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Chapter 3: Meeting in a Courtyard

Seven days had passed and Ellethwen had shared one other night with Lord Boromir, however, she was rather thankful they had shared only one other night. She felt like a fool for speaking as freely as she did with him, but she knew that if he asked for her company again, she would gladly concede. The last four nights were so quiet that even her reading or stitching could keep her interest. As the eighth day since she spoke with Lord Boromir came to an end and after she had his room readied, she found herself walking outside in one of the few courtyards that were still maintained.

She wore her heavy wool dress and pulled her shawl tightly around her as she looked out over the railing and down at the city. Various people were flowing into the streets and hovering around a tavern on one of the upper levels and from the music that floated up from the tavern, Ellethwen knew that someone in the city was married earlier that day for the marriage celebration song was playing. Ellethwen smiled slightly, but when she looked to the east and the orange glow that still filled the sky met her eyes her smile fell.

"A celebration in the shadow of darkness," she whispered.

"The darkness does not cover the White City," a deep voice said behind her and she turned around to see a dark figure standing behind her. As he stepped forward from the shadow of the stone wall, the moonlight shined down upon his face and Ellethwen bowed her head.

Boromir sighed and stepped closer to her. He raised his hand to her face and lifted her chin so her eyes met his and the light of the moon danced in them. "That it does not, but it casts a shadow over it's fair walls," she said softly and Boromir smiled and lowered his hand.

"And we fight to protect it, and it's people," he said just as softly. Ellethwen gave him a small smile and nodded. "I am sorry I have not asked for your company," he paused and sighed before he continued, "my father has been keeping both Faramir and I very busy." Ellethwen nodded.

"I know, there is rumor that he is to name you Captain before you and your brother leave for your duty." Boromir smiled down at her before he laughed gently.

"That is actually not a rumor," he said before he stepped around her and rested on the railing. He looked down at the celebration and then he felt Ellethwen move next to him.

"You're going to get a chill if you stand out here too long, you're not wearing your cloak." Boromir looked at her and her eyes were on the celebration just as his was a moment ago. Boromir took her hand and pulled her from the railing. Ellethwen gasped, startled at his sudden movement as he pulled her close to his form. She looked up at him with wide eyes as he put his right hand on her waist and held her right hand firmly in his left. "My lord?" she asked but he just smiled and gently led her in a slow dance to the music that played down below. Ellethwen laughed softly as he spun her around the courtyard, easily avoiding all the bushes and the stone benches. Boromir couldn't help but smile brightly as he heard her laugh and as they neared the fire lit corridors he saw a faint color to her cheeks. With a final spin into the slightly warmer corridor he stopped but still held onto her firmly.

Ellethwen felt her heart race as she looked up at him and when he let go of her hand and gently touched her cheek, she swallowed hard trying to rid her throat of the sudden lump that appeared.

"Your bruise is nearly faded," he said as his eyes were on her right temple before they quickly moved to her eyes. He let his fingers dance down her cheek and he felt the skin grow warm under his fingertips, his eyes didn't have to leave her to know that she was blushing deeply.

"It is," she whispered after finding her voice. A throat clearing behind Boromir caused Ellethwen to push herself away from him and her eyes to fall to the stone floor. Boromir sighed and turned around. Faramir stood there, his arms crossed over his chest and a questioning smile on his face.

"Good evening brother," Faramir said as he uncrossed his arms and walked over to Boromir who was looking at him as if he was an orc he wanted to skewer.

"Faramir," Boromir said tightly and Faramir looked to Ellethwen who stood finding the floor much more interesting then either man that kept her company. "What are you doing out of the library so early?" he asked and Faramir looked at his brother with a smile.

"I wanted to have a walk before I retired, and I am sorry if I interrupted anything," Faramir said causing Ellethwen to look up at him quickly.

"No, my lord," she said and both men looked at her. "You interrupted nothing. Lord Boromir was simply checking the bruise on my face and nothing more." Boromir frowned at her obviously flustered response and the fact that she refused to look at him. She once again looked to the floor and took a deep breath. "If you will excuse me, it is growing late and there is much to do in the morn." With a quick curtsey she turned and left the two men as quickly as her feet would carry her.

Boromir sighed and looked at Faramir once Ellethwen was out of sight. "If you were not my brother . . ." he trailed off and Faramir held up his hands.

"What if it was not I who stumbled across your moment with Ellethwen? What if it was another servant or worse yet, what if it was father?" Faramir asked. Boromir's posture stiffened and he exhaled heavily.

"Nothing happened, Faramir," Boromir said and Faramir raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing? Then why did it seem as though the two of you were about to-," Boromir interrupted.

"We were about to do nothing!" he hissed. "We talked and . . . I danced with her into the corridor. There was nothing more to what you saw." Faramir frowned. He knew his brother better than anyone, and there was a conflict within his eyes. "Ellethwen and I are friends, brother. We barely know each other," he said quickly and turned from Faramir. Boromir briskly walked down the corridors to his chamber where he had much to think about.

Ellethwen closed the door to her chamber, her heart pounding and her blush still deep across her cheeks. If it had been the Steward that found them, she would undoubtedly be without employment or worse, thrown into the dungeon. She moved to her bed and sat down in the chilly room her hands shaking. She cursed herself for what she had wanted to happen that moment.

She had wanted him to kiss her, and she felt tears come to her eyes as she remembered another promise she had made to her mother that she had broken.

"Whatever you do, Ellethwen, do not grow to care for him," her mother said as they ate their meal.

"What do you mean mother?" she asked as she pushed her plate back.

"A young woman in your . . . position can easily fall for the kindness shown to her by a man, but know that men like Lord Boromir are born to privilege and would never forsake their duty to their country for love." Ellethwen blushed at her mother's statement.

"Mother, you know that I have no experience with that," she said quickly and her mother smiled.

"I know, my child, and that is what I fear. Even by chance you do not remain invisible, and he befriends you, just know that nothing can come of it. If he claims to love you, remember his duty to his father is stronger and he would never chose you over that duty." Ellethwen nodded.

"Do not worry mother, I will not fall in love with him. I promise." Her mother smiled and nodded her head as she returned to her meal.

Ellethwen let a sob escape her lips as she looked out her window and at the star filled sky above her. "I am so sorry mother, I do not mean to disappoint you, but I know not what is happening. I enjoy his company and have come to realize just how lonely I had made myself. I do not . . . love him. I was caught up in a moment with him, and I won't let it happen again," she said to the sky, but she truly didn't know if she could keep that promise.