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'We have drunk the cup of parting；' she said； ‘and the shadows fallbetween us。 But before you go； I have brought in my ship gifts which the Lordand Lady of the Galadhrim now offer you in memory of Lothlórien。' Then shecalled to each in turn。
‘Here is the gift of Celeborn and Galadriel to the leader of yourpany；' she said to Aragorn； and she gave him a sheath that had been made tofit his sword。 It was overlaid with a tracery of flowers and leaves wrought ofsilver and gold； and on it were set in elven runes formed of many gems thename Andúril and the lineage of the sword。
‘The blade that is drawn from this sheath shall not be stained or broken
even in defeat；' she said。 ‘But is there aught else that you desire of me atour parting？ For darkness will flow between us； and it may be that we shallnot meet again； unless it be far hence upon a road that has no returning。'
And Aragorn answered： 'Lady； you know all my desire； and long held inkeeping the only treasure that I seek。 Yet it is not yours to give me； even ifyou would； and only through darkness shall I e to it。'
‘Yet maybe this will lighten your heart；' said Galadriel； ‘for it wasleft in my care to be given to you； should you pass through this land。' Thenshe lifted from her lap a great stone of a clear green； set in a silver broochthat was wrought in the likeness of an eagle with outspread wings； and as sheheld it up the gem flashed like the sun shining through the leaves of spring。
‘This stone I gave to Celebrían my daughter； and she to hers； and now it esto you as a token of hope。 In this hour take the name that was foretold foryou； Elessar； the Elfstone of the house of Elendil！ '
Then Aragorn took the stone and pinned the brooch upon his breast； andthose who saw him wondered； for they had not marked before how tall and kinglyhe stood； and it seemed to them that many years of toil had fallen from hisshoulders。 ‘For the gifts that you have given me I thank you；' he said； 'OLady of Lórien of whom were sprung Celebrían and Arwen Evenstar。 What praisecould I say more？ '
The Lady bowed her head； and she turned then to Boromir； and to him shegave a belt of gold； and to Merry and Pippin she gave small silver belts； eachwith a clasp wrought like a golden flower。 To Legolas she gave a bow such asthe Galadhrim used； longer and stouter than the bows of Mirkwood； and strungwith a string of elf…hair。 With it went a quiver of arrows。
‘For you little gardener and lover of trees；' she said to Sam； ‘I have
only a small gift。' She put into his hand a little box of plain grey wood；
unadorned save for a single silver rune upon the lid。 ‘Here is set G forGaladriel；' she said； ‘but also it may stand for garden in your tongue。 Inthis box there is earth from my orchard； and such blessing as Galadriel hasstill to bestow is upon it。 It will not keep you on your road； nor defend youagainst any peril； but if you keep it and see your home again at last； thenperhaps it may reward you。 Though you should find all barren and laid waste；
there will be few gardens in Middle…earth that will bloom like your garden； ifyou sprinkle this earth there。 Then you may remember Galadriel； and catch aglimpse far off of Lórien； that you have seen only in our winter。 For ourspring and our summer are gone by； and they will never be seen on earth againsave in memory。'
Sam went red to the ears and muttered something inaudible； as he clutchedthe box and bowed as well as he could。
‘And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves？ ' said Galadriel turningto Gimli。
‘None； Lady；' answered Gimli。 ‘It is enough for me to have seen the Ladyof the Galadhrim； and to have heard her gentle words。'
‘Hear all ye Elves！ ' she cried to those about her。 ‘Let none say againthat Dwarves are grasping and ungracious！ Yet surely； Gimli son of Glóin； youdesire something that I could give？ Name it； I bid you！ You shall not be theonly guest without a gift。'
‘There is nothing； Lady Galadriel；' said Gimli； bowing low andstammering。 ‘Nothing； unless it might be – unless it is permitted to ask； nay；
to name a single strand of your hair； which surpasses the gold of the earth asthe stars surpass the gems of the mine。 I do not ask for such a gift。 But youmanded me to name my desire。'
The Elves stirred and murmured with astonishment； and Celeborn gazed atthe Dwarf in wonder； but the Lady smiled。 'It is said that the skill of theDwarves is in their hands rather than in their tongues ' she said； ‘yet thatis not true of Gimli。 For none have ever made to me a request so bold and yetso courteous。 And how shall I refuse； since I manded him to speak？ But tellme； what would you do with such a gift？ '
‘Treasure it； Lady；' he answered； ‘in memory of your words to me at ourfirst meeting。 And if ever I return to the smithies of my home； it shall beset in imperishable crystal to be an heirloom of my house； and a pledge ofgood will between the Mountain and the Wood until the end of days。'
Then the Lady unbraided one of her long tresses； and cut off three goldenhairs； and laid them in Gimli's hand。 ‘These words shall go with the gift；'
she said。 ‘I do not foretell； for all foretelling is now vain： on the one handlies darkness； and on the other only hope。 But if hope should not fail； then Isay to you； Gimli son of Glóin； that your hands shall flow with gold； and yetover you gold shall have no dominion。
‘And you； Ring…bearer；' she said； turning to Frodo。 ‘I e to you lastwho are not last in my thoughts。 For you I have prepared this。' She held up asmall crystal phial： it glittered as she moved it； and rays of white lightsprang from her hand。 'In this phial；' she said； ‘is caught the light ofE。rendil's star； set amid the waters of my fountain。 It will shine stillbrighter when night is about you。 May it be a light to you in dark places；
when all other lights go out。 Remember Galadriel and her Mirror！ '
Frodo took the phial； and for a moment as it shone between them； he sawher again standing like a queen； great and beautiful； but no longer terrible。
He bowed； but found no words to say。
Now the Lady arose； and Celeborn led them back to the hythe。 A yellownoon lay on the green land of the Tongue； and the water glittered with silver。
All at last was made ready。 The pany took their places in the boats asbefore。 Crying farewell； the Elves of Lórien with long grey poles thrust themout into the flowing stream； and the rippling waters bore them slowly away。
The travellers sat still without moving or speaking。 On the green bank near tothe very point of the Tongue the Lady Galadriel stood alone and silent。 As
they passed her they turned and their eyes watched her slowly floating awayfrom them。 For so it seemed to them： Lórien was slipping backward； like abright ship masted with enchanted trees； sailing on to forgotten shores； whilethey sat helpless upon the margin of the grey and leafless world。
Even as they gazed； the Silverlode passed out into the currents of theGreat River； and their boats turned and began to speed southwards。 Soon thewhite form of the Lady was small and distant。 She shone like a window of glassupon a far hill in the westering sun； or as a remote lake seen from amountain： a crystal fallen in th