| Contents | Galadriel - Lady of Lóthlórien |
Bottom |
| Part II: Second and Third Ages - Eriador, Lórien, Belfalast and the War of The Rings | ||
|
~ Birth ~ Aman ~ Flight ~ Doriath ~ Lindon ~ ~ Eriador ~ Lórien ~Belfalas ~ Lórien ~ Departure ~ Celeborn ~ | ||
|
On escaping from the ruin of Beleriand, Galadriel and Celeborn did not remain long with Gil-Galad in Lindon, and having gathered a following of Noldor and Sindar exiles moved across the Ered Luin, settling for a time by Lake Nenuial, whence they ruled the wide realm of Eriador, also acknowledged as Lord and Lady of The Eldar by the wandering companies of Nandorin elves there. It was a near-empty land, with scattered settlements of Elves and Men, the latter mostly relatives who had not crossed into Beleriand of the Three Tribes of Men who did and became Elf-friends. It proved to be the setting for their longest period of peace yet, disturbed when the signs of an evil presence to the east caused them to move in SA 700 to the province of Eregion. It was during this period that some legends say they had a son, Amroth; he was not their son, though doubtless he and his father, Amdir, were among their followers. But at about this time they did have a daughter, Celebrían. Eregion also became the base of Celebrimbor, who took the title Lord of Eregion when he began the building of Ost-in-Edhil, close by the Misty Mountains and the Dwarf-Hall of Hadhodrond, in 750. Clearly Galadriel struck an accord with the estranged son of Curufinwë, whereby they were acknowledged as Lord and Lady of Eriador (including Eregion), but his title and rule in Ost-in-Edhil were undisputed. They must have lived in one of its lesser towns, maybe Tharbad on the Gwathló, on Eregion's borders. For in about 900 Galadriel met Tar-Aldarion (the Númenórean navigator-King and friend of Gil-Galad) there when he sailed up-river, an encounter which would not have been recorded unless she was ruler of Eriador. Galadriel - if not Celeborn - would have taken an interest in Celebrimbor's colony of single-minded Gwaith-i-Mírdain, the Company of Jewel-Smiths. Passing through Moria, she discovered Lórinand and the Nandorin elves living in the Vale of Anduin. Doubtless she learned too of the Redhorn Gate and other High Passes to the north as alternative routes through the Misty Mountains. At this time she was merely a visitor, but some of the Sindarin exiles who also crossed the mountains settled in this pleasant land among their kin, whose influence extended across the Anduin into Greenwood The Great. Among them were Oropher (who crossed the Anduin), and Amdir (who stayed in Lórinand); both became Sindarin kings of the Silvan-Elves. (See the Amroth Legacy). But Sauron was on the move again, and having established himself in Mordor and begun the building of Barad-dûr in c 1000 came west, posing as the friendly Annatar, Lord of Gifts. He was rejected outright by Gil-Galad and refused admittance to Lindon. Galadriel likewise saw through him, but was unable to impose a similar ban, almost certainly because she could not interfere in Celebrimbor's territory, upon which he concentrated. By about 1350 Sauron had so beguiled the Noldorin smiths that they turned against Galadriel and Celeborn. Galadriel simply moved to Lórinand with Celebrían. This was the first of her several sojourns in the Golden Wood, and though she assumed ruling power it was temporary. No doubt Amdir, the King, was happy to relinquish responsibility to his former ruler in Eriador for organising the defence of his country against such an awesome power. Lórinand was in need of a tactician. The mound which became Cerin Amroth was pleasant to live on, but no stronghold. It seems probable Galadriel began both the building of Caras Galadhon and the muster and training of elves with little experience of warfare. Celeborn was left in Eregion, allegedly because he would not enter Hadhodrond, but in practical terms to keep the eastern borders of Eriador as secure as he might, regardless of Celebrimbor's typically Noldor disdain for him. In Hollin in the century and a half after SA 1500 the forging of the Nine and Seven Rings of Power proceeded in secret, initially under Sauron's guidance and with Galadriel too removed to detect what was happening. Celebrimbor discovered that the benign Lord of Gifts was anything but after he himself made the final Three Rings and the existence of the One Ring (to make which Sauron had returned to Mordor) was revealed. At least he had the good sense to seek Galadriel's advice, and the Three were immediately removed from Eregion to Lórinand and Lindon and never wielded openly. Cirdan and Gil-galad, the holders of the Rings of Fire and Air were thus hampered, being unable to use the protective powers of the Elven Rings in the wars that were about to shatter the tranquillity of Middle-earth. And the power of the Ring of Water was not fully used until later. For whatever reason - lack of will on the part of the Noldor due to the powers within the Rings themselves, or maybe simple pride in their craft on the part of Celebrimbor's smiths - the Seven and Nine were not destroyed. The later bitterness of Elrond at Isildur's failure to cast The One Ring back into Orodruin, was perhaps forgetful. In SA 1695, alerted to the existence of the Three Rings and Celebrimbor's 'betrayal', Sauron invaded Eriador via Calenardhon (a route Galadriel later took steps to ensure was closed). Celeborn was first to join battle and proved himself a capable commander, managing to drive back the vanguard and join up with the force under Elrond sent from Lindon. But they