Sons of the Steward

The day had wound down to a comfortable evening. It was chilly out, but otherwise pleasant. A good day for a ride. He was ahead of her, at a gallop on his great black steed, his cape flowing back. Minuial smiled at how hard Boromir pushed the issue of getting ahead of her, but she couldn’t quite figure out if he was trying to be rude in general or if this was some sort of game of Elves against Mortals. Leaning forward, she gave her horse a gentle pet and whispered, “Noro lim!”
Noro lim! – Run fast!

The sound of her mount’s hooves hitting the dirt tipped him off. She saw him give his horse a n to to go faster and in turn saw the animal pick up in speed. Through the trees they raced, on a trail she suspected may be the Steward’s own personal riding trail—one that Boromir would be highly familiar with. Not that she felt that was any obstacle. She understood horses well and tracking even better. For a time she was content in allowing him to believe he had the upper hand.

He led hieed eed into a jump over a fallen log and that was where she leapt into the lead, urging her mount into a lower jump and a faster recovery. Turning her head as she passed, she smiled and pressed forward, feeling more comfortable than she had since this journey began. Even with him present when she was riding she felt the world was at her fingertips and that nothing else mattered. It was relaxing and made this little trip all the more pleasant.

He rode hard, trying to catch up—and he came very close a few times, but she was the first to break through the woods into a clearing by a stream. Slowing, she halted the horse she was on and let the view soak into her. This was a very nice setting. Minuial gave Boromir a sidelong glance, then said, “What a lovely place.”

Breathing out, Boromir nodded and looked around. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?usedused to come here with,” he hesitated, “…friends.”

Arching her brow, she gave him a knowing look, but said nothing of it. Swinging down from her horse, she led it to a tree where she tied the reigns. Boromir seemed puzzled by this, but nevertheless follow suit, tying his animal near hers. By the time he had finished she was by the stream, kneeling and running her fingers through it. He approached and stopped, but didn’t kneel.

“Is there a reason you wished to stop?” he asked, glancing around him, his arms crossed.

Minuial straightened, intent on being forthright with him. Closing in on his position, she gave him a challenging little smile and said, “Probably for the same reason you led me here.” Without making any attempt to hide it, she raked her eyes over his form.

He decided to play innocent with her, which she found cute. “I did not lead you here,” he replied gruffly, but not making any move to deny her advances.

Laughing at that, she wrapped her arm around the back of his neck, whispered, “I’m sure you didn’t,” then plunged her lips over his own. He struggled a moment, probably more out of pride than anything else, then responded to her fervent kiss with a fire all his own. As she ran her hand up his side he gripped her wrist, holding it tightly as he reached up, pulling her arm away from his neck. Not allowing her to go free, he bit at her lips and pulled both wrists behind her back, forcing her to arch against his chest as his tongue molded to hers roughly. Holding her wrists in one hand, he broughe ote other up and smoothed her hair back, whispering in a hungry voice, “Want to fuck me, Elf? Is that what this is all about?”

“Maybe,” she replied just as lustily, bringing her knee up against his groin. She gave a nudge and smiled at his intake of air. “Don’t you want to fuck me?”

The Captain of Gondor laughed, holding her hair in between his fingers. He forced her face towards his. “Oh, I would be lying if I said I did not want to. You interest me, Elf, but I’ll not be your plaything. If we do this, it will be my way. If it is someone you can manipulate that you want, go back to my brother’s bed.”

Minuial grinned at his forceful talk, nudging him a little harder. “Quit hiding behind your words, Boromir. Tarry too long and perhaps I will go back to Faramir. At least he actually took what I offered.”

Those colocolored eyes of his flashed dangerously. He knit his brow, looking down from her eyes to her lips, then lower. l tol too eagerly, I imagine,” Boromir mused, rubbing her shoulder, brushing her shirt open in the process. He smiled deceptively at her, then quickly gripped the hem of her neckline, yanking the shirt open. Only a tie held it clinging to her and he took care of that, pulling it free. Minuial did not stop him. She instead moved to unclasp his cloak at the neck, but he stopped her, pushing her hands away. “I will unclothe myself in due time.”

She drew her hands back, nodding o ind indulging him—for now. He shoved her back against a tree and she remained still as his hands plundered her naked breasts, warm in sharp contrast to the cold. The tree bark was rough against her skin and she knit her brow as it scratched. He noticed her discomfort and slowed his assault, leaning one hand against the tre the the other cupped her breast and rubbed the fullness. “Painful?” he asked, rubbing the backs of his fingers down her upraised nipple. He squeezed and watched her bat her lashes slowly.

