rkness fell。 The sea rose and raged in a greatstorm。 Then he saw against the Sun； sinking blood…red into a wrack of clouds；
the black outline of a tall ship with torn sails riding up out of the West。
Then a wide river flowing through a populous city。 Then a white fortress withseven towers。 And then again a ship with black sails； but now it was morningagain； and the water rippled with light； and a banner bearing the emblem of awhite tree shone in the sun。 A smoke as of fire and battle arose； and againthe sun went down in a burning red that faded into a grey mist； and into themist a small ship passed away； twinkling with lights。 It vanished； and Frodosighed and prepared to draw away。
But suddenly the Mirror went altogether dark； as dark as if a hole hadopened in the world of sight； and Frodo looked into emptiness。 In the blackabyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew。 until it filled nearly allthe Mirror。 So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted； unable to cry out orto withdraw his gaze。 The Eye was rimmed with fire； but was itself glazed；
yellow as a cat's； watchful and intent； and the black slit of its pupil openedon a pit； a window into nothing。
Then the Eye began to rove； searching this way and that； and Frodo knewwith certainty and horror that among the many things that it sought he himselfwas one。 But he also knew that it could not see him…not yet； not unless hewilled it。 The Ring that hung upon its chain about his neck grew heavy；
heavier than a great stone； and his head was dragged downwards。 The Mirrorseemed to be growing hot and curls of steam were rising from the water。 He was
slipping forward。
‘Do not touch the water！' said the Lady Galadriel softly。 The visionfaded； and Frodo found that he was looking at the cool stars twinkling in thesilver basin。 He stepped back shaking all over and looked at the Lady。
‘I know what it was that you last saw；' she said； ‘for that is also in mymind。 Do not be afraid！ But do not think that only by singing amid the trees；
nor even by the slender arrows of elven…bows； is this land of Lothlórienmaintained and defended against its Enemy。 I say to you； Frodo； that even as Ispeak to you； I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind； or all of his mindthat concerns the Elves。 And he gropes ever to see me and my thought。 Butstill the door is closed！ '
She lifted up her white arms； and spread out her hands towards the Eastin a gesture of rejection and denial。 E。rendil； the Evening Star； most belovedof the Elves； shone clear above。 So bright was it that the figure of theElven…lady cast a dim shadow on the ground。 Its rays glanced upon a ring abouther finger； it glittered like polished gold overlaid with silver light； and awhite stone in it twinkled as if the Even…star had e down to rest upon herhand。 Frodo gazed at the ring with awe； for suddenly it seemed to him that heunderstood。
‘Yes；' she said； divining his thought； ‘it is not permitted to speak ofit； and Elrond could not do so。 But it cannot be hidden from the Ring…bearer；
and one who has seen the Eye。 Verily it is in the land of Lórien upon thefinger of Galadriel that one of the Three remains。 This is Nenya； the Ring ofAdamant； and I am its keeper。
‘He suspects； but he does not know – not yet。 Do you not see nowwherefore your ing is to us as the footstep of Doom？ For if you fail； thenwe are laid bare to the Enemy。 Yet if you succeed； then our power isdiminished； and Lothlórien will fade； and the tides of Time will sweep itaway。 We must depart into the West； or dwindle to a rustic folk of dell andcave； slowly to forget and to be forgotten。'
Frodo bent his head。 ‘And what do you wish？ ' he said at last。
‘That what should be shall be；' she answered。 ‘The love of the Elves fortheir land and their works is deeper than the deeps of the Sea； and theirregret is undying and cannot ever wholly be assuaged。 Yet they will cast allaway rather than submit to Sauron： for they know him now。 For the fate ofLothlórien you are not answerable but only for the doing of your own task。 YetI could wish； were it of any avail； that the One Ring had never been wrought；
or had remained for ever lost。'
'You are wise and fearless and fair； Lady Galadriel；' said Frodo。 ‘I willgive you the One Ring； if you ask for it。 It is too great a matter for me。'
Galadriel laughed with a sudden clear laugh。 ‘Wise the Lady Galadriel maybe；' she said； ‘yet here she has met her match in courtesy。 Gently are yourevenged for my testing of your heart at our first meeting。 You begin to seewith a keen eye。 I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask whatyou offer。 For many long years I had pondered what I might do； should theGreat Ring e into my hands； and behold！ it was brought within my grasp。 Theevil that was devised long ago works on in many ways； whether Sauron himselfstands or falls。 Would not that have been a noble deed to set to the credit of
his Ring； if I had taken it by force or fear from my guest？
‘And now at last it es。 You will give me the Ring freely！ In place ofthe Dark Lord you will set up a Queen。 And I shall not be dark； but beautifuland terrible as the Morning and the Night！ Fair as the Sea and the Sun and theSnow upon the Mountain！ Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning！ Stronger thanthe foundations of the earth。 All shall love me and despair！ '
She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued agreat light that illuminated her alone and left all else dark。 She stoodbefore Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement； and beautiful beyondenduring； terrible and worshipful。 Then she let her hand fall； and the lightfaded； and suddenly she laughed again； and lo！ she was shrunken： a slenderelf…woman； clad in simple white； whose gentle voice was soft and sad。
