Introductions

She was gone longer than usual. They had a rule. To only be out scouting for 3 days maximum. Then return to the ithilian headquarters and report even if there was nothing to report. She was late.

He went to the entrance of the cave.

"I will advise you captain as soon as she arrives". The quiet voice of the guard informed him. Faramir nodded then walked back to the small cavern out the back that was his "hole", where he could spend time alone to think.

He stood up when he heard someone coming. The guard rounded the corner.

"has she arrived?" faramir asked.

"she has captain". The guard for some reason was avoiding his eye.

"is there something amiss Ramos?" faramir asked.

"captain, she was wounded, an easterling arrow, she is barely conscious". Ramos informed him.

"then bring her here, and our healers will help her!". Faramir ordered.

He practically ran out and fell to his knees at her side. She was pale. Beneath her raven hair, her skin was pale as moonlight and her lips, usually so full and rosy were now full but dull almost deathless. She opened her eyes. And she saw him. She noted the weariness in his blue eyes. "faramir - ". She licked her lips. 'water". Faramir reached behind him and brought forward a bag of water. He carefully gave some to her.

She looked at him again. "It is not serious". She told him.

"no, but the orc arrow could have poison". He told her.

"not orc, easterling". She corrected him. He looked down then back at her.

"even on your deathbed milady you still persist in correcting me". He answered her, his voice soft but angry.

"only you captain". She answered back and closed her eyes. He looked up at his men and ordered them to his cavern, where the healers could look at her.

He stood back at let them have at her. One of the healers was elvish. Faramir had only encountered the elves once or twice. And he only knew of one other that was elvish. And he was looking at her lying almost dead, almost.

"she will live captain, the arrow had no poison". The healer told him. He nodded and sat down, opposite her. Waiting for her to wake.

He had many questions for her.

"faramir". A whisper woke him. He started standing almost immediately and reaching for his sword. A smile played on her lips. "even asleep you fight captain". She told him, her voice barely above a whisper, it was her way, she never raised her voice. For it was not the way of the elves.

He walked over to her.

"how do you feel milady?" he asked.

"enough of titles captain". He arched an eyebrow at that. She nodded.

"I know I know, very well faramir, have it your way, as always". She closed her eyes. He thought she had gone to sleep and he was going to leave but.

"I am not asleep faramir, do you not know the ways of my people? Apparently we sleep with our eyes open, and retreat to a world so far from yours".

He sat down to listen. It was rare that she spoke of her people. She had spent most of her life amongst humans, and in Gondor.

"so many myths, and yet they condemn us to death".

"death mi - Isilme?" he asked.

"humans say that we are leaving these shores because we tire, we are turning cowards, but it is not so, for millions of years we have fought, and yes we are tired, all we wish for is peace, and we will not find it here". A tear made its way down her fair cheek.

"will you leave?" he asked.

She looked at him. "I cannot leave Gondor Faramir, your father is doing a good job, but he lacks hope, I fear he has run out of it, it is something not easily acquired".

"he draws his strength from you, knowing who you are". He told her.

"and who am I faramir?" she asked sitting up, wincing as she did so. He helped her sit and gave her water. "elf kind, one who knows the ancient ways, and has lived a long life with hope in her heart". She lowered her head.

"hope, yes, it is the eternal breath of life, one that is passed from being to being, no matter the race, my father had hope, and he fought well, but not even Isildur or Elrond could protect him".

"you never told me your father's name". he almost whispered the question. It was not a light subject with her. "my father was the king of the Noldorians elves".

"Gil-galad?" faramir asked, awed.

She barely nodded. She looked at him, and her blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

She touched his hand. "promise me you will not utter what we have spoken faramir, I fear I have placed to much hope on you".

"and I have given you so much more". He thought.

Her hand came to his cheek and stayed there, drawing his eyes to hers. Blue against blue.

"sauron will attack Osgiliath, of that I am sure, the nazgul are ready to attack the city and will do so at dawn, you must take the men there and help in the battle".

"and you?"

"I must go elsewhere, I must meet gandalf". She answered.

"if you encounter orcs on your way there, they will tear you apart! They have already tasted your elven blood". He objected.

"they fear what they do not know faramir, I will return, nothing will take me away from what I most love". He looked at her once more.

"as you wish milady". He stood up and walked out.

"milady, means you are displeased with me captain, but I have not lived this long by being foolish and abandoning the weaker to satisfy my own wishes". She thought.

The next day, she prepared for her journey to the sacred place. And she would go well armed, foul beasts roamed those lands and she did not refer to the mortals.

She had not told faramir of her impending meeting with Haldir, what the captain did not know would not hurt him, no mortals understood the elves and their ways, after this meeting she would go on to Rohan, to seek Gandalf out.