Alassante's Fiction

Story Summary:

Chapter 3

What was Her Price?

“Good. You are here. I trust I can count on you for total confidence.” Boromir said.

The tailor nodded.

Boromir continued “I need to have a dress or two today for someone and I cannot exactly have the seamstress come here. I need you to get these dresses and bring them to me without being seen.”

“How will I know what size?” the tailor asked.

Walking into the bedroom, he picked up her dress from the chair and came out and gave it to the tailor.

“About this size. Something nice for everyday wear but not formal and anything else that a woman would need to wear.”

The tailor nodded and asked if he could take the dress with him. When Boromir nodded, he rolled the wet dress up and put it in his bag. Although he thought all of this was strange, he knew better than to judge.

Boromir called a servant to bring him some food telling them to bring double what they normally bring because he was very hungry. He could not believe he was going to all of this effort for her but he wanted to do it. He wanted to please her. When he came into the room, he saw that she had moved to the chair near the fire and had fallen asleep. He watched her for a long time then realized what he was doing. He wanted to make love to her so bad it hurt but he knew he could not. Hearing the servants in the other room, he took the food from them and dismissed them. He quietly walked into the room and set down the tray. He must have made a noise because she jerked up looking embarrassed.

“Are you hungry?” He asked.

She shook her head.

“Are you sure because it is late and I am sure you haven’t eaten since breakfast? I would hate for all of this food to go to waste.”

Finally she agreed to eat something. She looked sweet and vulnerable in his shirt with her hair down. Bringing the food over to the fire, he sat down on the floor with it and motioned her down there. She cautiously sat down on the floor and ate a few bites while studying him. There was no way to deny he was attractive but so was his brother. Yet his brother didn’t make her feel butterflies in her stomach. Of course that could have had something to do with the fact she had seen Boromir nude twice. She blushed at the thought.

“So tell me. What is it like growing up in Rohan?” He said looking over at her.

“It is nice. I was happy there when my mother was alive.”

“I have met Éomer and Theodred before. Were you close to them?” He asked

“I was close to Éomer’s sister, Éowyn. Éomer and Theodred were older and they usually just teased us.”

She smiled softly. “Although, Éomer and Theodred taught me how to ride and tried to teach Éowyn and I how to fight with swords.”

“Really? Are you any good?” He asked with a smile.

“I can ride well but I was not very good with a sword. I mainly tried to keep the two of them from stabbing me.

Although, Theodred did stab me once which got him in real trouble with his parents.”

Laughing, Boromir said, “He stabbed you?”

“It was an accident and I was not hurt badly but I was bleeding so he had to take me to Meduseld to get the cut on my leg stitched up. So his parents found out and both of them were forbidden to teach Éowyn or I anything else with swords. Although I think they still did teach Éowyn but she was better and less likely to be stabbed.” She laughed.

He smiled and they were quiet for awhile.

Finally she said “My lord, why are you doing this for me? I have done nothing but be a disobedient servant to you.”

“You are right. You have been a terrible servant.” He chuckled. “I knew soon after I met you that you were not a servant by birth because you were so horrible at it.”

“Then why?”

“I do not understand it myself so I cannot answer you. I just feel the need to protect you and help you. I do not want anything from you in return, if that is why you are worried.” He grinned at her “Although I did enjoy that kiss and would not mind another, I will never ask you for anything in payment for what I am doing.”

Hearing a knock at the outer door, he jumped up and went to the other room, shutting the door behind him. It was the tailor and he had three dresses for her to try on plus a bag of various other undergarments. He took everything in to her and told her to try them on and let him know when she was done. She put on the undergarments and a slip and enjoyed the fact that it was soft material. She was used to the scratchy material that all of the servants clothes were made of. She pulled the first dress over her head and it was too big. She did not want the dark blue one because she had worn enough dark colors as servant to last forever. Picking up the third one, she smiled. It was a pale pastel green that was so muted it looked almost white. It fit her perfectly as if it were made for her. It had a low-neck line and a fitted bodice but it did not reveal too much. It was nice to see that she actually had a waist because the servant’s clothes did not show any feminine qualities. She found herself hoping that Boromir would like it. The material was soft and flowing and it had huge bell sleeves that dripped almost to the floor if she put her arms down. She had almost forgotten how nice it was to wear pretty clothes. She remembered just enough to miss them. Looking through the stuff the tailor had gotten from the dressmaker, she found shoes and things to hold her hair back.

