Title & Chapter Number: Hearts in Lothlórien 5/10
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the work of the Masterful Tolkien. Tolkien's the man! Also, I shamelessly stole, er, borrowed the series title from Stephen King's "Hearts in Atlantis." And the chapter title from Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence." This story, however, is all mine. I make no money off of this and probably should be working on something where I might actually make some money…but here ya' go.
Warnings: Slash, (DUH!)
Betas: Salina
Cast: Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Sam, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Galadriel.
Timeline: TA-AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: Boromir speaks to Galadriel of the Fall of Gondor and his pledge to the Fellowship.
Notes: Here I was building up the idea that Boromir was truly committed to the Ringbearer despite the fact that he believed the Quest would be the end of Middle-Earth. I just loved the way Sean Bean made him more human and all the extra character development that the writers of the movie allowed for Boromir. I also wanted to make him more humanized by playing up his relationship with Merry and Pippin. Thanks to Salina for the beta and Rebecca for the love.
The Sort of Noble Man
~*~*~*~
"But what he thought that the Lady had offered him Boromir did not tell."
-- The Fellowship of the Ring, JRR Tolkien~*~*~*~
All this day Boromir, son of Denethor, has been on my mind.
From him I perceived a restlessness and a conflict much greater than any of the other companions. Boromir is a proud man. He stands tall with honor, as well he should. It has not gone unnoticed by me the sacrifices that Boromir and the peoples of Gondor have made to protect Middle-Earth. Still, a heart as troubled as Boromir's is a great risk for the Fellowship. The Ring is offering things that Boromir desires. Things he has struggled for all his life. Respect from his Father and a better tomorrow for his people. He does not realize that while the Ring offers these things, it cannot actually provide them.
And it is on this note that I seek him out.
I find him in an open glade, practicing his sword with Merry. I watch for a moment. He lunges at the Hobbit with force and skill, but Merry matches him stroke for stroke. Boromir moves his feet faster, sweat pouring down his face. Merry uses his small stature to duck beneath the blows. He comes up under Boromir's sword, stopping just short of the blade, and is thrown slightly off balance. But before Merry can get his feet firmly on the ground again, Boromir grabs the Hobbit's legs and flips him into the air until Merry crashes down onto his back.
Merry winces and rubs the back of his head. "No fair! You cheat. What sort of noble Man fights like that?"
Boromir chuckles and offers the Hobbit an arm up. "The sort of noble Man that wants to stay alive, that's who."
Merry grumbles something under his breath and Boromir laughs again. I step forward and into their line of sight.
Boromir sees me first and bows low. "My Lady," he says, nodding his head in my direction.
Merry looks up in the middle of muttering curses at his sparring partner and blushes when he sees me. He bows as well and attempts to straighten his clothing.
"Boromir. Meriadoc," I say. "I did not mean to interrupt. The two of you put on quite a show."
"He cheats," Merry grumbles, but he smiles nonetheless.
I return the smile. "I believe they are serving lunch right about now, Meriadoc. I shouldn't think you would want to miss that."
Merry's eyes light up and he looks expectantly at his new found mentor.
Boromir nods at him. "Then you had better go before that cousin of yours eats up all the food."
Then Boromir does something I did not expect. He reaches out and grasps Merry's arm in a warrior grasp, his hand curling around Merry's arm. Merry returns the gesture, trying to hold back the smile that is threatening to burst through onto his face. Boromir releases his grasp and with one more nod in my direction, Merry is off at a full run towards his meal.
"He handles his weapon with great skill."
Boromir looks in the direction that Merry has gone and smiles. "That he does. I have never taught such a fast-learner before. It gives me hope that perhaps he shall survive this Quest after all."
"He is lucky to have such a fine teacher."
Boromir nods at me and sheathes his sword.
"You walk around here with that sword at your side as if you expect to be attacked within the borders of Lothlorien," I point out to him. "Do you feel unsafe inside my land?"
He shakes his head. "No, my Lady. I feel safer here in your Golden Woods than I have felt in many long years. It is for this reason that my sword stays at my side. Too long have I carried it out of necessity that now I feel…"
And here Boromir, Warrior of Gondor, turns a deep shade of red.
"…naked without it."
"That is a pity, for it would be nice to see you lay down this burden, if only for a time."
He studies my face for a long moment, as he realizes that I speak not just of his sword, but of all the burdens that he carries. And he carries many.
"I am afraid I cannot join you and your companions at the meal today, but perhaps you would allow me to walk you to the table?" I ask him.
