"Ernil-nin, a word please if I may."

Elrohir watched his Adar beckon Legolas into his office. The Prince gave a little wave of his hand toward the younger twin as he turned toward Elrond. "I will catch up with you Elrohir - you need not wait."

"Of course, come and find us in the dining hall once you are done." Elrohir smiled at the blonde before he continued on his way.

They had been heading up to their rooms to change after another vigorous mid-morning training session. Elladan had already gone on ahead of them and so Elrohir hustled to catch up with his twin. For he had some inkling as to the reason his Adar had summoned Legolas; in addition to being fully healed the Prince had now regained his complete fitness and there was little doubt in the younger twin's mind that his Adar would be giving Legolas the good news that he was ready to go home.

Elrohir smiled all the more broadly as he made his way into the chambers he shared with Elladan and accosted his twin.

"Adar has just summoned Legolas to him gwanunig - and I am almost certain that he will be telling Legolas that he is now fit to go home - and if that is indeed the case then I have something I wish to speak with you about."

~o~

"Please take a seat Ernil, I shan't be too long for what I have to say is simple really - you are ready to go home."

Legolas blinked. "H-home?"

Elrond laughed, "Yes Legolas - I am more than satisfied with the progress you have made and feel confident that the strength you have regained will see you able to safely make the journey back to the Woodland Realm."

Legolas said nothing, silently shocked and the Lord of Imladris gave another chuckle.

"Surely this cannot be that much of a surprise to you Princeling? Have you not felt yourself getting stronger?"

Legolas shrugged. Truthfully he had simply been focused on enjoying what time he had left in Imladris and with the twins; it was true that they trained hard every day but it was not a thing that the Prince had paid any special attention to. Yet now that he thought about it he could indeed feel the difference and the strength he had regained.

Legolas smiled. Hir Elrond had said he was fit to go home and oh how he wanted to!

Granted, he had been having a rather lovely time with the twins and his fellow wood elves - so much so that the old homesickness that had first plagued him when his Adar had left had completely disappeared - but now that going back to the Wood imminently was a very real possibility Legolas wanted it more than anything.

He'd missed his home so very much; the welcoming, climbable trees, the cool shade of the canopy, the sound of familiar bird calls and squirrels rushing about, the very many refreshing rivers and streams. And then there was the food, his people with their more practical sensibilities as well as the comfort of speaking their own Silvan tongue.

Yes he'd truly missed it, had been gone for far too long and now Legolas had but one concern.

"How soon can we leave Hir-nin? I would hope for us to make it back to the Wood in time for Yule is all."

For though the Prince was sure that Yuletide in Imladris would be a spectacular sight, the thought of having to miss out on Yuletide back in the Wood (particularly after all he'd already had to endure) made him ache with a sudden, fierce homesickness.

"You could leave this very evening Ernil-nin though I ask that you would not, for I wish to give you provisions for your journey as well as give you a proper send-off with a celebratory good-bye feast. So with that in mind I would ask that you give me a week - that will give me more than enough time to get everything organised."

"Very well Hir-nin - a week it is! I had best go tell everyone."

Elrond nodded at him and gave a wave of his hand in dismissal, "I'm sure they will all be pleased to hear your good news."

Legolas beamed from ear to ear and before he could let himself think the better of it he leaned over the desk and caught Lord Elrond in a quick and tight hug.

"Hannon-le." Legolas breathed his heartfelt thanks into the other's robes before he pulled back, flashed another smile and slipped out the door.

~o~

Legolas took a centring breath and stared up at the beautifully carved slab of marble before him; he had come to Faervel's tomb - his initial joy at the upcoming prospect of soon being able to go home now dulled with grief anew at the thought of having to leave behind his best friend.

"I have some news Vel, my time here in Imladris has done me well - I am whole and hale once more - and so my time here is all but over. Hir Elrond has given me the all clear and in just a week we shall be leaving."

