A Dark Sunrise
Chapter Fourteen - It is Finished
Days passed before Legolas stood. He had buried his fair one beneath the green grasses of Cerin Amroth, and there, he knew, she would lay undisturbed until the worlds ending.
He would sail to the Undying Lands. In that last, aching moment, he had felt her love and her plea for him to survive, so strong he had nearly fallen back. And he had heard her heart stop.
He walked and did not stop to eat or drink, continuing towards the Grey Havens singlemindedly.
He did not know how much time had passed but walked always west, and in his mind he saw things of times past. People who passed him were afraid, thinking him some elven spirit, alarmed by his unblinking eyes, a stream of tears falling and not stopping and never brushed away.
He arrived, and built his boat from fine silver wood, all in the same dazed manner. He was vaguely aware of the worlds silence. The elves light no longer graced the world. The stars veiled themselves and sang no more. The trees were silent and still. The animals became dull-eyed. He knew in the depths of his mind that this world was theirs no longer; not even the wind could rouse itself. When it did, it sobbed and said nothing more.
When the morning dawned that he would leave, Gimli arrived. He was old, but he came silently and placed his scarred hand on Legolas' arm. Legolas nodded.
Together they sailed from the havens, and the sun blinded any who might spy them leaving. Celeborn and Thranduil felt the chill of death in Middle-Earth as well, and they sounded their horns a last time, and sailed from the world of men forever.
The stories of the elves died with the old ones, or passed into legend. The years passed and even the stones forgot the caress of the Eldar.
But the stars do not forget. The star song of sorrow is never ended, though we can hear it no more.
FINAL AUTHOR NOTE: FINISHED! At last! Thank you so much to all who reviewed and read my story. This was something that I was driven to do, and felt motivated to finish, at least for the sake of those who read it. Hopefully another story will present itself to me...writing has been a very enjoyable experience. Hugs and kisses to everyone. Bis spater!