Strange Allies

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A/N: So he's talking and I'm writing. Yay for that!

Sandra - OK. Maybe just my pinkie finger on one hand feels sorry for him. But it's sort of hard to pity him when I know how hateful he's been to ME personally! ACK! I never cared for "movie Haldir", either, I can assure you. Until the real deal showed up and started hounding me I was pretty indifferent! And, if you remember correctly, I got a good azz chewing by His Wickedness for confusing him with Craig Parker. Oh, no! They are not the same. No way no how! (I think ol' Craig would be a bit easier to reason with maybe . . ?) They look the same in a lot of ways but no human being could be so insufferably horrid.

Naira - LOL! I've had plenty of those myself! Completely understand. Hopefully these next two chapters will clear things up a bit (for everyone!)

Vi Janaway - yeah, she's a little thick in the head sometimes. I think she's just stubborn and clings to Legolas out of habit. But! Things are about to change! Heh!

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As the first faint rays of sunlight broke over the hill, the mist and forest began to retreat and Haldir stepped out the front door. Quickly and silently he ran to the stable, his nimble feet barely touching the ground.

Slowly, he cracked open the door dreading any noise it might make but it was silent for him. He opened the door just enough to slip inside and it was only a split second before his eyes adjusted to the dim light. Anxiously he looked around for Annowe and found her, curled up on her side in a bed of straw sound asleep.

Unable to hide his grin of relief, he slipped over to her, causing her to stir slightly as he placed his hand against her cheek. Drowsily, she opened her eyes and sighed murmuring something he couldn’t understand.

“Annowe,” he said kneeling down in the straw next to her. “Why are you avoiding me?”

She sat up and rubbed her eyes before looking around. He was here. What could she tell him? There was no reason. Only her own nagging thoughts and fears had caused her to act so oddly.

“I am not avoiding you,” she lied. “I wanted to be alone. I have betrayed Legolas with you and I needed to gather my own thoughts.” That much was true at least.

“Does seeing me remind you of your perceived betrayal?” He asked. He hated for her to think that. Why did she not understand that what they shared was more than she would ever have with Legolas? He was too young and too frightened to bond with her.

“Yes,” she admitted lowering her eyes. “I will have to face him eventually, Haldir. I will be the one to bear the brunt of his anger. You will be gone.”

“Annowe,” he murmured, reaching out to touch her cheek. She shied away from him, not trusting his intentions. He sighed and lowered his hand.

“You have not betrayed him,” he soothed. “He will benefit from your knowledge in the end, will he not?”

Protectively, she pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms tightly around her shins.

“What if he cannot break it?” She whispered fearfully closing her eyes. She couldn’t believe that she had actually voiced her fears – to Haldir! Oh, he would gloat and torment her.

Much to her surprise he did neither. He sighed heavily and sat down next to her, stretching his long legs out in front of him.

“Is that what bothers you? That you may be bound to me for eternity?” He asked softly.
Annowe thought on his words for a moment. Had she even considered what it would be like to remain bound to him for eternity? Not completely.

“I am more concerned for Legolas,” she admitted.

Of course. Her only thoughts now would how quickly she could be rid of him and how soon she could return to Legolas. And he had so fervently hoped that she would want to remain with him.

“Legolas is not here. I am,” he reminded her. How could she still be thinking of the Mirkwood Prince? Was she determined to push him away so quickly?

“Stop saying that!” She cried fearfully, jumping to her feet. “He would be here if he could! He should be here!”

What little patience he had was gone and he stood up next to her. “But he is not! And I am!” He pointed out.

“Because you cannot take care of yourself!” She hissed accusingly. “I would be with him now if not for you!”

He drew in a deep breath and narrowed his eyes at her. “I am more than capable of taking care of myself. And even if you were rid of me you would not be with him,” he replied frostily.

She snorted in disbelief.

“He would not stay with you, Annowe,” Haldir replied viciously. “And I want you. He could have remained behind at Helm’s Deep but he did not. Have you bothered to ask yourself why?”

