Okay, here is my excuse: Four major exams, a fifty minute presentation, lab reports, labs to do and work. Doesn't sound like much when you read it, but when you're actually studying all of this sh…stuff, it seems like a lot more. I'm just thrilled to be turning my computer on for the first time in a week and a half. I'm uploading the next chapter with this one, and there's an author's note there as well that should be read before you go on… when I put the final chapters up. Yup! Almost done! Just give me a few days to make sure things sound right and there are no major problems in my spelling/grammar/chapters.

To 'unknownreader'… I just want to point out that in the book Legolas builds his own ship to sail west… at least that's how I always interpreted it. Although how Legolas knew Gimli could go with him is something for elven scholars beyond my ken.

Thanks to those who reviewed… and anyone who actually reads the author's notes instead of skipping down… thanks for reading, and the next update is the conclusion!

There were three new live votes, and one die vote for Legolas. I will update the tally in my bio, but I don't have the numbers with me at the moment.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

As Legolas looked out at the destruction that was still clearly visible, he sighed softly. He could bring to mind without any effort the last time he had been here.

Gimli shuddered dramatically. "I never thought to come here again," he muttered.

Legolas shrugged. "It was one of the few places left to travel to."

"We have already been here. Let us look no farther."

Legolas drew a deep breath, only partially aware how much cleaner the air was this time around. "Very well, Gimli. Where would you have us go?"

"We could always go to Lothlorien," Gimli grumbled softly.

Legolas would have smiled, once, but now it was too much effort. "There are no elves there any longer, my friend."

"I know, but the memory will be more cheerful than this." Gimli huffed and turned his back on the former black gates of Mordor.

Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Legolas finally followed Gimli as the dwarf walked back towards the west. Always west he wanted to go. With a sigh Legolas conceded he knew the reason for that. A small part of him wished to see his mother, his father, and hear of the ring bearers again. But the majority of him was still undecided, uncertain, filled only with a vast and consuming emptiness.

He had traveled around Middle-Earth with Gimli, and everyplace he had never been with Lunian had still reminded him of her somehow, whether he could imagine her reaction to it or dreamed she was there to see him with it, or was glad she wasn't, as in the case of Mordor.

It was so much worse when they traveled somewhere he had known her. Lothlorien he had avoided, knowing he would find her there just as much as he had in Imladris after her death. Everywhere he turned he could remember her there, her smile, her laughter, her concerned or worried green eyes. It was all too much.

The sea called to him once more, the pull louder than ever, taking over his waking moments, haunting his dreams with its bitterly sweet taste. Was that the taste of death she had described? The only thing that kept him on these shores was knowing he would not be allowed to fade away if he would rather die. There was just enough there to keep him alive… but the existence he was in was not enough. He had not truly smiled since she died. He had not had a moment's true, unshadowed happiness, and the false moments had been very few and years between.

The final decision was almost upon him. Gimli grew ever older, his legs having trouble keeping up since their horses had been turned to pasture and ultimately died several years back. He knew those waiting in the west for him would be loosing hope, but somehow he could not quite bring himself to care. The only one he wanted to see again wouldn't be there.

With a sigh Legolas rested his hand upon Gimli's shoulder. "It is time," he murmured, and they wound their weary steps towards Mithland.