Disclaimer: I do not own any characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien (such as Boromir, Faramir, or Denethor). I own only Hallahiriel, the former Barmaid of Dol Amroth, Corerith, Lady Brumwen, Therassa, Owynvan and Gweddyn.
The story is set in 3011, seven years before The Fellowship of the Ring. Boromir is 33 and Faramir is 28. Hallahiriel happens to be 26.
The Continuing Story of Hallahiriel, the Former Barmaid of Dol Amroth
By Leah Pensotti
Chapter Six: The Story of Every Scar
The mercenaries filed into the hall and Hallahiriel held onto her husband's arm with a grip of steel. Owynvan was last to enter, his sharp and now devilish good looks nearly betraying the gravity of the situation. He nodded toward the sons of the Steward and spoke in greeting.
"My lords, thank you for agreeing to see me at such an hour. You will not be sorry. I bring your father a powerful gift." Boromir felt Hallahiriel tense as the man spoke; his eyes resting on her.
Owynvan appraised his former betrothed; Hallahiriel was still the loveliest thing he had seen and he was still quite smitten with her. However, when she refused him three years before; his heart had felt nothing but a mixture of anger, desire and a need to prove himself to her. As he took in her red-gold tresses and round face; his eyes followed to where one hand rested on her swollen belly. She was with child; Boromir's child. She was carrying the heir to the Stewardship.
He stepped closer to her, yet she eyed him defiantly.
"Lady Hallahiriel. It has been three years since I last saw you. I have thought of you often since that night we were to wed. I still have seen no lovelier a maid." Hallahiriel matched his gaze, but her eyes became savage and protective.
"As you can see, Owynvan, my days of maidenhood are behind me." She nearly spat the words at him.
"Let me congratulate you, Lord Boromir. Not only have you won the fair lady, but she is carrying your child. Will it be your firstborn?" Boromir felt Owynvan trying his nerves, but he spoke coolly and without hesitation.
"Not that it is any concern, Owynvan. But this is our firstborn. Now, if you would be so kind as to tell Faramir and me of this powerful gift that you have for my father?" Faramir stepped forward and Therassa stood behind him looking very confused.
"Yes, Owynvan. Do what you have come to do and be done with this display. What have you brought for the Steward?" Faramir spoke forcefully and Hallahiriel noticed the fire in his eyes.
"I wish to take my gift to the Steward first, so he can judge what should be done with it." Owynvan smiled to Boromir, who looked very unamused. Faramir traded a suspicious look with his brother and before they could argue, Denethor entered the room like a gust of wind.
"What is this commotion? Who dares to disturb me at this hour?" He looked angrily at the group of men in the hall and his eyes rested on Owynvan.
"Are you not the son of Lady Brumwen? It has been years since I have seen your mother. Is she well?" Denethor questioned sternly, a frown very evident on his face.
"I have just come from her home outside the city. She moved away when I left Gondor three years ago. She is well and a little older, however, she has not yet adjusted to country life." Owynvan smiled at the Steward, seeing his chance to get on Denethor's good graces. His gift would make it easy for him to infiltrate the Stewardship and perhaps, even win back Hallahiriel.
Owynvan looked to her again, she stood as a pillar of strength and solidarity next to her husband; the proud and arrogant Boromir. Yes, Owynvan will receive much satisfaction from the chaos he was about to unleash. He was bent on retribution and Hallahiriel was the woman who played him as a fool.
"What are you doing here, boy? I heard something of a great gift." Denethor looked on curiously, his hand stroked his chin in deep thought.
"Indeed, my lord. I have brought you a gift that would ensure Gondor victory at every turn, but it is a gift not meant for all eyes. It is only for you to see." Owynvan gestured to a burly man who held a great wooden box. The man handed the box to Owynvan and he lifted it for the Steward to see.
"I must say, I'm intrigued. You brought it for me you say? And for the glory of Gondor? Come into my study, boy. We will have privacy there." Denethor waved Owynvan on with his hand, beckoning him to come closer. Faramir looked aghast and stepped forward in dismay.
"Father, I think that Boromir and I should attend. I must say that the offer seems a suspect." Denethor frowned deeply; his face wrought with lines. Faramir stood tall and Boromir came to his brother's defense.
