Chapter 635 636: The Test and the Andúril

Finally, Frodo, who couldn't sleep, felt a mysterious call and numbly got up and walked out.

At this time, he was still in a daze, not knowing if he wanted to go out for some fresh air or do something else.

As Frodo left, Sam, who had been snoring just a second ago, suddenly opened his eyes.

Out of caution, he also chose to quietly follow him out.

However, it was clear that besides Frodo and Sam, there were others who couldn't sleep tonight.

Just after the two Hobbits left one after another, the wizard Gandalf, who was lying on his side, also opened his eyes a crack.

But his trust in Queen Galadriel and Celeborn made the wizard yawn and close his eyes again.

Meanwhile, Frodo, treading under the bright moonlight, unknowingly arrived at a grotto.

Here, he met Queen Galadriel.

Compared to the gentle Galadriel during the day, the Queen Galadriel now had a more "dangerous" aura about her.

This feeling was very strange, and Frodo couldn't quite explain it at the moment.

On the other side, under the moonlight, Queen Galadriel seemed to be performing a sacred ritual.

As she tilted the exquisite crystal phial in her hand, a sparkling liquid dripped down, pouring into the silver basin below.

Then Queen Galadriel looked down at the basin, seemingly attracted by something inside, and her expression changed accordingly.

"What are you looking at?" Out of curiosity, Frodo approached.

Just as Gandalf trusted Queen Galadriel, Frodo also had an inexplicable trust in this Elven Queen.

"This is what you call magic, and although I don't know what it means, it truly exists…" Queen Galadriel didn't seem surprised by Frodo's arrival and began to explain to him.

"Magic?" Frodo had seen Mike use his abilities, and in his opinion, that was magic.

As for pouring some water into a basin, that behavior was not magical at all, and there was nothing interesting to see.

"There are many forms of magic…" Queen Galadriel seemed to guess what the Hobbit was thinking, so she continued to explain: "I call this basin the 'Basin of Seeing,' or it can also be called the 'Mirror of Galadriel.' People can observe it to see their past and future…"

"Would you like to try, brave Hobbit?"

It is known that Queen Galadriel could use the "Basin of Seeing" at any time, and choosing to use it tonight in front of the Hobbit made it hard not to suspect her intention to deliberately guide him.

"Can it really see the past and future?" The mission to destroy the One Ring was weighing heavily on Frodo, and he naturally became interested in the "Basin of Seeing" which could show the "future."

He walked to the silver basin and, imitating Queen Galadriel's previous actions, bowed his head to look at the water's surface.

In the shimmering ripples, Frodo saw the beautiful scenery of the Shire, where a group of Hobbit children were playing carefree.

Clearly, this was Frodo's past.

But soon, the scene in the "Basin of Seeing" began to change: blood, fire, war…

Orc armies covered the mountains and plains, attacking humans, a scene so tragic that blood and carnage were everywhere.

To Frodo's horrified expression, these images finally coalesced into a giant burning vertical eye, which was Sauron's Eye.

"It, it's staring at me!" The undisguised malice in the vertical eye made Frodo involuntarily step back.

Because he was too panicked, he tripped and almost fell.

Fortunately, Sam, who had followed and was secretly observing from outside the door, appeared in time to support Frodo.

"Are you all right, Master Frodo?" While caring for his friend, Sam also secretly glanced at the Elven Queen beside them.

As the saying goes, onlookers see more clearly; Sam, who had been secretly watching from the door for a long time, vaguely realized that Queen Galadriel was intentionally guiding Frodo.

"I'm fine, Sam." Frodo, still shaken, habitually shook his head, indicating he was okay.

Queen Galadriel, on the other hand, noticed Sam's unusual expression, so she openly said, "Frodo must have been frightened by his own future; Galadriel's Mirror itself will not harm anyone. If you're still worried, you can try it too."

Galadriel's Mirror could predict the past and future, and Sam had heard about its magic earlier at the door.

Seeing that Frodo was indeed only mentally shaken and physically unharmed, Sam also carefully stepped forward to the silver basin.

Who wouldn't be tempted by the chance to know their future?

As Sam lowered his head to look at the water, a smile unknowingly appeared on his face.

