[Lhunardawen]

First of all, just a tiny observation.

Thus it was that I found you but lately gone. I tarried there in the ageless time of that land where days bring healing not decay.

I have always thought that somehow, Lothlorien derived its name from Lorien, the place where the Vala Irmo and his wife Estë dwells...a place of rest and healing. Now I know that indeed, Lothlorien was fashioned to be like Lorien, only the former is in Middle Earth and is ruled by the Elves Galadriel and Celeborn.

I know that this chapter is supposed to be about Gandalf, but I couldn't resist. The chapter tells so much about Aragorn and his future kingship.

"Yes, we will set out together. But I do not doubt that you will come there before me, if you wish." (Aragorn)

Aragorn was talking about their arrival in Rohan, but is this not reminiscent of what happened some place else? Yup, you got it. Minas Tirith.

Again, Aragorn was revealed to be a king both in body and spirit.

The grey figure of the Man, Aragorn son of Arathorn, was tall, and stern as stone, his hand upon the hilt of his sword; he looked as if some king out of the sea who stepped upon the shores of lesser men.

Gandalf, on the other hand, was shown so:

But before him [Aragorn] stooped the old figure, white, shining now as if with some light kindled within, bent, laden with years, but holding a power beyond the strength of kings.

Light. Gandalf has hope for Middle Earth, and is Middle Earht's source of hope. He also has hope that one day, the Man before him would be crowned king. A power beyond the strength of kings. Gandalf is an Ainu, who were once the rulers of the world. It is fitting so that he has a power to rival a Man's. And he it will be who would pass on the rule of Middle Earth over to a king.

But despite this, Aragorn knows his time has not yet come. He remains dependent on Gandalf:

We will go where [the White Rider] leads.

Now is that swoon-worthy or swoon-worthy?

In light of this, I recall Nilp's post in "The Bridge of Khazad-dum," about Aragorn's first crowning occuring before Gandalf's death. And there came Aragorn's first trial for kingship. He took command of the Fellowship in Gandalf's place, making decisions that the wizard was supposed to make. In "the Departure of Boromir" we saw Aragorn having to decide between two roads, and he thought that he might be making a mistake in his choice. But in this chapter, Gandalf assured him that he has made the right decision: to follow Merry and Pippin. He has even mimicked Aragorn's words, that the Ringbearer and his Quest is in their hands no longer. Aragorn has passed his first test.

But the second test is about to come. I will not mention it yet...still weeks away before the proper chapter.