#lothlorien elves

[imagine-all-the-elves]

Imagine Haldir having feelings for you and being envious of how close you and Legolas are.

Author: @thatkgrl

Artist: TatharielCreations

[elithilanor]

Any thoughts on how Haldir would deal with a sick/injured partner who was downplaying their symptoms so as not to trouble anyone?

Super helpful, super kind, suuuuuper worried.

I hc him as a mother-hen and a worrier. When he's out on patrol, it's more contained and static, but he's always checking in on his elves and making sure they're doing well and does his best to keep track of them at all times. Not just because he needs to as their leader, but because he genuinely cares and worries for them.

But as Rúmil and Orophin can attest to, he's liable to take it too far, a la "don't get out of bed at all", carrying you around for a minor foot injury, feeding you more than you actually need, not allowing you to even read, etc. (He knows this and tries to work on it, but, he really is such a mother hen).

In the event his partner (or any of his charges) were downplaying their injuries, it would actually make him quite upset. He understands that sometimes you are unable to deal with an injury immediately, but to try and hide just because you might be worried about bothering someone really ticks him off. Not at you, of course, but certainly at whoever put that notion in your head in the first place. Expect lots of being cradled in his arms and soft words reminding you how much you are loved and how caring for you is not an imposition and never would - or could - be. Every moment with you is a joy and while he doesn't like seeing you in pain, he would rather try and assist you in feeling better than let you on your own.

It also makes him concerned that perhaps you didn't trust him with the injury so you can expect a checking-in how you're feeling in your relationship with him.

If the cause was himself, due to his over-worrying, while he will work on it (as he continues to do so), he's quick to remind you that he worries because he cares for you so much. He also impresses upon you that he would rather you get assistance, even if it means not telling him first. Your care is first and foremost and especially when he's out on patrol, that may not include him as the first point of contact. (This worries him of course, but he would rather trust that you are taking care of yourself first, then let him know once immediate needs are seen to.)

Ugh, can you tell I love this elf? I just love them sm.

Haldir tag-list (let me know if you want to be added/removed): @glassgulls @sotwk @starlady66

[imagine-in-tolkiens-world]

[bonjour-rainycity]

Double Heart | Chapter Eleven ~ Cosima

|previous part|

Pairing: Haldir x OFC

Rating: PG-13

Word count: 4471

Warnings: None

**Read on Ao3 under the user “bonjour_rainycity” if you prefer!**

A/n Hello hello, happy Easter! Tomorrow (Monday) is a little bit hectic for me so I’m getting this one out tonight (Sunday) instead. Thanks for reading :)

After a quick breakfast with Haldir and Glorfindel, they set off and I spend the day exploring Imladris. I do not stray far from the main household, yet all that I discover does not cease to amaze me. Elrond’s home is beautiful. If it weren’t for all the horrible, sudden drop-offs, I would consider it a perfectly wonderful place to live.

I spend the first part of my day in the garden. Behind the stone of the estate is a sprawling field filled with an impossibly wide variety of flora. I pass time exploring each bush, tree, and sprout, every one somehow more beautiful than the last. A few of the more sweet-smelling blossoms make me sneeze, so after a while, I head back inside to explore Elrond’s extensive library. But when the sun begins to sink below the horizon, I know I shouldn’t put it off any longer — I have ignored him since our arrival. I need to go see Alex. We haven’t talked in private ever, really, but I feel like we need to touch base. Though we may be slightly at odds, we owe it to each other to work through it.

I remember an attendant leading him down the hallway below mine as I ascended the stairs last night, and from there, it’s not hard for me to figure out which room is his. All the other doors are open, indicating that the inhabitants are out for the day. Already in my short stay here, I realize the elves are much more trusting than humans — while private, they must rely on each other to respect that privacy, because they don’t attempt to bar others from entering their spaces by closing their doors when they are not home. One door at the very end of the hall is closed shut. It is undoubtedly Alex’s.

I knock once.

He opens the door and I try to disguise my shock at the dark circles under his eyes and his disheveled hair. In all my memories of him, he is so put together, and this is completely at odds with the man I think I know. He ushers me in and shuts the door quickly behind me. The slam echoes through the stone room. He turns to me, wringing his hands together almost nervously. Unease grows in my stomach.

“Are you okay?”

He shakes his head violently and begins to pace the length of the small bedroom. “Of course I’m not okay. We’ve been wrenched from all that we know and dropped in this ridiculous place—” He cuts off his words and stares at the ground, shaking his head. “Look, I’ve decided that there’s no way around it. We are in some sort of other world — there’s no way this is some place back where we’re from. But if we did arrive here somehow, that means there has to be a way back. So we need to find it.”

I sit on the edge of his bed, watching him warily. I, too, have recently accepted the reality of this new world, but I hadn’t expected Alex to come around so easily — especially after our conversations on the way here. But getting home…if it’s a real possibility…”Do you think we could do that?”

His eyes snap to mine, desperation causing them to blow wide. “I think Elrond could. The people here hold him in such high esteem—I believe he’s very powerful. We need to talk to him, plead our case. If anyone could send us back, it’s probably him.” He notices my silence and turns on me with an accusatory stare. “You do want to go home, right?”

