Sorry for the delay! Thanks to Calenlass for betaing.
They stayed silent until they reached the Second Level, a bit disturbed by the queer spectacle they had just witnessed.
Boromir spoke first. "That was odd."
"That's putting it mildly." Faramir retorted.
"What do you think? Sedryn?"
Sedryn was still trying to understand Denethor's dream. Gondor's Healing? Her? The fate of Gondor – and if Gondor, of Middle-earth – would be decided in her time? She shivered.
Boromir saw her shiver. "Sedryn? Anything amiss?"
"Just a bit odd. Well, think about it! Gondor's finest – Rohan too, I think, with the gold and black. Gondor has raised its finest to fight the battle when the Nameless One is either Destroyed or Destroyer?!"
Faramir shrugged. "Interesting implications, at any rate."
"Yes." Boromir agreed. "Especially considering that we're supposed to be that finest."
"More than that. The fate of Middle-earth will be decided in our time." she said.
"At heavy losses, though." Faramir said. "We've already been fighting him, but if it's to be decided once for all, that means we've yet to come across his full strength."
"Yes, but Men aren't as weak as he thinks." Boromir said, seating himself on a stone bench along the road.
"I think—I think that, well, that we could do it, too. Although, I'm rather untried still, in light of being Gondor's Healing." Sedryn said thoughtfully, moving to sit beside him.
"That will come with time." Faramir reassured.
"So I've been told." she answered, smiling.
They walked in silence awhile, until Faramir sent a message through their bond.
Boromir. Faramir said silently. Things have changed with this dream. Shouldn't you strengthen your bond with her now?
Yes." Boromir agreed. I will.
"Sedryn?" Boromir continued. "Do you remember that time when we met, in that ambush when you were bandaging Faramir?" he asked. "When he suddenly woke and got up?"
"Yes." Sedryn answered without hesitation. "Although I'm still attempting to unravel how both of you constantly succeed in such feats. They should be impossible."
"They aren't because, thanks to…er, something Mithrandir once taught us--"
"It's not 'something,'" Faramir interjected. "It's called a mind-clasp."
"Fine, thanks to the 'mind-clasp' that Mithrandir taught us, our blood connection to one another was immeasurably strengthened, and has since grown. If he is wounded, I can give him some of my strength, and he does the same for me. If I am jubilant over something or if I am plunged into misery, he knows, and shares my victory or my grief. I do the same for him; we can talk without words. We can keep each other from dying, Sedryn, and have done so more than once. That's what we want to give to you – the ability to communicate that way with me, and through me, to Faramir, through the mind-clasp."
"So that's how you two have survived all those injuries!" she shook her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "How does it work?"
Faramir took over. "It's kind of like a more intense, permanent mind-touch; you've probably heard of it as calling from the shadow."
She shook her head ruefully. "I've tried and tried to do that by following the little paragraphs on it I've found in my reading, but never succeeded. I can find no complete method written down anywhere." she said.
"There is in the private library, however after Boromir does the mind-clasp you will be able to do the mind-touch, although you'll need training in it. We can help you with it."
She nodded, excited. "That would be extremely helpful."
Boromir grinned. "The scholar and the healer. Shall we move on, then? We need to finish the mind-clasp before we get ready for the ceremony."
"You're right," she said. "What do I need to do?"
He smiled softly. "Come with me. Faramir, we go to the gardens."
Good idea. Faramir sent to his brother. They're nearly deserted.
"Do you want me to go with you?" he asked out loud. I'm here if you need me. But if you prefer, you can go on ahead and I'll meet you there presently.
Boromir nodded. "Do you what seems best to you." he told Faramir.
"Then I'll meet you there presently." Faramir said. "Best wishes to both of you."
Boromir grinned, offering his arm to Sedryn. "Your turn will come." he said.
"Yes, since you've been 'appropriated' I've noticed a new trend among Gondorian maidens -- that of throwing themselves decorously at my feet." Faramir remarked dryly, a smile playing about his lips. "Thanks, but I'll wait."
Boromir and Sedryn laughed. "Take your time, my brother, but we can't—haven't got any. We've got to hurry."
Faramir nodded. "Go on."
