Author's note: There is a little bit of...playing...going on in this chapter. ^.~ Just thought I should warn you!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings just my characters.

The Ring of Stars by Shelly

CHAPTER NINE


Upon entering the Citadel, she immediately went and changed into more proper clothes and walked down to the Houses of Healing where Boromir and Aldarion were being tended. She saw Aldarion sleeping peacefully and looked over to see Boromir in the next bed, Faramir sitting in a chair at his side, his head hanging between his shoulders from exhaustion. She walked over to his side, putting her hand on his shoulder. "How is he?"

He raised his head, embarrassed that she had caught him napping when he was supposed to be watching over his brother. "The healers say he has lost a lot of blood, but with rest and time he should be fine."

She eased down onto the bed near Boromir's legs, her eyes on Faramir. "I apologize for not asking how you fared, my friend. I did not mean to do so."

He smiled. "I know you didn't. Still I should be the one lying here instead of him."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"He received that wound trying to protect me, and now I feel guilty as a result."

She laid her hand on his, which rested on his knee. "Do not trouble youself, Faramir. You are his brother and he loves you. He would rather die than see any harm come to you." She felt his other hand cover hers, and she saw the weariness in his eyes. "You should get some rest. I will stay here."

He smiled and rose to his feet, still holding her hand in his, then leaned down and kissed her on her cheek, his kiss almost near to her lips. He didn't pull away but let his cheek brush hers lightly. "If there has ever been a time when I have envied my brother, this is it," he whispered in her ear. "He is fortunate indeed to have such a brave and beautiful woman to love."

She smiled at the unexpected praise, startled at the sudden caress. "I am not worthy of such praise, although I thank you for it. Sleep well." Once he had left, she slid into the seat he had vacated and took over watching Boromir's sleeping form. She laid the back of her hand on his pale cheek, feeling it to be cool as she knew it would be. The healers had undressed him fully and she followed the outline of his body with her eyes, a blush coloring her cheeks when her eyes came across that particular part of him. Quickly averting her eyes before her thoughts ran away from her, she felt exhaustion creeping up on her as well, and she leaned over to rest on the edge of the bed, her head pillowed on her crossed arms.

When she awoke, she felt fingers stroking her hair, and she looked up to see him gazing down at her with a smile on his face. Apparently it was dark outside as the lamps had been lit, casting everything in a golden glow. Turning her eyes to where Aldarion had been, she saw he was gone and assumed he had been discharged. Sitting up slightly, she took his hand in hers and felt it to be warm again, a sign that his health was improving. "How do you feel?"

"Weak as a newborn babe," he answered hoarsely.

She poured him a glass of water and helped support his head as he drank. "Better?"

He nodded. "How is Aldarion?"

"I'm assuming he has been released." She made as if she was going to lift the area of the sheet covering his wound. "May I?"

He smiled. "So long as you do not try to peek at other things that might be of interest to you."

She smirked at him and pulled back the sheet far enough to examine the bandages, running her fingers over them lightly. When they fanned across his stomach, he caught her hand in his and held it against his chest, the coarse hair that covered it tickling the back of her hand. She also was happy to feel his heartbeat strong and steady.

She soon felt him tugging on her hand and wondered what it was he wanted. "Come and lay beside me," he whispered.

A thousand reasons why she shouldn't came to mind, but she ignored them as she eased onto the bed so that she lay against his good side, his arms wrapping around her as she rested her hand on his chest. He moved over as he turned to face her, allowing her a little more room to be comfortable, and she drew closer to him, taking pleasure in the warmth of his skin beneath her hand. Her hand soon began a slow exploration of his body as she ran it over his chest and arms and brought it up to touch his lips with wondering fingers, which he pressed kisses into. She raised her head up so she was nearer to him and brushed her lips across his ever so lightly, teasing him when he would try and deepen their kiss.

