Considering that Tolkien poured a lot of time and effort into his worldcreating and seeing all the (known) character intentions and actions, I wouldn't dismiss a logical approach to the Lord of the Rings.
When I wrote that logic doesn't belong to Tolkien's works, I was referring to the best and 'purest' meaning of the matter
We shouldn't approach the texts, both the 'completed' ones and the unfinished ones (with many contradictions and multiple versions of the history and the very existence of some characters), as if we were reading a math essay, characterised by pure logic and always-true statements.
There is obviously a general logic behind all the mythology and lore, fictionally represented by the Plan of Ilúvatar, from the arrival of the Ainur in the Universe, to the very End, a plan that even the Valar don't totally know and understand; and it's also obvious that Middle Earth in the Third Age, the 'setting' of LOTR, is deeply tied to the Past, the events that occured from the Great Journey of the Eldar to Aman to the beginning of the War of the Ring, and had their natural consequences on the World.
But one of the most 'magical', wonderful and impressive elements of Tolkien's Literature is also this apparent 'suspension of logic' that permeates the events of Arda and determines all the small, unexpected and apparently surprising events (Bilbo and the One Ring, the task of Frodo, the death of the Witch-king by the hand of a woman,...), that, as Galadriel says, can change the course of the Future; there is always a general logic behind them (the Hobbits' nature, the prophecy of Glorfindel,...), but it is kind of hidden, and not very similar to the greatest one of the plot line and whole mythology.
Tolkien, as a professor, also wrote some essays on fairytales (we are talking about myths and ancient tales of course), of which Surprise, Mystery and Obscurity are fundamental parts, where often small events and 'humble' characters decide the fate of the manichean battle of Good and Evil that violently takes place, giving the whole 'picture' (plot line) multiple, multiform, beautiful and different colours.
Lothlórien, as a realm, is much more important than you think in the 'geopolitics' of Middle Earth
it is probably the only protected, safe and blessed place left beyond the Misty Mountains, guarding the passing of the Anduin and, thus, a possible entry for Mordor to Rohan or Eriador.
Galadriel has not the right and the power to challenge directly Sauron, or gather an army in front of the Black Gate, because her might is connected to Endurance, Protection and counseling the Free People in the fight against Evil, since the great burden of battle and 'military' actions would have mostly been borne by Men; thing that she clearly does when she helps the Fellowship, gives it her advice, refuses the One Ring for the sake of the World and shelters the reborn Gandalf.
Galadriel was always able to see through Sauron's mind and unveil his evil plans for Men, Dwarves and Elves, while her mind was always closed for him.
I strongly believe that the words of Haldir (Tolkien) are very accurate, meaningful and significant, not only for the way they are written, but also for his (of Haldir) wisdom and for his understanding of the World in the Third Age.
Also, Galadriel tells Frodo almost the same thing, talking about her 'telepathic' clashes with Sauron (that she always wins
) and her role in Middle Earth (Light against Darkness, Lothlórien against Dol Guldur and Mordor).
Can you give some specific examples for Galadriels power actually increasing (except for the stuff she did with Nenya)? I haven't thought about this before, and it sounds a bit counterintuitive at first. Weren't the elves supposed to dwindle in the Third Age, getting weaker and leaving Middle-earth? The last big bastions of elvendom (Rivendell and Caras Galadhon) were protected by the powers of their elven Rings Vilya and Nenya, but they could only stop or slow down the decline, not reverse it.
The destiny of corruption of Arda is ineluctable, and, yes, the Elves are doomed to diminish and get weaker and more tired of Middle Earth, and to sail to Aman, if they want to preserve their Grace; but the answer is simple, Galadriel is not a 'common' Elf
Galadriel was born in Valinor during the Years of the Trees and was blessed by the holy Light of the Two Trees (that was forever captured in her hair, giving Fëanor the inspiration for the creation of the legendary Silmarils, the fundamental elements of the First Age and the main reason of the tragic and epic War of the Jewels), she was considered already in Aman as the fairest and mightiest elf-maiden of the Noldor, and one of the mightiest Elf in general; she had been dwelling with the Maiar and the Valar and personally taught by them for more than 1000 years, when she chose to leave Valinor for her legitimate desires of ruling a realm on her own.
She was a scholar of the Maia Melian in Beleriand for almost 500 years, improving her already existing 'telepathic' and mind revealing capabilities; at the end of the First Age she was the only one of the mighty and mythical 'Royal Family' of the Noldor that survived the war and the destruction of Beleriand.
In the Second Age, she decides to remain in Middle Earth to rule some of the remaining Noldor and Sindar, with the permission of Gil-galad, and rejects Annatar (Sauron in disguise), unveiling his ambiguous intentions; but, most importantly, she was entrusted Nenya by Celebrimbor and tied her destiny in Middle Earth to her ring.
After the defeat of Sauron by Isildur, Galadriel was finally able to openly use Nenya (that had definitely begun an essential part of her, the 'item' with which she, since then, would have channeled also her other powers) to establish a timeless and enchanted realm, that endured for more than 3000 years, slowing and almost nullifying the action of Time in Lothlórien for 3 millennia.
In the Third Age she is the only being of Valinor and the remnant of its splendour left in the World, a bright and ethereal Elf that had become matter of the legends of Men and also 'grey' and young Elves of that time; the most similar being to a Maia and the 'de facto' queen of the Elves.
A holy light is more visible and brighter in a dark and disenchanted place, which was Middle Earth at that time.
The point is that she increased her powers in time, during her more-than-7000-year-old permanence in Middle Earth, and her might remained untouched, untainted and never suffered any loss; the opposite thing about Sauron, who was repeatedly defeated in the Past and lost twice his body, with tragic consequences for his essence and powers as a Maia.
Yes, I think that Galadriel is the most powerful being in the Third Age for her unaltered essence and powers, obviously not necessarily related to military strength or the task of saving the World
Waw, I think Adamin nailed it
All hail the Dark Lord winner of "Strongest in Middle-Earth: The 2015 edition"!!
Darkness will never prevail