Title: In the Company of Men, part 4
Author: Sunraven
Feedback: sunravenbjw@verizon.net 
Pairing: Boromir/Aragorn, mention of legolas/gimli 
Category: Mixture of comedy and angst and striving
Date: 27-Feb-07
Status: U
Series: yes  
Synopsis: The Southern Road is watched - Caradhas has its way with 
the fellowship
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

_______________________

The second day on the pass of Caradras was worse than the day 
before.  The storm sent by Saruman blew in, the snow-filled pass 
grew steeper, and the level of snow started reaching chest-level on 
the men.  Boromir, who was the biggest and physically strongest of 
the two men, broke the path for the first four or so hours in the 
morning after they started moving.  Pippen and Merry followed him, 
holding tightly to his cloak so that part of his strength was used 
to keep them upright and moving.  

Boromir forced himself to continue one step in front of the other, 
refusing to acknowledge that he was moving quickly towards 
exhaustion.

"Boromir!"  Legolas, who was very annoyingly walking on top of the 
snow as though he was out for a pleasant stroll, leaned over and 
shouted at the Gondorian.

"What?"  He didn't have any breath for talking!  Why was the elf 
bothering him when he had a job to do?

"Aragorn wants you to step back to the middle of the group.  He 
will break the path for a while."

"I'm fine!"

Speaking up from directly behind him, Aragorn, who must have 
replaced the little ones, yelled through the howling wind.  "You're 
exhausted!  Stand aside and let me lead for a while."

"I can last for a while more!"

"You will do none of the fellowship any good if you exhaust 
yourself so much your heart bursts, you stubborn ox!  Let me by."

Boromir finally stopped and moved sideways to let his lover pass.  
As Aragorn brushed by him, he growled so only the Numenorian could 
hear, "You will pay for that ox comment, son of Arathorn, just 
wait!"

Aragorn smiled and answered, "That's if we have any energy at all 
after this day!"

Aragorn turned towards the pass and started breaking trail.  He 
lasted for about as long as Boromir had, then Gandalf called a halt 
for the rest of the daylight and night.

"Let's camp, people.  The hobbits are exhausted, and the men are 
worse.  We can go no further this day."

"I can go a little further, Gandalf!"

"Do as I say, Aragorn."  The wizard looked around.  "I am going to 
have to make an ice shelter, though it will announce to any 
watchers that Gandalf the Grey is here.  Still, it cannot be 
helped, or the fellowship will end right here, frozen on this 
mountain.  Stand back, everyone."

Gandalf said some words in ancient elvish and used his staff to 
force the snow to form an ice shelter that, except for an entry 
hole big enough for Bill to fit through on the blocked side of the 
wind and a smoke hole at the top, was made of pure enchanted ice.

Looking as tired as the men and the hobbits after his magical 
exercise, Gandalf leaned harder on his staff and said, "I have 
spelled the ice so it won't melt until I tell it to do so.  Let's 
get inside and get everyone warm with a fire."

The rest of the fellowship didn't need to be told twice.  The 
blessed cessation of the wind felt so good that they just sat down 
as soon as they got inside and leaned against the wall of ice at 
their backs.  The spelled ice was odd, though.  It wasn't cold 
against their backs!

"Get a fire going in the center so the smoke can be pulled through 
the hole in the roof.  I suggest you get the dried meat out and 
make it into a hot soup with some snow from outside the shelter.  
The ice inside won't melt."

Sam and Merry, who had taken on cooking duties for the fellowship, 
did as they were told, and soon had some soup and some tea boiling 
over the fire.

Aragorn used his elvish blanket and his and Boromir's knives to 
arrange a make-shift door. "This should keep the majority of the 
storm outside.  If anyone needs to go outside to relieve 
themselves, take the end of this rope I have pegged down so you 
won't get lost in the blizzard.  Nothing could fly or sneak up on 
us in this weather, which is the only good thing about this 
situation."

With only the fire to light the shelter, the fellowship sipped hot 
tea and their mouths watered at the good smell coming from the 
soup.

After everyone ate, by universal decision they banked the fire and 
collapsed into sleep.  Boromir and Aragorn were wrapped up together 
in cloaks and blankets, with the Numenorian spooning up behind the 
Gondorian.  For the first time since they had come together as 
lovers, they were too exhausted to make love.  

"You are lucky that I am too tired to pay you back for your 
disrespectful name calling, Ranger."

Aragorn smiled into Boromir's hair.  "Well, I wasn't completely 
wrong.  There is a part of you that is hung like an ox."

The complement, however true, was not heard.  For as soon as 
Boromir's head hit his pack, he started snoring quietly.  Aragorn 
kissed his lover's neck regretfully, then fell into dreamland as 
well.
  
