Boromir, Thou Shall Live
By pmochizuki
Author's Note: Here's chapter thirty-three, and one of the chapters I'm most proud of! For Boromir and Pippin fans, I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that this whole chapter deals with one or the other or both.
Before you read, please make sure you've read Chapter Thirty-Two. For some reason, fanfiction did not send out author alerts for the previous chapter so if you're relying on author alerts to keep you updated, please make sure you've read the previous chapter for it is quite an important chapter. Thank you!
Things will be moving along as now Boromir, Bawuer, Pippin, and Gandalf are leaving Edoras. But being the kind of author I am (), I'm making sure that there'll be plenty of adventures to keep you readers interested. :P
Special thanks to my 'family of reviewers' are at the bottom of the chapter.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Traveling By Night
Pippin, unsure of what to do, watched on as the others prepared for the journey. Gandalf was speaking in all seriousness with the Rohirrim man named Elfhelm while Bawuer and Boromir had gone to get the horses.
It was already getting quite dark and Pippin wondered absently if the weather would become cooler than it had already become. It was only a few minutes before that sudden chilly winds had begun sweeping over the land. A gust of wind threatened to steal his cloak away and Pippin grabbed the warm cloak even closer to his body.
Gandalf, having finished his conversation, bowed to Elfhelm then walked towards Pippin with a most serious expression on his face. Pippin knew that now was not the time to ask once more if it was time to leave yet. The last time he had asked that question, maybe the third or forth time to ask, Gandalf had not even wasted time in answering him. Better to remain silent than be faced with annoyed scrutiny from a wizard.
As if knowing what Pippin had wanted to ask, Gandalf surprisingly smiled down at him. "As soon as all farewells are said." The wizard gestured in the direction behind Pippin.
The hobbit turned round to see that Boromir was approaching them leading Shadowfax. Well, leading was not quite the word for the Gondorian was only laying a gentle hand upon the horse's neck, Shadowfax following him docilely as a meek lamb would. And not two steps behind was Bawuer leading two other horses, one was black and the other was a very light gray horse.
Boromir and Bawuer, too, were dressed for travel, wearing their warmest cloaks and gloves. As Boromir's cloak was thrown back from his shoulders, Pippin detected the dull glint of chain mail which was visible on his arms.
For the first time, Pippin was struck just how much Boromir took the likeness of a Ranger now. He realized how much just by wearing certain clothes could help take up different appearances. The clothes were tailored simply, but were of fine material and Pippin had no doubt that they were given to Boromir from the Elves of Lothlorien.
Seeing how much he was being under the hobbit's examinations, Boromir eyed Pippin with curiosity as he let Shadowfax go stand by Gandalf. "Is something striking you as odd, my friend?"
Shaking his head, Pippin replied, "It is nothing." Then deciding that if he did not speak there would only be an uncomfortable silence, Pippin spoke. "It just seems strange that you will not travel with us, yet we are traveling in the same direction."
"It is for the best," Gandalf commented.
"'The best plans are always the ones to take,' that was something that I was taught at a very young age," Boromir said with a smile.
Pippin was about to make a remark when Gandalf interrupted him with a cough that suspiciously didn't sound much like a cough. "Pippin, it is getting very windy and there are still a few things we will have to prepare before our departure. Why don't you go stand underneath one of the doorways to keep out of the wind."
The hobbit noticed with dubiety that Gandalf and Boromir were now at the moment sharing a look which must have meant something to both of them. Boromir looked away to give Pippin a grave look. "I think it is indeed best for you to be out from this weather."
Pippin could hardly believe it; Gandalf and Boromir were purposely trying to get rid of him! And it was very obvious considering that the wind had died down quite a bit. He looked at one and the other, and both faces showed only complete sobriety. Knowing there would be no arguing with either one of them when they were looking at him in that certain way, Pippin resigned himself to just obey.
The two of them obviously had something they needed to talk about. Something they wished not to converse in front of him. Disappointed somewhat that they were sending him off quite deliberately, Pippin tried not to let it show on his face.
Using a fake, cheery voice, Pippin said, "You are probably right."
Then dragging his feet a bit, he began walking towards the closest cluster of houses. As he walked he passed by Bawuer who was busy saddling and preparing the two horses he had been leading.
"Their names are Ebon and Maiorama."
Pippin stopped as he realized that Bawuer had been speaking to him. "Excuse me?" Pippin queried.
Bawuer gestured to the horses. "Ebon is the black stallion, and Maiorama is the pretty Elven horse."
