TITLE: By Moonlight and Starlight
AUTHOR: Euryale
PAIRING: Legolas/Aragorn
SPOILERS: Books 2, 3, 5, 6. And when I say spoilers, I mean 
SPOILERS. If you have not read all three volumes, get thee 
to a library, fer chreist's saeke! I give you one week! Go, 
my children!
WARNING: The following is (gasp) slash (and NC-17, at 
that). If you're too young for that, go away. If you're not 
interested in that, turn back now. If you've got a problem 
with that, get help and leave the rest of us alone.
TYPE: Angst, Romance, all that good stuff
DISCLAIMERS: These characters obviously do not belong to 
me. I am under no delusions to the contrary, nor am I 
stupid enough to be trying to make any money off of the use 
of them. I think good old J-double-R wouldn't mind this too 
much, though. He obviously knew that Sam and Frodo were 
getting it on, why would he be opposed to Legolas and 
Aragorn breaking some of that sexual tension? Mmmmmmmmm... 
Elf-ilicious...(wipes drool off keyboard) Wait! Where was 
I?
  Ah, yes, disclaimers... Some bits are quoted straight out 
of the text and are denoted by... wait for it... quotes. 
However, so is original dialogue. You're bright, you can 
figure out which is which.
ARCHIVING: Feel free, but if you would drop me a note to 
tell me what you've done with it, that would be lovely.
SUMMARY: Every night's rest is mentioned, but rest can mean 
more than sleep
STORY NOTES: I wrote this while reading the books, I had no 
idea where it was going as I was writing. This is supposed 
to fit in right alongside the text and I'm kind of assuming 
that you have the books freshly in mind. It might be a tad 
bit confusing if you don't.
FEEDBACK: Yes, please. euryale@email.com
For the Nit-Pickers: Appendix F says that the dialect of 
Mirkwood is never used in the book, so don't knock my 
Elvish. I'm making it up as best I can.

*****And thus begins By Moonlight and Starlight**********

He looked up at the silvery moonlight. Wide awake in the 
glimmering night he stood watch, forgoing the sleep that 
his companions enjoyed. 

He had walked the day in elf-dreams and preferred to spend 
the night alone with his thoughts. His golden hair shown 
white under the stars and his eyes were the only things 
glowing with warmth in the chill darkness.

He turned these eyes from contemplation of the skies to 
contemplation of his companions. 

The dwarf snored deeply and batted away some unseen fly or 
cobweb and Legolas smiled to himself. He felt a great 
friendship for the dwarf and counted himself lucky to have 
such a comrade.

His eyes wandered further to where Aragorn lay, peaceful 
and beautiful in slumber, and he felt a warmth fill his 
body as he gazed upon the man's face. Soft moonlight 
caressed his noble brow, his fine nose, his silken cheek, 
and his soft lips. Legolas' eyes did the same.

He cast his mind back to L—rien and the vision the Lady of 
that wood had shown him. His dearest desire pitted against 
the peril of the journey he had undertaken. Her visions had 
disturbed him less than they had the others for he had 
understood since Rivendell that the one and the other were 
inextricably bound together.

He felt at peace watching the sleep of the Ranger. His 
heart swelled within him and it was the rise and fall of 
Aragorn's breath that he watched that night.

Dawn came swiftly and Legolas turned to watch the sun fill 
the sky.

Aragorn woke, and raised his hand to shield his eyes from 
the sun which burned on the horizon. He thought he saw the 
sun itself moving towards him, a being of such magnificent 
light and utter beauty that he was struck to the heart with 
wonder. The creature moved again and he felt as if the 
movement was a blessing laid upon him. He was taken 
breathless by the emotion. 

"Awake! Awake!" cried the luminous being, and as it stepped 
out of the sun's path, Aragorn saw that it was none other 
than Legolas.

***

That day was full of hard travel and the hope that the 
three companions held for their friends was fading. 

