Thanks for your reviews! I'm glad you liked the first chapter. I'm sorry it took me forever to update, but I hope you like this one as well. I'm not so sure about it. Please let me know what you think! Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.
Chapter 2: Many Discussions
Ilithya looked up from the large hot water basin and saw Ellethwen entered the wash room with a large satchel from Lord Boromir's wash. Ilithya saw the deep bruise and small cut on her right temple. "Ellethwen, child, what happened?" the older woman asked. Ellethwen sighed as she sat the satchel down on the table next to Ilithya.
"I ran into a door that I failed to see was open," Ellethwen said leaving out the fact that Lord Boromir was the one who actually struck her with the door.
"You should be more careful, dear," she said as she once again stirred the boiling water. Ellethwen nodded her head and moved to the other washbasin where she began to wash Lord Boromir's clothes. Ilithya looked at the young woman again and smiled. "Have you no suitors Ellethwen?" she asked and Ellethwen looked at her.
"No, Ilithya, and I do not care to at the moment," she said as she returned to her task. She heard the older woman sigh and she knew what was coming.
"My son, Celdor, is in search of a good wife, there is no doubt that you would make a good wife. Your form is strong for baring sons and-," Ellethwen looked sharply at the older woman.
"Ilithya, I know this for you tell me every week for the last two months. I am not looking for a husband, I enjoy my job and right now I have no desire to be bound. Now, please I insist you stop this! Please!" Ellethwen said. Ilithya sighed and nodded her head as she went back to work. Ellethwen blushed and shook her head as she continued to do her job.
Boromir walked the corridors with his younger brother Faramir before the evening meal. Soon they would be returning to the battlefields, but they had at least two weeks before that time would come. "So, how is Ilithya doing?" Boromir asked out of curiosity. Ilithya was Faramir's fourth chambermaid since he turned sixteen. It seemed that the youngest of the Steward's sons had the ability to capture the hearts of the young women, but just smiling kindly at them.
"Just fine," Faramir asked, "and Ellethwen? Have you managed to spot your mysterious chambermaid?" Boromir chuckled at that and sighed.
"In deed, I did. Last night after our . . . conversation with father," Boromir said and Faramir sighed. "I went into my room angry and practically kicked in the door. I struck her with it, hard, as she went to exit." Faramir raised an eyebrow and looked at his older brother. "I knocked her unconscious," Boromir said quietly and Faramir stopped. Boromir took a few more steps and stopped as well before he turned and looked back at Faramir.
"You always said you wondered what she looked like, but I never thought you'd be that extreme." Boromir laughed and shook his head.
"I did not mean to hurt her, if it makes you feel any better I tended to her and she left on her own accord." Faramir laughed and nodded his head. They walked in silence for a while before Faramir broke it.
"Is she as plain as you thought her to be?" Boromir sighed as he walked over to the white stone railing and looked down over the city.
"Aside from the bruise I put on the right side of her temple, she is rather . . . beautiful," Boromir finished. Faramir smiled and shook his head. He was about to speak when the silence between them was interrupted by soft humming. Boromir stiffened and turned to look to his right. Faramir followed his brother's gaze. During their walk he hadn't realized that they had walked to the wing where their chambers were. A woman with long black hair braided behind her walked carrying a large basket. Faramir noticed the bruise on her pale face and looked to his brother.
"Is that her?" Faramir asked in a whisper and Boromir nodded. Boromir looked at Faramir and sighed.
"Faramir, tell father I am fatigued and have dinner sent to my room, but ensure that it is enough for two," Boromir said before he walked away. Faramir laughed and shook his head.
"And they call me the dreamer," he whispered as the evening bells tolled and before he turned and headed towards the main hall where their father would be waiting.
Ellethwen entered Lord Boromir's chambers and set to putting his wash away. She knew she had time to ready his room for the evening as he was sitting to his evening meal. She walked into the bedchamber and sat the basket on the neatly made bed.
She opened the wardrobe and placed his folded tunics and breeches in their rightful places before she sat the basket down next to the wardrobe. She glanced around the room and found nothing out of place and with a soft sigh she moved into the sitting room as she looked down at her hands. They would be like prunes for most of the evening and probably in the morning as well, but that was her job.
"Are you always so serious?" a now familiar voice asked and Ellethwen looked up and gave Lord Boromir a small smile.
"Only when needed my lord," she said as she once again found his parchments array on his desk. She walked over and automatically placed the parchments and maps back in order.
"How has your bruise faired?" he asked as he walked over to her.
"Well, my lord," she said as she finished tidying up his desk. "I trust your day has been well." She heard him sigh and she looked up at him.
"Well enough," he said as he sat down on the sofa. He looked so tired and she wiped her hands on her dress.
"I will leave you I peace, my lord." Ellethwen walked behind the sofa and towards the door when he stood suddenly.
"Ellethwen, wait," he said as he walked over to her. She stopped and turned to face him.
"Do you require something?" she asked and he chuckled softly.
"Your promise," he said and she tilted her head to the side. "I have requested my meal in my room tonight, and I would like your company." Ellethwen blushed slightly and nodded her head.
Ellethwen sat on the sofa with her legs curled under her as she looked at the burning embers of the fire. Boromir ate in silence and glanced at her. She had been silent since their meal was brought in and she declined the food he had offered her. "You are not holding true to your promise," he said and she looked at him.
"I am merely waiting for you to finish your meal," she said. Boromir laughed and pushed the nearly empty plate away.
