Disclaimer : Lord of the Rings and its characters belong to Tolkien and his heirs along with the movie productions who did the movie and of course Peter Jackson. Along with several authors but most notably Cassia and Sio, Gilraen, Aragorn's mother died along her husband thus making Elrond a single parent fostering Aragorn and the only parent Estel considers his.

Notes- Yikes, I wrote about 3 pages at my brother sent them through hotmail but the message was blank, urgh ! I remember most of it but I feel like loosing my time. I hate that. What I love are my reviews ! Ha Penpunk ! I know what you are talking about, it's like nobody is really updating. I will update as soon as I finished this. Yes, I will get around telling a few of the hardest thing Legolas has done. As for my head, ask Araanaz ! And BTW sister, it's not because I shower you with spoilers that you get to tell okay ! If you haven't seen Pirates there may be a little part you will catch right now. But it's not a Big spoiler.

Chapter 7

You've been all over.

The plane ride was smoother than the last one he took.

It was probably the understatement of the century but still, he had enjoyed it. The flight attendant was nice and gave him a blanket. He was sitting alone next to the window his eyes set on the cloudy horizon. The Caesar salad had been freshly made and the pasta he ate as a vegetarian meal had sustained his aching body. He felt as if he left half of his brain and the other half was numb. It was a great feeling and he felt even more guilty at admitting it. For years he had taken care of Arwen, but he often wondered how it would have been if he had been alone searching. He had been trained all of his life to track and hunt the enemies trespassing his home. He was also one of the teacher that gave his knowledge to Aragorn to make him the best ranger in Middle-Earth.

It was one of the trouble he had.

Aragorn had surpassed his masters in one sense, he was grown with Elves and considered one for many years under the guidance of Elrond. He was taught the fine art of the healing arts and the lore of weapons. He mastered the sword and was considered the best at wielding Anduril or any other swords. Legolas had taught him the art of the bow and how to live in harmony in a forest. He was also taught how to defend himself by his brothers and some of the most valiant Elves that fought the War against Sauron.

It was a near impossible task, especially since Middle-Earth expended and was simply called Earth. And the curse was not helping matter. They had found it in their search that Aragorn lived nine years for each lifetimes before loosing what ever memories he gained and left for another place. They had met in the ages the people who took him under their wings, the surrogate family, co-workers, friends that shared parts of their lives. The worst was meeting the ex-lovers, especially on Arwen. She was denied being intimate with her husband but could not fault him of adultery because he didn't know who she was.

Yet.and yet many of those women wore long black hair and had pale skin. It was eerie sometimes to look at the look-alikes, especially when they realised that they were merely substitute for the real thing. They could never compare to the Evenstar.

But they may yet as the beauty of the Evenstar was dimming. Legolas knew he had to hurry, he had to tie up the investigation going around the World before leaving. It was one life for another and it was terrible to think that it came down to his childhood friend when he knew in his heart he wanted Aragorn. He felt a special connection to Estel, never having a brother he found one in the Edan. And he had sworn to himself that he would succeed. Estel had saved his life so many times, Legolas owed him to give back the ones he lost.

They arrived not long after he finished gathering his thoughts in his journal, he wrote it in Quenya in case he ever lost it. No linguist could deceiver the writing, and it keep him in peace with his home. So often he had wondered if he was not hallucinating, the memories were so far in his mind. He stood as one of the last passengers, he walked to the luggage and saw his contact long before the other man did. But Legolas instead of running up to greet up stayed casual and ignore him. He took his time taking his luggage and looked around turning his back on the short man who couldn't step forward because of the security risk.

Legolas finally had his fun and walked to the man, wincing at the bright colours the New Jersey native wore, it was enough to make him wish for an orc. Orc had better sense of style than the man who looked like the illegitimate son of Merry, Pippin AND a warg. He strapped the shoulder handbag before smiling mischieviously at him. Legolas' hair was half tied from his face enough to cover the pointy ears but enough to look presentable.

