Faramir Fiction Archive

When Darkness Falls (NC-17)

Written by Sairalinde and Anorienbean

10 April 2008 | 42956 words

Title: When Darkness Falls Chapter 4/?
Authors: Sairalinde & Anorienbean
Fandom: LOTR
Characters: Faramir/Haldir
Rating: NC17
Warnings: Non-con in later chapters, violence
Disclaimer: No money was made from this, and the characters all belong to the late, great Mr. JRR Tolkien and his estate.
Summary: Faramir and Haldir join the Fellowship and vow to do everything in their power to see the one ring destroyed. Things get complicated, however, when they fall in love almost immediately, and vow to protect one another as well. When the ring accidentally falls into Faramir’s possession, Haldir realizes that he can’t do both.
Warning: TOTALLY non-canon.

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When Faramir awoke, he wasn’t sure if it was day or night. How dreadful must it be to live down here without a hint of sunshine? He thought as his mind began to focus. He realized he was settled quite comfortably in his lover’s lap and he leaned back to gaze at Haldir in the dim light from the crystal. “How long have I slept?” he asked softly seeing that Haldir was still awake.

Haldir smiled and pressed his lips over Faramir’s in a gentle kiss. “A few hours, I think,” he whispered. “And you are all warm and snuggly, and if we did not have so far to go, I think I would like to stay here a few more hours, to be honest.”

Faramir smiled at the word snuggly thinking for a moment that it sounded so adorable coming from someone as elegant as Haldir. “Are you sure you don’t need to rest? You’ve watched over me… I don’t mind returning the favor,” he whispered.

“Maybe later,” Haldir said. “If you are up to it, I think we should go on. I rested a bit while you slept, and feel fine now.”

Regretfully, Faramir drew back and nodded. “Then we should move on,” he whispered but didn’t make to get up just yet. Leaning forward he pressed his lips to Haldir’s in a gentle kiss and smiled. “Now… we should move on,” he added grinning as he disentangled himself from his lover and stood up. He blinked a few times, wishing that there was more light. “How do dwarves do it? Live in the darkness like this… even with hundreds of torches lit this place would still be dark,” he grumbled as he stretched his muscles a bit.

Haldir stood up and stretched as well, then leaned over to pack up the remnants of their meal from the night before. “You know my feelings on dwarves,” Haldir teased, though, in truth, he thought he might just like Gimli if the stubborn little creature would simply smile once in a while. Then again, he thought, Haldir hadn’t been one to smile much either, until Faramir came into his life.and even then, his smiles were mostly reserved for his lover. “I have wondered the same thing myself though. I suppose the mines, to them, are like the forests to Elves, and cities and villages are to men. Just.home. The place they find comfort and happiness, though I truly do not see how.”

Faramir shrugged as Haldir spoke, his words making perfect sense. “You are right, love… I guess it just seems strange since our people don’t live underground. If it is what you know… what you are born to… I suppose it doesn’t seem strange at all,” he agreed as he helped Haldir pack up and he looked ahead of them trying to see something… anything that might tell them which direction to go. “I suppose we just keep walking forward, and away from where we came in,” he mused. Reaching out as Haldir shouldered his pack, his fingers tangled with his lover’s yet again. “Tell me when you need to rest, promise?”

Haldir gave his Faramir’s hand a gentle squeeze and nodded. “I promise,” he smiled. “And the same goes for you. When you get tired or hungry, let me know. Or you want to stop for a simple hug or kiss, we can do that too. I think I might stop for both of those things often.” His voice was teasing, but he couldn’t have been more serious. As the darkness surrounded them, he needed to feel the goodness and love that Faramir carried within him more than ever.

Faramir laughed quietly as Haldir spoke and squeezed his hand. “I think I’d like those things often as well,” he grinned. It made his heart feel lighter to tease with Haldir despite their situation.

They continued on for many hours in the darkness of Moria before they took rest again… and this pattern continued for what Faramir estimated was about four days; maybe a little more or less. It was hard to tell without the sky to tell you for certain.

When they finally reached a large archway that seemed lit from within, Haldir lowered the still-glowing crystal and carefully moved forward. “I see.steps.a bridge and.fire. I remember Gandalf saying something about a bridge, but I cannot remember exactly what he said. I think we need to cross it, but.I have a very bad feeling about this.”

Faramir looked at his lover for a moment and nodded. “I think you are right about crossing it… and I haven’t had a good feeling about these caves since we found ourselves trapped here… but at least there is light… and if there is a bridge maybe,” Faramir paused and shrugged hopefully, “maybe there is a way out on the other side of it? One doesn’t build a bridge to lead to no where right?” He hoped his words sounded hopeful but he knew he was reaching. He felt just as uncomfortable about what lie ahead as Haldir did for some reason.

