I am so very sorry for the long wait. I don't think I have ever taken this long to post a new chapter. My muse is slowly returning as life is kind of getting back to normal, but it's a slow process. I really hope you all like this chapter, and thank you very much to those of you that reviewed. As I say all the time they mean the world to me. Let me know what you think, and check out the note at the bottom!

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

Chapter 44

"Would you please just settle for a moment, and listen to me," Carita said as she stood upon a small step dressed only in a thin white shift while three elleths bustled about her. The seamstresses had been far too excited when Thranduil had commissioned them to make Carita her gown for the bonding ceremony and they had not let her get a word in on what she wanted.

"She would look lovely in a pale blue, and the ceremony could be under the moonlight," Falira, the youngest of the seamstresses, said with a dazed look in her eyes. "It would be beautiful."

"No, she would look much lovelier in lavender," Iril said, the oldest of the seamstresses, and she held a soft lavender fabric that had a faint leaf pattern in it. Carita sighed and rolled her eyes, as the elleths continued to argue.

"I think a soft peach would suit her best," Odina said.

"Ladies, please!" Carita exclaimed and they stopped and looked at her. "I know the three of you mean well," Carita said as she lifted the shift slightly and stepped down from the stool. "However, I do not wish to wear pale blue, lavender, or peach." Carita walked over to the stacks of fabric and smiled at seeing a cream colored fabric with silver flecks woven within the beyond soft fabric. "I wish for my gown to be made of this fabric," she said as she held up the roll of fabric. Iril smiled and walked over to Carita and took the roll from her.

"Then together, my lady, we shall make a gown worthy of you with this material," Iril said and Carita gave her a smile.

"I would like something simple, please," Carita said. "Nothing . . . overpowering."

"Very well, my lady," Iril said with a smile. "We have your measurements and we have the dress ready for you by the end of next week."

"No rush, Iril," Carita said as she put her hand on her shoulder. "There is still three weeks to the ceremony." She walked away and grabbed her dress.

"Let me help you," Odina said as she moved over and helped Carita dress.

"Thank you Odina," she said when Odina finished lacing the back of Carita's dark blue dress. "If you should need me, I'll be with Legolas." Iril, Falira, and Odina nodded before Carita left the room and sighed as she did so, tucking her hair behind her ears.

She knew that they all meant well, but she had hoped that they did nothing too extravagant.

"Legolas, wait!" Carita called as she chased after him in the large garden outside of the castle. The flowers had long ago withered away and the leaves crunched as she passed by. Legolas had decided that he wanted to race through the garden, and after he rounded a corner, she lost him. Carita sighed and looked around her. "Legolas! Where did you go?" she asked. She could feel his merriment and it made her smile, even though she was agitated with him. "Legolas, come on!" she said when suddenly, she was turned around and met a pair of sparkling silver-blue eyes. She gasped and Legolas smiled before he leaned down and kissed her softly.

"Do not be angry, love," he whispered and Carita sighed before she slipped away from him and smiled.

"I am not angry," she said and Legolas made to close the distance when she took a step back. She laughed and took off into a run once again. Legolas laughed and followed after her. Carita looked over her shoulder and then forward once more only to come to a halt as she looked up at Thranduil. Legolas laughed as he caught her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Caught you," he whispered into her ear before he kissed her, just under her earlobe. A chuckle caught his attention; startled, he looked up and quickly removed his arms from Carita and smiled at his father. "Father," Legolas said surprised and Thranduil took a deep breath.

"I heard you two all the way in my study," he said and Carita swallowed hard. "I had expected a few of the younger courting elves; I must say I did not expect to find my son and the daughter of Varda being the cause of such a ruckus."

"I am sorry father," Legolas said but Thranduil smiled and shook his head.

"Don't be," Thranduil said. Carita let out a breath and Thranduil chuckled before he walked away and up a stone path that led into a side entrance of the castle. Legolas laughed and once again wrapped his arms around Carita's waist. She put her hands over his that rested on her stomach and laughed.

"I cannot believe that I let you trick me into this," she said and Legolas frowned as she turned around in his arms and looked up at him. "You have me acting like a child." Legolas' frown turned into a smile before he rested his forehead against hers.

"Do not lie and say you have not been enjoying yourself," he said and she smiled before she pulled back slightly.

"I am enjoying myself, perhaps maybe too much," Carita said.

"What do you mean?" he asked and Carita sighed quietly.

"Our ceremony is in two weeks, and I have yet to finalize anything," Carita said. "Our friends are not going to be there, and Iril has yet to allow me to see my dress. She said that it is nearly finished and at the dawn I am to go for a final fitting to ensure it fits well."

"Carita," Legolas said as he raised his hands to her face. "This is why I have been keeping you busy, so, you will not think of these things." Carita gave him a smile before he leaned in and kissed her. "Let's go for a walk," he said as he pulled back and linked his arm with hers before he calmly started to lead her through the garden. "Two of our friends are coming," Legolas said and Carita looked at him, "and they bring news from our other friends."

"Who is coming?" she asked and Legolas chuckled.

"Gimli and one other," he said quietly and Carita laughed.

"Gimli? He is making the journey to Mirkwood?" Carita asked surprised by the fact that Gimli was making a journey to Mirkwood, the land of a king who was highly suspicious of dwarves. "And your father? What does he think of Gimli's coming?"

"I told him a trusted friend from the fellowship travels with Mithrandir," Legolas said finally revealing the identity of the second of their friends that was coming.

