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             Aredhel could remember nothing but darkness, and blurry figures of light long off. Here, there was nothing here but large beasts, malicious illusions, and giant spiders. So, she ran. She tried running straight south, but there was a pink glow over the forest, and every time she thought she had gone into it, she ended up somehow being turned around and turned out. So, she ran west until the pink glow dissipated, because that seemed a good way to go, and then began again to run south. Nothing stopped her then. That is, of course, until she stumbled upon a woman. Quite literally. In her haste, she had gone smack into a woman, and knocked them both over.

             The woman had red hair, which was down except for two small braids on the sides which were fastened together in the back. Some strands fell to the sides of her face, which was covered in freckles. What was most extraordinary was the shape of her ears. They were round. Was this one of the humans she had heard people talk about? She wore a blue kirtle with a red pattern along the bodice that was crosslaced in the middle with darker blue thread. She wore an elaborate leather belt, and pieces came down from the sides to hold up her skirt. The sun was behind her. It made her hair sparkle and her body seem to glow like a maia. She was gorgeous. If Aredhel hadn’t physically touched her, she would have thought she was just a vision or a dream.

             “I’m so sorry,” Aredhel said, “I was in such a rush, I didn’t see you.”

             “That’s alright,” the woman said.

             Then, she looked over at Aredhel.

             “My, you’re in a bad way. Do you need help?” The woman asked. She had an unfamiliar accent that Aredhel could not quite place, but it was calming, especially coming from such beautiful lips. They were pink and so perfectly shaped.

             Aredhel looked down at her clothing and noticed that her clothes were torn, covered in dirt, mud, and some murky black stuff she didn’t even want to know the origin of. She had been so intent on just getting away, that she had completely disregarded her appearance.

              “What were you running from?” the woman asked her, taking her out of her thoughts.

             “The monsters and the spiders,” Aredhel replied.

             “Ah, so you stumbled into Nan Dungortheb, did you?”

             “I guess so.”

             “Well, you won’t have any problem with those creatures here. My people protect these woods.”

             “That’s great to hear. Are you a human?”

             The woman laughed, but it was sonorous and kind.

             “Yes, I’m a human.” She said, “Are you an elf, then?”

             “Yes,” Aredhel said, “I’ve never met a human before. Well, at least not that I can remember. And I can’t remember much.”

             “Well, you can come with me, if you like.” the woman said, “My city’s not far off. I can help you.”

             “That would be very kind of you, thank you.”

             “My name is Haleth, by the way,” the woman said. “What is yours?”

             “Umm, I’m not sure. Írissë, maybe. Or… no,” That was her first thought, but something told her it was not quite right. She tried filtering through the fog in her brain, sifting through the thoughts that were just out of reach, until she finally got something, “I think it’s Aredhel.”

             “Very well, then, I’ll call you Aredhel.” Haleth said, “Nice to meet you.”

             “Nice to meet you as well.”

             It was not until that moment that Aredhel realized she was injured. Pain soaked her body slowly out from her side. She looked down at it again and realized what she thought was mud was actually dried blood. Then she stumbled forward.

             “Woah there,” Haleth said, moving to brace her.

             “Sorry, I think I’m injured.” Aredhel said.

             “Let me help you,” Haleth said.

             She took Aredhel’s hand and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. It was strong and callused, and filled her with warmth that was soon drowned out by the pain.

             “I’ll help you to my city,” Haleth said.

             “Thank you, again,” Aredhel said.

             Such kindness.

             She staggered through the woods, green with the new growth of Spring, and Haleth guided her until they came across a clearing with a tall hill in front of them. On top of the hill was a city, fortified by a wall of logs that were cut and sashed together closely. They stood in the ground resolutely against the open sky. There was a door made of logs as well, with a guard tower on top. As they approached, Aredhel heard the women yell something she did not understand. It must have been their Mannish language. Aredhel responded to them, and then they yelled at the people below. The gate opened, and people rushed out to meet them. Some had brown hair and some auburn, but they all had grey eyes. They took Aredhel from Haleth and began to carry her.

             Haleth was barking orders at people in their language, and they ran off, probably to do what she asked. They went down a busy main street, lined with homes and various businesses, all made of wood, with stone chimneys. She saw a butcher, a tailor, and a blacksmith’s shop, among many others. People parted as they walked passed. They stared at her and whispered in wonder with words she did not understand.

             At the end of the road, they walked up to a house with a large garden and steps leading up to a thick wooden door. There were two female guards standing in front of the door, and they opened it so they could enter.

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             There was a little girl sitting on the floor of the house when they opened the door. She had ruddy skin and auburn hair done with braids similar to Haleth’s, except they were larger, including all of her hair, and were then braided together on the back of her head. Her limbs were thick and her face was round, with big brown eyes and cherub cheeks sprinkled with freckles. She was devastatingly adorable. She reminded her intensely of someone, but Aredhel could not put her finger on who it was. 

             “Who is this, mama?” The girl asked, “Is she an elf? Kinda like me?” The little girl’s eyes lit up.

             “Yes, my darling, she is an elf.“ Haleth said, helping Aredhel through the door of the wooden cottage. “Help me with the door, please?”

             “Yes, Mama,” the girl said, and she ran over and closed the door behind them.

             “What do you mean ‘kind of like’ you?” Aredhel asked, straining to stay upright.

             “Mama says my papa was an elf.” The girl responded, quickly adding, “Are you one of the elves from the forest to the east?”

             “From the east?” Aredhel asked, her thoughts cloudy.

             “Doriath,” Haleth said.

             “No, well, I don’t think so.” Aredhel said.

             Haleth helped her into the chair, and she groaned in pain. Haleth helped her to peel back a lacerated piece of leather, which revealed a gash surrounded by a maroon-colored stain on her white cotton clothing.

             “Meleth, tell one of the servants to get a healer.” Haleth said.

             “Yes, Mama.” The girl said, and she ran out of the room like lightning.

             “That was my daughter, Meleth.” Haleth said. 

             “She is very cute,” Aredhel replied. “Her father was an elf?”

             “Yes,” 

             “Is he coming back any time soon?”

             “I wouldn’t say so, no. He lives far away. Now, we need to tend to your wounds before they get infected, and help you remember where you came from.”

             “Okay.” She was confused, even more than currently, at the quick change of topic.

             “Do you have any heraldic symbols, or anything with a crest on it?”

             "I don't know, help me look."

             They inspected her clothing, and found a piece that had been half-ripped and was hanging down. There was an intricately embroidered patch on it that had been hidden. On it, there was the sign of a crescent moon with a heart and a sun inside of the crescent. 

             "This looks like one," Aredhel said.

             "I can send it to Doriath and ask them about it." Haleth said. "We'll find out where you're from." 

             Haleth carefully used a knife to cut the patch off the cotton, and placed it gently in a leather pouch. She walked over to the door and stuck her head out, relaying what Aredhel assumed was the same information to the guards outside, though she could not understand their language. Haleth returned to Aredhel without the pouch and took her hand.

             "If there's anything you need, just let me know." Haleth said, "I'm the chieftain here. I'll take care of you until we can get you back home. Don't worry."

             "Thank you very much," Aredhel said, "I will not soon forget your kindness."

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             Meleth returned not long afterwards with a healer woman and her assistant. The healer wore rough-spun linen clothing dyed in earth tones, and her hair was covered with a white linen cap. She carried a large leather bag, and wore similar leather gloves. Her face was wrinkled with age and knowledge. Her assistant walked behind her, similarly dressed, but younger. They shuffled across the floor, and the wooden floorboards creaked under her weight.

             “It is that woman over there, the elf,” Meleth said, motioning with her open hand.

             “Thank you, dear,” Aredhel said.

             Meleth smiled brightly, revealing dimples in her ruddy cheeks.

             The healer woman set down her bag on the ground next to Aredhel and kneeled in front of her.

             “This is the wound, I presume,” the healer woman said.

             Aredhel sat there confused, and looked at Haleth for help. She probably did not speak their language.

             “Yes, that is the wound.” Haleth replied, “I think she got it in Nan Dungortheb.”

             “Well, that is some serious stuff,” the healer said, “We might have to ask for help from an elf in Doriath. Let me see what I can do first, though.”

             The healer inspected the wound carefully, moving some of the cloth out of the way. Aredhel winced.

             “Sorry, my lady,” the healer said, “Well, the good news is it does not look infected or poisoned. I would normally want to do stitches on it, but you are an elf, so you should heal from it on your own.”

             She took a jar of honey out of her bag.

             “You need to apply honey to it, and avoid any strenuous activity until it heals.”

             Aredhel looked at Haleth again, and she translated it into Sindarin for her.

             “I can show you how to do it.” The healer woman continued.

