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Journey Of A Butterfly	By : Mel99Moe Category: -Fourth Age to Modern times and beyond > Het - Male/Female Views: 5714 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or places of Lord of the Rings/Tolkien. No money is being made. This is for personal enjoyment only.

Chapter List
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Chapter 28 - Cooks and Books

It had been a week or so since Terrwyn recovered and got back to helping Master Curuven. She and Feredir were on better terms now. Surprisingly, the elf was making an effort to be more than a guard, a friend even. She was glad for this, but still wanted more than friendship from him. He was still aloof at times, unreachable at others. Terrwyn had a hard time figuring him out. It was as if he was trying to hide something and she knew she hadn’t seen the real elf yet.

She found it entertaining the way Feredir avoided any conversation about what happened in her healing room. If there was one thing for sure, it was that he was very confident in the bedroom. She’d felt that as he kissed her, as he hardened against her, but he had stopped at a most inopportune time. Terrwyn tried to stay angry with him, but he was obviously upset with himself over the whole ordeal. Other women would have known his touches by now, she was sure. The way he made her come alive that night was enough to sway her to become his next affair, but he hadn’t wanted it that way. What did he want, she wondered. Maybe nothing. It was a unique situation. Terrwyn was a so-called prisoner, though she felt more like a protected guest. The elves had a strange idea about incarceration. Feredir was her guard. It was highly probable that this kind of behavior was frowned upon between the two, a conflict of interest. Whatever it was, Terrwyn would wait and let it play itself out. She would not become optimistic. It was very likely that Feredir saw all of this as a mistake and nothing would come of it. Besides, there were other things to worry about, one being that the winter was ending soon. Her time in Ithilien was likely to end in a month or so, depending on when the weather would cooperate. Her kinsmen would come for her before too long and take her back to Rohan, back to reality, back to possible death.

* * *

Captain Glandur called Feredir to his office for an early morning meeting. He had something urgent that needed careful attention and he chose Feredir to carry out his orders. “I have received word that our scouts are returning from Rohan. They have collected information that may or may not be useful to Terrwyn’s tribunal. I need someone fast and savvy to head out, meet them and return their message to the city. I don’t need to remind you how dangerous it is out near that area. The Great West Road is constantly watched.” Glandur came around from behind his desk and laid a hand on Feredir’s shoulder. “Prove to me that you can follow orders and I will reenlist you to your troops.”

Feredir’s eyes widened. “You will allow me to return to the border?” he asked apprehensively.

“You have proven yourself to me lately. You have taken care of your ward with very few mishaps. I am allowing you another chance, but I need you to hurry.” Glandur said. He grasped forearms with the young warrior and looked him square in the eyes. “There is no one I trust more or have more confidence in, Feredir.”

The dark haired elf took a step back and bowed to Glandur. “I will not disappoint you, Captain.”

“I hope not,” answered Glandur. “You may escort Terrwyn to Master Curuven and then be on your way.”

Terrwyn. He had not thought of her in all of this. Now he wondered who would look out for her while he was gone. “Um Captain, if you don’t mind my asking, what will happen to her while I am running this errand?”

Glandur looked at him curiously. Was that concern he heard in his tone? “I thought you might like a reprieve from your ward, a few days away from the prisoner and the city.”

Feredir straightened up and hardened his face. “Yes, of course, Captain. And I very much look forward to resuming my duties with my battalion.”

Glandur said nothing, observing Feredir. A small spark in his eyes told him he had developed personal feelings for Terrwyn. She was no longer just his charge and he had real concern for her welfare. “You needn’t worry for her. I have decided to have her stay with the Master Healer and his wife. I no longer feel she is a flight risk and I’m sure she is anxious to learn as much as possible with what little time she has left in Ithilien.” Glandur cocked an eyebrow questioningly at the handsome young elf. “She has become rather . . . special to you, has she not?”

“Permission to speak freely, Captain?” Feredir requested.

“Granted,” Glandur answered and gestured for Feredir to have a seat, which he did. The Captain perched himself on the corner of his large oak desk.

“I admit, we have developed a sort of closeness and I worry for her, worry for what will happen to her. I do not believe she deserves any of the things that have happened to her and I would do anything to prove her innocence. If there is something in this letter that will help exonerate Terrwyn, then I will gladly be the one to deliver it safely to your hands.” Feredir spoke in a voice that Glandur had never heard before. Gone was the over confident youth. He had grown during this time as a prison guard. The Captain felt a bit of relief for he had always doubted his original decision to take Feredir away from the border. Activity there had increased and this was his best soldier. Now he knew he made the right decision and Feredir would return confident, but more mature, ready to fight with a new purpose.

