Perched on the cliff high above the crashing waterfalls, Legolas stroked a leaf of the tiny sapling while he stared into the crisp and clear night air. No matter how hard he tried to stop its arrival, the next day would bring with it an inevitable parting he was loathe to endure. Time had a terrible way of changing its flow just to go against one: while Legolas would have found two months an agonisingly slow wait for an occasion such as his begetting-day, this had come around in the beating of a moth's wings.

"What are you thinking?" To his side, Elrohir spoke, thoughts similarly preoccupied.

"That I wish I had the power to stop time."

"Do you not wish to see your friends again?"

The morose expression on Legolas's face did not lift. It had been an exhausting eight weeks for Legolas and the twins, for Legolas had all but increased his mayhem and deepened his penchant for trouble to a level that even Elrohir found astonishing. Just yesterday, hours after the cast from Legolas's hand had been removed, Elladan had to rescue him from a cauldron full of boiling water and an irate chef, hopping mad after Legolas had managed to dislodge the huge pot of stew from its firm perch over the fire.

It was only a few days ago that a meek Legolas -- hiding from Erestor's enraged shouts after he had spread a thick layer of cream and custard between the sheets of his bed -- confessed to Elrohir the real reason for his behaviour: so that he would have more to remember of his days in Imladris when he returned to Eryn Galen. Faced with a similar dreading of Legolas's imminent departure, Elrohir understood straightaway why Legolas had been so keen to spend sleepless nights talking with Elladan and himself, insisting on them continuing the conversation even though he was having trouble keeping his eyes open.

Tonight, though, was different, and none was under any illusion that they could get any restful sleep. Elladan had sent the pair along to their special spot on the cliff, saying that he would catch up with them after he had a quick word with Erestor regarding a mundane household matter, but Legolas and Elrohir knew that he was giving them time alone.

"I remember the first time we came here," Legolas said, voice barely above a whisper. "Now the seed has sprouted."

"I will take care of it for you, Lass."

Legolas flung himself at Elrohir, and burrowed his face against Elrohir's chest, breathing hard.

"I will see you again, Roh?"

"I promise."

Elrohir pressed a pendant into Legolas's hand.

"My Naneth gave this to me ere she sailed West. I am giving it to you for safekeeping -- to be returned when we next meet."

A wave of gratitude crashed over Legolas as he studied the glittering stone reflecting Cúron's rays. He knew the pendant mattered more than anything in the world to Elrohir; that his friend trusted him to keep it safe spoke of the mutual regard they had for each other.

"I have something for you too," Legolas said, handing over a carved flute.

Elrohir's eyes lit up as he noted that Legolas had spent much time carving it. He lifted it to his lips, and a sweet note filled the night air.

"Every time you think of me, play it, and I will fly back to wherever you are," Legolas said, his solemn tone indicating that he believed every word he was saying.

"Thank you, Lass," Elrohir said, keeping it with great care. "I will play it every day."

By this time, Elladan had joined them, and Legolas badgered the twins to tell him tales of their adventures in the lands west of Imladris. It was in the middle of a story of a Halfling who tried to eat an entire bushel of mushrooms did Elladan notice that Legolas had fallen asleep in Elrohir's arms, exhausted by weeks of frenetic activity.

He paused in his tale and turned his attention to Elrohir.

"I will miss him too, Roh."

"He will be angry at not having stayed up the whole night with us," Elrohir said, letting out a sigh. "Yet, his journey tomorrow will be tiring, and he needs the rest."

Elladan smiled, but did not reply.

"I know not when our next meeting will be," Elrohir said.

"You knew he had to go back to his people one day, even when his identity was still unknown."

"And still I allowed myself to form an attachment to him."

"Do you regret it?"

"No," Elrohir said, realising with a jolt that he meant it.

"'Tis good to hear. Rejoice too in the thawing of relations between our kingdoms. We will be able to write to him regularly, and even visits may not be as infrequent as you think."

Elrohir tried to smile and said, "It is nice to know that some peace might be in order for poor, besieged Imladris! I did wonder how long it would be before someone tied Lass up and gave him a sound beating!"

*

Sitting on his horse, Legolas forced himself to look forward as the great steed galloped away from the beautiful vale he had come to know as well as his home.

As Elrohir had predicted, he had been annoyed at the twins' failure to rouse him before dawn, and only the desire to not add to Elrohir's pain had made Legolas go through the motions of packing what little things he had amassed during his stay. He tidied his room as if he would be returning soon enough, before shutting the door carefully behind him.

The sick feeling of dread at the bottom of his stomach did not regress, even as he greeted Milinral. It had been long since he had seen the old recluse from Eryn Galen, and Legolas had genuinely missed him. Milinral had then cloistered himself up with Elrond in the study for a couple of hours, giving Legolas and the twins a last chance to walk around Imladris, and for Legolas to bid his farewells to her many inhabitants.

Just as his many pranks had drawn enraged shouts, his sweet nature and genuine concern for any in pain had endeared him to most -- if not all -- who came into contact with him. As such, many tearful hugs and wet kisses were bestowed on Imladris's temporary resident. Those who did not know him had heard of how he had worked his magic and restored their beloved Lord Elrohir to his sprightly self, and so had a few smiles as they saw the familiar sight of him walking past, sandwiched by his twin protectors.

No tears flowed when time to mount the horse came, although he and Elrohir had clung on to each other for the longest time before they broke apart. They had decided that the twins would not ride with the Silvan Elves, and so he had left with Milinral, fighting the urge to turn around for one last glance.

It was only after they left Imladris that Legolas's body relaxed and settled into the rhythmic rise and fall of the horse. Still, the pendant he wore burned hot against his chest.

FIN

*****

A/N: Sorry for the delay, but exams are still looming spectrally over me. Wow this is the last chapter, and I am sorry to see it go. Like Legolas has found out, all things do have to come to an end of sorts. I do hope that it is the ending that everyone has envisaged. Thanks for being so supportive and for reading this far, and I promise that more in this vein will come along. Already I've started writing a sequel, and even bits and blobs of out-takes from Legolas's time in Imladris. Stay tuned, and if you wish, I will drop an email/PM when the next story is published; just indicate that you wish for it to be so in your review (!).