#dwarf reader

Both men froze, going pale as they looked over.

Your eye narrowed on them, your arms folding across your chest, and you ignored Wynn as she tried to remind you that you weren’t meant to be drawing attention to yourself.  “Answer me arseholes.”

“I would suggest you do,” Zevran said, rather cheerfully, enjoying the sudden change from running, what he thought, were pointless tasks.  “Y/N is not someone who likes to be kept waiting."

The two men didn’t seem to know what to do about it, both of them stepping back, drawing some attention from others in the street, as you marched closer.

“Oh, is it a little different now that you have my full attention?”  You snapped, eyes flashing dangerously, fingers practically itching towards your blade.  “Not as brave now that you’re actually facing the consequences of your actions?”

One of them seemed to gain some of their courage back.  “We didn’t say anything, and I’d like to see you prove it dwarf.”

Your anger was practically palpable, Wynn sighing as she kept herself back, Alistair looking a little nervous, and Zevran watching you.  “Is that so?  That’s why you’re both cowering in your boots.”

“Look, you clearly don’t know who are, so we’ll give you some leniency, so just run along and-”

“Then say it to my face.” You growled.  “If you want to try and play those cards, say it to my face.”

The two men shared a look, and the other one finally found their courage, stepping forward and trying to tower over you.

“Get lost dwarf,” He snarled.  “Move on if you know what’s good for you.”

“You’re getting close,” You said, and Zevran just knew you were toying with them now.  “But clearly you lack the intelligence to actually remember that far back.  I can spell it out for you if you want?  Do you need me to do that?”

“You have no place here,” The second man said.  “Get lost shorty before you get yourself into some real trouble.”

“Close enough.”

Your movements were fast, and before the first man could react, your fist sunk into his stomach, winding him and sending him to his knees, the other one taking a split second before practically falling over as he turned to run.

You crouched down next to the man.  “Don’t call me short you arsehole.  I’m twice of what you’ll ever be.”

Zevran couldn’t help but chuckle as you walk away, a barely noticeable grin on your lips, Alistair and Wynn sighing.

“Can we please go back to the task at hand?”  Wynn asked.

“Absolutely.”  You said, leading the way again.  “I feel better now.”

Zevran kept chuckling, and the rest of the day passed mostly uneventful, so much so that he almost put the incident out of his mind.

Almost.

Back at camp, you went and sat by yourself, something that was unusual on it’s own, normally preferring the company of others, but it was the slightly sad and troubled expression that had him think back on what had happened.

He didn’t think about it, going and joining you without asking.  “Ah, feeling pensive this evening?”

You cast him a small smile, again, unusual for you, normally greeting him with a wide smile, once you’d gotten past the initial nervousness from your first meeting.  “Maybe, I guess I’m allowed to occasionally.”

Zevran chuckled.  “You are indeed, considering how much danger we seem to run into it.  It is good to reflect on it occasionally.”

A soft laugh told him that everything was not okay, so he shifted a little closer, giving you a small nudge to your shoulder.  “Talk to me. I would be ashamed if you only had to listen to me and my adventures.”

“I’m okay,” You said softly. “Just…a little overwhelmed today. Those two brought up something I had been trying to ignore.”

“Oh?  That your height makes you remarkably adorable?”  He smiled at you as you give a slightly embarrassed laugh.  “Or perhaps it is that you finally acknowledge that my arm fits around you perfectly.”

As if to prove a point, his arm wraps around your shoulders, pulling you close, making you smile at him.

“Well, I’m glad someone appreciates my height,” You chuckled.  “But it wasn’t so much that…”

Your gaze goes distant again and Zevran knew that this was something that was truly weighing on you.

“Talk to me Y/N.”  He said gently.

Drawing in a breath, you let out a deep sigh.  “Those arseholes today, it just got me thinking about what it’s going to be like when it’s all done, if anyone will even remember…remember who I actually was. Those two, all they saw was a dwarf that they could insult as they saw fit, and it just feels like…it’ll stay like that.”

“And that…bothers you?”

