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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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- 43
- 44
Chapter 43 - Full Circle

“Terrwyn?” asked Feredir, watching her face wash to white.

“It is him,” she whispered, unable to find her voice. “It is the elf, the one from Helm’s Deep.”

Feredir looked back to the ellon as he approached. “Are you sure? It has been many years since--.”

“I would never forget him, Feredir. This is the elf from my childhood.” Terrwyn could not take her eyes from him. He was very tall with auburn hair, long and sleek. He had the same face, high cheekbones and almond eyes. One look and it was obvious he was an elf.

He approached the group and smiled warmly. Suddenly, Terrwyn was that six-year-old child gazing at him with such awe. If elves were made of magic, then he was celestial. Everything about him blazed like the brightest star in the night sky.

Antien walked up and put a hand around Feona’s waist. Feona smiled and seemed to blush slightly, though it was hard to tell with her dark skin. “Antien, I would like to introduce you to someone. This is Feredir, one of the Captain’s best.”

Feredir put his hand over his heart and bowed. Antien followed suit in a traditional elvish greeting. “Ah Feredir, I have heard a thing or two about you, one of our most frequent visitors. So what do you think? The place has really cleaned up has it not?”

Feredir looked around doubtfully. “A little too clean if you ask me. This used to be a place where we could come and not care about its decor.”

“Oh, and it is still that kind of place,” Antien smiled. “You are here early. The ruffians come later, after the dinner crowd has left. Then it is just as you remembered, though we do not put up with as much as the old owner did.” He laughed. “The occasional fight still breaks out and is usually settled fairly fast.” Antien’s sight turned to Terrwyn. “And who is this lovely lady?” She seemed quite surprised to see him as her mouth hung open. “Careful or you’ll catch a fly in your throat,” he laughed.

Terrwyn, still in shock, stepped forward and stood directly in front of the elf. “You said that exact same thing to me many years ago. I know you, but it seems you have not remembered who I am.”

Antien looked her in the eyes, studying every aspect of her face. Then he gasped as he realized who she was. “You . . . you are the child . . . from the Keep in Rohan. Yes . . . yes, I know you too.”

Feona seemed surprised by this and watched as the two slowly settled into acknowledgment. Feredir sensed that they needed to give these two some time alone. He held his arm out to Feona. “Come, tell me about the bar and Marsden.” He led her away to a different section of the tavern.

Antien realized they were staring at each other and looked away first. “Please, have a seat. I would very much like to know about you. I must admit, I have always wondered what happened to you and I hoped that you and your family were safe.”

A whirlwind of emotions hit Terrwyn like a ton of bricks. “Well, where do I start?” Terrwyn proceeded to tell him about her life after leaving Helm’s Deep. She started with her mother’s depression and living with another family, then the attack’s, her mother’s untimely death and Hathmund’s kidnapping. She went on about running away to Edoras and working in a stable, meeting Alric and being by his side when he passed. Reluctantly, she told him about her misfortune with Bregmund and hesitated as she told him she was responsible for his death. This was something she would always be ashamed of.

Terrwyn went on to tell him about Taldred and her escape, meeting Rosloch and coming to Gondor. She left nothing out and made sure to spend extra time explaining all the happiness she experienced so far, which brought her to Feredir. She explained her love for him and smiled every time she mentioned his name.

When she was done, Antien took her hand and leaned towards her. “I knew there was a woman prisoner here, but it is not my place to know details. Never in all my wildest dreams would I have thought that woman was you. I am so sorry that you have had to go through all these difficult times,” he said sadly. “I have not the gift of vision, but if I had, I would have been there for you and your family.”