Feeling indulgent she went ahead and put them on. Maybe she would end up finding out that she was not willing to pay Boromir’s price for all of this kindness but until she found out what it was, she was going to enjoy herself.

Looking down she decided that she looked pretty nice considering how she looked this morning. Throwing the other dresses over her arm, she cautiously opened the door to the outside room and saw the tailor waiting while Boromir was talking to Faramir. Realizing how this must look to Faramir, she almost bolted back into the bedroom. She carefully handed the dresses back to the tailor and he smiled. He told her the dressmaker would be to see her tomorrow morning.

She shook her head and said, “I have no money.”

He nodded and said, “It has been taken care of.”

He looked at her with kindness not judgement so she smiled and said thank you. As he was leaving, she realized the other two had stopped talking completely. Looking over she realized they were both staring at her. Feeling like she had just run through the streets completely bare, she looked down.

Finally, Boromir said, “You look beautiful, Lillianna.”

“Yes, very.” Faramir said.

“Thank you, my lords.” She said.

Taking her hand and kissing it, he said, “I am Faramir. Not Lord Faramir.”

“Faramir was just telling me that he has found the perfect place for you to live. Would you like to come with us to see it? Most of the servants will be at dinner waiting on my father so it would be safe.” Boromir said coming to her.

She nodded and he held out his arm. Not used to all of this, she hesitated.

He smiled and said “Come on. I don’t bite, remember.”

Taking his arm, she walked with him down through the levels of the city. They went through the back walkways so they would escape other’s notice. Faramir and Boromir could not walk anywhere in the city without attention so they used the back walkways mostly and are seen by very few. She hadn’t been on an evening walk in so long she felt like she was going to get caught and beat any minute now.

Boromir couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She looked more at home in that dress than she had ever looked in the servants clothes. This dress was probably more what she was used to. In Rohan, they do not dress as formally as they do here in the city so this was probably more the style she was used to. They came to a cottage on the second level that was away the busy street and walkways. Smiling, Faramir opened the door and began to light the lanterns.

The cottage had two rooms plus a kitchen and bathing area and a balcony. The sitting room had a fireplace and comfortable furniture. The bedroom had a huge bed with lots of pillows and blankets. She almost groaned with desire to climb into that bed rather than an uncomfortable cot. There was a wardrobe in the corner for all of the clothes she didn’t own. When they went out on the balcony, she almost cried. It had two comfortable chairs and it overlooked a huge fountain in a garden courtyard on the first level. The sound of the water was very peaceful and she could see a beautiful view of the moon. She did not say anything for a long time because she completely forgot they were even there.

Boromir patted Faramir on the shoulder and said, “I think she is pleased.”

They both smiled when she turned around and looked at them.

“Thank you so much.” She said.

She resisted the urge to tell them she could not accept afraid they would agree to it.

“It is very safe here even though it is out of the way. The man in the quarters next door thinks you are a sister to a man from a small city in Rohan who is a personal friend to Boromir and he said he will keep an eye out for anything strange. The other side of you is a man and his wife plus their two children. None of the soldiers or drinkers come around this area so you will be safe.” Faramir smiled.

He could almost understand why Boromir wanted to make her happy. He felt good doing his part as well.

“So no one thinks I am Boromir’s …..” She said quietly.

“No. No one thinks that. But I can tell them that if you want me to.” Faramir smiled. She laughed and shook her head.

“Thanks, brother. You have done a great job. Go to dinner while you still can. I will see you later.” Boromir said.

As Faramir left, Boromir walked out on the balcony where she was standing. She smiled at him then looked back to the view of the moon.

He watched her for a minute and said “Are you happy?”

She nodded nervously waiting for him to tell her what the expected payment was. She was shocked when he said “Good. I am glad.”

“Thank you.” She said.

“You are very welcome.” He said smiling. “I am assuming you would rather stay here tonight than sleep in my bed while I slept in the chair.”

Nodding she said “Although it is amusing to see you suffer, I cannot do that today after all that you have done.” He laughed.

“Hopefully your amusement at my suffering will lessen over time. Maybe once I get a descent servant, I can ease some of my suffering.” He teased. “I guess I should leave you before you grow weary of my company and douse me with cold water again.”

