Ring Child

By Kiamii

Note: This Chapter is the last one of the story Ring child. This has been finalized and I have tried my best to minimize the mistakes. I hope you enjoy this.

Chapter Twenty Six "At Peace"

Peaceful silence…

The number of how many people in the world who could accomplish this ordeal was hard to finalize and count for. Only few could ever say they were truly happy with everything, truly at peace. Very few could… For some, they find happiness in the littlest things. Best of times come in those who choose to see the light of it all. Worst of times come from seeking what happens, trying to fill that burning curiosity that is the human mind. Once in awhile, the decision to choose will come up in your life. A time where both sides will destroy you, or help you. Every person in the world must go through the painstaking option of choice. Of deciding. Of having to take your own life and thrusting it forward into the one moment that will forever affect you. No returning back. Like growing up… Like graduating… Like… Living.

Looking back on it all, perhaps the decision could have been different. Perhaps his choice would have been something unexpected… But this time, chance took over and he made his decision. Nine years went by in the flow of life and his decision was still in the air, crisp with remembrance. No one forgot that day at the dock, where that one boy had the world on his shoulders once. Where he had faced events in his nine years that destroyed people, but he remained focused and according. Yes… Archir the Emerald was a strong child… A strong wizard.

Currently the start begins again in Arda. More specifically, Gondor of Middle Earth. The town was ripe with age and stung with wisdom. With the experience and memory of war. Children were now everywhere, as opposed to when war had struck the core of age. Women were busy with their sewing and harvesting while men went about conversing and working. They guarded the city rather well and elves and dwarves were nowhere to be seen. Neither were the creatures that were sighted years ago… during the age of war. In fact, the age of men seemed to have taken place now. Dwarves regularly hid within the mines now while the Elves chose to go to the Undying Lands.

The trees in the city were very old now and still as stubbornly strong as they were growing. One boy could be seen leaning against a tree talking with a friend of his. The two boys were familiar. The taller boy of the two was built with muscle and his brown hair curled to the back of his neck, tied with a green ribbon. His wide brown eyes sparked at the other boy as he grinned good-naturedly with his handsome and sharp features. The shorter boy was blond with blue eyes as he rolled his eyes at his friend. He too had muscles on his lined body. The first boy, at the age of nineteen, was rather serious and more taken in with work. His friend was the same, only mixed with a need to have fun still. The two didn't used to always be this way, but they had changed in the nine years since then…

"Shade…" The shorter boy began, "Have you seen your sister Isabell lately?"

"I have Alex. Why would you think I haven't?" Shade inquired of the younger boy. Alex was two years his junior. Alex blushed.

"Well… You see…" Alex stammered.

"You like my sister, don't you?" Shade accused teasingly. Alex turned bright red as Shade hollered in laughter. The two were oblivious to the small footsteps of a small girl until with a yelp, she tackled Alex to the ground. Alex shouted before he fell. He sat up to see a young girl of eight-years-old who had glaringly bright hazel eyes staring straight into his blue ones.

"Well hello there to you too Princess Evain," Shade said with an arched eyebrow as he lifted the girl off his friend. Evain was a cross between her two parents, favoring her father in facial and her mother in body. She was graceful to a limited point, and foolishly brave. She preferred to be out and about. The guards saw the little girl as a reminder of something.

"Hello Shade! Alex." Evain said with a smile before frowning in annoyance, "and why do you always call me that! It's not Evain! I like Amerald a lot more." The word so irritatingly similar to Emerald brought about a cringe from both teen boys. Amerald, or Evain, frowned in annoyance.

"You know… someone important named you Evain," Alex said in barely a whisper. Evain frowned even more. People often winced at her name of Amerald, or nearly cried with a smile at her name of Evain. She never could figure out why. No one had the heart to tell her that she was named from someone that was very important.

"Anyways, Princess, don't you have to head back home before this evening?" Shade said with a mock bow to cover up the growing tense mood. Evain huffed, but let it slide in favor of smiling in excitement. She smiled at Shade who only smiled back at her. The two boys had always been with her and took their chance to visit her, though she never knew why. She was years younger than them!

"Tonight I will no longer be eight, but nine!" Evain declared quite happily. Shade, for a split second, saw a boy of eight in her place, looking quite similar. He shook his head and grinned at her. Evain bid goodbye and took off towards the house of the king and queen. Alex watched as he pulled his knees up and leaned against the tree.

"I miss him a lot. That kid," Alex sighed. It was like an unwritten law to not say his name.

"So do I… But we can't let her know… Besides… My mother said it was bound to happen when we were younger. Elves had that choice and he did too… His papa and Ada were there and he was a wizard." Shade said with a sad smile.

"Why did he have to be an Istari?" Alex groaned.

