he also knew that it could not see himnot yet； not unless he willed 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 Mirror seemed 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 vision faded； and Frodo found that he was looking at the cool stars twinkling in the silver 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 my mind。 Do not be afraid！ But do not think that only by singing amid the trees； nor even by the slender arrows of elvenbows； is this land of Lothlórien maintained and defended against its Enemy。 I say to you； Frodo； that even as I speak to you； I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind； or all of his mind that concerns the Elves。 And he gropes ever to see me and my thought。 But still the door is closed！'
She lifted up her white arms； and spread out her hands towards the East in a gesture of rejection and denial。 E。rendil； the Evening Star； most beloved of the Elves； shone clear above。 So bright was it that the figure of the Elvenlady cast a dim shadow on the ground。 Its rays glanced upon a ring about her finger； it glittered like polished gold overlaid with silver light； and a white stone in it twinkled as if the Evenstar 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 Ringbearer； 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 fet and to be fotten。'
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 elfwoman； 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 Ringbearer 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 ust 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 fet 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 westor 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 t