Lotr oneshots

Firelight - Aragorn x reader

The campfire crackled softly as the Fellowship settled down for the night. Everyone was scattered around the clearing—Legolas perched on a rock, his eyes scanning the dark forest as he kept watch, Gimli polishing his axe near the fire, and Frodo whispering something to Sam about the ring. You sat a little apart from the group, trying to relax, but your mind wasn’t on the mission.

It was on Aragorn.

Ever since the journey began, you found it impossible to stop thinking about him. He was everything—brave, strong, and so kind. The way he moved, the way he looked out for everyone, the way he treated you like you mattered, even when the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. And recently, you had noticed something… something in the way he glanced at you, the soft smiles he gave when no one else was watching. It made your heart race, and you didn’t know what to do with it.

"Y/n? What’s bothering you?" Merry asked as he plopped down beside you, his curiosity always apparent. You jumped slightly, your thoughts having drifted too far from the present.

“Nothing,” you replied quickly, hoping your face wasn’t as flushed as it felt. “Just tired.”

"Right. You keep staring at the fire like you're planning to dive into it," Pippin added with a smirk, sitting down on your other side.

You rolled your eyes but smiled a little. It was impossible not to when they were around. "I’m fine, really."

"You’d better be. No time for fainting damsels," Gimli called from across the camp, not looking up from his axe but clearly listening in on the conversation. You could always count on Gimli to make things awkward.

"Leave them alone, Gimli," Legolas chimed in with a teasing grin. "Not everyone has dwarven stamina."

You couldn’t help but laugh, though the heat in your cheeks refused to fade. You were grateful for their playful banter—it made it easier to ignore the fact that Aragorn was sitting just a few feet away, sharpening his sword in that focused, calm way that made you nervous for no good reason.

"Y/n," came Aragorn’s low voice, snapping you out of your thoughts. He looked up from his task and met your eyes, sending your heart into overdrive. "You should rest. We have a long day ahead tomorrow."

His tone was gentle but firm, the same way he always spoke to you. It made your stomach twist with emotions you hadn’t dared to name.

Before you could respond, Sam chimed in, looking up from his bedroll. "He's right, Y/n. We've all gotta be well-rested, especially you. I noticed you’ve been looking a bit distracted lately."

"Sam’s got a point," Frodo added, glancing at you thoughtfully. "Is something troubling you?"

You opened your mouth to deny it, to say something about being tired again, but the way they all stared at you made it impossible to lie. The Fellowship had grown close, and everyone had become like family. They’d know if you were holding back.

"Yeah," Pippin chimed in with a grin, "is it the orcs? Or is it something—or someone—else?"

Your heart skipped at Pippin’s not-so-subtle implication, and you glared at him, though you couldn’t help the nervous laugh that slipped out. "No, Pippin, it’s not the orcs."

Before you could dig yourself deeper into embarrassment, Aragorn rose from his seat and walked over, his calm presence suddenly too close for comfort. He knelt beside you, his eyes full of concern. "What is it, Y/n?"

You glanced around at the others, who were all suddenly very interested in the conversation. Even Gimli had stopped polishing his axe, his attention fixed on the two of you. Great. You had an audience now.

“I—uh, it’s nothing, really,” you mumbled, trying to brush it off, but Aragorn’s gaze never wavered. He had that way of looking at you that made you feel like you couldn’t hide anything from him.

"Y/n," he said softly, so only you could hear, "you don’t have to carry whatever it is alone."

Your heart pounded in your chest. He was too close, too kind, and too understanding. You felt your face heat up as the others continued to watch, and before you could think better of it, the truth spilled out.

"It’s you, Aragorn," you blurted, then immediately wanted to disappear into the ground. There was no going back now. "I’ve been… I’ve been distracted because of you."

For a moment, the whole camp seemed to go silent. You could feel everyone’s eyes on you, but you couldn’t bring yourself to look up.

And then, from across the campfire, Gimli let out a loud, rumbling laugh. "Well, I’ll be! Finally, someone says it!"

You blinked, startled, as Merry and Pippin exchanged amused glances and Sam grinned like he’d known all along. Even Legolas was smiling, clearly entertained by the sudden drama.

"About time!" Pippin chuckled, elbowing Merry.

"Wait—what?" you stammered, completely thrown off by their reactions. "You… you all knew?"

"Of course," Legolas said with a light chuckle, "the way you two have been looking at each other for days? It’s been quite obvious."

"Only to everyone except the two of you," Frodo added with a knowing smile.

Your face burned with embarrassment, and you risked a glance at Aragorn. To your surprise, he was smiling softly, a warmth in his eyes that made your stomach flutter.

"Y/n," Aragorn said quietly, so the others couldn’t hear, "I didn’t realize you felt the same way."

"Wait—what?" you repeated, this time in disbelief. "You… feel the same?"

Aragorn nodded, his expression serious but gentle. "I’ve tried to keep my distance, not wanting to make things more difficult, but… I’ve been drawn to you since the beginning."

Your heart leapt into your throat, and before you could overthink it, Aragorn leaned in, his hand gently cupping your cheek. You barely had time to process it before his lips were on yours, soft and warm.

The kiss was gentle, but it sent sparks through your whole body, the world fading into the background as everything narrowed down to just him. When you pulled back, breathless, Aragorn rested his forehead against yours, his hand still on your cheek.

For a moment, everything was perfect. Then you heard Gimli’s voice, loud and teasing.

"Well, it’s about time! I was wondering how long we’d have to wait for this to happen."

You pulled back from Aragorn, face flushed, as the rest of the Fellowship burst into laughter. Even Legolas had a mischievous grin on his face, though his eyes were still focused on keeping watch.

"Come now, let them have their moment," Sam said with a smile, trying to keep the others in check. "They’ve earned it."

Aragorn chuckled softly and gave you a small, reassuring smile before returning to his seat, though he kept his gaze on you for a long time after. You felt lighter than you had in days, and as you settled back against the tree, you couldn’t help but smile.

No matter what lay ahead, you knew now that you wouldn’t face it alone. The Fellowship had your back—and Aragorn had your heart.