"You sure, Willow? If not, we can wait a bit longer."
"I'm sure, Legolas. I don't have the desire to stay in Middle-earth any longer. The only thing I would have like to see again would have been the Lothlorien woods to speak with Galadriel and Celeborn. But you just told me that they are coming with us. There is no need now."
"Then to the hidden island we shall go."
Elrond had told the two lovers about his project of leaving Rivendell a month ago. Three years had passed since the battle in front of the black gates. Middle-earth was no longer a place for magical beings. Men were the lords of the lands now. Elves and Istaries (wizards) weren't in their place anymore on Middle-earth. They had to leave.
It at already been prepared. As the once bearer of the ring, Frodo would join them as well as another Hobbit, Bilbo. Sam was married with Rosie and Merry and Pippin had to look out for all the Hobbit's cities. They had been named as their protectors.
Of course, Gandalf was coming with them. An immortal wizard couldn't stay in Gondor to look over Aragorn's shoulder. Galadriel and Celeborn were also of the trip as well as their gardians, the Elves of Lorien. Legolas was quite happy to see Haldir again and Willow couldn't wait to see if the Elf that had threaten her lover with an arrow was still scared of her.
"Have you made up your mind?"
The redhead turned toward Elrond. "Yes. We are going."
They left the following day. A group of fifteen Elves had been seen approaching Rivendell. There were no doubts that it was those from Lorien. They met with them in the woods and joined them silently in their ride to Belfalas Bay.
Willow had a sad expression on her face. She had just left Rivendell, just like her old friends had done three years ago. She sometimes wondered what was happening back in Sunnydale. Was Buffy still an active Slayer? Did Xander finally married Anya? Had Giles retired from the Council? She guessed those questions will be answered if she made it to the 21st century.
"Don't worry. They are doing fine."
The witch startled upon hearing the soft voice next to her. Beside her, Galadriel was riding at the same pace as her. She was smiling softly. "You should warn me before going for a ride in my mind," the redhead muttered.
The sorceress laughed softly. "I know. I scare people off when I read mind. I don't know why."
"It gives a creepy feeling, that's all," she answered truthfully. In a way, she was glad that Galadriel understood her well, but it also gave her the creeps to know it was because she had taken a trip in her mind.
Three days later, they came upon a group of Elves leaving Middle-earth. They joined them for the ride. Willow and Legolas were enjoying their company. They were travellers, moving through the woods and riding on the roads of Middle-earth. Every night, they sang softly around a roaring fire. For the blond Elf and the redhead, it was a familiar sight. Back in Mirkwood, they had spent many evenings outside listening to elvish songs. It was common to sing around a bonefire at the city of Thranduil.
When Legolas' father left for the island, they came back to Rivendell. The city in the woods was a bit more quiet than before though. Many Elves were leaving for the sea. And now that they were the last of their people in Middle-earth, they were also leaving. It was their time.
Near a river, they met with Sam and Frodo. The first Hobbit was quite surprised to see them all, but not Frodo. He had known that they were going, that they were leaving Middle-earth. He had been invited to take part of this trip, the final trip out of the continent. He was never to return in Hobbitton.
When they arrived at Belfalas Bay, Gandalf was already waiting for them. A beautiful white and silver boat was floating. When they were all on board, they left the shore. Willow glanced for the last time at Middle-earth. The picture would never leave her mind.
The mist surrounded the embarcation and they dissapeared from sight of everyone who could have been standing on the shore of Belfalas Bay.
On the third night, the mist dissipated. They could clearly see the moon and the stars glimmering in the dark sky. Legolas was standing alone on the edge, looking as far as his sight would allow him. He cocked his head when he heard familiar footsteps behind him.
Willow put her chin on his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"The sea. Ever since I heard the birds on the shore and saw the beautiful waters, it wouldn't leave my mind. You should have seen me when we were on the boats leading to the tower of Ecthelion for the big fight."
"I did see you," the redhead answered. "I was there, riding on the shore, following you, waiting for the right moment to make my presence known."
Legolas eyes widened. "It was you?! I did felt someone watching us, but I always thought it was one of the wildmen."
She smiled. "See? Even after three years, I still manage to surprise you." They stood there for hours in each other's arms, just looking at the peacefull waters.
