Chapter 20:

"I still can't believe you're actually here," I said, peering at Haldir over the rim of my cup. He smiled but said nothing in reply, content just to sit quietly for a little while longer.

It had been a few days since Aragorn and Arwen had been wed, and Haldir and I had been catching up on everything that we had not yet had the chance to talk about. Haldir told me what little he knew about Raina, and I was pleased to hear that she was doing well. He had even heard that she was to be betrothed upon her arrival in Valinor.

The idea that the elves would soon be departing Middle Earth struck a cord in my heart; it had always saddened me to see them leaving at the end of The Return of the King, but experiencing it first-hand was something else entirely. I knew that Legolas himself had expressed his urge to sail for the Undying Lands, but we would not be leaving for quite a while. He would stay by Aragorn's side, and there was still the matter of that colony that he wished to establish in Ithilien.

Thinking about the fact that, soon enough, there would be no elves left in Middle Earth made me deeply sad. But at least I found comfort in knowing that I, too, would someday be making the journey across the waters and into the West. I would have the chance to be reunited with them all again when Legolas and I both decided that it was time to leave.

Many elves had already left; I knew this from both my own prior knowledge and from what Haldir had told me. A lot of the elves that lived in Lothlórien were making ready to set-out within the coming months. At the thought, I looked up at Haldir again quickly.

"Haldir," I began, setting my cup down on the table beside me. "Will you be sailing for Valinor?" It was a question that I already knew the answer to; all of the elves were leaving. There wasn't anything that I could do to change that. I watched as he rested his own cup in his lap and smiled at me sadly.

"All of my people—our people," he corrected smoothly, earning a slight smile from me, "we know in our hearts when the time has come for us to leave for Valinor. Most have put it off already for many months to aid in the War against Sauron." Pausing, he looked at me for a moment, eyes shining fondly. "I will stay for your wedding, Christa. But after that, I must leave."

"Oh, Haldir," I breathed, unsure of what else to say in response. He had correctly assumed my reason for asking, and I was relieved to hear that he would not be missing my wedding. "Will you come with us? To Mirkwood?" Legolas and I had only briefly discussed our plans for what would happen next; we were to ride with the King and the rest of our company to Edoras for Théoden's funeral. From there, we would ride to Isengard. Gimli had promised Legolas that he would see Fangorn with him, and Legolas was not about to let him off the hook. Once through Fangorn, we would ride to Mirkwood and to Erebor—to our homes.

"I will accompany you as far as Isengard. From there I must return to Lothlórien with the rest of my folk," Haldir replied. "Send word to me when you reach Mirkwood, and I will come as soon as my duty allows," he said, reaching across to clasp my arm, promise in his eyes. I nodded.

"I can't ask any more of you than that," I said, grateful that he would be staying with us for as long as he was. Resting my other hand on top of his, I squeezed it in silent thanks.

I knew the days would pass quickly, and they did—much to my dismay. After a few more days of Legolas being hidden away in meetings with Aragorn, they had finally devised enough of a plan to tell me about it.

"Faramir is to be named Prince, Aragorn has decided—and Lady Éowyn his wife. They will dwell in Emyn Arnen, in Southern Ithilien, and we will take a small colony of elves from Eryn Lasgalen to the Northern region of the county. There, we will build our homes and rekindle that place that once held so much beauty and life."

Eryn Lasgalen—that was what he had begun calling Mirkwood, ever since the War had ended. With Sauron's defeat, the darkness that had plagued the forest had receded, allowing the trees to breathe and the light of day to once again reach through their boughs. He always spoke of his home with such passion, and I knew that he was eager to be leaving Minas Tirith.

I, too, was getting anxious spending my days within the stone walls of the huge city. Of course, we ventured out beyond the city wall when time permitted, but that was not nearly as often as I would have liked. The days were long now, in mid-July, and the sun was hot on my face when I spent too long outside. I would sit on the balcony of my room and stare across the Pelennor to Ithilien and the cool shade of the trees that I missed so much.

