Strange Allies

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A/N: Yes, Mr. Wicked has distressed everyone with his news. But he assures me that everything will come full circle (in a manner of speaking). He can be frightfully devious and cannot pass up an opportunity for more “hawt” sex. So fear not!

Naira - Actually I think he'd LIKE being tied to a chair so don't give him any ideas! LOL! He says he's got to go but they still have to make it to the Gray Havens. I can't give any more away than that. ;-)

Michelle - Heeee! You naughty girl! ;-) Well, Like I told Naria - they still have to make it to the Gray Havens without killing each other first. I have an idea of what he's up to but I'm not exactly sure and he's playing it cool. But if it is what I think it is then this should be quite fun! (I'm amazed how this thing has just continued to grow at his behest.) And isn't that how it always is? Just when things start coming together, they all fall apart!

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“Annowe,” Haldir said gently one morning as she began to change his bandage. “It is time for me to go.”

“Do you think you are well enough to travel?” She asked anxiously, leaning slightly over his well-muscled shoulder to look in his dark eyes.

He sighed. “It has been nearly a week and it is time for me to go. I cannot stay here any longer,” he murmured.

“Do you want to leave today?” Annowe questioned, her mind already beginning to search for supplies for the trek to Edoras as her fingers continued their work. She hoped Legolas was still there. If not then they would continue south toward Pelargir. Eventually they would find Legolas, she was sure of it.

Haldir sighed again and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her skillful hands on his skin. He could tell by the tone of her voice she did not understand what he was saying. She was thinking only of finding Legolas. Why did that bother him so? Perhaps he wanted her complete and undivided attention for once.

“We can leave whenever you want, Haldir,” she said gently when he did not answer. “Just give me a bit of time to gather some supplies for the road. We may not find anyone in Edoras at this late time.” She squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

After she had secured the bandage in place, he slowly sat up and faced her. Tenderly he took her small hands in his and gazed at them for a few moments. Those hands had touched him in desire, in friendship, in anger and pain. But they would never be for him. He had been a fool.

Slowly he raised his eyes to her. She was looking at him curiously but there was no pity there, only a bit of concern and puzzlement. He didn’t want to leave. But he knew a better place awaited him and perhaps the three of them could be reunited some day. He smiled wistfully at the thought.

“What is it?” She asked seeing his strange sad smile. He had been acting quite peculiar lately and she wondered if perhaps he were actually dying despite her best efforts. She had never known him to be so withdrawn and dispirited. Legolas, yes, he would periodically have his bouts of melancholy but it was very odd to have Haldir acting in such a manner. It was disturbingly unlike the elf she had come to know and it troubled her more than she cared to admit.

“I can’t help you if you won’t tell me what’s wrong,” the nymph sighed. Perhaps he just needed to get outside for a bit. That would cheer him certainly.

“Annowe,” he began softly. “I cannot go to Edoras. I must go home,” he said quietly.

“Oh,” she answered, not quite sure what to make of that. “Is it Galadriel?” She asked curiously.

“I’m not going to Lothlorien,” he murmured. “I am going home.”

Annowe blinked several times trying to make the connection. Lothlorien was home, wasn’t it? What did he mean “home” and not Lothlorien? She frowned. Was he just playing a game with her?

Slowly, the revelation began to dawn on her and Haldir could see the color drain from her face as her eyes opened wider in astonishment. He squeezed her hands as she began to tremble.

“No,” she whispered. “No.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say. He couldn’t leave! What about Legolas? What about Galadriel and Rumil and Orophin? What about her? He couldn’t just pick up and leave just like that! Not now!

“I don’t have a choice,” he said soothingly. “I have heard the call and I must answer it.”

“Why?” She demanded.

“Why must I answer or why did I hear it?” He asked.

“Both, either. I don’t care. You can’t go,” she said, her lips trembling slightly.

A wicked gleam shone in his eye and he smiled silkily at her.

“Because you would miss me?” He questioned softly. He so wanted to hear her say it. Irrationally, he needed to hear those words from her.

She burst into tears and pulled her hands away, covering her face in shame. A pang of guilt struck him. He would be leaving, going to his true home of peace and beauty while she and Legolas remained behind to face the consequences of this terrible war. And yet all that concerned him is that she would miss him.

He lowered his eyes and looked at his hands in his lap. He could not remain here with her so why did it matter so much to him what her feelings were? Was it simply that he needed to know she desired him as much as he had desired her? Did he honestly think she would abandon Legolas for him even temporarily? No. He had never thought that. And he had them both just as he desired. So why was he still pressing her for answers?

