Elrond x Reader- Sanctuary
Summary: You and Elrond are engaged, only weeks away from your wedding ceremony, but your full-blood elf father gives you grief over Elrond being half-elven. Distraught, you run to a sanctuary deep in the woods: a clear lake shrouded amongst the trees. Elrond finds you there and you two comfort each other.
Word Count: 3.7k words
Warnings: light kissing, longing, fluff
A/N: It's truly been an age since I've written anything for Elrond; let me know if you guys have any requests! :) @suncran
Elvish Key: meleth nin/nin mel = my love
#2- Sanctuary
Dear beloved friend, you are cordially invited to celebrate the union of two blessed hearts...
Soft morning light filtered through the windows and cascaded across the thick parchment as you wrote, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air. You smiled. You could imagine the dust as confetti being blown from the horns of joyful bystanders, raining down upon you and your newly wedded husband as the two of you walked, hand-in-hand, away from the ceremony and into the forest, towards your new life together.
The wedding was only weeks away, yet there was still so much to prepare: not only these invitations to write, but decorations to string, a banquet to cook, and a dress to sew. But despite it all, you didn’t feel stressed- not when you thought of Elrond’s smile or the shared glow of happiness between your hearts. This would soon all be worth it, and you looked forward to that day with every moment, both waking and sleeping.
A firm knock on the door roused you from your thoughts. Setting aside the fountain pen before it could drip ink all over your fingers, you turned and called, “Come in.”
The handle turned, and you were met with a pair of bright, intelligent eyes- eyes you knew were almost identical to your own.
“Father,” you greeted, gracefully coming to your feet.
He didn’t return a greeting as he stepped more fully into the room, his gaze dropping instead to the still-wet invitation resting on your desk. A strange, subdued atmosphere flared in the space between you, sending a flicker of concern through your chest.
“Is everything all right, Father?” you asked, brow furrowing.
Tall and broad-shouldered, your father was rather imposing for an elf. Yet despite his intimidating demeanor, you two had always been very close, and you felt there was nothing you couldn’t tell him. He was a safe place; his arms you knew as nothing but a refuge. But as his silence stretched on, you began to doubt, feeling something akin to panic building in your throat.
He looked down at his hands, and you noticed for the first time that he was holding a folded piece of parchment- the same kind that you’d been writing upon only moments ago. He sighed, a muscle twitching at his jaw, as he unfolded the paper. You caught a glimpse of your handwriting beneath the seal.
“You cannot marry Elrond,” your father said.
You blinked, taken back by his bluntness. “Pardon me, Father?”
“You cannot marry Elrond,” he repeated, clearing his throat. “I forbid it.”
Your panic was quickly morphing into a chasm, threatening to swallow you whole. Shaking your head, you tried to push aside your emotions. “I don’t understand. Elrond asked for your blessing days ago.”
“And I am sorry to say I will not give it. I cannot- I will not- allow our ancestry to be defiled by the blood of men.”
You scoffed. “That’s what this is about? Surely you can’t mean that, Father.”
His head whipped up irately, and you actually took a step back, startled by the motion. “When were you going to tell me that Elrond is only half elven?” he demanded. “Or were you planning to tell me at all?”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know it mattered,” you said indignantly, crossing your arms.
Something dangerous glittered in his eyes. “Do not deign to act as if this is of no consequence. You are a descendant of Finwe, first King of the Noldor, and as such, you must preserve your heritage. If Elrond has any honor at all, surely he will understand that.”
“No,” you spat, “if you had any honor at all, you would understand. You’re the one who sheltered him, who took him in when he had nowhere else to go. His bloodline didn’t matter then; why should it matter now?”
He gestured at the invitation in his hand, whipping it into the air faster than a falcon could catch flight. “Because you want to join him into this family. You want to cast aside your ancestry on- what? The foolish premise of love? If you marry him, you will disgrace your royal name and taint the blood of your descendants. I refuse to stand by and let that happen.”
He stormed forward, and for a moment you were afraid he would grab your arm and drag you away, but by the time you realized what he was doing, it was too late. In one fluid movement, he snatched the stack of finished invitations from your table, whirled around, and cast them into the fire.
“No!” you cried, stepping towards the grate, but the rich paper was quick to catch the flame, and you could only watch helplessly as your elegantly scrawled letters blackened and crumpled to ashes.
