What if Galadriel Took the Ring? | Tolkien Theory

Today, we answer what would happen if Galadriel had taken the One Ring when offered to her by Frodo. We have some clues from JRR Tolkien himself: "Galadriel would have proceeded in the policy now adopted by Sauron: they would have built up an empire with great and absolutely subservient generals and armies and engines of war, until they could challenge Sauron and destroy him by force."

Using my usual level of research, I put forth my best guess for what would transpire - including how it would affect the timeline, how Galadriel would go about amassing forces to challenge Sauron, and how she would keep the One Ring secret from a newly resurrected Gandalf the White.
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The One Ring - Magali Villeneuve
Galadriel - Davina Benier
Wrath of Galadriel - WETA
Galadriel - Livia de Simone
Galadriel - Danilo Trindade
Frodo and Galadriel - Saphir93
Galadriel's Blessing - Jerry Vanderstelt
Galadriel - Incantata
Mirror of Galadriel - Louise Melin
Gandalf vs Balrog - Elbardo
Gladriel - Laure au Decwz
Galadriel - Livia de Simone
And Finrod Fell Before the Throne - Kurai Geijutsu
Galadriel - Stephanie Brown
Galadriel - Victoria Krupenina
Power of Command - Borja Pindado
The Gifts of Galadriel - Kuliszu
Galadriel and Aragorn - Donato Giancola
Gandalf the White - Suzanne Helmigh
Galadriel - Roul Vitale
Isengard - Only Chasing Safety
Saruman of Many Colours - Francesco Amadio
Galadriel - Volodimir Shvachko
Isengard Map - Lord of the Rings Online
The Palantir - Morgen Bell
Theoden and Wormtongue - Donato Giancola
Galadriel - Mignon Zakuga
Galadriel - Matthew Stewart
Galadriel - Andrea Guardino
Saruman's Staff - Alexandr Elichev
Charge at Pelennor Fields - Mischevious Little Elf
Siege of Gondor - The Brothers Hildebrandt
Aragorn and the Palantir - Magali Villeneuve
The Witch-King - John Howe
The Witch-King - Alan Lee
Eomer and Aragorn - Abe Papakhian
Eowyn and the Nazgul - David Demaret
Gandalf the White - Ted Nasmith
Dark Lord Sauron - Spartank42
Gandalf in Hollin - Donato Giancola
On the Walls of Minas Tirith - Meneldil Elda
Dark Galadriel - Alex Ortiz
Mordor, the Black Gate - Norloth
Battle of the Black Gate - Ted Nasmith
The Nine - Anato Finnstark
Jean Pascal Leclerc - Sauron
Barad-dur, Shadow of War - Wardenlight Studio
The Shadow of Sauron - Ted Nasmith
Eomer and Aragorn Ride to the Lands of the East - Kip Rasmussen
Galadriel - Concept Art House
Lady of Light - Kelly McKernan
Galadriel - Pavasara Dvesma
Galadriel - Jenny Dolfen
Galadriel - Anato Finnstark
Council of the Wise - Aleksander Karcz
Ringbearers - Jenny Dolfen
Gandalf the White - Najeeb Najjar
Galadriel - Sasha de Trafo
Sauron - Shadow of War
Galadriel - Frank Rivolli

Check out these resources for this and more info about Galadriel and the One Ring:
The Lord of the Rings
Unfinished Tales
The Silmarillion
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Tolkien Gateway

#galadriel #tolkien #lordoftherings

[NerdoftheRings]

What do you think would happen? What changes would you make to this theory? Let’s have some fun with this hypothetical scenario!

[rhinotank]

I love how both Galadriel and Gandalf's first real step is kicking Saruman's ass.

[r.blakehole]

What happens next? Celeborn files for divorce citing, irreconcilable differences. "I did NOT marry Sauron!!!!" He disappears and is never seen again. Arwen sails for the Undying West telling her dad and Aragorn, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING LETTING GRANDMA HAVE THAT THING!"

[Stakhanovites]

Elrond sighs, "not this shit again" he says, before stabbing Galadriel in the back, finally throwing that damned ring into the fires of Mount Doom from whence it came.

[CT-pigl]

This makes it clear why their actual plan of having Frodo sneak into Mordor with the Ring was so ridiculous that Sauron did not even contemplate it. They could have had virtual assurance of victory.

[lordheklsmosh]

Nerd of the rings you should do a video on what if farmer maggot took the one ring.

[aldrydd]

Bill the pony is the only one who can be trusted with the ring

[geraldjensen]

Before Jackson did the movies, I couldn't imagine an actress who could do the part of Galadriel justice. Someone once suggested Greta Garbo could have done it. But since the movies, Cate Blanchett *IS* Galadriel. I can't imagine anyone else doing it successfully.

[eelvis]

I think it speaks to the absolute brilliance of Tolkien's work in crafting the One Ring as an artefact, and the quest to destroy it that even merely asking the question: "what if Gandalf or Galadriel had taken it?" Immediately fills one with such a strong sense of despair.

[therealelderking]

“What are you going to do, bury me under my own tower?”
- Sauron, probably

[Anarchouettisme]

Epic theory, this is really thrilling. I can see only one weakness in the beginning: I don't think Denethor or even the people of Minas Tirith would accept Aragorn as king such easily, without the presence of Gandalf and the victory in Pelennor fields. Galadriel would surely need to come herself to Minas Tirith to "convince" Denethor to crown Aragorn.

[Zanraid]

As I rewatch both the Galadriel and Gandalf taking the ring videos, it seems both fall into the trap of Sauron: not having a motivation of evil like Morgoth but desiring order and security above all else which leads to evil being done.

