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 TWENTY

* * *

      Sari greeted them at the door of the Prancing Pony, and when he faced Arwen, it seemed that both of them knew changes have occurred, decisions have been made.  She embraced him and kissed his cheek.  It was no less warm and loving as it was all those times that he remembered receiving it, but it was… different.  Not distant, not cold, just… different.  Teresa, who was at a corner in the common room and could not have known about all that went on wordlessly between the two old lovers, turned her face away.

      The two elves looked at each other curiously, strange smiles curving their lips and lighting their eyes.  They have always understood each other.

      ~You seem settled,~ she told him, ~I'm glad.~

      He squeezed her arm reassuringly, and greeted her father.  ~Lord Elrond, it is good to see you.~

      ~You look well, Sari,~ Elrond smiled at him, glancing around, ~It has been awhile… Where is Estel? Where are my sons?~

      ~They have been gone for days,~ replied Sari, ~Taking care of an orc threat.  They should be by in a day or two.~

      ~Is he all right?~ Lord Elrond asked, after a moment of thought.

      ~Yes,~ Sari answered, smiling, ~He is very well.  Might I inquire… how did you know we were here?~

      A shuffle of movement caught their eye, and a bedraggled-looking Legolas, with Haldir of Lothlorien holding onto his arm supportively, appeared.

      ~I suppose I should have known,~ said Sari wryly, stepping aside as Elrond pushed forward to carefully survey the apparently ailing elf's condition with his prying eyes.

      ~I'm well, my lord,~ Legolas assured him, ~Your healers can vouch for it.~

      ~It would not hurt to have another look, later,~ Elrond murmured, studying his face, ~And so we have all arrived here by your machinations.~

      Legolas' brow quirked, ~And so you have, my lord.~

      ~Where is Estel?~ asked Arwen.

      ~He should be by any day now,~ Legolas replied, ~In the meantime, enjoy Bree.  There will be a play tonight! And Sari will be performing.~

      Arwen looked at Sari with raised brows, ~Truly?~

      ~It was supposed to be Estel,~ said Sari shyly, ~But he fled with his Rangers, and the play was necessary to uphold the idea that we came by Bree not to bring danger but--~

      ~Or simply perhaps because he just enjoys it,~ Haldir interjected, cutting him off, ~I am the prop master.~

      ~Or the carrot cutter,~ Legolas laughed.

      Arwen smiled at them uncertainly, not quite understanding.

      "Teresa," Sari called to the young woman, who was pretending not to watch them, "Come here.  You should meet a few friends of ours."

      She bit her lip, hesitating, before she stepped forward and stood amidst their circle.  More than ever, she felt terribly plain and unsightly. 

      "Teresa," said Sari, his eyes resting gently and proudly upon her face, "This is Lord Elrond and Lady Arwen of Rivendell."  In her awkwardness, she missed the look of his love, just as she missed the great courtesy and honor he extended her by presenting the nobles of Imladris to her, rather than the other way around.

      But it was a nuance not lost to Arwen, who knew from the first sight of her old betrothed that he was changed, satisfied, at peace… and not necessarily with her, who had just arrived.  His arrested gaze upon the admittedly plain mortal woman was answer enough, and Arwen smiled at Teresa indulgently, taking her hands like a sister.

      "It is very good to meet you," the beautiful elf said earnestly, and glanced up at a red-faced but beaming Sari with knowing.

      "You are too kind," Teresa said, shyly taking her hands away.

      "You are being remarkably quiet," Sari teased her.

      "It's just that," she hesitated, "It's just that I'm quite… um… unprepared… for such… uh… noble acquaintances.  I'm rather… a bit of a mess actually.  I wish you had said your betrothed was coming.  I'd have been more presentable."

      Arwen's brows raised, looking at Sari expectantly. 

      ~I told her,~ Haldir said, his eyes twinkling.

      ~Then why aren't you running away already?~ muttered Sari.

      "I'm tired," Legolas lied, though he looked pale and sickly enough to be believed. 

      "I'll help you up," Haldir said wryly, seeing through his deception.

      "Excuse us, Teresa," Lord Elrond said to the girl, who was more than a little bit confused, "We shall see to the Prince of Mirkwood's hurts."

      Haldir, Legolas, Arwen and Elrond left the pair to express that which they both knew in their hearts to be true all along.

