The night was filled with merry laughter, and all the joy that reunions bring upon friends. It had been so long since the four of them had been together, that each relished the time they had together again, now as friends, able to relax now that the hard times were gone. Pippin and Merry, who had been fairly depressed since the meeting brightened up, and began to spill story after story, of the goings on in the Shire. Legolas, and Gimli watched their excitement, and each smiled thinking of how funny their little friends really were. But it was deep into the night when Legolas finally goaded them into sleeping, though they were reluctant to let such an evening end. As they all settled around the fire, comfortable at last in their safety, the hobbits fell into a deep sleep, one of the best they had had since beginning the journey.

Legolas, and Gimli however stayed up far later into the night, not speaking, but just thinking. Not of their own journey, but of the path that these two hobbits were taking. They would not be allowed to interrupt their travels, for the hobbits had pride left in them, and would not want to burden the two any more. They knew their friends needed to do this on their own, but surely there was a way they could help from the shadows right?

The morning sun created a pink and orange glow around them, and as the hobbits awoke, they found breakfast already made for them. Pippin jumped at the chance for food, his stomach growling loudly. Smiling he quickly took the bowl offered to him, and began to scarf down the stew. Gimli stared shocked at the small man, but chuckled, and dug in himself. Merry was slower to wake, and more open to the emotions running around them. While Legolas was brooding over something, Merry was watching him, and Gimli too, very carefully. There was something wrong, but Merry just could not put his finger on it. Pippin thrust his bowl back to Gimli for seconds, and the dwarf glumly refilled the hobbits, as well as his own. He had taken this as an unspoken challenge to see who could eat the most, and his dwarfish pride egged him on as he stuff the stew into his mouth, glaring at Pippin, who really only cared for the food, and was oblivious to all else.

Soon enough it was time for them to depart, and even though they were supposed to head in different directions, Legolas and Gimli insisted on taking them to the Brown Lands, for there they would see them off. Merry was also suspicious of this, but then chided himself for being so wary of friends. Surely if they wanted to go with them it was not for any bad reason! But doubt crept in his mind, and it was so very unhobbitlike, that with the doubt, came a rushing sort of guilt. He wished he could be as easy going as Pippin, who was chatting nonstop with the others, rambling on about something or another, that was most likely very random, but with the anxious excitement creeping in his already animated tone, he ended up amusing them far more then he had planned.

The outline of the harsh Brown Lands drew nearer, and the calm, and jovial natures started disappearing with each step. For the hobbits, a certain wariness flooded over them, and for the other two, well there emotions were so mixed up and jumbled, not even they themselves could describe it. To their left lurked the massive trees of Mirkwood, while to their right they could barely make out the beautiful horizon of Lorien forest. They cross the river with ease, finding a small, thin bridge, that somehow seemed to pop out of nowhere. Even Legolas said he had never seen the quaint crossing before, and his home was only a few leagues away.

Conversation soon died to only a few meek comments, and after that none spoke at all. The grass beneath their feet began to turn dry, and soon enough the ground turned to ash like soil, which was easy tossed about by their footsteps. They had not even crossed the threshold to the Brown Land's yet, but the earth was so trampled from the ancient battle, that the after effects were devastating to the hobbits, who were so used to the lush green hills of the Shire. Pippin frowned at the ground, and was about to make a comment about it, when Merry suddenly stopped, and turned to Gimli and Legolas.

"Last night, when you would not answer our question about what was wrong, you said to leave the talk to today." His eyes were wide, but determination flared, now maybe he would figure out what was irking his friends so much. Legolas flicked his eyes to Gimli, who only nodded, signaling it was not his secret to tell.

"Ah my little friends, so you catch me trying to get away with the truth of things." Legolas all but whispered, his musical voice tuning to a low, depressing note. "It is something I never wished to tell you because, I do not think I wanted to really say goodbye." Bowing his head, he closed his eyes, preparing for what he was going to say. "Do you remember the fate of those elves that left Middle Earth?" The hobbits nodded vigorously.

"They went across the seas, into the far west, to the Undying Lands right?" Merry asked quickly, glad that he was finally getting somehow.

