To Whatever End

Forest at the foothills of Cellas's cave

Faramir and Damrod glided effortlessly across the wooded terrain, years in these forests had made them masters at silence. They blended into the trees and even into the shadows conjured by the night sky, neither of the men needed to consult the other on movements along there way, years together had created a sort of comfortable familiarity. They could anticipate one another, which is what makes the Ithilien Rangers elite.

As they approached a particular area along the foot hills Faramir lifted his hand in a gesture to stop. This was it, he was certain. He turned to his fellow Ranger, who was a few steps behind him and almost invisible, and gestured for him to stay put.

Damrod shook his head and mouthed 'No', which made Faramir grimace. He was the one in charge of this mission, and Damrod needed to relearn his place. He did want to have to pull rank with his close friend but in this case he felt that he needed to go on alone.

He turned and looked to see if anyone was watching him, and when he saw that the coast was clear he took the few steps over to Damrod.

"I am the Captain here, everyone seems to have forgotten that fact. When I say that I am continuing alone then you will do as you are told" Faramir was whispering, but his words were no less cutting.

"I do not want to see you hurt Fara, I know that you are my Captain, and I would give my life for you, but I think that to move forward alone is foolish. We now know where Cellas is, why not go back to the others and make a game plan."

Faramir was totally frustrated at this point, why did none of his men trust his judgement? Had he not lead them well for fifteen years? Or was it the fact that he had a personal stock in this mission? Either way this conversation, for Faramir at least, was getting old.

"Lieutenant Damrod, I ask you to either stand down and return to Henneth Annun, or follow the command of your Captain!" this time Faramir left no room for argument, he meant business, and even if the words hurt Damrod, he had to hear them. "I would not go forward alone if I did not have a plan, I have been the Captain of Gondor's elite for fifteen years, and have more than enough experience in covert operations. I don't want to argue with you my friend." he put his gloved hand upon Damrod's shoulder as a gesture of peace.

"I trust you Captain, never think that any of us do not have faith in you. It is just that we have such a need for you, especially now, we have a strange ruler, and all that we have known in the past thousand years is changing. You are our link to stability."

Faramir took a step back. He had never considered the idea that not everyone wanted a new King, or at least that they were leery to trust him. Faramir had the gift, as his father did, to see into the hearts of men, and when he looked into Aragorn's he saw nothing but goodness, and loyalty to Gondor and her people. For his part he had been more then willing to step down in his position of nobility all together, for the Hurin's were wealthy on their own, and would still hold sway in the courts if the need arose to help Aragorn, but the new King had not only kept him on as Steward, but he gave him Ithilien and made him the Prince of that land!

"I did not realize that people felt that way. They do not trust the King?" Faramir was confused, he new that it would be an adjustment, to think otherwise would be naive, but not to trust Aragorn, even after he lead the Battle to the Black Gate, seemed...wrong.

Damrod looked flustered, he had not meant for it to sound that way, it was just the people, especially the military didn't know Aragorn. He had a different way about him then the men of Gondor, perhaps it was that he was raised by elves, but still he could be a bit unnerving. Faramir they knew, he came from the Hurin stock, and for most that was good enough. Most had hoped that Boromir would take the crown, and if he fell then Faramir would take it. The brothers Hurin were widely loved in the Kingdom, and above all they were trusted, for they had given their all since practically birth to Gondor and her people. And where had the King been? As far as many were concerned Boromir had died because of Aragorn.

"No, it's just that, well, they don't know him." Damrod knew that his response was weak, but it was all he was willing to give at that moment.

"I know him, and if I am so trusted, why is that not enough? He is my friend first then my King. If I did not think that Aragorn was going to do what was best for Gondor I would say so." Faramir was speaking with a softer tone now, Damrod was his dear friend as much as Aragorn was, and if his Lieutenant had any misgivings he wanted him to feel comfortable enough to tell him.

"Alright, I'm sorry. If you really believe that going alone is better then I will stand by your decision. But if you are not back by the time the moon is overhead then I will alert Minas Tirith and we will come for you." Damrod had a most serious expression, yet Faramir had to smile. Damrod and the other Rangers were like a family to him, and in that moment Damrod reminded him so much of Boromir.

