A/N: Okay guys, heres chappy twelve; schools back so I probably won't be able to update as often as I used to, but pleasebear with me 'cause I have no intentions of abandoning this fic. :)
000
Later on that evening, Faramir continued to notice that the elves were not watching them as intently as they had previously.
In fact, to him it seemed as though they were looking for something-or someone and he was hoping that it wasn't reinforcements, but he wasn't sure; he was certain of one thing though, he knew that they had to escape before any of the elves' allies showed up, so he began to try strategize a good way for them to escape-even if he couldn't.
He couldn't help but eye the horses that were standing idly nearby, tied to trees.
"Perhaps they could be our means of escape," he thought to himself.
Medwyn seemed to be thinking the exact same thing, "My lord," he whispered. "Perhaps they could be of some use to us."
"I agree Medwyn," Faramir whispered back; "but we must be cautious for we cannot risk drawing suspicion."
"Of course, captain; we wouldn't want that, would we?" asked a voice.
They turned to find themselves staring at Gelmir. He was bruised just like the rest of them, but he also had a sneaky gleam in his eye.
"I did not see you there, Gelmir," Faramir stated, with an unreadable expression on his face.
"I know that you didn't my lord; but I couldn't help but find myself interested in the conversation-you were talking of our escape."
"Yes, yes; but we must be cautious or our plan could turn out badly."
"Of course my lord, I would never reveal our plans to the enemy-not even by accident," and he flashed them a smile-a sneaky one, but a smile nonetheless.
Medwyn shot Faramir a 'I-do-not-trust-him' look, and Faramir nodded very slightly, but Gelmir did not seem to notice the silent conversation between the two.
So he continued to speak. "My lord, when will we make our escape?"
"I do not know yet," Faramir replied, "I will let you know when the time is right."
000
After Eowyn's ride, she went to see Eomer and Theodred so that she could tell them of the new twist in their plan.
She had went to Theodred's quarters but found that he was not there so she went to Eomer's; when she knocked, the door opened quickly and she was hastily ushered in by Eomer.
When she entered she saw that Theodred was dressed in his formal armor.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"I have received a letter from father telling me to return to Rohan at once; he did not say why, nor did he mention for Eomer to accompany me-I fear that our plan of escape may be over before it has begun," said Theodred grimly.
"I disagree," said Eowyn. "Today in the stables I met with the Elven servant Arial, our meeting was by chance, but he told me that he was leaving Minas Tirith-for Mirkwood!"
Eomer and Theodred's expressions showed how relieved they were, but Eomer still thought that it would be best to take caution.
"How do we know that we can trust him?" Eomer asked.
"We talked, and I don't believe that he is lying-it is for his brother you see. And he has agreed to help me; I am to accompany him when he flees."
"I do not know," said a now unsure Eomer as he walked to the window.
Theodred stood beside him, "Eomer, you must listen to what Eowyn is saying: Arial could be her only chance of escape, and I also think that it would be safer, if I am to leave at once then there is no way that we can smuggle her out with me, and I am sure that Arial knows his way around this city better then we do. We must trust Eowyn on this, please cousin, I am asking this of you, for I want Eowyn free almost as much as she wants it herself, do not hinder her from doing so."
Eomer was silent for about a minute. Finally he spoke. "Alright, but just know that if the circumstances were different I would have gone with the safety over the stealth of an elf."
"I know it brother, I know it," said Eowyn, embracing her brother.
000
As Boromir was alone in his quarters, he began to reminisce what had gone on in the day thus far; he had never thought that he would see such a side of Eowyn as he did in the stables-he never thought that it had existed in her, but after what he had seen, he now saw her in a new light.
Maybe the one that was once thought cold and unlovable could be warm and capable of loving and being loved.
Maybe his new life would not be so bad after all.
000
Gelmir watched Faramir sleeping.
He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth; he had never liked the captain of the Ithilien Rangers, he wouldn't have been surprised if Faramir knew it, but, as his feelings of jealousy began to surface, so did evil plans of dispatching their captain and taking over command at Henneth Annun.
