Author's notes: Thank you to those who reviewed! It is always a joy to know people read and take time to review your work. For those that were worrying about a lack of plot, well, there isn't much in the sense of action, nor adventure, nor romance etc. It's more of a musing piece that takes place while Legolas is trying to cope with all that has to be dealt with now that Aragorn is dead. I never thought that this piece would be so long, but it seemed the once I tried to enter the mind of Legolas it was hard to escape.

FYI, there will be two to three more parts after this. It depends on whether or not I want to break the last section up.

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Part Two

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"We thought we'd find you two here."

Both elf and dwarf turned to find Elrohir and Elladan, Elrond's twin sons, walking up the steps to greet the two travels to Imladris. The pair looked much like they had the first time Legolas had set his eyes upon them however, he thought sadly, this would not always be so. The twins had, like their sister and uncle even, chosen a mortal life. Elladan and Elrohir would one day pass on having forsaken Valinor for a life on Arda. It was almost too much for the Elven prince to bear at the current moment, looking at his friends who could have ventured with him across the sea, dying. Because, Legolas knew, each beating of a mortal's heart meant that they were that much closer to death; each day took them that much closer to leaving Legolas.

How, the elf-prince wondered, must it be to know that each moment you live you are dying?

Thankfully, Elrohir's voice interrupted the archer's thoughts, "Although, my brother," he said while turning to face his twin with a twinkle of humor in his eye and voice, "I must admit I am surprised to see they are not attacking each other with words as normal."

Legolas spoke with a smile passing over his lips, "Well, I fear you were too late for I have already won that battle." Gimli turned a shocked expression to the elf next to him causing the prince to turn his smile down at him. "Well it is true, elvellon. I fear you body is not the only thing that is stunted."

The dwarf rolled his eyes. "You should learn to guard your tongue, elf, before I find your legs a proper resting for my axe." Gimli warned good naturally although he patted the axe that rested on his shoulder. It was not necessary to carry weapons of any kind in Imladris, but the son of Glóin found that old habits died hard and he never ventured outside of a room without his trusted weapons at his side. Curious, and realizing Legolas was not going to verbal retaliate just yet, Gimli stole a glance at his friend and realized that the bow from Galadriel was sitting on a chair not far away from where the elf stood. He is a much of a warrior as I and I see he is unable to break the habits that the War of the Ring instilled.

"I suppose I was wrong on my earlier claim that they were not attacking one another." Elrohir said while turning to face the older twin. "We must have caught them at a time where they had to catch their breath."

Elladan nodded. "I believe you are correct. They needed a moment's respite so that they could once again arm themselves with their same old insults just worded differently."

Knowing that they had both just been insulted in some form or another, Legolas and Gimli turned to the twins who both wore identical smirks.

"Gimli, I fear that we should go elsewhere if we long to continue our intelligent conversation." The elf looked the twins from head to toe as if assessing them. He shook his head obviously unhappy with whatever he had seen. "I believe with the current company we will be unable to follow our conversation for it may prove too difficult for certain people to keep up."

The dwarf continued his friend's train of thought, "I agree. These two, I fear, only received half a brain each and need one another to even form a complete sentence and thought."

The twins shared a laughed and Elrohir spoke matter-of-factly. "They fear our superior intellects, brother."

Elladan tisked lightly. "Yes, they do. But then, who does not?"

Legolas and Gimli rolled their eyes in perfect synchronism and, once realized the action of the other, frowned upon one another in much the same fashion. This incited laughter once again between the brothers.

"I do not know which I find more disturbing, Elrohir. The fact that a dwarf is sharing the mannerisms of an elf."

"Or that an elf is taking after a dwarf!" Elladan finished.

For their part, both the elf and dwarf had the decency to looked shocked and outraged, although no word was voiced. In truth, neither found the comment insulting or false. Long ago they had realized the many traits of one another they'd begun to mimic and it was easier to accept such things that came about from their friendship.

Besides, the son of Glóin thought, I am still a far cry from speaking to the trees or singing.

