#halbrand ff
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dracowars · 1 month ago
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of kings and queens | halbrand
pairing: halbrand x númenorean!princess!reader
word count: 6,6k
summary: where halbrand and y/n are forced to marry and he unveils a world she's only ever dreamed of
a/n: how do i manage to make it longer every time you ask?? i have no idea, i just go with the flow & suddenly i'm at 6k~ i have been struggeling with this one but i'm proud of how it ultimately turned out!! feedback is always appreciated and thank you for all the love <3
warnings: angst, forced marriage, panic attack, mentions of sickness, soft sauron
universe: the rings of power
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"I won't marry a stranger!", you loudly cry out in anger and slam your fists on the table with all your might, the sheer force of it causing some of the parchments to fall to the marble floor.
"He is no stranger. He is the King of the Southlands", your sister, Queen-Regent Míriel, tells you matter-of-factly.
"Who told you that? The elf?", you spit out, the blood running through your veins seething with anger. "Just a few days have gone by since he was detained in one of our cells, and now he is being hailed as a long-lost king? Do you even listen to yourself?"
"Sister-"
"Don't 'sister' me right now."
Míriel takes a deep breath, resting her weight on the table with both arms, and lowers her head as if she needs a moment to avoid lashing out on you in the same manner you are currently displaying.
"Listen. A marriage like this would rekindle and strengthen the bond between the people of Middle-earth and our kind for generations to come", she explains, her voice calm, but you know her well enough to notice that she has to pull herself together.
"Very well, go ahead and marry him then", you counter and give her a challenging look, the one you have been giving her since you were children. "Why should I be the one to suffer?"
"As the Princess of Númenor, it is your duty to prioritize the welfare of your people over your own!", she yells at you now, her nostrils flaring. You'd be lying if you said you didn't flinch a little when she raised her voice. Usually, it takes longer to unsettle her.
Elendil, who is standing at the large doors to the room, also seems a little shocked. As the two exchange a tender look, however, Míriel's features relax again and she straightens up, slipping back into the role of the wise, majestic Queen-Regent of Númenor.
"I won't accept no for an answer", she tells you, all calm and collected again. No trace left of your loving sister whom you loved so much.
"You have held me captive within these castle's walls for longer than I know and now you wish to ship me off like that?", you scoff in disbelief, crossing your arms in front of your chest, trying to mask how much she's hurting you right now.
"You wanted freedom. Here I am granting it to you."
"This is not freedom", you express your words through gritted teeth, your eyes burning with tears as your words have no effect on Míriel. "You think you can still control me like a child. But you no longer hold any power over me. I won't let you dictate the course of my life."
To emphasize your point, you grab the unassuming tiara adorning your head, smaller and thus in stark contrast to your sister's, and forcefully hurl it to her feet. Several small diamonds come loose and the sound of them scattering around the marble floor makes you shiver.
"I don't care who he is", you say angrily, your hands clenched into fists at your sides while Míriel only looks at you in shock, her eyes wide. "I won't marry someone I don't know, let alone love."
With these final words, you turn away and walk towards the door, which Elendil quickly opens for you. On his face, you clearly see that he feels sorry about how this whole situation expired. But you don't need his pity.
You stomp out angrily, holding back your tears, your pulse pounding in your ears. You have never told her what you think before. You have always done what she asked of you, been a good little sister because you can only imagine the burden she is carrying. But today she has crossed a line.
When you turn around in the hallway one last time, catching a glimpse of Míriel through the closing door, you see Elendil carefully approaching her to comfort her. From this perspective, she looks exhausted, hurt even. But all you feel towards her is anger. You can't help but roll your eyes and release a heavy breath of air from your lungs.
Undoubtedly, that is the reason why she wants you to marry Lord Halbrand. Because her heart is already taken.
You think back to times when you would have been overjoyed, when you would have been genuinely happy for her. You two would have lain on soft pillows and talked about everything, every little detail. Now, you can find none of these feelings inside of you.
Completely lost in your thoughts, you walk through the large halls of the castle, your home. A home that feels much more like a prison. With your head low, you turn a corner and suddenly collide with a hard wall. Caught off guard, you stumble back until a hand closes around your wrist and holds you tight.
You forget to breathe for a moment when your gaze meets his.
"Whoa there. Where are you headed, my lady?", Lord Halbrand asks you in surprise, a gentle smile on his face as he holds you close, his touch on your skin burning. As soon as you notice this, you break free from his grip and take your distance, smoothing down your dress, which he only comments on with a frown.
He is the last person you want to talk to right now.
"Are you all right?", he asks you with concern in his voice, making you realize that you haven't given him an answer and just stood there in silence. In fact, you don't really have anything to say to him. You just wish he would go back to Middle-earth where he belongs.
"Yes", you finally answer, coldly and curtly. "Now if you'll excuse me."
You walk past him, your shoulders almost touching, and listen to your own loud footsteps echoing through the halls as you walk down the corridor.
"Your demeanour leads me to believe that the Queen-Regent informed you of our plans", his voice calls after you, suddenly bringing you to an abrupt halt.
Our plans? That means they have been talking about this behind your back for who knows how long. You were deemed to lose from the beginning. As always.
"She did", you say, slowly turning around and towards him. He hasn't moved from the spot where you left him moments ago, but his presence fills the entire hallway anyway.
The way he stands there and looks at you, as if you were fragile and pitiable, makes the anger inside of you boil up once more and you walk towards him. Instead of taking a step back, however, he takes one towards you so that he is now towering over you with all his height.
"Listen to my words: I don't know what exactly you hope to achieve with this.. marriage. But it will never happen. I will not marry you", you tell him clearly, emphasizing the last words by poking your index finger into his chest. You don't give him time to answer, but as you turn around you notice the knowing grin that plays around his lips.
You decide not to respond to this and move away from him entirely. As soon as you turn into the next corridor, you finally feel like you can breathe again. At least as much as is possible for you within these walls.
You haven't been able to breathe properly in here for a long time.
You walk to your room, two guards posted on either side of the massive doors, and let yourself through without a word. Once inside, you find your way directly to the balcony, which overlooks the entire city and the harbour. The wind blows through your hair and creates a sad smile on your lips. From up here, you can hear nothing but the wind, the people frolicking down there nothing more than tiny black dots. A single tear finds its way down your cheek and you don't bother to wipe it away. Rather, you are amazed that you can even cry at all after all the tears you have already shed here.
You don't know if it is at that moment, or before, when you threw your crown at Míriel's feet, but you make a decision.
With a goal in mind, you go back inside, into the huge room you call your own and search through several closets until you find what you are looking for. You swap your beautifully ornamented dress for a more simple one, get rid of all your jewelry and put your hair into a casual updo. On the way to the door, your own reflection briefly looks back at you from the mirror across the room and you pause as you look at yourself.
Nothing is left of the little girl who once had dreams and pursued goals.
Taking another deep breath, you open the door and step out. The guards bow, as they always do when they see you.
"I'm going to pay a visit to my father", you explain to them, which they confirm with a short nod. They are about to follow you, but seem to remember that you are now allowed to walk around without guards constantly at your side, at least within the castle's walls. A change that hasn't been in effect for very long.
Nevertheless, you quicken your pace once you are out of their reach, afraid that they will decide to follow you after all. On your way, you make sure to avoid the maids and other guards, hiding behind corners, holding your breath. When you finally arrive at the stairs to the tower that lead up to your father, you stop hesitantly. But it only takes a moment, remembering your conversation with Míriel and all the other terrible events of the past, for you to regain your strength and turn away. With quick steps, you take the next set of stairs that lead down.
As you arrive in corridors that lead to the kitchen and staff facilities, you pay close attention to every little noise. Your heart is pounding so hard against your chest that you feel like it can be heard echoing throughout the corridors. You put your shaking hands against the spot where your heart is and try to calm yourself down. You've never tried to break out of this prison before, you always thought you were here for your own good. But you know better now. The thought of the outside world, which you have encountered so rarely in your life, scares you beyond belief either way.
