Bring me to life

Chapter 6

 That morning Kreshen woke up early.
The evening before, the healer had told them that Faramir was now fully recovered and could leave the bed.
Boromir had immediately challenged him, and had talked to his father to grant her permission to leave the tower now and then. They had promised her a great duel, and she had laughed to see the pride in their eyes.
After a hot, scented bath, she had wiped her hair and dressed herself, waking Boromir with a sweet kiss and then walking to Faramir’s. And she was surprised to see that he was awake and almost completely dressed.
“It’s beautiful to see you finally out of that bed” she smiled, enveloping him in a warm embrace.
"You may well say so!" Faramir chuckled, kissing her cheek. "Another day ridden in bed and I would have gone insane.."
Once he was fully dressed and ready he took both his sword and bow, obviously planning to have a walk in the woods after the duel, and looked at her while fastening the lacings of his quiver. "Is Boromir up already?"
“I woke him up before coming here” she explained. “Do you want me to go and check if he’s dressing already?”
Faramir smiled, shaking his head, and took her hand to guide her out of the room and to the stairs. "We'll wait for him in the dining hall. Breakfast should be almost ready by now."
“I can’t come!” she protested, stopping immediately. “What would your father say to see me in the dining hall?”
"He knows that you are to have breakfast with us today, Boromir told him yesterday." Faramir replied calmly, smiling and tugging at her hand. "Come."
After a quite boring breakfast, the three of them walked outside, to the courtyard, Kreshen was between Boromir and Faramir, looking around with a happy smile on her face.
It had been a long time since she had gone outside, and she was now admiring the luxurious gardens and the imposing palace.
Once reached the courtyard, she sat on a bench, smiling at the two brothers curiously, not knowing what they had in mind, for she had never seen a duel before.
Boromir was settling their cloaks and Faramir's bow and quiver on a bench next to Kreshen's, while Faramir was aiming the sword in his direction in a quite menacing way. When Boromir turned around and saw him, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Quite combative today, aren't we?"
"I will make you regret to have challenged me." Faramir replied, grinning wickedly and staring at the other, who was just taking his place in front of him and unsheating his sword.
"Oh, really?" Boromir smiled, "So what are the stakes, little brother?"
The question caught Faramir off guard. And Boromir's abrupt lunge, that came only a second later, did too. He managed to parry and draw back somehow, though, an eyebrow raised in a quite outraged fashion. "Now that wasn't fair!"
"Who says?"
"I do!" Faramir retorted hotly, and then shifted his gaze to Kreshen. "And I've thought about your stakes."
"Tell me, then."
"Kreshen."
"Kreshen?" Boromir repeated, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"The one who wins will have the honor to take her out for a ride. Alone with her."
"Deal."
Said girl raised an eyebrow at his words, grinning wickedly.
She didn’t mind to be a prize to them, and neither to be shared. For she liked them both, even if she was feeling something strange inside of her.
Something about Boromir.
And she was quite hoping for him to win. She craved a ride with him. Alone.
"Since I can see that you are still a little.. feeble, little brother, I promise that I will see to favor you and take it slow." Boromir teased him then, "It's up to you to start."
"You'll regret this." Faramir replied, menacingly and still unmoving, the grip on the hilt of the sword firmer than ever.
He then seemed to study his opponent for some moments, ready to battle, while on his part Boromir was evidently restless and eager to start. So typical of him, Faramir thought, doing his best to hold back a smile, and thinking that his brother's restlessness would have probably helped him a great deal, if properly pushed.
It was only when it seemed that Boromir couldn't take much more of that tension that Faramir attacked, lunging towards him. He should probably have taken into account the possibility that the long wait could have only served to fuel his brother's combativeness, though.
After long minutes of parrying and lunging, matched by the clear clanging of the blades and by their soft panting, Faramir found himself flat on his back in the dirt. With Boromir standing proud and grinning above him, the tip of his sword pressed lightly against his throat.
Kreshen, that had never seen a duel, was quite worried at the scene, and immediately neared Boromir from behind, reaching his hand with hers, and lightly tugging at his sword, as if to tell him to stop, resting her head on his back, craving to hug and kiss him again.
He was her hero, indeed.
While they were duelling, she had followed the action with the outmost interest, excited by both his strength and ability.
"I give up, I give up!" Faramir chuckled then, eyeing the girl for some moments and then looking at his brother again. "Don't kill me, please.. I'll behave."
