Love and Lust – A Dynasty Broken

Kudos to readers who saw hints of dialogue from popular movies. There was a Star Wars reference in Chapter 8, and there will be one in this chapter. The title of Chapter 8 was inspired by a line uttered by Katharine Hepburn in the movie, The Lion in Winter. I can't help myself. This chapter's title is inspired by the title of a novel by John Steinbeck. The Princess speaks words that are Latin during a vision. It is the root of all languages. If you are waiting to see what happens to the guys in Minas Tirith, you'll have to wait until Chapter 10. 

Boromir slept through the night and all the following day. Eledwhen fretted that his continued sleep meant something was seriously wrong.

"Worry not, child. Your Lord lies in the embrace of a healing sleep; his road back to us is not an easy one to travel." Noting her concern at his last words, Haldir added hastily, "But his body mends and the grayish color that precedes death is no longer present. I can see his body repair itself, albeit slowly. His blood is renewed and the strength returns to his limbs. In just such a way do the Elves heal, only much faster. Denthor's heir is fortunate to have been touched by such grace as you so lovingly bestowed upon him. He will live to fight another day."

Eledwhen frowned at the thought of Boromir returning to war. She did not like to think of losing him. How handsome he is, she thought as she wiped his face with a damp cloth. He looks so much younger, and so terribly vulnerable.

"It is the temporary release from the burdens he has borne during these long and dark years that makes his face so restful," said Haldir.

Eledwhen gave a sharp yelp of surprise. She had not spoken aloud, yet the Elf knew her thoughts. "Can you read minds?" she asked, blue eyes wide in amazement.

Haldir produced a silvery laugh. "I hear your thoughts. Sometimes they are clear; sometimes they are too muddled to be discernable. Humans are difficult to read because their thoughts are so disorderly. They lack the precision and clarity we Elves have. You are only half Human so many of your thoughts are clear enough to be understood."

He walked to where the Princess knelt beside Boromir and placed a long, slender finger to her forehead. "We can speak with our minds; words are not necessary for us to communicate. Were you ever in need, your thoughts would reach me and guide me to you."

Eledwhen stood and began twisting a lock of hair. She thoughtfully digested this fantastical information. "My mother was an Elf, you say. Would she not have had such… powers? I have never heard anyone speak of such things, not even my father." The Princess spoke slowly, drawing out each word with careful precision.

"It could not have been easy for your mother to live among mortals. Perhaps she hid her 'talents' so others would not discover her Elven heritage. You had no conscious memory of your mother's homeland until we met. Until then, it was merely a repressed dream."

Vivid memories of the short years with her mother flooded into Eledwhen's consciousness, flitting rapidly across her mind. The recurring dreams of a small child listening attentively to stories about Elves actually had been memories of times spent with the Queen before her death. So swiftly did the memories return, they soon overwhelmed her, much as floodwaters unleashed when a dam breaks.

Haldir's thoughts touched her mind, stemming the flow. You try too hard, too soon. There will be plenty of time to examine each thought separately once we reach Caras Galadon, the city of the Galadrim. I shall take you to meet the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. They will be able to tell you who your mother was.

Eledwhen blinked rapidly and swayed. The Elf moved swiftly to her side, encircling her waist with an arm to steady her. Haldir silently chided himself for not teaching her how to control the sudden onslaught of information.

"I beg your forgiveness, my Lady. I was overly eager to push you to use the gifts you possess and did not think. I have taken you too far, too fast. Humans must crawl before they can walk." His limpid eyes were filled with concern, yet sparkled with delight. Eledwhen frowned. He looks exactly like a child with a new toy. I amuse him.

"Indeed you do, Princess," Haldir said aloud. "Amuse me, I mean." He grinned rather foolishly. Finally, he released her. Executing a formal, and rather grand, bow from the waist, the Elf moved to the stream and began filling the water skins.

"Are we leaving?" she asked.

"We have tarried here long enough. It is best we move on. The Lord Boromir should be strong enough to travel on the morrow. For now, try and get some sleep."

* * * * * * * *

Eledwhen had slept only a couple of hours before a loud cry woke her. She raised her head, careful not to disturb the sleeping man beside her. Haldir was standing with his back to the fire, gripping his bow tightly. An arrow was nocked and ready for flight.

Eledwhen moved cautiously from beneath the blanket and wrapped it about Boromir. Moving soundlessly to where Haldir stood, she whispered, "What is it?"

"An owl. Something has startled it."

