17. Memory's Sake (Boromir & Denethor)
Memory's Sake
A light touch along the dusty surface, raising the scent of old roses and musty perfumes.
Once, this dresser was pristine and free of dust. Finduilas had arranged his collection of seashells here with such maternal pride that he thought his face would crack from smiling. She had spent hours with him, setting out arrangement after altered arrangement on the dark surface, until they finally completed it. "I am proud of you," she said.
The dead are gone, and they will ne'er return. Yet still, for memory's sake, he took the small white handkerchief from the drawer, and pocketed it.
Later that night, sleepless and studying the delicate embroidery, he slipped out of bed and began to roam the halls. His wandering feet led him all over the Citadel, until he finally ended up before his father's study, seeing a flickering light from the door, which stood ajar.
His father stood by the window, staring out at the skies. His gaze was absent, remote. When he glanced back to see his son waiting by the door, he beckoned, and Boromir walked over.
Father and son stood in silence, watching the night pass by, and both thought of the same person.
----
March 24, 2005. For Agape4Gondor. The first three paragraphs were instant drabbled: pristine, maternal, altered, and completed. The last three were written later, to make it an exact double drabble.
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
