#sauron fluff

[dracowars]

of kings and queens | halbrand

pairing: halbrand x númenorean!princess!reader

word count: 6,6k

summary: where halbrand and y/n are forced to marry and he unveils a world she's only ever dreamed of

a/n: how do i manage to make it longer every time you ask?? i have no idea, i just go with the flow & suddenly i'm at 6k~ i have been struggeling with this one but i'm proud of how it ultimately turned out!! feedback is always appreciated and thank you for all the love <3

warnings: angst, forced marriage, panic attack, mentions of sickness, soft sauron

universe: the rings of power

"I won't marry a stranger!", you loudly cry out in anger and slam your fists on the table with all your might, the sheer force of it causing some of the parchments to fall to the marble floor.

"He is no stranger. He is the King of the Southlands", your sister, Queen-Regent Míriel, tells you matter-of-factly.

"Who told you that? The elf?", you spit out, the blood running through your veins seething with anger. "Just a few days have gone by since he was detained in one of our cells, and now he is being hailed as a long-lost king? Do you even listen to yourself?"

"Sister-"

"Don't 'sister' me right now."

Míriel takes a deep breath, resting her weight on the table with both arms, and lowers her head as if she needs a moment to avoid lashing out on you in the same manner you are currently displaying.

"Listen. A marriage like this would rekindle and strengthen the bond between the people of Middle-earth and our kind for generations to come", she explains, her voice calm, but you know her well enough to notice that she has to pull herself together.

"Very well, go ahead and marry him then", you counter and give her a challenging look, the one you have been giving her since you were children. "Why should I be the one to suffer?"

"As the Princess of Númenor, it is your duty to prioritize the welfare of your people over your own!", she yells at you now, her nostrils flaring. You'd be lying if you said you didn't flinch a little when she raised her voice. Usually, it takes longer to unsettle her.

Elendil, who is standing at the large doors to the room, also seems a little shocked. As the two exchange a tender look, however, Míriel's features relax again and she straightens up, slipping back into the role of the wise, majestic Queen-Regent of Númenor.

"I won't accept no for an answer", she tells you, all calm and collected again. No trace left of your loving sister whom you loved so much.

"You have held me captive within these castle's walls for longer than I know and now you wish to ship me off like that?", you scoff in disbelief, crossing your arms in front of your chest, trying to mask how much she's hurting you right now.

"You wanted freedom. Here I am granting it to you."

"This is not freedom", you express your words through gritted teeth, your eyes burning with tears as your words have no effect on Míriel. "You think you can still control me like a child. But you no longer hold any power over me. I won't let you dictate the course of my life."

To emphasize your point, you grab the unassuming tiara adorning your head, smaller and thus in stark contrast to your sister's, and forcefully hurl it to her feet. Several small diamonds come loose and the sound of them scattering around the marble floor makes you shiver.

"I don't care who he is", you say angrily, your hands clenched into fists at your sides while Míriel only looks at you in shock, her eyes wide. "I won't marry someone I don't know, let alone love."

With these final words, you turn away and walk towards the door, which Elendil quickly opens for you. On his face, you clearly see that he feels sorry about how this whole situation expired. But you don't need his pity.

You stomp out angrily, holding back your tears, your pulse pounding in your ears. You have never told her what you think before. You have always done what she asked of you, been a good little sister because you can only imagine the burden she is carrying. But today she has crossed a line.

When you turn around in the hallway one last time, catching a glimpse of Míriel through the closing door, you see Elendil carefully approaching her to comfort her. From this perspective, she looks exhausted, hurt even. But all you feel towards her is anger. You can't help but roll your eyes and release a heavy breath of air from your lungs.

Undoubtedly, that is the reason why she wants you to marry Lord Halbrand. Because her heart is already taken.

You think back to times when you would have been overjoyed, when you would have been genuinely happy for her. You two would have lain on soft pillows and talked about everything, every little detail. Now, you can find none of these feelings inside of you.

Completely lost in your thoughts, you walk through the large halls of the castle, your home. A home that feels much more like a prison. With your head low, you turn a corner and suddenly collide with a hard wall. Caught off guard, you stumble back until a hand closes around your wrist and holds you tight.

You forget to breathe for a moment when your gaze meets his.

"Whoa there. Where are you headed, my lady?", Lord Halbrand asks you in surprise, a gentle smile on his face as he holds you close, his touch on your skin burning. As soon as you notice this, you break free from his grip and take your distance, smoothing down your dress, which he only comments on with a frown.

He is the last person you want to talk to right now.

"Are you all right?", he asks you with concern in his voice, making you realize that you haven't given him an answer and just stood there in silence. In fact, you don't really have anything to say to him. You just wish he would go back to Middle-earth where he belongs.

"Yes", you finally answer, coldly and curtly. "Now if you'll excuse me."

You walk past him, your shoulders almost touching, and listen to your own loud footsteps echoing through the halls as you walk down the corridor.

"Your demeanour leads me to believe that the Queen-Regent informed you of our plans", his voice calls after you, suddenly bringing you to an abrupt halt.

Our plans? That means they have been talking about this behind your back for who knows how long. You were deemed to lose from the beginning. As always.

"She did", you say, slowly turning around and towards him. He hasn't moved from the spot where you left him moments ago, but his presence fills the entire hallway anyway.

The way he stands there and looks at you, as if you were fragile and pitiable, makes the anger inside of you boil up once more and you walk towards him. Instead of taking a step back, however, he takes one towards you so that he is now towering over you with all his height.

"Listen to my words: I don't know what exactly you hope to achieve with this.. marriage. But it will never happen. I will not marry you", you tell him clearly, emphasizing the last words by poking your index finger into his chest. You don't give him time to answer, but as you turn around you notice the knowing grin that plays around his lips.

You decide not to respond to this and move away from him entirely. As soon as you turn into the next corridor, you finally feel like you can breathe again. At least as much as is possible for you within these walls.

You haven't been able to breathe properly in here for a long time.

