4143 lines
2.2 MiB
4143 lines
2.2 MiB
<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><meta http-equiv = "Content-Type" content = "text/html; charset=cp1251" /><title>HTML Document</title></head><body><b>The</b> <b>Fellowship</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b><br>
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<b>J</b>. <b>R</b>. <b>R</b>. <b>Tolkien</b><br>
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<b>FOREWORD</b><br>
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<b>This</b> <b>tale</b> <b>grew</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>telling</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>War</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>included</b> <b>many</b> <b>glimpses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>yet</b> <b>more</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>history</b> <b>that</b> <b>preceded</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>begun</b> <b>soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>The</b> <b>Hobbit</b> <b>was</b> <b>written</b> <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>its</b> <b>publication</b> <b>in</b> 1937; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>with</b> <b>this</b> <b>sequel</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>wished</b> <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>complete</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b> <b>the</b> <b>mythology</b> <b>and</b> <b>legends</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>then</b> <b>been</b> <b>taking</b> <b>shape</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>years</b>. <b>I</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>this</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>satisfaction</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>other</b> <b>people</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>work</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>since</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>primarily</b> <b>linguistic</b> <b>in</b> <b>inspiration</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>begun</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b> <b>to</b> <b>provide</b> <b>the</b> <b>necessary</b> <b>background</b> <b>of</b> “<b>history</b>” <b>for</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>tongues</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>those</b> <b>whose</b> <b>advice</b> <b>and</b> <b>opinion</b> <b>I</b> <b>sought</b> <b>corrected</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>sequel</b>, <b>encouraged</b> <b>by</b> <b>requests</b> <b>from</b> <b>readers</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>information</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>adventures</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>irresistibly</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>older</b> <b>world</b>, <b>and</b> <b>became</b> <b>an</b> <b>account</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b>, <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>end</b> <b>and</b> <b>passing</b> <b>away</b> <b>before</b> <b>its</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>and</b> <b>middle</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>told</b>. <b>The</b> <b>process</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>writing</b> <b>of</b> <b>The</b> <b>Hobbit</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>some</b> <b>references</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>older</b> <b>matter</b>: <b>Elrond</b>, <b>Gondolin</b>, <b>the</b> <b>High</b>-<b>elves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>glimpses</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>arisen</b> <b>unbidden</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>higher</b> <b>or</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>or</b> <b>darker</b> <b>than</b> <b>its</b> <b>surface</b>: <b>Durin</b>, <b>Moria</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Necromancer</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>The</b> <b>discovery</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>significance</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>glimpses</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>relation</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>histories</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>culmination</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>War</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>.<br>
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<b>Those</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>asked</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>information</b> <b>about</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>eventually</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>composition</b> <b>of</b> <b>The</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>at</b> <b>intervals</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> 1936 <b>to</b> 1949, <b>a</b> <b>period</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>many</b> <b>duties</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>neglect</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>interests</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>learner</b> <b>and</b> <b>teacher</b> <b>that</b> <b>often</b> <b>absorbed</b> <b>me</b>. <b>The</b> <b>delay</b> <b>was</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>also</b> <b>increased</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>outbreak</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b> <b>in</b> 1939, <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>year</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>Book</b> <b>One</b>. <b>In</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>five</b> <b>years</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>abandoned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>plodded</b> <b>on</b>, <b>mostly</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>, <b>till</b> <b>I</b> <b>stood</b> <b>by</b> <b>Balin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>tomb</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>There</b> <b>I</b> <b>halted</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>almost</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>later</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>late</b> <b>in</b> 1941. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>year</b> <b>I</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>drafts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b> <b>stands</b> <b>as</b> <b>Book</b> <b>Three</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginnings</b> <b>of</b> <b>chapters</b> <b>I</b> <b>and</b> <b>III</b> <b>of</b> <b>Book</b> <b>Five</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>beacons</b> <b>flared</b> <b>in</b> <b>An</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>and</b> <b>Th</b>?<b>oden</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Harrowdale</b> <b>I</b> <b>stopped</b>. <b>Foresight</b> <b>had</b> <b>failed</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>thought</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>during</b> 1944 <b>that</b>, <b>leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>loose</b> <b>ends</b> <b>and</b> <b>perplexities</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>war</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>task</b> <b>to</b> <b>conduct</b>, <b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>to</b> <b>report</b>, <b>I</b> <b>forced</b> <b>myself</b> <b>to</b> <b>tackle</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>These</b> <b>chapters</b>, <b>eventually</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>Book</b> <b>Four</b>, <b>were</b> <b>written</b> <b>and</b> <b>sent</b> <b>out</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>serial</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>son</b>, <b>Christopher</b>, <b>then</b> <b>in</b> <b>South</b> <b>Africa</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>RAF</b>. <b>Nonetheless</b> <b>it</b> <b>took</b> <b>another</b> <b>five</b> <b>years</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>was</b> <b>brought</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>present</b> <b>end</b>; <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>I</b> <b>changed</b> <b>my</b> <b>house</b>, <b>my</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>college</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>though</b> <b>less</b> <b>dark</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>less</b> <b>laborious</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> “<b>end</b>” <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>been</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>story</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>revised</b>, <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>largely</b> <b>re</b>-<b>written</b> <b>backwards</b>. <b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>typed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>re</b>-<b>typed</b>: <b>by</b> <b>me</b>; <b>the</b> <b>cost</b> <b>of</b> <b>professional</b> <b>typing</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>ten</b>-<b>fingered</b> <b>was</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>my</b> <b>means</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>read</b> <b>by</b> <b>many</b> <b>people</b> <b>since</b> <b>it</b> <b>finally</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>print</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>something</b> <b>here</b> <b>with</b> <b>reference</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>opinions</b> <b>or</b> <b>guesses</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>received</b> <b>or</b> <b>have</b> <b>read</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>the</b> <b>motives</b> <b>and</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>The</b> <b>prime</b> <b>motive</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>desire</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tale</b>-<b>teller</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>really</b> <b>long</b> <b>story</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>attention</b> <b>of</b> <b>readers</b>, <b>amuse</b> <b>them</b>, <b>delight</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>excite</b> <b>them</b> <b>or</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>move</b> <b>them</b>. <b>As</b> <b>a</b> <b>guide</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>feelings</b> <b>for</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>appealing</b> <b>or</b> <b>moving</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>the</b> <b>guide</b> <b>was</b> <b>inevitably</b> <b>often</b> <b>at</b> <b>fault</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>who</b> <b>have</b> <b>read</b> <b>the</b> <b>book</b>, <b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>have</b> <b>reviewed</b> <b>it</b>, <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b> <b>boring</b>, <b>absurd</b>, <b>or</b> <b>contemptible</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>cause</b> <b>to</b> <b>complain</b>, <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>similar</b> <b>opinions</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>works</b>, <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>kinds</b> <b>of</b> <b>writing</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>evidently</b> <b>prefer</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>points</b> <b>of</b> <b>view</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>who</b> <b>have</b> <b>enjoyed</b> <b>my</b> <b>story</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>fails</b> <b>to</b> <b>please</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>not</b> <b>possible</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>tale</b> <b>to</b> <b>please</b> <b>everybody</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>points</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>to</b> <b>displease</b> <b>everybody</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>points</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>find</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>letters</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>received</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>passages</b> <b>or</b> <b>chapters</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>a</b> <b>blemish</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>by</b> <b>others</b> <b>specially</b> <b>approved</b>. <b>The</b> <b>most</b> <b>critical</b> <b>reader</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>, <b>myself</b>, <b>now</b> <b>finds</b> <b>many</b> <b>defects</b>, <b>minor</b> <b>and</b> <b>major</b>, <b>but</b> <b>being</b> <b>fortunately</b> <b>under</b> <b>no</b> <b>obligation</b> <b>either</b> <b>to</b> <b>review</b> <b>the</b> <b>book</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>, <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>pass</b> <b>over</b> <b>these</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>except</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>noted</b> <b>by</b> <b>others</b>: <b>the</b> <b>book</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>short</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>inner</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>or</b> “<b>message</b>”, <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>intention</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>author</b> <b>none</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>neither</b> <b>allegorical</b> <b>nor</b> <b>topical</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>grew</b> <b>it</b> <b>put</b> <b>down</b> <b>roots</b> (<b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>past</b>) <b>and</b> <b>threw</b> <b>out</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>branches</b>: <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>main</b> <b>theme</b> <b>was</b> <b>settled</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>outset</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>inevitable</b> <b>choice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>link</b> <b>between</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>The</b> <b>Hobbit</b>. <b>The</b> <b>crucial</b> <b>chapter</b>, “<b>The</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Past</b>”, <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>oldest</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>written</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>foreshadow</b> <b>of</b> 1939 <b>had</b> <b>yet</b> <b>become</b> <b>a</b> <b>threat</b> <b>of</b> <b>inevitable</b> <b>disaster</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>that</b> <b>point</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>developed</b> <b>along</b> <b>essentially</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>lines</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>disaster</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>averted</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>sources</b> <b>are</b> <b>things</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>in</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>cases</b> <b>already</b> <b>written</b>, <b>and</b> <b>little</b> <b>or</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>modified</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b> <b>that</b> <b>began</b> <b>in</b> 1939 <b>or</b> <b>its</b> <b>sequels</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>real</b> <b>war</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>resemble</b> <b>the</b> <b>legendary</b> <b>war</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>process</b> <b>or</b> <b>its</b> <b>conclusion</b>. <b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>inspired</b> <b>or</b> <b>directed</b> <b>the</b> <b>development</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>legend</b>, <b>then</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>seized</b> <b>and</b> <b>used</b> <b>against</b> <b>Sauron</b>; <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>annihilated</b> <b>but</b> <b>enslaved</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Barad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>r</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>but</b> <b>occupied</b>. <b>Saruman</b>, <b>failing</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>possession</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>would</b> <b>m</b> <b>the</b> <b>confusion</b> <b>and</b> <b>treacheries</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>the</b> <b>missing</b> <b>links</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>researches</b> <b>into</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>lore</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>with</b> <b>which</b> <b>to</b> <b>challenge</b> <b>the</b> <b>self</b>-<b>styled</b> <b>Ruler</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>conflict</b> <b>both</b> <b>sides</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>held</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>hatred</b> <b>and</b> <b>contempt</b>: <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>long</b> <b>have</b> <b>survived</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>slaves</b>.<br>
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<b>Other</b> <b>arrangements</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>devised</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>tastes</b> <b>or</b> <b>views</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>like</b> <b>allegory</b> <b>or</b> <b>topical</b> <b>reference</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>cordially</b> <b>dislike</b> <b>allegory</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>its</b> <b>manifestations</b>, <b>and</b> <b>always</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>so</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>grew</b> <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>wary</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>detect</b> <b>its</b> <b>presence</b>. <b>I</b> <b>much</b> <b>prefer</b> <b>history</b>, <b>true</b> <b>or</b> <b>feigned</b>, <b>with</b> <b>its</b> <b>varied</b> <b>applicability</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>and</b> <b>experience</b> <b>of</b> <b>readers</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>many</b> <b>confuse</b> “<b>applicability</b>” <b>with</b> “<b>allegory</b>”; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>resides</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>freedom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>reader</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>purposed</b> <b>domination</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>author</b>.<br>
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<b>An</b> <b>author</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>of</b> <b>course</b> <b>remain</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>unaffected</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>experience</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>a</b> <b>story</b>-<b>germ</b> <b>uses</b> <b>the</b> <b>soil</b> <b>of</b> <b>experience</b> <b>are</b> <b>extremely</b> <b>complex</b>, <b>and</b> <b>attempts</b> <b>to</b> <b>define</b> <b>the</b> <b>process</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>best</b> <b>guesses</b> <b>from</b> <b>evidence</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>inadequate</b> <b>and</b> <b>ambiguous</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>also</b> <b>false</b>, <b>though</b> <b>naturally</b> <b>attractive</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>author</b> <b>and</b> <b>critic</b> <b>have</b> <b>overlapped</b>, <b>to</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>movements</b> <b>of</b> <b>thought</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>events</b> <b>of</b> <b>times</b> <b>common</b> <b>to</b> <b>both</b> <b>were</b> <b>necessarily</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>powerful</b> <b>influences</b>. <b>One</b> <b>has</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>personally</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>fully</b> <b>its</b> <b>oppression</b>; <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>go</b> <b>by</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>now</b> <b>often</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>that</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>caught</b> <b>in</b> <b>youth</b> <b>by</b> 1914 <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>less</b> <b>hideous</b> <b>an</b> <b>experience</b> <b>than</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>involved</b> <b>in</b> 1939 <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>following</b> <b>years</b>. <b>By</b> 1918 <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>close</b> <b>friends</b> <b>were</b> <b>dead</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>less</b> <b>grievous</b> <b>matter</b>: <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>supposed</b> <b>by</b> <b>some</b> <b>that</b> “<b>The</b> <b>Scouring</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>” <b>reflects</b> <b>the</b> <b>situation</b> <b>in</b> <b>England</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>finishing</b> <b>my</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>It</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>essential</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>plot</b>, <b>foreseen</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>outset</b>, <b>though</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>event</b> <b>modified</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>character</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>as</b> <b>developed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>without</b>, <b>need</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b>, <b>any</b> <b>allegorical</b> <b>significance</b> <b>or</b> <b>contemporary</b> <b>political</b> <b>reference</b> <b>whatsoever</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>some</b> <b>basis</b> <b>in</b> <b>experience</b>, <b>though</b> <b>slender</b> (<b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>economic</b> <b>situation</b> <b>was</b> <b>entirely</b> <b>different</b>), <b>and</b> <b>much</b> <b>further</b> <b>back</b>. <b>The</b> <b>country</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>I</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>childhood</b> <b>was</b> <b>being</b> <b>shabbily</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>ten</b>, <b>in</b> <b>days</b> <b>when</b> <b>motor</b>-<b>cars</b> <b>were</b> <b>rare</b> <b>objects</b> (<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>one</b>) <b>and</b> <b>men</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>building</b> <b>suburban</b> <b>railways</b>. <b>Recently</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>paper</b> <b>a</b> <b>picture</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>decrepitude</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>once</b> <b>thriving</b> <b>corn</b>-<b>mill</b> <b>beside</b> <b>its</b> <b>pool</b> <b>that</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>so</b> <b>important</b>. <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>liked</b> <b>the</b> <b>looks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Young</b> <b>miller</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>miller</b>, <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>beard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>named</b> <b>Sandyman</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>issued</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>edition</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>opportunity</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>taken</b> <b>of</b> <b>revising</b> <b>it</b>. <b>A</b> <b>number</b> <b>of</b> <b>errors</b> <b>and</b> <b>inconsistencies</b> <b>that</b> <b>still</b> <b>remained</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>text</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>corrected</b>, <b>and</b> <b>an</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>provide</b> <b>information</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>points</b> <b>which</b> <b>attentive</b> <b>readers</b> <b>have</b> <b>raised</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>considered</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>comments</b> <b>and</b> <b>enquiries</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>that</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>because</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>failed</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>my</b> <b>notes</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b>; <b>but</b> <b>many</b> <b>enquiries</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>be</b> <b>answered</b> <b>by</b> <b>additional</b> <b>appendices</b>, <b>or</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>production</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>accessory</b> <b>volume</b> <b>containing</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>material</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>include</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>original</b> <b>edition</b>, <b>in</b> <b>particular</b> <b>more</b> <b>detailed</b> <b>linguistic</b> <b>information</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>meantime</b> <b>this</b> <b>edition</b> <b>offers</b> <b>this</b> <b>Foreword</b>, <b>an</b> <b>addition</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Prologue</b>, <b>some</b> <b>notes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>an</b> <b>index</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>names</b> <b>of</b> <b>persons</b> <b>and</b> <b>places</b>. <b>This</b> <b>index</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>intention</b> <b>complete</b> <b>in</b> <b>items</b> <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>references</b>, <b>since</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>necessary</b> <b>to</b> <b>reduce</b> <b>its</b> <b>bulk</b>. <b>A</b> <b>complete</b> <b>index</b>, <b>making</b> <b>full</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>material</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>by</b> <b>Mrs</b>. <b>N</b>. <b>Smith</b>, <b>belongs</b> <b>rather</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>accessory</b> <b>volume</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>PROLOGUE</b><br>
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<br>
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1. <b>Concerning</b> <b>Hobbits</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>This</b> <b>book</b> <b>is</b> <b>largely</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>with</b> <b>Hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>pages</b> <b>a</b> <b>reader</b> <b>may</b> <b>discover</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>character</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>history</b>. <b>Further</b> <b>information</b> <b>will</b> <b>also</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>selection</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westmarch</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>already</b> <b>been</b> <b>published</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>title</b> <b>of</b> <b>The</b> <b>Hobbit</b>. <b>That</b> <b>story</b> <b>was</b> <b>derived</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>earlier</b> <b>chapters</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b>, <b>composed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>Hobbit</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>famous</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>at</b> <b>large</b>, <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b> <b>There</b> <b>and</b> <b>Back</b> <b>Again</b>, <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>told</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>journey</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>return</b>: <b>an</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>which</b> <b>later</b> <b>involved</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>events</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Age</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>here</b> <b>related</b>.<br>
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<b>Many</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>may</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>this</b> <b>remarkable</b> <b>people</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>outset</b>, <b>while</b> <b>some</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>possess</b> <b>the</b> <b>earlier</b> <b>book</b>. <b>For</b> <b>such</b> <b>readers</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>notes</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>more</b> <b>important</b> <b>points</b> <b>are</b> <b>here</b> <b>collected</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hobbit</b>-<b>lore</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>is</b> <b>briefly</b> <b>recalled</b>.<br>
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<b>Hobbits</b> <b>are</b> <b>an</b> <b>unobtrusive</b> <b>but</b> <b>very</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>people</b>, <b>more</b> <b>numerous</b> <b>formerly</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>today</b>; <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>love</b> <b>peace</b> <b>and</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>good</b> <b>tilled</b> <b>earth</b>: <b>a</b> <b>well</b>-<b>ordered</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b>-<b>farmed</b> <b>countryside</b> <b>was</b> <b>their</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>haunt</b>. <b>They</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>or</b> <b>like</b> <b>machines</b> <b>more</b> <b>complicated</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>forge</b>-<b>bellows</b>, <b>a</b> <b>water</b>-<b>mill</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>hand</b>-<b>loom</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>skilful</b> <b>with</b> <b>tools</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>in</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>days</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>, <b>shy</b> <b>of</b> “<b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b>”, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>call</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>they</b> <b>avoid</b> <b>us</b> <b>with</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>quick</b> <b>of</b> <b>hearing</b> <b>and</b> <b>sharp</b>-<b>eyed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>inclined</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>fat</b> <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>unnecessarily</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>nonetheless</b> <b>nimble</b> <b>and</b> <b>deft</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>movements</b>. <b>They</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>the</b> <b>art</b> <b>of</b> <b>disappearing</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>and</b> <b>silently</b>, <b>when</b> <b>large</b> <b>folk</b> <b>whom</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>come</b> <b>blundering</b> <b>by</b>; <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>an</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>developed</b> <b>until</b> <b>to</b> <b>Men</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>seem</b> <b>magical</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>studied</b> <b>magic</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>kind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>elusiveness</b> <b>is</b> <b>due</b> <b>solely</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>professional</b> <b>skill</b> <b>that</b> <b>heredity</b> <b>and</b> <b>practice</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>close</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>, <b>have</b> <b>rendered</b> <b>inimitable</b> <b>by</b> <b>bigger</b> <b>and</b> <b>clumsier</b> <b>races</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>people</b>, <b>smaller</b> <b>than</b> <b>Dwarves</b>: <b>less</b> <b>tout</b> <b>and</b> <b>stocky</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b>, <b>even</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>actually</b> <b>much</b> <b>shorter</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>height</b> <b>is</b> <b>variable</b>, <b>ranging</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>and</b> <b>four</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>measure</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>now</b> <b>reach</b> <b>three</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>hive</b> <b>dwindled</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>days</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>taller</b>. <b>According</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b>, <b>Bandobras</b> <b>Took</b> (<b>Bullroarer</b>), <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isengrim</b> <b>the</b> <b>Second</b>, <b>was</b> <b>four</b> <b>foot</b> <b>five</b> <b>and</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>ride</b> <b>a</b> <b>horse</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>surpassed</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>Hobbit</b> <b>records</b> <b>only</b> <b>by</b> <b>two</b> <b>famous</b> <b>characters</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>curious</b> <b>matter</b> <b>is</b> <b>dealt</b> <b>with</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>book</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>with</b> <b>whom</b> <b>these</b> <b>tales</b> <b>are</b> <b>concerned</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>peace</b> <b>and</b> <b>prosperity</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>They</b> <b>dressed</b> <b>in</b> <b>bright</b> <b>colours</b>, <b>being</b> <b>notably</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>and</b> <b>green</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>wore</b> <b>shoes</b>, <b>since</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>had</b> <b>tough</b> <b>leathery</b> <b>soles</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>thick</b> <b>curling</b> <b>hair</b>, <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>hair</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>commonly</b> <b>brown</b>. <b>Thus</b>, <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>craft</b> <b>little</b> <b>practised</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>shoe</b>-<b>making</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>skilful</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>useful</b> <b>and</b> <b>comely</b> <b>things</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>faces</b> <b>were</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b> <b>good</b>-<b>natured</b> <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>beautiful</b>, <b>broad</b>, <b>bright</b>-<b>eyed</b>, <b>red</b>-<b>cheeked</b>, <b>with</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>apt</b> <b>to</b> <b>laughter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>eating</b> <b>and</b> <b>drinking</b>. <b>And</b> <b>laugh</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>often</b> <b>and</b> <b>heartily</b>, <b>being</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>simple</b> <b>jests</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>times</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>six</b> <b>meals</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> (<b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>get</b> <b>them</b>). <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>hospitable</b> <b>and</b> <b>delighted</b> <b>in</b> <b>parties</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>presents</b>, <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>gave</b> <b>away</b> <b>freely</b> <b>and</b> <b>eagerly</b> <b>accepted</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>plain</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>later</b> <b>estrangement</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>are</b> <b>relatives</b> <b>of</b> <b>ours</b>: <b>far</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>than</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>than</b> <b>Dwarves</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>old</b> <b>they</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>the</b> <b>languages</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>after</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>fashion</b>, <b>and</b> <b>liked</b> <b>and</b> <b>disliked</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>things</b> <b>as</b> <b>Men</b> <b>did</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>exactly</b> <b>our</b> <b>relationship</b> <b>is</b> <b>can</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>be</b> <b>discovered</b>. <b>The</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>lies</b> <b>far</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>lost</b> <b>and</b> <b>forgotten</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>still</b> <b>preserve</b> <b>any</b> <b>records</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>traditions</b> <b>are</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>almost</b> <b>entirely</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>history</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>Men</b> <b>appear</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>and</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>mentioned</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>clear</b> <b>that</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>lived</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>before</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b> <b>became</b> <b>even</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>being</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>strange</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>count</b>, <b>these</b> <b>little</b> <b>people</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>of</b> <b>very</b> <b>little</b> <b>importance</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>his</b> <b>heir</b>, <b>they</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>became</b>, <b>by</b> <b>no</b> <b>wish</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>, <b>both</b> <b>important</b> <b>and</b> <b>renowned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>the</b> <b>counsels</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b>.<br>
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<b>Those</b> <b>days</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>, <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>long</b> <b>past</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shape</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>lands</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>changed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>regions</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>then</b> <b>lived</b> <b>were</b> <b>doubtless</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>those</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>linger</b>: <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>West</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>World</b>, <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>their</b> <b>original</b> <b>home</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>preserved</b> <b>no</b> <b>knowledge</b>. <b>A</b> <b>love</b> <b>of</b> <b>learning</b> (<b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>genealogical</b> <b>lore</b>) <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>general</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>remained</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>older</b> <b>families</b> <b>who</b> <b>studied</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>books</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>reports</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>times</b> <b>and</b> <b>distant</b> <b>lands</b> <b>from</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Men</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>own</b> <b>records</b> <b>began</b> <b>only</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>settlement</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>most</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>legends</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>looked</b> <b>further</b> <b>back</b> <b>than</b> <b>their</b> <b>Wandering</b> <b>Days</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>nonetheless</b>, <b>from</b> <b>these</b> <b>legends</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>evidence</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>peculiar</b> <b>words</b> <b>and</b> <b>customs</b>, <b>that</b> <b>like</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>past</b> <b>moved</b> <b>westward</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>earliest</b> <b>tales</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>vales</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b>, <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>eaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Greenwood</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>they</b> <b>later</b> <b>undertook</b> <b>the</b> <b>hard</b> <b>and</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>into</b> <b>Eriador</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>certain</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>own</b> <b>accounts</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>multiplying</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>that</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>darkened</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>new</b> <b>name</b> <b>was</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>the</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>become</b> <b>divided</b> <b>into</b> <b>three</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>different</b> <b>breeds</b>: <b>Harfoots</b>, <b>Stoors</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Fallohides</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Harfoots</b> <b>were</b> <b>browner</b> <b>of</b> <b>skin</b>, <b>smaller</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shorter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>beardless</b> <b>and</b> <b>bootless</b>; <b>their</b> <b>hands</b> <b>and</b> <b>feet</b> <b>were</b> <b>neat</b> <b>and</b> <b>nimble</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>preferred</b> <b>highlands</b> <b>and</b> <b>hillsides</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Stoors</b> <b>were</b> <b>broader</b>, <b>heavier</b> <b>in</b> <b>build</b>; <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>and</b> <b>hands</b> <b>were</b> <b>larger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>preferred</b> <b>flat</b> <b>lands</b> <b>and</b> <b>riversides</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Fallohides</b> <b>were</b> <b>fairer</b> <b>of</b> <b>skin</b> <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>of</b> <b>hair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>taller</b> <b>and</b> <b>slimmer</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>; <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>lovers</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>woodlands</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Harfoots</b> <b>had</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>in</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>times</b>, <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>foothills</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>They</b> <b>moved</b> <b>westward</b> <b>early</b>, <b>and</b> <b>roamed</b> <b>over</b> <b>Eriador</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wilderland</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>normal</b> <b>and</b> <b>representative</b> <b>variety</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>numerous</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>inclined</b> <b>to</b> <b>settle</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>place</b>, <b>and</b> <b>longest</b> <b>preserved</b> <b>their</b> <b>ancestral</b> <b>habit</b> <b>of</b> <b>living</b> <b>in</b> <b>tunnels</b> <b>and</b> <b>holes</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Stoors</b> <b>lingered</b> <b>long</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>Anduin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>less</b> <b>shy</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>. <b>They</b> <b>came</b> <b>west</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Harfoots</b> <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>the</b> <b>course</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Loudwater</b> <b>southwards</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>long</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>between</b> <b>Tharbad</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dunland</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>moved</b> <b>north</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Fallohides</b>, <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>numerous</b>, <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>northerly</b> <b>branch</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>more</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>with</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>were</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>more</b> <b>skill</b> <b>in</b> <b>language</b> <b>and</b> <b>song</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>handicrafts</b>; <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>they</b> <b>preferred</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>to</b> <b>tilling</b>. <b>They</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>Hoarwell</b>. <b>In</b> <b>Eriador</b> <b>they</b> <b>soon</b> <b>mingled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>kinds</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>preceded</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>being</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>bolder</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>adventurous</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>often</b> <b>found</b> <b>as</b> <b>leaders</b> <b>or</b> <b>chieftains</b> <b>among</b> <b>clans</b> <b>of</b> <b>Harfoots</b> <b>or</b> <b>Stoors</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>the</b> <b>strong</b> <b>Fallohidish</b> <b>strain</b> <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>noted</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>greater</b> <b>families</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Masters</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>westlands</b> <b>of</b> <b>Eriador</b>, <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lune</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>found</b> <b>both</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>a</b> <b>remnant</b> <b>still</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>there</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b>, <b>the</b> <b>kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>that</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>dwindling</b> <b>fast</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>North</b> <b>Kingdom</b> <b>were</b> <b>falling</b> <b>far</b> <b>and</b> <b>wide</b> <b>into</b> <b>waste</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>room</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>spare</b> <b>for</b> <b>incomers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ere</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>settle</b> <b>in</b> <b>ordered</b> <b>communities</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>earlier</b> <b>settlements</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>and</b> <b>been</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>time</b>; <b>but</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>important</b> <b>still</b> <b>endured</b>, <b>though</b> <b>reduced</b> <b>in</b> <b>size</b>; <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chetwood</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>round</b> <b>about</b>, <b>some</b> <b>forty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>early</b> <b>days</b>, <b>doubtless</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>learned</b> <b>their</b> <b>letters</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>manner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>turn</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>learned</b> <b>the</b> <b>art</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b> <b>also</b> <b>they</b> <b>forgot</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>languages</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>used</b> <b>before</b>, <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>ever</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Common</b> <b>Speech</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Westron</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>named</b>, <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>current</b> <b>through</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>kings</b> <b>from</b> <b>Arnor</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>coasts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>from</b> <b>Belfalas</b> <b>to</b> <b>Lune</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>kept</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>names</b> <b>of</b> <b>months</b> <b>and</b> <b>days</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>store</b> <b>of</b> <b>personal</b> <b>names</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>past</b>.<br>
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<b>About</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>legend</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>first</b> <b>becomes</b> <b>history</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>reckoning</b> <b>of</b> <b>years</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>six</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>first</b> <b>year</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fallohide</b> <b>brothers</b>, <b>Marcho</b> <b>and</b> <b>Blanco</b>, <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b>; <b>and</b> <b>having</b> <b>obtained</b> <b>permission</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>king</b> <b>at</b> <b>Fornost</b>1, <b>they</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>brown</b> <b>river</b> <b>Baranduin</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>following</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbits</b>. <b>They</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>Stonebows</b>, <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>built</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Kingdom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>ail</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>to</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>in</b>, <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Far</b> <b>Downs</b>. <b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>demanded</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>in</b> <b>repair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>other</b> <b>bridges</b> <b>and</b> <b>roads</b>, <b>speed</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b>'<b>s</b> <b>messengers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>acknowledge</b> <b>his</b> <b>lordship</b>.<br>
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<b>Thus</b> <b>began</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>reckoning</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> (<b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>turned</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b>) <b>became</b> <b>Year</b> <b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>later</b> <b>dates</b> <b>were</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>from</b> <b>it</b>.2 <b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>fell</b> <b>in</b> <b>love</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>new</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>remained</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>passed</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>While</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>king</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>name</b> <b>his</b> <b>subjects</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>ruled</b> <b>by</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>chieftains</b> <b>and</b> <b>meddled</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>with</b> <b>events</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b>. <b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>battle</b> <b>at</b> <b>Fornost</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Witch</b>-<b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Angmar</b> <b>they</b> <b>sent</b> <b>some</b> <b>bowmen</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>aid</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>maintained</b>, <b>though</b> <b>no</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>record</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>war</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Kingdom</b> <b>ended</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>chose</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>chiefs</b> <b>a</b> <b>Thain</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>authority</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>There</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>years</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>little</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>by</b> <b>wars</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>prospered</b> <b>and</b> <b>multiplied</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Plague</b> (<b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 37) <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>disaster</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Long</b> <b>Winter</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>famine</b> <b>that</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>thousands</b> <b>then</b> <b>perished</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Days</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dearth</b> (1158-60) <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>tale</b> <b>long</b> <b>past</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>again</b> <b>become</b> <b>accustomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>plenty</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>rich</b> <b>and</b> <b>kindly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>been</b> <b>deserted</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>entered</b> <b>it</b>, <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>before</b> <b>been</b> <b>well</b> <b>tilled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>had</b> <b>many</b> <b>farms</b>, <b>cornlands</b>, <b>vineyards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>woods</b>.<br>
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<b>Forty</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>it</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Far</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fifty</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>moors</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>named</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>region</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>authority</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>Thain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>district</b> <b>of</b> <b>well</b>-<b>ordered</b> <b>business</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>comer</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>they</b> <b>plied</b> <b>their</b> <b>well</b>-<b>ordered</b> <b>business</b> <b>of</b> <b>living</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>heeded</b> <b>less</b> <b>and</b> <b>less</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b> <b>where</b> <b>dark</b> <b>things</b> <b>moved</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>peace</b> <b>and</b> <b>plenty</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>rule</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>sensible</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>They</b> <b>forgot</b> <b>or</b> <b>ignored</b> <b>what</b> <b>little</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>known</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Guardians</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>labours</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>possible</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>peace</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>sheltered</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>ceased</b> <b>to</b> <b>remember</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>had</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>kind</b> <b>been</b> <b>warlike</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>fought</b> <b>among</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>In</b> <b>olden</b> <b>days</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>been</b> <b>often</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>fight</b> <b>to</b> <b>maintain</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hard</b> <b>world</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>history</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>battle</b>, <b>before</b> <b>this</b> <b>story</b> <b>opens</b>, <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>fought</b> <b>within</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>was</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>living</b> <b>memory</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Battle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Greenfields</b>, <b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 1147, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>Bandobras</b> <b>Took</b> <b>routed</b> <b>an</b> <b>invasion</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcs</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>the</b> <b>weathers</b> <b>had</b> <b>grown</b> <b>milder</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>come</b> <b>ravening</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>in</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>white</b> <b>winters</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>grandfather</b>'<b>s</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>So</b>, <b>though</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>some</b> <b>store</b> <b>of</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>these</b> <b>were</b> <b>used</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>as</b> <b>trophies</b>, <b>hanging</b> <b>above</b> <b>hearths</b> <b>or</b> <b>on</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>or</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>museum</b> <b>at</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Mathom</b>-<b>house</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b>; <b>for</b> <b>anything</b> <b>that</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>immediate</b> <b>use</b> <b>for</b>, <b>but</b> <b>were</b> <b>unwilling</b> <b>to</b> <b>throw</b> <b>away</b>, <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>a</b> <b>mathom</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>were</b> <b>apt</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>rather</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>with</b> <b>mathoms</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>presents</b> <b>that</b> <b>passed</b> <b>from</b> <b>hand</b> <b>to</b> <b>hand</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>sort</b>.<br>
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<b>Nonetheless</b>, <b>ease</b> <b>and</b> <b>peace</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>this</b> <b>people</b> <b>still</b> <b>curiously</b> <b>tough</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>daunt</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>kill</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>perhaps</b>, <b>so</b> <b>unwearyingly</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>things</b> <b>not</b> <b>least</b> <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>, <b>when</b> <b>put</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>do</b> <b>without</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>survive</b> <b>rough</b> <b>handling</b> <b>by</b> <b>grief</b>, <b>foe</b>, <b>or</b> <b>weather</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>astonished</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>them</b> <b>well</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>than</b> <b>their</b> <b>bellies</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>well</b>-<b>fed</b> <b>faces</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>slow</b> <b>to</b> <b>quarrel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>sport</b> <b>killing</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>that</b> <b>lived</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>doughty</b> <b>at</b> <b>bay</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b> <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>handle</b> <b>arms</b>. <b>They</b> <b>shot</b> <b>well</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>bow</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>keen</b>-<b>eyed</b> <b>and</b> <b>sure</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>mark</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>only</b> <b>with</b> <b>bows</b> <b>and</b> <b>arrows</b>. <b>If</b> <b>any</b> <b>Hobbit</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>under</b> <b>cover</b>, <b>as</b> <b>all</b> <b>trespassing</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>knew</b> <b>very</b> <b>well</b>.<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>originally</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>holes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>believed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>such</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>felt</b> <b>most</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>course</b> <b>of</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>adopt</b> <b>other</b> <b>forms</b> <b>of</b> <b>abode</b>. <b>Actually</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>days</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>, <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>richest</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>poorest</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>that</b> <b>maintained</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>custom</b>. <b>The</b> <b>poorest</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>living</b> <b>in</b> <b>burrows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>primitive</b> <b>kind</b>, <b>mere</b> <b>holes</b> <b>indeed</b>, <b>with</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>window</b> <b>or</b> <b>none</b>; <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>well</b>-<b>to</b>-<b>do</b> <b>still</b> <b>constructed</b> <b>more</b> <b>luxurious</b> <b>versions</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>simple</b> <b>diggings</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>But</b> <b>suitable</b> <b>sites</b> <b>for</b> <b>these</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>ramifying</b> <b>tunnels</b> (<b>or</b> <b>smials</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>them</b>) <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>everywhere</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flats</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>low</b>-<b>lying</b> <b>districts</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>multiplied</b>, <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>build</b> <b>above</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilly</b> <b>regions</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>older</b> <b>villages</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>or</b> <b>Tuckborough</b>, <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>township</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Downs</b>, <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>many</b> <b>houses</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>brick</b>, <b>or</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>These</b> <b>were</b> <b>specially</b> <b>favoured</b> <b>by</b> <b>millers</b>, <b>smiths</b>, <b>ropers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cartwrights</b>, <b>and</b> <b>others</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>sort</b>; <b>for</b> <b>even</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>holes</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b>. <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>been</b> <b>accustomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>build</b> <b>sheds</b> <b>and</b> <b>workshops</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>habit</b> <b>of</b> <b>building</b> <b>farmhouses</b> <b>and</b> <b>barns</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>begun</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b> <b>down</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>quarter</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>, <b>were</b> <b>rather</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavy</b>-<b>legged</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>wore</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>boots</b> <b>in</b> <b>muddy</b> <b>weather</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>well</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>Stoors</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>blood</b>, <b>as</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>was</b> <b>shown</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>down</b> <b>that</b> <b>many</b> <b>grew</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>chins</b>. <b>No</b> <b>Harfoot</b> <b>or</b> <b>Fallohide</b> <b>had</b> <b>any</b> <b>trace</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>beard</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>the</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>occupied</b>, <b>came</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>part</b> <b>later</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>south</b>-<b>away</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>had</b> <b>many</b> <b>peculiar</b> <b>names</b> <b>and</b> <b>strange</b> <b>words</b> <b>not</b> <b>found</b> <b>elsewhere</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>probable</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>craft</b> <b>of</b> <b>building</b>, <b>as</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>crafts</b> <b>beside</b>, <b>was</b> <b>derived</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>learned</b> <b>it</b> <b>direct</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>the</b> <b>teachers</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>youth</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>High</b> <b>Kindred</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>forsaken</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>still</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>Havens</b> <b>away</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>other</b> <b>places</b> <b>within</b> <b>reach</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>towers</b> <b>of</b> <b>immemorial</b> <b>age</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>Hills</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>marches</b>. <b>They</b> <b>shone</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>moonlight</b>. <b>The</b> <b>tallest</b> <b>was</b> <b>furthest</b> <b>away</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>alone</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>mound</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westfarthing</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lop</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>tower</b>; <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>Hobbit</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>few</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>sailed</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fewer</b> <b>still</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>report</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>regarded</b> <b>even</b> <b>rivers</b> <b>and</b> <b>small</b> <b>boats</b> <b>with</b> <b>deep</b> <b>misgivings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>could</b> <b>swim</b>. <b>And</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>lengthened</b> <b>they</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>less</b> <b>and</b> <b>less</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grew</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>distrustful</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>token</b> <b>of</b> <b>death</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>craft</b> <b>of</b> <b>building</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>or</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>used</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>fashion</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b> <b>for</b> <b>towers</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>houses</b> <b>were</b> <b>usually</b> <b>long</b>, <b>low</b>, <b>and</b> <b>comfortable</b>. <b>The</b> <b>oldest</b> <b>kind</b> <b>were</b>, <b>indeed</b>, <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>built</b> <b>imitations</b> <b>of</b> <b>smials</b>, <b>thatched</b> <b>with</b> <b>dry</b> <b>grass</b> <b>or</b> <b>straw</b>, <b>or</b> <b>roofed</b> <b>with</b> <b>turves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>having</b> <b>walls</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>bulged</b>. <b>That</b> <b>stage</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>belonged</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>building</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>since</b> <b>been</b> <b>altered</b>, <b>improved</b> <b>by</b> <b>devices</b>, <b>learned</b> <b>from</b> <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>or</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>by</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>A</b> <b>preference</b> <b>for</b> <b>round</b> <b>windows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>round</b> <b>doors</b>, <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>remaining</b> <b>peculiarity</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>architecture</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>houses</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>holes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>often</b> <b>large</b>, <b>and</b> <b>inhabited</b> <b>by</b> <b>large</b> <b>families</b>. (<b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>were</b> <b>as</b> <b>bachelors</b> <b>very</b> <b>exceptional</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>ways</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>their</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>.) <b>Sometimes</b>, <b>as</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>case</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Smials</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>, <b>many</b> <b>generations</b> <b>of</b> <b>relatives</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> (<b>comparative</b>) <b>peace</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>ancestral</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b>-<b>tunnelled</b> <b>mansion</b>. <b>All</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>were</b>, <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b>, <b>clannish</b> <b>and</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>relationships</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>care</b>. <b>They</b> <b>drew</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>elaborate</b> <b>family</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>with</b> <b>innumerable</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>In</b> <b>dealing</b> <b>with</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>important</b> <b>to</b> <b>remember</b> <b>who</b> <b>is</b> <b>related</b> <b>to</b> <b>whom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>what</b> <b>degree</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>impossible</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>book</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>family</b>-<b>tree</b> <b>that</b> <b>included</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>more</b> <b>important</b> <b>members</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>more</b> <b>important</b> <b>families</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>which</b> <b>these</b> <b>tales</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b>. <b>The</b> <b>genealogical</b> <b>trees</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westmarch</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>book</b> <b>in</b> <b>themselves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>would</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b> <b>exceedingly</b> <b>dull</b>. <b>Hobbits</b> <b>delighted</b> <b>in</b> <b>such</b> <b>things</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>accurate</b>: <b>they</b> <b>liked</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>books</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>already</b> <b>knew</b>, <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>square</b> <b>with</b> <b>no</b> <b>contradictions</b>.<br>
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2. <b>Concerning</b> <b>Pipe</b>-<b>weed</b><br>
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<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b> <b>astonishing</b> <b>thing</b> <b>about</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>that</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>mentioned</b>, <b>an</b> <b>astonishing</b> <b>habit</b>: <b>they</b> <b>imbibed</b> <b>or</b> <b>inhaled</b>, <b>through</b> <b>pipes</b> <b>of</b> <b>clay</b> <b>or</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>the</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>burning</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>herb</b>, <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>pipe</b>-<b>weed</b> <b>or</b> <b>leaf</b>, <b>a</b> <b>variety</b> <b>probably</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nicotiana</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>mystery</b> <b>surrounds</b> <b>the</b> <b>origin</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>peculiar</b> <b>custom</b>, <b>or</b> “<b>art</b>” <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>preferred</b> <b>to</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b>. <b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>antiquity</b> <b>was</b> <b>put</b> <b>together</b> <b>by</b> <b>Meriadoc</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> (<b>later</b> <b>Master</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b>), <b>and</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tobacco</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Southfarthing</b> <b>play</b> <b>a</b> <b>part</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>that</b> <b>follows</b>, <b>his</b> <b>remarks</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>introduction</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>Herblore</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>quoted</b>.<br>
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“<b>This</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>says</b>, “<b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>art</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>claim</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>invention</b>. <b>When</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>first</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>known</b>, <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>legends</b> <b>and</b> <b>family</b> <b>histories</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>granted</b>; <b>for</b> <b>ages</b> <b>folk</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>smoked</b> <b>various</b> <b>herbs</b>, <b>some</b> <b>fouler</b>, <b>some</b> <b>sweeter</b>. <b>But</b> <b>all</b> <b>accounts</b> <b>agree</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tobold</b> <b>Hornblower</b> <b>of</b> <b>Longbottom</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Southfarthing</b> <b>first</b> <b>grew</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>pipe</b>-<b>weed</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>gardens</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isengrim</b> <b>the</b> <b>Second</b>, <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> 1070 <b>of</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>reckoning</b>. <b>The</b> <b>best</b> <b>home</b>-<b>grown</b> <b>still</b> <b>comes</b> <b>from</b> <b>that</b> <b>district</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>the</b> <b>varieties</b> <b>now</b> <b>known</b> <b>as</b> <b>Longbottom</b> <b>Leaf</b>, <b>Old</b> <b>Toby</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Southern</b> <b>Star</b>.<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Toby</b> <b>came</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>plant</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>recorded</b>, <b>for</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>dying</b> <b>day</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>much</b> <b>about</b> <b>herbs</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>traveller</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>youth</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>often</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>never</b> <b>went</b> <b>further</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>than</b> <b>that</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>thus</b> <b>quite</b> <b>possible</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>learned</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>plant</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>where</b> <b>now</b>, <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>, <b>it</b> <b>grows</b> <b>well</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hobbits</b> <b>claim</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>actual</b> <b>smokers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pipe</b>-<b>weed</b>. <b>They</b> <b>claim</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>everything</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>whom</b> <b>they</b> <b>refer</b> <b>to</b> <b>as</b> “<b>colonists</b>"; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>case</b> <b>their</b> <b>claim</b> <b>is</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>likely</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>true</b>. <b>And</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>art</b> <b>of</b> <b>smoking</b> <b>the</b> <b>genuine</b> <b>weed</b> <b>spread</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>recent</b> <b>centuries</b> <b>among</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>such</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>Rangers</b>, <b>Wizards</b>, <b>or</b> <b>wanderers</b>, <b>as</b> <b>still</b> <b>passed</b> <b>to</b> <b>and</b> <b>fro</b> <b>through</b> <b>that</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>road</b>-<b>meeting</b>. <b>The</b> <b>home</b> <b>and</b> <b>centre</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>an</b> <b>is</b> <b>thus</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>inn</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>The</b> <b>Prancing</b> <b>Pony</b>, <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>kept</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>family</b> <b>of</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>from</b> <b>time</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>record</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>, <b>observations</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>many</b> <b>journeys</b> <b>south</b> <b>have</b> <b>convinced</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>weed</b> <b>itself</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>native</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>but</b> <b>came</b> <b>northward</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>Anduin</b>, <b>whither</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suspect</b>, <b>originally</b> <b>brought</b> <b>over</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b>. <b>It</b> <b>grows</b> <b>abundantly</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>richer</b> <b>and</b> <b>larger</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>never</b> <b>found</b> <b>wild</b>, <b>and</b> <b>flourishes</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>warm</b> <b>sheltered</b> <b>places</b> <b>like</b> <b>Longbottom</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>galenas</b>, <b>and</b> <b>esteem</b> <b>it</b> <b>only</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>fragrance</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>flowers</b>. <b>From</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>carried</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>centuries</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>day</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>allow</b> <b>us</b> <b>this</b> <b>credit</b>: <b>Hobbits</b> <b>first</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>into</b> <b>pipes</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wizards</b> <b>first</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>did</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>one</b> <b>Wizard</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>art</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>became</b> <b>as</b> <b>skilful</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b>.”<br>
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3. <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ordering</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b><br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>was</b> <b>divided</b> <b>into</b> <b>four</b> <b>quarters</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Farthings</b> <b>already</b> <b>referred</b> <b>to</b>. <b>North</b>, <b>South</b>, <b>East</b>, <b>and</b> <b>West</b>; <b>and</b> <b>these</b> <b>again</b> <b>each</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>number</b> <b>of</b> <b>folklands</b>, <b>which</b> <b>still</b> <b>bore</b> <b>the</b> <b>names</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>leading</b> <b>families</b>, <b>although</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>history</b> <b>these</b> <b>names</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>found</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>proper</b> <b>folklands</b>. <b>Nearly</b> <b>all</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>still</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tookland</b>, <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>true</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>families</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bagginses</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>Boffins</b>. <b>Outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>Farthings</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>and</b> <b>West</b> <b>Marches</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Buckland</b> (<b>see</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>of</b> <b>Chapter</b> <b>V</b>, <b>Book</b> <b>I</b>); <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westmarch</b> <b>added</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>in</b> <b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 1462.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>any</b> “<b>government</b>”. <b>Families</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>part</b> <b>managed</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>affairs</b>. <b>Growing</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>eating</b> <b>it</b> <b>occupied</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>time</b>. <b>In</b> <b>other</b> <b>matters</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>, <b>generous</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>greedy</b>, <b>but</b> <b>contented</b> <b>and</b> <b>moderate</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>estates</b>, <b>farms</b>, <b>workshops</b>, <b>and</b> <b>small</b> <b>trades</b> <b>tended</b> <b>to</b> <b>remain</b> <b>unchanged</b> <b>for</b> <b>generations</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>remained</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>tradition</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>king</b> <b>at</b> <b>Fornost</b>, <b>or</b> <b>Norbury</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b>, <b>away</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>no</b> <b>king</b> <b>for</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>a</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>years</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>of</b> <b>Kings</b>” <b>Norbury</b> <b>were</b> <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>still</b> <b>said</b> <b>of</b> <b>wild</b> <b>folk</b> <b>and</b> <b>wicked</b> <b>things</b> (<b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>trolls</b>) <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b>. <b>For</b> <b>they</b> <b>attributed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>essential</b> <b>laws</b>; <b>and</b> <b>usually</b> <b>they</b> <b>kept</b> <b>the</b> <b>laws</b> <b>of</b> <b>free</b> <b>will</b>, <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>The</b> <b>Rules</b> (<b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>said</b>), <b>both</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>and</b> <b>just</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Took</b> <b>family</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>been</b> <b>pre</b>-<b>eminent</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>office</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thain</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> (<b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Oldbucks</b>) <b>some</b> <b>centuries</b> <b>before</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>Took</b> <b>had</b> <b>borne</b> <b>that</b> <b>title</b> <b>ever</b> <b>since</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Thain</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>moot</b>, <b>and</b> <b>captain</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>muster</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbitry</b>-<b>in</b>-<b>arms</b>, <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>muster</b> <b>and</b> <b>moot</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>held</b> <b>in</b> <b>times</b> <b>of</b> <b>emergency</b>, <b>which</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>occurred</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Thainship</b> <b>had</b> <b>ceased</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>nominal</b> <b>dignity</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Took</b> <b>family</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b>, <b>indeed</b>, <b>accorded</b> <b>a</b> <b>special</b> <b>respect</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>remained</b> <b>both</b> <b>numerous</b> <b>and</b> <b>exceedingly</b> <b>wealthy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>liable</b> <b>to</b> <b>produce</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>generation</b> <b>strong</b> <b>characters</b> <b>of</b> <b>peculiar</b> <b>habits</b> <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>adventurous</b> <b>temperament</b>. <b>The</b> <b>latter</b> <b>qualities</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>rather</b> <b>tolerated</b> (<b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rich</b>) <b>than</b> <b>generally</b> <b>approved</b>. <b>The</b> <b>custom</b> <b>endured</b>, <b>nonetheless</b>, <b>of</b> <b>referring</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>family</b> <b>as</b> <b>The</b> <b>Took</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>adding</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b>, <b>if</b> <b>required</b>, <b>a</b> <b>number</b>: <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>Isengrim</b> <b>the</b> <b>Second</b>, <b>for</b> <b>instance</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>only</b> <b>real</b> <b>official</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>date</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mayor</b> <b>of</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b> (<b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>), <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>elected</b> <b>every</b> <b>seven</b> <b>years</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Free</b> <b>Fair</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lithe</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>Midsummer</b>. <b>As</b> <b>mayor</b> <b>almost</b> <b>his</b> <b>only</b> <b>duty</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>preside</b> <b>at</b> <b>banquets</b>, <b>given</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>holidays</b>, <b>which</b> <b>occurred</b> <b>at</b> <b>frequent</b> <b>intervals</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>offices</b> <b>of</b> <b>Postmaster</b> <b>and</b> <b>First</b> <b>Shirriff</b> <b>were</b> <b>attached</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mayoralty</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>managed</b> <b>both</b> <b>the</b> <b>Messenger</b> <b>Service</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Watch</b>. <b>These</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>services</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Messengers</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>numerous</b>, <b>and</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>busier</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b>. <b>By</b> <b>no</b> <b>means</b> <b>all</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>lettered</b>, <b>but</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>were</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>friends</b> (<b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>selection</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>relations</b>) <b>who</b> <b>lived</b> <b>further</b> <b>off</b> <b>than</b> <b>an</b> <b>afternoon</b>'<b>s</b> <b>walk</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Shirriffs</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>gave</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>police</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>equivalent</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>possessed</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>no</b> <b>uniforms</b> (<b>such</b> <b>things</b> <b>being</b> <b>quite</b> <b>unknown</b>), <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>feather</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>caps</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>practice</b> <b>rather</b> <b>haywards</b> <b>than</b> <b>policemen</b>, <b>more</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>strayings</b> <b>of</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>than</b> <b>of</b> <b>people</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>only</b> <b>twelve</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>three</b> <b>in</b> <b>each</b> <b>Farthing</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Inside</b> <b>Work</b>. <b>A</b> <b>rather</b> <b>larger</b> <b>body</b>, <b>varying</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b>, <b>was</b> <b>employed</b> <b>to</b> “<b>beat</b> <b>the</b> <b>bounds</b>”, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>Outsiders</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>kind</b>, <b>great</b> <b>or</b> <b>small</b>, <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>a</b> <b>nuisance</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>this</b> <b>story</b> <b>begins</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bounders</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>called</b>, <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>increased</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>reports</b> <b>and</b> <b>complaints</b> <b>of</b> <b>strange</b> <b>persons</b> <b>and</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>prowling</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b>, <b>or</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b>: <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>quite</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b>, <b>and</b> <b>always</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>except</b> <b>in</b> <b>tales</b> <b>and</b> <b>legends</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>Few</b> <b>heeded</b> <b>the</b> <b>sign</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>yet</b> <b>had</b> <b>any</b> <b>notion</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>portended</b>. <b>Sixty</b> <b>years</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>memorable</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>old</b> <b>even</b> <b>for</b> <b>Hobbits</b>, <b>who</b> <b>reached</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>as</b> <b>often</b> <b>as</b> <b>not</b>; <b>but</b> <b>much</b> <b>evidently</b> <b>still</b> <b>remained</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>considerable</b> <b>wealth</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>back</b>. <b>How</b> <b>much</b> <b>or</b> <b>how</b> <b>little</b> <b>he</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>to</b> <b>no</b> <b>one</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>his</b> <b>favourite</b> “<b>nephew</b>”. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>still</b> <b>kept</b> <b>secret</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>bad</b> <b>found</b>.<br>
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4. <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Finding</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b><br>
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<b>As</b> <b>is</b> <b>told</b> <b>in</b> <b>The</b> <b>Hobbit</b>, <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>door</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>Wizard</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thirteen</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>: <b>none</b> <b>other</b>, <b>indeed</b>, <b>than</b> <b>Thorin</b> <b>Oakenshield</b>, <b>descendant</b> <b>of</b> <b>kings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>twelve</b> <b>companions</b> <b>in</b> <b>exile</b>. <b>With</b> <b>them</b> <b>he</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>, <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>lasting</b> <b>astonishment</b>, <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>morning</b> <b>of</b> <b>April</b>, <b>it</b> <b>being</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> 1341 <b>Shire</b>-<b>reckoning</b>, <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>quest</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>treasure</b>, <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>hoards</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b>, <b>beneath</b> <b>Erebor</b> <b>in</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>. <b>The</b> <b>quest</b> <b>was</b> <b>successful</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dragon</b> <b>that</b> <b>guarded</b> <b>the</b> <b>hoard</b> <b>was</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>Yet</b>, <b>though</b> <b>before</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>won</b> <b>the</b> <b>Battle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Five</b> <b>Armies</b> <b>was</b> <b>fought</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Thorin</b> <b>was</b> <b>slain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>of</b> <b>renown</b> <b>were</b> <b>done</b>, <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>would</b> <b>scarcely</b> <b>have</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>later</b> <b>history</b>, <b>or</b> <b>earned</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>note</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>annals</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b>, <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>an</b> “<b>accident</b>” <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>. <b>The</b> <b>party</b> <b>was</b> <b>assailed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>pass</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Wilderland</b>; <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>happened</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>mines</b> <b>deep</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>groped</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>lying</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tunnel</b>. <b>He</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>then</b> <b>like</b> <b>mere</b> <b>luck</b>.<br>
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<b>Trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>roots</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tunnel</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>lake</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>lived</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>loathsome</b> <b>little</b> <b>creature</b>: <b>he</b> <b>paddled</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>boat</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>large</b> <b>flat</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>peering</b> <b>with</b> <b>pale</b> <b>luminous</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>catching</b> <b>blind</b> <b>fish</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>fingers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eating</b> <b>them</b> <b>raw</b>. <b>He</b> <b>ate</b> <b>any</b> <b>living</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>even</b> <b>orc</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>catch</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>strangle</b> <b>it</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>struggle</b>. <b>He</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>long</b> <b>ages</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>still</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>: <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>its</b> <b>wearer</b> <b>invisible</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>he</b> <b>loved</b>, <b>his</b> “<b>precious</b>”, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>talked</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>even</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>For</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>it</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>safe</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>island</b>, <b>except</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>or</b> <b>spying</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mines</b>.<br>
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<b>Maybe</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>attacked</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>met</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>held</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>knife</b>, <b>which</b> <b>served</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>sword</b>. <b>So</b> <b>to</b> <b>gain</b> <b>time</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>challenged</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riddle</b>-<b>game</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>a</b> <b>riddle</b> <b>which</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>kill</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>eat</b> <b>him</b>; <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>defeated</b> <b>him</b>, <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>wished</b>: <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>lead</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tunnels</b>.<br>
