It has been a few months since our wedding and we have been living blissfully in Rivendell. Hedraliel has never smiled more and looked more at peace then she did now. Between winning the war against Sauron and our union with each other, I believe she has finally let go of all of her ghosts as have I. And I would not have been able to do it without her help; if she had not reunited my father and I the day before the wedding, who knows what would have happened. Thank the heavens she has the gift of sight and trusts her instincts. It is also quite heavenly to spend every night with her and wake up next to her each morning. We are no longer separated and have made her wing in Rivendell more couple friendly as opposed to just one female living there.

Lord Elrond gave us more room in the wing and even had a room made that is now our very own dining hall. We do not use it often as we prefer to eat in the main dining hall with Lord Elrond himself. We have visited Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn in Lothlorien too. Hedraliel loves spending time with her aunt. Also she visits Haldir's resting place when she is there. I do not intrude on her there as that is her private time with him. But on more than one occasion I have seen her speak to the tomb and she does not cry anymore. Ever since her experience in the 'In Between', she does not feel as sad about him passing knowing where he is.

The other day, I received a letter from my father. He and Tauriel were preparing for their departure from Middle-Earth to Valinor. They would be arriving in the Grey Havens in a matter of days, his letter had said. Hedraliel and I had promised that we would be there to see them off. I wanted the opportunity to see my father before he left and I did not want them to leave without anyone there to wish them safe passage. Perhaps in Valinor he could finally make things right with my non-blooded brothers; they all deserved peace. My father had already made large steps by finally coming to me and making peace; I had gotten my ada back and just in time before he left.

The day of their departure, Hedraliel and I left Rivendell on our steeds and rode swiftly but steadily to where the ship was waiting to carry them yonder. When we arrived, we left our steeds tied to trees and walked to where the harbor was where we found my father and Tauriel standing by the ship. When they saw us, they faced us; it was the first time Hedraliel or I had seen Tauriel in over a century. At first she hesitated then she bowed to us as Hedraliel stepped forward and gave her a hug. Even though my wife was now a queen, she was still very down to earth and considered Tauriel an equal everywhere not just the battlefield.

Tauriel was taken aback by the gesture but hugged her back. They exchanged unspoken words and we both noticed that Tauriel was wearing Kili's necklace that Hedraliel had given to her so many eons ago during the burial of the Durin bloodline post the Battle of the Five Armies. She was holding on to him and the memory of him for all eternity and carrying a piece of him to Valinor; after all, he was the love of her life. My father was watching the exchange and came forward with a smile. Looked like my wife and I were not the only ones that had let go of our ghosts. Ada looked peaceful and his smile was genuine; not bored looking or malicious or pompous like it was for a good portion of my life. He hugged both Hedraliel and I separately.

"Are you both ready for your journey?" Hedraliel asked them in the common tongue.

"We are; yes. It is time." My father replied with yet another smile; there was a twinkle in his eye that I had not seen since I was a young lad.

"Very much so." Tauriel added.

As the three of them spoke, I decided to go look aboard the vessel to make sure it was sound and everything within it as well. So I jumped onto the ship without using the platform that was ready for boarding. I looked around and three elves that were going to guide the vessel bowed to me as I nodded my head. Both Hedraliel and I were wearing our royal crowns or headpieces as she calls them. Now that we were king and queen of the three united elven lands, if we left Rivendell we had to wear our crowns everywhere we went even if it was just to Lorien or Mirkwood. I checked the ship and it was ready to go; I then returned back to shore to spend whatever time was left with my father and Tauriel. They would leave with the setting sun. Just then, my father took me aside to let the women talk and he wanted to speak with me privately too.

"I just wanted to speak with you son to let you know just how very proud I am of you. Always was and will be as we sail onto Valinor. Not just because of your fighting skills but whom you have grown up to become. A good male, a loving husband, and a fine king. I am honored to call you my son forevermore." He said in Elvish as my eyes got wide.

He saw the panic develop in my eyes and quickly enveloped me in a grand hug. He knew that I was scared of him leaving; and though rationally I should not have been because we had not spoken for a whole century, he was still my father. I loved him deeply and now he was leaving Middle-Earth for the land of our ancestors. I knew he had to go even though I did not want him to. Suddenly, I felt like a little lad once again afraid of being left behind and away from my ada. I remembered things I had not thought of in over 2,000 years. Periods in my young life when after my mother had passed how I would cling to my father in the dark sometimes and he would soothe me.

