Strange Allies

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A/N: I am not sure that there will be an update next week. I am going to be leaving on vacation shortly but hopefully I should be able to finish these last chapters up! If not, I will certainly let you know.

Vi Janaway – thank you, dear! I certainly needed a cold shower after that as well!

Paige – I’m glad you liked it! Made us all wait long enough for his confession, didn’t he? The meanie! LOL!

Sandra – LOL! UPS would boot his hateful ass to the curb! LOL! Believe me, I’d certainly LIKE to send him to you by whatever means necessary but he seems to have gotten scarce around here lately. I don’t know quite what to make of that, either. Makes me a bit paranoid. He’s up to no good, I fear. ~looks around suspiciously~ Hey, you never know. Maybe your husband would enjoy something like that! ;-) All he can say is “no” if you ask him. Hehehehe!

Naira – Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Michelle – Now come on! There’s no need to beg! LOL! Actually, you are in the majority. Most everyone (His Haughtiness) included wants her to run off with him. I can no longer deny that they belong together. So you will get your wish. But personally this author must set things straight with Legolas.

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As the wave subsided leaving only the luminous glow around them, Annowe sighed heavily in contentment and stroked Haldir’s damp skin as he continued to tremble slightly in her arms.

He moaned softly and allowed his body to sink against her, pressing his face into her neck. More than anything he wanted to remain here with her with no one else around forever. But time was fleeting for him now and soon he would hear the call again. And it would grow more urgent in time.

He had hoped that once they had admitted their feelings for each other she would agree to go with him. But thus far she had remained silent on the issue.

Tenderly, he kissed her shoulder as her fingers lightly rubbed down his spine. He would not ask her to come with him again. She understood his feelings and if she refused him in the end there was simply nothing more he could do. There could be no more excuses.

“Little one,” he whispered against her skin. He could understand her reluctance to leave without a parting word to Legolas and he admired her sense of duty to him. But his own time was growing short and he was becoming more anxious. How much longer could he delay before the madness set in? He did not wish to think of it.

“Yes,” she murmured against the smoothness of his throat.

Slowly, he slid off of her and she snuggled up to him, pressing her face against his damp chest. Absently he stroked her hair as her hands leisurely caressed his skin. For quite some time they lay there, each lost in their own thoughts in each other’s arms, content to be alone and quiet.

Annowe listened to the sound of his breathing in his chest as the steady rhythm of his heart thumped against her ear. He was here with her now. So beautiful and alive and hers! He was hers! He was completely hers in a way that Legolas could not be, not now and perhaps not ever! How could she simply let him go to chase – not even a dream anymore?

Yes, that’s what it was. Legolas was a dream that did not quite come true. Even though she still loved him and adored him her dream of him – of what she wanted for the two of them – would not come to pass and she must face it. Her heart ached as the full realization sank into her. She could no longer deny her feelings for the wicked March Warden.

Haldir was more than a dream – he was real and he was here with her now. Why did Legolas not stay at Helm’s Deep with him when he had been so badly wounded? Certainly Legolas knew she would come for him. Haldir said as much. And yet Legolas had left anyway. He had left Haldir badly wounded and had left her as well. Why?

If he understood that his part in the quest was over why did he not remain behind for a few more days to see her and nurse Haldir back to health? Did he not understand what would happen?

Suddenly she shivered in Haldir’s arms and nuzzled closer to him. What if Legolas had known all along what would happen? She squeezed her eyes shut. It was not out of the question. He had spoken to both Galadriel and Haldir privately on separate occasions in Lorien. He had been with Haldir in Helm’s Deep before she arrived.

But no! That could not be! After his outburst in the flets of Lorien when the three of them had been alone together she could not believe he would simply walk away. He had been infuriated when he thought she and Haldir were together. And yet . . . he had still taken every opportunity to leave the two of them alone! Was he mad? Was he testing her? If so, she had failed miserably.

She sighed and rubbed her cheek against Haldir’s shoulder. It was just too much. The only way she would ever know what Legolas had been thinking would be to ask him outright.