You walk to your room, two guards posted on either side of the massive doors, and let yourself through without a word. Once inside, you find your way directly to the balcony, which overlooks the entire city and the harbour. The wind blows through your hair and creates a sad smile on your lips. From up here, you can hear nothing but the wind, the people frolicking down there nothing more than tiny black dots. A single tear finds its way down your cheek and you don't bother to wipe it away. Rather, you are amazed that you can even cry at all after all the tears you have already shed here.

You don't know if it is at that moment, or before, when you threw your crown at Míriel's feet, but you make a decision.

With a goal in mind, you go back inside, into the huge room you call your own and search through several closets until you find what you are looking for. You swap your beautifully ornamented dress for a more simple one, get rid of all your jewelry and put your hair into a casual updo. On the way to the door, your own reflection briefly looks back at you from the mirror across the room and you pause as you look at yourself.

Nothing is left of the little girl who once had dreams and pursued goals.

Taking another deep breath, you open the door and step out. The guards bow, as they always do when they see you.

"I'm going to pay a visit to my father", you explain to them, which they confirm with a short nod. They are about to follow you, but seem to remember that you are now allowed to walk around without guards constantly at your side, at least within the castle's walls. A change that hasn't been in effect for very long.

Nevertheless, you quicken your pace once you are out of their reach, afraid that they will decide to follow you after all. On your way, you make sure to avoid the maids and other guards, hiding behind corners, holding your breath. When you finally arrive at the stairs to the tower that lead up to your father, you stop hesitantly. But it only takes a moment, remembering your conversation with Míriel and all the other terrible events of the past, for you to regain your strength and turn away. With quick steps, you take the next set of stairs that lead down.

As you arrive in corridors that lead to the kitchen and staff facilities, you pay close attention to every little noise. Your heart is pounding so hard against your chest that you feel like it can be heard echoing throughout the corridors. You put your shaking hands against the spot where your heart is and try to calm yourself down. You've never tried to break out of this prison before, you always thought you were here for your own good. But you know better now. The thought of the outside world, which you have encountered so rarely in your life, scares you beyond belief either way.

Your sister's words still roam around your mind, making you clench your fists, until you gather up all your courage. Finally, you make it out of one of the doors, out into the fresh air that greets you lovingly.

However, you have no time to linger and quickly move forward, with careful steps as not to alert anyone. As you walk, you pull a cloth out of the corset of your dress that you had previously hidden there. In one swift motion, you pull it over your head and hide your face behind the fabric, only your eyes visible now.

With these safety measures in place, you make your way to the harbour, away from the castle. The entrances for the staff are guarded, but because of your disguise they let you pass. Once you slip past them, you are immediately surprised by the number of people walking through the streets. The sun is already setting on the horizon and the warm light of lanterns illuminates the alleyways.

With a gentle smile, you watch as two children whirl around, holding dolls that they chase each other with. You follow the mass of people who probably want to celebrate the end of their day in one of the taverns. The closer you get to the center of the city, the market square, the louder and more crowded it becomes. You hear them talking, laughing with each other, arguments are being settled, some young girls dance in the middle of a crowd of people who happily watch and applaud.

Despite the positive and joyful atmosphere, you are overcome by a feeling of sadness and sorrow all of a sudden. These people are your people - and you never get to see them. They don't get to see you unless they enter the castle, and that is something only a few people are allowed to do, reserved especially for the nobles and those of higher rank. But what makes you even sadder is the fact that very few of them even care for you. You are second in line to the throne. Once your father leaves this world, Míriel will be their Queen. Accordingly, interest in you is quite low. You are not even sure they would recognize you if you took off your disguise.

The sad truth is that they wouldn't, and that hurts more than you thought. And these are the people you are supposed to give your life for.

Suddenly everything becomes too much for you. Your ears are ringing, your heart is pounding, your whole body is shaking. No matter where you look, there are crowds of people everywhere. You feel small, constricted, helpless. You are carelessly pushed to the side, shoved forward. Your feet are stepped on, no one apologizes. You try to break out of the crowd, but your head is spinning and you no longer know which direction to go. Your breathing is getting faster and louder by the second. Nobody notices, nobody shows even the slightest hint of interest in you.

When you feel your legs giving way beneath you, you are suddenly grabbed by the arm and pulled into an alley.

You are terrified when you realize that you cannot defend yourself, your body is completely frozen and does not listen to your commands. Only when you feel a gentle hand on your cheek - the cloth must have come loose in all the chaos - and look up do you let out a breath that you didn't even know you were holding in. Lord Halbrand is standing in front of you, his face painted in concern as he looks you up and down.

"What are you doing out here all alone, Princess?", he asks and quickly grabs a hold of your shoulder as you start to drift away again, your legs no longer able to hold you upright. Exhausted, you lean against the stone wall behind you and close your eyes. You don't like that he sees you like this. On the other hand, he just saved you and prevented you from fainting in the middle of a crowd.

"I.. don't know", you whisper in defeat and it takes all your strength to admit it.

"What were you even thinking?", he says quietly, more to himself than to you. It feels like he doesn't want to scold you, but on the other hand he also does want to.

You look into his eyes, his face bathed in warm light from the soft candlelight of the lanterns around you. The wounds that are covering his skin have slowly healed, but even in this dim light you still notice them. Only now, when staring at him, do you realize that he is distracting you from all the noise and hustle, faded into the background.

"Come. I'll escort you back to the castle", he finally offers, his hands still on your shoulders as if he doesn't dare let go of you, afraid that you'll drift into the darkness at any moment.

Once again, you don't react and only stare at him, making the worry on his face deepen. In the meantime, you just can't wrap your head around how a Southlander like him, a low man, who barely knows you and who you've met with nothing but hatred, is worried about you while the people around you, your kind, are far away from even remotely caring about you.

"Can you walk on your own?", he asks, and when you finally nod in agreement, he lets go of you. But not for long, because after he puts the cloth back in its place to cover your features one of his hands wraps around yours and holds it tightly in his grip as he pulls you behind him, up several steps that lead further away from the cheerful scene.

