Thank you all so very much for your reviews! I was able to respond to some of you directly, but most of you I didn't get to. I read most of them while I was at work and my stupid account erased some of them when I clicked on the wrong button. I do know that one of you pointed out that Ana meant gift in Elvish, so I looked it up and it does but the spelling is with two 'n's I thought I'd through it into this chapter. Thank you all again and I hope you like this chapter, even though I'm not so sure about it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 3: Meeting the Lady

"You know she is a gift brother?" Rumil asked quietly. Haldir looked over his shoulder at his brother before his eyes flicked to Ana. He knew simply put her name was indeed gift, but he didn't see her as a gift, she was more like a curse. He looked ahead once more and took a deep breath.

"She is no gift, Rumil," he said firmly and Rumil smiled a small smile and looked to the mortal woman. She was moving slower than she had been and it was obvious to him that she would do as his brother wished and collapsed before she could even be brought to the Lady.

Ana continued to walk, even though she felt as though she was going tofall overand her legs felt like lead that she was forced to carry. The two talked back and forth occasionally but she chose to ignore the smooth sounds of their words. She looked back at Sadie who didn't seem too affected by their long trek. Haldir stopped and she would have ran into his back had she not turned to look ahead again. She stopped quickly and glared at the back of his head. She couldn't figure him out. All he made her want to do wasscream in frustration, pelt him with various items, and cry at the same exact time.

He stepped to the side and her glare followed him until something caught her attention. Ana looked straight ahead and gasped quietly. About a quarter of a mile away stood some the largest trees she had ever seen in her entire life. Haldir spoke to her and she looked at him.

"Caras Galadhon," he said as he pointed towards the cluster of trees. After standing there, her legs began to feel numb instead of heavy and when Haldir urged her forward she stumbled and fell to her knees. She groaned quietly.

"Please, I know you want to get there and throw me in some dungeon, but I can't walk anymore," she said tiredly and looked up at him. He looked at Rumil who spoke quickly to him. Haldir growled in frustration and suddenly, she found her hands unbound but before she could move them he moved them for her and tied her hands in front of her. Haldir lifted her from the ground and she gasped as she looked at his face with wide green eyes. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" she asked quickly and he responded just as quickly but she couldn't make heads or tails of it, as usual.

"Seeing as you can't stand on your feet for more than two seconds, I'm going to carry you," he snapped back at her after her question, even though he didn't know what she asked. They began to walk and Haldir found it quiet uncomfortable to carry her when her body was as stiff as wooden plank.

"Haldir, as I have asked before, show her some kindness. You have done nothing but shown anger towards her since her waking and she doesn't trust you," Rumil said. Haldir ignored his brother. He would do as he pleased and he would not show kindness to someone who clearly had no business being in the Elvin city.

As they continued to walk, Haldir felt her body go slightly limp in his arms and her head rested on his shoulder. He looked down and saw that she had fallen asleep. He sighed, he figured as much. After all it seemedmortals had the ability to fall asleep practically anywhere.

Soon, they reached the city and as he was instructed, he carried the woman up the many steps to the Lord and Lady's talan while Rumil lead the animal up the steps behind them. When they entered the main flet, Haldir was surprised to see the Lady waiting for them. Night had fallen as they entered the city and the glow of the lanterns and the Lady gave enough light for even Ana to see when she woke.

"Marchwarden," Galadriel said with a sigh as she looked at the woman in his arms. She looked to her right and two elleths carried out a small cot. Haldir nodded his head at the two elleths and laid Ana down on the cot. "I told you to bring her to me unharmed," she said as she kneeled down and unbound the woman's hands. She ran her fingers gently over the deeply bruised and obviously sprained left wrist of the mortal woman. "Yet you bring her to me with an injury, covered in dirt, and beyond exhaustion." The Lady of Light stood slowly and looked at Haldir.

"I know my lady," he said with a bow of his head. Galadriel looked down at Ana.

"You know her name?" she asked.

