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To the shock of most people, Halbrand could occasionally be patient.
He was patient while he was stranded on the raft. He waited patiently in the Númenorian cell. He was patient as they rode toward what was left of his home. He was patient while he waited for Galadriel after the mountain erupted (no matter that Arondir said). He stayed in bed after he was healed by the Elves and waited patiently to be discharged. He was patient while he worked to rebuild homes in Pelargir.
However, what he failed to be patient about; no matter how hard he tried, was Galadriel.
It was the current reason he marched toward her room in Pelargir. He had barely seen her over the last few weeks and was irritated at whatever had begun to take up most all her time. After they practically lived in each other’s pocket over the last few months; not seeing her regularly made him feel unbalanced. Lately, she spent her time pouring over scrolls and in meetings with Elves. Anytime he approached her to ask what she was working on, one or both of them were called to attend other duties.
He had believed once she visited Pelargir he would be able to spend time with her. Had assumed that it must have been Elvish duties that required her time and presence in Eregion and Lindon.
He had been mistaken.
When she visited, most of her time was spent with Bronwyn. Not that he disapproved or had a problem with it, he liked and respected Bronwyn. She was an invaluable friend and was one of the main reasons Arondir smiled. He dropped by Bronwyn’s home to subtlety asked what Galadriel and her had been up to. She just smiled at him and told him that he would find out soon. That he just needed to be patient a bit longer.
His patience was at its end.
He had finally reached her room. As he approached, he noticed her door was open as light spilled into the corridor. He walked in and opened his mouth to call her name, but froze at the sight that greeted him.
Of Galadriel. Commander of the Northern Armies. Swaddled in blankets on her bed. Wearing a shirt that seemed a tad too large for her lean frame, as it draped off one shoulder. She hunched over a scroll as she muttered under her breath. Her hair, unbound, was like golden waves of sunlight illuminated by the candlelight. He must have made a sound for her gaze rose to meet his. Her bright eyes shone in the flickering light, as if Eru favored her and had placed the light of the stars and the strength of the sea in them. She was the single most alluring being he had ever seen, and he doubted that would ever change.
“Halbrand.”
He shook himself from his stupor as he shut the door and locked it for good measure. He turned back to face her, only to have her watching him with a raised brow, “Is there a problem?”
He grabbed one of the chairs and pulled it beside the bed, “I’m glad you asked; cause of a matter of fact, there is.”
She moved her scroll to the side as she turned to fully face him. Brow furrowed as she gave him her undivided attention. He wondered if she realized what that did to him, if she realized how much it meant to him when she focused on him. No matter if it was a suggestion or an idea, she always listened. Did not always like what he said or what his idea would entail; but she always listened.
It was that knowledge that gave him the strength to be honest with her without fear of reproach.
“Have you been avoiding me?”
He felt relieved as a look of outrage crossed her features, “No of course not. Why would I be avoiding you?” She paused as she tilted her head at him, “Do you think I’ve been avoiding you?”
“It feels that way.”
“Why?”
“Because I feel like I barely see you anymore! When I’m in Lindon or Eregion, I might see you once for breakfast and then hardly see you for the rest of my visit. You’re always pouring over scrolls you keep hidden from me. Or even when you visit here, most of your time is spent with Bronwyn and whatever it is you two do. I know you have responsibilities, as do I; and I wouldn’t dream of getting in the way of those. I just feel like we haven’t…been together lately.”
He finally took a breath and met her gaze. A faint blush highlighted her cheeks and the tips of her ears. She almost seemed embarrassed by whatever her reasons were, “I am sorry. Truly it was not my intention to make you feel that way. I was only trying…I had thought I would know it by now”
Now he was confused as to what she meant, “Know what by now?”
She sighed deeply and, with her head held high and blush still present, handed him her pack and scrolls. He took it but when he opened it; he was baffled.
He removed scrolls, most were in Elvish. There were so many of them and he promised himself to ask about those later as he further examined the contents. There were numerous small jars. One jar was filled with Athelas. Some held a coppery fluid, while others contained a clear, viscous paste. A small pack consisted of a needle, thread, shears, and dressings. He was bewildered when he realized the purpose of the pack.
“This is a healers pack”
“It is.”
He was further confused, “You made a healer’s pack for you?”
“It’s not for me.”
He put the pack on a side table as he turned to face her, “Then why do you have it? I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever seen you walk away from a fight with more than a small scrape. This is the type of medicine men carry to heal their wounds—"
“Yes, and I have a man I very much want to keep alive.”
He stared at her, unblinking as his heart hammered in his chest
She fiddled with her hands in her lap; either nervous or trying to find the right words to use. He reached forward and cradled them in his hands. The action seemed to soothe her as she stilled. A small smile lifted her lips as she pulled her hands away; only to enfold his. Warmth rushed through him as two of her fingers drifted to rest over his pulse.
“Do you remember the ride from the Númenorian camp to Eregion when you were injured?”
He frowned, not understanding the reason for her question, “Just bits and pieces. I remember seeing you in the tent; and then waking up in Eregion. Why?”