You nod slowly.  “It shouldn’t be that way Zev.  For anyone, not just me.  We should be acknowledged for who and what we are.  It shouldn’t be overlooked just because...because others think it shouldn’t, like we’re less than something because we’re not within their specifics.”

Zevran takes a moment, thinking about the right words to say, his thumb brushing over your shoulder gently.  “I will admit that it is something I have mostly learnt to ignore, the only acknowledgement I need is from myself and those I care about.  Anyone else and their opinions, is irrelevant.”

“Yeah,” You said softly. “I usually do the same, but the longer I’ve been on the surface, the more I’ve learnt and seen, the more it’s been bothering me.  Today, I guess, was just the icing on the cake, although, I guess I should just be glad they didn’t recognise me as a Grey Warden, given our situation.”

“I’m sure they did after you hit one of them.”  Zevran said, smiling and making you relax a little, chuckling.

“Hopefully, might make them think before insulting someone again.”  You looked at him.  “I know I can’t fix everything Zevran, I’m already trying to save the world, I shouldn’t be worrying about righting it too, but…”

“It bothers you,” He said softly and kisses your temple.  “And that’s okay.  Perhaps once we’ve managed to save the world, then we focus on righting it too, if that is what you want.”

It takes you a moment before you smile, leaning into him, your head resting on his shoulder.  “One thing at a time.  I like that.”

Zevran shares your smile and rests his head atop of yours.  “You should, you taught me that.”

You chuckle.  “Well, I’m glad I’m glad I’m having some sort of influence.”

A roar shatters his reverie and he looks up just in time to see the glint of an axe flashing past him and burying into the uruk-hai about to deliver the final blow.  Hard focused swings following, clearing the way and it was as you turned back that he realised who you were.

It had been the fierceness in your eyes that had first struck him, as it had when you first met, only this time, they were also filled with fear and worry, instead of anger and disgust.

Tall, for a dwarf, you quickly joined his side, threw his arm over your shoulder and started to practically carry him through the battlefield.

“Aragorn!” He heard you shout.  “We need to get him out of here!”

The noise and pain engulfed him and Haldir let darkness take him.

It was quieter when he awoke and the pain, while still present, was numbed.  He was surrounded by hushed voices, crying and groaning, but the sounds of battle had long gone.

He opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling above him, wondering how they had won when everything looked so bleak.

“Glad to see your finally awake.”

Turning his head, he saw you stretched out next to him, using your knife to carve away at a bit of wood.  For the most part, you looked unharmed, a few scratches hear and there, but then he saw your foot was bandaged.

“They were worried you know,” You said and he followed your nod to Aragorn and Legolas, who were talking quietly together.  “They thought you wouldn't make it.”

Haldir blinks and then looks back at you, having still not met his eye.  “And you?”

This finally made you look up at him, your gaze careful. “What about me?”

He goes to sit up, but quickly realises that it’s not a good idea when the pain increases in his stomach.  “Did you think I’d make it?”

You shrugged, maybe a little too quickly.  “That’s the way battles work, you either make it or you don’t, there’s no need to get hung up on it.”

Haldir stares at you and if he wasn’t mistaken, you went a little red.

You cleared your throat, quickly looking back at what you were doing.  “I saved you, you should be grateful.  That’s all there is to it.”

“I am grateful, I just-”

“Just leave it, okay?”  You said and stood, not looking at him, your hands holding the knife and wood tightly. “There’s no need to get mushy over it.”

You walked away, Haldir just staring after you, a little stunned.  The two of you hadn’t had the best first impressions of each other in Lothlorien, but preparing for the battle, he’d almost thought that that had shifted a little.

He was met by chuckle, still watching after you confused, and he looks around to find Gimli watching him as he hands out a few blankets to soldiers.

“Don’t mind her laddie,” He said, grinning.  “She’s too much like her father, doesn’t know how to express herself, but I promise she means well.”

“I’m not entirely sure I’d want to meet him,” Haldir said carefully.  “Especially if she shares his temperament too.”

