Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings Imagines 2

Haldir ~ Battlefield

Angsty/fluff requested by agentmeaghan007 - I'm so sorry it's taken so long!

"Y/N?  Y/N!"

Haldir's voice rang over the battle field, searching for you, a note of desperation starting to creep into his tone the longer he searched.

"Y/N!"  He tried again, but there was still no reply, no familiar call of his name in return.

Haldir's heart hammered in his chest, eyes scanning the many dead before him.

Other's had left some time ago, having gathered the injured, starting to get them healed, but when he could not find you there, he knew there was only one place you could be.

"Y/N, please answer me."  He said desperately, trying not to find your familiar face amongst the dead.  "Please."

Still, he was greeted by silence and he could feel himself starting to shake.

He could not lose you, not like this.

He suddenly craved to see you, more than he ever had before, wanting to the see the warmth in your smile as you saw him, hear the happiness in your laugh as the two of you talked, feel the warmthof your hand in his as you walked together on a cold evening, waiting to see the stars.

Haldir could feel tears starting to prick at his eyes and he blinked furiously.  The two of you had made a promise, a promise born from knowing the consequence of battle.

"Y/N!"  His voice is drawn out this time, desperate, longing, hoping.  He didn't want to have to search for your face amongst the dead, he was sure it would kill him.

He thought of the embrace the two of you shared before the battle, how it felt no different to the times you'd done it before, and it was then that Haldir started to break, restrained sobs leaving him as he turned and turned, searching for you blindly amongst the bodies.

"Haldir?"  Other elves had come over, but Haldir couldn't hear them, he refused to hear anything until he found you.

Millions of thoughts raced through his mind as he searched, of all the things that he should have said, of what he could've done.  He should have been more adamant in you not taking up the sword this time, should've convinced you when you just laughed it off, always part of the routine.

Tears stung his eyes and Haldir faltered, leaning down on his knees as he fought to breath.

There was a small movement out of the corner of his eye but at first he thought it was from the light hitting his eyes, but as he straightened and turned, he saw one of the bodies moving.

Many emotions tightened through Haldir's chest and he found himself holding his breath as he stared, frozen, hope threatening to make him rush forward.

The other elves hurried over, shouts going around as they pulled an elf free, one who was bleeding heavily and struggling to move at all, near unrecognisable.

Haldir's feet carried him forward, a flash of silver cutting through the red, but the closer he got, the quicker the other elves seemed to hurry away.

Before he knew it, he was watching as they laid you down on a bed, your face very pale, eyes closed, and he couldn't tell whether you were bleeding or not.

There was hands grabbing him as he tried to push forward, his voice loud but muted in his ears.  He wanted to get to you, to not believe what his eyes were telling him, but the hands refused, shouts going around as they pulled him back and far from your side, many trying to keep him calm, but there was no point, you, his world, was lying, dead, for all he knew, in front of him.

Haldir didn't track time after they'd forced him to sit, forced him to be calm, he had no care for it.  Every moment without you was a moment too long.

He didn't care about food.  He didn't care about water.  He didn't care what was said to him.  None of it mattered anymore.

Then someone was kneeling in front of him, a hand resting on his knee.  The elf smiled warmly at him.

"Haldir?"

Mutely and numbly, he nods.

They nod in return and stand.  "Come with me."

He doesn't move at first, but when the elf stops and looks at him expectedly, something makes him get to his feet and follow.

Haldir didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't you smiling at him from a bed.

Warmth flooded his body, feeling the numbness disappear as he took a shakey step forward.  "Y/N?"

"Hey you." Your voice was quiet, tired, but it enough for him.

The tears came freely and he staggered forward until he was by your side, collapsing next to you so his head rested on your lap and his hands gripped the blankents around you.

Your hands moved to his hair, brushing it carefully as he wept, making your smile soften.  "I keep telling you I can handle myself."

Haldir choked a laugh, but clung to you harder, unable to talk.

"My Haldir," You continued softly.  "I would never leave you, not while breath still remains in my body, even when I'm surrounded by the stench of death, I am here to stay."

Haldir draws in some deep breathes, getting himself in control.  "That...that does not make what I saw any easier."

You get him to look at you, smiling at him.  "I did not say it did.  I would have been no less terrified if it was you in my place.  The thought of being without you..." You shut your eyes for a moment as you drew in your own deep breath, wincing a little from the pain.  "But, I will be okay, so come here my ohtar."

He doesn't hesitate, moving to your side, carefully joining you on the bed and pulling you into his arms as close as he dared with your injuries, his head resting a top yours as you settled against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

There is a long silence between the two of you as you relax, the silence saying more than your words ever could as you held each other.

"Y/N?"

"Hmm?"

"Does this mean that you will listen to me now when I ask you not to fight?"

You give a laugh, instantly regretting it with a heavy wince and shudder that had him looking at you in concern.

Smiling though, you brush his cheek.  "How about we discuss that before the next battle?"

Haldir smiles at you and shakes his head.  "I'm never going to win that argument, am I?"

You settle back against him, still smiling.  "Do you expect to?"

He just chuckles and holds you a little closer, letting the silence put you both to sleep.