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emmyspov · 1 year

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Communication (Boromir x Reader)

author's note: after reading some really amazing boromir fics (yes, @sotwk i am looking at you especially 👀) i am now in my boromir of the fellowship era (also legolas, I know, i am like 10 years too late for my age group, but i've suddenly become very obsessed with orlando bloom) and wanted to contribute something! please bear with me, it's my first time writing for him & english isn't my first language 🩷

warnings: everybody lives AU, angsty in the beginning (insecure reader/boromir), idiots being in love & fluff (plus a tight friendship between faramir and reader & established faramir/éowyn <3) - let me know if i missed something!

word count: 2.2k

edit is mine, all pics are from pinterest :)

“You should join us again. My brother has been looking for you all evening.”

You turned around to Faramir and sighed. “I know you only want to make me feel better, but I saw him dancing with a fair lady earlier, probably one of noble blood.” You swallowed hard. “And the way he was looking at her, I just-” You shook your head while focusing on cleaning whatever surface seemed dirty, leaving your friend to imagine the rest of your sentence.

It wasn’t necessarily a secret that you had been harboring feelings for the Lord of Gondor and yet, he seemed blind to whatever affection you were trying to show him.

The younger one of the brothers leaned against a table, his eyes fixated on you. “You should see the way he looks at you.”

A bitter laugh escaped your lips. “Are you taking on the role of the jester tonight? His eyes never even cross mine.” You wrung out the piece of fabric with your hands, trying to let go of some of the heavy feelings in your chest.

“Please, Faramir, you are only making this harder for me. Boromir will never let his heart be captured by someone like me.”

“My brother does not care about status. You could be the lowest servant and it would not affect the way he feels about you. You care for Gondor, for the people here, our people, and he sees that. Nothing else matters.”

You finally let go of the dirty cloth in your hand and faced your friend, wiping the sweat off of your forehead with the back of your hand.

“I’m not saying he cares about my rank; I’m saying that he has hundreds of people who want him. Women and men from all over Middle Earth. Why would he go for someone who… no one else has ever shown interest in?”

Faramir was about the reply when your voice cut through the silence again.

“By now, I think I am just not lovable in that way. People love me as a friend, as a sibling or as an advisor when there is work to do. And I adore that. I love that I never have to question if there are people who care for me. But I do ask myself if there is something wrong with me.”

The younger brother squeezed your shoulder in a comforting manner. “The only thing that’s wrong with you is the way you see yourself. You will find someone who-“

You finished his sentence for him, a teasing grin on your lips, as soon as you realized he had gotten lost in thought. “Someone who will make your palms sweaty? Your heart beat faster? Someone who will make the blood rush into your cheeks?”

A giggle left your lips at the sheepish smile on Faramir’s face. “I apologize.”

Your finger poked his chest, scolding him playfully. “Don’t you dare, son of Gondor. You deserve this. You really do. I can see that Éowyn brings joy into your life. Speaking of Éowyn – shouldn’t you return to your lady?”

“And leave you here all by yourself? No, let us go together. You haven’t danced with anyone tonight and I cannot let you leave in that state. I have to a see a smile on that face.”

It was impossible to stay in your little bubble of self-pity when you had a friend like Faramir. Even though he was courting a shieldmaiden of Rohan, he was still watching out for you and your happiness.

“You have convinced me. One dance and then I will leave.”

Faramir smiled and pushed himself away from the table, leading you out the door where you nearly bumped into his older brother and Éowyn.

“My love, we were looking for you”, she exclaimed and immediately wrapped her arms around his arm. “Boromir wanted to get away from everyone for a moment and we figured it would only be the two of you in this part of the building.”

Little did you know that Boromir had pretty much begged his soon to be sister-in-law to lead him to you. And she was neither dumb or blind, she knew how you two felt about one another.

Your eyes fell to Boromir’s hands. He was carrying several jugs and although he did so with ease, you couldn’t help but offer assistance.

“May I help you with that, my Lord?”

His eyes locked with yours and immediately, you looked down to the ground. Blood rushed into your cheeks and you cursed yourself internally.