             “Thank you,” Haleth said.

             She translated it for Aredhel.

             It was simple enough to apply the honey. She thanked the healer for her time, paid her well, and she was on her way.

             Even though it was injured, Aredhel’s skin was so soft and smooth under her fingers as she applied the honey every day. The only other person she could think of with skin like that was Caranthir’s. She pondered on whether this feeling was because Aredhel was an elf, or if it was only because… no, it had to be an elf thing. She was not attracted to Aredhel. She couldn’t be. She had promised herself.         

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             It was two days later before they received any visitors from Doriath with answers about the symbol on her clothes. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining brightly, and not a cloud in the sky. Meleth had quickly finished her chores and begged to play outside with her friends, so it was just Haleth and Aredhel in the house. The only sounds were the rustling of the papers Haleth was looking through, and the sounds of birdsong outside the windows. Aredhel was still recovering from her injuries, so she was sitting up on a cushioned chair doing some embroidery.

              There was a knock at the door.

             “Come in,” Haleth yelled.

             One of her female guards entered the room.

             “Elves from Doriath, Chieftain Haleth.” The guard said. “They say it’s about the elf and her symbol.”

             “Bring them right in,” Haleth said.

             Two elves walked in; they smelled of pine trees and rosewater, and their steps were soft as to make little noise, even on the creaky wooden floor. The first elf was a man who had brown skin and raven black hair. He wore shimmering armor and had a symbol on his shield. The symbol was a light blue circle with seven tears hugging it, and four stars surrounding it, inside a black diamond. The other elf was a woman, and her hair was the first thing that struck her. It was golden and brilliant, with silver highlights that sparkled throughout, like her hair was some spun alloy of the two. She had light brown skin and almond eyes framed with long lashes that shone on their own with a mysterious and dazzling light. It was not present in the other elf’s eyes.

             “Ar- Artanis?” Aredhel said.

             “I go by Galadriel now,” the female elf said, “A name I got from my husband, Celeborn. He is one of the Sindar in King Thingol’s court.”

             “Oh,” Aredhel said, “That’s lovely. I like it.”

             “Thank you,” Galadriel said, “This is Mablung. One of the best of King Thingol’s guard.”

             “Glad to make your acquaintance, Mablung,” she told him.

             He bowed to her.

             “You as well,”

             “And you are Lady Haleth, correct?” Galadriel asked, turning to Haleth.

             “That is correct, yes.”

             “This is my cousin Aredhel.” Galadriel explained. “The symbol you sent us was the heraldry of Turgon, the King of Gondolin.”

             She then turned to Aredhel.

             “He is your brother.”

             Her brother? She remembered something- a faint picture of a man with Black skin like hers. He wore a crown, and carried a golden-silver sword. But the vision was dim, and it grew blurrier, as if covered in fog and spider’s webs.

             “It’s hard to remember,” Aredhel said.

             “She doesn’t remember much.” Haleth said, “She talked of spiders and darkness when I found her. I think she was attacked by something in Nan Dungortheb.”
             Galadriel sat down in front of Aredhel on her knees.

             “May I help you?” Galadriel said.

             “Yes,” Aredhel replied.

             “Close your eyes.”
             Aredhel did so, and Galadriel put her fingers lightly to her temples, and they were warm and comforting. Galadriel began to chant, and it was like a curtain was thrown open. Light burst forth through her mind, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. The fog was burned away, the spider webs were torn asunder, and she remembered. She remembered everything. Galadriel removed her fingers from Aredhel’s temples and she opened her eyes.

             “I remember.” She said.

             Her brother was tall, and Black like her. His hair was done in big, intricate braids, tied together, with a silver crown on top of them. His robes were a brilliant white, and he carried a golden sword in an ivory sheath. She had told him she wanted to leave Gondolin, but at first he had told her she could not go. She then told him she was going anyway- she had already spent more than 60 years in the city and she longed to ride through the forest again. So, he relented and sent a few lords with her. She said she was going to visit their brother Fingon, but what she really wanted was to visit her cousins, Celegorm and Curufin. But they lived in lands that were passed Nan Dungortheb, and that cursed place proved to be too much for her.

             They both smiled and she placed her hands on Galadriel’s shoulders.

             “Thank you so much.”

             They pressed their foreheads together for a moment.

             “You are very welcome, cousin,” Galadriel said. “That was something I learned from Queen Melian. She has been teaching me all sorts of magic. I am really enjoying it.”

             “That is great.”

             “So, will you be going to Doriath?” Haleth asked.

             “No, I can’t go there.”

             “Unfortunately, the only Ñoldor King Thingol lets into Doriath are the House of Finarfin, Galadriel and her brothers.” Mablung explained.

             “Are you going back to Gondolin, then?” Haleth asked.

             “I am not going back to Gondolin.” 

             Aredhel had only just left Gondolin, and against the advice of her brother. There was no way she was going back so soon, and injured too. It would only fuel her brother’s extreme isolationism. Besides, she wanted to stay longer with this beautiful human and her cute daughter. They intrigued her. And to say she was not at least a little infatuated with Haleth would be a blatant lie.

             “I am sure Finrod would let you stay in Nargothrond if you asked.” Galadriel said.

             “I am sure he would.” Aredhel replied. Finrod was always kind and generous. “But I would rather stay here, at least until my wounds are healed. As long as that is okay with you, Lady Haleth,”

             “You are welcome to stay here as long as you need,” Haleth assured her.

             “Well, if you ever need anything, send for me, okay?” Galadriel said, a comforting hand on her shoulder.

             “I will. Thank you so much again, cousin.”

             “My pleasure.” Galadriel took her hands and squeezed them.

             They said their goodbyes, and then Galadriel and Mablung left.

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             Aredhel’s body healed quickly, leaving only a small scar on her abdomen. She missed Haleth’s tending of her, but Haleth never asked her to leave. She only kept going about her days without the tending of Aredhel’s wounds. She still received servants who clothed her, bathed her, emptied her chamberpot, and saw to her other needs. Meleth would play with her toys on the floor very often, when the weather was too poor for her to run around outside, and she would ask Aredhel for stories of the elves. She listened with rapt attention to every detail, asked copious questions, and had very strong opinions about the people in the stories. 

             As soon as Aredhel’s memory was restored, she knew that Meleth must be the daughter of one of her Fëanorian cousins. She bore too much of a resemblance to Nerdanel for it to be a coincidence- with her ruddy skin, large frame, and even her caring yet stubborn disposition. Although Haleth also had red hair, it was a different shade. With her round face and pointed ears, sometimes Aredhel thought for a moment that she saw her lost aunt as an elfling when she looked at Meleth. So, Aredhel told many stories of her cousins to Meleth, but Meleth began to have specific questions for stories that left little room for her to tell what she wanted to herself. The first time she mentioned Caranthir in a story, Meleth asked such a question.

             “Caranthir is your cousin?” Meleth said, her eyes wide in surprise. “That’s the elf who saved us from orcs!”

             “Saved you from orcs?” Aredhel asked, her curiosity raised. 

             “Yes!” Meleth said.

             She then told her in very animated language, with many gesticulations and the help of her dolls, how the Haladin once lived far to the east, until they were attacked by an angry band of orcs. They protected themselves for days until they were saved by the valiant Caranthir. They were offered a fiefdom from him, but headed west instead. They did not want a lord, they wanted to be free. They traveled through the dangerous Nan Dungortheb. Then they arrived and the king Finrod from the elven kingdom to the west convinced the other king, Thingol, to the east, to give them Brethil. And here they are!

             It was then that Aredhel was certain it must be Caranthir that was Meleth’s father. He certainly was an elf who “lived far away,” and he was clearly kind to her people, going so far as to give them a fiefdom in his land! That was almost unheard of. Though, it would make sense if he and Haleth were in love. She said nothing of this, however, because she did not want to upset her host and be forced out to Nargothrond, or worse, back to Gondolin. 

             As Aredhel healed and became stronger, Meleth began to ask her to play with her toys with her more and more.  She was more than happy to oblige. Meleth was a darling child, Overeager and full of energy, but nonetheless adorable. Perhaps it was because she reminded Aredhel of her Fëanorian cousins and aunt Nerdanel, but she also had her own endearing charm. Haleth would watch them play or talk together with a fond, if slightly melancholy look on her gorgeous face. Aredhel wondered what was so troublesome for her host. It was probably because she missed Caranthir as well. She decided she would not force the issue.