Legolas spent that night in much the same reverie as the 
previous night, humming tunes from old elven ballads, 
sometimes changing the words to praise for Aragorn's eyes 
rather than those of whom they were originally sung.

Aragorn rose before morning and went to join Legolas. The 
latter stopped his song abruptly and looked with wide eyes 
at his friend as he approached. Aragorn was taken aback by 
this sudden change in Legolas. He came up close to the elf 
as if for some secret conference but neither could find any 
words for the other.

Legolas could feel Aragorn's breath on his shoulder and his 
heart beat fast. His eyes fell to the grass at his feet.

They stood like this for a long moment, until Gimli yawned 
loudly and drew himself to his feet. The two taller 
companions stepped quickly apart, shaken Ð Aragorn visibly 
so. Gimli approached and all three watched the sun rise 
together before starting again on their quest.

***

The following night Legolas slept. Aragorn kept the first 
watch. His mind was full of thoughts which he could not 
seem to order. He looked down at the elf's sleeping form 
and felt a pang spread through his chest that he could not 
name. Delicate and ethereally, eternally beautiful. A 
wisdom of ages shown on his face, even through his closed 
eyes. And fair! He was fairer than any, even...

Aragorn shook these thoughts out of his head and turned 
away to watch the edges of their encampment.

Legolas woke. It was surely past his hour for the watch. He 
rose and saw Aragorn half-kneeling and staring off into the 
middle distance away from their camp. Legolas came up 
quietly behind him, curious as to what he was watching. He 
came around to Aragorn's right and crouched down to his 
level to see what could be seen.

He placed his hand on Aragorn's to indicate his presence, 
but the man did not move at all. Suddenly worried, Legolas 
swung around in front of Aragorn, touching his cheek with 
the long cool fingers of his other hand.
  At this contact, Aragorn's hand shot up and caught 
Legolas' wrist, his gaze returning to the world at hand, 
then searching deep within the elf's grey eyes.

The touch of Aragorn's fingers on his wrist sent a burst of 
fire through his veins. His fingertips still grazed the 
other man's face and he splayed them in a warm caressing 
gesture. Aragorn made no objection. Legolas let his fingers 
wander farther, into the hair behind Aragorn's ear. 
Aragorn's eyes drifted half shut and Legolas gently pulled 
his head forward and softly touched his lips with his own.

Aragorn sighed into the kiss and twined his fingers into 
those of Legolas' left hand. Legolas' lips moved over 
Aragorn's searchingly and Aragorn found himself responding, 
desire welling in him. They stood, never losing contact, 
arms going around each other, hungrily devouring each 
other's lips.

Legolas felt more joy in that moment than he had in ages. 
Aragorn's breath tasted earthy and sweet. Legolas felt his 
knees go weak as Aragorn's hands moved down his back and 
through his hair. His own hands held Aragorn as tightly as 
he could as if afraid that he would evaporate and 
disappear.

Breathlessly, they drew back from each other. Legolas 
traced the contours of Aragorn's face with one long finger.

Gimli grumbled and rolled over in his sleep. Aragorn 
started, kissed Legolas softly one more time and went to 
lay down to sleep. Legolas looked after him tenderly then 
turned to begin his watch.

***

Of how this company met again with Gandalf, came to the 
court of Rohan, and went to battle against the orcs little 
shall be said here, for cleverer pens than this have 
treated that matter. Know only that while Legolas joked 
lightly with Gimli about the orcs that each had taken, his 
heart was heavy with worry for Aragorn fighting in the heat 
of battle on the ground below the wall on which Legolas was 
perched. His heart nearly stopped when Aragorn stumbled on 
the stair and had his last arrow not succeeded in felling 
the orc just behind, Legolas would have thrown himself into 
the fray, fighting with his teeth if necessary to save his 
love or to share his doom.

Once the danger was over and Aragorn was up the stairs, he 
collapsed against Legolas' breast and they held each other 
a long moment before returning towards the others.

