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thetempleofthemasaigoddess · 1 year

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Plenilune

Haldir x reader - NSFW!

Fun fact: in Tolkien's legendarium the Moon is male since it is guided by a male Maia, Tilion, while the Sun is guided by a female Maia, Arien, and is therefore female.

*****

The murmuring of the wind through the leaves is almost comforting to your ears, as if the forest wished to hearten you against the danger you have deliberately put yourself in for the thirteenth time, as you spur your mare towards your destination galloping among woods and meadows. The moon and the stars illuminate the path enough to keep you and your mare from falling, and no evil that you ought to fear has ever entered Lothlórien; but yes, you are in peril, and you don't even want to think about the consequences if he found out what you are doing.

It is late, you sadly reflect as you cover your head with your hood in the remote case someone sees you, and obviously you cannot help it, since you couldn't leave until he had gone to bed and it would take the fastest horse almost an hour to reach your destination, but still you feel yourself trembling, your heart beating twice as fast as normal with haste, and fear... and another emotion, much more pleasant, that makes you wish you had wings.

A few minutes later, you and your mare have finally reached your destination: the gates of Caras Galadhon are a stone's throw from you, the high trees surrounded by talan standing out, solemn and majestic, against the hilltops behind them. You tie your mare to the trunk of another tree, leaving her to rest after the ride and graze pacefully, and walk towards the gate, your pace slow and your arms spread to show you carry no weapon and are therefore not a danger to the city and its people: you lived here for many years and most of the guards know you, but you know how seriously they take their duty to protect the borders, and it is better for all of you to avoid an incident.

You are now close enough to discern the shapes of the two Elves on duty, both fitted with one of the great bows of the Galadhrim and a quiver full of arrows; one of them softly calls your name.

"Orophin?" you answer in the same tone, not bothering to hide your relief, even more because next to him you have recognized Rúmil, his braided hair easily identifiable in the soft moonlight; after more than a year you must have met most of the guards, who serve on rotation, and none of them has ever tried to forbid you from entering -you are pretty sure they all sympathize with your predicament and are willing to help, even if it means turning a blind eye on your visits, but still, the fact that every single marchwarden is aware of your tryst is more than a little embarassing- but you are happy to be welcomed by the only two Elves in Caras Galadhon who have been personally informed of your visits... and of the reason behind them.

The moon is full; perfect in his circular shape, he shines above you, surrounded by the stars as a lord by his courtiers. You smile as you look at him, and then step across the high gate in white wood and iron that Rúmil has opened for you. "Hannon le" you thank him softly, and he simply smiles in return, while Orophin looks around you anxiously; the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien know you personally and know you pose no danger to their people, but strictly speaking they are failing in their duties letting you in after sundown, since the gates are closed during the night, and the fewer people know you are there, the better.

There is so much at stake for them, for you, and for the one who you know is anxiously waiting for you at his talan; you don't even want to know what would happen if you were discovered, but you persist, month after month, each time the full moon rises in the sky. And one day, soon you hope, your efforts will bear fruit, and you won't have to hide anymore...

"I thought you had decided not to come." Rúmil jokes as he closes the gate, and you wink in response. "Not even if the Valar themselves attempted to stop me."

"Stop wasting time, both of you!" Orophin hisses "The sun will rise in a few hours, and (name) must have left by then; you should go now, and be careful!"

If someone heard you, they could think you are plotting some heinous crime; at first the thought amused you, since the reason that brings you to the city every plenilune goes against no law, but by now, after a whole fruitless year, bitterness has grown inside you, a vague sadness and a sense of helplessness that make it almost impossible to joke about it. You would never give up on your hopes, and you would never renounce him, but sometimes you feel trapped, powerless against the will of the Powers and that of your own body, as if your dearest dream will never come true...

You would never express those doubts in front of your friends, who promised to help you in any way they can and are deliberately failing in their duty to do so; because of this you thank them both and proceed, quickly leaving the gate behind you.

The high Mallorn trees rise up all around you, the sight of the starry sky blocked by the talan built around their trunks; large oil lamps hang from the branches, most of them dark as it is normal during the night, but another lamp is lit, a lamp whose handle is grasped by someone who is waiting at the base of one of the trees, a tree you have reached without hesitation, moving among the maze.

You see him, you see his deep blue eyes in the noble face, a joyful and relieved smile breaking over his lips as he sees you, and it is as if you are finally able to breathe after a month spent struggling for air.

"Haldir..." you murmur, breathless for much more than just the speed of your pace; he almost lets the lamp fall from his hand, and a moment later you have started running towards each other.

*****

You still remembered the day you met Haldir; he was the guard on duty at the gate, you the new handmaiden lady Galadriel had just admitted in her entourage. As he walked you to the main talan, you were immediately struck with his noble beauty, the solemn face with the hint of a smile on his lips; you spent only a few minutes together since he had to return to the gate, but in the following days, when your path crossed as you were both busy with your duties, he never failed to offer you a smile and a nod, as if you were friends. With time, you learnt to appreciate him beyond his loveliness and a quiet friendship had started developing between the two of you, but you never thought he would be interested in you, until leaving your room one day you found a folded piece of parchment waiting in front of the door, under a niphredil flower: Haldir invited you for a walk, that very night; if you accepted, you were meet him at the gate at the end of his shift.

You felt your heart bursting with happiness when, that night, you walked to the gate wearing your favorite dress, your hair brushed until it shone, and the niphredil flower behind your ear; you couldn't wait to be alone with him, and you smiled at Haldir, busy talking to the guard who had come to take over from him. He smiled back, but you didn't notice how perplexed he looked when he saw you.

"Thanks for your message, I couldn't wait for our walk. Shall we?"

"... Yes. Oh course, let us go."

You spent two lovely hours together, walking along a trail in a beech wood just outside the city and sitting next to a stream; you talked, freely as you had never done before, about your families and your dreams, your pasts and your fears. You enjoyed Haldir's company and he appeared to appreciate yours, and for you it didn't matter what would have happened after that day, if that pleasant evening would be the beginning of something special or would remain a single event to think back to wistfully, and in the end, you didn't care: those few hours under a clear blue sky, when you didn't have to worry about duties and responsibilities and were free to be simply yourself, were a treasure in their own right, and whether Haldir's invitation was extended out of friendship or something else, in the end it didn't matter: simply being with him made you happy.

In the end it was only when Haldir insisted on walking you to your room, that he confessed the truth - simply because he felt he had to, being too fair and honest to take advantage of a scam, even though it hadn't been his fault.

"I must admit... I never invited you on a walk; the message that you received was probably sent by my brothers." he confessed, too ashamed to look you in the eyes, his long hair barely covering the flush that had spread on his fair face. He told you that Rúmil and Orophin, who you knew well and had noticed him staring longingly at you, had tried to convince him to approach you. Haldir had refused, both because he was sure you wouldn't be interested and simply because he would have rather faced Melkor than tell you about his feelings, and in the end his brothers must have decided to take the matter in their own hands.

"You are lucky to have brothers who care so much about your happiness." you said, your back pressed against the trunk of the tree, the talan you shared with two other of the Lady's maidens high above you; the night was falling on Caras Galadhon, a gentle breeze caressing your hair and dress. You would have flushed, and even perhaps run away in embarrassment, but apparently Rúmil and Orophin's intervention was due to their brother's indecision, not to his lack of interest, and because of this you stayed where you were, ready to reassure him that you were happy to have spent the evening with him nonetheless... and that if he wanted to invite you again, you wouldn't have said no.

"You think? At the moment I sincerely wish my parents had stopped after having me. Please don't misinterpret, I am very happy you came and I couldn't think of a better way to spend an evening; but they shouldn't have meddled."

You almost asked him if he would have ever confessed his feelings for you, had his brothers not intervened, but in the end, what difference would it have made? Despite everything, you were grateful to Rúmil and Orophin for what they had done, but now, and from now on, the two of you would have walked at your own pace.

"I am supposed to wait on the lady Galadriel at the banquet tonight." you said in the end "Shall we have dinner together before that? If you have nothing more important to do."

Relief was clear on Haldir's fair face as he answered that no, of course not, nothing on all of Arda would have been more important than spending more time with you. Expressing his feelings didn't come natural to him, at least not before he had spent some, or a long, time with someone, which could have made the other person -namely, you- interpret that reticence as indifference, even disregard, but you didn't; you were still learning to know each other, and as any other couple you would have your misunderstandings and disagreements, but in that moment at least everything was perfect, as if you just needed to share a look to understand what you were feeling. You cared about each other, more that you could express, and that was enough.

It was beautiful, and it made you happy.

"May I take your hand?" he asked, and the question was deeper than it appeared, since friends didn't walk holding hands, but a couple who was courting did; he seemed uncertain, even shy - quite a difference from the steadfast, capable soldier you had learnt to know. That sight filled your heart with affection... and an answer you couldn't have given to him faster.

"Of course. I would love to."

You let him take your hand, you took his, and since then neither of you has ever let go.

*****

Neither of you speaks as you climb the slim rope-ladder to reach the talan Haldir shares with his brothers, identical to the many others where the guards live, in groups of two or three; wooden screens, carved in shapes of trees and animals, separate the communal area from the smaller ones reserved to each of them. As soon as the door of the large chamber, built all around the tree trunk, closes behind you, Haldir takes your hands once more, brings them to his lips, and kisses them devotedly. "You came." he murmurs, his eyes full of affection and relief; he knows your feelings, he knows that you will never give up on him and nothing, not even Melkor himself, could forbid you to go to him on a full moon night, but you know that every time he fears he will never see you again, and you will never have the family you both wish for.

He is so afraid, your Haldir, but so gentle and reverent as he holds you against him, his hand caressing your hair as you rest your cheek on his chest to listen to his heartbeat. He doesn't ask whether someone saw you, after you passed the city's gate, along the way or, worst of all, as you left your village; he knows you are as careful as you can be to slip away unnoticed and to ride along hidden paths, but you both know the risk, and accept it, because being together once more, one more night, even just one more hour, is worth the most dire consequences.

"I am sorry, I am late." you tell him in the end, after you part just enough to look at each other; so many years after you have shared your first kiss he is more handsome than ever, so handsome you feel yourself shivering as his warm hands find your shoulders under your cape and run along your naked arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind them. He is wearing a grey tunic with a brown leather belt, his long hair spread on his shoulder and chest; many Silvan Elves have blonde hair, but no one's is as beautiful as his, and sometimes, as you lie next to each other, your passion dormant but not forgotten, you like to play with it, braiding and running your hair through it, or rubbing it against your skin.

Maybe you will do it once more, tonight; before you have will to go.

"I had to stay until he went to bed, and he had some friends visiting, so..."

"It it all right, don't concern yourself." he reassures you, and you love him for it, because every moment you lose during those nights is a wasted opportunity, a loss you could pay dearly if you were discovered, but still he cannot stand to see you upset "I am just glad you came. Eru... you are so beautiful..."

"You have seen me wear this dress at least ten times."

"True, but I wasn't talking about the dress. My darling, my beloved flower... how I have missed you..."

Maybe the distance plays a part in it, as well as the fact that you haven't laid together often, even through you have been courting for years, or maybe not; maybe it is just that you love him desperately, with all your heart and your mind, your fëa and your hröa harmonius in desiring him, the warmth of his body, the soothing sensation of his embrace. No one could ever call you naive, and after a year you know your beloved's skin as well as yours, but, and maybe because of this, your heart is pounding in your chest as you offer Haldir your mouth, that he claims in a kiss as he holds your face in his hands.

You kiss avidly for a while, your hands moving from Haldir's strong shoulders to his back and chest to caress and stimulate and revere; he moans in your mouth, the sound lurid and heavenly at the same time, as he takes off your cape and let it fall on the floor - which betrays the state he is in, since he would never leave something, especially clothes, lying around instead of finding an appropriate place for them, tidy and even fastidious as he is. Evidently you really have an effect on him, you think pleased, so much that you make him forget himself...

"Why are you smiling as we kiss?" he asks, feigning a contrariness he is physically unable to feel; a moment later his kisses move to your neck, and the goosebumps are no longer limited to your arms.

"I am simply -oh yes, right there!- happy we are together, that is all."

"I am happy as well, my flower. And I wish... we didn't have to wait the full moon..."

You would like to jest that the moon is a capricious master, who only allows you to meet once every twenty-eight nights, and you should ask him to assume his most complete form more often, but you can't; you cannot joke about it, not anymore. This night coincides with the most fertile moment of your cycle, and this is why you have chosen it to meet; often enough to give you a realistic opportunity, as well as to alleviate the pain of your separation, but at the same time your visits to Haldir would be sufficently sporadic not to arouse suspicion - you hope. It is not much, but you make do. It seemed a good compromise when you decided on it, since you make the most of your time together, clinging to each other until you are both panting breathless, and you thought you would have achieved your goal by now.

You haven't.

You often feel as if time itself works against you, but nonetheless you take your time, savoring the intimacy and the joy of being together once more before you can taste each other's flesh. Haldir's hand has guided you behind the wooden screen that separates his area of the room from those of his brothers'. Rúmil and Orophin are on duty until dawn, and since they both respect your privacy they would never interrupt you in any case, but your beloved doesn't feel at ease laying with you if you are not as hidden as you can be: he is such a modest, demure person, and you love him for it... as well as for everything else.

"How I have missed you..." you murmur as you once more find your beloved's mouth with yours; he moans into it, his hands moving hungry and greedy on your body as those of a sculptor molding a block of clay, and this is exactly how you feel, as if you are nothing, raw, shapeless, aimless, if you are not close to him, able to touch and be touched.

Neither of you speak as your clothes start falling to the floor. You free Haldir of his tunic, and his skin is like marble in the semi-darkness around you, smooth and cool and made for you to touch and caress; he moans, his head bent backwards, as you hold his hips in your hands and fill the distance between the two of you to kiss his neck, his chest, and his stomach. You feel, as well as hear, the rumble of pleasure escaping his lips as you close yours around his right nipple, licking and sucking as you stimulate the other one with your fingertips. You love Haldir like you have never loved anything and anyone, you love his kindness and his intelligence, his sense of duty and his wit; you love his stubborness and his rigidity and melancholy. And you love his body -strong, agile, so deliciously masculine, a source of warmth and pleasure and life; you cling to it, exploring and stimulating it until he is moaning and whispering your name and his desire is presses against your belly, hard and warm.

"Please." he begs; Eru, how you love hearing him like that "Please, my darling, let me have you..."

You don't answer, but you smile, and you break the kiss to turn and offer him your back; Haldir's agile fingers make quick works of the knots of your dress, and soon the cloth is sliding down your body, and you are naked under it, no shift or undergarments, because you have so little time to spend together and you don't want to waste it taking off your drawers.

That, and he tore your favourite shift six months ago, in his haste to take it off you; mortified, he apologized and promised to replace it, you simply told him he would have to make your loss worth it.

There is awe on his face, as well as desire, as he admires you, his fingertips barely brushing against you but leaving a trail of fire behind them. "Come." he invites you taking your hand once more, and his bed -the only element present in the small area behind the screen, apart from a chest and a chair- is only three steps away, but you like being led, being welcomed to it just like he has opened his heart to you.