Your sister's words still roam around your mind, making you clench your fists, until you gather up all your courage. Finally, you make it out of one of the doors, out into the fresh air that greets you lovingly.
However, you have no time to linger and quickly move forward, with careful steps as not to alert anyone. As you walk, you pull a cloth out of the corset of your dress that you had previously hidden there. In one swift motion, you pull it over your head and hide your face behind the fabric, only your eyes visible now.
With these safety measures in place, you make your way to the harbour, away from the castle. The entrances for the staff are guarded, but because of your disguise they let you pass. Once you slip past them, you are immediately surprised by the number of people walking through the streets. The sun is already setting on the horizon and the warm light of lanterns illuminates the alleyways.
With a gentle smile, you watch as two children whirl around, holding dolls that they chase each other with. You follow the mass of people who probably want to celebrate the end of their day in one of the taverns. The closer you get to the center of the city, the market square, the louder and more crowded it becomes. You hear them talking, laughing with each other, arguments are being settled, some young girls dance in the middle of a crowd of people who happily watch and applaud.
Despite the positive and joyful atmosphere, you are overcome by a feeling of sadness and sorrow all of a sudden. These people are your people - and you never get to see them. They don't get to see you unless they enter the castle, and that is something only a few people are allowed to do, reserved especially for the nobles and those of higher rank. But what makes you even sadder is the fact that very few of them even care for you. You are second in line to the throne. Once your father leaves this world, Míriel will be their Queen. Accordingly, interest in you is quite low. You are not even sure they would recognize you if you took off your disguise.
The sad truth is that they wouldn't, and that hurts more than you thought. And these are the people you are supposed to give your life for.
Suddenly everything becomes too much for you. Your ears are ringing, your heart is pounding, your whole body is shaking. No matter where you look, there are crowds of people everywhere. You feel small, constricted, helpless. You are carelessly pushed to the side, shoved forward. Your feet are stepped on, no one apologizes. You try to break out of the crowd, but your head is spinning and you no longer know which direction to go. Your breathing is getting faster and louder by the second. Nobody notices, nobody shows even the slightest hint of interest in you.
When you feel your legs giving way beneath you, you are suddenly grabbed by the arm and pulled into an alley.
You are terrified when you realize that you cannot defend yourself, your body is completely frozen and does not listen to your commands. Only when you feel a gentle hand on your cheek - the cloth must have come loose in all the chaos - and look up do you let out a breath that you didn't even know you were holding in. Lord Halbrand is standing in front of you, his face painted in concern as he looks you up and down.
"What are you doing out here all alone, Princess?", he asks and quickly grabs a hold of your shoulder as you start to drift away again, your legs no longer able to hold you upright. Exhausted, you lean against the stone wall behind you and close your eyes. You don't like that he sees you like this. On the other hand, he just saved you and prevented you from fainting in the middle of a crowd.
"I.. don't know", you whisper in defeat and it takes all your strength to admit it.
"What were you even thinking?", he says quietly, more to himself than to you. It feels like he doesn't want to scold you, but on the other hand he also does want to.
You look into his eyes, his face bathed in warm light from the soft candlelight of the lanterns around you. The wounds that are covering his skin have slowly healed, but even in this dim light you still notice them. Only now, when staring at him, do you realize that he is distracting you from all the noise and hustle, faded into the background.
"Come. I'll escort you back to the castle", he finally offers, his hands still on your shoulders as if he doesn't dare let go of you, afraid that you'll drift into the darkness at any moment.
Once again, you don't react and only stare at him, making the worry on his face deepen. In the meantime, you just can't wrap your head around how a Southlander like him, a low man, who barely knows you and who you've met with nothing but hatred, is worried about you while the people around you, your kind, are far away from even remotely caring about you.
"Can you walk on your own?", he asks, and when you finally nod in agreement, he lets go of you. But not for long, because after he puts the cloth back in its place to cover your features one of his hands wraps around yours and holds it tightly in his grip as he pulls you behind him, up several steps that lead further away from the cheerful scene.
You are grateful that he doesn't ask any questions, doesn't want to know why you were out here in the first place.
"Thank you."
That makes him pause for a moment and his hand applies a little more pressure on yours. In response, he turns to you with a gentle smile and lowers his head in resignation.
For some inexplicable reason, your heart suddenly skips a beat. He doesn't seem to notice the change in your face, however, and walks on. Together you make your way through the winding streets and you are amazed at how well he already knows his way around. You have to admit that it also hurts. After just a few days he's already more familiar with this city than you are.
You can already see the entrance to the castle when Lord Halbrand halts in his step, forcing you to stop as well. Turning to you, he steps closer and lifts your hand. Then, he gently places his other hand on top of it.
"I don't know what you were doing out there", he starts, looking from your hand between his to your eyes. "But rest assured that I'll keep it to myself."
The relief you feel in that moment is indescribable. If your sister found out you had escaped, she would surely reinforce all safety measure to protect you. This feeling doesn't last long, however, when another emotion suddenly overshadows it once he continues speaking.
"A princess like you doesn't belong out here."
He may not notice it, but these words hurt you deeply and make your eyes burn with tears within seconds. Without hesitation, you snatch your hand from him and put some distance between you by taking a few steps back. Your knees still feel weak, but you don't let it show. Lord Halbrand's face meets yours with incomprehension as you do so.
"I know where I belong", you spit out angrily and straighten up. For a moment you actually thought there might be more hidden beneath his facade. Oh, how wrong you were.
With these last words, you leave him standing there and walk the last few meters to the castle without him. Once again, you sneak through the staff quarters into the castle. Although you don't want to admit it, the walls suddenly give you comfort, making you feel safe and protected.
You quickly blink away a few tears and return to your chambers, where you go straight to bed. Even though you are incredibly exhausted and drained, you don't sleep all night. You toss and turn in the sheets, your mind plagued by nightmares until you hear the birds outside singing.
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Annoyed, you slam the door to your chambers shut behind you and lean against it with a huff. Then you slide down to the cold ground and pull your knees closer to you, hugging them against your body.
Once again you tried to talk to your sister. Once again she dismissed your words as if they were worthless.
And that's exactly how you feel right now: worthless. Born into a life that brings you nothing but suffering and pain.
Ever since you were born, you were the one who would never ascend the throne. Who would never rule. And you never wanted to. You would never want to be your sister. But right now, you wish that you were both just born into a normal family, with no wealth or power. At the end of the day, she is still your big sister, the one who has always watched over you. Your mother dead, your father long bedridden - she is the only family you have left.
You miss the times when everything was peaceful. Happy times long gone when two sisters were inseparable. But the years made you believe that this world is not made for anyone to be happy.
You lower your head and let the sadness wash over you like waves finally bringing down a ship, and tears stream down your cheeks. Your body shakes, but you hold back any sobs, crying in silence.
You don't know how long you sat there, alone with your thoughts, the very last tear leaving your eye, but eventually something catches your attention. Something that reflects the light from across the room, lying on your vanity table that wasn't there when you left in the morning. Slowly, you get up and walk over, only to discover a beautiful brooch on top of a small piece of parchment. The design is that of a sun and the brooch is decorated with white and blue diamonds. It's breathtaking to look at.
You glance at the black ink on the parchment and your heart involuntarily jumps once more. The words read: 'Forgive me'.
When you suddenly hear footsteps behind you, however, you don't have time to think about these words any further. In one quick movement, you take an ornate dagger out of one of the drawers and turn in the direction of the noises. What you don't expect, however, is that Lord Halbrand emerges from the shadows behind your bed.
"H-How did you get in here? Who let you in?", you ask, out of breath, your heart pounding. The dagger in your hand is still raised, even as he approaches you. He doesn't say anything, however, just stands in front of you and slowly grabs your hand, which is tightly gripping the weapon. He lowers your joined hands and carefully removes the dagger from your grip, leaning over you to gently place it on the table.
