Chapter Five:Planning The Wedding:


Sarah was as nervous as Haldir about their impending wedding. They sat in her talan, looking at ideas she had written down.

"Every theme has a design for my dress along with it," Sarah explained as she sat back against Haldir on the floor in front of her couch.

Haldir found one lone sketch which was kept away from the others. It was obviously older than the sketches that she had already shown him. This one was extremely beautiful. All the others were Elven design and beautiful in their own rights, but this one...this one was more beautiful than he has ever seen. He picked it up and waved it in front of Sarah.

"What about this one?" He asked, surprised when she snatched it away.

"No!" She said quickly.

"Why not, my love," He raised her gaze to his, "because it is more beautiful than all the others you have shown me."

Sarah looked up at him, almost ashamed of the picture. She knew she shouldn't be ashamed of it, but she was.

"Because..." Sarah whispered.

Haldir turned Sarah to face him, hooking his finger under her chin to bring her eyes to his, knowing full well that she couldn't look away from him. Haldir could tell right away that there was something to that picture and it was more than what she was telling him.

"Sarah," Haldir said softly.

"What?" Sarah sighed sadly.

"Why not?" Haldir repeated.

"It was a art assignment," Sarah confessed, "I drew it before my twin sister died. It was to be for her wedding."

Haldir stroked her cheek, feeling her sadness. That drawing must have been really special if she defended it like that.

"She would want you to use it, Sarah," Haldir whispered, clearing welled tears.

Sarah wanted to smile, but for some reason she couldn't.

"Serenity would have wanted you to use it, Sarah," He said as he kissed her forehead.

"How did you..." She started to speak but Haldir stopped her.

Haldir smiled at her and she couldn't help but smile back to him. Haldir was happy that she was finally smiling again.

"Tell me about the theme for this drawing," He asked as he pulled her back into his arms.

"It has this whole Christmas-y theme," Sarah started, "ya know, with dark red roses and rich green holly."

Haldir thought of how it would look to have Lothlorien decorated for 'Christmas'.

"The dress is snow white, with one fake red rose on the bodice," She continued, "and a ring of fake holly around the waist."

Haldir ran a hand through her hair.

"And your hair?" He imagined how beautiful she would look in the dress.

"It would be put up...well, it could be done down as well," She blushed at the look in his eyes.

Haldir rested his chin on her head, sniffing her hair.

"Any choice you make, my love," He murmured sleepily, "it will no doubt be beautiful."

Sarah moved herself from his lap, earning a sound from the sleepy Marchwarden. She helped him stand and led him to her bed, easily removing his shoes before he collapsed on the bed, falling asleep instantly.

She went back into the living room and sat on the couch. She had her sister's drawing in hand, staring at it with tear filled eyes. Haldir was right though, she conceded to that. Serenity said that if Sarah was to get married first than it...their dream dress...would be hers. Sarah didn't know what to do. There was so much to plan. But she got to it, making a list on a spare piece of parchment of the things that would be needed.

Deep red roses,

plenty of holly and ivy,

bundles of babies breath,

white, red, and green candles.

White fur lining for the cloaks of the bride, maid-of-honor, and bridesmaids,

velvet and silk for the cloaks.

So many things to do and so little time, as the saying goes. Sarah fell asleep on the couch, only to wake with a delightful warmth behind her. Apparently at some point in the night, Haldir's brothers had showed up and one of them had moved her.