Great relief was upon them after the fall of Isengaurd. 
Merry and Pippin had been found and they had the strength 
of the whole army of Rohan with them. Their worries were 
few and their hearts were light.

***

Neither Legolas nor Aragorn were numbered amongst the watch 
for that night. Despite both that and their fatigue, 
neither thought of sleep. 

They spread their cloaks close together on the edge of the 
ring of exhausted warriors and lay down as if for sleep, 
but their eyes were bright and their minds were whirling. 
Legolas was drunk with the nearness of this man whom he 
valued above all others. Aragorn, for his part, trembled 
inside. The memory of 
 the night that he had kept watch haunted his thoughts. He 
did not understand why he felt such warmth, such heat for 
his dearest Legolas. His spirit had never been troubled by 
thoughts of this kind before, he had thought that his heart 
lay in the cool hands of the Maid of Rivendell never 
suspecting the fire that could be roused within it by the 
mere touch of the Prince of Mirkwood. 

He rolled over to face Legolas, whose eyes fluttered shut 
just as soon. Desiring to rediscover the bliss of that 
flame, he reached a hand out to touch Legolas' open palm.

To his surprise, Legolas' hand closed over his own, bright 
grey eyes suddenly open and gazing into his very soul. 
Legolas tugged lightly on his hand and within a moment they 
were standing and he was being led into the brush, beyond 
which somewhere stood the night watch.

"I don't understand this, Legolas. I don't understand what 
is happening."

"Neither do I, Aragorn, but I know that it is good."

"I am certain it is, but it is so strange... I could lose 
myself for an age in the depths of your eyes."

Legolas smiled. "I could lose the ages for the touch of 
your lips."

Legolas moistened his lips with a flick of his pink tongue 
and Aragorn bent his head to cover the elf's lips with his 
own, his hand going up to brush the line of Legolas' jaw. 
Legolas gasped, a tremor of pleasure shaking him to the 
very core. Hungrily he returned the kiss, as if searching 
for something in the depths of this embrace. As their 
tongues entwined he felt himself perched on the edge of an 
impending oblivion that he had no desire to resist.

His hands came up to the neck of Aragorn's tunic and loosed 
the ties there. He slipped one fine long hand into the 
shirt and ran it over Aragorn's breast. As his fingers 
grazed the small hard nipple, Aragorn shuddered, his hands 
falling to encircle Legolas' slim waist. Legolas let out a 
low murmur of pleasure as the strong firm hands of Aragorn 
ventured under his tunic, to his waistband...
 

A horrendous shriek pierced the still night air.

"Pippin!" cried Aragorn.

Their arms fell to their sides and they turned and ran in 
the direction of their friend's screams.

***

It seemed that the war would begin in earnest now, and 
soon. It had already separated so many people from those 
they loved and Legolas would not have it separate him from 
Aragorn. He would follow Aragorn even unto the jaws of 
certain doom.

Legolas' heart sank as Halbarad presented Aragorn with the 
standard wrought by the Lady of Rivendell, which he had 
borne from that place. No crueler blow could have more 
swiftly woken him from the dreamstate he had walked in for 
days now. But it seemed to him that Aragorn's eyes dimmed 
as well upon beholding this gift. "And Aragorn said: ÔNow I 
know what you bear. Bear it still for me a while!' And he 
turned and looked away to the north under the great stars, 
and then he fell silent and spoke no more while the night's 
journey lasted."

Legolas was troubled. He begrudged the presence of the men 
of Rohan, the Dunedain, and even the hobbits and dear 
Gimli. He wished more than anything to smooth the deepening 
lines of care from Aragorn's brow and to soften the ever-
harder expression in his eyes.

Gazing upon Aragorn's face after he had looked in to the 
Stone of Orthanc was almost more than he could bear.

