A/N: Thanks for everyone who's sticking with me 'till the end. You have no idea just how much that I appreciate it. Special shout-outs to: Luthien Ancalime87, Spidergirl130, Austin B, and Elven Romantic. You are each extremely awesome. I'm feeling happy. Have a great day!

The Glittering Caves

"Our first home together," Fiondra sighed as Legolas caressed her hip. "And we'll never live here again."

"I know, meleth nin. But soon we shall have a new one." Legolas took her hand and led her from their bedchamber. "We've lived here for some time now. Years have passed since we first agreed to move Fiondra. You agreed to leaving for Ithilien now."

As they walked out of the palace, Fiondra grudgingly said, "At least you allowed me to bring our belongings with us."

"I wouldn't force you to leave everything behind, Fiondra," Legolas chided her.

"Forgive me," she said sheepishly. "I suppose I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of leaving these woods. They're familiar to me. We're going to be in a new, strange setting."

Legolas helped her down the steps toward where their horses waited patiently. "I realize that," he said slowly, wrapping his arm around Fiondra's waist. "Ever since I can remember, Mirkwood has always been bursting with life. Now, it will be deserted, and void of happiness." He grew silent and Fiondra reached up to stroke his face. Legolas smiled sadly. "There is nothing for us here anymore, meleth nin. Are you ready to leave?"

Fiondra nodded and said gently, "We go to an even better life, Legolas. Of that, I am sure. I'm ready, but are you?"

"I am," Legolas decided firmly. He helped his wife onto Etul, and then he mounted Arod. They rode to the head of a column of the remaining South elves waiting to ride to Ithilien.

Fiondra turned back only once as they left the village behind under the safe cover of the trees. She sent a whispered farewell to the home of her innocence, and the ghosts of her past.

X X X X X

Days later, the procession stopped for the evening. Legolas and Fiondra moved further into the forest, away from where the other elves were settling in for the night. "I'd like a little more privacy, but this is the best I can do," Legolas said apologetically.

"Do not worry. This is quite fine," Fiondra assured him. They started to form a makeshift bed upon the mossy forest floor. "I have a surprise for you, husband mine," Fiondra said suddenly.

"I like the sound of that." The ellon nuzzled his wife's neck until she laughed and pushed him away.

"Not that kind of surprise, although…" Fiondra giggled at his eager expression. "Actually, I wrote to Gimli some time ago, telling him of our departure. He invited us to stop at the Glittering Caves along our way."

Legolas grinned at her. "Wonderful! Hannon le, meleth nin."

She inclined her head at him. "Should we not be passing near there tomorrow?" Fiondra asked.

Legolas nodded. "Yes, but for now…" He settled himself on the ground next to the elleth. "I think we should forget about Gimli."

"And why is that?" Fiondra murmured, closing her eyes as the tantalizing aroma that followed Legolas grew stronger.

Legolas breathed against her ear, "Do I really need to answer that?" At her silent nod, he covered her mouth with his. Their bodies met in the silence of the trees as the stars glistened hopefully in the night sky.

X X X X X

"Here we are," Legolas announced to the elves following him. Some of them glanced nervously at the dark mouth of the cave. One ellon stepped forward and boldly stated, "Our apologies, Highness, but none of us are comfortable around caves. To be completely honest, we are not all that fond of dwarves either, although Lord Gimli is uncommonly…decent."

Legolas acknowledged the tall elf and paused for a moment in thought.

Fiondra spoke up quietly, "Perhaps if you and I go visit Gimli, everyone else can stay here and rest for a couple of nights."

Legolas nodded and asked the ellon who had spoken earlier, "Is this acceptable to all of you?"

The other elf looked around and replied, "Of course, Highness."

Legolas dismounted and walked over to Etul. He lifted Fiondra down and took her hand. They went to the elf that had spoken for the group, while the other elves unpacked and chatted gaily.

Before Legolas could speak, Fiondra exclaimed to the ellon, "I know you! You healed me upon our return to Mirkwood. Your name is…Brethil, I believe."

The ellon smiled and bowed. "Yes Majesty. Hannon le."

Legolas cleared his throat. "May I speak now?" he asked Fiondra mock sarcastically.

Fiondra wrinkled her nose at him. "You may, meleth nin."

