The King of Hearts

by Sarah Eleven

Title:  The King of Hearts, 3/3

Author:  Sarah Eleven

Author Email: earthtomama@yahoo.com

Rating:  NC17

Pairings: Aragorn/Everyone, Gandalf/Aragorn, Gandalf/Haldir, Legolas/Gimli, Frodo/Sam, Merry/Pippin, Faramir/Rumil

Visitors:  Hades, god of the Underworld

Summary:  Hades gives the guys an ultimatum when they end up in Limbo.

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to Tolkien and associates, not to me.

Part 3

Boromir’s apprehension was visible when Aragorn sat down to their next breakfast. Standing before the fireplace, the elder son of Denethor rearranged the pokers for the fifth time in so many minutes. He jumped violently at the sudden appearance of Hades, who wrapped an arm around his shoulders and laughed with glee.

"It is the fate of this one to belong to me!" Hades claimed jovially. "Admit it, Aragorn! You do not care for him as you do the others! You wish me to take him and be done with him here. His insolence has earned him a spot in my service!"

Boromir jerked away from him, sneering. "I thought you were going to be away!" he accused. "Leave us alone and let us be!"

"You have caused considerable discord here in Limbo, Boromir," Hades said. "There is one man who could have saved you and you popped him in the mouth! Do you think he would care enough for you now to waste his precious seed in your body?"

The man of Gondor looked away with a grimace. "I care not what he does with his seed! He is not beholden to me!"

On his feet, Aragorn moved to confront Boromir. "You will care when you are in Hell and bent in the service of himself!" he said angrily. "I will not tell you lies, Boromir, I am angry with you, but I will not damn you if I can help it. I will not take you by force although at first, that was the only way I perceived to take you!" He pressed a hand on the other man’s shoulder and gazed deeply into his eyes, "But if you will go willingly with me, I will try to ease your troubled spirit and give to you what you need to keep you here with us."

Boromir staggered beneath the weight of the hand. "You still offer this to me after all I have said and done?"

"I offer it freely, Boromir. Come with me and let me give you sanctuary."

Hades laughed gaily. "Aragorn, you are much too kind! This man has done nothing but cause you trouble since your arrival in Limbo, and you offer him love? I have wrongly placed you in Limbo. Your love and devotion to your companions has merited you a high place above in the Divine."

Boromir turned to glare at the god. "You intend to take him from us now, when they depend upon him so dearly?"

"I will leave it up to him," Hades answered. "I will also leave you in his tender care until he tells me to take you. Your fate is in his hands."

The dark god stepped close to him, taking him closer to the fire and laying a hot, heavy hand on the side of his head, which made him cringe. "Just to let you know, let me tell you a little bit about Hell, and you can take it from there. In Hell, you will service my partisans –there are many of them - most of them insatiable, craving kinky, brutal sex. That means you’ll be tortured, disciplined, maimed, and mutilated to suit their particular kinks…actually, every horrible thing you have ever heard of in sexual torture will happen to you there, and it will keep on happening for eternity. And you will feel it, every nanosecond of it, and you will lose your mind. Unfortunately, losing your mind will not give you peace. It will continue forever, and you will suffer forever. So, how do you feel about that, Boromir?"

Boromir trembled. "Aragorn, can you ever forgive me?" he begged pitifully.

Aragorn heard a general sigh of relief from the others in the room and felt his own heart lighten with hope. He took Boromir by the hand and led him to the bedroom.

When they had gone from the room, the evil god grinned wickedly at those who remained. "So, how does everybody like it so far here on Limbo Island?" he asked.

They shrank back from him, but Gandalf spoke defiantly. "We have begun to enjoy our stay here, most of us. Tell us your plans for the future for us, if indeed we have a future."

"Like I said, Wiz, you’re here for Eternity, so your future is firmly fixed," Hades answered, his wrist limber as he laid his palm on his own cheek. He chewed thoughtfully on his little fingernail. "The deal is good as long as your king chooses to live here among you and keep to his part of the bargain, okay? Everything’s cool."

Frowns of wonder made him laugh. "You folks are so much fun! I’m so happy I finally landed some Middle Earthers in Limbo! You don’t know how much I’m enjoying all the entertainment!"