"Yes. I myself stayed here, eager to explore the forest of Middle Earth, and not wanting to leave the lands of my people." Now he bowed his head again, and a weariness, so strange for an elf to bear, came across his face. "I was warned not to visit the sea, or the call of my people would be too strong, and I myself would find my way over the ocean, and into the west. For years I never wanted that to happen, but yet, the ocean's call extends far across the lands, and even coming near to the coast sent my heart racing." He paused, and turned his head to the sky, as if scenting the strong salty waft of the tide.

"What does it mean?" Pippin asked, fearing what his friend would say next.

"It is near to my time to go where my people did. To sail away into those lands so many before me have journeyed. The sea calls to me every day now, but my days at Middle Earth are not done. Yet they are numbered." His voice was filled with indecision and grief, and even Gimli himself bowed his head in sadness, for he had not yet made up his mind if he would journey with Legolas yet. He still loved Middle Earth, but to honored with a request like Frodo, Bilbo, and Gandalf had, it was a lot to think about. He was sure a dwarf had never sailed over to the elves land, but the choice would be hard, and he still had much to think on.

"So you were planning on leaving." Merry said sadly, now regretting that he had asked. "I am sorry, I just thought it was something we could help with.."

Legolas shook his head, and gave a weak smile. "But my hobbit friends, I have made you sad, it is me that should be sorry. We still have to get you to the border of the Brown Lands, which I can tell is not far now. Let us continue our walk in happiness, for this may as well be the last meeting with us together."

"No it won't!" Said Pippin, and as they all turned around, they saw that his face was red, and his fist were clichéd. "I do not like hearing talk about this being the last time we see you. Even though you did not want to say goodbye, you cannot leave without first coming to the Shire!" His voice was almost desperate, but proud as well. "I am sure Sam would love for the two of you to come, and you have yet to taste the best of the Shire, which we call home. Promise…..promise that you two will stop by, one last time, so we can have a proper farewell."

Everyone was silent for a moment, for the hobbits sadness, and anger at the situation were tearing at their own hearts. "Pippin of the Shire, I promise on all the gold in Middle Earth, that I will come." Said Gimli gruffly, and Legolas repeated his promise.

"Good, then all is well then." The redness began to fade from his cheeks, and Merry placed a friendly hand on his shoulder. Pippin nodded, and smiled a bit, trying not to ruin the rest of the way to the Brown Lands.

The border of the Brown Land's looked just the same as the rest of the terrain they had been tramping over for the better part of the day, but Gimli, and Legolas automatically knew where to stop. "We shall part from you here, little friends, for it is time for us to journey into Mirkwood." Legolas waved a hand around the horizon, emphasizing the land ahead of them. "It will not be pleasant, but I have faith that you will make it. We have given you more supplies, so you should not run out so soon. You will find mountains on the other side of this wasteland, and that will signal to you that you are finally into Rhun. Not much is known about those people, but I hope that they will meet you on good terms." For a moment his face darkened, but became serene once more.

"Don't worry we will be fine! After all we are doing this for Treebeard, so we can't get into too much trouble, for that might hold us up." Pippin's cheery nature was heartening, and he turned towards the land in front of him and smiled. "This won't be too hard, not with the right music, and food to get us along."

They all laughed, and with various goodbyes, the two hobbits finally turned east, and began to march off into the wasteland that was the Brown Lands. "There journey won't be easy." Said Gimli as they watched the two vanish over the horizon, and both of them looked grim.

"But they have proved themselves over and over again. I do not think now, that we should underestimate the hobbits. Strange little creatures they are." Gimli nodded, and Legolas continued. "Even so, help shall be given when they need it, I do not think they will be forsaken from their friends." Gimli smirked, and both turned to the outline that was Mirkwood.

"You might want to hurry up, I would like to get to the forest before nightfall. I will carry you if you legs do not have the strength to move onward." Legolas's voice was calm, but in a soft sort of way, it was teasing. Gimli gave a angry huff, and lifted his ax from his belt.

"Why you……I hope you can run elf, or you will taste the end of my ax!" Legolas skipped foreword into a trot, and Gimli lumbered after him, hoisting his ax higher as he swung it around in anger.

And so the two groups split up, each with their own goals in mind, but all so rejuvenated in the spirit of their companionship, that they all had a new hope for the path laid before them. For though the Fellowship of the Ring had broken, the bonds knitted together in those dark times would never be threatened, by distance, nor time.