Hello all! Sorry it took forever for me to update. Over the weekend we were hit by the first major snow storm in a long time where I live, eleven inches of snow in my neighborhood alone. Well, I'm not certain about this chapter, and I think I may have to tinker with it a little more. Let me know what you think. Thank you all very much for your reviews as always they mean the world to me!

Note: Dialogue in bold is spoken in Elvish.

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

Chapter 24

Carita paced outside the keep, trying to calm her frazzled nerves. The cool evening air wrapped around her and she sighed as she ran a hand down her face. The men were bustling about and as she moved to the stairs she found Aragorn looking at a nervous young boy she figured no older than twelve.

"Give me your sword," he said as he held out his hand and the boy turned to him and slowly walked to him before he held out his sword to Aragorn. "What is your name?" he asked.

"Haleth, son of Háma, my lord," the boy said quietly and Carita slowly walked up the stairs and past a few of the men who looked at her with curiosity, as if wondering what she was doing out of the caves when battle was close at hand. "The men are saying that we will not live out the night. They say that it is hopeless," the boy said, his voice full of worry. Aragorn stood and swung around the heavy blade as Carita stopped just below where the two stood and Aragorn looked at the battered sword in his hands before he looked at Haleth.

"This is a good sword, Haleth, son of Háma," he said before he stepped down and held out the sword to the boy who took it slowly. Aragorn leaned down and put his hand on his shoulder. "There is always hope," Aragorn said and Carita smiled.

"Spoken as a true warrior," she said and Aragorn stood and looked at her. Haleth turned his attention to her and she turned her light eyes to his. "Have faith, young lord," she said quietly as she walked up the steps and stood next to Aragorn. "It is never a wise choice to despair in battle. As Lord Aragorn said, there is always hope and as long as you keep it within you, you shall never fail." She raised her hand and tapped his chin with a smile and Haleth gave her a small but sad smile and looked down at his sword before he looked back at them.

"Thank you my lord," he said and then turned his eyes to Carita. "My lady," he said with a small bow of his head and then walked away. Carita looked at Aragorn and he sighed as their gaze met.

"Legolas has not learned a lesson it took a boy only seconds to comprehend," she said agitatedly and Aragorn smiled.

"Come, let us get some sort of armor," Aragorn said and Carita nodded following him inside.

While Aragorn fitted himself with some chain mail, Carita found arm guards to her liking and a thick black vest that would give her some protection, but little. The rest of the items were far too big for her smaller frame. Movement caught her attention as she tied her vest and she looked up to see Legolas standing with Aragorn and holding the man's sword out to him. Aragorn took it with a bow of his head.

"We have trusted you this far. You have not led us astray. Forgive me. I was wrong to despair," Legolas said quietly as he looked at Aragorn and he bowed his head before he put his hand on Legolas' shoulder.

"Ú-moe edaved, Legolas, (There is nothing to forgive, Legolas)" Aragorn said gently and Legolas put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder.

"There are some things," Carita said and Legolas looked up from Aragorn as he lowered his hand. Legolas moved over and stood before her, his blue eyes meeting hers. "Are you willing to admit to me that you were wrong?" she asked and Legolas shook his head.

"No," he replied simply and she narrowed her eyes. "You should not be in this battle. There is no reason for you to fight."

"As I said," she replied calmly. "You have no power over me." Legolas was slightly taken a back from the fire he saw in her eyes yet again. "You forget who I am, what I am. I will stand with the men of Rohan, and there is nothing you can do to stop me." Carita walked from the armory more resolved than anything to fight and to survive the night just to show the elf that he was wrong in doubting her. Aragorn sighed and looked at Legolas.

"She is right you know," Aragorn said and Legolas turned his eyes to him. "She has seen more than either of us combined, Legolas, and her skills surpass all that stand in this keep, even yours." Legolas sighed and bowed his head as Gimli came from the back grumbling.

"We had time, I'd get this adjusted," Gimli said. The two men looked at him as he let go of the heavy chain mail vest that pooled around his feet. "It's a little tight across the chest." Aragorn bit back a smile, but Legolas did not have the will to when he knew that what Aragorn said about Carita was true. A horn echoed from above and the elf frowned as he looked to the door. The horn sounded again and he moved towards the stairs.

"That is no orc horn," Legolas said and the three of them ran up the stairs and outside. They were at the top of the stairs and saw Haldir standing at the foot of the stairs talking with King Theoden.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together," Haldir said as he looked at the King and then turned his eyes up to them with a small smile on his face. "We come to honor that allegiance." Aragorn ran down the stairs with Legolas and Gimli following.

"Mae govannen, Haldir, (Welcome, Haldir)" Aragorn said as he bowed his head and then clasped Haldir's shoulder before he hugged him. Surprised at first Haldir slowly returned the man's embrace. They parted and Aragorn smiled at him. "You are most welcome," Aragorn whispered before he stepped away and Legolas moved forward. Legolas clasped Haldir's shoulder and the marchwarden did the same. They parted and Legolas moved to stand behind Haldir feeling better that his kind had come to help the people of Rohan.

"We are proud to fight alongside men, once more," Haldir said as he turned his eyes to Theoden.

