A/N: In "The Hobbit" the spiders are about in the daytime as well.
However, I am going to overlook that detail for the sake of this story.
******
She did not stop to rest or to eat but kept pushing forward along the Elf Path hoping to make it to the Enchanted River before nightfall. If she was in luck, the boat the elves used to cross the river would be on the west side and she could use it to float right up to Thranduil's Halls. If the boat were not there she would have a very difficult time crossing the river.
"I can't think about that right now. I just need to get to the river," she told herself as she hurried along, leaves swirling in her wake. Unbeknownst to her, red eyes began to appear in the treetops overhead, watching her move deeper into the forest and waiting for darkness to fall.
She heard the gentle lapping of the water before she saw the Enchanted River.
"Thank you, Father!" She exclaimed gratefully, spotting the small boat tied to the western side of the river. He had heard her pleas and answered her request.
As she drew near, she realized that there were no oars or any other means to propel the boat through the water. For several precious minutes of daylight, Annowe searched near the path for a stout stick or branch to push the boat along and found a small limb that she thought would work.
Quickly, so she could be well afloat before the sun set completely and left the forest black as pitch, she tossed her pack and cloak into the small boat then climbed aboard her self, careful not to touch the waters. Using the branch as a staff, she pushed off from the bank and began to slowly drift down the river and toward Thranduil's Halls.
Steadying herself in the boat and placing her pack so that the weight of it was evenly distributed, she sat down and laid the makeshift staff across her lap. She watched as the forest grew increasingly dark and red eyes peered menacingly at her from both sides of the river. With a shiver, she knew that those eyes had been watching her the previous evening and wondered again if she would be able to fend off an attack by the frightening monsters.
A strange grunting and scuffling noise came from the east bank of the river and moved along at the same speed as the boat. She gripped the staff tightly with quaking hands, straining her eyes against the encroaching darkness but all she could discern were the darker forms of moths and bats swirling about. Whatever was following her along the riverbank was well out of sight.
More red eyes appeared alongside the river and in the trees as she drifted by. Her only consolation was that the fiends would not brave the charmed waters of the river, so she was relatively safe for the time being.
As the boat slid downstream, the thought occurred to her that no one else would be able to make the perilous crossing after her but she refused to feel any guilt for her decision to take the boat.
"This is war, not a social call," she rationalized. Hopefully, she would be returning by this same route rather quickly, leaving the boat at its usual moorings before the next moon cycle.
As the night wore on, she became drowsy but was too frightened to allow herself to sleep. Several times, she caught herself nodding off and jerked awake. If she drifted too near the bank, one of the things tracking her might risk trying to jump into the boat and she must remain vigilant against them. But the soothing sound of the water lapping against the hull lulled her tired mind and body into a sense of security and she slid quietly into unconsciousness, the staff slipping from her hands and into the dark water.
*****
Soft lips touched hers and she gasped as she opened her eyes.
Legs! A warm smile lit his face and he bent down to kiss her again but did not quite get the opportunity as Annowe's arms encircled him and she pulled him down on her with a shout of joy.
He laughed in to her neck and wrapped his arms around her tightly, enjoying the sensation of her body beneath his and her enthusiasm at seeing him.
They held each other for a few moments until Legolas reluctantly pulled away, saying, "we do not have much time."
Annowe unwillingly loosened her grasp on him but did not allow him to fully extricate himself from her.
"No, I need you here close to me like this. Whatever it is you must say, do it like this," she begged and squeezed his shoulders so glad to see his beautiful smile again and feel him against her. "I miss you," she whispered to him in a strained voice.
He chuckled and nuzzled her neck. "Why do you tempt me so?" he murmured as he relaxed against her. She quivered at the feel of his breath on her skin.
"It is you who temps me," she scolded mildly, placing her hands on either side of his face and gazing into his dark eyes. His hair fell like a curtain over the two of them, filtering the light into a golden glow.
"Ah, this is the most wonderful dream," she sighed as she took in his elegant features.
He smiled. "Yes. It is a good dream." Slightly closing his eyes, he leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers then whispered, "Be careful. Much danger still lies ahead for you."
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him fiercely, determined to have his sweet kiss to remember during the rest of her long journey ahead. Legolas ran one hand slowly down her side and mentally cursed her passion. Now the promise of future encounters like this one would distract his thoughts. But he would hold tight to the memory of her urgent kiss until they met again.
Then suddenly, without warning, he pulled away from her.
"You must awaken. Quickly!" He said urgently, removing her arms from around him.
"No! Don't leave me!" She cried, trying to wrap her arms around him again.
"Listen to me!" Legolas grabbed her wrists and held them fast. "You must wake up! Now! Please, Annowe, wake up!" He shouted anxiously and gave her a good shake.
Her body rocked from his rough treatment and she felt very afraid. He wouldn't do this! What was he doing? Why was he shaking her? She struggled to pull away from him and suddenly he faded, a dark and foreboding figure taking his place.
