Sacrificing Happiness
Epilogue: The End of an Era
By Angaaldaien

Summary: Middle Earth lives past the war, but is changed in such fundamental ways that no one of old can bear it.
Pairing: Aragorn/Legolas
Rating: epilogue- PG
Genre: Angst, drama
Notes: The Aragorn and Arwen romance has disappeared, in fact, Arwen has seemingly disappeared Does not follow plot in either book or movie canon- if you're a stickler for either, I suggest you don't read this. This is my first attempt at LOTR. Elvish is indicated by ' and unspoken conversation with Galadriel by ~~
Email: angaaldaien@hotmail.com
Date of posting: 8/6/02

The memory of Sauron was still recent in many minds, but the young children of the newest generation knew little of his threat. They heard stories of the darkness, and the time when the king had saved them all. Rapt attention was given to any and all who would speak of it, for few would touch upon matters so dark. Many more unsuccessfully hid the repercussions of the war.

Aragorn, the king of men, was one such person.

For the man, Middle Earth was a shallow husk, even as life blatantly displayed itself. His gardens held no joy, the vibrant flowers which opened to the sun wilted beneath his gaze. He could not see beauty in anything; after all that he had seen and done, it was impossible to return to a life of peaceful living. Aragorn simply did not belong. He longed for the comfort of one he had lost; he pined for a day of reunion, a day that would never come.

His subjects had offered their services. Many young men and women had given their bodies to him, and he had taken them. But none of them loved him, and he loved none of them. It was merely sexual relief, a temporary escape from the reality that haunted him. Eventually even that lost its appeal, and the king embodied the same husk that he saw in Middle Earth.

The hollowness of Middle Earth was only felt by the men of old. Those who remembered the elves knew that nothing else compared to them in their grace and holiness. All else paled next to their exquisite beauty, it has always been so, but without the elves the men of old knew it more. The elves had departed long ago, their farewells but distant memories now. The dwarves were also retreating from the growing world of men. Deeper and farther into their mines they went, and hardly any would see the light of day again. Even the hobbits could not compete with man. Middle Earth was dying, inside out. Eventually, Aragorn saw, all would become a myth of another time.

Already, no one but he remembered the elf who had saved the king. The stories told of the king's gallant deeds, of his endless courage and skill in battle. He had been raised by the elves! was the only thing that tied him to the race that had left. None knew of an elf from Mirkwood who journeyed with the fellowship, and died an early death. Legolas' strength had carried Aragorn on to become the king he had not meant to be. But now, years later, the strength had eddied away. There had been a time when the flaxen braid would remind the man, and sustain his hope, but it too had passed with the years.

The people of Gondor speculated over why their king had not chosen a mate. An heir had been named, and in fact led the kingdom while Aragorn spent his days alone, but no mate had been chosen. They had stories, but none were true, since none knew of the elf. Some said he was in love with himself. And they were the closest of all.

Before the elves had departed from Middle Earth, Galadriel had visited the kingdom of Gondor. In her hands she carried the mirror, a gift. Do not use it until your duty to your kingdom is complete,' she had warned. Faithful to the wise elf's words, Aragorn all but forgot about the magical item.

Now, Aragorn could not think of anything but it. From the first moment he had poured water into it, and gazed into its clearness, he knew that Galadriel's warning had been necessary. An image of Legolas shimmered into being, the long dead elf gazing at him in love.

His heart tore in longing, and Aragorn no longer wished to linger in Middle Earth. Everyday from sun up to sundown, the man would look into the mirror, seeing the past. He saw the fellowship, what they had been, and what they became. He saw the many looks of love Legolas had given to him that were hidden by grief. He saw himself as a baby, pulling the golden hair of the elf, and he saw Legolas' promise of so long ago. Only by the violent urging of his servants could the king be pulled from the past that the mirror revealed. But he returned each day, to see the elf he had lost; his only happiness lay in the looking glass.

So when it broke, from careless handling, the days of the king grew short. With sadness, the kingdom mourned the passing of their savior. There had once been a time for men like the king, but it had left, and with him an era slipped away.

And then, he too, became but a legend.

END

Endnotes: This was more heart wrenching than the final chapter of the story, for me at least. I think I'm going to write a happy alternate ending now.

An epilogue of the epilogue (ahh.. what am I doing? *bunnies bounce*):

Genre: AU
Notes: A plot bunny springs, futuristic continuation from the epilogue above.
Warning: Will probably not be continued

Centuries passed by, and even legends were forgotten in favor of science. Logic prevailed in the society that man created when left to his own whims, unhindered by other sentient races. Secrets better left untouched were discovered, for magic had left the world long before, and man sought alternate ways to complete similar tasks. His desire to control nature brought him further than any being should go, for even such fundamental concepts as age were tampered with.

A braid the width of a centimeter but a length of approximately half a foot was being examined. This specimen, it appears, has survived time before our records. Statistics began to be rattled off, but of most particular interest was the one concerning DNA. The DNA structure of specimen 2009564 is approximately eighty point five percent human. Similar DNA structures include general physicality- centrifugal nerve structure, upright stature, cephalization, and bilateral symmetry; hair and eye color traits are identical to recessive blond and blue. Height appears to be equal to average human today, but body mass slimmer. DNA differentiates in the following major sections: metabolism, brain structure, and age.

Expand upon the genes for age.

That's the thing, Mr. Fallic, there are no genes for age.

Mr. Fallic rubbed his stubble thoughtfully. This could be the break that he had been looking for. He knew the specimen would prove worthwhile for study, how else could it have withstood the damages of time and still appear relatively unharmed? The private sponsors had been waiting for reports of progress in his study of the aging process and its prevention, and were growing more impatient by the day. How are our funds doing? Do we have enough to clone?

The assistant glanced his clipboard. Not a creature this large.

Schedule a meeting with the board tomorrow.

Mr. Fallic, I warn you, this braid belongs to a sentient creature. The possible consequences of cloning could be serious.

Don't think I didn't know that! Mr. Fallic lashed out. His hands flew to their familiar position at his temples, massaging them in silence. I don't think you understand. We are on the brink of losing our support. If we do not do something with the funds they give us soon, something tangible that our sponsors could potentially use, we are out of a job. These are private people sponsoring us; they don't have patience with time.

Yes, Mr. Fallic. You're right. I'll schedule it. But I can't help but be apprehensive.

I know, I know. The hands still massaged the temples. I'll mention it to them. It'll ultimately be up to them.

The braid was left out on the table. A couple more days would not harm it, when centuries of loneliness had already passed. It had been long since the braid had been severed from its source, but a mysterious light still shone from its depths, as if expecting the imminent return.