I was both excited and nervous to make the trip to Eryn Lasgalen—excited to explore a new land that I had only ever thought of as a fantasy, and nervous to be meeting Legolas' father. Though he had assured me numerous times that Thranduil would be delighted to meet me, I couldn't shake the small nagging voice in my head that tried to convince me otherwise.

While some days passed slower than others, after three weeks of waiting we found ourselves making ready to depart from Minas Tirith. Éomer and Éowyn had returned from Rohan with a host of Riders, and we had gathered in the Great Hall for a final dinner before our journey. The late evening sun cast long rays down the length of the hall, and the savoury smell of roast meats and buttery bread filled the room.

"Gimli," Éomer greeted the dwarf as he neared us, "have you your axe ready?"

"No, lord," Gimli replied, the faintest hint of jest in his eyes, "but I can speedily fetch it, if there be need."

"You shall judge," Éomer said. "For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady in the Golden Wood that lie still between us. And now I have seen her with my eyes."

Turning in my seat, I glanced across the table to where Haldir sat, my lip twitching slightly in a grin.

"Well, and what would you say now?" Gimli asked, lifting his chin.

"Alas!" Éomer began, his gaze traveling to the opposite end of the hall. "I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives."

"Then I must go for my axe," Gimli replied hastily, but not without the slightest hint of understanding.

"But first I will plead this excuse," Éomer added. "Had I seen her in other company, I would have said all that you could wish. But now I will put Queen Arwen Evenstar first, and I am ready to do battle on my own part with any who deny me. Shall I call for my sword?" he finished with a small grin.

"No, you are excused for my part, lord," the dwarf replied with a smile as he dipped his chin in respect. "You have chosen the Evening, but my love is given to the Morning. And my heart forebodes that soon it will pass away forever."

I watched as the smile slipped from his face and he instead looked across the hall to where Lady Galadriel sat next to Celeborn and Elrond. Elrohir and Elladan were there, also, along with many others from the Goldenwood and the Hidden Valley who had made the journey to Minas Tirith for Arwen and Aragorn's wedding. I wished that I could console the dwarf; I was fairly certain that he would be joining Legolas and I when we sailed for Valinor. He would see Galadriel again when his life was long and Legolas and I had grown weary.

Turning my gaze from the elves, my eyes landed on Lady Éowyn. She sat with Faramir, and my heart couldn't help but swell at how happy they seemed. How strange, that such chaos and violence could serve as a foundation for love. Strange, indeed.

Under the table, I took Legolas' hand in mine and squeezed it affectionately, before turning my cheek to share a smile with him. It would be hard to say goodbye to so many wonderful friends, but as long as Legolas was with me, I knew I'd be just fine.

Two days following the arrival of Éomer and Éowyn, we found ourselves saying farewell to Minas Tirith. Éomer and Aragorn had carried Théoden's casket down from the Houses of the Dead and now he lay on a wagon pulled by two beautiful horses, their coats golden and their manes silver. It was an impressive riding; all the company of Lothlórien and Rivendell, the princes of Dol Amroth, the Riders of Rohan, the City Guard whom Pippin rode alongside of, and of course the eight other members of the Fellowship.

Eclipse was fresh from the morning air and eager to get going, despite my insistence that we wouldn't be traveling at a pace much faster than a trot. After several frustrated fits of head tossing and crow hopping, he agreed to calm down—albeit begrudgingly—and settle in at a trot with the rest of the horses.

We rode Northwest along the base of the mountains until we came to a dark and quiet forest. The trees whispered as we entered and made our way down the road, swaying gently in the morning's breeze.

"Where are we?" I leaned over to ask Legolas, voice raised above the drumming of hoofbeats on gravel.

"Tawar-in-Drúedain," he replied, his own gaze traveling through the dark grey boughs. "The Drúadan Forest."

"Druadan?" I asked curiously, feeling strangely as though we were being watched, though I could see nothing.

"A strange folk live here—The Drúedain. They named the forest in their own language, though I do not know what it means." He stopped speaking then, and lifted his chin to stare ahead a way, obviously sensing the same presence that I was.

It reached my ears quietly at first, but within a moment the sound of drums had grown loud in the woods around us. A shiver went up my spine as I once again searched the shadows for any sign of life, but could find none other than the steady beating of the drums.

