FOUR
She felt so warm, and at peace, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. Something was wrong, there were no peace in at the moment, not during the war. Her mother and her brother died during a raid by the Haradrim leaving only her father and herself. Her quiet father who became more quiet yet still opened his sad and battered heart to his only daughter, and still managed to continue his duty as The Ladharim war lord. Slowly she opened her eyes; it's not her mother who held her. It was not her brother who offered the sense of protection. She was lying naked in her bed with Boromir's arms wrapped around her. That was the warmth. How could a stranger came into her heart and made her feel at peace?
Maybe it was only lust. She was no virgin, for the Ladharim culture was more opened than Gondorrim, and she was a soldier. Boromir did look very good without his cloth. It must be lust. But how come he was the first one who made her feel so save, since Thalar? Thalar, she remembered him sadly. He was her fiancée, and they would have married two years ago if he didn't die in a battle . She shook her head to clear the terrible memory away, and buried her face in Boromir's neck. It was such a comfort to lie beside him, and just for tonight she let herself enjoy the feeling that rarely came.
Boromir found her still asleep when he woke up. His smile grew as he remembered the night they'd spent in passion. The softness of her touch, her patience, and her passion were more than enough to satisfy his longing. All of the women he had bedded had soft skin, tall, and yet none of them even the best courtesans was as desirable as she was. Boromir's finger caressed her cheek, her slender neck, her golden shoulder, then he felt the muscle on her arms, her hands and finger, her flat belly, and her toned thighs. Not as smooth as other women for hers was hardened by war and bore many scars. But for him, she was the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Boromir found himself thinking how nice it must been to have her warm body beside him every single night and to see it again when he opened his eyes in the morning.
"You like what you've touched?" she asked softly.
Boromir looked down and grinned."Very much. How long have you awaken?"
"Not too long before you did. But I didn't want to leave the warmth yet."
He tightened his hold, and stoke her back."Hmm....I don't want to separate with the warmth too." His fingers tickled her waist.
This time she tickled him back, and he nearly jumped from it."Ouch..." he grimaced. He had forgotten about his wound.
Kheila looked worry. "I'm so sorry."
"It's allright." Boromir held her from moving. "Just stay a bit longer and I'll be fine." He grinned."You may be the death of me woman."
Kheila blushed. "I forgot you are wounded ."
"Wounded, but not dead." He closed his eyes. "I slept like a rock though. The best sleep I've ever had in years."
"Boromir?"she asked tentatively ."Tell me about the elves."
He remembered his uneasiness with Elrond, and in Lorien. Galadriel's eyes which always pierced into his heart, as if they were capable reading his soul. "They live in great forest. I don't now why but they seemed attached to trees. Confusing race."
Kheila chuckled. "Surely you can do better than that. Describe it to me , please?"
"I'm not very good with words. My brother can tell you a lot more about them although he's never seen them." He looked at her, and continued."But I will try. Let's see except living in forest, their home are very protected by magic and themselves for they have no wish to share their home with any other races. They look young but there is something in their eyes that show something of their long years of existence." He remembered Lord Elrond and the lady Galadriel."Some of them have the ability to see your soul and I could have sworn they could read mind as well."
"That's not comforting."
"No. "then he remembered Legolas and Gimli."They don't get along with dwarves either. Somehow the dwarves are irritating them. They look at human as children, but only the dwarves can make them feel on the edge." He chuckled." Those little yet sturdy people sure have a wicked tongue."
"I take it you've met dwarves."
"A few, one of them is my companion." He instantly regretted revealing too much.
She kissed his chest softly. "Alliance between men, elves, and dwarves." She looked into his eyes. "I know we are losing this war. But I didn't know we are desperate."
"The shadow is increasing."
"Minas Tirith will not hold."
"There is always hope." Galadriel's words rang out in his mind. He tried to change the subject. "Tell me about your family, and your home."
"I've already told you about my family."
"Your mother and brother are dead leaving you and your father alone. It's too short compare to my story, no?"
