Disclaimer: See the pre chapter to read my witty comments about how I sadly
do not own any of the characters here or the storyline except for the parts
I made up and the three siblings.
Well I'm getting there but damn TAFE is getting in the way, plus I'm been real sick. LOL anyway moving right along.
*Legolas' POV*
She seemed to settle into the chair peacefully and waited for any comments or questions and using the time he searched in his head for what he wanted to know. He found he mainly wanted to know why her and some of her kin would leave the undying lands to come here in a time of war. Coming back from the fabled lands of the elves was nearly unheard of. Slowly he worded his answer then spoke.
"Why did you leave your home Prin.Carlita? I must have been very hard on you and your sister and brother." Her eyes came up to meet him surprise evident in them. She hadn't expected him to ask that.
"We were called by the High Elvin council, Elrond especially. We were at first only going to guard the ring, you see since we came from the Undying lands we mostly had everything the Elvin hearts desired, apparently, so the ring couldn't tempt us with promises." Legolas caught the 'apparently' in there and sort to question it.
"What do you mean?" She sighed and sat back closing her eyes as if revealing this burden tired her or she wished to shut it out.
"Nobody has everything they wish for Legolas, nobody, not even the elves, are perfect, my sister could be tempted by many things, getting Haldir, being stronger, all have hidden desires, it's just how deep we hide them. Hendara, he could be tempted, if he could turn back time and make it so a she-elf he cared for had not married another, or if he could have stopped my training or my sisters so we would not be here now. Some maybe unselfish desires Legolas but even that can be turned. We recognised this in our selves. That is why we chose to protect those who chose to go with the ring instead of the ring itself. The people are worth far more to this world dispite the power the seemingly innocent trinket holds." Her eyes opened slowly to look at his, which had been on her face the entire time. She did not speak of herself so Legolas asked; somehow the answer meant more to him then the others before.
"What of you Carlita? Surely there is something that would tempt you to take the ring?" Again he had managed to surprise her it seemed. But she answered all the same.
"Yes, there is much to tempt me. That is why my sister who is more prone to laughter then deep thought went with Frodo and Sam not I." He waited for her to continue but she did not.
"Will you not tell me?" Finally her eyes focussed on his.
"Very well persistent Prince. I would use the godforsaken thing to bring back my mother, to heal my fathers tormented heart and then I would use it to destroy myself." Her words left him speechless. She stood and moved to a window to look out of it and across the rocks out to the grass plains "I would destroy myself simply because if I touched the ring dispite what I used it for it would work through me to make evil, I have enough darkness without it tainting me." He used his words carefully here clearly seeing the upset.
"You are not tainted Carlita." Her head shook slowly.
"Speak not of what you do not know Mirkwood Prince. If I were truly a pure hearted elf I would have died a thousand and 500 years ago." He couldn't understand. She would have been only over 1000 years then. Young for elf standards. What had she carried for so long? She wouldn't allow him prying any further though this day so he backed off.
"Are you able to speak to your twin other then face to face." She raised one eyebrow at his quick change of subject but her eyes now looking like the shadows of Mirkwood, so dark green were they, thanked him.
"Yes I can, also my sister, but Talisar is too far now. All I know is that she lives without pain, but a very deep disgust has settled in her. Why I do not know." He nodded slightly.
"Merry and Pippin travel well?" Carlita nodded after a moment.
"Hendara sends his greetings to the Prince of Mirkwood." Legolas was a little taken aback but he nodded.
"And I return it." She nodded that his message had gone and been received. Slowly he stood to go stand beside her at the sill. "I cannot lie and say the ring does not pull me but it must have pained you terrible, all three of you must have carried some heartache at leaving your homes." She nodded softly her green eyes still starring out.
"Yes it is hard to leave once your there. It was said to be impossible until my brother and I travelled here many many years ago." Legolas looked at her surprised.
"You were called that long ago." She shook her head and he relaxed.
"No. Our father sent us here for other reasons. My brother needed the training a place with more evil would provide and since we were inseparable I was also to train. Also he wished for a husband for me as my brother has sworn not to take a bride and bring the next line into this world." Legolas stiffened slightly at her words. They disturbed him in a way he did not like. "The elves in the undying Lands did not appeal to me so he hoped to find me a husband here. I failed in that." She did not seem upset to that end and Legolas allowed his muscles that had unconsciously tightened to relax.
