Sorry for the delay in updating! I wanted to post earlier but I got busy. I hope you like this chapter! Thank you all so much for your reviews and as always, let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 9: Awakening

Haldir paced throughout the day in Ana's sitting room. He fed Sadie and checked on Ana several times, for some unknown reason he could not get himself to leave until she woke and he had a feeling it had something to do with her drawing from him. A knock echoed and the door slowly opened. Rumil and Orophin stepped in and Haldir frowned.

"What are you doing here? Who is leading the guards on the border?" Haldir asked quickly as his brothers stepped to him.

"Alyan guards the northern border, Haldir, do not worry," Rumil said. "Lady Galadriel called us to the city and told us what has happened with Ana." Haldir sighed before he finally sat down. "When we arrived to the city, the Lady gave us more details on the stone that you had found on the orc that had attacked Ana when she attempted to run away. She said Ana drew from you, but what she obtained she didn't know for certain," Rumil continued. Haldir nodded.

"I do not even know why I kept it with me," he said as Rumil and Orophin sat in the chairs across from the small sofa he sat on.

"Lady Galadriel told us the stone carried Ana's likeness. Is that true?" Orophin asked with a raised eyebrow and Haldir looked at him with nod.

"Aye it is," he said quietly. Suddenly, Ana's cries became slightly louder and he stood from the sofa and went into the bedchamber. He looked at her and her face was still damp with sweat, so much so that her hair stuck to her skin.

"She looks so ill," Orophin said quietly. Haldir turned and looked at Rumil whose eyes were focused on Ana, as was Orophin's.

"I know," Haldir said just as quietly as he looked at Ana. Her lips were moving but he knew it was from her fever. No sound left them, but they moved all the same.

"Tell me, Haldir," Rumil said and the Marchwarden turned and looked at him. "The reason you kept the stone with you because it carried her likeness?" Rumil asked teasing his brother. When he had asked Galadriel for her wellbeing he was told she would be fine soon and there was nothing to fear. Haldir glared at his brother and turned from looking at Ana.

"No, Rumil that was not the reason. As I told you, I do not know why I kept it with me, but I know that I felt that it should not have been left unguarded," Haldir's voice was low and Rumil knew he once again managed to get under his brother's skin. Rumil simply nodded his head.

"You should retire, Haldir, we can stay and watch over her," Orophin said to get his brother's mind away from wanting to kill Rumil. Haldir shook his head.

"She is in my care, and she will remain in it," Haldir said. "You and Rumil take to your talans and come in the morning. Lady Galadriel shall be returning at the dawn to check on her, and you can do the same." Rumil opened his mouth to say that he wanted to remain with her, but Haldir stopped him before he could say anything. "Go Rumil. I assure you, I won't let anything be fall her." Rumil closed his mouth and met his brother's gaze with a nod.

"Very well, we shall see you at the dawn. Come on Orophin," Rumil said before he turned followed by Orophin and left the talan.

Haldir sighed and looked back to Ana before he hastily walked from the bedchamber and into the sitting room where he would wait for the dawn.

Ana sighed and opened her eyes. Her body felt weak and tired as she laid on her bed. The last thing she remembered was her hand being fused to Haldir's chest and then when it finally was freed, she remembered collapsing against him and then darkness. She slowly sat up and looked around the room. Sadie jumped onto the bed and laid next to her. "Hey girl," she whispered and raised a trembling hand to Sadie's head. "I don't suppose you can tell me what happened?" she asked. Ana heard soft movements and looked to the door to see nothing until Haldir suddenly appeared. Ana glared at him. "Ego o chened nîn!" she shouted at him but started when she realized she spoke to him in the same soft language she had heard him and Rumil speak.

Haldir could only stare at her with the same shocked expression she displayed. She had spoken in perfect elvish for him to leave her sight. "I will not," he responded back and her eyes widened even further.

"How can I speak . . ." she trailed off and shook her head. "How can I understand you?" she asked. Haldir shook his head just as she did.

"There is much that you need to know," came a voice from behind Haldir and the elf stepped further into the room to reveal Galadriel standing in the doorway.

"What exactly?" she asked. It seemed weird to her to hear the elleth's voice coming from her lips instead of echoing in her head. Galadriel stepped further into the room and Ana noticed she could hear the slight movement of her dress and her frown only deepened.

"Yesterday, you drew from Haldir. It appears you drew knowledge of the Elvin tongue, Westron, and if I'm correct your hearing has improved." Ana nodded but she still didn't understand.

"How could I have drawn from him?" She heard Haldir sigh and she looked at him pointedly before she turned back to Galadriel.

"On the . . . creatures that attacked you the other night, Haldir found a stone that carried your likeness. At the time, I did not know its purpose because its magic had not yet been released. He carried with him yesterday morn and when you pushed on his chest the stone's power was released." Ana frowned, she didn't understand anything Galadriel was saying, well she understood it but the tale the words formed was confusing. "You drew some of abilities, the link didn't last long enough for you to gain much but nonetheless you gained some from him."

"What were those things in the trees?" she asked.

"The creatures were orcs," Haldir said Ana looked at him. Green met blue in a daring dance while he continued. "They are the dark lord's minions and he sent them here to-," Haldir made to continue but was stopped when Rumil and Orophin entered the room.

"She has awakened," Rumil said with a smile as he stepped inside. Ana smiled brightly completely forgetting the cold gaze Haldir gave her.

"I have, and I am surprised to see you," she said as she stood from the bed, but her legs were wobbly and didn't hold her weight. Rumil rushed forward quickly and caught her in his arms before she could fall to the floor. Ana gasped and put her hands on his shoulders as he held her. She looked up at him with wide eyes and he looked at her much the same way.

"When . . . how?" he asked and Galadriel cleared her throat gently. Rumil looked at her and sat Ana down on the bed.

"She drew Haldir's language abilities as well as heightened hearing," Galadriel explained. Rumil nodded and smiled down at Ana.

"Well, then it shall be much easier to talk with you then," he said. "Hopefully my brother has not been too hard on you in my absence." Ana raised an eyebrow at him and Rumil laughed. "Haldir and Orophin are my brothers." Ana looked at the two elves in question to see Orophin smiling kindly; however, Haldir's cold gaze remained the same.

"I guess it'll be much easier," Ana said as she looked back to Rumil. Rumil laughed and nodded his head.

"Much," he said through his smile. Galadriel looked to Haldir to see his gaze growing dark as he looked at his brother and the woman he claimed to loath.

"Ana, your body is still weak and I think it wise for you to remain in bed for a time," Galadriel said and Rumil stepped back from Ana where she remained on the bed. "Do not argue with him, child," she added mentally and Ana met Galadriel's eyes with a nod.

"Alright," she whispered as she moved back and covered herself with the blankets. Ana looked at Rumil who continued to smile at her and she blushed slightly. Sadie barked at Rumil and the elf looked at the dog who then laid across Ana's legs. Ana laughed and shook her head before she scratched her head.

"Come, gentlemen. Haldir, you can bring Ana her meal and finish explaining to her what you know," Galadriel said. Ana sighed and looked at Haldir who merely nodded his head. She then looked at Rumil who gave her a small smile and patted her shoulder before he followed Orophin out of the room followed by Galadriel.

"So," Ana said and Haldir turned his eyes to her. "Do you really despise me or is it just an act?" she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest and waited for his answer.