Author's note: Wow! Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you like it! Never fear, Boromir's going to show up this chapter! Enjoy!

Elenya by Shelly

CHAPTER FIVE


The next morning dawned bright and early, and she had risen with the dawn to ready herself for the council later that afternoon, choosing to wear a dark green, velvet dress as the weather was turning cooler with the onset of autumn. She had just finished when she heard a knock on her door, and she hurriedly smoothed down her hair and dress, thinking it was Legolas. She rushed to the door and pulled it open, her jaw dropping open when she saw it wasn't him, but someone she had feared was dead.

He stood before her as if in a dream, looking well except for his clothing which told the tale of their long journey here, his eyes still blue although now they were shadowed with weariness and sorrow. She reached up to touch his face, as if by touching him she would prove to herself that he was real and alive, and tears welled in her eyes as she looked at the man she had promised to love for the rest of her life, as she knew she would now that she knew he had returned to her.

Boromir stood there in shock himself, not believing this to be the same person that had shared his long journey here as he had gotten used to seeing her in clothing suitable for travel instead of dresses of fine make and fabric. He had also feared her dead when he had come across Lanthir on his way here and had seen the orc arrows that littered the ground as well as the bodies that had told him that she had not gone without a fight. He had continued on his journey, fear quickening his pace as he had no way of knowing if she was alive and safe in Elrond's care or if she had suffered a much worse fate that he didn't even want to think of.

The last thought still fresh in his mind, he reached out for her and caught her in a desperate embrace, holding her to him tightly as he thanked the very stars that she was alive. "Lilli, I'm so glad to see you alive as I had thought you dead these past few days."

She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. "I feared the same about you," she answered, bringing her hands up to brush her fingers across his cheeks before bringing him closer to her to brush her lips across his, her sound of surprise muffled by his own as his strong arms lifted her off her feet and crushed her against his body. She suddenly realized that this was what she loved most about Boromir, the passionate fire that raged within him that reached out to engulf her and bind them closer together. But she found herself wondering if that same fire would ever burn too bright and break them apart.

He slowly set her on her feet, reluctant to break their kiss as he wished to stay with her in such a way forever, but he needed to tell her something that would surely break her heart. He tried to form the words to tell her but failed miserably as the memory was still too fresh in his mind to not be saddened by it as well.

She saw the sudden change and became curious. "Boromir, what is wrong?" she asked.

He swallowed deeply. "Lilli, it pains me to tell you this, but the others didn't make it."

She thought she had misunderstood him at first. "What? No, it can't be," she said as she felt her breath catch in her throat.

He put his arms around her shoulders as he saw her composure failing. "I speak the truth, my love. Here," he said, digging into a small pocket of his tunic. When she saw the green flash of a stone, her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth as she looked upon Ardya, the ring wore by Dairuin which was to be given to her father upon her return to Silmarion.

She turned away as she breathed deeply to try and control the shock that threatened to overtake her. If Dairuin had given the stone to Boromir, then he was dead as well as Aldarion and Tarcil who were like brothers to her, and it was especially hard for her to believe that Tarcil was dead as he was a fighter among her homeland which none could match. She felt the first tears fall as she was pulled into her beloved's embrace, his strong arms offering her comfort which she needed as she cried out her grief. Finally her tears stopped and she stepped from his arms. "Look, now I've gone and soaked your clothing," she said as she touched the damp spot on his tunic.

He smiled. "It's no small thing, you know that. Are you going to be okay?"

She nodded. "Now that you are here with me, I am," she answered.

He kissed her softly on her forehead. "Please tell me, how did your journey go here? Did you arrive safely?"

She hesitated before answering, which gave her away to him. After being with her so long, he knew how she was and wasn't about to let her lie to him. "Do not think to lie to me, Lilli, just to ease my mind. I saw Lanthir on my way here as well as the bodies of orcs that someone must've fought."

She sighed. "About two days after I left, I was attacked by orcs when I reached Hollin. I was shot with an arrow." She heard his sharp intake of breath. "I managed to make it here just barely. I came upon an elf in the woods and he brought me here where Elrond healed me."

"How could I have been so stupid, letting you go?" he agonized.

"Boromir, please do not do this to yourself. Even if I had stayed, I may still be dead."

"No, you would not be for I would die myself before letting that happen," he answered heatedly. "Do you not remember the words we spoke to each other the night of the attack?"

She smiled as she thought back on the promise they had made to one another, to love one another for as long as the other lived. She then saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and she looked to see that it was Legolas standing not far away, his face betraying no emotion but she could see the pain he felt in his eyes at seeing her reunited with the one she loved.

"Am I interrupting anything?" he asked.

She stepped away from Boromir and turned towards him. "No, not at all. He was informing me that my escort here did not survive the battle against the orcs."

The elf's eyes bored into the other man's. "And yet he survived?"

Boromir stepped towards him. "And just what are you implying?"

"You know exactly what I am implying," he sneered.

Lillisandra stepped between them before things got out of hand. "Legolas, I cannot believe that you would accuse Boromir of something only a coward would do. I can assure you that he is indeed a man of great honor as well as an accomplished warrior."

His eyes still betrayed his anger, but he bowed his head slightly in her direction. "My apologizies, my lady. I only came to escort you to the council and did not realize that you had a visitor."

"Then you may escort us both as Elrond has requested my presence there also," Boromir stated, laying his hands on her shoulders in an unmistakable gesture that said without words that she was spoken for. He wasn't sure what kind of designs the elf had on her, but he planned to put a stop to any before they began as evident by his actions.

