Five days after the troll incident, the Company found themselves ascending increasingly treacherous mountain paths. The land had grown rocky and rugged, with precipices plunging into dark valleys and winds that threatened to tear riders from their ponies.
Escanor walked effortlessly, his stride as sure in the heights as it had been on the plains. More than once he had had to grab a slipping pony or help a stumbling dwarf, his strength making such rescues seem effortless.
"I think I hate you a little," Bombur gasped after Escanor had lifted him with one hand when the heavier dwarf had slipped dangerously close to the edge. "No one should make mountain climbing look so easy."
"Practice," Escanor said humorously. "And maybe a little supernatural advantage."
" A little?" Kili laughed. "Friend, you could carry our entire company up the mountain and you wouldn't even break a sweat."
"I haven't tried it," Escanor admitted. "But yes, probably."
Thorin, riding in front, stopped suddenly. He raised his hand in a signal for silence, and all the members of the company froze.
" What is it?" whispered Bilbo.
"Listen," Dwalin murmured.
At first, Escanor heard nothing. Then, gradually, he realized what had alerted Thorin: the sound of hooves. Many hooves. Approaching quickly.
—Riders— said Gandalf, his voice tense. —Many. Moving at speed.
—Orcs ? —Fili drew his sword.
"No," Escanor's eyes narrowed as he looked down the road ahead. "These riders are too coordinated. Too disciplined."
A moment later, they appeared around a bend: a dozen riders clad in silver and green elven armor, mounted on snow-white horses. They moved with otherworldly grace, their bows already drawn with arrows.
"Elves," Dwalin grumbled in disgust.
The leader of the riders raised his hand, and the company halted twenty meters away. He was tall even for an elf, with dark hair tied in a war braid and grey eyes that seemed to see right through the soul. His gaze swept over the company before settling on Gandalf.
—Mithrandir —he said, his voice like water flowing over stones—. It has been a long time.
"Lindir," Gandalf bowed his head. "It's good to see you too. These are..."
"I know who you are," the elf interrupted. "Thorin Oakenshield and his company. Lord Elrond has been expecting you." His gaze shifted to Escanor, and his eyes widened slightly. "And this is… unexpected."
"This is Escanor," said Gandalf. "A warrior who has joined our cause."
Lindir studied Escanor with an intensity that bordered on rudeness. He dismounted and approached slowly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword but without drawing it.
"There's something strange about you," he said directly. "Your presence... is like standing near a fire I can't see. Warm, bright, but also... different. Not elven, not human, not of this world."
"You were the second person to say that," Escanor replied calmly. "And I still don't have any better answers than the ones I gave the first time. I'm Escanor, nothing more."
"Nothing more," Lindir repeated skeptically. "The Eldar have keen senses, warrior. And my senses tell me you are much more than 'nothing more'."
"Then your senses are correct," Escanor said. "But the answers you seek are not mine to give, because I myself do not know them."
Lindir watched him for another moment, then nodded slowly.
"Lord Elrond will want to meet you. He sees more than most." He turned to his horse. "Come. Rivendell is near, and night is coming. We don't want to be in these mountains after dark."
" Why not?" Bilbo asked nervously.
"Because," said another elven rider, "orcs hunt in the dark."
As if her words had been an invocation, a howl pierced the air. Not the howl of an ordinary wolf, but something deeper, more malevolent. The sound made the ponies rear up and the dwarves grip their weapons.
"Wargs," Thorin cursed. "Damn them."
" Ride!" shouted Lindir. "To Rivendell, now!"
The company erupted into chaotic movement. Elves rode ahead and behind, forming a protective escort. Dwarves urged their ponies on as far as they dared along the treacherous road. And Escanor...
Escanor ran.
Not at the steady trot she'd maintained for days, but at full speed. She moved like lightning, overtaking the elves, traversing the path so quickly she was almost a blur. Rhitta clung tightly to her back, swaying with every stride.
" By Eru!" exclaimed one of the elves. "He moves like the wind itself!"
Behind them, the howls grew louder. Escanor risked a glance behind him and saw what he feared: wargs, monstrous beasts the size of horses with eyes that glowed with red malice, pursuing the company. And riding them were orcs, their faces twisted in grimaces of savage glee.
