#what happened on that flet haldir. what happened.

[kaijuerotica]

i love the idea of aragorn as simultaneously a bisexual alut and a wife guy. just leaving a trail of heartbroken lovers across middle earth

he's completely upfront with them all. like hey, i have a wife and she's cool and if ur down for some fun, let's go for it

and he's so earnest and also down for a good time than people basically never turn him down and then wake up the next morning like "fuck. im gonna think about this guy for the rest of my life, huh"

[deep-space-elf]

〚IMAGINE〛 Haldir showing off in front of you

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Summary: Haldir is showing off in front of you, and Rúmil notices... Word Count: 440 Reader: She/Her, Human POV: 3rd Person Warnings: None AN: I'll never get tired of writing Rúmil and Orophin annoying Haldir

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

The arrow hit the target perfectly in the middle. Haldir’s expression was neutral, as he pulled another arrow from his quiver. He drew the bow, released the arrow and hit the first arrow, splitting it in half. Still, his face gave no sign of how pleased he was with himself.

“What was that for?” Rúmil asked, confused why his brother would ruin an arrow for no reason.

Haldir shrugged. “Just practising.” But his eyes gave him away. With a quick motion, his eyes scanned the side of the training field. His eyes lingered a little too long on a certain human.

“I see,” Rúmil said.

Haldir looked back at his brother and almost groaned at the smug look on his face. So he knew… that would mean Orophin would soon know. Which would result in his two younger siblings teasing and annoying him.

Perhaps he could still talk his way out of it. “I do now know what you are talking about.”

“Oh, is that so?” Rúmil asked and Haldi wished he would stop grinning this smugly. “So, you won’t mind if I walk over to Y/N and… I don’t know, asked her to have dinner with me, or something?”

“No!” Haldir said and knew immediately he sounded too protective, too jealous. “Do not bother our guest, Rúmil!” It was worth a try.

Before Rúmil could tease him further, Orophin walked over to them. “How is training today?”

“You own me, Orophin!” Rúmil laughed. “I just knew our dear brother had eyes for Y/N and you wouldn’t believe me!”

Orophin’s eyes widen. “So he admitted it?”

“Would you two stop speaking about me like I am not here?” Haldir gritted out.

“Tell me what happened,” Orophin urged their youngest brother like he had not heard Haldir.

Haldir threw his hands in the air. “There is nothing to tell!”

Suddenly he heard giggling and looked at the source. Y/N and some elleth were laughing behind their hands, looking at the three brothers. Rúmil had the audacity to wave at them.

Fed up with his brothers, Haldir left the training field, his cheeks coloured in a pink tint. He whole way back to his flet, he muttered curses under his breath and wondering what he had done to deserve them.

Once he calmed down, he remembered the reason why he was on the training field in the first place. Y/N. A human, yet he couldn't deny how drawn he felt towards her. He hoped one day, hopefully soon, he would make her laugh without having a squabble with his brothers. Yes, that sounded like a perfect new plan.

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

Taglist: @velvetmotel97 @tossacointoyoursaltqueen @thewhiteladyofrohan

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[tehri]

On the note of Gollum being an opportunist, my brain is now stuck on everything that could’ve gone wrong in both Moria and Lothlórien.

In Moria, Gollum followed them for a large part of their journey. He might’ve been near the West Gate, and he might’ve seen the Fellowship enter and begin their journey - if nothing else, he was definitely near enough to hear the damn ruckus they made entering and when the gate was barred by the Watcher. And during that entire time? He made no move. He waited. He stuck close, only JUST out of sight and almost out of earshot. He was very careful to avoid being heard, mostly moving so that whatever sound he made could plausibly be perceived as an echo. He KNOWS how sharp eyes and ears the Elves have, and he ABSOLUTELY knows that Aragorn is someone who could catch him again if needed, and he sees Aragorn in the group and he sees there’s an Elf. He is VERY careful in this part, until that one evening when Frodo has the watch. Frodo thinks it’s a dream when he sees two glints of light that could be eyes. It very well might be, considering how dark it is in Moria, and we don’t know if Gandalf kept his staff lit while the Fellowship slept. But if Gandalf DID keep his staff glowing? Then Frodo ABSOLUTELY might’ve seen Gollum. I know that humans don’t have the whole glowy-eyes-thing, but Gollum’s eyes are also consistently referred to in a way that sounds like they reflect light like that. So that “dream”? Very well might’ve happened. Gollum saw an opportunity. Frodo was awake, and everyone else rested. He considered trying. He got close - but might’ve been deterred by the fact that the others would’ve woken up if Frodo had made any noise, especially the Elf (who, as we know, doesn’t really sleep, but we don’t know if Gollum knows that).

