnach mounts the envy of the West, make them rival even Rohan if you want." She deflated quickly. "Oh, who am I trying to fool? I can make them biddable, and I can gentle them, but I can't even come close to the Horse-lords for training."

Cerris laughed, full and hearty. "No one can, dearest," he reassured her with what he meant to be a chaste kiss. One completely confused moment later found them locked in a tender yet passionate embrace.

One thing led to another, and they wound up in bed together. At one point, Eirien had to bite her lip until it bled to keep from crying out a name that would bring pain to them both. Then, sated and surprised, they lay in each other's arms and drifted off to sleep. And in the darkness of the room, before sleep finally came to her, a tiny sob was heard…