Chapter 20

TA 3019 February 30 Dawn

Ithilien

Faramir was dreaming.  He knew it was a dream but it had a certain mystical quality that told him it was more of a vision than a dream.  And it was a vision he didn't want.

He saw Boromir fighting valiantly to protect two halflings.  He fought strange orcs that walked in daylight.  There were many of them.  Too many.

Faramir wanted to jump into the fight, wanted to help Boromir, but the laws of Dreamscape kept him on the sidelines.  An unwilling spectator.

Boromir continued to fight like the warrior he was.  Faramir felt a surge of pride as his brother killed orc after orc.  He released a silent yelp of surprise and fear as an arrow pierced Boromir's shoulder, driving him to his knees.

Unsurprisingly, Boromir was back on his feet seconds later, fighting again.  Several more orcs met their death at the end of Boromir's blade.  Faramir's silent cheer was cut short as a second arrow hit his brother, forcing him to his knees once more.

Yet again Boromir got to his feet to fight.  This time Faramir held his breath, knowing what was coming.  When the third arrow came and Boromir hit his knees again Faramir knew he wouldn't be getting to his feet again.

Faramir shook his head in denial as the archer stopped before Boromir, stringing a fourth arrow.  There was no way Boromir could survive another hit, especially not one point blank.

Faramir woke up screaming Boromir's name.  He just knew his brother was dead.  Having the dream once was one thing.  He could deny it once, maybe even twice.  But having the exact same dream five times?

No, Faramir couldn't deny it anymore.  Boromir was dead.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Plains of Rohan same time

Aragorn woke up that morning surprised to not find Legolas in his arms, or anywhere near him for that matter.  He clearly remembered falling asleep the night before with his husband wrapped protectively against him.  Both Boromir and Farothen were still asleep (a little too close together in Aragorn's opinion) which meant Gimli was on watch, but that didn't tell him where Legolas was.

Sitting up he looked around, "Legolas?"

"I'm over here, Estel." Legolas replied quietly from a bit to the left.

Getting to his feet Aragorn walked over to where his husband sat on a little outcropping of boulders, facing the sunrise.  Reaching the elf he kissed him softly before sitting on the rock beside him.

"A red sun rises," Legolas whispered before Aragorn could start an inquisition he wasn't ready to answer to, "Blood has been split this night."

He met Aragorn's gaze, "What if we are too late?  What if the hobbits have been…You should have left Boromir and I behind.  We slow you down."

Aragorn looked the elf in the eye, reaching up to toy with one of his small side braids, "No, meleth, I will never leave you behind.  Nor would I leave Boromir behind.  You are both part of this quest..."

"Boromir at least can keep up with you." Legolas growled, "I collapsed after a mere three days like some weak maiden."

Aragorn tried not to chuckle, but failed, earning himself a glare from the elf, as he said, "Boromir rides Roch, Legolas.  You do not.  Though, after yesterday I think you should ride with him."

Legolas tensed but did not get a chance to reply as Aragorn continued, "I should have paid more attention to your health.  Boromir said you have trouble sleeping and keeping food down."

"Boromir has a big mouth." Legolas grumbled.

Aragorn smiled, "Perhaps, but I'm glad he told me.  I wish he had told me sooner.  I should have noticed myself though.  I am a ranger, trained in knowing what goes on around me, yet I failed to see your needs, failed you."

Legolas pressed a finger across Aragorn's mouth, "No, Estel.  You are dealing with a lot right now.  You know we must rescue the hobbits before the Uruk Hai reach their master or we will never get them back; you worry about Frodo and Sam as well as Farothen getting involved in all this.  You check Boromir's wounds every chance you get…"

"But I failed you, Legolas." Aragorn interrupted, "I did not make sure you were healthy.  And that should have been my first priority."

"I am fine, Estel." Legolas said running his fingers through Aragorn's hair, "I'm completely recovered from yesterday, more rested than I have been in a while.  I even ate while you slept and, so far, have managed to keep it down.  I am ready to continue this quest."

Aragorn sighed, "I still want to give you a quick examination.  I just wish I had experience with pregnancies…beyond my own I mean."

