Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait, and I hope you like this chapter. It's kind of a filler chapter, but a fluffy filler chapter. PLEASE NOTE: There are mild adult situations in this chapter, nothing discriptive but still there.

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

Chapter 35

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening," Gandalf said as he turned and looked at Aragorn, Éomer, Legolas, Gimli, and Carita as they all stood in the throne room of the Citadel.

"If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it," Aragorn said as he lowered his hand from his chin.

"Aragorn is right, Gandalf," Carita said as she stepped away from Legolas and stopped next to Aragorn. "He does not have it, I can feel it," she said as she placed her hand over her heart.

"It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but, behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping," Gandalf said.

"Let him stay there. Let him rot! Why should we care?" Gimli asked as he lowered his pipe from his lips and then quickly brought it back. All eyes were on him for a second before they turned to Gandalf.

"Because 10,000 orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," Gandalf said and Gimli lowered his pipe once more and frowned as he turned his eyes to the stone floor. "I've sent him to his death," Gandalf said and Carita shook his head.

"Frodo is strong, and with Sam at his side his strength is even greater because Sam will not let him fail," Carita argued, but Gandalf only looked at her sadly.

"There's still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgorath," Aragorn said and Carita looked at him right along with everyone else. "We can give him that."

"How?" Gimli asked and Aragorn settled his eyes on Gimli.

"Draw out Sauron's armies; empty his lands. We gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate," Aragorn said with such conviction Carita smiled and Gimli coughed.

"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms," Éomer said as he took a step forward but Aragorn shook his head.

"Not for ourselves, but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us - keep him blind to all else that moves," Aragorn added quietly and Legolas lifted his head.

"A diversion," Legolas said simply.

"Certainty of death, small chance of success. What are we waiting for?" Gimli asked and Carita's smile grew.

"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait," Gandalf said quietly and Aragorn's posture stiffened.

"Oh, I think he will," Aragorn said and Carita nodded.

"He will," Carita added and the men turned their eyes to her. "Not only because of Aragorn, and for what he represents but for me as well. His Nazgul hunted me just as they now hunt for the ring. He will take the bait."

"Carita, I do not think it is wise for you to march with us," Gandalf said and Carita frowned. "You're traveling to Gondor was one thing and your journey with the fellowship another; however, I do not think this journey is one for you."

"You cannot be serious," Carita said with a frown before she closed the distance between herself and the wizard. "You of all people know that I will not stand by and wait to see what happens," Carita said quietly her eyes narrowed as she looked at her old friend.

"I will not be able to live with myself should something happen to you," Gandalf said softly. "It is nearly unbearable for me to think of the task I have sent Frodo on."

"You did not choose this path for Frodo and you did not choose it for me," Carita told him. "I elected to join you and I am as much a part of this as anyone here." Gandalf sighed as he looked at her and Carita's angry face melted away and she gave him a soft smile as she raised her hand to his aged but wise face. "You have no reason to doubt my ability to stand before those gates and face him. The only power of his I have ever feared are his Nazgul, and I do not fear them so long as you and my friends are with me." She lowered her hand and Gandalf sighed once again, but gave her a curt not.

"Then it is decided," Gandalf said quietly.

"In two days, be ready to march," Aragorn said to Éomer and the horse lord nodded his head and quickly walked away. There was a battle to ready what few men he had left that were able bodied enough to fight and the task for gathering Gondor's men was left to Gandalf, as Aragorn had yet to take his claim of the throne.

Hours later and before the evening meal, Carita had settled herself into her chamber tired from helping those in the house of healing and weary from answering Merry and Pippin's many questions as she sat with them next to Merry's bed and chatted with them. A soft knock on her door sounded and she walked over and opened the door. Legolas stood on the other side and she gave him a smile before he quickly came into the room, closed the door and had her pressed against it.

"Legolas, what are you doing?" she asked surprised and Legolas shook his head before he leaned into her and kissed her softly. Carita gasped against his lips as his hands gripped her waist firmly and he pressed his body against hers. She pushed him away slightly and looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Legolas?" she asked breathlessly but with a smile. "What are you doing?" she asked again.

"If I asked something of you, would you grant it?" he asked her and Carita frowned.

"That depends on what you ask," she whispered as she met his eyes evenly. His hands moved up her body and grasped her face gently in his calloused hands before he kissed her again. Carita sighed and closed her eyes as she returned his kiss and rested her hands on his waist while his remained on her face and neck. He pulled his lips away from hers and she once again met his eyes.

