Strange Allies

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A/N - For anyone who ever doubted that I adore Legolas, I hope this puts your mind at ease. Mr. Wicked may be dictating the story but he tends to forget it's MY fingers on the keys and I will NOT let Legolas suffer if I can help it.

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Exhausted, hungry and still fretting for Haldir, Annowe stumbled into the outskirts of Lorien. Just inside the confines of the forest, she sighed gratefully and leaned against a tree to catch her breath. She would have to find Galadriel quickly.

Summoning the last reserves of strength, she stood up and began walking the winding path. She half wondered who would be guarding the forest now that Haldir was gone. Not that it would matter.

“Haldir,” she murmured wistfully as she gazed longingly into the Golden Wood. She should never have left him! Had she known how empty her entire being felt by leaving him she may have reconsidered her choice. But she was here now and needed to put Legolas to rest once and for all. She sighed heavily, regretting her decision and yet unable to turn back until her journey was complete.

Patiently Galadriel watched the anxious naiad slowly make her way deeper into the forest. She had known Annowe would come. How long it would take her Galadriel was not certain but she knew Annowe would return to Lorien in search of Legolas.

“Dammit, Galadriel!” Annowe mumbled crossly, sensing her presence. “I know you are here. Show yourself, lady!”

Smiling sardonically, the Lady of the Golden Wood glided quietly into Annowe’s path. The two stood facing each other silently, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves in the wind.

It was time for Annowe to face the truth. She drew a deep breath, preparing for the worst. This was not the time to mince words.

“You know why I am here,” she said.

“Legolas,” Galadriel replied softly.

“Is he safe?” The naiad asked anxiously, taking a step forward.

The White Lady inclined her head in affirmation. Annowe sighed heavily and felt her shoulders drop as the weight of the worry lifted from her. He was safe! Legolas was safe! Her knees trembled with relief.

“Where is he?” She questioned eagerly.

“I cannot see him now. He is in the realm of shadow. But he lives and he is safe. All is as it should be, Galadriel told her.

Annowe caught her breath and rushed forward to the elf. “’Realm of shadow’? Just what in Mordor is that? How do you know he is safe if you cannot see him?” She demanded in a panic. Oh, she should have never let him out of her sight!

“Calm yourself, daughter of Ulmo,” Galadriel urged patiently. “He travels with the man and the dwarf through the realm of shadows but he is safe. All is as it should be.”

How could all be as it should be when Legolas was in some “realm of shadow”, Sauron was massing his army and her sisters were “entertaining” Haldir! She clutched at her tightening throat – it was all too much! Her lips trembled as she fought to hold back her tears.

Seeing the naiad’s distress, Galadriel beckoned her closer. A strange feeling of dread began to creep thru Annowe as she walked toward the elf. She would find the answers to her questions now. Would the answers be worse than the questions? She shivered. Now that the end of her quest was near she feared the outcome.

“Annowe,” the White Lady said softly, reaching out to take the naiad’s hand in her own. “You have traveled a great distance to what purpose? The answers you seek lie within yourself. You know this to be true.”

Annowe remained mute, her heart and mind a jumble of disconnected emotions. If she knew the answers she could not find them. Galadriel’s hand was warm and soft on her own and she could feel their heart beats synchronizing as she gazed into the White Lady’s eyes.

The flood of emotions that welled up in Annowe as Galadriel gazed into her heart was nearly stifling but she did not flinch. With the skill of one long accustomed to cutting to the core of the matter, Galadriel found Haldir in her heart.

Annowe gasped and instinctively tried to protect his memory but the White Lady would not have it.

“You have bonded with him,” she murmured softly. She sounded less surprised and more approving that Annowe would have liked. Had she known all along?

Intently she gazed into Galadriel’s clear eyes trying to discern what else the White Lady had known and what she could learn.

Shadowy images gradually became clear and she understood that she saw the Fellowship’s arrival in Lothlorien through Galadriel’s eyes. She squeezed the elf’s hand anxiously. It was as if she were living in Galadriel’s memories – she could see and hear what the White Lady had but she could not interfere.

As she became attuned to the odd sensation, she realized that Galadriel was searching the hearts of each of the fellowship, asking each of them something important. One or two looked away guiltily. Two others returned her steady gaze. Annowe shivered despite herself. She knew what it was like to face that penetrating gaze and have nowhere to hide.

And then Galadriel’s icy eyes turned to Legolas and the naiad’s heart quailed. What was his test? And did he pass? Annowe began to tremble as the elf asked him, “the naiad or the quest?”

Suddenly she understood everything – why Legolas had left Haldir at Helm’s Deep, why he had not waited for her and why he would not return. With a strangled cry of agony, her legs collapsed under her and she fell to her knees. But Galadriel would not let her go and leaned down next to her still clutching her hand.

Annowe moaned pitifully as the hot shameful tears began to spill down her cheeks. He had known! Legolas had known all along that they could not be together! She had been such a fool! She should have trusted him enough to know he would never have left her without a compelling reason!

“No, Galadriel! Please, no! No more!” Annowe begged softly. She did not need to know what the White Lady had shown him – what he had agreed to endure to see the madness of Sauron ended once and for all. The guilt would certainly kill her!

