Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.

Note: thanks for the reviews. Wow it has been forever since I last updated. I'm so sorry that it took such a long time. I don't really have a reason for why it is taking such a long time but all I can say is that the past few years have been hectic. I finished uni and literally had no time to write. I have wanted to end this story for a number of years since I hate leaving anything unfinished. So this will be an ending chapter. I hope you like it.

The years after the War of the Ring as it had been known were prosperous for Gondor. The Ring bearers passed over the sea and into legend. The heroes that had fought in the war settled into their lives and lived their own adventures. Small adventures such as rearing of children, building a kingdom and marriage. It were these things that mattered most in their lives and the things that counted, Aragorn found as he gazed over the sleeping city of Minas Tirith, their home, for one last time.

"So we are really going to do this, tonight?" He asked as he glanced over his shoulder.

"Unless you prefer a different night? However delaying it will not make it any easier."

Aragorn sighed. Legolas had a point. Tonight was Riana's wedding and Taliesin's coronation. Aragorn had announced last year that he was going to retire to spend the remainder of his considerable time in Middle Earth to focus on any grandchildren. However, he had not anticipated an old itch to creep up on him. The itch to see and visit new and old places, to roam familiar halls and see friendly faces and speak the language of his youth once again. He wanted to leave.

His children were grown and were going to build their own lives. Riana was marrying the son of Eomer and moving to Gondor. It would reunited their kingdoms and Aragorn was certain that his children would lead well. He turned to regard Legolas as his husband dressed.

Legolas had not aged a day and he was still as beautiful to Aragorn as the day he had first met the elf so many years ago. He knew he had aged gracefully. There were a few grey hairs that peppered his dark hair and he had laughing lines in his face but no more. His body bore the signs of carrying four children but that was to be expected. He was proud of those and proud of his children.

"We do not have time for anything quick, not if we wish to leave tonight." Legolas smirked at him and winked. Aragorn rolled his eyes and went to steal a kiss. The blue eyes looked weary with the burdens of mortal life and Aragorn knew that Legolas did not really wish to leave, however he could not face the burdens if his family died.

He glanced up at a knock on the door. He opened the door to find Thalion standing in front of the door. Their son glanced up and smiled. "Hey." He greeted, stepping through the door and closing it behind him.

Aragorn regarded him. He had grown into a fine young man, his brother as well. Alyan took after him while Thalion took after Legolas in looks and build. He even had his sire's archery skills. Thalion wore his blond hair shorter in a style favored by the young men in the court.

"Adar, Ada, I believe Riana is getting nervous that you may not be in time. She send me to collect you." Aragorn's eyes narrowed when his son did not say anything about the packs and clothes that lay across the room. His son merely smiled when Aragorn met his eyes.

"I suppose that we should go down then." He wondered why Alyan never said anything. Normally he was used to his children asking all sorts of questions whenever they thought their fathers were leaving on a trip. It surprised Aragorn that he was not asking questions now and it was strange as well. He almost opened his mouth when Legolas' arm encircled his waist and squeezed. He glanced over his shoulder and the elf shook his head. Aragorn inclined his and then pulled the elf to him when Legolas was going to walk past him. He kissed his husband hungrily and whispered.

"I think that our children are up to something."

"They would not be our children if they were not." Legolas whispered back, stealing another heated kiss before he took Aragorn's hand and they left the room together.

Xx

The evening passed by in a blur. The young couple shone and the coronation went off without a hitch. Aragorn rubbed his head and glanced at Taliesin. His oldest son bore the crown well and he would be a good leader. Riana radiated happiness and Aragorn felt a pang of sadness. He would be sad to leave them behind.

His children knew that they were leaving to travel but they did not know that the last time they would ever be in Gondor would mean goodbye. Aragorn intended to sail. He did not know if he would be welcomed in Valinor but he had to try. He longed for new adventures and Middle Earth would hold death for him and a lifetime of sadness for Legolas. He did not wish that upon his elf.

Riana engaged him in a dance and Aragorn pulled his daughter closer as they swayed in time with the music.

"I shall miss you, father." His daughter's voice was a whisper and Aragorn glanced at her.

"Why would you say such a thing? We are not leaving."

"Father, did you not teach us that lying is unbecoming? I thought that you and Atar would tell us the truth. We deserve that much do us not?"

He sighed and glanced away for a long moment. She was right, he could not lie to his daughter and he would not. He nodded and said. "Yes, you do, sweetheart. But if you already know, then do I really need to tell you?"

"I would like to hear it from you." She said instead and he nodded.

"Very well, your father and I intend to sail. Not for a number of years yet, I assure you but we will be traveling for a while and come back for a visit but in the end we do intend to sail."

"Can you give me any timeline?" Riana met his eyes and he glanced away briefly before he said. "Within a decade."

He glanced back, surprised to find strength and reassignment in her eyes. She did not seem to appear sad but instead smiled at him. He grinned back. She was truly their daughter and it clued him in enough to know that their children had suspected for a while but had simply waited until one of them confirmed it. He suspected that Taliesin had spoken to Legolas however his husband had not said anything about that.

"We raised you to be too sneaky for your own good. Does your husband know this side of you?"

