As the two riders made their way across Pelennor, at a much more relaxed pace than the last time, the sun was well nestled in the last peaks of Ered Nimrais. Golden rays streamed over Minas Tirith, making the city shine like a dragon's horde of treasure. The breeze coming off the Anduin was sending the White Tree flags and banners high in waves.

Aragorn smiled at the sight, remembering Boromir's words, "The Tower Guard shall take up the call that the Lords of Gondor have returned." Aragorn felt a pang of grief to think that this, Boromir's favorite sight, would remain ever more unseen by the fallen Gondorian. Then Aragorn realized how Faramir must feel. His son's uneven exhale told him he was right.

"The White City used to be called Minas Anor," Faramir mused. "So many say that it was because it was here that AnĂ¡rion lived, some hold that it is because the city has such a view of the sunrise in the east. I believe that it is because the city looks alight of the passion of her people at sunset. There was little that Boromir loved more than the sight of this city."

"You should not count yourself as little to him, Faramir. Boromir cared more for you than any else. That much was immediately evident to me in the short time that i knew him."

Faramir thought on Aragorn's words, knowing them to be right. He thought of the many times that Boromir and Denethor had spoken privately after Denethor had told Faramir to be gone. So frequently Boromir would come into Faramir's apartments, fuming with anger at Denethor. He was always seeking to vent his irritation at his father with Faramir, knowing that his brother would not be likely to defend the old man, yet neither to attack him, which would cause Boromir further upset at his own split emotions.

Almost every time that same scene occurred between the brothers it ended with Boromir telling Faramir how much having a brother meant to him. That and a pint of ale to quench the trouble Denethor was always so able to instigate.

Faramir now rode beside Aragorn, still hardly able to believe that his life had changed so completely, and with it his impression of a father figure. A chill air swept across the plain, the sun having disappeared, taking its warmth along. The two drew up their cloaks and hoods and rode onward.

"I imagine the city will be very relieved to see us returned alive," Aragorn commented. "I feel a little guilty that we probably put them through a scare when neither of us could be found."

"As do i, but i think you were right in saying that Gandalf likely has everything under control. So too your friends Legolas and Gimli. Surely they know you well enough to know that you and i simply sought a little peace."

"You are right, Faramir. Between the three of them, the citizens will be not at all surprised to see us return. It will be just as Boromir once said to me, the Tower Guards shall take up the call: the Lords of Gondor have returned," Aragorn said with a smile.

Unbeknownst to them, a group of very tired, very hungry, and very upset Gondorians had just emerged from the Greywood, and the two riders had been spotted by an Elf, whose inherent mischievous merriment had been reawakened.

---

Legolas spun to face the men following him, who were currently fuming that the Elf, Wizard, and grumpy little Dwarf had just made fools of them all, leading them in a circle. When the soldiers saw the White City, gleaming in the moonlight, there was nearly a mutiny. Legolas assured them, though, that all traces lead here again, and when he saw Aragorn and Faramir drawing nearer the provisional gates again, another plan came to mind.

Legolas pointed to the mounted men in the distance. "There are your Southron spies, returned to the scene of the crime. Listen carefully to me and you may capture them without incident. Haradrim are very dangerous, as you know. First, do not let them remove their hoods."

One from Ithilien questioned this directive, but Legolas had this too well planned. He and Aragorn had been joking each other like this for too many years, ever since they began hunting Gollum together, for him to allow this opportunity to go by. Legolas explained that some Haradrim wear rings pierced into their ears which hold a very deadly poison. All one has to do is break the ring and touch the poison and nothing will recall them; thus their hoods must remain up.

This was accepted by the men, if not fully understood. They reckoned that an Elf would know these things. By this time Gandalf and Gimli had decided it was best just to be quiet on this Odyssey, they were only along for the journey, as it was obviously completely concerning Legolas and Aragorn. Gimli found himself wishing he had stayed with the Hobbits in the Citadel.

Legolas also told them to be sure that neither man was allowed to speak until he had a chance to question them. He claimed that some from Harad were trained in vocal imitations and that they would be able to very convincingly mimic the King and the Steward. He also made it very clear that they must be treated well and not harmed in any way, for if they were to ascertain any information about the "abducted" they would have to be willing to cooperate.

Having made clear all of his information, Legolas gave them the signal to charge the riders. "He will be hard-pressed to best me this time," Legolas said with a confident grin to Gandalf and Gimli as they remain behind by the forest's edge. Gandalf just shook his head, trying to hide the twinkle of amusement in his eyes.

"It's always a competition with you Elves, isn't it?" Gimli said, still somewhat annoyed that he had just spent a day being dragged through a dense forest, especially when a city filled with very nice stonework lay just ahead.