Then in Lothlórien, Frodo is again the only one awake at the time. He wakes because of sounds, and an Elf comes climbing up and pulls up the ladder, tells him there are orcs about, and then vanishes again. And Frodo is awake, listening. And he hears something at the bottom of the tree that is DEFINITELY NOT an Elf. Gollum has been sniffing about for a while. He followed the Fellowship out of Moria - how he got past the literal orc-army and all the way to the East Gate is a goddamn mystery we might never solve, considering the breaking of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, but I reckon there are other paths to the gate than the bridge and Gollum has at this point had a couple of months/roughly a year to sniff out various ways around. Either way, he has come out, and he came out FAST. He was behind the Fellowship even BEFORE they reached Lothlórien and crossed the river Nimrodel. Remember how Frodo walked a bit behind the others alongside Gimli? He heard Gollum again. AND saw him for a split second. But that night, up on the flet, that is when he knows for certain that he sees something and likely guesses what it is. Again, Gollum sees an opportunity. The Elves have left the area (aside from Legolas, but Gollum probably doesn’t know he’s there) to hunt the orcs that crossed the river Nimrodel. Should be a prime opportunity, right? So he sneaks up close and begins to climb. He looks up, and he SEES Frodo looking back down at him, and he pauses. Element of surprise has definitely been lost. Then he hears, or sees, Haldir coming towards the tree, and he swiftly slips away, knowing that he lost another opportunity. Haldir climbs up to check on everyone, and tells Frodo that he saw something climbing the tree that was abslutely not an orc - in fact, he states that if not for how well the thing climbed the tree, he might’ve mistaken it for one of the four hobbits of the Fellowship - and he explains he didn’t fire an arrow because he didn’t want to alert the orc-party to their whereabouts by making any noise or risking screams.

What I’m saying is - Gollum is fucking terrifying and was only ever thwarted because he knew he needed the element of surprise, or he’d be captured and/or killed and he’d never get the Ring. That one time he tries to escape Frodo and Sam after they’ve caught him, he would 100% have snuck behind them again if he’d succeeded, following them mile by mile until he is certain that he’s got the drop on them. He would’ve been WAY more cautious. He got careless, and he underestimated Frodo and Sam - especially Sam. He’d not make the same mistake again.

[errruvande]

Cunning Plan (Haldir x reader)

Content challenge: day 5 - Unrequited love

TW: none, only sad Haldir :(

Word count: 978

A/N: this got a little bit longer than I planned

You were standing on the flets, on the different levels. Your were at another solemn, depressive vigil with your friends and lover - the only thing that was brightening that endless night watch.

Haldir was standing at the higher flet, glazing over the forest, but he was peeking at you for most of the time, not paying much attention to whatever was happening under the flets. His arms were resting on his dagger's hilts, his face was stone cold, undistracted as it should have been, but, again, he wasn’t let anything distract his gaze from you, not from the horizon he should have been watching.

"Caun Haldir." - he pulled himself from the void after hearing Ferewelir's concerned voice, he got to realize the elf was calling him a several minutes in a row.

"Yes, Ferewelir, what it is?" Haldir still didn't tear his eyes from you. He lifted his left brow and unnoticeably turned his head toward said-elf's voice.

"I, I'm not sure, and, of course, it is for you to decide, but we dwelling here for the last five hours and didn't see anything strange"

"You need to pack your thoughts more straight, mellon nîn, be direct." - his ears twitched when the rapid sound of your ringing voice flew next to him.

"Maybe we should change our position? Go nearer to the borders?" Ferewelir's voice was fluttered, still he got a point, but Haldir didn't say anything about it.

"I pretty much like it here".