Legolas paused and took in a shuddering breath, "I promise you that I will come back someday to visit, I promise that I will never forget you - that even though you lie here so far away from home you will continue on in my memories. I will treasure you and the memory of you forever - until we meet again on the other side of the Seas."

"I shall ask the twins to look after you...I mean…your tomb… I shall ask that they come and visit you when they can, bring you flowers, keep the marble polished and ensure you are not forgotten in this place until such a time as I can visit again."

The Prince sat down and hugged his knees to his chest, "I am truly sorry Vel, so sorry you did not get to return home - I am sorry that I failed you as both Captain and friend...I know you forgave me and I promise you that I am working to forgive myself… but still… it hurts to know I shall have no choice but to leave you here - to leave one of my maethyr… worse, to leave my friend behind."

Tears had come to Legolas unbidden and he sat silently for a long time with nothing but the whipping wind in his ears, his tears and his memories.

~o~

"Las - there you are, we had wondered where you'd got to. You've missed lunch."

Legolas jerked upwards surprised at the sound of his sister's voice. Eventually his tears had run dry and he'd sunk down to end up sprawled in the soft windswept grass, eyes trained dully on the slowly tumbling clouds above.

"Thel, Thanny," Legolas ran a hand through his hair and smiled at his sister and former nanny apologetically as they both approached. "Apologies, I did not realise so much time had passed - I did not intend my visit with Vel to be quite so long… I got… distracted."

The Prince did his best not to squirm as the two before him studied him for a long silent moment, doubtless taking in the tear tracks upon his face along with his surroundings. Ere they could say anything about it however Legolas gave them his big news.

"I had a meeting earlier with Hir Elrond - he had good news for me… for us all. He has said that I am well enough to travel and that we may leave in a week's time."

Thanniel dropped down to the grass to sit beside him and pulled him into one armed hug. "Oh that is wonderful news Las-nin!"

Rithel was quick to follow and smushed him into a hug from his other side. "I am so pleased to hear that you've been given a full, clean bill of health Lasseg - and certainly very pleased that we will be able to make it home in time for Yule." Rithel paused then and pulled back to study him again. "You came to say goodbye to Vel."

It was a statement and not a question, his sister really did know him far too well.

Legolas gave a tiny nod of his head, "As happy as Hir Elrond's news has made me, I feel badly that Faervel will never come home again. I feel as though I am abandoning him." Tears threatened again and it was all the blonde Prince could do to blink them back.

"Ai Legolas," Thanniel who still had her arm around him squeezed him all the harder. "I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you; but you must not let yourself fall to despair - remember this is not a permanent goodbye - you will be able to visit Imladris again one day and return here to pay respects and share your new stories with Faervel."

Rithel nodded, "And you have the comfort of knowing that the twins will also look after him in your absence - they will tend to his grave and see that it does not become a forgotten block of marble but rather a cherished and permanent marker that reminds everyone that Vel once walked this earth - that he lived and he laughed and he loved."

Rithel stroked a stray strand of hair back behind his ear, "So please do not let grief take you honeg, remember you told me that Vel wanted you to go on and heal and recover from all this - he must be so pleased to hear your news today. And you need not say goodbye just yet - after all, you've said we do not leave for a week - you still have time enough to come here and visit with him."

Legolas gave a wet sniff and nodded; he knew they were both right though that didn't make it hurt any less.

Thanniel shifted and moved her arm from around his shoulders to instead slide her hand into his and grip tightly. "Come, we can say a memorial prayer for Faervel and commend his spirit to the Valar once more - ask them to watch over him in your absence. What say you?"

Legolas gave his former nanny a small weak smile, reached for Rithel's hand too, laced her fingers with his own, bowed his head and prayed. Aloud he asked the Valar to watch over Faervel - for peace and protection of his spirit - and within he silently begged them for forgiveness.

Goheno nin, goheno nin gin iallon. Please, oh please forgive me for my sins against him. Goheno nin gin iallon.

They rose to their feet eventually; after the last amen had rung across the quiet clearing and made their slow meandering way back down from the Wailing Cliffs to the main house where both Rithel and Thanniel promised that lunch had been saved for him.

