A/N: As promised, here is the second to last chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. No, I don't think that there is any need for tissues in this one but I must remind everyone that THE NEXT CHAPTER IS THE LAST. It should be up sometime tomorrow... And yeah, it's gonna be a doozy. Expect death, expect confrontations, expect everything from hellos to farewells... I would appreciate reviews but if you're going to review to tell me how late I was, don't bother, I already feel bad enough as it is. Enjoy!!!

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The company of three, homeward bound, rode at a steady pace atop their borrowed horses. Gimli had grumbled at the thought of having to ride on his own on that 'accursed beast' as he so liked to call it but it was only to be expected that the two elves would want to share a horse. And, edgy as he was on that thing, he would let the elves have their way, whether he liked it or not.

A pleasant mood had settled as they went on their way, the sun smiling down on them all at the same time, for once. It was only a short while before conversation picked up.

Dileriyen, who was perched in front of Legolas, started the inquiry with a light tone. "And now that it is just the three of us, do explain, Sir Greenleaf, just why it is that you are as thin and pale as you are."

Gimli jumped in while Legolas was still lost in thought, searching for the valid explanation that he did not have. "He has been trying to kill himself, that's why."

"Really!" she turned her head around to look at his sheepish grin. Her eyes asked for a more detailed answer but he turned to glare at Gimli in a playfully betrayed manner.

"Honestly Gimli, and you call yourself my friend..."

"Why you-" Gimli tried to shake one fist in the air but that proved to be a very misguided action as his balance swayed, likewise his body, until he found himself holding onto the horses' reigns for dear life, muttering dwarvish obscenities at the animal who seemed like he couldn't care less whether Gimli fell off or stayed on.

Legolas started laughing but received a jab in the ribs by Dileriyen who was doing her best to keep a straight face. She watched as the dwarf steadied himself once again and spoke before an accident occurred (being Gimli's axe 'accidentally' finding Legolas' head).

"A truer friend than him you will never find. Gimli, you have kept Legolas alive for me... Words cannot express how indebted to you I am. I have watched this boy since he was two years old, I leave him alone for but a moment and there he goes, trying to destroy rings and dark lords while getting himself killed in the process! Shameless elf..."

Gimli picked up something that he had not known before and, after a brief moment of thinking better, he found that it was his turn to laugh at the Prince.

"Why Lady, I was not aware that you were older than his majesty here." He grinned with an evil sparkle in his eye and Dileriyen blushed insanely. Why must he make that sound so...perverted?

"Legolas my friend, I never knew you had it in you." He started laughing uncontrollably when he saw Legolas (ears included) turn red.

The Prince regained his composure as best he could but the red stayed just where it was. "Laugh all you wish Gimli, I am only -slightly- younger than she is. It could not be helped that she was born several hundred years before I."

"Several hun- you elves and your blasted immortality! Hahaha... She could be your great grandmother."

"Really Gimli..." was all Dileriyen could get out, still blushing, as she did her best to ignore the two.

"Yes and I could be -your- great grandfather if we were to measure it like that, do you not agree?" Legolas asked Gimli with a wicked smile of his own.

Gimli narrowed his eyes in curiosity. "Just how old -are- you Greenleaf?"

"As old as I need to be dear friend."

Dileriyen did not miss this opportunity to poke a little fun of her own, catching Legolas off-guard. "But he has become a man at last. I never thought I would live to see the day!" *Not to mention that I almost did not.*

"Have you and Gimli formed a pact against me while I was not paying attention?"

"Yes darling, it seems you have uncovered our secret. It is this quaint fellowship we have established in which we are absolutely determined to see you taunted to death."

"If it will please the Lady then so be it!" Legolas said dramatically, thinking *I hope this is the last time I ever hear the word 'fellowship'*

"There are many things that would please the Lady..." she responded without thinking. When had it suddenly become so hot outside? Especially since the sun was close to setting.

Legolas smiled and leaned in closer to her ear. Pretending to whisper, he said: "As soon as we ditch the dwarf, my love."

Dileriyen blushed ten times over and Gimli, who had desperately been trying to ignore them, cast an evil stare at his 'friend.'

"I'll have you know that I heard that, Greenleaf! Why you- and you!" he looked at Dileriyen, "I should have known better than to join with an elf. Traitor! Our fellowship is none existent as of this moment."

They shared many other laughs during the ride. All was as well as it could be. In fact, it seemed that all the weights had been lifted off their shoulders...

