Chapter Text
It’s not every day a Beorning of all people receives a summons from the Steward of Gondor. The one that came alongside it from the King for Captain Orchalwë was expected, but Marhildr’s? The Wardens of Annuminas nearly tore it from her hands trying to read it but one growl had subdued them, each of them achingly, sometimes painfully familiar with the claws of her bear form.
“I’ll tell you what it says if you need to know.”
She had told them as she retreated to a private corner of Tinnudir Keep to read it. What she saw made her gut kink.
Lady Marhildr Beornas,
Your presence is formally requested in Tinnudir Keep on the morrow at high noon by King Elessar Telcontar, High King of Gondor and Arnor to discuss the matter of Boromir, Son of Denethor. Information has reached his ears that you may know of his whereabouts, and, as he has been searching for him for over a decade, he hopes you may be able to shed some light on this for him.
Signed,
Faramir Denethorion
Steward of Gondor, Prince of Ithillien, Lord of Emyn Arnen
She swallowed, taking a deep breath as she runs her hand over her stomach. She hadn’t told Boromir yet, but she knew she was pregnant again, for the fourth and most likely final time. She was terrified that if she told the king where he was, where he had been all along, he might take him away from her, leaving her and their children behind. It was a fear that had nagged at her heart the more years that passed, but she never pushed him, always believing he would return to them when he was ready, if he ever was.
But now he had to be. Without thinking, she flipped her hood up and moved outside to the waters edge, wiping her eyes as tears she had not expected began to fall. She took a deep breath and then another, hoping beyond hope no one would notice her.
But of course someone did.
Boromir.
“Marhildr, you must come see! Sigka will be running soon with how well she’s walking!”
She chuckled, reaching up to wipe her eyes as she turned to face him. His countenance changed then, his smile falling a bit as he noticed her tears.
“Mar, what’s wrong?”
He asked, stepping forward and resting his hands on her shoulder. She ducked under him and threw her arms around his middle, holding him tightly against her.
“I…”
She felt his arms wrap around her back and relaxed against him, whole body filling with relief at his presence.
“I have been summoned by King Elessar and the Steward Faramir…to, and I quote, ‘discuss the matter of Boromir, Son of Denethor’…they will be here tomorrow.”
His muscles stiffen under her hands and she sighs, leaning back to look at him.
“I can lie…I…if you aren’t ready, I can tell Orchalwë and he’ll cover for us. You don’t have to…”
She was interrupted when he leaned down and kissed her deeply. It was a kiss that lasted for several moments and by the time it was done, Marhildr had forgotten what she was worried about.
“Enough, Mar…enough.”
She takes a deep breath, looking him in the eye.
“I have hidden myself from those I love for almost a decade…my shame has led to fear…a fear that has become yours, so it would seem.”
He leans down and rests his forehead against hers, smiling gently at her.
“What is it you said to me the last time we had this conversation? Let ruin end here…we have no choice now, my love…so end it we must.”
He takes a deep breath and kisses her forehead.
“I can come with you if you’d like…”
She shakes her head.
“I know you will get angry with them if they get angry with me…I may have only been doing what you asked but I did it better than anyone, and if they are angry at me, they would be right to be.”
He goes to object but she places a hand on his cheek and smiles softly at him.
“Take the children to High King’s Crossing. The rangers there would love to see them. Either I will come get you or one of them will, but either way, you will know the outcome of our meeting.”
He nods, resting his hand on top of hers and moving to rest it over his heart.
“I would not have you face the King’s judgement alone, Marhildr. He is a good man but it is not deserved. You were doing it because I asked you to…you and your siblings and the Rangers here…”
“I will not be alone. Orchalwë was also summoned. We are as kin to each other. He will defend me if such defense is necessary.”
As if summoned by the mere mention of him, Orchalwë approaches.
“She’s right. We were just doing what you asked. This decision always should have been yours to make and that it wasn’t is a shame…but, as your wife said, we’re family. You’ve done and continue to do immeasurable good here and I will not let Aragorn remain unaware of it, whatever wounds to his pride may occur as a result of our secrecy. Whatever happens next, you have the support of the Rangers of Evendim. Both of you, and your children.”
