Hello everyone! Thank you very very much for your reviews for the last chapter! I hope you enjoy this one! 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 13

The dawn of the day they were to leave came and Carita stood in the talan that had become her home looking out into the trees with a sad expression upon her face. Their time in Lothlorien came to an end one month after their arrival in the Elvin city and for the last three weeks of their stay, Carita did all she could to avoid being alone with Legolas. She had held his company with the others, but he did not look her way and spoke very little with her. She could not blame him in the least because she was doing the same to him. There were times when she was ready to run to him and tell him she was a fool for denying what her heart was screaming at her, but she didn't.

Carita sighed and turned away from the window before she moved to the dressing table and ran a brush through her hair before she quickly braided it. She strapped on her pack after tucking her cloak and freshly laundered spare clothing into it, and then fastened her sword belt to her waist. With another sigh she turned around, walked from the talan and quickly down the many steps until her boot clad feet were once again on the forest floor. She walked swiftly to where the others were no doubt waiting for her. However, she did not get far when she was stopped.

"You are fooling no one, my friend," came Galadriel's soft voice and Carita stopped and turned to face the elleth. "You are going to weaken yourself even further if you keep fighting what it is that you feel for the woodland prince."

"You know as well as I, Galadriel, that now is not the time," Carita said gently.

"And when is that time?" Galadriel asked as she walked closer to Carita. "Too long have you punished yourself for something you had no control over." Carita stiffened, but Galadriel pressed on. "You will see before this journey ends that you need him more than you will ever know and any promise you make you shall break because the need will drive you to break it." With that Galadriel walked away and Carita sighed and closed her eyes before she took a deep breath and opened her eyes once more. She turned around and continued on the path towards where she was to meet the others and help them ready to depart.

When she arrived everyone was standing talking quietly. However, they fell silent when she approached. For the first time in many days Legolas looked at her and when he did she watched as he cool and neutral expression changed to one of concern in just a few short seconds. She looked away from him then and looked down at the ground before she joined the waiting group. She stood between Boromir and Pippin and looked up at Aragorn, knowing it would not be wise to look upon Legolas again.

"Carita, are you well?" Boromir asked as her as he put his hand on her shoulder. She turned her eyes to him and smiled softly.

"Aye, I am fine, just anxious to set off again," she said and Boromir nodded as he lowered his hand from her shoulder.

"Are you sure?" Pippin asked and she looked down at him. "You seem rather pale, like you're going to be sick or something." Carita laughed truly for the first time in a long time. It wasn't a hearty laugh, but a small and simple laugh.

"I am fine, I swear," she whispered to the hobbit as she put her hand on his head. Pippin nodded. She lowered her hand and looked over her shoulder when she felt someone approaching. Celeborn and Galadriel were heading towards them with a party of elves behind them, and Carita looked at Galadriel.

"Head my words of earlier, Carita," Galadriel told her and Carita sighed and looked away from them. The fellowship moved into a line, Carita standing between Boromir and Aragorn, and the several elves stepped forward with Lothlorien cloaks in their arms.

"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes," Celeborn said as the elves wrapped the cloaks around the fellowships' shoulders and pinned them with the leave broach of Lothlorien. Carita looked at the elleth that pinned her cloak onto her and bowed her head to her as the elleth did the same and stepped back. Galadriel moved forward and smiled first upon Legolas and nodded her head as an ellon came forward with a great bow and quiver of the Lothlorien guard. Carita's eyes widened at seeing the beautifully crafted give and allowed a small smile.

"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin," Galadriel said warmly and Carita turned her eyes to Legolas and watched as he tested the line and ran his hands along the crafted wood in awe and wonder. It was a gift well deserved and a gift she knew would be appreciated more by none than the one receiving it that moment. "These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war," Galadriel said as another elf stepped forward and handed one dagger to Pippin and the other to Merry. Pippin looked down at the dagger unsure, but Galadriel only smiled. "Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage." Pippin nodded and looked down at the dagger once more.

Carita sighed and looked away from Legolas then and closed her eyes. She knew she was being foolish, but it was what needed to be done. They were in the middle of a quest, a quest that may very well claim one or both of their lives. Taking a shaky breath, Carita opened her eyes and looked to Galadriel only to see her standing before Sam, but looking at her. Carita looked away and Galadriel turned her eyes to Sam.

"And for you, Samwise Gamgee: Elvin rope, made of hithlain," Galadriel said as a silvery rope was handed to Sam. Sam smiled as he took the rope.

"Thank you, my lady," he said but glanced at the dagger Pippin held. "Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?" Galadriel only smiled and moved down the line to Boromir.

"My gift for you Boromir son of Denethor is a golden belt, worthy of a Gondorian Captain," she said as an elleth held the belt out to Boromir, who took it hesitantly and with a deep bow of his head. Galadriel bowed her own head and then turned her eyes to Carita. "The only gift I have for you, my dearest friend, are my words for you to remember you did not make him evil. You did not make him hungry for the power he craved and you will not do so to Legolas."