Ears pricking up at the word 'Elven', Pippin said, "Elven? She must be Boromir's horse!"
"Indeed."
As Pippin went to pet the horses, Bawuer leaned down slightly to whisper to Pippin. "I heard you've been told to go wait under the cover of the houses."
"You heard?"
Dropping his voice even lower that Pippin had to strain to listen, Bawuer spoke. "If you focus, it is quite possible to listen to what the wizard and 'Lavlaisi' are saying. The air is still and the words should reach your ears easily."
Curious to see if it was true, the hobbit carefully turned his head to peer at his companions. Unfortunately, they noticed the movement and Pippin abruptly turned back again to the horses, pretending to be occupied in petting them.
Bawuer chuckled. "Well, you will have to take my word for it." He began saddling Ebon but out of the corner of his mouth whispered to Pippin. "If they are worried about this… 'wind', let me tell you honestly that you might find more safety from standing behind these horses rather than up against any building. Especially with your… hmmm… 'convenient' height."
"Behind the horses - ?" Pippin caught the wink which Bawuer sent his way. He understood now, Bawuer was making a way so that Pippin could eavesdrop!
What should he do, should he deliberately listen in on a conversation he was being cut off from? But how he wished to know what they were discussing.
Curiosity winning over compliancy, Pippin very purposely strode towards the houses, making sure Bawuer and the horses were between him and the wizard and his new liege lord. Then he quickly doubled back under cover and stood behind Maiorama, but not even daring to peer around to look on whom he planned to eavesdrop on.
Bawuer was right, his height helped make sure he was hidden just enough behind the horse. And if he focused very hard, he could hear Gandalf and Boromir perfectly. It was somewhat hard to distinguish who exactly was speaking so Pippin tried to pick up some clues on what was being said.
"…greater is the risk now."
"You and I knew that very clearly from the very beginning." That was Boromir, to be sure.
"By now he knows that something is wrong, the dark servant and his steed have by now realized that all is not right with Isengard." Just hearing about the Ringwraith sent cold shivers down Pippin's back but he forced himself to shake away the feeling and concentrate once more.
"...has it now."
There was a pause and Pippin wondered if they were speaking even quieter than they had been. But soon the voices continued. "Then it shall be safe."
"But curiosity and determination will keep him looking and the more he doesn't know, the more dissatisfied and afraid will he become."
Who was Gandalf talking about? Could it be that they were discussing… himself?
Fears were laid to rest on Pippin's part when Boromir replied, "Sauron has lost his means to keep an eye in Rohan, a grave loss it shall be to him. But that only means he will strike at Gondor."
Pippin lost his focus for a moment as Bawuer came around to stand beside the hobbit to saddle Maiorama. Bawuer continued his work though, as if he hadn't even noticed that Pippin was hiding there. Except for a small smirk on the corner of the Rohirrim soldier's mouth, Bawuer betrayed nothing.
Having a compatriot in his mischief was indeed nice, now that Pippin did not have his usual partner, Merry at his side. Pushing away the hint of heartache at the thought of his cousin, Pippin returned to listening to Gandalf and Boromir…
"Pippin!"
Panic set in as Pippin realized they would see that he was not at the houses. Suddenly he felt someone grab around the back of his cloak. It was Bawuer, and the man easily pulled Pippin away from the horse, moving the hobbit to hide behind the taller man's body. "I shall got get the little hobbit, my lords. I believe he said something about maybe forgetting something at my house."
After a few moments, Bawuer finally leaned down and faced Pippin. "They are now looking away. Walk right in front of me so they shan't see you."
Doing exactly as he was told, the two of them walked to one of the streets of Edoras and as soon they were out of sight, they leaned against a building, both heaving sighs of release.
"Thank you, Bawuer."
"It was nothing."
Pippin thoughtfully looked down at the ground. "I wonder why they wished for me not to hear."
Bawuer shrugged. "Maybe they did not want to worry you."
"You were listening, too, weren't you."
"Of course, I was only standing just next to you. How could I not hear? I maybe have strained my hearing a bit but nevertheless…"
They both chuckled, enjoying the little excitement they had shared. "I do believe that you have done this sort of thing often enough, Bawuer," Pippin said slyly.
"Aye, that I have," Bawuer answered, his tone very dry. Abruptly, Bawuer's eyes became distant as he spoke again. "A good conspiracy needs good conspirators."
They way Bawuer had spoken made Pippin eye the man carefully. Bawuer's tone had been wistful and maybe a bit sad.