Terrwyn did not know how to respond to this. “These things were supposed to happen, just like I was supposed to meet an elf singing a love song during one of the darkest days of mankind.” She smiled and looked down at their hands, Antien’s fingers intertwined with hers. “Do you have any idea of the influence you had on me? We met for only a brief time, but I have never forgotten you. I have kept you in my memory this whole time. Because of you, I have survived. I have always found a way.” Terrwyn paused and reached into a small pocket in the skirt of her dress. She pulled something out and handed it to Antien. He held his open hand out and watched as she placed a small wooden butterfly upon it.

“I remember carving this that day in the Keep. The war was over, but I waited to hear news from my loved one. We had not fought together since he was of higher rank than I was. I knew in my soul that he had lived through the night, but it was not to say that he was not injured.” Antien paused a moment and looked at Terrwyn.

“You mentioned him back then too, when you told me who the song was about,” Terrwyn added.

Antien laughed quietly and nodded. “You were a very intuitive child and you still are. Still, I was restless and worrying was never something I would tolerate for very long. I took a piece of birch from my pack, a broken branch from my homeland. I always kept a piece of Mirkwood with me back then. I began to think of everything I had experienced in my life, both good and bad. I thought of a butterfly and of all the changes it undergoes before it can truly live freely. I was reminiscing about my own life, but when I saw two small children playing in the broken breezeway, I knew I was not the only one. You were so little and I knew there was a whole life waiting for you outside of those broken walls.”

“I have kept this with me ever since you first gave it to me. I told it many secrets, made many wishes upon its wings. This little butterfly has seen me through many difficult times. In a sense, you were right there with me.” Terrwyn stopped as tears came to her eyes and a lump rose in her throat.

Antien placed the butterfly back into her hand and closed her fingers around it. “And we will still see you through.”

Tears ran down Terrwyn’s cheeks as she realized just how close the time was to leaving. “I will have to go to Rohan soon and stand punishment for my crimes. Things look bleak for me, but I will never give up without a fight. It is one of the most important things I have learned from the elves.”

Antien stood up and brought Terrwyn with him. Then he pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. He cradled her as she cried and sang the same song from her childhood, quietly in her ear. When she calmed, he pulled her away to look her in the eyes. “That cocoon has not yet opened, and when it does, you will be free. As I said, I am not a visionary, but I feel it in my soul. You will be alright and your life will be your own someday.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Feredir and Feona sat at the bar, he in his usual spot and she in hers. Feona picked up a rag and dried a mug. “Look at you. You are absolutely beaming, Feredir. So, you finally told her you love her then.”

Feredir looked down at his hands that rest on the bar top. “You were right, Feona. You saw something back then and you were right. I think I had always felt something for Terrwyn, even when I didn’t know it. She is special to me. I just wanted to say thank you for making me open my eyes.”

Feona continued to work, but smiled at his admission. “What we had was fun, but it was not forever. I hoped it would be enough, but you are not the type to settle for half. You know, I’ve spent many months wondering what I would do if I saw you again. I feared what I would feel, but seeing you with Terrwyn makes me realize that I made the right decision. I am happy for you, Feredir. You deserve this.”

Feredir caught her busy hand, forcing her to drop the rag. Then he brought it to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. “You will find someone too, Feona.”

She smiled and then laughed. “I do not doubt what you are saying, but for now I will enjoy having my fun.” She looked up to the upstairs balcony opposite of the bar. Her eyes smiled as she looked at someone there. Feredir turned around on his stool to see whom she was smiling at. His eyes grew wide with the sight of the golden ellon leaning against the railing. There he stood barefoot in a pair of loose fitting white pants and his shirt unbuttoned, muscled chest exposed. His hands grasped the railing as he leaned forward and looked down upon Feona and Feredir, that sickening smile upon his fair face.

Feredir turned back to Feona, daggers shooting from his angry eyes. “Orthorien, this is who you chose for a mate?”

Feona grew worried instantly. Had she known when she first met Orthorien that he was Feredir’s brother, she might not have pursued him, but they connected so fast and before she knew it, he was in her bed making love to her like a beast. And looking at him now, perfect body and sultry eyes, she knew that would not have made a difference even had she known of their relationship.

