Hello everyone! I hope you all don't hate me too much for taking so long to update. My week was insane as always. I hope you all like this chapter and thank you very much for your reviews, as I say every time they mean so much to me! Let me know what you think and hopefully, I'll have another update up soon!

Note: Dialogue in bold is spoken in Elvish.

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

Chapter 19

They were nearing the Rohan city and came to a stop on top of a hill. The city that sat upon a small mountain at the foot of the great mountains around it, and Carita put her hand on Moonlight's neck to steady the stallion who wanted to continue on.

"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Théoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong," Gandalf said gravely and Carita narrowed her eyes as she looked at the city. It was a great city, but even from where she sat on top her horse, she could see the shadow that was hovering over the people. "Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." They charged forward once again and neared the city.

As they entered the gate, Carita and Aragorn both looked down at a fallen flag from one of the flag staffs near the hall. Aragorn looked at Carita and she shook her head before she urged Moonlight on behind Legolas and Gimli. The city was grim, and the people were dressed in black. They looked upon the strangers with both curiosity and fear, especially when their eyes landed on Gandalf.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard," Gimli said gruffly and Carita silently agreed. They brought their horses to a stop outside the stable and four men came forward. Carita dismounted and patted Moonlight's neck.

"Listen to the men, they will not hurt you," she whispered to her horse who snorted and then she smiled at the man when she saw him hesitate. "Don't worry, he's tame," she said softly and the man nodded before he led Moonlight into the stable with the others horses. Carita followed behind Legolas and Gandalf while the elf acted, and helped the 'old wizard' up the stairs. Their small party was stopped at the top of the stairs before the doors.

"Ah," Gandalf said with a smile as he looked upon a man Carita only assumed he knew. Carita stood on Aragorn's right and glanced at Aragorn before she looked to the light red haired man.

"I cannot allow you before Théoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame," the man said before he paused and sighed heavily, "by order of Gríma Wormtongue." Gandalf looked at the others and nodded. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli took much longer to hand over their weapons, while all Carita had to do was unbuckle her sword belt. She held out her sheathed blade to the man in front of her with a look. He bowed his head and took the sword from her, and for some reason she knew he knew how important the sword was to her. "Your staff," the man said and Carita looked at Gandalf.

"Hmm?" Gandalf asked before he looked at his staff and then looked at the man once more. "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" The man seemed to hesitate, but then nodded and turned.

They were led into the hall, Legolas still helping Gandalf walk inside. Carita kept her light eyes focused on the king and the greasy dark haired man that sat next to him. The king looked weak, and the cloudiness of his eyes told her all she needed to know. Saruman's hold was strong on the king, and she knew that it would take great strength on Gandalf's part to rid the king of the possession.

"My lord, Gandalf the Grey is coming. He's a herald of woe," the man with dark hair said and it took her all of two seconds to realize that he was Grima Wormtongue. However, he did not know that under the grey cloak Gandalf wore was a powerful white wizard.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden King," Gandalf said as Legolas let go of his arm and he walked a few steps ahead of the group. Carita felt eyes on them, and she turned her eyes to her right to see a group of men following them in shadows behind the pillars and people. Taking a deep breath, she turned her eyes ahead once more.

"He's not welcome," Grima hissed to the king and Carita narrowed her eyes.

"Why should I… welcome you, Gandalf… Stormcrow?" Theoden asked his voice slow, sluggish and struggling.

"A just question, my liege," Grima said as he stood and walked to Gandalf. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest."

"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind you teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf said before he raised his staff and held it against the sniveling man. Grima cowered back and shook.

"His staff!" Grima hissed. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!" The men hidden in the shadows charged forth and Carita shoved one of them as he lunged for Gandalf and then punched him hard sending him to the ground.

"Théoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows," Gandalf said while Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Carita fought off the men that tried to advance on him. Sending the second man that attached her to the stone floor, out cold, she breathed heavily and looked at Gandalf, only to have movement catch her eye. She looked and saw Grima trying to get away, but Gimli stopping him.

"I would stay still, if I were you," Gimli said to the man and Carita smiled as she looked at Gandalf and then Theoden.

"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell," Gandalf said as he held his hand out and closed his eyes. However, his limited magic spell had no effect on Theoden who started to laugh menacingly at him. Carita frowned and stepped closer to Gandalf.

"You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" Theoden said but Carita could hear a very familiar voice laced within his tone. Gandalf glared and threw his grey cloak back revealing his power and his bright white robes. Carita had to squint because the light blinded her. Theoden leaned back in his chair and groaned quietly.

"I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound," Gandalf said and raised his staff. Aragorn stopped a blonde woman in a white dress from rushing forward to the king.

"If I go. . . Théoden dies," came Saruman's full voice from Théoden's lips. Gandalf moved his staff closer and Theoden fell back more in his throne.

"You did not kill me, you will not kill him!" Gandalf exclaimed.

"Rohan is mine!"