She looked away as she felt uncomfortable being in the middle of such an awkward situation, especially one that she had helped take part in. Legolas took the gesture for what it was and turned to lead them to where the council was being held, his heart aching as he had seen the passionate exchange that had taken place between them. He had followed the man to Lillisandra's room as he did not know what business he had seeking her out, but when she had greeted him so enthusiastically he had been shocked to see that it was no elf she had fallen in love with but a human male.



When they arrived, she saw that those that were there had formed into groups of their own races, except for Frodo and Gandalf who were speaking with the dwarves. Legolas immediately joined the elves as Boromir joined those of the race of men, leaving her by herself. Legolas had remained quiet all the way here, but she had seen in the stiffness of his shoulders that he was agitated and knew that he would seek her out soon to speak with her. She had also noticed that Boromir had also been strangely silent, and she wondered if he suspected that Legolas had other feelings towards her as well. All in all, she could tell that this day would become interesting before it ended.

"Lillisandra?" asked a voice at her side.

She turned her head in direction of the voice and smiled, although she wasn't too happy at the moment. "Aragorn, how nice to see you again."

"What seems to bother Legolas?" he asked, noticing his sour mood.

"He seems to be regretting his decision to have become so close to me." At the ranger's confused look, she elaborated further. "My love has returned to me, and the meeting between them did not go well."

He looked at the proud soldier of Gondor, who was looking at him in much the same way that Arwen had at Lillisandra last night. "Yes, he seems the possessive sort."

She also was pondering at this new side of Boromir that was revealed to her, although she had seen a glimpse of it back in Minas Tirith when he had accused her and his brother of sharing in a secret relationship. But she had accepted that as merely being what it was, a jealousy between brothers over something both of them cherished, even though she and Faramir had been nothing but good friends to each other. "I'm afraid that he is allowed to be that way to a certain degree as we are betrothed to one another."

He raised a dark eyebrow. "Then congratulations, though that still doesn't make it right."

She sighed then walked over to Gandalf and Frodo, who greeted her warmly. "It's nice to see you again, Lilli. I was afraid you might not be here."

She noticed both Boromir and Legolas were staring at her intently. "I wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied, sitting down in a chair at the end near the balcony.

Frodo approached her. "I thought that things were fine between you two," he whispered.

She smiled at her friend, meaning it this time and suddenly understanding what it was that Gandalf loved about these people. They were a remarkable race, so happy and carefree, and Frodo had regained some of that since she had seen him last night. "Dear Frodo, do not worry yourself over me. Things are a little more complicated now than they were yesterday."

His blue eyes searched her own. "I thought that's what friends were for?"

She sighed. "There's no time, Frodo. Elrond has arrived."

Elrond took his place in his seat as did everyone else, saying a few words in greeting to everyone and bidding Frodo to bring forth the ring. The hobbit seemed a bit scared of all the attention and looked to Lillisandra, who smiled encouragement, and he rose to place the ring on the pedestal. When he regained his seat, he looked at her once again, and she saw the heavy burden had finally been lifted from him. She shared in his happiness, placing her hand over his own.

But when she looked back at those assembled, her unease returned as she saw the effect the ring had on them. They gazed at it with longing, especially the humans save Aragorn. Boromir rose and began to speak, and she liked the tone of his words not at all, her unease at seeing this different side of him deepening. She sensed things were heating up between Boromir and Aragorn when suddenly Legolas jumped in, thankful when the ranger calmed things down between them.

Then Elrond proposed that the ring must be destroyed and Gimli attempted this by striking it with his axe, and she felt Frodo jump beside her as did she for she saw the very same thing he had, the same thing that had haunted her dreams at night. The great burning eye of Sauron.

She glanced at Frodo and saw his agonized expression as he had suddenly realized that he may not be rid of the ring after all. She laid her hand on his head, offering what little comfort she could. The council had suddenly erupted into shouted accusations and arguments at who would be the one to take the ring to Mordor, and those would be answered with contestations against them. She saw Frodo rise, and tears filled her eyes. "Frodo," she whispered.

"I will take the ring," he called out, silencing everyone. "Though I do not know the way."

She closed her eyes, tears running down her cheeks. Then a most amazing thing happened. For once everyone put aside their differences and united to accompany Frodo on his journey, first Gandalf then the others. She caught Legolas' eye and a long look passed between them, and she realized that he too had put aside his anger from this morning. She heard a rustle behind her and was surprised to see first Sam appear at Frodo's side then Merry and Pippin from the other direction, and she managed to surpress a smile as even Elrond was surprised to see them.

Finally Frodo turned to face her, hope shining in his eyes. She became at a loss for words as she didn't know how to tell him she couldn't come without dashing his hopes in front of everyone here. Elrond seemed to sense this and he came to her rescue. "Lillisandra, you and the hobbits may leave if you wish. We have other matters to discuss that will no doubt be of no interest to you."

She smiled and rose to curtsy before him. "As my lord wishes." Then she left, the hobbits trailing after her, all of them talking excitedly except for Frodo, who stared at her back thoughtfully.

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I can tell you one thing, neither Legolas nor Boromir are happy right now. Will Lilli go with the Fellowship on their quest? And who will she stay with now that she is aware of Boromir's reaction to the ring? Stay tuned! Thanks for reading and please review!