Strange Allies

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Disclaimer - I don't own any of this aside from Annowe and I have made no money from this story.

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Annowe felt as if her heart were breaking all over again as she watched Legolas slowly climb into the small boat he would share with the dwarf on their journey south. After Legolas had left her on the flet she had rushed immediately to Galadriel in the desperate hope that the lady would help her.

She had begged Galadriel to let her accompany the fellowship as far south as the falls but the White Lady had refused, gently reminding her of her promise to Elrond. To ensure that the willful naiad did not disobey her, she instructed Haldir to keep a close eye on her as they bade the fellowship adieu.

The March Warden stood behind Annowe, his hand resting gently on her shoulder as the boats pushed off from the shore. Should she make a move for the river, Haldir could scoop her up in an instant before she could even get halfway to her destination.

As their small boat began to drift southward, Legolas turned his gaze one last time to Annowe. She gave him a small wave and tried to smile for him. He returned her wave then turned his head before she could see his tears. He knew she would remain in Lothlorien under Haldir’s watchful gaze at Galadriel’s behest. The White Lady wanted to make sure the nymph did not follow him south so she would hold her there for a few days before allowing her to continue south to Pelargir.

Oddly, he did not feel threatened by this circumstance. He knew she would remain under the watchful gaze of the March Warden for that time but it did not concern him. After their shared intimacy, how could he feel threatened? No, he would no longer feel threatened by Haldir for now he understood the March Warden’s motivations toward both himself and Annowe. He had even agreed to allow the two of them to continue their dalliance, secure in the knowledge that Annowe would never abandon him for another.

Besides, Haldir had confessed that he had a few secrets he could teach Annowe for Legolas’ pleasure but needed the prince’s permission to continue. After a moment of careful consideration, Legolas had agreed to it. Haldir had sensed Legolas’ hesitation and reassured him that Annowe’s heart belonged firmly to him.

“Yes, I know,” Legolas acknowledged. “That is not my concern.”

“What is your concern?” Haldir asked.

“She can nearly kill me with her passion now, I don’t know if I could stand any more,” Legolas admitted sheepishly.

Haldir had chuckled knowingly at this. “Indeed. She just might kill me in the process of learning!”

The two of them had shared a good laugh at this.

“Take care of her for me,” Legolas had requested.

Haldir inclined his head in acceptance of the charge. “I will. You take care of yourself.”

It was strange how the short time the three of them had spent together had solidified their relationship in a manner none of them had dreamed possible. There was a new level of trust and understanding between the three of them and even the hateful March Warden seemed to have become more amenable as a result of it.

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“Come, little one,” Haldir murmured to Annowe once Legolas was out of his keen sight.

With a sigh, she turned and began walking back toward the forest, Haldir’s firm grip still on her shoulder.

“I will not chase him,” she murmured. “There is no need to restrain me any longer.”

Haldir released her, trusting her word. Quietly, they made their way deeper into the forest, Annowe lost in her own thoughts and the March Warden following her closely.

Suddenly, she stopped and turned toward him. “Can you take me to that waterfall again? The one by the flet where we . . . talked,” she asked.

“Yes, but I will have to stay with you. I have given Galadriel my word,” he said.

She nodded. “I understand. But I need to be in the water,” she murmured.

“Come with me then,” the March Warden instructed, placing his hand on her back and walking beside her to lead her to their secret place.

When Annowe smelled the water her pace increased and she ran blindly toward it. She needed to be in the water, to let it wash away her fear, to soothe the ache in her heart. Haldir allowed her to run in front of him. The fall and its pool were isolated and contained within Lothlorien so there was no chance she could escape into the Limlight River and follow Legolas.

Haldir walked up to the pool and gazed in. He could see Annowe at the bottom. She was leaning against a rock, her legs drawn up under her and her face buried in the crook of her elbow. He could tell by the shaking of her shoulders that she was crying but her floating hair obscured her face from him.