Although he knew that he had somehow come to appreciate nature more just as Legolas, though not ready to bury himself in a mine, was able to enjoy the hand-made beauty of the dwarves. Neither of these qualities had come easily and it had been the subject for many arguments between the two; some of which had even lost their teasing aspect. In the end though, the pair of friends knew that Legolas' love for nature and Gimli's attachment to caves were not so opposite as they had first thought. They both held something dear to their hearts and looked at these things with great respect. In time, they both came to realize that they were not so different, although they never relenting upon teasing one another.

Elladan noticed that neither elf or dwarf was going say anything further and so took it upon himself to bring forth conversation again. "Tell me, my friends, why have you strayed here?"

It was not lost on either of Elrond's sons that the two remaining Fellowship members in Middle-earth had found their way to the place where everything had begun all those years ago. Neither brother, also, had any doubt as to where the two friends' thoughts strayed. The news of their foster brother's death had hit both twins hard as well as the self-appointed exile of their sister. For many hours, they remained together in silence as tears of mourning fell from their midnight eyes. Together they had grieved for the loss of their two siblings even if one was not of blood. And, although their grief was far from over, the brothers had found strength in each other and would continue to do so until their own lives ended. Being twins they had a bond that was deeper than normal brothers. Gimli had not been far from the truth when he stated that the two seemed to share a brain, though instead of a mind, they shared souls. They would forever be together whether in this life of the next. Not even their deaths would separate the sons of Elrond.

"We were simply remembering," Legolas answered the question that Elladan had asked.

"Ah, that can certainly be a dangerous past-time." Elrohir stated his eyes locking on the prince of Eryn Lasgalen. "For the thoughts seldom remain in the past but rather venture to the future." The two Elves shared eye contact, numerous things unsaid passed between the sons of Elrond and the son of Thranduil. Legolas knew that Elrohir, as well as Elladan, both knew where his thoughts were being entertained. For the first time in many years, the lord of Ithilien was the first to break eye contact, lowering his gaze to the floor.

Gimli, aware of the tension that had suddenly come between the three friends, coughed to clear the silence. "I believe it is near time for dinner, is it not?" Although the dwarf was certainly not concerned with food, he felt it important to speak of something that may remove them from their current discomfort. He agreed with what Elrohir had said and was thinking much along the same lines ere he came up to his elf-friend. Legolas, he knew, seldom kept his thoughts in the present; they appeared to either linger in the past or to the future.

And the future what was Gimli feared the most. Aside from the fact that one day Legolas could be alone in this world, the dwarf also knew of the constant sea-longing that ate away at his friend. Gimli knew well that his companion still felt the call of the sea for that would never leave him and over time grew only in strength. Yet, he did not know how soon the elf would part from Middle-earth nor did he wish to think of it. As selfish as it was, Gimli wanted the prince to stay with him until he breathed his last breath, but he was not certain if that was possible. The dwarf was afraid to ask, however, because he was even more scared of the answer he would receive. So he simply let Legolas' passing to Valinor remain unspoken of in desperate hopes that he would never have to speak of such things.

"Food?" Elladan asked with laughter. "I had forgotten that Dwarves are nearly as bad as hobbits in regards to receiving nutrients." He smiled down at Gimli. "Come, elvellon, let us find something for your stomach before you faint on us."

The Elves shared a small laugh on Gimli's behalf and the dwarf granted them it, although he would be hard pressed to allow it to happen again. They company of four soon found their way into the inner palace of Imladris. The wondrous home was, at one time, house to Elrond Peredhil, although now his sons and trusted friend, Glorfindel, along with Celeborn who visited often, watched over the Last Homely House. The one time Lord of Imladris had departed West, leaving the shores of Middle-earth forever. It had been a hard parting for the elf-Lord for he left behind a daughter and sons he would never again see.

Legolas did not know how Elrond had the strength to do leave his family behind either. Losing his mortal friends was one thing, but he had always known that they would pass on. The Lord of Imladris, however, did not have to face this. His children could have forever been in his life, but they chose differently. Yet, the archer knew, just as he could not imagine life without his mortal family, the kin of Elrond could not possibly imagine a life other than the one they chose. Their happiness was all that mattered and, if they had found it in a mortal life, that was what they deserved. In some regards, the Legolas was jealous of Elrond's children. They had the ability to chose a mortal life being yet his own immortality was forever apart of him.

