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Chapter 21: Discussions and Rest

"Ellethwen, please explain," Théoden's voice echoed in the hall. The woman jumped slightly and Boromir turned taking her hand into his and securing it in his elbow. The King of Rohan stepped closer to her and she gave him a nervous smile.

"Forgive me, my lord," Ellethwen said quickly. "I know you have not met my husband." Théoden's brow furrowed and looked to the travel worn Boromir.

"Husband?" Theoden asked and Boromir nodded.

"Aye, my lord," Ellethwen said causing Theoden to turn his attention to her once more. "We were wed in mid-July." Theoden looked to Boromir and Boromir bowed his head slightly.

"I am Boromir son of Denethor, Theoden King," Boromir said as he straightened his head. "Ellethwen was my betrothed when she was unjustly exiled from Gondor on my father's command. It took me twelve years, but I came for her and your son confirmed our union in this very hall before I once again was forced to leave her on a pressing journey." Theoden nodded, knowing Denethor and most of Ellethwen's tale. She had failed to mention the lord she had fallen for was the steward's son.

"After my dreams began to darken, was when you were untied," Theoden whispered and Ellethwen nodded as she pulled away from Boromir and slowly walked to the king. It was then that Boromir noticed she waddled slightly; much like a goose would when it walked on land. She held out her hand to him. Theoden looked at her hand before he met her eyes and slowly took it. She looked at him sadly and Theoden sighed. "I know of Theodred," he told her quietly. Ellethwen sniffed and nodded her head. He squeezed her hand.

"I am sorry, my lord," she whispered as she bowed her head. Theoden let go of her hand and moved it to rest over her stomach. She looked up at him with teary eyes.

"Keep your child close, Ellethwen," he told her sadly and so quietly Ellethwen knew no other had heard. Ellethwen nodded her head as his hand slipped away and he walked down the corridor towards Theodred's chamber.

Ellethwen sighed and put her hand on her stomach as she watched the king walk away and Éowyn gave her a small smile before she walked away joining her uncle. A hand was suddenly on her lower back and she looked over her shoulder at Boromir who pushed her hair from her face. While the usual people of the hall moved away four others moved closer to the pair. Ellethwen turned from Boromir and looked ahead of her.

"Gandalf?" she asked. "Is it you dressed in white?" Ellethwen pushed away her tears and sniffed softly once more. Gandalf laughed softly and nodded his head.

"Aye, it is, and I must say you have changed greatly since our last meeting," he said motioning to her stomach. Ellethwen smoothed fabric on her stomach and smiled.

"Yes, much as changed," she said softly as she looked at the others that kept Boromir's company. A man stood to the right of Gandalf, to Ellethwen's left. He was dressed in the garb of a northern ranger, but something was familiar about him. Why he felt so familiar, she did no know, but his eyes reminded her of a man she had met long ago. The only thing she remembered of him were his eyes because she was no more than three at the time, but the man before her was too young to be the same one she remembered.

To Gandalf's left and Ellethwen's right stood a man with long blood hair, and when she saw his ears she knew that he was an elf. His blue eyes sparkled at her and she assumed that Boromir told the elf of her. Next to the elf stood of all beings a dwarf that looked at her with slight confusion and then to Boromir before he smiled a beard covered smile and winked at her.

"I do not mean to be rude, but," she paused and looked at Boromir, who smiled down at her, "who is the company you keep?" Ellethwen looked back at the others and the elf bowed his head first.

"I am Legolas of Mirkwood, my lady," he said softly. Ellethwen bowed her head with a small smile.

"Gimli son of Gloin," the dwarf said gruffly, but his voice was not unkind and she heard his smile easy enough. She bowed her head just as she had to the elf before. She looked to the man then and there was a smile on his face as though he had seen someone he had not expected to see.

"Ellethwen daughter of Elisud?" the man asked and Ellethwen's eyes widened. Boromir frowned and looked to Ellethwen.

"How do you know my father's name?" she asked quietly.

