#Orophin/reader

[elfy-elf-imagines]

▹ Masterlist .ೃ࿐

☾ Prompt List | Askbox ☽

Legolas:

- Elven Instinct - Lost in the Labyrinth of My Mind - Epiphany - Courting a Human (Headcanons) - Fear of the Future - Adventurer from Earth (Headcanons) - First Kiss 

Maedhros: 

- Out of the Woods - Don’t Leave Me - Don’t Care If You Leave - Stop Pretending - Jealous - Light in the Dark - Jealous Headcanons

Finrod:

- I’m pregnant - You Come and Wake Me Up at 4am, To Cuddle - Finrod x Pregnant!reader (Headcanons) - Used to Be Mine | Part 2  - Choose Me

Thranduil: 

- Tolerate It - To Meet Under the Stars - In the Fields of Poppy - Same Spirit, Different Body - Too Late - Begin Again

Meludir:

- Don’t Cry - Small Surprises  - You Wake Me Up to Cuddle

Elladan:

- Champagne Problems | Part 2

 Glorfindel: 

- Lovely to be Rained on with You - Is that my Shirt? (Drabble) - Not so Hopeless (Drabble) - You’re Mine and I Don’t Share (Drabble) - To Lose is to Die

Haldir:

 - Please Don’t Cry. I Can’t Stand to See You Cry (Drabble) - Stop Biting that Fucking Lip (Drabble) - Meeting Haldir (Headcanons) - Rewrite the Stars 

Lindir: 

- Being in Love (Headcanons) - The Fickleness of Mortals - Return to Me | Part 2

Orophin:

- General Headcanons - Bite Me - Cruel Summer 

Erestor: 

- High Fever

[shirefantasies]

Omg of course you can do something with the idea if you want! I don't mind at all and the fact you liked the idea so much makes me so happy💕

And I'm also fine with being called girl in like a gender neutral way yk like the same way people say guys to refer to everyone sometimes, so no worries with that either!

-🌱

YEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW with permission then I present.......

A Failure of Words- Haldir x GN!Reader

Warnings: brief implication of past trauma, GOOFY ELF CONTENT 😌🤙🏻

“What are you going to do, then, shoot it down?”

And you had laughed at that. Was it really so funny? Complaining about a cloud and his brother suggests firing an arrow at it? Haldir scoffed. Surely your giggling was only to respond politely to their inane humor.

You had been excelling in your target practice of late, your skills with a bow increasing thanks to Haldir as much as his brothers, while Rúmil and Orophin were more to thank for your progress in Elvish. Necessity, of course, as he was the only one with any skills in Common, something you had initially bonded over. Yet somehow your simple bond with his brothers seemed...different. Had Haldir himself ever made you laugh so? Had he ever tried?

"Come, now," Orophin addressed you by name, "hit three more targets and we'll show you that old painting of our beloved Haldir!"

Grinning, you took up your weapon again, stretching some exertion from your muscles before you followed the others' motions toward the next dangling piece of chipped wood. Rolling his eyes, Haldir followed.

~

Rúmil struggled several times to pick up the roll he'd dropped, and upon final success at lifting it he thrashed about as if the thing was fighting back. Again you laughed, a hand falling to the table you sat at.

"My father used to do that too- it's as if you knew! I had no idea you two were so funny. I suppose Haldir is the serious one," you teased, gaze shifting to the eldest brother.

All this time he'd thought of them as the ridiculous ones more than himself an outlier. They had not been promoted, neither had bothered to learn the common tongue, both preferred an aimless life in the trees to the ambitions of the world, protection of what they held dear. Not that they couldn't fight, but... Was Haldir himself the outcast? Heart sinking, he gazed around the table, taking in how easily conversation flowed between you and his brothers. Like the breeze. Haldir was the one who had accepted you when you first came to Lothlórien as a refugee, fought for an outsider to stay despite his usual prejudices. The torture you'd had to endure at the hands of your captors made him sick to even imagine, and fortuitously Galadriel had agreed.

He was the only one who truly knew your secrets, and so he had desired to be the first to truly make you smile again; now, it seemed, his brothers had robbed him of that, forced him back into his station as "the serious one". Worst of all, perhaps not the one who would hold your heart.

Instant it was not, but the elf had found himself falling for you more and more during his time as your guide. Watching your wonder as you were led higher and higher into the sun-soaked trees, chuckling at your confusion when you pronounced and repeated new Elvish words. Seeing you bloom like a sunflower finding its roots once more. Always had he struggled with displays of affection, and perhaps that had cost him more than time. Or else this was another challenge for the captain, a new type of battle to undertake: correcting the many times his words failed him in the face of your fair spirit.

"You might be surprised," he finally spoke, interrupting his own whirlwind of thoughts again to meet your eyes, "you are aware, after all, of how much I taught them."

Rúmil and Orophin's heads both tilted, gazing at their eldest brother with new interest. Newly widening smiles. Knowing ones. An unfortunate side effect he would deal with later. For the time being, there were more pressing matters to deal with.

"Of course I am," you replied, taking a sip from your goblet of water, "Tracking, archery... And surely they would not know so much of your history were it not for you."

"And about the beasts of the land, of course." A breeze blew through his hair as he inhaled, next line at the ready. "After all, my name is Hal-deer."

Groaning, Orophin and Rúmil both simultaneously dropped their heads into their hands, shaking them with great disapproval. Lacking fluency though they may have been, they knew enough to recognize such a play on words, and it was clear they did not like it. Too bad- it wasn't for them.

You? Bursting into laughter, you clapped your hands lightly, head thrown back in amusement that had Haldir grinning widely for the first time in likely far too long.

Still shaking their heads, both younger brothers excused themselves, Orophin practically shoving Rúmil away from the table as they scrambled off to refill their drinkware.

"Never have I heard you make a joke, Haldir! Why now? And why one so-" Words failed you, too, inquiry wholly aborted by a fresh bout of laughter. Well did it convey the rest of your question, however.

Suppressing a wince, Haldir willed his smile to return. Wait, perhaps it looked forced. Was he overthinking this? His brothers would probably say yes.

His brothers. "My brothers...they make you happy in a way I seemingly never can. Perhaps I envied them." His voice emerged as little more than a whisper, eyelids fluttering half-shut as if they could conceal him from your vision.

Your brows furrowed at this. Head giving a faint tilt of confusion, you leaned forward, forced his grey eyes to meet your gaze. "I...I confess I do see your brothers differently," you told him, your own voice shy, "I always wished to think of them like my own brothers."

Heart lightening, Haldir replied, perhaps a bit too readily, "You can."

"No," you shook your head, paused, "well..."

It was your turn to drop your gaze, your posture straightening as you gave a supplying incline of the head, clearly hoping Haldir followed.

He did. Did he? Jaw dropping slightly, he reached out a tentative hand, saw that you did not flinch. Lifting up your gaze gently by your chin, Haldir spoke again.

"That you may wish as well, for though my words have failed me again and again it is the very same in my heart. It vexed me not being the one to make you smile, to win you over, when your name had been so inscribed upon my heart. But if you'll have the serious one, he shall have you."

Your answer came in the form of a kiss that had his heart soaring, one a bit too quick for Haldir's liking, but he quite literally had all the time in the world if he wished. He could wait. For once, his words had not failed him.

"Again and again, my Hal-dear," you replied with a devilish grin.

The golden-haired elf let his own face fall into his hand at that one. "I'll not be forgetting that one anytime soon, will I?"

As fate would have it, Rúmil and Orophin designated that moment to return, whooping as they set their goblets back down, clearly having spied upon him through some curtain or another as they often had in their youth.

"Not in the slightest," they answered for you, voices perfectly synchronized.

Taglist: @lokilover476 @fuckyoumakeart @mossthebogwitch @ibabblealot @kilibaggins @joonies-word @stormchaser819 @pirate-lord-of-narnia | Reply/Ask/Message to join 🥰

[elficially-done-with-life]

Hundred Years Ago

Pairing: Haldir x Reader

Summery: Haldir wants to ask you an important question, but you two are interrupted.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"Will we be there soon?" you asked with feigned impatience.

Haldir snorted in amusement: "Can't wait, can you?"

"No." you admitted. You really wished you could see something, but Haldir was very thorough in covering your eyes. "I finally want to know what you are making such a secret about. You even took the day OFF! Until two days ago, I was sure you did not even know how to do that."

"Oh, shut up," you could hear from his voice that he was grinning. Then you felt him gently press his lips to the tip of your ear. "Do not worry, Meleth nîn, we will be right there."

Haldir had been very secretive for the past few days, sometimes whispering quietly with his brothers, but would stop talking when you were within earshot.

At first you didn't think anything of it, but you were very interested in what they were talking about.

When Haldir took the day off from his duties, you were sure that something was up.

And now he was leading you to a 'mysterious place'. Whether it was really that mysterious you didn't know, but as he covered your eyes you had no idea where you were going.

Suddenly he stopped and said: "Ready?"

"Of course!" you said excitedly and he carefully took his hands away from your eyes, and you couldn't help but notice that they were shaking a little.

It took a while for your eyes to find out where you were.

Spread out on the ground in front of you was a large picnic blanket with a huge basket on top, which, judging by the smell, was filled with all your favourite treats.

You were in a clearing that you knew only too well. "This is where we met for the first time!"

Haldir nodded. "Exactly one hundred years ago."

"What?" you asked in surprise and turned to face him. To your surprise, his cheeks were slightly flushed, which was a little unusual for Haldir.

"Exactly one hundred years ago," he repeated, "we met here for the first time."

"You mean when you nearly shot me with one of your arrows?" you replied, smiling gently. That he had actually thought of that was incredible.

"I thought you were an orc." Haldir only replied. "You were walking around far too close to the borders. Be glad I did not have such a good aim back then," he leaned forward so that you could feel his breath on your lips as he said, "I would not miss my target today."

He was probably expecting you to playfully punch him in the side or come up with a counter-argument, but he had surprised you today, so you wanted to surprise him too.

You quickly leaned forward and before Haldir could react, your lips had already captured his in a gentle kiss.

Haldir returned the kiss and wrapped an arm around your waist to pull you tighter against him, while the fingertips of his other hand glided over your spine.

Eventually he pulled away from you again and nodded towards the picnic blanket. "How about we sit down and eat something."

The food tasted delicious, and you knew from the first bite you took that Haldir must have made it all himself. It had probably taken ages.

You loved the food your beloved made, but unfortunately you couldn't eat it that often because he always had to work.

"I am really surprised that you remember exactly which day we met. I have to admit that I remember the year but I could not have told you the day," you admitted.

Haldir laughed softly. "I could not either. Orophin still knew. He accompanied me here for the first time because he was finally old enough to learn how to handle a bow and arrow."

You remembered well. Both of Haldir's brothers had been quite young at the time and he had cared for them since the death of their parents. One of the reasons why you had practically helped raise them after you two had become close.

"Then I guess I will have to thank him later," you said playfully and winked at him.

Haldir shrugged his shoulders. "He only provided the date, but I was planning to come here with you anyway." Suddenly his voice became a little quieter, almost uncertain. "I wanted to ask you a really important question."

He swallowed and put his plate aside, then reached for your hand. "Meleth nîn, I- "

But something interrupted him. Just as he was about to get to the question you were dying to know, there was a rustling in a bush not far from you.

Haldir jumped up and stood protectively in front of you. He pulled a knife from his sleeve, which he always had there, whether he was working or not, so that he wouldn't be unarmed in an emergency.

"Who is there?" he asked loudly, his eyes fixed on the bush.

You held your breath.

Then two elves you knew all too well poked their blond heads out of the bush. Orophin and Rùmil.

"You did not ask her!" Rùmil said indignantly and grimaced. "Do you know how uncomfortable it is to hide in a bush? We were here a few minutes before you and now we haven't even seen the big moment."

Haldir put the knife away again and massaged his forehead. "You two really are- "

"Besides, I contributed more than just the date," Orophin said to you with a pompous look, "I also chose the picnic basket! I borrowed it from Lord Celeborn, you have no idea how many he has lying around because he goes on picnics with Lady Galadriel all the time!"

You could hardly stifle your giggles as relief washed over you. For a moment you thought you were going to have to fight an orc or a wild animal.

Orophin and Rumil now climed out from the undergrowth of the bush with some difficulty and went over to you.

"Some stupid root cut me." Rùmil cursed.

"Serves you right." Haldir grumbled, but you could see his eyes immediately moving up and down his brothers body to see if he was seriously injured. Since he apparently wasn't, Haldir gave him an angry look.

Since his brothers obviously realised that they couldn't simply talk their way out of it, they turned to you with a nervous smile. "You are happy to see us, right?"

You gave Haldir a sideways glance before grinning back. "I am always happy to see you. But there are sometimes very inopportune moments, you know?"

They blushed and nodded cautiously.

Haldir rubbed his face with the hand he had just used to massage his temple.

"We will talk about it later," he finally said, turning to his brothers. "Go now."

Slowly, he let himself sink back onto the picnic blanket.

"I am sorry." he whispered, "I do not know if you still- "

You put a hand on his arm and gently pressed your lips to his cheek. "I would love to hear your question."

"We have known each other for a hundred years now," he began nervously, placing his hand under your chin so that you could look each other in the eye. "Would you do me the honour of courting you?"

Excitement rose in you and it took a few seconds before you were even able to form an answer in your head.

You couldn't believe he had actually asked that! No wonder his brothers had made such a fuss.

Meanwhile, Haldir's face looked very strained and only now did you realise that you still hadn't answered him.

A broad grin spread across your face and you said in a voice trembling with excitement: "There is nothing I would enjoy more."

Haldir slowly pulled you close and together you snuggled up on the picnic blanket under the stars.

When it was already very late, you made your way back.

Haldir carried the basket while you tucked the rolled-up blanket under your arm.

At first he had insisted on carrying both, but when you said you couldn't possibly leave everything to your future husband, he blushed and gave you the picnic blanket.

When you arrived home, all you wanted to do was fall into bed, but when you opened the front door, Haldir's brothers came to meet you.

"Now you are breaking into our house too," he said, but you could tell from the grin on his lips that he didn't hold it against them.

His brothers also seemed to have noticed the grin and with an excited squeal they ran towards you with open arms. "She said yes!"

[thetempleofthemasaigoddess]

Like rivulets of gold

Haldir x reader. Nethel is Sindarin for sister.

The fic was inspired by this imagine by @imaginexhobbit.

This fic is dedicated to the lovely @starlady66!!

*****

Your patrol shift at the farthest corner of Lothlórien has just ended, and while part of you cannot wait to return to your talan for a long and well deserved night’s sleep, the other is much more anxious to see Haldir and your friends.

This is the part that prevails, despite the weariness.

This is why, once you have passed the borders of Caras Galadhon, you exchange a nod and a smile with the guards on duty and without further delay you head for the Wardens’ Hall, a spacious, low-roofed chamber where you and your comrades gather to eat, receive orders from your superiors and, overall, spend time together and relax when you have no duties to attend to. The full moon has risen in the sky at least two hours ago, which means supper time must be over, but you are almost sure Haldir and his brothers are still there; and in any case, making sure will only cost you a few minutes.

The light of the torches shines inside the sparsely decorated chamber, spreading a warm, orange glow; a few guards sit at the tables you usually have your meals at, nursing a cup of ale or engrossed in a conversation. You share a smile and a nod with a few of them while you look around you; Haldir is not here, but Rúmil and Orophin are… and both look in a horrible mood.

“Mae govannen.” you greet them as you approach, and both stand to greet you with a kiss.

“Well met, nethel.” they say almost as one. They have started to call you that five years ago, soon after you and their older brother had begun courting, and it still never fails to warm your heart every time they do it.

“How was patrol?” Rúmil asks as they make space for you on the bench, and you leave your bow and quiver against the wall, letting your poor feet rest for a while.

“Tiring, but fortunately no orcs incursions or anything else to report.” you succintly explain, hoping to quickly conclude the conversation. The last thing you want is to appear rude, especially when you are in the company of two of your dearest friends -and who were such even before you and Haldir began courting- but the Elf you have at heart the most is not here, and you do not want to waste any more time before seeing him “Where is Haldir?”

The two brothers exchange a glance, frowning once more. “He is at his talan. But, (name), I do not think he wants to see you now - or anyone else for that matter.”

“Yes, it is better if you leave him alone for a while.”

“Is something wrong?” you wonder, immediately worried; you and Haldir had not quarreled and he was fine when you said goodbye two days ago, so why should he not want to see you, as it has long been your habit every time one of the two returns from patrol?

“Eithruin.” they answer as one once more, and you think you should have known.

Eithruin is one of your fellow guards, only a few years older than you; mercurial and bad-tempered, she is quite unpopular among her comrades, even though you must concede she is one of the most capable and experienced among the marchwardens. She is also a former, unrequited, suitor of Haldir: a few years ago, she confessed her feelings to him, who -as kindly as he could- rejected her. And that is where trouble began. Ever since, hurt and annoyed by that rejection, Eithruin has taken every opportunity to bother Haldir: she gainsays him every time she can, and takes delight in causing trouble for him or to embarass him in front of your superiors. Furthermore, once you and Haldir have begun courting, you have also become a favourite victim of her malice.

“What happened this time?” you ask with a sigh while Rúmil wordlessly puts a cup of ale in your hands, that you gratefully bring to your lips.

“You remember that tomorrow morning the lady Galadriel will announce her choice regarding the captaincy?”

You did not, which is surprising, since you have thought about nothing else for days, even though the matter does not concern you directly. A month ago it was announced one of the wardens would be promoted to captain; one of the other officers has told you in confidence that Haldir is one of the two guards who has the best chance of being chosen… together with Eithruin.