"Of course he does. He knows me well enough. Just as well as you know Atar. I hope that my marriage will be as loving as yours. I adore him so much, Ada, that it scares me and excites me at the same time." Riana had tears in her eyes before she glanced back over her shoulder at her husband. He smiled back at her and Aragorn recognized the look. It was one that he and Legolas shared often.

"The first time I met your father, I knew that he would be special to me. I thought I had strayed into a dream and I told him I loved him within weeks of meeting him. I only have flashes of the foresight but I knew that he was going to be part of my life and I would never love another one as I loved him. I am glad for you that you have found this kind of love, Iel nin. That is all I ever wanted for any of my children, that they found something that they cherished and be happy in what they thought would make them happy."

"I shall miss you, Ada."

"And I you, but your sire wants a dance as well so I shall relinquish you. Do not worry, sweetheart, we shall have a last dance before we sail." He squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek before he let her go and stepped away.

Are you alright, meleth nin?

Yes, I am fine. Spend some time with our daughter, my love and I shall see about the new king of Gondor.

Aragorn walked to the balcony. He knew he was going to find Taliesin there. Aragorn always liked to spend some time outside when he needed to think. He had been preparing Taliesin for a while now to rule. All his children knew what it took to rule and were prepared for it. Alyan and Thalion would rule Greenwood and Ithilien when Thranduil and they sailed.

The young king was seated on the railing, overlooking the city. Aragorn made sure not to startle him as he said. "Please do not fall over the edge that is not the first impression you wish to make during your coronation. You will be known as the king who fell off the balcony."

Taliesin grinned at him and for a moment Aragorn was reminded of the times when his son had been young and had climbed up in trees when he had been forbidden to do so. Taliesin glanced back out across the city but did not move from his perch on top of the railing. That I

"I shall be careful, father, I promise. I just like to sit here and think. It is a beautiful view."

"Yes, it is something that I always enjoyed about the city as well, especially around this time. The city looks peaceful and it reminds me of everything that we fought for. You shall make a good king, my son."

"Thank you, father that means a lot to me. I have always been inspired by you. Even when I was in the Greenwood and I was fostered for that year by grandfather I missed you. Grandfather is a fantastic ruler and he taught me a lot but you were always my true inspiration. I shall miss you and Atar, father." Taliesin had tears in his eyes and Aragorn reached out to embrace his son. He did not care that his son was king. He would always show love to his children.

"I shall miss you!" He whispered and Taliesin nodded as they shared one last embrace.

Xx

"Alyan and Thalion will ride with us to Ithilien and then to the north." Legolas' voice was a whisper in his ears as his husband's hand slipped up his hips to rest there. Legolas pressed himself against his back to nuzzle along his ear.

"So we shall only have to say goodbye to our two oldest children." He whispered back, one hand tangling in the blond hair.

"For the moment, yes."

"Did I tell you that our children know that we intend to sail? That we intend to travel and then only come back to say goodbye to them and no more? That we do not intend to stay?"

"No, you did not. However it would explain why they have been joining us for dinner so many times over the past months and engaging in activities that they normally would not engage in, such as helping me with garden work when they could have been doing other things." Legolas' warm breath tickled the sensitive part of his ear and Aragorn shivered.

"They enjoy spending time with you, Legolas. Their elvish nature is as much as part of them as their human nature is. They enjoy spending time outside and helping you. It shows them a side of you that they do not see often. A side I enjoy seeing as well. I think I will enjoy that more than anything about this trip, to be able to see you relax and be at ease. You never fully loved living in this stone city. It was our home but we need a new home." He turned in the arms that encircled his waist and kissed his elf.

They would get a change to reconnect truly before they left Middle Earth behind. It would be a tour of saying goodbye to places and people they had once loved but it would be a good trip to take. It was time to go so. If they did not leave know, Aragorn knew that they would never. He was still young. He had ruled for sixty years and he had plenty of good years left in him but he wanted to spend them with Legolas. He had given scores of good years in the service of Gondor to build a kingdom and now it was time for them and their wishes and desires.

"I look forward to spending time with you as well. The next few years are going to be hard and the hardest goodbye is still coming but I shall be with you and that is worth all the pain and agony I must go through." Legolas whispered against his lips before kissing him hungrily.

"In one's life everyone must know agony, but I am glad that you are there to share it with me." He claimed another kiss before he said. "We should finish packing if we are to leave in the morning."

"I think that we need to say goodbye to the room and the bed as well, just one last time."

And they did exactly that.

Xx

The morning dawned bright and early and Aragorn blinked up at the strong sunlight. They had gotten little sleep last night and had spent many long hours talking and engaging in other activities under the stars. But those memories were best relived for another day. Right now it was important to live in the moment, and this moment especially.

He embraced his children, taking the time to say goodbye to each of them. Legolas did the same and Aragorn committed this moment to memory. It would be one of the few times that his family would all be together again. He gave Riana and Taliesin words of wisdom, Alyan and Thalion stood close but he would have time to talk to them while they were on the road.

He would miss his children but he would still see them in the years to come. He glanced around the courtyard. He would miss the city as well but their time here was ending and he longed for a new adventure.

He turned away and mounted his horse. Yes, it was time for a new adventure, a new beginning and he found that he was looking forward. Because truly, what are endings but pathways to a new start?

The end

I hope you liked it and enjoyed the adventure together with me. This tale is at an end but perhaps there will be a new one in the future, who knows? Review please.