Author's note: Well, no one's reviewed yet, so I guess I'll post a couple more chapters. In case any of you haven't figured it out, Frodo appears in this chapter. And if you read "The Ring of Stars", you know that Lilli's carrying Elenya, and with Frodo carrying the One Ring...I'll let you read and find out. Enjoy!
Elenya by Shelly
CHAPTER THREE
So intent was she on hiding, she didn't see or hear the small figure that lay beneath the sheets stir and wake, pushing himself up on his elbows and staring at her curiously. "Excuse me? Would you mind telling me why you're in my room?"
Lillisandra screamed and spun around, her heart in her throat and eyes wide from fear. She leaned against the door, breathing heavily to slow the beating of her heart.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to frighten you." Now that he was able to see her, he relaxed somewhat as he noticed she was elven. But why was she in his room and from whom was she hiding from?
"I just hope whoever passed by didn't hear me," she whispered, suddenly turning around when she heard the footsteps approaching again. She whirled around, looking for a place to hide, and spotted a dressing screen just like hers which she dove behind just as the door opened.
"Master Frodo?" the prince's voice called. She crouched down lower, hiding her dismay at hearing his voice but at the same time wanting to see him again.
"Yes?" the hobbit answered.
"Was there something amiss?"
Frodo glanced nervously to where the strange elf was hiding. Should he cover for her or tell this elf about her? But there was something about her that intrigued him, and he wished to find out more about her. "I was merely dreaming and cried out in my sleep, that is all."
Legolas nodded and made as if to shut the door, but leaned back inside and took one last glance around the room. He knew indeed that something was amiss, but decided to let it go. Surely she would turn up eventually. "I shall see you tonight then."
Frodo smiled. "I look forward to it." He sighed with relief when the elf closed the door. "He's gone now!" he whispered loudly.
She slowly emerged from behind the screen. "Thank you so much, Frodo. That was close." When she finally got her first good look at him, she froze in wonder as it was the halfling that had haunted her dreams while she was in Minas Tirith come alive, and she knew that this was the one Elrond had been speaking of that held a greater burden than she did.
Frodo saw the strange look in her eyes, haunted as if she had seen a ghost. "Why do you look at me so?" he asked warily.
His words shook her from her surprise. "I have dreamed of you many times, Frodo, although I never believed that I would actually set my eyes on you one day."
He still wasn't convinced that she meant him no harm, and he wished that he had told the elf of her presence. "Why was he looking for you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Who knows? He doesn't seem to want me to risk making myself ill again."
"You have been sick?" he questioned, his feelings of unease slowly slipping away as the haunted look in her eyes faded away. "Please sit down," he added, gesturing to the chair at his bedside.
She dropped down into it. "My thanks," she answered. "Yes, I was sick before Elrond healed me. I was poisoned by an orc arrow while on my way here." She saw the bandage covering his left shoulder. "I see you have been wounded as well."
Frodo shuddered at the memory of just how he had gotten wounded. "I have, though that memory is best left untold."
She smiled and looked deep into his clear blue eyes, eyes that were shadowed with the heavy burden which he had to bear. She was saddened at this and wished she could take this burden from him so that he could once again be happy and free. "What is your name, dear Frodo?"
"Frodo Baggins, my lady. And yours?" Looking into her own eyes, he could sense a great power from her, power that enveloped all she touched and brought with it peace from troubled thoughts.
"Lillisandra of Silmarion, at your service. But you may call me Lilli." She held out her hand to him, and he laid his small hand inside hers, which she covered with her other hand. Thus a great and enduring friendship was bound for they both shared in the same fate, that of the ringbearer.
They talked long through the afternoon, entertaining each other with tales of their childhood as well as explaining how they both had come to be here. He told her everything about the ring that Gandalf had told him, which explained much of her dreams and feelings.
"So that is why I have been entrusted with Elenya," she murmured, thoughtfully twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "Sauron has taken shape in the world and is trying to find the One Ring."
"What is Elenya?" he asked.
"A ring that was forged by my forefather that holds the same powers as the other elven rings."
"May I see it?"
She slipped the chain from around her neck and held the ring out for him to look at. He reached out with his hand and came very near to touching it before he suddenly jerked back, his hand reaching beneath his shirt and pulling out a chain that held a plain gold band. She pulled her own ring back and went to grasp it within her hand but gasped as it burned the palm of her hand, and she knew that the ring Frodo carried must have burned him as well. Strangely enough the rings began pulling at their chains towards one another, and Dairuin's words came back to her that if they were to become close to one another it was possible the whole world could be destroyed.
She caught Frodo's panicked gaze and whispered, "I'm sorry," before stumbling outside just in time to see two people running her way. She still clutched the chain tightly in her hand as she felt the ring's pressure to slip it on her finger and end once and for all the evil that threatened the world. And although Dairuin had warned her of the danger of the persuasions of the ring, she was unprepared for the actual test as it whispered inside her mind of the many things they could accomplish together. She slowly sank to the ground as the pressure rose to greater heights, her feeble attempts to control it having little success.