Suddenly, an idea popped into his head-in fact, it was more like a plan. What if he could make it look as though the captain had deserted his men? Then Faramir would be as good as dead anyway, for if he returned to Gondor, justice would be served on him whether he was the son of the steward or not, and he would be put to death as was the law for deserters.
Suddenly, Faramir opened his eyes and almost gasped when he saw those green cat-like eyes staring at him.
"I did not mean to startle you my lord," Gelmir said, smiling slyly.
"You did not," Faramir replied, staring at the Ranger uneasily.
"You ought to rest well captain, for we would not want to leave without you, and your only cause would be terrible fatigue."
"You need not worry, I am well rested," said Faramir, feeling a little uncomfortable under the sneaky man's gaze-more uncomfortable than usual.
"Good captain; very well; do you now know the hour?"
"I told you that I would let you know when the time was right-we cannot risk making a premature escape."
"I see your point my lord, it is a wise decision, and so I by no means question your judgment, but when you was in your deep slumber, I seemed to hear them mention something about approaching Haradrim."
This time Gelmir was telling the truth, when the Elven guards had returned from their now usual absence, he overheard them speak of Haradrim, and they did not seem as though they were preparing their defenses, in fact, they seemed as though they had been expecting them!
"Are you sure that is what you heard Gemlir?" Faramir asked.
"Yes my lord."
Then it was wise of you to tell me for now we must try to escape prematurely for we cannot risk more company, and in a way it does make sense, for they did seem to me as though they were expecting someone."
"That is how it also seemed to me captain, but one can never be certain."
"Very well; awaken the others, for it is now or never."
One by one the men were awakened, and they all seemed well rested and prepared for the treacherous and dangerous escape, but they all had a single question, which Bard eventually asked.
"My lord, will it not be harder for us to ride? For although they untied the ropes on our ankles, we are all still bound at the wrists," said Bard.
"I know that it may prove difficult, but we must worry about those later-for we must try to reach Minas Tirith."
They all seemed to agree on this. So as the elves were on their absence, watching for signs of the Haradrim, they attempted to mount their chosen horses. There were about twenty-five horses, which was of course, more than enough. And to make things better, the horses were surprisingly obedient. So, seeing that there were no elves in sight, the group of sixteen men galloped away.
000
"It is an honor, my lord to be in your service as your advisor," said the red-haired man who looked to be in his mid to late twenties, but was in truth, thirty and nine.
"I need wise counsel and I know that you can give it to me Gelidir," replied Denethor.
"I will do the very best that I can my lord-the very best," said Gelidir.
"That I do not doubt, for you are wise and just, I know that you will be a very helpful advisor."
000
As the elves returned from watching the Harad road, they saw that the prisoners were no longer there, but they could see horses galloping in the distance; they instantly ran to Selwyn and told him all; he looked angry but he was not in the mood to blame them for their incompetence.
"Go after them, but if you can bring no others back, bring me back their captain-and bring him to me alive, now go!"
Faramir rode behind-not as he would usually do but things were different. He wanted to make sure that all of his men escaped-even Gelmir. But in the very near distance he could see horses galloping after them.
"We must ride faster; they are coming!" he shouted over the loud sounds of the horse hoofs.
Their horses picked up speed, and so did the elves' horses. And suddenly, the sound of an arrow whisked through the air and Faramir fell off his horse almost instantly, and he could do nothing but watch as his men rode further and further away, not realizing that their leader's horse had been shot, and that he was facing recapture.
000
That night, as Eowyn was lying in bed sleeping, there was an urgent knock on the door. It soon roused Eowyn out of her sleep and when she groggily opened the door, she found herself staring at the elf Arial.
"Yes…" she said, not sure why he had come. The temporary amnesia was due to her grogginess.
"The time has come my lady; the time has come for us to make our escape!"
Eowyn soon snapped out of her grogginess. "Now? Oh of course, you said that you would let me know; very well, if you would just give me a moment to get ready and gather my things-"
"Of course my lady," said the elf, almost unknowingly interrupting her. He left to give her some privacy.
When she had soon dressed and gathered her things-including a sword, she reopened the door.
"I am ready," she said.
A/N 2: I hope that you guys enjoyed it, but even if you didn't, feel free to R&R and tell me what you think:)