Chapter 92: Intervention

Year 2845 of the Third Age, Lothlórien

Arwen made a number of other trips to Lothlórien in the following decades. It put much strain on Rivendell's resources to provide her with sufficient retinue every time, but there was nothing to be done. It was needed. It was needed for Arwen, for the one short visit was not enough to heal the wounds on her soul, but even more, perhaps, it was needed for Elrond. Galadriel needed to hear how he did, in detail, and he needed to spend some time without the daughter he had learned to rely on so much.

Throughout these visits, Galadriel mapped his progress towards some sort of peace, however fragile.

It was slow.

When Arwen had returned to Rivendell the first time, she felt – she later told Galadriel – like her father had taken an almost fatal turn for the worse. But sometimes, wounds had to be torn open to close properly, so in a few years they tried again, and it was better. And then again, and again.

Finally, decades after the initial visit, Elrond contacted Galadriel of his own volition and said: I am sorry.

For what? Galadriel asked, confused. What happened?

For leaving you alone with all the burdens of Middle-Earth for so long, he replied. And for all the terrible, terrible things I have said to you over the recent years.

Galadriel gave a long exhale, almost overwhelmed by relief. The things you said I have already forgotten, she assured him. As for the other matter, you did not leave me alone. I have Celeborn and Mithrandir. And I was lost in my grief a long time as well. There is nothing to apologize for.

I have responsibilities, he said.

Galadriel laughed, a little bitter but more relieved still. Do you know I said precisely the same thing when Mithrandir assured me I had every right to grieve? We truly do speak too much, beloved, if we are becoming so like each other.

I would be honoured if I could ever think I was like you.

She shuddered. Please do not say that.

He did not press the matter. Whether I had the right or not, I have left you alone with our duties for a long time, he said instead. Tell me, what can I do to help?

She considered. Chiefly, take care that you are as well as you can be, she replied. I am now mostly waiting on Mithrandir – he promised me he would go to Dol Guldur and bring a proof we could use to convince Curunír it is Sauron who hides there, but that was almost a century ago. I am not certain where he is or what he does at the moment.

Elrond seemed surprised by that. He passed this way not too long ago. If I see him, I will certainly let him know you are waiting for him impatiently. Is it certain the Necromancer is Sauron now, then?

More and more certain every day. His consciousness has become very clear.

We should hurry, then.

Yes. Before he moves to Mordor and beyond our reach.

There was a short silence.

How...how are you? Galadriel asked then, and if she had been speaking aloud, her voice would have been breaking.

You know how I am, he replied, even his mental voice sounding tired. You can see my mind.

Yes, but…

I know. He hesitated. It is not- it is too reminiscent of those terrible years after Elros died. What you were to me then, in support, Arwen was to me now.

I am sorry I could not be there for you again.

It is hardly your fault, just as it is hardly your fault that you could not take me on a tour around the world to distract me this time.

Galadriel smiled at the memory, even though, as all her memories, it was tinged with pain, the pain of Hollin, until recently the biggest wound on her weary soul. Where would we go, if we could go at this time? She asked.

Elrond seemed to consider. I do not know. I am inclined to say Grey Havens, and yet – that would hardly help. I fear I would have to leave it up to you again.

If Galadriel went to the Havens, she doubted she would be able to leave the Sea again. She tried not to think about that. I believe I would take you East, she said instead. We would take Tugu as a guide – Hana, too, if she was willing to go, and Birik – and we would explore the lands of the lost clans of elves. We would find Nore and Magrandoro.

Are you certain you could find Nore? He asked, amused. From what you have told me…

Are you doubting my abilities, beloved? She asked him archly, and he gave a small chuckle that warmed her heart more than anything had in a long time.

I would love to go on such a trip with you, Aunt, he said then, wistfully. Perhaps after Sauron is dealt with?

Perhaps, she replied, though she did not believe he would be travelling anywhere after the war – if a war was to come – was over. Not anywhere beside the Havens, and then the long journey West.

He caught the thought in her mind. Yes, he said, melancholy. There is no doubt of my sailing, now. I will be bitterly sorry to leave you here, Aunt. As much as life without Celebrían is painful and I would not wish to hesitate in following her as soon as I can...I have never been without you. I cannot imagine my life without your presence in it.

