Hey all! Thank you for your reviews, as always. Sorry I didn't update yesterday. I went and saw "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" yesterday, and if you loved the first movie, you really should see the second one. It was so good. I can't wait for the third one to come out! Okay, enough of that. I think this may just be my longest chapter for this story. I hope you like it! Let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.
Chapter 34: Nightmare in the Courtyard
"Dallin!" Ellethwen yelled and the four year old came trotting from wherever he had been hiding. His dark hair was long, and in need of cutting, but he refused to let anyone near his head. His grey eyes sparkled as he laughed and smiled a smile that was all too much like his father's. "There you are my son," she said as stood from the stone bench she was sitting on. It was rather difficult given her current state of being nearly eight months pregnant with her and Boromir's second child. She put one hand on her stomach and held out her other hand to Dallin and the dark haired little boy ran over to her and took her hand. Ellethwen hesitated a moment and glanced about the garden.
Over the last several weeks, since Boromir had been away, she felt as if someone had been watching her. Eyes in the dark that never wavered from her form when she was out and about in either the city or the Citadel. However, when she saw nothing she sighed quietly and looked down at Dallin who looked at her curiously.
"Come now, we are to sit with the Queen this afternoon for tea before the evening meal."
"Mama, where is papa?" Dallin asked and she smiled.
"He is in Ithilien visiting Uncle Faramir, Aunt Eowyn and your little cousin, he should be back soon," she said and Dallin nodded as they walked through the corridor towards Arwen's study. Once they reached their destination Ellethwen smiled at the guards that bowed their heads to her and Dallin. Ellethwen knocked on the door.
"Come in!" a soft voice called and Ellethwen walked in with Dallin still holding onto her hand tightly. "Ellethwen," Arwen said as she stood from her chair with the same difficulty Ellethwen had outside for the queen too was pregnant, only with her first child.
"How are you this afternoon, your majesty?" she asked as she walked further in and Arwen smiled.
"We have known one another for over four years, my friend, you know titles are not necessary," Arwen said and Ellethwen smiled. "I am well, but I do wish for my son to be born soon." Ellethwen nodded as Dallin moved to the rug where Arwen had several wooden toys sitting for him and he played happily and quietly.
"I know the feeling," Ellethwen said as she sat down in the chair across from Arwen, so she could see Dallin in case he went to touch anything he shouldn't. Arwen smiled and sat down as well.
"Would you like some tea?" Arwen asked and Ellethwen nodded and in an instant a maid came into the room smiling kindly at both Arwen and Ellethwen carrying a tray of tea and Ellethwen noticed a small goblet and pitcher. A few sweet cakes were on the tray as well and Ellethwen smiled at the maid as she took the offered cup of tea.
"Thank you," Ellethwen said and maid nodded her head before she gave Arwen her cup.
"The pitcher has citrus juice for your son, my lady," she said and Ellethwen nodded.
"Thank you kindly," Ellethwen said and with a curtsey, the maid left. Arwen smiled as she took a sip of her tea and Ellethwen looked to Dallin. "Dallin, are you thirsty?" she asked and Dallin looked at her.
"No, mama," he said and she nodded.
"If you ever get thirsty, let me know," she said and the boy smiled and went back to playing with the toys.
"He's well behaved," Arwen said quietly and Ellethwen looked to the elleth.
"He is, except for when his father is around. I swear Boromir becomes a small child when he plays with Dallin," Ellethwen said before she took a drink of her own tea. Arwen chuckled. "I am anxious for him to return," Ellethwen added quietly. "He was in the battle at Helms Deep when Dallin was born, and while I was giving life to our son, I was worrying for his being taken at the same time."
"You won't have to worry about that. He'll be returning from Ithilien by tomorrow afternoon and he will not be traveling away from here for some time. Iroeth will keep him outside the room during the delivery, but know that he'll be right outside the door probably pacing and wearing the stone," Arwen said through a smile and Ellethwen laughed.
"That is true. Is Aragorn worrying over you as Boromir had been me before he left?"
"Yes," Arwen said with a sigh. "When we are together and I get up to get something he is on his feet faster than I could even be when I am not with child and asking me what it is I need."
Ellethwen chuckled and looked to Dallin who was still playing and seemingly ignoring the woman and elleth while they chatted. With a sigh Ellethwen looked back at Arwen and they continued their conversation over tea until the evening meal.
Ellethwen was making her bed and Dallin was playing in the sitting room. Soon, she would be taking him for breakfast before they went for their morning walk. The door was open and she glanced up and smiled when she saw him playing. However, when she turned her attention back to making her bed the door to the chamber was busted open. She jumped and ran into the sitting room in time to see a woman dressed in a black dress, her long dark hair flied about her looked knotted and matted, and when her wild grey eyes looked at her, Ellethwen's heart sunk.
