Bring me to life

Chapter 10

The pencil was sliding softly over the paper, drawing a smiling and happy man.
Kreshen had been working on that drawing since he had left her, almost a month before.
It was Boromir’s portrait. A smiling Boromir. The one that she always carried in her heart. The little chain was always at her neck, she often caressed it, as if this gesture could bring him back home.
She had been sad, but Faramir had always been at her side. And he had never touched her as a lover would. Not anymore. Kreshen was thinking that maybe he was tired of her. So she often spent her days alone, trying to think to the happy days spent with the two brothers.
A clear trumpet ring caused the pencil to dribble the drawing, but it was well forgotten.
The girl ran to the window to look down. He had come home.
Even Denethor had exited in the courtyard to welcome his eldest back home, and he was standing stern and proud between two guards, his gaze turned towards the tunnel. The clapping of the hooves drew nearer and nearer until a muddy, dirty and jubilant Boromir appeared at the head of the long column, the white flag of Gondor held high in his hand. He jumped off the horse at once, handing the rod to his lieutenant, and neared the Steward to bow his head before him.
"We come home triumphant, my Lord."
The Steward nodded, obviously quite pleased with the news, and put his hand on his heir's shoulder for a moment.
"Very well done. I expect a full report from you later."
Boromir nodded in return, and just when his father was walking back to the main entrance of the palace he allowed himself to raise his eyes to the Tower.
Kreshen was there. To look at him, unable to restrain the tears that were now running freely upon her cheeks.
She was proud of him. Her heart had skipped a beat when the beloved face had appeared from the dark tunnel. And he had won his battle. Her Boromir.
But what was she supposed to do now?
Boromir had looked straight at Faramir's window. When he catched a glimpse of Kreshen he couldn't help but smile, happy beyond belief to see her again, to know that she was there to welcome him, too, despite the way they'd parted almost one month before.
He raised his right hand to greet her, but had to avert his gaze when a smiling Faramir crushed him in the tightest of embraces.
It was good to be home again.
The sight was enough for Kreshen to increase her sobbing. She retreated from the window, slowly walking to the bathroom, allowing herself some more minutes of crying, to let go all of her grief.
After she had splashed icy water on her face, she felt even better.
And she heard someone enter the room.
"Kreshen?" Faramir called from the bedroom, looking around and then walking to the bathroom when he saw that the door was opened. "Are you in there?"
“Yes I’m here” she answered, wiping her face and walking outside to meet him.
Though he had noticed all too well her reddened eyes Faramir said nothing about that, but hugged her tight and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, in an attempt to show her his support.
"How do you feel?"
“I’m fine” she lied, hugging him back. “How should I feel?”
But inside her heart there was a turmoil of emotions, and she wasn’t at all sure she was ready to go and talk to Boromir.
What if he’s still angry at me?
"Oh, I was just asking" Faramir replied cheerfully, "I'm glad to hear that, though, for Boromir is very eager to hug you again. He's reporting to father now, but it shouldn't take too much time."
“N-no Faramir” was her immediate answer. “I can’t see him. Not now…I don’t even know what to do, what to say…”
It was clearly written all over her features that she was scared about that meeting.
"You are going to have to face him eventually" he said softly, cupping her face with both hands and looking straight into her sky-blue eyes. "You are both very stubborn and proud, Kreshen" he said then, smiling, "but that doesn't mean that you can't get along well."
Sighing deeply, the girl hinted a smile, and nodded.
“All right. I’ll meet him. I just hope he’ll not be still mad at me…”
"Oh trust me, he's not." Faramir chuckled, kissing her cheek again and then drawing back. "I must see father to ask him something. Can you arrange a bath in the meantime, little one?"
“Of course” she smiled back, walking to the bathroom while he exited the room.
Quietly, she warmed the water, pouring some jasmine oil into the tub, and preparing some blankets to wipe him once finished.
She was still folding them when someone entered the bathroom. Turning to look at Faramir, the girl let the blanket slip on the floor, staring wide eyed at the man on the doorframe.
Boromir.
He just remained there, unmoving, for long moments. All he was able to think was that Kreshen, the one person who had silently trailed each and every one of his dreams since his departure, was now there in front of him. And she was possibly even more beautiful than he could remember.
"I have missed you." he said quietly, a small, nervous smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Kreshen looked at him for a while, her eyes filled with unshed tears. She was pondering what to do, or even what to say. She had missed him, too. And she could say from the look in his eyes that he wasn’t mad at her. At all.
A split second later she flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly, as if to assure herself that he was really back home. Resting her head between his neck and shoulder, the girl spilled some tears, unable to contain the overwhelming emotion.