“Right,” Haldir agreed. “There is probably a doorway that leads straight out of this place just on the other side.” Giving Faramir’s hand another squeeze, Haldir took a deep breath and slowly moved forward. He could hear nothing, nor see what the source of the flames was. As they moved down the first set of stairs, he kept glancing around them, and kept a firm grip on his lover’s hand. A sudden, even deeper feeling of dread came over him, and he stopped short, almost causing Faramir to run into him. “Listen,” he whispered. “Something is coming.”

Faramir couldn’t hear as well as Haldir could but the very air around them seemed to be filled with something foreboding. He had no idea what it could be and was afraid to even think on it. Orcs weren’t this… elusive and he wouldn’t allow himself to think too much of what could be coming toward them. “Let’s hurry,” Faramir whispered as they began to move again, Haldir leading him as they moved down the steps. The ‘bridge’ was narrow ahead of them and as he looked at how there seemed to be no floor he felt his mouth go dry. “Why would they build it like this… or is it simply unfinished?” he thought aloud as they moved. The caves they’d passed through before had been nothing like this, this place didn’t even seem a part of where they had just been.

Stepping gingerly onto the bridge, Haldir shook his head. “I am not sure,” he whispered. “Nothing in this place makes sense, nothing seems right here.” They moved quickly across the narrow stone bridge, holding tightly on to each other. When they were over halfway across, he glanced over his shoulder, past his lover, and felt his heart stop. Just outside of the cavern they had just left, he saw flames, incredibly tall and fierce, and.they were moving. “Whatever you do, do not look back,” he whispered, grabbing Faramir by the hips and managing to reverse their positions so Faramir was ahead of him, and Haldir was between his lover and the oncoming flames. “I am right behind you. Just keep moving, meleth.”

“What?” Faramir managed as he was practically manhandled by his lover and shoved ahead of them. Haldir’s words don’t look back struck him oddly and of course he had the desire to look but thought as the cavern somehow became even brighter that maybe he should listen. Speeding up into a half run, he felt the ground tremble under their feet and felt his heart leap into his throat. Whatever was behind them was big, but the desire to look back finally got the better of him. Faramir glanced over his shoulder and fought every instinct to stop and stare.

Quickly he looked ahead of them again, and picked up his pace as much as the narrow bridge would allow. If they overbalanced even a little bit they’d both fall to their doom; then again if they didn’t get out of there and away from what was behind them… they might meet their doom anyway. Scrambling ahead, Faramir tried to drag in a breath but the air was so hot. The creature behind them was pure fire, as if it simply was nothing but fire encased in stone.

The creature, a balrog, Haldir knew at once, was gaining on them, somehow managing to cross the narrow bridge even more quickly then he and Faramir, despite its size. The ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet again, and Haldir heard the crack of a whip behind them. He continued pushing Faramir ahead as quickly as he dared, but knew that they couldn’t make it to the other side without something to distract the creature. Releasing Faramir’s hand, Haldir turned toward the balrog and reached for an arrow, knowing that it would do little to help them, but having no other weapon close at hand. “Go!” he hissed as Faramir tried to pull him away. “Go! I will be right behind you!”

“No!” Faramir shouted trying to pull Haldir back but nearly screamed in frustration when he stepped toward the beast and not away. He watched as his lover loosed an arrow and started to draw his own bow when Haldir yelled at him again to go. “Not without you! Haldir, please!” he shouted just as the creature drew back with a long fire laced whip that sliced through the air faster than either of them could draw breath. He watched in horror as Haldir tried to move back but there was simply no place to go.

Before Haldir knew what was happening, he heard the whip crack, and felt a searing pain cutting through him from his right shoulder, across his chest and stomach, and ending at his left hip, tearing a gaping hole in his tunic. He almost fell to his knees, but forced himself to stay standing, seeing that Faramir wasn’t running toward the other side of the bridge, instead staying just behind him. “GO! Faramir, just go! I promise I will follow you! You cannot just stand there!” Even as he spoke, he reached painfully behind him for another arrow just as the whip cracked through the air again and caught him on his forearms and neck. Screaming in pain, he almost fell from the narrow bridge, the fire from the whip burning through his skin and seeming to scorch his very bones.

