Eyes of the Goddess

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As they ran Boromir found himself more in step with Gimli than with anyone else. The dwarf's shorter legs and Boromir's injuries combined with the pounding of his head slowed them but not enough to loose sight of Aragorn and Legolas. Now Boromir understood why Aragorn was sometimes called Strider. At times it seemed the Ranger overtook even the elf.

A few times on their journey Aragorn looked back to see how Boromir and Gimli were faring. He feared that the pace would be difficult for them but they could not take rest yet. Merry and Pippin's captors were moving fast and they had to cover a great distance today if they had any hope of saving their friends.

Finally after hours and hours of running from afternoon and late into the night Aragorn stopped. It took quite some time before Gimli and Boromir were able to come to where Aragorn and Legolas had stopped. Aragorn had decided that Boromir needed to rest at least for a few hours or they would end up finishing the man.

"We should rest here and leave before the first light." Aragorn said tossing his pack on the ground and then collapsing on top of it. He was tired as were the others but he wore ore concerned about Boromir's health. Aragorn couldn't be more proud of the Stewards son...he had not complained once when Aragorn knew he had to be in excruciating pain during their run through the wilds.

He looked up to see Boromir panting but he had not yet collapsed as Aragorn and Gimli had.

"Do...you....fire?" Boromir stuttered between painful gasps for air.

Aragorn took a few more deep breaths before answering the man.
"Yes...I will gather wood." Aragorn said trying to stand back up.

"No." Boromir said pushing him back down with a shaky hand. "I'm already up....you rest. I will gather the wood while I still have some strength left. My sword arms are weak, and my head is not clear, if we are attacked we need you well rested."

Legolas watched Boromir stumble off and then looked at Aragorn. "I feel horrible now, I should have gone, this pace doesn't bother me as much as it does Gimli and you men. Plus he is wou...I...I just did not expect him to offer to take a task so readily."

Aragorn just smiled weakly waving his hands in the direction Boromir had went. "Go after him then."

Aragorn considered for a moment how little Legolas really knew about men like Boromir who despised any show of weakness...a trait Boromir's father had practically beaten into him as a child. Oh how Aragorn hated Denethor with every fiber of his being, of course that feeling was mutual. Boromir did not remember Aragorn since he wat knt known by that name in Gondor. He was known as Thoringil then and Boromir was a mere child and Faramir was even younger, a toddler at the time. Even then Boromir was headstrong and full of mischief. Aragorn recalled fondly. He took after his mother in his looks and humor, the blond hair a trace of the elven blood passed down from his mother. Aragorn had cared deeply for Boromir's grandfather and his mother, but Denethor was anr str story.

Legolas walked into the woods where he had spied Boromir go moments earlier. Soon he found the blond man on his hands and knees before a small pile of firewood he had gathered, obviously the man's legs had finally given out.

"Mellon, Boromir let me help you." Legolas said moving in front of the man to gather the firewood.

"Thank you, Legolas. I am sorry to be a burden." Boromir said looking down at the ground.

"You are no burden, Boromir." Legolas said shaking his head and then he Bor Boromir rise. "We will bring the wood back together." Legolas prompted and helped Boromir walk. "How fare's your injuries?" Legolas normally didn't speak this much but he wanted Boromir to know he did not feel ill toward him.

Boromir snorted. "My shoulders and hip burn like they are on fire, and my head feels as if I have a half full water skin over it...my hearing and sight are not up to par as of yet...may yet be a few more days perhaps."

"Talk to Aragorn, he can help. I have witnessed his ability as a healer." Legolas replied lightly.

"I will." Boromir said softly. The two returned to camp in silence.

When they arrived Aragorn was working around the campsite. Gimli was already abed but Aragorn had prepared their pallets for the night, his own as well as one for Boromir side by side.

Legolas took the firewood that Boromir had managed to carry back and began preparing a fire. Aragorn looked over at Boromir whs sts standing slump shouldered near where Legolas had left him.

"Boromir...come, sit here." Aragorn called to him.

Boromir went to him and sat where he had indicated. "Take off your cloak...let me check your wounds...now that the poison has been removed, we don't need them getting infected." Aragorn said sitting down on his knees in front of Boromir.
Aragorn had to help Boromir because his arms were so stiff and sore he could not reach up to unlatch the Lorien brooch. oromoromir tried to smile weakly, "I feel terrible."

Aragorn chuckled softly. "Well you could have fooled the lot of us...you never complained once all day."

"Too out of breath to complain, will need to use that trick with my army next time we head to battle...run them so fast they can't talk to complain." Boromir said wincing as Aragorn removed one of the bandages that had dried to his wound.