" There are too many of them!" cried Fili. "They'll catch us before we reach Rivendell!"
Escanor made a decision. He stopped abruptly, turning to face his pursuers while the rest of the company continued onward.
" Escanor!" Bilbo shouted . "What are you doing?"
" Buying time!" he shouted back. "Keep going! I'll catch up!"
" You're crazy!" Thorin began to spin his pony.
" Go!" Gandalf commanded , his eyes shining with understanding. "Trust him!"
Thorin hesitated, then grunted and pressed on. The company disappeared around a bend, leaving Escanor alone on the road as the warg pack drew closer.
He unwound Rhitta from his back, the heavy axe settling in his hands like an extension of his own body. The wargs were approaching now, perhaps twenty of them, their orc riders howling challenges and blasphemies.
Escanor closed his eyes, reached deep within himself, and let Sunshine flow.
When she opened her eyes, they shone with pure golden light. Her body began to radiate heat, the air around her rippling. The very stone path beneath her feet began to emit steam as the moisture evaporated.
The nearest wargs stopped abruptly, their animal instincts screaming danger. But the orcs urged them onward, too stupid or too bloodthirsty to recognize the threat they faced.
"Big mistake," Escanor muttered.
And then it moved.
The first warg didn't even know what struck him. Rhitta swept him away in an arc of golden fire, and the beast simply evaporated, reduced to ashes that scattered in the wind. Its rider fell, shrieking, only to be trampled by the wargs behind him.
Escanor moved like a war god incarnate. Each blow from Rhitta eliminated two or three enemies at once. The orcs tried to shoot him with arrows, but they burst into flames before reaching him, consumed by the heat radiating from his body.
A particularly large warg leaped at him, its jaws opening to tear out his throat. Escanor simply reached out and caught it in midair. The warg shrieked as Escanor's grip seared its fur, then fell silent as Escanor's power incinerated it completely.
In less than two minutes, twenty wargs and their riders had been reduced to smoldering ashes.
Escanor stood amidst the destruction, breathing lightly, his body still glowing with power. He glanced back at the path they had come from, making sure there were no more pursuers. Satisfied that they had all been eliminated, he let his power recede.
—Time to catch up with them—he said to no one in particular.
And he started running again, this time following the path the company had taken.
Rivendell
The company had reached the entrance to the valley when Lindir raised his hand, stopping them.
" Where is your warrior?" he asked, his voice tense. "Why did he stay behind?"
"To give us time to escape," Gandalf replied. "And if I know Escanor, to make sure none of those wargs follow us."
" Alone?" Lindir looked horrified. "There were at least twenty of them. No one can..."
"Escanor can," Bilbo interrupted confidently. "I've seen him fight. Trust me, those wargs are the ones who should be worried."
As if to prove his point, Escanor appeared around the bend, running at a steady pace, not even looking tired. There wasn't a blemish on him, not a single battle scar.
Lindir stared at him, speechless.
—The wargs...?
"They took care of them," Escanor said simply. "They won't continue."
" How many... how many were there?" another elf asked in a strangled voice.
"Twenty wargs, maybe twenty-five orcs," Escanor shrugged. "I stopped counting after the tenth."
The elves exchanged incredulous glances. Even Thorin looked impressed, and that was saying something.
"So it's true," Lindir murmured. "The stories about the Lion of the Sun. I thought they were exaggerated, but if so..."
"They're underestimated," Dwalin finished with a smile. "Escanor is something special, that's for sure."
"Then Lord Elrond will definitely want to meet him," Lindir said. "Come. The valley awaits you."
They began their descent into Rivendell, and even the dwarves, who generally distrusted the elves, could not help but marvel at what they saw.
The valley was... impossible. Beautiful beyond words. Waterfalls cascaded from impossible heights, their water sparkling like liquid diamonds in the setting sun. Elven buildings of white stone and silver wood rose among ancient trees, their designs so organic they seemed to have grown there rather than been built. And everywhere, the sound of music: harps and flutes and elven voices singing songs that made the heart ache with beauty.
"It's beautiful," whispered Bilbo in amazement.
"It's breathtaking," Escanor agreed, his eyes scanning the valley. "Like a dream come true."
