The Nazgul Slayer Chapter 11 Departures, a lord of the rings fanfic

I would like to thank Berianireth of Lorien, Paperlanterns86, kaydub, Lady Minuialwen and Enchanted Authoress for their latest reviews.

I hope all my readers will enjoy chapter 11, full of sadness, but filled with joy also. The Fourth Age started 2 years after the end of the war of the ring.

Chapter 10 ended with:

Glorfindel walked away and pulled her after him, not desiring to see the White Wizard darken her mood. They had been happy since they had left Mordor, and he wanted to remain as such. Her smiles had been scarce in the past months...

Chapter 11 – Departures

Imladris, year 50 of the Fourth Age

"Elleniel? Can we talk for a moment?"

Elleniel stopped reading the treaty that King Elessar had sent for her review, and smiled to her brother. "Of course, Elrohir. Please, have a seat!" She stood and got around her father's desk, which had been hers in the last 45 years, since the day Elrond had sailed and left Imladris in her capable hands. She sat on a couch beside the window, inviting her brother to do the same.

She waited for her brother to talk. Elrohir had not spent much time in Imladris in the past 50 years. He had kept traveling with Elladan and the Dunedain Rangers, still searching for the remaining bands of orcs and wargs and destroying them. After 50 years of this continued quest, the beasts were close to being completely eradicated from Middle Earth.

"What is the matter, brother?" she insisted when he remained silent. "Are you afraid to tell me that Elladan and you wish to sail soon?" She had sensed their longing for the Undying Lands and to be reunited with their parents long before. For at least 5 years, Elrohir had been tormented by the call of the sea. For Elladan, it had been slightly more recent.

"I should have known. You now shamelessly read everyone's thoughts, as easily as if we were verbally telling them to you."

"I cannot control that, Elrohir. But at least, I do not do anything with the information I gather in such a manner."

"I give you credit for that! Are you... disappointed?"

"No. Absolutely not. It is time for you to go. Ada and Naneth are waiting for you."

"They are waiting for you too."

"Perhaps... but they will have to wait a while longer. Estel and Arwen have not aged much in the last 50 years. I believe their son Eldarion will not become king anywhere soon!"

"You are still determined to remain here until they rest in peace?"

"More than ever. There is still so much to be done! King Thranduil wrote me a missive a few months ago. There are now less than a hundred elves in Mirkwood. They will probably sail within the next two years. He was asking me to go and cast a spell on their land, to ensure no mortal will ever find it."

"And Imladris?"

"I am certain that many warriors will want to depart with you. Most of the counsellors have already sailed with Ada. I will probably close Imladris after you leave."

"Where will you reside with Glorfindel?"

"With Grandfather, in South Lorien."

"You seem sure of this plan?"

"Yes. Celeborn, Glorfindel and I have been waiting for your decision for a while now. Although now that you have expressed the desire to go... I realize I will miss Imladris."

She stood and walked to the balcony, where he followed her.

"I will miss the sounds of the waterfalls. They have brought me such peace in the past decades. I have come to love this realm as my own."

"It is your own! You were born here! You have been ruling the Last Homely House for decades!"

She turned to him, and gently squeezed his hand. "Tell Ada I will take good care of Imladris, will you? No one will ever discover it and destroy its beauty."

"I will. I will miss you, Elleniel. Elladan too."

"Why is he not here with us?"

"He was afraid you would not react well."

She snorted. "Since we lost our connection, you both have been reading me very poorly, brother! Although you were reading me poorly also before my binding with Glorfindel!"

"It is out of love for you that we worry so much about you."

"I know," she replied, pulling her brother in an embrace. "I love you too."

They sailed three months later, bringing with them all the remaining staff of Imladris and many elven treasures to be given to Lord Elrond. Unexpectedly, many warriors had refused to sail, desiring to remain in Middle Earth to protect the Lady of Imladris and their captain. Elleniel and Glorfindel remained a few more months in Imladris with a group of 30 soldiers.

They were standing in front of the Imladris gate, staring at their beloved realm, broken hearted. Elleniel, who had a lump in her throat, finally found the strength to whisper the first words of the concealing spell. She repeated the sentences over and over again, her voice growing louder, lifting her glowing hands towards the realm that had been a safe haven for many elves and mortals in the past millennia.

Suddenly, the Last Homely House, the stables, the waterfalls, everything disappeared from their view. The warriors gasped in surprise. They could not believe their eyes. Most of them realized they should have known their Lady had grown such powers in the last decades that this was no impossible task for her.

