A/N: I'm soooo SORRY this chapter has taken this long! My school is getting a bit hectic, and for the first part, I felt a bit uninspired, and when my muse came, in the form of Roisin Dubh once again, I had no time!!! My greatest apologies! I hope this chapter will be good enough for the wait! It is longer than usual though, if that'll make up for it!

Unicorn: Hope you like this chapter! Thanks for reviewing. Spring is personally my favorite season, except for my allergies. I live in southern CA, we don't know what fall is. The leaves are still green, it's still warm, and allergies are still here.

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Elanor-G: Aww... what did Theodred do to earn such dislike from you? He is a sweet guy! Yes I know, Faramir's STILL better! I think so too!

Roisin Dubh: Have I EVER told you you're a savior? You got me seriously going on this chapter! Thanks for always being there. I'm glad my portrayal of Elentari's love was something you can relate to.

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Chapter 40

"Boromir is so happy to see you," Theodred noted, "I can't begin to imagine all your friends back in Gondor. I feel selfish for keeping you to myself."

Elentari smiled as she rinsed the towel in her husband's bath, glancing at the night sky all the while.

"Yet I would not return you to them for all the gold the Dwarves horde," he added, grinning like a little boy who has just been rewarded with a treat.

She shook her head at him, smiling all the while. How could anyone not love such a man as he? It plagued her inside, but she dismissed the thoughts that kept her awake at night, as she raised the towel to scrub his athletic shoulders.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, "You haven't spoken a word."

"I'm fine," she reassured him, "I was merely thinking."

"Lost in another one of your stories," Theodred mused, knowing that look in her eyes.

"You should try it sometime." She turned away to dry off the towel, and as she turned her face back, a warm rush of water greeted her. Wiping her face clean, she splashed him back violently.

"There really is no point in you splashing me, for I am already in the bath, and is that not the point? To be wet and clean?" Theodred loved that sulky look upon her face.

She clenched her teeth, shaking her head profusely, "What kind of an influence will you be on our son?"

"As good as you will be," he kissed her, and in one swift motion, pulled her in with him. As she settled in his arms, the warm water cascading along the two of them, he murmured contently, "Now I cannot splash you."

"You will be the death of me," she joked, "I just washed this dress."

"Now you can wash it again," he replied, shrugging.

She shook her head, "Make men do the washing and they'll never speak such words again." Yet despite her words, she pressed closer to him, wanting to feel his arms around her.

Neither of them spoke for a while, for they were both lost in their thoughts, only feeling their arms around each other, their lips mere inches away from each other, warm breath upon their face, and Elentari, their child moving within her. Soon, a tune began around her lips, and she sang so softly that Theodred could barely hear her:

The night has a thousand eyes

And the day but one;

Yet the light of the bright world dies

With the dying sun

The mind has a thousand eyes

And the heart but one;

Yet the light of a whole life dies

When love is done

Elentari knew this to be true, and she had let it take its course, letting shadow take her, for what was there to live for without Faramir? Yet he had called her back, with his gentle, innocent love, and she felt so guilty to Theodred for all that he gave her. The closer they were, the more pained she was. Every time he whispered those three words to her, the knife twisted. She owed it to him to go on, to continue in this world, though there was nothing for her, until now. Now she could not leave, for it was not only her own life she held, but that of her child, and she must continue, if only for the child. Besides, what woman does not want to raise her child, and see him grow to be tall and strong? To see the girls chasing after him, help him ride his first stallion, and teach him how to read his first book.

Theodred broke through her thoughts as he kissed her forehead lightly, "The healers will have my head for this. You are soaked, and if you catch a chill," he shuddered, not wanting to venture down that path.

"I'll be fine," she assured him, "You treat me like a crystal orb, so fragile it might shatter any moment."

"Yet unlike the crystal orb, I cannot see through you, and that is the beauty of it," he answered, his bright eyes meeting hers.

"You do not wish to see through me?" she questioned him, both with her eyes and her words.

He shook his head, "To know the future is to be trapped by it. I would have you keep your secrets until you allow me to discover them. I do not wish to know your every thought, for then there would be no mystery in the way your eyes drift away to a distant place behind my calling, and no mystifying beauty in your song."

When she looked back up at him, with alarm he noted that there were clearly tears in her eyes, "What's wrong, love?"

She shook her head wildly, "You are too good to me. Stop it!" She began crying. Theodred did not understand. Eowyn had warned that Elentari, like many other women with child, became acerbic, but Theodred did not expect her to began sobbing.

As sudden as the tears came, they vanished, as she quickly regained herself, wiping them away as if she was ashamed of them, "I'm sorry," she murmured.

