A/N:
"Sad thing is, you can still love someone and be wrong for them" is a quote from Elvis Presley.
"Forever . . . that's a mighty long time" is a quote from Prince which I have paraphrased.
Everleaf was a fairly young oak tree and Annowe was at once awestruck and fascinated by the creature. His liquid green eyes were clear and sharp yet very wise. She looked at Deka for explanation.
"What language does he speak?" She asked in a hushed voice, afraid to offend him.
"Hrooom! Entish," came his vibrant voice. "And also, hm, Westron."
Deka laughed. "I can assure you that I speak only a word or two of Entish." She held out her arms to the oak and he gently scooped her up in his giant tree-like hand. "If he did not know Westron, I would never be able to speak to him."
Annowe continued to stare at Everleaf in awe. Ents were usually extremely shy and she had only seen one other in her life and had never spoken to one. Patiently, Everleaf watched her as she examined him.
She held out a tentative hand to touch him. "May I?" She asked.
For an answer, he gathered her up and placed her next to Deka on one of his branches and started off toward the Elf Path. Annowe let out a startled cry and clutched at a branch in terror. It was a bit strange riding on a walking tree and the other nymphs giggled at her.
"Huhmmm, yes, hate to be hasty, little one. Hoom, hasty! Yes. But we should be going. Hroom, yes, to Isengard," Everleaf said as he strode off to the west.
Once she became used to his smooth gait, she found she rather liked riding in the tree. His gentle swaying felt like the rocking of the ocean and it calmed her greatly. Quietly, she examined his bark and leaves. Aside from being slightly warmer to the touch than other trees of the forest, he was exactly the same. She had probably walked by an Ent before and never even noticed.
Everleaf was making good time with his giant strides and the Enchanted River did not seem to affect him at all. He strode through the waters taking care not to splash too much as the nymphs were not immune to the water's effects.
As they approached the rapids, she looked for any sign of the spider she had battled earlier and found none. Apparently the horrible thing had either swept down the river and sank or had been carried off by its own kind and devoured. She shivered at the thought.
The day wore on and Everleaf trod determinedly down the Elf Path, the nymphs quietly talking amongst themselves or napping in his great branches. Annowe was lost in thought, wondering how, exactly, they would be able to cause as much disruption as possible to Curunir. It had been a long time since she had actually planned any subversive activities - usually they just happened.
She wondered if she should try to contact the twins and get them involved. Elladan had offered to help. No, she thought. They would get involved in this soon enough if they wanted and for all I know they are already involved. Besides, Elrond might need them to keep an eye on the situation and keep him informed. She sighed and hoped that the twins would remain safe. There were just too many people that she cared for being swept up in the storm of war.
Later that night, they came to the Forest Gate that led out of Mirkwood. Annowe was quite happy to be leaving the dreary spider-infested place and looked forward to seeing the Anduin again. Soon spring would come to the land and she would be able to take to the waters again - If everything went well for them and the Fellowship.
"Can we talk for a moment?" Her cousin asked in a hushed voice, interrupting her thoughts.
Annowe turned her head slightly to read Deka's expression. She didn't seem angry or challenging so Annowe agreed. She would much rather get this out into the open now rather than let it build again.
"Have you spoken to Legolas about your feelings for him?" Deka murmured so that the others could not overhear.
"Yes," Annowe sighed. "Although now I rather wish I had not been so hasty."
"Hasty! Hrooom!" Boomed Everleaf, startling everyone and nearly causing Annowe to topple out of his branches. "Hasty is not good! Hoom, hoom! No good."
"Hush!" She scolded him mildly. "You nearly frightened me to death!"
Deka laughed. "Sorry, I should have warned you. They hear everything but reveal nothing."
"Hoom, hoom! Yes! Ents keep secrets!" Agreed Everleaf, moving his branches to re-seat Annowe.
"Why do you think you were hasty?" Deka questioned, once they had all recovered from Everleaf's outburst.
Annowe thought for a few moments. "Because you can love someone and still be totally wrong for them," she answered quietly, voicing her anxiety.
Deka looked at her cousin curiously. "Do you think you are wrong for him?"
"Don't you?" Annowe asked. She had always assumed that Deka did not want the two of them together since they were so different.
Deka considered this for a moment. "No, I don't think it's 'wrong' necessarily to love him. You can't help the way you feel. But if you are going to act on your feelings, then I think you need to consider the consequences."
"Believe me, I have considered them," she admitted guiltily. "But the more I'm around him the harder it is for me to hide how I feel about him. I just can't be as cool and detached as he can sometimes."
"So what are you afraid of?" Deka asked softly.
Annowe did not answer her immediately but gazed south for several quiet moments, mulling over the question.
"I'm afraid that we are completely wrong for each other and elves mate forever. Forever being a very long time," she finally admitted, turning her dark eyes to Deka.
Deka nodded sympathetically. "Yes, it is," she agreed.
They spoke no more of the matter but settled down to rest as Everleaf slowed his pace and finally stopped between the Forest Gate and the Anduin for the night.
Annowe looked to the sky. Legolas was out there, probably on his way to Mordor now. Was she wrong for him? How would they ever know? Her heart ached to see him again but did that mean they should be together forever? She sighed heavily and cursed her doubt. Telling him how she felt had only complicated matters instead of clearing them up.