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<b>Since</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>without</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>neither</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>nor</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>accepted</b> <b>the</b> <b>challenge</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>asked</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b> <b>many</b> <b>riddles</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>won</b> <b>the</b> <b>game</b>, <b>more</b> <b>by</b> <b>luck</b> (<b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>) <b>than</b> <b>by</b> <b>wits</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>stumped</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>riddle</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cried</b> <b>out</b>, <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>he</b> <b>lad</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>forgotten</b>: <b>What</b> <b>haw</b> <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>pocket</b>? <b>This</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>failed</b> <b>to</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>demanded</b> <b>three</b> <b>guesses</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Authorities</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>, <b>differ</b> <b>whether</b> <b>this</b> <b>last</b> <b>question</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>mere</b> “<b>question</b>” <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> “<b>riddle</b>” <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>strict</b> <b>rules</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Game</b>; <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>agree</b> <b>that</b>, <b>after</b> <b>accepting</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>guess</b> <b>the</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>Gollum</b> <b>was</b> <b>bound</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>promise</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>his</b> <b>word</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>slimy</b> <b>creature</b> <b>might</b> <b>prove</b> <b>false</b>, <b>even</b> <b>though</b> <b>such</b> <b>promises</b> <b>were</b> <b>held</b> <b>sacred</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>wickedest</b> <b>things</b> <b>feared</b> <b>to</b> <b>break</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>after</b> <b>ages</b> <b>alone</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>Gollum</b>’<b>s</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>black</b>, <b>and</b> <b>treachery</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>island</b>, <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>knew</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b>. <b>There</b>, <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>lay</b> <b>his</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>hungry</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>angry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>once</b> <b>his</b> “<b>precious</b>” <b>was</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>fear</b> <b>any</b> <b>weapon</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>island</b>; <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>lost</b> <b>it</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>His</b> <b>screech</b> <b>sent</b> <b>a</b> <b>shiver</b> <b>down</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>back</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>understand</b> <b>what</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>too</b> <b>late</b>. <b>What</b> <b>has</b> <b>it</b> <b>got</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>pocketses</b>? <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>flame</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>sped</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>murder</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>and</b> <b>recover</b> <b>his</b> “<b>precious</b>”. <b>Just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>his</b> <b>peril</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fled</b> <b>blindly</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>; <b>and</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>saved</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>luck</b>. <b>For</b> <b>just</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>ran</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>. <b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>passed</b> <b>him</b> <b>without</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>guard</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b>, <b>lest</b> <b>the</b> “<b>thief</b>” <b>should</b> <b>escape</b>. <b>Warily</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>along</b>, <b>cursing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>talking</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> “<b>precious</b>”; <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>talk</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>even</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hope</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>: <b>he</b> <b>himself</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>marvellous</b> <b>ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>escape</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gollum</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>halt</b> <b>before</b> <b>an</b> <b>unseen</b> <b>opening</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mines</b>, <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>There</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>crouched</b> <b>at</b> <b>bay</b>, <b>smelling</b> <b>and</b> <b>listening</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>tempted</b> <b>to</b> <b>slay</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>. <b>But</b> <b>pity</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>his</b> <b>only</b> <b>hope</b> <b>lay</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>use</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>him</b> <b>kill</b> <b>the</b> <b>wretched</b> <b>creature</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>disadvantage</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>, <b>gathering</b> <b>his</b> <b>courage</b>, <b>he</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>over</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fled</b> <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b>, <b>pursued</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>enemy</b>'<b>s</b> <b>cries</b> <b>of</b> <b>hate</b> <b>and</b> <b>despair</b>: <b>Thief</b>, <b>thief</b>! <b>Baggins</b>! <b>We</b> <b>hates</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>!<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>curious</b> <b>fact</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>first</b> <b>told</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>. <b>To</b> <b>them</b> <b>his</b> <b>account</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>had</b> <b>promised</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>present</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>won</b> <b>the</b> <b>game</b>; <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>fetch</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>island</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b>: <b>a</b> <b>magic</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>given</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>birthday</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>won</b> <b>the</b> <b>game</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>his</b> <b>by</b> <b>right</b>. <b>But</b> <b>being</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>tight</b> <b>place</b>, <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>show</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>reward</b> <b>instead</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>present</b>. <b>This</b> <b>account</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>set</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>memoirs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seems</b> <b>never</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>altered</b> <b>it</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>Evidently</b> <b>it</b> <b>still</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>original</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>in</b> <b>several</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>copies</b> <b>and</b> <b>abstracts</b>. <b>But</b> <b>many</b> <b>copies</b> <b>contain</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>account</b> (<b>as</b> <b>an</b> <b>alternative</b>), <b>derived</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>from</b> <b>notes</b> <b>by</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>or</b> <b>Samwise</b>, <b>both</b> <b>of</b> <b>whom</b> <b>learned</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>unwilling</b> <b>to</b> <b>delete</b> <b>anything</b> <b>actually</b> <b>written</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>himself</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>disbelieved</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>first</b> <b>story</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>continued</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>curious</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>Eventually</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>tale</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>after</b> <b>much</b> <b>questioning</b>, <b>which</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>strained</b> <b>their</b> <b>friendship</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>important</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>he</b> <b>also</b> <b>thought</b> <b>it</b> <b>important</b>, <b>and</b> <b>disturbing</b>, <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>good</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>told</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b>: <b>quite</b> <b>contrary</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>habit</b>. <b>The</b> <b>idea</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> “<b>present</b>” <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>mere</b> <b>hobbitlike</b> <b>invention</b>, <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>suggested</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>confessed</b>, <b>by</b> <b>Gollum</b>'<b>s</b> <b>talk</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>overheard</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>did</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>call</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>his</b> “<b>birthday</b> <b>present</b>”, <b>many</b> <b>times</b>. <b>That</b> <b>also</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>thought</b> <b>strange</b> <b>and</b> <b>suspicious</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>discover</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>point</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>more</b> <b>years</b>, <b>as</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>book</b>.<br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>later</b> <b>adventures</b> <b>little</b> <b>more</b> <b>need</b> <b>be</b> <b>said</b> <b>here</b>. <b>With</b> <b>the</b> <b>help</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>he</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>guards</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>rejoined</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>. <b>He</b> <b>used</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>quest</b>, <b>chiefly</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>help</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>it</b> <b>secret</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>. <b>After</b> <b>his</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>home</b> <b>he</b> <b>never</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>anyone</b>, <b>save</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>else</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>knew</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>existence</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>believed</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>show</b> <b>the</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>Journey</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>writing</b>.<br>
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<b>His</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>Sting</b>, <b>Bilbo</b> <b>hung</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>fireplace</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>coat</b> <b>of</b> <b>marvellous</b> <b>mail</b>, <b>the</b> <b>gift</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dragon</b>-<b>hoard</b>, <b>he</b> <b>lent</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>museum</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b> <b>Mathom</b>-<b>house</b> <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>drawer</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>and</b> <b>hood</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>worn</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>travels</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>secured</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>fine</b> <b>chain</b>, <b>remained</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>home</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>on</b> <b>June</b> <b>the</b> 22<b>nd</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>fifty</b>-<b>second</b> <b>year</b> (<b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 1342), <b>and</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>very</b> <b>notable</b> <b>occurred</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>until</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>began</b> <b>the</b> <b>preparations</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>celebration</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hundred</b>-<b>and</b>-<b>eleventh</b> <b>birthday</b> (<b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 1401). <b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>point</b> <b>this</b> <b>History</b> <b>begins</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b> <b>the</b> <b>part</b> <b>played</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>events</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>inclusion</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Reunited</b> <b>Kingdom</b> <b>awakened</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>more</b> <b>widespread</b> <b>interest</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>history</b>; <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>traditions</b>, <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>still</b> <b>mainly</b> <b>oral</b>, <b>were</b> <b>collected</b> <b>and</b> <b>Written</b> <b>down</b>. <b>The</b> <b>greater</b> <b>families</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>with</b> <b>events</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kingdom</b> <b>at</b> <b>large</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>members</b> <b>studied</b> <b>its</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>histories</b> <b>and</b> <b>legends</b>. <b>By</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>century</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fourth</b> <b>Age</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>several</b> <b>libraries</b> <b>that</b> <b>contained</b> <b>many</b> <b>historical</b> <b>books</b> <b>and</b> <b>records</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>largest</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>collections</b> <b>were</b> <b>probably</b> <b>at</b> <b>Undertowers</b>, <b>at</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Smials</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>. <b>This</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b> <b>is</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>mainly</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westmarch</b>. <b>That</b> <b>most</b> <b>important</b> <b>source</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>War</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>called</b> <b>because</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>preserved</b> <b>at</b> <b>Undertowers</b>, <b>the</b> <b>home</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fairbairns</b>, <b>Wardens</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westmarch</b>.3 <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>origin</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>private</b> <b>diary</b>, <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>brought</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>together</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>loose</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>notes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>during</b> <b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 1420-1 <b>he</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>filled</b> <b>its</b> <b>pages</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>War</b>. <b>But</b> <b>annexed</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>preserved</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>, <b>probably</b> <b>m</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>red</b> <b>case</b>, <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>large</b> <b>volumes</b>, <b>bound</b> <b>in</b> <b>red</b> <b>leather</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>parting</b> <b>gift</b>. <b>To</b> <b>these</b> <b>four</b> <b>volumes</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>added</b> <b>in</b> <b>Westmarch</b> <b>a</b> <b>fifth</b> <b>containing</b> <b>commentaries</b>, <b>genealogies</b>, <b>and</b> <b>various</b> <b>other</b> <b>matter</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>members</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fellowship</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>original</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>preserved</b>, <b>but</b> <b>many</b> <b>copies</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>volume</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>descendants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>children</b> <b>of</b> <b>Master</b> <b>Samwise</b>. <b>The</b> <b>most</b> <b>important</b> <b>copy</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>has</b> <b>a</b> <b>different</b> <b>history</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>kept</b> <b>at</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Smials</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>written</b> <b>in</b> <b>Condor</b>, <b>probably</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>request</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b>-<b>grandson</b> <b>of</b> <b>Peregrin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>completed</b> <b>in</b> <b>S</b>.<b>R</b>. 1592 (<b>F</b>.<b>A</b>. 172). <b>Its</b> <b>southern</b> <b>scribe</b> <b>appended</b> <b>this</b> <b>note</b>: <b>Findegil</b>, <b>King</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Writer</b>, <b>finished</b> <b>this</b> <b>work</b> <b>in</b> <b>IV</b> 172. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>exact</b> <b>copy</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>details</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Thain</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Book</b> <b>m</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>. <b>That</b> <b>book</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>copy</b>, <b>made</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>request</b> <b>of</b> <b>King</b> <b>Elessar</b>, <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Periannath</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>brought</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Thain</b> <b>Peregrin</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>retired</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>in</b> <b>IV</b> 64.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Thain</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Book</b> <b>was</b> <b>thus</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>copy</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b> <b>and</b> <b>contained</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>later</b> <b>omitted</b> <b>or</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>In</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>it</b> <b>received</b> <b>much</b> <b>annotation</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>corrections</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>of</b> <b>names</b>, <b>words</b>, <b>and</b> <b>quotations</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>languages</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>added</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b> <b>an</b> <b>abbreviated</b> <b>version</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>The</b> <b>Tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Arwen</b> <b>which</b> <b>lie</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>War</b>. <b>The</b> <b>full</b> <b>tale</b> <b>is</b> <b>stated</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>written</b> <b>by</b> <b>Barahir</b>, <b>grandson</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Steward</b> <b>Faramir</b>, <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>passing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>King</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>importance</b> <b>of</b> <b>Findegil</b>'<b>s</b> <b>copy</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>alone</b> <b>contains</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> “<b>Translations</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b>”. <b>These</b> <b>three</b> <b>volumes</b> <b>were</b> <b>found</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>work</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>skill</b> <b>and</b> <b>learning</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b>, <b>between</b> 1403 <b>and</b> 1418, <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>used</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>sources</b> <b>available</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>both</b> <b>living</b> <b>and</b> <b>written</b>. <b>But</b> <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>little</b> <b>used</b> <b>by</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>being</b> <b>almost</b> <b>entirely</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>, <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>here</b>.<br>
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<b>Since</b> <b>Meriadoc</b> <b>and</b> <b>Peregrin</b> <b>became</b> <b>the</b> <b>heads</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>great</b> <b>families</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b> <b>kept</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>connexions</b> <b>with</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>the</b> <b>libraries</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>and</b> <b>Tuckborough</b> <b>contained</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>appear</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Red</b> <b>Book</b>. <b>In</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>works</b> <b>dealing</b> <b>with</b> <b>Eriador</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>were</b> <b>composed</b> <b>or</b> <b>begun</b> <b>by</b> <b>Meriadoc</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>though</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>Herblore</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>Reckoning</b> <b>of</b> <b>Years</b> <b>m</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>discussed</b> <b>the</b> <b>relation</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>calendars</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>Gondor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Rohan</b>. <b>He</b> <b>also</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>treatise</b> <b>on</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Words</b> <b>and</b> <b>Names</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>having</b> <b>special</b> <b>interest</b> <b>in</b> <b>discovering</b> <b>the</b> <b>kinship</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>language</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rohirrim</b> <b>of</b> <b>such</b> “<b>shire</b>-<b>words</b>” <b>as</b> <b>mathom</b> <b>and</b> <b>old</b> <b>elements</b> <b>in</b> <b>place</b> <b>names</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Smials</b> <b>the</b> <b>books</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>less</b> <b>interest</b> <b>to</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b>, <b>though</b> <b>more</b> <b>important</b> <b>for</b> <b>larger</b> <b>history</b>. <b>None</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>written</b> <b>by</b> <b>Peregrin</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>successors</b> <b>collected</b> <b>many</b> <b>manuscripts</b> <b>written</b> <b>by</b> <b>scribes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>: <b>mainly</b> <b>copies</b> <b>or</b> <b>summaries</b> <b>of</b> <b>histories</b> <b>or</b> <b>legends</b> <b>relating</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>heirs</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>extensive</b> <b>materials</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>arising</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>probably</b> <b>at</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Smials</b> <b>that</b> <b>The</b> <b>Tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Years</b>4 <b>was</b> <b>put</b> <b>together</b>, <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>assistance</b> <b>of</b> <b>material</b> <b>collected</b> <b>by</b> <b>Meriadoc</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>the</b> <b>dates</b> <b>given</b> <b>are</b> <b>often</b> <b>conjectural</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Second</b> <b>Age</b>, <b>they</b> <b>deserve</b> <b>attention</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>probable</b> <b>that</b> <b>Meriadoc</b> <b>obtained</b> <b>assistance</b> <b>and</b> <b>information</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>visited</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>once</b>. <b>There</b>, <b>though</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>had</b> <b>departed</b>, <b>his</b> <b>sons</b> <b>long</b> <b>remained</b>, <b>together</b> <b>with</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>High</b>-<b>elven</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>there</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>departure</b> <b>of</b> <b>Galadriel</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>record</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>when</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>sought</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>Havens</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>went</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>living</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Book</b> <b>I</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 1<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>LONG</b>-<b>EXPECTED</b> <b>PARTY</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>announced</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>shortly</b> <b>be</b> <b>celebrating</b> <b>his</b> <b>eleventy</b>-<b>first</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>party</b> <b>of</b> <b>special</b> <b>magnificence</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>much</b> <b>talk</b> <b>and</b> <b>excitement</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>.<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>rich</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>peculiar</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>for</b> <b>sixty</b> <b>years</b>, <b>ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>his</b> <b>remarkable</b> <b>disappearance</b> <b>and</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>return</b>. <b>The</b> <b>riches</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>back</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>travels</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>become</b> <b>a</b> <b>local</b> <b>legend</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>popularly</b> <b>believed</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>folk</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>was</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>tunnels</b> <b>stuffed</b> <b>with</b> <b>treasure</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>fame</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>his</b> <b>prolonged</b> <b>vigour</b> <b>to</b> <b>marvel</b> <b>at</b>. <b>Time</b> <b>wore</b> <b>on</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>little</b> <b>effect</b> <b>on</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b>. <b>At</b> <b>ninety</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>at</b> <b>fifty</b>. <b>At</b> <b>ninety</b>-<b>nine</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>call</b> <b>him</b> <b>well</b>-<b>preserved</b>, <b>but</b> <b>unchanged</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>the</b> <b>mark</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>some</b> <b>that</b> <b>shook</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>and</b> <b>thought</b> <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>thing</b>; <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>unfair</b> <b>that</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>should</b> <b>possess</b> (<b>apparently</b>) <b>perpetual</b> <b>youth</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> (<b>reputedly</b>) <b>inexhaustible</b> <b>wealth</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>paid</b> <b>for</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>natural</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>was</b> <b>generous</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>money</b>, <b>most</b> <b>people</b> <b>were</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>forgive</b> <b>him</b> <b>his</b> <b>oddities</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>good</b> <b>fortune</b>. <b>He</b> <b>remained</b> <b>on</b> <b>visiting</b> <b>terms</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>relatives</b> (<b>except</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>), <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>many</b> <b>devoted</b> <b>admirers</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>poor</b> <b>and</b> <b>unimportant</b> <b>families</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>close</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>until</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>younger</b> <b>cousins</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>up</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>eldest</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>favourite</b>, <b>was</b> <b>young</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b>. <b>When</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>ninety</b>-<b>nine</b>, <b>he</b> <b>adopted</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>heir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>brought</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>were</b> <b>finally</b> <b>dashed</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>happened</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>birthday</b>, <b>September</b> 22<b>nd</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>live</b> <b>here</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>celebrate</b> <b>our</b> <b>birthday</b>-<b>parties</b> <b>comfortably</b> <b>together</b>.” <b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>tweens</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>irresponsible</b> <b>twenties</b> <b>between</b> <b>childhood</b> <b>and</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>age</b> <b>at</b> <b>thirty</b>-<b>three</b>.<br>
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<b>Twelve</b> <b>more</b> <b>years</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>year</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bagginses</b> <b>had</b> <b>given</b> <b>very</b> <b>lively</b> <b>combined</b> <b>birthday</b>-<b>parties</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>understood</b> <b>that</b> <b>something</b> <b>quite</b> <b>exceptional</b> <b>was</b> <b>being</b> <b>planned</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>autumn</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>eleventy</b>-<b>one</b>, 111, <b>a</b> <b>rather</b> <b>curious</b> <b>number</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>respectable</b> <b>age</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> (<b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Took</b> <b>himself</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>reached</b> 130); <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>thirty</b>-<b>three</b>, 33) <b>an</b> <b>important</b> <b>number</b>: <b>the</b> <b>date</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> “<b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>age</b>”.<br>
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<b>Tongues</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>wag</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bywater</b>; <b>and</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>event</b> <b>travelled</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>The</b> <b>history</b> <b>and</b> <b>character</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>became</b> <b>once</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>topic</b> <b>of</b> <b>conversation</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>older</b> <b>folk</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>found</b> <b>their</b> <b>reminiscences</b> <b>in</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>demand</b>.<br>
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<b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>more</b> <b>attentive</b> <b>audience</b> <b>than</b> <b>old</b> <b>Ham</b> <b>Gamgee</b>, <b>commonly</b> <b>known</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>. <b>He</b> <b>held</b> <b>forth</b> <b>at</b> <b>The</b> <b>Ivy</b> <b>Bush</b>, <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>inn</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>road</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>with</b> <b>some</b> <b>authority</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>tended</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>for</b> <b>forty</b> <b>years</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>helped</b> <b>old</b> <b>Holman</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>job</b> <b>before</b> <b>that</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>himself</b> <b>growing</b> <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>joints</b>, <b>the</b> <b>job</b> <b>was</b> <b>mainly</b> <b>carried</b> <b>on</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>youngest</b> <b>son</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>. <b>Both</b> <b>father</b> <b>and</b> <b>son</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>very</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>terms</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>They</b> <b>lived</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>itself</b>, <b>in</b> <b>Number</b> 3 <b>Bagshot</b> <b>Row</b> <b>just</b> <b>below</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>very</b> <b>nice</b> <b>well</b>-<b>spoken</b> <b>gentlehobbit</b> <b>is</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>always</b> <b>said</b>,” <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>declared</b>. <b>With</b> <b>perfect</b> <b>truth</b>: <b>for</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>polite</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>calling</b> <b>him</b> “<b>Master</b> <b>Hamfast</b>”, <b>and</b> <b>consulting</b> <b>him</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>growing</b> <b>of</b> <b>vegetables</b>—<b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> “<b>roots</b>”, <b>especially</b> <b>potatoes</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>was</b> <b>recognized</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>leading</b> <b>authority</b> <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>neighbourhood</b> (<b>including</b> <b>himself</b>).<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>about</b> <b>this</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>that</b> <b>lives</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Noakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bywater</b>. “<b>Baggins</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>. <b>It</b> <b>beats</b> <b>me</b> <b>why</b> <b>any</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>should</b> <b>go</b> <b>looking</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>wife</b> <b>away</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>where</b> <b>folks</b> <b>are</b> <b>so</b> <b>queer</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>no</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>they</b>’<b>re</b> <b>queer</b>,” <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>Daddy</b> <b>Twofoot</b> (<b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>next</b>-<b>door</b> <b>neighbour</b>), “<b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>live</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>right</b> <b>agin</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>. <b>That</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>bad</b> <b>place</b>, <b>if</b> <b>half</b> <b>the</b> <b>tales</b> <b>be</b> <b>true</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b>’<b>re</b> <b>right</b>, <b>Dad</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buck</b>-<b>land</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b>’<b>re</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>breed</b>, <b>seemingly</b>. <b>They</b> <b>fool</b> <b>about</b> <b>with</b> <b>boats</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>big</b> <b>river</b>—<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>natural</b>. <b>Small</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>that</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>came</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>say</b>. <b>But</b> <b>be</b> <b>that</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>nice</b> <b>a</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>could</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>looks</b>. <b>After</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>Baggins</b>. <b>A</b> <b>decent</b> <b>respectable</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>was</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Drogo</b> <b>Baggins</b>; <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>never</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>till</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>drownded</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Drownded</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>several</b> <b>voices</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>this</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>darker</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>before</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>; <b>but</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>passion</b> <b>for</b> <b>family</b> <b>history</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>see</b>: <b>Mr</b>. <b>Drogo</b>, <b>he</b> <b>married</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Miss</b> <b>Primula</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>. <b>She</b> <b>was</b> <b>our</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>first</b> <b>cousin</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mother</b>’<b>s</b> <b>side</b> (<b>her</b> <b>mother</b> <b>being</b> <b>the</b> <b>youngest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Took</b>’<b>s</b> <b>daughters</b>); <b>and</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Drogo</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>second</b> <b>cousin</b>. <b>So</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>first</b> <b>and</b> <b>second</b> <b>cousin</b>, <b>once</b> <b>removed</b> <b>either</b> <b>way</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>saying</b> <b>is</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>follow</b> <b>me</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Drogo</b> <b>was</b> <b>staying</b> <b>at</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b>-<b>in</b>-<b>law</b>, <b>old</b> <b>Master</b> <b>Gorbadoc</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>often</b> <b>did</b> <b>after</b> <b>his</b> <b>marriage</b> (<b>him</b> <b>being</b> <b>partial</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>vittles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>old</b> <b>Gorbadoc</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>generous</b> <b>table</b>); <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>boating</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>River</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>wife</b> <b>were</b> <b>drownded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>child</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>after</b> <b>dinner</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>moonlight</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Noakes</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>Drogo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>weight</b> <b>as</b> <b>sunk</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>she</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>pulled</b> <b>her</b> <b>in</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sandyman</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>miller</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>shouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b>, <b>Sandyman</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>, <b>who</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>miller</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>no</b> <b>call</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>talking</b> <b>of</b> <b>pushing</b> <b>and</b> <b>pulling</b>. <b>Boats</b> <b>are</b> <b>quite</b> <b>tricky</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>sit</b> <b>still</b> <b>without</b> <b>looking</b> <b>further</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>cause</b> <b>of</b> <b>trouble</b>. <b>Anyway</b>: <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>this</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>left</b> <b>an</b> <b>orphan</b> <b>and</b> <b>stranded</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>, <b>among</b> <b>those</b> <b>queer</b> <b>Bucklanders</b>, <b>being</b> <b>brought</b> <b>up</b> <b>anyhow</b> <b>in</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>. <b>A</b> <b>regular</b> <b>warren</b>, <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>accounts</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Master</b> <b>Gorbadoc</b> <b>never</b> <b>had</b> <b>fewer</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>relations</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>never</b> <b>did</b> <b>a</b> <b>kinder</b> <b>deed</b> <b>than</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>brought</b> <b>the</b> <b>lad</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>among</b> <b>decent</b> <b>folk</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>nasty</b> <b>shock</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>. <b>They</b> <b>thought</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>thought</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>dead</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>orders</b> <b>them</b> <b>off</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b> <b>living</b> <b>and</b> <b>living</b>, <b>and</b> <b>never</b> <b>looking</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>older</b>, <b>bless</b> <b>him</b>! <b>And</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>produces</b> <b>an</b> <b>heir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>has</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>papers</b> <b>made</b> <b>out</b> <b>proper</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>never</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>inside</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>now</b>, <b>or</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>not</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>tidy</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>money</b> <b>tucked</b> <b>away</b> <b>up</b> <b>there</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>tell</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>stranger</b>, <b>a</b> <b>visitor</b> <b>on</b> <b>business</b> <b>from</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westfarthing</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>hill</b> <b>is</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>tunnels</b> <b>packed</b> <b>with</b> <b>chests</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>and</b> <b>jools</b>, <b>by</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>speak</b> <b>to</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>about</b> <b>jools</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>is</b> <b>free</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>money</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>seems</b> <b>no</b> <b>lack</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b> <b>no</b> <b>tunnel</b>-<b>making</b>. <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b>, <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>sixty</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lad</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>d</b> <b>not</b> <b>long</b> <b>come</b> <b>prentice</b> <b>to</b> <b>old</b> <b>Holman</b> (<b>him</b> <b>being</b> <b>my</b> <b>dad</b>’<b>s</b> <b>cousin</b>), <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>me</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>helping</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>folks</b> <b>from</b> <b>trampling</b> <b>and</b> <b>trapessing</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>sale</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b>. <b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>comes</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>pony</b> <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>big</b> <b>bags</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>chests</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>foreign</b> <b>parts</b>, <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>be</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>fill</b> <b>tunnels</b>. <b>But</b> <b>my</b> <b>lad</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>will</b> <b>know</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b>. <b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>Crazy</b> <b>about</b> <b>stories</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>days</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>listens</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>tales</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>has</b> <b>learned</b> <b>him</b> <b>his</b> <b>letters</b>—<b>meaning</b> <b>no</b> <b>harm</b>, <b>mark</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>no</b> <b>harm</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Dragons</b>” <b>I</b> <b>says</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Cabbages</b> <b>and</b> <b>potatoes</b> <b>are</b> <b>better</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>getting</b> <b>mixed</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>business</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>betters</b>, <b>or</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>land</b> <b>in</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>too</b> <b>big</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>says</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>others</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stranger</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>miller</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>convince</b> <b>his</b> <b>audience</b>. <b>The</b> <b>legend</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>wealth</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>too</b> <b>firmly</b> <b>fixed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>minds</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>younger</b> <b>generation</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>likely</b> <b>enough</b> <b>been</b> <b>adding</b> <b>to</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>brought</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>,” <b>argued</b> <b>the</b> <b>miller</b>, <b>voicing</b> <b>common</b> <b>opinion</b>. “<b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>often</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>home</b>. <b>And</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>outlandish</b> <b>folk</b> <b>that</b> <b>visit</b> <b>him</b>: <b>dwarves</b> <b>coming</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>old</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>conjuror</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b>. <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>say</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b>, <b>Gaffer</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>place</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>queerer</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>say</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b>, <b>about</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>of</b> <b>boating</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Sandyman</b>,” <b>retorted</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>, <b>disliking</b> <b>the</b> <b>miller</b> <b>even</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>usual</b>. <b>If</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>being</b> <b>queer</b>, <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>more</b> <b>queerness</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b>. <b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>some</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>that</b> <b>wouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>offer</b> <b>a</b> <b>pint</b> <b>of</b> <b>beer</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>with</b> <b>golden</b> <b>walls</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b> <b>things</b> <b>proper</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>Our</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>says</b> <b>that</b> <b>everyone</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>invited</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>presents</b>, <b>mark</b> <b>you</b>, <b>presents</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b>—<b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>month</b> <b>as</b> <b>is</b>.”<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>very</b> <b>month</b> <b>was</b> <b>September</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>fine</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>could</b> <b>ask</b>. <b>A</b> <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>later</b> <b>a</b> <b>rumour</b> (<b>probably</b> <b>started</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>knowledgeable</b> <b>Sam</b>) <b>was</b> <b>spread</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>fireworks</b>—<b>fireworks</b>, <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>for</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>century</b>, <b>not</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Took</b> <b>died</b>.<br>
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<b>Days</b> <b>passed</b> <b>and</b> <b>The</b> <b>Day</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>An</b> <b>odd</b>-<b>looking</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>odd</b>-<b>looking</b> <b>packages</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>into</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>one</b> <b>evening</b> <b>and</b> <b>toiled</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>The</b> <b>startled</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>peered</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>lamplit</b> <b>doors</b> <b>to</b> <b>gape</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>driven</b> <b>by</b> <b>outlandish</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>singing</b> <b>strange</b> <b>songs</b>: <b>dwarves</b> <b>with</b> <b>long</b> <b>beards</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b> <b>hoods</b>. <b>A</b> <b>few</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>remained</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>second</b> <b>week</b> <b>in</b> <b>September</b> <b>a</b> <b>cart</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>through</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>in</b> <b>broad</b> <b>daylight</b>. <b>An</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b> <b>was</b> <b>driving</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wore</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>blue</b> <b>hat</b>, <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>grey</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>silver</b> <b>scarf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>white</b> <b>beard</b> <b>and</b> <b>bushy</b> <b>eyebrows</b> <b>that</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>out</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>brim</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b>. <b>Small</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>children</b> <b>ran</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>cart</b> <b>all</b> <b>through</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>and</b> <b>right</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>cargo</b> <b>of</b> <b>fireworks</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>rightly</b> <b>guessed</b>. <b>At</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>front</b> <b>door</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>unload</b>: <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>great</b> <b>bundles</b> <b>of</b> <b>fireworks</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>sorts</b> <b>and</b> <b>shapes</b>, <b>each</b> <b>labelled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>red</b> <b>G</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>rune</b>, .<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>Gandalf</b>’<b>s</b> <b>mark</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b> <b>was</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wizard</b>, <b>whose</b> <b>fame</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>was</b> <b>due</b> <b>mainly</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>skill</b> <b>with</b> <b>fires</b>, <b>smokes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lights</b>. <b>His</b> <b>real</b> <b>business</b> <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>more</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>and</b> <b>dangerous</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>knew</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>. <b>To</b> <b>them</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> “<b>attractions</b>” <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Party</b>. <b>Hence</b> <b>the</b> <b>excitement</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>children</b>. “<b>G</b> <b>for</b> <b>Grand</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>shouted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b> <b>smiled</b>. <b>They</b> <b>knew</b> <b>him</b> <b>by</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>only</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>occasionally</b> <b>and</b> <b>never</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>long</b>; <b>but</b> <b>neither</b> <b>they</b> <b>nor</b> <b>any</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>oldest</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>elders</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>firework</b> <b>displays</b>—<b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>belonged</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>legendary</b> <b>past</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b>, <b>helped</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>dwarves</b>, <b>had</b> <b>finished</b> <b>unloading</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>pennies</b> <b>away</b>; <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>squib</b> <b>or</b> <b>cracker</b> <b>was</b> <b>forthcoming</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>disappointment</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>onlookers</b>.<br>
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“<b>Run</b> <b>away</b> <b>now</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>get</b> <b>plenty</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>comes</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>inside</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>was</b> <b>shut</b>. <b>The</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>made</b> <b>off</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b> <b>would</b> <b>never</b> <b>come</b>.<br>
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<b>Inside</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>were</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>window</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>room</b> <b>looking</b> <b>out</b> <b>west</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>. <b>The</b> <b>late</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>was</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>peaceful</b>. <b>The</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>red</b> <b>and</b> <b>golden</b>: <b>snap</b>-<b>dragons</b> <b>and</b> <b>sun</b>-<b>flowers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nasturtiums</b> <b>trailing</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>turf</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>peeping</b> <b>in</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>round</b> <b>windows</b>.<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>bright</b> <b>your</b> <b>garden</b> <b>looks</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>very</b> <b>fond</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>dear</b> <b>old</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>a</b> <b>holiday</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>with</b> <b>your</b> <b>plan</b> <b>then</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b>. <b>I</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b> <b>months</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>haven</b>’<b>t</b> <b>changed</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>saying</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>. <b>Stick</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>plan</b>—<b>your</b> <b>whole</b> <b>plan</b>, <b>mind</b>—<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>turn</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b>, <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>so</b>. <b>Anyway</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>enjoy</b> <b>myself</b> <b>on</b> <b>Thursday</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>joke</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>will</b> <b>laugh</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b> <b>more</b> <b>carts</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>more</b> <b>carts</b>. <b>There</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>some</b> <b>grumbling</b> <b>about</b> “<b>dealing</b> <b>locally</b>”, <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>very</b> <b>week</b> <b>orders</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>pour</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>for</b> <b>every</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>provision</b>, <b>commodity</b>, <b>or</b> <b>luxury</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>obtained</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>or</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>or</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>neighbourhood</b>. <b>People</b> <b>became</b> <b>enthusiastic</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>tick</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>calendar</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>watched</b> <b>eagerly</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>postman</b>, <b>hoping</b> <b>for</b> <b>invitations</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>invitations</b> <b>began</b> <b>pouring</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>post</b>-<b>office</b> <b>was</b> <b>blocked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>post</b>-<b>office</b> <b>was</b> <b>snowed</b> <b>under</b>, <b>and</b> <b>voluntary</b> <b>assistant</b> <b>postmen</b> <b>were</b> <b>called</b> <b>for</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>constant</b> <b>stream</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>going</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b>, <b>carrying</b> <b>hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>polite</b> <b>variations</b> <b>on</b> <b>Thank</b> <b>you</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>come</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>notice</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>: <b>no</b> <b>admittance</b> <b>except</b> <b>on</b> <b>party</b> <b>business</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b>, <b>or</b> <b>pretended</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>Party</b> <b>Business</b> <b>were</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>inside</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>busy</b>: <b>writing</b> <b>invitations</b>, <b>ticking</b> <b>off</b> <b>answers</b>, <b>packing</b> <b>up</b> <b>presents</b>, <b>and</b> <b>making</b> <b>some</b> <b>private</b> <b>preparations</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>’<b>s</b> <b>arrival</b> <b>he</b> <b>remained</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>view</b>.<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>morning</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>woke</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>large</b> <b>field</b>, <b>south</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>front</b> <b>door</b>, <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>ropes</b> <b>and</b> <b>poles</b> <b>for</b> <b>tents</b> <b>and</b> <b>pavilions</b>. <b>A</b> <b>special</b> <b>entrance</b> <b>was</b> <b>cut</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>leading</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wide</b> <b>steps</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>white</b> <b>gate</b> <b>were</b> <b>built</b> <b>there</b>. <b>The</b> <b>three</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>families</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bagshot</b> <b>Row</b>, <b>adjoining</b> <b>the</b> <b>field</b>, <b>were</b> <b>intensely</b> <b>interested</b> <b>and</b> <b>generally</b> <b>envied</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>even</b> <b>pretending</b> <b>to</b> <b>work</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>garden</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>tents</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>up</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>specially</b> <b>large</b> <b>pavilion</b>, <b>so</b> <b>big</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>that</b> <b>grew</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>field</b> <b>was</b> <b>right</b> <b>inside</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>proudly</b> <b>near</b> <b>one</b> <b>end</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>table</b>. <b>Lanterns</b> <b>were</b> <b>hung</b> <b>on</b> <b>all</b> <b>its</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>More</b> <b>promising</b> <b>still</b> (<b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>” <b>mind</b>): <b>an</b> <b>enormous</b> <b>open</b>-<b>air</b> <b>kitchen</b> <b>was</b> <b>erected</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>field</b>. <b>A</b> <b>draught</b> <b>of</b> <b>cooks</b>, <b>from</b> <b>every</b> <b>inn</b> <b>and</b> <b>eating</b>-<b>house</b> <b>for</b> <b>miles</b> <b>around</b>, <b>arrived</b> <b>to</b> <b>supplement</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>odd</b> <b>folk</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>quartered</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>Excitement</b> <b>rose</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>height</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>clouded</b> <b>over</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>Wednesday</b> <b>the</b> <b>eve</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Party</b>. <b>Anxiety</b> <b>was</b> <b>intense</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Thursday</b>, <b>September</b> <b>the</b> 22<b>nd</b>, <b>actually</b> <b>dawned</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b>, <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>vanished</b>, <b>flags</b> <b>were</b> <b>unfurled</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fun</b> <b>began</b>.<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>party</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>really</b> <b>a</b> <b>variety</b> <b>of</b> <b>entertainments</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>into</b> <b>one</b>. <b>Practically</b> <b>everybody</b> <b>living</b> <b>near</b> <b>was</b> <b>invited</b>. <b>A</b> <b>very</b> <b>few</b> <b>were</b> <b>overlooked</b> <b>by</b> <b>accident</b>, <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>up</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>, <b>that</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>matter</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>people</b> <b>from</b> <b>other</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>asked</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>even</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>from</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>met</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> (<b>and</b> <b>additions</b>) <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>white</b> <b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>person</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>away</b> <b>presents</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>and</b> <b>sundry</b>—<b>the</b> <b>latter</b> <b>were</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>back</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>again</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>Hobbits</b> <b>give</b> <b>presents</b> <b>to</b> <b>other</b> <b>people</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>birthdays</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>very</b> <b>expensive</b> <b>ones</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>lavishly</b> <b>as</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>occasion</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>bad</b> <b>system</b>. <b>Actually</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>every</b> <b>day</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>somebody</b>’<b>s</b> <b>birthday</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>every</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>parts</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>one</b> <b>present</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>once</b> <b>a</b> <b>week</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>never</b> <b>got</b> <b>tired</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>this</b> <b>occasion</b> <b>the</b> <b>presents</b> <b>were</b> <b>unusually</b> <b>good</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>children</b> <b>were</b> <b>so</b> <b>excited</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>almost</b> <b>forgot</b> <b>about</b> <b>eating</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>toys</b> <b>the</b> <b>like</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>before</b>, <b>all</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>magical</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>had</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>been</b> <b>ordered</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>before</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>real</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>make</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>every</b> <b>guest</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>welcomed</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>finally</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>, <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>songs</b>, <b>dances</b>, <b>music</b>, <b>games</b>, <b>and</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>three</b> <b>official</b> <b>meals</b>: <b>lunch</b>, <b>tea</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dinner</b> (<b>or</b> <b>supper</b>). <b>But</b> <b>lunch</b> <b>and</b> <b>tea</b> <b>were</b> <b>marked</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fact</b> <b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>those</b> <b>times</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>eating</b> <b>together</b>. <b>At</b> <b>other</b> <b>times</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>merely</b> <b>lots</b> <b>of</b> <b>people</b> <b>eating</b> <b>and</b> <b>drinking</b>—<b>continuously</b> <b>from</b> <b>elevenses</b> <b>until</b> <b>six</b>-<b>thirty</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>fireworks</b> <b>started</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>fireworks</b> <b>were</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gandalf</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>only</b> <b>brought</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>designed</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>special</b> <b>effects</b>, <b>set</b> <b>pieces</b>, <b>and</b> <b>flights</b> <b>of</b> <b>rockets</b> <b>were</b> <b>let</b> <b>off</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>a</b> <b>generous</b> <b>distribution</b> <b>of</b> <b>squibs</b>, <b>crackers</b>, <b>backarappers</b>, <b>sparklers</b>, <b>torches</b>, <b>dwarf</b>-<b>candles</b>, <b>elf</b>-<b>fountains</b>, <b>goblin</b>-<b>barkers</b> <b>and</b> <b>thunder</b>-<b>claps</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>superb</b>. <b>The</b> <b>art</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>improved</b> <b>with</b> <b>age</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>rockets</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>scintillating</b> <b>birds</b> <b>singing</b> <b>with</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>voices</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>green</b> <b>trees</b> <b>with</b> <b>trunks</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>smoke</b>: <b>their</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>opened</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>whole</b> <b>spring</b> <b>unfolding</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>shining</b> <b>branches</b> <b>dropped</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>astonished</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>disappearing</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>scent</b> <b>just</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>touched</b> <b>their</b> <b>upturned</b> <b>faces</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>fountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>butterflies</b> <b>that</b> <b>flew</b> <b>glittering</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>of</b> <b>coloured</b> <b>fires</b> <b>that</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>into</b> <b>eagles</b>, <b>or</b> <b>sailing</b> <b>ships</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>phalanx</b> <b>of</b> <b>flying</b> <b>swans</b>; <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>thunderstorm</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>shower</b> <b>of</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>rain</b>; <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>forest</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>spears</b> <b>that</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>yell</b> <b>like</b> <b>an</b> <b>embattled</b> <b>army</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>hot</b> <b>snakes</b>. <b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>one</b> <b>last</b> <b>surprise</b>, <b>in</b> <b>honour</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>startled</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>exceedingly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>intended</b>. <b>The</b> <b>lights</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b>. <b>It</b> <b>shaped</b> <b>itself</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>mountain</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>glow</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>summit</b>. <b>It</b> <b>spouted</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>scarlet</b> <b>flames</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>flew</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b>-<b>golden</b> <b>dragon</b>—<b>not</b> <b>life</b>-<b>size</b>, <b>but</b> <b>terribly</b> <b>life</b>-<b>like</b>: <b>fire</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>jaws</b>, <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glared</b> <b>down</b>; <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>roar</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>whizzed</b> <b>three</b> <b>times</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>heads</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>crowd</b>. <b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>ducked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>fell</b> <b>flat</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dragon</b> <b>passed</b> <b>like</b> <b>an</b> <b>express</b> <b>train</b>, <b>turned</b> <b>a</b> <b>somersault</b>, <b>and</b> <b>burst</b> <b>over</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>deafening</b> <b>explosion</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>signal</b> <b>for</b> <b>supper</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>The</b> <b>pain</b> <b>and</b> <b>alarm</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>prostrate</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>splendid</b> <b>supper</b> <b>for</b> <b>everyone</b>; <b>for</b> <b>everyone</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b>, <b>except</b> <b>those</b> <b>invited</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>special</b> <b>family</b> <b>dinner</b>-<b>party</b>. <b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>held</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>pavilion</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>The</b> <b>invitations</b> <b>were</b> <b>limited</b> <b>to</b> <b>twelve</b> <b>dozen</b> (<b>a</b> <b>number</b> <b>also</b> <b>called</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>one</b> <b>Gross</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>considered</b> <b>proper</b> <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>people</b>); <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>selected</b> <b>from</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>families</b> <b>to</b> <b>which</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>were</b> <b>related</b>, <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>addition</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>special</b> <b>unrelated</b> <b>friends</b> (<b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>Gandalf</b>). <b>Many</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>included</b>, <b>and</b> <b>present</b> <b>by</b> <b>parental</b> <b>permission</b>; <b>for</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>easy</b>-<b>going</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>children</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>up</b> <b>late</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>when</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>getting</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>free</b> <b>meal</b>. <b>Bringing</b> <b>up</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>provender</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>Bagginses</b> <b>and</b> <b>Boffins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>many</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>and</b> <b>Brandybucks</b>; <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>various</b> <b>Grubbs</b> (<b>relations</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b>” <b>grandmother</b>), <b>and</b> <b>various</b> <b>Chubbs</b> (<b>connexions</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>Took</b> <b>grandfather</b>); <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>selection</b> <b>of</b> <b>Burrowses</b>, <b>Bolgers</b>, <b>Bracegirdles</b>, <b>Brockhouses</b>, <b>Goodbodies</b>, <b>Hornblowers</b> <b>and</b> <b>Proudfoots</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>very</b> <b>distantly</b> <b>connected</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>before</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>lived</b> <b>in</b> <b>remote</b> <b>corners</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>forgotten</b>. <b>Otho</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>wife</b> <b>Lobelia</b> <b>were</b> <b>present</b>. <b>They</b> <b>disliked</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>detested</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>but</b> <b>so</b> <b>magnificent</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>invitation</b> <b>card</b>, <b>written</b> <b>in</b> <b>golden</b> <b>ink</b>, <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>impossible</b> <b>to</b> <b>refuse</b>. <b>Besides</b>, <b>their</b> <b>cousin</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>specializing</b> <b>in</b> <b>food</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>table</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>reputation</b>.<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>forty</b>-<b>four</b> <b>guests</b> <b>expected</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>feast</b>; <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>rather</b> <b>dreaded</b> <b>the</b> <b>after</b>-<b>dinner</b> <b>speech</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>host</b> (<b>an</b> <b>inevitable</b> <b>item</b>). <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>liable</b> <b>to</b> <b>drag</b> <b>in</b> <b>bits</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>poetry</b>; <b>and</b> <b>sometimes</b>, <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>glass</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>would</b> <b>allude</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>absurd</b> <b>adventures</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mysterious</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>The</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>disappointed</b>: <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>feast</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b> <b>an</b> <b>engrossing</b> <b>entertainment</b>: <b>rich</b>, <b>abundant</b>, <b>varied</b>, <b>and</b> <b>prolonged</b>. <b>The</b> <b>purchase</b> <b>of</b> <b>provisions</b> <b>fell</b> <b>almost</b> <b>to</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>throughout</b> <b>the</b> <b>district</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ensuing</b> <b>weeks</b>; <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>catering</b> <b>had</b> <b>depleted</b> <b>the</b> <b>stocks</b> <b>of</b> <b>most</b> <b>stores</b>, <b>cellars</b> <b>and</b> <b>warehouses</b> <b>for</b> <b>miles</b> <b>around</b>, <b>that</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>matter</b> <b>much</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>the</b> <b>feast</b> (<b>more</b> <b>or</b> <b>less</b>) <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>Speech</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>were</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>tolerant</b> <b>mood</b>, <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>delightful</b> <b>stage</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> “<b>filling</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>corners</b>”. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>sipping</b> <b>their</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>drinks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nibbling</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>dainties</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>fears</b> <b>were</b> <b>forgotten</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>to</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>anything</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>cheer</b> <b>at</b> <b>every</b> <b>full</b> <b>stop</b>.<br>
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<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>People</b>, <b>began</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>rising</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>place</b>. “<b>Hear</b>! <b>Hear</b>! <b>Hear</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>shouted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>on</b> <b>repeating</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>chorus</b>, <b>seeming</b> <b>reluctant</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>advice</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>place</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>illuminated</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lanterns</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>beaming</b> <b>face</b>; <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>buttons</b> <b>shone</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>embroidered</b> <b>silk</b> <b>waistcoat</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>all</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>standing</b>, <b>waving</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>trouser</b>-<b>pocket</b>.<br>
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<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Bagginses</b> <b>and</b> <b>Boffins</b>, <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>again</b>; <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>and</b> <b>Brandybucks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Grubbs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Chubbs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Burrowses</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Hornblowers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Bolgers</b>, <b>Bracegirdles</b>, <b>Goodbodies</b>, <b>Brockhouses</b> <b>and</b> <b>Proudfoots</b>. “<b>ProudFEET</b>!” <b>shouted</b> <b>an</b> <b>elderly</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pavilion</b>. <b>His</b> <b>name</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>was</b> <b>Proudfoot</b>, <b>and</b> <b>well</b> <b>merited</b>; <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>were</b> <b>large</b>, <b>exceptionally</b> <b>furry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>both</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>.<br>
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<b>Proudfoots</b>, <b>repeated</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>Also</b> <b>my</b> <b>good</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>back</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>Today</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>one</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>eleventh</b> <b>birthday</b>: <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>eleventy</b>-<b>one</b> <b>today</b>! “<b>Hurray</b>! <b>Hurray</b>! <b>Many</b> <b>Happy</b> <b>Returns</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>shouted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>hammered</b> <b>joyously</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>tables</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>doing</b> <b>splendidly</b>. <b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>they</b> <b>liked</b>: <b>short</b> <b>and</b> <b>obvious</b>.<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>enjoying</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b>. <b>Deafening</b> <b>cheers</b>. <b>Cries</b> <b>of</b> <b>Yes</b> (<b>and</b> <b>No</b>). <b>Noises</b> <b>of</b> <b>trumpets</b> <b>and</b> <b>horns</b>, <b>pipes</b> <b>and</b> <b>flutes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>musical</b> <b>instruments</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b>, <b>as</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>said</b>, <b>many</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>present</b>. <b>Hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>musical</b> <b>crackers</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>pulled</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>bore</b> <b>the</b> <b>mark</b> <b>dale</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>; <b>which</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>convey</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>agreed</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>marvellous</b> <b>crackers</b>. <b>They</b> <b>contained</b> <b>instruments</b>, <b>small</b>, <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>perfect</b> <b>make</b> <b>and</b> <b>enchanting</b> <b>tones</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>corner</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>and</b> <b>Brandybucks</b>, <b>supposing</b> <b>Uncle</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>finished</b> (<b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>said</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>necessary</b>), <b>now</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>an</b> <b>impromptu</b> <b>orchestra</b>, <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>dance</b>-<b>tune</b>. <b>Master</b> <b>Everard</b> <b>Took</b> <b>and</b> <b>Miss</b> <b>Melilot</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>got</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b> <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>bells</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>hands</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>dance</b> <b>the</b> <b>Springle</b>-<b>ring</b>: <b>a</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>dance</b>, <b>but</b> <b>rather</b> <b>vigorous</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>finished</b>. <b>Seizing</b> <b>a</b> <b>horn</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>youngster</b> <b>near</b> <b>by</b>, <b>he</b> <b>blew</b> <b>three</b> <b>loud</b> <b>hoots</b>. <b>The</b> <b>noise</b> <b>subsided</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>keep</b> <b>you</b> <b>long</b>, <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. <b>Cheers</b> <b>from</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>assembly</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>called</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>together</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>Purpose</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>this</b> <b>made</b> <b>an</b> <b>impression</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>almost</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tooks</b> <b>pricked</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>ears</b>.<br>
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<b>Indeed</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Three</b> <b>Purposes</b>! <b>First</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>, <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>immensely</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>eleventy</b>-<b>one</b> <b>years</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>short</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>among</b> <b>such</b> <b>excellent</b> <b>and</b> <b>admirable</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Tremendous</b> <b>outburst</b> <b>of</b> <b>approval</b>.<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>half</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>half</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>like</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>half</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>deserve</b>. <b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>and</b> <b>rather</b> <b>difficult</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>scattered</b> <b>clapping</b>, <b>but</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>were</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>work</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>compliment</b>.<br>
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<b>Secondly</b>, <b>to</b> <b>celebrate</b> <b>my</b> <b>birthday</b>. <b>Cheers</b> <b>again</b>. <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b>: <b>OUR</b> <b>birthday</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>also</b> <b>the</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>heir</b> <b>and</b> <b>nephew</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>comes</b> <b>of</b> <b>age</b> <b>and</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>inheritance</b> <b>today</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>perfunctory</b> <b>clapping</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>elders</b>; <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>loud</b> <b>shouts</b> <b>of</b> “<b>Frodo</b>! <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Jolly</b> <b>old</b> <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>juniors</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>scowled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>meant</b> <b>by</b> “<b>coming</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>inheritance</b>”. <b>Together</b> <b>we</b> <b>score</b> <b>one</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>forty</b>-<b>four</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>numbers</b> <b>were</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>to</b> <b>fit</b> <b>this</b> <b>remarkable</b> <b>total</b>: <b>One</b> <b>Gross</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>expression</b>. <b>No</b> <b>cheers</b>. <b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>ridiculous</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>guests</b>, <b>and</b> <b>especially</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>, <b>were</b> <b>insulted</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>sure</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>been</b> <b>asked</b> <b>to</b> <b>fill</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>required</b> <b>number</b>, <b>like</b> <b>goods</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>package</b>. “<b>One</b> <b>Gross</b>, <b>indeed</b>! <b>Vulgar</b> <b>expression</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>also</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>refer</b> <b>to</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>history</b>, <b>the</b> <b>anniversary</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>arrival</b> <b>by</b> <b>barrel</b> <b>at</b> <b>Esgaroth</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Long</b> <b>Lake</b>; <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>fact</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>my</b> <b>memory</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>occasion</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>fifty</b>-<b>one</b> <b>then</b>, <b>and</b> <b>birthdays</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>so</b> <b>important</b>. <b>The</b> <b>banquet</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>splendid</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>bad</b> <b>cold</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>, <b>I</b> <b>remember</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>say</b> “<b>thag</b> <b>you</b> <b>very</b> <b>buch</b>”. <b>I</b> <b>now</b> <b>repeat</b> <b>it</b> <b>more</b> <b>correctly</b>: <b>Thank</b> <b>you</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>for</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>party</b>. <b>Obstinate</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>or</b> <b>some</b> <b>poetry</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>imminent</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>getting</b> <b>bored</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>he</b> <b>stop</b> <b>talking</b> <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>drink</b> <b>his</b> <b>health</b>? <b>But</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>sing</b> <b>or</b> <b>recite</b>. <b>He</b> <b>paused</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>.<br>
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<b>Thirdly</b> <b>and</b> <b>finally</b>, <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>an</b> <b>ANNOUNCEMENT</b>. <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>this</b> <b>last</b> <b>word</b> <b>so</b> <b>loudly</b> <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>that</b> <b>everyone</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b> <b>who</b> <b>still</b> <b>could</b>. <b>I</b> <b>regret</b> <b>to</b> <b>announce</b> <b>that</b>—<b>though</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b>, <b>eleventy</b>-<b>one</b> <b>years</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>too</b> <b>short</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>spend</b> <b>among</b> <b>you</b>—<b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>END</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>NOW</b>. <b>GOOD</b>-<b>BYE</b>!<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>blinding</b> <b>flash</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>all</b> <b>blinked</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>opened</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>nowhere</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>One</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>forty</b>-<b>four</b> <b>flabbergasted</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sat</b> <b>back</b> <b>speechless</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Odo</b> <b>Proudfoot</b> <b>removed</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>and</b> <b>stamped</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dead</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>until</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>after</b> <b>several</b> <b>deep</b> <b>breaths</b>, <b>every</b> <b>Baggins</b>, <b>Boffin</b>, <b>Took</b>, <b>Brandybuck</b>, <b>Grubb</b>, <b>Chubb</b>, <b>Burrows</b>, <b>Bolger</b>, <b>Bracegirdle</b>, <b>Brockhouse</b>, <b>Goodbody</b>, <b>Hornblower</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Proudfoot</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>generally</b> <b>agreed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>joke</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>very</b> <b>bad</b> <b>taste</b>, <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b> <b>were</b> <b>needed</b> <b>to</b> <b>cure</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>of</b> <b>shock</b> <b>and</b> <b>annoyance</b>. “<b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>mad</b>. <b>I</b> <b>always</b> <b>said</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>was</b> <b>probably</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>popular</b> <b>comment</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tooks</b> (<b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>exceptions</b>) <b>thought</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>behaviour</b> <b>was</b> <b>absurd</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>granted</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>disappearance</b> <b>was</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridiculous</b> <b>prank</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>old</b> <b>Rory</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>Neither</b> <b>age</b> <b>nor</b> <b>an</b> <b>enormous</b> <b>dinner</b> <b>had</b> <b>clouded</b> <b>his</b> <b>wits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>daughter</b>-<b>in</b>-<b>law</b>, <b>Esmeralda</b>: “<b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>something</b> <b>fishy</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b>! <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>mad</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>is</b> <b>off</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Silly</b> <b>old</b> <b>fool</b>. <b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>worry</b>? <b>He</b> <b>hasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>taken</b> <b>the</b> <b>vittles</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>called</b> <b>loudly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>send</b> <b>the</b> <b>wine</b> <b>round</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>present</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>For</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>sat</b> <b>silent</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>empty</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ignored</b> <b>all</b> <b>remarks</b> <b>and</b> <b>questions</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>enjoyed</b> <b>the</b> <b>joke</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>even</b> <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>know</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>difficulty</b> <b>in</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>from</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>indignant</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>troubled</b>: <b>he</b> <b>realized</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>loved</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>dearly</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>eating</b> <b>and</b> <b>drinking</b> <b>and</b> <b>discussing</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b>” <b>oddities</b>, <b>past</b> <b>and</b> <b>present</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>departed</b> <b>in</b> <b>wrath</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>orders</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>wine</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>served</b>; <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>drained</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>glass</b> <b>silently</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>health</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pavilion</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b>, <b>even</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>making</b> <b>his</b> <b>speech</b>, <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>fingering</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>: <b>his</b> <b>magic</b> <b>ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>kept</b> <b>secret</b> <b>for</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b>. <b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>down</b> <b>he</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>briskly</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>hole</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>listening</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>din</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>pavilion</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>of</b> <b>merrymaking</b> <b>in</b> <b>other</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>field</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b>. <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>party</b> <b>clothes</b>, <b>folded</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>in</b> <b>tissue</b>-<b>paper</b> <b>his</b> <b>embroidered</b> <b>silk</b> <b>waistcoat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>some</b> <b>old</b> <b>untidy</b> <b>garments</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fastened</b> <b>round</b> <b>his</b> <b>waist</b> <b>a</b> <b>worn</b> <b>leather</b> <b>belt</b>. <b>On</b> <b>it</b> <b>he</b> <b>hung</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>sword</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>battered</b> <b>black</b>-<b>leather</b> <b>scabbard</b>. <b>From</b> <b>a</b> <b>locked</b> <b>drawer</b>, <b>smelling</b> <b>of</b> <b>moth</b>-<b>balls</b>, <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>out</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>and</b> <b>hood</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>locked</b> <b>up</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>very</b> <b>precious</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>so</b> <b>patched</b> <b>and</b> <b>weatherstained</b> <b>that</b> <b>their</b> <b>original</b> <b>colour</b> <b>could</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>be</b> <b>guessed</b>: <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>dark</b> <b>green</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>rather</b> <b>too</b> <b>large</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>then</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>study</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>strong</b>-<b>box</b> <b>took</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>bundle</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>in</b> <b>old</b> <b>cloths</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>leather</b>-<b>bound</b> <b>manuscript</b>; <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>bulky</b> <b>envelope</b>. <b>The</b> <b>book</b> <b>and</b> <b>bundle</b> <b>he</b> <b>stuffed</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>bag</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>there</b>, <b>already</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>full</b>. <b>Into</b> <b>the</b> <b>envelope</b> <b>he</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>his</b> <b>golden</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>fine</b> <b>chain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>sealed</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>addressed</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mantelpiece</b>, <b>but</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>removed</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>opened</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>came</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>in</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hullo</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>turn</b> <b>up</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>you</b> <b>visible</b>,” <b>replied</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>catch</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>final</b> <b>words</b>. <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>you</b> <b>feel</b> <b>that</b> <b>everything</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>off</b> <b>splendidly</b> <b>and</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>plan</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>do</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>Though</b> <b>that</b> <b>flash</b> <b>was</b> <b>surprising</b>: <b>it</b> <b>quite</b> <b>startled</b> <b>me</b>, <b>let</b> <b>alone</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>addition</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b>?”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>wisely</b> <b>kept</b> <b>that</b> <b>ring</b> <b>secret</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>years</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>necessary</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>your</b> <b>guests</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>explain</b> <b>your</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>vanishment</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>would</b> <b>spoil</b> <b>my</b> <b>joke</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>an</b> <b>interfering</b> <b>old</b> <b>busybody</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>expect</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>best</b>, <b>as</b> <b>usual</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b>—<b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>anything</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>feel</b> <b>too</b> <b>sure</b> <b>about</b> <b>this</b> <b>whole</b> <b>affair</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>now</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>final</b> <b>point</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>your</b> <b>joke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>alarmed</b> <b>or</b> <b>offended</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>relations</b>, <b>and</b> <b>given</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>about</b> <b>for</b> <b>nine</b> <b>days</b>, <b>or</b> <b>ninety</b>-<b>nine</b> <b>more</b> <b>likely</b>. <b>Are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b> <b>any</b> <b>further</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>a</b> <b>holiday</b>, <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>holiday</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Probably</b> <b>a</b> <b>permanent</b> <b>holiday</b>: <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>expect</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>return</b>. <b>In</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>all</b> <b>arrangements</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>old</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>look</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>hearts</b>. <b>Well</b>-<b>preserved</b> <b>indeed</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>snorted</b>. “<b>Why</b>, <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>all</b> <b>thin</b>, <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>stretched</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>: <b>like</b> <b>butter</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>scraped</b> <b>over</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>bread</b>. <b>That</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>right</b>. <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>a</b> <b>change</b>, <b>or</b> <b>something</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>curiously</b> <b>and</b> <b>closely</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>No</b>, <b>it</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>. “<b>No</b>, <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>your</b> <b>plan</b> <b>is</b> <b>probably</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>anyway</b>. <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>again</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>find</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>rest</b>. <b>In</b> <b>peace</b> <b>and</b> <b>quiet</b>, <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>relatives</b> <b>prying</b> <b>around</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>string</b> <b>of</b> <b>confounded</b> <b>visitors</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bell</b>. <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>find</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>finish</b> <b>my</b> <b>book</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>ending</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>: <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>lived</b> <b>happily</b> <b>ever</b> <b>after</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>days</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>laughed</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b>. <b>But</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>will</b> <b>read</b> <b>the</b> <b>book</b>, <b>however</b> <b>it</b> <b>ends</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>they</b> <b>may</b>, <b>in</b> <b>years</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>has</b> <b>read</b> <b>some</b> <b>already</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>keep</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b>—<b>two</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>as</b> <b>often</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>spare</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>asked</b> <b>him</b>. <b>In</b> <b>fact</b> <b>he</b> <b>offered</b> <b>to</b> <b>once</b>, <b>just</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>really</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b>, <b>yet</b>. <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>country</b> <b>again</b> <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>die</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>love</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>with</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>little</b> <b>rivers</b>. <b>He</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>here</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>everything</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>except</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>oddments</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>happy</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>gets</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>being</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>master</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Everything</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>ring</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b>? <b>You</b> <b>agreed</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>, <b>you</b> <b>remember</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>er</b>, <b>yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>stammered</b> <b>Bilbo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>an</b> <b>envelope</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>impatiently</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mantelpiece</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>no</b>! <b>Here</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>pocket</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>hesitated</b>. “<b>Isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>that</b> <b>odd</b> <b>now</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>softly</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>, <b>why</b> <b>not</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>shouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>it</b> <b>stay</b> <b>there</b>?”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>again</b> <b>very</b> <b>hard</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>quietly</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>leave</b> <b>it</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>yes</b>—<b>and</b> <b>no</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>it</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>parting</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>, <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>really</b> <b>see</b> <b>why</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>curious</b> <b>change</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>with</b> <b>suspicion</b> <b>and</b> <b>annoyance</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>always</b> <b>badgering</b> <b>me</b> <b>about</b> <b>my</b> <b>ring</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>bothered</b> <b>me</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>journey</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>badger</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>important</b>. <b>Magic</b> <b>rings</b> <b>are</b>—<b>well</b>, <b>magical</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>rare</b> <b>and</b> <b>curious</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>professionally</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>am</b>. <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Also</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>it</b> <b>quite</b> <b>long</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>You</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>need</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>quite</b> <b>mistaken</b>.”<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>flushed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>angry</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>His</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>face</b> <b>grew</b> <b>hard</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>not</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>business</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>of</b> <b>yours</b>, <b>anyway</b>, <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>things</b>? <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b>. <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>angry</b>.”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>fault</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>mine</b>, <b>I</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>. <b>My</b> <b>own</b>. <b>My</b> <b>precious</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>my</b> <b>precious</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>wizard</b>’<b>s</b> <b>face</b> <b>remained</b> <b>grave</b> <b>and</b> <b>attentive</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>flicker</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>deep</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>showed</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>startled</b> <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>alarmed</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>called</b> <b>that</b> <b>before</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>by</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>. <b>And</b> <b>why</b> <b>not</b>? <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>once</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>not</b> <b>his</b> <b>now</b>, <b>but</b> <b>mine</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>say</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b>. <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>sternly</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>fool</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>make</b> <b>that</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>with</b> <b>every</b> <b>word</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>got</b> <b>far</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>hold</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>it</b> <b>go</b>! <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>yourself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>free</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>choose</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>please</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>obstinately</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b>, <b>now</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>hobbit</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>your</b> <b>long</b> <b>life</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>owe</b> <b>me</b> <b>something</b>. <b>Come</b>! <b>Do</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>promised</b>: <b>give</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>my</b> <b>ring</b> <b>yourself</b>, <b>say</b> <b>so</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>give</b> <b>my</b> <b>precious</b> <b>away</b>, <b>I</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>.” <b>His</b> <b>hand</b> <b>strayed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>small</b> <b>sword</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b>’<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>flashed</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>my</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>angry</b> <b>soon</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>again</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>uncloaked</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>step</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>menacing</b>; <b>his</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>filled</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>room</b>.<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>backed</b> <b>away</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>breathing</b> <b>hard</b>, <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>clutching</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>facing</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>tingled</b>. <b>Gandalf</b>’<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>remained</b> <b>bent</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>relaxed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>tremble</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>over</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>before</b>. <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b>? <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>mine</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>it</b>? <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>killed</b> <b>me</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>hadn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>kept</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>thief</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>called</b> <b>you</b> <b>one</b>,” <b>Gandalf</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>one</b> <b>either</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>rob</b> <b>you</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>trust</b> <b>me</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>used</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>dwindle</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>grey</b> <b>man</b>, <b>bent</b> <b>and</b> <b>troubled</b>.<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>drew</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>so</b> <b>queer</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>relief</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>bothered</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>so</b> <b>growing</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b> <b>lately</b>. <b>Sometimes</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>me</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>always</b> <b>wanting</b> <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappear</b>, <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b>; <b>or</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>safe</b>, <b>and</b> <b>pulling</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>I</b> <b>tried</b> <b>locking</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>rest</b> <b>without</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>why</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>seem</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>trust</b> <b>mine</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>quite</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Go</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>it</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Stop</b> <b>possessing</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Give</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>look</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>tense</b> <b>and</b> <b>undecided</b>. <b>Presently</b> <b>he</b> <b>sighed</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>shrugged</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>smiled</b> <b>rather</b> <b>ruefully</b>. “<b>After</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>this</b> <b>party</b> <b>business</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b>, <b>really</b>: <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>away</b> <b>lots</b> <b>of</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>presents</b>, <b>and</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>make</b> <b>it</b> <b>easier</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b>. <b>It</b> <b>hasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>made</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>easier</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>pity</b> <b>to</b> <b>waste</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>preparations</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>quite</b> <b>spoil</b> <b>the</b> <b>joke</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>away</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>point</b> <b>I</b> <b>ever</b> <b>saw</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>affair</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, “<b>it</b> <b>goes</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>drew</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>breath</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>really</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>starting</b>, <b>or</b> <b>somebody</b> <b>else</b> <b>will</b> <b>catch</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b> <b>good</b>-<b>bye</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>bear</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>again</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>bag</b> <b>and</b> <b>moved</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>still</b> <b>got</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>pocket</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>my</b> <b>will</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>documents</b> <b>too</b>. <b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>deliver</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>. <b>That</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>safest</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>give</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mantelpiece</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b> <b>enough</b> <b>there</b>, <b>till</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>comes</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>took</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>envelope</b>, <b>but</b> <b>just</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>about</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>clock</b>, <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>jerked</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>packet</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>pick</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>and</b> <b>seized</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>place</b>. <b>A</b> <b>spasm</b> <b>of</b> <b>anger</b> <b>passed</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>’<b>s</b> <b>face</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>it</b> <b>gave</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>of</b> <b>relief</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>laugh</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>off</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>chose</b> <b>his</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>stick</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>stand</b>; <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>whistled</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>different</b> <b>rooms</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>busy</b>.<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>everything</b> <b>ready</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>Everything</b> <b>packed</b> <b>and</b> <b>labelled</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Everything</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>answered</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>start</b> <b>then</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>front</b>-<b>door</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>fine</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>dotted</b> <b>with</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>, <b>sniffing</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>fun</b>! <b>What</b> <b>fun</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>off</b> <b>again</b>, <b>off</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>with</b> <b>dwarves</b>! <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>really</b> <b>been</b> <b>longing</b> <b>for</b>, <b>for</b> <b>years</b>! <b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>home</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>Take</b> <b>care</b> <b>of</b> <b>yourself</b>! <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>old</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>and</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>wise</b> <b>enough</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Take</b> <b>care</b>! <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>care</b>. <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>me</b>! <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>as</b> <b>happy</b> <b>now</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>saying</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>deal</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>being</b> <b>swept</b> <b>off</b> <b>my</b> <b>feet</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>he</b> <b>sang</b> <b>softly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>goes</b> <b>ever</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b><br>
