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 NINETEEN
* * *
They did reach Bree by noon and without incident. Its wary townsfolk inquired about the purpose of the large troupe's arrival and, fearing to be turned away because of the danger they brought with them, Cecilia's sharp mind quickly turned up a lie and said that they will be performing as the Bree-folk Company of Actors in a few nights, and they brought their beneficiaries—the orphans—with them. Having heard of the troupe, they were met with great enthusiasm. Now if only that blasted play was ready…
Legolas, conscious and determined to be on his feet, was aided by Estel's hand firmly planted upon his arm. The inquisitive folks of Bree were suspicious of his hurts, of course, but accepted with some wariness that they presented no danger (or at least, no more danger than what was typical of the times), and the elf was merely feeling a bit under the weather.
At the inn, Mr. Butterbur welcomed them in his usually hospitable manner, and recognized Legolas.
"Master elf!" he exclaimed, "Oh my, you do look ill. But aren't elves immune to most diseases? Ah, well. It is not my business to ask. But I shall have a bed turned down for you at once, before anyone else. And you might be glad to hear, the Rangers, they are in residence. Were you not looking for them some days back?"
Legolas smiled, his eyes lighting up, "Yes, I was."
"They arrived very early in the morn," said the innkeeper, shaking his head, "they keep strange hours, that bunch."
"They are just about?" Estel asked anxiously.
"Yes, that they are," replied Butterbur, "Come now, I shall lead you to a room."
Legolas glanced hesitantly at the rest of the troupe, who were still waiting, crowding the common room.
~They will understand,~ Estel assured him, as they followed the innkeeper.
~It's not just that,~ Legolas told him breathlessly, ~We can ill-afford my keeping an entire room to myself. They are hardly wealthy, and there are many of us to house for how long.~
~You need not worry,~ Estel said soothingly, ~Haldir is taking care of our finances… he is presently selling your intricate bow.~
His heart stopped for a breath, before his muddled mind decided the adan was kidding.
~Don't be mean, Estel.~
The man in question chuckled. ~No. He is selling his beloved dagger. You and he, you traveled with some money, but hardly enough to house a large group for an indefinite period of time. It is really rather generous of him. Although, he said he was hardly thus-- it was the practical decision, he said, because he can easily buy it back some other time. Or if the salesman should be unreasonable and sell it to him for more than what he initially gave, Haldir says he can take it perforce. Or it would probably be best to steal it in the night.~
Legolas laughed, and absently put his hand over his chest again, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath.
"Here you are," Butterbur announced, leading them to a cozy room overlooking the streets below. He pulled at the covers, and Legolas looked at the bed with great longing and relief.
"Thank you, sir," Legolas told him, smiling gratefully as Estel lowered him to sit upon the bed.
"I shall have hot tea sent up," said Butterbur, excusing himself and shutting the door behind him.
Estel helped Legolas settle into bed, and then sat down beside his arm.
"Well," he said with a smile, "That was one of our quicker and more safe journeys, don't you think?"
"We've definitely had worse," Legolas agreed, and the nodded out the door, "Seek your Rangers, Estel. You know you want to."
The man shook his head, looked down indulgently upon his friend. "Yes. But not yet."
"Your brothers," said Legolas, grunting as he shifted to a more comfortable position, "If they succeeded in finding the Rangers, they would be there too. When they heard of what happened, they fled Rivendell in a mad dash to search for you. Save them from their misery, show them you live. They love you so."
Estel's brows knit, as he considered. He loved his brothers too, and missed them dearly. But talk of the twins inevitably led to talk of Lord Elrond, and then of his beloved Arwen.
"It broke their hearts to think you have died," continued Legolas, "As mine did."
"And yet," Estel struggled to say, stumbling over his words, "When you found me, you eventually agreed to leave."
"You asked me to," Legolas pointed out, "But mostly it was because you seemed happy where you were."
"Is that not the way things ought to be then?" Estel asked, "To leave people if they are happy without you."
