A/N: Just wrapping this up with a little conversation in Minas Tirith. ;) Enjoy!

"The Caverns of Mirkwood"

Chapter 17

Epilogue

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"Will you not tell me what happened?"

"I did tell you what happened, Gimli. My father is healed, my family is well, the would-be murderer is dead and Mirkwood continues to prosper."

"No! That is not what I meant. I was referring to the Lady Alede."

"What about her?"

"Legolas!!"

"What?"

"The last time you saw her, when she rescued you from Orthanc, you told me a long and mournful tale about how you had unintentionally broken her heart. You went about in a cloud of guilt and gloom for six months. And now." an accusing glare. "You wear a small secret smile and seem quite pleased with yourself."

"And what is your point?"

A sound of Dwarfish frustration.

"My point is that I'm trying to find out if anything happened between you and Alede."

A pause.

"Define 'anything'."

"AARRRRRGGGGG!"

An Elvish chuckle.

"Face it, my friend. You have not the gift for eloquence and conversation that we Elves do."

"Gift for.?" Dwarfish sputtering. "You've told me nothing!"

Self-satisfied silence.

Speculative silence.

"Hmm. perhaps your refusal to speak of Lady Alede tells me all that I wish to know."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, my immortal friend, that perhaps this time you will not get drunk."

A sound of Elvish indignation.

"I was not drunk the last time."

"No? Then how do you explain your attempt to fly from the tallest tower? I believe you said you were a sea gull."

"Ridiculous!"

A Dwarfish chuckle. "It certainly was. And if I had not been on hand to pull you down from the ledge your royal guts would have been splattered all over the pavement below."

"You exaggerate the event, Gimli."

"HA!"

"Enough of this foolishness! Show me what you have been doing in my absence."

"Lady Arwen's courtyard is finished."

"Ahh. it is an amazing sight. And you were correct. The fountain is beautiful even without water plants."

"Er. yes."

"Gimli?"

"Yes?"

"Are those fish in the fountain?"

An embarrassed mumble.

"Did you say yes? Because they certainly look like fish and I distinctly remember a certain Dwarf of my acquaintance telling me that he didn't want fish in the fountain."

Another mumble.

"What?"

"I said. that Lady Arwen seemed pleased by them."

Elvish laughter.

"Curse you, Legolas!" A pause and then a mumble. "It is good to have you back."

A warm embrace.

"It is good to be back, Gimli. I am ready to continue my work in Ithilien. There is much to do and much to look forward to."

A pause and then.

"Gimli, you were jesting about eating the Greymalcins, weren't you?"

A shout of Dwarvish laughter that echoed off of the towers and followed the two long after they walked out of the courtyard.