Chapter 24: Her Choice

All right this is the last update people I hope you enjoy it!

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Arway looked at the ceiling of the room. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she looked back down at her friends. She knew time was running short and she would soon have to tell them which path she had chosen. But would they be happy or would they question her.

Aragorn knew that she was going to tell them her choice and he knew the answer. But he also knew she could not tell them all at once. As Legolas took her into his arms, Aragorn left the room with Lord Elrond and Gimli.

Arway grabbed the soft cloth of Legolas's tunic and let the tears slide down her face. Legolas held her tight and occasionally rubbed her back. Since she had made her decision she questioned herself, was this what she wanted to do? But there was no going back Estë had told her that. 

Slowly she pulled away from Legolas and looked at him. "I cannot tell you." She whispered tears spilling from her eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"I cannot…I do not want to have to choose again."

"Arway, talking in circles will get us no where."

Arway looked at the Elf in front of her and gently stroked his cheek. She stood and went over to a nightstand where her jewel lay-one of the maids had taken it off and no one dared touch it. With Legolas watching her actions, she walked back over to him. Slowly she opened her fist and showed him her jewel-as if presenting it to him.

Legolas's eyes widen and he shook his head. "No, no you …."

Arway nodded her head solemnly. She undid the clasp and put it around Legolas's neck. Letting it go the pendant hung against his tunic shining in the soft light. Arway held it in her hand once more, and as she did so, Legolas wrapped his hand around hers.

"I will keep it until I see you again."

"But you will not, and you know so."

Legolas took her hand from the pendant and kissed her palm. "Then I will kept it forever."

Both looked at each other, their eyes brimming with tears. It was a scene neither was suppose to endure.

"I'm sorry Legolas, there's too much pain here. I cannot reach it, there is too much pain." Arway repeated over and over.

Legolas wrapped his arms around the Elf that he loved and kissed her. "I told you once to choose the path that will lead you to less pain, and you have done so."

"But it will only bring you more."

Legolas nodded his head slowly. "It will." And I will die because of my broken heart, he thought.

But Arway must have heard his thoughts. "You will not die, Legolas Greenleaf. I will not let you."

Legolas looked down into her face. She was glowing slightly and he knew his time with her was growing short. "And why is that?"

"Because I know of a certain Elf who wishes to see the son she left so long ago. I will not let her wish die."

"Nana?"

"Yes. You have much still to do upon Middle-earth and I am not the one to take you from it. When the time comes we will both be in Valinor. It is simply that I will be in a different hall. Do not worry about me for I will have the company of those who love me. I will be with Aragorn and Arwen, Merry and Pippin, Théodred and Théoden, and others who cannot travel to the Undying Lands."

"You will be missed greatly by all. Elrond will pass from Middle-earth for his heart can no longer bear the pain that it brings. My father will be sorrowed to hear of your passing."

"I will not leave you Legolas. As I said before I will always be with you. And with my passing you will find the hidden strength within for with one lost another must be born."

Legolas looked at Arway once more and pulled her to him. For the last moments she had on Middle-earth, she would be his. And the two met in a deep kiss. Then, before either could pull away Arway was ripped from Middle-earth and Legolas was alone.

A knock sounded around the room and the door opened. Aragorn stood in the doorway and looking in saw no one but Legolas. He went to his friend's side and place a hand on his shoulder. The Elf turned to him a tear dancing mournfully down his face. "She has chosen to go beyond my reach. Mandos has claimed her."

Aragorn stood with the Elven Prince as he mourned the loss of his love. Legolas held the jewel around his neck in his hand and rubbed the gem gently before hiding it beneath his tunic. The two knew they were blessed to see her again. But that did not keep the sadness from their hearts.

Aragorn bowed his head as he approached Arway's body. He watched as the rising of the chest slowed. Then, in time it stopped completely. And with it last exhale of breath, a tear made a path down Aragorn's rough cheeks.

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Arway looked once more upon the clearing that she had spent so much time in. But before she turned to go into the beauty-which she knew to be the door to the Halls of Mandos, where she knew friends waited- a man came into the clearing.

"You have chosen well and showed great strength to those whom you love. Because of this Valar has given you a gift in your choice."

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Legolas dropped a flower onto the ground where fresh dirt had been piled. Another Elven grave was in Imladris. Since Arway's passing many things had changed, Lord Elrond decided that he would pass to the Undying Lands because he no longer delighted in Middle-earth. But those who knew him best, knew he was passing because he could no longer be in a world where he was taunted with the things he wanted the most, his family.

Galadriel also decided to go into the West with Elrond. Some said because it was of her love for the young Arway that she left, if she had stayed, the grief would have claimed her life. But others said it was because Galadriel no longer could stay upon Middle-earth for her age had ended.

Legolas stayed only on Middle-earth because he would not leave until all of those in the Fellowship had passed away. But this did not stop him from accompanying Elrond to the White Tower, where Elrond would sail to the Undying Lands.

