Chapter 27

Epilogue :

Legolas opened the door to his room with a sigh. He couldn't bear to be there as much now that Arri was gone. Memories still lingered as did her smell and her presence. He folded his arms in front of his chest looking at the room and the bed that they had shared not too long ago. Yes, Loredell was a curse, at least to him. He could hear the footsteps approaching his door and he opened it before Gimli could knock.

Gimli jumped slightly forgetting the elf's keen hearing and he began to talk but stammered and red faced from the surprise.

Legolas felt a smile creep to his face catching the dwarf off guard and how could he resist a jibe at the dwarve's expense, "The kitchen is that way." Legolas pointed down the hall.

"What I can't stop to say hello?" Gimli grumbled attempting to step in the room but Legolas stepped into the hall instead. Gimli eyed the elf suspiciously and knew they were right about him, his grief would be long. He narrowed his eyes challengingly at the elf hoping his competitive nature would help his healing, "can't bear to be in that room right now huh?"

Legolas looked as if he would argue at first but seemed to give and shook his head, "will you be going back to Moira tomorrow?"

"Don't change the subject, elf."

"It is not something I wish to speak of."

"I do." Gimli's eyes flashed a challenge. "I am going to Mirkwood with you and your father to umm," Gimli seemed to search for the right word, "help out."

"Help out?" Legolas became amused that Gimli couldn't say he was worried.

"Seeing that Aine is staying here," Gimli shrugged, "I figured nobody to keep you from kicking dwarves when you are angry."

Legolas laughed despite of himself, "you need not come for me." He hoped his eyes showed him how much his gesture meant to him.

"I know," Gimli said softly and cleared his throat loudly, "I am not familiar with Elvish traditions in this area," he said uncomfortably. "Her elvish funeral will be like this or what do you pointy ears do?"

Legolas sighed, "I believe Eosin walks the halls in limbo until he may find his way to us again to Mirkwood." He sighed. "Arri was elvish but she died as ..."

"Eosin may return?" Gimli's eyebrows shot up and he stopped in his footsteps.

"It has happened." Legolas nodded. "Time is what the question really is once an elf is slain."

"Arri can return then," Gimli looked pleased. "What are we waiting for?" He tossed his fist into Legolas's shoulder happily. "Aragorn might want part of this rescue."

"One is not rescued from these halls," Legolas shook his head. "They return when they are deemed worthy to."

"Then she can return when she can," Gimli kept his hopeful expression. "A CELEBRATION!" He exclaimed loudly. "When she returns we will have a party to last for days."

"No," Legolas said simply.

Gimli stared at him not understanding everything.

"Her fate was to die for this crown and the sacrifice for her human side and so she dies ...," Legolas swallowed hard hating to say such things out loud.

"Are you sure?" Gimli asked cautiously not wanting to get his hopes up again.

"Nothing is for certain and I know that now," He sighed. "From what I have witnessed she will not get up from this fall."

Gimli nodded, "Then you will bury her?"

"No, the humans would have her committed to the ground and to be the feast of such smaller predators but I would not." he choked back the tears he felt welling in his throat. "Arri deserves more than that of a common death."

Gimli cleared his throat, "Of course."

Legolas moved along the corridors seeming pensive and lost in his thoughts and he felt Gimli's curious eyes on him wanting to ask the questions but Legolas wouldn't offer the information to quickly letting his short friend 'sweat it out'.

"Then what will you do?" Gimli finally gave in to his nosy nature.

"Arri was like the wind," Legolas sighed. "and I will return her to the wind in hopes all may feel her." He looked to Gimli who seemed touched. "Perhaps she will touch others with the wind and inspire them as she has others."

"How do you return her to the wind?" Gimli narrowed his eyes.

Legolas sighed. "With a small elvish ceremony."

"Not alone and if you are teaching elves to fly," Gimli joked lightly, "Well I am going to be watching that!"

Legolas opened his mouth in wonder at his friend but merely laughed.

"Good to hear you laugh again," Gimli smiled.

"Thank you," Legolas had to admit of all the company he had, Gimli had cheered him with his jovial nature and strong passions. Perhaps those traits reminded him of Arri or perhaps they were traits that made a good person but he was glad his friend was there.

"After this ceremony is done in Mirkwood," Gimli cleared his throat as if he was making a big announcement, "is it true Elf's like to sail?"

"The call of the water is strong in elves, yes," Legolas wondered what he was getting at.

"I've always wanted to sail," Gimli started rather shyly. "I thought you might want to join me."

Legolas smiled at the thought but what touched him more was that Gimli would do such a thing for him. "I am afraid the grief is still too new for…"

Gimli grunted not allowing him to finish, "Pointy ears don't float well anyway." He said quickly to save some face but the reddish tint was evident.

Legolas knew it took a great deal of humility for Gimli to ask him to join him especially when they were both such different creatures. He was sure under different circumstances he would take him up on the offer but now Gimli seemed embarrassed. "I am sure dwarves are naturally more buoyant after all." Legolas jibed him eyeing Gimli's round stomach in hopes to lighten the mood.