"Matira?" Ellethwen asked surprised and unbelieving.
"Because of you I have lived in exile," the other woman said. "I have been too ashamed to show my face, but it is you who should be ashamed. You and your bastard son and the one you carry." Dallin looked from the woman to his mother and stood quickly. He made to run to Ellethwen and Ellethwen moved to him, but Matira grabbed Dallin's arm.
"No!" Ellethwen shouted and Dallin started to cry.
"Mama! Mama!" Dallin yelled. Ellethwen moved to grab her son when Matira pulled a dagger on her.
"Stay back or I shall kill him," Matira hissed and Ellethwen stopped in her tracks. Dallin continued to cry and Ellethwen started to cry.
"No, please do not hurt my son," Ellethwen said as she held up her hands. Matira smirked and started to back from the room.
"You took the one I loved from me, Ellethwen, so I will take one you love away from you forever." Matira left and Ellethwen let out a cry and moved as quickly as she could. Matira was carrying a crying and screaming Dallin down the corridor.
"Guards! Guards!" Ellethwen cried panicked and three guards came running from the opposite side of the corridor.
"Lady Ellethwen, what is the matter?" one asked and Ellethwen swallowed her tears.
"My son has been taken! Matira has taken my son, please help me," she said before she turned and waddled down the corridor. Two guards followed and the other went to get more help. Ellethwen led them down through the hall and then out the door. Matira was running towards the edge with Dallin in her arms and Ellethwen gasped. She put her hand on her stomach to still the protesting child within her as she ran. The guards drew their spears and chased after the woman. "Matira!" Ellethwen screamed before the other woman could reach the very edge. Matira stopped and turned. Ellethwen felt her heart rip from her chest at the distressed look on her son's face. "Please, Matira, I beg of you," she said breathlessly. "I beg of you, please do not take my son from me."
"Why?" she asked heatedly. "You are to have another." Ellethwen shook her head.
"He is my child, why do you wish to take him? He has done nothing to you."
"But taking him from you would, kill you inside. You would wish you were dead every dawn and every night until you went mad with grief." Ellethwen shook her head as her tears fell from her cheeks.
"Please do not harm him," she said as she looked to Dallin who was still crying and screaming loudly for her. "Please, Matira, please."
Boromir smiled and laughed with Legolas and Gimli as they rode to Minas Tirith. The city was less than an hour ride and the white stone shined brightly. The five men he rode with rode behind him and Legolas' horses. "I'm sure Aragorn shall be very happy to see you both again, and the trees of Ithilien are growing beautiful," Boromir said and Legolas smiled.
"Aye, but when we leave Minas Tirith, we will be making our way to Fangorn," Gimli said gruffly.
"Indeed," Legolas said. "Once our visit is over we will travel the old forest, and I am looking forward to it."
Boromir nodded and looked to the city. His expecting wife and growing son were waiting within the walls of the Citadel and as Boromir looked to the high tower he swore he saw a figure standing on the edge of the pavilion.
"Legolas, do you see that?" he asked as he pointed to the high tower. Legolas looked and his eyes narrowed.
"It is a woman, but her back it so the city. There are guards and others before her. Something is wrong," Legolas said when his keen eyes spotted a hysterical looking Ellethwen, he knew he couldn't tell Boromir more than that.. Boromir's heart dropped and he urged his horse on. Legolas was right and something inside him told him it had something to do with him. Legolas seemed startled by Boromir's sudden urging of his horse. The horse was flying as fast as he had ever seen and Legolas urged his horse on. "Hold on Gimli!" he shouted and his horse took off. The five men behind him did the same and before Legolas was even close to the gate; Boromir's horse was already within the doors.
Boromir rode his horse hard up the levels of the city. He heard voices echoing off the stone from the top, level and he urged his horse faster. As his horse came to a stop near the guarded White Tree, he was met by Aragorn who was rushing from the Citadel.
"What is happening?" Boromir asked at the grave look Aragorn gave him, but the King just took his arm and led him on.
"Please, I beg you. What is it you want? I shall give it to you," Ellethwen's voice echoed and Boromir drew more concerned. He and Aragorn moved through the guards that had gathered and he came to a stop next to Ellethwen and what he saw before them, made his heart stop. His son was in the arms of a wild looking woman, who held a dagger in her hands. Dallin was crying, and anger boiled from deep within Boromir as he moved from Aragorn to stand next to Ellethwen, whose eyes were glued to the woman.
"Him, I want him," the woman said as she pointed the dagger at him. Ellethwen's eyes snapped to his form and Boromir looked at her. The pain he saw dance in his love's eyes was too much for him to bare and he looked back at the woman.
