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Chapter 34

Carita pushed herself up from the wall and walked over to where her sword laid. She swayed slightly on her feet, but kept up right as she balanced the heavy steel in her hand. She wiped her blade and took a deep breath before she sheathed at her waist. Their chances improved, but they were still greatly outnumbered, even with the Rohan riders. Moonlight trotted over to her and nudged her shoulder with his snout and she sighed as she turned and looked at him.

"My friend, I am glad you are with me this day," she told him quietly and raised her stained hand to his mane. "I could not image this battle without you." He snorted and she sighed once more. "Come," she said and she mounted him, but slower than normal. She was still weak, but strong enough to fight; and fight she would.

It seemed like hours before Gandalf and Pippin once again joined her and the other guards at the gates to the second level. Horns that did not belong to either Rohan or Gondor sounded, but Carita had no way to look out onto the field to see just what was happening. She was sitting on a porch, waiting for the orcs and trolls to break through the gate when the wizard and Pippin sat down next to her.

"Is Faramir alright?" she asked Gandalf, who nodded at her.

"As well as expected," Gandalf said gravely.

"And Denethor?" she asked and Gandalf sighed.

"He is gone," he told her and Carita sighed, but jumped slightly when a loud pound shook the stone floor on which she sat. "How long has this been happening."

"Only a quarter an hour," Carita told him as she sighed once more and pushed her loose hair from her face. "The men have it braced to hold for now, but it will not last much longer."

"I didn't think it would end this way," Pippin said quietly and Carita and Gandalf looked at him.

"End?" Gandalf asked and Pippin turned his light eyes to the wizard. "No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass; and then you see it."

"What? Gandalf? See what?" Pippin asked eagerly and Carita smiled sadly as she watched Gandalf's face. He seemed serene and lost in thought before he spoke again.

"White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise," Gandalf said softly before he smiled.

"Well, that isn't so bad," Pippin said and Carita's smile grew.

"No, no it isn't," Gandalf said and the hobbit and wizard shared a smile before the gate below them was almost broken. Pippin closed his eyes tightly and gripped his sword.

"Think not on your fear Pippin," Carita said gently as she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. Pippin opened his eyes and looked at her. "Your fear will hinder your blade when the time comes. Now is the time for you to swallow that fear and share the bravery that I know rests in your heart." Pippin swallowed hard, but Carita just smiled at him. "I find your kind amazing, my friend," she told him honestly. "Never would I have imagined that a being so small could do such great things that you and your friends have done. What Fordo and Sam are doing, Merry probably rides with Rohan, and what you have done for Faramir."

Pippin saw only truth in Carita's eyes as she spoke, and he took her words to heart and would do as she said; and push his fear back. He would prove he deserved her words. Soon, the orcs broke through the second level and Carita, Gandalf, and Pippin were on their feet, blades at the ready. Battle raged on once again, however, it did not last long.

They fought for what seemed like only minutes but they knew it was much longer when a green mass literally moved through them slaying every orc and troll as it passed. Carita felt as if her breath was stole away as she leaned against the stone wall and her eyes widened. It was then that she realized what the green mass actually was, an army of souls. Souls that were locked in a mountain pass that only one could call upon and her heart swelled before she rushed past Gandalf and Pippin, who quickly followed her from the broken gate of the city.

She ran out onto the field that was littered with dead Rohirrim and orcs, and she felt her heart fall slightly until she found Aragorn in the distance. Carita smiled and started to close the distance between them, however, her eyes quickly found the gleam of blonde hair just to her right. Her hope filled heart started to race as the owner of the hair turned and deep blue eyes fell on her. She smiled brightly before she took off once more, but this time straight into the arms of Legolas, who held onto her as if his very life depended upon it.

"We did not know if you would come in time," she whispered to him as they held onto each other. "I have never seen a greater sight then seeing you on this field alive and well." Legolas sighed as the pulled apart slightly and he looked down at her stained face, but he smiled.

"Nor have I," Legolas whispered back before he kissed her forehead. Carita sighed and closed her eyes.

"I missed you," she whispered before a hushed silence fell over the field and Legolas pulled away from her. Carita turned around and looked at Aragorn whose eyes were on the faces of the green mist of men.

"Release us," hissed who Carita assumed was the leader of the ghost army.

"Bad idea," said a gruff voice and Carita's heart was even lighter at seeing Gimli alive and well. "Very handy in a tight spot, these lads, despite the fact they're dead."

"You gave us your word," the leader said and Aragorn bowed his head before he looked up at the ghost once more.

"I hold your oath fulfilled. Go. Be at peace," Aragorn said and the leader smiled before the green mist of men slowly evaporated and was gone. Carita glanced at Legolas and then at Aragorn before she looked at her love once more. Legolas nodded his head and Carita moved over to him and smiled when he looked at her. However, she bowed her head to him. "Carita," he said slowly and she raised her eyes to meet his.

