Written with beta--balrog

First story in the Child of Prophecy Series

Disclaimer: I do not any of the Tolkien characters, just borrowed them for a while. All OCs are mine. No monetary gain is being received. Strictly for enjoyment.

Chapter 3

Questions and Thoughts

Ana somehow knew that the new guards were going to be a while with Gary so she decided to go through the books to see what her dream meant. When she opened the Silmarillion and looked up Elbereth, she knew her dream was true. After reading more, she found out that elves, dwarves and man all lived together in Middle Earth. Therefore, the stores of Tolkien's were not fantasy after all but true stories.

This baffled Ana beyond belief. 'So what is Elbereth trying to tell me?' she thought. 'Am I to help these elves?'

As she went through the binder with the elvish translation, she noticed that it started from the creation of Eä. Ana kept reading until she came to the spot of Glorfindel, Lord of the House of the Golden Flower. When she read the description, Ana couldn't believe her eyes. It was the same description of Brian. "This can't be," she whispered, "Brian can't be that old. It must be a coincidence.

She kept reading the information written in the file. It was all too surreal. There was one thing that bothered her about this information: how did Uncle Gary come about it all? Did he receive it from passed generations for it to turn up here in this library?

It was then he hears a noise at the door. Ana looked up and there stood Eric, Brian and Uncle Gary.

Uncle Gary noticed that she had a file spread open before her and knew which one it was.

"What's wrong Ana? Why are you looking at that binder?" Uncle Gary asked.

The three men took up chairs in front of the desk as Ana sat behind. They all looked as if nothing was wrong.

"I had a strange dream last night. I had a talk with Elbereth from the Tolkien stories. I looked in you books, uncle, to see if she was real and she is. The stories you told me were real weren't they?" Ana asked.

"Yes, my child, the stories are real but what did Elbereth say to you?" Gary knew that Ana told the truth.

"She told me that I'm part of a prophecy that is to bring elves back to help with the chaos. She told me to search for a beacon in a forest and an ancient city. I don't know if this is real or not. I feel like my life is in turmoil and I'm not eating or sleeping properly. I could be just tired and not thinking straight and my dreams aren't making sense." After talking with her uncle and getting things off her chest, it made her feel better but she was tired.

"Ana, your mind is in turmoil with all you have been doing and you are reverting back to the stories from your childhood. When was the last time you had any time off?" Gary knew her story to be true. He had learned of it long ago.

"I don't know, why?" Ana asked.

"The reason Eric is here is to get my things in order. It's been quite sometime since I got away myself. I was thinking of going to my retreat in Germany for a vacation. There is nothing around for miles and I thought all of us could go." Gary watched her reaction to the news.

"Maybe that's a good idea. Maybe I do need some time to myself." Ana thought for a moment. "OK uncle, let's do it!"

"That's my girl. Now why don't you go to bed and we'll leave in three days. This will give me time to change my class and lecture at the college." Gary stood and came around to the back of the desk.

Anastasia rose from the desk and hugged her uncle. "Good night. I will see you in the morning." She turned to the other men and bid them goodnight. She made her way to her bedroom and turned in. Reading all that material made her mind tired. She had a great night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Downstairs in the library stood three stunned men.

"Do you think she figured it out and is not telling you, Gary?" Brian asked.

"I think it's time we make sure it comes to pass. Elbereth told us years ago about the prophecy and now she has told some of it to her. The time has come for the elves again, Eric," Gary stated.

"You're right my friend. Gary do you know where this beacon could be found?" asked Eric.

"Yes, it's on the property I have in the Black Forest in Germany. It's amongst the ruins of the ancient city that was once Lothlorien. To tell you the truth, it is Galadriel's mirror. However, Anastasia has to find it herself. She is still pure of heart and mind. Therefore, what information she learned here and what I have at the retreat, she should have no trouble finding it. In addition, she is to have no help from anyone. We all know why we are here. We are here to protect her from harm and we have done that. Now is the time. We should make haste and get there before this world does more harm."

The two men sitting in front of the desk agreed. It was time they left for the forest.

"Eric, I want you to get my affairs in order. I will seal up everything here until our return. I will pack my journals and texts up and take them with us. We will need them when we are gathered." Gary walked over to the bar on the side and poured three snifters of brandy. "Brian, I want you to get Hal to make friends with her. She needs someone to confide in. See that she has training in combat. Ana needs to defend herself. Maybe the boys can teach her."

"Yes, I will do that." Brian took the drink offered to him. "Does she know yet?"

"No, I don't think so. However, we are not to help her in any way. She must do this on her own. Ana is to have no help from anyone. We know how the prophecy goes and we will abide by its telling."

"Gary, I will get things in order here," Eric replied. "As for Germany, I will get the house in order there. Hal and his brothers including Lee will help with the guarding of the grounds." Eric took the other brandy.

"Thank you my friends. The time of the elves has come once more. We have to help this Earth heal from the scars it has received these many years. I'm just grateful that I found Ana when I did." Gary took his seat behind the desk and took out his pipe.

The three men sat in silence all thinking about the future. They knew somehow in their hearts that this was going to be it: either they will survive or they will fall. Each wished it were the later.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next three days everyone got his or her things together.

Ana packed her clothes for a long holiday. She didn't know how long they would be staying. As for books, she took her favorites, including Lord of the Rings. It was one of the best stories told on the elves. If her dream was true, she needed to get up to speed on Middle Earth even if it came as a fantasy novel.

The men who arrived made sure that everything was secure in England. They didn't want intruders in the house so there were bars placed on the windows on the inside, security gates sealed up including the fences.

Gary had packed all of his books that he would need if the prophecy were to come forward. He would need documents that pertained to this world so that each military branch would know exactly how this world existed. The last book he plucked from the shelf was a special one. It included spells of all the wizards from Eä until now. There was something special about this book though. It was small enough that the pocket of a robe or jacket would conceal it.

The day arrived when all members of Gary's household stood at the front door inside the house. Gary looked around thinking that he would never see this house again. He had lived here for a long time.

Brian saw the look on Gary's face and placed his hand on his shoulder. "You will see it again, my friend. We will all be back."

"Somehow I doubt that, my old friend. Now let's get this show on the road, as they would say, and get to the retreat. I need a vacation." Gary breathed a sigh of relief and took up Ana's hand in his. "My dear, why don't you go in the car with the young ones? Brian, Eric and I need to talk about some things and you will only get bored. This will give you a chance to get to know them better. Besides, you need some friends your own age." A smile played on Gary's face when he said age. She didn't realize that the guards were a lot older than she was.

A look of sadness came over her face but she smiled anyway. Ana wouldn't be traveling with her uncle and the thought of traveling with the young men may turn out interesting. She glanced at Hal and he gave her a smile.

Hal wondered what the smile meant when Ana turned his way. Hal knew that they were to guard her and keep her safe but whenever he looked at her, happiness overcame him and he liked it. It had been quite sometime since Hal's feelings were on the surface. He had pushed them down not wanting to get involved. His last true love had died of old age and somehow he couldn't go through that again. However, something was telling him that this was the one destined for him for the rest of his life. She was his soul mate.