Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to the great and awe-inspiring Tolkien. Characters that you may recognize from To Find A Home And A Family belong to me, such as Hadlathon, Heledhon, Belegon, and others. Veryafion belongs to Serenlyall, who has graciously allowed me to borrow her (again:) Thank you so much, mellon nín! Please check out Seren's stories, they are amazing!

Time Frame: The immediate years after Celebrían sailed from the Grey Havens after being tortured by orcs during the Third Age.

A/N: So here is my next story. I hope you all enjoy. Here is the prologue, and I am officially starting this story over. When I first started writing it, my writing style was not well-developed or very good, and it has improved quite a bit over the years. So here is the re-write, and I hope you like it. Please read, review and enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Darkness was falling around her, however, the darkness in her heart was more complete and darker. She was watching the camp being set up below them, beings of light and beauty visible in the firelight.

'Elves,' she thought cruelly, 'the one creature I have not yet hunted.'

Watching them closely, looking for weakness, being a hunter, that was what she was good at. She had no other purpose but the hunt, and she was very good at it.

Eventually, she found her target: a seemingly lone elf, sitting alone, not looking up. He stared at the fire, and all there gave him a wide birth. His eyes were distant, the pain in them absolute and complete. He was hunched over and looked as though the world was resting on his shoulders.

Next to him, another elf with hair like spun gold joined him, an arm going around his shoulders, giving what comfort he could.

She was too far away to see the tears, but she was certain they were there.

The man next to her finally spoke, "Everything is ready, my lady. The preparations are almost complete, and our friend is waiting to begin the first steps. Now all you need do is choose which one you want."

She nodded distantly, not really hearing what he said before nodding to the camp below them, "That one, that is the one I want," she said.

The man next to her asked, "The blond?"

She shook her head, "No, the one next to him. He would be perfect. Judging from how he looks, he must be important enough to have powerful friends and family."

He looked at her, "He is."

She raised an eyebrow, "You know him?"

He nodded, "Yes, that is Lord Elrond Peredhil. His wife just took the ship from the Grey Havens. He just saw her away. Some Elves are known to Fade and die from grief when such a parting happens."

She was silent for a moment, thinking carefully. A cruel smile seconds later lit her features, and she looked at him, "Then no one will question when he disappears into the Wilds and dies unexpectedly?"

The man nodded slowly, "Perhaps."

"Not perhaps. Yes, he will be part of the hunt," she said determinedly.

The man bowed his head, "As you wish. I will give the approval to finish the preparations, and we will wait for an opportunity."

She nodded, and they turned back to watching the Elves set up their camp. An eagerness began to steal over her, but she tamped it down. Patience was an important part of hunting, and the most important part was setting up the hunt to make it worth her while.

This was the most important hunt she would ever participate in, and she wanted to make sure it was perfect.

Even if it took a while, that elf-lord would be part of the hunt. Elves were wary by nature out in the Wilds, but in their cities and settlements, their guard was slightly lowered.

There, they would find what they would need to...encourage...Lord Elrond to partake in the hunt.

Guards had been set, and a few were making their way out into the trees to set up the watch. The woman and the man looked at each other and walked back to where the rest of their group was waiting, knowing they could not be seen. They had followed the Elves from the Havens, searching for the next of the hunted, staying far enough away from them that none saw them, but they would not take any chances.

Not yet, not ever could they be seen.

Not even a twig or blade of grass was marred by their passing, and soon the shadows had swallowed them.

Below and behind where they had been, the elves settled down for the night, unaware of what had been set in motion. In the midst of the camp, Lord Elrond sat quietly, unaware of anything around him as the sundering from his wife left him bereft of everything and in a state of shock.

The hunt was about to begin again.