You have already started kissing as you lower yourself on the bed, Haldir's arms keeping you close enough that you can feel his heartbeat matching yours, your hands fiddling with his belt; you brush your hand against his hardness, and your beloved has the audacity to snigger.

"Have patience, my love; it is yours, you know it, and you can have it any time you want."

You pout. "I want it now, Haldir..." you tell him, and he kisses you once more, and tells you to "Take it, then."

Getting undressed while one is laying is not easy, but finally your beloved is as naked as you are, his fair skin pressed against yours; you take his hardness in your hands as he moans, fondling and kissing it, and in the end he asks you to stop, because it is not on your hands that he wants to spill. You let him push you on your back, and a moment later Haldir's strong body is above you, his golden hair spilling all around him; you pass your fingers through it, mesmerized, and you brush them against your breasts, and there is something so alluring, so enticing in that sight, that when your eyes met his, you know that his desire has taken over - he cannot think clearly, he has forgotten everything that is not you, and what you share, and what he will feel once he is inside you. He is the most rigorous and even-tempered person you know, devoted to his duties and able to keep his composure in times of danger and hardship, but when he is with you... especially like this... it is as if another Elf takes his place, an Elf who would be ready to forget his responsiblities and his honour for the opportunity to lay between your thighs, once more.

It is beautiful, and terrifying; and it should be a source of pride for you, but instead it humbles you, and fills your heart with awe, because you feel the same. Haldir is your intended, your future husband, your lover, your best friend, and one day he will be the father of your children; you promised him, and you promised yourself, and you will do whatever you need to make that dream come true.

You have opened your legs for him, Haldir's fingers gently caressing them as you cross your ankles on his back, giving him full access; you have surrended yourself, offering your body and your soul and your love to the one you know deserve them and will always cherish them, and that is why you don't feel it as a loss. You moan as he lowers his mouth to suck on the side of your neck, murmuring your name as he would with that of Varda, and you groan when his fingers brush against your mound, eliciting a jolt of pleasure through your body. Please, you tell him, and you don't know whether you are actually articulating the words or just thinking them, your moans and sighs betraying your desires, please take me, I need it now, I need you...

And a moment later you have him, fully and perfectly like so many times before. You are clinging to his shoulders, his name blossoming again and again on your lips as a litany, as a prayer, as the sinuous movement of his hips makes stars explode behind your eyelids. He moans your name, fierce and greedy and so loving, and you could almost cry with emotion, were you not too busy simply feeling, and you love all of it - his love, his passion, his reverence, the promise you have shared years ago and that you renew every time, without the need for words.

The fire is burning inside and all around you; and it is the kind of flames you are happy to be consumed by.

*****

It is all your father's fault.

It is not nice to say, but it is true. Your current predicament, the need for secrecy and to meet on full moon nights, everything is due to the fact that your father didn't approve of Haldir as your intended, and he explicitly stated that he would never give his consent for you to marry. Not because he dislikes Haldir, or because he considers your beloved unable to take care of you and make you happy; the reason is way more personal.

Your father and his dearest friend have always planned to have their children marry, so as to unite their families in one. As fate would have it, your father's friend has a son who is exactly the same age as you -was it deliberate, a pact that they made and that also involved their wives? Two years ago you would have considered it absurd, but now you would not put it past him- which, in the two fathers' opinion, made things easier and ensured the continuation of both of their lineages.

You knew the pact with his friend was important for your father; you just hadn't realized the lenghts he would go to see his dream come true. His friend lived too far away to make frequent visits possible, and the few times you had met, his son seemed nice enough, a good company for a walk or to sit next to at dinner; you never talked about your fathers' plans, simply trying not to bore each other. Marriage prospects were the last thing on your mind, at least until you moved to Caras Galadhon to serve lady Galadriel, you met Haldir, and he stole your heart.

You never thought your father would oppose your relationship with Haldir; you only mentioned him in your letters as a friend, since you didn't want him and your mother to come and make sure his intentions were pure and serious -they were, obviously; but you didn't want your beloved to feel he had to prove himself- but you were sure that when they got to meet him, they would love him, just like you did.

They didn't. Well, he didn't; when you, radiant with joy, returned home with Haldir to introduce him to your parents and announce you were engaged, your mother was ready to welcome your beloved in the family within ten minutes after meeting him; your father, unfortunately, was a whole different matter.

"What? Surely you are joking. You cannot pledge to marry him; you are already engaged and you know it. I was going to write you about it next month: my friend and I decided it is time for the two of you to wed. His son was going to move with you in Caras Galadhon, but since I don't want you to be... distracted by your friend here, you better leave the service of the Lady and go live with him in his village. Now, do not argue with me; I am your father and I know what is best for you."

He clearly didn't, but try as you might you couldn't change his mind, or convince him to relent. Your father was determined to get his own way, no matter how much you cried -and it was a lot, so much that it filled you with shame, particularly because it was all in vain- argued, locked yourself up in your room and threatened to hurt yourself; he had decided to have you marry the son of his friend, and that he would do, even if it meant forbidding you to leave home until you relented. Poor Haldir had to return home alone, because your father forbade you to return even just to say goodbye to your friends; he was too honourable to challenge your father's authority under his roof, or to kidnap you from your home, and your mother begged you to obey your father as a good daughter should. You grudgingly did... but still, you were determined to marry your beloved, whatever the price.

Your only real ally in the family was your sister, who sympathized with your and your beloved's plight and promised to help; in front of your father she feigned disinterest in the whole matter, so as not to arouse suspicion, but secretly she was the one who sent your letters to Haldir and received his for you, pretending to be corrisponding with her friends in other villages.

Deciding what to do was painful, and at the same time surprisingly easy. You dearly loved your father, and since you were little you had only wanted to make him proud; likewise, Haldir respected him and only wanted to be accepted in your family. But since all your hopes had been dashed, you were only allowed to leave your home if escorted by one of your parents and he was struck in Caras Galadhon, there was only one thing you could do.

Elven marriages are usually conducted in front of families and friends, and include the exchange of rings and a blessing imposed by each pair of parents on their new child-in-law. On the other hand, your people's oldest tradition has it that the union of the bodies symbolizes the union of the soul, and that the birth of a child is enough to consider a couple married on a factual, and as a consequence formal, prospective, just as the first Elves who awoke at Cuiviénen wed each other. So, you agreed as the letters were sent and received between the city and your village, this is what you would do; you would get pregnant, and then your father would be forced to recognize your relationship, for the sake of his grandchild if not for yours... and because at that point his friend would hardly accept you in his family. And if your father decides to repudiate you, throwing you in the streets and forbidding you from ever returning... you will accept it. It would break your heart, because you love him, and your mother, and you never wished to cause a rift between you, but Haldir is the husband you have chosen, the other and the better part of you, and you are willing to sacrifice it all to be with him. You knew Lady Galadriel would welcome you back among her maidens, not caring about the shame you would have brought to your family, and you and your beloved would then marry and move to a talan of your own.

It would be a nice life; a perfect life, with your husband and the first of the many children you had already planned on having. And it will be, one day, hopefully soon. It was exactly thirteen moon cycles ago that, once more with the help of your sister, you ran away during the full moon to visit Haldir in Caras Galadhon, and even though this is supposed to be your most fertile period and you make at least two attempt per night his seed still hasn't taken root in your womb. You are sure, since it is known that Elf women are able to perceive a pregnancy as soon as it begins, the first tiny sparkle of life inside them making itself known not by voice or movement, but with a peculiar sensation that nothing else in Arda can compare with; a new entity making itself known to the world, too small and young to have a gender and an appearance and a personality, but that exists... and that would be enough to change your life forever.

You and your beloved are waiting for it; dreaming it; praying for it, even, although until now your efforts have been in vain. Laying with Haldir is lovely, passionate and sweet, and you would be more than happy to keep doing it every single night until the end of the world; to share his bed has allowed the two of you to reach a new level of intimacy, to experience each other as you had never done before. It is not that you love Haldir more now that you know the pleasure his body can give yours; you have found a new way to love him, in addition to those you already knew, which is different, and more precious. For him, you know, it is the same; he awaits your visits with trepidation, already happy and excited and looking forward for when you will be unclothed, in his arms, and moaning with his flesh in yours, but you know that he would be equally satisfied if you spent those nights walking in the woods, or sitting in front of the fire talking and exchanging stories.

You would never say that for more than a year you have wasted your time, especially since these are the only moments you are able to spend together, and you miss your beloved so much; but still... why haven't you gotten pregnant already?

*****

You sigh, happy and satisfied, as you turn on your back, sharing a smile with Haldir, panting by your side. "It was... it was absolutely..." you begin, but the words fail you, because even after a whole year, you cannot describe exactly how you feel, how he makes you feel, the joy and the pleasure you experience and that you know no one else could ever give you, because no one is like him, no one is him, and you are blessed to have met him, and earned his love.

"It was." Haldir agrees, as he once more takes you in his arms to hold you close; he kisses your brow "And it always will be, I promise."

You should leave soon, since you need to be at home before your parents awake and notice you are gone -and unfortunately your father is the earliest riser you know!- and you both know it, but you don't move, your cheek resting on Haldir's chest as his fingers gently run through your hair. You don't need to be as close as the two of you are to know the same thought is filling both of your minds, the same thought that has tormented you for a whole year now...

"Do you feel... something?" Haldir hesitantly asks in the end, and you sigh; he doesn't blame you, and the guilt and the disappointment weighting on your heart are probably even worse than what he feels, but still, in that moment, despite all the joy and the pleasure still warming your body, you feel so ashamed you cannot even look him in the eyes. You don't know exactly what you are waiting for since you have never been pregnant before, how it will feel to know that you have conceived, but of one thing you are sure: that right now, satisfied and happy and aching in the most pleasant way as you are, you feel exactly as before, exactly as you did at the end of the previous twelve attempts: empty.

You have failed. Again.

A sob escapes your lips, a sob that Haldir is too close not to hear, but you still try to hide your face against his shoulder. "I am sorry. Haldir, forgive me, I don't know what I am doing wrong..."

"No, no... It is not..."

"I started drinking a tea that is supposed to render a maiden more fertile, it tastes disgusting but I drink it every day, I swear, I don't know what else..."

There is no accusation or resentment in your beloved's bright blue eyes, only understanding and sadness, and that is enough to make you feel the worst Elf on Arda, undeserving of his love, undeserving of the joy of motherhood.

"Maybe the fault is mine." Haldir whispers in the end, his hand on your cheek "I know these things require time, and we have only one night every moon cycle to try, but if I were able to... if I had to rest less... maybe three times is not enough..."

"My darling, you have to rise at dawn to go on patrol; you need rest. What we do cannot hinder your duties as marchwarden."

"I know, I know..."

He looks so dejected, so guilty and disheartened, that you find yourself forgetting your sadness to try and alleviate his.

"Listen to me; we have no reason to feel guilty, since we are doing everything we can; as you said, it takes time to conceive a child, and we cannot let disappointment and bitterness make us forget how lucky we are. We love each other, and we are together, albeit just for a few hours; just for that, I am grateful."

"If we had a child, though, we could be together without having to hide." Haldir points out; but then he smiles "But you are right; we will keep trying for as long as we need to, and in the meantime we will enjoy the time we can spend together. I cannot wait to give you a child, to raise a family together... but I just need to be with you, and to know that you are mine, to be happy."

"I am, Haldir; and I always will be, I promise."

In the end you are forced to leave your beloved's bed and get dressed; Haldir needs all the rest he can get, but as always he rises with you to walk you to the gate. You don't talk as you leave the talan behind you, your hand in his, the quiet murmuring of the night holding you in a gentle embrace. You love moments like this, when words are not needed, a simple moment is a treasure, and every little gesture speaks about you. You would stay here for hours, just enjoying your beloved's company and the beauty of the night, but the full moon has already started his descend towards the horizon: it is time to go.

Rúmil and Orophin look at you expectantly as you reach the gate, but they are quick to pretend to be otherwise occupied when they notice the lack of joy and relief on your faces. You smile, and

"We will try once more." you tell them, as Haldir kisses your temple.

"We will try for as long as we need to."

You and your beloved say your goodbyes with a long hug, and a last kiss. "Be safe." he tells you, and you nod, too busy committing his face, his scent, the feel of his arms around you, to memory, to talk. A minute later you have passed the gate, alone once more but not lonely, disappointed but not sad; you had a night with him, and you will have another on the next full moon, and that is enough.

You wave your hand in farewell, and he responds in kind, before stepping away and letting the darkness of the night surround you.

TAGGING @starlady66 and @elvenenby. Hope you like this!

#The Lord of the Rings #The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings #The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers #Haldir of Lorien #Haldir #Craig Parker #Bellona's stuff

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bad-surprise · 1 year

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🌟

so i updated my haladriel textfic erase me today (part three is on twitter) and i’d love to talk about that.

This is the wikipedia page I made for Celeborn. I really wanted him to be a mashup of Jack Antonoff and FINNEAS, which is interesting bc I am a known Celeborn hater who likes both of these producers.

Some canon references are more obvious than others. His middle name comes from his canonical Quenya name. Galadhrim Music is a reference to the elves living in Lothlorien. I wanted to make this world bigger bc touring is a huge part of the story, so Beleriand still exists here. I decided to make the Doriath family a family of politicians and civil servants bc i wanted the sort of government/leadership/public service feel but without the ickiness of actually making him nobility (though I did decide that his ancestors should still be royal). His band, Hidden Kingdom, is of course a reference to Doriath itself, and their album, The Fall, is a reference to the sacking of Menegroth.

Almost everything about Hidden Kingdom was taken from Jack Antonoff. He had a punk rock band in high school that toured using a DIY booking guide and played in anarchist bookstores. The approach to writing is heavily influenced by FINNEAS’ comments about how he writes songs for his sister, Billie Eilish, and how his acting experience helps with that.

A little easter egg here that you might catch later on in this part of the fic is that Amroth Lorien is the frontman of the supergroup Tevildo that Halbrand and Galadriel are both members of. You can expect to see a lot more about Tevildo in Part Four, but if it isn’t obvious, they are essentially intended to be the Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene.

More easter eggs with Erase Me:

- Both Hal and Gal are openly bisexual characters here. They also are not strictly monogamous sexually, which is not a big deal here but referenced occasionally— particularly in the phone call in Part Three between H + G where it’s implied that they have history with the Loriens.

- The Soundtrack podcast was inspired by a podcast episode I heard that was a conversation between Stevie Nicks and Matty Healy. I also wanted the vibe to be very Actors on Actors. We’ll see if Galadriel makes an appearance on it in the future.

- Gal has ADHD, but I’ve never directly referenced this.

- Whispers From The Void = Crazy Days and Nights. The individual posting goes by K, any guesses as to who that is?

- Elrond is not just a music video director but a successful feature film director as well.

- Nothing is happening between Nori and Isildur, I just love fuckboy Isildur vibes.