***

His silent torment was only increased by the persistent 
words of Lady Eowyn. Legolas was by nature far from 
hateful, but he could find no kind thoughts for their 
hostess. 

When at length she gave them leave to go to their lodging, 
Legolas was relieved and went quickly. Aragorn tarried with 
her a while. When he came in to the chamber, he found Gimli 
already fast asleep and Legolas sitting on the floor fixing 
him with his soft grey eyes.

Aragorn went to the lone chair and sat, holding his head 
between his hands, trying to master his ragged breath.

Legolas rose silently and went to him. Taking his face in 
his own hands, he kissed Aragorn tenderly and smoothed a 
hand over his brow as he had been longing to do.

Aragorn pushed him away firmly, one hand planted against 
his breast. He rose and strode quickly out the door. After 
a paralyzing moment of agony, Legolas followed.

He followed Aragorn to the edge of the nearby wood where he 
found him seated on the edge of a large flat whetstone 
looking off into the dark between the trees.

Aragorn could not have heard him come, but must have felt 
his presence for he began to speak.

"The Lady Eowyn troubles me. And there will always be more 
like her. Least of all... I cannot bring myself to speak 
that name. My duty calls me one way, yet my desire calls me 
in another."

"Has it ever been otherwise, in any of the ages of this 
earth?"

"You cannot go with me. Not towards the evil whither I am 
bound. Not to such danger."

Legolas blinked away a tear. "Have I not already said that 
I would follow you even into death?" He approached the 
seated man and breathed into his ear "Elessar, melnyet 
mavoin‘."

At these simple words of love, Aragorn turned his head to 
meet Legolas' kiss. Soft as feathers, hot as flame, 
suddenly Aragorn was struck with a wave of desire and 
reached up grabbing Legolas' shoulder to pull the elf down 
closer to him. Legolas' left leg came across Aragorn's lap, 
and he found himself straddling his love, pressing him down 
onto the stone, his lips ever moving, exploring the curves 
of Aragorn's mouth. His kisses trailed down to the pulse at 
Aragorn's throat, and Aragorn trembled, his hands venturing 
up the back of the elf's tunic. 

Legolas sat back and tore the tunic off over his head. 
Aragorn was stunned by the beauty of the body that was 
revealed to him. He took Legolas' hands and covered them 
with kisses, taking care to place one kiss atop each 
finger, the tip of his tongue coming to caress them gently. 
Legolas sighed and felt his desire mounting. He reached 
down, brushing the hair back from Aragorn's face and with a 
smile, he began to untie the laces at Aragorn's neck. In a 
moment the obstacle was removed and Legolas' hands traced 
patterns over Aragorn's chest. Aragorn felt a welling of 
arousal that took his breath from him. The hot body moving 
over him with palms and lips and flickering tongue clouded 
his mind and he thought he might faint from such unknown 
unsuspected pleasure. 

Legolas tasted the salt of his skin and breathed his sweet 
scent and he was enflamed. He breathed heavily against 
Aragorn's flesh, trailing ever further down, his open mouth 
twisted in a groan of pleasure. Legolas worked Aragorn's 
trousers down over his hips and Aragorn let out a small cry 
as he felt himself freed to the night air. Legolas' hands 
were immediately upon him. Aragorn could see the expression 
of wonder on Legolas' face. Legolas could barely believe 
that after so long, after so much torment, that he held the 
man he loved, naked and panting with desire, below him. 

At the first touch of Legolas' lips on his bursting 
arousal, Aragorn's vision swam before him and went dark. A 
moan escaped from deep in his throat. The feel of Legolas' 
tongue wandering up and down his hard length drove him mad. 
Legolas relished the sounds that escaped Aragorn's 
carefully guarded lips. Aragorn reached a hand out to 
tangle in Legolas' long golden hair and as he did so, 
Legolas took him deep into his mouth, closing his lips 
softly about his girth. Aragorn gasped and his head fell 
back and with an involuntary thrust and a voiceless cry he 
released his passion, his tension, his fear, and everything 
that weighed on his mind, except the love that he felt for 
Legolas. This last grew, glowing white-hot in his heart.

