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Chapter 38

Moving from Lady Varda's chamber, Carita quickly walked down the stone path. Mandos would be difficult to persuade that she knew, but she would do all she could to ensure that she was sent back to her body. Her heart still pumped and part of her soul remained within it, however, the part that held the bond with Legolas was with her. She could feel his pain, his desperation for her return to him, and as she knocked on Mandos' door she mustered her strength.

"Enter!" boomed the deep voice of Mandos and Carita quickly entered the vast chamber to see him sitting behind his desk, his dark eyes scanning a roll of parchment.

"Mandos," she began and he turned his dark eyes to her with a start.

"Carita, I did not think you would wake until all your soul had been brought here," he said as he stood and walked around his desk, a small smile on his face. "It is good to see you again child," he said as he held out his arms to her. Carita frowned as she walked towards him.

"As happy as I am to see you again, I do not wish to be here," Carita said and Mandos lowered his arms.

"You do not wish to be here?" Mandos asked, making her sound mad for saying such words. "You do not wish to be within my halls?" Carita swallowed hard hoping that he would not grow angry with her.

"Your halls are beautiful, my friend," she said quickly. "But I do not belong here."

"You were created in the home of Varda; your true home is here, Carita."

"I do not wish it!" Carita shouted and her eyes widened at her own raised voice, but she pressed on. "I fought against Sauron once more and was severely wounded. You have taken me from my body before I am even given the chance to heal. You have taken me from my life, from my friends, from my love! Because of this, Legolas will die and it will be all my fault."

"Your body is too broken for even your self-healing powers to mend, Carita," Mandos told her softly. "And when his light does fade he will be within these walls with you."

"No," she whispered as she shook her head, and unable to hold her tears back any longer. "I do not want to live eternity here," she said as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I beg of you Mandos," Carita said as she moved before him and kneeled at his feet gathering his dark robes into her hands and looking up at his surprised face. "I beg of you to release me back to my body, help me heal, and give me life once more."

Mandos looked down at her and frowned deeply. Never had any begged to be returned to their body, and he knew not how to answer her.

"If you are to return, you will be in great pain," he told her softly and she looked up at him with hope filled blue-gray eyes. "Let me think on your request, Carita, and I shall give you my decision before the setting of the day's light." Carita lowered her hands from his robes and clasped them in her lap.

"My request is not made for my gain alone," Carita whispered and Mandos gave her a small smile. "I do not want him to fade," she continued. "He has much to do."

"Your heart is true, Carita," he told her. "Leave me to think. I shall bring you an answer soon." Carita lowered her head and stood silently before she quietly made her way from the room, her heart and life resting within the hands of another.

Legolas rode on top of Arod next to the cart that carried Carita's seemingly lifeless body. They were nearly to Minas Tirith, and she seemed to be taking the journey well, however, she had yet to stir and he still could not feel her. "Lad, are you alright?" came Gimli's gruff voice from behind him.

"Aye," Legolas said softly. "I am well, my friend."

"You look pale. I did not think elves catch an illness," Gimli observed and Legolas sighed.

"They do not," Legolas replied and Gimli frowned, but at Legolas' tired expression he did not press the matter. Legolas knew what Gimli was talking about. He felt it, he felt himself fading and he knew the second Carita was taken from him he would follow her to the Halls of Mandos.

The gates to Minas Tirith were opened and they were met with cheers and shouts of joy for the destruction of the enemy and the shadow that covered Minas Tirith was long gone. Legolas did not stop and the rider that guided Carita's cart did not stop. They were to take Carita to her chamber in the Citadel, where Aragorn would tend to her once more and where Legolas would keep his vigil over her.

Aragorn sighed quietly as he pulled the thing coverings over Carita's body and let the white fabric rest over her chest. Candle and torch light filled the room and a fire burning in the fireplace gave him enough light to tend to her. "The wound is not healing Legolas," Aragorn told his friend gravely and turned his gray eyes to the elf whose attention was on the raven haired Maia whose skin was so ashen she looked as if she was already dead.

"How long?" Legolas asked as tears came to his eyes. When Aragorn did not answer, Legolas looked at him. "How long until she dies?" he asked and Aragorn pushed away his own tears, but his eyes did not break from Legolas'.

"Until dawn," Aragorn whispered and Legolas closed his eyes before he reached out and took Carita's right hand into both of his. "Legolas-," Aragorn began, but Legolas cut him off.