"I am Aragorn son of Arathron, your father knew me as Strider as does your mother," Aragorn said.

"Strider?" Ellethwen asked quietly. "You . . . you are the one who my father journeyed with during his time with the rangers, before he met my mother and was wed?" Aragorn nodded his head. "We traveled a long distance from Minas Tirith when I was little . . . it was you and your company who we went to see." Ellethwen felt Boromir's hand hold her more firmly, but not to hurt her.

"You remember," Aragorn said with a smile. Ellethwen nodded.

"How could you have known him? You can be no older than he was when he was slain."

"He is one of the Dúnedain, Ellethwen," Gandalf said with a pause, "as your father was." Boromir stiffened beside Ellethwen and Ellethwen looked to Aragorn.

"Dúnedain, they are only legends," she said confused.

"There are few of us left and when your father and mother were wed, he was nearing sixty," Aragorn said.

"Then that means that I . . .?" she trailed off unable to think anymore. The days had been trying and all she wanted to do was sleep now knowing that Boromir was safe. She sighed and looked up to Boromir who looked at her with a worried gaze. "Boromir, come with me, I wish to rest." He nodded and looked to the others. Gandalf nodded and he let Ellethwen show him the way to her chamber while he walked wit his arm securely around her.

"She did not know?" Aragorn asked Gandalf confused. "I thought Elisud would have told her mother at least."

"There is much to be discussed, Aragorn, but rest is in order for now. The king's son's funeral is tomorrow morn, and I'm afraid all talk will wait until after," Gandalf said. Aragorn nodded his own weariness was catching up with him and sleep would be welcomed.

Ellethwen chose to forget the words shared in the hall. She would have time to think them over later, but the fact that her father was one of the last remaining Dúnedain surprised her and there was much she would ask of Aragorn and Gandalf seeing as the old wizard seemed to know more of her father's heritage. "Ellethwen?" Boromir's voice asked tenderly as they walked and she looked up at him. "Are you well?" She gave him a smile and nodded before she removed herself from his arm and took his hand tightly into hers stopping just outside her door.

"I am well, let us not speak of what has just happened, come, bathe and rest for you are dirtier than I have ever seen you and you look so weary," she said. Boromir sighed softly and let her drag him in to her chamber. She waddled away from him and retrieved to large buckets. "I'll be back," she said and Boromir stopped her.

"I thought you wished to rest," he said worried at the once again pale tone her skin took on and the slight sheen of sweat that graced her forehead and cheeks.

"I will rest, my love, I will rest much better knowing you are well taken care of." Boromir shook his head.

"Éomer told me you have been ill. I will not have to wait on me." He took the buckets from her hands and sat them down before he took her tender hands into his. "Now," he whispered as he brought her hands to his lips. He kissed the back of both of her hands and Ellethwen smiled at him. "Sit, and I shall get my own water." Ellethwen nodded, even though she knew the moment she would sit she would fall asleep.

"I will do just that, but before I do so, I have a spare tunic and breeches for you to put on once you've washed. I do not think you would like to put on your soiled clothes, and I'll have those items washed for you." Boromir smiled and shook his head before he leaned in and kissed her forehead.

"You are too good to me, you know that," he whispered their faces inches apart. Ellethwen smiled up at him.

"I love you," she said softly and Boromir closed his eyes and sighed gently before he leaned in and claimed her lips. It felt as though nothing had happened the last seven months. To him the threat of great danger seemed far, far away and it was just the two of them, and the child growing within Ellethwen. He pulled his lips from hers and she slowly opened her eyes and met his glazed stare.

"And I you, now rest." He reluctantly let go of her and picked up the buckets before he made his way from the room. However, the door did not even fully close when he stuck his head back into the room. "Where may I get the water?" Ellethwen giggled.

"The kitchens are just off the main hall, they keep a heated pot of water for washing and bathing, just tell Bryn that I have sent you, but she may recognize you." Boromir smiled and nodded before he made his way down the corridor to the kitchens.

