1 Chapter ten
"Gah! I hate dances." Merry fumed as he played with his potatoes, spearing them with his highly polished silver spoon.
"It's not a dance," Pippin corrected, "It's a formal. And I don't see why you're so unhappy. I've never seen so many freshmen in my life." He said, his eyes roaming gleefully over the young, tastefully exposed girls who giggled in every corner of the room.
"There's more to life than girls." Frodo commented from his chair.
"Of course you're one to talk." Pippin retorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come off it. We know what's going on with you and Lis."
"Me and… Lis?" Frodo's face was one of utter exasperation.
"Yea, so I hardly think you're one to talk to me about girls."
"Wait, wait, wait. You don't think that Lis, and me…?" Frodo laughed. "Oh man. You are so wrong. We're just friends man, she's like a sister. Lis?" Frodo's face scrunched up at the thought and laughed again.
Although none of the other hobbits would've admitted it, they all mentally breathed a sigh of relief. Having two friends date was difficult, and they were just getting used to the idea of Arwen and Strider. Besides, letting a girl interrupt the hobbit's way of life was something that none of them, most especially Frodo, was prepared to do.
The hobbits all sat at one table, as was custom, off to the side of the extremely large dinning hall. It had been decorated in its annual splendor of silver and green, Rivendell's colors. The walls were swathed in green bunting, the tables were draped with green velvets and everywhere, little silver candles glistened wherever a holder could rest. It was magnificent, to say the least, even by Rivendell's standards. The large room was crowded with people, old and new. Teachers in sleek black tuxes and fine, but simple gowns, buzzed about the room like gracious hosts. Mr. Elrond sat at the head table, beaming proudly at everything.
The girls were, fashionably late, as it were. Boromir, Strider, Gimli and Legolas all stood restlessly about the room, each one checking their watches and the doors for the slightest bit of movement.
"Damn girls." Gimli mumbled under his breath. Boar nodded in agreement.
"They'll be here." Lee said quietly, still straining his politeness whenever he was near Boar. Gimli grunted quietly and shuffled off impatiently, mumbling about getting something to drink. Strider followed, leaving Boar and Lee alone.
"I don't understand you Lee," Boar started quietly. Lee just stood there, keeping his eyes on the door, his jaw rigid with the onslaught of restraint.
"You used to be such a cool guy. So funny, so smart. Now, look at you. You've thrown it all away to protect a liar. Honestly man, do you need a piece of ass that bad?"
Don't hit him, don't hit him, Lee kept repeating quietly in his head. His promise to Lis was the only thing holding him back now.
But he wondered, in the deepest part of himself if Boar wasn't right. He and Boar used to be the best of friends. There was a time when you couldn't tear the two apart. And now what had it come to? He wanted to hit him so hard every muscle in his lithe arms strained. Over what? A girl. Granted, a very pretty, and extremely troubled girl. But was she worth it? Was she worth throwing away everything for? Boar already hated him, who would hate him next? Lee's stomach grew uneasy as he found that he didn't have the answer to any of his questions, and that unsettled him. Because his answer was not a definite yes.
Lis wasn't as important to him as he'd thought, perhaps.
His face fell, ever so slightly, and he hurried away into a darkened corner, his mind buzzing louder than the freshmen that passed. Boar watched him go, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.
Soon enough, the girls did show.
The Arwen led the way, with Galadriel close behind, the two sisters clinging to each other affectionately. They were both smiling, their faces all the brighter for it. They were wearing matching silver dresses, long and flowing, just like they were. They absolutely sparkled as they passed among the tables. Arwen almost immediately made a beeline for Strider, leaving a much more civil Boromir to grab Galadriel's hand and lead her to a table.
"Oh, Boromir," she smiled quietly. "Good, I've been meaning to talk to you."
"What about, my lovely?" Boar smiled earnestly as he sat her down and pulled up a chair next to her.
"I want you to be careful."
"About…?"
"Lisaura."
Boar's face darkened.
"She's not like you Boar. She isn't built to weather well. She's got scars. Kinds you'll never see. Be gentle with her."
"Gentle? What do mean gentle? The girl's lying about the Ring, Drili, you know it and I know it."
"I know no such thing, Boar," she said quietly. "All I do know is that she and the ring have a tighter bond that she yet knows."
"That's bull." He mumbled. Drili laughed quietly and lifted her hand, letting it rest gently on his stubbly cheek.