In a moment he had caught his breath and he stood and took 
his beloved Legolas in his arms. They held each other fast, 
loath to separate. Aragorn then felt the fullness of his 
lover's aroused desire, still hard and yearning against 
him. Aragorn knelt in the dust at Legolas' feet. Legolas 
tried to tug him back to his feet as if to say that this 
was not necessary, he had what he wanted. But Aragorn would 
have none of it. 

Gliding Legolas' trousers down over his slim hips Aragorn 
released the ivory object of his desire, long and slim as 
was everything about Legolas. A slightly different shape 
than his own, but impossibly beautiful to his eyes. He 
kissed it, and ran his red tongue up it in long wet lines, 
taking the tip between his lips and trailing these lips 
back to the base. Legolas gave a little whimper, unable to 
believe the reality of these longed-for caresses. Aragorn 
ran his hands up the backs of Legolas' legs gently and 
slowly. Legolas' hands fell onto the crown of Aragorn's 
head. He bent forwards, panting, a film of perspiration 
covering his brow. Aragorn's ministrations continued 
unrelentingly and Legolas lost the hold he had been keeping 
on himself. In a far-off voice he moaned as his pleasure 
peaked. His knees went weak and he would have fallen had 
Aragorn not caught him. Breathless, they kissed and Legolas 
could taste his own earthy tang on Aragorn's tongue.

After many more embraces and caresses, they dressed and 
returned silently to the room where Gimli slept and there 
they laid themselves down and fell asleep hand in hand.

***

The road to Pelargir was long and hard and felt more and 
more hopeless. There was no time now for tender words or 
soft glances. The grim grey company behind them and the 
battle that waited before them darkened Aragorn's mind. He 
had to struggle for the will to go on, to draw breath. For 
failure would bring an end to everything, these lands, this 
life, and, not least of all, his dream of an endless summer 
afternoon spent in a meadow wrapped in Legolas' long arms. 
Success would put an end to this last as well. He led 
drearily on.

Legolas rode along in elf-dreams, refusing to allow his 
mind to stray to thoughts of After. Aragorn's heart had 
accepted him and this one thought supported him through the 
long ride and the bitter battle fought at its end. 

***

As Legolas finally staggered off of the barren battlefield, 
he felt a change in the wind and he breathed deeply of the 
fresh fragrant air. A certain spice on it, a certain salt 
tang, invigorated his spirit and renewed his love of all 
living things. Though a creature of the Air itself, he 
thought he had never felt a breeze so inviting. 

Then he heard cries above him and, raising his eyes to the 
sky, he saw great white birds diving and swooping and he 
was enchanted by their dance. He passed a brief eternity 
entranced by their spell and then the touch of Aragorn's 
hand on his shoulder brought him back to the present. In an 
instant he understood. These were the gulls and he had 
breathed the scent of the sea. He had felt the nearness of 
the sea as they approached, he knew that now, and he also 
understood the Lady's warnings. The spell of the sea was in 
his blood now and was as intoxicating as the spell of 
Aragorn's eyes. The sea endures beyond anything in the 
world of men.

In that moment he felt his heart break and all of his hope 
evaporate as the morning mist. Managing a weak smile he 
turned and raised a hand to Aragorn's cheek, then dropping 
his arm, he followed Aragorn to the camp.

On board the ship, as their host prepared for arrival at 
the siege of Minas Tirith, Legolas himself set the Star of 
Elendil on Aragorn's brow.

***

Aragorn was a radiant king. He was stately and magnificent 
as he saw to the needs of his new people, but a sadness hid 
behind his eyes. Word had come from Rivendell... Arwen 
would arrive within a fortnight. His duty lay clearly 
before him. He wished to speak with Legolas at least once 
more before she came, but the elf had been studiously 
keeping his distance since the Great Battle, only appearing 
before Aragorn in the midst of great crowds and what 
Aragorn had to say to him required solitude.