The walk to the gardens was short and companionable. When they arrived, Boromir unclasped his cloak and laid it on the grass. Sitting down, he motioned for Sedryn to join him. She positioned herself so that her back rested on his chest and her legs rested over Boromir's folded knees.
"So how do we do this?" she asked, letting her head fall back on Boromir's shoulder.
"Stay like you are," Boromir said, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. "Close your eyes," he said, softly rubbing her scalp. "And stay relaxed. You'll feel me, but it won't hurt unless you fight it. Don't fight it."
"Mmmmmm…" was all she could manage, half-asleep from his blissful kneading behind her ears.
He smiled, taking a moment to watch her as she fell asleep. When he was certain that she was fully asleep, he closed his eyes and focused on connecting with her…
Although Sedryn knew she was asleep, she sprang awake when she felt Boromir's consciousness jolt her roughly.
"Sorry, sorry!" he said, beginning to rub her scalp once more. Sinking rapidly into sleep again, she wasn't sure if Boromir had actually spoken aloud – it sounded rather as though he had spoken inside her head.
Boromir closed his eyes and began again. This time it worked, his consciousness slowly seeping into hers like waves into sand.
All the air left Sedryn's lungs in a heave as she felt Boromir's presence in her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut as his memory, as his being, poured into hers. So many flashes of memories, so many images flashed by too quickly for her to catch and hold onto.
Suddenly the pictures stopped their dizzying whirl, leaving her in a dark, moonlit place in her mind. From nowhere, it seemed, Boromir stepped into a puddle of moonlight.
He spoke softly, knowing that the first time he spoke to her here in this place it would hurt a little. "Explore. Go on. Come closer. Hold my hand." He spoke silently, reaching his hand out to her as she flinched. "Enter my mind. See me!"
With every step she took, she could feel him somehow, feel his brave, courageous spirit whirl into hers. Finally, she clasped his outstretched hand. With that mental touch his mind was open to hers, and hers to his. "You first." He said. She understood.
She realized what a gift Boromir had given her. The entirety of his life was open to her, from his earliest memories to his deepest struggles.
"What would you like to see?" he asked.
She shook her head. "I don't know." she answered. "But Boromir," she continued. "I…I don't want to pry. What do you want me to see?"
He smiled – she felt it! "Everything." He said, looking deep into her eyes. "Everything."
She nodded, blushing. "Me too." She said, averting her eyes downward, away from his gaze so intensely full of love. "I have no secrets from you."
Boromir had never before felt such swirling emotions as he had at that moment, in that hidden place in his mind with Sedryn there, blushing, in his mind's eye. Taking her face into his hands, Boromir stooped and laid a kiss on the bridge of her nose. "Sedryn, I love you."
"I know. I feel it." Tears sprang unbidden to her eyes as she fully realized the boundless love he had for her. "I thought I already knew my Beloved, but now I realize that I know nothing at all."
Both of their hearts were pounding as his mouth moved lower, nearing her mouth. Each knew how much the other wanted that kiss, wanted that joining there in that twilit realm. Thoughts flitted through her mind and left as fast as they came, lost in the breathless time that waited years for moments to pass, moments until their lips joined.
His mouth finally touched the corner of hers. Another moment and he reached the silky swell of her lips, waiting eagerly for his touch.
He kissed her.
The tidal wave of power that surged over them when their lips touched was entirely unexpected.
Everything that Boromir was poured into Sedryn at an overwhelming rate. In mere moments, she found herself laughing and weeping and hurting and rejoicing, all at the same time. She discovered his joys, overshadowing all else; his spirit was too great to remain in the deep grief that sometimes unlocked the doors of its prison to torment him with ideas of a falling brother, a falling country. She wept for the numberless wounds he had earned in defending his country, feeling herself ache in remembered pain for all the long days and weeks he had writhed and moaned in delirious hurt. But there was still more, more to see…
Waiting patiently, Faramir smiled when he laid his hand on Sedryn's closed eyes and knew what Sedryn saw. She had now come to the core of Boromir, behind the memories, behind the emotions. Here she would find the unshakeable bedrock that Boromir stood on. Here she would find – herself.