Legolas chuckled, "I'm sure you do, but our daughter is fine, Estel.  I would sense if she were in trouble."

Aragorn merely gave a thoughtful 'hmm' as he looked around, "Where is Gimli?"

"He…needed a moment alone." Legolas said, "Nature called."

"Oh."  Aragorn looked Boromir and Farothen, "We should wake those two and continue our quest."

"Let them sleep a little longer, Estel.  It has been a while since you and I had time alone."

'It's been just as long since Boromir and Farothen had time alone.' Legolas thought, 'Next chance I get I'll have to coerce Estel away for a while.  And Gimli's smart enough to take the hint.'

With a small, secretive smile Legolas leaned his head on Estel's shoulder.  Leaning his own head on Legolas' Aragorn wrapped an arm around the elf and together they watched the sunrise.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Later that same day the five of them had nearly reached the edge of Fangorn.  Legolas and Boromir had been riding Roch all day when Legolas declared he needed a break and slid off the horse.

"Legolas, what do you think you're doing?" Aragorn asked as he saw the elf land lightly on his feet.

Legolas sighed, "Estel, I've been riding all day and I need to walk a little bit!"

Gimli, Farothen and Boromir almost burst out laughing at the pouty look on Legolas' face that caused Aragorn to back down in two seconds.

"So what do you suggest we do?" Aragorn asked his husband.

Legolas shrugged innocently, "Just let Boromir and Farothen scout ahead on Roch a little bit and it will give me a chance to walk a little."

Both Boromir and Farothen seemed to like this idea since they both grinned as Farothen leapt up onto Roch's back behind Boromir.

"See you up ahead, Ada," Farothen called as Roch nickered and galloped off.  Both Boromir and Farothen were laughing.

"Farothen!" Aragorn yelled.  When he received no answer he turned to Legolas and Gimli and said, "You can't tell me there wasn't something suspicious about that!"

Legolas gave Aragorn an innocent look, "Estel, I'm not sure what you mean."

In desperation Aragorn turned to Gimli.

"Laddie, I think yer imaginin' things." Gimli responded to Aragorn's look

Aragorn groaned and turned around to walk in the direction his son had gone.  As soon as his back was turned Legolas and Gimli exchanged knowing grins.

Meanwhile, a little ways ahead, Farothen and Boromir had pulled Roch behind a rock outcropping.  As soon as the felt they were out of sight both of them jumped off Roch and kissed passionately.

"Remind me to thank Legolas once we get back," Boromir said as soon as their lips parted, "I know my father won't be nearly as understanding."

Farothen rolled his eyes, "How do you think I feel?  Ada is beginning to suspect something."

Boromir sighed and pulled Farothen to him, "I know it will be difficult, but Aragorn will have to accept us.  We love each other, Farothen.  Once Aragorn sees that…"

Farothen smiled contentedly as his head rested on Boromir's chest, "This whole quest makes me wish I'd met you earlier, Boromir."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"How far ahead could they have gone?!" Aragorn exclaimed half an hour later.

Legolas groaned.  'Is this how he was going to act when his daughter was born?'  Although, to be fair, Aragorn had raised Farothen as a single parent.

"Estel, I'm sure they're fine.  Injured or not, Boromir is a capable warrior," Legolas said before adding, "And so is our son."

Before Aragorn could answer both he and Legolas turned their heads in the direction of Fangorn.  The ground was trembling so they both knew something was heading toward them.

Legolas, due to the farsightedness of elves, saw the approaching riders and looked at Aragorn, "They come quickly.  Friend or foe, the Rohirrim will not be happy to have us in their land without the permission of their king."

Nodding Aragorn motioned Legolas and Gimli toward a near by group of boulders and they all ducked down behind them.  Within minutes the riders passed at a slow run.

Crouched behind Aragorn, watching them pass, Legolas whispered in an I-told-you-so way, "The Rohirrim."  He smiled at Aragorn's small hum of agreement, "They may have news of the enemy."

Aragorn nodded and got to his feet as the last of the Rohirrim passed.  Stepping out into the open he yelled, "Riders of Rohan!  What news from the Mark?!"