From the head of the column, the King's trumpets sounded, and a voice called out to the drummers, proudly: "Behold the King Elessar is come! The Forest of Drúadan he gives to Ghân-buri-ghân and to his folk, to be their own for ever; and hereafter let no man enter it without their leave!"

Ghân-buri-ghân, that rang a bell; Merry had told me about the odd little man that they had encountered when the Rohirrim had ridden to Gondor. He had led the Riders along secret paths through the mountains in order to avoid being seen by the orcs. It was only because of him that Théoden and his men had been able to come to Gondor's aid. Had they not gone that secret way, what might have happened to the Riders of Rohan? I shuddered at the thought and was glad for the people that remained hidden in their woods.

At the herald's words, the drums grew steadily louder until suddenly they ceased all at once, and the forest was quiet once more.

We rode through the rest of the day and reached the edge of the forest by nightfall. We made camp at the edge of the trees and the men settled down for the night. Those of us who did not need to sleep rested in their own ways, or wandered off for some quiet privacy. I, on the other hand, was restless after the day spent in the saddle.

"Practice with me," I said to Legolas, drawing my knives in spinning them around in a mediocre display of ability.

"Very well," he replied with a light chuckle.

"Care to invite me along?" Haldir said, coming up from behind me and placing a hand on my shoulder with intent to startle me. Needless to say, it worked. Narrowing my eyes, I looked up at him in exasperation.

"Maybe not, if you insist on startling me," I replied teasingly, before waving him along.

We wandered off a distance, far enough that we wouldn't wake the men with the sound of our weapons. I had not had any practice with my knives since the Battle of the Black gate, but still, the grey wooden handles felt comfortable in my palm. I was eager to see how my skills were matched by those of Haldir and Legolas. I watched Haldir curiously as he drew a small knife from his tunic.

"I've never seen you fight with a knife," I commented as he lifted his eyes.

He grinned slyly. "And I've seen very little of what you're capable of."

"Well, Legolas here is a very competent teacher," I said, tilting my head in Legolas' direction, who mirrored my expression with a smirk and an arch of his brow.

"We shall see about that," Haldir replied, before quickly darting forward, catching me off guard as I found his small knife at my throat. My mouth dropped open in a playful look of shock, and I heard Legolas chuckle quietly.

Careful to avoid the sharp edge of the blade, I looked over at Legolas and tried to hide my amusement. "Hey, it's your reputation on the line!"

"Well then, I should hope to see better effort than that display." I caught his grin from the corner of my eye before shifting my gaze back to Haldir, whose face showed only a hint of amusement, instead staying steady and—for the most part—unreadable.

I took the opportunity to attack first this time, before he could surprise me again. "I missed your all-work-no-play expression," I said through my teeth as I ducked low to evade his counter. He didn't say anything in reply but instead attacked again, his knife brushing dangerously close to my shoulder. Gritting my teeth, I spun quickly on my heels and flipped my knife backwards in my palm, hoping to pull off a good over-hand thrust, but my blade met steel. My other hand was free, but Haldir grabbed it with his empty hand and held it at a safe distance from himself. With a grunt of determination, I twisted my arm before he could grip it any tighter and freed myself.

Taking a step back before he could swing again, I briefly seized him up, stepping aside lightly as he made a move for my side. Reflecting on my hand-to-hand training with Haldir in Lothlórien, I decided to switch things up a bit. Time to fight dirty, I smirked to myself. If he noticed my expression, he didn't show it.

Swiftly I put one of my knives back into its scabbard and crouched down low. Planting my free hand in the grass, I kicked out towards him, hooking his ankles and sending him tumbling to the ground with a mild look of surprise. Since he only had one knife to begin with, he caught himself and quickly rolled out of the way of my swing before springing back to his feet.

With a growl of frustration, I stood back up and glared at him while we circled each other, waiting for the other to take a misstep. I watched Haldir closely, waiting for the slightest indication that he was about to attack, knowing he was doing the same for me. What was it he had told me during my first self-defense lesson? Remember, never watch your attacker's eyes. Always pay attention to their body. The eyes will lie.

