A Place For Us by Nepthys5
Summary: After finally admitting her feelings for him, Legolas and Annowe part at Rivendell as he sets out with the Fellowship and she endeavors to draw Sauron's attention elsewhere. Will the two of them ever have a chance to fulfill the potential of their relationship or will the war of the ring keep them apart?
L/OC Romance and a bit of adventure, some drama and even some angst and humor with both the book and movie included. No slash. Rated for some swearing, battle scenes and intimacy later on. This is a follow up to "The Scouting Mission".
She had promised him that she would not cry when he left. It would pain him too much to see her weep and he wanted to remember her smile and not her tears. For him she kept her chin up and tried to smile and keep her mood lighthearted. It was so difficult for her knowing that they may not see each other again but it was his request and she would do her best to honor it. She felt it was the least she could do for him.
As for his safety, well, he was old enough to take care of himself but she was still heartened to know that the Ranger had his back and the dwarf was trustworthy. Yes, he should be relatively safe as long as he didn't foolishly throw himself into harm's way like he had in the past. The crazy elf seemed to think that because he was immortal he couldn't be killed!
Pushing that thought out of her mind, she finished dressing and began to pack some of her things. She would leave Rivendell for Mirkwood as soon as possible to begin her own mission against Sauron. This she had kept from him as he had more than enough on his mind already. He didn't need to know that she would wage her own war to help him.
After Legolas had washed and dressed, he returned to her room to say his goodbyes before meeting the rest of the Fellowship at the gates of Rivendell.
With a small grin, he handed her a silver comb and sat down on the bed so she could comb his hair for him one last time before he left. She smiled weakly and ran the comb through his damp silken hair.
This had become somewhat of a ritual for them during their scouting mission and it soothed them both. Legolas closed his eyes and enjoyed the rhythmic sensation of comb and then her hand smoothing his hair.
She braided his hair and handed the comb back to him. He laid the comb aside on the bed, intending to "accidentally on purpose" leave it behind as a token of his affection for her and their shared experiences.
Annowe did not notice but went to her dresser and rummaged around in it for several minutes before she located what she was looking for and returned to him.
"Hold out your hand," she asked, showing him palm up.
He raised his eyebrows inquisitively and extended his palm to her. She slipped her right hand under his while she placed her left fist in his palm. Slowly, she uncurled her fingers and he felt something solid land in his hand. When she withdrew her hands from his, he saw she had given him a small mithril frog with tiny emerald eyes.
He plucked the delicate charm from his palm and examined it closely, smiling at her characteristic whimsy. It was not much larger than the nail of his small finger but it was exquisite in detail, right down to its tiny webbed feet.
"I wanted to give you something that would remind you of me when you start to get into one of your moods," she said with a smile as sat down next to him on the bed, tenderly smoothing his hair from his cheek.
He laughed with delight. "A frog. Yes, I think that is appropriate," he gave her a playful nudge with his elbow. "From the first time we met. Or, rather, the first time you attacked me."
She held up her hand to stop his line of thought. "I don't want to hear it," she insisted with mock severity. "Your own father had warned you that sleeping by the river was an invitation for me to cause mischief. But you had to find out on your own, didn't you?"
They both laughed at the memory of that long ago encounter. A soft knock on the door interrupted their reminiscence.
"Legolas, it is time," Elrond's voice said softly.
"Yes," Legolas answered soberly and stood up to leave, slipping the frog into his pouch.
"Legs," she whispered tightly as she stood up next to him. Her eyes were wide in apprehension now that the time had come for him to actually leave her.
"Shhh," he soothed, stroking her hair. "No more words. I want to remember the sound of your laugh."
Desperately, she wrapped her arms around him and held him close burying her face in his broad chest and smelling his wonderful smell. He would go south – he would walk to Mount Doom with The Ring and she would not stop him. She must be mad to let him walk into such peril!
He squeezed her tightly and kissed her tenderly on the top of the head then tugged affectionately on her braid. Neither of them spoke.
He caressed her cheek then tilted her chin up to him with his forefinger so he could look into her eyes. She quivered with apprehension and determined that she would not cry but her knees were growing weak with the effort.
Slowly, he bent down to her and his delicious kiss enveloped her senses as she clung to him fiercely for one last time.
And then he was gone.
In a fit of agony and despair, she threw herself down on her bed and wept like a lost child until she fell into a fitful sleep from sheer exhaustion.