Chapter Text
Fear Til Now Unknown, by Edoraslass
The men who came to me at the brothel were merchants, craftsmen, scholars – men with soft, uncalloused hands and skin unblemished except by age. Guards or soldiers had enough opportunity within the ranks, if their tastes ran to other men, and besides, they could not have paid what the house mistress asked for me.
So it was a surprise to see how many scars Lord Boromir bore. I asked no questions, but I would sometimes study those scars, and wonder how he received them. When time had passed, and I became bolder and more certain that he did not object to me touching him unbidden, I would trace the marks with fingertips and tongue. His breath would become ragged, and he would close his eyes, seeming to focus on nothing but my gentle caresses. I was fascinated by the rough skin as proof of his valour in battle.
Once while I thought he slept, I studied a angry scar on his thigh. It was only as long as my hand, but it had not been there three months before, when he had last visited me. For the first time, I felt something like fear for his safety. Of course I knew that he was the Captain-General of Gondor, our finest warrior, and in danger more often than not, but I had never been presented with such fresh, raw evidence.
Greatly daring, I pressed my lips to the newly-healed wound, and immediately felt him stroking my hair. I looked up, afraid that I had awakened him, but Boromir only smiled, touched my face briefly, and told me of how he had lost his footing on a patch of mud while fighting an Orc. “It is only a scratch,” he told me, “and nothing to worry about.” His smile suddenly widened, became warmer. “Though I am grateful for your concern.” Then he leaned up and kissed me deeply, which always left me breathless, for even after so many months, I had not gotten used to him wanting to kiss me.
I half-expected that Boromir would want to have me again, but instead, he drew me to him, and I gladly settled myself in his arms. He drifted off to sleep almost immediately, as he always did. I lay awake for a bit longer, listening to his steady breathing, trying to convince myself that there was, in fact, no reason to worry about his safety.