43Where Darkness Dwells » Still grieving his losses after the Redhorn, Elrohir accompanies Elladan to Lórien for a respite, but when a ghostly harbinger warns of peril to the Golden Wood, Elrohir and a band of bold companions must uncover secrets long-buried beneath the mountain before an ancient evil unleashes destruction on the Elves' last defenses.

Borderlands Isolated from her own kindred, a lonely Nellas encounters a mortal waif wandering Doriath's woods, but when their burgeoning romance is upended by news of the Blacksword, Nellas must choose whether to hold herself aloof from the children of Húrin or aid the one she has grown to love lest Morgoth's curse ensnare her too.

1 Be All My Sins Remembered » With Nargothrond's might diminishing and the Elves' borders hard-pressed, Finrod welcomes the first Men into his ranks, but when their chieftain, Bëor, becomes dearer to him than mere vassal, Finrod faces sending his lover or himself into deadly peril as the Enemy breaches the Elves' leaguer.

5 Oasis » Elrohir, half-mad with grief and sun-sickness, follows a cold trail deep into the Rhûn desert, but when he finds an Elf-captive among the Easterling tribes, he must put aside old betrayals and a not-quite-vanquished love before the Enemy's allies execute them for rebel spies.

7 From Ashes, Rise A stranger in a strange land, Glorfindel returns to Middle-earth, uncertain of his purpose or power, but when he arrives, again near death, at Elrond's refuge, he must learn that even one man may turn the tide of battle before his chance at absolution slips away.

Steel Reeds Before the Wind Husband and son lost to her, Morwen finds solace where she can under the Easterlings' cruel sway.

1 Only Ourselves Remain Gwindor and Beleg struggle to maintain their lives and their sanity in the haunted woods of Taur-nu-Fuin in the days preceding the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

12 Chasing Nightingales » Aragorn, new-come to manhood and his destiny, pursues a rumor to the wrong side of the river; but when his contact is murdered, he must determine friend from foe before the Enemy's deadliest servants, chasing rumors of their own, find Isildur's heir whom they have long sought.

8 And All Our Wounds Forgiven The Oath of Fëanor sleeps. The Enemy does not. And Finrod Felagund finds himself battling against the currents of fate and desire when two of the sons of Fëanor seek succor in his realm.

10 A Stirring in the Blood It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! Mark Twain. Estel's heart aches for freedom.