Finally he buried his hand into her hair at the nape of her neck and pulled her against him, kissing her eagerly but with a tenderness that drew forth a deep moan from within her. She laid her hand on the side of his neck as she deepened the kiss, opening her mouth to him when he ran his tongue over her lips and allowing him further access as her senses spun out of control. His hands roamed across her back and moved around to tease her nipples through the fabric of her dress.

She gasped against his mouth as his touch sent lancets of fire through her body, and he gently took her hand in his and guided it down past his stomach and underneath the blankets which were bunched up around his waist. She wrapped her hand around his hardness, feeling it pulse beneath her fingers, and slowly began moving her hand, her eyes gazing into his own which were smoky with desire. Soon he closed his eyes and a groan escaped his lips before he stopped her, not wanting things to go too far too soon.

She watched him as he fought for control over his emotions, and she brought her hand up to play with the few strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead, leaning in closer and kissing him softly. Soon they heard approaching footsteps, and she scrambled back into her own seat just as the healer arrived bearing food for him to eat, and as the healer spoke with him, she suddenly realized what could've happened between them if they hadn't been interrupted.

Frightened at the thought that she had allowed things to get so out of control between them, she rose while Boromir's attention was on the healer and walked back to her room, thankful when she saw no one was there. She changed into her sleeping gown and slid between the cold covers of her bed, trying her hardest not to miss his presence beside her.

Over the next few days, she realized that she could not go long without seeing him and chose to visit him when she knew someone would be there, both to prevent from happening what had almost happened the other day and to keep them both from discussing that day in any detail. Boromir sensed her withdrawal from him, and knew that she fought against the emotions he had stirred deep within her, and he wished not to push her further away from him by forcing her to face something she wasn't ready to.

He soon was released from the care of the healers, and was delighted at the celebration that his father and brother had put together that night in honor of his bravery at Osgiliath. Lillisandra was there also, and she was happy to see him up and walking around on his own. This time he stayed by her side the whole time, and she would notice his father eying her with a strange look in his eye, like he had just gotten something he had wanted very badly. And that in itself worried her.

She felt Boromir's finger brush her chin, and she looked up at him. He had been unusually open in showing his affection towards her all night, not that she minded, but in times before he had shown a measure of restraint when around his father. "You seem troubled, my lady," he spoke near her ear.

She forced a smile in an attempt to ease his concern. "I am merely tired, my lord. Perhaps I shall seek rest soon."

She saw him motion to a servant nearby. "Maybe some wine will help?" he asked, deftly swiping a goblet from the servant he had summoned.

She laughed. "Are you trying to get me drunk, Boromir?"

He smiled and leaned closer. "I have no need of wine to do that, my love, when there are other ways that are more effective."

His voice was low and husky, and his breath teased the side of her neck, driving her a little crazy. He wrapped his hand around her own and slowly led her away from the feasting and out into the night air, where he pulled her into the shadows and pressed her against the wall, his mouth descending on hers with an eager passion that made both their bodies tremble.

She felt his lips travel down the side of her neck and stop at the hollow of her throat, tearing a tortured gasp from her as he licked and nibbled the spot lightly with his teeth. She wound her fingers through his hair and pressed him closer, intoxicated by the pleasure he was inflicting on her. She pulled his head back up to join their lips once again before pulling away. "How is it you have such power over me? No matter how much I try to make myself believe that I don't need you, you manage to make me want you all over again and even more than before."

He smiled, his heart overflowing with love for her. "I don't know, and I don't care. All I do know is that I love you more than you can imagine and have ached for you ever since the night of our first kiss. And although I would be honored for you to marry me, I care not if we do not as long as I still have you by my side."

Her eyes shone from the tears that welled in her eyes, and she brought her fingers to his lips. "Boromir, please promise me you'll never leave me as I fear I could never live without you. I love you too much," she whispered, no longer trying to hide the strength of her feelings from herself. She didn't care if he was human and would die long before she would as it was enough to spend what time they could together.

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Hmm, do I sense a lemon coming up in the next chapter? ^.^