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Chapter 26: Little Moments
Boromir followed Éowyn into the caves. Upon walking into the cavern, he saw only a few women hanging behind and gathering things, but in the distance there was a group of women in a small cluster. "Lord Boromir," Éowyn said and he looked down at her. "Ellethwen has finally taken to rest, do not be alarmed when you see her, but she has had a difficult time."
"My lady, what has happened?" Boromir asked the need to know what had happened taking over. Éowyn gave him a smile and put her hand on his upper arm.
"Your wife has given birth, my lord," she said before she turned and walked away. Boromir stood frozen for a moment. Those words he had not expected. She was not due for sometime, he had not expected that. He quickly pushed away his confusion and followed the path the woman had taken.
Ellethwen sat propped up against a large rock, her head laying against the stone and she was asleep. She looked weary, but peaceful, and instead of the large mound that was her stomach, there was only a small bump of her stretched skin. Gelsey, a healer he had met when he had arrived at Edoras the first time stood next to her rocking a bundle in her arms. Boromir walked over to her and she looked up at him.
"You have a healthy son, Lord Boromir," Gelsey said with a smile. "He is early, but his breath is strong, and he has ten fingers and ten toes." Boromir smiled and looked down at the face of his sleeping son. He was so small, but he couldn't help but wonder in the strength of a woman. He looked at Ellethwen in a new light. She had always amazed him, but now she was even more of a gift than he first thought her to be. "She had a difficult labor, my lord," Gelsey said and he looked from Ellethwen to the older woman.
"Is she alright?" he asked quietly and Gelsey nodded.
"Aye, she is fine, but very weak." Boromir nodded and once again looked down at his son. "Would you like to hold him?" Gelsey asked and Boromir looked up at her and then down at the baby.
"Yes," he whispered and Gelsey nodded as she adjusted her grip on the baby.
"Just keep your arm supporting his head, and you shall do fine," she told him gently and Boromir nodded as he took his son. The baby inhaled deeply and wiggled about, but remained asleep as he was settled in his father's arms. Boromir looked down at him and smiled. He found tears coming to his eyes and he shook his head.
"Why do you weep when you look at your son?" a tired voice asked and Boromir turned his head and looked down at Ellethwen who was looking at him with a tired smile. He smiled at her as he moved to her and carefully kneeled down next to her.
"Because you both amaze me," he whispered and she sighed as she looked at their son.
"He already looks like you," she said as she slowly raised her hand to rest on his that held onto their child. "I can see his father in him, and he will grow to be just as handsome." Boromir smiled and shook his head as he looked down at him. "What are we to name him?" she asked after a moment and he looked at her again.
"I do not know," Boromir said softly.
"I have a name, but I do not know if you shall like it." Boromir nodded for her to say it. "Dallin, for my mother's father." Boromir smiled and nodded his head.
"Dallin seems like a strong name, suitable for our son," he said. Ellethwen smiled and looked at their son. She was happy Boromir survived, he had come back, just as he had promised. She was so tired and she sighed as she closed her eyes. "Rest while you can Ellethwen," Boromir whispered before he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Rest," he said his breath dancing across her face and sending her into peaceful dreams.
After Éowyn had told him what had happened, Aragorn quickly joined Boromir and Ellethwen in the caves. Ellethwen was still too weak to be moved, but he knew she needed to find a more comfortable place to rest then on the stones of the caves. Boromir was sitting holding a small bundle and Aragorn couldn't help but smile. There he was a warrior, a Gondorian captain no less, reduced to a smiling fool as he looked down at his child. Ellethwen laid against a rock, sleeping and he could tell just by looking at her that her labor had been difficult.
"Boromir," Aragorn said as he walked up to the man. Boromir looked up and gave Aragorn a small smile. "How does she fair?" Boromir sighed and looked at Ellethwen who was still asleep.
"She is alright, just weak," Boromir said. Aragorn nodded as he kneeled in front of them.
"She needs to be moved to somewhere where she can rest more comfortably. King Theoden has arranged for a place for both her and your child to rest until she travels with Éowyn and the others to Edoras, and if you trust me, my friend, while you carry your child, I could carry your wife to their resting area." Boromir nodded.
"I trust you, and this is my son, Dallin," Boromir said proudly. Aragorn smiled and looked at the newborn in Boromir's arms. A dark head of hair was the first thing that caught Aragorn's eyes and he smiled.
"Then you carry your son, and I shall carry your wife." Boromir nodded and carefully stood. Aragorn shifted and put his hands under Ellethwen's knees and around her back. She started and opened her eyes. She gasped quietly when she saw Aragorn but he gave her a reassuring smile. "Do not fear, Ellethwen," he whispered. "We are just moving you and your son to a place where you can rest properly." She nodded tiredly and when he lifted her she laid her head on his shoulder and promptly fell back asleep. Aragorn chuckled, as did Boromir who shook his head. The two men left the caves and went up into the keep, and once the woman and baby were settled they would find their own rest.
A cry woke Ellethwen and she sat up quickly. Dallin was laying in a basket of blankets and she moved to him. The cloth he wore was not wet or dirty, so she figured he was hungry. She had just given birth hours before, but Gelsey had been preparing her on how to feed and care for him. So, she did as she was shown; only having a little difficulty with her dress. She wasn't wearing the dresses she had made so she could feed Dallin more easily. They were all still in Edoras. However, she adjusted herself and soon Dallin was suckling from her and getting his nourishment.