"He wouldn't be himself if he hadn't…" Shade pointed out. The two looked at each other in silence before deciding it wiser to move away from the conversation.

Back at the castle a man was making his way towards the house of Aragorn and Arwen. He was dark-haired and grey-eyed with a noble face upon him. The ruler of Ithilien and Steward to the King, Faramir walked up the steps and entered the entrance hall. Upon entering, he was greeted by Aragorn or also known as King Elessar. In Aragorn's arms was his youngest son, Eldarion who was of only two summers now. The baby's hair was a tuft of brownish gold with his bright brown eyes blinking up at Faramir who smiled gently at the child.

"Faramir!" Aragorn said in surprise, but he welcomed his old friend from the War of the Ring. Faramir gave him a tired smile. He had been a visitor of briefly passing, coming here annually. Faramir began to tread down the halls as Aragorn followed. The two walked side by side as they passed others in the halls.

"Is his room still there?" Faramir asked. Aragorn nodded and the two soon found themselves in the sorrowful room of a boy. An ancient dog was nowhere to be seen, for he had passed away before Princess Evain turned three summers… Aragorn had saw fit to buy her a kitten instead. The room was very much as if he was still there… still at the small age of nine. The dark green bed remained there with the vanilla-creamed teddy bear and the ragged blanket was left on the edge, folded neatly as opposed to messy.

"It pains me to know he is no longer here, but I know he is happy even if I cannot understand." Aragorn said softly and Faramir nodded in agreement. For how could mortals understand the wonders of magic? The wonders of immortality.

The two were quite silent for a moment before they heard the young princess running down the hall. She was laughing as she ran through the halls while her mother gracefully walked behind the child with her daughter on her hip. She set her youngest daughter on the ground of who gifted her with a bright smile. Aragorn smiled at his daughter, reminded of a little boy who would always do the same thing. Only he'd come home covered in dirt and always trying to hide it. Arwen noticed his sad smile and comforted him by grasping her gentle hands into his own. Aragorn squeezed her hand and Arwen smiled back as she held Eldarion in her arms with a gentle ease. Evain was oblivious to her parents' sorrow.

"Faramir!" Evain said happily. Arwen she smiled at the two. Her daughter, Evelyn (being the second eldest of the three children) was of five years as she raced over to her sister happily. Evain was picked up and hugged in greeting before carried away from the room. Evain had never had the chance to peek inside in her life. She was always curious to know what lay inside. What caused visitors to converse somberly…

That night Aragorn stood off to the side with the love of his life as the two watched their eldest daughter laugh and converse with her friends. Alex and Shade had come, at the respect of the King and Queen's wishes. Evain wore a flowing blue gown with patches of spark. Her curly brown hair was brought forth to her shoulder in ringlets and upon her head was a crown of different sorts. While Amerald secretly preferred the crown that was encased in a solid case at the throne's left, she knew better than to ask. Her parents always stared at the case with some sort of wistful thinking. Instead she turned to her little sister and smile at Evelyn's playful nature as her baby brother crawled on his knees and hands in his ivy green outfit. She was content with her siblings.

"Evain has grown quite beautifully and Eldarion is becoming old enough… Soon Evelyn will be at that age," Arwen spoke softly to her husband as she cradled her son in her arms. Aragorn turned to her with a smile tucked onto his lips. He brushed his lips against hers and the two shared a brief kiss. Though however short it was, it still held the lingering meaning of the message. He agreed, though he was thinking of another.

"Do you think he would have approved of us not telling her?" Aragorn asked with a scorned look on his handsome face. Arwen laughed lightly and kissed her husband again, greatly reminded of the day she had made the choice to stay. Because she loved this man.

"We should tell her tonight. Young Shade informed me that she has grown exceedingly irritated by the unknown information." She explained. Aragorn nodded and the two stood there as Evain turned her head to smile at them. Long after the sun had passed for the day, the two were in Evain's room tucking the young girl into her large bed. Evelyn was asleep in the room next door while Eldarion was asleep in the nursery hall. Amerald's room was similar to their eldest son's room, only different at the same time. The room had been painted violet with a crisp of deep blue. In Evain's tired arms was a dog plushy. She had dubbed the dog to be Sirius after the deceased animal when she was three.

"Amerald…" Arwen began, "Sweetie, there is something we haven't told you before."

"Are you having another new baby?" She asked warily and childishly. Arwen laughed and ran her hand slowly through her daughter's hair. Amerald leaned into the touch, always inwardly drinking in the feeling.

"Of course not. Why would you think that?" Aragorn said in surprise. He looked at his small nine-year-old daughter and felt slightly guilty for not always doing the things he did with Archir with his child.

"I looked in the room I wasn't supposed to…" Amerald admitted guiltily. Aragorn bit his lip to keep from saying anything. He looked at his wife for a second who caught the message and continued on.