"So happy we can amuse you," Gandalf said quietly.

"Good! Now, you hot old wizard, grab you an elf and go get you some! Life is supposed to be fun! God, I hate prudence! Just let loose and get it on!"

Gandalf looked around his company with a long sigh and met Haldir’s shimmering blue eyes. Stretching out a hand, he invited softly, "Haldir?"

Haldir went to him without pause and was enveloped in a shielding embrace.

"Wonderful! Don’t think you’ll have it easy with the old guy, Haldir! I hope you’ve heard the one that goes ‘just because there’s snow on the roof doesn’t mean there’s not fire in the furnace!’ He’s a hot one! I think you’re going to be very happy!" With a maniacal laugh, Hades waved at them and disappeared.

"Do you think they’re getting along in there?" Sam asked pensively.

All ten were sitting around the living room, waiting for signs to give them a hint as to Boromir’s fate. The room was not sound proof, but normal speech could not be heard outside the closed door. They waited, listening, but even the elves were unable to hear the two men in the sanctifying bedroom.

His arm around Haldir, Gandalf said finally, "We should go about our own business for now, and let Aragorn work his talents on our highly strung companion. Our good king has the power of love on his side. Have faith that he will overcome."

Their agreement did not make them any less curious, but they dispersed in pairs, each to their own distraction.

~Boromir~

Boromir could not look at the king as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Hades is right. I do not deserve your kindness, Aragorn," he mumbled. "My manners have been dreadful."

Aragorn looked at him with longing. "Boromir," he whispered, stooping before him to touch his face. "Please, tell me what is in your heart."

"Why do you offer me your love?" Boromir asked without meeting his gaze.

The king coaxed his face up and forced eye contact. "My Boromir," he whispered as he leaned closer as if to kiss him, but stopped short. "Ask me instead why the wind blows or why life was given to us in the first place! Ask me why we have eyes to see and ears to hear, ask any of these questions and I will tell you that I do not know. I love you, and that is all. I love you, Boromir, and I do not know why. Nor do I question why. I accept it and I offer it to you. Will you have me now? Will you love me in return or am I alone in this?"

Boromir’s fingers rose and clumsily skimmed his companion’s lower lip. Seeing the healing cut there, he groaned with regret. "I am sorry for the blow, Aragorn. I will never raise a hand to you again. Please forgive me."

"All is forgiven." Aragorn took the fingers and kissed them gently.

The Gondorian’s tortured look was unreprieved. He began to speak slowly as Aragorn moved to sit beside him on the bed. "When we were in Lothlorien and met the Lady Galadriel, she saw my attraction to you and thought it a natural thing. She spoke of my feelings at length and encouraged me to ‘open my heart’ to you, but she could not ease my conscience."

Aragorn considered his words a moment and asked, "Why do you think it is not a natural thing?"

"Because mating is to be done between men and women, between male and female of any race or species! That is written! That is law!"

"In what kingdom, Boromir? In whose law books?"

Boromir was frustrated. "My father beat that law into my head before I became a man! He did not let me grow up lusting after unnatural flesh!"

"But all flesh is natural, is it not? I will say nothing to criticize the way your father taught you, but I will ask you to question it now and think for yourself. I will ask you to think deeply on it because it affects your heart and your soul.

"The hobbits and elves, as you have noted, have no inhibitions about mating with their own gender or other species. Legolas and Gimli are the most unlikely pair here in Limbo, but there have been even more unusual couples in the history of Mirkwood, Rivendell and Lorien. Most of the elves are free spirits who think that the male/female bonding is chiefly for the purpose of procreation."

"And is that what you think, too?"

Aragorn nodded. "Yes, it is."

"But you married Arwen, and you loved her, did you not?"

"Yes, I did, and I love her still, but my time with her is done. I am dead to her. You and I are together forever. I loved you even before Lothlorien, and when you died, I thought you, too, were lost to me! Now that I have you back, I will not lose you again!"

"You loved me? When did you first feel this love for me?" Boromir asked with interest.