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<b>Down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b>.<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>follow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>,<br>
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<b>Pursuing</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>eager</b> <b>feet</b>,<br>
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<b>Until</b> <b>it</b> <b>joins</b> <b>some</b> <b>larger</b> <b>way</b><br>
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<b>Where</b> <b>many</b> <b>paths</b> <b>and</b> <b>errands</b> <b>meet</b>.<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>whither</b> <b>then</b>? <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>say</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>paused</b>, <b>silent</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>without</b> <b>another</b> <b>word</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lights</b> <b>and</b> <b>voices</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>tents</b>, <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>three</b> <b>companions</b> <b>went</b> <b>round</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>garden</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trotted</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>sloping</b> <b>path</b>. <b>He</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>place</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>meadows</b>, <b>passing</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>rustle</b> <b>of</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>remained</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>staring</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>. “<b>Goodbye</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Bilbo</b>—<b>until</b> <b>our</b> <b>next</b> <b>meeting</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>softly</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b> <b>indoors</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>soon</b> <b>afterwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>Has</b> <b>he</b> <b>gone</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b>—<b>I</b> <b>mean</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>until</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>joke</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>really</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>. <b>He</b> <b>always</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>joke</b> <b>about</b> <b>serious</b> <b>things</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>sooner</b>, <b>just</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b>.”<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>really</b> <b>he</b> <b>preferred</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>off</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>troubled</b>. <b>He</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>—<b>now</b>. <b>He</b> <b>left</b> <b>a</b> <b>packet</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>There</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>envelope</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>mantelpiece</b>, <b>and</b> <b>glanced</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>open</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>his</b> <b>will</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>documents</b> <b>in</b> <b>there</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>now</b>. <b>And</b> <b>also</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fancy</b>, <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>ring</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>ring</b>!” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Has</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b>? <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>why</b>. <b>Still</b>, <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>useful</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>may</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>secret</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>safe</b>! <b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b> <b>his</b> <b>painful</b> <b>duty</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>good</b>-<b>bye</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b>. <b>Rumours</b> <b>of</b> <b>strange</b> <b>events</b> <b>had</b> <b>by</b> <b>now</b> <b>spread</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>field</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>would</b> <b>only</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>everything</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>About</b> <b>midnight</b> <b>carriages</b> <b>came</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>important</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>One</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>they</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>away</b>, <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>full</b> <b>but</b> <b>very</b> <b>unsatisfied</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Gardeners</b> <b>came</b> <b>by</b> <b>arrangement</b>, <b>and</b> <b>removed</b> <b>in</b> <b>wheel</b>-<b>barrows</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>inadvertently</b> <b>remained</b> <b>behind</b>.<br>
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<b>Night</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>rose</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>rose</b> <b>rather</b> <b>later</b>. <b>Morning</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>. <b>People</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> (<b>by</b> <b>orders</b>) <b>to</b> <b>clear</b> <b>away</b> <b>the</b> <b>pavilions</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tables</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>chairs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>spoons</b> <b>and</b> <b>knives</b> <b>and</b> <b>bottles</b> <b>and</b> <b>plates</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lanterns</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowering</b> <b>shrubs</b> <b>in</b> <b>boxes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>crumbs</b> <b>and</b> <b>cracker</b>-<b>paper</b>, <b>the</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>bags</b> <b>and</b> <b>gloves</b> <b>and</b> <b>handkerchiefs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>uneaten</b> <b>food</b> (<b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>small</b> <b>item</b>). <b>Then</b> <b>a</b> <b>number</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>people</b> <b>came</b> (<b>without</b> <b>orders</b>): <b>Bagginses</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Boffins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Bolgers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Tooks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>guests</b> <b>that</b> <b>lived</b> <b>or</b> <b>were</b> <b>staying</b> <b>near</b>. <b>By</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b>, <b>when</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b>-<b>fed</b> <b>were</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>again</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>crowd</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>uninvited</b> <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>unexpected</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>step</b>, <b>smiling</b>, <b>but</b> <b>looking</b> <b>rather</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>worried</b>. <b>He</b> <b>welcomed</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>callers</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>than</b> <b>before</b>. <b>His</b> <b>reply</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>inquiries</b> <b>was</b> <b>simply</b> <b>this</b>: “<b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>away</b>; <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b>, <b>for</b> <b>good</b>.” <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>visitors</b> <b>he</b> <b>invited</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> “<b>messages</b>” <b>for</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Inside</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>piled</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>assortment</b> <b>of</b> <b>packages</b> <b>and</b> <b>parcels</b> <b>and</b> <b>small</b> <b>articles</b> <b>of</b> <b>furniture</b>. <b>On</b> <b>every</b> <b>item</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>label</b> <b>tied</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>several</b> <b>labels</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>sort</b>:<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>ADELARD</b> <b>TOOK</b>, <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>VERY</b> <b>OWN</b>, <b>from</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>umbrella</b>. <b>Adelard</b> <b>had</b> <b>carried</b> <b>off</b> <b>many</b> <b>unlabelled</b> <b>ones</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>DORA</b> <b>BAGGINS</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>LONG</b> <b>correspondence</b>, <b>with</b> <b>love</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>waste</b>-<b>paper</b> <b>basket</b>. <b>Dora</b> <b>was</b> <b>Drogo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>sister</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>eldest</b> <b>surviving</b> <b>female</b> <b>relative</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>ninety</b>-<b>nine</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>written</b> <b>reams</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>advice</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>century</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>MILO</b> <b>BURROWS</b>, <b>hoping</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>useful</b>, <b>from</b> <b>B</b>.<b>B</b>., <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>gold</b> <b>pen</b> <b>and</b> <b>ink</b>-<b>bottle</b>. <b>Milo</b> <b>never</b> <b>answered</b> <b>letters</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>ANGELICA</b>’<b>S</b> <b>use</b>, <b>from</b> <b>Uncle</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>round</b> <b>convex</b> <b>mirror</b>. <b>She</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>young</b> <b>Baggins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>too</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>considered</b> <b>her</b> <b>face</b> <b>shapely</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>collection</b> <b>of</b> <b>HUGO</b> <b>BRACEGIRDLE</b>, <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>contributor</b>, <b>on</b> <b>an</b> (<b>empty</b>) <b>book</b>-<b>case</b>. <b>Hugo</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>borrower</b> <b>of</b> <b>books</b>, <b>and</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>usual</b> <b>at</b> <b>returning</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>LOBELIA</b> <b>SACKVILLE</b>-<b>BAGGINS</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>PRESENT</b>, <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>case</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>spoons</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>believed</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>acquired</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>spoons</b>, <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>former</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>Lobelia</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>quite</b> <b>well</b>. <b>When</b> <b>she</b> <b>arrived</b> <b>later</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>, <b>she</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>but</b> <b>she</b> <b>also</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>spoons</b>.<br>
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<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>selection</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>assembled</b> <b>presents</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>residence</b> <b>had</b> <b>got</b> <b>rather</b> <b>cluttered</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>things</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>course</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>life</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>tendency</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>holes</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>cluttered</b> <b>up</b>: <b>for</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>custom</b> <b>of</b> <b>giving</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b> <b>birthday</b>-<b>presents</b> <b>was</b> <b>largely</b> <b>responsible</b>. <b>Not</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>birthday</b>-<b>presents</b> <b>were</b> <b>always</b> <b>new</b>, <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>one</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>old</b> <b>mathoms</b> <b>of</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>uses</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>circulated</b> <b>all</b> <b>around</b> <b>the</b> <b>district</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>usually</b> <b>given</b> <b>new</b> <b>presents</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>received</b>. <b>The</b> <b>old</b> <b>hole</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>being</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>.<br>
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<b>Every</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>various</b> <b>parting</b> <b>gifts</b> <b>had</b> <b>labels</b>, <b>written</b> <b>out</b> <b>personally</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>several</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>point</b>, <b>or</b> <b>some</b> <b>joke</b>. <b>But</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>things</b> <b>were</b> <b>given</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>and</b> <b>welcome</b>. <b>The</b> <b>poorer</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>especially</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bagshot</b> <b>Row</b>, <b>did</b> <b>very</b> <b>well</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>got</b> <b>two</b> <b>sacks</b> <b>of</b> <b>potatoes</b>, <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>spade</b>, <b>a</b> <b>woollen</b> <b>waistcoat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>bottle</b> <b>of</b> <b>ointment</b> <b>for</b> <b>creaking</b> <b>joints</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Rory</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>, <b>in</b> <b>return</b> <b>for</b> <b>much</b> <b>hospitality</b>, <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>dozen</b> <b>bottles</b> <b>of</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Winyards</b>: <b>a</b> <b>strong</b> <b>red</b> <b>wine</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Southfarthing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>quite</b> <b>mature</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>laid</b> <b>down</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>father</b>. <b>Rory</b> <b>quite</b> <b>forgave</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>voted</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>capital</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>bottle</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>plenty</b> <b>of</b> <b>everything</b> <b>left</b> <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>And</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>treasures</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>books</b>, <b>pictures</b>, <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>enough</b> <b>furniture</b>, <b>were</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>possession</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>nor</b> <b>mention</b> <b>of</b> <b>money</b> <b>or</b> <b>jewellery</b>: <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>penny</b>-<b>piece</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>glass</b> <b>bead</b> <b>was</b> <b>given</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>trying</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>afternoon</b>. <b>A</b> <b>false</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>household</b> <b>was</b> <b>being</b> <b>distributed</b> <b>free</b> <b>spread</b> <b>like</b> <b>wildfire</b>; <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b> <b>was</b> <b>packed</b> <b>with</b> <b>people</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>business</b> <b>there</b>, <b>but</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>kept</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Labels</b> <b>got</b> <b>torn</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>mixed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>quarrels</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>people</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>swaps</b> <b>and</b> <b>deals</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>; <b>and</b> <b>others</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>off</b> <b>with</b> <b>minor</b> <b>items</b> <b>not</b> <b>addressed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>or</b> <b>with</b> <b>anything</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>unwanted</b> <b>or</b> <b>unwatched</b>. <b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>was</b> <b>blocked</b> <b>with</b> <b>barrows</b> <b>and</b> <b>handcarts</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>commotion</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>arrived</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>retired</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>friend</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>on</b> <b>things</b>. <b>When</b> <b>Otho</b> <b>loudly</b> <b>demanded</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>Merry</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>politely</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>indisposed</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>resting</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Hiding</b>, <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Lobelia</b>. “<b>Anyway</b> <b>we</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>tell</b> <b>him</b> <b>so</b>!”<br>
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<b>Merry</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>discover</b> <b>their</b> <b>parting</b> <b>gift</b> <b>of</b> <b>spoons</b>. <b>It</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>improve</b> <b>their</b> <b>tempers</b>. <b>Eventually</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>shown</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>study</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>papers</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>indisposed</b>—<b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b>, <b>fidgeting</b> <b>with</b> <b>something</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>quite</b> <b>politely</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>were</b> <b>rather</b> <b>offensive</b>. <b>They</b> <b>began</b> <b>by</b> <b>offering</b> <b>him</b> <b>bad</b> <b>bargain</b>-<b>prices</b> (<b>as</b> <b>between</b> <b>friends</b>) <b>for</b> <b>various</b> <b>valuable</b> <b>and</b> <b>unlabelled</b> <b>things</b>. <b>When</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>replied</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>things</b> <b>specially</b> <b>directed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>were</b> <b>being</b> <b>given</b> <b>away</b>, <b>they</b> <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>affair</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>fishy</b>.<br>
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“<b>Only</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>is</b> <b>clear</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Otho</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>doing</b> <b>exceedingly</b> <b>well</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>insist</b> <b>on</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>the</b> <b>will</b>.”<br>
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<b>Otho</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>heir</b>, <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>adoption</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>read</b> <b>the</b> <b>will</b> <b>carefully</b> <b>and</b> <b>snorted</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b>, <b>unfortunately</b>, <b>very</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>correct</b> (<b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>legal</b> <b>customs</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>which</b> <b>demand</b> <b>among</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b> <b>seven</b> <b>signatures</b> <b>of</b> <b>witnesses</b> <b>in</b> <b>red</b> <b>ink</b>).<br>
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“<b>Foiled</b> <b>again</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>wife</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>after</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>sixty</b> <b>years</b>. <b>Spoons</b>? <b>Fiddlesticks</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>snapped</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>under</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>nose</b> <b>and</b> <b>slumped</b> <b>off</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Lobelia</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>easily</b> <b>got</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b>. <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>later</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>study</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>how</b> <b>things</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>her</b> <b>still</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b>, <b>investigating</b> <b>nooks</b> <b>and</b> <b>comers</b> <b>and</b> <b>tapping</b> <b>the</b> <b>floors</b>. <b>He</b> <b>escorted</b> <b>her</b> <b>firmly</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>premises</b>, <b>after</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>relieved</b> <b>her</b> <b>of</b> <b>several</b> <b>small</b> (<b>but</b> <b>rather</b> <b>valuable</b>) <b>articles</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>inside</b> <b>her</b> <b>umbrella</b>. <b>Her</b> <b>face</b> <b>looked</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>throes</b> <b>of</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>really</b> <b>crushing</b> <b>parting</b> <b>remark</b>; <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>she</b> <b>found</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>round</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>step</b>, <b>was</b>:<br>
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“<b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>live</b> <b>to</b> <b>regret</b> <b>it</b>, <b>young</b> <b>fellow</b>! <b>Why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>too</b>? <b>You</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>belong</b> <b>here</b>; <b>you</b>’<b>re</b> <b>no</b> <b>Baggins</b>—<b>you</b>—<b>you</b>’<b>re</b> <b>a</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>that</b>, <b>Merry</b>? <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>insult</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>shut</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>on</b> <b>her</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>compliment</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>so</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>not</b> <b>true</b>.”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>hole</b>, <b>and</b> <b>evicted</b> <b>three</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b> (<b>two</b> <b>Boffins</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>Bolger</b>) <b>who</b> <b>were</b> <b>knocking</b> <b>holes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cellars</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>also</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>tussle</b> <b>with</b> <b>young</b> <b>Sancho</b> <b>Proudfoot</b> (<b>old</b> <b>Odo</b> <b>Proudfoot</b>’<b>s</b> <b>grandson</b>), <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>an</b> <b>excavation</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>larger</b> <b>pantry</b>, <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>echo</b>. <b>The</b> <b>legend</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>gold</b> <b>excited</b> <b>both</b> <b>curiosity</b> <b>and</b> <b>hope</b>; <b>for</b> <b>legendary</b> <b>gold</b> (<b>mysteriously</b> <b>obtained</b>, <b>if</b> <b>not</b> <b>positively</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>gotten</b>), <b>is</b>, <b>as</b> <b>every</b> <b>one</b> <b>knows</b>, <b>any</b> <b>one</b>’<b>s</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>finding</b>—<b>unless</b> <b>the</b> <b>search</b> <b>is</b> <b>interrupted</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>overcome</b> <b>Sancho</b> <b>and</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>collapsed</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>close</b> <b>the</b> <b>shop</b>, <b>Merry</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Lock</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>open</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>today</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>bring</b> <b>a</b> <b>battering</b> <b>ram</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>revive</b> <b>himself</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>belated</b> <b>cup</b> <b>of</b> <b>tea</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b>, <b>when</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>knock</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>front</b>-<b>door</b>. “<b>Lobelia</b> <b>again</b> <b>most</b> <b>likely</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>She</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>something</b> <b>really</b> <b>nasty</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>can</b> <b>wait</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>tea</b>. <b>The</b> <b>knock</b> <b>was</b> <b>repeated</b>, <b>much</b> <b>louder</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>notice</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>’<b>s</b> <b>head</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>blow</b> <b>your</b> <b>door</b> <b>right</b> <b>down</b> <b>your</b> <b>hole</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Gandalf</b>! <b>Half</b> <b>a</b> <b>minute</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>running</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>in</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>in</b>! <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>Lobelia</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>forgive</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>her</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>driving</b> <b>a</b> <b>pony</b>-<b>trap</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>face</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>curdled</b> <b>new</b> <b>milk</b>.”<br>
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“<b>She</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>curdled</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Honestly</b>, <b>I</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>tried</b> <b>on</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>I</b> <b>longed</b> <b>to</b> <b>disappear</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>down</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>be</b> <b>careful</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! <b>In</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>partly</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>word</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>what</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>already</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Only</b> <b>what</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>his</b> <b>story</b>: <b>how</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>he</b> <b>used</b> <b>it</b>: <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Which</b> <b>story</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>not</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>book</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>story</b> <b>soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>here</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>pestered</b> <b>him</b> <b>till</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>know</b> <b>too</b>. “<b>No</b> <b>secrets</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>any</b> <b>further</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>mine</b> <b>anyway</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b>’<b>s</b> <b>interesting</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>what</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b>?”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>, <b>inventing</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>about</b> <b>a</b> “<b>present</b>", <b>well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>story</b> <b>much</b> <b>more</b> <b>likely</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b> <b>of</b> <b>altering</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>unlike</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>, <b>anyway</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>it</b> <b>rather</b> <b>odd</b>.”<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b>. <b>But</b> <b>odd</b> <b>things</b> <b>may</b> <b>happen</b> <b>to</b> <b>people</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>such</b> <b>treasures</b>—<b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>use</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>warning</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>careful</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>other</b> <b>powers</b> <b>than</b> <b>just</b> <b>making</b> <b>you</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>understand</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Neither</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>merely</b> <b>begun</b> <b>to</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>since</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>. <b>No</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>worry</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>advice</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>use</b> <b>it</b> <b>very</b> <b>seldom</b>, <b>or</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>I</b> <b>beg</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>cause</b> <b>talk</b> <b>or</b> <b>rouse</b> <b>suspicion</b>. <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>again</b>: <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>safe</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>secret</b>!”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>very</b> <b>mysterious</b>! <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>certain</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>something</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>: <b>so</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>good</b>-<b>bye</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b>.<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>once</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Why</b>, <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>staying</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>a</b> <b>week</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>forward</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>help</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b>—<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>change</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>away</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>while</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>again</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>. <b>Expect</b> <b>me</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>me</b>! <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>slip</b> <b>in</b> <b>quietly</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>’<b>t</b> <b>often</b> <b>be</b> <b>visiting</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>openly</b> <b>again</b>. <b>I</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>become</b> <b>rather</b> <b>unpopular</b>. <b>They</b> <b>say</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>a</b> <b>nuisance</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>disturber</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>peace</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>people</b> <b>are</b> <b>actually</b> <b>accusing</b> <b>me</b> <b>of</b> <b>spiriting</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>away</b>, <b>or</b> <b>worse</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>supposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>plot</b> <b>between</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>wealth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Some</b> <b>people</b>!” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>mean</b> <b>Otho</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lobelia</b>. <b>How</b> <b>abominable</b>! <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>give</b> <b>them</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>and</b> <b>everything</b> <b>else</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>get</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>tramping</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>love</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>begin</b> <b>to</b> <b>wish</b>, <b>somehow</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>too</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>ever</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b>. <b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Take</b> <b>care</b> <b>of</b> <b>yourself</b>! <b>Look</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>at</b> <b>unlikely</b> <b>times</b>! <b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>final</b> <b>wave</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>surprising</b> <b>pace</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>looked</b> <b>unusually</b> <b>bent</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>carrying</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>weight</b>. <b>The</b> <b>evening</b> <b>was</b> <b>closing</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>cloaked</b> <b>figure</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>twilight</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 2<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>SHADOW</b> <b>OF</b> <b>THE</b> <b>PAST</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>talk</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>die</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>nine</b> <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>ninety</b>-<b>nine</b> <b>days</b>. <b>The</b> <b>second</b> <b>disappearance</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>was</b> <b>discussed</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>, <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>much</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>that</b>. <b>It</b> <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>fireside</b>-<b>story</b> <b>for</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b>; <b>and</b> <b>eventually</b> <b>Mad</b> <b>Baggins</b>, <b>who</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bang</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b> <b>and</b> <b>reappear</b> <b>with</b> <b>bags</b> <b>of</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>and</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>character</b> <b>of</b> <b>legend</b> <b>and</b> <b>lived</b> <b>on</b> <b>long</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>events</b> <b>were</b> <b>forgotten</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>meantime</b>, <b>the</b> <b>general</b> <b>opinion</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>neighbourhood</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>always</b> <b>been</b> <b>rather</b> <b>cracked</b>, <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>gone</b> <b>quite</b> <b>mad</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>run</b> <b>off</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Blue</b>. <b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>undoubtedly</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>pool</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>tragic</b>, <b>but</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>an</b> <b>untimely</b>, <b>end</b>. <b>The</b> <b>blame</b> <b>was</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>only</b> <b>that</b> <b>dratted</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>will</b> <b>leave</b> <b>young</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>perhaps</b> <b>he</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>settle</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>grow</b> <b>some</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>sense</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>said</b>. <b>And</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>appearance</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>did</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>settle</b> <b>down</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>growth</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>sense</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>very</b> <b>noticeable</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>he</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>carry</b> <b>on</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>reputation</b> <b>for</b> <b>oddity</b>. <b>He</b> <b>refused</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>into</b> <b>mourning</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>year</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>party</b> <b>in</b> <b>honour</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>hundred</b>-<b>and</b>-<b>twelfth</b> <b>birthday</b>, <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>Hundred</b>-<b>weight</b> <b>Feast</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>short</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mark</b>, <b>for</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>invited</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>several</b> <b>meals</b> <b>at</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>snowed</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>rained</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>as</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>say</b>.<br>
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<b>Some</b> <b>people</b> <b>were</b> <b>rather</b> <b>shocked</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>kept</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>custom</b> <b>of</b> <b>giving</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>Birthday</b> <b>Party</b> <b>year</b> <b>after</b> <b>year</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>dead</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>asked</b>: “<b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b> <b>then</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>shrugged</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>lived</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>many</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>younger</b> <b>hobbits</b> (<b>mostly</b> <b>descendants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Took</b>) <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>as</b> <b>children</b> <b>been</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>often</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>Folco</b> <b>Boffin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Fredegar</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>were</b> <b>two</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>closest</b> <b>friends</b> <b>were</b> <b>Peregrin</b> <b>Took</b> (<b>usually</b> <b>called</b> <b>Pippin</b>), <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> (<b>his</b> <b>real</b> <b>name</b> <b>was</b> <b>Meriadoc</b>, <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>remembered</b>). <b>Frodo</b> <b>went</b> <b>tramping</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>more</b> <b>often</b> <b>he</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>by</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>amazement</b> <b>of</b> <b>sensible</b> <b>folk</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>seen</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>home</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>and</b> <b>woods</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>starlight</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>suspected</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>visited</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>time</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>people</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>notice</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>also</b> <b>showed</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> “<b>preservation</b>”: <b>outwardly</b> <b>he</b> <b>retained</b> <b>the</b> <b>appearance</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>robust</b> <b>and</b> <b>energetic</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>just</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>tweens</b>. “<b>Some</b> <b>folk</b> <b>have</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>luck</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>said</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>until</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>approached</b> <b>the</b> <b>usually</b> <b>more</b> <b>sober</b> <b>age</b> <b>of</b> <b>fifty</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>queer</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>shock</b>, <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>being</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>master</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>was</b> <b>rather</b> <b>pleasant</b>. <b>For</b> <b>some</b> <b>years</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>happy</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>worry</b> <b>much</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>future</b>. <b>But</b> <b>half</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>the</b> <b>regret</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>growing</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>autumn</b>, <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>strange</b> <b>visions</b> <b>of</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>dreams</b>. <b>He</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>: “<b>Perhaps</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>myself</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b>.” <b>To</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>half</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>always</b> <b>replied</b>: “<b>Not</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>until</b> <b>his</b> <b>forties</b> <b>were</b> <b>running</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>fiftieth</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>near</b>: <b>fifty</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>number</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>was</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>significant</b> (<b>or</b> <b>ominous</b>); <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>age</b> <b>that</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>had</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>befallen</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>restless</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>paths</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>too</b> <b>well</b>-<b>trodden</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>maps</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>what</b> <b>lay</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>their</b> <b>edges</b>: <b>maps</b> <b>made</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>showed</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>white</b> <b>spaces</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>its</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>further</b> <b>afield</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>often</b> <b>by</b> <b>himself</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>other</b> <b>friends</b> <b>watched</b> <b>him</b> <b>anxiously</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>seen</b> <b>walking</b> <b>and</b> <b>talking</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>strange</b> <b>wayfarers</b> <b>that</b> <b>began</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>appear</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>of</b> <b>strange</b> <b>things</b> <b>happening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>or</b> <b>sent</b> <b>any</b> <b>message</b> <b>for</b> <b>several</b> <b>years</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>. <b>Elves</b>, <b>who</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>could</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>passing</b> <b>westward</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>passing</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>returning</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>with</b> <b>its</b> <b>troubles</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>dwarves</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>in</b> <b>unusual</b> <b>numbers</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>East</b>-<b>West</b> <b>Road</b> <b>ran</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>end</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>Havens</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>had</b> <b>always</b> <b>used</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>mines</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Blue</b> <b>Mountains</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>” <b>chief</b> <b>source</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b> <b>from</b> <b>distant</b> <b>parts</b>—<b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>any</b>: <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>said</b> <b>little</b> <b>and</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>asked</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>often</b> <b>met</b> <b>strange</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>of</b> <b>far</b> <b>countries</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>refuge</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>troubled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>whispers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>.<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>name</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>only</b> <b>knew</b> <b>in</b> <b>legends</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>past</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>background</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>memories</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>and</b> <b>disquieting</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>power</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>driven</b> <b>out</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Council</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>reappear</b> <b>in</b> <b>greater</b> <b>strength</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>strongholds</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>rebuilt</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b>. <b>From</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>was</b> <b>spreading</b> <b>far</b> <b>and</b> <b>wide</b>, <b>and</b> <b>away</b> <b>far</b> <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>south</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>wars</b> <b>and</b> <b>growing</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>Orcs</b> <b>were</b> <b>multiplying</b> <b>again</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>Trolls</b> <b>were</b> <b>abroad</b>, <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>dull</b>-<b>witted</b>, <b>but</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>and</b> <b>armed</b> <b>with</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>weapons</b>. <b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>murmured</b> <b>hints</b> <b>of</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>more</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>than</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>name</b>.<br>
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<b>Little</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>ears</b> <b>of</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>deafest</b> <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>stay</b>-<b>at</b>-<b>home</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>queer</b> <b>tales</b>; <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>whose</b> <b>business</b> <b>took</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>saw</b> <b>strange</b> <b>things</b>. <b>The</b> <b>conversation</b> <b>in</b> <b>The</b> <b>Green</b> <b>Dragon</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bywater</b>, <b>one</b> <b>evening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>fiftieth</b> <b>year</b>, <b>showed</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>though</b> <b>most</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>still</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>corner</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>opposite</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>Ted</b> <b>Sandyman</b>, <b>the</b> <b>miller</b>’<b>s</b> <b>son</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>various</b> <b>other</b> <b>rustic</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>listening</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>talk</b>.<br>
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“<b>Queer</b> <b>things</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>hear</b> <b>these</b> <b>days</b>, <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Ted</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>do</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>listen</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>hear</b> <b>fireside</b>-<b>tales</b> <b>and</b> <b>children</b>’<b>s</b> <b>stories</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>,” <b>retorted</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>there</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>truth</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>reckon</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>invented</b> <b>the</b> <b>stories</b> <b>anyway</b>? <b>Take</b> <b>dragons</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>thank</b> “<b>ee</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Ted</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b>. <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>youngster</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b>’<b>s</b> <b>no</b> <b>call</b> <b>to</b> <b>believe</b> <b>in</b> <b>them</b> <b>now</b>. <b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>Dragon</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bywater</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>Green</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>getting</b> <b>a</b> <b>general</b> <b>laugh</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>laughing</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>about</b> <b>these</b> <b>Tree</b>-<b>men</b>, <b>these</b> <b>giants</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>call</b> <b>them</b>? <b>They</b> <b>do</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>bigger</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b> <b>was</b> <b>seen</b> <b>up</b> <b>away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Moors</b> <b>not</b> <b>long</b> <b>back</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Who</b>’<b>s</b> <b>they</b>?”<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>cousin</b> <b>Hal</b> <b>for</b> <b>one</b>. <b>He</b> <b>works</b> <b>for</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Boffin</b> <b>at</b> <b>Overhill</b> <b>and</b> <b>goes</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northfarthing</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunting</b>. <b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>one</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Says</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b>, <b>perhaps</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>Hal</b>’<b>s</b> <b>always</b> <b>saying</b> <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>seen</b> <b>things</b>; <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>he</b> <b>sees</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>ain</b>’<b>t</b> <b>there</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>one</b> <b>was</b> <b>as</b> <b>big</b> <b>as</b> <b>an</b> <b>elm</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>walking</b>—<b>walking</b> <b>seven</b> <b>yards</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>stride</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>inch</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>bet</b> <b>it</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>an</b> <b>inch</b>. <b>What</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>elm</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>as</b> <b>like</b> <b>as</b> <b>not</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>one</b> <b>was</b> <b>walking</b>, <b>I</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>ain</b>’<b>t</b> <b>no</b> <b>elm</b> <b>tree</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Moors</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>Hal</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>one</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Ted</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>laughing</b> <b>and</b> <b>clapping</b>: <b>the</b> <b>audience</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>Ted</b> <b>had</b> <b>scored</b> <b>a</b> <b>point</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>deny</b> <b>that</b> <b>others</b> <b>besides</b> <b>our</b> <b>Halfast</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>queer</b> <b>folk</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>—<b>crossing</b> <b>it</b>, <b>mind</b> <b>you</b>: <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>more</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>turned</b> <b>back</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Bounders</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>so</b> <b>busy</b> <b>before</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>tell</b> <b>that</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>are</b> <b>moving</b> <b>west</b>. <b>They</b> <b>do</b> <b>say</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>harbours</b>, <b>out</b> <b>away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Towers</b>.” <b>Sam</b> <b>waved</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b> <b>vaguely</b>: <b>neither</b> <b>he</b> <b>nor</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>knew</b> <b>how</b> <b>far</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>past</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>towers</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>tradition</b> <b>that</b> <b>away</b> <b>over</b> <b>there</b> <b>stood</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>Havens</b>, <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>ships</b> <b>set</b> <b>sail</b>, <b>never</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>sailing</b>, <b>sailing</b>, <b>sailing</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>half</b> <b>chanting</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>sadly</b> <b>and</b> <b>solemnly</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Ted</b> <b>laughed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>that</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>anything</b> <b>new</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>believe</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>tales</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>matters</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>or</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>them</b> <b>sail</b>! <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>warrant</b> <b>you</b> <b>haven</b>’<b>t</b> <b>seen</b> <b>them</b> <b>doing</b> <b>it</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>any</b> <b>one</b> <b>else</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>. <b>He</b> <b>believed</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>seen</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>more</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>legends</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>early</b> <b>years</b> <b>such</b> <b>fragments</b> <b>of</b> <b>tales</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b>-<b>remembered</b> <b>stories</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>knew</b>, <b>had</b> <b>always</b> <b>moved</b> <b>him</b> <b>most</b> <b>deeply</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b>, <b>as</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fair</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>now</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>work</b> <b>for</b>. <b>He</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>sailing</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>about</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>And</b> <b>old</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>knew</b> <b>more</b>: <b>many</b>’<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>talk</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>lad</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>they</b>’<b>re</b> <b>both</b> <b>cracked</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Ted</b>. “<b>Leastways</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>cracked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>cracking</b>. <b>If</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>get</b> <b>your</b> <b>news</b> <b>from</b>, <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>never</b> <b>want</b> <b>for</b> <b>moonshine</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>friends</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>off</b> <b>home</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>good</b> <b>health</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>drained</b> <b>his</b> <b>mug</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>noisily</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>about</b>. <b>For</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>garden</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>busy</b> <b>day</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>cleared</b>. <b>The</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>growing</b> <b>fast</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>more</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>than</b> <b>gardening</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>sighed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>early</b> <b>April</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>clearing</b> <b>after</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>rain</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>cool</b> <b>pale</b> <b>evening</b> <b>was</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>fading</b> <b>into</b> <b>night</b>. <b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>home</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>stars</b> <b>through</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b>, <b>whistling</b> <b>softly</b> <b>and</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>reappeared</b> <b>after</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>absence</b>. <b>For</b> <b>three</b> <b>years</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Party</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>paid</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>visit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>taking</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>again</b>. <b>During</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>year</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>turned</b> <b>up</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>often</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>unexpectedly</b> <b>after</b> <b>dusk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>going</b> <b>off</b> <b>without</b> <b>warning</b> <b>before</b> <b>sunrise</b>. <b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>discuss</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>business</b> <b>and</b> <b>journeys</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>small</b> <b>news</b> <b>about</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>health</b> <b>and</b> <b>doings</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>his</b> <b>visits</b> <b>had</b> <b>ceased</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b> <b>nine</b> <b>years</b> <b>since</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>would</b> <b>never</b> <b>return</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>given</b> <b>up</b> <b>all</b> <b>interest</b> <b>in</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>walking</b> <b>home</b> <b>and</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>was</b> <b>fading</b>, <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>once</b> <b>familiar</b> <b>tap</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>study</b> <b>window</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>welcomed</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>friend</b> <b>with</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>and</b> <b>great</b> <b>delight</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>hard</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b> <b>well</b> <b>eh</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>look</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>Frodo</b>!”<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>Frodo</b> <b>replied</b>; <b>but</b> <b>secretly</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>older</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>careworn</b>. <b>He</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>world</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>up</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>Next</b> <b>morning</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>late</b> <b>breakfast</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>with</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>window</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>study</b>. <b>A</b> <b>bright</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>warm</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>. <b>Everything</b> <b>looked</b> <b>fresh</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>green</b> <b>of</b> <b>Spring</b> <b>was</b> <b>shimmering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>tips</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>” <b>fingers</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>spring</b>, <b>nearly</b> <b>eighty</b> <b>years</b> <b>before</b>, <b>when</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>run</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>handkerchief</b>. <b>His</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>whiter</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>then</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>beard</b> <b>and</b> <b>eyebrows</b> <b>were</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>more</b> <b>lined</b> <b>with</b> <b>care</b> <b>and</b> <b>wisdom</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>as</b> <b>bright</b> <b>as</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>smoked</b> <b>and</b> <b>blew</b> <b>smoke</b>-<b>rings</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>vigour</b> <b>and</b> <b>delight</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>smoking</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>still</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>morning</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>broke</b> <b>the</b> <b>silence</b>.<br>
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“<b>Last</b> <b>night</b> <b>you</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>strange</b> <b>things</b> <b>about</b> <b>my</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>you</b> <b>stopped</b>, <b>because</b> <b>you</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>such</b> <b>matters</b> <b>were</b> <b>best</b> <b>left</b> <b>until</b> <b>daylight</b>. <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>finish</b> <b>now</b>? <b>You</b> <b>say</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>dangerous</b>, <b>far</b> <b>more</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>guess</b>. <b>In</b> <b>what</b> <b>way</b>?”<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>many</b> <b>ways</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>more</b> <b>powerful</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>ever</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>, <b>so</b> <b>powerful</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>utterly</b> <b>overcome</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>of</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>race</b> <b>who</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>possess</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>Eregion</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>many</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>rings</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b>, <b>magic</b> <b>rings</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>call</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>of</b> <b>various</b> <b>kinds</b>: <b>some</b> <b>more</b> <b>potent</b> <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>less</b>. <b>The</b> <b>lesser</b> <b>rings</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>essays</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>craft</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>full</b>-<b>grown</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>smiths</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>but</b> <b>trifles</b>—<b>yet</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>for</b> <b>mortals</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Rings</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Power</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>perilous</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>mortal</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>who</b> <b>keeps</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Rings</b>, <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>die</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>grow</b> <b>or</b> <b>obtain</b> <b>more</b> <b>life</b>, <b>he</b> <b>merely</b> <b>continues</b>, <b>until</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>every</b> <b>minute</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>weariness</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>often</b> <b>uses</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>himself</b> <b>invisible</b>, <b>he</b> <b>fades</b>: <b>he</b> <b>becomes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>permanently</b>, <b>and</b> <b>walks</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>eye</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>power</b> <b>that</b> <b>rules</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b>—<b>later</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>strong</b> <b>or</b> <b>well</b>-<b>meaning</b> <b>to</b> <b>begin</b> <b>with</b>, <b>but</b> <b>neither</b> <b>strength</b> <b>nor</b> <b>good</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>will</b> <b>last</b>—<b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>power</b> <b>will</b> <b>devour</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>terrifying</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>another</b> <b>long</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>cutting</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>.<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>long</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>known</b> <b>this</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>much</b> <b>did</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>know</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Bilbo</b> <b>knew</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>never</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>anything</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>even</b> <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>promised</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>after</b> <b>you</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>beautiful</b>, <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>useful</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>anything</b> <b>was</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>or</b> <b>queer</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> “<b>growing</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>”, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>always</b> <b>worrying</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>suspect</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>itself</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>blame</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>thing</b> <b>needed</b> <b>looking</b> <b>after</b>; <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>always</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>size</b> <b>or</b> <b>weight</b>; <b>it</b> <b>shrank</b> <b>or</b> <b>expanded</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>odd</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>might</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>slip</b> <b>off</b> <b>a</b> <b>finger</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>tight</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>he</b> <b>warned</b> <b>me</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>last</b> <b>letter</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>always</b> <b>kept</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>chain</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>wise</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>life</b>, <b>Bilbo</b> <b>never</b> <b>connected</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>credit</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>proud</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>getting</b> <b>restless</b> <b>and</b> <b>uneasy</b>. <b>Thin</b> <b>and</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>A</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>getting</b> <b>control</b>.”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>long</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>known</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Known</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>know</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> “<b>known</b> <b>about</b> <b>this</b> <b>ring</b>”, <b>well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>, <b>one</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>test</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>my</b> <b>guess</b>.<br>
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“<b>When</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>first</b> <b>begin</b> <b>to</b> <b>guess</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>mused</b>, <b>searching</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>see</b>—<b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Council</b> <b>drove</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>power</b> <b>from</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>, <b>just</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Battle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Five</b> <b>Armies</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>then</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>yet</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>often</b> <b>how</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>came</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>as</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>—<b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>strange</b> <b>story</b> <b>of</b> <b>how</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> “<b>won</b>” <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>believe</b> <b>it</b>. <b>When</b> <b>I</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>got</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>claim</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>doubt</b>. <b>Much</b> <b>like</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> “<b>birthday</b> <b>present</b>”. <b>The</b> <b>lies</b> <b>were</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>alike</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>comfort</b>. <b>Clearly</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>unwholesome</b> <b>power</b> <b>that</b> <b>set</b> <b>to</b> <b>work</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>keeper</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>real</b> <b>warning</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>well</b>. <b>I</b> <b>told</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>often</b> <b>that</b> <b>such</b> <b>rings</b> <b>were</b> <b>better</b> <b>left</b> <b>unused</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>resented</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>got</b> <b>angry</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>little</b> <b>else</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b> <b>without</b> <b>doing</b> <b>greater</b> <b>harm</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>right</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b> <b>anyway</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>watch</b> <b>and</b> <b>wait</b>. <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>have</b> <b>consulted</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b>, <b>but</b> <b>something</b> <b>always</b> <b>held</b> <b>me</b> <b>back</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>before</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Hobbits</b> <b>are</b>, <b>or</b> <b>were</b>, <b>no</b> <b>concern</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>great</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>order</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>. <b>His</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>is</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>pride</b> <b>has</b> <b>grown</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>takes</b> <b>ill</b> <b>any</b> <b>meddling</b>. <b>The</b> <b>lore</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>rings</b>, <b>great</b> <b>and</b> <b>small</b>, <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>province</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>long</b> <b>studied</b> <b>it</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>the</b> <b>lost</b> <b>secrets</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>making</b>; <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>were</b> <b>debated</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>reveal</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>ring</b>-<b>lore</b> <b>told</b> <b>against</b> <b>my</b> <b>fears</b>. <b>So</b> <b>my</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>slept</b>—<b>but</b> <b>uneasily</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>I</b> <b>watched</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>waited</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>all</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>well</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>they</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>touch</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>showed</b> <b>no</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>age</b>. <b>The</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>me</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>myself</b>: “<b>After</b> <b>all</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b>-<b>lived</b> <b>family</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>mother</b>’<b>s</b> <b>side</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>time</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Wait</b>!”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>waited</b>. <b>Until</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>this</b> <b>house</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>things</b> <b>then</b> <b>that</b> <b>filled</b> <b>me</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>could</b> <b>allay</b>. <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>that</b> <b>something</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>spent</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>since</b> <b>then</b> <b>in</b> <b>finding</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>any</b> <b>permanent</b> <b>harm</b> <b>done</b>, <b>was</b> <b>there</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>anxiously</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>get</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b>, <b>wouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>he</b>? <b>Be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>, <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>?”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>better</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>Power</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>world</b> <b>that</b> <b>knows</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>effects</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>Power</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>that</b> <b>knows</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Among</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>goes</b> <b>in</b> <b>for</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>lore</b>: <b>an</b> <b>obscure</b> <b>branch</b> <b>of</b> <b>knowledge</b>, <b>but</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>surprises</b>. <b>Soft</b> <b>as</b> <b>butter</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>as</b> <b>tough</b> <b>as</b> <b>old</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>roots</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>likely</b> <b>that</b> <b>some</b> <b>would</b> <b>resist</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>far</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>would</b> <b>believe</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>Bilbo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>he</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b>, <b>and</b> <b>used</b> <b>it</b>, <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>influence</b> <b>to</b> <b>wear</b> <b>off</b>—<b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>safe</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>, <b>for</b> <b>instance</b>. <b>Otherwise</b>, <b>he</b> <b>might</b> <b>live</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>years</b>, <b>quite</b> <b>happily</b>: <b>just</b> <b>stop</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>parted</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>. <b>For</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>accord</b>: <b>an</b> <b>important</b> <b>point</b>. <b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>about</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>, <b>once</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>thing</b> <b>go</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>responsible</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>left</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>charming</b>, <b>absurd</b>, <b>helpless</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>grievous</b> <b>blow</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Power</b> <b>overcame</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>your</b> <b>kind</b>, <b>jolly</b>, <b>stupid</b> <b>Bolgers</b>, <b>Hornblowers</b>, <b>Boffins</b>, <b>Bracegirdles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>mention</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridiculous</b> <b>Bagginses</b>, <b>became</b> <b>enslaved</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>shuddered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>should</b> <b>we</b> <b>be</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>why</b> <b>should</b> <b>he</b> <b>want</b> <b>such</b> <b>slaves</b>?”<br>
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“<b>To</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>,” <b>replied</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>hitherto</b>—<b>hitherto</b>, <b>mark</b> <b>you</b>—<b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>entirely</b> <b>overlooked</b> <b>the</b> <b>existence</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>thankful</b>. <b>But</b> <b>your</b> <b>safety</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>He</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>need</b> <b>you</b>—<b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>many</b> <b>more</b> <b>useful</b> <b>servants</b>—<b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>forget</b> <b>you</b> <b>again</b>. <b>And</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>as</b> <b>miserable</b> <b>slaves</b> <b>would</b> <b>please</b> <b>him</b> <b>far</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>happy</b> <b>and</b> <b>free</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>as</b> <b>malice</b> <b>and</b> <b>revenge</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Revenge</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Revenge</b> <b>for</b> <b>what</b>? <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>understand</b> <b>what</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>has</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>myself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>ring</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>everything</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>real</b> <b>peril</b> <b>yet</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>myself</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>last</b> <b>here</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>Give</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>breeches</b>-<b>pocket</b>, <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>clasped</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>chain</b> <b>that</b> <b>hung</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>belt</b>. <b>He</b> <b>unfastened</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>handed</b> <b>it</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. <b>It</b> <b>felt</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>very</b> <b>heavy</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>either</b> <b>it</b> <b>or</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>himself</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>reluctant</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>to</b> <b>touch</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>. <b>It</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>pure</b> <b>and</b> <b>solid</b> <b>gold</b>. “<b>Can</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>any</b> <b>markings</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>none</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>quite</b> <b>plain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>never</b> <b>shows</b> <b>a</b> <b>scratch</b> <b>or</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>wear</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>then</b>, <b>look</b>!” <b>To</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>astonishment</b> <b>and</b> <b>distress</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>threw</b> <b>it</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>and</b> <b>groped</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>tongs</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>held</b> <b>him</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>Wait</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>commanding</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>giving</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>a</b> <b>quick</b> <b>look</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>bristling</b> <b>brows</b>.<br>
|
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<b>No</b> <b>apparent</b> <b>change</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b>, <b>closed</b> <b>the</b> <b>shutters</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>the</b> <b>curtains</b>. <b>The</b> <b>room</b> <b>became</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>clack</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sam</b>’<b>s</b> <b>shears</b>, <b>now</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b>, <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b> <b>faintly</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>stood</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>; <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>and</b> <b>removed</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>tongs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>picked</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>gasped</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>quite</b> <b>cool</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Take</b> <b>it</b>!” <b>Frodo</b> <b>received</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>shrinking</b> <b>palm</b>: <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>become</b> <b>thicker</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavier</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hold</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>look</b> <b>closely</b>!”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b>, <b>he</b> <b>now</b> <b>saw</b> <b>fine</b> <b>lines</b>, <b>finer</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>finest</b> <b>pen</b>-<b>strokes</b>, <b>running</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>outside</b> <b>and</b> <b>inside</b>: <b>lines</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>form</b> <b>the</b> <b>letters</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>script</b>. <b>They</b> <b>shone</b> <b>piercingly</b> <b>bright</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>remote</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>depth</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>read</b> <b>the</b> <b>fiery</b> <b>letters</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>quavering</b> <b>voice</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>. <b>The</b> <b>letters</b> <b>are</b> <b>Elvish</b>, <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>mode</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>language</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>which</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>utter</b> <b>here</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Common</b> <b>Tongue</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b>, <b>close</b> <b>enough</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>rule</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>, <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b>,<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>bind</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>two</b> <b>lines</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>verse</b> <b>long</b> <b>known</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>lore</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Three</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>kings</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>,<br>
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<b>Seven</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>-<b>lords</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>,<br>
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<b>Nine</b> <b>for</b> <b>Mortal</b> <b>Men</b> <b>doomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>die</b>,<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>dark</b> <b>throne</b><br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadows</b> <b>lie</b>.<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>rule</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>. <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b>,<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>bind</b> <b>them</b><br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadows</b> <b>lie</b>.”<br>
