Epilogue
Gilmarkar stood at the harbor, looking at the white ship there were on its way in. At his side stood a lovely elleth with chestnut brown hair. In his arms his three-year-old son. Behind him stood lord Elrond and lady Celebrian, along with their twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir. And next to them stood Glorfindel.
The ship was docking, and Gilmarkar saw Belstram walk down with a young elf with auburn hair. The young elf wore Legolas' old, white circlet, which made Gilmarkar frown, for he did not recognize the elf. Belstram had his arm around his shoulder, and both of them looked grave. Behind them he saw the rest of the elite team, but he did not see Legolas among them.
"Prince Gilmarkar" Belstram greeted while bowing his head, "lord Elrond".
"Belstram" Gilmarkar greeted back, "it is good to see you again".
"You too. And who is this?" Belstram asked with a small smile, looking to the child in Gilmarkar's arms.
"This is my son and my wife".
"A pleasure" Belstram bowed his head in greeting.
"I'm almost afraid to ask" Gilmarkar said, looking them all over, "but where is Legolas?".
The others on the dock all looked to Belstram, but it was the young elf next to him who spoke.
"He is still in Middle Earth", his voice was soft and melodious. Elrond looked thoughtful at him for a few moments, clearly this one was a Woodelf, not a single drop of Sindar blood in there, but he seemed to be close to Legolas someway.
"Why?" Gilmarkar asked, "and who are you?".
"That is a long story" Belstram took over, "but this" he looked gently at Awenon, "is Awenon Legolasion, adopted son of Legolas. And you will get that story too, in time".
Awenon walked down the isle of the throne room of Minas Tirith. At the throne stood three young women, he guessed them to be Aragorn's daughters. Awenon bowed respectfully for the women.
"I am honored you agreed to meet me" Awenon said gently.
"Of cause" the oldest of them said, "why are you here?".
Awenon looked a bit stricken by the sudden question, but soon straighten up and looked calmly at the women.
"I have come here to look for someone that I love" Awenon told.
"Who?" the woman asked.
"My father" Awenon told, "king Legolas Thranduilion of Eryn Lasgalen".
The throne room froze, all looked stunned to the young elf before them. A man walked slowly towards him, looking grave.
"I know of him" he said, "please, I can show you where he is".
They rode through the forest of northern Ithilien. Awenon would normally have appreciated the beautiful forest, but he felt a heaviness to his heart. They reached a small clearing, a small stream running through it. The trees surrounding the clearing were all tall with white trunks. In the middle of the clearing was raise a hill, with a white marble door in the front.
Awenon dismounted, he walked slowly to the hill, his heart was racing inside his chest. He felt the tears stinging in his eyes. At the door, he saw the delicate engravings:
King Legolas Thranduilion of Eryn Lasgalen
The Last Elvenking
Previous Lord of Northern Ithilien
Born third age 87
Executed by the hands of Gondor fourth age 123
Rozarko Kalemion
Bodyguard and previous minder of Legolas Thranduilion
Date of birth unknown
Died by order of the king of Gondor fourth age 123.
Awenon felt the tears run down his cheek. His hand gently caressed the engraved name of his beloved father. His eyes felt on the word "Executed".
"He was executed?" he exclaimed choked.
"He killed our king" the guard said.
"Your king destroyed our realm!" Awenon yelled angrily.
The human guards back away a few steps, guilt written in their faces. Awenon softened his expression.
"I do not blame you" he said softly, "you were just fallowing orders".
Back in the palace of Minas Tirith, Awenon received the chance to talk to the princesses one more time. They all sat in the living room, and Awenon told the story of what happened to Eryn Lasgalen.
"Our brother never trusted Legolas" the youngest woman said, "he was so afraid of him, none of us could understand why though, the elvenking never did anything to make him so scared".
"I think it was his powers" the oldest then said, "when Legolas became king, he received the powers of his ancestors, father told me that once, and he then became one of the most powerful elves in history".
The others nodded.
"He left you something" he oldest suddenly said and rose, Awenon looked surprised after her.
She returned with heavy book, bound in white leather.
"This was something our grandfather started many years ago" she said and handed the book to Awenon, "it's a book about Legolas' life. Grandfather started it almost two thousand years ago, and our father took over when he sailed. Our captain filled some of the last pages with the events around Legolas' death, and there are room for yours writing too".