"I am finished," he said and she laughed softly as she turned and looked back into the fire. "Now, tell me of yourself." Ellethwen shook her head and laughed once more.
"I am afraid there is not much to tell. I am a chambermaid and nothing else," she said and it was Boromir's turn to laugh, only his laugh was much deeper and louder.
"Certainly there is more to you then that! What is it you do when you are not working?" Ellethwen shrugged.
"There really is nothing more. I work, eat, and sleep. That is all I do. In the evening I either read or sew, but not much else."
"Do you not join in the celebrations, or travel into the city?" he asked as he leaned forward and she shook her head.
"I rarely go into the city as I never require anything and the celebrations . . . well, I am either usually working during them or I stay away. I prefer to remain invisible if I can help it."
"Why? Why would you wish that? Are you not lonely?" Ellethwen shrugged once more and stood from the sofa. She walked over to the fire and stoked it before she added another log. She remained close enjoying the warmth before she slowly stood and looked back at him.
"There are times, but I do not mind it. I enjoy the peace." Boromir stood as well and walked over to her. Ellethwen felt her cheeks blush at the confused look he gave her.
"I have people with me everyday and the only time I feel at peace is when I am with my men and fighting on the battlefield. When I am within these walls, if I am not with my brother I feel as though there is a weight on my shoulders."
"Your father expects much of you, but offers nothing in return except for words of praise to you and distain towards your brother," Ellethwen said before she could stop herself. Boromir smiled when he saw her eyes widen and she looked down at her feet. "Forgive me, my lord, I should not speak ill of the Steward." Boromir raised his right hand and tilted her chin up so her eyes were looking up at his.
"There is no need for you to apologize, Ellethwen. You spoke the truth, and I am glad you did." He lowered her hand from her face. The blush remained across her cheeks and Boromir noticed it trailed down her neck as well. "I love my father, but since my mother's death and the darkness that still grows in the East . . . he has changed." Ellethwen nodded, even though she remembered nothing of the Steward before his wife died as she was but a toddler when she did pass, however, she knew all to well the darkness in the East for the Dark Lord's minions took her father's life as he fought to protect the river city when she was only six.
"Pain and time changes a person," she said softly and he smiled as he took her hand.
"But it is not always pain that must change a person," he said and squeezed her hand. Ellethwen's blush only deepened but she smiled, a true smile that she had not shared for a long time and Boromir returned her smile. A sudden knock on the door caused Ellethwen to pull away quickly and she moved to the table and began to gather Boromir's plates onto the tray the food was delivered on. "Enter!" Boromir called and a kitchen maid entered the room.
"Pardon me, my lord," she said not seeing Ellethwen. "But I have been sent to gather your dishes as Ellethwen cannot be found." The woman finished with a snobbish tone to her voice and Boromir raised an eyebrow at her tone. Ellethwen stood with the tray.
"I am here, Matira," she said and the young girl seemed startled. "I had finished the wash late and was bringing it in as Lord Boromir finished. You can take the tray to the kitchen while I finish putting away the wash." Matira nodded her head and took the tray from Ellethwen who had walked it over to her. Matira quickly left and Ellethwen walked across the sitting room and into the bedchamber to ready Boromir's bed. Boromir watched her walk away and frowned. He followed her into the bedchamber.
"Ellethwen?" he asked and she glanced at him from over her shoulder as she tugged the curtains closed. "Is something wrong?"
"It was not wise for me to stay here," she said as she finished closing the curtains and then walked over to the bed and began to turn down the furs and blankets. "There shall be talk because Ilithya will know I finished your wash earlier today and if Matira talks to her . . ." she trailed off and sighed. "Matira likes to start conflict, my lord." Boromir shook his head.
"No one will think ill of you," he said and she sighed as she stood and walked over to the fire. She ensured that it was burning brightly and walked over to where Boromir stood.
"They already do," she said and walked past him. Boromir grasped her wrist and she looked at him.
"How so?" Ellethwen laughed softly and shook her head.
"Most that now work in the kitchens or as maids, wish for my position and do all they can to take it, but Trassa knows I know all that you require without even asking." Boromir furrowed his brow and Ellethwen smiled. "Your brother is not the only one who catches the eyes of the women of the court or the women of the city." Boromir had the grace to blush.
"To think you've never spoken a word to me and in the matter of a day, you've freed yourself of your shell and enlighten me to things I have failed to see." Ellethwen blushed that time and shook her head.
"I am not free of my shell, my lord, and it is hard to see things when your focus is solely on the wield of a shield and sword." Boromir smiled and raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Ellethwen's blushed deepened as he slowly lowered hand. "Good night, my lord," she said as she pulled her hand away and rushed from the chamber her cheeks blazing as she did so. Boromir's smile only grew as he watched her leave and he sighed as he closed the door and walked over to the wash basin only to find it empty.
"Of course," he whispered to himself, realizing that he had kept her from her chores by making her keep him company. Even though they had spent most of their time in silence, he looked forward to the next time he was able to sit with her. There was a knock on his bedchamber door. "Enter," he said with a frown. He hadn't heard the chamber door opened. Ellethwen opened the door, her cheeks still red and Boromir frowned. "Are you well?" he asked and she nodded as she carried his water pitcher into the room and sat it next to the basin he stood in front of.
"Fine," she said as she put the pitcher of hot water on the table. She looked at him with a kind smile and bowed her head. "Good night," she whispered before she once again slipped from his room, but she closed the door behind her. Boromir chuckled and shook his head as he untied his tunic and washed for bed.