Epilogue
Despite its biting temperature and wind, winter was a lovely season to behold. The days I loved the most were when it snowed. Middle-earth would be transformed into an entirely different world, one that held great, white beauty.
Winter had come to Lórien, covering the trees in white sheets. The grass was completely swallowed up by the snow, making it very appropriate to wear shoes compared to before.
While most were staying in their flets, watching the flakes fall, I was on the ground, letting the flakes stick to my clothes, my hair, and my skin. An overwhelming serenity washed over me.
I had not felt such peace in quite some time. Things had improved greatly since the incident in Greenwood. After some time getting comfortable there, I had decided to return home. Legolas was more than eager to accompany me. Apparently, wherever I went, he went as well. He was smart enough to tell his father where he was running off to. He did not have to tell who with, as his father knew he would be leaving with me.
Legolas’ father could not object to his son’s leave. Though he was the king’s son, he was old enough to come and go as he pleased.
But we were not the only ones to leave Greenwood. We recruited Halian, and she had almost exploded when I had asked her to come with us. We took our two horses, Legolas’ mare and Thalias, as Halian could ride with either one of us. We had made the peaceful journey from one Elven place to the next. It was nice to go on a ride without the fear of having Men chase after you.
Let me tell you, it was difficult coming home, what with Elves still giving me rude looks. I had immediately sought out Lady Galadriel when we arrived. Halian nearly keeled over in awe when being before the Lady of the Wood. I had told Lady Galadriel everything that had happened in specific detail, and she believed every word of it. Even though Legolas’ word was not needed, he voiced his version of my tale. And Halian did not hesitate to put in a few words, though she did become uneasy at recounting her capture by the Wild Men.
Lady Galadriel also thought up something neither Legolas nor I would have caught earlier: Nikita had been the reason behind her vague vision that happened months before the wedding. She had tried to cloud the Lady’s mind so no one would see the actual threat coming until it was too late.
Once I told Galadriel of what had happened in Greenwood, she then relayed it to all the Elves, and then things improved with them. They slowly warmed up to me, hearing that they had been deceived by Nikita. Some of their remarks on her were not very pleasant, let me tell you. Oftentimes I heard some wish for her to rot in the cell she remained in, and others wished she had been killed by the Royal Guard in Greenwood on the day of the wedding.
My eyes watched individual flakes pass by my face. I could not help but smile. Each flake was unique, just like every being in Middle-earth was.
I had followed Elven voices through the snow, coming upon Halian entertaining a few friends of both genders. I leaned against a tree as she used wild hand gestures to tell her story. Those around her watched her, reacting properly at certain parts of her tale.
“It is not nice to spy on others.”
I jumped a foot in the air, nearly falling face first into the snow. I did not turn around, because just from his voice, I knew who he was.
“It is not nice to sneak up on others,” I retorted playfully. “Even in snow we are silent.”
“I do not know who she has not told that tale to.”
“What tale?”
“Oh, she probably does not tell you that she tells every Elf she can find about your heroic antics.”
My cheeks heated up. “She idolizes me.”
“A lot of the Elves here respect you, Nimalia, especially the ones who would not have done what you had.” Warm fingers slipped through my own, faint heat radiated in the small space between our arms.
“Do you plan to stay here with me, no matter how long?” I looked to him. I burst into giggles seeing Legolas coated in snow.
Legolas did not bother to get the snow off of him. “Wherever you are, I am right there with you.”
“That is a yes, then,” I concluded, sighing. “I know this is a critical thing to ask of you, Legolas, but I have to wonder: even if your father never gives his blessing, would you consider marrying me?”
“Is this your way of proposing to me, Nimalia?”
“Oh, no!” I panicked. “No, not at all! It was just an honest, innocent question.”
It was Legolas’ turn to laugh. “I was only joking.” I bumped into him intentionally. He guided me to face him with his free arm. I burrowed into his chest, feeling the heat slowly warm bits of me.
“Who would have believed that one day, I would be free?” I massaged one of his cheeks delicately. “Who would have thought that I would find someone, and of all people, a prince?”
“Do not call yourself unworthy,” he chided.
“I said no such thing.” I sniffled. My nose was becoming a bit numb from the cold. “I think the world put us together, as though it were written in the stars.”
“It may have been. Whether it was by luck or destiny, we are together.” Legolas lowered his forehead to mine. My hand still rested on his face, not wanting to leave. “Nothing will change that.”
I forgot the cold feeling in my body once our lips met. No matter the amount of kisses we shared, my body always produced the same reaction. My heart broke into a gallop; I almost instantly pulled us closer together, as though that were even possible. Legolas’ hands rested gentlemanly on my waist, where they belonged. I sometimes believed it killed him inside to keep our affection down to this level. He was not the only one; we were both ready for the next level, whatever that would turn out to be for us.
“Gi melin,” I crooned. It was one of the very few phrases Halian had taught me. She still had a lot to teach me, but for now she was more focused on socializing. I was in no rush to learn more anyway, we had plenty of time.
“Ci velethron e-guilen,” Legolas whispered before capturing my lips again in his.
A loud, shrill whistle ruined our moment. I immediately felt embarrassed, noticing that Halian and her friends saw us. I hid into Legolas. I had completely forgotten the elleths and ellons were nearby. I guess that was what happened when you were with the one you loved—you forgot about your surroundings.
I could not wait to do the same to Halian when she found someone.
Thankfully, they all knew that we wanted to be alone. Halian was practically the leader as she led everyone away. I sighed in content. I could have never pictured my future like this. I could have never predicted what had happened to happen.
I never pictured myself being out of the hands of the Wild Men. I had changed my fate. I had escaped them; fate had done the rest to give the new chapter in my life a start. If I had not taken action, I would not be here today. Legolas and his father would not be as well, possibly, if I had never crossed their paths. Nikita would possibly be ruling Greenwood by this point.
If my fate had been written in any other fashion, I would have never found my silver lining.
**Aaaaaand, cue the tissues and tears. Yes, another book has come to an end, my dear readers. I'll be honest, this book took me a long time to write, since I had to do some research on a lot of things. The final outcome has been amazing, and I couldn't be more happy to have shared this story with you all.
I will address this for a final time: Nimolas ends here. No sequel. Sorry, you guys. This has been a stand-alone since something of an idea was thought up and jotted down.
The support on this book has been amazing. To know you guys have genuinely been enjoying this book really makes my day. The comments especially. Some of you have really gotten to like Halian, Nikita, and of course the beloved ship of Nimolas.
However, this is not the end for me and the LOTR fandom. No, no. I still have one more story to tell. Unfortunately, I haven't touched the idea for some time, and I don't know when I will. I've got to juggle college, work, and other stories. Who knows when I will get to it? The idea can be found in my Future Works book, and whenever there is progress made, I do update that page for it :)
As I edited this book, I really wondered what a trailer for this book would look like as well. Hint hint to the trailer makers who have been reading this :)
I guess all that's left to say now is, thank you. Thank you for giving this book the support it's been giving. I never doubted it would have trouble, considering it's a Legolas love story. I mean, even I gave into writing one, even after I thought I would never do one.
What's my next adventure, you're probably asking? Well, look in my Future Works book. That can give you a really good idea :)
Recommend this to all who you know! Spread the word!**