Galadriel

Lady Galadriel was a leader of the High-Elves in Middle Earth in the Second and Third Ages.

## Galadriel

Galadriel portrayed by Cate Blanchett in the film series

## Appearances

### Appears in

The Lord of the Rings (TV prequel series), An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug (flashback), The Battle of the Five Armies, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King

Galadriel was born in Valinor as one of the Noldor, being the daughter of Finarfin. She left for Middle Earth during the Exile of the Noldor. After arriving in Beleriand, she lived in both Nargothrond and Doriath, the latter where she befriended Melian. Later, with her husband Celeborn, she ruled over the woodland Elves of Lothlórien, and together they had a daughter, Celebrían who married Elrond.

She is described as "the mightiest and fairest of all the Elves that remained in Middle-earth". In the War of the Ring she revealed to Frodo Baggins, she was the bearer of Nenya. After the War she returned to Valinor.

## Characteristics

Galadriel was specially tall and beautiful, even among the Noldor, and her hair was the most notable feature about her. It reminded the Eldar of the light of the Two Trees. Galadriel, at least in her earlier years, was of a somewhat proud and rebellious nature. She was free-spirited, and during her time in Aman had many dreams of wide unexplored lands. In her early youth, she was very willful and of an "Amazon" disposition; and bound up her hair as a crown when taking part in athletic feats. Her favorite brother was Finrod, for he, too, shared this vision. She could explore the minds and hearts of others, and her gaze was seeing. It may be because of her unusual beauty and power that she became proud.

## Biography

### Life in Aman

When a fourth child was born to Finarfin, prince of the Noldor, and Eärwen, princess of the Teleri, her father named her **Artanis**, which is "noble woman". She was unusually tall and strong as she grew, and so Eärwen’s name for her was **Nerwen**, "man-maiden". Though the source of her hair colour was from her parents, it was said among the Eldar that her hair had captured the light of the Two Trees in Valinor.

According to a legend, this is how Fëanor conceived the idea of capturing the light of the trees inside the Silmarils. Despite her mixed blood, she was identified as a princess of the Noldor, as her father was the third son of Finwë, King of the Noldor.

During the Darkening of Valinor, she was very independent and visionary. She swore no oaths, but the words of Fëanor concerning Middle-earth kindled a desire in her heart, as she was eager to see those wide unguarded lands and rule a realm of her own, and so left for Middle Earth apart from Feanor's company, and therefore did not take part in the Kinslaying.

### Life in Beleriad

In Beleriand, Galadriel and her eldest brother Finrod Felagund came to Doriath as guests of Elu Thingol, the King of Doriath. It was there she met Celeborn, a kinsman of Thingol, who would become her husband and companion in Middle-earth. When her brother Finrod departed to the Caverns of Narog to establish the stronghold of Nargothrond, Galadriel did not go with him and remained in Doriath with her husband, though she occasionally visited her brother in Nargothrond.

During her days in Doriath, Galadriel became friends with Queen Melian the Maia, and they spoke often to one another about Valinor. Melian was eager to learn the causes of the Exile of the Noldor, but Galadriel would tell her nothing of what occurred after the death of the Trees. When Melian learned the full story he was apopleptic, but didn't banish Galadriel. All the same, she went to Nargothrond to live with Finrod for a time. Presumably, she returned to Doriath to live with her husband.

Galadriel and Celeborn did not have any significant role in the general course of events of the First Age. Before the Fall of Nargothrond (FA 495), she passed over the mountains.

### Second Age

After the War of Wrath and the overthrow of Morgoth, she chose to remain with Celeborn, who would not leave Middle-earth, but also because she was one of those eager to explore Middle-earth from the beginning. A ban was set upon her return to Aman by the Valar, but she was proud and replied that she had no interest in returning.

Celeborn ruled over the fiefdom of Harlindon, which was composed mostly of Sindar, under the High King of the Noldor Gil-galad. Eventually, the couple crossed into Eriador with many Noldor in their following. Together with Sindar and Green-elves, they dwelt in the country about Lake Nenuial ruling the Eldar in Eriador, including the wandering companies of the native Nandor.

They departed for Eregion and arrived there by S.A. 750. It was ruled by Celebrimbor, grandson of Fëanor and distant cousin of Galadriel.

