Strange Allies

A/N: Well, with the site hovering on the verge of collapse, I thought I’d put everyone’s mind at rest – er, make that His Most Eminent Haughtiness wanted everyone to know that eventho he is a “horny bastard”, he’s quite pleased you have stayed with him!

MarzBar – oh, no! SHE feels like she has to choose. Haldir just doesn’t understand that sometimes honey draws more bees than vinegar. He wants what he wants and he’s so used to overwhelming his “prey” with his drop-dead “hawtness” that he usually gets it! He’s got to change his tactics if he wants Annowe. Make her understand it’s NOT a choice! Let her be “safe”.

Rose Atlee – OMG! I swear I cracked up laughing at the “fight fight fight!” Too funny! OH, yes indeed! Once Haldir understands how to get what he wants well then, mmmmmm! Time for some serious “make up” sex! Of the hottest kind, of course! But His Serene Sexiness had to learn a bit of a lesson in ~ahem~ humility first! Oh, the horror!

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The tension between them was palpable after their fight and it only increased Annowe’s misery. She knew Haldir was correct. Legolas had not stayed in Helm’s Deep to claim her. The wicked March Warden was free to continue his pursuit of her. She cursed Legolas’ noble spirit and knew she would not be able to hold out against Haldir’s advances for much longer. She simply desired him too greatly.

It was only his overbearing pursuit of her that kept her from throwing herself on him. Had he been a bit more gentle or more subtle she would have eagerly given herself to him completely and utterly. Why must he try and force himself on her when she would have gladly come to him if he would only let her?

Haldir realized that he would have to press the advantage he had and yet take a different approach to win her. Annowe had reluctantly agreed that the conditions for him to continue his pursuit of her had been met. He must make her realize that he did not want her to choose between the two of them. No. Even he understood how unfair that was to her and he also understood her fear. Legolas would never forgive her for giving herself completely to him and he could not do that to her. She had given him too much. It was time to return it to her.

So he must be gentle with her but he would also make her remember how much she desired him. How only he could inflame her latent desire. He must speak to her as Legolas would; he must let her come to him. Yes! Oh, how sweet that would be! To have her come to him of her own accord, of her own free will! Would she? If he stopped his hot pursuit would she come to him? The thought gave him pause. If he did not pursue her, what would happen?

They continued the journey north and Haldir ceased to press her for answers. He had always been a patient creature, content that eventually he could have whomever he desired but now, with the Gray Havens and his departure looming eminent, he grew anxious.

Drawing up to walk next to her, he decided to let her know what he had been thinking. It was time. He had nothing left to lose. If she rejected him then he would no longer delay their progress to the Gray Havens. Gathering what little humility he could, he decided to take a more subtle approach.

“I would not force you to choose between us, little one,” he said gently.

Annowe sighed but did not reply nor cast a glance in his direction, staring only at the road ahead.

“I understand your fear that Legolas would abandon you if you did. And I cannot blame you,” he continued. “I cannot ask you to make that choice.”

Suddenly she stopped and turned to him but he did not sense hostility from her. He halted the horse and stood facing her as she eyed him curiously.

“You do?” She asked in disbelief. “Then why did you keep saying those things about Legolas?”

Haldir sighed. “Because I want you for myself,” he admitted quietly.

“And you thought the only way to have me for yourself was to get me away from Legolas,” a statement not a question.

“Not exactly,” he frowned. “It was more that I did not completely understand your situation until recently. I have nothing against Legolas. I feel a great deal of affection for him.”

“But?” She knew that was in there somewhere.

“But nothing,” Haldir said simply. “I understand your fear and I am not asking you to choose between us. I would simply like the time we have together to be between you and I, daughter of Ulmo. Just you and I.”

Her heart seemed to stop at his words. It was very unlike him to be so conciliatory and understanding. What had gotten into him? Had he finally come to his senses?

“I want to believe you,” she began hesitantly.

“Then why don’t you?” He purred softly, taking a step toward her and dropping the horse’s reins. The animal gradually wandered off to the side of the road and began eating the sparse grass as Haldir gently began to seduce the wary naiad.

