Before you begin the hanging, let me explain why I haven't updated in months. w/ studying for sol's, exams, the general end-of-school pileup of homework, a mess of baby goats being born, my computer almost broken and a bunch of other stuff, combined with my general lack of inspiration, I've barely had time to deal with anything but school. And I left at a horrible spot after writing myself into a brick wall, but I finally got some inspiration! Again, I'm sorry for my total lack of update and I hope I didn't loose anyone! So without further ado… I don't own anything but my OC's, everything else belongs to Tolkien, b/c if it didn't…bad things…

Italics are thoughts.

Boromir stalked away. Never had anyone made him so angry before, not even his father. He'd never had problems with women before; usually it was him breaking hearts, not his being broken. He could have any woman he liked, except the one he wanted. Halfway down the hall, he turned back to her.

"Lily, if you want to leave, go ahead. There's no point for you to stay here anymore. This isn't working. We can get a divorce and you can go live somewhere else. I don't care." He left before he could hear her response."

Lily wanted to shout back at Boromir that she knew he did care and that she wasn't leaving anytime soon, but it was too late. The door slammed and she was alone. Alone to let herself cry. But why she was crying, she didn't know. Divorce? Is that what I want? I didn't want to marry him in the first place. A muffled sob escaped her throat as she sank to the floor, her head resting on her knees. Lea was right. I don't love him, but we never got a chance to fall in love! Here we are, married for a year now and we're both acting like schoolchildren! She gave in and let the tears fall. I can't leave him now. That would be like abandoning him! She startled herself with these thoughts. Did she really love him after all? If I care about him, I must. Maybe. Maybe there was a little spark of love after all.

Boromir glanced over his shoulder for the hundredth time and took another gulp of ale.

"Relax friend, you'll not be looked twice at dressed as a guard." Beregond told him. Boromir looked at himself, knowing Beregond was right. In his friend's extra uniform, he definitely blended in with the crowd. He hadn't told Beregond why he was brooding and that was why he needed to drink, but he was pretty sure Beregond already knew why. Not that he would understand. The man had married the girl of his choice, who'd taken care of his motherless son for him. If only Lily could be a little more like her friend. He tried to imagine what life would be like if he had married Lily out of her own free will. Surely they'd have a child by now. And he wouldn't be spouting of stupid things like some schoolboy. Beregond poked him. "Have I lost you Boromir? You were miles away." Boromir shrugged.

"I've got a lot on my mind." He said.

"Well, you know what helps get things off your mind?" Beregond said jokingly. "Have another ale!" he laughed and ordered for the both of them. Lost in thought, Boromir didn't look up until a scantily clad girl approached their table.

"Can I help you boys?" she asked. Or purred, rather. Beregond shook his head and held his hands up. Boromir almost followed suit, but something stopped him. Perhaps it was that the ale had made him stupid. Or maybe he was trying to get back at Lily. But something made him get up and follow the girl to the second floor of the tavern. Boromir never went home that night.

Moonlight flooded the bedroom, but it wasn't the only thing keeping Lily awake. That, and the fact that Boromir wasn't snoring softly on the other side of her. She could imagine where he was. At a tavern or cathouse. Or both. Did I bring this upon myself? An unfaithful husband was like having some deformity, especially if your husband was the Steward of Gondor's son. If word got around, well, it was best not to think about what would happen if it did. She wasn't sure if she should be angry at herself or Boromir. Maybe she'd driven him to this. Maybe he had been so let down he'd left all sense of property behind. Why didn't I just say I loved him? Married people are supposed to! Was this what always came out of arranged marriages? She fell asleep cursing arranged matches, her father and Denethor for arranging it, but mostly herself for being so stupid.

It was dawn when Boromir stumbled into his bed. Lily was curled as far away as possible from him. No doubt she'd heard him come in, drunk as he was. He was far too drunk to feel pity for his faithful friend, after Beregond had helped him home without making a scandal of himself. He was too drunk to feel remorse for being unfaithful to his wife. Unfaithful to his duty, his station, everything. But he was too drunk to care.

Lily waited until steady snores were coming from the other side of the bed to get up. She dressed quickly and made her way down to the kitchen to start the day's work. Some of the maids glanced at her occasionally and whispered among themselves. Everyone probably heard Boromir come in, after all. Feeling tears threatening, she excused herself from the kitchen to the hallway where she'd messed up her already messed-up life. She'd been told that crying never solved anything, but sometimes it did. Lost in self-pity, she never heard the door open and didn't see Denethor come in. He watched her in pity for a while until she looked up. He offered a sad smile and put a hand on her shoulder before moving on. His son, her husband, had made a fool out of himself. And when the man she'd resented so much could feel her pain, the world didn't seem quite so bleak.

Well? Review! That's a long chapter for ya!