"The bird of darkness, a harbinger of evil." Eledwhen's voice sounded distant and strange. Haldir stole a glance at her, then returned his gaze to the forest. His keen eyes searched for movement.

The Princess studied the impenetrable sky and an icy breeze caused her to shiver. She looked to see if Boromir remained asleep.

Haldir was tense. "Do you feel it?" he asked breathlessly. "Something evil this way comes."

A shudder surged down Eledwhen's spine. She moved quickly to stand beside Boromir, while the Elf strained to pinpoint the approaching danger.

Rohan's Princess was distracted by the swirling darkness above the flames of their fire. She felt herself drawn into them, consumed by their heat. Within the flames shapes began to form. She saw a village burning to the ground while its inhabitants screamed and ran in panic and terror from fierce orc-like creatures with sharp spears and an assortment of wicked-looking weapons. One of them pounced upon the back of an old man, driving him to the ground. It began ripping him with its talon-like claws and consuming his flesh raw. She hoped desperately that this was a dream and not a vision of some atrocity actually taking place.

Too horrified to watch further, Eledwhen fought to withdraw from the clutches of the vision. Instead, she felt the approach of a suffocating evil. A large owl flew toward her, its wings extended to their full span, talons turned toward her. She could see its lifeless black eyes, unnaturally bright, reflected in the fires of the torched huts.

The owl spoke as it bore down upon her. "I am the bane of innocence; the herald of death and misfortune. Embrace evil or live amongst myriad torments and endless suffering."

Eledwhen pulled Faramir's dagger from her belt and shouted to be heard above the screams and cries of those being tortured. "Be gone. I am a daughter of Rohan and share the blood of the Galadrim. I do not fear you."

With a fierce screech, the owl lunged for her, its long talons seeking a hold within her soft flesh. She steeled herself for the attack. Suddenly a brilliant light pierced the darkness. A voice called to her, repeating her name again and again. She closed her eyes and shook her head to clear her vision before risking another look. The owl and the village were gone. Faramir's blade blazed like fire in her hand.

"What did you see?" Haldir's expression was anxious, his voice strained.

When Eledwhen spoke, her voice was toneless. Her eyes were riveted to the campfire.

"Cave Cave Mordor Videt." The words caused the Elf to take a step away from her. The language was unfamiliar, but the words carried a clear threat. "What do you say, child?" Haldir asked. She repeated the words in the same detached tone.

"Cave Cave Mordor Videt. Beware, Beware Mordor Sees." Haldir stared at her. He felt a dark presence and reached for a hunting knife in a sheath strapped at his back by a baldric.

Eledwhen shook her head like a dog emerging from water. "I must return immediately to Minas Tirith. My brother and my father are in danger. Denethor has been seduced by the Dark Lord. He keeps his son, Faramir, prisoner in his chambers and my brother is chained in the dungeons. If I return, the Steward may let them go." She ran to her horse and began saddling her. Haldir placed a restraining hand on her shoulder.

"You and the Lord Boromir must first come to Lothlorien. There you shall take council with the Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel. Let them guide your footsteps. You have had a waking dream, but the truth of it is not certain."

"My heart tells me that my brother suffers at the hands of the Steward. I must return, but I will take your advice and delay any final decision until we reach your city. For now, my first duty must be to the safety and wellbeing of the Lord Boromir. How soon before we reach the Golden Wood?"

"Two more days of hard traveling will bring us to the edge of my homeland. Try to sleep now. The evil has passed. I will stand watch, for I have no need of sleep and much need for thought."

Eledwhen smiled gratefully and moved to where Boromir lay sleeping. "I fear he will not wake."

"He will, when the healing process is complete. You, too, need healing, though your hurts are of the spirit and not the flesh. The Lady Galadriel has the power to heal many hurts." Haldir moved to stand beside her in that peculiar gliding motion common to Elves. Eledwhen had noticed it immediately when they had first met. It was graceful, yet oddly disturbing. "Will you tell the Lord Boromir everything once he is stronger?"

"I do not know. I have not spoken of it because I fear he may be forced to kill his father. There are many who are fiercely loyal to the Steward and would not take his murder lightly, even were it perpetrated by a son whose only motive was to save his land and its people. Nay, that is not what Gondor needs."

"And what needs do you have?" Haldir asked.

"I need solitude and time. Time to heal, and time to think."

"There is plenty of time in Lorien. I am certain that the Lady of the Golden Wood will want you and your future husband to remain as long as you wish."

"I fear that, for Boromir, time is the enemy. The longer he remains away from Gondor, the worse things will become. Faramir cannot stand alone against his father."

