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ere 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 Ring： whycannot 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 uponyour finger since you knew what you possessed。 Do not try！ It would destroyyou。 Did not Gandalf tell you that the rings give power according to themeasure of each possessor？ Before you could use that power you would need tobee far stronger； and to train your will to the domination of others。 Yeteven so； as Ring…bearer and as one that has borne it on finger and seen thatwhich is hidden； your sight is grown keener。 You have perceived my thoughtmore clearly than many that are accounted wise。 You saw the Eye of him thatholds the Seven and the Nine。 And did you not see and recognize the ring uponmy 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 weretalking about。 I saw a star through your finger。 But if you'll pardon myspeaking out； I think my master was right。 I wish you'd take his Ring。 You'dput things to rights。 You'd stop them digging up the gaffer and turning himadrift。 You'd make some folk pay for their dirty work。'
‘I would；' she said。 ‘That is how it would begin。 But it would not stopwith 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； andthere the Lord and Lady greeted them with fair words。 At length Celeborn spokeof their departure。
‘Now is the time；' he said； ‘when those who wish to continue the Questmust harden their hearts to leave this land。 Those who no longer wish to goforward may remain here； for a while。 But whether they stay or go； none can besure of peace。 For we are e now to the edge of doom。 Here those who wishmay await the oning of the hour till either the ways of the world lie openagain。 or we summon them to the last need of Lórien。 Then they may return totheir 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 Galadriellooking 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 toMinas Tirith？ '
‘We have not decided our course；' said Aragorn。 'Beyond Lothlórien I donot 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 nolonger forget the Great River。 As some of you know well； it cannot be crossedby travellers with baggage between Lórien and Gondor； save by boat。 And arenot 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 thisside； upon the west； but the straight road of the Quest lies east of theRiver； upon the darker shore。 Which shore will you now take？ '
‘If my advice is heeded； it will be the western shore； and the way toMinas Tirith；' answered Boromir。 ‘But I am not the leader of the pany。' Theothers 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 youwho can handle boats： Legolas； whose folk know the swift Forest River； andBoromir of Gondor； and Aragorn the traveller。'
‘And one Hobbit！ ' cried Merry。 ‘Not all of us look on boats as wildhorses。 My people live by the banks of the Brandywine。'
‘That is well；' said Celeborn。 ‘Then I will furnish your pany withboats。 They must be small and light； for if you go far by water； there areplaces where you will be forced to carry them。 You will e to the rapids ofSarn Gebir； and maybe at last to the great falls of Rauros where the Riverthunders down from Nen Hithoel； and there are other perils。 Boats may makeyour journey less toilsome for a while。 Yet they will not give you counsel： inthe end you must leave them and the River； and turn west…or east。'
Aragorn thanked Celeborn many times。 The gift of boats forted himmuch； not least because there would now be no need to decide his course forsome days。 The others； too； looked more hopeful。 Whatever perils lay ahead； itseemed better to float down the broad tide of Anduin to meet them than to plodforward with bent backs。 Only Sam was doubtful： he at any rate still thoughtboats as bad as wild horses； or worse； and not all the dangers that he hadsurvived made him think better of them。
‘All shall be prepared for you and await you at the haven before noontomorrow；' said Celeborn。 'I will send my people to you in the morning to helpyou make ready for the journey。 Now we will wish you all a fair night anduntroubled sleep。'
'Good night； my friends！ ' said Galadriel。 'Sleep in peace！ Do nottrouble your hearts overmuch with thought of the road tonight。 Maybe the pathsthat you each shall tread are already laid before your feet； though you do notsee them。 Good night！ '
The pany now took their leave and returned to their pavilion。 Legolaswent with them； for this was to be their last night in Lothlórien； and inspite 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 bebest to attempt the fulfilling of their purpose with the Ring： but they cameto no decision。 It was plain that most of them desired to go first to MinasTirith； and to escape at least for a while from the terror of the Enemy。 Theywould have been willing to follow a leader over the River and into the shadowof 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 withBoromir； and with his sword help to deliver Gondor。 For he believed that themessage of the dreams was a summons； and that the hour had e at last whenthe 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 hecould not now forsake the Ring； if Frodo refused in the end to go withBoromir。 And yet what help could he or any of the pany give to Frodo； saveto walk blindly with him into the darkness？
‘I shall go to Minas Tirith； alone if need be； for it is my duty；' saidBoromir； and after that he was silent for a while； sitting with his eyes fixedon Frodo； as if he was trying to read the Halfling's thoughts。 At length hespoke again； softly； as if he was debating with himself。 ‘If you wish only todestroy the Ring；' he said； ‘then there is little use in war and weapons； andthe Men of Minas Tirith cannot help。 But if you wish to destroy the armedmight 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 thathe was speaking his thoughts aloud。 ‘It would be folly to throw lives away； Imean；' he ended。 ‘It is a choice between defending a strong place and walkingopenly into the arms of death。 At least； that is how I see it。'
Frodo caught something