- G’s solo music is a cross between Eloise’s album Drunk On A Flight (which is referenced frequently throughout the fic) and Phoebe Bridgers. I really imagine the stuff she’s working on now as very similar to the song Drunk On A Flight by Eloise and Moon Song by Phoebe Bridgers.

- The Dagorath Tour is partially inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

- The controversy re: G’s drumming is a reference to Meg White of The White Stripes.

- G does actually DJ as well, but more so just for fun. I imagine her as the sort of person who seems to be able to name any song three seconds into the intro.

- H is the more “serious” musician in terms of what he’ll listen to, but his formal education is lacking compared to G’s.

- “Light” is intended to be a sort of cross between Perth by Bon Iver, Something by The Beatles, and Guiding Light by Foy Vance, in terms of vibes, not necessarily sound.

- Lindalë’s sound is inspired by Silversun Pickups, Metric, The Strokes, Oh Wonder, Better Oblivion Community Center, and Arcade Fire, but with a lot of diverse influences (prog, punk, hip-hop, jazz, lounge) and they’re a little nerdy musically. They are getting into heated arguments over time signature shifts and they will defend their overuse of seventh chords to the death.

- I imagine a favorite album of G’s being Escalator Over The Hill by Carla Bley & The Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, but she also would love Ctrl by SZA, Led Zeppelin IV, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West (though she wouldn’t listen to that anymore bc of him being awful).

- H’s music in my head I imagine as a cross between Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice, Ray LaMontagne, Iron & Wine, and Conor Oberst, with a splash of Big Thief in there. His favorite album would probably be something like Grace by Jeff Buckley or Norman Fucking Rockwell by Lana Del Rey, but he also probably loves OK Computer and In Rainbows by Radiohead and Actor by St. Vincent.

- There’s a bit where they talk on Moria Music about playing with Tevildo and that is almost entirely inspired by a video of Broken Social Scene performing Anthems for a 17 Year Old Girl where Emily Haines says “I missed my friends” at the end. I also reference that line in an instagram caption of Celeborn’s.

- They are big into psychedelics and also regularly take MDMA together.

- Galadriel has threatened divorce many times but this is the first time she’s ever actually gone ahead with it.

- Nori is constantly looking for a new job but never actually takes anything bc she feels very loyal to H + G, even though she’s overworked and underpaid lol. She is not their first assistant, but most quit pretty fast.

- Hal has a Google alert set up for G.

- The divorce announcement was inspired by a number of celebrity divorce announcements, but none quite so much as the infamous Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin conscious uncoupling. Others include Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner and David Arquette & Courteney Cox — I just swapped out the band for references to their kids lol.

- The song “Palantír” is somewhat inspired by Cannibal by Marcus Mumford

That was a lot but I hope it was somewhat enjoyable?

#erasemefic #haladriel #haladriel textfic #my fics

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aeonianarchives · 2 years

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Hello mellon nin!! I found one for you!

I'll copy and paste and change around a few things— sometimes these screenshots are a pain

Haldir and you in a banquet hosted by Lady Galadriel it's like a ball kind of one and you ask Haldir for a dance with you

Just imagine flustered Haldir not knowing how to refuse you and at the same time wanting to refuse because he doesn't know how to dance. So the both of you escape the eyes of others and reader teach him to dance and eventually he learns then leads the reader into a dance?

A Private Dance of Romance

A/n: Thank you mellon nin for the Haldir Imagine

Summary: Haldir and you in a banquet hosted by Lady Galadriel it's like a ball kind of one and you ask Haldir for a dance with you

The Marchwarden Patrols grew tighter as Lady Galadriel was hosting a banquet, It was known by the greenwood elves as the feast of starlight but it actually happened to be a coincidence.

You came with Lord Elrond, you happened to be one of his guardian's as much as you were there to work, Elrond wanted you to enjoy yourself he had voiced that to both you, Lindir and Erestor on the way as all three of you took your work way to seriously and you all tended to over work yourselves.

A knock came on the door to the Talan you were staying in with Lindir and Erestor, you opened it to see Haldir, he was holding fabric in his hands, it was blue with silver accents.

"My Lady" Haldir greeted you stepped out the way letting the marchwarden in.

"Lindir and Erestor are with Lord Elrond at the moment" you said

"I thought you would be with your Lord as well" Haldir said setting down the pile on a table and sitting down as you took a seat opposite

"It is Gildor's shift at the moment, during the banquet it is mine" You said

"Speaking about the Banquet, Lady Galadriel wanted me to deliver these clothes for you with the note from her" Haldir said

"I thought you were a marchwarden not a messenger" you said

"I am not on Patrol so count me as a messenger" Haldir said as you opened the note you groaned reading it Haldir raised an eyebrow.

"I have to wear this instead of my tunic and trousers i brought" You groaned

"welcome to the fate of the Galadhrim at banquets" Haldir said standing

"I will see you tonight i will not impose on you any further" Haldir said nodding to you and leaving.

It was not long until the banquet started, you smoothed down the dress Lady Galadriel ordered you to wear and knocked on Lord Elrond's Talan the Lord opened the door

"Are you ready to go to the banquet" you asked, Elrond blinked in disbelief you were wearing a dress instead of robes or your tunic.

"I was ordered to" You returned

"All I have to do is order you to wear it" Elrond said you nodded the Lord stepped out and closed the door, you followed him before he reached the entrance of the banquet and turned to you

"Give me the knife" you sighed but did as he said

"Thats one of many you won't get them all" you said as you handed him the one which held your hair up as you followed him in

"Enjoy yourself, you maybe on duty but still enjoy your time here" Elrond said catching how looked at Haldir

"Join him, i'm sure he won't mind the company" Elrond said nudging you towards the marchwarden you however stuck with Erestor making Elrond sigh, you soon made your way to Haldir.

"Would you Like to dance" You questioned the marchwarden for a dance he stayed silent for a while you saw his ears go pink he eventually agreed

"I am afraid I do not know how to dance" Haldir said

"I could teach you" you offered Haldir nodded

"Only if it is in private" Haldir said you took his hand in yours and you both left without being spotted, Haldir lead you away from the banquet, as you walked you heard the music dying as you got further away, you came to a clearing, Haldir span around and took your other hand.

"We should not have any interruptions here" Haldir said you guided on of Haldir's hands to your waist and you put one of your arms around his neck you put your other hand outwards Haldir got the cue to hold it you stepped closer to him.

"Step your opposite foot to mine back" you said your foot followed

"Now the other" he did it again and you followed

"Now side step towards are arms" You said he did and you did it the same time you noticed how haldir was looking at your feet

"Step forward" you said you stepped backwards as soon as he step forward, you span both him and you around Haldir very ungracefully stumbled but you caught him before he fell to the floor you mini private lesson lasted a bit more time before you let Haldir lead

"Haldir look at me, you don't look at your feet when you dance" the Marchwarden did

"I do not wish to step on your foot" Haldir said

"I've had worse than someone standing on my foot Haldir, It's fine" you said the marchwarden recently did so.

"Haldir your a natural" you said

"I have a good teacher" Haldir said you smiled, you rested your head on Haldir's chest the marchwarden froze for a second but contuied to lead the dance

"If I may who taught you how to dance" Haldir questioned

"Aran Thranduil did, he's a good teacher if you would believe it, and i was terrible i kept on stepping on his foot" you returned

"Why did he teach you" Haldir asked

"Elrond got invited to one of his parties, he caught word i couldn't dance so he for some reason took it within his duty to teach me" you said

"I would always think Thranduil would be mad if someone stepped on his foot by accident" Haldir said you both heard the music fade into another song, you stepped back

"Normally at song changes you swap partners we should get back" Haldir nodded and lead you back.

#haldir x reader #haldir of lorien #haldir of lothlorien #haldir #lotr #lord of the rings #elves #tolkien #middle earth #the hobbit #jrr tolkien #elves of imladris #elves of lothlorien #lothlorien #middle earth x reader #tolkien x reader #tolkein #tolkien elves

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samsanglebuc · 1 year

Text

Blessures d'amour

IL EST DES BLESSURES QUE L’ON NE PEUT ENTIÈREMENT GUÉRIR [SdA L6, VII]

Gimli

Gimli pleurait ouvertement. - Mon dernier regard a été pour ce qui était le plus beau, dit-il à son compagnon Legolas. Désormais, je ne qualifierai plus rien de beau, si ce n'est son cadeau. Il porta la main à sa poitrine. - Dites-moi, Legolas, pourquoi me suis-je joint à cette Quête? Je ne savais guère où gisait le principal danger ! Elrond disait vrai quand il déclarait que nous ne pouvions prévoir ce que nous trouverions sur notre route. Le danger que je redoutais était le tourment dans les ténèbres, et il ne m'a pas retenu. Mais je ne serais pas venu si j'avais connu celui de la lumière et de la joie. J'ai maintenant reçu ma pire blessure dans ce départ, dusse-je même aller cette nuit droit au Seigneur Ténébreux. Hélas pour Gimli fils de Gloïn ! [SdA L2, VIII]

Caradhras le Cruel se fit tant menaçant

Que Gimli le Nain dut détourner son chemin.

D'affronter en Moria la Ténèbre est il temps ?

Quand son guide l'on perd en un gouffre lointain ?

Et maintenant nous devons pénétrer dans le Bois d'Or, dites-vous. Mais nous avons entendu parler de cette terre périlleuse en Gondor, et l'on dit que peu de ceux qui y entrent en ressortent, et de ceux là, aucun ne s'est échappé indemne. [SdA L2, VI]

Quand dans les montagnes les Nains éveillèrent le mal

La douleur frappa alors la Lórien des Fleurs

Nul nain en Lothlórien quand bien soit il loyal

Car aux jours sombres ils apportèrent le malheur

Et quel cadeau un Nain demanderait-il aux Elfes? demanda Galadriel, se tournant vers Gimli. - Aucun, Madame, répondit Gimli. Il me suffit d'avoir vu la Dame des Galadhrim et d'avoir entendu ses douces paroles. [SdA L2, VIII]

Oh oui sombre est l'eau du Kheled-Zâram

Froides les sources du Kibilnâla,

En la Moria, à Khazad-Dûm !

Des salles de pierre aux mille pilliers

Pour un roi sur son trône ciselé

En la Moria, à Khazad-Dûm !

Aux jours anciens avant des rois la chute

Quand se turent marteau harpiste et luth.

Je ne désire rien, Dame Galadriel, dit Gimli, s'inclinant profondément et balbutiant. Rien, sauf Peut-être s'il m'est permis de demander, que dis-je, de nommer un seul fil de vos cheveux, qui surpassent l'or de la terre comme les étoiles surpassent les gemmes de la mine. Je ne demande pas un tel don. Mais vous m'avez ordonné de nommer mon désir [SdA L2, VIII]

Montés dans un cristal, trois de vos cheveux d'or

En mémoire de ce que vous me dîtes alors

Seront le gage d'amitié dès maintenant

Que je voudrais chérir jusqu'à la fin des temps

Mais si l'espoir n'avorte pas, je vous le dis, Gimli fils de Gloïn, vos mains déborderont d'or, et pourtant l'or n'aura aucune prise sur vous. [SdA L2, VIII]

Quand je serais comme Dain fabuleusement riche,(1)

Je garderai le souvenir de Sa Beauté.

Si je pouvais comme Bombur ne jamais manger chiche,(2)

Rien ne surpasserait le souvenir de Sa Beauté.

La nuque roide et je me dresse, grandi par mon orgueil,(3)

Je ne veux rien d'autre que le souvenir de Sa Beauté.

Des Grottes Scintillantes peut se régaler mon oeil,(4)

Mais je n'ai plus que le souvenir de Sa Beauté.

J'étais serviteur de Galadriel, qui est partie

J'étais ami de Legolas, mais il se lassa

J'étais Ami des Elfes, qui ne sont plus.(5)

(1) Il fut toutefois intéressé d'apprendre que Dain était toujours Roi sous la Montagne, qu'il était maintenant vieux (ayant passé sa deux cent cinquantième année), vénérable et fabuleusement riche.[SdA L2, I]

(2) Ce dernier était maintenant si gros qu'il ne pouvait plus se mouvoir de son lit à la table et qu'il fallait six jeunes nains pour le soulever.[SdA L2, I]

(3)La peste soit des Nains et de leur nuque roide! Dit Legolas. [SdA L2, VI]

(4)Après la chute de Sauron, Gimli conduisit au sud une partie du peuple des Nains d’Erebor, et là-bas devint Seigneur des Grottes Scintillantes. [SdA App A III]

(5)Bien connu était Gimli, le fils de Glóin, [...] Il fut réputé Ami des Elfes, en raison de la tendre amitié qui existait entre lui et Legolas, le fils du Roi Thranduil, et de sa révérente admiration pour la Dame Galadriel.[SdA app A, III]

IL EST DES BLESSURES QUE L’ON NE PEUT ENTIÈREMENT GUÉRIR [SdA L6, VII]

Bilbo

Pendant de trop longues années, Bilbo a été blessé, petit à petit par l'Anneau.

« Mais je me sens tout maigre, détiré en quelque sorte, si vous voyez ce que je veux dire: Comme du beurre qu'on a gratté sur une trop grande tartine. »(1)

Sa force intérieure, sa nature ne sont pas adaptées à cette charge.

« L'anneau est à moi je vous dis. A moi personnellement. Mon trésor, oui, mon trésor. »(1)

Insidieusement le Mal agi, comme il l'a déjà fait pour Gollum.

« Chaque mot que vous prononcez le montre clairement. L'anneau a une bien trop grande prise sur vous. Abandonnez-le! »(1)

Mais même après l'avoir abandonné, volontairement bien qu'avec l'aide précieuse de son ami Gandalf, il reste encore une « marque noire »(2) en Bilbo, que seul le séjour en Aman pourra guérir(3).

Mais il est une autre blessure qui se cache derrière celle infligée par les Ténèbres. Une blessure sans laquelle Bilbo n'aurait jamais été capable de prendre un chemin d'ombres, qui le conduirait un jour à apparaître aux yeux de son cher neveu comme « un petit être ridé, au visage avide, qui tendait des mains osseuses et tâtonnantes »(4), cambrioleur cherchant à lui dérober l'Anneau.

Cette blessure, c'est celle de l'Aventure, de l'appel de Faërie.