Aragorn's internal clock woke him up at dawn, despite the fact that 
there was no change in lighting to alert him.  As soon as he 
awakened, his overstressed body clenched up in cramps from the path 
breaking he had done.  Suddenly he started worrying about his 
lover.  Boromir was more distantly related to the men of Numenor, 
which meant that his body didn't have the healing abilities that 
Aragorn's had.  If he was having muscle cramps, then the Gondorian 
would be in intense pain when he came back to consciousness. 

"Boromir." He whispered into his lover's ear.

"Mmmmph.  Go away, Faramir, leave me alone.  It is my day off."

"Boromir!  It's Aragorn.  Wake from your dream."

After that, Boromir's warrior reflexes took over and he 
automatically started turning to face Aragorn.  Immediately the 
muscles in his back, arms and legs seized up, and he groaned in 
pain.

"Baliathor's bony arse!  My body feels like I've been put on a 
torture rack.  Owwww!"

Aragorn sat up.  "Stay still.  I've got a dried plant that should 
help both of us.  We used our bodies badly yesterday."

"And we still have to do it today, and the next day after that.  
Get your medicine, for I have to relieve myself badly, and I can't 
get up and don't want to piss on my boots!"

Aragorn chewed on a piece of willow bark, and the salicylic acid in 
it (type of aspirin) started working on his sore muscles fairly 
soon.  The bitter taste was pretty nasty to take other than in a 
sweetened tea, but it was necessary in order to get the pure 
strength of the medicine.

"Here.  Chew on this.  It has a terrible taste, but you'll soon 
feel better and be able to move more easily."

Boromir did as he was told, but he grumbled about the nasty taste 
until he had awakened the rest of the fellowship with his 
complaints.

All of the fellowship members except Legolas were in pain from 
exertion the day before, so Aragorn put their last faggot on the 
fire and built it up.  He melted some ice and boiled it in Sam's 
pan, and put what was left of his athelas leaves into the water.  
He had everyone drink some of the tea that was the result of this, 
and they all felt lighter and more fit when they were all finished.  
Soon they were ready to go.

Before they headed off, Gandalf unspelled the ice after everyone 
was back on the path.  It collapsed into snow, and the fellowship 
turned into the wind and snow again to attempt moving up the path.  
But Saruman had pulled out the stops on the weather spells, and 
after almost being covered in an avalanche, the ring-bearer decided 
that they would try for the mines of Moria.

The trip back down the mountain was easier only because of the fact 
that they were going downhill.  The snow got lighter after they had 
decided to leave Caradhas, as well.  Gimli, who knew mountains 
well, decided that it was because the mountain was glad to see them 
go.  He shook his fist at Caradhas, and yelled in an ancient 
Dwarven tongue, "We are leaving!  Leave us alone!"

Legolas looked at his friend in wonder.  "You speak the language of 
the mountains, Gimli?"

"Of course I do, foolish elf!  I am a dwarf.  We are born in the 
roots of the mountains, drink from the dark teats of the freezing 
waters, and die in the arms of the living rock."

Legolas looked down at his walking feet in thought.  "I have always 
been terrified of the darkness of the mountains.  I felt that the 
rock would eat me alive and spit me out again in a million years as 
a piece of crystal." 

"And I have always been wary of large trees and deep forests.  I 
was told as a child that the trees would use their roots to 
strangle and crush me if I wandered into them, as trees have no 
love for dwarven-kind."

Legolas smiled at his lover.  "If this task ever ends, Gimli, I 
want you to show me the beauty of the deep caves.  I also wish to 
show you the beauty to be found in the woods.  Would you go with me 
to do so?"

Gimli blushed.  "Of course I would go with you.  For now, as I have 
come to know you, Legolas, I think I can sometimes glimpse the 
beauty of the trees shining in your eyes."

The wood elf bowed his head towards the dwarf.  "I never knew 
dwarves could be such gentle poets, Gimli, son of Gloin."

"Awwwww!!!!"  Gimli reddened even more, but he seemed pleased with 
the complement. 

___________________

Gandalf and Aragorn made the decision to stop and camp early when 
they were back in the foothills of the mountains.  The fellowship 
members were all exhausted and needed rest badly after the disaster 
on Caradhas.  On the way down, Boromir had slipped on an icy spot, 
and had strained his knee badly when he landed on it.  Aragorn was 
able to bind it so that the man could continue moving, but he knew 
that the binding would not lessen the pain by much.  Also, Boromir 
being Boromir, he wouldn't admit to Aragorn how much pain he was 
in. 