—Rivendell —said Gandalf fondly—. Imladris, in the Elvish tongue. The last welcoming home east of the sea.
I've spent many happy nights here.
They crossed an arched bridge that spanned a singing river, and on the other side a figure awaited them that made even Escanor stop.
He was an elf, clearly, but unlike any elf Escanor had ever seen. His presence was...
Ancient . Powerful. Wise beyond measure. Her dark hair fell over shoulders draped in robes that shimmered with soft light, and her gray eyes held the depth of untold centuries.
This was clearly someone of great importance.
"Gandalf, old friend," said the elf, his voice rich and warm. "Welcome once more to Rivendell. And welcome also to you, Thorin Oakenshield and company. It has been a long time since dwarves honored my house with their presence."
Thorin dismounted, his expression carefully neutral.
—Lord Elrond. Your hospitality is appreciated.
—As is my custom, I offer it—Elrond inclined his head graciously. His eyes scanned the company, pausing briefly on each dwarf, lingering on Bilbo, and then…
And then they looked at Escanor, and they broadened their horizons.
"You," Elrond said, advancing until he stood directly in front of Escanor. "You are... extraordinary."
"That's what I've been told," Escanor replied politely. "I am Escanor. It is an honor to meet you, Lord Elrond."
"The honor is mine." Elrond extended his hand, and when Escanor took it, the elf shuddered slightly. "Your power... is like touching the sun itself. Warm, bright, and utterly unlike anything I have known in my three thousand years of life."
"You seem... less surprised than most," Escanor observed.
"I have lived a long time and seen many wonders," Elrond said. "But you, Escanor… you are something new. Something not of this world, and yet here you are." He smiled. "Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating."
"Lord Elrond," Gandalf interrupted. "We have much to discuss. Thorin's map, the dragon, and yes, Escanor too."
"Of course," Elrond turned to the company. "But first, you must be exhausted and hungry. My house is your house. Come, let us refresh ourselves, and tonight we will celebrate your arrival. Tomorrow will be soon enough for serious business."
As the company was led toward the main houses of Rivendell, Escanor felt something strange. A tingling at the back of his neck, as if someone were watching him. He turned, his eyes scanning the open balconies and passageways.
Over there.
On a high balcony, half-hidden by billowing curtains, stood a female figure. Even from a distance, I could see she was breathtakingly beautiful, with dark hair cascading like midnight over white-clad shoulders.
Their eyes met, and Escanor felt... something. A shiver, perhaps. A recognition that made no sense. As if his soul recognized hers, even though his mind didn't recall ever having met her.
She inclined her head slightly, a gesture that could have been curiosity or greeting, and then disappeared inside, the curtains falling closed behind her.
" Escanor?" Bilbo's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Are you coming?"
"Yes," Escanor said, shaking his head. "Yes, I'm going."
But as she followed the company inside, she couldn't shake the feeling that something important had just happened. Something that would change everything.
I just didn't know what yet.
That night
The feast Elrond prepared for the company was magnificent. Tables were laden with fresh fruit, warm bread, roast meats, fine wines, and more desserts than Bilbo had ever seen. The elves played beautiful music, and the very air seemed to sing with joy.
The dwarves, though initially wary, gradually relaxed under Elrond's genuine hospitality. Even Thorin, while maintaining his royal dignity, conversed cordially with his host.
Escanor sat near the edge of the celebration, content to observe rather than participate. He had eaten moderately, drunk less, and spent most of the evening simply absorbing the atmosphere of Rivendell.
—You're not very social, are you?
The voice startled him. He turned to find an elf standing beside him, and his breath caught in his throat.
It was the woman on the balcony. Seen up close, she was even more beautiful than she had appeared from a distance. Her dark hair framed a face of perfect beauty, her gray eyes shone with intelligence and warmth, and there was a grace in every movement that spoke of centuries of life.
"I..." Escanor began, then stopped, annoyed with himself for hesitating. He, who had faced dragons (well, was about to) and defeated orcs without batting an eye, was stammering in front of a beautiful woman. "Sorry. I simply prefer to observe sometimes."
She smiled, and the gesture lit up the entire area.
"Don't apologize. I prefer observing to participating, most of the time, too." She sat down next to him uninvited, though somehow it didn't feel intrusive. "I'm Arwen. Arwen Undómiel. Daughter of Elrond."
