So I have decided to keep the book timeline with movie action (more or less) because the movies make it seem as if the action happens over a course of weeks rather than months and that leaves so little for the imagination.
*Disclaimer* I do not own nor am I affiliated with anything pertaining to Lord of the Rings or its extended universe.
The feast was nearly halfway through when Lilly arrived with Gandalf though none paid them much mind as music played and elves brought platters of food to and from the already heavily laden tables. Despite the reason for which they had assembled in Rivendell, the Dwarves and Men alike seemed averse to mingling too heavily with each other and their Elven hosts.
Arwen sat by her father's side at the high table but upon noticing Lilly motioned for her to join her at a lower table. Thankful she was not expected to sit at the table of Men, Lilly sat with Arwen and other Elves she considered to be friends.
The night was through enough that the Dwarves and Men both were well into their cups and were becoming rowdy, so Lilly's choice of seat was not questioned. Despite the Elves constant drinking of wine, the rowdiest she had ever seen drunk elves was when two singers contested against each other in who could recite the longest verse of poetry.
Lilly filled a small plate of food and took cup of wine and listened in to the conversations around her. Talk was kept away from the Council meeting and the Ring and was focussed on merrier subjects and teasing between friends. The presence of guests made the Elves stick to speaking the common tongue for which Lilly was thankful for since her Sindarin was barely at the level of a toddler.
"That man of Gondor has been keeping his gaze toward you." Óldes, a friend of Arwen's, said to Lilly keeping her voice low.
"Does he?" Lilly took a sip of her wine and tried not to wince at the strength of it. Lilly's gaze flitted across the room and she saw Boromir's eyes glance her way then quickly turn aside. Arwen laughed beside her. "I know well the look on your face, has he offered you some insult in the short time since he arrived?"
Lilly feigned a glare at her friend, "An insult toward my gender and one not easily forgotten." A round of laughter went about the table. "A foolhardy mistake! He should be glad my Lady of the Flower did not take his life!" A singer, Faerveren, joked well aware as many others in Rivendell of Lilly's short temper.
"Flower?" Lilly balked at the title. "Aye!" The singer continued, his cheeks flushed from drink. "Fair as the flower she was named for as my lady Arwen is fair as the stars!" He rose from his chair and began to sing a passage from the Lay of Leithian describing the beauty of Luthien.
"I think he has had far too much to drink." Lilly whispered to Arwen who giggled in return. He sang only three verses and received a hardy applause from the drunken crowd. A few moments after his end the Hobbits took up a drinking song and attention was focused toward them.
After nearly an hour of drinking songs being sang back and forth between races, Lilly grew tired. Arwen had joined Aragorn's side leaving Lilly with the other Elves; she had found before that making conversation with them was not as easy as it was when Arwen was there. Excusing herself during a particularly loud Dwarfish drinking song she made her out of the crowded Hall.
Away from the raucous Hall Rivendell was peaceful in the starlight. Breathing in the cool night air Lilly tried not to stumble as she made her way down the stone steps outside. Stairs and drunk people in dresses are not a good mix. Debating on whether or not she should abandon all dignity and crawl down the stairs, Lilly uneasily took one step at a time and slowly made her way to the bottom.
"My lady!" The shout nearly sent Lilly tumbling down the last few steps. Whirling around she yelled, "Are you trying to kill me?" Boromir hurried down the steps, concern marring his face. "Apologies, again, my lady for startling you. I merely meant to-""To send me tumbling to my death, apparently."
Lilly picked up her skirts and turned away from him, descending the last few steps in a rush. "Please, my lady, I only wish to apologise for my words." He followed her down the steps and past the Hall. Lilly turned toward him and she could see he was sincere even in his drunkenness. "What words? When you nearly scared me to death twice? Or perhaps when you insulted my entire gender?"
Boromir winced, "I never meant to say that, truly I swear. I was not myself." "The Ring has strong influence over you, Boromir son of Denethor." Lilly was trying very hard to seem stern in her slightly drunken state. "However, it takes from thoughts you already have. I will not accept the apology of someone who thinks that I am weak because of my gender." Turning on him again, Lilly made the way back to her chambers.
The morning dawned bright and far too early for Lilly who was suffering from headache both from the drinking and from Arwen who had roused her from her room at dawn to practice archery. The twang of the bowstring did little to ease her headache and it was not until mid-afternoon that Arwen finally relented.
"You still keep your arm too low." Arwen commented offhandedly as they took a break by the archery field. A platter of fruit had been brought out for them and Lilly glared at her friend while chewing on a pear. "Maybe you just keep your standards too high." Arwen raised a brow and laughed.
The day had remained bright and warm despite the changing seasons and while Lilly was sweaty and overheated her Elven counterpart was unaffected by the weather. Jealous of her friend's immunity to the heat, Lilly stretched out in her chair and blew out a breath.
Arwen loosened her bracer and glanced at her friend. "What did you say to that man Boromir yesterday? I saw him leave after you and when he returned it look as if you had cursed him forever."