One look from him was all it took for you to get weak in the knees.

Boromir, on the other hand, was struggling just as much. If he said yes, you might feel like it was expected of you and that he saw nothing else in you but some sort of servant – which wasn’t the case, of course. But if he said no, he would lose another chance of getting to speak more than just a few words with you.

After what felt like an eternity, some words finally tumbled out of his mouth. “You don’t have to.” He cleared his throat, trying to get rid of the nervous lump. “But I would appreciate your company.”

Your head snapped up, eyes locking with his once more. With new found confidence and a smile on your face, you took two of the jugs and made your way back into the room you came from.

“Is there some warm water around here? To clean the jars?”

You nodded. “Yes, I boiled some earlier for other things, but do not worry. It is not your responsibility to wash up.”

The Lord chuckled. “It isn’t yours either. So, do you have a preference?”

“Sorry?”

“Would you rather wash or dry the dishes?”

Thousands of thoughts were running through your head and yet, the only thing you could focus on was the man in front of you, holding a towel in one, and a cloth in the other hand, asking you about what you’d rather do.

To others, it might seem like a small thing, but most of the time no one even cared if you did the chores around here, let alone offer help.

“Oh.” A smile spread over your face. “I do not have a preference.”

After one look at your hands and seeing how wrinkled the skin already was from all the work you’ve been doing this evening all by yourself, Boromir threw the towel at you and started to roll up his sleeves to protect the fabric from the water, exposing his strong forearms.

Blood rushed into your cheeks at the thought of what he could do with those arms and you averted your gaze, trying to think of something else, something decent.

“Why did you leave so early tonight?”

You were not going to admit that you had felt out of place all evening, that you had desperately wished for some of his attention or that you couldn’t bear to see him dancing with so many people but you.

“I figured I would be more of use here.”

The man looked around. “We’re the only ones here. The celebration is in the great hall and, forgive me, while you are a very hardworking person, there is no way you can take care of everything by yourself. Wasn’t it Aragorn’s explicit wish for us to enjoy ourselves tonight?”

You took the first clean jug from Boromir, accidently meeting his wet fingers in the process. A shudder ran through you.

“It was.”

“And you’re telling me you were enjoying this time here, working all by yourself, more than the festivities with your loved ones?”

You gulped. “I am telling you that I was only sitting around all by myself in the great hall and that, here, I could be at least somewhat productive.” You could feel his eyes on you and a sigh left your lips. “Alright. I felt like I didn’t belong there tonight.”

So much for not telling him.

“I saw Aragorn with Arwen and Faramir with Éowyn and I couldn’t stand the pity in their eyes anymore whenever they looked my way.”

“Why would they pity you?”

You set down another glass after drying it off, letting the question hang in the air for a moment.

Your voice was quiet when you spoke. “Because the man my heart is set on has not shown me an ounce of attention while I was there.”

The jug Boromir was currently washing slipped out of his hands at your little secret.

He should have known. There was no way he’d ever have a chance with you.

“I apologize for not paying you any attention.”

Your eyes widened. You hadn’t realized your statement was so revealing. Guilt was spreading in your chest as you saw his head hung low. He deserved to be happy, no matter with whom.

“No! No, I- I haven’t earned the right to tell you who you should or shouldn’t dance with. If she makes you feel light in your heart, then I support that.”

His green eyes met yours. “Me?”

Suddenly, you realized your mistake. He had not apologized for not returning your feelings. He was feeling guilty for not paying more attention to his friend earlier.

Oh no.

“You were talking about me?”

“My lord.“ You gulped, trying to find something, anything, that would ease the tension between the two of you. “It was not my intention to burden you with my feelings. But I am glad that they are out in the open, even if you do not return-“

At that, Boromir wrapped his arms around your shoulders, pulling you against his hard chest. You tensed up.

“Why would you think I do not harbor the same feelings for you?”

You held your breath.

“Who do you think ordered fresh flowers to your chambers last week?”