La vie de Bilbo se serait elle réalisée totalement sans qu'il fasse l'expérience de la "pure Elfitude" et qu'il ait la possibilité d'entendre les légendes et les histoires complètes dont les fragments l'avaient tellement enchanté ?(5)

Et Bilbo ne s'était jamais marié, car il voulait être libre de partir lorsque surviendrait la chance, ou lorsqu'il aurait rassemblé son courage.(6)

(1) [SdA L1, I]

(2) Bilbo est parti également. Sans aucun doute, pour achever le plan dû à Gandalf en personne. Celui-ci avait une grande affection pour Bilbo, remontant à l'enfance du Hobbit. Sa compagnie était vraiment nécessaire au bien-être de Frodo – il est difficile d'imaginer un Hobbit, même passé par les expériences qu'avait connues Frodo, être vraiment heureux même dans un paradis terrestre sans un compagnon de sa propre espèce, et Bilbo était la personne que Frodo aimait le plus. Mais Bilbo avait également besoin de cette faveur, et il la méritait pour lui-même. Il portait encore la marque de l'Anneau, qui avait besoin d'être définitivement enlevée: un reste d'orgueil, et de possessivité. Bien sûr il était âgé et son esprit un peu confus, mais c'est encore un signe de la "marque noire" lorsqu'il demande à Fondcombe: "qu'est-il advenu de mon anneau, que tu avais emporté, Frodo ?"; et lorsqu'on lui rappelle ce qui s'est passé, sa réponse spontanée est:"Quel dommage ! [...] J'aurais aimé le revoir." [L246]

(3)Toutefois, dans cette histoire, on suppose qu'il peut y avoir quelques rares exceptions ou aménagements (supposition légitime ? Il semble toujours y avoir des exceptions) ; certains "mortels", qui ont joué un grand rôle dans les affaires elfiques, peuvent donc passer avec les Elfes au pays des Elfes.[L154]

Quant à Frodo et autres mortels, ils ne pouvaient résider en Aman que pour une période limitée – qu'elle soit brève ou longue. Les Valar n'avaient ni le pouvoir ni le droit de leur conférer "l'immortalité". Leur séjour était un "purgatoire", mais de paix et de guérison, et ils finiraient par partir (mourir de leur propre libre arbitre et désir) vers une destination dont les elfes ne savaient rien. [L325]

(4) [SdA L2, II]

(5) [L246]

J'appris qu'il ne s'était jamais marié. Je trouvais ça curieux, bien que je crusse comprendre pourquoi ; et la raison que je soupçonnais n'était pas celle que me fournirent la plupart des Hobbits: qu'il s'était trouvé tout jeune à la tête d'une grande fortune, et son propre maître. Non, je devinais qu'il avait voulu demeurer "libre" pour une autre raison, bien plus profonde et qui lui était propre, une raison qu'il ne comprenait pas lui même – ou se refusait à reconnaître, car elle l'effrayait. Il voulait cependant être libre de partir lorsque surviendrait la chance, ou lorsqu'il aurait rassemblé son courage. Je me souvenais comme il me harcelait de questions lorsqu'il était gamin, sur les Hobbits qui un beau jour "s'en étaient allés", comme on disait dans la Comté. Deux, au moins, de ses oncles du côté Took, l'avaient fait. [CLI 3A, III]

IL EST DES BLESSURES QUE L’ON NE PEUT ENTIÈREMENT GUÉRIR [SdA L6, VII]

Frodo

Enfant, je m'émerveillais des légendes elfiques que nous racontait oncle Bilbo. Il était parti à l'Aventure, franchissant les montagnes, affrontant les dragons et ramenant des trésors. Je l'aurais bien suivi quand il partit de nouveau, me laissant seul avec l'Anneau.

Partirais-je un jour, moi aussi ?

Quels sont ces espaces blancs au delà des frontières sur les cartes de la Comté ?

Et quelle est donc cette inquiétude qui habite les étrangers qui vont et traversent la Comté ?

Les Elfes que j'ai rencontré s'en vont vers la mer ; mais où naviguent ils ?

Mais je ne suis pas parti. J'ai fui, emmenant l'Anneau.

Je fut poursuivi par les Cavaliers Noirs et un arbre aux racines de colère a tenté de me noyer.

Tom ! Qu'as tu fait de mon Anneau ?

Belle dame Baie d'Or ! O toi, roseau pris du vivant étang ! Charme merveilleux mais point étrange.

Vous les Elfes dont le charme aigu et sublime perce mon cœur ! Lórien, foulerais-je de nouveau tes vertes pelouses ?

J’ai été blessé par poignard, piqûre et dent, et par un long fardeau. Où trouverai-je le repos ?

L’attrapant par la barbe, Baie d'Or attira le Vieux Tom en sa demeure,

Et Grands-Pas fut tout à la nuit étoilée d'Arwen.

Qui me retiendra ?

Riante vallée de la Comté ; tu fut sauvée, mais pas pour moi.

J'ai été le M. Baggins de Cul-de-sac, et quelques instants je revendiquais mien le Précieux Anneau ;

mais il a disparu à jamais, et maintenant tout est sombre et vide.

Frodo fut envoyé, ou autorisé à passer la Mer pour être soigné – si cela était possible, avant sa mort. Il devait finalement "partir": aucun mortel ne pouvait, ou ne peut, résider sur terre pour toujours, ou dans le Temps. Sa traversée était donc à la fois un purgatoire et une récompense, pour un temps: une période de réflexion et de paix, et pour acquérir une compréhension plus exacte de sa situation dans le mesquin et le grandiose, période toujours passée dans le Temps au milieu de la beauté naturelle d'"Arda Immarie", la Terre qui n'a pas été souillée par le Mal. [L246]

IL EST DES BLESSURES QUE L’ON NE PEUT ENTIÈREMENT GUÉRIR [SdA L6, VII]

Laurent

Je m'en souviens, un mardi. Je découvre alors une assemblée circulaire, dans une quelconque salle polyvalente. Des visages rayonnants, jeunes et vieux chantant dans un débordement de joie,(1) comme si c'était plus simple et naturel que de parler.(2) Et quand les mots ne suffisaient plus, montaient en gémissements inexprimables des chants en langue.(3) Pouvais tu savoir, chère amie de mes parents, femme de lettres et de savoir, le bien que tu me ferais pour toujours avec « l'Enfant qui disait n'importe quoi » ?(4) Je me mis aussitôt à chanter, goûtant comme jamais encore à ce qui unit et élève tous les hommes.(5) Et le Maître de la maison ne tarderait pas.(6)

Depuis quelques mois j'étais sous un charme profond et proche de mon cœur de mortel, merveilleux sans être étrange, d'une vie en-chantée.(7) La religion formelle m'intéressait fort peu ; quand vint La Rencontre. Source de ma Joie, me voici l'épousée. Bien que rien n'ai paru changer, plus rien ne serait comme avant. Je vivais, mais j'ai rencontré la Vie ; aimé de mes parents, j'aimerai femme et enfants, et pourtant : me voici devant cette Personne, Debout, Vivante, qui m'aime d'un amour absolu, infini. Alors je T'aime en retour, mais d'un amour qui ne trouvera sa plénitude qu'au bout de mon pèlerinage sur la terre.

« Hélas ! il est des blessures que l’on ne peut entièrement guérir » [SdA L6, VII]

Je T'aime si peu, si mal, d'un amour marqué par l'égoïsme, l'orgueil, l'inconstance. Quand T'aimerais-je totalement, parfaitement ? Quand donc l'humanité entière sera-t-elle unie à Toi, comblée de Ta tendresse et ravie de Ta Beauté ?

Alors chaque jour qui passe et je meurs de ce que je ne meurs pas.(8) Car en mourant, à la Fin ou chaque jour je peux tout donner, tout me donner à Toi.

Suis je plus digne du Ciel que de la terre,(9) au point d'être emporté par un char de feu comme Élie ?(10)

Comme j'aimerais danser à moitié nu comme David, devant l'Arche et sous la fenêtre de Mikal !(11)

Mais alors que les étoiles fleurirent dans le ciel, j'épousai la vie, car la nuit aussi sera belle et bénie.(12)

(1) Jeunes et vieux se réjouiront ensemble [Jr 31, 13]

(2) Les convives s'aperçurent soudain qu'ils chantaient gaiement, comme si ce fut plus facile et plus naturel que de parler. [SdA L1, VII]

(3) Bien plus, l’Esprit Saint vient au secours de notre faiblesse, car nous ne savons pas prier comme il faut. L’Esprit lui-même intercède pour nous par des gémissements inexprimables. [Rm 8, 26]

Il s'arrêta soudain et se mit à bégayer, succombant à la surprise de s'entendre prononcer pareilles choses. [SdA L1, VII]

(4) « L'Enfant qui disait n'importe quoi » d'André Dhôtel

(5) Lors d'une surprenante rencontre avec un membre du groupe Noir Désir, nous nous sommes entendu, lui le « rockeur pur et dur » et moi le « catho mystique moine marié », sur le fait que le chant est ce qui transcende l'Homme.

(6) Voici une heureuse réunion! Prenez place et attendez le Maître de la maison! Il ne tardera pas.[SdA L1, VII]

(7) Dit enfin Frodo, le cœur gonflé d'une joie qu'il ne comprenait pas. II se tenait là, comme il lui était arrivé parfois de rester, enchanté par de belles voix elfiques, mais le charme sous lequel il se trouvait à présent était différent: le plaisir était moins aigu et moins sublime, mais plus profond et plus proche d'un cœur de mortel, merveilleux et pourtant point étrange [SdA L1, VII]

(8) Ste Thérèse d'Avila

(9) Ste Thérèse de Lisieux, parlant de ses parents

(10) Ils étaient en train de marcher tout en parlant lorsqu’un char de feu, avec des chevaux de feu, les sépara. Alors, Élie monta au ciel dans un ouragan. [2R2, 11]

(11) David, vêtu d’un pagne de lin, dansait devant le Seigneur, en tournoyant de toutes ses forces. David et tout le peuple d’Israël firent monter l’arche du Seigneur parmi les ovations, au son du cor.Or, comme l’arche du Seigneur entrait dans la Cité de David, Mikal, fille de Saül, se pencha par la fenêtre : elle vit le roi David qui sautait et tournoyait devant le Seigneur. Dans son cœur, elle le méprisa. [2Sa 6, 14]

(12) Et Frodon, la voyant approcher, rayonnante dans le soir avec des étoiles au front et environnée d’une douce fragrance, fut grandement émerveillé, et il dit à Gandalf : « Je comprends enfin la raison de votre attente ! Ceci est l’achèvement. Dorénavant, ce ne sera pas seulement le jour qui sera aimé, mais la nuit aussi sera belle et bénie, et toute peur en sera bannie ! » [SdA L6, V]

#lotr frodo #lotr gimli #bilbo baggins #tolkien #mystique

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tanoraqui · 2 years

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Outline of a Guide to the Lord of the Rings Movies if you Can't Watch Them With a Books Fan (Chronological Order)

Before we start: quick primer on the existential difference between Men (gender-neutral) and Elves (also gender-neutral, I suppose); VERY simplified rundown of the difference between Valar, Maiar, and etc. races.

Leaving the Shire: this is actually pretty smoothly adapted BUT in the books it all happens over a much longer period of time and Sam, Merry, Pippin, and another hobbit named "Fatty" Bolger all put together Frodo's actual plan (leaving the Shire) and the gist of his mission (the danger of the Ring) and inform him that except for Fatty, they're coming too. The scene where they tell him this is hilarious.

Wizard Fight: this is not how wizards fight

Nobody minds that they left this out but FYI for worldbuilding: the Barrowdowns, Tom Bombadil (GALOSHES!; swords of Westernesse for the hobbits)

Arwen vs. Glorfindel (we actually do support Arwen)

Council of Elrond: actually Sam was noticed halfway through and they just let him stay because he refused to leave; stubborn icons only

Everyone Elrond Loves Not Just Dies but Actively Chooses To Leave Him: A Tragedy in Three Ages (but still this characterization is bad)

Corrollary: Aragorn Had No Hesitation Toward Kingship

Saruman's Storm: this also is far too explicit magic, but it fucks so I'll allow it

Moria: that's Balin from The Hobbit! Also several other dwarves from The Hobbit! If you didn't yet, this is where you're supposed to realize that this will not be an overall happy romp like Bilbo's book

[Optional: The Creation of Dwarves (And Ents BTW)]

The Origin of Balrogs (ft. reprise of What Are Maiar (and Istari))

Why Galadriel's Gift to Gimli Makes Me Shriek Softly: a frantic attempt to explain the entirety of The Silmarillion as fast as physically possible before I'm cut off by loving but tired friends

Aragorn Had No Hesitation Toward Kingship (Reprise: And Boromir's Death Scene Does ALL the Work In It) [delivered through tears] [can be delivered after the movie ends]

[break for snacks]

Geopolitics are More Complex: Saruman is properly his own faction, not subservient to Mordor, and also Gondor has fiefs and allied states.

Brief primer on the historical difference between Men of Rohan and Gondor, and why this matters thematically

Viggo Mortensen's Toe

[Reminder: Ents and Dwarves, Yavanna and Aulë]

Treebeard is based on CS Lewis, bc Tolkien liked trolling his friends

The flag just happened to blow off right then! Movie MAGIC!

Again, this wizard magic is far too dramatic

This orcs&wargs fight didn't happen in the books either but whatever

FARAMIR IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS

Elrond Deserves Better (In Multiple Ways) (Reprise) and Geopolitics are More Complex (Dunedain, Not Galadhrim, in Helm's Deep Reprise) [can be delivered after the movie ends]

FARAMIR IS STILL MUCH BETTER THAN THIS (Osgiliath Remix)

[break for snacks, maybe a short walk]

Saruman didn't die here, nor did Wormtongue, but we'll get back to that later

Faramir is being alright now; I'm just still angry about how he is in the 2nd movie

Gollum didn't frame Sam to separate them like this in the books but whatever. Frodo's projection and deteriorating mental state and Sam's caring incomprehension are compelling

Pippin got shown around Minas Tirith by a ten-year-old, casually downplayed the fact that he is the closest thing the Shire has to real aristocracy, and it was great

Tired reminder that neither Elrond Nor Aragorn Should Need These Character Arcs

Gandalf Knocking Out Denethor: It's Funny Because He's Probably Not Supposed To Do That

The terrifying, despair-inducing screams of the Nazgul and their mounts maybe-not-deliberately evoke Luftwaffen shrieks and air raid sirens!

ARAGORN ARRIVES WITH THE LIVING, NOT THE DEAD. He only leads the dead to take the ships; he sails them and arrives at Minas Tirith with a small army gathered from the no-longer-corsair-besieged southern fiefs, as well as the Dunedain (his people! including Elrond's sons!) who've been with him since Helm's Deep [optional: reading aloud this passage in the book, bc it's Epic]

The books make it explicit over and over that Isildur's heir will be known not just by sword or countenance but by having "THE HANDS OF A HEALER", and this is where it culminates

[Optional: quick discussion of Eowyn and feminism, ft. the themes of the work, the general presence of women in the work, etc]

Tolkien specifically described Sam defending Frodo from Shelob as "No onslaught more fierce was ever seen in the savage world of beasts; where some desperate small creature armed with little teeth alone, will spring upon a tower of horn and hide that stands above its fallen mate"!

Sam took the Ring, Sting, and Galadriel's star-glass and accidentally convinced all the orcs that he was some great and terrible Elven warrior

Orcs WERE Whipped (And Haradrim Have Loved Ones): Tolkien was deliberately writing about he horrors of fighting a faceless enemy, a la his days in the trenches, but didn't say the average soldier had no face, merely that our heroes cannot see them

Only Pippin went to the Battle at the Black Gates; Merry was still recovering from hamstringing the Witch-King

The giant eagles are servants of Manwë, king of the Valar, and so basically the most official divine intervention one can get

Needless to say, Eowyn and Faramir's Recovery Romance was more than 1 scene in the books

The Scouring of the Shire

This Wasn't Actually The LAST Ship: Sam; Legolas&Gimli; other Fellowship deaths; other elven (and half-elven) characters

"Into The West" was inspired by a young filmmaker who died of cancer!