Kheila took a deep breath, resting her head on his shoulder. "There are not much to tell really. Since the dark lord moves forward our lives is only about surviving, and war. My father is the war lord maybe your position captain general. The king's advisor."
"What's his name? the king I mean. And does he have an heir?"
"The king name is Said, and yes he have sons three of them : Farhan, Altair, and Radhan."
"His name resembles your father's."
"They are brothers."
Boromir's eyes widened. "You are the king niece!"
"How very observant of you, my lord." She said dryly.
He groaned. Faramir always reminded him to be careful with his wooing. Becareful, brother. One of them might some high lord's daughter. He'll be able to force you into marriage if he catches you with his daughter. That was Faramir's words, and he could see his brother standing in front of him giving his disapproval look. "My father will kill me."
"For having sex with a woman?"
"For a scandalous behavior with a King's niece!"
Kheila laughed. "Scandalous. I like that."
"And what happen if your family knows? You will be in big trouble too!"
"Our culture is different than yours. In Ladhar if you want to have a time alone with a certain girl, you will be aloud to be together without a chaperon. What goes beyond that, is your and your fiancée 's problem only."
"Fiancée?" Boromir raised his eyebrows. "I'm not your fiancée."
"No, he's dead."
They were both silent for a while. So she was betrothed before. There was someone else. Boromir felt jealous which surprised him. Why should he be jealous? "do you want to talk about it?" it's all he could say, and it was awkward.
Kheila closed her eyes. So much pain, so many memories. "His name is Thalar. He was the son of Bardan, a clan chief of one of the most respected clans in Ladhar. He courted me four years ago, and his family and mine were very happy about our relationship for it will strengthen the royal family hold of all clans. "
"What happened?" "He died defending his people from Orcs attack on their way from Minas Tirith after the spring festival. His clan produced the finest weapon. Maybe you remember."
Boromir tried to remember."Maybe they were the people whom I bought daggers for Faramir and myself. I remembered buying two finest daggers from a Ladharim tribe on the spring festival two years ago. Those were exceptionally good."
She smiled sadly. "Those were them. He was killed two years ago."
"I'm so sorry." Boromir said softly. "What about his clan?"
"Oh Boromir... they were wipe out." She choked. "Three hundred traveling people including small children. They were all killed."
"Valar!" Boromir gasped. He had seen it before, an entire village was wiped out by orcs raid. Some who were lucky got killed, and some who weren't so lucky were eaten. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her while she struggled from pain. What worried him most was not the story, or her pain of loosing someone she loved. But because she shed no tears. "I will protect you!" he blurted.
Startled she looked up."What?"
He was also startled by his words. But when he looked at her face, all doubt fanished. "I will protect you, my lady." He repeated. "It is my duty to see all the people of Gondor."
"But I'm not the people of Gondor, my lord. We share no bond."
"Then what do you call what we just have? Is that bond not strong enough?"
She shook his head."I didn't mean to tie you up, Boromir. You have no obligation towards me whatsoever."
"I have never felt this way about other women. I have never even thought of marriage for I was only interest in battle. "
"Please stop..."
"My mother left me when I was a little and there was nothing I could do." He ignored her plead. "Maybe that was he reason I stayed away from commitment. No women in Gondor or Rohan who can do much to defend themselves and their home .I cannot let myself fall in love and see my wife taken away from me if I cannot defend her. It will be too painful to see someone died that way. But you, you are different. You posses a great strength to protect yourselves and those around you." He touched his forehead to hers. "You make me calm, and surprisingly it makes me want to protect you even more."
"What are you saying?"
"I don't see any wrong a marriage between the house of Gondor and the house of Ladhar. "he looked more determent than ever."I will protect you."
Shocked by his confession, she pushed him away. "One thing you must know, Boromir of Gondor: I don't take promises."
"I am no oath breaker."
"I didn't say you are." She stroke his cheek lovingly."I don't know my feeling for you yet. I feel save with you, and you bring such comfort to me, but I take no promises until the war is over."
"I didn't say we ought to get marry soon, Shaka."
"Then we will discuss about it when the war is over."
