Sorry for such slow updates! It was tec week for my play, and everything was crazy. Okay, so warning for torture in this chapter. Quick note about Turin's age. I said he was 24 when he met Haleth, but for reasons revealed in this chapter, I am no longer sure of his exact age. Also, don't know if I already mentioned this, but I originally stated Haleth was 18 when she had Lana, but I changed it so that she was older to give more time for her and Turin's relationship. Anyway, thank you to all of the new readers I've been getting, and thank you for waiting, and enjoy.

"JOSEPH!" Ailith ran as fast as she could, her hair whipping her face. Her tears tasted bitter. He turned to look at her, his eyes sad.

"Don't cry Ailith."

"I'm not crying stupid. It's just cold. "

"Alright."

"Joseph, you can't-"

"Ailith. I have to. I can't stay here anymore. I have to make my own way."

"You're twelve you idiot! Stop talking like an adult!"

"I'm near a man, and I have to act one. I can' stay here anymore. Uncle Bill wants me gone anyways"

"Then find someone else to stay with."

"Ailith, I have to go. I have to find my own way. My own place."

"Then I'm coming."

"No. You belong here. I don't know if I'll even succeed. I can't drag you into the unknown. And you have family here. All I have is an uncle who's resented me since I showed up."

"Yes, and my shoulder is still in pain from when my father threw me against the wall. Let me come."

"Lith-"

"Lana as well. And then, we can come back rich. And take care of papa, and he'll be happy again." She trailed off. Joseph was looking at her sadly.

"Lith. I can't drag you into the unknown. But I'll make you a deal. You wait here, and when I've become rich and brave, and a few inches taller, I'll come back, and you and Lana can leave with me. Alright? And we'll go about being brave idiots all together."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She looked at him, wanting to protest, wanting to insist. Wanting to follow him. But she knew she couldn't . Not really. She had tied herself to Bree to tight. She tried to dry her tears.

"Then be safe Jo. And grow taller, and come back so we can go on adventure together, alright?"

"It's a deal."

"Shake on it." Ailith spit into her palm and held it out. Joseph did the same, and took her hand, shaking it hard. Ailith pushed the tears away, and then without thought wrapped her arms around him and hugged him hard.

"Be safe you dumb bastard!" her voice was muffled by his scarf.

"Of course. Wouldn't want to upset you now would I Lith?"

It had been snowing. Fool had left in the snow. She had watched him disappear, head held high, steps springing with hope. He never had come back.

"Is something bothering you little sister?" Lana hugged Ailith tighter. It was dark. They lay curled in the large soft bed, Tuor sleeping a few feet away. The moon light shone in through the windows. Ailith could see the valley glowing in the night. She sighed.

"Just thinking Lana. About Joseph."

"Ah."

"I was so sure he would come back. I never did give up on him."

"I know..."

"He was my last close friend. Everyone else, I lost, one way or the other."

"I know."

"Lana?"

"Yes?"

"Will you tell me about my father?" She felt Lana exhale next to her. Ailith knew she didn't like to speak about it. The blood dripped from her hands. They had not spoken of it much, hardly at all really. She hadn't wanted to. But she had to know.

"What do you want to know? I hardly know more then you." Lana's voice was determined, but shaking.

"Just...tell me about his eyes, and his hair, and his voice. And what he said. What his hands felt like. How he said my name."

"Alright. He was..tall, strong, imposing. And he wasn't young. He must have been a fair deal older then mama. His hair was exactly like yours. Sort of wild, and the same copper color. It was streaked with gray though. His eyes...They were strange. Like one big black pool rimmed in such a thin line of ice blue. He was ragged and unkempt, but you could see the kindness in his eyes. He had the look of someone who has led a hard life. But you could see the creases around his mouth and eyes. He must have smiled a lot. His hands...well, they were rough, and warm. And big. He had big hands. The kind that could crush a man's windpipe. But when he took my hand he was so gentle. His voice was so deep, and kind. And tired. So very tired. When he talked about mama it was so sad, but so filled with love. He said he didn't care when she got pregnant with me. Said he still wanted to be with her. But she chose duty he said. And he left. But they were drawn back together. And you came of that. He said when you were about a year old he visited. He had so much love in his voice when he spoke of holding you, of kissing your head. He wanted to meet you again. He loved you Ailith. But...he would not tell me why Brandon wanted him dead Only that he had long hunted him. He was so mysterious. What he said was cryptic. But what shone through was his love. He wanted you to know that he loved you. His last word...his last word was Haleth. He gave me the box, the one I hid for you to find. Maybe there are answers in there. Soon little sister, we will go to get it."

