Set in the books, a tenth walker. Ara is a young women of extraordinary powers over energy and light who grew up among the elves of Lothlorien. As an adventurer she embarks with the Fellowship on a quest to save Middle-Earth. But this adventurer has a hidden Legacy, and a past that fills her with fear and pain. Will she let Legolas Greenleaf close enough for him to save her from her past, and the enemy that she once loved? Will she discover who she really is before all of Middle-Earth is thrown into eternal darkness? Or will her fears keep her from her true potential, and true love?

I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any of the songs used in the telling of this story. If I did, Legolas would already have a love(It would be me, duh...). Sigh, if only... Right along with if only I lived in Middle-Earth! Anyway, the only thing I own is my character Ara!

*Author Notes*

Elven Language

Thoughts

Enjoy!

Meet Your Match, Legolas!

~Chapter Three~

after packing my bag, I walked to the dining hall for an early dinner, as I and the other members of the Fellowship would be going to rest very early this day for we would be rising before dawn to make good time on our quest. As I walked however, Gandalf blocked my path.

"You should not be going with us on this quest, Ara. You would be too emotionally involved." he stated shortly. I looked to meet his eyes and saw in the corner of my own that Legolas had halted just to the left of us, hidden mostly from view, however I ignored his presence for the time.

"Gandalf, I know that you do not wish me to journey with you and the others, however, I cannot cower and hide. And I will not. Yes, I understand that it will be hard on me if we come across Faolan. Yes, I understand that if I am caught torture will be the result. I do not fear these, and you know this." I sighed, suddenly exhausted in that moment. "But Gandalf, should I hide as you and many others wish for me to do, I would only grow to hate myself and become restless. Now, you can try to leave me behind, but rest assured that I am the greatest tracker in Lothlorien, and I will follow you where-ever this fellowship may choose to travel. If you fear so much for me, then would it not be better if I traveled with the group, as opposed to on my own behind the group?" I could see that I had won the battle with Gandalf when he sighed and turned from me, walking away.

"Just be careful, my child."his words echoed down the hall behind him.

"Always, my friend." I spoke softly behind him. I stood there in my solitude for a moment before turning my attention to Legolas. "Can I help you with something, my friend?"

He stepped forward and stood next to me. I felt comforted by his near presence, as I always did when near another being. After a moment he spoke to me.

"You never got to answer my question of where you came from, and I fear curiosity drives me near madness." I could tell he was trying to ease the heavy air around me. I smiled a small smile and turned to face him.

"Then perhaps you will allow me to entertain you with tales of my life as we dine to make up for it?" I offered, hoping that he would accept my invitation. He smiled at me and nodded. We began to walk towards the dining hall to eat.

"Lets see, I was raised in the Golden Woods of Lothlorien. The story goes that I had been found in the Lady Galadriel's Mirror at dawn, wrapped in a blanket made of the golden leaves that so abundantly fill my home. No one knows where I came from, or even how I got there. But Galadriel took me in and raised me as her daughter.

For many long years I was raised quite happily in those forests. At an early age it was discovered that I had a very high aptitude for archery and knife wielding, however with swords I am not so graceful. I can use them expertly, but the added weight on my arm throws me off balance. I began to train in my weapons and found that I enjoyed it highly. During the night however I would wander the forest, often getting lost. It was then that I was taught to track and hunt. Because of my nightly walking I quickly became the best tracker there, but I grew restless.

It was not the sea that called to me, but instead the land. It whispered in my mind encouraging me to travel and explore, however, I did not leave my home until Gandalf came to visit. It was then when he came to visit that I accidentally discovered one of my gifts. He had arrived with a weariness upon his mind that I could see as clearly as I see you. I reached out to him with my hand and a purple light filled the air between my hand and his mind. When it faded he looked many years younger. Everyone was shocked, myself more than most.

When Gandalf left I went with him to hone and train my skills. It was many decades before my skill was anywhere near the levels that it is today, and during that time we traveled much between Gondor, Rohan, Isengard, and here. I met with Saruman and the kings and stewards, befriending them all. I have many allies around Middle-Earth. Finally Gandalf decreed that my training was done. I went back home to Lothlorien and was greeted warmly there. But still my heart was restless, so again I took to traveling. I have not stopped since." I neglected to mention my darker past, hoping that he would ignore it, or not notice at all. I soon realized my hope was in vain when he turned to face me, with a question in his gaze.

"And who is this Faolan that Gandalf fears we will meet on our roads? What is his connection to you?" Legolas asked. I turned my face from his. My heart twisted with a long unhealed wound.

"That is none of your business, and you would do well to remember such, Prince of Mirkwood." it was then that I turned completely away from him and walked back to my room. The darkness of my past. I had thought it was far behind me, but now, in one fell swoop, Saruman had completely thrown me into the shadows again. I could feel my heart pounding with loneliness and love.

Faolan. Where are you now that you have been drawn from the Halls of Mandos? Do you even remember who you are? Do you remember me? Or that night when I held you in my arms beneath the earth? With a sigh, I curled onto my bed beneath the covers and closed my eyes, a silent prayer for dreamless sleep.

Well, what do you think? So now we have a little bit of the background story of Ara. But is it true that no one knows where she came from? And who is Faolan, this man of mystery that she refuses to speak of? What exactly are her gifts? Will Legolas be able to break past the ice that she covers her heart with? I apologize for any mistakes in spelling that I made, I was never very good at it. I hope that you will stick with me through this. Please continue to read, and please review!

Thank you to those who reviewed. I would thank you personally but the darn thing booted my story down last time I did.