Faramir Fiction Archive

When Darkness Falls (NC-17)

Written by Sairalinde and Anorienbean

10 April 2008 | 42956 words

Title: When Darkness Falls Chapter 8/?
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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Faramir finished putting out the campfire as Haldir was setting their packs by the mouth of the small cave they’d found the evening before. They were getting closer to Mordor each day, and would simply walk until it was too dark to go any further. Finding the cave had been a wonderful thing indeed since it rained that night for hours, but the morning had dawned clear and they would be on their way again.

Moving toward the mouth of the cave, Faramir stopped in front of Haldir and lifted his fingers to tuck a lock of silky hair behind his lover’s ear. In truth, he was still tired. He hadn’t slept well the night before, the closer they got to Mordor the darker Faramir’s dreams had become and nightmares plagued him often. A part of him wished they could just curl up in the cave a few more days but he knew as long as he had the ring, he wouldn’t rest anyway. “When this is all over I think we should spend an entire week in bed,” he teased gently.

Haldir let his fingers trail over his husband’s face. “At least a week,” he agreed with a smile. “We will find someone to bring food to our door and do nothing but sleep, make love, eat and relax… and I’ll read my favorite books to you and listen to you do the same.” Letting his hands rest on each of Faramir’s hips, Haldir studied him closely even as he spoke. He could see how tired his lover looked, his eyes heavy and swollen, each movement seeming to be more of an effort the closer they got to Mordor. Reaching for one of Faramir’s hands, Haldir brought it to his lips and pressed a kiss against his knuckles before leaning in for a sweet kiss to beloved lips. “I wish I could do something to ease your burden,” he whispered softly before sealing their mouths together and deepening the kiss.

Losing himself in the sweet kiss, Faramir’s arms wrapped around his husband and pulled him closer. He was often so tired, but when Haldir held him, or kissed him, or they made love he felt stronger. It was as if somehow Haldir’s light and soul brought him more life with even the simplest of touches. As they drew apart he smiled adoringly. “I look forward to spending many days and nights with you curled up in our bed… a nice soft one,” he grinned remembering how they had both fussed a bit the previous night about how hard the floor beneath them had been.

“As soft as you want, my love,” Haldir murmured, letting one hand gently cup the back of his lover’s neck as he licked at the seam of Faramir’s lips. Feeling strong arms wrapping around him, Haldir moved closer and gently nibbled at the warm skin where neck met shoulder. As they moved together, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, knowing it was from the ring that Faramir wore around his neck, even through the fabric of their tunics. “We don’t have to leave right away,” he murmured softly, letting his fingertips gently move underneath the chain that held the ring, hoping to move it from between them without touching the ring itself.

Loving the way Haldir’s lips felt against his skin, Faramir moved closer but felt Haldir retreat from him slightly. Before he could ask, Haldir’s hand moved to touch the chain around his neck. Immediately he stiffened, his arms dropping suddenly from around Haldir and before Faramir even registered a single thought his hand caught Haldir’s wrist roughly, squeezing it harshly as he backed his lover against the wall of the cave, one arm against his throat the other still holding Haldir’s wrist in a crushing grip given more strength from the ring. His eyes were narrowed and blazing with an emotion that Faramir would never recognize in himself. “You will not take it,” he growled in a voice that didn’t even sound like his own.

Haldir’s eyes grew wide as Faramir pushed him back so suddenly and gripped his wrist with a strength Haldir didn’t know he possessed. His first instinct was to push his lover away, but… he couldn’t. This was Faramir… his husband, the man he loved and would give his life for, and he could no more fight him than he could one of his own brothers. Forcing himself to relax, Haldir’s gaze met his lover’s and he realized that the ring now had more control than ever before. “Meleth,” he whispered calmly, though it was hard to talk with Faramir’s arm pressed so tightly against his throat, “I do not want the ring. I only wanted to move it from between us. Please, gûren… you know I wasn’t trying to take it… you know that…”

The fury within him, Faramir knew wasn’t his own but he couldn’t fight against it as he stood pressing his husband against the wall. When his eyes met Haldir’s, wide with concern and perhaps even fear… fear of him Faramir’s mind seemed to clear. He swallowed hard and relaxed the arm pressed against Haldir’s neck. He blinked slowly and shook his head as if trying to clear it, before his fingers released Haldir’s wrist. Stepping back he drew in a shuddering breath. “I… I am sorry,” he murmured backing further away. “Gods, I’m so sorry,” he continued as his eyes saw the bright red marks where his hand had been wrapped so tightly around Haldir’s wrist. He felt his stomach churning and for one insane moment he nearly jerked the ring from his neck and hurled it into the woods.