You were sitting on the flet on the other side of the footpath, surrounded by three elves. It was an oddly cold night, so Nilfaeth borrowed you his cloak, since you were shaking on the wind.

Only blind person couldn’t see your affection for Nilfaeth, you always shone in his presence and you always favoured him over others. That day's evening you disobeyed Haldir's command to stay with him at the higher flet, telling him you want to be behind Nilfaeth. Little did you know that Haldir only wanted to spend time with you alone.

Haldir heart was broken. He once believed you had feeling for him and since that day he’s been paying the price of his own naivety. You had been playing around and teasing him for several weeks, going on walks and listening to his endless stock of stories. Haldir was shining and blooming around you, but you had been hardly noticing his deep and desperate attraction to you.

"I really want to go on watches," you had said him once, when you were roaming in the woods. "You know I am an extremely good archer and not lesser good sword fighter, I can bear it!"

You had knew Lord Celeborn was against female elves to service in army, since he was quite of conservative views. And you had knew if Haldir asked him about you, then Lord could have let you to join his troops. And Haldir asked him, and Lord Celeborn had gave his permission.

And then your one-woman show came to an end. Then Haldir's heart had been riven asunder. The day you joined his unit you sticked to Nilfaeth like a child is sticked to his mother, there wasn't a day you didn't spent with your meleth, and there wasn't a day Haldir wasn't blaming himself for letting you fooled his heart that easily. Was it cruel? Yes, indeed. Did you wanted it to be so? No. You was simply too young and too foolish to observe Haldir's feelings, especially from someone who is that hardly openly showing his emotions. In your head that was only an innocent plan to get to rangers’ unit, to befriended Haldir, but in real life your plan had turn into more delicate way and you’d hurted Haldir like no one ever had. You saw him only as a friend and you thought he felt the same about you. 

"Caun nîn, is everything fine with you?" Haldir heard someone called him. Ah, it was Ferewelir again. "You've been staring at Y/N for the whole night..."

"I'm not staring at her!" He said, hissing through his teeth, lifting his gaze to the horizon. "I am glad you are so attentive tonight, maybe you will go and disperse that party? Let them remember we are not here for fun, but for work". His voice was low and irritated, his mouth set in a hard line.

Ferewelir went away immediately and reached your flet in a mere seconds. Haldir heard some sad mumbling from your flet. You glanced over him and he raised his chin and narrowed his eyes.

He wasn't really against some action of fun on that kind of watches when it seemed to be a waist of rangers' time, since nothing was happening, but the one thing he wanted then, is to separate you from Nilfaeth, because his heart was bleeding when he saw you laughing at Nilfaeth's jokes and resting in his embrace.

Haldir was supposed to be the one in whose embrace you were resting and whose jokes made you laugh.

He gestured to you, commanding you to get up to his flet.

"Yes, caun nîn, do you have any commands?" You overlooked him with calm, subordinate face. Haldir nodded, biting his lower lip on the inside.

"This is your last night in my unit, Y/N". Your eyes widened and you gasped, hoping this is some kind of a joke. "You distract not only Nilfaeth, but other elves as well. I can't risk it".

You crossed your arms over your chest, brows furrowed.

"Who else?! Who else is distracted by my presence?" You tried to sound calm, but couldn't help yourself from hissing with a bit harsh tone.

"Me..." Haldir said after little silence, taking step back from you and lowered his gaze. "You distract me from my duty".

Your jaw dropped, you were distrusting your hearing, staring at Haldir with round eyes.

He approached the edge of the flet and set his sight at the first light of the rising sun.

"This is not up for discussion, Y/N, that what I have decided. That will be better for everyone".

You were hearkening to Haldir's words with frowned face, you looked at him in disbelief, but you didn't say anything back, since you knew if Haldir had decided something, he won't change his mind. So you left the flet, sobbing silently.

The next day Haldir felt his heart was hevier than it had ever been, he wasn't questioning his decision, but he still was thinking about you.

There wasn't a day in his life he didn't think of you.

Translation:

Caun/ Caun nîn - commander, my commander Meleth - love Mellon nîn - my friend

__________________________________________________

Day 5 is here yay @bonjour-rainycity ✨

[elliemarchetti]

Bitterness and Broken Dreams

Haldir x female half elf OC

Legolas isn’t with the Fellowship and in his place we have Elva, the only woman in a group otherwise made up of men only.

