Title taken from Genesis' wonderful song from Wind and Wuthering. Read the lyrics and you'll understand this song has haunted me throughout this looooonnnnggg fic.

A huge and special thanks to my wonderful beta, Anarithilien, without whom I just would not be writing. 12 years of partnership where she helps me make sense of things, checks the howling errors, continuity, encourages, cajoles and ' listens' to my ramblings and makes sense of them, asks me questions, is my great inspiration.

Special thanks to those reviewers who have stuck with me throughout this:

on Ao3, especially chasingbluefish, Pame, Golden, Keekercat (promise there is something in here for you), shadowspark, paradis artificiels, newbie123, starfox, LayneWolf, Samui, Rob7 who have written so many many reviews and kept me going. Also AlyKat, Claudk, twinjay, Iciel, LadyLysa, Himring, HauntedPoem, Laera, Patrese1, mor2904, Anon, kalinaamori, chinos, Pam, AnnikaWinchester, spalso, cheekybeak, meera, kiera, ladyshiera, laera, lenaleeh, AccountDeleted, AureliaDelmater, zimtlimo.

On Faerie- Spiced Wine, Narya, Naledi, Nash, Gabriel, fadestothewest, NelyafinweFeanorian, starfox especially for the sheer number of reviews and encouragement.

On ffnet- dear freddie, hanging on in there! Alanic, earthdragon, nina, nako, mirrordance, sparkyTAS, Raider-K, Lotrfn for so many reviews, and also ThiaLieN, jmkk, kimberleykim, Elfheim no kishi, Ninde,Firerosedreamer6, Annika Greenwood, Dewselmis, Kymahalei, nimruzir, Dimaranien, powerandglory.

All the kudos much appreciated as well.

So, last chapter in the story of Elrohir and Legolas.

* Reference to one of my other fics. Black Arrow, in which Legolas and Gimli meet at the BotFA, but obviously don't know each other at that point.

*Anglach and Legolas used to call each other names such as goblin.

Chapter 62: Afterglow

Later, he lay easily in Elrohir's arms as Elrohir slept. A flood of wellbeing and contentment went through Legolas such as he had not felt since that terrible day in the Wood when Orcs had come upon them and Gollum had escaped, leaving Anglach… Anglach…

It hurt.

He twitched unconsciously. As if he could shake off the images of Anglach, ears cut off, eyes cruelly gouged out…tongue … A gasp escaped him and he turned instinctively into Elrohir's warm and satiated body, pressing himself close for he still could not bear to face the pain that he had been running from all this time. Elrohir stirred slightly and Legolas pressed closer, breathing in Elrohir's familiar scent, balsam and cedarwood, wanting to fill himself with Elrohir, so that there was no room for anything else, no room for pain or grief.

Elrohir's face was flushed with sleep, eyelashes dark against his cheek and his long, raven-black hair, night-silk, streamed over the white pillow. His lips were slightly parted and Legolas pressed his own mouth against Elrohir's cheek, needing the warmth, wanting to forget for now.

Elrohir slowly opened his eyes and smiled sleepily at Legolas. Then he lifted his hand to smooth a tendril of hair from Legolas' face and the panic and horror of Anglach's death ebbed away. 'Have you slept at all?'

Legolas laughed a little desperately and nodded. 'Ah but your snoring is enough to wake a dragon.' At the look of horror on Elrohir's face, he relented, 'Not as loud as a dwarf,' he said more brightly than he felt. 'Speaking of dwarves, there will be one barging into this room soon if we do not move. And I am not having Gimli joining us in bed.'

Elrohir smiled. 'It has been such a long time since I laughed so much with anyone. I have never felt such lightness as I do when I am with you.' He gazed at Legolas with complete adoration. 'You are so perfect,' he continued. 'You are brave and courageous. You are loyal and principled and beautiful.'

Legolas smiled ruefully. 'Fool. I am far from perfect. And if you think I am, I will only disappoint you over and over. I am a Wood Elf.' He cupped Elrohir's face in his hands, pulled Elrohir towards him and their foreheads touched. 'I am impatient and careless, I have some very bad habits. I am a terrible cheat at cards and games,' he added quickly. 'I am told I have a tuneless and irritating whistle. Oh, and I am friends with a Dwarf.' He delighted in the feel of Elrohir's skin against his, the smile that was full of love, the way his eyes widened slightly and then closed when they kissed.

