A/N: So this is the end. I've worked for over a year on this story, and at times I've come within an inch of quitting. But I didn't. The story is over. There will be no sequel. Depending on my mood, there may be an alternate ending which only those of you who hated this story will wish to read. I would love to thank all my reviewers personally, but there are enough of you that I can't. Thank you so much for your support! You've all been wonderful! I hope to keep in touch with you in the future. Please enjoy this final chapter.

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To Ana, it seemed as though the night might stretch on forever, and, for the first time in her life, she anxiously awaited its end. No news had reached them, waiting frantically in the city, of the remained of the Fellowship, namely Gandalf, Aragorn, and Legolas. Exhaustion finally overtook her only a few hours before dawn.

Upon waking, Ana found a note placed on a pile of clothes at the end of her bed.

'Ana – I can't leave Kyle right now, so I need you to represent all the Sensors in a meeting to decide where to go next. Get dressed quickly and go to the Hall.'

Tossing the note aside she picked up the pile of material the note had been on. It was a simple dress of some sort of silver grey velvet.

"Ugh! There's no way I'm…"

Just as she began to reach for some different clothes, another note fell from the folds of the dress.

'Nice try. Wear the dress.'

Discontentedly, Ana slipped on the dress and pulled her hair away from her face. Some matching shoes lay at the foot of the bed, and, slipping them on, she went out the door.

Aimee looked like she had only just fallen asleep, curled up in a chair by Kyle's bedside. As quietly as she could, Ana slid by her and out the door into clouded sunshine.

When she arrived in the hall, Ana almost imagined the huge structure to be empty. However, a small movement at the throne end caught her attention and she cautiously moved in that direction. Catching sight of a familiar face, she ran down and threw her arms around him.

"Aragorn! You're alright! We were so worried when no one could tell us what was going on. But where's Legolas?" Saying the last part she stepped back and took the man by his shoulders.

A small laugh escaped him as he looked down at the small girl in front of him. Perhaps in a thousand years or so she would level out a bit.

"Oh, I'm sure he's around here somewhere…" he replied, maddeningly vague.

"Sometimes I really hate you," she said, almost pouting.

But before she could throw a fit, a pair of arms encircled her waist pulling her back so their bodies touched. A whispery voice said in her ear, "Looking for me?"

Whirling around, Ana found herself face to face with a very familiar elf. "Legolas!" she screamed, as she threw her arms around his neck. His arms still held her waist and he pulled her tightly against him, while he buried his face in her hair.

They probably would have been content to remain there all day, but the sound of someone clearing their throat. Looking back, Ana saw a wide range of expressions adorning the countenances of her companions.

Aragorn was trying as hard as he could not to burst out laughing, Gandalf was smiling his secretive smile, Gimli simply rolled his eyes, and Eomer looked about as uncomfortable as Ana had ever seen him. Poor kid. He had so much to learn about the world.

"As touching as this is," Aragorn said, some of his humor evaporating, "we have some matters of grave importance to discuss."

Legolas swung Ana around so she rested protectively under his arm, and the two attentively faced the others in the room. In truth, it was a somber gathering: a fork in the road at which the leaders were forced to decide which path they would take.

"Ana, a report on the other Sensors, if you would be so kind," Aragorn asked her.

Taking a deep breath she began, "As you may know, Kyle was badly wounded in the battle. Right now it is uncertain whether he will live or die. Aimee is watching over him and caring for him best she can. And here I am, the only one up and about."

All the faces in the room became somewhat grimmer as the news sunk in. They're healing magic had been diminished just before it might be needed most. At last, Aragorn turned to Gandalf saying, "And what of Frodo? What do you know of him?"

"Frodo has moved beyond my sight," the old wizard said slowly, "the darkness is deepening."

"If Sauron had the ring, we would know it," Aragorn replied adamantly.

"It is only a matter of time… He has suffered a defeat, yes… But … behind the walls of Mordor, the enemy is regrouping," Gandalf intoned gravely.

