A/N: Right, sorry that my updates are usually once a week, and that this took slightly more than one week. I've had trouble with homework, detentions, parents and football, so forgive me... Oh, and bad news for you, dear readers. This friday I am going on holiday to Florida for two weeks, which means that after thursday, there will be no updates for two weeks. but I shall try, try, try my absolute hardest to get another chapter posted by thursday, and considering the lengthy flight I'm sure I'll have done many chapters by the time I come back :) This chapter is my shortest so far, by the way, and thats because I wanted a cliff so yeah... as always I shall say a bit THANK YOU for your support and reviews, You're all very lovely jubbly people. To purple kimono I shall say, thanks for the profile/bio thingy correction, I shall correct it, and I love your name too! oh and to Feste the fool I shall say Haha! *taps side of nose* :)) Read on...

Disclaimer: Still don't own it


Starcrossed
Haunting Whispers and Shadows

He could see her pale face; so infinitely beautiful; so brilliantly golden; so delicately fair; so all-knowing… He ran out of words to describe her. Her very aura bled power, he wondered how the other elves could resist it; a temptation so giant, so plain, and so alluri- His musings were suddenly broken, and a heavy sigh of defeat escaped his lips.

The elf was singing again.

He should've known this would be his reward for boating with an elf. He doubted if the others could even hear the musical lull, for the fair archer seemed to sing softly to himself, rather than for the entertainment of others- as he'd done many a time- and seemed too deep in thought to realise what he was doing.

"Master Elf," Gimli caught Legolas' attention, and the singing halted behind him. "May I ask a question?"

"You may ask." The elf replied lightly, his voice tinged with mirth as the dwarf looked back and found him to be grinning, his fair features lit.

"Must you sing for every second of this journey?" Gimli enquired, trying dismally to keep irritation from his voice. To his surprise, Legolas' demeanour remained cheerful.

"Do you find my singing displeases you?" Legolas replied innocently, gracefully steering them from a tangle of weed.

"Nay, Laddie." Gimli denied lamely. "More the fact that there hasn't been an empty moment on this boat."

"Ah." Legolas nodded, as if he understood, but the dwarf could detect barely contained laughter. "I interrupt your thoughts… Have no worry, Gimli: I shall stop."

Gimli nodded gruffly, turning back to the river ahead as his thought drifted again to the Lady of Light. Where was he? Oh yes- so alluring and contagious… He could see her golden head now, shining brightly in the suns rays as her pale hand reached up, and pulled on three golden-

Gimli stifled a groan. The elf was humming.

Alas, if the archer could not be stopped, he would just have to sit and bear it, and thank the Valar that the elf had a beautiful voice.

"Legolas?" A small voice enquired, and the elf turned his head to look inquisitively at Pippin. "Do all elves know how to sing? –Beautifully I mean."

Even Boromir smiled at the question, but Gimli forced the smile from his own face as the elf grinned at the compliment.

"We sing only as well as our company think it so." Legolas replied modestly, before asking a question of his own. "Do all hobbits sing beautifully?"

Pippin frowned in thought; Gimli could practically see the hobbit's mind working, and it was a moment before the question was answered.

"I suppose the answer's the same as yours." Pippin answered truthfully with a small shrug, before turning his next question-victim. "Do you sing, Gimli?"

Gimli looked around to see the company's attention fixated on him, an eyebrow for each cocked in curiosity.

"We dwarves do sing, but not as others." Gimli replied slowly, chuckling. "Aye, when I'm at work I do often sing, albeit horribly to ears other than mine, no doubt."

The men chuckled with him, and the elf behind him grinned. The look in the archer's eye made Gimli sincerely hope he would not be asked to sing anytime on this quest: he'd certainly not been exaggerating by his words.

Pippin giggled, and his joyful and merry face would have had the whole fellowship grinning, had they not been startled by Pippin's next question.

"Boromir?" Pippin asked, turning to face the calmly rowing Gondorian, who cocked an eyebrow. "Can you sing?"

The question baffled them all, and Gimli choked back a roar of laughter as the Gondorian stared- shocked- at Pippin. Even Aragorn was failing miserably at stifling his grin.

"I, err, well…" Boromir fumbled. "Suffice it to say, Pippin, that the only time I sing is when I am, err, inebriated."

A few of the company chuckled along with the deep bass of Boromir, as the Gondorian's grey eyes twinkled mischievously. Pippin frowned slightly, and even from their boat, Gimli could see the hobbit mouthing the word 'inebriated' to himself. He finally allowed himself to chuckle quietly. The first part of their boating journey would certainly be long.

He could hear the whispers, edging through his mind, clawing at his attention. It made his skin crawl. Boromir… He shuddered, but the hisses continued, spreading their villainous hate. This is your desire… He shook his head firmly, straining to dispel the voice.

It poisoned them all, this he knew, but him more so… decidedly more so. Was it because he cared and loved his kingdom? Boromir… Was it because he longed for its walls and people to be safe? Boromir. Was it because he was a good man? BOROMIR!