I swallow. “I…I think so. I mean, it is really dangerous here….But Elrond had a good point when I talked to him earlier. He said it’s probably just as dangerous in our homeworld.”

He groans almost animalistically. “I cannot keep having this fight with you! We don’t belong here. The dangers of our world are ours and the dangers of this world are theirs. And just because we agree that this is a different world doesn’t mean that anything’s changed. We still have people back home who miss us.”

But after my conversation with Haldir, I’m not so sure that’s the case. Yes, there are probably people who miss us in the usual sense, but the crushing grief that must come from being separated from someone you really, truly care for…I’m not sure I have that. I think I would know if I did.

I try to redirect the subject, not wanting to get into it with Alex. “How do you think it would work? Getting home. Do you think we would get our memories back?”

He stops pacing, excitement entering his eyes now that I’m seemingly more agreeable to his position. “Yeah, I think we would. Now, does that mean we would lose the memories we’ve made here? Maybe. Probably. Again, I think Elrond has the answers.”

I let my eyes fall to my fingers. The thought of forgetting…of basically erasing my time here, the friendships I’ve made…it makes me feel horribly sad. I drop my head into my hands. Oh, I just don’t know what to do!

“Let’s go talk to Elrond,” Alex urges. “See what he has to say.”

“Okay,” I agree, trudging to the door. At the very least, it will provide a distraction from the grief that has hit me so unexpectedly. “He’s probably in his study—follow me.”

I lead Alex along the same route I took this morning. Only, then, Haldir was at my side. I feel a pang of loneliness. Huh. After two weeks in constant company, I guess it is a little strange to be separated from him and the others.

As this morning, Elrond is in his study, surrounded by books and stacks of parchment. Stress tugs at the edges of his eyes but when he raises his head to greet us, it fades into a look of knowing. He was expecting us.

“Ah,” he stands, beckoning for us to enter. “I was wondering when I would be seeing you. Please, come in. I believe we have much to discuss.”

Alex strides forward, a stubborn set to his shoulders. He wastes no time. “How do we get back home?”

Elrond raises a thoughtful eyebrow, leading us to an auxiliary room with plushy chairs and couches. I sit on an unoccupied cushion. “What makes you so sure you can?”

Alex huffs. “If we got here, we can get back. Somehow, there’s a link between the worlds. We just need to find it and use it to get home.”

Elrond nods, appraising my friend. Unexpectedly, he turns his head to me. “And you, Cosima? Do you think there is a way home?”

I open my mouth, but no words come out. I close it, looking at the ground to buy myself some time. What are the possibilities? What are the chances? … And what am I hoping for? “I…I think Alex is probably right. Doors open both ways, right? If it opened to send us here, it can open to send us back. But we don’t know how easy it is to open that door.”

A sparkle enters Elrond’s eye. “Humans often do not get enough credit for their intelligence, nor their tenacity. Yes, I agree that there should be a way for the two of you to return to your homeworld. Power in Arda is changing. Forces of evil grow and the wisdom of the elves must adapt to overcome it. There is a finite amount of power in this world, and with it being pulled in so many different directions, it is possible it has grown thin in its blanket over our universe. The two of you could have fallen between the cracks.”

I look at the wall, not able to withstand Elrond’s piercing gaze or Alex’s frenzied one. If there is a real possibility of going home…isn’t it my duty to try?

Something in Elrond’s words catches my attention. “If the dispersion of that finite amount of power is constantly changing…is it possible that the ‘crack’ that let us in has already closed? Or moved somewhere else? If we tried to go back, isn’t there a chance we would end up in some other world?”

Elrond’s mouth sets into a grave line. “Precisely. There is a great deal of risk involved in your endeavor to return to your world.”

“But you can help us?” Alex speaks in a rough, desperate voice.

Elrond shakes his head, expression regretful. “I have power, yes, but not in the way you seek. If someone were able to help you—and bear in mind, it is a strong ‘if’—it would be Lady Galadriel. I believe you have heard of her through your companions?”

Alex grits his teeth, standing and beginning to pace a furious line. “Are you positive there is nothing you can do? It took two weeks to get here and that wasn’t even the whole journey. We do not have time to wait for them to decide to return to Lothlórien and then make the trip there. That could set us back months.”

“With regret, I am unable to help. My skill lies in healing and languages—academia, really. My power cannot compare to that of the Lady. I am sorry.”

I hate myself a little for it, but I feel relieved. The choice is taken from me. For the time being, all I can do is wait. Lady Galadriel might be able to help us, yes, but it will be at least two months before I have to make the choice to attempt to return home or not.

Alex evidently doesn’t feel the same way, and I don’t like the way he’s glaring at Elrond. I try to smooth things over. “Thank you for speaking with us and trying to help. We’ll let you get back to your work.” I stand, bowing my head in farewell as I’ve seen the elves here do. Alex makes no move to follow me. I prompt him with his name. He keeps his jaw tightly clenched but does incline his head towards Elrond before stalking from the room.

I have to jog to catch up. “Alex—“

“Entertain yourself, Cosima. I want to be alone.”

