. Alas, not me: "Galadriel," he murmured.

07 June 2026

"Galadriel," he murmured.


At the bottom of the Emyn Muil, Sam and Frodo realize that they would have to leave the Elven rope behind which they had used to descend the cliffs. Frodo wryly suggests that Sam climb back up, untie the knot, and bring the rope back down with him.

Sam scratched his head. ‘No, I can’t think how, begging your pardon,’ he said. ‘But I don’t like leaving it, and that’s a fact.’ He stroked the rope’s end and shook it gently. ‘It goes hard parting with anything I brought out of the Elf-country. Made by Galadriel herself, too, maybe. Galadriel,’ he murmured, nodding his head mournfully. He looked up and gave one last pull to the rope as if in farewell. 
To the complete surprise of both the hobbits it came loose. Sam fell over, and the long grey coils slithered silently down on top of him.

(TT 4.i.611)
The last thing Sam says before giving the rope a last tug is “Galadriel,” and down the rope comes.




Spock raises an eyebrow







1 comment:

  1. Names have their own magic, e.g. Luthien sings names of "things tallest and longest" to make her hair grow faster ("The Lay of Leithian," Canto V). Speculation: for Sam Elven things are magical and Galadriel is the one who shows him "Elf-magic," so would it mean that invoking the name of somebody magical to a thing that can -- in Sam's mind -- act magically, produce magic? Regardless, the next time he calls on Galadriel is in Shelob's lair. (Then he hears Elves singing and, strengthened, cries out the name of Elbereth, a stronger "magic.")

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