Slowly, you lifted your gaze. “That was you? I thought- I thought that was Samwise’s doing because he is the only one I ever told my favorite flower, so I sent a letter to the Shire to thank him but he-“

“The halfling told me. After I asked him.” After a few moments, a chuckle left his lips. “I do admit, I should have added my name. Or at least a hint that it was me who sent the flowers.”

“But I don’t understand! Did you never notice my accidental touches or my longing eyes or…” You stopped yourself when you saw the playful twinkle in the man’s eyes. Your cheeks were burning when you realized what you had just admitted.

“I did notice. But apparently, I misunderstood your intention. I thought you were just being friendly.”

You let your head fall against his shoulder, soft laughter falling from your own lips by now. “We should really work on our communication, my beloved.”

“What was that?”

You could hear the teasing tone, but you did not care. “I said”, you whispered into his ear, “that we should really work on our communication. My beloved.”

Boromir hummed, one of his hands wandering to the small of your back. “We should”, he mused, while he dried off his hands on the towel you were holding. “But first, I think I owe you a dance.”

He saw your eyes widen with happiness at the proposition and his heart skipped a beat.

Oh, the things he’d do to ensure your happiness.

The fingers that weren’t sprawled over your back, grabbed your hand. You could feel your heart beat against your ribcage.

“I apologize in advance for stepping on your toes”, you breathed out which earned you a soft laugh.

“I have survived worse, sweetheart. I got you. Just follow my lead.”

Nothing has ever been easier. You trusted him.

Boromir was invading all your senses, making you lose track of time. His scent, his hands touching you – they were so warm, you realized – his gaze flickering back and forth between your eyes and your lips, making you dizzy.

A gasp left your lips as the lord twirled your around before pulling you flush against his body, his hands settling on your waist, holding you steady. His eyes were locked on yours.

No words could describe what you were feeling right now, your whole body was buzzing.

“Kiss me.”

Boromir’s grip on your waist tightened slightly and he cleared his throat. “Are you certain?”

You nodded your head yes. “I am. Please.”

As if he’d ever deny you such a request.

The man cupped your cheek and leaned down. Your heart was racing and you fisted the fabric of his shirt. Your pulse quickened and you closed your eyes, trying to calm your breathing before his lips touched yours.

His lips were warm. Maybe everything about him was warm, you wondered. A little dry, too, but you didn’t mind.

It only took you a few seconds to fully relax into his touch. Every thought in your head was replaced with him.

A little whine tumbled out of your mouth when you two parted and Boromir took a deep breath before pressing a quick kiss against your lips once more.

He grinned at you afterwards. “How is that for communication?”

You chuckled and wrapped your arms around his middle, letting your head rest on his chest. “I’d like to learn how to communicate with you in every possible way.”

Taglist: @shadowhuntyi @asgardianhobbit98 @fizzyxcustard

-> if you want to be added or removed from my taglist, just shoot me a message or an ask 🩷

#boromir x reader #boromir #cuddlebug <3 #lord of the rings #lotr x reader #lotr imagine #lotr fic #reader insert

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torchwood-99 · 5 months

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Eowyn's ending would have been sexist had it not been for a single line.

As touching as her romance with Faramir is, as heartening as their mutual arc about choosing life and healing over death is, had Eowyn's story ended with her saying "I shall be a shieldmaiden no longer, I shall be your wife" it would have been sexist.

Eowyn is someone who has fought and struggled against the confines other people put on her because of her sex. For her to find happiness and joy by succumbing to those confines, the message would have been "women, accept your natural role in the world and stop trying to rebel. That is the cause of your unhappiness."

It would send the message that women who don't fit into their assigned gender role are broken, and their grief and frustration at that role is a fault in them, not a fault in the world that upholds those roles.

So whereas a female character (say had Samwise been a woman) who yearned for home and domestic comforts and has been fighting a battle to get them back, that would have been a cathartic ending and well deserved, but for Eowyn, who objects to that role from the start and loathes the way it's forced onto her, it would have been an insult, to her and to women, because that ending would have been deemed suitable not because of personality, her desires or ehr strengths, only because she's a woman and "that's what women are suitable for." It would have been overwriting who Eowyn is in order to box her back into the cage.