“I swear, if Eithruin is made captain, I will move to Eryn Galen.” Orophin says as he passes an hand on his face “I am not saying it simply because Haldir is my brother and I want him to succeed; she is so insufferable already, can you imagine what it will be once she can order us around?”

You cannot help but agree; you know becoming captain would mean so much for Haldir, and that he deserves the promotion more than anyone else, but anyone, literally every Elf in Lothlórien, would be preferable to Eithruin… because having her as your superior would be a calvary for Haldir and for those he loves - namely the three of you.

“Go on, please.” you beg the brothers of your beloved, and Rúmil explains that for days Eithruin has been even more insufferable than usual, teasing him every chance she got and even speaking ill of him with one of lady Galadriel’s handmaidens, clearly aiming to cast him in a bad light with the Lady herself. Haldir, who is sensible and level-headed and -usually- above such petty arguments, ignored her like he had done countless times before, and in a couple of cases even turned the insult against her.

But that night, only two hours before your return, irked because she had been unable to upset him or maybe because she feared Haldir would be chosen as captain against her, Eithruin had stooped lower than ever before.

“We were having supper together, and Haldir had just sat after filling his plate.” Rúmil explains “Eithruin walked past him, and said…”

You are squeezing the cup in your hands so hard your knuckles have turned white. “Yes?”

“Oh, (name)… She said… you should reduce your food portions, Haldir, or soon you will not fit in your uniform anymore. You are already fat enough to pass for a Man, if you gain more weight they will mistake you for an Orc.”

You gape, the incredulity leaving you speechless for a minute. “What?” you cry in the end, loud enough that all the Elves in the chamber turn in your direction “That… she said what?!”

Haldir is quite well-liked by his fellow guards -which, in your opinion, would serve him well should he be made captain- but naturally it happens that disagreements arise between him and his comrades; a few times, he even quarrelled with his brothers or with you. But in no case, no matter how angry the other person was, anyone has ever mentioned the topic you all know is most painful for your beloved to think about: his weight. Haldir has always been embarassed by his stocky -you prefer saying strong, but still- build, which is indeed slightly heavier than most Elves', especially since both Rúmil and Orophin are much slimmer; the matter has long been a source of shame and unease for him, something than even his few detractors have respected, but mentioning it in public, to embarass him in front of his fellow guards… it is cruel, and petty, and cowardly, and something you will make sure to punish.

“Is it true?” you ask, your ale long forgotten; you know Eithruin, the depth of her contempt for Haldir and what she could do to hurt him, but still cannot believe she would lower herself to this “Orophin, did Eithruin really say that to Haldir?”

“I fear she did; we were sitting at this very table, and we were all present. Haldir… Haldir said nothing; he rose from the table and left. The two of us attempted to follow him to reassure and comfort him, but he asked us to leave him alone for a while; I think he went back home.”

You nod slowly, feeling your heart break at the thought of what your beloved had to bear; Haldir is not hurt -not physically, at least, not in a way that could endanger his life- but you grieve for him all the same, knowing how painful it must have been for him to be mocked for his weight… and are full of rage for the Elf who ridiculed him and exploited his deepest vulnerability for the sole reason to humiliate him in front of his peers.

Eru help you, when you will be done with her Eithruin will regret the day she was born!

It takes you a moment as you look around the Hall to find her; she is sitting in a corner, alone, engrossed in the book in her hands. You move to stand, and immediately Orophin stops you grabbing your arm. “Stop, (name).” he whispers, clearly unhappy with his own request “Do you not think we also want to teach her a lesson…”

“… and force her to apologize to Haldir? But it would amount to nothing, and he would not want us to get in trouble; remember brawls among guards are severely punished.” Rúmil interjects.

They are right, and while you would be happy, or at least willing, to be reprimanded by your superiors if it meant breaking Eithruin’s pretty nose with your fist, you know Haldir would not thank you for it, but he would feel guilty he is the reason you got into trouble.

“I only wish to talk to her.” you promise with a sigh “I will not touch her, I promise.”

Orophin lets you go, and he and Rúmil look on as you reach Eithruin.

“I thought my opinion of you could not sink any lower.” you begin once you stand in front of her, without raising your voice and, correspondingly, without lowering it to keep the guards sitting nearby out of the conversation “But this time I must admit you surprised me, Eithruin; I did not think you were capable of such cruelty.”

She waits for you to have finished talking before raising her gaze from the book and offering you a flippant smile. “Ah, (name). How was patrol?”

“I want you to leave Haldir alone.”

“I did nothing to hurt him. I did not even touch him.”

I know you have not, because he would not let you, and this is why you hate us both. “I am not talking about physical hurts and you know it well. You need to stop harassing him; this is your last chance, and then I will report you…”

“No, you will not.” you are calmly interrupted; she closes her book, primly resting her hands on it, and a cruel smile folds her lips “Because he would not want you to, and you would not displease him; so you have nothing to threaten me with. After all, Haldir should thank me; I only wanted to open his eyes. He is clumsy, fat as an ox, an embarassment for all the marchwardens. Someone like him is not fit to be made captain.”

Ah. You were sure it would come to this; you are so furious you are almost shaking. “While you do?” you ask skeptically.

“You know it is true; and lady Galadriel knows as well.”

You could really hit her, you suddenly realize. You have not resorted to violence on another Elf since the years of your childhood -ever since, specifically, a playmate took the rag doll your mother had just made and gifted you and decapitated her with a knife; you did not pay him back in kind, but you punched him in the face hard enough to make his nose bleed- and as a matter of principle you try to solve your problems peacefully, but if there is someone in Caras Galadhon who deserves to be torn to pieces, it is Eithruin. Who cares about the consequences, who cares if you are suspended or even expelled from the Marchwardens? No one, not even one of your comrades, not even the Lord or the Lady, can insult and humiliare your beloved and get away with it…

But Orophin was right; worse, Eithruin is right, Haldir would not want you to fight his battles, and especially it would break his heart to know you have gotten into trouble because of him. So you force yourself to remain calm and “We will see about it.” you simply answer; you turn, still burning with anger, and all to aware Eithruin is laughing at you, you nod to the brothers of your beloved and stomp out of the Hall.

When you reach his talan, Haldir is, as you expected, lying on his bed, his fingers interwined under his blonde head; when he sees you climb on the slender rope ladder and reach the wooden platform circling around one of the great mallorn trees, a weak, uncertain smile appears on his lovely mouth, as if, while happy to see you, he did not wish for you to see him in the state he is in.

Which is why, obviously, you have to see him.

“You are back.”

“That I am. I heard from a reliable source that you skipped dinner, and I have brought you something to eat.”

You triumphantly lift the small basket you have filled with the content of your pantry and brought with you; Haldir rises from the bed to reach you, but a shake of his head rejects your offer of food.

“Thank you, I really appreciate it, but I am not hungry at all. To tell the truth… I was thinking I should eat a little less, for a while.”

“This is the stupidest idea I have ever heard.” you brusquely answer; your heart cries knowing Eithruin’s cruel words have hit their mark and your beloved is uncomfortable in his own body, but Haldir can be incredibly stubborn when he wants to, and you have to find a way to make him forget the insults of his former suitor, and see he is perfect the way he is. You rest the basket on the tiny table at the corner of the talan, and then take out a loaf of bread and a small jar of honey “Hand me a knife, please.”

“I am not saying I want to starve, (name), only…”

“Only nothing, Haldir. Please, listen to me…”

You leave the bread and the honey on the table next to the basket and take Haldir’s hands in yours; he is handsome enough to make your heart race, just like he did on the day you first met and like he will continue to do, you suspect, until the end of times. His long blonde hair, falling like rivulets of gold on his shoulders, back and chest, his blue eyes, deep as the coldest pools in the forest and still capable of such warmth, his thin lips, so generous in their smiles and that still, after so many years, have the power to stop your heartbeat when they press against yours…

Eru; you admire his modesty, but how can he believe to be any less than perfect?

“Haldir, there is nothing at all wrong with you, let alone with your build or your weight; you do not need to lose any.”

“I am almost as large as Rúmil and Orophin together.”

“That is not true; and even if you were, so what? No one has ever mocked the Onodrim because they are larger than the other Children of Eru.”

Being compared to one of the Tree-Folk brings a weak smile on your beloved's face, who is still full of shame and guilt for his body. He avoids your gaze, as if he feared to see disgust and distaste in your eyes -you, who know his body as well as your own, and have learnt to love all of it, to find peace and warmth and protection in the secret of his flesh- and, far from being offended by such a lack of trust, you wish you could let him see himself through your eyes.

You gently press an hand against his stomach under his grey tunic, feeling the strong, taut muscles under the skin. “Haldir, how can you not see there is nothing wrong with your body?” you gently point out “You are tall and strong and handsome; Eru has been generous with you. These are gifts, not flaws; and even if they were, you know that the way we look is not important, what is in our hearts is. Or do you care for me simply because you think I am beautiful?”

“Of course not. But…”

“No buts, marchwarden. You have a lovely figure, and an even more precious fëa. What is there to be ashamed of?”

Haldir sighs; your words, your praises as well as your reasonings, have not fallen on deaf ears, but your beloved is not yet ready to forget Eithruin’s hurtful words, seeds fallen on too fertile a ground not to take root. You are alone on the talan, almost hidden in the dark of the full moon night, the silence surrounding you complete but for the melanchony song of a barn owl looking for his mate.

“Sometimes I wish I were different.” he finally confides in you as he sits on the bed, holding your hand in his until you do the same “I know that there is nothing shameful in the way I look, and that what matters is what one is inside, but… sometimes, I just wish I could look like the others; not stand out, even if there is nothing wrong in it. It is foolish, useless as well as ungrateful, but I cannot help it; most of the time I am fine with the way I look, but there are moments… days, even, when I feel I could leave everything behind and live alone in the woods, where no one will see me and judge me because of my bulk.”

“We all have doubts about ourselves, my love.” you gently point out as you squeeze his hand in both of yours “But remember, this is not your heart speaking; it is Eithruin, her envy and her spite.”

“That she wants to hurt me does not mean she is not telling the truth.” he notes, the melancholy in his voice breaking your heart. Haldir has always been your rock, as well as that of Rúmil and Orophin -who he helped raise, even though he was barely more than a boy himself- and of whoever of his friends ever needed help; to see him so lost, so unsure and helpless, pains you more than a dagger in your chest.

“Haldir, you have nothing to be ashamed about.” you insist, circling his large shoulders with an arm until his cheek is resting against your shoulder; it is sad to see your beloved so saddened, fragile and in need of consolation, but you are happy to help, because you want him to be happy, and you know that, were you the one in need, he would stop at nothing to make you smile again “If you are worried your more robust build is an impediment to your duties, you know that is not the case. You are agile, fast, an excellent warrior. Your bulk gives you strength, and this is why you are the best among us in hand-to-hand combat.”

“Eithruin said...”

“Do not pay heed to Eithruin’s words, my darling; you know well she only wants to humiliate you and hurt your reputation because she wants to be named captain in your place.”

“It might happen.” he admits, his expression still bitter under the light of the lantern hanging from the branches above “I have no love for Eithruin, but she is a capable, experienced marchwarden; she deserves an advancement in rank.”

“That she is; and maybe yes, she will be chosen for the promotion.” you concede, and shudder, imagining a future in which you, Rúmil and Orophin and, worse of all, Haldir himself, will be ordered around by Eithruin “But I do not care. You are a worthy Elf, a capable guard and a good friend and brother, and this is what really matters; I do not want you to doubt your self-worth. And if that… that… toad will speak about you in a less than respectful tone once again, she will have me to deal with.”

Finally, a tiny but sincere smile appears on Haldir’s mouth. “In that case, I have nothing to be scared about.” he concedes, and you smile back, happy for that small, private success “Thank you for coming tonight; you must be exhausted, but I feel much better now that you are here.”

“I am glad I could help. You know...” you add in a casual tone once you have both let yourselves fall back on the bed, and are now staring at the roof-like canopy above you; you turn on your side towards him, and begin to lazily caress your beloved’s chest “Someone told me mortal women prefer men of your build.”

“Is that so?”

“Apparently it is. Slender physiques like they are common among our kind are sometimes considered less attractive, because they are a sign of poor physical strenght. A robust body, muscled arms, large shoulders… this is usually what the women of the Edain look for in their partners."

Haldir is now openly smiling - because of your words or your ministrations, you could not say. “Then maybe I should have been born a mortal.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course not; in that case, I would have never met you, or at least we could not have hoped for a future together.”

Haldir kisses you once again while his arms circle your hips to hold you closer to him. “Yestereve I received a letter from home.” he says, referring to his parents, who live in another village half a day ride from Caras Galadhon.

“Are your parents well?” you wonder, sincerely interested and at the same time grateful your beloved is thinking about something other than his former suitor’s insults.

“They are. They send their love… and ask whether we have decided to marry.”

You laugh softly, your fingers playing with the golden locks of your beloved’s hair; he is not wrong, you are exhausted after two days of patrol, but his company, and being in his arms, is a better balm than the best night's sleep “They ask that in every letter they send, even those addressed to your brothers; but, Haldir, you know I am happy with the way things are now.”

“As I am. But, (name), we have been courting for five years now; do you not think there is no use in waiting still?" he points out as his fingers play with your hair - something only he is allowed to do "The time of Elves on Middle-Earth is coming to an end, and before sailing for Valinor I would marry you here, in the Golden Wood, our home, where we met.”

You know your beloved was like you fine with a long courtship, and was not in a hurry to wed, but about this, you must admit, you had not thought. “I love Lothlórien as much as you do.” you reflect out loud as you return your beloved’s embrace, your legs intertwining with his “But wherever you go, Haldir, there is where my home will be. When we leave for Valinor, we will do it together, and we will never part as long as the world lasts, and if to announce it to the rest of Arda I will have to put a ring on your finger… well, that is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

“A sacrifice? Seriously, (name)?”

Haldir laughs; Eru, he is so beautiful! “So it is decided? We are going to wed?”

“We are.” you happily answer; this is not a matter you had planned to discuss today, but the two of you had spoken about it so many times before, and you both know the truth: a marriage ceremony will celebrate your commitment to each other, but even if you chose to go on like you have done for five years already, Haldir knows you love him and you know he loves you, and that nothing and no one will ever separate you. This is what really matters; everything else is superfluous.

Your beloved smiles; he is happier than you have ever seen him. “Ah, meleth nîn... How happy you make me...”

He kisses you, deeply enough to elicit a moan from your mouth that his avidly swallows, as Haldir's weight pushes you on your back; you caress his blonde hair as his sweet lips take possess of you, kissing your face and your neck and leaving a trail of goosebumps behind them. You hold him close, his heartbeat matching yours, and think you do not care what the future will hold, because you know you will face it together.

“I love how tall and strong you are.” you whisper as your hands move on Haldir’s back and shoulders, feeling the smooth skin and strong muscles under his tunic “You make me feel safe and protected.”

His laugh reverberates against your chest, just as Haldir’s hand slips along your leg, his fingertips barely brushing against your skin “You speak as if you were one of the damsels the heroes have to save in the tales. Are you not a brave marchwarden of Lothlórien?”

“I am with my betrothed, I can speak however I want.” you primly answer “A betrothed who is perfect the way he is, and who would be no matter what he looks like, and whatever his weight is. A betrothed who, now that I remember, has skipped dinner, and this will not do.”

Haldir moans - a not unpleasant sound to hear. “I was thinking we could…” he begins, but happily stops when you kiss him once more, tacitly promising there will be time for other diversions, once he has taken care of his stomach.

“Shall we have dinner together? I have not eaten either.” you suggest, and he smiles before kissing your cheek, his blue eyes full of joy and gratitude.

“I would like that.”

On the next day, in a sunny and warm afternoon, you enter the Wardens’ Hall, received by the congratulations and the well wishes of your comrades. Rúmil and Orophin are handing out cups of ale to everyone present, asking them to celebrate the engagement of their brother and the maiden they already called sister, but they stop to enfold you in a single, tight embrace.

“I am so happy; we both are.” Rúmil whispers, voice cracking with emotion “Take care of him, will you? He loves you more than you can ever know.”

“I will.” you promise, heart full of affection for both; how fortunate you are, gaining two brothers as you prepare to marry the love of your life “I will give my life for him if I need.”

“Well, let us hope you do not need to.” Orophin quips before kissing you on the brow, the way a brother would “Personally, I am mostly relieved he finally decided to propose…”

Eithruin, judging from her attire ready to depart for a patrol shift, is sitting with her friends, and she has the look of someone who has just swallowed a lemon. “So… you and Haldir have decided to marry, (name)?” she asks, trying to pretend to be only vaguely interested and failing miserably.

You answer with your sweetest smile. It would be mean to gloat, but you did well not to punch her in the face like you were tempted to last night, you decide; this is a much sweeter revenge, and it will not cost you a reprimand or a punishment from your superiors… including the one who has just received the promotion.

“We did. And you know, Eithruin? In a sense, we have you to thank for it.”

“M-me?”

It is just then that Haldir, smiling and so handsome in his new captain uniform, appears on the doorstep of the Hall, immediately greeted by the congratulations and the pats on the back of his comrades, all happy and proud of him; he waves at you, who answer with a silent smile, your mind and heart still full of the sweet and intimate moment of last night.

Then, you turn your gaze back to Eithruin, fully aware of the cruelty and pettiness of the words you are about to pronounce, and still unable to stop; in any case, you are quite sure she deserves it.

“Exactly; and this is why we hope you will not miss our wedding. And when we are on duty we should refer to him as captain now, do you not think?”