"The first time?" Aragorn’s eyes clouded in recollection. "Was the day when we sat down to rest and you were teaching Merry and Pippin swordsmanship. They dropped their swords and attacked you playfully and when you hugged them both and laughed with joy, I felt an overwhelming closeness to you!"

"Yet you had your hand on the hilt of your sword on the snowy mountain when I picked up the ring," Boromir remembered bitterly.

"My heart would have grieved had you tried to take it then, but I knew you would not."

"Frodo learned to fear me," Boromir said.

"He loved you, too, and still does. Boromir, even now, there is hope!"

"You echo Lady Galadriel’s words."

"They are true. Tell me what holds you back."

"That I hurt so many so deeply. That I cannot ever recompense to them, or to you, or to myself!"

"Shame and regret overwhelm your heart, my friend. Let it go."

"How can I?" Boromir’s eyes were brimming. "How can I forget?"

Aragorn touched a tear as it escaped. "Tell me of Denethor and his treatment of you. I know that Faramir has terrible emotional scars, as do you. Tell me what he did to you."

Boromir paused to wipe his eyes roughly. "He loved me, and he was a noble man."

"Yes, I’ve heard that before, but tell me now what happened to cause you such sorrow. Tell me what he did."

"We were together as children, and we loved each other as brothers should. He amused me one day at supper, so I kissed him, and was chastised severely for my actions. As you know, in Gondor, it is the custom of our people to kiss friends on the forehead as a farewell or greetings, and that is what I was told. My fault was in kissing his lips. After that, I often kissed his cheek or brow in secret, but never touched my lips to another’s lips, male or female. Faramir did not live with the bitterness that I did although he suffered even more discipline than I. It seemed our father despised him."

"I know, and he knew. But try and understand that he was mad, not in his right mind. You and Faramir suffer yet because he hurt you needlessly."

Boromir sobbed. "Neither have I been in my right mind! I have felt their aversion to me, all of them who wait by the fire. I fear their scorn."

"No one will scorn you if you will give them a chance to love you." Aragorn threaded gentle fingers through his hair. "And give me a chance to love you, too. May I kiss you, now?"

The sigh was unwilling. "If you must," Boromir raised his face to him, pleading with his eyes.

Aragorn’s annoyance was swept away by the helplessness he saw there. Cupping the back of the other man’s head, he kissed him suddenly and found that breathing was a struggle, as if they had been immersed in water. He backed away for three seconds to drag in a long, difficult breath of air, saw Boromir’s overpowering need, and plunged back into the kiss.

Boromir’s arms closed around him with force, and his lips parted, invited him to deepen the kiss. There they lingered until the air supply ran out again.

Upon parting, their eyes met and Aragorn’s amazement was marked. "My Boromir, for a reluctant partaker who has spent very little time kissing, you are a master. I cannot wait to see what else you can do!"

Boromir smiled at him, and Aragorn thought no one had ever been more beautiful. "I suppose it’s a gift."

"You, my love, are a gift," Aragorn said. "I grieved tremendously when you died in my arms. Having you back and in my arms again is the most precious gift I could ask for."

"You have us all," Boromir said, "And they all love you. You’re their king, my king, and we are all your adoring subjects."

"Subjects? No, you are not my subjects, but my family that I love and cherish. I love you desperately and need to hear from your sweet lips that you are not lost to us."

Boromir’s eyes swam with emotion as he crushed him to his chest and kissed him again. "I hope never to be lost to you, Aragorn," Tangling his fingers in the other man’s shoulder-length hair, he buried his face against his neck and kissed him there. "Please forgive me."

Aragorn sighed in relief and desire. "All is forgiven, Boromir."

Dozens of kisses initiated their lovemaking, which began quite savagely when Aragorn threw off his clothes and began to tear at Boromir’s. To save his buttons, Boromir removed his hands and disrobed himself quickly, standing naked and vulnerable before him.

Aragorn went to his knees and took Boromir into his mouth, engulfing him all at once, which caused him to nearly buckle with stimulation. He looked down and met the blue gray eyes as they rose to view him while he was sucking and pumping him with masterful dedication, and tears streamed down both their cheeks.

