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feyhunter78 · 11 months

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Can I have Elrond x reader where she just cries as he holds her when the depression hits hard and she just finally lets it all out?

Oof babe I have felt this before, and damn if I don't wish I had an Elrond to help me through it. Hopefully this little fic is what you're looking for!

Take my Hand

You’ve been trying so hard, putting on a smile going through the motions with grace, but it was never enough. No matter what you did, no matter how hard you tried, nothing could ease the weight, nothing could aid your desperate clawing, your frantic attempts to escape the ever-darkening grief that surrounded you.

It seemed impossible for one to live as long as elves do and not succumb to periods of sorrow, but everywhere you turned it seemed no one was suffering as you were. Was there something wrong with you? Were you simply too sensitive, too weak to handle the trials of life? Was it even worth it to try? It is easier, so much easier to lay in bed or on the floor before the fireplace and stare listlessly, to let your mind wander down every darkened trail, and stumble over every doubt, mistake, and insecurity that lay in its path.

Surely it was better for you to stay here, to let yourself rot into the floor and be consumed by time. Who would miss you? Who would even care? You were not a great hero, not a noteworthy person at all, simply a minor footnote in someone else’s story. It was better here, engulfed by your own thoughts, there was no way you could ruin anything or anyone. Alone was safe, and you wished to feel safe.

You watched the flames dance, the flickering red and orange curling around the wood, the pleasant pops and crackles bringing you a moment of respite. Truly, you just wanted to feel something. It is as if you are trudging through mud, sinking deeper and deeper, while everyone around you is dancing on the wind. And it is not as the humans say, that food has no taste, it still does, but it is muted, dulled, and you find it not even worth the effort.

The embers glow, and you blanked out, reaching your hand towards the flames. Perhaps this will solve it, finally you will feel alive once more. The heat is all consuming, even as your fingertips hovered before it, not yet touching, merely lingering. Are you even still alive, or is this all some terrible dream?

You wanted to move your hand, to plunge it into the flames but cannot, a small voice reminded you that others will ask, they will see, they will pity you. No one can know, they cannot be weighed down by you, so you pulled your hand back, staring at it as if it is a foreign creature.

A knock on your door jolted you out of your daze, and you scrambled to make yourself presentable but found no true energy for it. Perhaps if you gave no answer, whoever it was would leave?

Luck was not on your side, and Elrond appeared before your vision, his brow furrowed in concern. “Y/N why are you sitting on the floor?”

There is no way to describe, no way to explain, so you don’t. You simply shrugged your shoulders. “It is comfortable.”

He smiled at you and sat beside you. “I shall have to join you then.”

You nodded and returned to staring at the flames.

“I have noticed something, my starlight.” Elrond said carefully, prompting you to turn your head towards him.

“Oh?” Of course, he noticed, you were a fool to think everyone could not see straight through you. They all must be so disappointed, yet another one of your failures.

He nodded. “You seem…distracted.”

“My mind is plagued with thoughts, thus is the trial of life.” You jested weakly.

Elrond gave you a sad smile and pulled you into his embrace. “You do not need to hide from me, sweet starlight, I have known you for far too long.”

Suddenly you could no longer hold back your tears and a sob escaped you, tearing through you with the force of a great sword. “I—Elrond I do not know what to do.”

He held you tightly as you sobbed, great rivers of tears soaking the rug below you. “Whatever is the matter, please y/n tell me, and I will do all in my power to rectify it.”

“I am drowning.” You said, fingers gripping his tunic for dear life, sobs wracking your body.

Elrond hummed in understanding and began to rub your back soothingly. “I see, I see you, y/n, you are not alone, I am here, I will not let you drown.”

You buried your face in his chest, taking gasping, unsteady breaths. “You cannot help me; I am beyond saving.”

Elrond shook his head. “No, my starlight, you are never beyond saving, this feeling will pass, and I will remain by your side until it does. I care not if it takes days, weeks, years, or centuries, you hold my heart, and I will never abandon you. Not to the waves upon the ocean or within your mind.”

You looked up at him. “I do not know what to say, I feel as if I have been screaming, but no one is able to hear me.”

