Eyes of the Goddess

Boromir strode down the hall and met the Lady Éowyn. "Good morning Lord Boromir...have you broken your fast?" She asked.

"No...I am seeking Gandalf...have you seen him?" Boromir asked.

"No I have not...perhaps he is in the hall with the King? Will you join me?" She asked offering her arm. She had been so wrapped up in Lord Aragorn she had not realized until working along side Boromir the day before how handsome and tender the man from Gondor was.

Aragorn stepped into the hall then and when Boromir saw him he turned back to Éowyn. "I would be honored my lady." He said bowing and kissing her hand. Éowyn blushed and they walked together to the hall.

Boromir knew he had done that just to anger Aragorn and he felt childish for doing it, but he still felt a great pain in his heart at the way Aragorn had spoke of pleasant dreams while touching the charm from the elf princess.

Aragorn stared after the two walking down the hall and cursed himself for not explaining his dream to Boromir. Just then Gandalf walked up and placed his hand on Aragorn's shoulder.

"Do not despair, Aragorn. Boromir harbors no feelings of love for the lady. Her future is unclear." Gandalf said softly.

Aragorn spun had he been that obvious? "I care not." Aragorn began but Gandalf raised a bushy eyebrow at him.

"Oh alright I do care...Gandalf what can I do? This kind of thing is frowned upon in the world of men." Aragorn asked.

"Frowned upon but not unheard of." Gandalf said stroking his beard. "He feels the same you know. He would die to keep you safe you know that don't you that is the extent of his love? He has risked himself more than once to make sure you survived...this is why the gods have blessed him. You both have a destiny you must fulfill and Éowyn oddly enough is a part of that if you must know as is Arwen and even Boromir's brother. The future is forever unfolding, it changes with each individual choice but I can see the threads coming together like a great tapestry." Gandalf said as he stroked his long beard.

"Arwen came to me last night, she did travtravel to the undying lands...you spoke as if you knew of this." Aragorn said noting that Gandalf had included Arwen in his speech.

"Yes I knew of this. I also suspect I know what she said to you...you have her blessing so to speak." Gandalf said smiling at the future King who looked more like a wayward child than a King at the moment. "We will speak no more of this now...we must prepare to leave after breakfast...Sauron will be fixing his forces on Gondor now...we must make haste, or you my boy will have no kingdom to reign over." Gandalf said indicating for Aragorn to walk with him.

After breakfast Éomer's men and Théoden joined the fellowship plus Haldir and what was left of the elf archers as they made their way for Gondor. Éowyn protested that she could fight as well as any man but the King told her she was needed at the fortress. Boromir felt sympathy for her...she was such a brave young woman she wanted to fight. Boromir would feel the same as her if he were in her place. He would want to fight for what he loved.

As they topped the first hill and looked toward Mordor Gandalf proclaimed, "Sauron's wrath will be terrible, his retribution swift. The battle for Helm's Deep is over. The battle for Middle-Earth is about to begin. All our hopes now lie with two little hobbits. Somewhere in the wilderness."

Boromir's heart caught when he spoke of Sam and Frodo...it all rested with them...and he had almost ruined it all.

"We should make for Isengard...there are old friends who await us there." Gandalf said to Boromir and winked.

Boromir looked at the old wizard quizzically and then looked to Aragorn who simply shrugged. The old wizard was getting more and more difficult to understand every day it seemed.

The company made way for Isengard and when they topped the hill before it everyone stopped in awe. The Ents had gone to war against Saruman and apparently had been victorious. The fires of Isengard were no longer and the tower stood like a black spike in the center of a of dof dead orcs and Ents lumbered around. Boromir blinked a few times and then looked at Aragorn.

"I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." Boromir whispered in wonder.

Aragorn simply nodded his head. They rode down to Isengard and stopped at the gates, which were guarded by two very small people. The larger of the two stop anp and bowed. "Greetings! It appears that Isengard has fallen into different hands!" Merry said to King Théoden and smiled broadly at Gandalf. Pippin stood beside his cousin and the Rohirrim stared at the strange pair of children with very large furry feet before them.

Boromir gasped and flew off his horse. He ran to the hobbits. "Merry! Pippin!" The man exclaimed as the two hobbits cheered and threw themselves at the man toppling him over onto the wet ground. Boromir didn't mind the mud at all. The hobbits were laughing and crying, as was Boromir. He didn't care what the Rohirrim thought of the scene before them. These were his friends and he loved them dearly.

