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st； but growing larger and clearer as it approached。 Suddenly Frodorealized that it reminded him of Gandalf。 He almost called aloud the wizard's
name； and then he saw that the figure was clothed not in grey but in white； ina white that shone faintly in the dusk； and in its hand there was a whitestaff。 The head was so bowed that he could see no face； and presently thefigure turned aside round a bend in the road and went out of the Mirror'sview。 Doubt came into Frodo's mind： was this a vision of Gandalf on one of his
many lonely journeys long ago； or was it Saruman？
The vision now changed。 Brief and small but very vivid he caught aglimpse of Bilbo walking restlessly about his room。 The table was litteredwith disordered papers； rain was beating on the windows。
Then there was a pause； and after it many swift scenes followed thatFrodo in some way knew to be parts of a great history in which he had beeinvolved。 The mist cleared and he saw a sight which he had never seen beforebut knew at once： the Sea。 Darkness 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