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Chapter 24: Decision Time

Ana watched the boats row down the great river and wrapped her arms around her middle. The coldness of the air that morning hit her while she stood next to the water and she shivered even under her thick warm cloak. Strong, warm, and sure hands clamped down onto her shoulders. She leaned back against him and sighed. "Do you think they'll be alright?" she asked quietly.

"I do not know for certain," Haldir said gently and she nodded. Ana knew that Haldir knew the reason for Aragorn and the other's journey, but she wouldn't ask. It wasn't her place to know, at least not yet anyway. She turned around and wrapped her arms around him as she buried her face in his chest. Haldir stiffened slightly but soon returned her embrace and kissed the top of her head. "Ana, what is it? Not long ago you were relieved of the burden you carried, but now you seem just as troubled." She sighed.

"I've just been thinking about a lot of things lately," she whispered as she thought of one of the many conversations she shared with Aragorn.

Ana was dressed in leggings and a tunic while she chased around the trees with Sadie. Her hair was in a long braid down her back and she laughed happily as Sadie chased her and she changed her path and ran back. When she glanced over her shoulder she ran full speed into someone sending both of them crashing to the ground. "Uff," she heard the deep male voice produce and she sat up quickly and moved off of him. She took a deep breath and laughed embarrassedly as she looked at Aragorn who slowly sat up.

"I'm sorry Aragorn," she said breathlessly. "Are you alright?" she asked as Sadie charged over to her and licked her face. Aragorn chuckled and nodded his head.

"I am fine," he said as he bent his knees and rested his forearms on his knees. Ana kneeled next to him and smiled while Sadie sat next to her panting slightly.

"He is a beautiful animal," Aragorn said as he reached forward and petted Sadie. Ana smiled and scratched Sadie's head.

"That she is. Her name is Sadie." Aragorn smiled and nodded his head. Ana looked at Sadie and Aragorn studied Ana. "You know, you remind me of my brother, Daniel," she said randomly and Aragorn smiled when she looked at him.

"How so?" he asked and shifted so he was sitting facing her. Ana laughed and shook her head.

"It's silly really, but you carry yourself the same way and are just as quiet and reserved as he is. You also have an air about you, a confidence, but an uncertainty at the same time, just like him. He runs a large business back home, but he always doubts himself." Ana smiled and sat on her butt while Sadie remained where she was. "He's the second greatest man I've ever known, second only to our father." Aragorn smiled at her again.

"Do you miss them? Do you miss your family?" Ana sighed and shrugged.

"There are times that I do, but they lived far away from me before I came here. I rarely got time to see them anyway, and Sadie has been my companion for a long time."

"She seems protective of you; in fact all that seem to meet you become very protective of you." Ana laughed.

"You mean Haldir." Aragorn nodded. "Rumil and Orophin are the same way, however, Haldir is the worse of the three. Don't take what I say the wrong way, because I love him dearly, but sometimes I wish he wasn't so protective. However, I know he has his reasons." Ana raised her hand to the pendant that rested around her neck as silence wrapped around the pair.

"May I ask you something?" he asked and she looked at him as he shifted his position and stood. Ana nodded and took his offered hand. Aragorn helped her to her feet. "I am curious to know something, but I truly do not know how to ask it." Ana let go of his hand and shook her head.

"You may ask what you wish." Aragorn looked at the pendant on her neck and then met her eyes once more.

"Do you not fear your relationship with Haldir?" he asked.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I know all to well the position you share with him, and the doom that is your relationship." Ana sighed and shook her head.

"I know that he is immortal, and that I am mortal but because of one of the reasons I was brought here and because of him I was given a longer life." Aragorn furrowed his brow and Ana sighed as she looked back down at Sadie and continued. "I was . . . given a longer life than I was intended to have where I am from and he is not afraid. He is not afraid to love me. He loves me and feels that one lifetime with me is worth more than all the lifetimes he has lived and will live combined. I cannot deny him the happiness he has when he is with me, and I may be selfish, but I will not deny myself a love that I thought I would never, ever have." Aragorn gave her a small smile and nodded his head.

"Then you are wiser than I," he said softly and it was Ana's turn to frown. "Take care, and do be more careful," he finished with a wink. Ana laughed quietly and he smiled at her before he walked away. Ana sighed and looked back to Sadie.

"Come on girl," she said and continued on her own way.

Ana looked back up at Haldir and kissed his chin. "I shall try not to dwell on my thoughts much longer," she said softly. "At least for as long as you are within the city." Haldir smiled down at her and nodded his head.

