Tolkien Elven Imagines and Headcanons Volume 1

131. Celebrimbor - Late Night Stresses

It was about three am when the sound of your bedroom door opening woke you, you slowly rolled your head to look at the growing sliver of orange light to your left. Celebrimbor's blurry figure slipped through the small opening as quietly as he could, in your own silence you began to rub your bleary eyes. Only sighing softly as you finished watching as your husband began to close the door.

As your eyes adjusted you could see how rigid and tense your husband was, the faint silvery glow around your husband from the two trees giving you a perfect view of where he was. You were knew he had been in the forges as you could smell the coal, metal and sweat on him. Celebrimbor let out a heavy sigh as he began to walk away from the door, you rolled over slowly following his form.

Watching as he went to the bathroom drawing a bath before he began to undress to bathe. The door cracking only slightly and you listened he fiddled with the ties of his apron grumbling under his breath before with a heavy thug they hit the floor. Celebrimbor began to curse softly when small metal tools clanged loudly against the floor, making you snort out in hazy amusement.

Try as he may, Celebrimbor could be noisy even in his most quiet moments after working in the forges. Especially if his mind was clouded deep in thoughts as tools and metal pieces made their way from the forge and too your room.

You lay there quietly, listening to the bathwater slosh noisily around the tub as he go in. It sounded like endless sloshing as the minutes began to tick by, tonight was clearly not a night where things had been unwinding in the forges. Just hours of endless frustration, as Celebrimbor wasn't even taking the time to sit and relax in the bath. Just enough to wash the grime of the forges away and off of his skin.

It made you wonder when the last time Celebrimbor stopped to relax over these past two months. Lately the forges didn't seem very therapeutic for him if at all, only coming back to you more tense than he was before.

He had made sure that time had been made for you, even with him being down in the forges so often Celebrimbor hadn't neglected any second with you that he had. But in doing so he had neglected himself and he had hid it well from you.

When the water began to drain from the tub it pulled you from your thoughts, and prompted you to sit up in your soft bed. The fluffy and warm comforters pooling around you just as your husband stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but his clean trousers. Celebrimbor stopped for a moment and you saw the frown that graced his lips.

"Mírë, have I woken you?" He asked with some concern in his voice as Celebrimbor began to pad across the floor quickly to your side of the bed. You could feel the guilt radiating from him, though you began to shake your head softly registering his question.

"I am sorry that I have." Celebrimbor muttered softly to you as he sat next to you, hands coming to grab yours. Gently you squeezed his large calloused hands, savoring the roughness and warmth of them. You smiled groggily to him,

"Do not apologize to me, I am glad that I have this moment with you." You said to him softly as you began to pull away from him, scooting to the center of the bed. Celebrimbor watched you curiously hating the sensation of your delicate hands leaving his, but when you patted the bed beckoning him to be with you he obeyed.

"No not up here, lay your head here." You said gently directing him to lay his head in your lap, Celebrimbor paused for a moment not understanding why you didn't want to lay with him as you usually did but nonetheless he did as you directed.

"You've done so much for me and not enough for yourself... I can tell whatever it is you're working on has you stressed my love..." You whispered softly to him as you looked down at him, hands coming to either side of his face where you caressed gently, his eyes fluttering close at how good it felt.

With care you traced your hands down his jaw and to his neck, fingers pressing to the back of neck, kneading firmly enough to massage him and working your way down to his broad shoulders. Muscles tense beyond their own volition, and you were confident it was from the weight of all of his work on his shoulders.

A soft sigh of approval left his lips as you began to feel his shoulders slacken, and you kneaded roughly knowing it felt good to him. With as big as he was a massage required much more force coming from you, as opposed to it being the other way around. It was very rare that Celebrimbor relinquished any control of you being the provider of any kind, but in this moment it just felt so good to be cared for.

You began to hum softly, letting your hands work on one side of his shoulder. Kneading down his strong bicep, making sure you took your time and watching his facial expressions to make sure he was enjoying himself and even though he was so big you worried about hurting him. Coming down to his hands here he seemed to frown some when you began your ministrations, feeling how tight and tense the muscles seemed to be here too.

But after a moment his face relaxed again and you worked your way back up slowly so you could begin again on the right side of his body. It had been so long it felt like since he had been so relaxed, his eyes shut and his breathing soft. The tension at long last falling from his body and with as calm as he was you were sure he was asleep until you ran your fingers back over his shoulders.

Nails gently caress his shoulders making him groan out softly at how good it felt, it made you smile widely. It was adorable and it made you feel so good to know that you could take care of him too.

"How about considering a late start to your day tomorrow? Or getting off earlier tomorrow so you can take some time to yourself?" You asked in a light, soothing voice making him hum out at your words. There was a long moment of silence as you didn't press Celebrimbor to make a decision, knowing that he wouldn't let you go to bed without an answer.

Quietly he worked out what had to be done tomorrow, deliberating if the project he was working on could be put on hold until the following day. As your fingers left his shoulders he slowly opened his eyes, seeing your adoring and smiling face unable to help the small smile that found his lips.

"Alright... I shall take off sometime tomorrow after noon." He calmly, happily relenting to your advice, wanting nothing more to be in your company alone. Craving more of your affection he moved to lay down next to you, waiting for you to settle into bed so he could wrap his arms around you pulling you close to his chest.

You couldn't help the bright smile that found your face, excited to be able to spend some time with your husband. But more importantly make sure that he was taking care of himself, and doing what you could to make sure he knew you would help when he needed it.

"I love you..." Your voice said muffled in his chest, feeling a soft chuckle rumble through him,

"I love you too mírë..." He whispered sweetly to you in return before you two lay together in silence, gently drifting to sleep together.