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<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>paused</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>said</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>voice</b>: “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b>-<b>ring</b>, <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>rule</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>lost</b> <b>many</b> <b>ages</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>weakening</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>power</b>. <b>He</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>desires</b> <b>it</b>—<b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>motionless</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>stretch</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>vast</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>rising</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>and</b> <b>looming</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>engulf</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>ring</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>stammered</b>. “<b>How</b>, <b>how</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b> <b>did</b> <b>it</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>story</b>. <b>The</b> <b>beginnings</b> <b>lie</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Years</b>, <b>which</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b>-<b>masters</b> <b>now</b> <b>remember</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>tale</b>, <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>here</b> <b>when</b> <b>Spring</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>into</b> <b>Winter</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>But</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b> <b>I</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>. <b>The</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>are</b> <b>true</b>: <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>arisen</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>hold</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>and</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>fastness</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>That</b> <b>name</b> <b>even</b> <b>you</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>stories</b>. <b>Always</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>defeat</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>respite</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>takes</b> <b>another</b> <b>shape</b> <b>and</b> <b>grows</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>it</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>happened</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>time</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>So</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>do</b> <b>all</b> <b>who</b> <b>live</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>such</b> <b>times</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b>. <b>All</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>given</b>, <b>us</b>. <b>And</b> <b>already</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>our</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>black</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>fast</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>very</b> <b>strong</b>. <b>His</b> <b>plans</b> <b>are</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>ripe</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>ripening</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>hard</b> <b>put</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>. <b>We</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>hard</b> <b>put</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>chance</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>The</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>still</b> <b>lacks</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>him</b> <b>strength</b> <b>and</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>to</b> <b>beat</b> <b>down</b> <b>all</b> <b>resistance</b>, <b>break</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>defences</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cover</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lacks</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Three</b>, <b>fairest</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lords</b> <b>hid</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>never</b> <b>touched</b> <b>them</b> <b>or</b> <b>sullied</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Seven</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>-<b>kings</b> <b>possessed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>three</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>recovered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>the</b> <b>dragons</b> <b>have</b> <b>consumed</b>. <b>Nine</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mortal</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>proud</b> <b>and</b> <b>great</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>ensnared</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>they</b> <b>fell</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>dominion</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>became</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b>, <b>shadows</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>Shadow</b>, <b>his</b> <b>most</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>servants</b>. <b>Long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>walked</b> <b>abroad</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>who</b> <b>knows</b>? <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>grows</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>, <b>they</b> <b>too</b> <b>may</b> <b>walk</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>come</b>! <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>such</b> <b>things</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>; <b>the</b> <b>Seven</b> <b>also</b>, <b>or</b> <b>else</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Three</b> <b>are</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>still</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>troubles</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>only</b> <b>needs</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>that</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>let</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>former</b> <b>power</b> <b>pass</b> <b>into</b> <b>it</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>rule</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>recovers</b> <b>it</b>, <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>command</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>again</b>, <b>wherever</b> <b>they</b> <b>be</b>, <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>laid</b> <b>bare</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>chance</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>believed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>had</b> <b>perished</b>; <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>had</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>done</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>perished</b>, <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>found</b>. <b>So</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>seeking</b> <b>it</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>thought</b> <b>is</b> <b>bent</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>hope</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>great</b> <b>fear</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Why</b>, <b>why</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>it</b> <b>destroyed</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>did</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>ever</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>lose</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>strong</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>precious</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>He</b> <b>clutched</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>already</b> <b>dark</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>stretching</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>seize</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>taken</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>to</b> <b>resist</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>greater</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>Men</b> <b>were</b> <b>estranged</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>aid</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>chapter</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>history</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>good</b> <b>to</b> <b>recall</b>; <b>for</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>sorrow</b> <b>then</b> <b>too</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>but</b> <b>great</b> <b>valour</b>, <b>and</b> <b>great</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>vain</b>. <b>One</b> <b>day</b>, <b>perhaps</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b>, <b>or</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b> <b>told</b> <b>in</b> <b>full</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>who</b> <b>knows</b> <b>it</b> <b>best</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>since</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>this</b> <b>thing</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>tale</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b>, <b>Elven</b>-<b>king</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b> <b>who</b> <b>overthrew</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>perished</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deed</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>Elendil</b>’<b>s</b> <b>son</b> <b>cut</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>from</b> <b>Sauron</b>’<b>s</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>was</b> <b>vanquished</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>spirit</b> <b>fled</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b>, <b>until</b> <b>his</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>took</b> <b>shape</b> <b>again</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>It</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>, <b>Anduin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>For</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>was</b> <b>marching</b> <b>north</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>banks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>waylaid</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>almost</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>slain</b>. <b>He</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>swam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>killed</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>arrows</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>paused</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>pools</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>and</b> <b>legend</b>; <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>history</b> <b>is</b> <b>known</b> <b>now</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>could</b> <b>discover</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>carry</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>.<br>
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“<b>Long</b> <b>after</b>, <b>but</b> <b>still</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>there</b> <b>lived</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wilderland</b> <b>a</b> <b>clever</b>-<b>handed</b> <b>and</b> <b>quiet</b>-<b>footed</b> <b>little</b> <b>people</b>. <b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>kind</b>; <b>akin</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Stoors</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>loved</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>often</b> <b>swam</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>made</b> <b>little</b> <b>boats</b> <b>of</b> <b>reeds</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>family</b> <b>of</b> <b>high</b> <b>repute</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>wealthier</b> <b>than</b> <b>most</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>ruled</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>grandmother</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>stern</b> <b>and</b> <b>wise</b> <b>in</b> <b>old</b> <b>lore</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b>. <b>The</b> <b>most</b> <b>inquisitive</b> <b>and</b> <b>curious</b>-<b>minded</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>family</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>roots</b> <b>and</b> <b>beginnings</b>; <b>he</b> <b>dived</b> <b>into</b> <b>deep</b> <b>pools</b>; <b>he</b> <b>burrowed</b> <b>under</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>growing</b> <b>plants</b>; <b>he</b> <b>tunnelled</b> <b>into</b> <b>green</b> <b>mounds</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>ceased</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>tops</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>on</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>opening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>: <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>downward</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b> <b>called</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b>, <b>of</b> <b>similar</b> <b>sort</b>, <b>sharper</b>-<b>eyed</b> <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>quick</b> <b>and</b> <b>strong</b>. <b>On</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>boat</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b>, <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>great</b> <b>beds</b> <b>of</b> <b>iris</b> <b>and</b> <b>flowering</b> <b>reeds</b>. <b>There</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>got</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>nosing</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>but</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>and</b> <b>fished</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>fish</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>hook</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>dragged</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>let</b> <b>go</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>line</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>something</b> <b>shining</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>bed</b>; <b>and</b> <b>holding</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b> <b>he</b> <b>grabbed</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>up</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>spluttering</b>, <b>with</b> <b>weeds</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hair</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>handful</b> <b>of</b> <b>mud</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>swam</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>And</b> <b>behold</b>! <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>washed</b> <b>the</b> <b>mud</b> <b>away</b>, <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>golden</b> <b>ring</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>shone</b> <b>and</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>glad</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>watching</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>gloated</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>came</b> <b>softly</b> <b>up</b> <b>behind</b>.<br>
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““<b>Give</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b>, <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b>, <b>my</b> <b>love</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b>, <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>friend</b>’<b>s</b> <b>shoulder</b>.<br>
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““<b>Why</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b>.<br>
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““<b>Because</b> <b>it</b>’<b>s</b> <b>my</b> <b>birthday</b>, <b>my</b> <b>love</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>wants</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b>.<br>
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““<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>care</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>given</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b> <b>present</b> <b>already</b>, <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>afford</b>. <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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““<b>Oh</b>, <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>indeed</b>, <b>my</b> <b>love</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>throat</b> <b>and</b> <b>strangled</b> <b>him</b>, <b>because</b> <b>the</b> <b>gold</b> <b>looked</b> <b>so</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>beautiful</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>ever</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b> <b>what</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b>; <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>murdered</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>home</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>body</b> <b>was</b> <b>cunningly</b> <b>hidden</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>returned</b> <b>alone</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>family</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>wearing</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>pleased</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>discovery</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>concealed</b> <b>it</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>used</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b> <b>secrets</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>to</b> <b>crooked</b> <b>and</b> <b>malicious</b> <b>uses</b>. <b>He</b> <b>became</b> <b>sharp</b>-<b>eyed</b> <b>and</b> <b>keen</b>-<b>eared</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>hurtful</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>given</b> <b>him</b> <b>power</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>stature</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>became</b> <b>very</b> <b>unpopular</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>shunned</b> (<b>when</b> <b>visible</b>) <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>relations</b>. <b>They</b> <b>kicked</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>bit</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>thieving</b>, <b>and</b> <b>going</b> <b>about</b> <b>muttering</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gurgling</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>throat</b>. <b>So</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>him</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cursed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>told</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>; <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>grandmother</b>, <b>desiring</b> <b>peace</b>, <b>expelled</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>family</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>hole</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>in</b> <b>loneliness</b>, <b>weeping</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>hardness</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>till</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>stream</b> <b>that</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>. <b>He</b> <b>caught</b> <b>fish</b> <b>in</b> <b>deep</b> <b>pools</b> <b>with</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>and</b> <b>ate</b> <b>them</b> <b>raw</b>. <b>One</b> <b>day</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>hot</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>bending</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>pool</b>, <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>burning</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>) <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>dazzling</b> <b>light</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>pained</b> <b>his</b> <b>wet</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>almost</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>shook</b> <b>his</b> <b>fist</b> <b>at</b> <b>her</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>lowered</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>far</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>tops</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>came</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>suddenly</b>: “<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>cool</b> <b>and</b> <b>shady</b> <b>under</b> <b>those</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>watch</b> <b>me</b> <b>there</b>. <b>The</b> <b>roots</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>roots</b> <b>indeed</b>; <b>there</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>great</b> <b>secrets</b> <b>buried</b> <b>there</b> <b>which</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b>.”<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>he</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>highlands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>cave</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>stream</b> <b>ran</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>wormed</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>maggot</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>knowledge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>maker</b>, <b>when</b> <b>his</b> <b>power</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>again</b>, <b>could</b> <b>learn</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Gollum</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Gollum</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>Gollum</b>-<b>creature</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>met</b>? <b>How</b> <b>loathsome</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>sad</b> <b>story</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>happened</b> <b>to</b> <b>others</b>, <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>was</b> <b>connected</b> <b>with</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>however</b> <b>distantly</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>some</b> <b>heat</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>an</b> <b>abominable</b> <b>notion</b>!”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>,” <b>replied</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>About</b> <b>their</b> <b>origins</b>, <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>, <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>do</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>And</b> <b>even</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>story</b> <b>suggests</b> <b>the</b> <b>kinship</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>deal</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>background</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>and</b> <b>memories</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>similar</b>. <b>They</b> <b>understood</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b> <b>remarkably</b> <b>well</b>, <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>would</b> <b>understand</b>, <b>say</b>, <b>a</b> <b>Dwarf</b>, <b>or</b> <b>an</b> <b>Orc</b>, <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b>. <b>Think</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>riddles</b> <b>they</b> <b>both</b> <b>knew</b>, <b>for</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Though</b> <b>other</b> <b>folks</b> <b>besides</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>ask</b> <b>riddles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>sort</b>. <b>And</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>cheat</b>. <b>Gollum</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>cheat</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>guard</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>it</b> <b>amused</b> <b>his</b> <b>wickedness</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b> <b>a</b> <b>game</b> <b>which</b> <b>might</b> <b>end</b> <b>in</b> <b>providing</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>easy</b> <b>victim</b>, <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>lost</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Only</b> <b>too</b> <b>true</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>ruined</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>proved</b> <b>tougher</b> <b>than</b> <b>even</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>guessed</b> -<b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>might</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b>, <b>and</b> <b>light</b> <b>came</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>chink</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>: <b>light</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>past</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>actually</b> <b>pleasant</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>a</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>voice</b> <b>again</b>, <b>bringing</b> <b>up</b> <b>memories</b> <b>of</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sun</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>such</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>things</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>that</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>would</b> <b>only</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>angrier</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>—<b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>conquered</b>. <b>Unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>cured</b>.” <b>Gandalf</b> <b>sighed</b>. “<b>Alas</b>! <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>No</b>, <b>not</b> <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>back</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>remember</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>worn</b> <b>it</b> <b>much</b>: <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>needed</b>. <b>Certainly</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> “<b>faded</b>”. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>thin</b> <b>and</b> <b>tough</b> <b>still</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>thing</b> <b>was</b> <b>eating</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>torment</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>almost</b> <b>unbearable</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>the</b> “<b>great</b> <b>secrets</b>” <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>had</b> <b>turned</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>just</b> <b>empty</b> <b>night</b>: <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b>, <b>nothing</b> <b>worth</b> <b>doing</b>, <b>only</b> <b>nasty</b> <b>furtive</b> <b>eating</b> <b>and</b> <b>resentful</b> <b>remembering</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>wretched</b>. <b>He</b> <b>hated</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>hated</b> <b>light</b> <b>more</b>: <b>he</b> <b>hated</b> <b>everything</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Surely</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>precious</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>thing</b> <b>he</b> <b>cared</b> <b>for</b>? <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>hated</b> <b>it</b>, <b>why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>he</b> <b>get</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>go</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>begin</b> <b>to</b> <b>understand</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>hated</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>loved</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>hated</b> <b>and</b> <b>loved</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>will</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Power</b> <b>looks</b> <b>after</b> <b>itself</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>slip</b> <b>off</b> <b>treacherously</b>, <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>keeper</b> <b>never</b> <b>abandons</b> <b>it</b>. <b>At</b> <b>most</b> <b>he</b> <b>plays</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>idea</b> <b>of</b> <b>handing</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>someone</b> <b>else</b>’<b>s</b> <b>care</b>—<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>at</b> <b>an</b> <b>early</b> <b>stage</b>, <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>first</b> <b>begins</b> <b>to</b> <b>grip</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>alone</b> <b>in</b> <b>history</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>gone</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>playing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>really</b> <b>done</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>needed</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>help</b>, <b>too</b>. <b>And</b> <b>even</b> <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>never</b> <b>have</b> <b>just</b> <b>forsaken</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>cast</b> <b>it</b> <b>aside</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>itself</b> <b>that</b> <b>decided</b> <b>things</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b>, <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>Bilbo</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Wouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>an</b> <b>Orc</b> <b>have</b> <b>suited</b> <b>it</b> <b>better</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>laughing</b> <b>matter</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>strangest</b> <b>event</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>: <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>arrival</b> <b>just</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>putting</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>, <b>blindly</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>one</b> <b>power</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>master</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>from</b> <b>Isildur</b>’<b>s</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>betrayed</b> <b>him</b>; <b>then</b> <b>when</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>came</b> <b>it</b> <b>caught</b> <b>poor</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>murdered</b>; <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>devoured</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>: <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>mean</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>never</b> <b>leave</b> <b>his</b> <b>deep</b> <b>pool</b> <b>again</b>. <b>So</b> <b>now</b>, <b>when</b> <b>its</b> <b>master</b> <b>was</b> <b>awake</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>and</b> <b>sending</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>dark</b> <b>thought</b> <b>from</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>, <b>it</b> <b>abandoned</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>unlikely</b> <b>person</b> <b>imaginable</b>: <b>Bilbo</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>!<br>
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“<b>Behind</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>any</b> <b>design</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>maker</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>no</b> <b>plainer</b> <b>than</b> <b>by</b> <b>saying</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>by</b> <b>its</b> <b>maker</b>. <b>In</b> <b>which</b> <b>case</b> <b>you</b> <b>also</b> <b>were</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>an</b> <b>encouraging</b> <b>thought</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Though</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>how</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>learned</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>Gollum</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>know</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b>, <b>or</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>just</b> <b>guessing</b> <b>still</b>?”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glinted</b>. <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>much</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>learned</b> <b>much</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>an</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>doings</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>. <b>The</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>and</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>shown</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>that</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>-<b>writing</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>apart</b> <b>from</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>evidence</b>.” “<b>And</b> <b>when</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>discover</b> <b>that</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>interrupting</b>. “<b>Just</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>room</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>sharply</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>from</b> <b>dark</b> <b>journeys</b> <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>search</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>that</b> <b>final</b> <b>test</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>proof</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>only</b> <b>too</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>Making</b> <b>out</b> <b>Gollum</b>’<b>s</b> <b>part</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fitting</b> <b>it</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gap</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b>, <b>required</b> <b>some</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>started</b> <b>with</b> <b>guesses</b> <b>about</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>guessing</b> <b>now</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>Gollum</b>?” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>amazement</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>. <b>The</b> <b>obvious</b> <b>thing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>if</b> <b>one</b> <b>could</b>. <b>I</b> <b>tried</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>managed</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b> <b>after</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>so</b> <b>clearly</b>. <b>What</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>was</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b>—<b>though</b> <b>not</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>reported</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Gollum</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>liar</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>sift</b> <b>his</b> <b>words</b>. <b>For</b> <b>instance</b>, <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>his</b> “<b>birthday</b> <b>present</b>”, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>grandmother</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>lots</b> <b>of</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>things</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>kind</b>. <b>A</b> <b>ridiculous</b> <b>story</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b>'<b>s</b> <b>grandmother</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>matriarch</b>, <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>person</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>way</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>possessing</b> <b>many</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>rings</b> <b>was</b> <b>absurd</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>giving</b> <b>them</b> <b>away</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lie</b>. <b>But</b> <b>a</b> <b>lie</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>grain</b> <b>of</b> <b>truth</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>murder</b> <b>of</b> <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>haunted</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>defence</b>, <b>repeating</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> “<b>precious</b>” <b>over</b> <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>again</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>gnawed</b> <b>bones</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>almost</b> <b>believed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>birthday</b>. <b>D</b>?<b>agol</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>given</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>previously</b> <b>turned</b> <b>up</b> <b>just</b> <b>so</b> <b>as</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>present</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>present</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>endured</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>was</b> <b>desperately</b> <b>important</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>harsh</b>. <b>I</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wrung</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>story</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>bit</b> <b>by</b> <b>bit</b>, <b>together</b> <b>with</b> <b>much</b> <b>snivelling</b> <b>and</b> <b>snarling</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>misunderstood</b> <b>and</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>used</b>. <b>But</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>his</b> <b>history</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riddle</b>-<b>game</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>escape</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>, <b>except</b> <b>in</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hints</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>other</b> <b>fear</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>greater</b> <b>than</b> <b>mine</b>. <b>He</b> <b>muttered</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>gel</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>back</b>. <b>People</b> <b>would</b> <b>see</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>stand</b> <b>being</b> <b>kicked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>driven</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>robbed</b>. <b>Gollum</b> <b>had</b> <b>good</b> <b>friends</b> <b>now</b>, <b>good</b> <b>friends</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>strong</b>. <b>They</b> <b>would</b> <b>help</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>would</b> <b>pay</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>chief</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>He</b> <b>hated</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>cursed</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b>. <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b>, <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>how</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>out</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b>, <b>Bilbo</b> <b>very</b> <b>foolishly</b> <b>told</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>himself</b>; <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>discover</b> <b>his</b> <b>country</b>, <b>once</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Oh</b> <b>yes</b>, <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>. <b>His</b> <b>longing</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>proved</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>than</b> <b>his</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b>, <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>You</b> <b>see</b>, <b>though</b> <b>still</b> <b>bound</b> <b>by</b> <b>desire</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>devouring</b> <b>him</b>; <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>revive</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>old</b>, <b>terribly</b> <b>old</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>less</b> <b>timid</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>mortally</b> <b>hungry</b>.<br>
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“<b>Light</b>, <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>Moon</b>, <b>he</b> <b>still</b> <b>feared</b> <b>and</b> <b>hated</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>always</b> <b>will</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>cunning</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>hide</b> <b>from</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>and</b> <b>moonshine</b>, <b>and</b> <b>make</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>and</b> <b>softly</b> <b>by</b> <b>dead</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>pale</b> <b>cold</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>catch</b> <b>small</b> <b>frightened</b> <b>or</b> <b>unwary</b> <b>things</b>. <b>He</b> <b>grew</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>and</b> <b>bolder</b> <b>with</b> <b>new</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>new</b> <b>air</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b> <b>into</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>, <b>as</b> <b>one</b> <b>would</b> <b>expect</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>that</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>there</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>before</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>far</b>, <b>following</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>trail</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>learn</b> <b>anything</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>, <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>talk</b> <b>was</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>interrupted</b> <b>by</b> <b>curses</b> <b>and</b> <b>threats</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>had</b> <b>it</b> <b>got</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>pocketses</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>wouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>say</b>, <b>no</b> <b>precious</b>. <b>Little</b> <b>cheat</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>question</b>. <b>It</b> <b>cheated</b> <b>first</b>, <b>it</b> <b>did</b>. <b>It</b> <b>broke</b> <b>the</b> <b>rules</b>. <b>We</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>squeezed</b> <b>it</b>, <b>yes</b> <b>precious</b>. <b>And</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b>, <b>precious</b>!”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>sample</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>weary</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>from</b> <b>hints</b> <b>dropped</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>snarls</b> <b>I</b> <b>even</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>padding</b> <b>feet</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>him</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>Esgaroth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>streets</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>listening</b> <b>secretly</b> <b>and</b> <b>peering</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>events</b> <b>went</b> <b>far</b> <b>and</b> <b>wide</b> <b>in</b> <b>Wilderland</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>name</b> <b>and</b> <b>knew</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b>. <b>We</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>secret</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>return</b> <b>journey</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>home</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>Gollum</b>’<b>s</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>ears</b> <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>learn</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>wanted</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>he</b> <b>track</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>further</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>he</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b>. <b>He</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>westward</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>. <b>But</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>daunted</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>No</b>, <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>drew</b> <b>him</b> <b>away</b>. <b>So</b> <b>my</b> <b>friends</b> <b>think</b>, <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>hunted</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Wood</b>-<b>elves</b> <b>tracked</b> <b>him</b> <b>first</b>, <b>an</b> <b>easy</b> <b>task</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>, <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>trail</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>then</b>. <b>Through</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>and</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b> <b>it</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>never</b> <b>caught</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wood</b> <b>was</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>dreadful</b> <b>tales</b> <b>even</b> <b>among</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>and</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Woodmen</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>new</b> <b>terror</b> <b>abroad</b>, <b>a</b> <b>ghost</b> <b>that</b> <b>drank</b> <b>blood</b>. <b>It</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>trees</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>nests</b>; <b>it</b> <b>crept</b> <b>into</b> <b>holes</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b>; <b>it</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>through</b> <b>windows</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>cradles</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>the</b> <b>trail</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b>. <b>It</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>off</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wood</b>-<b>elves</b>” <b>ken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>mistake</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b>; <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>prove</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b>. <b>I</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>be</b>. <b>I</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>go</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>much</b> <b>else</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>trusted</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>paid</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>since</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>days</b>. <b>The</b> <b>trail</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>cold</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>, <b>after</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>left</b> <b>here</b>. <b>And</b> <b>my</b> <b>search</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b>, <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>help</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b>: <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>the</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>traveller</b> <b>and</b> <b>huntsman</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>age</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Together</b> <b>we</b> <b>sought</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>length</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wilderland</b>, <b>without</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>without</b> <b>success</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>given</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>chase</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>other</b> <b>parts</b>, <b>Gollum</b> <b>was</b> <b>found</b>. <b>My</b> <b>friend</b> <b>returned</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>perils</b> <b>bringing</b> <b>the</b> <b>miserable</b> <b>creature</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>doing</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b>. <b>He</b> <b>only</b> <b>wept</b> <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>us</b> <b>cruel</b>, <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>gollum</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>throat</b>; <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>him</b> <b>he</b> <b>whined</b> <b>and</b> <b>cringed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>licking</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>pained</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>some</b> <b>old</b> <b>torture</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>possible</b> <b>doubt</b>: <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>his</b> <b>slow</b>, <b>sneaking</b> <b>way</b>, <b>step</b> <b>by</b> <b>step</b>, <b>mile</b> <b>by</b> <b>mile</b>, <b>south</b>, <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>.”<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>beating</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>outside</b> <b>everything</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>still</b>. <b>No</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sam</b>’<b>s</b> <b>shears</b> <b>could</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Alas</b>! <b>Mordor</b> <b>draws</b> <b>all</b> <b>wicked</b> <b>things</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Power</b> <b>was</b> <b>bending</b> <b>all</b> <b>its</b> <b>will</b> <b>to</b> <b>gather</b> <b>them</b> <b>there</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>would</b> <b>leave</b> <b>its</b> <b>mark</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>leave</b> <b>him</b> <b>open</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>summons</b>. <b>And</b> <b>all</b> <b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>whispering</b> <b>then</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>hatred</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>his</b> <b>fine</b> <b>new</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>who</b> <b>would</b> <b>help</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>revenge</b>!<br>
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“<b>Wretched</b> <b>fool</b>! <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>learn</b> <b>much</b>, <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>comfort</b>. <b>And</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>lurked</b> <b>and</b> <b>pried</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>caught</b>, <b>and</b> <b>taken</b>—<b>for</b> <b>examination</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>found</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>been</b> <b>there</b> <b>long</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b> <b>back</b>. <b>On</b> <b>some</b> <b>errand</b> <b>of</b> <b>mischief</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>matter</b> <b>much</b> <b>now</b>. <b>His</b> <b>worst</b> <b>mischief</b> <b>was</b> <b>done</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>alas</b>! <b>through</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>found</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>where</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>where</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>gave</b> <b>long</b> <b>life</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>lost</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>endure</b> <b>no</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Seven</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>accounted</b> <b>for</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Shire</b>—<b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>seeking</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>already</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>lies</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>even</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b>-<b>unnoticed</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>important</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>terrible</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Far</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>from</b> <b>your</b> <b>hints</b> <b>and</b> <b>warnings</b>. <b>O</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>best</b> <b>of</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>what</b> <b>am</b> <b>I</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>? <b>For</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>really</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>What</b> <b>am</b> <b>I</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>? <b>What</b> <b>a</b> <b>pity</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>stab</b> <b>that</b> <b>vile</b> <b>creature</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Pity</b>? <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Pity</b> <b>that</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Pity</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Mercy</b>: <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>without</b> <b>need</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>well</b> <b>rewarded</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>so</b> <b>little</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>and</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>, <b>because</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>his</b> <b>ownership</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>so</b>. <b>With</b> <b>Pity</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>frightened</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>feel</b> <b>any</b> <b>pity</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gollum</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>Gandalf</b> <b>broke</b> <b>in</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>understand</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>have</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>live</b> <b>on</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>deeds</b>? <b>Now</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>bad</b> <b>as</b> <b>an</b> <b>Orc</b>, <b>and</b> <b>just</b> <b>an</b> <b>enemy</b>. <b>He</b> <b>deserves</b> <b>death</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Deserves</b> <b>it</b>! <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>that</b> <b>live</b> <b>deserve</b> <b>death</b>. <b>And</b> <b>some</b> <b>that</b> <b>die</b> <b>deserve</b> <b>life</b>. <b>Can</b> <b>you</b> <b>give</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>? <b>Then</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>eager</b> <b>to</b> <b>deal</b> <b>out</b> <b>death</b> <b>in</b> <b>judgement</b>. <b>For</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>wise</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>see</b> <b>all</b> <b>ends</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>cured</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>dies</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>bound</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>fate</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>tells</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>some</b> <b>part</b> <b>to</b> <b>play</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>for</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>ill</b>, <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>; <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>that</b> <b>comes</b>, <b>the</b> <b>pity</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>may</b> <b>rule</b> <b>the</b> <b>fate</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b>—<b>yours</b> <b>not</b> <b>least</b>. <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>we</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>kill</b> <b>him</b>: <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>wretched</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Wood</b>-<b>elves</b> <b>have</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>prison</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>treat</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>such</b> <b>kindness</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>find</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>wise</b> <b>hearts</b>.”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>kill</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>kept</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>! <b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>make</b> <b>me</b> <b>throw</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>, <b>or</b>, <b>or</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Let</b> <b>you</b>? <b>Make</b> <b>you</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>Haven</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>been</b> <b>listening</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b>? <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>saying</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>throwing</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>, <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>wrong</b>. <b>These</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>being</b> <b>found</b>. <b>In</b> <b>evil</b> <b>hands</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>great</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>Worst</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>, <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>hands</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>Indeed</b> <b>it</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>would</b>; <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>exerting</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>power</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b> <b>or</b> <b>draw</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>me</b> <b>deeply</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>at</b> <b>stake</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>some</b> <b>risk</b>—<b>though</b> <b>even</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>there</b> <b>has</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>guarded</b> <b>by</b> <b>watchful</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>As</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>never</b> <b>used</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>any</b> <b>lasting</b> <b>effect</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>, <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>remember</b> <b>that</b> <b>nine</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>last</b> <b>saw</b> <b>you</b>, <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>knew</b> <b>little</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>not</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>done</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>again</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>warned</b> <b>me</b>, <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>sent</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b>, <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>away</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Would</b> <b>you</b>? <b>How</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>? <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>ever</b> <b>tried</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>one</b> <b>could</b> <b>hammer</b> <b>it</b> <b>or</b> <b>melt</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Try</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Try</b> <b>now</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>drew</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>now</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>plain</b> <b>and</b> <b>smooth</b>, <b>without</b> <b>mark</b> <b>or</b> <b>device</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b>. <b>The</b> <b>gold</b> <b>looked</b> <b>very</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>pure</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>how</b> <b>rich</b> <b>and</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>was</b> <b>its</b> <b>colour</b>, <b>how</b> <b>perfect</b> <b>was</b> <b>its</b> <b>roundness</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>admirable</b> <b>thing</b> <b>and</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>precious</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>intended</b> <b>to</b> <b>fling</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>hottest</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>, <b>not</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>struggle</b>. <b>He</b> <b>weighed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>hesitating</b>, <b>and</b> <b>forcing</b> <b>himself</b> <b>to</b> <b>remember</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>told</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b> <b>of</b> <b>will</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>movement</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>cast</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>—<b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>grimly</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>see</b>? <b>Already</b> <b>you</b> <b>too</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>cannot</b> <b>easily</b> <b>let</b> <b>it</b> <b>go</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>will</b> <b>to</b> <b>damage</b> <b>it</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> “<b>make</b>” <b>you</b>—<b>except</b> <b>by</b> <b>force</b>, <b>which</b> <b>would</b> <b>break</b> <b>your</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>breaking</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>force</b> <b>is</b> <b>useless</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>struck</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>sledge</b>-<b>hammer</b>, <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>make</b> <b>no</b> <b>dint</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>unmade</b> <b>by</b> <b>your</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>or</b> <b>by</b> <b>mine</b>.<br>
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“<b>Your</b> <b>small</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>melt</b> <b>even</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>This</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>has</b> <b>already</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>unscathed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>unheated</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>smith</b>’<b>s</b> <b>forge</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>change</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>anvils</b> <b>and</b> <b>furnaces</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>dragon</b>-<b>fire</b> <b>could</b> <b>melt</b> <b>and</b> <b>consume</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Power</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>now</b> <b>any</b> <b>dragon</b> <b>left</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>fire</b> <b>is</b> <b>hot</b> <b>enough</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b> <b>ever</b> <b>any</b> <b>dragon</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>Ancalagon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b>, <b>who</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>harmed</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Ruling</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>way</b>: <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Cracks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Doom</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>depths</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orodruin</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Fire</b>-<b>mountain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cast</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>there</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>, <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>grasp</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>really</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Or</b>, <b>well</b>, <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>quests</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>! <b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>it</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>was</b> <b>I</b> <b>chosen</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Such</b> <b>questions</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>answered</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>merit</b> <b>that</b> <b>others</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>possess</b>: <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>power</b> <b>or</b> <b>wisdom</b>, <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>chosen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>therefore</b> <b>use</b> <b>such</b> <b>strength</b> <b>and</b> <b>heart</b> <b>and</b> <b>wits</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>so</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>things</b>! <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>wise</b> <b>and</b> <b>powerful</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. “<b>With</b> <b>that</b> <b>power</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>power</b> <b>too</b> <b>great</b> <b>and</b> <b>terrible</b>. <b>And</b> <b>over</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>would</b> <b>gain</b> <b>a</b> <b>power</b> <b>still</b> <b>greater</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>deadly</b>.” <b>His</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>lit</b> <b>as</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>within</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>tempt</b> <b>me</b>! <b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>is</b> <b>by</b> <b>pity</b>, <b>pity</b> <b>for</b> <b>weakness</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>desire</b> <b>of</b> <b>strength</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>good</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>tempt</b> <b>me</b>! <b>I</b> <b>dare</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>safe</b>, <b>unused</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>wield</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>great</b>, <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>strength</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>such</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Great</b> <b>perils</b> <b>lie</b> <b>before</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>aside</b> <b>the</b> <b>curtains</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shutters</b>. <b>Sunlight</b> <b>streamed</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>passed</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>outside</b> <b>whistling</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>the</b> <b>decision</b> <b>lies</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>always</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>shoulder</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>bear</b> <b>this</b> <b>burden</b>, <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>yours</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b>, <b>soon</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>moving</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>puffed</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>pipe</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>His</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>closed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>lids</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>watching</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>intently</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>fixedly</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>red</b> <b>embers</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>filled</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>vision</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>profound</b> <b>wells</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fabled</b> <b>Cracks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Doom</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>terror</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fiery</b> <b>Mountain</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>about</b>? <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>decided</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>!” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>finding</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlit</b> <b>garden</b>. “<b>Or</b> <b>perhaps</b>, <b>yes</b>. <b>As</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>guard</b> <b>it</b>, <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>do</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>do</b>, <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>slow</b>, <b>slow</b> <b>to</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>purpose</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>better</b> <b>keeper</b> <b>soon</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>a</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>a</b> <b>danger</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>live</b> <b>near</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b>. <b>I</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>leave</b> <b>everything</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>away</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>sighed</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>save</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b>—<b>though</b> <b>there</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>times</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>too</b> <b>stupid</b> <b>and</b> <b>dull</b> <b>for</b> <b>words</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>an</b> <b>earthquake</b> <b>or</b> <b>an</b> <b>invasion</b> <b>of</b> <b>dragons</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>good</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>feel</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>that</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>lies</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>safe</b> <b>and</b> <b>comfortable</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>find</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>more</b> <b>bearable</b>: <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>firm</b> <b>foothold</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>my</b> <b>feet</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>stand</b> <b>there</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>going</b> <b>away</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>that</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>holiday</b>, <b>a</b> <b>series</b> <b>of</b> <b>adventures</b> <b>like</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>or</b> <b>better</b>, <b>ending</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>would</b> <b>mean</b> <b>exile</b>, <b>a</b> <b>flight</b> <b>from</b> <b>danger</b> <b>into</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>drawing</b> <b>it</b> <b>after</b> <b>me</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b> <b>and</b> <b>save</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>very</b> <b>small</b>, <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>uprooted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>well</b>—<b>desperate</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>terrible</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>flamed</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>—<b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>strong</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>overcame</b> <b>his</b> <b>fear</b>: <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>almost</b> <b>have</b> <b>run</b> <b>out</b> <b>there</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>without</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>similar</b> <b>morning</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>.<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Hobbits</b> <b>really</b> <b>are</b> <b>amazing</b> <b>creatures</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b> <b>before</b>. <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>learn</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>about</b> <b>their</b> <b>ways</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>month</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>years</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>still</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>you</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>pinch</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>such</b> <b>an</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>from</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistake</b> <b>in</b> <b>choosing</b> <b>his</b> <b>heir</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>little</b> <b>thought</b> <b>how</b> <b>important</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>prove</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>right</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>much</b> <b>longer</b>; <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>sake</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>others</b>, <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>behind</b> <b>you</b>. <b>That</b> <b>name</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b>, <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b> <b>travelling</b> <b>name</b> <b>now</b>. <b>When</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>, <b>go</b> <b>as</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b>, <b>and</b> <b>who</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>by</b> <b>your</b> <b>side</b>—<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>into</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>perils</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>companion</b>, <b>be</b> <b>careful</b> <b>in</b> <b>choosing</b>! <b>And</b> <b>be</b> <b>careful</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>, <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>closest</b> <b>friends</b>! <b>The</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>many</b> <b>spies</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>hearing</b>.”<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>listening</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>became</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>quiet</b>, <b>inside</b> <b>and</b> <b>outside</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>crept</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>dart</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>sill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>arm</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>downwards</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>squawk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>came</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>’<b>s</b> <b>curly</b> <b>head</b> <b>hauled</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>ear</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>well</b>, <b>bless</b> <b>my</b> <b>beard</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Now</b> <b>what</b> <b>may</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>doing</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Lor</b> <b>bless</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Nothing</b>! <b>Leastways</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>trimming</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>-<b>border</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>follow</b> <b>me</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>shears</b> <b>and</b> <b>exhibited</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>evidence</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>grimly</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>last</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>shears</b>. <b>How</b> <b>long</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>been</b> <b>eavesdropping</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Eavesdropping</b>, <b>sir</b>? <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>follow</b> <b>you</b>, <b>begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>. <b>There</b> <b>ain</b>’<b>t</b> <b>no</b> <b>eaves</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>fact</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>fool</b>! <b>What</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>why</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>listen</b>?” <b>Gandalf</b>’<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>brows</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>out</b> <b>like</b> <b>bristles</b>.<br>
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“<b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>quaking</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>me</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>turn</b> <b>me</b> <b>into</b> <b>anything</b> <b>unnatural</b>! <b>My</b> <b>old</b> <b>dad</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>on</b> <b>so</b>. <b>I</b> <b>meant</b> <b>no</b> <b>harm</b>, <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>honour</b>, <b>sir</b>!”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>hardly</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>from</b> <b>laughing</b>, <b>although</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>himself</b> <b>startled</b> <b>and</b> <b>rather</b> <b>puzzled</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>knows</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b>, <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>no</b> <b>harm</b>. <b>But</b> <b>just</b> <b>you</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>answer</b> <b>his</b> <b>questions</b> <b>straight</b> <b>away</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>sir</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>dithering</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>deal</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>rightly</b> <b>understand</b>, <b>about</b> <b>an</b> <b>enemy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dragons</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>fiery</b> <b>mountain</b>, <b>and</b>—<b>and</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>I</b> <b>listened</b> <b>because</b> <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>help</b> <b>myself</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>. <b>Lor</b> <b>bless</b> <b>me</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>love</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>sort</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>them</b> <b>too</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>Ted</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b>. <b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>dearly</b> <b>love</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>?”<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>inside</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>shouted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>putting</b> <b>out</b> <b>both</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>he</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>the</b> <b>astonished</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>shears</b>, <b>grass</b>-<b>clippings</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>, <b>right</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. “<b>Take</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>eh</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>eyeing</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>closely</b>, <b>but</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b> <b>flickering</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>you</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>is</b> <b>going</b> <b>away</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>did</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>why</b> <b>I</b> <b>choked</b>: <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>heard</b> <b>seemingly</b>. <b>I</b> <b>tried</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>burst</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b>: <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>upset</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>helped</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sadly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>realized</b> <b>that</b> <b>flying</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>would</b> <b>mean</b> <b>more</b> <b>painful</b> <b>partings</b> <b>than</b> <b>merely</b> <b>saying</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>familiar</b> <b>comforts</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>. <b>But</b>”—<b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>hard</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b>—“<b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>care</b> <b>about</b> <b>me</b>, <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>keep</b> <b>that</b> <b>dead</b> <b>secret</b>. <b>See</b>? <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>even</b> <b>breathe</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>here</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>will</b> <b>turn</b> <b>you</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>spotted</b> <b>toad</b> <b>and</b> <b>fill</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b>-<b>snakes</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>, <b>trembling</b>. “<b>Get</b> <b>up</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>something</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>that</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>to</b> <b>shut</b> <b>your</b> <b>mouth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>punish</b> <b>you</b> <b>properly</b> <b>for</b> <b>listening</b>. <b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>away</b> <b>with</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Me</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>dog</b> <b>invited</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>walk</b>. “<b>Me</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>! <b>Hooray</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>shouted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>burst</b> <b>into</b> <b>tears</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 3<br>
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<b>THREE</b> <b>IS</b> <b>COMPANY</b><br>
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<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>quietly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>soon</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>or</b> <b>three</b> <b>weeks</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>getting</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>both</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>objected</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>just</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>like</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>in</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>you</b> <b>mustn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>vanish</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>wouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>! <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>soon</b>, <b>not</b> <b>instantly</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>without</b> <b>its</b> <b>being</b> <b>generally</b> <b>known</b>, <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>worth</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>delay</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>delay</b> <b>too</b> <b>long</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>autumn</b>, <b>on</b> <b>or</b> <b>after</b> <b>Our</b> <b>Birthday</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>probably</b> <b>make</b> <b>some</b> <b>arrangements</b> <b>by</b> <b>then</b>.”<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>tell</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>reluctant</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b>, <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b>. <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>a</b> <b>more</b> <b>desirable</b> <b>residence</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>for</b> <b>years</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>savour</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>last</b> <b>summer</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>When</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>came</b>, <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>part</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>would</b> <b>think</b> <b>more</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>of</b> <b>journeying</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>always</b> <b>did</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>season</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>privately</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>fiftieth</b> <b>birthday</b>: <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>one</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>twenty</b>-<b>eighth</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>the</b> <b>proper</b> <b>day</b> <b>on</b> <b>which</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>follow</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Following</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>uppermost</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>bearable</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>as</b> <b>little</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>lead</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>What</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>was</b> <b>always</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b>—<b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>any</b> <b>later</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>getting</b> <b>very</b> <b>anxious</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>mean</b>-<b>while</b>, <b>do</b> <b>take</b> <b>care</b>, <b>and</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>out</b> <b>any</b> <b>hint</b> <b>of</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b>! <b>And</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b>, <b>I</b> <b>really</b> <b>shall</b> <b>turn</b> <b>him</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>toad</b>.”<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>that</b> <b>away</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>clear</b> <b>idea</b> <b>myself</b>, <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>absurd</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>warning</b> <b>you</b> <b>against</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>an</b> <b>address</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>post</b>-<b>office</b>! <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>—<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>known</b>, <b>until</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b>, <b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>, <b>either</b> <b>North</b>, <b>South</b>, <b>West</b> <b>or</b> <b>East</b>—<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>should</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>known</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>so</b> <b>taken</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>saying</b> <b>farewell</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>even</b> <b>considered</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>where</b> <b>am</b> <b>I</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>? <b>And</b> <b>by</b> <b>what</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>steer</b>? <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>my</b> <b>quest</b>? <b>Bilbo</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>treasure</b>, <b>there</b> <b>and</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>lose</b> <b>one</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>return</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>see</b> <b>very</b> <b>far</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Neither</b> <b>can</b> <b>I</b>. <b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>your</b> <b>task</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Cracks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Doom</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>quest</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>for</b> <b>others</b>: <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>. <b>At</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>indeed</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>meantime</b> <b>what</b> <b>course</b> <b>am</b> <b>I</b> <b>to</b> <b>lake</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Towards</b> <b>danger</b>; <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>rashly</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>too</b> <b>straight</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>my</b> <b>advice</b>, <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>That</b> <b>journey</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>prove</b> <b>too</b> <b>perilous</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>is</b> <b>less</b> <b>easy</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>grow</b> <b>worse</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>fails</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Rivendell</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Very</b> <b>good</b>: <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>east</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>to</b> <b>visit</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>; <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>delighted</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>lightly</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>moved</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>Halfelven</b>, <b>and</b> <b>breathe</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>deep</b> <b>valley</b> <b>where</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fair</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>still</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>.<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>summer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>evening</b> <b>an</b> <b>astonishing</b> <b>piece</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ivy</b> <b>Bush</b> <b>and</b> <b>Green</b> <b>Dragon</b>. <b>Giants</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>portents</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>were</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>important</b> <b>matters</b>: <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>selling</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>indeed</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>sold</b> <b>it</b>—<b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>!<br>
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“<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>bit</b>, <b>loo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>some</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>a</b> <b>bargain</b> <b>price</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>others</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>likely</b> <b>when</b> <b>Mistress</b> <b>Lobelia</b>’<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>buyer</b>.” (<b>Otho</b> <b>had</b> <b>died</b> <b>some</b> <b>years</b> <b>before</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>ripe</b> <b>but</b> <b>disappointed</b> <b>age</b> <b>of</b> 102.)<br>
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<b>Just</b> <b>why</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>selling</b> <b>his</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>hole</b> <b>was</b> <b>even</b> <b>more</b> <b>debatable</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>price</b>. <b>A</b> <b>few</b> <b>held</b> <b>the</b> <b>theory</b>—<b>supported</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>nods</b> <b>and</b> <b>hints</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>himself</b>—<b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>money</b> <b>was</b> <b>running</b> <b>out</b>: <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>and</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>way</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>proceeds</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sale</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>among</b> <b>his</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>relations</b>. “<b>As</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>as</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>,” <b>some</b> <b>added</b>. <b>But</b> <b>so</b> <b>firmly</b> <b>fixed</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>notion</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>immeasurable</b> <b>wealth</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bagginses</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>become</b> <b>that</b> <b>most</b> <b>found</b> <b>this</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>believe</b>, <b>harder</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>reason</b> <b>or</b> <b>unreason</b> <b>that</b> <b>their</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>could</b> <b>suggest</b>: <b>to</b> <b>most</b> <b>it</b> <b>suggested</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>unrevealed</b> <b>plot</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>himself</b> <b>very</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>about</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>known</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> “<b>hiding</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>”. <b>But</b> <b>however</b> <b>a</b> <b>removal</b> <b>might</b> <b>fit</b> <b>in</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>designs</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>wizardry</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>fact</b>: <b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>moving</b> <b>this</b> <b>autumn</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Merry</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>is</b> <b>looking</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>little</b> <b>hole</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>, <b>or</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>house</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>fact</b> <b>with</b> <b>Merry</b>’<b>s</b> <b>help</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>and</b> <b>bought</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>house</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>Bucklebury</b>. <b>To</b> <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>he</b> <b>pretended</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>settle</b> <b>down</b> <b>there</b> <b>permanently</b>. <b>The</b> <b>decision</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>eastwards</b> <b>had</b> <b>suggested</b> <b>the</b> <b>idea</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>lived</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>childhood</b> <b>his</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> <b>would</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>seem</b> <b>credible</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>for</b> <b>over</b> <b>two</b> <b>months</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>one</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>June</b>, <b>soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>plan</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>finally</b> <b>arranged</b>, <b>he</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>announced</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>off</b> <b>again</b> <b>next</b> <b>morning</b>. “<b>Only</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>while</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>down</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>borders</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>some</b> <b>news</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>idle</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>lightly</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>rather</b> <b>worried</b>. “<b>Has</b> <b>anything</b> <b>happened</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>no</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>made</b> <b>me</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>and</b> <b>needs</b> <b>looking</b> <b>into</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>necessary</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>immediately</b>, <b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>send</b> <b>word</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b> <b>stick</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>plan</b>; <b>but</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>careful</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>impress</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>: <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>use</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>dawn</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>back</b> <b>any</b> <b>day</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>latest</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>party</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>need</b> <b>my</b> <b>company</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>disturbed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>often</b> <b>what</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>uneasiness</b> <b>wore</b> <b>off</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fine</b> <b>weather</b> <b>he</b> <b>forgot</b> <b>his</b> <b>troubles</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>had</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>seen</b> <b>so</b> <b>fair</b> <b>a</b> <b>summer</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>rich</b> <b>an</b> <b>autumn</b>: <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>apples</b>, <b>honey</b> <b>was</b> <b>dripping</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>combs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>corn</b> <b>was</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>full</b>.<br>
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<b>Autumn</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>under</b> <b>way</b> <b>before</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>again</b>. <b>September</b> <b>was</b> <b>passing</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>no</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Birthday</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>removal</b>, <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b>, <b>or</b> <b>send</b> <b>word</b>. <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>busy</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>friends</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>and</b> <b>help</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>packing</b>: <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>Fredegar</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>and</b> <b>Folco</b> <b>Boffin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>course</b> <b>his</b> <b>special</b> <b>friends</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>Took</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>. <b>Between</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>place</b> <b>upside</b>-<b>down</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>September</b> 20<b>th</b> <b>two</b> <b>covered</b> <b>carts</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>laden</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>conveying</b> <b>the</b> <b>furniture</b> <b>and</b> <b>goods</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>sold</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>new</b> <b>home</b>, <b>by</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>became</b> <b>really</b> <b>anxious</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>a</b> <b>constant</b> <b>look</b>-<b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Thursday</b>, <b>his</b> <b>birthday</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>dawned</b> <b>as</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>for</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>great</b> <b>party</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>appear</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>his</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>feast</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>small</b>, <b>just</b> <b>a</b> <b>dinner</b> <b>for</b> <b>himself</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>four</b> <b>helpers</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>in</b> <b>no</b> <b>mood</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>so</b> <b>soon</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>part</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>young</b> <b>friends</b> <b>weighed</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>how</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>break</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>four</b> <b>younger</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>in</b> <b>high</b> <b>spirits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b> <b>soon</b> <b>became</b> <b>very</b> <b>cheerful</b> <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>’<b>s</b> <b>absence</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dining</b>-<b>room</b> <b>was</b> <b>bare</b> <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b> <b>and</b> <b>chairs</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>was</b> <b>good</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>good</b> <b>wine</b>: <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>wine</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>included</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sale</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>.<br>
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“<b>Whatever</b> <b>happens</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>stuff</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>S</b>.-<b>B</b>.<b>s</b> <b>get</b> <b>their</b> <b>claws</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>, <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>home</b> <b>for</b> <b>this</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>drained</b> <b>his</b> <b>glass</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>drop</b> <b>of</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Winyards</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>sung</b> <b>many</b> <b>songs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>talked</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b> <b>together</b>, <b>they</b> <b>toasted</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>birthday</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>drank</b> <b>his</b> <b>health</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>together</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>custom</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>sniff</b> <b>of</b> <b>air</b>, <b>and</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>party</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>morning</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>busy</b> <b>packing</b> <b>another</b> <b>cart</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>remainder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>luggage</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>took</b> <b>charge</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drove</b> <b>off</b> <b>with</b> <b>Fatty</b> (<b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>Fredegar</b> <b>Bolger</b>). “<b>Someone</b> <b>must</b> <b>get</b> <b>there</b> <b>and</b> <b>warm</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>arrive</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>later</b>—<b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>after</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>!”<br>
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<b>Folco</b> <b>went</b> <b>home</b> <b>after</b> <b>lunch</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>remained</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>restless</b> <b>and</b> <b>anxious</b>, <b>listening</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>until</b> <b>nightfall</b>. <b>After</b> <b>that</b>, <b>if</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>him</b> <b>urgently</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>might</b> <b>even</b> <b>get</b> <b>there</b> <b>first</b>. <b>For</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b>. <b>His</b> <b>plan</b>—<b>for</b> <b>pleasure</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>reason</b>—<b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>Ferry</b>, <b>taking</b> <b>it</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>easy</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>get</b> <b>myself</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>into</b> <b>training</b>, <b>too</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>himself</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dusty</b> <b>mirror</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>half</b>-<b>empty</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>done</b> <b>any</b> <b>strenuous</b> <b>walking</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>reflection</b> <b>looked</b> <b>rather</b> <b>flabby</b>, <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>lunch</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>, <b>Lobelia</b> <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>sandy</b>-<b>haired</b> <b>son</b>, <b>Lotho</b>, <b>turned</b> <b>up</b>, <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>annoyance</b>. “<b>Ours</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Lobelia</b>, <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>inside</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>polite</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>strictly</b> <b>true</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>sale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>effect</b> <b>until</b> <b>midnight</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Lobelia</b> <b>can</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>be</b> <b>forgiven</b>: <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>about</b> <b>seventy</b>-<b>seven</b> <b>years</b> <b>longer</b> <b>for</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>than</b> <b>she</b> <b>once</b> <b>hoped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>years</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Anyway</b>, <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>paid</b> <b>for</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>carried</b> <b>off</b>; <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>the</b> <b>keys</b>. <b>It</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>to</b> <b>satisfy</b> <b>her</b>, <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>a</b> <b>complete</b> <b>inventory</b> <b>with</b> <b>her</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>right</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>she</b> <b>departed</b> <b>with</b> <b>Lotho</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>spare</b> <b>key</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>promise</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>key</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>left</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gamgees</b>” <b>in</b> <b>Bagshot</b> <b>Row</b>. <b>She</b> <b>snorted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>showed</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gamgees</b> <b>capable</b> <b>of</b> <b>plundering</b> <b>the</b> <b>hole</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>offer</b> <b>her</b> <b>any</b> <b>tea</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>tea</b> <b>with</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>kitchen</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>officially</b> <b>announced</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b> “<b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>for</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>look</b> <b>after</b> <b>his</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>garden</b>”; <b>an</b> <b>arrangement</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>approved</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>console</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>prospect</b> <b>of</b> <b>having</b> <b>Lobelia</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>neighbour</b>.<br>
