Author's Note: I know this chapter is short and kinda diverts off in a different direction but i think it's needed for closure... let me know what you all think.

Lots o' Love,

breaiden0413

Chapter Six

Darkness is a funny thing. You could know the entire lay out of your home, school, or even your favorite place but the moment it becomes dark everything becomes foreign and new. I can see how hopelessness and fear are often associated with darkness. The candle had gone out long after Legolas disappeared, to be honest I wasn't certain how long he had gone for. The fever had taken over, my body ached, and all I wished to do was sleep. But the bonds prevented me from becoming comfortable.

I remember a lot of yelling…cursing. The door to my cell being opened, being taken out of there, the bonds cut, but I was so weak I was limp. Everything after was…blurry.

I woke up what seemed like moments later in a bed, warm and comfortable. At first I thought I had died. But I realized it was like a dream. My clothes were clean, I wore a blue tunic top and brown pants and boots. My hair was clean, it didn't…seem right. Looking around everything was bright, and….well…modern. I realized my 'body' was transparent. Upon 'waking' up, I decided to wander… walking led me from one place to another, until finally I saw myself in front of my old home in my other life. It seemed brighter a happier place, the yard was taken care of, for the first time in ages. A new family seemed to be living there now, a happy family. Despite the pitter patter of my heart I felt myself smile at the vision. It looks like the memories of that house didn't taint it enough for another family to enjoy the home.

The vision of the house faded and I realized I was in a cemetery, the headstone in front of me was my mothers. I'd recognize that in any life. I had spent much of my childhood in front of there. The grave was well maintained and there were fresh flowers potted on either side of the headstone. I realized I wasn't alone when I turned slightly. A man, whom before I trembled in front of, whom inflicted so much pain on me in the past, looked lost and broken. He had cleaned up last I saw him, seemed to have lost some weight, and his eyes weren't so glassy. He wore a dark sweater and dark jean pants and some of his usual loafers on his feet. He seemed lost, a broken shell of what he was.

"It's been almost seven years since she disappeared that night, it's hard to believe she just vanished." He said quietly.

I knew he wasn't referring to my mother's death. I apparently had vanished from this realm. My body moving on to where I belonged, to where I was happy. He looked and I knew he could see my ghostly visage His eyes weren't seeing looking through me but at me. For several moments, neither one of us spoke, I'm sure…neither one of us knew what to say.

"You look happier…"He said gruffly after a few moments.

I blinked, it was a compliment, but it was something I was unaccustomed to hearing from his lips. I nodded slowly.

"I am, happier than I've been in a long time." I said quietly.

He didn't make a movement or acknowledgment to see that he had heard me.

"You disappeared." He stated.

I smiled softly.

"I needed to go where I belonged…"I replied.

His eyes narrowed.

"Caused a lot of trouble," He grumbled rubbing the back of his neck bitterly.

I closed my eyes a little at the tone, the tone sent shivers down my spine and my memories threatened the tightly knit box I had shoved them in.

"I wasn't missed," I stated simply.

At that comment he looked away, the ground suddenly becoming much more interesting. When he looked at me again, he looked tired and resigned.

"He treat you right?" he asked.

I noticed they were locked on my necklace, I hadn't realized it was visible. I touched it gently and nodded.

"Very much so," I said firmly.

He gave a half smile, probably the closest thing I had seen to a smile.

"Good, don't want you with someone like me…I didn't deserve your mother…and I sure as hell didn't deserve you…" he said after a few moments.

I blinked back tears threatening to spill.

"I know I was never a good father, or a good husband…I hope one day I can make up for what I did." He said quietly.

He looked broken and lost, with no direction.

"You can't undo what you did in the past. That is done and over with, you cannot change the past. Move forward…don't wallow in the past and forget to live in the present." I said softly.

He looked at me I then noticed the tears in his eyes, he was…crying. I'd never seen a grown man cry…a grown dwarf when Thorin, Fili and Kili died at the Battle of the Five Armies. But I would never have pinned the man who helped to give me life, cry.

"You're forgiving me….? After everything I've done to you…?" He asked.

I smiled softly.

"Holding onto something in past for so long wears at you like a weight, or a poison. We've both been holding onto bad memories and events so long that it's preventing us from moving forwards and on with our lives. We BOTH need to move on, I have ventured in the right direction, but the weight of the past is preventing me for springing forward into my new life. I'm willing to forgive…I won't be able to forget…but I can take a step in the right direction to forgive…if you can." I said slowly.

I held out my own ghostly hand and he felt to his knees clutching my hand crying. To any walking by they would see a grown man crying at a women's grave. We both needed to move on if we were going to be able to move forward. Closing this chapter on my life…weights were lifted like I was in my bird form and I was able to soar higher than ever before…in time…once he has forgiven himself…he'll be able to soar too.