Disclaimer: Not mine, just borrowed. Don't sue, I'm a poor student with a large debt to my sister and student loans.
Quick thanks to dark-child 99; fox of the nova; Lilagirl; and Jousting Elf with a Sabre (to answer your question, no, I'm not Mormon, there actually is a church there!)
Everyone keeps asking if this is an Aragorn romance…it will start out that way for sure, but I haven't decided completely which direction it will go in as I get later into it…I'm thinking of a love triangle deal, but not sure with whom yet…Aragorn is one corner of the triangle, of course though! Magsluvsaragorn is not my penname for nuttin'!
Alright, people, sorry for the lateness of my update, but enjoy the show!
Chapter 13
Tari woke up the next morning as the sun came shining into her window, setting the room into a golden glow. She smiled as she remembered the ball's end the previous evening. Aragorn had walked her to her bedroom door, proclaiming the good time he had had, in spite of Boromir. Tari had laughed and smacked his arm playfully, telling him to be nice. She responded in kind; she had had fun as well. Aragorn took her right hand and placed a kiss on top, bowing to her in good night. Tari blushed and bowed her head, murmuring a soft good night to Aragorn in response. She opened the door, stepping in, and closed it slowly and softly. She leaned against the door, sighing contentedly.
A soft knock sounded on the door, making Tari jump. Her remembrance disturbed, she grabbed the feather-light red silk robe and tied it closed over the light, and fluttery, red sleeping gown she had worn to bed. Tari opened the door, secretly wondering what time it was as she saw Boromir standing in front of her. Lifting her nearly invisible eyebrows in surprise, Tari exclaimed,
"Oh! Good morning, Lord Boromir! How fare you this morning? I hope I haven't overslept." She said worriedly. Seeing Tari in the silky and somewhat seductive nightgown and robe, he flushed quickly and stared at the floor beneath her feet instead. "Nay, milady, there is still 20 minutes left before breakfast is scheduled to begin. I was hoping to escort you there this morning." He suggested hopefully. Tari thought about it for a moment before answering. "Certainly, milord, I would be honoured. Should I wear some of my training gear, or come back to change before we begin training after breakfast?" she asked, accepting his invitation. "Come back up and change, my lady. You should be more comfortable without all your gear on at the table." Boromir answered confidently. She nodded in agreement, and bade him give her a few moments to get dressed as she closed her door.
Tari shuffled through her closet quickly, attempting to find something to compliment her pale complexion. As much as she loved red, she thought another colour would be nice for a change. The Elvish ladies had left her a closet full of gowns while she had been training the day before, and she was in awe as to how many they had managed to make in so short a time. Mentally shaking herself from her reverie, she grabbed a velvet dress the colour of pine needles trimmed with gold metallic cord and put it on quickly. Slipping her feet into shoes that looked exactly like the ones she had worn the night before, except in the same green, she clipped pieces of her hair up on both sides with tiny leaf-shaped clips and added a leaf-shaped emerald pendant on a gold chain around her throat. The pendant settled in the hollow of her throat, resting there softly. Giving herself a final glance in the mirror, she turned to the door to open it, and stepped out.
Boromir watched Tari come out and his throat went dry as his chin dropped in delighted shock. Tari looked up at him out of the corner of her eye, grinning to herself in amusement as she faced the door to close it. She got a kick out of how easy it was to impress the men of Middle Earth, even though she'd only met two so far…Pulling herself out of her thoughts, she turned to Boromir and smiled up at him brightly, an innocent look on her face as she valiantly fought the urge to giggle madly. "Well, milord, shall we?" she received no answer from the tall, broad-shouldered Gondorian, who seemed to be in a daze. "Lord Boromir? Hello?" she said, waving a hand in front of his face, "are you alright?" she questioned in concern. Boromir shook himself out of his wide-eyed, blank stare, and raved over her beauty.