Part 1

Part 2

Words: 2557

The sun was sinking behind the mountains, with the shadows deepening in the woods, when they went on again. Their paths now went into thickets where the dusk had already gathered, the night prompting the elves to uncover their silver lamps. Suddenly, they came out into the open again and found themselves under a pale evening sky pricked by a few early stars. There was a wide treeless space before them, running in a great circle and bending away on either hand, beyond, a deep fosse lost in soft shadow, with grass as green as if it glowed still in memory of the sun that had gone. Upon the further side, a green wall encircling the hill rose to a great height. Haldir turned towards the Fellowship to welcome them to Caras Galadhon, the city of the Galadhrim.

“We cannot enter here, for the gates don’t look northward: we must go to the southside, and the way isn’t short.”

At those words, they walked in silence along a road paved with white stones, the city ever climbing up like a green cloud upon their left; as the night deepened, more lights sprang forth, until all the hill seemed afire with stars. They came at last to a white bridge, beyond which the gates rose, set between the ends of the encircling wall. Haldir knocked and spoke, making the gates open soundlessly, although there was no sign of guards. The travelers passed within, entering quickly the City of the Trees, where no folk could be seen, nor any feet could be heard upon the paths, but many voices spoke about them in the air above. Far away, they could hear the sound of singing, falling like soft rain upon leaves. They climbed many stairs, until they came to the high places and saw before them amid a wide lawn a fountain shimmering, lit by silver lamps that swung from the boughs of trees. Upon the south side of the lawn, stood the mightiest of all the trees, its great smooth bole gleamed like grey silk, and up it towered, until its first branches, far above, opened their huge limbs under shadowy clouds of leaves. Beside it, a broad white ladder stood, and at its foot three Elves clad in grey mail were seated.

“Here dwell Celeborn and Galadriel,” said Haldir. “It’s their wish that you ascend and speak with them.”

One of the Elf-wardens blew a clear note on a small horn, and it was answered three times from far above.

“I’ll go first,” said Haldir. “Let Elva go next, and with her Frodo. The others may follow as they wish. It’s a long climb for those that are not accustomed to such stairs, but you may rest upon the way.”

As they climbed slowly up, they passed many flets, some on one side, some on another, and some set about the bole of the tree, so that the ladder passed through them. At a great height above the ground, they came to a wide talan, great as the deck of a ship. On it was built a house, so large it almost would’ve served for a hall of Men upon the earth. Elva entered behind Haldir, and found that she was in a chamber of oval shape, in the midst of which grew the trunk of the great mallorn, now tapering towards its crown, and yet making still a pillar of wide girth. The chamber was filled with a soft light, walls green and silver and its roof of gold. Many Elves were seated there: on two chairs beneath the bole of the tree and canopied by a living bough there sat, side by side, Celeborn and Galadriel. They stood up to greet their guests, after the manner of Elves, even those who were accounted mighty kings. Very tall they were, and the Lady no less than the Lord. They were clad wholly in white; and the hair of the Lady was of deep gold, while her husband’s was of silver, long and bright. No sign of age was upon them, unless it were in the depths of their eyes, for these were keen as lances in the starlight, and yet profound, the wells of deep memory. Haldir led Elva before them, and the Lord welcomed her in his own tongue. The Lady said no word, but looked long upon her face.

“Sit now beside my chair, Elva of Mirkwood,” said Celeborn. “When all have come, we will speak together.”

Each of the companions he greeted courteously by name as they entered.

“Welcome Aragorn son of Arathorn!” he said. “It’s eight and thirty years of the world outside since you came to this land, and they lie heavy on you. Here, lay aside your burden for a while.”

“Welcome Gimli son of Gloin! It’s long indeed since we saw one of Durin’s folk in Caras Galadhon, but today we have broken our long law. May it be a sign that though the world is now dark, better days are at hand, and that friendship shall be renewed between our peoples.”

Gimli bowed low and sat next to Elva.

“Here there are eight,” said the Lord, when all the guests were seated before his chair. “But nine were to set out, so said the messages. But maybe there has been some change of counsel that we haven’t heard of, after all Elrond is far away with darkness gathering between us, growing longer day by day.”