#lotr #lord of the rings #i wrote this instead of working yes #feel free to point out if i missed anything it's vitally important to pause the movies to explain to ones trapped friends #this is 50% callout post for myself and every other slightly feral book fan #50% genuine admonishment and lesson unto the world

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warrioreowynofrohan · 4 years

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Lord of the Rings Character Thoughts - Gimli

Taking a closer look at Gimli’s characterization and character arc between Rivendell and Lothlórien, what stands out is how strongly it is defined by defensiveness. Gimli’s aware that elves - certainly the wood-elves, who live nearest to Erebor - mistrust dwarves. He is completely unwilling for his people to be seen as less trustworthy, moral, admirable, or knowledgeable than elves are. This comes up in all his arguements with elves, but there are signs of it even before his early exchanges of Legolas. Gimli, notably, is the one who debates with Elrond over oaths when the Company are setting off, whereas many people would be shy of openly arguing with an elven-lord who’s specifically renowned for his knowledge and wisdom.

Their first disagreement between Gimli and Legolas starts up when Gandalf mentions that in Eregion there was friendship between dwarves and elves.

“It was not the fault of the Dwarves that the friendship waned,” said Gimli.

“I have not heard it was the fault of the Elves,” said Legolas.

“I have heard both,” said Gandalf, “and I will not give judgement now. But I beg you two, Legolas and Gimli, at least to be friends and to help me. I need you both.”

(I find this first exchange quite ridiculous - as does Gandalf, clearly. They’re arguing about why their people aren’t friends! If you both recognize that’s an undesirable state of affairs, then just be friends! Which is basically what Gandalf says.)

The second exchange, outside Lothlórien, is similar in its dynamic, when Legolas is telling the story of Nimrodel:

“[The song of Nimrodel] is long and sad, for it tells how sorrow came upon Lothlórien, Lórien of the Blossom, when the Dwarves awakened evil in the mountains.”

“But the Dwarves did not make the evil,” said Gimli.

“I said not so; yet evil came,” answered Legolas sadly.

Both of these interactions are characterized by Gimli’s defensiveness - any time there’s something like even an implicit criticism of dwarven actions, he jumps in. This defensiveness shows up much more strongly in Lothlórien, when the elves insist he be blindfolded: “I will go forward free, or I will go back and seek my own land, where I am known to be true of word, though I perish alone in the wilderness.”

(Legolas, for his part, seems to be actively endeavouring to avoid an argument in both cases. In the first exchange, he says “I have not heard it was the fault of the Elves,” presenting it as a description of his own limited knowledge rather than a statement of fact. In the second one, he avoids arguing and switches to a neutral, non-dwarf-related statement when Gimli objects. I also noticed that it’s Legolas who drags Gimli away from Balin’s tomb in Moria, after the battle. He seems to be trying to heed Gandalf’s urging that the two of them be friends. This makes me think that Legolas does not have any personal animus against dwarves, or dislike of Gimli; what he does have are unthinking biases from growing up in a culture that’s hostile to them, and that’s what comes out under stress during the argument over blindfolds in Lothlórien. I do love the way Aragorn calls him on his racial generalizations, btw.)

Gimli’s defensiveness is the reason why Galadriel’s words are so transformative to both his attitude and to his friendship with Legolas. In the throne room of Caras Galadhon, Gimli is for the first time in a situation that is too overwhelming and intimidating for him to stand up for dwarves, even when he is offended:

“Alas!” said Celeborn. “We have long feared under Caradhras a terror slept. But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again, I would have forbidden you to pass the nirthern borders, you and all that went with you. And if it were possible, one would say that Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria.”

“He would be rash indeed that said that thing,” said Galadriel gravely. “Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. Those that followed him knew not his mind and cannot report his full purpose. But however it may be with the guide, the followers are blameness. Do not repent of ypur welcome to the Dwarf. If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlórien, who of the Galadhrim, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons?

“Dark is the water of Kheled-zâram, and cold are the springs of Kibil-nâla, and fair were the many-pillared halls of Khazad-dûm in Elder Days before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone.” She looked upon Gimli, who sat glowering and sad, and she smiled. And the Dwarf, hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue, looked up and met her eyes; and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding. Wonder came i to his face, and then he smiled in answer.

He rose clumsily and bowed in dwarf-fashion, saying: “Yet more fair is the living land of Lórien, and the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewels that lie beneath the earth!”

There are several things that stand out here. First, Gimli does not respond to Celeborn’s remark about the dwarves stirring up evil - the first time he hasn’t responded to a comment of that sort about dwarves. Both the surroundings and the company are overwhelming, and on top of that, Gandalf is dead as a result of the balrog being awakened and he may feel unable - emotionally or factual - to dispute Celeborn’s casting of blame for that on the dwarves of Moria. He’s “glowering and sad”, but he can’t manage to muster a defense.

Galadriel’s words are important because they offer both empathy and respect: she expresses that elves would do the same as dwarves in the same circumstances, countering the idea that the dwarves and somehow uniquely wrongheaded in wanting to return to Moria, and she recognizes the beauty and worth of Khazad-dûm and its surroundings (and implicitly, of the dwarven language). She’s defending Gimli at the very moment when he’s run out of words to do so himself.

And it’s that recognition and defense from Galadriel - that dwarves are both morally and culturally the equals of elves - that frees Gimli from his defensiveness and open him up to also appreciate and praise the beauty of Lothlórien. And Lothlórien is the point where he and Legolas first become friends, because he’s now in a frame of mind where he no longer needs the same kind of knee-jerk defensiveness, because he’s recieved recognition and respect and validation. (It may also be a similar turning point for Legolas, in terms of modelling that respect and admiration for dwarven creations and culture is not a fundamentally un-Elvish sentiment, which is the kind of idea one could easily internalize growing up in Mirkwood.)

This is very important to me, because often Gimli’s regard for Galadriel is placed in terms of admiration for her beauty, but it’s not physical beauty that makes him admire her, it’s her love and recognition and respect for his culture and people, and her empathy for them. (I’ve got another post to work on about the use/meaning of beauty in Tolkien’s works.)

#tolkien #the lord of the rings #gimli #galadriel #legolas #character thoughts

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elliemarchetti · 3 years

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If Need Be

At this point I don't know if it makes sense to anticipate everything with a brief description of the plot, but for all the possible new readers who will run into this chapter and for some strange reason haven’t seen the previous ones, this is the story of Elva, a half-elf of Mirkwood, leaving with the Fellowship in place of Legolas. The actual tale begins shortly after Gandalf's death, and it all centers around how Elva's presence impacts not only on the mission but on Haldir's life.

In this part, the Fellowship finally leaves Caras Galadhon to resume their Quest.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Words: 2448

In the morning, as they were beginning to pack their slender goods, some Elves went to Haldir’s talan to bring many gifts of food, mostly in the form of very thin cakes, made of a meal that was baked a light brown on the outside and inside was the colour of cream, and a hooded cloak.

"For someone who spends most of his time at the border, you are very popular," Elva commented, after thanking yet another visitor.

"They fear I may not come back, and they tell me that my brothers will be helped in every possible way,” the marchwarden explained. “These are lembas, or waybread, more strengthening than any food made by Men and more pleasant than the cram made in Dale. It must be eaten little at a time, for these things are given to serve when all else fails and will keep sweet for many days, if they’re unbroken and left in their leaf-wrappings.”

“Those are fair garments, though,” Aragorn commented, stroking the light but warm silken fabric, the same the Galadhrim and the court wove. It was hard to say of what colour they were, as they seemed to be grey with the hue of twilight under the trees and yet, if they were moved or set in another light, they were green as shadowed leaves or brown as fallow fields by night; in the dusk, they looked like water under the stars, and even the brooch that fastened them, a green leaf, was veined with silver.

“They must be from the Lady,” guessed their host. “Yet, as you said, they are garments, not armours, and they won’t turn shaft or blade, only serve us well in staying out of the Enemy’s sight.”

"They seem to have done their work so far," Elva said, trying to cheer up the room and hinting that after all his wanderings he was still alive.

"Sure, and a considerable number of blades to the throat were also needed," he replied, after which silence fell, and was maintained as they walked through Caras Galadhon’s empty green streets. In the trees above them, many voices were murmuring and singing, and flashed of barely comprehensible words followed them to the lawn where the other members of the Fellowship waited and down the southward slopes of the hill, to the great gate hung with lamps until the white bridge, after which they took a path that went off into a deep thicket of mallorn trees and passed on, winding through rolling woodlands of silver shadow, leading them ever down, southwards and eastwards, to the shores of the River, laid in a shining lawn of grass studded with golden elanor that glinted in the sun. On the right and west the Silverlode flowed glittering and on the left and east the Great River rolled its broad waters, deep and dark, with woodlands still marching as far as eyes could see on the southwards shores, bleak and bare, as no mallorn lifted its gold-hung boughs beyond the Land of Lorien. On the bank of the Silverlode, at some distance up from the meeting of the streams, there were moored many boats and barges, some brightly painted, shining with silver, gold and green tones, and some either white or grey, like the three that had been prepared for the travellers. Haldir threw some coils of slender but strong rope in each, and Sam went to inspect the workmanship, similar to that of the cloaks they wore.

“They are made of hithlain,” their guide explained, anticipating his question. “Had I known this craft delighted you, I could’ve taught you much, but at the moment I think you’ll have to settle for a theoretical explanation during breaks.”

Sam seemed satisfied by the pact, and went to take his place with Frodo on the boat captained by Aragorn; Boromir thus settled for Merry and Pippin, and Haldir for Elva and Gimli, with whom he had most bonded during their stay in Lothlorien. The boats were moved and steered with short-handled paddles that had broad leaf-shaped blades. When all was ready, their guide led them on a trial up the Silverlode, where the current was swift and they went forward slowly. Sam sat in the bows, clutching the sides, and looking back wistfully to the shore, the sunlight glittering on the water dazzling his eyes. As they passed beyond the green field of the Tongue, the trees drew down to the river’s brink: here and there golden leaves tossed and floated on the rippling stream and the air was very bright and still, bringing only silence except for the high distant song of larks. They turned a sharp bend in the river, and there, sailing proudly down the stream towards them, they saw a swan of great size. The water rippled on either side of the white breast beneath its curving neck and its beak shone like burnished gold, while its eyes glinted like jet set in yellow stones; its huge white wings were half lifted, and suddenly they perceived that it was a ship, wrought and carved with elven-skill in the likeness of a bird. Two elves clad in white steered it with black paddles and in the midst of the vessel sat Celeborn, with his wife behind him, tall and white, a crown of golden flowers in her hair and a harp in her hands. Sand and sweet was the sound of her voice in the cool clear air as she told the story of gold leave shook by the wind. As if the first vision of the Mirror had awakened in Elva an ancient memory that didn’t belonged to her, she too sang of Lorien’s first winter with bare and leafless trees, but she didn’t have the heart to finish, because it spoke of the departure beyond the Sea, of that journey that tasted like defeat and she could never face, even if she wanted to. Haldir stayed his boat as the Swan-ship drew alongside, so the Lady could tell them she had come to bid their last farewell and to speed their boats with blessings from her land. The half-elf wasn’t quite sure their intentions were that noble, but she said nothing, and ate lunch with the royals on the grass, as Celeborn suggested, speaking again of their journey.

“As you go down the water,” said the Lord, “you’ll find that the trees will fail, and you’ll come to a barren country. There the River flows in stony vales amid high moors, until at last after many leagues come the sheep shores of the tall island of Tindrock, that we call Tol Brandir. With great noise and smoke, the waters fall over the cataracts of Rauros down into the Nindalf, the Wetwang, as it’s called in your tongue.; that is a wide region of sluggish fen, where the stream becomes tortuous and much divided and the Entwash flows in by many mouths from the Forest of Fangorn in the west. About that stream, on this side of the Great River, lies Rohan, while on the further side are the bleak hills of the Emyn Muil. The wind blows from the East there, for they look out over the Dead Marshes and the Noman-lands to Cirith Gorgor and the black gates of Mordor. Boromir, and any that go with him seeking Minas Tirith, will do well to leave the Great River above Rauros and cross the Entwash before it finds the marshes. Yet they shouldn’t go too far up that stream, nor risk becoming entangled in the Forest of Fangorn, a strange, little known land, but doubtless, you don’t need this warning.”

“Indeed we have heard of Fangorn in Minas Tirith,” replied the person most concerned. “But what I’ve heard seems to me for the most part old wives’ tales, such as we tell to our children. All that lies north to Rohan is now to us so far away that fancy can wander freely there, but it’s now many lives of men since any of us visited it to prove or disprove the legends that have come down from distant years. Anyway, I have myself been at whiles in Rohan, but I’ve never crossed it northwards, although, when I was sent out as a messenger, I passed through the Gap by the skirts of the White Mountains, and crossed the Isen and the Greyflood into Northerland. A long and wearisome journey it was, four hundred leagues I reckoned it, and it took me many months, for I lost my horse at Tharbad, at the fording of the Greyflood. After that and the road I have trodden with this Company, I don’t much doubt I shall find a way through Rohan, and Fangorn too, if need be.”

“Then I need say no more!” exclaimed Celeborn. “But don’t despise the lore that has come down from distant years, for oft it may chance that old wives keep in memory word of things that once were needful for the wise to know.”

At those advice, Galadriel rose from the grass and taking a cup from one of her maidens she filled it with white mead and gave it to her husband.

“Now it’s time to drink for our farewell,” she said, and when they had all done as she commanded, chairs were set for her and Celeborn. For a while she looked upon her guests, but at last, she called each in turn, offering them gifts, starting from Aragorn, whom she addressed as the leader of the Fellowship, giving him a great stone clear green in colour, set in a silver brooch that was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings.

“This was left in my care to be given to you, should you pass through this land; I gave it to my daughter Celebrian and she gave it to hers, and now it comes to you as a token of hope. In this hour take the name that was foretold for you, Elessar, the Elfstone of the House of Elendil!”

Aragorn took the stone and pinned the brooch upon his breast, and those who saw him wondered how they hadn’t noticed before how tall and kingly he stood: “For the gift that you have given me I thank you, Lady of Lorien of whom were sprung Celebrian and Arwen Evenstar. What praise could I say more?”

The Lady bowed her head, and she turned to Boromir, giving him a belt of gold, similar to the silver ones Merry and Pippin received; to Elva, she gave a bow such as the Galadhrim used, longer and stouter than the bows of Mirkwood, and strung with a string of elf-hair. With it went a quiver of arrows, while Sam received no weapons or wealth, but only a little box of plain grey wood, unadorned save for a single silver rune upon the lid, filled with earth from Galadriel’s orchard: “It won’t defend you against any peril, but if you keep it and see your home again at last, then perhaps it may reward you. Though you should find all barren and laid waste, there will be few gardens in Middle-earth that will bloom like yours, then you may remember Galadriel, and catch a glimpse far off of Lorien, that you have seen only in our Winter, for our Spring and our Summer are gone by, and they will never be seen on earth again save in memory.”

