I Elda ar Nauko: The Elf and Dwarf               

The morning was bright and clear around them as Legolas and Gimli walked through the flourishing forests of Eryn Lasgalen, the sun peeking through the vast trees and bathing everything in the gentle light of gold.

"I like not the forests," Gimli commented to his friend. "and I would rather stay in the caves of your father rather than stroll aimlessly through the woods."

"And I, Gimli my friend," replied the Elf, "would rather stroll through forests than sit restlessly in caves. For there was once a time that these forests transformed from Greenwood the Great to Mirkwood of the shadows, and it was then that my people sang no more, 'til Sauron the Maia was defeated and the splendor of these woods restored."

"But your people are gone. And your father." Gimli noted. "The Silvan elves who dwelt here have left for the Blessed Realm, along with all the Eldar of Middle-earth, save for you."

His eyes met that of his Companions.

"Legolas," Said the dwarf. "Long have we waited, yet there is no news from the Lady Galadriel as to whether to Valar would grant me the honor of stepping upon the shores of Valinor. Your grey ship lies idle, anchored at Ithilien, and you long to be among your kind once again. Will you not go? For though I long to accompany you to Valinor that I might behold the beauty of Galadriel once more, there is no guarantee that I will be granted the grace of venturing into the Blessed Realm."

"I will wait with you Gimli," replied Legolas, placing a hand of the dwarf's shoulder. "'til word arrives. And if indeed it is your fate to dwell in Middle-earth, then I will accompany you here, until your days draw to an end. For never have I shared such close a bond of friendship with any, be it mortal or immortal."

"Neither have I, friend," Gimli smiled.

"That is good to hear. But lo! A rider approaches," the Elf said quietly.

"Who is it?"

"An elf."

"A messenger from Valinor!"  Gimli cried hopefully, as the two waited ere the rider approached.

"Suilannad, Legolas iôn uin Thranduil," said the elf, as he dismounted. "And greetings, Gimli son of Glóin."

"It has been too long since we last met, Galdor." Answered Legolas. "How fares my father in Aman?"

"Your father is well," said Galdor. "though he wishes for his son to join him. I bring news from Valinor, from the Lady Galadriel."

"What does she say?" came the eager voice of Gimli.

"So says the lady to Gimli: 'It is thus the judgement of the Valar that you are granted the grace to venture into Valinor, where you may dwell in contentment and happiness. May their blessings go with you, as do mine, Lockbearer!' "

"Great indeed is the Lady of Light!" rejoiced Gimli, and his heart, as well as Legolas', was gladdened, for at last the elf could follow his desire to sail over the seas to the West."

"Glad though the Lady may be at your coming," continued Galdor. "but her mind was uneasy when she took counsel with the Lords of the West. For the cares and troubles of the World have made them grow weary. But I cannot stay and discuss matters with you, for I must return to Valinor. Namárië!"

The Elf swung himself up upon his elf-horse and it galloped away through the forests, past the trees and following the river until the Elf-rider was out of sight and the sound of hooves could no longer be heard.

"The end of days," muttered Legolas, his brow furrowed with concern. "and the dying of the light."

"What do you speak of, Legolas?"

"Tales long forgotten," Legolas replied, his fair face troubled. "But come! We must say our goodbyes and head to Ithilien, where our ship awaits us!"

"Though glad I may be to go to Aman, I am not so eager to sail over water, for I do not like the sea." Gimli groaned.

Thus it was that the dwarf and the elf approached the great gate of Minas Tirith on horseback, cloaked and hooded, Gimli riding behind Legolas on the Elf's mount.

"If you are friend, sire, give me your name and the password and I will let you pass." Said the guard who stood forth to block their path.

"Friend I am, good sir, yet I do not know the password." Came Legolas' clear voice. "but my name I will gladly give you."

And as he said that, the elf drew himself up and threw back his hood.

"For I am Legolas from the Wood of the Greenleaves, and this is my dearest companion Gimli the Dwarf. We are friends of Eldarion your King, as we were of his father."

