Strange Allies

~~~

A/N: I have returned from the sun. It still exists – out there – somewhere. Just not here.

Elerrina Rose – Thank you, hon! I’m glad you liked it. And, of course, his smugness is damned near intolerable since you’ve asked for more of him. (sigh) Indeed, you are correct. He deserves to be served right on so many levels for so many nefarious reasons. LOL!

Naira – “steal him”? You can’t “steal” something I’m trying to give away! LOL! But remember, that suffocating ego comes with him! And I’m glad you can sympathize with my plight. You see how he keeps jerking my chain about his demise and Legolas? I wish I had the answers for you but HE won’t tell, curse his sexy hide anyway! Believe me, every time one of you says you “want him” or think he’s “sexy” or “hot” I hear about it nonstop. It’s truly amazing that he can be so enamoured of himself.

Rose Atlee – I’m glad you are enjoying his little tale. He certainly did deserve her revenge. And he assures me that there will be more “hawt sex” to come. Hasn’t said WHEN yet but I know that wicked look in his eye all too well.

Michelle – Yes, that is puzzling, isn’t it? I don’t know what he’s up to – he refuses to give me more than bits and pieces at a time. And I don’t think he’d mind in the least if you viewed him totally as a sex object. The thought of that offending him has sent me into fits of giggles, much to his disgust. And it’s nice to know that his little “trick” can work on him, too, eh? LOL! It’s about time he got his! (Not like he didn’t enjoy it completely, mind you!)

~~~

“Wake up, little one,” Haldir murmured gently shaking Annowe awake. She had fallen asleep snuggled up next to him and he was reluctant to wake her, content to watch her doze peacefully in his protective embrace.

Several times during the night he had wanted to wake her and take her again but could not bring himself to disturb her. Instead, he had contented himself by caressing her soft skin and bestowing tender kisses to her upturned face.

She stirred sleepily and smiled slightly at him, nuzzling his neck as her arms tightened around his slim waist. He closed his eyes and stroked her back. Today she would leave and he would follow her. Would their paths ever cross again? Or would this be the last time they would spend together?

“Stop thinking about it,” she murmured against his throat, caressing his shoulder soothingly.

He smiled weakly. “It is difficult,” he replied. He did not want her to leave him. When she left it would signal that his own fate was drawing ever closer.

“I know,” she agreed. But she could not dwell on it. She had to leave him. She had to trust that he would keep his word and Legolas would as well.

“It is time,” she murmured regretfully, pressing her body closer to him. She wanted to remember the feel of his skin on hers.

He nodded silently and she sat up, gazing down on him as her hand gently caressed his skin. One pale finger reached out and pushed her chin aside so he would not have to see the look in her eyes. He could not bear it.

“Do not look at me like that,” he said huskily. It pained him to see her gaze at him with such open affection. It only reminded him of how much he could lose and how he was already missing her.

Annowe looked away and stood up quickly, determined not to cry. She could not draw this out. It would do nothing but prolong the pain. Haldir rose beside her and they wordlessly slipped into their discarded clothing.

Clenching her jaw to stifle her urge to scream in frustration, she began blindly walking to where she believed the Limlight River lay. The March Warden slid next to her and they walked in silence to the edge of the forest.

For several long moments, they stood next to each other gazing out at the calm dark river. Annowe could no longer fight her feelings and threw herself into Haldir’s arms. He squeezed his eyes shut and held her close, stroking her hair and murmuring soft words to her. She was not going to make this any easier on him that much was certain.

“I don’t want to leave you,” she breathed tearfully against his chest, clinging to him desperately.

He choked back his own tears but did not answer her. What could he say? Once she left him, he would be alone to face his destiny. He held her tightly then tenderly kissed the top of her head. She smelled of the water and he moaned softly. How he wanted to remain there, safe with her but he knew they could not. Both of them had their own journeys to take.

“Go,” he said hoarsely, pushing her roughly away. “Quickly. Don’t look back.”

She staggered back from him, wanting to return to his arms but she knew she could not. It was time. She must go.

“Say it again,” she begged stepping closer to the water. “Say it again one last time. I need to hear it.”

“I promise, daughter of Ulmo,” he began softly. “That I will watch my back.”

With a satisfied nod of her head she was gone. He stifled a cry of anguish. He might never see her again. How ironic it was that just as the three of them had come to a truce and spent some of their happiest days together they would be torn apart.

A tearful sigh escaped his lips as he turned to disappear back into the welcoming arms of the forest. Time – all his life it had never meant much to him. Days were just the rising and setting of the sun, a long slow walk down a never-ending path. But now it seemed the path must end but where and how? Not even Galadriel seemed to know.

He should have never let her go. He should have gone with her. He should have gone with Legolas. All the questions and regrets washed over him, spiraling him down into a deep melancholy. How many creatures would not be affected by the news of their own imminent demise?

He would miss her. And Legolas. He wondered if they would miss him. If they would remember him fondly when they held each other in night after practicing the tricks he had taught them. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes and he cleared his throat roughly. There would be none of this! He would not tolerate it!

“You are not dead yet,” Galadriel’s soft voice cut across his thoughts and he immediately stopped in his tracks.

“I know,” he replied quietly. She was near although he could not see her.

“Then you also know that you will soon have a choice to make,” she reminded him.

He frowned. “How can I make the right choice when I don’t know what it is?” He asked in frustration.

“You will know when the time comes,” she soothed him. “Heed Annowe’s words and you will know.”