Gimli next added his bit. "Let them stay there… let them rot! Why should we care!" His temper was obviously beginning to get the best of him, frustration at inaction taking hold.

"Because ten thousand orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom," Gandalf said in a near monotone. His face looked many years older than it normally did, and the thought struck Ana that it had been many years since his youth.

He began to pace around the silent room, all eyes following his progress. What bothered Ana the most was the atmosphere: that of a funeral parlor before a wake began. Almost as though no one dared to breathe.

"I've sent him to his death," Gandalf nearly whispered.

"No," Aragorn spat, "There's still hope for Frodo."

"Aragorn is right," Ana added suddenly. "If we give up on Frodo now, we will fail him, our people, and ourselves. Could you live with yourself, if you happen to still be alive, knowing that perhaps you could have helped save this Middle Earth from falling into complete darkness? Gandalf, what can we do to help?"

"He needs time and safe passage across the Plains of Gorgoroth."

"We can give him that," Aragorn quietly stated.

"How?" questioned Gimli.

A gleam in Aragorn's eye told Ana she probably wouldn't like the answer.

"Draw out Sauron's armies, empty his lands… then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gates," he said looking around at the small group of leaders. A muted rustling went through the circle, and Gimli began coughing as though the air had suddenly become too thick to breathe.

Finally Eomer stepped forward deciding he would have to be the voice of reason this time. "We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms," he said as though talking to a small child who had just proposed capturing the moon.

"Not for ourselves," Aragorn defended his plan, "but we can give Frodo his chance if we keep Sauron's Eye fixed upon us!" Before continuing he turned to Gandalf, as though looking for support that his plan was not insane. "Keep him blind to all else that moves."

"A diversion," Legolas said softly.

"Sweetie, that was repetitive," Ana chided.

After giving her an annoyed look, the two turned back to watching the debate occurring around them. Gandalf moved to stand by Aragorn ready to point out the flaws in the plan.

"Sauron will suspect a trap," he said reasonably. "He will not take the bait."

But Gimli had had enough. "Certainty of death! Small chance of success! What are we waiting for?"

All Ana could do was bury her head in Legolas's chest and try to block out the insanity that life had come to.

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Ana and Legolas stood in a small alcove on a side street of Minas Tirith. The beautiful white stone, some that had escaped the destructive force of the enemy, made the darkened recess stand out even more, framing the two in a natural portrait.

"You're even more beautiful than I remembered," he whispered.

Looking down at their intertwined hands, Ana felt tears fill her normally cold eyes. In one person, she had found the answer to every question, the end of every path, and the love she had always longed for.

"I love you," she said slowly. "More than anything."

His hand wiped away a tear slowly making its way down her cheek.

"Don't cry, love, it will be all right."

"You don't know that," she choked out.

"All I know is I love you, and that I'll always be with you. No matter what. So be strong, for both of us," he told her gently.

His love had become her only strength, and that strength gave her the courage to look into his eyes.

"In case we don't come back," he said leaning closer.

But reaching up she placed two fingers gently on his lips, holding him in place.

"So we have to," she replied, kissing his cheek and slipping off into the alley.

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The fluid movement of the horse under her and the presence of Legolas at her side became the only things holding her sanity. Hideous black gates loomed above the company of soldiers gathered in front of the stronghold of their common enemy.

Men of Rohan stood shoulder to shoulder with men of Gondor, hobbits rode with Wizards and Kings, a dwarf rode behind an elf, who rode beside a woman of magical parentage. All the forces of good remaining in that corner of Middle Earth put aside their differences for a time to fight the last real battle in the war for their lives.

Ana glanced around at the others, suddenly coming to a realization. All that remained of the Fellowship now stood almost together, separated only by the evil that had sent them on their journey in the first place.

Before she could say anything about her thought to Legolas, Aragorn signaled the leaders to follow him up to the gates.