"It is never that simple," Carita said gently and Galadriel smiled as she raised her hand to Carita's face.

"You do not allow it to be that simple," Galadriel whispered. "You insist on punishing your heart for things you had no control over, even when you have already proven yourself." Galadriel lowered her hand and moved on.

Carita took a sharp breath and turned away quickly before she moved down the river's edge, passing the elves and others that were loading their boats. She did not go far, but just far enough to be away from the others. She raised her hands to her face and let her tears fall behind her hands. She stood there for only a moment, when a pair of calloused hands wrapped around her wrists and pulled her hands from her face. She looked into the face of Legolas and quickly shook her head as she pulled her hands free from his and made to move past him. However, he stopped her.

"I will not let you run away again," he told her pointedly and Carita looked up at him. She was pinned between him and the large tree. She could fight him, but she had no will to do that. "You're light is waning. So much so even the others are noticing it," he said firmly. She did not answer, but merely looked at him. "Why do you not wish to try?" he asked as he raised his hand to her face and wiped away the trails of tears from her cheeks.

"It is not that I do not wish it, but it is just that now is not the time," she managed after a moment of just staring into his eyes. Her mind had gone blank at the feel of his touch on her face and it took her a moment to recover.

"Then, when this is over . . . when our quest is finished, will you be willing to try?" he asked. Carita just looked at him for a small period of time. Hope shined brightly in his rich blue eyes. So much hope that she felt as though some of his hope and need were flooding through his hands and into her skin, making her feel the same.

"I will be willing to try," she said in a whisper and Legolas smiled.

"Will you let go of the pain you carry now? Will you let it go so that there will be no need for me to worry that you will not be sharp during battle if it finds us again," he said and she nodded feeling her strength return to her slowly. Legolas ran his thumbs across her skin and she felt dizzy again. "Then before I forget our moment by the riverbank, will you grant another wish of mine, to seal our agreement?"

"That depends on the wish," she said and Legolas sighed as he closed the small distance between them. He pressed her form against the tree and she closed her eyes as one hand moved from her face and rested on her waist holding her tightly.

"I do not ask for much," he whispered and she opened her eyes, "but for a simple kiss. A promissory kiss that when this quest is finished you will not fold on our agreement." Carita blushed but found herself give him a short brief nod only to have Legolas cut her nod short as he leaned in and kissed her hard upon the lips.

She whimpered against his lips and raised her hands to grasp his tunic tightly at his sides as his own hands pulled her form even tighter to his. It became more than a simple kiss when he parted her lips and deepened the kiss; however, she had no complaints but found tears coming from her eyes. It was then that she knew there was no point in delaying the inevitable. It was then that she truly realized where her heart laid and it was within the ellon's arms that held her so protectively. It was then that she admitted to herself that she was completely and utterly in love with him, and the power of that love she never knew before.

It was over before she knew it and she looked up at him uncertain as to what to do next. Part of her wanted to kiss him again, but the other knew it was time they moved and joined the others but the longer he held onto her and looked down at her the more the first part of her mind was winning.

"Let that hold you to your promise, Carita," he whispered, his voice deeper than she remembered. He slowly pulled away from her as she nodded numbly.

"It shall," she whispered, "as long as it holds for you." Legolas smiled and grasped her hand into his, raising her hand to his lips. He placed a chaste kiss upon her knuckles.

"Then it shall be held for all eternity," he whispered before he lowered her hand.

Carita smiled and felt her mind and body clear of all confusion, of all doubt, and for the first time since Gandalf's passing her resolve to succeed in their quest was at its full strength. Now, aside from her desire to see Sauron destroyed completely and her desire for peace to fill Middle Earth, she had another reason to succeed. And that reason was the ellon that stood before her and the life she suddenly had a wish to live.

"Come, Carita, we must help finish loading the boats," he said and she nodded as she followed him up the river bank. Legolas moved away and towards the boats, while she stayed back to see what help she could bring. However, Aragorn stepped towards her before she could do much more than take a step to help Sam into one of the boats.

"Carita," he said and she stopped and turned her eyes to him. He was fastening a dagger to his belt and he scanned her face quickly, but a frown etched across his brow. "You seem better, and your glow has returned. As your ailment passed?" he asked and she smiled.

"It has been resolved, my friend," she said and Aragorn nodded before he looked away and then looked at her again.

"Lord Celeborn warned of a tracking party," he told her in a barely there whisper. "These orcs move freely in the light of day across open plains baring the white hand of Saruman. I will need your senses and eyes to keep alert so we may stay a step ahead."

"And Legolas as well?" she asked and he shook his head.

"No, I do not wish to share this news with the others as of yet," he said with a pause. "Are you speaking to him again?" he asked and she blushed as she looked away and to where Legolas helped Gimli get into the boat he was going to share with both Legolas and herself.

"Aye," she whispered and looked back at the ranger. Aragorn nodded and touched her upper arm gently before he moved away. Carita took a deep breath and moved ahead. Their quest was once again underway and she and Legolas put their moments behind them until they would be free to explore them further.