Hello everyone. Thank you all very much for your reviews and I hope you like this chapter. I really haven't had the urge to write lately with everything that has been going on in my life, so, I'm not sure if this is some of my best work. Thanks again, and let me know what you think.

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

Chapter 42

Their party had been traveling the two weeks, and they had practically made the journey in utter silence save for the few songs Thalion had led. The night was falling and instead of continuing on for the night, Legolas had instructed everyone to fully rest for one night. Carita sighed as she walked over to the ledge of the steep hill they camped on top of. They had left the land of Rohan just that morning and were getting closer to their destination with every step of their horses. She folded her arms across her chest and looked off towards the setting sun. So much happened in a year's time it felt as if it had been a lifetime.

"What is troubling you?" came Legolas' voice and he wrapped his arm around her waist. Carita smiled and lowered her arms before she wrapped her arm around his waist.

"Nothing," she said as she looked at him. "I am only thinking of the past year, and how so much happened in such little time."

"Indeed," Legolas said quietly before he kissed her temple. "Much has happened," he whispered against her skin and she sighed and closed her eyes before she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Your father will not be pleased to see me," she whispered and Legolas frowned as he looked down at her and she raised her head to meet his gaze evening. "The last time we met, our parting was not so pleasant," she said with a small forced smile and Legolas frowned.

"What happened?" he asked and Carita sighed as she pulled away from him and settled herself on a large rock that was closer to the slope of the steep hill. Legolas' frown only deepened when he saw the nervous look that crossed her features. He walked over to her and settled down next to her. "Carita?" he asked and she looked at him.

"I had made a journey to Mirkwood with a party of elves from Imiladris and . . . well, your father and I did not get along," Carita said sheepishly.

"Your journey was made needlessly," Thranduil said as he looked at the party of six that stood before him. "I have no need for word from Elrond of Rivendell."

"For one who has seen and done so much in their lifetime, you know little of what happens outside your forest," Carita said earning the silver-blue eyes of Thranduil to fall on her. She had elected to make the journey with the group but was supposed to remain silent; however, Thranduil's indifference to Elrond's request for his presence for a council in Lothlorien before Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn angered her. "All that is asked of you is to travel not even two days to Lothlorien for council."

"I have seen you before, but who are you to speak such a way to me?" Thranduil asked as he stood from his seat, but his wife, Elráwien, grasped his forearm and stood with him.

"Now is not the time for you to lose your temper, especially to the Daughter of Varda," Elráwien said and Thranduil frowned as he looked at his wife and then looked once again to Carita. Carita had met Elráwien several times, but never formally met Thranduil and she was silently wishing she had not elected to take the journey to Mirkwood before traveling to Lothlorien.

"My people have given enough," Thranduil said and Carita stepped forward and shook her head.

"You must understand that Lord Elrond wishes for all the Elvin leaders to meet. He only wishes for decisions to be made as to the steps to be taken to better the lives of the free peoples of Middle Earth. The darkness is defeated, but his minions still roam. All must-," Thranduil cut her off.

"Silence," Thranduil said. "You are the Daughter of Varda and yet you stand before me and speak with such a tone that shows you carry no respect."

"I mean no disrespect to you, King Thranduil," Carita told him honestly, "but why should I show respect to someone who shows none to me?" Thranduil simply stared at her. "You demand respect and honesty from any being that steps into your forest. There is no cause for you to speak to me the way you do. I am not one to demand respect simply because of the station my creation gives me, but my station deserves just as much respect as yours, my lord," she added. "All we have come to ask of you is for your attendance at the council, what would you have me tell the other Elvin lords?"

"My father perished because of the darkness of Sauron the Deceiver," Thranduil hissed. "Two thirds of my army fell at the hands of the darkness, and my guards continue to battle the dark creatures that reside within our woods." Carita opened her mouth to speak, but he raised his hand to silence her. "My people are already surrounded in continued darkness, and we have much to contend with on our own. I will be of no use to this council as I will have no solution."

"You-," Carita started but Thranduil shouted.

"Enough!" Thranduil exclaimed. "I will have you leave my forest now," Thranduil said his eyes boring into Carita.

"Fine," Carita said before she looked to her companions that seemed frightened by the blonde haired king. She looked back at Thranduil and narrowed her eyes. "We shall leave, but know that you have only aided in separating yourself and your people from the others of this world." With that she turned and walked from the hall of the palace of Mirkwood with her five companions quickly following.

