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Timeline Event

Fellowship arrives in Caras Galadhon

Event Type: General

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: January 17, 3019

Description:

An event in the Quest of the Ring; see that entry for an overview:
The sun was sinking behind the mountains, and the shadows were deepening in the woods, when they went on again.... Night came beneath the trees as they walked, and the Elves uncovered their silver lamps.

Suddenly they came out into the open again and found themselves under a pale evening sky.... There was a wide treeless space before them.... Beyond it was a deep fosse1 lost in soft shadow, but the grass upon its brink was green.... Upon the further side there rose to a great height a green wall encircling a green hill thronged with mallorn-trees taller than any they had yet seen in all the land.... In their many-tiered branches and amid their ever-moving leaves countless lights were gleaming.... Haldir turned towards the Company.

'Welcome to Caras Galadhon!' he said. 'Here is the city of the Galadhrim where dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lórien. But we cannot enter here, for the gates do not look northward. We must go round to the southern side, and the way is not short, for the city is great.'

There was a road paved with white stone running on the outer brink of the fosse. Along this they went westward, with the city ever climbing up like a green cloud upon their left; and as the night deepened more lights sprang forth, until all the hill seemed afire with stars. They came at last to a white bridge, and crossing found the great gates of the city: they faced south-west, set between the ends of the encircling wall that here overlapped, and they were tall and strong, and hung with many lamps.

Haldir knocked and spoke, and the gates opened soundlessly; but of guards Frodo could see no sign. The travellers passed within, and the gates shut behind them. They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall, and passing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees. No folk could they see, nor hear any feet upon the paths; but there were many voices, about them, and in the air above. Far away up on the hill they could hear the sound of singing....

They went along many paths and climbed many stairs, until they came to the high places and saw before them amid a wide lawn a fountain shimmering. It was lit by silver lamps that swung from the boughs of trees, and it fell into a basin of silver, from which a white stream spilled. Upon the south side of the lawn there stood the mightiest of all the trees; its great smooth bole gleamed like grey silk, and up it towered, until its first branches, far above, opened their huge limbs under shadowy clouds of leaves. Beside it a broad white ladder stood, and at its foot three Elves were seated. They sprang up as the travellers approached, and Frodo saw that they were tall and clad in grey mail, and from their shoulders hung long white cloaks.

'Here dwell Celeborn and Galadriel,' said Haldir. 'It is their wish that you should ascend and speak with them.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 7, The Mirror of Galadriel


Notes
1fosse: A moat or defensive ditch in a fortification, usually filled with water.

fosse. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 23 Jan. 2010.
<Dictionary.com dictionary.reference.com/browse/fosse>.

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 22Jan10

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