Chapter Text
Halbrand
The fire was a sharp contrast to the dark grey clouds in the west. The bonfire cracked and hissed, the roaring flames growing high before they twirled in the warm wind.
He felt her gaze.
He gave her a few seconds before he turned his head to her. She was standing on his right hand side, so close to him, looking up into his eyes. Her expression was difficult to place. She almost looked resolute. Like she was set on something. Then again, that was Galadriel. As always, he could not tell what she was thinking.
Then her hand found his. He smiled as he let his fingers intertwine with hers. That was when she gave him a little smile back, before leaning her head against his arm. He closed his eyes in bliss as he inhaled the scent of her golden hair.
Good thing she could not hear his heart rate accelerate at the contact. Her touch and smell overwhelmed him, taking him back in time as his mind was consumed with memories of what had happened mere hours earlier.
---
“Will you be my queen, Galadriel?” he asked, holding her hands tight, pressing onto her forehead.
“Halbrand,” her voice cracked. He loved her so much for the way she spoke alone. Please say yes. Please say yes. I’ll do anything for you.
Her breathing was growing faster.
He felt her lean back. Slowly, he opened his eyes, looking into her eyes, hopeful.
“I wish for nothing more. I am yours as you are mine.”
He felt the way her body responded to her very own words. The flames that grew in her heart.
Had she- had she really just said that? No. Was it possible?
“I will be your queen,” she said, as though she knew that he feared he had misunderstood her. It sounded so genuine. He could hear her heartbeat. It was genuine. Was it really? Could it be?
He couldn’t stop the smile from forming, kissing her hand again. “I love you, Galadriel.”
I love you too, Halbrand, he heard her say to him.
She closed her eyes again. He could not stop himself. He swayed towards her, only just holding it together as he stared at her lips. Then she opened her eyes again.
Please Galadriel. Let me kiss you.
She slowly lifted her hand to the back of his head, gently pressing him towards her.
Thank you.
The inhale she gave when their lips touched almost made him groan.
The way he felt her muscles relax. Like she was no longer fighting herself.
About time, Galadriel. Now you are all mine. And I am all yours.
He could feel it rushing through her, pouring to every part of her body, as it was rushing through him. The fighting was over.
So they made out, their pace only growing faster. And she was not relenting.
He could feel the blood pumping through her. The exhilaration, the anticipation of more. More more more.
That was when she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Halbrand,” she murmured so affectionately before she kissed him again.
“Galadriel,” he mumbled before kissing her back.
She leaned her head back and stared at him. He stared back at her. How could someone be so beautiful? It was impossible.
He wanted to devour her. To make her -
Without warning, she kissed him again with a fierce passion he had not expected from her.
That’s it, Galadriel. L- let go.
He was losing track of his own thoughts. He had to keep it together. He could not allow himself to let go too soon.
She pressed his face against hers and he was happy to oblige, trying to hold it together. She tilted her head, and he let his hands explore, running up and down her sides the way he knew she loved.
Slowly, they moved over the floor.
It was then that her tongue ran into his mouth, making his breathing hitch.
So that’s how we’re going to play, is it? Very well.
He dove his tongue into her mouth just as quickly, to catch her off-guard. But instead, it was he who was caught off-guard by her sudden moan.
With all his might, he tried to keep it in as their tongues fought for the upper hand. But she really wasn’t holding back. Not with the sounds she was making, anyway.
So he too stopped keeping it down and allowed himself to groan just as loudly, all while her movements were growing more and more erratic.
So eager.
Her hands caught his.
Shit. Did I -
She guided them under her tunic.
Oh. Oh.
Just as quickly, she grabbed his hair again, all while he let his fingers glide up her soft skin, relishing in the goosebumps that spread over her, feeling the sparks of power that ran through to her.
Power you can handle now.
He was so proud of her, of how far she had come.
He almost chuckled at his own choice of words.
Oh she would come. Oh she would. He would make sure of it.
He ran his hands over the small of her back, pulling her closer.
That was when she suddenly grasped at his shoulders and jumped up, wrapping her legs around him.