“The tree is rough,” she responded. She bit her lip as he continued fingering her flesh. He lowered his hand to her shoulder and pressed her further against the tree, moving in with his hot mouth to her throat, sucking hard enough to bruise her skin. Minuial found her blood racing through her at the conflicting sensations. He pawed at her breast insistently and held her, giving her no leave to escape the tree’s coarse surface.

Pulling back, he looked down and said low, “Remove those pants, Elf. I want to see what I’m getting.” When she opened her mouth to speak, he put his finger over her lips. “Just do it.”

Watching his smoldering eyes, Minuial reached for the ties of her leggings and undid it, then brushed the fabric down her hips. As his eyes moved down her she felt herself flush. He took his time in the examination, drinking in her form like she was something to be devoured. Satisfied, he laid his hand against the tree again and said, “Get on your knees. Show me how much you want this.”

Playing it his way for the time being, she decided to do as he wished. Lowering to her knees, she reached for the buckle of his belt and undid it, then parted the fabric of his hunting pants. His hardness had swelled to full desire and came free easily. Wrapping her fingers along the stiff flesh, she directed his erection towards her mouth and pressed her tongue against the tip. Immediately he groaned, lowering his head and closing his eyes. Gripping her hair, he brought her towards him even as he shoved his hips forward, driving her back against the tree roughly. Caught off guard, Minuial gave a startled sound and tried to steady herself, but he was already pulling back. She put her hands to his thighs to ward off another forceful shove into her, but it did little good. He pressed his hips fully against her, trapping her against the tree as he breathed, “Take your hands down. And suck, sweetheart.”

Letting go uncertainly, Minuial attempted to do as he wished, hoping he would slow down for her sake. His movements only grew in intensity as she pleasured him with her lapping tongue. Keeping balance was very difficult and she found herself smothered by his presence. This was not going as she had planned. She wanted to please him, but as long as he felt she would do this without question he would never tell her where the Ring was. Her kiss became less fervent, but by then it was too late. He was rocking so hard he took no notice. Within her heart came another desire and by the time he had finished using her she would execute it.

It did not take long after that. He jerked hard against her and she felt a rush enter into her mouth. Closing her eyes, she took in the re of of her service as he pulled away. For a moment she did not movonsionsidering her options quickly. He looked down. “Get up.”

Minuial glared up with full hatred, feeling her suspicions confirmed. “So you can kill me?”

His eyes became suddenly very wide. “Excuse me?”

“Was it this way when you raped and killed my sister two years ago?” she hissed, reaching for the dagger lying with her pants. He backed away and watched as she rose to full height. “Did you lure her off, then pretend you wanted her, only to use her?”

He glared angrily at her, but made no sudden moves just yet. “I see. You assumed I was finished with our fun, that I had used you for my pleasure and just that. I could see why that would anger you, but murder is not the answer. And just what the hell gives you the idea that I committed that crime?” he asked, raising his hands when she waved her dagger at him.

“I was told you did.” She began towards him, taking delight in his retreat. “Now I’m going to kill you.”

“Listen to me!” he hissed, his expression very stern and delightfully startled. “If I want to fuck an Elf, I need not rape her! You are proof enough of that! I did not do this thing you think I did. Damn it, I knew when Aragorn up and disappeared it would turn ill for us all if he returned!”

She laughed when he drew his sword for protection. “You think your toy can stop me? I was fighting Orcs over two thousand years before you were born, Boromir. If you didn’t do it, who did? She was assaulted, wasn’t she? Then murdered?”

Boromir nodded, still aping ing uncertain. His eyes darted around, seeking any avenue or answer. There were none he cared use it seemed, for he remained poised in defense, awaiting her attack. As long he was talking, she would listen, but afterwards he would bleed. “We found her in an alley, naked and dead. I do not know who did it, but it damn well was not me.”

“Why was she not given to her retainers?” Minuial asked icily.

His eyes flashed in guilt, but he made no sudden admissions of committing the crime. “Because of the nature of the crime. Whoevook ook her was brutal and we knew it would begin a war with a certainty. My father ordered that her fate be hidden for that reason alone.” His eyes gave a telltale little sign that he had not told all.

Minuial stopped, but kept her weapon ready. “What aren’t you speaking?” she said, tilting her head to one side. She waited with a deadly calm, but inside her pulse was racing.

“You want the entire truth, Elf?” he hissed angrily. “Why don’t you put that dagger down and listen a moment?”

“So you can attack me unarmed?”

A moment of indecision and wrath passed before he decided on his next action. She smiled when he threw his sword down. “Kill me then, if you think it will help. You condemn an innocent man to die and you will begin a war for the sake of a vengeance not had. But if somewhere you can believe I will tell you the truth, I will do so at your request. But not with you standing there with a blade and no clothes. Apart from the danger involved, it’s really quite distracting.”