"Oh, Boromir, we thought you were dead! We were so sorry...Gandalf told us you were yet alive but we didn't believe him. It is so good to see you! Please forgive us!" They both said in unison as if they had been practicing. Boromir simply laughed. Pippin was actually petting Boromir's hair like a favored pet, and Merry was hugging him so tight he could hardly breathe.

"Do not apologize little ones...you did nothing to be sorry for. I am here, as are the others." Boromir said sittin fro from his prone position on the ground.

Aragorn smiled brightly at Gandalf and dismounted going to the three on the ground. "Strider!" Pippin cheered throwing his arms around the dark man a moment before Merry could do the same. Aragorn almost lost his footing under the onslaught much like Boromir and found himself laughing happily. Gimli and Legolas approached then and the scene was repeated where the hobbits practically tackled the dwarf and elf.

"There is so much to tell you all!" Pippin cried cheerfully.

Gandalf smiled at the group before him, a fellowship indeed. The wizard thought.

"I will take the King to consult with Isengard's new master, while you friends get reacquainted." Gandalf announced. The Rohirrim followed and left the remaining fellowship and Haldir with his company of archers behind.

"Haldir!?" Merry exclaimed, "How'd you end up here?"

"And where did all the elves come from?" Pippin added looking at the host of elven archers.

Haldir smiled and looked to Legolas who simply shrugged his shoulders at the other elf. "It is a long story Master Took." Legolas said patting the hobbit on the shoulder.

"Then tell us over dinner!" Pippin said cheerfully and gathered up his scarf that had fallen to the ground.

"So tell me Pip what happened here?" Boromir asked still stunned by the overthrow of Isengard.

"We... well that is Merry and I and Treebeard and his friends the other Ents attacked last night...as you can see we were victorious!" Pippin chanted happily.

Boromir laughed. Two hobbits and a host of trees had wiped out all of Isengard. He shook his head and smiled at Aragorn.

For several hours the friends relayed stories around the fire and when Aragorn told of Boromir's injuries at Amon Hen both Merry and Pippin slid into Boromir's lap and hugged him tightly.

Then when Boromir began the story of the warg battle and came to the part about going over the cliff after Aragorn the few elves that were sitting near the fire gasped. How could a mortal be so careless with his life to save another? They had not heard of such devotion among men before but did not bring voice to it.

Legolas noticed his brethren's reactions and said, "I would not believe it had I not seen it with my own eyes. He simply tore off across the plain and leapt over the precipice as if it was something he did everyday!"

Gimli laughed. "I couldn't believe it when they both came back alive, and unharmed!"

"The gods were smiling on us both that day I think." Aragorn added smiling at Boromir.

"Is there no end to your bravery, Boromir?" Pippin asked hugging the man again. "You were injured not once but three times defending us, but you just kept fighting I bet you killed a hundred orcs that day, then you leap off cliffs to save Aragorn, and you scoff at cave trolls...is there anything you are afraid of?"

Boromir sobered at that question and said, "Yes, yes there is one thing."

"What is that one thing?" Aragorn asked leaning forward, suddenly curious for the answer himself.

"To die alone, and without honor." Boromir said then hanging his head and picking at some weeds on the ground.

Aragorn frowned. "That will not be your fate my dear, Boromir. I daresay there is no way you could die without honor, it is a part of you as much as Isildur's blood is a part of me." He said softly.

The elves collectively gasped at the emotion in Aragorn's voice and Legolas shot a look to Haldir who was smiling strangely at the two men. Boromir simply looked up into the bgazegaze of Aragorn and nodded his thanks.

Gimli noticed the change in mood and then began to tell of Helms Deep that soon led to a few of the elves joining in with Haldir on the story.

The hobbits told their own story and Boromir hugged them both when they spoke of the night the Rohirrim came and they got away only to be tracked in Fangorn by an orc. Boromir thought suddenly that he needed to give his thanks to this Treebeard for taking such good care of his little ones.

The friends rested and then Aragorn spoke softly to Legolas. "Gandalf means to confront Saruman."

Legolas nodded and the group followed Aragorn toward the Tower of Orthanc.

"So much waste." Gimli said looking around them at the twisted scene.

"The trees will grow back." Pippin said then and Boromir squeezed the young hobbits shoulder.

"Yes they will, Pip. It will take time, but Isengard will heal." Boromir said nodding. He wasn't sure where the hope for the future had come from but he knew somehow that Isengard would one day be a lush and beautiful place again.

Aragorn heard Boromir speak and he smiled. Boromir has found hope, the hope he had feared he would never see in Lorien. Each day since Amon Hen Boromir had grown more hopeful and more optimistic about the future. How he could look across this twisted landscape and see the hope of a green forest again Aragorn did not know but he was proud that he could.