Ellethwen placed the dark blue tunic and brown breeches on the bed and tugged the wash tub near the fire before she sat down in her chair near where the tub sat. She sighed and laid her head against the back of the chair and closed her eyes. Her child moved slightly within her and she smiled. Now that Boromir had returned, even the baby knew that his father was well, and that seemed to appease him just as much as it did Ellethwen. She sat quietly for a few more minutes before she found herself drifting off into a much needed slumber.

The sound of a contended sigh and the slight splashing of water woke Ellethwen from her light sleep and Boromir frowned as he looked at her. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he said from his position in the tub. Ellethwen gave him a sleepy smile and shook her head as she yawned.

"No need to be sorry, my love," she told him gently. It took her only another second to realize he sat in the wash tub naked, washing the soil and blood from his body. However, when she noticed the blood she panicked. "Boromir?" she asked as she struggled to get up and his frown deepened. Soon she was successful and she waddled over to him, kneeling as best she could by the tub. "What has happened? Are you alright?" she asked as she examined the almost completely healed wound on his arm and then looking into the wash tub and seeing another on his stomach. Tears came to her eyes and she looked up at him. Boromir's cheeks were flushed, but she paid no mind.

"There was a battle, Ellethwen, and I was injured, but I am almost completely healed. The wound on my stomach reopened during the fight with Grima's men, but now it is resealed and I have an herb to apply when I leave the tub," he told her reassuredly. Ellethwen nodded and then she too flushed but Boromir gave her a smile and raised a wet hand to her face. "When I went to get my water I met Lady Éowyn in the corridor. She told me how worried you have been the last few days, and that your pregnancy has not faired well, that you have been very ill for the last few months." Ellethwen nodded again.

"Aye, I have been, and I have found little sleep, but now I all I want to do is sleep." Boromir smiled and ran his calloused thumb along the tender skin under her left eye.

"Then lay in your bed, and sleep. When I am dry and clean, I shall join you. You will not have cause to worry anymore, my love." Ellethwen gave him a smile and nodded once more. She leaned into him and kissed him softly. Boromir closed his eyes tightly and sighed before he raised his other hand to her and held the back of her head. He deepened the kiss never wanting to forget the feel of her lips against his, her still tentative touches and kisses. She didn't want the kiss to end, but she need to breath and when the baby gave her a swift kick and startled away from Boromir with a small cry. Boromir frowned as she moved away from him and put her hands on her stomach. She looked down and laughed softly before she looked back at him.

"Give me your hand," she said excitedly and Boromir reached his hand out to her. She put his hand where hers had rested just moments ago and he felt a swift thumb against the palm of his hand. "It's the baby, he's kicking," she said with a bright smile. Boromir found himself smiling and looking at his hand that was covered by both of Ellethwen's and the constant thumb against his hand.

"What does it feel like?" he asked.

"It used to feel like a flutter, now he spins and turns and kicks constantly. It feels . . . it feels like a life deep inside of me, a small and precious life." Boromir smiled. "He's a warrior moving about as he does. Maybe he'll be like his father," she finished softly. Boromir met her gaze, just then realizing she kept referring to the baby as 'he'.

"You think it's a boy?" She nodded as he pulled his hand away and the kicking stopped.

"Yes, I know it's a boy." Boromir smiled and she returned it with a grin of her own before she yawned. Boromir sighed.

"Sleep, Ellethwen, I will join you as soon as I am worthy of your bed." Ellethwen giggled and nodded her head.

"As you wish, my lord," she whispered before she pecked his lips and somehow managed to stand and move to her bed. She laid down and curled her head around her pillow and began to drift away when Boromir spoke softly.

"Ellethwen?" he asked.

"Hmm?" she asked not bothering to open her eyes.

"Never call me that again," he told her gently and she opened her eyes to see him smirking at her. "I am your husband, not your charge." He winked at her and Ellethwen smiled before she drifted off into dreams of their future and dreams of their son's future without darkness and pain. Good dreams that she had not had for many months.