Author's Note: Thanks to my reviewers! All mistakes in this chapter are mine.

This is a repost with minor edits – I wanted to make it quite clear that this last chapter is really an epilogue rather than a true chapter.

If you have read this story but not reviewed – now at the very end it would be nice to know what you think of it.

-o-o-o-

Epilogue

It was a bitterly cold afternoon in late winter. Haldir was working in the small hut that served as his planning room, wishing that the fireplace was larger. Even though elves were not affected by the cold as mortals were, they still felt it. And at this point Haldir was very much aware of the low temperatures outside. So far, this winter had been severe. Galadriel could and did hold some of the worst weather at bay, but she was not willing to interfere too much in the natural cycle of the seasons. There had been much snow and very cold winds, even if they were tempered by Galadriel's power and by the fact that the mighty mallorn trees sheltered Caras Galadhon.

Whilst continuing to write the report he needed to finish, Haldir's thoughts wandered to Legolas. The young archer had proven himself as a capable and popular leader in the last twenty years. All elven realms were facing an increasing number of orc attacks, sometimes also attacks by men, so the border patrols had been intensified. Haldir was more and more forced to spend time organising, then being able to go out with his warriors. Almost by default, Legolas had picked up some of his duties; he was well prepared for a leadership role since he had been trained for potential kingship since he was very young.

At first, Haldir had been surprised that his quiet and often reserved partner was a good leader, and despite his youth, was respected amongst the warriors. His outstanding skills with the bow, and willingness to do any task himself before asking others, had gained the young prince the respect and support of the guards. So, when Haldir had less and less time to go out, Legolas gradually filled some of the gaps, even though he still spent lengthy spells of time at his father's court.

Currently, he was out with two others, and Haldir felt quite sorry for them. Caras Galadhon was comparatively sheltered; on the border of the woods it would be viciously cold. No one would come to any harm, but this patrol would not be comfortable.

-o-o-o-

Legolas shivered. He had only experienced this sensation once before when he got trapped in a snowstorm on his way between Rivendell and Mirkwood, and had not enjoyed this feeling then, and he did not do so now. As the leader of the patrol unit, he had taken the most unpleasant task upon himself. In this case this consisted on holding watch in a high tree right on the border of Lorien. The tree had lost its leaves and due to its height, Legolas' vantage point was very exposed. He was able to see miles beyond their border but the biting wind cut through his clothes, which, in all normal circumstances, would have considered more than adequate.

For a brief moment, he allowed his thoughts to wander home. He felt a small tug inside and knew that, in all probability, Haldir was also thinking of him. How nice it would be to sit together with Haldir in their talan with a glass of warmed mold wine, perhaps with a winterberry tart, just talking together or quietly reading for a while, and then, later, in bed to move on to other things...

Inwardly he sighed. He would not allow his thoughts to wander further down this route; he would not be able to concentrate sufficiently on his duty. 'This summer we have been together for 30 years, and 20 of these bonded. It does not feel that long...' he thought with a small mental note of surprise. 'Well, it is not that long after all, although ... for Aragorn this has been a long time.' Legolas had not seen his old friend for about ten years; the ranger had roamed the lands on his duties but also had served in the Gondorian army for a while.

Legolas' musings were interrupted when he saw a small black speck arriving at the horizon. Something was approaching. Legolas squinted into the wind, which stung his eyes and face. A rider, and by the way he was sitting on his horse, almost certainly a man.

Legolas quickly alarmed his companions, and together they awaited the arrival of the unknown rider. As he approached, Legolas could make out more detail. The newcomer was wearing dark shabby clothes, a torn and dirty cloak with a deep hood that covered his hair and most of his face, dark leggings and well-worn leather boots. He carried a long bow, obviously much used, and a sword. He did not appear to have many provisions.

Legolas looked at the man more closely. There was something about him that nagged at his consciousness; Legolas had the feeling that he should know this man. It was not Aragorn, he would have recognised his friend miles earlier. There was something about this man that made him feel uneasy.

