[Gorthaur the Cruel]

^ Yes, perhaps the same expression may apply, but did not Tolkien say in one of his letters that the rings were "endowed with the powers of preservation, not of birth,"? That makes me think they could not create but just preserve. Hence why they attempted at nothing new, but instead, clinging to the old, right? They could "embalm" but could not create, whereas the Elessar could "birth" or create but not preserve or hold back time. It seems to me that had Galadriel would have to actively maintain her realm with the Elessar, since it could not hold back time. But with Nenya, she could just halt change and decay over a couple of miles without actively or routinely maintaining flora, right?

Also, in the UT, her ring Nenya was referred to as the "Chief of the Three." Chief of what? My guess is that Nenya was the "Chief" in preserving of the Three, while Vilya was the mightiest in defending (maybe), and narya the greatest in inspiring people. Because if you compare Rivendell and Lorien, you could almost feel like Lorien is like a mini Valinor. It may be the backgrounds of the bearers, Galadriel having lived in the West, but in her land... the preservation is so felt compared to Rivendell. I don't know why Frodo says, "the wearing is slow in Lorien, for the power of the Lady is on it. Rich are the hours though short they may seem." Whereas Gandalf clearly states after his ressurection that he "tarried there in the ageless time of that land, where the days bring healing, not decay." These are two different perceptions, I think. The hobbit suggest that Lorien is wearing slowly, while the Istari says it is clearly ageless (weariness is completely arrested, not slowed). I think I'll trust the maia. Tolkien says so himself that the Three can ward off the weariness and decay. Maybe it's just the other 16 that can only slow the weariness and decay, but they could never really ward it off to the degree that the Three can. Hence Sauron's great desire to possess them.