Hello readers! Here is a short story about a romance between Boromir and his betrothed. It is sad, but also, I think could be plausible. A little bit AU, as they find his actual body in the river in this story. Hope you like it!

Telemnya walked over to her open balcony, where the wind was blowing softly through the open window, and the cool night air refreshed her spirits. She looked up into the collage of stars above her head.

Her thoughts strayed to her betrothed, Boromir of Gondor, and she whispered, "I wonder if he is looking at these same stars."

A smile adorned her face when she remembered their first kiss. It was a defining moment in their relationship, and one that solidified what she knew in her heart. It had been an evening just like this...

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Two Years Ago

"Today was wonderful Boromir. Probably the best day I have had in a long while," Telemnya said, a brilliant smile on her face.

"I enjoyed it as well." He chuckled. "I never knew you could sword fight like that!" he continued, with a cheeky grin and a wink.

Telemnya laughed and rolled her eyes, "You know you just let me win! I doubt I would last five seconds if I needed to defend myself." She ran a hand through her dark brown hair, wincing as it snagged slightly. Her braid had come undone, and she was sure she looked a little disheveled in her somewhat dirty tunic and leggings. She wasn't used to doing quite so much physical activity, and hoped Boromir couldn't tell how sweaty she was.

"Well I thought you did very well for your first time," Boromir said, his eyes twinkling. He had been so busy these past several years, with few opportunities for leisure. She could tell how this light-hearted day lifted his spirits.

They sat down on a stone bench in the gardens. It was his late mother's garden, but Boromir's father still insisted it remained tended and well-cared for.

"The view is so beautiful. I never tire of it, despite the years I have lived here," Telemnya said in slight awe. The roses were in bloom, and the heady scent was pleasant. The stars twinkled brightly, almost like they were winking at the two of them.

"I think my eyes have seen much more beauty," Boromir said, as he moved closer.

Telemnya turned towards him, sensing his gaze. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she was unable to look away.

"Boromir I ..." she began, her heart beating a little faster.

"Shhh..." Boromir whispered, placing his finger upon her lips. He slowly tipped her chin up to look into her eyes; his jade ones were full of something unfamiliar, but it made her breath catch.

They both leaned in slightly, and then a little more. She could feel his breath on her cheeks, and she closed her eyes.

And then he kissed her. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered as his lips softly caressed hers. She slowly placed her arms around his neck, and he caressed her cheek with his warm, calloused hand. Part of her knew this was highly inappropriate, but she found she didn't care whatsoever.

After what only felt like a moment, he gently raised his head from hers. When Telemnya looked into his eyes, she could now see they were full of love, and desire. After a few more minutes of this pleasurable activity, she pulled away and turned around, leaning her back against his warm chest, feeling the comfort it held as he placed an arm around her waist. They stayed that way for a long while; her snuggling with him while he ran his fingers absentmindedly through her hair. She felt safe in his arms. Nothing needed to be said; Telemnya knew how she felt, and believed he felt the same. Finally, she had fallen in love, and with a man of finest quality.

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Telemnya was shaken out of her memory when her handmaid knocked urgently on her door. "My lady, are you awake?"

"Yes, come in Adelyn," she softly called, wondering why on earth she would be knocking at this late hour.

Adelyn entered quickly. "Lord Faramir wishes to see you my lady. He said it was urgent."

Worry veiled her face instantly. "Did he say what was the matter?"

Her handmaid shook her head. "No, he just said you needed to come quickly."

Telemnya quickly threw on her robe and raced down the hall, feeling a strange sense of dread settle in her stomach.

When she entered, she instantly began to worry. Tears were sliding down Faramir's face, and Denethor was shaking with sobs.

She rushed over to Faramir. "What is the matter? What has happened?" she asked, afraid to hear his reply.

Faramir slowly lifted his head and looked into her eyes. She started as she saw the grief in his brown depths. "Boromir..." he choked, unable to hold her gaze for more than a moment.

Panic immediately started filling her mind. "What about Boromir? Faramir, again I must ask, what has happened?"

"He...he is dead," Faramir croaked, his voice cracking. In his hands he held the Horn of Gondor, cloven in two.

Disbelief struck first. "Are you certain? How can you know this? He is off traveling on his quest," Telemnya said quietly, but with urgency. "All you have as proof is his Horn, am I right?" Yet even as she said these words, she knew in her heart that there must be more to the story.

Faramir shook his head and painfully continued, "I found his body floating in an Elven boat down the river. In his hands was his sword...and the Horn was on his right side."

Next came denial. "He cannot be dead! He promised me he would return for me!" she cried. Her mind was whirring and there was a buzzing in her ears. "He promised…"

Then finally the grief came, like a wave as it crashed into her chest. Her body wracked with sobs, she slid to the ground, feeling the cold marble under her knees.

"No...we were to be wed in the Spring...and have children!" she gasped, feeling like she could barely breathe.

Faramir knelt down by her side and embraced her. Denethor stumbled away from them, unable to comfort his son due to his own overwhelming grief.

Later that night, she was allowed to see his body before it was put into the tomb in the Silent Street, where all the Stewards and Kings were laid to rest. When she approached him, she saw that the life that he had always held in his eyes was gone, and the warmth of his skin had been replaced with a startling cold.