He smiled, showing her that he accepted her apology, and then said, "We must get out of this bath. I'm clean enough, in my opinion, though probably not in yours, and you will catch a chill if you stay in any longer." He climbed nimbly out of the bath, and helped her out, wrapping towels around her.

"I'm beginning to believe that people in Gondor hate us Rohirrim," Theodred said, greeted by his wife's confused gaze, "I have taken away their treasure," he kissed her forehead again.

"You, Prince of Rohan, need to stop flattering me so," she smiled nonetheless.

"It is not flattery when I speak the truth," he replied.

She only shook her head at him, grinning all the while, like a mother attempting to scold an adorable little boy who has just been rowdy. After drying off, she pulled a nightgown over her head, and climbed between the sheets of their bed, her hands settling on her stomach.

He stood by the dresser, buttoning a shirt. "Why do you do that?" she asked, watching him.

He looked at her quizzically for a moment, before answering, "So I can feel you slip it off again," he finished buttoning the shirt, and joined her in the bed.

"What if I don't want to?" she asked, a flirtatious smile curling around her mouth.

Theodred laced his fingers through hers, and pulled her to him, "Then I will have to do some convincing, won't I?" She did not answer as his mouth covered hers.

Boromir stood in one of Meduseld's smaller hallways, gazing at the weaponry displayed on the walls. He had long heard tales of Eorl the Young and the heroic Horsemen from the North, and awe filled him as he gazed up at the tapestries and swords of old. He was wrapped up in his examination of one dagger that he did not hear anyone else approaching till he stood beside him. Glancing up quickly, he saw Theodred standing beside him, still rubbing his eyes from sleep.

For a moment, the two men said nothing, both lost in his own thoughts, gazing up at lost time captured within those colorful threads.

"He aided Gondor," Boromir mused. So proud was he, he could not say that Eorl saved Gondor, merely 'aided'.

"He did his duty," Theodred echoed.

"So should we all." Boromir turned towards Theodred, "I wish to thank you Theodred for bringing the light back into my sister's eyes. She is happy with you, and this visit has really set my heart at ease. We have all worried about her, being so far from us, especially Faramir, but now I shall tell them not to worry, for Elentari is loved here."

Theodred smiled, "I only hope that I can give her what she deserves."

"You love her," Boromir replied, "That is all one can ask."

"I hope it is enough," there was doubt and a trace of something dark in his voice.

Boromir sensed it, "Do not doubt yourself, Theodred. My sister will always have her sorrows and secrets," he thought of Faramir as he spoke, "Don't burden yourself on those. She is happier than I have seen her in a long time. My thanks to you."

Theodred did not answer, but a grateful smile penetrated the doubt upon his face, and Boromir added in a lighter tone, "A good husband you have proven, along with warrior. Now we shall see if you can be a good father as well."

This caused Theodred's face to break out into a wide grin, like a child awaiting a present, "I cannot wait. I hope I will be a good one," he confessed.

Boromir put his hands up, as in defense, "Don't ask me. I don't know anything about children. I'm sure Elentari will tell you what she wants you to do."

The light vanished immediately and his face grew dark once more, "Starting with staying at home with her more often."

Boromir laughed, "She used to tell me to do that too, along with Faramir. He tried to comply with her wishes, but I told her it was impossible. Men do not stay at home, even in times of peace."

"Sometimes I wish I could, but then Eowyn and Elentari tell me how lucky I am to be able to go out. It is free out there, and Eowyn begs to trade places with me. She insists that the trade 'benefits both of us'. She spends all her time with Elentari, and I spend all my time out in the Wild." He laughed bitterly, "But I do love riding on the plains."

Boromir didn't know what to say this time, merely clasped a hand on his friend's shoulder. He liked Theodred, no matter what Faramir had to say against the man, and he wanted to ease his sorrow in any way he could. Besides, Elentari seemed happier here than she ever was in Gondor, save those moments when she was with Faramir.

Theodred regained himself and asked, "When will you be leaving? Elentari was demanding last night that I imprison you in a cage so you cannot go back to Gondor."

Boromir laughed, "I've stayed here for almost a week now. I must return. I was planning to wait till she awoke and tell her, and then leave by the afternoon. I didn't want to tell her earlier. I didn't have the heart to see the look upon her face, nor listen to her begging me to stay."

"This afternoon? She'll be in a nice little rage when she hears that," Theodred grimaced, knowing he would bear the brunt of his wife's anger.

"My apologies," Boromir bowed, grinning all the while, "I take she has not awoken."

"No, I left her sleeping. She looked too peaceful, which is not what she'll be once you leave," he shuddered, "I'll go check on her now."

