Author's note: Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews! You'll all find out in the next chapter who Lilli stays with, and this time it will be permanent! Or will it? Hee-hee! I'll never tell, cause then you wouldn't want to read it! Enjoy!

And a reply to Dwen, so far I have had these chapters written for some time, that's why it seems I write them so quick. But I've come to a point where I was unsure of what to do with Lilli, and haven't written on it much since then. But never fear, I will continue this since you're enjoying this so much! And the rest of my faithful reviewers, too! I love you all! *smoochies*

Elenya by Shelly

CHAPTER NINETEEN


They slept through the night in each other's arms and woke late the next morning, pleased beyond words when she was able to stand and walk without any pain whatsoever. Someone had thought to leave a tray of fruit for them to eat and a new change of clothing for her, and they assumed that it was Elenya that had been so kind. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, they parted ways as Legolas wished to visit with the other elves here, leaving her to decide on a leisurely stroll through the city.

Walking underneath the trees, she tried to look up into the treetops but could not see them as they reached up ever towards the light of the sun. Soon she saw a dear friend who she had not seen yet curled up at the foot of a tree and it appeared that he was sad as his head rested on his knees which were pulled up against his chest. She had started to leave as she wished to respect his privacy but stopped as she heard him call out her name, and she turned and approached him, sitting down next to him and resting her own back against the tree. "What is it, Frodo?" she asked, glad that she had left her ring back at her pavilion.

He swallowed deeply, looking up at her. She saw his eyes clouded with sadness and her own heart was saddened as she knew it would never fully go away as his burden was heavy upon him. "It's my fault he died, Lilli."

"Who, Gandalf?" she asked and saw him nod. "Why do you think that?"

"When we were attacked on Caradhras by Saruman, he bid me decide which way to go. And I chose the most dangerous path of all which took him from us in the end."

"Frodo, you cannot blame yourself. He very well could have perished on the mountaintop just as he did in Moria. These days danger lurks all around us and even with the mightiest of men protecting you, things such as this can still happen. Do not spend your days remembering how he died, but instead remember how he lived."

"I know, Lilli," he replied sadly. "But my heart still aches. Is there anything to do to ease it?"

She smiled. "Only time can do that, my friend, that and the comfort of others that share your grief."

He crawled into her lap, and she held him for a while, giving him the comfort he needed as she combed her fingers through his dark curls and hummed a tune meant to lift his spirits. He eventually sat up and sighed.

"Feel any better?" she asked.

He nodded. "Somewhat. But now other things concern me."

"Such as?"

He seemed unsure to say what it was before she fixed him with a stern glare Gandalf would've been proud of. "It is about Boromir," he finally said.

A smile spread across her face. "It's okay," she assured him. "My feelings towards him have been resolved, and I know you will be pleased to know that Legolas and I are together."

A bright smile appeared and he hugged her tightly as the music of his laughter flowed over her. "I am happy for you then," he said as he released her. "I was afraid of what might happen if you chose to stay with him as I fear the ring is weakening him."

"It surprises me not," she replied, "as I noticed it had already begun to seduce him from the very beginning. He is a man both brave and noble. He seeks only to find a way to defeat the evil which has plagued Gondor's borders for years upon years, and I have seen something of this evil for myself. But it will be the same with him as anyone else that desires to use the ring for good. The ring will turn it into evil, and it seems that Man has the least amount of resistance to its seductions."

"And yet you have sat here with me and have never once tried to take it from me," he pointed out.

"I do not wish to have it, Frodo. There are no desires in my heart for it to feed upon, just as you are able to carry it without it affecting you."

"Then I would think you would be the better choice for taking it, if not for your own ring which you carry."

She smiled and touched her hand that held the scar of her ring where it had burned her to his chest where he carried his own scar that was shaped like hers. "I'm afraid that we have both learned our lessons where our fates are concerned." A butterfly flew by them, and she held out her hand so it could land, and she spoke to it briefly in elvish then released it. "Come, Frodo!" she whispered. "Let's follow."

They followed the butterfly for some distance before seeing it at the base of a tree. She whispered her thanks to it and it fluttered off into the forest. "Look and see what I have found for you."

A smile spread across his lips at what he saw. "Mushrooms!"

"I promised Merry and Pippin that I would bring them mushrooms as they were upset that I didn't say goodbye to them. Now all I need is your help as to how you all like them prepared."

He shook his head in dismay. "Lilli, I'm afraid you are going to spoil us hobbits rotten."

"Isn't that what friends are for?"



After they had gathered enough mushrooms, they continued to walk for some time afterwards and enjoy each other's company, paying no mind to the passing of time. All of a sudden Frodo stopped and a strange expression crossed his face. Looking around he saw no one and became worried. "Frodo, what is it?" she whispered, glancing around herself.

"I'm not sure. I'm thinking that Boromir is nearby. The ring feels strange when he is near," he answered.

She breathed deeply of the air around her, detecting a different scent in the air. "You are right, my friend. Even now it seduces his mind." She caught the sound of rustling leaves. "You must leave now," she whispered.

He nodded and began walking towards the heart of the city. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and followed it, her heart dropping when she saw it was Boromir that followed the hobbit. She ran towards him, calling out his name, but he either didn't hear her or ignored her and she presumed the latter. Soon she came close enough to touch him and laid her hand on his shoulder. He growled and spun around to face her, knocking her to the ground at the same time. She looked up and was amazed at the change in him, amazed that the ring could have such a hold on him. His eyes that had once looked upon her with love now seethed with hatred and an evil determination.

He grabbed her throat and roughly pulled her to her feet, slamming her back against a tree. She cried out in pain, her hands clawing at his as she could not breathe from the fierce pressure he exerted on her throat. Suddenly he cried out and she was freed as he fell to the ground. She collapsed to the ground, coughing hoarsely, and looked up to see Frodo standing not far away with a dead branch in his hands which he dropped to the ground as he rushed to her side. "Go!" she rasped.

He shook his head. "I won't leave you alone with him," he insisted.

"Go!" she repeated, her voice stronger this time. "While you remain, the ring still maintains its hold on him! Go!"

He nodded and ran off. She felt herself being turned over so that she faced her attacker and cried out as his palm connected with her cheek. She saw stars for a moment and braced herself for the next blow that she knew would come, but was surprised when it didn't. Risking a glance, she saw him shaking his head as if waking from a dream, his eyes back to normal and filled with confusion. Then they looked into hers and filled with horror at what he had done.

She wiped the back of her hand across the corner of her mouth where he had hit her and saw blood covering her hand. He saw it also and reached out to her. "Lilli, what have I done to you?" he whispered.

She backed away from him and rose to her feet, not saying a word as her heart mourned the loss of the memory of her dearest love and companion, and she hated him for that. No longer would she remember him as he once was, but as what he had become. She turned and walked in the direction Frodo had gone, tears filling her eyes and spilling down her cheeks.

"Lilli, please forgive me," he called after her, tears of his own filling his eyes as he knew that he had lost her forever.

*******************

NOO! Boromir, how could you? You've screwed up now, buddy! She'll never come back to you after what you just did! But then again, things change....

Thanks for reading and please review!