Ithildin - Legolas x OC

Epilogue: Departing from Rivendell

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More than one-hundred years have passed since the destruction of the One Ring.

Legolas and I have lived happily during that time, side by side, as we helped Aragorn rebuild Minas Tirith to its full glory, along with the many forests and woods of this world.

My father, Galadriel and Celeborn sailed West many years ago, along with Gandalf, Bilbo and Frodo. I could not bear to be there on the day and watch them leave, but I spent an entire month in Rivendell with my father, Legolas, Galadriel and Celeborn before their departure.

Aragorn and Arwen bore three children, a son—as I had proclaimed—and two daughters. Legolas and I were not as lucky as them and had no children of our own...yet we spoiled and cherished our nieces and nephew as if they were ours, and in some ways, as we watched them grow up before our unageing eyes, it felt as if they were.

Aragorn passed almost a year ago now, having lived a full, long life as King of Gondor. And Arwen...my sister...not able to cope with her broken heart, has now passed on as well.

With Aragorn's death we decided it was then our time, and Legolas began to build a boat for us, so that we may sail West at last.

Whether he prolonged the build for my sake, or if fate simply had the road laid out for us already, he did not finish it until two months after Arwen's death, allowing me to remain by her side for her final days, and grieve for her—for a short time.

"Well, then." Gimli's gruff voice says. "This...is it. The last of the Fellowship, back where we started."

We stand now at the dock in Rivendell; the city completely desolate save for the three of us. Our boat floats on the water beside us, rocking gently across the light waves.

I smile at Gimli, his hair and beard now grey, and look to Legolas who like me, has not aged a day.

"We were thinking, Gimli—" Legolas tells him.

"Well, don't think too hard, Master Elf!" Gimli cuts him off. "We do not want you to injure yourself."

Legolas chuckles, curling his lips into a smile. "There has never been a Dwarf invited to the Undying Lands." Gimli blinks then, looking between us both.

"But friends," I smile at him and nod. "Friends are invited and permitted entry, should they wish it."

"You...You want me to—no." he shakes his head. "No. I cannot."

My face falls, and I look to Legolas again, who watches Gimli with a small frown as he continues to grumble and shake his head.

"Elves. I would be surrounded by Elves...just imagine it. All those Elves everywhere, all the-the trees and the sunlight and..." He gruffs then, looking down in a pause and I hold my breath. He looks up at us again and throws his hands up. "Oh, to Hell with it. Let's go."

I laugh, watching as he moves past us and clambers into the boat, rocking it violently as Legolas quickly steadies it, smiling.

Legolas turns to me then, holding out a hand to help me. I place mine in his, stepping into the boat and sitting down. Looking down at my other hand as he sits behind me and starts to row, I smile faintly at the small figurine I hold.

It was carved by Aragorn, and he gave it to me on his deathbed. A promise he never dared to make me—yet it was kept.

My very own castle.

"It...won't hurt, will it?" Gimli asks quietly as we sail away from Rivendell and out on the open water, towards the horizon.

"No." Legolas tells him. "It will simply feel like a dream."

Gimli nods, a faint smile on his face. "A dream. That sounds nice."

I smile too, leaning back into Legolas as he wraps an arm around me. I place my hand over his at my waist, and with the figurine now on my lap, reach out a hand and hold Gimli's shoulder. He covers it with his own.

"I am ready now," I whisper quietly, letting my eyes drift close as the setting sun shines on us, Valinor welcoming us home.

~*~