Carita looked at Legolas to see his reaction to her story, but he bore none that she could tell and his emotions were hidden from her through their bond. "Legolas?" she asked and he looked at her. "Say something," she said and Legolas smiled at her. She felt his merriment wash over her and she frowned.

"That is what has you so worried?" Legolas asked as he raised a hand to her face. The sun had set beyond the horizon during her story and she glowed as the light of the moon shined down on their party that had small fires going and food cooking.

"Your father hated me then for my words against his decision to not attend the council," she said and Legolas smiled and shook his head before he kissed her.

"I am certain that upon seeing you my father will remember your last meeting," Legolas said softly against her lips. "My father has changed much since my mother made the decision to leave the woods and to sail to Valinor twenty-five years ago." Carita sighed and melted into his arms as he held her close.

"Your mother had became my friend," she said quietly as she raised her head and looked at him. Legolas frowned and Carita laughed softly when she felt his slight confusion. "It sounds very strange for you to hear, but she had became my friend through letters after she had sent me a letter in Lothlorien apologizing for your father." Carita laid her head back down on his shoulder with yet another sigh. "However, we had not written to each other since she had . . . well, since she had you," she said with a frown. Suddenly, she felt very old and something felt wrong.

"Carita?" Legolas asked at feeling her discomfort and when she did not answer, he pushed her so she was sitting up and looking at him with a frown on her face. "What is it?" he asked and Carita shook her head.

"Nothing, it's just . . . I just realized," she sighed and shook her head. "It's silly."

"What is silly?" he asked.

"I just realized how young you are," she said and Legolas laughed before he moved his hands from her shoulders and gently took her face into his hands.

"Carita," he whispered softly and then he slowly leaned into her and kissed her. Carita gasped against his lips, but soon she was kissing him back, her hands grasping the sides of tunic tightly as she did so. He pulled away from her and she took in deep laboring breaths to still her racing heart as she opened her eyes. Legolas smiled at her as his thumbs ran gently across her skin. "Am I too young for you?" he teased and Carita smiled before she shook her head. Legolas grinned and made to kiss her again when a voice broke them apart.

"As terrible as I feel to break up this lovely moment," Thalion said and Carita and Legolas looked to the tall ellon who smiled at them, "but if you wish to eat while the food is warm, I suggest you join us."

"We'll be right there Thalion," Legolas said as he lowered her hands from Carita's face and Thalion gave the pair a wink before he nodded and walked over to join the others who were looking at them with smiles on their face. Carita laughed and rested her forehead against Legolas' shoulder, which in turn made him laugh. "Come, you need to eat," he said as he stood and pulled her with him. Carita nodded and laced her fingers with his before they walked over to the others and settled down for an evening of chatting and rest before their journey would continue on to Mirkwood.

The party had taken to rest, but Carita found herself waking with a feeling of elation and slight nervousness. She sighed quietly and looked at the elves around her. All were resting, sleeping with their eyes open and glazed as they laid on their own bedrolls. Legolas' bedroll that was laid out next to hers was empty. She frowned and sat up, her eyes scanning the camp only to find him sitting on the same rock they had been sitting on earlier that day. Silently, she stood and walked barefoot through the soft grass to where he sat.

"What are you doing awake?" she asked him quietly and Legolas looked at her. A smile came to his lips as he looked at her, she always calmed him and he held out his hand to her. She took his hand into hers and settled onto the rock next to him as he had with her just hours earlier.

"I am not tired, and elected to keep watch for the night," he said as he wrapped his arm around her.

"You seem troubled," she said as she rested her head on his shoulder once more and rested her hand upon his chest. He sighed and kissed her hair.

"I am not," he said softly and she closed her eyes. She was silent for a moment and Legolas chuckled. "Have you fallen asleep?" he asked and she smiled and opened her eyes to look at him.

"No," she said with a laugh and Legolas smiled as he leaned in and kissed her. Carita laid her head on his shoulder again. "Would you mind if I stayed with you, I am no longer tired?" Legolas shook his head and took her hand that rested on his chest into his.

"I would never mind, Carita," he said and the pair sat there until the dawn only talking quietly and sharing few kisses while the others in their party rested, save for one who watched his prince with a small smile on his face glad to see that his friend had finally found happiness.