"Well you see. Before you were born, someone had given you the name Evain. That person was very special to your father." Arwen began before adding, "And to me."

"Who?" Amerald asked. Aragorn took a breath.

"That person was a little boy of three when I met him. He became my son later on." Aragorn started. Amerald went quiet, listening intently.

"He was loved truly by everyone around with the exception of some who saw him as too wise and too powerful. You see… He was the little boy I told you in stories before."

"The child Istari!?" Amerald asked incredulously. The parents nodded.

"Archir the Emerald was my son and like I told you long ago, he had to make a decision before you were born. He had to either stay here and lose his magic for a few years or go to the Undying Lands with the elves like his mentor." Aragorn said softly.

"He chose to go to Valinor." Arwen added in, recalling that day…

"Wait!" A voice echoed around them before the young boy of nine came bursting from the trees and right in front of the awaiting group at the docks. He was wearing his emerald green robes that dubbed him a wizard… but he also wore the crown crafted at the hands of Arda for him. In his hands was his staff and he panted slightly from the run. He was of powerful importance and his black hair was pulled back with an emerald clasp that a young girl of five had made for him, shyly handing it to him before smiling brightly. Once he was calmer, he looked into the eyes of his friends and family. In front of him was Shade and Alex who had been brought here because of how much their friendship with this boy. The elves were there too, his Ada and grandparents beside Aragorn and Arwen. Pallando and Gandalf stood off to the docking edge. Pallando walked over to him. Archir's eyes sparked with tears and they stung his eyes as they streamed down his heated cheeks softly in reminiscent of a river. They were powerful in significance, but very elegant tears.

"Have you made your decision Archir the Emerald, son of Legolas and Aragorn? Will you stay or will you go?" Pallando asked wisely, his own sapphire staff held in his graceful hands. Archir nodded carefully with his eyes struck onto the eyes of the glinting blue eyes of the Blue Wizard. Archir seemed to be struggling with something in his mind reminded of blue from a darker Istari. He took a breath again before he nodded to him.

"I have made my decision…" Archir spoke with small pauses, straightening himself. He looked much like the young prince he was modeled as. No longer molded to be someone he wasn't. He was the prince now. The prince of Arda. He no longer was controlled to be a pawn or forced to be the hero. He had chosen willingly and he now cleared his throat before gazing at his father with a sad smile before looking at Arwen and then Gandalf and Frodo.

"I have thought long and difficultly about my decision, but this matters no longer for I have found my answer. Though it will be hard, I choose to go to Valinor, the Undying lands. I choose to be immortal and spend my eternity as that once younger child of three summers, growing older in wisdom. I feel that this is a wiser decision than I could have ever made before. I will miss Arda though… So I ask that I be allowed to return to Arda when it once again is in its time of need." He spoke with a direct approaching voice. Pallando was quiet for a moment before he smiled at the young lad.

"That is a wise decision and I am sure you will be allowed my dear friend." Pallando said. Archir nodded and the elves boarded the boat with Pallando before Frodo and Bilbo stepped on. This left his friends who would be remained behind.

"Archir…" Alex said in disbelief.

"I'm sorry Alex… I really am." Archir said softly. Alex's eyes began to grow moist. Even a lad would cry, and he was no exception to this. Archir drew his friend in an embrace tightly. Ever since the two had met, they had been together through thick and thin as friends. Alex had helped Archir discover he was no different than any other boy.

"I'm going to miss you Archir…" Shade spoke. Archir smiled sadly at his friend who was always trying to be indifferent. He nodded to him and the three boys clapped their own hands together.

"Promise me… Promise me you'll always be there for the sister I won't be able to see. The sister I wish I could be there for. Please be the brother for her that I cannot be." Archir said. The other two nodded and Archir smiled before he turned to his solemn father and mother.

"I understand why you chose to go. I will miss you my son." Aragorn said quietly. He knelt down and Archir let his own tears continue flowing as he threw his arms around his father. Aragorn rubbed circles into the boys back once more.

"I love you daddy." Archir whispered before he kissed his mother on the cheek and waved at his family one last time before Gandalf took him by the hand and he boarded the boat with a small weak smile. As he did, the people around could see a light forming around the boy before he was gone and the boat took him away. Words of the young child floated back to their ears.

"Never forget me…"

Aragorn never forgot that…

Of course, decisions were something that affected both sides of both places. That day had been one of tears and of satisfying peace. Though the people of Arda would be heartbroken as if the boy were dead, they knew he would return one day and he was truly at peace where he now was.

Amerald, or also known as Evain, would never again grow annoyed when Shade or Alex grew quiet in sadness. She would now understand why; for like many children in the wizard world, she had been told a story of a little boy hero, a little wizard child.