Lilly rolled her eyes, "I may have been a bit harsh him, but it wasn't anything he didn't deserve!" Arwen laughed. "I pity any who wrong you, mellon nin¸ for I have never met any with a wrath as terrible as yours." The two finished their meal and separated, Lilly choosing to continue her archery practice and Arwen leaving to speak with Aragorn.
Arm too high she says, Lilly knocked and drew an arrow. Concentrate less, aim faster, keep your stomach in… She sighed as hit the target high and to the left of the centre. Dammit. Arms sore from her earlier practice she repeated the motions of drawing and loosing as Arwen had drilled her own.
"You shoot well, my lady." Lilly glowered at the voice. "You mean well for a woman?" She had not turned to look toward him, but she could very nearly feel the regret coming off of Boromir as he approached her.
Ignoring his presence, Lilly drew the arrow she had nocked before he had spoken to her and let it go with a sharp twang. It hit closer to the centre than any of her previous ones that day but was still off the centre.
"I only meant to say that you have much more skill than I." Lilly turned and looked at him unbelievingly, "Are you trying to tell me that Gondor's finest captain has trouble using a bow?" Boromir looked down and tried to hide his smile.
"When we were younger I had my brother swear to never tell our father I was hopeless as an archer. He never found out and I spent my time training with the sword." Lilly couldn't help letting out a laugh. "I am glad you find that funny because it remains the only thing my brother has held against me." His smile broadened as Lilly laughed.
"Are you telling me an embarrassing childhood story in hopes that I'll forgive you?" He look guiltily at her and his face became thoughtful, "I truly did not mean those words. Where I am from…" He struggled for words. "Where I am from I am known as a man of honour. Any insult I have made to your honour is an insult to my own. I beg you to forgive me for saying rash words that I did not mean."
The pleading sincerity in his eyes made Lilly feel as if she had kicked a dog and she knew her stubbornness had been defeated. "I suppose I have to forgive you." Boromir's face lightened and he bowed and said a small thank you to her.
"Let's see then." Lilly took on a less serious tone and gestured to some of the spare bows that had been brought out on the field by her and Arwen that morning. Confusion crossed his face. "You wish for me to embarrass myself, my lady?" Lilly smiled playfully, "Think of it as making up for any wrongs between us."
Seeing her challenge Boromir looked over the bows and chose one of the larger ones. Annoyance prickled in the back of Lilly's mind as she backed away from the shooting line to give him space as she recognised the bow as one so tense she didn't have the strength to draw.
Boromir nocked and drew an arrow awkwardly, aiming for too long he finally released the arrow and it sailed past the target. Lilly clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. "I have not used a bow in years, I remind you." Boromir feigned sternness as Lilly tried to control her laughter. "That was pitiful." She exclaimed between laughs.
Wiping tears from her eyes, she told him to draw again. "This time hold it." She instructed as she step toward him to inspect his stance. "For starters take a step back, stand straighter and raise your elbow slightly." His second attempt at shooting fared better and had him hitting the outer rings of the target.
"I sincerely hope that your sword work was worth it." Lilly teased after they had finished on the archery field and were putting back their equipment. Lilly felt sweaty and hot as she replacing arrows in her quiver. She wanted nothing than a bath and a long nap.
Boromir chuckled, "I like to think to so." When the pair had put away the last of their things, Boromir offered to escort Lilly to her chambers. "Only if you don't get lost along the way." Had been her reply to which they both shared a laugh.
"Who taught you archery?" Boromir asked she took his arm. Lilly felt embarrassed as she knew she probably smelled and was dripping in sweat from spending so long outside. "My grandfather and my brothers." He smiled faintly but Lilly could see something lingering in his eyes.
"Gandalf named you an oracle." Boromir stated after they had gone a little further. I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep away from that one for too long. Lilly thought carefully about how to respond to his statement. It probably wouldn't be good to tell him his entire existence is just story.
"It is true that I know parts of the future," Lilly tried to be convincing in her partial lie. "What I can do is not like the foresight of the Elves, I simply know a sequence of events that need to happen. I cannot look into someone's future or anything like that."
"So you know the fate of the Ring?" Boromir tried to understand what she had said. Lilly nodded. "And the fate of Gondor?" Lilly nodded slowly again, wary of the look in his eyes. Boromir stopped and grabbed her shoulders, "Gondor's fate please…I must know what is to become of my people." Lilly could see it was not desperation for the Ring that was driving him, but his desperation for the welfare of his nation.
"It is not for you to know, Boromir." She touched the hand on her shoulder gently and felt his sadness. She had this feeling before back in her home, at every school and cultural centre, in the face of so many people she had known as they struggled to keep their culture and language afloat. He dropped his hands and looked down, embarrassed. "I'm sorry…I should not have-"
"Gondor will survive only if the Ring does not." Lilly stepped back from him. That's the only thing you need to know. She paused and thought about saying more, but instead turned away from him and left for her chambers. Boromir stood by himself for a moment, conflicted over what he needed to do for the sake of his people, before leaving for his own chambers.