Hello, I am back with chapter two. Thank you for your reviews. I am a little rusty with Lord of the rings but I am doing my best and hope you can point out any errors or mistakes I might make. This chapter might be a little strange as Boromir is adjusting to the new world and struggling with his feelings he had before he died. He is also struggling with the fact he will never see Gondor or his people ever again. It is emotional turmoil in the extreme. He will not remain like this but it is necessary for him. He would never just accept the situation nonchalantly. He loves his people and loves Gondor more than his own life. It is incredibly painful for him and compromises his emotional state until he can control himself.
Reviews:
Deacon94: You are right, I made a rookie mistake and corrected my error. Thank you.
RevanMorningstar: I intend to make them longer as I go.
Jacked628: Thank you.
Oblivion2991: Thank you. If you have any ideas or want to discuss the future of the story, please pm me. I really enjoy your works.
Lilcrafter: Thank you.
Echonic: Thank you.
- chapter one-
Boromir was a man of Hardy and sturdy build descended from a long line of exceptional men. A few leagues of light traveling under a soft sun did very little to tire him out. As a steward-prince, captain, now lesser Maiar, and man of Gondor he had gone through rigorous physical training for as long as he lived. Minas Tirith could not afford weak wiled or bodied men with the constant threat of Mordor looming overhead like an angry dragon. The threat of war required the Warriors of Minas Tirith to be very very powerful. While not as strong as many Warriors of the earlier ages, mainly the second and beginning of the third, the Warriors of Minas Tirith were some of the greatest on the face of Arda.
He first exited the field to search for any roads nearby. After a short time of searching for a road to follow, he had managed to find a small barely trodden dirt road surrounded by trees and bushes. There were some wagon tracks and the faint trace is of boot prints littered about the road. Since the road seemed to lead to the city Boromir decided it was best to follow the road and perhaps he would find a traveler is that could explain exactly where he in Arda he was. He had traveled down the road for quite some time when he came upon a group of what seemed to be soldiers guarding a wagon that was being pulled by horses.
The wagon was small no more than a large cart. Inside of the wagon were bushels of various grains and plants. The soldiers wore plain iron armor consisting of chainmail hauberks and leggings consisting of leather with round shields of wood and iron spurs painted with a symbol of a plumed open face helm displayed proudly. They held broadsword and wore helms similar to those emblazoned upon their round shields.
Approaching the armed men, Boromir hailed to them with a wave and shout.
"Hail fair travelers. Pray to tell me the name of the grand city standing tall ahead of us" He called to them, gaining their attention. The horses slowed to a stop and an elegant woman jumped out of the now unmoving wagon, unseen by Boromir at first.
The soldiers parted for the woman as she strode confidently towards the man in strange but valuable clothing. He was clearly no beggar or pauper begging for scraps along the side of the road. He strode with a confident gait and his eyes showed no fear as he approached them. His air was that of a born leader and warrior. However, what interested the woman was not just his visible valor, but the energies that surrounded him.
Boromir looked to the woman that approached him, she was beautiful, rivaling the stories and depictions of Tar-Vanimelde. Her flowing hair was a rich light brown, her eyes a light olive. Her skin a fair light shade. She wore a light blue gambeson over a white shirt with long fabric sleeves. Her breeches were a light blue and went down to her white boots that seemed to stay clean and spotless even though she treaded on a dusty dirt road. She bore a short spear in her right hand with a long sharp head of an unknown green metal.
"Greetings stranger. You walk along the road to the southern entrance of the godly city Orario. What is it you seek?" She asked him, looking him directly in the eye.
Boromir grimaced inwardly but showed no such reaction " Where in the fair lands of Arda is this? Do you know of the white lands of Gondor or the green hills of Rohan?" He asked the woman. She had an air of importance and seemed to glow with magical energy. He knew not how he could discern such things, as he never could sense such magics before. However, he could sense a deep well of magic within her. Rivaling the feelings of what he felt from Gandalf the Gray.