Though, Arda wasn't the only place in need of telling. Legolas had gone to the Undying Lands sometime two years after Archir had. Thus the last of the immortal elves had left, with Arwen remaining with her husband. The line of the elves would no longer be there. She, like Archir, had been given the choice of a lifetime; mortality with the love of her life, or Immortality with her family. She had of course chosen to be mortal with her husband, and she only gave a twinge in regret when Archir had gone, but she remained behind in her decision.

In the Undying Lands, things were much different than Arda. For one thing, there were no men there. The lands were filled with elves, now with three hobbits, one dwarf, and the remaining light wizards. The lands were green and plucked with fresh grass and ever-growing trees of many types. The sky was a blend of hazel blue with white steaming from the unshapely clouds. Houses were built around in a community of sorts, while some had taken up claim of the diamond-infested caves. The climate had taken on a warm drift. It grew cold and snowy only occasionally.

"She is growing now," A wizened old wizard spoke through his smoke pipe. He sat beside his companion as the three relaxed on the woodened docks of the home they resided in. The other was a wizard cloaked in brown, while the third was a wizard in blue. The three were silent again, smoking puffs of shapes unheard of. Radagast was a tame wizard with an honest face. He was an animal tamer back in Middle Earth, and was quite different than described by Sauron. He relaxed against the tree behind him as the said tree moved to his command. The gentle breeze of the wind blew against the three.

Pallando puffed on his pipe before looking over at Gandalf the Grey with a relaxed look upon his young features. His blue robes fluttered about him in a lazy manner. He had an air of peace and calamity about him as he drifted his free hand into the water that rested beside the three elderly wizards. The water bowed to his dominance and swiftly moved about him.

"That she is… The king is quite reminded of our dear Archir from his three children." Pallando observed Gandalf closely. It had pained the older wizard how Aragorn had gone through grief for not seeing Archir anymore and not until they were in great peril.

"He will move on by being a father to Evelyn, Evain, and Eldarion… Speaking of which, time is coming in teaching Archir his elemental," Radagast said wisely. Each wizard had a strength and weakness to their powers. Archir would be no exception to this rule. Radagast had taken on the elements of nature and ground, while Pallando had taken on water. Gandalf had of course preferred the fire elementals. Saruman had been lightning and shadow while Sauron had been in an unusual elemental of creation. Gandalf could estimate that his student would take on the elements of air. The sound of hurried feet padding against the floor of the house was heard and the three turned their heads to spy a small little boy running out from the house and landing squarely on the ground. He spotted them and ran over to them with a bewildered smile.

"Hey Papa, Pallando, Radagast." Archir greeted as he dusted off his own emerald green robes that adorned his small three-year-old sized body. Mentally in his thirties, he was still a child at heart and in body. As he was soon within Gandalf's reach, the old wizard pulled the younger one into his arms and settled him on his lap, wrapping his arms around the small boy. Archir leaned into the touch of his mentor.

"My family back in Arda misses me, don't they?" Archir inquired as he spotted the crystallized mirror in front of Pallando. They had been watching Arda again… Gandalf nodded and Archir sighed. He had never looked into the mirror except for twice in the beginning. He preferred not to see the effects of his choice happening over there.

"They are living. Your siblings are growing," Pallando piped up. Archir smiled a little as he closed his emerald eyes to let the wind blow against his eyelids. He was quiet for awhile, simply soaking in the incredibly gentle nature of Valinor. Archir had been homesick and missing Aragorn during his first year here. He had cried constantly for his father, mainly because Legolas was also in Arda still at the time. It had taken two years before Legolas joined them and he was less compelled to be homesick, though he did miss Aragorn still. He was heartbroken when Aragorn would miss him, and he was saddened when Evain was born and his parents named her after the name he had given to her. The name Amerald had surprised him. Eldarion had been given the name Alexander from Archir's friend and Evelyn had been given Ashley. Archir mused that those two names were known to be common in his old world, in the future. He sighed.

"Papa… do you think I made the right decision?" Archir asked for what seemed to be the ongoing umpteenth time. Gandalf chuckled at the reused question and nodded, kissing his student on the head with a soft touch. The four wizards were quiet for a moment until they heard the sounds of Archir's name being called before they found Legolas sliding open the door from the house and spotting his son. Legolas groaned and walked over to the group. He looked at his son with stern eyes. The elf looked rather intimidating which caused Archir to pout at him.

"Archir…" Legolas began warningly, "You do know you aren't to miss meals."

"But, Ada!" Archir moaned to his elven father, "Erestor already stuffed me like a turkey during breakfast. Why must you demand I eat more! Do you WANT me to explode of wizarding stuff?" Legolas chuckled.

