Hey all sorry for the wait! Thank you all very much for your reviews. I hope you like this chapter. It's kind of short and I don't know if its my best. Let me know what you think!

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Chapter 28

They had arrived back in Edoras just after mid-day and Carita helped Merry down from Moonlight. The hobbit looked up at her and she smiled at him. "Carita," he said hesitantly and she waited for him to continue. "What did Saruman mean, when he said . . . when he said that you should have died?" Carita sighed and the smile fell from her face as Pippin walked over to them and looked up at her curiously. The men also paused as they dismounted and the only ones who did not look curious were Gandalf and Legolas.

"Long ago," Carita said gently and after she had thought a moment. "Long ago before Sauron had been defeated by Isildur I was held captive by him in Mordor. I was his prisoner for nearly ten years, when I escaped," she said as she kept her eyes on Merry and Pippin, not daring to look at the others. Merry's eyes were wide and Pippin's face was set in a frown. "Now is not the time to continue with this story." She turned quickly and practically ran inside the Golden Hall. She used her speed and as she moved through the hall, so she would not come across Éowyn or any other and have to face them at that moment. Legolas sighed and took a step to go after her when Gandalf put a hand on his shoulder.

"There is much you do not know about Carita," Gandalf said as he looked at the hobbits and then glanced at the king and the men around them. "It is best that you do not bring up this matter again, at least until she is ready." Merry and Pippin nodded their heads and Legolas gave the wizard a curt nod before he quickly followed the path Carita had taken.

"You have returned," came a soft voice and Legolas stopped and looked at Éowyn who smiled kindly at him. Legolas gave her a small smile and nodded his head.

"Your uncle and brother will be inside in a moment," Legolas said as he bowed his head. "But I am afraid I have something I must see to." Éowyn frowned but nodded her head as she walked Legolas walk away and down the corridor. Legolas opened Carita's chamber door, not even bothering to knock.

Carita stood looking out the window and at the mountains in the distance when she heard Legolas slowly make his way into her room. He closed the door firmly behind him and slowly made his way over to her, gently placing his hands on her waist. Carita let out a heavy breath and leaned back against him, closing her eyes. Legolas wrapped his arms round her and closed his eyes when her hands moved to rest on top of his.

"Legolas," she said softly and he opened his eyes and tilted his head to look at her. Her eyes were still closed, but soon, she opened her eyes and looked at him. "I think there is something I must tell you." She turned around in his arms and he easily saw the tears in her eyes.

"Carita, you don't have to tell me anything you do not want to," Legolas told her and she gave him a sad smile. "I do not want you to tell me, not now," he said gently as he moved his hands to her face. "Now, I want you to rest."

"I am tired of resting," she said as she pulled his hands from her face. "I am tired of hiding my past from you. Legolas, I was Saruon's prisoner for so long I did not know light from dark, happiness from pain, or hope from despair. Time seemed to pass so slowly that each second felt as though it was a hundred years," she said as the tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she held them back. "For ten years I was kept in a room, only allowed to sit with him at evening meals. I watched him change from the beautiful Maia he was to the dark and sinister monster he became. My nights were spent in fear of what he would order me to do."

"The ring you wore," Legolas said quietly in understanding. Part of him was aching from the deep and unrelenting pain in he saw in her eyes. Carita nodded.

"Yes, the ring I wore," she said quietly. "The night I fled Mordor . .," her voice broke and she closed her eyes as the memory came flooding back.

"Annatar," she said dryly as she slowly stood from the fur lined metal chair and looked at the Maia she used to love. Now, she only feared and despised him. He laughed bitterly and shook his head, his handsome face was now hollowed and it frightened her. He was becoming more powerful, and she could feel it clear to what was left of her soul.

"How many times must I ask you not to call me that?" he asked, his voice now a hiss and deep. Carita only raised her chin and took a deep breath.

"What do you want with me tonight?" she asked as she ran her hands down her long black dress she was directed to wear that morning.

"Your light wanes," he said as he removed his heavy metal armor plate from his chest and Carita sighed quietly. "It has been nearly ten years, my pet, and you have yet to break."

"I won't break," she said firmly.

"I know," he said as he turned and looked at her, his once brown eyes were black and no matter the look he gave her Carita would not waiver from her stance. "That is why it pains me to say this to you tonight." He slowly walked over to her and Carita's eyes never left him.

"What pains you?" she asked her eyes narrowing at the grin that was slowly forming on his face. He leaned into her ear and whispered.

