Galadriel

Silentwings133

Of Galadriel and Cate Blanchett

Galadriel appears regularly throughout the 01st, 02nd and 03rd ages of the four ages of Tolkien's Chronicles before passing over the sea to Valinor at the end of the 03rd age with Bilbo, Frodo, Elrond, Gandalf and the remaining Noldor elves, leaving Middle Earth forever.

Discreetly exerting influence rather than overwhelming power, refusing even the One Ring when it was offered to her by Frodo, Galadriel, daughter of King Finarfin and Granddaughter of King Finwë, the first High King of the Noldor was ever a counselor rather than an antagonist. Galadriel was present during Feanor's* clash with the Valar during the 01st age, when Feanor refused to give up the Silmarils to the Valar. She also played a determining role, later in the 02nd age, when Sauron, with Celebrimbor's** unwitting help, forged the 3 Elven rings, the 6 Dwarf-rings and the 9 rings for the Men (later the Black Riders). Sensing a grave danger Galadriel was instrumental in ensuring that the Elven rings never fell into Sauron's hands. Galadriel played an important role during the final war with Sauron, in the 03rd age, which saw the destruction of the one ring and Sauron's ultimate downfall as portrayed in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

*Galadriel was with Feanor (her uncle) and his 7 sons when they were banished from Valinor leading the Noldor nation during the crossing of the icy northern seas to enter Middle Earth. Galadriel, herself, was not banished from Valinor. She was not a Noldor but, from her mother's side, of the Vanyar nation and as such chose to go of her own free will to try and help temper Feanor's anger. As such the shores of Valinor were not closed to her should she wish to return one day.

**Celebrimbor was the Lord of the Elven smiths

Married to Celeborn, Galadriel took up residence in Lothlorien protecting her realm much in the same way as Melian, the Maia, protected Thingol the Elf's ancient kingdom, shrouding and protecting it with a girdle but never taking the title of Queen, preferring to assume, with Celeborn, the role of lord and lady of the realm in the absence of the last king of Lorien, Amroth.

Incidentally. Celeborn and Galadriel had a daughter, called Celebrian, who married Elrond and it was Elrond's daughter Arwen who married Aragorn, who following the Fall of Sauron, became King Elessar II. Aragorn was the direct descendant of Elros, the first king of Númenor and Elrond's brother but that's another story, told elsewhere.

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BTW. It's nice to put such a face to such a legend and what a face but be there no mistaking... one is legend and the other is a very real person. What a person and what an immense actress.

Also, to help understand the history of Galadriel and other characters mentioned above, check out The Encyclopedia of Arda.