Hey all! Thanks for your reviews, they mean so much! I'm glad you all enjoyed the last chapter and hopefully you'll like this one just as much if not more. This one is the longest chapter yet, and I worked on this one for a while. Let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 20: The Coming

Ana began to wake and she felt warm and safe instead of cold and afraid. Suddenly, everything came back to her. Haldir and the others finding her, killing the men that held her captive and Haldir carrying her away. She opened her eyes and sat up looking around. She was in the cabin Haldir had spoken with her for privacy before the orc attack. She slowly stood and winced when the muscles around her ankles tightened. The rope the men had tied her with was tight and cut into her skin.

She took a few steps before the tent flap opened and Haldir stepped into the room. She looked at him with wide eyes and he sighed heavily before he walked the short distance between them and took her into his arms. Ana wrapped her arms around him and they just held onto each other.

"Ana," he whispered as he gently squeezed her tighter. "I thought . . . I feared . . ." Ana pulled back slightly and smiled up at him as she put her fingers to his lips and silenced him.

"I know, Haldir, I know. I felt the same way," she said. He kissed her forehead before he rested his own against hers.

"You should not have come so far from the city; it is not safe for you. Morcion is going to take you back to the city and he will be bringing Orophin and Rumil back to the border. It is time we strengthen the lines." She nodded slightly. "My duty will be much longer. I won't be returning to the city for at least six more months. I must ensure that the guards will be able to protect the city." Ana felt a knot in her stomach.

"I won't be able to see you for six months?" she asked and he lifted his head and looked down at her.

"You'll see me when I come into the city every four weeks for my reports to the Lord and Lady, but my time in the city is limited for maybe a day or two, and my time at the border may be longer than six months." Ana sighed and laid her head once again on his chest. "I know how you feel, Ana, for I feel the same but it is my duty to protect the city and it is also my duty to protect you." She frowned and looked up at him.

"So, I am only a duty?" she asked in a whisper. Haldir shook his head feverishly and raised his hand to her face.

"No, no, Ana you are not a duty. I care for you . . . a great deal . . . and I must protect you as well as the city." Ana gave him a small smile. "I am just sorry I was unable to protect you yesterday."

"You can't always protect me, just as I can't always protect you," she said gently as she raised her hand to his bandaged arm. He smiled and moved his hand from her face and took her hand into his.

"You should never have to." Ana felt as if she slipped away and saw the life leaving his eyes once again. She blinked and met his eyes. He was looking at her with a confused stare and she pulled his head down to her lips and kissed him firmly. Haldir stiffened at the passion behind her kiss. He pulled her closer and returned her kiss, but in all of his lifetime he never felt anything like she was sharing with him. Ana closed her eyes tightly when she felt tears come to her eyes as he kissed her back. When she finally pulled away she looked up at him breathlessly. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down at her.

"I will always try. As long as I am near you, I will always try," she said her voice quivering. Haldir frowned as he pushed her hair from her face and sat the tears in her eyes.

"Ana," he said quietly before Morcion entered the room. Ana stepped away from Haldir and looked at the ellon. Haldir sighed before he turned and looked at the guard.

"Excuse me, Marchwarden, but the horse is ready," Morcion said as he quickly looked from Ana's flushed face to Haldir's neutral one. Haldir nodded and looked to Ana and took her hand.

"Ride back to the city, and wait for me. I will come to you in three weeks after I meet with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn. We still have much to discuss," Haldir said. Ana nodded and sniffed quietly.

"Of course," she said quietly before she followed Morcion out of the cabin and down the tree to the waiting horse. With one final glance at the flet in the tree, she mounted behind Morcion and rode back into the city.

"Can you tell me something Morcion?" she asked the ellon quietly and he nodded.

"Of course, Ana," he said. Ana sighed and took a deep breath before she spoke again.

"Those men, those men that took me, who were they?" she asked. She flet Morcion stiffen and Ana sighed, thinking she wouldn't receive an answer.

"They were Wildmen ordered by Saruman to follow Sauron's orcs. In the confusion, they were missed and when you descended the ladder they captured you." Ana nodded, even though Morcion couldn't see her. "I do not think another attack will be had on the city. The Dark Lord's attention is now moving and his focus is on something greater than you."

"Good," Ana said quietly, however, Morcion heard her and smiled a small smile, glad that he was able to lift the woman's spirits slightly.

Morcion had been right. No more attacks were made on the border and Galadriel had only confirmed what he had said. Sauron's attention was no longer on her but she was still in slight danger, but no longer his focus.

The days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months at a very slow rate. Ana felt as if she was going to go crazy with little for her to do besides practice her archery, walk through the quiet city, or read. Rumil, Orophin, and Haldir had been at the borders for nearly ten months and she had seen Haldir only eight times and each time she found it harder and harder to let him go. However, he would tell her the guards were doing much better and soon he would be returning to the city for a long time. As she sat with Sadie in the small little cove where Haldir had first kissed her, she thought over her time in Lothlorien.

Ana sighed quietly and laid her head against the tree and Sadie got up and trotted around the little cove. That day was her birthday, and her only wish was for Haldir to come back into the city. Night was slowly approaching and she knew she should head back home and get something to eat, but she wanted to rest there for a little longer. She closed her eyes and sighed once again as her body relaxed against the tree.

"How did I know that I would find you here?" echoed a familiar voice and Ana's eyes snapped open as she sat up straight and looked to her right. Ana smiled brightly and rushed over to him.

