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i-am-bride-to-no-man · 23 days ago

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The Pearl of Rohan

She came to him a bride; a promise, an offer, a sacrifice. He had the crown, now all he needed was the pearl.

↳Héra x Wulf (The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim) ↳Smut, loss of virginity, virginity kink, dirty talk, praise kink, cunnilingus, blow job (sort of), fingering, etc. ↳ 5.8k words

Read on AO3 here

“You think to offer yourself to me as a bride now? After all that has happened?”

“No,” Her own voice was sharp but silken, capable both of declaring war and whispering sweet nothings. "I come to you as a subject, my King. To serve.”

The gown fit her perfectly. In truth, perhaps it was meant for her in the end. The true bride never had a chance to wear it, a fever having taken her the night before her wedding. Now the gown was to see the light of day again, though Héra was no true bride. Not to any man.

No matter if the dress hugged her body perfectly, the fit of it accentuating each and every curve of her body. Nor the regal sleeves, the length of the gown as it trailed behind her, or the fine pink embroidery that ran down the length of her stomach made her feel like a queen. It was a falseness that truly clothed her, but she needed only one person to believe that she was a bride.

Héra placed the finishing touch upon her head, the golden leaves of the circlet shining beautifully atop her burnished red hair. She was ready.

Under the cloak of night, she slipped from the safety of the keep towards Wulf’s camp. Only Olwyn and Fréaláf knew of her plans, though even they did not know the extent of them. In truth, she wasn’t exactly sure if she knew the extent of her own plan; she had never said it was a good one after all. Ashere carried her to the edge of the keep, where Wulf’s siege tower had collapsed. The armies were already advancing, and she had little time to speak to Wulf before they would breach the walls of the keep and destroy the remains of her kingdom and people.

Luckily, she knew how to get his attention.

As the horse barreled down the wooden planks of the siege tower, it was not long before she came face to face with the first of his army, crudely dressed in animal skulls and bones, brandishing swords, axes, and knives. Héra pulled on Ashere’s reins to stop the horse and quickly slid from the saddle, the gown trailing behind her like a ghostly promise.

“Stop!” Her cry rang out among the men, who looked between themselves. She spotted Wulf among them, sitting high atop his black horse. His eyes narrowed, confusion plain on his features as he regarded the spectacle in front of him.

“I, Héra, princess of Rohan, demand an audience with the king.”

The men murmured amongst themselves until Wulf came riding out from among them, one hand gripping the reins tightly and the other hovering over his sword. He did not trust her.

“What is this, Héra?” His eyes fell upon her gown, and his laugh rang out cruelly in the night sky.

“You think to offer yourself to me as a bride now? After all that has happened?”

Héra lifted her head at his taunt but softened her eyes. She recalled how he liked her fire, her fury, but she would need to play the part of the demure princess. All she needed was time.

“No,” Her own voice was sharp but silken, capable both of declaring war and whispering sweet nothings. His gaze hardened as he took her in, a vision in pearlescent cloth. The flames of her hair spilled over the flowing sleeves, held only by a circlet of the golden leaves adorning her temples. “I come to you as a subject, my King. To serve.”

The words tasted foul in her mouth, but her pink lips curved sweetly.

“You come on bended knee, prepared to surrender?” He asked.

Dutifully, she tipped her head down and lowered her body in a delicate curtsy. It had been merely a slight bend in her knee, as befitting her rank as a princess. Any lower, and he would never have believed her.

Wulf’s eyes glinted beneath locks of blackened hair. She could faintly see the discoloured notch in his eye, a gift by which to remember her. Had she known, what damage would she have truly done with her sword? What would she be capable of?

Héra raised her head once more, diminutively looking at him through her lashes. She saw him appreciate the sight of her, clad in white just as he’d always dreamt, and now, her bending to his will—the kingdom his.

Héra’s eyes darted to the army behind him, poised and prepared to strike. Eager hands hovering over steel weapons and bows pulled tight, nocked with arrows. She allowed a brief breath to escape her, thinking of the people beneath the walls of the keep, escaping with their lives. She could not let them down, not when she was so close—but the fact that he had not yet slain her meant he was prepared to listen. So she was prepared to say whatever she needed to.

“Sire,” General Targg murmured. “You have the crown. You need only the pearl.”