Tears pricking your eyes, you turned on your father, unable to keep the hurt from your voice. “How could you do this?”
“I only did what you should have done,” he said coldly. “You should never have let it come to this.”
“You’re wrong, Father,” you told him, clenching your fists so that he couldn’t see them shaking. “You have no right to tell me whom I can or cannot marry. I may be your daughter, but you are not a tyrant who can dictate what I do. Elrond may be only half elf, but even with the blood of men running in his veins, he is a hundred times the person I now see you are.”
You stepped toward your father, your face only inches away from his. He was close enough that you could see your fury reflected in his irises, and now it was his turn to step back, his lips forming a recalcitrant line.
“Whether you revoke your blessing is entirely your choice,” you said, struggling to keep your tone even. “But I will marry Elrond. And you have no power to stop either of us.”
With that, you spun on your heel and fled, racing past your door down the open hallway. Father called after you, but you didn’t care. The stairs flew by in a blur. You weren’t quite sure where you were going, allowing your feet to lead the way. It wasn’t long before the entrance to the stables came into view. A swift glance told you no one was around, so you pushed past the gates and strode toward your favorite steed and old friend, Barahir. He had been named after the hero of old who had saved the life of your distant ancestor, Finrod Felagund, in battle- though at the moment, you wanted little to do with your family history.
Barahir neighed at your approach, and you thought you sensed concern in his big, brown eyes. You threw your arms around his strong neck and sobbed into his fur.
“Oh, Barahir,” you wept. “What shall I do?”
The big horse made a rumbling noise, almost like a thoughtful hum. The sound was somehow comforting. Even if everyone you knew was against you, Barahir would always be on your side.
You straightened and wiped your eyes, coming to a decision. Patting him gently, you asked, “Will you take me to the waterfall?”
Barahir nuzzled your face in response. Without another word, you swung up onto the saddle, and then you were bursting out of the stables, running beneath a dewy sun, cool wind whipping your face and hair and drying your tears. The path carved a split in the trees like a knife slicing through butter, the canopy above you forming a patchwork shield from the sky. Autumn was soon approaching, and already the leaves caressed the landscape with dashes of warm colors: russet oranges, poplar yellows, and deep reds. Entering the forest felt like crossing the boundary into another world, leaving behind the pristine halls of your home for something far more untamed and beautiful.
The trail surged upwards, around a bend on the mountain, before sinuously drooping toward the ridge of the valley, the tall tupelo trunks along the way painting shimmering shadows across your skin. It wasn’t clear whether you rode for mere seconds or endless minutes, but it wasn’t long before you heard the familiar sound of rushing water and spotted the clear stream slipping cleverly among the rocks.
You emerged at the crest of the waterfall. It was neither powerful nor very tall, yet it was steady enough to form a tumbling curtain that aroused the gentle lake below. It was a place of solace you would visit whenever you felt the need to clear your mind, as if the water could wash away unwanted thoughts and memories. You’d never shared this place with anyone else; clandestine and secluded as it was, it had always felt like your special secret.
You led Barahir down the path that wound around the side of the waterfall, coming to a stop at the base of the lake. Dropping lithely from his back, you unclasped his saddle and set it aside, allowing him to roam the area. If he were any other horse, you would have secured him to a tree, but you knew Barahir was loyal to you and you alone and was confident he wouldn’t go far.
Facing the lake, you took a deep breath and closed your eyes. The sounds of the wind and water crashed over you. Here there was no father to reprimand you, no wedding to plan, no obligations, no responsibilities. Just you, the waterfall, and the earth.
You reached behind your back and tugged at the strings cinching your dress, allowing the soft fabric to slide off your shoulders and drop to your feet, leaving you only in a loose white chemise. You stepped in the water, momentarily hesitant by the cool temperature, before throwing comfort aside and diving straight down to the depths.
Your elf eyes were keen even underwater, and you could see schools of little fish break formation to scurry around you as you swam by. Farther away, a pair of turtles bobbed and weaved toward the surface, as if dancing to a tune only they could hear. Otters pawed at each other, floating belly-up, as yellow-billed ducks ruffled and pruned their feathers.
What would it be like to be one of them? you wondered. To live here, in this sanctuary, so far from the cares and dangers of this world, separated from the spite of its other inhabitants? You had always been glad to be an elf, imbued with distinct grace and longevity. But did the promise of long years ahead describe only a greater stretch of your hurting heart? You couldn’t help but think that these creatures of the forest had mastered true peace far better than your kind.