* * *

      The Rangers returned early in the night, to very little of Bree's scrutiny.  It was suspicious to be sure, for the city was curiously silent, and there were no people about. 

      Estel settled his horse in the stables, and frowned at the strange quiet of the oft-lively town.  He headed for the Prancing Pony with Elladan and Elrohir in tow, and found the common room empty, even of its Innkeeper.

      ~It's as if we strayed into a different place,~ Elladan murmured.

      Worriedly, the three brothers stalked up to the rooms of the children, found them glaringly empty.  They headed towards Legolas', and found with great relief, the elf sitting next to the window, ensconced in blankets and leaning against the panes.

      Legolas looked up at them and smiled.  ~Welcome back.~

      ~Where's everyone?~ Estel asked, stepping into the room.

      ~All of Bree is watching the play,~ Legolas replied, ~Except for me.  I've been miserably confined here by… higher powers.~

      ~You never let it stop you before,~ Elladan commented, ~You must be feeling really ill then.~

      ~I'm perfectly well,~ insisted Legolas, ~But I'm not fool enough to be walking around in crowds yet.  Have you dispelled the orc threat?~

      ~For now,~ replied Elrohir, sitting on the bed and stretching his arms over his head, ~Oh, mellon, you will not believe where that key leads.~

      Legolas' brows raised in inquiry.

      ~A treasure trove,~ said Elladan, ~No wonder the orcs desired it so badly.  It seems it is the mithril key to a just-as-indestructible mithril lock, guarding over what seems to be a cave of very old plunder.  Perhaps dating back centuries, we cannot know until we've opened it ourselves.  The orcs were indeed scouring the countryside looking for those corpses, and the boy thereafter.  We killed a lot of them scattered here and there, but most of them we killed amidst their preoccupation trying to open the lock perforce.~

      ~Treasure,~ said Legolas, ~Are you going to tell the boy at all?~

      ~Perhaps when he is older,~ said Estel, ~Such things are better left little-known.  Greed is an enemy that is more cunning than the orc.  In the meantime, Cecilia holds in her hands all the money she could ever possibly need to care for more orphans, especially in days as dark as these, when there will always be more and more she would have to look after.~

      Legolas nodded.  ~Well.  That settles that.~

      Estel looked around the room, thinking.  ~Where's Haldir? They left you absolutely all alone?~ his lips quirked, ~That was unkind of them.  Not to mention the fact that they have replaced me in the play.~

      ~They didn't quite leave me all alone,~ Legolas said.

      Estel looked at him suspiciously for a moment, and soon discovered exactly what he meant.  Lord Elrond appeared by the door, bearing a tray of tea.

      Estel turned and faced his father, unsure.  But Lord Elrond was looking at him in wonder.

      ~In case you missed it, ada,~ laughed Elrohir, taking the tray from his father's slack hands, ~Your other sons are here too.~

      Elrond glanced at him, smiled wryly, before stepping purposefully towards Estel, embracing him tightly.  The adan returned it with such hungry affection.

      ~I'm sorry Estel,~ Elrond said softly, ~I wish I did not let you walk away.  Never do that again.~

      ~I'm sorry too,~ said Estel fervently, ~I only ever wished I could make you happy.  But I cannot do as your heart desires for I cannot give up my own heart, much as I wish to yield for you. To yield for her.  If one can simply cease to love when it guarantees hardship, then we'd both have stopped years ago.~

      ~I know, I know this now,~ Elrond said, pulling away from Estel and staring at his face, touching the wound on his forehead, ~Let us allow things to unfold as they will.  I cannot pretend that I would rather not have things in some other way.  But you are with me, now.  That is what matters most.~

      He embraced Estel again, ~You are with us now.~

      Estel noted his tone, and said achingly, knowing without a doubt, ~She is here.~

      Elrond stepped back from his son.  Estel smiled at him, and smiled at the three other elves in the room, who were watching father and son discreetly, trying to pretend they were not there.

      ~Watching the play,~ Legolas told him wryly, knowing just to whom he was headed.

      Estel walked away.

      Elrond let him.

      The circumstances were all but the same as with the last time they had this conversation and thereafter parted.  But it felt right, this time.

* * *

      Sari held Teresa in his arms as she died, just as the awed crowds of Bree breathlessly beheld the last scene of Cecilia's play.

      "I'm sorry," he told her fervently, as tears sprang from his eyes and he desperately pulled her close.