“Now Feredir, we did not know when we met that--.”

“Feona,” Feredir interrupted. “He will only hurt you. I know my brother and he will not tie himself down long to just one woman.”

Feona started to respond, but Feredir jumped down from his stool and marched across the barroom floor. Terrwyn, who was still talking to Antien, stopped mid-sentence as she watched him rush to the staircase. From where she was seated, she could not see the upstairs balcony and did not know what was happening. The half elf bound up the stairs two at a time until he reached his brother. Orthorien took a protective stance as soon as Feredir made for the stairs. He knew this would happen, especially knowing that Feredir felt so protective of the barmaid.

Feredir got right in his brother’s face. Neither elf backed down, faces stern and teeth clenched, fists tightening ready to defend themselves.

“I have put up with many things from you Orthorien, but here I draw the line. Leave Feona alone. She deserves better.” Feredir’s voice was low and predatory.

“She is a grown woman and is free to make her own choices, just as you have made yours,” Orthorien responded in the defense.

“I never did like watching the games you played with your little trysts. You tried to teach me your ways, but I would not . . . could not hop from bed to bed and still have a conscience. You have gone too far here. Feona has seen hard times, been through many challenges. She deserves to be treated like a queen, not just another quick fuck. I suggest you get your clothes on and leave this place right now . . . brother!”

Meanwhile, Terrwyn and Antien went over to the bar to speak with Feona. “What is happening?” Terrwyn asked in a whisper.

“I’m afraid Feredir just found out the hard way that his brother and I are . . .,” she stopped and smiled shyly.

Antien watched these two dominant males fight for supremacy with words. It was only a matter of time before that tension broke out into something physical. “This is not going to be good.” He turned back to the black haired vixen. “Do something, Feona.”

“If those two start to throw punches, she will not want to be anywhere near them,” Terrwyn suggested. “Maybe we should both go.” Feona nodded.

Orthorien narrowed his eyes as he glared at Feredir. How dare he tell him to leave. “I will do no such thing. Feona and I have a mutual understanding. No one will get hurt. This does not concern you.”

“Do you think just because we are not together anymore that I don’t care what happens to her? I am not like you, Orthorien. I care about the ones I have been with even after we have separated.” Feredir’s voice was becoming louder with every sentence.

“She did not get over you so easily. She still pines for you, Feredir. If you cared so much, then why did you leave her for this troublemaker,” Orthorien shot back.

Feredir reached out and shoved his brother’s shoulders, pushing him against the wall. “Do not speak of Terrwyn like that. You are just jealous that she did not fall for your charms.”

Orthorien laughed fiendishly. “Oh, but you do not know how close she was to falling. Had you not come into the room when you did--.” Orthorien could not finish that sentence as Feredir’s fist struck his jaw. That was all it took and the two powerful elves were throwing punches in the upstairs balcony.

Down below, the two women saw what was occurring and started yelling for them to stop. They ran as quickly as they could up the stairs, while Orthorien and Feredir’s fists were flying. Some landed on their target and other’s only found empty air as they dodged each other. Orthorien slammed Feredir against the wall with an alarming thud, but when he swung his balled up fist at him, Feredir ducked out of the way.

Antien watched how quickly everything was getting out of control. Some of the diners left while others found better seats to view the fight. The chestnut haired elf knew that it was too late to talk them out of their fury and decided to take more extreme measures. After all, this was his place of business and he would not tolerate this kind of violence any more, least of all from elves. Quickly, he went behind the bar to retrieve something.

“Feredir, Orthorien stop this childish behavior,” Terrwyn yelled.

“It is not worth it,” Feona shouted above the grunts and groans of the dueling brothers.

They tried many times to get the elves attention without getting too close and becoming a target for flying fists.

Just when it seemed these two would kill each other before they would stop fighting, Antien yelled from below. “That is enough. This is a respectable establishment and I will not allow this kind of behavior.” His voice was loud and booming as it echoed throughout the bar. “Stop fighting now, or I will take measures into my own hands.”