“Hmm.” Wulf grunted quietly.

His gaze travelled the length of her body once more; she could feel the weight of his eyes like no other. Raising one large arm, he lifted his open palm to the sky. His voice was deep, a growl buried beneath his words. “Hold your positions! I will speak with the princess alone to discuss the surrender. Take her.”

Héra turned in time to see a flash behind her and a strong arm wrap around her waist. Before she knew it, she’d been saddled upon Wulf’s horse, a formidable black steed. She balanced on the saddle with ease in her gown, having been astride horses since before she could remember. Even as Wulf spoke to Targg, she could feel him assessing her and her intentions. Perhaps he knew it was too good to be true. Perhaps he didn’t know how far she could go to protect her people and her kingdom.

Wulf collected the reins from the squire, and barely placing his foot in the stirrup, he vaulted himself onto the horse with ease. The immediate warmth that flooded her back almost made her flush as his arms came around her to grip the reins. His chest and hips moved against her in tandem under the buck of the horse as he rode back down along the wooden siege tower’s bridge towards his tent.

She heard men shouting commands around her, orders to hold their positions but remain at the ready. He didn’t seem to think negotiating the terms of her surrender would take long, she realized.

Héra clasped her hands together as the frozen winds bit into her fingers. The wind tore at her dress and hair, leaving snarls in her red waves and tears along the shimmery fabric. She felt Wulf tighten his arms around her frame, though she knew not whether from any concern left in his cruel body or simply from pulling the reins taut as he brought his horse to a gentle walk.

His tent glowed among all the others, stately in its size and accommodations. Smoke filled her nose at the fires that were snuffed out in preparation for their attack, though the ones in the king’s tent remained aflame.

Wulf dismounted from his horse, his body heavy yet lean underneath the furs atop his shoulders. He lifted his hands to grip her waist and bring her down from the horse, but she slid off the side of the saddle with practiced ability. She saw him smirk despite himself, always having been impressed at her ridership skills.

He gestured gallantly towards the opening of the tent, though the movement tasted of a mockery towards her. She could not help but acquiesce as the cold began to overtake her; soon her body would be as pale as the gown she was wearing.

She stepped into the tent, cherishing the warmth that overcame her, and sighed quietly at the sensation of her fingers and toes beginning to regain feeling.

Wulf stepped in behind her, shutting the flaps of the tent firmly behind. She took the opportunity to look around, and as she had been in her father’s war tents before, she could firmly say this did not look like the tent of a king.

Large wooden tables lined the length of it and braziers alit with coals stood in the corners. Papers and books were strewn about, maps ripped and haphazardly inked upon with small pawns of house sigils knocked over. Empty food trays and goblets turned sideways too littered the surfaces. Where her father prized neatness and organization, here there was none. Like a child playing at a war, his tent and his plans were in disarray.

And just as his plans were in disarray, so too was his mind. The siege tower had been his final attack, and if it had not succeeded, perhaps she wouldn’t be here.

“You said you come here to serve your king. How will you serve?”

Wulf had never been one to mince words. Héra watched as he strode past her in the tent, unlatching the furs clipped to his shoulders. He was left in his leathers, which he too started removing, slowly, piece by piece. All the while, his eyes never strayed far from her as though he wished to remember this moment forever. The knowing smile that crossed his lips told her he knew the answer to her question. He just wanted to hear her say it.

Héra steeled herself as she spoke, willing her voice to not waver despite the poison that dripped from each word.

“I will lend you my support as king. In that, I will seek happiness in your happiness… share with you my bed…”

Wulf lifted his head from removing his arm guards. Héra had lowered hers, but she saw the way his forearms moved as his hands made quick work of the laces. The veins that encircled his arms and wrists were pressed through his skin from the effort of riding and removing his armour. Suddenly, despite the cold freezing her only minutes before, she suddenly felt too warm in her satin gown. She did not meet his eyes then, but as the silence grew between them, she slowly lifted them. Naked desire was clear in his eyes, and he regarded her as though he knew precisely what she looked like underneath the bridal dress. She, a white pearl, the picture of innocence and submission, and he, the black wolf, cruelty and heartlessness in every breath.

“You would give yourself to me?”