Also, whereas Faramir's ending would have been defined by several factors, finding love with Eowyn, building a home with her, but also being given a political role as Prince of Ithilien and remaining Gondor's steward, Eowyn's ending would have been defined by the man she married, and nothing else.

Eowyn's arc was walking a razor's edge near that message. That miserable story of a woman who is complex and fierce and has dreams and aspirations of her own, only for all that to disappear once she's "found a good man who helps her mature out of her silly, gender non-conforming ways."

But in one line, Tolkien just manages to avoid that.

"I will be a healer."

This line is so crucial for Eowyn. First of all, it shows that she hasn't given up on having her own dreams beyond domesticity and running a man's household (a role she has spent the entire narrative trying to escape). She has a new dream now, one that exists independently of her marriage and Faramir. She still has ambitions and desires, ones that help her move on from her glory-in-death seeking, but doesn't entirely undermine that need for action and heroism which drove her and is so fundamental to her personality.

After all, a soldier is only a hero in times of war, and then only when they're fighting on the "good side" (and after Sauron's fall, what that good side is will become much murkier.) A healer gets to (and needs to be) a hero at all times.

The fact that her desire to be a healer gives her a role outside of being Faramir's wife is crucial. She has a new path ahead of her, a new adventure, one that doesn't revolve entirely around being a wife and a mother. She has an existence beyond the domestic sphere she's been trying to escape, and she has an independent existence away from the men in her life. This is also means the relationship she has with them become much more equal, and more loving and respectful as a result. Less grounds for resentment or frustration, and a better basis for mutual friendship.

Eowyn still doesn't want to be caged in by the expectations of her gender, if she did, she would have allowed her existence to revolve around her home and husband, and she's found a way that doesn't require her death. That is her happy ending.

With five words, "I will be a healer", Eowyn takes what would have been an insulting and chauvinistic ending, and makes it a triumphant one.

#Lotr #Lord of the Rings #Eowyn #Faramir #Farawyn

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velvet4510 · 6 months

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let’s talk about LOTR book vs. movie differences.

Overall, I prefer the book over the movies. The book just has even more depth, even more great character moments, and of course, all the lore (particularly the appendices) that could never be squeezed into a film, even a film trilogy.

The movies were perfectly cast - every actor was born to play their respective role - with magnificent direction, music, cinematography, and SFX. But the script has many problems when compared to the book.

These are, IMO, the worst changes that the films made (in no particular order):

Far too much emphasis on action/battle scenes. Helm’s Deep is 1 chapter long in the book but the equivalent of at least 5 chapters long in the movie. Ridiculous. LOTR has action scenes, but it is not an action story.

Frodo sending Sam away and going into Shelob’s lair without him. Everything about this added scene is an absolute atrocity. Enough said.

The entire butchering of Faramir. It’s really quite tragic. For the sake of drama, the films stripped Faramir of everything that makes him the incredible character that he is in the book.

Deleting the Scouring of the Shire. I get why (pacing), but it’s the true climax to the hobbits’ storyline and character arcs, and is just a better ending IMO.

Not including any of Frodo’s moments of impressive strength from the book (saving his friends from the Barrow-wight, fighting back against the Nazgûl at Weathertop, defying the Nazgûl at the ford, saving Boromir from a troll in Moria, and choosing all by himself to go to Mordor alone). He has so many bad*ss moments in the book that Elijah Wood would’ve nailed, but the movies made him too helpless and didn’t give a true talent like Elijah nearly as much to work with. (Elijah himself, though, is absolute perfection in the role, and it pains me to think how many great moments from the book he was robbed of.)

Cutting Tolkien’s beautiful songs, especially the “Man in the Moon” from the Prancing Pony. Why couldn’t the film have been part-musical???

Gandalf’s fall looks like he just…lets go. For some reason. In the book, the Balrog’s whip drags him down immediately, but onscreen he grabs onto the cliff and then lets go himself. Makes no sense.

