**********************************

"There will come a time when you

believe that everything is finished.  

That will be the beginning."

- Louis Lamour

***********************************

Epilogue

It was June 1946.  The war in Europe was over.  Kate was in 
the backyard, staring up into the tall tree that stood 
guard over Arwen's grave.  From the branches a little boy 
with blonde hair flopping down in his face was climbing 
higher and higher.  

"Look at me!"  he yelled.  "I've never been so high Mama!"

"I see you, now get down from there,"  Kate yelled up at 
him.  Kate had often brought Colin to sleep beneath the 
tree when he was a baby.  Soon after mastering the skill of 
walking, he had taken to climbing.  His speed and dexterity 
were beyond belief.  Kate had trouble keeping up with him. 

"A fall will not hurt him you know,"  a voice said from 
behind her.  She spun around to see Elrohir.  

"I know, but I worry anyway."

"That's because you are a good mother."

"I try."  Kate gave Elrohir a huge hug.  He wrapped his 
arms around her.  "I didn't expect to see you again,"  Kate 
said.

"I didn't expect to be seen."

Elrohir and Kate sat down beneath the tree.  Above them 
they could hear Colin rustling through the branches.  

While they were in prison, Kate had not realized how weak 
Elrohir had been, until she saw him now.  Strength radiated 
from his body.  Although she had never doubted Legolas or 
Elrond's fighting abilities, she was never able to imagine 
them in combat.  One glance at Elrohir, Kate knew he was a 
warrior.  The sleek precision of his movements even as he 
lay sprawled beneath the tree left little room for doubt.

His long dark hair had grown out and hung past his 
shoulders, hiding his ears from view.  The buttons of his 
shirt were up high around his neck.  All traces of his 
scars were hidden.  But it was his eyes that caught her 
attention.  Within their depths, she saw a grief so deep 
that there were no words for it.

"When you left me you had every intention of dying," Kate 
said.

"I would not have my father look upon me as I am.  He would 
blame himself,"  Elrohir said softly.

"And he would prefer you dead?"

"You forget, little one, I am an elf.  Well, mostly elf.  
My spirit would have dwelt in the Halls of Mandos for a 
time and I would have returned. . . In a new body."

Kate took his hand.  "There is nothing wrong with your 
body."

A grin spread across Elrohir's face.  "That is good to 
know."  He looked up into the tree at the blonde haired boy 
high above them.  "Did Legolas stay?"

"I wouldn't let him."

"Does he know about. . ."

"Colin?  No, I didn't know about him until after Legolas 
was gone,"  Kate said.

"But that wouldn't have changed your mind?"

"No,"  Kate said.  "As hard as he tried to convince me, we 
both knew that this is not the Middle-Earth it once was.  
He did not belong here. . .no more than you do."

Elrohir smiled.  "Yes, but I am far more stubborn than he 
is."

"You aren't leaving?"

"That path is lost to me now,"  Elrohir said.

Kate's eyes widened in surprise.  She knew that as a child 
of Elrond, Elrohir had been given the choice to travel the 
Straight Way into the West and remain immortal or to choose 
a mortal live and live the rest of his days upon Middle-
Earth.  "You can't be serious,"  Kate said.  "I promised 
Elrond I would convince you to return.  They don't care 
about your injuries."

"Some scars go far deeper than other,"  Elrohir said, 
softly.  "If I returned, I would have died of grief.  100 
years, 1000 years, if would not have made a difference.  My 
father would still have lost me.  And he would have been 
forced to watch as I grew weaker.  This way I save him that 
pain.  As a mortal you cannot understand the depth of grief 
of an Elf."

"You would be wrong in that assumption."

"Who have you lost?"

"Who haven't I lost,"  Kate said.  "I sent Legolas away. 
Colin and my mother are both dead.  My father is alive but 
he's thrown himself so into his work that he barely 
speaks."

Elrohir squeezed her hand gently.  "I did not know about 
Colin.  I'm sorry.  He was a good man."

A few quiet tears ran down Kate's face.  She was surprised 
after nearly 5 years they could still come so quickly. 

"I suppose I am stuck with you then?"  Kate teased, wiping 
her tears away.

"I suppose you are."

"Well, do not expect me to alter any pants for you,"  Kate 
said.  "I have had quiet enough tall elves to last me a 
lifetime.  If you want clothes that fit properly, you shall 
have to learn how to do it yourself."

"I have no intention of wearing pants."  Elrohir lay back 
onto the grass and placed his hands behind his head.

"As much as Colin begs me, I don't let him run around the 
yard naked, and I most certainly won't let you."

Elrohir mocked hurt.  "I thought you said there was nothing 
wrong with my body."

Kate laughed, a blush spreading across her cheeks.  "Yes, 
but a body as perfect as yours should be brought out only 
for special occasions."

Elrohir laughed.  "Worry not.  As lovely as it sounds, I 
will not dash about your fields naked.  I was thinking more 
along the lines of a kilt.  This is Scotland after all."

"A kilt!"  Kate groaned.  "You wouldn't."

"I would.  I will.  I shall,"  Elrohir said, dramatically.  
"Scotsmen are the only men with any sense in all of Middle-
Earth.  They know comfort."

Kate's laughter echoed through the fields.  Elrohir began 
to sing in his soft and gentle voice.  In the haunting 
melody was the sound of sadness and of awe and of 
unspeakable hope.  

At the sound of music, Colin dropped down out of the trees 
and curled up beside Elrohir, staring at him intently as he 
sang.  The sunlight filtered through the branches of the 
tress.  Kate closed her eyes and felt the warmth of the sun 
on her cheeks.  For the first time in, she felt at peace.  

Though it wasn't the end of the story by any means, it was 
perhaps a new beginning.  

And sometimes, the most beautiful stories, are those that 
never get told.

THE END

*********************************************

A/N:  I have to admit that I wasn't really expecting the 
way this story ended.  But I hope you like it.  Thanks to 
everyone who took the time to read and review the story.  I 
really appreciate it.  I would never have finished without 
y'all urging me on.  
So that's all, I think I've completely written myself out 
of Legolas stories for the moment.  At least until I get a 
new dose of him on TTT.  Currently, I'm moving onto Rohan 
to play with Eomer and when I'm finished there you'll 
probably find me harassing some Dunedain in Bree. . or 
flirting with Elrond's sons.  *grin* 

Feedback: legolasstory@yahoo.com
- jen