Well, this is the last chapter. Sorry it's short, but epilogues aren't really supposed to be long. I'm also very sorry it took so long, but I've had a busy summer. I had to take a math course for three weeks, and I'm also preparing for university(I got in!) so it's been hectic. I've already started the companion piece, Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges. So, read, review, enjoy.

The Irish Blessing at the end is not mine. I don't know who wrote it, but I've heard it sung a number of times and learned the words. All previous disclaimers and language notes stand.

Penny and Kieran bided the time before their great-uncle came home by moving their possessions to Ailiel's house and telling the old woman about her sister and brother-in-law. Ailiel listened patiently while the twins set their possessions in the two spare rooms of the house. One was a guest room. The other had been Caelyn's before she married and moved out. Though she'd been staying with her parents while her husband was with the rangers, she had agreed to stay in her own house now that the twins would be with her parents. Glorfindel would stay in the inn, simply because the house was full already.

When they finished what needed to be done they set about doing trivial tasks. It was a long day. The minutes seemed to pass like hours.

"I hope Uncle Caethal likes us," Penny murmured in English as they sat at the kitchen table twiddling their thumbs. At least, that's what she was doing. Kieran was drawing what could only be described as doodles on his sketch pad. He'd need a new pencil soon. "Or at least tolerates us."

"He will. I mean, he did agree to this last night, right?"

"True. I guess I'm just nervous."

"Why don't you clean your flute?" Kieran asked.

"Because if I clean it one more time today there won't be a flute left to clean."

Later in the afternoon Penny helped Ailiel prepare bread and stew for supper and Kieran went with Glorfindel to bring in water for the night and the next morning, as well as to care for the horses.

Finally, when supper was almost ready a silver haired man entered the house. Penny and Kieran tried to melt into the background, but his eyes immediately lit on them anyhow.

"You must be Aislinn and Kieran," he said. "I'm Caethal, your great-uncle. Since you're here can I assume you've decided to stay?"

Though he spoke in Common, Ailiel translated. The twins nodded.

"Well, you'll be expected to help out with chores, and pull your weight, but we're glad to have you."

Penny and Kieran gave small, uncertain, but grateful smiles. "We're glad you want us," Kieran said.

The next day Caethal showed them how to perform most of the farm chores, such as feeding the animals and cleaning their stalls. Then he took them on a tour of the farm. There was a large flock of sheep with a group of dogs to look after it, though they stayed either in the field or in the barn. There were four of them, and they reminded Penny vaguely of the collies back home, though the colouring was more that of a German Shepherd. The sheep field was behind a hill, so the twins hadn't seen it when they first came to the barn. One of the dogs was a female named Swift. The three males were called Faithful, Courage, and Guardian.

Caethal called the dogs to him and bent down to place a mixture of meat, biscuits, and a few vegetables on the ground. All four dogs came flying to eat their breakfast.

"Sit. Stay," Caethal ordered. The dogs obeyed.

Caethal quickly introduced the twins. Penny and Kieran offered their hands, and all four dogs sniffed them and seemed to confer silently before licking their hands in acceptance.

"Good. They like you," Caethal said. "Sheep are my main business." As an afterthought to his Westron words he asked, "You understand?"

The twins nodded.

"Good. Keep moving."

The farm was somewhat larger than the twins had expected. In addition to the sheep there was a large, though dormant vegetable garden, herb garden, and a corn field. Those were the barren fields they had seen when they first came.

After dinner, Penny helped Ailiel with spinning and weaving, grateful not for the first time that Lauriel had taught her thread craft over the years. Kieran followed Caethal out to help with the animals and making repairs to parts of the barn that had been damaged in winter storms.

The days faded into a routine of getting up at dawn to care for the animals, then eating breakfast. After the meal, Penny would help Ailiel and Caelyn with their jobs, even following them to make house calls on occasion, and Kieran helped Caethal.

While Penny helped Ailiel and Caelyn, they discussed the possibility of her apprenticing both of them. Penny had never been a terribly strong science student, preferring language, social science, and history, but she knew a fair bit about herb lore by now, and liked helping people. Being a midwife would also give her a sense of purpose, and it did seem to run in the family, so she agreed.

Half way into their second week in Clearwater Caethal and Glorfindel took Kieran into town to speak to the carpenter. He was a middle aged man, known by his trade rather than name, but had not gone with the Rangers. Kieran looked around his workshop in awe. He knew a little bit about shaping wood--carving and whittling--but couldn't imagine being able to form things this wonderful. Oh sure, there were the usual tables and chairs, but also figures of birds and animals, and musical instruments. A number of flutes sat on shelves, and there were two full sized harps.

