A/N: Hi guys! This is it! The end of my story! I just want to say a big thank you to all of you who reviewed my story. And also, to Callisto for beta-reading. Namaarie!

Chapter Eighteen

It was dusk when a lone grey-cloaked rider arrived in the City of Gondor. The Citadel was lit up beautifully and throughout the land, its people rejoiced and made merriment. The lone traveller shared not their joy, though he was glad that the darkness had passed. Swiftly, he dismounted from his horse and stable hands led the beast away. He made his way towards the Citadel where King Elessar awaits him.

"Ah, Legolas! Elen sila lumenn omentilvo A star shall shine on the hour of our meeting." King Elessar said, as his guards brought the grey-cloaked figure to him.

"Vedui, heruamin Greetings, my lord. Where is she?" Legolas asked.

The king replied, "In the House of Healing. Come, I will bring you there.

"Her body is healed of her mortal wounds but to drive away the dark shadows that surrounds her, other healings are required, which perhaps you can bring." King Elessar told Legolas as they walked into Callysta's bedchamber.

Callysta lay with her eyes closed on her bed. Her forehead was swathed in white cloth. Legolas stooped and looked at her face. It was white as a lily and cold as winter frost. He kissed her on her brow and whispered into her ears. She stirred and her breathing became deeper and more discernible but she did not open her eyes.

And King Elessar, who witnessed this, was both glad and sorrowful at once for it was clear to him that the Doom of Beren and Luthien, as well as the Doom of Arwen and Aragorn lay upon Legolas and Callysta.

The next day dawned bright and fair and the City was alive with the preparation for a grand celebration. Callysta was taking a stroll in the gardens of the House of Healing when she heard a voice calling out to her from behind. The voice startled her for she thought it was vaguely familiar. She turned around to face the caller.

"Legolas!" She cried, in delight and wonder, "What new wizardry is this? I thought I heard your voice last night in my sleep but when I rose this morning, you were not by my side. I thought it was but a dream and I was despaired."

"Despair no more, Callysta for I am now truly by your side and darkness has departed!" Legolas smiled.

"Darkness…yes, but how came you here? I thought you were gravely hurt by the bats in the cave under the Grey Mountains. I thought I was going to die. The last thing I remembered was falling from the back of the Dragon of Manwë." Callysta said, with a shudder.

Legolas put a soothing arm around her shoulders and said, "I was healed and so were you. The Dragon of Manwë saved you ere your body fell to the ground. And to Gondor, the Dragon brought you. Your body was not broken but your spirits had fled your body and for a while, it walked under the shadows. Then, King Elessar put forth all his power and knowledge to recall you from the dark abyss."

Callysta rested her head upon his chest. Smiling, she looked up to him and said, "What do you know, Legolas! I could not believe it but I made it through somehow, though it seemed almost impossible at first. The Dark Lord is overthrown and peace is once again restored."

"Yes, Callysta but I had always believed in you could and I never doubted your strength." Legolas replied, and he turned his gaze towards the West and down the Anduin. "I hear the cries of the gulls once again. Unrest to my heart it brings." Legolas said, softly.

His words reminded her that he will soon depart from Middle-Earth forever and whither he goes, she cannot follow. These thoughts brought a frown to her face and a tired sigh escaped her lips.

"What is it, Callysta? Look at me!" Legolas commanded, lifting her chin upwards.

"It is nothing important. I wish you wouldn't go but no! I am being very selfish." Callysta said.

Legolas was silent and brooding and Callysta mistook his expression that he was unhappy with her words.

Rather hastily, she added, "Do not be mistaken for my words bear no ill intent. Indeed, I only want you to be happy."

"Forgive me if what I will say seems crude and untutored for I am an elf-warrior and I know not many fair words to win the heart of a lady." Legolas said, "But I say to you, Callysta that whilst I still yearn to cross over the Sea, my heart also longs to stay by your side."

