Author's note: I'm soooo sorry this has been so late in coming!!! I hope you all can forgive me...but having a few days trapped inside from snow and ice lets me catch up on a lot of things I've been behind on. ^_~
Thanks to everyone who is still reading!!! I'm glad you're still keeping up with me!!!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Lord of the Rings...not even Boromir!!! *sob* All I own is Rhiannon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
After they had rested, among other things, Rhiannon found that she was unable to sleep. So instead of waking Boromir with her tossing and turning, she chose to take a walk through the trees, knowing that she was safe in doing so. As she was walking amongst them, she heard the sound of water running nearby and saw a white shape shining amidst the darkness of night. Her curiosity piqued, she turned her steps in that direction, her breath almost stopping when she saw it was Galadriel standing there near the mirror that revealed all things to those who would dare look into its depths.
The Lady's timeless gaze lit upon her, and she descended the stairs with more than a little fear. And her words to her chilled her even more.
"Would you look into the mirror, child of Anarion, brother to Isildur?" Galadriel's voice flowed over her, and there was no trace of entreaty to be found. As much as Rhiannon feared looking into its glassy surface, she knew that there was no choice but for her to do as she was bid to do.
The grass was cool and soft beneath her feet here; she had not even realized that she had left them bare. Time seemed to stand still here, and all around her was quiet as if the entire world was holding its breath, perhaps awaiting her decision. "I fear to do so, my lady," she replied. "But I know that I must."
Galadriel smiled. "Such is the way of life," she replied. "Now look into the mirror...and see what the future holds for this fellowship."
Rhiannon stepped up to gaze into the basin of calm water, her hands resting lightly upon its edge. Then it seemed to shimmer, and her grip tightened as she was drawn down into its depths, various images flashing in its surface.
She saw Boromir as he lay now, innocent in his dream induced slumber. Then it would change to show him as he beheld the One Ring within his grasp, and a shiver ran through her when she saw the naked desire in his eyes when he looked upon it. Then the impossible seemed to happen as she saw him attacking Frodo and taking the ring for himself...a vision she couldn't bear to see. "No," she choked in fear. "I refuse to see anymore."
"You must," Galadiel commanded, "for to do so would be to risk the lives of everyone should he take it from Frodo."
As if to reinforce her statement, she suddenly saw an image of Boromir carrying the ring to his father, presenting it as a gift to him. But when the Steward would accept it, suddenly his son rose and slew him in his madness to possess it. And there was no sanity in his beloved face...only a cruel hatred of those who he thought meant to take it from him.
Then she saw a vision that chilled her very blood...Minas Tirith was surrounded by the armies of Mordor. The whole of the Pelennor fields was colored black with orcs, trolls, and those that had allied themselves with Sauron. When she looked upon the once fair and beautiful city, her heart cried to see it wreathed in black smoke, burning from the evil that proved too much for it to withstand.
And of those that had died fighting...Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli...even the four hobbits had fallen while trying to defend Minas Tirith. And at last she saw Boromir's body lying amongst the endless dead that covered the ground...headless and bloody...his head having been put upon a stake and displayed upon the doors to the Citadel. A silent warning to those who would deny the power of Sauron's forces.
This last vision was too much for her to stomach, and she jerked away violently as she fell to her knees, trying to keep the bile from rising into the back of her throat. Her beloved Boromir, who she had just lay beside moments ago, was going to die. But not with honor...not after giving in to the ring's persuasions.
"That is only what could happen if he should take the ring from Frodo," Galadriel stated with amazing calmness. "The future is hard to predict...but also it cannot be ignored."
Rhiannon looked upon her as she sat back, feeling a coldness seep through her very bones. Would he be so foolish as to try and attempt such a thing? Then she remembered the look on his face when he had first gazed upon the ring...and recalled what it had almost done to her.
The Lady offered Rhiannon her hand. "You also must guard against its evil, Elenariel. But it is given to you to protect the ringbearer as well, even against someone who you have pledged your heart to. He loves you with all his heart...but the evil inside the ring will twist it against you and turn it into hatred...and he will be powerless to stop it."
Rhiannon accepted her hand and rose to her feet, breathing in the crisp night air to help calm her shaky nerves, and she knew that she would find no sleep this night for fear of seeing the same images in her dreams. She wandered throughout the trees, wondering when the time came would she have the strength to keep him from harming Frodo.
