Between Friends

A/N: Due to the database corruption on the site, several chapters were out of order or garbled. I apologize for that. If you find anything that looks "weird" please let me know. I tried to find everything but I may have missed something. Thank you!


“To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead” - Bertrand Russell

~~~~

She stirred in his arms and he slid his gentle hands over her soft skin, trying to feel every inch of her. His long delicate fingers slipped the covers from her shoulders as he tenderly kissed the side of her neck and murmured endearments to her, coaxing her awake. He wanted her again. He needed to feel her body melding with his in bliss, forcing thoughts of The Ring from his mind.

As she slowly awakened Legolas continued to lightly stroke her back as his lips skimmed her shoulders. She shivered and turned to face him, running her eager hands over his bare chest. His skin quivered at her touch and he closed his eyes, wanting to remember her soft caress as his mind turned again to The Ring.

Annowe sensed his distance and wondered if the previous evening’s activities had taken their toll on him.

“What is it, Legs?” She asked softly, nuzzling his neck and drawing protectively closer to him. The feel of his warm bare skin touching hers and the smell of him was enough to make her body yearn with desire again.

“Nothing,” he lied. He knew if he told her what was on his mind she would be determined to try and protect him or destroy the accursed thing herself. He shivered at the thought. He would not lose her now, of that he was certain. Nothing would come between them – not The Ring and not the March Warden. He tickled the small of her back tenderly.

“I haven’t frightened you, have I?” She wondered only half teasingly between gentle kisses to his neck.

Legolas squeezed her reassuringly. “No. Quite the contrary. The more I have of you, the more I want,” he grinned, feeling the familiar stir in his loins again.

She giggled and ran her hands over his supple skin, relishing the feel of him under her fingers. He was an exquisite creature and she never wanted to let him out of her arms.

“You don’t want to talk about it, I see,” she guessed, tilting her head so she could gaze into his eyes.

“Yes and no,” he admitted warily. He was reluctant to broach the subject, wanting only lay with her until the last possible moment before the council.

She studied him quietly for a few moments, her fear for his safety gnawing at her. She had a very bad feeling that he would follow his destiny and she would be powerless to protect him. But she would have to let him go, just as he had let her leave and follow her path so many years ago.

“Please don’t do anything foolish, young one,” she whispered to him.

He did not answer but pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her and silently vowing that nothing would ever come between them again.

~~~~

A soft knock on the door roused them from their light slumber and Legolas quickly rose and slipped into his tunic to answer it. Annowe peered from under the covers as he opened the door, wondering if the March Warden had returned to torment them again. She grinned wickedly at the thought. This time he would get not only an eyeful but at earful as well, she determined.

But it was not Haldir at the door – it appeared to be Elladan and Annowe rose up slightly to get a better look. Legolas did not let him into the room and their voices were so low she couldn’t quite make out the words. She squinted suspiciously as Legolas closed the door and retreated into the room.

“What is it?” She asked, seeing the frown on his brow.

“I want you to stay in here today, Annowe,” Legolas answered as he fished his trousers from the pile of their discarded clothes on the floor.

She scowled. “Why? What is it? What has happened?” She demanded, growing anxious and struggling to throw the covers off of her.

Legolas pulled on his trousers and moved to the bed to place his hands firmly on her shoulders. “I must attend to some business for my father,” he answered only half truthfully. “I need you to remain here while I am gone.”

Her scowl deepened but she did not reply for several minutes.

“Promise?” He asked, tipping her chin up to him with one hand.

Reluctantly, she nodded, her eyes troubled. “Young one,” she began but choked on the words.

“Shh,” he soothed and kissed her on the forehead. “I will return shortly.” And then he was gone.

Annowe felt her throat tighten with the tears. She feared for him more than he knew. Frustrated at her own helplessness, feeling tossed by the winds of fate, she fell back in the bed and lay staring moodily at the ceiling.

What could she do? Stop him? No. Drag him off to safety? She grunted at the thought, allowing her imagination to indulge in several tantalizing fantasies regarding the nubile elf.

But soon her mind returned to the gravity of the situation. Elrond had confirmed The One Ring had been found and she had foreseen the shadows of Legolas’ fate entwined with the accursed thing. She sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes. Of all the crazy things he could get mixed up with, this had to be the worst. Why him? She moaned to herself. Why Legolas? Why not Haldir? She grinned at that thought – certainly having Haldir mixed up with that thing would solve several problems at once. But no, that hateful creature would probably use it to get at them both after the show they gave him. She giggled at the memory for a few moments before growing serious again.

Closing her eyes, the naiad concentrated on Legolas, desperate to see his future safety. She often felt “the knowing” was more of a curse than a gift because she could never see clearly what she wanted to see – only glimpses and impressions of what might be. It could be quite frustrating at times. And yet she cleared her mind, determined to see where his path might lie and if there were any way she could protect him.

~~~~~~