Title: Moving On
Author: Wildecate
Email: Wildecate@hotmail.com
Rating: G - just fluff
Notes: First attempt at BtVS/LOTR crossover. Don't flame me.
Pairing: Willow/Legolas (of course!)
Credits: We all know who created the characters - songs by Avril Lavigne/Daniel Bedingfield
Dedication: For Lara

Epilogue

Willow glanced back at Legolas who was standing a short distance away, his blonde bowed in mourning. She sighed seeing his sadness and turned back to the elf she had been talking to. Signs of Arwen's grief were etched upon her brow, the once young unlined face showed signs of aging and Willow felt the sorrow and pity well up inside her. She pressed Arwen's hand, conveying her sympathy for her and Arwen blinked away the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"I am so sorry we weren't here, Arwen" Willow knew her apologies were useless, Arwen was beyond apologies but she felt she had to say this.

"He would have understood, Willow. Please do not worry."

Willow and Legolas' time back in Sunnydale had been brief but it had been long enough for them to have missed the death of one of their friends, Aragorn. Arwen had returned to her father's house for comfort and had been devastated to find Willow and Legolas missing.

The pair of them had re-appeared in Elrond's study six years after they had left, to find the shelves empty of books, the walls free of pictures and no sign of the elf himself. Rivendell was nearly deserted and only Arwen and some of her serving maids resided there now. Elrond and his household had left the year before to travel to Valinor He had left a letter for Willow and Legolas should they not have return before he left. Willow was horrified to find Arwen alone, her years showing in her tired face. She had given up her chance to join her family in Valinor and was now living her life out quietly in Rivendell.

Legolas stood alone on the balcony staring out over the valley. He could barely take it all in. Their short and horrific time in Sunnydale had taught him a great deal about Willow. He saw the place she came from, the friends she had and the enemies. He would be forever grateful that she had ended up in Middle Earth, even in the time of war this world had been nowhere near as bad as Sunnydale. He was not sure if he could not have borne it if Willow had wanted to stay although he would not have left her side and he would have lived in that appalling and evil place had she wanted to stay. But she had turned her back on that land and her so-called friends without a second thought. His love for her knew no bounds when she had said she wanted to return to Middle Earth as soon as possible. She had embraced her elven life completely, she was fluent in all the elven languages, knew their folktales and songs, rode and shot as well as any elf. She could not comprehend being able to go back to Sunnydale, to become something less than she was.

And to return home only to be told that one of his best friends had died and Legolas had not know about it. Aragorn's death occurred six years ago but the grief was immediate and painful. Just seeing the ache in Arwen's eyes convinced Legolas that he could not bear to lose Willow and vowed to keep her safe for always. He breathed in the clean fresh air, such a change from the cloying smokey tasting air of Sunnydale and tried to clear his mind.

One thing was for sure, the world of elves had ended here on Middle Earth and now it was time for himself and Willow to follow their friends to the Havens and then onward to Valinor. He glanced back at Willow and Arwen, talking softly to each other, Willow offering what comfort she could. Legolas hardened his heart to leaving this beautiful realm and leaving Arwen alone. He remembered speaking with Aragorn once. Aragorn had pleaded with Arwen to go with her family to Valinor but she had refused, staying with Elrond in Rivendell and waiting for Aragorn's return, her faith in him immoveable. She had given up her immortality for Aragorn and now was left alone without him. He would not let this happen to Willow.

It was true that she would age and eventually pass on but that would not happen for many hundreds of years. She had barely changed at all over the last forty odd years, her smile as luminous as the first time he had seen it. She appeared to be unaffected by the passage of years in Middle Earth, her skin unlined and clear, still as full of energy and laughter and fun as she had always been. And when she passed on would he be as visibly full of grief as Arwen? He moved his thoughts on, thinking now of the future.

Arwen left the couple alone after Willow had assured her they would be staying for a while. Arwen seemed so desperate for company, for friendship but Willow realised that Legolas would want to follow Elrond and his family to Valinor. She had carefully made no promises and hoped that Arwen would not be broken by the fact that they would not be staying.

Willow turned to see Legolas still standing on the balcony which ran round Elrond's study. His tall elegant form was outlined in the late afternoon sun, glinting off the highlights in his hair. She couldn't help the smile that broke across her face, despite the sad news that Aragorn had died. He still lit a flame within her, and suddenly she longed to be in his arms. She moved across to him, standing behind him, slid her arms around his chest and leaned her head against his back, her cheek against his soft shirt, feeling the heat of his body through the thin material.

"Will you be OK about Aragorn?" she asked softly.

He turned in her arms and smiled down sadly into her upturned face. She could see the pain in his eyes and she reached up to touch his face, his skin soft beneath her fingers.

"I will be" he answered. Her question was simple but he understood what she meant and had answered just as simply, knowing she would understand him.

"Arwen is so sad" Willow sighed "I can't bear to see her like this. Can we stay for a while?"

Legolas' face clouded over "Only for a while Willow. We should be moving on to the Havens, following my father and my brother and Elrond. Rivendell is not the place for us anymore."

"We can't leave her like this" Willow looked stricken "She's so lonely."