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             Haleth remembered the night of their tryst, the night before she and her people left Thargelion. The candles twinkled like stars as their light danced around the room and across his impossibly beautiful face. She wanted to stay in Caranthir’s arms forever. She loved him so much, and not just because he had ridden in and saved her people from orcs, like everyone assumed, but because he was so good with the Haladin kids. When she saw how kind he was to them, how he laughed and played with them, she was in love before she knew it. The only thing that got her out of his warm bed that night was her duty to her people. He begged her to stay, and she wanted to. Oh, how desperately she wanted to. But she had to be the one to lead her people to the west. They wanted to go where they would be better protected from orcs and would not have a lord to answer to, and both her father and her brother were dead, and her nephew was too young to lead. She explained this to him.

             “Okay,” he said. 

             After she had washed herself off and dried and dressed, she turned to go towards the door. 

             “Haleth,” he said, and she turned back towards him. He took her hand and raised it to his lips, gently pressing them over her fingers. “May all the blessings of the Eldar go with you.”

             The warmth of his touch radiated from her hand up and through her arm and filled her entire body anew. Her heart stuttered. She intertwined their fingers, turned their hands over, and kissed him on the top of his hand in the same way.

             “May all the blessings of the Edain be with you.” she said. He smiled at her, both loving and sad at once. She put her other hand on top of his, and then she untangled their fingers and let go. She left.

             It was not for a few months later that she realized she would have Meleth, a reminder of their night together, and then everyone would know about it. There were already rumors, when people saw her leaving his chambers before sunrise, and then again when she began to get sick on the road, and when her stomach began to grow round. Then Meleth was born, and they saw her daughter’s pointed ears. 

             “No wonder she didn’t want to leave,” they said.

             Once it was all out in the open, Haleth thought that there was nothing she could do about it. The best thing she could do was raise her daughter with love and with care. She would not bother him with this- after all, she left him, and he probably did not want to see her again. He had much more important things to deal with, running his land and people, like she did. She resolved that she would get over him. That she did, although it took a while. Especially with Meleth right there, who had his brown eyes and ruddy skin, and always brought him to mind. But she did it. She never forgot him, but she stopped longing for his touch, or the sonorous sound of his voice. After all of that, she promised herself that she would not get involved with an elf again. It was too much trouble. But then Aredhel came in, all dazed and injured, with her pretty eyes, and her kindness towards Meleth. She was done for.

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             Aredhel asked one day if she could go walk about the town, as she was feeling well enough to do so and wished to acquaint herself with the local people. Haleth agreed, and assigned one of her female guards to go with Aredhel to assist her. This one spoke Sindarin well enough to speak with and translate for her. She was beginning to pick up a few words and phrases in the Mannish tongue, but not nearly enough to carry on a conversation. Her talks with Meleth and Haleth were always completely in Sindarin. 

             “Before you go, we must fix your hair,” Haleth said.

             “Oh, I can manage that.” Aredhel said, “I just need a looking glass.”

             “Right. I forgot that hair braiding was an intimate thing for the Eldar.”

             “Yes, it is.”

             So, Haleth called one of the servants for a looking glass for Aredhel and she did her hair on her own. When she was done, Meleth bounded into the room to her.

             “Mama says she has a surprise for you, and you have to come,” Meleth said, bouncing on her heels as she spoke.

             “Of course, lead the way,” Aredhel said.

             Meleth led her to the room where she had never been before in the house- Haleth and Meleth’s bedchamber. Haleth’s face lit up when she walked into the door, and there were a few white dresses and leather belts laid out in the bed. They were not nearly as good as anything of elven make, but they were still very well made and looked like they were made more to be practical than pretty.

             “I had three seamstresses in town make you dresses. It was hard to source this much white fabric, but your old dress is torn around the waist, so I thought you could use a few new ones.” Haleth said, “What do you think?”

             Aredhel stood there stunned. Haleth had them made specifically for her?

             “I love them. Your generosity astounds me.” Aredhel said.

             “Yay!!!” Meleth said, jumping in the air, “She likes them, Mama! She likes them!”

             “Yes, I do like them, darling,” Aredhel said to Meleth, “They are lovely. Which one should             I wear today?”

             Meleth scrunched up her nose and thought.

             “This one in the middle,”

             “Very well, I will wear that one. Get the maids to bring them to my room?”

             “Of course,” Meleth smiled widely and was out of the room in a flash.

             “Thank you very much, really.” Aredhel said, “This is such an incredible gift, I don’t know how to thank you.”

             “It’s only fitting that a lady such as yourself should have good clothes,” Haleth said. “It’s the least I could do.”

             Aredhel looked deep into Haleth’s grey eyes and a heat began to bloom in her chest. They were so beautiful and simple, and there. Before she knew it, she was standing right before Haleth, and the smell of her was so powerful. She had such gorgeous, luscious lips like strawberries, and she wanted nothing more than to reach out and press them to hers. Haleth stared back at her, wonder in her eyes. She looked down at Aredhel’s lips, and began to move forward, when Meleth came back through the door as quick as lightning. The moment was broken.

             “I brought the maids,” Meleth said.

             “Thank you, dear.” Aredhel replied.

             Aredhel put on her new dress and left to go around town. She had a very lovely time. Meleth begged to go, and would run off and then back to show Aredhel her favorite spots. They had seen a toy shop, the bakery, and the milliners where one of her friends’ mothers worked. It was a glorious time, but now she only wanted to spend more time alone with Haleth. She had to know for herself if her lips tasted as sweet as they looked.

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             Once the days grew long and hot, Aredhel was itching to get out in the forest again. She told Haleth how she wanted to hunt again because she was feeling well enough. She had heard some of the stories that Aredhel told to Meleth about hunting with her cousins, and it sounded like she really enjoyed the activity. But Haleth wanted to get Aredhel alone, ever since the day she gave her the new dresses and they almost kissed. This could be the perfect opportunity.

             “How do you usually hunt?” Haleth asked Aredhel.

             “With a bow and arrow.” Aredhel said.

             An idea came into Haleth’s mind.

             “I have a bow that my father used to use, but I have no idea how to use it myself.” She lied. “Could you teach me?”

             “Of course,”

             “But Mama, you’re great with a bow,” Meleth asked, confused. 

             “Don’t worry about it, sweetie,” Haleth said to her, with a knowing smile on her face. 

             They were speaking their language, so Aredhel probably could not understand enough of it.

             “When will we go?” Aredhel asked.

“How about tomorrow? Gives me time to arrange for someone to watch Meleth and get my chieftain duties taken care of.”

             “Sounds great. I can’t wait.”

             Haleth could not wait, either. The next day, they dropped Meleth off at her aunt’s house and then they went off into the woods to a spot Haleth said was great for training. Once they had reached the spot, Aredhel showed Haleth the proper gear, and how to put it on. Then, she slung a quiver over her back and picked up the bow.

             “First, take up the bow like this,” Aredhel said, her arms outstretched and her stance firm.

             “Second, this is how you hold the arrow,” Aredhel pulled it slowly between her fingers and loaded it to the bow. 

             “Third, pull back,” she made sure to pull back to her mouth to put attention to it.

             “Lastly, aim the arrow carefully,” she instructed, turning the bow towards an apple hanging from a tree, “And let it loose,”

             The arrow flew from her fingers and skewered the apple straight through the middle, with a wet thud.

             “Okay,” Haleth said, “Let me try.”

             Aredhel handed it to her and their hands just barely brushed each other, feeling like a spark touching her finger and then reverating through her body. Haleth took her stance and it was slightly off. She was too rigid while pulling back the arrow. 

             “Relax,” Aredhel said, placing a hand on Haleth’s waist.

             It was like nothing she had ever felt, exhilarating, like riding a horse at full gallop. The cloth was not nearly as fine as anything elven that she had been used to all her life, but it was warm and the wearer was so gorgeous, and wanted to learn archery from her. Haleth lowered the bow. Aredhel guided her with the hand, and Haleth followed it completely.

             “Try again,” Aredhel said.

             Haleth raised the bow again. Not able to resist the thought of contact, Aredhel took her other hand, and folded her hand slowly over Haleth’s on the front of the bow. Their skin touching was the most glorious sensation of her life. It felt like fire, but good, and the sensation filled her body like a wildfire.

             “Now take a deep breath, and relax your stance and your arms.” Aredhel said. “Aim at that knot on the tree, and let it loose.”

             Haleth did as she was told, and it went straight to the center of the knot. A crunching sound of wood rang out.

             “You’re a natural,” Aredhel said. 

             Haleth lowered the bow and looked at her. Their eyes met each other, and she could see the hunger in them. Haleth’s glance wandered down to her lips, and then back up to her eyes again. Aredhel reached out tentatively for her face, and placed her hand gently on Haleth’s cheek when she did not move away. Her heart was pounding; every other sound in the world seemed to dull and fall away, as Haleth’s face came closer to hers. Before their lips met, Haleth stopped and nudged her nose. She smelled of sweat and woodsmoke, and having her so close was intoxicating.