She felt so warm, and at peace, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. Something was wrong, there were no peace in at the moment, not during the war. Her mother and her brother died during a raid by the Haradrim leaving only her father and herself. Her quiet father who became more quiet yet still opened his sad and battered heart to his only daughter, and still managed to continue his duty as The Ladharim war lord. Slowly she opened her eyes; it's not her mother who held her. It was not her brother who offered the sense of protection. She was lying naked in her bed with Boromir's arms wrapped around her. That was the warmth. How could a stranger came into her heart and made her feel at peace?
Maybe it was only lust. She was no virgin, for the Ladharim culture was more opened than Gondorrim, and she was a soldier. Boromir did look very good without his cloth. It must be lust. But how come he was the first one who made her feel so save, since Thalar? Thalar, she remembered him sadly. He was her fiancée, and they would have married two years ago if he didn't die in a battle . She shook her head to clear the terrible memory away, and buried her face in Boromir's neck. It was such a comfort to lie beside him, and just for tonight she let herself enjoy the feeling that rarely came.
Boromir found her still asleep when he woke up. His smile grew as he remembered the night they'd spent in passion. The softness of her touch, her patience, and her passion were more than enough to satisfy his longing. All of the women he had bedded had soft skin, tall, and yet none of them even the best courtesans was as desirable as she was. Boromir's finger caressed her cheek, her slender neck, her golden shoulder, then he felt the muscle on her arms, her hands and finger, her flat belly, and her toned thighs. Not as smooth as other women for hers was hardened by war and bore many scars. But for him, she was the most beautiful women he had ever seen. Boromir found himself thinking how nice it must been to have her warm body beside him every single night and to see it again when he opened his eyes in the morning.
"You like what you've touched?" she asked softly.
Boromir looked down and grinned."Very much. How long have you awaken?"
"Not too long before you did. But I didn't want to leave the warmth yet."
He tightened his hold, and stoke her back."Hmm....I don't want to separate with the warmth too." His fingers tickled her waist.
This time she tickled him back, and he nearly jumped from it."Ouch..." he grimaced. He had forgotten about his wound.
Kheila looked worry. "I'm so sorry."
"It's allright." Boromir held her from moving. "Just stay a bit longer and I'll be fine." He grinned."You may be the death of me woman."
Kheila blushed. "I forgot you are wounded ."
"Wounded, but not dead." He closed his eyes. "I slept like a rock though. The best sleep I've ever had in years."
"Boromir?"she asked tentatively ."Tell me about the elves."
He remembered his uneasiness with Elrond, and in Lorien. Galadriel's eyes which always pierced into his heart, as if they were capable reading his soul. "They live in great forest. I don't now why but they seemed attached to trees. Confusing race."
Kheila chuckled. "Surely you can do better than that. Describe it to me , please?"
"I'm not very good with words. My brother can tell you a lot more about them although he's never seen them." He looked at her, and continued."But I will try. Let's see except living in forest, their home are very protected by magic and themselves for they have no wish to share their home with any other races. They look young but there is something in their eyes that show something of their long years of existence." He remembered Lord Elrond and the lady Galadriel."Some of them have the ability to see your soul and I could have sworn they could read mind as well."
"That's not comforting."
"No. "then he remembered Legolas and Gimli."They don't get along with dwarves either. Somehow the dwarves are irritating them. They look at human as children, but only the dwarves can make them feel on the edge." He chuckled." Those little yet sturdy people sure have a wicked tongue."
"I take it you've met dwarves."
"A few, one of them is my companion." He instantly regretted revealing too much.
She kissed his chest softly. "Alliance between men, elves, and dwarves." She looked into his eyes. "I know we are losing this war. But I didn't know we are desperate."
"The shadow is increasing."
"Minas Tirith will not hold."
"There is always hope." Galadriel's words rang out in his mind. He tried to change the subject. "Tell me about your family, and your home."
"I've already told you about my family."
"Your mother and brother are dead leaving you and your father alone. It's too short compare to my story, no?"
