"Alas, brave Boromir has fallen. All I do ends in evil... Legolas! Gimli! Collect as many arrows and swords that lay about and pile them one of the boats. We shall set him adrift on the Anduin. The great river will protect him until he is delivered safe once more to his home."

Silently those who remained of the company collected helms, axes, swords, and arrows. With reverence they carried Boromir to the boat and laid him across the seats. Then they piled all his awards about him. Finally they crossed his arm over his breast, placing his sword under his hands and his horn upon his lap. Gently they pushed the boat from the shore.

As Aragorn lifted his voice to sing the North wind, a breeze flew up from the south, over the raging Rauros and tugged the ship northward. Astonished the three companions watched.

"I do not like this," The dwarf growled.

"Nay, be still good friend. For it blows our friend north and back into the arms of the Lady Galadriel. Perhaps she enchanted the boat for some reason. I do not know but I do know this, that soon it will reach her and she will not let evil be done to his body. Now we must rescue the brave hobbits." Legolas told his fellows gently. Still, he watched as the boat picked up speed and almost flew up the river. Yet he did not tell them of this.

"Yes, we must. Leave whatever is not needed. We travel light. We travel fast. We hunt." With that Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Elendil and Isiludir’s heir, rightful king of Gondor and the North, the Elessar, Estel who is hope for the nation of the Dunadan, foster child of Elrond Halfelven also called Peredhil, betrothed of Arwen Evenstar who is Elrond’s daughter, and inheritor of Boromir’s vambraces, turned and ran into the woods.

* * *

It hurt. The Pain no longer burned but instead numbed. It froze his blood and breathing was as if someone was sticking skewers into his sides. He ached to cry but he could no more cry than move. And the dark is coming.

* * *

A sound pierced the dark. A sound like wind but blowing as fast as a gale. Burning on his skin, the misty spray from the Anduin. Was he sick? Last he remembered were the Orcs taking the halflings. Wincing as he remembered the jagged slicing of his flesh as the arrows entered him. And then the dark came again.

* * *

As he swam up from the dark, he decided to open his eyes. He would open them now. Struggle though he did, he was not able to open them further than a small sliver. It was enough... enough to pierce his eyes with harsh light and threw him into the dark again.

* * *

It hurt so much, the struggle to pierce the dark. Yet once again the warrior tried, though it sapped his strength to do so. Through the sliver that his eyes were open, he saw the soft dark of night, and the sheen of the moon. He saw more than felt the boat bump to it’s resting place and a pale face lowered itself into his vision.

"Rest Brave Boromir, while we seek what has stricken you so."

Struggling to remember the name to the face, the darkness claimed him again.

* * *

A bird sang and for the first time in a while, it did not scream through his head. Slowly he turned his head, first one way then another. Pausing only because he felt sweat dripping down his face, he relaxed. A soft sound. The sound of a cloth being moved and light footfalls.

"Brave Boromir. It is I. Celeborn. The boat your companions placed you in has brought you back to Lothlorien. I will tell you what has happened since the two weeks you have been here. The awards in your boat tell us that you had a battle with the Orcs and they swarmed over you. The horn, which I have placed there on the table beside, was cloven in two. The side held traces of a poison. A poison the like that has not been seen on Middle-earth is many a year.

"It has taken control of your body. You can not move even the muscles of your eyelids to open your eyes and you have strained while asleep." Celeborn placed a cool towel upon his forehead. "It also confuses your senses. Your friends, doubtless think you dead and if you had not reached us as soon as you did, I could not have done even this little for you. I will have to send you to the greatest healer left among us. The Peredhil. Sleep now, in the morning, we will place you in a litter and take you back to the Last Homely House.

* * *

"Haldir. Make ready a litter and choose as many as you think will be needed and take him to the Last Homely House. I will also entrust to you a letter that will detail all I have done for him, but listen closely to me Haldir. Boromir must be brought there within a month’s time or he will surely die. Be swift and go now to assemble your troupe." Sighing Celeborn sat down to write the letter.