             “Are you sure you want to do this?” Haleth said.

             “Yes,” Aredhel said, her voice desperate despite her attempts to hide it.

             Their lips met, and she was stunned in place; she had never felt anything like it. It was electric. She tasted like blackberries and salt and it drove her wild with desire. Haleth pulled back all too soon, and put a finger over Aredhel’s lips.

             “There’s more where that came from,” Haleth said. “But let’s finish the hunt for now.”

             There were many other stolen kisses when they were out hunting, which was the only time they were truly alone. One day, after a particularly good catch, they fell to the ground in an embrace, their lips meeting once more.

             “You know,” Haleth said, “I could have my aunt take care of Meleth tonight, if you would like to do anything together.”

             “I would love that,” Aredhel said.

             They kissed again for a while and returned home with their catch.

             The next morning she woke up in Haleth’s arms, and she felt warm, safe, and loved. The morning light played on Haleth’s face, illuminating each and every one of the freckles. Her hair sparkled, like it did when she first saw her, and she was overcome with love. Haleth woke up and saw that she was looking at her.

             “Good morning,” Haleth said, “Is this what elves always look like the morning after? Like gods?”

             “I wouldn’t know,” Aredhel said, leaning forward to kiss Haleth’s beautiful lips again.

             “I have a question to ask you.” Aredhel said. “I know you may not want to, since I am an immortal elf and all, but…”

            “What is it?” Haleth asked.

            “Will you marry me? If it's okay with you, I would like to spend all the rest of the time you have with you. You and Meleth complete me. In all my thousands of years of life, I have never felt anything so wonderful as I do when I am with you. But if you don’t want to marry me, I will accept it.”

             “Okay, but we have to do the customs from my people.”

             “I would be honored. But could we include some of my people’s customs as well?”

            “We could work them in.” Haleth grinned.

             They kissed again, deep and warm, and swelling, until all that mattered in the world was the two of them. Well, until Haleth said they should get washed and dressed so they could go pick up Meleth. Which they did.

Chapter Text

             Aredhel was out hunting in Brethil by herself one day. She was getting more and more confident in her abilities by the day, and occasionally went out on her own if Haleth was busy with her chieftain duties and Meleth was with a tutor or playing with her friends. It was a lovely day, with Arien shining brightly and not a cloud in the sky. The summer was waning, but the forest was still flush with life- the plants were a deep green, the birds were chirping, and critters scurried away when they saw her approach. All of a sudden, she saw movement. It was slight, far away, out of the corner of her eye. She turned and looked at it more closely to see if it was maybe a deer or a fox. What she saw instead was an elf man and then two, on horseback, wearing red and a star on their robes. A large dog came into view as well. It was her cousins, Celegorm and Curufin, with Huan. She froze for a second in excitement and then cried out to them.

             “Celegorm! Curufin!” She yelled.

             They turned in her direction, and she waved at them.

             “Aredhel!” They both said.

             They rode up to her and their horses’ feet made a muffled clopping sound on the detritus of the forest floor. Huan came running towards her and almost knocked her over, covering her in a bunch of sloppy kisses. 

“I missed you, too, Huan,” she told him.

             Celegorm snapped his fingers and Huan returned to his side. Huan sat down, and he gave him a small piece of lembas bread from a pouch on his side.

             “Cousin, it’s so good to see you,” Curufin said. “What are you doing here, I thought you were in Gondolin?”

             “I was, but I missed hunting. I was actually going to visit you guys when I ran into a beautiful Haladin woman.” Aredhel said. “I live with them, here in Brethil, now.”

             She decided to omit the part about her getting injured in Nan Dungortheb and Haleth nursing her back to health. She knew anything she told these two she might as well tell the entire population of Middle Earth, and they would also never let her live it down.

             “So, since you’re living with the Haladin, is it true there is a peredhel living with them?” Celegorm inquired. “That’s what people are saying in Nargothrond.”

             “Yes, there is a peredhel,” Aredhel confirmed, “the daughter of their chieftain. She is a lovely child.”

             “Who is the elf father? Is it one of the Doriathrim?” Curufin said.

             “Is it cousin Finrod?” Celegorm said. “Is that why he convinced Thingol to let them stay?”

             “No, no, no, it’s definitely not cousin Finrod. He simply managed to land in King Thingol’s good graces. And you know how much he likes humans.” Aredhel said to Celegorm, and then turning to Curufin, “And it isn’t one of the Doriathrim, either. The child is too old. She’s five.”

             “Well, the chieftain must have said something about the child’s father,” Celegorm insisted, “people must be talking about it.”

             “Yes, they may, but I don’t speak Haladin well enough.” Aredhel said.

             This of course was a lie, but she loved Haleth and Meleth too much to give all of their life’s details to her cousins who would put it on display for the world to see.

             “All Haleth, the chieftain, said was that the father ‘was far away’ and ‘not coming back soon’. So, that could mean an elf living anywhere other than Doriath or Nargothrond.” Aredhel continued, “But enough about the chieftain’s peredhel. I have to be back before sundown, let’s do some hunting together like old times, and catch me up on how you two have been.”

             She knew they could never resist a chance to talk about themselves, or continue their hunt. The four of them spent a very enjoyable day together and took down two large bucks. Then her cousins went on their way. She returned home dragging one of them behind her as Arien was flying past the horizon, and the last of her rays painted the sky in a beautiful pink and purple hue.

Chapter Text

             The sky was grey and angry, pouring rain on and off, with the wind whistling through the streets, full of red and orange leaves. There was a lot to do to prepare for the wedding, not to mention Haleth’s normal chieftain duties, so Aredhel had volunteered to watch Meleth, since she could not run around outside.

             “Meleth, what do you think of me and your Mama getting married?” Aredhel said, “Is it okay with you?”

             “I think it’s lovely,” Meleth said, “You were already like my second mama, and now we’ll have a wedding to prove it. Although I can’t really call you that.”

             “What about ‘ammë’?” Aredhel asked.

             “What’s that mean?” Meleth asked, her eyes glittering in excitement, “Is that an elven word?”

             “Indeed. It’s what I called my mother back in Valinor.”

             “Very well, I will call you ‘ammë’.”

             “Although, you should use ‘naneth’ around the Doriathrim.” 

             “Because they don’t like the elves from Valinor?” 

             “Yes,” 

             “Why?” 

“Because my Uncle Fëanor was… very mean to the Teleri, King Thingol’s kin, and stole

their boats. They really liked their boats.”

             “But your cousin Galadriel lives in Doriath?”

             “Galadriel is of the House of Finarfin, and therefore is King Thingol’s kin from their mother’s side.”

             “Oh. But you aren’t?”

             “No. My mother was Vanyarin, not Teleri like Gal’s mother.”

             “Okay. Is that why Mama won’t tell me who my papa is? Because he is one of the elves the Doriathin don’t like?”

             “Doriathrim,” Aredhel gently corrected, “And I don’t know. But I don’t think she would care much what King Thingol thinks.”

             “Yeah. That sounds like her.”

             “So, which flowers should I wear in my hair for the wedding?” Aredhel said, mulling over the various different flowers in front of her, all of different species and varieties.

             “Definitely the white ones,” Meleth said, “It’s the color you always wear.”

             “Very well.” Aredhel said, “The white ones it is.”

Chapter Text

             Aredhel and Haleth were fletching arrows together in the main room of Haleth’s house while Meleth was out playing with her friends. It had gotten very chilly. The trees were barren and she could feel the first snow was coming soon. Nevertheless, Arien was directly above them and shone brightly, casting no shadow, while a fire crackled in the fireplace and their lunch cooked above it. It was venison stew with potatoes, pumpkin, and beans. The hearty aroma wafted around the room, and it reminded Aredhel of her cousins and all the time she went hunting with them in Valinor. She felt a wave of courage wash over her and was no longer afraid that Haleth would throw her out for asking personal questions. They shared a bed, after all. So she decided to ask what she had wanted to for many months.

             “Caranthir is Meleth’s father, isn’t he?” Aredhel asked.

             Haleth stopped fletching and looked at Aredhel, but she was not angry.

             “Yes, how did you know?” Haleth said.

             “Meleth told me you used to live ‘far east’, and that Caranthir saved your people from orcs. Also, you told me her father ‘lived far away’. On top of that, she looks and acts a lot like Nerdanel, Caranthir’s mom. I was good friends with all my Fëanorian cousins back in Valinor, before… you know… everything.”

             “Oh. That makes sense.”

             “Yeah, you’ve probably heard the stories. We used to go hunting together all the time in Valinor.”

             “While we are asking personal questions, is that why you left Gondolin? You wanted to see your cousins?”

