Hello all! Thank you all very much for your reviews. Although I will point out to one reviewer, yes, there was already a Maia in the fellowship; however, Gandalf is an Istari, a Maia capable of magic, and I have read the books. Okay, enough of that. Sorry for the wait, but I have a nice long chapter for you. I hope you like it! Let me know what you think.

Note: Dialogue in bold is spoken in Elvish.

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.


Chapter 29

Carita smiled and shook her head as she watched Aragorn walked away. Sighing she climbed from her seat, goblet in hand, and walked over to where Legolas stood looking at Éomer as he handed a tankard to Gimli.

"No pauses, no spills," Éomer said before he handed a tankard to Legolas.

"And no regurgitation," Gimli said with a smile as the men around them cheered and talked loudly as they drank.

"So it's a drinking game?" Legolas asked as she fell in next to Legolas, who looked at her and smiled before he looked at the others and then at the tankard in his hand.

"Last one standing wins," Gimli said as he laughed and began guzzling down his ale. Carita laughed at the face Legolas made as he slowly took a drink of his ale and she quickly covered her mouth.

"Just so you know, if the ale affects you I will see to it that you are placed in a comfortable place somewhere," she teased Legolas as he sat down his now empty tankard and took another from Éomer. Legolas chuckled and drank from his tankard. She smiled and sighed quietly as she leaned against the pillar behind Legolas. The men around her were cheering and carrying on heavily as they drank and Carita let her eyes scan the room. She saw Éowyn walk up to Aragorn holding out a goblet to him. She sighed and shook her head.

If only Éowyn knew where Aragorn's heart truly laid she would not set herself up for heartbreak. However, Carita knew what the other woman saw in the Dunedain. He was fearless, and a great leader of men. Before her thoughts could go much further, she heard Gimli laugh. She looked at him and was surprised to see just how many tankards the two of them had gone through. Gimli's pile was nearly double Legolas' and the dwarf had looked better. They each took another tankard from Éomer as did Legolas but Gimli raised from his seat and passed gas before he laughed again. Carita's eyes widened and chuckled as she covered her mouth; he was completely gone.

"Here, here. Raugh! It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women," Gimli said before he burped and drank from his tankard.

"A little too much information my friend," she said with a frown as Legolas continued to drink.

"I feel something; a slight tingle in my fingers," Legolas said as he put his tankard down and looked at his fingers slightly worried. Carita pushed up from the pillar and moved to stand next to him looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "I think it's affecting me," he said quietly as he looked at Éomer and then looked at Carita. Gimli laughed as he slammed his empty tankard on the table.

"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor," Gimli said before his eyes crossed and fell off his chair into a heap on the floor. Carita laughed again and put her hand on Legolas' left forearm as she looked at Gimli. She heard Legolas take a slow breath.

"Game over," he said off handedly and Carita laughed before she turned her head and rested it on his shoulder.

"We need to help him up," she said after she composed herself and Legolas scoffed quietly.

"You were not going aid me," Legolas said. "Why should we help him?" Carita smiled and raised her head as she looked at him.

"Are you jealous?" Carita asked with a raised eyebrow and at the slight color to his pale cheeks her smile grew. "Do not be jealous of a dwarf," she teased as she let go of his arm. "As much as I adore Gimli, I do not think things would work. We're too different." She kissed his cheek and moved over to Gimli who was completely lost to the world. She laughed again and shook her head as she tugged on him and with Éomer's help lifted the dwarf back onto the bench he had been sitting on. They laid his head down on the table and Carita patted his back before she gave Éomer a smile and the tall man nodded his head to her. "Enjoy the evening, Lord Éomer," she said before she turned and grabbed Legolas' hand and pulled him through the crowd of people.

"Carita," Legolas said with a laugh and she glanced at him before she pulled him to a stop in the middle of a small clearing where people were dancing to the string music and feet stomping.

"Dance with me," she said and Legolas glanced about them to see the people dancing quickly around them. Legolas nodded and put his right hand on her waist and took her right hand into his left before he began to spin her around the floor. Carita laughed loudly and Legolas felt his heart race as she threw her head back slightly and her long braid swung out around her.

"You laugh as though you have never laughed before," Legolas called over the music.

"I am happy!" she yelled back and Legolas smiled. Carita felt the heavy years melt away from her. The dark start of the day had gone and for the first time in a very, very long time she felt alive again and as if her past never happened.


Hours had past and all the city had settled into bed to sleep away the night's celebrations. However, Legolas stood out on the stone porch of the Golden Hall, with Carita had his side, looking out to the east, towards Mordor.

"He searches for it, he longs for it," she said quietly as her eyes narrowed. Legolas looked at her and his hood crinkled slightly along his neck. "His hunger for it now is a hundred times stronger than it has been in the past."