"Then you shall not dwell on them for a long time," he whispered to her as he raised his hand to her face then down her neck and tilted her face to his. His fingers danced across the scar that rested on her neck. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply at the warmth that seeped through her from his touch. "I will not be going back to the border for many months." She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at him. Haldir returned her smile before he leaned down and pulled on her neck so her lips met his heatedly in a deep searing kiss.

Ana sighed contentedly as she slowly opened her eyes. A protective arm was wrapped around her waist and she ran her hand softly up the forearm. She felt his breath dance across her neck and she smiled and turned around in his arms. Haldir smiled at her and raised his arm from her waist and pushed her hair from her face. "When did we come here?" she asked sleepily.

"You fell asleep listening to the songs last night so I brought you to your talan, only to have you pull me down onto your bed. You held me so tightly and whimpered that you could not let me go," he said slowly. "There was a pain in your tone I have not heard for so long, Ana." Ana closed her eyes and moved further into his arms holding onto his warmth. She didn't want to think of the dreams that plagued her once again. All that was replaying in her mind was Haldir's life leaving his eyes.

It had been almost two months since Aragorn and the others' parting and the last week, Ana's nights have been plagued by those visions. One thing she promised herself was that if Haldir was to take leave of the forest, she would follow even if she had to do so in secret. She would follow him.

"It is nothing, Haldir, just nightmares again." Haldir tightened his grip around her and closed his own eyes. Nothing had been more pleasing to him than watching her sleep for most of the night. He had not been tired and watched her. She was restless, but when he would whisper to her and stroke her hair she would calm for a time and sink into his arms. Haldir worried for her, but there was a pressing matter he had not yet discussed with her.

"Ana, there is something I must tell you," he said softly. She looked up at him and he kissed her forehead. "I am to meet with Lady Galadriel today, and something tells me I will be leaving for a time." Ana sat up quickly and Haldir looked at her, her midnight hair falling in slight tangles around her cream skin and white dress. Haldir slowly sat up and looked at her confused.

"Where are you going?" she asked her voice trembling. Haldir frowned and raised his hand to her face and gently caressed her face in his hand.

"I do not know, I am to meet with her later this afternoon." Ana sighed and wrapped her arms around him tightly. Haldir returned her embrace. "Ana, talk to me, what is it?" he asked as he held her slightly trembling form.

"Nothing," she said quietly and pulled back and met his clear blue eyes. Haldir's frowned deepened when he saw the deep worry in her dark green eyes. "Just promise me, wherever you go, come back to me." He held her face in his hands, he was confused. He didn't understand what was wrong.

"I promise," he whispered and Ana leaned into him and kissed him. Haldir sighed against her lips and returned her kiss. Where her worry and fear was coming from he didn't know, but he would try and quell that fear as long as he could.

"The race of men is in need of aid, and we cannot let them stand alone," Galadriel told Haldir and he nodded. "You are to lead the elves of Imaldris and the elves of Lothlorien to Helms Deep to fight along side men and honor our old elegance."

"Of course, my lady, I shall do so proudly," he said with a bow of his head. Galadriel gave him a small smile.

"You are to lead the Lothlorien elves to the meeting place the day after tomorrow night. Nearly all the preparations are finished and shall be finished before the sun sets tomorrow. No time shall be wasted." Haldir nodded and with a final bow left the Lady's talan.

As his foot touched the grass at the foot of the stairs Ana was in front of him. She had changed from her white dress and now wore a cream one with her hair down and flowing. She looked beautiful, but the anxiety in her eyes took over her beauty.

"Ana? What are you doing here?" he asked as he put his hands on her upper arms and looked down at her.

"Where are you going?" she asked in a whisper. Haldir sighed and pushed her hair on the left side over her shoulder.

"I am to lead a party of elves to Helms Deep and aid men in the battle against the Dark Lord." He saw her lower lip tremble and he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I will see you tonight, right now there is much I have to do." Ana nodded and watched him walk away quickly. She sniffed and held back her tears. Now was not the time for tears. She lifted her head high and marched off through the city and soon found who she was looking for.

"Rumil!" she called and the ellon turned from the guard he was talking with and excused himself and rushed over to her.

"Ana? What is it?" he asked softly and the resolved look on her face nearly frightened him.

"You are to go with Haldir and the party of elves, are you not?" she asked. He frowned and nodded. "Good, I need your help."

"What do you need my help with?" he asked. Ana took a deep breath. She was going to do it, she didn't care, it was decision time and nothing was going to change her mind.

"I need the garb that you will be wearing, because I march with you."