"My lady, I don't know how you do it, but every time I am blessed to see you, it seems that you become even more lovely. I am completely in awe of your ever-growing beauty!" Tari blushed again and wondered briefly if she'd ever truly go back to her own normal colour. She bent her head down, attempting to avoid his appreciative gaze. Boromir took this as a thank you for his compliment and cleared his throat softly, gaining Tari's attention once again. She murmured her thanks to him and took his offered arm as he suggested that they head down to breakfast.
Boromir chatted away lightly to Tari about the pleasantness of the day. Tari nodded intermittently, adding in a comment or two of her own absently. She never really was one to be riveted by conversations about the weather, no matter who the conversationalist was.
"Lord Boromir, I wish to ask you something, if I may." Tari began softly, sounding a bit unsure to the man beside her. Boromir looked over at her, dark eyebrows raised in question. "Aye, my lady, you can ask me anything, and I shall do all in my power to honour your wishes." He replied gallantly, bowing before Tari and kissing her hand, a grin on his strong features. Tari laughed at his antics, her cheeks blushing a light pink. "Oh, honestly! You gallant men are just too much for me! I swear, you are all in competition to keep me red instead of fair!" Tari exclaimed, amusement written in her eyes. "Now you've gone and made me forget what I wanted to ask!" Tari humphed, trying but failing to keep an angry scowl on her face. Boromir laughed, his booming baritone echoing down the corridor. "My lady is absent minded in the morning!" he replied, acting as if he'd discovered her darkest, innermost secrets. Tari swatted his arm in response, attempting an evil glare that her sweet innocence could not quite pull off. "Ugh!" she replied in exasperation, "Men!" She threw her hands into the air, as if to give up on the whole lot of them. Boromir just laughed in reply, taking her arm and leading her down the hall.
Aragorn peered out the door of his room. He had just heard a loud, booming laugh and, to satisfy his curiosity, stuck his head out into the hall. He saw Tari's back toward him as she swat at Boromir's arm, and saw the Gondorian laughing. Aragorn's eyes narrowed, jealousy written all over his face, although his subconscious would never openly admit it to his consciousness. He closed the door silently after seeing Tari slide her arm into the spot Boromir's open arm left for hers and took a few deep breaths before tying up his boots, willing himself to calm down for the lady's sake. He remembered her request to him last night, and strove to comply with her wishes.
"Really, milord, I did want to ask you a question." Tari said to Boromir, remembering what it was she had planned to say. "Very well, then. Since you have remembered what it was, I shall answer if I can. What do you wish, my lady?" Boromir asked in response. "Well," Tari began nervously, "I've noticed that you and the Lord Aragorn aren't…uh…overly fond of each other. I wish to understand why that is." Tari finished, relieved at getting it out, but a bit fearful of the answer. Boromir stopped in the middle of the hall, causing Tari to stop as well. He turned to look at her, pondering his reasons and his answer.
"Hmm…" Boromir began, "You do ask a most difficult question. I shall do all in my power to fully answer you honestly. Part of it has to do with the elves as well. Gondor and its people have kept their lands safe by the shedding of our blood. Yet, the Dunedain, with significant help from the elves, have kept our country without its king for over 900 years. While the stewards have done their best to rule, and I'm glad my father isn't hearing this by the way, our country has been perpetually at war since the last king's reign." Boromir paused, catching his breath. Tari placed her hand on his forearm, brow furrowed.
"I guess I can understand that anger and frustration. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to watch your people suffer and die. But you must see both sides of the coin, milord. From what I understand, after the first alliance of elves and men, Sauron has been biding his time before he strikes. While he sends out legions of orcs, he has been building his forces and planning his war. This you know." Boromir nodded in affirmation, and Tari continued. "However, it seems that the free peoples of Middle Earth need their own secret weapon. Before the ring was found, the only option was to hide the continuing line of kings from Sauron's eye. As far as Sauron can see, his only real thereat is the heir of Isildur. He does not perceive the ring as a threat, for he does not believe anyone would want to destroy it. That is why we must destroy it. It is our other secret weapon. If we destroy the ring, Sauron is no more." Tari finished, taking a deep breath. Boromir stood before her, stunned.