Legolas walked alongside them in silence and remembered how Faervel with his dying breath had entreated him to go on, get well, return to the Wood and live happily again. And the Prince felt just a tad lighter, just a bit less grieved than before as he imagined his friend's pleasure that Legolas was at last going to do exactly that.

~o~

Elrond signed the parchment before him and placed it on the pile of finished paperwork to his left - a pile that was significantly smaller than the pile of unfinished paperwork to his right. It had been a busy day for the Peredhel Lord.

He'd spent the entirety of the morning with Princess Rithel, her bodyguard Arlä, Prince Legolas, Glorfindel and two of the Imladris Border Guard Captains planning the wood elves' route back to Eryn Galen.

That had taken quite some doing as the Princess and her bodyguard were adamant that the wood elves would go back the way they had come whilst the Captains of Elrond's Border Guard were equally adamant that that route whilst amenable in the summer months would already be too treacherous by this point in mid-autumn which would be akin to early winter in the Mountains. Glorfindel disagreed with them all and pointed out yet another route that he felt would be best but which the wood elves disagreed with as it would put them too far south of the Forest Gate once they exited the Mountains.

The arguments for and against each route had gone back and forth for hours until a compromise was reached in which the wood elves decided they would start out along Glorfindel's chosen path before they cut onto the one recommended by the Border Guard Captains; though the merging of the two routes would add an extra four days to their total amount of time in the Mountains it was the path that would see them exit closest to the Forest Gate and from there straight along the Elf Path back to Thranduil's palace.

The lunch bell had rung by the time the chosen route was decided upon and the Lord of Imladris had only had time to grab an apple before he was locked in another meeting, this time with Erestor, as the two planned the leaving feast for the wood elves.

Elrond's seneschal was nothing if not thorough and so the meeting had run on into the late afternoon as Erestor plotted out a great many fine details that Elrond would have missed completely had he been left to his own devices.

When at last Erestor had been satisfied and the feast planned down to the very last meticulous detail there was still no rest to be found for Elrond but instead yet another meeting with his quartermaster and chief housekeeper in order to discuss and draw up a list of all the provisions that would be needed by the wood elves for their trip home. That meeting at least had been the most simple of the lot; both his quartermaster and chief housekeeper were able to quickly come up with a list of items that would be needed before both had bustled away to begin gathering said items.

Even so, it had been early evening by the time that Elrond had finally been able to sit at his desk and tackle his mountain of daily paperwork. He was just getting into the swing of it, a glass of Dorwinion at his side (courtesy of a few gifted bottles from Thranduil), when a loud knocking at his door shattered his concentration. Elrond allowed himself a deep sigh, knocked back the rest of his wine in one gulp before he gave a terse, "Come in."

The Peredhel Lord relaxed at the sight of his sons entering his study glad that there was no emergency nor some counsellor come to seek his opinion on some matter or the other. His relaxed relief did not last long however as Elrond studied his sons and took in the mildly sheepish expressions they had on their identical faces.

Not wanting to jump to any conclusions and deciding to give them the benefit of the doubt Elrond smiled at them warmly. "Aduial vaer ionnath, what brings you here at this hour? I would have thought you would be having supper with the wood elves." For his sons and the Woodland visitors had become nigh inseparable of late.

Elladan graced him with a nervous smile whilst Elrohir began to twirl his braids round and round in his fingers - a long-time nervous habit - before the younger twin pinned Elrond with an earnest and pleading look.

"We have something we would ask of you Adar."

Elrond gently set down his quill, pushed the parchment on the desk before him away and to the side, settled himself more comfortably in his chair and gestured for the twins themselves to take a seat.

Curiosity gnawed at him and Elrond made a gesture with his hand, "Ask away ionnath, I am all ears."

~o~

Rithel studied the two broadswords and the one longsword laid out on the bed before her as she debated with herself the merits of each and tried to decide which one she ought to carry on her belt for their trip back home. They would be leaving in a mere three days' time and the Princess had decided to try to get ahead and begin packing her things. She touched the hilt of one before she hefted the other utterly lost in thought that was broken by a knocking on her door.