She gave a sad smile. You said something like that when I was leaving for Hollin, did you not? And yet you survived, and blossomed.

It was different. Yes, there were times – with Sauron in your realm and then during the war – that we saw each other only rarely, but still...it was different.

Galadriel knew it was. If nothing else, it was for a much shorter time than what she expected would be their period of separation after he sailed. But she did not wish to mar his healing by these observations, so she merely said. But you will blossom this time too, all the same.

-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-

It took Olórin several more years, for which Sauron grew stronger still, to go to Dol Guldur. Galadriel was even more worried now. She could see Sauron's mind properly at this point, his consciousness returned, and no doubt about his identity remained – or about his cruel intentions.

"I confess it was not wise to wait so long," Olórin replied to her recriminations when he finally came to Lothlórien in preparation for the task, "but an urgent matter held me in Eriador. I came as soon as I could."

Galadriel did not want to imagine what took priority over Sauron, and attempted not to be offended that he did not wish to tell her.

Especially as, ever since the last time he was in Lothlórien, her own conscience had been troubling her about her own secrets.

In truth, when he first came from the West, she thought he knew she was banned from returning there. It seemed natural at the time. But since then she had come to understand his knowledge, or lack thereof, better, and she realized that he did not, in fact, know. But still she had been pretending to herself, until he directly mentioned his belief that she did not sail as a sacrifice to her duty.

Keeping secrets from him was bad enough – she had even told Arwen about this, her granddaughter who was, as a rule, not privy to her most personal thoughts - , but the idea that he counted something as her virtue that was, in reality, her weakness, was intolerable.

So even though it would perhaps be wiser not to disturb and distract him right now, Galadriel could not bear the idea that he would be captured or killed in Dol Guldur and she would never again find the opportunity to be honest with him, to correct this overly idealizing belief.

And thus, when there were just a few days left before his planned journey, she took him aside to speak in privacy.

"There is, I fear, a misconception you have about me, my friend," she told him as they walked side by side in the forest.

"And what would that be?" He asked with friendly curiosity that almost hurt, given what she meant to tell him.

She steeled herself. "You indicated that you believe I do not sail out of duty," she said.

He gave her a surprised look. "I apologize if I assumed too much – of course there are many ties that are still keeping you here beside that."

She shook her head. "That is not the nature of the misconception," she replied. "If it was not for my duty, I would sail in a heartbeat, even though I would miss my grandchildren, who are still not ready to go. Yet my duty is not the chief reason I stay."

He frowned. "What is, then?"

"I am banned from returning West."

She could see his bushy eyebrows climbing up his forehead out of the corner of her eye. "Banned? By whom?"

She chuckled, bitter. "Whom do you think?"

"Forgive me, I know I do not remember my past in the West, but – from what I know, both from you and from my memories, that seems strange to me. Did the Valar not grant forgiveness to all who begged it?"

He asked much like Arwen had, but to him, she gave a different, more honest answer. "Perhaps the problem is in the begging."

His frown deepened. "From what you have told me of your youth, I would perhaps believe you to be too proud to do so then, but not now. Not if you truly wanted to return."

"It goes deeper than that," she explained. "I was one of the chief supporters of departure, and so the Valar do not allow me to return until I regret I ever left. And I will never regret that."

He kept frowning, but did not say anything for a long time. "It...pains you, does it not?" He asked then.

"It does," she confirmed. "More and more as time passes, and since Celebrían sailed...it is becoming almost unbearable."

"So you are not better, then?" He querried quietly.

She sighed and looked up at the canopy of golden mellyrn leaves for a moment. "I am in some ways," she said then. "More...able to work, to do what is required of me, I suppose. But since her departure, every year feels like a heavy burden to bear, reminding me that I am here and she is there, where so many of my loved ones dwell. Our fates are a twisted mockery of each other's, do you not see? She wished to stay here with her husband and children, with everyone she loves, and she is there. I wish to be there, with her and so many of my loved ones, so many dear friends. Instead I am kept here. Macalaurë told me once that we were both too strong to fade. Even then I opposed him, but it was chiefly based on something you told me after you came here. But now I can feel it in myself. After Sauron is done with, one way or another, I will begin to fade."

"And you first believed this based on something I said?" He asked her, clearly surprised.

"Yes. You spoke of me forsaking these shores," she remembered.