All the stupid hamfisted foreshadowing of Boromir’s attempted theft of the Ring. The script bashes it over our heads, especially in Galadriel’s scene, and I have no idea why any of this was added. Why not just show Boromir glancing at Frodo and the Ring several times, like the book describes? That’s all that was needed.

Making so many jokes at Gimli’s expense because of his height and reducing him to mere comic relief. In the book his character is treated with dignity and has such depth.

Reducing Faramir and Éowyn’s phenomenal love story to a single 30-second scene. Screw pacing, those two deserved a full half hour (at the very least) of screentime dedicated to just them.

The butchering of Tolkien’s point about the Ring’s power by making Isildur’s failure seem like a personal flaw, to the point where it’s the reason Aragorn doesn’t want to be king. A refusal to destroy the Ring isn’t about the Ring-bearer’s own internal character; it’s about how the Ring’s power is absolute and no mortal has a chance of directly destroying it. Elrond, Gandalf, Aragorn, et. al. are fully aware of this in Tolkien’s canon. This change makes it seem like there’s something wrong with Isildur and Frodo specifically for not destroying the Ring.

Cutting the pivotal moment of Sam’s entire character arc where he takes the Ring from Frodo’s body, decides to try to continue the Quest alone, and then wears the Ring to hide from the Orcs. The movies just cut all of this critical content just for the sake of a surprise reveal of “omg Sam’s got the Ring!”

Deleting the CRUCIAL scene where Frodo curses Gollum outside the Cracks of Doom. The whole point of Gollum’s fall is that it’s not caused by a physical struggle between him and Frodo (as the movie portrays), but rather by his own actions, breaking his oath to Frodo and ignoring the warning within Frodo’s curse. The movie instead makes it into the climax of a typical action film.

Apparently this doesn’t bother most fans, but it most certainly bothers me: reducing Rosie to distant eye candy for Sam who he’s never talked to. In the book their relationship is so much more substantial because they grew up together and know each other inside & out and Sam’s love for her actually feels real. In the movies, the relationship just feels so shallow.

Referring to Frodo’s ride to Valinor as “the last ship to leave Middle-Earth.” A flat-out lie when you know Tolkien’s canon, completely ignoring the fact that Sam will be allowed to sail West eventually and they will reunite. They don’t even include Frodo’s line “your time may come, Sam.”

Sam, Rosie, and their children apparently not living in Bag End at the end. One of the book’s most beautiful developments is that after years of being too big for bachelors, Frodo’s generous parting gift to Sam finally enables Bag End to be a family home. It shocks me that the trilogy ends on a closeup of a random yellow hobbit-hole door instead of Bag End’s iconic green door.

On the other hand, there are a few book-to-film changes that I really like:

Arwen helping Frodo at the Ford instead of Glorfindel. I just love the idea of giving Arwen something important to do in the actual narrative, besides just being Aragorn’s wife. At the same time, as I said, I feel like the way the film did it made Frodo too helpless. My ideal version would be a mix of the two: Arwen meets the travellers in Glorfindel’s place but then sends Frodo off on her horse by himself, like Glorfindel does.

Boromir training and playing with Merry & Pippin.

Boromir carrying Frodo out of Moria.

“Give them a moment, for pity’s sake!”

Boromir saying “they took the little ones” instead of “they took the halflings.”

My favorite of all of the screenwriters’ additions that aren’t in the book is the immortal “Roast chicken” exchange.

Giving Théoden a sadder, more realistic reaction to his only child’s death.

Just giving Éowyn more screen time and showing why she falls in love with Aragorn. In the book, she only talks to him a few times and her love for him feels quite rushed; one of the book’s few flaws, in my mind.

Pippin being the one to directly save Faramir by jumping onto the pyre and rolling him off of it to safety.

Denethor realizing too late that Faramir is alive; a heartbreaking moment.

Théoden getting to see that Éowyn is the one who saved him and say a proper goodbye to her. It’s so unsatisfying in the book how he never knows she was there; I much prefer how Éowyn in the movie gets that moment of closure with her beloved uncle.

