Hey everyone! Thank you for your well wishes. I am feeling better that's why I'm finally writing again. I know some of you would like my chapters longer I really do try and make them as long as I can, but like this one it comes up a little short. When I type them, they're always between four to five pages. I'll do my best to make the next chapter, which should be up sometime tomorrow evening, nice and long. You all will learn more about Ana, and a little more romance will be thrown in! Thanks for reading and I'm really glad you all enjoy my story, and let me know what you think.

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

Chapter 13: Beginning of a Long Night

Haldir stood outside the room where Ana, Lady Galadriel, and Lord Celeborn were. Lady Galadriel was looking into Ana's mind while she slept. Haldir sighed and looked down at his still slightly damp tunic. He ran his fingers over the wetness left by Ana's tears. When her tears had quieted he had carried her from his talan to Lady Galadriel. Two guards were disposing of the orc as he did so. He heard someone enter the room and he lowered his hand and looked up to see a tired looking Rumil and Orophin.

"How many orcs charged the border?" he asked as he stepped over to his brothers.

"Reports say eighty, ten guards fell at the border, but several more were wounded and being tended to," Rumil said. Haldir sighed and nodded his head.

"How did the orc get passed the guards?" Haldir asked confused. Orophin shook his head.

"Their leader, the one you slayed, was the only one to make it near the city. We and several other guards took care of the others," Orophin said.

"I did not slay him." At his brothers' confused face he explained what took place. Rumil and Orophin were surprised to say the least. "I never expected to see her as she was," Haldir said after a moment. "She was like a small child in the body of a woman."

"Did she not act that way when the first pair of orcs attacked?" Orophin asked. Haldir nodded.

"She did, but she controlled herself after a moment. This time, she was . . . broken." Rumil looked at Haldir's confused face and smiled to himself. The look that was in his brother's eyes only confirmed his thoughts on his strange reactions to Ana. Haldir sighed deeply and looked to the door. "I know not what caused her to act as such. Moments before the orc was even within hearing distance she was still defiant with me," he paused and looked back at his brothers. "However, she sensed him when I did and it was like fear took hold of her and the look in her eyes was one that made me guess she was somewhere else in her mind and truth be told it unnerved me a little." Rumil and Orophin nodded.

"Marchwarden," came Galadriel's voice and the three ellons looked up at her with wide eyes. "I now know what all she has gained from you, and some things I did not know but will not share with you." Haldir frowned but Rumil spoke before he did.

"What has she gained from him?" Rumil asked and Galadriel looked at him.

"We know she gained the language skills, sight and hearing, but she has a connection to you," she said as her eyes turned back to Haldir. "When you stood before the orc, you had wished you had grabbed your bow and slayed him before he could have even come near where your talan rested. In a way, you took over her body and slayed the orc through her hands," Galadriel said. Haldir shook his head slightly. He was confused and didn't understand. "It is still not full clear how you were able to do this, but I know you did it unknowingly."

"I have one more question, my lady," Rumil said as he thought of his friend's greatest concern from her drawing from Haldir. Galadriel looked at Rumil and nodded.

"She did gain a longer life from drawing from him. Whether it is a full immortal life or the life like the Dúnedain, it is too soon to tell as of yet." Rumil gave her a small smile and nodded his head. Haldir looked on and took a deep breath. Soft pads were heard from behind Galadriel and all eyes turned to see Ana standing there. Haldir looked at her and her eyes met his for just a fraction of a second before they focused on the wooden floor at her feet. Her eyes were red from her tears and her face was pale. "Haldir, lead Ana back to her talan so she may rest." He kept his eyes on Ana and nodded his head as he walked over to her and took her arm into his. Rumil, Orophin, and Lady Galadriel watched as he led Ana down the steps. Rumil looked back to Galadriel and she looked at him.

"Lady Galadriel, you said you learned some things that you would not share, why is that?" he asked. Galadriel met his gaze and he saw a slight sadness enter the Lady's eyes.

"It is not my story to share. Only Ana can share that part of her past and she is not yet ready to share it." Rumil nodded. "I suggest you both take to rest, you have a long travel ahead to the border tomorrow morning." They bowed their heads and left the Lady. Galadriel sighed when her husband put his hand on her shoulder.

"Your energy is drained," he said gently and she looked at him.

"She fought me heatedly even in her sleep when I tried to tap into the reasoning for her fear. Now I know why she did," she said softly as she turned and laid her head upon his shoulder.

"Come," he said as he embraced her and led her away so she could regain her strength.

Ana walked in silence next to Haldir, she didn't have the will to look him in the eye. Not when she had once again broken down in front of him and when he had kissed her forehead in comfort. "Ana, are you alright?" he asked as he stopped at the foot of the stairs. She didn't look up at him.

"I am fine Haldir. I can walk myself the rest of the way," she said quietly and made to move from him when he held her in place. She looked up at him and glared. "Let me go, please," she whispered. Haldir frowned but did as she asked, however, he followed her when she went up the stairs. As he walked into her talan she sighed and turned back to him. "Just go away!" she exclaimed tiredly.

"No! I will not go away!" he yelled back and Ana looked at him startled. "You come from the room and look as though you have just relived one of the most terrifying moments of your life and y-," Ana cut him off.

"Because I did! She made me live it over again while I slept! As if seeing him in my dreams briefly wasn't enough or hearing his voice and laugh echo in my ears or seeing his shadow wield the knife in a circle of fire!" she yelled as she pushed against his chest. Haldir stumbled back but kept his eyes locked with hers as tears fell from them. "Ever since those things attacked me in the trees, I can't escape him! Just the thought of those creatures makes me become that scared woman again! I haven't been that way for five years and in a blink of an eye, in mere seconds, I am reduced back to that scared woman and I hate it!" A sob escaped her lips and she fell to her knees. Haldir kneeled in front of her and made to put his hands on her shoulders when she shook him off of her. She cried again and Haldir sighed. "Haldir, just go," she said after a moment and wiped her face with her hands. Haldir grabbed her wrists gently and held them.

"Ana, I am not going anywhere. Not until you tell me who this man is you speak of," he said gently and Ana's eyes met his. She was surprised to see concern in their depths and nowhere was the coldness she was so used to. She sniffed and shook her head. "Ana, you can trust me," he said as he moved his hands from her wrists and held her hands tightly in his own.

"She already made me relive it once. I do not want to relive it again." She pulled her hand from his and rushed into her bedroom. He heard two soft thumps and then the rustling of her blankets. He stood and walked into the bedchamber, and Ana sighed as she looked at him from the bed and sat up. "How can I make you go away?" she asked and he walked over to her and sat down on the bed.

"Tell me what I ask," he said.

"I already told you I do not want to talk about it." Suddenly, he raised his hand to her face and held her left side of her face before his fingers trailed down her cheek and then down to the scar on her neck. The tingling sensation she felt before made itself present once more.

"The man you speak of . . . he is the one responsible for this, is he not?" he asked. Ana looked at him with wide eyes and nodded as he ran his fingers along the faded scar. His eyes moved from the scar back to hers. "Tell me, Ana." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she began her tale.