Boromir, too chuckled quietly, and offered him his hand in order to help him to get up.
"Seems like you'll have to bear with me for at least a whole afternoon, my lady." he said to Kreshen then, taking her hand into his and smiling.
“I’ll deal with it” she smiled back, gently squeezing his hand, and turning again to check on Faramir.
Before to go to the stables, she left Boromir’s hand, in order to give a quick peck on his brother’s lips, and then returning to the older one, letting him guide her path.
"Can you ride?" Boromir asked once inside, "Thalion will be glad to carry us both, otherwise."
Kreshen looked at him pensively for some moments. She was a great rider among her village. She loved to ride even without her saddle, for to run away on horseback made her feel free.
But something deep inside of her was telling her to answer no. For she would have been able to stay all the afternoon on his horse. With him. And she chose to listen to that voice.
“No…I can’t ride…”
"Meet Thalion, then." Boromir replied with a smile, while saddling the horse, stopping to pat its muzzle in a quite affectionate way. "He's been with me through many battles, and he's probably one of my closest friends."
“Is he?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, nice to meet you Thalion. I’m Kreshen” the girl said solemnly, gently fondling the horse.
“You did a great job, Thalion. To make him safe through so many battles…”
The horse neighed quietly in response, rubbing its muzzle against Kreshen's hand, and once again Boromir had to smile at the sight. "Oh, he likes you." he said, "I've always thought that he's quite clever, and now I've goot proof of it."
Said that he led both Kreshen and the horse out of the stables and offered her his hand, while holding the reins in the other. "Let me help you."
“Thank you” she smiled shyly, accepting his help.
She was indeed liking his behaviour towards her, and she gently caressed his hand when he had settled himself beside her.
Once Kreshen was on the saddle he mounted too, settling himself behind her and putting on his gloves before taking hold of the reins again, his arms around her waist.
"Are you ready then? Be sure to be covered enough, 'tis quite cold weather today. You don't want to get ridden in bed when Faramir has just gotten out of it, do you?"
“Indeed I don’t want it!” was her immediate answer. “But…maybe I would…if you would be there to cherish and feed me…”
"I'd be there" Boromir replied quietly, trying hard not to smile. "At least as long as I'd be at home, no doubt I'd be with you. If Faramir would allow me to."
They were trotting down the streets of the city to reach the Great Gate, almost anyone bowing and greeting reverently the Steward's son and the young maiden as they passed them by. Boromir didn't know if in the City they knew who she actually was, but to say the truth he didn't care that much. He was just happy to be able to spend some time alone with her, to take her out of the Tower for a least one afternoon.
To see all those people look at her, had upset Kreshen. If only they knew who she really was, it would have been a great trouble for the Steward’s family.
When they finally exited the city, she allowed herself to relax and rest her back against his chest, relishing the heat radiating from his body.
It really was a dream come true to be there with him.
"Where do you wish to go?" he asked then, "We could have a ride about the woods or to Osgiliath, 'tis but a few leagues from here. You choose."
“Wherever you want to take me to…” she answered, smiling and turning her head to look at him, gently kissing his neck.
“The only thing that matter is that I’m outside…with you…”
"Woods it is, then." Boromir replied, now holding the reins with just one hand in order to wrap the free arm around Kreshen's waist, and leaning forward to place a lingering kiss on the side of her neck. They rode for a good couple of hours, until Boromir decided to have found the perfect spot. It was a small clearing surrounded by a lovely, small grove on one side, and verged by the riverside of the Anduin on the other. The sun was in the meantime breaking through the heavy clouds, showering the damp grass and the branches of the trees with an almost eerie glow, and turning the river in a streak of glimmering gold.
Indeed satisfied with his choice the man dismounted from the horse, and then helped Kreshen to do the same.
"Do you like it here?"
“Yes” was her answer, while doing few footsteps away, to have a look around.
Indeed it was wonderful. She had never been in a place so special. It was romantic, yet somewhat wild.
When she turned to Boromir, she saw him fastening Thalion to a near tree.
“Do you often come here?”
"Here in this exact place, no. Around here, yes. I and Faramir use to ride together a lot when we can, we come here everytime I come back home."
Said that he settled the blanket he'd taken from home on the grass, and looked at her. "Come and sit with me, would you?"
Smiling, the girl settled at his side, embracing her knees.
Sometimes she still felt awkward with him, even if she had craved this ride with him.