“I’ve missed you so much…” she whispered, her voice muffled.
Boromir did not falter the slightest returning the embrace. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, inhaling her scent deeply as he buried his face in the soft fall of her hair, almost overcome with the joy to be together again.
They didn't break the embrace even when he drew back slightly, a bright smile and patent happiness now lighting his noble features.
"I have dreamed of this every night" he whispered, "to hug you and hold you again. And it's beautiful to see that you've recovered completely, I was worried for you."
“I thought you were angry at me” she whispered then, raising one hand to brush away a lock of blond hair from his forehead.
He really needed a relaxing bath. She could see clearly written all over his face how tired he was.
But then she remembered the chain, and smiled at him, slipping the little precious from her neck and looking straight into his eyes.
“This is yours…it’s been always with me. But it’s time to return it to its owner. Faramir had told me how much you care for it. It’s been a great comfort for me to hold it while I was waiting for your return. But I want you to keep it”.
Boromir looked at the shiny jewel offered back to him on the palm of Kreshen's hand for some moments, before their eyes met and his hand closed hers into a fist, trapping the necklace inside.
"I gave it to you" he said softly, "for you're worth much more than a lifeless trinket. Keep it, Kreshen. I want you to."
Both his words and the look in his eyes moved something deep inside of her.
Unable to wait even more, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to kiss him with all the tenderness she could master.
He returned the kiss at once, matching her softness perfectly and framing her delicate face with both hands, his heart hammering furiously into his chest.
It was a dream, maybe. Another of the dreams that had keep him company on his lonely, freezing nights in the open, where the only comfort was the memory of her smile, the hope to survive to get back home and be able to hug her again.
Once they parted, the girl looked at him for a while, all the time smiling and gently caressing his face.
It had been sweet, tender and affectionate. And it was even better than she could remember.
“Undress yourself. I’ve prepared a hot bath and I’m sure you need it. I’ll help you to wash your back.”
"I do need it very much" Boromir agreed with a critical look down at his leggings, spattered with mud to knee-height and torn due to the long trip. His cloak and tunic, too, seemed to have been through quite a rough time. He undressed quietly, glancing at her now and then, and couldn't help but close his eyes and smile helplessly when he got into the tub, the hot water soothing his sore muscles and urging him to relax at last.
"I had almost forgot what it actually feels like.."
Smiling, the girl poured some soap onto her hand, and started to soothingly rub his back and shoulders, relishing the smoothness of his skin and his taut muscles under her hands.
“I had almost forgot what it feels like” she whispered, giving him back his previous words, leaning to gently kiss his temple.
"Don't stop then" he smiled, turning his head to glance at her and then leaning into her gentle touch. "I don't want you to forget.. for I did not."
“I’ve missed you…” she whispered again, without stopping her ministrations. Some minutes later she started to work out the dirt from his hair, loosing the knots and massaging his scalp.
She cherished him until the water had became too cold, and then she helped him to slip out, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders.
“Do you want me to take some clean dresses for you?”
"Mmmh no.." Boromir replied, grabbing a large towel to wrap it around his waist and then another to rub his hair dry energetically. "I think I'll just sprawl myself on the bed I've missed so much and relax at least until lunch time. I'll dress up then, or eat in my room."
“All right, then” she smiled, sitting on the bed.
“Call me, if you need anything. I’ll be there, as usual. I’ve barely peered outside that room”.
Boromir had to consider her words for some moments. Call me if you need anything.
I need you, and anything else.
But he didn't say it out loud.
"Care to keep me company?" he asked instead, and then added quickly: "Oh, I won't try anything, I swear."
The last thing he wanted was to be misunderstood over such a matter. Even though lying in bed with a naked man was something that could be easily misunderstood anyway.
“I wouldn’t mind” she whispered, smiling back and standing up.
Without further words, Kreshen took hold of his hand and guided him into his room, closing the door behind her back.
Once inside, she closed the curtains, to allow him some rest before lunch, and shifted the covers to let him slip inside.
“Everything is ready for you, milord”
"I won't get into that bed without you" he said then, folding his arms in protest and raising an eyebrow. "I'll put on my leggings if.. if you prefer. But I want you with me."
“You don’t have to put it on. I trust you” she smiled, immediately taking away her boots and slipping under the covers, propping her head on her elbow and raising an eyebrow.
“Well? I’m waiting for you.”
"Not planning to have you waiting any longer" he smirked, staring intently at her as he yanked the towel away and slipped under the covers, snuggling closer and gathering Kreshen within his arms at once, smiling contentedly.
