Author's note: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews!

The Ring of Stars by Shelly

CHAPTER TEN


Boromir's reply was an even deeper kiss that had her head spinning, clinging tightly to him for support, and she suddenly wanted more from him than just kisses and caresses. She took his hand in hers and left the safety of the shadows for moonlight as they made their way to her room, having to duck back into the shadows from time to time when they thought they heard someone approaching. They soon reached the safety of her room, and she made sure to lock the door as soon as she closed it to ensure their privacy.

She leaned back against the door as she saw him turn and look back at her, the candlelight softening his features and making him even more handsome if that was possible in someone who was already perfect in her eyes. She saw raw desire burning in his eyes as he gazed into hers, her breathing quickening in response as she too longed for him with a fierceness she never thought she could feel.

As he looked upon her features, he was struck with how exquisite she really was, and how incredibly lucky he was to have her offer her heart to him. After all, she was an elf although he didn't see her as such. She was the light he saw by and the very air he breathed for without her he would die, and he held out his hand to her to bring her back into his arms where she belonged as he showed her how badly he needed her.



"Never in all my life have I hoped to feel like this," he said, lying beside her and holding her within the circle of his embrace..

She turned and lay her chin on his chest, reaching up to brush her fingers over the hair covering his chin. "How do you feel?" she asked.

He looked into her eyes and smiled. "No words can describe it. I feel like my soul is complete now, although I never knew it to be so empty before I met you. Before now I would've been happy to have spent just one night with you, but I know now how silly I was to think such a thing. One night will never be enough to ease the ache I have for you."

She raised up to kiss him softly. "I, too, feel the same, my love."

Their kisses became more demanding as they continued loving each other all through the night between short periods of rest, neither of them able to fully satisfy their need for each other.



Soon morning came and Lillisandra awoke to be greeted by blue eyes belonging to a very handsome face, a smile on his lips. "What are you smiling about this morning?" she asked, caressing his face with her finger.

"Need you ask?"

She laughed. "No, I suppose not," she replied, looking outside at the sunlit sky. "Boromir, I'm sure someone will be coming looking for you any minute now."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "So? I'd rather be here with you than anywhere else without you," he said, taking his finger and trailing it down her neck.

Her eyelids drifted shut as his touch brought her desires raging back to the surface, but she fought against them as it would be hard to explain what had happened if anyone came calling for him. "Please, I'm not kidding. What would we tell them if they asked why you were in my room all night?"

He leaned forward to kiss lightly on her neck. "They wouldn't need to ask as everyone knows what happens between a man and woman who love each other."

She fought down the moan that threatened to rise from her throat, but it escaped anyway. "And what happens exactly between them?" she breathed.

He looked into her eyes, his own smoldering with desire and a bit of mischievousness. "Well, they generally try to please one another in ways they know the other likes. And sometimes a little playing is involved also." He ran his finger down her side, making her jump as he knew she was ticklish there.

A short laugh escaped, and she vowed revenge on him for that, pushing him over onto his back and straddling his hips. "So, you like to play dirty, do you?" she asked, digging her fingers into his sides and across his stomach, hearing his rich laughter echo through the room.

Soon she heard noises outside her door, and she quickly slid off of him and down to the floor. She saw him still lying on the bed and picked his clothes up off the floor to throw them at him. "Hurry and get dressed!" she whispered.

"My lady?" a voice called, accompanied by a knock.

"Just a moment!" she cried, motioning for him to hurry up as it was Faramir that was looking for him. Once finished, she quickly opened the door and stepped outside into the suite, closing the door behind her just as quickly.

Faramir looked at her in surprise, noticing her disheveled appearance. "Good morning, Lilli. I apologize if I woke you."

She forced a smile as she tried to hide her nervousness. "That's quite all right, Faramir."

He returned her smile. "No doubt the festivities of the night before were exhausting."

She fought the blush that rose to her cheeks. If he only knew.

He took note of her strange behavior and tried to hide his own amused smile. "I was wondering if you by any chance have seen my brother?"

Her eyes widened, and her lips struggled to form words. "I, well, he's not here. I mean, I haven't seen him," she added hastily.

A smile spread across his lips now and widened even further as he heard the door open behind her and saw his brother in the doorway. "Ah, there you are, Boromir. I had a feeling you might be here."

She didn't have to look to know the older of the two was smiling. "Good morning, Faramir. What brings you by?" he asked.

Faramir couldn't help but feel pity for her as he saw her cheeks were flaming by now, what little he could see of them through her hands which covered her face anyway. "Our father wishes to speak with us as soon as possible."

"Concerning what?"

He glanced at Lillisandra, not sure how much she knew. "Our dreams," he replied.

She looked up at Faramir in surprise. "You had them, too?" she asked.

His eyes expressed the same surprise, and he looked to Boromir in question.

"She had a somewhat different dream, but the riddle was the same," Boromir answered. "Please tell our father that I will find him after I have had a chance to make myself more presentable."

The humor returned to Faramir's eyes as he inclined his head towards them. "I will let him know as soon as I see him. Good day, my lady."

She responded the same and turned to Boromir after he had left. "If you say so much as a word to him..."

"You'll what?" he teased, touching the tip of her nose with his finger, which she swiped at. "Don't worry, I will say nothing, although I suspect he knows by now."

She sighed. "As will everyone else unless you make an appearance."

He laughed, taking her in his arms. "Do you not wish everyone to know how much we love one another?"

She relaxed in his arms, laying her head on his chest. "I do, but it is unseemly to have such relations before marriage."

"My love, it would take the control of a saint to keep these desires locked inside," he said as his fingers combed through the silky strands of her hair. "It is the only way I know to express my love for you as we are a city constantly under the threat of war. Normal avenues of courtship are beyond our reach for now."

His voice vibrated his chest against her ear. "I suppose you're right. I never thought of it that way." She raised her eyes to look up into his, a smile teasing her lips. "I guess since any day now may be the last we spend together we'd better make the best use of what time is left to us."

One blond eyebrow arched above a blue eye. "Surely, my lady, you're not suggesting..."

Her reply was a soft brushing of her lips across his before she took his hand in hers and led him back into her room.

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Aren't they too sweet together? But it might not last too long after what he finds out in the next chapter. Am I cruel or what?