Heavy. Everything felt so heavy when Sara began to wake. Her body felt as though it were made of sand, not flesh and bone, and her mind was thick with a mental fog. She pushed against the dense blanket of sleep, willing herself to wake. As she gradually gained control again, she focused on her eyes and ever so slowly they opened. At first she could see nothing, and she blinked several times thinking perhaps she had gone blind, but slowly the impenetrable dark began to give way to a faint gray light. She could still not make out her surroundings, but as sensation began to return to her limbs she felt her gloved hands enveloped in large warm ones. She did not have to see them to know that Fili and Kili each held one of her hands. There was also a weight near her feet and she guessed that Bilbo was here with her as well. But where is here, she wondered? The last thing she could remember was being carried by Dori, and even that memory was hazy. Sara tried to move her right hand but it would not yet respond. She counted to ten and tried again and was pleased when her fingers twitched faintly. The hand wrapped around hers clenched reflexively and she squeezed it once again. The rough hand released its grip on hers and she heard the telltale signs of Kili waking up. She tried to speak, but her weak moan was drowned in his groan as he stretched and woke. Kili sighed heavily and took ahold of her hand again. Sara squeezed his hand weakly and she heard a chair creek and something above her head rustled. Moonlight streamed through what must have been a window and she gave a tiny jerk, for not two inches in front of her face Kili was peering at her, his eyes wide and dilated in the dark. A smile spread across his features.
"You're awake!" he said excitedly, and then his face vanished. Sara heard a soft curse as something clattered to the floor, footsteps, and then the creek of a door. "She's awake!" came Kili's voice which was joined by others all speaking at once. "Just now. Bring your candle, ours seems to have gone out." Sara felt Fili clutch her hand as he leaned into the moonlight to look at her.
"Hello Sara," he said gently.
"Hi," she rasped out. He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her forehead before he vanished as well.
"Bilbo," called Fili. "Bilbo wake up. Sara's awake." Sara felt the weight near her feet lift and heard the pad of bare feet to her right and the sound of the wood on the floor as Bilbo righted Kili's overturned chair.
"Ms. Sara," greeted Bilbo warmly. "I'm so glad you're still with us."
"Hey Bilbo." she replied, her voice rough.
"Would you like some water?" asked Fili standing. She nodded slowly he left to find her a drink. His spot was soon filled with what seemed to be the entire company as they traipsed into what she could now see was a small room. They all came to huddle around her bed bringing candles with them. There were smiles of relief all around and when Dwalin came to stand to the left of her head Sara could see the lines of worry fade from around his eyes as he surveyed her.
"How are ya feeling lass?" he asked softly. She smiled weakly up at him.
"I've been better, but I guess I've also been worse," she replied softly.
"Are ya in any pain?" he queried. She was currently propped up against a couple of pillows and as she tried to push herself up further she winced in pain. "A bit," she replied. Her ribs and stomach ached and she still felt heavy and sluggish.
"Now Ms. Sara," said Dori pushing his way forward through the others. Sara saw that his arm was bandaged and wondered what had happened to him. "Lord Elrond said you were not to try and move yet. He also said not to crowd and overwhelm her," he chided turning to the others. "Backup you clods, give her space." Grudgingly all but Dwalin and Kili took a few steps back. "Ori," called Dori, turning to his brother. "Go find Lord Elrond and inform him that Ms. Sara is awake."
"But I don't know where he is?" said Ori with a slight whine. Dori shot him a scathing look.
"The place is overflowing with elves," he said. "Go ask one." The scribe opened his mouth to object but Nori clapped him on the shoulder.
"Come" he said to his brother. "We will go together," but as they turned to leave three figures filled the doorway. There stood Gandalf, a tall elf and Thorin. The gray wizard entered first, coming to stand behind the dwarves, leaning on his staff. He smiled down at Sara as the elf strode into the room and came near Dori who moved out of his way.
"Ms. Sara Miller," said Gandalf coming to stand beside the elf. "This is our host Lord Elrond." Sara just stared up at the elf lord; his hair was long, dark and straight; his eyes were gray and seemed to hold more experience than any she had ever seen. She could not have guessed his age just to look at his face, but she knew he must be very old, for the elves of Middle Earth could live for millennia, so long in fact they were often called immortal. It was strange for her to meet this elf lord whom she felt she already knew so much about from the part he played in the Lord of The Rings stories. Not stories anymore, she reminded herself. The moon light glinted off the circlet of silver on his brow as he inclined his head to her. Sara look for Thorin, but he was not among the others and the doorway was now empty.