"You will not explode pen-nin tithen," Legolas laughed, "now off to dine with you before you take a bath." Archir huffed and proceeded to make a small figurine with his finger that made a smoke emit. He then pretended to explode, making childish noises as he did so, imitating his belly blowing up. Legolas shook his head and easily lifted his son up into his arms. Archir pouted again and leaned against Legolas, his arm around Legolas' neck and his free thumb stuck into his mouth. He took on the toddlerish persona that he used to so easily, that many of them tended to forget he was mentally an adult.

As he was carried away to the house, Pallando chuckled through his wooden pipe. He found Archir to be amusing in his antics of preferring to be a child than an adult, though he listened to the three wizards when they taught him about the history of the world. In Valinor, Archir was able to peak into the mirror to also see his old world, and on a certain number of times had managed to see his birth parents and the marauders. Of course, that was during the first year only.

"I'm full Ada!" Archir complained. Legolas chuckled and grabbed a cloth to wipe the boy's mouth. Archir protested, but ended up allowing his Ada to do so. Once finished, Legolas lifted the child up and into his arms before he carried him again towards the baths. Glorfindel spotted the two and walked over to them. Archir gave Glorfindel a look as if to say 'save me' and the elf chuckled before he swiftly stole the child from his Ada's arms. Legolas shot him a betrayed look which was ignored.

"Glorfindel!" Legolas said, exasperated, "It was hard enough to get him to eat. I'm trying to get him cleaned before he goes off to mess with that beastly dwarf I call a friend." Legolas didn't forget easily the numerous bruises and scratches the child was covered with constantly because Gimli found fun in wrestling against the youngster.

"Come now Legolas," Glorfindel chuckled, "Gimli is a rather amusing dwarf who finds teaching you ion the wonders of making and combat."

"Archir is three again; he has no need for such things." Legolas huffed and he ran a hand through his flowing locks, his tunic over his shoulders easily and comfortably. Archir's cheeks puffed at being ignored by his Ada and friend.

"HE is right here," Archir quipped and Legolas shot his son a mock glare before sighing and shaking his head in amusement as he poked a finger into Archir's side and this emitted a loud yelp of surprise from the supposed toddler before Archir whined for Legolas to stop, which he did.

"You were perfectly capable of this in the body of a nine-year-old, but I say no to this when you're a little one yet again. You've known this." Legolas told his son. Archir stuck his tongue out at him and Legolas' lips quirked upwards at the childish action. Archir was very much his own person. He was very mature as the adult in his mind, but he tended to lean towards being the child he never got to be. When he was three in Middle Earth the first time, they were in war. Now he was able to stay a child for as long as he pleased and Archir took advantage of that fact. Legolas sighed as Archir squirmed in Glorfindel's arms as he was carried to the bath.

"I will help you," Glorfindel said with a lopsided grin. Legolas smiled back and the two reached the bath in no time. Archir was pouting and remained still as Glorfindel unbuttoned his robes and slid them off his person before slipping him into the tub. Legolas had the bath drawn up for the little boy and was now shampooing the child with practiced ease. Nine years of doing so helped. Archir leaned against the side, resting his small arms on the tub criss-crossed with his head laying on them, using them like a pillow. Glorfindel grabbed a cloth and rubbed the boy's back gently.

"'Member when I got sick?" Archir asked with a small smile. Legolas and Glorfindel nodded with amused looks. Archir had turned every bit a toddler when he had grown ill surprisingly in Valinor a few years ago. He had fussed and grown feverish that it took nearly a month to get him up to par. He had had been carried around and bed-ridden the whole time and Archir had grown more at ease with living here after that. The mirror had been beside Archir's bedside the whole time as he would gaze into it.

"You were certainly quite a handful," Glorfindel remarked and he frowned as he found a small bruise on the boy's back. Another thing they discovered was Archir incredible ability to get bruised very easily, but he did not feel it and it hurt little. Archir was immortal and powerful, but a child nonetheless. He was still the youngest in Valinor by far, even mentally being.

"How is Frodo?" Archir asked curiously, for he had not seen the hobbit around today. Bilbo Baggins had passed away and Sam had come to join him in the Undying Lands just last year. Archir had played with Frodo often and when Bilbo had been gone, Frodo looked somewhat lost and saddened. Archir frowned lightly as he recalled and blinked when water draped over him like a blanket before he felt wet and cold. He pouted at his Ada who grinned and drained the tub before lifting him out with an overly large towel. He bundled Archir in it and cuddled his son as he easily dried his hair with a part of it… One of the things he enjoyed most was Archir's size, which enabled him to continue to take care of him easily.

