I'msorryfor not updating for so long and for this chapter being so short, but I've had a little writer's block because my life has been thrown in a blender and insanity has filled my days. I do hope you like it even though it is so short, and thank you all so very much for your reviews!

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

Chapter 23: Introductions and Good Byes

Ana held onto Haldir tightly as they walked and Haldir laughed softly. "Do not worry, Ana," he whispered to her. "You'll see that everything shall be fine." Ana nodded and leaned into him as he continued to lead her, however, before they reached the area where the others sat, Haldir stopped. She looked up at him and he raised his free hand to her face. "Ana, I know something has been bothering you, but I would not press it, and since we parted ways this morning you seem much more at ease."

"I am, Haldir," she said gently as he ran his thumb across her cheek. "The Lady helped me think something through, and I am much better." He gave her another smile and nodded his head before he found himself leaning in a kissing her softly. She sighed and closed her eyes and returned his kiss. After a moment, Haldir pulled his lips away from hers.

"We should join the others before we are late," he said his voice huskier and deep than she remembered it being. She met his eyes and nodded her head.

"Okay," she whispered and the pair continued on. As they stepped into the clearing the small group was sitting around a long table. Ana smiled at the curious faces of the four small men that looked at her with wide eyes. "Good morning gentlemen," she said in Westron. "I do hope the city gave you the rest you all looked as though you needed."

"In deed we did Ana," Aragorn said as he stood the others doing following his lead. Ana smiled at him and felt Haldir step up next to her.

"Ana, as you know already know Aragorn, I believe further introductions are due," Haldir said. Ana looked at him and nodded before she looked back at the group. The other man in the group bowed his head to her and she gave him a smile.

"I am Boromir son of Denthor," he said. Ana bowed her head to him in return as her eyes moved to the smaller man with a bushy and itchy looking beard. Ana assumed him to be the dwarf of the group.

"Gimli son of Gloin, my lady," he said. Ana smiled at him and bowed her head before her attention was drawn to a tall elf that was part of the group. His garb was different than Haldir's or any other ellon she had seen in Lothlorien.

"I am Legolas of the woodland realm of Mirkwood," he said with a bow of his head. Ana's eyes widened. She had read about Mirkwood and how it had been taken by darkness and the only safe part of the forest was Northern Mirkwood where the kingdom dwelled.

"I'm Pippin," echoed a smaller voice and Ana's eyes turned from the tall elf to the small child that stood next to Legolas, but soon she realized he was no child, but a small man.

"He must be one of the hobbits," Ana thought to herself and she smiled kindly at him.

"And this is Merry, Sam, and Frodo," Pippin said as he pointed to his friends. Ana looked to the other three hobbits and smiled at each of them. She noticed Merry had a bright smile while Sam grinned at her shyly and Frodo's smile was small and laced with a sadness. She could feel a heavy burden on the small man and she found her heart aching for him. Haldir took her hand and led her over to the table. She sat down in the empty seat to the right of Aragorn and Haldir sat to her right. Everyone took their seat as she did and soon the midday meal began.

They ate in somewhat silence except for the small chatter of the hobbits, until Boromir sat down his goblet and looked at Ana.

"Tell me, why does a mortal woman dwell in a city of elves that is slowly emptying?" he asked. Ana looked at him and could feel Haldir tense slightly at her side, but she knew the man's question wasn't an insult.

"The elves of Lothlorien saved my life, took me under their care, and have given me a new life, Boromir," she said. "I have learned much from them and as you and your company should know many things are not always as they appear. There is more to me than I shall share with this company because they are my secrets and mine alone." She felt Haldir's tenseness slowly disappear and she reached for his hand under the table and squeezed it gently.

"You speak Elvish," Pippin said. "We heard you last night. When did you learn it?" Ana looked to the young hobbit and gave him a small smile.

"That is a long story, Pippin, but I will say that it came very . . . easily to me." Pippin and the others looked at her slightly confused, but Ana ignored their looks and stood from the table. "I will let you gentlemen continue your meal, I'm afraid a friend of mine has been watching my dog and I wish to retrieve her and go for a walk." With that Ana looked at Haldir questioningly and he gave her a small smile before he nodded. She returned his smile and leaned into him and kissed him briefly before she made her way to Rumil's talan to see if he was home so she could get Sadie.

The four hobbits, one man, elf and dwarf looked at the Marchwarden with slightly shocked faces. Aragorn just finished the water from his goblet and wiped his lips. "Well, that was interesting," Pippin said quietly to Merry.

The days seemed to pass all too quickly while the visitors were in the city. It felt like only a few days to Ana when the dawn of the final day of the visitor's stay came. Ana stood before Aragorn holding the Lorien cloak he was to be given while Lady Galadriel spoke to them. Ana tuned her out trying to control her tears. She hated that they were leaving. She enjoyed the company of the hobbits and their free spirits that lifted her heart and the man that stood before her reminded her so much of her brother, that she hated to see him go.

Haldir and the other elves began to put the cloaks on the leaving visitors and she hastily made to do the same. As she pinned the cloak to him she sniffed and Aragorn raised his hands to hers. She looked up at him and gave him a small teary eyed smile.

"Do not weep," he whispered in Elvish and Ana nodded her head as she sniffed once more.

"Stay safe," she whispered back and he nodded. Ana stepped away as Galadriel moved before them to present them with their parting gifts.