Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks for the reviews. I am sad to say that this is the last chapter of this story and then the story will be complete. So I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I have. These are flashbacks. There will not be a sequel and I am giving this an open ending so you can fill in the rest. But for now let's begin.
The wind was blowing softly, a wind of change. There were whispers in the wind of times past and of people gone but not forgotten. Never forgotten by the ones who shared their life, the two firstborn who still stood on these shores, staring out at the grey ship which lay waiting until they were ready to board and set upon their last journey, the last home they would go to.
"It is time to board the ship, we cannot let Gimli wait." Legolas said as he sought out Nienna's hand. His wife looked at him before she answered. "Yes, go ahead, I need to linger a while longer, not long just a moment." She stared out at the grey ship again but not seeing it. She remembered their family, her son who was already on board, waiting patiently for his parents to come as well but not understanding why they were lingering.
"It will only grow harder, meleth." Legolas said as he also stood rooted to the spot, unable to move unless he wanted to. "I know, but you are not making any progress as well, Greenleaf." She turned to him once more and allowed him to wrap his arm around her, both remembering the first person that sailed before them, Thranduil.
It was perhaps ten years after his grandson had been born before Thranduil came with the news. Leading his remaining people westwards over the sea but a handful came to live in Ithilien. The only great elven lord who was left was lord Celeborn, staying in Rivendell after his wife had passed over the sea a mere three years after the War of the Ring had ended.
Nienna had said a fond farewell to her father in law but Legolas had simply stormed inside after his father had left, refusing to talk to anybody. She had found him later standing on the balcony, looking out towards the west with a longing on his face which was undeniable.
Legolas turned back when he heard Nienna approach before he turned back to resume what he was doing. "Legolas, will you follow him or are you angry at him for doing what you will not do? He has lived here long and longs for peace. He has seen much suffering and has done much. Why do you begrudge him that?"
"I do not. I have made a vow and I shall see it through. He flees to the West when there is so much left for him to do here. I need him, Nienna." The elf spun around and faced her, hissing the words out through clenched teeth. "He will still be your father even after we get to Valinor. You cannot keep him here for selfish reasons, Legolas. It is not fair. He has lost his wife to the sea and longs to be reunited with her, he has watched his own child grow up and start his own life and family. His people have left these shores, what is a king when there are no people to rule but above else he longs to have his wounds healed. As do we all. He has done all he can do and he will be restored as you know him. He has fought the shadow longer then anybody else, fighting for his people and his lands so they would not fall to ruin or his line to fall into decay, a line which is continued now in our son."
Legolas grabbed her forcefully and shook her while he answered. "You cannot even begin to understand what it is like to lose your father, Nienna. Elrohir is still here." She shook her head sadly as she said. "He will leave soon as well. He will not remain to see our son grow up for he longs for the peace only the ancient West can bring, much like your father. I have never known my father, Legolas, may you not forget that." She forced him to release her which the elf did.
Taking a step away from Legolas she turned and asked. "Is the longing really so bad? Do you wish to follow your father into the West?" She walked to the balcony, not noticing how her husband tensed before he stopped beside her. "Yes, it is. It is like something you cannot have but do really wished for. I lose all control if I hear the cry of a gull and I cannot think of anything else unless it is reaching Valinor. It fills my thoughts and I know I will eventually have to follow the longing into the West."
She had been afraid for him, truly afraid he was going to leave. To leave behind their life, their family and her. Nor had she known the sea longing raged within him but now as they stood upon the brink of the sea, of the brink of a new life, she wondered if she should tell him but then again she could wait.
He had never left of course, never once breaking the vow he had made to Aragorn, yet every time they saw the aging king she could see the pain in her husband's eyes. But it was not what had eventually ripped her heart apart; it was the news that came perhaps 60 years ago, after the coming of age ceremony of Raunien. It was the news Elrohir was leaving.
Legolas hurried up the stairs to their private chambers as he could feel the agony in his soul reaching incredible heights. He shot past his son who stared at him with open curiosity as he called out. "Atar, what is wrong?" Legolas stopped, forcing himself to calm down, not allowing himself to drown in these feelings that he had thought he had buried a long time ago with his own father's passing into the west.
"Raunien, ion nin, I do not know what words to say to you but to tell you that your grandfather is leaving. Elrohir will sail to the west coming this spring. I am sorry, meleth but I am needed elsewhere, go say goodbye to him and spent as much time as you can with him for your mother and I never had the same change." His child nodded at him, brown eyes full of compassion for how many times had he heard the tales from both himself and Nienna?
