Strange Allies

~~~

All day Annowe lay in the stream gathering her thoughts and examining her feelings. Sunset came quickly and with a heavy sigh, she crawled from the stream and put her dress back on. Goldberry, Tom and Haldir had left her alone all day with her thoughts and for that she was grateful.

Now she would have to face them. Slowly, she made her way back toward the house. As she approached, she could see the three of them standing in the yard talking and laughing as Tom filled a bucket with water to take to the horse.

Goldberry was the first to see her sister and called out happily to her. Annowe smiled slightly and waved back as she drew closer, moving between the stable and the house. Tom began to walk toward her carrying the bucket of water, ostensibly heading toward the stable as Goldberry murmured covertly to Haldir.

“Are you ready?” The naiad asked with a gleam in her eye.

The elf nodded wordlessly and watched as Tom moved closer to the unsuspecting naiad. Suddenly she seemed to realize what was happening and she froze terrified in her tracks.

“Tom!” Annowe warned, holding one hand out to stop him. “Don’t you dare!”

He smiled regretfully. She should have known better than to threaten him, no matter how mildly. Besides, it was time she admitted to herself what was so transparent to everyone else – she was completely smitten with the March Warden of Lorien.

Haldir watched in fascination as Tom deliberately threw the bucket of water at Annowe, completely dousing her. Goldberry gasped in delight and Tom grinned as the young nymph’s exposed skin began to glow faintly in the twilight.

With a strangled cry of anguish, Annowe fled toward the woods. She would not accept this. She could not! It was outrageous and wrong! Desperately, she ran, heedless of where she was heading needing only to escape their knowing looks.

In a flash, Haldir ran after her, as his mind finally understood her odd behavior and Tom’s knowing smiles. He had dared not believe it until he had seen it with his own eyes as Tom confirmed his wildest hopes. And it had been so easy!

Instinctively, he knew she would avoid the water, fearing the confirmation to herself. Although she had a head start on him and the light was fading, he easily overtook her with his long strides, scooping her up in his arms before she could make it to the trees.

“Annowe,” he breathed against her wet hair, holding her tightly.

His heart was pounding in his chest but it wasn’t from exertion. He should have known! It was there all along but he had been afraid to touch it, not wanting to know for certain whom he would find in her deepest heart, fearing it was Legolas. But it was not! It was not Legolas! Everyone had known it but he!

She screamed in rage and struggled violently against him but Haldir held her fast, determined to make her admit it to what he had seen. She kicked and squirmed, fighting desperately to free herself from his crushing embrace but he would not let her go. He could not let her go now!

“Do not fight me, little one,” he pleaded against her shoulder as he lifted her off the ground from behind.

“Leave me alone!” She shouted hysterically. “It’s all your fault! You bastard! I hate you! Hate you! Let go of me! As a Daughter of Ulmo I demand it this instant!”

His arms held her like steel bands and he pulled her to the ground, lying on top of her to stifle her struggles, his hands gripping her wrists as she continued to fight him. His heart trembled briefly at what he was doing to her – she wanted him to stop but he could not.

She had even demanded it as a daughter of Ulmo and he had ignored her! Oh, the wrath he might suffer at Ulmo’s hands for this transgression! But Haldir desperately needed to know that she loved him, no matter what the cost. If she loved him it would make everything worthwhile. He could endure anything if only he could hear those words from her! Even if Legolas broke the bond it wouldn’t matter!

Annowe shrieked hysterically and cried as she fought madly against Haldir’s embrace, angry with herself for her perceived weakness and disloyalty to Legolas and horrified at her own traitorous feelings.

This could not be happening! It was wrong! So completely wrong! What a fool she had been! There was truly no hope of redemption for her! Their bond would never be broken and Legolas would never forgive her! She was cursed! Cursed and damned just as she had feared! There was no hope for her!

The March Warden had never known such a terrifying creature and very nearly let go of her in her rage. Not even the dreaded Uruk-hai had fought so fiercely against him and he quailed at her anger but did not let her go.

“Annowe,” he pleaded urgently. “Please.”

“I hate you!” She screamed, her madness and shame blinding her. She thrashed crazily under him, determined to free herself.

How could she betray Legolas? How? She could never forgive herself for this transgression - never! She deserved a horrible torturous death! Yes! That was it! She would flee this place for Mordor and sacrifice herself against the Black Gate in Legolas’ memory! It was the least she could do for betraying him! And it would break the bond between she and Haldir forever!

“Stop it!” Haldir shouted over her, his own anger rising.

Why was she fighting him? Why wouldn’t she love him? Was he that vile? That wicked and evil that she could never admit her feelings for him? Did their bonding mean nothing to her? Did she believe her feelings for him were weak when his had been so strong?

“Leave me alone!” She spat dangerously.

He hesitated. Should he obey her request and leave her? Yes, he should. His own dignity demanded it and yet – he understood that if he retreated now she would do anything in her power to break the bond between them. It was now or never. If he let her go he feared what she might do in her madness. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself. He could not lose her now, not to her own madness.

“Why won’t you love me?” He asked softly. It took every ounce of his self-control not to simply overwhelm her with his smoldering desire. Why was she denying the truth of her feelings?