Legolas squeezed her hand in thanks. He asked Brethil, "Would you mind being in charge while we're visiting Gimli? It would not be difficult; just see that things remain in order."

Brethil shook his head. "It would be my pleasure, Highness."

Legolas thanked him and went to collect some clothing for Fiondra and himself. He grabbed his bow and quiver as an afterthought. With one last look at the blue sky, Legolas led the way into the caves.

X X X X X Fiondra glanced around at the tunnel. The moist stone walls were lined with flickering torches. "How far do you think we'll have to go before we find someone?" she asked Legolas anxiously. "Hopefully not much more," he answered. Realization hit him, and Legolas turned to look at her. "You're not frightened, are you?"

Fiondra blushed, and turned her head to gaze at the sparkling shards embedded in the rocky walls. "I've never been in a cave before," she whispered. "It's so…enclosing."

Legolas reached to kiss her, but hit something on her back. "What – "

Fiondra guiltily turned and showed him her bow and quiver full of arrows. When he started to laugh, she defended herself, protesting, "Just in case!"

Legolas kissed her lips softly. "Im meleth le, Fiondra. You'll be safe here."

"Then why did you bring your bow?" she retorted, raising an eyebrow. At his speechless face, Fiondra laughed and returned his kiss. As she pulled away, her face brightened considerably. "I think we're coming to the end of this tunnel." She pointed toward a soft glow of light.

Legolas walked in silence as they came to a shimmering display of civilization. The whole city seemed to shine under a huge light source near the zenith of the main cave. Many dwarves milled about, some toting sacks of gems, and other pushing cartloads of jewels.

"Eru," Fiondra breathed in awe. "It's amazing."

"Aye, isn't it?" a familiar gravelly voice said.

Legolas turned. "Gimli! It does my heart good to see you again."

Gimli smiled. "It's good to see you too, lad." The dwarf turned to Fiondra and looked at her up and down. He said seriously, "Marriage agrees with you, lass."

Fiondra bent down and placed a kiss on his forehead. "Thank you. I missed you, Gimli."

The dwarf cleared his throat loudly, red creeping into his already ruddy face. "Yes, well, how would you like a tour of the place?"

Legolas looked at Fiondra, who nodded eagerly. "Of course," Legolas said amicably. "Lead on."

X X X X X

Later, as they were eating supper, Legolas again complimented Gimli. "It is unbelievable what it looks like in here. It's a miniature city."

Gimli belched. "It's modeled after some of the human cities actually. It only glitters because of all the minerals in the stone. Thus the name, the Glittering Caves."

Fiondra daintily wiped her face with a napkin that Gimli had scrounged up, especially for her. "Regardless, it is beautiful Gimli. Thank you for having us."

The dwarf nodded in acknowledgement as he shoveled more food in his mouth. "What goes on in the outside world these days?" he asked his guests. The other dwarves listened as well, pausing their meal momentarily.

"Aragorn and Arwen have had a son," Legolas began. "I've also heard that Sam and Rosie have had a few more children."

"Merry and Pippin have each gotten married, apparently, " Fiondra added. "We're hoping to visit all of them in Hobbiton someday soon. Or mayhap they shall come visit us in Ithilien."

"Those rascally hobbits have finally grown up." Gimli shook his head in disbelief. "I can scarcely believe it."

Legolas smiled. "Neither can I. It seems like just yesterday we were off trying to rescue them from the Uruk-hai."

Gimli sighed heavily. "I miss those days, lad. I truly do. Sometimes I wish that the Fellowship had never broken."

"As do I," Legolas replied. "But then I would never have met Fiondra." He turned his head to look at her with pride.

Fiondra felt her cheeks turn pink. When the conversation turned to other news, she let herself drift away in thought. Should I have shared my other news? No; best wait until it is certain.

Legolas looked at her again when she had been silent for some time. "Is everything all right?" he asked her worriedly.

Fiondra gave him a secretive smile. "Yes," she said simply. Underneath the table, she moved her hand to rest against her flat stomach knowingly.

X X X X X

All translations are in previous chapters.

Thank you for reading. I have an outline for what our final closing chapters will entail. I think it will be about 6 more chapters at the most, but for certain at least 4. I wish you much happiness in the coming days.