Seeing that the hobbit was watching him warily now, Bawuer lightened his expression and patted the hobbit on the shoulder. "You were a good accomplice. Now come along, by now we would have been able to reach my house then come back here."
The two made their way back to Gandalf and Boromir, the wizard already astride Shadowfax. By the way the horse was pawing at the ground, obvious that Shadowfax was raring and impatient to go.
Uncertainly, Pippin peered up at Boromir. The man tried to smile but failed utterly as any cheerfulness which should have accompanied the smile was nonexistent. "I do not like farewells."
Trying also to look as unaffected as possible, Pippin kept his eyes upon Boromir. "It is not farewell. It is only…" Pippin searched for what he wanted to say exactly, "till we meet again."
Boromir's lips pulled back into a more real gesture of amusement. "That is indeed correct. Now come, let me give my first command to you as your liege lord." The Gondorian knelt down and spoke directly to Pippin. "Leave with Gandalf and reach Minas Tirith with all possible speed. When you arrive, tell the Steward Denethor …" Boromir paused for a moment then continued. "Tell my father that I am alive and well."
Pippin nodded. "Yes, my lord."
"There is something else I must tell you to do. I am quite sure that Gandalf will inform you of what to say and what not to say in the presence of my father." Boromir said this with a slight pursing of the lips and Pippin saw some worry which was being expressed through the man's eyes. "But one thing I must tell you very clearly. My father will ask you, specifically or not, if his son carries a 'great gift'. You and I know what he will really mean, do you not?"
"He will mean Frodo's errand, won't he?" Pippin asked quietly, just talking about the Ring making him feel uncomfortable to the extreme.
Boromir patted on Pippin's shoulder encouragingly. "Let me tell you now truthfully that you cannot lie to Denethor. He would know it the moment a lie should leave your mouth."
Panicked slightly by what Boromir said, Pippin bit his lip. "I cannot lie, yet I know you wish me not to tell him everything."
The Gondorian squeezed Pippin's shoulder. "I'm sorry to place such a burden on you."
Sighing, Pippin asked, "What would you have me say?"
"Then tell him a truth," Boromir said with a slight smirk. "Tell him that I bear wonderful gifts from the Lady Galadriel of Lorien."
Relieved that he would already have an answer ready, Pippin could finally smile. "I can say that."
"Good." Boromir pulled Pippin into a hug. "I shall miss you, my dear friend," Boromir whispered into Pippin's ear.
"And I, too, will miss you."
They pulled apart and Boromir hastened to help the hobbit up onto Shadowfax. Gandalf pulled his cloak over even around Pippin and strangely, it helped ward off the strange sense of apprehension which had descended over the hobbit.
Boromir reached out and grabbed Pippin's hand in a firm handshake. "Farewell, young Pip." Taking his eyes off the hobbit, Boromir looked at Gandalf. "Do you have my - ?"
"Never fear, Boromir," Gandalf spoke. "They are safe."
Relief stole over Boromir features softly. Satisfied he seemed by what Gandalf had said, Boromir put his attentions once more Pippin. "Keep out of trouble."
"I daresay I will try my best, though it will probably all go to vain for trouble follows me wherever I go," Pippin said more seriousness than in jest.
"Farewell, I pray that you may have a safe and swift journey."
Gandalf and Pippin repeated Boromir's words. Just before Gandalf wheeled Shadowfax away towards the gate, Pippin got a glimpse of Bawuer watching him. Their eyes met, and Bawuer's face lit up into a smile. The man waved good bye and Pippin was barely able to return the gesture before he and Gandalf were out of the gate and on the road to Minas Tirith.
For some time the two of them traveled, neither of them speaking, the only sounds being the steady yet light footfalls of Shadowfax as the horse took off at a breathtaking speed. The rhythm almost lulled Pippin into that dreamy state of being not quite awake, except for the fact that the hobbit had too many things to ponder.
His thoughts first dwelled on that of his cousin. Dear Merry, Pippin wondered what he was up to at that very moment. There would be so much to tell him when they met again.
When they met again…
If they met again…
Not wanting to think about the possibility of their never meeting again, Pippin focused instead on what exactly he should tell Merry at their reunion. First of all, he had to tell that Boromir was alive and well!
Boromir, alive and well. Alive yes. Alive and well? Pippin wasn't too sure. Truth be told, he had been incredibly shocked to hear of the crime Boromir had committed against Frodo. But if Pippin knew anything at all, it was the fact that Boromir was paying dearly for his consequences. Boromir looked like he neither had much peace of mind or peace at heart.