Elrond caressed your cheek, his thumb wiping away your tears. “And I am deeply sorry that I have been deaf to your cries for this long, but I am here now, I hear you, I see you, take my hand y/n I will aid you in your quest to free yourself from this crushing weight.”

You nodded, still a bit teary-eyed, but the weight had lessened, speaking the words aloud had freed a small part of your heart and for a split second you felt alive once more. “I will take your hand.”

Tag list: @nyctophilic0vitnir, @elronds-pointy-ears, @elrondscalaquendi, @dilf-superiority, @jesticace

#meg's writing #elrond x reader #elrond peredhel #rop elrond #elrond rop #young!elrond #young elrond fanfic #young elrond #thanks for the request!#I hope you like it!!!#rop #rop fanfiction #the rings of power fanfiction #I fucking loveeee how poetic I get to be with Elrond fics #I am still in love with him

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dingusfreakhxrrington · 1 year

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Hi! If I ask you, can you write a shot about Halbrand?

Reader is the daughter of Gil Galad and Sauron seduces her with his beautiful words, but then Galadriel discovers Halbrand's true identity and he becomes all dark, claiming reader and taking her with him to Mordor.

Maybe with different POVs?

🐈🧝‍♀️👍

The End of All Things

pairing: halbrand/sauron x fem!reader

summary: when great deceptions come into light, the noldor princess must choose her side.

warnings: elf!reader, betrayal, toxic relationship, mentions of violence, mentions of war, mentions of death, mentions of imprisonment, angst

word count: 1.7k

a/n: thank you for this request! i had a lot of fun writing this 🤍

read on ao3

friendly reminder that comments and reblogs are just as (if not more than) important as likes!

The daughter of Gil Galad by the Dark Lord’s side? None would have ever foreseen it, not even the princess herself.

You had met him when he first came to your cities. A man — a king — wounded in battle. A battle he had fought alongside none other than Galadriel, the commander of the northern armies.

She bought him to the Elves knowing that only their medicine could save him. She trusted him and took him into her ranks. Not only as the king of the Southlands but also as a friend.

Even she had not foreseen his deceit.

When he first arrived, you were soon by his side. A Noldor princess who had been studying medicine alongside the art of war. Trained a warrior but peaceful and kind by nature.

You wanted to tend to him personally, seeing as he was such a close friend to Galadriel. She must have had much trust in him to bring an outsider to her home — to your home. Healing him was an important task and even your father knew no one else was better suited to the task.

That was how you came to know him. Over the days he spent undergoing treatment you had learnt much about the new king of men.

For instance, he liked to make snarky jokes to hide how he was truly feeling. If he was ever in pain, another snide remark would fall from his lips followed by a deep chuckle as he tried to convince even himself that he was alright. You always saw through the façade.

Then, there was his charisma. Words like honey adorned by a handsome smirk every time the two of you spoke. Confident flirts danced across his poisonous tongue and soon began to puppet the strings of your heart.

It wasn’t long before you started to fall.

Before long he was up and about again, walking around despite the pain that still lingered from his wounds. By then, he already had you. Heart and soul.

He got along with the smiths soon enough, helping them with tips and pointers as they tried to uncover the secrets of mithril.

It was only then that Galadriel began to doubt his motives. She had brought him to Middle Earth with her, after all. He had protested her at every turn, wishing to be left alone to his own devices. She had even been the one to make him a king.

In her blind faith, your own arose. You had little reason to doubt the man who had arrived alongside Galadriel, her guest, and even then he had managed to captivate you in ways you could not describe.

In such a short amount of time, he filled your heart and became everything to you. He was your sun at dusk, your moon at dawn. He was the very stars that flickered in your eyes. All you wished for in this world was to be with him, to live out your days by his side.

It was foolish of you to want for a man, one who would lead a mortal life and grow old far before you. Then again, perhaps a part of you had always known there was something more to him — something strong, something powerful.

He was no mere man. He was one of the Maiar, perhaps the strongest of their kind, and the most destructive.

His web of lies knew no bounds, sprawling and twining until it was so thick you could barely glimpse the deep, dark fire behind it.

