A/N:

Dazzler420 – YES!!!

Jebb – I think that's why the two of them became friends. They compliment each other. Annowe and Legolas had to learn some things before they could get together.

Drummerchick1988 – Welcome! I'm glad you like the story. No, I haven't said how tall she is (yet). The top of her head would come about to Legolas' chest.

After the great battle of Isengard, Annowe and Deka tried to get to Saurman but Orthanc proved impenetrable to their efforts. Annowe cursed in frustration and Deka spat on the door as one last defiant gesture before turning to more important matters at hand.

Saruman and his henchman, Wormtongue, would not dare try and escape while the dryads and Ents were guarding the tower. His fortress had now become his prison.

Merry and Pippin had run off in search of food and other spoils while the remaining dryads tended to each other and the wounded Ents. They had managed to abscond with several bottles of wine and passed one of them to Annowe who took it gratefully.

She had not had wine in so long that she had almost forgotten how good it was. She took several long draughts of the cool liquid and then handed the bottle to Deka. The wine warmed her belly and relaxed her muscles.

She could feel the tension easing out of her and held out her hand to Deka in a silent request for the wine again. Deka obliged and the two of them shared the bottle as they walked the area, surveying the damage and discussing the future of Orthanc. They traded conspiring grins and Deka stealthily absconded with another bottle of the wine from the Hobbits' secret cache and headed off toward her sisters to give them a share of the booty.

Exhausted and yet fortified by the wine, Annowe laid her scimitar aside and stripped off her armor on an exposed hill. She wanted to get into the water. She needed to get into the water, just for a moment. Wearing only her undergarments (mainly not to embarrass the Hobbits), she slipped under the dark water. The cool weightlessness of the Isen washed away the rest of her tension. The water was foul and polluted but she did not mind. It was water and it healed her.

She sank into the depths and rested. Between the water and the wine she felt almost completely renewed. The only thing missing was Legs. At the thought of him an ache of desire ran through her. When would she see him again? She wondered fretfully. It was hard to believe that she had actually called to him and he had answered. He knew where she was and she had to believe that he would find her.

A sound like a small army marching came through the water and she cocked her head to listen intently. Yes, that's what it was - footsteps coming closer to her and then stopping. She moved slowly through the water toward the sound and carefully raised her eyes above the waterline.

A group of horsemen were at the ruined gate of the citadel near the Hobbits. Concerned for them and now completely unarmed, she stealthily made her way under the water and toward the intruders, preparing to defend them if necessary.

Quietly, she rose out of the water behind the gate and heard Merry introducing himself and welcoming the visitors to Isengard. She relaxed. Obviously, he must know them if he were greeting them so heartily.

Cautiously, she peered from behind the ruins and saw Mithrandir upon a gorgeous white horse. She gasped and involuntarily moved toward the animal.

The others, startled at her sudden and bedraggled appearance, drew back from her. All save one of the riders who caught a glimpse of her wet hair glinting bronze in the sunlight.

Without a word, Legolas slipped from his horse into the ankle-deep water and stepped to the side of the party so Annowe could clearly see him.

Her hand flew to her heart and all the color drained from her face. For a moment, he thought she would collapse and took a quick step toward her to catch her if she fainted. With a strangled cry, she threw herself at him, knocking him backwards and nearly winding him. Her arms squeezed him tightly and she just kept saying his name over and over again, her voice a mixture of laughter and tears in his chest.

Legolas laughed with delight and relief as his arms encircled the wet nymph and he rested his cheek on her head. He held her closely and slowly rocked her in his arms while he murmured soothing words to her. She was soaking wet and half clothed but she was alive and they were finally together.

The men looked to each other for an explanation while the Hobbits shouted encouragement at the two of them.

"They are very close friends from childhood," Gimli supplied, raising his eyebrows to convey the double meaning.

His explanation was greeted with a mixture of "ohs", "ahs" and smiles from the others.

