I think Tolkien writes in one of his published Letters that Galadriel is kindred in his imagination with the Virgin Mary. I may have the sense wrong, but there was something there if my memory serves me correctly.
Here's the point: I'm not Roman Catholic, but I've got some RC friends who are definitely in love with the Virgin Mary - it's called adoration. Their voices choke up in a different way about the Virgin than they do even about their own wives and mothers. I think this is what Gimli had for Galadriel - and her warmth toward him certainly changed him for the better - or should I say - brought out the best in him. So there was love, but of an adoration kind. That's been hinted at above, but I wanted to get the "A" word into the discussion.
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