Author's notes: Thank you for all those who reviewed the last two chapters. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

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Part three

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The twins of Elrond bid the son of Glóin a fond farewell and Legolas watched Gimli move past him to prepared for departure. The archer stepped to Elladan and Elrohir and the three Elves waited until the dwarf was out of ear shot, for this parting was to be kept between the trio. The prince sighed and looked up to the twins of Elrond. He mentally grimaced as he realized that this was just another goodbye to those that he would never see again. Tears of sorrow came unbidden to the prince's eyes, yet he did not wipe them away.

Elladan broke the depressed silence with a soft voice, "I fear that this is the final good-bye, Legolas."

"Indeed it is." He stated with a voice choked in anguish. The archer took a deep breath to calm himself. "I do not think I can handle any more farewells, my friends. I fear these will be the death of me." Legolas smiled humorlessly for his words, though said lightly, carried much truth.

Elrohir stepped closer to the blond elf and put a hand upon his shoulder. "T'is the curse of the immortal life, I fear. We are forced to watch others we love bid us farewell forever."

The prince looked at the twins with confusion clear on his face. "We?" He asked and shook his head. "Nay, not we, for this is a curse you two no longer bear." A chill entered Legolas' fair voice and Elrohir dropped his arms from the archer's shoulder as if he had been scolded.

Elladan now stepped forward to stand next to his twin and he lowered his voice, "Do not do this, son of Thranduil." His voice held a small warning. "Do not make this goodbye harder than it already is."

And then, as if made of a brittle twig, Legolas snapped. The sorrow that had over-taken his being for so long now was replaced by righteous anger. He was tired of feeling pain and found that ire was much easier to deal with.

"You do not know how hard this is!" He exclaimed although he knew that they did. They knew all too well how hard these good-byes were. Though the pain of death was still a harsh reality Legolas felt that there had to be some comfort in knowing that one day Elladan and Elrohir would be reunited with the other mortals who had left before them.

The Lord of Ithilien was granted no such comfort.

Legolas felt his anger continue to grow and he knew aiming it at Elrond's twins was unfair to them, but he continued nonetheless. "You two," he pointed an accusatory finger at the sons of Elrond, "will follow mortals. Mortals whom I have loved for many long years. You two will be with them for all eternity while I will be forced to live forever alone in Valinor." Legolas shook his head as if trying to rid his mind of these horrible thoughts. "These mortals were," he shook his head in correction, "are my family; you must be able understand! They are as much mine family as they are yours and both of you will be able to see them again. How dare you two take the choice of a mortal life while some of us are not blessed thus!"

Elladan and Elrohir shared a look between them and the former spoke gently. "Legolas, my friend, do not give into despair yet. Gimli, your elf-friend, is still by your side."

Grey eyes filled with sorrow flashed to meet Elladan's own gaze. "He will leave me soon enough." Legolas said in a bitter voice. "He will die like the rest of you."

"But he is not gone yet," Elrohir argued. "Hold true to him and the time you both still have together." Elladan nodded and his twin continued, "Gimli will leave your side, Legolas, this cannot be denied, but do you truly wish to waste those years you both have left in a blur of sorrow? Think of all the joy you may still gain from him!" Again his hand grabbed Legolas' shoulder.

For a moment the three Elves remained standing as thus and the only sound between them was the Lord of Ithilien's somewhat erratic breathing. Finally, Legolas looked up with a smile attempting to grace his features.

"I am sorry for I take my sorrow out on the both of you when I know that you two bear the pain of many partings also."

Elladan smiled bitter sweetly, "Many bear this pain as of late, son of Thranduil. It is what we knew would one day happen."

"It is a curse," Legolas said softly.

"Yes, I suppose it could be viewed as one, but think of all you have seen and my still see."

The prince sighed. "I would rather be allowed to follow mortals to that place unknown to our kin than see any new sights. No place offers me peace anymore."

Elladan breathed deeply while collecting his thoughts. Grief had truly taken a tight hold upon this young elf and it appeared as if it would not be broken any time in the near future. Like the Legolas said, Middle-earth no longer represented a place of peace to him, but rather was a reminder of all the pain that he had suffered at the loss of those he loved.

"Perhaps, it is time than for you to depart these shores, " Elladan spoke with a small measure of hope in his voice. "The Undying Lands await you and the Valar would help ease your pain."

The prince shook his head, "I cannot leave Gimli yet. As you both have said he is the only joy I seem able to find here ."

Elrohir shrugged and stated, "Bring him with you. The hobbits were able to journey West. Certainly, the son of Glóin, an elf-friend and member of the Fellowship, would be allowed just as well."