After a few moments of this, I began to grow anxious. I knew now that it was a game of patience, but mine was wearing thin and it was becoming clear to me that I wasn't likely going to win by quickness alone.

After brief consideration, I stepped towards him suddenly. He evaded the attack easily, but I quickly spun on my heel and dropped to one knee, reaching out to get a firm grip on his ankle before he could stop his own motion. Now I was sure to glance at his eyes as they widened—albeit not quite as much as I had been hoping—and he tumbled rather unceremoniously to the ground with a thud that knocked the breath from his lungs. Standing quickly, I unsheathed my second knife and held both of them at his throat. Only then did I let the smile slip onto my face.

"At least you didn't hit your head," I offered, doing my best imitation on the elf who now lay gasping in the grass. I watched as realization dawned on him and he sat up as I withdrew my knives.

"Using my old tricks against me," I replied with a quirk of his eyebrow. "I approve."

"I thought you would," I chuckled, offering him a hand up. To my amusement, he took it and I did my best to pull him up.

"I suppose I'll have to watch for your trickery, then," Legolas remarked with a laugh. I turned to face him and grinned.

"During our first self-defense lesson, Haldir yanked my feet from underneath of me, just like that," I explained with a nod of my head. "You always played fair, and I don't think I have any other tricks anyways."

"I think you're simply playing favourites," Haldir said in mock resentment, earning a teasing shrug and a nod from me. "In all seriousness, well done."

Blushing slightly at the compliment, I smiled. "I suppose being in the middle of war offers no choice in the matter of becoming a good fighter. And of course, it helps that I've had two of the most skilled elves in Middle Earth as my instructors."

At that, both of them laughed rather humbly. "While that is a wonderful compliment, I'm not sure that I belong among the 'most skilled' in all of Middle Earth," Legolas chuckled.

"Nor I," Haldir added with an amused grin.

"Well," I shrugged. "The stories really talk you up, then."

There was no visible reaction to this comment, but I could tell that the thought was sobering to them. For a brief moment, I wondered how it must feel, knowing that you had been a character in a story that so many believed to be fiction—and then I caught myself mid-thought as I realised that I was one of those characters now, as well. Where their reactions had been nearly undetectable, mine came in the form of visible surprise.

"Woah." My voice was airy, and I blinked slowly, processing this. I mean, I'd obviously realised this before, but I had never really considered the implications. "I wonder what they say about me?"

In all likelihood, the books probably barely brushed on my own story—after all, I had very little to do with either the destruction of the Ring or Aragorn's reclamation of his crown. But, then again, how else would Haldir's random appearances be explained? How much of my internal feelings had been portrayed in the pages of those books? The thought made me uncomfortable.

"Likely that you have a penchant for revenge," Haldir grinned, trying to lift the mood a bit. I smirked back, still enjoying the fact that I had bested him with his own tricks.

"In all seriousness," he spoke up again, ignoring my smug expression, "they surely speak highly of your character, Christa." My smirk softened and I found myself smiling rather bashfully in response.

"And you're an elf, so surely they mention your beauty," Legolas added with a grin.

"Oh stop," I laughed, giving him a playful smack on the arm at which he pretended to be hurt. He nursed his wound for a moment before glancing back to me with a soft smile.

"I obviously do not know what your stories say in my regard, but I'm sure that wherever I am, you are there with me."

"Had it not been for you, I would not be standing here now," Haldir added. "You have been and will always be a significant part of my life, and knowing that you were willing to risk your own wellbeing in order to save me leaves me forever grateful for your friendship, Christa."

"Seriously, stop it," I started, but ended up choking out the last words. Opening my arms I beckoned to two of them closer and wrapped them in a tight hug, not knowing if I would ever be able to let them go. "I love you guys," I breathed quietly. Thank you.

It was a long two-week ride to Edoras, and I found myself daydreaming of soft beds and hot baths. I knew it would be much longer until I had access to either of those things, but the prospect of knowing that eventually, I would kept me positive enough. I had gone a bit soft during my stay at Minas Tirith, and despite my daily riding excursions, I found myself sore and stiff when we stopped every day at night.