His name was not Halbrand, nor was he the rightful king of the Southlands. He was no friend to the elves and he did not love you the way you loved him, no matter how many times he proclaimed it. At least, you knew there was a slim chance of it.

When Galadriel had come to you with her concerns you had dismissed her. It wasn’t because you did not believe her but rather because you did not want to. You were conflicted, fighting an internal battle with yourself as you went over it again and again in your head.

The Southlands did not have an heir. Halbrand was not who he said he was. Galadriel had been wrong about him, you all had.

You knew where she had gone, knew she would have left you only to confront him herself.

By the time you arrived, it was already too late. She had a dagger to his throat and there was this look in his eyes… a darkness you had never seen in them before.

They fought but she stood no chance. She was not prepared to face him, not physically or mentally. His tricks and illusions — whatever he was showing her — it was too much. You saw a tear run down her cheek before she snapped out of the trance and lunged at him again, fury like dragons breath in her eyes.

In but a moment she was on the ground, knocked out cold from the harsh impact of her head against the rocky ground below.

Only then did he look at you and, as if their fight had not transpired at all, he returned to the façade he named Halbrand.

“Princess…” He held his hand out to you as he moved closer. You only moved back so he spoke again, “Please, y/n.”

“Y-you’re him… Sauron.”

His eyes grew icy once again, the darkness within him taking hold and, before you knew what was happening, it was as if all of time had become still.

You were not sure how long you were trapped inside your own mind, living through what he wanted you to see. The conversations you had once had together repeating themselves over and over again, changing slightly each time — moulding into a sick distortion of what you remembered.

Once you could no longer bear it anymore, you started to dream of things that had not yet happened. You dreamt of facing him on the battlefield, plunging your sword through him to save the people you loved.

You killed him over and over again until you could kill him no more.

All the while, he had been on the move, travelling across Middle Earth with your spelled body. You were trapped in a prison of his own making and, although such a thing would have been a feat for any other sorcerer, he kept you under without so much as breaking a sweat.

By the time your eyes finally opened again, you were far from your home.

It was not a cell but rather a home. One normal in all but its own nature. You recognised it, the building and furniture mimicking what you had seen in the Southlands.

Impossible, you thought for the Southlands were nothing but ash now. Yet, here you were and, when you looked through the window, there they were. The Southlands, greener than ever before with hills and fields and farms and life. So much life…

Then, the door opened and you caught a glimpse of the harsh reality behind him before he closed the door tight, as if to seal it from the darkness that resided outside.

“This is not real.”

He simply smiled, almost elegant in nature as he came further into the room. “It is as real as you and I.”

“You did this… All of it.”

His features remained soft as he spoke. “I did none of it. Galadriel is the one who found me and pulled me back to Middle Earth. I did not want this, I wished to be left alone.”

“In the Sundering Seas? Where were you going if you were not to return to Middle Earth?”

He sighed. All he wished for was to get through to you, for you to understand.

“I wanted forgiveness. I wanted to make amends for what I have done. I wanted to change.”

You scoffed, “To change? You will never change. You could have said no, you did not have to follow Galadriel. She put you exactly where you wanted to be. A king, a ruler, a deceiver.”

“I never meant to deceive you. I never meant to deceive anyone. You must believe me, I truly wanted to help.”

More than anything, you wanted to believe him, but you already knew what path he had chosen.

“And now?”

“I do not believe Galadriel and I crossed paths by coincidence. Fate put us both on that boat and fate brought me back to Middle Earth. It is my destiny to rule, to unite the lands.”

Lies, more lies. Although, you were unsure who he was lying to. You, or himself.

You stepped closer to him, hostile in stance. “Unite the lands? You wish to destroy and concur. How many more must die before you are satisfied? How much more blood will you spill to sit on your decrepit throne?”

Only then did his demeanour change once again as darkness consumed him. He raised his voice, all manor of elegance crushed under the wrath in his eyes. “You will see. You will understand and you will join me!”

“I will never join you,” you spat through gritted teeth.

His breathing began to calm but his anger remained. He turned from you and spoke again only after he had reached out for the door.

