A Modest Suggestion

Weeks had passed. Esmerelda found that her suggestion had been adopted with a bit more zeal than she had expected. When it came down to it, the adjusted behavior of her pointed-eared hosts was making her downright uncomfortable, It was almost impossible to walk down a hallway without encountering an amorous couple in a secluded corner. The nights were embarrassingly loud with the sound of passion erupting from behind closed doors at all hours. More than once Esmerelda had found herself rushing to get away from the noise, her face blazing with mortification.

If this was not enough, Esmerelda was quite certain she was being stalked by Erestor. He appeared at unexpected times as if by magic and was becoming more and more difficult to put off.

The only bright spot in the entire unnerving mess had been the gratitude given to her by the much relieved female half of the population of Rivendell, even though Esmerelda found them embarrassingly frank.

A small group of them led by Celebrian approached her one day as she was hiding from Erestor. Esmerelda noted that the sadness they had worn over them like a veil was gone, replaced by a radiant sheen of hope.

"We're so grateful to you," Celebrian said while the others nodded in solemn agreement behind her. "You have no idea how frustrating the past few millenia have been."

"Er...it was nothing," Esmerelda said, clearing her throat and anxiously peering about for any sign of Erestor.

"But it was! We've decided to do something for you."

"Yes?" Esmerelda asked with trepidation, sincerely hoping that they were not intent on playing matchmaker so that she could share their happiness.

"Yes. We've erected a statue of you so that everyone will remember what you have done for our people."

"Oh!" Esmerelda said, touched and extremely relieved. "That's very kind of you."

"Come along and see it!"

Esmerelda had to admit it was a very sympathetic depiction of her, carrying a book and apparently holding forth, her thumb bent over her little finger and the middle three digits held up in the classical pose of the teacher. It had been carved with the loving attention to detail that immortals invested in everything they did.

"What do you think?" Celebrian asked as the other women beamed at her expectantly.

"It's...lovely," Esmerelda said sincerely. "Who sculpted it?"

"I did." Erestor came out of the crowd to stand beside her, smiling faintly.

"Yes. Well, good job," Esmerelda said stiffly. Something more seemed in order so she delicately patted his arm, noticing with rising panic that everyone else had mysteriously vanished.

"My lady, I need to speak to you," Erestor said urgently, reaching for her hand.

"Talk away," Esmerelda said with forced brightness as she hid her hands behind her back. "I'm just going for a walk."

"Why do you avoid me?" he asked sadly as she bolted up the pathway towards the relative safety of her room.

"I'm not avoiding you," she lied. "I'm just in a hurry every time I see you." That much was true. Esmerelda was always quick to avoid Erestor.

"What reason would you have to hurry in Rivendell?" he asked gently.

"My reasons are my own," she said tartly, picking up speed. Erestor paced her without expending any visible effort.

"You can't run away from me forever," he said, blocking her path.

"Watch me," Esmerelda told him grimly as she spun around and pelted up a different path. She rushed along without care for direction. Skidding around a corner, she came upon the statue she had seen the night of her arrival in Rivendell and ran straight into it. There was a feeling of falling, then of vertigo, then she knew no more.

When she awakened, Esmerelda found herself at the base of Mrs. Filion's blocky creation, once more in the foggy parking lot of South Central. Her students' papers were once again scattered on the ground. Groaning and rubbing her head, Esmerelda cursed Andrew Fortinbras, gathered her work and went home.