"The arrows and the blade work of you and your guardsmen will be of great help, Haldir," came a soft voice, echoing through the silently night air. Haldir looked up at the top of the stairs and saw Carita slowly making her way down the steps. The eyes of the men and the king moved to her as well. She came to a stop before Haldir and her face was expressionless; her eyes never once wavered to Legolas even though he was staring at her intently and practically daring her to look at him. "If you shall have me, I would like to stand with you and your guards." Haldir bowed his head with his hand over his heart.

"The honor would be ours, my lady," he said softly and Carita nodded her head as he lifted his.

"Good, let us move into position," she said quietly and looked to Theoden who simply stared at her. "It will be wise to move your men as well, my lord," she said. "Our enemy is almost upon us." She looked at Haldir and nodded before she walked around him and moved through the still silent men. With a raise of her hand as she past them, the elves turned and followed her without question and Theoden let out a heavy breath as he walked down the stairs.

"They follow her order without question, when their captain stands before them?" Theoden asked and Aragorn sighed quietly as Haldir turned his eyes to the king. "She should be in the caves, why does she stand?" he asked as he looked to Aragorn.

"Her skill with her blade is very good, and she has seen battle with the Uruk-hai before. Her help will be needed," he said and Theoden still looked puzzled that she would be allowed to fight.

"You know not who she is," Haldir said before he followed his men and they took their position along the wall and along the floor of the keep. Theoden looked at Aragorn with confusion clear on his face and the other man only offered a small smile.

"It is time, my lord," Aragorn said and Theoden nodded before he turned to Gamling and called orders to ensure their men were ready.

Before Legolas took his station along the wall with the others, he moved to Carita who was standing and talking to Haldir quietly. Her carefree air was gone, and in its place was the cold air that he had seen only one time before, and that was at the Council of Elrond deciding the fate of the one ring.

"Carita," Legolas said and she stopped mid-sentence and turned to look at him. The light of the torches and the light the moon gave her, it was easy for him to see the anger still in her eyes, but her face was cool and neutral. "I must speak with you," he said quickly and Carita looked at Haldir who nodded and left, but not without Legolas seeing the grin that was on his lips.

"What is it?" she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Legolas hesitated as he slowly met her eyes once more. "Well? We haven't much time," she said bitterly and Legolas' eyes narrowed before he grasped her arm and pulled her into the shadows of a dip in the rock, her light still shined and allowed him to see the surprise on her face. "What are you doing?" she hissed, but Legolas would not let her overpower him again.

"You were right, and I am sorry, but you must understand," Legolas began before he glanced about them and lowered his voice even more. "This night, this battle will be-," she interrupted him.

"Will be like the battles I faced long ago," she said quietly. "Saruman's Uruk-hai are stronger and smarter than the mindless orcs of Morgorth, but their will and desire is the same. I have seen great carnage, Legolas, and I will not stand back and watch these men die alone, knowing that I can help. I had to do it once before, and I will not do it again."

"There is much I have yet to learn about you, Carita," he said as he looked down at her, understanding finally in his eyes.

"When I fled Mordor, I came upon much in my journey from Sauron's tower to the pass. I have seen and faced worse than what I will see this night," she said quietly.

"I do not know all that you have seen, Carita," he said. "You have not shared all of your past with me, but I will not have you get hurt," he told her. "If you must fight, then stand at my sighed with Gimli." Carita gave him a small smile and raised her hand to his cheek. A part of Legolas was relieved to see the softness once again in her face and the coldness was gone.

"I will not fall to harm by standing with the elves of Lothlorien, Legolas," she said quietly. "You'll be standing with them, just farther down the line." Legolas gently took her hand from his face and held it firmly in his own. "We will find each other again," she whispered. "I feel it." She leaned into him and kissed his lips gently before she pulled back from him. "Stay safe, my love," she whispered to him and made to pull away before he caught her and stopped her from doing so. She looked at him with a frown. "We must move, Legolas, there is no more time." He pulled her him and kissed her hard upon the lips. She gasped when he kissed her, but let him do as he liked for she knew it would be long before they would have another stolen moment.

"I am sorry to have doubted you," he said when he pulled his lips away from hers and looked down at her intently. "Fight hard, Carita," he whispered heatedly. "Fight hard for what you see in my eyes." She met his gaze and instead of her resolve strengthening with anger, it strengthened with hope. For in his eyes was hope for their future for what they would share when the war was over.

"I will, if you will," she whispered and Legolas nodded.

"Always," he told her before he kissed her once more and slipped away from her and moved to where Gimli was waiting. Carita sighed and closed her eyes before she cursed quietly. Opening her eyes she came to a realization. She realized that there was little hope in her ever trying to remain angry with the elf. He had some power over her, but that power only ruled over her heart. With another sigh she quickly moved to stand next to Haldir along the wall. Haldir looked at her before he turned his eyes out to the darkness once more. The men and elves had fallen silent as they waited for their enemy to come upon them.

"You have no bow," Haldir told her and she smiled, her eyes remaining forward.

"My skill with the blade is better," she replied.

"What good are you upon the wall then?" he teased and Carita's smile grew.

"When they bring their ladders for the walls," she said before she looked at him to see him smiling at her, "you'll be thankful for my blade work."

"Will I?" he asked and she gave him a curt nod.

"Aye, you will," she said before she turned her eyes forward once more and her heart began to race as the heavy footfalls and the clanging armor of the Uruk-hai echoed in the distance.