Title: In the Company of Men, part 3 Author: Sunraven Feedback: sunravenbjw@verizon.net Pairing: Boromir/Aragorn Category: Mixture of comedy and angst and striving Date: 27-Feb-07 Status: U Series: yes Synopsis: The Southern Road is watched - the fellowship moves to the mountains Notes: Mixture of JRRT's book and the movie universe, whichever fits my plot better at the time. Warnings: R rated Disclaimer: Not my property. No profit _______________________ Irhain Ridge: In the afternoon, when the two Men came back to the fellowship at Irhain Ridge, they found the others stopped and waiting for them, despite the fact that it was still daylight. Boromir was rather embarrassed at Pippen's and Merry's warm welcome. The two younger hobbits had apparently developed a hero worship of sorts for the big Gondorian. "We missed you, Boromir! Will you teach us some more sword moves?" "Of course, Pippen." "We've been practicing the moves you taught us!" "You have, Merry? The three point move? After we speak of our scouting to Gandalf, then perhaps I can watch you do them." The two younger hobbits cheered and ran to get their swords, which were really long knives for a man. As Aragorn and Boromir came over to where Legolas, Gandalf and Gimli were sitting, Gimli smirked at the men and said, "Did you two laddies enjoy yourselves out there in the cold dark?" The dwarf's dark eyes were twinkling, and lit up even more when Boromir blushed. /Damnations! The elf must have told the dwarf. Now we'll never hear the end of it!/ Boromir thought darkly. "As much as you and Legolas always enjoy it, Gimli." Aragorn answered nonchalently. Now it was Gimli's turn to blush and he studiously refused to look at a smiling Legolas sitting next to him. Legolas wasn't red at all. Elves lived too long to be shocked or embarrassed by anything sexual, even a relatively young one like Legolas. Boromir was a bit shocked at his lover's words and wondered how Aragorn had known of the two beings' relationship. /I wonder, though, don't they have trouble fitting things together?/ Boromir found himself coloring again, and cursed his fair skin heartedly as he heard Aragorn reporting what they had found on their scouting expedition. After listening to Aragorn's report, Gandalf looked over at Boromir. "You looked perplexed, Boromir. What did you discover while you were out?" /Other than the fact that Aragorn is a mighty fine lover?/ "Aragorn is more knowledgeable than I at woodcraft, Gandalf, but I am more used to discerning the plans of the Dark One inside his black citadel." He glanced apologetically over at Aragorn. "I think it was too clear out there. Yet at times the night had a foul taint to it that I recognized." Aragorn looked at the other man. "I felt no taint, Boromir." Boromir smiled at the Numenorian, his green eyes bright. "Far be it for me to disagree with a man of your experience and years, Aragorn, but I grew up watching the black citadel. It was there. But it wasn't obvious, such as orcs, or even Saruman's ravens. He saw us, none-the-less, though I don't think he knew who we were." Aragorn gave his playful lover a look that promised dire consequences for the "experience and years" comment. Gandalf said, "Be thankful for that, you two. If the dark lord knew that he could destroy the Steward-Prince of Gondor and Isildur's heir in one strike, he would gain a mighty victory. I almost didn't let both of you come with us, you know." Gandalf turned to Boromir. "Your loss to Gondor would be grievous, Boromir. I know how much you are revered by your people. They would despair." Boromir was flattered, but he said testily, "Yes, well, it is only Aragorn that is the most crucial. My Father and my country have another prince if something happens to me. My brother Faramir could lead just as well in my stead. But nothing will happen to me, Gandalf, so do not fuss!" Gandalf blinked in surprise. It had probably been a while since someone had told him not to fuss like that. The wizard decided to smile at the man. "Still, the two of you will take care, all the same. In any case, what you are probably used to sensing, Boromir, is the enemy using a palantir, a seeing stone. He and Saruman both have one, and they can see things from a distance, to a certain extent. That is why I have decided to try for the southern pass. It is the safest way that still is close enough to the mountains to block the palantirs's vision, somewhat, yet not stray too close to Isenguard." Right then, Pippen and Merry decided they wanted their sword lesson, and they came and dragged a laughing Boromir away. The Gondorian watched the two hobbits solemnly do the three-move sword work, then he started teaching them a five-point move. Aragorn went and got an apple for a snack, and lit his pipe while he watched the three of them, handing out comments as he felt they were needed. Boromir praised Merry, then did the five point move with Pippen again. Pippen's sword turned and the hilt bit his hand from the force of one of Boromir's hits, and he dropped it with a cry of pain. Boromir ran to him. "I'm sorry!" Pippen, in a moment of peck, kicked Boromir in his right leg, causing him to cry out and lean towards where the sharp blow had landed. Then Merry hit Boromir's other calf with the flat of his sword, and it brought the man down like a tree that has been felled by an ax. The two hobbits jumped triumphantly on the big Gondorian and wouldn't let him get back up. Boromir laughed with pleasure at his pupils' cleverness, and enveloped both of them in a brief hug, to both their delight. After laughing at their antics for a