Eithruin turns red with rage at your words, but when she attempts to respond -with, no doubt, one of her usual spiteful remarks- no sounds leave her lips. Pointedly ignoring her, you turn and walk to your bethroted, holding out your hand to take the one he is offering you together with another of his beautiful smiles.

TAGGING @starlady66 and @sotwk!

[glassgulls]

Wonderfully sweet and beautifully written. Haldir deserves so much love and happiness.

Coming home (Haldir x reader)

author's note: i finished this while eating breakfast this morning - can you tell i'm sad and touch starved?? this is totally self-indulgent, i love him :( haldir brushes through reader's hair, otherwise no descriptions of looks. please reblog this if you like it and let me know if you want to be tagged in the future <3 english (still) isn’t my first language. also, please don't copy my work :)

warnings: nothing i'm aware of, just domestic fluff :)

word count: 0.9k

edit is my own :)

Haldir opened the door and stepped into the hallway. He just came home from a long and exhausting meeting with Lady Galadriel, but when he noticed the sweet smell of baked goods and spotted you asleep in your shared bed, clothed in one of his night gowns, his heart felt light again.

He knew you were waiting for him to return by the lit candle on your bedside drawer and the open book next to you and for only a second, an overwhelming amount of love knocked the air out of his lungs.

You looked absolutely ethereal. You always did, but seeing you dressed in his clothes in your shared home did something to the elf. The way you trusted him with your life and how you loved him endlessly made him emotional.

"What have you done to me, my love", he murmured and stepped closer to you. "You own my heart."

After getting ready for bed himself, the ellon carefully laid down next to you, trying not to wake you - but no luck.

"Haldir?" You turned around to your husband, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

"Shh. Sleep, meleth. You work so much", Haldir spoke quietly and cupped your cheek with his hand.

You leaned into the touch, closing your eyes again to really relish in the gentle contact.

"Look at yourself, marchwarden", you murmured and sighed softly. "You're gone for months and I know you don't get enough rest during your patrols. And when you come home, you take care of me. I admire your protectiveness, but you have to look after yourself, too."

Your husband's hand wandered from your cheek to the side of your head, carefully brushing through your hair before it settled on the small of your back, pulling you close to him.

"For me, looking after myself means being here, at home, with you. You bring me endless happiness, my love."

You let your head fall onto his chest as you wrapped your arms around his waist.

"Gi melin."

At your words, Haldir pulled you even closer into his side if that was even still possible and pressed a kiss to your forehead, letting his lips linger there.

"You're too good to me", you whispered, but the elf shook his head.

"You deserve everything, meleth. And one day, I'll figure out how to give it to you."

It was your turn to shake your head before you kissed his jaw. "You are everything I could ever want, ever need. Your presence alone eases my hard days and makes my good ones better. I know my heart is safe with you."

Haldir was at a loss for words. He never thought someone would come along who'd see more in him than a marchwarden and yet here you were, looking at him as if he himself had put the stars in the sky.

Still, he didn't know what to say to you. He was never good with romantic speeches and he despised it. You deserved to be wooed with words, too.

So instead, he cupped your face in his hands and leaned down to press his lips against yours.

What he didn't realise was that you weren't waiting for a big love confession. Your husband has always been someone who showed his love through actions - just like he was doing now.

"Hal", you mumbled and fisted his gown to ground yourself. How he was able to make you weak in the knees with a simple kiss was beyond your understanding - not that you cared. All sorts of physical contact with Haldir felt like coming home.

He smiled at your flushed cheeks after you parted and let his thumb brush over your jawline.

"What did you bake earlier", he asked and you needed a second to register his question.

"Oh", you answered, "Rúmil and Orophin came over earlier and asked if the four of us wanted to have a picnic together tomorrow afternoon if you're free. I thought that's a wonderful idea and then I saw that some of the wild berries in our garden are ripe, so I baked a cake with them that we can eat together then."

Haldir could feel himself getting choked up again. You, his found family, getting along with his brothers made his heart skip a beat.

"You are wonderful."

He could see the protest on your lips, but you knew better than to disagree. While he had won all the playful arguments, he was serious about you not talking yourself down.

"Thank you", you whispered instead, accepting the compliment, as you buried your face in the crook of his neck.

The elf chuckled as he felt the heat radiating from your cheeks and let his hand run up and down your lower back soothingly. "You're doing so well, meleth."

You stayed like that, your body half on top of Haldir's, his arm wrapped around you and your hand laying on his chest, right over his heart.

His heartbeat must have lulled you to sleep because the next time the marchwarden looked down at you, your eyes were closed and you were taking deep, even breaths.

Carefully, he turned around to blow out the candle before settling back into the former position, letting his fingers dance over your skin and pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

"Coming home to you will forever be the highlight of my day", he whispered before letting your breathing and the soft glow of the moon lull him into a restful slumber, too.

meleth = love

gi melin = i love you

Taglist: @shadowhuntyi

[elithilanor]

Hi! :) okay, I made a list with some Lorien boi questions!

Rumil:

I know you’ve said before that he’s pretty calm most of the time, but does he have a good sense of humor or is it more of a cold calmness?

Does he ever get get bashful about having to explain BDSM protocol to others or does he see the subject as neutral? 

How does he interact with softer/newer subs? 

What is his biggest pet peeve? 

Is he a good listener?

Does he yearn to travel, or does he prefer his home city?

Orophin:

You can tell me if I’m off, but it sounds to me like he has a lot of energy to spare. Does he like to engage in sports/extracurriculars? if so, what kind? Do his crazy stunts ever get him into trouble?

What is he like when one of his friends/family members have a bad day?

Does he often wrestle/play fight with his brothers? If so, who usually starts it and who finishes it?

He strikes me as someone who is very outdoorsy and would rather sleep by a campfire than inside. Is that true?

Does he have romantic, non-sexual relationships?

Is he a cuddly with those he’s close to?

Haldir:

Okay… I just read you Haldir Returns Home fic and it honestly made my day. I love your OFC in that one. She just seems so sweet and worshipful of him. I know she’s a reader insert, but do you have any details about her/their relationship? Especially the non-sexual kneeling hc. Also, would it be okay if I requested a short drabble with them this October for my birthday?

Thanks!

LÓRIEN BOIS ASKS

I cannot begin to explain how excited and happy I am for this. I love asks, I love specific asks and requests, and I love my blorbos. You and @ sotwk have the best asks. You also get brownie points for asking about the bois that never get love and traction here: Rúmil and Orophin. My babies of the heart.

Now, questions!!!

.

Rumil:

I know you’ve said before that he’s pretty calm most of the time, but does he have a good sense of humor or is it more of a cold calmness?

He's got a very dry sense of humor, but he's actually fairly easy-going and quick to laugh. His default is kind of resting bitch and tracking your movements face and he's cold calmness out on patrol, but he's actually a really good time when out at a party. He's just not usually leading the conversation. He likes people watching.

Does he ever get get bashful about having to explain BDSM protocol to others or does he see the subject as neutral?

Lol no he does not. He sees BDSM (and sex in general) as a very healthy and natural part of existence and has no shame in it. He may not reveal his personal preferences and past experiences with someone he's not planning on playing with or teaching, but he has no qualms about the subject at all.

He finds it hysterical when Haldir asks him about anything BDSM-related because Haldir is incredibly bashful about it, even if he tries to put on a good face.

I tend to HC that Elvish societies are less prudish about sex overall than Mannish societies and the fact that he was raised Silvan makes it even less so.

How does he interact with softer/newer subs?

Overall, he treats them similarly in that he's a lot gentler with them.

Rúmil's not very verbally expressive during play normally, so he tends to guide softer subs around more with soft touches instead of harsh tugs or slaps. He prefers harder play, so he's likely only to take a soft sub if they're newer, want to try a new type of play, if they've had traumatic experiences and want something safe and controlled, or it's a compatibility test for something more intense.

For newer subs specifically, he makes an effort to be more verbal with them in a way he's typically not in play: asking more clarifying questions, explaining what he's doing before he does it and maybe even expected sensations, checking in more often and requiring verbal confirmation of consent, and even giving a lot of verbal feedback or praise. He starts slow and builds with newer subs and he's really big on sitting down and having almost like a date with them just to get to know them and their goals beforehand.

What is his biggest pet peeve?

That the patrol talans aren't being put back into the order he left them in. It's easier to settle in, keep things clean, and find important tools in an emergency if things are kept to his (or any) standards.

Laundry anywhere it shouldn't be. Like the floor, Orophin!

Is he a good listener?

Yes, absolutely. Laser-focused and very intense, especially if it's about BDSM. Haldir and Orophin both have better memories than he does so he takes the time to write down important dates or sexual preferences and other information so he can refer back to/memorize it. Once he puts it to paper, he's generally pretty good after that.

It's actually why he started painting, to vividly remember landscapes and embed them in his memories.

Does he yearn to travel, or does he prefer his home city?

Mmm. He enjoys traveling, but its not something he craves. He honestly tends to get around a decent amount (visiting Mirkwood for some festivals and important holidays - I HC they were born here and have extended family and friends there; patrolling all over Lothlórien over the centuries; escorting guests and Celebrían; and traveling to Imladris for diplomatic conferences or patrol exchanges; and so forth) and doesn't see the need to do more than he already does. Every once in a while, he'll go for a weekend trip somewhere, but its mostly for a change of scenery and some quite.

Haldir was often stationed in nearby human settlements before he was promoted to Captain and then Chief and so forth and he would visit him, as well.

.

Orophin:

You can tell me if I’m off, but it sounds to me like he has a lot of energy to spare. Does he like to engage in sports/extracurriculars? if so, what kind?

YES!! Thank you!!! You get it!

And actually, not really! There's a couple I could say, but I also think the basic ability/information for them are common to any Galadhrim, warden elf. Hiking, walking, camping, plant and animal identification. He's quite good at them all and specifically specializes in tracking, but that just kind of comes with the territory. He does really like butterflies, though.

He loves to swim in any body of water he finds and perch high up in the mallorn trees and watch the seasons change.

Do his crazy stunts ever get him into trouble?

All the fucking time. He doesn't get injured as much as he did as an elfling (Tawarwaith - Woodelves/Silvan- elflings fall from trees says one of my favorite Mirkwood world-building authors, SpaceAsmatic, on ao3), but he still ends up in hysterical situations.

To date, he has cartwheeled, somersaulted, and fell out of a patrol talan onto Lord Celeborn. More than once. Celeborn thinks it's hilarious, but no one except Galadriel and Elrond will ever find out. He has to maintain his stern demeanor with his wardens. Elrond finds out because the trees are different in Imladris and he always has to adjust to new tree heights and branch stability. He broke an arm last time he was there.

He and Legolas get on like a house on fire. Everyone gives them a wide berth when they're together and Elrond puts the healing wing on standby.

It mostly gets him out of trouble to be honest, because parkouring across tree-tops is really great for orc evasion.

What is he like when one of his friends/family members have a bad day?

Typically he gets a bit quieter and softer; more reserved. Most of those he's close to have a bad day due to overwork (Haldir) or over stimulation from stress so he kind of follows them around and assists them where he can. He likes to open windows and coerce people onto balconies for some fresh air and sun.

If people are up for it, he'll take them out drinking or partying and he'll take point so they don't have to focus on the details. He'll get you home safely. He'll be drunk as shit, but he'll get you home!

Does he often wrestle/play fight with his brothers? If so, who usually starts it and who finishes it?

I wouldn't say often and when they do it's nothing serious. Just a fun joke and lots of posturing; no one's trying to do any damage.

Haldir or Rúmil usually start it (after Orophin has goaded them) and they usually finish it while Orophin just wheezes laughing.

If Haldir and Rúmil ever are fighting, then something is very, very wrong. Like someone died wrong.

He strikes me as someone who is very outdoorsy and would rather sleep by a campfire than inside. Is that true?

No, but only because after every night he's forced to sleep on the forest floor or on a bare slat during patrols and battles, he refuses to give up the comforts and warmth of his bed at home any more than he has to.

(He likes everything else about the outdoors, though.)

Does he have romantic, non-sexual relationships?

Eh, he kind of has flings sometimes? What he really has is a large, close knit group of friends with kissing and cuddling benefits.

Is he cuddly with those he’s close to?

Incredibly! He's very tactile and often has a hand on someone or is dragging them somewhere. Loves chilling in meadows in a dog pile of his friends.

.

Haldir:

Okay… I just read you Haldir Returns Home fic and it honestly made my day. I love your OFC in that one. She just seems so sweet and worshipful of him. I know she’s a reader insert, but do you have any details about her/their relationship? Especially the non-sexual kneeling hc.

Thank you!!!! You're so kind! Yeah, I fucking love her and them too. I always try and write other pairings, but in the end I end up having WIPs with them too.

Since the submissive Haldir discussion has been going around, I've actually added three new WIPs for Haldir and my OFC all featuring subby Haldir in various stages of their jouney regarding his submission. One is actually her basically trying to get him to accept compliments and praise through worship so. I think that may have answered part of your question.

I do have a non-sexual kneeling drabble in that list, too. Because them. Sigh.

Hmm Facts about OFC (who is my OFC for my full HC Haldir, whereas the ones created for Sotwk and labeled as such are a mix of my HCs and hers for her requests):

-I haven't yet decided on a profession for her, but I'm leaning seamstress or herbalist. I had been debating archivist, but I think I'm giving that to my fem!Haldir x fem!Reader in the future. Not that it technically matters, but semantics.

-She's good at holding a grudge with everyone in world except Haldir (not that he tends to upset her very often)

-She refuses to have a favorite season; it’s very rude and they all have their benefits and magic

-She loves lemon (hence Haldir's famed Lemon Tarts)

-She tends to get overstimulated by noise easily

-She had too many houseplants. She and Haldir had to come to compromise (she lost; her consolation prize for almost-solely kitchen herb plants in the house now is garden walks with his brothers)

-She’s afraid of heights. It makes living in trees the fucking worst (patrol towers and the Council Hall are the worst offenders because they’re extra high up)

Also, would it be okay if I requested a short drabble with them this October for my birthday?

Yes! :) Thank you for asking (and good call on starting the request early haha). If you want it posted for everyone, go ahead and drop your request in my ask box, but if you'd prefer something just for yourself, please feel free to send me a message!

Also, hello, fellow October birthday babe!! You a Scorpio or a Libra?

[awkwardkindatries]

Kinktober Day 23: Choking

Orophin/Reader

NSFW

Tags: Choking, Breeding kink, Breath play?

Words: 822

Laying beneath Orophin is always a pleasure, he’s devoted and playful and eager to please. All you need to do is ask and he will do his best to give you the pleasure you seek. With this said, he’s probably the kinkiest of his brothers as he has an open mind that just wants the two of you to enjoy the pleasure as best you can together.

This early morning as you lie together soaking in the heat and plushness of the sheets around you, you're not the least bit surprised at the stiffness from your lover pushing firmly into your stomach. You had been resting for maybe an hour, enjoying the afterglow of your latest toss in the sheets and are almost envious of the elf’s stamina. You can’t help the smile that comes to your face at the prospect of holding one another tightly, fingers brushing through hair as soft sighs fill the room with an intimacy you aren't used to could rouse him up so easily.

He pulls his head from the nook of your neck as he looks up at you, his eyes are soft and his face is at peace as a lazy smile comes upon it.

“ I see I’ve been found out, I don’t suppose a bit of fun would be out of the question?” He asks.

Your smile only grows as the stir in your stomach begins to become more prominent at the promise of another fantastic round of sex. Your legs hike up from either side of his hips to rest crossed across his back, encouraging him to seek the heat further inside of you. A groan makes its way up from his throat as his hands come up from your waist, a soft kiss following, encouraging the moment. Soft lips bringing your breath to a halt one kiss after the other as he begins to roll his hips against yours, slotting perfectly against you. He continues on, sliding himself against the slick having pooled between your thighs as he prepares to slide home inside of you once more.

Pulling away for just a moment you mumble out your request knowing damn well he’d hear it, as an excited smile comes to his face. “ As you wish, remember the safe word” he says as his hand comes down from encompassing your cheek to clasp firmly around your neck, firmly applying pressure. His eyes linger on yours for a moment to make sure it’s not too much, just enough to feel something. After you give him a nod of approval he guides himself to your entrance, pushing in to the hilt, his head tossed back as he moans out in appreciation. You’re grateful for the lovemaking you had indulged in prior to this as he begins a feverish pace that makes your body bounce and legs jump as they try to keep up. As his hand squeezes lightly around your throat he uses this leverage to keep you in place as he hovers above you, enraptured by the way your body responds to him as he pistons away at the sensitive walls of your insides.

Your hands come up to wrap around the wrist of the hand pinning you down strangled noises coming from your lips as you can’t help the extra electricity this treatment provides. Your eyes begin to roll back subconsciously at the rapid abuse of the nerves nestled inside of you, unable to help the cries and drool that slip past your lips in the process. You’re so close, you’d beg him not to stop if you could push the words out but instead entrust your body to his care once more, certain that by now he knows every inch of your body enough to bring you to rapture.

His pace begins to pick up as he grunts and pants above you, the occasional swear breaking past his lips into the sounds of euphoria around the two of you as he approaches the end himself. Seconds away from the bliss your seek he voices his warning as you offer no protest in return, moments later pushed across the finish line as your body trembles in relief. An indescribable heat seeps into your core and coats your walls, spilling past your entrance and down the base of his cock onto himself. For the second time this morning, once he leaves your body you’re still left feeling full as the empty space is replaced by something else.