"Rivendell was hardly happy without you, Estel," said Legolas, "Arwen, was hardly happy without you."
"Things would be better for her without me," Estel said, gritting his teeth, his hands drifting absently to his temple again.
"Mellon," said Legolas playfully, "Your life would be much better off without me. Simpler. More peaceful. But you happen to like having me around. So I get to stay. The same could be said of you and Arwen. I will not mince words. Yes, her life would be better off without you. But she gets to choose whether she wants you or not, and you will let her, because you love her."
Estel looked at him helplessly, with a ghost of a grin upon his lonely face. "Well. You must be fair, though. My life would be much easier without her too. But… but far less graced."
"Well it seems you have your answers then," Legolas said approvingly, though the conversation and the day's travels were quickly wearing him out, and he sank deeper against his bed.
Estel read his body language, smiled at him wistfully. ~Rest well, my friend. I will be by shortly.~
Legolas grinned back up at him sleepily, eyes drifting, and was asleep even before Estel shut the door.
* * *
By the time Estel returned to the inn's common room, the orphan-house crowd has dispersed into their respective rooms for an imposed afternoon nap time. Left there was Sari and Haldir, who were speaking with two cloaked elves, who were hardly strangers to Estel.
The identical faces of Lord Elrond's twins looked up at the new arrival, and their eyes lit up. They held their ground, though looked as if they were poised to spring forward, and Estel could barely keep his own feet from running madly towards them.
His fears over facing his Rivendell family again were quickly dashed by the very first moment of the very fist sight of them. Legolas was right. He was dearly loved by them. There was nothing to fear. There was nothing to escape. His heart swelled, and though he tried to restrain himself, his grin was ear to ear.
~The pair of you look much… hardier,~ Estel commented good-naturedly, taking in the appearance of his adoptive brothers in their dusted, rustic clothes. A bit of awhile spent traveling with the Rangers of the North lent even the most illustrious of elves a harder edge.
~I thought you might like it,~ said Elrohir, and seemed to want to say something else, before deciding on ridding himself completely of custom and cool, and stepped forward and embraced Estel tightly.
~You have more lives than an elf,~ Elladan laughed, patting the shoulders of his pair of brothers.
Elrohir pulled away from Estel, and stepped back as Elladan gripped the adan's face in his hands and studied his face carefully. His gaze lingered by the healing gash on his temple.
~We've been told about what happened,~ Elladan murmured, ~Are you certain you are well?~
~Yes, absolutely,~ replied Estel enthusiastically, ~I've never been better.~
~Headaches?~ Elladan persisted.
~Some,~ Estel admitted, ~It comes and goes.~
~That is to be expected,~ Elrohir commented, ~But you look well. Especially for one who is supposed to be dead.~
~We heard the prince has once again accomplished what he always sets out to do,~ Elladan said wryly, glancing at Sari and haldir, who were apparently the sources of all the news.
~If you mean getting himself in trouble,~ said Estel, ~I'm afraid this new one can be more attributed to me.~
~Is he well?~ inquired Elrohir.
~He is resting upstairs,~ replied Estel, ~I've looked him over, but my mind would be more at ease if you did as well.~
~Of course,~ said Elladan, ~Now what is this I hear about a key of mithril?~
~I know far less about it than Haldir, I fear,~ said Estel, ~Suffice it to say that we rescued a young boy nights ago, who was being pursued by a band of orcs desiring a key that he has. We fled an orphan house at the outskirts of Bree with all of the members of its household to seek shelter here, for the orc-searching is taking them too near to the children.~
Elrohir rubbed his chin thoughtfully, ~It is precisely this greater orc-activity that led the Rangers to their duties back here, from searching for you. I suppose you, Mr. Chieftain, would want it all taken care of?~
Estel looked at him wryly, ~Of course.~
~Well,~ breathed Elladan, ~The Rangers are yours to command, little brother.~
~Does no one know of where this key actually leads?~ Haldir asked.