In body only, she thought to herself, though she found the darkness of his desire more tempting than she’d expected. Perhaps she wanted those large, rough hands along her body, his canine teeth sinking into her neck. Héra cleared her throat softly.

“… And if you see fit once again to make me your bride, give to you an heir.”

His brows quirked at the sound of if. He had once rebuked her for her arrogance in the face of war, treating his proposal as a negotiation. It was never meant to be a negotiation. He wanted her.

“My, my.” He chuckled lowly, depositing the last of his armour onto the ground. He lowered himself onto a wooden chair with a leather cushion, clad only in his white tunic and black trousers. She could see the naked expanse of his throat, down to his clavicle, through the exposed V of the shirt. She could see the gentle forms of his chest, rising and falling with every breath.

He traced the side of his finger against his lip, as though tasting her offer with his tongue. “Finally, Héra. You come to me as I envisioned. Had you done this earlier, perhaps we could have been spared the atrocities.”

A gentle silence passed between them, the names of the ghosts of their loved ones unspoken.

“And in return?”

“You keep my people safe.” Héra did not have to falsify the hope and desperation in her voice. She thought only of their safety, not even her own.

Wulf thought for a moment, running his tongue over his lip. Héra watched it wet his mouth and then disappear back behind his teeth. Another arrogant chuckle rumbled in his chest, and he ran his large fingers through his black hair as he stood to his feet.

Though she had never feared him in her life, she would never truly get accustomed to the height difference that had changed since they were children. He towered over her with broad shoulders that he carried with ease, the harsh lines of his body tapering into slimmer hips beneath his trousers.

She didn’t linger too much on the thought of what was beneath his trousers.

“A bride with the dowry of a kingdom. How could I refuse?” His black eyes, framed by black lashes, fixated her with a serious stare. Héra returned the gaze, resisting every instinct inside of her shouting at her to act when faced with an enemy. He was her enemy, after all. “Pledge me the kingdom. Pledge me your people. Pledge me your sword, Héra.”

Each word cut into her just as though he were already using her sword against her. She had never thought of herself as deceitful, yet here she was, leading her once childhood friend to his end. He was indeed now the enemy, but she could still pretend. At least for the night.

“I swear it.” Héra lifted her chin, her hair falling behind her shoulders. “My king.”

“Turn around.”

Héra swallowed but obeyed.

The time had come.

The gown rustled against her legs and the flooring of the rent as she turned her body away, lifting her hand to brush her hair away from her neck.

Wulf raised a gentle hand, gentler than she knew him capable of, and traced his knuckle along the line of her spine. Desire pooped in her lower stomach at his touch, at the thought of his hands on her.

Héra would be lying if she said she sometimes did not envision this. It seemed early on that she and Wulf were to be promised to each other, and she had stolen small glances at his hands, his arms, and his back. Though no true love ever bloomed in her heart beyond that of a treasured childhood friend, she could not deny that she found him tempting.

This was the last time she could ever give in to that temptation. As true as her heart was for her intentions, her body craved him in the darkest manner. For a moment, she felt selfish at the thought, then as she felt him start to unlace her dress, she felt guilty. Then, as his calloused hands traced along her shoulders and the small of her back, she felt desire. Deep like the sea, black like the night sky. She wanted it to swallow her whole. Like a wolf his prey.

The gown loosened around her pale shoulders, and she lifted her hands to cover her breasts, her fingers ginger upon her skin as goosebumps prickled along her form.

Wulf released a quiet noise, watching with rapt need as the dress fell around her hips, then to her knees, and finally to her feet.

“Look upon me, Héra. Show me yourself.”

Héra tucked her hair behind her ear gently, feeling the crown still sitting atop her head. She dropped her hands from her breasts and turned back to face him in all her nakedness. Wulf’s eyes drank her in, and she found she did not feel as ashamed as she thought. She let him look at her for as long as he wanted, and she saw a muscle work in his jaw.

The evidence of his own desire pressed against his thigh.

“Beautiful, princess. My future queen.”

Wulf raised his hand, and she offered hers in return, at which point he gently led her to the nearby antechamber of his tent where his quarters were. The bed looked large and comfortable, covered with thick furs and blankets against the cold winter air. She shivered at her nakedness, and he answered by placing his warm hands on her body, cupping her ribs. His thumb brushed over a pebbled nipple, and a gentle gasp escaped Héra’s lips.

