Well, needless to say, I'm rather disappointed that nobody reviewed the last chapter. Perhaps I just need to give it more time. But I won't withhold this chapter any longer, so here it is.

I can't believe it's over! But I can't wait to start posting the prequel! I'll probably take a break, though, until I've at least written a bit more. And I'm planning on co-authoring a Stargate fic with cagedphoenix, so it might be a while before I start posting the prequel. But, at any rate, here's the epilogue.

Princes of the Earth

Chapter 11

Together Again—Epilogue

Legolas carried on alone until he came across Gandalf by sheer chance, the Wizard leading Éomer and his men onto battle at the fortress of Helm's Deep. There they came to the aid of the Rohirrim and the remaining Fellowship, defeating Saruman's army. But Boromir had perished in the battle, defending the failing gates to the last.

The keys of Orthanc were delivered to Gandalf and inside the tower was recovered one of the palantíri, along with a few priceless heirlooms of Númenor that had fallen into Saruman's hands over the many long years. Isengard was cleared of the defeated Istar's filth and reclaimed as a possession of Gondor, where it was tended to and eventually made into a beautiful garden under the care of the Ents.

The War of the Ring against Sauron was won as two little Hobbits succeeded in their mission, and hope and laughter were restored to Middle-earth again.

Aragorn went on to claim the kingship of the united kingdom of Gondor and wed Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond, and the White Tree bloomed again.

Gimli was granted lordship over the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, where he started a new colony of Dwarves after helping repair Minas Tirith after the War. Legolas never drugged them.

Legolas, after a few years of governing a small settlement of Elves in Ithilien and helping to heal Gondor of its hurts, returned to Mirkwood, now Eryn Lasgalen, where he remained with his father until news of Aragorn's death a hundred years later. Then he built a grey ship in Ithilien, and departed over the Sea with his great friend, Gimli. He had never breathed a word of his four reclaimed brothers to Thranduil, though the king often noted a marked difference in his Legolas's behavior. No longer was he solemn Elf of before, but now laughed and sang, though he rarely spoke of his great adventure.

It was another hundred years before Thranduil followed him over the Sea. ………

………"Where are you taking me?" Thranduil asked yet again, but Legolas only laughed, not loosening his hands from over his father's eyes.

"Just trust me." Finally the two halted. "We are here. Are you ready?"

"Of course I am. Just remove your hands—" Thranduil pushed Legolas's hands off from over his eyes and stopped short. In front of him stood four golden-haired Elves, all nearly replicas of the other, bursting at the seams with anticipation.

Thranduil took a hesitant step forward, as though afraid that if he moved they would disappear and the dream would end. "Oh, can it be? Is it possible? My sons are returned to me! Oh, let this joy never end!" And he rushed forward, enveloping them all in one huge hug.

Legolas just stood to the side, beaming with joy at his father's happiness, until Lindil reached out and pulled him into the hug.

After a few minutes, Thranduil pulled back, not minding the tears that ran freely down his face, examining them. They all seemed to be exactly as he had last seen them, over three thousand years ago. "What has happened?" was predictably the first question out of his mouth. "Why did you never return?"

"It—it is a rather long story," Telepsîr said.

Thranduil raised his hands. "Well, what are you waiting for? We have all eternity!"

And Legolas smiled at the thought.

THE END

Wow, I can't believe it's over. The end wasn't quite how I had originally planned, but my pencil has a life of its own. I just give it movement.

Well, here's the preview. (I had it posted on my LiveJournal over a week ago.) I honestly don't know when I will begin posting it, because I don't like posting works in progress. (For the exact reason of what happened with POTE—a long delay while I was writing another chapter.)

Galadriel stood between the beds of the two princes, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. It had been a year since she had watched Telepsîr ride away back to Greenwood—A year of grief and searching in vain for the four princes, who had all disappeared on their way home to Greenwood. Now here were three of them—Telepsîr, Ransûl, and Laurëfin, who the eldest had not yet noticed—found on the borders of her land, changed, with no memory beyond that very day.

She sat beside the sleeping Laurëfin, gently stroking his shockingly white hair. He had actually been found with Ransûl the day before, the two having met up along the road and continuing together, even though neither knew whom the other was.

The only one of the four who had yet to be found was Lindil. Sighing, Galadriel breathed a prayer to the Valar that the last may be found safely before anything else should happen.

See you all next posting! Everyone review!