A/N: Ai, I have totally pulled a J.K. Rowling, haven't I? Sorry everyone,
school ends next week, so I've been rushing around trying to get in last
minute grades and sucking up to the teachers whose classes I'm failing
(which is amazingly only two, lol). With this said, I'm only going to be
updating once every week for the next 3 weeks or so, or at least until
school dies and I'm free for the summer. I'll be on vacation the week after
school ends, so I'll be mulling over our dear characters. Thank-you for
being so faithful with this fic and for reviewing as much as you have.
We're almost to 200! WOW!
I've been really inspired by the beach (a small trip there last weekend has caused this) and by the beauty of Savannah (and the prospective tour guide job in one of the old houses here), so I've got about 3 plot bunnies bouncing around me. Don't worry! As tempting as it is to lay aside Why Us and get to work on my new ideas, I will not abandon our beloved pair.
As always, thank-you for reading and reviewing. ^_^
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Disclaimer: Steph belongs to me, so keep your paws to yourself. However, feel free to put your paws on Boromir, as he belongs to Tolkien. He's not my problem.
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**Chapter 12**
Boromir fidgeted during the uncomfortable silence that followed. All three had stern looks on their faces, concentration plain in their faces. Aragorn spoke first.
"Are you sure of this?" he asked, his voice flat and serious.
"Of course!" Boromir exclaimed, angry that he was being doubted, "I believe death is more to my understanding than yours!"
Aragorn sighed, his face blank and unreadable. "Perhaps if you were to cut her off...as you would a limb that afflicts you..."
Boromir narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting that I rid myself of Steph?" It did not occur to him that he had once had the same idea.
Aragorn hesitated, regretting his words. "Yes. It would be difficult, but perhaps it would be for the best."
"Have you been deaf to everything I have said?" Boromir said angrily, "If she dies, then I will die too!"
"You said that if you left her, you would die. You said nothing of-" Legolas pointed out, his face calm, even in the heated moment.
Boromir slammed both fists on his thighs. "I am well aware of what I have said! But I will not jeopardize my life or needlessly slaughter Stephanie! I will not take unnecessary chances, having realized the fragility of mortal life."
Aragorn held up his hand. "Peace Boromir! We meant you no offence."
Boromir bit his lip, trying to relax. "You are right. Fighting is not what we need."
"Save your strength for battle, son of Gondor." Said Aragorn, a smile tugging at his mouth. "You are weary. Go and rest."
Boromir sighed but did not argue. After saying goodnight, he sat next to Steph, feeling the need to protect the one whose life was bound to his. After a while, he fell asleep.
The familiar blackness swirled around him as he drifted into a deeper sleep. It wasn't long before the voice was whispering in his ear.
"Hello again, Boromir of Gondor."
The blackness held a bitter chill, and Boromir was soon shivering. His teeth began to chatter as he spoke. "Hello Unseen One."
"Ah," said the voice, "a fitting name." It laughed, and the sound echoed off the unseen walls until it sounded as if there were many people around. It died down into a soft hum, and silenced.
"It is so cold in here." Boromir stated, wrapping his arms around himself, "It is cold as..." he faltered, his eyes widening.
"As death?" the voice prompted. "Yes, very much like death. You are not unfamiliar to the cold of death, are you Boromir?"
Boromir feebly shook his head. "But why..."
The Unseen One cut him off again. "You wish to know why? Did I not explain to you the importance of listening, not just hearing?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Boromir snapped.
"I am merely giving you a taste, son of Gondor." A light opened up out of the darkness, illuminating a still figure on the ground. The light danced off the blonde hair that was strewn across her face.
"Steph!" Boromir cried, running to her and scooping her into his arms. She was colder than he was, as though she had been lying on the ground for a long time. He was relieved to feel the her breath against his arm.
"Why have you done this to her?" he cried, holding her to him.
The Unseen One sighed impatiently. "She is fine. But this is the answer to the questions you voiced tonight."
He snorted. "I voiced no questions, Riddle Master. What do you speak of?"
"Ah! Another fitting name!" the Unseen One chuckled, "You may not have voiced them verbally, but I hear your thoughts as I hear your voice. There are no differences between the two."
"I am still confused." Boromir said, a puzzled look on his face.
The Unseen One sighed. "Your lack of understanding is uncanny, son of Gondor. I will leave you to find the answers between the riddles. Remember; hearing is not the same as listening. This is not the last we will meet, this I promi-"
With a loud crack, light blinded him, and he found himself being jolted awake by Aragorn. His head was spinning from being ripped away from the Unseen One, and he grunted in pain as Aragorn touched his forehead. He felt a weight lifted from his arms, and his vision cleared enough to register Legolas pulling Steph away.