"His name was Turin right?" Ailith was trying not to cry.

"Yes."

"Lana. He traveled a lot correct?"

"Yes."

"Lana, what if...what if he was a ranger? Like Estel."

"Oh! That...that seems that it would fit somehow."

"Lana. Tomorrow I have to ask Estel if he knows of him. We've never bothered to tell him anything about my father. What if he knew him?!"

"Ask him. But don't...get your hopes up. Who knows who he was?"

"But we have to try."

xxxxxxxxx

Adlyn drifted in and out of wakefulness. Every second was a throbbing pulse of constant pain. She slowly opened her eyes, trying to force herself up. The pain was so intense that it was almost non existent. Everything smelled like blood. A moment later she realized she was still naked. Gently she prodded her flesh. Blood, everywhere, and torn flesh. Oozing and drying, and smelling. She moaned and weakly tried to speak.

"papa..."

There was no answer. She slowly felt around, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the pit. She was alone. Panic stabbed at her. Where was he?! Without thought she began to yell for him, beyond reason or pain now she screamed. They were not even words that she uttered, just desperate wails. Suddenly light flooded in. She was blinded. The dull thud of the latter and then the rough feel of hands pulling her up. Then she was emerging. The brightness of the clearing seared her. It must be dawn. Brandon's face was looming above her. He reached out and gently took her chin in his hand.

"Good morning sweetling." His breath smelled awful.

"get...get off-" She tried to pull away. He simply pulled her closer, his face cruel. Without realizing what she did she spit full force in his eye. He bellowed in rage and stung her across the face, knocking her to the ground. Pain exploded around her. Fool. She was a fool. She wanted to curl up and weep. A rough hand took hold of her hair and jerked her face up. She was confronted with the sight of Brandon standing before her, and her father tied on the ground, struggling madly, cursing everyone.

"You want to spit in my face whore? Very well. But for your little transgression, I'll have to punish you. And since you have little care for yourself..." It happened fast. Brandon grabbed her father's arm and with the help of some of his men, their eyes unsure, he pushed him to the ground. With a brutal thoughtless downward arc his sword rang towards her father's wrist. There was a sickening thud and a spray of scarlet. Her father bellowed in rage, his eyes rolling back in his head. His hand lay severed nearby, blood still pumping out of it into the dirt. Adlyn screamed With a laugh Brandon lifted her again and roughly dragged her back to the pit, throwing her in. She landed hard on her arm, feeling a painful pop. A moment later Brandon dropped something down with her. It landed on her face. Her father's hand.

"There. Now you can always hold his hand." The plank slid back again, and everything was dark.

Xxxxxxxx

"Estel!' Ailith's voice rang towards him. He turned to see her rushing down the hall.

"Hello Ailith, what are you doing up? It's just dawn. You need rest."

"I know, bu-ooof!" Ailith was unable to skid to a halt, and ended up flying full force into his stomach. He caught her before she could fall down, and carefully helped her regain her balance.

"Now then, what is troubling you?" He smiled.

"Estel, I, Lana and I were talking last night, about my father. And we realized something. And Lana's still asleep, and I didn't want to wake her, so I came looking for you on my own. I have a question for you." her voice was pouring out in a constant stream.

"Alright. Why don't we go sit on the balcony? You should at least sit down." he led her down the hall and out unto the long balcony. The valley was beautiful in the dawn light. Bird song was bursting forth. Ailith sat down on a carved bench, and he settled next to her.