You came up for air only briefly, preferring to let the water cover every part of you like a soothing blanket. At some point your hair had come loose from its elegant low bun, and with its long tresses flowing behind you, you nearly felt like a mermaid as you swam.
When you finally broke the surface again, you were feeling ten times lighter than you were before. You could stay here all day if you wanted, and you were sure Barahir wouldn’t mind the extra time browsing the sweet grass.
As soon as you had the thought you noticed something was off. Going very still, you tuned your senses to the surroundings. It was quiet. Too quiet.
Where was Barahir?
You swam closer to shore, but you could not spot him from your position, nor could you hear him snuffling through the foliage.
“Barahir!” you called, trying- and failing- not to sound alarmed. “Barahir, where are you?”
That’s when you heard it. Soft, but discernible: a murmuring voice. The trees rustled, and from the branches appeared your steed followed by a familiar elf in an olive-green cloak.
“I thought you might be nearby,” said the elf with a grin.
“Elrond!” you breathed, your fears evaporating instantaneously. “You gave me such a fright.”
He bowed. “My deepest apologies. I meant no harm. I only heard the clamor of a dear friend and thought I should say hello.” He gave Barahir an affectionate pat, and the horse neighed happily in reply.
“So much for being loyal to me and me alone,” you chuckled to yourself.
Barahir snorted unashamedly. You thought you caught something calculated in his eye, like he knew exactly what he was doing.
“I did think it a bit strange to encounter him on this path. I was on my way to see you,” Elrond explained. “But he was insistent that I come this way.”
You shook your head in disbelief. “I hadn’t noticed he’d gone until a few moments ago. Thank the Valar it was you who found him and not anyone else.”
“Indeed.” Elrond approached the shoreline, the tips of his cloak tickling the water, and crouched. “May I ask what you are doing, meleth nin?”
You went quiet for a few beats, your throat involuntarily closing up as he looked at you. What would you tell him about your father? Or should you tell him what happened at all? “Truth be told, I was running away,” you said at last.
A crease appeared between his brows. “Running away?” He went silent for a moment before something like resignation flickered in his eyes. “Is it about the wedding?”
“No!” The word burst out before you registered how loud the echo of your voice was. “No, that’s not it at all,” you said more quietly. “I wasn’t trying to run away from you. In fact, it was...quite the opposite.”
Relief passed over Elrond’s face. Then he seemed to recognize the solemnity in your tone. “How so?”
You grasped for the right words, but none came. Eventually you asked, “Will you not join me, my love?”
He looked between you and the water, the silky shallows reflected in his irises, and gave a single nod. “As you wish.”
He stood and began unclasping his cloak. Suddenly you could not tear your gaze away from him. Elrond was a riveting sight to behold at any time, with his sun-kissed brown hair, handsome features, and sharp jaw, but as you watched his cloak fall to the earth, followed by his overshirt, you felt particularly captivated, as if seeing his movements in slow motion.
Finally, he stepped into the water, left in simple linen trousers that cut off just below the knee. You tried not to focus too intently on the way the light cast decadent shadows across the toned planes of his stomach and collar.
Elrond had certainly noticed the wandering path of your eyes, but respectful as he was, he neither teased your obvious attraction nor prided himself in it. As he came closer, water seeping over his arms and chest, he gently took your hands in his.
“Are you all right?” he said softly.
You smiled in embarrassment. “I confess, sometimes I find myself caught in the wonder of you being mine.”
He smiled in return, the corners of his eyes crinkling at the motion. You loved it when he did that. “Only a few more weeks, my love.” He gave your fingers a flutter of a kiss. “Then I will be yours forever.”
If you had been made of snow, you couldn’t have melted more than you did in that moment. In your heart, the day of your union couldn’t come soon enough. You couldn’t wait for the hour when you and Elrond would be truly inseparable. You were about to say as much, but your throat chose to close up again, overwhelmed by emotion.
“It’s okay,” Elrond soothed, cupping your face with one hand. “I’m here.”
His eyes were earnest, kind. It was hard not to feel unraveled before him, all your thoughts laid bare. With him, you felt safe, understood. Loved. Taking a shuddering breath, you knew you couldn’t keep the reason for your hurt from him.