"Ms. Sara Miller, welcome to Rivendell," said Lord Elrond. "How are you faring?" Fili approached her with a glass of water which she reached for eagerly if not a bit shakely.
"I'm okay, I guess. Thank you." she replied. "What happened?" she asked, looking to the others as she sipped slowly. "The last thing I remember we were being chased by wargs." They looked at each other but as Kili opened his mouth to reply Gandalf cut him off.
"That is perhaps a tale to tell with the sun's rising" said the wizard. "It is still very late, or early as you prefer it, and you have much to recover from." He turned to the dwarves and there was some slight muttering and a few shifty glances at the elf lord. Kili who stood beside Fili to Sara's right looked to the tall lord. "Will she really be okay?" asked the brunette prince. Elrond smiled warmly down at the concerned dwarf in question.
"She will recover young prince," he assured. "She is out of danger now and only needs time to rest." He looked at the company still crowded into the small room. "Which will be easier for her without so many visitors I think. Shall I have my staff show you to your rooms now?" There was still a bit of muttering and for a moment the dwarves looked like they were going to refuse.
"Haven't you been given rooms yet?" asked Sara.
"Your company of dwarves have insisted on staying close to your side until they were sure you would recover," said Elrond a bit exasperated. "They have been camped outside your door since their arrival here yesterday morning."
Sara rolled her eyes and looked to the dwarves. "Wow you really are a bunch of overprotective mother hens." There were a few grumbles and Gloin in particular looked highly affronted. Dwalin and Nori however smiled down at her and Balin's eyes twinkled merrily from across the bed at her.
"It's only cuz we care for ya lass," said Dwalin gently.
"Well I care for you all too, so for heaven's sake go get some rest," she said. "I know you must all be exhausted and as Lord Elrond said I will be fine."
"Right," said Dori beginning to shew the others out the door. "Let's leave Ms. Sara in peace. She has much of her strength yet to recover and it is still early in the morning." He approach Dwalin intent on sending him out, but quailed at the look the warrior gave him. Dori instead settled for grabbing Nori by the arm and pulling the protesting thief away. Fili and Kili leaned down to hug her in trun.
"Will you be okay?" asked Fili.
"I'll be fine," she reassured, hugging him back. "It's not like I'm going anywhere."
"We will see you in the morning then,"said Kili squeezing her hand. Bilbo reached over and patted her hand as well.
"Get some rest Ms. Sara," he said following the others from her room.
"Goodnight Bilbo," she called after him. She was left now with Gandalf, Lord Elrond and a stubborn Dwalin who stood by her side looking inexorable. Elrond came around to her right side and took the now empty glass from her and held her wrist between his fingers. Sara did not miss Dwalin's scowl as he watched the elf bend over her.
"May I inspect your stomach and ribs?" asked the elf lord. Sara nodded and tried to sit up. Dwalin reached out to steady her as she leaned back against the pillows once again, now able to see the room better. As Elrond reached for her shirt Sara saw that she was no longer in her own clothes.
"What happened to my clothes?" she asked as the elf pulled up the simple white night shirt and Dwalin turned to face away from her.
"I'm afraid that the tunic you arrived and was damaged, but I am having it repaired to the best of our ability. The rest is being cleaned and will be returned to you tomorrow. That is, all except for your gloves which Gandalf said you prefer to wear at all times and insisted we leave with you."
"Thank you," she said taking her cue from Gandalf. "I do prefer to keep my gloves on." He was inspecting her wounds and Sara glanced down to see the bruising on her torso was now a splotchy yellow and green rather than dark blue, red and purple as she remembered.
"What about my coat?" asked Sara worry in her voice as Elrond's fingers pressed gently at her ribs making her wince. Dwalin snorted but remain turned around as he replied.
"Yer coat is fine lass. It is also being cleaned." She was about to ask after her pack but the dwarf was one step ahead of her. "The company have yer other belongings and will bring them when they come in the morning if ya wish." Sara's hands flew to her neck scrabbling at the hem of her shirt searching for the gold chain. It was gone!