Minuial slit her eyes at the remark, then lowered the dagger. “Talk,” she stated, moving to her clothes and wrapping her shirt around her front.

Boromir watched as she dressed and she allowed it for the moment, making no move to hide her actions. She kept her dagger close by, which might have added to his motivation for keeping an eye on her. “This Elf that came here, she was your sister?” he asked and at her glare, he sighed. “She came here on a mission and she felt my father would listen to reason. He did listen, but we all knew he would not relent and give up the Ring. What none of us did know was that she had begun a secret relationship with someone.”CurlCurling her hands in anger, the Elf watched him carefully, noting every flicker of expression, seeking signs of falsity in his words. He was either being honest or a very good liar. A part of her wanted to believe he was innocent. “Who was this secret lover? Did he kill her?” She sniffed in disgust.

The Captain of Gondor cocked his head. “I do not know,” he hissed in frustration, but to which question she was not sure. He continued on before she had a chance to ask. “I had no reason to kill her. I n sle slept with her, certainly. Nor did I want to.” She considered the dagger again, looking at him. Again she found herself wanting to believe, but if Aragorn had lied, then who had done it? Perhaps he did not even know, but simply used the situation to his own advantage.

Shaking his head, he dared to come nearer, his eyes solemn. “I have given you the truth I know. It could be that she was walking and a random person here in the city saw her and took a liking to her form. I do not know. But I ask that you tell me who told you I did this. Or did you just assume?”

“I made no assumptions,” she said quietly, allowing him to come close. She wondered idly if he would attack her, thinking she had given in. He came within a foot away from her and made no such move yet. His expression still begged the answer to his question. Being uncertain of who was telling the truth and who was lying, she could not give it to him just yet, so she chose her words carefully. “Someone here gave me the message.” Her play on words was meant to keep him from suspecting Aragorn immediately, which worked very well. Her words sounded anonymous.

“Was there a name on it?” he asked, falling into the assumption easily. Minuial shook her head. There was no name bse tse there was no note. He swore, then looked her over. “So this was a test? Take me riding so you could see if I was guilty? If I would rape you as well?” His tone held a note of contempt. She nodded honestly, seeing no reason to lie or add to his thoughts. “And when I took pleasure without giving you assumed I was the selfish bastard that could have done such a thing to a lady Elf.”

She did not offer him a smile or apology. “You must admit your actions did not paint you well.”

To her surprise, he laughed—a light laugh of mockery. “I imagine they did not. You are not the only one with suspicions. I wanted to see how far you would service me before asking for the Ring without seeking pleasure for yourself. It never occurred to me that you would even care to get pleasure if what you really wanted was the Ring. When you asked where it was I was going to laugh at my own cleverness and thank you folovelovely evening.”

“You were trying to shame me,” she surmised. She glared at him darkly, feeling angry and embarrassed.

“And you were trying to kill me,” he retorted in a short tone, crossing his arms. “So we were both wrong. My apologies for being so callous. I think we should part ways at this point, Lady Elf.”

His coldness renewed her uncertainty as she watched him retrieve his sword, then stalk towards the horses. Minuial sighed and allowed him to leave f, gi, giving herself time to sort out her thoughts. She could easily see why Aragorn would have lied, but there was still something Boromir was hiding. She could see it within the hesitation his eyes tried so desperately to conceal. He held another piece of the puzzle, but what that piece could be she could not be certain. If he had not done it himself then he was covering for someone. But who? Faramir? A friend?

Dipping her toes into the water of the stream, she considered all the angles. It was not until it began to get dark that she decided to go back to Minas Tirith and speak to Aragorn when something Boromir had said struck her.

When she knocked on his door he answered within a few moments. He exhaled upon seeing her, as if anticipating are, re, then stood aside and offered her a path into his room. Minuial took the offer and entered, moving to a couch there in the sitting room. He shut the door and joined her there, seating himself close by. “Hello, Lady Minuial. May I do something for you?”

She nodded, seeking some way to broach what she had on her mind. For as long as she could without appearing foolish she watched him, weighing him and considering what she knew about this man. It was all second hand information, but he did not seem anything but what she had assumed—given the circumstances—he would be. When the time came to finally speak she did not hold back. “You told Lord Celeborn that you informed the Steward you were coming to Lórien on a mission of peace?” she asked, watching those blue eyes.

“I did,” he replied mildly.

“Why is it Lord Boromir is under the impression you simply ‘disappeared’?”

The question was point blank and she waited for him to flinch in surprise, but he didn’t. Scooting closer, he darted glances around almost instinctively as if he feared they were being spied upon. Looking at her straight, he said low, “Because that is what I truly did. I admit freely, I lied to your lord in that respect, but it is a minor thing designed to put you at ease with coming here. I had a story for your arrival and no one suspects anything but that you are here for peace.”