******
******
She did not stop to rest or to eat but kept pushing forward along the Elf Path hoping to make it to the Enchanted River before nightfall. If she was in luck, the boat the elves used to cross the river would be on the west side and she could use it to float right up to Thranduil's Halls. If the boat were not there she would have a very difficult time crossing the river.
"I can't think about that right now. I just need to get to the river," she told herself as she hurried along, leaves swirling in her wake. Unbeknownst to her, red eyes began to appear in the treetops overhead, watching her move deeper into the forest and waiting for darkness to fall.
She heard the gentle lapping of the water before she saw the Enchanted River.
"Thank you, Father!" She exclaimed gratefully, spotting the small boat tied to the western side of the river. He had heard her pleas and answered her request.
As she drew near, she realized that there were no oars or any other means to propel the boat through the water. For several precious minutes of daylight, Annowe searched near the path for a stout stick or branch to push the boat along and found a small limb that she thought would work.
Quickly, so she could be well afloat before the sun set completely and left the forest black as pitch, she tossed her pack and cloak into the small boat then climbed aboard her self, careful not to touch the waters. Using the branch as a staff, she pushed off from the bank and began to slowly drift down the river and toward Thranduil's Halls.
Steadying herself in the boat and placing her pack so that the weight of it was evenly distributed, she sat down and laid the makeshift staff across her lap. She watched as the forest grew increasingly dark and red eyes peered menacingly at her from both sides of the river. With a shiver, she knew that those eyes had been watching her the previous evening and wondered again if she would be able to fend off an attack by the frightening monsters.
A strange grunting and scuffling noise came from the east bank of the river and moved along at the same speed as the boat. She gripped the staff tightly with quaking hands, straining her eyes against the encroaching darkness but all she could discern were the darker forms of moths and bats swirling about. Whatever was following her along the riverbank was well out of sight.
More red eyes appeared alongside the river and in the trees as she drifted by. Her only consolation was that the fiends would not brave the charmed waters of the river, so she was relatively safe for the time being.
As the boat slid downstream, the thought occurred to her that no one else would be able to make the perilous crossing after her but she refused to feel any guilt for her decision to take the boat.
"This is war, not a social call," she rationalized. Hopefully, she would be returning by this same route rather quickly, leaving the boat at its usual moorings before the next moon cycle.
As the night wore on, she became drowsy but was too frightened to allow herself to sleep. Several times, she caught herself nodding off and jerked awake. If she drifted too near the bank, one of the things tracking her might risk trying to jump into the boat and she must remain vigilant against them. But the soothing sound of the water lapping against the hull lulled her tired mind and body into a sense of security and she slid quietly into unconsciousness, the staff slipping from her hands and into the dark water.
*****
Soft lips touched hers and she gasped as she opened her eyes.
Legs! A warm smile lit his face and he bent down to kiss her again but did not quite get the opportunity as Annowe's arms encircled him and she pulled him down on her with a shout of joy.
He laughed in to her neck and wrapped his arms around her tightly, enjoying the sensation of her body beneath his and her enthusiasm at seeing him.
They held each other for a few moments until Legolas reluctantly pulled away, saying, "we do not have much time."
Annowe unwillingly loosened her grasp on him but did not allow him to fully extricate himself from her.
"No, I need you here close to me like this. Whatever it is you must say, do it like this," she begged and squeezed his shoulders so glad to see his beautiful smile again and feel him against her. "I miss you," she whispered to him in a strained voice.
He chuckled and nuzzled her neck. "Why do you tempt me so?" he murmured as he relaxed against her. She quivered at the feel of his breath on her skin.
"It is you who temps me," she scolded mildly, placing her hands on either side of his face and gazing into his dark eyes. His hair fell like a curtain over the two of them, filtering the light into a golden glow.
"Ah, this is the most wonderful dream," she sighed as she took in his elegant features.
He smiled. "Yes. It is a good dream." Slightly closing his eyes, he leaned forward and gently touched his lips to hers then whispered, "Be careful. Much danger still lies ahead for you."
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him fiercely, determined to have his sweet kiss to remember during the rest of her long journey ahead. Legolas ran one hand slowly down her side and mentally cursed her passion. Now the promise of future encounters like this one would distract his thoughts. But he would hold tight to the memory of her urgent kiss until they met again.
Then suddenly, without warning, he pulled away from her.
"You must awaken. Quickly!" He said urgently, removing her arms from around him.
"No! Don't leave me!" She cried, trying to wrap her arms around him again.
"Listen to me!" Legolas grabbed her wrists and held them fast. "You must wake up! Now! Please, Annowe, wake up!" He shouted anxiously and gave her a good shake.
Her body rocked from his rough treatment and she felt very afraid. He wouldn't do this! What was he doing? Why was he shaking her? She struggled to pull away from him and suddenly he faded, a dark and foreboding figure taking his place.
******