A/N: I wanted to make this story easy to follow. I hate it when authors introduce a bunch of new characters all at once – it confuses me and I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing it to you! Please let me know if I do. A bit of the book and movie again.

Aenil – Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Jebb – Yeah, Deka doesn't know Legolas as well as she THINKS she does! And everybody needs a Holly.

Steff7 - They cleared up for Annowe, too.

Deka did indeed come to her senses just as Holly predicted. The next evening, she and Annowe were sitting by the fire – Holly was reading a book and Annowe was sharpening her scimitar when there was a knock on the door.

Holly answered the door and led Deka inside.

Annowe stopped sharpening her blade and warily watched her cousin walk over to the fireplace and lean over to warm her hands.

After a few tense silent moments, Deka sighed. "Curunir has thrown in his lot with Sauron, did you say?" She stood up and turned to Annowe.

Annowe glanced at Holly who nodded encouragement and sat back down to read. She sat the scimitar and sharpening stone aside.

"Yes. According to Mithrandir he is going to unite with Sauron until the time is right and then try to usurp the Dark Lord," Annowe said, glad to be on a relatively safe subject.

"This must not be allowed to happen," Deka declared.

"Agreed," answered Annowe.

"What do you propose?" Deka asked.

"I – uhm, I don't exactly know," she admitted sheepishly. She really hadn't had time to come up with a solid plan of action. "I thought we could disrupt their messages to each other or just generally harass them."

Deka frowned and thought for a few moments. "Yes, I guess we could just covertly make life miserable for Curunir. Intercept his messages, disrupt his supplies and the like," she shrugged. "For what good it would do."

Annowe grimaced. "We have to do something! I feel so useless sitting here when Leg – when so many lives are at stake," she quickly recovered.

Deka sighed and sat down next to Annowe on the bench. The three of them sat in silence for several minutes then Holly arose and put a kettle on the fire and sat out three cups for tea.

The hot tea seemed to loosen their thoughts and the three of them began to discuss their options. Simply harassing Curunir's forces did not seem to offer much resistance but they had not the strength of numbers to launch an all-out attack against him.

"If only we could gather some other forces," Annowe muttered into her teacup. Elves were scarce and men would be busy fortifying against Sauron themselves. No one seemed to know where the dwarves had gotten to, either.

"What about Bombadil?" Deka asked. "Wouldn't he help us?"

Annowe and Holly exchanged doubtful glances.

"No," Holly said slowly. "Tom does not fear Sauron but neither will he rise against him." She looked to Annowe for confirmation.

Annowe nodded. "During the last War of The Ring, he kept to his forest. He would not get involved this time, either. He has his own territory to protect."

"So it is just us," Deka agreed thoughtfully turning her teacup in its saucer.

The three of them fell silent and quietly sipped their tea until Deka spoke again.

"The Ents!" She exclaimed. "The Ents or the Huorns might help us."

"Ents? Huorns?" Annowe asked skeptically. "Are there any of those still living? I have not seen one in hundreds of years!"

Deka smiled. "That is because you have spent most of your time near the water and not in the forest."

"I don't know," Annowe hedged uncertainly. "It seems like a remote possibility that they would help."

Deka sighed. "Yes, but we don't have much of a choice. The Ents with or without the Huorns would be the only way we could even hope to win an all- out battle with Curunir."

Holly nodded. "She is right. The odds would be even."

Annowe groaned. She did not want an all-out battle with the wizard. She just wanted to keep him from uniting with Sauron.

"I don't want to risk an all-out assault. It's too dangerous," she said.

Deka opened her mouth to protest but then closed it with a heavy sigh. She realized that Annowe was correct. There was no point in them foolishly risking their lives when they could do just as much covertly and remain fairly safe.

Holly frowned. "Whatever you are planning on doing, you should make the Ents aware of your plans. They may not help directly but it wouldn't hurt to have their goodwill," she pointed out.

Deka nodded her agreement and Annowe had to admit the logic of the argument. Maybe, just maybe, if luck smiled on them the Ents and the Huorns would agree to join them against Curunir.

"They cannot do anything but refuse and then we will be back to our original plan of causing disruption," Annowe mused.

"Yes, the Ents will know of Curunir's treachery and they will inform the Huorns," Deka said. "At the very least, the other dryads will be awake and will be able to seek shelter if the worst comes to pass."

She stood up to leave and looked at them both, placing her teacup on the table. "We don't have many options, do we?"

Annowe shook her head and frowned. "No, we don't. But we have to do what we can. Every little bit will help and we may have a bit of luck left."