One of the front riders lifted his spear, motioning for the whole group to turn back.  As they surrounded the three companions Aragorn and Gimli instinctively kept Legolas protectively between them.  The Rohirrim came to a stop around them, forming a circle of horse, rider and spear.  Their leader forced his way between a couple of his men and looked down at Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli with an impatient scowl.

"What business do an elf, a man and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?"  He paused long enough to glance at each in turn before snapping, "Speak quickly!"

Gimli gave him a smug look, "Give me your name, Horsemaster, and I shall give you mine."

The Rohirrim leader handed his spear to one of his underlings, slid off his horse and stepped toward Gimli.  Aragorn placed a calming hand on Gimli's shoulder as the man of Rohan drawled, "I would cut off you head, Dwarf, if it but stood a little higher from the ground."

In the blink of an eye Legolas had an arrow notched to his bow and pointed at the young horse lord, "You would be dead before your stroke fell!"

The riders still mounted pointed their spears closer to Legolas as their leader stared the elf down.  Aragorn reached over and pushed Legolas' arm down while speaking to the man of Rohan.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn.  This is Gimli, son of Gloin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm.  We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king."

"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe," the young horse lord said taking off his helmet, "Not even his own kin."

The rest of the riders withdrew their spears as their leader continued to speak, "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over his lands.  My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that we are banished."

He cut off as they all became aware of another horse's approach.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Farothen reined Roch to a stop when he saw the riders surround his fathers and Gimli, "Uh-oh.  That can't be good.  The men of Rohan don't like strangers crossing their lands without leave of late."

Boromir looked past Farothen's shoulder just in time to see one rider force his way through the group to speak to the now surrounded elf, ranger and dwarf.  The helm the rider wore was distinctive; none of the others' helms had the flowing white horse tail.  Boromir recognized it instantly.

He released an evil chuckle, "No problem.  Let's go."

Farothen glanced over his shoulder at his husband, "You know them?"

"Nay, I know their leader."

"How?" Farothen asked.

Boromir grinned as he took the reins from his husband and said, "He's not a past lover, my love.  So you have nothing to worry about."

Farothen faced forward again as Boromir urged Roch into motion again.  He wasn't sure what to make of the sudden evil glint in his husband's eyes.  But something told him it would be interesting finding out what it meant.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The riders still mounted broke the circle when their leader motioned so he could see the rider approaching.  As Roch stopped a few feet from him he glanced from Farothen to Legolas and back again.

The young horse lord jerked his chin toward Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, "Are you with them, stranger?"

Farothen started to reply when Boromir (who up until then had remained hidden behind the half elf) tilted his head to the side with a wicked grin and said, "Good day, Eomer.  Yeah, we're with them."

"Oh no.  Not you." Eomer moaned quietly before quickly adding, "I can explain about last time…"

Boromir smirked but waved a hand, "We're past that."

Aragorn, Legolas, Farothen and Gimli all looked back and forth between Boromir and Eomer, wondering what the joke was.  Although some of the Rohan riders must have known what was going on because they had smirks on their faces.

However Aragorn might have been curious, he decided he could just ask Boromir later.  They all still had a job to do.

"We are not in league with Saruman, if that is your fear," he said to Eomer, "We track a band of Uruk Hai westward across the plains.  They have taken two of our friends captive."

Sparing Boromir one more nervous glance Eomer turned to look at Aragorn with a sad smile, "The Uruk Hai are destroyed.  We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two hobbits!" Gimli piped up, "Did you see two hobbits?!"

Eomer looked confused until Aragorn calmly said, "They would be small.  Only children to your eyes."

Eomer sighed, "We left none alive."

There was a beat of silence as that sunk in.  Even the previously joking Boromir was suitably subdued. 

Slowly Eomer pointed to a stream of smoke in the distance, "We piled the carcasses and burned them."

"Dead?" Gimli gasped.

Legolas put a hand on Gimli's shoulder as Eomer gave a small, sad shake of his head, "I am sorry."

Another beat of silence followed before Eomer turned a little, arm outstretched, and whistled, "Hasufel!  Arod!  Eomer!"

