Between Friends

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning!" Catherine Arid

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Annowe fumed as she hurriedly threw a tunic on over her head and ran to chase after Legolas. That Haldir! She cursed him in every tongue she could think of.

“Selfish, arrogant, insolent son of a Southron!” She hissed, slamming the door behind her.

Outside in the hallway she realized she had no idea where Legolas would go. She doubted he would go to his room. No, he would not. He would desire to be out in the night among the trees. Yes, he would be out there – somewhere.

Taking a deep breath, Annowe ran down the hallway and out to the garden. He would not be easy to find, she knew that. Especially if he saw her first. She cursed Haldir again and vowed to give him an earful should she encounter him.

The night was quiet and chilly. It took a few moments for Annowe’s eyes to adjust to the dark and she walked slowly out into the garden, her senses alert for any sign of Legolas.

“Legolas,” she called softly, hoping he would answer her. Silence greeted her ears. She sighed dejectedly. He was not going to make this any easier on her.

Why had Haldir done that? Why? Was he that mad about Orophin? She had told the young elf outright that she was not interested in him. He had not so much as even kissed her so what was Haldir so angry about? She hadn’t led him on or lied to him. Why did Haldir feel the need to spite her?

What if it was not her that Haldir was wishing to spite? The thought made her grunt in annoyance. She did not know the entire story between Legolas and Haldir – if there was one. What could have Legolas done to earn Haldir’s wrath? She wondered.

Ruminating on this she slowly walked through the garden, unconsciously drawn to the secluded waterfall that bordered the edge of the forest. The moonlight twinkled on the surface of the pond and she couldn’t help but smile. It was incredibly beautiful and peaceful.

Instinctively she removed her tunic and slipped into the quiet depths, needing to be in her element. The cool water enveloped her, soothing her mind and body. She could feel her mind beginning to clear and leisurely floated on her back staring up at the sky while she gathered her thoughts.

Legolas would be more hurt than angry, she knew. The young elf was quite sensitive despite his cool outward appearance. She had known him too long and too well to doubt that. He would want to soothe his hurt.

Annowe closed her eyes and tried to think. Where would he go to calm himself? She did not believe he would return to Mirkwood so quickly. No. He would want to but would not leave until he was sure the twins and Aragorn had returned safely. That gave her a few days at the most to locate the distraught elf and perhaps reason with him.

If all else fails, she reasoned, I can have Aragorn or the twins send him to me. She hated dragging anyone else into the situation but could not allow Legolas to slip out of her hands to easily. She had waited too long to have him to let him go without a fight.

Sighing in resignation, she crawled out of the pond and began using her tunic to dry off when a flash of flaxen hair through the trees caught her attention.

“Legolas?” She said anxiously. “Is that you?”

There was no answer. Cautiously she approached the tree line and called softly.

“Legolas, please. If you are there, come and speak to me,” she begged, clutching the tunic to her.

“Why Annowe?” The elf’s soft voice drifted to her ears and she quickly turned to see him materialize near the waterfall.

“Legolas,” she began and started toward him then stopped when he moved to return to the shadows.

“I thought he was you!” She nearly wailed, quickly slipping back into her damp tunic.

“That’s some mistake,” Legolas snorted.

“No! When he knocked on the door I thought it was you so I told him to come in. He did and wouldn’t leave until he’d given me an earful about you,” she said in a rush, hoping to get the words out before he could turn and leave.

“It seemed he was giving you more than an earful from what I could see,” he growled hotly, folding his arms across his chest.

Annowe bit back her anger. Sometimes he could be so stubborn she just wanted to throttle him!

“Yes, exactly! I was an unwilling participant! HE was kissing me. I did not kiss him! I slapped him!” She said indignantly, slowly moving closer toward the pond.

Legolas seemed not to notice he was busily contemplating her words. She could sense his hesitation and knew he wanted to believe her.

“What did I tell you before? About Orophin?” She asked softly.

His gray eyes glittered. “That Haldir was angry about Orophin,” he admitted.

“Yes. What else?” She questioned anxiously.

“Haldir thought you didn’t want his brother because you were sleeping with me,” Legolas answered, realizing where she was going with this.

“So why was Haldir in your room kissing you?” He suddenly demanded.

Annowe blinked. “How in Mordor do I know?” She grunted irritably. “I think he’s just mad and took the opportunity to get some sort of ‘revenge’ for his brother but I don’t know.”

Legolas thought for a few moments. It made sense to him but it didn’t lessen the hurt he felt when he had seen her in the arms of the March Warden. It was as if his worst fears had been realized.

“Did you see my arms around him?” Annowe demanded quietly.

“What?” Legolas mumbled.

“You heard me. Did you see my arms around him?” She repeated.

Had he seen her arms around Haldir? He tried to picture the scene in his mind again exactly as he remembered it. The March Warden’s strong arms around Annowe’s waist, his parted lips pressed against hers. He clinched his jaw at the thought, feeling the hurt and anger well back up in him. But where were HER arms? What was SHE doing?

Slowly the scene came to him – her small hand pressing against Haldir’s shoulder – pushing him away. Her eyes wide open and not half closed in pleasure as Haldir’s lips met hers. No, she had not been returning his kiss. Quite the contrary – she seemed to be as shocked and taken aback by it as Legolas was.

“No,” he finally answered. “No, I did not.”

Hesitatingly she moved closer toward him, unsure if he was still angry with her or not. He watched her quietly, still hurt but no longer angry with her. Haldir was now the focus of his disgust.

“No, you didn’t,” she confirmed. “Legolas please believe me. I would not do something like that to you. I’ve wanted you too badly for too long to throw it away. Especially with Haldir,” she gave him a tentative smile.

Legolas did not move from his place near the waterfall and Annowe was drawing closer. He wanted her to come to him. He needed her to come to him, unreasonably fearing that if he went to her she would see it as a sign of weakness.

He held out his hand to her and she took it, stepping into his arms. Quietly he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close, feeling her relax against him as she clung to him.

Off at the edge of the trees, Haldir watched the reconciliation with a feeling of disappointment and resignation. He had tried but they were too enamored of each other to stay apart for long. A small pang of jealousy stabbed at him. Had any of his former lovers found him in the arms of a rival there would have been no forgiveness. He chuckled at the thought. No, there would have been no forgiveness because he would have been a willing participant!

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