* * *

The poison had so tired him, Boromir did not awake as they moved him onto the litter nor as they started out. Tireless the elves bore their burden further north and west. Stop rarely for rest and to give Boromir the elixir that Celeborn had prepared for him.

The Elves in Haldir’s group often wondered what malady it was that Celeborn could not handle for most often it was Lady Galadriel who did the healing. Hearing this, Boromir awakened.

"Well, friend Boromir, I see you struggle to raise your eyelids. Do not. It is soft night here now and it will only tire you. We carry you to the Peredhil. But now that you are awake, perhaps you can take the elixir Celeborn has crafted for you."

Slowly Boromir cracked one eye open and looked to the elf next to him. "C-"

"Do not! You have not the strength, but you will soon. Once you are healed. As for why it was Celeborn rather than our lady, it is simple. Celeborn is more versed in the nature of war wounds and was better able to tend thee. Now sleep... we are still some week or more from our destination. Sleep, dear Boromir, evellon." Leaning over Haldir once again pulled up the covers and they picked up the litter and they started to run.

* * *

At every rest Haldir gave Boromir another sip of the elixir and sent him to sleep. On the seventh day since Boromir tired to speak, the elves at last came to within sight of the Last Homely House. Waving to the lookouts, Haldir beckoned one closer. When the elf approached he matched strides with Haldir.

"I am Haldir of Lothlorien. We bear a Companion, one of those whom your lord set out to watch and care for the Ring-bearer, who needs the Peredhil’s healing. The Lady Galadriel gave him to the Lord Celeborn who in turn admitted defeat to this poison. Now, my Lord Celeborn asks for the Peredhil to heal this man. Go now and ask that he await us."

The elf nodded and sped up.

"Soon, Boromir, you will be healed." And he ran on.

* * *

Over the fields a dark figure ran towards them. His long hair was braided and pulled back. He wore no sign of his leadership but a small necklace that lay close to his throat.

"Haldir of Lothlorien who do you bear?

"Brave Boromir, Peredhil. It is obvious that he fought with Orcs, foul creatures they are. His friends placed him in one of our boats and set him adrift. It would not let him drift over the Rauros but instead brought him back to us. This was well for although his friends truly believe him dead, he is not. Merely he was locked into his body by the poison. A warrior’s poison, Lady Galadriel deferred to Lord Celeborn but even he was not able to stop its working. So he sent Boromir to you and me he sent to ask you to heal this warrior."

"Of course, I shall. Did Celeborn say anything else?"

"No, lord but sent you a letter." Haldir reached into his tunic and pulled it out. Offering it to the dark and noble lord, he waited. Peredhil read it and looked again to the litter in which Boromir lay. Folding the letter and slipping it into some pocket of his tunic, he walked over next to the young man. Carefully pulling on of his eyelids up he turned towards the elves who had come with him.

"Tanith, go see Erestor and bid him make ready my room. Boromir will need all my attention if he is to survive. Also have Erestor build the fire up until it hot enough to sweat without clothes. Go now. Galdor, go and make sure my stores are ready, anything that is not in high volume fill." Turning to the Lothlorien elves. "Carry him carefully a jar may expel the very breath he needs to lives. Follow."

The Peredhil turned and ran off. He knew the elves were following as he lead them into the Last Homely House and up to his rooms. Silently, he watched as they placed Boromir on his bed. He stood quiet as Haldir bowed and led his fellow elves from the room and in silence, Elrond Peredhil, also called Halfelven started to heal Boromir of a poison that has not been used on middle-earth for thousands of years.

* * *

Boromir felt the warmth behind him, turning he saw nothing. Then a warm blue light appeared, framed around two gray eyes, gray as the remembered skies over Gondor before a rain. Gray as the elven cloak he wore. Inside each was a spark of the purest blue. He felt soft bands of smoke wrap around his wrists and waist. Pulling him closer. Angry he fought against it. Screaming inside, he reached for his blade.