Awenon smiled sadly at the book, his fingers trailed the letters on the front, Legolas Thranduilion, The Last Elvenking.
"There is this too" she then said and handed him a folded letter.
Awenon took the paper and opened it, his heart almost skipped a beat when he saw the beautiful and familiar handwriting of his father:
My Dearest son
I gave you a promise: To return to you.
Right now I must confess, I do not know how I am going to be able to keep that promise to you.
When you read this, I am no longer among the living.
Remember that I love you, and I will always will, nothing can ever stop that. I know I made you a promise, and I will not let go of that.
I will try to return to you, and I will never stop trying.
I know that my family is gathered in the halls of Mandos, but they are together, and have been for many years. I am not done with the world of the living; I still have unfinished business.
Do not look for me over the sea, for I will not come that way. Listen to the wind, hear the trees. Look for the horizon: When you see a flash of white light, I have found a way back to you.
Your Father
Awenon had tears running down his cheek. He looked up when the youngest daughter walked over to him.
"Our mother draw this" she handed him a beautiful drawing. On it he saw an elf sitting with an elfling, reading a book. The elfling held a toy bear close to him, and the elf rested his chin on the elfling's head. The elfling snuggled close to the ground up's chest. Then Awenon saw who it was, he looked surprised up at the woman next to him.
"It was your first evening in this city" she explained, "mother gave you the book and toy bear".
"Thank you" Awenon said sincere.
Twenty-two years later:
Awenon started to lose hope. Every day he rode to the hill outside the forest, looking to the horizon. But never did he see a white light.
One day he had for many hours on that hill, looking north. He did hear someone nearing him, but did not react. A golden haired elf seated himself next to him, Awenon looked shortly at him.
"Your father is very strong" Glorfindel said, "but it is very few who have ever been set free from the Halls of Mandos".
"I know" Awenon whispered, "I'm starting to lose hope".
"Well" Glorfindel said lightly, "one thing I learned from Legolas, was to never lose hope in him".
Awenon looked a bit surprised at the golden haired, Noldo warrior next to him.
"He is one of the stubbornest elves I have ever known, only Thranduil tops him. So do not lose in him. I will bet everything I own, that he is driving Mandos and everyone else inside those halls crazy. He will not give up".
"But you said yourself, very few have ever been set free" Awenon wondered.
"Yes" Glorfindel answered, "but I do thing Legolas is one of the very few who actually have the powers to brake free".
"Brake free?".
"If Mandos does not let him go willingly, Legolas will find a way to brake free. That's how stubborn he is".
Awenon chuckled and brushed a few tears away.
"But his wife and children are in there" Awenon then said, "I cannot stop thinking that he should be with them".
"Well" Glorfindel did not quite know what to say.
"Legolas and Arin have moved a long way past each other" came Elrond's wise voice, and the elven lord sat on the other side of Awenon, gently taking his hand.
"Both Legolas and Arin have moved on" he continued, "even though they are still married, and there is some love between them, Legolas has other priorities. Arin and his children have been surrounded with Legolas' other family, they are together. As you told us, Legolas is not finished here".
"My stubborn big brother will find a way" came Gilmarkar's soft voice, and the previous prince of Eryn Lasgalen sat next to Glorfindel with his wife and now two children.
"If he gives you a promise" Tristan said, walking up the hill with all from the elite team, "he keeps it, one way or another".
"He is not one to give up" came the voices of Elladan and Elrohir.
Awenon look to them all, they sat around him, all giving him comfort and new hope. They all knew Legolas, and all in different ways. Awenon knew if they still had hope, he would not lose it.
The sun was starting to set, and they all fell into comfortable silence, looking to the sun and the sky. Stars started to shine, and the sky to the west turned red and orange.
The last light of the day faded, and then they all froze. The last light of the day was replaced with an explosion of white light. It filled the sky to the west and shone and glittered as the stars. It flowed and danced to the sky.
Awenon instantly stood, his heart was pounding, his hands shaking. The others on the hill rose too, all looking to the west. The white light started to fade, but did not disappear. Instead it shone around two figures in the horizon, both riding fast towards then on horses.
Awenon started to run down the hill. His heart was racing madly. Tears was running down his cheeks. A beautiful black Friesian horse galloped over the meadow towards him. Awenon stopped when the horse was not long from him. The rider, all dressed in white and with the white light shining out from him, stopped his horse and jumped of it elegantly.
"Awenon" came the soft and melodious voice of Legolas.
