Hey everyone, I know many of you were angry with me, but as you will see by this chapter that there is always a method to my madness. Thank you all so much for your reviews and I hope you like this chapter, even though it is rather short. I wanted to update for you all and I kinda ran out of gas as I finished typing this at 1 o'clock in the morning, considering I've been up since 5 this morning. See, I'm tired because I'm rambling. Anyway, let me know what you think!

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

Chapter 27: Second Chance?

As Aragorn spoke with Theoden, Haldir turned to his brothers that stood and were looking down at Ana's lifeless form. "Did either of you know she was here?" he asked, his voice low and Rumil and Orophin turned their eyes to him and nodded.

"I did, Haldir," Rumil said. "I tried to stop her but she would not hear of it. She saw your death, Haldir, and said she would not let you die." Haldir glared at Rumil, but now was not the time to throttle him into oblivion.

"Then you will stay here with her while Calanon stitches her wound. When this is over, we will take her back to Lothlorien and have a proper burial," Haldir's voice was short and Orophin and Rumil noticed it was very tight. It was as if he was holding himself together by a thin thread that was heavily strained. Rumil nodded and lifted Ana from the ground. Behind them, they heard the king say his men would make a final run, and ride out and meet their enemy.

"We will take care of her, I promise you that my brother. I trust you are going to ride out with the others?" Rumil asked. Haldir's eyes moved from Ana to Rumil and he nodded.

"Yes." He kneeled down and cut a piece of his cloak away and tied it around the injury to his arm before he turned quickly and joined Aragorn. Orophin watched as Rumil carried Ana away followed by Calanon and then looked to Haldir. Orophin knew that his brother was not well and just hoped that no more harm would come to him.

Aragorn turned to Haldir after Theoden turned to order for the horses. Aragorn looked at Haldir sadly. "Haldir, are you certain you are focused enough to ride out?" he asked quietly and the elf nodded.

"I will be fine, Aragorn," he said before he marched over to a spare horse and mounted effortlessly. Aragorn just nodded his head and looked to Legolas who also carried a saddened expression as he looked from Haldir to Aragorn.

"I should have sent her to the caves when I found her," Legolas said to Aragorn quietly. Aragorn just shook his head.

"I knew she was here as well, Legolas, and the resolve that was in her eyes . . . you couldn't have kept her in the caves even if you bound her and tied her to a stone," Aragorn said. Legolas nodded. "Hurry, we must hurry." Legolas followed Aragorn, both the man and the elf pushing their grief to the side, there was still a battle to fight and one woman in particular to fight for with everything they had.

Rumil boarded the room where he and Calanon remained, just in case the soldiers were able to stop all of the Urks that threatened them. Rumil turned around after placing the last item in front of the door. Calanon was already carefully stitching up the fatal wound that took the young woman from the world that she had only been part of for such a short time. Rumil noted Calanon only parted her tunic enough to stitch her skin and preserve her mortal modesty. He sighed and walked over to the ellon.

"It is my fault she perished," Rumil said as he pushed some of her black hair from her pale and nearly colorless face. "I should not have let her come!" he shouted and turned from her body. Calanon shook his head and continued his work.

"It is not your fault Rumil, I know Ana, and she would not have listened to you. She would have found another way whether you would have helped her or not," he said softly. Rumil looked at him and watched as the final stitches closed off the wound. "Turn around Rumil so I may change her tunic and remove what is left of her armor." Rumil did as he was told and Calanon moved quickly and pulled the soft white fabric down over her torso. "You may turn back." Rumil looked at Ana and wanted to cry at the sight. She was so pale, so . . . lifeless, and he knew that if his grief was as great as it was he could not imagine his brother's grief.

He showed no mercy, no care as his blade cut through enemy after enemy. His anger at his brother, and Ana for being foolish enough to think she could battle Urks boiled over. He hated that he felt anger towards her, hated that she was gone that he would never look upon her smile or feel her soft touch against his face ever again. With guttural cries he slashed and pierced his way through and as the sun rose on his darkened heart those around him saw hope when Gandalf the White appeared along with Rohirrim riders. But he felt nothing. There was no hope, no joy, only pain.
Ana felt as though she was floating, she was warm and felt peace but something was missing, something that would make her feel whole was gone. She opened her eyes and sat up slowly. The white mist that gathered around her moved about with the air of her movements and she looked around with confusion clear in her heart and on her face.

"Where am I? What happened?" she asked, but no one was there to answer. She stood from the ground then and looked around. Aside from the mist that covered the land she stood in, the sky was blue and the sun shined brightly down on her, but she did not feel its warmth. She frowned and spun around, the white dress she wore twirling with her and her black hair doing the same. The mist disappeared and there was green, tall grass around her that blew in a slight wind that Ana could not feel. She was in a massive field and she hadn't the slightest clue as to where she was. "Where in the world am I?" she asked in a whisper and the sound of rushing wind met her ears, but she did not turn to the source.

"Where you are, my child, is a place you will not be for much longer" a voice echoed and she turned around only to come face to face with a very tall man. He stood taller than Haldir and his hair was the color of silver and hung down his shoulders. He wore cream colored robes that reminded her of Lord Celeborn's robes, but the man's robes seemed lighter then even the finest Elvin cloth she had ever seen. Then as if his words finally sunk in, everything came rushing back to her. The battle, the creatures, Haldir . . . the pain she saw in his eyes and her heart plummeted.

"I'm dead," she whispered and her eyes moved from the man to the ground. She instinctively raised her hand to grasp her pendant that Haldir had given her, to her surprise it was there and it was warm to the touch. She looked back up at the man and felt the tears prick at the corner of her eyes. "He will die won't he?" she asked. "He will die anyway because of me?" The man gave her a sad smile and stepped over to her towering over her and blocking the sunlight from her face as she looked up at him.

"His destiny is not set in stone, and yours is yet to be finished," he said. Ana frowned and looked up at him.

"What do you mean? How can my destiny not be finished if I'm dead?" He laughed quietly and put his large hand on her shoulder. When his hand touched her shoulder, she felt calm and looked at him closely.

"You were brought to a place that would bring you peace and happiness Anastasia, and there you found it in him." Ana looked at the man in front of her and waited for him continue. "Do you know what your name means, child?" She shook her head. "It means 'resurrection' and that is what shall happen, although you're name shall change a bit." Ana could find no words to answer the man as he squeezed her shoulder. "You shall be known as Adonnenniel, the Elvin form of your name, but to those closest to you . . . you will always be Ana"

"I don't understand," she said. "I really don't. Who are you?"

"Someone who's watched you grow and knows that your task is not yet complete." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. Ana closed her eyes as the wind picked up and she began to feel as if she was blowing away. "When you wake Adonnenniel, you will be different but all else will be the same." His voice echoed in her mind as she slowly slipped into a heavy sleep.