Annowe pulled back from Legolas and stood on her toes to put either hand on his cheeks. She was laughing through her tears of joy and pulled him down to her to smother his face with kisses. This thoroughly embarrassed him in front of his fellows but he did not really care. He was so happy to see her again and he could only laugh as she continued to pepper him with kisses.

Gently, he removed her hands from his face and placed them on his shoulders, then put his own hands on her cheeks to gaze at her upturned tear-stained face. How he had missed her crooked smile, freckled nose, dark eyes and round dimpled cheeks. Tenderly, he placed his lips on hers. His hair fell forward, shielding them from the smiling eyes of their cohorts.

Annowe slipped her hands around his neck and gradually pulled him closer. He slid his hands over her shoulders and down her sides, slipping his arms around her waist and holding her tightly to him. He kissed her deeply, tasting the wine on her lips and on her tongue.

He had missed her terribly and needed to be close to her, to feel her near him. Her small hands clung to his shoulders and she leaned against him, pressing her body to his. She could have stayed in his embrace like that forever but a delicate cough brought the two of them back to reality.

Slightly red in the face, Annowe stepped back from the elf but slid her hand down his arm to hold his hand protectively. She noted with satisfaction that the tips of his ears and his cheeks had turned pink. They both grinned shamelessly.

"Well, now, what have we here?" Deka's cold voice came from behind her.

Annowe bit her lip. Here it comes now, she thought.

"Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, it is a pleasure to see you again. I trust that you are well," Deka smoothly greeted him as she moved toward the assembly.

Annowe did not like the deadly calmness of her cousin's voice and turned to face her, keeping herself between Legolas and Deka.

"Yes, I am quite well, thank you for inquiring," Legolas answered her calmly with a slight bow.

"That is good. I was concerned for your safety," Deka replied.

"Most kind of you, m'lady," Legolas answered coolly.

"Yes, my sisters and I, as well as your family, were quite concerned when we heard of your, ah," here she hesitated, searching for the correct phrase. "Quest."

Eru! Annowe thought. They are trying to kill each other with niceties! She didn't know what was worse, a shouting match or this polite bloodletting.

Legolas smiled. "I can assure you, Deka, that I can take care of myself but thank you for your concern."

That did it.

Deka's brown eyes blazed and she drew a deep shaking breath. "What in Mordor do you think you're doing running off like that? We were worried sick about you! Did you not even stop to consider what would happen to US if anything happened to YOU? How dare you be so selfish and inconsiderate?" Deka shouted accusingly and drew herself up menacingly.

Annowe protectively moved in front of Legolas to shield him from Deka's anger as she felt her own temper rise. The others watched the reunion- turned-shouting-match with a mixture of embarrassment and curiosity.

"Deka, NO!" She growled. "This is neither the time nor the place for that discussion."

Deka glared at Annowe. "This is between me and him. You stay out of this."

Annowe snarled at her and took a threatening step toward her cousin. "Who do you think you are to order me about?" She demanded.

Gimli shifted uneasily on the horse, unsure if he should throw himself into the fray. His instinct about coming between two fighting females warned him off such a dangerous action and he wisely remained on the horse. The elf would have to fend for him self in this battle. Only a fool would stand between two angry females and Gimli was no fool.

Legolas laid a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Annowe, I can take care of myself," he said softly, causing her to bristle. "However, Deka does have a point and I'm willing to concede that I should have considered all of the consequences to my actions before I left."

Annowe turned to look at him thinking that he must be deliberately tormenting Deka or her. He raised his eyebrows to her innocently. No, he was completely sincere. What in the world? She wondered.

Deka, too, was confused by his sudden admission and she studied him warily, not sure if she could believe him or not. She quickly decided it would be in her best interest to accept his accession.

"Well, then," Deka began, unsure quite how to address this odd turn of events. "I'm glad you've realized your oversight. Pray do not let it happen again. It caused us all much distress." She drew herself up and grunted in confusion, seeing that this victory was too easy.

Legolas flashed the bewildered dryad a dazzling smile and the last of Deka's resolve melted. Annowe grinned and shook her head. She couldn't resist that smile of his, either, curse him!