"Oh, my poor Boromir. You never did know how to look at things properly, did you?"
Boar pulled away from her.
"I wish you wouldn't be so patronizing." He mumbled.
"I do it because no one else will." She answered, her sightless face serious. "Everyone is too afraid of you to tell you when you're wrong. You will never have such an allowance from me. I have always said exactly what I think to you, and I always will."
"And what do you think now?" he said, his voice sounding tired, and far older than his years.
"I think that you're letting your desire cloud your rational thinking."
"My desires? What on earth are you talking about?"
A small smile glanced across her face and she nodded towards the door. Boar looked at her, confusedly for a moment, then turned his head towards the door, and his breath stopped.
It was Lis. It was Lis, but she was absolutely exquisite. Her fiery golden hair was down, not in its usual braids. She was wearing the silver dress of Avalon, the suggested uniform for the dances. Arwen and Galadriel had always made the medival dresses lovely, but Lisaura's body in it did something far more cherubic to it. An astonished gasp escaped his throat before he could stop himself, and it was met with the light laughter of the beauty by his side.
"You ask answered questions." She chuckled.
"What, what do you mean? I do not want her. I only want her to give us the Ring." He stammered, his eyes still glued to Lis. She walked so gracefully, so, regally. She didn't belong here, he thought, she belongs in a palace, or in a church to be worshiped.
"How long will you lie to yourself, my dear friend?"
"I'm tired of this talk, Drili." He pushed away and brushed his hand against her shoulder, signaling his departure. He hoped his voice was stronger than it had sounded in his ears. His entire body seemed to be floating with her in his eyes.
Lis, however, didn't feel as beautiful as she looked.
No one was looking at her, which was a mixed blessing. Being watched was never something she had gotten used to, even during her brief stint as Sauron's trophy girlfriend. But on the other hand, Lee wasn't looking at her. He wasn't even there, for all she could see. She frowned slightly as she realized that four-hour's worth of primping and being Arwen's temporary Barbie doll had all been in vain. She sighed, and let her eyes roam about the room in search of a friendly face. Arwen and Strider were out on the dance floor, twirling about happily. Arwen's hair flung about her shoulders as she moved, and her dress (almost identical to the one Lis was wearing) spun around her long legs as she laughed, cradled in Strider's strong arms. Lis smiled in spite of herself. She always did like romances. Frodo's laugh caught her ear next, and she eagerly looked about for him. she found him, and the rest of the hobbits, at their table, surrounded by a group of ecstatic looking girls. Lis smiled a bit more as she watched the five young men flirt unabashedly, a look of pure excitement shining in their friendly eyes.
Gimli she spotted next to a long table with a glass of punch in one hand, excitedly discussing something with three or four older looking boys. Lis resigned herself to a lonely evening, and strolled out onto the porch surrounding the building.
The night was chilly and clear. The stars swept through the night sky like powder sugar, and a small breeze whipped through the oak trees, swaying their majestic forms with a peaceful rustling. Lis leaned her arm on the porch's railing and sighed. A perfectly good night, she thought, but no one to share it with.
"Nice night, huh?"
the deep, melodic voice shook her out of her dreaming, and she looked over her shoulder.
Boromir met her eyes.
She gasped a bit, and snapped her attentions back towards the grounds below her. Boar walked up and leaned on the railings next to her, keeping his gaze out as well, though with no little strain on his part.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked, turning her stoically curious gaze to him. "I thought you wanted to kill me?"
"No. um, sorry. I guess it did seem that way, didn't it?" he sheepishly scratched his head and shrugged. "Its just that I saw you walking out here, and you looked kinda down, and I thought, it being such a nice night and all, I'd, uh keep you company?"
Lis just stared at him. why was he acting this way? It made no sense what so ever. Two nights ago, he had been willing to drag her kicking and screaming through the Willow Grove to find the Ring, wherever it was.
"Really, Lis," he said, his voice suddenly soft and velvety. "I'm sorry about the way I acted before. I guess I just keep doing and saying the wrong thing around you, don't I?" his gaze was full on her now, and it unnerved her. His eyes were so intense, so searching, she didn't know what he expected from her. Information? The Ring?
"I don't know where the Ring is, Boromir." She whispered, edging away from him slightly. Boar slipped his arms around her, framing her and almost pinning her to the railing. Lis looked up at him, her eyes wide, too suprized to know what to do.