He considered. "Do you not see hope in that that you could sail after all?"

She shook her head. "I know in my heart that I will never regret ever leaving Aman, in spite of everything. And that means I cannot sail."

He gave a deep sigh. "There still seems something wrong about it to me," he said.

"You are not the only one – almost all I have told this truth to insisted the Valar would not be this harsh. Yet it is the truth. Lady Ilmarë came to tell me herself."

"I will consider it," he promised. "But perhaps not now. These thoughts are too dark and grave for the matter I am to attempt."

Galadriel had to agree, and she did her best to steer the conversation to better waters afterwards, and keep it on brighter things in the following days.

Then, the time for his mission arrived. Once again, she followed him in mind as he headed to Mirkwood, and saw that there was no danger of the Shadow fleeing from him this time. He saw it, too, and went in stealth instead of force, moving unseen among the dark creatures that surrounded it and deep into the dungeons of Dol Guldur to witness all of its horror. Galadriel, unflinching, witnessed it with him.

She saw violence and death, and had to force herself not to think of Celebrían and her fate. There were bodies everywhere, barely alive and also left dead and rotting in their cells. There were orcs and spiders, but also other dark creatures the likes of which Galadriel had never seen, and she wondered whether it was an attempt by Sauron to create some new monsters for his service.

She knew she was spared the worst, for the pressure of darkness that Olórin would be experiencing she felt only indirectly. Still, it made her think too uncomfortably of the Tol-in-Glaurhoth. There were too many similarities. She saw Thráin being tortured and she saw him suffering in the aftermath, and she whispered suggestions and comfort as Olórin spoke to him, trying to ease his least moments, and then received something from him and held his hand as the dwarven king died.

She sensed that Olórin desperately wanted to go and find the ring Thrain said had been taken from him, and take it back as his proof for Curunír, but they both knew it would be too well guarded, and if he made the attempt, he would never get out alive.

Instead, he headed to deeper, but less carefully guarded corridors, slipped through doors left open, and at length came across something of use: other rings, these being lesser, gathered in this one place.

Galadriel's mind echoed his own surprise. They had expected the rings to be in mordor. That they had been carried here meant Sauron was organizing better than they had assumed.

The surprise made Olórin hesitate just a moment too long, and a commotion started beyodn the door, indicating the presence of an intruder was noticed.

He killed the three orcs rushing at him and he fled, pursuit on his heels as he used his light to keep them away, and Galadriel felt Sauron rage.

Come back here, she said once Olórin was clear of Dol Guldur. You can notify Thranduil later.

He did not resist, knowing as well as she did that his mind needed healing from the terrible sights, and so he allowed himself a fortnight in Lothlórien as they sat together and planned.

"What did Thrain give you?" She asked. "It was too dark for me to see it properly in your mind, and his speech was confused. I only understood that it was meant for his son."

"I am not certain myself," he admitted, and took out the bundle from his robes, putting it on the table between them.

It was a map, and a key. Galadriel had no idea what they were, but Olórin, after studying them for a moment, gave a nod of understanding.

"What is it?" She asked him,

"A way to get inside the Lonely Mountain."

She tried to conceal her disappointment. "With Smaug still there, it will be of little use."

"Perhaps, but I will guard it carefully all the same."

He took out the other bundle he took from Dol Guldur – the lesser rings – and put them on the table as well.

"Will Curunír accept this as proof?" Galadriel asked.

"He must," Olórin replied. "It is generally known that all of the lesser rings were taken by Sauron. In fact, it was he in person who had impressed this upon the Council. It would be too suspicious if he doubted after this."

Galadriel shook her head. "I am not too certain. We have seen previously that he is not too bound by logic in the arguments he presents to the council. The power of his voice is great."

"We have to forewarn everyone in detail this time," Olórin agreed. "We need to be ready."

They did, especially as it was impossible at this time for either Elrond or Galadriel to be there in person. They would have to watch the proceedings in Olórin's mind, and while they trusted him to represent them faithfully, the weight of their arguments would be lessened in their absence. But there was no getting around it. With Sauron this strong, this near, Galadriel could not leave Lothlórien unprotected, and while Rivendell was safer, Elrond was not willing to take the risk for a council that, they all suspected, would prove to be inefficient.