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“<b>Our</b> <b>last</b> <b>meal</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>pushing</b> <b>back</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>. <b>They</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>washing</b> <b>up</b> <b>for</b> <b>Lobelia</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>strapped</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>three</b> <b>packs</b> <b>and</b> <b>piled</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>porch</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>stroll</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>disappeared</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>sad</b> <b>and</b> <b>gloomy</b> <b>and</b> <b>dishevelled</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>familiar</b> <b>rooms</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunset</b> <b>fade</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>creep</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>corners</b>. <b>It</b> <b>grew</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>dark</b> <b>indoors</b>. <b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>way</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>He</b> <b>half</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>come</b> <b>striding</b> <b>up</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>growing</b> <b>bright</b>. “<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>fine</b> <b>night</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>aloud</b>. “<b>That</b>’<b>s</b> <b>good</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>beginning</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>like</b> <b>walking</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>bear</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>about</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>must</b> <b>follow</b> <b>me</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>slopped</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>just</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bagshot</b> <b>Row</b>. <b>One</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>Gaffer</b>’<b>s</b>; <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>was</b> <b>strange</b>, <b>and</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>unpleasant</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>said</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>answers</b>, <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>rather</b> <b>shrill</b>. <b>The</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Went</b> <b>this</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>went</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>: <b>anyway</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>went</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>sold</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>I</b> <b>tell</b>’<b>ee</b>. <b>Why</b>? <b>Why</b>’<b>s</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>business</b>, <b>or</b> <b>yours</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>to</b>? <b>That</b> <b>ain</b>’<b>t</b> <b>no</b> <b>secret</b>. <b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>moved</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>or</b> <b>some</b> <b>such</b> <b>place</b>, <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>yonder</b>. <b>Yes</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>—<b>a</b> <b>tidy</b> <b>way</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>myself</b>; <b>they</b>’<b>re</b> <b>queer</b> <b>folks</b> <b>in</b> <b>Buckland</b>. <b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>give</b> <b>no</b> <b>message</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>!”<br>
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<b>Footsteps</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>vaguely</b> <b>why</b> <b>the</b> <b>fact</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>relief</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sick</b> <b>of</b> <b>questions</b> <b>and</b> <b>curiosity</b> <b>about</b> <b>my</b> <b>doings</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>an</b> <b>inquisitive</b> <b>lot</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>are</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>ask</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>who</b> <b>the</b> <b>inquirer</b> <b>was</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>better</b> (<b>or</b> <b>worse</b>) <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>pack</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>porch</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>Sam</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>Sam</b>! <b>Time</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Coming</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>answer</b> <b>from</b> <b>far</b> <b>within</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>soon</b> <b>by</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>wiping</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>saying</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>beer</b>-<b>barrel</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cellar</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>aboard</b>, <b>Sam</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>last</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>now</b>, <b>sir</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>shut</b> <b>and</b> <b>locked</b> <b>the</b> <b>round</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>the</b> <b>key</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Run</b> <b>down</b> <b>with</b> <b>this</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>home</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>cut</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Row</b> <b>and</b> <b>meet</b> <b>us</b> <b>as</b> <b>quick</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>meadows</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b> <b>tonight</b>. <b>Too</b> <b>many</b> <b>ears</b> <b>pricking</b> <b>and</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>prying</b>.” <b>Sam</b> <b>ran</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>full</b> <b>speed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>now</b> <b>we</b>’<b>re</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>They</b> <b>shouldered</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>sticks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. “<b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>blank</b> <b>windows</b>. <b>He</b> <b>waved</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> (<b>following</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>known</b> <b>it</b>) <b>hurried</b> <b>after</b> <b>Peregrin</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>-<b>path</b>. <b>They</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>low</b> <b>place</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b>, <b>passing</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>rustle</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grasses</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>western</b> <b>side</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>opening</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>lane</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>adjusted</b> <b>the</b> <b>straps</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b>. <b>Presently</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>appeared</b>, <b>trotting</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>breathing</b> <b>hard</b>; <b>his</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>pack</b> <b>was</b> <b>hoisted</b> <b>high</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>shapeless</b> <b>fell</b> <b>bag</b>, <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>a</b> <b>hat</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>dwarf</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>given</b> <b>me</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>heaviest</b> <b>stuff</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>pity</b> <b>snails</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>carry</b> <b>their</b> <b>homes</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>more</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>My</b> <b>packet</b> <b>is</b> <b>quite</b> <b>light</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>stoutly</b> <b>and</b> <b>untruthfully</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>good</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>got</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>except</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>ordered</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>pack</b>. <b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>slack</b> <b>lately</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>feel</b> <b>the</b> <b>weight</b> <b>less</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>walked</b> <b>off</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Be</b> <b>kind</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>!” <b>laughed</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>as</b> <b>thin</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>wand</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>sure</b>, <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>talking</b> <b>nonsense</b>. <b>I</b> <b>suspect</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>taken</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>your</b> <b>share</b>, <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>look</b> <b>into</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>our</b> <b>next</b> <b>packing</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>stick</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>we</b> <b>all</b> <b>like</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>so</b> <b>let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>put</b> <b>some</b> <b>miles</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b> <b>before</b> <b>bed</b>.”<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>way</b> <b>they</b> <b>followed</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>westwards</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>it</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>single</b> <b>file</b> <b>along</b> <b>hedgerows</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>coppices</b>, <b>and</b> <b>night</b> <b>fell</b> <b>dark</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>In</b> <b>their</b> <b>dark</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>as</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>had</b> <b>magic</b> <b>rings</b>. <b>Since</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>noise</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>would</b> <b>hear</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>things</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>woods</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>their</b> <b>passing</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b>, <b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>, <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>plank</b>-<b>bridge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>stream</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>winding</b> <b>black</b> <b>ribbon</b>, <b>bordered</b> <b>with</b> <b>leaning</b> <b>alder</b>-<b>trees</b>. <b>A</b> <b>mile</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>further</b> <b>south</b> <b>they</b> <b>hastily</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>road</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>; <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tookland</b> <b>and</b> <b>bending</b> <b>south</b>-<b>eastwards</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Green</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>Country</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>its</b> <b>first</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>valley</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>it</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>folds</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkened</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bywater</b> <b>beside</b> <b>its</b> <b>grey</b> <b>pool</b>. <b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>farm</b> <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>peeping</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>waved</b> <b>a</b> <b>hand</b> <b>in</b> <b>farewell</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>ever</b> <b>look</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>that</b> <b>valley</b> <b>again</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>quietly</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>walked</b> <b>for</b> <b>about</b> <b>three</b> <b>hours</b> <b>they</b> <b>rested</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>cool</b>, <b>and</b> <b>starry</b>, <b>but</b> <b>smoke</b>-<b>like</b> <b>wisps</b> <b>of</b> <b>mist</b> <b>were</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>sides</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>streams</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b> <b>meadows</b>. <b>Thin</b>-<b>clad</b> <b>birches</b>, <b>swaying</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>wind</b> <b>above</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>, <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>net</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>They</b> <b>ate</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>frugal</b> <b>supper</b> (<b>for</b> <b>hobbits</b>), <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>struck</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>road</b>, <b>that</b> <b>went</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b>, <b>fading</b> <b>grey</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>ahead</b>: <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>to</b> <b>Woodhall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Stock</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>Ferry</b>. <b>It</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>road</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b>-<b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wound</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>skirts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Green</b> <b>Hills</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Woody</b>-<b>End</b>, <b>a</b> <b>wild</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>cloven</b> <b>track</b> <b>between</b> <b>tall</b> <b>trees</b> <b>that</b> <b>rustled</b> <b>their</b> <b>dry</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>they</b> <b>talked</b>, <b>or</b> <b>hummed</b> <b>a</b> <b>tune</b> <b>softly</b> <b>together</b>, <b>being</b> <b>now</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>inquisitive</b> <b>ears</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>marched</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>lag</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>he</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>and</b> <b>yawned</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>so</b> <b>sleepy</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>soon</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>fall</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. <b>Are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>legs</b>? <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>midnight</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>liked</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>great</b> <b>hurry</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>expects</b> <b>us</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>after</b> <b>tomorrow</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>us</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>two</b> <b>days</b> <b>more</b>. <b>We</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>halt</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>likely</b> <b>spot</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>wind</b>’<b>s</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>spot</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>sheltered</b> <b>and</b> <b>snug</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>dry</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>wood</b> <b>just</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>rightly</b>.” <b>Sam</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>well</b> <b>within</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>, <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>limit</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>geography</b>.<br>
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<b>Just</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>patch</b> <b>of</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>wood</b>. <b>Leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>resin</b>-<b>scented</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>dead</b> <b>sticks</b> <b>and</b> <b>cones</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>crackle</b> <b>of</b> <b>flame</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>round</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>nod</b>. <b>Then</b>, <b>each</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>angle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>tree</b>’<b>s</b> <b>roots</b>, <b>they</b> <b>curled</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>and</b> <b>blankets</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>soon</b> <b>fast</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>They</b> <b>set</b> <b>no</b> <b>watch</b>; <b>even</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>feared</b> <b>no</b> <b>danger</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>A</b> <b>few</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>had</b> <b>died</b> <b>away</b>. <b>A</b> <b>fox</b> <b>passing</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>on</b> <b>business</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>several</b> <b>minutes</b> <b>and</b> <b>sniffed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hobbits</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>what</b> <b>next</b>? <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>strange</b> <b>doings</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>sleeping</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>doors</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>! <b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>something</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>queer</b> <b>behind</b> <b>this</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>right</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>never</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>came</b>, <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>clammy</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>up</b> <b>first</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>root</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b> <b>was</b> <b>stiff</b>.<br>
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“<b>Walking</b> <b>for</b> <b>pleasure</b>! <b>Why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>I</b> <b>drive</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>usually</b> <b>did</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>expedition</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>feather</b> <b>beds</b> <b>are</b> <b>sold</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>! <b>These</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>roots</b> <b>would</b> <b>do</b> <b>them</b> <b>good</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>stretched</b>. “<b>Wake</b> <b>up</b>, <b>hobbits</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>morning</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b>’<b>s</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>peering</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>blanket</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>eye</b>. “<b>Sam</b>! <b>Gel</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>half</b>-<b>past</b> <b>nine</b>! <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>got</b> <b>the</b> <b>bath</b>-<b>water</b> <b>hot</b>?”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>up</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>rather</b> <b>bleary</b>. “<b>No</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>I</b> <b>haven</b>’<b>t</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>stripped</b> <b>the</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>from</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>him</b> <b>over</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>walked</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>rising</b> <b>red</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>thick</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Touched</b> <b>with</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>red</b> <b>the</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>trees</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>sailing</b> <b>rootless</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>sea</b>. <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>below</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappeared</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>had</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>fire</b> <b>going</b>. “<b>Water</b>!” <b>shouted</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Where</b>’<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>pockets</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>busy</b> <b>setting</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cups</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>go</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>come</b> <b>too</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>bring</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>-<b>bottles</b>.” <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>stream</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>They</b> <b>filled</b> <b>their</b> <b>bottles</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>camping</b> <b>kettle</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>fall</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>fell</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>feet</b> <b>over</b> <b>an</b> <b>outcrop</b> <b>of</b> <b>grey</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>icy</b> <b>cold</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>spluttered</b> <b>and</b> <b>puffed</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>bathed</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b> <b>and</b> <b>hands</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>their</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>all</b> <b>trussed</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>after</b> <b>ten</b> <b>o</b>’<b>clock</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>fine</b> <b>and</b> <b>hot</b>. <b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>dived</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>another</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>; <b>and</b> <b>by</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>their</b> <b>cloaks</b>, <b>blankets</b>, <b>water</b>, <b>food</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>gear</b> <b>already</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>burden</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>day</b>’<b>s</b> <b>march</b> <b>promised</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>tiring</b> <b>work</b>. <b>After</b> <b>some</b> <b>miles</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>ceased</b> <b>to</b> <b>roll</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b>: <b>it</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>bank</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>weary</b> <b>zig</b>-<b>zagging</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>time</b>. <b>In</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>lands</b> <b>dotted</b> <b>with</b> <b>small</b> <b>clumps</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>that</b> <b>melted</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>brown</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>haze</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>looking</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>Woody</b> <b>End</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>River</b>. <b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>wound</b> <b>away</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>piece</b> <b>of</b> <b>string</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>rest</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>high</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>lunch</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>away</b> <b>east</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>haze</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>which</b> <b>lay</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>spent</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>life</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>stood</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b>. <b>His</b> <b>round</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>wide</b> <b>open</b>—<b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>across</b> <b>lands</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>horizon</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>woods</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>ever</b> <b>heard</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>He</b> <b>too</b> <b>was</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>it</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>aloud</b> <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>slowly</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>goes</b> <b>ever</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b><br>
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<b>Down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b>.<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>follow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>,<br>
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<b>Pursuing</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>weary</b> <b>feet</b>,<br>
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<b>Until</b> <b>it</b> <b>joins</b> <b>some</b> <b>larger</b> <b>way</b>,<br>
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<b>Where</b> <b>many</b> <b>paths</b> <b>and</b> <b>errands</b> <b>meet</b>.<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>whither</b> <b>then</b>? <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>say</b>.<br>
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<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>rhyming</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Or</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>imitations</b>? <b>It</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>sound</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>encouraging</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>It</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>then</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>making</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>Certainly</b> <b>it</b> <b>reminds</b> <b>me</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>years</b>, <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b>. <b>He</b> <b>used</b> <b>often</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>Road</b>; <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>river</b>: <b>its</b> <b>springs</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>every</b> <b>doorstep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>every</b> <b>path</b> <b>was</b> <b>its</b> <b>tributary</b>. “<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>business</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>going</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>door</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>step</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>your</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>swept</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>realize</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>goes</b> <b>through</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>let</b> <b>it</b>, <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>take</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lonely</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>further</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>worse</b> <b>places</b>?” <b>He</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>front</b> <b>door</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>after</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>walk</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>sweep</b> <b>me</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>for</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>unslinging</b> <b>his</b> <b>pack</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>followed</b> <b>his</b> <b>example</b>, <b>putting</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>legs</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>rest</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>lunch</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>more</b> <b>rest</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>low</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>So</b> <b>far</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>met</b> <b>a</b> <b>soul</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. <b>This</b> <b>way</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>used</b>, <b>being</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>fit</b> <b>for</b> <b>carts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>little</b> <b>traffic</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Woody</b> <b>End</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>jogging</b> <b>along</b> <b>again</b> <b>for</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>or</b> <b>more</b> <b>when</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>listening</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>on</b> <b>level</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>after</b> <b>much</b> <b>winding</b> <b>lay</b> <b>straight</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>through</b> <b>grass</b>-<b>land</b> <b>sprinkled</b> <b>with</b> <b>tall</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>outliers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>approaching</b> <b>woods</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>hear</b> <b>a</b> <b>pony</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>horse</b> <b>coming</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>behind</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>turn</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>prevented</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>far</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>coming</b> <b>after</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>but</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>it</b>, <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>hide</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>view</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rider</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>matter</b> <b>much</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>apologetically</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>rather</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>—<b>by</b> <b>anyone</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sick</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>doings</b> <b>being</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>and</b> <b>discussed</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>as</b> <b>an</b> <b>afterthought</b>, “<b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>give</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>surprise</b>, <b>to</b> <b>pay</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>being</b> <b>so</b> <b>late</b>. <b>Let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>two</b> <b>ran</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>lay</b> <b>flat</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>hesitated</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b>: <b>curiosity</b> <b>or</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>was</b> <b>struggling</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>hide</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>threw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>patch</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>grass</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b> <b>that</b> <b>overshadowed</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>peered</b> <b>cautiously</b> <b>above</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>roots</b>.<br>
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<b>Round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>horse</b>, <b>no</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>pony</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>full</b>-<b>sized</b> <b>horse</b>; <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>sat</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>man</b>, <b>who</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>crouch</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>saddle</b>, <b>wrapped</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>black</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>and</b> <b>hood</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>his</b> <b>boots</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>stirrups</b> <b>showed</b> <b>below</b>; <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>shadowed</b> <b>and</b> <b>invisible</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>it</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>level</b> <b>with</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>stopped</b>. <b>The</b> <b>riding</b> <b>figure</b> <b>sat</b> <b>quite</b> <b>still</b> <b>with</b> <b>its</b> <b>head</b> <b>bowed</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>listening</b>. <b>From</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>hood</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>someone</b> <b>sniffing</b> <b>to</b> <b>catch</b> <b>an</b> <b>elusive</b> <b>scent</b>; <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>turned</b> <b>from</b> <b>side</b> <b>to</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>unreasoning</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>discovery</b> <b>laid</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>He</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>breathe</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>the</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b> <b>became</b> <b>so</b> <b>strong</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>to</b> <b>move</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>slip</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b>. <b>The</b> <b>advice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>absurd</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>used</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>touched</b> <b>the</b> <b>chain</b> <b>on</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>hung</b>. <b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>rider</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shook</b> <b>the</b> <b>reins</b>. <b>The</b> <b>horse</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>walking</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>breaking</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>quick</b> <b>trot</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>crawled</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>watched</b> <b>the</b> <b>rider</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>dwindled</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>quite</b> <b>sure</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>call</b> <b>that</b> <b>very</b> <b>queer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>disturbing</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>towards</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>remained</b> <b>flat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>nothing</b>; <b>so</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>described</b> <b>the</b> <b>rider</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>strange</b> <b>behaviour</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>say</b> <b>why</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>certain</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>or</b> <b>smelling</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>; <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>certain</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>want</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>discover</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>fell</b> <b>anything</b> <b>like</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>before</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b> <b>doing</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>?”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b> <b>Men</b> <b>about</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Southfarthing</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>with</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b>, <b>I</b> <b>believe</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>rider</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>from</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>,” <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>suddenly</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>from</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>here</b> <b>black</b> <b>rider</b> <b>comes</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>there</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>one</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sharply</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>astonishment</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>speak</b> <b>up</b> <b>before</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>only</b> <b>just</b> <b>remembered</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b>: <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>hole</b> <b>yesterday</b> <b>evening</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>key</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dad</b>, <b>he</b> <b>says</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>: <b>Hello</b>, <b>Sam</b>! <b>he</b> <b>says</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>away</b> <b>with</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>this</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>customer</b> <b>asking</b> <b>for</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>only</b> <b>just</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>sent</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bucklebury</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>liked</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>told</b> <b>him</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>home</b> <b>for</b> <b>good</b>. <b>Hissed</b> <b>at</b> <b>me</b>, <b>he</b> <b>did</b>. <b>It</b> <b>gave</b> <b>me</b> <b>quite</b> <b>a</b> <b>shudder</b>. <b>What</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>was</b> <b>he</b>? <b>says</b> <b>I</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b>, <b>says</b> <b>he</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>black</b>-<b>like</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>aver</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>from</b> <b>foreign</b> <b>parts</b>. <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>funny</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>stay</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>more</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>waiting</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>give</b> <b>much</b> <b>heed</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b> <b>myself</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>is</b> <b>getting</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>blind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>near</b> <b>dark</b> <b>when</b> <b>this</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>come</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b> <b>taking</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>Row</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>he</b> <b>hasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>done</b> <b>no</b> <b>harm</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>blamed</b> <b>anyway</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>As</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>fact</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>him</b> <b>talking</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>stranger</b>, <b>who</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>inquiring</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>went</b> <b>and</b> <b>asked</b> <b>him</b> <b>who</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b>, <b>or</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>before</b>. <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>more</b> <b>careful</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Still</b>, <b>there</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>connexion</b> <b>between</b> <b>this</b> <b>rider</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>stranger</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>left</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>secretly</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>how</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>followed</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>smelling</b>, <b>sir</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gaffer</b> <b>said</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>chap</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>waited</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>Frodo</b> <b>muttered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>only</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>matters</b> <b>worse</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>or</b> <b>guess</b> <b>something</b> <b>about</b> <b>this</b> <b>rider</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>caught</b> <b>the</b> <b>muttered</b> <b>words</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>rather</b> <b>not</b> <b>guess</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>right</b>, <b>cousin</b> <b>Frodo</b>! <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>keep</b> <b>your</b> <b>secret</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>mysterious</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b> <b>what</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>? <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bite</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>sup</b>, <b>but</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>move</b> <b>on</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>talk</b> <b>of</b> <b>sniffing</b> <b>riders</b> <b>with</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>noses</b> <b>has</b> <b>unsettled</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>move</b> <b>on</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> -<b>in</b> <b>case</b> <b>that</b> <b>rider</b> <b>comes</b> <b>back</b>, <b>or</b> <b>another</b> <b>follows</b> <b>him</b>. <b>We</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>step</b> <b>more</b> <b>today</b>. <b>Buckland</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>miles</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>thin</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>started</b> <b>off</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>now</b> <b>kept</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b>’<b>s</b> <b>throw</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>hindered</b> <b>them</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>thick</b> <b>and</b> <b>tussocky</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>uneven</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>draw</b> <b>together</b> <b>into</b> <b>thickets</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>down</b> <b>red</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>evening</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>on</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>level</b> <b>over</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>run</b> <b>straight</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>miles</b>. <b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>point</b> <b>it</b> <b>bent</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lowlands</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Yale</b> <b>making</b> <b>for</b> <b>Stock</b>; <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>lane</b> <b>branched</b> <b>right</b>, <b>winding</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>wood</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>oak</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Woodhall</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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<b>Not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>-<b>meeting</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>huge</b> <b>hulk</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>alive</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>branches</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>broken</b> <b>stumps</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>long</b>-<b>fallen</b> <b>limbs</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>hollow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>entered</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>crack</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>crept</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>there</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>floor</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>and</b> <b>decayed</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>They</b> <b>rested</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>meal</b>, <b>talking</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>and</b> <b>listening</b> <b>from</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>time</b>.<br>
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<b>Twilight</b> <b>was</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>crept</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>. <b>The</b> <b>West</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>sighing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>Leaves</b> <b>were</b> <b>whispering</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>gently</b> <b>but</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b>. <b>A</b> <b>star</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkening</b> <b>East</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>abreast</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>step</b>, <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>spirits</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>grew</b> <b>thicker</b> <b>and</b> <b>brighter</b>, <b>the</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>disquiet</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>listened</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b>. <b>They</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>hum</b> <b>softly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>doing</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>walk</b> <b>along</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>home</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>. <b>With</b> <b>most</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>supper</b>-<b>song</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>bed</b>-<b>song</b>; <b>but</b> <b>these</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>hummed</b> <b>a</b> <b>walking</b>-<b>song</b> (<b>though</b> <b>not</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>mention</b> <b>of</b> <b>supper</b> <b>and</b> <b>bed</b>). <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b>, <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>tune</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>as</b> <b>old</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>taught</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lanes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b>-<b>valley</b> <b>and</b> <b>talked</b> <b>about</b> <b>Adventure</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>is</b> <b>red</b>,<br>
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<b>Beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>bed</b>;<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>weary</b> <b>are</b> <b>our</b> <b>feet</b>,<br>
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<b>Still</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>meet</b><br>
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<b>A</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>tree</b> <b>or</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stone</b><br>
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<b>That</b> <b>none</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>alone</b>.<br>
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<b>Tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>flower</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>and</b> <b>grass</b>,<br>
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<b>Let</b> <b>them</b> <b>pass</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>them</b> <b>pass</b>!<br>
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<b>Hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>water</b> <b>under</b> <b>sky</b>,<br>
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<b>Pass</b> <b>them</b> <b>by</b>! <b>Pass</b> <b>them</b> <b>by</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>Still</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>there</b> <b>may</b> <b>wait</b><br>
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<b>A</b> <b>new</b> <b>road</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>gate</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>though</b> <b>we</b> <b>pass</b> <b>them</b> <b>by</b> <b>today</b>,<br>
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<b>Tomorrow</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>come</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b><br>
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<b>And</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>paths</b> <b>that</b> <b>run</b><br>
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<b>Towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>.<br>
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<b>Apple</b>, <b>thorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nut</b> <b>and</b> <b>sloe</b>,<br>
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<b>Let</b> <b>them</b> <b>go</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>them</b> <b>go</b>!<br>
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<b>Sand</b> <b>and</b> <b>stone</b> <b>and</b> <b>pool</b> <b>and</b> <b>dell</b>,<br>
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<b>Fare</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b>! <b>Fare</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>Home</b> <b>is</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>ahead</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>paths</b> <b>to</b> <b>tread</b><br>
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<b>Through</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b>,<br>
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<b>Until</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>alight</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>world</b> <b>behind</b> <b>and</b> <b>home</b> <b>ahead</b>,<br>
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<b>We</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>wander</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>home</b> <b>and</b> <b>bed</b>.<br>
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<b>Mist</b> <b>and</b> <b>twilight</b>, <b>cloud</b> <b>and</b> <b>shade</b>,<br>
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<b>Away</b> <b>shall</b> <b>fade</b>! <b>Away</b> <b>shall</b> <b>fade</b>!<br>
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<b>Fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>lamp</b>, <b>and</b> <b>meat</b> <b>and</b> <b>bread</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>! <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>song</b> <b>ended</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>! <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>!” <b>sang</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>voice</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hush</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>slopped</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>as</b> <b>silent</b> <b>as</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>shadows</b>, <b>listening</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>, <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>but</b> <b>coming</b> <b>slow</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>Quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>they</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>shade</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>oak</b>-<b>trees</b>.<br>
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“<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b> <b>too</b> <b>far</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rider</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>forget</b> <b>the</b> <b>sniffing</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>any</b> <b>hiding</b>-<b>place</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>general</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>crouched</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>bole</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>crept</b> <b>back</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>yards</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>. <b>It</b> <b>showed</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>pale</b>, <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>fading</b> <b>light</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>Above</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>thick</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>moon</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>stopped</b>. <b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>watched</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>something</b> <b>dark</b> <b>pass</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>lighter</b> <b>space</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>halt</b>. <b>It</b> <b>looked</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>shade</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>horse</b> <b>led</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>smaller</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadow</b>. <b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>stood</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>swayed</b> <b>from</b> <b>side</b> <b>to</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>snuffling</b>. <b>The</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>bent</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>crawl</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>Once</b> <b>more</b> <b>the</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>slip</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>but</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>than</b> <b>before</b>. <b>So</b> <b>strong</b> <b>that</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>realized</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>doing</b>, <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>was</b> <b>groping</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>like</b> <b>mingled</b> <b>song</b> <b>and</b> <b>laughter</b>. <b>Clear</b> <b>voices</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>starlit</b> <b>air</b>. <b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>straightened</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>retreated</b>. <b>It</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>horse</b> <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>breathed</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Elves</b>!” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hoarse</b> <b>whisper</b>. “<b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>burst</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>dashed</b> <b>off</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>pulled</b> <b>him</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Yes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>Elves</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>One</b> <b>can</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Woody</b> <b>End</b>. <b>They</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>wander</b> <b>into</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>Spring</b> <b>and</b> <b>Autumn</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>lands</b> <b>away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>Hills</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>thankful</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b>! <b>You</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b>, <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rider</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>just</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>actually</b> <b>crawling</b> <b>towards</b> <b>us</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>began</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>voices</b> <b>he</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>too</b> <b>excited</b> <b>to</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>rider</b>. “<b>Can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>Listen</b>! <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b>.” <b>The</b> <b>singing</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>One</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b> <b>rose</b> <b>now</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>singing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fair</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>tongue</b>, <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>knew</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>knew</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>blending</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>melody</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>shape</b> <b>itself</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>thought</b> <b>into</b> <b>words</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>only</b> <b>partly</b> <b>understood</b>. <b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b>:<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>Snow</b>-<b>white</b>! <b>Snow</b>-<b>white</b>! <b>O</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>clear</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>O</b> <b>Queen</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Western</b> <b>Seas</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>O</b> <b>Light</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>wander</b> <b>here</b><br>
|
||
<b>Amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>of</b> <b>woven</b> <b>trees</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
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<b>Gilthoniel</b>! <b>O</b> <b>Elbereth</b>!<br>
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<b>Clear</b> <b>are</b> <b>thy</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b> <b>thy</b> <b>breath</b>!<br>
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<b>Snow</b>-<b>white</b>! <b>Snow</b>-<b>white</b>! <b>We</b> <b>sing</b> <b>to</b> <b>thee</b><br>
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<b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>far</b> <b>land</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>stars</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sunless</b> <b>Year</b><br>
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<b>With</b> <b>shining</b> <b>hand</b> <b>by</b> <b>her</b> <b>were</b> <b>sawn</b>,<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>windy</b> <b>fields</b> <b>now</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b><br>
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<b>We</b> <b>see</b> <b>your</b> <b>silver</b> <b>blossom</b> <b>blown</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>Elbereth</b>! <b>Gilthoniel</b>!<br>
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<b>We</b> <b>still</b> <b>remember</b>, <b>we</b> <b>who</b> <b>dwell</b><br>
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<b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>far</b> <b>land</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>,<br>
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<b>Thy</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Western</b> <b>Seas</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>song</b> <b>ended</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>are</b> <b>High</b> <b>Elves</b>! <b>They</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elbereth</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>amazement</b>, “<b>Few</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>fairest</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>ever</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>many</b> <b>now</b> <b>remain</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>, <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>chance</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wayside</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>They</b> <b>passed</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>hair</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>They</b> <b>bore</b> <b>no</b> <b>lights</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>a</b> <b>shimmer</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>moon</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>rim</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>rises</b>, <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>about</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>passed</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>and</b> <b>laughed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hail</b>, <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>abroad</b> <b>late</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>lost</b>?” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>and</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>round</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>wonderful</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Three</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wood</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>! <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>seen</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>since</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b>. <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>fair</b> <b>people</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>is</b> <b>simply</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>way</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b>. <b>I</b> <b>like</b> <b>walking</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>your</b> <b>company</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>company</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>are</b> <b>so</b> <b>dull</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>way</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b>, <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>whither</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b>?”<br>
|
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“<b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>my</b> <b>name</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>return</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>We</b> <b>know</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>you</b> <b>often</b> <b>before</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>though</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
|
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“<b>Who</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>who</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>lord</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Gildor</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>their</b> <b>leader</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>first</b> <b>hailed</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Gildor</b> <b>Inglorion</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>Finrod</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>Exiles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>kindred</b> <b>have</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>departed</b> <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>too</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>only</b> <b>tarrying</b> <b>here</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>we</b> <b>return</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>But</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>kinsfolk</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>now</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>doing</b>? <b>For</b> <b>we</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b> <b>upon</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
|
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“<b>O</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>People</b>!” <b>interrupted</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>eagerly</b>. “<b>Tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>?” <b>they</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>low</b> <b>voices</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>ask</b> <b>about</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Because</b> <b>two</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>have</b> <b>overtaken</b> <b>us</b> <b>today</b>, <b>or</b> <b>one</b> <b>has</b> <b>done</b> <b>so</b> <b>twice</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>; “<b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>while</b> <b>ago</b> <b>he</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>away</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>but</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>together</b> <b>softly</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>best</b> <b>come</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>our</b> <b>custom</b>, <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>lake</b> <b>you</b> <b>on</b> <b>our</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>lodge</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b> <b>tonight</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>.”<br>
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“<b>O</b> <b>Fair</b> <b>Folk</b>! <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>good</b> <b>fortune</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>my</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>speechless</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thank</b> <b>you</b> <b>indeed</b>, <b>Gildor</b> <b>Inglorion</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>bowing</b>. “<b>Elen</b> <b>s</b>?<b>la</b> <b>l</b>?<b>menn</b>” <b>omentielvo</b>, <b>a</b> <b>star</b> <b>shines</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hour</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>meeting</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b>-<b>elven</b> <b>speech</b>.<br>
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“<b>Be</b> <b>careful</b>, <b>friends</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>laughing</b>. “<b>Speak</b> <b>no</b> <b>secrets</b>! <b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>scholar</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ancient</b> <b>Tongue</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>master</b>. <b>Hail</b>, <b>Elf</b>-<b>friend</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>bowing</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>and</b> <b>join</b> <b>our</b> <b>company</b>! <b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>best</b> <b>walk</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>stray</b>. <b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>weary</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>halt</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Why</b>? <b>Where</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>For</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>above</b> <b>Woodhall</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>miles</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>rest</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>shorten</b> <b>your</b> <b>journey</b> <b>tomorrow</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>now</b> <b>marched</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>like</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>and</b> <b>faint</b> <b>lights</b>: <b>for</b> <b>Elves</b> (<b>even</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>hobbits</b>) <b>could</b> <b>walk</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>wished</b> <b>without</b> <b>sound</b> <b>or</b> <b>footfall</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>soon</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>sleepy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>staggered</b> <b>once</b> <b>or</b> <b>twice</b>; <b>but</b> <b>each</b> <b>time</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b> <b>and</b> <b>saved</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>fall</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>walked</b> <b>along</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>side</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>, <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>expression</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>half</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b> <b>of</b> <b>astonished</b> <b>joy</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>woods</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>became</b> <b>denser</b>; <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>younger</b> <b>and</b> <b>thicker</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>went</b> <b>lower</b>, <b>running</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>fold</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>deep</b> <b>brakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>hazel</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>rising</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>at</b> <b>either</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>. <b>A</b> <b>green</b> <b>ride</b> <b>lay</b> <b>almost</b> <b>unseen</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>; <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>they</b> <b>followed</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>wound</b> <b>away</b> <b>back</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>that</b> <b>stood</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>valley</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>space</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>grey</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>On</b> <b>three</b> <b>sides</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>fell</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tops</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>growing</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>were</b> <b>below</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>Beyond</b>, <b>the</b> <b>low</b> <b>lands</b> <b>lay</b> <b>dim</b> <b>and</b> <b>flat</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Nearer</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>lights</b> <b>twinkled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b> <b>of</b> <b>Woodhall</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>sat</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>soft</b> <b>voices</b>; <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>notice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>and</b> <b>blankets</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drowsiness</b> <b>stole</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>grew</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lights</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b>, <b>pillowed</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>hillock</b>.<br>
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<b>Away</b> <b>high</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>swung</b> <b>Remmirath</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Netted</b> <b>Stars</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>red</b> <b>Borgil</b> <b>rose</b>, <b>glowing</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>jewel</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>by</b> <b>some</b> <b>shift</b> <b>of</b> <b>airs</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>away</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>veil</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>up</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>rim</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Swordsman</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sky</b>, <b>Menelvagor</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>shining</b> <b>belt</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>all</b> <b>burst</b> <b>into</b> <b>song</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>light</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b>!” <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>called</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. “<b>Come</b>! <b>Now</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>speech</b> <b>and</b> <b>merriment</b>!”<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shivered</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>food</b> <b>for</b> <b>hungry</b> <b>guests</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>standing</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>greensward</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>opening</b>. <b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>floor</b> <b>ran</b> <b>on</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>formed</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>space</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>roofed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>great</b> <b>trunks</b> <b>ran</b> <b>like</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>down</b> <b>each</b> <b>side</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wood</b>-<b>fire</b> <b>blazing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>pillars</b> <b>torches</b> <b>with</b> <b>lights</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b> <b>were</b> <b>burning</b> <b>steadily</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>sat</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>or</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>sawn</b> <b>rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>trunks</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>and</b> <b>fro</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>cups</b> <b>and</b> <b>pouring</b> <b>drink</b>; <b>others</b> <b>brought</b> <b>food</b> <b>on</b> <b>heaped</b> <b>plates</b> <b>and</b> <b>dishes</b>.<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>poor</b> <b>fare</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>lodging</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>greenwood</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>our</b> <b>halls</b>. <b>If</b> <b>ever</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>our</b> <b>guests</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>, <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>treat</b> <b>you</b> <b>better</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>good</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>birthday</b>-<b>party</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>recalled</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>either</b> <b>food</b> <b>or</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>faces</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>voices</b> <b>so</b> <b>various</b> <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>waking</b> <b>dream</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>bread</b>, <b>surpassing</b> <b>the</b> <b>savour</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>white</b> <b>loaf</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>who</b> <b>is</b> <b>starving</b>; <b>and</b> <b>fruits</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>as</b> <b>wildberries</b> <b>and</b> <b>richer</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>tended</b> <b>fruits</b> <b>of</b> <b>gardens</b>; <b>he</b> <b>drained</b> <b>a</b> <b>cup</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>fragrant</b> <b>draught</b>, <b>cool</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>fountain</b>, <b>golden</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>summer</b> <b>afternoon</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>could</b> <b>never</b> <b>describe</b> <b>in</b> <b>words</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>picture</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>or</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>remained</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>memory</b> <b>as</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>events</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>life</b>. <b>The</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>he</b> <b>ever</b> <b>got</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>: “<b>Well</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>grow</b> <b>apples</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>, <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>call</b> <b>myself</b> <b>a</b> <b>gardener</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>singing</b> <b>that</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b>, <b>eating</b>, <b>drinking</b>, <b>and</b> <b>talking</b> <b>with</b> <b>delight</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>was</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>spoken</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>speech</b> <b>and</b> <b>listened</b> <b>eagerly</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>served</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>thanked</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>language</b>. <b>They</b> <b>smiled</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>said</b> <b>laughing</b>: “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>jewel</b> <b>among</b> <b>hobbits</b>!”<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>fell</b> <b>fast</b> <b>asleep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>borne</b> <b>away</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>bower</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>there</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>bed</b> <b>and</b> <b>slept</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>refused</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b>. <b>When</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>curled</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>where</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>nodded</b> <b>and</b> <b>closed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>remained</b> <b>long</b> <b>awake</b>, <b>talking</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gildor</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b>, <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>new</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>questioned</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>much</b> <b>about</b> <b>happenings</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>The</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>were</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>sad</b> <b>and</b> <b>ominous</b>: <b>of</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wars</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>asked</b> <b>the</b> <b>question</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>:<br>
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“<b>Tell</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Gildor</b>, <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>ever</b> <b>seen</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>us</b>?”<br>
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<b>Gildor</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>Yes</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>Twice</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>spot</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>once</b> <b>again</b>, <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>ask</b> <b>me</b> <b>or</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>concerns</b> <b>yourself</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gildor</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>already</b> <b>know</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>read</b> <b>more</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>face</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>behind</b> <b>your</b> <b>questions</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>you</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>seek</b>, <b>or</b> <b>accomplish</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>intend</b>, <b>or</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>ever</b> <b>return</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>not</b> <b>that</b> <b>so</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>my</b> <b>going</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>known</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>faithful</b> <b>Sam</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>snoring</b> <b>gently</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>secret</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>from</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gildor</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Enemy</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>why</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>for</b> <b>what</b> <b>reason</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>pursuing</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gildor</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>perceive</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>—<b>strange</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>though</b> <b>that</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>warn</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>peril</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>both</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>upon</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>mean</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>? <b>I</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Has</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b> <b>nothing</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Nothing</b> <b>about</b> <b>such</b> <b>creatures</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>more</b>—<b>lest</b> <b>terror</b> <b>should</b> <b>keep</b> <b>you</b> <b>from</b> <b>your</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>only</b> <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b>, <b>if</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b>. <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>now</b> <b>make</b> <b>haste</b>, <b>and</b> <b>neither</b> <b>stay</b> <b>nor</b> <b>turn</b> <b>back</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>any</b> <b>protection</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>imagine</b> <b>what</b> <b>information</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>terrifying</b> <b>than</b> <b>your</b> <b>hints</b> <b>and</b> <b>warnings</b>,” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>danger</b> <b>lay</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>expect</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>walk</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>?”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>Shire</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gildor</b>. “<b>Others</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>here</b> <b>before</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b>; <b>and</b> <b>others</b> <b>will</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>here</b> <b>again</b> <b>when</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wide</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b>: <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>fence</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>in</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>fence</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b>—<b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>always</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>so</b> <b>safe</b> <b>and</b> <b>familiar</b>. <b>What</b> <b>can</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>now</b>? <b>My</b> <b>plan</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>secretly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>make</b> <b>my</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>my</b> <b>footsteps</b> <b>are</b> <b>dogged</b>, <b>before</b> <b>ever</b> <b>I</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>still</b> <b>follow</b> <b>that</b> <b>plan</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gildor</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>will</b> <b>prove</b> <b>too</b> <b>hard</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>courage</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>desire</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>counsel</b>, <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>ask</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>reason</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>flight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>therefore</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>by</b> <b>what</b> <b>means</b> <b>your</b> <b>pursuers</b> <b>will</b> <b>assail</b> <b>you</b>. <b>These</b> <b>things</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>must</b> <b>know</b>. <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>so</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b> <b>thing</b> <b>that</b> <b>makes</b> <b>me</b> <b>anxious</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>expecting</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>days</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>latest</b> <b>two</b> <b>nights</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>never</b> <b>appeared</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>what</b> <b>can</b> <b>have</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>Should</b> <b>I</b> <b>wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>?”<br>
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<b>Gildor</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>news</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>late</b>, <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>bode</b> <b>well</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b>: <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>meddle</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>affairs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wizards</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>subtle</b> <b>and</b> <b>quick</b> <b>to</b> <b>anger</b>. <b>The</b> <b>choice</b> <b>is</b> <b>yours</b>: <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>or</b> <b>wait</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>also</b> <b>said</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>: “<b>Go</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>for</b> <b>counsel</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b> <b>both</b> <b>no</b> <b>and</b> <b>yes</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>it</b> <b>indeed</b>?” <b>laughed</b> <b>Gildor</b>. “<b>Elves</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>give</b> <b>unguarded</b> <b>advice</b>, <b>for</b> <b>advice</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>gift</b>, <b>even</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>wise</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wise</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>courses</b> <b>may</b> <b>run</b> <b>ill</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b>? <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>all</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>yourself</b>; <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>then</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>choose</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b>? <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>demand</b> <b>advice</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>for</b> <b>friendship</b>’<b>s</b> <b>sake</b> <b>give</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>now</b> <b>go</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>without</b> <b>delay</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>also</b> <b>advise</b> <b>this</b>: <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>Take</b> <b>such</b> <b>friends</b> <b>as</b> <b>are</b> <b>trusty</b> <b>and</b> <b>willing</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>grateful</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>this</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>gladly</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>have</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>labours</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>sorrows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>little</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>upon</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>Our</b> <b>paths</b> <b>cross</b> <b>theirs</b> <b>seldom</b>, <b>by</b> <b>chance</b> <b>or</b> <b>purpose</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>there</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>chance</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>clear</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>grateful</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>are</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>take</b> <b>your</b> <b>advice</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b> <b>that</b> <b>pursues</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>?” <b>answered</b> <b>Gildor</b>. “<b>Flee</b> <b>them</b>! <b>Speak</b> <b>no</b> <b>words</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>! <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>deadly</b>. <b>Ask</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b>! <b>But</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>forbodes</b> <b>that</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>all</b> <b>is</b> <b>ended</b>, <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Drogo</b>, <b>will</b> <b>know</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>fell</b> <b>things</b> <b>than</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>Inglorion</b>. <b>May</b> <b>Elbereth</b> <b>protect</b> <b>you</b>!”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>where</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>find</b> <b>courage</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>need</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Courage</b> <b>is</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>unlikely</b> <b>places</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gildor</b>. “<b>Be</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>hope</b>! <b>Sleep</b> <b>now</b>! <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>send</b> <b>our</b> <b>messages</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Wandering</b> <b>Companies</b> <b>shall</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>power</b> <b>for</b> <b>good</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>watch</b>. <b>I</b> <b>name</b> <b>you</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>friend</b>; <b>and</b> <b>may</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>shine</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>road</b>! <b>Seldom</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>such</b> <b>delight</b> <b>in</b> <b>strangers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>fair</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ancient</b> <b>Speech</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lips</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>wanderers</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>coming</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b>, <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>finished</b> <b>speaking</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>led</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>bower</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>threw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>bed</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>dreamless</b> <b>slumber</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 4<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>SHORT</b> <b>CUT</b> <b>TO</b> <b>MUSHROOMS</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>refreshed</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>lying</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>bower</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>living</b> <b>tree</b> <b>with</b> <b>branches</b> <b>laced</b> <b>and</b> <b>drooping</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>; <b>his</b> <b>bed</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>fern</b> <b>and</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>soft</b> <b>and</b> <b>strangely</b> <b>fragrant</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>fluttering</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>green</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>He</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>studying</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>and</b> <b>weather</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>us</b> <b>fruit</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bread</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>your</b> <b>breakfast</b>. <b>The</b> <b>bread</b> <b>tastes</b> <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>good</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>. <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>you</b> <b>any</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>insisted</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>eat</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>plan</b> <b>for</b> <b>today</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>To</b> <b>walk</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>his</b> <b>attention</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b> <b>anything</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>Riders</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>cheerfully</b>. <b>Under</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>sun</b> <b>the</b> <b>prospect</b> <b>of</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>a</b> <b>whole</b> <b>troop</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>very</b> <b>alarming</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>probably</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>not</b> <b>liking</b> <b>the</b> <b>reminder</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>without</b> <b>their</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b> <b>anything</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gildor</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>much</b>—<b>only</b> <b>hints</b> <b>and</b> <b>riddles</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>evasively</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>ask</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>sniffing</b>?”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>discuss</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>full</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>important</b>.”<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>case</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>refused</b> <b>to</b> <b>explain</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sharply</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>leave</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b>! <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>answer</b> <b>a</b> <b>string</b> <b>of</b> <b>questions</b> <b>while</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>eating</b>. <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>heavens</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>breakfast</b>?” <b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>away</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b>.<br>
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<b>From</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>mind</b> <b>the</b> <b>bright</b> <b>morning</b>—<b>treacherously</b> <b>bright</b>, <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>—<b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>banished</b> <b>the</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>pursuit</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>pondered</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gildor</b>. <b>The</b> <b>merry</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>running</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>turf</b> <b>and</b> <b>singing</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>! <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>young</b> <b>friends</b> <b>walking</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>hungry</b> <b>and</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>and</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>bed</b> <b>are</b> <b>sweet</b>. <b>To</b> <b>take</b> <b>them</b> <b>into</b> <b>exile</b>, <b>where</b> <b>hunger</b> <b>and</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>cure</b>, <b>is</b> <b>quite</b> <b>another</b>—<b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>. <b>The</b> <b>inheritance</b> <b>is</b> <b>mine</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>ought</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>Sam</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>, <b>and</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>watching</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>? <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>ever</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>—<b>in</b> <b>fact</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b> <b>now</b> <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>helped</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>good</b>, <b>sir</b>!”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>still</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>dangerous</b>, <b>Sam</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>dangerous</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>likely</b> <b>neither</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>.”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>’<b>t</b>, <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>certain</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>leave</b> <b>him</b>! <b>they</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Leave</b> <b>him</b>! <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>climbs</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rulers</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>stop</b> <b>him</b>, <b>they</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>have</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>to</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>with</b>, <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. <b>They</b> <b>laughed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>are</b> <b>they</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>talking</b> <b>about</b>?”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>We</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>talk</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>away</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>denying</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Wonderful</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>Wonderful</b>!”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>are</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b> <b>them</b> <b>still</b>, <b>now</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>closer</b> <b>view</b>?”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>seem</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>above</b> <b>my</b> <b>likes</b> <b>and</b> <b>dislikes</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>slowly</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>matter</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>quite</b> <b>different</b> <b>from</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>expected</b>—<b>so</b> <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>young</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>gay</b> <b>and</b> <b>sad</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>rather</b> <b>startled</b>, <b>half</b> <b>expecting</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>some</b> <b>outward</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>odd</b> <b>change</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>sound</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>there</b>, <b>except</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>unusually</b> <b>thoughtful</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>feel</b> <b>any</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>now</b>—<b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>true</b> <b>already</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>after</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b> <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>different</b>. <b>I</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>way</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b>, <b>into</b> <b>darkness</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>turn</b> <b>back</b>. <b>It</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>now</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>dragons</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b>—<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>rightly</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b>: <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>lies</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>through</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>understand</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>altogether</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>chose</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>companion</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>content</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>together</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>finished</b> <b>his</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>standing</b> <b>up</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>to</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>as</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>ran</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>getting</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>We</b> <b>slept</b> <b>late</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>slept</b> <b>late</b>, <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>up</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b>; <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>only</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>finish</b> <b>eating</b> <b>and</b> <b>thinking</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>finished</b> <b>both</b> <b>now</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>we</b> <b>left</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>: <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>cut</b> <b>straight</b> <b>across</b> <b>country</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>fly</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>cut</b> <b>straight</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>country</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>can</b> <b>cut</b> <b>straighter</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>anyway</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>is</b> <b>east</b> <b>from</b> <b>Woodhall</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>hard</b> <b>road</b> <b>curves</b> <b>away</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>—<b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>bend</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b> <b>north</b> <b>over</b> <b>there</b>. <b>It</b> <b>goes</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b> <b>so</b> <b>as</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>the</b> <b>causeway</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>above</b> <b>Stock</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>miles</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>. <b>We</b> <b>could</b> <b>save</b> <b>a</b> <b>quarter</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>from</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>stand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Short</b> <b>cuts</b> <b>make</b> <b>long</b> <b>delays</b>,” <b>argued</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>country</b> <b>is</b> <b>rough</b> <b>round</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>bogs</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>kinds</b> <b>of</b> <b>difficulties</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b>—<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>worrying</b> <b>about</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>any</b> <b>worse</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>road</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wood</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>field</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>less</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>people</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>fields</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>supposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>chance</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>looked</b> <b>for</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>off</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>right</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>follow</b> <b>you</b> <b>into</b> <b>every</b> <b>bog</b> <b>and</b> <b>ditch</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>hard</b>! <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>counted</b> <b>on</b> <b>passing</b> <b>the</b> <b>Golden</b> <b>Perch</b> <b>at</b> <b>Stock</b> <b>before</b> <b>sundown</b>. <b>The</b> <b>best</b> <b>beer</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>, <b>or</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>: <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>tasted</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>settles</b> <b>it</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Short</b> <b>cuts</b> <b>make</b> <b>delays</b>, <b>but</b> <b>inns</b> <b>make</b> <b>longer</b> <b>ones</b>. <b>At</b> <b>all</b> <b>costs</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>keep</b> <b>you</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Golden</b> <b>Perch</b>. <b>We</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>before</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>, <b>Sam</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>along</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> (<b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>private</b> <b>misgiving</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>regret</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>beer</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>).<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>toil</b> <b>through</b> <b>bog</b> <b>and</b> <b>briar</b>, <b>let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>go</b> <b>now</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>as</b> <b>hot</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>before</b>; <b>but</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>were</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>It</b> <b>looked</b> <b>likely</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>rain</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>scrambled</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>green</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>thick</b> <b>trees</b> <b>below</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>course</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Woodhall</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>cut</b> <b>slanting</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>that</b> <b>clustered</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>flats</b> <b>beyond</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>straight</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>over</b> <b>country</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>open</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>ditches</b> <b>and</b> <b>fences</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eighteen</b> <b>miles</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>straight</b> <b>line</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>soon</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>thicket</b> <b>was</b> <b>closer</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>tangled</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>appeared</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>paths</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>undergrowth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>on</b> <b>very</b> <b>fast</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>struggled</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>stream</b> <b>running</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>behind</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>dug</b> <b>bed</b> <b>with</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slippery</b> <b>sides</b> <b>overhung</b> <b>with</b> <b>brambles</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>inconveniently</b> <b>it</b> <b>cut</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>chosen</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>jump</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>get</b> <b>across</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>without</b> <b>getting</b> <b>wet</b>, <b>scratched</b>, <b>and</b> <b>muddy</b>. <b>They</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>. “<b>First</b> <b>check</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>smiling</b> <b>grimly</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Through</b> <b>an</b> <b>opening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>bank</b> <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>down</b>.<br>