"Let the Lord of the Black Lands come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" In that moment, Aragorn looked every bit he king he had been born.

For a moment, silence fell upon the land heavier than a crushing wave. Then the gates opened, and a messenger rode out seated upon a sick horse-like creature.

Follow her instincts, Ana started to probe its mind. She found herself sucked into a match of wills she thought she might just lose. Through the haze shehad fallen into she could see that the messenger still conversed with Aragorn and Gandalf.

Just as she feared she couldn't bear it any longer, Ana wrenched herself away. But she had discovered all she needed to know.

"He lies," she whispered into Aragorn's mind. "Sauron controls his mind and will. Do not believe a word he says."

The king's shocked eyes met her own and she nodded curtly. Returning her nod he finished his dealing with the creature while Ana tried to get rid of the headache that had come from trying to read Sauron's minion.

When it returned inside the gates, apprehension filled her at what might come next. She wasn't sure if she was really ready to fight in a battle. But time for doubt had passed. This was the time of action.

Slowly, agonizingly slowly, the enormous gates swung open revealing a sight more horrible than Ana had ever seen. All the armies of Sauron stood face to face with their leader's mortal enemy. The hair of one who almost destroyed evil forever, but had found himself too weak to do so. This time would be different.

The groups stood face to face in some sort of horrid fascination until Aragorn came back to his senses.

"Pull back!" he screamed to the small company. "Pull back!"

Without delay, they hastened to follow his command, returning to the formation of soldiers on foot. Dismounting, the leaders prepared to turn loose their mounts.

"Goodbye, Moonstar. You have been a good and faithful friend. Maybe we will meet again one day." With that the Sensor sent away her mount, knowing it would likely be the last time she would see the horse again.

Only Aragorn remained mounted, and he rode back and forth trying to motivate the troops.

"Hold your ground, hold your ground!" he cried to them as the dark army poured out through the gates. "Sons of Gonder, of Rohan. My brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come, when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of Fellowship, but it is not this day!"

He paused, gathering breath to continue. "An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you, stand, men of the west!"

Turning to face the armies now moving to surround them he drew his sword and dismounted, preparing to fight to clear the honor of his ancestors. As Ana stood with Legolas and Gimli, she listened in a sort of trance to the words exchanged by the two friends.

"Never thought I'd die fighting side by side with an elf," Gimli said gruffly.

Without losing his cool, Legolas answered, a small smile on his face, "How about side by side with a friend?"

"Aye, I could do that."

All Ana could do was look Legolas in the eye, simply letting her emotions blend with his. Words had lost all their meaning.

A voice whispered on the end, the embodiment of evil. An evil that called for Aragorn, and he alone. Men were weak, that Ana knew. But Aragorn was not most men.

As the man turned to look at them, she almost began to worry. But then a small, resigned smile played on his lips.

"For Frodo."

Then, turning, he charged headlong to the enemy, all fears left far behind him.

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The sky had turned to darkness and blood, making the bright armor of Ana's companions into beacons of hope. Blood stained her sword, her clothes, and her spirit. Nowhere on the massive field of death did anything seem clean anymore. Nothing seemed sacred. So this, then, was battle.

In all her dreams of suicide, fantasies of death, dying had never been what she saw now. A slow, peaceful transition from life to death, waking to an eternal slumber. If this was death, thank the Valar for immortality. Screaming and pain, voices of those whose life tore away from them much before their time.

Even the cries of her enemies pained her. Once again she wondered: had anyone given them a choice? Did they really want to be bloodthirsty killers, or in their dark hearts did a hope of a good life linger?

Ana supposed the question didn't really matter at that point. Blades flashed, axes chopped, arrows flew, and death became more normal than life. One minute the soldier next to her fought with all his energy, the next he lay slumped at her feet, pierced to the heart by an orc blade. With clean efficiency Ana cut him down, hardly pausing before moving on to the next victim. Battle was no time to have a heart.

