A/N: Final chapter up. Hope everyone who is reading this enjoyed as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'd like to thank all my reviewers, you guys rock.
It may start off a little confusing but you'll catch on soon enough.
On to the final chapter.
Chapter 10: Epilogue
"The end." Shouts of protests could be heard from children's voices. The storyteller's blue eyes sparkled with mirth; this was exactly the kind of reaction he was expecting. The storyteller was sitting on a bench outside, children of all ages were gathered around his feet, some sat next to him on the bench and one of the little girls were sitting on his lap.
The little boy sitting on his left protested, "That's not an ending." The small voices rose in agreement.
"Is it not? There are many endings in this world, some are good and some are bad." The storyteller explained with patience.
The girl sitting on his lap looked back up at him, "So this story has a bad ending?"
"Bad? Why is the ending bad?"
"Because the little elfling died, I didn't want the elfling to die." All the children nodded in agreement.
The storyteller did not give the elfling and his parent's names to the children for reasons known only to him – they were known as the 'elfling', 'the elfling's mother' and 'the elfling's father.' "I wouldn't say that, the elfling did live." At the stares of confusion directed at him he continued, "For you see, as soon as Miluion announced the elfling's death, lord Earendil noticed that the elfling was breathing again; it seems that they got the antidote into him just in time after all." The storyteller couldn't help but smile at the cheers.
The child nearest his feet piped up, "Where is the elfling today?"
"Oh, he's still around very much alive and well, although it was a long time before he fully recovered, he still pulled through stronger than ever. The only problem is that he's been living with a fear for all snakes."
"What about the twins, how were they punished?" Another voice arose.
"Did the elfling's father ever forgive them?"
"Did the elfling forgive them?"
"Were they still friends?"
The storyteller raised his hands while chuckling, "Please one question at a time, they'll be answered if you give me a chance." As soon as the children settled down he began answering their questions, "The twins were given a good spanking and were made to clean the stables and help the servants wherever they could for 10 years."
"That's not so bad for what they did." The little boy on his right had said.
"There was a far greater punishment ahead of them. Their father foresaw that a great and terrible pain was going to come upon one of them but he wasn't exactly sure what. It was at the end of the 10 years that Elros had opted to become mortal and live like a ranger; this, of course, broke Elrond's heart because it was not long afterwards that Elros passed on into death because of his mortality and what made matters worse was that his parents, lord Earendil and lady Elwing went to sail across the sky amongst the stars with one of the simaril's on his forehead. To this day lord Elrond still grieves for them but he has continued to live and heal people wherever he can."
"What about the elfling's father, did he ever forgive them?"
The storyteller sighed and bowed his head, "I'm afraid not." Looking back up at them he continued, "He carried that bitterness for the rest of his life right to his grave."
"So he died?"
"Eventually he did, but that's a story for another time."
"Was the elfling still friends with them?"
"Oh yes, he even admitted that the prank would have been a clever one if it hadn't of gone so wrong, he felt there was nothing to forgive and to this day him and lord Elrond are very best friends."
"What about Luthien, did she ever marry Beren?"
"Yes, you will learn more about them in your history lessons, but let's just say that they got married at a very steep price. I guess you could say that this tale has both happy and sad endings." With that, he picked the little girl up from his lap and gently placed her on the ground, the children took this as a sign that story time was over for the day.
As everyone began to stand; one of them asked, "How come you know so much about the little elfling?"
The storyteller gave the child a wry smile, "Let's just say that we are very close."
When he was standing alone he pulled up his right sleeve and stared at a small but slightly prominent scar on his arm, "Very close indeed."
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The End