Ssssoooo...May have overdone it on the wait time hey? Hahaha so so sorry. I only meant to make you wait a week but then I kinda forgot what with pre-Christmas preparation etc!

Welcome to all the new followers and many thanks to my old followers who I left hanging!

Chapter 38

Elahir POV

Elahir found herself suspended in what seemed to be a forest of white. Her feet did not touch the ground, however, it appeared to be a cold and winterery place. The tree trunks were a pale brown, the ground appeared covered in powder.

She floated through the trees, her hands outstretched, trying to feel the trunks of the trees. Try as she might for some reason she couldn't feel anything. Nor could she seem to remember where she was or how she had gotten here. She was just starting to feel anxious when there was a bright light ahead. She took to a defensive stance, hard to do when she was floating in the air.

"Elahir, my princess..." it called softly. She recognised the voice from her visions. It was Queen Ellia, her mother. The light silouhetted her mothers body, she could make out the colours of her hair and the billowing fabric of the Sheann elven gown she wore.

"Mother..." she murmured. She stopped floating and her feet touched the ground. She felt warmth beneath them, which made her look down puzzled. "Where are we? What am I doing here? How did we get here?" All the questions came rushing out and she looked around wildly, suddenly remembering her last thoughts. Sauron. That darkness she felt overcoming her as she pushed her powers to the brink.

"You did it Elahir, you controlled the dark powers within you, far greater than I had expected. You helped balance the light and dark in the world. You have made me very proud," she said as the light touched her face. She was smiling proudly at Elahir, she outstretched her arms.

Elahir looked at her dubiously. Control? That's not what it had felt like to her. All she could remember was the huge rush of rage she had felt when she saw Legolas lying lifeless on the ground and a troll about to make sure of his work. And then remembering all the kindness he had shown her in their short time together not to mention the fun that was had along with Gimli.

"Legolas..." she whispered sadly, looking down at the ground. She sighed and looked back up at Ellia with narrowed eyes. "Those were dark powers? How?" she demanded.

"It was a gift of a curse long before our time, Elahir. We were the only race on Middle Earth the Valar deemed pure of heart enough to control the power and only use it for good. And this, of course, angered Sauron to no end when he found out that our powers could rival his. That is why he set a course to wipe us all out."

"Am I dead?" Elahir asked abruptly. Ellia frowned and then cocked her head to one side. Her blue eyes shone at Elahir. "What is this place? Why are YOU here?" Ellia could sense Elahir was beginning to panic. Ellia raised her hands in front of her, her hands open.

"Calm, Elahir, you are not. Your life does hang in the balance at this moment though."

"Why? If I have done what I was meant to, why have I not been taken to the Undying Lands?" she demanded. Her mother looked at her in surprise. Elahir had wondered ever since Legolas had mentioned her to be a half cast, whether or not she would be permitted to the Undying Lands. What lay ahead of her in the afterlife?

"I would not have thought you would have been so eager to leave this plain, what with you finally having seen the world outside the forest and helped the survival of ALL your companions." Ellia gave a knowing smile to her daughter.

"All?" Elahir looked shocked at this, she focused her mind back. As the smoke had cleared the battle field she had heard his voice through the dust and destruction that was around her.

"Yes, Elahir, you saved all of your companions. Even Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee live because you turned Sauron's attention for long enough to allow them to destroy the ring. As we speak they pine for your return to thank you themselves."

At these words, she felt a sudden warm trickle down her cheek bone. She recognised the familiar, warm, tingling feeling, it was the same feeling she would get whenever Legolas would come in contact with her skin.

She felt herself calm, closing her eyes and enjoying the familiarity of the feeling in this strange world. She reached her hand up to touch her cheek, almost wishing she could take his hand in hers.

"A decision you have yet to make. You have used a lot of your powers, if you are to live, you will lose next to all your power," Ellia explained. "You will gain full elven status though, a gift of the Valar, so you should be able to live the life of what you should have been born to." Elahir raised an eyebrow. "It is your choice to make, if you stay and live your life out on Middle Earth, or you can come with me to the Undying Lands."

"So I will no longer be me?" she asked cautiously.

"Of course you will be you, tarien, but you will no longer have the blood of men in your veins. You will be able to live a full life, with whomever you choose..." Ellia's mouth curved upwards into a small, knowing smile.

Elahir looked at her in surprise, her face softening and she went a little pink on the cheeks.

"You will no longer have access to the dark powers though, now that Sauron's threat is gone the Valar see no need for them anymore."

Elahir looked thoughtful, then troubled. She looked at her mother sadly. Ellia smiled lightly and waved her hand as if brushing aside the sadness.

"I am so very proud to call you my daughter, Elahir. You have avenged our people, you have helped save the world. The Valar bless you, my little one."

Elahir felt the tingling sensation intensify on her left hand. She looked down in surprise as heat moved to her knuckles. She focused on them for a moment before looking back up at Ellia, her eyes wet but shining with happiness.

"Thank you mother, I will miss you."

"Tarien, I will always be here with you, watching over you. Live well, my child."

Just a note-

I am really bad at writing emotional stuff so I apologise :(