Please forgive me in the lateness of getting this chapter out, but hey, at least its before I said it would be – the end of August. This is final chapter and it is pretty poor, not the ending I expected to write actually. If I get time I will revise the last few chapters, but I didn't want to leave the story hanging for ages, so here is an end for my readers.

I took the liberty of changing Legolas' departure date across the sea so that it fits into this story. Hope you don't mind.

Chapter 9

Epilogue

Many long years of happiness passed for Aragorn and Arwen. In the years following the couple spent many joyous moments together watching their children grow up and start families off their own. As the year flowed into the 120th since Sauron's defeat, Arwen knew that Aragorn's life was coming to an end, yet he still had decisions to make.

No one had spoken to him about crossing the sea, and Arwen feared that when Aragorn finally decided it would be a choice that would split them apart. She watched anxiously every day for any signs that showed Aragorn to be slowing, but none that she could see came.

February arrived and slowly dwindled. On the last day of the month Aragorn came to Arwen and confided with her about their future.

"I have never wanted to be parted from you, ever." He began, his grey hair falling about his shoulders, "and yet my life dwindles away in front of me. My time on this world comes to a close. I am nearing my death."

Arwen listened with anticipation. "Your choice?"

"I still feel… injured if you know what I mean. The hole within me has grown bigger. I do not want to die knowing that I have not healed to an extent that I can forget what happened." He whispered. "Therefore I have decided to cross the sea and hope that time in Valinor will heal my spirit. I hope that my wounded spirit will heal."

Arwen faintly smiled. "Then that is what we will do."

No more then a few days later Eldarion announced that the King had died in his sleep and the Queen had left Minas Tirith in mourning; the truth was that Aragorn and Arwen had slipped out from the city unnoticed in the middle of the night after saying farewell to their son and daughters and departed towards the Grey Havens. Disguised as simple travellers Aragorn and Arwen rode for many months until they came to Rivendell where they stayed with the remaining elves remembering the old days when their love had to play in secret. Elladan and Elrohir had passed across the sea ten years ago.

As May faded into June, Aragorn and Arwen soon came to the Gray Havens where Legolas and Gimli awaited them with a skilfully crafted boat. The elf and dwarf had worked many months to make it and hoped that it was satisfactory for its occupants.

They sailed away at dusk that night and out into the sea.

Many days they sailed with the wind blowing in the air and the memories of their life fresh in their minds. Both Legolas and Gimli left Aragorn and Arwen alone, for they dwelled on the past and wanted to be alone. None of them had ever spoken about crossing the sea and though Legolas had remained in contact with them since the War, neither of them had mentioned the end of their lives. He had supposed they had decided to die naturally.

The journey was peaceful allowing Legolas and Gimli to reminisce about the past. They talked into long hours remembering old times and all that had come to pass since the beginning of time. Gimli had been reluctant to leave Middle-Earth but the burning desire in his heart to lay eyes upon the Lady Galadriel again was too strong to forget and so had taken up the elf on his offer to go sail with him.

It took them a weeks sail to reach the borders of Valinor, where both Aragorn and Gimli's fears increased. What if they were not accepted? What if, because they were mortals, they had to be sent back? Many more possibilities swerved through their minds causing both to worry and feel sick. Arwen and Legolas comforted them expressing that they would not stay in Valinor unless they were accepted into the society.

The week passed quickly. Valinor came in sight. Legolas and Arwen spoke quietly to each other debating whether they had done the right thing by bringing two mortals with them, but Arwen reminded the other that Aragorn had been given the choice anyway so he would be accepted, however Gimli was another matter. Legolas vowed to protect his friend.

All four of them watched as Valinor came into focus, the beauty of it entranced them all sending flutters up through their bodies. Aragorn barely breathed. This was his home, this is where his life would be for many long years. He hooked an arm round Arwen smiling.

"Well," he whispered in her ear, "we are home."

Welcomed into Valinor, Aragorn and Arwen spent many years enjoying the peacefulness and tranquillity of the elves paradise.

The details of this are not known to anyone save the elves. No records are shown of this event, yet one peace is known that the two mortals, when they died, a dark shadow spread over Valinor, but sensing this, the Valar conferred, finally deciding that these two mortals had suffered so much already, that they should be granted everlasting life, and so it was: their spirits returned to Valinor and they lived on with the elves.

The love of Aragorn and Arwen was eternal and it was meant to last like that forever. And so it was.

THE END

As before this ending is dismal and pathetic. Its all that I could think of. I've completely lost the thread to this story. Any comments that will help me improve it will be greatly appreciated. I know, you don't have to tell me, I'm a failure at this type of story. I should never have written it.