More importantly, now that she understood how deeply Haldir cared for her, could she walk away from this dream as well? She would be twice a fool with no hope of happiness.

“I would come with you,” she said softly, her lips brushing his skin.

“But?” Haldir countered, knowing there must be some caveat.

She sighed. More than anything she wanted to go with him, to be happy with him but she simply could not abandon Legolas without a word. It would be so very cruel and he deserved better than that from her. He deserved better than that from anyone!

“At some point in time I must return,” she admitted. “I simply cannot run off and leave Legolas behind. He does not deserve to be treated so unfairly – especially by me.”

“You may not be able to return,” he warned her.

“I know,” she admitted quietly. “But I must try.”

He allowed himself a brief smile of triumph. She would leave with him!

Slowly she raised her eyes to look at him. He searched her expression to find any hint of regret in her decision and he saw none. Her dark eyes were shining like mithril in moonlight and she looked every inch a Daughter of Ulmo – wild curly hair spilling over her shoulders, the color of her exertion high on her round cheeks and her pink lips slightly parted as she drew breath to speak again.

He did not give her that chance. Instantly, his lips were on hers, needing her to understand his urgency. If necessary he would take her again and again and again until she was too weak to resist him then he would carry her off to Valinor.

“When?” He repeated, briefly allowing her to catch her breath.

“When will I return? When the time is right I must,” she warned.

“Very well,” he murmured, delicately kissing her neck. “Perhaps I should make you never want to leave my side.”

She laughed and he could feel her throat vibrating under his lips and he smiled. Gently, she cupped the back of his head and raised it to look at her.

“I never do want to leave your side,” she grinned. “But please, feel free to try and convince me a bit more. I shall not stop you.”

He chuckled wickedly. There was the naiad he knew. His eyes flashed mischievously in the glow of the firelight and she could feel any last bit of resistance melting. How could she have been so mad to think that she could belong with any other creature? They were made for each other. They understood each other completely in a way that few others could appreciate.

“You are mine now,” she said smugly, caressing his broad chest with her hand. “All mine!”

He raised one eyebrow teasingly. “And you will do with me as you please?”

“Yes!” She replied. “As I please and as much as I please!”

“And I will not stop you,” he breathed between her breasts tightening his arms around her as her arms slid around his head.

She moaned softly as her desire for him began to grow again. The muted colors of their desire, once pale and dim now flared brightly around them. Cautiously, Annowe reached out and touched it with one finger. Haldir moaned in her arms.

“I would never leave you,” she breathed, tipping his chin up to plant a searing kiss on his lips.

“Never?” He urged between desperate kisses.

“Not ever.”

He squeezed her tighter as he hungrily kissed her, needing to take her breath away with his passion and desire for her. He never wanted her to think of another creature again!

“Haldir,” she gasped, feeling his want rush over her as the glow exploded in color around her.

He moaned softly as his eager hands began to slide over her quivering body. She was completely his now to do with as he pleased! So many ways he could take her and so many things he could yet teach her! Damn all tomorrows there was only the now!

“Want you,” he breathed, his teasing tongue finding her erect nipple.

She hissed and squirmed in his arms, digging her fingers into his thick flaxen hair and throwing one leg over his thighs. All around her the brightness of him grew and pulsated as she watched in fascination. He was everywhere – surrounding her, touching her, feeling her, kissing her, filling her with him self.

“Yes!” She whispered, letting her own desire press into him.

Suddenly he sat up and pulled her onto his lap facing him, keeping her bottom cupped in his hands as she held to his muscular arms.

He gazed deeply into her eyes for a few moments and Annowe could see herself reflected there. She grinned at him but his gaze was drawn to the glow that surrounded them. There it was! The physical manifestation of their desire for each other! He never thought he would live long enough to see it again! To have it again but here it was! And it would be his forever!

She slid closer to him, letting her arms slip around his broad shoulders and pressing her breasts into his chest. She could feel every part of his body pressing against hers and even the rhythm of his heart next to hers.