Legolas clutched desperately to the shred of happiness left 
to him, the knowledge that Aragorn was near and had not 
turned his eyes to any other. He lived in dread of the day 
that this too would be taken from him.

She would come tomorrow, or the day after. The hobbits 
wished to return to their beloved shire and the others 
would follow. The fellowship would be ripped asunder at 
last and a new life must begin after. They had finally left 
him, all the people who had occupied his day with their 
requests and vows of loyalty. He was exhausted, but he 
found himself roaming the halls of the great dwelling 
nonetheless. He had to find Legolas before it was too late.

He saw a soft light shining under a door to his left. 
Pushing the door open quietly, he saw that the full moon 
was shining in through the unshuttered window. His heart 
leapt to see that asleep on the bed just under that window 
lay Legolas, face peaceful and luminous, long hair splayed 
out over his shoulders, one arm hanging off the bed, hand 
grazing the floor. A quick glance told him that, for 
perhaps the first time, Legolas had been given a separate 
room from Gimli.

He stood in the doorway, overcome by the beauty of this 
creature before him and loath to mar this beauty by waking 
his beloved elf. He was struck by fear now that the moment 
had come to speak.

In that moment Legolas' eyes fluttered open.

"I could hear your breath," he whispered sleepily. "I think 
I would know it from any other." 

"She is coming tomorrow," Aragorn broke in.

"I know," said Legolas, looking away. "I think I shall 
leave with the hobbits."

"I do not want you to go,"

"You know I cannot stay. You have duties to fulfill, as do 
I, I suppose."

"Please stay," The earnest tone of his voice stabbed at 
Legolas' heart. "There are woods near here! Beautiful 
woods, great trees, clear streams! They deserve a prince to 
watch over them!"

"This is already difficult enough!" snapped Legolas. 
"Ithilien is not far. Perhaps I shall visit from time to 
time."

"I...I love you. I always 
 shall, I expect. I cannot bear to see you go."
Legolas rose and went to Aragorn, taking him in his arms.

"Melnyet, an ilya asar voronwa," He said softly.

Aragorn's lips came to his cheek, kissing away the single 
salt tear that had escaped him. Legolas threw his arms 
around Aragorn's neck turning his face up for a searing 
kiss. Aragorn's mind went blank. He was moving his lips 
over Legolas' with ever-increasing intensity and hunger 
while his hands roamed over Legolas' chest, up to his neck, 
down to his waist, slowly and softly. Legolas moved his 
parted lips down across Aragorn's throat, teeth grazing the 
skin over the wildly beating pulse, drawing a wet line with 
his tongue to where neck met collarbone. 

Cumbersome clothing was soon discarded and both man and elf 
stood naked in the moonlight. Aragorn drew Legolas to him 
and, bending his head, began to lick slow strong circles 
over and around the elf's right nipple, sucking gently and 
firmly. Low sounds of pleasure began to grow in Legolas' 
throat, moans which he could not master. Aragorn pushed 
Legolas down to the bed, covering him with his body. The 
sensation of his and Aragorn's mutual arousal pressed 
together against him drove Legolas mad. He caught fire and 
found himself writhing beneath his adored, their tongues 
twining together wildly, raking his fingers across 
Aragorn's back. He could feel the beads of impassioned 
perspiration covering his body. This moment could last 
forever.

Aragorn pulled back suddenly, his eyes, dark with passion, 
looking deep into Legolas humid grey eyes.

"I am yours," he said. "I want to be entirely yours."

