Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings and I did not write this for profit.
ElvenPrincess 2005
Chapter 21: Epilogue
Updated: Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Author's Note: See my bio page for any additional information. Everyone who posted a review with a signed name has either been answered or will be answered shortly. Any unsigned reviews will be on my bio page. Also, please read my bio page for a very lengthy final author's note for this story.

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The days and weeks passed and I healed slowly. The bruises were gone and the cuts became scare that I would bare for the rest of my life. The only think that has yet to heal with my fractured shin bone.

Don't get me wrong; it was healing and I was getting around well enoughon a crutch.

It made me stir crazy part of the time; not being able to help rebuild or with the clean up.

The white tree sapling that had been found by Gandalf and Aragorn started blooming. My lack of ability to help allowed me to watch it grow. People paid little attention to it, but I watched it, took care of it. It was my little pet project. Something to pass the time, but it gave me a renewed hope.

Even things that are withered; that may look dead, are sleeping; resting until needed. I made the connection to myself almost instantly.

Eowyn and Faramir were released not long after I got out and became very close. It was nice to see some things didn't change with my appearance here. In May, Aragorn was crowned king. I stood in the front watching.

It was both a happy and somber occasion. By then my leg has healed completely and I was back to training. I couldn't tell you why, just that I missed holding my sword.

Arwen and Aragorn wed shortly after on June 22 and it wasn't until mid September when I left Minas Tirith.

Through the begging of Merry and Pippin, I had agreed to visit the Shire. They were the least hard hit peoples in Middle Earth. I wasn't there long, only a few weeks. Part of me had grown restless. I suppose moving constantly over a span of a few months would do that to you.

I continued east to the Grey Havens. There were no boats and very few Elves. The docks held various items and the stone buildings had vines and ivy growing up their sides. I faintly wondered if this was where I could leave Middle Earth.

Reality was, I had no desire to leave. I had no intention to leave either.

It wasn't until October 30th that I arrived in Lothlrien. Greeted still by arrows; Rumil had a grin on his face that I couldn't wipe off, no matter how hard I tried. I threw my arms around my father who refused to let me go. He then went off on a tangent on how I should have written.

An argument ensued.

"Where were you?"

"The Shire and I visited the Grey Havens,"

"No letters?"

"Kept a journal," I shrugged. It wasn't like I could actually write Elvish

"I received a letter from Legolas in April. He said you had been injured,"

I snorted. Injured? Boy did he downplay my condition. "We need to talk," I told him.

He leaned against a nearby tree. "We went to the Black Gates. There I was injured. When we made it back to the city, I crashed. I think it was about two days later when the very last, very large contingent of Orcs and Uruk-Hai came to Minas Tirith. I was exhausted when I entered the battle, so I wasn't at the top of my game,"

"More injuries?"

"Worse," I clarified. "It was well into the battle when Thranduil and some Elves made it to us. By that time, I was taking on the leader of the contingent. I took him down with too much effort on my part. I broke some ribs and fractured my shin bone. He took one of my daggers and managed to stab me. By the time it was over, my injures had finally caught up with me,"

I stopped, remembering the emotions that I had felt that night. "Palenwen,"

"From what I was told, because I don't remember any of it, Boromir reacted first. He got to me and pulled me away. I passed out and my injuries were so severe, but I knew the possibilities. While I was in the Healing House, my heart stopped,"

He jerked. "And I had stopped breathing,"

I let out a shaky breath. "Medically, I died. Where I grew up, they would have had procedures to try and bring me back. But here? I don't know how I came back to life; only that my breathing and heart started again on their own accord. Legolas nearly followed me; it scared everyone,"

"You should have stayed here,"

"Shoulda, woulda, coulda. I can't change the past, but I changed the future. Boromir was supposed to die at Amon Hen. I saved him,"

"Look at the cost," he spat.

"What cost?!" I all but snarled. "I saved him. So I have some scarring. Big fucking deal! Here's another fact for you father; he saved your life. Helm's Deep, you were to die during the retreat to the inside. An Uruk-Hai was supposed to kill you and I couldn't reach you in time. He saved you. So again, what cost?" I asked.

"Don't try to justify this,"

"Why not? You are. The ends justify the means. I got chastised from Aragorn and Thranduil over it; I don't need it from you,"

I ran my fingers through my hair and pulled it back into a haphazard bun. "I'm not sorry so I will not apologize. I did what I needed to. I will not deny that it wasn't fun, but to protect those that I love and care for, I will do anything. Even if that means dying,"

"I knew that and that's what I feared the most. That you would do something reckless and die,"

"But I'm okay. I'm alive. Legolas told me that that was all that mattered,"

He shot me a look. "I didn't believe him at first either, but he's right. In the end, that's all that matters,"

He sighed. "You are correct. I'm grateful that you are alive. Losing your mother, it nearly broke me. It was Mithrandir who told me that sending you away would save you,"

"Gandalf?"