I take a step back. It’s not his words that stun me, it’s the grief in them. He sounds like he’s being torn apart.

Whereas I feel relief and, if I’m being honest with myself, no small amount of happiness.

I think I’m a bad person.

But I can do one good thing, and that’s grant Alex his wish to handle his feelings in private. I step forward, give him a quick, awkward hug, and let him walk away.

{***}

After lunchtime, there’s a knock on my door. I open it to the grinning faces of Rumil, Orophin, and Lavandil.

Laughing at their enthusiasm, I wave them in, grateful for the seating area in my bedroom — it makes hosting quite convenient.

Rumil whistles lowly, taking a look around. “Look at how they’ve set you up! I’ve got to share with Haldir which is just as terrible as it sounds. He says I snore! I do not snore.” He looks so offended, I don’t have the heart to tell him that he occasionally does.

Lavandil runs her hand over one of the gossamer curtains, eyeing the view. “I love these falls. You don’t seem them as well back where I grew up—that’s partly why I moved to the main city. They’re wonderful, no?”

Even though I’m not a fan of their height, I can definitely agree to their splendor. “Oh, absolutely. After days of the plains and rocks, it’s so nice to have a change of scenery.”

Rumil pours himself a glass of water and reclines on the chaise. “So, where have you been off to today? Baranor and I came looking for you this morning but you weren’t here.”

I blink. I figured Rumil would know, given he shares a room with the brother who collected me. “Haldir took me this morning to see Elrond about my arm. See?” I hold it up to present the thin, raised scar. “All healed. It’s miraculous, really, how it healed within minutes. And then Glorfindel, Haldir, and I had breakfast in the kitchens because I guess we missed the main meal, and then the two of them took off for the borders. I explored for a bit and then—” I falter. Should I tell them about my meeting with Alex and Elrond? Silly, I admonish myself. You didn’t do anything wrong. Still, it feels strange to admit to them that I had been seeking a way home—a way to leave them, essentially. But there’s no good reason to keep it hidden, so I brush aside my hesitation. “I talked to Alex, and then he and I went to visit Elrond.”

“About your home,” Orophin guesses, gravity in his voice.

“Yes,” I admit.

Rumil gapes, evidently caught off-guard, and I shoot him an apologetic look. Yeah, that hurts.

“We wanted to know if getting home is even a possibility. And, well, jury’s still out. But Elrond thinks if someone can help us, it will be Lady Galadriel. So…” I shrug.

A twinkle enters Rumil’s eye and he sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “So you’re returning to Lothlórien with us?” All traces of hurt have disappeared from his features.

I can’t help but grin at his excitement. “Yes—if you’ll have us.”

“Of course we will!” He beams, sitting back into the chaise with a new air of relaxation. “I mean, Haldir has the final say of course, but he’ll say yes. He might not like Alex, but he has grown quite fond of you.”

Each ellyn suddenly seems very interested in scrutinizing my face. I feel my cheeks heat under the weight of their stares and try to disguise it by standing and filling a glass of water. “I’ve grown fond of all of you, too.”

Rumil presses further. “Yes, but if you had to pick one—someone you’re the most fond of—who would that be?”

Orophin chuckles and Lavandil bites her lower lip, looking up at me with interest. I take a sip of the water, trying to buy myself time. This feels like a trap. I get around it as best I can. “Roch, of course. I miss him already.”

This sends them into fits of laughter and evidently puts their curiosity to rest — for the time being. I return to my seat, lounging along with them. When the sky begins to darken, Orophin requests dinner to be brought to us and we talk into the late hours of the night enjoying good food and even better company. And, though I am sure to feel guilty about it later, I do not miss Alex or my home at all.

{***}

Despite my full belly and long day, sleep eludes me. Part of that is my fault—I hold myself back from drifting off, not wanting to have another nightmare. When it must be at least midnight, I give up tossing and turning and change back into my day clothes. I didn’t spend near enough time wandering the garden or the library — perhaps I can tire myself with some exploring. As silently as possible, I push open the creaking door and step into the hallway.

It’s surprisingly bright — I’ve caught the moon when it’s high in the sky, and tonight it is full and robust in its shine. Light dances atop the ever-flowing water, creating a sparkling effect that leaves me breathless. Once again, I find myself glad that I have more time here. Though part of me feels like I should want to return home, another part of me isn’t near ready to leave. There’s so much more to see and learn and…well, I’m not ready to give up my new friends.

I go slowly down the open-air corridor, trying to keep my noise to a minimum. The household is asleep, for the most part. I see the odd attendant bustling around finishing duties, but the night is quiet and peaceful. It’s too beautiful to pass time away inside, so I elect to go back to the gardens and just avoid the blossoms that sent me into a sneezing fit earlier today.

The gardens are at the back of the estate and I do my best to remember the path I took this morning. With so many pavilions and archways and hallways and staircases, it’s easy to get lost. But all hallways—sooner or later—lead outside. So, after minutes of unsuccessfully trying to retrace my path, I choose a hallway at random, deciding to follow it to its end.