-"Hello Martin. Aren't you asking me if I had a good trip?" Asked Legolas putting on his sunglass that allowed him to look at Manny with a bit of subtlety. Manny had took the name because it sounded gangster and the con man/detective fancied himself cop material. He imitated a lot of the cop character on the television but paled everything Legolas was around to give him a hard time. Manny gulped instead of answering and Legolas smiled at the 5'5 feet man in front of him trembling. It had been a long time since someone had trembled at his sight.

-"Mister Wood, here is the folder." Said Manny instead holding out the manila folder in his hand as far as it could go. Legolas snatched it and opened it quickly. Inside at his demand was the picture of the man in question, the grey eyes that held mischief, the cleft chin that was covered with a five o'clock shadow and the square shoulders that could hold the weight of the world. Legolas' heart skip a few beat as he stared in the face of his lost best friend. He breathed in and kept it while he tried to make his face neutral.

-"At the latest news, was the man still present?" He asked his eyes still on the picture but walking toward the exit, Manny followed him a few step behind. Feeling haste he walked to the taxi area before stopping and letting Manny give the answer he knew would break his heart.

-"No, his boss and the lady renting the apartment filled a report about 48 hours ago." Manny answered munching on his bubblegum obvious to Legolas' distress.

Legolas nodded once and hailing a taxi ignoring Manny gesturing his 97' battered Volkswagen waiting in the parking lot. As soon as the taxi moved closer Legolas jumped in while Manny shrugged and moved to his car probably plotting on some con case. One day Legolas was going to bust him and put him in prison but Manny was useful and sneaky something he needed for the moment. It didn't help the fact that he looked like Merry turned hobo.

Legolas stared at the back of the taxi driver's head, Aragorn had been here 48 hours ago. He watched with interest the surroundings imagining Aragorn walking the steps, going to the convenient store and jogging in the park. He could easily picture a life for his friend based on the reading he made in the folder. He had been a nice hard working honest man that caused no trouble. On the last note, Legolas had serious doubt but then, the trouble always came when he wasn't alone but with his brothers or him.

The taxi driver was impressed at driving an officer to a crime scene, Legolas quickly explained that he just came off the plane and that he couldn't divulge any information. He paid the man enough to make him happy before walking to the first officer he saw.

-"I'm Officer Wood, can I speak with the officer in charge?" Asked Legolas looking sharp in a white shirt and dark indigo ensemble to a young policeman waiting near the police car. The young man waited for Legolas to pull out his id before walking to a woman in a trench coat and gesturing Legolas. The woman turned and walked to the police car looking crisp in her brown straight line pant and matching blazer, she was all business and carried an authoritarian aura. Legolas only hoped she would be honest and trusting enough to believe him, she seemed the type to be right to the point.

-"Hi, you are on the missing person team." She stated obviously quick to the point.

-"Yes I am, a file was reported on the man 9 years ago. He was suffering from Anterograde amnesia from an accident 10 years ago. What can you tell me?" Legolas asked using a charming voice, the woman blinked once before answering her face impassable.

-"He has been living here for three years under the name of Jeffrey Jones. He was given his passport a year ago when he filed for it. His report said he lost everything in a fire and he reconstructed his life. You say that he may be suffering from a medical condition?" She asked taking a pad and looked at Legolas waiting for something useful he could think.

The only thing he could think about at that moment was that he stood in front of a woman who was not charmed by him. It was amazing but disturbing, he tried to focus before looking a complete fool in front of the professional woman who could help him.

"Joy, a woman who has no interest in me !" He thought to himself opening the folder and preparing his folder when another thought crept in "Is she normal?" He asked himself before shaking his head and explain the version of his story about Estel he finalized in the taxi.

---------

-"Hello my lord, how may I help you?" Asked the lady richly and using the word in every sense, she was in deep velvet dress and cloak. Large pearls the size of eyeballs laid on her neck, her breast were pushed forward by a corset so tight that Legolas could swear he saw the outline of her nipple. A large wig decorated with jewellery and feathers cascaded on her shoulder a pearly white that seemed odd on a woman that was barely thirty years old. She carried also a strong smell of perfume, a mix of roses, but so condensed it was almost impossible to breathe in a perimeter of five feet.

