Strange Allies

A/N: I've taken the information regarding the way to Tom's house and Tom's speech from FOTR.

Naira - HA! I know you all too well! You want him! Belive me, if you had to deal with his crap he'd get on your nerves as well. I think he's just here to test me. hehehehe! It's getting harder for him to talk about it. Must mean it's going to get weepy.

Phairesse - Yes, he thinks he can just do whatever he wants. But he's forgetting a few things . . . Hopefully all of your questions will be answered!

Michelle - I ask him that all the time. "Dude WTF??" hehehehe - I think you'd have to stand in line to go with him (but you know he'd love it.) No, he can't stay but he thinks because he WANTS it, he can have it. Did you miss that part in school where they told you the earth revolves around Haldir? lol!

~~~

The three of them walked in silence for a while, Annowe frightened for Haldir’s sanity; Goldberry wondering what, exactly, was the relationship between the two of them; and Haldir scowling at his own inability to make time stop so he could remain with Annowe.

After a short walk, they came to the edge of the forest and Goldberry leaned over and kissed Annowe lightly on the cheek.

“I will make ready for your arrival,” she smiled. “You know the way. Do not stray from the path.”

Annowe nodded and watched as her sister slipped into the Old Forest quickly disappearing from sight. Haldir moved to follow and Annowe held his arm, gently restraining him.

“Wait a moment,” she murmured.

On quiet feet a faint mist began to creep over the grass, enveloping them below the knees and Annowe looked to the sky. It had begun to grow oddly darker as a great cloud obscured the sun as the mist began to grow and swirl around them. Haldir shivered involuntarily. This was all quite strange. It was as if she had been waiting for some sort of sign.

“Now we will go,” she answered and moved into the trees.

Haldir followed behind her and immediately realized that these trees were far more ancient than anything in Lothlorien. And they knew him! He could feel them speaking to each other, watching them and he was awed by their age and knowledge. He paused to look around and suddenly felt Annowe’s small hand slip into his and tug gently.

“We cannot stop,” she said urgently.

Regretfully, he began to follow her but she did not let go of his hand. He smiled as he gazed as her hand in his. It was such a simple yet intimate gesture. His hand nearly dwarfed hers, covering her small fingers protectively.

Deeper and deeper into the forest they went, the mist boiling around them now and the sun only a faint hazy light through the thick treetops. He wanted to stop again and speak to them, to hear what they would say. Did they know of Valinor? Did they remember the coming of the elves?

But Annowe would not let him pause. If he hesitated, she would gently squeeze his hand to remind him not to stop. What danger could lie in this forest for an elf? He wondered. Of course, he had stories as an elfling of the trees who hated the elves for roaming free about Arda but he thought those were only stories. Perhaps there was some truth to them after all! Were there such things here?

As quickly as it had arisen, the mist cleared and the forest opened and they were standing in a small valley lit by the fading rays of the setting sun. At the top of one hill was a stone house, a white tail of smoke curling from the chimney.

Annowe turned to him and smiled but she did not release his hand. He tried to return her smile but could not, his heart still heavy with regret and reluctance. With each step he moved closer to parting – how could he find happiness in that?

The door of the cottage swung open and the figure of a man emerged to beckon them forward.

“Hey dol! Come derry dol! Hop along, my hearties! Elf and river daughter! We are fond of parties! Now let the fun begin! Let us sing together!” Tom’s clear voice rang out over the valley like a bell and Annowe laughed at the sound, urging Haldir to run with her up the hill.

When he did not move as quickly as she wished, she dropped his hand and scurried to Tom, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly as they both laughed happily in the warm glow of the doorway.

Haldir watched with growing interest as he approached them. He had heard of Tom Bombadil who remembered the coming of the elves. No elf near his age even remained in middle earth now. Galadriel was the eldest and Tom was even older than she!

For a fleeting moment, Haldir wondered if Tom would know of a way that he could resist the call and remain. Could he even ask such a thing?

After Annowe let go of Tom, he moved to take the reins of the horse from Haldir. This creature was older than even Galadriel and yet he did not seem to be as melancholy or sad as an elf of that advanced age. Quite the contrary! He seemed as merry as a Hobbit! Haldir stared curiously at him.

At his puzzled look, Tom laughed heartily and clapped the elf on the back warmly.

“Come my young friend!” He chuckled. “I will tend to this noble beast while you prepare to feast!”

Reluctantly, Haldir allowed him to take the reins before following Annowe over the wide threshold and into the inviting warmth of the house.

Lamps swung from the beams of the cottage, casting everything in the warm yellow glow of candlelight and Haldir looked about with growing interest. The room was long and low yet very cozy. A fireplace was at one end with a rocking chair facing it at an angle.

A table had been prepared for them and Goldberry smiled motioning them to join her as they waited for Tom to return from the stable. Haldir studied his surroundings, noting the rustic flavor of the cottage as Annowe and her older sister continued their animated chatting.

She seemed to have forgotten all about the March Warden and talked non-stop with her sister as they placed various dishes on the table.

Haldir’s gray eyes watched her as she laughed happily and he casually slid into one of the straight-backed chairs at the table while she told Goldberry of finding him wounded and near death at Helm’s Deep.