Further down, warm light flickers and ebbs—candlelight. As I get closer, I catch a voice I know well. He speaks in hurried, hushed tones in the Elvish language—arguing, maybe? Or just having a rushed discussion? A vaguely familiar voice responds in the same manor. Abruptly, the sounds cut off.

I take a few steps forward, the two figures becoming visible in the limited light.

“Haldir?” Squinting, I realize why I sort-of recognized the other voice—it belongs to Glorfindel. The two turn to me, each dipping their head in welcome.

Glorfindel looks perplexed. “Hello, Cosima. Do humans not require much sleep?”

I laugh guiltily. “No, they do — probably more than elves if we’re basing it on my traveling companions. I just couldn’t sleep so I was trying to find the gardens.”

Haldir steps out of the doorway and turns to Glorfindel. “Ah, I should be letting you get to bed, mellon.” He gives a nod of farewell to his elven friend. “We will continue our discussion tomorrow?”

“Yes, yes.” Glorfindel waves off Haldir’s stern look and moves to shut his door. “Goodnight.”

Haldir and I are alone in the hallway.

He clears his throat. “Would you like company?”

I smile, gesturing in the direction of what I hope is the outdoors. “Sure. You’re not tired after being gone all day?”

He shrugs, clasping his hands behind his back as he walks. “Tired, yes. Though my mind is not yet ready for sleep.”

“Was it a long day, then?”

Haldir sighs, and the sound is so weighed down with exhaustion and sadness that I nearly stop and insist we both go to bed. Sleep might make him feel better. But he is an adult and so am I, and neither of us really wants to sleep. So I say nothing and wait for him to explain.

“Much of Elrond’s border patrol is young. I worry they are unprepared for the increase in attacks. The conversation you heard—Glorfindel and I were disagreeing. I think it is worth advising Elrond to send his more experienced fighters to the borders and allow the newer ones to use this time to train. Glorfindel thinks calling the entire army is an overreaction and that I am overstepping my bounds. And he is right. I am captain of the Lady’s guard, not Lord Elrond’s. Still, I cannot help but believe it is worth interfering in this way — I think it could save lives, help Imladris be more prepared.” He looks at the ground, shaking his head. “I am sorry. I don’t need to be bothering you with this.”

“No, it’s alright.” I chuckle ruefully. “You’ve seen me cry so many times, you’ve earned the right to talk about whatever you want.”

He smiles and gives me a side-eye. “I’ll admit, while your tears used to perplex me, I think I am more accustomed to them by now.”

I roll my eyes and make a conscious effort not to be offended. “Great.”

He gives me an apologetic look, but mirth dances in his eyes. I turn the conversation back on him. “So what are you going to do?”

He sighs slowly, turning the corner into an adjacent hallway. “I will continue discussing it with Glorfindel tomorrow — it would be ideal to have him on my side. But if not, I plan to go to Elrond. I’d rather cause offense than withhold strategies that could save lives.”

I nod, agreeing. “Hopefully Glorfindel will see your side, and if he doesn’t, at least Elrond. I can’t imagine he would disagree — Elrond doesn’t seem like the type of man to choose pride over lives.”

“Ellon,” Haldir corrects gently.

I turn over my shoulder so he can see the begrudging look I give him. “Ellon.”

Haldir smiles almost smugly and we step from stone to lush grass. We’ve come out on the side of the estate — the garden is in the back. Thankfully, Haldir seems to know where to go. We curve our path left.

It’s a bit humid and I can feel my hair already reacting. I bring a hand to the back of my head, attempting to smooth the frizz. “Speaking of Elrond, Alex and I went to see him today — Did Rumil tell you?”

Haldir shakes his head but gives me a look that shows he’s not surprised — he guessed Alex and I would ask Elrond about getting home.

I continue, feeling a tad nervous. Rumil said Haldir wouldn’t object to our returning with him, and I don’t think he would…but what if he does? I don’t think I’d be able to keep myself from taking it personally.

I twist the fingers of my right hand into the fabric of my dress. “Um, Elrond mentioned that if anyone can help us get home, it would be Lady Galadriel. So—if it’s alright with you, of course—I—we—would like to return home with you. To Lothlórien.” I add, perhaps unnecessarily.

Haldir stops walking and turns to me, blinking once. Dread seizes in my chest. Oh no.

But his lips twitch and I realize he’s fighting a smile. “Lothlórien would be happy to host you, and I would be honored to escort you back.”

I beam, feeling nearly giddy with relief. Haldir relaxes and a hesitant smile brightens his face. The movement causes moonlight to reflect in his eyes. It sets them alight. I can’t believe I used to think them cold towards me — they are anything but. Guarded and suspicious at times, yes, but never cold. Not now that he’s gotten to know me, anyway. Instead, they are soft, gentle. And, exactly as Rumil had said, fond.

“Thank you.”

He inclines his head in that formal way of his, and the softness never leaves his eyes. He resumes his steps, leading us around the corner and into the labyrinthine garden.

I sneeze.

And again.

And again.

Haldir sputters out a ridiculous laugh, the sound so carefree and wild that I almost don’t mind having to sneeze to hear it.

“You’re allergic,” he accuses, gesturing to the flowers to our right.