You are grateful that he doesn't ask any questions, doesn't want to know why you were out here in the first place.

"Thank you."

That makes him pause for a moment and his hand applies a little more pressure on yours. In response, he turns to you with a gentle smile and lowers his head in resignation.

For some inexplicable reason, your heart suddenly skips a beat. He doesn't seem to notice the change in your face, however, and walks on. Together you make your way through the winding streets and you are amazed at how well he already knows his way around. You have to admit that it also hurts. After just a few days he's already more familiar with this city than you are.

You can already see the entrance to the castle when Lord Halbrand halts in his step, forcing you to stop as well. Turning to you, he steps closer and lifts your hand. Then, he gently places his other hand on top of it.

"I don't know what you were doing out there", he starts, looking from your hand between his to your eyes. "But rest assured that I'll keep it to myself."

The relief you feel in that moment is indescribable. If your sister found out you had escaped, she would surely reinforce all safety measure to protect you. This feeling doesn't last long, however, when another emotion suddenly overshadows it once he continues speaking.

"A princess like you doesn't belong out here."

He may not notice it, but these words hurt you deeply and make your eyes burn with tears within seconds. Without hesitation, you snatch your hand from him and put some distance between you by taking a few steps back. Your knees still feel weak, but you don't let it show. Lord Halbrand's face meets yours with incomprehension as you do so.

"I know where I belong", you spit out angrily and straighten up. For a moment you actually thought there might be more hidden beneath his facade. Oh, how wrong you were.

With these last words, you leave him standing there and walk the last few meters to the castle without him. Once again, you sneak through the staff quarters into the castle. Although you don't want to admit it, the walls suddenly give you comfort, making you feel safe and protected.

You quickly blink away a few tears and return to your chambers, where you go straight to bed. Even though you are incredibly exhausted and drained, you don't sleep all night. You toss and turn in the sheets, your mind plagued by nightmares until you hear the birds outside singing.

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Annoyed, you slam the door to your chambers shut behind you and lean against it with a huff. Then you slide down to the cold ground and pull your knees closer to you, hugging them against your body.

Once again you tried to talk to your sister. Once again she dismissed your words as if they were worthless.

And that's exactly how you feel right now: worthless. Born into a life that brings you nothing but suffering and pain.

Ever since you were born, you were the one who would never ascend the throne. Who would never rule. And you never wanted to. You would never want to be your sister. But right now, you wish that you were both just born into a normal family, with no wealth or power. At the end of the day, she is still your big sister, the one who has always watched over you. Your mother dead, your father long bedridden - she is the only family you have left.

You miss the times when everything was peaceful. Happy times long gone when two sisters were inseparable. But the years made you believe that this world is not made for anyone to be happy.

You lower your head and let the sadness wash over you like waves finally bringing down a ship, and tears stream down your cheeks. Your body shakes, but you hold back any sobs, crying in silence.

You don't know how long you sat there, alone with your thoughts, the very last tear leaving your eye, but eventually something catches your attention. Something that reflects the light from across the room, lying on your vanity table that wasn't there when you left in the morning. Slowly, you get up and walk over, only to discover a beautiful brooch on top of a small piece of parchment. The design is that of a sun and the brooch is decorated with white and blue diamonds. It's breathtaking to look at.

You glance at the black ink on the parchment and your heart involuntarily jumps once more. The words read: 'Forgive me'.

When you suddenly hear footsteps behind you, however, you don't have time to think about these words any further. In one quick movement, you take an ornate dagger out of one of the drawers and turn in the direction of the noises. What you don't expect, however, is that Lord Halbrand emerges from the shadows behind your bed.

"H-How did you get in here? Who let you in?", you ask, out of breath, your heart pounding. The dagger in your hand is still raised, even as he approaches you. He doesn't say anything, however, just stands in front of you and slowly grabs your hand, which is tightly gripping the weapon. He lowers your joined hands and carefully removes the dagger from your grip, leaning over you to gently place it on the table.

"I was uncertain if my apology would be deemed acceptable, hence I wanted to see you in person to make sure", his soft voice sounds in your ear and sends a shiver down your spine. He is definitely too close to you right now and even though you'd never admit it, it doesn't feel uncomfortable. You look straight into his shining eyes which are not quite blue and not quite green but something in the middle. You swallow because the intensity in his gaze leaves you speechless.

"Get off me", you manage to croak out, sounding anything but convincing. Lord Halbrand notices this too, a smirk playing around his lips.

"I know you don't mean that, Princess. And that, deep down, you have already forgiven me", he breathes in a deeper voice than before and brushes a strand of hair from your face. In an instant, you grab his wrist and stop him from touching you any further. Because you know exactly what his touch does to you. And you simply cannot and do not want to acknowledge that you like what he does.

So far, every encounter with him was exhilarating, thrilling, like you were finally embarking on a long-awaited adventure. He awakens feelings you have kept locked away for a long time, sealed behind thick iron bars. Brick by brick, he slowly destroys the protective walls you have built around your heart.

It scares you.

"Lord Halbrand", you say more seriously now and stare directly into his beautiful eyes while he does not even try to free himself from your grip. "Get out of this room or I will call the guards and have you removed."

At that threat, Lord Halbrand lets out a quiet chuckle and removes his hand from your tight grip with ease.

"Before long, I will become your husband. It's time for you to get used to my presence, my lady", he states and the fury that rises in your eyes at his words is unmistakable. "I am aware that this.. arrangement may not be something you look forward to, but I suggest that you begin to come to terms with it. I fear you have no choice but to agree."

"Don't do this", you plead, and even though you try your best to hide it, your body trembles and your eyes fill with tears. The realization that he is telling the truth makes you feel sick to your stomach. Not wanting him to see your obvious discomfort, you turn your head away, lowering it in the process.