The rider was coming closer. The wind caught his hood and blew underneath, lifting it of the man's head. He had unkempt light hair cut to chin length, and was holding it back with a kerchief tied around his head. His face ... suddenly Legolas recognised the rider, and there realisation hit him like a fist in the stomach. The rider was no other than Tinarvel, the elf who had shot and almost killed him 20 years ago. Tinarvel had never been found, and now he returned by himself. Legolas reeled with shock, but then looked closer at the other elf's face. He had not bothered to push up his hood again. The former Lorien warrior looked ... old; there was no other way to describe it. His face was lined and weary, the normally smooth elven skin looked rough and weather-beaten.

Legolas slid down from the tree he was perching on, and following a quick whistle, his companions joined him. Tinarvel's welcome would not be a warm one.

-o-o-o-

Haldir had finished his reports and duty rotas. It was time to go home. He smothered the small fire and blew out the lantern he had used, and pulled shut the door of his little workroom.

Once he arrived at his talan, he warmed some water and made himself some tea. He sat down with his legs outstretched in front of him, glad to be in his own warm home with something hot to drink. He thought of Legolas again, and tried to focus on their bond.

And then he felt it. Something was wrong. Legolas was not injured, but something was not right. Haldir put down his tea and grabbed his cloak. He could feel it, something was amiss. He needed to talk to Galadriel.

-o-o-o-

Galadriel and Celeborn were also enjoying a hot cup of tea in their own talan when there was a rapid knock on the door. This was rare, unless there was an emergency; the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien were left undisturbed in their home. Only a small number of elves would interrupt their private times.

Celeborn got up with a sigh, and opened the door. There stood Haldir, obviously very worried about something.

"I am sorry to disturb you here, Lord Celeborn, but I need to speak to Lady Galadriel. I know that something is wrong with Legolas; maybe she has felt something, too. I am very concerned about him."

Celeborn opened the door wider. "Come in."

Galadriel had already got up. She looked at Haldir for a moment. "Tinarvel has been found."

Haldir looked stunned. This was truly unexpected, after all these years he had not expected to hear of Legolas' would-be murderer again.

-o-o-o-

Legolas dropped from the tree he was perching in, right in front of Tinarvel's horse. A strung arrow was pointing at the rogue elf. Tinarvel did not look surprised when three elves materialised around him.

"Tinarvel. You have not been forgotten here." Legolas' voice was as cold as steel.

Tinarvel stared at Legolas, his eyes suddenly huge in his worn face.

"You are alive ... for twenty years I thought I had killed you." There was wonder in his voice.

"Lord Elrond saved my life." Legolas said sharply.

Tinarvel ignored that reply. With a deep sigh, he said: "I mean you no more harm, Legolas Greenleaf. For twenty years I have reproached myself for what I have done. I have run away from any punishment facing me here and from myself. I sold my skills with bow and sword to different armies, and have killed many times needlessly. I am fading, and I have come here to see Caras Galadhon one more time. I will accept any sentence that Lady Galadriel sees fit to impose."

Legolas regarded the other elf for a long moment, and suddenly shock and long-held anger turned into pity. Tinarvel had paid, and was paying, a heavy price for his moment of intense jealousy all these years ago.

"We need to return to the city." Legolas said abruptly.

The three guards were on foot, but still set a fast pace, one of them always with a strung arrow behind Tinarvel. No one wanted to take any risks, regardless of what Tinarvel said. Tinarvel accepted these precautions with a sad smile.

They arrived in Caras Galadhon half-way through the next day, and took Tinarvel straight to Lady Galadriel's quarters.

-o-o-o-

Tinarvel stood in front of Galadriel, with Celeborn at her side. Haldir and Legolas stood behind him. Everyone else had been dismissed.

Galadriel regarded her former guard for a long while.

"So you have returned." Galadriel's voice betrayed nothing.

"I am fading. I will accept any penalty you may wish to impose. I cannot make amends for what I have done except saying that I deeply regret it." With these words, Tinarvel looked straight at Legolas.

"For twenty years I believed myself to be a murderer and kin slayer. I lived among men, using my skills as warrior to make a living. I became what I believed myself to be, a murder and thief. I worked for them all, the Corsairs, the Haradrim. At night, for twenty years, I have seen your face, Legolas, after I shot you, and your expression, Haldir. I do not believe that the Valar would accept me in the West. Some years ago I decided that I could not live with what I had become. I am now fading and will not live much longer. If there is anything that I can do to make amends, I will do it, with my remaining strength."

