One evening Frodo and Sam were walking together in the cool twilight。
Both of them felt restless again。 On Frodo suddenly the shadow of parting hadfallen： he knew somehow that the time was very near when he must leaveLothlórien。
‘What do you think of Elves now； Sam？ ' he said。 ‘I asked you the samequestion once before…it seems a very long while ago； but you have seen more ofthem since then。'
'I have indeed！ ' said Sam。 'And I reckon there's Elves and Elves。
They're all elvish enough； but they're not all the same。 Now these folk aren'twanderers or homeless； and seem a bit nearer to the likes of us： they seem tobelong here； more even than Hobbits do in the Shire。 Whether they've made theland； or the land's made them； it's hard to say； if you take my meaning。 It'swonderfully quiet here。 Nothing seems to be going on； and nobody seems to wantit to。 If there's any magic about； it's right down deep； where I can't lay myhands on it； in a manner of speaking。'
'You can see and feel it everywhere；' said Frodo。
'Well；' said Sam； 'you can't see nobody working it。 No fireworks likepoor Gandalf used to show。 I wonder we don't see nothing of the Lord and Ladyin all these days。 I fancy now that _she_ could do some wonderful things； ifshe had a mind。 I'd dearly love to see some Elf…magic； Mr。 Frodo！ '
'I wouldn't；' said Frodo。 ‘I am content。 And I don't miss Gandalf'sfireworks； but his bushy eyebrows； and his quick temper； and his voice。'
‘You're right；' said Sam。 ‘And don't think I'm finding fault。 I've oftenwanted to see a bit of magic like what it tells of in old tales； but I'venever heard of a better land than this。 It's like being at home and on aholiday at the same time； if you understand me。 I don't want to leave。 All thesame； I'm beginning to feel that if we've got to go on； then we'd best get itover。
'_It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish_； as myold gaffer used to say。 And I don't reckon that these folk can do much more tohelp us； magic or no。 It's when we leave this land that we shall miss Gandalfworse； I'm thinking。'
'I am afraid that's only too true； Sam；' said Frodo。 ‘Yet I hope verymuch that before we leave we shall see the Lady of the Elves again。'
Even as he spoke； they saw； as if she came in answer to their words； theLady Galadriel approaching。 Tall and white and fair she walked beneath thetrees。 She spoke no word； but beckoned to them。
Turning aside； she led them toward the southern slopes of the hill ofCaras Galadhon； and passing through a high green hedge they came into anenclosed garden。 No trees grew there； and it lay open to the sky。 The evening
star had risen and was shining with white fire above the western woods。 Down along flight of steps the Lady went into a deep green hollow； through which ranmurmuring the silver stream that issued from the fountain on the hill。 At thebottom； upon a low pedestal carved like a branching tree； stood a basin ofsilver。 wide and shallow； and beside it stood a silver ewer。
With water from the stream Galadriel filled the basin to the brim； andbreathed on it； and when the water was still again she spoke。 ‘Here is theMirror of Galadriel；' she said。 'I have brought you here so that you may lookin it； if you will。'
The air was very still； and the dell was dark； and the Elf…lady besidehim was tall and pale。 'What shall we look for； and what shall we see？ ' askedFrodo； filled with awe。
‘Many things I can mand the Mirror to reveal；' she answered； ‘and tosome I can show what they desire to see。 But the Mirror will also show thingsunbidden； and those are often stranger and more profitable than things whichwe wish to behold。 What you will see； if you leave the Mirror free to work； Icannot tell。 For it shows things that were； and things that are； things thatyet may be。 But which it is that he sees； even the wisest cannot always tell。
Do you wish to look？ '
Frodo did not answer。
‘And you？ ' she said； turning to Sam。 'For this is what your folk wouldcall magic。 I believe； though I do not understand clearly what they mean； andthey seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy。 But this； ifyou will； is the magic of Galadriel。 Did you not say that you wished to seeElf…magic？ '
'I did；' said Sam； trembling a little between fear and curiosity。 ‘I'llhave a peep； Lady； if you're willing。'
‘And I'd not mind a glimpse of what's going on at home；' he said in anaside to Frodo。 'It seems a terrible long time that I've been away。 But there；
like as not I'll only see the stars； or something that I won't understand。'
'Like as not；' said the Lady with a gentle laugh。 ‘But e； you shalllook and see what you may。 Do not touch the water！ '
Sam climbed up on the foot of the pedestal and leaned over the basin。 Thewater looked hard and dark。 Stars were reflected in it。