Hidden in shadows, two Elves watched them. "Do you think she knows?"
"No. Noone as seen him for over five hundred years. Nobody knows what happened to him. Not even us and this is saying alot."
Celeborn watched Willow. "She has a lot to learn about herself... about her families' past."
Galadriel smiled. "And *we* have a lot to learn about her past. The only thing that still keeps me completly in the dark is the lone Elf of the woods. I always thought he had been killed. Now, I'm not so sure. Either he is still alive somewhere or he found a woman before being killed and she gave birth to a child, wether Elf or half human."
"Something tells me we are about to know."
* * *
"What the hell is happening?!" Willow yelled.
"A storm! We are very close to the island!" Elrond yelled back.
The redhead had awoken when the window of her cabin had literally exploded and a bucket full of salted water were dumped on her. Legolas wasn't by her side anymore, but she could hear him yelling to Haldir. She was wondering why everyone was talking so loud. She had her answer when she went up on the bridge.
Heavy rain fell on them and everyone was already soaked. Lightening illuminated the sky and waves came crashing on the side of their boat. "The storm should calm down soon!" Gandalf yelled.
The wizard was right. The storm was already calming down. The rain stopped completly and the dark clouds disappeared. Only the strong wind stayed, helping them to go faster. An hour later, the wind fell and they were surrounded once more by the fog.
"I'd say we are very close," Willow said. "The fog is there for one reason and it is *not* getting on our nerves. There's a reason why it is called the *hidden* island."
They waited patiently and they were soon rewarded. Frodo gasped. In front of them was a beautiful green land. Everything was glimmering in the sunlight. The city itself was made of silver and mithril. Small cascades could be seen from the shore and they had no doubt that the rivers lead to other ones. There was a forest behind the city, green and golden trees, some small, some gigantic. With their hightened sight, the Elves could see some of their own walking on the balconies.
The island was bigger than Willow thought it would be. She could see more Elf from the boat than she had seen in her three years spent in Middle-earth. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Celeborn stepped closer to the edge of the boat. He had already seen it. He had been the only Elf in Middle-earth who had been to the island and had come back on the continent. "My friends, welcome to Nislynn, the last elven city."
"I'm sure, Legolas. I don't have the desire to stay in Middle-earth any longer. The only thing I would have like to see again would have been the Lothlorien woods to speak with Galadriel and Celeborn. But you just told me that they are coming with us. There is no need now."
"Then to the hidden island we shall go."
Elrond had told the two lovers about his project of leaving Rivendell a month ago. Three years had passed since the battle in front of the black gates. Middle-earth was no longer a place for magical beings. Men were the lords of the lands now. Elves and Istaries (wizards) weren't in their place anymore on Middle-earth. They had to leave.
It at already been prepared. As the once bearer of the ring, Frodo would join them as well as another Hobbit, Bilbo. Sam was married with Rosie and Merry and Pippin had to look out for all the Hobbit's cities. They had been named as their protectors.
Of course, Gandalf was coming with them. An immortal wizard couldn't stay in Gondor to look over Aragorn's shoulder. Galadriel and Celeborn were also of the trip as well as their gardians, the Elves of Lorien. Legolas was quite happy to see Haldir again and Willow couldn't wait to see if the Elf that had threaten her lover with an arrow was still scared of her.
"Have you made up your mind?"
The redhead turned toward Elrond. "Yes. We are going."
They left the following day. A group of fifteen Elves had been seen approaching Rivendell. There were no doubts that it was those from Lorien. They met with them in the woods and joined them silently in their ride to Belfalas Bay.
Willow had a sad expression on her face. She had just left Rivendell, just like her old friends had done three years ago. She sometimes wondered what was happening back in Sunnydale. Was Buffy still an active Slayer? Did Xander finally married Anya? Had Giles retired from the Council? She guessed those questions will be answered if she made it to the 21st century.
"Don't worry. They are doing fine."
The witch startled upon hearing the soft voice next to her. Beside her, Galadriel was riding at the same pace as her. She was smiling softly. "You should warn me before going for a ride in my mind," the redhead muttered.
The sorceress laughed softly. "I know. I scare people off when I read mind. I don't know why."
"It gives a creepy feeling, that's all," she answered truthfully. In a way, she was glad that Galadriel understood her well, but it also gave her the creeps to know it was because she had taken a trip in her mind.
