Title: The End Has Come.

Author: B-witched83uk )

Rating: PG-13

Warning: Hankies at the ready guys, this is going to be a sad one.

Summary: Gondor's royal family have their final adventure together.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle-earth belongs to Tolkien.

Beta: The Last Evenstar. A great friend and a great editor.

Archive: , Any others please ask.

Feedback: I would absolutely love some because yes I am a praise junky.

Dedication: In loving memory of Ithiliwen. I created Ithiliwen nine months ago, she was my first original character and I have put a lot in to her. When I first created her, I didn't know if I would ever even use her again, or if she and Eldarion were going to get together. I hope you have all liked her too.

Chapter ten

Final farewell

Shadows played through their chamber, casting sinister shapes upon the white stone walls. The evening was cold, and Eldarion and Ithiliwen buried themselves under the pile of covers and furs. Softly he stroked her hair, breathing in the sweet scent, burning it into memory. He held on to her tightly, kissing the back of her head, whispering soft words of love and adoration.

Once Ithiliwen felt Eldarion's breathing become more shallow and his body completely limp, she turned in his arms to face him. He was still so handsome, with night-sky hair and starlit eyes. She lifted her finger to trace the outline of his cheekbones, not yet willing to never again see his face. She leant forward and pressed a chaste kiss to his warm lips, causing him to moan softly in his sleep.

"Farewell Eldarion," she whispered softly. "When you wake, my spirit shall be gone, yet my heart shall remain, for it will be with you in all that you do." She gazed at the man she loved and smiled sadly, tears beginning to fill her eyes. She did not wish to leave, but she had no choice, her time had come. "I love you, my Prince." She repeated the words she had spoken to him on their wedding day and closed her eyes, waiting for eternal sleep to take her.

Gwydion tossed and turned in his sleep, the ocean's wave, the tempting voice, the gulls overhead.

"I aearon can bell,"

The sea calls ever strong

The Prince thrashed in his bed, his sheets wrapped around his body, constricting him.

"I glaur a I ithildin dar an lle."

The golden light and the moonshine are waiting for you.

He whimpered slightly, like a frightened child.

"Ennas al nad na achas, achas man dar men na beleg."

There is nothing to fear, fear is what stops us from being great.

Sitting up in his bed, clutching his heart, he felt his breathing come in quick and shallow bursts. Looking around his room, Gwydion began to soften physically. He was alone, as he was now used to being. The empty darkness comforted him, it was familiar and safe.

Eldarion was in a world between sleep and wake, the place where anything seems possible, where every dream and thought take incredible shape. He felt both safe and afraid, as he had felt every morning these last few years. A part of him wished for nothing other then to stay there, in the twilight of in-between. He wondered if this was what death felt like, an unwillingness to wake up, to face the world, to remain in the world where no one ever knew pain or heartache.

He could feel the coldness of his wife's body pressed against him, and he instantly knew. He remained as he was for some time, simply holding her close, refusing to open his eyes and look upon the body that once held his truest love. He just pulled her closer to him, refusing to look. Perhaps if he didn't look, then it would not be real, and he could just lay here forever and hold her close, and not let any take her away.

Once full consciousness had flooded him, he felt the stinging of tears, of salt and water beating against his closed eyelids. Slowly he opened them, allowing the tears to escape. He took in a shuddering breath and pulled his wife's body closer still, unable to let go. She was cold, dead for some time, but she still smelled of sunshine, trying to melt the snow.

After an hour of just lying there and sobbing into her golden hair, he let his grip on her ease a little, finally knowing that he had to do as she asked. He had to live and fight for the world that she long dreamed of.

He rolled her over in his arms and took in a deep gasp. He had expected her to look different, frightening even, but she looked the same. A little colder, a little older, but no deeper then sleep. Her eyes and mouth were closed and her fingers were rigid and white. Slowly he leaned over her, allowing his tears to fall on to her face, a shallow hope of rejuvenation. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers slowly. Her mouth felt like ice, her cheeks bared no flush.

A shudder from the cold went through him and he savoured it, knowing it would be the last physical feeling he ever felt from her.

"I love you, Ithiliwen." His voice was shaky, choking out the words in between sobs. "And I will build the world you dreamt of, I will dedicate my life to the service of Gondor and nothing else, until the blissful day of my own death, when I can follow you and feel your arms once more." He removed the ring of Barahir from her finger, the ring he had given her many years ago, and placed it on his own finger once more.

TBC

I'm sorry there is no reply to reviews this time. I suddenly have loads to do and figured you would all rather have an early post without reviews then a late post with replies to reviews. I promise not to make a habit with this. Kisses and cuddles to all of you who reviewed, you have no idea how much I love getting them x.