Promise Me

Chapter Twenty-Four

The jubilation that began with the destruction of Sauron and the Eye spread through Minas Tirith like a wildfire and Boromir tasked Gabriella and Éowyn with pulling together what was needed for a celebration of the highest order. They in turn recruited Dory and Ava and anyone else who did not get away quickly enough and soon, plans were underway for that very night.

Word spread quickly throughout Minas Tirith and by nightfall, Boromir stood alongside Faramir, at the entrance to the Great Hall and just stared at the transformation of the room from a wide, most impersonal gathering space to something warm and welcoming and cozy almost. What seemed like a million white candles bathed the room in a golden glow, and tables draped with elegant cloths of all colors had been set up around the room's perimeter. Musicians at the far end tuned their instruments and Faramir looked about with a smile as he said, "I do believe the ladies have gone above and beyond anything you could have asked of them."

Boromir nodded, his hands resting on the pommel of his sword. "I am not exactly surprised, though. For the first time in our lifetime, peace has come at last and that is definitely a thing worth going above and beyond for."

As he spoke, he spotted Gabby and Éowyn across the hall and smiled. He had never seen Gabby look so beautiful, dressed in a cardinal red gown, her white-blonde hair spilling about her shoulders in soft waves. Éowyn was a bit taller, and dressed in forest green and one glance at his brother, and Boromir knew Faramir was smitten.

"She's lovely," he said, nudging Faramir's elbow.

Faramir jumped. "What?"

"Your Lady of Rohan," Boromir nodded in their direction. "You suit perfectly."

Faramir smiled, nodding as he replied, "Rather like you and your lady of Gondor."

"My lady..." Boromir couldn't help his own smile as his gaze went back to Gabby. "I do like how that sounds."

"So marry her already."

"I will, little brother."

"You keep saying that. Just do it."

He turned to Faramir. "You doubt me? Because Gabby does not."

"Are you so certain?"

Boromir looked back at Gabby, who must have felt the weight of his stare, for she suddenly lifter her head to look his way and a slow smile lifted the corners of her lips. "I am, yes. You forget how well she and I know each other."

Gabby said something to Éowyn, who also turned and smiled, and the two women made their way across the hall. To Boromir's surprise, his heart actually sped up as Gabby drew near, fluttering in a way it hadn't since the morning when he'd spirited her to his bed for the first time.

Her eyes sparkled with hints of mischief as she slipped her arm through his. "You boys clean up so very nicely, you know."

Boromir smiled, rubbing his free hand along his smooth cheek. "It was time to shave. I began to look like I'd spent weeks out in the wild."

She laid her hand against his other cheek. "I like both images, to be honest. But, I don't only mean shaving, love. I mean," she let go of him and stepped back, "you just look so handsome this evening."

He smiled. "It isn't often I've been afforded the opportunity to wear something formal. And this calls for formal, I think."

"Well, you look very—"

The sounds of boots on the stone just beyond the Great Hall doors thundered through the cavernous hall and Boromir, along with everyone else, turned to see the doors open and Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Frodo and Samwise in the doorway. Merry and Pippin must've seen them as well, for the two hobbits bolted from the far end of the hallway toward them, shouting with joy as they threw their arms about Samwise and Frodo with enough force that they knocked the halflings each back a step.