Wulf’s lips fell to her neck, kissing and biting gently with his sharpened teeth. Héra’s head fell to the side at the feeling, allowing him access unabashedly. As his thumbs continued to run over her breasts, his hands gripped her body gently to pull her back towards him, pressing her back against his chest.

She moaned quietly as his touch, wetness spreading between her thighs as he placed small pink-purple bites along her pale skin. His touch grew more desperate when he heard her moans, for there was no doubt now that she was his.

“Lie down.” Came his quiet voice, and she reached forward to touch the soft furs of the bed, crawling along the length of it until she reached the headboard. She draped her lithe body against the pillows, watching as Wulf pulled his tunic free from his body, revealing his torso.

Bruises and small scrapes littered his skin from the war, both from the weight of his armour and the attacks of her people. His muscles were defined, proof of his endless training and brute strength. His hands fell to his trousers, and he began to unlace the small leather cords there until they loosened and slowly fell from his hips to his feet.

Héra looked upon his desire.

His member stood proudly from between his hips, his length matched only by his girth and indeed, perhaps surpassed by. She pulled her legs to her as he walked around the edge of the bed and lay down next to her.

“Speak truly to me, Héra.” Though his voice was deep, it held none of the roughness that he reserved for his army and his advisor. “Do you want me, as I want you?”

For a moment, she saw her Wulf again. The one she had known all her life. The one who was not capable of such cruelty.

Neither in her desire nor in the plan in her mind did she hesitate.

“Yes, Wulf. I want you.”

His hands immediately possessed her. As gentle as he tried to be, she felt the rawness in his touch as he covered her body with his, capturing her lips in a kiss.

She kissed him back fervently, her hands lacing through his long black hair, pads of her fingers applying light pressure as his hands found her breasts once more. His wide palms covered them with ease, kneading them softly, and she moaned into his mouth as one pulled away to tweak at her nipple. The other started its journey down between her legs, his fingers pushing aside one of her thighs to reveal herself to him.

She knew some of what happened between men and women, but decidedly less than he did. This action she knew nothing of, but she could deny the way it made her body come alive with warmth as his fingers traced along her wetness.

She shuddered at the sensation, and he took his time, pressing another kiss to her lips as she fell away from him, eyes shut and brow furrowed as the strange sensations overtook her.

Once he was satisfied with her wetness, his pointer finger gently encircled her clit, and she gasped into his mouth at the feeling. Her eyes opened to gaze upon his, and she saw, as he watched her in her arousal, the forbidden discovery of her body. Her thighs tried to press themselves closed, but he murmured in her ear. “Keep them open, my pearl. I want to see you; I want you to feel everything...”

Upon his last word, his finger gently slid itself inside of her.

Héra groaned at the feeling, his finger satisfying an urge she’d desperately felt but knew not how to articulate. He knew exactly what she needed and was prepared to give everything to her.

“Does that feel good?” He asked huskily. Héra could hardly focus as his finger began a gentle rhythm, pumping in and out of her pussy with ease. She certainly could not answer once she felt a second finger slide against her folds, then slowly slide inside to join the first.

“Ye-yes… Oh!”

The stretch was a delicate burn between her legs, but something else entirely burned within her. The pleasure began as a caress upon her body, but soon intensified as an assault upon her nerves. She felt her fingers bend and grip the furs beneath her as her hips bucked ever so slightly underneath his hovering forearm. Her eyes shut again; she did not need to look at him to know he was pleased in undoing her so easily.

“That’s it. Good girl.”

As the pleasure inside threatens to erupt inside of her, a tightly bound coil that she could not understand but wanted so desperately to release, his fingers stopped. Héra’s eyes opened, frustration bubbling.

“Wulf-“

“Patience. I want to take my time with you.”

Wulf pressed another gentle kiss to her lips, then littered kisses down a trail along her throat, between her breasts, and along her navel. She watched with curiosity as his black hair trailed behind, tickling her skin gently as his face paused between her thighs.

His tongue darted out to taste her.

“Wulf!

Héra gasped at the feeling of his hot tongue collecting the slickness between her folds. She certainly had never heard of his act before either.

