Strange Allies

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A/N: Well, his Wickedness says that he will not speak to me until I stop "feeling sorry for him". Can you believe it? GAH! So I'm not sure if there will be an update during the week. Maybe not until next Friday. Unless someone wants to help me beat it out of him! LOL!

Rose Atlee - awwww, thank you so much! That's very sweet of you. I'm glad you enjoyed it completely.

Paige - He rather DEMANDED that everyone see him in all his glory. ;-) I'm so glad that you are caught up in his story and find it that engrossing. Thank you. I appreciate it. We'll find out what the red ember is later. And it's not really my tale, either. It's his but I think I might know how it ends (finally). I just have to pry the rest of it out of him!

Sandra - Thank you, hon! It was easy to write once he decided to spill it for me. But I was a little uncomfortable not knowing how true it was. You'd think I'd trust him by now. It IS his story and he IS an elf! Maybe by the end I'll get it. It will be a little of both I think.

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“I want it again,” Annowe breathed eagerly kissing his damp neck.

Haldir chuckled again then sighed blissfully, holding her closer. If she wanted to kill him by bonding with him repeatedly he would gladly let her. He closed his eyes and rested his lips against her ear murmuring soft words to her. He could remain here like this with her forever but they only had a precious few more hours before dawn then they would join her sister.

Why? He moaned softly and rolled off of her, pulling her close as she continued to eagerly kiss his neck and shoulders. Why did he have to go to Valinor? He did not want to leave. Once he was gone she would return to Legolas and ask him to break their bond.

Gently, Haldir smoothed the hair back from her face and tipped her chin up so he could gaze into her dark eyes. Neither of them spoke but Annowe could feel him asking her – something. She was not sure and did not understand how to answer him. When she opened her mouth to speak, his lips were on hers and she completely abandoned any hope of thinking clearly.

Stealthily, so as not to frighten her or invade her heart too deeply, he peeked into her to see her feelings. Where was the Mirkwood Prince? How strong was his hold over her? Would he be able to break the bond?

Haldir did not believe so but he could not be certain. Legolas had changed; he had become much stronger when saw him in Lothlorien. How much stronger was he now? How much of his fear of intimacy still remained? And, more importantly, would he forgive Annowe for bonding with the March Warden?

“What is it?” She asked anxiously, immediately sensing his change in mood.

He would have to be very careful with her now. Her own gift of foresight coupled with their bond could give her insight into him that he had not considered until now.

Sighing he kissed her forehead. “I am wondering if Legolas will forgive you,” he answered truthfully resting his cheek against her.

He felt her stiffen in his grasp and grow very quiet. Then she began to tremble and pressed her face to his chest holding him tightly.

“I am damned,” he heard her moan miserably.

“Shhhh,” he soothed, rubbing her back and silently cursing himself for raising the subject. “You are not damned. Do not say such things!”

“I am damned. Cursed and damned,” she insisted, the guilty tears beginning to fall. “How could I have done such a thing to him?”

“Hush now!” Haldir grunted. “He can still break the bond, Annowe. Remember that.”

As much as it pained him, he had to remind her of that. He could not bear her tears over their union even though he suspected that it was Legolas she was grieving for. Or was that just wishful thinking on his part? What would he do if she were truly his? It would change nothing between them. He would still leave for Valinor and she would still return to Legolas.

He squeezed his eyes shut at the thought. He would have to face that reality soon enough.

She sniffed and nodded. “I am sorry,” she murmured. She had gone into this with her eyes wide open. Haldir had not lied to her or deceived her. And even when Legolas had grown angry and pushed her away in Lothlorien, Haldir had stood by her. Of course, he couldn’t resist a jab or two at Legolas in the process but he did not deny her or try to blame her for his own desire.

Slowly, she ran her hands over his back, her fingers coming to rest against the still healing wound on his shoulder and stroking it thoughtfully. It was that wolf that had started this whole chain of events. Had she never touched the wicked March Warden or feared for him they never would have become this close. She still could not make up her mind if this was a benefit or a detriment to her.