And if there was anything Pippin knew about Boromir, the man was truly sorry for what he had done. But Pippin saw something else that was quite obvious.
How do you deal with a man who feels he shouldn't be forgiven and thinks he doesn't deserve a second chance?
Pippin sighed softly, not knowing what to think.
His movement more than his voice must have caught Gandalf's attention for the wizard leaned lower to speak to the hobbit. "Troubled about something?"
"I was just thinking about Boromir."
"Ah."
The single word of understanding seemed to release the torrent of questions Pippin so wished to say aloud. "You surely must know what he has gone through. He told me everything back in Edoras. Yet it is so strange Gandalf, he doesn't wish to be understood, can you understand that? He has indeed done something terrible, but he keeps reminding himself again and again. What are you supposed to do with a man like that?"
Pippin turned to look up at the wizard and saw that Gandalf was smiling. "A very good question, Pippin. What are you supposed to do with a man like Boromir? A man who can't seem to break out from his set of mind that he should not have a second chance. But curiously, the answer is very simple. Be a friend to him, and never let him think for a moment that you would leave him. Someday, he will finally understand."
"Understand?"
"Understand that nobody is perfect." It was Gandalf's turn to sigh. "Boromir has in a way been spoiled from a very young age. He had much of his father's attention but that is not everything. He was spoiled in a very different way.
"He was born with a natural talent to lead men, a talent unsurpassed by others, a talent which runs through the blood of even his father and brother. He may not have much knowledge compared to his younger brother, yet Boromir has always shown himself as very astute and quick thinking, a skill needed in all leaders of Men, Elves, and all manner of races.
"Besides that," Gandalf continued, "Boromir's skills in warfare and as a warrior are unquestionable. His list of characteristics includes loyalty, courage, and chivalry. He is quite good looking and could have any woman in all of Gondor, except for the fact he doesn't care for such things.
"Put it all together, we have Boromir. And when you put it all together, I cannot help but add another characteristic of Boromir which I must sadly add; pride."
Pippin tried to process all of this while Gandalf spoke up again, this time in a quieter tone. "Imagine how Boromir feels, all his life being the kind of man everyone could only imagine being. But when confronted with the Ring, he failed in keeping his head and heart guarded against such evil. Now he feels he himself is a failure."
Both the wizard and the hobbit were silent, each deep in their own thoughts of a certain Gondorian. Just as Pippin was about to ask Gandalf what to do, the wizard interrupted. "You asked me Pippin what to do with a man like Boromir. All I can say is that you are doing an excellent job so far."
Puzzled, Pippin couldn't help asking, "What? I haven't really done anything?"
Gandalf raised his eyebrows, his eyes twinkling. "Haven't really done anything? Let me tell you something, Pippin. I was never more proud of you than when you swore fealty to Boromir."
Embarrassed by the rare praise he had just received, Pippin spoke. "I don't really know what inspired me to do what I did. All I know was that I did not want Boromir to think I was leaving him feeling that I was not his friend anymore. I knew only words could not really convince him otherwise. So if I cannot convince him I am still his friend, I knew I could convince him that I am his loyal servant and am forever grateful for what he has done for me."
The wizard nodded solemnly. "Your simple act did much more than you would imagine, young Pippin. You have given him back some of his confidence which he lost. You showed him that you still have faith in him. Whether he still doesn't believe he deserves it is beside the point. You did what you thought was right. And I will stand by your decision, for it was indeed the right thing to do."
Gandalf continued speaking, and this time Pippin heard the smile in his voice. "So tell me, is there anything else on your mind?"
Pippin decided that maybe it was the best time to ask about why Gandalf and Boromir had not wanted him to listen to their conversation. "There is one more thing – "
"Only one more?"
"What were you talking about with Boromir when you sent me away?"
"Come now, Pippin. I know you heard most of it, what else do you need to know."
Pippin was so glad that Gandalf couldn't see his face for he could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks. "You knew?"
"It is quite obvious that if you could hear our conversation, then we could most certainly hear yours, too."
Cringing, Pippin could only say, "Oh."
Gandalf laughed out loud. "Do not think me an old dotard or a fool. I knew very well that you would not pass up a chance to eavesdrop. You hobbits are all alike. As for Bawuer…" Gandalf smiled. "He is a sharp young man, I very much approve of him traveling with Boromir."
Thankful that the wizard didn't appear to be angry with him, Pippin decided to be straightforward. "Gandalf? You said that there was now a greater risk. Will we be able to make it to Minas Tirith safely?"
