The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Telepathic Communication in Middle-earth

Nar · 05-13-2002, 05:58 PM

There are several moments during Frodo and Sam's journey together when Sam says 'Galadriel' and his wishes come true as if he's been heard and answered. He yanks on the end of the elven rope during the climb down from the cliffs, and the knot comes loose, although he had, as he protests to Frodo, tied it securely and knew all about knots from his family. In Mordor, Sam says 'If I could see the Lady, I'd tell her ...' then wishes for light and water. Soon, the clouds are blown back and some light comes through, and they find water that somehow survived this sooty, barren desert, and he says 'if ever I see the Lady again, I'll tell her, light, and now water..' Then, as mentioned above, there are the elvish incantations that spring to their lips when they use the phial, as if someone is speaking through them.

All the wishes are small ones, granted through lucky weather and odd coincidence-- just how well DID Sam tie that knot? Anyway, it was an elf-rope with a certain light in it. A wish like, 'Galadriel! I wish Sauron the Dark Lord would up and die!' certainly wouldn't have worked.

Although I think there was more going on here, I do think Galadriel watched them in her mirror as far as she could, using the power of her ring. I'm not clear whether she could have seen into Mordor until after the quest was fulfilled-- probably not, if even Gandalf couldn't. It doesn't feel right anyway, it doesn't suit the story if Gandalf, Galadriel or Elrond could see Sam & Frodo while the quest was on and the spiritual pollution of Mordor obscured them. And I don't think Galadriel granted any prayers, though she may have encouraged their faithful elf-rope to unknot itsself. (I think she (the rope) should have a name! What's True-thread Un-knotter in Elvish? Quenya or Sindarin, both if you know them.)

However, I do think the Mordor prayers of Sam & Frodo were granted, by Manwe and Elbereth, who were following the quest even into Mordor using that famed sight of the Valar that Morgoth inflicted on poor Hurin. Gandalf mentioned it 'it is given to me to see things far off.' Every time Sam said 'Galadriel' in Morder, I think Elbereth heard, and took it upon herself to organize what small help she legitemately could, diverting the weather (even long beforehand, to produce that trickle of water) and speaking through them when they were desperate & open to it.

Trying to link this up to the Valar's limits from the Silmarillion: In general men/hobbits were not the Valar's business, but Sam and Frodo had a connection by their quest to mop up the Valar's loose end, namely, Sauron. Although the ways of men were hidden to the Valar in general, that connection gave them the ability to see & hear Frodo and Sam when invoked-- and Galadriel's name, I think, somehow reached Elbereth's ear by a convergence of meaning, as in 'white lady,' in Sam's and Frodo's minds. The phial's star shine must have enhanced that effect.

05-13-2002, 05:58 PM	#6
Nar Wight Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 228	There are several moments during Frodo and Sam's journey together when Sam says 'Galadriel' and his wishes come true as if he's been heard and answered. He yanks on the end of the elven rope during the climb down from the cliffs, and the knot comes loose, although he had, as he protests to Frodo, tied it securely and knew all about knots from his family. In Mordor, Sam says 'If I could see the Lady, I'd tell her ...' then wishes for light and water. Soon, the clouds are blown back and some light comes through, and they find water that somehow survived this sooty, barren desert, and he says 'if ever I see the Lady again, I'll tell her, light, and now water..' Then, as mentioned above, there are the elvish incantations that spring to their lips when they use the phial, as if someone is speaking through them. All the wishes are small ones, granted through lucky weather and odd coincidence-- just how well DID Sam tie that knot? Anyway, it was an elf-rope with a certain light in it. A wish like, 'Galadriel! I wish Sauron the Dark Lord would up and die!' certainly wouldn't have worked. Although I think there was more going on here, I do think Galadriel watched them in her mirror as far as she could, using the power of her ring. I'm not clear whether she could have seen into Mordor until after the quest was fulfilled-- probably not, if even Gandalf couldn't. It doesn't feel right anyway, it doesn't suit the story if Gandalf, Galadriel or Elrond could see Sam & Frodo while the quest was on and the spiritual pollution of Mordor obscured them. And I don't think Galadriel granted any prayers, though she may have encouraged their faithful elf-rope to unknot itsself. (I think she (the rope) should have a name! What's True-thread Un-knotter in Elvish? Quenya or Sindarin, both if you know them.) However, I do think the Mordor prayers of Sam & Frodo were granted, by Manwe and Elbereth, who were following the quest even into Mordor using that famed sight of the Valar that Morgoth inflicted on poor Hurin. Gandalf mentioned it 'it is given to me to see things far off.' Every time Sam said 'Galadriel' in Morder, I think Elbereth heard, and took it upon herself to organize what small help she legitemately could, diverting the weather (even long beforehand, to produce that trickle of water) and speaking through them when they were desperate & open to it. Trying to link this up to the Valar's limits from the Silmarillion: In general men/hobbits were not the Valar's business, but Sam and Frodo had a connection by their quest to mop up the Valar's loose end, namely, Sauron. Although the ways of men were hidden to the Valar in general, that connection gave them the ability to see & hear Frodo and Sam when invoked-- and Galadriel's name, I think, somehow reached Elbereth's ear by a convergence of meaning, as in 'white lady,' in Sam's and Frodo's minds. The phial's star shine must have enhanced that effect.