On the evening of the fifteenth day of riding, we crested a hill and saw the golden thatched roofs of Meduseld atop the lone hill. Eager to be settled before nightfall, we kicked our horses into a trot and made our way through the green fields to the city.

Our arrival had clearly been much anticipated, but despite the banners and the lanterns that decorated Edoras, there was also a somber air, knowing that Théoden had returned home to be laid to rest alongside the rest of his house.

We made camp just inside of the city's walls, tethering our horses and giving them a thorough brush after the long ride. Eclipse was grateful for the hay that I brought him, and I promised him that I would do my best to sneak him an apple or a carrot if I could. Before too long, we were being summoned to Meduseld.

The Great Hall of Meduseld was unrecognisable; changed from the dreary crypt where we had watched as Gandalf had freed Théoden from Saruman's spell. Intricate banners and gold, green, and red hung from the ceilings and were draped along the walls. Lanterns hung between the textiles, and from the rafters hung an enormous chandelier or gold, hundreds of candles twinkling on their rests. Already there was singing, and dancing and food laid out endlessly on the heavy wooden tables.

The evening passed in a blur of food, and drink, and emotionally-charged speeches. Pippin asked me to dance as I finished my first drink, and of course, I obliged. He taught me to dance like a "proper hobbit," and we laughed and spun and sang together for a while until Haldir asked Pippin if he could steal me away.

I had been nervous when I had felt his hand on my shoulder, but my fears of the dance being at all awkward quickly vanished as he led me through the sequence, reminding me only once to not look at my own toes. We laughed, and we talked, and then we simply danced, content to be silent in each other's company for a little while longer.

I was surprised when Aragorn asked me next, and with a smile and a formal bow, Haldir thanked me and stepped aside. Taking Aragorn's rough hand in my own, I listened carefully as he quickly taught me the dance, and then led me through the steps. Different from the elvish dance, but not altogether strange, I followed him rather easily.

"I wanted to thank you, Christa," he said to me after the movements had become second-nature.

Surprised, I lifted an eyebrow. "For what?"

"For your bravery, and for your selflessness," he replied, not a hint of jest in his tone. I smiled in appreciation, humbled by his words. He had no idea what I had been through, apart from the obvious. And he didn't know that I had known beforehand how everything was likely to play out. Don't be so discrediting. You still could have died, regardless of knowing what you did, I scolded myself.

"Thank you," I replied, steering the gratitude back in his direction. "I never would have made it this far without your leadership—none of us would have," I smiled fondly. "I made the choices I did because I had to, and in the end, I'm glad that I did." Finishing, I glanced across at Legolas, who stood talking with some of the Lothlórien elves.

"You've made him very happy," Aragorn commented, making me blush. "He always was so keen on adventure and duty; I am happy that he had found something more."

"I wouldn't be here without him, either," I said quietly, my gaze lingering on the elf as my heart swelled.

As the song ended, Aragorn lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. Bowing my head in respect, I thanked him for the dance and wandered over to Legolas. He had excused himself from the others and now stood watched me, eyes twinkling.

"I thought I would not get a chance to dance with you myself," he teased. I grinned.

"You're not quick enough," I replied smoothly, taking his hand in my own and leading him back the way I had come as the next song started. Placing his other hand on my waist, he pulled me in for a kiss before we stepped into one of the dances that he had taught me on the night of Aragorn's Coronation. I found myself beaming and breathless, less so from the dancing and more from the idea that I was here, with Legolas, at the end of it all. Not the end, I reminded myself. The beginning.

As the night grew old and the music slowed, we found ourselves pressed against each other, swaying slowly. My ear against his chest, I listened to the steady sound of his heartbeat and closed my eyes, content to stay this way forever. He smelled like earth and grass, and the ever-familiar scent of pine trees in the spring. When the music finally stopped and the lanterns were extinguished, we sat by the hearth and watched the flames flicker out and die, alone in the night with each other.