"I don't care about the ring, Lis. Damnit girl cant you see that I'm in love with you?"
Lis's eyes flew open. In love with her? How? It made no sense. But before she had anytime to think through things, his mouth was on hers, pressing hard and hungry. Lis squirmed, and pulled away, Boar's arms keeping her in place well enough. He opened his eyes and stared down at her, slightly taken aback. He shrugged, and leaned in again as if for another kiss, when Lis's hand flashed, and slapped him. the sound echoed through the muted quiet of the porch, and it seemed like they stood there forever in the night air, not moving.
That's the whoosh came. Lis didn't know what it was before it hit her, and then she was dead sure. Boar's hand. His face contorted violently, and for the briefest of moments, Lis thought she was looking at Sauron. Then he hit her, sweeping his powerfully broad hand across her decidedly smaller cheek. Lis's head snapped to the side, and Boar pulled his arms away in time to let her fall to the floor beside him.
"Tease." She grunted through clenched teeth. He pulled his foot back, and brought it down hard into her side. Lis's gargled in pain, the wind knocked out of her. She tried to crawl away from him, but couldn't, and lay there instead, sobbing, her hair rumpled around her pain-contorted face.
Boar huffed out a curt laugh, and turned to leave. But he never made it that far. Through the quiet din of crickets and the low hum of he party inside, Lis heard the distinctive sound of a punch. Lis looked up, brushing her hair out of her face with a shaky hand.
Boar was doubled over, his face contorted in pain. Lee was standing above him, his own face twisted with rage.
Lis had never been so glad to see anyone in her entire life.
Lee sent another punch to Boar's face as he tried to stand, and watched as his mountain-like friend fell to his knees, then collapsed onto his side, whimpering sincerely.
Lee rushed to Lis and kneeled by her, his rage replaced with pure concern and love? Lis thought. No, it was probably her teary eyes blurring her vision.
"Are you alright?" he whispered gently. Lis nodded, trying to sit up, but Less swung his arms around her, picking her up as he stood. He rushed her off he deck and down a few stairs, heading for the Willow Grove, leaving Boar behind, sobbing.
"Gah! I hate dances." Merry fumed as he played with his potatoes, spearing them with his highly polished silver spoon.
"It's not a dance," Pippin corrected, "It's a formal. And I don't see why you're so unhappy. I've never seen so many freshmen in my life." He said, his eyes roaming gleefully over the young, tastefully exposed girls who giggled in every corner of the room.
"There's more to life than girls." Frodo commented from his chair.
"Of course you're one to talk." Pippin retorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come off it. We know what's going on with you and Lis."
"Me and… Lis?" Frodo's face was one of utter exasperation.
"Yea, so I hardly think you're one to talk to me about girls."
"Wait, wait, wait. You don't think that Lis, and me…?" Frodo laughed. "Oh man. You are so wrong. We're just friends man, she's like a sister. Lis?" Frodo's face scrunched up at the thought and laughed again.
Although none of the other hobbits would've admitted it, they all mentally breathed a sigh of relief. Having two friends date was difficult, and they were just getting used to the idea of Arwen and Strider. Besides, letting a girl interrupt the hobbit's way of life was something that none of them, most especially Frodo, was prepared to do.
The hobbits all sat at one table, as was custom, off to the side of the extremely large dinning hall. It had been decorated in its annual splendor of silver and green, Rivendell's colors. The walls were swathed in green bunting, the tables were draped with green velvets and everywhere, little silver candles glistened wherever a holder could rest. It was magnificent, to say the least, even by Rivendell's standards. The large room was crowded with people, old and new. Teachers in sleek black tuxes and fine, but simple gowns, buzzed about the room like gracious hosts. Mr. Elrond sat at the head table, beaming proudly at everything.
The girls were, fashionably late, as it were. Boromir, Strider, Gimli and Legolas all stood restlessly about the room, each one checking their watches and the doors for the slightest bit of movement.
"Damn girls." Gimli mumbled under his breath. Boar nodded in agreement.
"They'll be here." Lee said quietly, still straining his politeness whenever he was near Boar. Gimli grunted quietly and shuffled off impatiently, mumbling about getting something to drink. Strider followed, leaving Boar and Lee alone.
"I don't understand you Lee," Boar started quietly. Lee just stood there, keeping his eyes on the door, his jaw rigid with the onslaught of restraint.
