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Chapter 38: Task Complete . . . But Life Continues

"Your task is finished Ana," a voice echoed that she had only heard once before. Ana opened her eyes and once again found herself laying in the familiar field. She sat up quickly and stood. She was confused. She wasn't hurt enough to die. She shouldn't be there.

"I'm not dead am I? I shouldn't be here," she said quickly feeling a strong knot in her stomach. The man in white smiled kindly at her and shook his head.

"You are not dead, my dear child, you are simply unconscious." Ana felt the knot loosen but it remained.

"What do you mean my task is done? How can it be done?" she asked. He smiled and shook stepped closer to her.

"You were brought to Middle Earth for the sole purpose of evil. You would have done nothing but aid in the destruction of everything you now hold dear to your heart . . . of everything and everyone you love." He paused and Ana found she could not take her eyes from his face. "The reason you were brought back in the form you were was to prove to the makers of Middle Earth that you were not as you were intended to be." Ana frowned.

"What do you mean? Please, explain it to me because I don't understand." The man put his hand on her shoulder and she waited for him to continue.

"When you passed, they were going to let you do just that. You would have passed from the heaven realms of Middle Earth and into the heaven realm of your own world. I convinced them to give you the chance you so rightfully deserved. I told them that I watched you grow and saw the woman you were to very depths of your soul. You were never meant for the darkness. It would have consumed your soul and you would have left your body and passed on without so much as knowing what you were used for." He raised his hand and held her face gently as a smile danced across his lips. "You were always meant for the light, even in the darkest moments of your life, you still held onto what little light there was and fought your way from the darkness, just as you did on the battlefield." Ana gave him a small smile and he lowered his hand. "You've proven yourself to them and you will spend your immortal years in Lothlorien until you hear the call of the sea with your love and make that journey to Valinor to spend eternity in peace."

"I still don't understand," she said softly. "There is nothing left for me to do?" The man laughed, a deep rumbling laugh that made Ana want to smile, but she kept her composure.

"The only thing that you must do, my dear, is live and be happy." With that he kissed her forehead and she felt the familiar breeze wrap around her and sleep claimed her once more.

Haldir sat by Ana's bedside. Aragorn was the only healer that would go anywhere near her. For some reason the other healers were weary about tending an elf and the man assured him that she would be alright. Haldir sighed as he looked around the healing chamber he sat in with Ana. Éowyn laid asleep in the bed next to Ana's and several other men laid in the beds laid in the room. He looked back at Ana and she opened her eyes. Haldir smiled in relief as he moved and kneeled next to the bed. She had been asleep for only a day, but it seemed much longer than that. He took her hand and gripped it tightly as she turned her head and looked at him.

"I thought you were a dream, when you came to me on the battle field," she said quietly. She truly had thought he was a dream, but then she realized the man in white was the dream and the ellon before her was reality, a reality she will always have. Haldir smiled and raised his free hand to her face and caressed her cheek. "I did not think you had come yet."

"We came, we came Ana," he whispered and leaned into her and kissed her forehead. "Don't you dare do that to me again," he said softly as he rested his forehead against hers. "You've done this twice, Ana, and I will not let you do it again." She sighed and closed her eyes.

"I was not going to die, Haldir, my wounds were not fatal, just a blow to the head and a cut across my stomach. I was just unconscious. I'm fine. I bet by nightfall I will be moving about almost as if nothing was wrong with me." Haldir smiled and sat back from her and she opened her eyes.

"That may be true, but-," he started but she interrupted him.

"But nothing, Haldir," she said firmly. "Nearly everyday when you were on the border back home, I would worry that I would never see you again, especially when I knew what looked for me. I cannot make a promise that even you cannot make." Haldir sighed and let go of her hand.

"I will return after I speak with Aragorn," Haldir said stiffly and Ana knew that he would not be back for many hours.

The sun was close to setting and Ana sat up from her bed. Her stomach was almost healed and her head no longer hurt. She looked over and saw Éowyn laying in her bed, but she could tell Éowyn wasn't asleep. She crawled from her bed and wrapped herself into her robe and walked over to Éowyn's bed. The cold stone made her shiver slightly but she didn't pay it any mind. "Éowyn?" Ana asked and the woman turned her head and looked at Ana with a small smile. "How are you faring?" she asked as she sat down in the vacant chair and Éowyn sighed.

