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ame word of the deceits of the Enemy。 But this； ifyou will； is the magic of Galadriel。 Did you not say that you wished to seeElf…magic？ '
'I did；' said Sam； trembling a little between fear and curiosity。 ‘I'llhave a peep； Lady； if you're willing。'
‘And I'd not mind a glimpse of what's going on at home；' he said in anaside to Frodo。 'It seems a terrible long time that I've been away。 But there；
like as not I'll only see the stars； or something that I won't understand。'
'Like as not；' said the Lady with a gentle laugh。 ‘But e； you shalllook and see what you may。 Do not touch the water！ '
Sam climbed up on the foot of the pedestal and leaned over the basin。 Thewater looked hard and dark。 Stars were reflected in it。
‘There's only stars； as I thought；' he said。 Then he gave a low gasp； forthe stars went out。 As if a dark veil had been withdrawn； the Mirror grewgrey； and then clear。 There was sun shining； and the branches of trees werewaving and tossing in the wind。 But before Sam could make up his mind what itwas that he saw； the light faded； and now he thought he saw Frodo with a paleface lying fast asleep under a great dark cliff。 Then he seemed to see himselfgoing along a dim passage； and climbing an endless winding stair。 It came tohim suddenly that he was looking urgently for something； but what it was hedid not know。 Like a dream the vision shifted and went back； and he saw thetrees again。 But this time they were not so close； and he could see what wasgoing on： they were not waving in the wind； they were falling； crashing to theground。
‘Hi！' cried Sam in an outraged voice。 'There's that Ted Sandyman a…
cutting down trees as he shouldn't。 They didn't ought to be felled： it's thatavenue beyond the Mill that shades the road to Bywater。 I wish I could get atTed； and I'd fell _him_！'
But now Sam noticed that the Old Mill had vanished； and a large red…brickbuilding was being put up where it had stood。 Lots of folk were busily atwork。 There was a tall red chimney nearby。 Black smoke seemed to cloud thesurface of the Mirror。
'There's some devilry at work in the Shire；' he said。 'Elrond knew whathe was about when he wanted to send Mr。 Merry back。' Then suddenly Sam gave acry and sprang away。 'I can't stay here；' he said wildly。 ‘I must go home。
They've dug up Bagshot Row； and there's the poor old gaffer going down theHill with his bits of things on a barrow。 I must go home！ '
'You cannot go home alone；' said the Lady。 'You did not wish to go home
without your master before you looked in the Mirror； and yet you knew thatevil things might well be happening in the Shire。 Remember that the Mirrorshows many things； and not all have yet e to pass。 Some never e to be；
unless those that behold the visions turn aside from their path to preventthem。 The Mirror is dangerous as a guide of deeds。'
Sam sat on the ground and put his head in his hands。 ‘I wish I had nevere here； and I don't want to see no more magic；' he said and fell silent。
After a moment he spoke again thickly； as if struggling with tears。 ‘No； I'llgo home by the long road with Mr。 Frodo； or not at all；' he said。 ‘But I hopeI do get back some day。 If what I've seen turns out true； somebody's going tocatch it hot！ '
‘Do you now wish to look； Frodo？ ' said the Lady Galadriel。 ‘You did notwish to see Elf…magic and were content。'
‘Do you advise me to look？ ' asked Frodo。
'No；' she said。 ‘I do not counsel you one way or the other。 I am not acounsellor。 You may learn something； and whether what you see be fair or evil；
that may be profitable； and yet it may not。 Seeing is both good and perilous。
Yet I think； Frodo； that you have courage and wisdom enough for the venture；
or I would not have brought you here。 Do as you will！ '
‘I will look；' said Frodo； and he climbed on the pedestal and bent overthe dark water。 At once the Mirror cleared and he saw a twilit land。 Mountains
loomed dark in the distance against a pale sky。 A long grey road wound backout of sight。 Far away a figure came slowly down the road； faint and small atfirst； but growing larger and clearer as it approached。 Suddenly Frodorealized that it reminded him of Gandalf。 He almost called aloud the wizard's
name； and then he saw that the figure was clothed not in grey but in white； ina white that shone faintly in the dusk； and in its hand there was a whitestaff。 The head was so bowed that he could see no face； and presently thefigure turned aside round a bend in the road and went out of the Mirror'sview。 Doubt came into Frodo's mind： was this a vision of Gandalf on one of his
many lonely journeys long ago； or was it Saruman？
The vision now changed。 Brief and small but very vivid he caught aglimpse of Bilbo walking restlessly about his room。 The table was litteredwith disordered papers； rain was beating on the windows。
Then there was a pause； and after it many swift scenes followed thatFrodo in some way knew to be parts of a great history in which he had beeinvolved。 The mist cleared and he saw a sight which he had never seen beforebut knew at once： the Sea。 Darkness fell。 The sea rose and raged in a greatstorm。 Then he saw against the Sun； sinking blood…red into a wrack of clouds；
the black outline of a tall ship with torn sails riding up out of the West。
Then a wide river flowing through a populous city。 Then a white fortress withseven towers。 And then again a ship with black sails； but now it was morningagain； and the water rippled with light； and a banner bearing the emblem of awhite tree shone in the sun。 A smoke as of fire and battle arose； and againthe sun went down in a burning red that faded into a grey mist； and into themist a small ship passed away； twinkling with lights。 It vanished； and Frodosighed and prepared to draw away。
But suddenly the Mirror went altogether dark； as dark as if a hole hadopened in the world of sight； and Frodo looked into emptiness。 In the blackabyss there appeared a single Eye that slowly grew。 until it filled nearly allthe Mirror。 So terrible was it that Frodo stood rooted； unable to cry out orto withdraw his gaze。 The Eye was rimmed with fire； but was itself glazed；
yellow as a cat's； watchful and intent； and the black slit of its pupil openedon a pit； a window into nothing。
Then the Eye began to rove； searching this way and that； and Frodo knewwith certainty and horror that among the many things that it sought he himselfwas one。 But he also knew that it could not see him…not yet； not unless hewilled it。 The Ring that hung upon its chain about his neck grew heavy；
heavier than a great stone； and his head was dragged downwards。 The Mirrorseemed to be growing hot and curls of steam were rising from the water。 He was
slipping forward。
‘Do not touch the water！' said the Lady Galadriel softly。 The visionfaded； and Frodo found that he was looking at the cool stars twinkling in thesilver basin。 He stepped back shaking all over and looked at the Lady。
‘I know what it was that you last saw；' she said； ‘for that is also in mymind。 Do not be afraid！ But do not think that only by singing amid the trees；
nor even by the slender arrows of elven…bows； is this land of Lothlórienmaintained and defended against its Enemy。 I say to you； Frodo； that even as Ispeak to you； I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind； or all of his mindthat concerns the Elves。 And he gropes ever to see me and my thought。 Butstill the door is closed！ '
She lifted up her white arms； and spread out her hands towards the Eastin a gesture of rejection and denial。 E。rendil； the Evening Star； most belovedof the Elves； shone clear above。 So bright was it that the figure of theElven…lady cast a dim shadow on the ground。 Its rays glanced upon a ring abouther finger； it glittered like polished gold overlaid with silver light； and awhite stone in it twinkled as if the Even…star had e down to rest upon herhand。 Frodo gazed at the ring with awe； for suddenly it seemed to him that heunderstood。
‘Yes；' she said； divining his thought； ‘it is not permitted to speak ofit； and Elrond could not do so。 But it cannot be hidden from the Ring…bearer；
and one who has seen the Eye。 Verily it is in the land of Lórien upon thefinger of Galadriel that one of the Three