Strange Allies

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Disclaimer - I own none of this apart from Annowe and I have made no money from this story.

A/N: I apologize for the lag between updates. Work has taken over life and Mr. Wicked is quite unhappy about this. To add to his displeasure at me, I will be traveling on business next week and unable to update. You, dear readers, have my apologies in advance for this. HE, however, can go fish! LOL!

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Vi Janaway - That is a very good question, my dear! Mr. Wicked still has not given me that "minor" detail as of yet altho I have an idea what he's up to! (We'll have to see what happens!)

Naira - awwww, I don't mean to confuse you! We've "recalibrated" ourselves to the context of the story as it were in these next two chapters. But fear not! More "hawt" sex is on the way!

Michelle - oh, no, he does NOT! Threatened is a gross understatement! LOL! I don't really know what she was going to say. I have a feeling you are correct, tho. I believe we'll SEE her feelings before even she realizes them!

Anna - Thanks for your review! I think we ALL need some ice water after THAT little display! LOL! And if you happen to run into him, make sure you pour some ice water over him as well - he IS the cause of all this after all, yes? ;-)

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As the rain steadily increased it grew colder and Annowe sat up.

“We should get into the water. It will be warmer there,” she murmured, squeezing Haldir’s shoulder.

He nodded and the two of them quickly made their way into the lake. The cold and rain did not particularly bother the March Warden but he knew that Annowe did not like the cold so he went with her.

As he slipped into the water, she slid into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist, nuzzling his neck playfully. He smiled and kissed her tenderly, running his hands over her thighs and back. His body was still weak from their earlier indulgence but not so weak that he could not hold her close.

The rain continued until dusk but neither of them seemed to notice or care as they continued to leisurely enjoy their extended swim locked in their embrace.

“My skin is wrinkled,” Haldir finally murmured against her lips, holding his hand up for her to see.

She giggled. “Perhaps we should let you dry off a bit,” she smiled and reluctantly let go of him so he could dry off.

As he walked out of the lake, she watched him admiringly, his hard body glowing in the semi-darkness. How much longer did they have together? She did not want to think about it. She could not think about it. It would make her desperate and clingy and he would never tolerate that sort of behavior from her.

He turned his slightly to look at her when he realized she was not following him. She was floating there, watching him, her hair fanning out at her shoulders. He cocked his head and blinked several times, puzzled by the strange glow that seemed to surround her.

“What is it?” She asked curiously, seeing the expression on his face.

“It looks like you are glowing,” he frowned.

Annowe immediately swam over and joined him on the bank then turned to look back toward the water where she had just been.

“What is it?” He asked anxiously, watching her. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, no. It’s nothing. Just odd,” she murmured, drawing her brows together and continuing to study the dark surface of the lake.

He did not reply but followed her gaze silently for a few moments before he finally turned and spoke to her.

“Annowe,” he began softly. “I would like to travel this night.” He was beginning to feel a steady pull for Valinor now. Perhaps it was the lake that stirred the feelings up again – he was not certain. All he knew is that he needed to travel north tonight. She looked at him with wide eyes and nodded. “I will find the horse,” she said quietly and slipped off into the darkness to find the animal.

Haldir sighed and began to gather their things and dress himself. He did not want to go but the pull was becoming increasingly urgent and he instinctively understood that if he traveled north for a while the feeling would abate. They could dally only for so long before he would be called again. And he must answer it. He had no choice.

Shortly Annowe returned with the horse and Haldir secured their belongings on the animal as the nymph put on her clothes.

Lithely the March Warden hopped upon the horse and held his hand out to her. With a smile, she took it and he pulled her up to sit in his lap.

“Sleep now, little one. We will ride until the horse is tired or I am no longer tormented by the urgency of The Call,” he murmured softly to her.

She smiled and turned sideways in his arms so that her head was leaning against his solid chest and her legs thrown casually over his thigh. The warmth of him and the rhythm of the horse soothed her and she slowly drifted off to sleep as Haldir watched her, his mind drifting into random thoughts.

They were two creatures so very alike, why had he been so cruel to her in Rivendell? There had been no need for it. She would have come to him much sooner if he had only let her!

He sighed and tenderly stroked her cheek and smoothed her hair back over her shoulder. But he had hated her then. Hated her because he believed that she was tormenting Orophin! That was not the case as he learned later. How foolish he had been – seeking revenge on her for some imagined slight! If only he had been able to see past his anger to his true desire in the first place she would have been his long ago!

Yes, it had been his own desire for her that had infuriated him but he had been too caught up in avenging his brother to realize it. It was not until he had deliberately walked in on her bath in Rivendell and kissed her that his burning desire for her became clear to him.

He smiled slightly and gazed down at the sleeping nymph in his arms. Yes, he had kissed her in anger and ended up wanting her more than he ever thought he could want another creature. How odd was that ending? What if he had never kissed her? He closed his eyes. He could not think of that. They were here now together and he could have her every day until they reached the Havens.

Then what? How would he find Valinor after the wanton physical pleasure of these last few months? Would he ever find another lover like Annowe? Should he even try? He shook his head. He was thinking madness! He was the notoriously bedable March Warden! He could have any creature he desired!

But what if ? Hastily he pushed the thought away. He must not think of it! They had made their bargain and he would uphold his end of it. He could not ask her to leave with him. Perhaps he could offer it to her. If she refused then he would understand. Part of him regretted his bargain with her. This taste of her was worse than never having her in the first place! What a fool he had been to think he could take from her without giving something in return – no matter how subtly!

She would never love him; never desire him as completely as he wanted her to. But what if she did? “You will take and take and take from me and then you will leave”, her words came back to him now. Would he abandon her once he was certain of her affections?

His one certainty was that he had never felt so utterly at ease or alive with any creature before. He wanted to share himself completely with her whether she gave him anything in return or not. Could she ever love him or was he fooling himself? Did he want her to love him? Yes, he wanted her to love him even more than he was willing to admit. But was it because of the way he felt about her or was it his competitive nature trying to win at all costs against her memory of Legolas?

Tenderly he kissed the top of her head and held her close as he considered these things. She was so very warm and solid against him. Why was he even considering this madness? He had made his bargain with her – only until they reached the Havens would she be his. Then he would leave and she would return to Legolas. That is the way it would be. He must not dwell on the past or the future. They had only the here and now together. He sighed heavily, a brooding silence settling over him.

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