“I can carry you!” is the scene with the greatest page-to-screen adaptation, hands down. Everything from the acting to the gut-wrenching addition of “do you remember the Shire?” to the music is flawless. Makes me choke up every single time without fail.

The Ring lingering on the lava’s surface, trying to survive, and only melting when Frodo chooses Sam over it. Absolutely phenomenal.

Frodo saying “I’m glad to be with you” to Sam on Mt. Doom instead of “I’m glad you’re with me.”

“You bow to no one.”

Expanding the timeline of Frodo’s last months in the Shire after their return from 2 years to 4 years. I love Jackson for gifting Frodo more time in the Shire before his departure than Tolkien gave him.

I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts about their favorite and least favorite book-to-film changes!

#lotr #jrr tolkien #lotr books #lotr movies #lotr book vs film #lord of the rings

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estelian-01 · 3 months

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lotr who’s the best boy and why is it faramir

Warning! LOTR spoilers the cut!

I see your favorite lotr boy is Faramir. He is a fantastic choice. This guys father very much does not give him the love he deserves and yet that doesn’t twist him. Now if we’re talking about book Faramir, not movie Faramir, your choice is even better!

Book Faramir doesn’t drag poor Frodo to a literal battlefield to try and use the rings power. Book Faramir resists the ring’s temptation unlike his brother (who redeemed himself in the end). Book Faramir actually helps Frodo out a bit if I remember helping give directions to Minas Morgul.

He is eventually terribly wounded and while recovering, meets Eowen, who is also recovering from her own injuries (from killing the wraith). The two of them get marked! We love a guy who loves and respects a strong and brave woman!

So I see your choice of Faramir, and I would raise you one Samwise Gamgee. This little hobbit is literally Frodo’s gardener. I repeat: HE’S JUST HIS GARDENER. This man basically goes on a year long treck to what is basically hell itself for his dear friend.

he supports Frodo through thick and thin. Stays by his side despite Gollum’s cruelty. When he thinks Frodo is dead, he takes the ring to continue the task, only to realize he’s alive! He then infiltrates an entire orc stronghold, alone, to save him. Fortunately most of them killed each other thanks to an inner division, but the others see his shadow and are think he’s a might elvish warrior and flee! This boy was about to take on the surviving orcs (arguably some of the strongest at the fortress) all alone, with little combat skill to speak of. he then GIVES THE RING BACK TO FRODO! While resisting the ring is a feat of its own, willingly giving it back is an achievement few others could even do. The ring tempts people who are in its proximity, but its effect on its bearer is much greater and it can corrupt very quickly, especially considering its proximity to its maker at this point. Yet Sam still gives it up. He keeps Frodo going, he gives him support and hope.

When Frodo leaves middle earth, he leaves everything to Sam. Sam becomes the leader of the Shire for a while. He marries and has LOTS of kids. And once he is old, you wanna know what he did? He left his family and middle earth to go join Frodo in the Undying Lands, because he too was also a ring bearer for a short time and he wanted to reunite with his old friend. Dude literally left his family to go join him (once he was old of course, he didn’t abandon them).

I believe that Tolkien himself admitted that Frodo was not intends to be the hero of this story, that the hero was actually Samwise.

I’d say that Faramir is definitely among the best boys of LOTR, but I gotta say, Sam takes first place for me.

#LOTR #character analysis #samwise gamgee #faramir #book faramir

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anghraine · 9 months

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I was just thinking about how I tend to really engage with characters who have great capacities for good combined with significant personal flaws. Sometimes the flaws are disastrous—I've loved many a tortured villain (but generally not unconcerned, pure-evil-with-panache villains). Sometimes I like anti-heroic characters who are charismatically edgy, but not only edgy—there's got to be something more going on with them, moments when you can hope for better things (like with Mary Crawford).

