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Note: Dialogue in bold is spoken in Elvish.

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

Chapter 40

Three months nearly to the day after Frodo woke; the peoples of Middle Earth were uniting to celebrate the coronation of the King of Gondor. Carita stood nervously with Legolas and the elves of Mirkwood that had traveled the long distance to welcome Aragorn as King. However, as her light eyes scanned the faces of the elves around her she stopped at seeing Lord Elrond. "Please tell me that Arwen as traveled with Lord Elrond," she whispered to Legolas and turned her eyes to him. Legolas smiled at her and kissed her temple.

"He has," Legolas whispered and Carita laughed softly as she squeezed his arm. "You look lovely," he said and she looked up at him. "I did not get to tell you this morning." Carita smiled and him and shook her head slightly. She wore nothing spectacular but a simple cream dress and her long hair finally free of the braid she had constantly worn since leaving Rivendell.

Soon, silence fell amongst the people that filled the courtyard in front of the Citadel and Carita and Legolas looked past the blooming white tree and at the stairs that led to throne room. There Gandalf stood with Aragorn before him. The coronation was beginning and Carita knew the ceremony would not be much for Aragorn was not one for pompous celebrations. Gimli stepped forward the Gondorian crown upon a velvet pillow. Gandalf took the crown and slowly lowered it onto Aragorn's head. Carita smiled and let her arms slip from Legolas. She clasped her hands together and felt tears come to her eyes.

"Now come the days of the king. May they be blessed," Gandalf said and Aragorn stepped up and slowly turned around to face everyone. Cheers erupted and Carita clapped happily right along with everyone else and cheered happily for her friend. As she lowered her hands to her side, Legolas took her hand and laced their fingers together. She squeezed his hand but their eyes remained on their friend.

"This day does not belong to one man, but to all. Let us together rebuild this world that we may share in the days of peace," Aragorn said and more cheers erupted from the people once more before Aragorn began to sing. "Et Earello Endorenna utulien. Sinome maruvan are Hildinyar tenn Ambar-metta (Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come. In this place will I abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the word)," he sang before he made his way down the steps and through the people.

As he grew closer, Legolas and Carita led the party of elves to him. Aragorn smiled at both of them, while Legolas bowed his head and Carita did the same with a slight curtsey. Legolas put his free hand on Aragorn's shoulder.

"Hannon le," Aragorn said with a bow of his own head.

"It is us who should be thanking you, my friend," Carita said and Aragorn looked at her with a kind and warm smile.

"Aragorn," Legolas said quietly and Aragorn looked at him. Legolas tilted his head toward the right and Aragorn frowned before he followed Legolas' movement. Aragorn first saw Lord Elrond and then slowly from behind a banner, Arwen emerged. Aragorn's hand slowly left Legolas' shoulder and Legolas let go of Aragorn as the man slowly walked away. Arwen stepped forward and they stopped right before each other. Carita smiled at the tears she saw in her friend's eyes as Aragorn took the banner from her hands and handed it off to a guard that stood nearby. When Aragorn kissed Arwen feverishly Carita wiped at her own tears and a small laugh escaped her lips. Legolas looked at her and took her into his arms. Carita gasped but smiled at his grin. "I love you," he whispered and Carita brought her fingers to his face and ran her hand gently across his face.

"And I you," she whispered back and Legolas kissed her briefly. She hugged him and watched as Aragorn and Arwen made their way through the crowd. When they stopped before the hobbits, Carita pulled away from Legolas slightly. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin bowed, but Aragorn stepped forward and stopped them.

"My friends," Aragorn said and the four hobbits stood straight and looked at him. "You bow to no one," he said feverishly before he kneeled and bowed deeply to them, with Arwen following suit. Carita, Legolas, and the elves were next followed by everyone else that stood in the courtyard.

Carita laughed happily as Legolas spun her around the dance floor to the quick beat of the music played by the musicians. As the music came to a stop, Carita put her hand over her heart. "As much as I enjoy the dancing I think I could use a drink," she said and Legolas smiled and nodded as he laced her arm with his and walked over to the refreshment table. "Legolas," she said when she spotted Arwen. "Would you mind getting the drinks while I speak with Arwen?" she asked and Legolas shook his head.

"I do not mind, Carita," he said. "I will join you in a minute." Carita smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, love," she whispered and slipped away from him. Legolas smiled and watched her walk away before he turned to go to the refreshment table.

"Prince Legolas," a deep voice said and Legolas stopped and looked to his right only to see his lifelong friend, Thalion.