The brothers stopped long enough to look down and see Antien standing on top of the bar holding his bow fitted with an arrow and aimed directly at them. “I have been an archer longer than both of your ages put together and I will not miss my mark. It will be a trip to the healing house for the next one that attempts another blow. Now, stand down soldiers and stop acting like such fools in front of these beautiful women.” Antien kept his arrow trained on the elves as they stood eyeing each other, chests heaving and fists still balled up. “I said stand down,” Antien yelled once more. From the corner of his eye, he saw someone next to him move. He did not need to look to know who it was for he felt his presence.

“Long has it been since I have seen you in such a state, hervenn and I must say I am enjoying it very much,” said a smooth sultry voice.

Antien smiled while keeping his keen eye steadied on the elves above. “Just doing my job as the new owner. And I must say, it helps having the Captain of the Guard as a husband. You have taught me much.”

Glandur, who never showed affection for Antien in public, smiled and touched his husband’s booted ankle. “And I may just let you teach me a thing or two later.”

When it seemed the brothers were done, Terrwyn ran to Feredir and stood next to him. Feona stood were she was, unsure what to do. While the brothers were this close to each other, she would not throw fuel on the fire by going to Orthorien.

“What do you think you are doing?” Terrwyn said accusingly. She looked at Feredir’s hands, noticing small cut marks on his knuckles. His eye was swelling rapidly and there were a couple cuts on his cheek. “This is your brother, for Eru’s sake. This is no way to treat each other.”

“You do not understand, Terrwyn. For years he has done nothing but--.”

That was the last straw as Terrwyn interrupted. “For years you have had a brother. For years, you have not had to worry about him. For years you have known he is safe,” she yelled. “My brother is gone, stripped from my life to leave me always wondering whether he is alive or dead. Your brother is here. He is flesh and bone. All I have is a memory and I’ll tell you, if my brother were here right now, the last thing I would do is start a fight with him. I would be telling him how thankful I was to have him in my life, how I wished nothing but the best for him, how I would support him in any decision even if I did not agree. I am sick of this . . . SICK I tell you.”

Feredir snapped back to the present, feeling like a fool for all of this. He took a step toward Terrwyn, but she shoved him away. “It is not me you should apologize to. Now, I am going downstairs and by the time you two come down, you had better have straightened this mess out.”

“I agree with Terrwyn,” Feona added with her exotic accent. “And if you have any thoughts of fighting again, don’t forget . . .” She stopped and pointed down to Antien, still aiming his bow at them.

Both women went downstairs and Terrwyn smiled as she saw Glandur there. “It is so nice to see you again Captain,” she called as if nothing were wrong. Then to Antien she added. “Thank you for your help.”

“You have Glandur to thank for that. He has taught me much about keeping peace and order,” Antien answered, now jumping down from the bar and standing next to Glandur.

“Oh, did you serve under the Captain?” she asked innocently.

Antien chuckled at her question and was dying to give some naughty answer, but Glandur shot him a look that said it would be his last time to ‘serve’ the Captain if he said anything of the kind. “No, my dear Terrwyn, though we have battled together before. Glandur is my mate.” He smiled and seemed to blush slightly.

Suddenly it all made sense as Terrwyn contemplated it. “Oh, so this is the elf you sang about in Helm’s Deep. What a small world it really is, but now that I know, I am not that surprised.”

Glandur whispered in Antien’s ear. “So you were singing about me were you?”

Antien turned to him and subtlety nudged the Captain, not wanting to draw too much unwanted attention. “I am always singing of you, if not with my words then with my heart.”

Terrwyn and Feona sighed when they heard Antien’s response. Every girl wanted to hear something this romantic from their lover, but theirs were too busy behaving like brutes.