… Was it because he was weak?

No! He was Boromir, son of Denethor, and Captain of the white tower, protector of his people; he was not weak. Let me in, Denethor son…Despairing, perhaps…

The night folded its darkness about him, lulling him. He couldn't fall asleep; it was his watch! But the whispers intensified, gripping him; he could feel his resolve crumbling. He sleeps, you can take what you want, Boromir. You hold your sword- NO!

"Boromir:" A soft voice startled him, and the Gondorian realised he'd been gripping the blade of his dagger. He released it, watching in shock as blood slowly welled in the shallow cut.

Shaking himself, he looked over his shoulder, and saw that one companion was now sitting propped back on his elbows: cobalt eyes watched him with concern, the fair face half in shadow.

"Is something wrong?" Legolas enquired, just as softly as before, and a worried frown began to riddle his brow.

"N-no." Boromir was dismayed to find his voice shook, and coughed slightly before continuing in a steadier tone. "All is well."

For a short moment the elf regarded him silently, but nodded his head wearily and lay back down, pulling his blanket up as his eyes slowly glazed over. Boromir watched until he was completely sure that Legolas slept, before turning back to his bleeding hand. Taking a deep breath, he attempted to recollect his thoughts, and carefully wiped his hand free of blood. It was too shallow to bother wrapping and so he ignored it, glancing back at the fair archer.

He feared the elf saw right through his façade of hardened absolution. He feared the elf knew his weakness, for, of them all, Legolas' sight took him further than only appearance; it sometimes felt as if he could read your thoughts. He shuddered at the notion of Legolas knowing his deepest desires. Would he be confronted? Would the elf consider him to be nothing more than a weak, pathetic and broken man?

Of course not: Legolas never seemed to judge anyone, except the dwarf, and that had been at the beginning.

He only had to push away the tainted whispers, only had to resist. He concentrated on blocking his mind, creating a barrier against the ring. It was all in vain.

Boromir…

Legolas sighed to himself. Finally, they'd reached their destination- much to the relief of Samwise- a night after leaving Lothlórien, and now he watched the trees carefully, scrutinizing every leaf and branch, as behind him the others shifted restlessly, and Gimli started a fire.

"We cross the lake at nightfall," Aragorn was telling them, taking his pack from his boat. "Hide the boats and continue on foot… We approach Mordor from the north."

"Oh, yes?" A gruff voice cut in, sarcastic in tone. The hobbits and Aragorn turned to listen to the dwarf. "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil," Gimli shifted and his sarcasm deepened. "An impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks."

Pippin paled visibly, and stopped chewing food as he gazed at the dwarf in disbelief.

"And after that, it gets even better!" Gimli continued, waving a stick in the air to emphasise his words. "Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see!"

"That is our road." Aragorn replied simply and calmly, making no attempt to contradict the dwarf. "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."

"Recover my-" Gimli repeated in disbelief, flustering desperately to gather back his pride. Legolas ignored him, frowning and quickly turning to move towards Aragorn.

"We should leave now." He murmured hastily, but the ranger shook his head at the words.

"No." Aragorn replied dismissively, nodding towards the opposite bank. "Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness."

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me." Legolas muttered under his breath, restlessly turning his gaze back to the woods. "A shadow and a threat has been growing on my mind. Something draws near…" He turned back to the ranger, holding his stormy eyes. "I can feel it."

The ranger adopted a grim look, as Merry returned with an armful of firewood, and Gimli continued flustering.

"Recover strength?" Gimli was repeating yet again, before turning to Pippin. "Pay no heed to that, young hobbit."

Merry wiped his hands absent-mindedly on his clothes, but suddenly his youthful features frowned, and he straightened abruptly, looking curiously around them.

"Where's Frodo?"

Sam darted up; suddenly alert as they all whipped around to the tree Frodo had been seated beneath, but were greeted with only Frodo's blanket.

"Estel." Legolas called urgently, pointing to where Boromir's shield lay, and the empty space where it's wielder didn't. Aragorn's eyes widened, and he sighed resignedly, before turning and sprinting through the woods.

"I must look for Frodo!" He called from over his shoulder, already disappearing through the shrubbery.

They watched his back for a moment, before turning to each other and raising eyebrows, echoing the man's sigh.

"Well, this is wonderful!" Gimli grumbled sarcastically, and Legolas smiled wryly, glancing towards the eastern shore wistfully before turning to his companions.

"I am sure there is nothing-" Legolas started, but something hit hard against his mind, and he spun to scan the trees. Danger…

"Mr Legolas?" Sam asked uncertainly, rising slowly from his seat on the ground.

Legolas didn't answer, keeping his eyes on the trees as he un-shouldered his bow and nocked an arrow.

"Gimli." He warned lowly, briefly meeting the dwarf's eyes with meaning.

The dwarf stiffened with understanding, extinguishing the fire with his drink as he turning to the halflings.

"Clear up, hobbits." He said as calmly as he was able. "Quickly now."

