A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Here's chapp ten, enjoy:)

000

As Faramir was trying to strategize a way to escape, the tent flap lifted and Faramir, half expecting to see Selwyn was surprised to find himself staring into those violet blue eyes of the Elven woman.

She reopened the tent flap to make sure that no one was near; when she realized that it was safe enough she turned her attention back to Faramir.

Faramir suddenly noticed that she had water skins in her hand, and she also had a wooden bowl in the other, and a look of nervousness and concern was on her face.

"I cannot stay long-for if I am caught then you might get punished even worse."

Faramir did not know what to say to the Elven woman for a moment, but finally when he regained his composure he asked:

"Why are you doing this?"

"I cannot answer your questions right now for my brother may return at any moment; but here, drink. I am sorry that I couldn't find a cup for you but this will have to do right now."

And after saying that, she emptied the water that was left in the water skins into the bowl and handed it to him.

Faramir drank it eagerly for he was very thirsty, and secondly he did not know when he would be privileged with water again.

Finally, when he had drank all of the water; the Elven woman took it back and fled the tent before he could even thank her.

000

It was now nightfall in Gondor, and it seemed that all in Minas Tirith slept, but it was not so; the former servant of lady Finduilas tossed and turned in his bed. That night he had had disturbing dreams-dreams of his brother. His brother had left Rivendell for the woodland realm after their mother and father had grown weary of middle earth and departed over the sea, for their father was of Rivendell and their mother was of Mirkwood.

While Arial took after his father in appearance, his brother took after their mother. He had not seen his brother for many years now but suddenly, that night he was having disturbing dreams of him and so he could not sleep.

The dreams were all very similar, they were of his brother lying in a forest, bleeding badly, and he looked as though he was almost dead, if not so already; and there were dead orcs lying around him, and he saw another blond elf trying to tend to his wounds.

Arial had not had a vivid dream such as that for quite some time, and the last time that he had a dream like that, the very things that he had foreseen came to pass, so these dreams disturbed him, he knew that if he was granted freedom or if he decided to escape, then his plans would change drastically.

Finally, he sat up and began to think about what he should do. It did not take long for him to decide-he would beg for leave of Minas Tirith, and if that was not granted to him then he would run away, and he would set his course for Mirkwood.

000

Eomer's sleep was suddenly interrupted by an urgent knock on his door; he opened it to see his sister standing before him; he had guessed that it was her.

"Sister, you should be sleeping at this hour: it is not yet morning."

"Indeed, but I could not sleep, and then the idea came to me: if I could disguise myself as a servant, then I might be able to escape without my absence being know for a little while."

Eomer ran a hand through his hair and tired to comprehend what she was saying, for he was still very groggy, considering that he had just been awakened from a deep sleep.

"Do you not think that it will work?" Eowyn said, with a sparkle in her eyes.

"Yes-yes, I think that it could work, but can we not wait until morning so that the three of us can discuss this?"

"Of course, of course; I am sorry to disturb you," Eowyn said, not being able to help smiling at her brother's grogginess.

So after a hug, they parted ways again-at least until the morning.

000

The next morning, Eowyn, Boromir, and Denethor ate breakfast in silence.

Although the silence seemed somewhat uncomfortable, Eowyn didn't mind it for she was glad to that she could concentrate on thinking about escaping, but the quiet of breakfast was soon interrupted by Denethor, who by accident made things more uncomfortable by asking:

"So, tell me Eowyn, how are you adjusting to your new life here in Minas Tirith?"

"Father, there is no need for us to discuss such things," Boromir said, knowing that Denethor was making the situation worse.

"I did not address the question to you, son. Let lady Eowyn speak for herself."

"It is as well as can be expected my lord," said Eowyn.

"Good; you shall soon come to love Gondor as though it were your country by birth," said Denethor.

Eowyn put her head down, "I think not my lord, I think not." She thought.

000

After the uncomfortable breakfast; Denethor had been told that the servant Arial had wanted to see him. The Elven servant had almost completely slipped from his memory, but nonetheless he told the guards that he would see him.

