Author's note: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I'm happy that you're enjoying it! This is going to be a bit of a long chapter, and I realize that I had them covering a great distance in a remarkably short time so I apologize for that. So with that over, on with the story!

The Ring of Stars by Shelly

CHAPTER FIVE


Before long they arrived at the stables, Aldarion and Tarcil having left already. Although he hated to wake her, he had no wish to remain on her horse forever and shook her gently with his free hand as her hand still rested on his hand that was around her waist. She stirred and stretched, continuing to lean against him. "Did you sleep well?" he asked.

She sat up then and looked back at him. "I'm sorry I wasn't very much company," she replied in a voice thick from sleep.

"Think nothing of it," he said, sliding down to the ground and stretching his legs which were tired from the long ride. He helped her down to the ground and her knees almost buckled beneath her as they were forced to support her weight, forcing her to grab onto him to keep her balance. "Careful," he warned her.

She laughed. "I guess some parts of me are still asleep," she said, letting go and slowly walking some feeling back into her legs.

While she stretched, he returned into the stables and fetched his own horse, bringing it up beside Lanthir. Together they walked to her father's and saw Aldarion and Tarcil waiting for them with Certhas. He wished her a fond farewell as he gathered her in his arms, tears coming to both their eyes as he hated to see her leave. Then she turned her back on her home, and they set off towards the south at a steady pace that Boromir thought would have them arriving at Minas Tirith in about two days. To save some time they cut through the mountains, bypassing Calembel then turning towards Ethring to cross the Ringlo River and turn east towards the Gilrain River. By nightfall they had reached the Serni River and decided to stop there for the night and get some rest.

Lillisandra groaned as her feet touched the ground. She had never been on horseback so long, and her whole body screamed in protest everytime she moved. Aldarion walked by her, shaking his head. "Might as well get used to it. It will be worse in the morning."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Thanks, I feel so much better now."

After spreading out their bedrolls they sat down to eat some of the dry food that Certhas had given them. Exhaustion soon overtook most of them, and Tarcil offered to keep watch over them as he felt it necessary after Boromir had informed them of what had happened on their ride earlier that morning, Boromir taking over from him to let him get some rest.

She stretched out on her bedroll, her eyebrows rising when she saw Boromir settle down not far from her but she was too tired to say anything to him about it. She curled up on her side with her back to the fire and used her arm as a pillow, not very comfortable but neither was sleeping on the ground. She looked up and noticed he was lying so that they faced each other, and she watched the firelight dance across his face until she surrendered to the realm of her dreams.

They were up early the next morning, preparing themselves for another day of hard riding as they hoped to reach Minas Tirith by tonight and be able to sleep in a real bed. She approached Boromir, who was packing his bedroll onto his saddle, and held out his fur-lined cloak to him. Apparently he had seen she was cold while he was on watch and pulled it over her like a blanket. "Thank you, Boromir," she said.

He turned and took it from her, a smile on his lips. "How are you feeling this morning?" he asked.

"Need you ask? Quite frankly, I feel as if someone used me for a punching bag." She winced in pain as she stretched her sore muscles.

He draped the cloak over the saddle. "May I?" he inquired, putting his hands on her shoulders and turning her so her back was to him. Slowly he began massaging her neck and shoulders with his fingers and eventually worked his way down her back, hearing her gasp whenever he hit a sore spot.

She leaned into him as his hands worked her tense muscles loose. "That feels wonderful," she moaned.

He smiled as he couldn't help but wish that she would be saying those words to him in a completely different situation, and he knew that it was time to stop before things got out of hand. At times during his watch that night, he had done nothing but gaze at her sleeping form, and at one time she had tossed and turned as if having a bad dream. He had leaned close to her and spoke softly to her, and her hand had reached out to find his and hold onto it until her sleeping had eased again. It was then that he had known that he would do anything for her, would do anything to make her his, although he wasn't sure of how she felt about him.

These were new feelings for him as he was used to getting what he wanted without thinking of his feelings or those of anybody else's for that matter. Rarely did he have any contact with women other than the occasional need to satisfy certain urges, and they only ended in further emptiness for him. Sometimes the thought would cross his mind that it would be nice to wed one day, but he could never find someone that seemed suitable enough for him until he had seen her in the forest that day. She had ensnared his heart at that very moment and always would it remain hers until the day he passed from this world. And everyday they spent together made the feeling even stronger until he was tempted to take her in his arms and confess everything to her, if only just to ease the torment inside his soul.

He suddenly realized that his thoughts had drifted, and he shook his head to clear his thoughts as he saw she was still there. "Feel better?" he asked huskily.

She turned towards him and graced him with a brilliant smile. "Much better! Thank you," she replied, raising up and kissing him quickly on the cheek before tending to her own horse.