"You've taken your position?" she asked him quietly and he sighed as he adjusted his grip on the blade in his hand.

"Not yet," he said simply and she tilted her head to the side in wonder, but Pippin drew her attention away from him.

"Merry?" the hobbit called and Carita scanned the field around them for the golden haired hobbit. However, a deep scream met everyone's ears and all eyes moved to Éomer as he kneeled down and scooped the seemingly lifeless form of his sister into his arms.

"Éowyn," Carita whispered and took off in a run towards the kneeling and obviously grieving man. "Éomer, let me look at her," she told him, but the man continued to cradle Éowyn's limp body in his arms. "Éomer, please, let me look at her," Carita said more firmly and placed her hands on Éowyn's throat. Her pulse was there but it was weak. "She's alive," Carita told him and she frowned as she moved her hand to her forehead, that burned with fire. The paleness to her skin and the dullness of the woman's hair gave her a chill. She knew what caused such a fever and she looked up at him. "She must be taken to the House of Healing; it is on the sixth level of the city. Are you well enough to carry her?"

Éomer held back his tears and put on a brave face before he nodded and picked up his sister and quickly carried her inside. Carita sighed and once again ran to Aragorn who now stood with Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf.

"The black breath, Éowyn is under its fever. I cannot help her and I know the healers in the house of healing will have no knowledge of it," she said quickly. Aragorn sighed and Carita grabbed his arm. "You are her only hope."

"Just as you are Faramir's only hope," Gandalf said and Carita looked at him with a frown. "His wounds went untreated for far too long and the healers have simply decided to make him comfortable."

"I will go into the city, but I will not stake my claim," Aragorn said. "Not yet anyway," he added and Carita nodded before the man passed her and walked towards the city. Gandalf followed, but Gimli and Legolas remained on the field with Carita. She sighed and raised her hand to her forehead as she looked out at all of the fallen.

"There is much to be done," she said quietly as she lowered her hand.

"The riders are sorting through now for the injured," Legolas said as he walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. "When did you last rest?" he asked as he moved his left hand to her face and ran his thumb along her cheek.

"When did you?" she asked him and he shook his head.

"I can find rest anywhere," he said simply. "When did you last rest?" he asked again and Carita sighed once more.

"Properly?" she asked and he nodded, his thumb once again moved across her cheek. "At least two days ago."

"Then come, and rest," Legolas said as he laced her arm with his and led her towards the city gates. Gimli huffed and shook his head before he trudged behind them, a small smile forming on his face.

Carita slowly opened her eyes and sighed quietly as the light from two burning candles on the bedside table. Carita sat up and rubbed her eyes before she looked about the room and found Legolas standing out on the balcony. She climbed from the bed and grabbed her robe before she wrapped the soft material around her. When Legolas had led her into the city, he brought her to her chamber and got her water to wash and made sure that she changed into her nightdress before he had tucked her into her bed and left.

"Legolas?" she asked quietly as she leaned against the doorway and the elf turned and looked at her with a small smile. However, there was sadness to his smile that she had not seen since Boromir's death. "What is it?" she asked before she closed the distance between them and took his hand.

"King Theoden is dead," Legolas told her quietly and she sighed as she lowered her eyes to the floor. "The winged beast of the Witch King threw him from his horse and then his dead horse fell on top of him, crushing him."

"Éowyn," Carita said as she turned her tear filled eyes to Legolas. "That was how the black breath claimed her, she was protecting her uncle." Legolas nodded and Carita wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Legolas closed his eyes as he slowly wrapped his arms around her and moved his right hand to the back of her head.

"Carita," Legolas said as he lowered his hand down her hair and settled it on her lower back. She lifted her head and looked at him. "Tomorrow at mid-day, Gandalf, Aragorn, Éomer, Gimli, and I are meeting to decide our next step. Gandalf wants you there." She lowered her hands from him and rested them at her sides with a frown on her face.

"Do you not want me there?" she asked him.

"No, that is not the case," Legolas defended. "I just think that you should remain here, whatever our decision is to be."

"Legolas, I will not let you and the others go off without me if you so choose," she said firmly.

"I know," he said and he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. "I love you," he whispered and Carita smiled. She knew that their night together would not last much longer, and she did not want to argue. Carita tilted her head and captured his lips with hers. Legolas' arms tightened around her and she put her hands on his waist. He pulled his lips from hers and sighed as he looked at her.

"I love you too," she whispered as he moved a hand to her face. "Come, tell me of your journey through the mountain," she said as she pulled herself away from his arms and took his hand before she led him to the sofa that sat before the empty fireplace. Legolas laughed quietly and shook his head.

"Do you not wish to rest? It is hours before the dawn," Legolas told her as they settled onto the sofa.

"I am no longer tired, and I wish to spend as much time with you as I can," Carita said as she snuggled close to him and put her hand on his chest as she drew her legs up close to her body. Legolas smiled before he kissed her forehead and began to tell her what had happened that night and of the path they had taken.