I don't feel very Easter-ly, and I think I've lost track of time during this extended weekend. Lately, I've fallen head-first into Boromir-centric Lord of the Rings fiction (again), and I'm all a-fire for Gondor, which has stirred in me just a teensy-tiny little bit of resentment towards Aragorn Elessar, Gandalf, Elrond Half-Elven, and all the other Eldars who've found time to enjoy poetry, the peace of their forest homes, and a quiet life in the vast realm of Middle-Earth, while Gondor knew nothing but war, hopelessness and death, trying in vain to stemm the tide of Mordor.

Plus, Aragorn? Is not the rightful king of Gondor, so shut up, Legolas. He's a heir to the Northern Kingdom, Arnor, and because of his bloodline as a descendant of Isildur (and of Arvendui and Fíriel) he has a claim to Gondor's throne as well, but that's all - just a claim. A claim to which a similar one has been rejected once already. Gondor would do well with a king who's grown up within her borders, who's fought for her, who knows her people. I'm with Boromir on this one - "Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king."

Okay, rant aside, I discovered I still love well-written Aragorn/Boromir slash, and as long as Aragorn isn't written as the be-all, end-all of heroic virtue (with Boromir-The-Traitor a mere footnote), I also like stories in which he is crowned High King... as long as Boromir is by his side.

After scouring the 'net for as-of-yet unread stories, I found a handful of treasures of which I'd now like to recommend the best. So go check out the newest update to storyteller's campsite for Alex Quine's stunning 'Cold Pressing' AU (A/B slash), as well as for Carolyn Golledge & Eleanor Tremayne's 'Rapid Peril' (gen), and Cinzia's 'A Fairy Tale of Gondor' (Aragorn/Boromir/Arwen).

...By the way, should I buy Boromir's flag of the White Tree of Gondor as seen in Osgiliath (movie :: merchandise) - y/y?