Gimli situated himself in the bottom of the grey boat Legolas had built, then turned to glance at the elf in question. Legolas stood silently on the shore, looking into the mist that rolled off the waves. Gimli shook his head as he interpreted the look, correctly, as one of indecision. He sighed and waited.
Legolas's sharp eyes could not pierce the mist, could not see the undying lands to discover if there was any hope there. Turning around he looked back at Middle-Earth, the land he had spent his entire life traveling. He no longer had family, a kingdom, a home, or even friends there. Everything had passed away or was ready to do so, as Gimli's white beard indicated. There was nothing for him there.
But was there anything in the west? His mother. His father. Elrond. Galadriel. Elladan, Elrohir. Elrohir. he pulled that name out for closer study, thinking of the murmur of the trees he had felt as he cradled Lunian's lifeless form. They had whispered he was not the first. The bones in the ground had been enough to assure him of that. Elrohir might know how to continue on with only the faintest spark of hope.
Hope.
It was what Lunian had wanted him to have, what everyone who knew the whole truth had tried to assure him was true, though they could no more know that than anyone else. I do not wish to die twice.
He swallowed and clenched his hand around the sweaty grey stone as he recalled Lunian's words, and Arwen's as well. Could he really risk Lunian being reborn without being there? Could he let what little will and life remained within him pass away, when she could be waiting for a chance to live? Could he truly die himself? He had known death for an instant when she died, and it was a bitter taste indeed.
Hope.
It was nothing. It had no warmth, no value in exchange, no ability to warm the night or keep hungry animals at bay.
Hope.
It was everything. It held the heart and soul in the body, warmed the spirit through the coldness produced by loneliness and despair, filled the void left by loss, accepted the pain and gave light instead. It was the most valuable thing anyone could have. It was in the West.
It would be many long years before he saw her again, most likely. Assuming she would be reborn. She would probably be born of Lenaith and Elrohir, and even if Lenaith had been reborn immediately, she would have needed most of Lunian's life to age enough for Elrohir to marry her, and that only if she did not take the time for a second childhood, opting instead to more or less pick up where she had left off in her life.
Could he wait? Would the slight flicker of hope that was kindled in him now survive the passage, much less the time he would have to wait before he could see her, hold her, tell her to sleep well while resting beside her at night?
Having no answers, he glanced at the stone in his hand, traced the silver lines. He turned and looked at the shore behind him. Death stared back.
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Okay, I've lost count (again) of live and die votes. There were more for him to live than to die, but it doesn't really matter because I've decided to post both options (see below). Those who reviewed before seemed to generally like the choice, and as no one reviewed thinking it a horrid idea, both endings are now up (even as I'm typing this, they're floating around cyberspace just waiting for someone to try and view them to put up that annoying 'chapter does not exist' page.)
It's been great fun. but I'm kind of glad to be done with this one.
~*~*~*~
All right. I admit it. I'm terrible with decisions.
Usually, when I write a story, I know from the beginning how I want it to turn out. Didn't happen this time. because I like both endings.
So, here's what we're going to do. You can choose. Or not, if you like. Yep, next update will be the grand finale.
So, when the chapters are up, go either to 'Keeper of the stone', or 'The waves rolled on'. How do you decide? Well, if you think the world always needs to come up smelling like roses in stories-because let's be serious, it rarely does in real life-go to 'Keeper of the stone'. If you're in a bit more of a realistic mood-as much of one as you can be in reading about a fictional couple in a fictional world with fictional races-on to 'The waves rolled' on. Any review responses for this update will go in the space above, and a general warning of the coming chapters each being a separate ending will be it for the top of the final chapters, responses to review questions at the bottom.