The morning in Rivendell dawned with breathtaking beauty. Escanor awoke early, as was his custom, and found himself in a room bathed in golden light filtering through translucent silk curtains. The air smelled of flowers and fresh water, and somewhere nearby, birds sang melodies that seemed almost conscious.
He got up, dressed in his simple clothes (the elves had washed and repaired his garments overnight, a gesture of hospitality he appreciated), and went out onto his bedroom balcony.
The view was spectacular. I could see waterfalls cascading in the distance, lush gardens stretching out like green tapestries, and elves moving gracefully along the paths like dancers on a perfect stage.
It was a place of absolute peace, so different from the battlefields and dangerous roads he had traveled.
And yet, even here, he could sense the shadows at the edge. The darkness growing in Mordor, the threat looming over all of Middle-earth. Rivendell might be a refuge, but it was not immune to what was to come.
—Good morning, Escanor.
He turned to see Gandalf standing in the doorway of his room, leaning on his staff, smoking his pipe with a thoughtful expression.
—Good morning, Gandalf. I hope you slept well.
"As I haven't done in months," the wizard admitted. "Rivendell has that effect. But I didn't come here to discuss my sleeping habits. Elrond wishes to see you, me, and Thorin in an hour. There are matters to discuss."
"The map," Escanor said.
"Among other things," Gandalf studied him with those ancient eyes. "But before that, I believe you have other plans for the morning, don't you ?"
Escanor felt a touch of heat rise to his cheeks, something he hadn't experienced in... well, he couldn't remember.
- As...?
"I'm old, not blind," Gandalf smiled. "And I saw the way you looked at each other last night. Arwen is special, Escanor. In more ways than you can imagine. Take care with her heart."
"I barely know her," Escanor protested. "We're just going for a walk in the gardens."
"That's how it begins," Gandalf said mysteriously. "A walk in the garden. A conversation under the stars. And then, before you know it, your heart is no longer entirely your own." His expression softened. "But that's not necessarily a bad thing. You've been alone ever since you came into this world, Escanor."
Perhaps it's time for that to change.
—And what about the quest? The quest for Erebor? I can't... get distracted.
"The heart is not a distraction," Gandalf said firmly. "It is what makes us fight. It is what gives us reason to shine against the darkness. Never apologize for feeling, Escanor. It is what makes you more than just a weapon."
With those words, the magician withdrew, leaving Escanor alone with his thoughts.
The Gardens of Rivendell, Half an Hour Later
Escanor found Arwen waiting for him near a fountain bubbling with crystal-clear water. She wore a pale green robe that made her gray eyes gleam like silver, and her dark hair was braided with small white flowers. She was, quite simply, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
"Good morning," she said, smiling as she saw him approaching. "I was afraid you had changed your mind."
"Never," Escanor replied. "I only had one conversation with Gandalf. He's... perceptive."
"That's a gentle way of putting it," Arwen laughed, her voice like wind chimes. "My father says Gandalf sees too much and says too little. A maddening combination."
—But effective.
—But effective —she agreed—. Come. I want to show you my favorite places.
They began walking, following stone paths that wound through exquisitely maintained gardens. Arwen pointed out different flowers, explaining their names in Sindarin (the Elvish language) and sharing stories about each one.
"This is elanor," he said, gently touching a golden flower. "It grows only in certain blessed places. It is said to bring hope to those who hold it."
" Does he?" Escanor asked, studying the delicate flower.
"Not literally," Arwen smiled. "But beauty can be its own form of hope, I think. A reminder that even in dark times, beautiful things can exist."
—That's... profound.
"I've had plenty of time to think about such things," she said, walking again. "When you live as long as we elves do, you learn to find meaning in small things. A flower, a sunrise, a conversation with someone interesting."
" Am I interesting?" Escanor asked with genuine curiosity.
"Fascinating," Arwen corrected him. "You're a man without a past but with purpose. A warrior with the power of the stars but the humility of a sage. A living paradox." She looked at him sideways. "Yes, Escanor. You're very interesting."
They came to a hidden clearing where an ancient tree stood, its branches outstretched like protective arms. Beneath it was a stone bench, worn smooth by centuries of use but still solid.
"This is my favorite spot in all of Rivendell," Arwen said, sitting down on the bench and gesturing for Escanor to join her. "I come here when I need to think. Or when I want to be alone with my thoughts."
"Then I am honored that you share it with me," Escanor said, sitting down next to her, careful to maintain a respectful distance.
"I rarely share it with anyone," Arwen admitted. "But with you... it feels right. Like this place wants you here too."