Galadriel and Celeborn again regarded Tinarvel for a long while. Then the Lady turned to Legolas.

"This is your decision. What should be done with him?"

Legolas' eyes locked with Haldir's. "May we have a few moments in private?"

"Of course. Come back when you are ready."

Legolas and Haldir returned to their talan. Once they had sat down, Haldir poured them each a glass of wine. "I think we need this now."

Legolas accepted his drink gratefully. "I never thought this day would arrive. It has been so long. I have always thought if I saw him again I would wish on him the worst possible sentence, probably life imprisonment. But now ... after seeing him again ... I just feel pity with him, not anger. He has punished himself more than we could ever do. And he is fading, there is no doubt about this."

Haldir smiled. "Your heart is too big, Legolas. It always has been. But I love you for it. I do not know what I feel. I am still angry with him, what he has done was unforgivable. He could never be trusted again. And yet, like you, I feel pity..."

They looked at each other. Legolas said: "The Valar will not accept him, of that I am certain. He has not got many years left to live; perhaps he should just be allowed to live out his life in peace. But not here in Caras Galadhon, I do not wish to have to watch my back for the coming years. But perhaps Elrond would agree to keep him in Imladris, under supervision, until he dies. I have no desire to punish him further."

Haldir looked at the younger elf. "Are you sure of that? Is that really all that you wish to do?"

Legolas remained silent for a long while. "Yes", he said firmly. "He has suffered enough."

"Let us go and return to Galadriel. We will see what she says."

-o-o-o-

Galadriel and Celeborn were satisfied with Legolas' solution, and Tinarvel was so grateful that Legolas found his thankfulness embarrassing. In early spring, Elladan and Elrohir came to collect the former Lorien guard. He lived for a few more years in Imladris, and never caused any concern. Finally he faded away peacefully.

-o-o-o-

Haldir and Legolas continued to live in Caras Galadhon, but Legolas never ceased to travel to Mirkwood to see to his duties as prince.

During the War of the Ring, Haldir was severely wounded with a Morgul weapon. Aragorn managed to save his life, but Haldir never truly recovered from the wound. After Aragorn's coronation and marriage to Arwen, Galadriel released Haldir out of her service. He went to live with Legolas in Ithilien.

On one of their visits to Minas Tirith, Haldir decided to bring up a topic both of them had avoided for too long. They sat on a wooden bench in one of the beautiful gardens Arwen had created with Legolas' help.

"Legolas, I will not last here much longer. You know that this old wound to my side has never ceased to pain me, and lately it has got much worse. I have stayed here as long as I can. But your duties here have not ended. Aragorn needs you; he relies on your presence more than you know. He is mortal; he will not live for more than another fifty years or so. You should remain here – I will wait for you in Valinor."

Legolas looked horrified. "I cannot stay here whilst you go West. Aragorn would understand, he would never expect me to stay when you sail to Valinor."

"I know. But he needs you, more than I do at the moment. My love for you will not diminish in a few decades. But Aragorn ... you will not see him again. Use the time well, you have always been his closest friend."

Haldir turned sideways and embraced Legolas. "It will all be well. I will wait for you on the fair shores of Valinor."

After some further discussion, Legolas agreed. He remained with Aragorn, until the king died. As a last duty, he escorted Arwen to the now deserted Lothlorien, where she lingered until she, too, faded. He then sought out Gimli, who had been given permission to travel to Valinor. They built a small ship, and finally said their farewells to Middle Earth.

-o-o-o-

They sailed for many days. Legolas had said to Gimli that they would not need to steer, the Valar would guide their boat. And so it happened. Their small ship had been guided on a steady course westwards, and one early morning, they could make out a white shore. They had arrived.

And there, on a shore of incredible beauty, many friends waited for them. But Legolas was looking for one person only.

When they came near enough to make out individual people, Legolas saw Haldir. He was standing on the beach, wearing a white robe and looking much better than Legolas remembered seeing him for a long time.

Haldir smiled and opened his arms.

-o-o-o-

And the ages passed uncounted.

Until we meet again.

Isildwen