And yet Galadriel would not release her and insisted she follow her own quest through to the bitter end. She had been determined to find Legolas so let her see him fully. Let her understand the full impact of the decision the Prince of Mirkwood had made.

Again, she saw the elf ask Legolas, “The naiad or the quest?”

Each time, Legolas would answer “the quest”. But The White Lady had to be certain. How true was the young prince’s heart to see The Ring destroyed? Would he abandon the quest for the Daughter of Ulmo? There would be no second chances. Their world was at stake.

Galadriel had shown Legolas Annowe locked in Haldir’s embrace, the March Warden’s strong arms about her waist and her eager hands sliding around his neck as their lips met. This was quickly replaced by a glimpse of the naiad writhing blissfully in Haldir’s embrace as he suckled her. The scene melted into another of a naked Annowe sitting astride Haldir, who was grinning shamelessly as he ran his large hands over her smooth skin.

A quiet sob escaped Annowe and yet Legolas endured still more unflinchingly, remaining loyal to the quest. How much more could he take?

“Please, lady, stop. I beg you,” she choked through her tears. She could not bear to see Legolas in pain because of her. It did not need to happen!

Finally, Galadriel showed the young prince something that struck terror into the naiad’s heart. It was Annowe’s physical death at the hands of another.

At this sight Legolas trembled and hesitated. Annowe held her breath as one silver tear slid slowly down his perfect cheek. More than anything, she wanted to reach out and hug him, to tell him that she understood. He did not need to make that choice. She knew what he must do no matter what the consequences and she loved him anyway.

But Galadriel had to be certain. He had hesitated too long.

“What is your choice, Legolas Greenleaf?” The White Lady questioned him with her piercing eyes. “Do you choose The Quest or The naiad?”

Still Legolas did not answer. The thought of Annowe with Haldir – pleasuring him the way she had pleasured him – moaning and begging the March Warden for release was nearly more than he could bear! But he knew the quest was more important than either of them, together or apart.

And her death? Could he live with himself knowing that he had traded Annowe’s life for the quest? Or was this just a trick of Galadriel’s? If he abandoned the quest, he would certainly forfeit her life. What agony lay with either choice! And yet he knew what he must do.

“The Quest,” Legolas replied softly. The White Lady smiled imperceptibly. It was a wise choice.

Instantly the connection between them was broken and Annowe flung herself to the ground sobbing helplessly in guilt and shame. It all made sense now! What a fool she had been! She had risked everything for her own selfishness! Now Legolas was lost to her and perhaps Haldir as well!

“I have been a fool!” She wailed, soundly cursing herself. Oh, she should have known! Legolas was too noble to abandon the quest for her no matter what the circumstances!

All of the tears that she had pent up for Legolas she released. She deserved to lose them both for her stubborn foolish pride! How could she have ever doubted that Legolas would be anything other than determined to destroy that ring after all she had told him of it?

Galadriel watched her display calmly. Had she only searched her own heart, she would have realized long ago that Legolas had a far greater purpose than either of them.

“He knew, didn’t he?” Annowe moaned miserably as she sat back on her haunches. “Legolas knew all along about Haldir!”

“Yes,” Galadriel replied softly. “He realized that his calling went beyond his own desires of the here and now. To lose you was to gain the world. Legolas made the noble choice.”

Annowe sobbed harder at the realization of how honorable the Prince of Mirkwood had been. He had known what would happen this whole time! He had even been prepared to sacrifice her to see the madness ended! Oddly, this made her love him more for it was something she herself would have done if the situation had been reversed.

“Oh, Legolas!” The naiad lamented through her tears. “I should have known! I could have known! I should have told him when I had the chance!”

Slowly, the White Lady reached out and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

“Do you think he does not realize this?” She soothed. “He feared you would come for him and endanger your own life that is why he did not tell you of his plans.”

Annowe sniffed and wiped her eyes on the back of her hand.

“He could not bear to lose you to death,” Galadriel murmured. “He could lose you to another – even to Haldir - but not to death.”

At her words, the naiad’s tears resumed and her lips trembled. Oh, how she wanted to be angry with him for being so infernally noble and yet she could not bring herself to it!

“I don’t deserve him,” she whispered. “Even if he would still have me I do not deserve him. He is far more honorable than I.”

A faint smile touched Galadriel’s lips. “And yet you would not take Haldir to the Havens without telling Legolas yourself,” she pointed out gently.

Annowe blinked. No, she would not! It was unthinkable! “He deserved to hear it from me,” she said lamely.

“Indeed,” the White Lady agreed. “However, must I remind you of your duty as a daughter of Ulmo? My March Warden has heard the call. I would be displeased to learn he has not left for Valinor.”

Instantly, Annowe was on her feet, hastily wiping her remaining tears and the stray leaves from her skin. Yes! She had to get to Haldir! They must get to the Havens! Oh, she could berate herself on the trip back – there was plenty of time for that!

“Tell Legolas I love him still,” she told Galadriel as she turned on her heel and ran out of the forest toward the river.

“He knows,” the White Lady called after her. Indeed, he had known all along which had made his choice that much more painful.

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