Aragorn laughed at the image that popped into his mind...an entire army running like they had been all day, in mass across the Pellennor Fields. "That is something dear Boromir I may want to pay to see."

"Indeed, as would I." Boromir said smiling brightly. Aragorn sat back on his haunches and stared at the blond man before him. He had always thought Boromir was handsome but when he truly smiled, well he could have lit up the night sky.

"Tis good to see you smile...I feared the worst today." Aragorn said as he began to again tend his wounds.

"As did I...I am truly sorry about Frodo and I have no idea how I can make that up to him." Boromir said then looking down. Aragorn thought he saw tears glistening in his green eyes.

"You did not harm Frodo and he did not blame YOU Boromir, he blamed the ring. He told me 'the ring has taken Boromir', not that Boromir tried to take the ring or anything of the sort. He knew what was happening...I could hear it too you know...if it had been me alone with Frodo as long as you were...perhaps I might have been taken by it as well." Aragorn admitted.

Boromir was stunned. He couldn't believe that Aragorn wasn't angry with him. "But it is all my fault...I should have died today."

"Do not say that again, Boromir. If you were meant to die today you would have." Aragorn snapped he didn't want to think of the pain he would have felt had Boromir actually died. His heart would forever be broken upon the rise at Amon Hen.

Over the last several months Aragorn had grown to love the young Gondorian, the man who would become his Steward one day when he assumed the throne. The choice to follow his destiny and turn away from it had been weighing on him heavily, but today something changed in his heart. When Boromir had called him his King...he knew he had to fulfill his destiny. The easy path would be to run away from that duty as he had most of his life, but he knew now what he had to do.

"I am sorry...but my heart is so heavy with guilt, Aragorn." Boromir said then in a hushed voice.

Aragorn sat back and regarded the blond man and said, "Do not allow this to break you my friend, we need you. I need you."

Boromir's eyes snapped up to his now green meeting blue and Boromir swallowed hard. "You...need me?" He asked in a strained voice.

"Yes...I do not wish to travel this path without you." Aragorn said then wrapping the clean bandages around one of his wounds.

"You intend to assume the throne don't you?" Boromir asked amazed.

"Yes." Aragorn answered softly.

"What changed your mind...you have shied away from that path for so long, Aragorn?" Boromir asked confused. Just a few months ago he would have been angry that this man would even think to be the King of Gondor but now he felt differently. He knew he would be the perfect King.

"You. You changed my mind, on the rise at Amon Hen my dear." Aragorn answered.

"Oh. Aragorn, that is the second time you have bestowed an endearment upon me...why do you speak thus?" Boromir asked wonderingly.

Aragorn smiled grimly. "Because you are dear to me, Boromir. There now that should keep until tomorrow...we should eat and get some rest...dawn approaches quickly." Aragorn said standing.

"Wait!" Boromir said quickly. He had decided that he would swear his fealty to his King now. After the events of the day he realized he may never live to see Gondor again but he would swear his allegiance to his King.

Aragorn began to sit back down. "No do not sit." Boromir said rising up onto his knees before Aragorn. "I want...I wish to swear my allegiance to you now." Boromir said in a rush.

"Boromir, now is not the time, I am no King." Aragorn said looking down at his friend.

"But you will be, you already are by heritage, and as the son of the Steward I wish to swear my fealty to my rightful King." Boromir said looking up at Aragorn his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

Aragorn nodded and stood looking down at Boromir. "Go on then dear one." Aragorn did not wish to do this now, but he could see that it meant a great deal to Boromir so he acquiesced.

"I Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, and Captain of the White Tower hereby swear my allegiance to the rightful King of Gondor, Aragorn son of Arathorn. I swear by my very soul that I will follow you wherever you may lead, to whatever end. I promise my life, my loyalty, my honor, and my sword." Boromir said proudly.

"I, Aragorn son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur accept Boromir as my loyal friend, advisor, and future subject. I hereby acknowledge his oath with my own. Whatever power is in me I swear to use for the best of all Gondor. I promise to Boromir, son of Denethor, and Steward of Gondor my trust, my friendship, my sword, and my love." Aragorn finished his speech by falling to his knees in front of Boromir and kissing him on the forehead.

"So witnessed." Legolas called from somewhere beside the fire.

"So witnessed...now can we get some sleep?" Gimli called from his bedroll.

Boromir sat a few moments longer before exhaustion took him and he slumped over onto his palette. He thought that it seemed soft for just a blanket on the ground, but his mind was too muddled to think more on it.

Aragorn went to his pack and brought a small piece of lembas and some dried fruit to Boromir, along with a cup of water with herbs steeped in it. The injured man could use the extra sustenance, and the herbs would finish removing the toxins from his blood. Aragorn wondered briefly if the blow to his head had caused his sudden desire to swear his fealty to him but he decided Boromir knew what he was doing.