The woman watched him intently as if there was something wrong with him. Like he did not belong. She observed him quietly and discerningly.
"If you have nothing to say, I will carry on and speak with another further down the road," Boromir said with slight annoyance at her odd actions, not wanting to waste time with the strange woman.
"Hold," She said as Boromir was turning to leave. Her words carried coercive magical power that attempted to dominate his mind and force him to stop. However, the power of Eru Illuvitar held strong, repelling the command from his mind. Boromir, who had felt the attempted mental attack, quickly drew his sword and pointed it at the woman. His gray eyes the color of steel with a cold gleam equal to it.
"Sorceress, You dare attempt to coerce me? I am a son of Numenor and the captain of Gondor's forces. Such magics hold no power over me. As of now I am in unknown lands and will warn you once and only once. Cease your assault and turn away. I will remove your head from your shoulders if you attempt such foolhardiness again"
The soldiers moved from the cart and surrounded the woman defensively preparing for whatever Boromir may do. However, the woman just laughed waving the men away.
Walking towards Boromir's blade and stopping less than a foot from the tip, she raised her hands in a show of peace.
"My apologies for the test. I was simply confirming your power. As for your earlier questions, I have not heard of such lands. Are they to the east?" She asked, not even remotely scared of the intimidating blade and cold eyes of the man that stood in front of her.
Boromir, who did not take the dismissal of his warning lightly swung his sword towards the woman with deft precision who dodged the strike and drew her spear.
"Sorceress, do not take me lightly. Turn away from me down the path and never approach me again" Boromir forcibly commanded, finding the sheer dismissal by the sorceress infuriating. Never had he been so utterly dismissed since he was denied the ring by the hobbit Frodo Baggins. That in itself brought more distasteful feelings.
However, he was ignored yet again. In fact much to his ire, the woman laughed.
"Sorceress? I have rarely been called by such a name. Are you not aware of my identity?" She asked as she struck out at him with her spear. While she laughed, the strike was precise and aimed at his vitals. There was no hesitation in the attack, lazy but deadly.
"The identity of a brash sorceress in a far off land means nothing to me. What matters is you have refused to heed my warning, forfeiting any negotiation" Boromir said as he dodged the spear and grabbed the haft with an iron grip of his free hand, pulling it from her grip. Swinging his sword towards her with the intent to relieve her of her head, his sword was stopped by a bright explosion of light. He jumped back, spear and sword held defensively in front as he shut his eyes.
When he opened his eyes, the woman was glowing with the bright light of a prismatic rainbow in full golden armor. Her entire body was protected and she had grown double in size. Just by looking at her, Boromir could see she was immensely powerful. Her body surrounded by flaring raging magic.
"Mortal, I have been amused by you up until now, however, you have used up my good graces. Be grateful and repent as I cannot manifest my godly power or you would be vaporized where you stand" She spoke, each of her words shaking the ground, but Boromir stood tall.
"Sorceress, I fear not you nor death. Come and feel the bite of my blade and the blood of Numenor!" Boromir called out as he charged towards her like a ballistae bolt. Faster than anyone but the woman could comprehend, Boromir swung his blade at her only for it to be intercepted by a massive golden shield almost as big as him.
With a loud CLANG, the godly metal shield was struck by the ancient blade each vibrating from the massive blow. The woman was pushed down, causing a crater to form under her. The sheer power of the strike clove the shield in half and it bit into the woman's hand beneath.
With a cry of pain, the woman released the broken shield and the slash wound quickly knit itself together.
However, Boromir was not done with his assault. He slashed upward after bringing his sword down and struck at the sorceress's head, attempting to split it in two.
Then, right as the blade was about to strike, the world was died gray as all color drained and everything stopped. Sound disappeared and only he moved.
"Cease your fight strange traveler. I know not where you come from, but I can not allow you to make that strike" Came the calm voice of an elderly man behind him.
Spinning around to where the voice originated from, Boromir pointed his sword at the newcomer. This strange world affecting magic was clearly his doing.