“You’re not Legolas,” she answered miserably, turning her head away from him as she stopped struggling.

“You’re mind loves Legolas, Annowe. But your heart and your body – they love me!” He said forcefully. He knew it! He had seen it in her but had been unable to believe it was true until now! Now he had the proof!

“No!” She screamed, beginning to struggle again. “No! I can’t love you! I can’t!”

“Kiss me,” he demanded against her lips. “Kiss me, little one, then tell me that you do not love me.”

Before she could rebuke him, his lips were on hers. She closed her eyes and refused to kiss him. He finally had enough of her nonsense and allowed her to feel the full sensation of his lust and want for her. She must let him in again! He would never be able to see her heart if she stayed angry and defiant.

“Stop it, you bastard!” She growled as she felt his desire forcefully wash over her.

“No,” he breathed, his lips brushing hers. “I will not stop it until you kiss me.”

Annowe trembled under him whether in desire or rage he wasn’t certain. Deliberately he shifted his weight on her so she could feel his growing hardness as he continued to tease her with his own yearning. Was he prepared for her final surrender?

His heart pounded madly in his breast. Once he had her, there would be no going back for either of them. They had already bonded. If she knew, if she admitted the depth of her own desire for him the bond would be too strong for anyone to break. He did not care about the pain any longer! Let them both be damned!

He gazed deeply into her eyes his own feelings suddenly clear to him. Yes, he wanted her. He needed her. He could not bear the thought of Valinor without her. Deliberately, he let her feel this as well. It was a peace offering of sorts.

Instantaneously she burst into tears, startling him.

“I hate you,” she bawled miserably, turning her head away from him, ashamed of her self.

He sighed heavily. They were so close. He was not trying to force her to abandon Legolas or go to Valinor with him. He simply wanted to know that she loved him. Why was that so terrible to her?

Gradually he began to realize that she wasn’t completely angry with him but simply very frightened. She had reacted in much the same manner when they left Helm’s Deep. Well, he knew how to approach this situation.

“What frightens you, little one?” He questioned gently, his lips next to her ear.

She sniffed a few times and he could feel her relaxing but was in no mind to let go of her. She would tell him what he wanted to know or they would lay there in that meadow until the next snowfall.

“I cannot do this,” she finally whimpered. “I cannot.”

“What am I asking you to do that you cannot?” He murmured encouragingly.

She swallowed hard and sniffed again, gathering up her courage.

“Love you,” she finally whispered.

He closed his eyes, willing himself to remain calm. Oh, how he wanted to hear those precious words from her sweet lips!

“I have only asked you to kiss me,” he reminded her soothingly.

Slowly, she turned her head to look at him and he wisely hid his tender smile from her. There was a cloverleaf stuck to her tear-stained cheek and her eyes were red and swollen from crying but he did not care. He wanted her more completely than he ever wanted anything in his long life.

Little by little he leaned closer to her until their lips were barely touching. It took every ounce of his considerable self-control to restrain his burning desire for her.

At the first touch of his lips, Annowe closed her eyes. She would kiss him and tell him that she did not love him and that would be the end of the matter.

Haldir moaned quietly as he longingly kissed her. Ever so slowly, she began to return his kiss but he did not press her. No, she must come to him now.

When he let go of her wrists to gently brush the cloverleaf from her cheek and hold her, she did not try to push him away. Instead, he felt her hands tentatively slide around his shoulders as she relaxed and her desire instinctively reached for his.

He moaned quietly and slipped his tongue between her parted lips as he let her feel his desire again. She exhaled softly and her tongue met his. He sighed in contentment as their mutual longing entwined leisurely around them.

Now no longer able to contain himself, he wrapped his arms tightly around her and crushed her closer to him, his kiss growing more ardent. He wanted her desperately. Let her kiss him and then tell him she did not love him! It would be a lie! He could feel it in her trembling lips and her quivering body! He could feel it in her heart as her desire caressed his!

“Annowe,” he breathed against her mouth, looking into her eyes. “Now tell me that you do not love me.”

She hesitated and lowered her gaze, willing herself to cut off her desire for him. He did not need to feel her now. She refused to let him feel her or see her now. She did not want him gazing into that deepest part of her fearing what he would find since she no longer knew herself.

“Tell me, little one, and I will never ask you again,” he promised urgently, pressing his nose to her cheek.

“I,” she began hesitantly. “I don’t . . .” She closed her eyes and silently begged for the strength to say those words. Why could she not say it? They were just words. And if she said what he wanted her to then he would leave her alone. He promised. Yes, she would say it and he would leave and then she could throw herself upon the Gates of Mordor in punishment for betraying Legolas, breaking the bond forever.

She took a deep breath, determined to say it as their eyes met. Haldir froze.

“I love you,” she exhaled softly.

Haldir felt as if he had single-handedly conquered Sauron and freed middle earth with that simple phrase and he moaned blissfully as he felt his throat constrict. Nothing could take that away from him! Nothing! Not Sauron, not Legolas, not Valinor or the destruction of Arda. She loved him!

Without a word he placed a searing kiss on her lips as his arms squeezed her tighter as he unleashed his desire upon her. He would take her and never look back.

~~~