Fate
By Ladybug


Disclaimer:  I own no one, but Anya and Cantehoon is a village of my own making.  All other characters belong to Tolkien, thank God, for he didn't see the need to kill off Haldir.  ;-)


Rated R


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Chapter 4


A great cheer rose up from those who survived the battle.  It was over, the orcs defeated.  As promised, Gandalf had returned with Eomer, appearing in the east as the morning sun broke over the horizon, he used the blinding sun to bring them on to victory.


The women and children emerged to mourn the loss of their men and their sons and to rejoice with those who had survived.  The loss had been great and they would spend many days burying their dead.


Anya stood alone looking around, trying to hold on to hope.  She saw Gimli and Legolas, King Theoden and several of the elves that had come with Haldir.  She saw Aragorn embracing Eowyn, but of Haldir…


Aragorn released Eowyn easily returning the smile she gave him.  His eyes lifted as he gazed over the throngs of people as they emerged into the warmth of the morning sun.  It was a new day and victory was theirs.


Once more they had defied the odds and beaten Saruman.  His thoughts touched briefly on Frodo and Sam and he prayed they were safe and that their journey towards Mordor was as successful.


Looking over the people as they hugged and congratulated each other, his gaze froze on a lone woman standing off to one side, her hands clutched in front of her as she searched the crowds.


Anya…


"Did you find her?" Aragorn asked as Haldir approached him on the battlement.

Haldir caught the humorous light in Aragorn's eyes and he glared at him.  "Legolas needs to work on his timing."

A smile spread across Aragorn's face for a brief moment then faded as he looked out towards the direction where the orcs would soon appear.  "I am happy for you, Haldir."

Haldir's eyes softened as Anya's image floated before them in his mind's eye.  "She is… nin kur hwest. (my very breath)."

Aragorn nodded in understanding, his own thoughts drifting to Arwen.  "It is a rare gift indeed to find that one that completes your heart.  I am glad you found yours."

Haldir sighed softly and stared off towards the horizon.  Normally not one to open up, he quietly began to reveal to Aragorn things about himself.  How all his life, he had known what he wanted - being Marchwarden and serving Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel.  It satisfied him like nothing else.  He loved Lorien and felt there was no other place as beautiful as his beloved forest.  He admitted that over the years he'd become arrogant and prideful.  Traveling throughout Middle-earth over the centuries and seeing what some Men were capable of had tainted his view on all humans.  "It wasn't until the Fellowship had come to Lorien that I was reminded of the good that remained in some and of the importance of the alliance between Man and Elf.

"When Galadriel approached me about renewing the alliance and leading the elves to Helms Deep, I accepted readily."  He glanced over at Aragorn, his eyes filled with respect for the man before him.  "I meant what I said, Aragorn.  I am proud to fight along side Man once more."  His gaze moved back to the horizon, the skies darkening with the coming storm.  "And now Anya... she has come into my life unexpectedly and during a time of great unrest.  You are right, min meldir.  Love comes when it wants and follows its own path."


Suddenly, he stiffened when a large mass appeared just over the horizon.  "They come," he announced softly, pushing all thoughts from his mind except for the battle to come.


With a heavy heart, Aragorn pushed the memory away and made his way towards Anya.  She spotted him as he approached, a look of great sadness on his face and her worst fears were confirmed.


Tears spilled down her cheeks as Aragorn stopped before her and took both her hands into his.  "I am sorry, Anya."


Anya felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest.  She leaned into Aragorn, accepting his comfort as she cried quietly.  Aragorn held her, as he too, mourned the loss of a friend.  "I am sorry that you two did not have more time to know each other," he told her.  "But in that short time you had, he loved you.  He knew that you were his other half just as he was yours."


Aragorn's words surprised her at first.  Though she could hardly say that she had known Haldir well, she just didn't see him as someone who would easily speak of his feelings, especially those of love to another man, but strangely at the same time she was not surprised at all.  In the short time she had been around Aragorn, she had found him easy to talk to.  Taking comfort in his words, she drew strength from them and nodded.    "Thank you," she replied.  Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly as she pulled back slightly.  Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she looked up at him.  "Where is he?  I want to see him."


Aragorn shook his head.  "No, Anya, that would not be wise.  His body is up on the battlement amongst all the other dead, including the orcs."


"I don't care, Aragorn, I must see him with my own eyes… please," she pleaded, not understanding this sudden sense of urgency to see his body.


Aragorn sighed.  Reaching up, he pushed a stray strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear and froze when he saw the slight point.  "You are an elf…" he stated softly.


"Half elf," she answered automatically.  "My mother was Analyssa of Lothlorien, my father was Lord Mordien of Cantehoon.  Both died when orcs attacked and destroyed our village."


Aragorn nodded, a deep sigh escaping his lips over all the senseless death and destruction.  "I heard many good things about your father.  I am sorry for your loss.  Did Haldir know your mother?"


"Yes," she answered as tears burned in her eyes once more.  "I would have liked to have heard his stories about her…please," she begged once more.  "Please take me to him."


Aragorn's eyes closed on a soft sigh then he opened them and nodded.  "All right," he answered softly.  "Come."


Taking her by the hand, he led her through the courtyard towards the stairs that led up to the wall.