Hello again everyone! Thank you all very much for your reviews. I hope you like this chapter. As I always say, 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 16

Aragorn quickly laid Carita down on Boromir's bedroll, which was the only one that was out. He put her Elvin cloak aside and carefully adjusted her so he could tend to the wound on her back before moved to retrieve the medical herbs and some water, but stopped when he saw Sam and Frodo in a boat in the middle of the river. So, they were going on. Shaking his head and remembering his task he quickly grabbed the herbs he would need and scooped a bowl of water from the river. He turned and made his way up the embankment, but dropped the bowl of water in alarm and surprise when he found a light covering Carita.

Its glow was blue and bright; so bright he squinted and slowly walked over to her setting the herbs down on the grass next to her. He raised his hand slightly to block some of the light from his face and he looked at her wound on her back. He watched as the wound slowly healed and all that was left as a reminder of her wound was her torn and blood stained clothes. The light soon dimmed and he lowered his hand and looked at her back in amazement.

Carita groaned quietly as she came to light again and the dull ache in the back of her head became a steady pound. Her back no longer burned but it too ached and she knew that it had healed when she had been knocked unconscious. Sighing, she slowly lifted herself from the ground and the bedroll she laid upon.

"Carita?" came Aragorn's voice and she looked to her right to see the man look at her with confusion written clearly on his face, but a very small amount of joy in his eyes. "How . . .," his voice trailed off and Carita managed a tiny smile.

"Another gift bestowed upon me," she said softly with a pause, "the ability to heal myself of non-fatal wounds." She closed her eyes and swayed slightly from her position on her knees and she reached out and grasped Aragorn, whose hands had came out instantly to help her steady herself.

"You're weak," he told her gently and she nodded.

"I will be for a time, but I shall be fine," she said and then her body stiffened remembering Boromir and the hobbits. "Boromir, Merry, and Pippin, where are they?" she asked. "Are they well? Boromir had been hit, I tried to get to him but I was hit from behind," she said so quickly that she made herself dizzy and her grip tightened on Aragorn's shoulder.

"Carita," Aragorn said softly and she looked up at him again. "Boromir is gone," he whispered and tears came instantly to her eyes.

"No," she whispered and shook her head. "No he cannot be, you lie," she said and she let go of him letting herself fall onto her backside. "He cannot be," she said again as her tears fell and Aragorn moved over to her. He reached out to her but she shoved his hands away as she looked down at the ground and closed her eyes tightly. She willed her tears away as more grief filled her heart. "And Merry and Pippin?" she dared ask as she opened her eyes and looked at Aragorn.

"Taken by the orcs," he said and Carita sighed and looked out at the water to see two child size beings rowing one of their boats to the other side of the shore.

"Sam? Frodo?" she asked quietly and Aragorn nodded even though her eyes were not upon him. "Where are Gimli and Legolas?" she asked as she looked at the man. "Why are we not following?" she asked

"Gimli and Legolas are bringing Boromir to the river," Aragorn told her and took her hands into his. "Our path does not take us to Mordor," he whispered and she met his gaze. It was then that she understood. Frodo and Sam were to make the journey to Mordor and they were to follow the enemy and get their friends back. Carita nodded and noticed the wound on Aragorn's shoulder. Sniffing and taking her hands from Aragorn she wiped at her face.

"Let me fix your arm," she whispered and Aragorn nodded. With trembling hands, Carita quickly made a paste of the herbs Aragorn had brought and water she had retrieved from the river. After washing his wound, she applied the paste and tied it off with a fresh strip of cloth she had cut from her old cloak. "If I was not so weak, I would already have this mended for you," she told him quietly, but Aragorn made no notice if he heard her for his eyes were focused in the distance and his mind was deep in thought.

Soon, Aragorn had moved away from her and was cleaning his weapons from the battle. She too had moved after changing from her torn garments and sat upon the large cluster of rocks near the river's edge. It was not fair that Boromir had fallen. He was a good man, and a fierce soldier. She would miss him terribly, even though he had not fully taken to her until their time in Lothlorien. As she sat, she thought of many things, but there was one this she was certain of. She knew that if something were to happen to Legolas during their journey. She had not told him, exactly where her heart laid.

Carita heard them approaching more than saw them. Gimli's labored breath echoed slightly to her ears, and she looked up at the hill to see Legolas and Gimli carrying a makeshift hammock like bed that carried the body of their friend and companion. Aragorn moved over to them, but Carita could not get herself to move. Aragorn picked up her sword from where it laid next to Boromir's and looked at Legolas. He held out the still glistening blade to the elf who took it slowly. Carita watched as worry filled Legolas' face.

"Aragorn," she heard Legolas say quietly as the man turned his eyes away and kneeled down next to Boromir. Aragorn looked up at Legolas. "Is she alright?" Legolas asked and Aragorn smiled.

"She is fine," Aragorn said and he turned his eyes back to his fallen brother and removed the large black arrows and prepared him to be laid to rest in the falls. Legolas frowned and looked about the camp. Carita was no where in sight, and he began to panic slightly until he spotted her near the river's edge on a large boulder. She was just sitting there dressed in a fresh white fitted tunic, and her eyes were fixed upon him. He moved to where she sat and stealthily climbed the rock and kneeled next to her.

