Strange Allies

~~~

Legolas’ strong arms encircled Annowe as she breathed his name over and over against his chest. How had he ended up here? Where was The Ring? What had happened? A thousand similar questions raced through her mind but she did not care. He was here. He was safe. Most importantly, he was with her again.

She pulled away to look at him then grabbed his face in her hands and smothered him with kisses as he laughed in embarrassment. When she finally had covered every inch of his exposed skin with kisses, she held his face in her hands so she could gaze into his eyes.

Gently, he placed his lips against hers and she threw herself against him, her body aching for his touch as she kissed him desperately. He moaned softly as he felt her tongue slide past his lips, eagerly probing his mouth.

“Legolas,” she gasped as he let her up for air only for a second before kissing her again. He had missed her terribly and feared he would never see her again. He could feel his trousers growing tighter as their tongues desperately entwined and Annowe pressed her body even closer to his.

Haldir quietly slipped into the clearing and watched the reunion with the rest of the Fellowship. The Ranger cast him a curious glance but did not ask him to explain how the two of them had ended up here together. That was for Legolas to sort out but it could not be good.

Annowe squeezed Legolas tightly, fearing that he would vanish into thin air if she were to let go of him. He grunted several times as her grip grew too strong on him but he did not mind. Feeling her in his arms after the horror of Moria was more than he could ever have hoped for and he clung to her, trying to feel every inch of her against him.

They all had been on the edge of despair when they had stumbled to Lothlorien. When Haldir had greeted them at the edge of the forest, Legolas was almost glad to see him. And now here Annowe was, safe in his arms. He leaned his cheek on the top of her head, smelling the henna in her hair as he held her close. She was safe and here with him. But how did she get here? Why was she here? He opened his eyes to see the March Warden smiling silkily at him and his blood froze.

“How did you get here?” He suddenly demanded of Annowe.

“I walked,” she answered in confusion, looking up at him. “Why?”

Haldir cleared his throat delicately.

“Alone?” Legolas growled, his suspicions rising.

Annowe blinked. “No. Of course not. You know I could not make it through the High Pass alone this time of year.” Suddenly, the air temperature seemed to drop a few degrees and the atmosphere became very tense. With murmured excuses, the rest of the fellowship took the opportunity to hastily retreat to safer ground leaving only the two elves and the naiad in the clearing.

“You!” Legolas hissed at Haldir, holding Annowe protectively. “You did this! Did you touch her?”

“Legolas!” Annowe scolded mildly. “Listen! Will you listen to me before you start accusing? Elrond has charged me to go to Pelargir to watch the corsairs. I agreed. There is a war coming and I need to do my part, just as you are trying to do yours.”

This seemed to calm the agitated prince somewhat and Annowe took a deep breath to continue. Haldir continued to watch the two of them, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Yes, now Legolas would hear it from her own lips – the spoiled Prince of Mirkwood would hear how his beloved naiad had traveled south with him, the notoriously beddable March Warden, even sleeping in his arms. He wanted to rub his hands together in evil glee but managed to restrain himself as Annowe continued to soothe the distressed Legolas.

“Elrond asked me to go and I agreed. Haldir was traveling south over the High Pass and Elrond instructed me to go with him for safety’s sake,” she explained.

“Why?” Legolas demanded. “Why would you need his protection? You are immortal.”

“Considering we were attacked by werewolves, I think it was a wise choice,” Annowe replied tartly. “But that does not matter. All that matters is that we are here together.” She placed her head against his chest, listening to the steady sound of his heartbeat in her ear as she hugged him tightly.

“Did you touch her?” She heard Legolas growl.

“Indeed I did,” Haldir answered. “More than once. And it was quite enjoyable. The little one even slept in my arms one night.”

Annowe could feel Legolas’ body tense under her hands. “Haldir,” she warned, raising her head and scowling darkly at him.

“Is this true?” Legolas demanded, pulling her away from him and holding her at arms length so he could see her face.

“Yes, it is true. We were hiding from a snowstorm in an alcove not big enough for a dwarf,” she sighed. “What does it matter?”