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Legolas entered a wood. Before him, he saw a clearing and next to him, stood Arway. There was fear but excitement in both of their eyes. Looking down he noted that he wore his usual Mirkwood garb but what got him was Arway did not have the white dress on that she had always worn in his dreams. No, now she had on the dress that she had died in. She looked at him, and once he saw the liveliness of her, he wished only to hold her. But he could not. He knew what this was and he could not break tradition. Then, the two entered the clearing before them.

There stood Elrond and Elrohir. Once in front of Elrond the two turned and faced each other. Elrohir produced a small dagger and handed it to Elrond. Carefully Elrond placed the dagger in Arway's hand. She took the dagger and cut a strand of hair from Legolas's head. Handing the small weapon over he did the same to Arway. The pieces were twisted together by Legolas and Arway. The twisted hair was then looped into a circle and tied. They presented it to Elrond, who took it gracefully.

Then, Legolas turned and left the clearing Arway at his side. He knew what to do even though no one had ever explained this custom to him. When he returned to outside of the clearing he had been cleansed in a spring. And now he wore garments of white. When he glanced at Arway, he noticed that she had dawned her usual white dress. He caught her eye and expected to hear her voice in his head. But the moment did not occur. Both observed the tradition of keeping quiet. Though however hard it may be.

The walk of decisions was made again. The two halted in front of Elrond once more. Here each kneeled, side-by-side, but not touching. Elrond placed his hands on their heads. The blessing had begun. It was a long while, in which blessing and prayers were set upon the two.

The blessing ended. Elrond removed his hands from the crown of their heads. Elrohir produced two circlets. They were silver and gold intertwined. Carefully Elrond placed one on each of their heads. They arose together.

A smile played on Elrond's lips. His eyes danced with pride and happiness. The two saw this, and for the first time in the ceremony, they showed their emotions. Smiles graced their lips and both eyes danced. Then, turning Legolas put his hand out. He watched as Arway placed hers on top of his own and the two walked from the clearing.

The woods that they were in melted away and they stood by the river that they always met by. Legolas smiled to himself, turned, and took Arway in his arms. "Does this count?" He questioned.

A smile played at Arway's lips. "It's a dream, I've told you this many times before." 

"Ai. You have. But an Elven dream can be reality. Elrond and Elrohir were called to a dream that we have shared so many times before. And that does not usually happen."

"Yes this counts. Though it is a dream it will still be accepted by Valar. The bonding ceremony will be seen as reality to the eyes of the Valar."

"Good."

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"Take care my son. I wish to see you soon."

Legolas looked up at Elrond. Had he just called me his son? The dream of last night was still fresh in his mind. But he had never thought that it would change the relationship between himself and Elrond.

Elrond smiled at the younger Elf's reaction. "Yes my son. You have been joined to my daughter, my youngest daughter, and though it was in dream it is noted and accepted as it is in life."

Legolas smiled at Elrond with thankfulness in his eyes. He hugged the Elf Lord happiness in his being.

"Take care I will see you in the Undying Lands."

Legolas nodded his head.

The group stood all around. Elrond, Galadriel, Gandalf, Bilbo, and Frodo were departing to the Undying Lands. Pippin, Merry, and Legolas stood to say good-bye until the next meeting-if for Merry and Pippin there was one.

"Take care young one and do not get into to much trouble with that Dwarf friend of yours."

"Yes Mithrandir."

"Good-bye Legolas!" Frodo called.

Legolas gave a small bow to the Hobbit. He looked once again upon those leaving Middle-earth. Then he went and stood a little ways away, waiting for Merry and Pippin. A small breeze passed over him, and a small smile escaped his lips. He knew it was not the last time he would see them. And still upon Middle-earth, he had friends to care for.

Frodo looked back at Legolas and a gasp escaped his lips. He looked up at Elrond and Gandalf, pulling each sleeve.

"Yes Frodo?" Elrond questioned.

"Who is she?" Frodo pointed to an Elven woman who stood behind Legolas. She was in all white and though she had a hand placed on his shoulder, he did not acknowledge her.

"She, Frodo, is Arway who came to protect Pippin when he fell in the battle before the Black Gates." Gandalf informed.

"Then she is dead?" Frodo asked hesitantly.

"She has died, yes. But now she is a sprite* and waits in the Halls of Awaiting until the end, when she will be able to join her family and lover again."      

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*I don't know if there are sprites in Middle-earth but I wanted Arway to be able to watch over Legolas and the only way I could think of doing that would be for Valar to make her a sprite. But she is still in the Halls of Mandos if you understand that.

A/N: Linds don't you dare kill me cause I wrote myself into a hole and there was only one way of getting out of it and that inevitably was killing her. Sorry I promise not to do it again. Well at least I think I do.

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