Leaning over he gave her a quick kiss on the check and left her. He was not gone but two minutes before she heard a knock on the door. Curious, she went and opened the door.

“I do not suppose I could bring dinner here tomorrow night and we could go for a walk afterwards.” He asked.

Softly, she said, “Yes I would like that.”

“Good,” He said then turned and walked up the walkway.

Shutting the door behind him, she sighed. She just knew if she went to sleep she would wake up and this would all be a dream. Either way, she was going to sleep in that bed. Removing her gown, she climbed into the bed and sighed. The bed felt more comfortable than she had even remembered it.

The next day she slept late without even meaning to. She woke up to someone knocking at the door. Throwing on her gown, she was pleased that she had woke up in the bed she fell asleep in and that the dream had not ended as she had feared. Opening the door, she saw a servant carrying a tray of food. Letting him in, she watched him put the tray down. He handed her a note and left. Opening the note she smiled as she read Boromir’s hurried script saying he didn’t know what she liked so he sent her some of everything. Looking down she realized he had sent her enough food for a family. Smiling, she picked up a grape and popped it in her mouth. She could remember the last time she had grapes was in Theoden’s halls with Éowyn.

Taking some food and drink, she walked out to the balcony and watched the people on the first level scurrying around. She thought about Boromir and wondered why he was doing all of this. She could not understand him. She felt sure as soon as she relaxed he would ask for some payment she was unwilling to give. But in the back of her mind she wondered what she would not give. What was her price at this point? She never wanted to be his mistress but after that kiss, she wondered what it would be like to lay with him. Brushing aside her thoughts, she decided to enjoy all of this while she could.

The seamstresses came in and left with her measurements and her choices of colors and fabrics. She did not ask any questions but the seamstress commented that Lord Boromir said that money was no object. They left her with a few dresses that were in her size and she wore one of them that night with Boromir.

Boromir came to see her at least once a day for months as long as he was in the city. The day he demanded payment for him spoiling her never came and she had fallen madly in love with him. Sometimes Faramir would sneak her out of the city to Osgiliath where the three of them would have a picnic together. The two men made her laugh until she cried and she was genuinely fond of Faramir. Boromir never tried to seduce her nor had he tried to kiss her again and she had begun to feel that maybe he did not desire her or even think of her that way. She was ashamed that she was disappointed. She had overheard some women talking and saying that Lord Boromir had stopped taking women to his bed and she wondered about this. One night Faramir, Boromir, and her were having dinner and laughing about some thing one of his men had done when she caught Boromir giving Faramir a look. Very soon after Faramir excused himself.

Boromir came and sat beside her on the bench and took her hand.

Looking at her he asked “Are you happy here?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“I know you are very close to Faramir.”

Wondering where this question was leading, she said, “Yes, we are all close.”

Looking down at her hand, he said, “Do you feel the same way about me that you do about him?”

She swallowed and took a deep breath. “No.” She said softly.

Looking up at her, he smiled and said “Faramir loves you.”

She was stunned expecting something else.

“But I am in love with you.” Her eyes flew to his face. “I have been in love with you for so long I do not even remember when I fell in love with you. It has always just been there like the air that I breathe. I need to know how you feel though.”

She looked away taking a deep breath. She was shocked but thrilled. When she looked back at him, he looked heartbroken that she had turned away. She reached out and stroked his cheek with a smile.

“I do not know how I could ever fall in love with such an arrogant and stubborn man as you. But I have.”

He smiled and pulled her to him in a deep kiss. It was the first time he had kissed her since the time in his room.

She was so surprised by the overwhelming passion of it; she just went where he led her. He kissed her until she was breathless then he stopped and laughed.

“You have no idea how long I have wanted to do that.”

Looking up at him, she said, “Then do it again.”

Burying his hands in her hair he lightly sucked her lips then sucked her tongue into his mouth. Going on instinct, she lightly stroked his tongue with her own and explored his mouth. He pulled her to sit on his lap never letting his lips leave his own. Pulling away from her mouth, he pulled her hair behind her back and began kissing down her neck. She thought she was in a dream. She had no idea it could feel so exciting. When he kissed his way back up to her mouth, he kissed her lightly until she felt like she was going mad. Then he began to once again kiss her with passion.

All of the sudden, he stopped and said, “Will you marry me?”