Frodo had rarely seen such a heartfelt smile on his friend before.

"What did you see?" Frodo asked curiously.

"The Shire, I saw everyone living happily in the Shire… I even started a family, with a pair of lovely children…" Sam described the future he saw with his head down, his smile growing sweeter.

A virtuous wife… two children… a harmonious family…

It must be said, this was a wonderful future.

But soon, Sam's expression also took a sharp turn, just like Frodo's earlier, and he finally recoiled two steps in horror.

"What happened?" Frodo looked at his friend's appearance, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.

"So many people died, the war spread to the Shire… Hobbiton was destroyed, and everyone was killed…" Sam's face was covered in cold sweat.

He finally understood how Frodo had felt earlier.

Watching beautiful things being torn apart bit by bit before one's eyes was undoubtedly a very cruel thing.

"The future is not unchangeable; when you glimpse the future, it has already changed…" Galadriel comforted the two shaken Hobbits at the right moment, then continued, "Your future and tragedy all stem from that One Ring…"

"Give it up, and perhaps everything can change."

Watching the Queen Galadriel slowly approach him, Frodo felt an even stronger "dangerous" aura from her.

"No…" When he realized that Queen Galadriel wanted to take the One Ring hanging around his neck, Frodo shouted and tried to dodge.

But at this moment, his body was no longer under his control.

Beside him, Sam, who wanted to step forward to help when he saw something was wrong, was also unable to make a sound, as if drowning, under the powerful magic of Queen Galadriel.

"Look at it, how beautiful…"

In this eerie atmosphere, Queen Galadriel easily took the One Ring, her expression as if mesmerized.

Frodo and Sam had both seen this situation before; it was at the Holy White Council, when Boromir had touched the One Ring and shown the same reaction.

The only regrettable thing was that Mike was not present to take charge of the situation.

So, to the horrified expressions of the two Hobbits, the already powerful Elven Queen, after accepting the power of the One Ring, gradually blackened and her aura became incredibly terrifying.

Just looking at her made it hard to breathe.

And just when the two Hobbits thought everything was irreversible, Queen Galadriel, who had accepted the power of the One Ring, managed to difficultly remove the ring from her finger with strong willpower.

"Indeed, compared to Mr. Mike, I am still far behind…" After throwing the One Ring to the ground, Queen Galadriel no longer paid attention to the two frightened Hobbits and turned to leave the grotto with a sense of loss.

The recent action was an attempt for the Queen Galadriel, and also a form of unwillingness.

Having obtained the One Ring, her strength had clearly surpassed Sauron, which presented the possibility of directly killing the Dark Lord without destroying the One Ring.

In this possibility, if the One Ring was not destroyed, the Elves naturally wouldn't have to leave Middle-earth.

However, Queen Galadriel also clearly felt that she could not resist the erosion of the One Ring.

The moment she put on the One Ring, she had the thought of ruling the entire Middle-earth.

She would obviously have become another "Dark Lord."

Therefore, for the sake of all races in Middle-earth not to suffer more hardships, Queen Galadriel ultimately gave up the idea of taking the One Ring.

"What's wrong with her?" Sam watched the Queen Galadriel leave, feeling a sense of an anticlimax.

"Who knows, anyway, it's not a bad thing for us." Frodo carefully picked up the One Ring and put it back around his neck.

To be safe, he even hid the One Ring under his clothes.

This incident also taught Frodo a lesson: no one could be trusted in the face of the One Ring.

Even if the person seemed very good.

"Let's go, let's go back." After being put through the wringer by the Queen Galadriel, Frodo felt that the Ñoldor Elves' territory was no longer safe.

He just wanted to return to Gandalf's side quickly now.

Clearly, in Frodo's heart, Gandalf was one of the few trustworthy people.

As for the other, it was the powerful Mike.

In the Elves' resting room, Gandalf visibly relaxed when he heard Frodo and Sam return.

Taking the opportunity to turn over, the wizard observed that the two Hobbits were fine, and then he deeply "slept" again.

...

The next morning, Queen Galadriel seemed to have no memory of what happened last night, and still gently bid farewell to the members of the Ringbearer Squad.