The next moment, however, you are unexpectedly pulled forward and suddenly feel two strong, muscular arms around you. Lord Halbrand hugs you as if his life depended on it. You can't even remember the last time someone hugged you. Especially not like this.

The slight scent of sea salt and smoke greets you and you have to admit that his embrace makes you feel safe, comfortable even. With his arms pressing you against his firm body tenderly, he manages to stop your body from shaking and your head from spinning. Right now, it's just you and Lord Halbrand. No could-haves, no would-haves.

The fact that you are no longer averse to his proximity scares you an immeasurable amount. That is also the reason why, in the next second, you push him away with all your strength, your hands on his hard chest.

"Please, Lord Halbrand. I need you to leave", you almost beg him and when his hand clasps yours on his chest, you look up at him and suddenly feel seen. The way he looks at you is unlike anyone has ever looked at you before.

"Your wish is my command, Princess", he nods and lifts your hand to his mouth, where he places a feather-light kiss on the back of your hand before he walks back to the large doors to your chamber, not taking his eyes off you. You also watch him and wait for him to finally leave you.

"Leave out the Lord next time", is the last thing he says before he disappears.

As soon as you see the door slam shut behind him, however, you run over with quick steps. Only when you get there and reach for the door handle do you stop yourself. What has gotten into you? Overwhelmed by the emotions flowing through your body all at once, you lean your forehead against the door in defeat.

After staying there for a while and taking several deep breaths to calm your rapidly pounding heart, you walk over to the brooch that is still shining at you from the table. Carefully, you place the fragile thing in the palm of your hand and examine it when you suddenly hear a whistle.

Wondering where it came from, you step out onto your balcony and see a few ships leaving the bay in the distance. But your attention is quickly drawn to the person standing in the courtyard a few meters below, looking up at you. You don't have to look twice to know that it is Halbrand.

"Give us a chance", he calls up to you and even from this distance you can see the bright smile on his face. Then he turns around and disappears under one of the archways.

Holding the brooch tightly to your heart, you can't believe that a soft smile creeps onto your lips.

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"His Lordship Halbrand has requested to see you, my lady", one of the guards announces as you step out of your chambers the next morning. The mention of his name makes your heart skip a beat and you straighten up immediately.

"Then I shouldn't keep him waiting", you reply gracefully and let the guard accompany you to the place where Halbrand wants to meet you. You wouldn't have expected this to be the inner courtyard, though. And even less that he would be waiting for you there with two saddled horses.

"I hope you had a good night's sleep, my lady", Halbrand greets you with a gentle smile and notices that your steps immediately slow down when you see him with the horses. "Rest assured, Princess. I have consulted with the Queen-Regent regarding this matter. With her approval, I am permitted to accompany you on a brief ride. If that is what you wish, of course."

You pause entirely. You can't believe he convinced your sister to let you leave the castle, and with only Halbrand as your company as well. On the other hand, you've gotten a sense of how charming and persuasive he can be in the last few days.

Smiling, he holds out the reins of a white mare that is standing calmly next to him. Still a little unsure about the whole situation, you take the reins and stroke the horse gently, but don't take your eyes off Halbrand.

"H-How?", you ask him in disbelief. You can't help but think back to how often you have begged your sister to finally let you leave the castle. The fact that she is allowing this now makes you a little suspicious, but you certainly won't question her motives if it means that you can experience freedom once more, even if only for a few hours.

"We have to be back by sunset", Halbrand winks at you and comes closer, making you take a step back instinctively. When he reaches out his hand, you realize that he just wants to help you onto the mare, so you put your hand in his. Once you feel his calloused, rough yet soft hand, a pleasant feeling flows through you and when you sit upon the mare's back, you feel like you could conquer the world. He mounts his black horse as well and together you lead the horses out of the gate.

You turn around, your eyes fixed on the castle and the guards who make no move to follow you. A sense of relief flows through your body at once. Side by side, you make it out of the city and as soon as you leave the border of the capital, you are greeted by vast meadows and fields, grass gently swaying in the wind.

It doesn't take long before you get your horses galloping over the fields. Your white mare is a little faster than his horse, but you hardly even notice. You can only concentrate on the wind blowing through your hair, letting your dress float gently behind you. The air feels liberating and you are amazed at the beauty of nature, the beauty of the island you call home but have seen so little of.

A little later you reach a white sandy beach, the waves calm, seagulls squalling in the distance. The sea suddenly smells completely different from what you are used to and you can't help but smile.

If this is what freedom feels like, you won't ever go back.

Finally, you bring your horse to a stop on the shore, scratching her head, and turn to Halbrand, who stops his stallion right in front of you. Your hair is all tousled by the wind, but Halbrand smiles at you so genuinely that your cheeks flush. Without saying a word, you hop off your mare's back and bend down to bury your hands in the sand. As Halbrand dismounts, you quickly take off your shoes, lift up the fabric of your dress a little, and wade into the shallow water, which laps warmly against your skin.

You can't remember the last time you felt the ocean. As a Númenorean, you are connected to the sea on a deeper level and it feels like, right now, it's showing you how much it's missed you, like you're reuniting with an old friend. The sun is high above you, warming your skin as you close your eyes and enjoy the moment. Then you jump around the water playfully and with so much joy you haven't felt since you were a child.

Until you meet Halbrand's gaze. He is still standing where you left him, the reins of both horses in his hand, watching you enjoy yourself with so much affection in his eyes that you want nothing more than to run to him and fall into his arms, chasing the exhilarating feeling he gave you the day before.

Shyly, you slowly walk back to him through the ankle-deep water, your dress a little wet at the bottom.

"Enjoying yourself?", he asks with a smile, one hand scratching his horse behind the ears as he looks you up and down with sparkling eyes.

"Not exactly princess-like behaviour now, is it?", you shrug, eliciting a chuckle from him that gives you goosebumps and makes your heart beat faster.

"If you want my humble opinion: I think it's exactly how a princess should behave", he replies, the wrinkles around his eyes from smiling making him even more handsome in your eyes. "You shouldn't have to hide from the world."