It was late enough that Rithel was already garbed in her sleep clothes and so she let the sword she'd been holding drop to the bed with a dull thunk and instead scrambled for her robe in effort to make herself presentable before she rushed toward the door.

"Might I ask who it is?" she called even as she tightly belted her robe about her.

Rithel was certain that it was neither Legolas nor Arlä who she knew would have announced themselves (and possibly simply have let themselves in without waiting upon her permission) and she also knew it could be none of her other fellow wood elves - for protocol would have them call to her by title of Princess before they announced their own rank and name and so she had truly no idea who could be at her door at this hour.

"It is us Riel-nin, Elrohir and Elladan - I know it is late but might we have a word with you? We shall be quick I promise."

Rithel drew open the door with a smile. "Elrohir...Elladan…" the Princess greeted each twin with a kiss upon the cheek which they returned in kind.

"I do hope we haven't disturbed you?"

"Oh nonsense, I hadn't yet turned in for bed nor was I about to - you needn't worry - but don't just stand there upon the threshold do come in."

Rithel waved her hand in a beckoning motion before she turned and made her way over to grab the complementary daily decanter of wine and three glasses. She threw herself into the middle of the chaise lounge and began to pour.

"Come - sit, sit," the Princess patted the spaces on either side of her before she held out a glass of wine toward each twin. "Now, what is it that you wanted to ask me?"

~o~

"I think I have finally come to a decision on what to wear to the ball." Tauriel sounded pleased with herself as she rolled over from her stomach onto her back on the river bank to bask fully in the sun - the decision she had been torturing herself (and them all) with finally made.

"I do not understand why ellith make so much fuss about such things - you all always end up looking beautiful regardless, so why all this extra bother?"

Tauriel didn't bother to reply, only rolled her eyes and gave a flick of her hand which had been dangling down into the cooling river water to send some cascading towards Aeglosson.

"Ha missed!" The silver haired warrior crowed from where he was just out of reach of the splash, safely tucked under the shade of a sprawling willow tree protecting his pale Sindar skin from the midday sun.

Legolas ignored them both and instead continued to stare pensively down toward the Valley for a while longer before he spoke up. "Do you think Elladan and Elrohir might join us up here? I did tell them where we were going to be."

For the trio of friends along with Thanniel had decided to stay away from all the hustle and bustle down in the centre of the Valley as the residents of Imladris geared up for the farewell feast that was to be held in their honour later that evening. Instead the foursome had climbed up to one of the smaller waterfalls and had been idly enjoying the pleasant early autumn weather.

They had taken with them a large packed lunch with the intention of staying out until it was time to head back and get ready for the ball. Legolas had invited the twins to join them - at least for lunch if they were too busy for aught else - but they had yet to show up.

They'd been acting somewhat strangely recently, Elladan and Elrohir, a furtive air about them and it had been a secret upset that Legolas could no longer keep buried within him. "Do you think they are avoiding us? Avoiding me?"

Thanniel sat up from where she too had been sprawled on her back, "Why on earth would you think they are avoiding you Las-nin? They have been akin to your shadow these past weeks."

"And that's just it," Legolas cried in frustration, "This past week, in fact ever since I told them that we were leaving, they have acted strangely - secretive and distant. I worry that I might have upset them in some way…or perhaps they are simply distancing themselves now with our departure looming so close...perhaps they do not like goodbyes." Legolas sighed, "Even so, I would have still liked to have spent as much time as possible with them today."

"You cannot jump to conclusions Las-nin," Thanniel stood and stretched before she made her way over to sit at Legolas' side. "They are Hir Elrond's sons and Lords of this Valley themselves; perhaps their Adar has simply called on their help in order to get things ready for tonight."

Legolas was unconvinced and it must've shown on his face for Aeglosson chimed in as well, "Yes, they may simply be busy or perhaps they may be planning some sort of surprise."

