Title: Eyes of the Goddess
Author: Sairalinde
Type: FPS & FPH
Pairing: Main pairing: Aragorn/Boromir later: Aragorn/Boromir/Arwen/Éowyn
Rating: Explicit Sex
WARNING: A.U. and LONG!
Beta: Glorfindel
Disclaimer: Obviously these characters are not mine...never were...the only characters that are mine are the gods and goddesses I made up to make my version "work". This was written in fun that's all. No profit, not associated with Tolkien.
Feedback: Yes please send to sairalinde@hornofgondor.com
Archiving: Yes but ask first please.
Summary: A.U. where a Goddess intercedes and saves Boromir.
Notes: Giving credit where credit is due. I needed to give credit to Batter My Heart by Raederle a truly wonderful A.U. that inspired me. Anyway Raederle's story is archived at www.squidge.org/fellowship/fic/raederle_battermyheart.htm while I did not copy them I still wanted to offer credit since there are similarities and it was my inspiration for this story. Also P.R. Zed's song vid "Gods Better People" inspired my re-writing on this. It's been a horribly long haul on this story…longest I ever wrote. Hope you enjoy if you do read it all. ;-)
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Chapter 2

As they ran Boromir found himself more in step with Gimli than with anyone else. The dwarf's shorter legs and Boromir's injuries combined with the pounding of his head slowed them but not enough to loose sight of Aragorn and Legolas. Now Boromir understood why Aragorn was sometimes called Strider. At times it seemed the Ranger overtook even the untiring elf.

Boromir was still unsure of what to make of Aragorn's decision to stay with him, to save his life when he had wronged them all with his weakness. Between the agonizing pain in his head and arms he was unable to think on it further. He had to concentrate on his feet to keep them moving when all his body wanted to do was give up and crumple to the ground. His heart however would not allow it. His little ones were out there with those horrible beasts. He would not give up, not now. Not when there was even the slimmest chance they could get them back.

A few times on their journey Aragorn looked back to see how Boromir and Gimli were faring. He feared that the pace would be difficult for them but they could not take rest yet. Merry and Pippin's captors were moving fast and they had to cover a great distance today if they had any hope of saving their friends. He could see the pain etched on Boromir's face but he wasn't entirely sure it was all physical.

Finally after hours and hours of running from afternoon and late into the night Aragorn stopped. It took some time before Gimli and Boromir were able to catch up. Aragorn had decided that Boromir needed to rest, at least for a few hours or they would end up finishing the man. Though the wounds were not life threatening in themselves he had lost a lot of blood and a blow to the head that may not seem so bad can be quite deadly if not cared for properly. Aragorn had seen it before.

"We should rest here and leave before the first light." Aragorn said tossing his pack on the ground and then collapsing on top of it. He was tired though he could have continued on, but Aragorn could not risk loosing Boromir. Aragorn couldn't be more proud of the Stewards son...he had not complained once when Aragorn knew he had to be in excruciating pain during their run through the wild.

He looked up to see Boromir panting but he had not yet collapsed as Aragorn and Gimli had.

"Do...you....fire?" Boromir stuttered between painful gasps for air.

Aragorn took a few more deep breaths before answering the man.

"Yes...I will gather wood." Aragorn said trying to stand back up.

"No." Boromir said pushing him back down with a shaky hand. "I'm already up....you rest. I will gather the wood while I still have some strength left. My sword arms are weak, and my head is not clear, if we are attacked we need you well rested."

Legolas watched Boromir stumble off and then looked at Aragorn. "I feel horrible now, I should have gone. This pace does not bother me as much as it does Gimli and you men. Plus he is wounded...I just did not expect him to offer to take a task so readily."

Aragorn just smiled weakly waving his hands in the direction Boromir had went. "Go after him then."

Aragorn considered for a moment how little Legolas really knew about men like Boromir who despised any show of weakness...a trait Boromir's father had practically beaten into him as a child. Oh how Aragorn hated Denethor with every fiber of his being, of course that feeling was mutual.

Boromir did not remember Aragorn since he was not known by that name in Gondor. He was known as Thorongil then and Boromir was a mere child and Faramir was even younger, a toddler at the time. Even then Boromir was headstrong and full of mischief. Aragorn recalled fondly. He took after his mother in his looks and his grandfather's humor shone through on occasion. Aragorn had cared deeply for Boromir's grandfather and his mother, but Denethor was another story.