"I wish I could come here more often", you sigh, ignoring his statement, your mood suddenly burdened by the thought that this moment of freedom will not last long and you will soon find yourself locked up inside the walls of the castle again. Halbrand's expression matches yours, but his gaze lays you bare. Feeling weak, you turn away. You stumble through the sand and finally flop onto the ground on a small dune, neatly placing your shoes next to you. Halbrand leaves the horses in your sight and joins you, sitting just a few meters next to you, your elbows touching.

For a while, neither of you says anything and you just stare out at the waves, which radiate a certain calm.

"As a child, I was very sick. An unidentified illness that was brought over from the continent. Despite having overcome it, I remained in a very weak state, requiring assistance with everything. I was not allowed to go out neither were people allowed to see me for fear of infecting me again. I was always surrounded by guards", you explain, your voice strong, but you have to pull yourself together not to sob. "Míriel was the only one who stood by my side, who made my time a little more bearable. Since our father.. has fallen sick, my sister feels even more responsible for my safety and, just like him, doesn't let me go out. She says it's for my own good and I once believed that, a long time ago. But now I doubt her concern is rooted in anything else than her own fear of losing me."

As soon as the last words leave your lips, you feel free. Free from the burden of not being able to tell anyone. But saying it out loud makes it feel so much more real. Still, pride fills you that you didn't shed a single tear. Halbrand, who was hanging on your every word, looks at you not with pity or sadness, but with a smile.

"Thank you for confiding in me. I can hardly imagine how hard that must have been for you", he tells you, speaking as if all of this is no longer your present. Maybe it's not right now, but it will be once you return.

"I have been wondering why you were locked up inside your whole life", he mutters to himself and takes a handful of sand, letting it trickle through his fingers. "And despite the prospect of freedom, you are against this marriage?"

His words hit you harder than they should, because you have to admit that you haven't given it a thought since yesterday.

"It's about her treating me like I'm a commodity that can be sold for a price", you answer, anger rising inside of you at the thought. "Either she keeps me here and risks a war or she finally lets me leave, with the ulterior motive that I at least bring some added value to Númenor. Besides, no one ever said that I would come with you once we were married."

"You think she would keep you here?", Halbrand asks, astonished. When you nod, something like determination paints his features.

"I won't allow that."

"I fear none of us will have much say in this", you sigh, exhausted and defeated, absentmindedly playing with the sand now as well. "I'm sorry you have to put up with a princess who knows nothing about this world, let alone has seen anything-"

"Don't say that", Halbrand interrupts you firmly, his eyebrows drawn together as if it physically hurts him to hear such words coming from your mouth. "You are perfect in my eyes, Princess."

You are glad he can't see the way your heart has started beating faster. What he can see, however, is the blush rising to your cheeks, which you quickly try to hide by turning your head away, pulling your knees closer to you.

"I feel like no one has ever told you how beautiful you are. In every way", he continues and you are startled when you feel his hand on your chin, gently turning your face back to him. You find it difficult to look at him, his eyes are looking at you so intensely that you no longer know which way is up and which way is down.

"Lord Halb-"

"What did I tell you about the Lord?", he chuckles, shaking his head at your cute behaviour. He loves the colour of pink your cheeks have taken on and how your eyes search his for any sign that he is lying, but you find nothing but the truth in them.

"When I told you that a princess like you doesn't belong here, I meant that a princess like you, who should be a queen, doesn't belong on this island, isolated from the world", Halbrand whispers, his hand moving from your chin to your cheek, where he gently strokes your heated skin with his thumb. "You belong in the very middle of it."

"N-No. I could never be a queen, I was not born for that", you explain, confident in your own words because it's all you have ever heard in your entire life; you would never be queen.

"I will make you a queen", he replies and the conviction with which he says this, the affection that resonates in his words and his features, makes you believe in his words. You desperately want to believe them.

"I promise I will not go without bringing you along", he assures you, holding your face in both of his hands now, his face so close to yours that you only have to lean forward a little to taste his lips. Halbrand notices this too, his gaze wanders to your lips and back to your eyes, which meet his almost pleadingly. As soon as you slightly nod, he connects your lips in a gentle but longing kiss. You gasp, never having been kissed before. Your heart feels like it will jump out of your chest at any moment, the sound of the waves blurs with your heartbeat and your hands get lost in his hair.

The kiss only lasts a few seconds, both of you having to catch your breath, but you don't want to let go of him. You have no idea what this man, this inconspicuous King of the Southlands, is doing to you, but you don't want to think about it because all you know is that you finally feel like yourself again, a feeling that seems so familiar yet unknown.

"I promise I will make you a queen and if it's the last thing I do", Halbrand tells you once more, leaning his forehead against yours before leaving a gentle kiss on the side of your mouth. Smiling up at him, you waste no time to wrap your arms around his neck and connect your lips in another kiss.

You will be his queen. And then you will finally be free.

[daily-smol-silm]

Cozy/warm winter drawing idea - Melkor and Sauron toasting marshmallows, but the fire is a balrog

Day #137 - Marshmallows

I mean, the balrog seems pretty happy about the whole deal. They probably get to eat the marshmallows Melkor burns.

[kisses-in-the-void]

I saw an Angbang fanart with Melkor saying to Sauron: "You’re the only beautiful thing that Eru created," and now I can’t stop thinking about how accurate that is. I mean, we’re told many times that Melkor craved beauty, how he desired light, was tempted by it, and only turned to destruction and chaos when he couldn’t possess it. He ended up hating Varda more than any other Vala, even more than Manwe, Tulkas, or Aule, simply because she rejected him.

But then there was Mairon, the fair, angelic creature who followed him willingly, stayed loyal for so long, and did everything for his master’s triumph. You can’t convince me that Melkor didn’t adore him.

[gracefallingart]

Melkor and Mairon

Here they are... my final version of the dorky Dark Lords of Arda. The greater and lesser evils of the world, the Dark Foe and his Abhorrent Lieutenant.... Melkor and Mairon also known as Morgoth and Sauron.