      "One can only love as the heart allows it," she told him, her voice soft and waning, but distinctly loud amidst the arrested town's taut silence, "I can no more fault you for your love as you can me for mine."

      "I wish things were different," he said, bitterly.

      "The cards have been dealt," she said, touching his face, "We are only players.  Now the game is up and done with.  But if only in death could I ever know for a certainty that I've at last won your heart, then it is victory, rather than defeat."

      His grip tightened about her body, willing her to stay, or willing to go with her.  Either way, it was a grip that absolutely refused to suffer parting. 

      Sari's lips plunged into hers, taking in the last of her breath as life left her body.

      Estel watched, with some measure of amusement, and noted that That was not part of the script that I read.

      The play ended with a spine-tingling moment of stretched-taut silence, followed by Bree's thunderous applause.  The players made their bows.  Sari's hand never left Teresa's, and her face glowed with life and joy.

* * *

      He found her amidst the crowds, the dark of her cloak doing little to dim the stunning beauty of her face and the light of her eyes, sparkling greater than even any star that ever was.

      The crowds dispersed around them, returning to their own businesses with excited talk of what they had just seen.  The Bree-folk Company of Actors will have gold and silver to swim in after tonight.  And for all the lovers who witnessed it, they took home gold and silver of a different sort, the kind that the bittersweet heart carried in the very deepest of its parts.

      He stopped a step away from her, just watching her face, as she devoured his with her hungry, loving eyes.  Words seemed to elude them.  So great was the intensity of their feeling that it could not be justly encased by sounds and letters of any language, save for the look in their eyes.  The world dimmed and blurred around them.  She took his breath away.  And he was all of her immortality in one instant. 

      It was love, it was madness, it was hunger and desire, all at once perfect sense and ultimate satisfaction. It was distinctly them and theirs, and at last did they stand before each other to know, precisely what it all meant.

      She took his hands in hers and kissed his palms.  He enclosed his fingers upon the memory of her lips reverently, and her own digits enclosed about his own. 

      ~Arwen,~ he told her, falling to a knee before her, ~I have not much to give, but all that I have, I do lay upon your feet.~

      All of himself, he meant, All that he was, is, and ever will be.  His existence belonged to her.  His deeds, his name, his hands, his body, his past and his future. 

      This was the only real escape and freedom from all the evil that ravaged the world.  The strength of his heart, the power of his love.  To be enslaved by this passion was all the escape he would ever need, to press him forward towards all the things he had to do and be.

      She smiled at him impishly, and in a most un-elvish, playful way, she pulled him roughly to his feet and encased him in her arms.

      All was well.

THE END

February 25, 2004

SOME IMPORTANT NOTES:

On "Escape" as the second of a trilogy.  I'm an obsessive compulsive, so you can bet that if I wrote a sequel, it will almost surely have a third story to end it.  When I wrote "Escape"'s predecessor "Exile," I wasn't sure if I would write the entire trilogy.  Now I can guarantee you the timeline will continue and ultimately end with the third story, "Return," though it is only a question of when it will be released.  I've started it already though, so maybe I'll post part one in a couple of weeks.

"Return" Teaser.   Post-LOTR. Legolas always felt at odds with his home kingdom. Though it's King by birthright, he fled it, building a prosperous colony in Ithilien. Just when all seems well at last, great dangers in Mirkwood call for the return of THIS King home. 

On the Trilogy Theme.  I suppose you noticed the titles all have to do with places.  "Exile" began with Legolas as being an outcast from his kingdom, and indirectly, Estel as an exile from his heritage.  Then "Escape" shows a more willful desire to leave, rather than be sent away.  This was a theme more applicable to Estel, though this time, indirectly to Legolas too (when he left Estel).  If you look at it in a certain light, Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" is the 'third part' of the series, where Estel reclaims what was his.  "Return" is Legolas' story of how he reclaims his own kingdom.

On Haldir.  I used to be hesitant about putting him in my fics, because not all that much is known of him.  But along my time as a LOTR ffic writer, I felt that I understood more of how he is generally perceived, and decided on the gamble.  I made him out to be spectacularly, distinctly aloof, but also kind, clever, and hesitantly affectionate.  I hope it's not such an alien, unrecognizable depiction because I took great care in keeping him level but also developed further.  He was actually initially not a part of "Escape" but the muses changed their minds and put him in.  Which now gives me a problem: the movie kills him off, but now I think I've grown attached to the character and would want to keep him in for "Return" as well.  I suppose I can always pretend (as much of our wonderful Haldir fans do) he did not die and put him in the story anyways.  But I've yet to decide on it.

