A/N: Thanks to all those who read and reviewed this story so far! I know that this chappy is a bit boring, but please bear with me because I promise that the next one will be better. I hope that you guys enjoy at least some of it :D
Jedi Knight247
000
"The…dark land?" Faramir asked; the expression on his face was one of disbelief.
"Yes-the dark land; I have been there quite a few times myself-that was where they tried to bring me under subjection," said Galen, running a restless hand through his hair as he was remembering his ordeals in that dark place.
"Why—when are we going?" Faramir asked.
"When the reinforcements from Harad arrive-then we will set our course for Mordor."
The very word 'Mordor' triggered a momentary silence in the small tent, and then Galen broke it for he realized that he had stayed longer than he should have.
"I must go now my lord, and once again…" he momentarily glanced at the tent flap as some shadows passed by. "I…I'm sorry."
And before Faramir could say anything else to the half-Elven young man, he slipped out of the tent.
000
After her conversation with Strider, Eowyn had gone to the room which she and Arial had rented for a few hours; and she had told Arial everything that had happened.
"Are you certain that we can trust this Ranger?" Arial asked.
"I am certain, but he is a very mysterious man; he still did not explain how he knew me-I am not saying that he cannot be trusted; for I am sure that he can-it's just that he's so mysterious."
"So we are to journey to Mirkwood with him?"
"I told him that we would consider his offer, but he is only giving us half of an hour to decide, for that is when he is leaving; I would have accepted it, but I could not make such a decision without you, for you are in this as much as I am."
Arial seemed to be thinking for a moment, and finally he answered; "I think that it would be wise to accept his offer; it would be wise to travel with a Ranger."
After they had come to an agreement, they returned to the common room, where they were to meet with Strider to tell him yes or no; Eowyn spotted him sitting at the far side of the room. He looked up just in time to see them coming.
"We have decided to accept your offer," Eowyn said, almost in a hushed voice.
"You have made a wise decision; I suppose that we shall set out at once."
To this they made no objection, for they had their packs with them and so, they saw no reason to linger.
So they left the inn with Strider in hopes of reaching Mirkwood before it had been discovered that they had run away.
000
The next day when Boromir and Denethor had their break of fast, Eowyn was not there; this had puzzled Boromir, but he was sure that he knew why she was upset: Theodred had had to leave early due to an urgent letter from the lord of the Mark, King Théoden; and she was also worried, due to the declining health of her uncle. He could not blame her for suddenly turning recluse, but he knew that his father would not stand for it. And he was right.
"She must learn that there is a time to conceal your emotions, and there is to show them; now is not the time for her to show them! For by showing them she is also showing great disrespect. Boromir, as her husband you must break this from her; it is unacceptable!"
"It would also be disrespectful father, to storm up to her quarters and drag her down and force her to eat break of fast with us; father, you of all people should know that women tend to showcase their emotions more than we do," said Boromir, trying to defend Eowyn, for he felt compassion for her.
"Do not tell me what I should know and what I shouldn't! This is no way for the future steward of Gondor's wife to act; bring her down this instant!"
"Father, do not get so riled up; I am sure that there won't be many mornings like this-we must bear with her for she is not used to things as they are here."
Denethor, seeing that his son wasn't going to bring her down called to a guard.
"Simeon, find Arial and tell him to bring lady Eowyn down at once."
"Yes my lord," replied the obedient guard and he left to fetch the Elven servant.
"Father, I cannot let you do this," said Boromir rising from the table; "I will not allow you to treat her with such disrespect," and with that he left, hoping to reach Eowyn before Arial. Little did he know that he was too late!
000
Denethor's food did not look good to him anymore.
The brief but slightly heated argument with his son had soured his appetite; suddenly he could hear voices coming from the hall; he could make out someone pleading to speak with the steward.
"You may let them in!" Denethor called; he did not like the thought of begging people in the hall.
And so the large double doors opened, and in walked fifteen Rangers; all of which he had sent to accompany Faramir on the perilous task. But where was Faramir?
In unison they went to one knee, in reverence for the steward. After they had stood up again, Medwyn was the first to speak.
"My lord, it was impossible; there were too few of us and too many of them!"
"Where is my son?" Denethor asked, half expecting them to say that he fell to the sword of their enemy.
"I know not my lord; but Gelmir has decided to come up with something false-he claims my lord that Captain Faramir deserted us, but he never would do such a thing; he would rather die my lord, as his-''
"Desertion?" Denethor asked, interrupting Medwyn.
"Yes my lord, but we all know that he is telling a lie," answered Medwyn.
