Title: The End Has Come.

Author: B-witched83uk )

Rating: G

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.

Dedication: Lestat De Lioncourt. He has inspired me and my once pure mind to no end this week.

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.

A/N: I cant believe I have reached the half way mark already. Thank you for sticking with this fic so far. I promise that the second half has even more romance, tragedy and intensity. The plot does indeed thicken. Part two takes place a year or so later.

Chapter thirteen

Utterly alone

Estelai ran down the hall, desperate to speak with her cousin as soon as possible. She needed to know exactly why he had rejected her the previous night. Was it because he did not want her to regret her decision? Or because he knew that to bed his cousin was wrong?

She was thinking so hard that she didn't even see her aunt in front of her. She almost crashed right into Galadwen, both of them holding onto the other.

"Where are you in such a hurry to go?" Galadwen let go of her niece, brushing the dried mud from Estelai's once-pretty dress.

"I was going to see Gwydion." She knew her face instantly went red when talking about him, but she didn't want to lie to her favourite aunt.

"Oh, Estelai, he didn't find you, then? He asked me where you were, saying he wished to speak with you before he left."

Estelai's heart plummeted and her mouth became dry. "What do you mean 'left'? Where has he gone? Will he be gone long?"

Galadwen smiled sadly. "He has gone to Mirkwood, and will be gone a year or so."

Estelai felt physically sick. She was glad she wasn't far from her chambers.

Once Galadwen had gone, Estelai found herself going in to Gwydion's room. She let herself in through the large oak door and walked in to the musky warmth. The entire room smelt of him, of the unique scent that was his alone. When her eyes fell on the spot where they had shared a kiss, she closed them tight, trying to banish the memory, the feelings.

Why was everyone leaving her?

She let herself fall on to his bed, burying her face in the soft pillows. Taking in a shuddering breath, she allowed the tears to fall freely. She hugged his pillow to her chest, pretending it was him. Why was everyone leaving her?

In the year that Gwydion spent in Mirkwood, Galadwen's light became dimmer by the day. She kept mainly to her chambers, venturing outside only when need be. Her parents had noticed her ill health, but Galadwen had played it down, telling them she was ill but nothing life-threatening. Her heart grieved every time she saw them, aged and nearing the end of their own lives. A part of her desperately wished she would die before them, not knowing how she would cope with their deaths. She knew that if her father died, her mother would soon follow, for their hearts and souls were eternally joined.

Galadwen's soul was wasting away, being eaten by the sickness inside of her. She knew she would not live more then a few more years, three at the most, for this was a slow disease, one that killed gradually.

She dreaded the end, feared it even, but she knew it was coming there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Could she really leave for Valinor? Could she be that selfish? Leave Gwydion and her family behind to mourn her and grieve, whilst she lay in the glow of the undying lands, soothed and calm?

She did not wish to live in a world without her husband and son. Her skin was always a little colder now, her breath a little shallow. Her eyes had lost their sparkle, but to all who saw her, she was still beautiful.

It was Legolas, and Legolas alone, who could see the dimness in her eyes and the pain in her voice.

End of part one.

ILuvCarbyFuzz: I'm glad you like Estelai and Gwydion's relationship, I was thinking of a cross between Aragorn/Arwen and Catharine/Heathcliff when I was writing them.

Lariren-Shadow: Gwydion can run, and he has. Sorry mate. Um as for the river analogy, Estelai going to cleanse herself, I think you over estimate me a little. I'm just not that deep. I hope your leg feels better soon.

EbonyBeach: Yes, dramatic irony does tend to be dramatic. Don't worry they will meet again in part two, and well who knows what will happen…oh yes that's right, I do.

DreaminofLorien: Well Mirkwood seemed like the ideal place for him to go as it is now an empty place and I felt t would reflect his emotions well. He couldn't go to Rivendell because…well you will see why he couldn't go there in part two.

ME132: Honey I don't know how you would go about strangling two peoples heads together. Your ramblings took me back to when I started writing Luthien's Flute, seems so long ago now. You were always keeling over and dying at the blossoming Galadwen/Legolas romance.

Viviana: Fluff is on its way. It may be slightly sad sentimental fluff however.

Cerridwen-Evereven: Eek, we have come to the end of part one, God I'm exhausted. I hope you have enjoyed it so far.