He hoped that Elrohir would never find him as shallow as he thought he really might be, for he knew he was a warrior first and foremost, and then a Woodelf. More dangerous, less wise, Gandalf had said. Not only Gandalf either. That is probably true, he thought. Am I enough for Elrohir Elrondion, Son of Thunder? he asked himself wryly.

The thoughts disturbed him enough that he leapt up and poured water into the bowl left for ablutions. Would Elrohir want him to go and live with him in Imladris, he wondered, with its luxury and comfort? In Imladris, even the hot water sluiced from silver taps into large porcelain bowls that one could easily sit down in. Not like the Wood at all with its shared baths and hot springs. More sociable, less luxurious. The Hall of Fire was familiar enough, he admitted. But he still wanted adventure.

He sloshed water over his face and chest, and then under his arms and between his legs.

Realisation hit him quite suddenly. For all the celebrations and joy, he was simply not ready for Peace. What would he do now that the Quest was ended? There would be no patrols in the East Bite, no scouting around the environs of Dol Guldur. No Dwarf clinging like a burr to his back, or the cheery kindness of Hobbits.

There was an amused laugh from behind him and he turned his head to see that Elrohir had pushed his hand through his hair and was watching him with an indulgent smile on his lips. 'You look at though you have to plan a feast for thirteen dwarves,' he said.

Legolas laughed briefly. 'I am thinking,' he said, knowing that his thoughts were scattered and full of doubt.

'Is that why you are frowning and muttering to yourself?' Elrohir smiled.

'I am not muttering…am I?' A mirror hung on the wall over the basin and he glanced at himself briefly, for even now his own reflection disturbed him.

'No, but you are so pensive that you might as well.' Elrohir pushed himself up onto his elbows and regarded Legolas more seriously. 'What troubles you?'

At first Legolas said nothing. He picked up Elrohir's plain wooden comb on the chest and pulled it through his hair. At last he spoke. 'Will you return to Imladris? Or will you stay here with Aragorn?'

Elrohir watched Legolas thoughtfully. Then he pulled his long hair over his shoulder and said slowly, 'As you know, Aragorn intends to accompany the Hobbits to the borders of the Shire and then process through Arnor and Arthedain, to show the people that he is the King and to reunite the kingdoms.'

Legolas nodded for Aragorn had spoken of little else. Although Elrohir had murmured to Legolas that it was Erestor who had proposed it, it seemed a wise thing to show his kingdom that the King had indeed Returned. It would make it easier to bring the lands back to his law, to his rule.

'I will go with him,' Elrohir continued thoughtfully. 'And afterwards, I will return here I think. For a while at least.' He threw a look at Legolas. 'Unless you want me to come with you to the Wood.' His gaze lingered on Legolas' face as if he tried to read his thoughts. 'I did not think that Gimli would be pleased to have me trailing along like baggage, and I think you might need to break the news to your father before I meet him.'

Legolas quirked an eyebrow, imagining his father's face if he turned up not only with a Dwarf in tow but Elrohir Elrondion. 'He might quite possibly disown me first, and then consult Radagast to see what poisons I have consumed on my journey south.' He smiled, knowing full well that Thranduil loved him enough to accept anything of him, be it a dwarvish companion or an Elrondion lover.

'What of you?' Elrohir asked softly, and Legolas thought that perhaps he too had worried how they would find a way to be together.

'I do not know.' Legolas exhaled quickly for he suddenly found the grief had crept back into his heart. Although he knew that it never really gone far. 'Once I knew where I belonged, I knew my place was in the Wood, and my kin, my friends.' He paused and turned back, glanced briefly in the mirror, long enough to catch his own gaze. 'Now I no longer know…'

In joy thou has lived, Beware of the Sea…he thought. Gimli was going to be in Rohan, and Aragorn was here. And Elrohir would be here, at least some of the time… But Thranduil would want Legolas back, for he loved him and indeed, Legolas longed for home, he wanted to see Thalos and Laersul and Galion. His missed them. He did not want to think of Miriel and Lossar, Anglach and Naurion. But Legolas knew that Galadriel had spoken truly, his heart would rest in the Greenwood no more. The Sea called him. Elrohir called him. Gimli, and Aragorn. Their mortal lives seemed to slip away, like sand between his fingers and he found he could not bear it.

