A/N: Sorry for the late update, and I apologize if the chapter seems shorter than usual, what can I say besides, I was watching tennis! anyway, I hope that you guys enjoy this chappy, by the way thanks for the reviews!

000

Faramir awoke to find that he was still in the tent; he hadn't seen Selwyn since their talk and now he wondered what the elf could possibly want with him, but he didn't have to worry about that for too long, for while his thoughts returned to figuring out a way to escape, the tent flap lifted and in walked Selwyn, he instantly saw that the Ranger was awake.

"You are finally awake," he stated cheekily.

"What do you want?" Faramir asked; he was growing very weary of the elf.

"So you will start your day with sarcasm, well I am sure that that will soon change, for you will soon be begging for mercy," and the elf let out another devilish laugh.

Faramir said nothing.

Selwyn continued, "Do you not know where we are going?"

"You have no reason to hold us prisoner, elf!" exclaimed Faramir, feeling his anger rising.

His bold uprising resulted in a blow to the face, and Selwyn showed no emotion as dark blood oozed from Faramir nose.

"You will learn to respect me!" he said, delivering a harsh kick to Faramir's side.

The Ranger grunted in pain at the second blow, for although he had been almost completely healed, due to the herbs, he had not healed fully.

Suddenly, an elf entered the tent.

"What is it, Faelivrin?" Selwyn asked sharply.

"They are still refusing to talk, and I think that we are wasting our time with them; I suggest that we set them loose."

"Is that why you have come? To give me a senseless suggestion?" Selwyn's brown eyes seemed as though they had been set aflame.

"I thought that it sounded quite reason-''

"Forget your reason; it matters not. I do not have the time or the patience to listen to your foolishness-leave me!"

The elf turned and left without another word.

Faramir's nose was still bleeding, so Selwyn left the tent and in a few minutes the young Elven woman entered, carrying some cloth and a small bowl containing water.

"You do not seem to be bleeding very badly," she said, after she had examined him.

"Why did you do that for me?" asked Faramir, as she wiped the blood away.

"Because I felt that it was right," she replied softly.

"I do not understand."

"I…I…I must not speak about this to you right now, for my brother could return at any moment," she said, and her hands began to shake a little, due to nervousness as she wiped the blood.

"Why do you fear him?" Faramir asked, gently, but firmly taking hold of her wrist and looking into her eyes.

She averted her gaze. "It is not my place to answer such things."

"Why is that so," said Faramir.

The Elven woman looked around the tent and then she spoke in a low whisper, "If he finds out that I aided you in anyway…I fear what he will do to me-it seems at times as though he has no heart."

"What is your name?" he asked, still holding on to her wrist.

She finally met his gaze, "Morwen."

Faramir released his grip, allowing her wrist to go free, "My thanks Morwen, I see that you have taken a great risk in helping me."

000

"Mirkwood?" Eowyn asked; she couldn't help noticing the coincidence.

"Yes; he is in Mirkwood. But if I am to find him then I must make haste to depart for I do not want to be too late-I hope that I am not too late," he said, looking downwards.

Eowyn placed a comforting hand on his shoulder; "I am sure that you are not too late, I am certain that you will find your brother."

"I hope that you are right, my lady," replied the elf.

Suddenly, Eowyn's eyes lit up, "It is possible I believe, that I can come with you."

Arial shot her a confused look.

"Yes, I desire to leave Minas Tirith, never to return; I have been planning an escape to Mirkwood, and so I would love to accompany you."

"Why are you unhappy here my lady?" asked the elf.

"I long to return to Rohan, where I can be free; it was never my wish to marry lord Boromir yet I was forced to do so; I do not doubt that he is a noble man but I must leave nonetheless, for I do not love him."

"Then you are welcome to accompany me my lady; I shall notify you of our time of departure-and it will be soon, I promise," he said, turning to leave.

Eowyn pitied the elf Arial, despite how she felt about her trials; his one reason for wanting to leave made hers seem almost insignificant.

000

Eowyn was engaged in a conversation with Norah, when there was a knock on the door.

"I will get it my lady," said Norah.

When she did get it she was nothing short of surprised to see Boromir standing at the door.