Faramir grabbed Haldir’s tunic and began pulling his lover backwards just before the whip slashed toward them again. The creature stepped toward them; his formidable weight causing the bridge to shudder under them and Faramir was knocked backwards against one of the few pillars on this part of the bridge. He heard Haldir scream and suddenly for the first time since he’d picked it up, he remembered the ring. It was almost as clear as a voice inside him urging him to use it for protection for himself but mostly for Haldir. His mind was foremost on Haldir and before he could even give himself time to think he’d slipped the ring on. Unsheathing his sword he felt a calmness wash over him, and he seemed to know exactly what to do. Moving past Haldir, who couldn’t see him at all, a fact he didn’t realize, he rushed toward the creature and thrust upwards with his sword. In truth he should have been burned, he shouldn’t have had the strength to push the creature back as he did, and a part of him recognized it was the ring. He could almost feel its power in him, and though a part of him knew it was wrong, all he wanted was to protect Haldir. Pushing forward as hard as he could, he managed to shove the creature off balance enough to push it over the edge. He had no idea how he made his way back to Haldir’s side, only that he had, and when he slipped off the ring he missed the look in Haldir’s eyes.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Haldir startled when Faramir suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Finally dropping to his knees, he looked up at his lover in stunned silence. Gods..he has the ring? The ring Frodo was supposed to have? When? How? By the Valar, how can this be happening? A shiver or pure terror raced up his spine, worse than the balrog could ever have inspired, and he fought the urge to simply grab the ring from his lover’s fingers and throw it off the bridge. He knew, however, that he could not touch it, that it would kill him as surely as he drew breath. As he struggled for breath, he vowed to simply watch over his lover until they reached the end of the mines. There, they would hopefully meet their companions, and Faramir would return the ring to Frodo. “Guren.are you hurt?”

Faramir shoved the ring back into his pocket and started to sheath his sword. He paused for a moment thinking it should be too hot for him to even hold. Somehow the ring had protected him as he’d managed to cause the creature to overbalance and fall from the bridge. They could hear it roaring below them and he knew they weren’t out of danger yet. As Haldir collapsed to his knees, Faramir dropped down before him. “I’m not hurt, but you are, love. We have to get out of here… can you go on?” he asked worriedly.

Haldir nodded and rested one hand on Faramir’s shoulder as he pushed himself to his feet. “I do not know how you managed to knock him off, but.thank you. You saved my life,” he said softly, trying his best not to think about the ring just yet. One thing at a time. We need to get our of here first. A wave of pain struck him again as his skin stretched over the edges of the burns and he held on to his lover for a moment until the pain faded away to a more manageable level. “I can walk. We need to get out of here before it comes back. Go quickly.I am right behind you.”

“No, you go ahead of me this time,” Faramir said maneuvering Haldir ahead of him. He’d seen the pain in Haldir’s eyes when he’d stood up and he wanted to make sure Haldir was where he could keep an eye on him. “I know you are hurting, but hurry, love,” he urged as Haldir moved ahead of him and they began to make their way toward another archway with a set of rough steps hewn into the hard rock. Faramir kept throwing glances over his shoulder as they moved, hoping that whatever that thing was, that it was trapped where it was for now. As they moved he could feel a change in the air… fresh air from somewhere ahead of them. “I think there is a way out ahead!”

Haldir nodded and kept moving as fast as he could. He too could feel the blessedly fresh air before them. After they’d climbed a few dozen more torturous steps and found their way through two more dark caves, they suddenly found themselves emerging into glorious sunlight. Breathing heavily, Haldir rested back against the cool stone of the mines they’d just exited and closed his eyes. “We made it,” he gasped. “The next time I see that wretched Dwarf, I am going to tell him exactly what I think of his beloved mines!”

As they moved into sunlight for the first time in almost a week Faramir took a deep breath of the fresh air and leaned against the stones alongside Haldir. Despite the situation, Faramir laughed and shook his head. “I shall have to make sure that I’m privy to that conversation,” he teased as he dragged in a ragged breath. “We should keep moving though, I don’t know if that thing can get out of there or not but I don’t think I want to tarry around here and find out. Can you make it at least to the trees?” he asked pointing ahead of them toward a small forest.

Haldir nodded and pushed himself off from the rock. He needed healing sleep before his wounds would begin to mend, but Faramir was right.they needed to be as far from the mines as possible. His tunic was rubbing harshly against the burn across his torso and arms, and each time he turned his neck, he felt as if someone were trying to rip his head from his shoulders. Wounds borne of such great evil might not heal quickly, he thought, especially with that damnable ring so near, but now was neither the time nor the place to bring that up. Long minutes later, they finally stepped underneath the safety of the forest and Haldir knew he could go no further. “I.I need to stop,” he murmured. “Besides, our companions might be looking for us, and we should not go much further.”

Faramir immediately stopped and pulled his lover toward a small outcropping of rocks that could serve as shelter for them. “Here.” He helped lower Haldir down and removed the Elf’s pack and weapons, laying it all beside him. “I may have some salve in my pack.” Pulling out a small vial, he rested it between them and reached over to squeeze Haldir’s hand gently. “I’m sorry, love,” he whispered his voice thick from concern. “Do you… you probably should remove your tunic but I don’t want to hurt you anymore than you already are.” He felt helpless but he tried not to let that show. On the battlefield he never had problems with his men being hurt, he cared for them of course but this was entirely different.