"I was uncertain if my apology would be deemed acceptable, hence I wanted to see you in person to make sure", his soft voice sounds in your ear and sends a shiver down your spine. He is definitely too close to you right now and even though you'd never admit it, it doesn't feel uncomfortable. You look straight into his shining eyes which are not quite blue and not quite green but something in the middle. You swallow because the intensity in his gaze leaves you speechless.
"Get off me", you manage to croak out, sounding anything but convincing. Lord Halbrand notices this too, a smirk playing around his lips.
"I know you don't mean that, Princess. And that, deep down, you have already forgiven me", he breathes in a deeper voice than before and brushes a strand of hair from your face. In an instant, you grab his wrist and stop him from touching you any further. Because you know exactly what his touch does to you. And you simply cannot and do not want to acknowledge that you like what he does.
So far, every encounter with him was exhilarating, thrilling, like you were finally embarking on a long-awaited adventure. He awakens feelings you have kept locked away for a long time, sealed behind thick iron bars. Brick by brick, he slowly destroys the protective walls you have built around your heart.
It scares you.
"Lord Halbrand", you say more seriously now and stare directly into his beautiful eyes while he does not even try to free himself from your grip. "Get out of this room or I will call the guards and have you removed."
At that threat, Lord Halbrand lets out a quiet chuckle and removes his hand from your tight grip with ease.
"Before long, I will become your husband. It's time for you to get used to my presence, my lady", he states and the fury that rises in your eyes at his words is unmistakable. "I am aware that this.. arrangement may not be something you look forward to, but I suggest that you begin to come to terms with it. I fear you have no choice but to agree."
"Don't do this", you plead, and even though you try your best to hide it, your body trembles and your eyes fill with tears. The realization that he is telling the truth makes you feel sick to your stomach. Not wanting him to see your obvious discomfort, you turn your head away, lowering it in the process.
The next moment, however, you are unexpectedly pulled forward and suddenly feel two strong, muscular arms around you. Lord Halbrand hugs you as if his life depended on it. You can't even remember the last time someone hugged you. Especially not like this.
The slight scent of sea salt and smoke greets you and you have to admit that his embrace makes you feel safe, comfortable even. With his arms pressing you against his firm body tenderly, he manages to stop your body from shaking and your head from spinning. Right now, it's just you and Lord Halbrand. No could-haves, no would-haves.
The fact that you are no longer averse to his proximity scares you an immeasurable amount. That is also the reason why, in the next second, you push him away with all your strength, your hands on his hard chest.
"Please, Lord Halbrand. I need you to leave", you almost beg him and when his hand clasps yours on his chest, you look up at him and suddenly feel seen. The way he looks at you is unlike anyone has ever looked at you before.
"Your wish is my command, Princess", he nods and lifts your hand to his mouth, where he places a feather-light kiss on the back of your hand before he walks back to the large doors to your chamber, not taking his eyes off you. You also watch him and wait for him to finally leave you.
"Leave out the Lord next time", is the last thing he says before he disappears.
As soon as you see the door slam shut behind him, however, you run over with quick steps. Only when you get there and reach for the door handle do you stop yourself. What has gotten into you? Overwhelmed by the emotions flowing through your body all at once, you lean your forehead against the door in defeat.
After staying there for a while and taking several deep breaths to calm your rapidly pounding heart, you walk over to the brooch that is still shining at you from the table. Carefully, you place the fragile thing in the palm of your hand and examine it when you suddenly hear a whistle.
Wondering where it came from, you step out onto your balcony and see a few ships leaving the bay in the distance. But your attention is quickly drawn to the person standing in the courtyard a few meters below, looking up at you. You don't have to look twice to know that it is Halbrand.
"Give us a chance", he calls up to you and even from this distance you can see the bright smile on his face. Then he turns around and disappears under one of the archways.
Holding the brooch tightly to your heart, you can't believe that a soft smile creeps onto your lips.
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"His Lordship Halbrand has requested to see you, my lady", one of the guards announces as you step out of your chambers the next morning. The mention of his name makes your heart skip a beat and you straighten up immediately.
"Then I shouldn't keep him waiting", you reply gracefully and let the guard accompany you to the place where Halbrand wants to meet you. You wouldn't have expected this to be the inner courtyard, though. And even less that he would be waiting for you there with two saddled horses.
"I hope you had a good night's sleep, my lady", Halbrand greets you with a gentle smile and notices that your steps immediately slow down when you see him with the horses. "Rest assured, Princess. I have consulted with the Queen-Regent regarding this matter. With her approval, I am permitted to accompany you on a brief ride. If that is what you wish, of course."
You pause entirely. You can't believe he convinced your sister to let you leave the castle, and with only Halbrand as your company as well. On the other hand, you've gotten a sense of how charming and persuasive he can be in the last few days.
Smiling, he holds out the reins of a white mare that is standing calmly next to him. Still a little unsure about the whole situation, you take the reins and stroke the horse gently, but don't take your eyes off Halbrand.
"H-How?", you ask him in disbelief. You can't help but think back to how often you have begged your sister to finally let you leave the castle. The fact that she is allowing this now makes you a little suspicious, but you certainly won't question her motives if it means that you can experience freedom once more, even if only for a few hours.
"We have to be back by sunset", Halbrand winks at you and comes closer, making you take a step back instinctively. When he reaches out his hand, you realize that he just wants to help you onto the mare, so you put your hand in his. Once you feel his calloused, rough yet soft hand, a pleasant feeling flows through you and when you sit upon the mare's back, you feel like you could conquer the world. He mounts his black horse as well and together you lead the horses out of the gate.
You turn around, your eyes fixed on the castle and the guards who make no move to follow you. A sense of relief flows through your body at once. Side by side, you make it out of the city and as soon as you leave the border of the capital, you are greeted by vast meadows and fields, grass gently swaying in the wind.
It doesn't take long before you get your horses galloping over the fields. Your white mare is a little faster than his horse, but you hardly even notice. You can only concentrate on the wind blowing through your hair, letting your dress float gently behind you. The air feels liberating and you are amazed at the beauty of nature, the beauty of the island you call home but have seen so little of.
A little later you reach a white sandy beach, the waves calm, seagulls squalling in the distance. The sea suddenly smells completely different from what you are used to and you can't help but smile.
If this is what freedom feels like, you won't ever go back.
Finally, you bring your horse to a stop on the shore, scratching her head, and turn to Halbrand, who stops his stallion right in front of you. Your hair is all tousled by the wind, but Halbrand smiles at you so genuinely that your cheeks flush. Without saying a word, you hop off your mare's back and bend down to bury your hands in the sand. As Halbrand dismounts, you quickly take off your shoes, lift up the fabric of your dress a little, and wade into the shallow water, which laps warmly against your skin.
You can't remember the last time you felt the ocean. As a Númenorean, you are connected to the sea on a deeper level and it feels like, right now, it's showing you how much it's missed you, like you're reuniting with an old friend. The sun is high above you, warming your skin as you close your eyes and enjoy the moment. Then you jump around the water playfully and with so much joy you haven't felt since you were a child.
Until you meet Halbrand's gaze. He is still standing where you left him, the reins of both horses in his hand, watching you enjoy yourself with so much affection in his eyes that you want nothing more than to run to him and fall into his arms, chasing the exhilarating feeling he gave you the day before.
Shyly, you slowly walk back to him through the ankle-deep water, your dress a little wet at the bottom.
"Enjoying yourself?", he asks with a smile, one hand scratching his horse behind the ears as he looks you up and down with sparkling eyes.
"Not exactly princess-like behaviour now, is it?", you shrug, eliciting a chuckle from him that gives you goosebumps and makes your heart beat faster.
"If you want my humble opinion: I think it's exactly how a princess should behave", he replies, the wrinkles around his eyes from smiling making him even more handsome in your eyes. "You shouldn't have to hide from the world."
