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about her finger； it glittered like polished gold overlaid with silver light； and a white stone in it twinkled as if the Even…star had e down to rest upon her hand。 Frodo gazed at the ring with awe； for suddenly it seemed to him that he understood。
‘Yes；' she said； divining his thought； ‘it is not permitted to speak of it； 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 the finger of Galadriel that one of the Three remains。 This is Nenya； the Ring of Adamant； and I am its keeper。
‘He suspects； but he does not know … not yet。 Do you not see now wherefore your ing is to us as the footstep of Doom？ For if you fail； then we are laid bare to the Enemy。 Yet if you succeed； then our power is diminished； and Lothlórien will fade； and the tides of Time will sweep it away。 We must depart into the West； or dwindle to a rustic folk of dell and cave； 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 for their land and their works is deeper than the deeps of the Sea； and their regret is undying and cannot ever wholly be assuaged。 Yet they will cast all away rather than submit to Sauron： for they know him now。 For the fate of Lothlórien you are not answerable but only for the doing of your own task。 Yet I 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 will give 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 may be；' she said； ‘yet here she has met her match in courtesy。 Gently are you revenged for my testing of your heart at our first meeting。 You begin to see with a keen eye。 I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask what you offer。 For many long years I had pondered what I might do； should the Great Ring e into my hands； and behold！ it was brought within my grasp。 The evil that was devised long ago works on in many ways； whether Sauron himself stands 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 of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen。 And I shall not be dark； but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night！ Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain！ Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning！ Stronger than the foundations of the earth。 All shall love me and despair！ '
She lifted up her hand and from the ring that she wore there issued a great light that illuminated her alone and left all else dark。 She stood before Frodo seeming now tall beyond measurement； and beautiful beyond enduring； terrible and worshipful。 Then she let her hand fall； and the light faded； and suddenly she laughed again； and lo！ she was shrunken： a slender elf…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 and remain 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 have chosen； and the tides of fate are flowing。'
‘I would ask one thing before we go；' said Frodo； ‘a thing which I often meant to ask Gandalf in Rivendell。 I am permitted to wear the One Ring： why cannot 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 upon your finger since you knew what you possessed。 Do not try！ It would destroy you。 Did not Gandalf tell you that the rings give power according to the measure of each possessor？ Before you could use that power you would need to bee far stronger； and to train your will to the domination of others。 Yet even so； as Ring…bearer and as one that has borne it on finger and seen that which is hidden； your sight is grown keener。 You have perceived my thought more clearly than many that are accounted wise。 You saw the Eye of him that holds the Seven and the Nine。 And did you not see and recognize the ring upon my 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 were talking about。 I saw a star through your finger。 But if you'll pardon my speaking out； I think my master was right。 I wish you'd take his Ring。 You'd put things to rights。 You'd stop them digging up the gaffer and turning him adrift。 You'd make some folk pay for their dirty work。'
‘I would；' she said。 ‘That is how it would begin。 But it would not stop with 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； and there the Lord and Lady greeted them with fair words。 At length Celeborn spoke of their departure。
‘Now is the time；' he said； ‘when those who wish to continue the Quest must harden their hearts to leave this land。 Those who no longer wish to go forward may remain here； for a while。 But whether they stay or go； none can be sure of peace。 For we are e now to the edge of doom。 Here those who wish may await the oning of the hour till either the ways of the world lie open again。 or we summon them to the last need of Lórien。 Then they may return to their 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 Galadriel looking 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 to Minas Tirith？ '
‘We have not decided our course；' said Aragorn。 'Beyond Lothlórien I do not 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 no longer forget the Great River。 As some of you know well； it cannot be crossed by travellers with baggage between Lórien and Gondor； save by boat。 And are not 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 this side； upon the west； but the straight road of the Quest lies east of the River； upon the darker shore。 Which shore will you now take？ '