She blinked. “I don’t know. I cannot believe it would be so simple,” she admitted. How could it suddenly become so simple when it had been so difficult before? What had changed his mind?

“Why not? Why can’t it be simple? We desire each other. What could be more simple?” he smiled and reached out to stroke her cheek.

She closed her eyes but did not shy away from his touch. Slowly, he slid his hand into her thick hair and drew closer to her, wrapping his other arm loosely around her waist. She could feel her desire for him beginning to hum through her veins and she wanted him!

“No forcing me to chose? I could have you both?” She could scarcely believe what he had said.

“No choosing,” he agreed. “I would like to have you both again but I cannot. And I cannot ask you to abandon Legolas for me when I will be leaving,” he admitted quietly.

She trembled, her resolve wavering. If she did not have to choose then there was no reason to fight him or her own desire any longer, was there?

“What would it hurt to give yourself to me for only this short time?” He asked softly, squeezing her tighter, gently nuzzling her neck. The smell of her hair and skin made him giddy with desire. “I am not asking you to come with me. I’m not asking you to leave Legolas. I am merely asking you to forget him for only a little while. Until I am gone.”

Annowe quivered in his grasp, placing her hands on his broad shoulders to push him away should he over step his bounds again, her mind racing at his words. “Until I am gone,” Haldir’s words echoed in her thoughts. It would not last. Only four cycles of the moon at most. Legolas would never know and Haldir would never take Legolas’ place in her heart. And she did want him so!

“You will only have me for a short while, little one,” he reminded her as his lips lightly brushed her skin and she shivered at his touch. “A short while to fully indulge your self with me.”

“I cannot,” she breathed into his shoulder, her body shaking.

“Why?” He pressed softly, his fingers tracing her spine. He knew there was only so much pressure she could take. It was much more than any other creature he had encountered but she still had her breaking point and he could sense she was quickly coming to it.

“I am frightened,” she admitted softly, her small hands pushing gently against him, still tentatively resisting his embrace.

“Ah,” he purred encouragingly. There was the crux of the matter. “What frightens you, little one? I know it cannot be my desire as you have handled that admirably.”

A soft giggle sounded in his ear and he smiled. Did Legolas ever compliment her lovemaking skills or did he merely take them for granted? Haldir sighed and smoothed her hair, relishing the smell of it. He doubted it. Legolas probably had not had enough lovers to know how lucky he was to have her.

Her reply was so soft he almost couldn’t believe he had heard her speak. “What if I like it?”

He wanted to scream but laughed crazily instead. She angrily tried to push away from him, thinking he was merely tormenting her again but he held her in an iron grasp, determined not to let go of her. Not now. He had her and he would cling to her as if his very life depended on it. She was his!

“No,” he breathed, crushing her body to his to stifle her struggles as his fingers pulled her hair aside to kiss her neck. “You are mine now. All mine,” he hissed eagerly against her skin. She was his and his alone and he could not let her go!

His lips found hers and he kissed her desperately, needing her to acknowledge her words with her actions. A soft cry escaped her and she ceased to struggle but she did not return his kiss, terrified that he had finally lost all reason.

“Kiss me,” he demanded urgently against her lips when she was slow to respond. “Kiss me with all the desire I know you possess.”

Her eyes locked on his and she could feel herself growing weaker but he was not using his trick on her. What she felt was her own pure desire for him and it frightened her. He was wicked and notorious so unlike her sweet gentle Legolas and yet equally as desirable. How could this be?

She must be going mad! He would take what he wanted from her and leave her cold and empty when he was finished with her. She knew him! She knew how he had treated the others in his past, including Legolas! How could she even consider giving herself to him when she understood the fate that awaited her?

“No,” she breathed desperately, calling on every last bit of strength she possessed to resist him. “You will take and take and take from me until there is nothing left and then you will leave.”