"Frodo and Sam are getting older, but they have another decade before they face departure from this world. They are not immortal, though the ring bounded them to remain younger just a little bit longer." Legolas said to his son as he finished drying him and carried him to the bedroom, wrapped up in the towel as Glorfindel followed. As they walked, Archir spotted Erestor tending to his own herb garden he so proudly worked on for the five years he had been here. Haldir was off flirting with the elf-lady that he so crushed on. Galadriel was busy meditating out in the gardens with Celeborn. Elrond and Thranduil seemed to be battling it out yet again. Elrohir and Elladan were fleeing the scene from a very ruffled Gil-Galad. They all looked so young, despite living hundreds of years… Archir leaned his head against his father's shoulders as he was carried inside to his bedroom. The room was rather simple and small, but homey and perfect for Archir. There was a crafted hammock strung from one corner to the middle of the adjacent wall and stuffed animals were on it. The bed below was just right for Archir's small size and a jaded blanket rested on top of it. Legolas searched through the closet of clothes and pulled out a pair of trousers, undergarment, and a shirt for the little boy as Glorfindel busied himself with tidying up the room just a little.

"I'm like Papa right? I won't ever grow old and I could possibly live forever?" Archir asked with a grimace at the thought. Legolas nodded and slid the boy's shirt over his head and through his arms, buttoning the side neck up only a little before he dressed the boy in the trousers. Legolas looked around for his shoes and socks and finally found them. Archir gave the incredulous parent an innocent look as his shoes were located. One had been hanging by the tongue over the top edge of his door…

Dressed to do what he pleased now, Archir slid off his bed and grabbed Glorfindel's hand with a smile on his face. Legolas ruffled his son's hair fondly before Archir dragged the once warrior-elf out the door. All of the elves cared deeply about the small wizard child. Archir led the elf out of the house and he let go as he spotted his familiar.

"Hedwig!" Archir shouted happily and Hedwig the Phoenix glided over toward her master with an easy grace. Once a babe, she now sparked with an icy snow of power. Her feathers were ruffed beautifully as she nicked her master on the ear affectionately. Years ago, Archir had discovered that the phoenix was truly his former Hedwig. The discovery had astonished Archir beyond levels and he truly knew Hedwig was his familiar for sure.

"Archir!!!" Elladan screamed and Archir turned his head right in time to be swept up into his uncle's arms and be carried away from a bewildered Glorfindel. Archir wriggled in his arms as he was nearly crushed to the elf's chest.

"What's wrong Uncle Elladan?" Archir choked out before he saw. He nearly fell over laughing at the enraged elf behind them. Erestor was going to bury Elladan alive and now Archir had been dragged along into trouble just for being involved!

"You're so mean Uncle!" Archir whined and Elladan took a sharp turn which effectively lost Erestor. Elladan sighed in relief and sat the child on his lap as he slid down to sit on the ground. Archir sat facing him, his small legs barely reaching the elf's chest while Archir sat with his back to Elladan's feet. Elladan's lips twitched at the adorable look his nephew sported.

"What did you DO to `Restor?" Archir asked curiously as his uncle moved him to rest his head against the broad chest. Archir leaned on his shoulder before he yawned and the sound of footsteps alerted them. It was Elrohir who was grinning widely at his brother and nephew.

"Erestor is after you for sure now that you have Archir with you. He already caught me." Elrohir said with a grimace at the reminder of the enraged elf's wrath.

"Don't remind me," Elladan grumbled as he passed Archir to Elrohir and stood up. Elrohir adjusted Archir to sit on his hip and the boy slid his thumb into his mouth. The antic was so cute that Elrohir grinned again, always amused from Archir's childish nature. Archir caught the look and chose to ignore it. He knew he was acting like a toddler a lot, but he naturally couldn't resist. He drew comfort from sucking his thumb or being carried. He hated being hand fed by someone when he refused to cooperate with eating something though. How much more could they force down his throat!? Archir watched over Elrohir's shoulder as he was carried to the garden where Elrond was, Elladan and Elrohir's father and Archir's grandfather.

"Granddad, good afternoon!" Archir chirped as his uncle placed him on the smooth grass in front of the elderly lord. Elrond chuckled fondly and drew his grandson close to him. Archir smiled at Elrond whose handsome features were aligned with age. He was a quiet elf of peace now. Archir found that his granddad could often be found in the garden. His grandfather preferred meditation as of late.

"Good afternoon pen-nin tithen! How have you been this fair day?" Elrond chuckled as he leaned against the tree. Archir crawled on all fours over to him and Elrond opened his arms to pull Archir in between his legs to lean against him. He stroked a gentle firm hand through the black locks with ease.