The morning air was brisk, and the dew crisp on the lawn. I had woken up in Legolas' arms, and we had talked for a while before he excused himself to find Aragorn. I sat now on the stone steps that led up the hill to the Hall, watching the city as it buzzed about preparing for another day. The sound of soft footsteps made me turn my head, and I was surprised to see Arwen approaching me, a friendly smile on her lips. Standing quickly, I bowed to her.

"Queen Arwen, it's a pleasure," I breathed, somewhat awestruck.

"The pleasure is mine, Christa," she chuckled lightly and came to stand beside me, looking out over the city. "My father tells me a most extraordinary story," she said after a moment, "of gifts from the Valar, and of heartbreak and loss."

I was startled by her frankness, but the curiosity in her gaze overcame any perceived rudeness and I knew she meant no insult. Pursing my lips for a moment, I smiled warmly.

"I suppose extraordinary is one word that could be used to describe it."

I debated whether or not I really wanted to talk about it, but I knew that it would do no harm; not if Elrond had already told her. He had told Elrohir and Elladan, so it wasn't really surprising to learn that Arwen knew as well.

"I certainly didn't end as I had expected it to," I said simply, my eyes wandering across the courtyard to rest on Legolas as he stood talking with Aragorn. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Arwen shared my expression.

"I think that you and I are very much alike," she spoke after a moment of shared silence. Surprised, I turned to her with an inquiring quirk of my brow. "There are some things that are forever, and some that cannot last. We have chosen new lives; lives filled with love but not without heartache. It is not easy to make such a choice."

"It is not," I agreed quietly. "But I know in my heart that it was the right choice," I added with a small smile. She mirrored my expression and nodded.

"Yes," she agreed. "The heart is not one to lie."

I shuffled my feet slightly, searching for something else to say, but Arwen quickly filled the silence. "I was pleased to hear that you and Legolas would be staying in Ithilien. I wish you both all the best."

"Thank you, Arwen," I nodded gratefully, earning a smile from her.

"I am to remain at Edoras for a time, ere Aragorn sees the rest of the company to Isengard, but I look forward to your return to Gondor. You are most welcome to speak with me if you feel the need for respite from the company of men."

I couldn't help but grin at her comment, knowing that it would be nice to have another woman to talk to if I needed it. I had never really been one for sharing my feelings, but then again, I had never had anyone that I felt comfortable enough with to speak to. Perhaps this would be good for me. "Of course, thank you."

On the third day at Edoras, as the sun rose in the East and cast a golden blanket about the grassy hills, King Théoden was laid to rest. As brief as I had known the man, the ceremony was hauntingly beautiful and I could not help but shed a tear as the stone door was lowered and settled into place, sealing Théoden away forever. When the funeral was over, we drank again in beneath the golden roof of Meduseld, and there we toasted to the sacrifice of the fallen king, but also to the happy news that Faramir wished to wed the Lady Éowyn.

And so we departed from Edoras as the sun began its descent back towards the earth. I could tell that Merry was deeply grieved by the loss of Théoden, and now he rode near the head of the party, a horn of silver that had been a gift from Éowyn hanging proudly at his hip.

We rode to Helm's Deep next, a prospect that I could not help but squirm about in discomfort. Gimli, however, was eager to show Legolas the Glittering Caves as they had promised. I, for one, had already decided to leave the boys to their antics; I had no desire to return to those caves, though I will admit that I had not been in a frame of mind for appreciating the sights during my last incursion into their depths. Nonetheless, I figured it was something that I could afford to miss.

Instead, I opted to stay outside with Haldir after we had settled the horses in for the night.

"I don't want you to go," I spoke softly into the fabric of his tunic, my head resting comfortably in the hollow of his shoulder. He shook gently in response, a chuckle at my childish choice of words.

"It won't be long before we see each other again."

"You promised to visit in Mirkwood," I reminded him, though I knew he could not possibly forget.

"And I will, once I am able," he assured me. I sighed nonetheless, knowing that it would remain difficult to part with him, even for a short while. But I would see him again, the war was over. There is peace now, I reminded myself. Haldir would be just fine.

At the sound of boots on the stone steps, we both turned our heads to see Gimli and Legolas nearing us, the latter a stunned look of admiration on his face. I sat up and regarded him curiously.