"Why was that?" She shrugged delicately making a lock of blond hair drop over her shoulder and pool on the sill she lent against like liquid sunshine. He did not miss however the tightening of the fine muscles around her soft jaw line.
"Like the others they did not suit." He heard the lie in the words but it was not a lie in hr wording but a lie to cover other things.
"What happened?" She shook her head.
"Leave it Legolas. That is something I will not reveal to you." He found he disliked that she hide parts of herself from him but that was her right.
"Very well Princess. It seems you keep much of yourself. When you feel more comfortable maybe you'll tell me." She nodded slightly. "Early you said if you were a true elf you would have died long ago. Why is it? Allow me this one answer if you will not give me to other." Her eyes seem to show her inner turmoil but finally then turned back out to the green grasslands of Rohan. "Not all is Safe in Valinor. Foul things do live there although we work hard to get rid of them. A form of Orc lives high in the hills. My mother and I were travelling. We both shared the love for the great trees that was not as strong in the rest of my family as was in us. We had been moving for many days but we had drifted closer to the Mountains then we meant. In the caves, there dwells a creature similar to the ones we faced when Boromir was killed. And older form but still similar. They caught us off our guard. My mother.." She stopped to take a shaky breath. "They took my mother, raped her. I saw it happen and I watched her die for no elf can survive that, these creatures hunger to have our women and kill our men. They came for me but for some reason they did not believe me to be elf enough for their desires. For that I am grateful but it makes me feel as if I should have died along with my mother for was I not an elf? My father asked the same question when I escaped and came down the mountain beaten and nearly broken. That is what taints my heart Prince. I was not deemed elf enough to die that day alongside my mother. If I am not elf enough for that then I am not elf enough to find a husband in this place or Valinor." The prince could not believe what he was hearing in these words and took her arm to gently turn her to him.
"You are Elf kind just as I am. No half elf or non-elf would have the same features. Never as lessened Elfish blood born those with your colour hair or eyes. They have darker features." She shook her head not excepting his words but he lowered his voice allowing some passion to seep through realising now he felt some of that for her. "You are elf. I could show you many joys that only elf's experience to prove that to you." Before she could protest his spare hand rose to run a single finger over her pointed ear. An extremely intimate action from one elf to another. She shuddered in response. "See? You react just as I would to that touch." Gently she pulled from his grasp.
"I see your point Prince. Leave me be." Her words would have stung him with her rejection if they didn't come out slightly shaky just as he was feeling. She looked about them and again spoke quietly her voice once more in control. "We should go now. Aragorn may be looking for you." He stopped her moving towards the door with a hand on her arm.
"Carlita I meant it when I said you should stay close to me." She nodded easily but then thought for a moment.
"Promise me you will not tell Aragorn of me. I mean who I am." His eyes rebelled but were answered but a pleading look from her own that he was powerless to reject.
"Very well Carlita. I will not reveal you to him." She waved towards the door.
"Shall we?" He nodded slowly waiting for her to slip from his sights again and feeling a loss at the thought of not seeing him when she walked so close. After more then a few moments she looked at him confused.
"Hide yourself." She shook her head.
"I am hidden from others eyes Legolas. Not yours." He felt wary but went and opened the door, stepping out to see some of Rohan's rider's standing outside. He waited as she walked out after him and walked past the men. She had walked by a few feet from them with her hood back but they seemed to see nothing. He let go of the breath he didn't realise he was holding and set off to Aragorn's side. He watched Aragorn and it seemed Carlita was still hidden from him but what surprised the Prince was even Gimli did not know where she stood now.
A/N We're jumping scenes I know but moving to where the people of Rohan are moving towards Helmsdeep
*Still Legolas' POV*
The great column stretched far out behind them moving forward steadily as Legolas scouted to the side of the Column. What the people didn't know was that two sets of Elfish eyes protected them this day. Ahead of him he saw the hill Carlita had crested and gone over the other side. The Elfish maiden suddenly appeared at the top of the rise again running as fast as her elfish feet could carry her. He notched a bow seeing her twist at the waist to fire behind her. Suddenly the Prince saw the fell creatures that seemed to pour down behind her like a waterfall or mucky water. He cried out a warning turning his head for a minute to help it carry.
