I went back through reviews and e-mails and recounted them because the tally I was keeping just wasn't right. So the true tally is: 15 votes for him to die, 22 for him to live as of pre-posting of this chapter. That didn't count some which were fairly ambiguous, as in lives if she has children or is reborn, or dies and goes into the west (at the same time).
I got some great reviews for the last chapter—thanks guys! I don't think there were any specific questions for me to answer (correct me if I'm wrong), so I'm going to shut up now and get back to studying… since I have four exams, a presentation and a lab report to do in the next week and a half.
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Gimli glanced up when Legolas emerged from behind the waterfall. He watched as the downcast elf walked slowly over to the mound of freshly turned earth.
Legolas stared blankly down at the black ground, seeing without noticing for a long moment. Then he blinked and shook himself. "You were careful not to disturb them?" he asked softly, his grief growing as he noticed what he stared at.
"Aye," Gimli agreed, leaning against the shovel Lunian had quietly told him to bring with him on his previous visit to Fangorn, though she had not explained either its use, or why she did not have Legolas bring one.
Legolas nodded, tilting his head as he thought about the history of this glen. "It is rather ironic, Gimli. Here Elrohir and Lenaith fell in love. Here Lunian was born, and Lenaith died. Here I fell in love with Lunian, and here she died. Mother and daughter laid to rest beneath the ground together, when neither should have ceased to walk upon it."
"What now?" Gimli asked after a moment's pause.
Legolas looked down at his hand, at the grey stone he held. He traced the small silver lines with his nail, recalling Lunian doing similarly on thousands of occasions. Maybe she had been right, he mused thoughtfully, rolling the stone in his hand. After a moment he turned to Gimli. "We return to Fangorn." If nothing else, the elves should know not to worry about him, to travel on to the undying lands.
"That's the spirit, lad. She wanted you to continue on."
Legolas slowly turned his head to face the dwarf. "That's all it is Gimli. I exist. I no longer live."