Since her fight with the Nazgul in Lothlorien, she had earned their respect. And when she had taken over the ruling of Imladris, their respect had turned into devotion and love. Their captain had bound with a most extraordinary elleth! They knew that the mortals were still afraid of the warrior-witch, especially when she traveled to Minas Tirith to visit her sister. But they were making sure she was shielded from their incivility.

"Well, now that we are homeless, I guess it is time to leave!" Glorfindel said to shake them from their stupor. A few dishearten laughters were heard, and then, they all mounted their steeds and left Imladris behind, going East by the Mountain Pass to reach East Lorien, where Lord Celeborn was waiting for them. In the two carts that carried their few possessions were three chests, slightly glowing. Many wondered what their Lady was bringing with her that required such measures of security, but then again, it was not up to them to question her.

They reached East Lorien after a month, after a pleasant journey in the mountains. None of them had ever been able to enjoy the beauties of Middle Earth as seen from the mountains, too weary had they always been about possible orc attacks. Middle Earth was now clearly a peaceful place to live in, and they would all miss it. Only the thought that the Undying Lands' scenery would be even more breathtaking to behold was abating their sadness at their soon departure.

Lord Celeborn had been living in East Lorien, the southern part of Greenwood, where the former fortress of Dol Guldur had been located. He had forsaken Lothlorien after Galadriel's departure, unable to live in the city where every talan, tree and hanging bridge reminded her to him. He too was in the company of a small number of his wardens. Haldir and his brothers had left with Galadriel at his request.

Their reunion had been joyful. Although they had been exchanging correspondence over the years, being with her grandfather pleased Elleniel beyond words. After all, he was her only kin left in Middle Earth. He led them to the guest talan where she would live for the next few months, until it was time to move on again. The time of the elves was getting closer to its end, as most who remained felt the irrepressible urge to sail West.

"King Thranduil is ready to depart," Celeborn informed them later than night around a campfire. Elleniel's grandfather now lived a simple life, no longer living as an elven Lord like before.

"So this is it? The end of Eryn Lasgalen?"

"Yes. He would very much like to have you hide his caverns and fortress from view. He asked me to convey the message that he will wait for you, but that you should not rush to his realm. He will await your readiness."

"I will go in the course of the month," she decided. Now that she was here, why would she make the king wait longer? After all, his wife was waiting for him in Valinor.

"But his son is still here," Celeborn said, having read her mind. "He is torn between the two."

"How is Legolas fairing? He has not written to me in years."

"He has many wood elves with him in Ithilien. The forest is now healed, and their task is coming to an end. Most of his followers will sail within a few years."

"Everywhere we look, elves are leaving Arda," commented Glorfindel, seated beside them. "It is difficult to watch them go..."

"Do you regret your decision to stay?" Celeborn asked.

"No. Many elves feel their tasks are done, but we do not," he replied, looking at his mate. "Elleniel will be one of the last ones to leave, and I will support her until then."

"I will remain with both of you, if you do not mind?"

"Dearada, of course you can stay with us! I would probably need your help in the future. Making Imladris disappear drained me for weeks. And to think I have to do it for Lothlorien, Eryn Lasgalen and East Lorien worries me."

"You forget Ithilien. You will have to hide the traces of the elves in the realm near Gondor too!"

Celeborn had been able to cure the southern part of the forest that had been once called Mirkwood, and Thranduil had done the same for the northern part, but the middle section had been hurt by evil creatures for too long and had proven beyond healing. For centuries to come, travelers would feel the animosity of the trees and never venture in that section of the forest. For this reason, when they made the journey to Eryn Lasgalen, they traveled in the plains west of the forest.

The sight of Eryn Lasgalen's fortress in the rocks was impressive. The entrance looked like a multileveled stone castle, with balconies and open windows.

"I have never seen such a thing," Elleniel whispered. "I always wondered how wood elves could live in caves, but this? This is beautiful!"

"Wait until you see the interior," smiled Celeborn. "It is not at all dark and gloomy like you would expect. They have managed to bring sunlight inside through various holes and passages."

At the door of his fortress, the king was waiting for them.

"Welcome Celeborn, Glorfindel," he said to the ellyn that had traveled to his realm before. He then turned to Elleniel. He took in her appearance, her dark hair and stunning features, her strength, her warrior stance, the humming of power that surrounded her. The same power than Celeborn, he mused. He threw a sideway glance to his old friend Celeborn, who smiled with pride in return.