“I have never felt so alive as I do with you,” she admitted softly.

He chuckled and nibbled her earlobe. “I know,” he smiled. “And I want to keep it that way!”

She laughed and tweaked the point of his ear playfully. “You are still horrid!”

“And you still cannot resist me,” he grinned, nipping at her throat.

“And I want to keep it that way,” she murmured against his lips.

He moaned as her tongue found his and her want spread out to envelope him completely. His body ached with desire for her and now he could have her as often as he wished and she would not fight him! Nor offer excuses!

“Yes,” he breathed, cupping her bottom firmly and raising her slightly to slowly impale her on his stiff shaft.

Annowe hissed in pleasure as he sank deep into her, joining with her completely. She closed her eyes and moaned as she began to thrust against his hips. She could not get enough of him! It must be some sort of madness! Some sort of trick for her to want him – to need him inside of her so desperately!

He moaned deeply in his chest as the pleasure of her physical form and her desire settled into his very bones. The more he had her the more he wanted her! This madness he would not fight, he would let it consume him completely!

She gathered his thick hair up in one hand, holding on to it as her other hand clutched his hard shoulder. Around them, the fire of their desire entwined and pulsated with the rhythm of her thrusts against him.

“You feel so good inside of me,” she moaned, pressing her cheek to his.

She had never felt so complete. Where she was weak he was strong and where he was lacking she could fulfill him - like two halves of a broken sword coming together to make one.

“Say it again,” he breathed, cupping her head and gazing deeply into her eyes.

The panting naiad moaned helplessly as she felt her body begin to tense. Her fingers dug into his back and he let out a low hiss as he felt her climax building.

“Say it,” he demanded, moving both hands to grip her pelvis in order to thrust him self more deeply into her.

“What?” She gasped, scratching the back of his arm. She would say anything he wanted! Why did he insist on teasing her so?

His soft pink lips parted slightly then mouthed the words “I love you”.

Her eyes met his and she understood at that moment that no other creature would ever tear them apart. The fire in her veins consumed her and with what felt to be her dying breath she exhaled against his lips, “I love you.”

Instantly the wave of climax swept over her, threatening to rip her physical form apart. Haldir moaned and clutched her desperately as she writhed in exquisite agony in his lap.

“Look at me,” he demanded hoarsely as her body convulsed against him.

She could not look away. He was holding her there, at the apex of pleasure, urging her body and spirit to unite with his completely and she could not fight him. She moaned helplessly as wave after wave of orgasm ripped through her trembling form.

“Please!” She gasped, certain she could not take anymore.

Now he could no longer hold back against the crescendo of bliss enveloping him. With a stifled cry of anguish against her mouth, his hips jerked forward involuntarily and his hot liquid spurted forth, filling her with his pleasure.

But he did not break their intimate gaze as the sensation washed over him. It only became more intense as his body continued to quake with release.

“Yes,” he moaned. “Yes!”

He was pouring himself out again for her. He could and he would fill her over and over like no other creature. Blissfully, he continued to contract inside of her, pouring every last drop of him self into her. He wanted her to have it all – to take everything he could possibly give her! He would not hold back!

One hand slid up her hot back to grip her sweat soaked hair and he held her head there so their lips were barely touching as he gazed deeply into her half closed eyes. The waves of pleasure were still coursing though him and he panted hotly against her lips, his own eyes barely open.

“Love you,” he sighed. “I love you.”

Annowe moaned quietly in response and slid her tongue between his lips. This was so much more than she could have ever dreamed of! How could she have even considered leaving him?

His tongue met hers and she could feel their mutual desire settling over them like a warm soft blanket, covering them in a beautiful muted glow. With a trembling hand, she stroked his wet hair back from his shoulder.

She had never known another creature so intense! His passion and desire for her were nearly frightening and yet she did not fear him or his desire. Nor did he fear hers!

Gently resting her head against his shoulder, she wrapped both her arms and legs around him and held him tightly, clinging to him as if he were the only creature left alive. Silently she vowed that she would never let him go.

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