Whew, here it is, the last chapter. My brother and his friends are still discussing music, playing Dirthouse (I think I have the band right) and talking CHildren of Bodom while singing along to I Believe in a Thing Called Love (Listening to them is better than tv, they're friggin hilarious!) I have to dash now, I am just waiting for my boyfriend to call so I can meet him half way there with his truck (since he is driving his dad's) You, know, we should have just taken my dad's flatbed trailer...all well. My cat Olivia is fast asleep on my bed and I don't want to wake her up to say good bye (I am like her mother, she gets all depressed when I go away, its so cute!) So this is goodbye. This is the end of the story, but be sure to review like crazy so I have a whole butt load of reviews to come home to on Easter afternoon. If you're nice enough...there might even be a sequel...but we'll have to see about that. So bye for now, thanks for sticking with me till the end, you guys are great! Have a happy Easter!

The Lost and the Found

She was almost in awe as she picked her dagger up, where it ad fallen from the ground. It was re-forged perfectly but with two additions. Running down the blade in elvish it had inscribed, 'To Eriathwen I Belong. She bent down and picked up the other addition; another dagger, matched perfectly to hers, with an inscription reading Mirkwood is my Home on either side.

She wasn't sure how long she stared, perhaps a few minutes, perhaps a few seconds. She couldn't stop thinking. Mirkwood is my home…Mirkwood is my home…I have no home. She turned the blade over in her hands. …do I? "Why! Why is it that I feel like thus? I was happy all those years, why Eru, why is it that I am still here? Please, tell me why!" her head snapped down to the lake were she heard a fast approach of a horse. A moment later Legolas came into view. No, he can't be here, not now. He can't see me like this. Should I hide, he is sure to come up. She frantically stuffed the contents of her bag back in, barely taking note o the things as she put it in. Almost…got it all.

As she stood she saw that near the edge of the rock she had missed something. My boot knife! She made a dive for it, grabbed it in her hand and went to jump up and grab her bag again when her feet slipped on the rock and she crashed to her stomach, sliding off the rock as she did. The knife fell to the rocks and water below as she let go of it and grabbed desperately at the rocks. She caught hold of one and she clung to it, hoping that Legolas wouldn't be there long; she didn't know how long she could hang on for.

Her grip was slipping as she heard him clamber up on the rocks, and she knew then that she wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. Are you trying to kill me Eru? If you want me dead, please, just strike me down. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

"Why? Why did you leave Eriathwen? If you had just given it more time, you would have learned to like Mirkwood, to like us.

"Legolas?" She whispered his name so softly she wasn't sure she heard it. Legolas however, heard it, or thought he heard something. His eyes wandered down to the rocks and he saw her bag lying on it. "Eriathwen? Eriathwen, are you here?" if she was listening in…no, its my fault for not noticing. I should have known better…I can't believe I didn't notice her horse tied on the other side of the lake there. "Eriathwen!"

Now or never, you aren't going to hold on to this rock forever. "Legolas!" And her hand slipped off the rock and she plunged down.

"No you don't." Legolas grabbed her wrist just as she fell and pulled her up to him. All those years of facing death, and now she was scared out of her wits. She leaned on top of the rock catching her breath, after clutching the rock for so long, she was a bit winded and scared. He helped her up on the rock and into a kneeling position.

Looking in her face, he saw that she had heard. He didn't know why he was so upset about it; he had said Mirkwood, that she would like them. He hadn't said… "Goodbye Eriathwen." He turned from her and stepped away. This was her decision, remember that…

"Legolas, wait." He turned back to face her anxiously. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life,"

"You mean saving your life again?"

"Yes, for saving my life again." He went to climb back down but she stopped him. "Wait, I want, I want to thank you for," she paused and looked down at the ground. "I want to thank you for something that no one else has ever given me.' she looked up at him. "Searching, I have had a life of searching for something, trying to fill an empty whole with something unknown, and now, now I think I know what it is."

"What? What is it that you have found?" He walked up to her and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. He cast his eyes sadly on the ground, anticipating what she might say.

"You Legolas, I found you. I found a friend. And that is all I needed all along." And she fell upon him, arms around his neck crying. He embraced her gently before pulling away and looking in her eyes.

"I was here all along Eriathwen; you just had to realize it. Everyone, no matter how great or small, needs a friend." He slung her bag over his shoulder, took her by the hand, and together, they made their way down the cliff. They mounted their horses and with smiles on the faces, rode back to the palace, knowing good things were to come.