Hello everyone! Thank you all so very very much for your reviews! I love to know what you all think and I'm really glad you guys are liking the story so far. I am sorry it took me so long to update. I was hoping to have this chapter up on either Friday or Saturday, but I didn't get time to finish it until a little while ago. With Christmas coming up, I've been trying to get all my shopping done, which thankfully I am almost finished just a few more presents to buy. Well, I hope you like this chapter, and as I alwasy say let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 3

As the dawn of the third day of Carita's departure from Rivendell broke, Moonlight trotted through the gateway. She dismounted and ran her hand down his neck. "You have been my friend through many adventures, Moonlight," she whispered as she turned her attention to taking off her satchels and then the saddle she had fastened to his back. She sat the saddle onto the ground and patted his once again bare back. "Be free now, my friend, until the time comes when I need your help once more." Moonlight neighed softly and nudged her shoulder with his snout. She laughed and kissed his cheek. "Go on, we shall see each other again." He neighed and turned from her. Carita smiled as she watched him trot to the gateway and he turned and looked at her once more. "Go on" she said again and he turned and took off down the path.

With a sigh she leaned down to pick up her discarded saddle when another pair of hands already hoisted the saddle into their arms. Carita looked up and smiled at Aragorn as she bowed her head.

"It is good to see you, my lady," he said and Carita laughed softly and picked up her satchels.

"I thank you for your kindness in taking my saddle," she said with a pause, "but please there is no need for formalities and such. Carita is my name and a name I prefer to 'my lady'," she finished and Aragorn bowed his head.

"As you wish."

"I wish it," she said with a teasing smile and Aragorn chuckled. "Come, there is a place in the stable for my saddle." They walked in silence to the stable that was not far from where they stood. "Tell me," she said as he put her saddle across a half wall of an empty stall and he looked at her, "why do you think that you are not deserving of what is rightfully yours?" Aragorn stared at her for what seemed like a very long time. His eyes did not leave hers, and she did not look away but merely waited for him to give her an answer.

"I do not want what is rightfully mine," Aragorn said and Carita tilted her head slightly as she looked at him. Aragorn looked away from her questioning gaze, but she smiled as he settled her saddle fully on the half wall. She nodded her head.

"Very well," Carita said softly and he looked at her once more. "You are a good man, Aragorn son of Arathorn. One day you will realize that you are stronger than your forefathers. I thank you again for your kindness." Carita adjusted her grip on her satchels and walked from the stables leaving a slightly confused ranger behind. While walking, she came across two of the four hobbits and smiled at seeing Merry and Pippin talking animatedly between mouthfuls of food. "For some reason, you two are the last beings I had ever expected to see up and about so early in the morning," she said and the two of them looked at her. They smiled at seeing her.

"Lady Carita," Pippin said after he swallowed his mouthful of food. Carita laughed as she sat down next to them on the bench they sat on.

"What is it that has you up?" she asked a smile bright on her face.

"Gandalf," Pippin said and Carita raised an eyebrow as she looked to Merry.

"Gandalf is helping us with our sword work," Merry said. "So are Boromir and Strider." Carita nodded.

"I see," she said. "So, they have you up at the dawn do they?" she asked and they nodded.

"They need all the training they can get," came a gruff voice and Carita smiled up at her old friend. Gandalf came walking up to them and she stood. "It is good to see you again, Carita."

"Did you think I wouldn't come back?" she asked and she stood. "I am afraid you cannot be rid of me that easily." Gandalf winked at her and she laughed as she turned her eyes to the hobbits once again. "I shall take my leave, but before I do," she paused and handed Pippin the satchel of the remaining bread and cheese she had in her satchel. "For later, because I am sure they shall work you through the mid-day meal." With that Carita turned and walked away with a wink at Gandalf. The old wizard smiled and watched her while Pippin and Merry looked into the bag. They broke out into wide smiles as they looked at the rich cheese and hearty bread that was in the pack. Pippin looked up at Gandalf and smiled as the old wizard looked at him.

"I like her," Pippin said and Merry nodded in agreement.

"Come on," Gandalf said with a hidden smile as he led the two hobbits to the training area.

Carita sighed as she sat her satchel down on the bed she left not all that long ago. Suddenly, there was a quick knock at her door. "Enter!" she called as she unfastened her cloak and removed it from her shoulders. She turned around as the door opened and smiled at Arwen as she entered her room. "Arwen, how are you?" Carita asked and Arwen gave her a bright smile.