It remained this way only until they found themselves standing before the palace gates, hours later. Dileriyen fought her urge to gulp while Legolas was beaming at the thought of being back home and Gimli was simply ignoring the death glares the guards at the gate were dealing him.

The guards looked from the dwarf to the elf and, recognizing him as the Prince, bowed. The first one spoke:

"My lord, we are overjoyed to have you home. Accept our humble gratitude on accomplishing your quest we-" but he was cut off by the gasping noises that his friend was making next to him. He looked at him in confusion. "What has gotten into you?! You look as white as a-" He followed his friend's finger, which was pointing straight at Dileriyen. He too turned as white as a wraith.

"It is...impossible... sorcery!" Suddenly, they both ran inside the palace, as if it were Sauron at their heels, in desperate search of the King. They were certainly going to have a time explaining this one.

"Strange creatures..." Gimli muttered, going on about how he could live with elves for a millennia and he still wouldn't understand them, or something like that.

Legolas stared at the now vacant spots before him. He had no hope of defending himself to Gimli... Strange was indeed the word. He turned to Dileriyen and cheerily asked: "Quite the homecoming my love, you did not have this arranged, I hope?"

But Dileriyen was lost in her own world. Startled and somewhat disheartened she asked herself out loud: "Do I really look that bad? Well," she sighed, "come along darling, don't dally Gimli, it is time to face father... and explain to him just why it is that I am back from the dead." *Valar help me. It is my one hope that he does not react as violently as Legolas had...or worse. Hopefully he won't try to slay me with a sword... Oh what a mess.*

She felt Legolas warm hand join with hers and she held on tight. Having him there was the only comfort that she needed. Unfortunately, she had very little time to enjoy it. No sooner had they made it into the palace itself that the King came running into the room, accompanied by a group of eight elves, all mumbling something about devilry still remaining in the lands, how they were getting too old for this and how the time had really come for them to go to the West, where they would be away from this mischief. Dileriyen tried not to be offended but this was getting personal.

The moment her gaze locked with that of an enraged Elf King, she found herself face to face with the point of his sword. Of course Thranduil, in turn, found himself face to face with a Galadhrim bow and arrow. The guards encircled Gimli, who was surprisingly too stunned to even voice his usual string of protests. The silence and tension were thick in the air. No one wanted to say anything for fear of triggering bloodshed. That is, only until Thranduil decided to remind everyone just why he was the King around here.

"Someone had better explain!" he bellowed, almost making Legolas jump and lose his focus. The Prince had no intention of shooting his father but something had to be done before the King took it upon himself to rid the palace of the so-called devilry and aiming an arrow at him had seemed like the only option at that moment.

Dileriyen, who had remained silent, thought it better to start explaining before she had no more mouth, or head for that matter, left. Softly she began. "Well father-" only to be cut off, very abruptly.

"Silence demon! What sorcery have you used to ensnare my son? I should slit you now-"

"Father please! Calm yourself! I know it is hard to believe but it is Dileriyen who stands before you. I beg of you, lower you sword and allow us a chance to explain."

All stood still for a few more moments. Thranduil lowered his sword slightly but his suspicion was far from appeased. Just what proof did he have that this was indeed Dileriyen, other than the fact it looked like her? All things aside, how in the name of Eru was it even possible for it to be her? There were so many questions and so much confusion. Mere appearance was simply not satisfactory. Fortunately, he did not have to wait long for her to reveal herself.

"Demon? Honestly! I have been called many things but demon was certainly not one of them. Really..." she huffed, "To think, I assumed you were still upset about that Elrohir incident, which, by the way, I have a full explanation for, but you seem to be angry for an entirely different reason! Father, I assure you, whatever it was, I had nothing to do with it!"

Thranduil stood with his mouth open. What on earth was this demon talking about? It couldn't really be her, could it? He turned his unbelieving eyes to look at Legolas who immediately lowered his bow and took the defensive like a child who has been caught stealing cookies, for the second time.

"I too plead innocent, father! Whatever it was, I had absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever!"

Thranduil still found no words to speak and so, as fate and irony would have it, it was the dwarf who cleared up the confusion.

"Ahem. My lord, allow me to shed some light on this misunderstanding. I am Gimli, son of Gloin. I was one of the original Fellowship in the War for the Ring. As fate has allowed it, I find myself in your courts in a less than hospitable manner. I assure you that this is indeed your son and daughter whom I have in my company, so if you will allow us but a moment to set the story straight, perhaps we may clear the air without having to draw any more weapons." It was a good thing that Gimli had spoken in such a matter and did not dwell on who his father was for it certainly would not have helped to mention him as Thranduil's ex-prisoner.