"Well enough, however, I am so very tired but cannot find sleep," she said quietly. Ana nodded in understanding. "How are you?" Ana smiled.

"I'm fine. I'm practically as good as new." Éowyn laughed quietly and sighed.

"If only I was an elf." Ana laughed softly and looked at Éowyn.

"What of Merry?" she asked and Éowyn looked at her.

"We were separated, but Pippin came to me early this afternoon and told me he found him on the field and that he would be well soon." Ana nodded thankful that both of her hobbit friends were well. "What of Haldir? Is he well?" Ana sighed and nodded her head as she looked out towards the window.

"He is, but he is angry with me. I refused to promise him I would not fight again."

"Why would he ask that of you? Are you not an Elvin warrior?" Ana looked back at Éowyn and shook her head.

"No," she said quietly. "I wasn't supposed to travel with the elves to Helms Deep, but my path brought me here and I'm not finished yet. He just doesn't want to see me hurt again. I told him I couldn't make a promise that he couldn't make." Éowyn nodded her head and closed her eyes. Ana reached over and patted Éowyn's shoulder gently. "I will let you sleep, my friend. Rest well. You deserve it." Éowyn smiled at her through closed eyes and Ana walked away towards the window near their beds.

"You should not be out of bed so soon after recovering," a familiar voice said. Ana looked over her shoulder and gave Gandalf a small smile.

"I'm fine, Gandalf, I cannot find rest anyway," she said softly as she turned her attention back out towards the field. The men were still working hard to clear the field of the battle remains and there were large fires burning and the scent of burning flesh filled the air where the men burned the orcs. "I've finished my task," she said after what seemed like forever and she looked at him.

"Have you now?" Gandalf asked, but by his tone Ana knew that he already knew that.

"The man in white came to me again, while I was unconscious. He told me my task was finished, that I had proven myself to the makers of Middle Earth." Gandalf nodded but Ana only frowned. "It was that simple? I only had to prove that I wouldn't fight for Sauron that I wouldn't let him use me?" Gandalf sighed and shook his head.

"No, Adonnenniel, it was not simple. You faced death, and nearly did die again, for the sake of the greater good." Ana shook her head.

"I still do not understand." Gandalf walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, bring back the memory of the man in white and how he looked at her much the same way Gandalf was that very moment.

"Even after all your time here your mind still thinks in the terms of your world. You look too deeply into things, Adonnenniel, but know that the Valar would not have let you remain had you not shown the courage and strength you have. Do not think that you did not play a role in Theoden's decision to aid Gondor. Your words rang to his heart and helped him see that he would be needed." Ana shook her head when she felt tears come to her eyes.

"If I had not said what I did, he may have chosen not to help and he would still be alive." Gandalf squeezed her shoulder. "Those riders would still be alive."

"But the battle would have been lost," a new voice the conversation echoed and Gandalf stepped away from her and Ana looked behind him to see Haldir standing there. "You have done nothing other than what Gandalf has told you Ana. You're task is done," he said as he walked over to her and Gandalf seemed to disappear in the shadows and out of the healing hall. He raised his hands to her face and held her head in his hands. "You have nothing left to prove to anyone, and if the Valar see you fit to remain here, then you shall, right at my side." Ana blinked and let the tears fall from her eyes and he wiped them away.

"My task was just to prove that I was worthy of living in Middle Earth, it seems so simple yet so complicated at the same time," she said with a slight laugh and Haldir smiled at her. Ana sighed and wrapped her arms around Haldir and he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry for earlier," she whispered as she looked up at him from the hugging position and Haldir shook his head before he leaned in and kissed her lips briefly.

"There is nothing to forgive my love," he whispered and she sighed as she laid her head against his chest. "In two days we are to take council and decide what is to be done to help Frodo." Ana sighed and closed her eyes.

"I know, and I will be in that council." She could feel Haldir roll his eyes and she smiled as his heavy let of breath danced across her hair.

"Of course," he said exasperatedly and Ana smiled as she squeezed him a little tighter and he kissed the top of her head.