Strange Allies

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Haldir watched her return, wondering why she had not fled to the river. He half expected her to abandon him. Why did she keep coming back? He considered this for a moment and realized that he probably didn’t want to know. Her motivations were as obscure as her reasoning.

“Put your tunic on,” he murmured to himself, remembering how she had accepted his gratitude. More than likely it was guilt that kept her near him but he did not care. No, as long as she remained near him he would be content.

“How was your walk?” He asked when she came closer to the fire.

“Cold,” she answered and threw another log on the flames.

After a few moments of watching the wood burn, she lay down and silently stared up at the sky. A rustling caught her attention and she turned to look at Haldir. He was busily trying to position himself so he, too, could gaze at the stars without straining his shoulder.

“They are beautiful, are they not?” He asked softly after he finally got himself into a comfortable position.

Annowe did not reply right away and when she did it was another of her puzzling questions. “How old are you?” She wondered.

Haldir chuckled in the darkness. “Does it matter?” He answered.

“No,” she sighed. “I guess not.”

“I am older than you are,” he replied after a few silent moments.

She grunted noncommittally and let his answer hang in the air.

“You realize that my visions are just possibilities, don’t you? They aren’t things that will happen, only things that MAY happen,” she said softly.

“Yes,” came his acknowledgement.

“You don’t have to die, Haldir,” she whispered to the stars.

He smiled slightly. So that’s what she came back for. The guilt had gotten to her.

“I appreciate your concern, Annowe, but I will not tolerate your pity,” he said coolly.

When she did come to him it must be on her own terms, not out of pity or manipulation. No, he could not tolerate that. He wanted her on her terms – all of her strength and passion, not because of his trick or her sympathy. He deserved better and wanted more than that from her.

“It’s not pity,” she frowned. Why did he have to be so haughty and stubborn? Elves had a lot of nerve to accuse dwarves of being stubborn when they were just as bad. Worse, in some cases!

“Why must you be so hateful? I don’t want you to die and pity has nothing to do with it!” She growled and rolled over to glare at him.

Haldir turned his head to see her. She was propped up on one elbow scowling darkly at him through the warm glow of the fire, her braid hanging over her shoulder and clinched in her small fist.

Slowly, he rolled over and faced her, mirroring her pose. “Then perhaps you should tell me why you are so concerned with my demise,” he baited her.

“I told you why,” she hissed. “You are Eru’s First Born and not meant to die. How many more times must I repeat this? As a daughter of Ulmo I feel it is my duty to protect Eru’s children in any manner possible.”

He sighed. Perhaps that was the only reason she nursed him and returned to him, because she felt it was her “duty” to do so. No, he could not believe that – he would not believe it. That was not the entire reason she kept returning to him and he wanted to hear the truth.

“What else, little one? Had nursing me and protecting me been your only concern you could have easily called to one of your sisters and been rid of me long ago – as soon as we made it over the high pass. The river was only a day away,” he murmured, watching her reaction. “One of them would have come for me.”

She considered this for a moment. “The thought didn’t actually occur to me. I had given my word to Elrond and I intended to keep it,” she answered. “No matter how vile and hateful you tried to be.”

He couldn’t help but smile at this. “Perhaps it is my villainy and notoriety that keeps you by my side and not any sense of duty at all,” he purred.

She threw back her head and laughed. He couldn’t be serious! “You are completely unbelievable!” She marveled. “Is that what you want to hear? That I cannot resist you? That I’m madly in love with you and couldn’t live without you?”

He didn’t answer her but the way he tilted his head and gazed at her through his lowered lids made her shiver. He was smiling at her as if she was naked. She could have sworn he was almost purring in satisfaction at her.

“I take that as a ‘yes’,” she said sourly. “Very well. If it will make you happy and make you cease tormenting me then I will say whatever you want.”

“No, I want the truth. I want to know that you find me desirable. And I want to hear it from your own lips without any sort of manipulation on my part,” he said quietly.

She snorted indignantly but considered his demand. What was the truth? Did she find him attractive? Yes. He was an elf and they were beautiful creatures by nature. Did she find him desirable? On occasion, yes. But would she trade the Prince of Mirkwood for the March Warden? No. Not ever. Was that what he wanted to hear?

“I would not trade Legolas for you, if that is what you are asking,” she said flatly.

“What if your young prince fails to return from his quest?” Haldir questioned. “You said yourself that your visions are only possibilities. Perhaps it will be Legolas who meets his doom in your vision and not I.”

The thought sent a tremor of terror through her. “No!” She hissed and sat up. “No! Do not say such a thing! Never speak to me like that again!” She demanded, her dark eyes flashing dangerously.

“As you wish,” he agreed gently. “As I have said before you can always warm my bed.”

She studied him quietly. So that is what he is about, she realized. Would she have Haldir if Legolas were not around? She blinked and shook her head trying to gather her thoughts. Is that why he had showed her that trick of his? So she could see how he could pleasure her completely in the hopes that she would want him more than Legolas?

“Haldir,” she slowly began, not quite knowing what she would say but realizing that he would not let the matter drop until she addressed it. “The truth is I had not considered it. But if it will make you happy and make you leave me in peace then I will. Agreed?”

“You will agree to allow me to pursue you in the unfortunate event . . .” he left the sentence unfinished. They both understood what the “unfortunate event” might be.

“Yes,” she replied with a sigh. She would have agreed to anything to stop his inquisition.

This seemed to please him greatly and Annowe wondered if he had some sort of insight into the matter. He had said much the same thing to her in Rivendell about Legolas’ fate. No, he was just goading her. Trying to push her to her limit to see how much of his villainy she could take. Well, he could torture her all he pleased but he was on dangerous ground now so he would need to watch his step.

“But when he does return you must agree to immediately cease all pursuit of me and leave the two of us in peace,” she added just to make it clear to him.

“As you wish. If he returns then I will cease all pursuit of you,” he agreed.

“And if he does not, then I will have you. Oh, yes, little one, I will have you!” He silently vowed to her.

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