Thorongil sighed softly as he leaned against the trunk of a tree, and Halbarad paced back and forth nearby in the dark, taking up the dedicated watch of their evening camp.
Their quiet conversation as they both sat up together turned to their recent, sometimes about, companion Mithrellas.
"I am still in awe of her being the lost companion of Nimrodel, over whose river with her namesake we have passed many a time before," Halbarad said as he came to a stop nearer the fire.
Thorongil nodded his head in thought, though not necessarily in agreement of awe, and looked up. "The beautiful elleth with a handmaiden just as such," he murmured. "It is not surprising to me, only because there are many such cases of elves falling out of the grand tales, but still walking upon the earth. Not all of them wish to live within Imladris or Lothlórien, or amongst others. I think we are lucky that Mithrellas has chosen us to be friendly to."
"Or we chose her?" Halbarad asked with glinting eyes. "I felt as though we have met even before our first introduction. Perhaps it is why I feel strange when she is about, and the intensity of her presence, bringing with it some unease. But I admit that I look forward to any time we see her again. Fate would wind us together, it would seem."
"Indeed, something draws us together. I wish she chose to stay with us more often or for a longer time than she does, but she has seen much change in the world, and has been on her own for much of that time. We probably bring unease to her also. We care for each other, but have not come wholly to trust- yet," Thorongil replied, poking at the fire with a stick he rotated in his hand.
Halbarad stared at the note for a while, feeling rather bemused. He had an admirer. Oh, how lovely. After reading the words again, he knew who he must go to annoy once more, coaxing a kiss out from them.
He rushed out of the room to go look for Amarië, hatching a plan to go bother her.
Your muse presses their freezing hands/feet on mine
(Crawls out of my hole to send you this @ofthevanyar for Halbarad, maybe in the university au?)
@ofthevanyar
Halbarad hissed as he felt Amarië's icy-cold fingers slide against his skin, her having had to delve underneath the layers of his shirt, sweater, and jacket, to reach the warmth held within.
"Hey!" he then exclaimed, trying to move away from the cold intrusion. "It is already cold enough as is!" He lifted his hand, which was fairly cold as he was recently outside and pressed it to her cheek.
/a playful guide at the end of a snowy mission with her sentinel
Halbarad whipped around as the pile of snow hit his shoulder, a bite of cold stinging against his neck as the wind scattered the flakes. At first, his eyes blazed but when he saw the playful look on his Guide's face, his own reflected hers.
"No Orc brought me down, so you feel the need to try with a snowball?" he asked. "Let me have a turn!" he said, challenge in his voice.
He knelt down quickly to form his own snowball, packing it tightly together between his gloves, and threw it in her direction.
Gift meme- Amarië gives Halbarad one (1) of his tunics back
He accepted the piece of clothing but gave her a look, as this was a common occurrence. He was constantly looking for certain tunics to wear, only to find them missing. And worn by Amarië a day or a week later. "Well at least you gave one of them back - and willingly at that!" he teased her, shaking his head. "This was not even a good one."
A light blue ring infused with a familiar power on a simple chain, helping Halbarad not to zone.
Halbarad looked down at the ring in his hands, which he handled with care. A light smile curved his lips and he lifted the chain to put it around his neck, then tucked it safely underneath his tunic. He sighed steadily, feeling the calming, grounding power that emanated from the ring. A reminder of Hal and her presence, even if she could not always be with him.
"Thank you for this, Hal," he said, looking back up. "It shall be most treasured, especially when our duties separate us."