"Attack! Warg Rider's attacking!!!" One was almost upon Carlita as Legolas spun back around and he loosed and arrow that disturbed the fall of her hair it flew so close to her face. It plunged into the Warg making it fall and sending it's orc rider to the ground. She sprinted to his side as the riders came up to their backs. Easily he swung up onto the back of a horse and saw her sweep herself up behind Aragorn.. The man must have felt her settle but he ignored the arrows that seemed to come from no where as they flew by his head felling Warg's and their riders. Legolas saw her flinch for a moment but the reason was a mystery. When he turned next it was in time to see Aragorn duck under the swing of a club but Carlita was not fast enough. It caught her in the chest and sent her reeling off the horse. He wanted to cry out but an unseated Orc came at him and swiftly drawing his knives he sliced off it's head. Soon he was off his horse and fought his way to where he had seen her fall. He knelt at her side for a moment and knew she was still awake. Quickly he bore her up into his arms and placed her behind a rock outcropping allowing her some shelter and he took a stand there fighting fiercely with his blades. He knew she would now be visible to all. Gimli was pinned under a dead body and a warg was about to savage his head. Dropping his knives to the ground he pulled his bow off his shoulders and notched an arrow and shooting killing the Warg. He scooped his knives back up after replacing his bow and fought on. The battle slowly came to the end and the men began to comb the hill for wounded. Legolas could not see Aragorn anywhere. A dieing Orc was laughing and with Gimli's help he pried the story out of the evil creature. Legolas took the necklace from his dead hand and ran to the edge of the cliff looking down for any sign of Aragorn. They could not lose Estel. The King of Rohan came to stand behind him. Hearing his words but barely Legolas spoke in Elfish. "Aragorn is NOT dead." With that he turned away. He saw Carlita emerge clutching at her chest. Her face was even paler then normal but none seemed to see her. Legolas found his mount and after mounting led the horse to her side. Slowly and with obvious pain she climbed up behind him in the saddle. Her hands landed on his hips but he took them and wrapped then around his waist. He heard her gasp of pain and without further hesitation drew her around into his lap, so she half lay across his legs have sat with her head drooped forward, her hands limp in her lap. She relaxed and allowed him to lean her face against his strong chest.
"I hurt Legolas." Her voice wavered "I do not think I can hold the cloaking much longer." As they rode slowly he stroked her pale hair where it had fallen, it was much like his own.
"Pull your hood up and no question should come of it." She nodded then reached for the hood but her muffled sound of pain made him hastily take it himself and pull it forward. The King looked back at him and he nodded, knowing a person could now be seen in his arms. "Wounded!" was all he called to the Man of Rohan. He nodded with acceptance and turned back to the front. Gimli who had managed to control his horse now rode up beside him.
"Is the lass alright?" Legolas shook his head.
"She took a club to the chest and something is digging into my leg from her back. She's bleeding from there. She's in a lot of pain." The Dwarf grunted.
"You'll tend her when we get to Helmsdeep?" It was left silent between them that they couldn't risk on of the Rohan men tend her. They couldn't be trusted with her. Legolas merely nodded. She moaned slightly and the hand that wasn't clutching his waist went to her chest to press in a tightly balled fist. Taking one hand from the reins he used it to unclench the fist and wrapped his fingers around hers.
"Rest Carlita. I'll protect you." She groaned in an effort to chuckle.
"That's supposed to be my job. I'm supposed to be protecting you." Then he felt the tension leave her body. She slept or fell in unconsciousness even though he could see her green eyes still flashing under her hood. In his mind he scoffed the fact she had thought she was not elf like. In relief to her freedom from pain his lips relaxed from the tense line they had been. He allowed his shoulders to slump with some of the tension that left him. She was hurt but at least she conserved strength. His peace was disturbed as a rider came next to him he automatically tensed again. He wished to enquire about the identity of whom he carried. Before he could think of an answer Gimli promptly lost control of his horse making the man go after him to attend to him for the rest of the ride. Legolas caught the Dwarf's eyes and nodded his thanks.