Legolas swallowed and looked at Elrond's son for a long, silent moment as if contemplating what he had said.

"The hobbits were Ring Bearers," he argued and lowered his voice self-consciously.

"Gimli is a dwarf."

"And a Vala, created the dwarves. He would be welcomed, I know." Elladan stated, finding his brother's suggestion to be the only thing that could bring Legolas hope.

And then, Legolas laughed. It was not the same sweet silver laugh of old, but neither was it filled with insurmountable pain.

"How absurd would a dwarf in Valinor be?!" All three Elves shared a smile and fell into comfortable silence.

Elladan was the first to break that silence. "It has been a long time, dear friend."

And, indeed, it had. Many long years had past since the young prince of the Mirkwood had been a part of his father's entourage to Imaldris. Then he was a small and timid elf that had found himself the victim of many pranks by the older elves. Yet, somehow they had found themselves forming a friendship even though they were from two different realms that had a tense history. Over the years, the bond between the three only grew stronger. Together the trio had set out on many hunting trips, been reprimanded by both their respective fathers countless times and even made it an unspoken promise to torment poor Aragorn as a small lad. It had been many years and, with each passing one, the closeness of the trio had never faded.

But now the ever-famous and ever-troublesome trio was going to be broken. This time it was no longer a simple parting as the Elves went their respective ways, but for all of time.

There was much to be said, all three knew, and yet at times such as these a simple look spoke louder and conveyed more than any words ever could.

"I shall miss you both terribly," Legolas stated softly. "I shall even miss those horrible pranks you both we so fond of pulling on me."

Elrohir smiled. "One would think you would learn with time."

The blond elf shook his head. "It appears I did not."

Elrohir reached out and pulled the younger into a tight embrace as his mind drifted back and he pictured the lankly prince of Mirkwood who had hidden behind his father. "Take care of yourself, my brother."

Elladan then pulled Legolas into an embrace. "May you find the peace you deserve."

Legolas then stepped back and smiled warmly, albeit sadly, to the brothers. "I pray you both also find your peace."

And then without another word, Legolas turned from the brothers and walked away. He closed his eyes, but did not stop his feet from moving forwards. If he looked back, he knew he would never again be able to leave the side of Elrond's sons. Parting from them was also his good-bye to Imladris. He would never return to this place no matter if he stayed upon the shores of Middle-earth for another thousand years. He could never return to this place again for the memories would be far too much for him to handle.

For never again would Elrond's wisdom be spoken in his hushed, yet powerful voice. Glorfindel's tales of wonder would never be heard by a younger, entranced generation. The twins contagious laughter echoing through the halls after one of their latest pranks had been a success was now a thing only in the memories of a few. Arwen radiant face, her beauty almost paling that of Imladris, would never grace those Elven halls again. Aragorn, as a youth and then a powerful King, would never walk the only place he had ever considered home with the only people he ever considered family. It was because of these things that would never again be in Imladris that Legolas knew returning again could not happen. It would not be the same place that he had grown to love without those that he had grown to love there, for they had made the Last Homely House wonderful and special.

And so it was with a heavy heart that Legolas Greenleaf walked away from Imladris, never to return.

The elf and dwarf rode in complete silence for the first day and now were camped beneath an enclave of trees. Gimli and Legolas were both dealing with the grief of leaving behind Imladris in their own way and, though they knew the other would offer support and friendship, they did not wish to plague the other with their own problems. The son of Glóin , however, had taken notice of how despondent his companion had been the further they set out from the Elven kingdom and knew that the son of Thranduil suffered from something much deeper than a parting of friends. He knew that Legolas' grief was not solely for the twin brothers they had left behind or the Elven Lords of whom Legolas would not see until he past to the Valinor. No, Gimli knew, the prince's sadness was for all those that he had lost and, the dwarf thought with no small measure of sorrow, those that he would still lose.

Though Gimli also felt the pain of these partings there was a sense of comfort in knowing that he would one day see his friends again in that place beyond life. The dwarf understood the peace that his mortal friends found. It was a peace that he one day hoped to find and, in truth, knew he would. Legolas, however, could not understand this nor accept it. That crazy elf would never be able to grasp that someone would tire of life and would look forward to the day they could rest.

"I have to leave, elvellon." The statement was so light that the dwarf barely heard it and yet the weight that was in that simple sentence rang louder in Gimli head than a thousand drums ever could.

"What?" He asked, his voice sounding like a shout in comparison to his friend's and the deep baritone caused Legolas to flinch as if he was being scolded.