"My Lady Elleniel, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person. Although I must say, the praises were far from the truth," he said gallantly, kissing her hand. Glorfindel growled beside him, but the king disregarded him. The Balrog Slayer would benefit from being reminded once in a while that his mate was a treasure to protect. "I have heard so much about you that I almost feel like I have known you for years."

"Thank you for your kind words, my Lord. I have heard much about you too, some of which I hope was false," she pleasantly replied, reminding him that his sharp tongue, boiling-hot character and intolerance were well-known in Middle Earth. Glorfindel and Celeborn snorted in harmony.

"That was a long time ago," the king replied good-heartedly, "when worry about attacks on my realm was ever present. Now that peace reigns over Middle Earth, I have become... an angel of patience and love."

Celeborn guffawed and hit the king's shoulder like a bantering old friend. "You are making my day, Thranduil! I had not heard such lies since Elladan and Elrohir turned of age!"

They spent two weeks in Eryn Lasgalen, visiting the forest and exploring the various caves and rooms in Thranduil's fortress. Elleniel particularly enjoyed visiting the former suite of the prince, his childhood toys and weapons in a corner.

"Will you bring him a letter from me, Elleniel?" Thranduil asked one afternoon, as he had found her in Legolas' room. Elleniel had been going through some of his possessions, planning to bring some of them to Legolas when she would go to Ithilien. It would be too late for Legolas once she had cast her eternal spell.

"Of course, my Lord. We will probably move to Ithilien within the year. My grandfather cannot remain alone in East Lorien. His last wardens wish to sail."

"And the Imladris warriors do not wish to leave?"

"The ones that remained with us once my brothers sailed have sworn an oath to remain with me until I sail myself. But I had to promise that I would sail!"

"They doubted it?"

"It would seem I am... unpredictable," she replied with a smile, hiding well her tension. She had started to feel at home in Middle Earth in the past decades, and Valinor had not been a place of peace and joy for her.

"You will be happy there, Elleniel. With your mate and your family, your life in Valinor will be much different," the king said with surprising intuition about her concern. "Your parents and brothers are aching for your return, just like I will ache for the arrival of Legolas. Can you promise... can you promise that you will make sure that Legolas will sail?"

"I swear it, my Lord. I will not sail without Legolas. I will tie him to the mainmast of the ship if I need to."

"Thank you. Here, take this," he said, handing her a child bow and small wooden horses. "These were his most cherish possessions when he was thirty years old. Bring them back to him."

"Let's hope it will remind him of his family!"

Three weeks later, in the valley, Elleniel, Glorfindel and Celeborn parted from the king, his suite and the Lorien wardens. Eryn Lasgalen had now eternally disappeared from Middle Earth, and was now a legend. The three elves rode back with the Imladris warriors that had sworn to remain with them.

Ithilien, year 102 of the Fourth Age

Another 50 years had passed, during which East Lorien had also been concealed. The remaining elves in Middle Earth were now very few, and all living in Ithilien, the realm of Prince Legolas. Other than the prince himself and his friend Gimli the dwarf, only Elleniel, Glorfindel, Celeborn and the thirty Imladris warriors had not sailed.

Arwen was visiting her sister frequently, as Elleniel did not like going to Minas Tirith. A century after the arrival of Queen Arwen, and following the departure of most elves, the people of Gondor had become suspicious of elves, and more particularly of the queen's warrior-witch sister. By then, both Arwen and Estel had aged, their face showing the lines of time and their hair turning grey. The sight was difficult to behold for Elleniel, since her own beauty was eternal and she felt guilty about it.

Once again, Arwen was in Ithilien, spending some alone time away from the Lords and Ladies of Minas Tirith. Only in the last elven realm could she be herself, without being afraid of showing too many elven traits.

Elleniel was brushing Arwen's hair, sighing when she saw even more grey than during her last visit.

"Do not feel guilty," Arwen told her at once. "It was my choice. I knew it would happen," the Evenstar said to Elleniel, caressing her perfect skin and raven hair. "You are so beautiful," she whispered. "So young."

"I am older than you, Arwen," Elleniel reminded her sister.

"Shut it! Let me do the talking!"

Elleniel was stunned by the unusually blunt reply of her sister.

"You are so young, Elleniel. Will you tell me why you have not made me an aunt yet?"

"An aunt?"

"Yes, an aunt! When you will give Glorfindel a child? Do you not think he has waited long enough?"

"What did he tell you?"

