First and formost, I am terribly sorry for making you all wait almost two weeks for an update. I hate to keep you guys waiting, but my life lately has been really, really trying. Between work and some serious family issues I haven't had much inspiration. However, I finished up this chapter tonight to post. It isn't as long as my normal chapters, but I wanted to update. It's probably a little movish towards the end, but I didn't get to put all I wanted to in this chapter. I hope you like it and please let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 36

With her hand on the hilt of her sword Carita briskly made her way through the corridors of the House of Healing; and the person she was looking for she found sitting on the windowsill looking out at the dawn that was breaking. "I know you wish to join the battle," Carita said and Éowyn turned her blue eyes to Carita and she gave the Maia a small smile. "But I believe you have proved your honor Shieldmaiden." Carita bowed her head to Éowyn and the blonde sighed quietly. Carita raised her head and smiled as Éowyn took her hand with her good one and pulled her to the empty side of the windowsill.

"Do not patronize me, my friend," Éowyn said and Carita tilted her head.

"So, you have thrown your formalities away?" Carita asked and Éowyn blushed and looked down at her bandaged hand. "All I can say is that it is about time." Éowyn looked up and Carita laughed softly. "On many occasions I had the desire to speak openly with you, but you were always so cold and formal. I am glad to see that the change of city has done you well."

"My uncle . . . he often told me that I needed to free myself and be happy," she said and Carita gave her a sad smile.

"Your uncle was very wise," Carita told her and Éowyn nodded. "He was a noble man, and a great king, but I know your brother will serve your people well."

"How do you know that? He rides of with you to the Black Gates of Mordor," Éowyn said quietly and a slight quiver to her voice.

"I know, Éowyn, just as I know that the rest of your days shall be happy ones," Carita said as she stood and Éowyn furrowed her brow as she looked at Carita. The Maia turned her light eyes to Faramir, who laid in his own bed in the House of Healing asleep in the very early morning hours. Carita once again looked at Éowyn and smiled. "I promise that they will be." Éowyn's frown remained on her face but Carita only continued to smile at her. "Rest well, my friend, and take heart."

Before Éowyn could say anything in response, Carita turned and walked away from the wheat haired woman and out of the house. Her horse was awaiting her as were her companions for they were gathering their strength to ready for their march to the Black Gates where Carita would face her past head on and with no fear for herself, but only for her friends and the small hobbit that carried the fate of the world around his neck.

Those that rode upon horses were busy fastening their saddles and discussing what their strategy would be when Legolas' eyes scanned the faces on the lower level looking for Carita. However, he did not have to look far when he spotted her weaving her way through the riders. "There is less fear and more anxiousness than anything," Carita said as she closed the distance between them and gave him a small smile. He nodded his head as he ran his hand down Arod's neck before he quickly took her hand into his.

"Moonlight is just ahead," he said as he motioned towards where Gandalf and Aragorn stood with Éomer. "I am waiting for Gimli before I join them." Carita nodded and turned her eyes to his when he asked the question she knew he was going to ask yet again. "Must you make this journey?" he asked her one final time and she gave him a small smile. She could feel his emotions, the only evidence of their bond, and breaking free of his block was his worry for her.

"I must," she replied simply and he nodded his head but Carita raised her free hand to the side of his face. "There is nothing to worry about," she reassured him.

"What is to happen when the gates open?" Legolas asked. "When the eye is upon us, what is to happen then when he sees you?"

"Nothing," Carita said as she lowered her hand. "Nothing is to happen as I stand with my friends and my love and we are to stand to give Frodo and Sam the time they need to complete the task they are meant to. Those things alone will give me more strength to fight than anything in the world, just as I know they will you." Legolas raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles discreetly. "Now, come, mount your steed and place Gimli onto his back. Think nothing more of your worry for me, but think of our journey to come for that is all that matters now." She slipped her hand from Legolas' and turned to leave, however, she stopped when she felt his surprise and slight hurt as he lowered his block for a second before it was up once more. Carita turned around and moved back to him quickly and wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him firmly. Legolas stiffened, but returned her kiss for only a fraction of a second before she pulled away from him and ran her hands down his chest and stepped away. "I love you," she whispered and before he could say anything in response Carita was gone and heading in the direction of Gandalf and Aragorn. Legolas sighed and once again put his hand on Arod's neck.

