Hello all! I'm sorry it's been so long since my last update, you wouldn't believe my week even if I told you. Now, thank you all very very much for your reviews. I hope you like this chapter. More action shall be in the next one! Let me know what you think!
Note: Dialouge in bold is spoken in Elvish.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.
Chapter 14
Carita rode in silence in front of Gimli as she allowed her eyes to scan the shore and peer further into the distance. She had found herself wishing that Aragorn had asked Legolas to keep his senses keen, because hers were not as sharp as the elf's, however, she could feel something following. It was distant, but it was there.
"What are you looking at lass?" Gimli asked and Carita turned her attention to Gimli who was looking at her in curiosity.
"Nothing," she told him softly. "Just watching the trees pass by."
"Trees pass by?" Gimli asked. "Why would you want to do that?" Carita laughed quietly.
"Well, Gimli, to me the trees are like your precious caverns of your home. I have lived in many forests throughout my entire life. Just the sight of a thick and beautiful forest makes me feel at home, even when I am leagues away from my own home."
"You are a funny lass," Gimli said and Carita laughed again as she shook her head. However, as she turned away, Legolas caught her eye and she looked at him. He gave her a small smile and she felt her cheeks flush before she turned her eyes ahead.
She didn't know what it was about Legolas that made her forget everything, and many times it frightened her. When she was with him, she felt as though she was only centuries old again, that she did not have the long and dark past she carried. So lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the sun slowly fade behind the horizon, and didn't pull herself from them until she felt the boat hit the sandy shores of the river. She started and looked around, which earned her a laugh from Gimli.
"Like I said, you're a funny lass," he said and climbed from the boat. Carita forced a smile, but then soon frowned. She hadn't even noticed the changes around her. Legolas climbed from the boat and held his hand out to her. She took it and he helped her from the boat before the two of them pulled it up further on the shore.
"What were you thinking?" he asked as he stood fully and looked at her. She sighed and pulled on her vest as she looked at him.
"I wasn't thinking of anything in particular," she told him honestly. Her mind had been many places, on him, their journey, her past, and of what would become of them when they entered the black land of Mordor. "My mind was many places," she said as she walked away and helped Sam make a small fire for him to make a little something to eat.
"I can get it Miss. Carita," Sam said.
"I know Sam, but I'd like to help," she told him and the small hobbit smiled at her and nodded while he let her pile the twigs and spark the flint while he readied the food to cook.
"Thank you Miss. Carita," he said when she moved back from the small fire.
"You're very welcome, Sam," she said quietly before she stood and moved over to Aragorn. "There is something following," she whispered softly and the ranger looked at her before he nodded.
"Gollum has been following in the water," Aragorn said. "He is very clever with the rapids."
"What follows is much larger than Gollum," she said and Aragorn raised an eyebrow. "They are still very far way, but I can feel them."
"We shall make our way soon enough. We should pass through the Argonath by mid-day tomorrow and then we shall reach the falls after an hour or two." Carita nodded.
"Then when we reach the falls, we need to make sure that we move quickly and decide our road with haste," she told him and Aragorn nodded before he turned away and looked at Boromir before he slowly walked over to the other man. Carita sighed when she was left alone.
"You feel it to then?" a voice asked and she turned around to see Legolas.
"How many times must I tell you, it is not wise to eavesdrop," she said with a smile and Legolas returned her smile with one of his own. "And to answer your question, I do." Legolas nodded and it took all of her will to not reach out and either take his hand or move into his arms. Carita cleared her throat. "Excuse me," she said and moved away and down the opposite part of the river bank. She sank down onto one of the fallen logs along the shore.
She looked at the moonlight that glistened off the water and frowned when she saw Gollum. The creature was growing bolder, and she wondered when he was going to grow bold enough to approach Frodo. She knew it would be when the hobbit was vulnerable, and she vowed that for as long as she walked with Frodo, that she would keep her sword ready and her eyes keen for the stealth creature. All too soon, Gollum disappeared along the other side of the shore once again and she sighed as she turned her eyes to the resting fellowship.
Aragorn stood looking out over the river just as she had been moments before, but his face was more troubled. Merry and Pippin sat eating happily the food that Sam had given them, while Gimli puffed on a pipe, and Frodo sat near Sam while the portly hobbit finished cooking their evening meal. Boromir was standing where she had last seen him, looking out over the water, but Legolas was no where to be found, until she felt a presence behind her.
"You will not frighten me this time. I'm actually paying attention," she said with a small smile as she turned her eyes to the rippling water. She heard him chuckle as he stepped over the log and sat down next to her.
"Indeed it seems you finally are," he teased. Legolas felt his stomach swirl when her smile grew and he looked away quickly and towards the water as he closed his eyes.
It would be very difficult when they had these private moments not to touch her or even kiss her again. He slowly opened his eyes and let out a quiet slow breath. Her lips had been his for the taking when he had kissed her before they sat sail that morning, and he realized that his heart was hers for the taking. When she had promised that she would give what they felt a try when their quest was over, he knew he was lost to her.
"Have you come to sit with me in silence?" she asked and he looked at her to see her grinning at him. "Not that I do not mind your company."
"I am sorry, I was just thinking," Legolas said and Carita nodded as she reached out to him and laced his fingers in with hers. Legolas looked down at their entwined hands and smiled before he raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Carita blushed but smiled all the same as she shook her head.