I shrug, trying to ignore the tickling in my nose. “Just to some of them. Come on, I found an area earlier that’s not so bad.”

Haldir chuckles and shakes his head but follows me through the gardens. “Why did you want to come here if it just makes you sneeze?”

“Because it’s beautiful,” I answer simply. Because sometimes, that’s enough.

I find the alcove I discovered this morning and sit on the stone bench there, scooting over to make room for Haldir. He sits next to me, stretching out his long legs. Looking up at the sky, I can see stars through the wooden, flower-filled lattice that hangs above us. I sigh, finding the sight of the  sky sobering. “Do you know how I finally realized I was in another world?”

Haldir shakes his head, waiting for me to continue.

“The stars,” I murmur. “In almost every memory I have, I’m looking at the stars. I know their patterns, how they move with the seasons, the names of each constellation. I watched them my whole life. But that night in the plains—when you came looking for me by the river—I looked up and realized that I don’t know these stars. They’re not in the right order or in the proper places. And I knew, even if I wasn’t ready to accept it, that these aren’t the stars of my world.”

Haldir tilts his head to the side, watching me in silence. He twitches as if to move and then tenses, looking uncertain. But after a moment he sets his jaw and, in one fluid motion, stands and removes his cloak, laying it on the ground. He offers me a hesitant smile as he sits—the expression so at odds with his usual confidence that I half-gape at him in disbelief. He reclines slowly, leaving room for me to do the same.

I press my lips against a smile even though I can feel that I’m losing the battle. Okay. I rise from the bench and, taking great care not to step on Haldir’s fingers, lay down next to him.

The thick fabric of his cloak mitigates the coolness of the ground and I stretch out, feeling my back resting on the firm surface of the earth. Though we slept near each other outside every night for two weeks, there were more people, then. We were farther apart. Now, we are alone and, due to the width of the cloak, there is only a sliver of space between us. If I moved my arm even slightly to the right, it would touch his.

When he finally speaks, his voice is quiet, gentle, and rumbles deep in his chest. “I have been watching these stars for centuries. They will become familiar to you, too. You only have to spend time with them.”

So I do.

Haldir and I lay on his cloak staring at the stars for hours. We don’t say much, only periodically mentioning something about our days or asking the other if they’re comfortable or cold. The newness of our proximity never fades, and I find myself hyper-aware of the warmth on the side of my body that nearly touches his. There’s a desire in me—something new and strange—to close that space between us, to rest my head on his chest and feel his arms hold me. I fight it, attempting to focus on what’s above me instead. He doesn’t seem to be struggling like I am.

At some point, I must slip into sleep. When Haldir gently nudges my shoulder, there’s a touch of early light in the sky. He smiles softly, offers me a hand up, and walks me to my room in silence. My efforts and sleep deprivation have left me exhausted. I barely remember climbing into bed and immediately fall back into a deep, dreamless sleep.

A/n Thanks for reading! Likes, comments, and reblogs make me smile <3 Let me know if you’d like a tag! 

|next part|

|masterlist|

Tolkien tag list: @anangelwhodidntfall @eru-vande

Haldir tag list: @tolkien-apologist

Double Heart Tag list: @lainphotography @themerriweathermage @thophil2941btw @kenobiguacamole @wishingtobeinadifferentuniverse @from-patroclus-with-love @boywivlove @ordinarymom1 @my-darling-haldir @sweet-bea-blossom @moony-artnstuff

[elfy-elf-imagines]

Rewrite the Stars | Haldir

Pairing: Haldir x reader

Genre: angst; fluff at the end

Warnings: talks of death; war

Requested: N/A

Prompt: - 

Words: 3,604

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

                                                     o0o0o0o

Your body felt like it was on fire. 

Like there was a flame slowly traveling up your body, burning anything it touches, only leaving behind ashes. It moves slowly, painstakingly slow, drawing out each agonizing moment just a second too long. Each time you’d attempt to will it away it would persist, despite the rain drenching you and everyone else. Every breath sounded like you were screaming into an endless void that drowned out every other sense as you gripped your longsword tightly. Your eyelashes tickled the tops of your cheeks, faintly caressing them each time you’d blink; the gentle touch a stark contrast to the stifling fear you were drowning in. You’d been tip toeing around this moment, forcing the thoughts and worries out of your brain. An attempt to deal with it another day, or perhaps never have to deal with it. But that’s not how time works, so here you and everyone are, dealing with it. 

The army of orcs marched towards Helm’s Deep, their burning torches only minorly flickering in the rain. The Uruk Hai general let out a guttural yell, the sound sending a chill down your spine. It raised the hairs on the back of your neck and formed goosebumps across any exposed skin. The beasts in full plate began chanting, the animalistic noice grating to your ears as they beat their spears into the ground. The pain in your head was nearly unbearable, their offbeat chants clashed against one another. Not that you expected orcs to be in perfect tune with each other. The only solace you found was the blade in your hand. The grip on it was so tight you couldn’t feel anything in that arm, causing you to glance at it to ensure the limb was even still attached. 

