Over the next few weeks, Aurora spent quite a bit of time with Boromir. Not as much as she would have like, but with him busy with the armies, that was to be expected. Aurora was also able to keep herself busy, so she didn't think of ways she could bump into Boromir. Ten years ago she would have avoided him completely and if she did bump into him, a fight would have ensued, then after that, she was usually in trouble with her father. But she and Boromir weren't kids anymore either.

Bored after her morning duties, Aurora needed something to do. Sliding on her riding gloves and boots she walked towards the stables and went to where she kept her mare stabled. She had not been out for a ride since the one that took her home to Gondor. Her mare neighed at her happily as she haltered her and led her out of her stable.

"Well, hello to you also Shadow." Aurora tied her jet black mare to the tie post and began brushing her down before wrestling the saddle up on her back. Aurora had this mare given to her by the elves after she'd been at Rivendell for a while. This horse meant the world to her, and for a long while, was her only friend.

From the time she had arrived home to Gondor, Aurora had very little time by herself. Her handmaiden was always with her, or she was helping out with the duties if being a royal of Gondor, which she hated. But being able to slip away and go riding by herself, it gave her a new sense of freedom. When she got to the gates a soldier opened them and let her through. It made her gasp every time she rode through these giant gates. The vast lands of Gondor opened up in front of her. Instead of riding straight she reined Shadow to the right along the mountains and towards the forest that laid northwest of Minas Tirith.

Boromir walked down to Aurora's quarters after he had stabled his horse for the day. He frowned when he knocked on the door and no one answered. Weird, Boromir thought to himself. Aurora was always there at this time of day. He looked in the window and didn't see one movement. His curiosity lead him to the gardens where she spent the majority of her free time reading and writing letters. Not there either. Boromir stopped to look over the grounds around the great hall and wondered where the hell she could be. The only place he hadn't looked was the stables. She enjoyed going down and feeding and grooming her mare Shadow.

Boromir trotted down and stopped in front of the stables. Her horse was gone. He walked over to where the stableman was cleaning stalls.

"Have you seem where Lady Aurora went? I can't find her anywhere."

The man quit cleaning and stood straight as he faced Boromir. "Yes, my Lord. She went for a ride."

Boromir raised his eyebrows at the young man. "Went for a ride? With whom?"

"No one sir."

"You let her go for a ride by herself? What were you thinking?"

"Sorry sir. She seemed content on what she was doing so I didn't interfere.

Boromir wanted to throw the man into the pile of horse crap that he was shoveling. "Saddle my horse immediately."

The young man frowned at Boromir as he walked towards Amroth. "At least Aurora can saddle her own horse."

Boromir spun around at him, "If you can't whisper any lower than that, you'll be doing a lot worse that shoveling horse crap!"

"Yes, my Lord." The stable man lowered his head and continued his work in silence.

Boromir quickly mounted his horse and galloped down to the giant double gates. The gates men jumped to their feet as they seen their Captain rushing towards them.

"Which way did Lady Aurora go?" Boromir was beginning to get very impatient when they stood and stared at him in silence. He stood up in his stirrups and shouted at them. "I swear, if you don't tell me where she went, you two are going—"

At the sound of Boromir's voice, on of the men caved in and said, "We promised her not to tell anyone. But she went along the mountains and towards the forest."

"Thank you. Was it really that hard? Now, open the gates." Boromir urged Amroth into a fast gallop in the direction Aurora had ridden.

Aurora pulled Shadow to a stop at the river. The sound of the running water had a soothing affect on her. Aurora swung herself to the ground and dropped the reins so Shadow could graze on the lush green grass. She walked over and dropped herself down on the bank. The water inviting enough that she pulled her riding boots off and dangled her feet in the cool water. The cool feeling relaxed her against the warm breeze that blew through the trees. She knew that no one was around so she laughed out loud and splashed her feet in the water. She turned around as if some one just might be listening. Shadow was the only creature around who gave her an odd look. She twitched an ear as if to say, Have you lost your mind?

Aurora continued to let her feet hang in the water and she let her thoughts wander, to no where important of course, just where ever they wanted to go. She didn't have anywhere to be at the moment and it was great to sit and let the time go by. But her peaceful thoughts where interrupted by the sound of a horse approaching. When she turned on the bank, a rider approached. She was going to kick the gates men's asses for sure. She had threatened them both with an inch of their lives and if they told anyone where she went she'd have their heads on a plate. Aurora pulled herself up to stand in the tall grass and shielded her eyes from the bright sun as she stepped forward. It was Boromir. His horse was headed towards in a gallop. Was something wrong?

"Well, hello Boromir." Aurora called up to him and he jumped down from his bay horse. "Is something wrong?"

Boromir stomped towards her, "Yes something is wrong. What the hell do you think you are doing?"

Aurora frowned at him not liking the tone in his voice. "Excuse me?" Aurora crossed her arms. "I was having a little peace and quiet until someone decided to ruin it."

Boromir walked close enough to her that she had to look up to make eye contact. "Don't you ever leave without telling someone where you are going."

"Meaning you? Since when did you become my babysitter?"

Boromir shook his head. "You don't go riding off by yourself. There is too much of a chance that something might happen."

"You're just pissed because you couldn't find me and I didn't leave you a note to exactly where I'd be and what time I'd be back!" Aurora stood on her tippy-toes to look him in the eye and point a finger at his chest. "I don't need someone to be my keeper." Boromir smiled at her. Aurora stepped back and put her arms out at her sides. "What on earth could you find funny about this?"

"Your beautiful when your mad." Aurora's mouth fell open at his words. The way she looked standing there barefoot and a peach colored dress that fit in all the right ways. Bless the elves for teaching her how to dress like she did. Boromir jumped at the chance to do something he had wanted to do the day that Aurora had come back home. Boromir stepped back to her and cupped the back of her head and brought his lips down to hers.

As soon as Boromir kissed her, her fingers found their way through his hair and her angry thoughts disappeared into thin air. Aurora kissed him back with the same hunger that Boromir had. It was a good thing he had his arm around her when he pulled away, because Aurora's legs would have given out and she would have sunk to the ground. Good lord the man could kiss.

Boromir squinted his eyes at her, "Now get on your horse and come home."

Aurora had to catch her breath, "Don't boss me around. And don't think you can sway me with your kisses Captain."

"I just did." Boromir reached out took hold of Shadows reins and handed them to Aurora, who grabbed them from his hand and glared at him.

Aurora wasn't going to let him know that he was right. She would put up another fight. As long as he never kissed her again.