Elrohir shook his head, shrugged. ~It seems the orcs have a lock and no key. And we have a key without a lock.~
~The boy does not speak?~ Elladan asked.
~I do not think he is a mute,~ said Sari, ~But it seems more of a consequence of the loss of his heart, after his parents died.~
~It would be infinitely better if we knew what we were dealing with,~ said Elladan, ~But what can one do, really.~
~The sooner this is dealt with,~ said Elrohir to Estel, ~The sooner the children can return to their home.~
~I know,~ said Estel, ~I wish to speak to the Rangers. This shall end in a few days, the Valar willing.~
* * *
And so the orc hunt began early in the day, with the Rangers and their Chieftain leaving Bree to rid the countryside of the ominous threat, right after Estel, Elrohir and Elladan bid a very frustrated Legolas goodbye and wished him well in his recuperation.
Legolas, of course, was also helplessly dismayed by the entire situation. He was sitting up in bed with Haldir, who was polishing his reclaimed dagger—how in the world did he manage to get it back to quickly?!—beside him, right after.
~Does the stupid adan not know that he isn't entirely well yet?~ he muttered, looking out the window anxiously, as if the Rangers would return at any moment.
~I will calm down if I were you,~ Haldir murmured, surveying his blade, ~He knows what he is doing.~
~I hope so!~ retorted Legolas, ~The fool knows no restraint! Every time he leaves, I find I fear for his safety!~
~Try not to drop a lung, mellon,~ Haldir told him dryly.
Legolas laughed, for the mental picture was curiously funny.
~Calm down,~ said Haldir, ~If you keep on this way, you'll get hurt.~
~I'm stronger than you think,~ smirked Legolas.
~No,~ said Haldir nonchalantly, ~I meant if you do not cease from annoying me, I will poke you with this.~
~I can't believe he left me with you,~ sighed Legolas melodramatically after a moment, ~You are the King of all that is ill of bedside manners.~
Haldir just chuckled at him.
Legolas glanced at the dagger, ~I thought you sold it.~
~I borrowed money from Elrohir and Elladan,~ replied Haldir coolly, ~Right after I told them Estel was alive. Easiest gold and silver I ever made.~
~I'm sure it was,~ Legolas scolded him, ~You really shouldn't be very proud of yourself for that.~
Haldir shrugged, sheathed his dagger.
~Am I intruding on your rest?~ he inquired, ~I'm desperately avoiding Cecilia and the others. I believe they owe Bree a play and are short of a leading man. They are practicing in the common room.~
Legolas grinned at him mischievously, ~What would you do if I sent you away?~
~You probably wouldn't,~ Haldir shrugged, ~You would be dreadfully bored without me, not to mention you also happen to be enthralled by my presence here.~
~The gall!~
A knock upon the door disturbed the exchange.
"This is Mr. Butterbur, masters," came the muffled voice.
"Come in," Haldir declared.
The innkeeper stepped into the room, flanked by two elves who were much older than even Legolas or Haldir, making both younger elves perk up in curiosity and respect. Haldir rose to his feet, and Legolas pushed at the sheets to try and sit up straighter.
"Lie back down," one of the new arrivals said, "We easily see your hurts. There is no need for such formality."
"The gatekeeper inquired as to their intentions in passing through Bree," Mr. Butterbur explained, "They said they come in good will, and are elves of Rivendell, on an expedition across Middle-Earth seeking poisons and cures and healing techniques of all sorts. They were told an elf was ill here, and they begged to see you."
"I see," smiled Legolas, "Thank you."
Mr. Butterbur lingered awhile, curious, and eventually left for it was more than obvious that his presence was not particularly welcome. When the door closed behind him, the two elves stepped forward.
~You need not see to me,~ Legolas told them quickly, ~I am sure you have more important things to do. I am well now.~
The two looked at him skeptically, reminding him of Lord Elrond. They must have been age-mates. And, being of Rivendell as well, they must be well-acquainted also. Apparently, they also shared the same will, and ignored his wishes and completely surrounded him.