"Gandalf is coming as well?" Carita asked feeling even happier. "That is wonderful news. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because, my love, that would mean your thoughts would once again turn to the ceremony, and I wanted your mind to not dwell on it." Carita laughed and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Still, you should have told me," Carita said quietly and Legolas chuckled.

"I am sorry," he said and she looked up at him.

"No you are not," she teased back and Legolas smiled before he stopped and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"No?" he asked quietly as her hands snaked up his chest and wrapped around his neck. He slowly leaned into her and kissed her softly. "How about now?" he asked. "Do you believe that I am sorry for not telling you?"

"No, but maybe you can keep trying to convince me," she said as she slipped away from him, but kept a hold of his hand. Legolas smiled as she led him back to the palace, and for once since deciding upon the date of their formal ceremony, Carita was at peace. And she had the ellon that looked at her so lovingly to thank for it.

The next morning, Carita sat upon the chaise in the seamstress' room long before she was supposed to be there. She decided to skip the morning meal, and to wait for Iril and the others. She watched as the sun filtered in through the thick trees and she sighed quietly as she rested her head in her hand.

"My lady," a surprised voice breathed and Carita looked to the door to see Iril standing there with a look of shock upon her fair face.

"Good morning, Iril," Carita said with a smile and stood from the chaise. "I hope you don't mind my early arrival, but I am afraid I could not wait to see what you, Falira, and Odina came up with." Iril smiled and nodded her head before she moved to a large wardrobe and opened the double doors. Carita laced her fingers together and held her breath as Iril pulled the dress out.

The fabric seemed to shimmer and Carita lowered her hands to her side as she took in the ribbon detail on the bodice, the long flowing sleeves, and the simplicity that she was hoping for.

"Oh my, Iril," she said as she walked over to the elleth and smiled as she gently touched the soft fabric. "It's beautiful," she said and looked at Iril who smiled.

"I am glad that you like it, my lady," she said. "Falira worried it would be too simple."

"No, no," Carita said as she laughed. "It is perfect, absolutely perfect. Thank you," Carita said as she hugged Iril. The elleth stiffened, but returned Carita's embrace with her one free arm. Carita pulled back and looked at the dress. "My I try it on?" Carita asked and Iril nodded.

"Of course, that is why you are here is it not?" Iril asked and Carita laughed again as she nodded. "Come behind the screen and I shall help you into it." Soon, Carita was dressed in the beautiful gown and was standing before the tall looking glass. "Lady Carita, you look beautiful," Iril breathed and Carita smiled at her before she looked at her reflection.

"Do you think Legolas shall like it?" she asked and Iril nodded her head.

"I do, but I feel the prince shall think you beautiful even if you showed up in a burlap sack," Iril said making Carita laugh again.

"Iril, please call me Carita," she said as she looked at the reflection of the elleth behind her. "I have never been one to care for titles, and I would like to have you as my friend. That is if you shall have me."

"I would like that very much my-," she started but Carita raised an eyebrow making her stop and smile. "I would like that very much, Carita," she said again and Carita smiled and nodded.

"Good," Carita said and she sighed. Two weeks from that very day was the official bonding ceremony, and though it was only a formality and meant nothing to Legolas and Carita, she was nervous. As she stood there in the beautiful gown the seamstresses had worked on so diligently, her nerves only doubled. "Well, let us tuck this away before I manage to ruin it," Carita said and Iril smiled and nodded before they once again moved to the dressing screen.

The ceremony was to take place the next morning, and Carita worried that Gandalf and Gimli wouldn't make it before the ceremony. She sighed as she closed the book she had been reading and stood from the sofa in the library. Deciding to go in search of Legolas, she put her book away and left the library only to be met with a surprise.

"Gandalf!" Carita said happily as she met the white wizard in the corridor. She looked for Gimli, but frowned when she did not see him. "Welcome," she said as she embraced him, but was careful of the parcel he carried. "Where is Gimli?" she asked as she pulled away.

"He is with Legolas," Gandalf said kindly. "He wished to have a tour, and demanded ale after his inquisition."

"How long have you been here?" she asked with a frown.

"Three hours," Gandalf said and Carita laughed before she nodded. "I have something for you, a gift from Aragorn and Arwen for their apologies for not being able to make the journey." Carita smiled as he held out the parcel to her. She looked around and stepped back into the library.

"Come, I shall open it in here," she said and sat the parcel on the table before she untied the string and opened the wooden box. She gasped and raised her hands to her lips as she looked what laid in the box.

"Arwen found it tucked away in one of the store rooms of the Queen's quarters," he said and she looked at him. "She thought it only fitting that they return to their rightful owner." Carita lowered her hands and turned her eyes back to the contents of the box and smiled as she gently touched the silver and crystal circlet and necklace.

"I never thought I would see these again," she said in a whisper. "Will you give them my thanks upon your journey to Minas Tirith?" she asked and looked at Gandalf once more. He smiled and nodded his head.

"I will, Carita," he said and Carita sighed as she looked back at the pieces that had been hers many years ago. She had forgotten about them, and she knew that she would have to give them her deepest thanks next she saw them, and she knew that it would be soon.

A/N: To see the dress, circlet, and necklace check out these links (copy and paste the addresses in your browser and then just delete the spaces): Dress: http:// www. katrinamariedesigns. com/ WG357 front1M. jpg, Circlet: http:// www. medievalbridalfashions. com/images /moonlight/moonray /DSC03651. JPG, and Necklace: http:// www. medievalbridalfashions. com/images/moonlight /moonray/ DSC03670. JPG