Hey all! Thank you for your reviews. I hope you like this chapter though it is a little short. I'm going to try and see if I can update again tonight, but don't count on it. I'll do my best to update either tomorrow or Thursday. Thanks again and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 13: Partings and Surprises

"I do not want you to go," Ellethwen said as she buried her face in Boromir's chest and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "It is not fair." Tears fell from her eyes as she held onto him. The week they had been wed was the most joyous time of her life. Even with the King ill, her heart was light and everything looked anew. She looked forward to the dawn just to wake and see his sleeping face and feel his protective arms around her. He held her gently and ran his fingers through her hair.

"I must go," he said gently. "My father-," he began but she cut him off and pushed away from him.

"Your father!" she yelled. She couldn't believe what she was doing but Denethor had torn her from him. Denethor had kept him from her all these years and now he was no where near Edoras and he was taking him again. "Your father and duties still come before me! Before your wife!"

"Ellethwen, this is not like you," he said gently and she looked at him with angry tears.

"I know it isn't, but I cannot help my anger. I have been kept from you for so long, he takes you from me even now when he has no power to do so. What if you do not come back?" she asked quietly and the tears continued to fall. Boromir sighed and closed the distance between them.

"But I will," he said firmly. "My heart has no other commander than you, Ellethwen," he whispered against her temple.

"But what if you do not? I will die knowing that I had found you again only to lose you," she said before she buried her face in his chest and cried softly. Boromir raised a hand to the back of her head and held her gently.

"Oh, Ellethwen," he whispered and kissed the top of her head. "You will not lose me. This is one duty I must finish, and when it is done I will be yours until the end of our days." Ellethwen shook her head and squeezed him tighter.

"I love you," she said muffled into his chest. He pulled her face from his chest and kissed her deeply. Ellethwen sighed against his lips and raised her hands to his face. She held him gently before she moved her hands into his hair. He slowly pulled away and sighed.

"And I you, more than anything or anyone I have loved before."

"More than the White City?" she asked as she opened her eyes and met his cool gray stare.

"More than the White City, more than all of Gondor, and I will return to you, Ellethwen." He kissed her again and she returned his kiss with as much passion as he kissed her with. He pulled back again and Ellethwen whimpered at the loss of his lips on hers. "I love you," he whispered before he slipped from her arms and out of the room. Ellethwen let out a quiet cry and fell to her knees as she wrapped her arms around her middle.

He was gone and she did not know if she would ever see him again.

Boromir rode hard all the while the tears and fear in Ellethwen's eyes close to his heart. He played with the ring on under his gloves and sighed. He had longed to bring her with him, but the journey would be too treacherous for her and far too long. She would remain well protected in the Halls of Theoden and there he would find her again when his task was finished that he had vowed to her and to himself. He had yet to break a vow and he prayed he would not break that one.

Weeks past and at the closing of September Éowyn knew her friend dearly missed her husband but there was something more. Something was wrong with her and Éowyn needed to find out. She walked down the corridors to the servants' chambers and knocked on Ellethwen's door only to receive no response. Éowyn entered the room only to find her friend still asleep. It was nearly mid-day and Éowyn frowned. Normally Ellethwen was up at dawn preparing for the day, however, there she slept. "Ellethwen?" Éowyn asked as she went inside and kneeled next to Ellethwen's bed. Ellethwen sighed and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a few times to get used the light and looked at Éowyn with confusion on her face.

"Éowyn?" she asked as she slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What is wrong?" she asked and Éowyn sighed.

"Only the fact that it is nearly mid-day and you still reside in bed," Éowyn said and Ellethwen's eyes widened.

"Mid-day?" she said as she stood quickly. "There is much to be done! Oh, sweet Eru," she whispered before she moved to her wash table and splashed some of the cool water on her face and began to brush her hair. Éowyn stilled her movements and Ellethwen looked at Éowyn through the looking glass.

"I am taking you to the healers. Gelsey will not like that I have let you fall ill," Éowyn said before she practically dragged Ellethwen from her chamber.