“Not you, little one,” he replied, pressing his cheek against hers to murmur in her ear. “I will fill you up for you know how to take from me.” And oh, how he wanted to fill her! To have her take everything he had to offer! He had waited so long – so very long – to find a creature worthy of all he had to give! He once believed Legolas was that creature but he was mistaken. There was no mistake with Annowe. She could take all he had to give.

She moaned in agony and her body quivered at his ardent touch. She wanted him again and hated herself for it. Yes, she did know how to take from him. But would it be enough? Her heart pounded in her chest as he began to kiss her neck, one hand tangled in her hair and the other holding her to tightly she thought she would faint.

“Haldir,” she gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders as her resolve steadily crumbled. Yes, he could fill her in a way her sweet gentle Legolas could not. Perhaps she should just take from Haldir. Take from him for all of those broken-hearted elves, humans, naiads and any other creature that had the misfortune to cross his path! It would serve him right! Someone needed to serve him right, that much was certain. Why not her? Why not now?

“Yes,” she breathed as she covered his mouth with hers, her arms slipping over his broad shoulders and pulling him closer, giving herself to him completely and utterly.

A rush of triumph flooded his senses. She was his! He closed his eyes and moaned as his desperate tongue found hers. He wanted to kiss her forever like that – his arms wrapped tightly around her with her breasts pressing against his chest, her small hands clinging to his shoulders. He had even forgotten the pain of his wound.

“You are mine,” he breathed into her mouth between searing kisses. “Mine. All mine.”

“Yes,” she repeated, finally giving in to his demands. She could only fight him for so long and she had grown battle weary of fighting both her body’s desire for him and his desire for her.

“I will have you, little one, again and again and again,” he threatened, cradling her head so he could kiss her throat. “I will have you until there is nothing left. And then I will return it to you tenfold.”

“Yes,” she gasped weakly. She would let him have her. Let him take what he wanted and perhaps he would go away and leave her in peace. Certainly she did not believe such a foolish notion but it made her feel slightly better to consider it. Besides, she needed to serve him right again. For all of those other creatures who’s hearts he had broken.

Slowly, he slid one hand up her tunic and he gently caressed the side of her breast. She moaned in his mouth as his thumb found her nipple. Her fingers clawed his shoulder and her body began to ache more desperately for his.

“Yes,” he repeated, slipping his tongue between her slightly parted lips again as his hand continued fondling her quivering skin. He wanted to touch her everywhere, to make her body beg for his caress even after he was gone.

The feel of his soft lips on hers, his hard body pressing against hers combined with the heat and scent of him made her knees shake. She knew what he could do to her if he so desired. She knew he could control her and make her want him. Would he use his trick on her again?

“No tricks,” she warned in a low voice, pushing back slightly from him so she could look him in the eye.

He chuckled warmly and stroked her breast with his fingers. “No tricks,” he agreed, gazing into her eyes. He wanted this to be her true self, her true desire for him not something he had instilled in her. He would not accept her any other way but on her own terms. He needed to know she desired him without any pretense. There could be no tricks and no Legolas.

“No tricks from you, either,” he grinned.

She smiled coyly. “I don’t need any tricks,” she purred smugly causing him to laugh in amusement. She was certainly something to be reckoned with and he thoroughly enjoyed her character. He had waited a very long time to find an equally nefarious being and, although she hid it well, he knew she could be just as notorious as he.

“Now give yourself to me, wicked one,” Annowe demanded, grabbing the bottom of his tunic and pulling it up to run her eager hands over his bare flesh. He had started this and she would end it, one way or another.

Haldir slipped easily out of the garment then removed her tunic before scooping her up in his arms. She gave a cry of surprise when he lifted her up and gently suckled her as he carried her to the side of the road. Annowe moaned and writhed in his strong embrace as his tongue caressed her hard nipple.

Gently he laid her down in the grass and sat next to her so that their bodies were touching from belly to toes admiring her full curves. She was his now. There was no Legolas. Smiling broadly, he ran one large hand over her shoulder, waist, and hips stopping to squeeze her thigh. He would have her now. And she would take what he had to offer.

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