Marhildr nods, drawing comfort from his words. For his part, Boromir looks out over the lake, brow furrowed. She takes a deep breath, nodding to Orchalwë before moving to hug her husband from behind.
“It’ll be ok…let’s go get the kids ready for tomorrow, then get some rest…you will, at least. I have first watch tonight.”
Orchalwë shakes his head, though neither of them can see it.
“I’ll take it. Take some time with your family to prepare for tomorrow.”
Boromir doesn’t turn to face any of them, resting his calloused hands over his wife’s small ones where they rested over his heart.
“Thank you, Captain.”
He says simply, before falling quiet again. Eventually, they hear Orchalwë retreat from them, barking orders at some nearby initiates with all the toughness of a man born doing it. Marhildr chuckles before moving to step in front of her husband, bringing a calloused hand up to rest on his cheek.
“You have nothing to be afraid of…they’ve been looking for you for years, my love…they’ve wanted you back this whole time…and they’ve loved you enough to not give up.”
He shrugs then, concern showing on his face.
“They didn’t…but didn’t I give up on them? You tried to tell me…back before we even left the Vale of Anduin…you’d seen them, fought alongside them to the very end…seen Barad-Dur fall and celebrated their every victory…”
Before he can continue, she interrupts, brushing his hair away from his face.
“I mourned their losses as well…I didn’t know if you were alive…If Aragorn’s attempt to save you had borne any fruit. I saw the pain in their eyes when they spoke of you, and it broke my heart to only be able to tell them not to give up hope, that a sign would come to them when one was available…”
She had never told him this part, to spare him the pain of it but now was as good a time as any, she supposed, to get it all out in the open.
“My father arrived in Minas Tirith at the invitation of Queen Arwen for her and the King’s wedding…he missed the ceremony but was there for the feast. When Faramir asked him about you, he said that you were alive but it was up to you to stay that way…those words gave him hope that one day he would see you again. That was their sign. My brother and sisters have hid you well, because you asked them to. That is love as well. To protect that which holds value to you.”
He hangs his head and she sighs.
“Boromir…the only thing you have asked us to do is give you the time and space you need to heal. From the day you were born to 9 years ago, you had known nothing but war and pain and loss…what is peace to a man like that? But you’ve found it…here on the shores of Lake Evendim with me and our children and our friends…the man you’ve become is…he’s everything to me…”
She tips his chin up and smiles at him before pressing a kiss to his cheek, then his nose. He chuckles and catches her hands in his, kissing her knuckles with a smile.
“Yes…I suppose he is…”
He says, leaning down to kiss her gently. Her arms come up and wrap around his waist as she leans against his chest, relishing this closeness for as long as she could have it. When he pulls away, moving to step back, she follows him.
“I have no doubt that they will come to see you as I do, love. It will be an adjustment, I’m sure. None of us are the people we were 9 years ago. But they never gave up. Just like I haven’t…just like our friends haven’t.”
He shrugs and tugs her into his embrace again, staring out over the lake he had come to love. More than the Anduin or the Bay of Belfalas.
Once, on a hill in the Lone Lands, Marhildr had made him a promise. While she had held him as he finally wept for his losses in her arms, she had promised him that she would give him the world he hoped for or die trying. She nearly had, multiple times. In battle, in defense of the Dunedain, in childbirth…he had come close to losing her so many times that he really believed her when she said she would die trying.
But she hadn’t.
And the world she had given him was rich and vibrant and beautiful. Full of laughter and love and happiness beyond measure.
It was one he knew she would fight for.
So, he thinks, who is he to do anything less?
His anxieties ease on the shores of Lake Evendim, bleeding into the waters so near and dear to his heart.
She was not afraid, though she had been at first.
And he found, though this was unexpected, that he was not either.
Tomorrow, the sun would rise, and with it, the chance for his wandering to come to an end. He would ensure it was not wasted.