An Unexpected Fanfiction: The Hobbit & LOTR One Shots

Not Listening

Requested by a splendid reader who wishes to remain anonymous! Thank you for the request!

Type: One-shot

Pairing: Haldir x Female (Elf!) Reader

Translations: 'Ada' = Father (familiar/affectionate)
Sîdhwen = 'peace maiden'
'neth nín' = my sister

Hope you like!

"Absolutely not."

"Ada-"

"He is not even remotely of noble blood!"

Sîdhwen pursed her lips, attempting to keep her temper. Her father was being completely unreasonable- after all, it was only hypotheticals they were discussing. Her brother had pestered her for weeks up to this afternoon, prying into her private feelings and spinning nonsense out of nothing. Legolas was the more reasonable sibling, too, which is what made this sudden behavior all the more alarming. Now she knew the reason: their father had put him up to it. It made sense, then, why her brother became quiet, as if concerned, when she finally admitted to him she felt a romantic attraction toward an old friend of theirs.

"Please-"

"No daughter of mine will marry someone of the common elves-"

"Are you even hearing yourself?" Sîdhwen forced her fists to unclench and drew in a slow breath. "It's nothing, Ada, I promise. I just... wanted to get Legolas off my back." Her brow twitched as she mentally steadied herself, trying terribly hard not to frown. "Now I see why he was so insistent."

"I had to know."

"Then it was a waste of time!" Sîdhwen threw her hands up in the air, giving up on maintaining her composure. This was simply ridiculous, she would not stand for it! "You still know nothing."

"I know that you and Haldir must no longer speak."

Tears began to well up behind Sîdhwen's eyes. The tension between father and daughter was as thick and tangible as a tapestry.

"How could you say that?"

Thranduil sighed, shaking his head. "One day, you will understand-"

"My feelings clearly don't matter, then, do they?"

No response. 

Sîdhwen clenched her teeth, narrowing her eyes at her father. "You think I do not understand? Then you are right: I don't understand why this is a matter worth an argument. And still, you are wrong: I see perfectly well that even after so long, even now, when I am well an adult, you are still intent on controlling my life! And for that matter, Legolas' life as well!" Dropping the volume of her voice, she clasped her hands behind her to hide how they trembled. "Do you not see I am happy as I am? Please, I beg you, do not ruin my friendship with Haldir. If you do-" She paused, choking up a little. "-consider our relationship as father and child severely damaged."

Turning away, she swept out of the room with what dignity she could manage. She felt righteous, like she'd really put her foot down for once, but the feeling only lasted a few minutes before she had to step aside into a sheltered alcove and let the tears fall freely. She hated to argue with her family, but in recent months, as Thranduil began withdrawing the elves of Eryn Galen from the world outside their woodland realm and the darkness to the south crept ever northward, they had fought nearly frequently. A fragile lull in the animosity between them had appeared in the last few weeks, and Sîdhwen had truly thought things would get better- at least, until she learned he'd pressured Legolas into spying on his own sister for him.