"Nothing, Glorfindel told me nothing! But you have been bound for a century now, and he never had an elfling in both his lives. I could read how he longed for an elfling when he played with Eldarion when he was younger."

Elleniel went to the balcony and watched the ellyn you were sparring on the training grounds. Despite the fact that these were times of peace, the warriors did not stop their training. She felt Arwen's presence behind her, obviously not being done with her conversation.

Glorfindel was sparring with Legolas, sword against twin elven blades. "Look at him, Elleniel. One of the most courageous elves in both Middle Earth and Valinor, a hero to all elvenkind. But he can also be the most tender of ellyn, as he has shown us all each time he is with you. Give him a child, sister! What are you waiting for?"

"I cannot."

"Why?"

"What if... the child has powers?"

"What about it?"

"I cannot give such a miserable existence to a child, Arwen. You know not what you are talking about."

"Would your child be separated from the family for a millenium? Would he be raised to become an Istar, without your love or Glorfindel's?"

"Never would we allow that to happen!"

"Then why do you hesitate? Your child might not even have powers! But if he does, he would have the childhood that our grandparents had, loved, trained to use magic by family and without receiving a dangerous mission."

"I am afraid I would not be a good mother."

"We are all afraid of that, Elleniel. You think I was a good mother from the moment Eldarion was born? I was not! I had never taken care of baby before the midwife put him in my arms. I did the best I could, and I managed. You will do no less."

Glorfindel felt his mate's eyes on him, and watched her as she stood on a balcony above the training ground. He felt a pang in his heart when he saw how Arwen had altered in the past years. Beside the queen, his mate stood, troubled. What had they been talking about? It was obvious that Arwen was insisting about something, and that Elleniel was vastly uncomfortable. He sent her a wave of reassurance through their bond, and he saw Elleniel's physical tension abate. She sent him a kiss, and he went back to his fight with Legolas while the ladies went back inside.

That very night, when Glorfindel was reading in bed, Elleniel sat on the chair of her dressing table, brushing her long hair.

"Glorfindel? I was wondering... Did you ever wish to have a child?" she whispered almost inaudibly.

Glorfindel dropped the book he was reading, both surprised and relieved. He had been waiting for her to bring up the subject, but the wait had lasted many decades longer than he had expected.

"Are you ready to have this conversation, my love?"

"Yes. I want to talk about it."

"Fine. Then yes, beloved, I will tell you that I would like to have a child from you. I wish to create a new life with you, a child that will carry both our bloods, an ellon or elleth that would be the symbol of our love."

"And what if... What if the child gets more than my blood in the mix?"

He understood the question she had not voiced. He had surmised that it was the reason of her lack of child desire. After the miserable childhood she had had, she probably could not envision what a happy childhood could be for an elven witch.

He moved on the bed, and grabbing her wrist, he pulled her to him. "My love, if our child is blessed with your magic, you will be the best person to raise him. And I will love him all the same. When I bound myself to you, I knew it was a possibility, one that does not scare me in the least. Come here," he said, lying her underneath him on the bed.

"We will talk about it later. I have something else in mind for now..." he continued, before voraciously pillaging her mouth and lifting her nightgown above her thighs.

Minas Tirith, year 119 of the Fourth Age

The delegation of elves from Ithilien arrived on a cold morning of February. Everyone knew why they had come to Minas Tirith. Their beloved King Elessar was living his last days, after a long and peaceful reign. Queen Arwen's family was there to say their goodbyes and attend the coronation of Prince Eldarion.

The people of Gondor stopped dead on their tracks as the elves were slowly making their way to the highest level of Minas Tirith. The warrior-witch was being supported by her husband, the legendary elven warrior Glorfindel, as she was obviously pregnant. Behind them, the grandfather of their queen was holding the hand of a small raven haired elf girl, who was looking around in curiosity and asking questions in their language. Beside them, the elf Legolas, friend to their king and Prince of Ithilien, was answering her questions with kindness. Master Gimli was also with them. They were surrounded by fully armed elven warriors, that looked at the citizens of Minas Tirith with suspicion.

"Aunt Elleniel!" Eldarion welcomed her when they finally reached the royal palace. "I am very sorry that you had to travel at this stage of your pregnancy."

"Worry not, Eldarion. Whatever the timing, the passing of a beloved law-brother and king is always difficult. How is your father fairing?"

"He is very weak now, and sleeps most of the time. Mother is with him day and night, endangering her own health. I am worried for her too."

