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Chapter 17: Dreams and Feelings

Rumil walked into the city feeling good to be back in the welcoming light. The spring air was rich and the forest floor was golden with the fallen leaves of the trees that now shined like silver pillars. Lothlorien in the spring, there never was anything more beautiful and his long walk back to the city was rather enjoyable. AS he made his way to his talan where he was going to take a hot bath, and find rest for a time as the sun was about to set. Suddenly, a hand reached out and clamped his shoulder. Rumil looked over to his left and smiled at Orophin.

"It is good that you have returned, but I am afraid I have some news for you concerning our older brother," Orophin said. Rumil frowned. Haldir had been fine not two days ago, and unless a messenger traveled by horse, they would not have made it back before he and the small party of guards that walked with him.

"Not ill news I hope," Rumil said and Orophin lowered his hand with a bright smile coming to his face.

"Well, it seems as though Haldir has admitted something towards Ana as I found her in his arms and their lips pressed together not but a week ago." Rumil laughed quietly. He was slightly surprised at the change in events during the month he was on the border, but not completely surprised. He knew that Haldir felt something towards Ana, and it pleased him to know that maybe his brother had found his match in Ana.

Ana sat on her bed propped up against her pillows reading once again. Sadie's head was on her lap and she slowly turned the page. She was sleepy so she closed her book and sat it on her nightstand before she laid her head back on the pillows and began to drift off.

Darkness. She was surrounded in it until she blinked several times. She stood on a high stone wall in a place that she did not recognize, but she was surrounded by many others, elves mostly and in the distance, she saw many men and even small children. She looked further down the wall and felt as though she froze. Haldir stood near the edge looking down over the abyss and the looked that graced his features was one that she had seen before. Only it was when she had first found herself in Lothlorien and it was directed at her.

She didn't bother to look and see what he was looking at, there was a loud noise coming from where his eyes were glued, and she refused to look at it. She knew what they were just by the sounds they made. Ana rushed over to him in between the two rows of elves and put her hand on his shoulder. She saw and felt him stiffen, but he did not turn.

"Haldir?" she asked quietly but only a flash was her response. She stepped back and blinked several more times to clear her sight. A battle raged on around her and the large black creatures were not orcs but something even worse, and she found herself not even wanting to know what they were. She heard a man's voice call out.

"Haldir!" she heard and then saw a tall dark haired man, battle worn and tired, call up as he was looking up on the wall where she stood. Ana followed his eyes and didn't listen to the rest of his words. Haldir was fighting many of the creatures with his sword, a weapon she knew he was deadly at wielding. As the final one in front of him was slayed he stood and nodded. He called to the other elves but when he made to step, one of the creatures delivered a fatal blow to his back. Ana screamed.

"No!" she cried as she ran to him and he fell on his knees. She kneeled in front of him as tears fell from her eyes and his scanned the fallen soldiers. She sobbed quietly and put her hands on his cheeks. "Please don't' go," she whispered. His eyes met hers for a second and she saw a small smile grace his lips and a sparkle come to his eyes before he started to fall back and out of her hands.

"Ana," he whispered as the life left his eyes and he fell into the arms of the dark haired man. Ana cried out and shook her head as she grabbed for him. The dark haired man looked down at Haldir mournfully. She took Haldir's hand into hers and as soon as she did another white flash filled her eyes.

Ana sat up with a gasp and she startled Sadie who had jumped down from the bed. She shook her head and wiped at the dampness on her cheeks. Quickly, she climbed from the bed and slid on her slippers before she rushed out of her talan and down the many steps. Sadie followed behind her and as Ana walked down the stairs; she saw Rumil and Orophin walking near.

"Rumil!" she called relieved to see her friend, but worried about Haldir's all the same. Rumil looked up and smiled as he saw Ana descend the last few stairs and run towards them, however, when he saw her face and the cloud of worry that was over it, he looked to Orophin who looked at him just as confused. She ran to them and out breath she panted. "Rumil, when you left the border was Haldir alright?" she asked quickly. Rumil frowned and nodded.

"Aye, he was find when I left. Why do you ask?" Rumil questioned. She shook her head and ran a slightly trembling hand through her hair.