Boromir watched him go, and thought of all that he had to report to his brother and father once he got home. He knew he had to tell them how happy she was, no not happy; she did not use that word. Content, she had said. He worried though, that Faramir would not take the news well, and though deep down inside he would be glad she was well, it would plunge him into despair once more. He would be afraid that she had forgotten him, and Father won't help. Boromir clucked his tongue in dismay. Why must Denethor always salt Faramir's wounds? He shook his head. Now was not the time to be thinking about these matters. He had the entire ride home to do so. He only had a few more hours in this hall, with these people, with his little sister; he needed to use it well.

Theodred stood fearfully before his wife, still lying in bed. He knew that it was a horrible time to tell her news she did not want to hear, for as irritable childbearing had made Elentari from time to time, she was downright vicious when she was awoken. Yet Theodred knew he could wait no longer, for if Elentari found out from anyone else, she would be even more irritated at him for not telling her himself. With a huge swallow, he began, "Elentari?" He received a sleepy grunt in reply, "I just spoke with Boromir. She opened one eye fully to look at him, "And um, he informed me that, um," he couldn't stop stuttering, though he felt abashed at himself for doing so, "He is planning to leave by this afternoon."

It was amazing the speed of which she sat up in the bed, eyes fully open. Theodred relished in the image of her lying asleep moments before, knowing that the peace then would be gone now.

For a moment she said nothing, but it was the calm before the storm, "He's leaving? Without telling me first?" Her voice was deathly calm, something she adapted from Denethor.

"He was meaning to tell you once you awoke," Theodred tried to explain, waiting for the storm to begin.

Instead, to his astonishment, there was no shouting, but instead, Elentari let her elbows give way, and she sank back into the bed, and for a moment, he heard nothing, till her sniffing gave her silent tears away.

Moving over to the side of the bed, he kneeled down beside it, and gazed at her. She was on her side, face away from him, curled into as much of a ball as she could. Theodred recognized that stance, where she was trying to block out as much of the cruel world as possible, placing herself into another world, one that was entirely her own, and she didn't want anyone to take her out of it.

On another occasion, Theodred may have just left her that way, trusting her to come out of it soon, but these episodes had been occurring far too frequently lately, and he sensed there was something deeper than just being upset at Boromir leaving.

Gently, he touched her shoulder, "Elentari," he coaxed softly.

Nothing.

"Come on Elentari, I know that there's something more than just Boromir leaving that's causing you to act like this," he knew that if he talked long enough, she would respond, so he droned on and on about anything and everything that came to his mind. Finally, after about five minutes of going on and on, Elentari finally turned to look at him. There was no anger in her eyes, nor irritation, not even sorrow. She just looked at him, yet not seeing him, but through him. After staring at him for what seemed like ages to Theodred, she turned away again, though this time, uttering a huge sigh.

"You know how hard it is to deliver a child amongst strangers?" she finally spoke.

Theodred was puzzled. He had not expected such a statement and he offered the best thing he could think of, "They are not strangers. They are the best midwives and healers in the land, and they wish you well."

"They wish me well because I carry their next prince, not because they care about me in any way," she spat, and Theodred knew every word was true. He hated it when she was right, and both of them knew it, and he couldn't say a thing to comfort her.

"Eowyn will be there," he offered pathetically.

"Eowyn will not," she replied, "These sights are not for young ladies to witness. That is what they told me. Very comforting words for me to hear, aren't they?"

Theodred was at an even greater loss for words, but she went on, "And there is no one from Gondor to come either, for there are only Boromir and Faramir, and men are forbidden from the birthing chamber. Araniel is also too young just like Eowyn." Somehow, Theodred knew there was something more to her outburst, and waited.

She ranted on for a few moments, before turning to face him, with eyes wide with tears and horror, "I'm afraid Theodred. I don't know what will happen," she whispered, bursting into fresh tears.

Theodred did not, could not understand her terror, so he did the one thing he did know how to do, he held her.

One thing that always amazed Theodred about his wife was how quickly she could recover herself. He watched her as she sat there, needle in hand, chatting with Eowyn and Boromir, as if the Elentari who had sobbed in his arms like a frightened little girl was a completely different person. He did not know it was a skill she had learned and honed throughout the years of living with Denethor, and hiding her love for her 'brother' that spanned way farther than sibling affection.

He watched her smile and giggle at Boromir making a face, and could not help but smile. She was still such a child, he thought, preferring to hide from the world rather than face it at times. She wove her stories and songs around herself, hiding in them whenever there was something she could not confront. There was pride in her, something he knew was instilled in her since childhood, and she did not like to admit weakness.

"And one time, the three of us were out in the hills by the City," he heard Boromir tell Eowyn, "And I wanted to climb a tree. Faramir and I made it up high, but Elentari absolutely refused to come. She insisted that she would fall off. Faramir told her she was born to live in a tree, and dragged her up, little by little."

