Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings, just only in my dreams.
The Ring of Stars by Shelly
CHAPTER TWO
The next night was spent without nightmares, and she awoke on the day of her departure with a little excitement mixed with a small amount of sadness. She broke her fast with her father then walked back out into the woods for a little more archery practice, although she was already quite accomplished at it. She had always believed in the saying "practice makes perfect", something she applied to every weapon she had ever trained in. She was also proficient in swords and daggers as well as the bow and arrow, which it seemed all elves knew how to do as soon as they were born.
Finding the same spot she practiced at yesterday, she pulled the old arrows from the tree and placed them with the others in her quiver, hoping she wouldn't be disturbed today.
Boromir stopped his horse near the Ciril River to let them both quench their thirst caused by the noonday sun beating down on them, dismounting stiffly as he stretched his legs. Crouching down, he surveyed the land around him with his keen eyes. Normally he wasn't prone to feelings of awe about anything, but the valley that embraced the river was guarded on three sides by the White Mountains, making the valley a fertile farmland for the people who dwelled here in Lamedon. He hoped that he would soon be coming to Silmarion for the sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could return home.
When his father had told him that he was to come here to escort the Princess Lillisandra to Minas Tirith he had protested as he could think of a thousand things that would be better than putting up with some girl for the time it took to return. In the end the Steward of Gondor had kept firm in his decision as she was a princess and it would be wrong to refuse a request from a neighbor when that neighbor had helped them in the past. So here he was on this godforsaken journey to a land he knew nothing about nor cared nothing for.
He sighed and mounted his horse once more, keeping near the river as he had been told it was the easiest way to find his way to Silmarion. A few hours passed and he found himself becoming drowsy in his saddle from the warm sun shining down on him. He closed his eyes for a bit and when he opened them again he saw that he was no longer near the river but among trees. Cursing his own foolishness, he grabbed the reins and started to turn his horse back towards the river when he heard something cut the air in front of him. He drew his sword, his eyes scanning the forest around him.
When he finally saw who it was that had dared to attack him, he almost dropped his sword in surprise when he saw what had to be the most beautiful creature that ever lived. She stood there with her bow in her hand, an arrow nocked and ready to fire although she had pointed it towards the ground by now. Her auburn hair was braided in a rope behind her back, and the wind had managed to work some strands free which floated in the breeze. He couldn't tell what color her eyes were from this distance, but he thought them to be as blue as the sky above them.
Lillisandra was just as shocked to see him as his was the very same face she had seen in her dreams, but her dreams had done him no justice once she saw him with her own eyes. He had drawn his sword but it now lie across his lap once he saw she meant him no harm. He sat tall and proud in his saddle, his rich clothing marking him as nobility, and she flushed in embarrassment as she realized that he must've been the one that was to come from Minas Tirith. She found she couldn't tear her eyes from his, eyes that looked down deep into her soul.
Finally it was Boromir that broke the contact between them, and he was no less shaken by the intensity of her own gaze. He pulled himself together though and managed a cordial smile. "Since you're here, I assume I am drawing near to Silmarion."
Even his voice was wondrous to hear, and she longed to hear him speak again. "You are, my lord. And I apologize for almost shooting you with my arrows."
He laughed. "I would've been deserving indeed if you had. I was dozing in my saddle and my horse wandered away from the river. But I beg you not to think that this happens all the time for I assure you it does not."
"Not at all," she replied, smiling. "Would you like me to lead you the rest of the way? Other elves may not be so quick to stay their hand if they see a stranger in the woods."
He dismounted and began walking beside her as he led his horse behind him. "Are all your people so friendly?" he asked.
"Just wary, my lord. It helps to have some protection in times of danger." They soon came upon Silmarion and she pointed out some things to him, such as where her father's house was. He asked her where she stayed and she blushed as she pointed out her house, wondering why he had asked. She led him to her father's house and bid him to wait for a moment before rushing inside and informing her father that he had arrived, leaving Boromir to wonder if he would ever see her again.
That night a feast was held in honor of Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, in the hall of Lord Certhas' house. Lord Certhas sat at the head of the long table that overlooked the two other tables that lined the sides of the hall. Boromir sat at his right and wondered who was to sit at the elven lord's left as he talked with him.
Lillisandra rushed as fast as she could to the hall, her unbound hair bouncing behind her. She had chosen to wear a golden gown for the occasion with matching slippers that glided silently across the floor as she entered, feeling slightly uncomfortable as she was used to more comfortable clothing. She approached the dais and stepped up to her father's side, her eyes never leaving Boromir as his never left hers. He still wore the same clothes he had arrived in, now clean, and had bathed before coming, now looking as handsome as ever.
She stood by patiently as she waited for her father to introduce them, returning Boromir's smile as he appeared amused. Finally her father noticed her at his side and they both rose to their feet as Certhas took her hand in his. "Lord Boromir, I would like you to meet my daughter, Lillisandra."