             “Yes, my brother insists on Gondolin being absolutely secret and no one leaving, and I get that, it keeps us safe.” Aredhel said angrily, before her tone became more sad. “But also, I really missed my cousins. My good friends. But it’s not all bad,” Aredhel continued, smiling a little. “Now I have you, and Meleth.”

             “Yes, you do.”

             She leaned in close and their lips touched for a brief and chaste kiss.

             “Does Caranthir know about Meleth?”

             “No, I don’t think he would like me showing up, after I left him. Plus, I have so much work to do here, as chieftain of my people. I’m sure he has plenty of work to do as well, running Thargelion.”

             “I think he would love knowing he has a daughter. He puts on this grumpy personality, but he is actually a big softie inside.”

             “If you say so,”

             Haleth grinned and pulled Aredhel in for another kiss by the shoulder, abandoning her fletching by her side. Aredhel would have to convince Haleth to visit Caranthir somehow. He would adore Meleth, just as she did.

Chapter Text

             “Mama, why won’t you tell me who my papa is?” Meleth asked Haleth one day. It was raining again, so Meleth was inside. Haleth was busy going through papers, however, and did not have time at the moment for such a deep conversation.

             “Because he lives far away,” Haleth replied, hoping to drop the topic, “and we’re never going to see him again.”

             “But he’s my papa. I want to know,” Meleth insisted. “Is it because he’s one of the elves the Doriathrim don’t like?”

             Haleth was startled. How did she know about that? She must have heard it from rumors or someone else in town. She was always surprised by how much children picked up, even when you never intended them to.

             “He is one of the elves the Doriathrim don’t like, but that isn’t the reason.” Haleth said.

             She discarded her papers and sat down on the ground with her daughter.

             “You see, your papa and I loved each other very much, but my people wanted to leave the area, so I left him.” Haleth said, “I don’t think he wants to see me after that.”

             “But does he know about me? I want to meet him.”

             “His land is on the other side of Nan Dungortheb, filled with dangerous and evil things. Where Aredhel got injured.”

             “Okay,” Meleth crossed her arms, and scrunched her cute face up in frustration. “But at least tell me his name. I want to know his name!”

             Her daughter’s stubbornness really wore on her nerves sometimes, but she loved her anyway. “Fine,” Haleth said, and Meleth perked up at that, “But you have to promise not to tell anyone.”

             “I promise, Mama.”

             “His name is Caranthir.”

             “The elf who saved us from the orcs!” Meleth yelled, probably unintentionally due to her excitement.

             “Yes, the very same,”

             “That’s so cool. The elf who saved us from the orcs is my papa.” Meleth unintentionally yelled again, and she jumped up in excitement and made a lap around the room.

             “Yes he is.”

             “But I won’t say anything.” Meleth said, in a normal tone and volume, sitting back down in front of her, “Because you told me not to say anything.”

             “Good,”

             “Thank you, mama,” Meleth enveloped Haleth in a hug.

             “You’re welcome, my darling.”

---

             Aredhel was only in the next room over and had heard Meleth yell. She smiled to herself, her fondness for her adoptive daughter running over. She loved them. She loved them both so dearly.

Chapter Text

             Arien was riding high through a clear blue sky on the day of their wedding. Her rays spilled through between leaves of the canopy and painted the floor of the forest in a mosaic of golden light, as Aredhel and Haleth walked together to the ceremony. They were walking to the circle of the oldest birch trees of the forest, not too far from Ephel, because that was the custom of the Haladin. It was a year since they had decided to be married; as that was traditional for the Ñoldor. Meleth skipped along behind them, her auburn braids bouncing up and down and bobbing against her back. She carried a woven basket with food and two golden rings for the wedding. Aredhel was wearing the white dress that she wore the day her and Haleth first kissed, and she had white lilies in her hair. Haleth had braided it for her. Aredhel had taken great care in teaching her. Haleth wore a green silk dress with her family’s heraldry embroidered into the bodice, with flowers in her braids as well. 

             The ceremony was simple. The only people in attendance were the three of them, Haleth’s aunt, her nephew and his family, and of course her guards. Haleth and Aredhel held hands.

“I proclaim my union and devotion to you in the name of Eru,” they told each other.

             They kissed, and Meleth cheered.

             When they returned to Ephel, there was a large feast in their honor, with lots of salted pork and apple pies. There was also venison that Aredhel and Haleth had both gotten from separate hunts the day before; another Haladin tradition that they decided to continue.

            “We have to do that, of course! It’s like this tradition was made for us,” Aredhel had said, when Haleth told her about it.

             Meleth almost got sick from eating too many pies and then running around with her friends. The party ran into the night, and Haleth had to carry her daughter home in her arms because she had fallen asleep long before they left.

             Aredhel officially adopted Meleth, loving and caring for her as if she were her own child. Because now, she was. She taught her Quenya in secret, and continued teach her much of the things she had learned about hunting from Oromë. Meleth reveled in the stories of Valinor and the other elves that Aredhel told her. She also trained with the other girls and women, to be a strong and valiant warrior. Meleth grew to be tall and broad-shouldered. She was both stronger and more fair of face than any of her Haladin peers.

Chapter Text

             “Máriesse,” Celegorm and Curufin said to Caranthir, as they walked into his study, their hunting equipment clinking and clunking as they made their way over to him. Arien was low in the sky and her beams gleamed off their swords and chain mail. Huan was close behind. He burst into the room and bounded over to Caranthir’s desk. He sat down next to him, and put his paw on Caranthir’s hand, begging for head scritches. Caranthir gave in, and scratched Huan’s head and the place behind his ears that he always enjoyed. Then, Caranthir turned his attention to his brothers.

             “What is it this time?” Caranthir said, “Did you get in trouble with the dwarves again?”

             “No, háno,” Curufin said, “We were well behaved this time.”

             “Indeed, háno,” Celegorm continued, “We’re here because we got some information about the Haladin while abroad that we thought you would enjoy. We know how you wanted them to stay on your land after all.”

             Caranthir went from annoyed to very interested in seconds.

             “What is it?”Caranthir asked.

             “Well, cousin Finrod convinced King Thingol to let them settle in the forest of Brethil.” Celegorm said, “And they have a peredhel living with them.”

             “A peredhel?” Caranthir asked.

             “Yes,” Celegorm said, “And the most intriguing part is-“

             “Wait, I wanted to tell him,” Curufin interrupted.

             “I wanted to tell him, too!” Celegorm protested.

             “But you got to tell him the rest of the story.”

             “Fine. You tell him, then.”

             “So, the thing we thought you would find the most interesting- The peredhel is the daughter of their chieftain, and she is five years old.”

             Caranthir’s mind stopped for a moment. Could he be a father? Five years ago was when the Haladin left. The last time he saw Haleth. It was not impossible for her child to be his daughter, considering the nature of their last meeting. In fact, it was very possible…

             “Moryo?” Curufin said.

             “Yes?” Caranthir said.

             “You looked a little lost there.”

             “Do you know who the father was? Of the peredhel?”

             “We wondered if it was you. We did hear you were quite taken with her. The human chieftain.”

             “Yes, and she spent her last night in Thargelion with you in your bedchamber.” Celegorm said.

             “Where do you troublemakers hear these things?” Caranthir said, resisting the urge to throw something harmless at his brothers.

             His brothers chuckled.

             “We have our ways.” Curufin said. “So, are you the father?”

             “We won’t tell Maitimo or Makalaurë if the answer is yes.” Celegorm said.

             “I don’t believe that for a second,” Caranthir huffed, but this only elicited more laughter from his brothers.

             “You know us too well, Moryo,” Celegorm said.

             “Well, if that is all the information you have, why don’t you go put your equipment away, and get some rest.” Caranthir said. “I should be getting back to my work.”

             He got up and rang a bell for a servant to come.

             “Yes, my lord?” the servant said, when she came in.

“Have the housekeeper prepare rooms for my brothers here.” Caranthir said.

             “Right away, my lord.” She curtsied and then walked out of the room.

             “You two can go to the drawing room while they prepare your rooms.”

             “Very well. Namárië, háno.” Celegorm said, “See you in the morning.”

             “Yes, see you in the morning, háno,” Curufin said.

             “Sleep well,” Caranthir said.

             Then Huan and his brothers left him with his thoughts. He could be a father! He could very well have a child- a child with Haleth. He had always loved children, and now to have one of his own, he was over the moon with excitement. Why had Haleth not told him? She was perhaps too busy with the relocation of her people, or perhaps thought her people would consider it a continuation of the political relationship with him they did not want. There was also King Thingol to consider. Brethil was his land, after all, and he had never had a good opinion on the Fëanorians. Maybe Haleth thought he wouldn’t like her having a child with a Fëanorian father. Caranthir desperately wanted to visit his child, but he debated about the best way to go about it for years. One day, he finally decided it would cause the least amount of problems if he went as a private person, and not as a political one. After all, who could fault him for wanting to visit his child he had never met? Thingol had a daughter, he would understand.