Silence once again. But after all this, the dwarf was the only one that Thranduil was sure of. "Leave us," he told the guards who took off warily, but not without giving Gimli a few more glares.

After a few more seconds of silence and waiting, the King began to circle Dileriyen like a vulture. "How can I be sure that you are indeed my daughter and that this is not a deception of my eyes? How do I know that this is not some new sorcery that mocks me? I await your proof, demon."

Dileriyen decided to ignore the on-going name-calling and racked her brain for something that might prove her identity. "Well...let me see now... oh I know! Here is my proof: in the last letter that you sent to me, there is one part that I remember perfectly: 'if this is Legolas' fault (as I am sure he is at fault in one form or another) then just know that -I- shall be the one to drop him into Mount Doom. But if I find out that this is your doing Dileriyen, so help me Valar I shall send you into the West this instant where you will await our arrival and just hope by that time that my anger has subsided!' By Eru, I could absolutely feel your fury from the page, but as I said father, I can explain everything!"

Thranduil did not look too pleased (just to note, neither did Legolas). "And you." he said, looking at his 'son'. "I know just the test for you... What is Legolas' biggest fear?"

Legolas cast an unbelieving and almost pleading look at his father. He refused to answer and confirm such an embarrassing question.

"Speak! I command you!"

"Father... please... not in front of the dwarf." he mumbled.

"Speak or I shall behead you without so much as blinking!"

"Yes sir. It is thunder. I absolutely detest thunder sir."

All of a sudden a gruff laughter pierced through the room. "Hahaha... Is that so, Greenleaf? I thought you were a little edgy at Helm's Deep. I had thought it to be the upcoming battle's stress... Had I only known! Hahaha."

"Quiet Gimli or I shall tell everyone just how much of a disadvantage your height was..."

"Harumph... bloody elves... think they're perfect..."

In the meantime, Thranduil had chosen to ignore the two males who seemed to be having a rather strange elf/dwarf moment which he would be damned if he could understand. He looked at the girl who smiled at him. Such warm eyes, on the verge of tears.

"You have found my ring and necklace..." she spoke softly. Only then did he notice that she was looking at the necklace he bore around his neck, his one memory of her. She could no longer hide her happiness as a few tears escaped her. It was true. It was her... There was no mistaking the girl within those eyes.

"Dileriyen..." he said as he brought a hand to her cheek. He let his sword fall out of his hand and crash to the floor before he took her into his embrace by surprise, almost crushing the air out of her.

When he finally loosened his grip, he took one long look at her and asked with a breathless and unbelieving voice: "Where have you been all this time, daughter?.. Where?"

She smiled at him in a way that said 'it is a very, very long story.' He nodded, perfectly content to wait for the right time. He turned to look at Legolas once again but did not let go of Dileriyen for fear of this being all a dream.

"And you..." Legolas stepped within arms reach only to find himself in his father's embrace as well. "I have missed you son..."

Legolas smiled within his father's arms. "And I you, father..."

When he pulled away from them, what seemed like hours later, his children noticed the trails his tears had left upon his cheeks. They said nothing.

"Where have you been, my children?" Thranduil asked, his voice only slightly above a whisper. It was clear that he was still having a hard time believing his eyes. One had come back from the dead, the other was back without having killed himself and the other was...well... the other was a...dwarf.

"It is quite the story father..." Legolas said.

"Aye," Dileriyen chimed in, "and you must get over your shock first." *Else you will be ripping your hair out by the end of it.*

Thranduil's smile did not falter. He would wait. After all, what mattered now was only that they were here, they were home. The 'how' and the 'why' would be answered soon enough. So, he saw it fit to ask his children the main question that had been on his mind: "So be it... Now tell me, what is a dwarf doing in my palace?"

Dileriyen had no explanation for that one. Legolas just smiled nervously. Gimli puffed himself up proudly and began: "I will take it from here, if you don't mind. You two lovebirds listen for now..."

"It is all yours, Gimli."

"Love? What on earth is going on?!" Thranduil asked looking at Dileriyen and Legolas who were holding hands as if their lives depended on it. He had just added another shock to his already growing collection.

"Lord Thranduil, let me start the story off by telling you that your children are far more trouble than they are worth..."

Dileriyen looked at Legolas. Legolas looked at Dileriyen. They smiled and shook their heads. Trust a dwarf to tell an elf's tale...

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A/N: I REPEAT, THE NEXT CHAPTER IS THE LAST ONE. IT SHOULD BE UP TOMORROW!!