Wulf seemed pleased at having been caught off guard, placing his large frame between her knees, with one hand resting on her pelvis to keep her in place. The other clutched her knee, ensuring at least one leg remained open to him. Héra’s head fell back upon the pillows.

His tongue was insistent, lapping at her wetness and circling her clit. Jolts of pleasure travelled through her nerves, and she felt her back arching if only to stay close to his mouth. She wanted more, needed more.

Her eyes saw his head with his black locks spilled over her body, and she felt a new surge of desire pang through her. Wulf’s tongue flicked at her clit a few more times before his lips came around it and sucked lightly.

Stars seemed to form behind Héra’s eyes. A high-pitched moan escaped her lips as the same coil restrung itself inside of her, aching for release. Her fingers gripped at the furs, but they were insufficient, and her hands instead reached for his head, burying her digits in his hair. He groaned approvingly at the feeling, and she felt it reverberate inside of her. She also saw the way his own hips bucked against the bed, desperate for friction.

When his fingers entered her again, coupled with his lips and tongue on her clit, Héra’s coil snapped. She cried out at the feeling of her orgasm rushing towards her, instantly flooding her system with waves upon waves of pleasure. Wulf was greedy; he drank in her moans as he allowed her to ride out her orgasm against his mouth.

When the last of the tidal waves crashed upon her, she whined at the feeling of his lips upon her. He relented, removing himself gently from her. His eyes seemed to linger on the circlet that still sat upon her head.

“I would deny you nothing, Héra, as my queen. I would give you an endless life of pleasure at my hands.”

“Show me,” Héra breathed. “Show me how to please you.”

The relief in his eyes was nearly imperceptible, but she saw it. The need for her to do to him what he did to her. Though he never claimed to be a gentleman, he could never ask it so plainly of her.

Wulf pulled himself back up to her, caging her body with his own before he leaned back onto his feet. His erection bobbed gently, standing at attention, the pink head dripping small droplets of white. Héra could hardly understand how it was meant to fit anywhere.

Wulf took her hand into his own and placed it upon his member. Héra, afraid of her own strength, made her fingertips featherlight as they traced along his erection. He sighed in pleasure at her touch, his eyes watching her darkly. She was almost impressed at the way she could make this large man fall apart with the smallest of touches.

“Now curl your fingers tighter. Tighter still. Just so.”

Héra practiced a few times, slowly gaining confidence in the way he continued to groan, his head lolling back.

“Would you, ahh—” Wulf hissed as her fingers touched the underside where the vein was. “Would you kiss me, Héra?”

She looked up at him through her lashes, his meaning clear even to her; he did not mean upon his lips.

Héra uncurled her fingers from him, then leaned her body forward so that her face was close to his erection, her breath barely fanning against it. Wulf panted quietly above her, nearly feral with desire at the sight of her beneath him, her pink lips growing ever closer to his stiff member.

Héra pursed her lips and gently placed a kiss upon the head of it. Wulf shuddered. Emboldened by his reaction, she placed another kiss upon it, tasting the salty liquid that dripped from the slit. Her tongue darted out for half a moment, the tip of it brushing against his member for a fraction of a second.

It was enough to undo him.

Wulf leaned down to place his hands upon her ribs once more, pushing her back up to the head of the bed. Héra complied, somewhat surprised by his urgency, but he stilled as he crawled overtop her body, casting a shadow over her skin. Héra gazed up at Wulf with a gentle breath. This was truly the point of no return.

Wulf placed one of his forearms by her head; the other he used to pull one of her legs up towards her chest. The same hand drifted down between her legs, ensuring she was wet and prepared for him. His eyes seemed to glint darkly in the failing light of the candles, or perhaps it was her imagination. The wolf had its prey.

“I will not hurt you, Héra. I swear.”

She did not wish to answer that he already had. He’d hurt her beyond measure, to a point where forgiveness would’ve been inconceivable. But tonight was about something else. A need to know, to indulge. A chance to discover the story they could not share and the ending she knew had to come.

“I know this.” She whispered, her head nodding softly.

Wulf’s eyes captured hers as her mouth opened to release a gentle moan at his fingers. He strung his hand against her almost like an instrument, making her muscles seize with want. One of her hands rose to grip his forearm, her fingers digging into his skin.

