The day was just beginning to darken, and an evening breeze rustled the leaves. Alone in her room, a stately chamber decorated to her satisfaction and in the top branches of a large, strong tree, where she felt closest to nature, Mara lay on her bed, covered by its finely-woven quilt, and thought. She thought about the handsome young Elf who had made such a brief appearance in and out of her life and yet made her feel so strange inside, she thought about the Lady Galadriel, who never seemed to wish to acknowledge her, and she thought of how she was kept up here, away from the eyes of all, escaping only briefly in the first light of dawn to see the beauty of these woods that she would otherwise be denied. She had been here all her life; she loved Lothlorien, but it held her back. She was not free. She was in a veiled prison, a prison where she was given everything and it seemed too much. She had no memory of what came before here. She had lived among Elves for years, yet she knew she was not of their kind. No one had ever seemed so disappointed at her race before though, no one except that Elf. That Legolas.

There was a quiet knocking on her door.

"Come in."she said, and her maid, a young Elven girl just a little older than Mara, entered, carrying a neatly-folded dress very carefully. She set it down on the bed.

"A gift from her Ladyship, miss. The very colour of your eyes, she said it herself."

"Thank you, Luinë." She held out the dress: it was fine gossamer silk, and indeed the same sapphire tones as her eyes."Tell the Lady my thanks also."

"Yes, miss."Luinë sat down on the edge of her mistress' bed."Miss.."

"Yes?"

"I was just wondering something...don't you ever miss...freedom?"

"Freedom."Mara said quietly."Luinë, I have no recollection of it. It is almost a blessing, that I cannot miss what I have not known. You would not understand."

"Yes, miss. Forgive me for my intrusion." The maid turned to leave."I pray for you, miss. Every day. And for the Lady Galadriel too." Luinë noticed her face change at the name."She cares for you, miss. You know that, you must. She does love you."

But Mara said nothing, and Luinë left the room, and once again she was alone.

******

"My husband..."Galadriel said, later that evening as she sat dining with Celeborn, "how is young Mara faring?"

"She is well, the maid has told me, though I have not seen her."

"No."Galadriel looked satisfied."None see her: save Luinë, and she is but a simple child."

"Do you intend to keep her caged in this manner forever?"Celeborn asked, watching his wife intently."It is cruel."

"Cruel? No. It is for her own protection, Celeborn. I have seen the strength of men fail, husband, at the slight mention of beauty. She is mortal, and that means she may be corrupted, and yet corrupt. That is the way of it."

"She is beautiful..."mused her husband,"though beauty is as beauty does. She will soon be a woman, she will bear fine man-children. Will you waste her like this for much longer?"

"She is but fifteen summers, and indeed not to bear any children yet!"replied the Lady."And she is precious to me: precious, like a jewel. She is my own. I brought her up. I will not lose her to addle the minds of fine men. Why, just today did I see the young Elf of Mirkwood, Legolas, walking in a seemingly lovestruck stupor! An Elf, mark that! Mara would be a powerful vice, Celeborn. She knows not what her power may do to a male."

Celeborn nodded, however reluctant."Mayhap you are right."

Galadriel smiled."That I am, my husband."