Chapter Text

             It had been a long, but not too harrowing journey to Brethil. He could not imagine leading hundreds of humans along a road like this, especially Nan Dungortheb. Haleth was a skilled leader indeed. When he finally got to Brethil, the sky was peppered with clouds, and there was a wind that blew through the leaves and promised rain. But to him it was a beautiful sight, compared to the horrors of Nan Dungortheb.

             He came across a young man chopping wood near a cabin. The cottage was made of roughly cut logs with mud in between, and had a chimney made of various sizes of stone. There was a fine line of smoke sneaking out of the top, and he could smell that they were cooking venison. As he approached, he heard a bustle of movement, and saw women poking their heads into the canin windows to catch a glance of him.

             The man put down his axe and walked up to greet him.

             “Good day,” the man said, “How can I help you? Are you looking for Doriath?”

             He was speaking Sindarin, but with an accent that sounded a bit like their Mannish tongue.

             “No, I am not welcome in Doriath.“ Caranthir said, “I’m looking for Lady Haleth, on personal business. Could you please tell me where she lives?”

             A look of recognition came across the man’s eyes and his demeanor changed.

             “Oh, well, you’ll want to go to Ephel.”

             He gave specific instructions about where to turn, and where to continue until he reached the creek.

             “Thank you for your help,” Caranthir fished a gold piece out of his sack and handed it to the man. “For your troubles.”

             The man’s eyes widened. “Thank you very much, sir.” 

             “Not a problem at all.”

             He followed the man’s instructions and came across a fortified settlement on a hill. It was made of many tall stakes that were tied tightly together to form a wall. There was also a wooden gatehouse, which he rode up to. The gate was guarded by two women holding spears. There were other women sitting in a guard tower above with bows.

             “You’re the elf that saved us in Thargelion, aren’t you?!” One of the women asked in Sindarin as he approached.

             “The very same,” He said. 

             The woman banged on the door with her fist, and yelled something in their Mannish tongue. It sounded like an order, probably telling them to open up the gates. Then, she barked another. He made out the word “Haldan” from it.

             He was led inside, where a man greeted him in Sindarin, and then beckoned him to follow. He was led to a wooden house, guarded by more women. He dismounted from his horse.

             “Wait here,” his guide said, when they were twenty feet away from the house, in the garden.

             The guide spoke to the guards, and they opened the door and spoke again. He could listen to it if he paid more attention, but he did not care to. After a few minutes, a young man exited the house. He had Haleth’s grey eyes, and russet hair that was a few shades closer to brown than hers. He had sinewy arms. On his short frame, he wore a silk tunic that was elaborately embroidered, with a highly embellished leather belt along his waist.

             “Lord Caranthir, so good to see you again.” Haldan said. 

             “Lovely to see you again, as well, Lord Haldan.” Caranthir said. “You’ve become a strong and handsome man since we last met. That’s wonderful to see.” 

             “Thank you, sir. To what do we owe this pleasure, sir?”

             “I come not as a lord, but on personal business. I’m here to see Lady Haleth and her daughter.”

             “I’m so sorry, they left not a week ago. Lady Haleth married an elf woman named Aredhel and they went to visit Aredhel’s family.”

             Caranthir cursed to himself, under his breath. They were probably gone to Gondolin, and would be gone for some time. He did not know how long Turgon would keep them, or even if he would let them leave again. Although in his sudden surge of frustration, he forgot that Haleth was human and her life had a quicker end. 

             “But you are welcome to stay with us until they return,” Haldan said, “Or just stay with us to rest and restock before your return journey. Although we cannot offer much of elvish quality, we can still give you good supplies nonetheless.”

             “Thank you very much for your generosity, I shall accept your offer.”

             “Very well, sir. Come this way, we have stables for your horse, and we can find you a bed to sleep in.”

             “Thank you again,”

             “After you saved our people, the pleasure is mine,” 

             When Caranthir’s temper died down and his mind cleared, he remembered the intense devotion that Haleth had for her people. How she left him despite how deeply she loved him because it was the wish of her people, and her strong sense of duty forbade her from doing anything else. But as soon as this thought crossed his mind, a servant man came to bring him to dinner with Lord Haldan.

             The table was set for four: Caranthir, Haldan, and Haldan’s wife and son. The others spoke Sindarin to include Caranthir, if only sparsely. The food was plain and unassuming- salted pork with baked apples and roasted walnuts. Caranthir enjoyed the simplicity of it, however, and they spent a very pleasant evening together chatting and eating. The others even asked Caranthir to sing for them, which he agreed to. It was a lovely meal, all things considered.

           Not long after, Caranthir was shown to his room and waited on by two young men. Their eyes were grey, similar to Haleth’s, and they wore grey linen tunics synched at the waist with leather belts. They had brown trousers and leather shoes. He was utterly exhausted from his trip and quickly fell asleep. His request to stay and wait for Haleth and their daughter’s return was utterly forgotten.

             The next morning, he woke up to the hustle and bustle of a few maids walking down the hall. Anar’s early morning rays glittered on dust particles in the air as Arien began her ride. He was waited on again by the same two young men, and was soon called down for breakfast. He was met with the same hospitality and kindness as before.

             “I have told the servants to start getting a pack together for you, to restock your supplies for your return journey.” Haldan told him. “They have already gotten a good bit together, and you will have to tell me if it is to your liking when they finish.”

             “Thank you very kindly, Lord Haldan. You are very generous.” Caranthir said.

             “It’s no problem, of course. I also added some elvish food to it that we received from Queen Melian when we first settled in Brethil. They called it lembas. I tried eating it, but it was far too rich for me. I thought, however, you might enjoy it; I was told it was very filling and good for long journeys.”

             “Thank you again, Lord Haldan. That was very thoughtful. I will very much enjoy the lembas.”

             He remembered then that he had resolved to stay, but had not yet informed his host. After they had gone to such trouble to give him supplies, he could not stay. He had said he would leave after all, so leave he would. He inspected the supplies they were to give him. Some salted pork and dried venison, along with some bread, some nuts, and of course, the lembas. He thanked them once again for their kindness and generosity and was on his way back to Thargelion. He had very much wished to see his daughter, but it must not have meant to be as of yet.

Chapter Text

             Caranthir returned to Thargelion a lot slower than he had gone to Brethil. He was no longer going to meet his daughter, whom he so desperately wanted to see, but was headed back in defeat. His head hung low in the moments he was sure no one was watching, although he was still staying vigilant through Nan Dungortheb. When he finally reached Lake Helevorn he was very tired and cranky. He had not even handed off his horse to a stable when one of his servants came out to speak to him.

             “My Lord, glad to see you are back,” the servant said.

             “What is it?” He snapped, and then quickly pivoted, adding in a kinder tone, “Forgive me, I only just arrived, could I please have a few moments to put away my things?”

             “Yes, my Lord, of course, but there are some guests here I think you would very much like to see.”

             “Guests?” Caranthir rolled his eyes, “Surely not one of my brothers.”

             “No, my lord, not one of your brothers. I really think you would like to see them as soon as possible. They would like to see you, too.”

             “Fine,”

             But before the servant could respond, Caranthir saw a flash of red hair running out from the living quarters. Not one of his brothers, indeed. Probably Maitimo with some dour news, or Ambarussa wanting to surprise him with something, as no one else he knew had that hair color. No one, well, except for Haleth, but he was never seeing her again. Her people wanted to move west, and so they did, her with them. And now she had gone to Gondolin with Aredhel just as he had come to visit. What rotten luck he had. But then, he saw two other shapes emerge from the living quarters, and before him there was a young peredhel woman who was the very picture of his mother. He was frozen in his spot, absolutely awestruck and confused. Haleth and Aredhel came up behind her. It all made sense, then.

             “My daughter?” He asked Haleth.

             She nodded.

             “Meleth, my lord.” Meleth said, curtsying.

             “No, call me ‘ada’.” He said.

             “Very well, Ada.”

             “Forgive me for staring, you are the exact likeness of my mother.”

             “I am?” Meleth asked, eyes wide.

             “Yes, you are.”

             “She’s just as stubborn as your mother, too.” Aredhel said.

             “That’s wonderful.” He said, “I do miss her.”

             “I know you do.” Aredhel beamed fondly.

             “Forgive me for not being here, I went to Brethil to visit you.” He told Meleth.

             She giggled in response.

             “It’s so funny we came to visit you at the same time,” Meleth giggled.

