It was nearing noon when they had to make their first stop.  Boromir had made a desperate attempt to escape, trying to spur his horse into a gallop away from the group, but his guards foresaw his intentions and put a stop to it.  But now Arod had gotten a rock lodged in his horseshoe and Aragorn halted the journey to care for the horse.  Here the men took the opportunity to eat a little and give the horses a rest. 

As for Aragorn, he tended to the horse and then turned his attentions back to Legolas.  He was still racked with shakes and Aragorn rewrapped him in his bedroll.  He fed another wafer of lembas to him and once again helped him to drink.  But Legolas was still unresponsive, lost to his troubled and painful sleep, for Aragorn could see the elf scrunch his brow in pain every now and again.

Gimli, however, sat away from the group with Faramir.  "Are you alright lad?" he asked, but Faramir said nothing.  "It's alright to be upset, or angry, or confused.  Come now, you can talk with me."

"It would have been better had he remained dead," Faramir spoke at last, the first words he'd uttered since the day before.  "My brother and I had our differences, but he was always a good soul.  Misdirected sometimes, but he would never purposely cause pain and suffering to innocents.  But now…I don't understand it, Gimli."

Gimli said nothing, for he could see that Faramir was gathering his thoughts. 

After a moment, Faramir continued.  "How is it that he is alive?  Whether or not my vision of him floating in a boat on the river was true, I believe it when Aragorn says that he was slain in battle.  And why would he commit such atrocities?  It would have been better if he had stayed dead," he finally repeated.

"It will be alright," Gimli reassured the man. 

"Will it?" Faramir asked, but not to Gimli.  It was more of a general question, not directed to anyone in particular.

"You are right you know.  He is not the Boromir he once was.  There is more to this than we can yet tell.  But Aragorn will get to the bottom of it," the dwarf offered.   

"Gimli!" Aragorn called from where he stood preparing to continue the journey back to Gondor.  "Get the men up.  We must continue.  Harrasim, I need to speak with you."

Gimli stood up and got the others.  Faramir repacked the saddle bag for their horse.  Harrasim went to the king.

"I need you to ride as swiftly as you can back to the palace.  Tell Arwen that I am coming and to make sure that a room is ready for Legolas.  If she asks you what is wrong, tell her that he is badly wounded and will need immediate caring for.  Then I want you to go to Stamlin and let him know that there will be the need for a cell made ready in the jail.  I am asking you because you have the swiftest horse after Arod and because I cannot risk to great a speed with Legolas in his condition."

"I will do as you ask sire," Harrasim replied, and with a bow, he mounted his midnight black stallion and rode off at top speed.

It took a little longer before the rest of the men were ready to ride, but soon all were on horseback and had once again started on their journey.  Faramir had felt a little less heavy-hearted after speaking with Gimli, but that did not soothe the aching of his heart, nor did it stop his mind from wondering what had caused Boromir to be so evil natured.

Now Aragorn led them swiftly over the land.  The sun moved ever towards the west.  Afternoon fell and soon the world was bathed in the golden light of sunset.  Still Aragorn led his men on.  Gondor was drawing closer.  They had not seen Harrasim at all since he had departed from the group.  Aragorn had no way of knowing, but he had already passed the gates of the City before the sun had set, and had delievered all messages that he had been given.

Back in the palace, the news of Aragorn's coming did little to ease the minds of Arwen and Thranduil.  All it did was to stop the elf king from going out himself to find his son.  Now, all he knew was that his son was alive, but badly injured and he paced the hallways in torturous anxiety.