Strange Allies

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A/N: His High Haughtiness has finally decided to speak again. Praise ye gods!

MarzBar - it could mean a lot of things, actually. Mostly it is just her fears I think. And the guilt. Goldberry will make sure she takes care of herself. She and Tom know there's more going on than meets the eye (hence only one bed) but they don't want to interfere too much!

Annariel - Indeed they are even now. But what a price to pay for it! Yes, Legolas needs someone who loves him. I hope you are taking good care of him! Someone should! Poor Legolas! I feel so sorry for him! But ignorance is bliss in this case. I just hope he never finds out.

Phairesse - Sometimes dreams, especially nightmares can be so terrifying that they make you think about what you are doing. A lot of that is, I believe, guilt on her part and also her fears. Tom and Goldberry were great in FOTR and I wanted everyone to enjoy them as much as I did. I see them as sort of you all - my readers - if that makes any sense. That they say the things YOU would say if YOU were in the story. ;-)

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Sometime during the night Annowe’s sobs grew fainter and she fell into a dreamless sleep. Haldir watched her for a while before he finally pulled a blanket from the bed and covered her tenderly. What could he do? If he stayed he would go mad and she would not remain with him without speaking to Legolas first. If he left then he would lose her completely for she would return to Legolas without a backwards glance at him.

Silently he stared out the window into the night contemplating the questions he had put off for so long. Could he tell her of his true feelings knowing how consumed by guilt she was? Or would it tear her in two? He groaned. He never wanted this. He never wanted it to come to this. He thought it would be easy to just walk away – it always had been before no matter how he had felt.

But had he ever felt this way? So anguished at the thought of leaving another behind? No, not since Glorfindel. He had not been able to find another who could fulfill him so completely. Until Annowe had bonded with him.

He had been a fool to believe that he could bond with her then walk away unscathed. He had been willing to pay the price for it and so had she but now knowing how deeply it would wound them both he very nearly regretted it. Not for his sake but for hers. In his deepest heart, he doubted that Legolas would forgive her and on some level she seemed to know that as well. What would happen to her in the end?

He sighed again. Would Legolas even attempt to break the bond between them? Or would he simply turn her away knowing that for them to be eternally bonded yet forever apart would be its own exquisite torture? Silently he begged her forgiveness for placing her in such a terrible position. He would not want to be so torn.

Eventually he became aware of the faint first rays of the sun. Another day had passed and he still had not spoken of his true desire for her. How long could he wait? How long would he wait before he told her? There was no longer a question in his mind that he must speak to her. She had to know that he would always wait for her if she wished to come to him.

Soon his sensitive ears picked up the sounds of Goldberry moving about and he slowly washed himself and put on the clean clothes that had been left for him before quietly slipping from the room.

“How is she?” Goldberry asked anxiously when he joined her in the kitchen.

“Asleep,” he answered, sliding into one of the straight-backed chairs at the table.

Goldberry tried to smile reassuringly as she slid a cup of warm tea to him.

“She has had nightmares for years since searching for Darion in the Dead Marshes,” she said softly.

Haldir did not answer but gazed moodily into his teacup. Goldberry patted him on the back as she slid into a chair next to him.

“Do not blame yourself, Haldir,” she murmured. “It is not your fault.”

He sighed and closed his eyes briefly. “You do not know the whole story,” he whispered guiltily. “It is my fault. I did this to her.”

Before she could ask him for an explanation, Tom sauntered merrily into the room and kissed her on the cheek before pouring him self a cup of tea and joining them at the table.

“Come now!” he coaxed seeing their tense expressions. “The river daughter will recover. It was only a bad dream. She will go to the stream today and you will see! Her laughter will return!”

Goldberry smiled faintly and nodded. “Yes, she needs to be in the water,” she agreed.

“By the by, is there a reason she has not been in the water recently?” Tom asked curiously. “She should know how harmful it is for her.”

Haldir blinked, trying to recall the last time they were near a lake or stream. He had not seen her in the water for the past moons cycle although they had been near the water. He frowned wondering why she had not stopped. Was she trying to punish herself for her perceived disloyalty to Legolas?

“I do not know,” he admitted truthfully. “She has not said anything to me.”

Tom and Goldberry exchanged worried looks and the naiad quietly slipped out of the kitchen to wake her sister. She needed to get Annowe into the water before she grew too weak or disoriented.

“Come, my young friend,” Tom beckoned as he moved to the rocking chair near the fireplace. “Let us have a chat, shall we? Bring your chair and sit by the fire with me.”

Haldir sighed heavily. This was the chance he had been waiting for. Slowly he picked up his chair and carried it over to sit next to Tom so that both of them could gaze into the dancing flames as they spoke.


Goldberry knocked softly at the door and cracked it open when there was no answer. She glanced around the room and saw her sister curled up by the fireplace on the floor.

“Annowe,” she said shaking her shoulder. “It is time to wake! Come to the stream with me.”

Slowly the younger naiad opened her eyes. Light flooded into the room and she sighed heavily. It was morning. The night was over and there would be no more sleeping for a while.

“Come,” Goldberry coaxed, removing the blanket from her and placing it on one of the chairs. “We will go to the stream. You need to be in the water.”

Annowe sat up groggily and glanced about the room. She did not know whether to be disappointed or thankful that Haldir was not there. She could be free of him now. Goldberry could lead him to the Havens and she would be free to find Legolas.

At the thought, the tears began to well up in her eyes and Goldberry silently handed her a dress. She would feel much better when she was in the water.

After she slipped on the dress, the two of them walked from the room and Goldberry slid her arm protectively around her sister’s shoulders as they approached the front room. She had a feeling that Annowe wished to avoid Haldir’s gaze no matter how benevolent it was.

As they entered the room, Haldir rose to join them but Tom held out a restraining hand to him.

“Let them be,” he said softly.

Reluctantly the elf returned to his seat but kept his eyes on the pair until the front door closed quietly behind them. Haldir sighed heavily. Annowe was gone.

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