Around S.A. 1200, with the help of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, Galadriel made contact with the Nandor of King Amdír, who dwelt in a forest realm called Lindórinand across the Misty Mountains. It was only sometime between S.A. 1350 and 1400 did she cross the Hithaeglir through Khazad-dûm and relocated to there with her daughter Celebrían. Celeborn decided to stay in Eregion due to his enmity towards the Dwarves.

Once Celebrimbor discovered Annatar's treachery, it was Galadriel who counselled Celebrimbor that the Three Rings were now in danger, and proposed sending them far from Eregion. He agreed, and in S.A. 1693, he sent them to three of the Wise: Vilya and Narya for Gil-galad and Círdan in Lindon, respectively, and Nenya for Galadriel. By the power of Nenya, the realm of Lórinand was strengthened and made beautiful.

After the War of the Elves and Sauron ended, she passed again through Moria with Celebrían and came to Imladris, seeking Celeborn. There she found him, and there they dwelt together for a long time.

But at some later time, Galadriel and Celeborn departed from Imladris and went to the little-inhabited lands between the mouth of the Gwathló and Ethir Anduin. There they dwelt in Belfalas, at the place that was afterwards called Dol Amroth; and their company was swelled by Silvan Elves from Lórinand.

### Third Age

After long journeys in Rhovanion, from Gondor and the borders of Mordor to Thranduil in the north, Celeborn and Galadriel passed over the mountains to Imladris, and there dwelt for many years. It was there, in T.A. 109, that their daughter Celebrían wedded Elrond Half-elven of Rivendell.

When King Amroth, son of Amdír, perished in T.A. 1981, Celeborn and Galadriel took up the rule of Lindórinand jointly, and were called the Lord and Lady of Galadhrim. There, they established Caras Galadhon.

In TA 2463, Galadriel formed the White Council to guard against the return of evil. Being a good friend of Gandalf, she recommended that he be made head of the Council. But this distinction fell instead to Saruman, whom she distrusted.

During the Quest of Erebor, Gandalf sent word to Elrond of his impending arrival, and Elrond in turn sent for Galadriel and Saruman. The White Council convened to discuss the Quest initiated by Gandalf, but the wizard also brought up the issue of the Necromancer in Dol Guldur and the Troll and Orc attacks around Staddle. Saruman found the news a trifle, with Elrond hesitantly siding with him, but Galadriel quietly supported Gandalf's case, percieving he carried proof in the form a Morgul Blade. She later confided in him that he is right to help Thorin and that "something moves in the shadows unseen" and promised to aid Gandalf if he is ever in trouble in the days to come. When Gandalf later discovered it to be Sauron, he sent for Galadriel, who arrived just in time to rescue the wizard before she was confronted by Sauron and his Ringwraiths. In the Battle of Dol Guldur, the White Council defeated Sauron's servants and Galadriel, summoning the rest of her strength, banished him. Weakened, she was rushed by Elrond back to Lothlorien, where she stayed for the remainder of the age.

During the War of the Ring, Galadriel met the Fellowship of the Ring in TA 3002. She especially was attentive to the Hobbit Frodo Baggins, who was the bearer of the One Ring. She showed him Nenya, and let him gaze into her mirror of seeing. He offered her the One Ring, and despite the extreme temptation, she resisted it successfully. She sent the Fellowship off on their quest furnished with gifts.

She was unsure as to what to give Gimli, and asked what he wanted. After complimenting her beauty, he requested a single strand of her hair. Galadriel remembered the posing of a similar question by Fëanor, but had searched Gimli’s heart and knew that his intentions were pure. She rewarded him with three strands, which he was later to put into an imperishable crystal in memory of her.

Not long after the departure of the Fellowship, she received the resurrected Gandalf. She reclothed and refurnished him, giving him a new staff. After Gandalf left, Lothlórien was subjected to three successive attacks by armies coming out of Dol Guldur. By the power of her Ring they were thrice repulsed. Celeborn then led an attack on Dol Guldur itself. Once the dark fortress was in the hands of the Galadhrim, Galadriel came, threw down its walls, and purified it of its evil. It was her last act of power, for the One Ring was destroyed, and the strength of Nenya waned and eventually vanished almost completely. She and Celeborn sailed to the West with Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf, announcing that "the time has come for the dominion of Men."