He shook his head. "Saruman,"

"You do realize that he was the enemy,"

"Then he was a trust friend,"

"How long ago?"

"Not even twenty years,"

I did the math. At that point, he wasn't a friend. So what did he see? What did he know? It was no use in asking those questions now. Unless

"I need to see Galadriel," I told him.

"Why?"

"You know when people ask that, they usually don't want an answer,"

"However?"

"She might know a few things. I'm not going to say anything now because I don't know if my jumping to conclusions would be the correct thing to do,"

We made out way to Caras Galadhon. Galadriel smiled when she saw me. "Your Mirror shows the future. Can it show the past?"

I didn't see the point in beating around the bush. "Only for one person at this point; your mother,"

"If I ask it nicely?"

"Do you remember the way?" she asked. "I ask this because this is something we cannot take part in,"

I nodded. I took off for the Mirror. I nearly ran over Aradol, who sneered. I smiled at him and continued on. I made it to the glade and touched my Star of David around my neck. Some things were better off not known, but this?

I stepped near the Mirror and took some water. I peered into it and was instantly grabbed. I saw my mother. Haldir was right, I did look like her. I watched the attack that took her life and heard her last words, "Our daughter, protect her, cherish her, but do not stifle her. She is the hope for so many who are not yet born. She is a gift from the Valar. She will have hardship, but she will endure. She is meant for things no one yet knows,"

I pulled away. She knew? Well, she knew something, but what? I looked again and was pulled to the meeting with Saruman. "She must be sent away. She much not return,"

"What did you see?" Haldir asked.

"She will die if she stays," the Istari stated.

Galadriel looked on, a suspicious look on her face, but she remained silent. The scene switched to Isengard. Saruman stood in front of the Palantr. I saw visions of what had occurred. I saw the death of Grima Wormtongue, my stand at Isengard, my death.

I stood in front of the Valar. A conversation ensued. "You owe use two souls," a male stated.

"I don't owe you a damned thing!" I snarled.

"Boromir and Haldir"

"I will not allow people to die if I could help it! If it was such a big deal, you wouldn't have allowed me to return," I stated.

"Her life is tied to another. She must return for it is not the other we want," a female voice broke through the darkness.

Legolas? It had to be. "She will return and she will live," the same female argued.

"This is free will and I had it. You cannot condemn me or anyone else for it," I told them.

"Very well. You will return, but you will have no memory if this taking place," the male waved his hand.

I pulled away, slumped down and cried. I didn't need to know all of that. I slowly pulled myself together and walked back to where my father and Galadriel were located. "My mother knew,"

"She saw. She didn't want that for you,"

"But you pulled me back! So you saw something,"

"The Mirror shoed me the future without you. I could not allow that,"

"You knew about Saruman. It was all over your face,"

"I remained silent because it was necessary. If you had stayed, you would not have helped as you did,"

"The Valar were going to keep me," I said softly. "They let me return because of Legolas. He would have died,"

"He was not meant to die," Galadriel said.

"They told me I owed them two souls because I saved Boromir and daddy,"

"You did the right thing," Galadriel said.

"I know, but the cost" I paused. "I don't doubt my decisions; I never will, but I didn't know,"

"No one did," she told me. "A visitor arrived shortly after you left,"

I saw Legolas in the back. I threw my arms around him. It felt good to be in his arms. I felt safe.

Days turned into weeks and I left with Legolas to go to Mirkwood, well, Eryn Lasgalen. His dad was happy to see us, for the most part. I don't think he would ever forgive me for the pain I caused Legolas. Truth be told, I don't think I could ever forgive myself...

I spent the next four years between Lrien and Eryn Lasgalen. Legolas and I married and I officially became a princess. I wasn't and am still not too sure how to take it. When I received word that Frodo was sailing east with his uncle, Gandalf, and Galadriel, I went to bide them farewell.

"I was not sure you were going to come," Galadriel stated.

I smiled. "I would let you leave without one last goodbye. I wanted to thank you Galadriel. You did more than you should have,"

She smiled softly at me. "Life is a precious thing. The actions that I have done turned out for the better. I'm glad you could come home Palanwen. So very glad,"

She entered the boat. I watched Frodo help his uncle on there and watched him follow. Mithrandir smiled. "Katherine, you were always meant to come home. You were meant for great things. You're life didn't end when you arrived in Arda; it started. I have always been proud of you, of the decisions and the sacrifices you've made. Don't allow what you deem as mistakes to rule your life,"

I nodded, smiling back at him. "Thank you. I hope all goes well,"

"Spoken like a true princess," Frodo said.

