Strange Allies

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Disclaimer - I own none of this apart from Annowe nor have I made any money from this tale.

A/N:

Rose Atlee – well, I didn’t have much of a choice! That crazy elf wouldn’t let me rest until I gave him his “due”. He can be quite irresistible, can’t he?

Sandra – Oh, yes, he is a hateful bastard and that is what makes him so infuriating and hot all at the same time. He makes you just wanna choke him or molest him by turns, doesn’t he? (I usually update once a week unless something changes – and I’ll let you know if it does! I’m pleased that you are enjoying this. And I’m sure the March Warden is as well. It is his story, after all!)

Michelle – thank you! Yes, there is something about that arrogance of his. I wish I knew what it was. He’s so deliciously wicked and sexy and he certainly keeps you guessing!

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The nymph was stunned by this revelation and her mind could not firmly grasp any thought for more than a split second. Haldir watched with amusement as the various emotions flickered over her face. More than likely she would not believe him, he realized but it did not matter. He spoke the truth and she could find that out as soon as her wayward lover returned. If he returned.

She would ask her young prince about it later, Haldir was sure of that, and he wondered if Legolas would admit to their brief affair. Did it matter if he did or not? The seed of doubt had been firmly planted in her mind. Perhaps he would try and convince her that since Legolas had them both they should have each other. Just to close the circle, as it were.

With a satisfied smile, he quietly stretched out again as the startled naiad tried to come to grips with his confession.

Slowly, she walked over to her carryall and brought out her hairbrush. Haldir watched curiously as she began to pace back and forth while slowly running the brush through her thick hair. Neither one of them spoke. The only sound was the crackle of the fire and the howling wind outside. Haldir patiently waited for her to respond but it would seem she was either too stunned or too angry to voice her thoughts. He found this very odd indeed.

Annowe paced the length of the cave brushing her hair, stopping at the entrance, as she tried to sort out her conflicting emotions. “It would certainly explain many things,” she murmured to herself as she stared into the darkness and swirling snow outside. It would explain the tension between the two elves, Legolas’ fear that she was having an affair with the March Warden and his little “show” in the garden at Rivendell. She ran the brush slowly through her hair, gathering her thoughts.

Was she just a pawn in this game between the two of them? She paced back into the deep recess of the cave and turned to look at Haldir. He was gazing calmly at her, waiting. Waiting for what? She wondered. Waiting for her to declare if she believed it? Waiting for her to throw herself at him? She snorted. It didn’t matter what Haldir said, she was not going to fall into his arms. If that was his plan, it was pathetic and would never work. It would take much more than his confession of a tryst between he and Legolas to weaken her to the point where she would want him.

She sighed. There was really nothing she could do. If Legolas had indeed had a dalliance with Haldir it was past and therefore did not matter. The only issue that disturbed her was the thought that the two of them were using her to get at each other. This, she determined, would not be tolerated.

Thinking back on the last week with Legolas, she found it difficult to believe that he was simply using her. No, she did not believe that. He had been too ardent in his attentions to her and too anxious for her safety. But what about Haldir? She asked herself and moved back toward the fire, coming to stand at Haldir’s feet. He turned his head to look at her and she narrowed her dark eyes at him, trying to read his intentions. His platinum hair shone eerily in the firelight as it draped gracefully over his shoulders.

“Why did you tell me this?” She demanded quietly.

“I thought you should know,” he said, matter-of-factly.

She grunted. “I think you should know that it doesn’t matter.”

He inclined his head slightly to her. She stared at him for a few more moments, daring him to add any further scandal to what he had already told her but he did not. He seemed content that he had managed to divulge this to her before Legolas had the chance.

“I think you should also know that it does not change my perception nor my distaste of you in the slightest,” she grimaced at him.

He actually smiled at that. “Good.”

With a disgusted sigh of resignation, she moved to the opposite side of the fire and curled up to sleep with her back to him. She did not want to see that smug smile on his face nor watch him pose for her anymore and there was nothing she could do about this disclosure until she saw Legolas. She was determined to get the truth from the missing elf as soon as they met up again.

Unbidden, the thought of Legolas and Haldir naked, together in each other’s arms flashed across her mind and she shivered. Had the March Warden not been so vile, Annowe would have almost liked to see that for herself. Two beautiful elves, their smooth lithe bodies entwined would be such a temptation to her. Such a lovely temptation.

“I wasn’t playing pirate, either,” she grumbled crossly. “I was fighting the pirates.”

“Indeed,” Haldir murmured, watching her settle herself in to sleep, only her thick hair visible over her cloak.

He had broken the news to her. Legolas had not bothered to prepare her for this revelation. He probably believed that she would never speak to the March Warden let alone hear this sort of thing from his lips. Haldir smiled grimly to himself. He was disappointed in her reaction. At the very least he thought she would shout at him. But she had not shouted or cried or raged at him. Instead, she seemed to think it over calmly and realize that it did not matter.

“Strange creature indeed,” he murmured to himself. The more he knew of her the more he admired her. Legolas did not deserve such a creature. The young prince had feared his own passion and pleasure so how could he ever hope to pleasure another? Especially a physically sensitive creature like the nymph. He could give her such physical pleasure and leave her begging for more.

Haldir sighed and watched her as she lay sleeping. He wanted to delay their arrival in Lothlorien as long as possible so he could enjoy tormenting Annowe. The snowstorm would be a great help to that end. If it continued into the next day, they would not be able to travel very far until the sun set again. He could have easily made the trek in 10 sunrises but Annowe could not walk on the snow and Haldir doubted if she would let him carry her over the pass. No, her own stubbornness and loyalty to the young prince of Mirkwood would keep her in his clutches for a very long time to come.

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