Sorry for the delay in updating. School's been annoying. As always, please leave reviews, they help with motivation and sometimes give me ideas. They also let me know that people are actually enjoying and reading the story.

Also, sorry it's a bit shorter than usual. I want to get this up, and I've covered everything I want to cover for this chapter, so it's just gonna be shorter than usual.

Míre dismounts her horse, Nelyo and Artanis doing the same. They're at the Halls of Mandos, for one purpose.

To view the tapestries.

When Míre had unfurled the scroll given to her by Olorin, she had found a simple note,

"Go to the Halls of Mandos. This note will give you leave to view the tapestries concerning your father and why he may have done this. Best of luck, daughter of Feanor."

So here she is, her brother and cousin beside her. And true to his word, Olorin's note buys Míre and Maitimo passage to look at the tapestries, though Artanis is forced to wait with the horses.

A hooded Maiar leads them through a maze of dim hallways, all of them lined with tapestries. Míre rubs her arms, she should've worn warmer clothes. After what seems like an excruciatingly long time, they stop, gesture to a tapestry, and vanish into thin air.

"I guess this is it," Maitimo's voice seems echoingly loud, despite the fact that they can't even see the ceiling of the hallway through the gloom.

Míre steps closer to the tapestry, and can barely contain her gasp, "This, this is exactly what he told you, isn't it?"

"Yes," Nelyo breathes, "exactly what Atar told me."

They both stare at the tapestry for a while, but Míre finds herself taking a step back, shivering.

"We should go."

"I know."

It seems to take even longer for the Maiar to lead them out, but soon they're standing out in the bright sunlight, Artanis approaching them, her golden hair glinting in the sunlight, and asking, "Find what you came for?"

"Yes." Maitimo speaks for both of them.

"And it's enough?" Artanis passes Míre her horse's reigns.

Míre mounts, "Yes, it's more than enough."

"Good," is the only reply her cousin gives.

That night, after they get home, Míre slips out to the gardens. Kano and his wife, Milíre, are over in the rose plots, Míre can hear them singing.

So she doesn't disturb them and heads for the back of the gardens, through the flower beds and delicately carved fountains, her mother's work. She slips out through a worn little gate, its hinges creaking. Where her father home-

Míre cuts that though off as she steps into a moonlit field.

Melléra's family owns it, they graze horses on it. And it's her best friend that she finds sitting atop one of the hills.

So Míre sits down next to her and Melléra offers her a small smile. They've had many conversations atop this hill. And despite her own worries, Míre can tell that there's something on her friend's mind.

"What is it?"

Melléra sighs, "Tirsarta asked for my hand. My father refused."

For the past three years, Míre's best friend has been courting a Vanyarin ellon named Tirsarta. So she says as much, "You've been courting for three years, why would he refuse?"

"I don't know…"

Míre puts a hand on her shoulder, "He'll consent eventually, he has to."

Melléra turns her head, "I hope so Míre."

They sit in comfortable silence for several minutes, no noise but the crickets and a soft nicker from a horse.

Until Melléra says, "What about the evidence? Have you found any?"

Míre lays back in the grass, her hand going to her scar, "Yes."

"Well that's some good news at least." Melléra lays back beside her.

"I suppose it is."

Her best friend nudges her, "Hey, don't give up hope."

"I won't if you don't."

"Deal."

Míre stands in front of her mirror, pulling a piece of grass out of her hair by the light of one of her father's lamps when there's a knock her bedroom door.

"Come in."

"You're up late." It's her mother, still dressed in her work clothes, which have stone dust all over them.

"I was out talking to Melléra."

Her mother smiles, "I see."

Míre gets the last piece of grass out and sets it with the rest, turning to face her mother. "Amme, I really want to talk to Atar."

Her mother stiffens, "No, that is not a good idea."

"I wouldn't be in any danger Amme."

"Silmíre," her mother crosses over to her, "he nearly killed you. You are not going to see him."

Míre turns away, crossing her room to throw away the pieces of grass.

"And don't even think about sneaking out."

Míre just starts brushing her hair. And her mother sighs, coming over to kiss her cheek, "Goodnight."

Míre sets the brush down, "Goodnight Amme."

But hours later, as the rain starts pouring down and Míre lays awake in her bed, she's starting to wonder, will the evidence she has be enough?

Míre is standing at her window the next morning, watching the raindrops slide down the pane, when the front door slams. But she doesn't tear herself away until she hears one of her brothers, Telvo she thinks, shouting for her.

The daughter of Feanor hurries downstairs, seeing Findekáno standing in the hallway, soaking wet, with Carnistir and Telvo. She quickly closes the gap between them, "What is it?"

Findekáno is out of breath, but he holds out a sheet of paper. "One of Lord Aule's Maiar came forward with evidence. Nobody knows what it is, but I thought you should know."

Carnistir quietly thanks him.

"Oh," says Findekáno between breathes, "that paper's for your mother."

Míre nods, "Telvo, run it to her workshop, will you?"

Her brother takes the paper, "Sure."

Telvo vanishes down the hallway as Findekáno says, wringing some of the water out of his gold entwined braids, "My father visited him."

Míre's gaze shoots to him, "When?"

"Yesterday."

"Do you know where he's being held?" Carnistir asks.

"You haven't been allowed to visit him?" Findekáno sounds shocked, but Míre just shakes her head. He sighs, "I'd better get going, before anybody notices I'm gone."

Míre sees him to the door, "Thanks for telling us."

"No problem." And with that, her cousin leaves.

A week later, Míre stands in the entryway of her family's house, dressed in a white gown with a soft green bodice and sleeves. Her circlet rests upon her head.

Across from her, Atarinkë is pacing back and forth. Tyelko is sitting on a bench, his leg bouncing up and down. The twins are next to him, Kano standing silently by one of the front windows.

Nelyo comes up beside Míre after a moment, "Where's Carnistir?"

"He forgot his circlet." Kano speaks up.

Maitimo just nods, fixing the collar of his robe.

A few minutes later, when their mother and Carnistir join them, they head outside and get into carriages. The first part of her father's trial is today, and Míre definitely has butterflies in her stomach.

But as the arrive, as Nelyo offers her a hand and she steps out of the carriage, Míre reminds herself that she's prepared. She's ready.

And when the Valar call for defendants of the accused, Arnafinwe Nárefinda Silmíre stands.

Oh no, a cliffhanger! Hehe...

All the ocs (Silmire, Milire, Tirsarta and Mellera) belong to me.

To Be Continued