Caranthir supervised the ellyn as they packed up the camp, preparing for their departure. He crossed his arms over his black leather tunic, squinting in the bright morning light. 

"My lord."

The young leader of the tribe of men stood behind him, her arms stiff at her sides. Though Haleth was of small stature like the rest of her people, there was a spark in the girl that made her noticeable. She lifted her pert chin in greeting. Caranthir arched an eyebrow and came to stand over her. Haleth had pulled her hair back in a tight braid, in a similar style to his own, exposing her rounded cheekbones and long neck. However, her expression was almost laughable in its barely retained fury. He pondered carelessly what could be bothering her now.

"My lady," he said, his tone dry. "For what reason do you grace me with your presence this morning?"

"I must speak with you."

He noticed her hands gripped firmly behind her back. He glanced over to see that his tent had yet been dissembled.

"Of course, let's adjourn from this chaotic scene. My men are far from quiet this morning."

She followed him silently to his field tent. Once inside the quiet of the grand space, Caranthir meandered over a low table and poured himself some wine. He lifted the canter towards her in a silent offering, but she shook her head. 

Her face was flushed and lips pursed. It amused him to see her in such a state. He waited for her to unburden herself as he perched on the edge of the table. He lifted a brow to her as he took a draw of wine.

"What were you thinking?" she hissed. "What you said last night, that was irresponsible."

"Which part? The part where I asked if you dwelt with the livestock or where I defended your honor from that ingrate? My own honor as well, come to think of it," he toyed.

"The part." Her voice rose in volume. She paused and calmed herself. "Where you said that I had decided that the Haladin should live under your rule in the north."

"What of it?"

"I never agreed to such a thing and I wouldn't have if you had possessed the courtesy to ask me first!"

"Courtesy!" Caranthir felt his blood run hot despite himself. It irked him more that she angered him so easily than what she said. "I have been nothing, but courteous towards you since our meeting, my lady."

Haleth barked out a mirthless laugh. "Oh of course! Do you know that your speech has set my people more against me than before! You did more harm than good, my lord."

Caranthir set the cup down hard on the table, a little wine spilling over the side of the goblet. He dragged a hand over his face.

"What could possibly have been wrong with what I said last night? You need protection and I am willing to offer it to you."

"But you didn't offer, you merely made the choice for me!" Haleth paced without looking at him, "You know nothing of our people. We need our freedom and independence like air. We are not like men of other houses of the Edain who seek after your ways. We want no part of it. We like our own language and culture. We respect you as the older, more powerful race, but not all of us want to be your adoring pupils."

"Do you think you are too good for my generosity, child?" Caranthir sneered, approaching her.

"No, Lord Caranthir." Her taut shoulders slumped. "You do not understand. We are all grateful, but we choose to remain on our own for a reason. It is not an insult to you or the Eldar."

"You are a prideful lot. What reason have you for such insolence?"

She met his gaze firmly. "What reason have you, my lord?"

Caranthir found himself without words. Images of burning ships and blood, kin slaying kin long before the girl or her people even existed reeled through his ancient mind. It was as though she had pierced right to the deepest heart of his insecurities.

Haleth wet her lips and looked down at her feet. "I apologize, my lord. I had no right to speak thus. I should not have explained it to you this way, it was wrong. I thank you for your offer of friendship, but my people and I will go our own way."

Haleth turned to leave. Caranthir stopped her, gripping her shoulder. She suddenly looked small and childlike to him, not like the gore smeared warrior from their first meeting. The impulse to cradle her like the orphan she was ran through his brain. It was an emotion he had never experienced in his centuries, not even with his younger brothers. He could feel his expression tempering.

"Haleth." His gruff voice melted into a gentler tone. "I did not mean to insult you with my offer. I have valued our shared counsel over the past few days. You are quickly becoming a fine leader for your people. I'm sure your father would have been proud if he still lived."

The impulsive admission surprised him almost as much as it did Haleth. Her eyes widened. However, to his shock and horror, the edges softened with unshed tears. She jerked away from him, turning her back to him in a corner of the tent and crossing her arms over her breast.