He held her up, quick on his feet. You never cease to surprise me, Galadriel.
Even as he pushed her up against a pillar, their mouths were still battling, tongue running over tongue, over teeth, over lips.
She pulled at his hair, making him groan. Yes, pull my hair. Grip harder. Give it all you've got.
“You are mine,” she growled before she took his upper lip between hers, inhaling as she did so.
I am yours, he told her as he kissed her back with the same passion.
She held his head back, suddenly ceasing her kissing. Then, with utmost delicacy, she brushed her lips over his cheek, kissing his skin. The sudden tenderness startled him so much that he could feel the blush burn his cheeks. At the very least, she was far too gone to realize his reaction. Then her lips came to his eyes. He closed them as she dropped kisses on his eyelids. He could only gulp to force himself to keep his emotions at bay.
She tilted his head down and kissed his forehead before moving to his ear. She sighed into it, making his skin tingle.
“Halbrand,” she whispered.
He stifled the sound that almost escaped him before paying back the favor.
“Galadriel,” he groaned into her cheek.
She jumped back down, smiling up at him as her hands dug into his shirt and pulled him to her. She let herself lean back. He understood her request immediately as he lowered her, hovering over her until her back settled onto the floor.
He leaned down to her and felt her sharp inhale when he rubbed his face over hers, breathing in her scent. Then he came around to hover his lips over her open mouth.
He wanted her. He wanted her so so so much.
Before he could move out of the way, Galadriel had lifted her head, catching his lips. He stifled his groan when her tongue ran into his mouth again. He kissed her back just as fervently.
When she leaned back to catch her breath, he relished in the feeling of her fingers wandering over the back of his head, sending shivers down his spine. None of his past endeavors had made him feel this good. They didn’t even come close.
“I love you, Halbrand.”
“I love you, Galadriel,” he murmured, watching in delight as her eyes fluttered at his words. She pressed herself to him again, tilting her head to better kiss him.
Then she lifted him away again as he gazed at her, hungry for her. She looked just as hungry, and her words confirming it only fueled him.
“Make me yours, I beg you. I love you.”
He stifled another groan at the way she had said the words, a swirling melody etched into his memory for all eternity. Don’t surprise me like that, Galadriel. Still, he could not stop his smile as he leaned down to brush his lips over hers.
“Whatever you command, my queen,” he whispered into her mouth, hoping it would get the same reaction out of her as her words had gotten out of him.
But then she spoke again.
“Fuck. Say that again.”
Fuck? Galadriel. He was more than happy to oblige, but she couldn't just curse at him like that, out of the blue, catching him so off-guard. He wasn't going to last much longer if she kept surprising him.
“Whatever you command...” He paused for dramatic effect and to catch his breath. “My queen.”
She bit her lower lip. “I want you Halbrand. All of you. Now.” Her whisper was frantic, almost a plea.
He smiled at her. Pleading already? I could make this last-
“Do not play games with me Halbrand,” she warned him, almost sensing his thoughts by his smile alone. “I swear I will kill you if you do.”
What choice of words again, Galadriel. So unaffected by your hesitation about killing Sauron, only a few minutes ago. The moment you had been preparing for. For years.
“I would never dare,” he replied sarcastically as he lowered himself to kiss her neck. He would make her his. She needn’t worry about that.
His lips trailed over her shoulder as Galadriel threw off the rest of her armor. He had never seen hands so diligently undo amour clasps as quickly as she was.
Her impatience was admirable.
When she was done, he allowed himself to move down and slowly lift her shirt, looking up to check if it was okay. From the looks of it, she wanted nothing more.
He pulled it up ever so slightly to trace kisses over her abdomen, her skin responding to every single one of his touches. He felt her close her eyes in bliss, making him smile.
“Say my name,” he muttered between kisses. He wanted her to say it. For his own pleasure, of course, but also because he knew he could repay the favor. He wanted to have her come undone to him sighing her name. He had wanted to do it ever since that moment, in Eregion, when he had realized him saying her name could get her so aroused.
“Which one?” she jested.