“There was no change of counsel,” said the Lady, speaking for the first time. “‘Gandalf the Grey set out with the Fellowship, but he didn’t pass the borders of this land. Now tell us where he is, for I much desired to speak with him again. I cannot see him from afar, unless he comes within the fences of Lothlorien: a grey mist is around him, and the ways of his feet and of his mind are hidden from me.”

“Gandalf the Grey fell into shadow,” Elva answered, when she realized that no one else would dare speak such bad news. “He remained in Moria and didn’t escape.”

At her words, all the Elves in the hall cried aloud in grief and amazement.

“These are evil tidings,” said Celeborn, “the most evil spoken here in long years full of grievous deeds. Why has nothing of this been told to me before?” he asked Haldir, in the elven-tongue.

“He has no fault in this,” replied Elva, in the same idiom, “for we haven’t spoken to him of our deeds or our purpose.”

All eyes in the room were suddenly turned towards them, but she was used to it, although she didn’t usually offend such prestigious guests in that way, and moreover in their house.

“At first we were weary and danger was too close behind; and afterwards we almost forgot our grief for a time, as we walked in gladness on the fair paths of Lorien,” Aragorn added, helping her. “Yet our grief is great and our loss cannot be mended, as Gandalf was our guide, and he led us through Moria.”

“Tell us now the full tale!” ordered Celeborn, so Aragorn recounted all that had happened upon the pass of Caradhras, and in the days that followed, speaking of Balin and his book, the fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul and the fire, the narrow bridge and the coming of the Terror, an evil of the Ancient World both a shadow and flame, strong and terrible, known as Balrog of Morgoth, the most deadly of all elf-banes,  save the One who sitting in the Dark Tower.

“We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept, but had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again, I would’ve forbidden you and all that went with you to pass the northern borders,” the Lord said to Gimli.

“Don’t repent of your welcome to the Dwarf,” his wife scolded him. “If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlorien, who of the Galadhrim, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and wouldn’t wish to look upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons? Dark is the water of Kheled-zaram, cold the springs of Kibil-nala, and fair were the many-pillared halls of Khazad-dum in Elder Days, before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone.”

Hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue, the dwarf looked up and met her eyes: wonder came into his face and it seemed he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw love and understating laying there, pure and untouched. With a smile, he rose clumsily and bowed in dwarf-fashion, saying that yet Lorien's land was fairer, and its Lady was better than all the jewels hidden beneath the earth.

After a long silence, Celeborn spoke again: “I didn’t know that your plight was so evil. Please, Gimli, forget my harsh words, as I spoke in the trouble of my heart. I’ll do what I can to aid you all but I won’t give you counsel, saying do this or do that, although I feel compelled to warn you that your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Fellowship is true.”

As soon as the echo of his voice died, his wife held them with her eyes, and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn. None save Elva and Aragorn could long endure her glance. Sam quickly blushed and hung his head, making her smile: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” she said, “as tonight you shall sleep in peace.”

They all sighted, and suddenly felt weary, as those who have been questioned long and deeply, though no words had been spoken openly.

“Now you can go,” Celeborn dismissed them. “You are worn with sorrow and much toil, so even if your Quest didn’t concern us closely, you should’ve taken refuge in this City to rest, heal and refresh. For a while, we won’t speak further of the road ahead of you.”

During the descent, the Fellowship was divided: it was decided that Elva and Aragorn would be housed in Haldir's abode, while the hobbits, Gimli and Boromir would sleep on the ground, in a pavilion among the trees near the fountain, where soft couches and white pillows were laid, so that everyone's customs and habits were respected. Gimli didn’t show much pleasure in being divided from two of his companions, but Elva reassured him quietly, and followed Haldir away from the royal quarters. As they went on, the talans became smaller and smaller, but still suitable for hosting large families. The road to their guide’s home was long and silent, but no one seemed upset to be left alone with their thoughts. A quick climb, and the landlord welcomed them in a cozy but slightly dusty place, which gave Elva the impression of a finely furnished but rarely used room. There was a bedchamber for every one of them, and Haldir first pointed out to Aragorn the one he should consider his own for as long as they were within the green walls: when they were on leave from their role as border guards, it belonged to Rumil, whose love for music shone through the shapes of the instruments covered with fine gray velvet leaning against the wall, waiting patiently to be used again. Orophin's quarters were more modest, probably the room he had previously shared with his brother closest in age. The furniture was minimal, almost spartan, but two of the walls were almost completely hidden by tall bookcases, containing worn and crumpled volumes, which, unlike their elven master, didn’t seem able to withstand the inexorable flow of the time and neglect.

