After five days in the Druadan forest, Glorfindel came across Faramir's horse. The Balrog slayer could glean nothing from the animal regarding his master's whereabouts so sent him back to the city. He did not realize that it might not be taken well, the Steward's horse returning without him. Every day that Glorfindel was still searching the forest, Erestor had another fire to put out with some angry citizen, or group of them. He had to force himself to keep from cursing the very day Estel had come to Imladris, and he was certain that if he ever saw Gondor's king again he would tell him exactly what he thought about his kingdom, then promptly get to the Havens and be gone West.

Glorfindel had neglected to get from Faramir what path he had chosen before the Steward charged off, then assumed that there would be a shortcut through the forest somewhere like in respectable Elf woods. In truth, for all his great wisdom, the fair Elf had practically no acquaintance with such mortal realms as this but what old maps might indicate. Glorfindel was not as stubborn as Faramir, nor as high-strung as his colleague, and he allowed himself and Asfaloth rest now and then. He figured Faramir wouldn't be going anywhere soon and it would be no good to either of them if he and the horse were too weary to bear them back.

Searching near the south-west edge of the forest nearest the end of the valley, Glorfindel's Elf eyes spotted something by the roadside that had a vaguely human appearance. It had been two weeks since he set out. Drawing up and kneeling beside the young man it was obvious that he was alive and well, just sound asleep. As he lifted Faramir up he thought maybe he should have stuck to riding out after Hobbits instead. As he was just getting Faramir a little steady in the saddle the Steward started to wake again.

As the dream cloud left Faramir's eyes and he came back to the reality of the situation he stared at Glorfindel. "Where am i?" was all he wanted to know.

"Right where you last remember yourself. How much did you drink from your waterskin?" Glorfindel asked, trying to assess whether or not the Steward would be asleep again before long.

"I drank about half, why? What happened to me?" Faramir questioned, still a little dazed.

"You fell asleep. You should have listened to Erestor," Glorfindel said, neatly evading the matter of what exactly caused Faramir's deep sleep.

Faramir shook his head though and reached for the reins. "How long did i sleep? What kind of time am i missing?" he asked with great concern.

"I have been searching for you for two weeks now, but please, wait a little longer and we will ride together," Glorfindel said, tactically placing a hand on Asfaloth's forehead, a signal between them that this was not the time to leave.

Faramir looked desperate hearing he had lost two weeks. "I can not wait any longer, Master Glorfindel. This is a serious matter, i have told you already. I do not know if my vision warned me of something that i could put a stop to, or if it was just meant to... show me what i must avenge."

Glorfindel nodded, knowing a little more about visions than the Steward and knowing there was nothing that could now be prevented. "Very well, young Faramir. Let us be off then." Glorfindel jumped up with Faramir. Taking a drink from his own skin, he advised Faramir to have a sip also to refresh him. Glorfindel stopped him at just a sip though. It was, he knew, the only way he was going to get the young man to cooperate enough to get him back to the city. "Noro lim," Glorfindel instructed his charger, wondering how long it would be before he could turn about and get back to Minas Tirith. It was already mid-day and he hoped to be back before the next dawn.

Sleep took Gondor's Steward again in less than half an hour.

---

Back in the Citadel, Erestor had taken to locking himself in either the chambers Aragorn granted him or in the Steward's study. He moved from room to room only at night, unintentionally giving the guards of the tower terrible scares at all hours. For a week Erestor did nothing but give explanations about Faramir's sudden departure. Even though the only thing he would ever say was, "your Steward has left temporarily on an extremely important and confidential mission," he was pressed for more everyday. At this point there were now no actual authority figures to be found in Gondor, as even Imrahil was with Theoden's funeral escort.

Erestor did all that he felt rightly able to in Faramir's place. There was some correspondences that he had no trouble answering as he might have for Elrond. Though the Wood-elf in him was constantly tempted to respond to several letters with a personal invitation from Aragorn to come spend a month in the Citadel as a guest, he refrained. He told himself that Estel would certainly have enough comeuppance just running his kingdom for the misery he put the Elf through as a child. And when Erestor thought that one day the king would have children just like he was, nothing could repress the grin over the Elf's features.

