How did Celeborn, Glorfindel and Beregond get their information ?

[The Mouth of Sauron]

As a prelude to the Company leaving Lorien, Celeborn seemed to know that "the bridges at Osgiliath are down and the landings held by the enemy".

When Glorfindel found Aragorn and the 4 hobbits prior to reaching Rivendell, he stated that news had reached him from Gildor's folk.

And during his initial conversation with Pippin, Beregond started that things "were moving" beyond the Inland Sea and north to Mirkwood and beyond.

How did these guys get their information ?

[Inziladun]

As a prelude to the Company leaving Lorien, Celeborn seemed to know that "the bridges at Osgiliath are down and the landings held by the enemy".

The destruction of the bridge and the events in Osgiliath were relayed to the Council of Elrond by Boromir, who had witnessed them. After the Council, it is said that Elladan and Elrohir went 'down the Silverlode into a strange country'. They would have told Celeborn what was discussed at the Council.


When Glorfindel found Aragorn and the 4 hobbits prior to reaching Rivendell, he stated that news had reached him from Gildor's folk.

My guess would be that Gildor sent one or two of his company to Rivendell. It was nearly a month from the time Frodo left Bag End til the hobbits and Strider were found by Glorfindel, so there would have been ample time.

And during his initial conversation with Pippin, Beregond started that things "were moving" beyond the Inland Sea and north to Mirkwood and beyond.


Denethor was regularly viewing the Palantír of Minas Anor. Though he kept secret the source of the intelligence he gathered with it, I think it likely he discussed the things he learned with his advisors. Bits of that information could have filtered down to the populace in Minas Tirith, if they weren't outright told what was going on.

[Mithalwen]

Glorfindel had left Rivendell nine days before he met the hobbits and Aragorn however they had travelled by slow routes and later with a gravely ill Frodo. It is 348 mile from Bree to Rivendell andso not far short of 400 from Woody End even as the crow flies which is more direct than even an elf must run . Frodo met Gildor on the night of the 24th Sept and Glorfindel leaves Rivendell on the 9th of October so there is a maximum of two weeks if Glorfindel left on the day the news arrived. I think that an average of 28 mile a day is eminently "doable" for swift and tireless elven feet - the three hunters managed 135miles in four days. And the message may have been relayed because of reference to the travelling companies. However they may have used Osanwe Kenta, a kind of elvish telepathy. It isn't like picking up a telephone - communication depends on the skill and degree of affinity of the communicants as well as distance. I can't find a suitable link and unfortunately it is an essay that hasn't been published in a widely available format.

[Inziladun]

However they may have used Osanwe Kenta, a kind of elvish telepathy. It isn't like picking up a telephone - communication depends on the skill and degree of affinity of the communicants as well as distance. I can't find a suitable link and unfortunately it is an essay that hasn't been published in a widely available format.

Hm. Something along these lines?

Often...[Celeborn, Galadriel, and Elrond] would sit together under the stars, recalling the ages that were gone and all their joys and labours in the world, or holding council, concerning the days to come. If any wanderer had chanced to pass, little would he have seen or heard, and it would have seemed to him only that he saw grey figures, carved in stone, memorials of forgotten things now lost in unpeopled lands. For they did not move or speak with mouth, looking from mind to mind; and only their shining eyes stirred as their thoughts went to and fro.ROTK Many Partings (emphasis added)

An interesting thought. Perhaps Gildor or one of his people was able to fire a message to Elrond that way. After all, they were Noldor, and could be said to have had an 'affinity' with those in Rivendell.

[Lindale]

A quick question--where is this Osanwe Kenta written? I'm dead curious about this. :cool:

[Rumil]

Here you go Lindale -

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=1214&highlight=Osanwe

A cracking good thread from back in the mists of Barrowdownian time, though you'll recognise a few monickers. Whatever happened to Lindil anyway? A much missed poster!

[lindil]

It is not so much 'Elvish' telepathy, as a property of having a Fea [spirit].
Thus the Valar hold council this way [as do the elves in the RotK citation below]. But Aragorn and other Men with Disciplined minds [Denethor - for sure] also have skill here. So it has more to do with strength and purity of mind [reference Galadriel's words to frodo about knowing Sauron's mind, but he does NOT now hers.

[Puddleglum]

How did these guys get their information ?
A couple of other "items" for consideration - at least so far as the Elves are concerned.

1) The Three Rings. Elrond & Galadriel each had one. We are not ever told the full scope of the powers they provide, but we are given various glimpses.

Galadriel claims to know the mind of Sauron (as it partains to the Elves) - apparently due to the ring.
Gandalf (also a Ring wearer) communicated (in a way) with Frodo from a far distance in striving with the will of Sauron.
Galdriel comments that there is more protecting Lorien than Elves & bows - suggesting the the Ring is supplying powers (which she chooses not to enumerate).

What other powers might the Rings have made available to Elrond (Rivendell) and Galadriel (Lorien)?

2) Elvish (esp Noldorin) Crafts & Arts.
Galadriel designed and constructed a device (her "mirror") capable of probing thru time and across wide distances of space.
Elrond demonstrated the ability to cause the waters of a river to rise or fall at his command.
Elves (esp Celebrimbor) had already demonstrated the ability to design and build physical objects capable of granting long existence, confering invisibility, and focusing their wills on various tasks.

These crafts and arts seemed like "magic" to other peoples, but were no more magic to them than gunpowder was to early Europeans exploring the Americas. Who knows what other devices their arts may have come up with to assist them in communicating among themselves more quickly (over longer distances) than we mere mortal men might imagine.

[lindil]

Galadriel claims to know the mind of Sauron (as it partains to the Elves) - apparently due to the ring.
Gandalf (also a Ring wearer) communicated (in a way) with Frodo from a far distance in striving with the will of Sauron.
Galdriel comments that there is more protecting Lorien than Elves & bows - suggesting the the Ring is supplying powers (which she chooses not to enumerate).Very good post Puddleglum, but I am not sure that Galadriel's ring is the primary much less sole cause of her knowing Sauron's mind as it concerns elves. I am recalling Elrond confessing that to the Fellowship before it started out 'all under the shadow is dark'.

So perhaps this is her own innate power and skill. But the rings were involved and we know little about how much.

The ring slows down time to a more 'elvish' speed and elrond [?] during the council says that they have no offensive purpose.

I have always wondered about the differences between the 'boundary' of Lorien and the Girdle of Melian.

Lorien was more physically guarded; in Doriath one would become psychically confused [presumably till detected/captured].

But did Galadriel's ring do more than spook out most non-elves?
Galadriel also has control over the river-mists [see the ride of eorl UT] and Gandalf for one reason or another has a close relationship to fire, especially for preserving life and community [fireworks].