Not all of those memories were bad or scary ones. Most were full of joy as I learned how to use my bow and arrows and missed the mark. One incident in particular sticks out when I was learning my craft where I had shot off an arrow and it had gotten stuck in the back of my father's gowns as he walked past me. I could not help but laugh as I recalled how I giggled as my father realized he had an arrow sticking out of the back of his gowns and tried unsuccessfully to get it out as one of the elves on guard got it out for him and brought it back to me. I recalled that story for my father now and as he remembered his eyes lit up and he laughed as well before his face became serious again as he said:

"You see Legolas, not all of our memories are filled with anguish. Keep the good ones close to your heart and I shall come and visit you when I can in your dreams. Do not be afraid. You are not alone in this world anymore even though I take my leave. You have wed a marvelous female who will make you happy always and you her." He said wisely again as I looked over briefly at Hedraliel who was still in deep conversation with Tauriel. Then I turned back to my father and said:

"I know that Ada. I have had a blessed life even with the wars. I will miss you terribly but I am glad you and I reconnected before your long journey. It is a good thing we elves have such long memories because even the painful ones can be learned from and if made peace with, let go. I am aware I sound like my beautiful wife right now but she was right in that and we are learning very much from each other. I wish you a safe journey; both of you." I said nodding toward Tauriel as well. I finally overheard what Hedraliel was saying to her while my father and I conversed.

"You have grieved for a long time, now it is your turn to find peace. Do not be sorry for not attending our wedding; we completely understood why but I still felt that I needed and wanted to extend the invitation. You have fought bravely for our people and now it is your time to go with the blessings of the heavens above." Hedraliel was saying to Tauriel in the common tongue. The latter nodded though her eyes were still shadowed with the past.

"I really do hope I can find peace in Valinor for I have not found it here. Believe me, I have tried. Even had an elven elder try to heal me but nothing worked. I am honored that King Thranduil is taking me along." She answered quietly.

"Do not rush the future, everything that is meant to be will happen even in the beyond. I am convinced that you will find exactly what you are looking for when it is time, my dear." Hedraliel said with a wise smile.

It was at that point that my father and I joined the women, the sun was setting and I knew the time had come to bid them safe passage. Tauriel went first, hugging both Hedraliel and I as my father watched; she then boarded the ship and with a last look and enigmatic smile went down below. My father turned to my wife and I, hugging us both as tears entered both of our eyes. For the first time, my father did not turn away but let his emotions show. He then looked at both of us and said in elvish:

"My dearest children, the time has come for me to go home. I sincerely wish you the happiest years here in Middle-Earth and we shall meet again one day. May you be blessed with many happy and healthy children that bring you joy as you have brought me and much more. I love you both very much and am honored to have a son and daughter-in-law that are as magnificent as the two of you." Tears rolled down his cheeks and mine own as I replied.

"Thank you Ada. That means the world to me...to us. May Valinor bring you the healing you need and the peace you deserve. One day we shall meet again. I love you very much too." I all but whispered the last part. Hedraliel just looked on as the words she needed to be said, were conveyed through her beautiful piercing gaze as she and my father exchanged a knowing smile and nod.

It was time for my father to board the ship where Tauriel was waiting. We all walked to the plank that led to the vessel and with one last hug as tears continued to roll down my cheeks and even Hedraliel had them in her eyes. Finally, my father walked slowly up the plank and then turned around and looked us both in the eyes and bowed graciously as we smiled back at him through our own tears. Even though I was very sad to see my father's departure, I was also at peace because I had gotten him back in the nick of time and amends were made. Besides, as my wife said 'this goodbye is not forever; some day we shall see each other again in the land of Valinor'.

As my father, the great King Thranduil disappeared into the ship; we watched it pull away from the shore of the Grey Havens. We stood there for a long time until the vessel slowly disappeared from view....I placed my hand over my heart and just before the sunset completely obscured our line of sight of it, said:

"Farewell Ada."