a/n: And now we come to the end...thank you all and I hope you have enjoyed my little adventure in Middle Earth! ;3

~O~

The next three days I spent bedridden, lost in fever and tormented by dreams filled with shadow. The faceless voices whispered to me, trying to draw me deeper in. Lady Eowyn came to my side every day and read to me, drawing me back into the light. She fed the flame of hope.

Doubt and great dread hung over the heads of all who dwelled in Minas Tirith after the army departed. Fair weather and clear sun had seemed but a mockery to men whose days held little hope, and who looked each morning for news of doom. Their lord steward was dead and burned, dead lay the King of Rohan in their citadel, and the new king that had come to them was gone again to a war with powers too dark and terrible for any might or valor to conquer. And no news came. I could see Lady Eowyn's unrest. She was a woman not meant to be cooped up.

"My Lady, what news have you to tell me of this man you met?" I asked faintly, smiling knowingly up at her. Instantly, her features changed. She had spoken of him days passed, and I was eager to hear what she thought of him now. Her eyes bright in her white face, her cheeks reddened as she turned to gaze out the window that opened to the East.

"He is by right, the Steward of the City. I had sought his company the other day in preparation for the King's march on Mordor. I knew we needed deeds to be taken care of in the City. And I knew I was being impatient, but I found him in the gardens and confronted him." She said, sharing a sheepish smile with me. "He agreed with my want to take up authority on the City, but advised reluctantly against it."

"This man already has my favor if he was able to talk down your hard-headedness my Lady." I laughed, drawing my coverlet closer about me.

She raised her head and looked me in the eyes again, color tinting her pale cheek. She confessed, "At our first meeting, I did not care for him. He called me beautiful and a fair maiden and wished me to walk with him in the gardens to wait for news of our men after seeming fit to give me his opinion so readily on my state of Healing. It seemed insulting. But alas, I met him there the next morning."

That explained her rapid healing from under the wings of Shadow. I took up her hand and grasped it firmly.

"I am pleased you have found someone so kindly and understanding with which to spend your days."

Her smile faltered as she said, "What days they have been. It has seemed so long since the army rode away. I feel as if we are all standing upon some dreadful brink, and it is utterly dark in the abyss before our feet, but whether there is any light beyond…I cannot tell."

Her words were true. I too could feel the weight of our idleness. We all waited for the stroke of doom.

"Forgive me, my sister. I speak of dark things. Shall I take you out for a stroll in the gardens to meet Lord Faramir?" she asked, standing. I consented to being led by both the Warden and Lady Eowyn to her meeting spot in the gardens.

The weather was bright no longer, I noted as I sat upon a stone bench beneath a flowering shrub. It was cold and bleak. A wind that had sprung up in the night was now blowing from the North. The lands about the City looked grey and drear.

Lady Eowyn went to Lord Faramir, and they now stood together upon the walls of the gardens and looked out. They were clad in warm raiment, and over that, heavy cloaks. I too donned a warm mantle, but still I felt the chill in the air.

I was happy for her. When I first met the Captain, I instantly knew that his soul was kind. You could see it in his eyes. And the way they looked at Lady Eowyn…it gave me peace. Even when they gazed upon me, I could sense the gentleness. Not many possessed that quality.

A great eagle suddenly came into view. It seemed like it came from the East. My eyes followed it as it soared through the sky and out of sight to the tower in the south where I knew the messenger post to be. Could this be tidings finally sent from our army?

What seemed like hours later, a footman came barreling into the gardens, running straight to Faramir as he announced breathlessly, "Our King is victorious! The Dark Tower has been thrown down! The race of men is free!"

The Shadow has finally departed! I stood on shaky legs, joy propelling me forward. The Sun was unveiled and light leapt from the skies. Far in the distance beneath the majestic mountains, the waters of the river Anduin shone like silver. I wanted to sing for the joy that welled up in my heart. For a moment, I felt renewed as the Shadows were chased away.

But then a thought occurred to me, 'Is Legolas safe?'

All at once, the happiness was drained from me, and I suddenly felt faint. The Warden was by my side in an instant to lead me back to the stone bench. I sat heavily, clutching my wound. I refused the wishes to be brought back to my bed, however.

My intuition told me that I needed to stay and witness the happy moment between Lady Eowyn and Faramir, for he was hers and she, his. They were lost in each other. I smiled as I watched them speak atop the wall. From here I could not hear the words, but I did not need to. What I saw next was enough for me. Without any hesitation, Faramir took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky. The light shone about them as they came down from the walls and went hand in hand back with me to the Houses of Healing.

It was another day before any sign of the army returning came. The people were already in the midst of celebration. I could hear it from my sick bed.

"My Lady, you can see the men returnin'! They're comin' 'ome!" the Warden said, pointing and smiling broadly from the window.

Ignoring the dull pain in my shoulder, I pushed up from the bed and went to his side to see for myself. And indeed there they were, armor glinting victoriously in the afternoon sun just out of Osgiliath. My heart swelled at the sight. Dark days were now behind us.

"Shall we not ready ourselves to welcome them back?" he asked, already shuffling over to my shawl draped over the end of my bed.

"Nothing would make me happier!"

All of those in the Houses of Healing, as well as every resident of Minas Tirith, gathered in the streets. Music danced on the wind aside multiple colored rose petals and the sweet scents of feasts cooking. Children laughed and dashed by as they played merrily. But I could not bring myself to join in. My heart was still too heavy with dread.

An hour passed before the procession of the army arrived. The first glimpse I caught was that of Lord Aragorn astride his steed. At that moment, he looked more a King than any man I had ever seen before. His midnight blue robes and silver filigreed armor seemed to radiate power as he sat tall and proud in his stirrups and the band running across his brow hinted at what a crown should look if it were in its stead. It was such a sight that brought grateful tears to my eyes.