Long before the Council of Elrond and the Fellowship, the prince would never had entertained the thought of a living a mortal life because immortality was a gift not to be wasted! Yet, as the years went on and as his friendships with those of mortal races grew, Legolas wondered if he would not follow in the footsteps of Arwen, Elladan, and Elrohir if he could. Somewhere, in his heart of hearts, he knew his choice would perhaps mirror the children of Elrond, especially now that he had watched so many loved ones leave him for all eternity. Men did not understand nor comprehend how lucky they were to have the rare gift of morality for, to many of this race, death was the end and something to fear. The Lord of Ithilien, however, found a Mortal's death something to be in awe of and something he envied greatly.

Sighing to clear his thoughts, Legolas looked out to the vastness that was Imladris and felt his heart fall. These lands were beautiful, he knew, yet they once had held so much more wonder. Like it was yesterday, Legolas remembered his first visit to Imladris and how breathtaking the Elvish lands had been. That breathtaking beauty still existed, yet the same feelings of wonder had been taking from the elf. Anger suddenly rose in

Suddenly anger grew inside the prince. How dare that gull take his love of these lands; how dare one small song bird change his life so horribly! He had lived so contentedly under the trees and the sky of Middle-earth and would have done so for many more years, but that gull had taken it all from him. The forests that had once captivated him for days on end, held nothing more than a passing interest. The rushing rivers which he would watch, allowing the sound to lull him into a peaceful meditation, now only reminded him of the raging sea that he longed to see. It was not fair! Just as a mortals' beating heart signified one step closer to death, Legolas' own heart beats took him one step further from Arda.

It was truly fruitless to try and blame the sea-longing upon a single bird. No, it was ridiculous, the archer corrected. It was no more the bird's fault than it was Aragorn's; the man whom the prince had followed to the place where he had heard the bird. No, Legolas knew, he only had himself to blame.

Legolas Greenleaf long under tree
In joy hast thou lived. Beware of the sea!
If thou hearest the cry of the gull on the shore,
Thy heart shall then rest in the forest no more…

He had known what his choice in path would bring him. Granted, the prince never knew it would be this difficult of a sensation to live with, but he had known that he was sealing his own faith. It had been his choice to follow Aragorn, for he had made a pledge to the Fellowship and he would not have been able to live with himself had he left the King of Men alone on the Path of the Dead. The son of Arathorn had fought long with the son of Thranduil to try and per say him not to go, not to risk the cry of the gull, but Legolas had not heeded the future King's words. He had followed Aragorn as he always promised to and, though the suffering that would plague him later from the sea-longing was harsh, he would make the same choice again. An hundred times over, he would make the same choice.

Aragorn may have been the King of Men, but he was just as much a liege to Legolas. That man invoked a loyalty that the archer had never known he possessed. Legolas had felt a stronger sense of duty to Aragorn than his own father at times.

A dangerous business, my son, befriending mortals.

Indeed, Legolas thought with a shake of his head as if attempting to remove his father's echoing words from his head.

"Sit, my friends!" Elrohir exclaimed nearly causing Legolas to start.

His mind had been deeply involved in its own flight of thought and the Elven prince had not even notice that the quartet had come to stop inside the family dining chamber. He blinked his eyes rapidly as if coming out of a dream and took the seat which the son of Elrond offered him. The four friends sat and began to eat the meal before them in silence. It was this companionable silence that Legolas wanted. His own mind had been keeping him so occupied as of late, that conversation would prove empty.

The silence was broken, though, by the soft steps of a pair of Elves.
"Good evening, my friends," Glorfindel said with a smile to the four sitting diners. Celeborn inclined his own head in way of greeting.

"Glorfindel and Celeborn, come join us." Elrohir commanded lightly with a smile of his own. The pair of Elven Lords both pull out chairs and took a seat among the party.

"How does this evening find all of you?" Celeborn asked though was looking solely at Legolas, much to the younger elf's surprise.