“You slept in his arms? What else did you two do while you were alone together?” The incensed prince insisted, stepping away from the naiad. He couldn’t believe it! She had slept in his arms! It was an outrage!

Haldir’s slight smile widened into a smug smirk of satisfaction and Annowe wanted to slap him. Instead, she reached for Legolas who avoided her touch. She frowned and cursed his stubbornness.

“Tell me now!” He snarled. “I want to know everything!”

Annowe drew in a deep breath. “Perhaps we should take this elsewhere. Somewhere more private?” She did not want this to evolve into a shouting match where anyone could stumble on to them. Or worse, think they were being attacked and raise the alarm.

“Why?” Legolas demanded. “Is it that bad?”

Then, after eyeing the two suspiciously, he added, “have you joined?”

“No, Legolas! How could you even think such a thing of me?” Annowe said in a hurt voice. What was wrong with him? Why was he not happy to see her? Why was he so angry?

“Please,” Haldir finally murmured seeing her distress. “We should take this somewhere more private as Annowe suggested before this gets out of hand.”

Legolas growled at them both. What had they been doing since he had left Rivendell? He could not forget the March Warden’s words as he left that night. Indeed, it seemed as if Haldir had kept her safe while he had been away. Just how safe? And from what?

Annowe swallowed back her tears, hoping that if the three of them could sit down she could make Legolas see reason. It had taken every last bit of her self-control to resist Haldir but she had managed to do it and felt rather proud of herself. She knew that Haldir had deliberately tempted her even up to the point of his own limits but she had held firm, remaining faithful to the Prince of Mirkwood. And now he did not even seem to care that she had held her own desire in check, fixating only on the fact that she had slept in Haldir’s arms during a snowstorm. He must be mad!

“If you will follow me, I believe I know a place where we can speak privately without fear of being overheard or disturbed by the watch,” Haldir offered smoothly.

Legolas narrowed his eyes at the March Warden before turning his dark look to Annowe. Part of him wanted to believe that they had not joined, that they had simply traveled together as Annowe had said but the smug look on Haldir’s face made him wonder. Of course he knew that the March Warden would like for him to believe that he had taken Annowe but she would never admit to it if they did. Or would she?

“Have you had sex with him?” Legolas demanded softly.

“No,” Annowe answered firmly.

“Have you kissed him?” He was determined to find out exactly what had transpired between the two of them and knew she could not lie to him if he asked her a direct question. He had learned exactly how to phrase his questions to get the desired answer the hard way on their scouting mission.

“Yes,” she admitted.

Legolas scowled. “Tongue?”

“Yes,” Haldir answered for her.

Annowe could see that Legolas was becoming increasingly agitated as his questions were answered.

“Legolas, please,” she begged. “It does not matter now. We’re together.”

“It matters to me,” he hissed in reply. “Have you touched him like you do me? Touched him wanting him? Wanting him the same way you wanted me? Did you like it when he kissed you? When he put his tongue in your mouth?”

“Why do you torture yourself?” Haldir murmured softly. “She desires you and is with you now, is that not enough?”

“Shut up!” The prince spat. “This is between me and her and it is all your fault!” Turning back to Annowe, he demanded, “Did you?”

In a voice barely above a whisper, Annowe answered him with the one word that drove an arrow through Legolas’ heart, “Yes.”

He choked back his tears. He had trusted her! And she had touched the hated March Warden! Touched that vile creature like she had touched him! Kissed the evil son of a Southron like she had kissed him! His indignation knew no bounds!

“Legolas, please,” she pleaded. “There is a good reason. Hear me out, I beg you! Let us retreat to somewhere private and I will explain it all to you. I promise!”

Legolas was torn between his desire to believe her and his anger at her revelation. Was he willing to walk away from her because she had simply kissed someone else? Even if that someone was the odious March Warden?

“Very well,” he agreed hotly. “Let us go somewhere more private.”

With a nod of his head, Haldir turned and began walking back deeper into the forest.

“Follow me,” he beckoned.

~~~