"He does not know we mean to destroy it," Legolas told her and Carita nodded before she sighed gently and looked at him. She smiled and raised her hand to his before she nodded. Her mind was many places and she wished to wash up before the dawn after spending the night talking quietly with Legolas after their many hours of dancing.

"I will be back in just a moment. I wish to wash up," she whispered as she lowered his hand from her face, leaned into him, and kissed his cheek before she slipped away. Aragorn was coming out and she sent him a smile before she silently made her way into the hall, past a sleeping Éowyn and then moved down the corridor.

She was nearly to her chamber when a flashed filled her mind and she stumbled a bit, grasping the door handle tightly and pressing her forehead to the cool wood.

"No Sam! Leave him alone!" Frodo called as he pulled Sam off a creature Carita knew not by site, but just the one look was enough for her to know who or what he was; Gollum.

"I heard it from his own mouth," Sam said angry and with venom in his voice. "He means to murder us!" Gollum gasped and shook his head.

"Never! Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly!" Gollum said, but Carita could read his eyes easily there was a lie there, a deep lie. "Ah! He's a horrid, fat hobbit who hates Smeagol, and who makes up nasty lies."

"You miserable little maggot! I'll stove your head in," Sam said as he raised a pan in the air but Frodo stopped him.

"Sam!" Frodo called. He looked tired and much older than she remembered. They both did.

"Call me a liar? You're a liar!" Sam shouted and made for Gollum again. Gollum screamed but Frodo stopped him once more.

"Sam!" Frodo said and Sam looked at him. "You scare him off, we're lost!" Sam shook his head as he looked at Frodo. Sam could see through Gollum, see through the facade he put forth.

"I don't care! I can't do it Mister Frodo. I won't wait around for him to kill us," Sam argued.

"I'm not sending him away," Frodo said his troubled mind even more troubled.

"You don't see it do you? He's a villain!" Sam shouted as he pointed at Gollum who cowered back.

"We can't do this by ourselves, Sam, not without a guide. I need you on my side." Sam's anger slowly slipped away as he looked at Frodo and he sighed.

"I'm on your side, Mister Frodo," Sam said slightly hurt and Frodo put his hand on Sam's shoulder.

"I know, Sam. I know. Trust me. Come Smeagol," Frodo said as he lowered his hand and walked away with Gollum following behind, but not before he sent Sam an evil grin.


"Oh no," Carita whispered as she slowly pushed herself from the door and took a deep breath. She did not know the path that Gollum was leading them on, but she did not know whether to be thankful for his guidance or to fear it. Suddenly, a commotion broke her thoughts and she looked up and heard Merry shouting from the room she knew a majority of men to be sleeping in.

She turned and ran down the short corridor, across the hall and then into the room in time to see Legolas helping Aragorn up from the ground and looking at Gandalf worriedly.

"What is it?" she asked as she walked in and Aragorn stood, looking winded, but his eyes focused on Gandalf as well. Legolas looked at her and took her arm and she looked at Gandalf to see Pippin looking up at him, but not focusing on him. Carita looked at Legolas. "What has happened?"

"Pippin looked into the Palantir," Legolas told her breathlessly and Carita's eyes widened before she looked at Gandalf once more.

"Look at me," Gandalf commanded of the hobbit as he turned to look away.

"Gandalf, forgive me," Pippin said before he turned his head once more, but Gandalf stopped him as he put his hand on the side of Pippin's face.

"Look at me. What did you see?" Gandalf asked and Carita all but held her breath as she looked at Pippin who looked confused and frightened.

"A . . . a tree. There was a white tree, in a courtyard of stone," Pippin said and Carita felt Legolas slowly let go of her arm. "It was dead! The city was burning." Carita sighed quietly and looked down as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Minas Tirith is what Pippin had seen and she knew then that that was where Sauron was going to show his hand.

"Minas Tirith?" Gandalf asked. "Is that what you saw?" Pippin didn't answer right away as tears started to come to his eyes.

"I saw," he paused as his voice broke. "I saw him! I could hear his voice in my head." Carita lowered her hand and looked up sharply at Pippin's words.

"What did you tell him?" Gandalf asked. "Speak!"

"He asked me my name. I didn't answer. He hurt me," Pippin said and Carita turned and walked out of the room. She could not listen anymore. She walked briskly down the corridor, through the now completely empty hall, and to her chamber. She put on her cloak and pack before she strapped her sword on her side. She left her room and quickly left the Golden Hall.

The wind wrapped around her as she charged down the steps, and the sun was breaking over the horizon. Her feet were no more on the dirt path when hands were on her shoulders and she was turned around.

"Where are you going?" Legolas demanded as he looked down at her.

