Strange Allies

~~~~

A/N: Ah, my dears. I must inform you that this will be the last update for two weeks. I am taking a well-deserved vacation. But fear not! We’ll resume all sordid activity when I return. Mr. Wicked would have it no other way.

Hopefully, these next two chapters will “tide you over” while I’m away!

~~~~

Annowe knew what she must do. Slowly, she uncurled and rose to the surface. Haldir was sitting there, waiting for her as she knew he would be. He stood up when he saw her rising and retrieved her tunic, waiting patiently for her to come to him.

She lifted herself out of the pool and took the tunic from him with a smile of gratitude. Quickly, she slipped it over her head then pulled on her trousers.

“We need to talk,” she said, unknowingly sending a tremor of terror through the normally unflappable March Warden.

Calmly, he nodded. “What is it?”

“I have spoken to Galadriel about my vision,” she began then grunted in annoyance at herself. Why had she revealed that? Now he would never let her forget that she had spoke to Galadriel about him. She scowled at him in annoyance at herself but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“The place in my vision is called Helm’s Deep in the land of men,” Annowe concluded. “Do you know of it?”

Haldir considered this for a moment. “Yes, I have heard of it. Many, many years ago but it is not currently inhabited that I am aware of,” he mused. “It is a fortress.”

Annowe sighed. He knew it. “Good. Now you will have a choice to make and if you make the right choice you will survive,” she said softly, anxiously watching him.

“What is the ‘right choice’?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know!” Annowe frowned. “I’m not sure if it is not going to Helm’s Deep or if it is staying close to Legolas so he can watch your back or perhaps it is not even being on the battlement in the first place. I am not certain.”

“My dear, I appreciate your concern but if you cannot tell me what the right choice is then how will I know if I make it or not?” Haldir gently pointed out.

“Because if you don’t, you’ll be dead!” She shouted and stomped her foot at him. Why was he being so mean?

Had she not been so upset, he would have laughed at her logic. Indeed, if he made the wrong choice, he would be dead. That much was certain.

“Come here, little one,” he murmured, holding his hand out to her.

She scowled at him but took his hand. Gently, he pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms protectively around her.

“I will do my best to avoid the battlements at Helm’s Deep. And I will make sure that someone I trust is always at my back. Does that make you feel better?” He asked softly.

She nodded against his chest and slid her arms around his slim waist, holding him tightly. His warmth enveloped her and he gently stroked her hair. Annowe sighed, breathing in his scent and listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. He was alive. And he would remain alive as long as he stayed alert. She had done her best to warn him, now it was up to him. Unless she could do something – but what?

Slowly, she pulled away from him to sit down on the soft grass, beckoning him to join her. With a smile, he sat down next to her. Much to his surprise, Annowe crawled into his lap, snuggling against him as she had when they had shared the alcove. He slid his arms around her, holding her tightly as she drew her knees up and draped one arm over his shoulder, wrapping the other around his waist. She would not sleep but she wanted to be close to him. She could no longer protect Legolas but Haldir was here and she would protect him as long as she could.

Silently, she laid her head on his shoulder wondering if the world would ever be safe for them again. When would Haldir go to Helm’s Deep? And when would Legolas? If Legolas was at Helm’s Deep, then he couldn’t be in Mordor. What did that mean? Was it so far in the future that Sauron had captured the Ring and it was the last battle for Middle Earth?

Annowe sighed against Haldir’s neck as she tried to puzzle out the meaning behind the vision. And what of her own fate? After she reported to Elrond, she would be free to leave Rivendell in search of Legolas. Yes, that is what she would do. She would report to Elrond and leave immediately for Helm’s Deep. If no one was there, well, perhaps she would return to Pelargir and wait. What else could she do? How could she know where anyone was?

“What are you thinking, little one?” Haldir asked softly. “It is unlike you to be so quiet and withdrawn.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Annowe mumbled crossly.

“About what?” Came his gentle question.

“About everything. Spying on the corsairs, keeping an eye on Legolas and you, destroying Sauron,” she sighed.

