Epilogue-Departure
A week later, Legolas received the news that Camille had passed away in her sleep. She had lost the will to live, and finally succumbed to the call of old age. When he found out, his guilt and grief nearly overwhelmed him. It was all because of him. If only he had been stronger, perhaps she would still be alive.
Her funeral was small and brief. He attended, and added his voice to the song of all the other mourners. She was laid out in her coffin at the front of the hall, yet he could not bring himself to look upon her face in death. He knew he would find no closure in that manner. After the funeral, he continued as he always had, working day and night, hiding his pain behind a façade of serenity. All around him seemed a blur. Aragorn and Gimli noticed their friend's seclusion, but they did not speak of it, and he would not have confided in them even if they had. This was a loss he must bear on his own.
Every day, he though of her, and every night she haunted his dreams. He saw her not as she had been, grey and withering in old age, but young and agile, as she had been so long ago. He longed for her now with every fibre of his being. Yet he knew she was not coming back. He had lost her forever.
He dwelt in Middle Earth for many more years. He brought a company of his people east, and the land became once more beautiful under their care.
Yet the time came when he could no longer bear to remain there. Then he built a great ship, and prepared to sail west to the undying lands, where he could live in joy and sorrow combined for the rest of his immortal life.
Before he could leave, Gimli heard of his friend's intentions. The dwarf was adamant that he was coming, and nobody could persuade him otherwise. So it was that the dwarf boarded the ship with him, as he prepared to sail away.
Legolas knew that the memory of Camille would never fade. He would carry it forever in his heart, a sorrow that could not be relieved by even the bliss of the undying lands. Nor could he ever find closure. The bitter wound would never heal. For all of eternity, he was to carry it deep in his heart, never to fade away. His love and grief, now kindled, would stay with him forever.