Between Friends - The Scouting Mission

"The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet" - Andy Warhol

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For the next several days, Legolas became withdrawn and distant, barely speaking to her. She knew from experience that he could certainly turn from hot to cold and back again without a moment’s notice and wondered if her gentle massage had annoyed him more than it soothed him. Or did seeing her naked that morning after the Orc attack annoy him? Certainly he would have told her, wouldn’t he?

But maybe I’ve been away too long, she thought. Maybe he has changed a bit and no longer feels that he can be completely honest with me. Or perhaps he fears that I have changed too much. There was only one way to find out, she reasoned.

“Legolas,” she asked quietly, drawing beside him late one afternoon as they gazed toward Mirkwood. “What troubles you? Have I been away so long that you feel you can no longer be completely open with me?”

He turned his dark eyes to her and studied her upturned face for a moment. What could he say? “You are the reason for my troubles? Please go away and it will be better?” No, they had been friends for too long and it was his own inability to control his thoughts and physical desires that was causing his distress.

“I would rather not discuss it at this time,” he answered. Then he sighed heavily. “Please do not trouble yourself. It is nothing that you have done.” With that, he moved off toward the edge of the forest.

Annowe shrugged. She had asked him and it was all she could do. If he preferred to fight his demons alone then she could not help him. She couldn’t help but feel that his detachment had something to do with her and she found it quite annoying. If he refused to speak to her about it then he would just have to continue to suffer in silence. She wasn’t going to drag it out of him.

She watched him walking away, smiling despite herself at his graceful stride. Nimbly, she followed him but stayed well enough back that she could enjoy the delightful view of his backside and give him enough space to brood.

Periodically he would stop and tilt his head to one side, listening for her. When he was satisfied that she was still following him, he would continue at his normal pace. He wondered if she could feel his need. Those naiads could be frighteningly perceptive at times and he fervently hoped that she had not discerned his desire. Perhaps he should let her see it, he reasoned. Then it would be her problem to deal with. But could he control it? Would it frighten her if she knew how badly he wanted her?


The last thought almost made him laugh out loud. She had never been frightened of anything in her life and he found it difficult to imagine that his sexual desire would even begin to intimidate her. He shook his head to clear the thoughts. His trousers had started growing tight and he needed to concentrate on scouting the area – not what it would be like to bed his long-time friend. Her unintentional temptation of him only added to his irritation at himself.

He slowed down and allowed her to catch up to him. It would be growing completely dark soon and they would need to stop for the night.

“Are you sleepy?” He asked softly as she drew up next to him.

She stifled a yawn then giggled. “I guess so,” she admitted. She did not feel particularly tired but perhaps she just didn’t realize it. Being near Legolas tended to keep her mind elsewhere.

“Are we stopping?” She asked. If he wanted to continue she felt up to it.

“Yes,” he answered and lay his equipment down on a soft space of ground. He wasn’t tired but he wanted to stop and be near her for a while. She had stayed well out of his personal space leaving him to wonder, once again, if she could feel his desire for her.

She put her pack down next to his and pulled out her blanket and a hairbrush. Silently, she spread out her blanket, sat down and began unbraiding her hair. After taking out her braids, she began slowly brushing her hair.

This is serious business indeed, he realized. The hair brushing ritual meant that she had something very pressing on her mind and was trying to come to grips with it. He wondered what it was.

He watched her in silence, admiring her thick lush hair. He wanted to put his hands in her hair, to feel the softness and smell the henna. Instead, he sat down heavily and continued to watch her pull the brush through her curls.

“Why did you go to Pelargir?” The question just popped out of his mouth, startling even him.

The brush stopped moving and she turned to look at him curiously. Fleetingly she wondered if she should tell him the truth and quickly decided against it.

“My cousin asked me to go,” she answered. That was mostly the truth and if he cared to ask anyone else, he would see that it was. Her cousin had asked her to go so that she could find Legolas a mate but Annowe wasn’t about to reveal that important detail. He would be furious with the both of them.

Legolas said nothing but narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. He had a very bad feeling that she was telling only part of the truth.

“Did you stop by Lothlorien on your way south?” He questioned softly.

“Perhaps. Does it matter now?” She sighed, tapping the brush irritibly against her knee. She knew what he was digging at and it was none of his business.

“It matters to me,” he said quietly. As soon as he had seen Haldir in Rivendell he knew it was because of Annowe. The way the March Warden had studied her then questioned Legolas about their plans had left no doubt in his mind that there was something going on between the two of them and he didn’t like it.

“Yes, I went to Lothlorien. What difference does it make? It was on the way and I’ve known Galadriel for years,” she growled, coming to the end of her patience and daring him to continue.

“Did you ‘visit’ Haldir while you were there, too?” He sneered, implying more than just a chance meeting of acquaintances.

She leapt up and threw the brush at her pack, hitting it with a heavy thump. “What in Mordor is this? An interrogation? I don’t know who you think you are, Prince of Mirkwood, but what I have done in the past is none of your damned business!” She snapped and stalked off to the woods, leaving him sitting in a stunned silence.

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