"Will you tell Naneth that I will not be back tonight? I wish to sleep in the woods, if you will allow it, Atar?" Legolas nodded at him before turning around and resuming his flight to his own chambers again.
He knew she was on her way to him, wishing to comfort him as his old friends finally departed for the Grey Havens but it was he who caught her. She crashed into him the moment he rounded the last corner to the chambers and he caught her around the waist as she flung her arms around his neck, neither of them spoke for the moment, simply letting their souls tell everything.
"He is leaving, Greenleaf, he is sailing west in the spring. He is really going home." The word home continued to sprang to mind, she had never called it that, never understanding his desire to sail to Valinor, although he knew she would follow him regardless. Legolas tightened his arms around her as he said. "I know, meleth nin, but it is for us to go on. To carry on so the legacy of Elrohir and Elladan will be continued until we too shall sail west."
She surprised him as she stepped back and he could not help but smile as he saw the strength in her eyes. She had come a long way since he had first fallen for her, all those long yeas ago, how he could still remember how frightened she was of even Gandalf. "Yes, I know. And if we sail west I will see him again, will I not?" She once more surprised him as he nodded she quickly kissed him on the lips before stepped away and saying. "I better go check on our son. He will need a blanket if he is to sleep outside tonight."
Legolas closed his eyes as the memory assailed him. The burning pain had only diminished but had never disappeared. Yet it was only the beginning for after that their mortal friends started dying. It had started with Rosie, Sam's wife and after Sam sailed to the West, following his old master Frodo. Nienna had only met her once of twice but she could tell Sam loved her a lot.
The next to die was Eomer, the old king of the Riddermark had ruled for 65 long years, bringing peace to his people and restoring the land after the War of the Ring. Merry and Pippin had come to visit them in Ithilien, but the two friends were old and they longed for death. They found peace with Aragorn in Minas Tirith until the both of them died within an hour after each other in the next winter.
Legolas and Nienna had been present and nothing could hide the mask of pain of her husband's face as she supported him while he said goodbye to the last of the two Hobbits. They were needed barely 2 months later to say goodbye to Eowyn as the fair warrior lost her fight for life, dying at the glorious age of 79 years old. Faramir died in the summer, suffering from the heat and passed away peacefully with his children by his side.
The worst news came years later. The new that king Elesar of Gondor was dying.
Legolas spurred his horse on, hoping he would make it to the white city in time. He simply had to see and talk to his friend one last time. When he saw the flags he breathed a sigh of relief, they were still raised high, meaning the king must still be alive.
Giving his horse to one of the stable boys he hurried inside, not waiting for Nienna to catch up with him. He rushed to the room where his friend lay dying, stopping death in tracks when he saw the proud form of Aragorn lying on the big bed. The king's head was grey and wrinkled but Legolas could easily recognize him. As Aragorn lifted his hand to invite him in, Legolas crouched near the bed and took his friend's offered hand in his own.
"You made it in time." The rough voice whispered as Legolas offered Aragorn a smile, not noticing how all the people left the two friends alone. "I would hold myself to blame if I did not, Mellon." There was no happy spark in his friend's eyes as Aragorn sighed and answered. "It is time, Legolas, time to say our final goodbyes. I do not know what awaits me or if I shall ever see you again. The Valar know how much I long to see you once more. Long my life has been and all of my dreams and desires have been fulfilled and I have no regrets, save the ones you already know. Will you give me your blessing, my prince?"
Legolas swallowed, thinking on the question Aragorn had asked him so long ago until he saw his friend's face fall as the man muttered. "I am sorry; it was too much to ask."
"No, it was not. I will give it to you, if you wish for it." The man nodded and as Legolas closed his eyes and reached out to place his palm over the man's weakened heart he answered in their native tongue. "May the Valar light you path, oh great king of men and may you be reunited with your beautiful evenstar at the end of this journey. May you find peace and I pray we may see each other again but know you shall always live on in tales and in the memory of the elves and thus you are truly immortal."
Tears had gathered in his eyes as he gathered the dying man close, giving Aragorn one last hug before walking away, allowing Arwen in the room. He made his way to his own room, not speaking to anybody. He flung his quiver and bow on the bed and went back to wait outside of the room Aragorn lay in, lost in thought and memories of his friend.
Legolas could not stop from shaking as he remembered the most painful goodbye of all, the goodbye to Aragorn.