-"Lady Wiltshire, I bid you good night and thank you for your assistance, but I require none for the night." Legolas said bowing slightly to the lady who curtsied blushing, which was incredible given the amount of red power she applied.

-"Of course my Lord. Are you alone for the night or will your sister join us soon." The Lady asked trying to be coy but she impersonated everything Legolas hated in a Court lady that he felt repulsed by her. He backed one step before answering, for his protection.

-"I am afraid I am not sure when my sister will be joining us, she was meeting with the Lady Van Holden for a concert in a private estate." Legolas replied wincing ever so slightly when he saw her inching toward him.

-"Oh yes, your sister has an incredible voice. I am sure the Lady Van Holden and her husband are quite please to have her assistance for the night entertaining the Duke." The Lady Wiltshire pressed one hand to her chest hoping to attract the attention of Legolas but no avail, his sight was upon the door right behind her and the thought of a warm bed to rest. He closed his eyes briefly, he could hear the sounds of a carriage but feared it was his imagination playing tricks on him.

-"Yes, they are quite pleased. I am afraid I am feeling tired from my journey Lady and wish to retire." Legolas said politely, but he groaned when she pressed herself to him. He had foreseen the act but had hoped she had more self control than that.

-"My Lord, you are surely more lonely than tired. I was wondering if I could not entertain you tonight." She said smiling with her yellowish teeth, Legolas suddenly had an urge to look down but knew she would think he was looking at her breast and would feel encouraged.

-"My Lady, your husband is inside asleep in your quarters. I possibly could not entertain you tonight. It is a question of principle." Legolas said firmly crossing his fingers she wouldn't take it too hard and protest to her husband. Legolas had once rebuffed a young woman and she had accused him of trying to rape her. Arwen and he had barely escaped the prison to another city.

-"A young man like yourself must have need. My husband doeth not need to know." She replied in a whisper her head coming to his shoulder, she stood on the tip of her shoes trying to speak to his ears.

-"Lady." Legolas warned stepping back and praying for an intervention of some sort, even prison would be better than her embrace. He may be an elf but even elves couldn't hold their breathe for so long especially with their heightened senses.

-"Brother, what are you doing in the porch?" Legolas heard behind him, he spun around and put as much space as he could from the Lady to see the white splendour of the Evenstar. She stood there with her black hair in a coif decorated with white pearl, she looked resplendent with a pink colouring on her cheek and a glint in her midnight blue eyes.

The Lady Wiltshire cursed under her breath when she saw approaching behind Arwen, the Lord and Lady Van Holden talking quietly together. They were a young couple still very much in the bloom of their lives, he a musician, a favourite of the church who lived on the command the priests ordered. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant who learned the piano and the viola at a young age. She met the musician at church and her father was happy to marry her to someone who was on a path of greatness and who was under the wing of the bishop.

-"Lady Wiltshire, Lord Marsters." Lord Van Holden bowed to them with a large smile on his rosy face while in wife in a pretty pink and orange dress curtsy. She both looked out of breath and drunk on happiness.

-"Your sister was magnificent Lord Marsters." Praised the Lady Van Holden looking fondly on Arwen who gracefully nodded to her friend before turning her attention to the Lady Wiltshire and Legolas. She quickly turned her glance to Legolas smiling wider, it was obvious she had guessed the situation and found it funny.

-"I am sure she was." Legolas commented pleasantly while trying to be mad at his "sister" but how could he truly be when she stopped the Lady Wiltshire to maul him.

-"You will have to grace us of your gift Lady Marsters soon." The Lady Wiltshire replied though it was clear to all present it was not something she wanted. She was fuming at Arwen for interrupting, she glared at Arwen who in return raise one eyebrow and kept her mysterious half-smile in mockery.

-"I believe it is time to retire. Thank you Lord Van Holden for returning my sister safely." Legolas thanked moving closer to take Arwen's arms.

-"It was a pleasure, so much that we have to steal her in two days. She will be joining us at the church for a small concert, the bishop announced it tonight." Said Van Holden excited looking at his wife who smiled back. They both seemed to be in love it was almost infectious, Legolas almost felt his face brighten. They bowed again before leaving under the moonlight, it had been quite late actually. Legolas had came back from a tavern to hear about rumours and spread the word he was looking for Estel when the Lady Wiltshire had cornered him.