They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the rustling of the leaves and the distant sound of the water. It wasn't an awkward silence, but a peaceful one, the kind of silence that can only exist between two people who feel comfortable with each other.
"Can I ask you something personal ?" Arwen finally said.
-Anything.
—When you woke up with no memories... didn't you feel panic? Fear? Waking up in a strange world, not knowing who you were or where you came from...
"At first," Escanor admitted. "But then I realized something. Without memories of the past, I was free to choose who I would be. I wasn't bound by mistakes I couldn't remember, or by the expectations of people I'd forgotten. It was… liberating, in a way."
—But also lonely.
"Yes," his voice softened. "Lonely too. Especially at night, when everyone else is asleep and you're awake with only your thoughts. No comforting memories, no familiar faces to remember."
Just... emptiness.
Arwen looked at him with eyes full of compassion.
"I can't imagine that. We elves remember everything. Every moment of our long lives, perfectly preserved in our memory. Sometimes it's a blessing. Sometimes... it's a burden."
—How can perfect memory be a burden?
"Because it means you never forget the pain," Arwen said softly. "You never forget the losses. My mother sailed to the Undying Lands years ago, leaving us behind. Every day, I remember her departure vividly. The pain doesn't fade with time as it does for mortals. It remains, as sharp as the day it happened."
Escanor reached out, without really thinking about it, and took her hand. She didn't pull away.
"I'm sorry," he said simply. "That must be... unbearable sometimes."
"You learn to live with it," Arwen said, squeezing his hand. "But it's part of why your situation fascinates me so much. You live without the burden of the past. Every day is new, untainted by centuries of memory. It must be... refreshing."
"Sometimes," Escanor agreed. "And sometimes I wish I could remember. I wish I knew who I was before, what I loved, whom I loved. Because I feel... echoes. Like ghosts of feelings I can no longer name."
" Do you think you ever loved anyone?" Arwen asked , her voice barely a whisper. "In your forgotten life?"
Escanor considered the question carefully.
"Yes," she finally said. "I don't know why, but I feel that way. Deeply. And I think… I think it wasn't reciprocated. There's a sadness at the edge of those absent memories. A longing for something I could never have."
"That's... sad," Arwen said. "But also beautiful, in a way. To love without expecting anything in return."
To love purely for the sake of love itself.
"Perhaps." Escanor looked at her, studying her perfect profile as she gazed up at the trees. "And you, Arwen? Have you ever loved?"
She hesitated, then slowly shook her head.
"Not in the way I think you're asking. I've loved my family, my friends. But romantic love... no. Elves don't give their hearts away easily. We live so long that we must be sure, because an elven heart, once given, can rarely be taken back."
—It sounds lonely.
"It is," she admitted. "But it's also safe. You can't get hurt if you don't allow yourself to feel too deeply."
"That's no way to live," Escanor said gently. "You might have security, but you also miss out on... everything else. Joy, connection, the feeling that you're not alone in the world."
Arwen turned to look at him fully, her eyes searching for his.
—Is that why you agreed to come here today? Because you don't want to be alone?
"Partly," Escanor admitted. "But also because when I looked at you last night, I felt something I hadn't felt since I came into this world. A feeling of... possibility. That maybe there could be more to my life than just battles and endless quests."
" And what else could there be?" Arwen whispered, leaning slightly closer.
"This," Escanor said, his voice equally low. "Conversations in beautiful gardens. Sharing thoughts with someone who truly listens. The possibility that maybe, just maybe, I don't have to be alone forever."
The space between them had shrunk to almost nothing. Escanor could see every shade of gray in her eyes, could feel the warmth of her breath, could smell the soft scent of flowers in her hair.
"Escanor," Arwen said, her voice trembling slightly. "We barely know each other. We only met last night. And yet..."
—And yet it feels as if I've known your soul for eons— Escanor finished. —I know. I feel it too.
" What do we do about this?" she asked. "What do we do about this... feeling?"
"I don't know," Escanor admitted. "But I'd like to find out. If you want."
Arwen closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them again, there was resolve in them.
"My father says some encounters are destined. That certain souls are bound together by the Valar themselves, connected across time and space." She smiled, though there was nervousness in it. "I never believed in such things. I thought they were just romantic tales for bards. But now…"
- Now?
—Now I wonder if maybe, just maybe, there's some truth to those stories—she finished in a low voice.
