What did Sam see in the Mirrormere/Kheled-zaram ?

[SonofUgluk]

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been debated before,but what do people think Sam saw when he looked in the Mirromere after the fellowships' exit from Moria ?

'What did you see ?' said Pippin to Sam , but Sam was too deep in thought to answer ..

Is this Tolkein setting up the scene for Sam looking into the Mirror of Galadriel , or perhaps him suggesting that Sam may have the gift of foresight kind of like Frodo with his prophetic visions/dreams of his sailing into the West ? Would be interesting to know what people think , Cheers !

[Inziladun]

I don't think Sam saw anything but what was described: the reflections of the Mountains and the stars above.
However, those were apparently changed by the Mirrormere into particularly bright and clear forms, so Sam may have simply been silent considering something so beautiful.

Also, it's my merest (;)) guess that since the reflections of the viewers were not shown by the water, maybe Sam was considering his own relative smallness in the world, and the fact that it existed apart from him. Anyway, I think that might be my thoughts on seeing it.

[SonofUgluk]

Thanks for the reply Inzil, maybe I'm reading a bit too much into it and trying to see something more esoteric to it that isn't there - perhaps with the recent 'death' of Gandalf, and the encounter with the balrog, maybe it's more of a 'stunned silence' as the enormity of the Quest finally hits home ?

[Inziladun]

perhaps with the recent 'death' of Gandalf, and the encounter with the balrog, maybe it's more of a 'stunned silence' as the enormity of the Quest finally hits home ?

Maybe so; and perhaps a moment of such peaceful beauty on top of that silenced even simple Samwise.