A/N: Well, this is it! It's been a long time since I updated, and an even longer time since I started this story! I want to thank everyone who has joined me on this epic journey: the readers, the reviewers, family, and friends. Your words and time have meant so much to me and I wish that I could thank each of you individually. (The respond to reviews button is still new; it wasn't there for a long time.) I don't know what my next FanFiction expedition will be, but I hope that it will be as good an experience for me as this story was. My writing style has changed so much! (Have you seen the first chapters of AOLG? mock shudders) Anyway, thank you all so much. Know that you are loved and appreciated! (song credits: not mine; sung by Annie Lennox in ROTK) And now… drum roll

Epilogue: Into the West

"The King is dead; long live the King!"

The call of the messenger rang through the trees into the modest home of the former Prince of Mirkwood.

Fiondra heard the news and tears pricked at her eyes. Her breath caught on a sob and she sank down into a chair. Memories of the man who had been kind to her and steadfast friend to her husband flooded into her mind. Aragorn would be greatly missed. She closed her eyes and prayed for the soul of the departed king.

"Naneth? What's wrong?"

Fiondra opened her eyes and smiled sadly at her young daughter. She sniffed and wiped away a tear. "King Elessar has passed away, dear one. He was a great man, and an even better friend."

Lalaithnen hugged her mother comfortingly. "Does that mean Ada will be home soon?" she asked hopefully.

Legolas had gone to be with Aragorn in his last days. It was likely that Arwen would rely on him for a few more days at least. "Yes," Fiondra answered her eldest child. "Your father will be home soon." She squeezed Lalaithnen tightly and then nudged her toward the next room. "Go play with your brothers. I need time to think."

"Yes Naneth." The young elleth skipped to the adjoining room, dark hair swinging behind her.

Fiondra silently thanked Eru for her children. After Lalaithnen, there had come two sons. The elder was Gaerwath, named "sea shadow" for Legolas' haunting attraction to the sea. Gaerwath was the serious member of the family, often asking his mother deep questions that amazed her. Legolas often remarked how much their first son resembled Aglarsîr, but Fiondra just as easily tossed back that the temperaments of each was opposite.

Their third child was named for the constant silver gleam in his gray eyes. Celebglin was an imp and though just a toddler, annoyed his sister to no end by pulling at her hair and teased his brother by making obscene noises when Gaerwath was reading. Celebglin's hair matched that of Legolas and Fiondra was happy enough to claim that Celebglin was his father's son through and through.

Eru had truly blessed them thus far. She and Legolas hoped to have more children at some point, but Fiondra now realized that no more would be born in Ithilien. Aragorn had died, leaving only Legolas and Gimli as the remaining members of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Fiondra sighed heavily and stood up. She tied on an apron and surveyed the room. It would be best if she started to prepare now. Nothing else was left to hold them to this life.

X X X X X

Days later, Legolas walked into the room and was immediately greeted by three ecstatic cries. "Ada!"

He crouched down, gave a tired smile, and hugged each of his children in turn.

An observant Fiondra said, "Lalaithnen, take Gaerwath and Celebglin to the berry bushes. We shall have fresh berries with cream for dinner!"

The elflings scattered out towards the woods, Lalaithnen reluctantly lugging three baskets.

"Legolas." Fiondra moved into his open arms and accepted his embrace. She kissed him in welcome and led him to a comfortable chair.

"Meleth nin," the elf said hoarsely. "He is gone." Wracking sobs shook through him and Fiondra wrapped her arms around him.

"I know," she soothed him. "I know." They sat that way for some time, Fiondra trying to channel strength into her husband.

At last, Legolas quieted and he looked sensibly at Fiondra. "Eldarion is now King of Gondor. Arwen has left, and I think that we shall see her no more. I have written Gimli and he will meet us here in Ithilien within a few weeks. It is time."

Fiondra nodded her agreement. "I figured as much. I've already begun packing our belongings to take with us."

"Good," Legolas praised her. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Fiondra stood up and took his hand. "Come," she said, tugging him toward their bedroom.

"I've missed you," Legolas told her huskily.

"And I you," Fiondra replied. "Oh, so much."

X X X X X

"That's it," Legolas called down when he and Gimli finished loading the ship. He looked at his family standing on the shore and grinned at the picture they made. Fiondra carried Celebglin on her hip and Gaerwath and Lalaithnen stood on either side of her, one holding a small stack of books and the other a beloved doll.

Gimli came forward to stand next to him. "Aye, everyone had best get on this boat quickly. I'm not getting any younger, even if you young rascals are immortal."

Chortling, Celebglin scrambled out of his mother's arms and toward the dwarf. Lalaithnen hurried after her baby brother and carefully led him up the narrow ramp onto the ship.

Fiondra followed slowly behind with Gaerwath. Her son looked up at her with his dark green eyes and soberly asked, "Will we ever return home to Ithilien, Naneth?"

Fiondra smiled ruefully at him. "No, dearest. We go to a new home now. You'll meet your grandfather and some of our good friends, and in time you'll make new friends of your own. But we shall never return to Middle Earth again." By now they were on the ship, and both Legolas and Gimli had joined them. "Go set your books down, Gaerwath," Fiondra instructed her son.

"Yes Naneth." Gaerwath walked to where his siblings sat playing some sort of hand-clapping game.

"Are you ready to leave, meleth nin?" Legolas asked Fiondra, his blue eyes studying her intensely.

She nodded. Legolas and Gimli set about preparing the boat Legolas had made for departure. After a few minutes, the gray ship began to glide silently through the calm water.

Everyone went to stand at the side, gazing at what they left behind them. Celebglin started to wail in confusion and uncertainty and Fiondra scooped him into her arms, making soothing noises. She started singing a song about endings and new beginnings. Lalaithnen and Gaerwath each looked slightly teary, and even Gimli was not exactly dry-eyed.

Legolas wrapped an arm around Fiondra's waist and listened as she continued to croon to her children. "And all will turn to silver glass, a light on the water, gray ships pass, into the West."

Thus the last members of the Fellowship and those dear to them left Middle Earth and passed into the West to the Undying Lands to live for eternity.

The End.