"Ada" Awenon whispered.
The light faded a bit, and Awenon now clearly saw the fair face of his father. He ran to him and hugged him close, crying freely into his white tunic.
"I promised you I would find a way back to you" Legolas said softly, stroking Awenon's auburn hair.
Behind Awenon Legolas saw the others walking slowly down the hill, some looking choked, others near tears, but all with huge smiles on their faces. Legolas let go of Awenon and took a good look at him.
"You look good, ion nin" Legolas said softly.
"He sure does" came the voice of the other rider, who had dismounted and walked towards them.
"Rozarko!" Awenon exclaimed happily and hugged the other Woodelf.
"I will never question your stubbornness again, penneth" came Elrond and gave Legolas a fatherly hug, "one day you will have to tell me how you did it".
"I will" Legolas said warmly, then his gaze fell on Gilmarkar. Elrond let go and walked to Rozarko instead.
"So, brother" Gilmarkar said with a wry smile, "you clearly know how to have fun when I'm away".
"Jealous?" Legolas smirked.
Gilmarkar just laughed and hugged Legolas warmly.
"Oh, met my family" he then said and drew back, "this is my wife, Ialantha, and our son Gialand, and daughter Eleanor".
"It is an honor to finally meet you" Ialantha curtsied.
Legolas bowed his head, "it is a pleasure to meet you as well, and your beautiful children".
"Now I cannot brag about being the one to be set free from those halls" Glorfindel teased while pulling Legolas into a hug.
"Who said I was set free?" Legolas grinned.
"I knew it" Glorfindel exclaimed while letting go of Legolas, "you broke free".
"I did" Legolas grinned.
Then Legolas' eyes fell on his old elite team, and all of them knelled before him, with their hand on their heart.
"Our king" they said and bowed their heads.
Awenon stood next to Legolas looking at them with awe, Rozarko just had a wry smile on his lips, turning to Legolas.
"Do you expect me to do the same?" he asked teasingly.
Legolas just laughed and waved him off, before he signaled the others to raise.
The elves of Eryn Lasgalen settle in a beautiful forest near the mountains. Rivers was running from the mountains, through the forest, over the meadows and then towards the sea. It was an ancient forest, and the elves formed it into a magnificent forest. The Woodelves call it taure en' nim me'a, the forest of white light.
The elves carved their dwelling into the mountain, just like in Eryn Lasgalen and all the way back to the time of Doriath. This time there were two mountains close aside. The biggest one was use for the elves dwelling, and the other behind it, was carved into the royal palace. A white stonebridge connected the two mountains. Inside it looked half like the palace of Eryn Lasgalen, and haft something else. The stone was more white and gray, giving light to the elven caves. Natural light flowed in from everywhere it seemed, and water flowed in from underneath the mountain, and created rivers, streams, falls, and pools. The elves even manage to get some plants to grow near the waters, flowers, bushes and small trees even.
It became one of the most beautiful realms. And the elves were happy to have their king back. Legolas became king of the white forest, and Awenon the crownprince. Legolas' prediction that he would be the last elvenking was in some way correct, he was the last elvenking of Middle Earth. Now, he was the most powerful elvenking in Valinor. Highly loved and respected by his people.
Even though Legolas felt like he had lost almost everything, he now looked to what he still had. His people was once more safe and for the first time in, Valar knows how long, they lived in peace. He had Awenon by his side, his beloved adopted son, who meant the world to him. His wife was with his brother Lucien, and he took good care of her, knowing Legolas would find a way to make his life miserable, should he ever hurt her, otherwise, Legolas had let go of her. His children had grown to beautiful, independent beings, having lives of their own now. They had accepted the relationship between their mother and uncle, knowing their mother always would be married to their father, but that both of them was alright, and happy.
Rozarko and Belstram still worked as Legolas bodyguards, though he did not need them much. The relationship between Legolas and Rozarko had changed some, there were a deeper love between them now. Awenon was glad to see that the relationship between his father and Rozarko had grown, for he loved them both, and knew they loved each other as well.
And so this story ends. Legolas lost everything, but gained something new. He still missed his children, who still dwelled in the Halls of Mandos, but he knew they were alright. He had his people, who flourished under his kind and wise ruling. Legolas became the most loved and respected king the Woodelves ever had. And was known in the history of both Middle Earth and Valinor as one of the most powerful elves, and the last elvenking of Middle Earth.
The End