Legolas pulled his shirt over his head but whilst he dreamed of the beech wood, where the river ran over granite stones and through mossy dells, and the fallen beech leaves glowed amber before the new leaves unfurled their bright green of Spring, those dreams were threaded with the call of the Sea, with his love for Aragorn, for Gimli who would not be dwelling in Erebor and for Elrohir himself. He felt a pang of homesickness, but it was not only for the Wood and his family, but for his dearest friends. And he wondered too if he could bear the Wood without Anglach.

His friends too, Aragorn, Gimli, the Hobbits, were mortal. How long before ….? And could he bear it? And what if Elrohir did not feel that too?

Behind him, Elrohir swung his long legs over the side of the bed and holding the edge of the bed, pushed himself carefully to his feet and limped towards Legolas. He lifted his hand and smoothed Legolas' hair back from his face. 'Beloved, your heart is with me, is it not?' He looked into Legolas' eyes and then his own grey eyes grew a little unfocused for a moment and he said quietly. 'Do you wish to sail? Thy heart will rest in the Greenwood no more….' he quoted. 'The Sea has wound a skein of silk through your Song now. I hear it ,' he said distantly. He tilted his head to one side. 'It does not call to me as it does you…. But when you cannot resist it any longer, then I will stand beside you aboard a grey ship and take the Straight Road with you.' He reached out and took Legolas' hands in his. 'Where you go, I will follow.'

Legolas' heart was full and he leaned his head against Elrohir's shoulder, so he could hear the strong heart beating. 'I am bound to Aragorn for all of his days,' he said, realising at last the truth. 'As you are I think. Let them be long and merry. And when at last he gives up this life and goes wherever it is that men go beyond the bounds of Arda, then let us take the grey ship and the Straight Road.'

'Give me leave to go with Arwen first whither she chooses to go. I will follow then and go with you beyond the Sea. I am sworn to you now and will never be sundered from you.'

0o0o

In the King's private study a small throng had gathered to look at the plans for various projects. Some of the KIng's Privy Council were there, and Faramir of course. Amongst them were the Men who would contract the skilled craftsmen and Gimli wanted to make sure that Dírhael got work from this. He also enjoyed talking to Arwen who was exceptionally sensible and well informed, and asked questions that delighted Gimli. It was, of course, no more than he expected from the granddaughter of the Lady Galadriel. Aragorn was showing polite interest, and Gimli could tell the Man would much rather be discussing the city's defences with Beregond but he was bursting with pride in Arwen. Gimli caught Faramir's eye briefly and grinned.

The doors to the study opened and the guard's voice drifted in, welcoming someone and then Gimli saw it was Legolas, and with him Elrohir. Well, this was a surprise for Gimli had not expected to see Legolas just yet and had resolved that he would plant himself firmly outside the door and if necessary, batter the door down if Legolas did not answer quickly enough.

But Legolas was radiant, he looked happy enough to burst, and that blazing smile had everyone in the room turning towards him. Beside him, Elrohir limped quite badly, leaning on a cane that Gimli thought far too elegant and slender to be any good. Elrohir needed a crutch, he thought, like Gloín had now. Quickly Gimli calculated exactly what Elrohir needed, the angle at which the arm rest could be constructed and the size of the ferrule that would ensure that it neither slipped and provided the best surface area for stability. He was happily designing the embellishments in his head when Legolas greeted him in delight.

'Gimli!' A mischievous smile danced over the Elf's lips and Gimli braced himself. 'I gave up waiting for you to join us.'

Gimli knew he was supposed to growl and harrumph but he was so pleased to see Legolas happy that he grinned back. 'You are fortunate that I did not have to. Dwarves are made for stamina.' And was delighted by the merry laugh Legolas gave at his outrageous innuendo. Then Legolas turned his face towards Elrohir and he had the same silly smile on his face that Aragorn had on his when he looked at Arwen. Gimli felt a momentary surge of loneliness, and a memory rose up from somewhere buried deep inside him of deep hazel eyes looking at him over a bronze chalice chased with gold. Copper-bronze hair, a complex knot of braids with small beads of amber wound into them. A deep sigh escaped his lips then and he had to look away for a moment. It was a long time ago, he reminded himself. And he was here protecting his friends, and all of Middle Earth. It was a good deed that he did.

'Moro, you look better.' Arwen looked up at her brother. Her eyes flicked from Legolas to Elrohir, whose face was turned towards Legolas, indulgent and adoring. He smiled at his sister and she went to him, wound her arm about his waist and smiled up at him. She whispered something and Elrohir bent his head towards her to listen, then jerked back, blushing as if she had shocked him. She laughed again.

