Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay, it's been quite hectic around here. I'm just glad to have a little time in which to update for my wonderful readers.

Reviewer Responses
TheDaughterOfKings That is one of my biggest problems. I tend to make Éowyn a lot more ladylike than she is in the books. I fear I am greatly influenced by movie-Éowyn who is less like a shieldmaiden than book-Éowyn. It would be hard for me to change that now, so maybe you could just consider it AU. Hope that you'll still keep reading!
Alia G.L. You know, everyone it seems figured out that Faramir could have her protected, yet I didn't even think of that for some strange reason. It doesn't matter, though, as you'll see in later chapters.
Rana Ninque Mmmm caffeine. Sorry, I'm a little hyper right now. I also cannot tell you who dies. Anyway, it isn't until the next story so you'll have to wait a pretty long time to see. But worry not, I shall never abandon my faithful readers.
Arahiril Now poor Fulla is being threatened by strange men and reviewers! Thanks for the positive review, I'm glad you like the names I pick. It is usually a very big deal to find one that fits and then I forget what they mean.
arwens-light Comedy helps lighten everything. Otherwise it gets way too tense for me. How are things after all those hurricanes. They looked like they hit some places really bad. We've definitely kept everyone down there in our thoughts and prayers. Hopefully that's the worst of it. Actually, I've decided to dedicate this chapter to everyone affected by the hurricanes. Here's to you!
the evil witch queen Can't say a lot, though I will say that Naicalle's experience had nothing to do with Denethor. He only ever loved Finduilas in my stories. As for Faramir thinking straight… with his fiancée missing do you think he'll act rationally?

Thanks for reviewing, you guys are all great! Now, here's the next chapter!

It was morning before Fulla awoke again. While word was sent to the King and the Steward, Fulla lay in bed thinking about what she was to do. She knew that the figure had been completely serious in his threat. Yet how could she not tell the Steward what she knew? Years before she had failed Lord Faramir when she refused to help her friend, Iorwyn, save him from his abusive father. After he had almost been killed Fulla had been filled with grief. Her second chance had come when she became Lady Éowyn's maid. Again she had failed to protect her charge.

Now she had one last chance. If she did not tell the Steward what he needed to know, she would never forgive herself. 'No I have to tell him. It does not matter what happens to me, I will not fail Lord Faramir again.'

As soon as he had news that Fulla was awake, Faramir raced to the Houses of Healing. He met Aragorn there and they entered the patient's room together. The maid was lying in bed, her face white from her wounds. Faramir knelt by her bedside and took the older woman's hand. "Lady Fulla, can you tell us what happened the night when…when Éowyn was taken?"

Fulla saw the pain in the Steward's eyes and her resolved strengthened. "My lord," she whispered, "I remember seeing the murderers killing the other servants. No one had time to run for help. There were only about a dozen men, I think, but enough to overpower them. I ran to the lady's room, to try and get her to away." She began coughing and Aragorn helped her drink some water. When she had enough, she took up the story again. "Lady Éowyn wanted to stay and fight. I did not even have enough time to argue when the murderers came bursting in. I…I tried to protect the lady but the leader attacked me." She fingered her wound and Faramir's anger grew at the monsters who would attack an innocent woman. "After that it was a bit hazy, but I did hear them say something about an employer before they took her. That's all I remember."

Aragorn sighed and rubbed his chin. "I cannot believe that the people of Imduinath would do something like this."

Fulla looked at the king, puzzled. "Imduinath? My lord, they were certainly not from Imduinath."

Faramir stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"I have met many people in my years, and the only people with accents such as the kidnappers had were from Lossarnach."

As they walked back to the palace, Faramir was fuming. "It has to be Daendil. He has accused the people of Imduinath of trying to attack Lossarnach before. This is just an excuse to try and take of Imduinath."

Aragorn looked equally frustrated. "Yet we cannot prove anything. We have just the word of a servant against a very powerful lord."

Faramir stopped and grabbed his foster brother's arm. "Estel, I must go after her."

The king was already shaking his head. "Do not ask me this now, Tir. We have a meeting to attend and I fear the outcome."

"This is an outrage!" Aragorn tried not to groan as he sat at the head of the meeting table. Faramir sat silently on his right as they listened to Daendil rant. "The Lady Éowyn is not only our lord Steward's betrothed, she is a daughter of Lossarnarch! These Imduinath rebels must be stopped. My lord," the lord turned to the king, "I ask you to send the army of Gondor into Imduinath to put down this revolt."

Lord Arendur jumped to his feet, his green eyes flashing. "Lord Daendil, I do not know where you learned the tenets of our government, but I can assure you that sending our king's troops to put down our own people is considered tyranny. As well, we have no proof that these 'rebels', as you call them, are from Imduinath!"

As the two lords argued back and forth Aragorn noticed a gleam in Faramir's eyes. 'I am not going to like this, am I?' Faramir stood, eyes filled with exasperation. "My lords, this is getting us no where. Instead of arguing over who is to blame we should be out looking for Lady Éowyn! With my lord, the king's, permission I will ride out with the sons of Elrond to find her. Then we can place the blame on whomever we want."

