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Chapter 25: Helms Deep

Rumil looked at Ana like she had lost her mind before he finally found his voice once more. "What?" he yelled causing all the elves that were around them to look their way. Ana sighed and pulled him off down the path and away from prying eyes and ears. She took a deep breath and began to state her case as they walked.

"Rumil, there is something you don't know and I do not know how to tell you," she said quietly before she closed her eyes. "I don't even know if I should tell you." Rumil stopped and took her hand into his. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"You know you can tell me anything Ana," he said softly. Ana sighed and pulled her hand away from him. She held onto the pendant Haldir gave her and held his gaze.

"The reason I will be marching with you is because I have to save him." Rumil frowned but waited for her to continue. "A year ago, I had a dream, one that showed Haldir upon a stone wall surrounded by other elves. They looked out over the wall at an approaching enemy, but it was as if they couldn't see me. I ran to him, and said his name but suddenly I was blinded by a flash. Then I was standing in the middle of a fierce battle, the creatures they fought did not look like orcs. They were much larger and more sinister." She stopped and sighed as she lowered her hand and looked down at the path at their feet. "I saw Aragorn call out to Haldir, of course at the time I didn't know who Aragorn was." Rumil nodded but Ana did not see it. "Soon I saw him. He was fighting two of the creatures and as the final one in front of him was dead, he nodded at Aragorn. He called to his guards only to be struck down from behind." Tears fell from Ana's eyes as the sight replayed in her mind. "I watched as he fell to his knees and Aragorn ran to him. I did the same and I begged him not leave me, and then it was as if he did see me and as his last breath left he called my name." She sniffed and looked back at Rumil. "I cannot and will not let him die!" she practically yelled. Rumil stepped over to her and put his hands on her shoulders, his own heart nearly breaking at the look that was in her eyes.

"You do not have to fight, I can watch over him for you," he said softly. Ana shook her head.

"No, Rumil, I'm going to go. If I do not go, I will never forgive myself if he dies." Rumil sighed and lowered his hands.

"What if you do go and he lives but you perish?" Ana shook her head and wiped her face dry with her hands.

"I will not fall. Please, Rumil, I need your held." Rumil knew there was no point in trying to talk her out of it. There was such determination in her eyes and he knew he would never be able to break it. "I can fight. I can use a bow just as well as Haldir and my blade skills are enough to keep me alive."

"Fine, Ana, I will help you, but if Haldir finds out he'll have my head." Ana smiled and embraced him tightly.

"He won't find out, and if he does I'll tell him I took the items and followed." Rumil sighed once more and returned her embrace.

"I hope you understand what you are doing Ana," Rumil thought as they pulled back from each other. "Come, there is much to be done." She nodded and followed him to where he would get her a cloak, helmet, and armor.

Ana paced nervously around in her talan, Sadie was in Sanya's care while she would be away. Besides Rumil, Sanya was the only other one to know of Ana's intentions. However, Ana had a feeling Galadriel knew but she wasn't stopping her. Sanya was Ana's closest female friend and she was thankful to have her. She ran a shaky hand through her hair and sighed.

The group was to leave in two hours and Rumil was holding her items for her to change into when she met up with him after saying good-bye to Haldir. As she turned once more she collided with a firm figure behind her. Strong hands were placed on her waist and she looked up and into Haldir's smiling eyes. Without a second thought she threw her arms around him. He wore his armor so it wasn't the most comfortable hug, but she was determined to hold him for as long as she could.

"I will be alright, Ana," he whispered into her hair. She sighed and nodded. After a moment, she looked up at him. He raised his hand to her face and ran his fingers across her skin so softly, she felt as if a feather danced across her face. He tilted her head up and leaned down to her. He kissed her slowly and deeply, just enjoying the feel and taste of her. Ana sighed into his kiss as she returned it and played with his hair. She knew it would be the last kiss they shared for some time. When he pulled away she looked up at him almost breathlessly.

"I love you," she whispered and he smiled.

"And I you," he said before he kissed her lips softly once more time. "I will come back to you, Ana." She nodded and he slipped away from her and left the talan. She looked at the closed door and took a deep breath.

"I know you will, because I'm going with you to make sure of it," she whispered before she grabbed the small satchel that contained her leggings, tunic, and boots before she quickly made her way out of the talan and to her meeting place with Rumil.