Aragorn wondered when his caring for the young man had gone beyond fond admiration to love…he remembered that day in the shrine when Boromir cut himself on Narsil. He remembered the feelings of lust begin to kindle, and then throughout their journey he began to fall in love with the young headstrong Captain. The way Boromir acted with the Hobbits, how he treated them and protected them, and even shared blankets and food with them and carried them on his back when they were too tired to walk on their own. He had trained them to use their weapons, and the two little ones as he called them had become enamored with the young Captain. And rightly so, Aragorn thought, how could they not love him? They looked up to him, and Aragorn loved him all the more for it. Even when Boromir argued with him, he loved him for it, loved him for not being afraid to speak his mind.

Legolas walked into the woods where he had spied Boromir go moments earlier. Soon he found the blond man on his hands and knees before a small pile of firewood he had gathered, obviously the man's legs had finally given out.

"Mellon, let me help you." Legolas said moving in front of the man to gather the firewood.

"Thank you, Legolas. I am sorry to be a burden." Boromir said still looking down at the ground. If Legolas had been an attacker he would be dead now. He was of no use to them, why had they stayed for him?

"You are no burden, Boromir." Legolas said shaking his head and then helped Boromir rise. "We will bring the wood back together." Legolas prompted and helped Boromir walk. "How fare's your injuries?" Legolas normally didn't speak this much to the man but he wanted Boromir to know he did not feel ill toward him. Boromir was only a man, he was not weak, he was not a burden, he had been injured, and even Elves needed rest after being injured.

Boromir snorted. "My arms and hip burn like they are on fire, and my head feels as if I have a half full water skin over it...my hearing and sight are not up to par as of yet...may yet be a few more days perhaps." He felt like a complaining child but once the words started spilling from his mouth he could not stop them.

"Talk to Aragorn, he can help. I have witnessed his ability as a healer." Legolas replied lightly. He did not like seeing Boromir in pain. Yes, the two had their differences but Legolas had grown fond of the warrior over the last several months. All of the members of the fellowship had grown close, even Gimli and himself.

"I will." Boromir said softly.

When they arrived back at the camp, Aragorn was laying blankets on the ground. Gimli was already abed. Aragorn had prepared their pallets for the night, his own as well as one for Boromir side by side.

Legolas took the few sticks of firewood Boromir had managed to carry back and began preparing a fire. Aragorn looked over at Boromir who was standing slump shouldered near where Legolas had left him.

"Boromir...come. Sit here." Aragorn called to him.

Boromir went to him and all but collapsed where the other man had indicated. "Take off your cloak...let me check your wounds...now that the poison has been removed, we don't need them getting infected." Aragorn said sitting down on his knees in front of Boromir.

Aragorn had to help Boromir because his arms were so stiff and sore he could not reach up to unlatch the Lorien brooch.

Boromir tried to smile weakly, "I feel terrible."

Aragorn chuckled softly. "Well you could have fooled the lot of us...you never complained once all day."

"Too out of breath to complain, will need to use that trick with my army next time we head to battle...run them so fast they can't talk to complain." Boromir said wincing as Aragorn removed one of the bandages that had dried to his wound.

Aragorn laughed at the image that flitted into his mind...an entire army running like they had been all day, in mass across the Pellennor Fields. "That is something dear Boromir I may wish to pay to see."

"Indeed." Boromir said smiling brightly. Aragorn sat back on his heels and stared at the blond man before him. He had always thought Boromir was handsome but when he truly smiled, well he could have lit up the night sky.

"Tis good to see you smile...I feared the worst today." Aragorn said as he began to again tend his wounds.

"As did I...I am truly sorry about Frodo. I have no idea even if we all survive this how I can make that up to him. I broke my promise to protect him, Aragorn." Boromir said then looking down. Aragorn thought he saw tears glistening in his jade eyes.

"You did not harm Frodo and he did not blame YOU Boromir, he blamed the ring. He told me 'the ring has taken Boromir', not that Boromir tried to take the ring or anything of the sort. He knew what was happening...I could hear it too you know...if it had been me alone with Frodo as long as you were...perhaps I might have been taken by it as well." Aragorn admitted.

Boromir was stunned. He couldn't believe that Aragorn wasn't angry with him, and that he had admitted that he too heard the call of the ring. "But it is all my fault...I should have died today."