On Sari.  This character originally began as a villain, if you can believe it.  The original "Escape" was not even a part of "Exile."  But as I said, the muses changed their minds.  The first Sari was supposed to be Legolas' best friend, long-lost and feared dead.  He returns after years of capture by savage men, to find his betrothed Arwen in love with an adan.  So the conflict that originally belonged to Legolas was not whether or not he should leave Estel to his happiness, but with whom he would side, especially when Sari becomes murderous.  I'm glad the fic took on a softer tone though, and I hope this OC fit in well.  I also know people can get impatient with OC-scenes, so I kept it minimal and concise.  His talk with Teresa, for instance, was axed out completely, and I only hope it was conveyed clearly in the end that it must have gone well.

On Legolas.  As those who have read my other fics clearly know, my favorite character.  As usual, a mix of the more serious movie version and the more playful book version.  Those who have read my other fics would also know that I make a constant issue of his ultimate loneliness, because of his immortality and ironically mortal attachments.  "Escape" is in keeping with this, particularly the first part, in his reflections of Estel's impending death—a concern even years and years before the fact.  This is his first taste of that pain, but will not be his last.  But it will also show his strength to endure thereafter.  And his ability to forge other relationships, such as with Haldir (which was also experimental for me).

On Estel.  I love depicting his and Legolas' friendship.  The camaraderie is distinct, and one that most fic authors and readers enjoy.  I've always depicted him as the strong, un-conflicted character between the two, so I felt it was about time I tossed in some hesitations here and there.  Estel is like the quintessential hero; noble, brave, a natural leader.  "Escape" chronicles a curveball tossed the King's way.  His great calling was always the Evenstar, and now he finds a rival for her heart, suddenly magnifying all the questions and insecurities of that relationship; mortality, immortality, the endurance of love.

On Arwen.  I'm not as astute a writer of her as a lot of authors are, but I attempted to be true to how she is generally perceived.  Torn between duty and love, who she is and who she desires.  As was dissected by Sari (I think in part eight) and Elrond (in part nineteen), the obvious conflict (whom to choose between Sari and Estel) is not the real issue at all.  It's more a question of her duties against her desires, and how much she is willing to face, and how much she is willing to give for her love.

On Elrond.  The helpless, disapproving father, of course, is torn because he loves both Arwen and Estel and wishes for them to be happy.  I always depicted the Lord of Imladris as a really formidable kind of character.  Wise, comfortable with his life and sure of his decisions.  But this entire relationship was a curveball for him as well.  He is not happy, naturally.  But he could hardly hold them back.  I think all real heroes need a weakness, or--as I've been using as an analogy-- a curveball, for us to see who they really are by how they best the situation or by what kind of a person they inevitably emerge as.  Here, he is conflicted because the happiness he wishes for his children can both be attained and threatened by their being together.  A kind of lose-lose situation, if you will, that pains him.  He isn't quite sure what to do with them, in short.  I hope this indecision and fear is fairly represented.

On the Bree-folk Company of Actors.  I did warn you guys about a quirky circumstance, didn't I? And so Estel… the actor.  With elven carrot ears.  This was a big gamble for me too… I thought it would take me too close to the humor genre (which I'm not clever enough to write :)), or confuse the kind of genre I was aiming for (which is actually more of a drama, with lighter moments).  But the group being a company of actors was the vehicle for a lot of things: first, it was a throwback to Legolas saying to Estel in the first scenes: "I wish you're an elf."  It was also a vehicle for Estel to begin to remember Arwen, and for Sari and Teresa to get together.

On the Style.  As always, I like to think that I do not put in events and parts that ultimately will have no use in the story.  The semi-mute boy, for instance, may have initially seemed as just an episode, but the key and the orcs' preoccupation with it was actually the vehicle that restored Estel to himself (after Legolas' injury).  This is also the case for the quiet Damien, who ultimately gives Estel back his sword.  This is also the case for Teresa, who was introduced and inevitably ended up with Sari.  What was that quote? If there's a gun in the first scene, it will go off in the third? I don't know, I forget.  I try to abide by it.