Legolas' breath fell short as he understood. Reaching up 
for Aragorn's lips again he twisted to the side to allow 
Aragorn to come beneath him. Their regards locked together 
as Aragorn spread his thighs and tilted his hips. Legolas, 
trembling, accomplished his love's desire. As their bodies 
became one, Aragorn abandoned himself entirely to the 
thrilling sensations, groaning in pleasure, gasping for 
more, grabbing Legolas by the shoulders, greedily kissing 
his mouth. Legolas began to move back and forth, their eyes 
never leaving each other. They moved together into the 
eternal rhythm of passion, older than the stars. The humid 
breath against their cheeks, the velvet fingers moving 
across their bodies, the satin lips fluttering over their 
eyelids and against each other, the sounds of pleasure 
welling up from their very souls, all of these things drove 
them ever forwards, towards the shimmering climax which 
they had so long desired. Legolas twined his fingers in 
Aragorn's hair and he fought for breath against the swiftly 
rising ecstasy within him. His blood burned in his veins 
and his body ached with desire. Aragorn had never known 
such blinding, dizzying joy. His eyes drifted shut as their 
rhythm increased its speed. He felt that he was falling 
ever down and down through cloud upon cloud of bliss. He 
heard Legolas' breath change, coming short and fast, his 
face changed by emotion and wonderful sensation. Radiant. 
Legolas cried out as his climax peaked, Aragorn's voice 
joining it as he was swept away by the violent perfection 
of Legolas' spasms. For one brilliant moment their union 
was complete and nothing else in this world or any other 
mattered at all.

Legolas fell breathless and panting against Aragorn's 
chest. Aragorn covered his face with passionate kisses 
which were returned in kind. They murmured words to each 
other, soft sweet promises which neither could afford to 
keep nor even remember in daylight, lovers goodbyes, lovers 
tears. They fell asleep in each other's arms, the most 
perfect moments of peace either would ever know. Aragorn 
woke with the first light of dawn and after placing one 
final kiss upon Legolas' brow and with one lingering glance 
from the doorway, he stole back to his own rooms as 
silently as he had come.

***

Legolas did not shed a single tear at the wedding. He stood 
like stone and betrayed no emotion whatsoever. Aragorn 
passed an uneventful wedding night, pleading exhaustion 
from the preparations and festivities.

***

Legolas was dismayed that Aragorn set out from Minas Tirith 
with the travelers. As glad as he was to be able to look on 
Aragorn's face a few days longer, he wanted to be left 
alone with his grief. When they reached the site of their 
first battle, Gimli insisted on taking him to the wondrous 
caves he had found there. Deep in the heart of these caves, 
Legolas was overcome and he wept. Gimli held him and 
listened attentively as Legolas poured out his soul.

"We should leave the company immediately," said Gimli. "It 
would be best for you. Take me to your forest in the 
north."

Legolas agreed and returned to the others with a drawn 
face. The two of them made their excuses and said their 
farewells. Aragorn addressed hardly a word to Legolas and 
did not say goodbye. They parted swiftly.

***

As he had said he would, Legolas moved south to the woods 
of Ithilien to dwell the closer to both Aragorn and the 
sea. When the elven rings passed into the west, he was 
filled with a desire to accompany them but for love of 
Gondor and its king, he remained. The call of the sea ate 
away at him nonetheless.

In the years that followed the elves of Ithilien and the 
men of Gondor lived side by side in peace. Their leaders 
would meet at the border between their lands from time to 
time to discuss matters of government, but before setting 
themselves to whatever business was at hand, they would 
stand silently, palm to palm in greeting. This moment would 
sometimes last long enough that even the Ents at the edge 
of the wood would take notice and wonder.

***

The call of the sea grew stronger and stronger, yet Legolas 
remained. The day that news came to him of Aragorn's death, 
bitter sadness and resigned peace flowed through him. He 
built a ship and, inviting Gimli, his confidant and closest 
friend, Legolas set sail for the west. As the shores of 
Middle Earth passed from his sight, Legolas closed his 
eyes, craving the oblivion that the western lands promised.

End