Butterfly- Chrysalis

The trek down the stairs did not go unnoticed by those below. Rosa’s brother, Feller saw them coming and gave a warning. He had accompanied his sister to Imladris at the behest of Perin, who was training him for his business.

All quieted down as the party from above crossed the road to the tents. As Haldir led her under the shelter, a
cheer went up from those assembled. They were led to a table that faced the guests. Situated at the end of the tent,
it left plenty of room at the other end for dancing. A long table had been set up and was already laden with food.
Another held wine and great kegs of ale. Now that the guests of honour had arrived, food and drink began
disappearing.

“Rather noisy for someone who shuns crowds.” Haldir turned at the words, laughing at Rúmil. He lost sight of Ela.

“I have to endure this only one time. Then we hie back to the sanctuary of Lórien. I can deal with it for now.”
Though said lightly, Rúmil knew that his brother would only be at ease when back home. He was not made for a
flamboyant lifestyle.

“Do you really expect things to be quiet? Your wife has a penchant for trouble. Have you considered that?”

Haldir noticed a hint of difficulty when Rúmil mentioned the word “wife”. Perhaps the game had not been played
quite as lightly on one’s part. An instant of regret passed his face, not for what he had done, but rather that he had
done it to his own brother.

“Think not on it,” replied Rúmil. “It was not meant to be. I have know that for years. It does not make me care
for her any less. Just mind that it makes you care for her more. You have been given a wonderful gift; do not take it for
granted.”

“How would that be possible, with you here to remind me?” Haldir allowed a bit of irritation to colour his words.
He suddenly smiled, trying to take the sting from his words. He knew Rúmil’s feelings ran in a much different direction
that did Ela’s. It was enough the she had chosen him. “I apologize. Too much wine at dinner, and to much excitement.
Forgive me?”

Rúmil knew better than to make more of the apology than was needed. He gave a quick grin, to show there were
no ill feelings.

Both were grinning like sodden hobbits when Ela found them together.

“Am I to spend this evening alone?” she asked. Taking an arm from each brother, she led them away from the
wine.

“Now, I believe that the music is due to begin. Who shall I dance with first? I will let you two decide.” She turned
and faced them both. “Come. Who will it be?” Her teasing carried no further than the three of them.

“Well, it is your wedding night, brother. It is only right that you claim the first dance. I will wait for the third. I am
sure I can find some winsome wench to soothe my sorrow.” Smiling, Rúmil backed off, pleading thirst. He spied their
other brother and his wife and went to bother them for a spell.

“Ah, alone at last,” she said, pointedly ignoring the sea of bodies around them. As the first tunings of the
instruments sounded, she took Haldir’s hand. “Will you dance with me?” she asked.

“It would be an honour. Provided that my toes are to be spared,” he replied.

“I promise that your toes are safe. But,” she added, “only until you teach our daughter to dance. Then, I fear you
must suffer through it again.”

“I believe that will be a pain I will bear willingly. Now, my lady,” he raised her hand to his lips, “I believe this dance
is ours.”

Whisking her out to the centre of the open space, he stood, her hand clasped in his and his other hand lightly on
her hip. As the strains of music began, they stepped in time, whirling around, oblivious to all around them. Even when
the music stopped, they seemed reluctant to end it.

Taking his one chance, Elrond stepped forward and danced the next round, while Haldir partnered Elestra. They
were joined by other couples and soon the area was crowded. By the time the sun had begun its daily journey into
night, all were showing the effects of wine, food and song.

The last few dances were completed together, Ela and Haldir refusing any other partners. The food had
disappeared hours ago, and the wine and ale were almost gone. Only laughter and merriment seemed in abundance.
There were quiet couples clinging to the last of the evening. As midnight crept and then passed them all, people
started drifting away. Most returned to homes in the valley or town. Visitors left for the inn or to the house upon the
hill. Haldir had seen his younger brother and his wife steal away up the stairs, leaving Elldar to see to Aniron, who was
staying with Ela’s cousin Cabal and his family.

Ela made the rounds of those still present, thanking them for coming and wishing them goodnight. When she
came to Rosa, she gave her a hug and kiss.

“I am so very happy you came. It would not be the same without you.”