He blinked stupidly at Aragorn. "What has happened?"
"The hobbit, Pippin has gone with Gandalf to Minas Tirith." Boromir stirred at the last words, beautiful images of his childhood home flooding his mind. How he had longed for it in the long, grueling days! He started to speak, but Aragorn spoke again.
"Shortly before, a Nazgul passed over. After Gandalf departed, you cried out in your sleep, and we were aware of your absence. You were writhing as if in pain with Lady Steph in your arms. Both of you were stone cold..." he faltered, looking into Boromir's grey eyes for an explanation.
Boromir dropped his voice to a whisper. "The Unseen One...it spoke to me again." He shivered at the memory, and quickly recapped it in a hushed tone to three members of the company. After brushing his ice cold hand against his flushed face, he was suddenly aware of Steph.
She was propped up against the rock, her face twisted as if in pain. Boromir took her ice-cold hands in his before tapping her lightly on the cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open before she collapsed in a flood of tears.
"What is that thing?" she sobbed, clutching Boromir's hand. "I've never been so freaking scared in my life! It said it knew you and that our lives were bound and-Oh Boromir!" she clutched him again, shivering from fear and cold.
Boromir cast a startled look at the surprised Fellowship before drawing Steph to him. "It is the Unseen One, as I have recently dubbed it, and it speaks to me often. I do not believe it would hurt either of us."
"I felt like I was dead!" Steph continued, heedless of Boromir's soothing words, "I could hear your voice far off, and then someone picking me up, but it just kept talking to me...like it knew me! Oh God, it was so scary!"
He patted her tangled blonde hair, wondering why the Unseen One had decided to speak with Steph. Steph sniffled loudly, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She hated to cry.
"All it did was talk in riddles! It was obnoxious!" she said, her old fire pushing her fright and shock to the side. "And I bet that it's the bastard that brought me back a second time!" her cheeks went slightly pink in anger. "That bastard! I'd like to beat the crap outta him!"
Boromir stopped his comforting, as she was obviously over the ordeal. She could switch emotions faster than any woman he had ever known, and he found it amusing.
"I am glad to see your humor restored. I will leave you to compose yourself on your own, as I can no longer be of service." A smirk played on his lips, which he flashed at her before turning back to the Fellowship.
"I apologize for the inconvenience the Unseen One has caused. We must depart soon, I expect. What are our plans?"
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Well, the voice finally has a name. I apologize, I know this is kind of short. Thanks for reading, and please review! I'll see you all next Monday! ^_^
I've been really inspired by the beach (a small trip there last weekend has caused this) and by the beauty of Savannah (and the prospective tour guide job in one of the old houses here), so I've got about 3 plot bunnies bouncing around me. Don't worry! As tempting as it is to lay aside Why Us and get to work on my new ideas, I will not abandon our beloved pair.
As always, thank-you for reading and reviewing. ^_^
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Disclaimer: Steph belongs to me, so keep your paws to yourself. However, feel free to put your paws on Boromir, as he belongs to Tolkien. He's not my problem.
-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-
**Chapter 12**
Boromir fidgeted during the uncomfortable silence that followed. All three had stern looks on their faces, concentration plain in their faces. Aragorn spoke first.
"Are you sure of this?" he asked, his voice flat and serious.
"Of course!" Boromir exclaimed, angry that he was being doubted, "I believe death is more to my understanding than yours!"
Aragorn sighed, his face blank and unreadable. "Perhaps if you were to cut her off...as you would a limb that afflicts you..."
Boromir narrowed his eyes. "Are you suggesting that I rid myself of Steph?" It did not occur to him that he had once had the same idea.
Aragorn hesitated, regretting his words. "Yes. It would be difficult, but perhaps it would be for the best."
"Have you been deaf to everything I have said?" Boromir said angrily, "If she dies, then I will die too!"
"You said that if you left her, you would die. You said nothing of-" Legolas pointed out, his face calm, even in the heated moment.
Boromir slammed both fists on his thighs. "I am well aware of what I have said! But I will not jeopardize my life or needlessly slaughter Stephanie! I will not take unnecessary chances, having realized the fragility of mortal life."
Aragorn held up his hand. "Peace Boromir! We meant you no offence."
Boromir bit his lip, trying to relax. "You are right. Fighting is not what we need."
"Save your strength for battle, son of Gondor." Said Aragorn, a smile tugging at his mouth. "You are weary. Go and rest."
Boromir sighed but did not argue. After saying goodnight, he sat next to Steph, feeling the need to protect the one whose life was bound to his. After a while, he fell asleep.