"I wish I could come here more often", you sigh, ignoring his statement, your mood suddenly burdened by the thought that this moment of freedom will not last long and you will soon find yourself locked up inside the walls of the castle again. Halbrand's expression matches yours, but his gaze lays you bare. Feeling weak, you turn away. You stumble through the sand and finally flop onto the ground on a small dune, neatly placing your shoes next to you. Halbrand leaves the horses in your sight and joins you, sitting just a few meters next to you, your elbows touching.
For a while, neither of you says anything and you just stare out at the waves, which radiate a certain calm.
"As a child, I was very sick. An unidentified illness that was brought over from the continent. Despite having overcome it, I remained in a very weak state, requiring assistance with everything. I was not allowed to go out neither were people allowed to see me for fear of infecting me again. I was always surrounded by guards", you explain, your voice strong, but you have to pull yourself together not to sob. "Míriel was the only one who stood by my side, who made my time a little more bearable. Since our father.. has fallen sick, my sister feels even more responsible for my safety and, just like him, doesn't let me go out. She says it's for my own good and I once believed that, a long time ago. But now I doubt her concern is rooted in anything else than her own fear of losing me."
As soon as the last words leave your lips, you feel free. Free from the burden of not being able to tell anyone. But saying it out loud makes it feel so much more real. Still, pride fills you that you didn't shed a single tear. Halbrand, who was hanging on your every word, looks at you not with pity or sadness, but with a smile.
"Thank you for confiding in me. I can hardly imagine how hard that must have been for you", he tells you, speaking as if all of this is no longer your present. Maybe it's not right now, but it will be once you return.
"I have been wondering why you were locked up inside your whole life", he mutters to himself and takes a handful of sand, letting it trickle through his fingers. "And despite the prospect of freedom, you are against this marriage?"
His words hit you harder than they should, because you have to admit that you haven't given it a thought since yesterday.
"It's about her treating me like I'm a commodity that can be sold for a price", you answer, anger rising inside of you at the thought. "Either she keeps me here and risks a war or she finally lets me leave, with the ulterior motive that I at least bring some added value to Númenor. Besides, no one ever said that I would come with you once we were married."
"You think she would keep you here?", Halbrand asks, astonished. When you nod, something like determination paints his features.
"I won't allow that."
"I fear none of us will have much say in this", you sigh, exhausted and defeated, absentmindedly playing with the sand now as well. "I'm sorry you have to put up with a princess who knows nothing about this world, let alone has seen anything-"
"Don't say that", Halbrand interrupts you firmly, his eyebrows drawn together as if it physically hurts him to hear such words coming from your mouth. "You are perfect in my eyes, Princess."
You are glad he can't see the way your heart has started beating faster. What he can see, however, is the blush rising to your cheeks, which you quickly try to hide by turning your head away, pulling your knees closer to you.
"I feel like no one has ever told you how beautiful you are. In every way", he continues and you are startled when you feel his hand on your chin, gently turning your face back to him. You find it difficult to look at him, his eyes are looking at you so intensely that you no longer know which way is up and which way is down.
"Lord Halb-"
"What did I tell you about the Lord?", he chuckles, shaking his head at your cute behaviour. He loves the colour of pink your cheeks have taken on and how your eyes search his for any sign that he is lying, but you find nothing but the truth in them.
"When I told you that a princess like you doesn't belong here, I meant that a princess like you, who should be a queen, doesn't belong on this island, isolated from the world", Halbrand whispers, his hand moving from your chin to your cheek, where he gently strokes your heated skin with his thumb. "You belong in the very middle of it."
"N-No. I could never be a queen, I was not born for that", you explain, confident in your own words because it's all you have ever heard in your entire life; you would never be queen.
"I will make you a queen", he replies and the conviction with which he says this, the affection that resonates in his words and his features, makes you believe in his words. You desperately want to believe them.
"I promise I will not go without bringing you along", he assures you, holding your face in both of his hands now, his face so close to yours that you only have to lean forward a little to taste his lips. Halbrand notices this too, his gaze wanders to your lips and back to your eyes, which meet his almost pleadingly. As soon as you slightly nod, he connects your lips in a gentle but longing kiss. You gasp, never having been kissed before. Your heart feels like it will jump out of your chest at any moment, the sound of the waves blurs with your heartbeat and your hands get lost in his hair.
The kiss only lasts a few seconds, both of you having to catch your breath, but you don't want to let go of him. You have no idea what this man, this inconspicuous King of the Southlands, is doing to you, but you don't want to think about it because all you know is that you finally feel like yourself again, a feeling that seems so familiar yet unknown.
"I promise I will make you a queen and if it's the last thing I do", Halbrand tells you once more, leaning his forehead against yours before leaving a gentle kiss on the side of your mouth. Smiling up at him, you waste no time to wrap your arms around his neck and connect your lips in another kiss.
You will be his queen. And then you will finally be free.
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dinsbeskar · 2 months ago
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so I'm actually in the middle of 5 different vignettes/chapters now, I need to be stopped, send help
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nanawaffles · 2 months ago
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Okay this is never gonna happen but... imagine if season 3 was elronds season. I'm saying this because like.. season 1 was galadriel, right? Began with her background in valinor, Finrod, etc.
Season 2 began with Sauron. Goo monster. Making his way to Halbrand, then Annatar.
Season 3, given its to do with Numenor, could begin with Elros and Elrond. Like exploring that connection in the beginning, going back and showing what happened and such. Like gosh it could reveal so much and Elrond maybe keeping tabs on Numenor because they're his family, Gil Galad sending letters and bringing news, just while Elrond is building rivendell and just... I WANNA SEE ELROND & ELROS FFS. We keep talking about it just once let me seeee. Like numenor being Elros' realm would open so much in terms of comparisons, the two paths that diverged. The choice made. Like aaagh. I needs it.
... okay I'm done.
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karinamay · 21 days ago
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Holiday shout outs - KarinaMay's fic recs of 2024
The year is almost out, and with the holidays coming up I hope we can all find some time to cozy up with a hot drink and a good fic. In case you're unsure what to read next, I've compiled a list of my absolute favourites of the year. (Sorted by fandom for your convenience.)
Baldur's Gate 3
Magistrate's Advocate by @cinnamontails-ff
An Astarion/female OC fic that absolutely blew me away. The romance between Astarion and Zoroya is a beautiful, delicate tale of two people growing up together, growing apart, and finding each other again. Beyond that, the fic takes magistrate!Astarion to court for some delicious intrigue that left me on the edge of my seat. Not to mention that Zoraya is just one of my favourite OC's in fiction. 11/10, I kicked my feet, I cried, I was cackling by the time someone did actually yell "objection!".
Portrait of the pale elf by @larvasmoon
Another Astarion/female OC fic - with a twist. Set post the game narrative, tailor!Astarion meets a painter Selene and they get twisted up in a very complicated dark romance. I'm always enchanted by larvasmoon's writing. This fic is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves the romantics and gothic horror/romance stories. Vibes range from "Desperate Romantics" to "Crimson Peak". I'm absolutely obsessed with this one.
A Tale of Fools and Tricksters by @obsessedwhyyes
Continuing on the Astarion/female OC trend, this fic by obsessedwhyyes is, in her own words, a "mystic circus AU", which I didn't know was something I needed until I read it. Slightly spooky vibes as well, and very whimsical, featuring Astarion as the ringmaster of a travelling circus that makes wishes come true. Reminds me of "Alice in Wonderland" as well as "Labyrinth".
Rings of Power
In which we explore my unwavering love for modern AUs
ode to a nightingale by SephySpector
Galadriel/Halbrand. As of writing this, I haven't yet caught up with the final few chapters, but I have been *screaming* about this one on the inside. Modern/kind of college AU that happens to actually be set around Christmas, so it's perfect for this time of year. "The sluttiest thing a man can do is read poetry" made into a fic and let me tell you. Yes. Yes it is.
