Epilogue II – Ercassiel


For a time the elves stayed in Minas Tirith. Elle because of Chris' impending wedding and the excitement the two girls shared. Legolas because Aragorn had asked him to and it pleased him to watch Elle be so excited for her friend.

After learning the truth about her past Legolas found that her oddities made more sense to him but he knew that he would have to help her fit into the role of an elf if her past was to remain a secret. He had also quickly realised that Eadgyth was also from the same world as Elle, for she had told him her birth name, but had decided not to mention it to her as he was unsure how she would react to his knowledge.

There was a time, after Elle had been telling Legolas more about her previous life, that the ellon became distant towards Elle. There seemed to be a tenseness about him that surfaced if she got too close to him or they came into physical contact. Several days of this behaviour began to take its toll on Elle as she began to worry that maybe she had done something wrong but hadn't realised it. When the second week had passed Elle decided to ask him directly what was wrong. It turned out that it had been her, or her age to be more exact. During the telling of her past she had mentioned being nineteen when they had started the quest, an elf did not reach full maturity until their fiftieth year and the realisation startled him into pulling away. He asked her when she would have been considered an adult in her society, she told him twenty one, so he told her that once she reached this age they could begin a more intimate relationship but until then they would have to be more restrained. Though not entirely happy with the situation Elle agreed to make him more comfortable.

When the elves attended Chris and Faramir's wedding it occurred to Legolas how human Elle seemed and that he would have to explain to her that elvish weddings were quite different. He decided that it could wait though as she seemed to be so full of joy for her friend.

At the wedding of Aragorn and Arwen not only did many gather from the world of men but also several elves came to the union, including Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir. At the time Legolas had reminded her of the immortality of elves when he told her that Galadriel was Arwen's grandmother. During the celebrations Elle met the sons of Elrond and at first found them quite intimidating. They wore blank faces whenever in the company of men but sometimes she would catch a glimmer as gold was exchanged between them in the blink of an eye. After a while they approached her and stood either side of her before they began to speak to her in Sindarin. The twins propositioned her, not one but both, in such a way that she attempted to voice her refusal but it all came out as a stuttering jumble before Legolas stepped in with a single glance. The twins wore reflected devious grins for a second before their vacant masks returned and a gold piece was exchanged.

The couple stayed in Minas Tirith until the fellowship was to be divided, they decided to accompany Gimli to Aglarond as the dwarf had become enamoured with the place and had wanted to start a colony there. The cave system in the mountain behind Helm's Deep, later to be named the Glittering Caves, served as the foundations for Gimli's new realm. The elves helped where they were needed and soon more of Durin's folk settled in the caves and helped with the settlements construction. Once it was clear the new dwarven realm was taking shape the three, at Legolas' wish, journeyed to Fangorn Forest to visit the trees there.

During their time in the forests they came across some of the Lothlórien border guards who took them to the city itself once again. When they arrived it was clear to them that it seemed less than it was before. They spoke to Galadriel, Gimli really just stared dreamily at her, who confirmed that the power of her Ring was fading and with it the majesty of her realm. She also took the opportunity to tell Elle that the enchantment on her amulet would fade soon after she sailed west. It was there that the idea for a last elven colony began. This was also the point in which Legolas began to teach her more about being an elf, the language , the society and others things unique to the elves.

Gimli returned to the Glittering Caves while Legolas and Elle, along with some Lothlórien elves that had wished to stay in Middle-Earth for a time longer, returned to Minas Tirith after having been gone for just over two years. It was then that Elle met Boromir II, the first child of Chris and Faramir. It was during this time that Aragorn, Faramir, Legolas and the girls agreed that Ithilien would be a good place to start the new elven colony, for the trees had been deeply damaged by the perpetual darkness of Mordor.

Living in Ithilien with Legolas and the other elves seemed to make it feel as if time stood still. Were it not for her visits with Chris and her children, whose growth always surprised her, she feared she might lose touch with her mortal friends.

Even so, she soon learned more and more about what it meant to be an elf and how she was supposed to act, though she always kept little oddities and found herself explaining certain things to Legolas such as what Achilles was.

After being together for twenty years Ercassiel and Legolas decided they wanted to have a child, and had nothing to do with Chris asking about elflings and not so subtly badgering her to have children of her own. Not too long after that Ercassiel was a little surprised to have twin ellyth. They were named Almárëa and Alassëa, both shared their fathers sliver blonde hair and their mother's strangely purpley green eyes. Ercassiel also decided that she would tell her children stories she remembered from her old world. Growing up they particularly enjoyed the Narnian stories and Greek mythology.

On one of their visits Chris commented that when her grandchildren were born they would look a similar age as Ercassiel's own children before they came of age. This comment made Ercassiel really look at her friend and notice how much older she had become. Even though there was only the odd wrinkle it made her realise that she would not have Chris forever.

As time passed Ithilien, Alassëa and Almárëa all grew tall and beautiful. Though the trees healed with their presence more elves sailed West every year. It concerned Ercassiel as she knew Legolas still felt the Sea-Longing but knew he would not leave while they still had ties to Middle-Earth.

All of a sudden over a hundred years had passed since their arrival into Middle-Earth and Ercassiel received an urgent message. She had visited Chris the night before and had mentally noticed her frailty. She rushed to Emyn Arnen, her sudden arrival ruffled some nobles, to find that Chris had died during the night. Boromir, Ornéliel and Cemenion appreciated her comfort during their grief.

They decided to bury her in the garden that she loved so much and whenever she was able Ercassiel would return to tend the garden and talk to her friend even though she knew she was with Faramir and out of her reach.

When it came to be Aragorn's time there were very few elves left in Middle-Earth. Legolas asked her if she was ready to depart but he already knew that she had wanted to leave sense the death of Chris.

Legolas built a boat, with Gimli constantly making pointers of how a dwarf would have made it better, and the twins assisted their father while Ercassiel stayed in Emyn Arnen to tend the garden until they were ready to sail. When the boat was completed Boromir assured Ercassiel that the garden would always bloom for his mother and that he would miss her company and advice. She said her final farewells to the children of her best friend before she made of the Grey Havens where her family awaited her. With Gimli, of course.

When she boarded the boat she saw the peace on Legolas' face, knowing that they were finally ready to leave, and felt it reflected in herself. She knew it was time for them to leave and she wondered what would lie in wait for her as they sailed from Middle-Earth, never to return.