He breathed in deeply to calm himself before finishing his own preparations, his cheek tingling from the gift she had given him.



The next day passed quickly for them as they continued on their eastward course past the Sirith River and onto the Crossings of Erui, a signal that their destination wasn't too far away. Since they had made such good time, they slowed their horses somewhat to give them time to rest, and at long last the white tower came into view, a silvery beacon shining beside the Anduin River.

Boromir reined his horse in as he gazed at the sight. "My friends, we will not spend this night on hard ground but in a soft bed! Tonight you will share in the hospitality of my people once we reach the White Tower of Ecthelion! Let us ride now, and fast!"

Aldarion rolled his eyes theatrically, earning a sharp glare from Lillisandra as they sped off towards Minas Tirith and the end of Boromir's journey, but it only heralded the beginning of her own towards Lorien.

The closer they drew, the more amazed she became as more of the city was revealed to her in the rays of the setting sun, seeming to set the city ablaze with a golden fire. Seven walls guarded the city as well as a much larger wall that stretched ten miles across, called the Rammas Echor, and the lands between were known as the Pelennor Fields, fields that were rich and fertile.

They reached the southern end of the great wall and admitted through by the guards who greeted Boromir with a nod and a wave through. From there they rode through towards the Great Gate that guarded the city, and she gazed upwards in awe as did the other two elves at the gate that guarded the entrance to the city. But they were in awe even more at the giant outcropping of stone that rose high above like a ship's keel overlooking the Great Gate. Once inside they found themselves heading in a zigzag pattern as they passed through the seven gates, four on the south side of the outcropping and three on the north side. Fortunately they were riding their horses, and she felt pity for any person who dared enter on foot.

Numerous houses lined the walls, their windows lit as darkness descended upon them, and with a sigh of relief they finally reached a broad slope lit on either side with lamps that led up to the seventh gate and into the Citadel. They left their horses there which were taken away to the stables to be tended to, and they passed through the final gate, the guards clothed in black. They said nothing as they entered the Citadel and passed the Place of the Fountain where the White Tree had once grown, its branches now dry and lifeless.

They came next to the doors that opened into the White Tower, and they passed through to see a man who could only be the Steward of Gondor approaching them. He pulled Boromir into a rough embrace, expressing his happiness at his return. A younger man whom she had not noticed before stepped forward and did the same.

Boromir turned to Lillisandra. "Father, may I introduce the Princess Lillisandra of Silmarion and her escort, Aldarion and Tarcil."

She dipped into a curtsy before him as was proper. "My lord."

Then he gestured to the younger man, who looked much like Boromir but she sensed a gentleness in him that she suspected his brother shared, he just chose not to show it as openly. "This is my brother, Faramir."

She replied in the same manner, and the younger son of Denethor II found himself mesmerized by her beauty, despite the fact that she had just come in from a hard day's ride. He recovered enough of his wit to take her hand in his and bow before her. "My lady, I am honored."

Aldarion and his brother exchanged amused glances. If she had this kind of effect on all men, they were in for some real trouble.

Her eyes lingered on him for a few moments before she remembered to answer. "Likewise," she replied, gracing Faramir with a smile that made Boromir frown slightly, as did Denethor.

The steward stepped forward. "Please, you all must be tired from your journey. Take this night to rest and tomorrow you can view our city at your leisure, and at this time tomorrow night a feast shall be held in your honor for it is not often that elves visit our fair city." He turned to Boromir. "Please show our guests where they may stay, my son."

Boromir nodded and led them back outside to the houses that lined the Citadel wall. He led them to a particularly large one and beckoned them inside as he lit the lamps inside for them to shed a little light on their surroundings. The room they had entered in was a suite that held a couple of soft chairs, a couch, and a table. Opposite them were three doors that opened into separate bedrooms with their own basin for washing, something she was very glad of as she felt she had accumulated half the muck from their last ride onto her body.

Aldarion and Tarcil laid claim to their rooms first and she waited a moment to speak with Boromir. "I suppose you're glad to be back."

He smiled. "I am, actually. But I will always keep Silmarion inside my heart."

She smiled also, noticing the change in him over the last few hours. This was where he belonged, and she found she could not bear to ask him to leave when he so loved it here. And she knew that she would soon be saying goodbye as she continued on her way north. "I am glad to hear it," she replied, wondering if she was included in his heart also.

"Then I wish you goodnight, Lilli," he said.

She answered the same then watched as he disappeared into the encroaching darkness and quite possibly out of her life.

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At last, they're in the White City. For some reason, Minas Tirith fascinates me, and I can't wait to see it in The Two Towers when it comes out. Faramir seems to be besotted with Lilli, but will his feelings for her cause problems? Read the next chapter and find out! And please review this one! ^.^