So Wide A Sea

RATED: PG-13 for some semi-graphic depictions of violence.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: No folks, I am not the reincarnation of the great J.R.R. Tolkien, not do I own any of the following characters.  This story is for entertainment purposes only.  I receive absolutely no money for this story.  The only payment I receive is reviews from readers like you, so please read and review.  I do sincerely hope you enjoy the story.

SUMMARY:  After Aragorn's death long after Sauron's defeat, Legolas finally gives into the Sea-Longing and departs with Gimli for Valinor.  Legolas' POV.

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Night settles over all the world, cool and deep like a comforting blanket.  In the cloudless skies above, cold pale stars shine silently and the moon throws down a milky, silvery light, the reflections of it dancing on the waves like so many diamonds.  There is no noise except for the gentle lapping of the waves at the sides of the grey ship that will carry me across the sea.  A steady wind fills the sails, moist and smelling of salt.

Normally, I would be in high spirits on a night such as this.  But not tonight.  Instead, my heavy heart disspells all mirth and not even Gimli can lift my spirits, for I am greatly conflicted, my heart laying in two places.  He senses this, and as of yet, he has left me to myself.  For that, part of me is glad, though I dare not show it.  For I have left my home in Middle Earth to make my finally journey – that which shall see me in Valinor for the rest of my days.  I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this for many years, ever since that fateful day I heard the wailing of gulls.  And yet, I still feel an incredible amount of sadness in leaving Middle Earth behind.  I remind myself that there is nothing left there for me, for my friends have all departed, some in death, and others to Valinor long ago to live out what life was left to them.

It is not that I am the first of the elves to leave.  Nay, I am the last of the Firstborn to make the journey.  All others have perished or crossed the sea already.  But I could not leave, not while my friends still drew breath, and certainly not while any of my people still lingered in Middle Earth.

For it was not long after the war with Sauron and the restoration of Gondor that I made a trip back to my home in Mirkwood.  My father was glad to see me and my homecoming was greatly celebrated.  All that season I stayed home, never sensing that anything was amiss, until late one evening.  It was then that my father came into my room as I was poring over a book.

"Legolas," he said, entering the room and sitting at the edge of my bed.  "We need to talk."

"Of course atar," I had responded, shutting the book and leaving it off to one side.  "What is on your mind?"

"I…I am…leaving Middle Earth.  Before the year has ended, I will make my final voyage to the Undying Lands.  My ship is nearly completed."

I had not been expecting this, and so I felt as if I had been stricken.  But my father had his reasons for leaving, mostly that which urged him to be reunited with my mother, who had passed over the sea when I was quite young.

Before long, I found myself one night at the Passing of the Crown ritual, an ancient tradition where Sindarin Elf kings longing to leave Middle Earth, name and crown their heir.  Now it was my father's turn to hand his kingdom over.  And I…I was now king, ruling alongside my father until he left one late autumn evening.

The ritual itself was a whirlwind of events.  I spent most of the night talking with elders, ambassadors, and rulers from friendly kingdoms throughout Middle Earth.  The ceremony itself was quite lavish and held on my father's own estate.  All of our own folk from Mirkwood were there, and my heart rejoiced to see many of my childhood friends.  They were all the same as I remembered them, but I knew in talking to them that I was not.  Traveling with the Fellowship and fighting in the war had changed me. 

To my surprise, Aragorn, Arwen, Sam, Merry, and Pippin were also there, as was Gimli, who my father had only recently accepted as being one of my best friends.  My heart rejoiced the most to see all of my newest friends, for parting with them had been the most bitter, for family we had become to one another, and I felt closer to them than I had ever been with any of my other friends.  I had not expected to see them there, for tradition held that none that where not of the Firstborn should witness the ritual.  But for my friends that still lingered on these shores, my father had made the exception, not only for my happiness, but to honor them for their part in saving our world as well.

In looking back, I do not really think that the full weight of the responsibility that I now bore really hit me until after the ceremony and as it grew closer to the time when my father left.  I had the hints that the time was drawing nearer, for he grew more restless and worked harder at last minute training for my new role.  Though my training became more intense, I had been conditioned all throughout my life to take over the throne, and the slow compilation of more responsibilities was easy to adjust to.  But then, one night my father was gone on his journey and I was suddenly in sole control of the kingdom.

Suddenly, I was alone, for I saw my friends less often and I was the only one of my family still living in Middle Earth.  I found myself becoming more and more occupied with the rebuilding of Mirkwood, for the war had not left it untouched.  I worked tirelessly to cleanse it of the last remnants of the shadow of evil that had befallen it so long ago, and it was I who headed countless hunts to destroy the foul creatures of some older evil that still haunted its' woods.

But I still longed to be near the sea and I missed my friends in Gondor terribly.  I spoke of this with Aragorn in passing one time as he came to stay in my house on a matter of business and pleasure, for nearly two years had gone by since I had been crowned king and our correspondence had been reduced to letters alone for the lack of time. 

"Come and live in the borders of my lands," he urged me.  "I will set aside land in Ithilien where you may establish a new extension of your kingdom."

"No," I replied, rather regretfully, "I cannot uproot my people.  I cannot abandon Mirkwood."

"Take only those willing to go and if none feel as if they can depart from here, then do not worry about it.  You do not have to abandon the kingdom that your forefathers worked so hard in building.  My offer stands open for as long as I shall live.  Perhaps there can be great things that can be achieved from Men and Elves living together once again."

And so I had thought hard about all that my friend had said and realized that, indeed, he made a good point.  And so, I took those willing to accompany me and established an extension of my kingdom in the fair land of Ithilien.  This early colony flourished and it did wonders for me to be so close to Aragorn and the sea.  Gimli also came to live here and I rejoiced at having my two best friends so close.

For those unwilling to leave their home in Mirkwood, I kept the kingdom established there and often made the trip between both places.  At first, I had been worried that my actions might prove only to faction my people, but thankfully my fears were unfounded when my actions were met with praise rather than hostility.  As fate would later have it, it would be those still living in the woods of Mirkwood that would leave Middle Earth first, for they were the oldest among my people and had merely tired of their life on those shores.