Strange Allies

~~~

Through the haze of his physical bliss, he understood that he could not part from her. If he had to follow her to Mordor to be with her then he would! If he had to track her to the Halls of Mandos and back again then he would! She was his now and he would not let her go! Damn the madness! Damn Sauron! He had found his equal and he would do everything in his power to keep her!

“Annowe,” he breathed as he collapsed shaking against her.

Gradually he became aware of her tender touch smoothing his damp hair back as her lips ran over his skin. He was blissfully happy. He had everything he wanted and yet it would not last.

Slowly, he slid off of her pulling her close. He wanted to hold her like this forever – her trembling body clinging to his. But in the morning they would leave for Lorien and perhaps the madness would soon claim him. He sighed remorsefully. He had made his choice to stay with her and he was determined to do so.

The next day dawned bright and clear and Annowe had awakened early. She had resolved that they would reach the Grayflood as quickly as possible. With any luck her sisters would be waiting for them. Once Haldir was in their care she would have only 7 days to reach Lorien and return to him.

She would need to push herself to her very limits in order to make the journey but she would do it. It would be a small price to pay to keep Haldir safe.

Bidding Tom and Goldberry adieu, they set off south through the downs heading for the Old South Road. Annowe was determined to set a blistering pace and Haldir did not mind. He insisted that she ride the horse since he could easily keep up with the animal at a slow gallop.

Truth be told, he was growing anxious to reach Lorien and return as quickly as possible. How long he could stay the madness he did not know nor did he particularly care to find out. The quicker they reached Galadriel the quicker they could return to the Havens.

They traveled without speaking for the most part, each lost in their own thoughts. Silently Annowe begged her sisters to be ready for them. Goldberry had told her the Great River but that was to the east of the Misty Mountains. They would reach the Grayflood – the Great Western River – much sooner.

But to reach Lorien she would have to cross the Misty Mountains again. She dreaded that passage. The vernal equinox had passed which meant that the snows would be melting causing flooding in some areas. At least it would not be deathly cold, she reassured herself. And if all went well she should be able to make the crossing in two to three days.

“If all went well,” she mumbled the phrase to herself ruefully. She had thought the same thing so very long ago when Legolas had left her at Rivendell. “If all goes well he will return to me.”

Suddenly the thought struck her – what if Legolas had perished on his quest? She would be endangering Haldir for nothing! No! She must not think of that. She had to know if Legolas were safe and she had to tell him what had happened. The thought of confronting Legolas again made her throat tighten with unshed tears.

It would hurt him deeply to know that the March Warden had managed to claim her. It had nearly torn him apart in Lorien when he thought the two of them were together. Now his worst fears would be realized. She swallowed hard, her heart trembling at the thought. She could not run away with Haldir – it was not right. Legolas deserved to hear the news of her treachery from her own lips and face his wrath.

Would she return to Legolas if she could? Stealthily she glanced at Haldir out of the corner of her eye. His dark eyes were focused on the path ahead and he held himself proudly as he ran alongside the horse.

His silken hair fanned out behind him as he ran, shining like mithril in the sunlight. His delicate nostrils were flared and his cheeks flushed. He was so painfully beautiful to her that she nearly leapt off of the horse and into his arms on the spot!

But it was not just his physical beauty for Legolas was beautiful as well. It was more of Haldir’s spirit that kept her captive. He was such a paradox – seemingly so cold and arrogant at first glance and yet underneath that iron self-control was a smoldering heart of passion. He was nearly dangerous to know and it excited her immensely.

“What are you smiling about, little one?” He asked idly as they slowed to a walk.

Annowe blinked at him in surprise. “I wasn’t smiling,” she said innocently.

“Yes, you were,” he purred, drawing next to the horse to lay his hand lightly on her thigh.

She could feel the warmth of his hand through her trousers and shivered slightly. How could she still want him so badly? Was it her own fear of possibly losing him making her so desperate for him?

“I was not thinking of anything,” she lied. Some part of her still wanted to resist him. Why should he just have her any old time he wanted her?

Haldir arched one sardonic eyebrow at her but did not respond.

“Besides, you are always smirking about something, too,” she accused. That much was true.

“Me? Always smirking?” Haldir snorted indignantly. “You must be mistaken.”

Now it was Annowe’s turn to scoff at his denial. “No, I’m not,” she said. “You always have this look on your face like you’ve heard some sort of joke that only you understand.”

Immediately he stopped in his tracks and drew himself up proudly. “A joke?” He frowned.

“Yes, that only you understand. And you’re laughing at the rest of us,” she added petulantly as she drew the horse to a halt.

He wasn’t sure if he should be insulted or secretly pleased by her observation.

“Perhaps I am always ‘smirking’,” he sniffed. “Because I DO know something that others do not.”

Annowe scowled at him. He was tormenting her again and she didn’t like it. Well, he would soon have that smirk wiped from his face!

“And what would that be?” She demanded crossly.

Haldir could not hide his wicked grin as he lightly mounted the horse behind her.

“What you taste like,” he purred into her ear as his arms slid around her waist.

Annowe shivered involuntarily in his strong embrace. He knew exactly what to say to her and when to make her completely weak in the knees for him.

Haldir chuckled deeply as he felt her tremble in his arms as he slowly nuzzled the back of her neck. There were few creatures that had responded to him physically like she did and none of them had the strength or the courage to bond with him.

Tentatively he let his desire reach for her again. She did not push him away but neither did she respond in kind. Instead, she leaned back against his shoulder and gazed up at him as the horse began to walk along the path.

“It is stronger than death,” she murmured reflectively, remembering the words Goldberry had spoken to her earlier.

He stroked her hair back from her neck tenderly. “Yes, it is,” he admitted softly between delicate kisses to her exposed skin.

Wordlessly she continued to gaze at him admiringly. He had known all along how he felt about her – how badly he had wanted her and how he would stop at nothing to win her. What was she prepared to do for him?

~~~