Legolas blinked as three horses walked forward.  He latched onto the chance to subdue the grief over the hobbits and asked, "Did you just call one of them Eomer?"

Eomer sighed, "Yes."  He glared at one of his men as he said it.  The young rider just shrugged in an I-thought-it-was-funny way.

While quiet smirks escaped the gathered men, Hunters and Rohirrim alike, Eomer faced the remnants of the Fellowship, "May these horses bear you to better fortune they their former masters."

Boromir let Roch take a few steps forward of his own accord, still trying to come to grips with the little ones being beyond their help now.  Farothen spoke over his shoulder, drawing Boromir's attention away from his dark thoughts as Aragorn took Hasufel's reins and Legolas took Arod's.

"You stay on Roch," Farothen whispered, "I trust him more to bear you with the speed we need yet not trouble your injuries over much."

Boromir nodded as Farothen slid to the ground, feeling a small tendril of humor push past grief.  Truthfully, he was glad his husband was taking the third Rohan bred stallion.  Given the relationship he had with the young horse lord, and the position he'd caught Eomer (the Human) in the last time they'd met, Boromir wasn't sure how he felt about riding a horse named Eomer.

He winced when Roch jostled him out of his thoughts by taking another couple steps toward the Rohirrim leader's mount, a dark bay mare. Eomer grabbed the mare's reins as she moved toward Roch at the same time.

"Fara, stay."

Boromir couldn't stop his small smirk at that and asked knowingly, "You named you horse Fara?"

Eomer seemed to blush but he glared at the Gondorian and growled, "Shut up, Boromir."  That said he swung up into Fara's saddle and met (and ignored) Aragorn's questioning gaze, "Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope.  It has forsaken these lands.  Farewell."

He put his helmet back on avoiding Boromir's highly amused gaze by looking at his men and called, "We ride south!"

As Eomer started to ride away Boromir gave one final parting shot, "Say hi to my brother for me!"

Eomer met Boromir's gaze, startled, "Uh…"  Giving the man of Gondor a somewhat nervous glare he shook his head and rode off.

Boromir met the gazes of his four curious companions.  He had to force an innocent smile onto his face when he caught a glimpse of the smoke rising in the distance.  He pointed over his shoulder at the retreating Eomer.

"He's my brother's lover."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A few final notes…we changed the direction Eomer and the Rohirrim went for obvious reasons, we needed him to ride south toward Gondor instead of north for whatever reason Tolkien had.  On the names of the third Rohirrim horse and Eomer's mare…we just wanted a little humor to offset the Hunters finding out they were too late to save Merry and Pippin.

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Replies to reviews…

Crazyelfgirl88:  This is more of a reply to your review for our story 'Legolas'.  Believe me, I love Legolas just as much as the next fan (I've got two posters of him and one of Orlando himself) but having Legolas die just seemed to fit that story.  If I hadn't been the one to write it I would have cried too (I think Brina almost did when she read it), so I know what you mean.

MaidenofImladris:  I'd just like to thank you for your compliment on how Brina and I write.  I think it comes from being major fans of reading and the fact that we've been writing together for at least 6 years.  Thanks again.

Arch-Nemesis:  No, I promise I'm not trying to drive you insane, I just didn't know how to answer your question.  It's kind of a yes/no situation.  As for your question about Legolas, his situation will slowly be explained throughout the rest of his pregnancy as they all figure it out together.  But, I can tell you for sure that Legolas WILL NOT lose the baby.  We can't do that.

Bumper:  I hope this chapter explains a little about why Legolas and Boromir didn't stay behind and why Aragorn seems to miss stuff around him.  The way I see it, he's got a lot on his mind and even in the movie it was Legolas who noticed that Gimli was lagging behind, not Aragorn.  And I find it hard to believe that, even if they could convince Boromir and Legolas to remain behind, Aragorn would want to leave his husband while he goes on to fight a war he could very well die in so soon after being reunited.  But that's just my opinion.

And once again, to everyone who reviewed, thanks a bunch and we'll see you again next week.

~Becky and Brina~