Chapter Four: 'Thank The Valar That You Are Alright!'

(Bold Italics is mind-talking with Galadriel.)


The scouts had spotted Sarah and Boromir after they passed the sentinels. Every elf in Lothlorien knew of Sarah, the scouts more than others...except for a select few: Haldir, Rumil, Orophin, Galadriel, and Celeborn. One of the scouts, a good friend of Sarah's named Tathis, ran for the life of him. He made it back to the dock safely. He stopped and leaned against a tree, breathing heavily.

"What is wrong, Tathis?" Rumil asked.

"Lady Sarah..." He panted, "She is returning with the man from Gondor."

Rumil nearly fell over. He quickly righted himself and stood, putting his hand on Tathis' shoulder.

"I want you to go into the city and alert the Healers, as well as my brothers," Rumil said to him, "Take a horse, Tathis, we do not need you with the Healers as well."

Rumil watched as Tathis took off on one of the horses. He turned back to the river, smiling to himself. He quickly sobered up and turned to the men.

"Tathis had just told me that Lady Sarah is coming back with an injured man," He said, smiling in his mind, "I want you to be prepared to take them back to the city when they arrive...scratch that...take the injured man to the Healers and my brother will take his Fiancee' home."

The other Elves snapped quick and went to work. Shortly, Haldir and Orophin arrived.


"Sarah has been spotted?" Haldir asked nervously.

"She is fine, Haldir," Rumil assured him, "A cuts and bruises, but she is fine."

Rumil smiled at how his brother doted on Sarah, even before their engagement. He was always doing something for her, no matter what it was. A large black dog trumped up to them and nudged Haldir's side.

"Yes, Dog Star, Sarah's coming home," Haldir patted him on the head.

The large dog was one of his gifts to Sarah, as a companion and guard. The breed was known for it's fierce loyalty and protection of it's owner. But Dog Star was a strange one. He was pure bred, like his litter mates, but he was one solid color: black. That only reminded Sarah of a character that she had read of in a book once.

Dog Star perked up when Sarah and Boromir's boat came closer. He looked up at Haldir and saw a very familiar and happy glaze in his eyes. At least he won't be a grumpy bugger anymore. (A.N. What dogs can't think? And, yes, Dog Star is a subtle nod to Sirius Black. I thought to do this because they will be killing Sirius off in the fifth movie, so Dog Star is a tribute. Dog Star's litter mates are: Padfoot, Bambi, Sima, Loki, Dag, and Sora. They will come up later.)


Sarah breathed easier when she saw Haldir and Dog Star waiting for her. Oh, Valar, I am home, She thought, oh, yes, I am home. Sarah smiled at Haldir and Haldir smiled back. When the boat had stopped and Orophin tied it up, Rumil helped Sarah get out of the boat. (A.N. For this next part, imagine James Blunt--'You're Beautiful' playing in the background.)

"Please, put your Betrothed's mind at ease," Rumil pleaded, "He has been nothing but an ass since you left. Nothing seems to make him happy...except for Dog Star. Thank the Valar for that dog, because he has saved many from...as you would put it...an ass-chewing."

Sarah patted Rumil on the shoulder and smiled.

"Do not worry, Rumil, I will talk to him," She reassured her future brother-in-law, "He will not be a problem when I get done with him."

Rumil rose a brow at her comment and she smacked him upside his head.

"Horny ellon," She laughed, "What I mean is that I will talk to him...and only talk..."

"Yes, Sarah," Rumil grinned slyly, "Like your words are reassuring at the moment."

Sarah spied Haldir over Rumil's shoulder and laughed.

"What is so funny?" Rumil asked.

Sarah shook her head.

"If looks could kill, Rumil," She sighed, "Then you would not be with the living."


Sarah walked past the stunned Rumil and over to Haldir and Dog Star. Dog Star jumped up and licked her cheek.

"It is good to see you too, Dog Star," She laughed.

Dog Star sat obediently without even being asked.

"Thank the Valar that you are alright," Haldir said as he pulled her into his arms.

"As much as I would love to get into this right now, love," Sarah said as he let her go, "we are being watched."

Haldir looked around and saw that she was right. With a stern look from Haldir, everyone went back to the task that Rumil had set for them. Rumil and Orophin helped Boromir and Haldir took Sarah back into the city, Dog Star staying behind with Rumil.


"Like I was saying, Melamin," Haldir said as the door of his talan closed, "I am glad that you are unhurt."

Sarah winced slightly as she sat down on the couch.

"Not entirely, love," Sarah groaned as she removed her boots, "I am sore from travel and nicked up from battle."

Haldir went into his 'kitchen' for a rag and some water. When he returned, she had began to peel of her mud-crusted and slightly bloody clothes. Does she have to do this now? He thought as he felt all the blood rush from his brain to another part of his anatomy.

"Sarah, if I am to clean..." He started, stopping when her top landed on his head.

Sarah laughed as he set the water and the rag down, retrieving her top from it's place. Haldir was grinning as widely as she was, both of them laughing. After Sarah finished stripping down, she backed toward Haldir's bedroom, to get to his bathing pool which could have easily doubled for a jacuzzi. She grinned slyly as she saw the almost feral and wolfish grin on Haldir's flawless face.

"You have to catch me, my love," Sarah taunted as she made a break for the bathing pool, streaking through the talan.

Haldir took off after her, giving her a slight headstart. He caught up to her when she was only feet away from the bathing pool. Haldir wrapped his arms around her naked body, the warmth seeping through his clothes. Sarah looked up into his eyes as he pulled her so close to him that his hair created a silky silver curtain.

"Do you not know that I always catch you?" He grinned wolfishly before kissing her.

"Yes, my love, you caught me this time," She smiled against his lips, "but that was only because that I did not have far to go and did not need any farther than the bathing pool."

Haldir reluctantly let her go, watching her slip into the warm and soothing waters of the pool. She looked up at Haldir as if to ask him, 'Are you joining me or not?' He grinned again before he stripped down and joined her.

"You two do not waste anytime, do you?" Galadriel laughed in their heads.

Sarah and Haldir groaned, disgruntled at the interruption.

"We have not done...anything, Nana," Sarah thought.

"Yet..."

"Milady..." Haldir thought.

"Who am I to stop you? Just be careful."

Sarah and Haldir sighed as they felt Galadriel's presence leave their minds.

"Talk about a mood killer," Sarah laughed.