"And I you Carita," he thought quietly to himself. "More than life itself." A throat clearing brought Legolas' thoughts back to the task at hand and he turned around to see Gimli looking at him with a small smile on his heavily bearded face. "What?" Legolas asked after he cleared his own throat.

"Nothing lad," Gimli said before he had Legolas help him onto Arod.

Carita moved quickly through the crowd of soldiers on the lower level of the city, her cheeks still flushed from her moment with Legolas. She had not meant to kiss him in front of everyone, but when she made to leave him she found that she could not do so without one final kiss that morning. As she told Éowyn, Carita's sight had came into play earlier that morning. She had seen a happy Éowyn with a happy Faramir and a daughter. She had seen Éomer as an older man still proud and tall upon his thrown in Edoras; and she hoped that that was the future that was to be. However, she had not seen what Legolas' fate was, nor that of Aragorn and the hobbits. But, she knew that if Éowyn and Éomer were happy and well that meant positive things for the rest of the world, at least she hoped.

Their journey had brought them before the gates and Carita felt her body tremble in slight anticipation, but her face remained as cold as stone. Pippin rode with Gandalf while Merry, who had argued with Aragorn that he be allowed to join the party, rode with Éomer. Gimli sat behind Legolas and Carita and Moonlight stood between Aragorn and Legolas.

"Where are they?" came Pippin's voice before Aragorn, and a guard bearing the Gondorian banner, charged forward. Gandalf, Legolas, Éomer, and Carita urged their horses to do the same. Soon, they came to a stop before the gates and Carita scanned the top of the gates and saw a few orcs running quickly along the top.

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" Aragorn shouted and Carita turned her eyes to him and opened her mouth to speak when the gates slowly started to open. All eyes were upon the gates as they opened and Carita's eyes narrowed even more as a familiar helm and rider on top of a black horse rode out; he was the Mouth of Sauron and had been since Isildur cut the ring from Sauron's hand. She had seen him many times in her nightmares, and his words for her had never been kind. Those dreams of the darkness only lasted a few months as her bond with Sauron slowly disappeared.

"My master, Sauron the Great, bids thee welcome," the Mouth of Sauron said before he smiled making all but Carita wince, and the gates closed behind him. "Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?"

"We do not come to treat with Sauron, faithless and accursed," Gandalf said and the Mouth of Sauron turned his attention to him. "Tell your master this: The armies of Mordor must disband. He is to depart these lands, never to return."

"Ahah. Old Greybeard," the Mouth of Sauron said.

"Sauron has no power over the men that stand before you, filth," Carita spat and she felt Legolas' emotions tense but she did not flinch under the gaze of enemy's voice.

"The Maia wench," the Mouth of Sauron said before he chuckled. "Long has my master dwelt upon his pleasant thoughts of you and the things you did for him." Legolas' eyes narrowed and the grip on Arod's reins tightened as his anger threatened to boil over. The others glanced at her, but said nothing.

"Tell him he should not dwell upon the past and its atrocities, and tell him that he has no power over me for I am my own," she said and the Mouth of Sauron hissed at her before he turned his attention to Gandalf.

"I have a token I was bidden to show thee," the Mouth of Sauron said and pulled the Mithril shirt Frodo worn from his cloak. Carita felt her heart plummet as she looked at the glittering metal.

"Frodo," Pippin said quietly and the Mouth of Sauron threw the shirt at Gandalf. "Frodo!" Pippin said again and the Mouth of Sauron laughed.

"Silence," Gandalf ordered.

"No!" Merry exclaimed and Gandalf looked at him.

"Silence!" Gandalf demanded more firmly.

"The halfling was dear to thee, I see," the Mouth of Sauron said and Gandalf handed the shirt to Pippin. "Know that he suffered greatly at the hands of his host. Who would've thought one so small could endure so much pain? And he did, Gandalf. He did. Ahah." Aragorn hearing enough of the foul creature's words urged his horse forward. "And who is this? Isildur's heir? It takes more to make a king than a broken Elvish blade-," Aragorn raised his blade and with one swift movement lopped off the Mouth of Sauron's head and Carita let out a heavy breath.

"I guess that concludes negotiations," Gimli said quietly and Aragorn turned Brego to look at them once more.

"I do not believe it," Aragorn said firmly. "I will not." He spoke with such venom Carita felt even prouder to be standing at his side. The gates started to open once more and troops of orcs began to march towards them. "Fall back! Fall back!" Aragorn ordered to the others and they turned their horses and rejoined the lines. The final battle was about to begin.