"Now, what is it you wanted to ask?"

"Estel, you've never heard much about my father. My real one. Well, last night, Lana told me what she knew of him. I realized something...I think, well, Estel, did you know a man named Turin? He had hair like mine, and dark eyes." Her voice was frightened, hopeful. And suddenly something clicked into place in his mind. Her hair, her way of holding herself, the way she let her words rest when she was thoughtful, pulling them out slow and steady. He had seen those things before. How had he not realized? How had he not guessed? How had he not learned of her father' name before now? Turin. Oh strange fate that should bring Turin's daughter to him. And he had not even realized.

"Estel?" Ailith's eyes were wide. His thoughts must have shown in his face. He took a breathe and tried to gather himself.

"Yes, I...I knew your father." He didn't know what else to say. He watched her face fill with wonder.

"You, are you sure?! His name was Turin, and he was tall, with copper hair, and-"

"I know. I do not know how I did not see it before this. I knew Turin."

"Was he...was he a ranger?"

"Yes. Well, half. He was of the Dunedain, through his mother. Her name was Miriel . She was a brave woman, and a weaver beyond compare. She died when he was near five, found deep in the woods with her throat cut. We never knew who killed her. His father was a man who she met on the road, Who left her with nothing but a necklace and a baby and naught else. His father came looking for him shortly after her death. And he took him away. Turin returned when he was fifteen. He was never fully at home among us, and yet he loved us and we loved him. But...when he was twenty, he disappeared. And then reappeared a few years later, his eyes haunted. Something happened After that he was never long among us, visiting, but then vanishing. A man chased by shadows, but we knew not what. He vanished for good many years ago. Thinking on it now, it may have been a year or so before your birth. We never saw him again. He was a good man, brave, kind, laughing despite his sadness. I cared for him greatly."

"You...he.." Ailith's eyes were wide. "I didn't think you would actually know him. I didn't think I was right. I..." she wrapped her arms around herself. "You knew him." I have so many things I want to ask."

"I will answer any of them." He didn't know what to say. This new connection between them was disconcerting, strange, yet also a good thing. Turin's daughter. He could tell Ailith of her father. The father he could see so clearly in her now.

"I...I will ask many. But I need to think. I'm going to walk in the gardens alright? I need to think." She stood up shakily, and walked away without looking back.

xxxxxx

Gethin listened to the ringing sound his footsteps made as he walked through the hallway. He was in a high part of the house, on a long hallway open to the air that seemed to serve as a sort of bridge between two places in the house. Flower vines tumbled over the sides. The day was cold, but still sunny. The air was fresh, and it was wholesome. He missed the wild smell of the woods. Suddenly he heard a faint sound, muffled, but still clear. It was the sound of a crying woman. He advanced cautiously. Ailith was perched on a bench that seemed carved out of the wall, holding onto a flower, sobbing softly. Gethin froze, unsure what to do. Ailith looked up suddenly, noticing him. She quickly wiped her eyes and attempted a small smile.

"Good morning."

"Ah, good morning. Are you...are you alright?" He awkwardly stepped closer. She took a deep shuttering breath.

"Yes. Just thinking about my father is all."

"Oh." he carefully sat down next to her, folding his hands in his lap. "Jonathan right? Lana told me about him."

"No. Well, yes and no. I recently learned that Jonathan wasn't my real father. He was Lana's, but not mine. My real father was a man named Turin."

"Oh..."

"He came looking for me, a few years ago. But I never knew it. He was killed. I only learned that recently."

"Oh. I'm sorry." He didn't know what to say.

"And...I've just learned more of him, from Estel. And it's all overwhelming. I wish I could have known him."

"That's hard. Do you know who killed him?"

"I know who ordered his death, and then I know who carried it out."

"...Who?" He wanted to know, he hoped he didn't sound insensitive.

"I...Gethin, your father, he was somehow connected with mine. He wanted him dead."

"What?"