"No kissing," she whispered as Legolas lowered their hands back onto his lap. "I only wish to hold your hand." Legolas nodded and fought against his own blush. He had not meant any harm, he just could not stop from showing her some other affection besides a simple touch.
"Again, I am sorry," he said and Carita sighed quietly and nodded.
"I know," she said. "I know that." With that she let go of his hand, stood from the log, and kissed his cheek. He looked up at her surprised and she smiled as she ran her fingers across his cheek. "Let that be enough to hold you over, for now," she finished with a whisper and smiled before she moved into the trees and stealthily climbed up one of the many old trees. She would keep watch of the fellowship that night; with her racing heart she would find no true rest that night.
Legolas smiled and shook his head as he watched Carita climb the tree and setting in amongst the branches. She glowed slightly, but he watched as the light dimmed when she pulled her cloak on and hid her face from the light of the moon. He shook his head and stood as he moved to the camp only to have Sam look at him with a frown.
"Where has Miss. Carita gone?" Sam asked and Legolas looked up and into the tree she sat, but he know only his eyes would be able to decipher her from the darkness of the trees.
"She has taken watch and perched herself in one of the high trees," Legolas told him as he looked back at the hobbit whose frown only deepened.
"She hasn't eaten," Sam said and Legolas smiled as he put his hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Do not worry, she will be just fine," Legolas said before he walked away and towards Aragorn who was now sitting on top a rock, his pipe in hand. "Carita is watching over the camp from the trees," he said and Aragorn looked up at him with a nod. Legolas sighed and sat down upon the sand near where Aragorn sat.
"It has happened, hasn't it?" Aragorn asked suddenly, and Legolas looked at him with a furrowed brow.
"What has happened?" Legolas asked and Aragorn lowered his pipe, a very faint smile on his lips, as he shook his head.
"Nothing," the ranger said as he stood and moved over to his bed roll that was laid near Frodo. He was weary and in need of rest. There was no point in voicing what he could see clearly in his friend's eyes for he knew that look very well as it was one he would often find himself expressing in the presence of an Elvin princess.
Carita looked behind her and at Legolas as he rowed their boat along the river. "Why can I not row again?" she asked. "I am very capable of rowing the boat."
"There is no need for you to," Legolas told her and Carita sighed as she once again turned her eyes ahead and looked down the river. She had felt nothing more than useless sitting in the front of the boat and listening to Gimli snore when he would fall asleep sitting up in the boat.
"I feel useless," she said quietly as she looked at Legolas.
"You are not useless," Legolas told her. "You have your eyes set on other things." She nodded, but that thought was not much more comforting. With each hour, each minute, that passed whatever it was that was tracking them was getting closer. Their darkness was growing in her mind, much like she knew it was in Legolas' if not even stronger.
"The Argonath," Carita heard Aragorn breathe and she looked at him before she looked ahead to see the large stone structures of the old kings of Gondor. It had been a long time since she had looked upon the large stone kings, and just like the first time she had seen them, she was amazed. "Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old. My kin," Aragorn said and she smiled as her hope for Aragorn to take his rightful place doubled. He was the rightful king of the realm of men, and he would make a king unlike any other.
Their boats moved through the gate created by the Argonath, and the falls were not far ahead. Their course would need to be decided and soon. They neared the falls and as they did Carita gasped when she felt a chill run down her back. She sat up straight looked to the west with a deep frown on her face. And it did not help her heart when Legolas did the same.
Soon, they had brought the boats ashore, not farm from the falls, and the roaring water rushed on. Carita climbed from the boat and walked up the sand, her eyes scanning the trees and once he had the boat further on the shore Legolas was at her side. She looked at him and he at her before she sighed and turned her eyes to the trees once again. The others sat up a camp so they could rest before they continued on.
"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north," Aragorn said and Carita looked at him while Legolas continued to scan the distance.
"Oh, yes?! It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better!" Gimli exclaimed from where he sat and Pippin looked at him with worry in his eyes. "Festering, stinking marshlands, far as the eye can see!" Gimli finished and Carita's posture stiffened once again. Her travels along that path were different than what they were to expect, but it was still a dark journey, one she was uncertain her heart could stand to take again.
"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf," Aragorn said coolly. Gimli scoffed.
"Recover my . . .?" he trailed off before he huffed and Carita, despite her worry, found herself smiling.
"We should leave now," Legolas said as he turned and looked at Aragorn, who had moved to stand next to him and Carita.
"No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness," Aragorn said and Carita put her hand on Legolas' forearm as the elf's eyes moved once again to the deep trees.
"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near...I can feel it!" Legolas said and Aragorn looked at Carita who nodded.
"They are close," she whispered and Legolas twisted his arm and captured her hand in his as his eyes moved across the trees continuously. Aragorn sighed.
"We should have time," he said absently. "An hour to let the others rest, they do not have your stamina."
"Where's Frodo?" came Merry's voice and Carita looked around the camp. Legolas let go of her hand and turned to look over the camp as well. Aragorn turned around to face them and Carita met his gaze.
"Boromir has gone, we must find them," Aragorn said quickly. "Come," he said as he turned and moved into the trees. Carita followed without a glance at anyone and Legolas was fast on her heals with the others following on their own accord.