could not hold long and were obliged to retreat, leaving Sauron to devastate Eregion, destroy Ost-in-Edhil, capture and kill Celebrimbor, and seize the Nine Rings and most of the Seven Rings. He then turned on Elrond and Celeborn, who were saved by a joint force of Dwarves and Elves from Lórinand. Although they were forced back into Khazad-dûm and its Gate safely closed, Sauron had made a tactical error in thinking Galadriel was neutralised, as this unusual alliance can only have been her doing and it bought precious time. It also demonstrated her ability to inspire different races and cultures to collaborate for the common good. In the second year of the campaign Elrond led the surviving Elven forces to the valley of Imladris, to which many other Elves of Eriador fled from the invading orcs. Gil-Galad, besieged in Lindon, was saved at the eleventh hour by a fleet of Númenórean warriors, landing in 1700 at Mithlond and Lond Daer; the marauding Orcs were routed at the battles of Sarn Ford and Tharbad, the siege of Imladris was raised and Sauron hounded out of Eriador. Once the rumours of victory were confirmed, Galadriel left Lórinand and rejoined Celeborn in Imladris, where she took part in a Council of The Wise. This decided that Imladris should be the main eastward Elven stronghold, and Elrond was appointed vice-regent of Eriador, thus relieving Celeborn and Galadriel for other duties. Although the effect of the Ring of Water upon Galadriel had been to arouse a strong longing for the sea, they remained guests of Elrond for some time, possibly until it became evident that the maritime power of Númenor had made safe the shore-lands closer to Mordor. During this visit Elrond fell in love with Celebrían, but did not declare his devotion. It was to be well over 1500 years and a new Age before they did marry ! When Galadriel and Celeborn did leave Imladris, it was to take up residence yet again in an advance post, this time in Belfalas. Galadriel was said to have felt it her duty to stay in Middle-earth while the threat from Sauron persisted, so her choice served two purposes: she was both by the sea, and better placed to monitor activity nearer Mordor. There was already a small Sindarin presence there, at Edellond. It was sparsely populated on their arrival, and although a number of Silvan Elves from Lórinand joined them, their number cannot have been great. Possibly it was this most southerly Elven outpost which attracted another group of settlers in the latter days of Númenor - Elendili fleeing persecution. They lived close by in what was to become Dor-en-Ernil, the Land of The Prince. Galadriel and Celeborn must have lived quietly, almost anonymously, keeping Nenya well concealed. Doubtless they remained in touch with Imladris, and Lórinand. The port offered swifter communications with Lindon and Gil-Galad than the overland route, certainly before the great highway from Gondor to Arnor was built. It is unlikely Galadriel used it herself, however, lest the temptation to continue sailing West became too great. Thus she passed out of history for a long while, as befitted the bearer of an Elven Ring so much closer to Barad-Dûr. And she watched while Númenor grew mighty and was corrupted, and reported the news brought by The Faithful who came to live nearby, and by the mariners who established the larger port at Pelargir. Her foresight must have saddened her with foreboding when Sauron allowed himself to be captured and taken to Armenelos, and at the arrival of the last ships ever from doomed Atalantë. After this long vigil, the century taken by the Exiles from Númenor to build the defences of their Kingdoms and for Sauron to muster forces to attack Gondor was swift in comparison. What role Galadriel and Celeborn played in the war of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men we know not, though Celeborn probably led a troop of Elves under the banner of Gil-Galad. Galadriel doubtless sent Celebrían to Imladris for safety, and may have withdrawn there in any case to brief the Alliance commanders on the strengths of the forces of the Southern Kingdom and the opposition. Her whereabouts following the levelling of Barad-Dûr are unclear. However, with Gil-Galad lost, the remaining High-Elves few in number, the Kings of Gondor apparently safe and able to guard the borders of Mordor, there was little clear need for Galadriel's southerly watch - she had fulfilled her duty in that respect. Celebrían's parents would of course have been in Imladris for her wedding to Elrond in 109 of the Third Age. It seems they returned to Belfalas, for Amroth, King of Lórinand, visited them there from time to time, during the 1900 years before the release of the Balrog in Moria, and they in turn paid two visits to his wooded realm. It was during one of these, maybe, that Galadriel planted the seeds of the great mallorn trees of Caras Galadhon. In 1981, when Amroth attempted to leave Middle-earth via Edellond, he found the Elven settlement abandoned and the last ship about to sail. He did not tell Nimrodel that Galadriel was there (which he would surely have done to reassure her), so they must have moved some time beforehand. Galadriel soon learned of the loss of Amroth, for she and Celeborn entered Lórien again - quite likely at the invitation of the leaderless Galadhrim - and were welcomed as the new Lord and Lady. The made it clear, however, that they came once more as temporary rulers who would depart when their presence was no longer needed and a new King could take the vacant throne. By the time of their return hopes raised by the victory of the Last