Haldir closed his eyes, his analytical mind searching for something he had missed. Snapping his fingers, he murmured, "Of course, of course. Why did I not see it before?"

To the Princess he said, "You have explained why you fled the White City, but you have said naught of this journey or its purpose. It is not logical that Boromir would leave his brother to face such a crisis alone; not if they are as close as you say. If he knows nothing of his father's 'transgression,' then why did he not return to Minas Tirith?"

Eledwhen laughed deprecatingly. "That is too pretty a word to use for such an ugly act. However, I owe you the full tale. Faramir returned alone to Minas Tirith to try and hold things together until Boromir could return with answers to a dream they shared. I rode with Boromir to avoid facing the Steward."

"A shared dream between Humans?" asked Haldir, clearly startled.

"Faramir had a recurring dream in which he heard a voice speak of a blade that was broken, a halfling and Imladris. I know nothing of halflings and broken blades, but I do know about Imladris. My mother spoke of it."

The Elf looked down at Boromir, shaking his head in disbelief. "This Man dreamed about Imladris?"

"Once, or so he said. But 'twas his brother to whom the dream appeared frequently. Faramir told me it came to him so often he was unable to sleep. On our way from Rohan to Minas Tirith, he had the dream while we were riding and nearly tumbled from his horse."

Haldir's stare was incredulous. "A Man had a waking dream? Elves have such dreams, but a Man? These are indeed strange times," he muttered.

"You would like the Lord Faramir, for he is unlike most men. He possesses many qualities you may find unnatural in a Human."

"I should definitely like to meet this Man," Haldir said, chuckling. "Members of that race never cease to amaze me."

Eledwhen returned to the fire and settled next to Boromir. He was tossing and turning, as though something haunted his sleep. The Princess stroked his brow tenderly with her hand. Haldir smiled. Young love, he thought wistfully. Then he turned his sight upon the woods, his entire being attuned to danger. Eledwhen smiled. 

* * * * * * * * *

Haldir was riding Eward; Eledwhen and Boromir were astride Arod. The Man had become conscious the day before and insisted that he was strong enough to sit a horse. The Elf decided that if this Man of Gondor was obstinate enough to refuse to listen to his medical expertise, he was fit enough to sit in the saddle. As a precaution, Eledwhen rode behind Boromir, prepared to grab him should he start to fall. She sat with her arms firmly encircling his waist, occasionally pressing one cheek lightly to his back. The Princess had been euphoric when he had finally returned to the land of the living.

Boromir was weary physically, but his spirit was light. He vaguely remembered his struggle against the two Dunland deserters and his almost fatal error in judgment. He had calculated (wrongly) that he could kill both and reach Eledwhen before the two in the woods caught wind of his escape. But sometimes the best-laid plans go awry, and he had received a deep wound in his upper thigh. A gash in this location normally is not fatal; it was his bad luck that the sword sliced through the artery. He chuckled to himself, knowing how ironic it was to have been nearly murdered by his own sword. Faramir would never let him forget. Let him tease me mercilessly, Boromir thought ruefully, at least I am alive to endure his taunts.

The last thing he remembered clearly was Eledwhen holding him in her arms. She had been crying, he assumed over his imminent demise. Beyond that, Boromir had no clear recollection of events. He had found it rather surreal, awakening to find his future bride speaking with a pale and slightly effeminate being (at least in his opinion) that he assumed to be an Elf. It had been many years since he had seen one, for not since his youth had those of the Firstborn journeyed to Minas Tirith. However, his surprise at seeing Haldir was nothing compared to the feelings of joy he felt at being alive.

Boromir smiled and lightly touched Eledwhen's hands to reassure himself that this was no dream. In response, she pressed her soft body more tightly against his and lightly brushed her lips across the back of his neck. He felt familiar stirrings deep within his body and knew beyond a doubt that he lived.

Eledwhen had been ecstatic to see Boromir waken. She had wanted to throw herself into his arms, but was too shy to do so. He was, after all, not her brother and respectable young women refrained from such unseemly displays of affection with men who were not kinfolk. Idly, she wondered if she was still respectable.

Of course you are. Do not ever think less of yourself because of what others do. The Princess peered over Boromir's shoulder and saw Haldir looking back at them. She gave him a small smile of thanks.

* * * * * * * * *

"We are nearing Lothlorien. Soon you will be able to see the golden leaves of our mallorn trees." As the afternoon wore away into evening and the miles melted behind them, Eledwhen could discern the outline of the eaves of the Golden Wood. She could just make out a wide gray shadow and thought she heard the rustle of leaves.