The prince sighed deeply and turned to his long time companion. "I cannot linger much longer, Gimli. The call of the sea grows each time I loose a friend. The sea is pulling me stronger now that Aragorn has left these lands." Legolas gave the son of Glóin a small bittersweet smile. "The King of Gondor somehow held me to these shores."

"He held you here?" The dwarf questioned with no malice or anger in his voice. He had always known that the bond between the man and this particular elf ran deep. Perhaps deeper than his own with Legolas and he knew that the loss of the man would have a significant effect upon the archer.

"Yes," the son of Thranduil admitted. "From the moment I first befriended Aragorn I knew I would always follow him. To my very death if that is the case. But later," the elf suddenly frowned, "I realized that perhaps one person was not enough to keep the sea-longing at bay. Somehow during the long journeys I made across Middle-earth all of the mortal friends I had grown attached to slowly made Aragorn's influence upon the sea-longing lesson slightly. It was no longer for just him that I lingered, it was for all that I loved." Legolas smiled slightly to Gimli, but then the gesture left his face and he spoke again. "Yet, then these friends have pass on and I came to realize that the sea-longing latches on to my pain and increases its tempo within my head. With each friend I am forced to part from the sea tries to fill that void. And now the voids are so many that the sea is nearly completely inside me now."

The son of Thranduil bowed his head. "With the loss of Aragorn and that staple, the call became so powerful I truly sought to leave the night Arwen left."

This information caused Gimli's gaze to snap up from the fire and lock on the elf across from him. "You sought to leave?" He asked with astonishment coloring his voice.

"Yes, I did." Legolas' answered quickly and then adverted his eyes from the dwarf's dark ones. "I had even gone to the stables with my things and was going to depart when I stopped. I could not leave even though Aragorn had left." The full weight of an Elven glare hit Gimli and the dwarf was nearly tempted to look away. "Do you know why I did not leave, elvellon?"

The dwarf did. "You did not leave because of me."

"Yes," The elf affirmed. "Without me being aware of it you became the new link holding me to Middle-earth. And yet, even now I do not know if it is strong enough to keep me on Arda. The sea is very powerful and she is trying to pull me away---"

"---much harder than anything is trying to make you stay," Gimli completed. A bitter taste resided in the dwarf's mouth at this statement. He was terribly loathed to admit it for he felt that his friendship with Legolas was one of the purest and strongest he had even known in his life and was confident enough to say that the elf felt much the same way. To admit that his friendship was not enough to keep the elf bound to Middle-earth was painful. It was as if he was admitting defeat to a greater foe; something the Dwarven pride never allowed him to do.

"No." The son of Glóin stated softly but with venom in his voice. No, he would not allow the sea to claim his friend; he would not lose this fight!

"What?" Legolas questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"No." Gimli restated with all the strength of his body behind that single word. "I will not allow the sea to take you."

The prince stared at his friend for a long moment in surprise. Then a sad smile crossed his face. "It is not your choice, Gimli."

The dwarf was not deterred though. "Ai, but it is yours. You can fight this, son of Thranduil. I know you can." The dwarf stood and it appeared that the fire before his also rose in intensity with the dwarf's words. "I have seen you fight worse battles than this and come out of them completely unharmed. You are an elf; one of the Eldar. I want to see this claimed Elven strength now!"

Legolas felt his friend's anger drift over him and all he could do was shake his head, spilling blond hair across his back and face. "I have been fighting it for so long. I grow weary of this battle." Eyes that appeared young and old; kind and cold; wise and immature, rose to meet the dwarf's own dark hazel eyes. There was pain in those eyes that was deeper than Gimli ever recalled seeing. "Please try to understand."

The pleading in the elf's voice mirrored that of his eyes and the son of Glóin felt his face flush with shame. He was asking more of his companion than Legolas was able to give. It was like the elf asking him not to succumb to the fate of mortals; it was something beyond both of their controls. Fate had been sealed for these two friends and this was on battle neither could hope to win.

"I ask you to do the impossible, but I cannot bear to think of being parted from you." It had to have been the most honest proclamation of his feelings that Gimli ever made and Legolas smiled.

"And I do not wish to think of the time when I will leave you and so let us not!" Crystal laughter fell from the archer's lips surprising the dwarf. Gimli found himself smiling in response to the change in mood. "Let us live as all men do."

The dwarf cocked his head to the side in question and another laugh fell from the Elven prince's lips. "Let us live for the here and now and not be bother with the future."