The prince stared back making the intense gaze as best he could. "Just fine," he answered.

Glorfindel released a sound that could only be classified as a 'humph' but then quickly covered it with a cough. None in the small room were convinced, however, lest of all the sons of Elrond.

"Glorfindel?" Elladan questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"You plan to leave tomorrow do you not, Legolas?" The blond warrior asked ignoring Elladan. The prince stared for a moment wondering what game Glorfindel and Celeborn were trying to play.

"Ai," he answered carefully. "I do. Gimli as well."

Glorfindel nodded and then fell silent. The Lord of Ithilien watched for a moment before returning to the meal before him. As if the Elven warrior had waited for this moment, he spoke again.

"You will be saying farewell then to Imladris then?"

The question was followed by a stunned silence. Legolas slowly turned his eyes to Glorfindel, astonishment and no small amount of distress, on his fair face. Why must you remind me?! His mind screamed to the elf who had asked such a painful yet simple question. The twins were giving Glorfindel an expression of warning, though the warrior chose to ignore them, focusing solely on the son of Thranduil. Gimli's eyes darted between Glorfindel and his friend and he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something until he finally laid his gaze on Celeborn. The Lord of Lothlórien inclined his head, closing his eyes in the dwarf's direction. The son of Glóin seemed to understand instantly that whatever was taking place was being done for a reason. He would have to trust Glorfindel and Celeborn.

The prince looked quickly to the other faces around him as if looking for understanding, but finding nothing of help, he turned to face Glorfindel. "I will be leaving tomorrow, yes, and good-byes will be said," he stated. It was a non-committal answer and one that clearly spoke of how little Legolas wish to dwell on this subject.

Glorfindel nodded his head in response, but still spoke. "You will not see Elladan or Elrohir again will you?"

This time Elrohir spoke out. "Glorfindel!" He hissed in warning.

No one wanted to speak of this tonight, for tomorrow would be filled with enough sorrowful good-byes. The son of Elrond were wondering what in the name of Valar had taken hold of Glorfindel to have him speak thus. It was most unlike the Elven lord to be so harsh, especially with guests which Legolas was no matter how many times he had visited the Last Homely House.

Glorfindel did not heed the clear warning in Elrohir's voice, but rather kept his eyes locked on Legolas. The battle lines seemed to be drawn.

"Is there a point to your questions, Lord Glorfindel?" The younger elf asked through clenched teeth.

The older elf shrugged as if trying to make light of what he had just said. "I was just realizing that you will probably not make it to Imladris again for your sea-longing seems to be taking hold of you and you must depart else you fall too deeply into despair. Therefore, I know you will not see the twins again for they are to die and not venture to Valinor."

The blunt manner in which Glorfindel spoke those words caused even Celeborn to cringe though he was aware of what his friend was trying to do. The others in the room were not as privilege and both of Elrond's sons jumped to their feet shouting at Glorfindel to mind his tongue. Legolas, to whom the comment was aimed, simply felt his mouth drop in dismay. Gimli closed his eyes tightly, knowing well what those words would do to his friend.

"Wha…" The prince attempted to speak. "What?" He asked in a hush, breathless tone that was noticeable even through the twin's angered shouting.

Celeborn, realizing that things would only continue to spin out of hand if something was not done now, stood up from his seat and slapped his hand upon the table. The startling noise caused Elladan and Elrohir to snap their heads in that direction.

"Come," he beckoned to the twins and then turned on heel and strode out of the room. The sons of Elrond looked at the older elf leave, but did not move. Instead they kept their gazes on Glorfindel and Legolas. Gimli, noticing what Celeborn sought to do, noisily rose to his feet.

"Well, I suppose I should see what the crazy elf wants." He moved past the twins and, not too gently, hit them both in the back of the knees. They turned to look down at him and the dwarf was mildly taken aback by the fury he saw in their dark eyes. Still, he did not look away and stared right back hoping his eyes would per say the brothers to do as Celeborn had requested.