Rolling onto his side to rest, he brings his arms up to rest behind his head as he breathes deeply trying to regain his breath leaving you to bask in the aftermath. You feel like a mess but satisfied nonetheless as you can’t help the dumb smile that comes to your face, if this is how your mornings will continue to go you don’t think you’ll mind giving the rest of your life to him.

[animerina]

Your Eyes Are Like Starlight

Haldir X F!Reader

Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) (24)

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Summary:  Haldir and his patrol rescue a woman outside of the forest and bring her to Caras Galadhon. She is allowed to stay to recover from her injuries, both physical and mental. Haldir quickly finds himself as her protector and worries what will happen when she leaves.

Note: TW for attempted assault, eventual smut, minors DNI. I wrote this a while back and it is incredibly self-indulgent. I know I probably screwed up actual lore, but I really enjoyed writing this so I hope you do as well. It was previously posted on A03. 

All Italics are Elvish.

Chapter 1: Saved

Haldir perched on a limb of a tree overlooking a clearing just outside the Forest of Lothlórien. The others in his patrol were spread out throughout the rest of the branches looking at the scene unfold before them. They had been watching a small group of men camping outside the forest. The men were sitting around their fire drinking and laughing. His gaze drifted to the cart they kept throwing the bottles at. A woman was propped up against it, half-heartedly dodging the bottles that crashed against the wood behind her. Hands bound in front of her, she had little room for movement. Her clothes were dirty and torn like she had been dragged alongside the cart for days. Boots, most likely hers, were tossed off too far for her to reach, a tactic meant to discourage running away. Haldir could see her eyes were tired and she was struggling to stay awake.

Another round of laughter broke out among the men drawing his attention away from the woman. One of them, a hairy man who stumbled with drunkenness, rose to grab something from a pack on one of the horses. Pulling a bottle from it, he started over to where the woman sat.

“Come now,” he slurred. “You need to have some fun too.” Thick fingers grabbed her chin roughly and yanked her forward. She yelped as she toppled over onto her stomach, barely catching herself with her bound hands.

Another man, one much younger than the others, approached laughing at the first man’s antics. He pulled her up and sat her back down facing the rest of the men who were watching in amusement.

“Come on, girl. Have a drink with us!” He jeered. When she turned her head in defiance he pinched her nose closed forcing her mouth open to breathe.

The hairy man uncorked the bottle with his teeth, spitting it out at her, and poured the liquor down her throat causing her to cough and choke on the burn. They released her and howled with laughter as she fell on her side and continued to cough facing the ground.

Haldir’s brother, Rúmil, approached him on his branch.

“What should we do?”

“We wait,” Haldir gave a signal to the rest of the patrol to hold their positions, though the grip on his bow tightened as he watched the woman struggle against her binds.

Suddenly, the woman pushed herself up with an angry scowl and spit in the bearded man’s face. He shouted an explicative as the others laughed at his misfortune. She tried crawling away but was yanked back by her hair forcing a cry to escape her lips.

“Where do you think you’re going?” The younger man asked as he threw her roughly at the one she spit on. Angrily, the man pulled his hand back and hit her across the face with the back of it.

“You little bitch!” He shouted as he hit her again, her hands not fast enough to block his arm. Blood dripped down the side of her now split lip, bruises already threatening to appear. Tucking her head into her arms, she tried to escape fearing he would decide to hit her again. Haldir’s hand itched to grab an arrow, but he hesitated. As Marchwarden, he could not offer asylum so easily and he would not forsake his duty for a whim, though his hesitance weighed heavy on his conscious. From the corner of his eye, he saw his brothers’ grips also tighten on their bows. A voice from below drew him back to the scene.

“Oi, be careful with her. She’s worth more with that pretty face,” another man called out from the fire. He was the best dressed out of all of them, though that wasn’t saying much, but was clearly the leader of the group.

“What’s a few coins, Gregor? We could be having fun, right sweetling?” The young man directed his gaze back at her.

Eyes widening in fear, she tried getting to her feet and running but was forced to the ground by the drunk man. She fell flat on her face screaming at them. The leader, Gregor, approached the struggling woman. His foot pressed down onto her left leg as she fought against them.

“Stop moving or I’ll break it and make you walk the rest of the way.” He threatened her and she ceased moving, simply whimpering face down in the dirt.

“Please,” she begged. “Please gods no.”

Gregor removed his foot from her leg and stepped aside. He nodded to himself silently. “Alright, but I get her first. Turn her over,” he commanded and his men jumped up to restrain her.

“No!” She screamed and started kicking as hard as her tired body could. The younger man laughed as he pulled her arms above her head. “Get her legs, Yorrick.” She could feel large, calloused hands grab her ankles quickly putting an end to her struggle.

“Get off of me!” She screamed.

Another hit landed on her face, but she couldn’t tell which man it had come from this time.

“You need a muzzle, bitch!”

Gregor straddled her, effectively pinning her hips to the ground. His yellow teeth glowed in the firelight and she couldn’t look away from his ugly grin and he towered over her. She felt pathetic as she lay there beneath him.

“No, I want to hear her scream,” he sneered.

The woman shouted in surprised when Gregor’s head shot back with such force she heard the neck snap. The men around her began shouting and looking around releasing her as they fled for safety. She sat up and saw an arrow was sticking out of her captor’s eye, his dead body laid out over her legs. Another slew of arrows shot through the air and several of the men fell before they could reach any of their weapons.

She forced herself out from under the heavy body and rolled onto her side, panic evident in her movements. Her eyes searched for an escape but she couldn’t tell where the arrows had come from. The young man was kneeling behind the cart, using it as a shield. He was urging her to follow him and as much as she didn’t want to, she was desperate to get out of the line of fire. She rushed over to where he hid only to be grabbed roughly by her neck. He held her in front of him and she realized that she was now his shield as he slowly made his way to the horses.

“Don’t try running or well both die.”

He released her neck in favor of wrapping his hand in her hair and roughly pulling her along. Her eyes fell to the ground so she wouldn’t trip, but spotted the dagger on his belt. Without hesitation she grabbed it, ripping material as pulled away from him. The man had only a moment to look down at his torn pants before she had jammed the blade into his neck. He stumbled back trying to pull the blade out, but only managed to gurgle on his own blood before falling to the ground. Panicked, she grabbed the handle and forced it free holding it in front of her.

Tears rolled down her face as she looked over the dead men, arrows protruding from all but one. She gasped for breath when her eyes spotted the small party of elves standing at the tree line, bows aimed right at her. Her fingers trembled at the sight and not wanting to be shot as well, she threw her dagger to the ground.

Haldir made a signal and the patrol lowered their weapons. He slowly approached her afraid of spooking the poor woman more than she already was. He pulled his own blade out but she stepped away from him upon seeing it, eyes filled with fear.

“No harm will come to you now. Please allow me to cut your bindings.”

Haldir outstretched his hand to her. Hesitantly, she nodded and allowed him to cut through the rope binding her wrists revealing bruises and raw skin. He thumbed the wounds gently and she winced.

“Are you injured anywhere else?”

“My head,” she whispered, eyes locked on their joined hands. “And my face,” she added though she thought those injuries were obvious. She felt dumb for pointing them out when they were so clearly visible.

Haldir looked her over before continuing. “I am Haldir, Marchwarden of Lothlórien. You will come with us,” he gestured to the elves behind him. One of them came forward, collecting her boots and handing them to her.

“What is your name?” Haldir asked as she quickly pulled them on.

“My name is Y/N,” she replied and began following him, nearly tripping with how much her legs were still shaking. Haldir was at her side quickly, pulling her to him to steady her movement.

“Do you need assistance? We will be going quite far.”

“No, I’m sorry,” she paused to take a breath. “I’m just in shock. I will be fine.”

The blonde elf began speaking to two others who looked similar to him. They moved to stand at her sides close enough that they could catch her if she fell.

“These are my brothers, Rúmil and Orophin. They do not speak much Westron, but they will assist you if needed.”

“Thank you,” she bowed her head embarrassed that she was causing such a scene. They bowed their heads back to her before continuing as the group made their way deeper into the woods. Not long into their journey, they approached a ladder in one of the trees.

“We go up from here. Are you able to climb?” Haldir asked her.

“Yes,” she didn’t hesitate to answer, but her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

“You will not fall. Orophin will go after you and make sure.”

Nodding, she climbed up after Haldir trying not to look at how far up they were. Y/N felt as though she may lose her footing if she looked down. Haldir helped her onto the platform once they reached the top.

“We will wait here for now,” he said gesturing to the trunk of the tree where she could sit. She watched the others as they made their way onto the platform, some of them eyeing her with curious faces, some of them with pity.

Movement on her right startled her. Rúmil had crouched next to her, silver eyes roaming her face.

“Allow me to look at your injuries.”

She gave him a confused look not understanding what he said. His movements were intentionally slow as he reached out to hold her face, fingers gentle as they gripped her chin. He moved her head from side to side and it dawned on her that he was inspecting her injuries. Another elf handed him a cloth wet from a water skein so he could wipe the blood from her mouth, his eyes narrowing as her cut lip was revealed. She winced and pulled away from him, her hands flying to her wound. He smiled sheepishly in apology and offered her the cloth to continue herself.

“Thank you,” she said for the second time that night as she held the cool material to her mouth. He didn’t move from his spot beside her, but turned to speak with his brother.

“She heals fast for a human.”

That caught Haldir’s attention and he joined his brother to look at Y/N’s face. It was true. The bruising she had on her cheeks was lighter than it had been when he saw her in the clearing and her lip wasn’t as swollen either.

“You are human correct?”

“Uh-well yes,” she replied as she set the cloth down on her lap.

“You are healing very quickly. Did you know you had this ability?”

She was quiet for a moment before answering. “Yes,” she started. “I’ve always been able to heal quickly. Neither of my parents knew where it came from, but they were both human.”

Another elf, one that was not with the group earlier, approached Haldir and spoke in elvish.

He nodded and stood, offering his hand to help her up.

“Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel wish to see you,” he said.

[eunoiaastralwings]

Omg that was so good! Orophin – you cute baby!

The way he tries his hardest to overcome the language barrier and tries to make a conversation with the reader 😭😭

Oh yoou sweet boy — I love you!

Beautiful! — so wonderful! Thank you for letting me know about this fic— I loved it so much!

SUCH A JOY TO READ!!

PLEASE OROPHIN CALLING HER PRINCESS WHILE THEY CALL HER MOMMU GOOSE 🤣😭😭😭

loved this so much

Sing, Princess

Based off this imagine at imaginexhobbit - Imagine Haldir’s brother Orophin enjoying your stories and the sound of your voice, including some references to old Celtic and French folk tales. Book-and-movie verse. Boring as hell. 

Enjoy. :)

Sing, Princess. 

“She…left him?”

Merry was incredulous. As well as a half of your battered audience.

You repressed a sigh, already knowing how you would spend the next few minutes.

“She did. Came back where she belonged.”

“But why? It was an accident, not his fault!”

“His marriage vow was he that would never let a piece of iron touch her. Should have known better than to keep iron in the house at all. A deal is a deal, if you wish.”

“A marriage is a deal,” grunted your most favourite Dwarf in Arda.  

Keep reading

[bonjour-rainycity]

Home Again

Prompt: Domestic bliss/a day in the life (Content Challenge Day 2)

Pairing: Haldir x Female Reader

Rating: T

Word count: 2164

Warnings: Maybe I pushed the ‘T’ rating a little. There’s nakedness but like...tasteful nakedness? Also lots of kissing. And suggestions. And so much fluff. 

A/n Welcome to Day 2 of my content challenge! You can find the challenge’s masterlist here and my personal masterlist here. Happy reading :) 

Light shines into my closed eyes, and, mumbling in annoyance, I roll over, smushing my face into the pillow.

The ellon to my left chuckles warmly, wrapping an arm around my waist. “No, no, meleth nîn. Now that I know you are awake, I shan’t let you escape my attentions.”

I laugh as Haldir leans over me and peppers my face and neck with tiny kisses, encouraging me to roll onto my back. After much giggling and futile attempts to return to sleep, I comply, allowing him to kiss me fully on the lips. I sigh into the kiss, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and pulling him closer to me.

“I’ve missed this,” I breathe, closing my eyes when Haldir places a gentle kiss on my collarbone. “Three months is too long.”

At this, he raises his head, showing me the apology in his eyes “I know. I am sorry for leaving you for such a time, but I cannot ask it of my wardens and not hold myself to the same standard.”

I take one of his hands in mine, fiddling with his fingers. “You are much too honorable for my liking, Marchwarden.”

His playfulness from earlier returns, and he wraps his arms under my back. “I take offense! I shall have to prove to you that I am no such ellon.” With that, he releases his knees, dropping his full weight on top of me.

“Haldir,” I laugh, trying to push him off of me. “You must move, I cannot breathe!”

He buries his face in the crook of my neck, and I feel his smile against my skin. “Now what were you saying? I doubt an honorable ellon would try to squish his wife.”

“I shall have you arrested for attempted murder,” I gasp, elbowing him in the ribs and kicking at his shins.

He grins languidly, but relieves the pressure on me slightly. “And who is going to carry out this arrest? I am, as you say, the Marchwarden of this realm.” He raises a haughty eyebrow. “And I have no intention of incarcerating myself.”

I bump my nose against his, earning myself a soft smile. “Then it seems I shall have to lock you up.”

Haldir’s lips drop to mine, and he kisses me with a passion that has me quite willing to stay in this bed all day. “Such promises she makes,” he teases, and then seems to reign himself in. With a final, much more innocent kiss, he rises to his knees, offering me a hand. “Would you like breakfast?”

I enjoy my first full breath in minutes and take his hand, following him out of the bedroom. “You have been at the borders for three months. Sit, and let me cook for you.”

He does as he’s bid and, while I gather ingredients, he perches on one of the high stools that faces into kitchen. He does not stay on his side of the counter long, though, and soon wraps his arms around my waist, holding me closely against him as I cook.

There’s a knock on the door and Haldir and I exchange questioning looks. With a raised eyebrow, he releases me and walks through the talan to the front door. It’s not long before I hear the jovial greetings of Orophin and Rumil, and, smiling to myself, I retrieve two more plates from the cabinet.

Haldir enters the kitchen, his younger brothers in tow. “Do you mind, my love?”

“Not at all,” I grin, pulling the ellyn in for hugs.

“Of course she minds,” Rumil laughs, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek before sitting on a stool. “Her husband only just got back last night, and now she’s got a kitchen full of guests. I’m sure she’d much rather be f—”

I hurry to interrupt the youngest of the three, carefully placing some fruit on his plate. “You know you are both welcome here any time, I—”

“Relax, Y/n,” Orophin laughs, holding up a hand to stop my protests. “Rumil and I do not plan to stay long. We only wanted to see our brother, make sure he’s in one piece.”

“And have breakfast,” Rumil declares, mouth full of bread. Haldir rolls his eyes and darts a quick hand out to shove Rumil’s head towards the counter. Rumil only just keeps his head from connecting with the wood, and ducks around Haldir’s outstretched arm to push at his chest.

“Enough,” I laugh, sitting down with my own plate. The two eye each other with amused suspicion, but otherwise obey.

The four of us inevitably get on the topic of Haldir’s time away, and he regals us with the more entertaining stories from the borders. Before we know it, the morning has passed us by, and Orophin and Rumil must rush away to attend to their duties.

Haldir closes the door behind them, then pulls me into his arms. “Thank you for putting up with them.”

I snort and lay my head against his chest. “You know I love them.”

We stay there for a few minutes, wrapped in each other’s embrace. Haldir eventually pulls back and pushes me in the direction of our bedroom. “Change into something suitable for hiking. I’m taking you to the woods.”

I do as requested, rolling my eyes as I go. “You ask so politely.”

“It’ll be worth it,” he calls after me, and, because I can hear the excitement in his voice, I decide to believe him.

{***}

Two hours later and we are still walking.

“You know, I was only joking this morning, but now I think you might actually be trying to kill me,” I huff, struggling up the millionth hill of our hike.

My husband only laughs, reaching for my hand. “We are minutes away, meleth.”

To his credit, Haldir was right. Not five minutes later, the ‘trail’ ends and we stand on a cliff, overlooking a deep pond. I glance between Haldir and the water in delight — he knows how much I love a swim. “How did you find this?”

He shrugs like it’s nothing, though his chest puffs out. “I came across it during a scouting excursion a few weeks ago. I’ve been thinking of taking you here ever since.”

“I’m grateful,” I smile, leaning my back against his chest and pulling his arms to encircle me. He tightens his grip and starts a trail of lingering kisses up and down my neck. “It’s the perfect day, too,” I mumble weakly. The sun is shining, the air is hot, and a dip in the cool, clear water is just what I need.

I notice, perhaps belatedly, that neither of us brought proper swimming attire.

But it seems Haldir has planned for that.

He doesn’t stop his kisses when he speaks against my neck. “Take off your clothes.”

I let my eyes flutter shut. The sound of his voice and the way he sucks on my pulse point leaves me with no desire to protest. I pull at the ties on my tunic, and he follows suit. Soon, we are both undressed completely, standing naked in the shining sun.

Haldir pulls my mouth back to his, and, absently, I remember that, though we are in a secluded area, the woods is not necessarily private. “This area is unknown?”

His lips twitch against mine, and he pulls back so I can see his assured smile. “No one is around. No one will know we are here.”

That’s good enough for me. I wrap my arms around my husband’s neck and move to kiss him again, but he scoops me up in his arms, grinning wickedly.

Oh no. “Haldir-”

With a confidence that’s both infuriating and wildly attractive, he winks…

And steps off the cliff.