Gimli laughed deeply. "We shall do just that, my friend."

Though the pain of the partings that had gone and those that were to come did not leave either traveler, for this single night they found peace and friendship with one another and it seemed as if the shadow of sorrow was lifted for a brief moment.

The remainders of the evening passed with laughter between the two old friends as they re-lived the happier times of their lives. There was not one mention of the future or even one of the present. The night was dedicated to their friends and the journeys they had made together. It was a night to live in the past and they did just that.

But morning soon came.

Legolas awoke first, as he was accustomed to while in the company of Gimli. For a long hour the elf sat and watched his friend sleep. Though there was a snoring sound being emitted at every intake of air, the son of Thranduil did not think he had ever seen a more calming sight. He was well aware that there would not be many more mornings where he would be able to watch his friend. As a matter of fact, this could be the last time for a long while because Legolas assumed Gimli would head home to the Glittering Caves.

However, the Lord of Ithilien knew that he had to see his father before he departed over the sea. Thranduil still had not left for Valinor and Legolas knew the King would not be happy to hear that his youngest son would be leaving for the Undying Lands before him.

His father would indeed not be happy, but Legolas was certain that he would understand. After the War of the One Ring and before he had settled in Ithilien, the prince had come home to let all know he was well. Within the first moments Thranduil had laid his eyes upon his son, he had known of the sea-longing. It, the King had said, was clear in Legolas' eyes. He could see the light of the forest dimmed and replaced by a soft sorrow that came about from longing of something that could not be had at the present time. At first the Thranduil had been angry, blaming Aragorn for making his child tread so close to the sea, but then younger elf had explained Lady Galadriel's warning to him.

Incomprehension took the place of angry. Why, the King had asked. Why did you journey when you knew that this would happen?

And, for the first time since Legolas had done that damning deed, he told someone his reason.

It was my duty.

It had been, too. From the first step that the Fellowship had taken outside of Imladris, the prince knew that he would follow this deed to its end. By the time came to decide whether or not he would follow the future King through the Paths of the Dead, there was no question about it. His father had not understood how his son could be so loyal to a mortal, but Thranduil had understood his son's sense of duty. And so, Thranduil mourned the younger elf's loss of love for the forest, but did not despair for, in truth, he was proud of his youngest son. He could never and would never fault Legolas for doing all that he had done during the War of the Ring no matter the consequences. He would see his child again in Valinor and that was all that mattered to the King.

Well, Father, you will be seeing me sooner than you may think for our goodbye, the Legolas thought to himself and, as if his musing were out loud rather than mentally, Gimli began to rouse from sleep as if he had been disturbed.

"Good morning, evellon." Legolas greeted in a voice laced with chipperness.

The dwarf grunted his greeting and allowed himself a few more moments before he was coherent enough to say more.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Just over an hour," the elf answered.

Gimli nodded and rose to stretch. As he did so, Legolas asked, "Where are you going to go?"

The question stirred the dwarf out of his thoughts and he stared at Legolas for a long moment as the words sunk in.

"I had not thought of that. I suppose I could go back to the Glittering Caves."

"Ai, yes, they do need their Lord." The dwarf glared at the elf. For some unknown reason Legolas found great pleasure in making certain that Gimli's title of 'Lord' was used at all possible times. It did not help matters that the elf had been a prince before a Lord and was well use to titles of royalty so any attempts at return the favor did not work to the son of Glóin 's behalf.

"What are you planning?"

"I plan to go to Eryn Lasgalen."

Gimli furled in brows. "Eryn Lasgalen?" He echoed.

Legolas nodded. "I need to say goodbye to my father and my home."

Suddenly all the sorrow from the previous night came back to the pair. There was nothing that could be said that had not be uttered last night, though Gimli longed to tell his friend not to go home; not to say farewell just yet. For, if Legolas said goodbye to his family and forest he had known all his life, then the only one left was Gimli. And it would be far too easy to leave the dwarf without so much of a word.

"I am going with you."

The statement seemed to take Legolas by surprise if the flash of confusion that crossed his face was any indication. It was not so much that the elf did not want his friend to go, far from that, but he did not think the son of Glóin would wish to make such a journey.

"Gimli…" The elf began and the dwarf knew that Legolas would attempt to convince him against going.

"No," he stated firmly in a true showing of Dwarven stubbornness. "I am going and that is the end of it."

The son of Thranduil opened his mouth as if to argue, but then released a sigh and nodded his head. "Very well," he said and that was the end of it.

By mid-morning the two travelers were on their way heading east towards the Hall of the Elven King.

TBC...