Boromir turned and saw in the darkness a land that was ravaged with cruel and freezing flames. The only hotspot being an eye made of red flame

He could feel the eye searching for him. Slowly he backed up, not even knowing if he was placing himself in worse danger. The mist closed around him and eye passed over him. The mists caressed him and when they parted he saw Rivendell. The ethereal mist floated next to him, leading him on, further into Imaldris. He could see misty shapes passing. Some were very defined and dense, these blazed with bright eyes. Eyes of green, blue, brown, silver, and gold. Others where just vague silver shapes with small pinpricks of lights where eyes should be. Boromir turned and looked at his savior. The form had firmed up. A solid figure of silver stood there. More firm than any other. The gray eyes still shone brightly, blue sparks swirling in them.

The figure led him through halls and up stairways until they came to a simple doorway. Pushing it open, the figure beckoned him to enter. In the far corner of the room was a bed. Slung low and covered in linen, lay a man. Boromir approached slowly and looked down at him.

"What?"

The shout so surprised him that he simply faded away.

* * *

This time when he awoke, the sounds were less like warg-claws digging through his skull. The nightbirds song was lighter. Taking as deep a breath as he could, Boromir tried to open his eyes. Those eyes whose lids seemed to weigh a good stone or more... each.

"Do not struggle, Boromir. I do not know yet if you remember me, for the Peredhil has said that the poison could have damaged your memory. I am Haldir, the border watcher who met you and your Companions as you entered Lothlorien. Some almost five weeks past, you and your Companions left our forest to travel down the Anduin river. From what little we could tell, you were attacked at or close to the fall of Rauros. The Orcs who attacked you used conventional weapons, save one. You were sliced by an blade that was poisoned. But the blade only struck you a shallow slice and therefore you only received a small amount of the poison.

"The poison traps you within your own body, unable to move or speak. It magnifies the sensations on the skin, loudens noises, and pulls you into a darkness. Your fellows believed you to be dead and placed you in a boat of our make, with token of your enemies and set it adrift. The Lady Galadriel commanded the boats to return to us, should any of you need help and so it did. But this is a warrior’s poison and no one poisoned by it ever makes it off the field. Celeborn, has some skill with healing and has seen this before but he did not know how to help you. So he did what he could and charged me and my fellows to bring you here to seek the Peredhil’s help.

"He has tended you for some three weeks. Without rest and barely any food. Yesterday he proclaimed you would survive and sought his rest. He left me here to watch for you to awaken. And now rest Boromir of Gondor, I will go fetch your healer." Haldir leapt to his feet and left.

Boromir knew it only took a few minutes but they seemed almost as long as an hour before he felt a soothing hand on his brow and a thumb opening his eyes. Sharp grey eyes looked into his.

"Welcome back, Boromir. For now, do not attempt to speak. Your vocal cords were likely damaged and trying to speak now, may permanently scar them so you will never be able to speak again. For now, do this."

Boromir felt his arms move. Stiff through inactivity, he felt them be placed on his chest.

"When you wish to say ‘yes’, move your right hand. ‘No’, then move your left. If you are unsure, then stay still. Do you understand?"

Boromir twitched his right hand.

"Good. Do you remember me?"

"Do you remember the journey to Lothlorien?

"Do you remember when you were attacked by the orcs after Lothlorien?"

"Do you remember anything about your journey back to Lothlorien?"

Boromir hands stilled. Then he twitched his right.

"You remember some of the journey back?"

"I see... I know that Mithrandir did not survive Moria." Elrond lay one finger against his upper lip, looking not at Boromir but at the cloven horn which he had set on the bed. The candle’s pale light made it shine. Outside, pale moonlight cast odd shadows about the room. "He fell to the Balrog. And yet... he was here. Yes, though you mourned him. The only words I could get from him is that his old form was burned away. Now he is Gandalf the White. He has left; otherwise I would have sought his help dearly in your healing, Boro. Though you may be tired of it, rest while I fetch you some food."