This is hell, and he is the devil by @lisenberry
Galadriel/Halbrand. Modern AU, Gal is a student/waitress, Halbrand a chef in the restaurant she works at. Now this one is very spicy. I think I read the entire thing in two days, I absolutely loved it. Especially recommend for anyone who's worked in a restaurant before. Definitely one for the dom/sub enjoyers out there.
The Venus of Valinor by @thecoziestbean
Galadriel/Halbrand. Modern AU, Gal gets fired from an art auction house, Hal is a thief breaking into her family home. Due to some complicated circumstances in Gal's family history, she and Hal end up a somewhat reluctant art heist team. The way this fic combines an intriguing, fast-paced heist story with a hot-as-heck romance is masterful, honestly. It reads like watching a movie.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
How to Steal a Crow in Ten Weeks by queenofseventeen
Lucanis/Rook. Low stakes AU in which things in Veilguard aren't as bad. Focusses on the Crows as a whole, with the Lucanis romance, but also centered around the relationship between Rook and Viago. As of me writing this, just the first chapter is up, but I know this author, and I promise their work is worth the read and the wait. Their writing is fast-paced, innovative and overall just a delicious read.
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hellofeanor · 1 month ago
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16, 21, 28 for the ask game please
(and modify 16 to include anyone who has lizard energy - I'm curious)
16: Three characters with dog energy, and three with cat energy: For normal reasons, I am going to say Halbrand has dog energy. This is entirely due to a scene I wrote in my fic last night. Other dog-energy characters are Durin and Isildur. Durin because he's extremely loyal but also stubborn and set in his ways, like an old dog, and Isildur because he has no concept of consequences and 100% WOULD chase his own tail if he had one.
The main Cat Energy character is NOT Annatar, contrary to popular belief, but Elrond. Constantly doing what he wants despite everyone else's instructions? Shows up after 20 years expecting to still be friends? Suspicious of that weird new Ring you brought home? Would rather leap to certain doom than do something he finds objectionable? Hardcore cat energy. Obviously Galadriel is his sister cat for similar reasons. And the third cat is the Stranger. He basically domesticated himself but still sometimes bites and scratches when startled.
Lizard energy: Adar. He just wants to sit in a sunbeam and rest, FFS. Also he probably eats bugs. And Phârazon, for being eerily patient and just sitting there. Sitting. Sitting. Waiting. Before making his move. And finally Gil-galad, for not really moving a lot and being one colour and always looking grumpy.
21: Based on dinner scenes, where would I like to eat? Not with Adar, LMAO. I tried making that dinner. It was basic. I'd much prefer to eat with Gil-galad. He has the nicest dining room and I want some elf wine, damnit.
28: Do I have any headcanons about a character or the world? Yes. Many. :) Most of them are about Adar, but I've shared a lot of those already. So here's a generic one. You know that script they use in Númenor? That isn't tengwar, or cirth, or anything else known to the Tolkien fandom? I HC that this is the script of the elves of Tol Eressëa, who, following all that unpleasantness with Feanor, stopped using tengwar out of spite. They came up with their own script, which they then passed on to Númenor during their many voyages of friendship. Númenor originally used both tengwar and cirth, but as most of their dealings in the early days were with the Eressëan elves, this script quickly became the standard and took over.
Thank you for asking!
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dinsbeskar · 1 month ago
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*HIGH PITCHED DOLPHIN NOISES*
I LOVE THIS!!!! you write him so well, like the manipulation and his true feelings bleed together in a way that we can see, even he can see, but there is ambiguity in them that makes it so delicious to read
But it was not the Queen Regent that made his eyes widen and his heart skip a beat. It was a simple woman standing next to her – (Y/N).
Skip a beat!!! I'm choosing to believe it's a silly lil crush heartbeat skip, and not a "ffs I thought you were dead" heartbeat skip 😂😂
Sauron was defeated. He just had to hug her back because what kind of husband would he be if he pushed her away in a moment like that? 
He just had to!!! God what a trial 😂
“I thought I'd lost you, love…” he muttered to her and she took a step back to take a better look at his scratched cheeks and dry lips as she cupped his face gently.
FUCK THIS WOULD WORK ON ME
I'm so mad like he's deceiving everyone so hard but this would work on me 😂😂
And yet, some part of him, buried deep inside, was somehow glad to see the young woman again; safe and alive.
😏 yes he was!!! YES HE WAS 👏👏👏
“Oi!” (Y/N) shouted at her, visibly upset with Galadriel's words. “I ain't leavin' here! Speak for yerself, Elf. Me an' my husband, we'll stay right here!” She protested and Sauron only watched with a hint of a smirk but he wanted very much to burst into laughter. It was truly priceless to see Galadriel's face being taken aback by Halbrand's wife and her way of being.
I YELLED
Like he's trying to get Galadriel on side but also his "wife" is hilarious and the idea of him being torn between the two is just so delicious
“And how are we meant to pay for it, huh?” Sauron leaned on the wall with his arms crossed, tan muscles flexing under his brand new tunic that had been given to him back in the palace.
:)))))))
Muscles. Flexing.
:)))))))
I have no words, I'm moving on
“It's alright, love, we'll manage. Don't you worry,” Sauron assured her and kissed the palm of her hand as she cracked a smile at him.
Fuck's sake, I love a palm kiss 🙌🙌🙌 and the reassurance??? Like the softness is killing me, he's deceiving her but it's so soft 🤦‍♀️ kill me now
“She's nobody. Just a random woman who showed up and burdened me with her presence,” Sauron answered and (Y/N) seemed to be very pleased with that answer, although it was quite funny to watch because he had just described her.
HAHAHAHAHA I YELLED
"Just some annoying rando" 😂😂😂 "no babe I'm not talking about you"
It was the very first night they were left alone, without anyone being around in the same tent or the same deck. Their own little house in a beautiful realm across the sea. (Y/N) laid on Sauron's chest with a smile and played with the hair on his chest as she brushed it with her fingers and twisted the curls gently.
Oh god this image???? Has me so soft???? So tender????? And the chest hair!!!! Sauron's chest hair reigns supreme again (no I cannot be normal about it)
(Y/N) lifted herself up and leaned in to place a kiss upon his lips – a lingering one that was slowly growing more needy and passionate. Sauron panicked deep inside. He was certainly not signing up for this.
OH MY GOD
Like how far undercover does he go, does he sleep with this random woman, just to keep her on side??? Yes of course, he's committed to the bit, but is it just for the mission??? Bro let yourself enjoy it!!
“What is it, Hal? It's been weeks since we've been close, an' ye're always so eager. Do ye not desire me anymore?” She looked away. “Is it because of that Elf? Has she bewitched ye?”
“Don't be foolish,” Sauron rolled his eyes but it only made her huff and he realised he just had to make love to her on that night.
“Come 'ere,” Sauron pulled her closer and rolled her on her back as he hovered above her and her frown turned into a giggle. 
"Had to make love to her" oh no oh dear what a shame 😂
Something about her laughter at that moment was truly heartwarming. It was innocent, nearly childish, as if she suddenly had no worries and nothing but love for her husband filled her whole body. Sauron froze for a while and just stared at her face as his heart squeezed deep inside his chest. What was that odd feeling he was starting to develop?
I fucking love this 😂😂😂 "what is this?? A feeling??? Absolutely not!!"
He did not want it… He did not…
Shut up, yes you do 😂😂😂
“I am so glad you are here with me, love; that the tides did not take you away from me,” he confessed, trying to convince himself it was only Halbrand trying to woo his wife, nothing else – nothing more.
Yes of course, just keeping up the act, definitely just acting, went from contemplating murder to sleeping with her, totally normal behaviour 😂
“Nothin' could ever keep me from ye, Hal,” she batted her eyelashes at him before he joined their lips together.
HE
He joined their lips together
LOVE THIS 🙌 like yeah sure he's just acting maybe but also he did that!!!
