Galadriel

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In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Galadriel, or The Lady of the Woods, was an Elf-queen of Middle-earth, ruler of the land of LothlÃÂÃÂ³rien along with her husband Celeborn. She was originally named "Artanis" (noble woman) and "Nerwen" (Man maiden). "Galadriel" was a name given her by her lover Celeborn, It meant "maiden crowned with a garland of bright radiance", which referred to her hair. They Elves of Tirion said it captured the radiance of the Two Trees Laurelin and Telperion themselves.

Warning: Plot details follow.

Galadriel was the only daughter and youngest child of Finarfin, prince of the Noldor. Her elder brothers were Finrod Felagund, Angrod and Aegnor. She was born in Valinor during the Years of the Trees. During the great perturbations at the end of that period, she came to Beleriand with most of the Noldor. She lived nominally with one of her brothers, but spent much time at the court of Thingol and Melian in Menegroth, where she fells in love with, and later married, the noble Celeborn, kinsman of Thingol.

Both Celeborn and Galadriel survived the War of Wrath, and travelled first to Lindon, under Gil-galad. Later they moved eastward, and established the realm of Eregion or Hollin. At this time they made contact with a Nandorin settlement in the valley of the Anduin, the later LothlÃÂÃÂ³rien. Later they removed from Eregion by way of the mines of Khazad-dum, and became lords of LothlÃÂÃÂ³rien. They had a daugher, CelebrÃÂÃÂan, who later married Elrond Half-elven of Rivendell.

During the Second Age, when the Rings of Power were forged, Galadriel was mistrusting of Annatar, the loremaster who guided Celebrimbor and the other Noldor of Eregion. As later turned out she was right, as he turned out to be Sauron. When Eregion was attacked, Galadriel was entrusted with one of the Three Rings of the Elves. Her Ring was Nenya, the Ring of Water. Conscious of Sauron's power, and wishing to thwart it, she did not use the Ring as long as the One Ring was in Sauron's hands. However, during the Third Age, when the One Ring is lost, she put it to use. Its power might have been related to the Mirror of Galadriel, a large bowl of water in which visions of the future may be seen.

She hosted the Fellowship of the Ring after their escape from Moria. When she heard of their arrival in the woods, she sent word to the elf guards to remove their blindfolds. When she met them in her tree dwelling at Caras Galadhon, she gave each member of the fellowship a searching look, testing their resolve (Boromir regarded this test as a temptation). She, in turn, was tested when Frodo Baggins later offered to place the One Ring in her keeping. Knowing that its corrupting influence would make her "great and terrible", she declared, "I pass the test" and refused the Ring. She said that she will "diminish" as a result. When the Fellowship of the Ring has to leave, she gave each member of the fellowship a gift and an elven cloak, and outfit the party with three boats and much waybread.

She passes oved the Great Sea in the early years of the Fourth Age, leaving her husband Celeborn behind until he finally set sail as well.

Much of Galadriel's story is confusing, and there are several distinct tales told about her, collected in the Unfinished Tales. It seems that Tolkien's final intent was to have Galadriel meet Celeborn in Valinor, and together they desired to leave for Middle-earth even before the Rebellion of the Noldor. However, because they left at the same time, they also fell under the ban. After the War of Wrath Galadriel refused the Pardon of the Valar out of pride, and as such remained under the Ban. It is her refusal of the One Ring that lifts the ban, and that is why she is finally allowed to leave in the end.

In Peter Jackson's movie trilogy beginning with , Galadriel is played by Cate Blanchett.