So deep was she within her thoughts that she didn't see where she was going and almost bumped into someone else who was still awake. She stopped suddenly when she felt a hand upon her arm, and she looked up to see Aragorn standing before her, a smile upon his face. His smile faded however when he saw the fear in her eyes.
"Rhiannon...what's wrong?" he asked in concern.
She took a deep breath before answering, a haunted light in her eyes. "I have seen what will happen if Boromir should fall under the Ring's spell," she said softly. "And I do not know if I have the strength to stop him." Then she looked up into his eyes, her own shining with unshed tears. "I am frightened, Aragorn."
Seeing her distress, he pulled her into his arms, wanting to comfort her in any way that he possibly could. "Do not be," he whispered against her hair. "I know you have it inside you. How else could you have survived through so much? And the love you both have for one another...I have faith that it will see you both through to the end."
She held him close, finding strength in their close kinship with one another. "I only hope you are right, cousin," she said as she withdrew from his embrace.
He smiled as he gazed into her eyes. "I know I am. Now you must get some rest for we leave early the next morn. And do not worry...I'm sure that when you see him again any doubts you have right now will scatter like leaves."
She allowed her own smile to appear. "Then I wish you good night, Aragorn," she replied as she turned to walk back to where she had been sleeping with her beloved. And to her immense relief, he was still there, all but dead to the world and dressed in nothing else but his shirt and pants. The blanket that had covered them had long been fought into a lump at his feet, and she smiled as she smoothed it back over him.
Lying down beside him on her side, she propped her head up with her hand and gazed down at his sleeping face, thinking that she had never seen a more handsome man in all her life. And he was all hers for the taking, leading her to wonder how had she gotten so lucky to have won his heart. It was then that she realized that she would indeed fight for him, even if it cost her her life, for she loved him more than anything else in this world.
Leaning forward, she kissed his brow and then his lips, smiling when she saw him stir into a sleepy state of consciousness. "I love you, my brave warrior of Gondor," she whispered.
He smiled and pulled her against him so that she rested against his side, his hand beginning to softly stroke her hair, where she slowly surrendered to sleep in the safety of his arms.
******************
Next up is Amon Hen...and we all know what happens there. It will be interesting to see what happens there...will I kill him off or not???? Oh...the agony!!!!!
Thanks for reading!!!
Thanks to everyone who is still reading!!! I'm glad you're still keeping up with me!!!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Lord of the Rings...not even Boromir!!! *sob* All I own is Rhiannon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
After they had rested, among other things, Rhiannon found that she was unable to sleep. So instead of waking Boromir with her tossing and turning, she chose to take a walk through the trees, knowing that she was safe in doing so. As she was walking amongst them, she heard the sound of water running nearby and saw a white shape shining amidst the darkness of night. Her curiosity piqued, she turned her steps in that direction, her breath almost stopping when she saw it was Galadriel standing there near the mirror that revealed all things to those who would dare look into its depths.
The Lady's timeless gaze lit upon her, and she descended the stairs with more than a little fear. And her words to her chilled her even more.
"Would you look into the mirror, child of Anarion, brother to Isildur?" Galadriel's voice flowed over her, and there was no trace of entreaty to be found. As much as Rhiannon feared looking into its glassy surface, she knew that there was no choice but for her to do as she was bid to do.
The grass was cool and soft beneath her feet here; she had not even realized that she had left them bare. Time seemed to stand still here, and all around her was quiet as if the entire world was holding its breath, perhaps awaiting her decision. "I fear to do so, my lady," she replied. "But I know that I must."
Galadriel smiled. "Such is the way of life," she replied. "Now look into the mirror...and see what the future holds for this fellowship."
Rhiannon stepped up to gaze into the basin of calm water, her hands resting lightly upon its edge. Then it seemed to shimmer, and her grip tightened as she was drawn down into its depths, various images flashing in its surface.
She saw Boromir as he lay now, innocent in his dream induced slumber. Then it would change to show him as he beheld the One Ring within his grasp, and a shiver ran through her when she saw the naked desire in his eyes when he looked upon it. Then the impossible seemed to happen as she saw him attacking Frodo and taking the ring for himself...a vision she couldn't bear to see. "No," she choked in fear. "I refuse to see anymore."
"You must," Galadiel commanded, "for to do so would be to risk the lives of everyone should he take it from Frodo."