The worst thing was, though, that she would not be so eager to play along to his lie that he was planning to feed Lady Galadriel with. It was interfering with his plans and as his anger grew, he wished (Y/N) to die once more.
Bruh. Bruuuuuuuh
But then she laid her wet eyes upon him again as she sniffled and his heart softened despite his own will.
Ahhh there we go lmfao, man is secretly soft and I love it (soft!sauron is my fave and I don't even care that it's a teeny bit ooc)
“My husband's lands, ye say, Elf?” (Y/N) burst out in laughter. “Please, ye've no idea what ye're speakin' of. That man comes from nothin' an' has nothin'. The only bit of land we had was from me ol' man, an' that's gone now, taken by the Orcs. Even that pendant he's wearin' isn't his. It was Diarmid's.”
RUINING HIS PLANS, ONE BIG MOUTH AT A TIME
Lmfao I died 😂😂😂
If any of the women looked at his eyes now, they would realise he is no mortal man and surely not a good spirit.
Lmfao he's so fucking funny, "don't be suspicious don't be suspicious don't be suspicious"
“Haven't heard of that lad, who's he?” She asked and Sauron clenched his jaw to force the laughter to stay in the back of his throat.
Calling Sauron "that lad" in front of him, absolutely hilarious, comedy gold, I cannot stop laughing
Sauron felt the sudden urge to defend her like she had unwillingly defended him only a moment ago.
Ohhh the train is pulling in, next stop Down Bad Station
Sauron wrapped his hands around the iron bars of his cell as he wanted to call out after her as Halbrand probably would but then he realised… It would only be for the better if she decided to stay here and finally leave him alone to his schemes.
nO we can't have that, like yes absolutely she'd be better off without him for sure, but ummmmm we're in this now for better or worse 😂
Lily, this was absolutely hilarious, i died multiple times, but it was also so sweet and emotional, I love where it's going!!! 💜💜💜
— SOMEPLACE BETTER (II)
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PART ONE
PAIRING — Sauron x fem!human!Reader
SUMMARY — Sauron reunites with Halbrand's wife in Númenor where she keeps interfering with his plans and schemes nearly all the time.
AUTHOR’S NOTE — So, obviously, the Reader did not die in the last part and here we are with the part two! 💕 She can't be too easy to get rid of! 🤣 Sauron is a bit ooc here (and surely will be at the end of this fic), so be warned! 🤧
WORD COUNT — 3,630
ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.
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SOMEPLACE BETTER (II)
Sauron certainly considered (Y/N), the wife of Halbrand to be dead now and he did not really bother himself with thinking much of her. Especially now, with Lady Galadriel by his side as if the Valar themselves put her there for him to make sure his plan would work.
When he entered the palace in Númenor barefoot, in ragged clothes and with the Elf by his side, of course they drew attention. Everyone turned around with the beautiful Queen Regent amongst them – he recognised her immediately because there was only one woman inside that room dressed so splendidly and he had overheard the guards earlier mentioning some Queen Regent being present. That stunning woman just had to be her.
But it was not the Queen Regent that made his eyes widen and his heart skip a beat. It was a simple woman standing next to her – (Y/N).
She looked different now. Her hair was brushed and clean as ever and she was wearing a brand new dress, which was simple but probably the fanciest thing she had ever worn either way. It was dark green and her cheeks were painted slightly with a rogue.
Sauron had to admit that in this certain light and when she was not wearing rags, she looked quite… pretty.
“Halbrand, ye bastard! Thought I'd lost ye again!” She exclaimed, making wide eyes and now everyone looked at her as Sauron gritted his teeth.
That woman seemed to be indestructible and she would ruin all of his schemes.
“Your Highness, this here's my husband I've spoken of – the one I lost at sea!” (Y/N) looked at the Queen Regent and the Queen nodded at her with a soft smile.
After that gesture, Halbrand's wife ran up to him but not without giving Galadriel a dirty look on the way.
“I turn me back for but a moment, an' ye've gone an' found yerself a fine Elven lady. Truly, ye're unbelievable!” (Y/N) exclaimed and pushed his chest slightly but not without a loving smile. Then, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Sauron was defeated. He just had to hug her back because what kind of husband would he be if he pushed her away in a moment like that? 
“I thought I'd lost you, love…” he muttered to her and she took a step back to take a better look at his scratched cheeks and dry lips as she cupped his face gently.
“Me an' a few others, we were the lucky ones. A ship from here found us an' took us in,” (Y/N) explained. “Folks here are so kind, Hal. They looked after us, even gave me new clothes. An' Her Highness herself wanted words with me, to know more about me! Me – simple, foolish (Y/N)!” She shook her head as she seemed to be in awe with everything around her. “Ye were right. A good life awaits us here,” she added and caressed his chest.
“You're neither simple nor foolish to me,” Sauron whispered, reassuringly. He was trying to show softness in his eyes despite his frustration and anger.
And yet, some part of him, buried deep inside, was somehow glad to see the young woman again; safe and alive.
Galadriel kept watching them curiously with the corner of her eye.
“Have you greeted your husband now, (Y/N)?” The Queen Regent asked and (Y/N) turned around to face her as she nodded, nervously. The Queen Regent was not mean or rude but a simple woman like Halbrand's wife was extremely intimidated by her presence anyway.
“Aye, Your Highness,” (Y/N) answered.
“He might want to enlighten us then what an Elf is doing by his side,” Queen Regent laid her scolding eyes on Sauron.
“I'd like to know about that as well, Your Highness,” (Y/N) shot another dirty glance at Galadriel.
“Circumstances arose that–” Sauron started, trying to pose as a simple man who pretended to speak in a more fancy manner to impress the nobles.
“We are companions by chance. Met on the open sea,” Galadriel interrupted him. “Your captain here, delivered us from certain death. All we ask is that Númenor continue his mercy and grant us ship's passage to Middle-earth.”
“Oi!” (Y/N) shouted at her, visibly upset with Galadriel's words. “I ain't leavin' here! Speak for yerself, Elf. Me an' my husband, we'll stay right here!” She protested and Sauron only watched with a hint of a smirk but he wanted very much to burst into laughter. It was truly priceless to see Galadriel's face being taken aback by Halbrand's wife and her way of being. “I've settled matters with the good Queen already!” (Y/N) added. “She's promised me a place to live,” she looked at her husband to let him know, too.
“That sounds generous and reasonable,” he nodded and Galadriel shot him a deadly glance.
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Sauron and (Y/N) were taken to their new place by the guards – a poor house located in the city centre near the taverns and the harbour. Sauron could immediately see that the house had belonged to simple commoners before but the standards were still more than enough for (Y/N). She was in awe as she looked around and her eyes sparkled at the sight.
“This place is truly a paradise,” she told him with a grin.
“And how are we meant to pay for it, huh?” Sauron leaned on the wall with his arms crossed, tan muscles flexing under his brand new tunic that had been given to him back in the palace.
“The good Queen's promised it'll be free of charge for half a year,” (Y/N) informed him. “I'm sure ye can find work by then, Hal. In a city like this, they must have need of plenty of smiths!” She approached him cheerfully and threw her hands around his neck before leaning in to peck his lips. “Are ye not happy, love?” She asked.
Sauron couldn't stop thinking of Lady Galadriel, though. Would she try to find him now and convince him to come back to Middle-earth as the King of The Southlands? He certainly hoped so.
And he hoped that Halbrand's wife would not ruin his plans either. Therefore, he had to be nice to her now, so she would lie for him later when he'd ask her to.
“I am,” he nodded and fixed a reckless hair strand on her head. “I'll ask around for work. And what about you?”
At his words, (Y/N) looked down nervously and Sauron raised an eyebrow at her.
“I fear I won't be of much use here, love,” she admitted, truly ashamed, which he could see in her glistening eyes when she glanced up. “I don't reckon they've need for a simple woman like me 'round here. But I'll try, I promise, Hal. I'll do me best to find work. I won't leave ye to it alone,” she cupped his face and sniffed her tears back.