She dropped in a curtsy before him. "My lord," she greeted him, looking up into his shocked expression.
Boromir was indeed shocked as he had expected the daughter of Certhas to be no more than a mere girl, not a woman with such beauty that rivaled the very stars of the night. If he was to escort her to Minas Tirith, it would be a very interesting trip indeed.
They sat down to eat and Certhas bid him to speak more of Denethor and Gondor. While he answered his questions, Boromir couldn't help but think of the events of that afternoon. Had she really intended to miss or did she really mean to end his life out of spite towards him? What if she didn't wish to return to Minas Tirith with him? By now some of his earlier sour mood had returned, and he frequently sent scathing glances her way, which earned confused ones from her at first then more angered ones later.
Soon the music started and people filled the floor in front of their table as they glided to the music. Boromir stood and held his hand out to Lillisandra. "Would you like to dance, my lady?"
She favored his hand with the same respect that was due a snake. "I should think not, my lord, with the looks you have been giving me all night."
His eyes darkened even further, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her down into the other dancers. She started to protest, but he quickly pulled her into his arms and led her around in time to the music. "Stay your tongue, my lady, before I take more drastic measures," he breathed into her ear.
She replied with a short laugh. "Like what? Shoot daggers with your eyes? You've been doing it all night."
He pulled back to look into her eyes, and she knew she would never seen a more handsome sight than he was with his eyes flashing from anger. "How about an arrow like the one you almost killed me with if your aim had been any better? Luckily for me it wasn't."
She gasped in outrage. "If I had wanted you dead, believe me you would be. And why are you getting so upset about this now? You were a total gentleman to me earlier, now you're a total ass."
"You deceived me as you did not tell me who you were," he hissed.
She looked up into his eyes in false surprise. "Was I supposed to? Tell me, what else was I supposed to do that I forgot about? Fall at your feet and let you know how glad I was to see my brave escort arrive so that he can protect me on my long journey? Please, it would've been better off if I had shot you," she scoffed.
"You know, you're right," he smirked. "Then I wouldn't have to put up with your senseless attempts to injure me."
The anger in her eyes flared, and she stepped on his foot with all her weight behind it, forcing him to muffle his howl of pain. "How's that for injuring you?" she hissed before she turned and walked back to her room, tears of anger welling in her eyes.
*****************
Author's note: Ouch! Already starting off on the wrong foot. Don't worry, next chapter he'll have a chance to mend things between them.
The Ring of Stars by Shelly
CHAPTER TWO
The next night was spent without nightmares, and she awoke on the day of her departure with a little excitement mixed with a small amount of sadness. She broke her fast with her father then walked back out into the woods for a little more archery practice, although she was already quite accomplished at it. She had always believed in the saying "practice makes perfect", something she applied to every weapon she had ever trained in. She was also proficient in swords and daggers as well as the bow and arrow, which it seemed all elves knew how to do as soon as they were born.
Finding the same spot she practiced at yesterday, she pulled the old arrows from the tree and placed them with the others in her quiver, hoping she wouldn't be disturbed today.
Boromir stopped his horse near the Ciril River to let them both quench their thirst caused by the noonday sun beating down on them, dismounting stiffly as he stretched his legs. Crouching down, he surveyed the land around him with his keen eyes. Normally he wasn't prone to feelings of awe about anything, but the valley that embraced the river was guarded on three sides by the White Mountains, making the valley a fertile farmland for the people who dwelled here in Lamedon. He hoped that he would soon be coming to Silmarion for the sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could return home.
When his father had told him that he was to come here to escort the Princess Lillisandra to Minas Tirith he had protested as he could think of a thousand things that would be better than putting up with some girl for the time it took to return. In the end the Steward of Gondor had kept firm in his decision as she was a princess and it would be wrong to refuse a request from a neighbor when that neighbor had helped them in the past. So here he was on this godforsaken journey to a land he knew nothing about nor cared nothing for.
He sighed and mounted his horse once more, keeping near the river as he had been told it was the easiest way to find his way to Silmarion. A few hours passed and he found himself becoming drowsy in his saddle from the warm sun shining down on him. He closed his eyes for a bit and when he opened them again he saw that he was no longer near the river but among trees. Cursing his own foolishness, he grabbed the reins and started to turn his horse back towards the river when he heard something cut the air in front of him. He drew his sword, his eyes scanning the forest around him.
When he finally saw who it was that had dared to attack him, he almost dropped his sword in surprise when he saw what had to be the most beautiful creature that ever lived. She stood there with her bow in her hand, an arrow nocked and ready to fire although she had pointed it towards the ground by now. Her auburn hair was braided in a rope behind her back, and the wind had managed to work some strands free which floated in the breeze. He couldn't tell what color her eyes were from this distance, but he thought them to be as blue as the sky above them.
