A/N:

Jebb - Yes, the image of wearing Legolas' tunic conjures up some very nice thoughts, doesn't it?

Shadowfax - thank you for rejoining us! I'm glad you are enjoying it!

Morning came too quickly for Legolas and Annowe. He awoke slowly as the sunlight crept into the tent warming the air and the camp outside stirred with the first noises of day.

He looked at Annowe lying next to him in his arms, her tousled auburn hair streaming over the sheets and he smiled. She looked so innocent but he knew better, the memory of the previous evening burned into his heart forever. He would never be able to see her in the same light again.

Gently he extracted his arm from under her. He needed to find Aragorn and prepare to leave. He quietly dressed and slipped from her tent.

Gimli and Aragorn turned from their place at the campfire to see Legolas slip out of Annowe's tent. Gimli chuckled and Aragorn bit back a smile.

When Legolas saw his friends, he realized there was no concealing what had happened between him and Annowe. Not that he would want to anyway. But seeing him come out of her tent at such an early hour felt a bit awkward to him. It was a completely new experience and he was not sure how to proceed under these circumstances.

Without a word, he sat down next to a chuckling Gimli and snatched a chuck of bread from the chortling dwarf. He tried to look calm and aloof but it was no use. He could feel the tips of his ears turning pink and the blush slowly crept to his cheeks.

Aragorn grinned at his friend, glad that the elf had finally realized his feelings for the nymph and claimed her. He was very happy for Legolas and clapped the still blushing elf on the back heartily.

Legolas could no longer hide his feelings and giggled guiltily. He had nothing to be ashamed of - he loved Annowe and she loved him. They were two creatures expressing their mutual desire for each other and he felt no shame. Quite the opposite, he wanted to run through the camp and shout the news at everyone but he restrained himself.

The three sat in an amused silence for several minutes before Gimli finally voiced the overwhelming opinion. "It's about time," he grunted, glancing sideways at the pink-cheeked elf.

This caused Legolas and Aragorn to burst into laughter and Gimli soon joined in. The sound roused Annowe who sat up and looked around the tent. Legolas was no longer with her but she knew he was still near.

She slipped from the bed and pulled a long tunic on over her head. She would need to bathe in the Snowbourn before they broke camp today.

As she walked toward the tent flap, she heard Aragorn's low voice speaking of Elrond's visit. Anxiously, she leaned forward to hear what he was saying but kept the flap closed. She feared he would not continue if she emerged from the tent and she wanted to know what he was up to. Elrond had brought him some news last night and she had a feeling that it was not good news. She feared for Legolas and was determined to stay with him.

The ranger was speaking so quietly that she had to strain to hear him and then could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation.

". . . Elrond . . . the sword that was broken . . . Paths of the Dead." (She did not like the sound of that.)

Gimli grunted when Aragorn stopped speaking. Legolas remained silent. Annowe leaned closer to the tent flap, willing Aragorn to repeat himself so she could catch the entire conversation.

"You are going to take the Paths of the Dead,†Legolas spoke clearly. "To gather an army of the dead. Those who have broken their vows to the King of Gondor will be given the chance to redeem themselves," the elf finished.

Annowe gasped, her mind working furiously. So THAT is what Elrond was up to last night! Aragorn is the last King of Gondor. Only he can wield Narsil. Only he can command those who vows were broken! A chill crawled up her spine. Legolas was going with him and Gimli too!

Heedless of her disheveled appearance, she burst through the tent flap and ran to Legolas.

"Oh, no!" She growled. "No you don't! You are not going to escape me again so easily!" She determined.

Astonished at her sudden appearance, the three of them looked at her and then each other.

"Annowe," both Legolas and Aragorn began in an effort to calm her.

She shot Aragorn THE LOOK that strikes fear into the hearts of men everywhere and he grew silent. Better let Legolas handle this, he thought to himself. Eru knew he had seen enough of that look from Arwen to last him a lifetime.

Legolas stood up and placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Don't make this any more difficult for me than it is," he began gently. He did not want to leave her but his first obligation was to Aragorn now.

"Know this," she hissed. "I made a promise to your father and I intend to keep it. You are not going to do anything crazy while I am here to stop it. I let you run off into danger alone once but not this time. Oh, no! Not this time!" She shook her finger at him, scolding him like an errant elfling.

Gimli turned his head to hide his smile. She would probably give him an earful as well if she saw how amused he was by her fierce protectiveness of the elf. Perhaps we should send her and her cousin to gather the oath breakers, he thought to himself. Neither of them seemed to fear much of anything that he could see.