"You have a mighty grasp of the situation, it seems, Lady Tari. You know much of our history." He commented, fishing for an explanation. Tari gave him none. She only replied, "As I told Lord Aragorn last evening, we will all be traveling great distances together. We must have unity, or we will fail. The two of you must work this out before we leave. So be nice at breakfast. We will begin training together, and, although I do have a diplomatic flair, I do not want to play peacemaker between allies." Tari stated emphatically. "I am not a politician, or a diplomat, so do not make me become either." Boromir nodded thoughtfully, realizing her point of view, and feeling a little guilty for putting her in the middle. "Aye, milady, I shall comply to your request. I do apologize for putting you in the middle of it." Tari smiled and nodded.
"Certainly, milord. All is forgiven. Now, I believe there was another reason for your anger with Aragorn?" Tari asked persuadingly. Boromir flushed with embarrassment. "Ah…my lady…I…uh…hadn't wanted to talk about it…another time perhaps?" Boromir stuttered nervously, not wanting to admit that he was jealous of Aragorn's budding relationship with the tiny blonde in front of him. Tari watched him blush, curiosity rising against her better judgment. Forcing herself not to ask why he was blushing, she merely agreed to his request. "Another time then." Reaching the staircase, they headed down and entered the dining hall.
"Good morning!" Tari chirped happily. "I hope everyone slept well." She saw that the four hobbits sat together, and Pippin spoke up, "yes, we did, and the morning would be going much better if Strider was here too so that we could finally eat!" Sam smacked the back of his head, muttering under his breath about Pippin's behaviour. Tari laughed heartily. "Ah, I had heard of the legendary Hobbit appetite. I can't imagine that Aragorn shall be much longer, so try to be patient for a few more minutes, my friend.
"What are we being patient for?" Aragorn asked as he silently entered the room and sat. "oh!" Tari exclaimed, putting a hand to her heart in surprise. "I didn't see you come in, milord. We were merely awaiting your arrival." She replied. "I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting." Aragorn answered stiffly. Tari was taken aback, not having expected such a cold reply. Tari merely lowered her head, finding her plate suddenly fascinating. She missed the death glare Boromir shot the grumpy Numenorian.
Elrond frowned at the sudden tension at the table, and decided to break the silence. "Let us begin, shall we?" the elf lord asked lightly. "Oh boy!" Pippin whooped happily as he grabbed the first platter he could reach. Sam rolled his eyes in exasperation, and Tari let out a giggle she'd been trying to hold in. Upon hearing Tari's giggle, Boromir let a snort escape before a soft chuckle left his full lips. Soon, Gandalf and Elrond laughed as well. Arwen let out a dainty laugh, and Gimli guffawed loudly as Legolas let out a smile. Pippin looked at them in confusion. "What?" he asked. Tari snorted, then laughed out loud, and everyone joined in, except Aragorn and Pippin. Aragorn, however, cleared his throat, trying to hide the smile that was erupting on his chiseled face.
Hands shot out all over the table, reaching for the foods their owners wanted. Tari managed to grab a couple of pieces of toasted homemade grain bread before Pippin could hoard the basket for himself. She spread a thin layer of creamy butter on each slice before spooning a light dollop of fresh peach preserves on top. Boromir asked if she wished something to drink, and poured the juice she had chosen into the goblet.
Looking for the fruit salad she had noticed earlier, she saw that Aragorn was finishing up with the bowl. Taking a breath, Tari looked up to Aragorn and asked softly, "Could you please pass the fruit salad?" Aragorn looked up from across the table to see Tari's nervous face. Feeling badly for snapping at her earlier, he answered, "yes, of course, my lady." He shot her a look of remorse, and Tari nodded a silent response, smiling slightly.
The rest of the meal went smoothly, with various conversations going on at the same time. Light-hearted fun was the theme of the meal, with thoughts of the dangers they would soon encounter pushed to the back of their minds.
