We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by. -Will Rogers

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After the tense waiting of the past few days, the action that came with the King's words was a welcome change. Men began pouring out of the hall. Eomer left Eowyn's side to walk with the King. Aragorn and Gimli followed close behind them. Carrie did not move from her spot. She knew that the time had come. She would not ride to Gondor. She would not go to battle. This was it. This was to be goodbye.

She slowly walked to Legolas who hadn't moved from where he had been standing. At her approach he turned to face her. Both stood there in silence, not knowing what to say. Carrie dropped her eyes to the floor. After a moment when it was apparent that words would not come to her, Legolas spoke.

"We ride to war," he said calmly. Carrie looked up at him. "We may not return."

Carrie closed her eyes to that statement. There was no fear in it. There was no distress. It was a simple fact. He was a warrior. And he knew his risk.

"I know." Carrie opened her eyes and saw him in a completely different light. It was much the same as when she realized that he was an elf, and all that meant. Here was someone willing to risk himself in battle, fighting for what he believed in. A deep respect and admiration blossomed in her at that moment and Carrie's feelings for him multiplied tenfold, seeing this side of him that she had closed her eyes to before. Still, the harsh reality of the situation was that due to this, the time for their parting had come.

Carrie swallowed hard and then attempted to speak. "So this is it, this is..." She just couldn't say it. She couldn't say goodbye. It was too much to ask of her, she thought.

And then he kissed her. There, in front of whatever men remained in the hall gathering their gear, he kissed her. And with that kiss Carrie felt everything that had been between them. All the longing, all the fear, all the uncertainty, all the passion, all the tenderness, all the love was in that kiss. Knowing that this could be their last moments together, the last time they kissed, Carrie willed it to last, and it did for a good few moments, but unavoidably, all things must end.

As he broke away from her he looked in her eyes and she felt what she now recognized as an elven gaze pierce her heart. He held her this way for mere seconds before speaking to her, his voice a bare whisper. "Goodbye Carrie." She felt the tears begin to fall down her face. He moved to hug her against him but stopped as Eowyn, who apparently had watched the whole scene, approached.

"At ease, the both of you." Eowyn smiled smugly at Carrie and then addressed the rest of her comment to Legolas. "We ride out with you."

Carrie's tears dried abruptly. She felt her jaw drop and the look on her face must have been pure horror. The one on Legolas' was shock. Eowyn smirked, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Don't be ridiculous, Eowyn." Carrie was horrified to hear her voice sound so choked like that. "I am no warrior. I have no business riding off to battle. Oh no, I'm staying right here!" Carrie did not care if she sounded like a complete coward. She was absolutely not going to Gondor. She didn't care if she had to strap herself to one of the columns. She was not going.

Eowyn smiled innocently at her, her eyes twinkling impishly. "We do not ride to battle. The women of the court always ride out with the men to the encampment. We say our good-byes there and then return."

Carrie stood there staring dumbly at Eowyn for longer than she probably should have. She knew she was backed into a corner and had no graceful way of getting out. Eowyn had no intention of saying goodbye or returning, of this Carrie was certain. She knew that along with all the men, Merry would also ride to Gondor, leaving Carrie with no way back to Edoras. Once she was at this encampment it was either ride to war, or stay there alone, wherever there was. But there was no way for Carrie to refuse, for it would be suspect. Why wouldn't she want to ride out and prolong her time with Legolas and the others? Unless...

"I am no woman of the court." Carrie relaxed and returned Eowyn smile. There, she did not have to go. She breathed a premature sigh of relief.

Eowyn raised her eyebrows at Carrie and gave her a teasing smile. "You just kissed an elf." Carrie's eyes widened and she glanced over at Legolas. His expression reflected the same shock that Carrie was feeling at Eowyn's blunt comment. Carrie turned back to Eowyn who was grinning like a fool at their reactions. She schooled her expression and continued. "Surely no commoner would do that."

"I...I..." Carrie stammered. No! She could not go!