"What may I do for you my lord?" Norah asked.

"Is lady Eowyn here? I must speak with her," Boromir asked.

Norah noticed the cheerfulness in his tone; "She is here my lord, I will let her know that you wish to see her."

In what seemed to be less than a minute, lady Eowyn came to the door. "You wished to see me my lord?" she asked.

"Yes, I wanted to show you something."

"Well, my lord where is it?"

"Not here!" Boromir said, in a cheerful voice.

"Then where is it my lord?" she asked.

"Come with me," Boromir said taking her hand.

This time his touch did not make her freeze as it used to. So she allowed him to lead her to the location.

She was no doubt surprised when she saw that he was in fact leading her to the stables; finally when they entered, she saw a horse that hadn't been there before; its black shiny coat and mane made it stand out from all of the rest, including her own beloved horse Windfola. It seemed as though Boromir had followed her gaze and noticed that her eyes had rested on the horse.

"I see that he has caught your eye-as he did mine," stated the Gondorian lord.

"Yes, he is very beautiful," Eowyn remarked.

"He is indeed; he was bred in Dol Amroth-they are known for their beautiful horses, but you do not easily find stallions such as Galeth."

"I see. It would be very hard to find one that matched him in beauty."

"Yes, but the one that matches him will be the one that rides him-he is yours."

Eowyn looked at Boromir in astonishment; she did not know what to say thank you to: the gift or the compliment, finally, she found the words to say. "Thank you my lord! I could never dream of receiving such a gift! You are most extraordinary!" she said, taking him by surprise and embracing him. "Thank you, thank you!"

Boromir had not expected such and emotional reaction, but he hugged her back nonetheless. "When I saw him I instantly thought of you-he already looked as though he belonged to you my lady," said Boromir.

"If circumstances were different, we might have been friends my lord; if only things were different!" as Eowyn thought on this, tears began to flow down her fair, pale cheeks.

"Why do you cry my lady? Is something wrong?" Boromir asked, gently drawing her out of the hug and looking into her face with a look of concern.

"They are tears of joy," Eowyn lied.

"Well my lady, do you not wish to ride him?"

000

Not long after Morwen left, two elves came and literally dragged Faramir back to his fellow Rangers; their wounds seemed to be healing, and they were still tied up. And also for some reason the elves were not watching them as intently as they had at first.

"My lord," said Darcyn, scooting closer to Faramir. "It was them-they are the ones that killed our fellow soldiers, I overheard the elves on guard talk about it."

Faramir was not surprised-there was not an inkling of doubt in his mind that they sided with Sauron.

"I do not doubt what you have just told me," said Faramir. "The leader, Selwyn told me personally that they side with Sauron-they are called 'Shadow elves'."

"That is a surprise my lord, I had not expected to hear that," Darcyn replied.

"How have things been out here?" Faramir asked, truly concerned.

"As well as can be expected; we were thinking about attempting escape but none of us were willing to leave without you-that is except for Gelmir."

It was a well known fact that Gelmir carried a strong dislike for the captain of the Ithilien Rangers, and though he was loyal to Gondor and obedient to his captain, he was always very sneaky and could rarely be trusted.

He did in fact, envy Faramir of his position. In secret of course, but if the accusation had been brought to light none would defend him for they wouldn't put it past him.

"Ah, Gelmir is back to himself I see," said Faramir, taking the matter light-hearted as usual.

"Forgive me my lord, but sometimes I cannot stand him!"

"I know that his ways are sneaky, but you must forgive him-he cannot help it. He has known no other way."

Gelmir's father was a thief and murderer who was eventually caught, and sentenced to die. But Gelmir's father being a master of disguise and escape-escaped!

But Gelmir had not seen his father since.

"I know that he has had a hard life-but which one of us hasn't? It does not excuse his ways, my lord in any way!"

"We have much more important things to discuss at the moment. We must plan an escape-and fast, for I do not think that time is on our side."

"I agree my lord," said Darcyn, seemingly forgetting the matter.

000

Arial was restless; his brother was on his mind-ceaselessly.

He knew that he couldn't delay any longer- finally he made up his mind. They would leave that night-even if he died in attempting, he would do his very best to reach his brother…