Thank you all so very much for your reviews. I'm sorry it took me so long to update and that this chapter is a little shorter than normal. I've been going through some hard times right now, and this may not be my best. I hope you enjoy the chapter and let me know what you think!

Note: Dialogue in bold is spoken in Elvish.

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

Chapter 41

Carita glanced at the still filled hall and smiled at the men and women that danced or talked in the room. For the first time in a very, very long time Carita felt free and her smile grew when she saw Legolas talking with Aragorn and Arwen. Slowly, she walked towards them only to have a tall blonde ellon to block her path. Slightly startled she met his blue eyes evenly and gave him a small smile when she recognized him. Thalion, the ellon Legolas had been talking to, smiled at her as he bowed his head to her.

"Good evening, my lady," he said and Carita bowed her head in return.

"Good evening," she said. "You are Thalion, correct?" she asked and his smile grew.

"Correct, shall I be flattered to know I was spoken of?" he asked and Carita laughed and shook her head.

"Legolas told me your name when my curiosity got the better of me and I asked him of you," Carita said and Thalion nodded.

"As he told me of you," Thalion said. "You are fairer than the legends speak of. Prince Legolas has chosen well," he said and Carita frowned.

"Chosen?" Carita asked and Thalion laughed good naturedly and shook his head as he held up his hands. Legolas frowned at feeling Carita's agitation and he looked away from Aragorn. His eyes quickly scanned the room and found her. She stood with Thalion and a frown was on her face as she looked at Thalion. He quickly excused himself from Aragorn and Arwen, and the happy couple smiled and nodded when they saw where he was headed. Slowly, he made his way over to them.

"I mean no disrespect to you, my lady," he said quickly as he lowered his hands. "Far from it, but many in our realm often wondered if our prince would find his match in another. All the available young elleths pine for his attention, but his focus was only on training and defending the city from the large spiders." Thalion grinned and took a deep breath at the slightly confused expression that graced Carita's features. "When I say chosen, I simply mean that he has done well in finding a partner to share his life with."

"Thank you, Thalion, I think," Carita said with a laugh and Thalion smiled.

"You are not harassing my future wife, are you my old friend?" Legolas asked as he walked past Thalion and took Carita's arm. She smiled and looked at him as she put her hand on his elbow linked with hers. Her heart raced as he turned his eyes to her and smiled. Their bond was already there, making them husband and wife, but that bond was theirs alone.

"No," Thalion said with a laugh. "Merely enjoying her company."

"I was on my way to let you know I was retiring when Thalion found me," Carita said quietly.

"You're retiring? So soon?" Thalion asked and Carita smiled at him.

"I'm afraid the week has been long, and it has finally caught up with me," she said and Thalion bowed his head once more.

"Then I wish you the deepest of rests, my lady," he said and Carita bowed her head to him before she looked at Legolas and kissed his cheek. Legolas smiled at her as she slipped away from him and out of the hall. "You are a lucky ellon," Thalion said as he patted Legolas' shoulder and Legolas looked at him.

"No need to remind me," Legolas said with a smile and Thalion laughed. Legolas would join Carita soon, but he wanted to catch up with his friends that he had not seen for many long months.

Carita hummed quietly as she closed the door to her chamber and danced around the room. She laughed at her foolishness and shook her head as she came to a stop. After lighting several candles to fill the room with some light, Carita walked to the washbasin and sighed as she poured water into the basin. She washed her face and her neck before she dried her skin and ran her brush through her hair and quietly braided it. Carita was rather tired, only because she had spent much of her time over the last week helping prepare for the ceremony.

Soon, she was in her nightdress and her bare feet made no noise across the cool stone floor. Once again she found herself standing out on the balcony looking up at the moon. The same moon she had cursed during her journey and the looks she would receive because of it. For the first time since Sauron had taken her prisoner she enjoyed the light of the moon and the light it gave her because just as she had discussed with Elrond, she was happy. The door opening caught her attention and she turned around, surprised to see Legolas make his way through the candle lit room.

"I thought you would spend more time with the others," Carita said as she met him halfway and he took her into his arms. He smiled at her and shook her head.