Callysta laughed merrily, "No fair words are needed, Legolas for my heart was already in your keeping the moment I saw you."

Then, she turned serious and added gravely, "But I will not hold you back from your heart's chief desire to see the Grey Havens. I wish only to say to you that my love is true and such a love will not bear to cage the heart of another if that heart wishes to be set free. Even if you were to cross the Sea and it is my fate to remain hereafter in Middle Earth, my love for you, Legolas will not diminish or fade. My last wish ere I fell from the Dragon was just to see your face once more and it has been granted." As she said these words, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

Legolas brushed it away and kissed her forehead, saying, "The morning is young and the days ahead will be bright and full of promises. Even the Wise cannot see to all ends, is that not so? Then, let's be glad for now and enjoy the sunshine for today, a miracle will happen."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

All things were now made ready in the White City and the City itself was filled once again with its fair people and sweet music. The Captains of the West led their host towards the City, their swords upraised and they flashed and glinted in the sun. Callysta watched the grand procession from the white balcony in the King's court. She was joined by Legolas, Lorgast and Laurëwen. The host advanced towards the court by the fountain in the Citadel. There, the White Tree that was hewn lay withered.

Then, the heralds sounded their trumpets and from the sky, the Dragon of Lorien appeared. It was a dragon of healing and dreams. It hovered over the fallen tree and from its breath, a golden mist was formed. The mist settled upon the tree and slowly, much to the surprise and wonder of the folks of Gondor, the living colours were restored back to the dead and withered branches and a few leaves sprouted from them.

"The White Tree lives again!" The people of Gondor cried in unison.

Then, the Great Dragon of Manwë came and for the last time, it was reunited with Callysta once more. She knelt on one knee and surrendered the Heart-jewel of Valinor to the Dragon but it would not take it.

The Dragon spoke gravely to her, "I entrust the gem to your keeping, O' Wielder of Stone for we may meet again ere the end of Arda. I will now speak the will of Manwë. If you, Callysta, the Chosen One, desire it someday to set eyes upon the shores of the Grey Havens, you may depart and cross over the Sea for your deeds have won great renown and your seat is set among the great warriors of the past Ages."

Hearing these words, Callysta's heart was glad and her troubles melted away. The Shadow had departed from Legolas and her forever. Their love had proved strong enough to overcome their Doom.

Three nights later, a great feast was held in the honour of Callysta. There were good food aplenty and sweet music made by the fair hands of the minstrels of Gondor permeated through the night air but a surprise lay yet in store for Callysta. After the feast, Callysta retired to her room for she was still weary from her hurts.

As she was preparing to retire to bed, she heard a soft knock on her door. Rising from her bed, she went to answer the call.

"Legolas! What is it?" She asked, when she found the Elf at her door.

"Did I wake you from sleep?" Legolas asked.

"No, but is there something wrong?" Callysta asked, a thousand questions leapt to her mind.

"I just brought someone special to see you." Legolas smiled in reply, and out of the shadows, an old bent figure appeared.

"Au-Aunt Keila?" Callysta blurted out.

The old lady smiled, "Yes, child."

"There is much to tell, I see. I will now leave you two to catch up on lost time." Legolas said, and he left them.

Callysta led Aunt Keila into her bedchamber. She was very surprised and she wanted to know how she came to the White City. Aunt Keila told her that it was Legolas who had sent for her. He remembered that it was Callysta's desire to be reunited with her mother and the truth about her identity revealed ere the end. Far into the night the mother and daughter talked and laughed. At last, Callysta begged her to stay with Legolas and her in the White City and much to her joy, her mother agreed.

And so the remaining days were filled with joy and laughter for Callysta. The Heart-jewel of Valinor, Gimli the Dwarf set it in a necklace. The necklace was made of white silver and around the red gem sat a circlet of beautiful diamonds. For some time, Legolas and Callysta dwell in fair Ithilien and when King Elessar gave up his life, Legolas finally sailed over the Sea and with him went Callysta and Gimli.

THE END