Galadriel! What did I just say? Don't surprise me like that!
He made to face her again, smiling at her as she opened her eyes.
I love you Halbrand, he heard her say in her mind, yet again.
I know, he thought to himself smugly. Oh Galadriel, I know.
Ever so slowly, he lowered himself to her and steadily made out with her again, her moans muffled as he pressed himself against her. He could already feel the way she was heating up, the way she was slowly climbing towards that high.
He had to be careful.
“Whichever... one you wish... my queen,” he said between each kiss and every moan. “Any one of my names.”
“Halbrand,” she whispered. That made him smile as he groaned into her lips. Very well- “Sauron.”
Galadriel!
He groaned instinctively, feeling the way Sauron smiled smugly in the back of his mind.
For the first time, it seemed he and Sauron were on the same page. Galadriel was turning them both on.
That was when she arched her head back, breaking their contact.
“Alright?”
“Yes,” she sighed quickly.
“And by what name shall I call you, then?” he finally asked her, only slowly recovering from the way she had just made him feel.
Say it, Galadriel. Tell me how I should moan your name.
He let his hand run over her stomach, towards the wetness between her thighs. He could already feel the warmth radiate from her. It was hard to ignore.
He felt the way she froze as she stared at him. This is what you wanted, is it not?
“Alright?”
She pinched her lips, almost unable to repress that mischievous smile of hers. “That… that’s not my name.”
He couldn’t help but chortle at that.
Always full of surprises-
She stifled a moan. He was quite sure it was not his fingers. They hadn’t even arrived at their destination yet. What had it been then? It couldn’t have been his laugh, could it?
In that case… oh he would never hold back a chuckle in his lifetime.
He leaned closer to her, speaking against her mouth, trying to hold it together enough to articulate the words. “What name?”
Say it. Say it, Galadriel.
Her eyes widened as he let his fingers run over her wet skin, gliding into her with such ease that he had to bite his lower lip. She was so warm, so open, so ready.
“You…” she sighed as he rolled his fingers against her. Yes? “Already…” Just the right pressure, against just the right spots. He knew what he was doing. “Mmm… know… uh… the answer to that,” she moaned again. “Halbrand...”
He stifled his own groan. “Galadriel,” he whispered, giving her at last what she wanted.
He delighted in the way she arched her head back then. Felt the way she was finding it hard to breathe. The way her eyes were glazing over.
She was completely lost in the way he was pressing her skin, gliding his fingers up and down, his thumb pressing just the right spot with just the right amount of pressure.
I know how to do this, Galadriel. Trust me.
“Halbrand… please,” she mumbled.
Pleading again, Galadriel... you are making me lose my mind.
Slowly, he ran his fingers out of her, nearing her lips again as he adjusted himself over her. He couldn’t believe they were going to do this. They were really going to do this.
Stop acting like a giddy lover boy and get a move on, he told himself before Galadriel could say it for him.
He hurried to undo his breeches, not nearly as fast as she had been that night, in the snow. All the while, she was gazing up at him, her breathing growing faster again. She pinched her lips in anticipation.
He wanted nothing more than to melt into her, become one with her.
Now she was smiling at him. He could not help but smile back at her as he slowly eased himself into her, holding his breath to stop himself from breaking apart right then and there.
She gave a little gasp.
“Halbrand,” she sighed, her eyes dancing between his. “I’ve... waited for this... for such a long time.”
I know, Galadriel. I know.
Their noses were touching as he looked at her with that smug smile of his.
“I know you have.” He pushed himself into her with ease, holding back that visceral sound that almost grew out of his throat, clenching his fists. She sighed again.
Stop moaning like that Galadriel. Please. For the sake of my sanity.
No don’t stop, another part of him said. Let yourself go. And so what if I lose it first?
He brought his head down to the side of her face, kissing her ear. “So have I.”
Oh I know, Halbrand, she stammered in her mind, again letting him hear it. I know. I know I know I know. I’m so sorry you had to wait so long.
“What…” He gave a little groan as he moved in tandem with her, like they had done this a million times already. This was so much better than he could have ever even imagined it to be. “Did I say about apologizing?”
