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Chapter 5: Return

Days turned into weeks and weeks slowly turned into months and as the day of the third month dawned Ellethwen slowly crawled from her bed. The winter so far had been hard and the cold damp winds blew in and the fires could not quell the chill. She had become ill over the last few days and she barely had any strength left. She sniffed and wiped at her stuffy nose with a piece of cloth. Ellethwen sighed as she stood and walked over to her vanity and brushed out her hair before she slowly braided it down to the middle of her back. Soon, she was dressed and made her way down the corridors towards Lord Boromir's chamber. He was due home in the afternoon, the scouts had returned late the night before and informed the Steward that his sons returned alive and well and she had to ready the room for him to clean up in and rest from the front lines.

She sighed once again and opened the door to Lord Boromir's chamber. She grabbed the duster from the small basket she had carried and began to dust the room. Once the sitting room was in order, she moved into the bedchamber. The rugs needed dusting so she bent over and grasped at one of the fur rugs to shake it over the balcony, but as she did so, she became dizzy.

Ellethwen slowly stood and raised a shaking hand to her forehead before she swayed and collapsed onto the floor. Darkness filled her mind and she knew nothing else.

Boromir smiled at his father as his father pulled back from the embrace. "It's good to have you home, son," Denethor said. Boromir nodded and looked to Faramir.

"It is good to be home, father, however, we would like to retire for a moment to wash and rest for a bit before the evening meal," Boromir said and Denethor smiled and nodded.

"Of course, my son, take rest and I shall see you later," Denethor said. Boromir didn't fail to notice that he never once addressed Faramir, but he did not say anything and the two young soldiers left the main hall and went down the corridors to their chambers.

"Pay no heed to his words, brother," Boromir said as they walked down the chilly corridors. Faramir nodded. "He is glad you are home as well." Faramir sighed and nodded. They reached his chamber first and he looked to his brother.

"You know you are more fitted for this role, Boromir," Faramir said and Boromir shook his head before he put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"You are just as fitted for it as I," Boromir said as he lowered his hand. Faramir gave him a smile before he went into his room. Boromir sighed and as he walked to his chamber, he found himself wondering if Ellethwen was still inside. He walked in and instead of the warmth he expected from a fire, the room was cold and he shivered. Ellethwen's basket sat near the sofa and he frowned. It wasn't like her not to have the room ready and he walked into the chamber. "Ellethwen?" he asked and received no response. "Ellethwen?" he asked again as he looked around the furniture but found nothing. He looked over his shoulder and saw the bedchamber door open. He walked over to it and pushed it open further. When he walked inside his heart fell at the sight that met his eyes. Ellethwen laid in a heap on the floor near the balcony. "Ellethwen!" he exclaimed as he rushed over to her and took her up into his arms.

Boromir felt her face and it felt like fire under his fingers and then took her hands into his and they were as cold as ice. Her face was pale and her nose red. Her lips were so pale they nearly blended into her skin. He shook his head and sighed deeply before he scooped her up into his arms and ran from his chamber and down the corridor to the house of healing.

"Ioreth!" Boromir called as he ran into the room and the woman ran from the room off the house of healing. "Ioreth, hurry!" he said when he saw her. The woman rushed over to where Boromir laid Ellethwen down. Ioreth put her hand on Ellethwen's forehead and shook her head.

"I told the poor child she was going to work herself to death," Ioreth said quietly and Boromir looked at her sharply as he pushed Ellethwen's hair from her face.

"What do you mean?" he asked quickly and Ioreth looked at him.

"Your chambermaid has done nothing but work since you left. She took the cleaning duties in the house of healing while Magadalyn tended to her ill mother, and she took Ilithya's duties while she visited her son since he was back from the lines," Ioreth said as she walked away. "The poor child said she could not sit still for her heart wouldn't let her. Whatever she meant I haven't the slightest idea," she finished as she hurried into the herbal closet. Boromir sighed and ran his fingers along Ellethwen's face.

"What have you done to yourself while I've been away?" he asked in a whisper. Ioreth came back into the room and Boromir pulled back.

