Epilogue

Croft Manor

Two Weeks Later

Lara rolled over, her eyes fluttering open lazily. She groaned, rubbing a hand across her face. She felt heavy and oily, and knew she had slept too late. It was a wonder Hilary hadn't come up, barging in and ripping her curtains open and telling her it was high time she got her ass moving. She reached a hand over, but it fell against an empty spot in the sheet. Her eyes shot open then, her heart racing in her chest. She sat bolt upright, the silken sheets tumbling down around her arcing breasts and pooling at her stomach. Her hair fell about her in a chestnut cascade, tangled and sticking up slightly on the right side. She looked at the empty place next to her, the pillow still squashed after a night of sweat and whispers and dreamless sleep. The disappointment that broiled in her gut was something she wasn't used to, and it caught her off guard. For a moment she felt indignant and heated, but she let it pass. She sighed, drawing her still-bruised knees up to her chest. Afternoon sunlight tried desperately to glimmer through the heavy gauze window drapes that adorned the many windows of her elegant and simple bedroom.

"I thought he'd at least stay for breakfast or something," she muttered to herself, and threw off the covers, bounding into her closet. She smiled in spite of herself, positive that after what they had shared, he would indeed be back.

"Ah! Good morning Lara!" Hilary piped cheerfully as he saw her meandering down the colossal stairs of the main atrium. "You look positively radiant this morning!"

"I know why," Bryce chuckled from the table. He was gorging himself on a gigantic bowl of Frutty Pops, a milk moustache forming on his upper lip.

"Piss off Bryce. You're just jealous because you can't get any." She ruffled his hair to annoy him, and placed a gentle kiss on Hilary's cheek.

"Now what in the world was that for?" he asked, his cheeks turning rosy.

"For all you've done, all you do, and all you will do," Lara replied with a genuine smile. "For being my friend." Hilary smiled back, motioning to the library.

"He left something for you. Told me not to touch it." Lara's eyes lit up.

"Did he say where he was going? If he'd be back?"

"Sorry love. He just left. He looked a little preoccupied. Maybe something came up? You know he's on call 24/7." Lara nodded as if this explained everything and made her feel better all at the same time. It did neither, so she made her way to the library.

The familiar smell was still there. She was afraid she had been gone so long it would disappear. Her books were all still neatly stuffed together, her little trinkets and treasures adorning every possible space. And on her desk was a blue box. The color of his eyes, she thought to herself. She took it in her hands, noticing the weight. She took off the lid, pushing aside the tissue paper inside. Her heart was immediately in her throat, and tears brimmed though she tried to force them down. A smile full of sadness and passion graced her lovely mouth as she pulled out three ancient, hand-carved wooden prayer wheels. The very ones Alex had absconded with all those years ago, high in the mountains of Tibet. She ran a hand over them, feeling their smooth surface. She traced the scared lettering with her fingers, a tear slipping down her cheek now in spite of herself. A small piece of folded paper slipped out from underneath one of them, falling to the desk. She picked it up and read it, her heart nearly bursting.

Lara,

I never sold them, you know. I didn't have the heart. They were too beautiful. Too valuable to the mind and the heart. I never told you because I knew you wouldn't believe me anyway. Now that things are... different, I wanted you to have them back. You found them, they belong to you. Although I already know you plan to return them to the monastery, where the brothers will watch over them and preserve them for centuries to come. It is your love for adventure that makes you the best, but it is your compassion for man and your love for the unknown that makes you great. And for these reasons I can no longer be your enemy. Trust me when I say that after all we have been through together, I now walk a new path. One that I hope will lead us to each other some day.

It was beautiful. You know what I mean. You were beautiful. All of you. I wish I could have stayed, wish I could have one of those simple lives and lead it with you. But we both know that we were meant for something far more... unstable. I got a call early this morning from a friend of mine who knows your buddy in L.A., Wolfe. His name is Jones. Great kid, if a little on the green side. He comes from a long line of archeologists, and he's just been put in charge of an incredible project in the Amazon. He wouldn't go into details, but he wants me on the team. I still have to make a living you know, even after the settlements from the Mason project. He and Wolfe want you down there too, and I told them you made your own schedule, but that I'd put in a good word for them. So there... A good word. Heh. Anyways, I was wondering if you'd join us in the Amazon in three week's time, and bring the boys. They'll want to be in on this, from what little I know already. And I want... no, need to see you again, soon. I'll call you. Wolfe says to tell you you owe him a night in the city.

Alex

Lara smirked, thinking to herself what could possibly be of any interest in the Amazon that she hadn't already pillaged for herself. She turned at a voice clearing itself in the doorway behind her. She turned, and there was Nicholas Howard, donned in a bathrobe and ratty slippers, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand. He looked ruddy and fatter and healthy, and it made Lara happy to think his respite at Croft Manor had done him so much good. He had barely made it, and it was touch and go for a few days. But he finally pulled out of it, asking immediately for a shot of bourbon and a cigarette.

"Morning," he said cheerfully, tipping his glass to her.

"And good morning to you. You look even better than yesterday, Nick."

"It's all this high-quality booze that's fixing me up," he smiled. "Alex left early this morning."

"Yeah, I know," she replied, gazing lovingly at the prayer wheels.

"What the hell are those?" he asked, pointing to the wheels on the table.

"The end of an age, Nick. And the beginning of something new. Tell me, do you feel up to a trip to South America?" Nick stared at her, and a smirk twitched at the corners of his handsome lips.

"Hell yeah! I've been stuck in this museum for far too long. Plus, if Bryce and you are going, you can bet I'm along for the ride. Three's company, right?"

"No Nick, three's a crowd. But crowds get you better air fare, so pack your bags." Nick raised his glass.

"To your very good health." He tossed the whiskey back, a glint in his eye. "This oughta be really interesting."

"Indeed it shall, Mr. Howard. Indeed it shall. But then, it's like I said. The start of something new," she replied, winking at him mischievously. "Now quit drinking all my booze and let's get this bitch rolling."

The End.

For the King of Gondor...

The White City awaits your return...