“In time, you will.”

He did not once turn back to face you, not even as you ran after him but, before you could reach him, the door was shut tight once again. You pushed and pulled and threw yourself into the splintering wood but it would not budge.

His magic was strong. Strong enough to keep you locked away until the day you joined him. Strong enough to rebuild this home and turn it into a well-crafted prison. Strong enough to destroy Middle Earth, in time.

In time, it would all come to an end whether you chose his side or not. Still, you would not break. You would not cave despite the love you still felt in your heart for him for the man you had loved was not real, Halbrand was not real. Not anymore. Only Sauron remained.

feel free to let me know if you want to be added to or removed from my taglist!

taglist: @idwtet @samblackblog @nebulosa-reina @valkyrie418

#—dinguswritings ⌕#halbrand #halbrand x reader #halbrand the rings of power #halbrand angst #halbrand/sauron #halbrand x fem!reader #halbrand fanfic #halbrand fic #the rings of power fic #the rings of power #the rings of power fanfic #the rings of power fanfiction #halbrand fanfiction #sauron x reader #sauron angst

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theriverwild · 7 months

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Ch. 7) More

(PSA: I added another scene to this chapter about half an hour after posting, don't miss it!)

snip below the cut

And nearing 35 Galadriel wondered just when he would hit his prime. For anyone could see that the few lines around his eyes and the slight hollow beneath his cheekbones, well hidden behind his beard, marked a man still coming into his own. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment when she caught the quirk of his lip that meant he had noticed she was checking him out. She had gotten back up to 100 pounds now but it was hardly enough to even begin to fill out her old clothes. As it was, she wore the same dress and cardigan she wore the day they left for Santo Tomas. No one could see her scabs, her bruises, or even the bones protruding from her spine or the line of her ribs coming into her sternum. Once upon a time she thought she and Halbrand made an attractive couple, one with the other. Now she wasn't so sure.

#haladriel #saurondriel #trop fanfiction #galadriel x sauron #sauron x galadriel #the rings of power fanfiction #dark!fic #but a comparatively light chapter #acting on instinct #things happen #dead dove fic

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lady-of-imladris · 1 year

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A Glimpse of You

Pairing: Elrond x Celebrian

Summary: Elrond discovers his gift of foresight and Celebrian has a surprise for him

Warnings: mention of pregnancy, traumatised Elrond (but not thaaat much)

Celebrian had searched for him throughout all of Rivendell, yet her husband Lord Elrond was nowhere to be found. She had awoken with a sense of dread in the morning, and it did not help that she found the other side of the bed empty. It was unlike Elrond to be up early, and her concern only increased when she didn’t find him in his study, or the library, or his favorite spot in the gardens. It was already late in the afternoon when she bumped into Erestor and Glorfindel. “My lady”, they both greeted her politely. “Has either of you seen my husband? I have been looking for him all day and he is nowhere to be found”, she inquired. Erestor shook his head, as did Glorfindel. But the warrior’s poker face was terrible and soon he found himself being stared down by an angry Celebrian, who as at least a full head shorter than him. Erestor was in equal parts amused and slightly terrified as Celebrian gave the mighty balrog slayer a look that would have made Morgoth himself flee in fear. Glorfindel cleared his throat. “I may have caught a glimpse of some dark blue robes in the very corner of the basement a couple hours ago. But you did not hear that from me.” Celebrian thanked him before heading to the basement. What on earth was he doing there? Soundlessly she walked to the very end, and she heard him before she saw him. The lord of Rivendell, sitting all alone on the floor of the cold dark basement, crying softly. “My love, what happened?” Her voice startled him. “Bri? What are you doing down here?” “Looking for you my love, you had me worried.” He sighed and let his head fall into his hands. “I am sorry Bri. I am so so sorry”, he mumbled. Celebrian sat down next to him and pulled him closer to her, so that his head was resting on her chest and he could hear her heartbeat, causing him to relax instantly. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”, she asked him softly. “Elros.” His twin brother, who had chosen the fate of the Edain and perished many, many years ago never stopped to plague his mind. “Celebrian”, he whispered her name, “tell me the truth. Are you pregnant?” She squeezed her eyes shut. No. This could not be happening. Not like this. Not now. “What makes you think that, my love?”. “I had a dream. Two half-elven boys. They looked so much like Elros and I and when I woke up and looked over at you it all made sense. I don’t think it was a dream, Bri.” Her brows furrowed. “You think you had a vision of the future? Our children?” He nodded. “So please Bri, just tell me now. Are you pregnant?” Neither of them wanted this to happen. They were going to wait at least one more millennium if not longer. “I am”, she finally confessed to him, tears starting to blur her vision, “And if you are right and we are really having twins, I will not let you near me ever again!”, she added. He didn’t know if it was supposed to be a joke. He didn’t know if he wanted to know.