Sometimes the significant flaws almost lead to disaster, but after much struggle are overcome before the disaster happens (like Luke Skywalker in the OT). Sometimes the flaws do lead to disaster, or at least significantly contribute to it, but that capacity for something better—either in the future or in the sense of possibility—is essential (like with Anakin). Sometimes the external effects are minimal but the flaw is still significant to the character, at least as far as I'm concerned, especially if it's surprising (like with book Faramir).

But sometimes a character is presented as so overwhelmingly good and right-thinking, with such minimal development or flaws I find so ephemeral or unconvincing, that I'm like ... they're fine, I guess? But I don't really love them. I need some sharp edges, at least in my own perception of the character.

Faramir probably has the least of this of my faves, but his mixture of menace and graciousness in TTT and his lashing out in ROTK sells the virtue for me, you know? It's like when people in Austen fandom go on about why would you choose Darcy as the favorite JA hero when you could choose heroes who don't screw up nearly as much and are therefore more deserving, and I'm just, uh, Darcy's powerful virtuousness (which is very real) works for me because he screws up so badly, and does so in large part because of his personal flaws, and has a whole arc involving them.

Of course, it's not just any personal flaw that makes characters like these appealing. There are definitely characters who mix admirable qualities with significant flaws that I find deeply annoying or even repellent. Generally, there has to be a reason for the development of the flaw/flaws that makes intuitive sense to me and which I find more or less sympathetic (Attolia Irene), or an external pressure that winds up the flaw/flaws dramatically and drives the character on (Denethor). Also, some characteristics are just personally irritating or unappealing to me (or alternately, ones I just like—hard, intense, and determined female characters, to the point of of occasional ruthlessness But There's A Reason, are probably my favorite type of female character).

But yeah, "What about X? They don't screw up in any meaningful way, they're just soft and good" is always going to be a tough sell for me.

#anghraine babbles #earning the tag with this one #long post #villain blogging #but also just character blogging #austen blogging #austen fanwank #lady anne blogging #sw fanwank #legendarium blogging #legendarium fanwank #general fanwank #it's like ... tar-ancalimë would be so much less compelling to me if she weren't such a spectacular disaster area #i'm very go hard or go home about them

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i-did-not-mean-to · 1 year

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Y - Yearning

For @lathalea. With a special mention of @scyllas-revenge's cat :D

Words: 1,1k

Pairing: Boromir x OC

Warnings: Boromir is not doing so well...

Boromir reread his letter for the 40th time—already, the paper was worn thin by his fingers in some spots and the creases of the repeated folding and unfolding had marred the once beautifully smooth paper.

He knew that he could have asked his younger brother for help, but his pride didn’t allow him to admit his doubts and insecurities openly—especially not to that smug scholar.

Faramir, of course, was now married to the Lady Éowyn and, thus, he was perpetually gleaming with happiness and self-satisfaction.

It was not that Boromir resented his brother for having found his well-deserved bliss, but he was also not eager to lay out his own shortcomings before one who was undeniably winning at life.

The mere idea that Faramir could pity him made him cringe and he forced his eyes to return to his truly unfortunate letter.

He had not been feeling this out of his depth for many years—once upon a time, he had suffered a great deal under the fact that his brother and their father shared a good many character traits and habits, and he had ever had the sensation that he was an outsider in his own family.

In times of war, his nature and hard-won skillset were exceptionally useful assets but in this period of the strenuous aftermath of a world-changing battle, he felt at a loss again.

If only he had paid better attention to his tutors, droning on and on about grammar, syntax, and poetry. Back in those days, all Boromir had been able to think about was martial and military prowess—and the safety of his realm in the face of the growing darkness.

He had done well, he told himself comfortingly; he had played his part in the victory of the free people against their terrible foe!

Even though he was ashamed of it, he had to admit that a part of him had not expected to return from that quest and, sometimes, he wondered dejectedly if it would not have been for the better if he had died a hero’s death far from Gondor.

His country needed a strong leader—a man both wise and temperate—and Boromir suspected that his gentle, intelligent brother would have been better suited to the role of steward in times of peace than he ever could.

Especially because King Elessar’s decision not to abolish their hereditary title meant that Boromir was to find a wife.

