Alassante's Fiction

Story Summary:

Chapter 6

Paying the Price

She walked outside where the people of the city and the soldiers were celebrating. Soon, she saw Boromir on a high wall raising the flag of the Stewards. The crowd started calling his name and she smiled proudly.

Boromir shouted out to the crowd. “This city was once the jewel of our kingdom. A place of light and beauty and of music. And so it shall be once more!”

The crowd cheered again.

“Let the armies of Mordor know this: Never again will the land of my people fall into enemy hands.”

The crowd cheered even louder.

“The city of Osgiliath has been reclaimed. For Gondor!”

Everyone in the city chanted over and over again, “For Gondor!”

She smiled and watched him walk to Faramir. They laughed and embraced each other. She moved closer to observe from an alcove. She did not mind not hiding their marriage except at times like these. She watched them get ale and start toasting. He saw her and winked and began to walk towards her. He stopped when Faramir said something and turned around. Neither man looked happy and she followed their gaze to see their father. It was the first time in years she had seen him in person. She felt hatred towards him that she could not deny. She heard him talking to the men and once again he must have said something about Faramir because she saw Faramir get upset. Before she realized it, Denethor pulled Boromir into the same alcove she is standing in, not seeing her. She stood there quietly and listened.

“He loves you, Father.” Boromir argued.

“Do not trouble me with Faramir. I know his uses, and they are few. We have more urgent things to speak of. Elrond of Rivendell has called a meeting. He will not say why, but I have guessed its purpose. It is rumored that the weapon of the enemy has been found.” Denethor said.

“The One Ring. Isildur's Bane.” Boromir said in shock.

She was more worried than shocked.

“It has fallen into the hands of the Elves. Everyone will try to claim it: Men, Dwarves, and wizards. We cannot let that happen. This thing must come to Gondor.”

“Gondor?” Boromir said surprised.

“It is dangerous, I know. Ever the Ring will seek to corrupt the hearts of lesser men. But you, you are strong and our need is great. It is our blood, which is being spilled our people who are dying. Sauron is biding his time. He's massing fresh armies. He will return. And when he does, we will be powerless to stop him. You must go. Bring me back this mighty gift.” Denethor said intensely.

“No. My place is here with my people. Not in Rivendell” Boromir argued.

He walked out of the alcove and Denethor followed. They were still close enough she could hear them.

“Would you deny your own father?” Denethor said putting a hand on his arm.

“If there is need to go to Rivendell, send me in his stead.” Faramir offered.

“You? Oh, I see. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor to show his quality. I think not. I trust this mission only to your brother. The one who will not fail me.” Denethor said.

As Denethor and Boromir walked off, she came out of the alcove and rushed to Faramir.

“He cannot go to Rivendell.” She said quickly. “You must talk him out of it.”

“You know I cannot. You would have better luck of it than I would.” Faramir said. He nodded and she turned around. Denethor was leaving and Boromir was standing there looking upset. She ran over to him and grabbed him by the arm not caring who heard her.

“You cannot go to Rivendell.” She insisted.

“I do not want to go but I must.” He argued.

“Do not do this. He is sending you to your death. We need you here. I need you here. Do not leave me to go on this mission of death.” She begged him.

He pulled her to him and held her as he whispered. “I must go.” Pulling her back he said “When I return, we will tell my father about us and he will stop sending me on these long missions.”

“I do not care if he knows. I do not want you to go on this mission.” She said sadly. “Would you go if I were with child?”

“Yes. I would be overwhelmed with guilt but I would still go.” He said sadly.

Realizing she could not tell him and it would not make a difference either way, she ran away from him into the crowd. When he finally found her, he was already prepared to leave for Rivendell the next morning. She stopped crying and tried to push back her anger. She did not want him to leave with them on bad terms. They spent the night in Osgiliath where they made love feverishly. She cried most of the night knowing he was leaving as she clung to him, still begging him not to go. Finally, she gave up and just held him close to her all night.

In the morning, she did not cry as he was leaving because she knew he could not be persuaded to stay. She held him tightly as he promised her he would return soon. Kissing her deeply one last time he left her with a heavy heart. As he was leaving, he made Faramir promise to take care of her. Faramir bit his tongue and did not tell his brother of her condition. He knew it was not his place to tell him and she had made him promise not to. He came to her after Boromir left and she was inconsolable. He brought her back to Minas Tirith and left her to her grief. He also had a bad feeling about this mission.

Months later, she was swollen with child and struggling with her loneliness. She had heard talk that the horn of Gondor had been heard one day in the distance and her heart was as heavy as her mind was weary. When Faramir came to her the next day, she knew in her heart that he was coming to tell her about Boromir’s death. He did not say anything as tears filled his eyes and she ran to him. They both sobbed as they held each other. He told her about the vision seeing Boromir in the boat and also about his horn washing up on the riverbanks. He had just left his father, which made him feel even worse. She tried to comfort him but she was so overwhelmed with grief herself, she could no longer form the words. She felt she was dying inside.

Faramir put his hand on her stomach and said, “At least we have part of Boromir.”

She cried even harder as she said, “He never even knew. I could not tell him because I did not want him to feel guilty when he left. I would have told him if I thought it would make him stay. Now it is too late.”

Faramir stayed and comforted her for a long time before he had to leave again on some other mission for Gondor. She crawled into bed and cried for two days. The servants could not get her to eat or leave the bed and grew very worried. On the third day, she felt overwhelmed with rage. Denethor had sent his own son, her husband, to his death. His hunger for the power that the One Ring would bring him had gotten Boromir killed. Unable to handle her rage anymore, she took a knife that belonged to Boromir and she went to the Citadel wearing a long cloak. She knew what she intended to do was madness but she did not care. She had lost everything so she no longer cared what happened to her. Walking into the throne room quietly, she was glad he was alone. She walked almost all the way to him before he saw her.

“What are you doing in here? You have no right to be in here.” He said to her.

“I have every right to here, you evil, twisted, man.” She said coldly.

He started to call for his guards but he felt he could handle one pregnant woman. Standing up, he said, “How dare you speak to me that way. Explain yourself.”

“For years you have been sending Boromir and Faramir on missions that would get them killed. You watched as half of the men of your armies died yet you care not. Do you know how many widows and orphans you have left behind? Do you even care? Why do you not explain yourself?” She demanded.

“It is my job as Steward to protect my land. Do you dare question that?”

“No but I dare say that you are a worthless toad who has allowed this land to fall into darkness while you sit up here in your throne room far removed from any threats. How many men have died for you?” She asked.

Before he could answer, she said “But you have gone too far this time. You sent Boromir to his death all for the power the One Ring could bring you.”

“Who are you and how do you know about the One Ring?”

“I know many things, your coward. But I have had enough of your questions Steward. Now I just want your head.”

She walked towards him as he stood there glaring at her.

Pulling the knife, she was ready to stab him through his black heart when someone grabbed her. It was one of his guards and he squeezed her hand until she dropped the knife.

“Take her and lock her up. Have her put to death.” Denethor said.

“His blood is on your hands! You killed your own son! You deserve death! It is all your fault he is dead!” She screamed as they dragged her out of the room.

Sobbing because she did not kill him, she did not even care that she was taken to the cells. She was locked in a cell and she fell onto the cot crying.

The jailor looked at her and said to the guards, “I am not prepared to take care of a pregnant woman.”

“She just tried to kill the Steward. You need to get prepared. She is to be put to death next month with the others who are to die at the next execution.”

The jailor shook his head and locked her door.