NOTE: The end is here at last! The song Míriel sings is "Into the West" translated into Sindarin, which I took from www.councilofelrond.com. I wanted her to sing it, but not in 'English'. Also, the title of this chapter is Sindarin for 'into the west'. This chapter, to me, is the saddest, and it is quite short. Le hannon for your patience!
Chapter Thirty-five: Nan Annûn
Míriel and Legolas adjusted to their new home immediately. They were both delighted to find beech trees in Ithilien, for it was their favorite type of tree. Legolas was made the leader of the Elves who came with them, which is something not to be found surprising at all. The birth of his twin children warmed his heart, and he spent as much time as possible with them. Celoneth was not forgotten. She was now over two years of age, and picking up speech rather quickly. It delighted Legolas one day when she flung her small arms around his neck and called him adar. He knew at last that Celoneth loved him as if he was her true sire, and that he had not done any injustice to her. However, he loved his children a little more than her. Míriel knew it, and completely understood.
Ithilien became the fairest of all the lands of Men. Míriel and Legolas dwelled there for many a year in peace and happiness, content to be with each other and their children. They would often go and visit the King and Queen in Minas Tirith. Gimli would pay them visits as well. He was the Lord of the Glittering Caves. Yet he had also done a service to the King, for he had brought Dwarves from the Lonely Mountain, and they replaced the gates the Witch-king had broken with new ones made from steel and mithril. Legolas took Míriel and their children several times to the Glittering Caves, and there they saw the work of the Dwarves. He also took them to Fangorn Forest.
Míriel would often find herself gazing towards the Sea. Once, when she was in Dol Amroth, walking the beaches with Legolas at her side, she remembered the elder days when she was with Aerandir, on the Isle of Balar. Her heart still ached terribly for him. The cry of the gulls in her ears, the smell of sea-spray, and the sight of the Sea overpowered her. She knew that if she stayed longer she would take ship by herself. But she could not. Her children needed her, and Legolas. If their love had been strong in southern Eryn Lasgalen, it was nothing compared to what it was now. They could not be parted even for a moment now.
Elessar reigned for one hundred and fifty-eight more years after the arrival of Legolas and Míriel at Ithilien. Then, one day, he laid himself down to eternal rest and died. Great was the grief of Minas Tirith and all those who knew him, but Arwen's grief was greatest. Legolas and Míriel knew her time was waning, and that she would be forever lost to the Elves. She returned to Lothlórien, but Lady Galadriel was not there, nor was Lord Celeborn. They were both gone. And after many years, she laid herself down on Cerin Amroth and died.
Legolas and Míriel knew it was time for them to sail West. Their people were saddened. Gimli decided to go with them. He could not bear to live after the death of Elessar, nor could he stand to remain alive alone of the Fellowship in Middle-earth. Yet it is also rumored among the Elves of Ithilien that Gimli desired to see Lady Galadriel again.
So it was on an evening in early spring that Prince Legolas, along with Princess Míriel, their three children, and Gimli the Dwarf, boarded the gray ship he had built. They set sail down Anduin towards the Sea. Standing on the deck, looking towards the West, Míriel, daughter of Gil-celeb, played a golden harp in her right hand and sang softly, her entire life flashing before her very eyes. It was the last song Middle-earth ever heard from her. She sang:
"Hodo nôl velui benorven lín
Môr danna; le tollen na vethed lend
Losto hi, ah oltho o 'waith i thellir
Athra falas chaeron cenir
Amman nallach? Man i nîr hin buin thîr lín
Cenithach gwannathar echais bain lín
Beriannen min rainc nín, lostach
Man pelich cened buin rain amar?
Amman in gwael 'lain nallar?
Ithil 'ael eria athan Aear
I chîr tellin a choled le na mar
Sui cheledh geleb nadath thiathar
Calad buin nen faer bain athradar
Estel pêl nan ardhon dû
Trî núath dannol ed rîn a lû
Avo bedo ve tellin sí nan methen
Felais 'lain nallar, ageveditham
Hodathach sí min rainc nín, lostol
Man pelich cened buin rain amar?
Amman in gwael 'lain nallar?
Ithil 'ael eria athan Aear
I chîr tellin a choled le na mar
Sui cheledh geleb nadath thiathar
Calad buin nen, cîr thind gwannar
Nan Annûn"