Three days later, they came upon a group of Elves leaving Middle-earth. They joined them for the ride. Willow and Legolas were enjoying their company. They were travellers, moving through the woods and riding on the roads of Middle-earth. Every night, they sang softly around a roaring fire. For the blond Elf and the redhead, it was a familiar sight. Back in Mirkwood, they had spent many evenings outside listening to elvish songs. It was common to sing around a bonefire at the city of Thranduil.
When Legolas' father left for the island, they came back to Rivendell. The city in the woods was a bit more quiet than before though. Many Elves were leaving for the sea. And now that they were the last of their people in Middle-earth, they were also leaving. It was their time.
Near a river, they met with Sam and Frodo. The first Hobbit was quite surprised to see them all, but not Frodo. He had known that they were going, that they were leaving Middle-earth. He had been invited to take part of this trip, the final trip out of the continent. He was never to return in Hobbitton.
When they arrived at Belfalas Bay, Gandalf was already waiting for them. A beautiful white and silver boat was floating. When they were all on board, they left the shore. Willow glanced for the last time at Middle-earth. The picture would never leave her mind.
The mist surrounded the embarcation and they dissapeared from sight of everyone who could have been standing on the shore of Belfalas Bay.
On the third night, the mist dissipated. They could clearly see the moon and the stars glimmering in the dark sky. Legolas was standing alone on the edge, looking as far as his sight would allow him. He cocked his head when he heard familiar footsteps behind him.
Willow put her chin on his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"The sea. Ever since I heard the birds on the shore and saw the beautiful waters, it wouldn't leave my mind. You should have seen me when we were on the boats leading to the tower of Ecthelion for the big fight."
"I did see you," the redhead answered. "I was there, riding on the shore, following you, waiting for the right moment to make my presence known."
Legolas eyes widened. "It was you?! I did felt someone watching us, but I always thought it was one of the wildmen."
She smiled. "See? Even after three years, I still manage to surprise you." They stood there for hours in each other's arms, just looking at the peacefull waters.
Hidden in shadows, two Elves watched them. "Do you think she knows?"
"No. Noone as seen him for over five hundred years. Nobody knows what happened to him. Not even us and this is saying alot."
Celeborn watched Willow. "She has a lot to learn about herself... about her families' past."
Galadriel smiled. "And *we* have a lot to learn about her past. The only thing that still keeps me completly in the dark is the lone Elf of the woods. I always thought he had been killed. Now, I'm not so sure. Either he is still alive somewhere or he found a woman before being killed and she gave birth to a child, wether Elf or half human."
"Something tells me we are about to know."
* * *
"What the hell is happening?!" Willow yelled.
"A storm! We are very close to the island!" Elrond yelled back.
The redhead had awoken when the window of her cabin had literally exploded and a bucket full of salted water were dumped on her. Legolas wasn't by her side anymore, but she could hear him yelling to Haldir. She was wondering why everyone was talking so loud. She had her answer when she went up on the bridge.
Heavy rain fell on them and everyone was already soaked. Lightening illuminated the sky and waves came crashing on the side of their boat. "The storm should calm down soon!" Gandalf yelled.
The wizard was right. The storm was already calming down. The rain stopped completly and the dark clouds disappeared. Only the strong wind stayed, helping them to go faster. An hour later, the wind fell and they were surrounded once more by the fog.
"I'd say we are very close," Willow said. "The fog is there for one reason and it is *not* getting on our nerves. There's a reason why it is called the *hidden* island."
They waited patiently and they were soon rewarded. Frodo gasped. In front of them was a beautiful green land. Everything was glimmering in the sunlight. The city itself was made of silver and mithril. Small cascades could be seen from the shore and they had no doubt that the rivers lead to other ones. There was a forest behind the city, green and golden trees, some small, some gigantic. With their hightened sight, the Elves could see some of their own walking on the balconies.
The island was bigger than Willow thought it would be. She could see more Elf from the boat than she had seen in her three years spent in Middle-earth. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Celeborn stepped closer to the edge of the boat. He had already seen it. He had been the only Elf in Middle-earth who had been to the island and had come back on the continent. "My friends, welcome to Nislynn, the last elven city."