"I thought you were the family diplomat," Elva commented, before her host could retire. For some strange reason, she longed to spend more time with him, to know more deeply that soul she probably would never have a chance to meet again, once the gates of Caras Galadhon were left behind.

"My brother doesn’t study other peoples," he replied, with a certain tenderness in his voice, “but he wants to discover the forgotten history of ours, so that in our roots we can gain strength and be once more united as we were. If you had the opportunity, I think you would’ve got to discover many common interests.”

“The same I share with any other elf, I guess,” she replied, knowing very well how much her specie missed the lost times, the ones destined not to return.

“There is more hope in your tones, and a glimpse in your eyes that says those aren’t just empty words, but you’ll fight to chase away the darkness and keep the light bright. I suppose this is why you’ve been able to hold Lady Galadriel’s gaze for so long; you really want to finish this journey.”

Elva never knew why she felt her ears begin to warm, the redness radiating almost to her cheeks. Perhaps it was the compliment, more genuine and purer than any appreciation on her beauty, perhaps is strong belief in something untrue, or perhaps the fact that Aragorn was just beyond the thin wall, probably hearing everything. The truth was that Lady Galadriel had shown her a way out, a possible future within the walls of Caras Galadhon, where she would still be able to carry on her work, a diplomat always on the go, able to bring Lothlorien back to her ancient glory. There was hope in her vision, the same sometimes she had been blamed for, and light, and happiness. The streets of the city were teeming with individuals of all kinds speaking new and ancient languages, trading and confronting each other in peace, while she, well-liked as she had never been, wandered among the trees alongside the elf who at the moment stood in front of her, holding his arm. That was why she hadn't looked down, she was too afraid that someone else, perhaps the person directly concerned, might read on her face what even Lady Galadriel probably hoped she would accept.

"Are her visions always true?" Elva asked, too embarrassed to be able to support the blue eyes that were looking at her as if to wish they could access her deepest secrets.

"Sometimes," he replied vaguely. "I’m not familiar enough with the Lord and his consort to be able to afford to know anything more than soldier's gossip."

“But you’re not just a soldier,” she objected, resolutely. "You’re a diplomat, and a spy."

A sad smile broke out on Haldir's handsome face, a smile that tinged his eyes with a streak of regret.

"Our trees may have golden fronds, but not all that glitters is precious, and they too cast long shadows, which many don't like to look at," he replied, and with those gloomy words he took his leave, wishing her a good rest. Elva wanted to hold him back, ask him for more, heal that wound from the past that evidently was still open, but she didn't have the courage, and soon she found herself alone, standing in the center of a room that smelled of bitterness and broken dreams.

[noldorianprincess]

“Grief” //Im so sorry

Send “Grief” for a drabble about my muse grieving when yours has died.

(I suggest listening to these songs if you want more feels, 1 2 3)

“I’ll be alright,Fintuilasse…you always worry too much.” He smiled, giving her a soft kiss onthe hand.

“I have good reason to! You alwayscome back home with some sort of scrape or new injury I have to patch up!” Sheflicked his nose while he was still close, causing him to recoil in anoverdramatic manner and pull away from her, stomping over to the armor cabinetas if he were falling and needed something to grab onto. Fin just playfullyrolled her eyes and followed after him.

“My cousin is leading us,along with some of Elrond’s men. We’ll be okay…just think, we’ll finally be ridof what is causing all of this world so much grief…we could finally live inpeace, not ever having to worry about anything turning the corner and harminganyone.” He uttered, placing his hand against her cheek, which, sheinstinctively leaned into.