"Where is it?" she asked, panic plain in her voice. "Where is my gold necklace?" She felt tears begin to well up in her eyes at the thought of it being lost.
"Would this be the one lass?" asked Dwalin pulling a gold chain from inside his outer tunic and turning to hand it to her. He frowned at the tears that threatened to spill over and run down her clouded face. "Here now lass. Sara what's wrong?" he asked handing her the small gold chain as Lord Elrond lowed her shirt back into place. She took the necklace with it's small gold pendant into her hands and relief seemed to wash over her. She looked up at him wiping at her eyes. "It's nothing… I just… I thought … I thought I lost this," she said haltingly as she restoring it to its place around her neck and tucked it into her shirt.
"Food is not the only thing Nori is known to swipe," said Dwalin. "He's is really rather fond of jewelry, so I thought it would be best if I kept it for ya."
"Thank you," she said. Elrond stood and looked down at her. "How am I doing?" she asked him.
"The wounds on your stomach are closing quickly and I see no signs of infection and though you may feel weak for a few days you are mending well," he said. "As for your broken ribs…"
"I thought they were only cracked, and half healed as well," interrupted Sara.
"You must have reinjured them," replied Elrond. "When you arrived here they were broken."
"It probably happened when you tackled the orc to save Ori," supplied Dwalin who had heard the story form an exhausted Thorin when the company had been reunited.
"I tackled and orc?" she asked dissbelingly, looking at Dwalin who nodded.
"Yes ya did my fearsome lass," he said beaming at her. "And killed it to, but that's a story for tomorrow."
"I have set and bonded your ribs," continued Lord Elrond. "But it will take some time for the bond to strengthen, and until then you should remain in bed, or at the very least at rest."
Sara groaned at the thought of a long bed rest sentence and looked at the ceiling. "Why couldn't I have been dropped into Hogwarts?" she asked the beams above her head. "Less imminent death and Madam Pomfrey can mend bones in a heartbeat?" She looked to Elrond. "How long will it take?" she asked prepared for the worst. Dwalin watched her a confused look on her face. The elf lord studied her for a moment before replying.
"In about three days time you should be whole and hail again. Your strength should return day by day if you do as instructed. But tell me, who is this Madam Pomfrey who can mend bones so quickly, for I've never heard of such a thing?"
"Oh," said Sara thinking quickly while reaching for the gold chain around her neck. "She's just a part of a legend where I'm from. Not a real person. So," she said trying to change the subject, "Only three days. That's quite incredible."
"Lord Elrond is quite well known for his healing skills, even among the elves," interjected Gandalf quickly working to steer the conversation to safer topics. Dwalin snorted and Elrond eyed the dwarf with a degree of amusement.
"Do I have to do anything else besides rest," asked Sara hoping to distract the elf lord. He looked at her and after a moment and smiled warmly. "Rest, I have a special diet set up for you. It may be a bit bland, but it's best not to overtax your system while it's recovering and while not particularly delicious the food will aid in your swift recovery, so I ask that you eat it. When you're recovered we shall have a grand dinner and introduce you to the finery of elvish food, but for the time being Ms. Miller…"
"Sara." said Dwalin interrupting the elf. "Our lass prefers to go by Sara." Elrond nodded to him.
"For the time being Ms. Sara" contuned the elf lord. "You should rest. I shall visit you again tomorrow," and before Sara could thank him he was gone out the door. Gandalf breathed an audible sigh of relief.
"This will be no small feat," said the wizard under his breath turning to face Sara. "I'm glad you are recovered Ms. Sara but you must guard your tongue, even here. You should also continue to wear your gloves."
"You think there is danger here in Rivendell?" she asked looking down at her hands.
"No," replied Gandalf. Dwalin snorted his dissbelief. " However," conturned the wizard sending the dwarf a sharp look, "Your story should be kept a close guarded secret. If the time comes that we must reveal it to Lord Elrond then we will, but for the time being…"
"Keep it on a need-to-know basis," finished Sara nodding her understanding.
"Yes," he said turning to the warrior. "Dwain could you…" but once again the dwarf was one step ahead.
"I will tell the company to keep their yaps shut," said Dwalin cracking his knuckles.
"Good," said the wizard. " Now it's been a very exhausting day and I think I will find a bed," and he with this he was gone.