'My lords,' she addressed everyone. 'We have finished the design for the King's Aqueduct. It will carry water to every level of the city and into the Pelennor Fields. The channels will come from the deep lake.' She glanced at Gimli. 'The Mindolluin Aquifer.' He nodded and she continued with confidence. 'Who would have thought what treasure lies beneath the mountain! That old road used to run alongside a leat. Aradhel found the old maps when he was looking in the archives for….information. I would like to thank Aradhel in particular for seeing that this project is now ready to begin.'

There was a murmur of approval and appreciation and Aragorn, watching her proudly, said, 'And I think we also should acknowledge your own work, Arwen. In fact, it should be called the Queen's Aqueduct,' he said. 'For all the work has been done by you.'

'No, I did very little in truth,' she said briskly. 'Actually it was Aradhel, Faramir and Gimli.'

Gimli blustered, and secretly enjoyed the fuss, and allowed himself to be drawn into conversation with the lord Hirluin of Pinnath Gelin, a thoughtful and intelligent Man who clearly knew something of engineering and Gimli found himself absorbed. But even so, he still noted that Legolas drew Aragorn away and back towards the map table, carefully smoothing out a map and weighing it open with a book and a half empty glass. He wondered what it was that Legolas wished to discuss but was not interested enough to drag himself away from the congratulations of the assembled folk on the aqueduct.

Arwen joined Gimli and perched on the arm of the deep and comfortable chair in which he sat. She shook her head at him when he leapt up to offer her the seat instead. Between then, they explained to Hirluin the finer details of the aqueduct. His questions were intelligent and, to Gimli's surprise, Elrohir joined them and was animated and interested in the discussion. Between Hirluin and Elrohir, they moved their design along nicely, proposing that they create a series of smaller reservoirs on each of the city's levels. Elrohir proposed a combination of rainwater run-off collections and weirs along the system of leats. Gimli was delighted and pulled out his pipe, with a quick glance for permission from Arwen, filled the pipe and held a match to the fragrant pipeweed. A lovely cloud of smoke filling his lungs and nostrils alike, the Dwarf settled back to regale his intelligent audience with a story of how he had built the pulley system in the Chambers of Mazût, the deep mine of the Emyn Luin when Thorin had just left for the Quest for Erebor.

It seemed that Elrohir knew those mountains well for he asked Gimli if he had ever been to Forlindon, which Gimli had of course. 'Do you know the Himling Pass?' Elrohir asked next.

Gimli knew the high mountain pass so called because on a clear day one could see all the way to Himling Isle, that lonely haunted place. 'I have travelled that way a few times, but we mainly go by the Khazâd-Verin.'

'Ah yes of course. The Dwarf Road. It is a much better way to travel. I have travelled it myself but once. And in good company.' Elrohir said the last phrase with a tiny gesture that signified he meant dwarvish company. It confused Gimli still that Elrohir knew so much of the secret inglamêsh language of the dwarves and he leaned forwards.

'With whom did you travel?' he asked, thinking that here might uncover the identity of the dwarf who had so carelessly given so much away of the Secrets.

Elrohir gave him a quick, amused look. 'It was some time ago. But I travelled with a dwarf called Náin.'

Gimli choked on his surprise, swallowing a mouthful of smoke by mistake. 'Náin?' It could not be! That would mean…' He had the same sense of dislocation he felt every time Legolas spoke of the distant Past as if it were only yesterday, but here was Elrohir speaking of Naín as if he were a mere passing merchant or tradesman.

'He was travelling with a small group of comrades, they were looking to trade with the Western realms, with Dwarves and Elves. His folk had mined a rich seam of mithril and there was enough to trade.' Elrohir's grey eyes were upon Gimli's, and he saw there was compassion and understanding. 'He was a good companion.'

Gimli said nothing. He had never given Legolas the satisfaction of knowing that he had surprised or shocked Gimli and he wasn't going to start giving Elrohir the pleasure either. So he said, recovering, 'He probably was seeking new trade. Although I wonder at their going to Forlindon. There is no one to trade there for mithril.'

At this, Elrohir shrugged. 'Then I know not why he was there so far from home.'

And I will not ask what you were doing there either, so far from home either, thought Gimli. Nor why you should how such interest now.

