New stuff in this summary-please reread and stick with it through at least chapter 25. They get very long and action starts to happen around chapter 15. Until then, we authors were figuring out each other's writing styles and so on.

This will fit in with Tolkien's works. Takes place prior to the Last Alliance. A respected Noble takes place of Thranduil, gone on an expedition, to study Sauron's armies and start the last alliance. Our characters learn it takes heart to find strength. And you will cry for them. Yes, it does have Legolas romance, but how will it end? After all, if it can fit in with Tolkien's works, and, to out knowledge, no mention is ever made of a love for Legolas, nor is there much information on his prior to LotR Rated R to be on the safe side.

Now, as a disclaimer, I do not own Legolas (I wish I did though!), Elrond, or anything. I own Araréiel and a few other characters. Gaya owns Imlain. She brought him to life. Tith did wonders for Lorin. Lorin's hers. Basically, if Tolkien write it first, it's his. All else is not.

All event are purely fictional. Any similarities to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. (Don't tell me you never laughed at that line at the end of the credits of some outlandish movie! Who do you know of who ever dealt with a balrog? Yup, coincidence if you have! Lol!

A group of friends and I started this story at my suggestion over a year ago. We took turns writing chapters, sometimes even co-writing. Very tricky as this was all online. I miss those old friends very much-Celebriel, Tith, and Gaya, Gwenneth, Fimriel, and the rest. I'm leaving the chapters exactly as they are, but I have decided to take over as nothing has been written since last summer. Starting chapter 48, it's all me. But I am going to give credit where it is due. I hope that some of them will come by this and decide to jump back in and write. This was very exciting-getting to write and influence the story, but never knowing what would happen the next chapter. We could kill someone off or add someone in. The only rule was that we must try to fit in with what we know of Tolkien's world-eg. Legolas can't be killed or end up permanently married at the end, Elrond can't have 6 children, and so on. You get the gist. We did deviate at points, but then, only Gaya knew some things and she didn't point stuff out until recently. At the beginning of each chapter, I will write who authored it. The chapters start out shorter, then get much, much longer around chapter 21 or 22. Just to note, we all agreed last summer to put this on FanFic, but no one ever got around to it (actually, I was going to be the one who did it since this whole thing was my bright idea, but I never had the time!). So here it is. Enjoy, read, and review!

PS I will put up a new chapter every few days, though I will immediately put up a few. So far there are 48 already written.

Chapter 1

Author: Me, Arwen

For several days past, Araréiel's father had been speaking of strange goings-on to the west and south, but that did not bother her now. The sky was clear, birds singing, warm breezes, and she was in the company of her best friends. Besides, those older than she were always talking about something happening. She assumed that by now they were simply trying to scare the younger Elves. They must lead boring lives to do so.

A small group of young Elves had congregated under the trees at the edge of a clearing. "I can hit the target from further away!" "We ladies are much better at archery!" A friendly competition with bows had started, ladies against the gents. Two Elves behind her began to speak in hushed tones.

"Did you hear about the concerns among the Elders?" A male voice came from behind.

"No! Tell me," a feminine voice chimed.

"Smoke has been billowing in places it shouldn't be. Something strange is afoot. Counsels are being called all over Middle Earth. Men and Elves are gathering for some sort of mission."

A third voice, a lady, broke in. "Oh, don't let him bother you. Nothing is going on. He's-" The voice broke into a stifled giggle, and it's owner poked Araréiel in her shoulder. "Don't look now, but he's coming this way, and doesn't look happy!"

"Who?" But she saw. Their leader's young son, Legolas, came walking briskly through the tournament, a worried and determined look on his face. Normally he had a kind, teasing word for her, but not today. Something was amiss. Other maidens around her smiled and blushed as he past, the lads encouraging him to take a shot and help even the score. But he looked neither left nor right, and said not a word as he walked through the gathering.

Araréiel knew him well, and could easily see something was deeply bothering him. Why did the others fail to notice he was not happy? She glanced back toward the clearing and saw smoke in the distance toward the land of Sauron.

"Go!" The young Elf who had poked her pointed after the young Elf. She knew the two had eyes for each other.

She jumped up and ran after him. If he would not tell her what was going on, then her father would. Maybe the time had come to take the concerned words of her Elders, those who knew better than she, seriously.