"It would best if you retire, my lord," Ioreth said. "Before you too fall ill." She got to work and poured a liquid down Ellethwen's throat. Ellethwen coughed slightly but swallowed the elixir. Then with a bowl of hot water brought by an attendant she put some other herbs into the water. She then dipped a cloth in the mixture before she put it on Ellethwen's forehead. When she noticed Boromir had not moved she looked up at him. "Lord Boromir, we will ensure she is well taken care of."

"I know, Ioreth, but . . ." he trailed off not certain how to tell her. Ioreth smiled slightly and shook her head.

"Go and rest, my lord," she said as she returned to Ellethwen. "When your evening meal is over you may return, but I am not certain when her fever will break, she has gone long unattended." She looked up at him and when he hesitated she sighed. "You may come and see her for as long as she is within these walls in secret, my lord, if you wish." Boromir looked at her and nodded his head.

"I will be back when the evening meal is over Ioreth," Boromir said. With one last glance at Ellethwen he left and went to his chamber. For the first time in many years he would tend to his own chamber.

Ellethwen slowly opened her eyes, surprised to find that she could breathe better from her nose and her body no longer ached as though she worked a long day in a field or stable. She sighed quietly and licked her dry lips only to have a hand close around hers tightly. "Thank Elebreth," the person said under their breath. She looked to her left and saw the worried and tired looking eyes of Boromir staring down at her. He raised his free hand to her damp forehead and pushed her hair from her forehead. "I feared the worst," he whispered as he looked down at her. Ellethwen felt tears come to her eyes as she looked at him. She had missed him while he was gone, and she would never admit that seeing him that moment made her feel even better. She opened her mouth to speak when he put his fingers on her lips. "Do not tell me to leave you," he whispered. "I have been forced away during the daylight hours, and the night has been the only time when I can watch over you." Ellethwen frowned.

"How," her voice was hoarse and she cleared her throat. His hands left her quickly and grasped a goblet that rested on the bedside.

"Drink," he said softly and Ellethwen raised her head slightly and drank from the goblet. When she had her fill he pulled the goblet away.

"Thank you," she said softly and he smiled. "How long have I been here?"

"Four days, your fever broke this morning. Why did you not come to the healers before?" Ellethwen sighed and closed her eyes.

"I hadn't had time," she whispered and Boromir nodded.

"So Ioreth told me," he said gently as he unconsciously raised his free hand to rest on the side of her face. "She told me you took on twice your duties while I was gone." He sighed and ran his fingers through her hair on the side of her head. "Ellethwen, she said your heart would not let you sit still." Ellethwen closed her eyes.

"Please, my lord," she whispered. "I am tired," she finished as she pulled her face from his hand, but she did not take her hand from his. Boromir frowned and shook his head.

"No, do not pull from me again," he said and grasped her chin gently and forced her to look at him.

"You said this would stop," she whispered tiredly. "You said you not pursue our relationship anymore." Tears came to her eyes and he shook his head.

"I can't," he whispered. "I can't Ellethwen."

"Why?"

"Because I see something in you." He cupped her cheek once more and wiped the lone tear that fell from her eye.

"What could you see in me? I am a daughter of a seamstress and a soldier, a simple chambermaid, what could you possibly see in me?" He smiled at her.

"I see a woman who cared so greatly for someone and put her own self second to them."

"But that is my job," she said quietly and he shook his head.

"Does Ilithya do that with Faramir? Do the other maids do that? No, they do not and believe me I know Faramir wished they did." He shook his head and squeezed her hand. "Ellethwen," he whispered and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes and sighed before she could stop herself.

"My lord," she whispered and Boromir looked down at her. Ellethwen's heart was racing in her chest and she felt dizzy, but not from illness. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I am a chambermaid. If your father were to walk in this very moment, I would be-,"

"Nothing would happen to you," Boromir interrupted, "and he would not walk in. He has long been retired."

"My lord," she said as she shook her head. Boromir sighed and kissed her forehead once more.

"You are relieved of your duties until you are well again, Ellethwen, and I do hope it is soon," he added before he pulled away and walked from the house of healing. Ellethwen sighed as she turned her head and looked up at the richly carved ceiling. Her heart was still racing and her forehead tingled where his lips touched her skin.

"Oh, mother, what have I done?" she asked in a whisper before she softly wept herself to sleep.