'I pass the test；' she said。 ‘I will diminish； and go into the West andremain Galadriel。'
They stood for a long while in silence。 At length the Lady spoke again。
‘Let us return！ ' she said。 ‘In the morning you must depart for now we havechosen； and the tides of fate are flowing。'
‘I would ask one thing before we go；' said Frodo； ‘a thing which I oftenmeant to ask Gandalf in Rivendell。 I am permitted to wear the One Ring： whycannot I see all the others and know the thoughts of those that wear them？ '
‘You have not tried；' she said。 ‘Only thrice have you set the Ring uponyour finger since you knew what you possessed。 Do not try！ It would destroyyou。 Did not Gandalf tell you that the rings give power according to themeasure of each possessor？ Before you could use that power you would need tobee far stronger； and to train your will to the domination of others。 Yeteven so； as Ring…bearer and as one that has borne it on finger and seen thatwhich is hidden； your sight is grown keener。 You have perceived my thoughtmore clearly than many that are accounted wise。 You saw the Eye of him thatholds the Seven and the Nine。 And did you not see and recognize the ring uponmy finger？ Did you see my ring？ ' she asked turning again to Sam。
'No； Lady；' he answered。 ‘To tell you the truth； I wondered what you weretalking about。 I saw a star through your finger。 But if you'll pardon myspeaking out； I think my master was right。 I wish you'd take his Ring。 You'dput things to rights。 You'd stop them digging up the gaffer and turning himadrift。 You'd make some folk pay for their dirty work。'
‘I would；' she said。 ‘That is how it would begin。 But it would not stopwith that； alas！ We will not speak more of it。 Let us go！'
_Chapter 8_
Farewell to Lórien
That night the pany was again summoned to the chamber of Celeborn； andthere the Lord and Lady greeted them with fair words。 At length Celeborn spokeof their departure。
‘Now is the time；' he said； ‘when those who wish to continue the Questmust harden their hearts to leave this land。 Those who no longer wish to goforward may remain here； for a while。 But whether they stay or go； none can besure of peace。 For we are e now to the edge of doom。 Here those who wishmay await the oning of the hour till either the ways of the world lie openagain。 or we summon them to the last need of Lórien。 Then they may return totheir own lands； or else go to the long home of those that fall in battle。'
There was a silence。 ‘They all resolved to go forward；' said Galadriellooking in their eyes。
‘As for me；' said Boromir； ‘my way home lies onward and not back。'
‘That is true；' said Celeborn； ‘but is all this pany going with you toMinas Tirith？ '
‘We have not decided our course；' said Aragorn。 'Beyond Lothlórien I donot know what Gandalf intended to do。 Indeed I do not think that even he had
any clear purpose。'
‘Maybe not；' said Celeborn； ‘yet when you leave this land； you can nolonger forget the Great River。 As some of you know well； it cannot be crossedby travellers with baggage between Lórien and Gondor； save by boat。 And arenot the bridges of Osgiliath broken down and all the landings held now by the
Enemy？
‘On which side will you journey？ The way to Minas Tirith lies upon thisside； upon the west； but the straight road of the Quest lies east of theRiver； upon the darker shore。 Which shore will you now take？ '
‘If my advice is heeded； it will be the western shore； and the way toMinas Tirith；' answered Boromir。 ‘But I am not the leader of the pany。' Theothers said nothing； and Aragorn looked doubtful and troubled。
‘I see that you do not yet know what to do；' said Celeborn。 ‘It is not my
part to choose for you； but I will help you as I may。 There are some among youwho can handle boats： Legolas； whose folk know the swift Forest River； andBoromir of Gondor； and Aragorn the traveller。'
‘And one Hobbit！ ' cried Merry。 ‘Not all of us look on boats as wildhorses。 My people live by the banks of the Brandywine。'
‘That is well；' said Celeborn。 ‘Then I will furnish your pany withboats。 They must be small and light； for if you go far by water； there areplaces where you will be forced to carry them。 You will e to the rapids ofSarn Gebir； and maybe at last to the great falls of Rauros where the Riverthunders down from Nen Hithoel； and there are other perils。 Boats may makeyour journey less toilsome for a while。 Yet they will not give you counsel： inthe end you must leave them and the River； and turn west…or east。'
Aragorn thanked Celeborn many times。 The gift of boats forted himmuch； not least because there would now be no need to decide his course forsome days。 The others； too； looked more hopeful。 Whatever perils lay ahead； itseemed better to float down the broad tide of Anduin to meet them than to plodforward with bent backs。 Only Sam was doubtful： he at any rate still thoughtboats as bad as wild horses； or worse； and not all the dangers that he hadsurvived made him think better of them。
‘All shall be prepared for you and await you at the haven before noontomorrow；' said Celeborn。 'I will send my people to you in the morning to helpyou make ready for the journey。 Now we will wish you all a fair night anduntroubled sleep。'
'Good night； my friends！ ' said Galadriel。 'Sleep in peace！ Do nottrouble your hearts overmuch with thought of the road tonight。 Maybe the pathsthat you each shall tread are already laid before your feet； though you do notsee them。 Good night！ '
The pany now took their leav