Five meters or so away was a tall man, standing seven feet tall and robed in a long black hooded cloak and long gray robes. Easily in his late Eighties.
"Speak your name Wizard" Boromir spoke and in his voice was anger. He was angry at himself and the wizard for being taken by surprise.
"I am Ouranos. I control the flow of time and this city. You are not of this world, coming from beyond the weave of time. I am afraid if you struck down brash Athena as you were planning, you would have ended up with a horrible fate. Please put down your sword and speak with me. Perhaps we can come to an agreement" The man said, taking off his hood and imploring Boromir.
Boromir searched the man's eyes for deceit, but found none. He was protecting the woman. That much was clear, but Boromir saw the sense in his words. He had become enraged and attacked the sorceress in retaliation. He had let his rage take him over as if he had been temporarily corrupted. Was this residual effects of the ring, perhaps the negative energy left over from his death?
"You speak sensibly old man. However, I cannot allow myself to be taken lightly. Why should I listen to the man that protects my enemy?" Boromir asked the man.
"A good question. Allow me to show you my good intentions. I will rewind time and bring you to my office in the city and to the world, you will never have met Athena and would have arrived in my office instead of where you have come from. No one in this city but me and you will know you existed. Freeing you of this fight. What say you?" The man asked.
To Boromir who's pride was slightly wounded, he wanted to decline the temporal do-over, but this chance was better than fighting the enemy again.
"Very well Ouranos, but if you attempt underhanded trickery, my blade will pierce both your and Athena's hearts," Boromir said, lowering his blade.
Then, the world blurred before righting itself and sounds and color returned, like a rushing waterfall, striking the placid waters of a lake below. The two were in a large office of a tall building. Easily forty feet wide and thirty feet long. It was full of various tables and shelves stuffed to the brim with books scrolls and oddities.
The two were standing over a long wooden table covered in maps and books. A crystal sphere on the far end slowly turned and emitted various colors.
Standing across from Boromir, Ouranos spoke.
"So, weary traveler from beyond time, tell me. Who are you? What brings you here and where are you from?" The Titan of time asked with a relaxed voice.
"I am Boromir, Prince-Steward of Gondor and Guard Captian of the white city of Minas Tirith. I died. I died a death of repentance. However, I awoke in a field on the outskirts of the city we stand in now. The woman I was fighting, Athena was her name challenged me and attacked me. She spoke nonsense before transforming into a golden warrior. That leads us to now" He finished, looking at Ouranos for an explanation.
Ouranos fell deep into thought before speaking a short while later.
"Your past is hidden from me and powerful energy flows through you like a god. However, it is different, purer than anything I have seen or felt. What are you? You feel like a man, but your energy is divine in the truest sense. An anomaly in every sense of the word" Ouranos said, deeply interested in this godly traveler. It was at this point that Boromir became confused.
"You speak strange things Ouranos. Be clearer in your words" Boromir said, expecting clearer less vague words. As far as he knew, he was still a man, not a god.
Ouranos nodded, seemingly understanding the situation.
"Have you gained the blessing of any God or Goddess in your life?" He asked Boromir who shook his head.
"Not that I know of. Though if I am here, this must be some divine hand at play" Boromir said, thinking of his situation in a new light.
"I thought as much. A powerful god beyond even me has granted you a blessing. I can see the life and death of everything in this world and the world above and you have no natural end. You are immortal in the truest sense. Do you know who might have blessed you such?" Ouranos asked, interested in a being that exceeded time itself and why it would give this man it's incredibly potent blessing. He assumed it was some matter beyond his comprehension, but picking this man's mind was fascinating.
Boromir thought for a long time, however, the son of Denethor was stumped. He was a worthy man, having led his people as best he could and fought to the end for the free peoples of Middle Earth. However, he could not see why a greater being would do such a thing for him.
Seeing the look on Boromir's face, Ouranos slumped slightly, dejected at not getting an easy answer. However, he was not surprised, nothing was ever that easy.