Daendil hid his grin. This was working out perfectly. He schooled an angry look on his face. "Lord Faramir, as Prince of Ithilien and Steward of Gondor it is your duty to take no sides in this matter. As such, I claim the right of reconciliation." The astonished mutterings of the other lords confused Aragorn who did not know some of the more archaic laws of Gondor. "I see you have not heard of this, King Elessar. Though not used often, it is a sacred right of the lords of Gondor. If a quarrel develops between two princedoms, one can claim the right of reconciliation. This means that no other lord of Gondor can interfere in the dispute or the lord that declared the right will take over lordship of his land."

Aragorn saw instantly that he had been caught in a trap. To allow Faramir to rescue Éowyn meant giving Ithilien to Daendil. Yet to not let Faramir to go after his beloved Éowyn would torture his brother. "Surely, Lord Daendil, you do not mean to separate a man from his bride?"

The lord of Lossarnach kept his face blank. "He has a duty to Gondor that exceeds his duty to his betrothed."

Before Faramir could do anything stupid, like attack Daendil, Aragorn stood. "I will think on this matter. The council with reconvene in an hour."

As the lords dispersed Aragorn grabbed Faramir's arm. "Tir, please come with me." The king led his brother to a small, hidden room in the palace. Once there, he closed the door behind them.

Faramir spoke first, his voice full of anger. "Estel, I care not about this foolish law. I will go after Éowyn."

Aragorn could hear his desperation and hated what he was about to say, knowing how he would feel if he were in Faramir's place. "Tir, I cannot let you go."

The Steward's eyes went cold. "What?"

"I cannot let you go. We can ask Glorfindel and the twins to search for her, but you cannot go with them. I remember this right of reconciliation now, it was mentioned in one of Ada's lessons. We cannot risk having Ithilien fall into the hands of Daendil. He would become too powerful and too dangerous."

Faramir glared at his brother. "So this little power-play is more important than Éowyn? What if it were Arwen that was taken? Would you stay in Minas Tirith while who knows what is happening to the woman you love?"

Aragorn winced at the anger hurled at him. "Tir…"

"Do not call me that! Obviously you care only about what Lord Faramir can do for you. When it comes to Tir's love, his life, you think only of your own power!" Aragorn jerked as if hit. How could he think this? Faramir was not done speaking, though. "I will not let you keep me from Éowyn, King Elessar. I hereby resign the title of Steward and give up the princedom of Ithilien." His voice dripped with bitterness. "You needn't worry about your precious kingship, Daendil can do nothing now. Good day, my lord."

Turning on his heel, Faramir stormed away leaving a stunned and hurt Aragorn behind. The king just stood there, not wanted to accept what had just happened. "Oh Estel." He looked at Arwen as she entered the room. From the look on her face she had clearly heard the conversation. The queen of Gondor embraced her husband, feeling the tautness of his muscles. "Do not take his words to heart, my love. His grief and worry made him say things he did not mean."

Aragorn sighed heavily. "Why does being king have to be so hard? It seems like the Valar have conspired against me."

Arwen winced. "As to that, I have some more bad news." Aragorn pulled back and looked into her silver eyes. "Word has just arrived. King Éomer will be here within a day."

Aragorn grimaced. "Do you think Ada would kill us if we ran away to Lothlorien? Not that it matters. Éomer is going to kill me anyway."

Faramir slammed the stable door open, startling the horses. He had just finished yelling at Beregond who had been insisting on Faramir staying in the city, and Faramir was not happy. 'I cannot believe I actually had to order him to ride to Emyn Arnen in order to be rid of him. Not that he truly had to obey me, but he didn't know that.' Storming to his horse, Belgir's, stall he threw open the door and startled loading the saddle bags. "Tir, what are you doing?"

The former Steward barely spared his elven foster brother a glance. "I am going after Éowyn, Elladan. Do not try to stop me."

The older twin smiled. "I would not think of it. In fact, with Ada's permission and blessing, we are going with you."

Faramir stopped tacking Belgir and stared at his brother. "We?"

Glorfindel and Elrohir brought their horses next to Elladan who also had his horse prepared. Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. "Are you ready yet, Tir? We have a sheildmaiden to rescue. If she has not already rescued herself."

Faramir did not even crack a smile. "I thank you, my friends. At least someone is willing to aid me."

The golden-haired elf knew there was something to that statement, but decided to let it be. "Elrohir was out scouting this morning and thinks they were headed into Lossarnach. We can start there."

Right outside the stables Lord Valglin grinned and turned to a rider, already horsed. "Send word to Moradanur. He is on his way." The lesser lord did not try and hide his glee as the rider set off. Now he just had to tell Daendil that the plan was working like a charm. 'Daendil's master will be pleased.'

That bit with Beregond was a last-minute addition. I wrote the whole story, then realized that Beregond wouldn't let Faramir go off without him so I sent him off to Ithilien.