Pleased with what he had accomplished, his hand went to his erection, and with one or two pumps, he guided himself into her. As soon as his head breached her, both of his forearms came to rest on either side of her head. Wulf watched her with rapt eyes, and she with selfish desire, as he slowly pressed his hips against hers, stilling only once he was firmly pressed against her to the hilt.

Héra gasped at the feeling of being so full; though large in their own right, his fingers had not truly been a sign of what was to come. Her nails dug into the skin of his forearms, and she watched concern flood his features as she gently breathed through the burn. Her pussy stretched around him as pain soon devolved into pleasure.

With a delicate roll of his hips, Héra felt sparks of pleasure flow through her body once more, and Wulf obliged. He placed his hands on her hips to steady her body and repeated the movement, slowly and gently at first, until he had built a tolerable rhythm.

Héra’s brow furrowed, her pink lips parting softly as she felt him inside the most private, vulnerable parts of herself. As he hovered over her, she had no choice but to look upon his eyes, alight with need.

“My princess.” He hissed as he felt her clench around him. “Mine to ruin.”

Héra’s moans strengthened as his thrusts did. His hips snapped quickly, Wulf’s pants deepening inside of his heavy chest. Hera released his forearm and placed it upon his chest, then his neck, until she reached his face. He seemed caught off guard by the tender expression, but his rhythm remained merciless.

He gently removed her hand from his face and placed it on the bed next to her face, his hands encasing her wrists as he rolled his hips into her, ensuring every inch of him filled every inch of her. Héra groaned at the feeling, her head bent slightly to see where the two of them were joined.

Wulf seemed to grin at her curiosity, pleased at her taking him so well.

“Wulf,” Her back arched beneath him, her body writhing at the onslaught of pleasure. “Please…” No longer certain what she was truly begging for, the coil began to wind itself tightly inside of her once more.

His erection continued to fill her with each precise thrust, and she marvelled at the way his lean body looked hovering above her in the dimming light.

“Yes, princess?”

He slowed his hips and his rhythm, pulling himself out nearly to the full length before pushing back in, retaining a frustratingly slow rhythm. The sudden change in his rhythm made her growl under her breath.

“Say what you want.” He murmured, his hands tracing over her hips as he slipped back inside of her, inch by inch, all fury gone. Only desperation left.

“I want you…”

“You want me to… what? Hm?”

“I want you to take me, like before. Take me again!”

“A king to take commands?” He mused, one of his hands slipping between her thighs right above where they were joined. She hissed at the feeling of him stilling inside of her, clenching around his length as the pad of his thumb found her clit.

Héra released a high-pitched whine, her body shifting on the furs as she bucked her hips against his, willing, wishing for him to move against her. Instead, he focused only on her clit, grinning down at her as he watched his princess come undone at his hands.

“Please, Wulf… I need you…”

“Very well.”

Wulf’s fingers tweaked her clit, and Héra nearly cried at the sensation, at which point he resumed his thrusts. His hand falling away, he pressed his chest against hers once more as he slid inside of her to the hilt before picking up his merciless rhythm. Héra cried out as the coil inside of her snapped once again, her fingers finding purchase in his arms as she buried her nails into his skin. Héra felt him ruin her from the inside out, body and soul, as both succumbed to him.

Wulf’s thrusts grew sloppy as his own release drew near, the dizzying combination of her tightening around him and the sound of pleasure erupting from her lips too much to bear.

He grunted through the last of his thrusts before spilling himself inside of her, filling her with his hot seed. Héra’s eyes met his as she panted deeply, the feeling of bliss overtaking her body from her toes to her fingertips. Powerless to move, she rested her head against the pillows as he slid out of her, feeling the wetness between her thighs grow cold.

Wulf’s large form collapsed onto the bed beside her, and he leaned on his forearm for a moment to reach the other side of it, gripping the edge of the furs to cover them both with.

Héra allowed herself to be collected into his arms, enveloped by Wulf and the softness of the furs on her skin. She placed her cheek against his chest, hearing his heart still hammering beneath.

“Rest now, princess. The kingdom awaits in the morning.”

The last of the candles flickered to their demise and bathed the tent in darkness. Héra could hear Wulf’s breathing slowly begin to even out, and soon she was confident that he was asleep. Though the warmth between their bodies was almost too tempting to leave behind in place of the bitter cold that awaited her outside, she knew it was time.