When the party came to the doors of the tower Gandalf met them.

The group except the hobbits stood in awe as they stared at the new master of Isengard. Legolas and Haldir were delighted at meeting a talking tree! The great Ent Treebeard loomed before them, then Boromir strode right up to the tree.

"Treebeard. I am Boromir, and the two hobbits you cafor for are two of my dearest friends. I wish to thank you for what you did for them, I am not sure what I could offer in tribute but should you ever need anything of a mere man I shall do whatever it is you wish. I am forever in your debt." Boromir said and then bowed to the great tree.

Treebeard smiled at the blond man and said, "It was my pleasure Master Boromir...if ever you are in the northern forests you shall ever be welcome. Hold out your hand young master."

Boromir stepped back from the great tree lord and smiled then held out his hand. The great tree placed an acorn in his hand. "If this war should end and you have naught else to do, plant this and tend it. is is what you canfor for me."

Boromir nodded. "I swear to you I will." He placed the acorn in a piece of cloth and rolled it up inside his pack.

Aragorn smiled at Boromir, yes so much had he changed. So much had changed him, had changed them all. Pippin and Merry were still jovial but they had a new confidence about them that wasn't there before. Gimli and Legolas were friends now which he never thought would happen. Gandalf was now a powerful white wizard and even Aragorn himself had decided to follow his path to Gondor. They had all changed so much since setting out from Rivendell.

Gandalf looked at Boromir proudly as well. The gods were right in sparing his life; he would have to remember to thank them properly for this boon. Then Gandalf frowned. Now was the time to confront Saruman.

He issued instructions to the others. "His power remains, so do not let him provoke you. He will thrive on your anger and your hate, do not let him do so."

Gandalf approached the doors, followed by the remaining fellowship, Haldir, Éomer, and Théoden. The hobbits stayed close to Boromir who in turn stood shoulder to shoulder with Aragorn.

As they entered the tower they heard Saruman's voice. At first the group were unsure why they were here, they had all but forgotten Saruman's treachery but Gimli, Gandalf, and Théoden resisted the slithery voice attempting to enchant them. Boromir shook his head and was angry with himself for being weak, he managed to break free of the spell. He thought it would not happen again however, he would be stronger than that.

Then Boromir heard Saruman's voice, but instead of Saruman it sounded like his father. "You are weak, you failed me and you failed all of Gondor...you pledged your life to a weakling King a usurper who will never become King...just like your brother you are...so weak...just like your mother!" The voice barked and Boromir suddenly fought down the urge to leap forward and choke the old wizard.

Then the voice changed and it was Sarumaain,ain, "Aragorn doesn't love you, you know that...he is only using you, Boromir. You are but a stepping-stone to him, and you have willingly bent your knees and allowed him to step on you like so much dirt on the ground."

The others stared at the two men standing side by side. Gandalf frowned. All could plainly see that Boromir was struggling with the words being spoken. Then suddenly Boromir's eyes flashed and he stood up a bit straighter as Aragorn clasped Boromir's hand in a silent offer of solidarity.

"No it is you Saruman who is weak...you who have failed, you who was being used. Sauron used you and now that you have failed he doesn't need you any more. The ring serves him, never you, never you...you are the weakling! My King is proud, and noble, with a purity of soul that you could never understand in your dark twisted heart. He WILL assume the throne in Gondor, you cannot touch us, and you will not touch us!"

Boromir had won but Saruman would not give up that easily. Next the voice turned to Aragorn. "So you have come, weakling King...your forefather's failure you will feel acutely before the end...you will fail as did Isildur. You stand with Boromir but do you know what is in his heart? He loathes you, Ranger! He is serving you falsely can you not see it?"

Aragorn did not waver before he said, "No, you are the one who has lost the gift of sight for I know what is in good Boromir's heart. I know what strength yet lies in him...you are attacking me now because he turned you away. You have no power over me, you have no power over us!"

Saruman shrieked and pointed his dark staff at Aragorn but Boromir stepped in front of him. Gandalf took up his own staff and caught the evil wizard's attention before he could hurt the men.

"You have been given a chance to repent and aid the Light. You have rejected our mercy and so shall be cast down." Saruman's staff shattered and the pieces turned to dust. "You are disgraced, now be gone!" Gandalf gestured with his staff agaid Sad Saruman was jerked backwards into the tower.

As they turned away from the tower a small globe rolled down the steps. It rolled to a stop and Pippin picked it up. The young hobbit stared at the strange glow inside the orb. Gandalf shook his head.

"Pippin...here put that in this cloth...those are very dangerous." He warned.