“It's alright, love, we'll manage. Don't you worry,” Sauron assured her and kissed the palm of her hand as she cracked a smile at him.
They stood in silence like that for a short moment, which was quite lovely until (Y/N) decided to break the blissful peacefulness again because she simply could not be silent for too long.
“An' what's the business with that she-Elf, then?” She asked and Sauron sighed.
“She's nobody. Just a random woman who showed up and burdened me with her presence,” Sauron answered and (Y/N) seemed to be very pleased with that answer, although it was quite funny to watch because he had just described her.
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It was the very first night they were left alone, without anyone being around in the same tent or the same deck. Their own little house in a beautiful realm across the sea. (Y/N) laid on Sauron's chest with a smile and played with the hair on his chest as she brushed it with her fingers and twisted the curls gently.
“Hal,” she looked up and he glanced down at her, lazily. “My love, can ye promise me ye'll stay away from the taverns? Or at least be reasonable with it? This is meant to be a new life for us. A fresh start, ye said yerself. When the good Queen asked me about ye, I only spoke well of ye. I wanted ye to begin here with no bad reputation, an' please, let's keep it that way,” she pleaded.
“I promise,” Sauron whispered and brushed her cheek with his fingertip. It was so easy to give false promises. Nearly too easy. 
And she wanted to believe him, desperately.
(Y/N) lifted herself up and leaned in to place a kiss upon his lips – a lingering one that was slowly growing more needy and passionate. Sauron panicked deep inside. He was certainly not signing up for this.
Halbrand's wife could sense his sudden nervousness and she moved away, feeling embarrassed.
“What is it, Hal? It's been weeks since we've been close, an' ye're always so eager. Do ye not desire me anymore?” She looked away. “Is it because of that Elf? Has she bewitched ye?”
“Don't be foolish,” Sauron rolled his eyes but it only made her huff and he realised he just had to make love to her on that night.
Not that desires of the flesh were foreign to him but it had been centuries when he had a proper body for the last time. He was still not fully used to his new form and she was… Far from his usual type.
Although in the dim light of a candle that danced upon the wall of their new home, with her skin and hair clean as ever and a pretty new nightgown in a cream colour, he surely felt some attraction to Halbrand's wife and he could even understand the man for marrying her despite her big mouth and other annoying qualities.
Her devotion to him was undoubted, though.
“Come 'ere,” Sauron pulled her closer and rolled her on her back as he hovered above her and her frown turned into a giggle. 
Something about her laughter at that moment was truly heartwarming. It was innocent, nearly childish, as if she suddenly had no worries and nothing but love for her husband filled her whole body. Sauron froze for a while and just stared at her face as his heart squeezed deep inside his chest. What was that odd feeling he was starting to develop?
He did not want it… He did not…
“I am so glad you are here with me, love; that the tides did not take you away from me,” he confessed, trying to convince himself it was only Halbrand trying to woo his wife, nothing else – nothing more.
“Nothin' could ever keep me from ye, Hal,” she batted her eyelashes at him before he joined their lips together.
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Sauron was leaning on the wall inside the jail cell he was kept inside and when he heard the steps approaching him, he could sense (Y/N) rushing to him as he smirked to himself.
“What happened?!” She ran up to the bars and wrapped her hands around the iron. “Hal…!” She sighed at the sight of his freshly bruised face when he turned around. “Ye promised me... an' here I am, after bein' told me husband's in prison for startin' a pub fight!”
“I was trying to find work but learned that you need to earn a guild crest to forge steel here, so I figured I'd find friends instead,” Sauron stood up and shrugged his arms as he approached the bars, too. “And it wasn't a pub fight, it was a street fight.”
(Y/N) shook her head as she chuckled lovingly although her eyes remained scolding.
“Ye'll never change, love,” she said. “How fares the friend hunting?” She asked teasingly and Sauron rolled his eyes.
“How fares the work hunting?” Sauron asked, playfully, expecting her to admit her own failure but she surprised him instead.
“I got meself a job, Hal, actually. Nothin' grand, but it's enough for me,” she cracked a smile.
“What is it?”
“I'm gonna help the ladies sellin' their goods at the market by the harbour. It's close to home an' all that. They couldn't give me a proper stand, since I can't read nor write, but I'll help. An' one of the ladies was kind enough to offer to teach me the letters!” (Y/N) shared the news, excitedly.
“I'm proud of you, love,” Sauron leaned in and wrapped his hands around hers. She gave him a big, loving smile.
“Ye're gonna get that guild crest, Hal. I believe in ye,” she assured him.
“I already did but they took it back,” he rolled his eyes and she sighed.
“Ye stole it?” The muscles of her jaw clenched. “It was supposed to be a fresh start! Ye can't be walkin' around doin' that! What's next? Ye gonna ask me to help ye steal again? Expect me to lie to cover yer mischief? I'm done with that, Halbrand!” Her eyes welled with tears as she took a step back from the bars and shook her head.
Sauron was taken aback by her words. He had no idea of this sort of history between Halbrand and his wife. She was even more hurt by him than he had been expecting and their marriage was even more complicated. 
The worst thing was, though, that she would not be so eager to play along to his lie that he was planning to feed Lady Galadriel with. It was interfering with his plans and as his anger grew, he wished (Y/N) to die once more.
But then she laid her wet eyes upon him again as she sniffled and his heart softened despite his own will.
“I know how much you want this whole thing to work out. I want that, too. I didn't want to disappoint you by coming back home and telling you I didn't get anything,” Sauron confessed.
“Ye disappointed me by endin' up here,” Halbrand's wife insisted.
And while he was thinking of another reply, they were interrupted by Lady Galadriel walking inside the prison as well. Sauron couldn't help a satisfied smirk forming on his face. She took his bait.
“Halbrand,” she addressed him as she stood next to his wife but keeping her distance from the both of them.
She looked ethereal in her long golden hair and that pretty blue dress as she radiated nothing but pure light. It made Halbrand's wife visibly uneasy to stand next to her as she fixed her hair in a nervous manner and glanced at the Elf with pure jealousy in her eyes.
“What're ye doin' here?” She nearly barked at Galadriel and Sauron chuckled.
“Your husband does not belong on this island,” Lady Galadriel decided to ignore the woman's behaviour as she gently informed.
“An' who are ye to say where my husband belongs or not? I'm his wife, I've known him a lifetime. You've known him two days,” (Y/N) furrowed her brows.
“Then you surely do realise that Halbrand here is more than he claims,” Galadriel lifted her chin up and (Y/N) looked at her as if the Elf was crazy. “I found this in the Hall of Lore,” Galadriel handed her a scroll of paper.
(Y/N) took it but her hand trembled slightly as she did so and Sauron knew why – she was ashamed to admit she could not read in case it was some document.
But it was not. It was a drawing of the same heraldry as Sauron was wearing on his pendant stolen from Diarmid. He kept glancing at it and watching (Y/N)'s face carefully. He hadn't told her yet about his plan because he hadn't expected Galadriel to work so fast. Would Halbrand's wife play along, though?
Surely, a woman so simple and low would want to be the Queen of The Southlands, would she not?
“What's this?” She asked. “Why're ye showin' it to me?” She handed the scroll back to Galadriel and the confused Elf pointed at Sauron's pendant.
“Is it not the same heraldry your husband is wearing?” Galadriel inquired. “Many ages ago, a man bearing that mark united the scattered tribes of The Southlands under one banner. The very banner that might unite them again today against the evil that now seeks to claim their lands,” she tilted her head with a smile and Sauron's heart skipped a beat because it was all working out so perfect but… Halbrand's wife did not seem to be convinced. “Your husband's lands,” Galadriel added.