Haldir shook his head and slowly lessened the gap between them. “It is all right, guren,” he whispered, reaching out and entwining their hands, his arousal of moments before all but forgotten. Gently squeezing Faramir’s fingers, he pulled him closer and forced a rather weak smile to his face. After a moment, he released his hand and pulled his husband into an embrace, careful not to make any sudden moves or even give Faramir the idea he was going for the ring, and holding him close, but not so close that the chain or the cursed object hanging from it touched him. His wrist ached and he knew there would be a deep bruise, as well as a bruise over his throat, but he honestly didn’t care. All he could think about at the moment was how upset and afraid Faramir looked. “It is all right, meleth… you didn’t hurt me. I should not have tried to move the ring. I am the one who is sorry.”

Faramir watched as Haldir moved closer and began shaking his head to warn his lover away, but when Haldir touched his hand so gently after what he’d almost done Faramir felt his heart ache in his chest. The sad smile that graced Haldir’s face he knew was forced and it pained him even more. Though the moment Haldir’s arms wrapped around him he leaned into the embrace, unable to push him away. He shook his head again as Haldir whispered. “I did hurt you… I… I wanted to hurt you and that is what frightens me the most. It was as if I had two minds, one that couldn’t fight against the desire to protect the ring. You have nothing to be sorry for… you had no idea… I had no idea. What… what if I can’t do this? What if I can’t destroy it? What if it destroys us?”
Hot tears slid down his face as he said the last.

Haldir’s hands moved over Faramir’s back and he had to bite back his own tears as he felt his husband’s sliding down to land against his neck. “Nothing will destroy us,” he promised, “You will destroy it, gûren, and we will live our lives afterwards… happy and peaceful and utterly and completely in love. I love you, Faramir, and nothing could ever make me stop… I swear.”

Faramir started to pull Haldir closer but instead drew away slightly and turned the necklace around his neck so the ring was at his back. “There… so we don’t have… something like that happen again,” he whispered. As his words trailed off he pulled Haldir closer and simply held him tight, his tears were still flowing onto his husband’s shoulder but he didn’t care. He hurt the one person he loved more than anyone else and all because of a piece of metal around his neck. “I don’t know how you can love me after that,” he murmured pressing gentle kisses against Haldir’s cheek and neck. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” he added. “I hope you know I would never do that without the ring’s influence.”

“I know,” Haldir murmured. “I know that without the slightest doubt. And I hope you know that I love you more at this moment than ever before.” Leaning back to kiss away the hot tears that continued to flow over his lover’s skin, Haldir smiled again, this time a little less forced, and tried to let his husband see the sincerity in his words. “I’m fine, honestly, I am. Though I can’t say that I won’t ask you to kiss me better a few thousand times in the next few hours.” His voice was teasing as he tried to coax Faramir into a smile, and ignore the knots in his own stomach that warned him this was just the beginning of what the ring could do.

Faramir looked into Haldir’s eyes and tried to smile. “I love you,” he whispered, “And I truly am sorry… but kissing you better does sound like a wonderful way to spend a few hours.” Faramir gently ran his fingers over Haldir’s face and sighed softly. “I wonder if it would have done this to Frodo?” he asked softly. “Is it only because I am a man and men failed before? Or… or would he have been able to resist it?”

Haldir smiled as his lover’s fingers ran over his face with a tenderness that had been markedly absent only moments before. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I have never had many dealings with hobbits. Gandalf had a lot of faith in him… but he has a lot of faith in you as well. When the choice is before you, I know you will make the right decision. We knew the ring would influence you, that something like this might happen… so don’t be discouraged. We’ll get through this, I promise.”

Faramir nodded slowly as Haldir spoke. “We will… just… don’t let me do something I’ll regret if you can. Please? I… I wasn’t in control earlier; it was as if I was of two minds and one was controlling me. If that makes any sense… I could see what I was doing but not stop myself. If it comes down to me doing something… awful… do what you can to protect yourself. Don’t… don’t let your love for me keep you from protecting yourself from the ring controlling my actions,” he said softly. He hated that he’d hurt Haldir, hated himself for it and the ring. If only he were stronger willed he could maybe have more control, but then his father always said he was weak. Was this what he meant all along? Did he sense that in him all these years?

Smiling sadly, Haldir simply held Faramir tighter and closed his eyes. “You won’t hurt me, love,” he said softly. “I will protect myself but I will not hurt you, or let you get hurt. I know everything that happened was because of the ring… and I cannot wait to be rid of it. In the meantime… you should not worry about me. While the ring might make you do things you do not wish to do, I know you are stronger than you give yourself credit for, and I don’t believe for a moment that you would really do anything to seriously harm me. Your heart is too pure for the ring to completely control you.”

Faramir held Haldir close and sighed deeply. “I hope you’re right for putting so much faith in me,” he whispered. How could Haldir trust him so easily after what had happened? How could he trust him when Faramir no longer trusted himself? He closed his eyes and pressed a soft kiss against Haldir’s forehead. Drawing back he looked into his lover’s eyes seeing nothing but love and worry for him. “I love you… no matter what I say or do as we near Mordor because I know this will get worse, know that I love you.”