"Leave us," Legolas said firmly. "Go," Legolas demanded when Aragorn did not move. With a stiff nod, Aragorn looked at Carita once more and said a silent prayer before he left the room and the grieving elf. "You cannot leave me, Carita," Legolas said as he looked at her and squeezed her hand tightly. "I love you," he sobbed out before he lowered his head to their hands, resting his forehead on their clasped hands and wept. The warrior prince wept violently, and never in his long life had he done so. Not even as an elfling had he cried, but never before had he felt as if the world had just come to an end.

Carita sat upon the window seat in her room and looked out at the heaven before her. There was no better word to describe her surroundings, but she wanted to be back on Middle Earth more than anything in the world and Mandos was late with his decision. The night sky was bright with the stars of her lady and just as a soft smile was about to cross her lips, a searing pain ripped through her chest. She gasped and her eyes widened as she clutched at her heart and threw her back against the wooden wall behind her. She let out a shaking breath and gasped for air once more.

"No," she whispered. "Legolas please hold on," she whispered into the air. Just then a knock sounded on her door. "Enter!" she called when she caught her breath and looked to the door. Mandos entered and Carita stood, but remained close to the wall.

"Carita," he said slowly but frowned. "What is it?" he asked when he saw tears in her eyes. She shook her head.

"Nothing," she whispered. "Please, what is your decision?" she asked and Mandos took a deep breath.

Slowly, Legolas' tears ceased and he stood letting go of Carita's chilled hand. He moved to the balcony and looked up at the stars that now shined brightly over the city. Before the darkness was destroyed they were veiled and hidden from sight, but now he cursed them. He cursed the moon that shined right along with them for all they reminded him of was Carita; her smile, her laugh, the gentle touch of her hand upon his face, her soft kisses, and the smell of hair.

He let out a bitter laugh, leaned against the stone railing, and shook his head as he looked to the stone floor. He set off to war, not thinking he would find what he had along the way. He found it rather ironic that it was not battle that caused his death, but the death of the only woman he had ever loved that would cause it.

Legolas closed his eyes and took slow and even breaths to still his aching heart. She was not gone from him yet; she was still his, and as he stood there it was if he could almost feel her emotions yet again. Tears once again threatened at the trickery his mind was playing on him and he shook his head yet again.

A sudden cry from behind him startled him and he jumped, his heart racing as he looked into the fire lit room. Carita's body was arched and her face contorted in pain as he felt her emotions flood him full force. He lost his breath at the force of the pain, but he pushed the pain away as he ran into the room and lowered her body to the bed.

Carita let out another scream as she opened her eyes and was met with the confused eyes of Legolas. She could feel his arms gently holding her as the pain filled her body.

"Carita?" Legolas questioned but she screamed again as her torso burned. Mandos had said she would feel his work take place for he could not heal her before she returned to her body. Legolas was confused as he felt an intense heat radiate off of her body. She jerked slightly and he could not get her to settle, she continued to arch and scream. So much so that the door to her chamber was busted open by a breathless Aragorn, with Gimli, Merry, Pippin, and to Legolas' surprise Éomer.

"What is happening?" Gimli asked but Legolas shook his head and looked back down at Carita whose eyes had rolled back in her head.

"I don't know," Legolas said, his voice shaking. Carita took in a strangled breath as Aragorn's hands joined Legolas' on her body to still her movements. However, he moved his hand to her tunic, raised it slightly and removed the bandage on her stomach only to watch the skin seal as he had all those weeks ago on the banks of the Great River.

"It cannot be," Aragorn whispered, The words no more left his lips and Carita's body went limp onto the bed. Aragorn took a step back and frowned. She should be dead because he knew the wound was unable to be healed even by her magic. Carita was beyond weak, but Legolas had taken her hand and she opened her eyes slightly to look at him. A smile came to her lips and Legolas touched her face.

"Legolas," she whispered before she slipped back into darkness.

"What just happened?" Pippin asked as he slowly walked over to the bed. The others had ventured further in, but had remained at a distance. Legolas had no answer so he looked to Aragorn but the soon to be crowned king had no words, nor did any other in the room.

"Our friend was given another chance," came a deep and gruff voice from the doorway. All eyes turned to the door and Gandalf stepped into the room. Legolas' grip tightened on Carita's hand. "She was given life again." All eyes returned to Carita, whose breath was steady and strong, and her glow was slowly returning to skin. Legolas couldn't help it, he laughed. A happy tear-filled but a laugh nonetheless; Carita had not left him and he had no plans on ever leaving her.