Haldir chuckled. “Don’t you think that perhaps you’re being a bit over ambitious?”

She pulled back to look and him and scowled. “No, I do not,” she said. “I want this to be over. I want everyone to be safe.”

“But you cannot save everyone, Annowe,” he murmured to her, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

“Why not? Why do so many have to die because of that stupid band of gold?” She demanded angrily. She hated the senselessness of it. It was such a waste and for what?

He held her eyes for a moment then shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps because every age has it’s conflicts to separate the good from the bad,” he mused philosophically. “Why don’t you ask Galadriel for her answer? I have none for you.”

At this admission, the naiad smiled faintly. “I did. She doesn’t know, either,” she sighed, returning her head to his shoulder. “And she wouldn’t even tell me what the ‘right choice’ was, if she even knew,” she grumbled.

She could hear the smile in his voice when he spoke again. “It would seem that you are concerned enough for my safety to ask the White Lady. I am quite flattered that you think so highly of me,” he murmured.

Annowe snorted softly. “Well, don’t let it go to your head,” she frowned. “Otherwise you’ll be even more insufferable and I can’t imagine how bad that would be.”

Haldir chuckled. “Come now, am I truly that nefarious and despicable?”

“Yes,” she answered, trying to keep the smile from her voice and failing.

“Hmmm,” he mused softly. “And yet you fear for me. Why is that, Annowe?”

Of all the things he could have said, that caught her completely off guard. She had thought perhaps he would continue to tease her, not ask her for the truth.

“Because you are Eru’s first born and you are not meant to die,” she answered simply.

“I see. So it is not my charming personality or my gracious character that you desire to keep safe. It is merely that I am an elf,” he sighed heavily in mock disappointment.

Annowe giggled in spite of herself. Just what was he getting at? “Do you want me to admit that I would miss your tormenting of me and your wickedness if you were to perish?” She asked.

“That might be nice,” he replied softly.

She raised her head from his shoulder and eyed him curiously. He steadily returned her gaze. Was he teasing her again? Or did he truly want to know if she would miss him?
Slowly, she reached out and ran the tip of her index finger along his jaw line, stopping at his chin to run her thumb over his soft lips before placing her hand back on his shoulder with a sigh.

“You are such an odd creature,” she marveled. “You have tormented me to the edge of my reason, seduced me, seduced my lover and now think I should admit that I would be sad if you were to perish.”

He at least had the decency to lower his eyes guiltily and blush slightly. Annowe shook her head in amazement. “But unbelievably, I must admit I would miss you. Terribly. You are just so wicked that I couldn’t imagine life without you,” she admitted grudgingly.

Haldir was silent for a few moments then he made a strange noise and Annowe realized he was giggling. Giggling like, well, like Legolas would giggle when she tickled him.

She pulled back and looked at him curiously. Haldir certainly could not giggle! It was a sure sign the world was coming unhinged. He quickly stopped when he realized how strange it sounded and his eyes grew soft and tender as he stroked her cheek.

“And I would miss you terribly, Annowe,” he admitted quietly. “Will you promise me to be safe in Pelargir?”

She blinked. “Pelargir is not so dangerous,” she assured him.

“Nevertheless, I would like you to make me a promise that you will be safe in Pelargir,” he pressed.

“You’ve spoken to Galadriel about me, haven’t you?” Annowe demanded. “What did she tell you? What did you ask her?”

Haldir looked away and sighed. “Yes, I have. She told me that your danger lies in Pelargir.”

“Not death, just danger?” She asked hesitantly. Perhaps she didn’t want to know.

“Just danger,” he agreed, turning his eyes back to her. “But that does not absolve you from promising me that you will be careful.”

“Very well. I will promise to be careful in Pelargir. And you must remember to watch your back in Helm’s Deep,” she replied.

“I will watch my back in Helm’s Deep,” he confirmed.

Then she pressed her lips to his, sealing their bargain with a gentle kiss before placing her head back against his chest. Haldir sighed in relief and absently stroked her hair as he cradled her in his arms.

~~~~