"Oh, Aragorn, why did I doubt?" Boromir murmured, but his despair did not save him from the most incredible orgasm he had ever enjoyed. He rocked with the strength of it, steadied himself on Aragorn’s shoulders to keep from falling. When the kneeling man stood, Boromir stumbled backwards and was caught by strong arms that embraced him lovingly as they spun him and laid him gently on the bed.

Aragorn’s fingers dipped into the oil and carefully pressed against that spot Boromir had so fearfully guarded all his life. When the first finger entered, he said nervously, "I was so afraid of this, afraid it would hurt. I was afraid to let you close enough to touch me in this way because of what my father taught me about such things. I know it was stupid, but it is difficult to overcome years of training."

"Yes, I know." Aragorn slipped a second finger into him and carefully began to stretch him. "Just feel the pleasure, Boromir. Do not think about your father and his teachings. Let yourself go, my love."

Boromir nodded and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable as he was, but the fingers inside him found the right spot and he nearly sat up in surprise. "Aragorn, what did you touch?" he asked with rounded eyes.

Feigning ignorance, the king smiled. "I touched something? Did you like it?"

Boromir blushed deeply. "It was…rather pleasing," he answered grudgingly.

"Would you like me to do it again?"

"If it’s always pleasant, do it again." Boromir lifted his bottom from the bed and met his hand this time, his eyes rolling as it happened again. "Yes! That’s very nice."

"Are you ready for me now?" Aragorn removed his fingers and covered him, setting himself against Boromir’s opening. He felt the other man stiffen and bent down to kiss him several times. "Relax, my love. Let me in."

Boromir winced and gripped his shoulders as he was breeched. "Stop, at least for a moment," he begged.

Aragorn was dead still for a few minutes, using the time to explore his mouth with his tongue. The kisses were erotic and soon had Boromir raising his hips to take him in deep. A long, smooth slide into him and Aragorn had once again created friction against Boromir’s newfound gland. Both men were inflamed beyond anything they had ever known in passion. At Boromir’s urging, Aragorn began to move faster and harder, and soon emptied his necessary seed into Boromir’s convulsing insides. The splash against his prostate provoked a series of seismic groans and he shot his own burning seed all over their chests.

When they had recovered from their powerful bout of sex, they went to wash the mess from their bodies, put on their underpants and returned to the bed. Emotional and physical stress had exhausted them. Covering themselves for warmth, they went to sleep in each other’s arms.

His ear pressed against the door, Pippin whispered, "I don’t hear a sound!"

Merry listened, too, and shook his head ruefully. Legolas, above him, shrugged in frustration.

"What are you doing?" Gandalf reprimanded when he discovered the group at the door. He waved them towards the living room where they could talk without being overheard.

When they were all seated glumly before the fire, Sam made the explanation. "It’s been over eight hours since they went in there, and not a sound have we heard. We’re afraid they’ve killed each other! Not a sound, Gandalf!"

"Can’t we just knock on the door and ask if they’re all right?" Frodo asked.

Gimli nodded emphatically. "What would it hurt for us to interrupt them? They’ve had plenty of time to themselves!"

Gandalf sighed at them. "I suppose you’re right. They have taken a very long time. Very well. Go ahead."

Hades chose that moment to pop in, laughing. "You guys crack me up!" he said. "So worried about your king! You’re all so sweet and thoughtful! And nosy! You want to know if they actually got it on, don’t you, you nosy bastards! That’s one thing I love so much about you folks!" He let loose another laugh. "Well, go on. Knock on the door and let them know you’re ‘concerned’."

The company hurried to the bedroom door and hesitated a moment, each looking to another to knock. Finally, Gimli rapped impatiently on the wood and called, "Aragorn, we need to see you!"

There was a brief wait before the door opened a bit and Aragorn’s sleepy face appeared in the crack. "Yes, Gimli? What is it?" Seeing them all there, he frowned in confusion. "What is wrong?"

"We were worried." Pippin answered. "Are you all right? No one’s heard a peep from you since more than eight hours ago!"

Aragorn covered his mouth as he yawned. "We’re fine. We’ve been sleeping."

"Good," Gimli said happily. "Then we can leave you to your rest and go back to what we were doing."