Wordlessly, but undoubtedly miserably, he endured their poking and prodding, while Haldir, unwilling to subject himself to the same humiliating caring, stood apart from the circle of elven healers and discreetly pretended to be a fly on the wall.
Legolas buttoned himself up consciously and hurriedly when the healers concluded their scrutiny.
~You were right,~ said one of them, ~It is healing well.~
Legolas smiled at them sourly. Oh to be so invaded only to be told what he already knew!
~It just requires rest,~ said the other.
~Thank you,~ Legolas told them brusquely.
~When we heard there was an ill elf in Bree,~ said the first, ~We could not contain ourselves. An elf! Ill! We had to discover this affliction right away. It is just a wound after all. I thought our expedition would yield more for Lord Elrond and his House of Healing.~
~I'm sorry to disappoint you,~ Legolas said, chuckling with helpless surprise at the academic frigidity.
~Excuse my companion,~ said the first elf who spoke, ~I am Sayuno, and this is Jano. The innkeeper was right. We are part of an expedition of sorts. And we've been long gone from Imladris. A pair of years, at least. We were on our way back to our home, this was our last resting stop along the way. Bree is always an interesting place. Who might you be?~
~I am Legolas, of Mirkwood,~ he replied, motioning for Haldir, ~And this is Haldir, of Lothlorien.~
~Legolas of Mirkwood,~ murmured Jano, ~A! I know you! Last I heard, you were accused of murder and killed!~
~He's long been exonerated,~ Haldir piped in, beating Legolas to the punch, leaving the Mirkwood elf to smile at him in thanks.
~I see,~ said Sayuno, ~Interesting Bree indeed. Why, one may even find the dead and buried Prince of Mirkwood here.~
~When do you leave for Imladris?~ asked Legolas.
~In the morn,~ Sayuno replied, ~Unless you feel you may need us here?~
~I have something else in mind,~ murmured Legolas, ~Would you happen to have paper and ink with you? I wish to send Lord Elrond and Lady Arwen a message.~
Haldir raised an eyebrow at him. He had an inkling of precisely what the Prince of Mirkwood had in mind. And oh, Estel is going to find out in a most harsh way that Legolas, left to his own devices, could still get into a great deal of trouble with just a pen and a paper, bed-ridden in a quiet room.
Legolas hurriedly composed a letter, sealed it, and gratefully handed it over to the elven healers, who left soon afterwards.
~You look mightily pleased with yourself,~ Haldir commented.
~That I am,~ grinned Legolas.
~You really shouldn't be stirring the waters, mellon,~ said Haldir, ~As I said before, you have a rather bad habit of deciding for people.~
~I'm not deciding for them,~ clarified Legolas, ~I'm giving them a chance to decide for themselves. And besides, nothing will ever happen to them unless someone lit a fire beneath their tails. Trust me. Just you wait and see.~
* * *
The days went by achingly slowly, especially without Estel's company and Legolas often in bed. How profoundly frustrating it was, for the mind and will to be so wildly searching for escape in a body entrapped by its weaknesses!
On one such day, he decided he will be on his feet, and gritting his teeth in determination, he slowly rose upon quaking legs and braced himself upon bed posts and walls and tables, walking around his room.
He shook, and panted, feeling terribly weak, but the return of some of his strength was a welcome relief. Could he take the excursion further than his room, he wondered, or was he tempting fate? Already his wound was pounding and smarting, eager for his attention. But Legolas stubbornly decided it should have had enough by now!
Defiantly, he headed for the door, and carefully walked down the halls. It was a warm, sunny late afternoon. Shafts of orange sunlight danced into the old inn from here and there, windows, holes and gashes along the walls, open doors…
He stopped and leaned against the frame of one, finding Haldir sitting on the ground with his face nonchalant as he read a book, surrounded by a pack of young girls clamoring to braid his flowing, golden hair.
Haldir looked up to face Legolas' smirking.
~I would take a rock and eat it before I say anything clever if I were you,~ Haldir warned him, ~Or perhaps I'd release them to you, and we'll see what becomes of your pretty head.~
~I wasn't going to say anything,~ Legolas laughed.