Tauriel nodded her head in agreement, "I know they have both been a little bit off these past few days but I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt - there are any number of reasons why they might be a bit preoccupied at the moment but I can assure you none of those reasons are because they are avoiding you Las."

The Prince gave another gusty sigh, "I hope so, they've been very good to me - to us all really - and I would keep their friendship for I have come to cherish it."

"As have I," said Tauriel with feeling, "I appreciate how well they kept you company when you were here on your own and how welcoming they have been to us all."

"Aye, they are great fun to have around - I shall miss them." Aeglosson sounded wistful. "I wonder how long it shall be before we might be able to see them again once we leave..."

"Don't be so maudlin," Thanniel scolded without heat, "you'll see them soon enough - at least within the next decade I should imagine now that relations between both realms have smoothed over so much."

"And I am determined that relations between the Wood and Imladris remain smooth and indeed improve even further. Hir Elrond, his family and his people have all been so very kind to me, have all helped me when I was at my lowest, at my darkest point - were it not for them I think my tale would have had a far less happy ending and I shan't allow anything, no petty feuds nor ancient squabbles, to damage the friendship between our realms ever again."

"That's a very good aim to have Las-nin and something that I'm sure is quite achievable now that so many new friendships have been formed and even old ones re-forged." Thanniel smiled at him and Legolas returned it.

He felt a bit better now - glad he had spoken to his friends and Thanniel of what had been troubling him and glad to know that they all supported him in his endeavour to keep Imladris and the Wood on friendly terms going forward.

Friendships had been formed amidst terrible loss and Legolas was determined that all he had suffered and all that he had lost would not be in vain.

The Woodland Prince let himself sink back down into the soft grass and resumed with the important business of basking in the sun.

~o~

Legolas gave one last spin and dipped his partner before he pulled her up to his chest, gave her a smile and a kiss on the cheek and excused himself for a drink. The Prince plucked a glass of wine from one of the many trays that were being proffered and made his way over to where Thanniel stood taking a break of her own.

His former nanny smiled as he approached, "I see you are having a much better time this time round Las-nin."

Legolas laughed, "I think everyone is having a much better time this time."

And it was true; the Prince did not know whether the reason this ball seemed to be going a lot more swimmingly with a lot less awkwardness and clear cliques and groups compared to the first one was down to the fact that he and his fellow wood elves had made some friends during their time in the Valley, whether his fellows were simply ecstatic to be leaving for home the next day or whether the resident Noldor were happy to see the back of them. Or perhaps it was simply down to the very good, very strong Dorwinion Hir Elrond had put out.

Legolas took an appreciative sip of his own glass of said Dorwinion - whatever it was he was glad for it - it would have been a dreadful shame if their last night in Imladris had been tainted with divisions and awkwardness.

The Prince looked around at all the general mingling, chatting, dancing, laughing and even some discreet kissing before he turned back to Thanniel and smiled. "I am glad that we leave on a high - this is the perfect way to end our stay here."

"Indeed it is - cheers!"

Thanniel clinked her glass with his and Legolas threw back the rest of his wine and made his way over to an elleth who looked as though she were working up her nerve to approach him.

"Would you care for this dance Hiril-nin?" Legolas beamed at her and at her shy nod of acceptance swept her up into his arms and onto the dancefloor.

He would be careful tonight, it wouldn't do to get too drunk - not when on the morrow they would begin the first stretch of their long journey home - but he was determined to have fun. Determined to have one last good memory to add to all the others of his time in the wonderful valley of Imladris.

~o~

Elrond let the last song wind down to a close before he stepped out into the middle of the dancefloor and tapped a silver desert spoon against the side of his half-filled glass.

"Heryn a Hirrim." Elrond tapped on the side of his glass a little louder – honestly, he should not have put out the strong Dorwinion as soon as he had - nigh everyone in the room was well past tipsy and he had to put some more volume into his voice to be heard over the drunken chatter. "My Lords and Ladies, please, a moment of your time - this will not take long but I have a few words I would like to say to our Woodland guests."