"I agree with Faramir. Let he and I come with you, in case there is any ill will." Hallahiriel still held onto her husband's arm, wishing for Denethor to allow Boromir and Faramir to attend the meeting with Owynvan. However, the Steward just sneered fiercely.
"I do not need your aid, Boromir. Owynvan has brought me a gift for Gondor's sake. You should attend to your wife and retire for the evening. As for Faramir, I believe he should escort our guest home." Denethor took Owynvan by the shoulder and led him to his personal study. Hallahiriel watched Owynvan walk away, knowing that he was up to no good. He smiled at her a little too hungrily; like a wolf tracking his prey. When the Steward and Owynvan were out of sight; the latter's men filed out of the hall and into the courtyards.
"I do not like this business, Boromir. I find Owynvan's motives questionable." Faramir offered his arm to Thaurelda, who looked curious and terrified at the situation. Hallahiriel looked into the girl's eyes and she could see her admiration for the young Captain as she snaked his arm about his. Thaurelda's brown-green eyes looked at her worriedly and Hallahiriel tried to settle her nerves.
Boromir sighed thickly to his younger brother, "I feel the same. That boy is nothing more than a recidivist and a troublemaker. He has tricks up his sleeves, of that I am sure. However, father will not hear from us tonight. I shall try talking to him in the morning. For now, why don't you take Thaurelda back to Aethlien's shop. It is becoming very late."
Faramir looked at Thaurelda and nodded his consent. However, Thaurelda was more concerned with Hallahiriel and how she felt. The girl placed a hand on Hallahiriel's stomach and asked in a nurturing tone.
"Are you all right, Lady Hallahiriel? You really shouldn't become upset in your condition." Hallahiriel nodded in a grateful way and smiled.
"I am fine, Thaurelda. I am only sorry that such a spectacle had to happen while you were here. Actually, I am sorry that the spectacle happened at all." Hallahiriel felt Boromir wrap an arm around her in comfort and she smiled wryly and continued, "Boromir and Denethor are right, Faramir should escort you home, for it is growing very late. However, I am glad for your company and your help. Please say that you will call again this week"
Thaurelda smiled, "Of course, I would love to."
Faramir kissed Hallahiriel's cheek, "You should get some rest, Halla. I will see you in the morning. Put your worries to rest for the night; Boromir and I shall even them out in tomorrow."
Hallahiriel patted his cheek and whispered goodnight. She and Boromir waited as Faramir and Thaurelda disappeared out the front door.
"Come Halla, we've had too much excitement for one night." Boromir nudged her forward and helped her climb the stairs to their quarters. As she changed into her nightdress, she felt that she could fall into a fit of tears. How dare Owynvan. However, Boromir would not let him off easily for his antics.
As she stepped out from the changing screen, she spied Boromir on the edge of their bed removing his boots. Hallahiriel crawled onto the bed and over to where he sat, his bare back, arms and chest showed the years of skirmishes and battles on his skin. She traced a scar by his shoulder with her fingertip, fighting back tears as thoughts invaded her mind.
Someday she feared that he would not return to her.
Hallahiriel pushed the thoughts out of her head and she owed it all to her raging emotions that she had been experiencing through her pregnancy. Boromir's muscles tensed, he knew that she was worrying.
"What are you thinking about, love?" He turned to her slowly, her blue- grey eyes turned earnest and she bit her lower lip in hopes to quell her surging emotions.
"I was just thinking about the story that goes with every scar. Do you remember all of them?" Boromir sighed; she asked such questions that nearly broke his heart.
"Halla..." He trailed off; he could not form the words to comfort her and continued, "Why must you ask such questions?"
She shrugged and smiled modestly, "I don't know. Why must you avoid answering them?"
Boromir chuckled and kissed her lips. She was insufferable at times, even as charming as she was. She crawled beneath the covers and he soon followed. Hallahiriel lied on her back, because it had become increasingly harder for her to lie any other way. Boromir lay beside her on his stomach, and he watched her features in the darkness. She started laughing in spite of herself and Boromir raised an eyebrow.
"What's so amusing?" Hallahiriel turned her head to him and laughed again.
"I was just thinking about how happy I will be once the babe comes and I can lie comfortably again." Boromir joined her in laughing but shook his head.
