Lying on her back, she attempted to count the leaves of the large, golden tree in which she dwelt. The sun peered through the majestic leaves, warming her cheeks and causing her hair to deepen it's golden colour. She continued counting, barely paying attention to her thoughts, basking in the warm rays of the luxurious sun. The leaves started to dance as a breeze played among them, causing the relaxing figure to become lost in the counting process. Everyday she attempted to count them, never succeeding. Everyday she decided it was impossible, yet still believed in the possibility of completing the task when the sun dawned next.

She reluctantly pulled herself from her relaxed position at the foot of the silver trunk and began to climb it. Upon reaching the top she heard voices approaching. Their footfalls were near silent upon the bed of leaves but their voices carried clearly to her.

"I do not believe the Lady has been quite the same since her firstborn departed for the Grey Havens all those years ago."the first voice came through the gleaming, tangled branches.

"You are quite right in your assumptions. The Lady relished in the company of Celebrían and as did the daughter in the mother's company. The young princess does not share such a strong relationship; the forest is her mother rather than the Lady of Lothlórien."

"Aye, she is a strange creature but her presence does deeply affect Galadriel. I cannot believe the tasks she requires us to perform because of that girl's gifts."

"We should be grateful as she keeps Lothlórien safe and alive, yet it is hard when our lives become so complicated because of it."

The voices had faded away, leaving the girl to ponder what she had heard. She could not tell who the two were from her perch but their words puzzled her immensely. She was not the cause of anything amiss. She had never left the forest, it was near impossible for her to cause much trouble. The Lady of Lothlórien was most certainly her mother, not the golden forest. How could the forest be her mother? It was true that she somehow was the forest, according to her parents, but it was not her mother. She thought back to the stories her mother would tell her years ago when she was but a child. She spoke of her connection to the forest as something noble and powerful yet now she seemed to resent her daughter. The novelty of her powers had worn away, leaving a burden behind.

Her mother's words echoed in her mind, "There once was a princess born of the powers of the ring, Nenya. She was born to rejuvenate the land of Lórien through the Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn. She would be one with the forest, protecting it from any harm. If she fell ill, Lórien would fall ill and if she perished the forest would also wither and die. The lives of both would rely on the White Ring and on one another. The princess could never leave the forest as the cruel beings of Middle Earth would harm her in order to reveal the powers she possessed. If she left the forest, the separation between the girl and the forest might kill both of them. The elven princess would bear the name Galadhwen meaning Tree Maiden or Golden Tree. Her life lay in the forest and the forest lay in her."

Galadhwen loved to hear her mother tell her stories of the elven princess. When she was a young child she thought that she was merely named after the elven princess, as she grew older she learnt the truth in the tale. She had once asked to visit Rivendell with her parents but had been told that she could not leave the forest with them. The time her mother and father had been absent she discovered her connection to the forest around her. She could almost communicate with it and feel the trees were in her inner being. They would comfort her when she was malcontent and she them when they were being mistreated. Over the years the connection only grew stronger until she was more reliant on the woods than on her own kin. She often doubted whether others knew of her existence outside of Lórien.

Dismissing the thoughts from her mind, Galadhwen decided to clear her head. She needed a viewing with her parents as an idea had suddenly come to her. She followed the long path amid her beloved trees, delighting in the sun shining through the leafy rooftop. The winter had been harsh and the sun scarce but now everything was being born anew. That was why the trees never lost their leaves in winter as other plants did, Galadhwen kept them alive until spring came. She had no knowledge of the usual cycles of tress and assumed that they kept their leaves all year round, never thinking of the possibility that they could be barren for a season.

She soon reached the centre of Calas Galadhon and found one of the guards barring the entrance to her parent's dwellings.

"Good morning." Galadhwen greeted the guard flattering him with a beautiful, fake smile.

"Good morning, m'lady. How can I help you this fine day?" the guard replied, easily entranced by her beauty.

"I was wondering whether you would grant me a viewing with my parents. I understand they are preoccupied but it is of the utmost important and I would be eternally grateful to you."

"Unexpected guests are unwelcome here, m'lady," this caused Galadhwen to pout, silently pleading with the officer, "but I suppose you can be excused from the rule. You are their daughter after all."

Galadhwen beamed at the guard, the smile lighting her whole face. "Thank you a hundred fold, my kind sir. I will not forget your generous deed here today. If you are ever in need of anything, come to me and I will return this gracious favour of yours."

"The pleasure is mine, m'lady."

With that Galadhwen entered the luxurious living chambers of her parents. She easily found them both, gaining a raised eyebrow form Celeborn and a disapproving stare from Galadriel upon her entering.

"Mother, father, may I ask you something?" Galadhwen inquired. She began to rock on her heels, chew on her lip and widen her eyes, trying to look as young as possible. This had often worked on her parents in the past but they had grown accustomed to it over time.

"What is the matter, dear?" Celeborn rumbled knowing what was to come upon seeing his daughter's demeanour.

"I have full understanding of the situation and it's circumstances but," here she stopped, summoning all the courage she had ever possessed and drawing a long, deep breath, "may I be give permission to leave the woods, if only for a short while? I want to view the world beyond my forest. The trees do not mind me going for less than a week."

"Child, you have been told time and time again. You can never leave the forest. It is for the good of Middle Earth that you remain here." Galadriel sighed. She did not know how to best deal with her daughter as the situation held perilous potential.

"The trees do not care though, mother. They believe I should be allowed to go. I can have the whole of the Guard escort me, if necessary. I just would like to have one chance to be normal. Is that too much of a burden to ask for?"

"It is, Galadhwen and you understand why. The world is close to war, yet you want to venture out and see it. It will not happen." Galadriel began before being interrupted by Celeborn.

"Why is it important to you that you leave the forest? What will you gain from the experience?" Celeborn questioned his daughter.

"My freedom. It is something I have never been allowed to possess and seemingly never will." Galadhwen left her parents to reflect on her last statement realising her fate was set. She would never be allowed to leave the forest despite her best efforts and the trees' reassurance. She could never be free no matter what she did. She would be stuck to live her days as the tree maiden, forever protecting a world she had never laid eyes upon.