minute, Aragorn started feeling a bit concerned about bruises to his lover's body and got up and came over, starting to lift the two hobbits off of Boromir. "Gentlemen, that is enough!" The hobbits looked at each other, turned quickly and each pulled up one of the Numenorian's calves, and he landed flat on his back on the hard ground with an oooofff and the apple went flying from his hand. Their merry laughter, and Boromir's after he saw the surprised look on Aragorn's face, brought smiles to the others' faces. That was all they wrote! The four beings started wrestling, the men holding back their strength so as not to hurt their small friends. The joy in the hobbits' faces at this tomfoolery, for they were a people who touched each other often as a sign of caring, caused all of the fellowship to feel a touch of the same joy. All of that stopped when someone yelled for them all to hide because Saruman's ravens were coming to spy for their master! The moment of merriment was immediately transported into fear, as once again the fellowship realized the risk of what they did. Aragorn threw one of the elven blankets over Bill the pony. These were designed to blend with whatever scenery they were in, and the pony disappeared, looking like a clump of greenery from the air. Boromir sheathed his sword, grabbed up Merry and Pippen and moved towards a rock and scrub tree overhang. He tucked the hobbits under it and joined them, looking over to make sure Aragorn was safe. The ravens flew over and kept on going, apparently fooled into thinking the area was deserted. After they were gone, the fellowship gathered around Gandalf to find out what he thought about this incident. Gandalf said, "Saruman is watching the southern pass. We cannot go that way. We must take the pass at Caradhas." Aragorn disagreed. "Gandalf, it is too late in the season for that pass to be safe. The snow up there will be chest deep on a man. The hobbits could not make it through." "You and Boromir can break the path for the rest of us, Aragorn." Boromir spoke up. "If you are determined to do this thing, then we each need to gather firewood to carry, even the hobbits. They can carry one or two pieces on their packs. We should also put some on the pony. Fire will be the difference between life and death up there in the snows." Aragorn smiled at his lover. "You are wise, Boromir. Let us gather the wood before we go any further. The extra weight should not be too much of a burden." The Gondorian blushed at Aragorn's complement, and turned around to help the others gather what firewood they could find. The temperature dropped a great deal as soon as they headed north towards the mountains. Soon they were walking in snow a foot or more deep, and they were still only in the foothills of Caradhas. As they walked in line up a snowy foothill, Frodo lost his balance and rolled down the hill, not stopping until Aragorn caught him. "Are you all right, Frodo?" The hobbit nodded and his hand immediately went to his neck. The ring was not there! Aragorn saw the chain in the snow, but before he could get Frodo to go and get it, Boromir reached down to pick it up. The Gondorian stared at the ring on the chain, finally saying in a mesmerized voice, "It is odd that we suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing." "Boromir!" Boromir ignored his lover, reaching his other hand to touch the ring. Aragorn's stomach dropped and his heart thickened in his throat as he watched the man he had come to care much for reaching to take possession of the one ring. But, determined to do what he had to do, despite the cost to himself, he reached for his sword and withdrew it a bit from the sheath. If the Gondorian took the ring, Aragorn would have to kill him before he used it and it drove him mad, not to mention alerting Sauron and the Nazgul to the ring's where-abouts. "Boromir!" This was much sharper and louder. As though coming from a daze, Boromir started and looked up at the panic he heard in his lover. "Give the ring to Frodo!" As his lover agreed and came over and gave the ring to the hobbit, Aragorn let out a breath in relief and let go of his sword. Even though Boromir expressed that he didn't care about the ring, the rest of the fellowship knew the words were untrue. As they continued walking up the mountain, Aragorn's thoughts were grim. //The longer he is near it, the more Boromir is affected by the ring. I almost lost him this time. I nearly had to kill him. But could I do it? Could I kill a man that I am starting to love? Oh, Steward- Prince, how can I rip these desires from your heart so they won't hurt you? I can't even trust my own desires, as deep down I feel the need to get the one ring for myself and try to use it. Why else am I so afraid to touch it even to pick it up from the snow? If I touch it, I'm afraid that I'll be lost forever like Isildur.