Three years after the war for the ring of power.

~*~

The ancient elf gasped, and sat straight up in his bed. He closed his eyes, and sighed softly. It had been a long time since he had had the dream. He slowly lay his head back down on his soft feather pillow, murmuring to himself. "Only when the time is near…will they see the mark appear." Lord Elrond glanced toward the window; the sun was just starting to peek her way into his room. Deciding to get up, Elrond threw the blankets off, and prepared for a new day.

*-*

He had been searching all day. After a short breakfast, Elrond had locked himself into his library, and was pouring over old books, trying to find the source of the poem that he'd dreamed about. Pausing for a drink, he rubbed his eyes tiredly. It was no use, he'd never find it amidst all of his notes, and books and maps. Subconsciously his mind went back to that very first day he had heard the poem…(or was it a curse?) said aloud to him.

What a gorgeous day! Elrond declared to himself, sniffing the fresh air outside the great hall. Him and his children were having a peaceful walk in the forest. He smiled warmly at his three children. The twins Elladan & Elrohir were teasing their sister Arwen about the love of her life. Elrond inhaled deeply and let his eyes travel up toward the blue sky.

He started in surprise when he saw that the sky was not blue, but a dull shade of red. Thinking maybe his elven eyes were deceiving him in some way, he squinted and rubbed his eyes. He then noticed how quiet the forest surrounding him was; he quickly glanced to where his children were, they were gone. Turning his head in every direction, Elrond observed that the forest was not making any noise. No birds chirped and no insects buzzed near him. "You feel the change, don't you?" Someone whispered near his ear. Elrond turned sharply to the right to catch the person, but there was no one there. "The world will be destroyed…" Elrond pivoted to his left, and saw no one. "…unless They can stop it."

"Who are you?" Elrond asked, still looking around. He wasn't afraid, it took a lot to scare the Lord of Rivendell. But he honestly wanted to know what was going on. "What is your name?"

"It will happen after the War..." the voice said, ignoring his questions. "You know of the War in which I speak. Three years hence Middle-Earth will be threatened again." Elrond closed his eyes, and sighed briefly. The war for the ring of power wasn't to take place yet. He did not know when, but he could feel that the war was close. Elrond had given up trying to find the source of the voice…there was no use.

"What must I do?" He asked softly. He looked up at the red sky yet again, and shivered slightly. The whole feel of this place wasn't right.

"Unite them." The voice hissed to his left. It seemed to circle around him, as if the voice's owner was circling around Elrond. "Unite them to save Middle-Earth."

"How? I do not know who or when."

"Three races they do make." The voice whispered to his right now. "The must unite for Middle-Earth's sake. A dwarf, an elf, and orphan & King, come to hear the elves sing. Rivendell! Rivendell!" The voice moved behind him. "The elven prince so fair and strong, old and wise…never wrong. The bearded dwarf, wielding his axe, he alone can watch their backs." The voice was now directly in front of Elrond. The breath of the voice was just barely felt on the tip of Elrond's nose. "The orphaned woman, young at heart. She alone can make 'IT' start. The wisened ranger, now but a King. It is he who must lead them to the spring." The voice started to move away. "A queer group they do make, yet they must unite for Middle-Earth's sake. Rivendell! Rivendell! Only when the time is near, will they see the mark appear." Elrond could just barely hear the voice now; with his eyes closed he pricked his ears in the retreating direction. "After that the evil will soon rise. To try and bring Middle-Earth's demise."

Elrond opened his eyes, and saw that his two sons and his daughter were opening a picnic basket for lunch. They beckoned him forward, and he came toward them.

"Father!" Arwen laughed good-naturedly. She then noticed a small scroll set in her father's hand that he was clutching tightly. "What do you have there?"

Elrond glanced down toward his clenched hand, and saw the scroll. His eyebrows lifted in surprise as he unwrapped the scroll slowly, and saw the poem that had just been whispered in his ear. Toward the very bottom of the page, there was a strange symbol. It looked like three circles, all overlapping in one small spot. "The war…" Elrond muttered. "Three years hence."

"Father?" Elladan asked softly. "What is it?"

Rolling the scroll back up, Elrond set it behind him. "Nothing, just something to look at later." His mind was trying to decipher the poem, but he eagerly rubbed his hands together. "So…what did the cook give us for lunch?"

"The scroll." Elrond muttered, and glanced down at his pile of paperwork. As if he wasn't in control of his own hand movements, his right hand brushed three books aside, while his left hand reached underneath them. Feeling his fingers brush against something around, he quickly pulled it out, and sighed in relief when he saw the now flattened scroll. Fingers trembling slightly, he started to read.

*_*

Two Weeks Later

*_*

Lady Kimberly was sitting in a soft stuffed chair, reading a book. Her legs were curled under her, and her soft lilac dress still touched the ground. "There And Back Again." Kim sighed softly. What she would give to go on a little adventure. It was of no use, Lord Elrond would barely let her explore the woods near Rivendell, let alone actually leave. Even when she went off into the woods, Elladan or Elrohir had to accompany her. She knew that Elrond was just being careful…because she wasn't an elf and all…but sometimes she just wanted to escape for a while. She pushed her short blonde hair out of her face. Here in Rivendell it seemed custom for everyone to have long hair…but then again all the elves were also dark-haired so she was different in that aspect too. She had hazel eyes, rimmed with dark green.