At that moment, Aragorn and Legolas rejoined them, a quiet satisfaction between them, and that was the cue, as far as Gimli was concerned, for midday meal. He patted his stomach thinking that living with hobbits was good for the soul if not the figure.

o0o0o

In the comfortable parlour of the House of the Fellowship, night was falling and in the city below, lamps winked on one by one. Gimli could hear the blackbird chirruping in the garden and Fredegar Took, as Pippin called the biggest, roundest, blackest kitten, (or Fredegar Thorin Smaug Took, to give the kitten his full name) had clawed his way up Gimli's leg and was on his way up to the Dwarf's muscular shoulder. Meanwhile Belladonna Ancalagon Dwalin Brandybuck, Fredegar's small sister, was mewling plaintively at Gimli's feet.

'One must take the naming of cats very seriously,' Legolas had said. Gimli had thought Blackie was a good name for the black one, Snowy for the white one, Tiddles for the other black one, and Tabby for the tabby. 'You can tell which one is which then,' he had said nodding in agreement with himself. He had hoped there would be a ginger one that he could call Ginger. But the Hobbits had been appalled at such simplicity and agreed with Legolas and after that, Gimli could not help getting sucked in. Only Frodo had restrained them from adding Strider's names to the kittens' 'pedigree names' as Pippin described them. So Pervinca Balin Gostir Baggins and Bandobras Gloin Scatha Gamgee were deprived of the glorious additions of Thorondor and Strider and were still asleep and blissfully unaware in Gimli's boots.

Aragorn leaned down and scooped up Belladonna Ancalagon Dwalin Brandybuck (whom Pippin always added Elessar to) and dropped her into Gimli's lap where she grunged happily and curled into his beard. Gimli scowled down at the tiny cat. 'Not content with ruining my favourite quest boots,' he grumbled, 'you now seek to ruin my tunic and breeches.' He stroked her smooth little head. 'Just like your namesake.'

Gandalf pulled out his pipe from somewhere inside his white robe and tapped out the old pipeweed. Gimli nodded towards his new silk pouch filled with Harad Smooth Gold, a gift from a grateful merchant, for Gimli had already regaled the Wizard about the delights of this particular pipeweed and was looking forward to seeing Gandalf's face when he tried it.

As he expected, a look at startled contentment slid over Gandalf's face as he took his first deep draw and he leaned back with a comfortable sigh.

'Pip, if you cannot play without cheating, then don't play at all!' Merry cried. The two Hobbits were lying on their bellies slapping cards down.

Pippin said immediately, 'It isn't my fault that we travelled with Gandalf and Legolas. I can never play a straight game of cards again.'

'What do you mean, Pippin?' Legolas asked as he came into the room, wiping his hands on a dish towel. 'I don't see how my company can have influenced you in cards.'

There was a splutter of laughter from Aragorn and Gandalf smiled. Merry looked up sceptically.

'It isn't your fault, Legolas,' Pippin said kindly. 'It isn't like you even know what you are doing. You can't help it.'

'Can't help what?' Frodo joined them now. His face was rounder and his cheeks had more colour but he was still thinner than any Hobbit should ever be and the Fellowship still watched him and Sam with anxious kindliness. 'Is Pippin cheating, Merry? That has nothing to do with Legolas,' he said, taking the chair near Gimli. 'You have always cheated, Pip, although I will own that you have got better since knowing Legolas.'

'Ha. See,' Legolas threw at Gimli.

Gimli grinned, showing his white teeth. 'Frodo does not mean he cheats less, Legolas. He means he is more skilled at cheating, do you not, Frodo?'

Legolas looked outraged and opened his mouth to protest but Sam came in at that moment staggering a little under the weight of a large tea tray filled with cups of tea and pints of dark ale, and Legolas immediately took it from him, glaring at Gimli. 'That is not what Frodo meant at all, is it Frodo? I have never cheated Frodo. Or Sam.'

Frodo laughed. 'Indeed you have not.'

'No. Just Pippin, and Merry.' Aragorn grinned cheerfully.

Pippin added, 'And Aragorn!'

'Especially Aragorn,' Merry agreed.

Legolas made a face. 'I can't help it with Aragorn. It is too easy and he brings out the worst in me.

'Ha! You used to say that about Gimli!'

