Dislcaimer: I own the plot bunny.

Why won’t he die?

The monster callously watches the human man pick up his sword and charge forward to the next wave. He ducks, moves back, parries and thrusts his sword deep into the belly of his opponent. Again the monster notches another arrow and lets it fly. And the human is stunned again (the monster wishes the human would just lie down now, it is clear that he isn’t going to survive this encounter) but continues the battle. Once again the human picks up his sword and looks towards the enemy with a snarl. The monster reaches for another arrow.

Why won’t he die?

Boromir knows that this is it. He isn’t not going to make it. The Halflings are screaming behind him, calling his name and he knows, understands that they want to help but they can’t. They hover on the side lines and he keeps the uruks at bay because they can’t have them. He will right the wrongs he has done in this life time. The arrows strike deep and they burn. Already his vision is turning blurry and he can tell that his movements are starting to slip. He hears the arrows fly and reels from the impact and he won’t die. He has to stand until the others get here. And he knows they will, he’s called for them. They have to come. So Boromir must stand and be the barrier for the Halflings until the others arrive.

So Boromir refuses to die.

Boromir has made a lot of mistakes in his life. He knows he’s hurt some people, said the wrong things. He’s tried to be the brother that Faramir can look up to and a comrade that can be depended on. But he knows that the Ring worms his way into the minds of the strongest men and he thinks, perhaps he isn’t weak. Maybe he is the sacrifice that will strengthen the rest of the Fellowship.

He can taste the blood in his mouth and the next arrow drops him to his knees. He can’t get up, he legs just won’t push him up and carry him forward. The Halflings grab their swords and he wishes that he had more time to spar with them, to hear their laughter and show them the sequences that will protect them. They rush forward shrieking bloody murder for him, the failed and corrupted member and Boromir feels loved, like maybe he didn’t do so badly after all. He knows that they didn’t have a chance and rage boils his blood as he hears their cries and the stomps of the horde are fading, fading and perhaps he failed after all. Nobody will know what happened and the Halflings will die slowly and their screams will haunt him in the afterlife.

The monster stands in front of the fallen human. It stares at him with a quiet defiance and somehow it unnerves him. He reaches for another arrow and smirks at the swordsman. So focused on watching the life light face from the human’s eyes the monster never hears the other human come from behind. It is frustrated and doesn’t understand. The humans lost. Just lie down in the dirt so I can kill you. But the human says no and beheads him with a battle cry.

Boromir knows that he’s done some bad things but he knows that maybe today made up for them all. Aragorn holds him and whispers comfort and promises into his ears. The Gondorian closes his eyes and feels his body start shutting down.

His death was a good thing. He never would have been right for a seat of power and Aragorn? The Dunadain was born for it.

Gondor will be safe.

So Boromir lets go of Aragorn’s hand and reaches out for a hand that he has missed holding since he was a little lad.

“Mother.”