🧝Galadriel's lesser known feat

[Ithrynluin]

When I read this text before, this has slipped my not-so-keen sight.

From Unfinished Tales; Cirion and Eorl:

At last the whole host was assembled; and only a few hundreds were left behind to support the men unfitted for such desperate venture by youth or age. It was then the sixth day of the month of Víressë. On that day in silence the great éohere set out, leaving fear behind, and taking with them small hope; for they knew not what lay before them, either on the road or at its end. It is said that Eorl led forth some seven thousand fully-armed riders and some hundreds of horsed archers. At his right hand rode Borondir, to serve as guide so far as he might, since he had lately passed through the lands. But this great host was not threatened or assailed during its long journey down the Vales of Anduin. Such folk of good or evil kind as saw it approach fled out of its path for fear of its might and splendour. As it drew southward and passed by southern Mirkwood (below the great East Bight), which was now infested by the Balchoth, still there was no sign of men, in force or in scouting parties, to bar their road or to spy upon their coming. In part this was due to events unknown to them, which had come to pass since Borondir set out; but other powers also were at work. For when at last the host drew near to Dol Guldur, Eorl turned away westward for fear of the dark shadow and cloud that flowed out from it, and then he rode on within sight of Anduin. Many of the riders turned their eyes thither, half in fear and half in hope to glimpse from afar the shimmer of the Dwimordene, the perilous land that in legends of their people was said to shine like gold in the springtime. But now it seemed shrouded in a gleaming mist and to their dismay the mist passed over the river and flowed over the land before them.
Eorl did not halt. "Ride on!" he commanded. "There is no other way to take. After so long a road shall we be held back from battle by a river-mist?"
As they drew nearer they saw that the white mist was driving back the glooms of Dol Guldur, and soon they passed into it, riding slowly at first and warily; but under its canopy all things were lit with a clear and shadowless light, while to left and right they were guarded as it were by white walls of secrecy.
"The Lady of the Golden Wood is on our side, it seems ,” said Borondir.
"Maybe," said Eorl. "But at least I will trust the wisdom of Felaróf. He scents no evil. His heart is high, and his weariness is healed: he strains to be given his head. So be it! For never have I had more need of secrecy and speed."

Do you think there is any chance that this mist was NOT of Galadriel's making? I think it definitely is Galadriel offering a helping hand to Men, and defying Sauron. Mist is water in another form and Galadriel wields Nenya, the Ring of Water...

How thrilling! (especially since I'm a die-hard Galadriel fan ) It sure sounds like Elvish 'magic'....or so Frodo and Sam would have called it I'm sure...

Eorl's men seem to have a negative image of Lórien in their minds, and this distrust of Lórien seems to have stuck around until the time of Theoden. Who do you think caused this distrust of the Galadhrim among Men? Or was it only fear of Galadriel?
It seems that Galadriel's 'sorcery' generates as much fear and distrust from these Men as Sauron's darkness does. Why would they be so distrustful of Elves? Were they totally oblivous of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men?

 

[Beleg]

Who do you think caused this distrust of the Galadhrim among Men? Or was it only fear of Galadriel?

Perhaps the lack of correspondese between the Elves and Men?
Work of Spies of Sauron, sent by him specially to enstrange the two races; elves and men and break the ties between them.

Or was it only fear of Galadriel?

Fear of Galadriel? I might buy it. Perhaps the spies of Sauron (perhaps people like Grima?) that lurked in those areas, upon the intruction of their master told about the powers of Galadriel in such a way that she'd seem like someone opperesive and intimidating, rather then friendly and helpful. I don't think they really feared her, rather distrusted her due to the negative propegenda they might have heard about her is particular and elves in General. Afterall, really the Rohirrim and Galadhrim had no interaction between them for centuries...which is long enough time to sow seeds of doubt and hatred even among the most cautious of people.

Were they totally oblivous of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men?

The two races had become estranged and their mutual ties much diminished. Like it happened with Numeneor in its later days, when the whole tale of Earendil and his voyage was altered to serve personal purpose, it might be possible that cunning propegenda experts and/or spies of Sauron presented the truth in such a way that the elves seemed distrustful.

 

[Ithrynluin]

Originally posted by Beleg_strongbow
Afterall, really the Rohirrim and Galadhrim had no interaction between them for centuries...which is long enough time to sow seeds of doubt and hatred even among the most cautious of people.

As far as I know, these two people had never had any dealings with each other.

Fear of Galadriel? I might buy it. Perhaps the spies of Sauron (perhaps people like Grima?) that lurked in those areas, upon the intruction of their master told about the powers of Galadriel in such a way that she'd seem like someone opperesive and intimidating, rather then friendly and helpful.

I agree. Grima says some negative things about Lórien:

The Two Towers; The King of the Golden Hall
'Then it is true, as Éomer reported, that you are in league with the Sorceress of the Golden Wood?' said Wormtongue. 'It is not to be wondered at: webs of deceit were ever woven in Dwimordene.'

Do you think that Grima earnestly believed this (e.g. The Rohirrim were 'taught' this for generations) or did he know the truth about Lórien (from Saruman?) and was just saying negative stuff about it because Lórien was an enemy of his master?

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Beleg!

 

[Beleg]

Do you think that Grima earnestly believed this (e.g. The Rohirrim were 'taught' this for generations) or did he know the truth about Lórien (from Saruman?) and was just saying negative stuff about it because Lórien was an enemy of his master?

I would say a mixture of both, specially when it comes to telling tell-tales in the courts of Edoras. Surely he would have heard old legends passed on through generations about "the perlious lady of the golden wood." Later he would have possibly have heard about Galadriel from Saruman, although most of them would have been sarcastic jibes and ranting against Galadriel. Perhaps he was specially instructed by Saruman to tell lies about Galadriel and Lorien in Rohan. And his initial knowledge of Lorien would have made it easy for him to tell lies in the court, and these lies would have been effected and were effective...seeing that even a person like Eomer was initially in doubt about Galadriel's sincerity.

 

[Eriol]

I think it is just a general estrangement between Men and Elves. Did the Éotheod know of, and trust, the Mirkwood Elves? That would be a very interesting question.

Note that in your quote, ithrynluin, suspicion of the Golden Wood is implicit -- they already feared and distrusted it, even though they never had any dealings with it -- and before coming to Calenardhon. The tales about the Golden Wood, it seems, are much earlier than 2509.

Also, the "materialists" in the midst thought it was just a river mist, and so felt no gratitude for the Lady.

It is a nice passage, though