“My husband's lands, ye say, Elf?” (Y/N) burst out in laughter. “Please, ye've no idea what ye're speakin' of. That man comes from nothin' an' has nothin'. The only bit of land we had was from me ol' man, an' that's gone now, taken by the Orcs. Even that pendant he's wearin' isn't his. It was Diarmid's.”
“Diarmid's?” Galadriel furrowed her brows as Sauron gritted his teeth.
“An old man from a village nearby. We travelled with him an' became friends. My husband's always had a taste for shiny, pretty things, so I reckon he took it off the body of that poor man from that shipwreck,” (Y/N) gave Sauron a scolding look and he looked away because his eyes were growing dark out of anger and frustration.
If any of the women looked at his eyes now, they would realise he is no mortal man and surely not a good spirit.
“Even if that heraldry is not his…” Galadriel sighed, defeated. However, Sauron could hear desperation in her voice.
Such a sweet obsession to make sure her own scheme would work out – he knew that feeling. And he was glad because it meant that she would help him still despite the odds.
“Even if that heraldry is not his,” she repeated, “how many people do know the truth? I might know him for two days, (Y/N), but I can see him for who he is and he is way more than a ragged commoner. He risked his own life to save mine–”
“Ye did?!” (Y/N) gasped as she laid her eyes on her husband but Sauron looked up to avoid her gaze.
“The Southlands need to be united against evil,” Galadriel insisted.
“Ye wish to deceive folk an' set a crown on a commoner's head, all to fight the Orcs?” (Y/N) was surprised to hear such words. “An' they say the Elves are so noble…”
“Not just the Orcs,” Galadriel answered harshly, slowly losing patience with Halbrand's wife. “There is an evil much darker and much worse hiding in the shadows.”
“Like what, then?” (Y/N) asked with an innocence that nearly made Sauron laugh.
“Sauron,” Lady Galadriel spoke his name and he felt a shiver going down his spine. With a corner of his eye, he observed his wife but she did not seem to be startled or even moved.
“Haven't heard of that lad, who's he?” She asked and Sauron clenched his jaw to force the laughter to stay in the back of his throat.
“The Dark Lord!” Galadriel's eyes widened. “Morgoth's loyal follower. Have you heard of Morgoth?”
“Aye, I have,” (Y/N) admitted with a shrug, “but 'twas a long time ago, wasn't it?”
“Such great evil is beyond mortality,” Galadriel tried to explain. “I have reasons to believe that Sauron is not truly dead.”
“And why should I care about that?” (Y/N) was confused. “I don't even know him, an' it's not like he's ever hurt me or me family.”
“He hurt many others!” Galadriel protested.
“A long time ago,” (Y/N) rolled her eyes.
“I am no longer wondering why people of The Southlands followed Morgoth. You are such ignorant and vile creatures!” Galadriel spat out. Her sudden anger and cruel words made (Y/N) take a slight step back as she looked down, feeling humiliated.
Sauron felt the sudden urge to defend her like she had unwillingly defended him only a moment ago.
“Not very noble of you, Elf, to say such things,” he pointed out. “You should know better than anyone that it is not on us how we perceive those things. Your kin rewarded a few tribes with your gifts and punished others. Their descendants are still paying the price for the sins of the past. We are not used to worrying about the Dark Lords or the shadows when we simply have nothing to put onto our plates.”
Galadriel blushed slightly at his words and she looked at (Y/N) with remorse but Halbrand's wife kept her glistening eyes on him only, grateful for defending her. 
“Come with me to Middle-earth,” Galadriel started to convince once more, “and together we will redeem both our bloodlines.”
“How?” Sauron asked her. “You're stuck on this island and you're still short an army.”
“That is all about to change,” Galadriel convinced him and then smiled at him before turning her head around to smile at Halbrand's wife, too.
And then she walked away to leave them alone again but Sauron could feel the switch of the atmosphere.
“Ye can't be serious, Hal,” (Y/N) whispered. “We were supposed to start a new life here, start a family. I don't want to go back to Middle-earth. I don't want to pretend to be someone I'm not. If that's the path ye choose, I cannot follow ye…” Her lower lip trembled as she gathered her skirts and hurried out of the prison with tears pricking her eyes.
Sauron wrapped his hands around the iron bars of his cell as he wanted to call out after her as Halbrand probably would but then he realised… It would only be for the better if she decided to stay here and finally leave him alone to his schemes.
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MASTERLIST
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demonscantgothere · 2 years ago
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If he doesn't reveal his identity as the lord super villain just to offer you the word and to rule by his side... then he doesn't deserve you. Okay but the releveal and the visions and how close they were WAS SO HOT
You have inspired me to make a thing. Behold:
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ggiuliass · 2 years ago
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IT IS NOT ME. IT IS NOT ME.
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PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE ME. IT'S THE HEROINE - VILLAIN CHEMISTRY
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athenasnina · 2 years ago
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I blame the anon of @demonscantgothere whoever you are, you got me to rewatch fucking medici, a show I did not even like that much, then I was like, whelp might as well go all in and watch Charlie’s one other boring ass movie where AGAIN, he acts like the cutest cinnamon to have ever cinnamon rolled.
Why, Charlie, can you not play as any other sassy smug assholes?
And dammit, now I’m 4 chapters deep into this Halbrand/Galadriel one night stand but she doesn’t even like him prompt at @saurondrielprompts, but being the shit writer I am who can only do sad/fluff, Halbrand is just a smol sad kicked puppy no matter how many times I try to rewrite it! This bitch will not be Halbrand and continues to just be an amalgamation of Guglielmo and Daniel with absolutely no Halbrand in sight. So I’ve given up trying to force it.
AND I NEED TO KNOW IF ANYONE ACTUALLY WANTS THIS ABSOLUTELY OOC HALBRAND with nothing but the Halbrand name slapped onto the foreheads of two other Charlie characters.
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ceolona · 2 years ago
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Ah, Rings of Power did it again. Our sociopathic Mary Sue rides in on horseback to save the day. How?? Did she get a text? Does her horse have a GPS jammed up it’s ass?
Now that Halbrand and Isildur are on the continent where they belong, and assuming Adar is not full of crap, can she please just fuck off to Imladris and weave baskets for the next few hundred years?
The well scene during the battle was just out of place. …and how did Adar still not know who Halbrand is after Galadriel calls out his name? Someone slap the writers and the director.
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tarahasnoclue · 2 years ago
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I woke up this morning with this bizarre certainty that halbrand is sauron and I can't shake it
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demonscantgothere · 2 years ago
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Celeborn ain’t dead. He ain’t dead. He’s going to show up alive next season, stroll up in Lindon with some, “My love, did you miss me?” while Galadriel looks back and forth between the two of them in shock.
The camera slowly pans to Halbrand, who:
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And the downfall into Pure Evil begins with him plotting Celeborn’s death, just you wait and see.
Alright everyone all aboard the SS Haladriel. Celeborn is Dead and we all know what that means
This is not a drill, the ship is setting sail within the week
Please join me on the AO3 tag and keep all hands inside the ship
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doberbutts · 2 years ago
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Don't mind me just kinda wondering why anti ROP folks are trolling the tags calling Halbrand an incel. He's not made a single romantic move for Galadriel and in fact has mostly been in the camp of "would this elf leave me tf alone ffs".
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demonscantgothere · 2 years ago
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A Moment of Silence for Sauron's Attempt to Flirt with Galadriel:
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Yes, a moment of silence to appreciate the fact that this isn't Finrod speaking, but an illusion crafted by Sauron. That wasn't exactly what Finrod said, my man, and it's kinda creepy you're posing as her brother, but that was smooth. I almost fell out of my chair. "Touch the darkness once more." Touch the darkness once more. TOUCH THE DARKNESS ONCE MORE, BABY, IT'S GETTING COLD OVER HERE.
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drart503 · 2 years ago
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We're going to hell together bro
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Adar is my favorite character, so he will suffer the most from my great love …and Sauron's love too
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ggiuliass · 2 years ago
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If "The Lord of the Rings" were written nowadays
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