Haldir rested his head back against the tree and took a deep breath. Squeezing Faramir’s hand tightly, he nodded and moaned as the action made his neck hurt even more. “I have another tunic in my pack,” he murmured. “Can you.just cut this one off? I cannot lift my arms just yet.”

Faramir frowned and nodded as Haldir spoke. He unsheathed his knife from his boot and carefully began cutting Haldir’s tunic from him. He was careful to keep the flat of the blade or the dull spine against Haldir’s skin, not wanting to risk cutting him in the process. After several long moments he had the material cut away and felt tears well in his eyes from the burns and cuts across Haldir’s chest and neck. “Oh, Gods, love… I am so sorry,” he whispered finally unable to keep the tears at bay, they ran down his cheeks slowly. His hands shook as he picked up the vial of salve and he reached out to gather Haldir’s hand in his own for a moment. “We can take our time here for you to heal until the others make it over the mountain. I… I’m sure we are ahead of them… we have to be.”

Wincing as Faramir pulled the tunic away from his burns, Haldir managed to stifle his moans, but held tightly to his lover’s hand when he was finished. “Don’t cry, guren,” he managed. “Please. I’m fine. I just need to rest.and sleep for a while.and hopefully they will be here soon. You must be tired too though.do you see a place we can both rest for a few hours?”

Faramir nodded as he opened the vial. “I’ll find us better shelter than this, but for now this salve will help. I’ll just do this as quickly and carefully as I can… and then you rest here while I look for a more suitable place for us.” Faramir’s hands shook as he tended the burns and he worked just as promised, quickly yet carefully hoping that the soothing herbs in the salve would help. After what seemed even to him a long time, he sat back on his heels. “Will you be all right here while I go see if there is a more protected spot than this?”

Haldir felt loved and cared for as Faramir treated his wounds. They were painful, but his lover’s touch was soothing, and he knew no one could possibly treat him more tenderly than Faramir was doing. When the wounds were coated with salve, the pain lessened, and Haldir gave a grateful smile. “I will be fine. Just.be careful. Call if you need me.and please, meleth.do not go too far.”

“I won’t,” Faramir promised as he stood up and began to survey where they were. He wanted to keep the mountainside in sight wherever they might be and began scouting around looking for something better for them to take shelter should the weather change. The nights were still cold and he knew that they would need more shelter than that outcropping of rocks come nighttime. After about a half an hour he found a spot, not deep enough to be a cave exactly. He was glad of that – he’d had enough of caves and felt sure Haldir had too, but it was deep enough into a small hillside that they would be well protected from rain or sharp winds and the opening faced the mountain. There were just enough trees and foliage about it to protect them but not so much that they couldn’t spot their companions if they should come around the mountain.

Haldir dozed against a tree as Faramir scouted around, though he concentrated on listening for any signs of trouble. When his lover finally came back and helped him to stand, they made their way to the small shelter and he sighed in relief. “This is perfect,” he said softly, even as his eyes grew heavy with sleep. “We can rest here until morning I think.”

Faramir smiled as Haldir spoke and helped his lover settle down. He’d already laid soft boughs from some of the smaller trees on the floor to make it softer and laid the blanket from his pack over them. “We can rest even longer here if we need to,” he whispered. “Do you need anything?” he asked as he settled down beside Haldir and removed his weapons, laying them within reach but wanting to be comfortable at least.

Snuggling close to his lover, Haldir relaxed against him and sighed, touched that Faramir would go to so much trouble to see to his comfort. “Just you,” he whispered as he closed his eyes. “You are sure you’re all right?”

Faramir smiled as Haldir snuggled closer and very careful not to touch his lover’s wounds, wrapped his arm around him. “I’m fine… I… just feel tired and… and a little strange is all. I just wish you had not been wounded.” Faramir placed a gentle kiss against his lover’s golden head and sighed.

Oh, love, I know why you feel strange. And I hope you will talk to me about it when we awake. “I am fine, seron vell, I promise,” Haldir whispered. “I was more worried about you being hurt than anything else. We made it out relatively unscathed though.so we should count our blessings. Pressing a kiss against his lover’s neck, he felt himself slowly relaxing and drifting off to sleep. “I love you.” His words trailed off into a soft snore as sleep finally overtook him and he shifted even closer without waking.

Faramir smiled as Haldir whispered the sweet endearment as his words trailed off into sleep. “And I love you,” he whispered in return. “So much I hope that I haven’t doomed us both now.” His last words were spoken softly against Haldir’s hair and he closed his eyes trying to will the sound of Haldir’s screams inside the cave from his mind. I won’t ever let anything happen to you again, love. I swear it. After a few hours Faramir finally managed to will his dark thoughts away enough to drift into an uneasy sleep.

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