I hope you all aren't too angry with me for taking so long to update. Thank you all very much for your reviews! I'm glad you guys enjoyed the last chapter. I hope you like this one as well. 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 22

Riding on top of Moonlight, Carita let her eyes scan across the people of Edoras as they walked past her before she focused on the distance ahead. She had brought her horse to a stop so she could look about and focus more freely. Something was off. She could feel it, but what it was she couldn't place it. A quiet gasp caught her attention and she turned her eyes down to the passing people to see a small girl that was walking next to her mother looking up at Carita with wide eyes. Carita sent the girl a smile and her surprised face slowly melted into a smile as she past her. Carita laughed softly and urged Moonlight on along side the people and next to Aragorn, who rode on top the horse Éomer had given him to ride.

"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women," Gimli told Éowyn, who walked next to the horse he rode on and led him. "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men." Éowyn laughed softly, smiled, and looked back at Aragorn with a smile. He returned her smile and gestured with his hand over his beard.

"It's the beards," he whispered and Éowyn smiled as she shushed him before she turned her eyes ahead once more. Carita frowned and looked at Aragorn before he looked at Éowyn; she had seen that look Éowyn had given the ranger. She had seen in all to well before when she saw her friend Arwen look upon Aragorn. Shaking her head she urged Moonlight forward and further up the line of people. She could see Legolas ahead in the distance, his eyes scanning their path ahead and his senses probably tuned into the feeling that she knew he felt; because if she felt uneasy she knew he felt it too.

A commotion behind her made her turn Moonlight around and looked back only to see Arod trotting past her and Gimli slowly sitting up from the ground with Éowyn's help.

"It's alright, it's alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate!" Gimli said and Carita laughed and shook her head before she turned Moonlight ahead once more. Gimli hated riding on horses, and it didn't look like Arod enjoyed him as a passenger either.

The daylight was starting to wane, and the large party had came to rest. There was light enough for everyone to eat and settle themselves before the night came. Carita had let Moonlight wander to find grass to gnaw and she moved to where Legolas stood, his eyes still moving about the distance.

"Do you see anything?" she asked him gently and he turned around and looked at her with a small smile.

"No," he said simply and she nodded before she glanced over her shoulder and when she saw no eyes in their direction, she slipped into his arms. Legolas sighed and took her into his arms happily and thankful for the small distraction she provided. "How are you fairing?" She sighed and looked up at him as she pulled away slightly.

"As well as can be expected, making a journey I do not think these people should be making," Carita said and Legolas nodded as she slipped completely from his arms. "This journey is straining many of them, especially the old that do not have carts to ride in."

"They will be fine," Legolas reassured her as he raised his hand to her face and smiled. "When we set out again at dawn, our journey will only be a half a day longer and then they can rest properly within the walls of their fortress." Carita smiled and raised her hand to his and wrapped her fingers around his wrist before she turned her head slightly and kissed his palm. Legolas smiled and turned his hand to catch hers. "Let us find something to eat." Carita nodded and laced her fingers with his while they walked to see what they could find, both unaware of a pair of eyes watching them with curiosity.

The dawn came and their journey continued on, but Carita felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had spent the night comfortable and safe inside Legolas' arms. They had found a spot secluded enough, but visible enough for Legolas to keep his senses keen and alert and Carita as well. It was late morning and Carita was walking along side Moonlight, stretching her legs and when a voice came from her left, it surprised her.

"May I ask you a question, Carita?" Éowyn asked and Carita smiled.

"You just have, but you may ask another," Carita said and Éowyn laughed softly.

"Thank you," she said and Carita paused for the woman and her horse to catch up. "I was wondering . . . your relationship with the elf, Legolas. I saw the two of you yesterday evening and I am afraid my curiosity has been peeked." Carita smiled.

"He is . . . well you could say he is courting me," Carita said and Éowyn looked at her with an indescribable look on her face. It wasn't quite understanding but it wasn't quite confusion.

"Aren't elves immortal?" Éowyn asked. "Do not take this wrong, Carita, but do elves often court women of mortal kind?" Carita laughed despite the fact that Éowyn was confused.

"I do not mean to laugh, my friend," Carita said slowly as she caught her breath. "But why do you assume that I am of mortal kind?" Carita asked quietly and Éowyn looked at her with even more confusion on her face before her eyes flickered to Carita's ears and then to her face once more.

"But . . .," Éowyn trailed off and Carita only smiled. However, her merriment at Éowyn's confusion was short lived when screams echoed somewhere ahead. Her smile fell and her eyes snapped forward. Carita knew that if Éowyn heard it, it would have been muffled to her. "What is it?" she asked quietly and Carita shook her head and watched as Aragorn ran up the hill.

"A scout!" she heard Legolas shout and she sighed heavily before she was on Moonlight's back. Éowyn looked at her and then at Aragorn as he ran down the hill towards the others.

"What is it? What do you see?" Theoden shouted to Aragorn and the man ran to his horse.

"Wargs!" Aragorn called and grabbed the reins of his horse. "We're under attack!" The people began to panic while the riders got on their horses. "Get them out of here!" he yelled at Theoden and he gestured toward the villagers.