Gimli puffed a long stream of beautiful smoke, laughing at the Elf's feigned indignation for in truth, Legolas was a shocking cheat and proud of it. They forgave him for two reasons: firstly, he never kept any of his winnings, making sure he lost them back or found a way to return them, and secondly, though they all knew he did cheat, they had never actually found out how he did it.

Turning his face up towards Legolas, Pippin asked curiously, 'And to think that the two of you will be making your way home together soon. Whatever will your father say, Legolas, when you turn up with a Dwarf at your back?'

Legolas passed around mugs and cups of tea and tankards of ale and a glass of wine to Gandalf. 'He will ask me what I have done to deserve such a curse,' he said cheerfully. 'Of course it may be that we go first to Erebor and Gimli's father asks him the same.'

'And I will answer that it was that or Gandalf turn me into a goblin,' answered Gimli slurping his ale. It was dark and malty and was thick brown. He smacked his lips and darted a quick challenging look at Legolas.

He blinked and wondered what he had said for a look of devastation flashed over Legolas' face* but was gone before he could ask what was wrong and Sam was asking 'Will you stay there, Legolas, in the Wood, or will you go to Rivendell afterwards? To be with Elrohir I mean. Just, it's not very far to the Shire from there and you could drop in for tea perhaps?'

Gimli smiled at the idea that anyone might drop in for tea from Rivendell but no one would dream of pointing this out to Sam. Flicking another quick look at Legolas, Gimli wondered what his answer would be for Legolas had said before that he did not think he could live in the Valley. But Gimli could not see Elrohir settling down to Happily Ever After under Thranduil's sharp green gaze. He remembered the Elven King from the Battle of the Five Armies when he had been a mere stripling and the King, Dain that is, had charged Gimli with guarding the Elves as they visited Thorin's deathbed.*

Legolas said, 'I have every intention of calling in for tea, Sam, but I will not be living in Imladris.' Gimli caught the quick, complicit look between Legolas and Aragorn and narrowed his eyes. So, he thought, they have concocted something between them and have told no one. He glanced across to Gandalf, who seemed to be in on the secret for his bright blue eyes were mischievous and pleased. Even more irritated at having been left out of the secret, Gimli puffed hard on his pipe so a cloud of fragrant smoke billowed around Legolas. The Elf sat very still and serene but Gimli knew that Legolas had noticed. He made his mouth a little O and blew smoke into a series of small perfect rings that drifted over the Elf's head.

It used to annoy Legolas far more than it did now, Gimli observed grumpily.

'So will Elrohir live with you in Mir… the Wood?' Pippin persisted.

Legolas tilted his head and gave the Company one of his blinding smiles. Gimli rolled his eyes and tutted. 'Elrohir is to live here, with Aragorn and Arwen so he can give them his counsel,' said Legolas and Aragorn nodded, smiling.

'And he is most welcome. I have set aside a comfortable apartment for him and any guests he might have.' Aragorn puffed happily on his pipe and Gimli thought he had rarely seen the Man so content.

But that had not answered Pippin's question and Gimli waited irritably, but it seemed Legolas was content to goad him until at last he could not bear it any longer. He tried to speak causally but knew his voice sounded vexed and peevish. 'And what of you then? Do you come to live in the city?'

Legolas looked smug, as if he had been waiting all the time for Gimli to ask. Which he probably had, thought Gimli crossly.

Legolas gave the Dwarf a quick, self-satisfied glance. And then he said, 'If my elven lord allows, some of our folk shall remove hither to Ithilien, and when we come the land will be blessed, for a while, and recover I hope from the taint of Mordor.' The Hobbits cried aloud in delight and Pippin clapped his hands. Legolas let his gaze settle upon Aragorn. 'For the Anduin is near, and the Anduin leads to the Sea.'

'You are not going to sail though?' Sam said quickly and in some alarm.

With a strange look that was so impenetrable that Gimli almost did not recognise his friend, Legolas said, 'I will not sail,' he said and Gimli had not realised how worried he had been that the Sea would lure Legolas away until he heard this. 'For as long as there is a member of the Fellowship on these shores, I will not sail.'

Gimli smirked into his beard and puffed contentedly on his pipe. So, the Elf was going to remove to Gondor was he, to 'heal the land' and be near to the Sea? No one is fooled, he silently thought at the Elf. I am not fooled. The Hobbits are not fooled. Aragorn is not fooled. It is because he wants to be near me. And Aragorn…He admitted that it was also convenient that Elrohir was going to be here. He nodded at Pippin who was grinning widely, even Azarghâl seemed to be winking at him, as she leapt onto Gimli's lap, purring loudly and licked her kitten, Dwalin. 'And where are you going to live in Ithilien?' he asked innocently. 'There are no towns, or are you going to rebuild Osgiliath? I should like to see you with a hammer and chisel.'

