Full Circle

[ungoliant]

Shadows twisted and curled through the trees, unnatural darkness licking at the clear waters of the Anduin as the great river rushed past under the stars. No moon shone overhead, and no living thing made a sound in the woods

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[boromirthereal]

The warrior dismounts at the base of the hillside, removing the tack from the horse Eomer gave him, and leaving him to graze where it is peaceful, knowing he will wait.

Not wishing to he time, he makes his way up the dark path into the woods next to the Anduin, sword drawn and ready, his body filling with the memory of what happened last time his feet followed this path.*

He thinks to himself "Focus on the task at hand. Remember your training. She will try to trap her. You know her well and you cannot let her win."

His feet crush the leaves as he finds his way. Soon... all too soon.... he is able to feel her presence again, sense her breath in the tree branches, cold, filled with death.

[ungoliant]

The only sound was the quiet rippling of the river as it flowed over rocks and raced away towards the distant falls. Even here, at the broken landing, the water felt damp from the rising mists of Rauros.

She was waiting for him, draped panther-like over a low branch. She'd deliberately chosen her human form, knowing that he would not hesitate to attack if confronted by a monstrous spider. A beautiful woman whom he had once, perhaps cared for, even just a little...yes, this way they would speak first.

Before he could draw within sword range, she dropped to the ground and leaned against a tree. She was unarmed, and barely clothed, but she was far from harmless -- and he knew it. "So you have returned to me," she purred, and her eyes gleamed with lazy pleasure. "And I worked ever so hard on the...invitation."

Somehow, Boromir knew that Ungoliant did not mean the parchment itself.

[boromirthereal]

He climbs the path that leads up through the woods very carefully, sword drawn, swiftly pushing aside the massive branches of overhnging pitch pine and cedar as he goes. His senses are alert, grey eyes adjusting to the light, ever watchful. He knows full well what he is up against, but refuses to give in to fear

[boromirthereal]

He sees her. This is not hat he expected. And yet.... he is not surprised. He looks at her steadily, grey eyes impassive as steel. How did he ever love her?

And yet.... How could he ever not? She is a mass of contradictions, of things that do not go easily together. And she is sly. He can see her mind. She knows that I will not slay an unarmed woman, not even one such as her. He thinks.

She also underestimates me.

His words are firm and to the point.

"You will not live to lay another finger on my daughter. Or upon any whom I love, Ungoliant. If it means my death, this curse will end. It will end with me, and it will end here.

And no, I will never return to you. Not in that sense."

[ungoliant]

She circled him, slowly, just out of range. She looked human, and harmless, and beautiful, but her bare feet were eeriely silent in the dead leaves and her dark eyes did not reflect even the faintest glimmer of starlight. Boromir had to turn to keep her before him, wary of a trick, but for now she was content to merely circle.

"You're mine, son of Gondor," she said calmly, reasonably. "Your father accepted my bid for your hand in marriage. He gave you to me. And when something is rightfully mine, even Melkor himself hesitates to keep it from me." She smirked. "Or did you daydream during your lessons as a child? Do you think me merely another spider to hack and slay? I am darkness and hunger incarnate. And you belong to me.

"Will you return to my arms, Boromir? Or must we play this tiresome game out to its inevitable conclusion? If I leave here tonight without you, your family will be dead by morning. I have proven myself quite capable."

Boromir was startled to hear an echo behind her words, behind his eyes: Though I