Despite their fear of being horrible parents, Elrond and Celebrian did a decent job at raising the twins, however it might be worth mentioning that Lord Celeborn had all but moved into Rivendell at that point, taking care of his daughter during her pregnancy and helping the young couple during the first few years of raising their sons Elladan and Elrohir. Sometimes Elrond could swear he heard his brother in Elladan’s laughter, and Elrohir’s stupid pranks reminded him of the countless ways in which Elros annoyed Maedhros and Maglor growing up. He didn’t tell Celebrian any of this, but she knew. She knew that every time he looked at their sons, he saw a glimpse of his brother.

#lord of the rings fanfiction #the rings of power fanfiction #elrond x celebrian #celebrian #elrond #hurt/comfort I guess? I am bad at tagging

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drrav3nb · 2 years

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AT HER SIDE, NEVER TO DEPART

Synopsis: It has been years since the volcanic eruption in the Southlands stole Tar-Miriel's sight. But with the loss of her eyes came a solemn vow, an oath from her captain, sealed by the Valar, that he would stay at her side, never to depart, to always be there when she needed him.

Read the fic here

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dunbonnets · 20 days

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Ivriel: I'm going to strangle you

Gilrien: Ivriel! Behave.

Elrond, smirking: You're not even tall eno—

Elrond, eyes widening: where did you get that stepstool?

#fic: wayward #fic: ephemeral #ch: ivriel #ch: gilrien #the rings of power #the rings of power fanfic #the rings of power fanfiction #trop #trop fanfiction #trop fanfic #the rings of power incorrect quotes #incorrect quotes #wattpad collab #wattpad fanfic #wattpad fanfiction #wattpad #*my ocs #*my friends oc

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queenmeriadoc · 1 year

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Ever fallen head over heels by @thesolarangel

#the rings of power #rings of power #heraldsmith #thesolarangel #the rings of power fanfiction

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ichabodjane · 2 years

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Hello, I wrote a nice fluffy thing:

The Best Laid Plans

One shot, ~2.5k words resolving some heavy romantic tension at some unspecified post-canon point. Pretty much SFW.

Preview:

There was no plan when he ran, just blind desperation, the overpowering human urge to keep breathing. When he reached the sea, the plan was simple. Keep his head down, keep moving, until he was as far away he could get. Find some hole to barricade himself inside. Get some real sleep for once. But the wyrm had other ideas.

And so had she.

#the rings of power #fanfiction #mine #otp: bind yourself to me #halbrand x galadriel #the rings of power fanfiction #trop #rop

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honeyfarts666 · 1 year

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An Ocean of Tears

A Sauron Redemption Fic

Angst, Suicidal Thoughts, Animal Friends, Secret Child

Chapter 1: Prolog: A Begining Centuries in the Making Chapter 2: Odd Companions Chapter 3: A Young Adventurer

New! Chapter 4: The Wanderer Child on Ao3 or under the cut ↓

Story Excerpt:

Was it so hard to believe that he had been a prisoner of Morgoth too? He had gone willingly at first, but he became just as trapped as every other soul caught in his master’s snare. He had no grand desire for evil. In the youth of the world, he had craved adventure. His only crime was believing Morgoth. And following him. And doing his dark bidding for millennia. He hung his head as shame poured through him.

Chapter Summary:

Halbrand discovers a strange child on his land.