It was early in the next morning when Arwen came outside and Nienna flew to her side, supporting her as she collapsed in her niece's arms. The queen sobbed as she hiccupped the words. "He is gone, truly gone…" The rest of the sentence was lost on Legolas the cold truth dawned on him and he felt his heart sink.
Nienna looked up sharply as she heard a cry cut through her. She only needed to look on her husband's face to see the prince had gone pale and had fled the room, seeking to hide from his grief. Arwen clung to her and Nienna was relieved when Eldarion, Aragorn's son appeared next to his mother to take her from her as he said. "Hush Naneth, it will be alright. Come; let us get you somewhere private."
The young king took his mother from Nienna's arms as the elf maiden stepped back. "I must go. I am needed elsewhere." Eldarion nodded, grey eyes full of concern and fresh grief. "I will send Raunien to you within the hour." She placed a hand upon the tall man's cheek before she turned around to find her husband.
It did not take long for her to find him as he sat in the garden, staring out into the West. It took her a moment to climb the giant tree but when she finally hauled herself up onto the same branch as Legolas was sitting the elf did not acknowledge her. "Arwen will be death before next spring and the people are in mourning for Aragorn, yet they will not know her faith. They do not understand that elves can fade and they will think she had gone to join her people." She stated softly, watching as Legolas' eyes drifted back to her own.
She sighed in relief when she did not found them blank as she had before as the elf longed for the west but full of grief and hard blazing anger. "Yes, and we are all that is left who still remember the old takes."
"They still speak about the War of the Ring and the Nine Walkers."
"Yes, as a bedside story to scare children. What if evil like that rises again, what will they do then?" Legolas demanded. "They will remember the tales and know what to do but you know this does not concern us anymore." There she had said it and Legolas looked at her with an unreadable expression on his fair face. Was it regret perhaps? Or hope that it was finally over?
"Yes, it is true. But I wish for one last night, one last lasting memory for us." With those words an arm was placed around her waist as he drew her close, kissing her on the lips before carrying her back to their bedroom.
That morning had been the last time they had seen Arwen but they had known she had chosen to follow Aragorn. Yet it was not their place to tell, they only told Eldarion and left it in his care as to whether he wanted to tell his people.
With advice and gifts for those in Valinor they left for Ithilien. The goodbyes were sad but Nienna found herself viewing all of this with a newfound detachment. A detachment which would have frightened her before but she was glad for it, as she was glad for the soreness of her body the next day as it reminded her of the last true binding with Legolas on these mortal shores.
It had taken nearly two months to build the ship which would take them over the sea; all the while Legolas was gone, working night and day in order to get it done. Many of their people went with them as Nienna walked the forests to remind herself of the life she had led here. Gimli stayed with them, wishing to sail into the west as well and Nienna was glad for the company.
They had spoken for hours and Gimli often left with Raunien so the younger elf could listen to old tales of his father's friend, something he loved. It was not long until everything was ready and they left, finally boarding the ship and sailing to Valinor.
Legolas frowned as he looked at Nienna once more. It seemed like his wife had gained weight but how he could not see, he had never seen her eat so little or sleep this much. He shot her a smile when she looked at him and she nodded in return, but yet there was something familiar in the way she moved, but what it was he did not know.
He kissed the top of her head when she passed him and said. "We are nearly there. You should be able to see the Isle." She nodded absentminded at him and it was not long before even the weakened eyesight of Gimli could see Valinor.
Legolas could not help but laugh as the ship finally landed at the beach and he saw all the people standing there, waiting for them. He had a feeling he was home and was about to decent when Nienna's hand on his arm startled him. He turned and found her looking at the people with tears in her eyes. Gathering her close he waited for her to speak, knowing that pressing her would not get any answers. "We are finally home but there is something I must tell you, Legolas, although I do not know if you will hate me for it since I have not told you before."
"Why should I hate you? What is done is done and the past remains the past but the future is ours, our new future here." He gestured with his arm to the Isle and Nienna smiled as she asked. "Does that include a new child, Greenleaf?"
She received a blank stare and a stutter as the elf asked. "Do you mean… that you are with child?" She had rarely seen him look so surprised or so happy when she had told him this news before. "Yes, a child beget on mortal shores but immortal in every way. A child that will truly belong to us, that will belong to peace." The stunned prince merely pulled her in a kiss before sweeping her up in his arms and walking towards their new future in Valinor with old and new family.
Hope you liked it and this is the official ending. Review please and no sequel.