"Throw yourself into the fires of the mountain," he whispered and Carita's arm tingled and her mind seemed to separate before she raised her skirts and slowly made her way out of the tower with Saruon's laughter echoing behind her.

"How did you escape it?" Legolas asked as he pulled her now trembling form closer. Carita looked up at him her tears falling freely. "How did you escape that fate?"

"I truly do not remember," Carita said in a whisper. "I do not remember exactly what happened. I remember the heat of the lava, the burning smell, and pain that ripped up my arm as I pulled the ring off." She shook her head and Legolas ran his hand up and down her back. "Somehow I fled and found myself along the banks of the Great River in Gondor. A group of Gondorian soldiers found me, tended to me, but knew my wounds were beyond their skill. Elrond and his company of elves arrived in Gondor shortly after I was found and I was placed in Elrond's care.

"He tended to me and healed me as best he could; but my mind was broken," she whispered and Legolas moved his hand from her back and wiped the tears from her eyes. "When I was well enough, I was sent with a party to Lothlorien where Galadriel tended to me."

"How . . . how was your mind broken?" he asked and she smiled sadly as she sniffed away her tears.

"When I broke the spell of the ring he had given me it was as if a piece of me was ripped away," she said quietly. "Galadriel was surprised I had even made it out of Mordor." Legolas sighed and shook his head before he leaned in and kissed her softly.

"If you hadn't," he whispered and Carita looked at him surprised. "If you hadn't lived," he continued after he swallowed hard, "I would never have found love. I would have roamed the forest for all eternity never knowing this feeling."

"Why do you say that?" she asked in a whisper, her pain from her memories gone as she looked up at him. He gave her a small smile and ran his fingers down her face, and as he did so it was if those memories were gone and the only beings in the world were Legolas and her.

"Because I feel that the Lady Varda made you for me, and there is no other that can hold my heart and soul as completely as you do," he told her before he kissed her. Carita closed her eyes as tears of happiness fell from her eyes. When he pulled his lips from her once more he shook his head. "You did not listen to my only order allowed, so, I ask you to listen to this one," he said as he kept her face in his hands. "No more will you think of that past," he told her firmly. "No more will you relive those nights." Carita smiled sadly and wrapped her hands around his wrists.

"That will be difficult considering our mission, but I promise you that I shall do my very best," she said and Legolas sighed before he lowered his hands and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you so much," she whispered and Legolas grip tightened.

"And I you, Carita, more than life itself," he said before he kissed her temple and the pair remained standing in her room for a long time and neither made any move to part.

The evening sun was gone and night covered Rohan. The people stood and sat in the Golden Hall and looked at their king as Éowyn carried a goblet to King Theoden. The man gave his niece a small smile before he looked out at his people and held out the goblet in his right hand. Éowyn moved to stand on her uncle's right and Éomer stood on his left.

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country," Théoden said and all, including Carita and Legolas who sat near Aragorn stood with their goblets in hand. "Hail the victorious dead!"

"Hail!" the people all called before they drank from their goblets. Carita took a slow sip and sighed quietly as she looked at Legolas whose eyes were on her. Carita gave him a smile and Legolas returned it before music filled the hall and the celebration began.

They put their drinks down and Carita made to speak when Éomer put his hand on Legolas' shoulder. The pair looked at him and Éomer gave them both a smile.

"I hate to interrupt, my friends, but Gimli has set forth a challenge to you Legolas," Éomer said and Carita raised an eyebrow when Éomer's smile turned into a grin. Legolas nodded and looked at Carita. She gave him a smile and nodded.

"Go on," she said quietly and Legolas smiled as he squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek before he followed Éomer. Carita sighed quietly and sank back down into her seat. She was exhausted and she seriously debated whether or not to retire to her room when someone sat down next to her. She looked up and smiled at Aragorn.

"Hello," he said and Carita laughed quietly.

"Hello," she said back before she picked up her goblet and drank the sweet wine Éowyn had given her.

"How are you faring?" he asked her quietly.

"As well as can be expected, and you?" she asked and he sighed.

"My curiosity is peaked," Aragorn said and it was Carita's turn to sigh.

"My past is mine alone," Carita said. "And by order of the ellon I love I am to think of it no longer." Aragorn gave her a small smile.

"I know your past is yours to keep, but you have just answered my question," he said. Carita frowned and Aragorn grinned before he stood and walked away.