"I should go as well," said Dwalin. "But I will be back soon."
"Why?" asked Sara.
"I have to warn the others not to speak of your origins," he said looking her at her as though this were obvious.
"No, why are you coming back? You should be resting," she clarified. He still looked at her as if this should have been obvious.
"Someone has to stand guard over ya," he said.
"But we are in Rivendell," she huffed impatiently. "There is nothing to guard against. We are safe here." He looked at her skeptically. "You're going to do it no matter what I say, aren't you?" she said already knowing the answer.
He grinned down at her. "Now ya are beginning to understand lass." He was almost to the door when Sara spoke again.
"Dwalin. Where is Bofur? Is he okay, I didn't see him." Dwalin turned back to her snorting loudly.
"That buffoon broke his leg. He's fine lass, in fact he's in the next room over. Now get some sleep. Ya can see him tomorrow," and with this he was gone.
The morning dawned early and when Sara opened her eyes the warm sunshine was spilling over her bed. She luxureated in the feel of a real bed as she looked around the small room; it was clean, neat, and simple with a bed, night table and a few chairs. Several minutes later when she exited the door that led to a small bathroom she found a tray of food sitting on her nightstand. There was a strange grainy porridge, a small bowl of greens which had a bitter taste, and what she guessed was some sort of tea. She was just finishing when her door was flung wide and Fili, Kili, and Bilbo came into her room. Just outside her door she could see Nori and Dwalin talking quietly and she watched as the warrior dwarf left down the hall. Nori stood in the doorway apparently now keeping watch on her. Sara shook her head as she greeted the princes and Bilbo.
"Hey sis," said Kili coming to sit on the bed near her feet as Fili drug a chair over. Bilbo came to stand at her other side bobbing up and down on his feet looking as though he might explode.
"Whatever is the matter?" she asked. "You look fit to burst." The hobbit broke into the biggest smile she had ever seen on his face.
"I feel as though I may burst," he said happily. "It's so beautiful here in Rivendell!" The two princes looked at him in mild disgust as he gushed. "Everything is so green and everyone is so welcoming. I don't know if I've ever felt as at peace as I do here."
"Is it everything you ever hope for when visiting the elves?" she asked, pleased with her friends obvious delight.
"Oh so much more!" he said his eyes twinkling merrily. "And I have only seen a small amount of it. I can't wait to see more." Sara was not surprised with Bilbo's reaction, after all, Lord Elrond's house was basically the best place ever for a hobbit with just about everything they valued at their fingertips. She smiled at the knowledge that her friend would someday come to live here.
"What about you two?" she asked turning to Fili and Kili. Fili shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. "It's Elvish," he said as if that were all that needed saying.
"Oh come now," said Kili jabbing his brother with a finger. "It has its own charm, even if it is crowded with silly elves."
Fili just shook his head. "You have always had strange tastes brother," he said.
"Since when are elves silly?" asked Sara. All the elves she could recall had been rather stern if not kind but not given to much levity.
"The company may have been heckled quite a bit on our trek through Rivendell," said Bilbo looking a bit more serious now.
"How so?" Sara asked. Fili frowned.
"I'm afraid that as we passed along the road the elves began to sing." Sara raised her eyebrows as Bilbo hurried on. "I'm afraid that the subject matter may have been in poor taste, a lot about wagging beards and the like. That and their uncanny knowledge of our names, I'm afraid put much of the company at unrest," confided the hobbit a bit sadly.
"It was about all we could do to keep Dwalin form hunting down and elf boy who may have mentioned something about the sun shining off his bald head," said Kili seriously. Sara tried not to smile.
"Between that and the "tra lil lil lil lollys" and the "tra la la la lalys" it was a bit of a miracle we made it here without a fight breaking out," said Fili.
"Indeed," said Bilbo. "Balan was the only one who seemed to have taken it and good humor and he was the one who had to keep Dwalin in check with help from Fili."
"Gloin and Nori too," said Kili. "They about lost it, luckily Dori was able to wrangle Nori and Bifur and Bombur had Gloin." Kili smiled as though remembering something.
"What?" asked Sara recognizing the look.
"Oh, just remembering Fili's face when the elves called him a fair-haired dandy-lion," said Kili snickering at his brother.