She narrowed her brow, shaking her head. “Of course people suspect otherwise. Boromir and Faramir both have admitted as much to me.”

“Yes, but they have no factual grounds to think you are here for vengeance.” He frowned at her. “For that matter, neither do I.”

Ignoring his insinuating tone, she tilted her chin upwards and smiled wanly. “Then I am doing my part well.” Her expression took on a more serious note. “Did you truly hear Boromir and Faramir confess to this crime?”

He averted his gaze with a frustrated sigh, sitting back. “Ask yourself if it matters in the long run. For as long as the Steward and his line hold the throne we will be at war with Sauron.”

“And you would be better?”

Pushing himself up, Aragorn paced away from her. His response was not as imploring as she would have imagined, but no less suspicious. “I honestly do not know. I have not been left undamaged by the darkness, Lady Minuial. I admit that freely. I want to sacrifice my very soul if it means getting that Ring and taking it out of my city, but if you want me to assure you that when all is said and done I will perform without fail, I cannot.” He turned back with sorrowful eyes. “Believe as you will, but I know what they said. Ask around without judgment in your words. If you can find anest est tongue it will tell you what all know or suspect.”

“And what is that?” Minuial asked.

His response took a moment for her to absorb. “Your sister became pregnant with Faramir’s child.”

Knitting her brow, she sat forward, almost tempted to stand up with him, but she forced herself to remain still. “If she was with child that implies she was with him on more than one occasion, if indeed he did rape her.”

Aragorn nodded simply, then exhaled a tired breath. “I did not tell you this because I thought to spare you. I was wrong in that. While here your sister fell to Faramir’s charms. They were lovers in secret.” His words cut into her, throwing Boromir’s hard toned answers back into the forefront of her min
“W
“Why would he rape and murder her?”

“Why do you think?” the Ranger replied, sitting again by her side. He took her hands in his, concern reflecting back from his eyes. “Denethor could never know anything about this, Minuial. If he found out then terrible consequences would have followed, I am sure of it. Just as sure as I am that Faramir, angry that she had become pregnant, would have sought to get rid of the problem as quickly as he could. Unfortunately the Men in Minas Tirith have lost their honor. No one would pao muo much attention to a beautiful Elf, raped and left dead. All would assume it was a passing crime with an anonymous attacker. Denethor would never know, the people of Lórien would never know. The perfect answer to a terrible act.”

Several emotions coursed through her at once, but she did not know which to vent first. He could be lying, of course. She hoped for that to be true. But what if it was not? “I thought you said he did not have the heart for such crimes,” she whispered, searching everything that had been said to her over the past few days, looking for loopholes.

Aragorn nodded at her words. “Indeed, he would not do such a vile thing himself. I am certain Boromir did the actual killing, as I stated before. But that does not mean I believe Faramir would be innocent of desiring her death in light of the circumstances.”

She had no reply to that just yet. Finally Minuial did stand and wandered to a nearby window to look outside. The idea of it was unthinkable and painful. When she thought of all that had happened in the past two years, it made her ache inside to find these reasons as to why.

Aragorn came up behind her after a moment, intruding upon her space, but she had not the heart to command he leave her be. It was his room, after all, and she found her voice a little hard pressed to surface. His hand came to rest on her shoulder, rubbing gently. “I wish I had not been the bearer of that terrible news. I am sorry that any of this has happened.”

“So am I,” was all she could bring herself to say. She drew away from his touch, looking back towards the door. “Thank you for your concern, Lord Aragorn. Forgive me if I need a little privacy.”

“Of course.”

She didn’t stick around to see his expression, to hear his farewells or words of encouragement, nor did he attempt to stop her for such things. Leaving his quarters, she walked quickly towards her own room, not wanting to be bothered just now by anyone. The very idea of running into Boromir or Faramir right now put her on edge. Shs nos not sure she could go without saying something or demanding an answer to these claims. Yet that still, small voice inside reminded her not to judge just now. Not until she could verify these stories for herself.

When she entered her quarters she found herself not alone. Haldir was waiting for her with a stern expression and upon seeing that she gave him a very dirty look. “I take it the mortal was not as charming as you would have liked?” he asked her. “Where have you been? You frightened me with your absence, especially when I learned Boromir had returned hours ago.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied, throwing herself onto the couch. “I had to think about a lot of things.”

Sensing the direction of her mood, Haldir let his anger and cynicism diminish as he made his way to her and sat down. His eyes reflected genuine concern. “Tell me about it?”

She told him everything.

*

Sorry for the wait! :O Thank you for the lovely emails! *sniffle* Made my day. :) Hope you enjoy this chapter.