Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's creations and only lay claim to my own humble creatures.

Chapter Quote: "You know how busy us important people are. Maybe you should go count sheep... or find something else to do with your endless unimportant time."

Chapter Sixty-Two

Dreaming

My parents have changed. My father looks at me with tenderness in his eyes and my mother is no longer afraid. They tell me Talorta is waiting at home in the pasture for me. They tell me he has sired a son. A little colt. They tell me they have opened our breeding farm again and that Talorta and his son are both mine.

They tell me I have been in a coma for nearly ten years. I am infuriatingly weak... and it will be months before I am well enough to go home. I have told no one about Legolas... or what I was really doing for the all these past years. They would never believe me anyway.

I bear no scars now besides the one that pervert gave me when I first left home. When I began a journey that would bring me back here in the end. Back home. But even with all this happiness I have not forgotten.

An old friend of mine... Anneliese... came to visit me today. She is married. We went to high school together. She reminds me of Araviniel. They look similar... dark hair and green eyes, tall and lean with a vivacious personality- minus the immortality and pointed ears of course. And besides the fact that Anneliese isn't from... there. She told me of a trilogy she reads to her three daughters at night. A story about a ring... about lands full of orcs and elves... and I asked her if I could borrow it.

I will never forget him now. I wept with joy when I read his story... their story. I do not question how it happened... I just know that it did. And that is enough.

I like Gimli... he is good for him. He makes him laugh...he was always far too serious anyway... too prone to anger. Gimli reminds him that even elves aren't perfect. I wish I could have met him.

I found he looks similar to an actor called Orlando Bloom- but even he is a small caparison and resembles him only faintly. He is... was... so different. And I am happy he lived... or died... in peace. Even if that peace was not with me. I am glad the story ended happily... as it should have always had.

I like it that way better... even if it means I am not with him. Happily ever after... the story ended well.

I am content with that.

Legolas was preparing to return to Ithilien. Araviniel's wedding was over and she was very happy. Faerlain had agreed to return to Gondor with him- Faerlain was betrothed.

"To whom?" Legolas had asked after congratulations had been given.

"She has dark hair- and eyes the sharpest blue. She is stubborn, quick-witted, and one to laugh."

She reminded Legolas of someone... but he couldn't think of who. "Will you be happy?" He asked, uneasy for some unexplainable reason.

Faerlain had sighed in contentment and smiled. "I will be blessed."

But something hadn't seemed right to Legolas... but he still couldn't explain why. The lanky figure of his brother appeared in the doorway and Faerlain excused himself with a smile to finish his own packing. Celebas was 'gracious' enough to knock.

"Well, well, well... the caretaker of Ithilien is returning to his post. Important now are we?"

Legolas smiled. Celebas would be King of Eryn Lasgalen one day. "You know how busy us important people are. Maybe you should go count sheep... or find something else to do with your endless unimportant time."

Celebas laughed easily, and the twinkle in his grey eyes warmed Legolas' heart. "Amusing, you are a comic genius. This just came for you." Celebas handed him a weathered letter.

"From Aragorn?" He asked in surprise, moving to open it.

"It came just this morning. Strange... didn't you just get a letter from the good King of Gondor yesterday?"

Mail didn't travel that fast... no matter how Estel liked to brag. Frowning, Legolas pocketed the letter to save for when he was alone and he shrugged. "Important it seems."

"Mortal through and through... it seems Estel has not changed after all." Legolas half-smiled and Celebas nudged him. "Come on... don't look so gloomy! You're returning to Gondor aren't you?"

Legolas nodded, strengthening his smile.

"There is the Legolas I know and love!"

"Be on your way." Legolas replied, playfully chucking a pillow from his bed at his older brother. "I'll be along for dinner shortly."

Celebas shrugged. "Suit yourself... it will be your loss to be deprived of my company." He left with a smile and a wave and Legolas took out the letter to examine once more.

It looked as though it had been written in a hurry- but upon opening it Legolas found that it had been written during the winter months... nearly five months previous. Curious- he began to read.

My friend.

I can't believe that I didn't remember when I was there. I recognized Victoria's scar when she was in the dungeons. It belonged to a young girl I found outside Gilloth's borders nearly a decade ago. If this reaches you in time for the trial, please use it! Victoria is innocent... and enough blood has been spilt over this matter.

I bid thee well.

Yours faithfully,

Estel

Legolas frowned... Victoria? Trial? The letter didn't make any sense. Especially since Aragorn's last letter had simply been about supplies. Legolas pocketed the parchment once more and headed for the dining hall. But he couldn't help but feel, even in his jovial mood, that something was horribly wrong...

... and that he'd forgotten something terribly important.

A/N: Well, I decided to just get all these chapters posted. And I apologize... I seem not to be able to count. The next chapter is the last... I counted wrong in my notebook. Sorry:) Also, notice the little connection, Anneliese (Victoria's friend) resembles Araviniel. (To make up in part for forgetting to add their reunion). And the elf Faerlain is in love with is like Victoria without him realizes. So forgive me, Faerlain fans, but he is happy- even though he's not with Victoria. I also got to comment on two things I really wanted to comment on. #1- that I really wanted Gimli to be in this story but he just didn't make it. And #2- that I really don't think Orlando gave Legolas all the credit he deserves. The films were fantastic... but they will always fall short of the books in one way or another for me. :)

Next chapter is last! (Tear) Reviews are appreciated!

TO BE CONTINUED...