"Humor?" Gimli laughed. "I thought we had lost hope for you to be a 'normal' elf again, whatever normal is for you."

Legolas smiled and he began to lead them back to his room. "Thank you Gimli had it been another time and place then we would feel the salt air tomorrow." Legolas patted his shoulder, "I am afraid every cloud I would see would resemble her, or every curl of the water would call her name, or the wind itself would think me a traitor to my heart."

"Traitor?" Gimli shook his head. "You made that maiden happy and she you." He shook his finger to Legolas, "there is much to be said for other females, elf."

Legolas's face registered the shock he felt at the words as he looked to the dwarf wide eyed, "Gimli, once we bind ourselves, it is done."

"Yes, grieving until you die as well when the other does, eh?" Gimli shook his head pointing to the door. "Our rooms, I need to pack." He sighed.

"Sleep well, my friend," Legolas said quietly as he made his way into the room.

He looked to the empty room saddened once again. 'Not all things end happily or as we would want them,' He thought to himself.

He began to disrobe slowly spying the drink left on the table by the bed. He lifted it recognizing the sweet juice from Mirkwood. He knew his father must have brought some things from Mirkwood for him and was grateful to have a small taste of Mirkwood today. He looked to the bath basin and began to fill it slowly taking leisurely drinks as he did. He felt good knowing so many cared for him but he disrespectful to those he loved because he pushed them away.

He could hear Gimli's snoring from the next room and he smiled lightly, it was a familiar noise to him now.

Legolas climbed into the tub with his drink in hand and as he began to bathe began to feel sleepy. One word came to mind as he spied the drink, 'Father.' He knew his father worried about him and he was not sure how inducing sleep would help. He thought getting from the tub before the sleep had a hold of him completely. He found his eyes shutting even as he toweled off. 'Was this just to induce sleep or something else?' It was almost embarrassing that everyone would do such things. They seemed to make up his mind for him as if he was a child.

Legolas sighed feeling a familiar touch on his face and the scent that was unmistakable. He opened his eyes to find himself face to face with Arri. He looked around to see they were in the safe haven of Mirkwood sitting along the water on the grassy knoll where she and Eosin had been fishing.

"Arri?" Legolas squinted his eyes taking her in. She wore the same clothing she had when they had be wed. He pulled her into his arms eagerly and the familiar feel of her in his arms helped him relax. He sighed letting her scent wash over him. It suddenly dawned on him that Arri could be in his arms at all. "Is this another lie?"

He pulled her back to see her dancing eyes and she put her hands to his lips with a hush. He exhaled slowly feeling happy for the first time in days. "Then you returned from the halls to me?" He still held onto the very real woman before him and let his hand wander to her stomach. She caught his hand and looked to the ground.

"This is merely another place," she said sadly. "It is not real."

"Then I wish not to return," he said with a smile until she did not return his smile.

"You must return," she held his head in her hands forcing him to meet her eyes. "If you did not your body would die and you would wander the halls." She sighed as he began to understand, "Separating us forever."

"This is a dream then?" He looked around at the settings taking in all in slowly. He looked at Arri a little sadly. "Why was I granted this?"

"You hold on to us dearly," she smiled but it soon faded to a stern look, "Perhaps too dearly."

She sat back against his strong frame with a sigh. "I see you are sad and so do the others who love you. It hurts them to see you like this, just as it hurts you to say goodbye."

"Arri, I miss you."

"I will always walk beside you," she turned to face him and rested her head on his chest. "I will always remain yours." She touched his chest above his heart.

"You are my heart," Legolas said quickly, "how shall I let my heart go so easily?"

"You will love another," she said sadly. "I give you my blessings." He looked away. "Be light of heart for even Gimli gives you his love freely and many care for you."

"I've no doubt of that but I do doubt I shall love again as I have you," He touched her face and traced her lips with his thumb.

"You will never love another the same but you will love again," Arri sighed. "Every time we love, we love as strongly but in a different way."

He shook his head not convinced there would be another. "Come back to me." It seemed an easy solution to him at the time

"We both know I cannot." She caught his gentle hands as they wandered her face with her own hands. "Do you not want off spring or love?" He nodded slowly, "Then you must push forward."

He knew her words rang true but he didn't want to accept them. Accepting them meant losing Arri again. "I will always love you."

She smiled and pressed her lips very gently to his, "perhaps our futures do not travel the same path."

He looked at her solemnly knowing she was right. He did want to stay useful and he wanted his children to be the next generation of elves. He wanted to love again but he wanted all this and Arri. It was a difficult dilemma for a grief stricken elf. He returned her light kiss.

"My time grows short," she whispered.

He lowered his eyes, "Already."

"Yes, you must fight the grief and we both know how." She hugged him tightly. "I will always be by you when you walk and I shall guide your hands when you falter," She sighed and when your future wife comes near I shall point you to her."