Elrond stood up and walked over to the door. Boromir stared at sparkling dragonfly clasp that held Elrond’s hair back. Once he had delivered his orders, he returned to sit beside Boromir. His pale hands caressed the soft skin of Boromir’s brow and trailing after each fingertip was a coolness. Time stood still. All that was moved where those gentle ghost fingers. Soothing, stroking, slipping over his face. With as much strength as he could, Boromir waited until those fingers passed over his lips. Then he lightly kissed them. With lips that could muster all the force of the wings of dragonflies, he kissed the fingers of his savior.

"Boromir... do you know how to write the runes of Men?"

"As soon as you are strong enough, I will bring you paper and ink."

A knock at the door startled Elrond and he stood up quickly. Striding over, he opened the door. Two elves stood there. One held a tureen of soup. The other a basket with two bowls, several loaves of bread, butter, and honey. Elrond let them place the food next to the bed and waited for them to leave. When they had, he sat down. Gently he pulled Boromir into sitting up. Moving over to sit on the edge of the bed, Elrond ladled soup into one of the bowl. Breaking of a piece of bread and dipping it into the thick soup, he laid it on Boromir’s lips.

"Open your mouth, you need to be fed." Slowly Elrond fed Boromir the thick stew and bread. "I made this with special herbs and plants to speed your healing. Also Celeborn sent you some lembas for when you are better able to eat. They will give strength enough for the harsh work I will put before you."

Soon Boromir had eaten through two loaves and drank the rest of the soup. Elrond helped him to lay down again, he fell asleep while Elrond sang elvish lullabies to him.

* * *

"Boromir, awake. Boromir."

Boromir awoke to see Elrond leaning over him. The sun shining through the window glinted off the silver in his hair. Smiling, Elrond pulls him into an upright position.

"Today is going to be a little more strenuous than previous. You slept for two days. However you should be better able now, to stay awake and eat. So first I will feed you breakfast, then I will massage your limbs, give you a bath, lunch, let you take a nap, finally I will see if you can write. Dinner then bed again for you." Elrond picked up a bowl of thick soup and bread. "Since you loved this so much yesterday, no reason for you to refuse today."

* * *

Placing his hand in Boromir’s, he pulled him up and removed the pillows from behind him. Laying Boromir down flat, he stripped the covers away. Taking a small vial from the platter beside him, he poured oil into his hands and started to massage Boromir’s legs. Taking his time, he rubbed it in, slowly. Feeling the muscles that had recently lost firmness, he continues from the toes up to the hip.

A touch of fingers on his arm stopped him. Looking up, Elrond saw Boromir trying to talk.

"I said do not talk. Wait." Elrond picked up a pad and a writing stick and gave them to Boromir. "Write on this. Use Man Runes, I can read them. Later I will teach you elvish."

Nodding Boromir took the stick, though he could not hold it firmly, he was able to write shakily.

"Yes, what about my hair." Elrond moved over tot he other side to do the other leg.

"Healing anyone of that poison takes a lot of strength and places a great deal of hardship on the healer. This is merely a side effect. In a couple decades my Elven heritage will reassert itself and my hair will be black again."

"When magic races through us, it’s like a fire. It has destroyed parts of my hair, the parts that give it its color. It will take time for my body to make new hair that hasn’t been affected. In a few years the Black hair will reappear at the roots and flow out."

"Why do I continue to take care of you, is that the question. Simple. I’m the most experienced in what you need, if you would prefer for your healing to take much longer I can send another healer to you

"Ah."

As Elrond finished the other leg, he poured more oil into his hand and started in on Boromir’s arms. Silently he worked, before long Boromir was once again asleep.

* * *

A soft scrape left a fiery trail across his face as he awoke. Stilling himself he waited.

"You are awake again Boromir. Here is the writing stick. The paper is under your hand."

"Shaving you. Your beard is quite untidy and knotted. Besides you can always grow another. Though why you wish to hide a handsome face under a beard, I do not know."

"I do not have a beard but do you consider me less of a man or less manly?"

"Ah."

"When you stop falling asleep every two hours. Is this bed so poor that you do not enjoy your rest here?"

"I always thought so. Now, I have had some clothes made for you and I will place you in a chair that has wheels. And we shall take you to the gardens. You need fresh air to heal.