Alliance had been dashed. Angmar, though destroyed, had itself caused the ruin of the Northern Kingdom, and orcs had spread into the Misty Mountains and White Mountains. The Dwarves of Moria had been forced to flee, and Gondor was continually threatened from the south and east. The defence of the west depended upon the defences of the Vale of Anduin and the plain of Calenhardhon. Aided by the power of Nenya Galadriel was able to emulate in some measure the Girdle of Melian and enhance the protection of Lórien, which soon became feared as the Dwimordene by most. Galadriel looked to the protection of her home, as well as the West. Oddly, she never discovered exactly what terror lurked in the Dwarf-Mines. And she rarely met Fangorn, an understanding with whom might have helped secure her southern border. Perhaps she believed the brooding, ancient forest was sufficient defence against enemies who might dare try to pass through, and that Treebeard would not or could not undertake any formal alliance, even with the Galadhrim. Lothlórien became the base from which activity across the Anduin at Dol Guldur could best be observed, before, during and after the four centuries of the Watchful Peace (2063-2460). At its end Galadriel called the White Council, hoping that with Gandalf as its Head it might become an effective instrument in countering The Shadow. But The Wise heeded her not, and under Saruman it was near fatally ineffectual. This was certainly true for Celebrían, wounded by orcs in the Redhorn Pass in 2509; a year later Galadriel and Celeborn bade farewell to their only child. In the same year Gondor was again attacked and near-overrun. This time Galadriel was able to help, casting a protective veil across the Anduin to ensure the Eorlingas reached the Field of Celebrant unhindered by Dol Guldur. In so doing she also ensured that the plain north of the White Mountains, Eriador's southern entrance, was better guarded than in the Second Age. But her influence was limited, and treachery within the ranks of The Wise by no less than the leader of the Istari she could do little about, hence her warning to the Ring Company: " Yet hope remains while all the Company is true. " followed by a mental interrogation to both satisfy herself there were no traitors in the Fellowship and reinforce her message. It was a testament to Galadriel's ability to suppress the frustrations she had born and her determination to fulfil her role to the end. As the War of The Ring reached its climax, Galadriel's purpose in Middle-earth came to a close. Victory or defeat in the Quest of The Ring were almost meaningless, for either way her part-fated, part-chosen role must end. She achieved her full potential whilst able to wield her Ring, but was only able to use it openly for a brief period to defend Lórien from assault in the final battles of the War, when Sauron's attention was focussed elsewhere and no reason to conceal it remained. Her last act was the cleansing of Mirkwood; it must have pleased her greatly, for that was the purpose of the Elven Rings, though their powers were rapidly waning. Thereafter she could only, as she told Frodo, diminish, though diminish was a relative term. Frodo then saw her as a laughing, slender elf-woman, whose gentle voice was soft and sad. Galadriel could not match the powers of the Istari, but her outward appearance and behaviour ever concealed the wisest Elf in Middle-earth, whose abiding legacy lay in her continued deception of Sauron. From long before her decision to sail to Avallónë (the capital and port of the isle of Tol Eressëa, to which ships bearing Elves leaving Middle-earth might come), there was no question of Galadriel not having kept faith with the Valar, albeit on her terms. How she knew she had earned her place in The West she did not vouchsafe; possibly it was her own "test" she passed? Had she not refrained from using the Elven Ring as openly as she must have been tempted to, and foregone her ambitions, the Fourth Age would have begun much sooner, and very differently. Celeborn remains something of an enigma. He was not included in the Councils of the Wise, despite being an Elf-Lord and Galadriel's husband. Although Galadriel deferred to him, Gandalf respected him, and the Galadhrim regarded him as their Lord, he appears to have been excluded from the circles of the Tareldar by the Noldor. Whether this was due to personal choice is untold, but in this respect it is worth comparing his status with that of two other notable Umanyar: Cirdan and Elrond. It seems unlikely that Celeborn simply opted out, or that (like many of the Sindar of Doriath) he continued to harbour a dislike of the Noldor, having not simply married one, but one of the most prominent. But his leadership qualities are never doubted, and there is no hint of antipathy between Celeborn and Elrond. Despite the long Ages spent with Galadriel, Celeborn retained his own identity. Having left matters in the Vale of Anduin settled in the hands of Thranduil (and no doubt a new ruler of Lórien), he left as promised. With Elrond's departure Imladris needed a new Lord, and Celeborn's experience made him the obvious choice. Celeborn resisted the call of the gulls, perhaps feeling the need to prove himself too, free of the shadow of the Noldor. Elven Middle-earth would henceforth be Silvan. |
 Treebeard to Galadriel & Celeborn (Many Partings)  |
| ~ Part I ~ ~ Birth ~ Aman ~ Flight ~ Doriath ~ Lindon ~ ~ Eriador ~ Lórien ~Belfalas ~ Lórien ~ Departure ~ Celeborn ~ ~ The Amroth Legacy ~ LoreMaster Elrond ~ |
| Top | Galadriel - Lady of Lóthlórien - Part II | Contents |