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“<b>Look</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>clutching</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>arm</b>. <b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>a</b> <b>horse</b> <b>standing</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>it</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>figure</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>gave</b> <b>up</b> <b>any</b> <b>idea</b> <b>of</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>thick</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>. “<b>Whew</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>were</b> <b>both</b> <b>right</b>! <b>The</b> <b>short</b> <b>cut</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>crooked</b> <b>already</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>got</b> <b>under</b> <b>cover</b> <b>only</b> <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b>. <b>You</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>got</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>ears</b>, <b>Sam</b>: <b>can</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>anything</b> <b>coming</b>?”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>holding</b> <b>their</b> <b>breath</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>listened</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>pursuit</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>try</b> <b>bringing</b> <b>his</b> <b>horse</b> <b>down</b> <b>that</b> <b>bank</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>we</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>it</b>. <b>We</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b>.”<br>
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<b>Going</b> <b>on</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>easy</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>packs</b> <b>to</b> <b>carry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>and</b> <b>brambles</b> <b>were</b> <b>reluctant</b> <b>to</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>through</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>and</b> <b>stuffy</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>forced</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>into</b> <b>more</b> <b>open</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>hot</b> <b>and</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>scratched</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>certain</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b>. <b>The</b> <b>banks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>sank</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>levels</b> <b>and</b> <b>became</b> <b>broader</b> <b>and</b> <b>shallower</b>, <b>wandering</b> <b>off</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>.<br>
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“<b>Why</b>, <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Stock</b>-<b>brook</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>back</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>course</b>, <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>cross</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>and</b> <b>bear</b> <b>right</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>waded</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>open</b> <b>space</b>, <b>rush</b>-<b>grown</b> <b>and</b> <b>treeless</b>, <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>belt</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>: <b>tall</b> <b>oaks</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>part</b>, <b>with</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>an</b> <b>elm</b> <b>tree</b> <b>or</b> <b>an</b> <b>ash</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ground</b> <b>was</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>level</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>little</b> <b>undergrowth</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>loo</b> <b>close</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>blew</b> <b>upwards</b> <b>in</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>gusts</b> <b>of</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>spots</b> <b>of</b> <b>rain</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>overcast</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>died</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rain</b> <b>came</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>down</b>. <b>They</b> <b>trudged</b> <b>along</b> <b>as</b> <b>fast</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>, <b>over</b> <b>patches</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>thick</b> <b>drifts</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>leaves</b>; <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>rain</b> <b>pattered</b> <b>and</b> <b>trickled</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>but</b> <b>kept</b> <b>glancing</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>side</b> <b>to</b> <b>side</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>half</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>turned</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>, <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>walking</b> <b>longwise</b> <b>through</b> <b>this</b> <b>wood</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>broad</b> <b>belt</b> –<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>widest</b>—<b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>our</b> <b>starting</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b> <b>zig</b>-<b>zags</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>mend</b> <b>matters</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>keep</b> <b>on</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b>! <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>another</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>miles</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>ragged</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rain</b> <b>lessened</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>past</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>high</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>lunch</b>. <b>They</b> <b>halted</b> <b>under</b> <b>an</b> <b>elm</b> <b>tree</b>: <b>its</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>though</b> <b>fast</b> <b>turning</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>thick</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>at</b> <b>its</b> <b>feel</b> <b>was</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>dry</b> <b>and</b> <b>sheltered</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>their</b> <b>meal</b>, <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>had</b> <b>filled</b> <b>their</b> <b>bottles</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>pale</b> <b>golden</b> <b>in</b> <b>colour</b>: <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>scent</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>honey</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>flowers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>wonderfully</b> <b>refreshing</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>laughing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>snapping</b> <b>their</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>at</b> <b>rain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>few</b> <b>miles</b>, <b>they</b> <b>felt</b>, <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>be</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>propped</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>closed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>sat</b> <b>near</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>hum</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>to</b> <b>sing</b> <b>softly</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Ho</b>! <b>Ho</b>! <b>Ho</b>! <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottle</b> <b>I</b> <b>go</b><br>
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<b>To</b> <b>heal</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>and</b> <b>drown</b> <b>my</b> <b>woe</b>.<br>
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<b>Rain</b> <b>may</b> <b>fall</b> <b>and</b> <b>wind</b> <b>may</b> <b>blow</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>be</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>,<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>tree</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>lie</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>go</b> <b>sailing</b> <b>by</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Ho</b>! <b>Ho</b>! <b>Ho</b>! <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>again</b> <b>louder</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>short</b> <b>suddenly</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>A</b> <b>long</b>-<b>drawn</b> <b>wail</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>cry</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>evil</b> <b>and</b> <b>lonely</b> <b>creature</b>. <b>It</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ended</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>piercing</b> <b>note</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>frozen</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>answered</b> <b>by</b> <b>another</b> <b>cry</b>, <b>fainter</b> <b>and</b> <b>further</b> <b>off</b>, <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>less</b> <b>chilling</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>blood</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>then</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>broken</b> <b>only</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b>?” <b>Pippin</b> <b>asked</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>lightly</b>, <b>but</b> <b>quavering</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>bird</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>before</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>bird</b> <b>or</b> <b>beast</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>call</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>signal</b>—<b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>words</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>cry</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>catch</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>no</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>has</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b>.”<br>
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<b>No</b> <b>more</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>, <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>reluctant</b> <b>either</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>or</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>; <b>but</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>country</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>best</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>daylight</b>. <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>moments</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>shouldered</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>off</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>end</b>. <b>Wide</b> <b>grass</b>-<b>lands</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>now</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>turned</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>flats</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>the</b> <b>low</b> <b>hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b>. <b>Creeping</b> <b>cautiously</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>off</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>afraid</b>, <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>back</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>stood</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>breakfasted</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>half</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>distant</b> <b>figure</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>horseman</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>dark</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>escaping</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>breaking</b> <b>clouds</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>sank</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b>, <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>shining</b> <b>brightly</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>fear</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>felt</b> <b>uneasy</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>became</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>more</b> <b>tame</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b>-<b>ordered</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>well</b>-<b>tended</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>meadows</b>: <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>hedges</b> <b>and</b> <b>gates</b> <b>and</b> <b>dikes</b> <b>for</b> <b>drainage</b>. <b>Everything</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>peaceful</b>, <b>just</b> <b>an</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>spirits</b> <b>rose</b> <b>with</b> <b>every</b> <b>step</b>. <b>The</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>grew</b> <b>nearer</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>seem</b> <b>like</b> <b>phantoms</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>now</b> <b>left</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>passed</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>huge</b> <b>turnip</b>-<b>field</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>stout</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>rutted</b> <b>lane</b> <b>ran</b> <b>between</b> <b>low</b> <b>well</b>-<b>laid</b> <b>hedges</b> <b>towards</b> <b>a</b> <b>distant</b> <b>clump</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>stopped</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>these</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>gate</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>Bamfurlong</b>, <b>old</b> <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b>’<b>s</b> <b>land</b>. <b>That</b>’<b>s</b> <b>his</b> <b>farm</b> <b>away</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>.”<br>
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“<b>One</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>after</b> <b>another</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>alarmed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>had</b> <b>declared</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>slot</b> <b>leading</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>dragon</b>’<b>s</b> <b>den</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>surprise</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b>’<b>s</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>with</b> <b>old</b> <b>Maggot</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>He</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>friend</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>bucks</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>terror</b> <b>to</b> <b>trespassers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keeps</b> <b>ferocious</b> <b>dogs</b>—<b>but</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>, <b>folk</b> <b>down</b> <b>here</b> <b>are</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>border</b> <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>guard</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>shamefaced</b> <b>laugh</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>terrified</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>dogs</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>avoided</b> <b>his</b> <b>farm</b> <b>for</b> <b>years</b> <b>and</b> <b>years</b>. <b>He</b> <b>caught</b> <b>me</b> <b>several</b> <b>times</b> <b>trespassing</b> <b>after</b> <b>mushrooms</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>youngster</b> <b>at</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>occasion</b> <b>he</b> <b>beat</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>took</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>showed</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>dogs</b>. “<b>See</b>, <b>lads</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>next</b> <b>time</b> <b>this</b> <b>young</b> <b>varmint</b> <b>sets</b> <b>foot</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>land</b>, <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>eat</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b>!” <b>They</b> <b>chased</b> <b>me</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>got</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>fright</b>—<b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>the</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>knew</b> <b>their</b> <b>business</b> <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>really</b> <b>have</b> <b>touched</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>it</b>’<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>you</b> <b>made</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Especially</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>Buckland</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Maggot</b> <b>is</b> <b>really</b> <b>a</b> <b>stout</b> <b>fellow</b>—<b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>leave</b> <b>his</b> <b>mushrooms</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>Let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>get</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>shan</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>trespassing</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>meet</b> <b>him</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>do</b> <b>the</b> <b>talking</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b> <b>of</b> <b>Merry</b>’<b>s</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>here</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>thatched</b> <b>roofs</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>house</b> <b>and</b> <b>farm</b>-<b>buildings</b> <b>peeping</b> <b>out</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Maggots</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Puddifoots</b> <b>of</b> <b>Stock</b>, <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b>, <b>were</b> <b>house</b>-<b>dwellers</b>; <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>farm</b> <b>was</b> <b>stoutly</b> <b>built</b> <b>of</b> <b>brick</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>wall</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>it</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>wooden</b> <b>gate</b> <b>opening</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>a</b> <b>terrific</b> <b>baying</b> <b>and</b> <b>barking</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>loud</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>heard</b> <b>shouting</b>: “<b>Grip</b>! <b>Fang</b>! <b>Wolf</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>on</b>, <b>lads</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>dead</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>walked</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>paces</b>. <b>The</b> <b>gate</b> <b>opened</b> <b>and</b> <b>three</b> <b>huge</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>came</b> <b>pelting</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dashed</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b>, <b>barking</b> <b>fiercely</b>. <b>They</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>notice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Pippin</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>shrank</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>while</b> <b>two</b> <b>wolvish</b>-<b>looking</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>sniffed</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>suspiciously</b>, <b>and</b> <b>snarled</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>moved</b>. <b>The</b> <b>largest</b> <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>ferocious</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>halted</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>bristling</b> <b>and</b> <b>growling</b>.<br>
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<b>Through</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>there</b> <b>now</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>a</b> <b>broad</b> <b>thick</b>-<b>set</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>round</b> <b>red</b> <b>face</b>. “<b>Hallo</b>! <b>Hallo</b>! <b>And</b> <b>who</b> <b>may</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>may</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>wanting</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>afternoon</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Maggot</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>closely</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>Master</b> <b>Pippin</b>—<b>Mr</b>. <b>Peregrin</b> <b>Took</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>changing</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>scowl</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>grin</b>. “<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>you</b> <b>round</b> <b>here</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>lucky</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>going</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>my</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>on</b> <b>any</b> <b>strangers</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b> <b>funny</b> <b>things</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>today</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>get</b> <b>queer</b> <b>folk</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b>. <b>Too</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>outlandish</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>set</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>on</b>. <b>He</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>cross</b> <b>my</b> <b>land</b> <b>without</b> <b>leave</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>time</b>, <b>not</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>stop</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>haven</b>’<b>t</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>causeway</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>back</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>funny</b> <b>customer</b> <b>and</b> <b>asking</b> <b>funny</b> <b>questions</b>. <b>But</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>come</b> <b>along</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>more</b> <b>comfortable</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>a</b> <b>drop</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>ale</b> <b>on</b> <b>tap</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>are</b> <b>willing</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Took</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>would</b> <b>tell</b> <b>them</b> <b>more</b>, <b>if</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>time</b> <b>and</b> <b>fashion</b>, <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>accepted</b> <b>the</b> <b>invitation</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>dogs</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>anxiously</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>harm</b> <b>you</b>—<b>not</b> <b>unless</b> <b>I</b> <b>tell</b> “<b>em</b> <b>to</b>. <b>Here</b>, <b>Grip</b>! <b>Fang</b>! <b>Heel</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Heel</b>, <b>Wolf</b>!” <b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>relief</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>the</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>walked</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>go</b> <b>free</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>introduced</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>two</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>. “<b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>remember</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>at</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>.” <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>started</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>glance</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>stolen</b> <b>mushrooms</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>aroused</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b> <b>took</b> <b>him</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>arm</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>isn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>queerer</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>exclaimed</b>. “<b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Come</b> <b>inside</b>! <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>talk</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>kitchen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>fire</b>-<b>place</b>. <b>Mrs</b>. <b>Maggot</b> <b>brought</b> <b>out</b> <b>beer</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>huge</b> <b>jug</b>, <b>and</b> <b>filled</b> <b>four</b> <b>large</b> <b>mugs</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>brew</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>compensated</b> <b>for</b> <b>missing</b> <b>the</b> <b>Golden</b> <b>Perch</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>sipped</b> <b>his</b> <b>beer</b> <b>suspiciously</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>natural</b> <b>mistrust</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>disposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>quick</b> <b>friends</b> <b>with</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>beaten</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b>, <b>however</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>remarks</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>agricultural</b> <b>prospects</b> (<b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>usual</b>), <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b> <b>put</b> <b>down</b> <b>his</b> <b>mug</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>turn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Peregrin</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>where</b> <b>might</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>coming</b> <b>from</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>might</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b>? <b>Were</b> <b>you</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>visit</b>” <b>me</b>? <b>For</b>, <b>if</b> <b>so</b>, <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>past</b> <b>my</b> <b>gate</b> <b>without</b> <b>my</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>no</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>To</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>it</b>, <b>we</b> <b>got</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>end</b>: <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>over</b> <b>your</b> <b>fields</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>by</b> <b>accident</b>. <b>We</b> <b>lost</b> <b>our</b> <b>way</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>back</b> <b>near</b> <b>Woodhall</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>cut</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>.”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hurry</b>, <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>served</b> <b>you</b> <b>better</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>worrying</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>leave</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>over</b> <b>my</b> <b>land</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Peregrin</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b>—<b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>you</b> <b>still</b> <b>like</b> <b>mushrooms</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Ah</b> <b>yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>recognized</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b>. <b>I</b> <b>recollect</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>young</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b> <b>young</b> <b>rascals</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>wasn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>mushrooms</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>just</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>turned</b> <b>up</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>funny</b> <b>customer</b> <b>asked</b> <b>me</b>?”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>waited</b> <b>anxiously</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>. “<b>Well</b>,” <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>continued</b>, <b>approaching</b> <b>his</b> <b>point</b> <b>with</b> <b>slow</b> <b>relish</b>, “<b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>riding</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>big</b> <b>black</b> <b>horse</b> <b>in</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>, <b>which</b> <b>happened</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>open</b>, <b>and</b> <b>right</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>door</b>. <b>All</b> <b>black</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cloaked</b> <b>and</b> <b>hooded</b> <b>up</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>known</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>what</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>can</b> <b>he</b> <b>want</b>?” <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>to</b> <b>myself</b>. <b>We</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>border</b>; <b>and</b> <b>anyway</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>black</b> <b>fellow</b>.<br>
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““<b>Good</b>-<b>day</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>!” <b>I</b> <b>says</b>, <b>going</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>lane</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>lead</b> <b>anywhere</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wherever</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b>, <b>your</b> <b>quickest</b> <b>way</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.” <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>looks</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>Grip</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>, <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>one</b> <b>sniff</b> <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>yelp</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>slung</b>: <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>down</b> <b>his</b> <b>tail</b> <b>and</b> <b>bolted</b> <b>off</b> <b>howling</b>. <b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>sat</b> <b>quite</b> <b>still</b>.<br>
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““<b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>yonder</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>slow</b> <b>and</b> <b>stiff</b>-<b>like</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>back</b> <b>west</b>, <b>over</b> <b>my</b> <b>fields</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>please</b>. “<b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>seen</b> <b>Baggins</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bent</b> <b>down</b> <b>towards</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>any</b> <b>face</b>, <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>fell</b> <b>down</b> <b>so</b> <b>low</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>shiver</b> <b>down</b> <b>my</b> <b>back</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>why</b> <b>he</b> <b>should</b> <b>come</b> <b>riding</b> <b>over</b> <b>my</b> <b>land</b> <b>so</b> <b>bold</b>.<br>
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““<b>Be</b> <b>off</b>!” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>Bagginses</b> <b>here</b>. <b>You</b>’<b>re</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>west</b> <b>to</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>—<b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>by</b> <b>road</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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““<b>Baggins</b> <b>has</b> <b>left</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>whisper</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>coming</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>passes</b> <b>will</b> <b>you</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b>? <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>with</b> <b>gold</b>.”<br>
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““<b>No</b> <b>you</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>belong</b>, <b>double</b> <b>quick</b>. <b>I</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>one</b> <b>minute</b> <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>call</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>dogs</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>hiss</b>. <b>It</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>laughing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>not</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>spurred</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>horse</b> <b>right</b> <b>at</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>only</b> <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b>. <b>I</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>dogs</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>swung</b> <b>off</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>causeway</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bolt</b> <b>of</b> <b>thunder</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b>?”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>only</b> <b>thought</b> <b>was</b> <b>how</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b> <b>would</b> <b>they</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Maggot</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>never</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>mixing</b> <b>yourself</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>queer</b> <b>up</b> <b>there</b>.” <b>Sam</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eye</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>always</b> <b>a</b> <b>reckless</b> <b>lad</b>. <b>When</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>and</b> <b>gone</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b> <b>old</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>trouble</b>. <b>Mark</b> <b>my</b> <b>words</b>, <b>this</b> <b>all</b> <b>comes</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>strange</b> <b>doings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b>. <b>His</b> <b>money</b> <b>was</b> <b>got</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>strange</b> <b>fashion</b> <b>in</b> <b>foreign</b> <b>parts</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>. <b>Maybe</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>that</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>buried</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>hear</b>?”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>: <b>the</b> <b>shrewd</b> <b>guesses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>were</b> <b>rather</b> <b>disconcerting</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>Maggot</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, “<b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>sense</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b>. <b>My</b> <b>advice</b> <b>is</b>: <b>stay</b> <b>there</b>! <b>And</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>mixed</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>these</b> <b>outlandish</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>have</b> <b>friends</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b>. <b>If</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>black</b> <b>fellows</b> <b>come</b> <b>after</b> <b>you</b> <b>again</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>say</b> <b>you</b>’<b>re</b> <b>dead</b>, <b>or</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>or</b> <b>anything</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>true</b> <b>enough</b>; <b>for</b> <b>as</b> <b>like</b> <b>as</b> <b>not</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>old</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>they</b> <b>want</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b> <b>you</b>’<b>re</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>avoiding</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>eye</b> <b>and</b> <b>staring</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>.<br>
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<b>Maggot</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>ideas</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>plain</b> <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>nose</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>accident</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>rider</b> <b>here</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>afternoon</b>; <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>my</b> <b>news</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>great</b> <b>news</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>after</b> <b>all</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>asking</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>anything</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>to</b> <b>yourself</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>trouble</b>. <b>Perhaps</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>it</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>without</b> <b>being</b> <b>caught</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>there</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b> <b>by</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>and</b> <b>thinking</b>. <b>So</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b>. <b>Thank</b> <b>you</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>kindness</b>! <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>terror</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>for</b> <b>over</b> <b>thirty</b> <b>years</b>, <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b>, <b>though</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>laugh</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>pity</b>: <b>for</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>missed</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>friend</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>so</b> <b>soon</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>, <b>perhaps</b>, <b>one</b> <b>day</b>—<b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Maggot</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>a</b> <b>notion</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>near</b> <b>sundown</b> <b>already</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>our</b> <b>supper</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b> <b>soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Peregrin</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>could</b> <b>stay</b> <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>bite</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>, <b>we</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>pleased</b>!”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>so</b> <b>should</b> <b>we</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>dark</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! <b>but</b> <b>wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>minute</b>! <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>: <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>supper</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>gel</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>waggon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>drive</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>. <b>That</b> <b>will</b> <b>save</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>step</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>also</b> <b>save</b> <b>you</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>of</b> <b>another</b> <b>sort</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>now</b> <b>accepted</b> <b>the</b> <b>invitation</b> <b>gratefully</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>relief</b> <b>of</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>failing</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>of</b> <b>Maggot</b>’<b>s</b> <b>sons</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>three</b> <b>daughters</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>generous</b> <b>supper</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>large</b> <b>table</b>. <b>The</b> <b>kitchen</b> <b>was</b> <b>lit</b> <b>with</b> <b>candles</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>mended</b>. <b>Mrs</b>. <b>Maggot</b> <b>hustled</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b>. <b>One</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>other</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>belonging</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>farm</b>-<b>household</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b>. <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>while</b> <b>fourteen</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>eat</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>beer</b> <b>in</b> <b>plenty</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>dish</b> <b>of</b> <b>mushrooms</b> <b>and</b> <b>bacon</b>, <b>besides</b> <b>much</b> <b>other</b> <b>solid</b> <b>farmhouse</b> <b>fare</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>lay</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>gnawed</b> <b>rinds</b> <b>and</b> <b>cracked</b> <b>bones</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>finished</b>, <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>sons</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>lantern</b> <b>and</b> <b>got</b> <b>the</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>ready</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>yard</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>. <b>They</b> <b>threw</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>on</b> <b>board</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>in</b>. <b>The</b> <b>farmer</b> <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>driving</b>-<b>seat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>whipped</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>two</b> <b>stout</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>His</b> <b>wife</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>be</b> <b>careful</b> <b>of</b> <b>yourself</b>. <b>Maggot</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>arguing</b> <b>with</b> <b>any</b> <b>foreigners</b>, <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>straight</b> <b>back</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drove</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>no</b> <b>breath</b> <b>of</b> <b>wind</b> <b>stirring</b>; <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>and</b> <b>quiet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>chill</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. <b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>without</b> <b>lights</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>slowly</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b>, <b>crossing</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>dike</b>, <b>and</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>slope</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b>-<b>banked</b> <b>causeway</b>.<br>
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<b>Maggot</b> <b>got</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>look</b> <b>either</b> <b>way</b>, <b>north</b> <b>and</b> <b>south</b>, <b>but</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>still</b> <b>air</b>. <b>Thin</b> <b>strands</b> <b>of</b> <b>river</b>-<b>mist</b> <b>were</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>dikes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>crawling</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>thick</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Maggot</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>not</b> <b>light</b> <b>my</b> <b>lantern</b> <b>till</b> <b>I</b> <b>turn</b> <b>for</b> <b>home</b>. <b>We</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>hear</b> <b>anything</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>meet</b> <b>it</b> <b>tonight</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>five</b> <b>miles</b> <b>or</b> <b>more</b> <b>from</b> <b>Maggot</b>’<b>s</b> <b>lane</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>up</b>, <b>but</b> <b>their</b> <b>ears</b> <b>were</b> <b>strained</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>sound</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>creak</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wheels</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>slow</b> <b>clop</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponies</b>” <b>hoofs</b>. <b>The</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>slower</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>snail</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>him</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>nodding</b> <b>towards</b> <b>sleep</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>staring</b> <b>forwards</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>rising</b> <b>fog</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>entrance</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>lane</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>marked</b> <b>by</b> <b>two</b> <b>tall</b> <b>white</b> <b>posts</b> <b>that</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b>. <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b> <b>drew</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>creaked</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>halt</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>just</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>lo</b> <b>scramble</b> <b>out</b>, <b>when</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>all</b> <b>been</b> <b>dreading</b>: <b>hoofs</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Maggot</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>holding</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponies</b>” <b>heads</b>, <b>and</b> <b>peering</b> <b>forward</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>. <b>Clip</b>-<b>clop</b>, <b>clip</b>-<b>clop</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>approaching</b> <b>rider</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>loud</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>still</b>, <b>foggy</b> <b>air</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b>’<b>d</b> <b>better</b> <b>be</b> <b>hidden</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>anxiously</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>get</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>and</b> <b>cover</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>blankets</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>send</b> <b>this</b> <b>rider</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>rightabouts</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>ride</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>waggon</b>.<br>
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<b>Clop</b>-<b>clop</b>, <b>clop</b>-<b>clop</b>. <b>The</b> <b>rider</b> <b>was</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hallo</b> <b>there</b>!” <b>called</b> <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b>. <b>The</b> <b>advancing</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>short</b>. <b>They</b> <b>thought</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>guess</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>cloaked</b> <b>shape</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>a</b> <b>yard</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>ahead</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>then</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>, <b>throwing</b> <b>the</b> <b>reins</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>striding</b> <b>forward</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>a</b> <b>step</b> <b>nearer</b>! <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b>. <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>muffled</b> <b>voice</b>—<b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>. <b>A</b> <b>dark</b> <b>lantern</b> <b>was</b> <b>uncovered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>light</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>astonished</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>.<br>
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“<b>Mr</b>. <b>Merry</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>! <b>Who</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>coming</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>fears</b> <b>subsided</b>, <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>diminish</b> <b>to</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>size</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>riding</b> <b>a</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>scarf</b> <b>was</b> <b>swathed</b> <b>round</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b> <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>chin</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>to</b> <b>greet</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>there</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>turn</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>today</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>supper</b>. <b>When</b> <b>it</b> <b>grew</b> <b>foggy</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>across</b> <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>up</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Stock</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>ditches</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>blest</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>which</b> <b>way</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Maggot</b>? <b>In</b> <b>your</b> <b>duck</b>-<b>pond</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>caught</b> “<b>em</b> <b>trespassing</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmer</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>set</b> <b>my</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>on</b> “<b>em</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>. <b>Now</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>excuse</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>d</b> <b>best</b> <b>be</b> <b>turning</b> <b>for</b> <b>home</b>. <b>Mrs</b>. <b>Maggot</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>worriting</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>getting</b> <b>thick</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>backed</b> <b>the</b> <b>waggon</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>it</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>good</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>day</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistake</b>. <b>But</b> <b>all</b>’<b>s</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>ends</b> <b>well</b>; <b>though</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>reach</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>doors</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>not</b> <b>deny</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b> <b>now</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>lit</b> <b>his</b> <b>lanterns</b>, <b>and</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>produced</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>basket</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>seat</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>forgetting</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Mrs</b>. <b>Maggot</b> <b>put</b> <b>this</b> <b>up</b> <b>for</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b>, <b>with</b> <b>her</b> <b>compliments</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>handed</b> <b>it</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>moved</b> <b>off</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>chorus</b> <b>of</b> <b>thanks</b> <b>and</b> <b>good</b>-<b>nights</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>watched</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>round</b> <b>his</b> <b>lanterns</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwindled</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>foggy</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>laughed</b>: <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>covered</b> <b>basket</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b>, <b>the</b> <b>scent</b> <b>of</b> <b>mushrooms</b> <b>was</b> <b>rising</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 5<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>CONSPIRACY</b> <b>UNMASKED</b><br>
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<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>get</b> <b>home</b> <b>ourselves</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>something</b> <b>funny</b> <b>about</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b>, <b>I</b> <b>see</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>wait</b> <b>till</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>in</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>turned</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ferry</b> <b>lane</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>straight</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b>-<b>kept</b> <b>and</b> <b>edged</b> <b>with</b> <b>large</b> <b>white</b>-<b>washed</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>yards</b> <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>bank</b>, <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>broad</b> <b>wooden</b> <b>landing</b>-<b>stage</b>. <b>A</b> <b>large</b> <b>flat</b> <b>ferry</b>-<b>boat</b> <b>was</b> <b>moored</b> <b>beside</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>white</b> <b>bollards</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>’<b>s</b> <b>edge</b> <b>glimmered</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>two</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>on</b> <b>high</b> <b>posts</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flat</b> <b>fields</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedges</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>with</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>curling</b> <b>wisps</b> <b>like</b> <b>steam</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>There</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>less</b> <b>fog</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b>.<br>
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<b>Merry</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>gangway</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ferry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>followed</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>then</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>off</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>pole</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>slow</b> <b>and</b> <b>broad</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>was</b> <b>steep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>winding</b> <b>path</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>landing</b>. <b>Lamps</b> <b>were</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Buck</b> <b>Hill</b>; <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>through</b> <b>stray</b> <b>shrouds</b> <b>of</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>shone</b> <b>many</b> <b>round</b> <b>windows</b>, <b>yellow</b> <b>and</b> <b>red</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b> <b>of</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>, <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>home</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybucks</b>.<br>
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<b>Long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>Gorhendad</b> <b>Oldbuck</b>, <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Oldbuck</b> <b>family</b>, <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>oldest</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b> <b>or</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>had</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>original</b> <b>boundary</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>eastwards</b>. <b>He</b> <b>built</b> (<b>and</b> <b>excavated</b>) <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>, <b>changed</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b> <b>to</b> <b>Brandybuck</b>, <b>and</b> <b>settled</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>virtually</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>independent</b> <b>country</b>. <b>His</b> <b>family</b> <b>grew</b> <b>and</b> <b>grew</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>his</b> <b>days</b> <b>continued</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b>, <b>until</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>occupied</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>low</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>three</b> <b>large</b> <b>front</b>-<b>doors</b>, <b>many</b> <b>side</b>-<b>doors</b>, <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>windows</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>numerous</b> <b>dependants</b> <b>then</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>burrow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>later</b> <b>to</b> <b>build</b>, <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>about</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>origin</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>a</b> <b>thickly</b> <b>inhabited</b> <b>strip</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>a</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>colony</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>chief</b> <b>village</b> <b>was</b> <b>Bucklebury</b>, <b>clustering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>and</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>behind</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>people</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b> <b>were</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bucklanders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>authority</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hall</b> (<b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>family</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b>) <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>acknowledged</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>farmers</b> <b>between</b> <b>Stock</b> <b>and</b> <b>Rushey</b>. <b>But</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>regarded</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bucklanders</b> <b>as</b> <b>peculiar</b>, <b>half</b> <b>foreigners</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b>. <b>Though</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>very</b> <b>different</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Four</b> <b>Farthings</b>. <b>Except</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>point</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>boats</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>could</b> <b>swim</b>.<br>
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<b>Their</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>originally</b> <b>unprotected</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>; <b>but</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>side</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>built</b> <b>a</b> <b>hedge</b>: <b>the</b> <b>High</b> <b>Hay</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>planted</b> <b>many</b> <b>generations</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>thick</b> <b>and</b> <b>tail</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>tended</b>. <b>It</b> <b>ran</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>from</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>, <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>big</b> <b>loop</b> <b>curving</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>, <b>to</b> <b>Haysend</b> (<b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b>): <b>well</b> <b>over</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>from</b> <b>end</b> <b>to</b> <b>end</b>. <b>But</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>complete</b> <b>protection</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>drew</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>places</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Bucklanders</b> <b>kept</b> <b>their</b> <b>doors</b> <b>locked</b> <b>after</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>also</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>usual</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>ferry</b>-<b>boat</b> <b>moved</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>shore</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>member</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>before</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>slow</b> <b>gurgling</b> <b>stream</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>by</b>: <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>life</b> <b>lay</b> <b>behind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>lay</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b>. <b>He</b> <b>scratched</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>passing</b> <b>wish</b> <b>that</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>on</b> <b>living</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>ferry</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>tying</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>leading</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>when</b> <b>Sam</b> (<b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>looking</b> <b>back</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>) <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hoarse</b> <b>whisper</b>:<br>
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“<b>Look</b> <b>back</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>anything</b>?”<br>
|
||
<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>stage</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>lamps</b>, <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>just</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>figure</b>: <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>black</b> <b>bundle</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>move</b> <b>and</b> <b>sway</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>searching</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>It</b> <b>then</b> <b>crawled</b>, <b>or</b> <b>went</b> <b>crouching</b>, <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>lamps</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>What</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b>?” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Something</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>following</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>ask</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>get</b> <b>away</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>!” <b>They</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>shore</b> <b>was</b> <b>shrouded</b> <b>in</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Thank</b> <b>goodness</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>any</b> <b>boats</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>-<b>bank</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Can</b> <b>horses</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>They</b> <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>north</b> <b>to</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>—<b>or</b> <b>they</b> <b>might</b> <b>swim</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Though</b> <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>horse</b> <b>swimming</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>have</b> <b>horses</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>later</b>. <b>Let</b>’<b>s</b> <b>get</b> <b>indoors</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>talk</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>All</b> <b>right</b>! <b>You</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>know</b> <b>your</b> <b>way</b>; <b>so</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>just</b> <b>ride</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>tell</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b>. <b>We</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>see</b> <b>about</b> <b>supper</b> <b>and</b> <b>things</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>We</b> <b>had</b> <b>our</b> <b>supper</b> <b>early</b> <b>with</b> <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>another</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b>! <b>Give</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>basket</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>new</b> <b>house</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>. <b>They</b> <b>passed</b> <b>Buck</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>outskirts</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>struck</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>road</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>that</b> <b>ran</b> <b>south</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>. <b>Half</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>northward</b> <b>along</b> <b>this</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>lane</b> <b>opening</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b>. <b>This</b> <b>they</b> <b>followed</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>miles</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>thick</b> <b>hedge</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>: <b>it</b> <b>stood</b> <b>back</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>surrounded</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>belt</b> <b>of</b> <b>low</b> <b>trees</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>hedge</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>it</b>, <b>because</b> <b>it</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>out</b>-<b>of</b>-<b>the</b>-<b>way</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>close</b> <b>by</b>. <b>You</b> <b>could</b> <b>get</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>without</b> <b>being</b> <b>noticed</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>built</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>before</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybucks</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>guests</b>, <b>or</b> <b>members</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>family</b> <b>that</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>life</b> <b>of</b> <b>Brandy</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b>-<b>fashioned</b> <b>countrified</b> <b>house</b>, <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>hole</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>low</b>, <b>with</b> <b>no</b> <b>upper</b> <b>storey</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>turf</b>, <b>round</b> <b>windows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>round</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>lip</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>path</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>no</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>visible</b>; <b>the</b> <b>windows</b> <b>were</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>shuttered</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>knocked</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>opened</b> <b>it</b>. <b>A</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>light</b> <b>streamed</b> <b>out</b>. <b>They</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>in</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>shut</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>inside</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>hall</b> <b>with</b> <b>doors</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>; <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>passage</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>coming</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>our</b> <b>best</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>it</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>home</b>. <b>After</b> <b>all</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>only</b> <b>got</b> <b>here</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>cart</b>-<b>load</b> <b>yesterday</b>.”<br>
|
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>round</b>. <b>It</b> <b>did</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>home</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>things</b>—<b>or</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>things</b> (<b>they</b> <b>reminded</b> <b>him</b> <b>sharply</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>new</b> <b>selling</b>)—<b>were</b> <b>arranged</b> <b>as</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b>, <b>comfortable</b>, <b>welcoming</b> <b>place</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>wishing</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>really</b> <b>coming</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>settle</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>retirement</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>unfair</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>trouble</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>again</b> <b>how</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>break</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>leave</b> <b>them</b> <b>so</b> <b>soon</b>, <b>indeed</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b> <b>that</b> <b>very</b> <b>night</b>, <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>delightful</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>feel</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>moved</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>.”<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>hung</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>cloaks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>piled</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>and</b> <b>threw</b> <b>open</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>end</b>. <b>Firelight</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>puff</b> <b>of</b> <b>steam</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>A</b> <b>bath</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>O</b> <b>blessed</b> <b>Meriadoc</b>!”<br>
|
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“<b>Which</b> <b>order</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Eldest</b> <b>first</b>, <b>or</b> <b>quickest</b> <b>first</b>? <b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>last</b> <b>either</b> <b>way</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Peregrin</b>.”<br>
|
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“<b>Trust</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>arrange</b> <b>things</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>that</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>begin</b> <b>life</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>quarrel</b> <b>over</b> <b>baths</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>room</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>three</b> <b>tubs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>copper</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>boiling</b> <b>water</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>also</b> <b>towels</b>, <b>mats</b> <b>and</b> <b>soap</b>. <b>Get</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>quick</b>!”<br>
|
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<b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>kitchen</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b>, <b>and</b> <b>busied</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>final</b> <b>preparations</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>late</b> <b>supper</b>. <b>Snatches</b> <b>of</b> <b>competing</b> <b>songs</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>bathroom</b> <b>mixed</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>splashing</b> <b>and</b> <b>wallowing</b>. <b>The</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>favourite</b> <b>bath</b>-<b>songs</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>Sing</b> <b>hey</b>! <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>bath</b> <b>at</b> <b>close</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b><br>
|
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<b>that</b> <b>washes</b> <b>the</b> <b>weary</b> <b>mud</b> <b>away</b>!<br>
|
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<b>A</b> <b>loon</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>sing</b>:<br>
|
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<b>O</b>! <b>Water</b> <b>Hot</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>noble</b> <b>thing</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
|
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<b>O</b>! <b>Sweet</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>falling</b> <b>rain</b>,<br>
|
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<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>brook</b> <b>that</b> <b>leaps</b> <b>from</b> <b>hill</b> <b>to</b> <b>plain</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>but</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>rain</b> <b>or</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>streams</b><br>
|
||
<b>is</b> <b>Water</b> <b>Hot</b> <b>that</b> <b>smokes</b> <b>and</b> <b>steams</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>O</b>! <b>Water</b> <b>cold</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>pour</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b><br>
|
||
<b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>thirsty</b> <b>throat</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b> <b>indeed</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>but</b> <b>better</b> <b>is</b> <b>Beer</b>, <b>if</b> <b>drink</b> <b>we</b> <b>lack</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>Water</b> <b>Hot</b> <b>poured</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>O</b>! <b>Water</b> <b>is</b> <b>fair</b> <b>that</b> <b>leaps</b> <b>on</b> <b>high</b><br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>white</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>but</b> <b>never</b> <b>did</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>sound</b> <b>so</b> <b>sweet</b><br>
|
||
<b>as</b> <b>splashing</b> <b>Hot</b> <b>Water</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>feet</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>terrific</b> <b>splash</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>shout</b> <b>of</b> <b>Whoa</b>! <b>from</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>It</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>Pippin</b>’<b>s</b> <b>bath</b> <b>had</b> <b>imitated</b> <b>a</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>on</b> <b>high</b>.<br>
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<b>Merry</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>: “<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>supper</b> <b>and</b> <b>beer</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>throat</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>called</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>drying</b> <b>his</b> <b>hair</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>coming</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>kitchen</b> <b>to</b> <b>finish</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>Lawks</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>in</b>. <b>The</b> <b>stone</b> <b>floor</b> <b>was</b> <b>swimming</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>mop</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>up</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>get</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>eat</b>. <b>Peregrin</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Hurry</b> <b>up</b>, <b>or</b> <b>we</b> <b>shan</b>’<b>t</b> <b>wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>supper</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>kitchen</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>you</b> <b>three</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>mushrooms</b> <b>again</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Fredegar</b> <b>without</b> <b>much</b> <b>hope</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b>’<b>re</b> <b>mine</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Given</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>by</b> <b>Mrs</b>. <b>Maggot</b>, <b>a</b> <b>queen</b> <b>among</b> <b>farmers</b>” <b>wives</b>. <b>Take</b> <b>your</b> <b>greedy</b> <b>hands</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>serve</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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<b>Hobbits</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>passion</b> <b>for</b> <b>mushrooms</b>, <b>surpassing</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>greediest</b> <b>likings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b>. <b>A</b> <b>fact</b> <b>which</b> <b>partly</b> <b>explains</b> <b>young</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>long</b> <b>expeditions</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>renowned</b> <b>fields</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Marish</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wrath</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>injured</b> <b>Maggot</b>. <b>On</b> <b>this</b> <b>occasion</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>plenty</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b>, <b>even</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>standards</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>finished</b> <b>even</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>heaved</b> <b>a</b> <b>sigh</b> <b>of</b> <b>content</b>. <b>They</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>chairs</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>clear</b> <b>up</b> <b>later</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>! <b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>having</b> <b>adventures</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>quite</b> <b>fair</b> <b>without</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>a</b> <b>full</b> <b>account</b>; <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>with</b> <b>old</b> <b>Maggot</b>, <b>and</b> <b>why</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>scared</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>possible</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>all</b> <b>been</b> <b>scared</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>pause</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>chased</b> <b>for</b> <b>two</b> <b>days</b> <b>by</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>are</b> <b>they</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>riding</b> <b>on</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>tale</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>then</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>full</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>gave</b> <b>various</b> <b>supporting</b> <b>nods</b> <b>and</b> <b>exclamations</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>remained</b> <b>silent</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>making</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>up</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>seen</b> <b>that</b> <b>black</b> <b>shape</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>landing</b>-<b>stage</b>—<b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>queer</b> <b>sound</b> <b>in</b> <b>Maggot</b>’<b>s</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>make</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b>, <b>Frodo</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Cousin</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>very</b> <b>close</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b> <b>out</b>. <b>So</b> <b>far</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>given</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>than</b> <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b>’<b>s</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>treasure</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>guess</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>hastily</b>. “<b>Maggot</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>anything</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Old</b> <b>Maggot</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>shrewd</b> <b>fellow</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>lot</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b> <b>behind</b> <b>his</b> <b>round</b> <b>face</b> <b>that</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>the</b> <b>reputation</b> <b>of</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>many</b> <b>strange</b> <b>things</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>tell</b> <b>us</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>his</b> <b>guess</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>bad</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>slowly</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>goes</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>connexion</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>old</b> <b>adventures</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>are</b> <b>looking</b>, <b>or</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>one</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>searching</b>, <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>also</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>joke</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>safe</b> <b>here</b> <b>or</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>else</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>round</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b> <b>and</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>give</b> <b>way</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>and</b> <b>exchanged</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>glances</b> <b>among</b> <b>themselves</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>coming</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>minute</b>,” <b>whispered</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>to</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>nodded</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>straightening</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>decision</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>dark</b> <b>any</b> <b>longer</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>got</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>quite</b> <b>how</b> <b>to</b> <b>begin</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>quietly</b>, “<b>by</b> <b>telling</b> <b>you</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>myself</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>anxiously</b>. “<b>Just</b> <b>this</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>old</b> <b>Frodo</b>: <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>miserable</b>, <b>because</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>good</b>-<b>bye</b>. <b>You</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>. <b>But</b> <b>danger</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>expected</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>making</b> <b>up</b> <b>your</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>very</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>opened</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>and</b> <b>shut</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>. <b>His</b> <b>look</b> <b>of</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>comical</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Dear</b> <b>old</b> <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>dust</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>our</b> <b>eyes</b>? <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>careful</b> <b>or</b> <b>clever</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b>! <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>been</b> <b>planning</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>saying</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>your</b> <b>haunts</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>year</b> <b>since</b> <b>April</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>heard</b> <b>you</b> <b>muttering</b>: “<b>Shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>ever</b> <b>look</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>that</b> <b>valley</b> <b>again</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>”, <b>and</b> <b>things</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>. <b>And</b> <b>pretending</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>money</b>, <b>and</b> <b>actually</b> <b>selling</b> <b>your</b> <b>beloved</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b>! <b>And</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>close</b> <b>talks</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>heavens</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>both</b> <b>careful</b> <b>and</b> <b>clever</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>would</b> <b>say</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>discussing</b> <b>my</b> <b>departure</b> <b>then</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Oh</b> <b>no</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b>! <b>The</b> <b>secret</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>present</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>only</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>conspirators</b>. <b>After</b> <b>all</b>, <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>remember</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>know</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b>, <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>often</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>. <b>We</b> <b>can</b> <b>usually</b> <b>guess</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>thinking</b>. <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>too</b>. <b>To</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>watching</b> <b>you</b> <b>rather</b> <b>closely</b> <b>ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>go</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b>; <b>indeed</b> <b>I</b> <b>expected</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>sooner</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lately</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>very</b> <b>anxious</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>terrified</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>give</b> <b>us</b> <b>the</b> <b>slip</b>, <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>all</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>like</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b>. <b>Ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>this</b> <b>spring</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>kept</b> <b>our</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>open</b>, <b>and</b> <b>done</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>planning</b> <b>on</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>account</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>so</b> <b>easily</b>!”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>helped</b>, <b>dear</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>wretched</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>use</b> <b>your</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Since</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b>, <b>please</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>hinder</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b>—<b>and</b> <b>therefore</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b>, <b>too</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>excellent</b> <b>fellow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>jump</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>dragon</b>’<b>s</b> <b>throat</b> <b>to</b> <b>save</b> <b>you</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>trip</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>need</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>one</b> <b>companion</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>adventure</b>.”<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>beloved</b> <b>hobbits</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>moved</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>allow</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>decided</b> <b>that</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>too</b>. <b>You</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>treasure</b>-<b>hunt</b>, <b>no</b> <b>there</b>-<b>and</b>-<b>back</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>flying</b> <b>from</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>peril</b> <b>into</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>peril</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>we</b> <b>understand</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>firmly</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>why</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>. <b>We</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>laughing</b>-<b>matter</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>our</b> <b>best</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>now</b> <b>completely</b> <b>amazed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>allow</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>inquisitiveness</b> <b>of</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>existence</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>for</b> <b>years</b>—<b>before</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>; <b>but</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>regarded</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>secret</b>, <b>I</b> <b>kept</b> <b>the</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>head</b>, <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>formed</b> <b>our</b> <b>conspiracy</b>. <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>you</b>; <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>young</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>more</b> <b>careful</b>—<b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>careful</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>I</b> <b>first</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Go</b> <b>on</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>faintly</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sackville</b>-<b>Bagginses</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>his</b> <b>downfall</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>expect</b>. <b>One</b> <b>day</b>, <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Party</b>, <b>I</b> <b>happened</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>walking</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>the</b> <b>S</b>.-<b>B</b>.<b>s</b> <b>appeared</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>towards</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>slowed</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>hey</b> <b>presto</b>! <b>he</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>startled</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>wits</b> <b>to</b> <b>hide</b> <b>myself</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>more</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>fashion</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>field</b> <b>inside</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>peeping</b> <b>through</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>S</b>.-<b>B</b>.<b>s</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>straight</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>reappeared</b>. <b>I</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glint</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>something</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>trouser</b>-<b>pocket</b>.<br>
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“<b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>kept</b> <b>my</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>open</b>. <b>In</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>I</b> <b>confess</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>spied</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>admit</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>intriguing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>teens</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>besides</b> <b>you</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>fellow</b>’<b>s</b> <b>secret</b> <b>book</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>read</b> <b>his</b> <b>book</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Good</b> <b>heavens</b> <b>above</b>! <b>Is</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>safe</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>too</b> <b>safe</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>only</b> <b>had</b> <b>one</b> <b>rapid</b> <b>glance</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b>. <b>He</b> <b>never</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>book</b> <b>about</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>became</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>another</b> <b>look</b>. <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Frodo</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>He</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>taken</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>saying</b>,” <b>Merry</b> <b>proceeded</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>kept</b> <b>my</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>to</b> <b>myself</b>, <b>till</b> <b>this</b> <b>Spring</b> <b>when</b> <b>things</b> <b>got</b> <b>serious</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>we</b> <b>formed</b> <b>our</b> <b>conspiracy</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>serious</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>and</b> <b>meant</b> <b>business</b>, <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>too</b> <b>scrupulous</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>easy</b> <b>nut</b> <b>to</b> <b>crack</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>is</b> <b>worse</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>introduced</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>chief</b> <b>investigator</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>produce</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>round</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>expected</b> <b>a</b> <b>masked</b> <b>and</b> <b>sinister</b> <b>figure</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>cupboard</b>.<br>
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“<b>Step</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>face</b> <b>scarlet</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ears</b>. “<b>Here</b>’<b>s</b> <b>our</b> <b>collector</b> <b>of</b> <b>information</b>! <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>collected</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>, <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>finally</b> <b>caught</b>. <b>After</b> <b>which</b>, <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b>, <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>regard</b> <b>himself</b> <b>as</b> <b>on</b> <b>parole</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dried</b> <b>up</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Sam</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>that</b> <b>amazement</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b>, <b>and</b> <b>quite</b> <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b> <b>whether</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>angry</b>, <b>amused</b>, <b>relieved</b>, <b>or</b> <b>merely</b> <b>foolish</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>sir</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>meant</b> <b>no</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>matter</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>some</b> <b>sense</b>, <b>mind</b> <b>you</b>; <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>said</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b>! <b>take</b> <b>someone</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b> <b>anyone</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>unhappily</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>all</b> <b>depends</b> <b>on</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b>,” <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>stick</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>through</b> <b>thick</b> <b>and</b> <b>thin</b>—<b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>end</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>any</b> <b>secret</b> <b>of</b> <b>yours</b>—<b>closer</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>yourself</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>trust</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>let</b> <b>you</b> <b>face</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>your</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Anyway</b>: <b>there</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>. <b>We</b> <b>know</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b>. <b>We</b> <b>know</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>horribly</b> <b>afraid</b>—<b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>; <b>or</b> <b>following</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b> <b>hounds</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>, <b>sir</b>,” <b>added</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>did</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>” <b>advice</b>. <b>Gildor</b> <b>said</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>take</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>was</b> <b>willing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>deny</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>deny</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>grinning</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>deny</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>never</b> <b>believe</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>sleeping</b> <b>again</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>you</b> <b>snore</b> <b>or</b> <b>not</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>kick</b> <b>you</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>sure</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>set</b> <b>of</b> <b>deceitful</b> <b>scoundrels</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>bless</b> <b>you</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>laughed</b>, <b>getting</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>waving</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>give</b> <b>in</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>Gildor</b>’<b>s</b> <b>advice</b>. <b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>dance</b> <b>for</b> <b>joy</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>so</b>, <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>help</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>happy</b>; <b>happier</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>felt</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>dreaded</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Good</b>! <b>That</b>’<b>s</b> <b>settled</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>cheers</b> <b>for</b> <b>Captain</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>company</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>shouted</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>danced</b> <b>round</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>began</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b>, <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>apparently</b> <b>got</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>occasion</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>model</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>song</b> <b>that</b> <b>started</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>tune</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Farewell</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b> <b>to</b> <b>hearth</b> <b>and</b> <b>hall</b>!<br>
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<b>Though</b> <b>wind</b> <b>may</b> <b>blow</b> <b>and</b> <b>rain</b> <b>may</b> <b>fall</b>,<br>
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<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>away</b> <b>ere</b> <b>break</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b><br>
|
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<b>Far</b> <b>over</b> <b>wood</b> <b>and</b> <b>mountain</b> <b>tall</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>To</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>where</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>yet</b> <b>dwell</b><br>
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<b>In</b> <b>glades</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>misty</b> <b>fell</b>,<br>
|
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<b>Through</b> <b>moor</b> <b>and</b> <b>waste</b> <b>we</b> <b>ride</b> <b>in</b> <b>haste</b>,<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>whither</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tell</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>With</b> <b>foes</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>behind</b> <b>us</b> <b>dread</b>,<br>
|
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<b>Beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>our</b> <b>bed</b>,<br>
|