"What is wrong child?" Elrond inquired as he hummed the lullaby created years ago for Archir by Aragorn and Legolas. The tune was now hummed quite often around the toddler-sized wizard. Archir's lips quirked upwards slightly before he sighed deeply, just enjoying the nature of things around them. He loved Valinor more than any home he had ever discovered; but, he missed his father Aragorn and his mother Arwen. He was no longer mortal and he would live on until war came to Arda once more. The Vala had explained to him nine years ago that on the day that war once more returned to Middle Earth, the wizards would have to return only for the elderly ones, in a new form. Gandalf would be younger than he was, with his mindset still there. Things would change, they explained. Archir didn't know if that war would come when Aragorn and Arwen lived or when his little brother Eldarion took over the throne.

"I feel homesick again, just a little bit." Archir said in a small voice to his granddad. Elrond looked at Archir with a sad smile. He knew how much Archir meant to his daughter and son-in-law and how much they meant to Archir. The child loved it here in Valinor, but he would always feel just a bit homesick every now and then. Elrond kissed Archir's cheek.

"Just a little bit huh?" Elrond hummed, "Well… how about you talk about it."

"`Member when I told you about being from another world, Granddad?" Archir inquired and when he nodded, Archir continued, "I feel the same about that. Hermione and Ron must have kids by now. I wonder if they married too. Or if Draco actually had a kid. It's hard to imagine those guys as parents." Elrond smiled. When Archir had told him of his life as a teenage wizard in another world, Elrond had listened intently and so had Legolas as the two worked to help Archir see his own future. He was very much at peace with them, but he seemed to never have thought for himself about his own life.

"I see," Elrond said after awhile. He continued to stroke the boy's long hair, further soothing his grandson. Archir and Elrond were quiet for a few minutes before he spoke again, moving Archir to look him in the eye.

"It's natural to be homesick child. You wouldn't be Archir if you didn't miss your friends and family. Just continue to know they are making their futures out there like you are." Elrond said with a smile upon his eye crinkled face, "Now, I believe your Papa needed to speak with you about something. Just make sure to come back for dinner, mmkay? Wouldn't want your Ada to have to come dragging you back now would you?" Elrond chuckled as Archir pouted and nodded, sliding off his lap and running off to find Gandalf. Elrond watched him for a few minutes before shaking his head with a smile and looking over at Erestor and Haldir who were walking over to him. Elrond stood up and the three shared a smile as they watched as Archir met up with his mentor from a distance.

"He sure has changed from the mistrusting little one I met in Rivendell all those years back," Erestor said with a smile lit upon his face. Elrond laughed and nodded in agreement as he saw Gandalf lift Archir into his arms and toss him around. Archir was clearly enjoying himself. Haldir chuckled softly at the child's shouts of laughter reaching the sensitive ears of the three elderly elves.

"That war in which he will help lead to fight in… We must make sure he is ready for it." Elrond sighed. Erestor nodded. A war was coming to interrupt the eternal peace. None knew what, for they knew an ominous power was lying ahead of them and they could not stop it from coming. Their best bet was leading Archir into a new power of leadership. Two wars he had been in, but none such as this upcoming one, that Elrond knew. This one would conflict with his own emotions, as Galadriel had seen in her visions.

Elrond shook his head and looked over at Haldir who was watching Archir with curious and amused sparked eyed. The three elves were rather overprotective of the youngest member of their own family, even mentally wise in Valinor.

"Papa, Granddad said you needed me," Archir called as he ran over to his mentor who smiled and lazily scooped him up, tossed him in the air, and held him in his arms for a moment or two. Archir was confused but paused as he felt something. The wind blew in his face making Archir's eyes sting and he closed his eyes before he felt nothing again. He looked at his mentor confusedly. Gandalf simply smiled knowingly and twirled the boy around.

"Littlun, do you recall that night I educated you about my own elemental? When Pallando and Radagast told you theirs?" Gandalf inquired and when he nodded, Gandalf grinned again, "Well… I noticed just last night something strange… Very unusual. I did not expect this to happen to you."

"I swear I ate and did NOT pour soup on Erestor!" Archir immediately said and blushed when Gandalf chuckled in great amusement before shaking his age old head.

"No, you did nothing bad Littlun. Though, you must tell me why you poured soup on him at another time. You are an Istari of the emerald rank, and you were discovered to hold every power that I do plus some, in your own way. Your element showed last night in you, and Pallando saw it." Gandalf said as he set Archir on the ground and sat there in front of him. Archir looked at him for a split second, his eyes filled with doubt.

"What element is it then?" Archir asked warily as he moved to sit in his mentor's lap. He rather enjoyed it when Gandalf wrapped his arms around him in return. It was a comforting jester to Archir as he smiled at his mentor and friend. Gandalf smiled back.

"You are the elemental of air. In other words… flight and wind." Gandalf chuckled and Archir stared at him blankly before it clicked. Woah… Then that meant…

"Yes, with a few years of training, you should be able to push your own body to soar through the air." Gandalf said with a familiar twinkle in his eyes as his young student jumped up with a loud whoop that drew the attention of Haldir, Elrond, and Erestor who walked over to them.