             “Well, I’m so glad you did. I see the servants have already set you up with rooms. How long have you been here?”

             “Only a few days.”

             “We must have left at almost the same time.”

             “It took forever to convince Haleth to come,” Aredhel said.

             “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to see me,” Haleth said, “And bother you with a child, after I had left. Besides, she was very rambunctious when she was young, and I did not want to go through Nan Dungortheb again with her like that.”

             “It took me a while to decide to come, too. Well, I’m glad we’re finally meeting.” Caranthir said.

             “How did you find out about me?” Meleth said.

             “My brothers told me.” He said.

             “Celegorm and Curufin?” Aredhel asked.

             “Yes,” He replied.

             “I should have known. Those two are the biggest gossips I’ve ever known.”

             “Yes, I would have to agree with you there.” Caranthir said, and after a pause, “Well, I did just arrive, so I’ll need a little while to get settled. But I would be delighted to show you around and everything after that.”

             “Of course, Ada.” Meleth said.

Chapter Text

             After Caranthir finished unpacking, he went to talk with his new guests as soon as he could. His daughter was here, and they had come to see him. He could finally talk to her and get to know her; it was hard to believe this was truly happening. After he had spent all that time deciding whether or not he should go, and then actually going to Brethil and back, they were here in Thargelion, and he could hardly contain his happiness. After he was finished unpacking and putting his affairs in order, he found them in the drawing room. Aredhel and Haleth were speaking, and Meleth was reading a book. Her russet hair was done up partially in braids, and the rest hung down, gleaming in the light and framing her ruddy face. She wore a highly embroidered dress over her large, curvy frame. She really was his Ammë’s spitting image.

             “Now that I’m all settled,” Caranthir said, “How has your stay been?”

             “It’s been great.” Meleth said, her head jerking up from her book, “Even better that you’re here. I’ve been wanting to meet you my entire life.”

             “Indeed. I’ve been wanting to meet you since the day I heard about you.” He replied, “Tell me about yourself.”

             He walked across the room to sit in a chair next to her, and sat down. She saved her place in her book with a piece of paper and placed it on a side table.

             “Well, I love archery and hand-to-hand combat, and I’m the strongest of all the Haladin my age. I also love stories, especially elven ones, since I get so many Haladin ones from everyone around me. Tell me about your family, especially your Ammë. Both my Ammë and now you have told me I’m like her, and it intrigues me.”

             “Come with me,” he said.

             She got up and followed him. Her footsteps made sound, he noticed, a soft pat-pat as her silken shoes treaded across the carpeted floors. It was the human in her, he supposed, as elf footsteps made no sound; he found he adored it. He led her down the hallways to his personal study. His keys clinked together as he searched for the right key to his study, and then he motioned for her to go in before him. She gasped, and as he followed her in, he followed her gaze and saw what she was looking at. He had commissioned that portrait of his Ammë when he first settled in Thargelion, and placed it there to remind him of her while he worked.

             “Is this her? Your Ammë?” Meleth asked.

             He nodded.

             “She does look like me.” She mused.

             “Not a day goes by where I don’t miss her,” he lamented.

             If it weren’t for that stupid, Eru-forsaken oath, he would be back in Tirion with Nerdanel.  He would have gone back with his uncle after Mandos foretold their doom in Middle Earth. He would be hearing her sing while she sculpted, having her to dry his tears and pull him into her arms when he was upset. Or at least, that’s what he told himself. Meleth must have seen something in his eyes, because she spoke to him.

             “What is it, Ada?” There was such deep concern in her voice.

             “Never swear an oath, Meleth,” he said sternly.

             “Very well, but may I ask why?”

             “What do you know of how the Ñoldor came back from Aman?”

             “Ammë only told me, back when I was a child she told me, that you came to find new lands and fight Morgoth. And that the Doriathrim don’t like you because your father stole the Teleri’s beloved boats, and they are King Thingol’s kin.”

             “We didn’t just steal their boats. But I guess that was prudent not to tell you the whole story as a child. Since you’re an adult now, I will tell you everything.”

             “Yes?” She waited eagerly, looking at him with such anticipation. He was only filled with shame for what he was about to say.

             “Atar made these beautiful jewels, the Silmarils, everyone loved them, but he began to hoard them. Then, Morgoth stole them, destroyed the Trees, killed Finwë, my grandfather, and ran away to Middle Earth. Atar, now king, gave a rousing speech about how we should go back to Middle Earth and reclaim the Silmarils, and my brothers and I swore an oath to retrieve them, no matter the cost or from whom. If I had known the peril it would bring, I never would have sworn it. But I was blinded by anger and by pride, and by the time my vision cleared, it was too late. We slaughtered the Teleri to steal their boats. Mandos himself forbade us from leaving Aman, telling us we would be banned from returning and warning us that we would only find sorrow in Middle Earth, but we didn’t listen. It was when Atar burned the Teleri’s boats on the eastern shore, stranding your Ammë’s host in the west, that I realized what a horrible mistake I had made. I was stuck.”

             “That’s a lot,” Meleth’s eyes were wide in surprise, “I knew there was something more between you and the Doriathrim than just boat stealing. What about your Ammë? What happened to her?”

             “My Ammë knew all along that it was nonsense. That the Silmarils and the whole going to Middle Earth thing would only bring trouble, and she was vocal about it. I should have listened to her. She was right. She stayed behind, even having a horrible fight with Atar on the road, and now I may never see her again.”

             Tears came unbidden, streaming down his cheeks. He turned his head away and sobbed. Then, there was a warm embrace around him, and Meleth was rubbing his back.

             “You’ve been through a lot, Ada. You can cry if you like. It’s not bad to cry.”

             He wrapped his arms around his daughter and held tightly onto her. He sobbed like a child, and they stood like this for a few minutes before she talked again.

             “You want to know what Ammë used to tell me when bad things happened to me as a child?”

             “What was it?”

             “She said, no matter what bad things happen, Eru always makes good things come out of it. And, if you didn’t come back from Aman, you never would’ve met Mama, and I never would’ve been born. So, even though all those horrible things did happen, I am here now. And that’s good.”

             “You’re right. What a wise woman you are.”

             “Thank you. It is only the truth.”

             When his tears had subsided, he let go of her, and he went to his desk. He rummaged through the drawers, looking for something.

             “The dwarves are always trading with me. They mine a lot of precious stones, and it’s very fruitful, for all involved.”

             He found what he was looking for. It was a golden necklace with a garnet inset in it.

             “They gave me this a week before I left for Brethil. I want you to have it. It’s a gift.”

             “Ada,” she said in awe, as she hesitated even to touch it, “I can’t take this, it’s too much.”

             “I’m a prince of the Ñoldor, and that makes you a princess. I insist.”

             “I’m afraid I’ll break it.”

             “Like I said, it’s of dwarven make. It would be exceedingly hard to break.”

             “I would have nowhere to wear it. None of the Haladin have anything nearly this nice. I already stand out, with my pointed ears and all.”

             “Very well,” he put the necklace away, “I will find something else to give you before you return to Brethil.”

             “Thank you.”

             There was then a knock at the door of the study.

             “Come in,” he said.

             One of his maids walked in, wearing a simple dress, and curtsied.

             “Dinner is ready, my lord.” The maid said.

             “Very well. Let me get changed, and I will be down in 30 minutes.” He said.

             He really wanted to wait for the puffiness in his eyes from all that crying to go down.

             “Don’t worry about your dress, Meleth, it looks perfectly fine.”

             “Thank you, Ada.”

Chapter Text

             They spent a whole month at Lake Helevorn. They sang songs together, told stories, hunted, and just chatted. It was a dream come true for him to have a child of his own. Even if she was already grown, he still cherished her and loved her every moment. He had to keep reminding himself that this was real, it was actually happening, and not some sort of dream or illusion. He actually had a daughter! And she was here, with him! Things were a bit awkward with Haleth at first, considering their history, but after everything was laid out on the table, they fell into a comfortable rapport. Aredhel was of course the same as she always was, his cousin who loved to joke with him, but also knew which topics to steer clear of, and when to stop. It was the happiest month of his life.

             Eventually, though, Haleth said they should leave.

             “I cannot leave Brethil in the care of my nephew forever, however much we are enjoying ourselves here,” she said, “Moreover, I do not wish to intrude on your hospitality any longer.”

             “That is no issue,” He told her, “I would let you stay as long as you pleased.”

             On the day before their parting, he went to Meleth with his gift for her. He had been working on it for a few weeks.

             “Dear daughter,” He said, “Here is the gift that I promised you. Tell me if you like it, or if I should get something else.”

             He handed her a new, leatherbound journal.