"Be gone!" Gandalf said and charged forward striking a rising Theoden on the forehead with his staff. Theoden fell back limply before he swayed in his chair. Gandalf sighed heavily and stepped down from the steps. The woman escaped Aragorn's grasp and rushed forward to the king, bracing him and stopping him from falling forward. Slowly the aged and sickly pallor left the King's face and his older, but youthful face was once again his own. The woman smiled at him with tears in her eyes and Carita wondered who she was.

"I know your face. Éowyn… Éowyn," Theoden said with a smile, his voice weak, but his own. His blue eyes left the woman before him and swept across his hall to rest on Gandalf with confusion. "Gandalf?" The wizard smiled at him and bowed his head.

"Breathe the free air again, my friend," Gandalf said and Theoden took a deep breath as he slowly stood and looked about his hall. His eyes landed on Legolas and Gimli first before they fell on Aragorn then Carita. She gave him a smile and bowed her head slightly to him in respect. Theoden and looked down at his shaking hands.

"Dark have been my dreams of late," Theoden whispered.

"Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword," Gandalf said and the man that had stopped them at the door stepped forward with the large blade of the Rohan king. Theoden slowly wrapped his hands around the hilt and pulled the thick and heavy metal from the beautifully crafted sheath.

He looked at his sword and then his eyes fell on Grima in a glare that made the greasy man cower under Gimli's heavy metal boot. The guards quickly grabbed Grima and dragged him outside the hall before they threw him down the first flight of stairs.

"I've only ever served you, my lord!" Grima pleaded, but Theoden paid no heed as he walked down the stairs and advanced on the groveling man.

"Your leech craft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!" Theoden said with anger and hatred clear in his voice.

"Send me not from your side," Grima pleaded and Theoden growled before he raised his sword to kill Grima when Aragorn stopped him.

"No, my lord! No, my lord, let him go. Enough blood has been spilt on his account," Aragorn said as he held onto Théoden's hands. Theoden looked at him and lowered his sword. Aragorn let go of the king and moved to help Grima to his feet when the man spitted on his hand and took off shoving his way through the crowd of people that had gathered at seeing their king for the first time in many months.

"Get out of my way!" he yelled and charged to the stable where he took his horse and was gone.

"Hail, Théoden king!" a voice called and Carita, who had remained on the top platform with Legolas and the woman in white, bowed her head while those around her did the same and others kneeled before the king.

"Where is Théodred? Where is my son?" Theoden asked quietly and Carita raised her head and looked at the king. Something told her that the answer to that question was not going to be a positive one.

An hour after King Theoden was released from Saruman's grasp; he had yet to leave the room where his son laid in state. Carita stood in the stables and in Moonlight's stall where she ran a brush across his fur. At the dawn, they would lay Prince Theodred to rest and Carita mulled over the last few days in her mind. Frodo and Sam were too far from her sight for her to see them clearly, and she silently hoped that they were well and unharmed as they found their way to Mordor.

"Now that you have reunited with your horse, are you going to spend your spare moments with him?" came Legolas' voice from the door of the stall and she gave him a soft smile as she looked at him. He walked further into the stall so he was standing next to her.

"No, he was just in need of a decent brushing," she said as she put the brush down on the small stool that sat near the stall's wall. "Has the king left his son's room yet?" she asked and turned around to face Legolas once more.

"Not yet, but his niece is making the preparations for his burial tomorrow." Carita nodded and before she was able to stop herself, she sighed heavily and wrapped her arms around Legolas in a tight embrace. Legolas automatically wrapped his arms around her in return and the pair held onto each other.

"Can you feel the grief of these people? It is as if the city is flooded with fear, doubt, loss, and pain," she whispered and then felt Legolas kiss the top of her head.

"I can," he said gently.

"It is overwhelming." She was thankful he had come to her when he had, she needed his strength and the strength he seemed to give her by just being in the same room.

"It shall pass. They grief for their prince." Carita lifted her head from his shoulder and met his blue eyes in curiosity.

"If something would happen to you, your people would grieve for their prince too?" she asked softly and Legolas frowned as he raised his hand to her face and ran his calloused fingers down her cheek.

"They would, but would you?" he asked and Carita felt tears fill her eyes.

"In more ways than any living being could imagine," she whispered. Legolas could see nothing but the pure truth in her eyes. Legolas had battled with what exactly his feelings for the Maiar were and at that moment, they couldn't have been clearer. "Legolas," Carita began ready to make her confession surrounded by the bustling of men, horses, and the distinct smell that was a stable. "I want you to know that I-,"

"Excuse me, my lord and my lady," a guard said breaking the pair apart and Carita sighed in frustration. Would she ever be able to tell him how she felt? "Lord Aragorn, Gandalf, and Theoden King request your presence in the hall." With that, he was gone and Carita looked at Legolas who gave her a small smile before lacing her arm with his and leading her from the stable, up the steps and into the hall.