Legolas gently took her hand and pulled her aside.

"You cannot come with us," he told her as calmly as he could. "Aragorn is the only one who can command the oath breakers."

"Then why are you and Gimli going?" She demanded.

"Because we are his friends," Legolas answered.

She raised a sarcastic eyebrow to him. "And what am I?"

He could feel his temper rising. Why was she being so difficult and possessive? "You know what I mean," he snapped. "Don't start this with me. Not now. I need you to understand."

"And I need you to understand that I made a promise. I promised to look after you and keep you safe and I am not going to break that promise, despite your best efforts," she declared.

He sighed in exasperation. "I understand that you made a promise to my father and to Deka and you have fulfilled it. Now I must go with Aragorn. He needs me."

She thought in silence for several moments, her dark eyes narrowed at him as if trying to read his mind.

"What are your plans?" She demanded.

"To bring the oath breakers to Minas Tirith," he answered warily.

She pursed her lips in thought. That wasn't all. Not just to take them to Minas Tirith. There was something else. Think, woman! She cursed herself. What was it? Elrond! Yes, there had been no talk of the paths until Elrond had arrived last night. And Elrond had also known about the corsairs. Ah! She suddenly understood. He is going to use the oath breakers to stop the corsairs! Brilliant!

Like the sun breaking through the clouds after a sudden summer storm, she smiled at him. "Very well," she agreed. "You do what you must."

Stunned, Legolas blinked several times at her sudden change of mind, unsure if he had heard her correctly. Something is not right here, he eyed her suspiciously.

"What?" He asked in confusion. It couldn't have been that easy to convince her.

"I said, you do what you must," she smiled innocently at him. "And I will do what I must."

He did not like the sound of that and frowned at her. She was up to something. He knew it.

She walked over to where Aragorn and Gimli were still waiting patiently by the campfire and Legolas slowly followed her. What is she up to? He wondered. He had seen that look in her eye one too many times to know he was imagining it. It was the same look he had seen the day he left Rivendell with the Fellowship. Curse her ever-thinking mind! He thought ruefully.

The two stood up at her approach.

"When?" She asked without preamble.

"As soon as possible," answered Aragorn.

She thought about this for a minute then nodded. "May I accompany my stubborn elven friend to the entrance?" She asked politely.

Aragorn smiled. "Of course," he answered and the four of them began to walk toward the beginning of the Path.

As they approached the outskirts of the camp, two young men brought their horses forward and Eowyn quickly followed.

Aragorn sighed. He did not wish to break the lady's heart but she could not accompany them, either. As she drew close, Aragorn led her aside to explain this to her. Annowe could see that the lady was as unhappy as she had been at the news and resolved to tell the shield maiden of her plan.

The three waited for Aragorn to return. Annowe bent down and hugged Gimli.

"Keep an eye on him for me, will you?" She whispered in his ear.

"Aye," he nodded and squeezed her tightly.

She turned to Legolas and smiled grimly at him. "Don't do anything foolish," she warned. "I have a promise to keep."

He nodded and she hugged him close, kissing him tenderly. He hated leaving her so soon but he felt obligated to see this through to the end.

"What are you about, Annowe?" He murmured to her suspiciously as she stepped out of his arms.

She placed her open hand on her chest and looked at him innocently. "Me?" She asked. "Nothing that will interfere with your little walk, I can assure you," she smiled demurely.

He narrowed his eyes at her but wisely let the matter drop.

Aragorn returned to the group followed closely by a glum Eowyn. The three companions mounted their horses and without a backward glance, entered the Paths of the Dead while the shield maiden and the naiad watched them disappear into the mists.

"Don't worry," Annowe whispered to Eowyn. "I'm going after them."

Eowyn's eyes grew wide at the nymph. "How?" She asked.

"They are going to Pelegrir to stop the corsairs. I'm going to meet them there," the nymph grinned up at her smugly.

"How do you know?" Eowyn asked curiously. "Did they tell you?"

"They didn't have to," Annowe answered. "It's the only answer that fits the facts. I made a promise to King Thranduil to bring Legolas home safely and I intend to keep it. Despite his best efforts to the contrary," she added grimly.

A slow smile of triumph spread of Eowyn's face. "Can I come with you?" She asked anxiously.

Annowe shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I'm going via the rivers. There's no way I could hope to make it to Pelegrir on foot or by horseback before they arrived."

Eowyn immediately understood. "Very well. Make sure no harm comes to them," she urged softly.

"Don't you do anything foolish, either," Annowe said and shot the maid a dark look.