Strange Allies

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A/N: Please indulge my longer than usual author note. It appears as if some of you are distressed by this “trick” the March Warden has used on our heroine. Fear not! When it comes time for the two of them to unite (and they will!) he will not use it on her. He is a horny bastard but he is also very conceited and his pride will not allow him to take her by subterfuge. Oh, no! That just will not do for him! I hope these next two chapters explain his motivation a bit better!

Now as far as that wild elf sex goes – are you kidding? That wicked creature would torment me to the end of my days if I didn’t give him some “hawt” sex scenes! There’s plenty of that to come! But it must serve a purpose!

Moxie - oh yes, very naughty! And they haven't even gotten together yet! ;-)

Naira - HA! Caught you! Yes, well, that wicked Haldir wants it more than anyone I think! lol!

Sandra - oh, indeed! It should be slow. The sex should compliment the plot, not be the plot (Unless it's PWP, of course!)

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Quietly, Annowe made her way back to the fire. Haldir was sitting there, waiting for her. She hesitated when she saw his head tilt in her direction. Would he tease her for her weakness? Would he try to do that to her again? She frowned at the last thought. If he did she would tell him to stop. She would make him stop. Now she understood what he was doing and knew what it felt like so she could stop it immediately. If he refused she would flee to the river once he slept. And he would sleep eventually. His blood loss had been severe enough that he needed to sleep every three days or so and she could wait for that.

She nodded. Yes, it was a good plan. She could escape him if he tried any more of his funny business with her. Again she cursed herself for allowing him such intimacy with her. But it had been for Legolas. She had done it so he would teach the trick to Legolas. And that would be a double reward – Haldir teaching Legolas so the Prince of Mirkwood could pleasure HER – leaving the March Warden out in the cold. She smiled grimly at that thought and held it close.

“I will not do it again, little one,” Haldir murmured softly, sensing her hesitation. “Come and sit by the fire. You must be freezing.”

Annowe approached cautiously and stood across from him, studying him through the flames. He had put on all of his tunics and even his cloak, covering himself so that she could only see the outline of him. It seemed odd to her that he would suddenly become concerned about tempting her. Perhaps he just wanted her to know what he could do to her and now that he had demonstrated it he no longer felt the need to flaunt it. Or perhaps he wanted her to come to him and ask him for a repeat performance. She snorted. She would never give him that satisfaction!

Haldir felt her trepidation as he watched her. She would not let her guard down so soon after allowing him such intimacy with her. He would have to wait, to restrain his own desire until she trusted him again. And she would. It was her nature to trust and as long as she did not feel threatened or tempted by him she would gradually return to her normal state. He must ease her mind and soothe her nerves before he tried to tempt her again.

“Have you thought any more of the vision you had earlier?” He asked softly, trying to draw her attention elsewhere.

Annowe sighed heavily. “No, I have tried not to think of it. It is too disturbing,” she admitted.

“Perhaps it would be a good time to consider it since we will both be awake for some time tonight,” he suggested. There was no way he would ever be able to sleep after that performance! He would simply lie there, playing it over and over in his mind until he needed to take matters into his own hands again. No, it would be best for both of them if they thought of other things for a while.

With a grunt, she sat down opposite him and gazed into the fire, willing the vision to return. But her mind was too distracted by him to wander freely. No, she was frightened of what she would see and too anxious about what he would do if she lapsed into senselessness.

She sat there, staring at the fire and watching him. When would he do it again? She knew he would the temptation was too great for him to resist but when? She scowled darkly at him through the flames. If he tried it she would stop him! He must not do it again until Legolas was with them. How long would that be? She wondered. Not for the first time this trip, she cursed Legolas’ noble spirit and wished he would return quickly to her.

“It will not return?” Haldir asked softly.

She scowled at him. “No. I’m too distracted and upset,” she replied.

“I did not mean to upset you, little one,” he murmured soothingly.

She snorted but did not reply. He had known exactly what he was doing and she had let him! She frowned and cursed herself, reaching for her pack and rummaging through it until she found her brush. Quickly, she removed her braid and began brushing her hair to soothe herself, her eyes drawn back to the glowing flames.

