Authors Note: I'd just like to say thank you to all of my reviewers, your
comments and especially your praise mean a lot to me. This piece of
fanfiction is probably; I think I completed it in one afternoon. I became
very involved with the characters and the story, and really took Delérith
to my heart, strange as it may sound. So I really enjoyed writing this, a
shower of thanks for anyone who's reviewed, and to my proof-reader also,
who checked this over and helped me with the ending.
Chapter Nine- Faramir
The next morning she was gone.
I made my way to her room early, secretly afraid of what I might find. I pushed open the heavy oak door slowly and stepped inside, its creak reverberating in the stone halls. My eyes rested upon an empty bed. I stood still, my hand upon the brass doorknob, fingers clenching it tightly, though I did not realise. I looked at the bed with sad eyes. It sat against the wall in the corner of the room, almost defiant in its bareness. I blinked, and in my minds eye I saw her again, be it only for a moment. Her dark hair was spilling over the pillow, her face was pale and thin, but her eyes were open and alive. She looked at me, but I could do nothing. I felt cold and my breath caught in my throat as her eyes looked into mine. Then my vision faltered, and I was brought back to the present. I could feel the cold metal of the doorknob beneath my fingers, and again I looked upon the bed. The sheets were white and cold, pushed back and folded up heartlessly. I felt a sudden heavy feeling in my chest.
Then I heard footsteps behind me, and I felt the heavy weight of a hand upon my shoulder. I turned my head and saw my father looking into the room. His face was as cold and expressionless as stone; his jaw was set as though he was not allowing his pain to show. He had been like that since Boromir had died.
"I am sorry," he said stiffly. "She died in the night. The childbirth must have hurt her more than we thought. The healers said there was nothing they could do. "
He patted me softly on the shoulder, obviously unsure of how to comfort me. I made no movement towards him. He withdrew his hand, turned and left me alone.
Somehow, I do not remember when or how, I left my spot and walked blindly, with no purpose or direction to my steps. I ended on the riverbank at the spot where I had seen Boromir's boat. The rushes sighed quietly in the wind and the water rushed endlessly past me as I sat and thought of things that had passed. The people that I held dear, all gone. My mother died when I was a boy, and now Boromir and Delérith. What would have happened if I had gone instead of Boromir, on his journey of so long ago? I shook my head slowly. It is impossible to fathom what might have been. Things could have been different, but maybe not for the better.
Then I thought of their child, back in Minas Tirith. It was my responsibility now. Delérith had asked me to care for her, and I would honour my promise. I got up from the ground decisively and made my way back to the city, my footfalls still heavy but this time with a path to tread.
The funeral was held the next day at sunset. They buried her body in a mound on the Pelennor fields. Not a great number came, for she did not seem to have many friends after Boromir left. I stood in the shadows, my hood cast over my face. When everyone else had gone I stood in front of her grave staring at the damp and still earth which covered it. It was a cold day and the biting wind seemed to match my feelings. I could not think of any words that could fit what I was thinking, so I stood silently for some time, my cloak blowing in the wind as I stared at the mound of earth in front of me.
"Rest easy," I said finally, speaking under my breath as I thought of her. "May you find peace."
After taking a last glance at her grave I turned and left, not to look back again. I returned to the city and to the Houses of Healing, where my father had sent her baby to be cared for. They led me to her, and I gently cradled her in my arms, looking down upon her fair face. "You have the eyes of your father," I murmured as I gazed at her, "but the beauty of your mother."
I was glad that the baby was to stay with me, for she was my niece and I cared for her greatly. As she grew older her resemblance to Delérith was almost uncanny, but every time her grey eyes smiled at me it was almost as if Boromir was there, laughing and alive.
And so the years passed. The shadow was overthrown and at last peace and hope came back to our world. The King had returned, and the lands were healed again. Now the war is over, and I have found happiness, something that I thought had long forsaken me. There is still pain, pain when I think of my brother and of Delérith, and my father. Some wounds will never truly heal. But life carries on, heedless of pain or suffering. I have found love, my beautiful wife Éowyn whom I adore with all my heart. But I still carry hope for Boromir and Delérith, deep inside of me. A little thought, a whisper in my mind that tells me that, beyond the death, which is the fate of all men, Boromir and Delérith have at last made their peace.
