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Chapter 11: A Promise Fulfilled
The day passed slowly and after the evening meal the reunited couple escaped into one of the gardens behind the Golden Hall. "Oh, Boromir," she said as once again buried her face in his neck. He chuckled and wrapped her up in his arms. "I never thought you would come." He raised his hand to the back of her head and buried his fingers in her dark locks. Her hair had been down all day, and never before had he seen her wear it that way and he had to restrain himself from burying his hand in it all day, now he was free to do so.
"I promised you, Ellethwen, just as I promised my heart all those years ago," he said heatedly and she pulled back slightly and looked up at him. "You are just as beautiful, do you know that?" he asked with a smile and Ellethwen felt tears come to her eyes.
"Do you intend to hold to your other promise?" she asked quietly. "Do you intend to take me as your wife?" Boromir smiled and moved his hand from her hair to hold her face gently.
"I do, and I have spoken with Prince Theodred about it. We are to be wed at noon tomorrow." Ellethwen let her tears fall and wrapped her arms around him as she let out a joyful cry. Boromir laughed and returned her embrace. She pulled back and smiled up at him. Boromir raised his hands and wiped her face free of her tears.
"I have waited so long for this day, ever since I read those words in your letter I have dreamed of it. Over the years . . .," she trailed off and blushed as she lowered her hands and played with the ties of his tunic. "Over the years I've been working on a dress to wear when you did come," she said in a whisper and Boromir smiled. "I made it in the colors of Gondor." Boromir leaned into her and kissed her forehead.
"Then I will look forward to seeing you wear it tomorrow." Ellethwen smiled and looked up at him. She raised herself onto her tip toes and kissed him Boromir sighed against her lips and leaned down to her so she could lower herself. She slowly pulled her lips away and sighed as she rested her head against his chest. The sun was slowly setting in the distance and she wrapped her arms around him. He sighed heavily and kissed the top of her head. "Ellethwen, there is something I must tell you," he said and she looked up at him.
"What is it?" she asked when she saw the conflicted look on his face in the fading light.
"After we are bound, I am only able to remain in Edoras for a week. I am on a journey to the Elvin city of Rivendell, and I must leave no later then that in order to reach my destination when I wish to." Ellethwen sighed.
"So our time will be short," she whispered as her eyes moved to his chest. "I will be your wife for only a week and then watch you leave again." Boromir sighed and wrapped her into his arms.
"I love you, and the moment I am free from my task, I will return to you and take you back to Minas Tirith. There will be nothing my father will be able to do to stop me." Ellethwen sighed and closed her eyes as she buried her face into his chest.
"Then I will wait. I have waited twelve years. I will be your wife this time though and my heart will ache for a different reason, but you will come back to me," she said and Boromir held her tightly.
"I will, Ellethwen," he whispered into her hair and kissed the top of her head.
Éowyn smiled at Ellethwen through the mirror as she plaited and pinned up Ellethwen's long dark hair. "I cannot believe you are to be wed in only a few moments," Éowyn said quietly and Ellethwen sighed as she put her hands on her stomach.
"Nor can I," Ellethwen said quietly with a soft laugh. "I've dreamed of this day for so long, Éowyn, I just . . ." Ellethwen trailed off and met Éowyn's eyes in the mirror.
"Just what Ellethwen?" Eowyn asked as she put the last pin in Ellethwen's hair.
"I just have this feeling that when he leaves next week, I may never see him again," Ellethwen whispered and felt tears come to her eyes. Éowyn put her hands on Ellethwen's shoulders.
"You will see him again. What would make you think that you would never see him again?" Ellethwen shook her head and sniffed as she wiped at her eyes.
"I don't know, I just have a sinking feeling. Perhaps I'm wrong," Ellethwen said as she stood. Éowyn lowered her hands and nodded her head.
"More than likely, the way he looks at you, I know he will not be away long." Ellethwen blushed and smoothed out the dark blue skirts of her dress. "It is very beautiful. I cannot believe that you made this and never showed me." Ellethwen smiled.