Legolas came over to where Aragorn was setting up his and Boromir's 
blankets, his bow in his hand.

"I have heard the noise of deer over in that copse of trees to the 
west.  Do you want to go hunting with me, Aragorn?"

"The fellowship could use some fresh meat, Legolas, to give us the 
strength to face the dark path we have decided to travel."  He 
looked over at Boromir, whose face showed that he was still in a 
lot of pain from the work he had done on the mountain and his 
strained knee.  Aragorn had been trying to coax his prideful and 
stubborn lover to retire early, just after the evening meal, 
without much luck.  He was also starting to worry that the 
Gondorian had hurt himself worse than either Aragorn or Gandalf had 
first thought.

"I think I had better not accompany you today, Legolas.  Boromir 
might feel that he needed to come along as well, and his injury is 
continuing to bother him.  I still have to tell him that Gandalf 
has decided that he shouldn't stand watch tonight, and that he 
needs to rest.  I am afraid that he will not be happy with us when 
he hears that."

"No.  Boromir feels things strongly, and his pride is great.  He 
would not like limits to be put on him."

Aragorn looked at the elf.  "You've seen that in him, have you?"

"Yes, among other things of more concern."

"You mean the ring?"

"Yes.  He has the old taint of your people."

"Do not be so swift to judge what you do not understand, Legolas.  
Boromir has told me a few stories of what Gondor has had to deal 
with for the last many years.  His people are desperate, and have 
had no hope for a long time.  The ring speaks to him as the 
solution to those problems."

"He is still a danger, Aragorn.  Do not let your feelings for him 
hide that fact from your eyes."

Aragorn's eyes got cold when he answered. "I am prepared to do what 
must be done.  Boromir has asked me to do so, if the ring should 
ever fall into his hands.  He does not want to become a pawn of 
Sauron.  But it shall be me who does it if it becomes necessary, 
Legolas.  Not you or Gimli.  Do you understand?"

"Yes.  I understand, and I pity you for your grim task, should 
tragedy fall.  I will work with Boromir to try to keep him away 
from the madness, my friend.  For I would not wish to see the look 
in your eyes if you should have to do that sad duty."

"Thank you.  Now, good hunting to you.  I need to try to get that 
stubborn ox to bed before he hurts himself more than he already 
has."

Aragorn had been making some willow bark tea to ease his lover's 
pain.  He sweetened it with the last bit of honey from Rivendell, 
and brought the cup over to where Boromir sat on a log near their 
bedrolls.  He had his bandaged right leg stretched out straight in 
front of him, and his head and back were bowed over it.  He looked 
up as Aragorn came up to him, and his lover winced at the grayness 
of Boromir's pain-filled face.

"Here.  I have made a tea with the willow bark and leaves and 
sweetened it so that it will be easier to take.  This should help 
the pain and the swelling."

Boromir took the cup and drank it down without pausing or grimacing 
at the nasty taste of it.  He knew that he needed to do something, 
or he very well could be left behind by the fellowship if his knee 
didn't heal quickly.

Aragorn went down on his knees between his lover's legs and started 
unlacing Boromir's britches.

"Uh, Aragorn, what are you doing?"

The Numenorian smiled up at his friend.  "What does it look like 
I'm doing?  I am unlacing you so I can get you out of these 
britches for a few minutes."

Boromir looked around to see who might be watching, a flush 
darkening his face.  "Don't you think we should get under the 
cloaks first?"

Aragorn's smile widened into a teasing grin.  "What do you think I 
am going to do to you, Steward Prince?  Do you think I am going to 
be the night's entertainment by making love to you in front of 
everyone?  Now, lift up so I can get these down you, and don't put 
any pressure on your knee!"

Realizing that his lover was teasing him, Boromir did as he was 
instructed.  The boots and the pants were pulled off, but not 
without pain to the Gondorian.  Aragorn took one of their blankets 
and covered Boromir's privates and thigh to keep them warm, then he 
called Gandalf over.

Gandalf looked at Boromir's knee, which was all discolored and 
swollen.  

"I think you need to use the healing hands of the kings of Numenor, 
Aragorn. I can heal this, but not in only one day.  Healing is 
Radagast the Brown's primary gift, not mine."

"Why don't you two just leave me alone?  It will be fine tomorrow."

Aragorn shook his head at Boromir.  "No it won't, Boromir.  You 
have pulled the ligament.  If you mean to keep up with the 
fellowship, then you need to submit to my healing.  It is the only 
way."

"Do what you want!  You always do!"

Aragorn had found some more athelas, and he had made it into a hot 
tisane-pack.  He had made some tea of it as well.  He rinsed 
Boromir's knee many times with the warm mixture, singing some 
elvish words of a spell he had learned long ago from Elrond.  He 
touched the swollen areas while he sang, and they could all see the 
swelling diminish as the song of power continued.