The water is much colder than I imagined, and I shriek the moment it touches my skin. Haldir finds this quite amusing, though I note with a smirk of satisfaction that a shiver runs up his own spine.

Not so invincible.

With that in mind, I wriggle out of his arms and splash as much water as I possibly can in his direction.

For a moment, he looks so utterly betrayed that I feel a twinge of guilt.

But then he lunges me, and all sympathy disappears.

He grips my shoulders firmly and shoves me under the water. He lets me up almost immediately, but the damage is done.

He’s submerged me in the freezing water twice already, and I cannot let that go.

I jump at him, but his skills on the battlefield apparently apply also to water fights, and he is much too quick for me. He places one arm behind my back and the other behind my legs and brings me into his arms, cradling me against his chest—despite my struggles.

“There, there,” he laughs over my protests. “Deep breaths now.”

I glower at him and manage to get a hand free, splashing a spout of water into his face. He raises an eyebrow, replacing his carefree laughter with the trademark Marchwarden Stoicism.

“Is that the best you’ve got?”

I lift my own eyebrow, meeting his challenge. “Release me and find out.”

He opens his mouth to retort, but the wind rustles the leaves, and he tenses.

I freeze against him, knowing Haldir well enough to see that, in the slight noise from the moving greenery, he has found cause for concern.

“What is it,” I whisper, but he raises a hand, cautioning for silence. I purse my lips together and strain my ears, trying to hear the forest as he does. Centuries in the trees have made him hyper-sensitive to every rock, leaf, animal — and intruder.

I gulp, tightening my grip on his shoulders.

Without warning, Haldir plunges me into the water once again, and I sputter, finding myself pressed against the cool skin of his back.

“M-Marchwarden,” a voice stutters out.

Oh Valar.

I’m suddenly painfully aware of how naked I am.

“Erlan,” Haldir sighs, giving the young ellon a displeased stare.

I recognize the name. Erlan is the newest member of Lothlórien’s Guard, only just having come of age some twenty years ago. Haldir says he is inexperienced, but shows promise, and frequently does week-long stints as part of the forest patrol.

“I-I am so sorry, Marchwarden. I did not mean—” While the elf stumbles over his words, Haldir tries to discreetly lower his hands to cover the essentials, but the movement draws Erlan’s eyes. Realizing what he’s doing, Erlan jerks his head upwards, staring safely at the sky. “Oh my, I am so—”

“Just leave, Erlan,” Haldir grits out, the pink twinge to his cheeks slightly damaging his commanding tone.

Erlan tries for a respectful bow, but as he bends, his eyes lock with mine and he yelps, straightening quickly. Haldir shifts to block me completely from view, raising an arm in Erlan’s direction. “Go!”

Erlan nearly runs into a tree in his haste to escape, and the hilarity of the situation overrides any embarrassment I might feel. I laugh, wrapping my arms around Haldir’s middle, encouraging him to turn in my arms. He does so, though his eyes scan our surroundings suspiciously.

To distract him from his anger, I press kisses to his chest, and, eventually he relaxes in my arms. Once I know his ire has passed, I rest my chin against his sternum, looking up at him with a wide grin. “I thought you said no one would find us.”

He fixes me with an unimpressed glare, the redness returning to his cheeks. “I will be speaking with him first thing tomorrow morning. His observation skills are—”

“Still in progress,” I interject, dragging my hands up his chest until I reach his shoulders. “Go easy on the poor ellon.” Using my grip, I pull myself up, wrapping my legs around his hips.

This seems to put him in a much more favorable mood, and he hums softly, laying his head against my shoulder. “I suppose you’re right. It could’ve happened to anyone.”

“Exactly,” I smile, pleased that I still have the ability to distract him like this even after a century of marriage. “Though I do believe that no one will be intruding upon us now, since Erlan is there to warn them.” I brush my lips against his shoulder, hinting at my intentions.

“My, you are smart,” his chuckle rumbles against me, and I dip my head to meet the lips that soon quirk teasingly against mine. “I knew I kept you around for a reason.”

I pull back, leveling him with a glare that rivals his own.

He attempts to school his expression, though he retains a mocking glint in his eye. “Intelligent and terrifying. I think I’ve hit the jackpot.”

I dip a hand into the water and flick it back towards his face, effectively wiping away his smug expression. “Do shut up.”

Laughing once more, he pulls me back to him, picking up where we left off.

I love having him home.

Even if I definitely plan on half-drowning him before we leave.

A/n So does anyone else adore Haldir, or is it just me? 

Likes, comments, and reblogs mean the world to me! Let me know what you thought and if you would like to be added to a tag list :) If you have any questions about the challenge, feel free to message me/submit an ask!

Challenge participants*: @game-ofthe-company @grunid @themerriweathermage @errruvande

*As far as I know. Please let me know if I’ve missed someone!!! 

[kenobiguacamole]

Shattered (Haldir X Reader)

A/N: Short. English is not my first language, please be kind if you find errors! To be continued?

Warnings: Angst, Haldir has low self-esteem

 Haldir walked swiftly under the canopies of the great mellryn trees. Soundless footsteps treading over the bed of fallen leaves. He could not help but feel nervous anticipation as he neared your talan. Today was the day he was going to finally admit his feelings for you. He had admired you from afar for many centuries, never finding the courage to approach you, let alone divulge his undying love for you. Being a Marchwarden of Lothlorien, Haldir faced certain death almost daily. It was his job after all to lay down his life in protection of Lothlorien and all its inhabitants. But with war looming on the horizon and the future being as uncertain as it was, he had finally scrounged up the courage to confess his feelings to you.

The sun was just beginning to peak over the tops of the trees, bathing the wood in a glorious golden light. As he climbed the curving steps of the mallorn that led to your talan, Haldir could not help but think of you. He thought of the way the sun would reflect off your amber colored eyes, and the way your rich, copper hair would shine like a fiery halo splayed across the heavens. Lost in his musings, Haldir found himself stood in front of your talan, palms slick with sweat. As he stood there, as weak legged as a newborn fawn, Haldir chastised himself. He was a Marchwarden of Lorien! He served the greatest rulers in all elvendom, Lord Celebron and Galadriel, Lady of Light! Surely, he could find the courage to confess his feelings to you! With newfound courage, Haldir made his way towards your front door. Fists clenched; he lifted his hand about to knock when he caught sight of you through your window. You were giggling, cheeks flushed with pink as he saw his brother, Rumil, kiss the delicate skin on the back of your knuckles. Haldir’s heart shattered and his stomach dropped. How could he have been such a fool? Of course, you could never possibly harbor feelings for someone like him; a socially awkward brute who found more peace on the fences than he did around others. How could he have ever imagined you would feel any sort of affection towards him? Especially when his perfectly charming brother could sweep any elleth off their feet with little more than a smile thrown their way? With that final thought, Haldir swiftly turned and all but ran down the steps, taking two at a time. He had to get out of there. He needed the peace and solitude of the trees. He loved his brother and, he loved you. How could he stand in the way of either of your happiness? He would not. He could not. But he also could not be a specter to the romance between the brother he loved more than anything and the elleth who had stolen his heart.

Foregoing his own talan, for he did not have the heart to face Orophin after such a devastating blow, Haldir made his way to the training yard. He would borrow armor and weapons from the armory and from there, he would go straight to the fences. He would ensure his stay at the fences would be extended for as long as possible. At least until his heart had mended. With that in mind, Haldir raced towards the training fields, banishing all thoughts of you from his mind.

[mrsmidnight15]

Imagine being young compared to Haldir and courting him. His brothers constantly make jokes about him being an old elf and jokingly asking you to court them instead.

[glassgulls]

I’m so here for hyper fixation and/or neurodivergent elvish traits!! Esp ennui. Tell me Haldir ennui? I think we can safely give Orophin long term bird hyperfixation.

After reading your thoughts on him baking I can see him having this as a fixation. Traveling or bartering for new grains, yeasts flavours. Traveling to visit great and well known bakers and chefs to get ideas but finding more inspiration from the small family traditional places. (He found the most perfect flavour combination from a small inn ran by a family who's grand matriarch grandmother did all the baking for the inn.) Since you mentioned it with @wareagleofthemountain it's now safely ensconced in my brain. Haldir could make bread that would make Paul Hollywood shake his hand and begrudgingly admire.

I can where you’re coming for this! Can you expand on how you view this feral ness? What’s your definition of feral, babe? Like Celegorm vibes? Although I do think ranger patrols are in at least groups of 4 or 5 and a station runs like 10-15 elves.

I don't know enough about Celegorm to compare them to be honest. Perhaps "feral" was a poor choice of word considering how disciplined he is.

Oooo okay okay (are we talking like primal kinks? What’s happening here?)

I wrote the scenario of Haldir chasing down the reader just to get the situation out of my head but it will always be an idea/scenario I want to explore more. Also included chasing/hunting him down is definitely something I want to write at some point.

I agree! I just think he’s more reserved and stoic just from the stress and being so on top of it. Kind of comes home with a form of burnout and overstimulation and needs to decompress.

Oh 100%! I just would tag on for myself that he would be that disconnect that I'm sure all those who are on active duty/tour sort of idea.

Can you tell I can't explain myself very well? Also knackered so hopefully this makes sense.

You deserve asks and questions too! I want to pick your brain for all your smartness and wonder

Tell me: what are your personal and most favorite Haldir hcs you have?

Hmm smartness and wonder may be not be the right terms for it but here goes! Very nervous about this. Buckle up for some Glassgulls bullshit.

✨Haldir headcannons✨

This mostly encompasses elves as well. But as I've discussed (obsessively rambled) at @heilith that elves can be laser focused, almost hyperfixate when they come across something or someone that provokes something in them. Possibly this is the teenage gothic romance buried deep in me, but I love the thought that these beings who live for such vast expanses of time could be prone to bouts of ennui. So when there happens to be someone or something that sparks that fire in them again they could become consumed by it. (Can you tell I used to read a lot of gothic vampire/horror?). Haldir I think when the right soul comes along would experience this too. Not to the detriment of his responsibilities as that is far too important to him, but in his own way would express this. The need to be in their presence, not clingy or hanging off his partner but just wanting to be near them. Beside them, or watching them in their professional element.

Haldir is more than a little feral. I say this with my own thought process that he and those who are on regular long patrols are away from the main society of elves. Periods of patrolling the wilds and sparsely populated areas I imagine would make anyone more than a little disconnected from the high social norms of polite society. More primal, and connected to the wild and roving expanses of nature. I don't think he is alone in this I feel like other Matchwardens/rangers are also under this vein. Aragon is a prime example of a wild, feral boi. Haldir is, literally, lifetimes ahead of Aragon on that front.

With the above in mind I think Haldir would be attracted to someone who has similar life experience. Possibly another ranger or another isolating job. That little wild, unbridled part of him finding another soul that understand even provoke that side of him? Yes please.

Haldir is reserved in the company or strangers and those not in his inner circle but I wouldn't ever think he would be intentionally mean or an asshole. Like I said, the guy's away from constant social interactions, he's just a little aloof. Probably much more noticeable after a longer patrol away.

These are just some off the top of my head, hopefully they don't induce utter rage in people. Characters are very personal to people so I completely understand there will be people who disagree with me. Thank you so much for the ask @creativity-of-death it was a lot of fun thinking on this. ♥️ I hope it was coherent. 🥴

Elf tagging: @elithilanor, @heilith, @sotwk, @wareagleofthemountain. If I do anymore and you would like tagged please let me know.

[deep-space-elf]

Haldir x Reader - Come Back to Me Pt. 1 of 2

[Part 1 ♦ Part 2] Summary: The Reader, Rúmil and Orophin worry about Haldir when he leaves for Helm’s Deep.     Word Count: 1.385 The Reader: female, can be read as any species  Warnings: Angst, mention of possible death, injury (no detailed description), blood   A/N: This was supposed to be a one-shot but it somehow escalated. The second part is already written and will be uploaded tomorrow. 🤗

Ever since Haldir left for Helm’s Deep, your heart was filled with dread. The thought that elves would fight alongside the children of men once more was wonderful and you knew they needed all the help they could get. But why did Haldir had to go, of all people? Because he’s one of the best warriors in Middle Earth, you reminded yourself. But he was also your husband - the last person you wanted to participate in any kind of battle. You prayed day and night that he to the Valar that he will return to you.

“Y/N!” Rúmil shouted as he ran towards you. “We received news from Helm’s Deep.”

You saw the grim look on the usually so lively elf and suddenly felt light-headed. “Please tell me he’s alive,” you whispered.

“We don’t know,” he grumbled. “Perhaps you should lie down. You don’t look so good, Y/N.” Before you could say anything, he grabbed your arm and guided you to the flet you and Haldir shared.

You laid down on the couch while Rúmil walked into the kitchen to make some tea. You tried to calm yourself down. There was no proof that your husband was dead. He might be alive, already on his way back to you. There was no need to break down over something you didn’t know. You knew all that, yet your heart sat heavy in your chest.

A few moments later Rúmil returned to the living room. He placed two steaming cups on the small table and sat down opposite you. You sat up and took a sip. “Thank you, Rúmil.”

“There is no need to thank me for taking care of my sister in law,” he said with a small smile.

“So what have you heard?” you asked.

The smile slid from his face. “Word has it that many have died in the battle. Children of Men as well as elves. We have no numbers yet but… We have won, so there are people alive.”

“But no one knows if Haldir is one of them,” you said with a shaking voice.

“No,” the ellon said and dropped his head. “We have no names as of yet.”

Tears were burning behind your eyes. No names. He might still be alive. He must be alive! “Rúmil-”

There was a knock on the door. “I get it,” Rúmil said and greeted the newcomer before you had a chance to protest. A moment later Orophin stepped into the living room. He greeted you with a smile that looked more like a grimace.

“Good afternoon, Orophin,” you said, your voice husky from the tears that you refused to let fall.

“Y/N,” the second oldest of the three brothers said. “I take it Rúmil has told you the news.”

You only nodded. The two ellons sat down. The three of you sat in silence for a while, no one really knowing what to say and silently praying that Haldir was still alive.

“I don’t know what I’d do without him,” you said eventually. The words were enough to finally break the dam. A sob escaped your throat and you buried your head in your hands. You felt the couch shift as the two brothers sat next to you, one to your left and one to your right. Orophin put an arm around your shoulder while Rúmil drew circles on your back. It was something they had done several times over the past couple of weeks.

“Y/N,” Orophin said. “Haldir is one of the best warriors Middle Earth has ever seen. If anyone survived this battle, it would be him.”

“Not to mention that he loves you more than anything in this world,” Rúmil said. “And no orc horde could stop him from coming back to you.”

“I hope you both are right,” you sniffed.

—

The next two weeks were only slightly better. Rúmil and Orophin were now basically living with you, as they thought it best to now leave you alone for too long with your depressing thoughts. Whenever they noticed you withdrawing or getting lost in your thoughts, they would draw you back. Often they would tell stories about their childhood, what they’ve encountered on the borders or how they would berate Haldir for causing you so much grief, once he has returned.

“At this point, it calls for more drastic measures,” Rúmil said one day. “I’d say stealing his dessert for at least six weeks!”

Orophin was about to suggest a different approach when suddenly the horns of Lorien were heard. The soldiers have returned.

For a moment the three didn’t move and only looked at each other. This was it. You were only moments away of finding out if Haldir survived or not. Though his brothers have been optimistic, they too were hesitant to find out.

“Come on,” Orophin said after a few moments. The three made their way to the centre of Caras Galadhon where the fighters would be welcomed home. No one said a word on the way.

—

They heard the shouting before they saw the turmoil. Ellons and ellith were gathering on the centre plaza, blocking their view on what was going on. Yet they could tell something was wrong. These weren’t eager cheers, but angry barks.

“Move! Move aside, we have wounded who need immediate treatment! I SAID MOVE!”

The people moved and created a small path for the soldiers. Gasps were heard and soon the three friends saw why. Several elves were carried on stretchers towards healing halls. Their clothes were torn and skin that shined through was bloodied and bruised.

It was the third elf that was carried, that almost made you faint. It was Haldir. He, too, was bloodied and bruised as he laid still on the stretcher. Too still. Everything else seemed to disappear from your field of view. There was only Haldir.

“No,” you breathed. You couldn’t remember moving, but suddenly you found yourself in the healing halls. Haldir was lying on one of the beds, face down. The healers cut away the rest of his robe and revealed a deep wound on his back.

“Y/N,” Rúmil said. “We should leave and let the healers do their work.”

You couldn’t move. You couldn’t breathe.

“Come on,” Orophin said and led you out of the halls.

—

You spend the next couple of hours in front of the halls in a haze. You could feel the tears on your cheeks though you're not sure when you started crying. You heard Rúmil and Orophin talking to you and the healers, though you couldn’t make out the exact words. You didn’t see anything that was going on around you. All you saw was Haldir, lying in the bed, with a huge and deep wound on his back.

“Y/N,” Orophin said and shook you carefully. You looked up at him. “The healers said we could go in and see him.”

You nodded and stood up. The three of you went in and your eyes immediately found your husband. He was still lying on his face. Almost his torso was bandaged, hiding the ugly wound. A bit of tension left your body. They treated him and you saw a small movement as his lungs pumped air into his body. He is alive!

You took one of the chairs and sat down next to his bed. Carefully you took one of his hands in yours. Once again there were tears clouding your cheeks. How you have missed those warm and callous hands. Suddenly all the fear you have carried around for the last weeks fell from your shoulders.

“How is he?” you heard Orophin asking one of the healers.

“The wound was deep and would have been lethal if it went only a little deeper or the party would have taken longer to arrive in Lorien. It will take several months until he is fully healed, but he should wake up in a couple of days. He will be in a lot of pain and will require daily treatment. I shall give you some time with your brother and husband,” the healer said and went to his next patient.