"We'll stay for a while but we can't stay here forever, Willow. Arwen made her choice and she chose a human life. She will follow Aragorn while we continue in our lives."

"She can't come with us?"

Legolas shook his head "She knew this when she made her decision. Humans are not allowed in Valinor."

"What about me? I can go."

"Elrond has arranged it so you may accompany me. Besides you'll have a lifespan pretty much equivalent to mine."

"But I'm still going to die?"

Legolas bit his lip, a sure sign that he had to say something that she wouldn't like - that neither of them would like.

"A'mael. I cannot bear to lose you. If you die, I would die as well."

He lowered his lips to hers, effectively cutting off any more discussion on the subject. Willow guessed it was just as painful for him to talk about it as it was for her - perhaps more so. They had been forcibly reminded that their idyllic life together would not last forever.

They stayed for a whole year, keeping Arwen company, riding with her, reminiscing about Aragorn and of happier times together. When Legolas saw the leaves begin to flush with red, heralding the coming of autumn and winter, he knew it was time to begin their final journey. Arwen watched sadly from the courtyard as Willow and Legolas mounted their horses, well packed for the journey ahead of them.

"Be safe" she had whispered as she and Willow exchanged hugs "I wish you every happiness with your prince."

Willow could not keep the tears from falling. She would miss the elf so much, they had become almost as sisters and part of Willow hated herself for leaving Arwen behind.

The journey to the Havens seemed endless and Legolas pushed them hard, only resting for the shortest amount of time, but eventually the glimmer of the ocean greeted them. Willow breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that there were still ships leaving for Valinor and that the next one would be leaving that evening. She collapsed in their cabin in relief and slept peacefully for the first three days of the journey, so glad was she not to be riding. Legolas roamed the ship restlessly, longing to see his family again and when the first hint of land appeared, he woke Willow joyfully and they stood at the very front of the ship, watching as the grey smudge of land turned into mountains and then more land became visible, the huge spread of forests of the elven land welcoming them.

Elrond was waiting at the harbour for them, his face alight with expectancy. Willow ran straight into his welcoming arms, Legolas following with their belongings at a more sedate rate.

"I have been waiting" Elrond held Willow close, glad to see her again.

He had grown attached to the human girl who had become as much his daughter as Arwen. He would not tell them that he had met every ship since he had travelled to the elven land in the hope that she and Legolas would be on it. He sent a messenger to Legolas' father to let him know of his son's arrival and then led the pair of them to his home, set very much as Rivendell was, in a valley surrounded by tall elegant trees and bounded by a wide swift flowing river.

Willow and Legolas had their own set of apartments in Elrond's house and an elf maid filled a bath with sweet scented water for them to bathe before the feast that evening. Willow sank into the water with relief, letting it soak all the dirt and tiredness out of her skin and muscles. She wore her long hair loose and unornamented for the first time since she had been in Rivendell. Her dress was a plain creamy velvet off the shoulder affair with gold embroidery around the hemline, waistline and neckline. Legolas did not think he had ever seen her so lovely. His clothes were simple but equally as elegant, in pale green with a pale green embroidered velvet jacket. They had been so long in their journey that they had grown used to the same clothes and being travel stained. It was now almost as if they were different people.

The feast that evening to welcome them was a wild and noisy affair with music and dancing carrying on well into the night. Legolas watched Willow as she conversed rapidly with Gandalf, someone else who had been extremely pleased to see them. She was telling him of their time in Sunnydale and the wizard looked fascinated by the fact that she had been able to use her magic there but that she still couldn't here. Legolas drank in the sight of her and realised that he didn't just want her to be Willow, the girl he was with, he wanted her to be his wife, to bind her life to his for always.

Willow glanced over to him whilst deep in conversation with Gandalf and caught him watching her. She lifted her goblet and toasted him silently. He was planning something, she could tell, but she couldn't figure out what. No doubt she would find out eventually.

After dancing for what seemed like hours on end, Willow found escape from the feast and found her way into Elrond's gardens, almost the same as they were in Rivendell. The night was cool and clear, the stars sparkling brightly in the velvet sky. She pulled the velvet wrap around her bare shoulders in an attempt to keep warm. The quiet sound of feet on the path behind her told her she was not alone and then she felt strong arms around her and lips on her neck. Legolas. She twisted in his arms and enjoyed his lips upon hers, a soft and gentle kiss that made her feel as she would melt.

Without saying a word he pulled away from her and took hold of her hand. She watched him silently as he stroked her fingers and then slid something halfway down her ring finger. As he took his hand away she saw that it was a ring, made out of a light silvery metal. He had left it loose on her finger, just above the knuckle. She met his gaze and saw the question in his eyes.

She knew this tradition. It was an elven proposal of marriage. It was up to her to complete the act of putting the ring on, thus accepting the proposal. There was no hesitation in her mind as she slid the ring down her finger and then offered it to him. He brushed his lips over the metal and then turned her hand over and kissed her palm, her wrist and then turned her face up to his and claimed her lips.

"You'll be mine?" he asked needlessly but still wanting to hear her say it out loud.

"Always" she answered smiling.