My dear flighty and insufferable elf,

For a very long time the idea of immortality was incompressible to me. I was born and raised in a world where everything was destined to live out its set number of days as it wished and then it was to die. Having fulfilled a purpose or no. I knew from the moment I opened my eyes that there was only a certain number of times Eru had decided I would be able to do so. But for you, life is not so.

And while I knew this fact about elves long before I even met you, I still could not understand it. Not really.

I had hoped that in getting to know you I would come to understand how life could ever be designed to exist forever. I had hoped to understand more of what made eternal creatures eternal. Unsurprisingly, you were exedingly unhelpful on all fronts. As you most often are.

From what I could tell, you are somehow uncomfortably timeless yet disturbingly and abundantly mortal in all other aspects. In all my years Eru allowed me to walk on Arda and Aman, few in number they may seem to you, I have never met a soul that takes such individual interest in every single matter of life and creation. Big or small, but usually smaller the better.

I have never seen somebody drink in every word and sight as it is both their first and last, yet I have watched you do so for a century. And have no doubt you did so hundreds of years before you knew me, and hundreds of years after I am gone.

I could hardly believe my eyes and ears when your good cheer, good nature, and good intentions did not waver for a single moment during our quest. I could not believe that such a light filled creature had been created that could withstand such determined and relentless hate. And I certainly could not believe that you had been enduring worse than the parallels of our quest for your entire life but laughed more in the first year I knew you than perhaps my entire family my entire life.

I have never seen the world so uniquely but with such crystal clear sincerity as I did whenever you shared your views with me. The experience has been both an honor and a privilege.

Not unlike you, immortality proved to be a funny and tricky thing.

Eventually. I stopped trying to understand the idea of immorality, and instead just watched you enjoy and suffer it. And while doing so has not brought me any closer to finding any logical answer, it has however brought me to my own conclusion that I refuse to be swayed from: Eternal life was created for you, Legolas, because there is no other soul that has walked or will that deserves it as much as you.

You deserve an infinite number of sunrises to watch, birds to sing to, and nights to run under your trees. You deserve a never ending sea of days in which you can continue to fill every second with love and laughter. You deserve thousands of dances with the one you love, and to watch thousands of tree's grow from seeds to oaks to rival the one's in the gardens of Yavanna.

You deserve so much. And I am glad everyday that I am alive, few it may be, that you are given what you deserve. Finally, after so long of suffering and heartache.

If Lord Elrond has given you this letter than I'm fully aware you don't feel any of this joy and wonder for life I say that you do. And that's alright. You are allowed to be sad, and angry. You are allowed to yell and curse at anyone you like. You are encouraged to cry. You are allowed to miss me.

Because I will miss you too, no matter where Mandos puts my soul to rest. I will miss you so much.

When the sadness feels crushing, and you cannot find the words or the will to speak remember that one single stubborn dwarf believes that eternitys were created for you to make the best of them.

Even if your best is saying nothing for nine days and staring at the clouds.

Leaving and goodbyes are hard for anybody, but especially for you. Especially when you have been given an immortal lifespan to miss the ones that did were given a mortal one.

Everything will be okay, Lad.

I will always be watching over you, even if I have to bribe or win a fight against Mandos himself. I will be there.

I will be there with you in every sunrise and blooming flower you examine like its your first. I will be laughing that you forgot what you were saying but pleased that you are still finding so much endless joy in your endless days.

So remember to breath, and remember pain passes. Remember everything you love about this world and remember how excited I am for you to see all of it.

With immortal love,

Gimli son of Gloin

..

I cried a little bit writing this, not going to lie.

The older lady who kept her laundromat in Jasper open late specifically so that I could have dry bedding after a rainstorm ruined my life was VERY concerned.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!