[akhtene]

Just read my own stupid post and got a better idea.
Could it be that the bearers of elven rings communicated through them somehow? I don't mean the way we do on the phone, but they probably knew/felt each other's whereabouts, the state of mind and whether one needed help. This could explain what Galadriel said about Gandalf's passing into darkness and the fact she knew where to send the eagle to.