Lillisandra was just as shocked to see him as his was the very same face she had seen in her dreams, but her dreams had done him no justice once she saw him with her own eyes. He had drawn his sword but it now lie across his lap once he saw she meant him no harm. He sat tall and proud in his saddle, his rich clothing marking him as nobility, and she flushed in embarrassment as she realized that he must've been the one that was to come from Minas Tirith. She found she couldn't tear her eyes from his, eyes that looked down deep into her soul.
Finally it was Boromir that broke the contact between them, and he was no less shaken by the intensity of her own gaze. He pulled himself together though and managed a cordial smile. "Since you're here, I assume I am drawing near to Silmarion."
Even his voice was wondrous to hear, and she longed to hear him speak again. "You are, my lord. And I apologize for almost shooting you with my arrows."
He laughed. "I would've been deserving indeed if you had. I was dozing in my saddle and my horse wandered away from the river. But I beg you not to think that this happens all the time for I assure you it does not."
"Not at all," she replied, smiling. "Would you like me to lead you the rest of the way? Other elves may not be so quick to stay their hand if they see a stranger in the woods."
He dismounted and began walking beside her as he led his horse behind him. "Are all your people so friendly?" he asked.
"Just wary, my lord. It helps to have some protection in times of danger." They soon came upon Silmarion and she pointed out some things to him, such as where her father's house was. He asked her where she stayed and she blushed as she pointed out her house, wondering why he had asked. She led him to her father's house and bid him to wait for a moment before rushing inside and informing her father that he had arrived, leaving Boromir to wonder if he would ever see her again.
That night a feast was held in honor of Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor, in the hall of Lord Certhas' house. Lord Certhas sat at the head of the long table that overlooked the two other tables that lined the sides of the hall. Boromir sat at his right and wondered who was to sit at the elven lord's left as he talked with him.
Lillisandra rushed as fast as she could to the hall, her unbound hair bouncing behind her. She had chosen to wear a golden gown for the occasion with matching slippers that glided silently across the floor as she entered, feeling slightly uncomfortable as she was used to more comfortable clothing. She approached the dais and stepped up to her father's side, her eyes never leaving Boromir as his never left hers. He still wore the same clothes he had arrived in, now clean, and had bathed before coming, now looking as handsome as ever.
She stood by patiently as she waited for her father to introduce them, returning Boromir's smile as he appeared amused. Finally her father noticed her at his side and they both rose to their feet as Certhas took her hand in his. "Lord Boromir, I would like you to meet my daughter, Lillisandra."
She dropped in a curtsy before him. "My lord," she greeted him, looking up into his shocked expression.
Boromir was indeed shocked as he had expected the daughter of Certhas to be no more than a mere girl, not a woman with such beauty that rivaled the very stars of the night. If he was to escort her to Minas Tirith, it would be a very interesting trip indeed.
They sat down to eat and Certhas bid him to speak more of Denethor and Gondor. While he answered his questions, Boromir couldn't help but think of the events of that afternoon. Had she really intended to miss or did she really mean to end his life out of spite towards him? What if she didn't wish to return to Minas Tirith with him? By now some of his earlier sour mood had returned, and he frequently sent scathing glances her way, which earned confused ones from her at first then more angered ones later.
Soon the music started and people filled the floor in front of their table as they glided to the music. Boromir stood and held his hand out to Lillisandra. "Would you like to dance, my lady?"
She favored his hand with the same respect that was due a snake. "I should think not, my lord, with the looks you have been giving me all night."
His eyes darkened even further, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her down into the other dancers. She started to protest, but he quickly pulled her into his arms and led her around in time to the music. "Stay your tongue, my lady, before I take more drastic measures," he breathed into her ear.
She replied with a short laugh. "Like what? Shoot daggers with your eyes? You've been doing it all night."
He pulled back to look into her eyes, and she knew she would never seen a more handsome sight than he was with his eyes flashing from anger. "How about an arrow like the one you almost killed me with if your aim had been any better? Luckily for me it wasn't."
She gasped in outrage. "If I had wanted you dead, believe me you would be. And why are you getting so upset about this now? You were a total gentleman to me earlier, now you're a total ass."
"You deceived me as you did not tell me who you were," he hissed.
She looked up into his eyes in false surprise. "Was I supposed to? Tell me, what else was I supposed to do that I forgot about? Fall at your feet and let you know how glad I was to see my brave escort arrive so that he can protect me on my long journey? Please, it would've been better off if I had shot you," she scoffed.
"You know, you're right," he smirked. "Then I wouldn't have to put up with your senseless attempts to injure me."
The anger in her eyes flared, and she stepped on his foot with all her weight behind it, forcing him to muffle his howl of pain. "How's that for injuring you?" she hissed before she turned and walked back to her room, tears of anger welling in her eyes.
*****************
Author's note: Ouch! Already starting off on the wrong foot. Don't worry, next chapter he'll have a chance to mend things between them.
