He came out of the castle doors and Boromir's breath was sucked from his lungs. He stood on the top step, unable to walk any further. He waited nervously, feigning patience, as Aragorn walked over to him.

"Tell me now," Aragorn said as he approached. "What happened between us?"

Boromir faltered. He resisted the strong urge to walk backwards down the steps. "Nothing that you need concern yourself with," he answered. "It is in the past, and seeing how you were in no control of yourself, I have forgiven you."

"That's not good enough." Aragorn took a step closer and was now inches away from Boromir's face. He glared into his eyes. "I know now why I was outside of Rohan," he said. "I killed Eowyn, and was banned from this city. But Theoden forgave me, for I was in no control over myself. I still wanted to know what I did that got me punished, so I found out. Now apparently I did something to you that no one else knows about. You say you forgive me, but I didn't ask for your forgiveness. I'm feeling ill from all of this, so I want to know what I did, and I want to know now."

A tingling rose from his toes and teased its way into his crotch. Boromir regretted to admit it, but he had grown to love this forceful assertion from Aragorn. Yet he was afraid to reveal what had transpired between them because, though it was initiated by Aragorn, Boromir could have stopped it if he had truely wanted to.

I could lie, he realized suddenly. He cannot tell if it is the truth or not, for he himself has no memory of any of it. If I tell the truth, they will surely banish me from the Fellowship for good. I was too weak. Too transparent. They won't want to keep me. But should I lie? What should I say that the others would believe? What is so terrible that I would refuse to speak about until now? I don't know. I don't know. Boromir felt like crying.

"Tell me, Boromir," Aragorn said, his tone much like a sigh.

Then again, Boromir thought. If they figured out I was lying, they would still want to know the truth, and their trust in me would dwindle away and this would start all up again. If I tell him, he will hate me. He will hate himself. He would probably leave the Fellowship out of shame. Frodo would lose hope. They would all perish. I cannot have that. I cannot tell.

"No." Boromir set his jaw adamantly. "I won't tell you."

Aragorn's eye twitched. "Why not?" He demanded.

Boromir merely stared at him.

Aragorn rubbed his face irritably. "You test my patience," he grumbled between his fingers. "Okay," he dropped his hands. "What is it you want? Horses? Money? Women? What will it take for you to tell me?"

Boromir looked down, feeling striken. "I will not be bribed, Aragorn," he said softly. "It is not a matter of money or possessions. It is a matter of honor."

"What have I done to your honor?" Aragorn asked, genuinely surprised.

"Tis not my honor I worry about."

Aragorn's face hardened. "Boromir," he said sternly. "Just tell me."

Boromir shook his head, eyes on the ground.

Suddenly Aragorn swung a fist and bashed Boromir in the chin. Boromir flailed and slumped to the ground, wincing because of his arrow wounds and broken ankle. He sat there and looked up at Aragorn, a line of blood running from his lips.

Aragorn drew his sword, feeling quite out of breath, and held it at Boromir's neck. His eyes flicked from Boromir's bloody lips to his eyes and back again. Aragorn could almost taste that blood on his tongue, and he swallowed.

"Will you tell me now?" He panted, his eyes as sharp as the blade in his hand.

Boromir kept his gaze steady, yet tears rolled from his eyes. He lifted his chin defiantly. "No," he answered.

Aragorn stepped even closer, the sword tip pricking the soft skin right below Boromir's Adams's apple. "Now?" He hissed out.

Boromir didn't answer. He thought it was unnecessary.

"You would die to keep such a secret?" Aragorn asked, defeated. He lowered his sword.

"Aye," Boromir replied.

"Your will is stronger than I thought," Aragorn said, turning away to sheath his sword.

Boromir bit his suddenly trembling lips and tried to hold back a fresh wave of tears. He breathed slowly through his suddenly snotty nose. He suddenly thought he was going to vomit. Then he saw something in his face, and he focused his eyes and saw a hand. He looked up and saw Aragorn's kindly face, calmly offering his hand.

Boromir took his hand and Aragorn helped him stand.

"Thank you," Boromir said gently as Aragorn supported him with his arm.

"Let's go inside," Aragorn said dismissively.

He led Boromir inside the castle and down the hallways. Torches lit the way with their hot orange waves, throwing their shadows recklessly against the walls. Aragorn marched like an ant, following the same path he had taken before. His jaw clenched together, his eyes dark. Yet he kept his arm around Boromir, supporting the majority of his weight, as they went.