In order to achieve this—in the absence of his father and due to his petty refusal to ask his brother for help—Boromir would have to locate, woo, and win a lady of good standing on his own.

Finding one he would have died a thousand times over to call his had not been nearly as hard as he had expected it to be, but this made the subsequent steps all the more gruelling.

How could he possibly delude himself into believing that a woman like her—beautiful, well-bred, witty, and charming—would ever consider someone as uncouth as him as a romantic partner?

It was an extraordinarily stroke of bad luck that the lady who had utterly bewitched Boromir had told him explicitly that she would never marry for wealth or station.

“Only a true love match will sway me,” she had claimed with a wicked twinkle in her eyes.

Boromir had to admit that he had reacted rather haughtily to that statement, believing that she was insinuating—oh, it had been his hurt pride and fragile heart speaking—that he could only win over a lady by dangling his title in her face.

It was hopeless—he was doomed.

Again, he cursed himself for not having developed and cultivated his courtly manners more, because—as he perused his clumsy letter obsessively—he realised that his words didn’t even sound convincing to him, even though he had written them straight from the heart.

The tingling of a tiny bell—announcing the arrival of an unexpected but certainly not unwelcome friend—tore him out of his dark thoughts.

“Buisine,” Boromir called and, as he was completely and woefully alone, he even made little kissing noises at the animal to draw it closer. “Your mistress must be very worried about you!”

Jumping on the exceedingly comfortable-looking lap of the famed hero, the feline visitor rubbed his furry head against Boromir’s equally hairy chin in a wordless expression of support.

“Maybe I should let you walk over a fresh sheet of paper,” Boromir cooed at the cat. “I am sure that your inky pawprints could not be significantly less eloquent than whatever gibberish I have come up with.”

Buisine blinked slowly up at Boromir, inviting pets and purring encouragingly.

“If only your mistress was as easily charmed by me as you are,” Boromir chuckled as his rough, calloused fingers slid through the silken, elegantly striped fur of the stately animal.

The cat had taken to him instantly and they had been fast friends ever since the day Boromir had found it pawing at a clump of insects.

“I have food,” Boromir went on musing aloud, “and hands to hold and to caress. That is enough for you, but…What does it say about me that it seems so easy to me to confess all my grievances to you when I swallow my tongue as soon as I find myself in your lady’s presence?”

After accepting the strip of dried meat Boromir offered him, the rotund tomcat started cleaning himself on his lap; it was a calming situation and, slowly, Boromir’s nerves settled.

What was the worst thing that could happen? He’d simply send his awkward letter and hope for the best—if she was dissatisfied with it, he would at least get the chance to explain himself to her in person without having to bring up the subject without prelude.

“Buisine?” a melodious, distinctly female voice resounded. “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!”

Stretching out across Boromir’s thighs, the treacherous feline gave a loud, plaintive call.

“Traitor,” Boromir hissed and—for a second—it seemed to him that the cat was laughing at the sudden nervous flutter in his heart, betrayed by entirely unnecessary fidgeting with the straps and fastenings of his coat.

“Oh…there you are. My Lord Boromir,” the object of all his desires said, clearly taken aback, “you must not let him badger you so! Come here, you naughty bugger.”

Her eyes fell on the partially folded letter. “What have we here? Are you penning letters together?”

“Yes,” Boromir admitted dryly. “Buisine is helping me find the right words.”

“I sincerely doubt that, with all due respect,” she replied—amusement dancing in her eyes—and sat down by his side. “I could take a look though.”

Buisine gave a loud purr before curling up again, evidently considering that this was a job well done.

@fellowshipofthefics here's my second entry for the April Alphabet.

Special thanks to @lathalea (a great author, go check her out) for the request and to @scyllas-revenge for letting me borrow her cat (another great author, Scylla...not the cat).

Lots of love from me...

Tomorrow...Gondolin OT3

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#og post #IDNMT writes #fanfiction #writing #tolkien writing #jrrt #LOTR #Boromir #Boromir x OC #Yearning #Y #April Alphabet #fotfics april alphabet #fellowshipofthefics

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