"Better than them wondering if I'm a dwarf at all for lack of a beard," retorted Fili. Kili pouted slightly and rubbed his chin.
"I'm working on it," he said. "Besides mother said father's beard came in late too."
"What about Thorin?" asked Sara hoping to head off an argument between the brothers. "How did he handle the singing elves?"
"Oh you wouldn't know because you were unconscious, but Uncle was not with us. He was riding here on horseback with you, Gandalf, Lord Elrond, Oin and Bofur," said Kili. He and Fili leapt into an explanation of events from the beginning of their run from the orc pack. Bilbo excused himself saying he was going to go visit Bofur. The boys told Sara of the chase through the great rocks, and their battle when the orcs had caught them. They explained how Thorin and Bofur had gone to help Dori, how she had saved Ori, and how Thorin had returned carrying her after Dori had injured his arms. They told of the hole under the rock, the arrival of the elves on horseback, and their descent into the valley, including how Bofur had broken his leg. They described the arrival of Lord Elrond and the splitting of the company. Sara remembered very little of what they told her, only bits and pieces, and most of that from the early parts. She had no recollection of tackling the orc and was surprised by the description of her manic attack.
"So you see unkle was not with us when we travel through the valley," finished Fili finally.
"It's probably for the best," added Kili as a spark of mischief came into his eyes. "Besides uncle seemed rather unwilling to part with you," he said watching Sara's cheeks pink faintly.
"That's true enough," said Fili. "Even when we offered to carry you ourselves he insisted on doing it himself." The blond prince missed her flush but a winking Kili did not. Someone knocked on her door.
"One word more," whispered Sara under her breath to Kili brandishing her fists weekly at him as Fili rose to answer the door. "And I will thrash you," she threatened.
"Not from there you won't sis," teased Kili as he followed Fili. Bifur and Bombur came into the room carrying her pack and coat.
"Our time up already?" asked Fili as he approached them.
"According to Dori it is," said Bombur. " He thought Ms. Sara would like her stuff returned to her. Sara waved from the bed not rising, her trip to the bathroom having been more exhausting than she had realized.
"By Sara," said Kili waving from the doorway. "We will come visit you again later." In fact Sara was visited many times throughout the day. Apparently Dori had insisted that the dwarves visit her in shifts so as to not overcrowd her. Bifur and Bombur had brought her pack and all her clean clothes, which according to them, they had rescued from the elves. Sara had been pleased to find her shirt was repaired and was almost like new; it was certainly cleaner than it had been for the past several weeks, as were all her other clothes including to her great delight her brown leather coat which she draped over her lap running her fingers through the soft fur. When Sara had found her phone however, her face had fallen. The screen had cracked near the edge and while it was still functional it scared her how close she had come to breaking it. She resolved to be more careful with it from now on. Try as she might she could not locate her keys and when she tried to remember the last time she had seen them she realized it was on the evening of the trolls. She supposed they were lost for good and as the two cousins left, her thoughts began to drift towards home. She missed her friends and wondered what they must have thought happened to her. They probably all assumed she was dead in a cave in Kentucky. Sara wondered what had happened to all her belongings and if she ever did get back if she would have anything to go home to. Surely her spot in the apartment would have been filled with a new tenant by now. She pulled the necklace from under her shirt and rubbed at the embossed letter "S" as she ruminated.
Ori and Dori had come to visit her next, and the scribe had blushed as he handed her a large vase of flowers.
"What are these for?" she asked.
"You said that in your world people give gifts of flowers when they wish to say sorry, thank you, or wish someone well. I suppose that I mean all three of them at once" He said. "I'm sorry that you got further injured on my behalf. Thank you for saving me, and I hope you recover quickly." Apparently saving Ori had put Sara forever in Dori's good graces for he now fussed over her incessantly. Was she comfortable? Did she need her pillow fluffed? Was she warm enough? Had she been getting enough rest? Was the food the elf maid had just brought her for lunch warm enough? Were there any messages she wanted delivered to the others? Was she in pain? Should he send for Lord Elrond? And so on. By the time Ori had convinced his older brother to leave so Sara could rest, she was relieved to see the back of them even if she felt a bit guilty for it, but Ori had smiled understandingly at the visible relief in her eyes as the door had closed and he waved goodbye.