“Well, you did attend my wedding, I figured I could do no less.” Rosa gathered up a small handbag. With it was a
wrapped package. “You know, it is a custom in the Shire to give gifts. I brought this for you. Perin found it on one of
his trips. He knew right away it was for you. My father wanted to come, but he claimed age kept him home. And, he
misses Letty so. He sent along something, too.” She handed the wrapped gift to Ela.

Opening it, Ela gasped. It was a history book. And Indrel history book. The outside was covered with interlocking
designs. The dark green was little faded, and the date placed it before her mother’s people fled their own lands.

“Where did he find this?” She was so overwhelmed.

“I suspect he went to them and paid dearly for it. He would not tell me. Only said it was worth it, all the joy you
have given me over the years.” Rosa was weeping, the tears rolling down her plump cheeks. “And this,” she said,
handing over the small bag, “is from my father. He would not tell me where he got it, either. The men in my family are
not easy to pry secrets out of, let me tell you.”

The bag contained a small gold ring on a chain. Too small for an adult, it could only fit a child. There was also a
beautiful white shell, still containing grains of sand. Finally, a dark blue enamelled butterfly was revealed. Ela looked
up questioningly.

“He said, the butterfly was to remember me, and to always remember that you are as free as you let yourself be.
He had your brothers go to the shore where they found you and get a shell. It is to remember being found. And the
ring, he claims you left at our house. Neither Elrohir or Elladan remember a necklace, so it could be it was in a pocket.
Anyway, he wanted you to have these things.”

“Oh, thank you, Rosa!” Ela threw her arms around the smaller woman. “You will never know how much your
friendship and family have meant to me.”

“It goes both ways. I feel like the distance was never more than a couple of miles between us. You have been a
wonderful friend.”

Haldir waited until they were standing apart again, then approached.

“Ela, it is getting late. I think people are waiting for us to leave, so that they may go.” He smiled, letting her know
he did not want to rush her. “Rosa, will you walk back to the house with us?” His invitation caught her off guard.

“Yes, if it is all right. I would love to. Let me say goodnight to Feller. He is staying in the guard house.” She ran
off to do so.

“Thank you,” said Ela. “That means much to her.”

“Did you bid Dorga good night?” He changed the subject, embarrassed.

“There is no use. He passed out hours ago. The swill we drink he can down by the bottle. Give him honest liquor and he slides under the table every time.”

She glanced over to the corner where the subject of their conversation lay on a table, snoring enough for ten men.

Rosa joined them and they walked back to the house together, comfortable in the silence of friends. They walked
slowly to accommodate her shorter steps. By the time they reached the terrace, Rosa was breathing hard and sat for a
moment.

“Go on,” she said when they tried to sit beside her. “You have more important things to do besides sit with me.
Go.” She pushed Ela from the bench.

Laughing, Haldir and Ela left her there. She was right, they had other things to do.

Once in the house, Haldir led Ela up the stairs. She followed willingly. Hand-in-hand they walked up the grand
staircase leading to the private rooms. At her door, Ela waited for him to open it, preceding him into the room. She
stopped in astonishment. Her small bed was gone. In its place stood a sturdy bed with four great posts. Hanging from
the upper frame were lengths of gossamer film, held back on each side by silken ties.

Ela approached the bed gingerly. She found a silk gown laid out. A noise behind her broke the spell.

She turned, startled by his closeness. Ela stood still as Haldir reached to caress her neck. His hand fell to the
neckline of her dress where a button lay.

“I remember well another dress, in another time,” he said, throatily. “I also recall some difficulty fastening the
dress.”

“I beseeched Lindelen to place the buttons in the front. I, too, remember a dress. This one will not prove as
difficult.”

“Ah, very foresighted of you.” His fingers deftly slipped the small pearl from its prison. Another followed.

Soon, the last button was free. Gently holding the heavy dress for her as she stepped out of it, he laid it over the
back of a chair. She stood in her under dress, a radiant white silk gown. He reached out and turned her around,
catching the pins and combs from her hair. It fell in a cascade to her waist. Unbraiding it, he undid the plaits that had
taken Seldala so long to put up, running his fingers through the strands until they were smooth. Pulling the hair aside,
his lips brushed her ear.

“I will return in a few minutes,” he whispered, nuzzling her neck. His withdrawal was a shock, and as she turned,
he was gone.