“You needn’t worry for her. She will be safe. You know that. And if there is anything in this new information from Rohan that will help her, I will let you know first,” Glandur said and smiled. “She has become special to all of us. The elves would not see an innocent person harmed, which is why we are doing what we can to collect as much information. We have to be careful though. The last thing we want is to hurt our relationship with our allies. “

“Understood, Captain,” Feredir answered respectfully. He dared to let the corners of his mouth upturn into a slight smile. “It will do my heart good to know she will be in a place of comfort with Master Curuven. The women’s barracks is not the most pleasant place, but she has been a trooper and not complained once. I just thank Eru for whoever has given her the small comforts she has.”

“Small comforts?” the tall golden Captain asked inquisitively.

“Fresh soaps and oils, feminine things to help make her more comfortable,” Feredir answered.

“Ah, I see.” Glandur looked over his shoulder to a small book on his desk, a book of poems . . . a gift from his lover and bond mate. It went missing for a while and magically appeared back on his desk one day. Antien, he thought to himself. He must have given Terrwyn the book to read. He must also be the one leaving these ‘small comforts’ in the girl’s barracks. Of course, he would do this. He had always been the caring type, which is why Glandur loved him. “Well, it is nice to know she is being watched over,” he said with a loving smile in his eyes. Then he cleared his personal thoughts to regain his military facade once again. “You had better be on your way then. Terrwyn will be waiting and you have a long journey ahead of you.”

“Good day, Captain,” Feredir said, respectfully bowing before he left.

* * *

“I have to leave for a few days,” Feredir informed Terrwyn as they walked along the path to Master Curuven’s home.

“Leave? But where are you going?” she asked. Not once since becoming her guard did Feredir have any errands to run. “Are you being sent back to the borders?”

“Not just yet. No, I have a mission I must complete for the Captain. That is all you need to know.” He was walking particularly fast and that made Terrwyn have to run to keep up with him.

She had become rather fond of having him around and did not want him to go. However, he had a job to do. She could not interfere with that and she couldn’t tell him that she would miss him while he was gone. Feredir had shown no sign of interest except that of friendship and far be it from her to mess that up. He was still a warrior and she had known deep down that he would go back to his former life. “Will you return? I mean, as my guard?”

Feredir slowed his steps to let her catch up. “I thought you didn’t like having me as your guard,” he teased, smiling.

“Well no, not at first, but . . . but I have grown rather accustomed to having you around. Besides, I do not think there is another guard that could handle having me as their charge,” she joked.

“There is no doubt, Naru,” he laughed. “You will be glad to know there will be no other guard to take my place. Master Curuven has allowed you to stay with him and Limil. They will take care of you and give you some well needed comforts.”

Terrwyn wanted badly to tell the alluring elf that he was all the comfort she needed, but that would not do. Instead, she smiled a tad disappointedly. “That is very generous of them and I look forward to it.”

Soon they were at Curuven’s home and office. The Master Healer had already been informed of the situation at hand and greeted Terrwyn with open arms. Limil was at his side and just as glad to see her. They invited Feredir in, but he refused saying he must be on his way. He looked to Terrwyn and took her hand. “Behave yourself, Naru. You have been given a unique opportunity.”

“I will,” she smiled up into his enchanting eyes. “I--.” Terrwyn stopped. She wanted to tell him she would miss him and would be hanging on the edge of her chair waiting for him to return, but she couldn’t. “Stay safe.”

Feredir smiled warmly and backed away, but his hand remained connected to hers until they we too far apart to touch and the tips of their fingers separated. He nodded, turned and ran off in the direction of the stables.

Curuven and Limil glanced at each other with a knowing look. Limil wrapped her arm around Terrwyn’s shoulders and turned her towards the open door. “Come dear, let me show you to your very own room. I do hope you will be comfortable here.” With that, they disappeared into the Master Healer’s office and up a flight of stairs.

The second floor was their home, had been for a good many years. There was a small gathering area at the top of the stairs with a couch, two large winged back chairs and a small fireplace. To the left was an open doorway that led to a great room, probably used for entertaining, she thought. Straight ahead was a hall. On the left, there looked to be two doors, presumably bedrooms or maybe a bathing room. To the right was another open doorway that led into a very large kitchen. Terrwyn was surprised at how much space it took up in their small second floor apartment. It was big enough that their dining area was situated inside the same room. There was also a work area in one corner, opposite of the dining table. She wondered how many conversations went on at this rustic simple wooden bench while vegetables were being prepared or meats cut up. It was obvious that this room was the real gathering place for close friends and possibly family. It had such charm and charisma. Terrwyn felt relief wash over her. She would be very happy to stay with Curuven and Limil.

Past the kitchen, down to the very end of the hall was small table holding a very beautiful vase. It had the most unique design on it, more like a picture than a design. There was a forest painted in dark green that blended into a bright flowery garden, which flowed into a harbor of some kind with a tall sailboat. Its sails billowed in an invisible wind. Seagulls circled above its tallest mast and the sun seemed to be touching the water in the background. Terrwyn thought it was very odd for a vase and that it should have been painted on canvas, like a story needing to be told.

