Hedregon ran after her, prepared to spy some more. She was very fast, and Hedregon had thought that he had lost her when he heard her voice.

"Mother, no!" The sound came from above him, so Hedregon clambered up the nearest ladder and followed her voice to a circle balcony, where Lisiael stood with who must have been her mother across from her.

"Lisiael, you heard me say very clearly to remain in your chambers. It was entirely unacceptable to have joined in that battle and you could have died!"

"Please, mother, it is as I explained it to you,"

"No daughter of mine will fight. Celebrían never had such a mad notion. Look at me! What color am I wearing?" A long pause followed.

"I don't know."

"I don't want to keep doing this to you, Lisiael. You have to learn to obey me! This seems to be the best thing I have in my power to do."

"Please, mother, don't! They mean everything to me!"

"That's why they have to be destroyed." She bent down and set fire to a small pile of sticks and twigs, motioning for Lisiael to step forward. She did, although angrily, as though it was against her will. "Give them to me," her mother said, and Lisiael, once more reluctantly, handed her three knives, a quiver and a bow, all of which immediately were set fire to when placed upon the kindling.

"Spare me the sword at least," she begged, holding it in its sheath to her chest, tears streaming down her face. Her mother gently pulled it from her arms and laid it in the flames, her daughter standing now with nothing to hold onto but crying all the same. As soon as the sword touched the fire, Hedregon saw that the flames, the kindling and the weapons had all disappeared, and in their place was simply a pile of white sand.

Lisiael ran over to it, running her fingers through the sand, and moistening it with her tears. She tried to scoop it up in her palms and collect it in her dress, but the other Elf pulled her away,

"Lisiael, please, it's for the best. Don't hurt yourself any more."

Her daughter turned on her heel and ran, sobbing, up another staircase. Hedregon stepped forward.

"Please," he said, startling both himself and Rathien's mother,

"What business have you here?" She demanded, and then quickly realized, "You are the human from the harbor! Are you well now?"

"Yes, I am, but I'm afraid I do not know who you are," he responded.

"You do not know who I am? Then I have no reason to tell you. However, you were, all the same, spying on me and I demand an explanation."

"My name is Hedregon, son of Denethor. I do apologize for spying; it was very wrong of me. Please forgive me."

The lady smiled. "You are in love with Lisiael," she said, amused.

Hedregon, baffled, stuttered, "Well, yes . . . I . . . how could you have read my mind? Is that power not granted solely to Elves of a higher rank?"

The Elf in front of him seemed to find this conversation more and more comical as it went along, "Now I must tell you who I am. I am the Lady Galadriel of Light, and this forest is under my hand." Hedregon felt very silly, but she continued, "You are quite charming, son of Denethor. I can see the serenity in your eyes; you do not fight."

"Well . . ." Hedregon confessed, "It is my profession but not my passion. I do it for the honor of my mother and father." He thought for a minute, while the Lady watched him do so; she was so kind and understanding now that she was not talking to Rathien, "Er . . . is it all right that I am in love with your daughter?"

"Quite." And with the same secret smile, the Lady Galadriel left up the same stairs Rathien had.