AN: Clicking that 'Complete' button hits different.
Thank you Ten Duel Commandments (wish I could type in a heart)!
. . .Epilogue. . .
The sun dipped low on the horizon, its golden light reflecting off the calm waters of the Sea. The shores of Middle-earth, once vibrant with life and filled with the laughter of Elves, now stood quiet and serene. Alysae stood at the edge of the dock, her eyes fixed on the ship that would soon carry her away from these familiar lands. Beside her, Elrohir's hand rested in hers, his presence a steady comfort as the momentous decision they had made together came to fruition.
It had been more than a hundred years since the end of the war, a century marked by the passing of their beloved friends and family. Aragorn, their dear Estel, had passed beyond the circles of the world, taking Arwen with him. The Fellowship, once so full of life, was now a memory—a story told in hushed tones by those few who remained to remember it. Only Legolas and Gimli still lingered on these shores, and they too were ready to depart.
Legolas stood a short distance away, speaking quietly with Gimli. The Dwarf, though aged, retained the fire of his youth, his spirit undimmed by the years. But even he, the last of the Fellowship to remain, had finally decided to follow his Elven friend across the Sea, a choice that was as bittersweet as it was inevitable.
The ship that awaited them was a marvel of Elven craftsmanship, built by Legolas himself with care and reverence. Its white sails caught the dying light, glowing softly in the evening's embrace. It would take them to Valinor, the Undying Lands where they would be reunited with those who had gone before—Thranduil, Elrond, Galadriel, Celebrian, and maybe, if she had been reborn, Bereneth. The thought of seeing them again brought a sense of peace to Alysae's heart, yet it was tinged with the sadness of farewell.
Elrohir glanced down at her, his grey eyes reflecting the same mix of emotions that swirled within her. "It is time, meleth nin," he said softly, his voice steady despite the heaviness of the moment.
Alysae nodded, squeezing his hand. "Yes, it is." Her voice held a quiet strength, though her heart ached at the thought of leaving behind the lands where so much of their story had unfolded.
They began to walk toward the ship, their steps slow, as if savoring these final moments on the shores of Middle-earth. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the memories of all they had lost and all they had gained. As they reached the gangway, Alysae paused, turning to look back one last time.
The world they were leaving behind was one of both sorrow and joy. It held the echoes of their battles, their victories, and their deepest losses. But it was also the place where they had found each other, where love had blossomed even amidst the shadows of war.
Elrohir's hand tightened around hers, grounding her in the present, in the promise of what was to come. "We will carry them with us," he murmured, as if reading her thoughts. "They will not be forgotten."
She smiled at him, a soft, bittersweet smile. "No, they will not." The memory of Aragorn's last smile, Arwen's final farewell, lingered in her mind, a part of her that she would always cherish.
Together, they stepped onto the ship, joining Legolas and Gimli. The air was filled with the scent of the sea, and the sound of the waves lapping gently against the hull. As they made ready to depart, Alysae felt a sense of closure, a feeling that this chapter of their lives was finally coming to an end.
The sails were raised, and the ship began to glide smoothly away from the shore, the wind carrying them toward the West. Alysae stood beside Elrohir, their hands still entwined, as they watched the coastline of Middle-earth recede into the distance.
For a long time, they remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Then, as the last sliver of land disappeared from view, Alysae leaned into Elrohir, resting her head against his shoulder. "What do you think Valinor will be like?" she asked softly, her voice filled with both curiosity and hope.
He smiled down at her, his expression one of quiet contentment. "I imagine it will be a place of peace and beauty, a place where we can finally rest."
"And start anew," she added, her hand moving to rest on her still-flat stomach, where a new life was beginning to grow.
Elrohir's eyes softened as he followed her gaze, his hand joining hers. "Yes," he agreed, his voice a gentle promise. "A new life, in a land where time will not touch us, where we will be together with those we love."
As they sailed toward the West, the past began to fade, leaving only the future ahead—a future filled with love, hope, and the promise of a new beginning. The ship cut through the waves, carrying them to the shores of Valinor, where a new chapter of their story would be written.
And as the first stars appeared in the twilight sky, Alysae knew with a certainty that they were finally going home.
-xxx-
The End