"All riders to the head of the column!" Theoden called. Carita looked at Éowyn as the woman made to get her sword.

"No, Éowyn, this is not your battle," Carita told her and Éowyn looked at her with a glare.

"You fight," she hissed and Carita shook her head.

"You do not know why," Carita said and she clicked her tongue and Moonlight turned.

"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep. And make haste!" Theoden exclaimed as Carita past him and paused at Aragorn.

"How many?" she asked him and he shook his head.

"I do not know," Aragorn breathed. "Legolas came upon one of them attacking Hama and Gamling." Carita nodded and the King joined them.

"Ride," Theoden ordered and Aragorn and Carita's horses fell in line with Théoden's. Gimli was on Arod, riding next to Moonlight and as they came to the top of the hill, she saw Legolas firing arrows onto the enemy. She drew her sword and smiled when she saw Legolas swing onto Arod, but her smile fell when she saw the wargs and their riders charging forward. Her grip tightened on her sword and she patted Moonlight's neck as he charged on. He would not let her fall that she was certain. "Charge!" Theoden shouted and along with the men Carita let out a yell and charged on.

Moonlight surged forward and she sliced at an orc before he had a chance to raise his blade. Moonlight turned quickly and Carita continued battle as wargs surrounded her and Moonlight.

"Get the Maiar!" a voice called from her left and one orc charged his warg at her. She swung her sword around, but his warg crashed into Moonlight's side. Carita was thrown from Moonlight's back, and the white stallion was knocked down. Moonlight got to his feet, and Carita shook her head as she stood and regained her footing. Four wargs and their riders circled her and she readied her sword as her eyes danced at each one of her enemies and she glared.

One warg charged at her, but she sliced her sword down its neck only to have its rider swing at her. She countered, but slipped on the blood soaked grass. His blade came close to her throat, but she was able to hold his blade back.

He sneered at her, but the squealing around them, broke his attention from her and she pushed him off of her and sank her blade into his stomach. He let out a squeal of his own as Carita twisted her blade deeper and then pulled it from him, and he fell in a heap onto the ground. Taking a deep breath, Carita looked up and saw several riders doing much the same as she just had and Legolas was moving quickly to her. The battle was dwindling down and Legolas' left hand was on her face and forcing her eyes to his.

"Are you hurt?" he asked her and she shook her head as he lowered his hand.

"No, I'm not hurt," she breathed. "Are you?" He shook his head and she sighed as she looked around. Many men and horses laid fallen, but she was relieved to see Moonlight standing tall, but he was standing near the cliff's edge. Carita frowned and looked around. She saw the King and Gimli, but she did not see Aragorn. She turned her eyes to Legolas and felt a sudden panic. "Where is Aragorn?" she asked and Legolas turned slightly from her and his own eyes scanned the battle scene around them.

"I do not know," he whispered before he stepped away from her and she followed him, her eyes scanning the fallen, his looking at the men moving about. "Aragorn!" Legolas called and Carita became even more worried.

"Aragorn?" she called as well as she moved towards Moonlight.

"Aragorn?" came Gimli's voice and her stomach knotted. As she neared Moonlight a laughing orc caught her attention and she turned around and looked down at him to see Gimli and Legolas doing the same. "Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing," Gimli said as he straddled the orc and held his axe at his throat.

"He's dead," he said through a cough before he laughed evilly and Carita looked at Legolas in disbelief, but the elves eyes were on the orc. "Took a little tumble off the cliff." Legolas looked up at the cliff, glanced at Carita, and then turned his eyes to the orc moving to him quickly and grasping his armor.

"You lie," he hissed with a deep anger in his voice. The orc laughed, but it was more of a choke before he finally died. Carita turned her eyes to the cliff and moved to its edge and looked down. Moonlight neighed softly and he nudged her shoulder. She looked at her horse and felt tears come to her eyes. It was as if Moonlight had confirmed what the orc had just said.

Legolas was at her side quickly and he too looked down at the raging river and rocky cliff-face below. He held out his hand to her and she looked down only to see the Evenstar pendant Aragorn wore over his neck. Carita looked at him before she looked back down at the water. Gimli was soon next to them, along with King Theoden.

"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead," Theoden said as he turned and looked at his men. Legolas and Carita looked at Theoden and the man sighed quietly before he put his hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Come," he told them gently and the three turned their eyes back to the water, not believing that their friend was gone. Carita took Legolas' free hand into hers and shook her head.

"Just as it was with Merry and Pippin," she whispered and Legolas looked at her but her eyes remained on the water. "I do not think he is lost."

"Let us hope lassie, that your intuition proves true," Gimli said his voice laced with a sadness that she knew was in her own.

"Come," Legolas said and he let go of Carita's hand and moved away. Carita turned around and looked at him and watched as he slowly made his way down the small hill. Carita sighed as Gimli followed Legolas and she turned to Moonlight.

"Please, My Lady," Carita whispered as she ran her bloodstained fingers through Moonlight's mane and closed her eyes tightly. "Please let my heart be right. We need him." With another sigh, Carita mounted Moonlight all the while her mind and heart laying with a man whose body was carried down stream by the raging water.