Thank you all so much for your reviews! Sorry again for the long wait, the week was insane yet again. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and as always 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 21

Legolas sighed as he walked into his own small chamber. He smiled as he moved over to the window and opened the wooden shudders and looked at the quiet landscape. He laughed despite the sadness of the city and sighed once more. He had planned everything; everything he wanted to say to Carita, and she went ahead and beat him to it. He lost his nerve when the words 'I cannot do this,' he had meant to speak those words while he looked at her and then he was going to quickly follow with 'I cannot wait to tell you how I feel now that I know.'

However, Carita took his words and his slow nervous actions as something negative. He could tell by the worry and uncertainty he had seen in her eyes when she looked up at him. Legolas had not expected for her to say that she loved him. He knew she cared for him, but he had not realized that her heart was where his laid; if he had he would not have been so nervous. He laughed quietly again before he closed the shutters, removed his boots and outer tunic before he settled into his bed and closed his eyes. Sadness and grief would come at the dawn, but the night would be filled with thoughts of a certain Maiar that probably was lying in a similar position as he was.

Carita stood next to Éowyn who was literally trembling and she put a comforting arm around the woman. "Still your tears, my friend," Carita whispered and tried to lessen her grief. "Your cousin is well and in the halls of his forefathers." Éowyn's lip shook and she nodded her head as her continued to fall. Her black scarf blew about her head from the wind and her eyes were trained ahead and at the open path that waited for the guards that carried her cousin to walk upon towards his tomb.

Carita squeezed Éowyn's shoulder before she pulled away and remained standing next to her. The King had asked her to stand with his niece, and out of respect for the man who had obviously been through much she did just that. They stood in silence with only the sound of the roaring wind and the soft cries and sniffs of the people around them. Carita closed her eyes and took a slow breath. It had been so long since she had been near so many people, and it had been thousands of years since she felt that much grief. She heard Éowyn take a shaky deep breath and Carita opened her eyes and saw the large guards of Rohan carrying their fallen prince. They stopped before the open tomb and Éowyn began to sing.

"Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended," Éowyn said with a slight shake to her voice. "Giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende on Meduselde þæt he ma no wære his dryhtne dyrest and mæga deorost." Carita bowed her head as Prince Theodred's body passed before her and was led into the tomb. When the stone door was placed before it, sealing it tightly she raised her head once more and looked at Éowyn who had quickly moved to her uncle. She kissed his cheek and quickly made her way through the people and then into the city. Carita sniffed softly and moved to Legolas and took his hand into her own.

The people started to move back to the city, and Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Carita followed. However, Gandalf remained behind from the king, who handed his cloak, sword, and crown to his guard who then slowly followed the others.

"So much has happened to these people," Carita whispered softly to Legolas and Aragorn as they walked. "I just hope that they are strong enough to recover."

"The Rohirrim are a strong people, Carita," Aragorn said and Carita nodded. She knew that, but what she was uncertain of was if their king was strong enough to stand for them and show his people not to be afraid any longer.

"They had no warning," Éowyn said as she wrapped a blanket around one of the two children that had came to Edoras on horseback with no water or food. Their village had been attacked and their mother had sent them away to worn the king, and they knew not if their mother was even alive. "They were unarmed. Now the wildmen are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree."

"Where's mama?" the little girl asked and Éowyn quieted her. Carita sighed and shifted uncomfortably in where she stood next to Legolas who stood next to Aragorn that was sitting across from Gimli who was eating.

"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children," Gandalf said from his seat next to Theoden who was sitting on his throne. Carita noticed that Theoden looked at Gandalf's hand wearingly and it was obvious that move was not trusted by the king. "You must fight."

"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak," Aragorn said as he lowered his pipe from his lips and all eyes turned to him. "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."

"They will be three hundred leagues from here by now," Theoden said as he stood from his thrown and walked down the steps before he paced slightly across the stone floor. Carita stood straighter and trained her eyes on the king. "Éomer cannot help us. I know what it is that you want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."

"Open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not," Aragorn said firmly and at the look Theoden gave Aragorn, Carita looked back and forth between them. Theoden obviously took what Aragorn said as a challenge.

