Chapter Text
The tall towers of Eregion were bathed in amber light when a tired and nervous Galadriel walked through the heated corridors of the forge. The interior was still filled with the acrid smell of burning and dust from the powerful explosion that had just taken place. Fresh traces of the explosion were visible everywhere, cracked stones, scattered pieces of metal and dark streaks of soot.
“What has happened?” she asked, surprised.
“The mithril is proud” Celebrimbor replied to her “It refuses every effort to bond it with lesser ores”
“Tapping into the powers of the Seen and Unseen World seemed to soften the boundaries between the two” Elrond noticed.
“Doesn't make any sense. We used enough pressure to fuse the heavens with earth. It should have held this time!” Celebrimbor could no longer hide his irritation.
“Patience. This is a journey. Not every step we take will be forward. It may take time” Elrond tried to calm him down.
“Time? We don't... We don't have time!” cried Celebrimbor.
“Perhaps that is enough for today” Galadriel stated „Perhaps we've been pushing ourselves too hard”
“Pushing ourselves too hard…” unexpectedly, Halbrand spoke from deep inside the forge.
Galadriel looked at him intently, and a shadow of suspicion crossed her eyes. Since arriving in Eregion, she had sensed something disturbing about him, something that contradicted his assurances about who he was. Over the past few days, he had become a completely different person. His tone of voice had changed, as had his confidence and the way he looked at her. At the same time, the longer she spent in his company, the more a strange tension grew within her, a mixture of fear, curiosity and a fascination that was becoming increasingly difficult to hide. She tried to keep her distance, but with every gesture and glance, she was drawn more and more to his presence and aura of unspeakable mystery.
“Supposing that's the trouble” Halbrand walked quickly past her and approached Celebrimbor “Supposing we've been using too much force”
“Meaning what?” Elrond asked.
“Meaning that the metals shouldn't be forced to join... But more drawn or coaxed together. Now, if that's true, we've been...” Celebrimbor began to laugh with evident relief “We've been doing it all inside out. Quickly. Dismantle this. We start again”
Celebrimbor and Halbrand feverishly set to work, and Galadriel grew increasingly concerned that she was missing something very important.
“My lady” suddenly, she heard and saw an elf holding a scroll.
She immediately approached him and left the forge with him. She did not notice Halbrand watching her intently and curiously.
Galadriel went straight to the garden, where the air was crisp and filled with the scent of damp earth and blooming flowers. She carefully unrolled the scroll and began to read the names, dates, and symbols of the ancient kings of the South. At the end of the list was the date of death of the last ruler and the information that he had left no heir.
She felt everything around her stop for a moment. So everything Halbrand had said was a lie... She ran her hand over the parchment, as if trying to find even the slightest trace that would contradict this truth, but she found nothing.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.
“Galadriel!” it was Halbrand “We found it. I don't know how we missed it before. It's too much power for one object. We need two. We're making two” finally, he stood in front of her, clearly excited.
She was still shaken by her discovery and could barely understand the meaning of his words. She held the scroll so tightly that her fingers dug into the parchment.
“Two crowns?” she asked, looking him straight in the eyes, as if trying to tear the answer to a completely different question out of them.
“Not exactly” he replied calmly, taking a step closer “It'll need to be something... smaller. Come, see for yourself”
Galadriel took half a step back.
“Not until you tell me who you are” she said firmly, without a hint of hesitation.
Confused, Halbrand froze for a moment, surprised by the sharp tone in her voice.
“You know who I am” he stated.
“Who you really are” he did not give in, although deep down inside her a wave of fear and anger was rising.
“Galadriel, I'm afraid I don't...” he stammered and looked at the scroll she was holding.
Then, in a rage, she threw it at his feet. The parchment unfolded on the damp grass.
“There is no King of the Southlands!” she said angrily “The line was broken. The last man to bear your crest died over a thousand years ago. He had no heir”
“I told you I found it on a dead man” for a moment, his composure was gone.
Galadriel shook her head and took a step back, as if she couldn't physically bear his closeness.
“No” she said with an effort “No, on the raft, you saved me...”
Halbrand took a step forward, carrying something dark and disturbing within him.
“On the raft, you saved me” he replied smoothly.
In one moment, something inside her snapped. She stepped back again, trying to control her breathing.
“You convinced Míriel to save the men of Middle-earth” she said reproachfully.