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<b>Until</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>our</b> <b>toil</b> <b>be</b> <b>passed</b>,<br>
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<b>Our</b> <b>journey</b> <b>done</b>, <b>our</b> <b>errand</b> <b>sped</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>away</b>! <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>away</b>!<br>
|
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<b>We</b> <b>ride</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>break</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
|
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“<b>Very</b> <b>good</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>case</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>—<b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>roof</b>, <b>for</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>.”<br>
|
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“<b>Oh</b>! <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>poetry</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>break</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>those</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>unsafe</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>place</b> <b>long</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>to</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>known</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b>. <b>Also</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>advised</b> <b>me</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>was</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>appeared</b>. <b>It</b> <b>really</b> <b>depends</b> <b>on</b> <b>two</b> <b>things</b>. <b>How</b> <b>soon</b> <b>could</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bucklebury</b>? <b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>soon</b> <b>could</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>off</b>? <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>preparation</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>The</b> <b>answer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>second</b> <b>question</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>get</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>practically</b> <b>everything</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>six</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>stable</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b>; <b>stores</b> <b>and</b> <b>tackle</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>packed</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>extra</b> <b>clothes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>perishable</b> <b>food</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>efficient</b> <b>conspiracy</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>? <b>Would</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>That</b> <b>all</b> <b>depends</b> <b>on</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>would</b> <b>do</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>you</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>here</b> <b>by</b> <b>now</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>gate</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>runs</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>bank</b>, <b>just</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>gate</b>-<b>guards</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>through</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>might</b> <b>break</b> <b>through</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>them</b> <b>out</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b> <b>through</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hall</b>—<b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>look</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>be</b> <b>frightened</b> <b>by</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>Buckland</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>resist</b> <b>a</b> <b>determined</b> <b>attack</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b>. <b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>possible</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>even</b> <b>a</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rider</b> <b>that</b> <b>rode</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>asked</b> <b>for</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>let</b> <b>through</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>generally</b> <b>known</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>finally</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>starting</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>light</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>by</b> <b>road</b>: <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>safer</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>here</b> <b>than</b> <b>that</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>go</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>my</b> <b>departure</b> <b>from</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>known</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>instead</b> <b>of</b> <b>being</b> <b>secret</b> <b>for</b> <b>several</b> <b>days</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b>. <b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>will</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>be</b> <b>watched</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>any</b> <b>Rider</b> <b>gets</b> <b>into</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>or</b> <b>not</b>. <b>We</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>many</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>two</b>, <b>and</b> <b>possibly</b> <b>more</b>. <b>The</b> <b>only</b> <b>thing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>quite</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>direction</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>can</b> <b>only</b> <b>mean</b> <b>going</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Fredegar</b> <b>horrified</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>doing</b> <b>that</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>quite</b> <b>as</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>as</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Not</b> <b>quite</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>It</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>very</b> <b>desperate</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>is</b> <b>right</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>getting</b> <b>off</b> <b>without</b> <b>being</b> <b>followed</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>With</b> <b>luck</b> <b>we</b> <b>might</b> <b>gel</b> <b>a</b> <b>considerable</b> <b>start</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>have</b> <b>any</b> <b>luck</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>,” <b>objected</b> <b>Fredegar</b>. “<b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>ever</b> <b>has</b> <b>luck</b> <b>in</b> <b>there</b>. <b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>gel</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>People</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b> <b>there</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Oh</b> <b>yes</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b>—<b>occasionally</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>fit</b> <b>takes</b> <b>them</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>private</b> <b>entrance</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>once</b>, <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>several</b> <b>times</b>: <b>usually</b> <b>in</b> <b>daylight</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>are</b> <b>sleepy</b> <b>and</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>quiet</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Well</b>, <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>best</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Fredegar</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>more</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>than</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>about</b>: <b>the</b> <b>stories</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>nightmare</b>; <b>but</b> <b>my</b> <b>vote</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>counts</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>Still</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>very</b> <b>glad</b> <b>someone</b> <b>is</b> <b>stopping</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>who</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>turns</b> <b>up</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>Fond</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>lay</b> <b>outside</b> <b>it</b>. <b>His</b> <b>family</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>, <b>from</b> <b>Budgeford</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bridgefields</b> <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>. <b>His</b> <b>task</b>, <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>original</b> <b>plans</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>conspirators</b>, <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>behind</b> <b>and</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>inquisitive</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b> <b>the</b> <b>pretence</b> <b>that</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>living</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>even</b> <b>brought</b> <b>along</b> <b>some</b> <b>old</b> <b>clothes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>playing</b> <b>the</b> <b>part</b>. <b>They</b> <b>little</b> <b>thought</b> <b>how</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>that</b> <b>part</b> <b>might</b> <b>prove</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Excellent</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>understood</b> <b>the</b> <b>plan</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>any</b> <b>message</b> <b>behind</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>otherwise</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>whether</b> <b>these</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>can</b> <b>read</b> <b>or</b> <b>not</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>risk</b> <b>a</b> <b>written</b> <b>message</b>, <b>in</b> <b>case</b> <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>searched</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>is</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>fort</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>that</b> <b>decides</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>first</b> <b>thing</b> <b>tomorrow</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Well</b>, <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>rather</b> <b>have</b> <b>our</b> <b>job</b> <b>than</b> <b>Fatty</b>’<b>s</b>—<b>waiting</b> <b>here</b> <b>till</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>come</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>You</b> <b>wait</b> <b>till</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>well</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Fredegar</b>. “<b>You</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>back</b> <b>here</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b> <b>before</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>tomorrow</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>arguing</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>still</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>tidy</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>finishing</b> <b>touches</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>packing</b>, <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>call</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>break</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b>.”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b>. <b>His</b> <b>legs</b> <b>ached</b>. <b>He</b>. <b>was</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>riding</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>Eventually</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>vague</b> <b>dream</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>looking</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>window</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>sea</b> <b>of</b> <b>tangled</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Down</b> <b>below</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>roots</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>crawling</b> <b>and</b> <b>snuffling</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>sure</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>smell</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>wind</b> <b>coming</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>far</b>-<b>off</b>; <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>waking</b> <b>life</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>often</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>his</b> <b>dreams</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>trees</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>heath</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>salt</b> <b>smell</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. <b>Looking</b> <b>up</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>white</b> <b>tower</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>alone</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>ridge</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>desire</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>the</b> <b>tower</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>He</b> <b>started</b> <b>to</b> <b>struggle</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>tower</b>: <b>but</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>thunder</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 6<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>OLD</b> <b>FOREST</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>suddenly</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>dark</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>there</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>candle</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>banging</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>right</b>! <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>still</b> <b>shaken</b> <b>and</b> <b>bewildered</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>up</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>half</b> <b>past</b> <b>four</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>foggy</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Sam</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>getting</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>ready</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>is</b> <b>up</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>just</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>saddle</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponies</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fetch</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>baggage</b>-<b>carrier</b>. <b>Wake</b> <b>that</b> <b>sluggard</b> <b>Fatty</b>! <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>get</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>us</b> <b>off</b>.”<br>
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<b>Soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>six</b> <b>o</b>’<b>clock</b> <b>the</b> <b>five</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b>. <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>yawning</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stole</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>leading</b> <b>a</b> <b>laden</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b> <b>along</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>went</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>spinney</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>cut</b> <b>across</b> <b>several</b> <b>fields</b>. <b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>glistening</b>, <b>and</b> <b>every</b> <b>twig</b> <b>was</b> <b>dripping</b>; <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>grey</b> <b>with</b> <b>cold</b> <b>dew</b>. <b>Everything</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b>, <b>and</b> <b>far</b>-<b>away</b> <b>noises</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>near</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b>: <b>fowls</b> <b>chattering</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>yard</b>, <b>someone</b> <b>closing</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>distant</b> <b>house</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>their</b> <b>shed</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponies</b>; <b>sturdy</b> <b>little</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>kind</b> <b>loved</b> <b>by</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>not</b> <b>speedy</b>, <b>but</b> <b>good</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>day</b>’<b>s</b> <b>work</b>. <b>They</b> <b>mounted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>riding</b> <b>off</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>which</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b> <b>reluctantly</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>close</b> <b>forbiddingly</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>After</b> <b>riding</b> <b>for</b> <b>about</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>slowly</b> <b>and</b> <b>without</b> <b>talking</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>looming</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>netted</b> <b>over</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b> <b>cobwebs</b>. “<b>How</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>through</b> <b>this</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Fredegar</b>. “<b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>point</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>bent</b> <b>inwards</b>, <b>running</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>lip</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>hollow</b>. <b>A</b> <b>cutting</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>made</b>, <b>at</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>sloping</b> <b>gently</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>brick</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>sides</b>, <b>which</b> <b>rose</b> <b>steadily</b>, <b>until</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>arched</b> <b>over</b> <b>and</b> <b>formed</b> <b>a</b> <b>tunnel</b> <b>that</b> <b>dived</b> <b>deep</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>.<br>
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<b>Here</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>halted</b>. “<b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>, <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>. <b>I</b> <b>only</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>need</b> <b>rescuing</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>is</b> <b>out</b>. <b>But</b> <b>good</b> <b>luck</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>—<b>today</b> <b>and</b> <b>every</b> <b>day</b>!”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>worse</b> <b>things</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>lucky</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Tell</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>to</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b>: <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>soon</b> <b>be</b> <b>back</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>going</b> <b>as</b> <b>fast</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>.” “<b>Good</b>-<b>bye</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>from</b> <b>Fredegar</b>’<b>s</b> <b>sight</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>tunnel</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>damp</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>end</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>closed</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>gate</b> <b>of</b> <b>thick</b>-<b>set</b> <b>iron</b> <b>bars</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>got</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>unlocked</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>all</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>he</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>again</b>. <b>It</b> <b>shut</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>clang</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lock</b> <b>clicked</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>was</b> <b>ominous</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Are</b> <b>the</b> <b>stories</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>true</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>stories</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>,” <b>Merry</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>bogey</b>-<b>stories</b> <b>Fatty</b>’<b>s</b> <b>nurses</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>him</b>, <b>about</b> <b>goblins</b> <b>and</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>things</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>sort</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b>. <b>At</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>believe</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>is</b> <b>queer</b>. <b>Everything</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>more</b> <b>alive</b>, <b>more</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>, <b>than</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>strangers</b>. <b>They</b> <b>watch</b> <b>you</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>usually</b> <b>content</b> <b>merely</b> <b>to</b> <b>watch</b> <b>you</b>, <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>lasts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>much</b>. <b>Occasionally</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>ones</b> <b>may</b> <b>drop</b> <b>a</b> <b>branch</b>, <b>or</b> <b>stick</b> <b>a</b> <b>root</b> <b>out</b>, <b>or</b> <b>grasp</b> <b>at</b> <b>you</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>trailer</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b> <b>things</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>most</b> <b>alarming</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>told</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>only</b> <b>once</b> <b>or</b> <b>twice</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>here</b> <b>after</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>only</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>whispering</b> <b>to</b> <b>each</b> <b>other</b>, <b>passing</b> <b>news</b> <b>and</b> <b>plots</b> <b>along</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>unintelligible</b> <b>language</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>swayed</b> <b>and</b> <b>groped</b> <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>They</b> <b>do</b> <b>say</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>do</b> <b>actually</b> <b>move</b>, <b>and</b> <b>can</b> <b>surround</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>and</b> <b>hem</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b>. <b>In</b> <b>fact</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>they</b> <b>attacked</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b>: <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>planted</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>right</b> <b>by</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>cut</b> <b>down</b> <b>hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>bonfire</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>burned</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>strip</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b>. <b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>gave</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>attack</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>became</b> <b>very</b> <b>unfriendly</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>bare</b> <b>space</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>inside</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>bonfire</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>it</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>dangerous</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>various</b> <b>queer</b> <b>things</b> <b>living</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>so</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>something</b> <b>makes</b> <b>paths</b>. <b>Whenever</b> <b>one</b> <b>comes</b> <b>inside</b> <b>one</b> <b>finds</b> <b>open</b> <b>tracks</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>shift</b> <b>and</b> <b>change</b> <b>from</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>time</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>fashion</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>this</b> <b>tunnel</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b>, <b>or</b> <b>was</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>, <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>of</b> <b>quite</b> <b>a</b> <b>broad</b> <b>path</b> <b>leading</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bonfire</b> <b>Glade</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>on</b> <b>more</b> <b>or</b> <b>less</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>direction</b>, <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>north</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>find</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>now</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>tunnel</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>hollow</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>path</b> <b>leading</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>yards</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Looking</b> <b>back</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>stems</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>thick</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Looking</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>only</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunks</b> <b>of</b> <b>innumerable</b> <b>sizes</b> <b>and</b> <b>shapes</b>: <b>straight</b> <b>or</b> <b>bent</b>, <b>twisted</b>, <b>leaning</b>, <b>squat</b> <b>or</b> <b>slender</b>, <b>smooth</b> <b>or</b> <b>gnarled</b> <b>and</b> <b>branched</b>; <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>stems</b> <b>were</b> <b>green</b> <b>or</b> <b>grey</b> <b>with</b> <b>moss</b> <b>and</b> <b>slimy</b>, <b>shaggy</b> <b>growths</b>.<br>
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<b>Merry</b> <b>alone</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>cheerful</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>lead</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>path</b>,” <b>Frodo</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>lose</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>, <b>or</b> <b>forget</b> <b>which</b> <b>way</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>lies</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>picked</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>plodded</b> <b>along</b>, <b>carefully</b> <b>avoiding</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>writhing</b> <b>and</b> <b>interlacing</b> <b>roots</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>undergrowth</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ground</b> <b>was</b> <b>rising</b> <b>steadily</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>became</b> <b>taller</b>, <b>darker</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thicker</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b>, <b>except</b> <b>an</b> <b>occasional</b> <b>drip</b> <b>of</b> <b>moisture</b> <b>falling</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>still</b> <b>leaves</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>whispering</b> <b>or</b> <b>movement</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>got</b> <b>an</b> <b>uncomfortable</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>being</b> <b>watched</b> <b>with</b> <b>disapproval</b>, <b>deepening</b> <b>to</b> <b>dislike</b> <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>enmity</b>. <b>The</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>grew</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>looking</b> <b>up</b> <b>quickly</b>, <b>or</b> <b>glancing</b> <b>back</b> <b>over</b> <b>their</b> <b>shoulders</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>expected</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>blow</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>as</b> <b>yet</b> <b>any</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>to</b> <b>bar</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>bear</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>without</b> <b>warning</b> <b>let</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>shout</b>. “<b>Oi</b>! <b>Oi</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>anything</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>pass</b> <b>through</b>, <b>will</b> <b>you</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>halted</b> <b>startled</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>cry</b> <b>fell</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>muffled</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>curtain</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>echo</b> <b>or</b> <b>answer</b> <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>more</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>watchful</b> <b>than</b> <b>before</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>shout</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>It</b> <b>does</b> <b>more</b> <b>harm</b> <b>than</b> <b>good</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>possible</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>through</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>right</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>come</b> <b>into</b> <b>this</b> <b>abominable</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>from</b> <b>side</b> <b>to</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>already</b> <b>uncertain</b> <b>which</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>it</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>taken</b> <b>you</b> <b>long</b> <b>to</b> <b>lose</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>whistle</b> <b>of</b> <b>relief</b> <b>and</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>ahead</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>well</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>trees</b> <b>do</b> <b>shift</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bonfire</b> <b>Glade</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> (<b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>so</b>), <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>moved</b> <b>away</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>grew</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>circular</b> <b>space</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b>, <b>blue</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>surprise</b>, <b>for</b> <b>down</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>-<b>roof</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>rising</b> <b>morning</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lifting</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>high</b> <b>enough</b> <b>yet</b> <b>to</b> <b>shine</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>clearing</b>, <b>though</b> <b>its</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>tops</b>. <b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>thicker</b> <b>and</b> <b>greener</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>edges</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>glade</b>, <b>enclosing</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>almost</b> <b>solid</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>No</b> <b>tree</b> <b>grew</b> <b>there</b>, <b>only</b> <b>rough</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>tall</b> <b>plants</b>: <b>stalky</b> <b>and</b> <b>faded</b> <b>hemlocks</b> <b>and</b> <b>wood</b>-<b>parsley</b>, <b>fire</b>-<b>weed</b> <b>seeding</b> <b>into</b> <b>fluffy</b> <b>ashes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rampant</b> <b>nettles</b> <b>and</b> <b>thistles</b>. <b>A</b> <b>dreary</b> <b>place</b>: <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>a</b> <b>charming</b> <b>and</b> <b>cheerful</b> <b>garden</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>close</b> <b>Forest</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>felt</b> <b>encouraged</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>hopefully</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>broadening</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>glade</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>break</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>path</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>it</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>running</b> <b>on</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>wide</b> <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>and</b> <b>open</b> <b>above</b>, <b>though</b> <b>every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>drew</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>overshadowed</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>dark</b> <b>boughs</b>. <b>Up</b> <b>this</b> <b>path</b> <b>they</b> <b>rode</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>gently</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>went</b> <b>much</b> <b>quicker</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>better</b> <b>heart</b>; <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>had</b> <b>relented</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>pass</b> <b>unhindered</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>hot</b> <b>and</b> <b>stuffy</b>. <b>The</b> <b>trees</b> <b>drew</b> <b>close</b> <b>again</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>see</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>ill</b> <b>will</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>pressing</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>. <b>So</b> <b>silent</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b>” <b>hoofs</b>, <b>rustling</b> <b>on</b> <b>dead</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>and</b> <b>occasionally</b> <b>stumbling</b> <b>on</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>roots</b>, <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>thud</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>ears</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>sing</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>to</b> <b>encourage</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>sank</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>murmur</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>O</b>! <b>Wanderers</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadowed</b> <b>land</b><br>
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<b>despair</b> <b>not</b>! <b>For</b> <b>though</b> <b>dark</b> <b>they</b> <b>stand</b>,<br>
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<b>all</b> <b>woods</b> <b>there</b> <b>be</b> <b>must</b> <b>end</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>sun</b> <b>go</b> <b>past</b>:<br>
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<b>the</b> <b>setting</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>the</b> <b>rising</b> <b>sun</b>,<br>
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<b>the</b> <b>day</b>’<b>s</b> <b>end</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>begun</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>east</b> <b>or</b> <b>west</b> <b>all</b> <b>woods</b> <b>must</b> <b>fail</b>…<br>
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<br>
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<b>Fail</b>—<b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>faded</b> <b>into</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>making</b> <b>of</b> <b>words</b> <b>wearisome</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>branch</b> <b>fell</b> <b>from</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>overhanging</b> <b>tree</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>crash</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>. <b>The</b> <b>trees</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>close</b> <b>in</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>about</b> <b>ending</b> <b>and</b> <b>failing</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>sing</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>at</b> <b>present</b>. <b>Wait</b> <b>till</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>turn</b> <b>and</b> <b>give</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>rousing</b> <b>chorus</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>cheerfully</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>any</b> <b>great</b> <b>anxiety</b>, <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>show</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>depressed</b>. <b>A</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>weight</b> <b>was</b> <b>settling</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>’<b>s</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>regretted</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>every</b> <b>step</b> <b>forward</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>challenging</b> <b>the</b> <b>menace</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b>, <b>indeed</b>, <b>just</b> <b>about</b> <b>to</b> <b>stop</b> <b>and</b> <b>propose</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> (<b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>possible</b>), <b>when</b> <b>things</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>turn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>path</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>climbing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>became</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>level</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>trees</b> <b>drew</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>going</b> <b>almost</b> <b>straight</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>off</b>, <b>there</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>, <b>treeless</b>, <b>rising</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bald</b> <b>head</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>encircling</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>The</b> <b>path</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>making</b> <b>directly</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>now</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>forward</b> <b>again</b>, <b>delighted</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>. <b>The</b> <b>path</b> <b>dipped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>again</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>upwards</b>, <b>leading</b> <b>them</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>hillside</b>. <b>There</b> <b>it</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>faded</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>turf</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wood</b> <b>stood</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>like</b> <b>thick</b> <b>hair</b> <b>that</b> <b>ended</b> <b>sharply</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>round</b> <b>a</b> <b>shaven</b> <b>crown</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>led</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>up</b>, <b>winding</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>round</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>and</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>gleaming</b> <b>and</b> <b>sunlit</b>, <b>but</b> <b>hazy</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>to</b> <b>any</b> <b>great</b> <b>distance</b>. <b>Near</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>almost</b> <b>gone</b>; <b>though</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b> <b>in</b> <b>hollows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>fold</b> <b>cutting</b> <b>right</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>the</b> <b>fog</b> <b>still</b> <b>rose</b> <b>like</b> <b>steam</b> <b>or</b> <b>wisps</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>smoke</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b>. <b>It</b> <b>comes</b> <b>down</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>and</b> <b>flows</b> <b>south</b>-<b>west</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>to</b> <b>join</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>below</b> <b>Haysend</b>. <b>We</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>! <b>The</b> <b>Withywindle</b> <b>valley</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>queerest</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>wood</b>—<b>the</b> <b>centre</b> <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>queerness</b> <b>comes</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>that</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>out</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>little</b> <b>but</b> <b>mists</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>damp</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b>-<b>cut</b> <b>valley</b>; <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>half</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>faded</b> <b>from</b> <b>view</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>getting</b> <b>hot</b>. <b>It</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>about</b> <b>eleven</b> <b>o</b>’<b>clock</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>haze</b> <b>still</b> <b>prevented</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>much</b> <b>in</b> <b>other</b> <b>directions</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>either</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Northward</b>, <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>most</b> <b>hopefully</b>, <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>for</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>making</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>sea</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>horizon</b> <b>was</b> <b>veiled</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>-<b>eastern</b> <b>side</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>fell</b> <b>very</b> <b>steeply</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>were</b> <b>continued</b> <b>far</b> <b>down</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>like</b> <b>island</b>-<b>shores</b> <b>that</b> <b>really</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>sides</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>mountain</b> <b>rising</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>deep</b> <b>waters</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sat</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>edge</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b>, <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>ate</b> <b>their</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b> <b>meal</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>noon</b> <b>they</b> <b>glimpsed</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b>-<b>green</b> <b>lines</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>side</b>. <b>That</b> <b>cheered</b> <b>them</b> <b>greatly</b>; <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>good</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>’<b>s</b> <b>borders</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>help</b> <b>it</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>downs</b> <b>had</b> <b>as</b> <b>sinister</b> <b>a</b> <b>reputation</b> <b>in</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>legend</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>itself</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>reappeared</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>northward</b> <b>side</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b> <b>far</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>became</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>bending</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>descend</b> <b>rapidly</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>actually</b> <b>be</b> <b>heading</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b> <b>valley</b>: <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>they</b> <b>wished</b> <b>lo</b> <b>take</b>. <b>After</b> <b>some</b> <b>discussion</b> <b>they</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>this</b> <b>misleading</b> <b>path</b> <b>and</b> <b>strike</b> <b>northward</b>; <b>for</b> <b>although</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>must</b> <b>lie</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>off</b>. <b>Also</b> <b>northward</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>lo</b> <b>be</b> <b>drier</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>open</b>, <b>climbing</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>thinner</b>, <b>and</b> <b>pines</b> <b>and</b> <b>firs</b> <b>replaced</b> <b>the</b> <b>oaks</b> <b>and</b> <b>ashes</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>strange</b> <b>and</b> <b>nameless</b> <b>trees</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>denser</b> <b>wood</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>their</b> <b>choice</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>good</b>: <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>along</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>speed</b>, <b>though</b> <b>whenever</b> <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>open</b> <b>glade</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>unaccountably</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>veered</b> <b>eastwards</b>. <b>But</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>close</b> <b>in</b> <b>again</b>, <b>just</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>distance</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>thinner</b> <b>and</b> <b>less</b> <b>tangled</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>deep</b> <b>folds</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>were</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>unexpectedly</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruts</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>giant</b>-<b>wheels</b> <b>or</b> <b>wide</b> <b>moats</b> <b>and</b> <b>sunken</b> <b>roads</b> <b>long</b> <b>disused</b> <b>and</b> <b>choked</b> <b>with</b> <b>brambles</b>. <b>These</b> <b>lay</b> <b>usually</b> <b>right</b> <b>across</b> <b>their</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>march</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>be</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>by</b> <b>scrambling</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>troublesome</b> <b>and</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>down</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>thick</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>and</b> <b>matted</b> <b>undergrowth</b>, <b>which</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>yield</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>, <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>gave</b> <b>way</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>clambered</b> <b>out</b>, <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>and</b> <b>darker</b>; <b>and</b> <b>always</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>upwards</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>most</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>forced</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>downwards</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>lost</b> <b>all</b> <b>clear</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>direction</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>knew</b> <b>well</b> <b>enough</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>ceased</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>northward</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>being</b> <b>headed</b> <b>off</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>simply</b> <b>following</b> <b>a</b> <b>course</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>—<b>eastwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>was</b> <b>wearing</b> <b>away</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>scrambled</b> <b>and</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>fold</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>wider</b> <b>and</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>yet</b> <b>met</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>and</b> <b>overhung</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>proved</b> <b>impossible</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>, <b>either</b> <b>forwards</b> <b>or</b> <b>backwards</b>, <b>without</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>All</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>the</b> <b>fold</b>—<b>downwards</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ground</b> <b>grew</b> <b>soft</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>boggy</b>; <b>springs</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>following</b> <b>a</b> <b>brook</b> <b>that</b> <b>trickled</b> <b>and</b> <b>babbled</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>weedy</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>rapidly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>brook</b> <b>growing</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>noisy</b>, <b>flowed</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>downhill</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>dim</b>-<b>lit</b> <b>gully</b> <b>over</b>-<b>arched</b> <b>by</b> <b>trees</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>stumbling</b> <b>along</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>quite</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>. <b>As</b> <b>if</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>gate</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>down</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>cleft</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>a</b> <b>cliff</b>. <b>At</b> <b>its</b> <b>feet</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>space</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>reeds</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>glimpsed</b> <b>another</b> <b>bank</b> <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>steep</b>. <b>A</b> <b>golden</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>of</b> <b>late</b> <b>sunshine</b> <b>lay</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>drowsy</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>land</b> <b>between</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b> <b>wound</b> <b>lazily</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>river</b> <b>of</b> <b>brown</b> <b>water</b>, <b>bordered</b> <b>with</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>willows</b>, <b>arched</b> <b>over</b> <b>with</b> <b>willows</b>, <b>blocked</b> <b>with</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>willows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>flecked</b> <b>with</b> <b>thousands</b> <b>of</b> <b>faded</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>leaves</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>thick</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>, <b>fluttering</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b>; <b>for</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>breeze</b> <b>blowing</b> <b>softly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>were</b> <b>rustling</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>boughs</b> <b>were</b> <b>creaking</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>some</b> <b>notion</b> <b>of</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>almost</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>opposite</b> <b>direction</b> <b>to</b> <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>intended</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>Withywindle</b>! <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>explore</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunshine</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>grasses</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>reappeared</b>, <b>and</b> <b>reported</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>solid</b> <b>ground</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>-<b>foot</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>; <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>places</b> <b>firm</b> <b>turf</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>’<b>s</b> <b>edge</b>. “<b>What</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>there</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>something</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>footpath</b> <b>winding</b> <b>along</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>turn</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>follow</b> <b>it</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>bound</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>eventually</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>dare</b> <b>say</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>track</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>, <b>and</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>simply</b> <b>lead</b> <b>us</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>bog</b> <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>us</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>track</b>, <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>suppose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>why</b>? <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>our</b> <b>benefit</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>getting</b> <b>very</b> <b>suspicious</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>and</b> <b>everything</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>begin</b> <b>to</b> <b>believe</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>stories</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>. <b>And</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>any</b> <b>idea</b> <b>how</b> <b>far</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>haven</b>’<b>t</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>how</b> <b>far</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>, <b>or</b> <b>who</b> <b>could</b> <b>possibly</b> <b>come</b> <b>here</b> <b>often</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>along</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>or</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>being</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>, <b>they</b> <b>filed</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>discovered</b>. <b>Everywhere</b> <b>the</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>and</b> <b>grasses</b> <b>were</b> <b>lush</b> <b>and</b> <b>tall</b>, <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>far</b> <b>above</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>; <b>but</b> <b>once</b> <b>found</b>, <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>was</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>twisted</b>, <b>picking</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>sounder</b> <b>ground</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>bogs</b> <b>and</b> <b>pools</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>it</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>other</b> <b>rills</b>, <b>running</b> <b>down</b> <b>gullies</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>higher</b> <b>forest</b>-<b>lands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>these</b> <b>points</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunks</b> <b>or</b> <b>bundles</b> <b>of</b> <b>brushwood</b> <b>laid</b> <b>carefully</b> <b>across</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>very</b> <b>hot</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>armies</b> <b>of</b> <b>flies</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>kinds</b> <b>buzzing</b> <b>round</b> <b>their</b> <b>ears</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>thin</b> <b>shade</b>; <b>great</b> <b>grey</b> <b>branches</b> <b>reached</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>step</b> <b>forward</b> <b>became</b> <b>more</b> <b>reluctant</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b>. <b>Sleepiness</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>legs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>falling</b> <b>softly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>and</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>his</b> <b>chin</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>nod</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>fell</b> <b>forward</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>halted</b>. “<b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>saying</b>. “<b>Can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>another</b> <b>step</b> <b>without</b> <b>rest</b>. <b>Must</b> <b>have</b> <b>nap</b>. <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>cool</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>willows</b>. <b>Less</b> <b>flies</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>on</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>can</b>’<b>t</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>nap</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>get</b> <b>clear</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>first</b>.” <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>too</b> <b>far</b> <b>gone</b> <b>to</b> <b>care</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>them</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>stood</b> <b>yawning</b> <b>and</b> <b>blinking</b> <b>stupidly</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>himself</b> <b>felt</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>overwhelming</b> <b>him</b>. <b>His</b> <b>head</b> <b>swam</b>. <b>There</b> <b>now</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. <b>The</b> <b>flies</b> <b>had</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>buzzing</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>noise</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>hearing</b>, <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>fluttering</b> <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>half</b> <b>whispered</b>, <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>stir</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>above</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>his</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>leaning</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>huge</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>tree</b>, <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>hoary</b>. <b>Enormous</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>its</b> <b>sprawling</b> <b>branches</b> <b>going</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>reaching</b> <b>arms</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>long</b>-<b>fingered</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>its</b> <b>knotted</b> <b>and</b> <b>twisted</b> <b>trunk</b> <b>gaping</b> <b>in</b> <b>wide</b> <b>fissures</b> <b>that</b> <b>creaked</b> <b>faintly</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>moved</b>. <b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>fluttering</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>bright</b> <b>sky</b> <b>dazzled</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>toppled</b> <b>over</b>, <b>lying</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>.<br>
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<b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>dragged</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>trunk</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>cracks</b> <b>gaped</b> <b>wide</b> <b>to</b> <b>receive</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>swayed</b> <b>and</b> <b>creaked</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>moving</b> <b>softly</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>, <b>and</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>They</b> <b>shut</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>almost</b> <b>hear</b> <b>words</b>, <b>cool</b> <b>words</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>something</b> <b>about</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>They</b> <b>gave</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>fast</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>grey</b> <b>willow</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>fighting</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>overpowering</b> <b>him</b>; <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b> <b>he</b> <b>struggled</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feel</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>compelling</b> <b>desire</b> <b>for</b> <b>cool</b> <b>water</b>. “<b>Wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>stammered</b>. “<b>Must</b> <b>bathe</b> <b>feet</b> <b>a</b> <b>minute</b>.”<br>
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<b>Half</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b> <b>he</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>forward</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>riverward</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>where</b> <b>great</b> <b>winding</b> <b>roots</b> <b>grew</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>like</b> <b>gnarled</b> <b>dragonets</b> <b>straining</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>drink</b>. <b>He</b> <b>straddled</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b>, <b>and</b> <b>paddled</b> <b>his</b> <b>hot</b> <b>feel</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cool</b> <b>brown</b> <b>water</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>he</b> <b>too</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>scratched</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yawned</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>cavern</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>worried</b>. <b>The</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>was</b> <b>getting</b> <b>late</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>this</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>sleepiness</b> <b>uncanny</b>. “<b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>behind</b> <b>this</b> <b>than</b> <b>sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>warm</b> <b>air</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>muttered</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>great</b> <b>big</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>trust</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Hark</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>singing</b> <b>about</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>now</b>! <b>This</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>pulled</b> <b>himself</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>staggered</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>two</b> <b>had</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>way</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>just</b> <b>caught</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>back</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>two</b> <b>noises</b>; <b>one</b> <b>loud</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>soft</b> <b>but</b> <b>very</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>One</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>splash</b> <b>of</b> <b>something</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>falling</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>; <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>snick</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>lock</b> <b>when</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>closes</b> <b>fast</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>rushed</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>root</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>holding</b> <b>him</b> <b>down</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>struggling</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>gripped</b> <b>him</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>jacket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dragged</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>root</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>difficulty</b> <b>hauled</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Almost</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>he</b> <b>woke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>coughed</b> <b>and</b> <b>spluttered</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b>, “<b>the</b> <b>beastly</b> <b>tree</b> <b>threw</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b>! <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>big</b> <b>root</b> <b>just</b> <b>twisted</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>tipped</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b>!”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>dreaming</b> <b>I</b> <b>expect</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>shouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>sit</b> <b>in</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>feel</b> <b>sleepy</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>?” <b>Frodo</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>dreams</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>having</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>round</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>understood</b> <b>the</b> <b>click</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>The</b> <b>crack</b> <b>by</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>laid</b> <b>himself</b> <b>had</b> <b>closed</b> <b>together</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>chink</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>trapped</b>: <b>another</b> <b>crack</b> <b>had</b> <b>closed</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>waist</b>; <b>his</b> <b>legs</b> <b>lay</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>inside</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>opening</b>, <b>the</b> <b>edges</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>gripped</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>pair</b> <b>of</b> <b>pincers</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>beat</b> <b>first</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunk</b> <b>where</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>had</b> <b>lain</b>. <b>They</b> <b>then</b> <b>struggled</b> <b>frantically</b> <b>to</b> <b>pull</b> <b>open</b> <b>the</b> <b>jaws</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>crack</b> <b>that</b> <b>held</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>useless</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>a</b> <b>foul</b> <b>thing</b> <b>to</b> <b>happen</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>wildly</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>we</b> <b>ever</b> <b>come</b> <b>into</b> <b>this</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>Forest</b>? <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>back</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>kicked</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>heedless</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>A</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>perceptible</b> <b>shiver</b> <b>ran</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>stem</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b>; <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>rustled</b> <b>and</b> <b>whispered</b>, <b>but</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>now</b> <b>of</b> <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b>-<b>off</b> <b>laughter</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>we</b> <b>haven</b>’<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>an</b> <b>axe</b> <b>among</b> <b>our</b> <b>luggage</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>brought</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>hatchet</b> <b>for</b> <b>chopping</b> <b>firewood</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>wouldn</b>’<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>much</b> <b>use</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>minute</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>struck</b> <b>by</b> <b>an</b> <b>idea</b> <b>suggested</b> <b>by</b> <b>firewood</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b> <b>with</b> <b>fire</b>!”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>might</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>doubtfully</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>succeed</b> <b>in</b> <b>roasting</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>alive</b> <b>inside</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>or</b> <b>frighten</b> <b>this</b> <b>tree</b> <b>to</b> <b>begin</b> <b>with</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>fiercely</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>go</b>, <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>down</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>gnaw</b> <b>it</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>with</b> <b>two</b> <b>tinder</b>-<b>boxes</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>hatchet</b>.<br>
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<b>Quickly</b> <b>they</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>dry</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bits</b> <b>of</b> <b>bark</b>; <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>pile</b> <b>of</b> <b>broken</b> <b>twigs</b> <b>and</b> <b>chopped</b> <b>sticks</b>. <b>These</b> <b>they</b> <b>heaped</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>trunk</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>prisoners</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>struck</b> <b>a</b> <b>spark</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>tinder</b>, <b>it</b> <b>kindled</b> <b>the</b> <b>dry</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>flurry</b> <b>of</b> <b>flame</b> <b>and</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b>. <b>The</b> <b>twigs</b> <b>crackled</b>. <b>Little</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b> <b>licked</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>dry</b> <b>scored</b> <b>rind</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>scorched</b> <b>it</b>. <b>A</b> <b>tremor</b> <b>ran</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>willow</b>. <b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>above</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>pain</b> <b>and</b> <b>anger</b>. <b>A</b> <b>loud</b> <b>scream</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>far</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>give</b> <b>a</b> <b>muffled</b> <b>yell</b>.<br>
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“<b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>! <b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>He</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>squeeze</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b> <b>two</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b>. <b>He</b> <b>says</b> <b>so</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Who</b>? <b>What</b>?” <b>shouted</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>rushing</b> <b>round</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>.<br>
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“<b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>! <b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>!” <b>begged</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>The</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>sway</b> <b>violently</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>rising</b> <b>and</b> <b>spreading</b> <b>outwards</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>trees</b> <b>round</b> <b>about</b>, <b>as</b> <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>dropped</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>slumber</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>valley</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>up</b> <b>ripples</b> <b>of</b> <b>anger</b> <b>that</b> <b>ran</b> <b>out</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>Forest</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>kicked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>stamped</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>sparks</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>clear</b> <b>idea</b> <b>of</b> <b>why</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b>, <b>or</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>for</b>, <b>ran</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>crying</b> <b>help</b>! <b>help</b>! <b>help</b>! <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>voice</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>blown</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>clamour</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>desperate</b>: <b>lost</b> <b>and</b> <b>witless</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>slopped</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>, <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>further</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>. <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>listened</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>there</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>: <b>someone</b> <b>was</b> <b>singing</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b>; <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>glad</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>singing</b> <b>carelessly</b> <b>and</b> <b>happily</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>singing</b> <b>nonsense</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Hey</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>merry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>ring</b> <b>a</b> <b>dong</b> <b>dillo</b>!<br>
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<b>Ring</b> <b>a</b> <b>dong</b>! <b>hop</b> <b>along</b>! <b>fal</b> <b>lal</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b>!<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>Bom</b>, <b>jolly</b> <b>Tom</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadillo</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>Half</b> <b>hopeful</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>new</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>now</b> <b>both</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>string</b> <b>of</b> <b>nonsense</b>-<b>words</b> (<b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b>) <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>rose</b> <b>up</b> <b>loud</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>burst</b> <b>into</b> <b>this</b> <b>song</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>merry</b> <b>dot</b>! <b>derry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>My</b> <b>darling</b>!<br>
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<b>Light</b> <b>goes</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b>-<b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>feathered</b> <b>starling</b>.<br>
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<b>Down</b> <b>along</b> <b>under</b> <b>Hill</b>, <b>shining</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b>,<br>
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<b>Waiting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorstep</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b> <b>starlight</b>,<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>my</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>lady</b> <b>is</b>. <b>River</b>-<b>woman</b>’<b>s</b> <b>daughter</b>,<br>
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<b>Slender</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>wand</b>, <b>clearer</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>.<br>
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<b>Old</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>water</b>-<b>lilies</b> <b>bringing</b><br>
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<b>Comes</b> <b>hopping</b> <b>home</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Can</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>him</b> <b>singing</b>?<br>
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<b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>merry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>deny</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>and</b> <b>merry</b>-<b>o</b>,<br>
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<b>Goldberry</b>, <b>Goldberry</b>, <b>merry</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>berry</b>-<b>o</b>!<br>
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<b>Poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Willow</b>-<b>man</b>, <b>you</b> <b>tuck</b> <b>your</b> <b>roots</b> <b>away</b>!<br>
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<b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>now</b>. <b>Evening</b> <b>will</b> <b>follow</b> <b>day</b>.<br>
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<b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>home</b> <b>again</b> <b>water</b>-<b>lilies</b> <b>bringing</b>.<br>
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<b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>derry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>Can</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>me</b> <b>singing</b>?<br>
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<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>stood</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>enchanted</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>puffed</b> <b>out</b>. <b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>hung</b> <b>silently</b> <b>again</b> <b>on</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>another</b> <b>burst</b> <b>of</b> <b>song</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>hopping</b> <b>and</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>there</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>battered</b> <b>hat</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>crown</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>blue</b> <b>feather</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>band</b>. <b>With</b> <b>another</b> <b>hop</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>bound</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>view</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>. <b>At</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>if</b> <b>not</b> <b>quite</b> <b>tall</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>noise</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>one</b>, <b>slumping</b> <b>along</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>boots</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>thick</b> <b>legs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>charging</b> <b>through</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>rushes</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>cow</b> <b>going</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>drink</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>blue</b> <b>coat</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>brown</b> <b>beard</b>; <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>blue</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>red</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>ripe</b> <b>apple</b>, <b>but</b> <b>creased</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>wrinkles</b> <b>of</b> <b>laughter</b>. <b>In</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>he</b> <b>carried</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>as</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>tray</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>pile</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>water</b>-<b>lilies</b>.<br>
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“<b>Help</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>running</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>hands</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>out</b>.<br>
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“<b>Whoa</b>! <b>Whoa</b>! <b>steady</b> <b>there</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>up</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>short</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>struck</b> <b>stiff</b>. “<b>Now</b>, <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>fellows</b>, <b>where</b> <b>be</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b>-<b>going</b> <b>to</b>, <b>puffing</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bellows</b>? <b>What</b>’<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>here</b> <b>then</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>who</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b>? <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>. <b>Tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>what</b>’<b>s</b> <b>your</b> <b>trouble</b>! <b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>now</b>. <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>crush</b> <b>my</b> <b>lilies</b>!”<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>friends</b> <b>are</b> <b>caught</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>tree</b>,” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>breathlessly</b>.<br>
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“<b>Master</b> <b>Merry</b>’<b>s</b> <b>being</b> <b>squeezed</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>crack</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b>?” <b>shouted</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>, <b>leaping</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. “<b>Old</b> <b>Man</b> <b>Willow</b>? <b>Naught</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>that</b>, <b>eh</b>? <b>That</b> <b>can</b> <b>soon</b> <b>be</b> <b>mended</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>tune</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>grey</b> <b>Willow</b>-<b>man</b>! <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>freeze</b> <b>his</b> <b>marrow</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>behave</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>sing</b> <b>his</b> <b>roots</b> <b>off</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>sing</b> <b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>blow</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>and</b> <b>branch</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Man</b> <b>Willow</b>!” <b>Setting</b> <b>down</b> <b>his</b> <b>lilies</b> <b>carefully</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>he</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Merry</b>’<b>s</b> <b>feet</b> <b>still</b> <b>sticking</b> <b>out</b>—<b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>been</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>further</b> <b>inside</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>crack</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>singing</b> <b>into</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>catch</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b>, <b>but</b> <b>evidently</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>aroused</b>. <b>His</b> <b>legs</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>kick</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>breaking</b> <b>off</b> <b>a</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>branch</b> <b>smote</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>, <b>Old</b> <b>Man</b> <b>Willow</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>be</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b>-<b>thinking</b> <b>of</b>? <b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>waking</b>. <b>Eat</b> <b>earth</b>! <b>Dig</b> <b>deep</b>! <b>Drink</b> <b>water</b>! <b>Go</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b>! <b>Bombadil</b> <b>is</b> <b>talking</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>then</b> <b>seized</b> <b>Merry</b>’<b>s</b> <b>feet</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>widening</b> <b>crack</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>tearing</b> <b>creak</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>crack</b> <b>split</b> <b>open</b>, <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>sprang</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>kicked</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>loud</b> <b>snap</b> <b>both</b> <b>cracks</b> <b>closed</b> <b>fast</b> <b>again</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shudder</b> <b>ran</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>from</b> <b>root</b> <b>to</b> <b>tip</b>, <b>and</b> <b>complete</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b>.<br>
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“<b>Thank</b> <b>you</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>one</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b>.<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>burst</b> <b>out</b> <b>laughing</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>fellows</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, <b>stooping</b> <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>peered</b> <b>into</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>home</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>! <b>The</b> <b>table</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>cream</b>, <b>honeycomb</b>, <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>bread</b> <b>and</b> <b>butter</b>. <b>Goldberry</b> <b>is</b> <b>waiting</b>. <b>Time</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>questions</b> <b>around</b> <b>the</b> <b>supper</b> <b>table</b>. <b>You</b> <b>follow</b> <b>after</b> <b>me</b> <b>as</b> <b>quick</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>able</b>!” <b>With</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>lilies</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>beckoning</b> <b>wave</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>went</b> <b>hopping</b> <b>and</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>eastward</b>, <b>still</b> <b>singing</b> <b>loudly</b> <b>and</b> <b>nonsensically</b>.<br>
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<b>Too</b> <b>surprised</b> <b>and</b> <b>too</b> <b>relieved</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>followed</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>fast</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>fast</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>soon</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>singing</b> <b>got</b> <b>fainter</b> <b>and</b> <b>further</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>came</b> <b>floating</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>loud</b> <b>halloo</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>Hop</b> <b>along</b>, <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b>!<br>
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<b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>candles</b> <b>for</b> <b>to</b> <b>kindle</b>.<br>
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<b>Down</b> <b>west</b> <b>sinks</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>: <b>soon</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>groping</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>-<b>shadows</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>will</b> <b>open</b>,<br>
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<b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>-<b>panes</b> <b>light</b> <b>will</b> <b>twinkle</b> <b>yellow</b>.<br>
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<b>Fear</b> <b>no</b> <b>alder</b> <b>black</b>! <b>Heed</b> <b>no</b> <b>hoary</b> <b>willow</b>!<br>
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<b>Fear</b> <b>neither</b> <b>root</b> <b>nor</b> <b>bough</b>! <b>Tom</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b>.<br>
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<b>Hey</b> <b>now</b>! <b>merry</b> <b>dot</b>! <b>We</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>Almost</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>sink</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>slanting</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>evening</b> <b>glittering</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bucklebury</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>with</b> <b>hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>lights</b>. <b>Great</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>fell</b> <b>across</b> <b>them</b>; <b>trunks</b> <b>and</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>hung</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>threatening</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>. <b>White</b> <b>mists</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>rise</b> <b>and</b> <b>curl</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>surface</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>stray</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>roots</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>ground</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>steam</b> <b>arose</b> <b>and</b> <b>mingled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>falling</b> <b>dusk</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>became</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>very</b> <b>tired</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>legs</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>leaden</b>. <b>Strange</b> <b>furtive</b> <b>noises</b> <b>ran</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>and</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>queer</b> <b>gnarled</b> <b>and</b> <b>knobbly</b> <b>faces</b> <b>that</b> <b>gloomed</b> <b>dark</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>twilight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leered</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>edges</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>They</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>country</b> <b>was</b> <b>unreal</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>stumbling</b> <b>through</b> <b>an</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>dream</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>to</b> <b>no</b> <b>awakening</b>.<br>
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<b>Just</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>slowing</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>standstill</b>, <b>they</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>was</b> <b>gently</b> <b>rising</b>. <b>The</b> <b>water</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>murmur</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>of</b> <b>foam</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>fall</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>were</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>sweep</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b> <b>welling</b> <b>up</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>river</b>, <b>now</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>swift</b>, <b>was</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>merrily</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b>, <b>glinting</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>shining</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>grass</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>was</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>and</b> <b>short</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>mown</b> <b>or</b> <b>shaven</b>. <b>The</b> <b>eaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>behind</b> <b>were</b> <b>clipped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trim</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>hedge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>path</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>plain</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>well</b>-<b>tended</b> <b>and</b> <b>bordered</b> <b>with</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>It</b> <b>wound</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>grassy</b> <b>knoll</b>, <b>now</b> <b>grey</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>starry</b> <b>night</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b>, <b>still</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>further</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>lights</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b>. <b>Down</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>went</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>, <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>hillside</b> <b>of</b> <b>turf</b>, <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>beam</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>out</b> <b>brightly</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>opened</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>’<b>s</b> <b>house</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>up</b>, <b>down</b>, <b>under</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>lay</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>bare</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>downs</b> <b>stalked</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>hobbits</b> <b>and</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>half</b> <b>their</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>fears</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>merry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>rolled</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>to</b> <b>greet</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>derry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>Hop</b> <b>along</b>, <b>my</b> <b>hearties</b>!<br>
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<b>Hobbits</b>! <b>Ponies</b> <b>all</b>! <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>parties</b>.<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>fun</b> <b>begin</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>sing</b> <b>together</b>!<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>another</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>as</b> <b>young</b> <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>as</b> <b>Spring</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>glad</b> <b>water</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>morning</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>came</b> <b>falling</b> <b>like</b> <b>silver</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b>:<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>begin</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>sing</b> <b>together</b><br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>stars</b>, <b>moon</b> <b>and</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>rain</b> <b>and</b> <b>cloudy</b> <b>weather</b>,<br>
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<b>Light</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>budding</b> <b>leaf</b>, <b>dew</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>feather</b>,<br>
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<b>Wind</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>bells</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>heather</b>,<br>
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<b>Reeds</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>shady</b> <b>pool</b>, <b>lilies</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>:<br>
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<b>Old</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>-<b>daughter</b>!<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>song</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>stood</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 7<br>
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<b>IN</b> <b>THE</b> <b>HOUSE</b> <b>OF</b> <b>TOM</b> <b>BOMBADIL</b><br>
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<b>The</b> <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>stone</b> <b>threshold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b>, <b>blinking</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>low</b> <b>room</b>, <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>swinging</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>beams</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b>; <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>polished</b> <b>wood</b> <b>stood</b> <b>many</b> <b>candles</b>, <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>yellow</b>, <b>burning</b> <b>brightly</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>facing</b> <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>door</b>, <b>sat</b> <b>a</b> <b>woman</b>. <b>Her</b> <b>long</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>hair</b> <b>rippled</b> <b>down</b> <b>her</b> <b>shoulders</b>; <b>her</b> <b>gown</b> <b>was</b> <b>green</b>, <b>green</b> <b>as</b> <b>young</b> <b>reeds</b>, <b>shot</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b> <b>like</b> <b>beads</b> <b>of</b> <b>dew</b>; <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>belt</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>shaped</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>chain</b> <b>of</b> <b>flag</b>-<b>lilies</b> <b>set</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b>-<b>blue</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>forget</b>-<b>me</b>-<b>nots</b>. <b>About</b> <b>her</b> <b>feel</b> <b>in</b> <b>wide</b> <b>vessels</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>brown</b> <b>earthenware</b>, <b>white</b> <b>water</b>-<b>lilies</b> <b>were</b> <b>floating</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>enthroned</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>pool</b>.<br>
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“<b>Enter</b>, <b>good</b> <b>guests</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>they</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>her</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>They</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>timid</b> <b>steps</b> <b>further</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>, <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>bow</b> <b>low</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>strangely</b> <b>surprised</b> <b>and</b> <b>awkward</b>, <b>like</b> <b>folk</b> <b>that</b>, <b>knocking</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>cottage</b> <b>door</b> <b>to</b> <b>beg</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>drink</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b>, <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>answered</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>young</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>queen</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>living</b> <b>flowers</b>. <b>But</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>say</b> <b>anything</b>, <b>she</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>lily</b>-<b>bowls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>laughing</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>ran</b> <b>her</b> <b>gown</b> <b>rustled</b> <b>softly</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowering</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>river</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b> <b>dear</b> <b>folk</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, <b>taking</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b>. “<b>Laugh</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>merry</b>! <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Goldberry</b>, <b>daughter</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>she</b> <b>passed</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>closing</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>she</b> <b>turned</b> <b>her</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>with</b> <b>her</b> <b>white</b> <b>arms</b> <b>spread</b> <b>out</b> <b>across</b> <b>it</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>shut</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>afraid</b>, <b>perhaps</b>, <b>of</b> <b>mist</b> <b>and</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>shadows</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b> <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>untame</b> <b>things</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>nothing</b>! <b>For</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>her</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>; <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>Fair</b> <b>lady</b> <b>Goldberry</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>moved</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>joy</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>stood</b> <b>enchanted</b> <b>by</b> <b>fair</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>voices</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>laid</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>different</b>: <b>less</b> <b>keen</b> <b>and</b> <b>lofty</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>delight</b>, <b>but</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>and</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>heart</b>; <b>marvellous</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>strange</b>. “<b>Fair</b> <b>lady</b> <b>Goldberry</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>the</b> <b>joy</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>songs</b> <b>we</b> <b>heard</b> <b>is</b> <b>made</b> <b>plain</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>.<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>slender</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>wand</b>! <b>O</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>than</b> <b>clear</b> <b>water</b>!<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>reed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>living</b> <b>pool</b>! <b>Fair</b> <b>River</b>-<b>daughter</b>!<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>spring</b>-<b>time</b> <b>and</b> <b>summer</b>-<b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>spring</b> <b>again</b> <b>after</b>!<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>wind</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>waterfall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b>” <b>laughter</b>!”<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>and</b> <b>stammered</b>, <b>overcome</b> <b>with</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>himself</b> <b>saying</b> <b>such</b> <b>things</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>laughed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Welcome</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>were</b> <b>so</b> <b>sweet</b>-<b>tongued</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>an</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>friend</b>; <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>voice</b> <b>tells</b> <b>it</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>meeting</b>! <b>Sit</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>! <b>He</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>long</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>tending</b> <b>your</b> <b>tired</b> <b>beasts</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>gladly</b> <b>in</b> <b>low</b> <b>rush</b>-<b>seated</b> <b>chairs</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>busied</b> <b>herself</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>; <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>followed</b> <b>her</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>slender</b> <b>grace</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>movement</b> <b>filled</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>delight</b>. <b>From</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b>, <b>among</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>derry</b> <b>dol</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>dol</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>a</b> <b>ding</b> <b>dillo</b> <b>the</b> <b>repeated</b> <b>words</b>:<br>
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<b>Old</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>fellow</b>;<br>
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<b>Bright</b> <b>blue</b> <b>his</b> <b>jacket</b> <b>is</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>boots</b> <b>are</b> <b>yellow</b>.<br>