-"Lady Wiltshire, if you do not mind, I need to rest for Sunday." Arwen said loosing no time for pleasantries her face was still neutral.

The Lady shot one look at Legolas before nodding again and entering inside, she stood at the foot of the stairs waiting for Legolas and Arwen to enter their quarters. Once the door closed Legolas heard her heels clicking in the marble stairs, going upstairs. He breathed freely now, he turned around to see Arwen sitting on his bed with a mischievous smile on her face.

-"You know Legolas, if we are short on money you could always seduce the Lady and make her give you her fortune." Said Arwen taking a strand of hair and twirling it around her fingers.

-"Go to your own bed." Ordered Legolas massaging his temples, rubbing deeply against the skin. He walked to the cabinet, opened it to find a pot chamber with lukewarm water, he spread some on his hand and pressing it to his forehead.

-"I'm sure if you are veryyyy," Arwen drawled out the "y" until she had no breath to speak, Legolas had time to roll his head three times. " nice, she could let us stay here for free."

-"Go to bed." Legolas ordered again fixing Arwen with a firm glare, she batted her eyelashes instead and almost giggled before standing up and disappearing behind the French door to her adjacent room. Legolas sighed and plopped himself on the bed after pulling his boots in a smooth motion. He prepped his hands behind his head and starred at the beautiful ceiling painted as a sunny summer sky when he saw Arwen's head slide back in.

-"Do you think she will visit you in your bed this night?" She asked sweetly before stepping back to her room. Legolas' eyes popped wide at that and he didn't sleep for the whole night, keeping the candles burning until dawn.

-------

The apartment was small, one bedroom that was filled with everyday slightly battered clothes and pictures of motorcycles, it looked like so many other apartment he searched through. The style was minimalist as expected, Jeffrey Jones had no family and had only his minimum salary to rely on. It was empty now the cops had left and Legolas had required a moment alone in the rooms to check in case he found clues they might have missed.

He sat down in the middle of the room and watched the place like a child in a museum fining his favourite piece and gazing at it with delight and wonder. He could feel his presence all around him. He could see the faint outline of a man walking around, cleaning up, cooking himself dinner. He saw a piece of his friend's live and it made him glad to have it to himself. It was like a little part of Aragorn returned to him.

It also sounded like he was the one in love with Aragorn. Which he did but with a slow intensity at finding someone he could trust entirely. Someone he considered family.

Legolas examined every inch of the place feeling like it would be the last time, time was running like sand through a fist. He knew that Estel would want the life of Arwen before his own. He could sacrifice his chance to find him. But as he sat there he thought that maybe.

Perhaps, he could make sure Arwen would leave and he would stay. It all depended which fate was worse between the star crossed lovers. He thought that by now he would have found the answer to his question, after all the time he spend thinking of them

----------

It had been more than one century.

They had left the familiarity of Gondor to travel South, after all if Aragorn was in the North he would be recognized by its people. Eldarion had made sure of that, he sent a message to his most trusted advisers and soldier to search for his father. It had been five years and no trace of him when Arwen and Legolas left for Harad.

They had searched it seems behind every grain of sand, but there was nothing, no trace no whisper of the former king. They had disguised themselves as a married couple searching to make a business in trading rare medicinal plants in a post war Middle-Earth. They slept beside each other in a tent hoping and praying the stars every night. They learned the customs of the people of the South, their history and cultures. They grew to like the spicy foods and got used to the harsh sun.

But now it was time to go back, maybe there had been news and nobody had been able to reach them. Nevertheless, the plan was that if found Aragorn was to go to Eryn Lasgen to stay with the other Elves. Legolas left his colony with his trusted second and had no lingering feeling about the place he called home for several years. He had made his peace before Aragorn died and had settled all his affairs.