"Aye, you'll lie comfortably. However, not for very long. We won't be sleeping much. Children do not keep the same hours as their parents. They sleep during the day and want for feeding at night."
Over two weeks time, Boromir and Faramir kept at their father to divulge information about what Owynvan had brought him. However, Denethor was keeping very tight-lipped about the entire situation. Therassa would stop by and help Hallahiriel sew blankets and gowns for the child, although Hallahiriel knew that she also came by to perhaps catch a peek of Faramir.
The morning after he walked Thaurelda home, Hallahiriel interrogated him relentlessly and asked him if he kissed her goodnight. Faramir looked shocked, to say the least. He contended that he would never be so bold. He in fact, had not kissed her, but the thought had passed through his mind.
Faramir and Boromir spent much of the two weeks, talking about Boromir's business in Rohan and how to find out what Owynvan was up to. On the morning that Boromir was to leave for Rohan, Hallahiriel was feeling particularly bad. Her sides felt tight and tense and she found it hard to get out of the chair by the fireplace in the hall. She sat with Faramir silently and waited for the inevitable farewells.
When Boromir appeared in the hall; Hallahiriel saw him adorned in full traveling garb. A cloak draped around him, his sword on one hip, the horn of Gondor at his side and his shield on his back. He saw the look on her face and felt the pang of guilt pull at his chest. She was pale and tired and he hated the thought of having to leave her at this particular time.
Faramir helped Hallahiriel to her feet very slowly, because that was the speed that she had been operating at for awhile. Boromir took his wife in his arms and pressed his lips to her forehead and he heard her choke back a sob.
"I will try to accomplish everything as soon as possible, Halla. I want nothing more than to return to you and our child. However, Faramir will be here with you. Please try not to worry about me, dearest. You take care of yourself."
Hallahiriel looked up at him with wide eyes and encircled her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She kissed him deeply while committing to memory the way he tasted and how she felt in his arms. Hallahiriel stole his breath, hoping to keep part of his strength so that she could draw upon if anything unexpected were to happen.
She pulled away slowly, tears flecked in her eyelashes and pleaded with him silently; "Return to me, Boromir. Return safely and without trouble."
"I'll do my best, Halla." He kissed her again and traced a finger down her pale cheek. Boromir turned to his brother and embraced him quickly.
"Take care of Halla, Faramir. If the child should come early, send a scout to Rohan and I will leave as soon as I possibly can. I pray that it does not happen, for I long to be here to see it." Faramir nodded sympathetically. Deep down, he knew that Boromir would not arrive in time to see Hallahiriel bear their firstborn child. Faramir vowed to do everything he could in his brother's stead; with Ioreth and Corerith's help, that is.
"I'll keep an eye on her, Boromir. Have a safe journey and send my greetings to King Theoden."
Boromir nodded and stole another kiss from Hallahiriel before he exited the hall and made his way to the stables. As he walked out of sight, Hallahiriel burst into tears and Faramir put an arm around her in comfort.
It was going to be a very long and eventful month.
A/N: Next up LABOR! Thaurelda and (poor, poor) Faramir help Halla through labor; Boromir arrives in Rohan and meets some familiar (to us) folk. Owynvan plots against the Stewardship and many more surprising things! It's gonna be a doozy!
LAST CHANCE FOR BABY NAMES!
CAN ANYBODY GUESS WHAT OWYNVAN'S GIFT IS?
Love you all! Please Read and Review!
Leah P!
To Diamond Took3: Thanks for the Review! I loved Paris, though we only spent a day there on a day trip from London. It was everything I expected it to be; glamorous, romantic and grand. Oh, Owynvan's revenge is hardcore! Just wait to find out! Please read and Review!
To Angel of Harlem: All I can say is that Faramir is going to be so tired after the next few chapters! Few uncles have to go through this! However, he wears it well. I bet you thought that I was lost in Potter-land with Rosaleen and Remus ( I do love them so much!). Haha! I am pulling double duty and I am loving it! By the way, there is a really great Faramir shirt at Hot Topic's web site. If you click on the Lord of the Rings icon it should be on the first page. If you have trouble I can e-mail you the link. They have a lot of great Azkaban stuff too! Please Write soon!