___________________________

He was so surprised when he first saw the boy, all he could do was stare. The young lad gazed at the forest garden in awe, turning every which way, amazement written over his features. The boy followed the path, eagerly adventuring on, unaware of the dangers around him, unaware of whose territory he entered.

There must be others. It would be impossible for a child so young to travel the Greenwood alone. Although, he couldn’t be completely sure how old the boy was. He hadn’t spent much time around children. There was certainly something familiar about the boy he couldn’t put his finger on. The lad had a head full of loose, brown waves with pointed ears peeking through. He was dressed in a simple tunic of dark blue and carried nothing with him. Something about the boy sparked his memory but he couldn’t figure out what. It made him curious.

He followed the boy further and slipped behind a tree whenever the boy turned toward him. Not that the boy even suspected he was being watched. He twirled about, in awe of the flowers and the whole wood. He ran his hand through the Hairgrass, letting his fingers tangle among the golden stalks.

When the boy reached his house, he knew he couldn’t keep hiding. He stepped out from the trees and said, “How did you come to be in my garden?”

The boy spun around, his eyes alive with fright. But the fear quickly melted away. The expression on his face shifted to one of curiosity. “Who are you?” the boy asked.

He quirked his brow in amusement, “Since you are on my land, perhaps you should tell me who you are?”

The boy blushed, “My name is Estion.”

“Estion,” he mused taking a few more steps toward the boy, “It is an unusual name.”

Estion shrugged.

He seemed like a good-natured, obedient lad. But he could also sense a tinge of mischief about the boy. “How did you come to be here?” he asked again.

Estion glanced about and then said, “I… I got lost.”

A lie. An obvious lie. He considered challenging the claim. But pressing the issue might frighten the lad. “Then,” he gestured to the table and cottage behind it, ��you are welcome to stay for dinner.”

Estion smiled, “Thank you.” Estion turned and pointed to the table, “Is that your cat?”

He glanced to see his old companion lounging on the table. The cat stretched his front legs and flexed his claws before rolling onto his side. “Teonwer belongs to no one. He does as he pleases,” he said.

“But does he live with you?” Estion asked.

“Yes,” he replied, “He has been a faithful companion. Though sometimes a sour one.”

“Can I pet him?” Esion asked eagerly.

He smiled softly at the request. “I’m not the one to ask,” he nodded to Teonwer.

Estion approached the table and held out his hand for the cat to sniff. Teonwer barely took notice of Estion but that did nothing to discourage the boy. He stroked his hand down Teonwer’s back and then switched to scratch behind his ears. Surprisingly, Teonwer began to purr and Estion giggled as the cat actively leaned into his touch.

“Do any other animals live here?” Estion asked.

“It is a forest, my lad! There are animals everywhere,” he replied happily. Somehow, the boy’s presence had put him in a bright mood. Usually, strangers meant trouble, especially if there were many. There was only one clan of elves living in the Greenwood, Thranduil’s people, and they stayed in the far north of the wood. It was unlikely that Estion could have strayed so far on his own. And there was the fact he didn’t look like the elves of the Greenwood. Once he thought about it, he realized Estion didn’t look like any elf he had seen before.

Estion, still petting Teower, looked up at him with a wrinkled brow and asked, “What’s your name?”

He straightened his back. No one had asked him that in such a long time and he felt a throbbing pang he couldn’t name, deep in his soul. But he brushed aside those ancient, dark aches. Estion still gazed up at him expectantly. What in Arda could he say? Mairon? Sauron? No. He said the only other name that came to mind, “Halbrand.”

Estion’s eyes lit up, curiosity practically seeping from his skin. “Are you a mortal?” the boy asked.

Halbrand smirked at the question. He could lie. He could continue the same old ‘Halbrand’ ruse. But something stopped him. He had no desire to deceive, especially not this young adventurer. And what harm could it do? “No,” he replied simply.

Estion’s head slumped to one side. It seemed as though he was disappointed. “Are you an elf?” Esion asked.

Halbrand couldn’t help the smile that had been cracking on his face. “No, I am not an elf either,” he said as he scratched his beard.

Estion’s disappointment shifted back to curiosity, “Well, what are you?”

