We rode through the forest... which one I cannot tell you now for the tears in my eyes blinded my view of the trees.
All of the members of the Fellowship of the Ring, save one who lied in his tomb in Gondor Boromir son of Denethor, rode on horses through the trees of a forest. The four Hobbits rode on their own ponies, cloaks adorning their shoulders and their swords on their belts. They went to go West to their Shire homeland. I smiled at them, getting down from my horse and hugging the Hobbits, Pippin twice as long as any other. Tears came from their eyes as they embraced each of us, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, and I to be precise and turned.
"Goodbye young Hobbits." I said and smiled, watching as they rode off to their Shire home.
The five members of the Fellowship remaining in the forest looked at each other, no words to describe what we felt, the chokes rising in my throat were drowned by the silence...
"Well," Gandalf broke it, his face happy, yet his voice grieving, "Here we part my friends. We may see each other again... but for now let us go in peace back home... after our long journey." I could feel an aching in my chest... that had nothing to do with the wound that was still wrapped in bandages, though almost healed. I rode upon my own horse at least. Gandalf seemed to turn towards his horse.
"I will weep for our parting." I said, looking at Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf... I had made my decision to go with Legolas... we were to live together in peace in Mirkwood... forever. "And yet my heart will not be broken." I walked over and embraced Gimli, one arm around his shoulders the other on his right shoulder. It was an odd position... but I didnt mind. Gimli hugged me back and I moved onto Gandalf, who embraced me as a grandfather would. I could only smile, tears in my eyes. He pushed a strand of hair from my eyes. I looked over to see Legolas and Aragorn clapping Gimli on the shoulder. I was surprised to see tears in the Dwarf's eyes. I let tears fall as I backed away from Legolas and let Aragorn take my place, hugging Gandalf. I smiled and turned to Legolas, who kissed me gently. I smiled and sniffed.
Legolas and Gimli approached Gandalf, saying goodbye to him in their own way... and Gandalf backed away from us... before raising his hand in a farewell before climbing onto Shadowfax and riding away, leaving the four of us to look after him. Yes... I thought, We will see each other again...
Legolas stood with Gimli, smiling and laughing about something as Aragorn and I stood looking at each other before, to me it seemed, I attacked him, putting my arms tight around his neck, almost choking him. He smiled and put his arms around my waist. I pulled away from him, my hands on his shoulders. Aragorn leaned down and kissed the side of my mouth and my forehead. I smiled sadly, my eyes brimming with tears, falling down my face.
"We will meet again." I said quietly and hugged him again, "Old friend." He smiled.
"Yes, Rhasslairiel." He said sadly, 'I believe we will... go on adventuring, Rhasslairiel... find what you seek." I looked down.
"I want you to find happiness, Aragorn Elessar, King of Gondor." I said, "and carry my love with you." For the first time I drew attention to the bracelet around my wrist, pulling it from my wrist. The wristlet was like a vine, wrapping around my wrist and leaves hanging off of it. I put it on his right wrist. He touched it lightly, running his fingers over the vines. I smiled and backed away from him.
"I will." Aragorn said and put his arms around my neck one last time. Two tears fell onto his leather vest, donned with the White Tree of Gondor as I turned from him, backing away and looking over the four males before me... a piece of each of them in my heart. I smiled sadly, no longer an empty smile, clouded by the pains of my past, but a whole one, the hardships still there... though tucked away.
Legolas came again to stand by me, wrapping his arm around my waist. I now stood not in a dress but back in my vest, green tunic, leggings, boots, and cloak from Lorien, comfortable and able to move. Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and I stood, staring at each other one last time before, all at once, turning away from each other and walking away...
I turned and looked over my shoulder at the other two, looking around theirs as well... all of us going our separate ways. I raised my hand and turned around again, leaping onto Niethen and galloped away with Legolas... going home...