Masks

IslaSorna - See my reviews for my sweet reply to your oh so wonderful review.

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Sitting in a chair in her quarters Alura eyed the dress and the mask that had been laid upon it. They were beautiful things, but she could not find it in herself to be excited about the night that lay ahead. It was supposed to be a happy occasion, but she was worried. Perhaps she was being foolish. Éomer was right. She should not be giving her time to Boromir at all. He had acted harshly with her, but perhaps for good reason. She sighed and glanced at the window. It was time. Faramir expected her in the atrium on the sixth level. Frowning, she pulled herself up. Perhaps giving him a chance would be wiser and more pleasant in the future. She could have nothing with Boromir, of course. She was not even certain she wanted anything more.

But a part of her hoped he would want more.

Sighing, she straightened her dress and exited her rooms. It was better to forget him and concentrate on something else. She headed towards the nearest stairwell, but barely paid any mind to where she was headed. By the time she reached the outdoors she was surprised to see herself so close to him. She crossed her arms and stepped into the cool air, then followed the path towards the atrium. It was open to her, the door unlocked and she entered tentatively, not really sure why she was feeling skittish. The plants loomed around and made her feel enclosed.

In the center of the indoor gardens she saw him sitting on a bench. Biting her lip, Alura moved forward and watched him, meaning to call out. Somehow the words never came from her lips until she was right beside him. “Lord Faramir?”

He gazed up as if he had expected her just then. “Hello, Alura,” he said in a soft, subdued tone. He stood up and took her hands in his. “I am pleased you could come.”

“Is anything wrong?” she asked him, looking into his eyes.

Faramir shook his head with a smile. “Nothing that concerns you. Walk with me.” He held out his arm and pressed her arm into it, leading her into the gardens. The atrium was very large, filled with flowers and plants. It was beautiful. He stopped her in a section filled with white roses and reached to touch her hair. “You are lovely. More lovely than the flowers here.”

Alura blushed and swallowed as he traced her ear with his fingertips. “You have my thanks.”

He laughed lightly. “And you have my desire. Look at you flush. You take my breath away.”

“You are full of flowery words,” she said with a small smile. “But who are you?”

“Your humble servant,” he replied with a bow. “How was your morning?”

Alura knit her brow at his odd humor. “It went well. And yours?”

“It went well,” he mirrored. “Now we have talked extensively. Let us move on to more important things.” He pressed forward, brushing his mouth against her cheek. “Tell me, do you like this?” he asked in a husky tone. His tongue smoothed along her throat.

“I…” she whispered, shivering. Her eyes fell upon one of the blossoms over his shoulder. His kisses awakened in her conflicting emotions. She wanted to want this. But as he pressed his hand to her breast she felt herself growing more certain that she could not comfortably desire him without thinking of what she should not.

He abandoned her throat and looked into her face through half-lidded eyes. His warm breath danced over her cheek as he laid a kiss there, then embraced her against him. “I desire you. Say that tonight you will be mine.”

“I don’t…I don’t know,” she replied softly, pulling back. “Did we not agree to take this slowly?”

His glittery eyes took in her face as he cupped her cheek with his hand. “I only worry that if I do not prove myself to you then the opportunity will be lost. Do you have any desire for me?”

The earnest hope in his expression made her feel sick inside. She wanted to tell him she did, she even found herself nodding softly, but inwardly she knew the source of her tension. “I am afraid,” she told him falteringly, not sure what he would say to that.

“Afraid of what?” he said gently, stroking her cheek. “Do you think I mean to hurt you?”

“Of course not.” Alura sighed and moved away, wrapping her hand around a rose blossom. She touched the soft petals and sighed. “Afraid of what I feel.”

“And what you don’t feel?”

She turned and regarded his point blank expression. “Afraid that if I give myself to you, you will want what I do not know I can give. Rohan is my home.”

“I can understand that.” He moved close again and touched her shoulder, rubbing her as if he wished to brush the sleeve aside and bare her flesh. “I’ll not pressure you. Say then that tonight you will give me a dance? I cannot help but try to win some form of affection after all.”