"Minas Tirith," she said and his eyes narrowed. "They cannot just wait for their death, they must ready."

"And you believe Denethor will listen to you?" Legolas asked and Carita shook herself from his hands.

"If chooses not to, I shall make him," she said in a hiss and made to walk away when Legolas once again grabbed her arm pulling her to him.

"You cannot go alone," Legolas said firmly.

"You cannot make the journey with me," she said and Legolas sighed.

"Gandalf is gathering the others, and the king," Legolas told her. "The path to be taken will be decided then. Now come inside." Carita opened her mouth to argue when Legolas silenced her. "That is not an order but a request. Please, Carita." She sighed and pulled herself from his hand and went up the steps and back inside. Legolas shook his head and followed her.


Carita stood in between Aragorn and Legolas while Gimli, Theoden, and Éomer stood down a little further. Pippin sat near one of the pillars, still looking frightened with Merry standing next to him. Gandalf sighed as he turned and looked at the others.

"There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool, but an honest fool he remains. He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring," Gandalf said. "We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith. His defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing," Gandalf said as he looked at Aragorn and then glanced at Carita. "He knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still -- strength enough, perhaps to challenge him." Gandalf rested his eyes on Carita. "Sauron fears this." Carita took a deep breath and lifted her chin up before she slowly let out her breath. "He will not risk the peoples of middle earth uniting under one banner. He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a king return to the throne of Men."

"He will not because the last time that had happened, he was defeated," Carita said as she lowered her head and looked at Gandalf. Gandalf gave her a small forced smile before he looked at Theoden.

"If the beacons of Rohan are lit, Rohan must be ready for war," Gandalf told him but Theoden simply looked at Gandalf.

"Tell me," Theoden said with a pause and all eyes were on him. "Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Carita frowned and shook her head while Aragorn spoke.

"I will go," Aragorn said and Gandalf looked at him.

"No," Gandalf said simply and Aragorn sighed.

"They must be warned," Aragorn argued but Gandalf shook his head.

"They will be," he said before he moved over to Aragorn and spoke to him quietly. However, Carita heard him all the same. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the River. Look to the black ships." Gandalf looked at her once more as he stepped back and spoke to the others. "Understand this; things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith, and I won't be going alone." Gandalf started to lead the hobbits outside, and Carita turned to her companions.

"I take my leave from you now," she said and Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli looked at her as though she was crazy. "My path takes me with Gandalf."

"You were not elected to take that path," Legolas argued with her and she shook her head.

"You may have stopped me earlier, Legolas, but you will not stop me now," she told him simply. "I must go and I have no time for long good byes. There is no need for them when we will see each other again." She quickly hugged Aragorn and Gimli and paused for a second as she stood before Legolas. "Do not be angry with me," she said as tears came to her eyes. She did not want to part from him, but she knew she had to.

"I am not angry," he told her, his own tone sad. Carita gave him a small smile and kissed him briefly.

"Guren ninnatha nan lû e-achened vîn," she whispered against his lips and was gone. Legolas sighed as she disappeared and closed his eyes before he lowered his head. Aragorn put his hand on the elf's shoulder and Legolas looked up at him.

"You will see her again, my friend," Aragorn said. "She is not lost to you." Legolas nodded, but his eyes still moved to the open doors with worry deep in their depths.


"Do not think you will get far without me," Carita said as she walked into the stable and Gandalf nodded as he pulled Pippin up onto the horse.

"I wondered how long it would be before you came," Gandalf said. Pippin looked confused as Carita led Moonlight from his stall and quickly mounted him. He looked at Merry and then at Gandalf.

"How far is Minas Tirith?" Pippin asked.

"Three day's ride, as the Nazgul flies. And we'd better hope we don't have one of those on our tail," Gandalf said as he mounted Shadowfax.

"For your sake and for mine," she said and Pippin looked at her with fear in his eyes.

"Here, something for the road," Merry said as he handed Pippin a packet. Carita looked at Gandalf and the wizard sighed quietly.

"The last of the longbottom leaf," Pippin said.

"I know you've run out. You smoke too much, Pip," Merry said simply.

"We'll see each other soon... won't we?" Pippin asked and Merry shook his head, looking scared.

"I don't know. I don't know what's going to happen," Merry said.

"Merry?" Pippin asked and Carita sighed.

"Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste," Gandalf said and urged Shadowfax on.

"Merry!" Pippin yelled as they sped out of the stable.

"Follow them Moonlight, as quickly as you can," she said and the white stallion followed behind the others just as fast. Carita looked over her shoulder as she rode and she saw Legolas standing upon the stone porch. She sniffed quietly, and turned her eyes forward once more. They would meet again, she was sure of it.