Halbrand laughed. He sat down at the table, across from where Estion stood. There was a basket of herbs on the table that needed sorting. He began by breaking off the unnecessary stems and tucking the important bits into little jars. “Surely, you have learned of all the beings who inhabit Arda? I’m sure you can figure it out.”

Estion scrunched up his face in thought. After a moment he replied, “I don’t think you’re a dwarf.”

“That is correct,” Halbrand mused as he continued to work, “I am not a dwarf.”

“Are you a peredhel?” Estion guessed.

Halbrand shook his head, “No.”

Estion slumped against the table, “Well, what else is there?”

“Your teachers have certainly failed you if they have not mentioned the race of beings I belong to,” he teased, sealing off a full jar.

Estion blushed softly, “I’m not very good at lessons.”

Halbrand was beaming. Watching the boy rack his brain was amusing and endearing. He leaned over the table and whispered, “The race I belong to, is much older than the elves.”

Estion thought for a moment before his eyes went wide, “Are you a Maia?”

Halbrand nodded, “There, I knew you were a bright lad.”

“I thought all the Maia lived in Aman,” Estion gaped in wonder.

“There are a few of us who are unbound, with no Vala master to call us back across the sea. I go where I wish.” It was a simple answer. Not a lie but dodging the truth. He prayed it would be enough to satisfy Estion’s seemingly limitless curiosity.

“Why don’t you live in Aman? Don’t you get lonely?”

He looked up at Estion. He wanted to say, Yes. Yes, every day. But he couldn’t. Not without explaining why. There was such innocence in Estion, such trust. “I do get lonely,” he confessed, “But I do not long for Aman nor anyone who lives there.”

Estion nodded solemnly and went back to petting Teonwer. He seemed to understand it was a difficult topic for Halbrand. Silence fell between them. Halbrand took the opportunity to study Estion again. The boy really didn’t look like an elf, other than the pointed ears. Most elves had blue eyes, but Estion’s were a shining green. Not too dissimilar from his own.

“You never answered my question?” Halbrand asked, breaking the silence.

Estion looked up at him, “Which one?”

“How did you come here?” He asked gentler than before. He chose not to address the lie Estion had told. Better if the lad didn’t regard him as some stern authority. “It takes nearly a week of travel to reach the nearest settlement. But you do not have the look of a wanderer.”

Estion glanced away guiltily. He fidgeted awkwardly in the silence. It nearly made Halbrand laugh; he had never seen an elf fidget before. “I didn’t really get lost,” he confessed, “But I truly don’t know where I am!”

Halbrand tried to give what he hoped was a reassuring smile, “You are in the Greenwood, near its southern end.”

Estion raised his eyebrows but didn’t respond.

“Is it very far from where you hail?” Halbrand questioned cautiously.

“Very,” Estion admitted. He fell silent after that, occupying himself with Teonwer.

But then, the cat gave a loud meow.

Halbrand glanced at the cat and asked, “What? Are you not satisfied with his attention? Must you have mine as well?”

Teonwer meowed again, even louder than the first time.

Halbrand set aside his work and looked at the cat. His mouth opened in response but then he shut it again quickly. How had he not noticed it before? There, on Estion’s left hand, sat a ring. He had never seen his most precious designs, yet he knew it instantly. Nenya was the most beautiful of them, a jewel fit for a queen. It was obviously out of place on the young rascal before him.

He chose his words carefully; he didn’t want to scare the boy. “How did you come to possess a ring such as this, Estion?”

Estion looked down at his hand as if he had forgotten the ring was there. “It’s not mine,” he defended.

“No?” Halbrand asked.

“It belongs to my mother,” Estion replied.

Halbrand couldn’t help but raise his eyebrow. He knew who the owner of the ring was. He knew the delicate hand and poised fingers that ring should decorate. Yet he dared not reveal himself for some fear he could not name. “And who is your mother?” he asked, “Surely she is a powerful sorceress.”

Estion stifled a giggle, “No, my mother is the Lady Galadriel.”

Halbrand felt his heart skip a beat though his face betrayed no sign. “Ah,” he said after a pause, “The Lady Galadriel is no sorceress, but she is cunning.”

