Thranduil's POV

So, here we are. At last. After all the long waiting, the time has finally come. I was surprised at first by how many have turned up, but I don't suppose I should have been. Findilan was greatly loved, and I never realised that her loss will affect not just me and the children.

Her body is lying on a bier, which is decorated with flowers, and although it is daytime – though the black clouds are enough to make me wonder - there are candles all around her. The flames dance and cast shadows on her face, making it look as though her eyes are fluttering or her mouth is twitching. I only hope that Legolas does not get any ideas.

Lady Galadriel is saying a prayer for Findilan right now, her eyes closed. I see the single tear slip from under her lashes, though. Now that is something I never thought I would see in my life. I can feel Airëlus standing beside me, and he is tense, hardly daring to breathe. Calaen is on my other side, and I can feel him exhale deeply, his body trembling against mine.

Legolas is standing in front of me, staring straight ahead. His face is turned away, and he is so small that I cannot even glance sideways to see if there are tears in his eyes. Damn, I want to hold all of my children, and I want to tell them that everything will be alright. Or...maybe part of me just wants to reassure myself of that.

Airëlus' POV

I never imagined that this day would actually arrive, and now that it has, I still can't truly believe it. Everything seems so surreal. Part of me wonders if I am merely dreaming all of this, and I think that part of me is hoping that I am merely dreaming it. But no, I know that I am not. I have pinched myself enough times, praying that I will wake up. I haven't.

I'm watching the proceedings so intently and carefully, but everything seems to be moving as though in slow motion. As Lady Galadriel chants quietly, I watch her, the movements of her lips. They do not match the words that are flowing through the air.

Standing opposite me, is Lord Elrond and his two sons. I watch them for a moment. One of the twins – I don't know which – shakes his head slightly, for there is hair in his eyes. His brother nudges him to be still, and...I see nothing else. Until I blink.

Now I know why my vision was slighted: the tears which I would previously not let spill, are all fighting to escape. What if I had not spoken to Ada earlier? I am sure that things would be very different for me. He's right. We do not know what the future holds for us. Anything could happen. And I am sure that it will.

Calaen's POV

I haven't thought about Legolas' involvement with our mother's death since that day back in the Houses of Mourning when I was overcome with despair. But now that I am looking on her body once again, the feelings are starting to come back, no matter how I try and push them away.

Every time I glance at her, I see her lying in the forest with Legolas at her side, those damned leaves clutched in his fist. And then I want to shout and yell and scream, scream that it is all his fault. No, stop that! Stop that, right now.

This is your mother's day of burial, and all you can think about is placing blame on an innocent child. Why? It is just so that you can try and forget about this grief which is so over-powering. Selfish. No-one must find out about this. But, what if people did? What would happen if Ada and Airëlus knew that I blamed my young brother? What would happen if Legolas himself found out? Hearts would be broken, I am sure of it.

But I do not want that. I do not want to think like this again; I do not want to let Legolas become an unknown victim of my uncontrollable accusations; I do not want to feel this pain. It hurts. It hurts so much. But it is not physical, it is emotional. My heart...my heart is hurting. My heart is confused.

Legolas' POV

When I first saw Nana's body, I wanted to run up to her, even though I knew she would not know I was there. I wanted to, but I didn't. Someone put a hand on my shoulder though, and held me still for a few minutes. I don't know who it was. Maybe Ada or Airëlus. I think they thought that I might go to Nana.

I didn't know it would be like this, even though I heard people talking about it. I haven't cried either, but nor am I happy. Ecstatic, that's what Cal said earlier. No, I am not ecstatic. No-one looks very happy. In fact, a lot of the other Elves are crying.

I wonder if Ada or Airëlus or Cal are crying. I can't turn around to look at them, because I did that once already, and Ada shook his head. We have been here for a very long time, and I thought that I would feel better about seeing Nana. I don't.

I just want to run forwards and touch her one last time and tell her that I love her; I want to smell her again; I want to feel her hair just once more before she goes. I want all of that so much, and I know that I can't stay still for much longer. As each minute passes, I feel worse. Maybe if I look away it will get better. Yes, I am not going to look at Nana again, because if I do, I know I will do something stupid.