"You used to be such a cool guy. So funny, so smart. Now, look at you. You've thrown it all away to protect a liar. Honestly man, do you need a piece of ass that bad?"
Don't hit him, don't hit him, Lee kept repeating quietly in his head. His promise to Lis was the only thing holding him back now.
But he wondered, in the deepest part of himself if Boar wasn't right. He and Boar used to be the best of friends. There was a time when you couldn't tear the two apart. And now what had it come to? He wanted to hit him so hard every muscle in his lithe arms strained. Over what? A girl. Granted, a very pretty, and extremely troubled girl. But was she worth it? Was she worth throwing away everything for? Boar already hated him, who would hate him next? Lee's stomach grew uneasy as he found that he didn't have the answer to any of his questions, and that unsettled him. Because his answer was not a definite yes.
Lis wasn't as important to him as he'd thought, perhaps.
His face fell, ever so slightly, and he hurried away into a darkened corner, his mind buzzing louder than the freshmen that passed. Boar watched him go, the smallest hint of a smile tugging at his mouth.
Soon enough, the girls did show.
The Arwen led the way, with Galadriel close behind, the two sisters clinging to each other affectionately. They were both smiling, their faces all the brighter for it. They were wearing matching silver dresses, long and flowing, just like they were. They absolutely sparkled as they passed among the tables. Arwen almost immediately made a beeline for Strider, leaving a much more civil Boromir to grab Galadriel's hand and lead her to a table.
"Oh, Boromir," she smiled quietly. "Good, I've been meaning to talk to you."
"What about, my lovely?" Boar smiled earnestly as he sat her down and pulled up a chair next to her.
"I want you to be careful."
"About…?"
"Lisaura."
Boar's face darkened.
"She's not like you Boar. She isn't built to weather well. She's got scars. Kinds you'll never see. Be gentle with her."
"Gentle? What do mean gentle? The girl's lying about the Ring, Drili, you know it and I know it."
"I know no such thing, Boar," she said quietly. "All I do know is that she and the ring have a tighter bond that she yet knows."
"That's bull." He mumbled. Drili laughed quietly and lifted her hand, letting it rest gently on his stubbly cheek.
"Oh, my poor Boromir. You never did know how to look at things properly, did you?"
Boar pulled away from her.
"I wish you wouldn't be so patronizing." He mumbled.
"I do it because no one else will." She answered, her sightless face serious. "Everyone is too afraid of you to tell you when you're wrong. You will never have such an allowance from me. I have always said exactly what I think to you, and I always will."
"And what do you think now?" he said, his voice sounding tired, and far older than his years.
"I think that you're letting your desire cloud your rational thinking."
"My desires? What on earth are you talking about?"
A small smile glanced across her face and she nodded towards the door. Boar looked at her, confusedly for a moment, then turned his head towards the door, and his breath stopped.
It was Lis. It was Lis, but she was absolutely exquisite. Her fiery golden hair was down, not in its usual braids. She was wearing the silver dress of Avalon, the suggested uniform for the dances. Arwen and Galadriel had always made the medival dresses lovely, but Lisaura's body in it did something far more cherubic to it. An astonished gasp escaped his throat before he could stop himself, and it was met with the light laughter of the beauty by his side.
"You ask answered questions." She chuckled.
"What, what do you mean? I do not want her. I only want her to give us the Ring." He stammered, his eyes still glued to Lis. She walked so gracefully, so, regally. She didn't belong here, he thought, she belongs in a palace, or in a church to be worshiped.
"How long will you lie to yourself, my dear friend?"
"I'm tired of this talk, Drili." He pushed away and brushed his hand against her shoulder, signaling his departure. He hoped his voice was stronger than it had sounded in his ears. His entire body seemed to be floating with her in his eyes.
Lis, however, didn't feel as beautiful as she looked.