As if to reinforce her statement, she suddenly saw an image of Boromir carrying the ring to his father, presenting it as a gift to him. But when the Steward would accept it, suddenly his son rose and slew him in his madness to possess it. And there was no sanity in his beloved face...only a cruel hatred of those who he thought meant to take it from him.
Then she saw a vision that chilled her very blood...Minas Tirith was surrounded by the armies of Mordor. The whole of the Pelennor fields was colored black with orcs, trolls, and those that had allied themselves with Sauron. When she looked upon the once fair and beautiful city, her heart cried to see it wreathed in black smoke, burning from the evil that proved too much for it to withstand.
And of those that had died fighting...Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli...even the four hobbits had fallen while trying to defend Minas Tirith. And at last she saw Boromir's body lying amongst the endless dead that covered the ground...headless and bloody...his head having been put upon a stake and displayed upon the doors to the Citadel. A silent warning to those who would deny the power of Sauron's forces.
This last vision was too much for her to stomach, and she jerked away violently as she fell to her knees, trying to keep the bile from rising into the back of her throat. Her beloved Boromir, who she had just lay beside moments ago, was going to die. But not with honor...not after giving in to the ring's persuasions.
"That is only what could happen if he should take the ring from Frodo," Galadriel stated with amazing calmness. "The future is hard to predict...but also it cannot be ignored."
Rhiannon looked upon her as she sat back, feeling a coldness seep through her very bones. Would he be so foolish as to try and attempt such a thing? Then she remembered the look on his face when he had first gazed upon the ring...and recalled what it had almost done to her.
The Lady offered Rhiannon her hand. "You also must guard against its evil, Elenariel. But it is given to you to protect the ringbearer as well, even against someone who you have pledged your heart to. He loves you with all his heart...but the evil inside the ring will twist it against you and turn it into hatred...and he will be powerless to stop it."
Rhiannon accepted her hand and rose to her feet, breathing in the crisp night air to help calm her shaky nerves, and she knew that she would find no sleep this night for fear of seeing the same images in her dreams. She wandered throughout the trees, wondering when the time came would she have the strength to keep him from harming Frodo.
So deep was she within her thoughts that she didn't see where she was going and almost bumped into someone else who was still awake. She stopped suddenly when she felt a hand upon her arm, and she looked up to see Aragorn standing before her, a smile upon his face. His smile faded however when he saw the fear in her eyes.
"Rhiannon...what's wrong?" he asked in concern.
She took a deep breath before answering, a haunted light in her eyes. "I have seen what will happen if Boromir should fall under the Ring's spell," she said softly. "And I do not know if I have the strength to stop him." Then she looked up into his eyes, her own shining with unshed tears. "I am frightened, Aragorn."
Seeing her distress, he pulled her into his arms, wanting to comfort her in any way that he possibly could. "Do not be," he whispered against her hair. "I know you have it inside you. How else could you have survived through so much? And the love you both have for one another...I have faith that it will see you both through to the end."
She held him close, finding strength in their close kinship with one another. "I only hope you are right, cousin," she said as she withdrew from his embrace.
He smiled as he gazed into her eyes. "I know I am. Now you must get some rest for we leave early the next morn. And do not worry...I'm sure that when you see him again any doubts you have right now will scatter like leaves."
She allowed her own smile to appear. "Then I wish you good night, Aragorn," she replied as she turned to walk back to where she had been sleeping with her beloved. And to her immense relief, he was still there, all but dead to the world and dressed in nothing else but his shirt and pants. The blanket that had covered them had long been fought into a lump at his feet, and she smiled as she smoothed it back over him.
Lying down beside him on her side, she propped her head up with her hand and gazed down at his sleeping face, thinking that she had never seen a more handsome man in all her life. And he was all hers for the taking, leading her to wonder how had she gotten so lucky to have won his heart. It was then that she realized that she would indeed fight for him, even if it cost her her life, for she loved him more than anything else in this world.
Leaning forward, she kissed his brow and then his lips, smiling when she saw him stir into a sleepy state of consciousness. "I love you, my brave warrior of Gondor," she whispered.
He smiled and pulled her against him so that she rested against his side, his hand beginning to softly stroke her hair, where she slowly surrendered to sleep in the safety of his arms.
******************
Next up is Amon Hen...and we all know what happens there. It will be interesting to see what happens there...will I kill him off or not???? Oh...the agony!!!!!
Thanks for reading!!!