"No reason. I was just curious." She smiled then and lowered her hand. "How was your time there?" she asked. Rumil looked at her with concern, before she smiled at him and he slowly returned it.

"Everything went well," he said quietly as he held out his arm out to her and she took it. Orophin walked to her other side and took her other arm. Ana laughed quietly and shook her head as the two ellons walked Ana throughout the city telling her of the little activity they encountered on the border.

Haldir sighed as he bit into his bread. He chewed slowly as he thought of how things had changed for him. Before all he was consumed by was the thought of keeping the city safe and free of those that would travel into the woods with harmful intentions, but since Ana's arrival he found himself concerned for her as well as protecting the city. He did not think it was love, at least not yet anyway. He had been on the border for nearly two weeks, and he could not wait to return to the city . . . to his Ana.

"Marchwarden?" asked Morcion, a newer guard. Haldir looked up and saw the ellon's concerned face and stood.

"What is it?" he asked. Morcion pointed to the right and spoke quickly.

"A band of orcs has been spotted near the border." Haldir took a slow and deep breath.

"Very well. You take . . ." Haldir began giving orders and the elves quickly moved through the trees and readied themselves for battle as the sun began to set.

Ana sat hemming a dress Lady Galadriel had given her. It was a beautiful sage color and it looked lovely on her, except it was a little too long. With Rumil's help she pinned the dress and was now hemming it so it was the proper length. She planned on wearing it the day Haldir returned from the border. The sun was setting so she lit several candles and the fire burned steadily in front of her as she carefully stitched the dress.

Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed and her hands started to tremble. She sat the material down in her lap and looked at her hands. She made them into fists and took slow and steady breath.

"What is going on?" she asked no one because Sadie was off with Rumil. The dog had taken a liking to the ellon after he gave her treats, of course. She pushed the fabric aside and stood. She walked over to the window and looked down before she closed her eyes and listened closely but she heard nothing. Her eyes widened when a burning sensation trailed down her right arm. She cried out quietly and wrapped her right arm with her left hand. She lifted her hand and found nothing wrong with her arm, but the burning remained and she felt as though a liquid was running from her arm, however, there was nothing. Ana looked up from her arm and out her window through the vast trees. "Haldir," she whispered before she ran from her talan to find Rumil.

Ana ran up the stairs that led to Rumil's talan that was farther than she realized from her own. She knocked quickly on the door and Rumil opened it surprised to see Ana standing there panting. "Rumil! Something has happened. I don't know what's going on, but something's happened to Haldir," she said quickly as she walked in side. Her arm still burned but she did not feel the liquid running down her arm. She started to pace the floor and she was unable to explain the sudden panic she felt. Rumil put his hands on her shoulders and stilled her movements, and she looked up at him.

"Be still, Ana," Rumil said gently. "I am sure he is fine. There has been little to no activity on the borders since the orc attack. Not even so much as a band spotted in the distance." Ana sighed and shook her head.

"Rumil, I can't explain it, but I know something has happened. I think he's been hurt," she finished in a whisper as she held onto her arm. Rumil looked at her left hand over her right arm and frowned as his eyes moved to hers that were laced with fear, confusion, and a deep frustration. "Please, Rumil, I must know if he's alright." Rumil sighed quietly and took his hands off her shoulders. Sadie sat near the fire watching the two closely.

"In the morning we shall take horses and ride to the border. We will move quicker by horseback and would arrive on the borders within half a day." Ana frowned.

"Can we not ride now?" she asked. Rumil shook his head.

"We shall wait for the morning, Ana, if what you say is true, then we would only be putting ourselves into danger. If there is an emergency a guard will sound the alarm." Ana nodded but wrapped her arms around her middle. Rumil watched as she let her worry consume her. "Ana, you had the same haunted look in your eyes when I arrived in the city last week. What was it that caused that look?" She looked up at him and sighed before she looked away again.

"I really don't want to talk about it Rumil. I'll let you rest and Sadie can stay with you. I'll meet you at the stables at dawn." Rumil nodded and she walked away and out of the talan. Rumil sighed and looked at Sadie whose head was tilted and looked at him curiously. The elf pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tightly before he lowered his hand. He hoped that Haldir was not hurt and that when they arrived at he border and Ana saw Haldir well and unharmed that her mind would be put at ease.