Complete with Silmarils just "acquired" for this lovely crown... burned his hand, but totally worth it... right?

[winds-of-zephyr416]

Angbang as random tumblr cat gifs, because I could.

SMOOSH

That's his.

Mlem mlem mlem mlem

That's his 2 electric boogaloo (Mairon edition)

Oh what's this? A floof?? A tired floof needing comfort? GET SNUGGLED IDIOT

On their way to wreck Arda for everyone smh

Btw when I say "villains in love" this is what I mean. Just cause you look like a vampire doesn't mean you don't get to get kisses from your SO. (who also looks like a vampire).

[jhalya]

🧝‍♀️🐈‍⬛️ Galadriel enjoys a moment of peace (Tevildo!Sauron AU)

🔗Read on AO3.

[rivendellwatch]

I think people didn't write haladriel for Fluff Week because you have been known to hate the ship and you created the week ;-;

Hey Anon, I want to address this with care and clarity, because I understand where the concern is coming from, but I also think there are some misconceptions here that I’d really like to clear up.

While it’s true that Haladriel isn’t a ship I personally enjoy or engage with, my personal preferences have nothing to do with the way Fluff Week was structured, promoted, or received. The event was never designed to exclude or discourage any ship—quite the opposite, in fact (see previous posts and also the announcements made announcing the week event). I’ve made it very clear that any and all ships are welcome to participate, and that includes Haladriel, Saurondriel, Sauronbrimbor, canon pairings, rarepairs, OCs—you name it, as long as it had fluff in it.

I created Fluff Week to celebrate softness and comfort in all corners of the fandom, and that hasn’t changed.

It’s also important to note that I’ve never shared hate for Haladriel—or any ship, for that matter—on this blog.

I’ve kept my personal opinions and ship preferences separate from event spaces, precisely because I want everyone to feel comfortable contributing what makes them happy. It’s true that some people have blocked me on my main (maul-of-shame) or simply chosen not to engage, and that’s their right. Some are even here, reblogging and interracting despite having me blocked on main. But it’s a bit of a leap to assume that those choices—or my own personal shipping tastes—have caused people not to write Haladriel content for Fluff Week. People create what inspires them, what brings them joy, and what they have time and emotional energy for. That’s it.

That’s the reality of fandom participation.

Also, my personal dislike of the ship stems from a combination of my own reading of the characters and, unfortunately, experiences I’ve had with some fans who were needlessly hostile, toxic, or invasive. That doesn’t mean all Haladriel shippers are like that—of course not—but it has made me less comfortable in those spaces.

Still, none of that has influenced how I run events like Fluff Week. I take real care to ensure that these events are welcoming and open to all interpretations, even the ones I don’t personally engage with. I don’t have to love something to respect that others do, and I’ve worked hard to reflect that attitude in how I interact with people in the fandom here.

To be completely honest, I think it’s really important to separate my personal opinions—shared on my main—from how I’ve run this event.

My metas about Haladriel, or Saurondriel, or any ship I engage with, are my own. I’m not asking people to agree with them, I’m not demanding people see things my way, and I’m definitely not using this blog or events like Fluff Week as a platform to push my shipping preferences or dislikes. I have always made it a point to keep this space open and neutral in terms of tone and interaction. And let’s be real—there are plenty of ships I don’t personally enjoy or connect with, including not just Haladriel or Saurondriel, but also canon pairings like Celebrian/Elrond and Celeborn/Galadriel and more. That doesn’t mean I "hate" people who enjoy them or that I want them excluded from fandom spaces or events like this one. It just means I choose not to engage with those ships creatively. If people have blocked me or disengaged because they know we don’t align on certain ships, that’s fine—it’s their boundary, and I respect it. But it doesn’t mean this event was shaped by bias, or that I’ve ever discouraged anyone from sharing content for ships I don’t personally love. Fluff Week has always been a space for everyone—as long as they’re here to celebrate softness in good faith, they’re welcome.

And just to be crystal clear: my personal dislike or disinterest in Haladriel/Saurondriel etc—and yes, I have been open about disliking the dynamic, on my own space—has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not people wrote it for Fluff Week.

I'm sorry but I’m not responsible for people’s participation, or lack thereof.

I don’t have that kind of influence, nor would I ever want it. If people didn’t write Haladriel fluff, it’s not because I created the event—it’s because they didn’t feel like it, didn’t have the time, or weren’t inspired. That’s it. People write what moves them, not what’s expected. The absence of one ship, or the presence of another, isn’t a personal statement about who’s "welcome"—everyone is welcome. That’s been stated openly, repeatedly, and without conditions.

Me not liking anything related to Galadriel/Sauron/Annatar/Halbrand has nothing to do with the absence of fics for this event.

I didn't go around, asking people not to write/draw or create for these two.

That’s not how I engage with stories or characters, and it’s not how I move through fandom. If anything, the reason I’ve been vocal about some of my discomfort on my main blog (which is NOT this one) with Haladriel is because of how I personally interpret the characters and dynamics, my conflicts with some of its shippers—not because of competition with other ships, or jealousy, or any imagined rivalry. That kind of narrative is not only inaccurate, it’s dismissive of the real effort people put into making and enjoying different kinds of content.

If folks want more Haladriel for Fluff Week, I genuinely hope they write it, share it, and enjoy it! The event belongs to the whole fandom, not just me. I’m just the one who set the dates and held the door open. What people do inside that space is entirely up to them.

So I want to gently push back on the idea that the lack of Haladriel fluff is somehow a result of me or my influence—it’s just not the case. If people didn’t feel like creating for it, that’s okay! That’s just how fandom participation works. People are busy, inspired by different things, or perhaps simply weren’t aware of the event. It’s not a reflection of me, the event structure, or any sort of agenda. I’m always rooting for folks to write what they love, whether or not it overlaps with my own interests.