‘If my advice is heeded； it will be the western shore； and the way to Minas Tirith；' answered Boromir。 ‘But I am not the leader of the pany。' The others 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 you who can handle boats： Legolas； whose folk know the swift Forest River； and Boromir of Gondor； and Aragorn the traveller。'
‘And one Hobbit！ ' cried Merry。 ‘Not all of us look on boats as wild horses。 My people live by the banks of the Brandywine。'
‘That is well；' said Celeborn。 ‘Then I will furnish your pany with boats。 They must be small and light； for if you go far by water； there are places where you will be forced to carry them。 You will e to the rapids of Sarn Gebir； and maybe at last to the great falls of Rauros where the River thunders down from Nen Hithoel； and there are other perils。 Boats may make your journey less toilsome for a while。 Yet they will not give you counsel： in the end you must leave them and the River； and turn west…or east。'
Aragorn thanked Celeborn many times。 The gift of boats forted him much； not least because there would now be no need to decide his course for some days。 The others； too； looked more hopeful。 Whatever perils lay ahead； it seemed better to float down the broad tide of Anduin to meet them than to plod forward with bent backs。 Only Sam was doubtful： he at any rate still thought boats as bad as wild horses； or worse； and not all the dangers that he had survived made him think better of them。
‘All shall be prepared for you and await you at the haven before noon tomorrow；' said Celeborn。 'I will send my people to you in the morning to help you make ready for the journey。 Now we will wish you all a fair night and untroubled sleep。'
'Good night； my friends！ ' said Galadriel。 'Sleep in peace！ Do not trouble your hearts overmuch with thought of the road tonight。 Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet； though you do not see them。 Good night！ '
The pany now took their leave and returned to their pavilion。 Legolas went with them； for this was to be their last night in Lothlórien； and in spite of the words of Galadriel they wished to take counsel together。
For a long time they debated what they should do； and how it would be best to attempt the fulfilling of their purpose with the Ring： but they came to no decision。 It was plain that most of them desired to go first to Minas Tirith； and to escape at least for a while from the terror of the Enemy。 They would have been willing to follow a leader over the River and into the shadow of Mordor； but Frodo spoke no word； and Aragorn was still divided in his mind。
His own plan； while Gandalf remained with them； had been to go with Boromir； and with his sword help to deliver Gondor。 For he believed that the message of the dreams was a summons； and that the hour had e at last when the heir of Elendil should e forth and strive with Sauron for the mastery。 But in Moria the burden of Gandalf had been laid on him； and he knew that he could not now forsake the Ring； if Frodo refused in the end to go with Boromir。 And yet what help could he or any of the pany give to Frodo； save to walk blindly with him into the darkness？
‘I shall go to Minas Tirith； alone if need be； for it is my duty；' said Boromir； and after that he was silent for a while； sitting with his eyes fixed on Frodo； as if he was trying to read the Halfling's thoughts。 At length he spoke again； softly； as if he was debating with himself。 ‘If you wish only to destroy the Ring；' he said； ‘then there is little use in war and weapons； and the Men of Minas Tirith cannot help。 But if you wish to destroy the armed might of the Dark Lord； then it is folly to go without force into his domain； and folly to throw away。' He paused suddenly； as if he had bee aware that he was speaking his thoughts aloud。 ‘It would be folly to throw lives away； I mean；' he ended。 ‘It is a choice between defending a strong place and walking openly into the arms of death。 At least； that is how I see it。'
Frodo caught something new and strange in Boromir's glance； and he looked hard at him。 Plainly Boromir's thought was different from his final words。 It would be folly to throw away： what？ The Ring of Power？ He had said something like this at the Council； but then he had accepted the correction of Elrond。 Frodo looked at Aragorn； but he seemed deep in his own thought and made no sign that he had heeded Boromir's words。 And so their debate ended。 Merry and Pippin were already asleep； and Sam was nodding。 The night was growing old。
In the morning； as they were beginning to pack their slender goods； Elves that could speak their tongue came to them and brought them many gifts of food and clothing for the journey。 The food was mostly in the form of very thin cakes； made of a meal that was baked a light brown on the outside； and inside was the colour of cream。 Gimli took up one of the cakes and looked at it with a doubtful eye。
‘Cram；' he said under his breath； as he broke off a crisp corner and nibbled at it。 His expression quickly changed； and he ate all the rest of the cake with relish。
‘No more； no more！' cried the Elves laughing。 ‘You have eaten enough already for a long day's march。'
‘I thought it was only a kind of cram； such as the Dale…men make for journeys in the wild；' said the Dwarf。
‘So it is；' they answered。 ‘But we call it lembas or waybread； and it is more strengthening than any food made by Men； and it is more pleasant than cram； by all accounts。'
‘I