"Her mate is dying," Celeborn told his great-grandson. "For an elf, this is insurmountable. Be ready, Eldarion. You will lose both your parents within a short period of time," he gently warned.

"I felt it," he said with great sadness. Shaking himself, he spoke to his little cousin. "You have grown much since the last time I saw you, Maewen. You are tall for a 15 year-old elfling." He watched with wonder the little elleth, who was growing at elven pace. Elves were reaching their physical maturity at 50 years old, and his cousin looked like she was about a 6 year-old mortal girl. The elleth looked at him with wonder, not familiar with this older cousin she had met twice in her life.

Glorfindel pushed her towards him. "Mae govannen, cousin Eldarion," she shyly replied, before going back to her great-grandfather for protection. Maewen had been overprotected by the adults surrounding her, and was not used to meeting strangers. To Elleniel's relief, her daughter had not inherited her magic and was as normal an elfling as she could be.

"Can we go inside his room?" asked Elleniel, eager to see her sister and brother-in-law. Eldarion led them to the king's suite, and introduced them in his bedchamber, where Arwen was sitting, holding Elessar's hand. She stood when she saw her elven family and friends enter the room, and cried in her sister's arms for a long time.

When the king awoke a few hours later, he was surrounded by his wife and son, his wife's family and his last two friends from the fellowship. All the people that mattered to him, and that were still in Middle Earth. His last wish had been granted.

He exchanged a few words with each of them, sharing old memories and providing his last advices. He told them his goodbyes. It was a most sad but serene moment. The king was ready to depart, satisfied with what he had accomplished in his long life.

King Elessar died that night.

The funerals of King Elessar had just ended. King Eldarion and Queen Arwen were slowly walking behind the wooden casket, which was being carried to the crypt, where it would be placed in an enormous granite coffin.

Arwen asked to remain alone in the crypt, and all the courtesans left to go back home, saddened to have lost the king whose reign had lasted longer than anyone could recall. But they knew they were in good hands with his son Eldarion, who was ready to rule with the wisdom he had already shown to his people and their allies.

The king's family remained near the crypt, waiting for Arwen to be done saying her last goodbyes to her husband.

"Your mother will be coming with us, Eldarion," Elleniel told her nephew.

"Why?"

"She wishes to end her days in Lothlorien. Celeborn and I will go with her."

"But you are pregnant! You cannot go there for that long!"

"Eldarion, your mother's fading has already started, can you not see it?" she asked with as much tact as she could. "All her strength is gone, she has lost her elven light. She will not last much longer."

"How long?"

"I would guess... two months. Maybe less."

"Can I go with you?"

"No. You must stay with your people. You must say farewell to us all, Eldarion. With your father's passing comes our time to leave Middle Earth."

"So soon?"

"I have not seen my father in more than a century, and grandfather as not seen grandmother for the same period of time. I also miss my brothers, who sailed many decades ago..."

"I want to see my parents," Legolas added.

"When will you be all leaving?"

"In a few days."

Arwen came out of the crypt, and Eldarion rushed to her side. He would spend as much time as he could with her before her departure.

"I want you to be back before you give birth, Elleniel," warned Glorfindel softly so Eldarion would not hear. "I do not want you to give birth in the woods, without me being near."

"I will be back," she whispered. "Make sure the ship is ready when we arrive in Ithilien."

"It is almost ready," Legolas said proudly.

"I hope it will not fall apart at sea," she jested. "After all, you have not been a shipwright for millennia like Lord Cirdan!"

"If it falls apart, I will split your head in two with my axe, princeling!" added Gimli grumpily.

"Seeing Lothlorien like this is so sad," whispered Arwen as her grandfather was carrying her to the former royal talan.

This whole trip is sad, thought Elleniel as she followed her grandfather, climbing with care the stairs that had been damaged by time and the elements. Caras Galadhon had been abandoned more than a century before, and the vegetation and animals had taken possession of the elven city. Many suspended bridges had fallen, leaving entire areas unreachable for those who could not climb in the trees. Luckily for them, the royal talan was still in relative good condition, and Celeborn installed his exhausted granddaughter on a blanket on the floor. He went back to the stairs to help Elleniel who was struggling to reach the highest level.

"I should really have worked on that flying spell," she whined, holding her belly. She was now nine months pregnant, with only three to go before giving birth. Glorfindel had reluctantly let her go with her sister and grandfather, afraid that riding for weeks in her state would not be good for her health.

"If you fly one day, you will be recognized as the greatest witch ever born in both Middle Earth and Valinor, all races considered," he replied, supporting her weight.