In fact, even Celeborn was reluctant to go. "If these meetings are entirely pointless – and they always have been until now – then I don't rejoice at being distracted from my more important duties."

Galadriel sighed. "I know, my love, and I'm sorry you have to waste time with something that was my idea in the first place. You know I'd go if I could."

He shook his head. "That's not what I meant – I don't blame you in any way. I simply wonder whether we should not call the entire idea of the council off."

Galadriel sighed. "I worry what Thranduil's reaction would be. I can see no way to do that without at least partly revealing what was our purpose the whole time, and...Dol Guldur is still part of his land, at least technically. We cannot afford to antagonize him."

Celeborn sighed. "You're right, of course, as always. I'll go to Isengard, then, and listen to Curunír deny that sky is blue."

As it turned out, however, Curunír did not doubt the veracity of the lesser rings nor what they proved. His strategy in council was a different one. "So it is Sauron," he said, "but he is weak and unless he finds the ruling ring, he cannot become strong again. Note that he took residence in Dol Guldur, not in Mordor. He is strong enough to harass some forest animals, but no danger to us – excluding the forest realm, of course," he added with a bow towards Thranduil, "but perhaps that could be helped simply by assistance provided by warriors from other realms? Surely Lothlórien could spare some for your protection?"

Thranduil indignantly refused this suggestion, as Curunír knew well he would.

Galadriel whispered her thoughts to Olórin, and he spoke: "The Lady Galadriel wishes to ask: If he is weak, as you say, why not attack, then? We seem to have nothing to lose, and the peace of Mirkwood to gain."

"He is weak, yes, but still crafty," Curunír replied. "We could lose lives there, and unnecessarily so."

"The lady objects: would we not lose more if we waited until Sauron grows strong?"

"But he cannot, not without the ring," Curunír argued.

"The lady insists: He cannot grow as strong as he did last age, but he can grow strong enough. Even now he would have destroyed Mithrandir had he caught him."

"The enterprise was ill-considered, true," Curunír said with a frown towards Olórin. "Nevertheless, all of my studies show he cannot become a true danger to the world without the ring."

This was ridiculous. Sauron had been the right hand of the Enemy. To claim he could be not dangerous, in any shape or form, was absurd. Galadriel had watched him, over the ages, destroy everything she loved. Surely the others must see that he had to be destroyed?

And yet she watched how the magic of Curunír's words wound itself around most present, excepting Celeborn, Lord Ciryatan, Olórin and Lord Laurefindil. Erestor approved of the caution, Lord Ciryatan's people were unwilling to risk lives of the few of them that remained for a threat that was so distant to them, Feliel liked the idea that Sauron was so weak as to be laughable now, and Thranduil, of course, was ever opposed to anything Galadriel suggested. This time, at least, he had a reason she could understand. Olórin heard him speak to his companions, and apparently a son had been born to him recently. It seemed an ill-considered time to have children, but it made it easier to understand why he would be unwilling to risk his life at this point.

And so most of the Council agreed with Curunír, and they decided nothing would be done.

"This cannot be allowed to go on," Galadriel said when those close to her gathered in Lothlórien afterwards. "If we do not do something, we will soon have Sauron at a strength when none of us will be capable of defeating him. The strategy with the Council failed, and we need to simply attack."

"Would you go to war with Thranduil over this? Would you have another kinslaying?" Lord Laurefindil asked pointedly, and Galadriel gave him a hard look.

"If they decided to react to our attempt to save Middle-Earth by war, well, at least the shoe would be on the other foot for once: the Sindar, not the Noldor, would be spilling the blood of their kin."

We need a distraction, Elrond said in her mind, trying to keep them calm. Something that will turn Thranduil's mind away from the attack while we carry it out.

Galadriel repeated his idea out loud.

"I have been worrying about Smaug for the longest time," Olórin mused. "And now Thrain has given me an important tool. Perhaps these two matters could be joined. If the situation in the Lonely Mountain changed, surely that would be enough to distract Thranduil."

"Most definitely," Erestor agreed. "But how do you propose to destroy the dragon?"

"I have...some ideas," he replied evasively, and Galadriel had to squash her upset at being left out again. Perhaps he would tell her later, in privacy. "It will need preparation, however."

"How long?" She asked. "We do not have much time."

"Not too long, I hope," he replied cryptically, and Galadriel sighed.