The sun was beginning to rise behind Eileena of Gondor, the daughter of the Steward. She stood in the center of the courtyard with a sword in hand. A piece of her red hair came free from its braid and it fluttered in the wind. She tucked it behind her ear.

She lifted her sword in the air and saluted the White Tree of Gondor that stood in the courtyard. She then began her practice drills. Her sword hissed and whirled as she thrust and parried.

'Eileena!' She stopped and turned around came face to face with her father, Lord Denethor of Gondor.

'My lord is awake early today,' she replied, sheathing her sword.

'Never mind the fact that I am awake early. I thought I told you were not permitted to wield that sword within the city.'

'Easily solved. I shall ride to Osgiliath and practice there with Boromir and Faramir.' She bowed and walked down to the stables.

Denethor watched her go, with agitation in his eyes. Then he caught sight of a stable lad making his way towards the stables.

'Boy! Go and saddle my horse! I ride to Osgiliath!'

The boy dashed off to the stables in a frightened hurry.

Eileena saddled her mare, Menelya and mounted her horse. She then noticed one of the stable lads saddling her father's horse. 'What are you doing?' she asked.

'The steward is to go to Osgiliath, my lady,' the boy replied.

Can I never get away from him? Eileena asked herself in her mind. She kicked her horse into a ran and rode through the Gates of Gondor.

'Boromir! Faramir!' Eileena called as she dismounted her mare. She found her two brothers standing in an archway, drinking ale.

"Eileena!' Faramir put down his goblet and ran to his younger sister.

Eileena smiled and embraced her second brother. Boromir was behind Faramir and she also embraced him. 'I heard your speech. Excellent. Very nice and short.'

'Faramir said the same of it. It must have been good, if you both like it.' He handed her a goblet of ale.

She took a sip of the ale. 'Father is on his way here,' she whispered.

Boromir and Faramir groaned. 'One moment of peace, can he not give us that?' Borormir asked. Eileena shook her head.

'Where is he? Where is Gondor's finest? Where is my first-born?' Eileena looked up at the sound of her father's voice.

Boromir sighed and then plastered a false smile on his face. 'Father.' He embraced their father.

'They say that you vanquished the enemy almost single-handedly,' Denethor said.

'They exaggerate. The victory belongs to Faramir also.'

Faramir step out with Eileena behind him. Denethor looked upon his two youngest children with disappointment

'But for Faramir, this city would be standing. Were you not entrusted to protect it?'

'I would had done, but our numbers were to few,' Faramir replied.

'Oh, too few,' Denethor said, with mock understanding. 'You let the enemy walk in and take it on a whim.'

'He did what was strategically right,' Eileena said, in Faramir's defense. 'The host that attacked the city were too many. Faramir saved the troops so the could fight another day, when we had the greater numbers.'

'Silence, girl. You are not the one who should dictate the strategies of war. Leave that to your brothers and I.' He turned to Faramir. 'You and your sister always cast a poor reflection on me.'

'That is not our intent,' Faramir answered.

'You give them no credit and yet they try to do your will,' Boromir said. He then stormed off and was followed by Denethor.

'What do you think they are saying?' Faramir asked as he and Eileena watched their father and brother converse under an archway.

'I don't know. Nor do I want to know,' Eileena answered. 'Faramir, you mustn't believe everything Father says. He loves you. Deep down I know he does. And he will realize it someday.'

'I wish I had you optimism, little sister.'

'You do,' Eileena said with a smile. 'Who's the one who always manages to make me laugh and smile when things seem bleak?'

Faramir gave a little smile and put his hand on his sister's shoulder.

'No. My place is here with my people. Not in Rivendell,' Boromir cried as he walked out of the archway.

'Would you deny your own father?' Denethor asked following his eldest son.

'If there is need to go to Rivendell,' Faramir said, coming to his brother's rescue, 'send me in his stead.'

'You?' Denethor asked mockingly. 'Oh, I see. A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality. I think not. I trust this mission only to your brother. The one who will not fail me.'