He cocked his head and considered this. What were Annowe’s words? “Watch your back.” He must watch his back at Helm’s Deep during a battle.

“When will you send me to Helm’s Deep?” He asked softly, part of him begging her not to answer.

“Soon,” was all she would say before her presence faded.

It was no more than a week later that Galadriel called him. He knew immediately what she wanted and it was with a deep sense of regret tinged with dread that he approached The White Lady.

Tenderly she laid her delicate hand against his cheek. “You know what you must do,” she told him softly. “Do not fail me.”

He nodded and met her steady gaze. For a long time they stood in silence as he looked into her deep eyes trying to find answers there but he could not. When he finally turned to take his leave, she watched him sadly. Would he listen when the time came or would his pride cause his downfall?

~~~

It was with a feeling of pride tinged with apprehension that Legolas watched the archers file in behind the March Warden as they entered the fortress of Helm’s Deep. It was just as Annowe had predicted and he shivered. Soon, perhaps within the next day or two, Haldir would be forced to make a choice that may end his life. Legolas was determined to stay as close to his former tormentor as possible to prevent her vision from coming to pass.

Haldir tipped his head to Legolas in unspoken greeting. Why did time seem to suddenly speed up? A day or two seemed barely enough time to gather his thoughts let alone come to terms with his life. No wonder humans seemed so desperate.

“You are not dead yet,” Haldir remembered Galadriel’s voice in his head. No, he was not. And he needed to stay alive. He had promised Annowe. And what if neither he nor Legolas returned to her? He knew his kind could die of broken hearts but what of hers? Would she be so devastated at losing them both that she could die as well?

Breaking into his melancholy thoughts, Legolas approached him to speak privately as the others moved off to take their place on the battlements.

“You came,” the younger elf murmured. Would he have done the same had he known it might mean his doom?

“Of course,” the March Warden replied. It was his job, after all. Fate had a way of catching up with those who avoided it, of that he was certain.

They gazed at each other in silence, neither one quite knowing how to broach the subject that weighed so heavily on their minds.

“I made a promise to Annowe that I intend to keep,” Haldir said softly.

Legolas nodded. “As did I,” he admitted. “Two promises, actually.”

A quizzically arched eyebrow met this declaration.

“One was to return to claim her,” Legolas smiled faintly. “The other was to keep an eye on you.”

The eyebrow arched even higher and hovered for a few seconds before relaxing. “I see,” came Haldir’s acknowledgement. “Well, it would seem that we both have promises to keep.”

“Indeed,” Legolas replied. “So let’s not do anything foolish like breaking them, shall we?”

“I would never,” Haldir smiled slightly.

~~~

The elves and men spread out along the battlements awaiting the signal. Haldir drew in a deep breath and reminded himself of his promise to Annowe. Legolas gazed at him anxiously, staying close enough to keep an eye on him and yet far enough away so not to make the March Warden feel like a disobedient elfling under a watchful parent.

In the end no one would remember how it started or when – not that it would matter. Like a surreal dream, the battle at Helm’s Deep began. Everything seemed to move very slowly in front of Legolas, like time had started to freeze causing the participants to move sluggishly through it. Felling the Enemy as they scaled the walls was an effortless task for him, like cutting wheat in a field.

Scenes of battle flashed before his eyes but yet he did not feel a part of it. He saw Uruk-hai after Uruk-hai fall before him and called out numbers to Gimli but he remained close to Haldir, determined to keep him from harm if at all possible.

Around him Haldir could hear the roar of metal on metal and the screams of the dying but he was oblivious to it. Even after the earth-shaking explosion that collapsed the outer wall taking men and elves with it, he held his ground until Aragorn called him to retreat to the keep, determined not to give into his fear. He had to trust Legolas.

But where was Legolas? Haldir looked around frantically. The young elf had heeded Aragorn’s summons to another part of the fortress leaving him alone on the battlements. A touch of panic set in. He was alone and would be quickly outnumbered unless he made for the safety of the keep. But he could not leave his troops. He must give them orders to follow.

As he was about to call to the remaining archers of Lothlorien, he heard the dwarf at his side.

“Lad,” huffed the red-faced Gimli. “I’m to keep an eye on you until we reach the keep.”

Haldir drew himself up imperiously. A dwarf? Keep an eye on him? The very thought was repugnant! A dwarf! Watching HIM! It was unheard of!

“I do not need your help,” the March Warden sniffed haughtily and signaled to his archers. Quickly, they began to retreat toward him and the safety of the keep.

Then something very strange happened. Time seemed to slow to a snail’s pace, suspending the battle around Haldir as his mind raced on full speed. It was very odd and yet he understood why it was happening. It was time. The choice would be offered.

“Promise me,” Annowe’s voice whispered in his head followed by Galadriel’s reminder “you are not dead yet”. Memories of long ago and far away flooded his senses and suddenly he was back on the plain with Annowe after they had crossed the mountains.

The hair on the back of his neck stood up, warning him of impending doom. He could smell the hatred of the wolf again and hear its fierce snarl in his ear. It was as if he was living that terrible night all over again as his promises echoed in his head. But he had the foreknowledge of what was to happen next.

“I will make sure that someone I trust is always at my back,” his own words to Annowe came back to him. It was time to make his choice. As if acknowledging his decision, time suddenly caught up to his mind and Haldir knew what he must do.

“Dwarf!” He shouted, turning slightly as he felt the cold steel bite his shoulder before the darkness claimed him.

~~~