Sam went red to the ears and muttered something inaudible, as he clutched the box and bowed as well as he could.

“And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves? ” said Galadriel, turning to Gimli.

“It’s enough for me to have seen the Lady of the Galadhrim, and to have heard her gentle words,” he replied, courteous.

“Hear all ye Elves!” she cried to those around her. “Let none say again that Dwarves are grasping and ungracious! Yet surely you desire something that I could give? Name it, I bid you! You shall not be the only guest without a gift.”

“There’s nothing, Lady Galadriel,” said Gimli, bowing low and stammering. “Nothing, unless it might be permitted to name a single strand of your hair, which surpasses the gold of the earth as the stars surpass the gems of the mine. I don’t ask for such a gift, but you commanded me to name my desire.”

The Elves stirred and murmured with astonishment, and Celeborn gazed at the Dwarf in wonder, but the Lady smiled. “It’s said that the skill of the Dwarves is in their hands rather than in their tongues, yet that is untrue of Gimli,” she said. “And how shall I refuse, since I commanded you to speak? But tell me, what would you do with such a gift?”

“Treasure it, Lady” he answered, “in memory of your words to me at our first meeting. And if ever I return to the smithies of my home, it shall be set in imperishable crystal to be an heirloom of my house, and a pledge of good will between the Mountain and the Wood until the end of days.”

So the Lady unbraided one of her long tresses, cut off three golden hairs and laid them in Gimli’s hand: “These words shall go with the gift: I don’t foretell, for all foretelling is now vain with darkness lying on one hand and only hope in the other, but if hope shouldn’t fail, then I say to you that you hands shall flow with gold, and yet over you gold shall have no dominion.”

Then she addressed Frodo, and gave him a small crystal phial, glittering with rays of white light from the Earendil’s star as she moved it: “May it guide you in dark places, when all other lights go out.”

Lastly, she looked at Haldir, giving him a sheath made to fit his sword, overlaid with a tracery of flowers and leaves wrought of silver and gold: “The blade drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken even in defeat,” she said, leading Elva to question again what their guide might’ve seen in the Mirror. Were those words a hidden condemnation? She couldn’t know, and after the gift that had been given to her, she couldn’t ask too. Haldir bowed, but found no words to say, so the Lady arose, and the yellow noon laid on the green land of the Tongue accompanied their last farewell, for so it seemed to them that Lorien was slipping backward, like a bright ship with enchanted trees, sailing on to forgotten shores, while they sat helpless upon the margin of the grey and leafless world.

#haldir of lothlorien #haldir x fem oc #aragorn #arwen #aragorn x arwen #sam gamgee #boromir #frodo baggins #merry brandybuck #pippin took #gimli son of gloin #galadriel #celeborn #galadriel x celeborn #lotr #the fellowship of the ring

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paradoxcase · 4 years

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So, in the movie, Gimli really likes Galadriel, and she gives him three locks of her hair, etc. (I’m assuming they didn’t change the hair thing, but I haven’t gotten to the gifts yet), but it sort of comes out of nowhere, it’s not really explained why Gimli is so enamoured of Galadriel when the rest of the Fellowship isn’t. It’s sort of like he has a weird crush on her. This is weird in the movie because they left out a great scene from the book when the Fellowship meets Celeborn and Galadriel for the first time and tells them about the loss of Gandalf in Moria, and then the following happens:

‘Alas!’ said Celeborn. ‘We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept. But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again [Note: he is talking about Balin’s attempt at resettling Moria], I would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders, you and all that went with you. And if it were possible, one would say that at the last Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria.’

‘He would be rash indeed that said that thing,’ said Galadriel gravely. ‘Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. Those that followed him knew not his mind and cannot report his full purpose. But however it may be with the guide, the followers are blameless. Do not repent of your welcome to the Dwarf. If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlórien, who of the Galadhrim, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons?

‘Dark is the water of Keled-zâram, and cold are the springs of Kibil-nâla, and fair were the many-pillared halls of Khazad-dûm in Elder Days before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone.’ She looked upon Gimli, who sat glowering and sad, and she smiled. And the Dwarf, hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue, looked up and met her eyes; and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding. Wonder came into his face, and then he smiled in answer.

He rose clumsily and bowed in dwarf-fashion, saying: ‘Yet more fair is the living land of Lórien, and the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewels that lie beneath the earth!

I think some of this made it into the movie - I remember “needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life” as something that they said, but it definitely didn’t include any of the Gimli-related parts. So, here we have Celeborn, who doesn’t like dwarves and has banned them from Lothlorien already, who was (apparently) persuaded by Galadriel to let this one go through this one time and then as soon as they meet he goes off on another rant about dwarves and even starts to badtalk Gandalf a little because he chose to go through Moria, and Galadriel says, you know what? Moria was a beautiful place and we would have done the same, and Gimli reacts to this empathy, and this fundamental respect for his people from someone who he probably expected to be just like Celeborn. And that’s why Gimli has a special place in his heart for Galadriel.

It’s also worth mentioning that Lothlorien is the first place we see Gimli and Legolas making friends with each other, after this whole sequence of elvish intolerance of dwarves which is resolved by Galadriel’s empathy and respect. But all of this stuff is for some reason completely absent from the movie. We actually see more intolerance of elves from Gimli than the other way around, wereas in the book Gimli doesn’t have any real issue with any elves (aside from some minor banter with Legolas) until the whole thing with the blindfolds.

Also, not related to Gimli, but: Galadriel doesn’t like, summon Frodo to look in the Mirror, she runs into him and Sam and overhears Sam saying that he wants to see elf-magic, and is like, ok, here’s some “elf-magic”. She doesn’t even invite Frodo to look until Sam has looked, and outright says that the Mirror is a bad thing to use to determine what you should do, because the future is never really certain. In the movie she says clearly “this is what will happen if you fail” when it came to the visions of the Scouring of the Shire, but it’s not at all clear that that’s the case in the book, and in any case, those visions actually did come true, in spite of the fact that Frodo succeeded.

#lord of the rings #lotr #gimli #galadriel

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ladyideal · 4 years

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This Is Us Chapter 6

Pairing: Legolas x OC!Reader

Word Count: 3392

Warnings: Canon violence, character death

Summary: When the One Ring was found, it becomes a journey across Middle Earth to destroy it. Watch as the Fellowship is formed, and crossed the continent, where loyalty will be tested, and love will blossom at the most unexpected places.

A/n: Sorry for taking ages to write this up, but here it is! Thanks everyone for patiently waiting. But y'all know what happens here.

Chapter 5 ~ Masterlist ~ Chapter 7

An elegant ship, carved in the likeness of a swan, flows through a river. Galadriel stood in it. On shore, cloaks were fastened around each of the Fellowship with green, silver-veined leaf-brooches.

"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes," The Lord of Lothlorien spoke as he watched.

As elves prepared for the departure of the Fellowship, Legolas stood among them, shifting parcels into a set of boats provided by the Galadhrim. He held up a thin wafer for Merry and Pippin to see, as they sat within one of the boats.

"Lembas! Elvish Way-bread. One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." The elf prince announced.

You rolled your eyes at him in turn, stepping back onto the shore for last minute provisioning.

"Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor Orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin." Celeborn continued. ""Nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures bearing the mark of the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do Orcs journey in the open, under the sun, yet these have done so!"

You sighed. It had to be Saruman doing, that you were sure of. You paused in your steps, and looked down. Celeborn held an ornate dagger before you.

"Le aphadar aen." (You are being tracked.)

You gently grasped it, and unsheathed it, watching as the blade glinted. "We can still finish this."

He nodded slowly. "By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the Falls of Rauros."

You took one last glance at your reflection on the blade before safely sheathing it away. "It is time, Celeborn. Le hannon." (I thank you.)

"Alena," Haldir whispered, pulling the half elf into a tight hug. "Stay safe. Im mel cin." (I love you.)

They shared a quick kiss, before the marchwarden released his fiancee, and watched as she carefully climbed into the same boat with Aragorn.

"Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrien,

Yéni úntimë ve rámar aldaron!

yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier

mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva

Andúnë pella Vardo tellumar

nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni…"

(Alas! Like gold fall the leaves in the wind,

long years numberless as the wings of the trees! The long years have passed like swift draughts of the sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West,beneath the vaults of Varda wherein the stars tremble in the song of her voice…)

"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin," Galadriel spoke when you sat safely within the boat with Legolas steadying you.

Ever since that fateful night, you had cautiously grown fond of him. Your smiles were less forced when around him, and your laughs were infectious. Love came hard for the elven, and when it did happen, it was an immortal kind. You patted his hand as the elven prince stared in awe of the beautifully gifted carved bow.

Galadriel smiled at his thanks, and turned to Merry and Pippin next. "These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war."

Pippin seemed unsure of the weapon in his hand, almost trembling.

"Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage." The Lady of Light spoke with a gentle smile before turning to Sam. "And for you, Samwise Gamgee: Elven rope, made of hithlain."

"Thank you, my lady," He glanced sidelong at the blades held by Merry and Pippin, then looked up hopefully. "Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?"

Galadriel smiled at him, but turned to Gimli, who diverted his eyes downwards.

"And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves?" Galadriel spoke, her golden hair shining beneath the poignant blues and whites and greens of the forest.

Nothing." He frowned as though he was changing his mind. "Except to look upon the Lady of the Galadhrim one last time, for she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth."

You grinned at his words, while the elf lady giggled. He turned away to face the front of the boat before looking back at her again.

"Actually, there was one thing , ah, agh, that's quite impossible. Stupid to ask."

Once his request was fulfilled, she next turned to Aragorn. There was silence for a moment. Branches shook, a spider web's glimmering strands swayed in the wind.

"I have nothing greater to give, than the gift you will bear. Take care of her well. She only has me left." She paused, looking out at the river. "But You have your own choice to make, Aragorn, to rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil, or to fall into darkness with all that is left of your kin."

He nodded.

"Namárië. Nadath nâ i moe cerich. Dan ú-'eveditham, Elessar." (Farewell. There is much you have yet to do. We shall not meet again, Elessar.)

Aragorn nodded once more, turning away. Galadriel turned to the last of the hobbits, and handed him a crystalline vessel shaped like a teardrop, filling with a clear water and a shining light.

"Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Eärendil, our most beloved star." and kissed him briefly on the forehead. "May it be a light for you, in dark places, when all other lights go out."

Next, she turned to Alena, who grinned up at her grandmother. "I too have nothing to give to you, as you have the greatest gift of all. Cherish it well, my granddaughter. I have taught you well, and I hope you may come out victorious."

You watched as Alena dipped her head, and spoke quietly in return. A tender smile appeared on Galadriel before she turned to the last member of the Fellowship.

You.

"And what will the daughter of the High Valars want?" She spoke within your mind.

"You know what I wish for," You spoke instead, watching her.

There was a moment before the elf lady acquiesced with a nod of her own. "You have my word, Y/N."

And drew out a compact compass. "For when you lose sight of yourself and of the Fellowship. I hope that this will guide you in the right direction."

"Thank you," You replied, reaching out to grasp it, half in awe.

"Rinn- safelui bar." (Return safely home.)

A paddle splashed loudly into the water. As the Fellowship rows through the river, past the Elves onshore, out onto the river, leaving Lórien behind. White mountains rise starkly beneath blue skies and green trees. In the boats, Gimli talks to Legolas.

"I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last upon that which is fairest. Haugh, henceforth I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me."

"What was it?" The elf smirked from behind you.

"I asked her for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three."

You smiled at the interaction, paddling along. Soon it didn't take long for Legolas to take over the owing. Before long, the Fellowship's boats passed through a canyon. Alena glanced worriedly at Frodo's boat across the water, as she gently rowed hers and Aragorn's boat.

"Frodo, look! The Argonath! Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old. My kin," Aragorn spoke, lifting his head, half-smiled and tapped Frodo on the shoulder.

Two, marble white, majestic statues proudly stood on each side of the Anduin. Their left arms held aloft, their palms facing outwards in a simple gesture of warning. Voices sang out softly in the light.

"Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar tenn' Ambar-metta!'"

(Out of the Great Sea to Middle-Earth I am come. In this place I will abide, and my heirs, unto the ending of the world!)

"Beautiful statues," You commented, laying back comfortably as Legolas rowed. Alena from your left in agreement.

"They certainly are," The half elf replied.

It didn't take long for the group to disembark on a gravel beach, a spectacular roaring waterfall behind. Boromir looks troubled, as though he was fighting a conflict within him. Frodo skirted around the Captain of the White Tower, looking afraid.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north," Aragorn spoke as he carried the items from each boat onto the shore.

Alena and Legolas left the makeshift camp to hunt for any nearby game. You and the hobbits started making camp, a little more cozier than just the dirt and sand for comfort.

"Oh, yes?! It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better!" Gimli sarcastically replied, dragging the heavier weapons towards where Sam was forming rocks in a circle.

"Frodo, Merry, let us gather wood for the fire," Boromir beckoned the two hobbits away. Frodo's eyes locked onto yours briefly, and all you could recognize was the helplessness, the weight of the evil ring around his neck, and the fear, before he followed after the others.

You shook your head.

"Festering, stinking marshlands, far as the eye can see!" The dwarf continued, although half of the company was gone.

"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf." Aragorn drawled.

"Recover my-?! Nooo."

"We could leave now," You suggested, interjecting into the conversation with a shrug.

"No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness." Aragorn argued with a matter of fact tone.

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it," Your gaze turned towards the dark pine woods, with a dark, brooding statue nestled amongst their needles. "We are not alone."

"Where's Frodo?" Merry piped up, returning with some wood in his arms.

“Didn't he go with you and Boromir?" You stood up, dusting the dirt off your knees.

"We got split up."

Aragorn turned his gaze toward Boromir's shield laying amongst the rest of his belongings. Then turned to you with that knowing look within his eyes.

Something bad was about to happen. Evil lurked around every crevice and corner.

You cursed loudly, sprinting after Alena and Legolas. Aragorn was hot on your heels, all the while calling for the two.

"Frodo?"

"Frodo!" Aragorn called from your right, rushing towards the hobbit. Before him was a high structure on the cliff edge, surrounded by the pines. A stairway ran up through its center, to a seat dwarfed by stone eagles on top.

You hurried to the other side of the hobbit, equally concerned. "Frodo, what happened? Where's Boromir?"

"Huh?! It has taken Boromir." The hobbit looked startled.

"Where is the Ring, Frodo?" You asked.

"Stay away!" The hobbit scrambled up and retreated from Aragorn, who went after him.

"Frodo, please," The Ranger pleaded. "I swore to protect you!"