Her movements were slow and careful as she unwrapped the furs from around her body, watching Wulf’s face for any sign of him waking. His brow was smooth, his lips slightly parted with soft snores. Every moment felt like an eternity; the possibility of waking him weighed heavily on her as she untangled her limbs from his. She was intentional in keeping him wrapped in the furs even as she extricated herself, ensuring an errant cool breeze would not be her undoing.

Relief spread through her as she stood on her two feet, though she couldn’t help but notice the heaviness in her body.

Wulf’s form remained undisturbed, his shoulders rising and falling with quiet breaths. Héra paused to look upon him, her eyes hardening.

“A kingdom waits for no man.”

As she exited the antechamber of his quarters, her arms crossed over her body to protect from the invading chills of the air, she spotted her white dress still lying on the floor where he’d underdressed her. She picked up the soft fabric, fingers tracing over the embroidery as she stepped into the opening, her fingers lacing up the corset as best she could before tying it into a simple knot.

Clothed once more, she walked towards the flaps of the tent but paused, thinking of the white, wintry snows outside and the coppery colour of her hair. Where before she had sought his attention, now it was vital for her to sneak out unnoticed. Héra leaned down and gripped the hem of the dress tightly, then tore a section off the perfect width of her head. She quickly tied it around her hair, tucking in any loose curls as best she could. Though the fabric was thin, it muffled the colour just enough.

The winds immediately stifled her breath as they enveloped her body in a cold embrace. Without a single look back towards Wulf, she stepped out into the icy tundra once more. She had to move quickly; the sun would begin to break over the mountaintops soon, but each step felt like her feet were made of stone. Her heart was heavy with what she had done, what she was about to do. Though she had given herself and Wulf one single night, she could never give herself to him fully. It was his unending love for her that would be his doom, just as Héra had planned. Her cousin’s army would now be in place, and the eagles prepared to fly for her. Her people would be gone, smuggled out of the keep where it was no longer safe. When the sun rose, Wulf would die. If it had to be by her hand, so be it.

Héra’s form, cloaked in white, soon disappeared among the snowbanks and made for safety.

A pearl she was, rarer than any found in any sea, for none could shine so brilliantly.

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buffyfan145 · 1 month ago

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As promised here's my comparison post about how similar the Haladriel (Sauron/Galadriel) and Hèra/Wulf ships are from the LOTR projects "The Rings of Power" and "The War of the Rohirrim". 😀 I loved the movie and totally rec it and am a fan of ROP, and now ship both of these ships. I figured they would be alike, but it was even more than I thought. Putting most of this behind a cut for spoilers for both and length but will say again like I did in my review post that Hèra & Wulf both by themselves and their relationship felt like how we've written a lot of 1st Age fics about Galadriel & Sauron back when they were Artanis & Mairon and during The War of Wrath.

To start with the characters themselves, Hèra is very similar to how Galadriel was in the 1st Age and the beginning of ROP as she was a princess named Artanis and the only daughter of one of the Nolder elves.

Also with their costumes she wears mostly green, white, and gold, while he wears dark colors. They also look somewhat like the actors on ROP, especially Wulf with Sauron's Halbrand form.

Like Galadriel, she also has 2 older brothers: Haleth, the heir to the throne and a warrior like their father, and Hama, a musician. Galadriel's oldest brother Finrod was actually similar to both of Hèra's brothers.

Hèra's father Helm Hammerhand is the King of Rohan, similar to how Galadriel's father is one of the elvish kings in Valinor. Helm also notices how his daughter is very head strong and more like her brothers, and grows to respect that. One of Galadriel's older names Nerwen means "man maiden" and she was described as being the same, athletic (both projects have them climbing icy mountains), and excellent with horses.

The people of Rohan are descended from the Númenóreans which this movie seems to suggest they've inherited things from Elros, Elrond's twin brother who were part man, elf, and Maiar. Helm and Haleth seem to have superstrength, Hama is not only a skilled musician but archer, and Hèra's own character, warrior like nature, and personality came across more elvish to me too and she ends up being able to get help from the eagles.