"Escanor," he answered. Just... Escanor.
"I've heard of you," Arwen said. "The Lion of the Sun. The warrior who shines brighter than the day. Stories precede you."
—The stories exaggerate.
" Really?" His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Lindir told me you defeated twenty wargs and their riders in minutes. Alone. Without taking a scratch."
"That's... relatively accurate," Escanor admitted.
"So the stories aren't exaggerated at all," Arwen said, studying him with undisguised curiosity. "There's something different about you. I can feel it. Like my father, but different. Not elven, not... from here."
"So it seems." Escanor gazed up at the starry sky. "I don't know where I came from, Lady Arwen. I remember nothing before I awoke in the Shire a little over a year ago. I only know my name and that I have... unusual abilities."
"Amnesia," Arwen said thoughtfully. "How tragic. And yet, you carry yourself with such dignity, such purpose. As if even without memories, you know exactly who you are."
"I believe," Escanor said slowly, "that we are not our memories. We are our choices. And I choose to be someone who protects others. Who faces the darkness. Who lives with pride, but without arrogance."
Arwen looked at him for a long moment, her eyes searching for his.
"Those are wise words. And I think you truly live them, you don't just say them." She smiled again.
I like you, Escanor. Just Escanor. You're... refreshing. Honest in a way that few are.
—Thank you, Lady Arwen. That's... very kind of you.
They sat together in friendly silence, watching the celebration. Bilbo was being entertained by a group of young elves who found his story of how he met Escanor absolutely fascinating. The dwarves were having a drinking contest with some of the more adventurous elves (and losing, much to their dismay). Gandalf was talking quietly with Elrond, clearly discussing serious matters.
" Can I ask you something?" Arwen finally said.
-Of course.
"When you arrived today, you saw me on the balcony. And for a moment... I felt something. Like recognition. As if my soul knew yours, even though we just met." He looked at her intently. "Did you feel the same?"
Escanor hesitated, then nodded slowly.
—Yes. I can't explain it. It was like... like an echo of something I should remember but can't.
"Curious," Arwen frowned thoughtfully. "The Eldar sometimes experience such things when they meet souls with whom they are destined to intertwine. But never with someone who is not from Arda, from Middle-earth."
"Perhaps," Escanor said, "it's just a coincidence. Or perhaps my mind is inventing connections because..." He paused, unsure how to continue.
" Why?" Arwen prompted gently.
"Because when I looked at you," Escanor admitted, "I felt something I haven't felt since I came into this world. A feeling of... possibility. That maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't always be alone."
Arwen remained very still, her eyes widening slightly. Then, slowly, her hand moved to cover his on the table between them. Her touch was warm, soft, and somehow felt... right.
"Then perhaps," she said softly, "we should explore that possibility. Not tonight, not hastily. But during your time here in Rivendell... perhaps we could get to know each other. Understand each other. See what this connection is that we both feel."
Escanor looked at his clasped hands, then at his face, and saw something there that made his heart, which had been asleep for so long, begin to awaken.
"I would like that," he said honestly. "I would like that very much."
Arwen smiled, and it was like the sun rising after a long night.
—Very well. Then tomorrow, when my father, Gandalf, and the dwarves are discussing maps and strategies, would you join me for a walk in the gardens? There are places in Rivendell that few people see, and I'd like to show them to you.
—It would be an honor, Lady Arwen.
"Only Arwen," she gently corrected him. "If you're going to be just Escanor, then I'll be just Arwen."
—Then I'll be waiting with interest, Arwen.
They parted soon after, Arwen being summoned by her father, Escanor returning to where Bilbo was looking for him. But as she prepared to sleep that night in the comfortable room that had been assigned to her, Escanor couldn't help but touch her hand where hers had rested.
Something had changed. Something important.
And for the first time since arriving in Middle-earth, Escanor allowed himself to consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, he could find something more than purpose here.
Maybe I could find love.
The thought should have frightened him. Instead, it filled him with something that could only be described as hope.
Arwen , he thought as darkness claimed him. What a beautiful name.
And he dreamed, for the first time in a long time, not of battles or darkness, but of sun-drenched gardens and gray eyes that shone with warmth