A/N hehehe hidden message of anti Mary Sueism anyone catch it?
Well I'm getting there but damn TAFE is getting in the way, plus I'm been real sick. LOL anyway moving right along.
*Legolas' POV*
She seemed to settle into the chair peacefully and waited for any comments or questions and using the time he searched in his head for what he wanted to know. He found he mainly wanted to know why her and some of her kin would leave the undying lands to come here in a time of war. Coming back from the fabled lands of the elves was nearly unheard of. Slowly he worded his answer then spoke.
"Why did you leave your home Prin.Carlita? I must have been very hard on you and your sister and brother." Her eyes came up to meet him surprise evident in them. She hadn't expected him to ask that.
"We were called by the High Elvin council, Elrond especially. We were at first only going to guard the ring, you see since we came from the Undying lands we mostly had everything the Elvin hearts desired, apparently, so the ring couldn't tempt us with promises." Legolas caught the 'apparently' in there and sort to question it.
"What do you mean?" She sighed and sat back closing her eyes as if revealing this burden tired her or she wished to shut it out.
"Nobody has everything they wish for Legolas, nobody, not even the elves, are perfect, my sister could be tempted by many things, getting Haldir, being stronger, all have hidden desires, it's just how deep we hide them. Hendara, he could be tempted, if he could turn back time and make it so a she-elf he cared for had not married another, or if he could have stopped my training or my sisters so we would not be here now. Some maybe unselfish desires Legolas but even that can be turned. We recognised this in our selves. That is why we chose to protect those who chose to go with the ring instead of the ring itself. The people are worth far more to this world dispite the power the seemingly innocent trinket holds." Her eyes opened slowly to look at his, which had been on her face the entire time. She did not speak of herself so Legolas asked; somehow the answer meant more to him then the others before.
"What of you Carlita? Surely there is something that would tempt you to take the ring?" Again he had managed to surprise her it seemed. But she answered all the same.
"Yes, there is much to tempt me. That is why my sister who is more prone to laughter then deep thought went with Frodo and Sam not I." He waited for her to continue but she did not.
"Will you not tell me?" Finally her eyes focussed on his.
"Very well persistent Prince. I would use the godforsaken thing to bring back my mother, to heal my fathers tormented heart and then I would use it to destroy myself." Her words left him speechless. She stood and moved to a window to look out of it and across the rocks out to the grass plains "I would destroy myself simply because if I touched the ring dispite what I used it for it would work through me to make evil, I have enough darkness without it tainting me." He used his words carefully here clearly seeing the upset.
"You are not tainted Carlita." Her head shook slowly.
"Speak not of what you do not know Mirkwood Prince. If I were truly a pure hearted elf I would have died a thousand and 500 years ago." He couldn't understand. She would have been only over 1000 years then. Young for elf standards. What had she carried for so long? She wouldn't allow him prying any further though this day so he backed off.
"Are you able to speak to your twin other then face to face." She raised one eyebrow at his quick change of subject but her eyes now looking like the shadows of Mirkwood, so dark green were they, thanked him.
"Yes I can, also my sister, but Talisar is too far now. All I know is that she lives without pain, but a very deep disgust has settled in her. Why I do not know." He nodded slightly.
"Merry and Pippin travel well?" Carlita nodded after a moment.
"Hendara sends his greetings to the Prince of Mirkwood." Legolas was a little taken aback but he nodded.
"And I return it." She nodded that his message had gone and been received. Slowly he stood to go stand beside her at the sill. "I cannot lie and say the ring does not pull me but it must have pained you terrible, all three of you must have carried some heartache at leaving your homes." She nodded softly her green eyes still starring out.
"Yes it is hard to leave once your there. It was said to be impossible until my brother and I travelled here many many years ago." Legolas looked at her surprised.
"You were called that long ago." She shook her head and he relaxed.
"No. Our father sent us here for other reasons. My brother needed the training a place with more evil would provide and since we were inseparable I was also to train. Also he wished for a husband for me as my brother has sworn not to take a bride and bring the next line into this world." Legolas stiffened slightly at her words. They disturbed him in a way he did not like. "The elves in the undying Lands did not appeal to me so he hoped to find me a husband here. I failed in that." She did not seem upset to that end and Legolas allowed his muscles that had unconsciously tightened to relax.