“I’m sorry,” she choked, struggling to regain control of her self.

“There is no need to apologize, little one,” he said gently. I am the one who should be sorry, he thought bitterly.

Annowe sniffed a few times and wiped her eyes on the hem of her tunic. She looked so young and vulnerable with her tear stained cheeks and he wanted nothing more than to tell her it was all a mistake and he could stay here as long as she wanted. But he could not. It was time for him to leave.

“When?” She asked, her voice straining.

“Now. As soon as possible,” he answered.

“But Legolas . . .” she began tearfully, clutching her throat as if the very thought of leaving again was strangling her.

Haldir sighed deeply, willing himself not to take her words personally. Legolas was and always had been her only concern. He knew that but her words still pained him.

“His is safe, Annowe. He travels with a white wizard and several other loyal companions. There is no need to fear for his safety,” he said as gently as he could manage considering his feelings.

She sniffed. “But I miss him,” she said helplessly.

He wanted to scream in frustration. Of course she missed him. There had been Legolas in her life before there was Haldir. Her blind determination to find Legolas was moving beyond admirable into tiresome.

“Does he miss you?” The words were out of his mouth before he realized it.

She stared at him in horror. “What do you mean?” She gasped. “Did he say something to you before he left?”

What made him say such a hateful thing to her? “No, he did not,” Haldir admitted. He was growing impatient with her single mindedness. He needed to get to the Gray Havens and he wanted her to go with him. It was that simple. Why could she not see that?

“Then why did you say that? Why wouldn’t he miss me?” Her voice was growing more panicked and it irrationally angered him even more. Why couldn’t she just go with him and forget about Legolas? He was safe and Haldir wanted her.

“Why did he leave Helm’s Deep when he knew you would come?” Haldir asked in a low voice. There. He had said it. It was in the open. Now she would see how much Legolas cared for her – he had left even knowing that she would come for him. If that was not an indication of his true feelings for her then he did not know what was.

Her eyes narrowed. He was merely teasing her. Why indeed had Legolas left when he knew she would come searching for him? She must not become hysterical. She must think. She must consider this calmly and not rise to Haldir’s bait. He was just tormenting her again and she must not let him win. She took a deep breath and reasoned why Legolas would leave. Haldir studied her face as she struggled with her feelings.

After several moments of deep consideration, she had an answer. What started this whole mess in the first place?

“The Ring,” she answered softly. “It has to do with that accursed ring.”

Haldir grunted in surprise. Yes, indeed, it did if truly thought about it. Not even he was foolish enough to believe that his needs would outweigh the good of middle earth. He frowned. That Legolas was frightfully noble and it was beginning to annoy him.

“He will not come for you until The Ring is destroyed,” Haldir said quietly. “And I need you to take me to the Gray Havens.”

“What makes you think I even know where it is?” The dejected naiad asked petulantly.

“It is a port. You are a naiad. Why wouldn’t you know where it is? You can ask your father.” He reasoned.

She sighed heavily. Perhaps she could escort him to Rivendell and leave him with Elrond. Or better yet, return him to Galadriel. He could be her problem again. Why was he so determined to keep her away from Legolas? All he ever thought about was him self!

“What about me?” She demanded.

The question was a sharp blade in his heart. If he had never felt selfish before, those three words made him realize just how self-centered he had been with her.

True, he had sexually pleased her and shown Legolas how to inflame her desire but it had been for his own selfish reasons – to control her. He had wanted to manipulate her desire to make her want him as badly as he had wanted her. And it had worked! But he had never actually considered her wants or her desires. “Because all she wants is Legolas,” a quiet voice in his head reminded him.

He swallowed hard. Yes, all she had ever wanted was Legolas. And all he had ever wanted was the two of them. He had them but he could not keep them. Oh, what a bitter taste that was! To have all he had ever wanted and yet doubted that their desire had been as true as his and to envy what they had with each other!

Silently, he grasped her wrist and gently pulled her to him and held her close, guilt gnawing at him. She had asked for nothing from him and yet he had teased and coerced her until she had given in to his desires. He moaned softly and closed his eyes as he pressed his face into her neck, stroking her back. He had been a fool to believe it was all just a game. Perhaps it had started out as a game but somewhere along the way that had changed. And he did not want to lose.

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