Knowing what to expect, after all Seldala was quite competent, she shed the gown and chemise. Slipping on the
nightgown, she smoothed it down, feeling as if she had nothing on. Turning back the covers, the odour of lavender
delighted her. It was soothing and calmed her beating heart.

Finished, with nothing else to do, Ela picked up her comb and walked to the large window. Sliding out onto the
terrace outside her room, she combed her hair and watched the full moon rise over the mountains. She absently
braided the tresses, tying them with a bit of leather.

Gazing down the valley, she was reminded of the day she had arrived in this fair land. Never would she have
dreamed that one day she would be standing here, waiting for her husband to come and claim her as his own. If not
the way her parents had described it, this was still a magical moment.

Ah, what a vision, Haldir thought to himself as he watched her looking over the valley. What had possessed him to
balk so when she had made her desires clear? He had waited far too long for someone to stir his heart in such a
manner, and then, he had ignored what had stood in front of him. Only Elrond’s admonishment to go slowly and be
gentle kept him from rushing forward and embracing her. She was so young, for a moment he knew fear: what if things
were not as she expected? This was no campaign to destroy an enemy, nor a scouting foray into enemy territory. He
was entering a world he had little control over, and it bothered him.

A rustle at the window curtains caused her to turn. There, in the moonlight stood her heart’s desire. From the
time she was a child, she had known who she had wanted. She had out-waited her age of majority. She had
out-waited his doubts. Ela knew he loved her, but she sensed the hesitation in him.

“Is something wrong?” she asked him.

There were no words. He had spoken to his younger brother, gaining reassurances that when the time came,
things would happen as they should. Gently smiling at Haldir’s fears of hurting Ela, he quietly reminded his eldest
brother of a fall down a steep hill, a vicious attack survived, several incidences where the girl had shown she could
defend herself. No, Ela was not as fragile as Haldir feared.

At any rate, the time had come, and things were too far gone to worry about them now. He reached her in a
stride, pushing a stray hair back from her face. He kissed her tenderly, only to be reminded of a heated moment on the
mountain, and an angry kiss when he had referred to her as a girl. Her insistent return of his kiss fuelled the stirrings
only now noticed.

“Do you fear?” He had to ask, all the words of advice gone.

“Only that the morning sun will catch us yet standing here.” The glowing heat of her eyes belied the light teasing
of her words.

He picked up her slight form, carrying her to the bed. Laying her down, he took a moment to remove his dressing
gown. Sliding beneath the silken sheets, he stirred up the scent of lavender. He waited as Ela settled herself beneath
the light comforter. Reaching for her, he found she was already there, waiting for him.

He kissed her lightly. At a sputtering noise, he drew back.

“The hair,” she said. “I think it would work better tied back, like mine. Otherwise, I may choke on it.” The small
laugh in her voice caused him to chuckle. He complied, then turned back to her.

After some fumbling, on both their parts, Ela drew back a bit.

“Do we know what we are doing?” Her teasing hid something just beneath the surface. “I mean, I know what to
do, but….” She was at a loss for words.

“I am assured that nature would tell us what to do.” His words were not as unsure as were hers, but there was a
hint of uncertainty.

“Well, I suppose if nature knows, then we really should listen.” He could hear the smile in her voice.

Gently rolling until he lay over her, he paused. Finding his bearings, he pushed tentatively in the direction nature
whispered in his ear. He felt, rather than heard a slight gasp. Backing off, he was seized and pulled back forward.
Inching ahead, he paused when he felt a resistance.

“Glordinel said that this would hurt; but is necessary. Are you ready?” His concern touched her.

“What does Glordinel know? He is a man.”

Haldir pushed in, again feeling the slight resistance. Tensing up, he met the barrier, breeching it in one powerful
thrust. He was momentarily deafened, a result of the feelings he was experiencing, and did not hear the sharp cry of
pain.

Halting, he glanced down at Ela.

“Well, it seems he knows more than he should!” was her exclamation.

All words were lost at that point, as the pain subsided and Haldir found himself lost in Ela. Nature did indeed
speak to them, urging them on to the culmination of their efforts. Both spent, drenched in sweat, they fell asleep, the
long day and their exertions catching up with them.