Faramir hung his head. Eileena eyed Boromir angrily. Why had he not tried to insist that Faramir go? Boromir himself did not want to go, so why not send Faramir? Eileena was determined to get to the bottom of this business.

'Father,' Eileena said later that night after dinner. 'May I speak with you?'

'What about?'

'Why do always make Faramir ashamed of his actions? Nothing he does seems to be good enough for you. When Boromir recalled the few troops we had in North Ithilien, when the enemy attacked it, you praised him about how wise his decision. But when Faramir makes the same decision, you do nothing but call him a fool. How can you say such things to your own son's face? What kind of a father are you?'

'Silence woman! You forget to whom I speak!'

'I know to whom I speak! I am speaking a to a man who treats his son like he would a dog! You should be proud of the kind of man Faramir is. Just as proud as you are of the man Boromir is. You do not deserve any of the children you have been blessed with!

Denethor jumped up from his seat and walked angrily over to his daughter. He stood over her and stared into her eyes. She gave him a look of stubbornness, confidence, and defiance. 'Young lady,' Denethor began. 'You have forgotten you place. Perhaps you need to learn.'

'What do you mean?'

'I am sending you to Rivendell with your brother.'

'You are what?!' Eileena asked in a low and dangerous voice.

'You have become far too liberal with your words. A lady must be seen and not heard and to only speak when spoken to.'

'Oh so I am to do nothing more than act like a child in the presence of such great men as yourself?'

'Yes.'

'Then I am glad I am not in the presence of great men. Because a great man would treat a lady with the respect her sex deserves.' Eileena stormed off.

On her way to her room, she rushed passed Boromir and Faramir in the hall.

'Eileena, what is wrong?' Faramir asked.

'Father is sending me to Gondor with Boromir."

'What? Why?' Boromir asked.

'He says that I am far too liberal with my words. But I think he doesn't want me around, questioning his actions.' Angry word poured bitterly from her mouth.

'Your tongue has gotten you into much trouble.'

'But at least I use my tongue to make my thoughts heard.' Eileena turned and left her brothers.

As she slept, Eileena had a peculiar dream.

She saw a man hooded and cloaked roaming through the wilds. She watched him leading four small figures, almost like children. Children with curly hair and bare feet?

Eileena woke up with a start and breathed heavily. She saw that the wind had blown her windows open. She got out of bed and closed them with a sigh. 'Perhaps I am destined to go to Rivendell, whether by Father's will or not,' she muttered as she returned to bed.

Two days later found her in the stables again, saddling Menelya. Boromir was saddling his gelding, Astaldo. Faramir stood in stables with Eileena. Denethor, however, stood outside.

Eileena led Menelya out and was about to mount the mare, when Faramir grabbed the reins. 'Eileena, try to make the best of this. Maybe you and Father need time to cool your tempers.'

'Perhaps you're right. I wish I had your wisdom, Faramir.'

Faramir smiled. 'You do. Who is the one who gives the best advice in all of Gondor.' Eileena smiled and mounted her horse. 'Good luck and good fortune go with you, little sister.'

'Eileena. It is time,' Boromir said. Eileena nodded and kicked her horse into a run. As she rode out of the gate, she called back to Boromir, 'Race you to the river!'

Boromir smiled and raced after her. They had begun the greatest adventure of their lives.

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A/N: Obviously, we offended a lot of people by using Jay and Acacia. I take full responsibility for that, and the material has been removed.

As for the rest of the story - I can't do anything about changing this until my partner gets back from Italy, it being her baby.

While I appreciate everyone's honesty, I am now fully aware that this story is a Mary Sue. If you think it sucks and that both of us should burn in hell - well, thought is free, but I would appreciate it if you didn't flame. I'm already writhing in shame that I could let down my role models, Jay, Acacia, and Miss Cam.

I can only apologize profoundly if we've offended anyone's sensibilities. If you don't like this story - feel free to just not read it and leave. After all, boycotting has a long and profitable history. :)

Thank you - Adiva Calandia & Summer Skye (absent)