"My friend, I am so glad to see you," Arwen said and she walked over to her. "When father told me you had come, I didn't know whether or not to believe him." Carita nodded her head and sighed softly. "Then it is true you are going with them, with the fellowship?" Carita nodded again as she unbuckled her belt of her sword and put the heavy metal on the bed.

"I am part of the fellowship, Arwen," Carita said and the elleth sighed quietly. "Do not doubt his skills in battle," Carita said suddenly as she turned her light eyes to Arwen's gray ones. "Aragorn is a strong warrior."

"You know?" Arwen asked and Carita laughed softly.

"I have seen the two of you during your rides through the forests," Carita said. "Why is it everyone thinks I am blind to all that goes on about me? Is it because I have not traveled far from my home for some time?" Arwen giggled and shrugged.

"Perhaps, but I am glad that you have come," Arwen said as she reached out and took Carita's hands. "In a way it pains me to know that you are going and in a way I am happy that you are to travel with them. I know that the group is stronger because of you and Gandalf." Arwen squeezed Carita's hands before she let go of them and walked over to the window. "Why are you traveling with them?" Arwen asked as she turned around and looked at Carita. Carita sighed and walked over to Arwen before her eyes turned to the morning light that was filling the room.

"Because, Arwen, I can no longer hide away as I have," she said gently. "I cannot sit by and wait to see if Frodo succeeds," Carita paused and looked to Arwen once more. "I cannot watch as more innocent lives are spent because of that evil, that evil that I and many others, including your father, were unable to stop." Arwen nodded her head and sighed quietly.

"Do you think you all will succeed?"

"There is always hope," Carita said with a smile as she looked at Arwen. "Come, let us have a bite to eat, I'm afraid I haven't eaten since I left my home yesterday," Carita said.

"Why not?" Arwen asked with a frown as she started to follow Carita from the chamber.

"I did not wish to break my ride because I wanted to get here as quickly as I could," Carita said and the two of them made their way down the corridors. "I will be helping with the hobbits' training; at least I hope I am allowed."

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"The man from Gondor, Boromir, I do not think he trusts me, not as of yet anyway," Carita said. "I heard he was working with them along with Gandalf and Aragorn. I know he has his reasons, and I do not fault him for worrying and mistrusting me. He has seen much darkness as he fought against Mordor, and there is little hope in Gondor for any kind of victory when he is away. His people count on him and his brother so greatly."

"How do you know so much of Boromir?" Arwen asked curious as to how her friend could know all she did when she rarely left her cliff side home. "You have not left the forests of Rivendell for many years. How can you know what it is like in a realm thousands of miles away?"

"I have never been completely alone," Carita said with a slight laugh. "Gandalf visited me as often as he could and would tell me what he would come across in his travels. He confided in me before he returned to Rivendell about his discovery of the ring that Bilbo had carried. I knew what it was the second he spoke of it, but he said he had to be sure and that he was returning to the Shire to see if our suspicions were true."

"And they were," Arwen said and Carita nodded her head and the two of them entered the dining hall for breakfast.

After eating with Arwen, Carita returned her room and retrieved her sword before she made her way down the corridors, through one of the many gardens and to the training area. She smiled as she saw the hobbits come into view as they sat on the grass enjoying the food that she had given to Merry and Pippin just a few hours before. "Taking a break already?" Carita asked as she came to a stop next to them.

"Only until Aragorn returns," came Gandalf's voice and Carita looked over her shoulder and saw the wizard sitting not far from the hobbits on one of the benches.

"Well," Carita said as she looked to the hobbits, "perhaps I can work with you for a time, at least until he does return."

"You can handle a sword?" asked a voice slowly. Carita turned her silver gray eyes ahead of her and saw Boromir standing there, his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Carita wanted to laugh, but she did not. He did not know what she was and that her skills did not just lie with a blade. Like Gandalf she had powers, but they were not nearly as powerful as his. She could do small things, but nothing more.

"I can, would you care to test me on my ability?" Carita asked and Boromir raised and eyebrow before he stepped into the ring and pulled his sword from his hilt.

"Carita," Gandalf said in warning and she looked at him.