"I cannot say what lies ahead of us, you know that," Gandalf said solemnly. Pippin gave a frustrated sigh. That comment didn't do much to comfort him at all.
As if sensing Pippin's mood, the hobbit felt Gandalf's arm around him tighten encouragingly. "It will be long three nights, four nights at the most before we make it to our destination. For we cannot travel by day, lest we be found."
Pippin shivered. "Found?"
"Sleep, Pippin. Sleep and be at peace."
Closing his eyes, Pippin wished it were that easy. Hopefully, the night would not last so long.
The thunderous sound of hooves from Maiorama and Ebon was a constant drumming in Boromir's ear. Only moments after Gandalf and Pippin had disappeared out of the gate of Edoras upon Shadowfax, Boromir and Bawuer had leapt lightly onto their own steeds. Expressing their thanks and gratitude to Elfhelm, who had forsaken his mask of suspicion and distrust for a few moments to clasp hearty handshakes, the two travelers sped off on their own journey to Minas Tirith.
And now it was a few hours later and Boromir and Bauwer had not once slowed their speed. Boromir tried to see as far as his eyes could fathom in only the moonlight, and he could not see any sign of the travelers ahead of him. Once more he was determined to feel nothing but relief that Gandalf and Pippin were riding ahead.
But then again, worry took over the relief. If what Gandalf had been saying was true, the Nazgul would be searching the lands high and low for any signs of either the palantir or the hobbit Sauron had seen in the crystal ball. What would happen if the Winged Creature caught Shadowfax's scent? Would there be any hope for his friends?
Boromir shook away the dire thoughts plaguing his mind. He would not know what to do if ever Pippin were harmed.
Hearing rather than seeing it in the corner of his eye, Boromir heard Ebon's gait falter then he saw for certain that Bawuer was reining Ebon in. Maiorama automatically slowed down then finally stopped.
With worry, Boromir turned Maiorama so they were facing Bawuer and Ebon. The Rohirrim soldier was already on the ground and tentatively feeling Ebon's foreleg.
"Has he injured himself?" Boromir asked in concern.
"I'm not sure," Bawuer said in a stiff manner. "He just suddenly started galloping wrong."
There was silence between them as Bawuer continued feeling and pressing Ebon's leg. Boromir knew how serious a leg injury was to a horse and he hoped fervently that Ebon hadn't hurt himself too badly.
Bawuer lifted Ebon's leg so he could look at the horse's hoof. Boromir saw the man's face relax visibly. "It's all right. Ebon has just picked up a rock in his hoof. No long term damage, but it must be bothering him."
As if to prove his point, Ebon leaned down and tried to take a bite out of Bawuer's hair.
Glad that the injury was quite minor, Boromir sighed. "Thank the Valar."
"It seems I must keep apologizing for delaying you, my lord," Bawuer said as he searched for something to wedge the stone out.
Boromir gave his companion a hard look. "This is most certainly not your fault, Bawuer. Stop apologizing. Besides, I do not want to tire the horses too soon, too quickly. It will be good to give them a break."
Lifting one leg over the horn of his saddle so Boromir could sit more relaxed, Bawuer finally found a stick on the ground then went over once more to lift Ebon's leg. With a little bit of wedging, Boromir watched as Bawuer got the stone out of Ebon's hoof. Letting go of the foreleg, Bawuer picked up the problem of discomfort and tossed it to Boromir.
Eyeing it closer, Boromir saw that there was a sharp edge to it. "Did it cut very deeply?"
"No."
The Gondorian looked across the horizon, first towards the east. Then his gaze wandered over to the south. He squinted at the mountains then asked Bawuer softly, "Dunharrow is over there, isn't it?"
Bawuer followed in the direction of where Boromir was looking, then nodded. "Aye, that it would be. A refuge for the people of Rohan, hidden deep in the vales of the White Mountains."
"Your family is most probably there, aren't they."
Abruptly turning away, Bawuer seemed as if he would not answer. Boromir wanted to hit himself. Here he was again, bringing up the subject of Bawuer's family. He was a fool to keep meddling.
But surprisingly, Bawuer faced him again with an easy smile. "Will you never tire of seeking to know more about my family?"
Embarrassed, Boromir shrugged. "I was not asking you of anything. I was just pointing out that we were leaving for Minas Tirith, I do not know how long it will be before you see your family again."
Bawuer became serious. "No other family I know of can understand my situation better than mine. They will manage. My grandfather has taken care of my family for a long time, and he will continue to do so for even longer."
Curious at the mention of Bawuer's grandfather taking care of the family, Boromir couldn't help asking, "And your father?"