“You convinced her. I wanted to remain in Númenor” he denied it.
Galadriel was lost for a moment, stunned by her own memories.
“You fought beside me” she whispered with difficulty.
“Against your enemy. And mine” Halbrand looked at her with a hint of something ambiguous.
Galadriel's eyes widened in fear. She felt as if the ground was shifting beneath her feet.
“Tell me your name” she asked in a broken whisper “Your real name”
“You know it! My name is Halbrand, and I told you from the beginning that I am not a king, but you did not listen to me. You wanted me to be one so badly. You needed my name as a symbol of power to gain support for your cause...”
A piercing chill crept under her skin and slowly spread throughout her body. The garden was plunged into silence, as if time had stopped for a moment. The glow of the setting sun fell on their faces, and she no longer knew whether she wanted to defend herself against him or his lies.
“It's not true that I didn't listen to you” she tried to deny, but it sounded uncertain.
Halbrand looked at her with a mixture of sadness and resignation. His gaze seemed piercing, yet full of compassion. He shook his head gently, as if he regretted having to put her in this situation.
“From the moment we met, I tried to be honest with you” he began quietly “I told you I wasn't a king, but you insisted otherwise. I had no one... I didn't even have a name that meant anything to this world. Thanks to you, for the first time, I had hope that I had found a place where someone would appreciate me”
Galadriel felt a stab of guilt because his voice was so gentle, as if the only thing he wanted was understanding.
“What will you do now?” he asked fearfully “You brought me here of your own free will, and now you know that I am not a king. Will you tell everyone about this? Will you send me away from Eregion? Or will you let me stay so that I can continue to be your tool? Someone you can use whenever you need me...” he looked at her intently.
Galadriel raised her head, her face betraying everything she had tried to hide until now.
“I never wanted you to be my tool!” she said sharply.
“Maybe you didn't want to, but that's how it turned out. I just wanted to survive. I'm not important, Galadriel. I'm just a simple man you met at sea. But you must know that I never wanted to lie to you” he said humbly.
For a moment, they looked at each other as if both were searching for a trace of truth in each other. After a moment, Halbrand came even closer to her, and something between longing and shyness appeared in his eyes.
“What if I tell you that I don't want to go anywhere anymore? That I want to stay here... but not for glory, only for myself and... for you. What will you do then, Galadriel?” he asked quietly, as if each word was bursting with emotions he could no longer hide.
Distrust still showed on her face, but in her eyes there was a glimmer of desire she could no longer fight. She saw Halbrand shyly reach out his hand towards her. She hesitated, but did not pull away when his fingers brushed her wrist. It was a light and tender touch, as if they were both afraid of destroying the fragile balance they had just achieved. The warmth of his skin spread through her body and she couldn't stop herself from trembling.
“I don't know what will happen next” she admitted “but if you want to stay here... there can be no more lies or half-truths between us”
In response, Halbrand smiled gratefully and hopefully. He squeezed her hand lightly, as if to comfort her, but also to make sure she wouldn't pull away at the last moment.
“I promise” he whispered, running his thumb along the inside of her hand.
Galadriel lowered her gaze, allowing him this subtle gesture, which, though simple, meant more than a hundred words.
“What now?” Halbrand still held her “Will you come back to the forge with me?”
“No” she replied quietly, slowly withdrawing her hand from his “I must return this scroll to the archives. I would not want anyone else to find it”
“I understand. We'll meet later” he nodded, turned and headed towards the forge.
Galadriel watched his receding figure and couldn't calm her thoughts. She felt desire and fear clashing inside her. She didn't know if she trusted what she had just heard, or if Halbrand's every sentence had planted a new, more disturbing suspicion in her mind. It was only after a long moment that she picked up the scroll from the ground and headed for the archives, though she still felt as if she had left a piece of her heart in the garden.
***
The night in Eregion was quiet and almost unreal. Somewhere in the distance, forge furnaces roared, but Halbrand's chamber was dim and peaceful. The man had just begun to unbutton his dirty tunic when he heard an uncertain knock at the door. He froze, then slowly approached the door.
“Galadriel?” he whispered in surprise when he saw her “Is everything all right?”
“I know it's late” she began “but I need to talk to you”
Halbrand hesitated, but finally opened the door wider and let her in.