"We believe it to be Ana," Haldir said. She nodded knowing that the woman's name was actually Anastasia but that she had preferred the shorter version.

"Wake child," Galadriel conveyed to the sleeping woman, in what Galadriel knew to be Ana's language. It was a difficult language and with what limited knowledge she was able to gain by tapping into the woman's mind she was able to understand it easily enough. She could not yet vocalize it; she could only use it telepathically. "Wake, Ana."

Ana heard someone trying to wake her and she felt relief flood her. Haldir and Rumil were just a dream. She had probably tripped and hit her head and her neighbor found her. Ana slowly opened her eyes and blinked but the sight that met her eyes sent her relief plummeting down. It wasn't a dream and she was still in her nightmare.

"It is not a nightmare child," the woman's voice echoed in her head. Ana's eyes widened and met the crystal blue eyes of the most beautiful woman, or whatever the creatures were, in her entire life. The woman let out a small laugh. "We are elves, Ana, and we do not mean you any harm." Ana arched an eyebrow at the woman's words. Even though her lips didn't move, Ana heard her voice as clear as a bell.

"Elves? Don't mean me any harm? How do you explain Mr. Rough and Tumble over there? And why don't your lips move?" Ana asked as she sat up. The woman laughed openly then and she saw Haldir give the lady a strange look.

"I cannot yet vocalize your language, and I have a rare gift of telepathy. As for Haldir, he does not trust strangers in our borders." Ana rubbed her eyes with her right hand and sighed.

"So, who are you and where exactly are your borders?" Ana asked as she lowered her hand and rubbed her left wrist with her right hand absently. It ached beyond anything.

"I am Galadriel, I rule over this realm. You are in the Elvin realm of Lothlorien, just east of the Misty Mountains, but I suppose you haven't the slightest idea what I'm talking about." Ana shook her head.

"I don't. One second, I'm in my back yard playing with . . . Sadie! Where's my dog?" Ana asked quickly and a bark sounded. She stood and looked around Haldir to see Rumil standing with Sadie. On wobbly legs, made to go over to Sadie when Haldir wrapped an arm around her waist. She looked up at him and furrowed her brow. "Let me go!" she exclaimed quietly. The woman's voice filled the air and Haldir let her go. Ana walked over to Sadie and carefully, do toher injury,untied the rope from her collar. She gave Rumil a small smile and the elf returned it. Ana hugged Sadie and looked back at the lady elf. "Am I going to be put in jail or something?"

"No, I will have Rumil lead you to a talan of your own for your stay in our land." Ana sighed as she stood.

"But, I want to go home. I don't want to stay here." Galadriel looked at her sadly and Ana had a feeling she wouldn't like to hear what the elf had to say.

"I'm afraid I don't believe you will ever be able to return to your home." Ana closed her eyes after the words echoed in her mind. Galadriel was nice enough, but she was in some strange place with a bunch of elves. Ana shook her head.

"I want to go home. I don't want to be here, wherever here is!" Ana exclaimed and stomped her foot like a child would when they through atemper tantrum. "You've got to understand that."

"I do, but now is not the time to discuss such matters. I believe you are in great need of a hot bath, a warm meal, and rest. In the morning, your head will be clearer and we will work together." Ana sighed when she heard the woman's voice leave her head and he spoke to Rumil. The elf nodded and held out his arm to her.

"I won't find any rest here," Ana said quietly before she took his offered arm and followed him down the many steps with Sadie at her side.

"Haldir, I place her in your care," Galadriel said after Rumil and Ana were long gone. Haldir looked at her and frowned.

"My care? Certainly you can find someone more suitable, my lady," he said quickly. Galadriel shook her head.

"Your earlier actions have led her to mistrust us, it is you that must show her that we are not as she perceives us. I will meet with her daily, as I am the only one who can communicate with her, and I will teach her the common tongue and a few phrases in the ancient language and you will help me." With that, Galadriel turned and left Haldir alone.

"Yes, my lady," he said quietly before he too descended the many stairs all the while his blood boiling at the thought of having to play guardian to the mortal woman.