And has a man’s arrow he had knocked loosened, piercing into one of the orcs, everything stopped. The orcs silenced immediately, both sides watching bewildered for a moment. Your ability to breath stopped altogether. The battle was inevitable, you knew that, but that didn’t mean you didn’t want to prolong it. But that was no longer an option when the orcs began to scream, the noise more unnerving than their initial war chants. 

And then they were running. The sea of orcs rushing towards the wall like cockroaches skittering from the light. Except these cockroaches were terrifying; donning full plate armor and wielding deadly weapons they would gladly use to butcher you. Aragorn shouts out a command to the elven archers, moving them into action immediately. Your eyes briefly land on Haldir, the Marchwarden a mere three people away from you. A bigger pit settled in your stomach and your eyes moved to scan the rest of the elven army. 

He’s going to die; they’re all going to die.

And the dread must’ve shown on your face, because for a miniscule of a second, Haldir met your gaze. His expression asked a million questions as his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. But before you can do a thing, he’s firing another arrow at the orcs, gaze long gone from your form. A flurry of arrows fire from behind you on the ground level, soaring high above your head as they pierced into the approaching force. A moment too soon, they’ve descended upon you, clinging to crudely made ladders that find purchase against the stone. 

For a brief moment they appeared more like a group of monkeys hanging off a tree rather than the grotesque beasts they were, but the humor was swiftly wiped from your mind when a large Uruk Hai charged you. You managed to dodge his attack, not attempting to parry from previous experiences. Instead you nimbly rolled towards his blind spot and stuck your blade deep into his skin. But as soon as he fell, another took his place, and then another, and then another.

And as your sword slices through the neck of an orc, you catch one last glimpse at Haldir as he disappears in the swarm of bodies. You wanted to chase after Haldir, to scream what awaited him in a few hours, that his death was written into the stars. Yell at him that the gods intend for him to be slaughtered by these beasts as he watched the warriors under his command fall as well. And for a moment you almost did. You almost ran towards him so you could drag him away from the battlefield, no matter how much he fought against you. 

But you never got the chance, because a new orc quickly replaced the one you’d dispatched. And before you knew it you were pulled into the fray of battle, survival the only thing in mind. 

                                         ~~~~~~~~~~                           

The fight was grueling. Everywhere you looked, orcs seemed to drown out the rest of the soldiers. There wasn’t a moment to breathe, because as soon as one orc was killed four would take its place. Blood and ichor coated your once pristine and glowing armor, the stickiness of it attracting dirt and other substances with textures you didn’t want to think about. It didn’t take long for the orcs to blow up a portion of the wall, allowing them to scamper into the keep like a swarm of rats. 

A part of you wanted to cry. To disappear into the keep and hide with the women and children, like a dog with it’s tail tucked between it’s legs. The screams of pain surrounding you dulled your senses as you fought a losing battle. You could differentiate the men of Rohan from the elves of the Lorien; the mentisulusly crafted armor of the elves a beacon of light in a sea of crude iron armor coating the orcs or the poorly fitted chain the Rohan’s donned. It allowed you to easily see when they were being cut down like animals by the Uruk Hai. 

Gandalf would come with the dawn, you knew that, but each second ticked by as if it was a century. You wondered if you’d even make it to dawn as the number of soldiers around you dwindled. But as quickly as these thoughts surfaced you banished them, unable to get lost in your mind while war waged around you. 

So you fought. You moved through the battle with a vigor you didn’t know you had. Your sword moved in sync with your every movement; parrying each attack that came close to you, gifting the assaulting orcs with your blade. And it was… invigorating; fulfilling something inside you that felt pleasure with each enemy you fell. It should’ve scared you and maybe it would later, but now you could only focus on your blood pumping with adrenaline and the yells around you. Smoke filled your lungs, the flames remnants of the multitude of explosions the orcs caused in order to breach the keep. No longer were you the scared girl you were when the Fellowship found you in the woods. You were a warrior as you moved around the battlefield like it was a dance. 

Aragorn’s shouts sounded from behind you, despite speaking hardly any Sindarin, you knew what he was saying, you’d watched the movies too much to not know. A retreat, he was calling for the forces to retreat. This grabbed your attention, your head swinging to look back as you shoved your sword through an orc. A glimpse of silver and red pulled your attention to Haldir, who nodded at Aragorn and started to move back, but continued slicing at any incoming enemies. 

That was when you froze, like a sudden winter storm descended upon you and locked your limbs in place. This was it, this was the scene; the moment Haldir died in the movies. But this isn’t a movie, he was going to die in real life, right before your eyes. Dread and panic surged through you as the color immediately drained from your face.

“No. No. No. No!” the words repeat in your mind, each one more desperate than the last.

But you couldn’t move, unable to even bring yourself to blink as you watched the event unfold. The air stung your eyes as they continued to lose moisture and your mouth turned drier than the desert. The grip on your sword slackened, just enough for it to nearly clatter to the dirt if not for your stiff fingers that acted as a hook. Like a war drum, your heartbeat pounded viciously against your chest, commanding your body into action. But nothing happened as your mind fell blank. An orc came behind Haldir, hitting him with a powerful blow, painful enough to cause the elf to stagger. His delicate elven features that never displayed anything other than passiveness mimicked the fear staining your own.