“I-”
Clearly she hadn’t meant for him to hear those thoughts.
He smiled at himself until he felt her heart skip a beat. “Halbrand…”
“What is it?” He found her eyes again.
If she made him stop now… well that meant she was definitely out to kill him.
She smiled up at him, taking the edge off his sudden doubts. “Tell me… tell… tell me this is not a dream.”
Oh. Oh. Oh yes, of course.
“It is not a dream,” he said, smiling down at her, suppressing a groan as he pushed into her again. She felt so good. How could someone feel so good? So right?
“Why?” he started, trying to take his mind off of how absolutely amazing all of this felt. “Did you… have dreams like this?”
She bit her lower lip, her smile widening as she nodded quickly.
Oh Galadriel.
“And were they about me?”
She inhaled sharply as they moved again, their lips brushing against each other. “Every… s-single… one of them.”
Fuck.
He stifled another groan as he gave her a self-satisfied smile.
Tell me about them, Galadriel, he almost asked her. Were they like this? What else did we do? Shall we role-play all the positions you have fantasized us in?
He watched as Galadriel let her eyes flutter shut. Oh she loved this. She was loving this so much. And so was he.
His whole body was on fire as he let his power run through to her, keeping it under control to have it just right. Giving her just enough to fill her with satisfaction without threatening to overwhelm her completely.
“Say my name,” she whispered as he breathed unsteadily against her face. It seemed she wanted the same thing he did. She wanted him to say her name. She knew what it did to her. He was more than happy to oblige. But only at the right moment.
“S-say my… my name,” she stuttered again as she stifled her deep exhales as his waves grew stronger, his rhythm faster.
There we go. Closer now. But we have to wait, Galadriel. Wait until the exact moment.
He lowered himself to her ear, lingering there silently as he felt pleasure build in her at every push, as she neared the precipice, fighting with all his might to hold himself back.
At just the right moment, just as she was about to peak, he broke apart every syllable, rolling the 'r', letting his low voice drip with every drop of desire that he felt for her.
“Galadriel,” he whispered.
“Halbrand,” she moaned as she shuddered.
Fuck.
He came undone just as quickly. He had not expected her to moan his name like that.
The way he felt then was a way he had never felt before in his long life. Not even the night in the snowstorm compared to this. Them, as one, feeling those same waves move through them. It was better than anything he could have ever imagined.
“Thank you,” he heard her whisper under her breath.
Instead of scolding her, he simply chuckled, making her hum as her hands found his hair, wading through it, her eyes still closed as she focused on the rushes of pleasure still running through her.
“We both... really need a bath.”
His heart beat quicker at those words.
But she still had her eyes closed, smiling in bliss. He kissed her shoulder before moving up to her cheek. Still, her eyes stayed closed.
She was completely exhausted. He could feel it in the way her heart was slowing, in the way her muscles were letting loose. He could not blame her. After all the physical fighting, and the mental turmoil of being unsure about almost killing him, and now this. Taking in not only his physical body, but the waves of his power too. And while he could commend her for not fainting again, it was more than understandable that her body needed some rest. It was no surprise that it only took a couple of minutes before she was gone completely, her hands in his hair falling away. But he caught her wrists before they smacked onto the ground. He carefully laid them onto the floor.
“Sleep, Galadriel.” He kissed her cheek as he removed himself from her. But even after he had helped heave up her breeches and pulled her shirt down again, all while she mumbled gibberish, he could not bring himself to move away, even if only to lie next to her. So he rested on top of her as he had during the snowstorm, wishing to stay as such for all eternity. And he did stay there, listening to her heart beat for a full two hours. But there was work to do, so he bit the inside of his mouth and slowly got up, kissing her on her forehead as he did so.
He allowed himself to part the hall and walk around the fortress as he sensed no living being for miles, other than them and his horse. The orcs had truly made a run for it. The cowards.
After some time of looking about, he found pantries with provisions and even a washroom. There was no time to waste. After a quick wash, he prepared everything, assembling what edible foods he could find for their return journey. His horse was still near the entrance of the building, a few marks here and there, but those wounds were quickly healed with his powers.