"That is not enough incentive for such efforts," she smiled.

"What would be?"

"I would have you publicly kneel in front of me and recognize my superiority. Mithrandir would have to do it also. And then, you would..."

"Keep dreaming, sweetheart." They both laughed for the first time in weeks, relaxing after a difficult journey to Lothlorien. They stopped when they reached the royal talan, knowing they would face a dying Arwen once again. Elleniel stopped her grandfather before he entered, and hugged him as well as she could with her belly between them.

"It will be alright," she whispered.

"I know. Elleniel, you have to promise me. Whatever happens here has to remain between us. I do not want your parents or brothers to hear about this."

"What would you tell them?"

"That she passed away in her sleep, from old age and not due to her fading."

"Is it not the same?"

"Have you ever seen the fading of an elf, Elleniel?"

"No. But I almost faded myself years ago!"

"You only started the process, and your mate stopped it after a few days. Arwen is already beyond the stage you had reached, and without hope of seeing it stopped by anyone. You will see," he said with sadness, "it is a most terrible death. Her fëa slips our of her body slowly. The pain is excruciating."

They entered the talan, and went to the room where Arwen lay. The Queen of Gondor was now an old lady, her hair entirely white as snow. Elleniel sat beside her while their grandfather was preparing the talan for their stay.

Elleniel took Arwen's hand in hers. She studied the crooked fingers, the age spots and the dry skin. She brought the hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly.

"Are you in pain?" she whispered.

"Yes," was the weak response.

"Where? Maybe I can make it better."

"In my soul."

Elleniel did not reply anything. She could not cure her sister's fëa. She started crying in silence, and somehow, without opening her eyes, Arwen knew it.

"Do not cry, Elleniel. I had a good life. I spent 120 years with my beloved Estel. We did not waste a minute of it. And now I long to be with him once more. Do not cry."

"I wish you had fallen in love with an elf."

"My heart made the choice, not my intellect. I am happy for our parents that you fell in love with Glorfindel, and that he stopped you from choosing the path of Men."

Arwen stopped talking, exhausted, and fell asleep shortly after while crushing Elleniel's hand as she fought the pain.

"She will not last long," Celeborn said from behind Elleniel.

Three weeks later, Arwen was in constant torment, crying for Estel ceaselessly. She rarely emerged from her daze, and when she did, it was for short periods of time. Around midnight one evening, her breathing became erratic, and her cries of pain filled the talan and the heavy souls of her kin.

"I hate myself for thinking this, but I wish her fëa could be released so she can be in peace. She has been in such pain for weeks!" Elleniel cried.

"I do not believe she will last the night," Celeborn said, caressing Arwen's forehead.

An hour later, Arwen suddenly became quiet. She opened her eyes and looked at Celeborn and Elleniel.

"Tell Naneth and Ada that I love them," she said with a weak voice. "They have been wonderful parents."

"We will."

"Take care of our brothers, Elleniel. They never understood my choice."

"You can go in peace, Arwen. We will take care of everyone you love," Elleniel promised.

Arwen slowly lifted her hand and touched her sister's stomach. "He is coming." Her hand fell back on the bed, and Arwen drew a few laborious breaths before her chest became immobile.

The Evenstar had left Middle Earth.

In Ithilien, Glorfindel felt the change in his mate's fëa.

"She is dead," he told Legolas and Gimli. Maewen was playing nearby, oblivious to the sadness of the moment. "I can feel that Elleniel is overcome by grief."

The ellyn prayed the Valar that Arwen's fëa would be in peace, wherever the mortals where going after their death.

Celeborn had dug a hole to bury the body of his granddaughter while Elleniel was preparing the body.

She had washed her sister and dressed her in one of her dresses. She had braided her hair like Arwen used to before she had adopted the Gondorian hairstyles.

She stretched her body. Her back had been killing her for hours. She sighed and tried to massage her back muscles, when she felt her grandfather's hands on her shoulders.

"You should rest. You have overexerted yourself. Say farewell to your sister. I will bury her alone."

"Will you take me to visit her grave later?"

"Of course. Go to bed. We will be leaving for Ithilien once you will feel better."

Elleniel followed his advice, and went to lie down on her bedroll. She watched the stars for hours. Why was Celeborn taking so long? Her back pain was not abating. If anything, it was getting worse. Much worse. She eventually realized that the pain was coming back in waves. Her labor had started hours before. And she was weeks away from seeing her mate.

