A/N: This is mostly the movie version here.
Annowe's fears for Legolas are from "The Silmarillion" chapter 3 "The Coming of the Elves".
Jebb – well, of course! That gigantic "but" would be Sauron. No pun intended, of course!
Spidergirl130 – Excellent! I must apologize again for not accepting unsigned reviews but the troll activity had just gotten out of hand lately. I'm glad you were compelled to sign up!
Iwishchan – yeah, they can be kinda mushy, huh? ;-)
"No! It is a suicide mission!" Deka fumed, thumping her empty tankard on the table.
Gimli laughed grimly. "Indeed. But that makes it all the more exciting, doesn't it?" He lit his pipe and puffed on it thoughtfully.
Legolas stifled a grin. Annowe bit her lip in consternation as she contemplated the consequences and alternatives to the strategy.
A handful of them had gathered in a quiet corner of the semi-deserted hall to discuss the upcoming march to the Black Gate. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Eomer and Prince Imrahil had been debating their strategy for days following the field victory and had finally emerged and announced that every available fighter would be leaving for Mordor. Those who did not wish to participate could remain behind. They would leave for the Black Gate in two days.
Deka grunted. "Exciting was not exactly what I had in mind," she mumbled darkly to no one in particular.
"Lass, you should stay here. They need you in the houses of healing," Gimli pointed out, reminding Deka of her own duty to the wounded.
"Then Annowe should stay as well. She is a much more adept healer of creatures than I am. My skill is in the trees and beings of the forest – not with humans or elves," she frowned.
Annowe said nothing, still lost in her own thoughts. There must be a reason for this madness. Why? What was she missing? The Ring! Yes! That was it!
"No," she said slowly. "No, I'll not stay here. I'm going."
Legolas looked at her questioningly. "Are you sure? You could be of more help here," he reminded her.
"Indeed," Deka agreed. "We will need all the help we can get. The wounded are still being brought in from the last battle and that was two days ago. If there is another battle . . ." Her voice trailed off and she shook her head doubtfully.
"You will be fine, Deka. Those who are not seriously wounded will recover quickly enough to help," Annowe reminded her.
They sat in a brooding silence for quite a while, each lost in their own thoughts. The only sounds were the fire crackling in the hearth and an occasional rustle from the dogs. Deka stared moodily into her mug and Gimli chomped thoughtfully on his pipe. Legolas gazed off into space while Annowe anxiously twisted her braid in her hand.
Annowe knew she had to march to the Black Gate. She had to conquer those demons once and for all. She could not live her life in the past – remembering the horrors that had been. Darion was gone. Legolas was here and that was all she had. She could not allow her fear to rule her and she had Legolas to think about. Yes. She looked at him, his flawless skin, soft platinum hair and tender gray eyes.
Did he understand the fate that would befall an elf in the black lands? How the Dark Lord would torture him until he became a twisted horrible parody of the beautiful creature he was now? She shivered at the thought. No, he did not know. He had likely heard the stories but he would not think of such things. He would not think of such things but she did. And she would not allow such a fate to befall him. No, she loved him too much to let him be condemned to a fate worse than death.
"Can I speak to you privately, Legolas, please?" Annowe said quietly as she stood up from the table and moved toward the door.
The elf looked from Annowe to Deka and then at Gimli. Deka frowned. It was unlike Annowe to be so subdued. Gimli shrugged. The naiad had been acting strangely since coming to the city and hoped she was not allowing herself to worry too much about the elf.
With a nod, Legolas followed the nymph out to the courtyard. The cold wind nearly took her breath away and she wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm.
Legolas stood in front of her, acting as a windbreak and slid his arms around her waist in an effort to shield her from the cold.
"What is it, Annowe? What is on your mind?" He asked.
"It's that ring, isn't it?" She asked softly. "They think they can draw Sauron's attention away from Mount Doom so the small one can slip through unnoticed."
Legolas nodded. He should have known better. She had far more experience with this sort of thing than he did and would have immediately understood Aragorn's reasoning.
She sighed. It made complete sense but what if? What if they had not made it to Mordor yet? How many lives would be lost in that futile effort?
"What makes them think the two Perian have made it that far?" She questioned.
"Gandalf has seen their path. Frodo grows weaker and The Ring stronger as they have drawn close to it's master. We do not have much time. We must act," he answered, squeezing her.
Annowe took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "So, it is the beginning of the end," she murmured. The victory over the army was just a reprieve. As long as The Ring existed there would be no peace throughout the land.
"I don't like it," she said flatly, pulling away to gaze up at the elf's face. "It is a good strategy and it is the right thing to do but I do not like it all the same."
Legolas grunted. "Nor I," he admitted. "But it must be done."
After a few quiet moments he voiced the question that had been gnawing at him since he had walked with her over the dark battlefield.
"Are you going?" He asked quietly.
"Yes," the naiad answered slowly. "I have to, Legolas. You know this. It is the only way."
He nodded in understanding. He had expected no less from her. No matter how frightened or how down she seemed to be she would always bounce back. Her tenacity and resilience were just two of the qualities he admired in her.
"Your father . . ." Legolas began but she cut him off mid-sentence.
"Will not interfere this time," she said firmly. "He does not like it but has agreed not to meddle again."
She sighed tiredly, remembering the row with her anxious father the day before. He had threatened to hold her until the final outcome, fearing for her safety. It was not until she reminded him that none of them would have peace as long as Sauron lived that he had finally begun, albeit reluctantly, to see the light.
He worried for his children but they had their own lives and made their own choices. Holly was still in Mirkwood and Goldberry was still with Tom, she reasoned. Even if they chose to remain where they were it would not be long until the fight came to their door if the men did not succeed now.
After hearing her logic and acknowledging that the world would be lost to them if they did not defend it, he had allowed her to leave, promising not to interfere. She knew it was very difficult for him and tried to make their parting as easy as possible but it was still difficult. She knew she was making the right choice defending the land but guilt gnawed at her nonetheless.
Legolas had not questioned her when she returned from the sea, knowing that she would speak of it if she desired. The last few days seemed to have aged her in a strange way and he wondered if it were only temporary. Even Gimli had remarked on it, which made it all the more disturbing.
He knew she was fighting the demons of her past and wished there was something more he could do for her other than hold her and wake her from her nightmares. When they had retired to a vacant room that first night after crossing the field, Annowe had lain next to him, holding him tightly before finally falling asleep in his arms. Several times during the night she had thrashed about and cried in her sleep and Legolas had wakened her from her dreams. She was still having difficulty sleeping but thankfully, the bad dreams were becoming less frequent.
"Sometimes I feel as if I am fighting everyone but the enemy," she sighed heavily. "I just want this to be over. I'm tired of it."
"I agree," he answered her. "Now let us return to the hall," Legolas said, pulling away to take her by the hand. The day was growing colder as the sun began to set on the horizon.
She hesitated. "No. Let us return to our room so I can lie in your arms again. I want to enjoy that while I still have the chance," she smiled at him. "We will not be able to spend any time together during the march and this may be our last opportunity to be alone while we are still alive."
He nodded in understanding. "As you wish," he agreed and squeezed her small hand. He did not want to think of never seeing her physically again although he knew it was a very good possibility.