Boromir closed his eyes, a sigh of relief coming out of him as his 
lover worked.

Finally, Aragorn packed the knee with the athelas tisane, then 
wrapped it up again, this time not as tightly.  Boromir did not 
need support tonight for the limb, he needed blood moving through 
it to take the rest of the swelling away.

The Numenorian put his hands to his lover's face, again singing in 
elvish.  Boromir's eyes started closing in response to the spell.

"Before you go to your blankets, let's get these pants back on so 
you don't get too cold in the night."

After Aragorn, with Gimli's help, got Boromir into his pants and 
boots again, he helped his lover over to the blankets and helped 
him down onto the nest.

"Sleep through the night, Boromir.  The knee should be healed 
tomorrow."

Boromir was already asleep as soon as his head hit his pack.  
Aragorn straightened up and sighed tiredly.

Gandalf said to him, "Why don't you go to sleep as well, my friend.  
The healing always takes much out of you.  The rest of us will 
watch tonight."

As though Gandalf had spoken a spell of his own, Aragorn was 
overwhelmingly sleepy suddenly.  He got down next to Boromir, moved 
closer to his lover's body and covered them both, then fell into a 
dreamless sleep.  He didn't hear Legolas return, didn't smell the 
dinner the others made with the deer meat, and didn't hear the 
after-dinner chatter by the hobbits.  The only thing the tired 
warrior heard was the beat of his lover's heart through the night.  
That, of all things, sent relief through his mind and his rest 
deepened.

It was Boromir who woke first the next morning, for a change.  He 
opened his eyes, turned, and looked at Aragorn.  The Numenorian had 
snuggled protectively around him in the night, and the side he 
covered was warm where their two bodies had been touching.

/He looks even less his true age when he sleeps./

Boromir leaned forward and kissed Aragorn's lips lightly.  Blue 
eyes opened at the touch, and a smile formed.

"Good morning."

The Gondorian smiled.  "Good morning to you as well.  I enjoyed 
watching you sleep."

"You did?  Why? How is your leg?"

"It doesn't hurt at all, nor does it feel swollen.  And I enjoyed 
watching you because you look like a babe when you sleep."

"I do not!  I am a man of Numenor, Steward-Prince, and am twice 
your age.  I look like a man when I sleep!"

"Well, all right.  If you insist, you do look like a man when you 
sleep.  A very attractive man."

Aragorn smiled at the leer he was receiving.  "And what are you 
going to do about that, man of Gondor?"

"This!"

Boromir moved on top of Aragorn, scooted down until his face was 
above his lover's groin, and he started undoing the laces in front 
of him.  

"Boromir, you will hurt your knee doing that!  Let me get on top."

"My knee's fine, mother.  You healed it well.  I need to be on top 
to do this!"

Aragorn only groaned as his sex was enveloped by Boromir's mouth.  
The intense suction pulled his release out of him like a fire 
moving down his nerves.  The Gondorian raised his head afterwards 
and smiled.

"You were very ready for that, weren't you?"

"It /has/ been two nights since we have been together."

"I know.  Do you feel like reciprocating?"

"Always, Steward-Prince, always."

Soon it was Boromir who was releasing his seed, and he also groaned 
with the intensity of the feeling.

Afterwards, instead of getting up like Aragorn normally would do, 
The two men just snuggled together, stroking each other's bodies 
gently.  The caresses were not so much done to arouse, as to just 
take comfort in the closeness of the other.  

Legolas walked over to them from where he had been down by the 
stream bathing.  
He said, quietly and with a smile in his voice, "I heard you two 
all the way down by the stream.  Like two rutting bulls, you 
sounded."

Boromir turned over on his back, removed the blankets and cloaks, 
and sat up.

"You did not!  You saw us awake, and are just pretending you heard 
us.  We were not making much noise."

"Boromir, that might not be a good idea..."

Aragorn's cautionary statement was too late.  The elf had been 
challenged, and he repeated back the last three statements the two 
men had made to each other, along with sound effects.

Boromir groaned and he blushed in embarrassment.

"I did try to warn you, Boromir."  Aragorn said with a smile, his 
face red in embarrassment as well.  "Elves' hearing is better even 
than their sight."

"Don't talk to me!  I am forced to see that the entire time we have 
had an audience.  Now I will never hear the end of it."

Aragorn laughed, feeling full of joy for some strange reason.  
"Come on, let's get up and get breakfast started.  If we are to be 
teased by Legolas all day, it might as well be with full stomachs."