Rúmil laid a hand on your shoulder. “Haven’t we told you he would come back to you?”

For the first time in weeks, you actually smiled.

[elfy-elf-imagines]

Cruel Summer | Orophin

Pairing: Orophin x Human!reader

Genre: Angst with some fluff at the end

Warnings: Heartbreak; unrequited feelings...??

Words: ~5,222 (oh boy is it a long one)

Note: If you’d like to be added to a tag list for any of my works, there’s a link on my page! I hope you all enjoy this one, it was a real treat to write! ♡

“I didn’t realise a forest could be so beautiful,” you whispered, staring in awe at the towering trees that shined like silver. The night sky was nothing new to you, nor the moon and the stars, yet they seemed more captivating in Lothlorien than anywhere else. The moon burned as bright if not brighter than the sun, illuminating everything in its silvery glow. Stars dotted the sky, glistening like bright torches in a dark room. 

Lothlorien had been beautiful during the day time, the golden leaves so vibrant and unreal, you could swear someone painted them. You’d thought that beauty would be unmatched until night fell. Everything once golden and blinding is now soft and silver, the trees glittering like fine jewels. And it was perfect, the inner peace and calm Lothlorien brought to you was unmatched. 

The sound of footsteps came from behind, gaining your attention. Turning around you see Orophin, still wearing his grey cloak that marked him a Warden of Lorien and the light armor all the rangers wore. His silvery hair that would’ve put any Targaryen to shame was pulled back in its typical fashion. He was beautiful-- well all elves were beautiful, something you’d learned rather quickly, but Orophin radiated another type of beauty. His beauty was more akin to a predator luring in it’s prey of choice with enchanting words and a pretty face, luring you into a thrilling game you always lost. 

You knew he was dangerous, an alarm in the back of your mind going off every time he gets too close or graces you with a look that was lethal to your wellbeing. But instead of sending you running like it should have, it lured you in closer and closer, like a moth drawn to a flame. It’s dangerous-- he’s dangerous. 

But you never seem to listen.

“I ithil a elena thind in ennerion na i er nin,” he said, a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. A smile that promised nothing but pain and heartbreak, but also the thrill that comes with gambling, even when you know you’re going to lose. And you will lose, it’s just a matter of when and not if. 

“That’s not fair, you know I can hardly understand Sindarin, especially not when you speak it so fast,” you said, your eyebrows furrowing the slightest as you scowled. Orophin raised an ashen eyebrow at you, and you couldn’t help but feel envious at the lack of lines on his perfectly smooth forehead. His grin widened as his eyes glinted with mischief, and slowly like a prowling lion, he moved towards you.

 “I said, you are beautiful my dear, but you would’ve known that if you would pay attention during our lessons.” he said, eyes noticeably tracing your form. Your face flushed red immediately, images of you and Orophin, tangled together in your room, nothing but a sweaty flustered mess in your bed. Heat spread through your body as you remembered his icy lips on your hot body. 

And he knew it, that bastard knew the effect he had on you. It was obvious in his expression, like a cat that got the cream. 

“Or maybe you aren’t as great of a teacher as you like to think?” you shot back, mentally throwing ice cold water on yourself. Get a grip you idiot! 

“Oh? My lady wounds me! How will I ever hope to recover from such harsh words? Please, tell Rumil I’ve never enjoyed his singing and tell Haldir ho na burui hon in a adaneth,” he proclaimed, snickering towards the end. You pinched the bridge of your nose and exhaled loudly. 

“Orophin! How am I supposed to tell Haldir what you said… if I can’t understand you?” 

One.

Two.

Three steps.

Orophin waas close enough that you’re sure he could hear how rapidly your heart was beating against your chest, how uneven and shallow you breathing was. His eyes glanced down your form, slowly travelling back up to your face. His pale blue eyes glittered like sapphires as his soft hand reached out to touch you. His long fingers delicately traced your body, leaving you a shivering mess as you attempted to maintain a calm composure. Your head was nothing but static as your face grew hotter with each passing second, despite the cold air hitting you.

“Well then perhaps we continue those lessons?” he asked, the smirk on his face growing wider with each unsteady inhale of air. 

“Right now?” you managed to say, your voice barely above a whisper. 

He simply nodded his head, his smirk turning into a full blown grin. It was wicked and fatal and positively sinful. You attempted to pull back, your mind screaming at you to not fall back into what you knew to be a honey trap. But instead of backwards you moved forward, desperate to get as close as physically possible to him, but even then it wasn’t enough.  

“But someone could see, the Warden’s heavily patrol this close to the city,” you said, eyes widening a fraction as you stare up at Orophin. His finger moves up your body and to your face, tracing your cheekbones with a phantom touch. 

“Let’s hope they have enough courtesy to not interrupt, these lessons are paramount to your stay here in Galadhrim.” 

Before you could even breath, he brought his face down towards the crook of your neck. And when his face was only a few centimeters away from making contact with your skin, he paused. The warm breath that hit your skin felt like a frost storm compared to the heat building in you.

“Im innas na harno cin, nin lend lóth” 

“Im innas na harno cin, nin lend lóth.” The phrase felt jagged and rough, the elven dialect still foreign from your lips, while Orophin’s were smooth as silk. 

“Good, it seems you’ve learned more than originally thought,” he muttered, the vibration of his voice sent a shiver up your spine, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. You couldn’t do anything, your mind nothing more than a pile of mush.  All you can do is nod, anticipating the next move Orophin made. 

“What does it mean?” you asked, voice so quiet you were sure he didn’t hear.

After what seemed like eternity, but in reality was only a minute, Orphan placed his soft lips against your neck, leaving behind feather light kisses as he moved up your neck, onto your jawline, and up towards your cheeks. He pulled away just a hair as you watched him with wide eyes, desperate for him to do something. 

“It means, my dear, we have a long night ahead of us.” he whispered. He graced you with one more wicked grin before closing the gap between the two of you, his lips firmly pressed against yours.  

                                                   o0o0o0o   

The pillow beneath your neck was plush and soft, your body nearly melting into a puddle, sinking into the heavenly mattress that supported your tense body. A silk blanket was haphazardly strewn across your body, crumpled and bunching in places. As was usual in Lothlorien, the night sky was beautiful. From your location, the moon was out of sight, but the stars burned so bright you hardly noticed as their light trickled in from the open roof of your talan. The air was cooling against your hot skin, a welcomed change in temperature. 

The soft melody of elves singing in the distance would normally lull you to sleep, their angelic voices drawing out your thoughts, but tonight it grated against your ears. You clenched the delicate blanket in your hands, finger causing crinkles in the soft fabric as it threatened to tear. But you weren’t mad at them or their heavenly singing that was without a single flaw, no it was something unrelated to singing, but very much including elves. 

“Are you trying to ruin your duvet, meril nin,” 

And like clockwork, the very source of your anger and confusion waltzed into your room as if it was his. The lighthearted easiness he carried himself with was a matching set to the smirk that always seemed to be tugging on his lips. But his eyes, his eyes were different this time. You were never good at reading people, even worse when it came to elves who’ve had hundreds of years to practice controlling their emotions. Yet even you could tell there was something different in them tonight. Maybe it was the starlight and the way it shined down upon him, casting a halo atop his beautiful silvery hair. A part of you wondered if you could cut a piece and sell it off to an unsuspecting merchant and pass it off as silver that’s been turned to thread. 

“What do you want Orophin, it’s late?” your tone was exasperated and tired. It always seemed like one thing or another with Orophin that would just leave you more confused than sated. 

“To see you of course!” he exclaimed, a jovial expression perfectly placed on his face. His eyes were alight with wonder and excitement, his lips curling into a grin filled with promises of fun and bad ideas. 

“Well I need to sleep.” 

He just raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow at you, but otherwise seemed undeterred. He took long strides towards your bed, closing the already miniscule distance between the two of you. Before you could even blink more than three times, he sat on your bed, languidly leaning back until he was lying atop your thighs. He looked at you with wide eyes and fluttered his lashes at you. 

“Why are you so grumpy, meril? I thought humans had fun,” he teased, lifting his hand and tapping the end of your nose with his finger, booping you like a cute pet. You couldn’t tell if it was demeaning or downright adorable. 

“I’m not grumpy.”

“Yes you are my dear.” He pushed himself up just enough to swing one leg over you, now straddling your thighs. He began crawling up your body until his knees were flesh with your hips, hands resting beside your head. He leaned down, until there was only a few inches in between. 

Your skin was on fire, burning hotter and hotter with each second that passed. Your eyes searched his face for anything to clue you in on his motives, despite already knowing them. Maybe you were just hoping for something different than the usual procedure. 

“Perhaps I can offer some assistance?”

A smirk appeared on his face, eyes shining in the pale light streaming in from the open rooftop. It was trouble, you knew that, but maybe the fallout wouldn’t be so bad. So against your better judgement, you leaned forward, connecting your lips with his. 

His lips were as sweet and soft as they normally were, the scent of him lulling you deeper and deeper into euphoric bliss, like a wave pulling you deeper and deeper into the ocean. All reason left your brain, the only thing it could focus on being him and the feeling of his body pressed against you. You reach a hand up, tangling it in his silver hair. It slides through your fingertips like silk, falling from your hand like a waterfall. Your hand wandered up until you met the braids that held the front pieces of his hair back. You scrape your fingers along his scalp before trailing your hand down. You graze the very tip of his ear, light as a feather. 

He lets out a gasp, the sound swallowed by your mouth. He pulls away for a moment, migrating his lips from your mouth down and down until he’s leaving angel kisses along your neck. 

Then like being woken from a deep sleep with a piercing scream, your eyes shot open. You pull your hands away from Orophin, cradling your hand as if he burnt the flesh. You sit up and attempt to catch your breath, feeling like you ran 10 miles without a break. 

“We need to stop.”

“Why meril?” a sly smirk appeared on his face, as he began to crawl towards you to close the new distance between you two, only pausing when you held a hand out. 

“I’m serious, Orophin,” your voice was stern and confident, the opposite of the chaos that was in your brain. Worldesly, he moves off of you, opting to sit on the other side of you, feet hanging over the side of the bed. 

“What is it?” 

“What are we?” you said, he opens his mouth, but you cut him off, already not liking the glint in his eyes. “I’m being serious.”

A sigh escaped his mouth, causing your heart rate to increase and your anxiety to kick into overdrive. 

The dreaded conversation you always knew would come. 

“I thought we were just, you know, having fun.” The words cut into you like a knife, the pain almost physical. 

“Oh.” 

“It’s just, it’s difficult, I thought you knew that.” he said, some frustration leaking into his voice, whether it was directed at you or him, you didn’t know. “Us together would just be too difficult.” The knife embedded in your heart twists. 

“How can you say that when we aren’t even trying?” you exclaimed, the words rushed and your voice crackling at odd spots. 

“Because I know it to be true.” he said. His voice was short and cold, something you never associated with the warmth Orophin usually radiated. 

You stutter, your brain short circuiting as you attempt to process everything. 

And when your brain finally caught up, Orophin was gone, disappearing into the night.

                                                 o0o0o0o

“You lean too heavily to your right, did you know that?”

You jumped, not far, but enough to break the intense concentration you moments prior had. In your fright, the hand tightly gripping the bow string loosen and before you could react the arrow was released. It pathetically sailed through the arrow, bearing too far to the right. It only managed to get halfway through the training ground before it fell to the ground, like a limp noodle.

Whirling your body, a scowl overcoming your face, you saw Orophin. He was only a few paces away from you, holding a bright red apple that he brought to his mouth and took a bite from. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes when he started making exaggerated noises of delight, his eyes shut as if the apple was the most euphoric thing he'd tasted. 

“What was that for?” you exclaimed, your very short fuse exploding. “You ruined a perfectly good shot!”

 He finished chewing the piece of apple he bit off and then tossed it into the trees. One ashen eyebrow quirked at you as Orophin sauntered towards you, walking with the relaxed confidence only he could manage and a sly smirk on his face. Like clockwork, your heart began pounding in your chest and your face heated up. 

And he knew it too, you could see it in the way his smirk widened just a fraction and his eyes lit up with amusement. 

So you just scowled deeper, narrowing your eyes at him in hope of convincing not only him, but yourself that he didn’t have any effect on you. 

Biggest lie of the century. 

“If it was perfectly good it would’ve hit the target?” he said, his words teasing and light. 

“Well it would’ve if you didn’t distract me!” you replied. You were seething, not because of the arrow, but because of Orophin. He was confusing and infuriating, and perfect in every way. And you hated yourself, hated yourself because you couldn’t hate him, not really. 

“Are you saying I’m distracting? My lady, I am flattered that you can’t focus on anything just by merely hearing my voice!” he exclaimed, smirk contorting into a full blown smile. It’s blindingly bright and captivating, everything the sun shining down on Lothlorien was. 

“That’s not that I said you i-idiot!” 

“Really? That’s what I heard,” he replied, closing the distance between the two of you. He stopped a few inches away from you, close enough that you could hear his heartbeat and feel his breath fanning against you, and if you tried hard enough, you’d momentarily make contact if you breathed hard enough. The intoxicating scent of trees, rain, and something else that was distinctly Orophin. You hated how dizzy it made you feel and you hated that it was easily the sweetest smell you’ve experienced. 

He placed his hand on your tense shoulder and began to turn your body. With eyebrows that nearly touched your hairline, you opened your mouth, prepared to demand to know his intentions, but nothing came out except for a pitiful squawk. He turned your body until you were facing the direction of the training field, staring straight at the target you previously attempted to hit. 

“Relax, you’re as tense as Haldir when we’re on patrol.” He practically purred in your ear, the air from his words tickling your ear in a way that wasn’t entirely unpleasant. 

“What are you doing?” You were cautious and on high alert, full well knowing how things with Orophin usually ended. 

“Fixing your form. it’s not bad for a human, but you’re with the Eldar now,” he whispered. Orophin wrapped one arm around your waist and brought the other one to rest underneath the elbow of your bow arm. His touch was light and delicate, feeling more like the caress of a ghost than a corporeal person. And like a machine, you brought the bow up into position, placing a fresh arrow into proper position with a single fluid movement. 

“I also wanted to apologize for last night. I should not have stormed out the way I did.”

“It’s okay,” you said, your voice hoarse and rough, like a sharp rock.

“It’s not, but I appreciate the sentiment. Now let’s get back to the archery lesson, mell nin.”

“Mell nin. That means my dear?” You turned to face him, eyes widened like a doe as you carefully watched his face. His eyes locked with yours, his grip on you tightening ever so slightly. He grinned at you with a look more radiant and shining than before. Gods, you could go blind if you stared at him for too long, but it would be worth it. Blindness wouldn’t be so bad if his face would be burned into your mind for the rest of your life. 

“You’ve been catching on”

“Sometimes I listen,” you replied, keeping your voice low so as to not disturb the quiet aura that encapsulated the two of you. You don’t think you’ve ever seen Orophin this soft with you, usually he was all mischief and sex appeal. But now he was… at ease and relaxed, like he didn’t have to put on any airs. 

It was… nice.

Your lips tilted upwards as your eyes shined like starlight. Your erratic heartbeat slowed until it was in time with Orophin’s. Your eyes flickered down to his lips then back to his eyes. He followed your movements, not eyeing you like a predator but with… something else. Something you’ve seen the elves share with their husband or wife, the type of softness and vulnerability only present with someone you really care about. 

And you know, without a shadow of a doubt where Orophin’s thoughts stood seeing as he verbalised them last night in your room. You knew he didn't see this going anywhere permanent. Yet the look in his eyes and the complete ease he has around you says otherwise.

And then it’s suddenly cold. And before you have a chance to even blink, Orophin is gone, again.

                                                  o0o0o0o

“You can come out now, you pointy eared dummy!” you yelled, flailing your arms wildly as you do so, the wine bottle precariously held in your fingertips slipping and falling to the ground. Your eyes follow it, watching with wide eyes as the bottle hits the forest floor, bubbly liquid pouring out of the open top. 

“Shit,” you muttered, but made no move to pick it up. 

“That’s not very nice,” a soft melodic voice said from behind you. It was beautiful and light… you hated it. Whirling around, your legs wobbled as you began to lose your balance. Orophin surged forward to steady you, but you slapped his arm away.

“Don-- don’t touch me. No means no Oro,” you said, stumbling backwards until you fell to the ground, landing on your butt. Pain immediately flared up in the area, a pathetic whimper leaving your mouth. 

“Are you hurt?” he asked, moving towards you with slow and exaggerated movements, treating you like a scared baby. The thought caused you to scoff. You probably were a baby to half of the people here. Stupid elves and their stupid immortality.  

“Yes, emotionally and physically,” you said, closing your eyes and holding your head up, attempting to keep a sliver of your dignity. “But mainly physically right now.” 

“Maybe you shouldn’t drink so much then.” Once he was close enough, Orophin sat on the ground, his knees ghosting your skin. It burned like hot coals, singing the skin. 

“Maybe you shouldn’t drink more!” You pointed a finger at him and scowled, attempting to appear menacing. And in your mind, you were, except your finger couldn’t stay still and your face looked more like a pouting puppy than a fearsome killer. It would’ve made Orophin laugh if not for the sorrow poorly hidden in your eyes and your current pathetic state. He didn’t have to ask, he knew it was because of him. 

“I haven’t had any wine today,” he said, using the same tone he did when he found you alone in the Lorien woods all those months ago. When he had to coax you out from behind the mallorn trees after narrowly escaping a pack of orcs that got too close to Lorien.  