"Thalion," Legolas said with a smile. "I did not know you had traveled with the others. Why did you not come to me sooner?" Thalion smiled and shook his head.

"I was going to, but you had been occupied," Thalion teased and Legolas lowered his head and looked to Carita as she animatedly talked with Arwen. "Who is she?" Thalion asked and Legolas looked at him.

"Her name is Carita," Legolas said quietly and Thalion looked at him with wide eyes.

"Daughter of Varda?" he asked. "How . . . when . . . I do not understand."

"She was part of the fellowship," Legolas said quietly as he walked towards the table with Thalion following. "I did not intend for it to happen, it just happened," he said as he poured two goblets of wine.

"Your father will be most pleased," Thalion said as he poured himself a goblet of wine. "Long ago he said that the only other woman he had ever met that rivaled your mother's beauty was the Daughter of Varda. He will be pleased to know that you have taken her as your mate." Legolas frowned as he looked at Thalion.

"I did not take her as my mate, Thalion," Legolas said and Thalion looked at him as he took a drink of wine.

"What?" Thalion asked confused. "I thought-," Thalion started but Legolas cut him off.

"I did not take her," Legolas told him. "We chose each other." Thalion frowned. "It is difficult to explain. You don't know for you have yet to find your match, but Carita is my match of that I am certain because I never felt like I do when I am with her before."

"My friend," Thalion said with a smile and a slight shake of his head. "I never thought I would see the day that you settle down." Legolas laughed softly and shook his head. "Go to her, for she is curiously looking our way." Legolas looked at Carita and saw her looking at him with her head tilted slightly and smiling at him. Arwen was gone and he thought it best to join Carita once more.

"I shall speak to you later, my friend," Legolas said as he looked at him and Thalion nodded his head.

"Yes, and introductions must be made," Thalion said before he patted Legolas' shoulder and walked away. Legolas laughed quietly and walked over to Carita. He handed her the goblet of wine and she smiled at him.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "Who was that?" she asked before she took a drink of the wine.

"Thalion, a friend of mine from Mirkwood," Legolas said. "I did not know he had traveled here, and we talked for a time." Carita nodded her head.

"About what?" she asked and Legolas raised an eyebrow. "I am merely curious because you went from happy to agitated to happy again." Legolas smiled and kissed her lips briefly tasting the wine she had just drank upon them.

"You," he whispered against her lips. "We talked about you."

"What had you agitated?" she asked in a whisper and he tucked her hair behind her left ear.

"Nothing that is important now," he said and took the goblet from her setting it on the table. She looked at him with a smile and he held out his hand with a slight bow as yet another fast song started. "May I have this dance?" he asked and Carita laughed before she placed her hand in his.

"You may have every dance you wish," she said and Legolas laughed in return as he pulled her out onto the dance floor.

"Then we shall share many dances," he said and he once again spun her around the dance floor.

The party continued on, but Carita had snuck outside. Legolas was busy talking with Gimli, Aragorn, and the others, so, Carita slipped down the corridor and out into a small garden. The smell of decay was still in the air, but the flowers had bloomed bright and full in the garden. The moonlight was bright and the stars filled the night sky, a sight that Carita had grown to miss during her journey with the fellowship.

"Why did I think I would find you here?" a voice asked and Carita turned around from her spot next to the railing and smiled at Elrond as he made his way over to her.

"Good evening, my friend," she said quietly and Elrond bowed his head slightly.

"How do you fair?" Elrond asked as he stopped next to her and Carita smiled at him.

"Very well," she said happily. "And you?"

"Other than my daughter now happily married to a mortal man, I am well," Elrond said as he looked out over the city.

"They were destined my friend," she said and he sighed. "You cannot stop fate no matter how much you try."

"Do you speak on behalf of my daughter or on behalf of yourself?" he asked her with a grin as he turned his grey eyes to her.

"Both," she said with a smile and a light laugh. Elrond nodded.

"It is good to see you smile again," he said. "Too long have you denied yourself true happiness."

"I have not-," she started but interrupted.

"You did, and do not deny it," he said. "You proved yourself during your journey, so, now you deem yourself worthy enough for love again. You held hope in this world for everyone but yourself."

"I had hope, Elrond," she said quietly. "I always had hope that one day I could easily leave my home without fear. Now I have that freedom."

"You have more than that," he told her and she smiled a bright smile.

"I do," she said. "I do have much, much more than I could have ever dreamed of." Carita stepped away from the railing and smiled. "Good night, my friend." With that Carita walked from the garden leaving the Elvin lord with a smile on his face and his eyes on the sky above.