Nobody said anything. Rin gritted her teeth, her face shifting into the cold, stone expression she usually wore on the long, boring meetings with other nobles.

"What? You didn't expect me to interrupt your talk about me behind my back? I might be young, but I am neither oblivious nor stupid. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to know what in Iluvatar's name really happened fifty years ago, and why is it kept a secret that everybody except myself seems to know."-If Gandalf and Elrond knew, then probably the whole White Council knew too.

Finally Elrond said:

"I made a promise to king Thranduil years ago to keep that from you. Telling you would mean breaking my word."

Rin suddenly had the urge to punch the elven lord in the face. So breaking her trust was fine.

Still, she understood he wasn't going to tell her. Elrond was a man of his word, and he wasn't stupid. He wasn't going to risk a conflict with Greenwood.

"Fine then." She turned towards where the dwarves were standing. Balin's expression was unreadable, while Thorin's was mirroring her own. Bilbo had moved a little to the side, as if he wanted to avoid getting into the complete tangled mess this conversation and Rin's family were becoming "Both of you have known my father, and I guess you can tell the story from the beginning. So if there are not stupid promises binding you, I would like to hear it. Now."

The two dwarves shared a look, then turned back to her.

"A hundred and sixty years ago, after Erebor fell-Thorin started, his voice hardening-the elves refused to aid us, not wanting to face the wrath of the dragon. That night, one of them broke the orders and stayed behind, offering her help with whatever she could do. She presented herself as a low ranked guard, not one somebody would come searching for. Once we left in search for a place to go, she left with us. She fought alongside us at Azanulbizar. That elf's name was Meril, and she was one of the bravest warriors I have ever met."

So her mother hadn't told them who she really was. Had her father known then? Was that the reason it had taken them so long to figure out that Rin was Meril's daughter?

"What happened after?" Rin's voice was barely more than a rasped whisper.

"Meril and Frerin grew very close during that journey. She saved his life at Azanulbizar, and later he saved her. A little after we reached Ered Luin and started building a new home there, they got married. They had you. Neither of us ever knew that Meril hadn't been the one she was presenting herself for."

"How…how did she stay hidden, then? There should have been elf parties searching for her all over Middle Earth!? How didn't anyone know where she was?"

"We did."-Elrond's voice cut through like a razor.-"She made it as hard as she could, but we did find her."

Rin's eyes darted towards him, the question in them clear. The elven lord sighted.

"It was almost an accident. There had been orcs going way too close to elven territories, so me and your uncle, together with a small team of hunters, went to try and find what was happening. We stopped at Ered Luin for food and rest. We ran into your mother at the market.

It wasn't a very pleasant encounter. Both Meril and Thranduil were angry at each other, harsh words were spoken. At the end however, your mother decided to make peace. She told us what had happened in the hundred years she was gone. Your uncle was furious, but he understood."

"Elves only love once.-Rin said.-He couldn't do anything to change that. Even if he hated my father."

Elrond nodded.

"So we left, and vowed to keep that meeting a secret, together with where your mother was. No elf stepped there for the next ten years. The night they did- Elrond's expression had gone grim-was the night of the orc raid in which your parents died. They had been tracking the orc pack for weeks. They were too late."

"They might have as well never come." Thorin growled.

"Thranduil never forgave himself for not getting there on time to save his sister from the orcs. But he saved you, Rin. And he did everything he could to protect you."

"Then why-Rin's voice was cold-why didn't they just tell me who my father had been?"

"Your cousin didn't know more than you did. Frerin's identity was kept a secret for your own safety. Had somebody learned, it would have been as if you were walking with a target on your back. It is dangerous enough to be a part of one royal lineage. Being a Durin makes you a target for every orc who has ever followed Azog the Defiler."

Legolas hadn't known. The one person she had ever considered a friend had been honest when she had asked about her father, saying that he didn't know anything about him. At least that was the same.

"You are saying that we are not able to protect our own kin?" If Thorin had been angry before, now he was furious.

"What I am saying, Thorin Oakenshield, is that Greenwood was the safest place for Rin. The forest itself is a shield that keeps everyone out."

"Or in. Away from everyone. That damned place is a prison."

"Stop it! Both of you!-Rin shouted, clenching her hands into fists and baring her teeth.-If somebody has a right to be angry right now that's me. So if you can at least wait for me to get out of the room before you start arguing, that would be nice."

Rin took a breath and turned on her heel, heading towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Bilbo asked from behind, finally speaking up.

"To sleep."

Rin kicked the door open and let it slam behind her as she continued down the moonlit corridor.