“Not my problem.”

“Of course! I must bear this burden on my own, my lady.” His tone was overly exaggerated. Against your better judgement, a smirk pulled at the corner of your lips, faint chuckle escaping between your lips.

“There’s that smile,” he teased, reaching forward and poking your cheek.

“Stop treating me like a child you stupid dolphin fin,” you muttered angrily, swatting at his invading hand. “I’m an adult you know.”

“Of course you are.”

“And don’t you forget it, buster!” You pointed a finger in his general direction, eyes still firmly shut. 

The two of you sit in silence for a moment, allowing the quiet atmosphere to swallow you whole. Orophin sighed, moving so he sat beside you, careful to not touch you.

“What’s wrong meleth? Why did you drink so much? Normally it’s near impossible to get you to drink more than two glasses when we’re together,” His voice is quiet and serious. 

‘Don’t call me love like that, you fool. You don’t love me, not really,” you muttered, leaning your head against the tree behind you. The silver bark is softer than you thought it would’ve been. Certainly not as rough and coarse as the ones back home.

“And how do you know that?” His eyes burned into your skin, like the sun bouncing off of a magnifying glass and incinerating small ants. 

“In case you’ve forgotten, you’re the one who said we couldn’t be together.” you said, opening your eyes for the first time since he sat by you. You searched his face for anything, but you couldn’t read him, probably due to your state of intoxication. 

“That’s not wh--” he began but you promptly cut him off by placing your hand over his mouth.

“But it’s how it was received. I get it Orophin, I’m human you're an elf,--” you obnoxiously exaggerated the word. “--your oil and I’m water, I get it now, don’t worry. It’s cool, there were no rules, so it’s on me that I let it get this far,” You told him. 

And you tried. You really tried to sound unbothered and nonchalant, to be as cold as ice. But the words were hollow, exposing how hurt you really were. 

Stupid elf. 

“You have to understand how diff--” Once again, you cut him off, the words being swallowed by the palm of your hand. 

“No, you don’t understand. I’ve played your little game for months and I’m tired of it. You hear me? Tired!” you exclaimed. You leaned forward and attempted to stand from your sitting position, however as soon as you moved, the world around you grew fuzzy, Orophin multiplying into two. 

“Be careful,” he snapped at you as he reached out to grab a hold of you. He pulled you from the ground, but you violently ripped away from him. 

“Don’t touch me you-- you, you big dummy!” you yelled, pushing him away and onto the forest floor. The fall was broken by the lush greenery that covers the Lorien first floor, so he easily scrambled up. You stumbled away, in your mind moving at the speed of lightning, however you were only able to get five paces away before falling to the ground. 

Tears of frustration and sadness built up in your eyes, your hands clenching tightly into fists. Hot tears streamed down your face, as you lay there on the floor like a baby throwing a tantrum. You smacked your fist against the ground, the throbbing pain dulled by alcohol. 

“I hate you, you know that? I hate you because I really don’t,” you muttered, already knowing Orophin was standing behind you. He said nothing and you couldn’t decide if that was better or worse. 

“I just- I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to keep sneaking around like I’m some horrible secret. I don’t wanna keep secrets just to keep getting small pieces of you.” 

You turned and looked at him, eyes tear stained and your face splotching and red. God you were a mess. And in the glimmer of the starlight, you saw a faint stream of tears falling down his cheeks, landing on the ground. God, they even cry pretty.

“Y/N--” he began, taking a single step towards you, causing you to scoot forward, sliding across the forest like a toddler who can’t walk right. 

“God, I love you, and that’s probably the worst thing you’ve ever heard,” you muttered. Your mind no longer felt foggy from the wine, your eyes glossy from tears and not a state of intoxication. You stood up, and walked away, leaving Orophin behind. And the hand he held outstretched towards you slowly fell limp as he watched you walk away. 

                                              o0o0o0o

It had been months since you’d last spoken to Orophin. Time passed agonizingly slow, minutes becoming centuries, yet everything felt like a haze at the same time. Every day regret would beat against you, pushing you further and further into a never ending abyss. It was odd not having Orophin intruding on your day in some way, scarily enough, it was almost like Orophin was never there. The phantom of where he used to touch you burned like ice until you were nearly numb all over your body. 

God it was hell, trying to keep up with his whirlwind of emotions, trying to decipher if you were just having a fun time or if he truly cared for you. It was exhausting being in a constant state of turmoil, your heart bleeding nearly every second, only to be lazily patched up with every kiss. But at least you had a piece of him, even if it was just a sliver. 

You did everything to give off the illusion of being preoccupied. You went wandering through the forest collecting flowers, you practiced embroidering and then practiced again, you read the same three books over and over again, but everything always came back to Orophin. And for that you were glad he was gone with the other Wardens, patrolling the forest. The orcs were growing more bold in their attacks, so Haldir increased the watch and the Warden’s time away. You didn’t trust your self control, and if Orophin was just within your grasp, you would’ve caved long ago. Falling back into him and whatever he was willing to give you, only to begin the hellish cycle all over again. 

For once you were grateful for Haldir’s extreme dedication to his job. 

So now you lay in your favorite clearing, lazily flipping through a book you’ve already memorized, the grass cocooning you, leaving angel kisses on your body. The sound of grass crumpling beneath someone’s step brought you from your thoughts. Looking up, you saw Orophin, standing with the trees. He was wearing his Lorien cloak, weaved in every color of the forest to better conceal the wearer, and his leather armor with his bow loosely held at his side. 

You stared at him and he looked back. His eyes were wide and hopeful, nearly glossy in the light. His lips were pulled in a thin line, and you could see him chewing on the inside of his lips. 

“What are you doing here?” you asked, slowly closing your book and placing it beside you. You sat up, but didn't stand. You refuse to be the one to leave. 

“You were wrong.” 

“What?” you asked, eyes narrowed at him as you purse your lips. 

“You were wrong.” he stated again, as if it would suddenly become clearer to you. 

“I don’t under--” you began but he cut you off. Like the wind, he rushed towards you, his bow forgotten on the forest floor where he used to stand. He slid onto his knees so he was level with you, grasping your hands in his and surged forward, the force knocking you to the ground. 

“What are you--” You started to say, face immediately turning red and your heart rate increasing. And then he’s kissing you. Not with his usual playfulness, or the lust that laced every touch, but it was nice and soft and sweet. More akin to an innocent first kiss rather than the fire he usually possessed. And as soon as his lips were on you, they were off, but he didn’t move, and you didn’t want him to. 

“You were wrong. It isn’t the worst thing I’ve ever heard.” he muttered, his breath tickling your lips. 

Oh. 

Oh.

In that moment it clicked, the foggy memoires you have of that night coming back to you. You’d uttered that exact phrase to him, “I love you, and that’s probably the worst thing you ever heard.” Against your better judgement, a small smile forms on your lips and this time it was you closing the distance. 

“I love you, meleth nin. I. Love. You.” he punctuated each word with a kiss, causing your skin to burn where his lips touched. “And I’m sorry I refused to admit it for so long.”

“You better be,” you replied, pulling his body closer to you, if that was physically possible. 

“Does this mean I’m forgiven?” he asked, pulling away from your lips. You smirked at him, eyes alight with the mischief that was missing for so long. 

“No, but that could be earned,” you said, playing with the fine hair at the nape of his neck. 

“I must warn you, it’s going to be a lot of hard work,” you teased, pressing your lips to the corner of his lips. A small whine left his mouth as he attempted to capture your lips fully with his. 

“Then it’s a good thing I’m a dedicated Warden.”

“We’ll see about that.”

                                                   o0o0o0o

Tags: 

@kenobiguacamole​ | @aearonnin​ | @emiliessketches​ | @vibratingbones​ | @ranhanabi777​

[thetempleofthemasaigoddess]

Plenilune

Haldir x reader - NSFW!

Fun fact: in Tolkien's legendarium the Moon is male since it is guided by a male Maia, Tilion, while the Sun is guided by a female Maia, Arien, and is therefore female.

*****

The murmuring of the wind through the leaves is almost comforting to your ears, as if the forest wished to hearten you against the danger you have deliberately put yourself in for the thirteenth time, as you spur your mare towards your destination galloping among woods and meadows. The moon and the stars illuminate the path enough to keep you and your mare from falling, and no evil that you ought to fear has ever entered Lothlórien; but yes, you are in peril, and you don't even want to think about the consequences if he found out what you are doing.

It is late, you sadly reflect as you cover your head with your hood in the remote case someone sees you, and obviously you cannot help it, since you couldn't leave until he had gone to bed and it would take the fastest horse almost an hour to reach your destination, but still you feel yourself trembling, your heart beating twice as fast as normal with haste, and fear... and another emotion, much more pleasant, that makes you wish you had wings.

A few minutes later, you and your mare have finally reached your destination: the gates of Caras Galadhon are a stone's throw from you, the high trees surrounded by talan standing out, solemn and majestic, against the hilltops behind them. You tie your mare to the trunk of another tree, leaving her to rest after the ride and graze pacefully, and walk towards the gate, your pace slow and your arms spread to show you carry no weapon and are therefore not a danger to the city and its people: you lived here for many years and most of the guards know you, but you know how seriously they take their duty to protect the borders, and it is better for all of you to avoid an incident.

You are now close enough to discern the shapes of the two Elves on duty, both fitted with one of the great bows of the Galadhrim and a quiver full of arrows; one of them softly calls your name.

"Orophin?" you answer in the same tone, not bothering to hide your relief, even more because next to him you have recognized Rúmil, his braided hair easily identifiable in the soft moonlight; after more than a year you must have met most of the guards, who serve on rotation, and none of them has ever tried to forbid you from entering -you are pretty sure they all sympathize with your predicament and are willing to help, even if it means turning a blind eye on your visits, but still, the fact that every single marchwarden is aware of your tryst is more than a little embarassing- but you are happy to be welcomed by the only two Elves in Caras Galadhon who have been personally informed of your visits... and of the reason behind them.

The moon is full; perfect in his circular shape, he shines above you, surrounded by the stars as a lord by his courtiers. You smile as you look at him, and then step across the high gate in white wood and iron that Rúmil has opened for you. "Hannon le" you thank him softly, and he simply smiles in return, while Orophin looks around you anxiously; the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien know you personally and know you pose no danger to their people, but strictly speaking they are failing in their duties letting you in after sundown, since the gates are closed during the night, and the fewer people know you are there, the better.

There is so much at stake for them, for you, and for the one who you know is anxiously waiting for you at his talan; you don't even want to know what would happen if you were discovered, but you persist, month after month, each time the full moon rises in the sky. And one day, soon you hope, your efforts will bear fruit, and you won't have to hide anymore...

"I thought you had decided not to come." Rúmil jokes as he closes the gate, and you wink in response. "Not even if the Valar themselves attempted to stop me."

"Stop wasting time, both of you!" Orophin hisses "The sun will rise in a few hours, and (name) must have left by then; you should go now, and be careful!"

If someone heard you, they could think you are plotting some heinous crime; at first the thought amused you, since the reason that brings you to the city every plenilune goes against no law, but by now, after a whole fruitless year, bitterness has grown inside you, a vague sadness and a sense of helplessness that make it almost impossible to joke about it. You would never give up on your hopes, and you would never renounce him, but sometimes you feel trapped, powerless against the will of the Powers and that of your own body, as if your dearest dream will never come true...

You would never express those doubts in front of your friends, who promised to help you in any way they can and are deliberately failing in their duty to do so; because of this you thank them both and proceed, quickly leaving the gate behind you.

The high Mallorn trees rise up all around you, the sight of the starry sky blocked by the talan built around their trunks; large oil lamps hang from the branches, most of them dark as it is normal during the night, but another lamp is lit, a lamp whose handle is grasped by someone who is waiting at the base of one of the trees, a tree you have reached without hesitation, moving among the maze.

You see him, you see his deep blue eyes in the noble face, a joyful and relieved smile breaking over his lips as he sees you, and it is as if you are finally able to breathe after a month spent struggling for air.

"Haldir..." you murmur, breathless for much more than just the speed of your pace; he almost lets the lamp fall from his hand, and a moment later you have started running towards each other.

*****

You still remembered the day you met Haldir; he was the guard on duty at the gate, you the new handmaiden lady Galadriel had just admitted in her entourage. As he walked you to the main talan, you were immediately struck with his noble beauty, the solemn face with the hint of a smile on his lips; you spent only a few minutes together since he had to return to the gate, but in the following days, when your path crossed as you were both busy with your duties, he never failed to offer you a smile and a nod, as if you were friends. With time, you learnt to appreciate him beyond his loveliness and a quiet friendship had started developing between the two of you, but you never thought he would be interested in you, until leaving your room one day you found a folded piece of parchment waiting in front of the door, under a niphredil flower: Haldir invited you for a walk, that very night; if you accepted, you were meet him at the gate at the end of his shift.

You felt your heart bursting with happiness when, that night, you walked to the gate wearing your favorite dress, your hair brushed until it shone, and the niphredil flower behind your ear; you couldn't wait to be alone with him, and you smiled at Haldir, busy talking to the guard who had come to take over from him. He smiled back, but you didn't notice how perplexed he looked when he saw you.

"Thanks for your message, I couldn't wait for our walk. Shall we?"

"... Yes. Oh course, let us go."

You spent two lovely hours together, walking along a trail in a beech wood just outside the city and sitting next to a stream; you talked, freely as you had never done before, about your families and your dreams, your pasts and your fears. You enjoyed Haldir's company and he appeared to appreciate yours, and for you it didn't matter what would have happened after that day, if that pleasant evening would be the beginning of something special or would remain a single event to think back to wistfully, and in the end, you didn't care: those few hours under a clear blue sky, when you didn't have to worry about duties and responsibilities and were free to be simply yourself, were a treasure in their own right, and whether Haldir's invitation was extended out of friendship or something else, in the end it didn't matter: simply being with him made you happy.

In the end it was only when Haldir insisted on walking you to your room, that he confessed the truth - simply because he felt he had to, being too fair and honest to take advantage of a scam, even though it hadn't been his fault.

"I must admit... I never invited you on a walk; the message that you received was probably sent by my brothers." he confessed, too ashamed to look you in the eyes, his long hair barely covering the flush that had spread on his fair face. He told you that Rúmil and Orophin, who you knew well and had noticed him staring longingly at you, had tried to convince him to approach you. Haldir had refused, both because he was sure you wouldn't be interested and simply because he would have rather faced Melkor than tell you about his feelings, and in the end his brothers must have decided to take the matter in their own hands.

"You are lucky to have brothers who care so much about your happiness." you said, your back pressed against the trunk of the tree, the talan you shared with two other of the Lady's maidens high above you; the night was falling on Caras Galadhon, a gentle breeze caressing your hair and dress. You would have flushed, and even perhaps run away in embarrassment, but apparently Rúmil and Orophin's intervention was due to their brother's indecision, not to his lack of interest, and because of this you stayed where you were, ready to reassure him that you were happy to have spent the evening with him nonetheless... and that if he wanted to invite you again, you wouldn't have said no.

"You think? At the moment I sincerely wish my parents had stopped after having me. Please don't misinterpret, I am very happy you came and I couldn't think of a better way to spend an evening; but they shouldn't have meddled."

You almost asked him if he would have ever confessed his feelings for you, had his brothers not intervened, but in the end, what difference would it have made? Despite everything, you were grateful to Rúmil and Orophin for what they had done, but now, and from now on, the two of you would have walked at your own pace.

"I am supposed to wait on the lady Galadriel at the banquet tonight." you said in the end "Shall we have dinner together before that? If you have nothing more important to do."

Relief was clear on Haldir's fair face as he answered that no, of course not, nothing on all of Arda would have been more important than spending more time with you. Expressing his feelings didn't come natural to him, at least not before he had spent some, or a long, time with someone, which could have made the other person -namely, you- interpret that reticence as indifference, even disregard, but you didn't; you were still learning to know each other, and as any other couple you would have your misunderstandings and disagreements, but in that moment at least everything was perfect, as if you just needed to share a look to understand what you were feeling. You cared about each other, more that you could express, and that was enough.

It was beautiful, and it made you happy.

"May I take your hand?" he asked, and the question was deeper than it appeared, since friends didn't walk holding hands, but a couple who was courting did; he seemed uncertain, even shy - quite a difference from the steadfast, capable soldier you had learnt to know. That sight filled your heart with affection... and an answer you couldn't have given to him faster.

"Of course. I would love to."

You let him take your hand, you took his, and since then neither of you has ever let go.

*****

Neither of you speaks as you climb the slim rope-ladder to reach the talan Haldir shares with his brothers, identical to the many others where the guards live, in groups of two or three; wooden screens, carved in shapes of trees and animals, separate the communal area from the smaller ones reserved to each of them. As soon as the door of the large chamber, built all around the tree trunk, closes behind you, Haldir takes your hands once more, brings them to his lips, and kisses them devotedly. "You came." he murmurs, his eyes full of affection and relief; he knows your feelings, he knows that you will never give up on him and nothing, not even Melkor himself, could forbid you to go to him on a full moon night, but you know that every time he fears he will never see you again, and you will never have the family you both wish for.

He is so afraid, your Haldir, but so gentle and reverent as he holds you against him, his hand caressing your hair as you rest your cheek on his chest to listen to his heartbeat. He doesn't ask whether someone saw you, after you passed the city's gate, along the way or, worst of all, as you left your village; he knows you are as careful as you can be to slip away unnoticed and to ride along hidden paths, but you both know the risk, and accept it, because being together once more, one more night, even just one more hour, is worth the most dire consequences.