The three riders suddenly were beneath the mallorns' spreading boughs. Great gray trunks extended skyward, branching off far above the ground. Their leaves were fallow gold. "We are at least five leagues from the gates," Haldir said. "I believe…." The Elf's words died off and he tilted his head to the side, listening much the way a hound does on point. "Yrch!" he hissed.

Boromir reined his stead about sharply, his eyes scanning the wood. Haldir leapt from Eward's back and ran in the direction of the sound of the approaching orcs. Only a few minutes later, he returned hurriedly. "There are at least two dozen orcs marching straight toward us. They block our path into the Golden Wood. We must retrace our steps and enter at another point."

A great shout alerted them that the creatures had picked up their scent. Boromir grasped his sword hilt and struggled to remove the blade from its sheath. He cursed colorfully at his weakness.

"No!" Haldir shouted, as Eledwhen simultaneously yelled, "What are you doing?" Eledwhen dismounted by sliding backward off Arod's rump. She ran to Eward and flung herself onto the mare's bare back. The Princess had nothing more than her hands and legs to control the animal's actions, but Eward understood her perfectly and began to move forward.

"Stay!" Boromir commanded, using his Captain's voice. Eledwhen placed her right hand gently against Eward's neck and the horse stilled.

"You will go with the Elf. I will stay and fight until you are safely away. Then I will follow."

"There is no time for debate," she said. "They are almost here. You are not well enough to fight or to ride a horse without falling off. Go and I will join up with you later."

Haldir moved quickly to Eledwhen. "I will lead them away. You and the Lord Boromir ride Arod north until you find a safe place to hide. I will find you." He reached to pull the Princess off the horse, but stopped as Boromir spoke.

"I will not allow a girl or an Elf to fight my battles. Nor will I skulk off into the woods like a thief while others die in my stead. Elf, take my Lady to Lorien while I distract the orcs."

Haldir was furious. Time was short. They had no time for such heroics. "Do not be bullheaded! You are too weak to even lift your sword, much less wield it. You will only succeed in getting yourself killed. Eledwhen cannot save your life every time you make a fatal error in judgment. You will get us all killed." He was beginning to really regret that the Princess had saved the Man's life.

Boromir looked at Haldir murderously, clenching and unclenching his free hand into a fist. "I will not buy my safety at the expense of a girl's life. It is cowardly."

"It is necessary, you son of a mule! I have had enough of this. You will ride with the Princess into the wood. Eledwhen, get down NOW!" Haldir was angry enough to leave them both as fodder for the orcs.

Boromir grasped his sword and attempted to raise his arm. The effort left him dizzy and out of breath.

"Do something!" Eledwhen snapped at the Elf.

"What would you suggest?" he replied acidly.

"You've had almost two thousand years of experience. Think of something!" she retorted angrily.

Boromir watched first the Princess, then Haldir as they argued back and forth about him. He did not like being discussed as though he was not present. Finally, he growled, "Whether or not I get myself killed is my affair. I'll thank you both to stay out of my way."

The Man put heels to his mount's sides to spur him forward, but Haldir moved quickly in front of Arod. The horse immediately obeyed Haldir's unspoken command to halt. "Get out of my way, Elf," Boromir said, kicking the horse with his heels in an attempt to force it to move forward.

"Stop acting so mare-ish," Eledwhen said, close to tears. "You are not yet my husband and I am still the Princess of Rohan. I will do this."

Boromir again tried to force his mount forward, but Arod disobeyed his master and refused to move. Seizing the opportunity, Haldir leapt behind Boromir. He gripped the Man's neck and applied pressure to both carotid arteries, cutting off the blood supply to the brain. Boromir slumped backward as he blacked out.

Eledwhen clucked softly to her horse and they began to move forward. "What are you doing?" Haldir asked, dismayed at the sudden turn of events.

She answered in a small voice. "Take my Lord to safety. And, if you have time, please come back for me."

With his arms around Boromir, the Elf could not stop Eledwhen, who was almost to the wood. If the orcs saw him and Boromir, he might not have a chance to escape. Exasperated, Haldir told Arod to turn and run. Now I remember why we have had no dealings with folk other than our own kindred, he thought bitterly. Haldir could hear the orcs shout as they spotted Eledwhen. Her only hope was for him to find help within Lorien. Remember child, if you need me, call for me. There was no response. Despair followed him into the Golden Wood.