The longer the battle went on, the harder it became to keep track of one's companions. Legolas's blond head didn't seem to be any of the places she looked, but Ana wasn't worried. If he was dead, she would know.

She did, however, catch a glimpse of Aragorn. And what she saw made her blood run cold. Pinned to the ground by the weight of a cave troll, the proud king struggled to free himself.

A split second of distraction proved to be her downfall. Pain, a strange heat in her side, the first indications that something had gone horribly wrong. Looking down at her side, a deep stab wound met her eyes.

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"Ana! Ana, come on, you have to get up!"

Strong arms encircled her waist, jolting her back into consciousness as pressure on the stab wound caused her to scream in pain. A flash of fire and an eagle's cry. Then blissful, quiet darkness.

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The light that flickered on Ana's eyes felt pleasantly warm and she opened them to glance around. About her stood the elves from Mirkwood and Lord Elrond who had come from Rivendell. On her left, Legolas held her hand as he smiled at the scene unfolding before them.

Across the road, Aimee smiled back at her, the girl's curly head resting on Kyle's shoulder. Though still weak, he managed to appear proud and in control. And why not? He had everything he wanted.

Catching Gandalf's eye, Ana's smile became soft and a little sad. The elderly wizard had become like a grandfather to her and believed in her when no one else had. Now that the War had ended and the Sensors could keep the peace, he could go on to wherever he was needed. Or wherever he was at peace.

Ana's roaming eyes finally settled on the crown resting atop the new king's head. For once, he looked every bit the part, right down to the heavy velvet robes he wore.

After so much pain and trial, they had come to the end of the journey. Here the road ended for the companions, ended in Aragorn's crown. All the peace and hope they had searched and fought so hard for was here, was now. In the sunlight of a quiet morning, the shadows of the past nothing but a memory, Ana felt that for once life would work. It had to.

Then Ana found herself standing before Aragorn, she and Legolas side by side, representing their home. Bowing her head at a gentle incline, she watched as Legolas and Aragorn exchanged the traditional elvish hug.

When he turned to her, she whispered so only he could hear, "Well, my friend, it looks as though we have both found where we belong."

He embraced her in a brotherly hug knowing that things would be alright for her. After all, she had love… and peace.

Suddenly, a mischievous grin lit up Ana's face and she and Legolas stepped to the side. Leaving Aragorn face to face with Lord Elrond. Who, in turn, moved leaving him face to face with none other than Arwen.

It felt as though the world was at a standstill as Ana watched the scene play out before her. But everything sprang into motion as Aragorn quickly leaned over and kissed Arwen, finally tying up his last loose end.

Watching Aragorn and Arwen stop in front of the Hobbits, who promptly kneeled, Ana felt a mixture of gratitude and amazement. These little creatures with huge hearts had been the true saviors of the world. They were the last people who should be bowing that day.

Apparently Aragorn agreed.

"My friends," she heard him say, "you bow to no one."

And the fourth age began as no other had: the most powerful people in Middle Earth, all humbled to their knees in front of four Hobbits who, in any other time, would have been most unnoticeable. The world truly was an amazing place.

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Bars of flaming light lit the ledge where Ana and Legolas stood, arms entwined about each other. Never before had a sunset been so magnificent and so perfect as that evening, when it embraced two lovers in its arms.

The milky white stones were ablaze with the reds and orange of the dying sun, and the pale of their skin was turned to rose. This was a moment to live for, a moment of forever that can never be forgotten.

Over the miles and months, trust had been built, bonds had been broken, lives had been lost, and love had been found. Now, facing their future, what could be said? What words could finish a story that could never be told?

A story of hearts, a story of emotions, a story of all the things life is composed of, but can never be spoken, because the words to express them simply do not exist. So many things could have been said. Promises made, vows given, and apologies spoken.

Instead, she caught his lips in hers, in a kiss that would seal their fate forever. His need and hers blended together, meaning more than all the speeches ever made. And tomorrow simply ceased to matter.