He hesitates and I can feel that though he wishes not to offend me, he does want my company.
"Boromir, I know that you hesitate, but do not fear me. I will not look inside you today and what you do not offer to me, I will not know."
He looks as though he cannot decide whether or not to trust me, but at last he nods his head and gestures for me to lead the way. We walk side by side. He does not offer me his arm, and I cannot decide if it is because he fears my touch or simply because, as a warrior, he has forgotten how to treat a lady.
I decide to relax him by talking about the simple things, if there are any simple things in this day and age.
"I see you have taken to Merry and Pippin. I am glad that someone is looking out for them. Though of course the first concern is for the Ringbearer, it does my heart good to know that the others are being protected as well."
"It would do no good if something were to happen to either one of them. Gimli and I spoke of this early on in the Quest. The Ringbearer could not go on if anything were to happen to his cousins."
I nod at this. "Gimli said something of that sort to me as well."
Boromir offers me his arm as we ascend up the stairs towards the dining hall.
"Yes, well I decided to take them under my care and it turns out that I found friendship in the most unlikely of places. In all my years I would have never thought that I would count two little Hobbits among my best of friends. And yet here we are."
I watch as he smiles fondly, most likely thinking of those two little friends right now.
"You have made it your duty to protect them?" I ask.
He nods. "I have."
"And will you take them to Gondor with you?"
"I will," he replies. "If they will come. I do not know if they intend to, but I would be distressed if they were to follow the Ringbearer." His voice changes, deepens and sounds almost afraid.
"You do not believe that the Ringbearer will complete this Quest, do you?" I ask him, though I already know the answer.
"I do not. I know Frodo means well and I think having hope is the only way to endure the coming of the future, but I cannot see how walking into the arms of the enemy is a good solution." He glances at me quickly and I see panic in his eyes before he looks away again. "Yet I made a pledge. I took an oath and my word is true. If a man's word is no good, then neither is he."
"This is true. But I sense that you would not only take Merry and Pippin to Gondor, but Sam and Frodo as well. You truly believe that is the only way." I speak almost to myself and am startled when Boromir replies.
"Gondor is my home. Its people are my family. I fight alongside the fathers of our children. I watch them die. I deliver their swords to the widows of my men. And for what? So that Frodo may walk the Ring straight back to its Master? All I have is my faith in those who trust in this Quest: Lord Elrond, Gandalf, Aragorn and yourself. And of course the dreams that brought me to Rivendell in the first place."
I am pleased that he has named Aragorn among those whom he has faith in.
"If you do not believe in this Quest, why then did you volunteer?"
"Simply put, it would happen with or without me, and at least I may help give Frodo a fighting chance. At this point, that is all any of us can do."
We can hear the noise coming from the dining hall. Pippin's animated voice rises above the others, no doubt in the middle of some tale. Boromir stops and turns to face me.
"The Shadow covers my Father's land, his city, his people. We live under it. We have for years now. Every night we go to sleep under it. And every morning we awake to find it has strengthened. Do I agree that is where Frodo should walk with the Ring? No, I do not. Do I think that he realizes the pain and suffering that will befall him if he is captured? No, I do not. But will I aid the Ringbearer in every way I can, to see him reach his destiny for good or ill?"
His eyes bore into me. "Yes, I will."
I place my hand on his heart and feel it thundering in his chest. "Then let no man say that you are not honorable. It is easy to follow one's own lead, but much harder to follow the path of another's. You have put your faith in the correct places, Boromir of Gondor. Now have faith in yourself."
He takes my hand in his and raises it to his lips. "My Lady," he whispers.
I watch as he climbs the rest of the stairs and joins his companions at the table.
~ Next Chapter ~
~ Previous Chapter ~
~ Library Main ~
~ Author Index ~ Character Index ~ Title Index ~
~ Hall Of Fire ~ Gallery ~
~ Links ~ Shops ~ Map ~ News ~ Rules ~ Lists ~ ~
This page is in no way affiliated with New Line Cinema or Tolkien Enterprises, and no profit is being made.
The information contained herein is NOT to be used to spam or in any other way harrass its members. Be advised that abuse of this site will not be tolerated, and the appropriate legal action will be taken.
Hall-Of-Fire.Com v.4.0, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Cristine Cook-Fireheart. All rights reserved. This web site may not be reproduced in any form, except as occurs in normal browser caching, without express written permission from the author.
Website by Infinite Connections Design.