It was Elladan who first came away from his anger and realized Glorfindel sought a moment alone with the Legolas. For what, he could not be certain, although the way in which Glorfindel spoke seemed to suggestion that this moment had been thought up long before dinner. And so, the older twin elbowed his brother and when Elrohir turned to look at him, Elladan inclined his head towards the door behind him.

"Go," Elladan whispered and then grabbed a hold of his twin's elbow actually pulling him from the room. Legolas did not notice, because he was still looking at Glorfindel with pained expression marring his pale face. Gimli sparred his friend one last look, hoping the Imladris elf knew what he was doing and then he too departed.

The pair now sat in silence for a long moment until Celeborn returned and took a seat next to the older blond elf, placing the two Lords across from the younger elf. Legolas finally broke his long held gaze from Glorfindel and turned to the Lord of Lothlórien.

"What is going on?" He questioned not bothering to hid any of the anger he felt.

Celeborn looked to Glorfindel and, when it appeared he would not speak, answered the prince. "We were concerned about you," he stated softly.

Legolas' eyebrows shot up. "Concerned? If you were so concerned for me why did you not approach me as a civilized beings instead of uttering such repulsive things in the presence of company?"

"Because we knew you would never listen to our words if we did not grab your attention," Glorfindel answered with an apologetic tone. "I am sorry for my blunt words from before, but they are the truth still and simply burying them beneath elegant speech would not change this."

Almost instantly, Legolas felt his anger drain out of him. What the Imladris elf had said was the truth. No matter how one chose to word it the end effect was the same. His friends, those of whom had not already passed on, were dying. Celeborn watched the prince carefully and could easily see the moment that the ire left his body. Replacing the anger was a lost expression that reminded the Lord of Lórien of a certain wood-elf that had ventured into his realm during the War of the Ring. Legolas had been so very young then, both in age and experience, and he did not carrying the weights that he did now. He knew that time had not been overly kind to this elf. The young archer's pains were from seeing, for the first time, those one truly cared for leave forever while there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. Legolas had finally become a victim to helplessness. Clearly the wood-elf had never been associated with mortals as closely as he was now, whereas Celeborn had. The Lord had lost many friends to the plague of mortality, but even with this, he still felt unsure how to help Legolas.

The prince was taking the death of his friends harder than Celeborn had ever seen an elf do so before. The best that the Lord of Lothlórien could assume was that Legolas was having such a hard time coping with the death of his friend because of what he had shared with them. The friendships that this elf had formed with mortals was made out of blood and sweat, tears and pain, and even more importantly, an unbiased love that came from having to befriend someone who was to hold your life in their hands. The companionship of the Fellowship, and those even outside of it, had been forged in darkness and yet it had survived to see the light. It never mattered that they were from all difference races and backgrounds. All that mattered was that they had to fight together or else all of Middle-earth would fall to ruin. They had all bore the weight of Arda on their shoulders and looked to one another to help make this burden be bearable. To have that bond with someone meant a deep connection of souls that was rare to find. Yet, Legolas had found this with many different races that shared one quality; all of them were mortals. And so, it was as if a part of his soul was now slowly dying along with each friend that passed away to a place Legolas could never venture.

Celeborn heard Legolas' soft voice penetrate his deep thoughts are turned his attention to the prince.

"I do not know what to do anymore." The young elf admitted softly unable to meet either Lords' eye. "They all have already left or will be leaving me soon." Neither of the listening Elves had to waste a guess on who 'they' were. Legolas sighed and his gray eyes then meet Glorfindel and Celeborn's. "And the sea-long it is…it is…" He shook he head, unable to come up with the correct word.

"It is torturous," Glorfindel began in a quiet voice. "It seems to pull you in one direction while your entire being wishes to go in another. You feel so empty because of it and yet, at the same time, so fulfilled. It is both your greatest joy and your worst sorrow."

Legolas dumbly nodded his head. "It is all that and so much more. I can no longer control it as I once could. I know that I must leave, and yet…"

"You cannot." Celeborn completed the sentence. "The son of Glóin holds you here."