Kimberly knew that she couldn't find a better home then Rivendell, but sometimes she just felt so out of place here. She was a human, barely twenty-five…surrounded by immortal elves. Elrond had taken her in when she was but fifteen. She had never known her parents. She had been abandoned very early in life. She had been passed from relative to relative in those early years. Finally, when she just got fed up with life itself, she struck out on her own. This when she was only fourteen. She learned how to look out for number one, by stealing and escaping whenever she needed something or got caught. It wasn't a bad life, she was good at what she did. One day when she was right around fifteen, she had been walking through this huge forest. She came across a camp, with no guards. Everyone was sleeping soundly. She came toward an unsuspecting man, and started rifling through his bag to see what he possessed.

At that point someone behind her had leaped to his feet, and had knocked her to the ground before she had even known what had happened. She was pinned to the forest floor, looking into the eyes of an elf. It was the first time she'd ever seen one, so she was quite amazed. Elladan had seen in her eyes that she wasn't going to harm him, and had left the camp to bring her toward his father. Elrond was more then happy to look out for the young human girl. It made him feel young again. From that point on, Elrond had raised Kimberly as if she was one of his own.

Kim jumped slightly when she heard a knock at the door. She looked down and realized that she was still clutching the book tightly to her chest. She set it on her lap, and glanced toward the door. "It's open." The door slowly swung open, and Lord Elrond swiftly walked into the room. He smiled warmly at his adopted daughter. "Good afternoon Kim."

Kim smiled back at him, and moved to get up. Elrond motioned for her to stay sitting, and took a chair opposite of her, and leaned forward a bit. Inwardly Kim groaned. Oh great. She thought. What did I do now? I hate these one-on-one talks! Elrond is way too perceptive! If I just blink at the wrong time, he knows what I've done! Kim shifted nervously in her seat. Instantly Elrond noticed and smiled at her to calm her fears. "Relax, you're not in trouble." He lifted his eyebrows and cocked his head at her. "Are you?" Kim smiled back at him warmly, instantly relaxing. If he had found anything out, he wasn't showing it. Not that she had recently done anything wrong…old habits just die hard. He glanced down at the book in her hands. "There And Back Again." He nods. "Is this your fiftieth time reading it?"

"Fifty-first actually." Kim retorted back.

"Listen Kim, I—

"It wasn't me!" Kim instantly got defensive. She was a person that had a guilty conscious. If someone was in a bad mood, and happened to glance at her, she would immediately start defending herself for things she 'didn't do'. Elrond raised an eyebrow at her. She blushed. "Um…never mind. Keep going."

Elrond shook his head at her, and continued. "As you've probably heard, we're to have guests tonight." He saw the light in her eyes instantly spark up. "Arwen will be returning along with her husband. With them two friends. You have not yet met Arwen's husband or his friends that helped to destroy the ring." He softly sighed, wondering how to put together the next few words. "Arwen is going to stay here for a while."

"Arwen is?!" Kim said excitedly. "That's great! We have so much to catch up. I haven't seen her forever! If I hadn't been sick when she'd gotten married I would have been there!"

Elrond waited for her rant to finish before he continued. "You will not be here to chat with her for long I'm afraid." Kim's face when from excited to crestfallen. "With her three friends, you and Anne will be accompanying them on a journey." As soon as he said the name Anne, Kim shook her head.

"Elrond…I respect you and your decision making…but you know how Anne and I get along." Kim said, gritting out the words. "We don't." She nodded.

Elrond sighed. "I know." He could barely put up with the brat himself. Anne was also an adopted daughter of his. He had taken her in that same year that Kim had come to him. She was opposite everything that Kim was. She was loud, outspoken, and just a fright to be around. More then once fights had broken out between Anne and whomever she was currently with. Elrond had received many suggestions from elves telling him to send her somewhere else. Many elves commenting, 'I hear Rohan is very nice this time of year.' Elrond leaned forward and took Kim's hand in his own, and stared deep into her eyes. "I'm asking you, Kim. Please, try and get a long with her. I do not know how long this journey will last. It is important that you both go together." Kim stared deep into the ancient Elf's eyes. "You must get a long with her, you have more strength in you then she will ever possess." Kim sighed softly and nodded. She always got stuck with Anne. They hadn't gotten along since their very first encounter.

"I'll do what I can."

Elrond smiled. "Good. I was hoping you'd say that." He released her hand and moved to stand up. "Dinner will be in an hour. Do not be late, it is there that you will meet your traveling companions." He reached out a hand to help her up. "When you go on this journey in two weeks…I want you to stay near Aragorn. You must do whatever he tells you, and no less. Alright?" Kimberly nodded and shrugged. She had no idea who this 'Aragorn' guy was. The name sounded familiar…wasn't that Arwen's husband? "Better get ready." Elrond said, motioning toward her closet. "I'll send Elladan up to escort you."

"I'm fine." Kim said softly. "I'll be ready."

"Very well." Elrond said, and kissed her on the forehead. He walked out the door, and closed it behind him. He stared up at the ceiling. "Please let her return safely."

A/N: Well…that's all for now. How do ya'll like it? Any ideas/suggestions/quotes you'd like to appear in the story? I'll see what I can do to work them in…but ya got to review first! =)