Haldir looked at him skeptically, changed the subject altogether, ~You should not be up.~
~I should not be a lot of things,~ Legolas winked at him, ~But then again, here I am. It makes no difference.~
The conversation was cut off by the hurried arrival of Teresa, who appeared by the door and nearly collided with Legolas.
"I'm sorry!" she said quickly, "I thought perhaps you would want to know. A group of elves has just arrived at the gates! Why, Bree has never seen so many of them— perhaps I should say you—out in force here. It's quite the sight! Why, there is this one elven lady amongst them who took my breath away!"
Legolas looked at Haldir knowingly. "What did I tell you. The Evenstar has arrived."
"The what?" Teresa asked.
"Sari's betrothed," Haldir said suddenly, making both Teresa and Legolas start and stare at him.
"Oh," Teresa said after a moment of strange, taut silence, "Well he couldn't have chosen anyone less, could he?"
Legolas was looking at Haldir pointedly, obviously dismayed.
"I'll go tell Cecilia," Teresa said, trying to feign the excitement she had upon entering the room, and miserably failing, "She would want to know this as well."
She vanished in a rustle of skirts, and Legolas turned to Haldir with an eyebrow raised.
~That was unnecessary,~ Legolas told him flatly.
~It was inspired by you,~ Haldir said, eyes twinkling, ~Nothing will happen to them unless someone lit a fire beneath their tails, eh?~
Legolas frowned. The blasted Lothlorien elf was too clever, too fast.
* * *
The quest here began with a carefully worded letter, and it seemed it would end with one too, though the latter was thankfully of far gladder tidings.
Lord Elrond and his party of elven soldiers traveled towards the gates of Bree in silence, and as he neared the city, he thought back to the letter that had sent him flying from Rivendell and traveling here without delay, or rest, or possibly even without much thought…
Dearest Lord Elrond, it began, and his heart pounded in a father's great aching fear of the grave loss or glorious restoration the next few words will reveal. Legolas' writing seemed swift, and light, and the Lord of Imladris could almost hear the Mirkwood elf's melodious voice saying, I suppose the first thing I should say is that I found Estel and that he is well.
His eyes had watered then, with joy and relief. He sent his thanks in thought up to the Valar, and to the curious younger elf-prince who was his kindred in their love for his son.
Or better yet, Lord Elrond imagined hearing that insufferably wry and clever tone, I think, as always, that it was he who found me, as he found Sari some weeks before. Estel suffers from the after-effects of a severe head wound, but is recuperating in his usual resilient fashion. As a matter of fact, even as I write this, he is away once again to seek orcs and greatness with his faithful Rangers, your twin sons amongst them (and looking rather rugged and hardy—you will now have three sons in need of a long bath by the time they return, instead of the usual one).
Come to Bree, Legolas wrote, He fears facing you and Arwen again. But your loves are great and your hearts are stout. Our light has returned. Our estel is restored.
Elrond glanced at his daughter, riding beside him, as anxious to see Estel as he. His father's heart still did not know what to do with the pair of them. But as long as one lived, and one loved, there really shouldn't be anything to fear in the world. They are wise, and strong. He could only trust that he raised them well enough such that they can face the hardships that guaranteed to pave their road.
Arwen turned to face her father, feeling his eyes resting upon her. She smiled at him tentatively. He smiled back. He knew she made up her mind. Or perhaps he should have known long ago…
Sari's return was not so much a confusing distraction, making her choose between the two men she had ever loved. At the onset this seemed the case, yes. But these last few days, feeling his daughter's grief stifle the House… He knew, probably as much as she was just realizing herself, that Sari's return was not a question of who she wanted to be with, no. It was more a question of what she was willing to pay. Love for a mortal man, experiencing the first taste of that desperate loss… and still wanting to love…
Arwen has made her choice.
Estel will discover this when he returns. And so will Sari.
TO BE CONTINUED…