Arial soon came, and bowed in front of the steward.

"You may rise now Arial, and tell me why you want to see me."

"My lord, I have come to ask for your leave that I may leave Gondor," the elf answered calmly.

"Why?" Denethor asked, in a dry voice.

"It…it is my brother my lord, I am certain that he is in danger, and I only ask that I may go to him."

"Are you asking merely for leave or for your freedom, Arial?" Denethor asked coldly.

"I am asking for my freedom my lord, but if you will not grant then I will gladly take your leave; I will do anything my lord, for you to allow me to go to my brother," pleaded the elf.

"You leave Gondor? I think not. You will stay here and fulfill your service to the very end, lest you die first!"

"But my lord, when will my service end? If it is not your wish to free me then I will abide by that, I only ask that you will let me go to my brother for I have had disturbing dreams about him my lord."

Denethor did not question that, for he knew all too well that the elf was gifted in that manner, for he had had a dream of lady Finduilas lying almost dead upon a bed, and so it came to pass.

"You will not question me; now be gone from my sight."

"But my lord; I only-''

"Did you not hear me? I said be gone!"

So Arial turned and left, one option had failed and so he would have no choice but to risk it all: he would run away, never to return to the white city.

000

As Eowyn, Theodred, and Eomer sat together in Eomer's quarters, they tried to perfect Eowyn's plan of escape, ideas were constantly thrown up, but it seemed to make things worse. Suddenly, Theodred had an idea that he was certain would work.

"I have an idea," he said, interrupting both Eowyn and Eomer, who turned their attention to their cousin. "You will have to dress as a soldier for it will conceal your face best."

Eowyn and Eomer opened their mouths in unison as though they were going to say something, but closed them and listened as Theodred continued.

"We will say that we are to return to Rohan as soon as possible for it is an emergency, and you and a few others will leave with me, just so it will not look suspicious."

"And what of me?" asked Eomer, "I would prefer it if I were to accompany Eowyn."

"I'm sorry cousin, but it cannot be so; this is a delicate situation, and so you must stay so that you may even stall their search for her-if you can. Trust me when I say that you will be helping her more than you think if you stay and do so."

Eomer nodded, "I will do anything that I can," he said.

"I will have to go as though I must leave in great haste and so I will only take a few of my men with me; one of which will happen to be the lady of Rohan," he said, grinning. He could not help being proud of his plan.

"So," said Eowyn displaying a smile. "It seems that we have a plan."

"So it seems," said Eomer, "so it seems."

000

After they had gone over the plan, they had only the rough edges to discuss, and so they decided to break up the conversation until nightfall, for they had now all developed some form of paranoia, due to how dangerous the plan was.

And so, Eowyn once again made her way to the stables, and there she saw, once again the elf that she had met previously; whose name was Arial.

"I had not expected to find you here," Eowyn said.

Arial turned around, and Eowyn saw a strange gleam in his eye, but it soon vanished. "I love to visit the stables, my lady; but I can hardly ever find the time," he replied.

"That is a pity," said Eowyn.

"Yes, I know my lady, but it cannot be helped. Over time I have grown used to it."

"But it is still a pity that you cannot visit the stables as often as you may wish."

"Do not worry my lady, I am certain that that day will come," he said, in a determined voice.

Eowyn noticed the look on his face: he looked determined, angry, and sorrowful at the same time. Walking over to him, she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"What is the matter Arial? Even though I have only met you once I know that something is wrong."

He stared at her for a moment, as if he was debating whether he could trust her or not, finally, he spoke. "I cannot stay here my lady; I must leave-I must leave this city for good."

"Why? What has happened?" Eowyn asked.

"It is my brother, I have had disturbing dreams of him, and even lord Denethor knows that when I dream of such things, they come to pass; but yet he will not let me go to my brother for a reason that I do not know; so I am left with no other choice but to leave-and never return, for if I do return then I shall be killed."

Eowyn was stunned for a moment. She had not expected to hear that. "Where is your brother?" she asked.

"He is in Mirkwood," replied the elf.