Lothlorien

**Lothlórien**, or simply known as **Lórien**, is a realm in Middle-earth. It was a kingdom of Silvan Elves on the eastern side of the Hithaeglir. It was considered one of the most beautiful and "elvish" places in Middle-earth during the Third Age, and had the only mallorn-trees east of the sea.

## Description

Lorien was a forest between the Misty Mountains and the Anduin, crossed by the Nimrodel stream. It set across from Greenwood. It soon became the home of Silvan Elves and later Sindar and Noldor, and eventually became the fairest kingdom in Middle Earth.

In its earlier days, the woods of Lothlórien extended south into Fangorn Forest. In these days there was no true border between the two territories, though after conversation between Treebeard and the King of the Golden Wood it was agreed that the inhabitants of either land could walk freely at their leisure across whatever borders there may be.

## History

### Years of Trees and the First Age

The first inhabitants of the forested area later known as Lórien were a group of Nandor - or Silvan Elves - who refused to cross the Misty Mountains on the journey west. Lórien was probably one of their scattered settlements in the area.

Later, however, as the power of the Longbeards of Moria grew, they relocated to the western side of the Anduin, across the Nimrodel. The land in which they dwelt (the forest east of the Hithaeglir, above Fangorn and below Mirkwood) became known in the Silvan tongue as *Lórinand*, or *Laurelindórenan*.

### Second Age

Following the destruction of Beleriand and the War of Wrath, most of the Noldorin exiles and remnants of the Sindar retreated to Lindon. The Valar reinvited these Elves to Aman, but Amdír, among many others, was unwilling and remained in Lindon. He, along with his son Amroth, established himself in Lórinand, where he would soon lead the princeless Silvan Elves. Their language was replaced by Sindarin. The arrival of the Sinda Amdír affected the Nandor of Laurelindórenan. He took over as their King, while another Sinda, Oropher, became King of Greenwood the Great.

Celeborn, a Sindarin elf, dwelt with his Noldorin wife Galadriel in Eregion. They made contact with the Nandor of Lórinand, and before long they passed through Moria and arrived in the woods. Other survivors of Eregion, including many Noldor and Sindar, escaped into Khazad-dûm and were granted passage by their friends the Dwarves, coming eventually through the Misty Mountains to the woodlands that would long afterwards be called Lothlórien.

As Sauron's power grew over the Westlands, King Amdír marshaled the Elves of Lórinand to the War of the Last Alliance. His division was cut off from the main body during the Battle of Dagorlad and many of the Nandor went down into the Dead Marshes with their King.

The survivors of the battle, which included Amdír’s son Amroth, returned to Lórinand. Amroth was the new King, but he was tired of Middle-earth, and wished to go West and seek Valinor. When Moria fell to evil in TA 1981, many of the Lórinand elves fled south. Around that time Amroth departed to Edhellond with his beloved, Nimrodel. The Nandor never saw either of them again.

After Amroth and Nimrodel had passed away, Celeborn and Galadriel took the title of Lord and Lady of Galadhrim, the collective name for the people of Lothlórien. With Galadriel's Ring of Power, Nenya, the land was kept pure and alive, and evil was not permitted to penetrate it. They moved back to the western side of Anduin, and built Caras Galadhon, the great center of the woodland kingdom. There Galadriel planted the seeds of the mallorn trees that was given to her by Gil-galad when she lived in Lindon, where they couldn't grow. It was because of the mellyrn that Lothlórien became known as the Golden Wood thenceforth.

#### The Hobbit

Galadriel continued to reside in Lothlórien until she was summoned by Saruman to the White Council in Rivendell. She went to Gandalf telling him she would come whenever she was needed before disappearing back to Lothlórien. Radagast later arrived to the city with word from Gandalf that he has ascertained the Nine were released by the Necromancer and has entered Dol Guldur himself. Galadriel summons the other members of the White Council to Dol Guldur and banishes Sauron, but is depleted of her power. Elrond takes her back to Lorien where she is to remain.

#### The Lord of the Rings

Shortly after the fall of Gandalf and the Balrog, the Fellowship led by Aragorn and fearing the pursuing Orcs, went to Lorien. While travelling through Lorien, Gimli, overreacting, stated that an evil Elf queen ruled the forest and told the Hobbits to stay nearer to him. Meanwhile, Frodo saw a vision of her warning him that he brings great evil with him.

The Fellowship are caught by Haldir's company and, after some persuasion, are brought to Caras Galadhon, where Galadriel investigates them psychically and later bids them rest. She shows Frodo her mirror, denies the temptation of the Ring, and encourages him on his Quest.

While the Fellowship rest in Lorien, it is attacked by Orcs chasing the Fellowship, but they are slain. Saruman's Uruk Hai spies are also spotted near its borders.

Galadriel later gives the members of the Fellowship gifts, sends them on their journey down the Anduin and tells Aragorn that they will never meet again.

Afterwards, Galadriel convinces Elrond to declare war and send a force of Galadhrim, led by Haldir, to Helm's Deep. They are slain, but help defend the fortress until Gandalf arrives with reinforcements. Later during the War of the Ring, Lorien is attacked yet again by Moria Orcs, but the attacks are repelled.

### Fourth Age

The eastern border of Lothlórien in the southern Greenwood became East Lórien. It was founded after the War of the Ring, and Celeborn and Galadriel ruled the Galadhrim of Lothlórien. In FA 4, they left for Rivendell and eventually for the Grey Havens. By 124, Lorien was abandoned.