Author: Mirrordance
Title: Escape
Summary: Aragorn is lost during a tour with the Rangers, and Legolas later finds him in Bree, without his memories & happily relieved of all his noble burdens, making the elf hesitate to bring him back to who he truly was.
PART THIRTEEN
Legolas did not sleep that night.
Then again, he did not sleep very well here.
He was awake when the night shifts changed hands from one man to another. He was awake when his turn came. He was awake when the first light of the morning crept from the East at last.
He sat up carefully, slowly, so as not to awaken his companions. Biggles could not wake up any sooner than until he is shaken and screamed at to save his life, of course, but the others were relatively light sleepers, and he had to be careful if he wanted to just disappear. The problem, of course, laid with Sari who was at the last leg of the night watch. The elf would be by the door. He will have questions. But will also understand flight and escape, and he will let Legolas pass without incident, surely.
Or at least, I hope so.
~I wondered when you would tire of pretending to be asleep.~
Legolas' head whipped around to face the Lothlorien elf, who was cockily staring at him from his place on the mat. Haldir pushed himself up to his elbows, and his golden hair was fanned about him in indulgent wisps that seemed invulnerable to the ravages of lying down. It caught the first lights of the sunrise, and seemed even more golden and beautiful. Legolas thought, wryly, that it was only Haldir who could still look regal on a battered mat on an even more battered floor with a plump, snoring human nearby.
~I wish you had been kinder,~ Legolas murmured, ~And let me know you were aware of my pretensions and perhaps I wouldn't have wasted the entire night bothering with the farce.~
Haldir looked at him wryly and shrugged. But his keen eyes were looking over the other elf intently.
~You were leaving me here in this forsaken place,~ he said flatly, ~That is far more unkind.~
~Oh admit it,~ Legolas teased him quietly as he gathered his things, ~You like it here.~
~It has its own quant charm,~ Haldir conceded, ~But I am hardly in my element.~
~You're always in your element,~ Legolas said, looking up from his packing and offering the other a smile.
~I get the feeling I am being dismissed,~ Haldir commented.
Legolas shook his head as he closed his pack, and he looked around to see if there was anything he may have forgotten. ~You are most certainly not being dismissed, mellon. I just do not want you to have to be burdened with leaving along with me. You will try to be noble about it, and lend me your company. But I will have none of that. Stay if you desire. I know some part of you does. I know some part of medoes. But I cannot stay. You can. I will see you some other time.~
Haldir's eyes narrowed at him in thought, and in irritation.
~All right,~ the Lothlorien elf sighed. He raised his hand out for Legolas to shake. ~Until we meet again.~
Legolas smiled and reached forward.
Haldir grabbed the Mirkwood elf's hand in a sudden blur of motion, and pulled himself up to his feet. Legolas bit his lip to keep from yelping, and barely managed to keep his balance and falling on Biggles.
~Good trick,~ Legolas muttered.
Haldir shrugged at him, and began packing his own things.
~Haldir,~ Legolas said, gripping the other elf's shoulder and willing to be looked at, ~I am serious. You needn't.~
Haldir stared at him. ~I know. But it doesn't matter. They are all well and dandy here. You, on the other hand, are being a fool. Do you know that with the grief in your eyes I find you more needy than the hideously forgetful adanand the still-ill Lothlorien elf here?~
~I'll get over it,~ Legolas assured him wryly.
~You know,~ Haldir said softly, ~I've always regarded the edainas weaker than us. But I am finding we are about the same, and it is just our weaknesses that differ. They are slaves to their bodies, you see. But you and I, we can die of a broken heart. They are sturdier than I once thought. And we, on the other hand, are not as strong after all.~
~I will not die of it,~ Legolas assured him, ~My heart has long been tossed around and thrown asunder by a past you only know remotely of. But I've endured.~
Much as I have occasionally regretted it…
~I still will.~
Haldir stared at him, measuring. ~I do not give a care. Or that's wrong. I do. But my mind is made. I do not do things halfway. I will not leave you alone. That is the end of it.~
~I'm beginning to come to that conclusion,~ Legolas said.
~Frankly, I think you are making a mistake,~ said Haldir, ~Estel should not be left to waste away here, happy as they all may be. A dreadful mistake this is, Legolas.~
~It will not be my first,~ said Legolas uneasily, glancing at Estel's back, which was turned away from the pair of them as he slept, ~He's made up his mind, Haldir. I always thought, how could one make up his mind if he is not fully in possession of it? But he all but told me to leave, Haldir. He may not know all, but he certainly knows enough to come to his own decisions. I have no right to wrest it from him.~
~Estel staying here,~ murmured Haldir, ~It is like music sung to an empty house. There is something inalienably beautiful about it, something undeniably true. But it will be heard by no one. Your leaving is selfish. You've foregone your own decisions, in fear of hurting him. In fear of him despising you. It is irresponsible. It is idiocy. But I will abide by your wishes. If I cannot save you from your mistakes, I will stand by you to face its consequences.~
~I've lived alone for centuries needing no one,~ Legolas retorted, ~I will not be some pity-case of yours, Haldir. If you think this is so wrong than go and do something about it. I care not. I am all but gone from here.~
~It's not pity,~ Haldir told him wryly, willing to coax a smile out of him, ~It's called damage control. Repairs. Your head is lacking some faculties that normally characterize the sane.~
~I suppose you consider yourself a shining example of normalcy and sanity,~ said Legolas struggling to be stern, though his lips were already shaking.