"Why was that?" She shrugged delicately making a lock of blond hair drop over her shoulder and pool on the sill she lent against like liquid sunshine. He did not miss however the tightening of the fine muscles around her soft jaw line.
"Like the others they did not suit." He heard the lie in the words but it was not a lie in hr wording but a lie to cover other things.
"What happened?" She shook her head.
"Leave it Legolas. That is something I will not reveal to you." He found he disliked that she hide parts of herself from him but that was her right.
"Very well Princess. It seems you keep much of yourself. When you feel more comfortable maybe you'll tell me." She nodded slightly. "Early you said if you were a true elf you would have died long ago. Why is it? Allow me this one answer if you will not give me to other." Her eyes seem to show her inner turmoil but finally then turned back out to the green grasslands of Rohan. "Not all is Safe in Valinor. Foul things do live there although we work hard to get rid of them. A form of Orc lives high in the hills. My mother and I were travelling. We both shared the love for the great trees that was not as strong in the rest of my family as was in us. We had been moving for many days but we had drifted closer to the Mountains then we meant. In the caves, there dwells a creature similar to the ones we faced when Boromir was killed. And older form but still similar. They caught us off our guard. My mother.." She stopped to take a shaky breath. "They took my mother, raped her. I saw it happen and I watched her die for no elf can survive that, these creatures hunger to have our women and kill our men. They came for me but for some reason they did not believe me to be elf enough for their desires. For that I am grateful but it makes me feel as if I should have died along with my mother for was I not an elf? My father asked the same question when I escaped and came down the mountain beaten and nearly broken. That is what taints my heart Prince. I was not deemed elf enough to die that day alongside my mother. If I am not elf enough for that then I am not elf enough to find a husband in this place or Valinor." The prince could not believe what he was hearing in these words and took her arm to gently turn her to him.
"You are Elf kind just as I am. No half elf or non-elf would have the same features. Never as lessened Elfish blood born those with your colour hair or eyes. They have darker features." She shook her head not excepting his words but he lowered his voice allowing some passion to seep through realising now he felt some of that for her. "You are elf. I could show you many joys that only elf's experience to prove that to you." Before she could protest his spare hand rose to run a single finger over her pointed ear. An extremely intimate action from one elf to another. She shuddered in response. "See? You react just as I would to that touch." Gently she pulled from his grasp.
"I see your point Prince. Leave me be." Her words would have stung him with her rejection if they didn't come out slightly shaky just as he was feeling. She looked about them and again spoke quietly her voice once more in control. "We should go now. Aragorn may be looking for you." He stopped her moving towards the door with a hand on her arm.
"Carlita I meant it when I said you should stay close to me." She nodded easily but then thought for a moment.
"Promise me you will not tell Aragorn of me. I mean who I am." His eyes rebelled but were answered but a pleading look from her own that he was powerless to reject.
"Very well Carlita. I will not reveal you to him." She waved towards the door.
"Shall we?" He nodded slowly waiting for her to slip from his sights again and feeling a loss at the thought of not seeing him when she walked so close. After more then a few moments she looked at him confused.
"Hide yourself." She shook her head.
"I am hidden from others eyes Legolas. Not yours." He felt wary but went and opened the door, stepping out to see some of Rohan's rider's standing outside. He waited as she walked out after him and walked past the men. She had walked by a few feet from them with her hood back but they seemed to see nothing. He let go of the breath he didn't realise he was holding and set off to Aragorn's side. He watched Aragorn and it seemed Carlita was still hidden from him but what surprised the Prince was even Gimli did not know where she stood now.
A/N We're jumping scenes I know but moving to where the people of Rohan are moving towards Helmsdeep
*Still Legolas' POV*
The great column stretched far out behind them moving forward steadily as Legolas scouted to the side of the Column. What the people didn't know was that two sets of Elfish eyes protected them this day. Ahead of him he saw the hill Carlita had crested and gone over the other side. The Elfish maiden suddenly appeared at the top of the rise again running as fast as her elfish feet could carry her. He notched a bow seeing her twist at the waist to fire behind her. Suddenly the Prince saw the fell creatures that seemed to pour down behind her like a waterfall or mucky water. He cried out a warning turning his head for a minute to help it carry.