// Aragorn decided that he would talk with Boromir about his behavior tonight when the party set up camp. They were setting up under a large rock overhang. First they swept out what snow had accumulated there under the rock cover so it wouldn't melt when the fire and their warm bodies occupied the space. Then Aragorn used Elvish to ask Bill the pony to lay down on one side of the camp. "He will be a warm companion for the hobbits to sleep near." He looked over the camp. "Gimli, you and Legolas set up over on the opposite side from Bill with Legolas on the outside. Both of you don't feel the cold as much as men and hobbits." "Add Wizards to that list, Aragorn." "I know, my friend. You stay on the other side of the hobbits between them and the fire. It will warm your bones nicely, I would think." "Where are you and Boromir going to sleep, Aragorn?" Pippen, always curious, spoke up. "We will be the central outer part of this structure. I will share body warmth with Boromir, Gimli with Legolas, and Gandalf, you four hobbits, and Bill will share warmth. That way we can bank the fire down so that we save our fuel for the next night. It will be worse when we are higher up the mountain, for I smell a storm coming. Eat your meals, then get some rest. We need no watch tonight, as nothing could come on us without us hearing their approach." Aragorn glanced down the cliff-end of the train. "It's the only advantage of this type of terrain." It didn't take long for the hobbits to settle down and fall asleep, all snuggling against Bill's warmth. The other five decided to have a conference. "There is a fell voice in the air, Gandalf. I mislike it." "I know. I have felt it also. It is Saruman, trying to stop us and force us through the gap of rohan." "Which would put us closer to Isenguard, and in his clutches. We cannot take the ring-bearer that way." "I agree with you, Aragorn. Let's give this one more day to try to get over the mountain. I will work tomorrow to counter what Saruman is doing. Now let's get some sleep." The wizard went and lay next to the hobbits, and they all watched as Frodo trustingly snuggled close to the wizard once he was down. Aragorn gave Legolas and Gimli a look, and the elf gathered the dwarf and they went to their bedrolls, leaving the two men alone on the rock that partially sheltered the fellowship. Quietly Isildur's heir said, "Boromir, we need to talk about what happened today, when you took the ring up." "There's nothing to talk about, Aragorn. I gave it back." Came the gruff answer. "You almost claimed it for yourself, and you know it. If you do that, Boromir, it won't matter how much I care for you. I will have to take you down before you put on the ring and alert Sauron to the ring's presence. Once you have it on, it will drive you mad and make you take it to him. And for the first time in three thousand years, there will be a new Nazgul." "The damned thing is already in my head, Aragorn! All the time it peeks through my memories and thoughts, ever trying to seduce me. The only times it is silent now is when we are loving each other. You push it away, for some reason." "Aye, the same thing happens to me during that time. We cancel out the madness in each other for a few hours in the night." He got up, cleaned his pipe and knocked out the leftover ash, replacing it in his pocket. "Come on, let's go to bed." "No. Not yet." Aragorn sat back down, watching his lover carefully. "Please do not look at me like that!" "Like what?" "Like you are just waiting until I rip your heart to pieces, one way or another." "That is not what I was thinking." "What then?" "I was just thinking how beautiful you look with the snow dusting your hair and beard like that, and your cheeks red with chill." Boromir looked away. "You kill me with your gentleness!" "You cannot kill with love. Only heal. I ... It is said that one of my lineage has healing hands." Aragorn looked at his sword-battered hands sadly. "Yet I have not the power to heal one that I love from this dark desire, nor heal myself of it. What good are these hands, then?" Boromir took off his gloves, then took Aragorn's hands in his cold ones, and brought them to his lips. After he kissed them, he let them go and stood up. "Love me, my King. Heal my heart for a few stolen moments that I may sleep quietly." "Aye." Aragorn stood up and took Boromir's hand in his. "Come." Boromir walked very close to his lover and said in his ear, "May I come inside you tonight?" Just as quietly came the answer. "Yes. I would like that." Boromir, lying behind Aragorn, used the same salve that they had used last time and stretched his tight lover's opening enough so as not to tear him when he entered him with his very large prick. He made sure he touched Aragorn's sweet spot many times, and this time it was the Numenorian that was shaking in anticipation as Boromir lined his penis up near his lover's body. "Take a deep breath." "I am fine. Stop acting like a nursemaid, and continue, Boromir!" "In a hurry, are we, my King?" Aragorn didn't answer because his body was being unbelievably filled by the younger man's erection. They started rutting, moving faster and harder until the prostate stimulation caused Aragorn to explode in passion spent, with a small groan that only his lover could hear. That sound from the normally quiet man pulled Boromir over the edge, and he ended up pumping out his seed as though there would be no tomorrow. Boromir tied up his laces and pulled Aragorn into his arms. "Didn't even have to finish you. You like that a lot, don't you?" The smug tone in his voice made Aragorn smile. "It has been a while since I have felt it. Having a female lover has a lot of pluses, but a prick is not one of them." "Well, enjoy it while you can." He was quiet for a few minutes, and Aragorn thought he had fallen asleep. "Aragorn?" "Yes?" "If I cannot stop myself from taking the ring, promise me you will kill me before I can become one of Sauron's evil servants." Aragorn was quiet for a minute, then he squeezed his lover's hands. "If it becomes necessary, I promise that you will not fall under its spell for long. Will you do the same for me?" "Yes, though I do not think it will be necessary for you. The taint is light in your blood." "You do not know me, if you think this." Boromir squeezed Aragorn tightly. "Yes I do."