She had almost fallen asleep when Oin and Gloin had popped their heads inside her door and she welcomed them in. Oin had wanted to see Elrond's handiwork and Sara had allowed him to inspect her wounds. The old dwarf healer had been impressed if not a little envious at the elvish skills in medicine. Just as Gloin had sat in the chair and began a story about Gimli as a young dwarf, Lord Elrond entered the room and the redheaded dwarf had left in a bit of a huff. Oin had remained as Elrond had questioned and checked Sara over.
"You are healing well and your wounds are almost closed. By tomorrow evening you should be able to bathe," the elf lord had informed her. Sara had been very happy at the thought of a bath. "Continue to rest," instructed Elrond as he left, Oin trailing after him leaving her to nap. As the door swung closed she saw Nori still on post outside her door and she rolled her eyes before she settled under the sheets and let sleep envelop her. When she woke, she found Balin sitting in one of the comfortable chairs in her room book in hand.
"Good evening lass," he said, setting the book aside. "How are you feeling?" She still felt a bit tender but her mobility was improving and the pain was receding. "Getting better," she replied. "How long have you been here Balin?" she asked.
"A couple of hours," he said. "Several of the others, mainly Dori, came to visit you but I sent them away so you could sleep." She looked to her open door but didn't see Dwalin or Nori.
"Are you currently on guard?" she asked not quite able to keep the sarcasm from her tone. He smiled gently at her.
"I suppose I am," he said.
"You don't need to guard or protect me here in Rivendell," she said, sighing.
"I know it lass," he said again taking up his book. "But some of the others, chiefly Dwalin, feel otherwise and if it keeps them happy and from picking fights with our host then it does no harm does it. Besides," he said as he found his spot again. "Once you and Bofur are no longer so far away from the rest of the company I feel they will discontinue the official watch. They worry for ya lass. We almost lost ya and I think that weighs heavily on several mines, particularly Dwalin and Thorin. Indeed, Thorin has not been quite himself since our arrival here, though that could simply be our surroundings," said Balin. They sat quietly for a while the old dwarf content reading the book he told her he had found in Elrond's large library, while she sat brushing her hair thinking over his words. There was a commotion in the hall and her door flew open as Bofur was helped through the door by a harassed looking Fili and Kili, Bilbo following happily behind. They five of them visited and laughed loudly and Balin had retreated into the hallway with his book and chair until the elf maid had brought her dinner which was similar to breakfast and lunch, bland and colorless. Fili had then helped Bofur back to his room rolling his eyes as the toymaker attempted to flirt with the elf maid. Kili sat with Sara watching the others leave and Bilbo excused himself saying something about not wanting to miss elvish singing in June. Fili and Kili had teased and talked with her until late that evening, even braiding her hair which was something that had not been done for a while. Before Sara knew it the sun had set and her room was empty once again. She was just settling herself under the covers relieved to be able to rest when there was a firm knock on the door. Her heart skipped a beat wondering if the person on the other side of the door was the dwarf king, for he was the only one who had not visited her yet, not that she truly expected him to. When she called the weak "Come in," Dwalin entered her small room candle in hand. Sara was a bit surprised to find she felt some disappointment mixed with her relief as he approached the chair beside her bed and set the candle down on the small table. "Hey Dwalin," she greeted. "I haven't seen you all day, and that's saying something. I feel I've seen most everybody today, some multiple times."
"I don't doubt it," he said from the chair beside her bed.
"You know I think Dori has tried to visit me three times today," she said.
"Four," replied Dwalin. "I turned him away a few moments ago claiming you were already asleep. He seemed quite put out about it," said the warrior.
"I bet," she said smiling at him. "I'm sorry I ever called any of you overprotective mother hens. That description should be saved for Dori alone."
"Doting Dori," said Nori who is now leaning in the doorway. "That's what Ori and I call him." Dwalin turned to the doorway and Sara watched as Nori tucked something into his pocket a faint clinking reaching her ears.
"Do you really?" she asked as he came to stand at the foot of her bed.
"Well not to his face," admitted Nori. "Usually."
"What do you need Nori?" asked Dwalin.
Nori straightened all business now. "Thorin wants to talk to you. He sent me to take your place while you were gone," said the thief. Rising, Dwalin reached out and ruffled Sara's hair.
"Night lass, sleep well," and with that the two dwarves were gone.