Sahara grasped the mane of the horse, her arms around the unconscious Lorasar. Her arms ached with the effort, but she was determined to not let either of them fall. The horse sped towards Imladris, and she could see the first few lights of the city in the distance. Her arms were cramped, but at last she reached the gates, where Elrond stood, briefing an elven warrior party. But all turned at the sound of the hoof beats, and were amazed to see Sahara, a lithe, small elleth, clutching onto the warrioress Lorasar. They rushed to help both from the horse, and Elrond had Lorasar taken to the House of Healing immediately. Having seen no sign of Glorfindel, he immediately assumed the worst, and was about to send the party out after his old friend, when Sahara shook her head.

"Lorasar fought him, and then I killed him with a dart to the head. Rauwolfia Serpintina, upon contact with the brain causes a rapid death. She fought bravely, and near defeated him, but his superior strength of having rested for days gave him the advantage, and she was on her knees for much of it. her skill surpassed his though. She sustained a wound to her upper thigh, and Glorfindel bade us take the only horse and get her back here quickly. He is following on one of the harulths."

Elrond nodded, relief lighting his features, before sending his swiftest riders out to bring Glorfindel back.

He then went to see what could be done for Lorasar. She had looked far too pale for his liking.

Having returned from the adventure exhausted and aching, Sahara had little on her mind but a hot bath, and then losing herself in Erestor's tender, healing embrace once more. She had just finished bathing, and she then went to the library, hoping to find him there. She had been disappointed when he had not been waiting for her, but she soon remembered why. She found him sprawled on the divan by the fire, a tiny pinprick of blood dotting his forearm from where the dart had pierced his flesh, the effects of the potent drug still within him. Feeling so tired, she barely knew her right from left, she curld up next to him, and whatever ache left within her muscles slowly faded as the warmth from Eresotr slowly wrapped it's way around her. She fell asleep, content.

$&

Allarah opened her eyes groggily, to find she couldn't move her arms or legs. She looked up and saw why. They were firmly tethered with leather, and Elladan and Elrohir looked down at her sheepishly from either side of her. Recalling the events that had led her into this situation, she grit her teeth

"If I ever get free of this, twins, you had better be very far away," she ground out " with a sword in your hand's!" The twins grinned proudly.

"But, how would you get free?" Elrohir asked innocently.

"Yes. How? Lorasar has returned, as has Sahara, and Glorfindel is on his way, so they managed fine without you love. And the only way you are getting out of that is if you ask us very, very nicely." Elladan smirked, placing a teasing kiss on her brow. She wrenched her head around to glare at him.

"You just wait." She murmured to herself, as the twins hands began to run themselves down her body, and she, despite herself, arched into their ardent caresses. "You just wait."

She would bide her time, but revenge would be hers one way or the other.

Elladan and Elrohir smirked at each other over her now rapidly closing eyes. What made her think that now they finally had her tied in one place, that they wouldn't keep her there forever?

&$#

Glorfindel looked up at the beast that stood over him, chewing docilely. He had long ago admitted defeat, and had resigned himself to sitting and waiting for riders from Imladris to find him. He alternately massaged his wrists and ankles, which were chaffed from being bound so long, and horribly bruised. His thoughts kept straying to Lorasar, praying she had survived long enough to reach medical attention, but deep I his heart, he knew she was alive, for she would live if only to tease him about being the 'damsel in distress' when he next saw her. He grinned wryly to herself, as he heard the approach of distant riders. No way would she pass up an opportunity like that. As he had lay there upon the sands, helpless to do anything but watch her struggle under the vicious attack of the foreigner, his feelings for her had become painfully evident, and he knew that if he had anything to do with it, after this, she would never leave his sight again. Now it was just a matter of convincing her of that.

&$#

Lorasar awoke to Elrond smiling down at her grimly. She struggled to sit up, to have him pace a firm hand upon her shoulder, forcing her back down.

"Lorasar, you must stay in bed. Your wounds have only just knitted together." he said, frowning. He had only just managed to save her leg, which, without medical attention, may have had to have been amputated. She struggled against his firm grip.

"Where is Glorfindel? Is he back! I'll kill him myself! He shouldn't have been out riding alone! I specifically told him to…" Her tirade was cut off, as Glorfindel himself walked in to the room, sandy, bruised and disheveled. Despite Elrond's restraints, she tried to throw herself at him, Elrond only just keeping her apart from Glorfindel.

"HOW DARE YOU DEFY ME YOU STUPID, STUPID ELLON!" she screamed at him, her arms straining towards him, as though she were about to strangle him. Glorfindel raised an eyebrow at her, turning to look at Elrond, who had rolled his eyes over Lorasars fighting body, as if to say 'elleths.'

"YOU WAIT TILL I GET MY HANDS ON YOU! SOME BALROG SLAYER! CAN'T EVEN STOP HIMSELF FROM BEING TAKING HOSTAGE, AND THEN I HAVE TO RIDE AFTER YOU AND SAVE YOU…"

Here it comes. He thought to himself, wincing, the damsel in distress.

"LIKE SOME VALAR-BE-PRAISED DAMSEL IN DISTRESS…"

Ahh yes. There it was.

"…AND THEN I HAVE TO SAVE YOU, I HOPE YOU DON'T MAKE A HABIT OF THIS BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME YOU DECIDE TO GET ABDUCTED I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU LET ME KNOW FIRST SO THAT I HAVE MORE THAN A SWORD WITH ME WHEN I GO AFTER YOU!"

Elrond looked over at Glorfindel, who was looking sufficiently chastised. He grinned maliciously at his old friend, who he fully believed deserved everything he got, and waited, whilst Glorfindel began to mouth 'no!' and wave his arms around. Elrond cocked his had to one side, before letting her go. She threw herself at Glorfindel, tears streaming down her face, and kissed him so fiercely, that he stumbled backwards under the force of it. He held her to him tightly, and Elrond slipped from the room, shaking his head and laughing to himself. Glorfindel forced her chin up so he could look at her, and was met with a resounding slap across the face, before she kissed him again. When she finally broke the kiss, both were panting from their exertions, and he led her back to the bed.

"Now that you've finished," he said, grin fading from his face, "IF YOU EVER LEAVE MY SIGHT AGAIN…."

&$#$

Stay tuned for the outcome of Erestor and Sahara's relationship, and Allarah's revenge, and the big happily ever after. My estimate is there is approximately 2 chapter to o, so enjoy!