“I came because...” she sighed heavily “I know you're not a king, but you fought for the people of the South and almost sacrificed your life in that battle. Those people see you as their ruler. They need hope, Halbrand. And maybe... we shouldn't take that away from them”
The man looked at her intently, but there was something in the shadows of his eyes that she couldn't name. He was silent for a moment, as if weighing each word.
“Hope” he repeated bitterly “But what kind of hope is built on lies?”
Her heart beat faster. She took a deep breath, trying to find the strength to look at him.
“Sometimes light is the most important thing. The people of the South must believe that there is a future for them, even if it's just a symbol. At least until we drive back the darkness” there was something of fervent faith in her voice, but also a hint of doubt.
“Can you live with that?” he asked slowly “Knowing that it's lie may one day turn against everyone you want to protect now?”
“After so many years of fighting, I think I prefer a lie that gives hope to a truth that kills it. Sometimes, in the deepest darkness, the light must become deceitful to have any chance. I... I'm not proud of it. But I know that if we don't stand together to fight, the darkness will win again. You may be the one they need. You are their hope” t was clear how torn Galadriel was.
“Is that really their hope?” whispered Halbrand “Or is it yours?”
“I don't understand...”
“You speak of the people of the South, but it is you who have come to my chamber at this hour” he smiled with that disarming carelessness that always confused her.
Galadriel felt a slight blush appear on her cheeks, but she did not take her eyes off him.
“I came because we have a decision to make” she said firmly, but inside her, something disturbing was growing that she could no longer ignore “The people need someone to lead them to a better future”
Halbrand sighed and moved away from her.
“I don't want this, Galadriel” he said quietly “I don't want to be king. I'd rather be a blacksmith. I want to work with Celebrimbor and do what I do best. Although I know that then you won't even want to look at me...”
Galadriel frowned, confused by his unexpected confession.
“In what sense would I not want you?” she asked cautiously, though a barely perceptible fear betrayed her.
Halbrand turned his head away, as if something about her presence was causing him pain.
“Elves are rarely interested in ordinary humans. Especially those who have nothing to offer but their own hands. But you and I...” he moved closer to her, and the way he spoke left no place for doubt “If you were faced with a choice... king or a mere craftsman, salvation for Middle-earth or a life here, among ash and metal, what would you choose?”
Galadriel fell silent for a moment, not knowing how to answer him. There was something true and something mockingly provocative in his question, and she found herself trapped.
“It's not that simple...” she whispered finally.
“Life is never simple. Neither are our choices and desires” his voice was soft, but it vibrated with dangerous tension “You are looking for a king, but perhaps you are really afraid to see who I am... to you”
Galadriel stared at Halbrand, surprised at how little it took for his few words to move her so much. She could hear her own rapid breathing and felt a strange anxiety suddenly come alive inside her. She couldn't let him see it and tried to put on a mask of calm.
“I didn't come here for myself” she said quietly “It's about the future of the South. Their fate, not mine”
“Are you sure?” a hint of warmth appeared on his face, but his gaze moved slowly over her, as if he wanted to remember every detail “You know, sometimes a person would like to believe that their presence means something to someone. Even if it's just an illusion. You elves are so proud, but on a night like this... we are all equal. Without titles”
“You know nothing of my pride, Halbrand” she replied sharply.
“I know that when you came here, you left it at the door. Tell me...” he whispered and moved even closer to her “Is it really just about the South? Or is it something you're afraid to name?”
Galadriel felt rebellion rising within her against him and this power she could no longer ignore. Unfortunately, her eyes had already betrayed what she was trying to hide, and they both knew it. She straightened up and raised her head, assuming an expression of cold seriousness, though inside she was still seething with emotion.
“I'm here because I want to defeat the darkness, and nothing else matters. We owe it to these people, and you can't abandon them. They need someone they can trust”
Halbrand unexpectedly stepped back and looked away, as if to hide his confusion.
“I'm sorry, Galadriel” he whispered shamefully “I shouldn't have said all of that. Forgive me. Sometimes... when I'm with you, it's hard to control my words”
“I'm the one who should apologise. I probably shouldn't have come here” she said, already turning to leave, but then she looked back at him “Please, don't leave these people. Don't take away their hope, Halbrand...”
Without waiting for his answer, she left and closed the door behind her. He listened to her footsteps fading away for a long time, until finally, when the chamber was completely silent, a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.
