Legolas became aware of sounds, faint and faraway. There were sounds of running water, sighing leaves, chirping birds and the voices of Elves speaking softly. He felt refreshed, but weary. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw above him a richly carved ceiling. He was lying on a soft, white bed, in a small chamber that opened into a garden with trees and fountains.
"Am I now in the Halls of Mandos?" he thought aloud.
"You are not," a voice answered. "You are now in my abode in Avallone, Tol Eressea."
The voice sounded familiar and Legolas started up. "Mithrandir!" he cried.
And it was truly Gandalf the White, or Mithrandir as the Elves called him, who sat at the foot of the bed, smiling.
"So I have come at last to the Blessed Realm," said Legolas happily. "I am here, among my kindred."
He rose and got out of the bed, walking to the open door and gazed with hungry eyes at the beauty and wonder in the yard and beyond. Elves there were, fair and numerous, free and joyful. There were the sounds of singing, beautiful and soothing. And so happy was Legolas to be finally one with his kindred that he took up the singing, his face beaming and his eyes sparkling.
Then he remembered something. "How did I come to be here? I do not remember arriving at the haven," he said.
And suddenly his memory came flooding in. The boiling sea, the black terror, the reek of burning… and pain… He ran a hand on his shoulder. It had healed but a shadow of pain lingered there, as though despite the mending of his flesh, his mind was still struggling with the wound. And Gimli…
"But where is Gimli?" he asked urgently. He started to run to the other end of the room. There was a long hall, its walls gleaming pearly white and carvings and statues of crystal were numerous there, glinting in the soft afternoon sun. "Gimli!"
"He is not there," said Gandalf quietly. "He is still outside the harbour. In your ship."
"In my ship?" said Legolas in disbelief. "But my ship is destroyed. It was burned. How could you…"
"The shipwrights mended is as best as they could. Do not worry. They have taken care of him well, providing him with food and other things that he might need. But he can not yet enter Avallone."
"But why?" asked Legolas bewildered.
"He is a dwarf, and whatever had gone on between the both of you, there is still a lot of distrust and hostility between most Elves and Dwarves," said Gandalf gravely.
"But he came with me, through perils and scarcity," said Legolas desperately. "I took him with me, he is in my care. I can not desert him. And I will not!"
"Calm down, Legolas," said Gandalf. "There is going to be a council to discuss this matter tonight. We will decide whether Gimli deserves to walk among us, a mortal among the immortals."
"And what if the council decides that he is not worthy of the right?"
"Then he will become the first dwarf who returns to Middle-earth after setting his eyes on the Undying Land," said Gandalf.
"Return to Middle-earth?" gasped Legolas. He was too aghast to speak anymore. And until night came he sat brooding in guilty silence.