And suddenly, Bawuer's face became ashen, making Boromir realize just how much of a sensitive point he must have touched. Striving to release the discomfort of the moment, Boromir said, "Do not answer, Bawuer. You do not need to."
The other nodded and swiftly mounted Ebon. Grabbing the reins, Bawuer rode Ebon next to Boromir, his face still pale and solemn. "Someday I shall explain," he said slowly as if deciding exactly what to say. "It is a tale for another time, when I can figure how to tell it."
"That is fine." Boromir put his foot back into the saddle. "Let us keep a slower pace for a few miles, just to be certain Ebon is fine."
As they rode, Boromir pondered what he really knew of Bawuer's family. There was a grandfather for sure who was no longer a soldier, because of some injury Bawuer had mentioned. There was a sister, someone Bawuer had been very close with. There was a niece and a nephew, two of whom Bawuer did not seem to mind talking about. And then there were the parents, both of them a complete mystery.
Seeing out of the corner of his eye that Bawuer was still acting uncomfortable, Boromir decided to talk of something which was sure to liven his companion up. "I believe you got along well with the hobbit."
The shadow of a smile appeared on Bawuer's face. "Aye, Pippin was quite an interesting hobbit to meet. An inquisitive and curious one to be sure."
"And a mischief maker."
"I did not think him that mischievous."
Boromir looked at Bawuer slyly. "You certainly helped in encouraging him to be so."
True to what Boromir knew Bawuer would do, the Rohirrim soldier started fidgeting with the reins. "Encouraging?"
"Yes," Boromir said pointedly. "You deliberately made a way so Pippin could eavesdrop on my conversation with Gandalf."
For the second time that evening, Bawuer's face became ashen. Yet this time had Boromir feeling very pleased with himself.
"I don't know if Gandalf knew about our two listeners, but don't think you could fool me." The memories of another eavesdropper made Boromir chuckle without abandon. "Let me tell you, Bawuer, of the years when my brother, Faramir, was between the ages of eight and thirteen. I was just beginning my teenage years. I tried to be a good older brother to Faramir, especially with my mother having passed away and my father constantly busy." The thought of his mother made Boromir pause to smile wistfully before continuing.
"So there were times when I wished fervently to be left alone without my little brother tagging along. Yet every single time I thought I'd lost Faramir, he was always right behind me. My little shadow."
"That would be… interesting."
Boromir smirked. "Now you can understand just how good I am at detecting eavesdropper. I had to be, with Faramir always close by, wanting to watch me, listen to me, and mimic me. He has always been a good spy; he has always been good at following me though goodness knows I've tried to get rid of him when I wanted a night out on my own."
"That is nothing compared to having a sister following you around," Bawuer said with a roll of his eyes. "Let me tell you, Boromir, having a brother is nothing like having a sister who adores you and wants to be everywhere with you."
Cringing at how terrible it must have been for a young lad, Boromir nodded solemnly. "I sympathize for I certainly agree. How old - ?"
"It was during my early teen years, too." Bawuer shook his head, Boromir guessing he was reminiscing.
Boromir was about to comment when he suddenly felt something was wrong. After a few moments of careful deliberation, he realized it was Maiorama. She was nervously chewing on her bit, the action which Boromir was almost imperceptibly feeling in the reins. It was then he noticed that Maiorama's gait had become somewhat stiff in manner.
He cursed silently. He had not been paying attention.
Glancing at Bawuer, he saw that the Rohirrim soldier had also discovered that all was not right. Seeing as how Ebon had his head held high, his nose flared, Boromir knew that Bawuer had to have noticed by now.
The air felt unnaturally still yet Boromir's inner senses told him to listen. Signaling Bawuer for them to stop, Boromir reined Maiorama in. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and listened.
At first he heard nothing and Boromir wondered if he was overreacting. And yet… he knew that so far, their horses had never been wrong.
It was then he heard it. A faint drumming. The Gondorian clenched his eyes shut even more so, trying to listen, trying to concentrate. No, it was not a drumming for the seconds between each sound was too far in between.
Now that it seemed closer, Boromir knew that the sounds were that of the beating of air, like that of wings…
Snapping his eyes open, Boromir whispered to Bawuer. "If we are discovered, head for cover in the mountains. There may still be a chance that – "
A shrill screeching filled the Gondorian's senses and cold tendrils of fear crept into his being sending dismay into his soul. Boromir looked up and saw the dim moon being blocked out for an instant by a large winged creature.
