Strange Allies

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A/N: It would seem that the site went down and ate this chapter as well as your reviews. I am sorry for that. Hopefully it will stay up a bit longer this time! I am still hoping to have this complete before Christmas.

Joliesal - It pleases me that you don't exactly like Annowe and Haldir. It makes them more believeable, I think. And I'm glad you like my writing enough to continue reading eventho you don't like what's happening! ;-) Yes, Annowe finally understands the choice that Legolas was forced to make. We can only hope that Haldir understands eventually. Oh, I don't think our lovely Prince of Mirkwood is going to want for company! There are plenty of elleths who would give their pointy ears to be with him! Thank you for such a nice review!

MarzBar - I dunno if she can or not. He's being a stubborn wicked creature again, isn't he? Only thinking of himself. *sigh*.

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Haldir had only felt this emptiness once before and he had vowed never to feel it again. Although the bond between them was still intact, he feared that Annowe would not return to him and he would be left to languish in agony alone for eternity.

Should he try and break their bond? The thought made his heart ache worse. No, he wanted Annowe. He wanted her now! He rued the day he allowed her out of his sight! He had been unwise to be parted from her.

“Vadra!” He yelled hoarsely. “Vadra, curse you, come here!”

Roughly he pushed past the man and the other naiads searching for her. Before he could call to her again she appeared next to him, her face tight with worry.

“What is it, Haldir? Why are you shouting?” Vadra asked anxiously.

“I want Annowe,” he demanded. “I am tired of this game. I want her here now. Where is she?”

The naiad hesitated. She had no idea where her sister could be but she could not tell him that. He seemed to grow more irritated the longer they were separated and she wondered if perhaps the madness had already begun set in. Certainly he continued to grow more morose and angry the longer they were apart despite the naiads’ best efforts.

Urgently, Vadra motioned to Armea. The younger nymph came quickly, her eyes warily on Haldir.

“Go find Annowe,” Vadra ordered under her breath. “Start in Lorien. If she is not there tell Galadriel to come quickly. I fear for him now.”

Armea cast a pained look at Haldir. His once beautiful features were now dark and troubled. She did not wish to see him in such anguish and was disappointed that he could not fully enjoy his temporary captivity.

“What will you do with him until I return?” She asked cautiously.

“I do not know,” Vadra answered slowly. “Just find Annowe as quickly as you can. For his sake as well as ours.”

Armea nodded and instantly sped out of sight in search of her wayward sister. Haldir watched her go and his features softened. He knew they were only trying to help him.

Oh, how he hated this weakness! He should not have to leave for Valinor until HE wished to go! Certainly he was more needed here than there! Why had he been called? Why? It made no sense! He growled crossly to himself. Any other elf would have rejoiced at the thought of sailing into the West but not he. No! He wanted to remain here, in this war torn place because of a nymph. Perhaps he was already mad!

His throat tightened with anguish and shame at his plight. He had been a fool to bond with her! He should have known that Legolas would always come between them – some way, some how the accursed Prince of Mirkwood managed to keep a firm hold on Annowe’s heart.

Haldir grew sullen and scowled menacingly at no one in particular as he continued to ponder his predicament. Annowe was his now, curse it all! And she should be here with him! They should be leaving for Valinor together! She had promised him. And yet he could not be completely disillusioned with her. Legolas had believed she would come for them in Helm’s Deep and she had.

“No,” he grumbled darkly to himself. “He knew she would come for HIM. She found ME.”

She had not bonded with Legolas but she had followed him to Helm’s Deep. Haldir wondered if she would go to the same lengths for him. Would she follow him to Valinor if he had gone?

There was only one way to find out! He reasoned.

“Vadra,” he said firmly, noticing that the others had withdrawn to another part of the river to play with the human. “Take me to the Havens.”

The naiad’s bright eyes grew wide with surprise. “Why?” She wondered. “Annowe will return here for you.”

“It is time for me to go,” he said simply. “If Annowe wishes to follow me she will.”

“Haldir,” Vadra began anxiously but he cut her off with a quick flick of his hand.

“No. Let her come to Valinor if she will,” he affirmed. He had made up his mind. Who would she choose to spend eternity with?

Vadra paused. She was duty bound to take Haldir if he requested it. He had heard the call and wished to go to the Havens. There was no reason to refuse him. And yet she hesitated uncertainly.

“If she will not come then that is her choice,” he said defiantly although his heart ached at the very sound of those words. If she did not come he would wither and die like a mighty oak starved of water. Slowly, painfully he would die.

Vadra’s lip trembled and she nodded wordlessly. How could her sister be so cruel to him? He loved her! He wanted none but her and yet she had abandoned him!

“I would not have left you,” she whispered. “Not for Legolas.”

At her admission his expression softened and he tilted his head to her slightly in gratitude.

“Let us go,” he said determinedly. “My time grows short.”

From the writhing mass of naiads surrounding the human, Vadra chose Leme and two others to accompany them to the havens. It would be a long swim and he fervently hoped Annowe was not far behind them.

~~~

Annowe plunged into the cold waters of the Nimrodel River with Galadriel’s visions still swimming in her brain. She should have known what Legolas had been up to! When he refused to stay behind at Helm’s Deep to see her she should have known then! But she had been too busy worrying about Haldir to actually consider Legolas’ motivations for leaving.

And now she was alone. There was no Legolas and no Haldir! Vehemently she cursed her foolishness! She had left behind the one creature she truly wanted to chase not even a dream anymore but a phantasm!

Her cheeks grew hot with the dishonor of what she had done to Haldir and what she had asked of him. She wanted to die of the shame and guilt she felt for her treatment of him! He deserved better! Even if he were wicked and vile!

At the thought of his wickedness she burst into tears, sinking to the bottom of the river as she lamented and wailed in torment. He was wicked and vile and she loved him completely! She could not live without him – he was like a missing part of herself that she had endlessly searched for and only recently found.

She felt empty and only half alive without Haldir. She had no idea how complete he had made her until they were apart. And now, thanks to her stubborn pride she might lose him! Oh, the agony! Her entire being felt as if it were being ripped apart by a thousand orc swords!

Did Haldir feel the same way about her? Annowe realized he probably did and it would be worse for him with the added weight of The Call and the memory of Glorfindel. She choked back a scream. Could he forgive her?

How could she have treated him so poorly? She would have done anything for him! Anything! Followed him up the slopes of Mount Doom if he so desired!

Angrily wiping her shameful tears, she turned west and began to swim quickly toward the Misty Mountains. She could make the mountain crossing in one sunrise. With the water current of the Grayflood at her back she should be able to reach Haldir in two sunsets if she did not stop or rest. It would be exhausting and push her to her limit but she did not care. She had to reach Haldir. She had to tell him how deeply she loved him. He must know. Nothing else mattered now.

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