"Just who are you woman?" he asked lowly. The woman seemed bristled for a moment and her grip on the dagger loosened slightly.
"I was your chambermaid," she said as glared at him. He would keep his tone calm in order to keep his crying son safe.
"Ellethwen was my chambermaid for many a year . . .," he said and trailed off as he realized now who held his son captive. "Matira?" At her nod he took a shuddering breath.
"I would have had you if hadn't been for her!" Matira exclaimed as she pointed the now shaking dagger at Ellethwen. "I won't kill your son, Ellethwen, if you give me him," she said as she looked at Ellethwen. Boromir looked to his wife whose entire body was trembling.
"You cannot expect me to do that," Ellethwen whispered.
"It is what I want," Matira said firmly and Ellethwen looked to Boromir with pleading eyes.
"You threaten to kill my son," Boromir said slowly before he looked to Matira with cold eyes, "and expect me to go to you willingly?" It was obvious to all that Matira was fumbling as she went. Aragorn had slipped back at seeing his Steward seemed to have captured the woman's attention and went in search of another he had seen riding up the levels of the city.
"Would you rather your son die?" Matira asked and Boromir shook his head.
"I would not, but why have you waited so long?" Boromir asked. Matira seemed not to have an answer so he continued on. "Ellethwen and I were parted for twelve years before our union was formalized. We were wed and then she carried my son that you hold now. It has been sixteen years, Matira, why do you wait now to make a move on a love you claim to have?" Boromir asked her and she fumbled with the dagger in her hand. Ellethwen's eyes had yet to leave Dallin whose face was read and tear stained but his loud cries had stopped. She did not know what trauma this event would have on him. Ellethwen waited for Matira's answer, but a fast swishing sound filled the silent air and then Matira collapsed onto the stone floor with an ear piercing scream and dropped both her dagger and Dallin to the ground.
Boromir moved and kicked the dagger away before pulling Matira up harshly. Ellethwen ran forward and pulled her son away. She moved close to the high stone wall and pulled her son close. His head finding the nape of her neck and burying his face there. Ellethwen let her tears fall hard as she clung to her son. How many times would his life be threatened to be taken away? He was only four and she had nearly lost him twice.
As Boromir pulled Matira up he saw a yellow feathered arrow sticking out of her right thigh and he smiled and looked over his shoulder to see Legolas standing skillfully on the wall and Aragorn on the stone floor next to him. He nodded his head gratefully at them before he turned his grey eyes to the woman who had tears running down her cheeks as she looked up at him.
"You are to be put into the dungeons and when the King decides what is to be done with you, I will see to the punishment being carried out myself," he hissed before he threw her into the arms of one of the guards. "See to it that her wound is treated, but that she is locked in the darkest dungeon in the Citadel. No daylight shall reach her for as long as I have say." The two guards nodded and dragged a crying and wailing Matira away. Boromir moved to Ellethwen and kneeled next to her and put his hand in her long hair and rubbed the back of her head. Ellethwen opened her eyes and looked at her husband. "He is alright, he was not hurt," he told her quietly and she nodded as she loosened her grip on Dallin and pulled the child back and looked at him. Dallin was hiccupping and his cheeks were damp, but his tears were no more.
"You're safe, my son," she whispered hoarsely and Dallin nodded.
"I love you mama," he said quickly before he threw his arms around her neck and Ellethwen returned his embrace. Boromir smiled at Ellethwen's sad smile as her eyes met his.
"We love you too Dallin," Boromir said for her because it was obvious to him that her voice had failed her. Aragorn moved quickly to Boromir's side with Legolas and Gimli following close behind.
"Is he alright?" Aragorn asked and Ellethwen nodded.
"Aye, my lord," she whispered. "He is just frightened." Aragorn nodded and Ellethwen felt dizzy. She closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh and at seeing her distress, Boromir took Dallin from Ellethwen. His son clung to him in the same manner he had his mother, but Boromir didn't mind.
"Ellethwen?" Boromir asked as he raised his free hand to her face. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked at him.
"I'm alright, just dizzy," she said softly.
"We must get you inside," Aragorn said as he helped Ellethwen from the ground. "Legolas," he said and the elf moved quickly and wrapped Ellethwen's arm around his shoulder and his arm around her back. He helped the very pregnant woman inside and Boromir carried Dallin as he too walked slowly.
"I now owe my son's life to another," Boromir said quietly and Aragorn looked to him. "You saved him when he was but a babe, and now thanks to Legolas' skill with a bow my son is safe." Aragorn put his hand on Boromir's shoulder and looked at Dallin's sleeping face. The boy had worn himself out with his tears, and Aragorn wondered when his nightmares would begin.