Mae govannen, mellon nîn. (I wish I could take Elvish instead of French at school! There is no romance in French.)

Welcome (sniffs) to the last chapter (sobs loudly). So sorry this took and is so long, I got caught up in other stuff and I feel terrible!! Hope you've enjoyed the story so far, I certainly had fun writing it. The sequel will be out around August, that's if anyone is planning on reading it—everyone seems to have disappeared. Thank You to the faithful few who reviewed the last chapter. An especial Thank You to clrules, who has been with me since the beginning of my fanfic career and a great source of inspiration!

BloomBabes: Thanks!! I feel special! Keep writing, you guys rock!

clrules: Thanks cl! Ummm...keep on being random cos it helps my creativity! Oh, and thanks for the idea for this chapter. Yes folks, cl helped me think up a new, exciting (well, maybe) theme when I was stuck for ideas.

Kim: A little bird told me you read it even if you didn't review. Thanks for the feedback!

A/N: This was originally going to be themed on Light—until I wrote the fire chapter and realised it would be history repeating itself. So I was basically stuck until clrules helped me out with the Dream theme (and as a consequence we are now writing a whole story based on dreams!) And I reposted it because there was a mistake in the ending that I couldn't rest without fixing, being a stickler for details. I think that's about all you need to know, so let's get started! Wow, this is like the shortest author notes I've ever written...

Legolas felt a strange mix of emotions as they neared the last cavern. The brief time he had spent in the caves had been close to one of the most memorable experiences in his life, and he was glad that he had had it and had not backed out because of outdated inhibitions—yet he was pensive as he paced through the darkened tunnel. Now that it was almost over he wished it would not have to end. He was acutely aware that all things in the world, good or evil, eventually came to an end—as an elf, he had seen it happen many times. Yet, caught up in the myriad things to see and discover in those few crowded hours, he had not been prepared for the sudden end of it all.

A faint glitter ahead warned him of the last cavern's approach. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his excited mind. He would need to be in control of his thoughts and emotions when the time came to leave the cavern and emerge back into the bright sunlit world. He walked resolutely into the cave, and stopped for a moment, bewildered by the maze of different colours that met his startled eyes.

Every possible kind and colour of stone was represented there. Black jet was mingled with flecks of granite and opal, which dominated the mosaic; deep blue eyes of sapphire watched the darkness solemnly as tongues of ruby and amber flame pushed rebelliously through the cool sea greens and leafy hues of emeralds and green peridots. Here and there a diamond lifted its proud head alongside gracefully streaked veins of pale marble. Yet neither companion saw the individual stones for more than a fleeting moment, before they took on a shape and form crafted for only their eyes. Their deepest regrets, fears, hopes, and dreams materialised in the chaotic pattern.

Suddenly Legolas was standing back in his home in Mirkwood as the leaves swayed silently round him. As he looked up at the ceiling it became a clear, starry night, every constellation as bright as if they were no more than a few feet away. He blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, the vision had changed. He stood on a windswept beach, looking upwards to the cloud-streaked sky. As he moved his head slightly, small dark shapes appeared, lonely against the mottled expanse, speaking mournfully and irresistibly of the sea.

Now Legolas stood on a ship, bearing him far away from Middle-earth, the white tips of the waves breaking on the shore gradually becoming smaller, more distant and more remote than they had ever been, with each passing moment. At last his dream of going to sea was fulfilled, but he felt a strange sense of regret. He had seen the shores of the Havens, but only for a few moments, before leaving them along with all he knew and loved, forever. Why, when it came to the final decision, was it so hard to leave? Why was his heart so heavy when it should have been flying free? He had thought it would bring him so much joy to find the shores of Valinor, his real home at last, but was it his home? Legolas stared down into the waves pounding against the elven-ship, searching for answers—and found himself looking at the sandy floor of the cavern, under the ground in Aglarond.

Gimli had seen an entirely different view of the cave. The colours merged before his eyes into lustrous, shining jewels, crowns and necklaces of the finest gold and craftsmanship. Rings and chains of mithril gleamed in some otherworldly light. The Dwarf stared in absolute awe and took a pace forward—he did indeed feel as if he had strayed into a dream. Then the vision swirled and disappeared. Gimli stopped dead in shock as another form materialised.

The Dwarf was old, and his beard was long and pure white. He was dressed magnificently and emanated a definite lordliness as he stood in the doorway to Khazad-dum. Many lights of different colours gleamed behind him as he welcomed Gimli and his eight companions to his newly reclaimed realm.

Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria as was his right. Alive as he should be, a bright spot in the darkness of the time. All the hopes of Gimli's heart were played out before him in the mysterious depths of the cave walls. His uncle welcomed the Nine Walkers to Moria; they passed through unhurt and indeed, better for the rest from their troubles. No foul thing came to trouble their journey, no army of orcs to disturb their sleep; no frantic flight from a nameless evil marred their passage. It could have been; it should have been...

Anger welled up in Gimli's heart as the scenes flashed across the depths of the stone. Suddenly, he went from seeing what should have been, to what had been. He stood in front of the tomb of Balin in Moria. All his hopes were dashed on the stony floor as he heard Gandalf's voice in his mind, reading from an old, tattered book. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Legolas with head bowed. Out of his grief came resentment. What right did he have to feel for the death of a dwarf? Probably mocking him, just like an elf—looking into his eyes and poking fun at what he saw.

He turned angrily to face Legolas, and Moria disappeared, to be replaced with a mottled backdrop of various gems. Legolas, however, still stood in the foreground, gazing searchingly at the ground. The memories came flooding back through Gimli's mind—all that had happened since that day in Moria. The anger vanished as Gimli woke from the dream.

As if sensing that his companion no longer harboured any bitterness towards him, Legolas stirred from his trancelike position and looked around as if seeing the cave for the first time. "I see what this is," he said softly. "My path is made clear. And so is the parting eased." He turned to face the dwarf. "Come, Gimli. We have lingered here too long. It is not good for anyone to delve too deeply into his own heart."

"Lest he revisit places he does not wish to see again," said Gimli. Legolas nodded and walked slowly out of the cave, entering another dark tunnel. Gimli followed hastily, wondering at his friend's silence.

As they progressed along the passageway they began to discern a bluish light ahead of them. It glowed softly onto the wall from around a bend in the passage. When they turned the corner, they felt a draught of cool wind for the first time in what seemed like years. A small circle of light appeared in front of them, growing steadily larger. They walked slowly to allow their eyes to adjust to the light. Gimli's torch guttered in the sudden breeze, the flame growing pale in the face of a brighter, more permanent light.

Finally they reached the end of the passage and stood upon the hillside at the head of a long flight of stairs, looking down into the valley of Helm's Deep. Legolas, moved by a sudden impulse, turned and faced back into the tunnel, towards the Caves. "Namarié."

He turned again and gazed into the valley. "Let us go down and meet the others." And they descended to the company in Helm's Deep below.

Legolas did not speak of their journey to those they returned to. Suffice it to say that never before has an elf been lost for words in amazement at stone wonders. Legolas and Gimli's experience in the caves served to further deepen their already close friendship, as well as highly delighting Gimli at Legolas' speechlessness. When enough of the awe had left the two so that they could speak in a normal fashion, he remarked to Legolas: "This valley must hold good fortune for me. Twice now have I claimed a victory over you, in a battle of swords and one of words, and both in this very place!"

"We will settle that score in Fangorn," laughed Legolas. "I do not think you will be so triumphant then when we emerge!"