"I know not why, but somehow, they were tied. And thus so are we I suppose. Another small thread tying our lives together. Your father long hate him."

"He...he ordered your father's death?"

"Yes. But he did not carry it out directly."

"Who did?"

Ailith paused, obviously debating something. Her eyes reached a decision.

"Ask Lana. She knows."

He fell silent. The shock of Ailith's words sinking in. Their fathers tied together.

"I'm sorry. Now you're upset as well." Ailith sighed. "Life is full of strange turns, isn't it?"

"Yes. It is."

"Maybe thats' a good thing though. Maybe that's what keeps us living."

They sat in silence, letting the cool breeze wash over them. Ailith rested her hand on her stomach. A few moments later she gave a small yelp.

"What is it?" Gethin blinked.

"Oh, it's just the baby. It moves now..." She looked down at her stomach. "Active little bugger."

"So...Do you have names...for the baby?" He shifted nervously.

"That is a question I seem to get asked daily. Yes. If it's a boy, he will be Estel. And if it's a girl, she will be called Haleth. I think it's a girl, Lana thinks boy."

"Oh. Estel, like the ranger?"

"Yes."

"You must really care about him. The ranger I mean."

"Yes. He showed me kindness for the first time in a long while. I was alone in the wilderness. He saved me."

"Alone in the-why?"

"I had fled. No-one wanted me. I wandered alone for a while."

"Wait, you survived alone in the wilderness? "

"Yes. I just said as much."

"Had you ever done that before?'

"No."

"That...you're not easily broken are you?"

"I suppose not."

"Who was he? The father of your baby?" He regretted his words as soon as he said them. Ailith's face took on strange note.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked...Tuor just mentioned something about him. Sorry." He shifted nervously.

"No. It's a reasonable question to ask. His name was Arden, and he was an ass."

"Oh...I'm sorry. He shouldn't have left you."

"Oh he didn't leave per say. He lived in Bree, same as me. And he was far to comfortable to warrant his leaving just because he got some drunk's daughter with child. He was a merchants son you see. Well fed and well loved. And a good liar. He was confident as well. Didn't worry about me being around. I was water under the bridge. He told me as much. Just said he was sorry, and turned away to his new girl. So I broke his nose."

"He deserved it. He should never have cast you aside. It's his responsibility."

"Well, he could forget it. I couldn't. I was the one carrying the reminder. And I was the one blamed. Slut, harlot, all of that. Must have sunk my claws into him, wanting the safety he provided. Served me right for getting with child. I heard people saying all of that. While I was nearby. As if I wasn't there."

"I'm so sorry. People are cruel. I hope his nose heals crooked. What a bastard."

"Yes, pretty much. Tell me then, what would you have done? In his situation."

"I would have panicked, and I would have wanted to leave. But I wouldn't have. I'd have stayed. If I ever got a girl with child, I would have stayed."

"Well, that shows how you can't judge people by their initial appearance. A boy raised in the woods by a cruel father is infinitely more noble then the rich and respected merchants son."

"And the girl raised by a drunk father, surrounded by harshness and suffering. Seeing so many hardships, who has every reason to hate the world, grows to be as kind and wise as any queen." He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

"The world is a funny place isn't it?"

"Yes. It is."

xxxxxxxxxx

Elrond stared at the ring. The very sight of it filled him with disgust. Hurriedly he covered it, glancing back to Glrofindel.

"So. Lana stole this off of the leader."

"Yes."

"This is a fine ring. Well crafted. These men are not a rogue cult. They are connected to something larger."

"But what?" Erestor tilted his head, his eyes filled with worry.

"Isn't that the question?" Lindir was perched on the window sill.

"We need to deal with these men. And we need to do so soon." Glorfindel clenched his fist.

"Yes. There is no question."

"Well, I volunteer of course." Glorfindel didn't hesitate.

"As do I." Erestor's eyes were determined. Glorfindel spoke up.

"You are not a fighter Erestor. Why now? You stay here." His eyes were worried.

