Chapter 02

Butterfly


It was spring, and it meant Erestor was free of his captain duties. He thanked Elrond for giving him a week off of work, leaving the strain of training the young recruits to Erynlith's father. With a smile across his lips, Erestor strode along the corridor of the main house, eyeing the hardbound book Celebrían had lent him. He was determined to get the book finished by mid-afternoon tomorrow, as long as no trouble ensued.

He opened the doors to the library, only to find a certain elfling standing on top of a wooden stool, reaching out for something.

Erynlith gave a little jump and the stool wobbled underneath her frail legs.

"Eryn, watch out!" The dark-haired captain went in like a whirlwind and caught the elfling, embraced her tightly against his chest, as dozens of books fell from their confinements in the bookshelves and hitting Erestor's back, sending some jolts of pain.

When the books were all on the ground, the elfling wriggled in his arms and chirped, "So amazing, Ewestow!"

"What are you doing out here alone, penneth?" Erestor sighed as he settled the girl on the table, his arms around her so she would not fall.

"Butterfwy!"

His brows furrowed; him unable to comprehend the three-year-old child's vocabulary. "...What?"

Erynlith puffed her cheeks and pointed at something behind him. "Butterfwy, Ewestow!"

Humouring the child, the captain looked behind him. A butterfly was perched gingerly on the corner of the bookshelf; its dark blue wings reminded Erestor of sapphires. He stared at the insect for a while, and felt the small girl on the table squirming out of his grasp, determined to get a hold of the butterfly.

Erestor gave her a stern command of "Stay here", before striding across the library and capturing the butterfly, the dark blue wings captured between his fingertips. Then, he returned to the table and presented it to Erynlith.

Grey eyes widened with a childlike curiosity at the sight of the thing. Erynlith touched it with the tip of her finger and murmured to the captain, "Butterfwy, Ewestow?"

"Yes, butterfly, Eryn."


Rivendell was more alive during the spring. Erestor watched from his porch how the snow thawed and the verdant plants sprouted from the fields. The birds were back on the tree beside his chambers, singing and twittering and basically filling Erestor's heart with delight and contentment. He had already finished the book after two night's worth of reading. It was mid-afternoon when he decided to return the book and find another one to occupy his time.

When he opened the door, he found someone perched so unceremoniously on a stool.

As the captain approached, Erynlith jumped a little out of her sheer excitement. "Oh, Erestor!"

It was when the stool wobbled and she elbowed the bookshelf, sending dozens of books hurling away.

Erestor bound to his feet, catching the younger elf in his arms; but she was not the same elfling he was used to carrying around in his arms or on his shoulders. She was a grown elf now, a maiden even, and catching her in his arms was a bad idea. Erestor caught her, yes, but he himself stumbled down and fell on top of her, while the books rained behind him, sending some jolts of pain in his back.

He groaned and clutched his head, lifting himself on both arms while Erynlith only gave him an astonished look.

"You're so amazing, Brother! So very strong, too!"

Still groaning at this young elf's recklessness, Erestor pulled her onto her feet and glared. "What are you doing here, and on top of a stool as well?"

She only laughed at him. "Butterfly."

His brows furrowed. Even in Erynlith's tender age of forty, Erestor was still unable to comprehend some of her vocabulary. "What are you talking about?"

Erynlith cupped his cheeks and gently turned him around. A butterfly with dark blue wings and brown spots was perched on one of the hardbound books.

With a scoff, Erestor approached the unsuspecting insect and captured it between his fingers before it had the chance to fly away. He went back towards the table, while the young elf was bouncing up and down in her enthusiasm.

Her grey eyes twinkled with amusement at the sight. "Butterfly, Erestor."

He allowed himself to smile. "Yes, Eryn, butterfly."


Author's Notes: Wee! Thank you all for reading and reviewing last chapter! As promised, here's the second chapter. I decided to make all the chapters like this: a comparison between then and now.

*Zip001 - Ooh, I've never heard of the movie (shame on me), but I'll try to watch it if I can. Thank you for the review! :)

*Lord Illyren - Children are indeed adorable when they mispronounce names of people and things. XD

*Neril - Thank you! Yes, oftentimes I read stories with Erestor being a witty counsellor. I like to imagine him as Elrond's captain before becoming counsellor. Glad you like this one-shot!

*Skylark - Hooray for little Eryn and grown-up Eryn! Big brother of the year award for Erestor as well!

*IceSnowQueen - Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it! :)

*Rarora - Big brother Erestor has fondness for the little one all right!