Immortal
Departures

There at the main entrance to the Last Homely House Legolas stood, dressed in the fine clothing that had been given him, his bow and quiver slung over his back and his swords tucked away in a traveling pack. The robes he wore were soft and clean, pleasant against his skin. Being comfortable was a welcome change. He was a hunter and usually took to the wilds, but after the past few weeks he decided a return home might do him some good. No more dangerous chases, no more investigations for a time. He would rest his mind as well as his body. And, he supposed, seeing his father would be good not only for him, but for the Elven King himself. It was time to talk about certain things they had left buried for far too long.

He was not the only one leaving this afternoon. Lady Celebrían was well recovered, but her eyes had never recovered that same countenance he had seen when first he looked into them. The burden of sadness in her gaze was heavy and though he thought they had all held a glimmer of hope this day would not come, inevitably it had. She was going to the Grey Havens this day, alone with her husband and a single guardian, Glorfindel the Balrog Slayer. Together they came from the hallway followed by their children. Elladan, still favoring his side, approached with a solemn expression. "Finally leaving us, are you?" he said, trying to sound light-hearted, but he couldn't quite hide the catch in his voice.

The Prince of Mirkwood took a deep breath and nodded. "You and your family will need time, I understand. In truth I feel a need to make time with my own father. Perhaps heal some old wounds."

With a wan smile, Elladan knocked his shoulder. "Don't go growing up on me, Legolas. My sense of reality is shaken badly enough." The short moment of jest faded almost immediately. Sighing, the elder Prince of Rivendell looked gravely into his eyes. "I am sorry I never thanked you for what you did for my mother. I am sorry for all the trouble we got you into. It was wrong of me to goad you into coming."

Shaking his head, Legolas said, "I understand why you needed my help. I could not have let you run off on such a dangerous hunt without my aid."

"You could have simply alerted my father," Elladan countered mildly. He grinned lightly. "Perhaps all the trouble you got yourself into was, in fact, your own fault, after all."

The younger twin came over with a long-suffering expression. "Perhaps your sense of reality is not as focused as you think it is. You get everyone into trouble, Muindor."

Elladan ran his hand through his hair, preening slightly. "Aye, that is so. But I am always there to get you out of trouble again," he said sagely.

"Ada got us out of trouble this time," Elrohir corrected him with an upraised eyebrow.

His elder brother shrugged. "He did, but I was there, was I not? I said that I was always there, not that I always managed to actually get you out of trouble. Really, Muindor, pay attention."

Elrohir groaned in playful disgust. "You are impossible." He shared a smirk with Legolas, but the ever-present shadow of pain dominated the mood.

The final party leaving today was not long in entering the antechamber. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn arrived with their guardians, completing the small gathering. Legolas watched and waited as they embraced their daughter and her husband, moving on to the children with bittersweet farewells. It pained Legolas to see his friends so troubled. The hurting would last long, but he was grateful that they were able to say farewell to her instead of having their mother ripped away as his had been

Once their hushed farewells had been made, it fell to him to come and make his good-byes, for his time to leave had also come. He would be leaving with the Lothlórien Elves and traveling within their company until they passed the Misty Mountains. Elladan first embraced him, whispering, "Hannon le, mellon nin." Though he had been angry Legolas could see his departure affected the elder twin deeply. He smiled softly as he pulled back. "We shall have to go hunting again soon."

Legolas laughed at that as Elrohir embraced him with a shake of his head. "Feel free to rest a long while before we do," he told him with a grin.

"I shall," he replied, and then looked as Lady Arwen approached. She had a gentle smile like her mother's.

"Hannon le, Legolas of Mirkwood," she said softly, bowing her head slightly. "Be safe as you return home." He bowed his head to her in response, offering her a mirror of her smile.

Behind her was Lord Elrond, whose eyes were shaded with pain, but held esteem and thanks. "You have done much for my family, Legolas. That shall not be soon forgotten. I wish you safe passage to your home."

From nearby Haldir grunted. "Do not fear, my Lord Elrond. I shall be keeping this young one out of trouble even unto the very doorstep of King Thranduil."

At the Prince of Mirkwood's sigh, Elrond smiled. "Namarie, Legolas Thranduilion. Addelid lin terithar aen an."

Legolas bowed his head in respect to the Lord of Rivendell. "Hannon le, Elrond o Imladris."

The next farewell drew the most emotion of all, unexpectedly. When Lady Celebrían came to him he felt a tension rise within him. Her arms encircled him delicately and her voice was low as she said, "Hannon le, Legolas, for all you did and all you tried to do. I stand in your debt for the affection you have shown my family."

Legolas hugged her back with a soft intensity, closing his eyes over her shoulder. He did not know why, but this moment between them both drew his buried pain out and eased it all at the same time, as if saying goodbye to her filled the void that had been left behind by his inability to do so with his own mother. "Namarie, Lady Celebrían. I wish you all the best. Be well."

She held him a moment longer, then pulled away with a smile that made him long again for his own mother. Seeming to sense that, she reached out, tucking his hair back as a mother would. "You have a good heart," she told him, then stepped back to allow him to join her parents.

The Lord and Lady began out the door with their guardians and as he followed, he gave his friends a final look. Not long Lady Celebrían and Lord Elrond would leave as well, bound westward towards the Grey Havens. Their farewell would be a long one, Legolas assumed. He sighed as he stepped into the sunlight and descended the stairs in the company of the Lórien Elves. Once they reached the horses he looked back. A hand rested against his shoulder and he turned into the starry-eyed gaze of Lady Galadriel. "It will be difficult, but it will grow easier as time passes. When next you see them the evidence of that will be apparent. Come now. It is time for you to turn your heart upon home."

They mounted and passed the gates of Rivendell, turning toward that eastward road and as he made his heart's farewell to Imladris, he thought of his mother and father.

Author: Ruse

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings isn't mine and nor is Elrond, unfortunately, nor Legolas or Aragorn. No infringement intended.

Sindar:
1 – Hannon le, mellon nin. – Thank you, my friend.
2 – Namarie (Quenya), Legolas Thranduilion. Addelid lin terithar aen an. – Farewell, Legolas son of Thranduil. Your return will be looked for.

A/N: The End! Thanks for the reviews, everyone. I hope you enjoyed my tale. :-)