* * *

The gardens of Imaldris are beautiful and varied. Some are pale but soothing to the eyes, others bright and bold fit to cheer those up who saddened by the darkness. Elrond guided Boromir to one such

As they entered the garden, three young elfs quieted and turned to see who was entering the garden. Dressed in hunter garb were two young men and a young woman.

"Father!" The three ran up to Elrond and hugged him. One of the men knelt beside him. "Hello, Boromir. I am Elladan, first born son of Elrond. Arwen, Ellrohir, and I welcome you to our home and family. Since even our father still confuses us, I’ll tell you how to tell us apart."

Elrond arched an eyebrow at his forward child and replied. "Thank you for your kind welcome, Elladan. If Boro could talk, I am sure that he would thank you too."

"He can not speak?" Elrohir exclaimed.

"No, instead he writes his questions in the runes of Man.

"I see... well thank you for bringing Boro to use Father. You go and rest now." Elladan started off, firmly pushing Boromir through the garden.

Elrohir laughed and followed his brother. Silently his sister slipped up beside him. Behind them, Elrond shook his head and wondered about his children before turning and leaving the garden.

* * *

After wandering the gardens for a few minutes, they came up on a small pond. Stepping under a flowering tree. Seating Boromir so that the sun was at his back, Elladan sat on his right, Elrohir on his left, and Arwen opposite him.

Elladan knelt down beside him, "Again I am pleased that you are alive, Boromir. I said I would tell you how to tell my brother and I apart. I am perhaps an inch taller than he, I wear my sword on my left side, I carry a long knife but no daggers, my arrows are fletched with yellow feathers, he carries three daggers, his sword hangs on his right. I would guess you don’t need help to tell our sister from us?" Elladan smiled and looked up into Boromir’s eyes. "Tell us what happened. What happened after Moria. Tell us what Mithrandir couldn’t. Ask us any question you like. Please?"

Boromir nodded. Thank you. After the mines we traveled to Lothlorien. There was nothing to really fight on the way to Lothlorien. We rested there and grieved for Gandalf. Before we were allowed entry to the great forest we were blindfolded, all of us, even Legolas. He took offense at it for some odd reason. They took off the blindfolds at Cerin Amroth. Galadriel and Celeborn met, counseled, and gifted us. Then we set off in three boats towards the Argonath. We beached the boats and Frodo begged for time alone to decide what to do. I do not excuse what I did, or why I did it. I regret it but even this is only paying for part. I followed him. I tried to take the ring. I heard it call to me and I was too weak to ignore it. Then I heard Merry and Pippin scream. I ran to see them fighting orcs. I attacked and told them to run. I blew the horn but Merry and Pippin, I couldn’t save. Aragorn came then, he said that he had let Frodo go. Then I asked him to save Gondor. After that I kept falling in and out of darkness. I don’t remember much until I saw Elrond.

"I see, thank you for telling us this Boromir." Arwen said as she came over and sat down, laying her head on his knee.

* * *

Boromir laid his hand on her head and closed his eyes. Soon the three elves could make out a soft keening noise. Standing up Ellrohir, wrapped his arms around Boromir.

"Boromir, dear Boromir. The ring has tempted all, I believe as my father does, that only an innocent can hold it and not be tempted. And you and I Boromir, have been long far from innocent. Our duties require us NOT to be innocent but rather accept the burden. Do not seek punishment, for you will find none here. Instead let us say, welcome to our family and home. If you wish, we will take you back to our father or you may stay here with us. The nightbirds sing so sweetly in this garden." Ellrohir gently brushed Boromir’s hair back and laid his head on top of Boromir’s. Together the children of Elrond tried to heal a bit of the brave warrior.* * *Elrond stared out his window. In the distance a great cataract dumped thousands of gallons of water a minute. He could hear the roar and thunder. Turning, he pulled a thin sheet of parchment from his desk.