At the end of the day, Fluff Week is about warmth, softness, and joy. That includes all ships. And I truly hope everyone feels free to share their interpretations without hesitation—because there is always space here for that.💛

_ Bucky

[trash-ainu]

Length: One-shot Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Pairing: Morgoth Bauglir | Melkor/Sauron Series: Part 7 of Music of the Ainur

Summary: Although Melkor would sooner eat his own warhammer than admit this, he might have a bit of a soft spot for his various creatures of Darkness. And Mairon.

This is a tale of missing jewellery, contests, werewolves, dragons, cloaks and daggers; and a very unprofessional relationship between Lord and lieutenant…

Here it is! Something fluffy I wrote as detox from all the angst I usually deal in :3 It’s mostly an excuse for me to write those two Dork Lords interacting with their children terrible beasts born of discord and darkness ;DDD

[elronds-library]

The Bride Price

by Stealthily_Nobody (@stealthily--nobody)

Part 1 of The Bride Price and extended tales

After finding himself mysteriously in the past after dying at his husband's hands, Telperinquar concocts the perfect way to spend his new (second?) chance at life. Tyelpe’s plan to get his husband back: Step one: escape father’s overprotective gaze and escape to the Finrod's tower which now belongs to Sauron Step two: build a home worthy of his husband with the best forge in Middle-Earth Step three: gain Annatar’s attention Step four: seduce Annatar Step five: marry Annatar and live happily together through the first age

General, No Archive Warnings

Words: 61,069

[dracowars]

Can you please write Annatar braiding the reader's hair in an affection way.

peaceful | annatar

pairing: annatar x elf!reader

word count: 0,7k

summary: where annatar braids y/n's hair

a/n: first fic of this year!! and also my first ever request for rop?? thank you so much for requesting 🫶🏻 hope you enjoy a shorter & sweeter story of our man <3

warnings: sauron being soft lol

universe: the rings of power

It is late in the evening, the sun has already sunk below the horizon a few hours ago. Candlelight and the crackling fire in the fireplace illuminate the room you call home in a warm light. You have just stepped out onto the balcony and let your gaze wander over the beautiful city of Eregion when you hear the door slam shut.

With a smile, you turn around to greet your husband. Annatar steps out of the darkness of the door into the light, his long hair shimmering despite him only returning at this late hour of the day. His gaze is stoic at first, tense, but as soon as he meets your gaze, his features soften and a gentle smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he finds you there on the balcony in the moonlight. Waiting for him.

"I hope you didn't have to wait too long for me, my lady", he states elegantly, bowing his head with an amused look, before walking towards you with slow steps. Your body is wrapped in a white, soft dress, your long elvish hair falls smoothly over your shoulders and your neck is adorned by a filigree necklace.

"I would wait an eternity for you", you reply, and every word you say is filled with truth. Annatar knows that too so when he finally reaches you, his kiss is full of longing and passion. But also of affection.

There is noone else for him but you.

His hands hold you tightly at your waist while your own cup his face in an attempt to pull him even closer to you.

He literally takes your breath away, but it is he who breaks the kiss after several breathless moments, not you. Gently, he leans his forehead against yours and reaches for your hand, looking down at the shiny ring on your finger. The one ring that you will never take off ever again.

Then his hand wanders over your delicate skin, from your forearm to your shoulders, over your collarbone until he reaches your neck. His gaze is inspecting, as if he is looking for something. Something that he finally seems to find in your smooth hair. He gently pushes all your hair back over your shoulder so that your collarbone is fully exposed now.

"You are so beautiful", he whispers softly, but for some reason it looks as if this realization torments him deeply. In his blue eyes you see nothing than pure affection despite his torn expression, flames licking at his irises.

Although you are used to being touched and complimented by him, an immense heat burns up inside you. Even more so when he gently turns you around and runs his fingers through your hair.

"Tell me about your day, my love", he asks you, whispering closely to your ear as your gaze wanders over Eregion once more. As you begin to talk about your day, he continues to comb his fingers through your hair, leaving no strand unregarded. His touch, the whole gentleness and intimacy of it all, sends shivers down your whole body.

Carefully, Annatar starts braiding your hair, putting his entire focus to it. And you know everything he ever touches turns into pure perfection.

"Sometimes I wonder what I did to deserve you", he suddenly interrupts your story and fixes your braided hairstyle with a clip drawn from his own hair. The bow that you carefully created out of his hair at the back of his head this morning falls apart, his hair falling into his face.

He steps in front of you now, the moon behind him giving him a halo from your point of view. All you see is him. All you feel is him.

With his fingertips, he finishes the hairstyle by pulling a few strands loose at the sides of your face. You watch him with a smile, not able to hold it back, as well as with a pounding heart. His finger slides from your temple to your chin, leaving warm spots on your skin on its wake, and lifts it, his face coming closer to yours.

"I often ask myself the same thing", you reply to his previous statement, playfully curling one of his long strands of hair around your own finger.

Annatar's eyes switch back and forth between yours, every now and then catching a glimpse at your lips. Then a genuine smile lights up his face before he leans down and unites your lips in another intense kiss.

It's peaceful moments like these that you will never forget. No matter what the future may hold. You know that Annatar will always be by your side and will love you just the way you are.

[daily-smol-silm]

Sorry but could you please do silvergifting sorry

Day #70 - Consensual workplace relationship

Hey you! No apologies. :3

[kisses-in-the-void]

Picrew blessed me with this perfect modern AU Angbang

​

[xximmortalkissxx]

Interested in being tagged? - Click Here Follow me on Bluesky Thunderbolts* Themed Side Blog: bobs-sleeper-build

Where the Shadows Lie

Moriel (Daughter of Morgoth)

(Sauron/Mairon x OC) / (Adar x OC) (Smut Heavy) (Rings of Power Inspired)

How Do You Hold A Moonbeam In Your Hand?