The hobbits appeared puzzled at the request, but did not have to be asked twice as they hastily began packing away.

"Leave them here." Legolas told them quickly, as they began hoisting the packs onto their backs. "Hide them under a bush."

The hobbits frowned, but stored the packs as Legolas turned his full attention on the woods. Now, he could clearly hear the thuds of feet, and the distant scraping of metal on metal: they were nearing.

"Hide!" Gimli ordered the hobbits at the elf's expression. "Now!"

The three scampered away, and from what Legolas knew from playing hiding games with them, he was sure that the hobbits would certainly remain hidden.

"Come, Gimli!" Legolas beckoned the dwarf as he set off, sprinting through the leaves and leaping over bushes. He could hear the clashes of dispute now, growing steadily louder, and louder, and louder. Quickening his pace, he dodged a stray branch, holding his bow at the ready, and with a deep breath, ran through the derelict, stone doorway.

Even alone the ranger fought like a lion, but a look of relief flitted over Aragorn's face as the bow of the Galadhrim sang, and three beasts were felled instantly.

"Aragorn!" Legolas yelled, needlessly assuring the ranger of his presence as merely a second later, Gimli charged in: axe swinging, and bellowing as he hefted his weapon to and fro.

Legolas allowed a small smile to grace his lips, ducking swiftly as a scimitar came his way, before thrusting an arrow forwards into the creature's gut. He frowned as the beast attempted a final swing before it fell: seconds too long. Somehow these beasts were drastically differed to their other foes. It was disdainfully obvious they were neither as small as orcs, nor as blindingly ugly as goblins. Though ugly nevertheless, Legolas thought grimly, using the same arrow to fell another.

Already, his quiver was beginning to empty, and he used the initiative to use the arrows sparingly, using the arrows as hand weapons before letting them fly, and even then only to kill the posing threats. Yet still it was not long before his hand gripped the shaft of his last, and so he waited a short moment, his cobalt eyes darting side to side: seeking a worthy victim. Ah, Estel seems to be in a spot of bother. Legolas pulled back and released, watching as the arrow pierced the beast's heart, killing it instantly and leaving the ranger holding a dead body.

Legolas sighed as he swiftly shouldered his bow, and drew both knives in the same, single, fluid movement. Continuing the move, he crossed and uncrossed both arms in a scissor cut, swiftly relieving a beast of its head. He took another step forward, spinning the knives like whirlwinds in his hands as he slashed one's chest, and turned to stab another. Slash, slash, thrust, parry, duck, slash, shove! Four more fell from his blades, like puppets with cut strings.

He paused for a moment to scan the bodies, before bending and scooping up arrows as he ran past them, un-shouldering his bow once more. One: between the eyes, two: through the heart, three: through the neck, four: knee then heart, five: through the open, roaring mouth, out the back of its head and into the head of another.

He reached to nock another arrow, but a clear noise blared through the air, and he whipped towards the direction from which it came.

"The horn of Gondor!" He exclaimed worriedly, and felt Aragorn brush past him, already darting to the direction whilst hacking a path through the beasts. He will be too late, Legolas thought hopelessly, turning his attention back to his dwarven companion.

Gimli fought like a boar, roaring as he bore his axe down mercifully at the enemy: Legolas felt that the dwarf could look after himself. He pursed his lips for a moment, before nocking his last three arrows at once and unleashing them all. The three beasts closest to Gimli dropped like flies, dead before they'd even known what hit them. The dwarf spun around, nodding his thanks when he'd realised what had happened before jumping back into the fray. Legolas nodded back, turning and darting through the trees, cutting a different path to Aragorn.

Branches whipped at him as he flew through them, never once deterred or slowed as he ran heedless. He heard the horn once more, and applied a burst of speed as he finally glimpsed the mighty Gondorian through the trees.

Boromir fought not as a lion, not as a boar, but as a true Gondorian, and he did credit to his people as he fiercely protected the two little halflings behind him. Ah, so they were found, Legolas though grimly as he dodged a tree root, sticking up from the ground. More foul beasts spilled over the hills towards Boromir, snarling and waving their weapons, and yet… Legolas blinked. Why does that beast not run as his kin?

The beast of his thoughts walked slowly, as if he were superior to all, each step heavy and well placed. Legolas frowned, thinking it to be a typical leader, and began to avert his gaze, when slowly, it carefully raised its ugly weapon:

a bow, and trained on Boromir.

Legolas' eyes widened as the beast drew back the horrid, black arrow, his lips parted to reveal discoloured teeth. No! He raced forward, raising his own bow and aiming even as he ran. Concentrate, Thranduillion! His panicked mind bellowed at him as his shaft levelled with the beast.

Two arrows were nocked. Two arms were drawn back.

One, single arrow flew as its bow sang, and met its target with a hollow thud.

A/N: Mwahahahahaha!!! Next chapter by Thursday, I promise, or I will throw away my galaxy chocolate bar ;( Till next time...