"She is in pain," Glorfindel told his friends.

"Yes," acknowledged Gimli. "Lady Elleniel just lost her sister, Glorfindel."

"No! She is in physical pain! She is hurt!" Glorfindel cried as he jumped to his feet and started pacing the room.

"Did they get attacked?" Legolas asked.

"How would I know?" yelled Glorfindel. "Do I look like I am in Lothlorien?"

"Lord Glorfindel!" thundered Gimli. "Do not speak to us in such a way. Sit down, now!"

Maewen frowned at the dwarf. "No screaming, Ada and Uncle Gimli."

"I am sorry, sweetheart. Your Ada is anxious," the dwarf explained to the elleth.

"Can you not feel her emotions?" asked Legolas. "Concentrate on your bond!"

Glorfindel sat down and closed his eyes, his breathing erratic. He forced himself to breathe slowly, and tried to establish a clearer link with his mate.

"Is she panicking?" asked Legolas.

"No," Glorfindel frowned. "She is in pain... but she is calm. She knows that pain, she has felt it before, and compares it to prior experience. And she misses me. She is sad."

"I think we have our answer," Gimli said. When both ellyn looked at him in confusion, he rose his eyebrows. "What?"

"What answer do we have?" asked Legolas.

"Elleniel is giving birth, my friend. Glorfindel will soon be a father again!"

"I cannot believe that in all those years, you never helped an elleth give birth!" Elleniel laughed, holding her newborn son in her arms. The little ellon was a smaller version of Glorfindel.

"I healed warriors!" her grandfather replied, laughing too. "Your timing could not be more awful."

"Speak to the little one! I am not the one who wanted to meet you too early." In fact, being two months premature, her son was quite small, and would require more frequent feedings than Maewen had. He had hardly enough strength to fill his little stomach when she nursed him.

"How will you call him?"

"Nameless."

"You surely are jesting! This is a name even more awful than Stockings for that black mare I had given you during your first visit to Lothlorien!"

"Morarrna."

"You will call your son Morarrna?" he asked in disbelief.

"My mare's true name was Morarrna, silly elf! I will not give a name to my son until we are reunited with Glorfindel. I want to choose a name with him."

"Then let us leave as soon as possible. When do you think you will have enough strength?"

"It depends if you want me to conceal Lothlorien."

"I think it would be preferable."

"Then give me a week. I will need more strength to cast this spell again."

"Fine. It will give us time to visit your sister's grave a few times. To say goodbye properly."

"How is she?" asked Gimli to Glorfindel two weeks later. Everyone in Ithilien was keeping Glorfindel busy to make sure he would not jump on his white stallion, a descendant of Asfaloth's line, and journey to meet his mate.

"I feel her anxiousness. She seems to be tired also," the golden warrior explained, tormented not to be there to help his wife.

"They must be on their way back," Legolas assumed. "Do not worry, mellon, you know Lord Celeborn is there to protect her and take care of her. You have Maewen to take care of here."

They looked at the dark haired elleth who had the facial features of Lady Celebrian, her grandmother living in Valinor with her family. Maewen was busy carrying all her toys and possessions on the ship that was now completed and ready to sail at the elven dock on the River Anduin. The long and slender elven ship was made of light-colored wood, and contained a few cabins for the Lords and Ladies, and common cabins for the 30 warriors that had remained with them. The mainsail bore the colors of Imladris, while the foresail bore Ithilien's. Everyone who would see the ship would understand that the last elves from Imladris and Ithilien were sailing from Middle Earth.

Maewen came closer to her Ada. "Why are you bringing your stallion and I cannot bring my pony?" she asked for the hundredth time.

"Because your pony, like all the other horses we have, will be set free. My stallion is coming with us because he is of a lineage that needs to be perpetuated in Valinor."

"Maewen," Legolas continued, "even I do not bring my horse."

"It is not fair!" the elleth replied with a frown. Legolas looked at Glorfindel, silently letting him know there was enough room in the ship for a little pony. Glorfindel sighed. Legolas and Gimli could not resist giving Maewen everything she asked for. Nor could Celeborn and the guards. His daughter was going to be spoiled rotten by the time she reached her majority.

"You take care of everything. This will not be my problem," he decided.

"Thank you!" Maewen screamed, jumping in the arms of Legolas.

"Should we send a messenger to King Eldarion?" asked Gimli, wondering if they should let the new king of Gondor know of their departure.

