Hi everyone! Sorry for the late update. I hope everyone who had a holiday this weekend had a good one! I think I'm just going to finish posting this story tonight and get ready to post the sequel, which I personally think is actually better than this one.
Reviewer Responses
lindahoyland Glad you like it and hope you like this chapter and the next as well.
Raksha The Demon Hmmm, if I add an earthquake and a tornado I'll have Faramir save her from each of the original elements. Unfortunately I am not that skilled. Yes to the wedding, no to the wedding night, and not until the next chapter. Sorry, I'm just not comfortable writing romance.
TheDaughterOfKings Yay for Fluffyness! I'm going to name my cat Fluffy. I don't have one yet, and I'm sure you didn't care to hear what I will name my cat when I get one, but I have caffeine and sugar and can't seem to make sense even to myself.
redrhonda Political intrigue is great, but I'm not sure how well I write it. I find it easier to write pure action. Wedding next chapter.

Elladan and Elrohir stood numbly before the burning cave. Luckily the flames hadn't spread outside of the rocky hills, but that meant nothing to the twins. All they knew was that their little brother was trapped, perhaps dead. And they could do nothing about it.

Their thoughts ran along the same lines. 'Is Tir alive? How can he escape that? What will we tell Glorfindel and Estel? What will we tell Ada?' They were so wrapped up in the whats and the hows that they didn't hear Faramir and Éowyn stumble up behind them.

Faramir's lips twitched. He had rarely been able to sneak up on his brothers before. "Yes, my brothers, the fire is very pretty and big, but we are very wet and cold so if you do not mind?"

The twins jumped and spun around. Elrohir's eyes widened. "Tir! You are alive! Where are you hurt?"

Éowyn laughed as the healer checked Faramir for cuts, bruises, burns, or anything else. Faramir rolled his eyes. "I am fine, Elrohir. Just wet and cold."

Elladan frowned. "Hmmm, that probably means that he has hypothermia or pneumonia. You will have to make some of that healing tea Ada makes, El."

Faramir shook his head quickly. "There is no need for that. Just give me a blanket and a change of clothes and I will be fine." Before either twin could say anything, Faramir grabbed Éowyn's hand and began walking briskly away. "I am sure we will find something back at the camp with Glorfindel." The twins knew exactly how he felt. No one ever wanted Ada's tea.

Éowyn looked down at her pale toes that stood out sharply against the grass. 'I can't remember the last time I went barefoot.' Back at the camp she, Faramir, and the twins had been greeted by a cheerful Glorfindel and a strangely subdued group of ruffians. The horses were there as well, so Faramir had another set of clothing for himself. Unfortunately they had not thought to bring anything for Éowyn, so she made do with Elladan's extra trousers and Glorfindel's extra tunic.

"I suppose this is good-bye." The shieldmaiden looked up to see Naicalle standing before her. The former ruffian's eyes were wet with tears, though Éowyn didn't know if they were from saying farewell or the news of her brother's death. "I 'ope we are still friends, even after what Danny tried to do."

Éowyn hugged the other woman. "Of course we are friends. And I expect to see you at my wedding." She leaned closer and whispered in her friend's ear. "And I also expect an invitation to your and Norien's wedding as well."

Naicalle's eyes widened. "How did you know…?"

Éowyn grinned. "Glorfindel told me. Did he truly threaten Norien with a hanging unless he proposed to you?"

"I did." The women turned to see Glorfindel sitting atop Asfaloth, his horse. Behind him the twins and Faramir were mounted as well. "I figured that since I could see how much he loved her after only a few hours, all he needed was a little persuasion." Everyone laughed. Éowyn and Naicalle embraced again before Faramir helped Éowyn mount Belgir.

She settled in behind Faramir, her arms wrapped around his waist. "Farewell, my friend."

Naicalle stood beside Norien as they watched they five leave. "Farewell."

They were one day away from Minas Tirith when Glorfindel decided that it would be best if they stopped for the night. While the three elves set up camp, Éowyn resolved to talk to Faramir who had been unusually quiet throughout the journey. Drawing him a fair distance from the camp, the couple sat down out of elven ear-shot. "Faramir, what is wrong?"

Faramir didn't look at her. "I do not know what you mean."

"Something is bothering you, do not bother to try and hide it. Please tell me, my love."

Faramir bit his lip and sighed. He forced himself to look into Éowyn's eyes. "I fear that our marriage will not happen."

Éowyn's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean? Why would it not happen?"

Faramir turned his head, unable to keep looking at her. "You were betrothed to the Steward of Gondor. I am that no longer."

"What! What happened?"

The former Steward kept his eyes on the ground. "Daendil declared the right of reconciliation with Lebennin after you were kidnapped. That meant that as Prince of Ithilien I could not interfere or Daendil could take Ithilien as his own. Aragorn told me I could not come after you." Faramir sighed. "I fear I treated him too harshly for that, but I was so worried. In my anger I resigned both as Steward and Prince of Ithilien and stormed out of the city without leave."

Éowyn crossed her arms. "I fail to see how this prevents our marriage." She frowned. "Unless you believe that I was marrying you only because you held high office." At Faramir's chagrined look her frown deepened. "Faramir! How could you even think that? I care not for your station, I would love you just as much if you were a farmer!"