[mm]

I think that we can expand upon: "All Shall Love Me And Despair!"

And the men of Gondor, and Rohan, and those who survived of the defeated Easterlings, and Southronds, seeing the fair lady of Lorien in splendor so great as to eclipse mere moral concepts of beauty, were sick within their hearts. Some, despairing of their own worth and strength threw themselves upon their swords rather than live in the knowledge that such beauty existed and yet did not condescend to consider or smile upon them. Others groveled before her and perished unable to muster the will to feed or sustain themselves if not in the service of her grace. But the stronger of them, including many of Numenorian blood, while greatly moved, seamed still to be possessed of themselves. But amongst this number, many nurtured the memory of her terrible glory in their hearts and it slowly worked upon them, that they might not see as fair other. And so they turned their hand with hatred upon all their fellow men, and upon even their own women and children and the works of their fathers in bitter disappointment and secret envy. So did the ring's power engorge and twist even so fair a thing as the beauty of the lady of Lorien into a malice that poisoned all, but those of the strongest character who beheld it. And the lady Galadriel herself came to see such unrestrained adoration as her due and would delight in the subjection of her enemies upon seeing her majesty.

[mariuszgaaj]

My theory:

Galadriel would dwell in her palace in Lorien for some time, and then she would have thoughts, a voice in her head: "men and dwarves admire thy beauty and power, but crave for it, as they wither as autumn leafs – they cannot be trusted".
And so she would prohibit any man o dwarf to enter her palace.
After some time she would hear "elves of Rivendell and Woodland Realm admire your splendor and regality, but they known of their inferiority to thy and thy people – they cannot be trusted".
And so she would prohibit any other elves to enter her palace, except for Lorien elves.
After some more time she would hear "elves of Lorien worship you, as they always did, but they see that their service will have no end; could you trust in those who know there is no other way to live but to serve? – they cannot be trusted ".
And so she would prohibit anyone besides her husband, and closest family members, or king of Woodland Realm to visit her in her palace.
After even more time she would hear "Kings and queens have their own domains, but they still bend their knees, could pride of a monarch withstand such humiliation for long? – they cannot be trusted ".
And so she would prohibit anyone to visit her in her palace, except for urgent matters, like war. So she would stay alone in her palace, for long.
At last she would hear "No man walks, no bird sings, no beast hunts in your forest, but could you banish trees? You know that forest has mind and strength of its own? Can you can hear as it grows day by day? – it cannot be trusted. So what can be trusted? The answer: mute stone".
And so Galadriel would find a mountain high, very same mountain on which Gandalf slew the Barlog. And there, climbing on the place when she hopes to find peace at least, she would find a throne, and a Dark Lord himself sitting atop. "My voice thy heard, for my property you wear, «no one besides me» you thought, that is peace; and so you came and see «no one besides ME» and so I will grant you what thy hart desire: peace at last; I give it to you, as I take my own.".

Tolkien wrote if the ring is not destroyed: there are only two options: Gandalf becomes new Dark Lord, or the ring returns to Sauron, eventually.

[samwisethebest]

I really enjoy and appreciate these theories because a lot of people don't give Sauron enough credit for how foolproof the Ring was and how close he came to winning.

[jasonbourneistreadstone]

Gimli covered this at the Council meeting in Rivendell: "Never trust an Elf!"

[legionarybooks]

Love how this theory plays out. I think Aragorn would be pretty easy to persuade into trusting Galadriel, as she was one of the oldest and wisest beings in Middle Earth, not to mention his beloved Arwen's grandmother. There are two X-Factors that come to mind, though. The first is Galadriel's husband, Celeborn. He doesn't get as much attention in the books, so it's hard to judge his personality and strength. I'm not entirely certain, but I do think he was younger than Galadriel, and she was stronger, aided by virtue of possessing Nenya. Still, I don't think either was subservient to the other, and I cannot help but wonder what his thoughts would be, once he knew his wife held the One Ring. The other, and I think even bigger factor, is Glorfindel. He often gets overlooked, as he's not in the films and only has a minor role in LOTR. But if you read the Silmarillion and the Appendices, you know that he is insanely powerful. As he was born during the Years of the Trees, he is possibly the only elf in all Middle Earth older than Galadriel, and may have been even stronger than her, Celeborn, and Elrond. He is also one of the only elves ever sent back after his death; and like Gandalf, this came when slaying a balrog! Heck, the Witch King was terrified of him. At the Council of Elrond in the books, he is adamant that the ring must be destroyed. Because of this, I could see Galadriel wanting to keep her possession of the Ring a secret from Glorfindel, but I cannot see him taking it well once she revealed she had it.

[Arcticgreen]

Gandalf employs some hobbits, maybe the same hobbits, to steal the ring from galadriel while he feins surrendering his own ring. Then the quest begins anew, but from a position without sauron or sauromon to interfere, and with allies (like aragorn) in strategic positions. The race is on to destroy the ring before galadriel, and those still loyal to her, can catch up with them.

[Strutsbandage]

EPIC! I got goosebumps. There's something with Galadriel that's so freakin captivating. This video did not disappoint!

[gordonmcinnes]

I have a thought about this: The Ring was nearish to Lothlorien for hundred of years (Gladden Fields and under the Misty Mountains with Gollum), perhaps the reason Galadriel had thought so much about the Ring was that it was, relatively speaking, in close proximity to her? That way her temptation becomes more a result of the active agency of the Ring not just some personal introspection.