“This is very old,” Limil said as she came up to stand beside Terrwyn.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before,” the young woman remarked.

“I don’t suppose you have or ever will. It is one of a kind. It is a fortune vase, painted by a seer. It is a token to Curuven and I. The soothsayer named it Past, Present and Future. It indicates where we were, where we are and where we will be.”

Terrwyn looked at it with amazement. “It is very eccentrically beautiful.”

Limil pointed to a door to the right. “This will be your room while you are here.” Then she gestured to the left. “This is my very special room. Come let me show it to you.”

Limil opened the door and inside was a small library. The walls were basically bookshelves from floor to ceiling and cram packed with books of all sizes and colors. Only one wall was not covered in books. It housed a tall window with an ornate wooden writing desk. The legs looked like tree trunks. The edges were carved to look like branches and leaves. The desktop had a beautiful vining design, carved into the wood and then filled with silver. It was very smooth for writing on, but the details were magnificent. At the back of the desk were slots and drawers, all carved with the same tree design, no sharp corners or abrupt stops. Everything about it was very flowing, just like anything elvish in nature, endless. The wood itself was white, white oak Terrwyn thought to herself. It was one of the hardest woods and would last for an eternity no doubt.

“This is my writing room. I have spent many hours here coming up with new stories, telling tales of the ancient beings and beasts. It is my second great love,” Limil blushed slightly, but hardly noticeable, “Curuven being my first.”

“He told me briefly of how you met,” Terrwyn said.

“Ah,” Limil laughed. “Berries and a great boar, the worst experience of the best day of my life. Yes, Curuven is rather proud to tell our story. Our life has been a great inspiration for many of my tales.”

“I did not know you were a writer. Were you a scribe? Was that your career?” Terrwyn asked. She was completely enthralled with Limil.

“Oh heavens no, I was a cook. I followed in my mother’s footsteps. She was a cook for some of the great legends of Valinor and when made the journey to Middle-earth with the other Noldor, she kept them alive with her skills. If it was edible, she knew how to prepare it. Food was very scarce during that time, but she knew what to look for and with the help of their hunters, she was able to keep their elvish bellies full enough to survive.”

Terrwyn gasped. “Your mother is one of the ancient Noldor from Valinor? Oh, what an honor it is to be in the presence of one so fair. In Rohan, these were merely tales and children stories. You’ll have to excuse me, but it is like hearing a fairy tale and finding out that the characters really existed.” Her eyes widened. “Then that must mean that you are very old too.”

Limil laughed aloud. “Oh my dear, well . . . old is not the word I would have used, but yes. I have been alive for many thousands of years.”

“You should be a queen,” Terrwyn said amazed.

“Oh good heavens, no. I would not wish that upon my worst enemy. No, I am quite happy being a Healers wife.” Limil went to a shelf and pulled down a very old book. It was bound in faded red leather and the pages were yellowed, but it was still in very good condition. “Here, read this in your spare time. It is the story of my mother and how she came to meet my father. I think you will find it very interesting.”

Terrwyn opened it up to the first few pages and was disappointed to see the ancient elvish runes. “Oh, I am sorry, but I cannot read elvish.”

Limil flipped to the center of the book. “Start here. It is written in the common language, another project of mine, translating all of my earlier works.”

Terrwyn smiled. “Thank you, Limil. I will take great care of it and look forward to reading.”

After that, Limil showed Terrwyn to her room. It was quaint and cozy. There was a soft bed, a dresser and mirror, wardrobe closet, and a basin and jug for washing up. There was also a window that looked out onto an herb garden down below. Terrwyn knew it well. She had collected herbs for Master Curuven, but hadn’t realized that the upstairs windows were part of their home. Now she understood the complete layout of this building and its small backyard. This was not only Curuven’s office and lab; it was also their home, probably the last place they would live until they sailed. It finally dawned on her just how lucky she was to be able to share in the lives of these two elves. For sure, they had seen many changes, wars and times of peace, the uprising of evil and its destruction. And all the while, they had each other. What a wondrous journey it must be for them so far.

Limil left Terrwyn to let her become accustomed to her temporary home. Terrwyn sat down on the edge of her bed and cracked open the ancient book, but instead of reading it, she observed the beauty of the elvish language. She swore to learn something of it. There was an underlying need to know what these runes meant, a kind of connection to anything elvish. This was something that was always prodding at the back of her mind. Why she had always felt this way, she did not know, but the thirst for knowledge was always there. Limil had allowed her access to an unlimited amount of information. If only she had longer to soak it all in and discover what it was that drew her to the elves.
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Journey Of A Butterfly