"Can you protect me from yourself?!" The hobbit turned back to you and Aragorn, holding the ring upon his palm. "Would you destroy it?"

There was silence as the breeze blew. Slowly, the Ranger approached the hobbit, seemingly entranced by the power of it. You on the other hand, grounded your feet into the ground, refusing to let the evil sway your beliefs.

The power was small, compared to yours, but the promises within still affected you. A trial, you realized a little too late, to test your very being.

Aragorn reached out towards the Ring. With both hands slightly shaking, he closed Frodo's hand over the Ring and pushed it back towards the Hobbit's chest. "I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor."

"I know. Look after the others, especially Sam. He will not understand." He turned to you afterwards, and you nodded in turn.

Suddenly Aragorn straightened up, drawing his sword. "Orcs."

"Go, Frodo. Run." You grabbed your bow and an arrow. "Run!"

Quickly, you and the Ranger ran out from beneath the ruin and found a troop of Uruk-hai advancing.

Briefly, he tapped his sword once to his forehead before charging towards the nearest Uruk-hai.

You drew an arrow, and letting it go to see an Orc fell to it.

"Find the Halflings! Yaggh! Find the Halflings!" One of them chanted.

"Elendil!" Aragorn yelled, slicing two more out of his away.

In response, Legolas, Alena, and Gimli ran forward from behind the the ruin. As Legolas shot down several Uruk-hai, Gimli landed blows with his axe. While Alena sliced through multiple with her dual swords, you eagerly shot those that came too close to anyone.

Across the way, Merry and Pippin hid in a space under some fallen tree trunks, before spying Frodo close to them.

"Frodo!" Merry hissed, gaining the attention of the other hobbit.

"Hide here! Quick! Come on!" Pippin indicated a spot beside him.

Frodo glanced at them, then sadly shook his head.

"What's he doin', Merry?"

"He's leavin'."

"What?! No!" Pippin lept out of his spot and toward where Frodo hid.

"Pippin!"

Soon, both hobbits found themselves out in an open. Several Uruk-hai sprinted down the hill, towards them and brandishing their weapons, teeth bared.

"Run, Frodo! Go!" Merry quietly spoke, before cupping his hands, and shouts louder at the oncoming orcs. "Hey! Hey you! Over here!"

"Hey!"

"Over here!"

"This way!" Pippin jumped up and down, arms flailing around.

As both Hobbits ran away from Frodo, the Uruk-hai troops followed with a loud roar of anger. Taking the chance, Frodo made a break for it, running in the opposite direction.

Back at the hilltop, you, Alena, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli continued to fight the Uruk-hai. In one smooth move, Legolas stabbed one Uruk with an arrow then shot it out at another. Gimli wielded his axe. As Aragorn stabbed one behind his back, Alena sliced cleanly through another.

In a hurry,, Merry and Pippin ran across an old stone bridge. At its far end, they stopped in horror as the Uruk-hai closed in, both in front and from behind. As an Uruk runs up to them, raising his battleaxe, Boromir came charging into the mix, roughly knocking the Uruk back, and killing him with his own axe.

Yet more closed in.

"There's too many!" You called, slicing the head off an orc cleanly off its shoulder. Before anyone could respond, three loud horn blasts were heard from down the slope.

"The horn of Gondor!"

"Boromir!"

Aragorn was the first to run down the slope towards the sound, but numerous Uruks stood between him and Boromir. The Captain sounded the Horn of Gondor again. This time, the Uruks rose their weapons, and charged at Boromir.

"Run, hobbits! Run!" He cried out, slicing through the first of many enemies that came at him. Soon you and the rest of the Fellowship followed in kind, shooting arrows and stabbing through the troops of Uruk-hai in a futile attempt to reach the Captain.

The captain of the Uruk-hai stepped forward from within the safety of his troops, and aimed a black-fletched bow and arrow before letting go.

You briefly closed your eyes, grimacing as you heard the gasp from Boromir, and the thud as he fell to his knees.

Merry stopped in mid-throw of a rock as Boromir, in shock. As the Uruks came closer again once more, Boromir let out a battle cry, rose, and swung his sword at one, who fell.

The Uruk chieftain growled, walking down the slope. He lifted his bow, and shot again, just as Boromir turned to look at him.

A black arrow flew into Boromir's stomach. He dropped to his knees again, gasping. Merry and Pippin still stood in shock, rocks in hand. You heard a scream from beside. Was it Alena?

He dropped his heavy head again, both gasping and panting at the exertion for air. Boromir stared at them for a moment before getting back up, and swung his sword at another Uruk.

The captain shot at him one last time, in the chest. Boromir fell to his knees, and this time stayed there, swaying a little and blinking, as though he was surprised that this was it. His horn cloven into two. Merry and Pippin watched him, aghast.

In turn, they took up their swords and attacked the Uruk-hai. "Ahgh!" "For Boromir!

However the Uruk-hai simply lifted them up and carried them off. Merry and Pippin waved their arms frantically. "Help! Help!!!"

The Uruk-hai troop walked away from Boromir, wholooksed on helplessly. The captain stopped before his foe, who defiantly swallowed and glared back.With an ugly snarl,the chieftain pulled his bow back, ready to deliver the final blow.

Instead, you and Legolas both let go of your arrows, one hitting the neck, and the other at the hand. Now angry that his arrow went awry, the Uruk-hai turned to you, not noticing Aragorn until it was too late.

As Aragorn closed in on the Orc and in a flurry of swordplay, sliced his arm off and then stabbed him through the chest. The captain pulled himself up on the sword, closer to Aragorn, snarling in both pain and anger.

You let go of your arrow, watching with narrowed eyes as it hit the forehead. Before the orc could respond, the Ranger pulled his sword out of the Orc, and hacked off the Uruk-hai's head.

Panting, you and the rest of the Fellowship lowered your weapons. After a brief pause, Aragorn beelined straight for Boromir. "No!"

"Go! Go after them. Aragorn and I will catch up," You turned to the rest, whom swiftly left. Save for Alena, who hesitated, before agreeing with a nod.

Boromir, pale and bloodied, laid on his back. Aragorn kneeled beside Boromir, who grabbed the other's shoulder. "They took the little ones."

"Be still."

"Frodo! Where is Frodo?"

"I let Frodo go."

"Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the Ring from him."

"The Ring is beyond our reach now."

"Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all."

"No, Boromir, you fought bravely! You have kept your honor," You spoke instead, kneeling on the other side of him. Aragorn placed a hand on an arrow protruding from the captain.

"Leave it! It is over. The world of men will fall, and all will come to darkness; and my city to ruin."

"I do not know what strength is in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail!"

"Our people? Our people." He reached for his sword. Instead, you placed the hilt in his hand, and helped Boromir clasp it to his chest. "I would have followed you my Brother, my Captain, my King!"

You placed a hand on his chest, and smiled slightly at Aragorn. "Go on. I'll follow soon."

With a kiss on the captain's forehead, the Ranger straightened up, and followed in the direction after the others.

"Boromir, son of Denethor, Captain of the White Tower," You spoke quietly, grasping his hand in your other. "Listen to me very closely."

"Y/N?" He croaked in confusion.

You leaned into his ear. "You have fought bravely, honorably. For your friends, for your people, for your country, and for Middle Earth. You have done much to keep the peace, and I need someone like you in the future."

You paused.

"Sina na- vamme i tyelde, captain. Ni indóme cen- tye en-. Tenna i lú, phata hendulya ar n- at senda. Ni am i -iel -o i valaina manwë ar vesse varda. Let sina n-.

(This is not the end, captain. I will see you again. Until the time, close your eyes and be at peace. I am the daughter of the Valar Manwë and his wife Varda. Let this be.)

Boromir's eyes brightened up at the recognition, and looked more at peace atthe words, as though he was guilty for earlier. He squeezed your hand one more time with the last of his waning strength in agreement, before closing his eyes.

And took his last breath.

N- a captain an men. Yare dagor dagornath, tye are -esse maure, yondo -o denethor.

(Be a captain for men. When Dagor Dagornath, you are in need, son of Denethor.)

Eats Everything: @asraime @mournthewicked @aspiring-ginger

#legolas #prince legolas #legolas x oc #legolas x reader #legolas greenleaf #lord of the rings #lotr #lotr fanfic #tolkien #this is us #deb writes

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sweetteaanddragons · 6 years

Text

Seas and Shadows

I’m not dead! I’m sorry I haven’t been posting much . . . or at all . . . lately. RL caught up with me, I’m afraid. I’ll try to put a post up tomorrow letting you know what you can expect going forward, but in the meantime, have a fic!

“Ulmo, lord of waters, I gave you my father’s heart. If that has bought me any mercy, spare me my heart now. Uinen, I beg you, grant these waters peace, for the sake of those who have done you no wrong. Osse - please. Please just let me reach the shore, and then I will throw myself through your waters to the Everlasting Darkness if that is your wish, but please - Manwe, lord of winds, on I alone is your Doom left, do not touch these, I pray - Ulmo, for the love that you once bore my kin, please - “

The songs of appeasement from the first days of the voyage were long spent. By now even Maglor’s voice could not bear the strain, and his thoughts, so long left to wander, scattered with every crash of thunder. It was all he could do to keep their small boat afloat.

If either of his passengers had been at all capable of managing the boat themselves, he would have thrown himself into the sea as soon as the storm arose and prayed it would be enough to placate the Valar. As it was, he and the Valar’s mercy was the only thing between them and arriving at Aman not at the beaches, but at Mandos’s Halls.

One of them cried out in the grip of some nightmare or waking dream as the waves tossed the boat dangerously.

“Steady,” Maglor sang to boat and passengers both and wished desperately that he could spare better comfort.

He had felt the Shadow each time it had arisen anew. He had felt it in the air. He had felt it in the music of the world.

More prosaically, he had seen it in the increased number of orcs he had to fight to keep them off his stretch of the shore.

He had also felt it when Sauron passed. He had hoped - foolishly, he later admitted to himself - that his death would mean the end of it. That the long war was finally, truly over.

But now a pale Shadow was creeping in again.

It was not as strong. There were fewer orcs, now. Fewer monsters. And whatever the leader of this new evil might be, he was no Sauron, and certainly no Morgoth.

Of course, the armies left to face them were hardly the glorious hosts of the First Age either. The dwarves were hard pressed, and there were so few elves left to raise a sword, and none were as strong as they once were. The Men, at least, were numerous enough to fight, but the tide turned slowly, and while the war ground on, evil ran freely in the land.

Maglor made his camp in the ruins of his cousin’s fair city by the grave of his foster-son’s daughter and fought for his small corner of it.

He had watched unseen as Elrond sailed away, beyond where he dared follow. It was fitting, he knew, and he’d had no intention of inflicting his company on Elrond regardless of where he was, but -

But still. He had not been able to bear the sight of the sea after that.

Another voice joined his frantic chant. The boat began to slide more easily through the mountainous waves.

Elrohir’s eyes were closed, head not even strong enough to be lifted from the side of the boat, but his voice rang out all the same.

Ulmo had favored Turgon’s line once. Maglor prayed he still did.

The Galadhrim had long abandoned the woods, so the handful of woodland elves fleeing through the trees was not expected.

They were half-faded, eyes dull, lacking almost all of the Firstborn’s power. Their enemies chased them fearlessly, sure of victory.

Feanor’s son thought of the easiest skirmish of the First Age and rose, bitterly amused, to fight.

When it was over, they asked him to travel with them in a language he only half recognized.

They had problems enough. He would not burden them with his Doom.

Instead, he followed their directions to this new Enemy’s main camp. It was a direction to go in, at least, and that was more than he’d had in a very long time.

All he had to do, they’d told him, was follow the light of the brightest star.

Maglor had looked up at that cursed light and laughed until they thought him mad.

Knew him to be mad. One of the two.

It was a sign, perhaps.

Perhaps this could finally be the end of it.

As Elrohir’s voice faded, Elladan’s picked up. Neither of them was strong enough to keep the song up for long, not in their current condition, but it helped. It was enough.

It had to be enough.

The camp was big, he supposed. It certainly had more people in it than he had seen together in a long time.

Still. He couldn’t help but fail to be overly impressed. He supposed after one had faced dragons and Balrogs and seen Morgoth himself, it was hard to be impressed by much of anyone you had to fight.

It was easy enough to remain unseen. He had, after all, thousands of years of practice.

He slipped around the edges of the camp looking for - something. Anything. Another sign. A goal. Something worthy to charge at.

In the end, it was his ears that guided him, not his eyes.

He followed the sound of screams.

He thought, for a moment, when he saw the source, that he truly had gone mad. Mad past all functioning.

Because Elrond was safe, he was safe, and wherever Elros was, it certainly wasn’t here, and yet -

His eyes were playing tricks on him, he decided firmly. It was simply hard to see past all the blood. These were just two elves, two unknown elves who happened to have more power than any of the other scattered remnants he’d come across and yet who had been overwhelmed by treachery or too great a force. That was all.

Earendil’s star burned directly overhead. He had his target, at least.

Although with this as his target, a change of plans might be in order. No glorious last charge for him; skulking in the dark like one of the Enemy’s servants it was.

Fitting, probably.

Blinding rain lashed the deck. To Maglor, it was nearly nothing. To his wounded, half-elven passengers, though, he feared it could bring far worse. The storm had to end.

He looked over the side at the churning water.

For the first time in days, he ceased his desperate song. “Do you think you could sail this?” he shouted over the storm to whichever twin was currently trying to stay alert.

“No,” both said instantly, and though he thought they had started to recover, perhaps even enough to sail this alone if the storm ceased, they sound too much like another set of twins in that instant for him to turn away from the desperation in their eyes.

“Patience,” he begged Osse when he thought the thunder was too loud for even an elf to overhear. “Just have enough patience for them to be spared, and I will surrender to whatever justice is demanded.”

Through the storm, he thought he saw a star.

There was a battle going on nearby that he was pretty sure their side was winning. He used the term “their side” loosely, of course. The orcs were dying, and that was the important part.

He paid only enough attention to keep them ahead of it. He soothed the horses he stole into running as smoothly as possible when he had to and kept his charges safely hidden in caves when he could.

They were delirious with pain and fever, and he was painfully reminded of Maedhros when they’d first recovered him and of Celebirmbor’s last pain filled moments when his mind had reached for anyone at all.

He sang songs of healing and comfort and cursed his broken mind for making them look so much like his twins, even with the blood washed away.

When one finally woke enough to notice him and ask his name, he was so startled he gave it.

He expected panic, or, if he was very lucky and the elf was poorly educated, confusion.

He did not expect the quietly delighted, “Grandfather!” before the half-elf he later learned was Elrohir was reclaimed by the fever.

The storm ended gradually. He wasn’t sure if his pleas had finally placated the Valar or if the storm had begun interfere with other, more favored ships, or if, perhaps, his hubris had arisen and the storm had never had anything to do with them at all.

Regardless, the shore shone bright before them, not far at all now, and in these clear waters, he had no doubts they would make it.

For once, all had not turned to evil. And Elrond would be happy.

But for each deed done well, there must be a price in tragedy, and he had offered, after all.