Upon hearing those words the guard stepped aside hurriedly, and whispered orders were given to allow the two to pass through all the seven gates of the City and be brought to the King. 

The two Companions were brought before the King Eldarion in the Great Hall, who greeted them warmly, for they were as much his Fathers friends as they were his, although he had not the close bond of companionship with Legolas and Gimli that the three Hunters shared together in friendship. His was a friendship mingled with respect and even awe, for he had, as a child, heard of the valour they displayed whilst fighting alongside Gondor and Rohan during the War of the Ring, and of the bravery of the Fellowship. These tales were told in songs oft sung by Court-minstrels, and it was no wonder that Eldarion held them in high-esteem, for they indeed lived up to the lays and ballads sang about them.

"I greet you as neither Lord nor King but as a friend, Legolas Greenleaf and Gimli Glóin's son, for much friendship have you shown towards my father and I," said the King, who arose from his throne and walked down the steps to receive them. "come, noble warriors, what business brings you here?"

"Farewells, Master Eldarion," replied Gimli. "for through the intervention of the Lady Galadriel, I have been granted permission by the Valar to enter Valinor."

"And you will leave so soon?"

"Yes, Eldarion," Legolas said. "for the two of us long to enter the Blessed Realm."

"So." Said Eldarion, and in his voice bore a strange note of finality. "it has happened at last. The end of the Fellowship."

"It has to come, be it sooner or later," Legolas answered. "the end of all things."

And for a brief moment, Eldarion imagined that he saw a flicker of worry and sadness in the elf's eyes, but that moment passed, and standing before him, Legolas's gaze was calm.

"Will you depart so soon? Will you not tarry a while in Middle-earth? For I have looked upon the sky and saw clouds as black as night, some hovering in the air over Minas Tirith, some passing and heading west."

"Even so, it might rain before those clouds reach the sea, Eldarion," Legolas smiled.

"Worry not for our well-being," Gimli said. "for the times of trouble have long since passed. And it is our desire to head to Valinor as soon as we can. Fare thee well, Eldarion, and the span of your days be long and joyous!"

"Namárië!" said Legolas. " Namárië, brave Eldarion, son of Elessar, elf-friend and King!"

A long while after Legolas and Gimli and departed from Minas Tirith, Eldarion stood atop the White Tower in solitude and gazed upon the open plains of Gondor and the lands beyond his realm, and it was there that Cenire and Nindëwen found him. And they stood on the tower in kinship, and knew that with the passing last of the Fellowship, the last lingering memories left behind from the Third Age of Gondor would soon be lost forever, that what remained of their father's legacy would soon be no more than a tale, one of great nobility and valour, but still a tale. Thus it would be with the disappearance of the last traces from the Third Age, it would truly be the Fourth Age of Middle-earth. But the thought of it brought them no joy or gladness, but a strange regret that even after the end of an Age so wondrous, it would soon have to be engulfed by time and forgotten at last. 

"I wonder if Treebeard and the Ents will find the Entwives," Legolas mused, as the ship glided over the waters of the sea. Already they had lost sight of the Gulf of Lune, and had been sailing several hours on open sea. "'Tis a pity, Gimli. If you had not been so adamant in your refusal to venture into Fangorn again, I would have liked to walk one last time into those woods."

But Gimli did not reply, his head was bowed over the edge of the ship as he gripped its wooden sides. When at last his seasickness had tided over, he walked over to where the elf steered.

"As I have stated before, Master Legolas, I am not fond of the forests," said he.

"Nor the seas," Legolas added.

"Nor the seas." Gimli agreed. "the waters have been growing increasingly choppy, the dark cloud creep over the skies, and my mind is uneasy, I fear that a storm might come."

"Why do you fear the storm? Do you not trust my skill with a boat?" Jested the elf.

"A bow yes, but not a boat. For there are storms that even the greatest of mariners, be he a mortal or an elf, cannot handle."

"Then let us hope that if a storm does come, it will not be one such storm."

*Eldar--Elves

*Suilannad, Legolas iôn uin Thranduil—Greetings, Legolas son of Thranduil

* Namárië--Farewell