"I may prefer to document battles, but you know better any that I am more then capable of fighting. I saved your life, as I recall." Erestor crossed his arms.

"Yes, but-"

"And I am tired of waiting while you go on fools missions. If you go, I'll be doing the same. My sword is long ready."

"Regardless, before any plans as to who will go are made, we must first discuss the logistics, and the overall plan." Elrond sighed.

Xxxxxxxxx

Turin stared down at Haleth's sleeping face, one cheek illuminated by the moonlight. She was breathing softly, causing a strand of hair on her forehead to rise and fall methodically. He felt a painfully strong tug at his heart, as if he couldn't hold in the love he felt for her. She stirred and murmured something in her sleep, before opening one eye, and smiling sleepily at him.

"What are you staring at?"

"What do you think?"

"I have few guesses. Since I'm assuming the ground isn't as interesting, I'm guessing you're starring at me."

"That would be the correct answer."

"Damn, it is beautiful out here, isn't it?"

"Yes. It really is." He sighed, inhaling the air of the forest. The trees spread above them where they lay wrapped in the soft thick furs. Haleth shivered.

"It's also cold." she snuggled closer to him, sighing peacefully. "I've always loved the stars."

"As have I. They carry I story."

"Everything carries a story with you."

"Does that bother you?" He smiled.

"No. Not at all. In fact Ithinnnn" she trailed off, closing her eyes. Turin smiled sadly, pulling her closer to him. The stars spun above them.

xxxxxx

Ailith laughed. "Did that really happen?'

"Yes. Unfortunately it did." Gethin smiled.

"But…ah, that's awful! Haha!" It felt good to laugh. Gethin beamed at her, obviously please that his story had made her laugh.

"All of your hair?" She shook her head.

"Yes. And as a child, I was ever so proud of it. It was long to, down past my shoulders. But I suppose when your spying on the girls bathing you deserve to get it caught."

"Why were you spying?"

"Well, I was only six. It was honest curiosity. Becket put me up to it. It's an embarrassing story overall."

"Well, I appreciate the telling."

"It's pleasant to laugh anyway."

"It is, isn't it?" Ailith let the sun warm her.

"Auntie! Gethin!" The sound f Tuor's padding feet rang towards them. His face was alight, followed closely by Lana. He bounced up and down, eagerly clambering onto her lap and kissing her cheek, and then hugging Gethin, tangling his hands in his brother's thick hair.

"You two seem happy." Lana smiled.

"We've been enjoying the sun. And some colorful stories. Oh, and Lana, I…need to speak to you later." Ailith smiled at her sister taking her warm hand.

"Alright."

"Auntie! Are you and Gethin planning your wedding?!"Tuor smiled brightly. "I brought some flowers for it." He handed her a collection of bruised petals, clutched in his small hand. Ailith took them and smiled. Gethin turned red.

"They're lovely Tuor. I'm sure we'll keep them until they are needed." Ailith kissed Tuor's head.

"Will you get married soon? Are you going to wait until the baby comes out?"

"Here then Tuor. That's enough with those questions." Lana smiled.

"Auntie, mama said we could have breakfast, all together. Will you come to breakfast with us? Gethin as well? Please?"

"Of course. Come on Gethin, let's go." Ailith slid down to the ground, taking hold of Gethin's hand and pulling him with her. He seemed rather disconcerted and startled, but not upset. He followed behind her quietly, Tuor holing his other hand and beaming.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Brandon stormed to and fro, his hands still covered in Braith' blood. Thoughts swirled through his head, threatening to over power him. He kept thinking back to the girl, Ailith Something about her. Something about the way she spoke, held herself, the way her eyes bore into his. Something was so familiar. That hair. Copper. He closed his eyes, remembering hair so like hers on different head. A voice like hers from a different mouth. With sudden clarity he was putting the pieces together. He knew who's daughter she was, and he knew then for a certainty that she would die.

Okay, so hope y'all liked it. This has been written in bits and pieces over this crazy week, when I really should be doing homework. But I wanted to get something out, so here it is:)