Frodo, surprisingly, was the one who stepped into Aragorn’s privacy and looked towards the bed. "Is Boromir well, too?" he asked.

Boromir sat up in bed and waved at them as, with a sigh, Aragorn let the door swing wide. "I’m fine. I’m flattered that you care, especially you, Frodo."

"Of course I care!" Frodo said, hurrying to the bed to pounce on the man of Gondor. He hugged him jubilantly. "Are you safe now, Boromir? Did Aragorn give you what you needed?"

Very touched, Boromir hugged the gentle hobbit and kissed his dark hair. "Yes, I am safe. And I am sorry for the way I have treated you, all of you. I am sorry and I promise that I will be much pleasanter from now on. Please forgive me."

Frodo kissed his cheek. "Already forgiven!" he cried.

Hades wiped a tear mockingly. "Oh, you guys!" he said. "You’re such saps! This is going to be one fun-filled eternity!"

"You!" Aragorn pointed to him, and the god pointed to himself, his attention captured. "I want to ask you a question!"

"Then ask, dear king! The worst I can say is ‘no’."

"I ask if I am allowed love here, true love."

"You have love. Each of these individuals would love you forever if chosen to be your eternal love. You may choose one, or keep them all! You may have them all forever. Why are you asking me this? You can do whatever you want as long as you keep to the deal. Once a month with each one – easy rent, wouldn’t you say? If you want one of them for your own, just take him."

Aragorn bowed to him. "Thank you," he said. "I will."

"You wanta share this choice with us, King?" Hades said.

"Not with you, Hades, not until I have discussed it with them."

"Well, damn! You sure know how to hurt a guy’s feelings!" Hades snapped his fingers in disappointment. "I suppose you want to be left alone for this touchy-feely bullshit!"

"Yes, please," Aragorn answered amiably.

Rolling his eyes, Hades disappeared.

"Come in, all of you," Aragorn invited. "Sit down. Forgive our state of undress. I would like to talk with you, all of you, and hear your feelings on this thing."

They entered the room and all sat on the bed, the hobbits climbing onto it to join Frodo in Boromir’s lap. Happily, he hugged each of them. Soon, unable to keep his distance, Legolas crawled up for a hug, too and was followed by Faramir, who kissed his brother on the lips. After backing up for a surprised glance at him, Boromir laughed affectionately and kissed him back.

Aragorn smiled at them, happy to see the love his family displayed.

Haldir brought them back to order. "Aragorn, tell us who you have chosen."

Their king laid a hand on Haldir’s shoulder and said softly, "I need you to know that I love you all and will always love you. You are the lights in my darkness, my warmth where there is cold. You are my life, and I would lose none of you! I am delighted to see that you have taken lovers, Gimli and Legolas, Faramir and Rumil, Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pippin, and now, Gandalf and Haldir. May your love last for all eternity." He bowed to them and honored them with his signature touching of the forehead and lips.

"You still have not chosen," Haldir said.

"Tell me, Haldir," Aragorn said, "how do you feel about Gandalf?"

"I love him." Haldir answered simply. "I love him very much, and will be happy with him forever with your permission."

"You have it, although you do not need it. You have the freedom to do as you like, my beautiful Haldir." Aragorn bent to kiss him on the brow. "Gandalf is marvelous. You are very fortunate, and so is he." He took a step to take Gandalf’s head in his hands and kissed him on the lips. The wizard hugged him, returned his kiss and winked at him as he patted his cheek.

"Are you choosing Boromir?" Frodo asked keenly.

Boromir’s eyes widened as he glimpsed at the hobbit then up at Aragorn for his response. There was a long moment in which the two men’s eyes held fast before Boromir finally asked, "Well, are you choosing Boromir?"

Aragorn smiled at him. "If he will have me," he answered meekly.

Boromir arose from his spot in the bed, scattering hobbits this way and that, and threw his arms joyfully around the king. "If I will have you?" he demanded. "Do you want me or not, Aragorn?"

Confronted, Aragorn nodded pensively. "I want you, Boromir," he answered, "But it’s your choice, not mine."