A hush fell upon the room as at last they seemed to hear him and Elrond raised his glass aloft. "I simply wanted to take this moment to wish the Wood elves well on their journey back home. They have been fantastic guests and it has been Imladris' great privilege to host them all including not one but all three members of the Royal household. So now please join me in a toast to their health and their safety - navaer mellyn-nin, and may useful winds speed you on."

"Hortho le huil vaer!"

The toast was taken up and shared across the room in a deafening cacophony that brought a smile to the Peredhel Lord's face.

"Before the dancing recommences and the party starts afresh I too would like to take but a moment of your time to say a few words."

Elrond started at the sound of Prince Legolas' voice right next to him - he hadn't sensed the young blonde approaching to stand beside him. He smiled at Legolas however and gave him a nod encouraging him to continue.

"I would like to thank the people of Imladris - and in particular Hir Elrond and his sons Hir Elladan and Hir Elrohir - for you all have been nothing but kind, helpful and so very welcoming. During one of the darkest periods of my life you stepped in to offer aid and I am so very grateful. You have taken great care of me and my people and it will not be forgotten; the people of the Valley have friends for life in the people of the Wood." Legolas raised his own glass, "Sweet waters and light laughter until we next meet."

The wood elves took up their Prince's cheer immediately. "Nîn velui a lalaith veren nalú en-agovaded vín!"

Elrond grinned at the young Prince and clinked their glasses together before he waved a hand out toward the musicians, "We have taken enough of your time - come linnor a talagan - do carry on and sing and play again. Let us show our Woodland cousins how we Noldor party!"

~o~

Legolas inhaled deeply as the brisk, early morning autumn wind whipped his hair round his face. The sun was only just rising, just beginning to peek over the high mountains that surrounded Imladris and from the Prince's place high up on the Wailing Cliffs the sunrise made a spectacular sight.

Legolas allowed himself another moment to take it in before he turned round to face the Cliffs themselves with their polished marble tombstones all glinting and beautifully reflecting Anor's rising shades of gold and pink.

He had come to say his final goodbyes to Faervel; they would be leaving Imladris within the next two hours and Legolas had gotten up extra early in order to have enough time for this special farewell.

"Well, this is it Vel, this is goodbye - at least for the foreseeable future, at least until I can convince Adar to let me take a trip back here. I've had a good time here, Hir Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir along with their people have been so good to us. We've made a great many new friends - you'd be proud. I only wish you could have experienced it with us - gotten to know your Noldor roots - you certainly would have been right at home in Hir Elrond's apothecary."

Legolas took a steadying breath – it was still so hard. It still hurt so much; he was determined however and after another deep breath he continued.

"But our time here is done now; I am once more hale and well and it is time we returned home - all of us to our duties. It will be strange not having you in the troop anymore, though I expect Crown Commander Aglardaer already has a few candidates picked out for your replacement - you know how irritatingly and morbidly efficient he is. It will be hard but we will adapt and we will never forget you - I promise."

The Prince paused to wipe at tears that he hadn't even been aware of that had started flowing. "I shall miss you Vel - I have missed you every day since you've been gone and I suspect it will only get worse once we get home where your absence will be all the more jarring but I suppose I will just have to deal with that as it comes."

"I have recovered, I have healed and now it is time for me to go on - just as you wanted." Legolas walked up to Faervel's tombstone and placed a single gentle kiss upon it. "Losto vae Faervel - I will see you again someday on the other side of the Seas."

With a final swipe at any errant tears Legolas turned and made his way towards the path that would lead down from the Wailing Cliffs back into the Valley proper and was surprised to see the rest of the entire Woodland contingent at the path's end.

"Suil," Legolas greeted them all. "I hope you haven't been looking for me? I didn't think we were having breakfast for at least another twenty minutes or so…"

Rithel smiled at him, "Nay worry not, we were not out hunting for you - we have come to say our goodbyes to Vel as well but wanted to give you some time with him first."

The Princess' eyes conveyed that she knew exactly how difficult such a thing would have been for Legolas and he gave her a soft smile.