"We said goodbye when we left Minas Tirith, Gimli," explained Glorfindel. "I do not think Elleniel can withstand another separation after Arwen's passing."

"He is right," Legolas agreed. "Our time in Middle Earth is over. We will not be going to Minas Tirith again. We should sail as soon as Elleniel and Celeborn arrive."

"And the baby!" added Maewen.

Two days later, in the afternoon, a guard sent a message that two riders could be seen at the horizon. Glorfindel jumped on his stallion and rode to meet them. As he was getting closer, he could see that Elleniel had a little bundle against her chest, held in place with a shawl. His newborn son or daughter.

Elleniel looked exhausted but was smiling with such happiness when their eyes met. He rode his horse right beside hers and enclosed her in his arms while giving her a tender kiss.

"Well met, Glorfindel," Celeborn said beside the ellon who was ignoring him. "Well, if you do not need me, I will go see my great-granddaughter." He left the couple to ride to the city where he knew he would be properly welcomed. He could not blame Glorfindel for ignoring him. He knew perfectly well he would ignore everyone for days the minute his eyes would lay on Galadriel. Just a few weeks and they would be reunited! His heart was singing like a young ellon who had just met the elleth he knew was his fëa-mate!

Glorfindel stopped kissing his mate, and dropped his gaze on the little shape against her chest. He saw a little perfect face, with small pointy ears and a golden fuzz on a perfectly shaped head.

"It is an ellon," Elleniel whispered not to wake up their son.

"You have done goo work again, beloved," Glorfindel replied, delighted to have a son. "Give him to me," he asked, eager to hold his newborn. Elleniel unwrapped the elfling, and when her hand touched his head, there was a little blue glow.

"Did I just see what I think I saw?" asked the proud father.

"Yes," whined Elleniel. "My grandfather is in heaven! He is proud to see that his magic will pass on in our line! In the meantime, if you think Maewen is spoiled, you have no idea what this one will make us go through!"

"How did you name him?" The ellon now held his son in his arms, amazed at how light and small he was.

"We have been calling him Nameless," she laughed. "I wanted to wait for you to make that decision. But we should name him before we reach the city. We cannot present him to our people without a proper name."

"What about Miwon – tiny male?" he asked.

"I hate it! He will not remain tiny all his life! One day, he will be as strong as you are!"

"Then, what about Belegon – mighty male?"

"Belegon Glorfindelion? Never! What about Minion – first son?"

"Nay. Rivalton – golden crown?"

"Rivalton. I like it. It rolls well on the tongue."

"Then Rivalton Glorfindelion you will be, my son," the warrior said, kissing tenderly the little head.

They rode slowly to the city where everyone was waiting to greet their Lady. All were delighted and excited. It meant they would sail the next day at dawn.

"King Eldarion? I have been advised that a white ship is on the River Anduin, and should pass in front of Minas Tirith shortly."

"Perhaps a ship from Dol Amroth? the king asked, knowing the realm by the sea had numerous ships.

"No, the sails are not blue with a silver ship and a silver swan. The shape of the ship is also strange."

"What are the colors of the sails?"

"The smaller one seems to be bearing the colors of the elven Lord of Ithilien. And the mainsail is blue and grey."

"So they are leaving," the king whispered.

"Should we stop them, my Lord?"

"No. Grant them passage," Eldarion ordered, standing from his chair to leave his office. He walked to the tower, and climbed the stairs until he reached the highest window. Opening it, he watched the river and the ship that was now close to his city. He had inherited from his mother her elven sight, and could see the elves standing on the deck. He searched for the familiar figures of his family, and saw them as they were facing Minas Tirith, admiring the city for the last time.

He saw his aunt Elleniel, thin again, and knew she had given birth. He saw his uncle Glorfindel holding a small bundle, and his great-grandfather Celeborn holding the hand of his little cousin Maewen. Beside them were Prince Legolas and the dwarf Gimli. Eldarion wondered how could they know for sure that Gimli would be welcomed in Valinor? After all, elves and dwarves had hated each other for millennia!

He saw Elleniel look in his direction and lift her hand in farewell. Immediately after, all the elves were looking in his direction and were waving him goodbye. They had seen him at the top of the tower. He waved back, a lump in his throat. This was his last family leaving. He had no one else now. He remembered his father's advice on his deathbed. He would follow it and get married soon.

The ship soon reached the Bay of Belfalas, and the elves saw nothing but the horizon in the West. They would reach the Undying Lands in a month.

Do not miss the epilogue - I should post it shortly. Thank you for reviewing!