Gandalf ran into Frodo's room to check on him, emerging a second later to kneel beside her and turn her so she faced him, cursing as he saw her unfocused eyes glowing with a faint green light. Legolas hovered nearby, afraid for her but not showing it as he had to remain calm in case Gandalf needed his help. Then his fear turned to surprise as the wizard drew back and slapped her hard across her cheek, the glow fading from her eyes as her senses returned to her own command. "Legolas, take her back to her room while I check on Frodo."
She was dazed a bit as she felt herself being hauled against Legolas' body, her steps staggering as she had become exhausted from the ring's exertion over her. Once inside her room, he led her over to the bed and lowered her down so she sat on the edge, his blue eyes full of worry. "Lilli, can you hear me?" he asked, blaming himself for not heeding his earlier hunch and searching Frodo's room. Her eyes were still a little fuzzy as he had to hold her upright to keep her from falling over, and he knew that he had to keep her awake and focused until Gandalf arrived. So he did the only thing he knew to do besides what the wizard had already done and softly kissed her lips, hoping that in doing this she would regain some control over her senses.
Her reaction was somewhat different from what he had expected however. Her mind was her own once again as her physical senses were assaulted by his soft lips which gently teased her own and brought forth a small moan from her as her arms came around his neck to pull him closer until they were in a very compromising position with her lying back on the bed and his body leaning close to hers. They soon heard a voice nearing her room and broke apart, Legolas standing a few feet away as he reined in his emotions that ran rampant throughout his body.
She sat up on the bed as she looked at him, her fingers touching her swollen lips. "What did you do that for?" she asked, not out of anger but out of surprise that he had kissed her and of her wanton reaction to him in return.
He never got a chance to answer as Gandalf charged in the room, his eyes flaring with anger. "What did you think you were doing going in there and putting the rings so close together when I'm sure you were told of the consequences if a meeting between them should happen?"
"I'm sorry, Gandalf," she quickly apologized. "I didn't know he had the ring on him when I came in to see him."
Legolas turned on her also. "So is that what you were doing? If you were just visiting then why were you hiding from me?"
She turned her angry gaze on him. "I was hiding because you seem to want me to stay cooped up in this room all day long when I assure you I am fine."
"If falling over on the floor is your definition of fine then I guess you were indeed fine," he argued.
"Enough of this!" Gandalf snapped at them. "Lilli, I recommend strongly that you put your ring somewhere where it will be safe and out of trouble as I'm afraid that Frodo cannot do the same to his." He quickly looked around the room and spotted a small box lying on the bedside table.
"Is Frodo all right?" she asked as she handed the chain to Gandalf, which he placed inside the box.
"He is, although he was burned slightly where the ring touched his skin." He set the box back down and turned back towards her, pinning her with a stern gaze when he saw her looking at her palm where her ring had burned her.
When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with anguish. "I am sorry, Gandalf, for hurting Frodo. I should have known that he would have had it being he is the bearer of the ring. I just didn't think."
His gaze softened as he placed his hands on her arms. "Lilli, you didn't know as you had never seen Frodo before." Then he became curious. "How did you know that he bore the ring?"
"I have seen him in my dreams with the ring in his palm, and Elrond hinted that he was here when he spoke to me earlier this morning."
He appraised her thoughtfully before dismissing it with a shrug. "Just try not to let it happen again. Now I must return to Frodo and help him get ready for the dinner tonight at Elrond's house." Then he disappeared back outside, leaving the two elves alone.
"Dinner?" she asked, confused.
"It was the reason why I was searching for you all day. I wished to ask you to let me accompany you there," he answered.
She swallowed deeply as nervousness descended upon her. Even in her homeland she had not been one to attend many social occasions and was now afraid she would appear less than the princess everyone would expect her to be.
He saw her fear and stepped closer to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry, Lilli," he assured her. "It is only dinner."
She bristled in response to his statement. "You would think me afraid of such a trivial thing?"
He smiled. "If not that then you were afraid of something as I could see it in your eyes." She refused to answer him though, and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "I will give you one hour then I shall return for you."
She stood there for some time after he had left, wondering why she had just let herself be talked into going to a dinner that was probably just as boring as the ones her father held in his own house. The only feasts she had ever enjoyed were those she had attended at Minas Tirith, and that was only because Boromir and his brother Faramir had been there to keep her company. Sadness returned to claim her as she wondered at what had become of her beloved warrior and her friends, although she soon had no time to think about it as the maiden that had brought her the food tray earlier returned to assist her in dressing for the dinner.