Haldir combed his fingers though his husband’s hair and nodded. “I know that, gûren. “I have never doubted it. When I asked you to bond with me, I knew it was forever… and that is exactly what I want with you… forever. Please… do not let the ring make you think any differently. It is full of deceit and lies, and I am sure it will do what it can do tear us apart. But it will not succeed, meleth. It will not succeed.”

Faramir hoped more than anything that Haldir was right. “Do you need anything for your arm?” He felt tears sting his eyes as he saw the dark bruise forming in the shape of Faramir’s hand where it had wrapped around his husband’s wrist. “We can rest here a little longer if you like,” he offered feeling horrible for the pain he’d caused Haldir. Even if he had not been himself, even if the ring had controlled him, in the end it was his responsibility. He knew Haldir didn’t feel that way, but Faramir did and he vowed to make it up to him one day if he could.

Releasing his lover reluctantly, Haldir shook his head and bent down to retrieve his pack. “I’m fine, love. It’s nothing… .just a bruise. I’d rather get going if it’s all the same to you. The sooner we reach Mordor, the happier I will be. Maybe, though… we have time for one more kiss before we leave?” Hefting the pack over his shoulder, he looked pleadingly at his husband and smiled. “I find myself so addicted to your kisses, I cannot even think of leaving this cave until I taste your lips again.”

Faramir laughed softly and stepped closer picking up his own pack. As he straightened again he shook his head. “I shouldn’t be a party to feeding someone else’s addictions… but since it seems I just might suffer from the same problem of being addicted to my husband’s kisses then I simply have no choice than to kiss you,” he teased, and for the first time since everything had gone so horribly wrong he saw the smile on Haldir’s lips truly reach his eyes. Stepping closer, Faramir leaned in and pressed his lips tenderly to Haldir’s, his tongue sweeping gently against his lover’s lips and then slowly taking more as it was offered. After a few moments of exploring and tasting his lover, Faramir drew back to allow Haldir the same.

Haldir’s hand rested on the back of Faramir’s neck and he deepened the kiss with a soft sigh. His own tongue slowly moved forward, gliding over smooth teeth and dancing alongside his lover’s for long, perfect moments, and nothing else mattered but the man in his arms and the love they shared. Though he was still worried, he truly believed that their love would overcome anything… even the evilness of the ring and its master. When he finally pulled away, he was slightly breathless and his eyes shone with love for the man in his arms. “I think there is no better addiction for us to have,” he smiled, letting his thumb run lightly over Faramir’s cheek. “And I think that kiss, perfect as it was, might only last me for an hour or so… at that point, I’m sure I will require more.”

Faramir stared breathlessly into his lover’s eyes as Haldir drew away and spoke. He laughed softly and nodded. “Oh yes… I am sure that I will not mind helping you with that little problem,” he murmured pressing a teasing kiss against the tip of Haldir’s nose. Stepping back slowly, Faramir’s fingers tangled with Haldir’s and they began on their way again. He hoped that something like that would not happen again but he feared that it would… perhaps even worse if he couldn’t find a way to control himself more and fight against the rings power.

Galadriel backed away from the basin and pressed her hand over her heart. “Faramir… he hurt Haldir,” she murmured to her husband. “And… Haldir let him. I think Elrond was right… he does love Faramir with every fiber of his being, or he would have fought him, would have tried to protect himself… would have at least defended himself. I just hope that Haldir continues to feel that way, because I fear things will get worse before they reach Mordor. If he grows afraid of Faramir, or begins to fall out of love with him, then there is no chance for the ring to be destroyed… none at all.”

Celeborn frowned deeply as Galadriel spoke. The Haldir he had always known wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt him, and the Faramir he had met had been so obviously in love with Haldir he found it hard to believe the gentle blue-eyed man would say one cross word to the Elf let alone cause him pain. “Have faith in Haldir, my love. We both saw how he looked at Faramir. He is no fool… he knows it isn’t Faramir but the ring. For a man, Faramir has gone longer than most would with the ring. Remember there is more than one vision you’ve had since they left,” he whispered soothingly as he rubbed Galadriel’s arms through her thin gown.

Nodding, Galadriel rested her arm over her husband’s. “I have faith in him,” she smiled. “I have faith in Faramir as well, simply because I know our dear Marchwarden would never fall for someone who wasn’t noble and honest and kind. As stubborn as Haldir is, I think maybe that’s exactly what Faramir will need. I saw him asking Haldir to leave, for Faramir was so upset at having hurt him. But I could tell… Haldir never even considered it. Someone less stubborn might have taken the opportunity and ran, but I think this has only made him more determined to see the ring destroyed and stop its influence over his husband.” With a soft sigh, her hand slid into Celeborn’s and she smiled tiredly up at him. “I think I have had enough visions for today. We should go home and relax.”

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