Tolkien Elven Imagines and Headcanons Volume 1

98. Elrond - Deep Breaths

Elrond x Reader

trigger warning: panic attack

1.2k words

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It started suddenly on your way to Elrond's study, that vice squeezing your chest, stealing the breath from your lungs. Your heart pounding, working in overdrive as the adrenaline began to course through your veins.

You were more than halfway there, walking up the steps when it struck you. The clammy heat clinging to your skin as you gripped the railway, shakily trying to walk up the smooth stone steps. Fear and terror beginning to grip you in a vice as it came so suddenly.

A panic attack.

It must have been the fourth one in only three days, each growing in intensity, and in frequency since being caught in an orc attack on one of your daily rides. Each time it would assail your mind and body you couldn't bring yourself down from the horrible tipping point it left you on. Your hands going numb and each step fumbling as you took harsh and quick inhales as your thoughts raced.

The soft sounds of outside fading into the distance as the connection to the present was lost. Even the sights before you felt unreal and dreadfully dreamlike. You hardly registered the next step you took, losing your footing and beginning to careen into the steps before a set of hands landed on your shoulder.

Making you jolt with surprise, and the pounding of your heart only growing as you didn't even know where this person had come from! They had seemed to materialize right before you. Your hands shakily reached out to clutch the brown robes before you, dark brown hair draping forward before silvery eyes managed to capture yours.

"Y/N, deep breaths..." His voice came out soothing and soft as he began to upright you, hands firmly holding your shoulders. At this you tried to take one steady inhale, but your breaths still faltered and came far too quickly to soothe you.

It was Elrond who spoke as you looked at him in your panic, trying to follow his instructions. Your heart thrumming so hard in your chest it made you wince, as Elrond looked at you gently.

When you didn't follow his command, Elrond only gently placed an arm around your shoulders, his other hand still holding the side of your arm as he began to briskly guide you down the hallway.

"Focus on the sound of my voice, Y/N." He continued in his gentle voice keeping you close to his side. Your hands frantically searching for more of his robes to hold onto snugly, his scent wafting into your lungs offering a small sense of comfort. Reminding you that you were safe and with the one ellon that helped relieve any and all of your panic.

"Everything will be alright." He assured you again, keeping consistent in speaking with you to continue to calm you. In a moment the two of you came before the heavy wooden door, hardly paying attention to detail. Only noticing how Elrond's hand left you to push the door open before he guided you in, gently kicking the door shut as he pushed you along to the sofa that sat just a few feet from the entrance.

With great care he sat you down onto the soft cushions, quickly taking his place next to you. Knees gently brushing against yours as you began to reach for some part of him to hold, wanting nothing more than to soothe yourself. Elrond had become your greatest comfort the last several times you had found yourself in this predicament, and today was no different.

Elrond didn't deny you the comfort you needed from him then, and surely he didn't deny you now as he grabbed your hands. Squeezing them tenderly as he brought them to rest on both of your knees, silver eyes quietly investigating your panicked form.

Feeling how your hands shook, listening to your hyperventilating and seeing the deep worry and fret on your face, bringing him to frown. Watching how you seemed to look everywhere but at him, closing your eyes to attempt to comfort yourself somehow.

"Y/N?" His voice came again with care, hands giving your another squeeze to soothe you, gripping his hands tightly you looked up at him with wide eyes,

"Breathe with me..." He began, slowly taking a deep inhale prompting you to follow his lead, your breath was still shaky and quick but you began to try and mimic what it was he was doing.

"Good... You're doing well, Y/N." Elrond praised in a gentle voice as you began to take another breath, each one coming slower than the last. The pounding of your heart slowing, the shaking slowly subsiding as the adrenaline began to wear off as you grounded yourself.

"You are safe here, Y/N take your time. Continue taking deep breaths." He assured you again, each praise and assurance helping comfort you, as was the softness of his hands holding yours. The warmth that came from them was undeniably comforting, it was something that had consistently brought you down from this high place. Elrond never denying or withholding such comfort from you,

"Are you feeling better?" He began keeping his voice even, as reality began to finally come back to you, that fear mostly leaving you- lingering faintly, though more rational thoughts came back to you. Slowly you nodded your head, Elrond releasing one of your hands to place on your back. A faint smile pulling at his lips as he nodded in approval and hidden relief to know that you were feeling better.

"Good. How about some tea?" He asked, gesturing to the coffee table before you both, the hot tea kettle sitting on an intricate metal trivet with two tea cups set out. Along with a variety of fixings to flavor and sweeten your tea as you desired.

"Yes, I would like that." You answered him in a soft voice, your voice trembling, Elrond gave you another faint smile with a satisfied nod to hear it. You took this time to look him over, grounding yourself further into reality. He looked so warm and inviting as always, even in more cool earthy colors and his silvery eyes never lacking in care.

"Good, once you've had a chance to catch your breath if you are feeling up to it, we can discuss it further hm?" He suggested, you nodded again knowing that Elrond would pry it out of you eventually. Yet you were okay with that, there was no one safer to share these matters with in all of Arda.

"Yes, we can discuss it." You answered him in a soft voice, watching as Elrond released your hands and gingerly picking up the kettle to pour you both some tea. He was silent for a moment, only the sound of tea filling the cups meeting your ears. Not even his robes seemed to rustle as he moved, you only watched as he fixed your tea how you enjoyed it before he moved to hand you the delicate tea cup.

"Take your time, and know that you are safe here with me." He assured you, as you began to shakily sip on it, his hand moving to rest back on your back gently as if to try and steady you. You were grateful for his patience, Eru knew it would be a good half hour before you'd be able to discuss everything with him.

But you couldn't be anymore grateful for him, there was no where in all of Arda you'd rather be than right here next to Elrond.

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I don't know anon if you wanted it to be more romantic based, so I apologize if it is lacking!

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