"Attack! Warg Rider's attacking!!!" One was almost upon Carlita as Legolas spun back around and he loosed and arrow that disturbed the fall of her hair it flew so close to her face. It plunged into the Warg making it fall and sending it's orc rider to the ground. She sprinted to his side as the riders came up to their backs. Easily he swung up onto the back of a horse and saw her sweep herself up behind Aragorn.. The man must have felt her settle but he ignored the arrows that seemed to come from no where as they flew by his head felling Warg's and their riders. Legolas saw her flinch for a moment but the reason was a mystery. When he turned next it was in time to see Aragorn duck under the swing of a club but Carlita was not fast enough. It caught her in the chest and sent her reeling off the horse. He wanted to cry out but an unseated Orc came at him and swiftly drawing his knives he sliced off it's head. Soon he was off his horse and fought his way to where he had seen her fall. He knelt at her side for a moment and knew she was still awake. Quickly he bore her up into his arms and placed her behind a rock outcropping allowing her some shelter and he took a stand there fighting fiercely with his blades. He knew she would now be visible to all. Gimli was pinned under a dead body and a warg was about to savage his head. Dropping his knives to the ground he pulled his bow off his shoulders and notched an arrow and shooting killing the Warg. He scooped his knives back up after replacing his bow and fought on. The battle slowly came to the end and the men began to comb the hill for wounded. Legolas could not see Aragorn anywhere. A dieing Orc was laughing and with Gimli's help he pried the story out of the evil creature. Legolas took the necklace from his dead hand and ran to the edge of the cliff looking down for any sign of Aragorn. They could not lose Estel. The King of Rohan came to stand behind him. Hearing his words but barely Legolas spoke in Elfish. "Aragorn is NOT dead." With that he turned away. He saw Carlita emerge clutching at her chest. Her face was even paler then normal but none seemed to see her. Legolas found his mount and after mounting led the horse to her side. Slowly and with obvious pain she climbed up behind him in the saddle. Her hands landed on his hips but he took them and wrapped then around his waist. He heard her gasp of pain and without further hesitation drew her around into his lap, so she half lay across his legs have sat with her head drooped forward, her hands limp in her lap. She relaxed and allowed him to lean her face against his strong chest.
"I hurt Legolas." Her voice wavered "I do not think I can hold the cloaking much longer." As they rode slowly he stroked her pale hair where it had fallen, it was much like his own.
"Pull your hood up and no question should come of it." She nodded then reached for the hood but her muffled sound of pain made him hastily take it himself and pull it forward. The King looked back at him and he nodded, knowing a person could now be seen in his arms. "Wounded!" was all he called to the Man of Rohan. He nodded with acceptance and turned back to the front. Gimli who had managed to control his horse now rode up beside him.
"Is the lass alright?" Legolas shook his head.
"She took a club to the chest and something is digging into my leg from her back. She's bleeding from there. She's in a lot of pain." The Dwarf grunted.
"You'll tend her when we get to Helmsdeep?" It was left silent between them that they couldn't risk on of the Rohan men tend her. They couldn't be trusted with her. Legolas merely nodded. She moaned slightly and the hand that wasn't clutching his waist went to her chest to press in a tightly balled fist. Taking one hand from the reins he used it to unclench the fist and wrapped his fingers around hers.
"Rest Carlita. I'll protect you." She groaned in an effort to chuckle.
"That's supposed to be my job. I'm supposed to be protecting you." Then he felt the tension leave her body. She slept or fell in unconsciousness even though he could see her green eyes still flashing under her hood. In his mind he scoffed the fact she had thought she was not elf like. In relief to her freedom from pain his lips relaxed from the tense line they had been. He allowed his shoulders to slump with some of the tension that left him. She was hurt but at least she conserved strength. His peace was disturbed as a rider came next to him he automatically tensed again. He wished to enquire about the identity of whom he carried. Before he could think of an answer Gimli promptly lost control of his horse making the man go after him to attend to him for the rest of the ride. Legolas caught the Dwarf's eyes and nodded his thanks.
A/N hehehe hidden message of anti Mary Sueism anyone catch it?