He’s going to die. He’s going to die in front of you just like Boromir did. 

And at that moment, it was like the spell that held you broke as the memories of Boromir resurfaced. Phantom tears that you shed for Boromir fell down your face, your body reacting before your mind caught up. You were running, completely disregarding the orcs that were surrounding you. They hit you with their blades and pierced crossbow bolts into your flesh, but you didn’t care. The only thing on your mind in that moment was Haldir, unwilling to let him suffer the same fate as Boromir. 

Each footstep pounded into the Earth, leaving splotches of dirt and blood on your boots. Your breathing was heavy, not from exertion but instead the anxiety that bubbled inside of you. You watched as Haldir managed to slay the first orc that struck him, but you knew there would be more. And when the second one brought it’s blade up to strike him you’d managed to reach the steps leading up to the part of the wall he was atop. 

You screamed at the top of your lungs, or maybe you didn’t? It was hard to tell with the ringing in your ears that silenced any noise. Taking them two at a time, you rushed up the stairs. And by the time you managed to climb all of them, the orc swung at Haldir, causing the elf’s knees to buckle beneath him from the force of the blow. You screamed again, and this time you were sure the sound escaped your lungs. The timber of the scream closely resembled the wail of a banshee roaring in anger. 

The fleeing soldiers around you turned their gazes to you, but continued forward. The hulking orc that attacked Haldir shifted his attention to you, at least you think he did. It was hard to tell in the shroud of night. Haldir fell to the ground, but his eyes latched onto you, watching as you charged an orc more than twice your size. But you weren’t afraid, you didn’t have the time to feel fear.

One, two, three; in mere moments you closed the distance between yourself and the orc; bringing your sword up on your third step. You sliced into him, moving to the left as you avoided what would’ve been a devastating blow. He screamed in your face, the scent worse than rotting flesh on a hot summer day. But instead of hesitating, you steeled your gaze, eyes in slits as you brought your sword up for another swing. This time the blow slashed into the flesh between his shoulders and his arm that held his weapon. It fell limp against his side, a howl of pain leaving his mouth. Like a wild boar, he snorted at you and made a show of his sharpened teeth that jutted in all directions. He tossed the blade to his other hand and charged towards you with a roar. 

You stepped to the side but it wasn’t fast enough as his blade clipped your side. With a scream, you staggered forward and pressed your free hand against the wound. The sticky warm liquid slowly drips out of the wound, staining your skin crimson. The wound stings, the cold wind whipping around you only further agitating it. However, you are numb to the majority of the pain. The noise around you dampened, until all you can hear was the faint sounds of swords clanging against each other and your heavy heart beat. 

 On instinct, your sword slashed against the Uruk Hai’s exposed back before he could move out of the way. In the same fluid motion, you brought your sword up on a backswing. It sliced through his side and up his chest in a diagonal motion.With strength you didn’t normally possess, you pushed your sword deeper into his flesh, shoving the beast away from you. You ripped the sword out his skin, putrid smelly black ooz spewing from the wound. Before he could gather his footing you stalked towards him. Like an animal you barred your teeth, your eyes dancing with a blend of rage and bliss. 

In that moment you weren’t human, instead you were an otherworldly creature brutally striking down any enemies. You were like an angel of fire and death as you sliced into his thighs, an attempt to knock him prone. And it worked. The great beast fell to the ground with a loud thud, but still twitched as he attempted to grasp something to defend himself with. And just as his hand found purchase on the blade of a fallen soldier you grasped the hilt of your sword in both hands. In a swift motion, you brought the blade down and into the orcs neck. The flesh made a squelching noise as that same black ooze began pouring from the wound. 

Moving with the ferocious wind whipping around you, you moved back towards Haldir, falling to your knees as you gently cradled his head on your lap. With a shaky hand, you raised two fingers to his neck, desperate to feel a pulse. And you nearly cried when you felt the faint thump. He was alive, you managed to save him. But the battle wasn’t over yet, far from it in fact. So instead of breaking down into tears, you stood from the ground and lifted Haldir. You slung his arm over your shoulder as you made your retreat into the keep, longing for the stone walls to encapsulate you until Gandalf would come and save the day. 

The gods appeared to have other plans however, as a bolt stuck into your back. A strangled cry escaped your mouth, blood coming out of your mouth. Your legs turned to jelly as you slowly fell to your knees. Another bolt whizzes through the air, this time landing in your shoulder. The world grew hazy as fuzzy figures danced in your vision before everything turned black. Your body hit the ground with a trump, the sound muffled by the dozens of bodies littering the stone floor. 

                                            ~~~~~~~~~~  

The cold was the first thing you noticed. There was a cold breeze lightly caressing your body all over, soothing the burning that had blossomed in your body. And for a second you thought you were dead, you had to have been. After the wounds you’d sustained when trying to retreat with Haldir, there was no way you could’ve survived. Yet somehow this isn’t what you imagined death to feel like. You’d always envisioned it as something less painful and a bit more weightless. 