Gradually her mind began to clear and she relaxed slightly as she concentrated on the rhythmic brushing of her hair. Had Haldir truly wanted to take her, he could have but he did not. No, she had told him to stop and he had, immediately. He had stopped although she knew he had been very aroused as well. And he had let her flee into the darkness, not knowing if she would return or not. He had not followed her, nor begged her to stay with him – he had simply let her go. He didn’t try to find her and convince her to give in to him. No, he had done none of those things and yet she still did not fully trust him.

She raised her eyes to study him and tapped the brush softly against her thigh as she considered this. Yes, he had been quite aroused – at least as much as she had been. Had he resorted to self-satisfaction as well? She smiled slightly. For some reason, the thought made her feel better about the whole incident. Perhaps if he could do it to her, she could do something similar to him? And if she could do it to him, then that would mean Legolas as well. The thought made her smile widen. Yes, she must try it on Legolas when she saw him again.

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“If neither of us are going to sleep then why don’t we continue walking?” Annowe said as she rose to her feet and re-braided her hair.

Haldir smiled. “I said I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I did not say I am not tired,” he replied.

“Oh,” she answered. She had not thought of that. Tossing the brush on her backpack she announced, “I will take a walk.”

“Very well. Do not stray far. The wolves might still be about,” he warned gently.

With a nod, she ambled off into the darkness to gather her thoughts. So, he had been just as tormented by his little display as she had been. That was good. Perhaps he would think twice before trying something like that again. And he did obey her when she told him to stop when he certainly could have just taken her and been done with it.

Just what sort of creature was he? He wanted something of that she was certain but what? If it was just her then he could have taken her any number of times since they left Rivendell. He could have taken her several times in Rivendell as well but he did not. Why? What was he after? Legolas? She considered this. It would make sense in a way. That would mean he was using her to get to him. She grunted in annoyance.

Now, that sounded exactly like something the hateful March Warden would do. Yes, indeed, it was just vile and wicked enough to be believable from him. But why? Did he think Legolas would leave her for him? He must be mad! No, she trusted Legolas. But would Haldir’s trick work on the Prince of Mirkwood? Perhaps that trick was the cause of the friction between the two – perhaps Haldir had used it on Legolas who felt violated and reacted much like she had by withdrawing.

Yes, violated was exactly how she felt even though she had agreed to it. She had no idea it would be so intimate! Almost even more intimate than if she had actually physically joined with him! He was in her mind and in her skin, engulfing her. She shivered at the memory. Yes, it had been intimate but not un-enjoyable and that had been the worst part! Guilt ate at her. She had enjoyed what he had done to her – enjoyed it so much she nearly allowed her lust to overrule her loyalty to Legolas and her own sensibilities. That was frightening!

She hated herself for liking it – if it came from Haldir it must be as bad as he was! No good could come of enjoying something like that! “Oh, Legolas!” She groaned quietly to the stars. “If only it were you here with me.”

Slowly, she lay down on her back to gaze up at the twinkling lights. Legolas was out there somewhere, perhaps staring up at the same stars and wondering where she was. Would she ever see him again? Or was Haldir correct in that it was a suicide mission? She sighed. No, if her vision were any indication, it was Haldir who was in more danger than Legolas of perishing.

She frowned at that and sat up. Was it her vision of his demise that made Haldir more reckless? Certainly, if she knew of her own impending doom she would be much more susceptible to temptation. Indeed, she would turn into a hard living creature abandoning all restraint to enjoy her last days!

But her visions were just possibilities. None of them were written in stone – the future was always changing based on present choices. Haldir could still avoid his fate. She must find out where this place was and make sure he did not go there.

Suddenly, she felt a tug of pity for the March Warden. She had told him of his own death then had allowed him a certain level of intimacy with her only to push him away at the last minute. Now she had left him alone, blaming him for frightening her! She sighed heavily before slipping back toward the campfire. If he were indeed doomed, the least she could do was keep him company.

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