Run It Back Again (Part 2)

Chapter 22

Aragorn jerked his hands, releasing a loud, cracking noise that made me jump.  Era groaned and whimpered, but that was all she did.  I brushed her bangs back as Legolas came over.  Aragorn stood and went to check on the hobbits as Legolas spoke.

"I think she'll be just fine." Aragorn nodded in agreement.

"Oh, yes. She just may need a few days to heal." Legolas smiled at me.

"I'm glad you're around.  There's no telling how long ago Era would have collapsed from her injuries."  I shrugged and looked back at Era.

"I respect her...  She's quiet the fighter."  Legolas knelt down beside us as he nodded.

"I do believe she respects you, even if your behavior is foreign to her."  I looked up and frowned.

"What do you mean?"  He chuckled a little as he spoke.

"She thinks that you are overconfident and arrogant, but only when you choose to be.  She prefers to be treated like a warrior, not a female, so she doesn't enjoy your taunting, but she thinks that you are honorable and a good warrior as well."  He looked up at me.  "If I didn't know any better, I'd say she loves you, Boromir."  I looked back at her and bit my lower lip.

"I wish it were so...  I only taunt her to see if she is like other maidens in this world or if she is as honorable as her mother is said to be."  I shook my head.  "I don't think she'll ever love me."

Her haunting smile as she sparred against me...  Her gentle laugh...  Her strong words that could ease the worst of moments...  Her strong sense of bravery...  Her sense of adventure...  Her abilities...  They were what seperated her from me.  She seemed too good for everyone I knew, including myself, and I felt as though I'd never amount to anything in her eyes.  As much of a hero I was, she seemed 10 times better than me.

"Besides, I would wager she has someone special already in her life."  Legolas shrugged and picked up the bronze leaf she wore around her neck.  Closing his eyes, he muttered something in his native tongue.  I frowned as he opened his eyes and smiled.  "What did you do?"  He stood.

"I gave her some of my energy so she could heal."  I smiled as I glanced between him and Era.

"Thank you, Legolas..."  He shook his head at me.

"I didn't do it for you, Boromir.  I did for Era..."  His gaze grew darker.  "You better take of her, or I won't be the only one coming after you."  I watched him walk off, knowing he was right.  I hoped to protect her, not hurt her, but I knew it could happen.

Truth was, I loved her. I'd sooner die than hurt her. I'd never let anyone hurt her, either, now. If only I hadn't been so arrogant back in Rivendell. If only I hadn't tried to hurt her before...

"Boromir...?"  I glanced down and saw Era's eyes had opened.  I smiled and nodded.

"I'm here, Era...  And I'm not leaving any time soon."

*Era's Pov-

I was fighting Orcs, but Boromir was fighting beside me. I shifted into a wolf, only to be attacked from all sides. As I shifted back into my human form, I saw Boromir get hit in the chest with an arrow.

Everything was really fuzzy and slow moving.  I sat up slightly, only hearing a deep voice, but I couldn't understand it.  As my vision cleared, I started to see Boromir, but my vision was still really foggy.  Seeing other figures coming towards me, I panicked and backed away.

*Boromir's Pov-

"She's awake?"  Aragorn started towards us, followed by Legolas.  Era, seeming disoriented, backed away, fear filling her weary eyes.

"Yeah, but back off...  She can't see straight."  Aragorn nodded and motioned for the hobbits to get back as Legolas knelt down beside her.

"Era?  It's me, Legolas..."  Her eyes narrowed slightly as she responded.

"What happened...?  Where am I...?"  He placed a hand on her forehead and muttered in elvish again.  Era mumbled something before she sank back a bit.  I frowned and looked at Legolas.

"What'd you do this time?"  He glared slightly at me in annoyance.

"I'm giving her more energy.  If she's gonna be on her feet, we need her to be alert."  I watched as Era stood slowly.

"What happened?"  Her voice was a lot less shaky and distant.  I smiled slightly as I held out a hand to help support her.

"You helped us escape that creature, but you got hurt."  She frowned as she looked around.

"How'd I get here?"  I ran a hand through my hair, feeling really nervous.

"I carried you here...  You were out cold, and we had to keep moving."  She nodded slightly as she looked down at the ground.

"Thanks, Boromir..." I couldn't contain my smile.

"You're welcome, Era..."

She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine... She was going to be just fine...