Kheila took a deep breath, resting her head on his shoulder. "There are not much to tell really. Since the dark lord moves forward our lives is only about surviving, and war. My father is the war lord maybe your position captain general. The king's advisor."
"What's his name? the king I mean. And does he have an heir?"
"The king name is Said, and yes he have sons three of them : Farhan, Altair, and Radhan."
"His name resembles your father's."
"They are brothers."
Boromir's eyes widened. "You are the king niece!"
"How very observant of you, my lord." She said dryly.
He groaned. Faramir always reminded him to be careful with his wooing. Becareful, brother. One of them might some high lord's daughter. He'll be able to force you into marriage if he catches you with his daughter. That was Faramir's words, and he could see his brother standing in front of him giving his disapproval look. "My father will kill me."
"For having sex with a woman?"
"For a scandalous behavior with a King's niece!"
Kheila laughed. "Scandalous. I like that."
"And what happen if your family knows? You will be in big trouble too!"
"Our culture is different than yours. In Ladhar if you want to have a time alone with a certain girl, you will be aloud to be together without a chaperon. What goes beyond that, is your and your fiancée 's problem only."
"Fiancée?" Boromir raised his eyebrows. "I'm not your fiancée."
"No, he's dead."
They were both silent for a while. So she was betrothed before. There was someone else. Boromir felt jealous which surprised him. Why should he be jealous? "do you want to talk about it?" it's all he could say, and it was awkward.
Kheila closed her eyes. So much pain, so many memories. "His name is Thalar. He was the son of Bardan, a clan chief of one of the most respected clans in Ladhar. He courted me four years ago, and his family and mine were very happy about our relationship for it will strengthen the royal family hold of all clans. "
"What happened?" "He died defending his people from Orcs attack on their way from Minas Tirith after the spring festival. His clan produced the finest weapon. Maybe you remember."
Boromir tried to remember."Maybe they were the people whom I bought daggers for Faramir and myself. I remembered buying two finest daggers from a Ladharim tribe on the spring festival two years ago. Those were exceptionally good."
She smiled sadly. "Those were them. He was killed two years ago."
"I'm so sorry." Boromir said softly. "What about his clan?"
"Oh Boromir... they were wipe out." She choked. "Three hundred traveling people including small children. They were all killed."
"Valar!" Boromir gasped. He had seen it before, an entire village was wiped out by orcs raid. Some who were lucky got killed, and some who weren't so lucky were eaten. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, holding her while she struggled from pain. What worried him most was not the story, or her pain of loosing someone she loved. But because she shed no tears. "I will protect you!" he blurted.
Startled she looked up."What?"
He was also startled by his words. But when he looked at her face, all doubt fanished. "I will protect you, my lady." He repeated. "It is my duty to see all the people of Gondor."
"But I'm not the people of Gondor, my lord. We share no bond."
"Then what do you call what we just have? Is that bond not strong enough?"
She shook his head."I didn't mean to tie you up, Boromir. You have no obligation towards me whatsoever."
"I have never felt this way about other women. I have never even thought of marriage for I was only interest in battle. "
"Please stop..."
"My mother left me when I was a little and there was nothing I could do." He ignored her plead. "Maybe that was he reason I stayed away from commitment. No women in Gondor or Rohan who can do much to defend themselves and their home .I cannot let myself fall in love and see my wife taken away from me if I cannot defend her. It will be too painful to see someone died that way. But you, you are different. You posses a great strength to protect yourselves and those around you." He touched his forehead to hers. "You make me calm, and surprisingly it makes me want to protect you even more."
"What are you saying?"
"I don't see any wrong a marriage between the house of Gondor and the house of Ladhar. "he looked more determent than ever."I will protect you."
Shocked by his confession, she pushed him away. "One thing you must know, Boromir of Gondor: I don't take promises."
"I am no oath breaker."
"I didn't say you are." She stroke his cheek lovingly."I don't know my feeling for you yet. I feel save with you, and you bring such comfort to me, but I take no promises until the war is over."
"I didn't say we ought to get marry soon, Shaka."
"Then we will discuss about it when the war is over."