Faramir took her hand in his and brushed it with a kiss. "I know, my love. It was only a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. Do you forgive me?"

Éowyn smiled. "Of course I do. Just do not think it again, understood?"

"Understood." Smiling, the couple kissed and all thoughts of kings and titles flew away.

They reached Minas Tirith by mid-day, only to find the entire city in an uproar. Guards patrolled the gates, barely giving them a second glance as they entered but fiercely guarding the gate against anyone who wished to leave. And Faramir knew that something big was happening when no one even noticed three elves and a former Steward returning the kidnapped lady of Rohan. After stabling the horses, the five walked to the Seventh level and were greeted by Lord Elrond and Lady Eluial in the entrance hall of the palace. As Glorfindel kissed his wife in greeting, Elrond was quick to embrace his youngest son. "Thank the Valar you are all back safely. And I see you were successful." The elf-lord smiled and bowed his head at Éowyn. "It is good to see you whole and well, Éowyn. Your brother will be especially pleased."

After Elrond hugged his older sons, Faramir looked around the uncommonly empty hallway. "Ada, where is everyone? What is going on?"

Elrond frowned. "Many of the servants have been given leave to stay at home. Mistress Fulla was nearly murdered a few days ago, and though the culprit was caught, the ones in charge have not been apprehended yet."

Faramir couldn't believe it. "Murdered? Who would want to murder an injured maid?"

Lady Eluial shook her head. "You must hear the whole story."

After the whole tale was told, it was decided that the twins and Éowyn would stay at the palace with Glorfindel and Eluial for it would not be safe if Daendil and Valglin learned of Éowyn's safe return. Elrond took Faramir to the Third level where Aragorn was leading the search for the two villains.

The two caught up with the king at a small guardhouse. At first Aragorn didn't even notice them, but when he saw Faramir the relief on his face was evident. Faramir didn't notice, however, for he could not bring himself to look at the king he had deserted, the brother he had forsaken. Therefore he was not warned when Aragorn fiercely embraced his prodigal brother. "Thank Eru you are safe. After you left, we learned of the trap set for you. I was so worried." He released the shocked Faramir and dragged him over to the table which held a map of the city. "Fuingon is still being held in the cells. Word just reached me now that Valglin was found and killed when he attacked the guards. It is believed that Daendil is somewhere on this level."

"My lord."

"I would guess he has some hideaway in those old, abandoned houses on the southern side."

"Estel."

The king looked up at Faramir's distressed face. "What?"

Faramir swallowed, his throat dry. "My lord, I left Minas Tirith without leave on a mission you expressly forbid me to attempt."

Aragorn blinked. "And? What do you expect me to do? Hang you for going after the woman you love? I believe I will hold that punishment for someone who truly deserves it, namely Daendil who was trying to undermine my authority and take over Gondor a piece at a time. That, plus the fact that he arranged to try and have my brother killed, does not make me inclined to give him any sort of clemency."

Faramir felt a glimmer of hope at the word brother. "Do…do you forgive me my harsh words? I was not thinking straight, I did not mean…"

Aragorn held up his hand to silence him. "All is forgiven. Ada spoke with me and helped me see that you did not mean what you said. You are still my brother, Tir, and always will be."

Faramir smiled with relief. "Thank you, my brother."

"And now that that is settled, I hope you do not mind, but I decided that since this search has taken a great deal of my time, I would leave the paperwork for my Steward to handle when he returned. It may be a lot, but I am confident in your abilities." Aragorn grinned while Elrond rolled his eyes.

Faramir was a bit stunned. "But I resigned!"

Aragorn's grin widened. "You resigned, but I never officially accepted your resignation. The paperwork is all yours."

Elrond, who had remained silent throughout the whole exchange, ignored his youngest son's pleading look. "He is right, Tir. The king must accept the resignation for it to take effect. I am afraid you are stuck."

Faramir tried to sigh dejectedly, but failed miserably. "And I was hoping for a nice, quiet piece of land to farm for the rest of my days. What ever am I going to do with the 50 head of cattle I bought? I suppose thy will just have to stay in the Tower of Ecthelion. I hope you do not mind the smell."

Aragorn laughed, but stopped when Faramir didn't join him. A worry-line creased the king's face. "You did not, did you?" Faramir didn't respond and Aragorn truly began to worry. "Tir?"

The moment was interrupted when the captain of the guard burst into the room. "Your Highness, we found Daendil!"

Everyone forgot the non-existent cattle and focused their attention on the soldier. Aragorn stepped forward. "Where is he?"

"In one of the abandoned houses." The captain hesitated. "My lord, he was dead when we found him. We think it was suicide."

Faramir stared down at the body of Daendil, the fatal knife still in his stomach. Despite what the man had done, Faramir still had not wanted it to end like this. Aragorn stood from where he had been examining the body. The king frowned. "I do not like this. There is too little blood for the knife to actually have killed him. It is as if he died and then someone stabbed him."

"How did he die then?"

Aragorn shrugged his shoulders. "I do not know. I can find no other wounds. Unless somebody comes forward with more information, there is nothing more to do than declare it a suicide, loath though I am to do so. There is nothing else I can do." The king shook his head and smiled at Faramir. "Let us leave this to the others and think no more of it. The villains have been punished and we have a wedding to celebrate." Aragorn's grin widened. "And you have paperwork to get started on."

Next chapter coming up!