“Haldir may be strong, butthis is war, Galadir. Not someskirmish on the forest’s line. And you’ll be in a dead end. What are you to doif they get inside the fortress? Helm’s Deep isn’t as impenetrable as everyonebelieves…weak spots could be anywhere and you’d never have the slightest idea…”She looked up to him, concern laced with every fiber of her features. A smilejust came to his lips and he shook his head at her before leaning down andpressing a tender kiss to her lips.

The air was still aroundthem, each second their lips stayed connected, felt like an eternity she neverwanted to be without. When his point was across, they pressed their foreheadstogether and stood that way for a moment longer. She laced their fingerstogether and squeezed tight, wanting to continue arguing with him, but knew hewas set in his ways.

“…Believe in me,Fintuilasse.” He uttered, lacing his arm around her back and pulled her closer.She did her best to hold back the emotion that dared spill over her lips andher lids. But, she knew far too well about what happened when forces anddefenses weren’t strong enough.

“I do…just come back to mein one piece…okay?” She breathed, her arms wrapping tightly around his waistand buried herself in his shoulder. His hands ran soothingly along her back,his lips pressed to the crown of her head before he squeezed her shoulders andpulled her back so he could look down at her.

“I promise, Fin. Cross myheart.” He made the silly little gesture which made her heart thrum withanxiety. She took his hands and kissed along every knuckle and nodded.

“…okay, then. Let’s get youall ready to go…I can hear them getting ready outside.” Finduilas murmured asshe opened the closet up and removed the armor from the stand. “Come on. Let’sget all of this on you.” She smiled solemnly. He nodded in return and held uphis arms, happy that she was assisting him with getting ready.

When all was said and done,she followed him out to the gate, and as they approached the other Galadhrim,her eyes found Haldir, and she stared him down for a long while, making sure heknew to keep her love safe. Turning her head to look up at Galadir now, sheraised a small blossom of heartsease and gave it a kiss before tucking it intohis breast plate.

“Be safe now, darling…Iexpect you home in a week’s time, just as Haldir has promised…” Her voice waslow as she fixed his armor, her hands smoothing over his cloak upon hisshoulders just to make sure everything was alright. She began to back away fromhim so that he could leave, but he drew her up and into one more tight embrace,their lips connecting once again in a loving display, emotion just spillinginto each little movement and reciprocation of affection. Haldir gave a loudwhistle that broke their endearment, a bright blush upon each their cheeks. Shecupped his face once more, doing her best to keep the tears back once more. Sheknew he would do everything in his power to be safe. So, she had to trust him.

“I love you, Fintuilasse…”His voice was low as they stood there a moment longer, just enjoying the feelof the embrace.

“And I love you…” Her voicequivered as she stroked his cheeks a bit more, memorizing his features for theweek he would be gone. She would’ve said more, but in the next moment he wasgone, already trotting along right beside the rest of the warriors, his handwaving to her as they marched out the gates. Finduilas gave him the bestreassuring smile as she waved her arms at him as well.

Now it was just a waitinggame.

~

The elleth was knelt in thedirt, hands going to work on removing the weeds and what not that grew withinthe gardens of her little flet in the kingdom. She had grown this one, withhelp from Galadir, of course. She barely had a green thumb. She could doeverything else but keep a plantalive. But, so far, so good. She sat up and on her knees, the sound of hoovesand a carriage catching her attention. Were the soldiers home already?

Excitement welled in herchest as she quickly scrambled up from her position and her feet carried hertowards the entrance of the kingdom, but she slowed as she saw not those thathad left, but strangers carrying cloaks and personal belongings to those whohad left just a week ago. Where was everyone? This wasn’t right. She watched asthe red cloak of the marchwarden was handed to Galadriel, and it seemed asthough her light seemed to dim, the cloak in her hands feeling almost like aheavy stone. She sat upon the stairs, the burden of her adopted son’s deathalmost too much to handle at this point in time.

A young, mortal soldier,came up to her and gentle tugged on her sleeve. Her already glossy orbs found hisfeatures, and he too seemed sad. He handed her a folded silver and blue cloak.She almost handed it back to him and told him he was wrong, but as she foldedback the hood, she saw a heartsease blossom, it’s petals stained dark withblood. It took almost everything in her not to break down right then and there.She could barely hear the mortals as they said that the carriage carrying allthose who were deceased would arrive within a few days’ time. Her hand smoothedover the cloak like it had the day he left; that’s when the tears began to flowfrom over her lids and down her cheeks.

