A/N: "Make time stop and listen for (our) sighs" is from "Make Time Stop" by INXS

Jebb – Well, she's just worried about him as we all are! I can't believe he's running off like that. He deserved a good scolding!

Dazzler – Great to have you back! Glad you got all caught up!

With grim determination, Annowe readied herself to leave for Pelargir. Eowyn had assured her that the others would be too busy preparing for battle to concern them selves with her disappearance.

"I will address any questions," she had assured the nymph. "You just make sure they make it to Minas Tirith safely."

The two of them had parted, each trusting in the other to play their part in this great drama.

Annowe was not sure how much time she had – how long it would take for Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli to find and submit the oath breakers – and she wanted to reach Pelargir if not before them, then at least with them.

The Snowbourn River was chilly to her and while she would have preferred to swim naked, she thought it best if she at least wore a tunic and trousers, as she would need them during the battle. Her trusty scimitar she had fastened securely across her back and her hair was tightly braided out of the way. Gingerly, she stepped into the cool water and allowed her body to become used to the cold before she plunged her head under and began the long swim downriver.

Alone in the water, the silence of the river surrounding her, her thoughts began to drift back to Dunharrow and her mating with Legolas. She could feel the hot blush creeping into her cheeks and she involuntarily smiled at the memory.

He had been anxious at first then relaxed when he realized that she was just as nervous as he. Once they had started giggling at their own foolishness, their long dormant attraction and desire soon overrode every other emotion. She giggled to herself again as she let the entire evening play out in her mind.

She did not want to think of the danger he was in – the danger they were all in. Soon they would face the Enemy and the fate of their world would be decided. She shook her head to clear that thought – replacing it with the memory of Legolas' silken hair draped over his supple bare chest as he smiled at her in the moonlight.

She would carry those precious memories in her heart forever. No, she would not think of the future now. She would remember they're shared past and take comfort in knowing that no matter what happened now, they were forever bound to each other.

Giggling to herself, she leisurely rolled over in the swift current, imagining that she was again in Legolas' strong arms as he held her tightly to his bare chest, murmuring soft words of endearment to her. She smiled and closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift with the current as she remembered the smell of him and the warmth of his embrace. Her skin tingled as if he was touching her again and the rush of the water reminded her of his breathing.

Legolas gazed dreamily ahead of him, neither knowing nor caring what lie ahead on the Paths of the Dead. Both Gimli and Aragorn were slightly nervous as they slowly rode down the dimly lit path. Gimli was anxious because he did not like the idea of trying to summon the oath breakers and Aragorn was tense because he knew without the oath breakers their chances of success were very slim indeed.

They spoke few words, each keeping his own council as their eyes roamed over the desolate landscape. A slight smile played at the corners of Legolas' mouth and if either Aragorn or Gimli had seen it, they would have immediately understood the cause. The elf was lost deep in thought recalling the previous evening when he lay with Annowe in the dark stillness.

There had been no others in the world that night except for the two of them. He was certain of it. They had reached a place where no one could reach them and where all time stood still and listened for their sighs.

A blush crept into his cheeks as he recalled her touch and her words. She had touchingly declared her love for him and he would never doubt her. He felt complete now and he feared nothing – neither living nor dead. She loved him and that was all that mattered.

His hand gripped the reins as he had gripped Annowe's thick hair and recalled the feel of it in his hands as she sighed in his arms. Despite her forceful and brash demeanor, Legolas had learned many years ago that she could be utterly charming and winsome when she felt comfortable with someone. He had only recently discovered that she could also be very gentle, sensitive and yielding to him. He grinned at the thought. He knew her most intimate secrets and her trust in him made him feel like a giant.

Still smiling he glanced again at the sky. Was he imagining things or was it more blue than it had been in weeks? Even the air, although heavy with anticipation, seemed fresher. His father had often told him that he would know when he was besotted. "You will come to believe that even the birds in the trees sing only for you!"

Yes, he could feel that. His heart felt like it had wings and he felt as if it took every ounce of his elven self-control not to burst into a thousand shimmering stars. Instead, he drew a deep sigh and remembered the feel of her small hands clinging to his bare back.

"You're thinking about the lass again, aren't you?" Gimli's soft rumble came from behind him.

Legolas blinked. "What ever gave you that idea?" He wondered.

Gimli grunted in response, then poked the besotted elf in the back with a gnarly thumb.

"You've been murmuring to yourself in elvish and sighing like a love struck maid for the last hour!" The dwarf muttered darkly.

Legolas chuckled and felt the tips of his ears turn pink but he said nothing. Gimli spoke true – his mind was completely elsewhere – it was with Annowe. Where was she now? He wondered. Would she ride to Minas Tirith with the Rohirrim? More than likely, he realized. There would be no point in her staying at Dunharrow. She had just as much to lose as everyone else if Sauron were not defeated.

He sighed. He did not want to think about that – about what lie ahead for them. He only wanted to cling to the sweet memory of lying in her arms in the darkness as the world passed by them. Soon, he mentally promised her. Soon this will be over and I will never leave your side. He was more determined than ever to make the world safe for them.