The elf from Eryn Lasgalen nodded. "Ai, I cannot leave behind Gimli for my soul will not allow it. But each moment I stay upon these shores I feel my heart being torn apart by the deaths of my dearest friends and the sea-longing." Legolas' head fell, his chin nearly resting in his chest. "Tarrying upon these lands is killing me."

It was such a soft statement and yet carried so much depth and truth to it. All three Elves knew what the prince said to be true; the grief of the mortal's death and the grief from not crossing the sea, was killing this young elf slowly. He was fading and all knew that the only thing that could cure the young elf was departure West.

"I never wished for any of this to happen," the young elf stated in a voice devoid of emotion.

Celeborn sighed. "And if there was some way that it could have all been avoided, I would have told you. Alas, only never befriending the mortals that made you life so full would have saved you this current grief."

"And made my life empty," Legolas concluded already having known this and thought long upon it. The archer looked at his hands and spoke in a whisper. "If only I could go with them."

Glorfindel shook his head. "You know you cannot, son of Thranduil. That is not your path and it never will be whether or not you depart to Valinor or if you are to die upon these shores. The Hall of Mandos' or the Undying Lands are your only place of final rest and mortals will never tread in either of these places."

"I know," came the meek reply. "I know." And Legolas did know. He had long dwelled on the fact that he could never meet his mortal friends in an afterlife.

Celeborn rose from his seat and moved next to the prince. Kneeling on the hard ground, the older elf looked up into the gray eyes of the younger elf. "I do not know what words I can offer to bring you any comfort. These times are hard and you must believe me when I say that Glorfindel and myself understand this to be true. We have been where you are now." He took a deep breath and broke the eye contact. Gently he closed his eyes for a moment silently recalling the many faces and names of those that he had loved and lost. This list was far longer than Celeborn wished it to be and daily it seemed names of more loved ones were being added. All too soon, the sons of Elrond would join this list. Shaking his head, as if the physical movement would help him lose the memories, Celeborn opened his eyes once again and spoke:

"You must understand, Legolas, that you cannot allow your grief to overcome you."

"But how can I do this?" The Lord of Ithilien asked. "How can I be expected to find any sort of understanding in the death of my loved ones? How do I find absolution in something that I cannot even understand?"

How was it that the beings he had become such dear friends with died? It was not fair that such wonderful creatures were taken from the land while he, a lowly Elven prince and Lord, was granted the ability to live for all the ages. Surely Aragorn deserved such a gift. Frodo and Sam and the countless others were worthier beings and deserved to live forever upon the shores of either Arda or Valinor. It was not right that Elves alone be given endless measure of time.

But, how much of a gift it is? Perhaps it is more of a curse, Legolas thought sadly. He had slowly come to realize that maybe mortals with this strange fate after death and this final peace, were the lucky ones.

"I can find no understanding in something that I do not even know if it is a gift or a curse!" The prince nearly cried in desperation.

"Absolution will never come here, son of Thranduil, of this I know. I have never found it upon these shores." Glorfindel's fair voice was etched in sadness. "I do, however, believe that I will find the understanding I seek in Valinor."

There was conviction in the elf of Imladris' voice that caused Legolas to cringe. Glorfindel held such hope for the Undying Lands and yet, the prince did not feel this hope. He did not believe that the lands at the end of the sea would bring him any understanding.

Abruptly the Lord of Ithilien stood causing Celeborn to also stand awkwardly as to not be pushed over by the Elven prince.

"You have far more faith in Valinor than I do, my Lords," Legolas nearly hissed. The younger elf moved to the door and stopped just before he left. His shoulders slumped, "I bid you both farewell and I wish you the best of luck with your time remaining upon these shore." The blond head straightened and Legolas turned to look at both older Elves. "May you have a safe journey, my Lords." With that he turned and strode out of the room.

Celeborn turned to Glorfindel wondering if they should following the elf, but the warrior of Imladris only shook his head.

"We will not be able to help him any. He can find no abatement from his grief from us." The elf sighed. "It is only something he will be able to find within."

Celeborn looked up to the door that Legolas had left from and in a soft voice spoke, "Farewell, Legolas Thranduillion. Valar willing you will find your peace one day."

TBC…