Galadriel slowly entered her chamber and tried to gather her scattered thoughts. Halbrand's gaze and his tender yet anxious assurances swirled in her head. Each of his confessions, so sincere and vulnerable, struck her deeper than she wanted them to.
She began to wonder if she had forced him to say the words he later regretted. She shivered when she thought how close she had come to allowing herself to show even greater weakness. She had come to him with a demand and a mission, and she left with a sense of guilt and something intangible that tore at her peace and confidence from within. She wanted to believe that she had done it only for the South and that it was solely a matter of duty, but she knew that wasn't true. Her cheeks still stung and betrayed something she didn't want to admit.
“This is not worthy of an elf” she whispered bitterly.
She lay in bed for a long time, trying to find even a shadow of the coldness that had recently enveloped her heart, but tonight everything seemed different. Everything was becoming more dangerous.
In the morning, the first rays of light struggled to get through the curtains when Galadriel lifted her head from the pillow. She felt as if she hadn't slept at all. She slowly washed and dressed. She was just braiding her hair into a loose plait when she heard a knock on the door.
“Come in!” she called.
A young elf entered the chamber, whom she recognised as one of Celebrimbor's assistants.
“Lady Galadriel, Master Celebrimbor requests your presence in the forge” he said politely.
She merely nodded and was actually glad that she would not have to face her thoughts alone any longer.
The forge was surprisingly empty in the morning. Galadriel stopped at the threshold and immediately noticed that there was no one there but Halbrand. The fire glowed in the hearth, and the entire space was filled with only the steady, calm rhythm of his work. He stood focused, bent over the anvil, and Galadriel couldn't take her eyes off him.
His body moved rhythmically, and the skin on his arms and neck glistened with sweat. His tense muscles were clearly visible under his dark, open tunic, and every gesture betrayed years of fighting for survival. The glow of the fire emphasised his masculine features and made him dangerously fascinating. There was something primal and magnetic about him. His hair was messy from the heat and exertion and fell over his forehead and cheeks. There was a wild power in him that Galadriel couldn't resist, even though she wanted to so badly. Her unwavering self-control was crumbling under the pressure of something she had never experienced before. With every breath she took, her admiration grew until it turned into something feverish and dangerous.
She was increasingly ashamed of her own weakness, yet she stared at him as if hypnotised. Her thoughts swirled, tormented by the vision of what it would be like to touch that skin, to feel its warmth under her fingers and allow herself everything she had suppressed until now.
Suddenly, Halbrand straightened up, reached for the water and drank greedily, then brushed the hair from his forehead and looked at her as if he had known all along that he was being watched. Galadriel realised that he had caught her. A predatory smile appeared on his face, and then he slowly put down the hammer.
“Good morning, Galadriel” he said gently.
“Good morning. I came here because Celebrimbor wanted to see me” she tried to remain indifferent.
“I see...” he looked at her with the ease of someone who knows he has already won “Actually, it's very interesting... Please tell me, is it just a coincidence, or could it be something else entirely, that lately we've been talking so much about what we want? Perhaps it would be easier for both of us if you would do me the honour of telling me what you want most?”
Galadriel tried not to betray her confusion. She never imagined he would dare to ask her such a thing. She lifted her chin high, though her heart was beating too fast.
“Halbrand, you seem to have forgotten yourself. I came to the forge because I have duties to fulfil here. I am not here to tell you what I want” she said coolly.
“Everyone has desires, even the proudest of elves” he laughed softly, with that familiar hint of mischief “And sometimes those desires are closer than you think”
Galadriel unconsciously clenched her hands, trying not to show how much this conversation was unsettling her.
“It's good that you reminded me” she said firmly “I am an elf, and you are a human. There is more that divides us than you think”
“Does it really matter?” he asked calmly “I saw how you looked at me just now. Not like a king, not like a blacksmith, but like someone who is tearing down all your walls”
“Honestly?” she asked with predatory calm “I think you're overestimating your abilities”
Halbrand took the blow with obvious pleasure. He slowly moved away from the anvil and towards her.
“Maybe you're right” he whispered, his eyes flashing with defiance “But sometimes it's worth taking a risk. Even if you get burned”
A thick, sensual atmosphere grew between them, in which every gesture took on new meaning. Galadriel considered ending the conversation for a moment, but instead allowed herself to be bold.