The water was calm, but it was still deep. He remembered when it had been red.

There was a Silmaril somewhere in those depths. This was almost like fulfilling his Oath, wasn’t it? Perhaps his father wouldn’t be too angry.

“Almost there,” he said quietly and took one last look at Elrond’s sons. “Your father will be pleased to see you.” He took a half-step towards the side of the boat.

The twins sang out in sudden, perfect unison, with all the power they had managed to hoard. There was more of it in them than he had realized.

Maglor swayed to the deck, overtaken by exhaustion, a suggestion that the song had not so much needed to implant as to give a light nudge.

Elladan was the closer, and he caught the falling elf and lowered him to the deck. “He’ll be pleased to see all of his,” he said firmly.

There was a problem with that argument, Maglor was sure, but he supposed it would have to wait.

#silmarillion #fic #cw: suicidal thoughts #maglor #elrohir #elladan #fix-it of sorts #there will probably be a sequel to this

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ebaeschnbliah · 1 year

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Behold! You are come to Cerin Amroth .....

The Company filed slowly along the paths in the wood, led by Haldir, while the other Elf walked behind. They felt the ground beneath their feet smooth and soft, and after a while they walked more freely, without fear of hurt or fall. Being deprived of sight, Frodo found his hearing and other senses sharpened. He could smell the trees and the trodden grass. He could hear many different notes in the rustle of the leaves overhead, the river murmuring away on his right, and the thin clear voices of birds in the sky. He felt the sun upon his face and hands when they passed through an open glade.

As soon as he set foot upon the far bank of Silverlode a strange feeling had come upon him, and it deepened as he walked on into the Naith: it seemed to him that he had stepped over a bridge of time into a corner of the Elder Days, and was -now walking in a world that was no more. In Rivendell there was memory of ancient things; in Lórien the ancient things still lived on in the waking world. Evil had been seen and heard there, sorrow had been known; the Elves feared and distrusted the world outside: wolves were howling on the wood's borders: but on the land of Lórien no shadow lay.

All that day the Company marched on, until they felt the cool evening come and heard the early night-wind whispering among many leaves. Then they rested and slept without fear upon the ground; for their guides would not permit them to unbind their eyes, and they could not climb. In the morning they went on again, walking without haste. At noon they halted, and Frodo was aware that they had passed out under the shining Sun. Suddenly he heard the sound of many voices all around him.

A marching host of Elves had come up silently: they were hastening toward the northern borders to guard against any attack from Moria; and they brought news, some of which Haldir reported. The marauding orcs had been waylaid and almost all destroyed; the remnant had fled westward towards the mountains, and were being pursued. A strange creature also had been seen, running with bent back and with hands near the ground, like a beast and yet not of beast-shape. It had eluded capture, and they had not shot it, not knowing whether it was good or ill, and it had vanished down the Silverlode southward.

`Also,' said Haldir, `they bring me a message from the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim. You are all to walk free, even the dwarf Gimli. It seems that the Lady knows who and what is each member of your Company. New messages have come from Rivendell perhaps.'

He removed the bandage first from Gimli's eyes. 'Your pardon! ' he said, bowing low. `Look on us now with friendly eyes! Look and be glad, for you are the first dwarf to behold the trees of the Naith of Lórien since Durin's Day! '

When his eyes were in turn uncovered, Frodo looked up and caught his breath. They were standing in an open space. To the left stood a great mound, covered with a sward of grass as green as Spring-time in the Elder Days. Upon it, as a double crown, grew two circles of trees: the outer had bark of snowy white, and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness; the inner were mallorn-trees of great height, still arrayed in pale gold. High amid the branches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all there gleamed a white flet. At the feet of the trees, and all about the green hillsides the grass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars. Among them, nodding on slender stalks, were other flowers, white and palest green: they glimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass. Over all the sky was blue, and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long green shadows beneath the trees.

'Behold! You are come to Cerin Amroth,' said Haldir. `For this is the heart of the ancient realm as it was long ago, and here is the mound of Amroth, where in happier days his high house was built. Here ever bloom the winter flowers in the unfading grass: the yellow elanor, and the pale niphredil. Here we will stay awhile, and come to the city of the Galadhrim at dusk.'

The others cast themselves down upon the fragrant grass, but Frodo stood awhile still lost in wonder. It seemed to him that he had stepped through a high window that looked on a vanished world. A light was upon it for which his language had no name. All that he saw was shapely, but the shapes seemed at once clear cut, as if they had been first conceived and drawn at the uncovering of his eyes, and ancient as if they had endured for ever. He saw no colour but those he knew, gold and white and blue and green, but they were fresh and poignant, as if he had at that moment first perceived them and made for them names new and wonderful. In winter here no heart could mourn for summer or for spring. No blemish or sickness or deformity could be seen in anything that grew upon the earth. On the land of Lórien there was no stain.

JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Lothlórien

#the lord of the rings #the fellowship of the ring #lothlorien #jrr tolkien #naith of lorien #cerin amroth #caras galadhon #haldir #aragorn #boromir #legolas #gimli #frodo #sam #merry #pippin #movie pics #peter jackson

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tehri · 5 years

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What's the most On Brand scene, or line from any of the elves across the whole series. Like the most Definining Elven Moment.

Ooooooh geez. Here we go.

Uhm… Book-wise, I’m gonna HAVE to sayyyy… it’s a fucking toss-up between three there, honestly.

One - Elrond. Just… All of Elrond’s lines. All of it. Holy shit.

Two - Legolas being a dipshit on Caradhras and making fun of Aragorn and Boromir almost swimming in the snow.“Aragorn was the tallest of the Company, but Boromir, little less in height,was broader and heavier in build. He led the way, and Aragorn followed him.Slowly they moved off, and were soon toiling heavily. In places the snow wasbreast-high, and often Boromir seemed to be swimming or burrowing with his greatarms rather than walking.Legolas watched them for a while with a smile upon his lips, and then heturned to the others. `The strongest must seek a way, say you? But I say: let aploughman plough, but choose an otter for swimming, and for running light overgrass and leaf or over snow-an Elf.’With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the firsttime, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore onlylight shoes, as he always did, and his feet made little imprint in the snow.‘Farewell!’ he said to Gandalf. `I go to find the Sun!’ Then swift as arunner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, witha wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance, and vanishedround the rocky turn.The others waited huddled together, watching until Boromir and Aragorndwindled into black specks in the whiteness. At length they too passed fromsight. The time dragged on. The clouds lowered, and now a few flakes of snowcame curling down again.An hour, maybe, went by, though it seemed far longer, and then at last theysaw Legolas coming back. At the same time Boromir and Aragorn reappeared roundthe bend far behind him and came labouring up the slope.`Well,’ cried Legolas as he ran up, `I have not brought the Sun. She iswalking in the blue fields of the South, and a little wreath of snow on thisRedhorn hillock troubles her not at all. But I have brought back a gleam of goodhope for those who are doomed to go on feet. There is the greatest wind-drift ofall just beyond the turn, and there our Strong Men were almost buried. Theydespaired, until I returned and told them that the drift was little wider than awall. And on the other side the snow suddenly grows less, while further down itis no more than a white coverlet to cool a hobbit’s toes.'”- Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter 3: The Ring Goes South

Three - GALADRIEL. There is so much to pick from when it comes to her, and yet I’m going to choose the very moment that Gimli becomes completely enamored with her.“'Alas! ’ said Celeborn. `We long have feared that under Caradhras a terrorslept. But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again,l would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders, you and all that wentwith you. And if it were possible, one would say that at the last Gandalf fellfrom wisdom into folly, going needlessly into the net of Moria.’`He would be rash indeed that said that thing,’ said Galadriel gravely.`Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. Those that followed himknew not his mind and cannot report his full purpose. But however it may be withthe guide, the followers are blameless. Do not repent of your welcome to theDwarf. If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlórien, who ofthe Galadhrim, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and would not wish tolook upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons? Dark is the water of Kheled-zâram, and cold are the springs of Kibil-nâla,and fair were the many-pillared halls of Khazad-dûm in Elder Days beforethe fall of mighty kings beneath the stone.’ She looked upon Gimli, who satglowering and sad, and she smiled. And the Dwarf, hearing the names given in hisown ancient tongue, looked up and met her eyes; and it seemed to him that helooked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding.Wonder came into his face, and then he smiled in answer.He rose clumsily and bowed in dwarf-fashion, saying: `Yet more fair is theliving land of Lórien, and the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewelsthat lie beneath the earth!’“- Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, Chapter 7: The Mirror Of Galadriel

And movie-wise… fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck if i’m not going to have to go with Galadriel again, because the line “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future” is stuck in my heart forever and i love it so much help

actually, no, movie-wise it’s a tossup between the line I just mentioned and Elrond’s line at the end of Return of the King: “I Aear can ven na mar.“ Which means “The Sea calls us home”. that line fucked me up.

#maltedmilkchocolate #ask #Elves #Elrond #Galadriel #Legolas #help me #fuck

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rosamelancholica · 6 years

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Tolkien Tag 2018

1. What's your favorite Middle-earth story/book?

My! Such a hard question, like all of these, really.

I would have to say The Lord of the Rings, despite I love The Hobbit with all my heart too and it was my first Middle-earth story, as I think it should be.

Both stories never fail to make me feel at home but the first time I read Lord of the Rings I found a solace in it that was very much needed at that time and I read it with such love and enthusiasm, I had a wondrous time. I mean, I loved The Hobbit too but I read it before I really got into Tolkien so I didn’t have this passionate love for it yet, nonetheless I still enjoyed it a lot and it’s definitely up there with Lord of the Rings. Also, every time I read The Hobbit, I can’t help but miss Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and the rest of the Company, while Bilbo is in Lord of the Rings too, so I don’t have to miss anybody when I read it.

2. Do you have a favorite subplot?

Does the part from where Frodo, Sam and Pippin set out for Crickhollow and reunite with Merry until they all leave Tom Bombadil’s house and reach Bree, including their adventures in the Old Forest and the Barrow-downs, count? If so, that one.

3. What's your favorite theme in Tolkien's books? (Can be in one specific story, or overall.)

I would have to say the importance of home and hearth and a jolly good time, I mean, isn’t that what we all truly need? The part where Thorin says that if more people valued home and food over gold and treasures the world would be a better place resonates a lot with me, because he’s totally right.

I also love the theme of pity, I think it is very important in such a hard world as the one where we live.

4. Do you have a favorite weapon from Middle-earth?

Sting, ‘nuff said. :)

Though I also especially love Elvish blades in general, Legolas’ Galadhrim bow, Andúril (who wouldn’t?) and Rohan swords.

5. Would you like to be a hobbit?

Are you kidding me? I would say it is my biggest wish right now. I just ADORE hobbits: their customs, lifestyle, their homes, their clothes, the Shire, basically everything about them. My own sister even says it’s as if the Shire was my home (and I was like “it is indeed”).

I was playing The Fellowship of the Ring PS2 videogame (based on the book) she brought for me the other day and marveling at the fact I could explore the Shire and it was wonderful. When you got near the houses, the names of their owners were shown and I knew all of them so well my sister was surprised. She was glad I was having such a great time living my dream in the game. ^^

Ah, what I wouldn’t give to live in a hobbit hole in Hobbiton and truly be acquainted with all my friends, take long walks in the Eastfarthing woods, read their fascinating books, visit the Green Dragon Inn and Ivy Bush Inn, Tuckburough, Buckland, the Old Forest, Frogmorton, you name it; get to know all about the most important hobbit families and even the less important ones, explore the Farmer Maggot’s crop, Brandy Hall and Michel Delving with all the curious mathoms, enjoy their wondrous parties with stunning displays of Gandalf’s fireworks...

My other biggest wish probably would be to be able to attend Bilbo’s 111th and Frodo’s 33rd Birthday Party.

6. Do you have a favorite romance/couple?

Sam and Rosie, I’m second in command of their ship with Frodo at the lead as its captain. ;)

Though I also love especially Pippin and Diamond, Merry and Estella, Primula and Drogo, Mirabella and Gorbadoc, Paladin and Eglantine, Esmeralda and Saradoc, Hamfast and Bell, Belladonna and Bungo (despite we don’t know much about them), Éowyn and Faramir, Aragorn and Arwen, Beren and Lúthien, Elrond and Celebrían, Galadriel and Celeborn and Thingol and Melian.

Wow, I hadn’t realized just how many good couples there are.

7. What's your favorite Middle-earth creature? (Can be "real" or "imaginary.")

I would say the Ents, I LOVE the Ents, and the Eagles, Radagast’s Rosgobel rabbits, Bill the Pony, Brego, Shadowfax...

But I think the Ents are my favorite. ;)

8. What character do you look the most like?

Oh, gosh, I have no idea. I’m told I look like Galadriel because my skin is very pale in contrast to that of most people around me so I’ve been nicknamed “Lady of Light” at times. But I don’t have the blond hair or blue eyes and I probably don’t look that much like her, even if I do, I don’t consider myself worthy of being compared with the Lady of Lórien.

I’m always told I have Elvish looks and I’m like “No, I’m a hobbit!”, and I don’t really believe it honestly, I mean, Elves are just too beautiful. My beauty is more plain, so I like to think I’m a hobbit with Elvish looks like Frodo and Elanor.

9. Are there any books about Middle-earth or Professor Tolkien (but not written by him) you recommend?

Any you can get your hands on (that’s my philosophy) but the ones I would recommend in particular are The Complete Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster and The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad. From my experience, works by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond are very good too.

10. List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the Middle-earth books and/or movies.

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit, not a nasty dirty wet hole full of worms and oozy smells. This was a hobbit hole and that means good food, a warm hearth and all the comforts of home.

He doesn’t approve of being late. Not that I ever was, in those days I was always on time, I was entirely respectable and nothing unexpected ever happened.

My dear Sam, you cannot always be torn in two, you will have to be one and whole for many years. You have so much to enjoy and to be and to do. Your part in the story will go on.

It is special. It’s a little bit of home.

Courage, Merry, for our friends.

I think you have strength of a different kind and one day your father will see it.

It was a compliment and so, of course, not true.

I love him. He’s like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no.

I wonder if we’ll ever be put into songs or tales. What? I wonder if people’ll ever say “Let’s hear about Frodo and the Ring”, and they’ll say, “Yes, it’s one of my favourite stories. Frodo was really courageous, wasn’t he, dad?” “Yes, my boy, the most famousest of hobbits and that’s saying a lot“. You left out one of the chief characters, Samwise the Brave, I want to hear more about Sam. Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam. Now, Mr. Frodo, you shouldn’t make fun, I was being serious. So was I. Samwise the Brave.

It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered, full of darkness and danger they were and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come and when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those are the stories that stayed with you, that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something. What are we holding on to, Sam? That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo and it’s worth fighting for”.

Many thanks to Hamlette for hosting this wonderful party! ^^

#theedgeoftheprecipice #tolkien party 2018 #tolkien #lotr #lord of the rings #the hobbit #thoughts and musings #questions #mine #hobbit day #tolkien party #hobbit day 2018

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