"I've missed your.. closeness, too."
“I’ve been so scared about you” she confessed then, sighing softly.
“Last time you told that you’d prefer to die on the battlefield…and… I thought that maybe you wouldn’t have returned”.
At those words Boromir sighed, his steady gaze unwavering, and brought a hand to her cheek to stroke it tenderly. "I am sorry" he said then, "I was.. upset, I didn't mean the things I've said. Now I'm just happy to see that you didn't forget me at all and that.. that you still want me somehow."
“I thought I’d lost you” she said softly, reaching his face with her hand and gently caressing it.
She wanted him. She wanted to be at his side, night and day. More than ever.
“And I want you to believe me…I’m like a sister to Faramir…we…we don’t make love from weeks now” Kreshen admitted, lowering her gaze. “Maybe you both are already tired of me…”
Tired?
Boromir couldn't quite figure out if that guessing was more likely to make him want to scream with frustration or laugh out loud. He had never wanted, loved, desired anyone that much before. And she was saying that he could have possibly grown tired of her?
"Kreshen" he said softly, "I would make love with you here and now.. but then you'd think that I'm doing that just because it's been a while since the last time or.. something like that. And I don't want you to think that I reckon you as a mere mistress, or some sort of sexual object. I do not see you that way."
At his words, the girl raised her head to look at him, staring straight into those piercing grey eyes.
He was really changed. Maybe Faramir’s words about things that would have been better were true.
“I know how are soldiers when they come back home” she began, hesitatingly referring to the fact that they were eager to make love. “But…please…tell me the truth. If…if you won't make love to me…will…will you search for another girl?”
"I haven't had other women since I've met you." he replied, as if the simple statement could explain it all. Then sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know. I don't feel the need to do it. Maybe after a while I would, I don't know."
“Oh” was her only answer, before to sigh softly and hide her face under his chin.
What was he trying to say? Maybe that one day he would search for another woman?
The mere thought of him making love to someone else was enough to make her clench her fists. Someway he was hers, even if the mere suggestion to her feelings would have make him laugh out loudly.
He would never find something else rather then sex in her. Or maybe he would have treated her as Faramir was doing. As a little sister.
Boromir just held her into his arms for a while, staring pensively at the bed's canopy. Trying to figure out a way, any way to convince her that his feelings were true. He truly cared about her, and at least now he knew that. He knew that quite well indeed, Kreshen having been his only thought during the long weeks he'd been away from home, but how could he convince her?
"Are you mad at me?"
“No, I’m not” she quietly answered, without raise her eyes to look at him.
Before they could talk further, there was a loud knock at the door.
Kreshen stood up, opening the curtains and checking at her clothes to see if there was something wrong.
Opening the door, she thanked the servant that had brought them their meal.
She was more than sure that Faramir had sent her there, for he knew that they needed some time alone.
“Do you want to eat into the bed, or do you want me to settle your lunch on the table?”
"No, no, bring it here" Boromir replied, drawing himself up to sit, and settling the pillows against the headboard. "There is no need to lay the table. Eat here with me."
“As you wish” she answered, hinting a smile and nearing the bed.
The girl carefully settled the tray at Boromir’s side, and then climbed the bed, sitting with her back against the headboard.
“I’ve been bothering you from hours now. I thought you were tired…”
"I actually am" he grinned, picking up a slice of cheese from the tray and nibbling at it without averting his eyes. "But not enough to give up your company. There is nothing else I wish more, even sleep can wait."
“You look…so…different from when you’ve departed…” she stated quietly, scanning his eyes as if they could contain his secrets.
Why was he acting like that?
And why was she feeling so…good at his side?
There had been a time in which she had promised to herself to forget him, for he was too strange for her. His incessant changes of behaviour were driving her insane.
But she hadn’t been able to do it. He was always there, in her heart. Unforgettable.
"Let's just say that I've had plenty of time to think about it" Boromir replied quietly, "And I've found out that I care for you a lot more than I thought. That's all."
He smiled then, and nodded towards the tray. "Won't you eat, little one?"
Smiling back, the girl nodded, taking a piece of fried potato and nibbling at it.
Her hand, almost unconsciously, searched for Boromir’s and squeezed it lightly without letting it go.
There was no food left in the plates when the tray was set on the nightstand, and Boromir settled himself within the warmest of hugs. Weariness eventually took over him, and he fell deeply asleep only after a few minutes, cherished and cuddled by his Kreshen.
Said girl paid attention not to wake him up, carefully standing up and setting the warm covers on his body, quietly exiting the room.