Hello everyone! Thank you for your reviews, as you know they mean so much to me! Sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger and I would have had this up yesterday if I hadn't been so busy. I hope you like this chapter. 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 26

Legolas turned Arod around when he heard Carita's yell and smiled at her, but his smile fell when he saw her fall from her horse as he reared back. His heart fell when she did not rise and when an Uruk raised his blade to strike, Legolas felt frozen and as if he could only watch. An arrow suddenly pierced through the Uruk who fell backwards with his sword falling at his side. Caring not that the battle raged around him, Legolas urged Arod forward and to Carita.

He cut down any enemy that stood in his way and jumped from Arod's back when he pulled the reins to a stop next to Moonlight who was protecting Carita from any Uruk that tried to advance on her.

"Carita," Legolas breathed as he gathered her in his arms, but her head lulled back. He looked her over, but found not obviously wounds to her body. He raised his hand to her neck and held up her head. His fingers became damp, but he paid no mind. He could feel her heart beating against her palm and at that moment it was all that mattered. It was the second time he had gathered her in his arms after a battle, and he had hope to never do it again.

The battle raged on around him as he looked down at the Maia he loved, but his focus was on her. Arod and Moonlight served as their protectors as Legolas shifted his hold of her and looked at his hand that had grown damp. Red was what met his eyes, blood from a wound to the back of her head yet again. Legolas sighed quietly and looked at her paled face, and at that moment in time, he wished that he had the hands of a healer instead of those of a warrior.

"Victory!" echoed Theoden's voice and Legolas looked up to see the man raise his sword as he looked to the south. "We have victory!" Legolas looked around him and saw that those that surround him and Carita then were the men of Rohan and the Elvin guards that remained. He turned further and saw the Uruks running towards trees that had not been there the morning before.

"Stay out of the forest! Keep away from the trees!" shouted another man. Legolas recognized his voice, Éomer, the nephew of the king and the man that had accused him of being a spy of Saruman. Knowing that the battle was over Legolas sighed and looked down at Carita until he felt a presence behind him.

"Legolas," a deep voice said and he looked over his shoulder at Haldir who looked down at him worriedly. "Is she alright?" Haldir asked, bow still in hand. Legolas nodded his head.

"I believe so, but it is hard for me to say for I am no healer," Legolas said as he looked back down at her and sighed. "Her pulse is strong." He turned his eyes to the Marchwarden once more and knew instantly that it was he who had fired the arrow that had saved Carita. He knew that Haldir had done what he had not. "It was you that saved her," Legolas said but Haldir said nothing. "I owe you everything I have." Haldir shook his head as he looked down at Carita lying in Legolas' arms.

"She saved me upon the wall," Haldir said quietly. "There is nothing to be repaid." Legolas sighed and quickly stood with Carita in his arms.

"Would you hold her, while I mount Arod?" he asked. "I want to get her to the keep." Haldir nodded and carefully took Carita from Legolas while the elf moved to mount Arod when Moonlight neighed loudly and raised up on his hind legs. Legolas stepped back and Moonlight settled down and walked in front of him as if telling him he would ride upon his back to the keep, and no other horse. "Very well, my friend." He told the stallion gently and quickly mounted his bare back before he reached down and took Carita from Haldir's arms.

"I will find Aragorn, and tell him of her condition," Haldir said and Legolas nodded thankfully.

"And I will find her a place to lay until he arrives," Legolas said and the words had no more left his lips and Moonlight surged to the keep with speed unlike any horse he had ever ridden upon before.

Once inside the fortress, Moonlight moved through the fallen men and Uurk carefully before he stopped at the foot of the steps that led to the keep. He swung his leg around and slid from the stallion's back. His feet settled upon the stone and he adjusted Carita in his arms before he rushed up the steps and inside. He found a small curve in the wall inside the hall that would serve as a small protected place for her to rest. He looked around and saw a soldier carrying a few blankets and he called over to him.

"Sir," Legolas said and the soldier looked at him and then at Carita before he looked at Legolas once more. "May I have one of those blankets to lay her upon?" Legolas asked and the man nodded and moved over to him. "Could you lay it out there?" Legolas asked and the man nodded again, but his eyes lingered on Carita.

"Is she . . .?" he asked and Legolas shook his head.

"She is not dead, simply injured," Legolas said and the man sighed quietly and laid out the blanket. "Thank you." The man gave him a curt nod and quickly went on his way, but not before looking back at Legolas as he laid Carita down upon the blanket.

"Legolas," came a whispered breath from her lips and Legolas gasped quietly as he moved his hand to her face, but she was still unconscious. He figured then that he must have been imagining that she had said his name. He sat there for what seemed like ages. When she did not stir, his worry began to grow. He knew she was strong and the wound would heal itself quickly with her gifts from the Lady Varda, but her body was weak from battle and he knew not how long it would take before she would return to him. He sighed quietly and reached out to her and ran his fingers down her pale cheek. Her skin's light did not wane, so, he knew she was still there.

