The Mirror of Galadriel

Summary

Each member is greeted personally by Lady Galadriel, who is lovely to behold. Her husband the Lord Celeborn is also handsome. The Lord and Lady are appraised of what the company has been doing till now and they are truly sorrowful when they hear of GandalfÂ’s fate.

The adventurers stay for many days, resting and healing themselves as well as mourning Gandalf. One day Lady Galadriel shows Frodo and Sam her mirror, which is a basin of water from a nearby stream. When she breathes on the water, Sam and Frodo see scenes from the past and the future. When Sam looks into it, he sees his home has been dug up and his father is alone; he wants to go home. When Frodo looks into the mirror he sees a single eye which is looking for something. The Ring around his neck gets heavier and heavier, but just as he is about to slip forward the lady makes the vision vanish.

Frodo offers his Ring to her when he realizes that she wears one of the three lesser rings, but she tells him that if she takes it se will be corrupted, as will anyone else. She refuses his offer and hopes that Frodo succeeds in his mission, though that would mean the discovery of the elves that she has managed to keep hidden from Sauron by use of her rings.

Galadriel knows what the others discussed at the council meeting: if one wants to gain something dear, one might have to sacrifice. The greater good of destroying the ring may very well mean the individual and personal sacrifices of her and her beloved elves.

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