Goodbye Nana.

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Thranduil let his gaze linger on Queen Findilan's body for a moment longer, before flicking his eyes to the other side of the courtyard, which was where the service was being held. His people stood in silence, dressed in black, and he smiled vaguely as he noted the tears streaming from many eyes. His wife had touched many hearts.

'And one of them was not wanted here,' he thought bitterly. But, deciding that today was not the day to think on that, the King shook himself mentally, and turned his gaze elsewhere. As he locked eyes with Lord Elrond, the Noldor Elf made a subtle downwards gesture, with his dark orbs.

Without changing the expression in his eyes or face, Thranduil tilted his head sideways, questioningly. Again, a nod in the general direction of...Ah, Legolas. Realisation suddenly dawned, and the Sinda Elf was still for a moment. As King, he never showed any public affection towards his children, very much like his own father had done. It had always been that way, no matter how much the tradition was disliked.

'Damn protocol to Mordor and back," thought Thranduil angrily. 'If I want to reassure my children, and make sure that they are well, in front of my people, what of it?'

Nodding his thanks to Elrond, the Elven-king crouched down and put a hand on his youngest son's shoulder, and whispered, "Legolas, look at me."

The Prince turned his head, surprised at being addressed. The swift movement, though, caused silvery tears to spill from his eyes. Blinking, he raised a hand to brush them away before anyone, especially his father, could see. But Thranduil merely pulled Legolas to him, before straightening up once more, the Elfling still in his arms.

"Thank you, Ada," Legolas whispered, only able to hold back to say those two words before the dams burst and the tears fell, like rain from the sky.

Thranduil glanced sideways at Airëlus to make sure he was well, and started at the pale colour of his son's face. But as he followed the Crown Prince's gaze, he realised with a jolt what it was. Lady Galadriel had fallen silent, and four uniformed Elves, soldiers, were stepping forwards to pick up Queen Findilan's bier.

"Ada, they're taking her," Calaen breathed.

"I know, I know," Thranduil said in a low voice. "They must, ion-nin. We all knew this time would come: our last few moments with her."

Calaen's green eyes filled at that, and he was unaware of the looks being thrown his way from the other gathered Elves. "Ada, she will be alone without us, and we will be alone without her."

"Nana can't go where she'll be by herself!" Legolas sobbed into his father's shoulder.

From where he stood at the left hand side of the Royal Family, Gandalf shut his eyes for a moment, before taking a step forwards. He held up a hand to halt the soldiers, and then gently pushed Airëlus and Calaen forwards. He smiled inwardly as he saw Thranduil visibly relax. Obviously it was all too much for him to cope with.

"This is your last chance," the Wizard said to the two young Elves, "to say goodbye to your mother for the final time. Do not let this chance go."

Airëlus rested a hand on Findilan's white cheek, and he shuddered at the coldness of it. He said nothing, choosing instead to keep his thoughts between himself and the Queen. He knew that she would understand. Calaen, though, held one of his mother's hands tightly, and bowed his head as he whispered, "Namarie, Naneth. Im meleth lle."

Standing slightly behind them, Thranduil let his gaze rest on his wife's face. Even in death, she was beautiful, and it suddenly dawned on him that he would never feel her silver hair in his fingers; never feel her lips against his; never hear the beating of her heart. "Namarie, meleth-nin."

Legolas turned his head slightly to look down at his mother. He simply said: "Goodbye, Nana."

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This was a short chapter, compared to the other ones, I think. Right, I cannot answer any questions on this chapter, because the computer will only let me use it for about five minutes, before it crashes. Luckily, I had this chapter typed up before. But it also means that I can't e-mail the people that I normally do, so, Legolas-gurl88 and kathysidle, I'll try and e-mail you from college, but I just thought I should let you know, so you don't think I'm ignoring you or I've been abducted by aliens.

Anyway, better go else the computer will freak out again.