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The End
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Chapter Nine- Faramir
The next morning she was gone.
I made my way to her room early, secretly afraid of what I might find. I pushed open the heavy oak door slowly and stepped inside, its creak reverberating in the stone halls. My eyes rested upon an empty bed. I stood still, my hand upon the brass doorknob, fingers clenching it tightly, though I did not realise. I looked at the bed with sad eyes. It sat against the wall in the corner of the room, almost defiant in its bareness. I blinked, and in my minds eye I saw her again, be it only for a moment. Her dark hair was spilling over the pillow, her face was pale and thin, but her eyes were open and alive. She looked at me, but I could do nothing. I felt cold and my breath caught in my throat as her eyes looked into mine. Then my vision faltered, and I was brought back to the present. I could feel the cold metal of the doorknob beneath my fingers, and again I looked upon the bed. The sheets were white and cold, pushed back and folded up heartlessly. I felt a sudden heavy feeling in my chest.
Then I heard footsteps behind me, and I felt the heavy weight of a hand upon my shoulder. I turned my head and saw my father looking into the room. His face was as cold and expressionless as stone; his jaw was set as though he was not allowing his pain to show. He had been like that since Boromir had died.
"I am sorry," he said stiffly. "She died in the night. The childbirth must have hurt her more than we thought. The healers said there was nothing they could do. "
He patted me softly on the shoulder, obviously unsure of how to comfort me. I made no movement towards him. He withdrew his hand, turned and left me alone.
Somehow, I do not remember when or how, I left my spot and walked blindly, with no purpose or direction to my steps. I ended on the riverbank at the spot where I had seen Boromir's boat. The rushes sighed quietly in the wind and the water rushed endlessly past me as I sat and thought of things that had passed. The people that I held dear, all gone. My mother died when I was a boy, and now Boromir and Delérith. What would have happened if I had gone instead of Boromir, on his journey of so long ago? I shook my head slowly. It is impossible to fathom what might have been. Things could have been different, but maybe not for the better.
Then I thought of their child, back in Minas Tirith. It was my responsibility now. Delérith had asked me to care for her, and I would honour my promise. I got up from the ground decisively and made my way back to the city, my footfalls still heavy but this time with a path to tread.
The funeral was held the next day at sunset. They buried her body in a mound on the Pelennor fields. Not a great number came, for she did not seem to have many friends after Boromir left. I stood in the shadows, my hood cast over my face. When everyone else had gone I stood in front of her grave staring at the damp and still earth which covered it. It was a cold day and the biting wind seemed to match my feelings. I could not think of any words that could fit what I was thinking, so I stood silently for some time, my cloak blowing in the wind as I stared at the mound of earth in front of me.
"Rest easy," I said finally, speaking under my breath as I thought of her. "May you find peace."
After taking a last glance at her grave I turned and left, not to look back again. I returned to the city and to the Houses of Healing, where my father had sent her baby to be cared for. They led me to her, and I gently cradled her in my arms, looking down upon her fair face. "You have the eyes of your father," I murmured as I gazed at her, "but the beauty of your mother."
I was glad that the baby was to stay with me, for she was my niece and I cared for her greatly. As she grew older her resemblance to Delérith was almost uncanny, but every time her grey eyes smiled at me it was almost as if Boromir was there, laughing and alive.
And so the years passed. The shadow was overthrown and at last peace and hope came back to our world. The King had returned, and the lands were healed again. Now the war is over, and I have found happiness, something that I thought had long forsaken me. There is still pain, pain when I think of my brother and of Delérith, and my father. Some wounds will never truly heal. But life carries on, heedless of pain or suffering. I have found love, my beautiful wife Éowyn whom I adore with all my heart. But I still carry hope for Boromir and Delérith, deep inside of me. A little thought, a whisper in my mind that tells me that, beyond the death, which is the fate of all men, Boromir and Delérith have at last made their peace.
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The End
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