AN: I realized I had made a small mistake in this chapter as I was writing the next. So this is the revised version :-)

The time for Arwen's departure drew nearer and nearer. Feasts were held in the Lady's honor and gifts were sent to both farewell the lady and comfort the king. But the one thing that could comfort the king was not something any one could give.

Arwen had taken to watching Aragorn whilst he slept. Being an elf, she did not require much sleep and so she sat by his side at night just watching him as he grew weaker. She knew what was wrong and her last wish of the world was that Aragorn could be with the one he truly loved.

Three weeks before her departure, some riders from Mirkwood came to the white city to make sure that the lady was all ready to leave. Arwen was sure that four came but when the riders were announced, only three were present. She went in search of the fourth rider.

She came to a halt outside Aragorn's study. Knowing full well that the king was in the library, she could not understand why there was movement inside. She slipped into the study unseen by a side door and watched as an elf replaced a book on the shelf. When the elf had gone, Arwen crossed the room and reached for the book. Upon reading the words that the book contained, Arwen went in search of her husband. She found him sitting on top of a bookshelf. He had always liked to sit up there yet she had never found out why.

"Aragorn?" she called softly.

Aragorn looked down and gave her a tired smile.

"My love, is there anything that I can help you with? Is Eldarion okay?"

"El is fine. I just wished to speak with you, but if you are busy ten I can come back another time."

"Arwen, I will always have time for you."

He jumped down from the shelf, a good ten meters, and landed as lightly and as gracefully as any elf by her side. He took her hand and lead her to the couch that was in the centre of the room.

"Now, what is it that you wished to speak with me about?"

"It is about Legolas."

"What about him?" Aragorn asked quietly.

"Estel, I have known for a long time that you love him. I was just wondering if now that I am leaving for Valinor, you will pursue that love."

Aragorn looked at his feet for a few minutes before speaking.

"Arwen please try and understand. Since I was twenty, there have only been two things that I have cared about in this world. Both you and Legolas were the only things in this world that mattered to me. For the longest time I did not think that I could ever be yours and I didn't even consider the notion that I could have Legolas, I just knew it could never be. Then one day you bound your life to mine and I held the Evenstar in my grasp. I was happy yet I was also sad. You would fade away eventually and would cease to exist yet I knew that was your choice.

"When I first began to realize that the Evenstar was not fading as I knew it should, I became happy again because in that moment I knew that you had made a choice and in doing so, your beauty and love would never fade and it would continue to burn for all eternity. Your choice was a good one and I am forever grateful to you that you did not give up your life for me.

"Legolas doesn't have that choice. If I admitted to loving him as I did you and by some miracle he returned even a sliver of that love, he would not be able to continue living. There would be no way for him to take back the light of the elder. You are Elrond's daughter, your bloodline has always been given the choice of mortality and should you have chosen mortality, you would have lived until the day I passed on and then you would have faded. but Legolas would not remain. He would not be able to deal with the harshness of life in the world and eventually it would kill him before his time had come.

"The same choice that would bring you life would bring him death. I could not bring any harm to him just as I could not bring any harm to you."

"Oh Estel, I am so sorry that this had to happen. Since I met you sixty nine years ago I knew that there was something about you that no other being in this world possessed and that is humility. You would dare to kill yourself if it meant you could save another. Aragorn you can not go on feeling this pain that you are carrying within you. Eventually you will die from grief."

"I know this. The process has already begun."

Arwen's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes Arwen. I know what is wrong with me just as I know it can not be helped. Please do not take my passing to heart. I have lived a lot longer then most men and I am thankful that I at least got to hold you in my arms and see my son. I once told Legolas that I did not fear death because I knew that death would only be the beginning of a new adventure where I would be able to dream of being with you and Legolas. And now I say it to you. I do not fear what will come to me. Knowing that both you, Eldarion and Legolas are safe is all that I want in this life. I shall take the love I bare for another and keep it with me for ever."

Aragorn then smiled and kissed Arwen's forehead before leaving her to her thoughts.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And dawn will turn to silver glass

A light on the water

All souls pass

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank you 2 these people who reviewed

- silverhope2001: Yes help is on the way…or is it? Mwahahahah

- Jadesaber: Yay it's original. Yes I have a pretty interesting idea for what happens in the Grey Havens. But u will all have 2 wait and c :-)

- Silvertoekee: hmm you like the angst. A little secret, so do I but don't tell :-)

- Forsaken^On3: You know I could drag this story out forever. That would actually be kind of funny *thinks about the idea*. Nah I wouldn't do that to u all. Or would I :-)

- Naitriab: Well she hasn't gone yet. But when she does…

- goldmund: don't get too worried. Just think of what the Lady Galadriel said, "Hope remains while company is true."

- Legolas19: I hope you are still enjoying this, sorry I'm dragging it out :-)

- tmelange: Thank you :-)