Legolas continued stroking Eowyn's hair as Ruin worked. Gimli and Nilgon stood off to one side; they had offered their help once only to be pushed away.

Ruin shook her head. "I need light!" She raised her hands, and the cleansing fire Legolas had promised rose. She returned to her work as Yrndaerond flooded with light.

Legolas looked away at one point, hiding his tears as Ruin lifted his dead child out of Eowyn's womb.

"Gimli."

"The child has been placed in a pillar of earth. Where the Earthkeeper sends him, I know not," a breeze whispered.

"He didn't have a name."

"No doubt, the Valar will give him one."

"Will I recognize him when I go to Valinor next? Will he know me as his father?"

"I couldn't say."

"I should've – "

"There was nothing you could've done, Sulgarthpen. Be happy that your son will not know the pain of Arda. Be happy that he will be well looked-after."

The group stayed in the Elvenking's halls for two weeks as Eowyn healed. The wind and earth brought food, the water gave itself, and the fire gave warmth. They finally stepped outside on the Elven New Year. Legolas leaned against a tree as he supported Eowyn. "The forest is alive again."

Eowyn smiled. "I want to live here, now."

"You'll do better than that. Here, you're the queen."

"Yes. And with Eru's blessing, princes and princesses will come after me-"

"And they'll know what it's like to be lords of this land," Legolas said proudly.

Eowyn shook her head. "Eru is Lord of this land."

They visited Thranduil's tomb, and Legolas noted the changed inscription:

Ellaran Thranduil Oropherion -

Adar o

Aran Legolas Sulgarthpen

A Nilgon -

A daerion-ho

Guth a i-gwarth: i-Ungolaran

He wept openly and Ruin had to translate for Eowyn, who then joined him.

One night, they awoke to Legolas' strangled cry. He pointed to a spider on the ground as he clutched his chest, where a large scar still remained. Nilgon, Eowyn, and Gimli were dismayed that his arachnophobia remained.

A messenger met them just before the Pelennor. "There was a battle with orcs. Elmorri fell. Where is milord Thranduil? And the young prince?"

Thankfully, it was Nilgon who answered. "Legolas is now your king. The prince lies with his grandfather. They were given an honorable burial, entombed in Elfstone."

The messenger merely bowed to Legolas. "You must appoint a captain, Ara-nin."

"Nilgon," Legolas answered. "Nilgon will be my strong right arm."

The messenger bowed and rode away, leaving the group to exchange glances.

Legolas was the only one to speak before they continued to the city. "I miss him."

O

Ellaran Thranduil Oropherion -Elvenking Thranduil, son of Oropher-

Adar o-Father of

Aran Legolas Sulgarthpen-King Legolas Windkeeper

A Nilgon -And Nilgon-

A daerion-ho-And his grandson

Guth a i-gwarth: i-Ungolaran-Killed by the traitor: the Spiderking