Between Friends

A/N: Well, I thought I had posted this before but I'm not seeing it! Thanks to Michelle, Sandra, pap sett, Rose atlee, and piper's twin for reveiwing! I'm glad you have enjoyed the story. I was planning on continuing this - that Haldir just won't GO AWAY! If he weren't such a hottie I think I might be a bit upset with him!

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“To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage” -- Lao Tzu

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“I have to get out of here,” Annowe mumbled to herself. “I must go south. Quickly.” She tossed her few things back into her pack and made ready to go. She had seen Haldir looking up at her from the garden and knew it would not be long before he came to torment her.

Just as she was tying the bundle together, there came a soft scratch on the door. She gasped and grabbed her heart. Certainly Haldir would not be so bold! Not so quickly!

She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves to open the door. Holding her foot behind it, she slowly turned the handle and opened it a crack. Elladan was standing there. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door to let him in.

“What is it?” She asked.

“Father needs to speak with you before you leave,” Elladan said, watching her curiously. “What is wrong with you? You seem quite agitated.”

“It’s nothing,” she murmured. “I’m just worried for Legolas.” It was mostly true, she told herself. Worried for Legolas and worried that Haldir would make a sudden appearance before she could safely escape.

The elf said nothing but did not seem convinced.

“What does you father want me for, do you know?” Annowe changed the subject.

“He needs your help, that’s all he was willing to tell me. He is waiting in the library for you,” Elladan answered and followed her to the door.

Annowe quickly made her way to the library, desperate to leave Rivendell as soon as possible. The quicker she went south the sooner she would be well away from the piercing gaze of the March Warden.

With a sigh of relief, she slipped into the warm library to find Elrond quietly gazing out the window.

“You sent for me?” She asked anxiously, glancing around the room. They appeared to be alone and she relaxed, moving closer to the elf.

Elrond turned and grimaced at her. “Yes, Annowe. I know you are aware of the undertaking,” he said. “So I will dispense with the explanations.”

She nodded in understanding. “Go on.”

“I need you to travel south to Pelargir. Find out if the Dark Lord is recruiting from among the Corsairs,” Elrond said softly.

Annowe raised her eyebrows in surprise. With all her worrying for Legolas and fearing Haldir she had completely forgotten about the larger picture. She mentally cursed herself. She COULD help Legolas after all. A smile slowly spread over her face. An excuse to go south, far away from Haldir and help Legolas at the same time! Relief flooded her and she sighed.

“Is something wrong?” The elf frowned.

“No, not at all,” she answered. “I was just wondering why I had not thought of that myself.”

“You will go then?” Elrond asked.

“Yes, of course,” Annowe agreed.

“Excellent,” Elrond said, clasping his hands together. “Haldir will accompany you as far south as Lothlorien.”

Annowe felt the color drain from her face. “What?” She nearly shouted in surprise.

And then she felt him. She closed her eyes and clenched her jaw trying to will him away but he drew closer to her. How could this be happening? Her mind screamed. Every time everything seemed to be going her way HE would appear and ruin it all! It had to be some sort of evil prank, she was sure of it!

“I will accompany you, little one,” the March Warden’s silky purr came from over her left shoulder and she shot him an evil glance before turning to glare at Elrond. The horrid creature must have been standing behind the door when she entered! Oh, there was just no end to his impudent behavior! She thought bitterly.

“I don’t need a watcher,” she growled through gritted teeth.

“No, you don’t,” Elrond agreed. “But Haldir is heading south and it will be safer for the BOTH of you if you travel together.”

Annowe’s mind frantically searched for any excuse. She could not – she would not – travel with Haldir. “I can make better time in the Great River,” she blurted out. “I can swim much faster and will be safer in the river.”

Elrond suppressed a smile. “Perhaps. But I would rather you travel with the March Warden. The river is frozen in some places this far north and I cannot take the chance that you will be seen.”

She bit her lip and tried not to look like a trapped animal but it was exactly the way she felt. Elrond must be trying to torture her to the point of madness, she was sure of it!

“And if I refuse?” She asked desperately.

Haldir grunted behind her. Elrond looked from Haldir to the nymph and his eyes narrowed imperceptibly at them. The March Warden seemed outwardly calm but the nymph was quite agitated about something. Elrond knew of her concern for Legolas but this seemed to be much more than just that.

“Haldir, will give us a moment please,” Elrond asked softly, his eyes not straying from Annowe.

Silently the March Warden slipped from the room. Elrond felt the naiad relax slightly and frowned.

“Out with it,” he demanded without pretense.

“I don’t want to travel with Haldir,” Annowe admitted.

“You don’t say?” Elrond found that only she and Arwen could test his patience to its very limits.

“I do say.” She stubbornly folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t need him and I don’t want him. If you wish me to go south to Pelargir I will go. But I will NOT take Haldir with me,” she finished.

Elrond sighed deeply. “I am not asking you to take Haldir to Pelargir. I am telling you that for your own safety I want the two of you to travel together as far south as Lothlorien,” the elf said, growing impatient with her stubbornness.

Annowe grunted. “Do I have a choice?”

“No. Not unless you refuse me all together,” Elrond answered.

She frowned and considered this. She wanted to help. She needed to help Legolas. Of course she could do it on her own but she would have no backup, no help if she needed it should she refuse the venerable elf.

The two of them stood staring at each other in silence while Annowe mulled over her options and Elrond tried to figure out just exactly what was the source of her hesitation.

He thought she would jump at the chance to help Legolas. Perhaps she was not as smitten with the young prince as he had imagined. Was he truly that easily misled in his advancing age? He shook his head to clear it. Something told him there was more going on in this situation than even he could fathom.

“I wonder if Galadriel will even be able to figure it out,” he murmured ruefully to himself.

“What?” Annowe snapped from her reverie.

Elrond waved her off. “Nothing. Have you decided?”

She sighed in resignation. “I will go,” she mumbled sorely.

Elrond smiled. “Excellent. You may leave as soon as you are ready.”

“I am ready now,” she answered, moving toward the door. Maybe, just maybe she could escape quickly and leave Haldir standing at the gate.

“Then I will inform Haldir,” Elrond said. “I am pleased that you have decided to help us once again.”

Annowe tried to smile but her heart just was not in it.

Stepping outside the door she found the March Warden leaning against the opposite wall, his arms folded across his chest. She scowled darkly then stalked passed him without a word.

Biting back a smile, he followed her, catching her arm and turning her to face him. She glanced down at his hand on her arm before extracting her self from his grasp.

“Are you prepared to go?” She asked curtly, determined to speak to him only when necessary.

“Indeed. Are you?” He grinned wickedly at her.

He would relish every moment with her and the more she resisted him, the more he enjoyed it. Watching her struggle against her loyalty to Legolas and her distaste of him self was quite entertaining and Haldir could not resist any opportunity to arouse her passion. It was her passion that captivated him.

“Yes,” she answered gruffly. Why, why, why? Her mind screamed. What had she done to deserve such a punishment?

“Then let us be on our way,” The March Warden purred. “For the sooner we leave this place the sooner we can be alone.”

Annowe snorted. “I may be accompanying you, Haldir, but I will not be with you,” she said and moved off down the hall toward her room.

“Perhaps,” he murmured silkily as he watched the gentle sway of her hips. She was his now. The scent of the young prince was still on her skin but it would soon fade. Haldir smiled in satisfaction.

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