Caranthir stood at a loss in the middle of the tent, his arm still outstretched. Haleth slouched. At the sound of her heavy breathing, he could tell she was trying to contain her sobs. He wondered absently if the girl had yet to mourn her family. He tried to remember the last time someone had wept before him.

It had been his own mother on the day they had departed Valinor, never to return. Abandoning her utterly. Like this Edain girl had been left alone, without a family.

He cagily edged towards her. Reaching out with a hesitant hand, he tentatively touched her trembling shoulder with his fingertips. Without warning, she turned, her face bright red and glistening. She threw herself into his chest and wept. 

Caranthir froze. 

Awkwardly, he wrapped his outstretched arms around her shaking form. He had never been in such a situation in his life. No one had ever sought comfort from him.

It dawned on him that the strong, young leader of the Haladin was still very much a child, forced to grow up very quickly. How was it that he found himself in such a place? Surely there were others of his kin who would be better equipped in comforting a weeping daughter of men. Even his other brothers would have known what to say. Makalaurë would certainly have excelled in such a field.

He unwound her from his torso, holding her by the shoulders. He leaned forward so that he could catch her reddened eyes. She tried to cover her face with her hands, clearly from embarrassment. He took them in his firmly. She would not meet his eyes.

"Haleth, you are doing...well," he began clumsily. "Better than most. Your children and children's children will someday speak of this time in your life. They will praise you for your courage. Take your people where you wish, you will always have my friendship. I swear it, elvellon."

"Elf friend?" Haleth's sniffling ceased as she blinked up at him, her eyelashes clumping with wet. "I am your friend?"

"If you will have me as one. I wouldn't blame you if you weren't interested in the offer," he chuckled, lifting a hand and brushing back the strands of hair that had come loose from her braid.

He rested his palm against the side of her face, rubbing away an errant tear with his thumb. She took a deep breath, gripping his wrist. If his brothers saw him now, comforting a distraught Edain girl, certainly they would think him bewitched. Haleth gave him a shaky smile. The sight stirred the same, strange feeling of paternal affection within him.

They parted when they heard someone cough at the door. Caranthir removed his hands from the girl at seeing her unofficial guardian, the man named Hagar. The old warrior stood stiffly at the door. His expression was unreadable as his dark gaze flitted between them. Haleth turned towards him, her smile remaining on her face. Hagar managed a faint grin, his dissecting stare cutting back to Caranthir.

"Chieftain. My lord. I am sorry to interrupt, but the people wish to speak with you."

"I assume it is concerning the announcement that we are to head north with the Eldar." Haleth replied, the original strength returning to her voice as though she had never lost control. She sniffed and rubbed her damp cheeks with the heels of her hands. "Do not fear, Hagar. There has been a change of plans. We will not go north, but move towards the forests of the west as originally planned. That is why I came here to speak with Lord Caranthir."

Hagar nodded tentatively. "That is good to hear."

"My lord, you will not leave without a farewell, I trust?" Haleth turned to Caranthir, her sober expression wholly altered.

Caranthir nodded, trying to ignore Hagar's strange gaze. "We set out this afternoon."

"Thank you for all you have done for our people. Your kindness will never be forgotten."

"My lady, the people," Hagar insisted.

With a last glance, Haleth and her escort left his presence. Caranthir slumped over. He strode towards his cup on the table and took it down in a single gulp. These Edain would be the death of him if he remained among them much longer.

***

"My lord." Hagar approached Caranthir as he strode towards the stockade. "Might I have a word?"

The Noldor prince paused, gritting his teeth. He recalled the look the man had given him when he had interrupted his conversation with Haleth earlier than morning. Giving him a patient nod, Caranthir folded his gloved hands behind his back.

"Yes, of course," he replied patiently.

The man held himself with respect, his face bowed slightly to the ground.

"I mean no disrespect in what I am going to say. Only the gods know where we would be if it hadn't been for you-"

"Dead," Caranthir coolly interrupted. "You'd all be dead."