Gimli nods.  “Oh, trust me, she does, the two of them have more than there fair share of fights as she grew up, even from a young age.  It was how she got so good at fighting, she was always challenging him, and everyone for that matter.”  He thinks for a moment and chuckles at a memory.  “She even challenged the king once, that was a doozy.”  When he still sees Haldir looking concerned, he shakes his head.  “I'm saying not to take offense by it, she doesn't mean it.”

Haldir frowns and goes to say something, but Gimli was already walking away.

Despite himself, he kept an eye out for you, but every time you seemed to meet his eye, you'd quickly walk away.  He tried not to get frustrated, but after several days of his happening, he was less than please.

Aragorn approached him one day, smiling, clearly glad to see him sitting up.  “Feeling better I see.”

Haldir nods.  “It’ll still be a few days before I can move and return to my people though.”

“Of course,” Aragorn sits next to him.  “Although, a few of the others may need a little longer yet.”

“I know,” Haldir said, letting his gaze wonder around the hall again, searching for you, Aragorn watching him closely, still smiling.  “I will wait with them as long as needed.”

Aragorn waits until Haldir looks back at him.  “Are you looking for someone?”

“Yes actually,” He sounded harsher than he meant to.  “Have you seen Y/N?”

“She’s out in the yard, training of all things,” Aragorn said. “You would think that someone that busted their ankle would be being more careful, but I guess that comes with the stubbornness of dwarves.”

Haldir nods, frowning.

“Did you want her to come see you?”

Suddenly, Haldir found his face flush, glancing at Aragorn, who was watching him an amused raised eyebrow.  “W-what?  No.  I was simply…simply wanting to say thank you. She hardly gave the chance before and she hasn’t back over since.”

Aragorn chuckles.  “You know, I really do wonder at times, who is more stubborn, elves or dwarves?”  He pats Haldir on the arm.  “I’ll tell her you said so.”

Haldir was left alone again, much to his annoyance.

It wasn’t for long though before you came marching in though, looking just a little angry and you spotted him in a few seconds of looking around, storming over.

You breathed deeply as you stopped before him, gaze flicking to his and then away, looking at all the people I the room and then back at him.

He raises an eyebrow.  “Are you alright Y/N?”

Finally, you huff.  “I heard that you wanted to speak to me?”

Haldir stares at you.  “I wanted to say thank you.”

There was no doubt about it now, your face flushed.  “Well, you’re welcome, I could hardly let you die now, could I?  Especially when I could do something about it.”

He actually felt himself smiling at you.  “I’m glad to see that you held no ill will against our first meeting.”

Your tongue clicks against your teeth.  “Keep pushing it and it might, no matter what else I think.”

Haldir chuckles and manages to get to his feet.  “Well, I’m glad that we could come to some agreement, I’d hate to think that I’d cause you that much worry to come in here and check on me every day.”

You tensed and stared at your feet.  “It’s…it’s nothing.”

This only made him laugh some more.  “Nothing indeed, although I certainly appreciate it.”

You stared at him.

Haldir smiles.  “We are two races that have always been at some head or another, I'm just glad, that when it all comes down to it, we are still allies.  If you hadn't been there, I would now be dead, and for that, I owe you a debt that I hope I can repay.”

“You don't owe me squat, Haldir.” You said firmly.  “If you all hadn't arrived from Lothlorien in the first place, we wouldn't have made it through the night.”

“It's possible,” He agreed.  “But I think this is a lot more personal than that, don't you?”

“That depends on what you're willing to make of it,” You said, before looking away, having not meant to say it so quickly.  “Look, I think it's only fair that I was worried, I mean, we have few allies and friends as it is so...so...”

Haldir smiles at you.  “So what do you say to taking a walk with me? I'm a little tired of being cooped up here.”

You glance at him, maybe a little nervously, but there was a definite challenge in your eye as you let yourself relax.  “I'd like that.”

The two of you leave the hall together, you limping and Haldir taking his time.  Aragorn and Gimli sat together watching the two of you, both grinning.

“Do you think they'll be alright?”  Aragorn asked.