And here's the second chapter I promised! Enjoy!

P.S. Make sure you read the ninth chapter!!!

Ana watched in horrified fascination as the battle began.  Realization dawned on her that what she had thought had been battles were merely small skirmishes compared to what she was seeing down below her.

Despite the arrows the Rohan archers and the elves were sending down to their enemies, orcs were advancing and ladders were raised onto the wall.

She desperately wanted to be fighting alongside the warriors below her, and from the looks on her friends' faces she knew they felt the same.  But a promise had been made that they would not fight.  It was too large a risk that one of them would be lost, and they would be of the most use after the battle.

As the battle moved to a struggle to keep the enemy from making it into the fortress, Ana caught sight of Haldir directing his archers.  And then she saw something else.  An orc was running at top speed towards the outer wall, a torch in hand.

She watched in horror as three of Legolas's arrows found there mark in his torso and head.  But still the creature didn't stop.  He dove into a small drain at the base of the wall and…

The noise was deafening as a huge portion of the wall blew into the air, some rubble even reaching the high tower where the Sensors stood.  Even more disturbing were the bodies of men and Elves who had been on that section of the wall.

Haldir and his Elves rushed to slow the swarm of Orcs and Uruks who began to pour through the break.  And there was the dark haired man again, fighting alongside the Elves.

Ana couldn't help but be impressed when Legolas rode down a steep flight of stairs on a shield, shooting arrow after arrow the whole way down.  Soon it became apparent that the order to pull back had been given.

Watching as Haldir turned and began screaming and motioning for his troops to fall back, Ana felt her blood run cold.  In horror she saw a scimitar run through Haldir.  Clutching his side, he fell to his knees, gasping for breath he couldn't find.  Another scimitar slammed through his back, clenching his fate.

The world went black before her eyes and she turned away from the sight of her dying friend.  Looking out over the wreckage of the wall, Ana caught a flash of a familiar face.

"No," she whispered.

The others turned to look at her, and she said in a voice that was barely audible, "Aeron's gone.  The blast got him."

A horrified silence fell over the Sensors as they mourned the loss of their friend.  Ana's grief was doubled.  They would all leave, would all die.  Anyone who ever mattered to her.

They stood in a circle with their arms around each other, heads bowed and drawing comfort from each other.  The sounds of fighting began to lessen as the Rohan army and remaining Elves pulled back to the last level.  But not one of the group turned to look.

Suddenly, in a burst of light, the sun rose over the distant horizon.  And below came the sound of hoof beats, and a great horn rang through the morning air.  'Gaina turned to look and announced that a small group had ridden out to make a last attempt to fight.  Still Ana could not look.

A gasp from Aimee turned Kyle from his scrutiny of Ana to look at the battle.  "It's Eomer!" he gasped.  "He's come to help them."

But Ana couldn't make herself look.  She couldn't stand the sight she was certain would meet her eyes.

Kyle's hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality.  "Ana, it's over.  We've won!"

Slowly she moved away and started down the steps.  To her surprise, Morgaina followed her and turned her around.

"Ana, I want to talk to you.  You need to stay away from us.  You're a curse to everyone you know."

Two different shades of stormy gray eyes locked and bore into each other.  Ana felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her.  She had known it all along, but to hear it put into words so bluntly was crushing. 

"You know what I mean," the girl continued.  "Your friends, you family, everyone gets killed.  Tell me, how does it feel knowing that you're the cause of so many innocent people's deaths?  Does it hurt? Can you even feel pain, or is your heart made of stone?"

Ana choked on a sob that was rising in her throat.  There was something off; a darkness was in this girl.  And then Ana knew.

"You've turned.  You gave into him didn't you?  How long ahs it been since Saruman corrupted your mind?"

"My master does not like being ignored, stupid girl.  You have not only ignored him, but you have fought against him.  For that you must die.  Goodbye, Ana."

Quicker than lightning, both girls had drawn their swords.  'Gaina's was a dark weapon, with hideous markings across it.  A clanging noise filled the air as the two blades met.

Drawing back, the two opponents circled each other, weapons extended.  Ana's mental block was up, preventing 'Gaina from accessing her mind.  Suddenly 'Gaina lunged forward, thrusting her sword at Ana's chest.

Ana quickly blocked the thrust and spun around to a new position.  The other girl struck again, but she threw her blade down, pushing the dark weapon to the ground.  Turning quickly as Aragorn had taught her, she moved behind 'Gaina.

A clear path was presented to Ana as the furious Sensor whirled around, but Ana stilled her blade.  She couldn't kill from behind.  Not the way Haldir had been killed.

It quickly became apparent that 'Gaina was done fooling around as she began to strike faster and with more skill.  Every ounce of training Ana had been through with Aragorn and Legolas was called upon to block the blows.

Eventually Ana was sure 'Gaina's guard would slip and she would have an opening through which to strike the fatal blow.  But the girl had obviously been trained well, for none of her thrusts left her body unguarded.

The pair spun around in an intricate and deadly dance.  Only one would leave the dance floor, and each was determined it would be her.

Just when Ana thought she might not be able to keep up much longer, 'Gaina faltered.  Ana took her opportunity and thrust her sword through the other girl's stomach.  Kicking her back off the blade, Ana felt only contempt for the dying girl who lay before her.  "That was for Haldir," she muttered, spinning on her heel away from the body.

After wiping her sword on her shirt, Ana slid it back into its sheath and began one of the longest walks of her life.