"How were the caves, then?" At this Legolas simply shook his head slowly, before speaking up.

"Gimli alone can find words to describe them. Never before has a Dwarf claimed a victory over an Elf in a contest of words." He looked down at Gimli, who smiled proudly beneath the russet beard. I saw Haldir suppress an expression of doubt, which he covered smoothly with a pleasant smile.

Dark, suffocating, damp? I wanted to say, but the look on Legolas' face contrasted to everything that I would have imagined. I supposed that I should maybe have given the caves the benefit of the doubt; surely if Legolas had no words fit for them, they couldn't be so bad.

"Now," Legolas spoke up again, "therefore let us go to Fangorn and set the score right!"

Our stay at Helm's Deep was short, and within two days we were on the road again, following along the Fords of Isen as we left the mountains behind us. The road was flat and our horses moved swiftly along the dirt road, and we made good time to Isengard.

I was surprised to see that the stone outer wall had been removed and the gardens now sprawled freely in all directions from the tall black tower. Orthanc sat ever unmoved amidst the orchards, and two trees now sat guarding the road to Isengard where the gate had been.

"Welcome to the Treegarth of Orthanc!" A rolling voice beckoned from across the gardens, and there appeared Treebeard. He strode towards us, arms outstretched in greeting. "I knew that you were coming, but I was at work up the valley; there is much still to be done. But you have not been idle either away in the south and the east, I hear; and all that I hear is good, very good."

He spoke with Gandalf then, and soon the Wizard inquired as to the whereabouts of Saruman. Curious, I lifted my eyes back to the tower of Orthanc, half expecting to see the wizard there, bedraggled and weary.

"He is gone," Treebeard replied, causing me to start. Gone?! "Yes, he is gone seven days. I let him go. There was little left of him when he crawled out, and as for that worm-creature of his, he was like a pale shadow. Now do not tell me, Gandalf, that I promised to keep him safe; for I know it. But things have changed since then. And I kept him until he was safe, safe from doing any more harm. You should know that above all I hate the caging of live things, and I will not keep even such creatures as these caged beyond great need. A snake without fangs may crawl where he will."

"You may be right," Gandalf said slowly, eyes cast across the green expanse to the west, "but this snake had still one tooth left, I think. He had the poison of his voice, and I guess that he persuaded you, even you Treebeard, knowing the soft spot in your heart. Well, he is gone, and there is no more to be said. But the Tower of Orthanc now goes back to the King, to whom it belongs. Though maybe he will not need it."

It was not a pleasant thought, to imagine Saruman wandering free again. Despite his losses, he was sure to harbor some desire for revenge, whatever that amounted to. I had a sinking feeling that this would not be the last of the wizard.

The keys to Orthanc were then given to Aragorn for safekeeping, and Treebeard bade any who wished to travel through Fangorn on their journey home. But everyone save Legolas, Gimli, and I had need to continue either west or east, and I realized that this was the moment that I had long been dreading. It was time to say goodbye.

Dismounting, I stood beside Legolas and Gimli as the others came to bid us farewell. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I smiled down at the hobbits, who returned the gesture with sad smiles of their own.

"Here then at last comes the ending of the Fellowship of the Ring," Aragorn spoke, looking to each of us in turn before returning his gaze to the three of us who were now leaving. "Yet I hope that ere long you will return to my land with the help that you promised."

"I will come, if my own lord allows it," Gimli replied with an assured nod of his head before turning to the hobbits. "Well, farewell, my Hobbits! You should come safe to your own homes now, and I shall not be kept awake for fear of your peril. We will send word when we may, and some of us may yet meet at times; but I fear that we shall not all be gathered together ever again."

"Of course we shall return, my friend," Legolas said, stepping forward to clasp Aragorn's arm. "And we will bring with us all who will come, and Ithilien shall once again be a place of beauty and renown."

"I will await word of your return," Aragorn replied graciously, dropping Legolas' arm to take my own. "Take care, my friends."

"And you, as well, Aragorn," I smiled fondly. Turning to the Hobbits, I dropped my hands to my sides and sighed. "I'll miss you, my friends."

