"I apologize for my family, you'd think they'd never seen a Man before."
"I gather they haven't seen all that many, at least not to talk to." he replied. "Naturally they're curious. I don't mind."
"Well I do! It's very bad manners to pester a guest - especially an injured one."
The Man settled back on his pallet. Merry crossed the room to help with the blankets, still grumbling. "Can't imagine what's gotten into them.... Educated gentlehobbits not a band of wandering tramps!..." suddenly realized he was all but tucking Boromir in and looked at him in embarrasment. He looked back, eyes twinkling, and they both laughed.
"Don't mind me, I'm going all paternal in my dotage." Merry said when he could talk again. Patted Boromir's knee, "It's good to have you back, my friend."
Surprisingly he looked distressed. "Merry. I-" he seemed to be having trouble finding the right words. "I am not going to be here long."
Merry's heart chilled."What do you mean?"
Boromir took a deep breath. "I was sent back for a purpose once that is achieved -"
"What? You vanish in a puff of smoke? I don't believe it. I know wraiths and you're no ghost."
A smile flickered across his face. "No, I'm not a ghost but I did die. I have been allowed to return as a special grace, to atone." very quietly. "You see I tried to take the Ring from Frodo."
"I know." Boromir blinked and Merry explained. "Frodo told us, not that he meant to. It slipped out accidently one day when he was telling us about his latest nightmare. He didn't blame you, you know."
"I do know. He's told me the same." shook his head. "I am grateful for his forgiveness but I should have been stronger."
"So you're here to kill whatever's lurking in the Old Forest to make up for that? And then what happens?"
Boromir looked unhappy. "I don't expect to survive the fight."
Merry was trembling. "So Pippin and I get to watch you die again, is that it?
"Merry..." Helplessly. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect to find myself among
friends - It makes it harder for me too."
*******
The Mayor of the Shire sat on marble steps in the garden of the King's Palace at Annuminas and watched the sun set behind the Evendim Hills.
"Sam." he looked up to see the High King looming over him. Started to get up but Aragorn pushed him back down and sat next to him on the steps.
"I just got a letter from Merry." he said handing it over.
Sam started to read but the first line shocked him into looking back at the King. "Boromir! But he died. Faramir saw his body in the boat and found his broken horn."
"And that was strange in itself." Aragorn said quietly. "Not even an Elven boat should have survived the great falls. Yet Faramir saw it a dozen leagues downriver on its way to the sea. I've always wondered what it meant... It seems I am about to find out."
Sam read the rest of the letter, an ominous frown building. "Nobody said anything to me about trouble in the Old Forest!"
"Or to me." Aragorn said a little grimly.
"Drat that Merry! The Brandybucks seem to forget they're still part of the Shire, even if they are on the wrong side of the Brandywine!"
The King smiled down at him. "I thought you might like to come to Buckland with me."
"Try and stop me!"
A laugh. "I wouldn't dare."