They stared at each other for a long moment, the weight of the moment settling upon them. Escanor felt his heart beat faster in his chest, a reminder that despite his power, despite his strength, he was still human. He could still feel. He could still…
The sound of someone clearing their throat made them jump. They turned to see Lindir standing at the edge of the clearing, looking terribly uncomfortable.
"My apologies for the interruption," said the elf. "But Lord Elrond has requested Escanor's presence. The council is about to begin."
"Of course," Escanor said, rising, though part of him longed to stay in this garden with Arwen forever. "Thank you, Lindir."
Arwen also stood up, smoothing her robes.
—I suppose our walk is over for now.
"For now," Escanor agreed. "But perhaps... we could continue this later?"
"I would like that," Arwen smiled, and there was promise in that smile. "Tonight, perhaps. After your advice. There is a place where the stars are brighter than anywhere else in Rivendell. I would like to show it to you."
"I will be waiting with interest," said Escanor, bowing formally.
As he left with Lindir, he couldn't resist glancing back once. Arwen was still standing beneath the ancient tree, watching him depart, and on her face was an expression that made Escanor's heart sing.
This , he thought, this is what I've been looking for without knowing I was looking for it.
This is what it means to be alive.
The Hall of Fire, One Hour Later
The hall where Elrond had called the council was circular, with pillars carved with Elven runes and a crackling fire in the center. Present were Gandalf, Thorin, Balin, and several of Elrond's advisors. And of course, Elrond himself, seated on a high chair that might have been a throne had the elf been so arrogant.
Escanor entered, bowing respectfully.
—Lord Elrond. I apologize for any delay.
"No apologies are necessary," Elrond said, though there was an amused glint in his eyes that suggested he knew exactly where Escanor had been. "Please, sit down. We have much to discuss."
Thorin had unfolded a map on the central table, yellowed with age but still legible. It showed the Lonely Mountain and the surrounding lands in intricate detail.
"This map has been in my family for generations," said Thorin. "It belonged to my grandfather, Thrór."
But there are runes here, lunar script, which I cannot read. Gandalf suggested that you might be able to help.
Elrond studied the map carefully, his fingers tracing the lines as he murmured in Sindarin. Then he nodded.
—Lunar writings, indeed. They can only be read by the light of a moon in the same phase and season as when they were written. Fortunately… —he pointed to a window where the full moon shone— those conditions are met tonight.
He took the map to the window, holding it up to the moonlight. And there, on the surface of the parchment, appeared words that had not been visible before.
—"Stand by the grey stone when the thrush strikes" —Elrond read— "and the last light of Durin's sun shall shine upon the keyhole."
" Keyhole?" Fili leaned forward. "Is there a secret door?"
"A hidden door," Balin said in amazement. "All these years, and we never knew..."
"It's on the west side of the mountain," Thorin said, drawing a map. "Here. One way in without waking Smaug."
"In theory," Gandalf said cautiously. "But the message is cryptic. What is Durin's sun? And when exactly does it strike the thrush?"
"There is only one day a year when the sun sets in a certain way on that side of the mountain," said Elrond. "Durin's Day. The first day of the last month of autumn."
"That's... in a month," Thorin calculated. "We have to get there before then, or we'll have to wait another whole year."
"One month," Dwalin frowned. "That's possible, but we'll have to move quickly. And avoid all delays."
"Not all delays can be avoided," Gandalf warned. "The road to Erebor passes close to Dol Guldur. The darkness grows there. I have felt its presence increasing for years."
" Dol Guldur?" Escanor spoke for the first time. "I've heard that name. A fortress in Mirkwood, isn't it?"
"A fortress infested with an ancient evil," Elrond said gravely. "Something dwells there, something powerful and malevolent. We mages suspect it is more than just a minor necromancer."
" Suspicions?" Thorin looked impatient. "Gandalf, with all due respect, your suspicions are not my immediate problem. Smaug is my problem. Retaking Erebor is my problem."
"Your problem," Elrond said firmly, "could become the problem of all Middle-earth if Smaug were to expand his territory. Or if the evil in Dol Guldur were to use him as a weapon."
" A dragon as a weapon?" Escanor frowned. "How?"
"Dragons are intelligent, greedy, and powerful," Gandalf explained. "If someone could promise Smaug more treasure, more lands to ravage… he might be persuaded to serve a darker master."
Silence fell over the council chamber as everyone considered the implications.
"Then we must move quickly," Thorin said finally. "Get to Erebor, enter through the secret door, and control Smaug before this darkness can use him."
" Handle?" Elrond raised an eyebrow. "Thorin Oakenshield, you are brave, but Smaug is a dragon. Not a beast to be 'handled' like a wayward pony."