*************************
Next chapter: Lilli sees an old friend and becomes even closer to Legolas, thanks to a certain hobbit who's trying to play matchmaker. Thanks for reading and please review! Please!!!!!
Elenya by Shelly
CHAPTER THREE
So intent was she on hiding, she didn't see or hear the small figure that lay beneath the sheets stir and wake, pushing himself up on his elbows and staring at her curiously. "Excuse me? Would you mind telling me why you're in my room?"
Lillisandra screamed and spun around, her heart in her throat and eyes wide from fear. She leaned against the door, breathing heavily to slow the beating of her heart.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't mean to frighten you." Now that he was able to see her, he relaxed somewhat as he noticed she was elven. But why was she in his room and from whom was she hiding from?
"I just hope whoever passed by didn't hear me," she whispered, suddenly turning around when she heard the footsteps approaching again. She whirled around, looking for a place to hide, and spotted a dressing screen just like hers which she dove behind just as the door opened.
"Master Frodo?" the prince's voice called. She crouched down lower, hiding her dismay at hearing his voice but at the same time wanting to see him again.
"Yes?" the hobbit answered.
"Was there something amiss?"
Frodo glanced nervously to where the strange elf was hiding. Should he cover for her or tell this elf about her? But there was something about her that intrigued him, and he wished to find out more about her. "I was merely dreaming and cried out in my sleep, that is all."
Legolas nodded and made as if to shut the door, but leaned back inside and took one last glance around the room. He knew indeed that something was amiss, but decided to let it go. Surely she would turn up eventually. "I shall see you tonight then."
Frodo smiled. "I look forward to it." He sighed with relief when the elf closed the door. "He's gone now!" he whispered loudly.
She slowly emerged from behind the screen. "Thank you so much, Frodo. That was close." When she finally got her first good look at him, she froze in wonder as it was the halfling that had haunted her dreams while she was in Minas Tirith come alive, and she knew that this was the one Elrond had been speaking of that held a greater burden than she did.
Frodo saw the strange look in her eyes, haunted as if she had seen a ghost. "Why do you look at me so?" he asked warily.
His words shook her from her surprise. "I have dreamed of you many times, Frodo, although I never believed that I would actually set my eyes on you one day."
He still wasn't convinced that she meant him no harm, and he wished that he had told the elf of her presence. "Why was he looking for you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Who knows? He doesn't seem to want me to risk making myself ill again."
"You have been sick?" he questioned, his feelings of unease slowly slipping away as the haunted look in her eyes faded away. "Please sit down," he added, gesturing to the chair at his bedside.
She dropped down into it. "My thanks," she answered. "Yes, I was sick before Elrond healed me. I was poisoned by an orc arrow while on my way here." She saw the bandage covering his left shoulder. "I see you have been wounded as well."
Frodo shuddered at the memory of just how he had gotten wounded. "I have, though that memory is best left untold."
She smiled and looked deep into his clear blue eyes, eyes that were shadowed with the heavy burden which he had to bear. She was saddened at this and wished she could take this burden from him so that he could once again be happy and free. "What is your name, dear Frodo?"
"Frodo Baggins, my lady. And yours?" Looking into her own eyes, he could sense a great power from her, power that enveloped all she touched and brought with it peace from troubled thoughts.
"Lillisandra of Silmarion, at your service. But you may call me Lilli." She held out her hand to him, and he laid his small hand inside hers, which she covered with her other hand. Thus a great and enduring friendship was bound for they both shared in the same fate, that of the ringbearer.
They talked long through the afternoon, entertaining each other with tales of their childhood as well as explaining how they both had come to be here. He told her everything about the ring that Gandalf had told him, which explained much of her dreams and feelings.
"So that is why I have been entrusted with Elenya," she murmured, thoughtfully twirling a lock of her hair around her finger. "Sauron has taken shape in the world and is trying to find the One Ring."
"What is Elenya?" he asked.
"A ring that was forged by my forefather that holds the same powers as the other elven rings."
"May I see it?"
She slipped the chain from around her neck and held the ring out for him to look at. He reached out with his hand and came very near to touching it before he suddenly jerked back, his hand reaching beneath his shirt and pulling out a chain that held a plain gold band. She pulled her own ring back and went to grasp it within her hand but gasped as it burned the palm of her hand, and she knew that the ring Frodo carried must have burned him as well. Strangely enough the rings began pulling at their chains towards one another, and Dairuin's words came back to her that if they were to become close to one another it was possible the whole world could be destroyed.
She caught Frodo's panicked gaze and whispered, "I'm sorry," before stumbling outside just in time to see two people running her way. She still clutched the chain tightly in her hand as she felt the ring's pressure to slip it on her finger and end once and for all the evil that threatened the world. And although Dairuin had warned her of the danger of the persuasions of the ring, she was unprepared for the actual test as it whispered inside her mind of the many things they could accomplish together. She slowly sank to the ground as the pressure rose to greater heights, her feeble attempts to control it having little success.