Elrond,

You are the only one I know who may be able to heal this man. Galadriel has looked into his heart and we know he will or has betrayed the fellowship. Perhaps it is a miracle that this man has held so long against the whispering of Sauron. He has been struck by Morgoth’s Dark Poison. It was only a shallow cut and very little of the poison entered him, enough though that his friends thought him dead. My Lady bespelled the boats to return to us and I did my best to heal him. In all our thousands of years only you and I have ever managed to defeat the poison, I, once and you, twice.

I know what it requires, what it needs but I do not have the strength for that. You receive that from your human heritage. After what happened to Celebrian, I would understand if you did not wish to take this on.

If you do, know whatever the outcome, you are still the son of my heart and have all my love.

Celeborn

Placing the letter down, he bowed his head. I shall heal you fully, then let you do as you wish. Even if means leaving, even if it breaks my heart.

* * *

Boromir lifted his head and blinked sleepily. I really need to stop falling asleep at the drop of a feather. His pillow rose and fell in soft easy rhythm. He turned to find two bright sparkling black eyes looking at him.

"So you are awake now, dear Boromir." Elladan said. Slowly he combed Boromir’s hair with his hand. "Don’t worry, dinner is some few minutes away. Don’t be angry at us, but we had to steal you away, to give you and father time..." Picking up the fallen paper and writing stick, he handed it to Boromir. "Write your question."

"The poison is called Morgoth’s Call, it imprisons you, in your body until your entire self screams to be let our. Then the Eye comes for you, in your mind, poisoning and twisting you until you will do anything to just not be left alone in there. To save one from this, the healer must enter not only the body but also the mind itself. They must examine every thought, every trace, and every memory and pull the poison out root and branch. Everything is laid out before the healer. Mother couldn’t stand for Father to see and know her shame. It was so awful what she went through that she would never inflict on Father. So she pulled back and because she did, it grew in here. The only other cure was to seek the Valar. So she did.

"She sailed West, leaving us behind. And none has seen her since. Before she left, she told Father to seek another for she could never restrain his joy. Father has never chosen another for his bed." Elladan sat Boromir up and stretched.

"Yes, Men find it disturbing, do they not? Understand this, Father has already told us that he likes you and that you shall always be welcome with us. He knows all of you, so he must see that you are a very good man, dear Boromir and we are glad to have you here." Elladan laid a kiss on Boromir’s head.

Quietly the four walked through the night and returned to the hall.

* * *

Glorfindel watched the young ones approach. Standing up from a small stone bench, he walked over to them. "You three are evil. Your poor father has waited overlong for the return of his friend. Go now and attire yourselves for dinner. I will accompany Boromir back to the room." So saying, he deftly slipped behind the handles for Boromir’s chair and guided him up a ramp.

Amazed at their teacher’s grace, the three elves shook their heads and headed to their own rooms to change for dinner.

Soon, Boromir and Glorfindel reached the room. With a smile and a wave, Glorfindel opened the door and left. Elrond stood facing out towards the garden. Hearing Boromir enter, he stood.

"Welcome back, my friend. Come what do you wish to wear for dinner? I had the tailors make you some clothes while you slept."

"Of course. If I did not have faith in my ability to heal, who would?" Elrond opened the closet door and searched for something. Nodding he pulled out a dove gray shirt. Embroidered along the edge were long vines whose tendrils circled wrists and made designs. "This would look charming on you. Now would you prefer..."

* * *

Boromir slumped in his wheeled chair as Elrond carefully wheeled him into his room. Dinner was fun if a bit tiring for him. Carefully Elrond undressed him. Perhaps he shouldn’t have let Boromir had that third glass of wine, especially since he’s recovering but Boromir had reason to celebrate. He was alive, he could hold a glass, he managed to stay up for a whole three hours. Boromir turned his face upward and stared at Elrond. Writing something on his pad, he tossed it at Elrond’s feet.

"Does this matter? It will be where you shall stay." Elrond dropped the pad into his lap and picked him up. Laying Boromir in bed, he covered the lamp. "Rest, sleep and dream, dear Boro. Tomorrow is another day."

Boromir nodded and snuggled his face into the pillows as soon as he was placed into the bed. A soft sigh, and he was asleep.