After they had eaten lightly the two men and Gimli slept, the elf kept waoverover them. He didn't need rest the way they did. Legolas could not help smiling after everyone went to sleep. Boromir had finally accepted who Aragorn was, and had not only given his allegiance but had pledged his life to Aragorn. He also had not failed to notice that Aragorn included his love in his return pledge. He had suspected for some time that Aragorn harbored deeper feelings for the Captain, now he knew. Aragorn did not speak of love lightly.

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Anaranë's graceful fingers spread over the seeing pool again. "Rest and heal man of Gondor." Her spell caused time to slow so what should have been only three hours rest for the fellowship that remained it was truly more. They are the only beings in Middle Earth who experienced the slow in time so their quarry did not get too far ahead of them. She also sent out a healing spell to the man. He needed to be well for what lay ahead but she could not allow him or the others to get suspicious.

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Legolas looked up at the sky and decided it was time. He shook Aragorn awake. He made no mention of the fact Aragorn had curled his body around Boromir protectively in his sleep.

"The sun will be rising in a few hours...we should go." They had only slept little more than three hours, but three hours could very well have cost Merry and Pippin their lives...however Aragorn couldn't kill Boromir in the process of trying to save them could he?

Aragorn nodded to the elf. The first thing he did as he sat up was look over Boromir's sleeping frame. Aragorn noticed that in sleep Boromir looked even younger, the worries of life were not upon him in sleep. He did not want to wake the man he knew how tired he must be, but he had to.

"Boromir...Boromir wake up. It is time to go." Aragorn said lightly shaking the man.

Boromir blinked a few times and looked at Aragorn with green eyes that were clearer than they had been in quite some time. Then he smiled that brilliant smile Aragorn so loved.

"Good morning."

Aragorn smiled back; obviously the rest had done wonders for Boromir. "Feeling better?"

"Yes, actually I am." Boromir said sitting up. "Much better, at least from what I can tell sitting down. Standing might just change that."

Aragorn chuckled. "Come on." He offered his hand and helped Boromir rise, and then he went to the fire and put it out before rousing Gimli.

Boromir picked up his blanket and realized why his bed had been so soft. Aragorn had placed soft boughs from trees and leaves under his blanket. Boromir then looked around and saw that his was the only pallet that had been done that way. Perhaps it was because I was injured, Aragorn wanted to make me comfortable. He thought to himself, then shook out his blanket and rolled it up.

His arms still ached but did not burn as they had the day before. Legolas was right Aragorn was a true healer. They couldn't have rested more than a few hours but he felt completely refreshed.

Legolas walked up then taking a drink from his water skin. "You should drink something before we leave." The elf advised offering his water skin instead of having Boromir retrieve his own.

"Thank you, Legolas." Boromir said softly as he took the offered water. The tone of his voice and the look in his eye told Legolas he was thanking him for more than the water. Legolas simply smiled and caught Boromir behind his neck and pulled him toward himself until their foreheads rested against one another.

"Your welcome, Mellon." Legolas whispered then released the man. Boromir smiled at him. All of the tension and misgivings between the elf, and man had been erased.

As they headed out once again Aragorn set a grueling pace, but this time Boromir found he was able to keep up a bit better. The few hours respite had somehow worked wonders. He ran in the middle as poor Gimli pulled up the rear muttering something about breathing...remembering to breath or something. Had Boromir enough breath to spare he might have laughed. Gimli would not admit to his deficiency even if he fell miles behind the rest of them. Boromir admired that in the dwarf.

That night they did not stop for rest. They continued to run for three more days and nights without rest and without food. Only occasionally did they stop for water and to catch their breath. Boromir strangely felt good however, yes he was tired, his breathing was labored, and his body ached but not from injury or poison.

This morning they stopped and watched Aragorn lay down on the ground with his eyes closed and his ear pressed to the earth listening for the sound of footsteps.

After a few moments his head snapped up, "Their pace quickens. They must have caught our scent. Hurry!"

"Come on Boromir, Gimli!" Legolas called encouragingly to them.

Boromir just nodded but he could hear Gimli grumbling behind him, "Three day's and night's pursuit... no food... no rest... and no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell."

Boromir had to agree, but he had to trust that the little ones were still alive and that they would indeed find them soon.

Aragorn glanced back at Boromir to make sure he was still able to keep up. The man had shown amazing resolve and stamina against injury, poison, and now this race against time itself. He realized Boromir had somehow changed, his smile came more readily and he no longer wore a hopeless look in his eyes. Aragorn had been haunted by the words they exchanged in the woods of Lorien. Boromir had lost all hope, and Aragorn wondered when exactly that had changed for the man.