“You'd better be careful, Halbrand. Iron isn't the only thing that can burn in this forge”
“In that case, I'll be careful” he said, his tone tinged with something disturbingly tempting.
“We should stop...” she felt the situation slipping out of her control.
Halbrand moved even closer, without invading her space, and looked at her with the same intensity that had confused her so many times before.
“Stop talking?” he asked with a hint of irony “Or maybe stop... pretending?”
“I'm not pretending!” she protested “I'm just trying to understand why everything has been so difficult lately when you're around”
Their breath mingled, and the air between them ignited. The words hung in the air, not yet fully spoken, but already too bold to take back.
“Maybe it's because you can't fight me anymore” Halbrand said quietly, almost tenderly “Or maybe you don't want to. Tell me, what do you really want from me?”
Galadriel pressed her lips together as if to hold back the confession that was on the tip of her tongue. Instead of an answer, there was a tense silence between them for a moment, the kind where every breath becomes a fight.
“I...” she began, struggling to gather her thoughts “I just want to clear things up and sort everything out”
Halbrand looked at her unyieldingly, not even trying to hide the challenge and hunger for truth in his eyes.
“That's not an answer” he interrupted quietly, with a smile full of patience and devious gentleness “I'm not asking about things, I'm asking about you”
Galadriel's anxiety grew with every passing moment. She wanted to look away, hide behind a cool composure, but she couldn't. He already knew too much. A violent struggle was raging inside her. The stubborn part of her soul screamed to leave, but the other, more real part could no longer ignore his presence and the power that emanated from him and attracted her like a magnet.
“I... I really don't know”
“It's very simple, Galadriel” he said softly “All it takes is a little courage”
“It's wrong... we shouldn't...”
“Wrong for whom?” he interrupted her without a hint of hesitation “For an elf or for a human? Or maybe just for you, because you're afraid to feel more than your pride allows you to?”
Galadriel did not answer. She pressed her lips together, trying to hide the pain, embarrassment and something so strong that it frightened her. But Halbrand didn't need any more words. Gently, cautiously, as if afraid of scaring her away, he raised his hand and touched her cheek with his fingers. His touch was tender, barely perceptible, and yet it made Galadriel freeze, paralysed by an impulse that was too intense for her to ignore.
Halbrand watched her closely, feeling all his confidence begin to waver under the pressure of what was happening in her eyes. For a brief moment, he hesitated, unsure if he was being too hasty and if he should back off before things got out of control. He remembered that special moment after the battle with Adar's forces. How he wanted to pull her close and feel the warmth of her lips on his. No... this time he had no doubts.
He didn't wait any longer. Without warning and leaving her no way to escape, he moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him. For a moment, he saw the last glimmer of her resistance before he simply reached for what they both wanted. His lips found hers, at first timidly, carefully, as if giving her one last chance to escape. The kiss was soft, full of growing yearning, but when Galadriel did not move away and her lips parted, Halbrand gained confidence. His kiss became more greedy and passionate, as if he wanted to make up for all the months he had pretended he did not need her closeness in this one gesture. His fingers plunged into her hair, and his other hand found her hip and pulled her even closer. And that's when she realised how far she had crossed the line she had sworn never to cross. In one moment, the magic was gone, and she pushed him away.
She stood there for a moment, dazed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She couldn't gather her thoughts because her body was trembling with desire. She could still feel the weight of his kiss on her lips and the warmth of his touch. Rebellion and shame welled up in her heart, which she was no longer able to hide.
“Never again...” she finally managed to say “Never do that again!”
Halbrand looked at her with a tenderness that was as real as it was dangerous. He smiled gently, but beneath the surface of that gesture lay something disturbing. It was a confidence that balanced on the edge of concern and manipulation.
“Is this really what you want, Galadriel?” his voice was soft and sensual “You want me to stop, even though you wanted that kiss as much as I did? You wanted there to be no lies or half-truths between us, so stop lying to yourself. I can see everything you don't want to say in your eyes”
His words enveloped her like an invisible web, seducing her and breaking down her resistance.
“Never again!” she repeated with difficulty, avoiding his gaze.
She turned and almost ran out of the forge, leaving behind the tension-filled air and Halbrad, who watched her with triumph and cool satisfaction. He knew that the most important boundary had just been crossed, and her escape was only confirmation of how much her desires and fears now belonged to him.