"That's why we have Escanor," Balin said, smiling. "Someone who can match a dragon."
All eyes turned to Escanor. He remained calm under their scrutiny.
"I can fight Smaug," he said carefully. "And I might even win. But don't underestimate dragons. They are ancient, cunning, and tremendously powerful. Even with my skills, it will be the toughest battle of my life."
" But is it possible?" Thorin pressed . "Can you defeat him?"
Escanor looked him straight in the eyes.
"I can. But it could cost me everything. And I need you to understand that, Thorin. If I face Smaug at full power, I might not survive. Or I might survive, but be so exhausted that it would take me years to fully recover."
—We accept that risk— Thorin began.
"No," Escanor interrupted firmly. "YOU accept that risk. But it's MY life at stake. And before I fully commit it, I need to know it's worth it. That this quest is about more than just gold and pride."
Thorin stiffened, his expression hardening.
—Are you questioning my honor?
"I question your perspective," Escanor said, unyielding. "Gandalf warned me about the dragon sickness. About how gold can corrupt even the noblest hearts. I need to know, Thorin Oakenshield, that when you reclaim Erebor, you will remember why you are fighting. For your people. For their home. Not for treasure."
The silence that followed was tense. Balin looked worried. Gandalf watched with inscrutable eyes. Elrond seemed to approve.
Thorin rose slowly, walking around the table until he stood before Escanor. For a moment, it seemed as if he could strike the greater warrior. Then, surprisingly, he extended his hand.
"You're right," he said, his voice hoarse. "My grandfather lost sight of what mattered. He let gold consume him. And I've feared becoming like him every day since we began this quest." He squeezed Escanor's hand when he took it. "I promise you, on the honor of my bloodline, that if we reclaim Erebor, it will be for my people. Gold is merely a means to rebuild our kingdom. Nothing more."
Escanor studied her face, searching for any sign of falsehood. He found none. Only raw sincerity and determination.
"Then you have my word as well," Escanor said. "I will fight Smaug. And I will do everything in my power to ensure that we all survive."
"Well said, both of you," Elrond said, rising. "This alliance between dwarf and... whatever you are, Escanor... might be exactly what Middle-earth needs in the dark times to come."
" What do you mean?" Escanor asked.
Elrond hesitated, exchanging glances with Gandalf. The wizard nodded slightly.
"Escanor," Elrond said carefully. "I have lived for three thousand years. I have seen the rise and fall of kingdoms, I have known countless heroes and villains. And in all those years, I have never felt a power like yours. It does not belong to this land. It does not play by its rules."
—What are you saying?
"I am saying," Elrond approached, "that I believe you were brought here for a reason. Not by accident, not by chance. For a purpose. The Valar themselves, or perhaps something even greater, placed you in Middle-earth at this precise time because you are needed."
—For the search?
"For something far greater," Gandalf said softly. "The quest is only the beginning, Escanor. Smaug is only the first dragon you will face. For if my suspicions are correct, if the evil in Dol Guldur is what I believe it to be… then a far greater darkness is awakening. And when it does, we will need every light available to stand against it."
Escanor felt a shiver run down his spine. Not from fear, but from recognition. As if Gandalf's words confirmed something he had felt since he came into this world.
" Who?" he asked. "Who do you think is in Dol Guldur?"
Gandalf and Elrond exchanged another glance. Then Gandalf spoke , his voice barely a whisper:
—Sauron. The Dark Lord. We thought he was destroyed centuries ago, but I believe he was merely…sleeping. Gathering strength. And soon he will awaken, and when he does, all of Middle-earth will burn with war.
Absolute silence fell over the council.
"Then," Escanor said finally, his voice calm but full of determination, "we had better retake Erebor quickly. Because if there is going to be a war, the dwarves will need their home. And Middle-earth will need every ally it can get."
Thorin nodded slowly, new understanding lighting up his eyes.
—It's not just about us, is it? It never was.
"No," Elrond confirmed. "Your quest, this seemingly small adventure, could be the first piece in a much larger game. One that will decide the fate of all free peoples."
"Then let's not fail," Escanor said simply.
And in those three simple words, everyone in the chamber felt the weight of purpose. This wasn't just about reclaiming a mountain. It was about preparing for a war that was coming.
It was about choosing to stand up for the light, no matter the cost.
It was about heroes rising up when they were needed most.
And Escanor, the Lion of the Sun, the man without a past but with unwavering purpose, was ready to be one of those heroes.
Regardless of the cost.
To be continued...