             “I have written tales and songs I remember from Valinor, as well as stories I remember about my Ammë. There are also a few lullabies in there that I remember her singing to me and my brothers.” He said.

             She opened it up, and in a tight tengwar script, it said:

Tales and Songs of Valinor

To Meleth, with much love. Your Ada.

             She hesitated for a moment, and he thought he might have misjudged. Maybe this wasn’t the right gift, and he had erred again, like he did with the necklace.

             “Ada,” she said, “This is perfect. I love it. Thank you.”

             His heart leapt with joy, and he released a breath he did not even realize he was holding. Meleth stood up and embraced him tightly. It took him a moment to respond, because he was not used to such a gesture. Elves were not the type to do this, but he wrapped his arms around her anyway, and he felt at home.

---

             After their return from Thargelion, Haleth and Aredhel spent a few more decades together, filled with both joy and sadness. Meleth stopped aging after she turned 30. Aredhel said this was normal for elves, but she did not know about half-elves because she had never met any others. But everyone else around them, Haleth included, grew older and weaker every year, and new children were born and raised. One morning, Aredhel awoke to her horror to find that her wife had passed in the night.

Chapter Text

             It had been a whole day since Haleth’s funeral. The Haladin had sung songs of mourning that hung in the air like a deep fog, as they buried her Mama in a mound in the ground. They named it Haudh-in-Arwen in Sindarin and Tûr Haretha in Haladin. Aredhel still stood there in a black gown, as unmoving as a statue, and it worried Meleth. Her Ammë was always so full of life, full of questions and actions. She was cordial when people gave the condolences, but Meleth knew her Ammë’s moods well. When they went home, Aredhel went to her bedchamber and did not leave. 

             The next day, when Meleth entered her mother’s bedchamber with her lunch, the curtains were still drawn, even though it was midday and sunny. Her breakfast and dinner lay untouched on the table, and the bedsheets were untouched from the night before. Aredhel sat, motionless, by the table and stared into the wall. She was suddenly filled with fear, as a memory came rushing back to her. Her Ammë’s cousin Galadriel had told her once that elves could die of sadness, that she had seen many an elf succumb to grief and waste away. Meleth had to make sure that did not happen to her Ammë. Tears rushed down her cheeks.

             “Please don’t leave me, too, Ammë,” Meleth said. She placed her lunch next to the two discarded plates on the table. “Galadriel said elves can die of sorrow. Please, I can’t lose you, too.”

             Aredhel looked at her, and her expression softened. “You’re right. I need to be there for you,” Aredhel said, “You’re grieving, too.”

             Meleth’s eyes welled up, and she gathered Aredhel together in a hug.

             “You know who could help?” Aredhel said.

             “Who?”

             “My brother, Turgon.”

             Meleth pulled back and looked Aredhel in the face, her eyes wide in confusion. “But you said you didn’t want to go back to Gondolin.”

             “That was when I had both you and Haleth,” Aredhel stopped to dry her tears, “Now that she’s gone, everything reminds me of her. But Turgon knows what it’s like, losing your wife. He lost his on the Grinding Ice, and yet he made it through somehow. I’ll have to ask him how he did it. This isn’t to say I agree with his isolationist policies. And I won’t force you to come with me. You can stay if you like.”

             “Stay here without you? While all my friends and loved ones grow old and die, and you’re somewhere I can’t reach you?! No way!” Meleth put her hand on Aredhel’s shoulder. “I’m coming with you, Ammë. It does pain me to leave Brethil- all of my people, all I’ve ever known…” she paused for a moment, full of emotion, “But I’ll get to see the city of your stories. I’ll meet new people. Make new friends. Ones that won’t die of old age, like I won’t. I assume. I’ve always wanted to meet the rest of your family, besides your cousins, and Ada. Now I will. I will miss this place, but nothing lasts forever.”

             “That’s very true."

             “Will we still be able to visit Ada after we go to Gondolin?”

             “I don’t know. I had to tell them I was visiting my other brother, Fingon, to be able to leave the last time. It’s probably best not to mention him when we get there.” 

             “Can we visit him one more time before we go to Gondolin?”

             “Of course we can do that. I think it would be good to visit him, too. Tell him what we are up to. We can go visit Caranthir and then go to Gondolin for my brother.”

             “Sounds good.”

             “Well then, let’s make our preparations, and say our goodbyes.”

             “Yes, let’s. I love you, Ammë.”

             They tilted their foreheads together.

             “I love you too, dearest.”

Chapter Text

             Aredhel and Meleth had been graciously welcomed by her Ada when they went to visit him, and spent another thoroughly enjoyable month with him at Lake Helevorn. He was very sad to hear of her Mama’s passing, and there was no less singing, although it was of the melancholy variety this time. He then gave them horses and gave her the book she always liked to read when she visited, in case she would not be able to visit again, while Gondolin lasted. She thanked him profusely, and teared up as she hugged her ada for what may very well be the last time. That was not what she felt in her gut, but she treated it as such. Then, her and Aredhel made the trek back through Nan Dungortheb and to the hidden city of Gondolin, where her uncle lived.

             Gondolin was even grander than she imagined. The white towers scraped across the sky, and were made of what looked like white marble. There was a tall tower that rose above all the rest, and, using her elven vision, she thought she saw trees of the like of Laurelin and Telperion in their garden. The gates to the city were made of gold and sparkled in Anar’s rays. Arien was starting to descend back towards the horizon. The banners of the different houses were hung along the walls, and danced in the wind as it blew through the valley of Tumladen.

             “Are those the noble houses of the city?” Meleth asked Aredhel.

             “Yes.” Aredhel replied.

             “I recognize the sigil of your brother. I can’t wait to meet everyone, although I am still nervous, given my looks.”

             “Just tell my brother you share no allegiance with our Fëanorian family and it will be fine.”

             “Thanks. That’s what I’ll do.”

             There was a great bustle as they reached the gates of the city.

             “It’s Lady Aredhel!” Guards were yelling, “She’s returned! With a strange woman!”

             The gate swung open, and they were allowed to enter. A lord whose heraldry was a rainbow circle of jewels greeted them.

             “Lady Aredhel,” he said, “Glorious to see you again. We were worried sick. King Turgon even wanted to have a funeral for you.”

             “Lord Egalmoth,” Aredhel replied, “I apologize. I was gravely wounded and fell in love with the human woman who healed me. Take me to my brother, please. I would very much like to speak with him.”

             Egalmoth glanced quickly at Meleth before speaking to Aredhel again.

             “Very well. Who is your companion? Would you like her to come as well?”

             “My daughter, Meleth. I adopted her when she was a child. She is not a Fëanorian, except by blood. She will be coming with me.”

             “As you wish, my lady. This way.”

---

             “Aredhel,” Turgon said, “Where have you been? We thought you were dead.”

             “I was grievously injured and taken in by a Lady of the Haladin, who I fell in love with and married.” Aredhel replied.

             “One of the Haladin. Then, why do you have a Fëanorian with you?”

             “She is only Fëanorian by blood. In all other ways, she is as much my daughter as Idril is yours. She was born without her Fëanorian father’s knowledge, and I adopted her as a child when I married my Haladin bride, and we raised her together, without her Fëanorian father’s influence. Meleth is her name, and her mother was Haleth. The Chieftain of the Haladin.”

            “I bear no allegiance to my Fëanorian family.” Meleth said, “And I condemn their kinslaying and their ship-burning.”

             “Very well,” Turgon said.

             He turned to Meleth.

             “Meleth, do you promise to keep the location of Gondolin as utterly a secret and not reveal its location?” He asked her.

             “I promise, but I do not swear.” Meleth’s voice was heavy and serious.

             Turgon gave her a look that was a mix of impressed and surprised.

             “I know better than that.” She continued.

             “Very good,” he said, “In that case, I welcome you as my niece. Welcome to Gondolin, Meleth.”

             “Thank you very much, uncle.” Meleth curtsied.

             The people of Gondolin were at first wary of her, due to her Fëanorian looks, but she slowly earned their adoration as she revealed to them her kind and loyal nature. All who knew her loved her, if they had a good judge in character. Of these people, she became very good friends with Lord Galdor, through their shared sparring sessions. She also became a dear friend to Idril, and later to Tuor as well. 

---

Epilogue

             After the War of Wrath, she went to Tol Eressëa, since her dear friends Idril, Tuor, and Galdor had also gone West. But she received so many invitations to visit family on mainland Valinor, and was there so often, that the Valar told her she could stay there permanently. She lived in Tirion, with the House of Fingolfin, where Aredhel lived. She was welcomed with open arms by Fingolfin and Anairë, as they would do for any other grandchild. She also went often to visit her father and Nerdanel, who both doted on her greatly.