Haldir continued to lead the Fellowship onward and as night fell they reached their destination: Caras Galadhon, the city of the Galadhirn, where lived the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. Celeborn and Galadriel where eager to speak to the Nine Walkers. They journeyed for sometime around the fosse (I had to look that one up; Tolkien often expands my vocabulary) for Caras Galadhon was a large city. When they entered in they saw no one but heard many. The voices were coming from above as the Galadhrim lived in the trees. They eventually came upon a lawn where a fountain was and Haldir informed them they had reached the dwelling place of Celeborn and Galadriel. Frodo and Legolas went with Haldir and the others were told to come as they could for it was a long climb. As they went higher Frodo saw many flets and talans some large enough to make a great hall for Men.
At last they came to Celeborn and Galadriel. "Very tall they were, and the Lady no less tall than the Lord; and they were grave and beautiful" (p. 369, The Fellowship of the Ring). Celebor had hair of silver and Galadriel hair of gold and no sign of age was upon them save the ancient pools of memory that resided in their eyes. Frodo was bade to sit by Celeborn while the Fellowship arrived and each was greeted by name. For Aragorn it had been 38 years since he had last set foot in Lothlorien. Celeborn even greeted Gimli and hoped this would be start of renewed friendship with the Dwarves (a big step for Celeborn). They noted that only eight appeared and Elrond's messengers had said Nine Walkers had set out. Galadriel saw that Gandalf the Grey was missing. She questioned why he was not with them for she had desired to speak with him again.
Aragorn told the Lord and Lady that Gandalf fell in Moria. They were in disbelief and asked for the full tale of what befell the wizard. Aragorn spoke of their attempt to cross Caradhras, journey through Moria, fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul, and at last Gandalf's last stand on the bridge of Khazad-dum where he fell to shadow and flame. "'It was a Balrog of Morgoth,' said Legolas, 'of all elf-banes the most deadly, save the One who sits in the Dark Tower'" (p. 371, The Fellowship of the Ring). Gimli too was filled with dread naming the Balrog Durin's Bane. Celeborn was angered knowing the Dwarves had awoken a Balrog and regretting his decision the let Gimli cross his borders. He wondered aloud why Gandalf fell from wisdom and to folly.
"'He would be rash indeed that said that thing,' said Galadriel gravely. 'Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life. Those that followed him knew not his mind and cannot report his full purpose. But however it may be with the guide, the followers are blameless. Do not repent of your welcome to the Dwarf. If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlorien, who of the Galadhirm, even Celeborn the Wise, would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home, though it had become an abode of dragons? Dark is the water of Kheled-zaram, and cold are the springs of Kibil-nala, and fair were the many-pillared halls of Khazad-dum in Elder Days before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone.' She looked upon Gimli, who sat glowering and sad, and she smiled. And the Dwarf, hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue, looked up and met her eyes; and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding" (p. 371, The Fellowship of the Ring). This past Sunday at my church the whole topic was about extending grace and love to others and this is a perfect example.
After some silence Celeborn again apologized to Gimli for speaking out of the grief in his heart. He promised to aid each member of the Fellowship given the danger of their quest. The Quest of Frodo was known to Galadriel and Celeborn though they did not speak of it openly. Galadriel noted that Celeborn was among the wisest in Middle-earth and the giver of great gifts. "'He has dwelt in the West since the days of dawn, and I have dwelt with him years uncounted; ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains, and together through the ages of the world we have fought the long defeat'" (p. 372, The Fellowship of the Ring). What a poignant saying: fighting the long defeat. In Christianity we talk of fighting the good fight of faith. At times in my life can feel like a long defeat. But I hold on to the hope of victory. Still, I would think that all of us at times, in a tough season of life or some seemingly never-ending difficulty feel that we are simply fighting the long defeat.
Galadriel continued: ''It was I that summoned the first White Council. And if my designs had not gone amiss, it would have been governed by Gandalf the Grey, and then mayhap, things would have gone otherwise. But even now there is hope left...your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true'" (p. 372, The Fellowship of the Ring). She held each member if the Fellowship in her gaze; only Aragorn and Legolas could long endure. After a time she released them and bid them to find rest. They departed feeling weary as if long interrogated though very few words were spoken. They slept on the ground (to the relief of the hobbits) and spoke of what had just happened. Pippin was giving Sam a hard time about being the quickest to look away from Galadriel. "'If you want to know, I felt as if I hadn't got nothing on, and I didn't like it. She seemed to be looking inside me and asking me what I would do if she gave me the chance of flying back home to the Shire to a nice little hole--with a bit of garden of my own'" (p. 373, The Fellowship of the Ring). It seemed Sam was not alone.
Each member of the Fellowship revealed something similar: the choice of shadow and fear if they continued on or to leave the Quest, and not just leave, but go home to something he greatly desired. Most did not reveal the great desire as Sam did but they realized they had been tested. Boromir, in particular, seemed ill at ease with what had happened. He would say only that Men of Minis Tirith are true the their word and he then pressed Frodo, for the Ring-bearer had remained silent. Frodo would not reveal what she had placed in his mind. Boromir openly distrusted Galadriel. Aragron rebuked him stating again that no evil resided in Lothlorien unless someone brought evil with them.
Middle-earth timeline: Third Age, 3019, January
Today's reading comes from: The Fellowship of the Ring, pages 367-373
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