"How are the Hobbits?" Boromir asked presently. "Pippin?"

"I don't know," Aragorn answered rather unhappily. "I didn't check."

Boromir said nothing for a few moments, then he added under his breath "I'm sure they're all right," as if to reassure himself.

Aragorn heard something further down the hall, and he picked up speed. Boromir struggled to keep the pace, wincing at every step as his broken ankle swung and drug against the ground.

They rounded the corner and saw Legolas standing outside of the chamber hall, looking in. He turned to them and quickly sized them up, his eyes flashing. Legolas could tell by the gritty anger on Aragorn's face that he had not yet received the answer he was looking for.

"How are they?" Borormir asked breathlessly, referring to the Hobbits.

Legolas looked back into the chamber. "Pippin has passed on," he said somberly.

"What?" Boromir tried to wiggle out from under Aragorn to go see for himself, but Aragorn's grip tightened. Boromir looked at him, confused.

"You're not going anywhere," Aragorn said darkly. He reached over and shut the chamber hall doors.

Legolas frowned.

Aragorn whirled on Legolas. "What was "too shameful to speak aloud"? You must've seen something to have made such a comment. What was it?"

Legolas glanced at Boromir, who blinked and looked down.

"He would not tell you?" Legolas asked.

"No, he wouldn't," Aragorn retorted.

"Then perhaps I shouldn't-"

"You will tell me what you saw," Aragorn interupted. "You don't have a choice."

Legolas tried to catch Boromir's eye, but Boromir kept staring at the ground.

"I came upon the two of you in the act of lovemaking," Legolas replied evenly. At the memory, he suddenly felt sick.

Aragorn flinched. His eyes widened and he searched Legolas's face for any trace of a lie, but he was telling the truth. He dropped his arm and shoved Boromir away from him, keeping his eyes on Legolas.

Boromir fell but caught himself against the wall. He stayed there, staring at the wall, holding himself up with trembling hands. He closed his eyes and tears ran out. He couldn't bring himself to turn and face Aragorn.

"Does he remember this?" Aragorn asked Legolas. His body was shaking. It was in disgrace.

Legolas glanced at Boromir. "I believe so," he answered.

Boromir pressed his nose into the wall, biting his lip.

"Go away," Aragon told Legolas. He turned to Boromir.

He stared at Boromir's back. Blotched red stains on his clothes, holes and tears from the recent attack. His clothes seemed to big, for they trembled on his body like a leaf on the branch of a tree. Light sobs erupted from his body, but Aragorn could tell he was trying to control them.

Legolas vanished back into the chamber hall, leaving Aragorn and Boromir alone.

Boromir rubbed his face into the wall, smearing it with tears and snot. He sucked in a shaky breath and wiped his mouth with his hand. He stood up straighter, one hand still on the wall, but he couldn't turn around.

Suddenly, Aragorn understood.

"There was more to it than that, wasn't there?" He asked softly.

Boromir thought he was going to vomit. His head began to swim. His eyes were burning as tears streamed out. He wiped his eyes with a dirty hand, which made them burn even more. "I'm... I'm sorry," he whimpered.

Seeing Boromir, so weak and pathetic, brought a rush of pity over Aragorn. He had the sudden desire to go over and give Boromir a hug, to comfort him, but fear held him still.

"Why?" Aragorn asked, as stiff as a statue.

Boromir turned around at last. His eyes were swollen and red, full of hot tears. His lips trembled and he blinked rapidly, his breath coming in jerks. His hand was shaking as it lifted to his forehead and pushed the hair back from his face.

"I should have refused you," Boromir said weakly.

"But I would have killed you, right?" Aragorn realized tonelessly.

Boromir looked down.

Aragorn's legs moved on their own. He went to Boromir and wrapped his arms around his back, pulling him towards him. After a second's hesitation, Boromir hugged him back, resting his chin on Aragorn's shoulder.

"It's not your fault," Aragorn said gently. "It's the Ring's. Stay with me, and together we will help Frodo destroy it."

"Aye," Boromir forced out.

Aragorn patted him and let him go. They separated and stood facing each other.

Aragorn knew he was being a bit selfish, but he was happy he didn't remember anything, especially seeing how miserable he had made Boromir.

He opened the chamber hall doors and looked at Boromir, then offered his hand. Boromir took it, and Aragorn wrapped it around him supportively and together they went inside.