Sorry, to all my readers about the section breaks! I'm having trouble making them work, I want to use the customary break symbol, but I can't figure out how to do it. Sorry! This chapter is dedicated to Telhyandowen. Thank you for your review!

Chapter Three

The one thing that Eowyn particularly loved about ridding in Gondor was not the beautiful plains or the enchanting forests; it was her new mare, Windfola. Eomer had agreed to let her keep the mare, and Eowyn had become obsessed with here. Windfola could run faster than her namesake, the wind. She was truly the daughter of the wind.

Eowyn felt the same about herself. She belonged running free, rather than sitting in some sitting room stitching some silly rose onto a handkerchief. Indeed, Eowyn did find use in needlework, though she didn't particularly enjoy it, she did understand its uses. But as for sewing a handkerchief! That was ridiculous in Eowyn's mind. She would rather be riding her beloved mare, or swinging her sword. Something useful.

Windfola and Eowyn found consolation in each other. They each knew what it was like to long for the wild fields, and instead be confined in a cage. For anytime that Eowyn was unable to ride, Windfola was unable to be ridden.

Eowyn raced down the Pellenor, just like she had so many other times. This time, she had somewhere to go.

She, Faramir, and Natalie had agreed to race to the heart of Ithilien, Emyn Arnen. They were to meet in the small village that lay in the center of Emyn Arnen. There they would eat lunch, and then they would return to Minas Tirith.

Eowyn had studied a map before the group had set out, but she still wasn't sure that she could find her way to this city. After all, she had never been in Ithilien at all!

Windfola darted through the river Anuin. All of Eowyn's doubts disappeared in an instant. Whether or not she knew where the village lay, Windfola was a swifter horse than any in Gondor. Besides, there seemed to be one good road. And that was the road that Eowyn took.

For a while, Eowyn found that she couldn't think of anything. The thrill of riding stole every other thought away. But soon enough, she found her thoughts drifting.

She didn't stop thinking of Aragorn until Windfola suddenly whinnied and neighed. Eowyn looked around and found that she was in a clearing. She had wandered all the way through Emyn Arnen without even realizing it! She could hear the faint noise of a village nearby. It seemed that she had made it to her destination. And that she had won.

But at the same time, she heard another whinny coming from the trees. She turned and saw Faramir riding up to her on Silivren, his stallion.

"How did you get here so fast?" Eowyn asked, surprised. All three had split off almost immediately, and Eowyn knew that Faramir was behind both her and Natalie.

"Short cut," he answered with a grin. "Even Natalie doesn't know about it.

This angered Eowyn greatly. "That isn't fair! I didn't know any short cuts, I've never been here before! It isn't fair that you use them now!" She retorted. Faramir held his hands up in surrender.

"You speak truefully milady. I won't do it again. Besides, you still got here before me. You have quite won the race. And if I'm correct, Natalie quite lost," he said.

"Except for the fact that you used a short cut that she didn't know about!" Eowyn countered playfully. Faramir smiled and responded, "Now Eowyn, no one ever said that I couldn't use a short cut. I agree with you when you say that 'twas unfair to you, but as for Natalie, she has lived in these woods as long as I have. I think that it is perfectly ok to use a short cut when it comes to her." Eowyn just rolled her eyes.

They waited for an entire quarter of an hour before Natalie rode in, exhausted.
"What happened to you, my friend?" Eowyn asked cheerfully. Natalie just looked at her and then turned to Faramir.

"Where is the shortcut? I know you used one because I'm a better rider, and because you were behind me." Faramir just smiled innocently.

"Sit, and eat Natalie," Eowyn commanded. "We'll discover Faramir's secret soon enough." Faramir once again smiled and widened his eyes to add to the innocent expression, which sent Eowyn and Natalie into fits of laughter. It was a long time before they were calm enough to eat.

(new scene)

"Faramir! We know that you used that path to trick us! It took us five hours to reach the city, and it too you two to reach the clearing! Oh you clever sneak!" Eowyn cried once they were all back in the stables, grooming their horses.

Faramir just replied, "I wondered if you were going to follow me home. I didn't want you knowing my secret; then I would have no chance of winning." He smiled.

Then Natalie added, "Faramir, you do realize that because of your little crafty plot, we are now very late for dinner, and none of us have cleaned up?" At this, Faramir cursed and ran inside to wash as best as he could.

(new scene)

Eowyn walked back to her rooms, exhausted. She was glad that the night was over. Finally, she could rest.

Eowyn stopped to light a candle. She couldn't stand to sleep in the dark. It made her feel so vulnerable. She didn't like feeling that way. Eowyn wondered when her fear of the dark began. She knew though. It was when Wormtongue began to whisper his poison in her ear. It had been bad enough when her uncle had fallen under Grima's sway, but it was worse fearing the same end for herself.

As she passed Faramir's rooms, she heard music. She stopped to listen, not even taking note of the fact that this was the second time in the last two days that she had been eavesdropping on Faramir, and she used to never even think about doing it once in any situation.

She heard him playing a lyre, softly and slowly, the melody was haunting and the words...the words reminded her of herself.

Running like water,

Blowing like wind,

Like Luthien's daughter,

Simple as a friend.

No stars for her brow,

No gems for her hair,

The rain is falling on her now.

No joy adorns her,

No man adores her,

The rain is falling forever.

To the river reeds she cries,

"Alas, Alas, Ai, Ai!

"No more do I see,

For more I do weep.

Helkaiel,

Elgadil,

Vanwawen,

Eva meneulmar.

Raen hae ello i iath.

Mellonnin! Mellonnin!

Ai! Ai!

Of course Eowyn didn't understand the elvish, but the rest of it resonated her heart. She wondered for whom it was written. Faramir began another song, this one entirely in elvish.

"A arat ien esse I las,

Man onant I el gal.

A fir edan tire tenn' i hiril si,

A oi mele iriel.

Berethorin! Tinuviel!

He sang this song with a passion. The lyre, though beautiful, did not match his voice. Eowyn noticed that the door was ajar, and she slowly pushed it open.