Author's note: Thanks for the reviews! He seemed to have forgotten his manners upon first meeting Lilli, but this chapter will give him the chance to get back in her favor.

The Ring Of Stars by Shelly

CHAPTER THREE


She was unable to sleep that night as she kept reliving in her mind the evening's events, particularly the things she had missed in her anger at his arrogance. He had actually been quite a good dancer, and although she hated to admit it to herself, she had been struck speechless at first at the feelings his touch had awakened in her. And when he had spoken into her ear, she had felt his breath tease her neck, an exquisite feeling that sent shivers through her even now.

She turned over on her stomach, thinking that it might help her go to sleep, but he still invaded her thoughts as she remembered when she had first seen him. "Stop torturing me!" she cried out into her pillow then flipped over onto her back, still wide awake. Then a thought came to her that if she went for a short walk then maybe it would help her relax.

Rising from her bed, she grabbed a light robe and shrugged it on before stepping outside into the cool summer air. She leaned against the railing that kept her from falling into the river below her, watching the moonlight shimmer across the water. The sound of the rushing water put her at ease, and she found herself relaxing as she felt the cool breeze caress her face and flirt with her hair. She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and looked to see who it was, surpressing a groan as she saw it was the very person that brought her out here.

Boromir stood rooted to the walkway as he saw her standing before him, the moonlight playing over her and making her seem a creature of radiant silver. He noticed that when she saw him she unconsciously tensed up, and he wished that things had not started out the way they had between them. He slowly approached her until he could speak to her without having to shout. "Unable to sleep, my lady?" he asked, thinking that was civil enough.

She turned her eyes up to the moon. "Actually I just came out here to see if the moon was out tonight," she replied. "Why else would I be out here in the middle of the night?"

He fought against the retort that rose to his lips. He had never been around many women other than his mother and had to remember to hold his tongue around them as he couldn't speak his mind freely for fear of offending them. "Do you find it necessary to speak to me in such a way? I only wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier tonight as you did nothing wrong. Please accept my sincerest apologies, my lady," he said, bowing slightly at the waist towards her.

His change in attitude caught her off guard. "Consider them accepted, my lord. And please call me Lilli. 'My lady' sounds so lofty."

"Ah," he replied. "You are not at ease with being a princess?"

She shook her head. "Not really. I'm happier being outside with the trees around me rather than being cooped up inside. It is something that has always irritated my father though." She glanced over at him. "Are you at ease being the son of the Ruling Steward of Gondor?"

He smiled, flashing bright teeth. "To tell you the truth, I've never given it much thought. Always we have maintained our guard against Mordor, and it is no small thing to do."

She turned and leaned against the railing so that her back was to the river, her eyes appraising him thoughtfully. This was a man that would do all he could for his country and more to ensure that the evil was kept at bay; indeed his people had prevented the evil from spreading over into other countries. She saw the pain in his eyes and knew that his thoughts dwelled on his countrymen. "I cannot claim to know what you and those before you have suffered against for so long and with so little help from others. It is all you have known, and it is sad to think that you have had no time for other pursuits. Therefore I am grateful that you have come here when you are needed elsewhere even more."

He raised his eyes to hers, and her breath caught in her throat. "As my father said, Silmarion has aided us in the past, and we must return the gesture, however small it may be."

A smile lurked at the corners of her mouth. "I sense that you did not wish to come here."

He laughed, a little embarrassed that she had guessed his thoughts from that morning. "No, I did not."

"Admit it. You didn't want to have to be the one to escort some spoiled little princess that would surely grate on your last nerve," she smiled.

"Now that is something I would not do for I have already felt the lash of your tongue once tonight. I do not wish to experience it again."

She laughed, finding his company easier to bear. "Then I shall endeavor to keep tight rein on it, provided you do nothing to earn it."

He slowly stepped closer to her. "However, in coming here I have been awakened to many realities. You are not the spoiled little girl I thought you were, but you are instead a beautiful princess that has managed to torture me in my very dreams."

She was surprised to say the least that he had felt the same way, if indeed he did. "I am sure that it was my harsh words that kept you awake," she pointed out.

He was so close to her she could feel his breath on her cheek. "Nay, my lady," he whispered. "It was the feel of you in my arms that tormented me. That's what brought me out here."

She gazed into the blue depths of his eyes, her heart pounding furiously within her chest from his nearness, and she gripped the railing behind her so tightly she knew her knuckles were as white as her robe. "Strange," she breathed. "That's exactly why I came out here."

He brought his hand up to caress the silky skin of her cheek, and her eyes closed as she unconsciously leaned into his touch, which sent her senses reeling so much she was dizzy from it. When she opened them again, they were clouded with desire, and he leaned further in towards her. She brought her own hand up to his chest to stop him, but was nearly undone as she felt his strong heartbeat against her fingers, pounding in rhythm to her own. A voice inside her mind cautioned her against what her heart wanted more than anything, reminding her that they had only met that afternoon and there was a chance that she could be hurt by this human who had drawn her to him of a sudden.

He saw the warring emotions cross her face and wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and ease her fears. But he had not the right to do so as he was feeling much the same way. Instead he touched her cheek and smiled. "As much as I hate to do so, I fear I must leave before anything else happens."

Thinking this was wise, she nodded her head. "I bid you goodnight then."

"Goodnight," he replied, turning and walking back the way he had come. She stood there for some time with her hands covering her face as she tried to calm her raging emotions and make sense of what just happened.

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Author's note: A definite turn in their relationship here. Next chapter: A little trip into the ruins offers a hint of danger.