"I wanted to keep it secret, in case he never came." Éowyn smiled and nodded her head when there was a knock on the door. Ellethwen took a slow breath while Éowyn went over to the door. Éomer stepped in and smiled at Ellethwen.
"You look lovely, Ellethwen," he said as he bowed his head. "Lord Boromir is a lucky man." Ellethwen laughed softly and shook her head.
"I am afraid I am the lucky one," she said. Éowyn smiled.
"I better get out to the hall and make sure Theodred is ready," Éowyn said. Theodred was going to perform the bonding ceremony as King Theoden was still very ill. Ellethwen nodded and Éowyn slipped from the room.
"You're very pale, are you well?" Éomer asked and Ellethwen nodded.
"I'm fine, just nervous," Ellethwen said and Éomer chuckled.
"Then both you and Lord Boromir are in the same saddle." He offered his arm and Ellethwen took his arm and sighed. "Are you ready?" Ellethwen smiled up at him and nodded.
"Yes," she whispered and he led her from the room. As they walked down the corridor, Ellethwen couldn't believe everything that had happened. There she was a maid being escorted by the King of Rohan's nephew, about to be wed to the Steward of Gondor's son and she felt as though she deserved none of it. However, she knew if she argued otherwise no one would let her win.
As Ellethwen walked into the hall with Éomer she felt her heart pound steadily against her chest when she met Boromir's gray eyes. The hall was nearly empty except for a few of the other maids and guards as well as Éowyn and Éomer. She smiled and moved effortlessly towards him. Éomer let her arm go and Boromir took her arm. Ellethwen barely paid attention to Theodred because her heart was pounding so hard it echoed in her ears. Boromir turned to her and she turned to look at him as he took both her hands into his.
"Ellethwen, I vow to you to be a faithful and loving husband. I vow to protect you and hold you in my heart for all my days and beyond," he said his voice deep and full of such emotion tears came to her eyes and his too watered. "I give to you, Ellethwen, my heart, my mind, and my soul as long as I live on this land." Ellethwen sniffed and smiled. She squeezed his hands and he returned the gesture.
"Ellethwen, it is your turn to make your vow to Lord Boromir," Theodred said and Ellethwen looked at him. There was a kind smile on the prince's face but there was a great happiness in his eyes. Ellethwen nodded and looked to Boromir.
"Boromir," she said shakily before she cleared her throat and took a deep breath. Boromir smiled and squeezed her hands once more. "Boromir, I vow to you to be a faithful and loving wife. I vow to serve you and hold you in my heart for all my days and beyond. I give to you, Boromir, my heart, my mind, and my soul as long as I live on this land." When she finished her voice shook once more and a happy tear fell down her cheek. Boromir raised one of his hands and wiped the tear from her face.
"Lord Boromir has brought a gift to seal the union between himself and Ellethwen," Theodred said and Boromir lowered his hand from Ellethwen's face and reached into his tunic. He pulled out a small velvet satchel and let go of her other hand. He opened it and poured the contents into his hand. Two rings fell into his palm, one large silver band and another smaller, thinner band with a blue jewel resting in the center. Ellethwen's eyes widened and looked up at Boromir only to see him smiling brightly down at her. He took the larger ring and handed it to her.
"Slid it onto my finger," he whispered as he gestured with his left third finger. Ellethwen nodded and slid the ring onto his finger thankful to see that it fit perfectly. He took the smaller ring and then took her left hand into his left. He put the ring up to her finger and sighed. "I hope this fits," he whispered with a wink and slid the ring onto her finger. To her surprise, but not to his, the ring fit perfectly around her finger.
"Today, I present to you, Lord Boromir of Gondor and his wife Lady Ellethwen," Theodred said and those in the hall clapped happily and Boromir laughed before he pulled Ellethwen close and seared her lips with a passion filled kiss that she felt clear to her knees, which gave away and caused her knees to go weak and she fell against him. Boromir quickly caught her, but he never broke the kiss.
A/N: Okay, rather short chapter and I'm sorry, but it's been forever (at least for me) since I updated. The next chapter will have some mild adult situations in the second half, so if you don't like to read that you can read the first half. I'll have a warning in the beginning for you all too. Thanks and let me know what you think!