This was all wrong. Thisshouldn’t be happening.

Her mind replayed him makingthe silly little gesture, that bright smile and gleaming eyes.

They were all wrong. Galadirwasn’t dead. There…she couldn’t believe that there was any way he could be.They’d been training so hard! They’d been teaching each other so much!

Finduilas thanked the youngsoldier in front of her, held the cloak to her chest, and made her way out ofthe square.

She followed the river,followed the beaten path, and when she could smell honeysuckle and rose juicefilled her senses. Fin closed her eyes, letting the warmth and smell of theirlittle area fill her senses, but she lost her footing on one of the rock beds,and she fell, barely catching herself at the last minute. The cloak and blossomhad fallen just some little ways away, but she couldn’t bring herself to getup. She let her forehead rest against the grass, letting her tears run freelynow that she was in the silence. Her fists struck the ground, her sobs unableto be stopped. She pulled herself up and onto her knees, but couldn’t get upfrom her crunched position.

Everything felt heavy…itfelt like she would just wake up from this nightmare and everything would beokay. Blindly, she reached around for the cloak, and when she found it, shebrought it back to herself and held onto it tightly, his essence filling her senses,but that only fueled the tears to fall faster.

How could he do this to her?He promised…he said everything would be okay. That mellifluous voice promisingthings she wanted to hear, whispering sweet nothings to her the night before.Her fingers wrapped tightly in the fabric, holding it close to her, begging theValar to give her back the only person she had left.

She could see that smile,the gleaming sunlight behind him as he laughed at her ridiculously stupidjokes. She could just imagine his fingers running through her trusses, lullingher to sleep after a bad night. The way they had been adding onto the shack tomake it so much bigger for them, for a familythat they wanted to have.

The ache for his skin uponher own was felt, her heart feeling as though it was being ripped from herchest as she just sat there in the dirt. Her sounds had ceased, but the tearsdid not. They still fell, as if waiting for a gentle, calloused hand to runalong her skin and wipe them away.

But she knew it wouldn’tcome.

The sun fell behind theclouds, and not soon after, did the rain begin to fall. She sat up straightthis time, her eyes finding the sky, and she lifted herself into the cool dropletsof the rain. They hit her skin, the chill not seeming to bother her now. Maybethis was the Vala’s sign that they, too, were weeping for the loss of all thosewho had perished in Helm’s Deep. She sat back on her heels, keeping the cloakjust underneath her own, so that the rain could not was away what was left ofhis cologne. For a long while, she sat there, just beneath the trees, lettingeach and every last drop of rain water fall upon her without any hesitation tomove.

When all had stopped and theair was still around her, did she begin to stand. She moved towards the shack,opened up the door, and moved inside. All of their belongings they shared justwithin, the space just having been big enough, so far, to fit their bed, a fire pit, and a few areas for cookingand dining.

She placed her hand againsthis handwriting along her side of the bed, the ink having since long dried, thewords he spoke to her often, now resonating in her head.

‘I love you. For all that you are, all that you have been, and have yetto be’. It’s scrawl in perfect Quenya. Though, she had written it down forhim, but he painted it out one day while she was gone in the market. She leanedher head against the wall, letting her fingers gently trace the loops and dotsof the words.

‘You’ll have to forgive me, Galadir…but without you, I fear I willbecome nothing more than an empty shell…’ Her heart felt so heavy, it didn’teven feel as if she could lift her head from looking at the sheets that hadbeen strewn about from their last position of when they got out of bed the dayhe left. She sat on the edge, holding the cloak tight in her arms once more,thinking, trying to remember every detail she had burned into her memory. Hiseyes. His nose. His cheeks…the way that if he smiled, you could see just a hintof a dimple. The way his brow would furrow if she said something strange, theway his hands would trace her back to make her feel better…the way his voicewould crack if she said something that flustered him.

‘…will you wait for me in the halls, or shall I see you again inValinor? I hope you can wait just a while longer…for I don’t believe I’m toofar behind you…wait for me, Galadir…’