But the hard stone beneath the blanket you’re lying on and the distant pain shooting through your body cancels that out. Voices fill the void surrounding you; some are cries of pain from mourning lost loved ones, while a few cries of relief and joy mingle with the despair. Faintly you can hear the chatter of people, mindlessly talking about anything other than the war that just waged. But none of this alarms you. Instead it’s the elvish words being whispered near your ear, like a distant melody that’s just outside of your reach. 

Your eyes snapped open as you abruptly sat up, the blankets thrown over your body pooling around your lower body. The elvish whispers stopped, dissipating into the air as if they were never there. 

“I was wondering when you would wake,” a calm voice said. You turned to your left to see Haldir sitting beside you. He’s no longer donned his immaculate armor, instead wore casual clothing, the design more human than elven. It looked itchy and ill fitting him, lacking the usual delicate details that outed something as elvish craftsmanship. His crimson cloak was discarded, probably ruined in the fight. 

But he was alive, and that’s all that mattered.

He was pale, more so than usual. He didn’t have that same ethereal glow all the elves from Lothlorien seemed to possess, and if not for the pointed ears that poked through his silver hair, he could be mistaken for a human. Deep set dark circle surrounded his pale blue eyes, his complexion pallid and tired. 

But he’s alive. And you can’t help the small smile that formed on your lips. 

You’d managed to save him. 

“You sustained some serious wounds. For a moment the healers were convinced you wouldn’t pull through.” he continued after a moment of silence passed over you two. 

“Well as you can see, it is difficult to kill me,” you told him, not sure of what else to say. He simply hummed in response, the sound causing your heart to beat just a bit faster than before. 

“It would seem so. However I’m not sure the same thing could be said about me, if not for your presence on the battlefield tonight.” Haldir said. His eyes never wavered from yours, his gaze like ice clashing with fire. For a moment you saw it; a flicker of fear that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. The fear of death. He was on death’s doorstep, seconds away from dying, a concept so foreign to someone belonging to an immortal race. 

“Well, if not for you and the army of elves, I’m sure everyone here would’ve been dead,” you said. His brows furrowed, creating small lines on his forehead and a tiny dip in between his brows. Such a human thing that you’ve never seen on an elf. His eyes flit away from your gaze, but they quickly return. You nearly recoiled from the intensity in them, they burned through you like a roaring fire - so different from their usual icy nature - that would burn you if you got too close. But you couldn’t help but get closer, unafraid of the embers that could lash out at you, scorching whatever it touched. 

“I owe you my life, my lady. I will do whatever it takes to repay you for what you have done, even if I have to spend the rest of my immortal life,” he said, the words lacked the usual calm and cool tone of voice you began to associate him with. They were strong and fierce and true, like he believed every word he said. 

“I appreciate it, I really do, but out there in the battle, I almost died a few times, and I can guarantee at least one of the people who saved my life was an elf. Consider us even, there is no need to submit yourself to eternal debt.” you said. It was silent, and not the awkward “let the ground swallow me whole silence”, but a nice one; the type of calmness and relief that can only come from surviving an impossible fight. 

“Very well.” Haldir broke the silence first, a weak smile forming on his face. It’s fragile and small, clearly the after effects of nearly dying still weighed heavily on him. “You move well for a human.” 

You raised an eyebrow at him. 

“I’m assuming that’s supposed to be a compliment.” you said. Instantly his face flushed scarlet red, matching the cloak he wore in battle. His eyes shot to the ground and if you had to guess, you’d assume his heart rate picked up as well.

“I-I uh yes, it was - is. It is a compliment. I only meant to say that you moved through the battlefield as if you were one of the Eldar. I’ve never known a mortal who could dance through battle the way you did, as if you’ve been training for hundreds of years,” He continued watching the ground, almost expecting you to lash out or take offense. Instead you laughed. 

It wasn’t the full bellied laugh Gimi often sported, especially after a few tankards of ale, instead it was more akin to a whisper in the wind. But it was pleasant and sweet, a stark contrast to the fear he’d seen in your eyes moments before you fell unconscious. 

“Thank you, though I admit, I’m not too good with the bow,” you said. A smile formed on your face, it was sweet and warm and everything was good. Your eyes danced with a whirlwind of emotions, scared you’d ruin the mood that surrounded the two of you. 

“Perhaps I will teach you then. A small way to show my gratitude. We can begin training after the defeat of Sauron.”

“I was under the impression the elves would be sailing West?” you asked, wracking your brain to try and remember when the Lorien elves sailed. You remembered Galadriel leaving with Gandalf and Frodo, would Haldir then follow as well? It was difficult to say, since in the movies he never survived past this night. 

“They are, however, there is no need for me to leave immediately,” he said. His expression softened, a small smile playing on his lips. 

“Then it would be my honor.”

~~~~~~~~~~  

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[imagine-all-the-elves]

Imagine Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel accidentally summoning you to Middle-earth.

Author: @thatkgrl

Artist: Tim Kirk (detail)

[imagine-all-the-elves]

Imagine Haldir and his brothers saving you from werewolves.

Author: Anonymous

Artist: Valeria Sher

[imagine-all-the-elves]

Imagine being so tall that Haldir has to tiptoe to kiss you.

Author: Anonymous

Artrist: Roses & honey