She smiled as she watched him, thankfully she was in a cove of the keep, free from prying eyes. A form shifted behind her and she startled a bit, but when his voice filled the quiet air she smiled.
"Is everything alright?" Boromir asked and she nodded, but then remembered there was little light around them.
"Yes," she whispered. "Dallin was just hungry." He moved closer, and she could feel his body heat right behind her.
"Do you need help?" he asked and she chuckled.
"No I think I can manage," she whispered. She wasn't as tired as she had been, and she was thankful for that. Boromir kissed her shoulder, but did not look at what she was doing.
"I love you, Ellethwen," he whispered against her skin and she smiled.
"I love you too, Boromir," she said as he kissed her shoulder again.
Several days later, Ellethwen sat in her new chamber feeding little Dallin, near the fire that was burning softly. Before he had left to ride to Isenguard, Theoden had ordered for Éomer's belongings to be moved into Theodred's old chamber, and that Ellethwen would be given Éomer's chamber for she was a Lady of Gondor, and a mother now that needed more space. They had returned to Edoras two days earlier and her son was getting stronger and his eyes were a soft grey like his father's eyes.
Boromir had ridden with the others to Isenguard and she was patiently waiting his return, they were expecting them soon, but Éowyn thought they wouldn't return until the following day at least. Éowyn was busy making preparations for the celebration that was to take place upon the King's return, and when she wasn't busy Éowyn was with Ellethwen helping her tend to Dallin. There was a sudden knock on the door and she pulled the blanket she kept on her lap over Dallin's head and her chest, but leaving an open space for only her to be able to see his face.
"Enter!" she called and the door opened slightly.
"Ellethwen?" a deep voice asked from the door and Ellethwen smiled.
"You can come in Boromir," she said a new cheeriness to her voice. He stepped into the room and faltered a bit as he closed the door behind him. "You have returned sooner than we had thought. Éowyn must be even busier than she was this morning." She said and he walked over to her slowly. "I'm just feeding him, Boromir, there is nothing to fear."
"How are you both doing?" he asked as he kneeled down next to her. Boromir had been worried about them both when he had left. Ellethwen was still weak from childbirth, but Gelsey and Éowyn had promised that they would ensure her and Dallin's save return to Edoras.
"Fine, just fine. By the time we reached Edoras, I was much better and each day Dallin gets stronger. He smiled just this morning." Boromir smiled and nodded his head. He reached his hand and lifted the blanket. Ellethwen blushed, but it wasn't like he hadn't seen her before. Dallin was nearly finished, but Ellethwen let Boromir watch. The infant pulled his head back and made a few sucking noises and Ellethwen took the blanket and wiped at his lips and her chest before she pulled the front of her dress back up and put Dallin over her shoulder to burp him. She patted his back as he nuzzled his head into her shoulder. Boromir smiled and she grinned at him. "What?" she asked and Boromir shook his head.
"Nothing, I'm just glad you're safe, that both of you are safe." He raised his hand to her face and ran his calloused thumb across her cheek. A loud burp sounded on Ellethwen's shoulder and the couple laughed.
"He takes after you in that regard as well," she teased and Boromir smiled.
"We shall teach him your manners than," he said as he lowered his hand. She smiled at him and stood. He did the same and watched as she walked to a small table near Dallin's cradle. "What are you doing?" She looked over her shoulder and smiled.
"Changing him, it is time for his nap," she said matter of factly and Boromir moved over to her.
"May I help?" he asked and she looked up at him with a smile and nodded.
"If you like, you could rock him, I'm sure he'd like to be held by his father again." Boromir smiled and nodded his head as he walked her change him. When she was finished she lifted him and handed the small child to him. "Just mind his head." Boromir chuckled and looked at her.
"I remember, Ellethwen," he said and she smiled. There stood the two men in her life. One fully grown and rugged, the other small and so young, and she loved them more than anything else in the world.
Soon, Dallin was asleep and Boromir laid the baby in the cradle. Ellethwen smiled as she watched Boromir drape Dallin with his blanket and he ran his finger across his cheek. Boromir stood and looked at Ellethwen who suddenly launched herself into his arms. She kissed him firmly then and Boromir was surprised, but slowly kissed her back. His hands moved from his side and rested on her waist. He held her close while her hands found their way into his hair. When she pulled her lips away from his and sighed as she looked up at him.
"I love you so much, and I cannot help but worry when you leave," she whispered. "But I know it is your duty." He nodded and sighed as he held her close.
"I am here now and that is all that matters. Aragorn and the others have returned as well, and tonight we celebrate those who fell, and those that live. We will celebrate life and the hope of brighter days," he said and Ellethwen laid her head against his chest.
"Gelsey said she would care for Dallin tonight, while I spent some of the celebration with you," she said into his chest and Boromir smiled.
"Good, I have missed you and now you will not waddle about," he said softly and Ellethwen looked up at him with a smile on her face.
"True, but you are the one who got made me waddle about in the first place, and we have a beautiful son as a result of it." Boromir laughed quietly so he wouldn't wake Dallin and kissed the tip of her nose. Ellethwen smiled and laid her head on his chest again, just enjoying his embrace because she didn't know how much time they would have to spend together before he would ride off into yet another battle.