Hello everyone~ I'm quite surprised and very pleased with the amount of interest I've gotten for this story. I'd like to ask you all to review, so that I can grow as a writer. It's been a while, so it would be nice to get some constructive criticism. Also, I don't own LoTR or any of the characters mentioned in this story except Raina, who comes from my brain. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

50 years later . . .

Raina walked the paths of Caras Galadhon, greeting those she passed on her way to the gardens. Reaching the archway, she stopped and turned, a smile growing on her face as she spotted a figure in the distance. She slipped quietly into the garden and daintily found a hiding place behind a large bush, settling in for the inevitably long wait ahead of her. She heard footsteps and peered out through the bush, watching carefully. A pair of boots crossed her line of vision and her smile grew wider. She heard a sigh.

"Raina, we do have a job to do…you know that right?" She looked to make sure she wouldn't be seen if she moved, and upon seeing she wouldn't, answered "Yes" and slipped behind another bush. Her pursuer whirled around, causing the nearby plants to rustle. "Raina, come out. We have to go patrol." With a sigh, she stood up from her hiding place. "Father, must you ruin all my fun?"

Haldir sighed yet again. "Aren't you getting too old to be playing these games?"

With a musical laugh, Raina replied "Perhaps, but I only have forever to live, must you rush my growing up?" This was met with a smile in return and the pair exited the garden to leave on a patrol of the borders.

Since the death of her parents, Raina had lived with Haldir and the two of them had become close, as if he was her real father. He had told her from the very beginning that she could call him whatever she liked, and one day she had been looking for him and the word "father" had just slipped out. Hearing it, Haldir had frozen and turned to look at her, a mix of surprise and happiness on his face. Raina had smiled awkwardly and he had laughed at her, walking over and pulling her into a hug. "I think of you like my daughter, Raina, you have nothing to be embarrassed about." From that day forward, she had always called him father and loved him as much as a real father.

"Raina! Keep your thoughts here!" Haldir's voice roused her from her thoughts and she inclined her head in apology. As they neared the border, she focused on listening and watching for danger. The forest was silent, uncomfortably silent. Usually the sounds of birds or other wild animals could be heard, but Raina heard absolutely nothing. She looked over at Haldir and saw that he seemed concerned.

"Father, why is it so quiet?" Her voice had startled him – she could tell as he stiffened and turned quickly to look at her. No smile came to her face this time, for she saw worry in his eyes.

"I don't know, Raina," he replied, "This silence worries me. Something is walking through the forest, whether friend or foe I do not know, but it has startled away all of the animals nearby." Just then, a scout jogged around a tree in the distance and seeing the pair, hurried towards them. Bowing, he turned to Haldir.

"Sir, there is a party moving slowly through the forest. There are two Men, an Elf, four halflings, and…" he paused here. Raina looked at him curiously as he avoided Haldir's gaze and finished his sentence "and a Dwarf."

Haldir's expression darkened. "Assemble my men, Penlod. We shall meet these strangers as soon as we can." Penlod nodded and was gone. Haldir turned to Raina. "You must go and inform the Lady that we have guests." Raina's eyes flashed. "I wish to see them for myself, father. The Lady will already know of their arrival." Immediately after speaking, she heard Galadriel's voice in her head.

"I am aware, my child. Stay and see our guests."

She turned to Haldir and saw doubt in his eyes, but he inclined his head towards her, giving her permission to stay. A small band of archers had assembled behind them and Haldir raised his arm, giving the command to follow him. The elves crept forward. Raina could now hear many heavy footsteps moving closer to them. As they moved through the forest, she could hear the murmur of voices. Haldir's company formed a ring around the intruders and began to move closer. Raina could clearly see the company, and she looked in wonder on them all. As Haldir gave the command to move closer, she heard the Dwarf loudly speaking to his companions. "I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Raina stifled a laugh at the irony of the situation as she saw the Dwarf turn and nearly walk straight into an arrow. Haldir stepped forward.

"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." Raina did laugh at this, but quietly still. She looked around to make sure no one had heard her, but when her eyes moved back to the strangers, her gaze met that of the Elf. Time seemed to stop as she looked at him. He seemed so familiar, yet so different at the same time. She was yanked back to the present as he smirked and looked away. A flash of anger flowed through her, until she realized that Haldir was leading the group away. She followed the group back to the city, thinking only of the strange Elf and wondering why he seemed so familiar. She was sure she had never seen him before, yet a little voice in her head was berating her for having forgotten him. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she continued down the path, speeding up to catch her father.

"What do you think of them, daughter?" he asked, noticing her presence.

"They do not seem bad, father. Their eyes are sad." She looked over at him to see his expression had softened and he nodded in agreement. "They have lost someone close to them. They must speak with the Lord and Lady." As they entered the city, Haldir halted and turned to her. "Raina, go and find Miluiel and assist her in preparing a place for our guests." Raina opened her mouth to protest but seeing the look on Haldir's face she was suddenly aware that she had no place in the meeting that was about to take place. She nodded and strode off, casting one last glance back at the lovely Elf who, to her surprise, was watching her leave.