Boromir sighed as he dismounted his horse. It was late September and if his estimations and maps were correct he was no more than twenty maybe twenty-five days at the most from Rivendell. He looked behind him, towards where he knew Edoras laid. He sighed and closed his eyes tightly before he looked ahead once more. The sooner he reached Rivendell and completed his task, the sooner he could return to Ellethwen.

"Honestly, Gelsey, I am fine. I merely over slept," Ellethwen said as the healer prodded her and looked at her eyes. When Gelsey looked at Ellethwen's hands and how she played with the ring that rested on her left finger her eyes widened in realization.

"Your husband, left Edoras when?" Gelsey asked and Ellethwen sighed.

"July fifteenth," Ellethwen said quietly.

"Your last cycle was when?" Gelsey asked and Ellethwen flushed confused as to what her last cycle had to do with Boromir's leaving.

"The end of June. Gelsey, why do you . . .," Ellethwen trailed off and her eyes widened as her hands moved to her lower abdomen. "You mean . . . I cannot be . . . I mean . . ." Gelsey smiled at Ellethwen's flustered face.

"You are with child then it seems, surely your husband shall be very happy to hear the news that his line is to continue so quickly after the union." Ellethwen smiled and laughed as she looked up at Gelsey.

"He will be, when he returns," she said quietly and looked down at her hand that rested on her stomach. She was going to have a baby and if Boromir was not there when their child was born, she would do all she could to ensure that when he did return, he had a healthy wife and child to come home to.

"Oh, Ellethwen, I knew something was the matter, but I surely did not think this!" Éowyn said happily as Gelsey stepped from the room with a smile on her face.

"I did not know. Surely you would think I would know, missing my cycles. I thought it was merely from the pressures lately, with Theoden being ill, Boromir gone, and Theodred and Éomer on constant patrol. Even now, Grima's stares have become longer when you are in the room. The man makes one quite uncomfortable," Ellethwen said explaining away her stupidity for not realizing she was with child before. Éowyn nodded her smile faltering slightly.

"That is true, but no need to worry yourself now. You are going to be a mother and there is no doubt that you will be a wonderful mother." Ellethwen sighed.

"I do hope so, Éowyn, I just hope Boromir returns before the baby's birth. I do not wish for him to miss the birth of his son or daughter." Éowyn smiled and took her friend's hand and led her from the room.

The sounds of the waterfalls in the valley met his ears before the sight of the gates of Rivendell met his eyes. The land around him was beautiful and he found it a shame that it was fall and he could not see the full green of the trees around him. He knew it was a sight Ellethwen would love as well.

Late October, it had taken him longer than he thought it would to enter Rivendell and as he rode through the gate he sighed at the beauty around him. The homes and buildings were beautifully carved and it was easy to see they were labors of love for the elves. He dismounted and was greeted by a tall elf with long dark hair and Mithrandir.

"Welcome to Rivendell, Boromir son of Denethor," Mithrandir said with a smile. Boromir bowed his head. "This is Lord Elrond, the Lord of this relam." Boromir looked to the tall elf and bowed his head once again.

"Your land is unlike any I have seen, Lord Elrond," he said and Elrond smiled.

"You are welcome to take rest here, Boromir as long as you require it," Elrond said. Boromir bowed his head again.

"You have my thanks," Boromir said and Mithrandir, or Gandalf as he was better known, looked at him closely.

"What is different about you lad?" he asked and Boromir smiled as he looked to the wizard.

"Nothing, Mithrandir," he said softly. "Nothing other than I have found my match once again and am bound to her."

"Ah, young Ellethwen," Gandalf said with a smile. "A lovely woman, and no doubt greatly missing you." Boromir nodded sadly and Gandalf patted his arm.

"There is much to be done and you are welcome to a council tomorrow morn," Gandalf said. Boromir nodded his head and looked to Lord Elrond.

"A chamber shall be readied for you to rest, Boromir, as your journey was in doubt long," Elrond said and the man nodded before he followed the wizard and elf into the buildings all the while wishing he had brought Ellethwen with him for her to see the beauty that was the city of elves.