The familiar blackness swirled around him as he drifted into a deeper sleep. It wasn't long before the voice was whispering in his ear.
"Hello again, Boromir of Gondor."
The blackness held a bitter chill, and Boromir was soon shivering. His teeth began to chatter as he spoke. "Hello Unseen One."
"Ah," said the voice, "a fitting name." It laughed, and the sound echoed off the unseen walls until it sounded as if there were many people around. It died down into a soft hum, and silenced.
"It is so cold in here." Boromir stated, wrapping his arms around himself, "It is cold as..." he faltered, his eyes widening.
"As death?" the voice prompted. "Yes, very much like death. You are not unfamiliar to the cold of death, are you Boromir?"
Boromir feebly shook his head. "But why..."
The Unseen One cut him off again. "You wish to know why? Did I not explain to you the importance of listening, not just hearing?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Boromir snapped.
"I am merely giving you a taste, son of Gondor." A light opened up out of the darkness, illuminating a still figure on the ground. The light danced off the blonde hair that was strewn across her face.
"Steph!" Boromir cried, running to her and scooping her into his arms. She was colder than he was, as though she had been lying on the ground for a long time. He was relieved to feel the her breath against his arm.
"Why have you done this to her?" he cried, holding her to him.
The Unseen One sighed impatiently. "She is fine. But this is the answer to the questions you voiced tonight."
He snorted. "I voiced no questions, Riddle Master. What do you speak of?"
"Ah! Another fitting name!" the Unseen One chuckled, "You may not have voiced them verbally, but I hear your thoughts as I hear your voice. There are no differences between the two."
"I am still confused." Boromir said, a puzzled look on his face.
The Unseen One sighed. "Your lack of understanding is uncanny, son of Gondor. I will leave you to find the answers between the riddles. Remember; hearing is not the same as listening. This is not the last we will meet, this I promi-"
With a loud crack, light blinded him, and he found himself being jolted awake by Aragorn. His head was spinning from being ripped away from the Unseen One, and he grunted in pain as Aragorn touched his forehead. He felt a weight lifted from his arms, and his vision cleared enough to register Legolas pulling Steph away.
He blinked stupidly at Aragorn. "What has happened?"
"The hobbit, Pippin has gone with Gandalf to Minas Tirith." Boromir stirred at the last words, beautiful images of his childhood home flooding his mind. How he had longed for it in the long, grueling days! He started to speak, but Aragorn spoke again.
"Shortly before, a Nazgul passed over. After Gandalf departed, you cried out in your sleep, and we were aware of your absence. You were writhing as if in pain with Lady Steph in your arms. Both of you were stone cold..." he faltered, looking into Boromir's grey eyes for an explanation.
Boromir dropped his voice to a whisper. "The Unseen One...it spoke to me again." He shivered at the memory, and quickly recapped it in a hushed tone to three members of the company. After brushing his ice cold hand against his flushed face, he was suddenly aware of Steph.
She was propped up against the rock, her face twisted as if in pain. Boromir took her ice-cold hands in his before tapping her lightly on the cheeks. Her eyes fluttered open before she collapsed in a flood of tears.
"What is that thing?" she sobbed, clutching Boromir's hand. "I've never been so freaking scared in my life! It said it knew you and that our lives were bound and-Oh Boromir!" she clutched him again, shivering from fear and cold.
Boromir cast a startled look at the surprised Fellowship before drawing Steph to him. "It is the Unseen One, as I have recently dubbed it, and it speaks to me often. I do not believe it would hurt either of us."
"I felt like I was dead!" Steph continued, heedless of Boromir's soothing words, "I could hear your voice far off, and then someone picking me up, but it just kept talking to me...like it knew me! Oh God, it was so scary!"
He patted her tangled blonde hair, wondering why the Unseen One had decided to speak with Steph. Steph sniffled loudly, wiping the tears off her cheeks. She hated to cry.
"All it did was talk in riddles! It was obnoxious!" she said, her old fire pushing her fright and shock to the side. "And I bet that it's the bastard that brought me back a second time!" her cheeks went slightly pink in anger. "That bastard! I'd like to beat the crap outta him!"
Boromir stopped his comforting, as she was obviously over the ordeal. She could switch emotions faster than any woman he had ever known, and he found it amusing.
"I am glad to see your humor restored. I will leave you to compose yourself on your own, as I can no longer be of service." A smirk played on his lips, which he flashed at her before turning back to the Fellowship.
"I apologize for the inconvenience the Unseen One has caused. We must depart soon, I expect. What are our plans?"
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Well, the voice finally has a name. I apologize, I know this is kind of short. Thanks for reading, and please review! I'll see you all next Monday! ^_^