"Hannon-le, that was kind of you all," Legolas was glad of the privacy he had been afforded to say his goodbyes. "I shall wait here and when you are finished with your own farewells we can go down to breakfast together."

With an agile leap the Prince settled himself in the boughs of a nearby tree to wait.

~o~

"Right, right, are you all settled yet? We've not got all the morn long...we are due to leave in under an hour and I want to go through our planned route and formations with you all once more."

Arlä sounded impatient and fed up with the lot of them already; his sister's bodyguard was to act as Captain on their trip back home and she had pinned up a map with their highlighted route into the wall behind her using two short daggers (much to Hir Erestor's badly hidden despair). She glared round at them all and Legolas forced himself to sit up straighter and pay attention even as he crammed a crumpet smothered in jam into his mouth.

It was hard to keep track of her words at first; despite the sombre start to his morning the Prince now felt giddy with glee at the thought of their soon coming departure and its promise of his return to his much missed Wood. Also Elladan and Elrohir had joined them for breakfast - Legolas sat between them both soaking up their presence for as long as he could and before Arlä had spoken (shouted) up about talking them through the route he'd been listening to the twins tell anecdotes of their own travels gone awry.

Still he was nothing if not a good warrior, and a good warrior paid attention when their Captain spoke and so Legolas forced himself to focus. Arlä in the typical way of the Avari did not waste her words and soon enough both her preparatory talk and breakfast was over and she was dismissing them to go and check over their things one last time, armour up and then meet in the courtyard.

Legolas gave the twins a sad smile as the three of them stood up from the table.

"Don't look like that yet Las," Elrohir cajoled. "It is not yet time for final goodbyes."

"Aye," Elladan chimed in, "Go and get ready lest you anger Arlä and we will meet you in the courtyard."

They both gave him a clap on each shoulder at the exact same time in that uncanny way they sometimes had about them and after catching the murderous glare Arlä was sending his way Legolas nodded his agreement to regroup in the courtyard and scrambled off to his rooms to finish getting ready.

~o~

All packed and fully encased in his armour Legolas strolled into the courtyard leading his moody horse Morchant behind him. Elladan and Elrohir stood waiting for him as promised; however, the Elven Prince was surprised to see the twins similarly garbed as he - in full armour with their broadswords strapped to their waists - and also leading their horses.

Legolas blinked but before he could say a word they approached and Elrohir gave his twin a friendly bump with his shoulder, "We shall need a whole lot more knives if we are going to fit in Ladan."

"Indeed," the elder twin tilted his head as though studying the Prince. "I am pretty sure Legolas has ten knives squirrelled away on his upper half alone."

They were teasing him about the wood elf penchant for weaponry (and plenty of it), that much Legolas knew - but what did Elrohir mean by them fitting in?

His confusion must've shown on his face for Elladan decided to take pity on him.

"We are coming with you."

"C-coming… with us?" Legolas heard the words clearly but his brain refused to make sense of them.

Elrohir laughed, "Yes - we're coming with you back to the Wood! We asked Adar first and he said it was fine so long as the Woodland realm would be happy to host us."

"And so we asked Rithel," Elladan chimed in.

"And of course I said yes."

Legolas did his best not to jump as his sister appeared from behind him from seemingly nowhere.

"I have sent word ahead to Adar and he looks forward to welcoming you both." The Princess smiled at the twins before she turned her beaming grin upon Legolas. "We wanted to surprise you Las."

Elrohir nodded, "Tis why we have been skulking around of late - we have had to plan our departure even as you planned yours but keep it a secret all at the same time."

Legolas shook his head at the three who now stood before him, a wide grin splitting his features. To think he had been so worried over the twins recent distance when all along they were planning something so wonderful.

Legolas could hardly wait to return the favour of hosting Elladan and Elrohir - showing off his homeland and in some small way making up for the great amount of kindness they'd showed him all these past months. The Prince was so excited he felt he might burst with it.