"Do not say that again, Boromir. If you were meant to die today you would have." Aragorn snapped he didn't want to think of the pain he would have felt had Boromir actually died. His heart would forever be broken upon the rise at Amon Hen.

Aragorn so loved the young Gondorian, the man who would become his Steward one day when he assumed the throne. The choice to follow his destiny and turn away from it had been weighing on him heavily, but today something changed in his heart. When Boromir had called him his King...he knew he had to fulfill his destiny. The easy path would be to run away from that duty as he had all of his life, but he knew now what he had to do.

"I am sorry...but my heart is so heavy with guilt, Aragorn." Boromir said in a hushed voice.

Aragorn sat back and regarded the blond man and said, "Do not allow this to break you my friend, we need you. I need you."

Boromir's eyes snapped up to his, green meeting blue and Boromir swallowed hard. "You...need me?" He asked in a strained voice.

"Yes...I do not wish to travel this path without you." Aragorn said wrapping the clean bandages around one of his wounds.

Boromir considered his words, and could feel something inside him uncoil.

"You intend to assume the throne don't you?" Boromir asked amazed. They had never spoken of it, but Boromir had thought that Aragorn was not going to become King. Not now and not ever. He had turned his back on his heritage long ago, or he would already be King of Gondor.

"Yes." Aragorn answered softly.

"What changed your mind...you have shied away from that path for so long, Aragorn?" Boromir asked confused. Months ago he would have been angry that this man would even think to be the King of Gondor but now he felt differently. So much had changed in the last several months…he had changed. He knew Aragorn would be the perfect King, he just hoped his father would see it that way.

"You. You changed my mind, on the rise at Amon Hen, my dear." Aragorn answered.

"Oh." Boromir answered in shock. His words had persuaded Aragorn? Then his mind caught on the phrase 'my dear'. " Aragorn, that is the second time you have bestowed an endearment upon me...why do you speak thus?" Boromir asked wonderingly.

Aragorn smiled but looked down at his hands still tending Boromir's wounds. "Because you are dear to me, Boromir. There now that should keep until tomorrow...we should eat and get some rest...dawn approaches quickly." Aragorn said standing.

"Wait!" Boromir said quickly. He had decided that he would swear fealty to his King now. After the events of the day he realized he may never live to see Minas Tirith again but he would swear his allegiance to his King before death did finally find him.

Aragorn began to sit back down. "No, do not sit." Boromir said rising up onto his knees before Aragorn. "I want...I wish to swear my allegiance to you now." Boromir said in a rush.

"Boromir, now is not the time, I am no King." Aragorn said looking down at his friend perplexed by his behavior.

"But you will be, you already are by right of heritage, and as the son of the Steward I wish to swear my fealty to my rightful King." Boromir said looking up at Aragorn his eyes sparkling with unshed tears.

Aragorn nodded he could not deny the intensity of that gaze. He stood looking down at Boromir and then smiled slightly. "Go on then dear one." Aragorn did not wish to do this now, but he could see that it meant a great deal to Boromir so he acquiesced.

Boromir pressed the palms of his hands together in front of him and looked up into Aragorn's eyes. Aragorn's hands closed around Boromir's.

"I Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor, and Captain of the White Tower hereby swear my allegiance to the rightful King of Gondor, Aragorn son of Arathorn. I swear by my very soul that I will follow you wherever you may lead, to whatever end. I promise my life, my loyalty, my honor, and my sword." Boromir said proudly.

"I, Aragorn son of Arathorn, heir of Isildur accept Boromir as my loyal friend, advisor, and future subject. I hereby acknowledge his oath with my own. Whatever power is in me I swear to use for the best of all Gondor. I promise to Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor my trust, my friendship, my sword, and my love." Aragorn finished his speech by falling to his knees in front of Boromir and kissing him on the forehead.

"So witnessed." Legolas called from somewhere beside the fire.

"So witnessed...now can we get some sleep?" Gimli called grumpily from his bedroll.

Boromir sat a few moments longer before exhaustion took him and he slumped over onto his palette. He thought that it seemed soft for just a blanket on the ground, but his mind was too muddled to think more on it.

Aragorn went to his pack and brought a small piece of lembas and some dried fruit to Boromir, along with a cup of water with herbs steeped in it. The injured man could use the extra sustenance, and the herbs would finish removing the toxins from his blood. Aragorn wondered briefly if the blow to his head had caused his sudden desire to swear fealty to him but he decided Boromir had seemed lucid enough.

