Part 3

Not Quite the End

Well, maybe not Namaarie … at least not yet, since nothing ever truly ends.

The truth is: The Undying Lands are not Heaven. The few mortals that have ever walked the shores and shaded forest paths of the Undying Lands have claimed they were in Heaven. Deep-rooted wounds and pain were healed, that would have otherwise only been made worse in Middle-Earth; however, this is the same for both mortals and immortals. The Undying Lands also do not cause people to live forever. In reality, it allows those that are immortal to live in a world untouched by the ravages of time. To those blessed (or cursed) with living forever, it is peaceful and a perfect paradise. And to those cursed (or blessed) with dying, their final days seem to stretch on giving the allusion of more time than they actually have. Some despise allusions, claiming they are lies, but this lie offered every mortal (to be allowed to the Undying Lands) peace and fulfillment before they died.

To get to the Undying lands is another story entirely. The Straight Road leads there, but it is not easy to find (obviously). There is a real direction to take, but only part of it is physical and tangible.

Legolas finished his story and the whole world jolted. It was as if every fiber of the known universe vibrated and shifted, sliding sideways. Gimli stumbled forward and looked out over the bow of the boat, searching for what they had hit but instinctively knowing at the same time nothing was actually there.

Suddenly, the whole world shone with light.

Just as the whole world seemed to have shifted moments earlier, every molecule now seemed to radiate a soft light. Light appeared to literally dance off the surface of the water. But what really captured both of their attention was the mass of land that seemed to appear out of nowhere in front of them. Trees blanketed most of the land, and on later investigation would reveal to be permanently suspended at the height of spring. Along the shoreline stood a lone pier and just a little ways down the shoreline, a mouth of a wide river.

Legolas and Gimli both took a moment to take it all in. The vista seemed to stretch on forever up toward the distant horizon. Mountains, far of in the distance, broke the tops of the trees. Some were possibly covered with snow. It was too far off to be certain, but since they seemed to reach unheard of heights it was a possibility.

As elves began to slowly show up on the pier, a few of them eagerly waving, Legolas turned to Gimli and grinned. "Thank you for coming with me, Mellon."

"Yeah, yeah," Gimli said, eyes fixed on the horizon and brimming with eagerness, "Ready for the next adventure?"

"Elvish" Translations

Mellon: Friend

Aa' lasser en lle coia orn n' omenta gurtha: May the leaves of your life tree never turn brown.

Aa' i'sul nora lanne'lle: May the wind fill your sails.

Aa' menle nauva calen ar' ta hwesta e' ale'quenle:May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back.

Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva: Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet.

Namaarie: Farewell.