At the same time, she took out her treasures and shared them with everyone.

Elf Prince Legolas received the Bow of Galadriel, personally crafted by Queen Galadriel, which enhanced his long-range combat ability.

Frodo unexpectedly received a delicate small crystal phial containing a magical potion with healing and purifying properties.

Aragorn and Boromir, among others, received gifts such as daggers, armor, and ropes.

Finally, the Elven Queen also specially handed Gandalf a small pouch of Lembas, a unique biscuit of the Ñoldor Elves, which was not only delicious but also very filling.

A small piece could sustain a person for a month without eating.

For the Ringbearer Squad, who had no spatial storage ability, this small pouch of Lembas not only solved the weight problem but could also be used as emergency rations when necessary.

"Brave warriors, you fear no storms, you dread no hardships, the people of Middle-earth will remember your deeds. May peace be with you…"

As the sun rose in the east, Queen Galadriel, bathed in the morning glow, bestowed her blessings upon the Ringbearer Squad and waved farewell to everyone.

"Um, Your Majesty, it might be a bit presumptuous for me to say this, but could I please ask for a strand of your hair? I will cherish it as I cherish my life…" At the moment of farewell, the Dwarf Gimli suddenly turned back, looking hopefully at the Elven Queen.

As the most charming queen in Middle-earth, Galadriel's beauty transcended races.

Even the Dwarf, with his strange aesthetics, was captivated by her.

Looking at the Dwarf's anxious expression, Queen Galadriel suddenly smiled brightly and said, "Your courage is commendable. As a reward, I will give you three strands of hair."

Saying that, the Elven Queen took three strands of golden hair, shining like gold, and handed them to the Dwarf.

...

"Is the Elven Queen's charm really that great? Look, Gimli is almost acting like an idiot—"

After leaving Lothlórien, Pippin looked at Gimli's silly grin all the way and couldn't help but tease him.

"What do you know? Queen Galadriel is the most beautiful woman in all the world. To be able to keep three strands of her hair is the greatest honor of my life…" Gimli carefully tucked the three golden hairs into his embrace.

Once, Gimli's father, Gloin, was also captivated by the Elven Queen's charm and had boldly asked for her hair, only to be ignored by the Queen Galadriel.

It could be said that in his admiration for Queen Galadriel, Gimli was already much luckier than his father.

The members of the Ringbearer Squad looked at Gimli's solemn expression and no longer felt comfortable teasing him.

Of course, there was also someone whose eyes were filled with envy from beginning to end.

This person was Gandalf.

It was well known that Gandalf had been an admirer of the Queen Galadriel for a very long time.

Yet, even now, he had not achieved the feat of collecting her hair.

"Alright, next we will reach the borders of Rohan. Please, everyone, stay alert—" Seeing the Dwarf put away his hair, Gandalf also suppressed the strange thoughts in his mind and then spoke up to remind everyone.

Rohan was very close to Mordor, so it could be said that once they reached there, it would be the time for the Ringbearer Squad to truly face their test.

On the other side, the Celeborn and Galadriel, who remained in Lothlórien, after seeing off the Ringbearer Squad, once again bid farewell to their granddaughter, Princess Arwen.

"Since you have made your choice, we will no longer try to dissuade you. We only hope you will be careful in everything you do…" Queen Galadriel hugged Arwen and then reluctantly continued, "Of course, I mean, if you change your mind, we will wait for you a few extra days at the Grey Havens in the west."

"I have already made up my mind, Mr. Mike is the one I want to spend my life with. He will also become a great hero…" Princess Arwen, head over heels in love, waved goodbye to Celeborn and Galadriel, then resolutely rode her white horse towards the Lonely Mountain in the southeast.

Accompanying her was the newly reforged Sword of Elendil—the [Andúril]—on her horse's back.

Originally, according to Celeborn's idea, this sword, symbolizing the kingship of men, should have been returned to Aragorn, the descendant of Elendil.

However, compared to Aragorn, Princess Arwen was more willing to believe that the current Mike was the one who could save Middle-earth.

Therefore, this sword, symbolizing the Human Emperor's authority, was ultimately kept by Princess Arwen, who intended to take it to the Lonely Mountain as a gift for Mike.