She cast him a sideways glance through her dark lashes and smiled seductively at him. He could feel his cheeks flush guiltily before she quickly returned to the tale and he lowered his eyes and shifted in his chair as his body involuntarily responded to her glance.

But the look was not lost on Goldberry who raised a questioning eyebrow at her younger sibling.

“It was fortunate then, that you returned to Helm’s Deep to find Legolas. Otherwise the March Warden might still be there or lost on his way to the Gray Havens,” she murmured with a knowing smile.

Annowe grinned and glanced at Haldir again.

He could feel the flush creeping back into his cheeks. This was ridiculous! He was not some young elf at a midsummer festival! He was full-grown and did not explain his actions or desires to anyone! But Goldberry had not asked him to explain. Were his feeling for Annowe that transparent?

Mercifully, Tom returned before Goldberry could continue. There was no more talk of Helm’s Deep or Legolas during supper.

After they had ate and drank their fill (which was considerable in Annowe’s case as she had grown overly tired of Lembas!) Tom and Goldberry quickly cleared the table then led their two guests to sit in front of the fire.

Annowe stifled a great yawn and Goldberry laughed. “It would seem that someone is more tired than she would have us believe,” she teased.

Her sister lowered her eyes guiltily. “I have not been in the water lately so I must sleep,” Annowe murmured.

“Why?” Goldberry asked in shock.

“I am not certain,” Annowe hedged, not wanting to admit the truth in front of Haldir. “We simply did not stop long enough.”

Goldberry frowned at her then sighed. “Then tomorrow we will go to the stream,” she declared. “You must not be out of the water for too long, child! It is not good for you!”

Annowe nodded. Yes tomorrow – during the day they would go to the stream – and she would ask Goldberry what that odd glow was. She had to be certain it was only her desire and nothing more sinister.

“Will you show me to my bed, please, Goldberry?” She asked softly, her eyelids growing heavier by the moment.

“Indeed. And you, young elf? Do you wish to rest as well?” The older naiad asked, taking a candle from the fireplace mantle to light their way.

Haldir was torn between the desire to stay with Annowe and his curiosity and questions for Tom. But Tom could wait. When the sisters visited the stream he would speak to Tom privately. Now he would stay with Annowe.

“Yes, I believe I will,” he agreed.

Goldberry nodded and bade them to follow her down a long passageway. The candlelight flickered as she moved, casting strange shadows on the walls as they wandered deeper into the house. Their hostess paused and opened a door, motioning them to enter as she followed behind them.

The room was not too small but cozy with a gently sloping ceiling, two chairs facing a fireplace and only one bed. Annowe was too tired to notice but the significance was not lost on Haldir who studied Goldberry keenly. She smiled back innocently but there was a knowing gleam in her eyes. He could feel the flush creeping back into his cheeks again and turned his head to look at Annowe.

The younger naiad already thrown herself onto the bed, not bothering to pull back the thick goose down blanket and was nearly asleep when she heard Goldberry tell Haldir that no matter what they heard during the night they were safe in Tom’s house. Then she was gone.

Quietly, Haldir closed the door and slowly removed his clothes as he glanced about. The room was lit only by the glowing embers in the fireplace but there seemed to be everything they could want or need in the room – a water basin and ewer, a plate of bread, cheese and fruit, clean towels – someone had even brought clean clothes for them!

“Little one,” he breathed leaning over the dozing Annowe. “Take off your clothes and lie with me under the blanket.”

She murmured and stirred weakly. Gently, he helped her removed her clothes then lifted her up and kicked back the blanket for them. Tenderly he laid her on the bed before crawling in next to her and covering them both.

When she felt his warm body next to hers, she instinctively nuzzled closer to him and he smiled wistfully. How he would miss this – her soft firm skin against him as they lay naked in each other’s embrace. He sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, tucking her pelvis into his lap and breathing in the scent of her hair.

Being this close to her caused his body to become increasingly aroused but he did not fight it. There was no need to now. He could have her as many times as he desired and he greatly enjoyed feeling the full depth of his physical passion with her. He no longer had to control his desire.

He closed his eyes at the thought and again cursed the fate that had led him here. Soon he would be leaving it all behind and for what? Valinor was here, in his arms now! He could not let her return to Legolas! She must come with him! Legolas did not deserve her – he could not understand her and he would fear her desire.

He moaned softly at the thought of Annowe stifling her passion to keep Legolas from fearing her. He knew she would! She had before! But could she now after letting it run free with him? Would she find hiding it from Legolas constricting and suffocating? Would she stay with Legolas and keep that deepest part of her hidden from him?

Why should she? He knew what that was like – the denials, the half truths, the white lies to keep hidden that ravenous part of your desire from your lover who could not match it. When she finally realized that her young prince would always fear her and she truly needed all Haldir could give her, he would be far and away where she could not reach him.

He bit back a scream of frustration. He wanted to wake her and take her again! Time was growing short. How long did they have? How many times would he ask himself that question, always anxiously looking to the sky and dreading the final summons from Valinor?

~~~