~Of course,~ Haldir boasted, glancing out the window as he slipped on his pack, ~Well, my friend. The sun is up. The road calls. But perhaps you will change your mind…?~
~No,~ said Legolas determinedly, ~I've never been one to do things halfway too, Haldir. I will leave them in peace.~
~All right,~ Haldir said. The pair of them headed for the door. But Haldir stopped by the frames and glanced at the back of a 'sleeping' Estel. He knew that he and Legolas weren't the only ones awake all night. He knew the conversation was heard. But he didn't know if they were understood. But he didn't know if the adanwould do anything about it.
Turn and face us, Haldir thought fervently, Ifyou are half the man we thought you were, turn and face us. Turn and face who you are. Do not let him leave. No more cowering. No more hiding here. No more escaping.
Estel did not move. Haldir turned away, disappointed.
Elven feet were light, almost soundless. And Estel didn't think his ears were sharp enough that he heard the discrete steps vanish off into the distance. But their presence was so potent he knew the moment they were gone. He didn't understand it, but tears streaked from his eyes.
Sari felt their approach before he saw them.
He turned to face Haldir and Legolas, dressed to leave and bearing all of their things. His composed face showed a measure of surprise.
~Duty presses us to leave,~ Legolas murmured.
~I do not doubt it,~ said Sari, looking at Haldir questioningly.
~Take care, Sari,~ Legolas said, grasping the other elf's arm, ~You seem to be recovering well. I will see you… whenever. Life is long. I'm sure we'll come across each other again.~
~I'm sure,~ said Sari uncertainly, offering Legolas a reassuring smile, ~Be safe.~
Legolas nodded, and glanced at Haldir who seemed rooted to where he stood. ~I will prepare the horses,~ he said, excusing himself and heading towards the stables.
~No tricks now,~ Haldir called after him, ~No leaving me behind, Legolas. I intend to make my goodbyes here, and it would be embarrassing to find I've suddenly been left behind.~
Legolas threw him a helpless smile over his shoulder, and turned his back on the pair of old friends.
~He is lucky to have you,~ Sari observed.
~He doesn't think so,~ Haldir said wryly, ~Pompous prince believes he needs no one.~
~A lot like you,~ Sari pointed out.
~It's strange,~ Haldir said, taking a more serious tone, ~I went here in search of a friend, traveling with a murderer. I lost the murderer, found the friend and lost it too, but made another. Isn't life confusing?~
Sari patted Haldir on the shoulder. ~You're not losing me, Haldir. We never lose friends. They pile up, even if we should part. I'd hate to ruin your day, but I'm pressed to say you are very unfortunately stuck with me.~
~Theyare even more stuck with you,~ Haldir said, nodding to the house, ~Will you marry her? Will I be invited? The things that go on in this ridiculous house.~
Sari's cheeks flushed. ~Nothing is certain.~
~I'm certain about the red of your cheeks,~ Haldir teased, ~Really, Sari. How embarrassing. Pull yourself together.~
Sari laughed. ~It will not be a party without you.~
~Good,~ Haldir nodded. He glanced up, just as Legolas emerged from the stables with their horses.
~Arwen,~ said Sari hesitantly, ~She will wonder. But her heart will know she and I were not meant to be together after all. I wish you told me you intended to leave. I'd have written her a letter, or… or some such thing. In the meantime, tell her she kept me alive. And… and…~
Haldir's lips quirked, ~You find yourself saddled with two betrothed. If only we were all as lucky. I'm sure it is a predicament she will completelyunderstand.~
~On second thought,~ said Sari, ~Keep your clever mouth shut. And I will find a way to tell her things myself.~
~Well,~ said Haldir, laughing, ~As you wish. In the meantime, take care. I will speak with the Lady Galadriel about sending troops here. Nothing intrusive. The house will never even know they are about. But you will all be safe. I'm sure Lord Elrond, he will arrange for this too.~
Sari reached forward and embraced Haldir, ~Farewell, Haldir. I will see you… what was it Legolas said? I will see you… whenever.~
Haldir smiled at Sari sadly. ~It sounds distant. And yet I find it fair. Until then, mellon.~
TO BE CONTINUED…