"I will never forget you," he said slowly. He watched her lay down in the grass on her side and shut her eyes. She sighed and opened her eyes with a smile. "I will never be able to say goodbye to you completely."

"I understand," she touched his hand and he lay down next to her as he stared into her tired face.

He was glad to see her like this again with out her bruising, cuts and injuries. He once again saw the soft female he had known. He felt his own eyes shut and her hands on his face and he opened them slowly realizing he had fallen asleep on her. "I fell asleep?" He looked at her quizicaly but she only smiled and kissed his head.

"No my love you are waking."

He looked at her and pulled her closer letting his lips touch hers not wanting the time to end. He sighed as her scent became less and less.

He snapped awake lying on his side in his bed and he looked around to see the morning had started without him. 'Had it all been a dream? Why had he slept?' Then he remembered the drink, 'Father, he wants the grief to be quick.' He sighed as he got up and the sheets were still stuck to him and he realized he must not have dried off after his bath.

As he sat up he shook his head to clear it and he took a deep breath. Today would be a different day. He got to his feet touching his elfin necklace Arri had worn for him and he sighed. He put the necklace on hoping to feel closer to Arri but he felt as she had released him. He loved her but he knew she wanted him to go on. He still had a future and they both knew it. Saying goodbye had helped him. The was he had said goodbye to her in the forest had left him feeling haunted and now he longed to go to the forest to feel the wind or catch a hint of her lingering presence.

As he finished dressing he heard a knock on the door and he grabbed it quickly wondering who could have soundlessly made way to his door.

As he grabbed the knob he realized it must be an elf and he was right seeing Aine standing there.

"We will depart with in the hour." She kept a sober stare as if measuring him for any improvement.

"We?" Legolas repeated with a smile realizing she was going home.

"I would return to see my granddaughter properly rested," she said slowly as the shadow passed over her face.

He nodded and sighed, "I have packed our belongings and will be out soon." She smiled looking at the now vacant room and he closed the door to face the now empty room alone. He put their things over his back and grabbed his bow and arrows. He lightly fingered the necklace Arri had once worn. Saying goodbye to her was now not later as he felt he left her in Loredell, for now. He wiped at tears that played in his eyes and quickly left the room before he could fall into his grief again, Arri wouldn't want that.

Legolas lifted the torch to the ceremonial mound Arri's body was lain on as the others watched him sadly. This was final and Legolas's closure and the voyeurs knew it.

Sam and Frodo watched as Legolas set the mound aflame at Arri's feet and they looked to Gimli as if he would answer the unspoken questions.

Gimli had his own questions, "So, this is what elves do?" He grunted.

Thranduil kept silent next to Gimli until then, "No, master dwarf," he sighed. "Elves do not so quickly therefore this is not common to what 'we do'," Thranduil crossed his arms leaving out the undying lands and need of further explanation to a dwarf. "It is what Legolas saw fit to do." Thranduil understood his son wanted her to become ever present in the air of Mirkwood in hopes that he would feel his lost wife's presence from time to time. Thranduil was pleased with the ceremony, no grave meant Legolas could not visit her. Perhaps from time to time Legolas would feel her presence and it might inspire him. For now Thranduil seemed to notice what others did not, her body would not burn. He turned with a silent smile as he ushered the others towards the dining table. Catching attention of a few trusted elves he whispered to them and gave a nod as they hurried off.

Legolas met the hands and well wishes of his friends as his father made his way to him with Gimli and Elrond trailing slowly.

"So what is to become of this Prince now?" Thranduil asked Legolas evenly.

Legolas's eyes traveled to Gimli, "I will follow the calling of the water," Legolas looked to Gimli with a small smile, "If you still require a companion."

Gimli was caught off guard and grunted slightly stammering, "If you think you can keep up with me." Gimli's eyes twinkled silently with laughter.

"I am sure I can keep up with you but it is the buoyancy issue I am afraid you will have an advantage over," Legolas shot back.

"Water?" Thranduil sputtered. It seemed he thought his son would be happy to stay in Mirkwood.

Elrond interceded before Thranduil could pursue the matter further, "It sounds like your mind is made then."

Legolas nodded seeing Frodo and Sam nodding at his plans too and the small crowd that watched him almost if pleased.

"We return to the Shire tomorrow then," Frodo said softly to Sam whose face lit up with the idea of finally going home.

Aine kept to herself watching the fire from a distance that had been her granddaughter grow. She could not see her but she did not want to see her burning now.

"When do you venture back to Loredell?" Gandalf asked from behind her. His gaze settling on the new King Jareth who had surprised everyone and come along with the elves.

"Jareth will decide but he is human," Aine sighed. "I have to finish affairs here before I leave."

Gandalf gave her a questioning glance but dared not ask.

"His grief seems to have lessened," Aine crossed her arms hoping this meant he would be open to new ideas and would move forward. Then she looked to the wizard as if he had a finger in Legolas's new views.

Gandalf raised a challenging eyebrow as he drew his pipe out of his robe. "Indeed."

I final chapter after this :)