Elentari laughed, "He held my head up the whole time, making sure I couldn't look down."

"Yes, by the time you got up to where I was, he finally let you look down, and you practically fainted. You should have seen her. She turned as white as a sheet and almost toppled over. We had to catch her so she didn't kill herself."

"You were the ones who made me go up there in the first place," she hissed, "It's a miracle I'm alive today with all the mayhem you two put me through."

"Ah come on Elentari, you know you loved it." Boromir had a good-hearted grin upon his face.

She shook her head, and then said to Eowyn, "Fate should be less cruel to us, you and me, both growing up with two older boys."

Eowyn smiled, "They don't let me play with them anymore. Theodred is always too 'busy' and Eomer, well Eomer is just Eomer."

Elentari turned toward her husband, "Yes Theodred, you're always too 'busy'."

"My apologies, love," he bowed his head, his hand on his heart.

Eowyn snorted, "No apologies to me."

Theodred smiled apologetically, turning towards his cousin, "I'm sorry Eowyn, for forgetting you so often. I hope you will forgive me."

Eowyn looked at Boromir, "See what happens? It's always 'Elentari' or 'my love', never 'Eowyn' or 'my cousin'."

"Don't worry. It always used to be 'Faramir!' never 'Boromir!'"

Elentari glared at him, "Father always called you, not him."

"Well the love of my dear sister matters to me also," that grin never left his face.

Her eyes grew sorrowful, "Why must you leave Boromir?"

He sighed, "I belong in Gondor, Elentari. Our people need me. Besides, I think I've eaten all the food in this place since I've been here."

Theodred laughed, "Yes. I come home every day and call for food, and the maid tells me, 'my apologies, my Lord. There is no more. Lord Boromir ate it all.'"

Both the women shook their heads.

"Tell Faramir and Father that I miss them dearly, and they must ride out here someday," Elentari said, her eyes boring into Boromir, adding silently to convey her undying love to Faramir as well.

"Of course," Boromir said. The stable boy came in. "Your horse is ready, Lord Boromir." Boromir nodded and stood up, as did Eowyn, while Theodred helped his wife up.

"I have already thanked your father, but please convey my gratitude once more," Boromir told Theodred, "And thank you for your hospitality, allowing me to devour all your food, and for making my sister so happy."

Theodred nodded, "Thank you for coming, and for allowing me her company."

Boromir smiled, and looked at Eowyn, "You must write me. Every time Elentari tells you something about me, you must report to me."

Eowyn grinned, "Of course, but I'm afraid she would steal the letters before a rider could take them to you."

He shook his head, "Take good care of her."

"I'll try," Eowyn replied. She liked Boromir, though he was a little bit too happy for her tastes.

He finally reached Elentari, who had her head down, murmuring things in the speech of the High Elves to herself, "Don't cry, little sister."

"What makes you so sure I was crying?" she snapped, jerking her head up sharply, though tears were forming in her eyes.

"I was hoping my departure might instill tears in you!" Boromir was hurt once more.

"You'll never grow up Boromir," she chided, shaking her head.

"Nor do I wish to." He swept her into his bear-like embrace.

"I love you Boromir," she murmured, "You'll always be my big brother, no matter how childish you are." She paused, then added in a low whisper, "Tell him I love him. Do not let him forget me, but also do not let him linger in despair. Let him think of Nimrodel and Amroth, or Finrod Felagund and Amarië the Vanyar of old."

"If I remembered exactly who they were, I would say something wise," Boromir replied, causing her to shake her head giggling. "Let sorrow pass from your heart and let my nephew be brought into this world without difficulty."

"So I hope," there was fear in her voice. "Farewell, dearest brother. May your journey be smooth and the Valar be with you."

Boromir kissed her on the cheek, nodded at Theodred and Eowyn, and mounted his steed.

As he rode away, he turned to glance at his sister, one last time, standing alone in a hall foreign to her, clad in white, the wind seeming to go through her, and saw an ethereal beauty envelope her, something hauntingly sweet about her. Gazing upon her, her words rang in his mind.

"I always felt that it was the end; the end of a season, the end of life. Autumn is the fleeting last moments of life, the last dance of these leaves. There is something hauntingly sweet about them as their colors change, from the vibrant green foliage filled with life, to the fading gold, vermillion, and crimsons that they take to as their last moments of colorful splendor before passing away. Sometimes I feel people are this way as well. Many who take their leave from this world enjoy a burst of happiness, or splendor, before they are snatched away by Mandos."

He shuddered, the cold wind piercing through him, and he prayed to Iluvatar to watch over his sister and not let her words come back to haunt him.

A/N: There's a lovely purple button. Press it please! If anyone can think of an appropriate title for this chapter, please tell me! For the first time, I'm at a loss for words! Thanks!