He felt Maiorama tremble beneath him and Boromir whispered to his steed. "Be still, my faithful."
The air was quiet again and he could not make out the creature any longer. But still, Boromir felt apprehensive. The danger had passed, or had it? He kept listening though, making sure that it was safe to move. He was about to ask Bawuer if all was right until he heard a strange sound. A whistling sound which was abruptly becoming louder…
Boromir turned around to see a black shape hurtling down from the skies towards them. A black shape with teeth that glistened for a split second from the moonlight.
"Get down!" the Gondorian shouted out as he threw himself off of Maiorama. He felt a strong gust of wind picked up from the winged creature's blow across his back. Boromir thankfully didn't hit the ground too hard and quickly stood up, hand reaching for his sword.
But as he looked up, he saw a sight which filled him with alarm. Bawuer was flat on the ground and did not seem to be moving at all. Out of the corner of his eye, Boromir saw the horses nervously pacing together as if not knowing what to do, seemingly uninjured yet frightened. But he put aside all thoughts of the horses as he ran to kneel beside Bawuer.
Turning the body over, he saw the great gash upon the man's brow. The man must have been either thrown off Ebon or been hit by the creature itself. Fortunately, he saw that Bawuer was still breathing but of what he could tell from the injury, the man was knocked out cold. He was just about to assess if there were any other injuries when he was interrupted
A cry from the fell creature met with Boromir's ears, an impatient cry as if disappointed in not catching its prey. Boromir gritted his teeth determinedly. Well, its prey will not make itself easy to catch.
About to stand up, he faltered as the ground moved suddenly. Once more he heard the screeching scream from his enemy, but this time much closer and not any longer from the air, but from the ground.
Boromir whirled around and as he did so, he saw the horses rear up then canter away. In the corner of his mind, Boromir felt it was for the best. He wished not for Maiorama and Ebon to become feasts for such an evil creature.
As he turned and was now facing his foe, Boromir thought with cruel irony that maybe he was a fool not to realize that he himself was the one becoming the feast.
Author's Note: Ahhh, I know! It's a cliffhanger! Well, I haven't had a cliffhanger in such a long time so I thought it'd be good to put on in. The next chapter is going to be quite exciting, isn't it? Tell me your thoughts on the twist I've put on Boromir's journey!
Next Chapter: As you would expect, the next chapter is of Boromir's face off with a Ringwraith. I might take a while to upload it because I really want it to come out really well.
Replies to my "Family of Reviewers"
freelance beatnik Thank you so much for reviewing! I'm glad you liked my Pippin swearing fealty to Boromir. Pyromaniac Denethor. Ha ha! You made me laugh when you wrote that! Lol Yes, Boromir needs to find a girl and settle down. A bunch of babies? Ok! Ha ha! Hope you like this new update!
Lady Laff-a-lot I certainly know what you mean about Pippin being your favorite of the hobbits. He's such a likable hobbit, I can't help but love him, too! And he's played out so well in the movies by Billy Boyd who did an excellent job! Hope you liked more of Pippin in this chapter!
Daughters of Gondor Still waiting for the reunion between Boromir and Faramir? Sorry, that won't be for a little while. :P I hope you can keep patient with me, I have a lot to write in this story! As for Boromir meeting up with other members of the Fellowship… that might come out in a little bit! Pippin swearing fealty to Boromir, you've written about it before? :P Sorry, I've never read any of your stories so I didn't know you had done it. I really hope you don't think I stole your idea. I hope you liked this new chapter!
Jamie Thanks for much for the review! Glad you're liking it! Thanks for the info on Dominic Monaghan, I'll have to change what I wrote about him later. And thanks also for the good luck!
Racetrack's Goil Hello there my good friend! Thanks for always reviewing, my faithful friend! Yes, smart of Pippin to swear fealty to Boromir, wasn't it? I just found out something (this is like so totally cts) but Kiefer was 22 when he played the Young Guns character! So young huh? Oh, and btw? Your explanation of Bawuer's whole family thingy is soooo… strange. Ha ha! Anyway, I'm still not revealing anything. Hope you liked this chapter, though you're probably dying from the cliffie.
Michaela90 Thanks for reviewing yet again! Yup, Bawuer's past is finally going to start coming in to play in the next few chapters. Oh, cool! You have a Pride and Prejudice story? I would love to read it! I absolutely love Pride and Prejudice, especially since I recently got the A&E miniseries with Colin Firth starring as Mr. Darcy. sigh Anyway, hope you liked this new update!
Lalaithiel Noleambar Glad you thought the change with the oath to Boromir instead of Denethor worked well!