      Also in keeping with the planned trilogy, it's the second of a style whose range is gradually expanding outward.  The battle with "Exile" was with Legolas and himself.  "Escape" moves beyond the self towards battles with external but nearby objects— other people, our own duties, our friends.  After these victories, "Return" will be a battle against real evil with monumental consequences that affects the fate of the world.

      "Escape" is also my attempt towards returning to the style I adapted for my favorite piece, "Estel."  I wanted it to feel intimate, and distinctly away from big battles ion the rest of the world—indeed an escape.  It is a smaller world, a slower world.  I know it tended to lag, but I hope it wasn't too bad.  I really wanted it to feel like a distant, quiet setting.  It shares similar elements with "Estel," like a range of original characters, even the warm environment of a small country house.

To my reviewers.  As always, you guys, you are wonderful.  As I said before, when I began this fic I thought it would take me forever to finish it.  But your encouraging reviews press me forward.  I know as long as we help each other, I'll never get lost :) As always, I do hope that the quick posts did not make the quality suffer because I hate disappointing, and I always fervently try not to waste your valuable time.  I hope you found it okay, and will look out for "Return" as well :) I also apologize for not being able to reply right after my posts.  I usually acknowledge at the very end, as you may have noticed.  There's just a billion things to do beyond writing stories, and I figured you might be more pleased if I took the little time I had to continue the fic and post within reasonable time instead.  But I hope none of you take this delay to mean the reviews mean any less, because let me tell you, it is just pure encouragement and motivation when I get them :) As always, c&c's are forever welcome.  I've put in so much characters and questions in this fic that I'm wondering if I confused you all (because I've confused myself, haha).  Anyway, if things are less than satisfactory, editing and revising are always options, so fear not to say (in a polite way, of course, haha), if you find anything particularly strongly disagreeable, and if I find the inclination and the time, I will try to remedy the situation :)

THANKS and REPLIES

Tmelange: as for Estel not wanting to remember rather than the typical anxiety caused by amnesia, I made it out such that he plunged directly into this other life, as if subconsciously he was trying to evade something that would hurt him, like repressing some pain from the past.  I'm not a psych major, but at least I hope the reason is plausible :)

Dragonfly: one of my most suspicious readers, ;)… I hope you like Cecilia better now though! :)

Tychen: I'm glad you like my depuction of Haldir… I tried to be fair to the character, to develop it but not to stray, and I hope that work comes out

Angel of Imladris: no, I'm sorry, I've not come across that book at all.  And I thought I had a weird, one of a kind kind of mind, haha :) I'll give it a look

Wadeva: sorry to anser your ch. 7 and ch 10 questions just now!!! Eeps, I do have bad habits… yes, Estel is telling the truth about not remembering.  I suppose I was just thinking of how the will plays a part in it—about wanting to escape.  But he honestly forgot.  And the wound on Legolas' back was the same wound caused by his brother in Exile, and was explained to Haldir in Ch. 14

Grumpy: I'm glad you like Biggles; I work really hard to keep my OC's from being too invasive and to 'fit in' with Tolkien's world

Jenzy: oh my… I've never had anyone tell me such wonderful words… thank you for your kind words.  And I did rush with the installments :)

Port: haha, that is indeed 'the return of the king!' and yes, I'm afraid you must always hang from cliffs… but I do update soon, in all fairness, so as not to keep you hanging for too long ;)

Stoneage Woman: as sharp as ever.  Thank you for always taking the time, and what improvements you may have seen were definitely affected by your always helpful c&c's :)

Massive thanks to the ever-encouraging: Tmelange, Dragonfly, Tychen, Grumpy, Port, KitCloudkicker, HalandLeg4ever, Kandice, Elessar*Lover, the wonderful Platy, the luvable lulu bell, Frisha, pua lahi lahi, Silvertongue, Ainu Laire, Silvertoekee, Justeenh, Kanaylle, Konzen, Nerfenherder, Shinigami061, Balrogs Breath, Sodalite, Isadora, Joshua Nenya, Koriaena, Trustingfriendship, Elvendancer, Po-pla, Astievia, Musicstarlover, Wheee!!!, Joee1, Tammy, Jinnder, EnglishMystic, MJ Azilem, dd9736, fireball, Jenzy, Angel of Imladris, Wadeva, Stoneage Woman and Alice7.

MASSIVE THANKS to all who reviewed, and all those who took the time to read my little offering.  I hope you found it not-so-bad! 'til next time!!!