Strange Allies

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A/N: Thank you to everyone who left original reviews for the last chapter. Unfortunately the server crashed and deleted the last chapter as well as your reviews. I have reposted the chapters but lost the reviews. If you reviewed the last chapter, I thank you. Please don’t think I’m ignoring you by not mentioning you by name – the site sort of ate your kind words.

MarzBar – Yes, I do to! Thank you for leaving your review again after the crash! I appreciate it! We’re almost at the end now but you know he needs a bit more drama! ;-)

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As they swam south, Haldir could feel the emptiness slowly growing in him the farther away from Annowe he traveled. It had several days since she had left and yet it felt like an eternity to him.

Even if she did return she might not take him to the Havens but continue to chase after Legolas. The thought made him frown. She had gone to Lorien to speak to Galadriel and find out where Legolas had gone.

He wondered if Galadriel had told her to return to him. He hoped so. He hoped that the White Lady had given the naiad a good scolding and all but ordered her to return to her March Warden immediately. A slight smile touched his lips at the thought.

But somehow he doubted it. Even if Galadriel had scolded Annowe for leaving him she might defy them both and chase after Legolas. Why? Why did she insist on being with Legolas when Legolas had left her? Not once but twice! His slight smile quickly turned to a dark scowl.

Of all the creatures in middle earth he, the proud March Warden of Lorien, had chosen her to bond with and how did she repay his commitment to her? By running off in search of the Prince of Mirkwood! He snorted. It was insulting as well as injurious!

It would serve her right if he left her behind! Let her come to Valinor in search of him! Would she follow him as quickly as she had chased after Legolas? In his mind, she should be willing to go to any lengths to prove herself worthy of him after all he had done for her! How quickly she had forgotten that he was highly desirable to many others! Including her own sisters!

And yet he wanted none save her. She had been the only creature to test him, to push his bounds and challenge him. She had been the only one outside of Glorfindel who had been brave enough to see into his true heart, past his arrogant armor and cold indifference to the softness inside. She had been the only one to meet his passion head on and not flinch.

She had also been there when he had desperately needed her – saving him from the werewolves, nursing him at Helm’s Deep then agreeing to lead him to the Havens.

And she had left Legolas behind to take him to the Havens! Over and over again he had asked of her and she had been there for him. But where was she now? He had not wanted her before but she had been there anyway. Now that he wanted her she was nowhere to be found!

He cursed her soundly. He wanted her here; he NEEDED her here. Why did she not understand this?

Tentatively he reached for her desire and found it slumbering inside of him, soft and warm as a sleeping elfling. He moaned softly. She was not trying to break their bond and he sensed that she was safe but very tired. Her force was growing faint inside of him and he felt a pang of guilt at leaving her.

He should have simply left for the Havens when he had the chance. He should have told her that she must choose – it was he or Legolas. If she chose to chase the irresponsible Prince across middle earth then let her! She must not truly love him!

“She will come, Haldir,” Leme murmured softly to him.

He blinked and gazed into her soft brown eyes. He wanted to believe her.

“She is days behind us but she will come,” the naiad assured him.

She seemed so certain that he could not voice his concern. But Haldir knew he would be alone for the long journey home. He would take his wounded pride and sail to Valinor to bury his broken heart.

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Annowe plunged into the Glandiun thankful to be free of the mountains. She could move more quickly now that she was in her own element. The mountain crossing had delayed her more than she would have liked.

Being immortal, she had never quite grasped the concept of time as humans saw it but now she felt it was her enemy keeping her apart from Haldir. Fervently she hoped he was still safe with her sisters. She felt so terribly guilty about leaving him and yet had been driven to. Perhaps she had known all along that Legolas would not return to her but she still had to find out for certain - to make peace with him in her own mind.

She shivered as the cool water rushed over her skin, renewing her depleted strength. Her physical form needed the water to restore her and heal her bruises after the treacherous and muddy mountain passing.

But the bruise that needed healed the most was still tender and would remain so until she could be in Haldir’s arms again. Her heart ached to be with him. She needed to feel his warm body and brave heart next to hers.

She had never quite felt this emptiness before. Even after Darion’s death there was a part of her left, a part of her willing and needing to go on. It had been the same when Legolas had left her in Rivendell and again at Helm’s Deep.

It just did not feel so final like it did without Haldir. Yes, she had been devastated and wounded before but there was always hope.

Being separated from Haldir was much worse. It felt like a living part of her was missing leaving only a hollow empty chamber. No other creature understood her so completely. Others had tried for certain, but they never understood. Haldir had known her without even trying. It was like he had always been a part of her and she had only recently realized it.

“Annowe,” she heard a faint voice call interrupting her thoughts.

“Yes!” She answered excitedly, thinking perhaps he had heard her thoughts and was calling to her.

“Hurry!”

The naiad obeyed, increasing her pace. She felt her sister before she saw her. Why would Armea be searching for her? Oh, this could not be good news! She felt her stomach topple to her feet. If anything happened to him she would never forgive herself! Never! It would be her fault if he were hurt or worse!

Valiantly she tried to fight the tears that welled up in her eyes at her hysterical thoughts. She should have never left him! She should have let him come! If he had gone mad at least she would have been with him to protect him but now . . . who would watch after him? Who would protect him?

Fortunately Armea quickly appeared, cutting her spiraling thoughts mercifully short.

“Annowe!” Her sister called. “You must come quickly! Haldir is growing quite agitated and Vadra fears for him!”

It was as if her worst fears had been realized and she shivered.

“What is wrong with him? Is the madness setting in?” Annowe asked anxiously grabbing her sister’s arm.

Armea drew in a deep breath of water. “I am not certain but he grows fretful and demands to see you immediately!” She replied.

“What do you mean, ‘fretful’?” Her sister demanded, feeling her anxiety rising as she fought desperately to control it.

“He is demanding to see you. He is scowling and murmuring to himself about you and Legolas. He is quite sullen and withdrawn despite our efforts,” Armea informed her.

Annowe closed her eyes and bit her trembling lip, willing the tears to abate. There was no time to waste! She must go to him as quickly as possible!

“Come,” Annowe said tightly. “We must return to him immediately. Tell me how he is. Tell me everything.” She needed to hear of him – any word. How his beautiful skin glowed in the water, the curve of his sensuous lips when he smiled – she needed to know it all.

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