Feredir and Orthorien made their way down the stairs by now and joined the other’s at the bar. “We apologize for our roguish behavior,” Feredir said.

“Rest assured it will not happen again,” Orthorien added.

Feona went behind the bar and pulled out two bottles of their finest wine. “Let’s forget about all of this and start over.” She uncorked the bottle, handed everyone a glass and started pouring. They all took a seat at a big table, Feona bringing the wine over along with a loaf of bread, and started a new conversation.

Things finally settled down when they were joined by two more familiar faces. Legolas and his wife Rhavaniel strolled into the bar, arm in arm and exchanging loving glances at one another. Behind them came Master Curuven and Limil. The two couples joined the others at the table and the bartender with the short brown hair hurried over with four more glasses and another bottle of wine. He bowed to the Lord and Lady of Ithilien then went back behind the bar.

Legolas took a long hard look at Feredir and Orthorien. Orthorien kept wiggling his jaw and touching his fingers to his forehead where a large lump began to form. Feredir’s left eye had almost swollen shut and was beginning to turn a dark shade of blue. Feona noticed and waved to the bartender.

“Bring two towels and some water,” she told him.

Legolas stared. “So what did we miss?” he said nonchalantly. The others laughed or shook their heads while Feredir and Orthorien moaned.

“They are brothers,” Antien informed him.

“Say no more,” Legolas replied.

The bartender brought the towels and water and sat it between the brothers. They each picked up a towel and started to dip it into the bowl when Curuven stopped them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. “Stir this in first. It will help the swelling.”

Limil laughed. “Always the healer.”

The evening went on most pleasantly. Everyone told tales of love and war. At one point, Terrwyn was overwhelmed by the company that surrounded her. In her midst was a prince and a princess, a master healer and his multitalented wife, the head of the Ithilien guard and his mate, the elf that started it all, Antien. A tear escaped the corner of her eye and Feona couldn’t help but notice.

“What is wrong?” Feona asked putting her hand over Terrwyn’s.

“I will miss you all so much. I am not sure what will happen to me or if I will ever return to Ithilien and that makes this such a special moment to have you all here.”

“We will not stop helping just because you leave us,” Legolas admitted. “As you know, plans are in motion and until this is over, you will never leave our thoughts or laments. We will do everything possible to exonerate you and see you free. We know the truth, Terrwyn and we will be there for you.”

Everyone raised their glass and held it out in front of them. “Here, here,” they all exclaimed in agreement with their lord, the Prince.

Rhavaniel got up from her chair and plopped down onto Legolas’ lap, kissing his cheek. “I love you so much,” she whispered. They smiled at each other and gazed longingly, forgetting about their present company.

Antien watched, remembering all the difficult times he had seen the Lord and Lady go through. It made his heart sing to see them like this now and he smiled.

Glandur laid a hand on Antien’s thigh beneath the table. “You were right about them. You were always right. Le melin,” he finished in a whisper so that only Antien could hear. He felt more comfortable being himself while surrounded by friends and did not worry what anyone thought.

With the ambience of love passing around the table, Terrwyn snuggled up against Feredir. He wrapped his arm around her. “I am sorry, Naru.”

“It is alright. Let’s forget about it. Our time together is precious. Let us not waist another moment,” she answered.

Feona reached out and laid her hand on Orthorien’s forearm. He smiled at her, but then turned to Feredir, knowing this was what started their argument in the first place. Feredir looked at her hand on his brother’s arm, then to her face. She looked happy and he knew Feona would not do anything she did not think she could handle. She could protect herself.

He smiled at the dark vixen, then looked at Orthorien and gave an approving nod. It was enough to convey the message and Orthorien relaxed, wrapping his arm around Feona and allowing her to cuddle up to him.

The evening ended on a contented note with a table full of lovers, some new and some after many hardships, but for this one moment, all were enraptured by the magic of an invisible love spell. All was right. All was how it should be if only for this one moment.
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Journey Of A Butterfly