"Carrie, if you were to ride with Lady Eowyn, surely no harm would befall you." Carrie turned and glared at him. Surely no harm would befall her. Ha! That's what he thought!

So Carrie was stuck. Either she flat out refused, which would be unexplainable now, or she rode with Eowyn, to her most certain death.

"I knew that movie was a bad idea!" Carrie pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. She scowled at Eowyn and Legolas. Before they could question her strange, cryptic comment, she continued. "Fine." She shook her head. "Fine, I'll go."

Eowyn looked at her questioningly and Legolas frowned at her grudging, half-hearted acceptance of the situation. Carrie realized that her reaction seemed completely bizarre to these two. Of course Carrie's reaction would seem odd to Legolas, who had no idea what Eowyn was planning. He would never fathom that she would do something like that. And Eowyn had no idea that Carrie knew of her plans. They would both expect her to be glad of a few more days with the men. After all, there was no harm if she rode with Eowyn, as far as they knew. An idea wriggled its way into Carrie's mind.

"So Eowyn," Carrie smiled sweetly at her, "you have no problem with me riding there and back with you." Eowyn shook her head no. "There and back." Eowyn furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head again. "So then, you'll be riding back here with me when the men go off to battle." Carrie said pointedly.

Suddenly, miraculously, Eowyn understood. Her eyes got wide and she stared silently at Carrie. 'I must seem like a mind reader to her.' Carrie thought to herself. Eowyn turned to Legolas.

"You know, Carrie's right. Perhaps it is not a good idea for her to come with us." Legolas looked from one woman to the other, clearly not understanding Eowyn's abrupt change of mind.

"There is no reason for her not to come," he said to Eowyn, clearly baffled as to how her opinion turned completely around.

Eowyn shrugged at him. "Perhaps she doesn't want to come." Carrie knew that Eowyn was only grasping at straws, trying to find a logical reason for Carrie to stay behind. But that was the worst possible thing for her to have said. Carrie rubbed her temples. She was beginning to get a headache from this whole discussion.

Legolas turned his gaze to Carrie. "You wish not to come?" The hurt and confusion in his eyes was too much for her to bear.

"No…I just…" Carrie felt like he had stabbed her with that look. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was not good. This was not good at all. "I just think it would be better if I stayed here." She opened her eyes to look at him.

He just stood there staring at her. Finally, he repeated himself. "You wish not to come?" Carrie could not respond. "You do not wish to see us off?"

Carrie did not know how to respond. "I just…I don't…" She stopped there for she did not know what to say.

Legolas' eyes flashed briefly at what he obviously viewed as a rejection, before they once more returned to the hard resolve of the warrior. "If you don't, then this indeed is goodbye." With one last piercing gaze he turned and left the hall. Carrie tried to push that last look from her mind as she turned to Eowyn.

"I will not ride to Gondor," she told the other woman.

Eowyn looked at Carrie, her expression set. "I will not stay behind while others fight."

Carrie glared at her. "I will not ride to Gondor," she growled.

Eowyn glared back at Carrie. "Then you will be left behind." She gave Carrie one last fierce look and turned and followed Legolas out of the hall.

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Ahh, conflict. So much more fun to write than the mushy parts. As always, thank you, reviewers! I feel like we're almost coming into the home stretch of this story. Well, not really, but I keep telling myself that to keep myself going.

Jack-Sparrow-Lover: Aww, I'm so sorry you weren't feeling well. I hope you're better now! I'm glad the story could brighten your day a bit, mate.

BtchieChrissy: mmm….chocolate! Thanks!

PsychoPixie: I don't know, would you go to Minas Tirith? I know I wouldn't go to Minas Tirith, are you kidding? Orcs, trolls, a dead army, the Witch King, Oliphaunts, Haradrim…I think I'll pass. Still, Carrie has a mind of her own so who knows what she might do!

nilimade: Thanks, you rock.

Crecy: I laughed when I read your review. Thanks for that! I'm sure the warriors would have loved some beer and pizza. I don't think they would care about an update, but here's one for you.

Lothliana: I'm so glad you love the story! Don't die of suspense; here's another chapter.