Isilmë (Daughter of Gil-galad)

(Elrond x OC) (Slow Burn Romance) (Rings of Power Inspired)

Be Welcome in the

House of Fëanor

(Fem)ChildReader & Sons of Fëanor

(Platonic) (Silmarillion Inspired)

Art Credit: silmaspens

Am I Making You Sweat?

(Fem)Reader/Gil-galad/Elrond

(No Plot Only Smut) (Rings of Power Inspired)

Art Credit: xximmortalkissxx

Chicken Soup for the Peredhel Soul

Kidnap Family (Maedhros & Maglor & Elrond & Elros)

(Platonic) (Silmarillion Inspired)

Art Credit: silmalope

Banners cafekitsune

[winds-of-zephyr416]

Melkor: Mairon?

Mairon, sleepily: Hmm?

Melkor: You love me, right?

Mairon:

Mairon: Melkor

Mairon: You're wearing the wedding ring I forged for you

Bonus ~~

Melkor: *tearing up*

Mairon: Aw hon

Mairon: Come here

[scriberated]

Stand By Me - Chapter 11

Chapter 11 | Ao3

Chapter Summary:

“Still,” he insisted, hand sliding to her hip. “Having you here… I’ve never had anyone believe in me like you do. And it matters. So, thank you.”

“You’ll never have to thank me for loving you, Halbrand,” Galadriel said, scooting further up the bed to face him directly, and pressed a firm kiss to his mouth. “Not ever.”

He returned the kiss, parting his mouth to invite her in, his free hand sliding along her face to tangle in her hair. His knee slipped between her legs, the hand on her ass pulling her closer. It didn’t escalate beyond that, their time spent kissing and enjoying being close.

After several minutes of blissful cuddling, Halbrand beginning to doze, Galadriel nudged him awake. “So, about St. Patrick’s Day…”

He laughed, waking more fully, and sighed. “Almost thought I was going to get out of that…”

“You’re the one who brought it up again,” she reminded him, grinning. “Besides the little I do remember about that night is way more embarrassing for me.”

“I’m not embarrassed–” he clarified, flicking her nose. “–just…” He trailed off, seeming to consider his words. “So, what do you remember, exactly?”

Work Summary: He turned towards her, frowning. “My family’s 4th of July picnic is tomorrow, and my cousin Melian’s engagement party is the day after. We talked about it this morning. Weren’t you listening?”

She had been listening, but she had never heard an invitation, and told him as much. “I heard you complain for over an hour about your family, and how you were very much looking forward to leaving it before you’ve even arrived. I don’t recall an invitation being mentioned. Besides, I have plans.”

“What, to sit here by yourself on a holiday, for a whole week?” he snorted, giving her a disparaging look. Part 2 in the ‘And They Were Roommates’ ‘verse. Part 1: Stay Rating: Explicit Warnings: Mention of Grooming, Drug Use, Ships: Halbrand x Galadriel, Halbrand x Melkor (past), Galadriel x Celeborn (past) Tags: Fake/Pretend Relationship, and they were ROOMMATES, Accidental Kissing, Intentional Kissing, Oblivious, the slowest burn for how stupidly in love they are, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Slow Burn

[rivendellwatch]

🌸 Fluff Week – New Day, New Cuteness! 🌸

GOOD MORNING, FLUFF GREMLINS! HOW ARE WE DOING???☀️💖

We’ve made it to another day of Fluff Week, and you know what that means? MORE WHOLESOMENESS. MORE SHENANIGANS. MORE UNBEARABLY CUTE MOMENTS!!!😤✨

This week has been amazing so far—y’all truly outdid yourselves with the soft, the silly, and the absolutely heart-melting moments. I’m still recovering from how sweet everything is!!!!🥺💕 Seriously, your writing/arts/pieces are a gift, and I hope you know how much joy you’re bringing to everyone here!

Let’s keep the fluff train rolling! 🚂💨 Whether your characters are falling in love, being absolute disasters together, or just existing in their adorable little worlds, today is another chance to make someone’s heart grow three sizes. LET’S GO. 🥳

🌼 5 New Funky, Cute, and Funny Fluff Prompts! 🌼

The Ridiculous Bet™ Character A and Character B make a silly bet—whoever breaks into laughter first has to do something utterly ridiculous (like wear an ugly sweater in public, serenade their pet, or do a dramatic Shakespearean monologue in the middle of the grocery store). Naturally, chaos ensues because they both have zero poker face.

Stuck in a Tiny Space Together™ Whether it’s a broom closet, a tiny tent, or somehow getting wedged between furniture while trying to retrieve something (how did they even end up here??), Character A and B are way too close for comfort and way too flustered about it. Bonus points if someone sneezes. 🤧😳

The Ultimate Sneak Attack™ Character A has been trying to surprise Character B with a hug all day. But Character B is suspicious. Every time Character A gets close, they sense it. The result? An absurd game of cat-and-mouse where Character A keeps lunging out of hiding spots, and Character B is just barely dodging—until finally, A tackles them into the fluffiest, warmest, most victorious hug ever!💥

The Ice Cream War™ Character A and B go out for ice cream, and it’s all cute and fun until… betrayal strikes. Character A takes a bite of Character B’s ice cream without asking. Gasp. Character B declares WAR. Dramatic gasp. Betrayal. Cold revenge. A battle of spoon duels, dramatic speeches, and an absurd amount of giggling until both end up covered in ice cream and laughing too hard to continue. 🍦

Accidental Love Confession™ Character A, half-asleep, accidentally confesses their love to Character B. Maybe it’s a sleepy mumble, a drowsy "You're my favorite person ever," or an unconscious forehead kiss before passing out. Cue Character B just sitting there, staring at them like they’ve been hit by a truck while deciding if they should scream, cry, or combust on the spot. 🥺💖🔥

That’s it for today, besties! Keep the fluff coming, keep being amazing, and most importantly—have fun. 💕 Can’t wait to see what magic you all create! ✨

I am accepting works as fast as possible on AO3 for the collection and if you still haven't got an answer from me, feel free to dm me bestie!!!