He was sitting on the still hot sand, wearing only the long dark blue pants, his blond hair even more striking against his tanned skin. Arwen was asleep in the tent, he could hear her soft slow breathing through the wind. He gazed up finding the star that guided so many times before, the wind was refreshingly cool but kept his hair on his face. He glanced back at the parchment next to him, he bought it earlier from a merchant. It was the new guide for the lands and upon glancing it first, Legolas thought the man was joking or trying to rob him. The borders went much farther and the names of the mountains and rivers had changed spelling forgetting the accents and sonority that the Elves gave.

A new world was waiting for them, Gondor was bigger than he remembered seeing on Aragorn's map, the design of the parchment was also very different than what he remembered. He traced the lines with his fingers lovingly over the realm of Eryn Lasgalen with a fond smile a the memories of his birth place. He placed the map on the sand in front of him and analysed every details.

The world was changing and growing farther and farther away. It left more place for Aragorn to be hiding. He wondered what could have happened to his dear friend. Morthond had probably given him a spell that kept him in the dark. They had searched long and hard for him in the Southern realms until the news of Eldarion's passing came to them.

Eldarion was the last of Arwen's children alive, now it'd left his son taking the throne. A new generation had come and gone leaving them yet with an even younger race of men. The dwarfs has long retreated to their mines and caves leaving to men the entirety of Middle-Earth to their bidding. The Elves were now hiding in the forest in the North since the South was open for business.

Looking at the totality of the map, Legolas knew a new era was passing over them slowly like clouds on a sunny day with no wind. He only wondered how far will they see it changed, how far will the growth of men reach before they were meant to leave.

------------

-"It's not that bad."

-"It's an horrible place, actually." Legolas replied looking up, he saw Aragorn's apparition cocking his head to one side before half-pouting.

-"Forgive me Prince of Mirkwood who used to live in a cave palace." Aragorn said sarcastically waiting for Legolas to take the bait.

-"My palace was underground, not a cave." He replied hotly, he passed a hand rubbing his shoulders to relax. The officer in charge had come back to tie the case.

The police had ruled the case as a middle-age man with no ties that wanted to make his life elsewhere and left one day. Clothes and money were taken and the man had appeared moody and tired just before leaving. His co- workers had told that they had half-expected to not see him come back one morning which happened not long afterward.

-"Sorry." Aragron said moving a bit around the room, not touching anything but pointing with his hands at beloved objects left behind. His apparition had no weight and couldn't touch anything. He was even floating a bit above ground but barely noticeable.

-"Where are you Estel?" Legolas asked knowing he would have a negative answer.

-"Well not in the Caribbean that's for sure." Aragorn replied a little smile at the corner of his lips that hide the fact he wanted to laughed.

-"Do not talk against the Caribbean, it was a fabulous when I went." Legolas protested glaring at Aragorn.

-"Yeah because of the tart." Aragorn replied trying to look busy with a half-openned drawer.

-"Do not talk against Elizabeth. We had something brief but intense." Legolas defended his thoughts picturing the beautiful brunette.

-"She was in love with freedom as much as your friend the crazy pirate." Aragorn snorted looking at his best friend with mockery.

-"You are as much crazy as he was. And she was simply a free spirited lady." Legolas commented with an half-smile.

-"She was an idiot that confounded you for the boy that they rescued when he was young, your assistant as a blacksmith. You were a fool to play the role. Only the magic in your blood did the trick. It was a lucky shot." Aragorn was sounding almost jealous at the glow of his friend who laughed at him while he spoke.

-"You wish you would have been there Aragorn. Do not lie !" Legolas said laughing harder when he saw his friend's discomfiture face. He sobered when Estel nodded and crossed his arms.

-"You are always with me Aragorn." Legolas sworn closing his eyes, he could smell the presence of his friend in his previous persona.

-"You are cursed with me." Aragorn replied deadpan but Legolas didn't have to open his eyes to see the smile on the Ranger's lips.

-"It is my fate. Until we meet again." Legolas said remembering the words as if repeating a rhyme learn long ago. They exchanged a similar dialogue when they had to leave for their respective missions or their respective realms.

Legolas opened his eyes and looked at the empty apartment that was already gathering dust. In mere weeks from now, that life will be forgotten by all except he.

-"Namárië." Echoed into the empty as Legolas left it to the vast World waiting outside.