"What are you doing back?" she asked as she threw her arms around him in a tight embrace. Rumil laughed as he returned her embrace.

"Haldir, Orophin, and I have brought several visitors to the city. Haldir is leading them to Lady Galadriel now." Ana pulled away and stepped back from him as Sadie trotted over and barked. Rumil smiled down and patted Sadie's head.

"Visitors? What kind of visitors?" she asked.

"Two men, four hobbits, an elf, and a dwarf," he said slowly and Ana nodded.

"Okay, men, elf, and dwarf I get but what's a hobbit?" she asked.

"You'll see later this eve. Come with me," he said as he held out his arm. Ana raised an eyebrow as she linked her arm with his. The pair slowly made their way down the path with Sadie following close behind.

"Where are we going?" she asked after a while and when he led her down an unfamiliar path.

"You'll see," Rumil said. Ana laughed quietly and shook her head. They went through a thin bush border and stepped into a clearing near the bridge that went over the great river. "If only it were spring instead of winter, you'd see the beautiful Night Blooming Orchids that cover the grass," Rumil whispered at seeing the awed expression on her face. He then led her to a small bench close to the trees and had her sit. "Wait here," he said gently before he led Sadie away and was lost in the trees. Ana frowned and looked around her. There was complete silence around her and she pulled her thick cloak closer around her to ward off the slight chill that filled the mid-winter air.

As she sighed and sat down she felt as though someone was watching her. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced into the trees and when her eyes locked with smiling pair that were hidden slightly behind the trees. Haldir stepped forward and walked slowly to her and when he came within three feet of her she launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck. Haldir smiled and wrapped her in his arms.

"Rumil said you were taking the visitors to Lady Galadriel," she said muffled against his neck. Haldir chuckled.

"I was, but they are now at their own camp within the city," he said gently. Haldir sighed as he held her, it had seemed so long since he held her when in actuality it was only two weeks earlier that he had come into the city and had gone to her talan while she slept. He held her then while she was lost in the world of dreams, and when he too fell asleep he woke to her kissing his cheek gently.

"I have missed you," she said. Haldir smiled and raised his hand to rest on the back of her head.

"I have missed you too." She pulled back and looked up at him. As he lowered his hand from her head he leaned into her and kissed her lips softly and when he had pulled away from her lips he smiled down at her. "Happy Birthday Ana," he said softly. Ana laughed quietly.

"How did you know? I haven't told you when my birthday was," she said as she moved her hands to rest on his chest. Haldir's hands remained on her hips and he returned her smile.

"When I left to escort the visitor's to their camp, Lady Galadriel told me." Ana shook her head as she sighed.

"She knows a lot of things doesn't she?" Haldir nodded.

"She does, but she does not know all I am afraid." Ana gave him a small smile and he found himself leaning into her. He kissed her then, slowly, deeply, and firmly. Ana sighed against his lips as she ran her hands up his chest to his neck. It was almost like he was trying to say something through his kiss as his lips claimed hers and as he tasted her, but what it was, Ana couldn't tell. He pulled away quickly and looked into the trees before he looked down at her. He couldn't help but smile at her dazed and slightly confused expression. "Come, I'm afraid our privacy has been invaded." Ana smiled and laced her arm with his as he led her back towards her talan.

As they walked Ana rested her head on Haldir's shoulder, just thankful to be in his company once again, however, her mind kept traveling back to the kiss he gave her back near the river. They had only shared one other kiss like that and it was back in the cabin on the border, all those months ago when she had kissed him and when she had poured every emotion into that kiss she could have.

"What are you thinking?" he asked in a whisper and Ana raised her head then as a blush slowly graced her cheeks.

"Nothing, why are we whispering?" she asked with a frown causing Haldir to chuckle and he motioned his head to the left. There was a small camp of people. Some were readying for bed and the others were talking quietly. "Introduce me to them, please?" she asked as she looked up at him.

"Why?" he asked and Ana shrugged.

"Well, if you go back to the border soon and if they stay a while, maybe I can make some new friends." Haldir hesitated for a moment as he looked at her but nodded slowly. He truly didn't know hen he would be going back to the border. He walked slowly over them with his arm holding securely onto Ana. All their eyes turned to them and most stopped and stared at Ana.

"Gentlemen," Haldir said in Westron and most stood, except for two hobbits that looked at Ana with wide eyes as they laid on their beds. "My companion wished to welcome you to Lothlorien." Haldir slowly let go of her arm and Ana stepped forward.

"Hello," she said gently with a soft smile. "I'm –," she suddenly stopped as her eyes met the grey eyes of the dark haired man. "No," she thought as she looked at him. The man frowned as he looked at her and Ana felt the blood drain from her face as her eyes remained locked with his. Haldir frowned at seeing the frightened look that graced Ana's face as she looked at Aragorn. He stepped over to her and gently grabbed her upper left arm.

"Ana?" he asked gently and she moved her eyes from Aragorn to Haldir. "What is the matter?" he asked and she shook her head.

"Nothing, nothing," she whispered before she glanced back at the small party, purposely avoiding the dark haired man's gaze. She cleared her throat and gave the group a small smile. "I am Ana, and I hope you find rest within the city," she said softly before she looked to Haldir. "I can walk myself the rest of the way, Haldir," she said quickly switching back to Elvish. "Meet me at my talan in an hour, I have something for you." Haldir nodded and lowered his hand to hers where he squeezed it gently. She gave him a small smile and quickly made her way through the trees towards her talan all the while holding in her tears.