And then she felt his warmth envelope her, soothing her, comforting her. Would Legolas ever be able to touch her like this? Would she be willing to wait for him to learn? He would have to learn from her. Could she teach him enough? And what of Haldir? What would become of him once the bond was broken? She shivered.

She did not want to know but the thought kept creeping into her mind as she held fast to him. No matter how she tried to push it away, it slithered back like an unwelcome invader.

“What will happen to you if the bond is broken?” She whispered anxiously.

Haldir sighed heavily. Should he tell her of the heart-wrenching pain? The all-consuming darkness that hung over him like a cloud for many long years after Glorfindel broke their bond? No. He could not lay that guilt on her – not when she was still upset over Legolas.

“It will not kill me,” was all he could bring himself to say. That much was true although it would most certainly feel like he was dying. And what of her? How painful would it be for her?

Perhaps he should have perished on that wall at Helm’s Deep. He absently stroked her hair as he considered this. It would have made things so much easier for all of them in the end. There was only pain that awaited him now. The pain of his parting, the pain of Legolas breaking their bond – but oh, the pleasure that had come before this!

He would hold on to that memory for many long years. It would be all he would have in Valinor.

He felt her squirming in his arms and relaxed his grip on her. She wiggled up so that they were nose to nose and tenderly she placed her hands on either side of his face drinking in the sight of him. His gray eyes were half closed yet shone brightly through his thick lashes and she slowly ran her thumbs over his dark brows watching him intently.

Why did she suspect that he was hiding something from her? He had not answered her question. What would happen to him if their bond were broken? What would happen to her?

“What will happen if the bond is broken?” She whispered. “Tell me the truth.”

Gradually she began to feel him again, reaching for her and she tentatively reached out for him, needing to know the answer. His desire held her as he squeezed his hand in her hair. She would know.

But he did not tell her – he let her see it. He let her see the darkness that had overtaken him, the pain, the brooding melancholy and finally the cold indifference that she had mistaken for pure arrogance.

He could feel her trembling in his embrace as he led her to touch these things inside of him. But they were old now these wounds and most had healed although the scars were still quite visible.

“Haldir,” she choked, unable to find words, her mind awash in questions and her heart constricting in her chest at his pain.

She threw her self against him and held him tightly, letting her desire caress him hoping that it would soothe him. What could she say? She knew it would be painful but she had no idea. Had she known how painful it would be to him to break the bond, she never would have done it!

“No!” He hissed, feeling that regret in her. “Do not think that! I wanted this, Annowe. I wanted this knowing the pain to come.”

“Why?” She wailed, wanting to spare him any more agony yet fearing she would only bring more upon him.

He sighed and kissed her neck. Could he tell her the truth? The entire truth that he was not even prepared to admit to himself yet? No.

“Will you not want it again? Do you not remember the beauty of it? The bliss?” He drew back to look at her, his thumb stroking her cheekbone.

“Yes,” she reluctantly admitted. Yes, even now she wanted it again. It was intoxicating and she craved it.

“Then you understand why I wanted it at any price,” he murmured.

“But you,” she began but he cut her off abruptly.

“We will speak no more of this, Annowe,” he warned gently. “Let me enjoy this bond for as long as it may last. There will be time enough for us to dwell on the pain.”

Her bottom lip trembled dangerously and quiet tears began to pour down her cheeks. He sighed and pressed her head to his shoulder, whispering soothingly to her.

“But I am wicked and notorious, remember, little one?” He teased. “I do not feel pain or fear. Only desire and vengeance.”

He heard her choke out a giggle and smiled wistfully. He would miss her desperately. How could he leave her? It would be agonizing but he must never let her know that. She would be frantic with worry and regret. He could not have her regret their bond ever. It would destroy him.

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