Celebrimbor’s Farewell to Galadriel on THE RINGS OF POWER Captures the Best of Tolkien

by

As a lifelong fan of Tolkien’s epic tales and a student of Middle-earth lore, I find myself deeply moved by the parallels drawn between Galadriel’s journey and that of Celebrimbor. Both characters are bound by the struggle between light and darkness, each grappling with their own responses to the encroaching shadows that threaten their world.

In the second-to-last episode of The Rings of Power’s second season, Celebrimbor reveals to Galadriel that Annatar, whom they had known as the Lord of Gifts, is actually the Dark Lord Sauron. This revelation leaves Eregion’s leader aware that his time in Middle-earth is drawing to a close. In a poignant moment, Celebrimbor says farewell to Galadriel with the Elvish phrase “Namárië.” Before she departs, he shares more than just his final works; he also imparts words that will significantly impact the destiny of Middle-earth. This heartwarming scene is one of the series’ finest homages to J.R.R. Tolkien. In a powerful and emotional exchange, Celebrimbor tells Galadriel that it is not strength but light that will vanquish the darkness – a principle that Galadriel will eventually embody through Frodo.

In the face of Eregion’s demise, Galadriel confided in Celebrimbor, “I regret bringing [Sauron] here. I wish I had been stronger.” However, despite the crumbling of the city he had crafted, the ruler of Eregion reassured his friend that strength was not the issue at hand. Instead, they would need something much more resilient and powerful to withstand Sauron. This intangible force is what unites the entirety of The Lord of the Rings, from the inception of the universe to Frodo’s journey to Valinor. In the midst of death, ruin, and his own shortcomings, Celebrimbor was reminded of that which would never fade.

Neither of us had the power to prevail. It’s possible that no one in Middle-earth does either. However, perhaps the elves should recall that it’s not brute force that conquers darkness, but light. Despite armies rising and hearts faltering, light remains, and it surpasses strength. For in its presence, all shadows retreat.

As a devoted admirer, I’ve always seen Tolkien’s grand narrative as an eternal struggle between light and darkness. The primordial Dark Lord, Morgoth, aimed to cast shadows over our world. He snuffed out the magnificent Lamps created by the Valar, a beacon intended for the arrival of elves. However, if not for Fëanor, Celebrimbor’s grandfather, the darkness might have prevailed. This legendary elf-smith managed to harness the light from Valinor within the Silmarils, ensuring that even when the Two Trees of Valinor were dimmed, their radiance lived on.

In “The Rings of Power,” the dimming of light has always been a portent of doom, while its return signifies life. Even Adar lamented its disappearance as he crafted the darkness his offspring required. However, Galadriel has chosen to distance herself from the light, symbolically and physically. She declined entry into Valinor, the land of the divine beings known as the Valar. Instead, she succumbed to hatred and vengeance. This embrace of the dark clouded her judgment regarding Halbrand’s true nature and intentions. If Galadriel had been aware of Celebrimbor and Eregion, they might not have fallen victim to Annatar’s deceit.

Celebrimbor refused to be swallowed by darkness, unlike her who concealed her shame in it. In contrast, his speech to her highlighted the essence of light and all that it symbolizes. This scene is a testament to the show’s peak quality as it not only enriches its own narrative but also seamlessly connects it with one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most significant and lasting themes.

It’s foreseen that Galadriel will deeply absorb Celebrimbor’s words and keep them with her throughout eternity. In a future where darkness reemerges in Middle-earth, she will encounter a Hobbit embarking on an almost unattainable quest. This hobbit will be offered the responsibility of wielding a ring that embodies the mightiest power ever known, a ring tainted with Sauron’s and evil’s essence. However, Galadriel won’t provide Frodo with any weapon or means to become more powerful. Instead, she understands that Frodo won’t complete his mission by relying on strength or the ring itself, but rather by clinging to light and hope.

That light will live on in his friend’s heart. Sam will tell him, when Frodo is at his weakest, that “even darkness must pass.” And the two will also rely on actual light itself, because that is what Galadriel will give Frodo before he leaves Lórien. She will gift him a crystal phial that carries the light of Eärendil’s star, which itself is a Silmaril of Fëanor. Galadriel will give Frodo the enduring light of the Two Trees of Valinor, the very place he will go to with her after defeating Sauron for good.

In the absence of Galadriel’s Phial, Sam and Frodo would not have reached Mount Doom. This precious artifact offered them a lifeline when all hope seemed to fade, illuminating a path for Middle-earth to escape perpetual darkness.

As a gamer immersed in the world of Middle-earth, I know that the Phial will safeguard Frodo, and thus the entire realm, for even in his darkest hour, my friend Celebrimbor once whispered to Galadriel: darkness yields not to strength but to light. This truth, eternal as the stars above, is a beacon no Dark Lord can snuff out in Middle-earth.

Read More

2024-09-26 11:02