‘There's only stars； as I thought；' he said。 Then he gave a low gasp； forthe stars went out。 As if a dark veil had been withdrawn； the Mirror grewgrey； and then clear。 There was sun shining； and the branches of trees werewaving and tossing in the wind。 But before Sam could make up his mind what itwas that he saw； the light faded； and now he thought he saw Frodo with a paleface lying fast asleep under a great dark cliff。 Then he seemed to see himselfgoing along a dim passage； and climbing an endless winding stair。 It came tohim suddenly that he was looking urgently for something； but what it was hedid not know。 Like a dream the vision shifted and went back； and he saw thetrees again。 But this time they were not so close； and he could see what wasgoing on： they were not waving in the wind； they were falling； crashing to theground。
‘Hi！' cried Sam in an outraged voice。 'There's that Ted Sandyman a…
cutting down trees as he shouldn't。 They didn't ought to be felled： it's thatavenue beyond the Mill that shades the road to Bywater。 I wish I could get atTed； and I'd fell _him_！'
But now Sam noticed that the Old Mill had vanished； and a large red…brickbuilding was being put up where it had stood。 Lots of folk were busily atwork。 There was a tall red chimney nearby。 Black smoke seemed to cloud thesurface of the Mirror。
'There's some devilry at work in the Shire；' he said。 'Elrond knew whathe was about when he wanted to send Mr。 Merry back。' Then suddenly Sam gave acry and sprang away。 'I can't stay here；' he said wildly。 ‘I must go home。
They've dug up Bagshot Row； and there's the poor old gaffer going down theHill with his bits of things on a barrow。 I must go home！ '
'You cannot go home alone；' said the Lady。 'You did not wish to go home
without your master before you looked in the Mirror； and yet you knew thatevil things might well be happening in the Shire。 Remember that the Mirrorshows many things； and not all have yet e to pass。 Some never e to be；
unless those that behold the visions turn aside from their path to preventthem。 The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds。'
Sam sat on the ground and put his head in his hands。 ‘I wish I had nevere here； and I don't want to see no more magic；' he said and fell silent。
After a moment he spoke again thickly； as if struggling with tears。 ‘No； I'llgo home by the long road with Mr。 Frodo； or not at all；' he said。 ‘But I hopeI do get back some day。 If what I've seen turns out true； somebody's going tocatch it hot！ '
‘Do you now wish to look； Frodo？ ' said the Lady Galadriel。 ‘You did notwish to see Elf…magic and were content。'
‘Do you advise me to look？ ' asked Frodo。
'No；' she said。 ‘I do not counsel you one way or the other。 I am not acounsellor。 You may learn something； and whether what you see be fair or evil；
that may be profitable； and yet it may not。 Seeing is both good and perilous。
Yet I think； Frodo； that you have courage and wisdom enough for the venture；
or I would not have brought you here。 Do as you will！ '
‘I will look；' said Frodo； and he climbed on the pedestal and bent overthe dark water。 At once the Mirror cleared and he saw a twilit land。 Mountains
loomed dark in the distance against a pale sky。 A long grey road wound backout of sight。 Far away a figure came slowly down the road； faint and small atfirst； but growing larger and clearer as it approached。 Suddenly Frodorealized that it reminded him of Gandalf。 He almost called aloud the wizard's
name； and then he saw that the figure was clothed not in grey but in white； ina white that shone faintly in the dusk； and in its hand there was a whitestaff。 The head was so bowed that he could see no face； and presently thefigure turned aside round a bend in the road and went out of the Mirror'sview。 Doubt came into Frodo's mind： was this a vision of Gandalf on one of his
many lonely journeys long ago； or was it Saruman？
The vision now changed。 Brief and small but very vivid he caught aglimpse of Bilbo walking restlessly about his room。 The table was litteredwith disordered papers； rain was beating on the windows。
Then there was a pause； and after it many swift scenes followed thatFrodo in some way knew to be parts of a great history in which he had beeinvolved。 The mist cleared and he saw a sight which he had never seen beforebut knew at once： the Sea。 Darkness fell。 The sea rose and raged in a greatstorm。 Then he saw against the Sun； sinking blood…red into a wrack of clouds；
the black outline of a tall ship with torn sails riding up out of the West。
Then a wide river flowing through a populous city。 Then a white fortress withseven towers。 And then again a ship with black sails； but now it was morningagain； and the water rippled with light； and a banner bearing the emblem of awhite tree shone in the sun。 A smoke as of fire and battle arose； and againthe sun went down in a burning red that faded into a grey mist； and into themist a small ship passed away； twinkling with lights。 It vanished； and Frodosighed and prepared to draw away。
But suddenly the Mirror went altogether dark； as dark as if a hole hadopened in the world of sight； and Frodo looked into emptiness。 In the blackabyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew。 until it filled nearly allthe Mirror。 So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted； unable to cry out orto withdraw his gaze。 The Eye was rimmed with fire； but was itself glazed；
yellow as a cat's； watch