Next, I saw two little Hobbits astride their own horses. Merry and Pippin were by their side, so I gathered that these were the two that delivered the One Ring to Mount Doom; the saviors of Middle Earth. A great cheer rose up as they were recognized. Flowers were showered upon them as they passed. I craned my neck to see beyond them.

Like a beacon in a storm, he appeared. Looking no worse than when I last laid eyes on him, he sat smiling happily alongside the Dwarf Gimli, and the Wizard Gandalf. All at once it was as if I could breathe again. The missing piece of my heart had been found, and no longer did Shadow threaten me. And as if he could feel my eyes upon him, he turned and met them. Time itself froze between us and all sound became deaf to my ears as I gazed over the heads of those gathered.

Suddenly, he jumped from his saddle and I lost sight of him. His companions paused in their march to look after him in question. Even Lord Aragorn and the Hobbits turned to see what their friend was doing. Before I knew it, the crowd parted in front of me to reveal the elf. He stood slightly breathless gazing down at me with clear affection in his eyes.

"Valene…have you not eaten since I have been away? You look as if you would break if I were to touch you." He asked worriedly, one hand frozen before my arm.

"Forgive me; all I have done these past four days has been worry of your fate. Food was the last on my mind." I explained, giving him a small curtsy of respect.

He took a step closer so our bodies were mere inches apart, and grasped my hands in his. They were warm and comforting. I smiled up at him, and for the first time in days I could feel the Sun's rays reaching me; warming me.

"I have returned to you, bringing with me the favor that you so graciously bestowed. It carried me through the battle that won our great war against the Dark Lord Sauron. And for this, I wish to repay you with my own." He said, raising one hand to rest against my cheek.

My eyes widened as he quickly lowered his head to mine. For an instant he hesitated, our lips barely brushing one another. And then the moment finally came where we kissed. Never before had I felt so light and full of bliss. It seemed like I had been waiting for this all my life.

Cheers barraged my ears, and I reluctantly pulled away, hiding my face in embarrassment as realization of where we were struck. I had entirely forgotten that so many others surrounded us. The low rumble of his laughter tickled my nose as he held me.

"Come with me," he said sweeping me gently off my feet and through the onlookers back to his horse.

Gimli bellowed over as Legolas lifted me effortlessly onto the saddle, "Thought I would have to take her away myself if you did not do that any sooner, blasted Elf!"

Gandalf's eyes twinkled merrily as we once again proceeded along the roads towards the Citadel, and I could not help but smile back. As we went slowly along, I leant into Legolas' chest and closed my eyes relishing the feeling of his arm holding me tightly. No longer did I feel inferior to him. No longer did I doubt what I felt. Finally, I allowed myself to believe that I was in love with him.

I pictured Viorith's smiling face and asked quietly, "Jealous…?"

~Epilogue~

In the next years, Lady Eowyn married Captain Faramir, Eomer became King of Rohan, the Hobbit that saved Middle Earth sailed into the West, and Aragorn was crowned King of Gondor.

For me it was hard leaving my home, but at the same time, I could no longer look upon Edoras the same; not without Viorith there. Marthay and all the children stood outside the front gate, tears clinging to their lashes as Legolas and I set out on horseback towards the East.

"We shall see them again," he called over, his blue eyes piercing straight to my heart. I smiled and nodded, wiping at the tear tracks streaking down my own face.

The band on my finger brushed coolly against my skin, surprising me for the hundredth time that day. I looked down at the ring and marveled at its beauty. Legolas and I had wed the previous week in a ceremony presided over by both the Kings of Gondor and Rohan. The sensation of finally belonging to him was still new, but strangely enough it felt right in my heart. And the ring that he gave me was so breath taking; I was still thinking this was all a dream.

We made our way to his home in the woods of Mirkwood and began work on rebuilding what once was – a dream of Legolas'. It was there we made our home. Gimli, the Hobbits, and other friends that we'd met on our journeys came and visited from time to time. That was a great happiness to me; especially when Lady Eowyn stayed with her little ones.

For years Legolas and I tried for our own family with no success. We even resigned to taking in an orphan, Halith, who was a sweet brave boy that I grew to love more dearly than anything. But one blessed year, when the trees in the forest were greenest, and the wind in the mountains sweetest, I became pregnant.

My baby came into the world, crying loudly. A more beautiful sound could not have been made. He was small, but moved with strength and health. Legolas, his eyes brimming with happiness, held my hand as we gazed at our son. Breathlessly, I muttered, "I wish to name him Viorith…"

Our foreheads pressed together for a brief moment before he consented.

A day later, I took ill. I watched as my little boy grew from my bed. I watched as Mirkwood grew outside my window. I watched my husband with love in my heart that grew with each passing hour. I even penned a great song of my brother and the war I'd fought in just like he wished. But I could still feel the pull of death. That is why I began recording my whole story. When my children grow into men, I wish them to know that their mother was brave, and cared for them deeply.

Legolas sees that I slip further from him each day. He has resigned himself to that fact. Instead of despairing like I had thought he would, he smiles warmly, holds me, and comforts me; as if I were not ill. He does not deny the fact that I will leave him soon, but instead wants to spend our short time here full of love. He told me one night as he held me, the cool breeze drifting in through the open windows, that even if we are parted now, we will find each other again.

And he is right. I will wait for him on the distant shores, with my brother and parents by my side. And when we are reunited, we will spend the rest of eternity in each other's arms.

Legolas, if I am gone and you are reading this:

I love you. Come to me soon. I will be waiting.