A/N: Hullo everyone! Thanks for being so patient! This is my last week of school, though I'm going on vacation next week, so updates will still be slow. After all that though, it'll be like old times. I have a collection of scraps of paper sitting in front of me because I keep getting ideas, and as school is almost out, I have no paper. It looks really funny, but they're the most important pieces of paper I have. I've already had to dig 4 of them out of the trash…
I'm sorry if this chapters seems kind of slow. I'm writing/planning a romance on the side (it'll be out after WU is finished) and I've been reading Gone With the Wind. I recently finished it, and it's become my new favorite book (Return of the King used to be it). Read it if you get the chance, it's very good.
I'll shush before I start rambling…
Enjoy!
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Disclaimer: Steph is mine, Boromir is Tolkien's. Now, go out and celebrate this exciting information.
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Chapter 13 – Return to Edoras
Aragorn blinked in surprise. He found it odd that Boromir was already so composed after the emotional ordeal. He waved it off. He wouldn't put much past Boromir now; he HAD come back from the dead after all.
Before he could speak, Boromir spoke again. "Gandalf has gone to Minas Tirith, has he not?" Boromir's face lit up. If the company would follow him to Minas Tirith as he had so often suggested while he was still alive, he could help them. Helping made him feel stronger, and he was beginning to believe that it had something to do with the reason he was sent back. He would have to ask the Unseen One the next chance he got. As the familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach that came from being useful hit him, he smiled. They must go to Minas Tirith, even if he and Steph had to drag them there.
"Yes. Gandalf took the hobbit Pippin and the pair left for Minas Tirith."
"Then we must follow them! Haste-"
Aragorn interrupted him. "We have already discussed it. We will make for Edoras as soon as possible. There-"
Boromir tuned out the rest. Edoras? The fools! They should go to Minas Tirith! They could gain the council of his father and prepare for battle.
Words of protest leapt to his lips, but he forced them down. He couldn't disagree with Aragorn. He had pledged his allegiance to him before his death. Wasn't his goal to redeem himself? His death had been a burden to the Fellowship, and he didn't intend to do the same now that he had a second chance at life.
After waking up Steph for the 2nd time, Boromir quickly packed their few belongings and mounted the horse. They were pressed for time, and he was not going to slow them down. As usual, Steph needed help mounting the horse, but they were soon on their way, riding hard through the darkness. Twenty-five horses there were, with Boromir and Steph riding behind Aragorn.
Suddenly, a rider from the back of the group rode forward to tell them of a group of horsemen behind them. "They are overtaking us." said the Rider, looking nervously behind him, "They are riding hard."
At once the company halted, and the clang of swords being drawn and spears being seized was loud in the still air. Boromir dismounted, shoving Steph off in the process. She landed in a most ungraceful position, and shot him a death glare. She would have screamed at him, but the eerie calm in the air silenced her.
Boromir stood in front of her, protecting his life source. He knew he should probably stand beside the king, but Steph was more important. He was protecting two lives, and those two were more important that Théoden's.
Steph peeked around Boromir, trying to see over the tall men in front of her. The hobbit, Merry, was staring ahead, summoning every speck of bravery in him. Steph caught his eye and winked. Poor guy, she thought, At least I've got Boromir. She wondered for a moment why having Boromir would make anyone feel safe, but her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hooves and dark shapes upon horses. Steph shivered.
"Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?" cried Éomer, when they were some 50 paces away.
The pounding of hooves stopped as the riders came to a halt. One of them dismounted, and his footsteps could be heard as he came closer. He held his hand up in a sign of peace, though none of the men loosened their hold on their weapons.
Suddenly, he stopped. "Rohan, did you say? That is a glad word. We seek that land in haste from long afar."
Éomer nodded slowly. "You have found it. But it is the realm of Théoden the King. None ride here, save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?"
"Halbarad Dunadan, Ranger of the North. We seek Aragorn son of Ararthorn, and we heard he was in Rohan."
Aragorn rushed forward and embraced the man, greeting him. Boromir raised an eyebrow, puzzled. Everything was silent…
He could have kicked himself. The Unseen One, of course! He face went pink in frustration. What did it want this time?
"I want nothing, Boromir of Gondor." The voice was in his ear, though the blackness was not around him.
He tried to answer. But his throat seemed constricted, and all that came out was a muffled gurgle.
"Fool," said the Unseen One, "I told you, your voice and thoughts are the same. Think your answer. I will not allow you to make my presence known by speaking aloud to me. Enough people know of me, much to my irritation."
"My apologies Unseen One. What is it that you want?"
"I was curious to know what your plans are, Boromir." It drawled lazily.
"Plans?" thought Boromir, raising an eyebrow, "I was going to accompany Aragorn, wherever he leads me, I suppose."
"Leads us." Corrected the Unseen One, "You are forgetting Steph. It was hard to choose your life source, and I do not want her life taken lightly. It could almost be called parasitic the way…never mind. Do not-"
"What do you mean?" interrupted Boromir, "Chose her? Parasitic? Explain yourself Unseen One, you speak in riddles."
The Unseen One sighed. "I do not have time to explain myself. There will be other times. Farewell, son of Gondor…"
The sounds came back suddenly, and he angrily shook his head. The Unseen One never explained itself. Boromir turned to Steph, nudging her arm to get her attention.
"What has happened?" he asked, rubbing his temples to banish the headache that was forming.
"Some guy Aragorn knows popped up. He brought thirty guys with him, and Elrond's sons. They men are called the Dunedan, I think…" she trailed off, scratching the back of her neck in thought. "They're coming with us, but I couldn't hear all of what they said."
Boromir thanked her and turned his grey eyes to Aragorn. He was wary of the strangers, but he would keep quiet. Perhaps he could question Aragorn later. Curse the Unseen One for keeping him from such an important conversation!
The cry went up to start again. "Bah!" he grumbled, spurring the horse onward.
They rode swiftly, and soon Steph and Boromir were pink cheeked from riding. The company halted that night at the Hornburg. Boromir loved riding, and he felt energetic, as if pure energy ran through his veins instead of blood. Steph, on the other hand looked pale and drawn, worse than he had ever seen her.
She almost fell off the horse when Boromir helped her off, making him feel even more worried.
"Steph?" he asked, holding her by the shoulders, "Are you ill?"
Defiantly, she wrenched out of his grasp. "I'm fine, I just feel a little tired. Probably from riding that damn horse all day. Geez, don't start fussing over me."
Boromir wasn't convinced. "Perhaps you should go to sleep." He offered.
"Daggummit," Steph argued, putting a hand on her hip, "I'm fine! I'm just tired and hungry! Nothing to get worked up over!"
With a snort, he turned away, busying himself with looking for a bit of bread. She was impossible!
"This looks familiar." She remarked, looking around her. It was early in the morning, the sun already up.
Boromir turned back to her. "Of course it does. We are near Helm's Deep." He frowned the ungraceful position in which she was sitting. "Sit up, Steph." He ordered, "You are no man."
Steph snorted and threw a rock at his head. "Shut up. I can sit however I want."
His eyebrows knitting together irritably, he picked up the rock and threw it back, hitting her on the leg. "I believe I told you to sit up."
Both eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wow, you actually threw one back!" She teased, throwing another rock at his head. When she hit the target, she grinned and stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm fine, you old bat. There's nothing wrong with the way I'm sitting."
A rock sailed past her. "Missed!" she gloated, grinning triumphantly.
Boromir glared at her. "Sit as you will! I am in no mood for your foolishness!"
Steph watched him as he stalked away. Shrugging, she settled back against a rock for a nap. "He's a horrible loser."