No one was looking at her, which was a mixed blessing. Being watched was never something she had gotten used to, even during her brief stint as Sauron's trophy girlfriend. But on the other hand, Lee wasn't looking at her. He wasn't even there, for all she could see. She frowned slightly as she realized that four-hour's worth of primping and being Arwen's temporary Barbie doll had all been in vain. She sighed, and let her eyes roam about the room in search of a friendly face. Arwen and Strider were out on the dance floor, twirling about happily. Arwen's hair flung about her shoulders as she moved, and her dress (almost identical to the one Lis was wearing) spun around her long legs as she laughed, cradled in Strider's strong arms. Lis smiled in spite of herself. She always did like romances. Frodo's laugh caught her ear next, and she eagerly looked about for him. she found him, and the rest of the hobbits, at their table, surrounded by a group of ecstatic looking girls. Lis smiled a bit more as she watched the five young men flirt unabashedly, a look of pure excitement shining in their friendly eyes.
Gimli she spotted next to a long table with a glass of punch in one hand, excitedly discussing something with three or four older looking boys. Lis resigned herself to a lonely evening, and strolled out onto the porch surrounding the building.
The night was chilly and clear. The stars swept through the night sky like powder sugar, and a small breeze whipped through the oak trees, swaying their majestic forms with a peaceful rustling. Lis leaned her arm on the porch's railing and sighed. A perfectly good night, she thought, but no one to share it with.
"Nice night, huh?"
the deep, melodic voice shook her out of her dreaming, and she looked over her shoulder.
Boromir met her eyes.
She gasped a bit, and snapped her attentions back towards the grounds below her. Boar walked up and leaned on the railings next to her, keeping his gaze out as well, though with no little strain on his part.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked, turning her stoically curious gaze to him. "I thought you wanted to kill me?"
"No. um, sorry. I guess it did seem that way, didn't it?" he sheepishly scratched his head and shrugged. "Its just that I saw you walking out here, and you looked kinda down, and I thought, it being such a nice night and all, I'd, uh keep you company?"
Lis just stared at him. why was he acting this way? It made no sense what so ever. Two nights ago, he had been willing to drag her kicking and screaming through the Willow Grove to find the Ring, wherever it was.
"Really, Lis," he said, his voice suddenly soft and velvety. "I'm sorry about the way I acted before. I guess I just keep doing and saying the wrong thing around you, don't I?" his gaze was full on her now, and it unnerved her. His eyes were so intense, so searching, she didn't know what he expected from her. Information? The Ring?
"I don't know where the Ring is, Boromir." She whispered, edging away from him slightly. Boar slipped his arms around her, framing her and almost pinning her to the railing. Lis looked up at him, her eyes wide, too suprized to know what to do.
"I don't care about the ring, Lis. Damnit girl cant you see that I'm in love with you?"
Lis's eyes flew open. In love with her? How? It made no sense. But before she had anytime to think through things, his mouth was on hers, pressing hard and hungry. Lis squirmed, and pulled away, Boar's arms keeping her in place well enough. He opened his eyes and stared down at her, slightly taken aback. He shrugged, and leaned in again as if for another kiss, when Lis's hand flashed, and slapped him. the sound echoed through the muted quiet of the porch, and it seemed like they stood there forever in the night air, not moving.
That's the whoosh came. Lis didn't know what it was before it hit her, and then she was dead sure. Boar's hand. His face contorted violently, and for the briefest of moments, Lis thought she was looking at Sauron. Then he hit her, sweeping his powerfully broad hand across her decidedly smaller cheek. Lis's head snapped to the side, and Boar pulled his arms away in time to let her fall to the floor beside him.
"Tease." She grunted through clenched teeth. He pulled his foot back, and brought it down hard into her side. Lis's gargled in pain, the wind knocked out of her. She tried to crawl away from him, but couldn't, and lay there instead, sobbing, her hair rumpled around her pain-contorted face.
Boar huffed out a curt laugh, and turned to leave. But he never made it that far. Through the quiet din of crickets and the low hum of he party inside, Lis heard the distinctive sound of a punch. Lis looked up, brushing her hair out of her face with a shaky hand.
Boar was doubled over, his face contorted in pain. Lee was standing above him, his own face twisted with rage.
Lis had never been so glad to see anyone in her entire life.
Lee sent another punch to Boar's face as he tried to stand, and watched as his mountain-like friend fell to his knees, then collapsed onto his side, whimpering sincerely.
Lee rushed to Lis and kneeled by her, his rage replaced with pure concern and love? Lis thought. No, it was probably her teary eyes blurring her vision.
"Are you alright?" he whispered gently. Lis nodded, trying to sit up, but Less swung his arms around her, picking her up as he stood. He rushed her off he deck and down a few stairs, heading for the Willow Grove, leaving Boar behind, sobbing.