12. Two views for a stranger (Boromir, Elves)
I have been too long alone, Boromir thought as he surveyed the empty forest undecided about his course for the day. He missed even his horse's company. Since that evil river crossing, he had had nothing to talk to. Sufficient, he'd thought himself, inured to hardships. In this curséd autumn wilderness, he had not seen so much as a plume of smoke or desolate farm. Feeling eyes upon him, he whirled, but again saw only nearly leafless branches swaying in the breeze. Imladris. Fool's errand. Better Faramir had come. Where to? Soon, he would be loudly answering himself.
The Ranger acts lost. Rumour ran thru the valley and within hours the stranger was being closely shadowed as he wandered through the woods near Rivendell to see what he might portend. He looked like a Ranger - tall, dark-haired, bright flashing eyes - save his strangely fashioned clothes. No Ranger behaved like this one. Each day he set a new course and followed it doggedly, silently, stopping only to forage for food or hunt. Each evening he sat silent around his fire. If he seeks the hidden path, why does he not call out now that he is in elvish woods?
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.