"Before we meet our fate, if you are willing, I wish to bind myself to you," he said quietly and Carita felt her stomach knot.

"You wish to what?" she asked uncertain if she had heard his words correctly and Legolas' grip loosened on her, but his hands did not leave her.

"I wish to bind myself to you," he said again and Carita did not know what to say. Her heart was more than willing but her mind was a million places. He started to pull away from her, a pain filled but understanding look in his eyes. "I understand," he said quietly. "It is not the time nor the place, but my heart," he paused as he placed his right hand over his chest. "My heart has won a battle with my mind and never in my lifetime have I felt this way about anyone. It's all very confusing, and I know not what-," Carita cut him off by grabbing his neck and pulling his lips down onto hers. Legolas stiffened slightly, but soon his hands where on her waist and kissing her just as hungrily as she was kissing him.

"It is not that I do not wish it," Carita said heatedly against his lips when she had pulled away from him but kept him close. "It is that my mind is many places and it has been many millennia since the last time I felt this way." Legolas sighed and kissed her once more and has his hands moved to her back and wrapped her into his arms, she lost her resolve and melted against him.

"Tell me to stop," Legolas whispered when he stopped their kiss, but continued to hold her firmly in his arms. It was as if his body had taken on its own will and he could do nothing to control what he did until he had all of her. "Tell me to stop and I will," he said again but Carita shook her head.

"I do not want you to," she said before she kissed him again. Legolas sighed and swept her into his arms before he set her on her feet once more next to the large bed. He never broke their kiss as his hands swiftly removed her sword and belt from her thin frame, and Carita's hands were making quick work of his own weapon's bindings. They broke apart long enough to put their weapons aside and soon they were once again wrapped in each other's arms. However, there moment was cut short by a quick knock at the door. Legolas sighed as he pulled his lips away from her, but Carita smiled and patted his chest. "Wait here," she whispered and quickly walked over to the door. She opened it and smiled at a young maid.

"I beg your pardon, my lady, but Mithrandir requested that I retrieve you for the evening meal," she said quietly.

"I ask that you kindly tell Mithrandir that I will be retiring now," Carita said. "I am not hungry and I wish to rest before our journey ahead." The black haired young woman nodded her head and quickly curtsied before she turned and walked off while Carita closed the door and slid the bolt lock into place before she turned around and closed the distance once more between her and Legolas.

"Very clever," he said softly as he rested her hands on her hips and she slid her hands up his chest. Carita smiled at him before he kissed her. Carita felt a slight tremble to his gentle touches as he started to pull her tunic from her body. She broke their kiss and helped him remove the light fabric from her body and as the cool late afternoon air rushed over her she could feel Legolas' eyes upon her. She had no shame in her form, and she smiled at the look upon his face as his eyes slowly made their way back to hers.

"Your turn," she whispered before she helped him remove his thicker outer tunic followed by his smooth, thin, under tunic. She pressed her body against his as she kissed him and Legolas groaned at the fell of their half nude bodies pressed together and with another push Carita straddled Legolas as he laid on top of the bed.

Soon, their remaining clothing was discarded and they were lying under the thick coverings of Carita's bed sharing touches and kisses. "Legolas, please," she begged as she tore her lips from his and the strong ellon hovered above her. Slowly their bodies became one and Carita had never felt anything more perfect. As he kissed her, touched her, and moved within her, she knew she had found the one she was destined for because their bond was so strong she could feel it form the second they moved together.

Carita reached out for Legolas as she slowly woke from her brief sleep only to grasp empty coverings. She frowned and sat up, pulling the coverings over her chest and looking about the room. However, she did not have far to look when she found him sitting upon the sofa dressed only in his leggings and looking at her intently.

"What is wrong?" she asked with a frown, but Legolas shook his head and stood. He had unbound his hair and the blonde waves fell around his face perfectly as he walked towards the bed and sat down upon the bed and moved close to her.

"Nothing," he whispered as he raised his hand and ran his fingers through her long dark hair. "Nothing is wrong, nothing could ever be wrong again," he said before he leaned in and kissed her. Carita smiled against his lips and returned his kiss. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers.

"Outside these walls many things are wrong," she said, "but inside these walls nothing is wrong." Legolas smiled and pulled back slightly before he nodded his head and smiled. "I love you, Legolas," she said quietly and Legolas' smile grew before he kissed her once more.

"I love you too," he said before he kissed her harder and the two were once again lost in each other, both not caring of the work that went on around them outside in the city, both not caring that in little over a day their lives would change forever, and both did not care for that moment in time would be a memory they would have for always.