"I promise you will love it; from the very moment you get there - for you can be sure Adar will be throwing you a welcoming feast - you will have a grand time." Legolas clasped his hands together in glee, "I truly cannot wait to show you the Woodland realm!"

Elladan grinned and clapped the Prince on the shoulder, "And we cannot wait to see it."

"Aye, we've some exciting times ahead of us." Elrohir looked as excited as Legolas felt.

Legolas was just about to launch into a list of things he wanted to take his friends to see and try once they got back home to the Wood when Lord Elrond's voice interrupted him ere he could speak.

"I see my sons have sprung their surprise upon you."

"Aye - and what a wonderful surprise it is." Legolas was still grinning from ear to ear.

"I am glad to see you all so excited," the Peredhel Lord chuckled before he turned to the twins and drew them into an embrace. "Be safe my sons, show respect for those who host you and please in the name of all that is good try not to bring any disgrace upon our House."

Elrohir tutted even as he hugged his father back tightly, "Such faith you have in us Adar. Worry not we shall behave."

Elladan held his hands to his heart, "You wound me Adar. Of course I shall behave and you need not worry, I shall make sure Elrohir does too."

Elrohir stuck out his tongue at his brother and Elrond rolled his eyes at them both before he moved so that he stood before their entire company.

"I thank the Woodland realm for agreeing to host my sons and I hope from henceforth visits between our two realms will become commonplace. Once again I shall wish you all a safe journey - galo Anor erin râd lîn."

Hir Elrond gave them all a slight bow of the head and a radiant smile before he stepped away and to the side to watch as they all went through one final check of their possessions and their armour.

"Ok then, mount up, mount up. Everyone and everything is present and accounted for and it is high time we got on the road. Menib hí!"

Arlä's tone brokered no arguments, and content that he would be able to spend the entire trip making plans for his friends' visit as he rode alongside them Legolas deftly leapt up onto Morchant's back.

They all fell into formation and moved as one unit trickling slowly out of the courtyard and up towards the steep winding path that would eventually see them leave the Valley.

Legolas paused where cleanly swept courtyard gave way to dusty path. Imladris; it had been a kind, loving and welcoming home to him for so many months and now it was time to bid it farewell.

The Prince took one last appreciative look at the beautiful valley behind him and with a final wave to its Lord Legolas turned and started upon the first steps back toward his beloved Woodland home - two new friends in tow.

END.

Ernil-nin / Ernil – My Prince / Prince

Adar – Father

Gwanunig – Twin

Hir / Hir-nin – Lord / My Lord

Hannon-le – Thank you

Maethyr – (plural) Warriors

Las-nin – My Leaf

Lasseg – Little Leaf – Family nickname for Legolas

Honeg – Little Brother

Goheno nin – Forgive me

Gin iallon – I beg of you

Peredhel – Half Elven (sing.)

Eryn Galen – Greenwood the Great

Aduial vaer – Good Evening

Ionnath – Sons

Riel-nin – My Princess

Elleth / Ellith – Female Elf / Female Elves

Hiril-nin - My Lady

Heryn a Hirrim – Ladies and Lords

Navaer – Farewell

Mellyn-nin – My Friends

Hortho le huil vaer – May useful winds speed you on

Nîn velui a lalaith veren nalú en-agovaded vín – Sweet waters and light laughter until next we meet

Linnor – Singers

Talagan – Harper

Anor – Sun

Losto vae - Sleep Well

Suil – Greetings

Galo Anor erin râd lîn – May the Sun shine upon your path

Menib hí – Let's go now

Horses:

Morchant – Legolas' horse- (Sindarin) Shadow

A/N: So this is it, after all this time I have finally finished this story and want to thank all those who have read and reviewed and kept me encouraged over the years. I hope you enjoy the ending to my tale and I hope things shall get a bit easier for me work-wise so that I might have time to write a lot faster than this in future! Up next: I shall be finishing up Wrath and Ruin :) and also looking to hopefully get a Christmas / Yule story done as well. Keep your eyes peeled and as ever thank you so much for reading! KimicT