“You know her?” Estion asked eagerly.

He shook his head. He would have to tell a small lie now. “Only by name. I am not so fortunate as to bask in her presence.”

Estion seemed to enjoy the flowing compliments to his mother. He clearly loved her dearly. But there was another question pricking the corner of his mind and he couldn’t ignore it any longer, “Who is your father?”

Estion blushed but held his gaze. He stuttered for a moment before he answered, “The Lord Elrond.”

Another lie. He was certain of it. It had to be a lie. But he dared not say anything. He dared not test the boy lest he be frightened and leave forever. “And you came here, through the power of this ring?” he asked.

“I didn’t mean to!” Estion blurted out. “I was in mother’s study and I only put the ring on for a moment!”

Halbrand considered everything the boy said. “So, you did not intend to come here?”

Estion emphatically shook his head.

“And your mother does not know you are here?”

Something flashed across Estion’s face. His curiosity was suddenly replaced with fear. His shoulders tensed as he unconsciously shifted away from Halbrand. Obviously! There was a strange man asking about his mother and his home. Any child would be afraid.

“I think I should go home now,” Estion whispered.

Guilt welled in Halbrand’s heart. He had pressed too much and now the boy was afraid of him. He swallowed the lump that had built in his throat and tried to smile. “Of course, your family will be worried about you.” He stood from the table and Estion took several cautious steps back.

By Eru, he really had no idea how to talk to children. He did the only thing he could think of and got down on his knees. At that level, Estion stood over him. He hoped it would help the boy feel less threatened. Estion took a small step toward him and then another. Maybe he wasn’t completely useless with children.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Estion,” he said with all the sincerity in him. He placed his hand over his heart in farewell, “I pray our paths may meet again.”

Estion smiled at him, his trust somewhat restored. “Thank you, Halbrand.” Then Estion glanced around as if he was unsure of what to do.

“Do you know how to go home?” Halbrand asked him.

Estion shook his head.

Halbrand laughed lightly and said, “Just take off the ring. Then you’ll be back where you came from.”

Estion pulled the ring from his finger and he was gone. As if he had never been there at all.

Halbrand shuddered as he let out a heavy breath. He stayed there, kneeling in the dirt until his legs started to go numb.

After some time, Teonwer let out a yowl.

Halbrand rose to his feet with a roll of his eyes. “I am aware!” He snapped at the cat. He went back to work at the bench, pulling the stems that were too small for his indelicate, human hands. He tried to focus on his work. His jaw grew tighter by the minute and his task grew more and more annoyingly difficult. As he stripped one stalk, a splinter embedded into his finger. He hissed and recoiled, knocking over a jar onto Tenower’s tale.

Tenower yowled and gave him a look of immense displeasure.

Halbrand huffed as he pulled the splinter from his finger. “Yes, yes,” he muttered to the cat, “Forgive me, your majesty.”

Meow, meow.

Halbrand glanced back at Tenower, “There is nothing to discuss.”

A loud meow.

Halbrand gave the cat a scalding look, “I don’t know. He seemed harmless. I don’t think he’s likely to send the armies of the Noldor after us.”

Tenower rose, stretched his limbs, and padded across the table. He extended one paw and tapped Halbrand’s arm. Halbrand sighed and turned to the cat. Tenower meowed gently and rubbed his head against his arm.

Halbrand let out another long, stuttering sigh. He felt his hands tremble and his vision became blurred as tears formed. “I can’t…” he shuddered and swallowed the lump in his throat. “I can’t bare to even think it. That he could be…”

Tenower meowed.

“I can’t be certain,” he muttered through his trailing tears, “It is possible he is Elrond’s son.”

Tenower hissed.

Halbrand rested his head in his hands forlornly. “No,” he agreed, “Elrond does not have green eyes.

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Copy and pasting the note from Ao3: I am opening this work up for critique! Any constructive thoughts you have will be much appreciated. On this chapter, any of the past chapters, or future ones. I'm much more of a 'big picture' kind of writer and I want to get better at prose and dialogue.

Thanks for reading! Y'all are the best!

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