Boromir kissed him, then threw back his head and laughed loudly. "How did you come to be our king when you’re so daft?" he asked as he tenderly kissed him again. "If it’s MY choice, Aragorn, then you will belong to me forever and ever." After two more sweet kisses and a tender nose rub, he whispered, "And ever."

They received a round of applause from the sentimental onlookers. Boromir smiled at them, but immediately shooed them from the room and closed the door closed behind them. When they were alone again, Aragorn waited with anticipation to see what the son of Denethor had in store for him now that he had claimed him.

Boromir knelt to strip off Aragorn’s underpants, and dropped his own as he led the king back to bed. "I have never wanted anyone so much!" he said softly. "No one has ever looked so desirable just standing there looking at me! How can you be so beautiful, Aragorn? How have you made me fall so deeply in love with you?"

"I would ask you the same question," Aragorn answered, caressing his cheek. "I love you, Boromir, more than anything."

Boromir sat up and rolled on top of him to kiss him passionately. "We need to talk," he whispered in his ear. "There are many things that need to be said before I go further."

"Then say what you will," Lovingly, Aragorn touched his face. "As long as it is not that you do not love me."

"I do! I love you and always will. That is not what we need to talk about. I wish to explain to you that I have been with no other but you. My father lived without love after the death of my mother, never took another lover. He denied himself all contact with human flesh, and expected the same of me. To please him, I complied. I felt love was forbidden to me."

"You could have…"

"Yes, I could have done much behind his back, but I did not want to. My passions laid elsewhere, with my warrior training."

"But Faramir has been molested by someone in his past. Do you know who?"

"I have suspicions. There were teachers who were so inclined. If I had known when it happened, the man would have lost his offending member to my sword for his misdeed! But Faramir never told me. He knew I would kill the man, so he would not betray his transgression."

Aragorn nodded, understanding. "I hope he will talk with us about it later, along with Rumil, who suffered the same misdeed."

"I figured that was why they bonded so quickly." Boromir said. He rose to his hands and knees and reached for the oil. "Has this ever been done to you?" he asked, sliding oily fingers between Aragorn’s legs.

"Once," Aragorn drew in a shaky breath and wrapped his legs around him. "By Gandalf a few nights ago."

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes, I did," Aragorn grunted in pleasure as Boromir’s fingers slid into him.

"Do you wish this with me?"

"Very much!" Aragorn answered, taking the oil and reaching to smooth it on Boromir’s aroused organ. "It would make me very happy to have you in this way, my love."

Encouraged, Boromir bent to kiss him while his fingers slid in and out of him. His lips began to glide downwards over his short beard to his throat, which he kissed hard, leaving his claiming mark, then to his breast. He sucked the brown nipple into his mouth, first fiercely, then softly. Moving to the other nipple, he bit it gently until the man beneath him moaned with need. Taking out his fingers, he slowly entered him, drawing back to watch his face for signs of pain. He saw the initial grimace and waited cautiously, but Aragorn whimpered his need for him.

Boromir was not swift to thrust. Pulling out, he gripped his legs, lifted them over his shoulders and leaned to kiss his inner thighs, first one, and the other. He left another love mark on the right one, and sucked his lover’s manhood deep into his mouth. He returned his fingers into him for a few more minutes before sliding back into place and entering him again.

"Boromir!" Aragorn cried out, pulling him in deeper.

Boromir looked into his face and the love and passion he saw there was devastating. Tears filled his eyes as he gazed on the man he loved with all his heart, and he quickened his strokes, holding Aragorn’s legs tightly as he came deep inside him.

"Oh, Boromir!" Aragorn shouted as his seed blasted forth and sprayed them.

Boromir collapsed on top of him, releasing his legs, which fell to the bed. Sated and happy, they cuddled like that, unbothered by the mess or the listening ears at the door. After whispering their words of love, they fell silent, at peace together.

In his own realm, Hades was very happy with the close-circuit film box scene he had just enjoyed. "Oh, well, I can’t get ‘em all!" he said. "That’s okay. I can still watch hot gay boys in action for eternity! God, I love this stuff!"

The End

Or at least a seriously demented pause until my insane muses get inspired again…

| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 |

~ send feedback to sarah eleven ~ return to fics page ~