“It’s my father,” you started.
He tilted his head. “Your father?”
“Yes.” You swallowed. “He...he refuses to give us his blessing.”
Elrond frowned, confused. “That doesn’t make sense,” he said. “When I asked him for it days ago, he embraced me as a son. What made him change his mind?”
You bit your lip, feeling as if you were held together by a thread rapidly coming undone. There was no way you could put this lightly.
“He found out that you are half-elven,” you said simply. “He believes that because we are descended from the kings of the Noldor, we must preserve the royal blood in our veins. If you and I... if we ever conceived a child, you would pass on the blood of men. According to him, even marrying is now a disgrace to our heritage.”
“Yet I choose to be an elf,” he protested. “The Valar have granted me long life for my decision, life I choose to spend with you. Does that matter not to him?”
You shook your head. “He would not listen to reason. He told me he forbids me from marrying you. But I told him he has no power over us.” A single tear fell from your eye, falling to the lake with a delicate splash. “I am so sorry, Elrond. You don’t deserve this.”
He drew you in close, and then you could hold it back no longer. Tears flowed freely from your eyes as you cried onto his bare shoulder. He stroked your hair, murmuring sweet nothings under his breath.
“You have no reason to apologize, meleth nin. It is I who am sorry. I never desired your heart to be broken on my account.”
You wiped the salt from your face with the backs of your fingers. “I simply never expected this from my father. I knew he could be stern, but how could he do this to us?”
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “But listen to me, nin mel.” He set you back at arm's length so he could look you in the eye. “This changes nothing about our love. All the kings of the world with every power at their disposal could not keep me from you. I long for you as the sun chases the moon and as the tides reach for the sand. You are mine and I am yours, through winter and spring alike, across the valleys and the hills and all that lies beyond.” He looked down. “And because my heart is so dearly bound to yours, I know it would be wrong of me to ask you to leave your father under these circumstances. Just know I will wait for you as long as life allows.”
“Elrond,” you whispered, reaching out to trace his ear- pointed and slightly angled, just like your own. Like any true elf. “I know you would never ask such a thing of me. Which is why I choose to do just that. A life without you is no life at all; I can only hope that my father will understand that one day.”
He searched your face, concern and unmistakable hope written into his expression. “Are you certain?”
You nodded. “More certain than I have ever been about anything.”
Something powerful flared between your hearts then. The lake suddenly felt like an infinite expanse, as if you and he were the only two souls in the universe, moored in place by intertwined lifelines, unable, and unwanting, to break apart. His gaze dropped to your mouth, and warmth filled your chest when you realized you’d already been staring at his.
“May I?” he asked.
“Please,” you said.
He needed no further invitation. His lips were soft, gentle, the tender touch of dawn upon the horizon. He was sweet too, you noticed, tasting the trace of honey on his tongue, and allowed a small sigh of bliss to escape. Elrond’s pulse beat faster under your palms and you pulled him closer, feeling that any inch of space between you was far too much.
His hands slipped to your waist under the water, and you wanted to feel his hands everywhere, on every part of you, and never wanted them to leave. Your own hands found their way down his neck to his shoulders, fingers tingling as you felt the roll of muscles under his skin.
This was home, you knew. Here in his arms.
“(Y/N),” he murmured against your lips. You always loved the way he said your name- reverently, as something to be cherished.
The kiss moved deeper, and you wouldn’t have cared if the lake decided to swallow you whole and drag you to the depths, so long as you could stay here, locked in his embrace for eternity.
At last the two of you were forced to break apart for air. He leaned his forehead against yours as your breath mingled with his. Blood thumped excitedly through every inch of your body; already you wished you kiss him again.
“Elrond,” you began.
“Yes, my love?”
“Because of my father, we can no longer hold our wedding ceremony in Lindon,” you explained. “So, what if...we held the ceremony here, at the lake?”
He blinked, and for a moment you weren’t sure what he thought of your proposal. Then he beamed. “I think that would be splendid.”
He kissed you again, and if you could freeze time to live forever in this place, you would have. The water here had always felt like a little world made just for you; but now, you realized, you didn’t want to live in this world without him in it.
It didn’t matter if Elrond was only half elf, or a dwarf, or even a hobbit. It only mattered that he was yours, forever and anon, throughout all the ages of Middle-earth.
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