I shrugged. "Diplomatic procedure's stuck in my head," I looked at the Hobbit. "Frodo, whatever guilt you may feel, it wasn't you're fault. I choose my actions; no one else. But everything's okay now. I swear,"

"I'm glad to hear that everything is fine Miss Katherine and actually I have a request of you,"

I nodded. "Can you grace my uncle and myself with a song?"

I smiled. "I will gladly sing for you and your uncle,"

I went through my memories, trying to find an appropriate song. The only one that stuck in my mind was "Fly" by Celene Dion.

And so I sung. When I was finished, Frodo stepped off of the boat and gave me a hug. I bent down, hugged him back and kissed his forehead. "Thank you Frodo. For everything you've given me," I told him.

"I didn't do anything,"

I smiled. "Not in your eyes perhaps, but you taught me that one person can make a difference. That being brave meant you could be scared,"

"May you live a long time Miss Katherine," Frodo said.

"When my time comes to leave, I will find you Frodo. I will see you again, I promise,"

He nodded and slowly he returned to the boat. As I watched the sails open, I felt the heartache of watching my friends and family leave. I watched the boat leave and remained until it was out of my sight. Celeborn stood behind me. "Will you return home?" he asked.

I sighed. "Yeah, I think I will,"

On my way back, I stopped to visit Natalie and Boromir, who were raising a brood of their own. Twins; a boy and a girl.

Years passed and I have birth to our first child, a little girl, who I named Aviva. She grew up with Eldarion and his two sisters, as well as Boromir's twins. It was nice to know they could go off playing in the field without worry of attack.

Time slipped from me and I taught her English and when she was old enough, she read my journal I kept during the war. It wasn't until twenty years later when Natalie had died and it was at that point that I had first seen Boromir cry.

To say that it hit me hard would be an understatement. Natalie was the closest thing I had to a fading past. She was my friend, my sister. Somehow, in some way, I knew that Boromir was going to follow. I knew that he wasn't going to survive long after her death.

And it was on Boromir's death bed that I promised that as long as I could, as long as I was alive, as long as Aviva was alive, I would take care of his children and grandchildren. I would watch them; protect them as if they were my own. I suppose this was the only way I could tell him 'thank you for saving my father' and also tell him 'thank you for saving me'.

That was the beginning of an end that I knew would one day occur. When a letter was sent by Eldarion saying that Aragorn had died, I was stricken. I knew it was coming, but it was something I hadn't given too much thought over. Aviva was more grief stricken than myself, I believe. Aragorn always knew how to spoil her, something Legolas and I protested far too much over.

But Arwen never recovered. She pined away for him in Lothlrien and followed the next year. It was during the funeral that I had caught a glimpse of what I had put Legolas through all those years ago and I hated it. I would have done anything to stop it from happening to her; even if that meant bringing Aragorn back. But, I had fooled around with fate enough when I first arrived and I wasn't one to push my luck; not anymore anyway.

I sat on the ground with my daughter in my arms as we both cried and sobbed over the loss of our family. It wasn't the first time I realized that my family was slowly disappearing. Aragorn had done everything he possibly could have to keep me alive during the War. He kept me sane, kept me healthy, and protected me as a big brother would have.

I never saw Stephanie after the War. Elrond mentioned to me in a letter that she had sailed West sometime during the War. She chosen to be an Elf over being a human. I understood the thought, but I did feel sorta bad that I never got to sit down and talk to her and work things out.

It was soon after that that I started another journal of my past. It had been literally 124 years since I had arrived and there were bits and pieces that were slowly slipping away. There were times that I would be up late at night, drawing what my old house looked like, where the furniture was placed, the town I grew up in, the people I had known and had shaped me. When I thought I had finished, I put it away on the top shelf. This was something personal and Legolas understood it and had respected my decision.

"And so it was written and it was passed down through the generations. The story of a female warrior who really had no idea of what she was doing or how she was to save innocent people from dying, but through her love and devotion to people, she succeeded. She won and she lived happily ever after,"

"Mommy, I'm glad she won," Alatril told me.

"So is she baby girl. Now you need to go to sleep. You've had a bedtime story long enough to last you until your one hundred,"

I tucked her into bed, kissed her goodnight and blew out her candle. She yawned and drifted off. I stood and took one last look at her before closing her door for the evening. I was right; she did live happily ever after; in a manner of speaking anyway.

It didn't start off like that, but thinking back on the fairy tales that I few up with, no one's did. There was always the symbolic fighting for the person you love. There was no two ways about it and really I wouldn't have it any other way.