With a sigh, he sat down next to the pool and waited. How long she would cry he did not know. In a strange way he could not blame her. The time they had spent with Legolas was some of the happiest he could remember. They had come to an agreement between the three of them and there would be no more animosity. He didn’t know what life would be like without someone to torment. Smiling to himself, he realized that he could always torment Annowe. Now that she understood his motivations and did not fear that Legolas would abandon her she would probably welcome the opportunity to continue their mental teasing. Yes, this would raise their game to a new level and he was rather looking forward to it.

However, he would need to give Annowe some time to mourn Legolas’ disappearance. It seemed to be even more difficult for her this time than when he left Rivendell. Perhaps it was because in Rivendell she had prepared herself not to see him again. Seeing him in Lothlorien had raised her hopes that she could stay with him and protect him but Galadriel had refused to allow it. Elrond’s original plan must be followed. Haldir was thankful that he was not a party to that conversation between the oldest elf in Middle Earth and the temperamental daughter of Ulmo. He could only imagine the heated words between the two iron willed females.

In the safety and quiet of the pool, Annowe allowed her full sense of loss to rule her. Sobbing, she threw herself against a large rock and cried until she was exhausted. She had not had that opportunity in Rivendell. No, she and Haldir had left immediately after Legolas and she was too busy fending off Haldir’s advances to mourn Legolas’ leaving. But now it was different. Now she had plenty of time. There was nothing else for her to think about or to hold her attention until she was allowed to leave Lothlorien for Pelargir.

She sighed heavily. Quite honestly she had resigned herself to the fact that she may not ever see Legolas again when he left Rivendell. But then he had surfaced in Lothlorien, and her hopes soared to the stars that they could stay together. It was not to be, however. He had his own quest to continue and Galadriel had strictly forbidden her to travel with the others, saying that Elrond’s original plan must stand. Annowe had cursed, threatened, raged and cried but to no avail.

And then Galadriel had given her a gift. She had allowed the naiad to see a glimpse of what might be if she traveled with them. Annowe then understood that she could seriously endanger Legolas and the others if she followed her heart. She must follow her head and complete her own mission or risk the entire endeavor. With a heavy heart, she had agreed to stay behind under Haldir’s watchful gaze for three days until the company was to the falls.

Then she had pressed the White Lady for the ultimate outcome. Gently, Galadriel had reminded her that neither of them could see the final outcome as the events leading up to it were still in motion. As long as Annowe continued on her original path, she could be assured that she had done her part to bring an end to the Dark Lord.

Finally, she had spoken to Galadriel about Haldir, telling her of the frightening vision. At this, the White Lady had grown silent and melancholy.

“Yes, I have seen this as well,” she had admitted.

“Where is it? Why haven’t you warned him?” Annowe demanded.
Galadriel sighed. “It is Helm’s Deep in the land of men,” she said softly, her eyes gazing into the distance.

“You must tell him! Warn him! Don’t let him go!” Annowe begged.

“You already have,” the Lady answered. “What more could I tell him that you have not? Haldir has his own destiny to fulfill as do the rest of us. He will go to Helm’s Deep.”

Annowe frowned in annoyance. She hated that elven propensity for doom. “But he does not have to die to complete his mission.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“No,” Galadriel answered softly. “He does not have to die. He has a choice.”

Annowe closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She never believed that she could be so relieved to hear that Haldir would remain alive if – if he made the right choice. But what was the right choice?

“Thank you, lady,” Annowe had replied softly and taken her leave of Galadriel. She had to tell Haldir where he would meet his end if he did not make the right choice.

Blinking rapidly, she realized that she had not gotten that opportunity. She had been so distraught over Legolas’ leaving that all thoughts of Haldir had left her mind. There was still plenty of time to warn him. She had three days. Three precious days to either lie at the bottom of this pool mourning the Prince of Mirkwood or warn Haldir and hold him close just in case he did not make the right choice.

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