So here is chapter 3! I hope you like it! Please review, constructive criticism is very helpful, and even the shortest complement makes my day!

And I realize I haven't been putting a disclaimer: I don't own any of the Tolkien Estate, nor any of Peter Jackson's work.

When Marion turned away her eyes were wet with tears. No one tried to hinder her as she slipped away. Lord Denethor was speaking urgently with Faramir, and paid no mind to her leaving, but as she left she felt Faramir's eyes following her back.

She wandered aimlessly among the white pillars and shops until her feet were sore from walking. When she could go no further she sat, taking a place on the rim of a great fountain carved in the likeness of Vardamir Nólimon, the scholar king. Water sprayed down from his great hands. Instead of holding a great sword the statue held a great carved book, engraved with faint symbols and letters that had been worn away by time. The beams of water glistened like crystal in the midday sun. Marion reached out to touch one of them, letting the coolness flow about her fingers. From her perch she could she could see nothing over the white walls to the north and to the west, but the plains in the south were visible and a small shining patch of river far in the distance. Anduin the Great, flowing to the sea, she thought. She had never seen the sea before, only had she heard the tales from the men coming from the south. They talked of its grandeur, of the waves tossing to and fro and rolling on the sand...

The sound of heavy footfalls brought her from her daydream. She turned away from the wet pool to see Faramir approaching out of an alley to her right. He was alone, Damrod was nowhere to be seen. He kept his eyes cast down until he reached the fountain, but his face was hard and angry. He did not sit beside her, but rather stood in front of her, looking down on her. Marion did not look up to meet his gaze, not wanting him to see her tears. She opened her mouth to greet him, but he cut her off before she could utter a sound.

"You had no right." His voice was cold with fury.

"My lord, I-"

"My god, Marion, don't try to deny it. I know it was you. Who else could convince him to go?"

"He told you." She had not thought that Boromir would have confided in his brother his reason for leaving, but it seemed he had.

"No, but it was clear enough in his eyes when I questioned him. I know my brother. You are the reason he left, you are the reason this honor was stolen from me. I lost this chance to prove myself by your words, whispered in his ear at night. Slut." He spat the last words out in a low voice. Her eyes widened. He knew. She looked up at him then, and saw redness of tears in his eyes, behind the anger. He loves his brother as well as I do. she thought. He fears for him. His anger is fueled by fear. Perhaps he meant only to insult her, and did not know the truth behind his words. She spoke slowly then, knowing she could tell only the truth.

"I will not deny it. I thought your brother more ready for such a task. I urged him to go, to protect our home. Do you think I wanted him to leave? Do you think I would not rather him be here by my side? I love Lord Boromir, but he is stronger than you. The people need his strength to bring back the tool to save them, and he will." She stood up and faced him when she said it, and her height matched his. She looked into his eyes and held his gaze, and he seemed to break before her. The anger turned to sadness.

"I know the love you have for my brother. I was wrong to blame you. I'm sorry, Marion, truly." He sighed heavily. "I was a fool to think my father would permit me to go. I am no warrior. I might be better off taking to books as he did." He waved a hand in the direction of the fountain. Marion reached her own hand up and laid it on his arm.

"You will have your chance for glory, one day."

"I hope you are right. Perhaps I will die on the field of battle. Maybe my father would grieve me then."

"He loves you Faramir. He must."

"I am not so sure. But I have business with him now. I'm sorry Marion, again." He lowered his voice. "and fear not, your secret is safe with me."