"So I am in a realm Beyond Middle Earth?" Boromir asked Ouranos who nodded.
"Yes, in this universe, there is no such realm and I know of no way to return you to your original world," Ouranos said, studying Boromir's reaction intently.
"That is quite painful. Perhaps such a method can be developed in time. For now, I wish to stay in this city for a time to recover my senses and acclimate. I still feel unwell" Boromir said, walking over to a comfortable padded chair next to a nearby table and taking a seat.
"Very well, though I would recommend getting a hold of your temper and power before you end up destroying this country in a fit of rage. You may not know it now, but the power you wield would make you invincible if wielded and honed correctly. I can offer you my help if you feel you need it. All I ask is you not use it recklessly. This city is full of peace only because we restrain our great power as to not destroy this world" Ouranos took the chance to keep Boromir in the city. It was good he got a hold of him before other unsavory creatures or people did so.
mulling over the offer for a few moments, Boromir accepted the offer.
In this moment, Boromir thought of everything that drove him.
The glory of Gondor.
The great Denethor, his father that ruled from The tower of Ecthelion and his love for the Fellowship. His Brother Faramir that he loved so deeply. Aragorn in his wisdom would have told him to not forsake his life just because he was in a new world, but it was hard to think of anything else.
The pain of never seeing the white towers or the Halls of Minas Tirith.
Never seeing the white tree again.
Never seeing his father or brothers he loved so much. Never to be welcomed by silver trumpets ringing through the city as the King and leader of men walked through the streets greeted by cheers and flags strung high above him.
It was a deep pain that cut into him like a hot knife. Taking his forehead in his hands, Boromir cried. He cried for his people, he cried for his father. He cried for his King Elessar. After what seemed like minutes, he raised his head. His weeping ended, now with a clearer mind.
Releasing a deep breath he did not even know he was holding, Boromir spoke.
"This is a sad day for me, to never see my home or people again. I need to release my anger and sadness upon something. Do you have such things in this city? perhaps a combat arena or gladiator matches?" Boromir asked Ouranos who nodded.
"We have a dungeon. It is a maze that reaches deep into the Earth and is filled with dangerous monsters and traps. Perhaps you would like to fight there? I can write an exception for you until you settle in this city" Ouranos said, asking Boromir if he would like to try the dungeon.
"Very well, take me there, and I will release my stress. After that, I will find lodging" Boromir said getting up and walking over to Ouranos who manipulated space and time to bring Boromir to the entrance of the dungeon.
Boromir entered the dungeon drawing his sword as he walked down the stairs that led to the first floor. It was a rocky floor with crudely carved halls lit sparsely. Small goblins attacked him fruitlessly as he cut them down. Boromir would continue on and clear floors quickly, each kill increasing his frenzied slaughter. However, he never swung wildly or sloppily.
For years long after, tales would be told of a titan of a man tearing through the floors of the dungeon, killing any and all monsters in a single blow with a sword that glowed blue and tore through wall and flesh alike. The man was a methodical but merciless warrior, garbed in black and silver, gaining the title silver fury by the awed adventurers that he encountered along the way.
However, while these stories were told by excited newbie adventurers, there were some that took poorly to it and some that we're intrigued. Very rarely was there such exciting tales told by so many people? With many eyes searching for him and many more looking to take him to their Familias, Boromir's loyalty would be put to the test. Would he stay unshakable, or would he be corrupted yet again?
Only time would tell that tale, and that time will come on another day.
And cut.
I read a lot of crossovers that just neglect Ouranos entirely. He controls time, of course, he would nigh immediately know of any deviations in the time stream of the Danmachi universe. It also brings a neat dynamic in my eyes. He most likely nine out of ten times would step in nigh immediately with anyone coming from beyond time.
Also, if Boromir seemed a bit out of character, I apologize. I just felt it good to portray his turmoil through anger and a break of his pride that was already wounded by his own and Frodoo's actions right before his death.