She sat down in a chair next to him and closed his eyes, angry that they were left open. He was looking at nothing, and his spirit was gone. She gently stroked his hair, tears again coursing down her cheeks. All that they had planned for their future was shattered. Their new life together had been snatched away from them at the cruel hands of death.

"Why him? Why did you take the one man who meant the most to me? The one whom I loved more than I could ever say? Why Boromir?" she attempted to yell, but it came out in a strangled whisper.

All of the times they had spent together came flooding back to her. When they had first met, the friendship they had forged, the amusing pranks they had pulled, growing up, their first kiss, the countless outings he had taken her on, his proposal, everything. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it gently, as if her gentle touch could somehow restore life into him.

"Do you remember the time when we played that joke on Faramir?" Telemnya whispered. "The look on his face had been hysterical. Water was everywhere, and when the sentries and servants and cooks, and even your father came rushing in, it looked like he had caused the mess! Faramir told on us, and we were scolded severely that day. Do you remember how long it took us to mop the whole dining hall?" she continued, smiling through her tears.

She continued to whisper these memories to him throughout the night, and as the sun rose, she finally kissed his forehead and cold lips.

"Good bye Boromir. You are always with me, my love. I will never forget you, and how you have blessed my life with such joy and love that can never be replaced with another's. Remember me as you rest in the Halls of your fathers, and watch over me as I continue living and thinking of you." Tears once more welled up in her eyes.

"I love you."

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Three Weeks Later
Faramir softly knocked on Telemnya's door. He didn't expect her to answer, since she really hadn't since Boromir's death.

Despite her farewell to Boromir that had seemed to bring her closure, things had deteriorated over the past few weeks. She had become withdrawn, only leaving her quarters for mealtimes and sometimes not even then.

He slowly opened her door to reveal the dim room. The curtains were pulled, and just a few candles were lit.

Telemnya's small body was laying in her bed, next to a tray of food that had been barely touched. She was staring off into nothing; her face vacant in the constant grief she felt.

"Sister, I am worried about you," Faramir started off.

"I am not your sister Faramir, remember? I never married your brother." Her voice was monotone and very faint, and she continued to stare at the wall.

Faramir did not know how to respond to this, so he put the focus back on her, "You have eaten barely anything, and had kept yourself in this room far too long. You know that Boromir would not wish for you to live like this." He spoke with some urgency, trying to break through the fog encompassing her mind.

Slowly she turned her head towards him, the constant tears once again staining her cheeks. "How can you just accept this?" Telemnya whispered, so softly that Faramir barely caught the words. "How can the grief be gone from your heart?"

"I still miss Boromir and grieve for him deeply, but I cannot spend all of my time dwelling on what has happened. It would be so very easy to allow myself to drown in my grief, but it is not a healthy way to cope," Faramir said firmly. "You need to try to overcome this and find a way to live. Like I said, Boromir would not want this of you my sister."

A spark of fury lit up her eyes. "How would you know what Boromir would want me to do?" she said icily. "And I am not your sister!" She started moving towards the edge of the bed, like she meant to lunge at him, but simply did not have the strength and sunk back into her pillows.

Frustration started to build up in Faramir, but he suppressed it and kept his voice level, "Because he is my brother, and I know that he would not have you dwelling in silence, pain, doubt, and hopelessness. He would want you to smile again, and walk through the gardens, and eat with people who love and care for you and are going through the same pain."

"But he is gone, and he is never coming back. It is as if his death has taken my life with it. My heart feels empty and broken. What is my purpose now?" Telemnya said sadly.

Alarmed, Faramir moved a little closer and continued, "Your purpose has never been to simply be Boromir's wife, and you know this. There is much to live for. You have family and friends that want to help you, Telemnya. I care too much for you to see you diminish, and when I look at you in this state, it causes me pain." He paused, trying to gather his thoughts and push aside another wave of grief.

"Can you not see? In time, your heart will slowly but surely mend. Yes, it will take a while, but you must let it happen. If you constantly dwell over what you could have done to change things, or how you could have stopped him, you will not heal." Faramir sighed, taking her hand and feeling how cold it was. "Please Telemnya. Come with me and we can get through this together. Do not bear this weight alone."

Telemnya thought over the words that Faramir had just spoken. He was right: she did feel like she was alone, and she had only felt worse since she had shut herself up here. Yes, perhaps Faramir could help her through this.

The faintest of smiles adorned her face. "All right, I will come," is what she said, despite how it was easier said than done.

Faramir sighed in relief and helped her out of bed. She stumbled slightly but righted herself. He left the room as she changed, thinking over what had just happened. "I am glad I finally convinced her; Boromir would be happy, I think," He said softly to himself.

Her door opened, revealing Telemnya. Though she still looked frail, she attempted a small smile. Faramir hoped that he could help her, and that she could carry on and let go of her grief. He knew it was hard. He struggled with it almost every day. Yet, he did what Boromir would've wanted, and that was to live life to the fullest, and find the joy in each day. Yes, times were difficult with the War and its many hardships, but for every dark thing there is light to outshine it.

Faramir linked his arm through hers, and he felt a peace settle upon them. Things would be all right after all…at least he hoped so.

Thanks for reading! This was almost a complete rewrite of the previous version of this story. My writing style from 16 years ago simply was not the best, and I couldn't let this stand as it was. Hope you enjoyed this little one-shot, and please write a review if you have a moment.