Of course, Faramir was a part of it, too, but he had long since Sensed Sedryn's growing presence in his brother's heart. She was a part of it like he was, even more so, perhaps; everything Boromir thought was flavored with Sedryn; her loves, her beliefs, her principles. Faramir liked it that way – although he knew that Boromir loved him something felt right, stronger, to have Sedryn so entrenched in his brother's heart. That connection only deepened as Boromir too saw into Sedryn's heart and the hidden things that waited there, only visible to him.
Before this, Boromir had never known the depth of feeling Sedryn held guarded in her heart. The same things he held so dear to his heart were dear to hers as well, and as fiercely. In her love for family and country he saw golden threads, meeting and splitting and entwining but always leading further to some unknown object. He picked them up and followed them until he came to an empty place that somehow felt familiar, like it was a place he had lived in a long time. It resolved itself into a great hall, softly lit by the blue predawn light coming in through the windows. The light illuminated the many paintings and books lining the walls. Down the middle a table was set with a simple repast of bread, cheese, ham and ale. In the far corner a spinet waited, sheets of music on its ledge, to be played. Opposite from it there was a bed, the blankets thrown aside as though someone had just risen. Wordlessly he walked to it and sat down, resting his back against the wall. He Sensed things here, unvoiced ideas of courage, whispers of an unending loyalty, hints of a boundless love and he knew that was both what she offered him and what she asked in return.
He felt a smile growing on his face. She asked only what she knew he could give, and he gave it gladly…
Sedryn was lost in joy so full it needs must turn to tears. There, concealed deep down in that great heart she had found such things that inspired her with wild hope and joy and love. She found Faramir there, smiling and waiting for them. Already she could Sense some things about him, an air of Númenor about him, a dusty book in his hand. Wisdom indeed seemed to embody Herself in him, and she was well protected by the armed love Courage so happily offered.
After she saw Faramir she felt herself drawn onward to a dark place that was seemingly empty. But as she waited a slow sun began rising and tinting the sky a lighter color. It cast its rays upon a wrecked place, full of destruction, dead. Great battles had been won and lost here on this heart's battleground, but there was nothing left to rebuild after. It was charred, a desolate place with no people to tend to it and see to its growth. Kneeling, she took a handful of the dirt from the ground. Ashes. Still another time she felt tears come to her eyes. This place was dead.
But no. As she dashed the tears away from her eyes the ash changed before her eyes to fragrant, fertile soil. Dropping it in surprise, she looked at the ground as the grey hue of the ash gave way to red soil. Green vines seemed to spring from her feet and dashed merrily away, over stone and hill, covering the burnt battlefield, bringing it to life again. She laughed as new trees sprang and grew under charred stumps until the stumps rested like old crowns at the head of the new trees. New grass crinkled underfoot as she walked along the edge of the old field, now a garden bursting with new life. She was rooted here, but she didn't mind. She did not want to, for it was beautiful.
When Boromir laughed his exultant laugh the whole field burst into bloom. "You don't have to. You will always be here, now, just as I will always be in that hall with the books. When you want to mind-speak to me, think of that field and I'll hear you."
She nodded. "What now?"
"Time to go back, I think." Boromir answered. "Think yourself into wakefulness."
"That's it?" she said incredulously.
Boromir grinned. "The human mind is a wondrous thing..."
The first thing they saw upon waking was Faramir, leaning against a tree, waiting for them to wake.
"All clear?" he said, smiling at their happy expressions. "How do you feel?"
"Tired," they said, then blushed as they realized that they spoke at the same time.
Faramir laughed. "Still have some time to rest, if you need it."
"Likely we should. At least, I will." She answered, feeling her eyelids grow heavy as Boromir offered her a hand up.
He took her arm in his when she got up. "Might I escort you?" he asked.
Faramir rolled his eyes at the lovers. "I'm off," he said.
They didn't hear him as they walked off toward Sedryn's home. She was quite tired, feeling herself actually beginning to nod off more than once even as they walked onward. Boromir led her to her bed before taking his leave. Sedryn just pulled her shoes off and threw herself on the bed.
Many thanks to reviewers! Your words are immensely encouraging!