To Elven Sword: Yes I finally got your many reviews, thanks for them all! FanFiction.net seemed to take it upon itself to wait till after my debate to send it all to me. Very kind of them, don't you think? Anyway. I'm definitely going to have Boromir's POV here, and also Aislin's parents. As for Denethor… I'm thinking about how to work him in. So we'll see how that works, eh?

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CHAPTER 15 : Aftermath

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Boromir slammed the door and sat down, leaning against it. What had Faramir done? And could he know? Am I really that transparent a person?

He could not possibly understand what his younger brother was going through this time. Every time Faramir was neglected, forgotten… and this time he could not even have the woman he loved. How could he, as the elder brother, just live on as if nothing had happened, knowing that he was the one who had stolen Aislin away from Faramir?

He groaned. His head was going to crack open if it continued going round and round in circles this way. And he was going to be split in two; one side of him overjoyed that he and Aislin were free to love, and the other side wracked with guilt.

This was really too confusing. Love was too mysterious a thing for him to be thinking over day after day.

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Aislin could not go back to the kitchens after Boromir had rushed off, and so she did the next thing that came to mind. She walked through Minas Tirith in silence until she came to her parents' house. Her mother welcomed her with a hug and a smile, as usual, and ushered her in. "What is it, Aislin? Why the long face?"

"I'll never marry Faramir." There was just no use beating around the bush.

"Don't fret, girl. Perhaps if you worked hard and kept on, Lord Denethor would see that you're good enough for his son…"

"It's not that, Mother. I don't love him. I know you said that things like that will grow with time, but that's not going to happen this time. I don't love him the way he'd like me to, and he knows it now." Aislin put her head on the table, wearied.

Aislin's mother frowned. "I can't say that I understand what you're saying, my daughter. Come, we have plenty of time… tell me everything."

And so Aislin did, telling her mother everything she had never told another soul before. She told her about all the confusion and all the troubles, and finally ended with what Faramir had told her this morning.

"And what does Boromir say about all this?"

Aislin sighed. "He said that he had to think about it. And I don't blame him. Faramir's his brother, and he's always been very protective. But now he cannot protect his brother from himself." She shook her head. "I don't know what to do with all this. It's just all so complicated."

"Does Lord Denethor know?" Aislin's mother poured some water for her daughter, hoping that she'd calm down. "It's very important."

"I don't know how much he knows about all this. Faramir would never speak to him of it, I know. But once Lord Denethor told me that he'd never have any of his sons marry a servant. I don't know what led him to tell me that, but I suppose he must have suspected something. It was a very long time ago, though."

"Well, Aislin, I've never been in your situation before. But I'll tell you, my daughter, that when you really want something, really need something, you just have to stick by it through everything. There's no other way, if you want a chance to be happy. I've never taught you that before, have I?"

"No…"

"Well, perhaps I should have."

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Aislin's father stepped into the house just as Aislin was about to leave, and so she sat down for awhile to speak with him. Aislin's mother insisted that she tell him whatever she had said to her, and after Aislin was finished he sat for a moment in silence.

"I thought such things only happened in stories," he finally said. "Never thought that my little daughter would get caught up in one too."

Aislin nodded miserably. "I wish it was only a story."

He laughed and patted her hand. "That's not up to us. You just do what you think is right. We'll be right here if you need any help, all right?"

"All right, Father. Thank you."

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"Yes, Father?" It was all Boromir could do to stop fidgeting. What a time to be called up by his father. He had already reported this morning, and so what else could it be? Did he do something wrong? Was he going to be assigned with some task?

Even thought Boromir was on better terms with his father than Faramir, it was still no secret that heart-warming family chats were about as common a rats chasing cats.

"I wanted to talk to you about Aislin."

Boromir almost stopped breathing. "What about her?"

"You are still on good terms with her? I have not seen you speaking with her for a very long time."

"Of course we are still on good terms, Father. There has been no quarrel." I'm sure you wouldn't like me to elaborate on what there has been, though.

"Good. However, I have seen her very friendly with Faramir. Tell me, is there anything going on between them?"

Boromir almost laughed out loud. "They are very good friends, Father, almost like siblings. But there is nothing more, I promise you." Not anymore, at least. "Why do you ask, Father?"

Denethor leaned back in his seat. "Once, a few years ago, I spoke with Aislin, and I told her that I would not have any of my sons marrying a serving girl. I was just wondering if she needed any reminder."

"Father!" Boromir was horrified. "Aislin is not such a girl, I promise! She did not befriend Faramir and I for the want of money, or status. She has been a true friend to us, and for that I am very grateful to her."

"All right, then. I suppose then there is no cause for worry. You may go."

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Boromir left his father's company with his head spinning even more than it had been when he entered. What had led Denethor to suddenly remind Aislin of such a thing? What did he know? Or did he even know anything? His father was strict, very strict, and had his own thoughts and opinions on things. Doubtless he thought that it was not the way things were for the sons of the Steward to spend their time with a serving girl. But Aislin was not just any serving girl! Her father was a Guard of the Citadel, a very respectable man! Boromir sighed. That, Denethor would not see. As long as Aislin was in his service, she was a servant girl, and nothing more.