"Gelmir," said Denethor, "how came you to think that my son deserted you?"
So, Gelmir told Denethor everything, from their capture to their escape (of course adding his false version of what happened)
"So there were no other witnesses out of the rest of you? No one else witnessed this betrayal?"
"No, my lord," replied Darcyn, putting his head down as one who has been defeated. "But I know—all fifteen of us know that lord Faramir would not desert a single one of us; not even Gelmir."
"But you did not see or witness it?" Denethor sighed, knowing their answer; "leave me," he said.
"My lord, you cannot possibly-'' said one of the Rangers.
"I said leave me!" shouted Denethor.
And so that left them no choice but to leave the steward and hope that he would not believe Gelmir's lies.
000
Boromir, believing that he had reached Eowyn's quarters before Arial, knocked hastily on the door, after knocking for a few times, it opened and Boromir found himself staring into the face of Eowyn's maid, Norah; her face seemed somewhat guilt stricken when she saw him, but nonetheless she tried to maintain her composure.
"May I speak with lady Eowyn-I will only be a moment."
Norah's mind raced rapidly, she knew that this moment would come. "She is busy right now my lord; if you could just wait for a mom-''
"Would it be too much for me to speak with my wife for a moment?"
When Boromir worded it like that, it was hard for her to say anything else besides, "Of course, my lord."
"My thanks…" Boromir's voice trailed off, for he knew not her name.
Norah knew this, and so she corrected him. "Norah, my lord."
"Well, my thanks Norah," said Boromir, as he stepped in.
Norah closed the remaining open door of the double doors after him, and feared what might happen next.
Boromir looked through Eowyn's quarters-but he couldn't find Eowyn; he was quite puzzled by this, but it didn't strike his mind that she had vanished, or in other words, had run away. Finally he came back to Norah, who looked a little nervous.
"Where is lady Eowyn? For she isn't here," his tone was not one of anger, but of concern.
Norah put her head down, for she felt shameful-in fact, she felt responsible for Eowyn running away, although she was not exactly for the escape.
"You are right about that my lord; she isn't here."
Boromir frowned out of confusion; Norah had just made it obvious that Eowyn was there, and now she was saying something pretty contrary. "It's obvious that she isn't here, but where is she? I am sure that she has been quite upset today-am I right?"
"I could not answer that my lord…as for the first question, I simply cannot answer it."
Boromir was getting a little frustrated; he just wanted to know where Eowyn was, what was so difficult about that?
"Norah, why is it so hard for you to just answer? Where is Eowyn!"
"My lord…she's gone," Norah replied, making it plain and clear.
"She's gone? What are you talking about?" Boromir asked, hoping that he was wrong in assuming what Norah meant.
"She is not here-she has run away."
Those words struck Boromir harder than a ton of bricks and for a moment his face went almost deathly pale.
Finally, he took Norah firmly by the shoulders, but not in a way that would cause her harm or make her feel threatened. "Where is she? Where has she run to!"
"My lord, I cannot say!"
Boromir let go of her shoulders and knelt down to her level so that he could see the windows to her soul. "You cannot or you will not?"
Norah put her head down, for she almost felt that he could really see through her soul. "I am not at liberty to say my lord; I could not…" she cut herself off.
"I know that the two of you spent a great deal of time together; so you must know-you must tell me where she is!" said Boromir, running his hands through his hair nervously. "She is my wife I must know where she is! Surely you do not think that I would bring harm to her?"
"I know that you would do no such thing my lord…it was not my wish that she should run away-but if you know anything about the us Rohirric people then you should know how stubborn we can be at times."
Boromir caught Norah's gaze again and spoke to her, she could hear the anger in his voice. "Whether you tell me where she is or not, I will find her," and after saying those words, he stood up and left, leaving Norah alone and sitting on a chair, still reeling over his last words.
000
Denethor and Gelidir were discussing what Gelmir had claimed, when a guard entered, saying that Simeon wanted to speak with Denethor immediately, for it was urgent.
"Bring him in then," said Denethor.
The doors opened and in walked Simeon, the guard that had been told to find Arial; he, of course, went on one knee.
"You may rise now, and tell me why it took you so long to find a single elf!" Denethor commanded.
"My lord, he has vanished! There is no sign of him in the entire city; we have searched and searched for him, and we have asked people, but none have seen him-not since yester eve. The only thing that might give an indication was when I talked with some of the men on guard, and they said that last night two guards spotted two people on horseback riding across the Pelennor, but they were too far to be stopped or followed."
Denethor was silent for a moment, and then he spoke again; "This claim could very well be true, but if it is, then who was riding alongside him?"