"Granddad! Haldir! Erestor! Did you hear that? Papa says I'll be able to fly!" Archir chirped in excitement as he ran over to them and Haldir lifted him up into his arms. He grinned happily as Haldir kissed his cheek and ruffled his hair, laughing in the process.

"You will now? That sounds like a splendid new ability. Now, how about you help me with dinner tonight since you so eloquently attempted to skip lunch!" Erestor said with a mischievous smile and Archir frowned with a groan before nodded at the idea of helping Erestor cook. Erestor took Archir into his arms from Haldir and carried him off towards the kitchens with Haldir following him. Elrond was soon left alone with Gandalf. Elrond looked over at the white wizard who so valiantly fought in the war, had done his duty no matter what, and had taken on a student who became his grandson. Elrond had known Gandalf for ages, and this made him somewhat a mentor to Elrond as well.

"Hello old friend," Elrond said with a twitch of his lips as Gandalf shed his outer robe and hat as they entered the house. He placed it on the rack and settled himself in the rocking chair Archir had managed to craft with his magic for his papa. He had made it since 'his papa always had a sore back when he sat for a long time' as Archir put it. Elrond took his seat on the seat beside it. They could easily hear Erestor and Haldir laughing at what could only be Archir's crazy antics yet again.

"I'm worried…" Elrond began, "I'm worried that the next age of war will come and we will have not had enough to train Archir. He is but a child even mentally. The Vala –"

"-Have asked Radagast the brown, Pallando the blue, and I Gandalf the white to teach Archir about the customs of a wizard and educate him up to par with battlement. The journey will be long and we have unknown years to do so. I can only hope the next war takes place not when Archir's body is so young. Every 20 years his body will grow. In just 11 years he will finally be four in body and mentally in his forties. By then his training would be more expanded." Gandalf said calmly and Elrond sighed in what little relief could be produced from the thought of his grandson –who had already faced countless events that would traumatize him always- having to go through something even more dangerous than his part in the previous war, and his role in his first war. For now, they would teach Archir everything he needed. From being a child to growing up and learning the sort of things he lacked.

A crash alerted the two and they entered the kitchen to find Archir covered from head to toe in what must have been the pudding that Erestor told Elrond he was making tonight. Elrond shook his head and Legolas chose this moment to enter. He chuckled and picked up his dirtied son, ignoring the mess on his once clean shirt as he carried his wriggling child to the baths where Elrond followed. On the way, Legolas stopped to converse with Thranduil who had chuckled at Elrond and his grandson.

Once making it two the baths, Elrond watched as Legolas expertly removed Archir's clothing and settled him in to the bath. The boy of course protested and wriggled about as Elrond handed Legolas the cloth to clean himself while he took over the pudding job. As Legolas thanked him and left, Elrond took a cloth and poured shampoo into it. Archir sat in the tub quietly and curiously as he stared at his grandfather. Elrond had never been the one to bath him before. Elrond simply smiled at him with a gentle smile and knelt down, bringing the cloth to Archir chest, he scrubbed. There was a first time for everything after all.

Just like there was a first time for family, or a third time for chances. Well… there were unlimited times for a new chance. Or a new life… What some people never thought about was the possibility to start over. Sure there were times in which someone felt that they made a horrible mistake that couldn't be fixed, but somewhere someway it could be. Even if there were numerous horrible events that took place to you, why not keep going? It built the person that they became today after all. As Harry became Archir, he learned this lesson. He learned that he would always have a family to love him no matter where he was, or what took place. That was all he wanted… all he needed.

He had been given another chance at being child, and he had finally taken it in. The Ring Child was at peace.

Author's Note: So the decision had been one hell of a hard one for myself to make. I definitely was able to take on Archir's thoughts through that and your reviews helped me in the deciding factor, although I feel that I cannot make an Alternate Ending. The chances of a sequel are very low because I'm unsure if it will ruin the original plot I had going. There's not a whole lot I could do. This was the final chapter of Ring Child, so Review to tell me how you felt about it. Tell me how you thought throughout the story so I can get some feedback on future stories similar to this. My other stories will be worked on before I consider a sequel though. Thanks to my reviewers and I'm sorry for some I gave a hard time when they gave me some awesome critique. This is the first story I ever managed to complete that was THIS LONG or this successful. I'm glad to know I was able to keep it up. For those who are curious about Aragorn's children; He had two unnamed daughters and a son named Eldarion so I felt they needed to be tribute in this. Aragorn died in the end of his own reign and Eldarion became king afterwards. At least, that's what I heard. Could be wrong. Valinor's lifestyle was made up by me for the most part with a little help from researches. I hope you sincerely enjoyed this chapter. I decided to work on it early, was so excited to have it done.

Fin.