When finally Glorfindel arrived back at the White City, sleeping Steward and all, Erestor was entirely relieved. Faramir was taken immediately to his bed and slept there for two days, while the citizens grew restless and afraid that this was something like what assaulted their beloved Faramir during the war.

Glorfindel took over for Erestor with the explanations and had much more success, him being more disposed to leading the masses. He promised every person who came to him, either individually or by crowd, that Faramir was doing very well but that he was also in need of rest (to which everyone sympathetically agreed). Glorfindel also assured them that there was no medicine better than Elvish medicine, and if he couldn't be cared for by Elrond himself, the Elf Lord's second-in-command was just as skilled.

When Faramir finally woke again it took him a few moments to realize that he was in his own bed. He felt so weakened that it was difficult for him to sit upright. Erestor appeared from, seemingly, out of nowhere and handed Faramir something to drink, which was eyed almost suspiciously.

"It will help you regain some strength quickly. Though you will still have to keep yourself nourished, and not rush off impetuously," Erestor said, sounding unrelenting.

Faramir dropped back against his pillow, party of weakness and partly of lack of expectation that Erestor would understand. "Please, listen, i can not stay here. What am i doing here, how did i get back here? Glorfindel and i were heading toward Edoras."

Now it was Glorfindel's turn to appear. "Faramir, about that...." The fair Elf could hardly believe that he was nervous about admitting it, but he knew Faramir wouldn't appreciate the pretense and drugging. "The water in your skin was actually a mixture. I put a little enchanted water from Mirkwood in with fresh water so that you would get some sleep. I did not realize it was that same water that you had on your journey until the night you left. It was that morning i came looking for you, but since you did not tell us your road..." the rest was too obvious to bother finishing.

The expression of shock on Faramir's face gave way to disheartenment. "Did you neither understand what i tried to tell of the vision i had? That villain took her, do you not understand? If i can stop harm coming to Éowyn -"

"There is nothing to stop, Faramir," Glorfindel said as caringly as he could. "Your visions do not warn you of what is imminent. That is not how the Valar work through you. Instead you are shown what has already come to pass, that you might be better able to react and respond. Do you see, Faramir? It is better now for you to remain here, prepare for her return, take care of the kingdom and citizens you love. When she comes back to you the time will be matured and then will your compassion be best accepted. She is in good care, between Arwen and Lady Galadhriel she is among friends and not alone in her despair, they will support her as much as she needs. Trust me, Faramir. Trust us."

Faramir sighed feeling weak again. "There is nothing i can do?"

Erestor could not force back a wry laugh when he thought of the many stacks of missives just waiting for the young man. "There is plenty you can do, Faramir. Take care of yourself and your kingdom. I understand your motives, and so would he, but all the same i do not think your father would appreciate you abandoning your post."

Faramir closed his eyes in self-annoyance, "Denethor would have had me court-martialed by now."

Glorfindel and Erestor exchanged glances, Glorfindel speaking up first, "That is no longer a threat, Faramir. Anyway, if you do not tell your father, we will not tell him."

Faramir looked thankfully at the two Elves, both remembering that same look in young Estel's eyes on many various occasions. "You said something about nutrition... i feel as though i have been a guest at a grand feast for two weeks but i have not been able to touch a thing," Faramir said recounting the dreams he had while asleep, hoping to give a hint to his caretakers.

As the two Elves left him, promising to return with plenty of nourishment, Glorfindel turned to Erestor. "Only Thranduil would enchant that water so that the victim dreamed of one of his festivals."

"It is a fortunate matter for Aragorn that the prince of Mirkwood did not inherit his father's conceit. The man would have been driven mad by now."

That night while Erestor and Glorfindel rested with satisfaction, Faramir was plagued with the knowledge that there was nothing he could now do but provide Éowyn comfort and compassion, and hope the Valar would grant him forgiveness for his insensitive behavior. Now that he had time to reflect, he could not understand why he acted as he did. It was as though he did not order his own actions. Before dawn rose he made up his mind that even if he could not prevent her harm, he must go immediately to be with her. Not Elf, nor Man, nor Dwarf, nor Hobbit, nor Orc would prevent his departure this time.