The ring had been destroyed, the darkness that had shrouded Middle-Earth was lifted and beauty once again spread over the land.

Gimli and Legolas stood on a green hilltop, looking out across the landscape as the sun was setting.

"You made me climb all the way up here just to see this?"

"Oh Gimli! Don't you appreciate the beauty of nature?"

"It's nice, but not worth the climb"

"Can't you see all the fiery colours, malina, laure, culina ar carne*"

"What is the point of you speaking in elvish if I don't understand you?"

Legolas smiled.

"Quenya is such a beautiful language, you should come to Mirkwood, it is spoken widely there"

"I will visit your home if you visit mine"

"OK, that's a deal. You'll love Mirkwood, there's plenty of beautiful women"

"And who us the most beautiful?"

"Lalaithwen, but she is mine"

They both fell silent in the cool evening.

"There is someone riding in this direction"

"I can't see anyone"

"That is because you do not have the power of elven sight"

They both laughed as the rider drew closer to the hill and began to climb up it. The appearance of the figure became clearer, he was a fair haired elf. He seemed familiar to Legolas, as if they had met before.

"Legolas! I am a messenger from Mirkwood"

The elf's face was grave, Legolas's eyebrows creased into a frown.

"What has happened?"

"Ni kali vinyar o Lalaithwen. Ensi na phi."

"Le cait!"

"En na anwa"

"Man yeene o meldanya?"

"Ni ula ist"

"Hirello!"**

The messenger rode of into the sunset, a sillhouette against the colouful sky.

"Legolas? What did he say?"

The elf turned away from his friend, he could not look at him, he just wanted to be alone. Tears like crystals spilled out of his sorrowful eyes onto to his soft cheeks. He heart felt heavy, weighing him down, stopping him from moving on. His life was no longer worth living.

*yellow, gold, orange and red

**"I have news of Lalaithwen. She is dead"

"You lie!"

"It is true"

"What became of my beloved?"

"I do not know"

"Find out!"