The Mirror of Galadriel

The name Galadriel refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Galadriel (disambiguation).

The Fellowship of the Ring chapters
Book I A Long-expected Party The Shadow of the Past Three is Company A Short Cut to Mushrooms A Conspiracy Unmasked The Old Forest In the House of Tom Bombadil Fog on the Barrow-downs At the Sign of the Prancing Pony Strider A Knife in the Dark Flight to the Ford
Book II Many Meetings The Council of Elrond The Ring goes South A Journey in the Dark The Bridge of Khazad-dûm Lothlórien The Mirror of Galadriel Farewell to Lórien The Great River The Breaking of the Fellowship

The Mirror of Galadriel is the seventh chapter of the second book in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Summary

Haldir led the company to Caras Galadhon. Each member was greeted personally by Lady Galadriel, who was lovely to behold. Her husband Lord Celeborn was very wise. The Lord and Lady were apprised of what the company had been doing until then and they were truly sorrowful when they heard of Gandalf's fate.

The adventurers stayed for many days, resting and healing themselves as well as mourning Gandalf. One day Lady Galadriel showed Frodo and Samwise her mirror, which was a basin of water from a nearby stream. Sam and Frodo saw scenes from the past and the future. When Sam looked into it, he saw that his home had been dug up and his father was alone; he wanted to go home. But the Mirror also showed him another possible future. Sam misinterpreted this scene as Frodo lying asleep on a cliff, but he really saw a time when he would be needed most. When Frodo looked into the mirror he sees a single eye which was searching for something. The Ring around his neck got heavier and heavier, but just as he was about to slip forward the Lady made the vision vanish.

Frodo offered his Ring to her when he realized that she wore one of the three lesser rings, but she told him that if she took it she would be corrupted, as would anyone else. She refused his offer and hoped that Frodo succeeds in his mission, though that would mean the discovery of the elves that she has managed to keep hidden from Sauron by use of her ring.