Slowly she made her way through the dead bodies, dodging living men who searched for their fallen comrades.  Finally she reached the place she knew Haldir had fallen.  The remaining Elves had not yet come to carry his body away.

Ana stood looking down at her friend's body as silent tears ran down her cheeks, falling to the ground and creating a small puddle at her feet.  Looking at the Elf, she began to think.

Life was so fragile, so uncertain.  No race was immune to death; even the immortals could be slain.  Wasn't Haldir proof of that?  He had been so good, so full of life.  Then in one moment it was over.  He was gone, and he was never coming back.

It would be so easy to end your own life, she thought.  Look how quickly she had ended 'Gaina's.  All it would take would be a cut or two in the right places and all the pain would be over.

Never again would there be tears for someone lost, never again would there be the heartache of watching someone you loved walk away.  It would be so peaceful, so simple.  No more worries.

Ana was reaching for her dagger when a voice broke through her daze.  Without turning around she knew who it was.

"Go away, Legolas.  I don't want you interfering.  They're all gone now, next it's my turn."

"Ana, what are you talking about?  You still have me, Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf is back, he's alive.  Merry and Pippin are ok."

"Stop lying to me," she shrieked, "it won't make me feel better and it won't bring them back.  It won't bring Haldir back either."

"Haldir… Haldir is gone?"

She nodded curtly, unable to face the only one who had even begun to understand her.  If she turned around, she would never be able to go back.

"Legolas, go now.  I don't want to have anything to do with you.  I have a family now, I don't need you anymore.  Get out of my life and never come back."

The words were some of the hardest she had ever spoken, and once they were out she thought she might break down.

"If that's the way you really feel, I'll leave.  I wish you the best of luck, Ariana.  Goodbye… forever."

Ana wanted to turn around and throw her arms around him, have him hold her and make it all right again.  But now it was too late.  Her words had pushed him away, and he would never want to come back.

"Well, I won't be here for him to come back to.  That's the last time I watch someone walk away."

Legolas was sad.  And furious.  No matter how bad things got he had never imagined she would tell him to get lost.  All his sadness quickly evaporated, leaving only intense anger.

"I wouldn't care if she died.  In fact, I hope she does.  Serves her right for all the times she's pushed away people who have only wanted to help her."

As he was stalking away, he heard someone call his name.  Turning, he saw it was Aragorn.  He stood between Aragorn and Ana, and felt slightly trapped.  It was selfish of Ana to think this battle had only affected her.  Some of his close friends had been killed, and it shook him.  This much death had never touched him before.

Aragorn looked at Legolas worriedly.  His friend had more anger on his face than just the battle could have caused.  After he called the Elf's name, he looked beyond him and saw Ana standing over the sport where Haldir had fallen.

"So she saw the battle," he murmured under his breath.  Quickly he noted the blood on her clothes, and wondered where it had come from.  He knew she hadn't fought in the battle.

Suddenly it hit him.  She was reaching for her dagger.  In a second she would try and take her life.  He could never get there in time.  But Legolas could.

Before she knew what was happening, the small dagger was in her hands.  But how to do it?  She could stab herself like Juliet.  No, too hard, and too painful.  Slit her throat?  No, that would be a horrible way to die.  Yes, that was it.  Her wrists.  Virtually painless and very quick.

Sadly she gazed up at the sky.  It was the last time she would feel the sun beat down on her head.  Soon she would join all those who had gone before her.  In only a few moments it would all be over.

Legolas heard Aragorn call again more urgently.  When he looked at him, the Elf could see a panicked expression written on his face.

"Legolas, look at Ana! She'll kill herself if you don't stop her!"

The Elf turned slowly to look at her.  Sure enough she had a dagger to her wrist, eyes closed, face upturned.  As he watched, the knife bit into the soft flesh on her wrist and blood started to flow lightly.  She began to pull down.

Impatiently Aragorn watched the two.  Why wasn't Legolas moving?  The knife slicing through her wrist was on mistakable, he had to do something!  Aragorn knew he was too far away, but for the Elf, the short distance between them should be no problem.  But still he didn't move.

Then, slowly, Legolas turned away from her and began to walk away.  He was going to leave her there.  Leave her to her death.  And Aragorn began to run.

Ana looked down and saw the huge bleeding cut on her left wrist.  Quickly, before she had lost too much blood, she slit the other one.  Blood came down in torrents, painting the stones crimson and mingling with the dried blood that was undoubtedly Haldir's.

The world around her was beginning to dim, blurring around the edges.  Her strength poured out of her, and she slumped to her knees the way she had seen Haldir do hours before.

Then, through the fog, came the pain, cutting like the knife that was ending her life.  And Ana realized something.  She didn't want to die.  She wanted to live.  Her business wasn't finished yet.  She needed to go on.  But it was too late.  That was when Ana started to scream.

I tried to kill my pain

But only brought more (so much more)

I lie dying and I'm pouring

Crimson regret and betrayal

I'm dying and praying

I'm bleeding and screaming

Am I too lost to be saved?

Am I too lost?

My God, my tourniquet

Return to me salvation

My God, my tourniquet

Return to me salvation

Do you remember me?

Lost for so long

Will you be on the other side?

Or will you forget me?

I'm dying and praying

I'm bleeding and screaming

Am I too lost to be saved?

Am I too lost?

My God, my tourniquet

Return to me salvation

My God, my tourniquet

Return to me salvation

My wounds cry for the grave

My soul cries for deliverance

Will I be denied?

Christ, tourniquet, my suicide.