Post by Haldir of Lorien on Jul 16, 2004 6:36:12 GMT
LOTHLORIEN
During the Second and Third Age of the Sun, the Elf-realm in the Golden Wood to the East of the Misty Mountains, was often called Lorien, but its true name was Lothlorien, and its history is told under that name. The true Lorien was a far more ancient place in the Undying Lands. Lorien, meaning "Dreamland", was a vast garden of extraordinary beauty in southern Valinor. It was Garden of the Valar, Irmo, who was himself most often called Lorien, the Master of Dreams. It was a gentle, restful place filled with silver trees and multitudes of flowers. The waters of its crystal fountains magically refreshed all visiting Valar and Eldar. In the midst of this most beautiful of gardens were the glimmering waters of the Lake Lorellin and in the midst of that lake was the isle of tall trees and gentle mists that is the home of Este, the Healer, the Vala who grants rest to those who suffer.
The fairest Elf kingdom remaining on Middle-earth in the Third Age of the Sun was to be found in the Golden Wood just to the east of the Misty Mountains beyond the Gates of Moria. It was called Lothlorien, the "land of blossoms dreaming", which was also called Lorien, "dream land", and Laurelindorinan, "land of the valley of signing gold". In this wooded realm the golden-leaved, silver-barked Mallorn trees grew. They were the tallest and fairest trees of Middle-earth and upon their high branches the Elves of Lothlorien, who were called the Galadhrim, or "tree people", made their homes on platforms called telain of flets. For the most part of the Galadhrim were all but invisible, for they moved about among the high limbs and wore Grey-Elf cloaks possessed of magical chameleon-like qualities. Here the Noldor Queen, Galadriel, and the Sindar King, Celeborn, ruled; and some part of the brilliance of the Eldar-kingdoms of ancient times could be glimpsed in this realm. Lothlorien had one great-palace called Caras Galadhon, the "city of trees". It was a royal hall built on the crest of a high hill where stood the tallest trees in the wood. This hill was walled and gated and then encircled with other great trees. Modelled on the Grey-Elf kingdom of Doriath in the lost Berleriand, Lothlorien was similarily protected by the powerful enchantment. Galadriel was the highest ranking Eldar remaining upon Middle-earth and by the power of Nenya, her Ring of Adamant and of Water, she cast a spell of protection around Lothlorien, so enemies might not be able to enter and making it visible to the Eye of Sauron. For nearly all years of Third Age, Lothlorien remained apart from the struggles of the other peoples of Middle-earth, but during the last years of the Age, the Fellowship of the Ring entered the Realm. Fleeing the servants of Sauron, they found rest and shelter, and by Queen Galadriel they were granted magical gifts that renewed their strength and will.
In the War of the Ring, Lothlorien was attacked three times by Sauron's servants from Dol Guldur, in Mirkwood. These forces were driven away and, after the fall of Mordor, the Elves of Lothlorien destroyed Dol Guldur and renamed Mirkwood the Forest of Green Leaves. When, early in the Fourth Age, Galadriel left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands and Celeborn took a greater part of the Galadrhin to the Forest of Green Leaves and founded East Lorien, and the Golden Wood of Lothlorien was slowly abandoned, and the magical lights in that place faded.
During the Second and Third Age of the Sun, the Elf-realm in the Golden Wood to the East of the Misty Mountains, was often called Lorien, but its true name was Lothlorien, and its history is told under that name. The true Lorien was a far more ancient place in the Undying Lands. Lorien, meaning "Dreamland", was a vast garden of extraordinary beauty in southern Valinor. It was Garden of the Valar, Irmo, who was himself most often called Lorien, the Master of Dreams. It was a gentle, restful place filled with silver trees and multitudes of flowers. The waters of its crystal fountains magically refreshed all visiting Valar and Eldar. In the midst of this most beautiful of gardens were the glimmering waters of the Lake Lorellin and in the midst of that lake was the isle of tall trees and gentle mists that is the home of Este, the Healer, the Vala who grants rest to those who suffer.
The fairest Elf kingdom remaining on Middle-earth in the Third Age of the Sun was to be found in the Golden Wood just to the east of the Misty Mountains beyond the Gates of Moria. It was called Lothlorien, the "land of blossoms dreaming", which was also called Lorien, "dream land", and Laurelindorinan, "land of the valley of signing gold". In this wooded realm the golden-leaved, silver-barked Mallorn trees grew. They were the tallest and fairest trees of Middle-earth and upon their high branches the Elves of Lothlorien, who were called the Galadhrim, or "tree people", made their homes on platforms called telain of flets. For the most part of the Galadhrim were all but invisible, for they moved about among the high limbs and wore Grey-Elf cloaks possessed of magical chameleon-like qualities. Here the Noldor Queen, Galadriel, and the Sindar King, Celeborn, ruled; and some part of the brilliance of the Eldar-kingdoms of ancient times could be glimpsed in this realm. Lothlorien had one great-palace called Caras Galadhon, the "city of trees". It was a royal hall built on the crest of a high hill where stood the tallest trees in the wood. This hill was walled and gated and then encircled with other great trees. Modelled on the Grey-Elf kingdom of Doriath in the lost Berleriand, Lothlorien was similarily protected by the powerful enchantment. Galadriel was the highest ranking Eldar remaining upon Middle-earth and by the power of Nenya, her Ring of Adamant and of Water, she cast a spell of protection around Lothlorien, so enemies might not be able to enter and making it visible to the Eye of Sauron. For nearly all years of Third Age, Lothlorien remained apart from the struggles of the other peoples of Middle-earth, but during the last years of the Age, the Fellowship of the Ring entered the Realm. Fleeing the servants of Sauron, they found rest and shelter, and by Queen Galadriel they were granted magical gifts that renewed their strength and will.
In the War of the Ring, Lothlorien was attacked three times by Sauron's servants from Dol Guldur, in Mirkwood. These forces were driven away and, after the fall of Mordor, the Elves of Lothlorien destroyed Dol Guldur and renamed Mirkwood the Forest of Green Leaves. When, early in the Fourth Age, Galadriel left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands and Celeborn took a greater part of the Galadrhin to the Forest of Green Leaves and founded East Lorien, and the Golden Wood of Lothlorien was slowly abandoned, and the magical lights in that place faded.