Gandalf ran into Frodo's room to check on him, emerging a second later to kneel beside her and turn her so she faced him, cursing as he saw her unfocused eyes glowing with a faint green light. Legolas hovered nearby, afraid for her but not showing it as he had to remain calm in case Gandalf needed his help. Then his fear turned to surprise as the wizard drew back and slapped her hard across her cheek, the glow fading from her eyes as her senses returned to her own command. "Legolas, take her back to her room while I check on Frodo."
She was dazed a bit as she felt herself being hauled against Legolas' body, her steps staggering as she had become exhausted from the ring's exertion over her. Once inside her room, he led her over to the bed and lowered her down so she sat on the edge, his blue eyes full of worry. "Lilli, can you hear me?" he asked, blaming himself for not heeding his earlier hunch and searching Frodo's room. Her eyes were still a little fuzzy as he had to hold her upright to keep her from falling over, and he knew that he had to keep her awake and focused until Gandalf arrived. So he did the only thing he knew to do besides what the wizard had already done and softly kissed her lips, hoping that in doing this she would regain some control over her senses.
Her reaction was somewhat different from what he had expected however. Her mind was her own once again as her physical senses were assaulted by his soft lips which gently teased her own and brought forth a small moan from her as her arms came around his neck to pull him closer until they were in a very compromising position with her lying back on the bed and his body leaning close to hers. They soon heard a voice nearing her room and broke apart, Legolas standing a few feet away as he reined in his emotions that ran rampant throughout his body.
She sat up on the bed as she looked at him, her fingers touching her swollen lips. "What did you do that for?" she asked, not out of anger but out of surprise that he had kissed her and of her wanton reaction to him in return.
He never got a chance to answer as Gandalf charged in the room, his eyes flaring with anger. "What did you think you were doing going in there and putting the rings so close together when I'm sure you were told of the consequences if a meeting between them should happen?"
"I'm sorry, Gandalf," she quickly apologized. "I didn't know he had the ring on him when I came in to see him."
Legolas turned on her also. "So is that what you were doing? If you were just visiting then why were you hiding from me?"
She turned her angry gaze on him. "I was hiding because you seem to want me to stay cooped up in this room all day long when I assure you I am fine."
"If falling over on the floor is your definition of fine then I guess you were indeed fine," he argued.
"Enough of this!" Gandalf snapped at them. "Lilli, I recommend strongly that you put your ring somewhere where it will be safe and out of trouble as I'm afraid that Frodo cannot do the same to his." He quickly looked around the room and spotted a small box lying on the bedside table.
"Is Frodo all right?" she asked as she handed the chain to Gandalf, which he placed inside the box.
"He is, although he was burned slightly where the ring touched his skin." He set the box back down and turned back towards her, pinning her with a stern gaze when he saw her looking at her palm where her ring had burned her.
When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with anguish. "I am sorry, Gandalf, for hurting Frodo. I should have known that he would have had it being he is the bearer of the ring. I just didn't think."
His gaze softened as he placed his hands on her arms. "Lilli, you didn't know as you had never seen Frodo before." Then he became curious. "How did you know that he bore the ring?"
"I have seen him in my dreams with the ring in his palm, and Elrond hinted that he was here when he spoke to me earlier this morning."
He appraised her thoughtfully before dismissing it with a shrug. "Just try not to let it happen again. Now I must return to Frodo and help him get ready for the dinner tonight at Elrond's house." Then he disappeared back outside, leaving the two elves alone.
"Dinner?" she asked, confused.
"It was the reason why I was searching for you all day. I wished to ask you to let me accompany you there," he answered.
She swallowed deeply as nervousness descended upon her. Even in her homeland she had not been one to attend many social occasions and was now afraid she would appear less than the princess everyone would expect her to be.
He saw her fear and stepped closer to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Do not worry, Lilli," he assured her. "It is only dinner."
She bristled in response to his statement. "You would think me afraid of such a trivial thing?"
He smiled. "If not that then you were afraid of something as I could see it in your eyes." She refused to answer him though, and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "I will give you one hour then I shall return for you."
She stood there for some time after he had left, wondering why she had just let herself be talked into going to a dinner that was probably just as boring as the ones her father held in his own house. The only feasts she had ever enjoyed were those she had attended at Minas Tirith, and that was only because Boromir and his brother Faramir had been there to keep her company. Sadness returned to claim her as she wondered at what had become of her beloved warrior and her friends, although she soon had no time to think about it as the maiden that had brought her the food tray earlier returned to assist her in dressing for the dinner.
*************************
Next chapter: Lilli sees an old friend and becomes even closer to Legolas, thanks to a certain hobbit who's trying to play matchmaker. Thanks for reading and please review! Please!!!!!