"Do not worry, Gandalf, I will not hurt him," Carita said as she stepped into the ring drawing her own sword and raising it and looking at Boromir with a small smile. He, however, was glaring at her with a smirk on his face as if to say that he doubted she would could do him any harm in the first place. The sunlight reflected off the bright colored steel and Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin stood from the ground and glanced at each other before their eyes settled on Carita and Boromir once more.

Boromir bowed his head and Carita did the same. He was the first to move, quickly swiping at her with his sword, however, she quickly countered and spun around sending her braid over her shoulder as her blade contacted loudly with his. She spun her blade from his and countered with lightening speed, but as she had anticipated he blocked her blow. Her eyes met his that showed his surprise for a brief second before he spun his blade from hers. Before he could bring his blade down she parried his sword, moved behind him. He turned just as she was bringing her sword down to strike and he swung his clanging the medal together loudly once more.

"There is no doubt in your skill, but you are holding back as you try to test mine," Carita said as she once again spun her blade from his and took a step back but she never took down her guard. "Why not do as you wish? I assure you I will be able to keep up."

"As you wish," Boromir said as he raised his blade. The sparred heatedly for a long time, with Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin watching on in amazement and with Gandalf watching closely. Boromir's breathing was fast and rapid and he was growing weaker, Carita could see it. She paused in their sparing and took a step back, which allowed him to raise his sword for a final blow. Carita made no move to block his swing and just as his blade would have slashed her abdomen she was gone from where she stood. Boromir stumbled and looked at the air before him in bewilderment until he felt cold steel being pressed against his throat.

"Never underestimate your enemy," she told him as her blade rested against his throat. His breathing was quick as he threw his sword onto the floor of the ring and held up his hands. Carita pulled her sword away from him and sheathed it as she stepped back from him. Boromir turned around and looked at her. "There is more to me than you know, Boromir, and I trust that you will not doubt my skills any longer," she said.

"How did you do that?" he demanded. "How did you just disappear and reappear somewhere else?" Carita laughed softly and shook her head.

"I did not disappear and reappear, I just merely moved from the blow of your sword," she said quietly. "I can be very quick when I wish it, but for only a short period of time. It is one of my skills in battle."

"What are you?" Boromir asked and Carita smiled as she stepped closer to him so she stood only a foot away.

"You will find out in time," she told him kindly before she kneeled down, picked up his sword and held it out to him as she stood. Boromir took the sword from her. "Do I have your trust?" When he did not answer she nodded. "Very well, I shall leave their training in Aragorn, Gandalf's, and your capable hands." With that Carita turned around and she was slightly surprised to see Aragorn and Legolas standing with Gandalf. She nodded her head and left the training area quickly, however, she did not leave alone.

She moved quickly down the paths she knew so well, until she reached her destination. A small pool of water sat before her with a thin but rushing waterfall sending crisp clear water into the pond. With a sigh she smoothed out her dark green skirts and moved her sword aside before she sat on one of the large rocks.

"You do not have to hide," she said as she looked over her shoulder to see Legolas peering from behind one of the many trees. He stepped forward and walked over to where she sat. She turned her eyes back to the water and sighed quietly. "I have forgotten the stubbornness of men," she said and she looked at him again to see him nod.

"Indeed, even after that display," Legolas said and Carita laughed. Legolas smiled when he heard her laugh. "You moved so quickly that even to my eyes it seemed as though you just disappeared and reappeared behind him."

"It has been so long since I sparred like that, I'm surprised I remembered how," Carita said and Legolas moved and sat down on the boulder next to hers.

"One usually doesn't forget the skills they spent many years honing and using," Legolas said.

"Your father proclaimed you the best archer in Mirkwood many years ago, do you uphold that title still?" she asked and Legolas chuckled.

"All of the archers in Mirkwood are skilled and second only to the elves of Lothlorien," Legolas said. "I am not the best in my realm," he added. Carita smiled and stood.

"You are very humble," she said and he looked up at her. "You may look nearly identical to your father, Legolas, but your heart is purely your mother." She turned and walked away feeling much better than she had just moments before and a new spring in her step. Legolas watched her walk away yet again and just as she left him before he was confused and bewildered, but she had left him with a warmer parting than before. With a sigh, he stood and returned to the training area to help the hobbits, if Carita would not be able to help then he would.