"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan," Theoden said. Aragorn bowed his head and returned his pipe to his lips. Gandalf stood and looked at Theoden.

"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked and Theoden looked at him before he turned his eyes to his niece and then looked at Gandalf once more.

"We make for Helms Deep," was all he said before he left the room followed by his men. Carita sighed and looked at Legolas.

"That is what Saruman wants," she said in a whisper and Legolas looked at her. "He wants to destroy them all in one swoop and he will do so if they are not ready to fight."

"They will be ready Carita," Legolas told her in a hushed whisper when he noticed Éowyn watching them curiously as a maid took the children away.

"But what if they are not?" she asked knowing full well it would be their doom. He gave her a small smile and raised his hand to her cheek and brushed his thumb under her eye.

"You worry too much," he said. Carita smiled and then pulled herself away from him when she saw Gandalf approaching them.

"Follow me," Gandalf said and they made their way outside to hear one of the king's guards tell the city that they were moving to Helms Deep. "Helm's Deep!" Gandalf hissed as they walked to the stables, Gimli taking up the rear of the group.

"They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king?" Gimli asked as they walked and Aragorn glanced at him before he turned his eyes ahead once more.

"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past," Aragorn said and Carita sighed.

"Yes, well, it may not save them now," Carita said as they entered the stables, but quiet enough for the people of Rohan not to hear her.

"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan," Gandalf said as he stopped in front of Shadowfax's stall and settled his eyes on Aragorn. "He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defenses have to hold," Gandalf said firmly and Aragorn nodded.

"They will hold," Aragorn said firmly. Gandalf nodded and then moved into the stall where he stroked Shadowfax's neck and looked off into the distance.

"The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me," Gandalf said quietly and Carita smiled softly. "Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time." He climbed onto Shadowfax's back and looked at Aragorn and Carita who had moved next to him. "With luck, my search will not be in vain. Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day; at dawn, look to the East." Aragorn nodded once again and Carita stepped closer to the gate door.

"Ride safe, my friend," Carita said and Gandalf smiled at her.

"Go," Aragorn said as Carita pulled the door open and Shadowfax set off in such a run that Legolas and Gimli barely just had time to move out of the way. "Let's gather our things and ready for the journey," Aragorn said as he looked to Legolas and Gimli, and then looked to Carita, who nodded and turned from him and walked from the stables. However, she did not get far when Legolas was quickly at her side.

"You still doubt the king's decision?" Legolas asked as they walked inside and towards Carita's chamber. Legolas already had his weapons and belongings with him, Carita needed to get her cloak and planned to leave her satchel there.

"Aye, but as he told Aragorn Theoden is King of Rohan and his word is law," Carita said and Legolas nodded. They soon entered her chamber and Carita grabbed her cloak. "He brings his people to their death," Carita whispered and grasped her cloak tightly in her hands. Legolas sighed quietly and moved to stand before her and grasped her hands gently in his own and she turned her eyes to him.

"We do not know what will happen," Legolas told her. "You say there is always hope, do not doubt your own words now." Carita laughed quietly and nodded her head, but part of her was still worried all the same. "Here, let me," he quietly and took her cloak from her. He wrapped it around her shoulders and fastened the pin before he raised his hands to her hair and pulled her long braid from underneath it and settled it over her shoulder. He played with the very end of her braid near her right hip and Carita smiled.

"You like to play with my hair," she teased and Legolas turned his eyes to hers as her hand wrapped around his and she laced her fingers with his. He grinned and laughed softly.

"I do," he whispered and leaned into her and kissed her softly and all to brief for her liking. "Are you bringing your pack?" he asked and she shook her head.

"No," she said as she pulled away from him and raised her fingers to her lips. She sighed quietly and cursed herself for the effect he had on her with only a simple kiss. Legolas smiled when Carita looked away from him.

"Ready to join the others?" he asked and she nodded as she looked at him.

"Aye," she whispered and Legolas smiled at her before he took her hand and kissed her palm before he took her arm and led her from the room and out to the stables to ready for their journey to Helms Deep.