Now with Wulf he's from the wild men that lived on Middle Earth before the Númenóreans came, or the Southlanders as they called them in ROP. He, as well as Haleth and a few other characters have the same accent Halbrand has, or Northern English.

Because of this Wulf and his people are made to feel less than, which is why Wulf's father Freca partly wanted to marry Wulf and Hèra to unite their peoples (but Freca also wanted to take over).

This difference is also pointed out because Helm was going to marry off Hèra to a prince from Gondor, which not only angered Wulf and his father, but Hèra herself as she had no idea of it. Reminded me of how Galadriel's husband Celeborn is a prince from Doraith.

Wulf's also influenced first by his father and then General Targ to seek vengeance, which twists him similar to Sauron when he was Mairon and turning his back on the Valar to follow Morgoth.

Unlike Sauron though Wulf actually tells Hèra that he loves her multiple times. He's been in love with her since they were kids, so it started from a natural and good place but sadly it turns toxic as he gets eviler.

Like the elves too Hèra comes across as being asexual, likely demisexual, which a lot of the elves, Maiar, and Valar seem to fit that. They usually only fall in love once or twice, and some even decide to never marry. I feel Hèra fits into this as I feel she did care for Wulf, especially how he used to be and with her trying to find him when he disappeared. I do feel if what happened between their fathers never happened, which started Wulf's downward spiral and the war, that their childhood friendship would've turned into love. He already loves her, and I feel with time she would've realized she loves him too. Sadly, it just never happened.

At one point Wulf kidnaps Hèra and proposes to her a 2nd time, similar to how we thought a scene with Haladriel was going to happen. She pretends to accept at first (similar to Galadriel in the season 2 finale with Nenya) but then Wulf realizes she's lying and cuts her on the face with his sword. She actually accidentally cut him on the face when they were kids and he claimed it marked him for her, so he left a mark on her too. This also happened with the crown wound in the season 2 finale with Haladriel.

After the cut and fight Hèra jumps out of the building similar to Galadriel jumping off the cliff. Wulf lets her go for now knowing they'll battle again soon.

Sadly, like Galadriel both of her brothers are killed by Wulf and his men. Galadriel's brothers all died during The War of Wrath by Sauron and his forces. Unlike Wulf, Sauron actually apologized for it in season 1.

Then the final fight at the renamed Helm's deep Hèra saves the people of Rohan by going out to face Wulf alone knowing he'll only be focused on her. Galadriel also helped the people of Eregion escape before facing Sauron in the s2 finale.

During this fight (which is pictured above) she wears an old wedding dress which angers Wulf as he mentions it was supposed to be them marrying instead of fighting. Reminded me of how in the show ROP we see Nenya as being the engagement ring Sauron (with Celebrimbor's help) made for Galadriel and she keeps it. Wulf is also wearing her father's crown, like how Sauron had Morgoth's crown in the show.

Then the line she says when Wulf asks her who she's marrying then if it's not him and she replies "Death". LOL Obviously Galadriel still ends up with Celeborn but that line was fantastic as I could see her saying it too to Sauron.

There's a moment in the fight too where it looks like Wulf is going to surrender and become prisoner. You can tell this is the ending Hèra wants as she still cares for him and hopes he can repent and redeem himself. Sadly, he tricks her and it's clear he's gotten rid of his goodness and only death can stop him.

After he dies you can see her sadness at losing him too along with almost all her family. Now for Sauron we know there was a chance he could still be redeemed after everything with him and Galadriel being immortal and that Tolkien was going to write Morgoth coming back in Dagor Dagorwrath. They all were supposed to unite to defeat Morgoth for the final time. So, there's always a hope that Sauron will be redeemed and that there's still a chance there for him and Galadriel, unlike here where both characters will die human deaths with unknown afterlife fates.

The ending too had a slight similarity as Gandalf contacts Hèra, now a shieldmaiden in her cousin's kingdom, to help assist him as she saw two orcs looking for rings for Sauron. So, it was a nice connection there and I love that Hèra is involved in the War of the Ring somewhat, which leaves it open a bit that she could be included in future projects for either anime or the live-action movies, and what we're seeing the show play out too.

#the lord of the rings #the rings of power #the war of the rohirrim #haladriel #galadriel x halbrand #hera x wulf #hera #wulf #galadriel #sauron #halbrand

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