She let out a glum sigh, “I remember it. It often haunts my nightmares.”
Her hands further tensed around his, as an anguished expression crossed her face. “I remember how pale you were. How in the moonlight you could have been mistaken for a ghastly apparition. How the blood continuously leaked through your bandages. How your fever was uncontrollable. That no matter how many cold rags I placed on you, the fever was determined to ravage your body. I remember the delirium that set in. Some moments you would ramble on about nonsensical things. Other times you wouldn’t respond, no matter how many times I called your name. How sometimes you were so still, that if I didn’t feel your pulse sluggishly beating against my fingers, I would have thought you were…”
Her words choked off as she turned from him; hands trembling. His heart broke as he watched her try to reign in her emotions. He had never imagined his wound affected her so much.
He remembered waking up in Eregion to her at his bedside. How relieved she had been, with her red rimmed eyes and trembling grin. He had asked her if she was alright, worried she had hidden an injury; but she had brushed him off saying she was just tired. He should have pressed her. Should have tried harder to find out. If only so that she never would have carried this burden on her own. He moved his fingers and interlaced them with hers; studying the contrast of his sun kissed hands against hers which appeared luminescent. At how well they complimented each other.
“I’m sorry you’ve carried that burden. But you did save me, you kept me alive.”
She glared at him, “Barely! You were in so much pain, and I had never felt so helpless.” She smiled in a self-deprecating way that he hated immediately. “There are not many Elvish healers. Most heal injuries of the mind, not the flesh. But of the few we have; I’ve begun to meet with them and Bronwyn to learn what I can. It is a lot more challenging than I thought.”
He couldn’t help the soft chuckle he let out, “I imagine it is; healing is no small matter. So you shouldn’t stress about it.”
“Yes, I should”
“No you—"
“You are worth stressing over Halbrand.” An affectionate grin adorned her face as she moved her hands to cup his cheeks, “I will stay up and read those complicated scrolls and have Bronwyn teach me all the herbs and salves as many times as it takes. It’s worth it if it’s for you”
He shuddered as he brought his hands over hers. Eyes shut as her words washed over him. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had told him he was worth anything. Never recalled a time when someone had spent time learning something to help him. To be able to save him. He opened his eyes to meet her bright gaze while emotion clogged his throat.
He tried to lighten the atmosphere; to ease the lump in this throat. “You say all that, yet you’re still blushing.”
She lifted her hands to her cheeks and her nose scrunched (which was not adorable) when she felt the heat in them. She scowled while he laughed at her expression. “Oh, shut up. I am not used to being so…vocal about how I feel. It causes me to feel quite vulnerable; which you know I do not enjoy. But you make me feel safe, so I am trying.”
The laughing ceased immediately as he choked out in little more than a whisper, “I make you feel safe?”
She nodded as she tugged his head to rest against hers, “Of course you do. You rescued me at sea. Twice if I may add. You have supported me, but have never hesitated to call me out if I’ve over stepped. I have never felt more at peace than I do with you at my side. You are my anchor. Every day I am thankful we were brought together, and I will do all I can to ensure we stay that way.”
He smiled as tears filled his eyes, “I think you are doing just fine at sharing your feelings, Elf. What would you have me do, with a declaration such as that”
She smiled proudly, as if delighted he thought she was doing well. She tilted his head down and placed a lingering kiss against his brow. Heat sparked through him at the touch while his grip tightened on her hands.
“Live” She placed another short kiss before she pulled back, “You live, Halbrand”
A tear trickled down his cheek as emotions crashed through him. At how kind his Elf was. How her honest words were the sweetest benediction he had ever heard. How he too, was thankful every day for meeting her. How he also wished for them to stay together.
Overcome with affection, he pulled her off the bed towards him. She tensed as he drew her into him, fitting her in the circle of his arms. He marveled at how they fit perfectly, like they had been made for each other. His arms wrapped around her as she melted against him; dropping her head to the crook of his neck. He bent his head to tenderly place a kiss against her temple as he reclined in the chair. Shifting them into a more comfortable position.
“I will Galadriel; I’ll live. On one condition.”
Her head pulled back from his, “What is it?”
He cupped her cheek, “You have to live too. Preferably with me”
Leaning her cheek into his palm, she smiled, “I think I can do that.”
He beamed as elation filled. As she tucked her head back to rest on his shoulder. He felt her grin against his neck as she asked, “Is this what Elrond meant when he told me you were clingy?”
He dug his fingers into her ribs which elicited a sharp yelp, “I don’t want to talk about him.”
She snickered as he pulled her back toward him. As he rested his head on hers, she reached down to interlace their hands. “I don’t mind”
He made a confused sound, willing her to continue her thought, “It’s comforting…being close with you.”
He pressed a firm kiss to her temple as he couldn’t help his smile, “I find it comforting as well. So, it sounds like we’ll just have to stick together Elf”
She began tracing his fingers again, “For how long?”
“For always”
She brought their linked hands to her lips and placed a delicate kiss to his hand, “For always then.”