A/N: Thank you to Sarah, Jebb, Shadowfax and Lady Fae who reviewed over the summer! And here we go!

Legolas had never felt such a blissful satisfaction. He did not think such physical pleasure was possible. The joy and delight she had given him so selflessly solidified his feelings for her in a way he had not even dreamed of and it made him desire her more deeply. He never wanted to be without her and now he never would.

Annowe smiled languidly over at him, the color still high on her cheeks. He placed his head on her chest and held her tightly as she stroked his hair and murmured soft endearments to him. Her heart felt as if it would burst from happiness. They had sealed their relationship. They were forever.

Slowly, she began to drift off into the deep sleep of one who is well contented and happy as she lay in his strong protective embrace. Thoughts of her life past began to lazily drift through her mind.

She saw the sapphire blue sea in the south where she had spent many winters hiding from the cold of the north. Memories of Holly chasing her through the waves when she was quite a bit younger drifted through her mind and were replaced by memories of the corsairs and their mighty ships attacking Pelargir as she and her comrades fought to defend the city.

With a gasp she bolted upright, startling Legolas who instinctively reached for his knife.

"What . . ?" He began, eyes wide with concern, knife poised to strike the unseen enemy.

"Corsairs!" She breathed. "Of course! How could I have been so stupid?" She cursed herself and squirmed from his protective grasp.

"What are you talking about?" Legolas relaxed only slightly when he realized they were not under attack.

Annowe jumped off the bed and grabbed a tunic from the floor, pulling it over her head as she made for the exit. There was no time to waste! She had been so distracted by so many things hopefully it wasn't too late. She looked at Legolas who was still sitting up anxiously, his smooth muscular chest exposed with the blanket barely covering him to the waist and she grinned shamelessly at the sight. He was the main cause of her distraction but she could not hold that against him. Can he help it if I am hopelessly captivated by him? She smiled.

"I will return momentarily," she assured him as she slipped out of the tent and headed toward Theoden's quarters.

"Where are you going?" His voice called softly after her but she did not reply.

As she made her way toward Theoden's tent, she saw Aragorn's dim outline approaching from another direction and ran to meet him.

"Aragorn!" She said urgently, catching up with him. "The corsairs! Sauron is recruiting the corsairs! I should have realized it sooner but," she paused and bit her lip.

The ranger looked at her intently.

"I was distracted," she finished lamely, lowering her head so he could not see the blush creeping into her cheeks and the large smile on her face.

"I can see that," Aragorn answered smoothly as he took her by the arm leading her toward Theoden's tent. "You are wearing Legolas' tunic."

Mortified, Annowe looked down to see that she was, indeed, wearing the elf's tunic. She groaned inwardly at her haste. Well, it's too late now to do anything about that, she told herself.

"Ah, yes, but about the corsairs," she tried to return to the original subject and the real reason she had left her tent so quickly.

"Yes, the corsairs," Aragorn couldn't help but grin at her. He had wondered when the two of them would stop skulking around like a couple of love-struck teenagers. Were he and Arwen that bad? He wondered. Yes, they probably were, he realized with a smile.

"What are you grinning about?" She demanded suspiciously, fearing that he would tease Legolas and rising to the elf's defense.

"Nothing," Aragorn answered truthfully. "You were saying about the corsairs?"

They had reached Theoden's tent and the King was waiting for them. Rather, he had been waiting for Aragorn, seeing the nymph next to him was a surprise.

Annowe bowed slightly to Theoden and continued. "The corsairs are coming up from the south to attack Minas Tirith. I'm almost certain of it!"

Theoden and Aragorn looked at her and looked at each other before Theoden's guest interrupted them.

"She is correct," came a familiar voice from under a dark cloak.

"Please," Theoden motioned the two to enter his tent as he stepped out.

As the flap shut, the visitor drew back his hood and Annowe gasped at Elrond.

"The corsairs are moving up from the south," he confirmed. "They will be at Minas Tirith in three days. You do not have much time."

Annowe looked at Elrond who was staring intently at Aragorn. She had the distinct feeling that they were speaking to each other without saying a word and she shifted uncomfortably in the silence. Presently, Elrond turned his eyes to her.

"Annowe," he said quietly. "Would you please excuse us? I have some urgent business with Aragorn."

She looked from the elf to Aragorn as if to confirm his request. The air around them had become tense and heavy with words unspoken, making her uneasy. She had a very bad feeling that the news that Elrond brought would cause Legolas to leave her again. With a slight bow, she left their company and ran back to her tent to spend as much time with him as possible.

He was still sitting up in the bed with the blanket in his lap waiting for her when she breathlessly ducked back inside the tent.

"Where did you go?" He asked curiously, tilting his head to one side causing his silken hair to fall over his shoulder. There was a slight blush on his cheeks and his dark eyes shone in the night.

She looked at him and her heart swelled with affection and desire. She could hardly believe that he had wanted her. Of all the beautiful elven maidens in the world, he had chosen her, a simple naiad, to be his mate. Her eyes misted over with emotion as she slowly walked toward him, her eyes never leaving his luminous form.

It was easy to be blinded by his physical beauty, Eru knew many others had, but she had remembered when he was not quite so beautiful nor graceful and had loved him even then for his heart was noble and strong.

Tenderly, she reached out her hand and stroked his pale cheek then lovingly smoothed the hair back over his shoulder. He was watching her curiously for she had not uttered a word since she re-entered the tent and she looked as if she might cry. He wondered what had happened but held his tongue as she continued to caress his skin and watch him with her dark eyes.

Why? She wondered. Why had he chosen me? I am not beautiful, graceful and I'm more of a warrior than a lady. But she did not voice her thoughts to him for fear that he would regret his choice.

He gently slid his arm around her waist and pulled her forward onto the bed with him. When he realized she was wearing his tunic, he chuckled at her impulsiveness. She had run off so quickly that he did not notice.

"What is it?" He asked gently, pulling her close to him. She did not answer but continued to run her hands over his shoulders and chest, needing to feel his skin to know that he was real. His skin quivered hungrily at her touch.

It was so unlike her to be this quiet and distant, he wondered if she was disappointed in him and sorry that they had joined. He had wanted so terribly to make her happy – as happy as she had made him over the years.

"Do you regret our union?" He asked anxiously.

She looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and surprise. "No! I was wondering the same about you!" She answered.

They stared at each other for a few moments before Annowe started to giggle. Legolas' expression softened and he grinned back at her then kissed her neck - immediately turning her giggle into a soft moan of pleasure. She grabbed a handful of his silken hair and gently tugged on it as she slid her other hand over his toned back.

"Again," he whispered softly into her throat as his hand slid up her thigh.