I have no excuse for not updating. Sorry, life has been hectic (well, I guess that's an excuse) and I want to start updating frequently. Thank you to all who reviewed/story alerted! And if you just story-alerted, I'd really like to know what you think! I enabled anonymous reviews now. Please review again! Here's chapter 8!

I own nothing but my oc's and Italics are thoughts.

-One month later-

Within a week of her marriage, Lily found herself with plenty of those duties she had wondered about. Now she was basically head of the Steward's household and staff. While she didn't actually do any work, she had to dictate what needed to be cleaned, what the menu for each week would be, when and what laundry should be done and so on. She had to "routinely observe the staff of the High Court and judge their abilities" as well. She didn't mind it at all, especially since it gave her something to do during the day.

Lily had a distinct feeling that she was a mere pawn in Denethor's game. She was mainly there to run the house and provide Boromir with an heir. Sometimes she felt like everyone was a pawn in his game.

It was still early morning a month after their marriage. Sleep had escaped her. Soon, she would be getting up and preparing for another day of the same duties. On the other side of the bed, Boromir slumbered, but she could not sleep. Worry had kept her up half of the night. After the first night, Denethor seemed pleased, thinking she was pregnant. It would be impossible to keep up the ruse now, since she had begun her monthly bleeding. Denethor would be banging down the door, wanting her to give his son a child.

She had almost managed to fall back asleep before the inevitable happened. There was a knock on the door. Boromir woke from his slumber long enough to mumble for his guest to come in. Denethor strode into the room, surveying the two. He got right to the point.

"Your maids tell me you are bleeding. You are not pregnant." He addressed her bluntly. Coloring, Lily could only nod sheepishly. Boromir glanced at her swiftly.

"Father, I realize you are just looking out for me, but I hardly think it's necessary for us to have a child now." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "The choice is up to Lily. When she tells me that she wants a child, we will have one. Until then, the answer is no." His eyes flashed with anger as he glared at his father. Denethor turned red with anger. Without thinking, he directed a blow from his fist onto his young daughter-in-law's face. Lily cried out and fell back against the pillow. Boromir jumped to his feet, pointing to the door.

"Get out." he said calmly. Denethor narrowed his eyes, but left as quickly as he had come. He returned to the bed, gently touching Lily's shoulder. She turned to look up at him, her face streaked with tears and a small bruise forming on her cheekbone.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm such a baby. Who am I to defy your father?" she sniffed.

"I'm glad you do it. I hate to say it, but I've always been a little scared to do something he might not like. And I meant what I said to him. We don't have to have a baby until you want to." Lily glanced up at him, tears forming in her eyes again.

"I was hoping you would say that. And thank you, for understanding." She hugged him for the first time, but only briefly. Then, embarrassed, she hurried to her own room. Boromir remained. Her warm embrace left a tingly sensation on his skin. You're falling in love with a girl who will never love you back.

Oooo! The plot thickens! I hope you enjoyed this! And please review!