Her bottom lip quivered and she fought to hold back her tears. He was right. Legolas could have waited for her and he did not. Why didn’t he wait? None of this would have happened if he had only waited for her at Helm’s Deep! Why had he done this to her?

“Shut up,” she squeaked, her voice cracking with emotion. She hated Legolas for abandoning her and she hated Haldir for being right!

Slowly Haldir took a step toward her. He was prepared now to tell her everything. He must tell her!

“I want you to come with me,” he said softly.

Annowe blinked several times and her brows knitted frantically as she struggled to make sense of this sudden change of direction.

“What?” She gasped. Was he mad? She did not love him! She could not go with him!

“You heard me, little one,” he whispered. He would not ask her again.

“I cannot,” she answered automatically, her hand clutching her chest protectively as she backed toward the stable door.

Haldir raised one eyebrow questioningly but he did not press her. He had asked her to come with him. Let her think on the matter and consider her own feelings. He knew she would. He could see the conflicting emotions clearly on her face.

He sighed to himself. Yes, she was more torn by his offer than she was willing to admit. And if Tom were correct then it would be today that her emotions became clear to all of them.

“I would ask you to consider it,” he murmured.

Annowe nodded, not trusting her voice and not knowing if she could even speak as the shock of what he had asked her settled in.

She nodded again and slipped out the door leaving Haldir alone in the stable.

Quickly, Annowe fled to the stream. What ever had possessed Haldir to ask her such a thing? He should know she would not leave Legolas behind! She had told him their time was only temporary. And yet he had asked her – why?

She groaned in confusion. When had this gotten so complicated between them? As she slipped out of her dress and into the stream another disconcerting thought struck her – she was actually considering his offer!

Cursing herself, she plunged under the water and let her thoughts wander. She would not censor them. She needed to come to grips with her own conflicted emotions and could not stop her feelings.

She loved Legolas, didn’t she? Yes. But what about Haldir? How did she feel about him? She closed her eyes. So many feelings she had denied or hidden from herself came forward and she groaned again at the sensation.

Haldir had touched her and taught her things that no other creature could. He had released her true sensual nature and had not feared it. So why was she still fighting him? Was it because she feared his smug arrogance? Did she fear that he would leave her once he knew how she felt? What if?

What if she went with him? Would he grow tired and bored with her as he had so many others that he had conquered? Would he want her if she wanted him? Or did he only enjoy the chase? She snorted. He seemed to only enjoy the chase. Once he had caught his prey he was off to another conquest.

Legolas was hers. She could have him! She could never have Haldir – even if she had wanted him! He would take what he wanted from her and then leave – she had seen him do it on numerous occasions to various elleths. So why would she be any different?

Perhaps Legolas was still too young to understand everything she could teach him now but should she not give him that chance? He could grow to understand her and he would not cast her aside for another creature, of that she was certain.

And what was this glow that suddenly appeared? She had been relieved when Goldberry had told her it was nothing serious – merely that she was smitten. Just what did that mean? And why had it not shown in Rivendell when she and Legolas were together?

She shivered. What if it were not Legolas she was smitten with? She bit her lip as her throat constricted. If it were not then she had betrayed Legolas far worse than she had ever suspected and he would never forgive her!

All of the tears, fears and emotions she had suppressed since Helm’s Deep suddenly overwhelmed her and she began to cry uncontrollably. This was so wrong! She had been a fool to believe that she could just walk away from this. That she could just forget about Haldir and return to Legolas like nothing had happened! Legolas would never forgive her! And Haldir would never have her! She was doomed!

No matter what her feelings for either Legolas or Haldir she could never completely have either one of them! Legolas would turn his back on her once he realized the extent of her indiscretion with Haldir and Haldir would abandon her as soon as he was certain of her affections!

She cursed her own weakness. All she could do was return to Legolas and beg his forgiveness. She would not go with Haldir to have him cast her aside later. No! She was a Daughter of Ulmo and would not suffer such humiliation at the hands of a mere elf!

And if Legolas would not forgive her then she would leave this place and return to the South Seas. Yes, that is what she would do. She would forget about all the times she had loved and been hurt through death or betrayal or indifference.

~~~