After they had eaten lightly the two men and Gimli slept, as the elf kept watch over them. He didn't need rest the way they did. Legolas could not help smiling after everyone went to sleep. Boromir had finally accepted who Aragorn was, and had not only given his allegiance but had pledged his life to Aragorn. He also had not failed to notice that Aragorn included his love in his return pledge. He had suspected for some time that Aragorn harbored deeper feelings for the Captain, now he knew. Aragorn did not speak of love lightly.

Anaranë's graceful fingers spread over the seeing pool again. "Rest and heal man of Gondor." Her spell caused time to slow so what should have been only three hours rest for the fellowship that remained it was truly more. They were not the only beings in Middle Earth who experienced the slow in time so their quarry did not get too far ahead of them. She also sent out a healing spell to the man. He needed to be well for what lay ahead but she could not allow him or the others to get suspicious. Her husband would be angry if she over did such things as she had a tendency to do.

Legolas looked up at the sky and decided it was time, though it seemed he had dwelled in his thoughts for far longer than three hours. He shook Aragorn awake. He made no mention of the fact Aragorn had curled his body around Boromir protectively in his sleep.

"The sun will be rising soon...we should go." They had only slept a few hours, but those few hours could very well have cost Merry and Pippin their lives...however Aragorn couldn't kill Boromir in the process of trying to save them could he?

Aragorn nodded to the elf. The first thing he did as he sat up was look over Boromir's sleeping frame. Aragorn noticed that in sleep Boromir looked even younger, the worries of life were not upon him in sleep. He did not want to wake the man he knew how tired he must be, but he had to.

"Boromir...Boromir wake up. It is time to go." Aragorn said lightly shaking the man.

Boromir blinked a few times and looked at Aragorn with green eyes that were clearer than they had been in quite some time. Then he smiled that brilliant smile Aragorn so adored.

"Good morning."

Aragorn smiled back; obviously the rest had done wonders for Boromir. "Feeling better?"

"Yes, actually I am." Boromir said sitting up. "Much better, at least from what I can tell sitting down. Standing might just change that."

Aragorn chuckled. "Come on." He offered his hand and helped Boromir rise, and then he went to the fire and put it out before rousing Gimli.

Boromir picked up his blanket and realized why his bed had been so soft. Aragorn had placed soft boughs from trees and leaves under his blanket. Boromir then looked around and saw that his was the only pallet that had been done that way. Perhaps it was because I was injured, Aragorn wanted to make me comfortable? He thought to himself, then shook out his blanket and rolled it up.

His arms still ached but did not burn as they had the day before. Legolas was right Aragorn was a healer. They couldn't have rested more than a few hours but he felt completely refreshed.

Legolas walked up then taking a drink from his water skin. "You should drink something before we leave." The elf advised offering his water skin instead of having Boromir retrieve his own.

"Thank you, Legolas." Boromir said softly as he took the offered water. The tone of his voice and the look in his eye told Legolas he was thanking him for more than the water. Legolas simply smiled and caught Boromir behind his neck and pulled him toward himself until their foreheads rested against one another.

"Your welcome, Mellon." Legolas whispered then released the man. Boromir smiled at him. All of the tension and misgivings between the elf, and man had been erased with such a simple gesture of friendship. Aragorn witnessed this and smiled to himself.

As they headed out once again Aragorn set a grueling pace, but this time Boromir found he was able to keep up a bit better. The few hours respite had somehow worked wonders. He ran in the middle as poor Gimli pulled up the rear muttering something about breathing...remembering to breath or something. Had Boromir enough breath to spare he might have laughed. Gimli would not admit to his deficiency even if he fell miles behind the rest of them. Boromir admired that in the dwarf.

That night they did not stop for rest. They continued to run for three more days and nights without rest and without food. Only occasionally did they stop for water and to catch their breath. Boromir strangely felt good however, yes he was tired, his breathing was labored, and his body ached but not from injury or poison.

Aragorn glanced back at Boromir to make sure he was still able to keep up. The man had shown amazing resolve and stamina against injury, poison, and now this race against time itself. He realized Boromir had somehow changed, his smile came more readily and he no longer wore a hopeless look in his eyes. Aragorn had been haunted by the words they exchanged in the woods of Lorien. Boromir had lost all hope then, and Aragorn wondered when exactly that had changed for the man.

Go to Chapter 3