Tolkien Elven Imagines and Headcanons Volume 1

158. Celegorm - Hunting Lessons

Celegorm x sister!Reader

1.2k words

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When Celegorm had invited you along on this hunting trip with him, you had hoped it would be a good chance to learn about his favorite hobby and spend time with your favorite big brother. You had even shown promise, he said in hunting and that he would be happy to teach you. He had taught the twins, so you trusted him to teach you as well.

Tyelko had spent intricate time this morning drawing markings with face paint on your face and arms, helping you blend in better with your surroundings. Looking much like his own, though they extended to his chest, as always hunting shirtless and wanting to be far more feral and in tune with the elements.

The only issue was you hadn't anticipated for Celegorm to immediately take off the moment you two had dismounted from your mounts. He hardly even warned you that he would hurry off into the heart of the woods, tracking elk tracks he had spotted hours before you had reached your destination.

"Keep up nésa." He had teased, hurrying through the woods, easily stepping and brushing away the underbrush and brambles. Unbothered as they scratched, scrapped and slapped against him until finally he disappeared from sight. Leaving you to wrestle with the thick underbrush, not nearly as experienced as him with this.

As expected you were not able to keep up, and you lost him entirely. Unable to even be able to hear his light footfalls any further. Quite suddenly you felt like you were far out of your league and that asking him had been a horrible idea. You were barely confident in even shooting an arrow and now he trusted you to do so by yourself.

For the first couple of hours the hunt was frustrating, feeling as though you were wandering aimlessly with no signs of tracks or even tufts of fur on the brambles. Leaving you to sigh out in frustration at how poorly this was going already, it didn't help that you weren't very confident in the few skills Celegorm had taught you.

Just keeping to the basics, which were to be quiet so you didn't scare the game off. All game was up for grabs unless they had children in tow with them. And finally certainly do not aim your bow and arrow without knowing what you were looking at. You let out another sigh, though softer and longer this time as you continued your trek.

You already were feeling discouraged and regretful about joining him on this trip, as perhaps hunting with the twins would've been a much safer option. You quietly moved through the forest, mindful of every step that you took so you didn't disturb any game that might be nearby. That way you also didn't disturb Celegorm from his hunt either.

It was by pure chance you happened to look up when you did, seeing a tuft of elk fur tangled in the brambles from where the thorns had snagged at them. With what little confidence you gained from the sight, you were quick to follow the sign in search for your game.

Moving stealthily through the woods just as Celegorm taught you, mindful not to snag any nearby branches and thorns as you moved briskly. Ears twitching as you began to catch the noises of the elk, just far enough in the distance they were hidden between the trees. Your adrenaline began to ramp up the closer you got to them, the trees giving way to open up to a clearing where they all grazed together.

You stopped just in the treeline, several bushes giving you the advantage of a good enough hiding spot as you crouched behind it. You closed your eyes, feeling your heart pound in your chest, unsheathing an arrow from your quiver silently. Though your hands were unsteady and shaky, loading your arrow, you stood and took aim.

Drawing the string taut, just like Celegorm taught you. Taking one big breath before exhaling deeply, trying to trust in yourself that you could absolutely do this... Though you knew that your form was poor in how you held and aimed your bow. Your anxiety beginning to get the better of you as you hesitated despite having your eye on the large elk before you.. You weren't even sure you'd be successful in your shot. 

So quietly you relaxed in your stance crouching back down as you took a heavy and shaky breath as you mentally chastised yourself. Before suddenly a pair of hands grabbed your shoulders, making you jump out of your skin and eyes go wide. Until you finally registered that it was your brother who was here with you, you practically fell into the forest floor and bush with relief.

"Why didn't you take that shot?" He whispered faintly to you, peering back over the bush to make sure he hadn't startled the game. There was feral excitement and wonder in his eyes as he looked back to you, but you began to shake your head vigorously at his words. You couldn't do it, and it was solely because you weren't a good hunter. You'd never be a good hunter.

"Tyelko I can't... I can't." You breathed out to him, trying to be soft and gentle in your words, making the hunter frown at your words. Yes you absolutely could, your form had needed some correcting but it would've just made that shot had you taken it.

"Yes, Y/N you can." He whispered quickly, ushering for you to stand up and you did as he directed, Celegorm made the motions for you to take aim again. Taking his place behind you, hands shaking with his own excitement for you, the thrill of the hunt having quickly gotten to him.

As you took aim again, you felt light headed and worried that you'd screw this up royally. Though this time you felt Celegorm's hands come to your arms, gently pushing up or down on your arms before he let go. You almost waited to see if he'd direct you on when to shoot, but the opportunity came with what knowledge your brother had given you.

At that, you released your arrow, feeling the way the string snapped sending the arrow sailing through the air. But you closed your eyes, not being able to bear witnessing your failure, even if Celegorm had helped you. You had minimal faith in your abilities.

There was the sound of sudden rushing and running of the elk, and your brother clasping his hand over your shoulder excitedly as he shook you some.

"We'll make a hunter of you yet, Y/N." Celegorm smirked as you finally opened your eyes and looked up to your thrilled brother. Quietly you blinked, still feeling the adrenaline coursing through your veins, especially as you spied your prize laying on the ground. Celegorm walking out ahead of you to ready your kill back to the hunting cabin to be dressed and skinned.

You only took another deep breath feeling both excitement and relief, maybe Celegorm wasn't such a bad teacher after all. And just maybe you weren't so bad at this,

"Keep this up and next time I will bring you on a hunt with the twins." He chuckled, and at that you smiled. Finally, siblings who would be more inclined to actually hunt with you! At this you followed right behind your brother, ready to help him. This hunting trip was going to be far more exciting than you hoped it would be.