"I am sorry, I am late." you tell him in the end, after you part just enough to look at each other; so many years after you have shared your first kiss he is more handsome than ever, so handsome you feel yourself shivering as his warm hands find your shoulders under your cape and run along your naked arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind them. He is wearing a grey tunic with a brown leather belt, his long hair spread on his shoulder and chest; many Silvan Elves have blonde hair, but no one's is as beautiful as his, and sometimes, as you lie next to each other, your passion dormant but not forgotten, you like to play with it, braiding and running your hair through it, or rubbing it against your skin.

Maybe you will do it once more, tonight; before you have will to go.

"I had to stay until he went to bed, and he had some friends visiting, so..."

"It it all right, don't concern yourself." he reassures you, and you love him for it, because every moment you lose during those nights is a wasted opportunity, a loss you could pay dearly if you were discovered, but still he cannot stand to see you upset "I am just glad you came. Eru... you are so beautiful..."

"You have seen me wear this dress at least ten times."

"True, but I wasn't talking about the dress. My darling, my beloved flower... how I have missed you..."

Maybe the distance plays a part in it, as well as the fact that you haven't laid together often, even through you have been courting for years, or maybe not; maybe it is just that you love him desperately, with all your heart and your mind, your fëa and your hröa harmonius in desiring him, the warmth of his body, the soothing sensation of his embrace. No one could ever call you naive, and after a year you know your beloved's skin as well as yours, but, and maybe because of this, your heart is pounding in your chest as you offer Haldir your mouth, that he claims in a kiss as he holds your face in his hands.

You kiss avidly for a while, your hands moving from Haldir's strong shoulders to his back and chest to caress and stimulate and revere; he moans in your mouth, the sound lurid and heavenly at the same time, as he takes off your cape and let it fall on the floor - which betrays the state he is in, since he would never leave something, especially clothes, lying around instead of finding an appropriate place for them, tidy and even fastidious as he is. Evidently you really have an effect on him, you think pleased, so much that you make him forget himself...

"Why are you smiling as we kiss?" he asks, feigning a contrariness he is physically unable to feel; a moment later his kisses move to your neck, and the goosebumps are no longer limited to your arms.

"I am simply -oh yes, right there!- happy we are together, that is all."

"I am happy as well, my flower. And I wish... we didn't have to wait the full moon..."

You would like to jest that the moon is a capricious master, who only allows you to meet once every twenty-eight nights, and you should ask him to assume his most complete form more often, but you can't; you cannot joke about it, not anymore. This night coincides with the most fertile moment of your cycle, and this is why you have chosen it to meet; often enough to give you a realistic opportunity, as well as to alleviate the pain of your separation, but at the same time your visits to Haldir would be sufficently sporadic not to arouse suspicion - you hope. It is not much, but you make do. It seemed a good compromise when you decided on it, since you make the most of your time together, clinging to each other until you are both panting breathless, and you thought you would have achieved your goal by now.

You haven't.

You often feel as if time itself works against you, but nonetheless you take your time, savoring the intimacy and the joy of being together once more before you can taste each other's flesh. Haldir's hand has guided you behind the wooden screen that separates his area of the room from those of his brothers'. Rúmil and Orophin are on duty until dawn, and since they both respect your privacy they would never interrupt you in any case, but your beloved doesn't feel at ease laying with you if you are not as hidden as you can be: he is such a modest, demure person, and you love him for it... as well as for everything else.

"How I have missed you..." you murmur as you once more find your beloved's mouth with yours; he moans into it, his hands moving hungry and greedy on your body as those of a sculptor molding a block of clay, and this is exactly how you feel, as if you are nothing, raw, shapeless, aimless, if you are not close to him, able to touch and be touched.

Neither of you speak as your clothes start falling to the floor. You free Haldir of his tunic, and his skin is like marble in the semi-darkness around you, smooth and cool and made for you to touch and caress; he moans, his head bent backwards, as you hold his hips in your hands and fill the distance between the two of you to kiss his neck, his chest, and his stomach. You feel, as well as hear, the rumble of pleasure escaping his lips as you close yours around his right nipple, licking and sucking as you stimulate the other one with your fingertips. You love Haldir like you have never loved anything and anyone, you love his kindness and his intelligence, his sense of duty and his wit; you love his stubborness and his rigidity and melancholy. And you love his body -strong, agile, so deliciously masculine, a source of warmth and pleasure and life; you cling to it, exploring and stimulating it until he is moaning and whispering your name and his desire is presses against your belly, hard and warm.

"Please." he begs; Eru, how you love hearing him like that "Please, my darling, let me have you..."

You don't answer, but you smile, and you break the kiss to turn and offer him your back; Haldir's agile fingers make quick works of the knots of your dress, and soon the cloth is sliding down your body, and you are naked under it, no shift or undergarments, because you have so little time to spend together and you don't want to waste it taking off your drawers.

That, and he tore your favourite shift six months ago, in his haste to take it off you; mortified, he apologized and promised to replace it, you simply told him he would have to make your loss worth it.

There is awe on his face, as well as desire, as he admires you, his fingertips barely brushing against you but leaving a trail of fire behind them. "Come." he invites you taking your hand once more, and his bed -the only element present in the small area behind the screen, apart from a chest and a chair- is only three steps away, but you like being led, being welcomed to it just like he has opened his heart to you.

You have already started kissing as you lower yourself on the bed, Haldir's arms keeping you close enough that you can feel his heartbeat matching yours, your hands fiddling with his belt; you brush your hand against his hardness, and your beloved has the audacity to snigger.

"Have patience, my love; it is yours, you know it, and you can have it any time you want."

You pout. "I want it now, Haldir..." you tell him, and he kisses you once more, and tells you to "Take it, then."

Getting undressed while one is laying is not easy, but finally your beloved is as naked as you are, his fair skin pressed against yours; you take his hardness in your hands as he moans, fondling and kissing it, and in the end he asks you to stop, because it is not on your hands that he wants to spill. You let him push you on your back, and a moment later Haldir's strong body is above you, his golden hair spilling all around him; you pass your fingers through it, mesmerized, and you brush them against your breasts, and there is something so alluring, so enticing in that sight, that when your eyes met his, you know that his desire has taken over - he cannot think clearly, he has forgotten everything that is not you, and what you share, and what he will feel once he is inside you. He is the most rigorous and even-tempered person you know, devoted to his duties and able to keep his composure in times of danger and hardship, but when he is with you... especially like this... it is as if another Elf takes his place, an Elf who would be ready to forget his responsiblities and his honour for the opportunity to lay between your thighs, once more.

It is beautiful, and terrifying; and it should be a source of pride for you, but instead it humbles you, and fills your heart with awe, because you feel the same. Haldir is your intended, your future husband, your lover, your best friend, and one day he will be the father of your children; you promised him, and you promised yourself, and you will do whatever you need to make that dream come true.

You have opened your legs for him, Haldir's fingers gently caressing them as you cross your ankles on his back, giving him full access; you have surrended yourself, offering your body and your soul and your love to the one you know deserve them and will always cherish them, and that is why you don't feel it as a loss. You moan as he lowers his mouth to suck on the side of your neck, murmuring your name as he would with that of Varda, and you groan when his fingers brush against your mound, eliciting a jolt of pleasure through your body. Please, you tell him, and you don't know whether you are actually articulating the words or just thinking them, your moans and sighs betraying your desires, please take me, I need it now, I need you...

And a moment later you have him, fully and perfectly like so many times before. You are clinging to his shoulders, his name blossoming again and again on your lips as a litany, as a prayer, as the sinuous movement of his hips makes stars explode behind your eyelids. He moans your name, fierce and greedy and so loving, and you could almost cry with emotion, were you not too busy simply feeling, and you love all of it - his love, his passion, his reverence, the promise you have shared years ago and that you renew every time, without the need for words.

The fire is burning inside and all around you; and it is the kind of flames you are happy to be consumed by.

*****

It is all your father's fault.

It is not nice to say, but it is true. Your current predicament, the need for secrecy and to meet on full moon nights, everything is due to the fact that your father didn't approve of Haldir as your intended, and he explicitly stated that he would never give his consent for you to marry. Not because he dislikes Haldir, or because he considers your beloved unable to take care of you and make you happy; the reason is way more personal.

Your father and his dearest friend have always planned to have their children marry, so as to unite their families in one. As fate would have it, your father's friend has a son who is exactly the same age as you -was it deliberate, a pact that they made and that also involved their wives? Two years ago you would have considered it absurd, but now you would not put it past him- which, in the two fathers' opinion, made things easier and ensured the continuation of both of their lineages.

You knew the pact with his friend was important for your father; you just hadn't realized the lenghts he would go to see his dream come true. His friend lived too far away to make frequent visits possible, and the few times you had met, his son seemed nice enough, a good company for a walk or to sit next to at dinner; you never talked about your fathers' plans, simply trying not to bore each other. Marriage prospects were the last thing on your mind, at least until you moved to Caras Galadhon to serve lady Galadriel, you met Haldir, and he stole your heart.

You never thought your father would oppose your relationship with Haldir; you only mentioned him in your letters as a friend, since you didn't want him and your mother to come and make sure his intentions were pure and serious -they were, obviously; but you didn't want your beloved to feel he had to prove himself- but you were sure that when they got to meet him, they would love him, just like you did.

They didn't. Well, he didn't; when you, radiant with joy, returned home with Haldir to introduce him to your parents and announce you were engaged, your mother was ready to welcome your beloved in the family within ten minutes after meeting him; your father, unfortunately, was a whole different matter.

"What? Surely you are joking. You cannot pledge to marry him; you are already engaged and you know it. I was going to write you about it next month: my friend and I decided it is time for the two of you to wed. His son was going to move with you in Caras Galadhon, but since I don't want you to be... distracted by your friend here, you better leave the service of the Lady and go live with him in his village. Now, do not argue with me; I am your father and I know what is best for you."

He clearly didn't, but try as you might you couldn't change his mind, or convince him to relent. Your father was determined to get his own way, no matter how much you cried -and it was a lot, so much that it filled you with shame, particularly because it was all in vain- argued, locked yourself up in your room and threatened to hurt yourself; he had decided to have you marry the son of his friend, and that he would do, even if it meant forbidding you to leave home until you relented. Poor Haldir had to return home alone, because your father forbade you to return even just to say goodbye to your friends; he was too honourable to challenge your father's authority under his roof, or to kidnap you from your home, and your mother begged you to obey your father as a good daughter should. You grudgingly did... but still, you were determined to marry your beloved, whatever the price.

Your only real ally in the family was your sister, who sympathized with your and your beloved's plight and promised to help; in front of your father she feigned disinterest in the whole matter, so as not to arouse suspicion, but secretly she was the one who sent your letters to Haldir and received his for you, pretending to be corrisponding with her friends in other villages.

Deciding what to do was painful, and at the same time surprisingly easy. You dearly loved your father, and since you were little you had only wanted to make him proud; likewise, Haldir respected him and only wanted to be accepted in your family. But since all your hopes had been dashed, you were only allowed to leave your home if escorted by one of your parents and he was struck in Caras Galadhon, there was only one thing you could do.

Elven marriages are usually conducted in front of families and friends, and include the exchange of rings and a blessing imposed by each pair of parents on their new child-in-law. On the other hand, your people's oldest tradition has it that the union of the bodies symbolizes the union of the soul, and that the birth of a child is enough to consider a couple married on a factual, and as a consequence formal, prospective, just as the first Elves who awoke at Cuiviénen wed each other. So, you agreed as the letters were sent and received between the city and your village, this is what you would do; you would get pregnant, and then your father would be forced to recognize your relationship, for the sake of his grandchild if not for yours... and because at that point his friend would hardly accept you in his family. And if your father decides to repudiate you, throwing you in the streets and forbidding you from ever returning... you will accept it. It would break your heart, because you love him, and your mother, and you never wished to cause a rift between you, but Haldir is the husband you have chosen, the other and the better part of you, and you are willing to sacrifice it all to be with him. You knew Lady Galadriel would welcome you back among her maidens, not caring about the shame you would have brought to your family, and you and your beloved would then marry and move to a talan of your own.

It would be a nice life; a perfect life, with your husband and the first of the many children you had already planned on having. And it will be, one day, hopefully soon. It was exactly thirteen moon cycles ago that, once more with the help of your sister, you ran away during the full moon to visit Haldir in Caras Galadhon, and even though this is supposed to be your most fertile period and you make at least two attempt per night his seed still hasn't taken root in your womb. You are sure, since it is known that Elf women are able to perceive a pregnancy as soon as it begins, the first tiny sparkle of life inside them making itself known not by voice or movement, but with a peculiar sensation that nothing else in Arda can compare with; a new entity making itself known to the world, too small and young to have a gender and an appearance and a personality, but that exists... and that would be enough to change your life forever.

You and your beloved are waiting for it; dreaming it; praying for it, even, although until now your efforts have been in vain. Laying with Haldir is lovely, passionate and sweet, and you would be more than happy to keep doing it every single night until the end of the world; to share his bed has allowed the two of you to reach a new level of intimacy, to experience each other as you had never done before. It is not that you love Haldir more now that you know the pleasure his body can give yours; you have found a new way to love him, in addition to those you already knew, which is different, and more precious. For him, you know, it is the same; he awaits your visits with trepidation, already happy and excited and looking forward for when you will be unclothed, in his arms, and moaning with his flesh in yours, but you know that he would be equally satisfied if you spent those nights walking in the woods, or sitting in front of the fire talking and exchanging stories.

You would never say that for more than a year you have wasted your time, especially since these are the only moments you are able to spend together, and you miss your beloved so much; but still... why haven't you gotten pregnant already?

*****

You sigh, happy and satisfied, as you turn on your back, sharing a smile with Haldir, panting by your side. "It was... it was absolutely..." you begin, but the words fail you, because even after a whole year, you cannot describe exactly how you feel, how he makes you feel, the joy and the pleasure you experience and that you know no one else could ever give you, because no one is like him, no one is him, and you are blessed to have met him, and earned his love.

"It was." Haldir agrees, as he once more takes you in his arms to hold you close; he kisses your brow "And it always will be, I promise."

You should leave soon, since you need to be at home before your parents awake and notice you are gone -and unfortunately your father is the earliest riser you know!- and you both know it, but you don't move, your cheek resting on Haldir's chest as his fingers gently run through your hair. You don't need to be as close as the two of you are to know the same thought is filling both of your minds, the same thought that has tormented you for a whole year now...

"Do you feel... something?" Haldir hesitantly asks in the end, and you sigh; he doesn't blame you, and the guilt and the disappointment weighting on your heart are probably even worse than what he feels, but still, in that moment, despite all the joy and the pleasure still warming your body, you feel so ashamed you cannot even look him in the eyes. You don't know exactly what you are waiting for since you have never been pregnant before, how it will feel to know that you have conceived, but of one thing you are sure: that right now, satisfied and happy and aching in the most pleasant way as you are, you feel exactly as before, exactly as you did at the end of the previous twelve attempts: empty.

You have failed. Again.

A sob escapes your lips, a sob that Haldir is too close not to hear, but you still try to hide your face against his shoulder. "I am sorry. Haldir, forgive me, I don't know what I am doing wrong..."

"No, no... It is not..."

"I started drinking a tea that is supposed to render a maiden more fertile, it tastes disgusting but I drink it every day, I swear, I don't know what else..."

There is no accusation or resentment in your beloved's bright blue eyes, only understanding and sadness, and that is enough to make you feel the worst Elf on Arda, undeserving of his love, undeserving of the joy of motherhood.

"Maybe the fault is mine." Haldir whispers in the end, his hand on your cheek "I know these things require time, and we have only one night every moon cycle to try, but if I were able to... if I had to rest less... maybe three times is not enough..."

"My darling, you have to rise at dawn to go on patrol; you need rest. What we do cannot hinder your duties as marchwarden."

"I know, I know..."

He looks so dejected, so guilty and disheartened, that you find yourself forgetting your sadness to try and alleviate his.

"Listen to me; we have no reason to feel guilty, since we are doing everything we can; as you said, it takes time to conceive a child, and we cannot let disappointment and bitterness make us forget how lucky we are. We love each other, and we are together, albeit just for a few hours; just for that, I am grateful."

"If we had a child, though, we could be together without having to hide." Haldir points out; but then he smiles "But you are right; we will keep trying for as long as we need to, and in the meantime we will enjoy the time we can spend together. I cannot wait to give you a child, to raise a family together... but I just need to be with you, and to know that you are mine, to be happy."

"I am, Haldir; and I always will be, I promise."

In the end you are forced to leave your beloved's bed and get dressed; Haldir needs all the rest he can get, but as always he rises with you to walk you to the gate. You don't talk as you leave the talan behind you, your hand in his, the quiet murmuring of the night holding you in a gentle embrace. You love moments like this, when words are not needed, a simple moment is a treasure, and every little gesture speaks about you. You would stay here for hours, just enjoying your beloved's company and the beauty of the night, but the full moon has already started his descend towards the horizon: it is time to go.

Rúmil and Orophin look at you expectantly as you reach the gate, but they are quick to pretend to be otherwise occupied when they notice the lack of joy and relief on your faces. You smile, and

"We will try once more." you tell them, as Haldir kisses your temple.

"We will try for as long as we need to."

You and your beloved say your goodbyes with a long hug, and a last kiss. "Be safe." he tells you, and you nod, too busy committing his face, his scent, the feel of his arms around you, to memory, to talk. A minute later you have passed the gate, alone once more but not lonely, disappointed but not sad; you had a night with him, and you will have another on the next full moon, and that is enough.

You wave your hand in farewell, and he responds in kind, before stepping away and letting the darkness of the night surround you.

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