"My Carita," he whispered softly as he looked down at her. "If only you would have listened to me you would not be lying here now. But, I know I cannot order you to do anything you wish not to." He leaned down and kissed her forehead before he heard Aragorn and Gimli calling out for him. Legolas stood and Aragorn spotted him quickly, shoving past several men and women that had came from the caves and over to Legolas. Gimli was on his heels.

"Where is she?" Aragorn asked and Legolas stepped aside and Aragorn saw Carita lying upon a blanket just on the floor behind Legolas. Aragorn kneeled down and began to look her over.

"It is her head," Legolas said and Aragorn looked at him. "She was thrown from her horse when Gandalf and the Rohirrim riders arrived." Aragorn sighed and looked back down at Carita before he turned her on her side and moved her long braid aside. At the base of her neck, she had a small gash; it was not deep but wide. Aragorn knew that her body would heal itself, but what worried him was how long it was taking it to do so. "Is she alright?" Legolas asked when he saw the concerned look on Aragorn's face. The man looked at his friend and gave a curt nod.

"I believe so, but I wish to clean her wound and apply some ointment and a bandage," Aragorn said. "I know not how long her body will need to repair itself, but I would rather prevent infection then to allow it to settle before her body can fix it." Legolas nodded as Aragorn stood. He put his hand on Legolas' shoulder. "She is strong, and it is not a mortal wound, she is simply weak."

"That is what worries me," he said as he looked at Carita. Aragorn squeezed his shoulder and looked at Gimli whose eyes were also settled on the sleeping Maia.

"I will get the materials I need, and I will return in a moment," Aragorn said before he walked away. Legolas nodded and took back his spot and kneeled next to Carita and took her hand.

Carita felt slightly damp and there was something poking into her back. She could not open her eyes, but she was well aware of voices talking quietly around her. "Do not worry, Legolas," came Gandalf's voice. "When we return, Carita will be well and able bodied. Lady Éowyn will ensure she is well taken care of on their journey back to Edoras."

"I do not feel right leaving her here," came Legolas' soft reply.

"She will be of no use to anyone and only in more danger if she rides upon a horse unconscious with a rider," came Aragorn's voice.

"I know," Legolas whispered and the Carita felt a soft breeze before she felt his fingers on her face.

"Come, Legolas, we must ride to Isengard," Gandalf said slowly. Legolas' hand lingered on her face.

"I'll be just a moment longer," Legolas said and Carita heard soft footfalls leaving wherever it was she laid. "When you wake, do not be angry that I left you," he whispered to her. "I will return to you as soon as I am able." Carita felt his breath upon her lips before he kissed her softly, and as his lips pressed against hers she felt strength return to her body and she raised her left arm to grasp his shoulder. Legolas stiffened and pulled away from her. He looked down at Carita with wide eyes, her hand still firmly upon his shoulder.

He could not help but smile as her light eyes slowly fluttered open and her light pink lips curled into a small smile.

"I go with you," she whispered. "You will not be parted from my company yet." Legolas looked down at her in shock. She sounded as if she was simply waking from a night's sleep then nearly a full day of unconsciousness; for the sun had set and rose again and there she laid looking up at him with a smile.

"You've only just awakened," Legolas said as he moved his hand to her face once more. "I do not think it wise-," she interrupted him.

"You may not think it is wise, my love, but it is what I will do," she said as she moved her hand from his shoulder and grasped his on her face. She pulled his hand away and sat up. Her head throbbed slightly and she removed the bandage from around her neck and turned so Legolas could see the healed skin. "I am no longer injured," she said and then once again met his light eyes with her own.

"You are still weak," he pointed out and she knew he was correct. She knew that there was no denying that fact, but she would not be left behind now that she was awake.

"Now, where is it that we are going?" she asked, but knowing where. Legolas allowed himself a chuckle and shook his head.

"I think all these blows to the head have caused some sort of damage," he teased relieved to have her alert and smiling at him once more.

"Legolas, now is not the time to tease," she said as she looked away from him and around her. Her sword belt and sword laid next to her and she stretched her back to removed the ache caused by the stone she laid upon. She stood and grabbed her sword and belt before she paused and swayed slightly on her feet when her head spun. Legolas stood and put his hands on her waist to steady her.

"You are not well enough," he told her and she shook her head.

"I am well enough," she said defiantly. "I am only a little dizzy." Legolas sighed and she pushed his hands away before she put on her belt and tossed her hair over her shoulder once more. "Are the others . . . are they well?"

"Aye," Legolas said as he looked at her. "They are all well. Are you sure you are well?"

"Legolas, I am well enough to ride," she told him firmly and Legolas looked down. He was slightly hurt by her tone. Carita sighed and raised her hand to his face. "I do not mean to be cross," she said and Legolas looked at her. "I just grow tired of that question." Legolas smiled and Carita lowered her hand to take his into her own.

"We ride to Isengard, Carita," Legolas said and she nodded.

"Then let us go," she said. Legolas gave her a small smile and nodded his head before the pair quietly made their way from the keep and out to the waiting men.