Alura laughed at his smiling expression. “I can give you a dance.”

“Will you wear nothing?” he asked archly, then laughed when she widened her eyes. “Perhaps I am too bold.”

“Perhaps you are a pig like your brother.”

That drew more mirth from him. “My brother? What has Boromir done to you now?”

“Nothing that a snake would not fix,” she suggested smartly, feeling better that he did not take her refusal harder than he had. He seemed so kind a soul. She hated to disappoint him.

Faramir shook his head and jerked a flower from its branch, then placed it in her hair. “Someday soon I shall attend to that. Then you will owe me a kiss.”

“We shall see.” She smirked at him as he placed his hands over his heart as if she’d wounded him. She looked around her at the lush flowers. “This place is beautiful.”

“Would you like to have lunch here?” he asked and smiled when she nodded. “Give me but a few moments and when I return it will be with stolen wine and bread.”

Faramir disappeared from her sight and she wandered until she found a bench. Sinking down, she considered what she was getting into. He was ardent if nothing else. This was something she liked in a suitor. Alura groaned and leaned back, glaring at a single red rose that had been picked and abandoned on the stone floor. She hated things feeling so complicated. Why had she allowed Boromir to touch her? She asked herself again and again. How could she give him what she wanted to give to Faramir? Despite Éowyn’s teasing and her return banter, Alura did wish Faramir happiness. And she wanted to give him that, but found she couldn’t want the same from him for herself.

She groaned and accepted her solitude gratefully for fifteen minutes, trying to push her concerns out of her mind. Footsteps echoed behind her and expecting Faramir’s return, she looked up. It was not he, but a young page. He bowed and held a parchment out. “A message from Lord Boromir, Milady.”

“Thank you,” Alura breathed, taking the paper anxiously. The boy left her alone with her message and with shaking fingers she tore the seal that bound it shut. What could he want with her? She felt a new weight on her shoulders as she read the black script he had penned.

Lady Alura,

I cannot easily forget my desires. My brother and I customarily dress in the same costume. The same clothing bearing the White Tree of Gondor. No one will know the difference between us. I will suggest Faramir take Éowyn for a walk tonight when the party has calmed. Then I shall wait for you near the door in the back of the Hall of Kings. Come to me when you see me there.

Boromir

She folded the paper tensely and looked around as if someone could be watching. Was he mad? She gazed at the parchment, not knowing what to do with it. If Faramir saw it and saw the contents, then all hope of keeping Éowyn in the dark was lost. She felt smothered, weaving lies upon lies to cover up her mistake with Boromir. And now he bid her make another one! She despaired of this temptation he offered her. Knowing of nowhere else to place the paper, she stood up from her place and rushed towards the rose bushes across from her. The brush here was thick, thick enough for her to hide the paper until tonight. It was a risky spot, but she had nowhere else to put it, and so dug lightly in the dirt and laid the note down, then buried it with earth and leaves. Later, when she and Faramir had parted, she would return for it.

Hearing footsteps she quickly sat down again as Faramir approached with a basket. He smiled gently and sat with her, presenting her with his stolen goods. “Everything a queen should want,” he told her proudly. From within he removed a bottle of wine and two goblets, then a cloth folded with bread and fruit. “Do you look forward to the feast?”

She flinched, reminded of the note, and paled before him. He motioned towards the food as he laid it out and she felt foolish. “Yes. It looks wonderful.”

“Never let it be said that a Captain of Gondor does not know how to properly entertain a lady.” He smiled and poured the wine. “Is it often said in Rohan as your cousin would have me believe?”

Alura rolled her eyes. “The ladies of Rohan say nothing of it, having no experience. I suppose if Éomer has understood this by having gone through it, then we may have to reconsider.”

Faramir laughed at that. “Even to your own kin. The wit of the Rohirrim quite charms me.” He held up his goblet in toast, watching her softly as she did the same.