Legolas placed her sword on the stone, and raised his hands to her face. His eyes met hers after scanning her face and he sighed before he leaned in and kissed her firmly upon the lips. Carita stiffened, but found herself melting against him. Tears were once again filling her eyes, and as his lips moved against hers she let them fall. He slowly pulled his lips from her and wiped her tears from her face as he looked down at her.

"Do not ever do that again," he whispered and she frowned.

"Do what?" she asked back in a whisper and he sighed quietly once more before he shook his head and kissed her again, but chastely. When he pulled away from her he lowered his hands to her shoulders and she met his gaze once more.

"Does it hurt? Are you well enough to travel again?" he asked and Carita managed a smile.

"Legolas, there's something you should know," she said and his frown deepened. "Run your hand down my back, where I was injured," she told him and Legolas removed his hands from her and hesitated. "Go on," she said and Legolas pulled her close and into an embrace before he ran his fingers ever so lightly down her back where the slice had been just hours before. However, he felt nothing and touched her back with pressure and still there was nothing but the smoothness of her skin under the thick fabric of her tunic. He pulled back slightly and looked at her. "Another gift given to me by My Lady," she whispered, "the ability to heal myself of non-fatal wounds." Legolas smiled once again moved his hands to rest on her face.

"That bit of information would have been more useful to know before," he said teasingly and Carita laughed quietly before he kissed her again. Carita sighed and pulled her lips away from his and gently pushed him back.

"Legolas," she whispered and the elf nodded. He knew what she was telling him. They had already stolen too many moments and it was neither the time nor the place.

"I am sorry," he said and pulled away from her completely. He was about to stand and move to help Aragorn and Gimli, but he was taken by surprise when she grasped his hands.

"You leave before I even speak what I wish," she said softly and Legolas once again moved to rest on his knees before her. "Boromir . . .," she trailed off and looked to the fallen man. Aragorn was washing his face and hands preparing to send him to the halls of his forefathers and Carita sighed as she looked to Legolas once more. "Boromir fell defending Merry and Pippin, he fell during a battle all of us could have easily fallen in. Legolas, I do not wish to witness your falling or you witness mine without telling you." Legolas frowned and felt his chest tighten as he squeezed her hands.

"Tell me what Carita?" he asked her and Carita was going to tell him everything. She was going to tell him how much she loved him and how foolish she had been for refusing to allow them some form of happiness. She now realized that she did not cause Annatar to turn, she did not cause the darkness that had surrounded her for so many years but was merely placed there by a Maiar that claimed to love her, but did not. She could see it in Legolas' eyes that he cared for her deeply and she could feel it in the briefest of touches upon her face by his calloused hands. Taking another deep breath she smiled and opened her mouth to speak.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called and Carita sighed as Legolas pulled away from her and stood. The elf looked down at Aragorn who was wiping his hands on a piece of cloth. "Come and help us load Boromir into one of the boats." Legolas nodded and looked at Carita whose face was set in a frown as she too stood and picked up her sword from the stone.

"Carita," Legolas began as he touched her arm and she shook her head as she turned her eyes to him.

"It is alright," she told him forcing a smile to her lips. "It can wait until another time," she said quickly before she sheathed her sword and quickly descended down from the large boulder. Legolas sighed and did the same, but as Carita moved to her pack and fastened on her cloak given to her by Galadriel, Legolas moved to help Aragorn and Gimli load Boromir into the boat.

Aragorn and Legolas pushed Boromir's boat into the water and the currant carried the fallen Gondorian solider down to the falls and then over the rippling water. Carita sighed as she tightened her belt and then wiped at her eyes and tears that had once again fallen. Aragorn fastened Boromir's arm guards onto his arms, to honor the fallen man, and looked out over the river. Sam and Frodo had climbed out of their boat and were filling Sam's pack with supplies before they slowly went up the embankment and out of sight.

"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore," Legolas said as he pushed the boat into the water.

"We are not to follow," Carita said solemnly as she moved to stand next to Aragorn, and Legolas looked at her. Gimli turned and looked at her as well.

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands," Aragorn said as Legolas walked to where he and Carita stood. Gimli sighed gruffly and he too marched over to where they stood.

"Then it has all been in vain! The fellowship has failed," Gimli said and Aragorn moved to stand before Legolas and Gimli. Carita understood where they path would take them, but the others had yet to see. Aragorn placed one hand on Legolas' shoulder and the other on Gimli's as he looked back and forth between his two friends.

"Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left," Aragorn said before he stepped back and looked at Carita. "Are you well enough to travel?" he asked her and she nodded.

"Aye, I am just fine," she said honestly and Aragorn nodded with a smile before he looked at the others.

"Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let us hunt some orc!" Aragorn said determinedly before he turned and ran into the trees.

"Yes!" Gimli exclaimed before he followed Aragorn and Legolas looked at Carita. She smiled at him and nodded before she turned and followed the dwarf and man. Legolas sighed quietly before he too followed and he hoped that once they found their friends Carita would share with him what she had been about to. However, his more pressing thoughts laid with the two small hobbits that now carried the fate of the world, and he hoped that they would find their path safely.