"I will agree to that my friend. Now stay here, if you feel threatened go back to An and Mabs, don't wait for me. Get yourself safe. No arguments my friend."

Faramir then lifted his dark green hood over his fox colored hair and moved seamlessly into the dark night.

Cellas's Cave

Eowyn had been taken into a small holding area after her little chat with Cellas. She was still trying to figure out what it all meant, since Cellas is a human why was he in league with the orcs? And what was all that business about him having someone that would through off Faramir. And why in the name of Bema did he look so familiar!

Her brain was a melting pot of ideas and emotions, so she did not notice that someone was placing a tray of food at her feet. She smelled something foul and then realized that the tray of "food" was actually rotting meat!

"I cannot eat this, it is rotten! I demand real food at once." she said sternly to the now hissing orc standing in the door way.

"Well then you shan't want to try holding your breath, My Lady." still hissing, the orc walked into the shadowy cave hall and out of sight.

She kicked the stinking plate away form her, the smell alone was going to make her ill. What she wouldn't do for some water though, or perhaps some bread. She then noticed that someone else was in the cave hollow with her, and she tensed.

"Who, who is there. Come out I know that you are there" she tried to sound strong or commanding, but was afraid that she sounded as frightened as she actually was.

"I can get you some water, if you would wish it. Some bread and cheese perhaps?" said the shadowy figure.

"Come into the light, I detest talking to shadows, or are you afraid?" she said mockingly, for she felt no treat from him, he could have killed her easily already if he wanted.

"I do not fear you my Lady, though it is said that you are the slayer of the Witch King. Though I did find that hard to believe, until now that is. You certainly sound as if you could slay a dragon." he laughed a little, and it made her smile, for he sounded like her Faramir.

"Please, let me see your face. I won't slay if you if get me water, warriors honor." she said, for she felt that she had to see the face attached to such an endearing laugh.

"Fair enough." he said reaching into is pocket and pulling out a skin filled with fresh stream water. "Here, drink your fill I can get more." as he handed the skin to her the dim light in the cave shone upon his features and Eowyn gasped, dropping the skin and spilling its entire contents onto the stone floor.

Just outside Cellas's cave

Faramir carefully approached the mouth of the cave. He was weaving in and out of the trees like he was a cat on the hunt for a meal. His senses were heightened, he had excellent hearing, and could zero in on the smallest of sounds. As he approached he realized that using the front door was not going to be an option, not that he really though it would. About fifteen or so guards were covering the front mouth of the cave, and judging by the size of the place their were plenty more where that came from.

"I'll just let myself in through the back thanks." he said to himself in a discernable whisper.

He then went back farther into the tree line and made his way along the densely covered foot hills. Finally he saw a break in the cave wall. It was guarded only by two lone orcs, who looked half asleep as it was.

Carefully and deliberately he took two arrows out of his quiver, he lined his bow with them, one arrow slightly higher then the other and fired. Two birds, one stone or one shot at least. The two orcs went down with out a sound, and now Faramir had his opening. Practically crawling on the ground he made his way to the opening which was a bit smaller then he though, but he could fit, the Rangers weren't half starved all toughs years for nothing after all, he thought to himself and he had to smile.

This was going to be tricky, he didn't know where the cave would lead out to, though the fact that is was guarded at all meant that it went into some relatively important part of the cave. He then began his journey in to the mouth of danger, but he knew that somewhere in there was Eowyn, and that alone gave him the courage to keep crawling through the darkness.

As he went on he was happy to notice that it was getting wider and he could almost kneel at some parts. It wasn't too long when he started to see a dim light in the distance, and as he came closer he started to hear voices, a man and a woman's.

Sorry this is kind of short, but I am leaving in the morning to go away for a few days. I was busy all week and didn't get to work on this chap as much as I would have liked. I hope that it will suffice until next week! I will most likely reread this when I get back and fix the mistakes, but I didn't want to not post anything. Sorry for the typo's it's 2am!