Ana marched in the second row, behind Orophin and Rumil and next to an ellon she didn't know from Imladris. They had been marching for several days and Ana was growing tired, but she would not show it. She was supposed to be an elf at that moment and if she would lag behind it would blow her cover.

They were very near their destination, Rumil had told her he could see it clearly in the distance over three hours ago, but unfortunately she could not see it. "We will break for a moment! We are less than two hours from our destination!" Haldir called and Ana sighed quietly. The band broke for just a moment while the elves drank from their water skins or chatted very quietly. Rumil turned to Ana.

"I know you are tired," he said quietly. Ana just glared at him, as if her height wasn't already an issue for her now he made her worry that she was stumbling.

"I'm fine, Rumil," she whispered as she cast a glance at Haldir who was thankfully talking to Orophin. "Does he know or suspect?" she asked quietly. Rumil shook his head.

"He asked who the 'shorter guard' was; I told him you were a newer guard under Orophin's group." Ana nodded nervously. "Don't worry, Orophin knows it is you, and he is the best deceiver between the two of us when it comes to Haldir. So, your secret is safe." Ana sighed in relief and nodded her head.

"Fall together!" Haldir called and once again the elves and Ana set out.

Ana felt an overwhelming sense of dread fill her as Helms Deep came into her sight. They began to march up the ramp and one of the elves sounded the horn. Ana took a deep breath as they walked up the ramp and her eyes traveled along the wall where she had seen Haldir stand. She turned her eyes ahead and swallowed down the lump that found its way to her throat. "Now is not the time to chicken out Anastasia!" she scolded herself. "You cannot let him die." Ana sighed as the doors opened and the men of Rohan let in the elves of Lothlorien and Imaldris. She just hoped that Haldir would not notice her before the battle began.

They marched and stopped before the stairs that led to the inner part of the keep and turned to face the surprised face of a blonde man with a trimmed beard and dressed in intricate armor. There were others looking upon them with amazement and wonder written across their faces but Ana figured the older man was their leader just by the design of his armor. She felt slightly out of place under the awed looks of the men, because she knew she was nothing special.

"How is this possible?" the blonde man asked in Westron and Ana watched the interaction between the man and Haldir closely.

"I bring word from Elrond of Rivendell. An alliance once existed between Elves and men. Long ago we fought and died together," Haldir said. Ana's posture stiffened slightly at his words but followed his gaze up to see Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. She smiled at them, even though they did not look her way as they rushed down the stairs. "We come to honor that allegiance," Haldir said and Ana could hear the smile and in his voice. Aragorn rushed to Haldir with a bright smile on his face and it made Ana's heart lighter to know the man was happy to see them.

"Mae govannen, Haldir," Aragorn said as he bowed his head but then quickly embraced Haldir. Ana held back her laugh and saw Rumil glance at her before he turned back ahead. "You are most welcome," Aragorn said as he pulled back. Legolas ran down the steps and clasped Haldir's shoulder tightly. Haldir did the same. Legolas then stepped behind Haldir and Ana noticed the elf seemed to stand taller and more proud than she had seen him before. Haldir turned his attention back to the blonde man and smiled.

"We are proud to fight alongside men, once more," Haldir said and the man just looked on surprised. The man nodded his head after a moment and walked down to Haldir. Ana looked to Rumil when the elves relaxed their posture.

"What's going to happen now?" she asked in Elfish. Rumil looked to her but quickly glanced at Haldir, Aragorn, and the others before he looked back at her.

"We will take our positions and follow our orders," he whispered. Ana nodded and opened her mouth to speak when she was cut off by another.

"Rumil!" Legolas called as he walked over and Ana gasped when the elf clasped the other's shoulder. Legolas' eyes turned to her and when his silver-blue ones met her dark green ones it was his turned to be surprised. "Ana?" he asked and she winced.

"Shh," she said as she glanced to where Haldir stood only to see him deep in conversation with Aragorn and the blonde man. She looked back at him. "Haldir doesn't know I'm here, please do not tell him."

"Rumil, how could you let her come?" Legolas asked in a whisper. Ana frowned.

"He did not let me come, I would have come anyway." Legolas sighed.

"I will not tell him, but if he finds you on his own, I will not stand in the way of what he will do." Legolas led Rumil away and Ana sighed as she adjusted her hood and as she turned to look at Haldir her eyes locked with a pair of grey eyes that looked at her in shock with a forming anger deep within their depths.

"Oh great," she whispered.