“There there,” he said as his horse neighed and nudged him ever so slightly while he fed him some of what he had found. “I’ll get you real treats once we’re back in the village,” he promised, scratching its jaw.
Back in the village… he actually hadn’t been sure if he would get the privilege of that return journey. Or if she would kill him. Or if Sauron would become too strong and tie him to that dark iron throne.
But now he knew he had nothing to fear. Galadriel was there with him. He was safe.
He gathered all the usable wood he could find, building up a bonfire outside of the castle. Now that Adar was dead, might as well be done with the body. So he heaved up the now cold body and carried it onto the stacks of wood, hesitating before deciding to wake her first.
Slowly, he made his way back into the hall as he pulled on his bracers, using one hand and his teeth to tie the laces of them shut.
He leaned on the same pillar he had heaved her up against, smiling at the sleeping beauty with his arms crossed. She looked more than serene. She looked happy. Even with her hair sprawled out on the ground, still dirty from the fighting.
He couldn’t believe their story would continue. That he would get this new beginning. That he finally had her – no – that she finally had him.
This was beginning of the sequel to their story.
He strode up to her, crouching down next to her, humming a tune as he let the backside of his index finger trace over her warm cheek.
“Hmm?” she mumbled as she slowly opened her eyes. As she looked up at him, regaining her consciousness, her look was, at first, blank.
For a second, he held his breath in fear that she would be horrified, that she would regret what they had done. That she would curse at him, hit him, perhaps even try to kill him. Again.
Instead, the widest smile found its way onto her face as her heart thumped against her chest. He tried not to let show how his heart melted at that moment.
“Halbrand,” she beamed.
“Galadriel,” he said, his own heart skipping a beat. “You are beautiful.”
She nudged her head to the side, catching him off-guard, as his finger now lingered over her mouth. She kissed it as she gazed up at him, her eyes gleaming.
Then her eyebrows furrowed as she turned about. “What time is it?”
He slowly brought his hand back. “Three hours, five minutes and fifteen seconds.”
She slowly sat up. “That is not a time, Halbrand. That is a duration.”
“The time that has passed since we made love.”
She looked at him with an expression of confusion before she gave him her usual glare.
There it is. That’s the glare.
Then her gaze softened and she leaned in. He did not stop her. Not even when her hand came to hold his chin as she kissed him softly, before pressing against him, taking his lower lip between hers. She groaned as she quickened the pace.
Dammit. We can never stop this now, can we?
Then she inhaled deeply as she pulled back. “Sorry.”
“What did I say-”
“About apologizing. Yes. I know. I just got carried away.”
So did I Galadriel.
She brought her hand to the side of his head. He hummed at her touch, only then realizing that she was merely studying his hair.
“You washed?”
“Yes, I found a washroom.”
“Where?”
He smiled at her as he told her. She made her way there while he walked out the horse to wait for her next to the pyre.
When she appeared outside of the fortress some time later, her hair was almost glowing.
He lost himself in the sight.
“Halbrand,” came her voice, like through clouds of thick air. “Halbrand!”
She snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Sorry, I was lost, gazing at you.”
She gave him her usual glare, making him smile once more.
“Are we heading back then?”
“I still wanted to take care of Adar’s body. Then we can go.”
She nodded, looking around as he started the fire. “Has there been no sign of my horse?”
“I have not seen or felt anything. But you can ride mine. I’m a fast walker.”
That made her chuckle. “I am sure you are.”
They stood next to each other as the fire grew higher.
“Let us just ride together,” she said after a while.
“And who will ride in front then?”
“Halbrand,” she chided.
He looked at her with one raised eyebrow. “It is a serious question.”
She did not look like she believed him. Still, she answered. “You can ride in front. For now.”
Now he raised both eyebrows. “Sure?”
“Yes,” she muttered before looking back at the bonfire as the fire only grew. He did the same.
After a few moments, he felt her eyes on him again. And that was when her hand found his, and she leaned in to him.