Hagar nodded. "But I feel I must speak to you concerning Haleth. She is young and has been handling the authority thrust upon her very well. I am sure she values your wisdom."

"Is there a reason you wished to speak to me?" Caranthir snapped, feeling patronized by the old warrior's tone.

Despite his youthful bear, Caranthir was nearly six hundred and eighty years. This man's lifetime was a mere blink of a eye to him. Seventy years at most. 

"She is young, my lord. Very young."

"Is that all you wish to discuss with me, Edain? The obvious?" Caranthir rounded him casually,  trying to keep his blood from running hot at Hagar's assumption of his motives. 

"You are much more ancient and wiser than me. I believe you understand my meaning, my lord."

Caranthir chuckled darkly. "I must go bid farewell to the lady, sir. Are you quite done?"

"Quite." 

Hagar met his gaze once more.

With a snort of disgust, Caranthir marched away towards the stockade. What irked him most was the honesty in the man's gaze. The grey headed warrior genuinely saw Caranthir as a threat to Haleth. 

But what kind of threat remained mystery to Caranthir. 

Perhaps he feared elvish influence on her would lead their people away from their chosen path. Caranthir told himself he couldn't care less what the people of Haleth did. If they did not want to accept a fiefdom from him, than it made no difference to him. 

He couldn't possibly believe that Caranthir had designs on the girl herself. Of a carnal nature, as the worm Rochma had so disgustingly suggested. The very idea was revolting. Such an abomination had never been seen in Endor, one of the Edain and Eldar coupling. Only one of the Edain could conjure up such a twisted notion.

Haleth turned towards him as he entered her tent.

"Shela," she nodded to her kinswoman.

The fair haired girl stood softly and fled without acknowledging him. 

"She does not have the look of your people," Caranthir clipped casually, in an attempt to forget his recent conversation.

Haleth's eyes trailed after Shela's slight figure. She stood from where she had been stacking kindling by the fire pit.

"Shela's mother was not of our people, like Rochma's. However, my brother's hair was dark like mine, his eyes brown like mine as well. Their child will most likely take after him." Her lips pressed together in solemn recollection.

Caranthir approached, but not too close. Hagar's words echoed in his mind. Haleth looked up at him expectantly.

"My lord. I wish to apologize for my manner this morning. I had no intention of reacting so... passionately-"

Caranthir cut her off, holding up a hand. "It is already forgotten. Your people are appeased by your new course of action?"

"Yes, for the most part." .

"Still trouble with the usurpers?"

Haleth smirked. "They say the paths we would take are suicidal. Some wish to return to the mountains in the east."

"So let them go."

"They are." Haleth glanced out at the gathered horses packed for a long road. "Rochma will lead a small band."

"This I am glad to hear." Caranthir lifted an eyebrow in the direction of the traveling party with a look of boredom. "They would only tire you, cause more trouble in the future."

"And will you return to your halls?"

Caranthir turned to find Haleth's gaze steady on his face. Her attention made him wary. He shifted his weight, pacing towards the fireside.

"Yes," he answered evenly, feeling her eyes but not meeting them. "We have been gone too long as is."

"What is it like? Where you live?"

"My halls are on the shore of a deep lake that reflects the sky like glass." Caranthir found his heart suddenly longing for his adopted home.

"I should like someday..." Haleth began, her voice trailing off. She shook her head. "I hope this is not our last meeting, my lord-"

"Your life spans are so brief," Caranthir interrupted, turning towards the tent entrance. "The years tend to be lost to me. It is almost certain we will never meet again."

He swiveled towards her when he was met with silence. Haleth looked crestfallen by his abrupt response, but brought herself to her full height just the same. Her youthful vulnerability, a side that he had only seen a glimpse of that morning, was suddenly gone. Though he was glad to see her steeling herself, he couldn't ignore the fleeting pang of grief over its loss. She studied him icily.

"Then may your gods go with you, my lord." She gave him a bow. "We are forever indebted to you."

As she rose, Caranthir couldn't find any more words. With a stilted nod, he swept from the tent, leaving her to the dying fire.