Hurray for POVs! Hurray for Boromir! I cry every time I read or watch his death scene and I've always wanted to write a story where he lives. I'm not sure how he's going to fit in, but fear not, for I will figure it out! By the way, if you ever see a spelling or grammar mistake, let me know. I'm a perfectionist and hate it when I miss something.
Aragorn's POV
He ran to Alarain's side as she slumped to the ground, weak with exhaustion. Legolas and Gimli had arrived just in time to see the whole thing and they helped Boromir to his feet with awe in their eyes. Aragorn picked up the limp woman in his arms and quickly carried her back to camp.
They found Brenir sitting on the beach, staring across to the other side when they got there. Legolas followed the dog's gaze and saw that a boat was just reaching the opposite shore. Two small figures climbed out and he spoke."Frodo and Sam have reached the Eastern shore." he told Aragorn.
The ranger rested her down and Brenir walked over to lick her face, whining at the smell of blood. Aragorn didn't answer, but went to get supplies to patch up her wounds. Boromir crouched down beside her and stared at her face. His eyes moved to her arm, where the scar was still present.
He caught Aragorn watching and his eyes became questioning. "Did you know?" he asked, looking back to her arm.
"I knew about the mark, though I had no idea how Saruman was haunting her... or taking control of her." Aragorn answered quietly, gazing at her closed eyes.
"How long did you know?"
Aragorn looked up. "Since Bree."
Boromir stared at him for a moment before glancing between him and the woman. "But you trusted her." he said quietly. "I didn't." The ranger moved his eyes back to Boromir and he continued. "When I saw that thing on her arm, I thought she was going to kill me. For a moment, I didn't trust her." He was quiet.
Gimli rested a hand on his shoulder. "I don't blame you laddie. She did have a sword raised over you." he said.
"I wonder how she got the power to take back her body?" Legolas thought out loud. No one had an answer for that and as Aragorn finished cleaning and wrapping her wounds, Legolas spoke again. "Aragorn, do you mean not to follow Frodo and Sam?" he asked.
All eyes turned to him and he looked across to the other shore, and then back down at Alarain. He shook his head slowly. "Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands."
Gimli sighed. "Then it has all been in vain. The fellowship has failed."
Aragorn looked around at all their faces. They cannot give up now! "Not if we hold true to each other." he insisted.
"What about Merry and Pippin?" Boromir asked, and he too looked to Aragorn for an answer.
"We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. We must go after them, but Alarain is in no condition for the fast travel needed to catch up." he said, torn.
Everyone was quiet until the Gondorian spoke. "I will stay with her." he volunteered. "I am still weak and could probably not keep up anyhow. You three can go after the hobbits." Aragorn turned his eyes to him, worry showing in them. "She saved my life Aragorn. Do you not trust me to save hers?" he asked desperately.
"It's a good plan Aragorn." Legolas added.
Lowering his gaze, Aragorn sighed. "Alright." he said. "When she wakes up and is strong enough, you should make for Edoras. It should be safe there."
With that, he got to his feet and began collecting his things. "Leave all that can be spared behind." he ordered. "We travel light."
Boromir grabbed his arm before he could depart. "Don't worry about her Aragorn." he said quietly. "I won't let anything touch her. Not while I have strength left."
He paused and looked over at the woman before his eyes raised to Boromir again. "Thank you." he whispered.
Turning to the waiting elf and dwarf, Aragorn spoke. "Let's hunt some orc." After taking one more look at Alarain, he dashed off into the woods with his companions not far behind.
Alarain's POV
Alarain bolted upright before sinking back down in pain. Her head was still pounding and her arm ached.
"Good morning." a cheerful voice said.
She looked over to see Boromir tending to a fire nearby. Brenir ran to her side and smothered her with his tongue when he saw her awake. She pushed him off her face and looked around. "Where are the others?" she asked groggily.
Boromir came over beside her. "Frodo and Sam got away across the river, and Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli have gone after Merry and Pippin." he said as he passed her a canteen of water.
She took a drink and handed it back. "You're alive!" she said all of a sudden.
He laughed. "Thanks to you." Her face fell. "What is it?" he asked.
She looked down and her arm and then back up at him.
Understanding, Boromir smiled. "Don't worry. I trust you." he said gently
"But I almost killed you." Alarain frowned.
"But you didn't." She didn't answer and he continued. "I'm ashamed to admit that I thought you were going to. I thought you were the enemy for a moment, but then I saw the look in your eyes, and I knew it wasn't really you who was holding that sword."
Alarain looked back up to him. "You really aren't angry?"
"Alarain." he smiled. "You saved my life. How can I be angry with you when you saved my life?"