Pipkin Sweetgrass Oh my goodness! I was totally flattered by all your wonderful reviewers! They were all a great encouragement in writing this new chapter! I can understand why Boromir and Pippin are your favorite characters, they are simply amazing! And writing about them has been such fun for me as an author! Wow, your story was nominated for a Mithril Award? I'll definitely have to check it out! Billy Boyd is indeed an incredible actor and he played Pippin to perfection. That's interesting how you've done research on Boromir and Pippin. It was interesting how you pointed out that Boromir was a 'chronic care-taker' for I totally agree. That's how I wanted to portray him in my story because that's how I felt. In both the movies and books, it showed just how much Boromir wanted to be the 'older brother' to protect his 'younger brothers'. And not just Faramir, Pippin and Merry were included most certainly. Glad you liked the Palantir scene. I was re-reading that part in the book and I realized it never explained that scene while it actually happened. It only had Pippin explain later what had happened. So I thought it'd be a cool idea to write what happened just as it was happening. I'm also quite pleased that you liked the reunion and the confessions. They were a bit hard to write and I'm always so flattered to hear whenever a reader liked a particular scene. Really? You'd really consider me for an award? Wow! But it's only when I finish this story, right? Hmm… I'll definitely have to work at it! My e-mail address by the way is: Like you suggested, I'll have to get this story polished up and cleaned up as soon as I can. Just to let you know, I write at about two hours a day, one hour at the very least unless I'm incredibly busy. :P Again, thank you very much for all your reviews, suggestions, and encouragements. I hope you liked this new chapter!
Aelimir Hello there dear friend! I'm glad it was unexpected about Pippin swearing an oath to Boromir! I wanted you all to be surprised! Yeah, the letters were incredibly hard to write, I'm not much of a letter-writer myself. :P Horses get goosebumps, too? That is like sooooo odd! That would be sooo cool to see! Oh, I'm in Hawaii right now and I got to go on a trail-ride at Kualoa Ranch! My horse was so sweet, his name was Banjo. I missed riding so much and it was tons of fun!
AAAClub Thanks for the review! Well, actually I don't live in Hawaii but I go there often because my sister lives there (she goes to college in Hawaii). And plus, my grandmother lives there. In fact, I'm in Hawaii right now! Hee hee! I'm having such a wonderful vacation, and I'm getting to write a lot hence the reason I got this chapter updated so quickly! Cool, you live in Australia? I would so love to visit there!
Kaye Thorn Yay, thanks for your review! So glad you liked the Pippin scene, I planned on it being very unexpected, just to give my readers a bit of excitement. Yeah, I'm pretty amazed by how many reviews I have. ::smiles:: It's sometimes overwhelming to have people liking my story so much. This is not exactly my first fic, but the only one I'm really getting a lot of reaction. I guess not many people write Boromir lives stories, huh? But they're the best kind of LOTR AU story!
Morwen Eleniel Your ideas about Bawuer's past are very well thought of! My friend has been annoying me all the time, trying to guess all about Bawuer. Strangely, she can't seem to get one single plausible story! But your guesses are really nice, though I can't tell you if they're correct or not. But I promise, it'll be very soon when all my readers will discover what's going on! Hope you liked this new chapter!
shie1dmaidenofrohan Glad you liked the twist about Pippin swearing fealty to Boromir! I'm glad all my readers liked that part! Yup, Boromir has to learn that not everyone hates him or anything. ::I:: love him!
KendraC Hello there! I was so surprised to read that you're leaving for Hawaii… because that's where I am at the moment! I wrote you an e-mail giving you my phone number in case we could meet together once. :P But I guess you don't have a chance to check e-mails or anything while you're away. Maybe another time! I hope you have a great time! Yup, Boromir will definitely get to be an uncle, if Faramir gets married. I couldn't help but say it, since there's the dilemma now that Boromir's alive! Glad you thought that the letters fit Boromir's style. There were actually very hard to write. And yes, Pippin had sworn fealty to Boromir instead of Denethor! Very touching I thought, glad you thought so, too. I've been slightly busy while on my vacation here in Hawaii, but as soon as I get a chance, I'll have to read your Jane Austen stories. Thanks for all the info about your stories. Hope you enjoyed this newest chapter!
Arianna Malfoy Thank so much for reviewing! I'm very pleased you're liking this story so much. I agree, Bawuer is so cool, especially since I'm basing him on Kiefer Sutherland who is DEFINITELY one of my favorite actors! Hope you liked the update!