Strange Allies

~~~

“Tell me,” Annowe demanded urgently.

Goldberry sighed and motioned Annowe to join her as she sat on the bed. She didn’t know how the younger naiad would take her plan. But she must be given the chance. If she chose to make peace with Legolas and yet keep Haldir safe, she must be willing to make the sacrifice.

“Do you remember when we were young and several of our sisters pulled a man into the Great River?” Goldberry began slowly.

Annowe frowned. “It happened several times as I recall,” she mused.

Goldberry giggled at the memory. “Indeed,” she admitted. “And do you recall how, after they had grown tired of him they would release him back to his kin?”

“Yes,” the younger naiad answered carefully. What was she getting at? What did this have to do with Legolas and Haldir?

It was obvious that Annowe was not drawing the conclusion Goldberry hoped she would. She would have to explain it more plainly. Absently, she smoothed the quilt away from her leg.

“Annowe,” she began, trying to find a delicate way to approach the matter. “When human males are with us, they do not age nor change nor do they have any concept of time.”

Blinking several times, Annowe stared mutely at her sister. No concept of time? Elves and naiads had no true concept of years passing, either.

“I don’t understand,” she said in confusion. “Are you saying that if Haldir stayed with our sisters he would be safe?” How could that be?

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying,” Goldberry nodded. “But there is more.”

“There must be,” Annowe replied. “I fail to see how this would keep him from going mad.”

Goldberry drew a deep breath. “If Haldir is too preoccupied with us, I believe that he will be unable to hear the call,” she explained softly.

Annowe raised a sardonic eyebrow. “Preoccupied?” She asked suspiciously.

“We are nymphs,” Goldberry smiled wickedly. “We can make him forget.”

“Make him forget,” Annowe echoed, the full realization of what Goldberry suggested finally dawning on her.

She would have to leave him in the “care” of her sisters. He would be safe, of that she had no doubt. But there were still too many questions.

“Do you think it will work?” She asked anxiously. She did not want to share Haldir’s affections with anyone but if it would work she was willing to try.

“Yes, I believe so,” the older naiad replied slowly. “As does Tom.”

Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Annowe stood up and began to pace, slowly drawing her fingers through her hair as she sorted her conflicting feelings.

It made perfect sense. But would it work for an elf? They had no real sense of time in the first place. And what would happen if he did not make it to the havens? Would the ship sail to Valinor without him? She couldn’t imagine it waiting indefinitely for him.

There were other questions, ugly questions and doubts, that tried to push forward but she ignored them.

“How long?” She murmured.

“How long can we keep him?” Goldberry asked. When Annowe nodded, she shrugged. “I am not certain. Not long. Perhaps seven days. Elves are not as susceptible to our charms as human males are. Regrettably.”

Annowe closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Seven days! That was absurd! It was not nearly enough time to find Legolas!

“No, but it will be enough time to reach Galadriel,” Goldberry replied. "You said yourself that she will know where to find him."

Yes, it would be long enough to reach Galadriel. And through her Annowe could see Legolas. Carefully she studied Goldberry for a few moments, trying to form her next question. She hesitated. Would voicing the thought make it more likely to happen?

“What if the boat leaves him and he cannot go to Valinor?” She asked so softly that Goldberry had to strain to hear her.

“That is, indeed, a risk,” she admitted, tipping her head. “A slight one but a risk none the less.”

Without a word, Annowe resumed pacing. Would Haldir agree to it? The thought nearly made her giggle. He was not likely to protest being left with a small army of Ulmo’s Daughters for seven days. Suddenly her blood turned to ice as the questions she had tried to avoid crashed against her.

Would he find another? Would he leave her for one of her sisters? She clutched her heart. She would die. It was that simple. And yet she was willing to risk all of this to put her own mind at rest with Legolas.

She had asked for a way and now Goldberry was giving her that chance. Did she wish to take it? Nervously she bit her lip. She could stay and find Galadriel risking Haldir or she could leave and risk both herself and Legolas. If they stayed, how would Haldir fare in the end?

“I should ask him,” Annowe murmured.

Goldberry shook her head, “no, I do not think that is wise. It will be easier to beg his forgiveness after the deed is done than to request his permission beforehand.”

“True,” her sister admitted grudgingly. “He will be angry with me.”

“Perhaps,” the older naiad answered. “But that is not your only concern, is it?”

Annowe lowered her eyes guiltily. “They are more beautiful than I am,” she whispered. “Will he still want me?”

At this, Goldberry stood up and embraced her sister. “He has bonded with you, Annowe. Do you still not understand what that means?” She scolded gently.

“But what if he finds another?” She asked in a small quivering voice. “I could not bear to lose him!”

Goldberry smiled. “What did he tell you of this bond? Did he tell you it was stronger than death? It is.”

Annowe frowned slightly. “He told me that Legolas could break it,” she replied honestly.

Her sister laughed merrily. “Oh, I’m sure he possibly could – in a thousand years or so!”

“I don’t understand – he lied to me?” Annowe asked incredulously. “Why would he lie to me about something like that?”

“Because he wanted you for himself,” Goldberry said evenly. “He knew you would never agree to it. So he did exactly what I am telling you to do. Beg forgiveness after the deed is done.”

Slowly, Annowe began to understand. Haldir had wanted her so badly that he had lied, schemed, plotted and nearly sacrificed himself to get her! But why? It was madness!

“He did not have to bond with me, did he?” She murmured.

“Absolutely not,” Goldberry affirmed. “If it had been a purely sexual attraction. But it was not. Elves do not bond lightly. I am certain he told you this. If the bond is broken it can nearly kill them with grief. He will want to break your bond no more than you will.”

“Yes, he told me but I did not understand,” Annowe admitted.

“You did not WANT to understand,” her sister corrected, holding her at arms length.
Annowe frowned and stepped back. Yes, it was true. She did not want to admit that he could possibly want her so badly and that he had been willing to go to such great lengths to get her. The thought humbled her considerably.

“Where will they meet us?” Annowe asked. She was a fool to doubt his feelings for her now.

“The Great River,” Goldberry replied. “They will be waiting for you to call to them.”

~~~