"If it's made of wood, I make it," the carpenter said. For a moment, Kieran was surprised he could understand the words. The full immersion in the Westron language had improved his skills in it more quickly than he'd thought possible.

"They are beautiful," Kieran said carefully.

His uncle and the elf spoke with Mr. Carpenter for a long time. Kieran caught bits of what they were saying, but not enough to follow the conversation, save that it was about him.

A short, nervous eternity later, they turned to Kieran.

Glorfindel was the one to speak. His words were Sindarin so Kieran would understand. "We have decided that, should you choose, Mr. Carpenter will take you on as his apprentice as soon as you learn enough Common that you can understand each other without difficulty. Until then you may visit and watch how he works the wood when Caethal can spare you on the farm, and you may help clean the shop. You would be given a small salary, and eventually be a carpenter in your own right."

"Carving pictures too, decorating things?" Kieran asked.

Glorfindel nodded. "Yes. You will learn the art of carpentry."

"I accept," Kieran said in Common.

A few days later Glorfindel had to leave. The twins were sorry to see him go. They'd known him almost since arriving in Rivendell, and he'd been a constant in their lives ever since. They begged him to stay longer, though they both knew he couldn't. Ailiel kept Penny busy for a day before the departure preparing food for Glorfindel's journey. She wanted enough to feed him for the first week and then some.

Kieran wished he had something more useful than guarding sheep to do, so he found a scrap piece of wood and began carving it while he sat in the field.

As when he led Penny and Kieran, Glorfindel rose at an unholy hour so that he could set out at the first hint of light. By now the twins knew better than to complain about the early rise. Caethal demanded an only slightly more acceptable hour from them on normal days. The Elf ate a cold breakfast, saying that he didn't want to cause Ailiel or Penny any trouble. He called Penny Aislinn though, as everyone did here. She'd meant to tell her aunt and uncle her real first name, but somehow she couldn't seem to find a time to, and it didn't really matter anymore.

As the first ray of sun peaked over the eastern hills, Glorfindel led Asfaloth out of the barn to where a small farewell party had gathered. Even Caelyn had come from her home to say goodbye.

Penny presented Glorfindel with a small loaf of bread she had made herself. Kieran have him a carving of a sheep to remind him of the place he and his twin had settled. He'd spent the better part of a day on it.

"Thank you for bringing our great-niece and nephew to us," Caethal said to Glorfindel and shook his hand.

Ailiel nodded. "Thank you for telling me the fate of my sister and brother in law. It means more to me than I can ever say."

"You're welcome," Glorfindel said.

He turned to the twins. Both were trying to be brave, and both looked somewhat like the lost children he'd met four years ago in Rivendell. "You will be fine," he said in Sindarin. "I have something for each of you." He reached into his bag and pulled out a small box which he handed to Kieran. "Paints, and instructions on how to make more." Penny' s gift was a small, leather bound book. "Elvish songs, including the melody."

The twins smiled at their gifts.

Kieran opened the box and found small jars of bright red, yellow, blue, orange, green, black, and white, as well as paper with instructions written in Sindarin. "Thank you. They're beautiful."

Penny flipped though the book. Even without her flute handy she could hear some of the melodies in her head by sight reading. "Thank you. Um, our father used to say a blessing. It's Irish, though I guess he wasn't, really. I can say it in Sindarin, if you like. I translated it a long time ago."

Glorfindel nodded. "Say it in your language, though, first."

Penny nodded and started the poem. Kieran joined her after the first line.

"May the road rise up to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

Until we meet again, my friend,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

And the memories we have shared

Linger on and on."

Penny quickly said the translation, and Kieran let her say it alone because, while he could translate the poem off the top of his head if need be, his would be slightly different than hers. Translations were funny that way.

Glorfindel nodded. "Thank you. Perhaps we will meet again. Until then, I wish you the same."

Penny stepped forward to give Glorfindel a hug, and Kieran followed suit.

Then Glorfindel mounted Asfaloth and rode away.

Ailiel stepped forward to put a hand on her niece and nephew's shoulders. "Come in the house. It's time for breakfast and there's work to be done."

The twins nodded and followed her into their new home.

Hopefully that wraps up a few loose ends. Please review.