She laughed shakily. "Thank you. Were the others hurt?" she asked curiously.
"No one was hurt badly. Only cuts and bruises."
The woman felt herself relax at his words and gazed out at the water. "What will we do?"
"Aragorn told me to take you to Edoras when you are strong enough to travel." he said, going back to his fire.
"Great!" she exclaimed. "I'm strong enough now!"
He rolled his eyes. "No, you most definitely are not."
"How do you know?" she asked grumpily, crossing her arms.
Boromir ignored her question. "Aragorn would personally slay me if I let you walk before you have recovered." he said.
"No he wouldn't." she said. "He has no authority over me. I say I'm ready." At that, she scrambled to her feet only to feel her legs go weak. Boromir rushed over and steadied her.
"For the sake of my sanity, please sit down." he said, staring her straight in the eyes. Sighing, she let him help her sink back to the ground, though she grumbled about it.
He shook his head at her stubbornness. "He may not have authority over you, but he does care for you."
"If he did really care about me, he would let me walk to Edoras." she muttered.
"He does really care about you, which is exactly why he would do no such thing." he argued.
Alarain was silent, so he wandered back to the fire. Brenir looked between the two in confusion before strutting off to get a drink from the river.
I wonder how far away he is. I mean them, she thought quickly. Not just Aragorn, but all of them.
Boromir's POV
He was watching her closely and saw the distant look in her eyes. He snickered to himself. Even she doesn't see what I do, he thought with a laugh. She looked over and he pretended to be busy with the fire. Peeking across to her again, he saw the look return.
Alarain's POV
Many days on the bank of the Anduin river passed, and Boromir finally agreed that they should leave. They packed lightly and she saw him gaze longingly at his huge shield before turning away.
"You may be able to get it back one day." she said behind him.
The man sighed. "I suppose so." he said, though neither of them really believed it.
They set out and Brenir bounded happily at their feet, glad to be doing something again. It was late into the afternoon when they came to the edge of the forest and looked out at the rolling hills of Rohan. Alarain breathed deeply, enjoying the smell of the grass once again. It had been a long time since she had been there, and she felt tremendous joy at seeing it again. Something was different however, and she no longer felt like she was coming home. Knowing that she was probably born a Dunedain, she felt as if she was just as far from her home as ever.
"Come Alarain." Boromir said at her side. "We must press on."
Together, they walked out into the wind and she smiled at the feeling it left in her hair. Rohan might not be her real home, but it held a special place in her heart. She glanced over to see Boromir smiling at her.
"Glad to be back, are we?" he asked.
Nodding and smiling, she kept walking and looked back to the wind. Brenir frolicked in the grass and rolled around a little before springing after them again. He sure felt like he was coming home!
They walked until sunset before setting up camp. There were no trees nearby, so they did not have a fire. Thankfully, their cloaks kept them warm enough though, and they slept with Brenir between them. His body heat helped them both have restful sleeps and they woke refreshed. Sharing a small amount of lambas bread, they set off again.
The sun was high when Alarain thought of a question. "Do you know where we're going?"
Boromir snickered. "Of course I do!" he said before he began laughing.
"Good, because I don't have the slightest idea where we are." she laughed with him.
He stopped suddenly and put his arm out. She almost smacked her face into it, but paused just in time. "What?" she asked, looking up to see him peering into the distance.
"I think there is a town over there." he said, squinting to see better.
Alarain moved her eyes to where he looked, and sure enough, the slight shape of a building was peeking out over a rock.
"Let's go, but carefully." he said as he continued walking.
She called Brenir to her side and followed after. After a short while, they came over the hill and stared down in shock. The town was more of a small village and the houses were all charred as if there had been a fire. Bodies littered the streets causing a terrible smell to float up to them and Alarain wrinkled her nose.
"What happened here?" Boromir whispered, casting his gaze over the many bodies.
Alarain spoke quietly. "Whatever it was, hasn't been gone for long." she said as she took in the smoke that still rose from some of the houses.
They wandered down into the streets, stepping over corpses as they went. Alarain swallowed hard at the sight of children lying dead, and Boromir lead her through so they didn't have to step on anyone. Alarain tried to look up, for she didn't want to see any more. Brenir suddenly growled behind her and she spun around. He had only been growling at the smell and jumped when she startled him. Boromir gestured for her to continue and they made their way to the other side.
"There is nothing we can do for them." he whispered as she looked back at the small burnt village.
They went on their way with terrible images in their minds. Brenir stayed close and no longer ran joyfully through the grass as he had when they arrived.
That night, they sheltered under a large overhanging rock, and Alarain's dreams were haunted by the faces of dead men, women, and children.