"We will be spending enough time with them during our journey to Mirkwood," Legolas said and Carita laughed quietly. She raised her hands to his shoulders and smiled at him as she looked at the crown upon his head. Now it seemed strange to think that he was a prince. Of course she had known he was the second she laid eyes upon him who he was, but he did not act as one in his position would. He was nothing like his father and for that she was thankful. "What are you thinking?" he asked snapping her from thoughts. She grinned and shook her head.

"Nothing," she said before he captured her lips with his. Carita sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her close. They had not bonded since before they rode to the black gate, and though Legolas understood she could still sense his longing for her; and the hunger in his kiss hid nothing.

"Carita," he whispered after he pulled his lips away from her and rested his forehead on hers. Carita smiled as she kept her eyes closed. She loved it when he said her name with such passion, it made her mind spin and a fire course through her she knew only he would be able to extinguish.

"Why did you stop?" she asked and he chuckled. He lifted his head and Carita opened her eyes and met his light gaze.

"Did you not wish me to stop?" he asked and Carita shook her head.

"I did not wish it," she whispered as she gently pulled on his neck to get him to kiss her again.

"Then I will not deny your wish," he said before he kissed her again. Carita laughed against his lips before he lifted her from the floor, breaking their kiss.

"Now why did you stop?" she asked with yet another laugh and Legolas grinned at her as he walked towards the bed.

"Because I think we would be a little more comfortable on the bed," he said before he laid her down on the bed. Soon, Carita's braid was undone, her nightdress discarded, Legolas crown on the bedside table, and his leggings and tunic joined Carita's nightdress on the floor. He hovered above her and Carita met his gaze. He raised his hand to her face and gently ran his fingers down her cheek. "I love you, Carita," he said and she smiled.

"I love you, Legolas," she breathed and Legolas sighed before he leaned down and kissed her softly. "Don't stop," she said when he pulled away from her and he shook his head.

"Never," he said. "I'll never stop loving you, Carita," he said as his free hand explored her. She knew he meant his words more than one way and she closed her eyes and let out a sigh as he touched her so intimately that she arched her back and her body pressed against his. Her drowsiness was gone and desire replaced it. She pulled his lips down to hers and he moaned against her lips and soon the two of them were lost to the night.

"Must you go so soon?" Arwen asked as she hugged Carita tightly. They had stayed two more days in Minas Tirith, but it was time for the elves of Mirkwood to return home, with Carita and their prince in tow. Dressed in a dark blue traveling dress giving to her by Arwen, Carita squeezed Arwen just as tightly as the elleth held her.

"I wish I could stay," Carita said as she pulled back and Arwen laughed as she shook her head, her grey eyes meeting Carita.

"You lie terribly, my friend," she said and Carita smiled. "It is good to see you so carefree; I've never seen this side of you."

"I never had cause to share it, now I do," Carita said and Moonlight nudged her shoulder making Carita shift her footing so she would not fall and Arwen to laugh. Aragorn walked over to them with Legolas right beside him and he chuckled.

"It seems Moonlight is anxious to travel once more," he said and Carita smiled as she pat her horse's neck.

"He's never been one to stay in one place for too long," she said. "I used to let him roam free about the forest near my home, for the last year he has been stabled many a time."

"The others are waiting for us Carita," Legolas said and she looked at him and nodded before she looked back at Aragorn and Arwen.

"Send us word the second you decide upon the ceremony date," Arwen said as she took Carita's hand and Carita smiled a light blush coming to her cheeks.

"We will," Legolas said and Arwen looked at him. "We only hope that the two of you will be able to make the journey." Arwen nodded and let go of Carita's hand, however, Carita smiled.

"I do not know if you will," Carita whispered and Arwen looked at her. Her words had been meant for the elleth alone, and she was glad to see that she had heard her. Carita could only smile. "Live well until we meet again, my friends," she said and quickly mounted Moonlight. Arwen, however, simply stared at her a slow smile coming to her face. Legolas quickly mounted Arod and bowed his head to the king and queen of Gondor.

Urging their horses on, Carita waived at her friends. The rest of the elves were waiting outside the city gate, and having said farewell to all her other friends, it was time for them to make their way to Mirkwood. Carita was excited for the journey, but she truly did not know the reception she would receive from Thranduil. Their last parting had not gone well, and she hoped he had lost that bit of memory.