Sighing softly, Kreshen placed her head on his shoulder, taking one of his hands into hers. It showed a great power, and was so big if compared to hers, but she liked it. It was as if everything about him made her feel protected.
Boromir looked at their hands for some moments, a little unsure about was he was going to say. But he had to. He was thinking about that since the night before, when he had Kreshen sleeping into his arms.
"Things have changed a great deal in these few days" he said quietly, shifting his gaze to her face. "between you and me, I mean. Thus I wanted to tell you that.. that I'm sorry about that first night. I'm sorry if I hurt you and if I've been too rough."
Kreshen looked at him for a while, gathering her thoughts, choosing the right words.
“Boromir…it’s all right…it doesn’t hurt anymore. You had saved me. That’s all that matters to me. And, yes. Things have changed between us. You have changed a lot. It was the old Boromir that hurt me. Now I’m with the new one. And I like him very much…”
"He still has a long, long way ahead" Boromir replied softly, entangling his fingers with hers. "and he'll probably need your help to try and become.. a real person. That is what you are, what Faramir is, and what I've never been able to become. Most probably I never will."
“Why are you so hard to yourself?” the girl asked him, shifting her gaze at their hands, gently caressing his palm with her thumb.
“You know, Faramir always talks about you. Once he told me that you’re a very noble man. That you’re good at saving the world, but that they taught you to be a soldier. To think as a soldier would. It’s not your fault. And I agree with him…”
Boromir sighed deeply, looking at their entangled fingers for some moments. Warmth. That's what that simple contact was. Cosy, reassuring warmth. And for the first time in his whole like he was feeling like opening his heart to someone who wasn't his little brother.
"I have never had a life of my own, Kreshen." he said bitterly, without looking at her. "I've always been just a soldier, and then the captain of the guard of the White Tower. Or the Steward's son, or Faramir's brother. Away from home my life is the battle, my men, defending my city and my people, there is nothing else. There is no time for me. And when I'm home Faramir and my father are my life.. but now that you are part of it I.. I don't know anymore if this is actually what I want. I don't know."
The intensity of his words had almost frightened her.
She could sense that Boromir’s feelings towards her were strong, too. But he was way too confused, too scared to decide about them.
“You should think about it” she whispered, sighing softly. “Life is made of priorities, and you should just choose what is more important for you. But you don’t have to do it for me. Not for Faramir. Not for your father. You have to do it for you. It’s not important if I’m part of your life or not. It’s important that you live it.”
"I have never felt the.. the need to live it before." Boromir replied, "That's why I don't understand why I'm feeling this way. I was content with just my army and my family, now I feel like it's not enough.. I feel like something's missing, yet I don't know what it is."
He remained silent for some moments, until he looked at her again, a small smile on his lips. "I am sorry, I must have bored you to death. I don't know why it's so easy to talk with you, even when it comes to.. such things."
“I am not bored” she whispered, enveloping him in a warm embrace.
“I like to listen. Even Faramir talk to me for hours, and I try to counsel him. Maybe it’s some sort of…gift” she chuckled, placing a kiss on his temple, caressing his golden hair.
"Indeed it is." he smiled, returning the embrace and leaning into her caresses. "And you've got many, trust me, like.. uncommon kissing skills, for instance. I propose to spend the rest of the afternoon by engaging ourselves in an intensive kissing session, or.. having a quiet walk around here."
“Uhm…” she pretended to think, smiling after a while: “I could give you some kissing lessons. Right now. Maybe you’ll need them for some fair and noble maiden…What do you think?”
"I think that's a good idea indeed, except for the fair and noble maiden part" he chuckled, shaking his head. "They are all helplessly, awfully boring, I couldn't stand such a torture. But I could.. put your lessons into practice with you, if you don't mind. I'd prefer."
“I don’t mind” she smiled, resting her forehead against his own.
“And I’ll tell you a little secret” Kreshen whispered in a quite comic way, looking around as if to see if they were alone.
“There’s just one lesson. Let go. Just let go.”
Boromir's response was a bright smile, as he leaned back to lay on the blanket, dragging Kreshen down with him.
"I will try." he whispered against her lips, "It comes easy with you."
Smiling, the girl just neared his lips, staring intensely into those grey eyes she liked so much. When their lips met, she closed her eyes, allowing her instinct to take control over the situation, kissing him passionately.
They parted only due to lack of air, minutes later, both panting and flushed.
"So.." Boromir chuckled, "tell me, teacher.. how is your pupil doing? Is he good enough?"
“Indeed he is…”