Legolas grinned at him. 'We will live in the trees of course. Build flets like the Galadhrim.' He gave a mischievous smile at Pippin. 'I will have a special one built for those who cannot climb of course, or a hole perhaps for those who do not have a head for heights and who are afraid to climb.'

'Well I hope you do not mean me, Legolas,' Gimli said with a hard stare at the Elf. He puffed irritably on his pipe. 'Dwarves are great tree-climbers. In fact, dwarves are naturally gifted in this. The trees in Ithilien will be as nothing to us.'

'Then I will not need to dig you a hole but build you a great platform with the most comfortable bed and feather quilts…'

'Pah! Dwarves do not need the soft beds of the Elves!' Gimli could not help himself even though he knew that Legolas was goading him. Merry's eyes were dancing with delight and Pippin snorted.

At that, Azarghâl gave a loud meow and pushed her face against his hand demandingly for he had stopped stroking her. As he did so, Gimli looked about the faces of his friends; Aragorn laughing, the lines around his eyes crinkled and the weariness of the many years of waiting gone. Sam quietly fussed around Frodo, whose face, if still wan, was softer than it had been and his eyes less haunted by the day, and Merry and Pippin playing cards and both cheating outrageously. And Legolas, leaning against the window sill, arms folded and a smug smile on his lips and he caught Gimli's gaze and the smile widened.

Gimli held his gaze unblinking for a while, unsmiling until he could not help it any longer and a great roar of happiness and laughter burst from him. 'Rascal!' he bellowed.

Gandalf watched astutely, his blue eyes twinkled merrily.

Outside, the blackbird sang in the garden and the scent of jasmine stole through the window. As it grew later, the Fellowship went to sit outside in the warm night under the stars and Legolas climbed nimbly through the branches of the apple tree as if he might reach up to the stars themselves. They sat for a while in the little garden while the black bird's song slowly ended and the first nightingales began. At last Legolas' voice joined theirs. He sang softly, a lullaby at first so the Hobbits slowly drifted back inside one by one, their eyes heavy and heads nodding, and then the Song changed and in it there was a longing, and Gimli could hear in it the soughing and sigh of the Sea. Now that he knew that only when the Fellowship came to its inevitable end would Legolas sail from Middle Earth, he felt a great comfort. But it would end one day and though he felt a sadness in this, it was for Legolas that he felt grief. He alone would be left, with his memories. And there would be none left to share them for all of his long immortal life. Suddenly Gimli was overwhelmed with compassion and pity. He reached up to where Legolas' foot dangled from the branch in which he was perched and patted him on the ankle.

The Song faltered for a moment, and then it changed again.

Gandalf blinked and seemed to focus again, and Aragorn leaned his head back against the tree, a look of peace and contentment on his handsome face. It seemed to Gimli that the Song was slower now, deeper, like the roots of trees plunging deep into the earth, questing for water, going deeper until the earth opened up in caverns and chambers where the water had not moved for a thousand years, still as glass. Rose quartz glittered in unseen columns and fluting pillars of cream coloured stone, a glitter of undiscovered gemstones….

Gimli sat in quiet contemplation of his new domain in Anglarond, at peace. Gimli sighed happily and settled himself more comfortably. In a few days, Eomer would return to the city to claim Theoden's body and Aragorn and all the company intended to accompany the dead King to his final resting place. Then Gimli would bid farewell to his friends for a while and begin the journey home with Legolas. But he rejoiced now that the parting was not forever: Aragorn and Legolas would be here and their days would be long and happy until the very end, when the Fellowship finally parted forever. But that was not this day. It would be years before that happened and Gimli intended to enjoy every moment.

Azarghâl looked up at him, her little face seemed to smile and her purr reverberated through Gimli. Fredegar Thorin Smaug Took grunged into Gimli's beard happily and his sister, Dwalin snored where she lay curled on his lap. A breeze stroked his hair and he thought he smelled the pine trees of Erebor, the grey-cold water scent of the Long Lake and the deep chant of his kin. He was a little homesick. Time to go home, he thought. For a while.

0o0o

The End.