"And we'll surely miss you as well, Miss Christa," Pippin said with a bob of his head.

"Perhaps someday you will visit us in the Shire. You'd love it, I think," Merry added enthusiastically. I laughed.

"I'm sure that I would. It's quite a distance, as you know, but if I am able to, I will come," I promised. Turning to Frodo and Sam, who hovered just behind Merry and Pippin, I smiled. "I wish that we had had a chance to become better acquainted. All the best to you, Frodo. And you, as well, Sam."

Frodo smiled, a bit timidly, and Sam lifted his chin to meet my eyes. "Oh, I'm sure these three could never have done what they did without your help, Lady Christa," he said, gesturing to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.

At that, I laughed. "I'm pretty sure that they would have been just fine without me," I replied with a glance at Legolas, who returned my smile knowingly. "But it was an honour to be able to be a part of this Fellowship."

"I'll hope to see you again, but either way, goodbye, Lady Christa," Sam replied as his cheeks flushed slightly at my response.

"Farewell, Christa," Frodo added, looking up at me gratefully.

"I'll miss you all," I said, searching for something else to say to stretch the moment. I knew that it was unlikely that I would ever see them again, and didn't want to say goodbye, but I was also stalling—I knew which parting, albeit temporary, would come next. I couldn't find anything and saw Haldir standing at the edge of the company. His eyes lifted and met mine, and as much as I wanted to look away—to delay the moment—I couldn't.

Excusing myself from the rest of the Fellowship, I wandered over to where the Marchwarden stood, my feet dragging slowly across the grass. Brushing my palms against my breeches, I blew out through my lips and looked up at him, waiting for him to break the silence.

"It won't be long," he murmured softly.

"I know," I replied quietly, watching his expression carefully, looking for any sign that he might possibly change his mind and decide to join us on our trip to Mirkwood.

"Send word," he reminded me, reaching out to take my hands in his. Giving them a gentle squeeze, he smiled down at me as a nodded. Dropping my hands, he pulled me in for a long hug, and I closed my eyes as I bit my tongue, unsure of what to say. "Whatever happens next, you'll always have someone there, looking out for you."

"Thank you, Haldir," I replied with only a slight quiver in my voice, before smiling up at him as he pulled away slowly. "I'll see you—soon," I finished, earning a nod of assurance from him.

"Soon."

He walked me back over to where Legolas and Gimli were waiting with the horses and gave Eclipse a pat on the neck as I mounted up. Reaching down, I clasped his hand in mine and gave it a quick squeeze, before letting go, not wanting to stretch the moment too long.

"Are we set, then?" Legolas asked as he swung up onto Arod's back in front of Gimli.

"Yeah," I replied, sitting up taller and glancing over at him.

"Then let's be on with it!" Gimli said, trying to hide his impatience. "If I must pass through Fangorn again, may it be over with soon."

Rolling my eyes as I looked down once again at Haldir, I smiled. "Safe travels, Haldir."

"And you, as well, Christa."

Squeezing Eclipse into a trot, I followed behind Arod as we started off down the path towards Fangorn Forest. Looking over my shoulder as I posted, I lifted a hand in farewell to Haldir and watched as he disappeared from view behind the crest of the hill. Turning back around, I looked towards Fangorn Forest and wondered what I would find beyond the darkness of its trees.

I was about to set off on a whole new story; one that wasn't written down in any book. I had no idea what was in store for me now, and although it was scary to think about the unknown it was full of opportunity, and I was prepared to welcome it with open arms.

So, it's been quite a while since my last update, and for that, I apologise. I have the final chapters all planned, and I'm super excited to start working on the end of this story! It's been a long time coming, and to think that it will finally be coming to a close it both exciting and a bit sad for me, and I'm sure for you all, as well.

I have decided to go ahead with my idea for a sequel, however! I'll be giving you guys for details about that at the end of this story, so be on the lookout for that!

I hope that you all enjoyed this chapter, despite the wait. Please leave me a review, I'm eager to hear your thoughts—and maybe your ideas for what I have in store for Christa and Legolas! As always, thanks so much for reading!

-Eru