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“<b>Fair</b> <b>lady</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>again</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. “<b>Tell</b> <b>me</b>, <b>if</b> <b>my</b> <b>asking</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>foolish</b>, <b>who</b> <b>is</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>?”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Goldberry</b>, <b>staying</b> <b>her</b> <b>swift</b> <b>movements</b> <b>and</b> <b>smiling</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>her</b> <b>questioningly</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>answer</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>look</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hill</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>strange</b> <b>land</b> <b>belongs</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>indeed</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>answered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>smile</b> <b>faded</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>would</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>burden</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>added</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>herself</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grasses</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>growing</b> <b>or</b> <b>living</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>belong</b> <b>each</b> <b>to</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b>. <b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>caught</b> <b>old</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b>, <b>wading</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>leaping</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>tops</b> <b>under</b> <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>shadow</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>no</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>is</b> <b>master</b>.”<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>door</b> <b>opened</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>came</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>no</b> <b>hat</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>thick</b> <b>brown</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>leaves</b>. <b>He</b> <b>laughed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>Goldberry</b>, <b>took</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b>’<b>s</b> <b>my</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>lady</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>bowing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. “<b>Here</b>’<b>s</b> <b>my</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>silver</b>-<b>green</b> <b>with</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>girdle</b>! <b>Is</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>laden</b>? <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>cream</b> <b>and</b> <b>honeycomb</b>, <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>bread</b>, <b>and</b> <b>butter</b>; <b>milk</b>, <b>cheese</b>, <b>and</b> <b>green</b> <b>herbs</b> <b>and</b> <b>ripe</b> <b>berries</b> <b>gathered</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>that</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>? <b>Is</b> <b>the</b> <b>supper</b> <b>ready</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Goldberry</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b>?”<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>clapped</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>and</b> <b>cried</b>: “<b>Tom</b>, <b>Tom</b>! <b>your</b> <b>guests</b> <b>are</b> <b>tired</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>near</b> <b>forgotten</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>now</b>, <b>my</b> <b>merry</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>will</b> <b>refresh</b> <b>you</b>! <b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>clean</b> <b>grimy</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wash</b> <b>your</b> <b>weary</b> <b>faces</b>; <b>cast</b> <b>off</b> <b>your</b> <b>muddy</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>and</b> <b>comb</b> <b>out</b> <b>your</b> <b>tangles</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>opened</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>passage</b> <b>and</b> <b>round</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>turn</b>. <b>They</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>room</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sloping</b> <b>roof</b> (<b>a</b> <b>penthouse</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>, <b>built</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>). <b>Its</b> <b>walls</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>clean</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>green</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>mats</b> <b>and</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>curtains</b>. <b>The</b> <b>floor</b> <b>was</b> <b>flagged</b>, <b>and</b> <b>strewn</b> <b>with</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>green</b> <b>rushes</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>four</b> <b>deep</b> <b>mattresses</b>, <b>each</b> <b>piled</b> <b>with</b> <b>white</b> <b>blankets</b>, <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>along</b> <b>one</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Against</b> <b>the</b> <b>opposite</b> <b>wall</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>bench</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>wide</b> <b>earthenware</b> <b>basins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beside</b> <b>it</b> <b>stood</b> <b>brown</b> <b>ewers</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>water</b>, <b>some</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>some</b> <b>steaming</b> <b>hot</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>soft</b> <b>green</b> <b>slippers</b> <b>set</b> <b>ready</b> <b>beside</b> <b>each</b> <b>bed</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>long</b>, <b>washed</b> <b>and</b> <b>refreshed</b>, <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>seated</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>, <b>two</b> <b>on</b> <b>each</b> <b>side</b>, <b>while</b> <b>at</b> <b>either</b> <b>end</b> <b>sat</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Master</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>merry</b> <b>meal</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>ate</b>, <b>as</b> <b>only</b> <b>famished</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>can</b> <b>eat</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>lack</b>. <b>The</b> <b>drink</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>drinking</b>-<b>bowls</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>clear</b> <b>cold</b> <b>water</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>like</b> <b>wine</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>free</b> <b>their</b> <b>voices</b>. <b>The</b> <b>guests</b> <b>became</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>singing</b> <b>merrily</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>easier</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>natural</b> <b>than</b> <b>talking</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>and</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>swiftly</b>. <b>The</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>commanded</b> <b>to</b> <b>sit</b> <b>quiet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>chairs</b>, <b>each</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>footstool</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>tired</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>hearth</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>smell</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>built</b> <b>of</b> <b>apple</b>-<b>wood</b>. <b>When</b> <b>everything</b> <b>was</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b>, <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>lights</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>were</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b>, <b>except</b> <b>one</b> <b>lamp</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>pair</b> <b>of</b> <b>candles</b> <b>at</b> <b>each</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chimney</b>-<b>shelf</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>a</b> <b>candle</b>; <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>wished</b> <b>them</b> <b>each</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>night</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
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“<b>Have</b> <b>peace</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>! <b>Heed</b> <b>no</b> <b>nightly</b> <b>noises</b>! <b>For</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>passes</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>window</b> <b>here</b> <b>save</b> <b>moonlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>night</b>!” <b>She</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>rustle</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>footsteps</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>stream</b> <b>falling</b> <b>gently</b> <b>away</b> <b>downhill</b> <b>over</b> <b>cool</b> <b>stones</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>sat</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>beside</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>while</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>muster</b> <b>the</b> <b>courage</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>questions</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>at</b> <b>supper</b>. <b>Sleep</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyelids</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>spoke</b>:<br>
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“<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>me</b> <b>calling</b>, <b>Master</b>, <b>or</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b> <b>just</b> <b>chance</b> <b>that</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b>?”<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b> <b>shaken</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>dream</b>. “<b>Eh</b>, <b>what</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>you</b> <b>calling</b>? <b>Nay</b>, <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>hear</b>: <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>busy</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>chance</b> <b>brought</b> <b>me</b> <b>then</b>, <b>if</b> <b>chance</b> <b>you</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>plan</b> <b>of</b> <b>mine</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>We</b> <b>heard</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>wandering</b>. <b>We</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>you</b>’<b>d</b> <b>come</b> <b>ere</b> <b>long</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>: <b>all</b> <b>paths</b> <b>lead</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>Withywindle</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>grey</b> <b>Willow</b>-<b>man</b>, <b>he</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>singer</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b>’<b>s</b> <b>hard</b> <b>for</b> <b>little</b> <b>folk</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>his</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>mazes</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>errand</b> <b>there</b>, <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>hinder</b>.” <b>Tom</b> <b>nodded</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>was</b> <b>taking</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>singing</b> <b>voice</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>errand</b> <b>there</b>: <b>gathering</b> <b>water</b>-<b>lilies</b>,<br>
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<b>green</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>and</b> <b>lilies</b> <b>white</b> <b>to</b> <b>please</b> <b>my</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>lady</b>,<br>
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<b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>ere</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b>’<b>s</b> <b>end</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>winter</b>,<br>
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<b>to</b> <b>flower</b> <b>by</b> <b>her</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>feet</b> <b>tilt</b> <b>the</b> <b>snows</b> <b>are</b> <b>melted</b>.<br>
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<b>Each</b> <b>year</b> <b>at</b> <b>summer</b>’<b>s</b> <b>end</b> <b>I</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b> <b>for</b> <b>her</b>,<br>
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<b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>pool</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>far</b> <b>down</b> <b>Withywindle</b>;<br>
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<b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>open</b> <b>first</b> <b>in</b> <b>spring</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>linger</b> <b>latest</b>.<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>that</b> <b>pool</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>-<b>daughter</b>,<br>
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<b>fair</b> <b>young</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rushes</b>.<br>
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<b>Sweet</b> <b>was</b> <b>her</b> <b>singing</b> <b>then</b>, <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>beating</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>opened</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>glint</b> <b>of</b> <b>blue</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>proved</b> <b>well</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>—<b>for</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b><br>
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<b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>deep</b> <b>again</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b>-<b>water</b>,<br>
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<b>not</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>is</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Nor</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>be</b> <b>passing</b><br>
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<b>Old</b> <b>Man</b> <b>Willow</b>’<b>s</b> <b>house</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>spring</b>-<b>time</b>,<br>
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<b>not</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>merry</b> <b>spring</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>-<b>daughter</b><br>
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<b>dances</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>withy</b>-<b>path</b> <b>to</b> <b>bathe</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b> <b>again</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>help</b> <b>asking</b> <b>one</b> <b>more</b> <b>question</b>: <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>he</b> <b>most</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>Tell</b> <b>us</b>, <b>Master</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Willow</b>-<b>man</b>. <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b>? <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>before</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>don</b>’<b>t</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>together</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>upright</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Not</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>!”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>right</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>resting</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>ill</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>’<b>s</b> <b>in</b> <b>shadow</b>. <b>Sleep</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>-<b>light</b>, <b>rest</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>pillow</b>! <b>Heed</b> <b>no</b> <b>nightly</b> <b>noise</b>! <b>Fear</b> <b>no</b> <b>grey</b> <b>willow</b>!” <b>And</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>lamp</b> <b>and</b> <b>blew</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grasping</b> <b>a</b> <b>candle</b> <b>in</b> <b>either</b> <b>hand</b> <b>he</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>.<br>
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<b>Their</b> <b>mattresses</b> <b>and</b> <b>pillows</b> <b>were</b> <b>soft</b> <b>as</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>wool</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>laid</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>beds</b> <b>and</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>covers</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>asleep</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dead</b> <b>night</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b> <b>without</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b> <b>moon</b> <b>rising</b>; <b>under</b> <b>its</b> <b>thin</b> <b>light</b> <b>there</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b>, <b>pierced</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>arch</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passing</b> <b>over</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b>-<b>wall</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>within</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>plain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>plain</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>pinnacle</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>vast</b> <b>tower</b> <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>hands</b>. <b>On</b> <b>its</b> <b>top</b> <b>stood</b> <b>the</b> <b>figure</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b>. <b>The</b> <b>moon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>rose</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>hang</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>above</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>glistened</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>white</b> <b>hair</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>plain</b> <b>below</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>crying</b> <b>of</b> <b>fell</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>howling</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>wolves</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>shape</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>wings</b>, <b>passed</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>moon</b>. <b>The</b> <b>figure</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>staff</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>wielded</b>. <b>A</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>eagle</b> <b>swept</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>bore</b> <b>him</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>voices</b> <b>wailed</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>yammered</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>strong</b> <b>wind</b> <b>blowing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>borne</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b>, <b>galloping</b>, <b>galloping</b>, <b>galloping</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>. “<b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>!” <b>thought</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>wakened</b>, <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>still</b> <b>echoing</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>ever</b> <b>again</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>courage</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>safety</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>stone</b> <b>walls</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lay</b> <b>motionless</b>, <b>still</b> <b>listening</b>; <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>again</b> <b>or</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>into</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>unremembered</b> <b>dream</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>lay</b> <b>dreaming</b> <b>pleasantly</b>; <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>change</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>dreams</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>groaned</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>woke</b>, <b>or</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>waked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>still</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>his</b> <b>dream</b>: <b>tip</b>-<b>tap</b>, <b>squeak</b>: <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>branches</b> <b>fretting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>twig</b>-<b>fingers</b> <b>scraping</b> <b>wall</b> <b>and</b> <b>window</b>: <b>creak</b>, <b>creak</b>, <b>creak</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>house</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>, <b>but</b> <b>inside</b> <b>the</b> <b>willow</b> <b>and</b> <b>listening</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>dry</b> <b>creaking</b> <b>voice</b> <b>laughing</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>soft</b> <b>pillows</b> <b>yield</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b> <b>relieved</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>echo</b> <b>of</b> <b>words</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>ears</b>: “<b>Fear</b> <b>nothing</b>! <b>Have</b> <b>peace</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>! <b>Heed</b> <b>no</b> <b>nightly</b> <b>noises</b>!” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b> <b>that</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>heard</b> <b>falling</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>sleep</b>: <b>water</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>down</b> <b>gently</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>spreading</b>, <b>spreading</b> <b>irresistibly</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shoreless</b> <b>pool</b>. <b>It</b> <b>gurgled</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>rising</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>but</b> <b>surely</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>drowned</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>its</b> <b>way</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>drown</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>lying</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>slimy</b> <b>bog</b>, <b>and</b> <b>springing</b> <b>up</b> <b>he</b> <b>set</b> <b>his</b> <b>fool</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>hard</b> <b>flagstone</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>and</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>or</b> <b>remember</b> <b>hearing</b>: “<b>Nothing</b> <b>passes</b> <b>doors</b> <b>or</b> <b>windows</b> <b>save</b> <b>moonlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>.” <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>breath</b> <b>of</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>air</b> <b>moved</b> <b>the</b> <b>curtain</b>. <b>He</b> <b>breathed</b> <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>remember</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>slept</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>deep</b> <b>content</b>, <b>if</b> <b>logs</b> <b>are</b> <b>contented</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>woke</b> <b>up</b>, <b>all</b> <b>four</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>was</b> <b>moving</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>whistling</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>starling</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>them</b> <b>stir</b> <b>he</b> <b>clapped</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cried</b>: “<b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>merry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>derry</b> <b>dol</b>! <b>My</b> <b>hearties</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>drew</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>curtains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>these</b> <b>had</b> <b>covered</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b>, <b>at</b> <b>either</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>, <b>one</b> <b>looking</b> <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>looking</b> <b>west</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>leapt</b> <b>up</b> <b>refreshed</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>window</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>looking</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>kitchen</b>-<b>garden</b> <b>grey</b> <b>with</b> <b>dew</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>half</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>turf</b> <b>right</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>turf</b> <b>all</b> <b>pocked</b> <b>with</b> <b>hoof</b>-<b>prints</b>. <b>Actually</b> <b>his</b> <b>view</b> <b>was</b> <b>screened</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>beans</b> <b>on</b> <b>poles</b>; <b>but</b> <b>above</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>up</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunrise</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>morning</b>: <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>, <b>behind</b> <b>long</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>like</b> <b>lines</b> <b>of</b> <b>soiled</b> <b>wool</b> <b>stained</b> <b>red</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>edges</b>, <b>lay</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>deeps</b> <b>of</b> <b>yellow</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sky</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>rain</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>broadening</b> <b>quickly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>red</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>beans</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>glow</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>wet</b> <b>green</b> <b>leaves</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>window</b>, <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>pool</b> <b>of</b> <b>mist</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>fog</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>sloping</b> <b>cloud</b>-<b>roof</b> <b>from</b> <b>above</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>fold</b> <b>or</b> <b>channel</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b> <b>into</b> <b>many</b> <b>plumes</b> <b>and</b> <b>billows</b>; <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b>. <b>The</b> <b>stream</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>shadows</b>. <b>Near</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>flower</b>-<b>garden</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>clipped</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>silver</b>-<b>netted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>that</b> <b>grey</b> <b>shaven</b> <b>grass</b> <b>pale</b> <b>with</b> <b>dew</b>-<b>drops</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>tree</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>merry</b> <b>friends</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Tom</b>, <b>opening</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>window</b> <b>wide</b>. <b>A</b> <b>cool</b> <b>air</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>in</b>; <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>rainy</b> <b>smell</b>. “<b>Sun</b> <b>won</b>’<b>t</b> <b>show</b> <b>her</b> <b>face</b> <b>much</b> <b>today</b>. <b>I</b>’<b>m</b> <b>thinking</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>walking</b> <b>wide</b>, <b>leaping</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilltops</b>, <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>began</b>, <b>nosing</b> <b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>weather</b>, <b>wet</b> <b>grass</b> <b>underfoot</b>, <b>wet</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wakened</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>singing</b> <b>under</b> <b>window</b>; <b>but</b> <b>nought</b> <b>wakes</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>little</b> <b>folk</b> <b>wake</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>after</b> <b>light</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b>! <b>Ring</b> <b>a</b> <b>ding</b> <b>dillo</b>! <b>Wake</b> <b>now</b>, <b>my</b> <b>merry</b> <b>friends</b>! <b>Forget</b> <b>the</b> <b>nightly</b> <b>noises</b>! <b>Ring</b> <b>a</b> <b>ding</b> <b>dillo</b> <b>del</b>! <b>derry</b> <b>del</b>, <b>my</b> <b>hearties</b>! <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>soon</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>late</b> <b>you</b>’<b>ll</b> <b>get</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>rain</b>-<b>water</b>!”<br>
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<b>Needless</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>—<b>not</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>threat</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>very</b> <b>serious</b>—<b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>came</b> <b>soon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>late</b> <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>lo</b> <b>look</b> <b>rather</b> <b>empty</b>. <b>Neither</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>nor</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>were</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>, <b>clattering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>kitchen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>stairs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>singing</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>outside</b>. <b>The</b> <b>room</b> <b>looked</b> <b>westward</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>-<b>clouded</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>was</b> <b>open</b>. <b>Water</b> <b>dripped</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>thatched</b> <b>eaves</b> <b>above</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>finished</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>had</b> <b>joined</b> <b>into</b> <b>an</b> <b>unbroken</b> <b>roof</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>straight</b> <b>grey</b> <b>rain</b> <b>came</b> <b>softly</b> <b>and</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>its</b> <b>deep</b> <b>curtain</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>was</b> <b>completely</b> <b>veiled</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>falling</b> <b>gently</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>rain</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>the</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>singing</b> <b>up</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>few</b> <b>words</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>plain</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>rain</b>-<b>song</b>, <b>as</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>as</b> <b>showers</b> <b>on</b> <b>dry</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>that</b> <b>told</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>river</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>highlands</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>far</b> <b>below</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>listened</b> <b>with</b> <b>delight</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>glad</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>and</b> <b>blessed</b> <b>the</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>weather</b>, <b>because</b> <b>it</b> <b>delayed</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>departing</b>. <b>The</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>going</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>awoke</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>further</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>upper</b> <b>wind</b> <b>settled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>and</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>and</b> <b>wetter</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>spill</b> <b>their</b> <b>laden</b> <b>rain</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bare</b> <b>heads</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>but</b> <b>falling</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>watched</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>chalky</b> <b>path</b> <b>turn</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>river</b> <b>of</b> <b>milk</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>bubbling</b> <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>came</b> <b>trotting</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>, <b>waving</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>warding</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>rain</b>—<b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>quite</b> <b>dry</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>boots</b>. <b>These</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>chimney</b>-<b>corner</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>largest</b> <b>chair</b> <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>to</b> <b>gather</b> <b>round</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>Goldberry</b>’<b>s</b> <b>washing</b> <b>day</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>autumn</b>-<b>cleaning</b>. <b>Too</b> <b>wet</b> <b>for</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>folk</b>—<b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>rest</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>able</b>! <b>It</b>’<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>day</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b> <b>tales</b>, <b>for</b> <b>questions</b> <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>answers</b>, <b>so</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>will</b> <b>start</b> <b>the</b> <b>talking</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>then</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>many</b> <b>remarkable</b> <b>stories</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>half</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>blue</b> <b>eye</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>deep</b> <b>brows</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>would</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>song</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b> <b>and</b> <b>dance</b> <b>about</b>. <b>He</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>bees</b> <b>and</b> <b>flowers</b>, <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>strange</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>and</b> <b>good</b> <b>things</b>, <b>things</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>and</b> <b>things</b> <b>unfriendly</b>, <b>cruel</b> <b>things</b> <b>and</b> <b>kind</b> <b>things</b>, <b>and</b> <b>secrets</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>under</b> <b>brambles</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>listened</b>, <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>understand</b> <b>the</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>apart</b> <b>from</b> <b>themselves</b>, <b>indeed</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>where</b> <b>all</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>. <b>Moving</b> <b>constantly</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>talk</b> <b>was</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Man</b> <b>Willow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>learned</b> <b>now</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>content</b> <b>him</b>, <b>indeed</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>lore</b>. <b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>words</b> <b>laid</b> <b>bare</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>thoughts</b>, <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>often</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>strange</b>, <b>and</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>hatred</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>go</b> <b>free</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>, <b>gnawing</b>, <b>biting</b>, <b>breaking</b>, <b>hacking</b>, <b>burning</b>: <b>destroyers</b> <b>and</b> <b>usurpers</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>without</b> <b>reason</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>ancient</b>, <b>a</b> <b>survivor</b> <b>of</b> <b>vast</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>woods</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b> <b>lived</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>ageing</b> <b>no</b> <b>quicker</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>the</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>remembering</b> <b>times</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>lords</b>. <b>The</b> <b>countless</b> <b>years</b> <b>had</b> <b>filled</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>pride</b> <b>and</b> <b>rooted</b> <b>wisdom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>malice</b>. <b>But</b> <b>none</b> <b>were</b> <b>more</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Willow</b>: <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>rotten</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b> <b>was</b> <b>green</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>cunning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>winds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>song</b> <b>and</b> <b>thought</b> <b>ran</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>on</b> <b>both</b> <b>sides</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>. <b>His</b> <b>grey</b> <b>thirsty</b> <b>spirit</b> <b>drew</b> <b>power</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b> <b>and</b> <b>spread</b> <b>like</b> <b>fine</b> <b>root</b>-<b>threads</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>twig</b>-<b>fingers</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>till</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>under</b> <b>its</b> <b>dominion</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hedge</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>talk</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>over</b> <b>bubbling</b> <b>waterfalls</b>, <b>over</b> <b>pebbles</b> <b>and</b> <b>worn</b> <b>rocks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>among</b> <b>small</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>in</b> <b>close</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>wet</b> <b>crannies</b>, <b>wandering</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b>. <b>They</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Barrows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>mounds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>-<b>rings</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollows</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Sheep</b> <b>were</b> <b>bleating</b> <b>in</b> <b>flocks</b>. <b>Green</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>walls</b> <b>rose</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>fortresses</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>heights</b>. <b>Kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>little</b> <b>kingdoms</b> <b>fought</b> <b>together</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>shone</b> <b>like</b> <b>fire</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>red</b> <b>metal</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>new</b> <b>and</b> <b>greedy</b> <b>swords</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>victory</b> <b>and</b> <b>defeat</b>; <b>and</b> <b>towers</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>fortresses</b> <b>were</b> <b>burned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>flames</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Gold</b> <b>was</b> <b>piled</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>biers</b> <b>of</b> <b>dead</b> <b>kings</b> <b>and</b> <b>queens</b>; <b>and</b> <b>mounds</b> <b>covered</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>doors</b> <b>were</b> <b>shut</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>grew</b> <b>over</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Sheep</b> <b>walked</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>biting</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>but</b> <b>soon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>were</b> <b>empty</b> <b>again</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>places</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>bones</b> <b>were</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mounds</b>. <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wights</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>places</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>clink</b> <b>of</b> <b>rings</b> <b>on</b> <b>cold</b> <b>fingers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gold</b> <b>chains</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>.” <b>Stone</b> <b>rings</b> <b>grinned</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>like</b> <b>broken</b> <b>teeth</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>moonlight</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>shuddered</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>the</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wights</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>downs</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>heard</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>tale</b> <b>that</b> <b>any</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>liked</b> <b>to</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b>, <b>even</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>fireside</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>These</b> <b>four</b> <b>now</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>joy</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>house</b> <b>had</b> <b>driven</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b>: <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>nestled</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>dreaded</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>They</b> <b>lost</b> <b>the</b> <b>thread</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>tale</b> <b>and</b> <b>shifted</b> <b>uneasily</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>aside</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>his</b> <b>words</b> <b>again</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>into</b> <b>strange</b> <b>regions</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>their</b> <b>memory</b> <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>their</b> <b>waking</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>into</b> <b>limes</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>wider</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>seas</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>straight</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>Shore</b>; <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>back</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>went</b> <b>singing</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>starlight</b>, <b>when</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>sires</b> <b>were</b> <b>awake</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>slopped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>nodded</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>falling</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sat</b> <b>still</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>, <b>enchanted</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>words</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>had</b> <b>dried</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>withdrawn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>East</b> <b>and</b> <b>West</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>stars</b>.<br>
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<b>Whether</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>and</b> <b>evening</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>days</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>feel</b> <b>either</b> <b>hungry</b> <b>or</b> <b>tired</b>, <b>only</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>wonder</b>. <b>The</b> <b>stars</b> <b>shone</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>silence</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>heavens</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>round</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>silence</b>:<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Master</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Eh</b>, <b>what</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glinting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>. “<b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>my</b> <b>name</b> <b>yet</b>? <b>That</b>’<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>Tell</b> <b>me</b>, <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>alone</b>, <b>yourself</b> <b>and</b> <b>nameless</b>? <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>young</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Eldest</b>, <b>that</b>’<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b>. <b>Mark</b> <b>my</b> <b>words</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friends</b>: <b>Tom</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>Tom</b> <b>remembers</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>raindrop</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>acorn</b>. <b>He</b> <b>made</b> <b>paths</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>People</b> <b>arriving</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>graves</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wights</b>. <b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>passed</b> <b>westward</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b> <b>already</b>, <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>seas</b> <b>were</b> <b>bent</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>fearless</b>—<b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>Outside</b>.”<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>glanced</b> <b>hastily</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>panes</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>again</b>, <b>Goldberry</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>framed</b> <b>in</b> <b>light</b>. <b>She</b> <b>held</b> <b>a</b> <b>candle</b>, <b>shielding</b> <b>its</b> <b>flame</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>draught</b> <b>with</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b>, <b>like</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>shell</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>rain</b> <b>has</b> <b>ended</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>new</b> <b>waters</b> <b>are</b> <b>running</b> <b>downhill</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>now</b> <b>laugh</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b>!”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>have</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Tom</b>. “<b>Long</b> <b>tales</b> <b>are</b> <b>thirsty</b>. <b>And</b> <b>long</b> <b>listening</b>’<b>s</b> <b>hungry</b> <b>work</b>, <b>morning</b>, <b>noon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>evening</b>!” <b>With</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bound</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>candle</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>chimney</b>-<b>shelf</b> <b>and</b> <b>lit</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flame</b> <b>that</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>held</b>; <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>danced</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>hopped</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappeared</b>.<br>
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<b>Quickly</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b>, <b>bearing</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>laden</b> <b>tray</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>and</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>set</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sat</b> <b>half</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b> <b>in</b> <b>laughter</b>: <b>so</b> <b>fair</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>grace</b> <b>of</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>odd</b> <b>the</b> <b>caperings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>fashion</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>weave</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>dance</b>, <b>neither</b> <b>hindering</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b>, <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>, <b>and</b> <b>round</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>; <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>speed</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>vessels</b> <b>and</b> <b>lights</b> <b>were</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b>. <b>The</b> <b>boards</b> <b>blazed</b> <b>with</b> <b>candles</b>, <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>yellow</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>guests</b>. “<b>Supper</b> <b>is</b> <b>ready</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Goldberry</b>; <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>silver</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>girdle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>shoes</b> <b>were</b> <b>like</b> <b>fishes</b>” <b>mail</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>clean</b> <b>blue</b>, <b>blue</b> <b>as</b> <b>rain</b>-<b>washed</b> <b>forget</b>-<b>me</b>-<b>nots</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>green</b> <b>stockings</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>supper</b> <b>even</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>before</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b>’<b>s</b> <b>words</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>missed</b> <b>one</b> <b>meal</b> <b>or</b> <b>many</b>, <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>was</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>a</b> <b>week</b> <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>sing</b> <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>speak</b> <b>much</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>and</b> <b>paid</b> <b>close</b> <b>attention</b> <b>to</b> <b>business</b>. <b>But</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>and</b> <b>spirit</b> <b>rose</b> <b>high</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>voices</b> <b>rang</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>mirth</b> <b>and</b> <b>laughter</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b>, <b>Goldberry</b> <b>sang</b> <b>many</b> <b>songs</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>, <b>songs</b> <b>that</b> <b>began</b> <b>merrily</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>softly</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>silence</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>silences</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>pools</b> <b>and</b> <b>waters</b> <b>wider</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>known</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>into</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>like</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>depths</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>she</b> <b>wished</b> <b>them</b> <b>each</b> <b>good</b> <b>night</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fireside</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>now</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>wide</b> <b>awake</b> <b>and</b> <b>plied</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>questions</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>already</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>much</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>families</b>, <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>and</b> <b>doings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>days</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>It</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>surprised</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>secret</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>owed</b> <b>his</b> <b>recent</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>largely</b> <b>to</b> <b>Farmer</b> <b>Maggot</b>, <b>whom</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>regard</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>person</b> <b>of</b> <b>more</b> <b>importance</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>imagined</b>. “<b>There</b>’<b>s</b> <b>earth</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clay</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>; <b>wisdom</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>bones</b>, <b>and</b> <b>both</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>are</b> <b>open</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Tom</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>clear</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>had</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>fashion</b>, <b>news</b> <b>had</b> <b>reached</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>the</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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<b>Indeed</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>did</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>know</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>questioning</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>telling</b> <b>him</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>hopes</b> <b>and</b> <b>fears</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>told</b> <b>before</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>wagged</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>glint</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>.<br>
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“<b>Show</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>precious</b> <b>Ring</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b>: <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>astonishment</b>, <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>chain</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>unfastening</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>handed</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>to</b> <b>Tom</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>larger</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>big</b> <b>brown</b>-<b>skinned</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>eye</b> <b>and</b> <b>laughed</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>vision</b>, <b>both</b> <b>comical</b> <b>and</b> <b>alarming</b>, <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>bright</b> <b>blue</b> <b>eye</b> <b>gleaming</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>little</b> <b>finger</b> <b>and</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>candlelight</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>strange</b> <b>about</b> <b>this</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>gasped</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>disappearing</b>!<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>spun</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>—<b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b>—<b>and</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>handed</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>closely</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rather</b> <b>suspiciously</b> (<b>like</b> <b>one</b> <b>who</b> <b>has</b> <b>lent</b> <b>a</b> <b>trinket</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>juggler</b>). <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>or</b> <b>looked</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>and</b> <b>weighed</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>: <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>always</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>weigh</b> <b>strangely</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>But</b> <b>something</b> <b>prompted</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>a</b> <b>trifle</b> <b>annoyed</b> <b>with</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>for</b> <b>seeming</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>so</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>even</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>thought</b> <b>so</b> <b>perilously</b> <b>important</b>. <b>He</b> <b>waited</b> <b>for</b> <b>an</b> <b>opportunity</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>talk</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>was</b> <b>telling</b> <b>an</b> <b>absurd</b> <b>story</b> <b>about</b> <b>badgers</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>queer</b> <b>ways</b>—<b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>on</b>.<br>
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<b>Merry</b> <b>turned</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>something</b> <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>start</b>, <b>and</b> <b>checked</b> <b>an</b> <b>exclamation</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>delighted</b> (<b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>): <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>ring</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>staring</b> <b>blankly</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>crept</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>fireside</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hey</b> <b>there</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Tom</b>, <b>glancing</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>most</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>look</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>shining</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>Hey</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>there</b>! <b>Where</b> <b>be</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b>-<b>going</b>? <b>Old</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>’<b>s</b> <b>not</b> <b>as</b> <b>blind</b> <b>as</b> <b>that</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Take</b> <b>off</b> <b>your</b> <b>golden</b> <b>ring</b>! <b>Your</b> <b>hand</b>’<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>fair</b> <b>without</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>back</b>! <b>Leave</b> <b>your</b> <b>game</b> <b>and</b> <b>sit</b> <b>down</b> <b>beside</b> <b>me</b>! <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>talk</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>more</b>, <b>and</b> <b>think</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>must</b> <b>teach</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>your</b> <b>feet</b> <b>from</b> <b>wandering</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>laughed</b> (<b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>pleased</b>), <b>and</b> <b>taking</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>now</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>would</b> <b>shine</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>glad</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>setting</b> <b>out</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>hopeful</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>do</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b> <b>early</b>; <b>for</b> <b>weather</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>country</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>change</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>quicker</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>change</b> <b>his</b> <b>jacket</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>no</b> <b>weather</b>-<b>master</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>nor</b> <b>is</b> <b>aught</b> <b>that</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b> <b>two</b> <b>legs</b>.”<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>his</b> <b>advice</b> <b>they</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>due</b> <b>North</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>house</b>, <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>and</b> <b>lower</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b>: <b>they</b> <b>might</b> <b>hope</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b>’<b>s</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>avoid</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrows</b>. <b>He</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b>—<b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>mind</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>business</b>.<br>
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“<b>Keep</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>Don</b>’<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>a</b>-<b>meddling</b> <b>with</b> <b>old</b> <b>stone</b> <b>or</b> <b>cold</b> <b>Wights</b> <b>or</b> <b>prying</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>houses</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>strong</b> <b>folk</b> <b>with</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>that</b> <b>never</b> <b>falter</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>this</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>once</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>advised</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>barrows</b> <b>by</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>chanced</b> <b>to</b> <b>stray</b> <b>near</b> <b>one</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>taught</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>rhyme</b> <b>to</b> <b>sing</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>by</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>luck</b> <b>fall</b> <b>into</b> <b>any</b> <b>danger</b> <b>or</b> <b>difficulty</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Ho</b>! <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadillo</b>!<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>water</b>, <b>wood</b> <b>and</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>reed</b> <b>and</b> <b>willow</b>,<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>moon</b>, <b>harken</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>hear</b> <b>us</b>!<br>
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<b>Come</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>, <b>for</b> <b>our</b> <b>need</b> <b>is</b> <b>near</b> <b>us</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>sung</b> <b>this</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>, <b>he</b> <b>clapped</b> <b>them</b> <b>each</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>laugh</b>, <b>and</b> <b>taking</b> <b>candles</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>bedroom</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 8<br>
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<b>FOG</b> <b>ON</b> <b>THE</b> <b>BARROW</b>-<b>DOWNS</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>night</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>noises</b>. <b>But</b> <b>either</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>dreams</b> <b>or</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b> <b>which</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>singing</b> <b>running</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>; <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>rain</b>-<b>curtain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>growing</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>the</b> <b>veil</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>glass</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>until</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>far</b> <b>green</b> <b>country</b> <b>opened</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>swift</b> <b>sunrise</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>vision</b> <b>melted</b> <b>into</b> <b>waking</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>whistling</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>birds</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>slanting</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>window</b>. <b>Outside</b> <b>everything</b> <b>was</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>pale</b> <b>gold</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>breakfast</b>, <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>again</b> <b>ate</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>farewell</b>, <b>as</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>of</b> <b>heart</b> <b>as</b> <b>was</b> <b>possible</b> <b>on</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>morning</b>: <b>cool</b>, <b>bright</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clean</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>washed</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>sky</b> <b>of</b> <b>thin</b> <b>blue</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>came</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>west</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>were</b> <b>almost</b> <b>frisky</b>, <b>sniffing</b> <b>and</b> <b>moving</b> <b>restlessly</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>and</b> <b>waved</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b> <b>and</b> <b>danced</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorstep</b>, <b>bidding</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>good</b> <b>speed</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>rode</b> <b>off</b> <b>along</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>wound</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>slanting</b> <b>up</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>brow</b> <b>under</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>sheltered</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>just</b> <b>dismounted</b> <b>to</b> <b>lead</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>when</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stopped</b>.<br>
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“<b>Goldberry</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>fair</b> <b>lady</b>, <b>clad</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>silver</b> <b>green</b>! <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>said</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>her</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>seen</b> <b>her</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>distressed</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>back</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>call</b> <b>came</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>down</b>. <b>There</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>brow</b> <b>she</b> <b>stood</b> <b>beckoning</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>: <b>her</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>flying</b> <b>loose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>caught</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>it</b> <b>shone</b> <b>and</b> <b>shimmered</b>. <b>A</b> <b>light</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>glint</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b> <b>on</b> <b>dewy</b> <b>grass</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>her</b> <b>feet</b> <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>danced</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>hastened</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>breathless</b> <b>beside</b> <b>her</b>. <b>They</b> <b>bowed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>wave</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>arm</b> <b>she</b> <b>bade</b> <b>them</b> <b>look</b> <b>round</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b> <b>over</b> <b>lands</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>as</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b>-<b>seen</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>veiled</b> <b>and</b> <b>misty</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>knoll</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>which</b> <b>could</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>rising</b> <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>green</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>trees</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>direction</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>rose</b> <b>in</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>ridges</b>, <b>green</b>, <b>yellow</b>, <b>russet</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>which</b> <b>lay</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b>. <b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Withywindle</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>distant</b> <b>glint</b> <b>like</b> <b>pale</b> <b>glass</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>River</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>loop</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lowlands</b> <b>and</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>away</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Northward</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwindling</b> <b>downs</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>ran</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>flats</b> <b>and</b> <b>swellings</b> <b>of</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>pale</b> <b>earth</b>-<b>colours</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>faded</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>featureless</b> <b>and</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>distance</b>. <b>Eastward</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>downs</b> <b>rose</b>, <b>ridge</b> <b>behind</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>eyesight</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>guess</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>guess</b> <b>of</b> <b>blue</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>remote</b> <b>white</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>blending</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>hem</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>memory</b> <b>and</b> <b>old</b> <b>tales</b>, <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>distant</b> <b>mountains</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>draught</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>skip</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>stout</b> <b>strides</b> <b>would</b> <b>bear</b> <b>them</b> <b>wherever</b> <b>they</b> <b>wished</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>fainthearted</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>jogging</b> <b>aside</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>crumpled</b> <b>skirts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>downs</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>leaping</b>, <b>as</b> <b>lusty</b> <b>as</b> <b>Tom</b>, <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>stepping</b> <b>stones</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>straight</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>.<br>
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<b>Goldberry</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>recalled</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>thoughts</b>. “<b>Speed</b> <b>now</b>, <b>fair</b> <b>guests</b>!” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>hold</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>purpose</b>! <b>North</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>eye</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>blessing</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>footsteps</b>! <b>Make</b> <b>haste</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>shines</b>!” <b>And</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>she</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>Farewell</b>, <b>Elf</b>-<b>friend</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>meeting</b>!”<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>no</b> <b>words</b> <b>to</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>He</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>low</b>, <b>and</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>his</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>jogged</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>slope</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>were</b> <b>lost</b> <b>to</b> <b>view</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>grew</b> <b>warmer</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>hillside</b> <b>and</b> <b>hillside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>scent</b> <b>of</b> <b>turf</b> <b>rose</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>breathed</b>. <b>Turning</b> <b>back</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>hollow</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Goldberry</b>, <b>now</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>slender</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>sunlit</b> <b>flower</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>: <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>still</b> <b>watching</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>hands</b> <b>were</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>out</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>she</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>call</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lifting</b> <b>up</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b> <b>she</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>.<br>
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<b>Their</b> <b>way</b> <b>wound</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>hill</b> <b>into</b> <b>another</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>and</b> <b>broader</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>further</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>their</b> <b>long</b> <b>limbs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>sides</b> <b>again</b>, <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>new</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>tops</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>new</b> <b>valleys</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>tree</b> <b>nor</b> <b>any</b> <b>visible</b> <b>water</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>country</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>short</b> <b>springy</b> <b>turf</b>, <b>silent</b> <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>whisper</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>edges</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>high</b> <b>lonely</b> <b>cries</b> <b>of</b> <b>strange</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>mounted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grew</b> <b>hot</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>the</b> <b>breeze</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>grown</b> <b>less</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>westward</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>smoking</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>rain</b> <b>was</b> <b>steaming</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>and</b> <b>root</b> <b>and</b> <b>mould</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>now</b> <b>lay</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>haze</b> <b>above</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>blue</b> <b>cap</b>, <b>hot</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavy</b>.<br>
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<b>About</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>hill</b> <b>whose</b> <b>top</b> <b>was</b> <b>wide</b> <b>and</b> <b>flattened</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>saucer</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>mounded</b> <b>rim</b>. <b>Inside</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>air</b> <b>stirring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>near</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>. <b>They</b> <b>rode</b> <b>across</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>northwards</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>rose</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>further</b> <b>already</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>expected</b>. <b>Certainly</b> <b>the</b> <b>distances</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>all</b> <b>become</b> <b>hazy</b> <b>and</b> <b>deceptive</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>were</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b>. <b>A</b> <b>long</b> <b>valley</b> <b>lay</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b> <b>winding</b> <b>away</b> <b>northwards</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>opening</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>steep</b> <b>shoulders</b>. <b>Beyond</b>, <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Due</b> <b>north</b> <b>they</b> <b>faintly</b> <b>glimpsed</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>dark</b> <b>line</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>must</b> <b>mark</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>All</b> <b>along</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>trees</b> <b>growing</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>say</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>planted</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>days</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Splendid</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>make</b> <b>as</b> <b>good</b> <b>going</b> <b>this</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>this</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>sets</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>jogging</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>search</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>camping</b> <b>place</b>.” <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>his</b> <b>glance</b> <b>eastwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>side</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>were</b> <b>higher</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>them</b>; <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>hills</b> <b>were</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>green</b> <b>mounds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>some</b> <b>were</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stones</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>upwards</b> <b>like</b> <b>jagged</b> <b>teeth</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b> <b>gums</b>.<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>view</b> <b>was</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>disquieting</b>; <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>sight</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>circle</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>tall</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>above</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>hour</b> <b>casting</b> <b>no</b> <b>shadow</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>shapeless</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>significant</b>: <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>landmark</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>guarding</b> <b>finger</b>, <b>or</b> <b>more</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>warning</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>hungry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>fearless</b> <b>noon</b>; <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>cool</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>had</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>power</b> <b>to</b> <b>warm</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>this</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>pleasant</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>as</b> <b>good</b> <b>a</b> <b>noon</b>-<b>meal</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>sky</b> <b>as</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>could</b> <b>wish</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> “<b>down</b> <b>under</b> <b>Hill</b>”. <b>Tom</b> <b>had</b> <b>provided</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>plenty</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>unburdened</b> <b>strayed</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>.<br>
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<b>Riding</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eating</b> <b>their</b> <b>fill</b>, <b>the</b> <b>warm</b> <b>sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>scent</b> <b>of</b> <b>turf</b>, <b>lying</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>too</b> <b>long</b>, <b>stretching</b> <b>out</b> <b>their</b> <b>legs</b> <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b> <b>their</b> <b>noses</b>: <b>these</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b>, <b>perhaps</b>, <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>explain</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>However</b>, <b>that</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>: <b>they</b> <b>woke</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>and</b> <b>uncomfortably</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b>. <b>The</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stone</b> <b>was</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>cast</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>pale</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>that</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>watery</b> <b>yellow</b>, <b>was</b> <b>gleaming</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>just</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>lay</b>; <b>north</b>, <b>south</b>, <b>and</b> <b>east</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b> <b>was</b> <b>thick</b>, <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>heavy</b> <b>and</b> <b>chill</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>were</b> <b>standing</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>together</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>down</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>in</b> <b>alarm</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>rim</b>. <b>They</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>upon</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>setting</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>it</b> <b>sank</b> <b>before</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>sea</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>grey</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fog</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>rose</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>it</b> <b>bent</b> <b>over</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>roof</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>shut</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>mist</b> <b>whose</b> <b>central</b> <b>pillar</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stone</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>felt</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>trap</b> <b>was</b> <b>closing</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>quite</b> <b>lose</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>They</b> <b>still</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>the</b> <b>hopeful</b> <b>view</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>had</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>knew</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>direction</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b>. <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b>, <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>had</b> <b>so</b> <b>great</b> <b>a</b> <b>dislike</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>place</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>remaining</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b>. <b>They</b> <b>packed</b> <b>up</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>their</b> <b>chilled</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>would</b> <b>work</b>.<br>
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<b>Soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>leading</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>in</b> <b>single</b> <b>file</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>rim</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>northward</b> <b>slope</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>foggy</b> <b>sea</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>became</b> <b>colder</b> <b>and</b> <b>damper</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>hair</b> <b>hung</b> <b>lank</b> <b>and</b> <b>dripping</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>foreheads</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>cold</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>got</b> <b>out</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>and</b> <b>hoods</b>, <b>which</b> <b>soon</b> <b>became</b> <b>bedewed</b> <b>with</b> <b>grey</b> <b>drops</b>. <b>Then</b>, <b>mounting</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b>, <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>rise</b> <b>and</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>steering</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>-<b>like</b> <b>opening</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>northward</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>valley</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>Once</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>gap</b>, <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>lo</b> <b>keep</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>anything</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>straight</b> <b>line</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>bound</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>that</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>vague</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>there</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>fog</b>.<br>
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<b>Their</b> <b>going</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>slow</b>. <b>To</b> <b>prevent</b> <b>their</b> <b>getting</b> <b>separated</b> <b>and</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>in</b> <b>different</b> <b>directions</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>file</b>, <b>with</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>leading</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>came</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>The</b> <b>valley</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>stretch</b> <b>on</b> <b>endlessly</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>hopeful</b> <b>sign</b>. <b>On</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>a</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>loom</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>approaching</b> <b>the</b> <b>gap</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>the</b> <b>north</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>downs</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>pass</b> <b>that</b>, <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>free</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>back</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>But</b> <b>his</b> <b>hope</b> <b>soon</b> <b>changed</b> <b>to</b> <b>bewilderment</b> <b>and</b> <b>alarm</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>patches</b> <b>grew</b> <b>darker</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>shrank</b>; <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>towering</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaning</b> <b>slightly</b> <b>towards</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>headless</b> <b>door</b>, <b>two</b> <b>huge</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>remember</b> <b>having</b> <b>seen</b> <b>any</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b> <b>almost</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b>: <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>round</b> <b>him</b>. <b>His</b> <b>pony</b> <b>reared</b> <b>and</b> <b>snorted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>off</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>alone</b>: <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Sam</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>Pippin</b>! <b>Merry</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>along</b>! <b>Why</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b>?”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>took</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b> <b>past</b> <b>the</b> <b>stones</b> <b>shouting</b> <b>wildly</b>: “<b>Sam</b>! <b>Sam</b>! <b>Merry</b>! <b>Pippin</b>!” <b>The</b> <b>pony</b> <b>bolted</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>From</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>off</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>, <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b>: “<b>Hoy</b>! <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Hoy</b>!” <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>away</b> <b>eastward</b>, <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>stones</b>, <b>staring</b> <b>and</b> <b>straining</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>. <b>He</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>call</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>going</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>uphill</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>struggled</b> <b>on</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>on</b> <b>calling</b> <b>more</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>frantically</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>and</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Frodo</b>! <b>Hoy</b>!” <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>thin</b> <b>voices</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>: <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>that</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>like</b> <b>help</b>, <b>help</b>! <b>often</b> <b>repeated</b>, <b>ending</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>help</b>! <b>that</b> <b>trailed</b> <b>off</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>wail</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>cut</b> <b>short</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>forward</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>speed</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>cries</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clinging</b> <b>night</b> <b>had</b> <b>closed</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>impossible</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>direction</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b>.<br>
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<b>Only</b> <b>the</b> <b>change</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>level</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>told</b> <b>him</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>or</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>sweating</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>chilled</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>dark</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b> <b>out</b> <b>miserably</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>reply</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>listening</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>getting</b> <b>very</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>up</b> <b>here</b> <b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>blow</b>, <b>an</b> <b>icy</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>A</b> <b>change</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b>. <b>The</b> <b>mist</b> <b>was</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>past</b> <b>him</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>shreds</b> <b>and</b> <b>tatters</b>. <b>His</b> <b>breath</b> <b>was</b> <b>smoking</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>was</b> <b>less</b> <b>near</b> <b>and</b> <b>thick</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>with</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>that</b> <b>faint</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>appearing</b> <b>overhead</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>strands</b> <b>of</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>and</b> <b>fog</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>muffled</b> <b>cry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>towards</b> <b>it</b>; <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>was</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>starry</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>unveiled</b>. <b>A</b> <b>glance</b> <b>showed</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>facing</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>round</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>, <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>the</b> <b>biting</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>blowing</b>. <b>To</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>there</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>westward</b> <b>stars</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>black</b> <b>shape</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>barrow</b> <b>stood</b> <b>there</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b> <b>again</b>, <b>both</b> <b>angry</b> <b>and</b> <b>afraid</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>!”<br>
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“<b>No</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>run</b> <b>away</b>. <b>His</b> <b>knees</b> <b>gave</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>happened</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b>. <b>Trembling</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>, <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>dark</b> <b>figure</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>It</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>two</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>very</b> <b>cold</b> <b>though</b> <b>lit</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>some</b> <b>remote</b> <b>distance</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>a</b> <b>grip</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>and</b> <b>colder</b> <b>than</b> <b>iron</b> <b>seized</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>icy</b> <b>touch</b> <b>froze</b> <b>his</b> <b>bones</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>again</b>, <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>recall</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>except</b> <b>a</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>dread</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>imprisoned</b>, <b>caught</b> <b>hopelessly</b>; <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>barrow</b>. <b>A</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wight</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>probably</b> <b>already</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>spells</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wights</b> <b>about</b> <b>which</b> <b>whispered</b> <b>tales</b> <b>spoke</b>. <b>He</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>move</b>, <b>but</b> <b>lay</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b>: <b>flat</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>stone</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>though</b> <b>his</b> <b>fear</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>great</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>round</b> <b>him</b>, <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>lay</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>about</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>stories</b>, <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>jogging</b> <b>along</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lanes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>talking</b> <b>about</b> <b>roads</b> <b>and</b> <b>adventures</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>seed</b> <b>of</b> <b>courage</b> <b>hidden</b> (<b>often</b> <b>deeply</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>) <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fattest</b> <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>timid</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>wailing</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>final</b> <b>and</b> <b>desperate</b> <b>danger</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>it</b> <b>grow</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>neither</b> <b>very</b> <b>fat</b> <b>nor</b> <b>very</b> <b>timid</b>; <b>indeed</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Bilbo</b> (<b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b>) <b>had</b> <b>thought</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>adventure</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>end</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>hardened</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>stiffening</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>final</b> <b>spring</b>; <b>he</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>felt</b> <b>limp</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>helpless</b> <b>prey</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>lay</b> <b>there</b>, <b>thinking</b> <b>and</b> <b>getting</b> <b>a</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>he</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>all</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>was</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>giving</b> <b>way</b>: <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>greenish</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>growing</b> <b>round</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>show</b> <b>him</b> <b>what</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>coming</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>or</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>He</b> <b>turned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b> <b>glow</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>lying</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>Pippin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b> <b>looked</b> <b>deathly</b> <b>pale</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b>. <b>About</b> <b>them</b> <b>lay</b> <b>many</b> <b>treasures</b>, <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>maybe</b>, <b>though</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>light</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>unlovely</b>. <b>On</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>were</b> <b>circlets</b>, <b>gold</b> <b>chains</b> <b>were</b> <b>about</b> <b>their</b> <b>waists</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>rings</b>. <b>Swords</b> <b>lay</b> <b>by</b> <b>their</b> <b>sides</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shields</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>But</b> <b>across</b> <b>their</b> <b>three</b> <b>necks</b> <b>lay</b> <b>one</b> <b>long</b> <b>naked</b> <b>sword</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>began</b>: <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>murmur</b>, <b>rising</b> <b>and</b> <b>falling</b>. <b>The</b> <b>voice</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>immeasurably</b> <b>dreary</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>high</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>and</b> <b>thin</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>moan</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>formless</b> <b>stream</b> <b>of</b> <b>sad</b> <b>but</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>sounds</b>, <b>strings</b> <b>of</b> <b>words</b> <b>would</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>shape</b> <b>themselves</b>: <b>grim</b>, <b>hard</b>, <b>cold</b> <b>words</b>, <b>heartless</b> <b>and</b> <b>miserable</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>railing</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>bereaved</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b> <b>was</b> <b>cursing</b> <b>the</b> <b>warmth</b> <b>for</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>hungered</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>chilled</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>marrow</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>became</b> <b>clearer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>dread</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>he</b> <b>perceived</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>changed</b> <b>into</b> <b>an</b> <b>incantation</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Cold</b> <b>be</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>heart</b> <b>and</b> <b>bone</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>cold</b> <b>be</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>under</b> <b>stone</b>:<br>
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<b>never</b> <b>mare</b> <b>to</b> <b>wake</b> <b>on</b> <b>stony</b> <b>bed</b>,<br>
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<b>never</b>, <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>fails</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>is</b> <b>dead</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>wind</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>shall</b> <b>die</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>on</b> <b>gold</b> <b>here</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>lie</b>,<br>
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<b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>lord</b> <b>lifts</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b><br>
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<b>over</b> <b>dead</b> <b>sea</b> <b>and</b> <b>withered</b> <b>land</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>heard</b> <b>behind</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>a</b> <b>creaking</b> <b>and</b> <b>scraping</b> <b>sound</b>. <b>Raising</b> <b>himself</b> <b>on</b> <b>one</b> <b>arm</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>passage</b> <b>which</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>turned</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b>. <b>Round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>arm</b> <b>was</b> <b>groping</b>, <b>walking</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>lying</b> <b>nearest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>been</b> <b>turned</b> <b>into</b> <b>stone</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>incantation</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>a</b> <b>wild</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>escape</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wight</b> <b>would</b> <b>miss</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>might</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b> <b>running</b> <b>free</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>grieving</b> <b>for</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>but</b> <b>free</b> <b>and</b> <b>alive</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>would</b> <b>admit</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>courage</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>awakened</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>too</b> <b>strong</b>: <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>leave</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>so</b> <b>easily</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wavered</b>, <b>groping</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>fought</b> <b>with</b> <b>himself</b> <b>again</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b> <b>the</b> <b>arm</b> <b>crept</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>resolve</b> <b>hardened</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seized</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kneeling</b> <b>he</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>low</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>bodies</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>. <b>With</b> <b>what</b> <b>strength</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>he</b> <b>hewed</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>crawling</b> <b>arm</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>wrist</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b> <b>broke</b> <b>off</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>sword</b> <b>splintered</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>shriek</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>snarling</b> <b>noise</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>fell</b> <b>forward</b> <b>over</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b> <b>felt</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>All</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b>, <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>down</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>He</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>the</b> <b>rhyme</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>had</b> <b>taught</b> <b>them</b>. <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>desperate</b> <b>voice</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b>: <b>Ho</b>! <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>! <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>name</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>strong</b>: <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>full</b> <b>and</b> <b>lively</b> <b>sound</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>echoed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>drum</b> <b>and</b> <b>trumpet</b>.<br>
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<b>Ho</b>! <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadillo</b>!<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>water</b>, <b>wood</b> <b>and</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>reed</b> <b>and</b> <b>willow</b>,<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>moon</b>, <b>harken</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>hear</b> <b>us</b>!<br>
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<b>Come</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>, <b>for</b> <b>our</b> <b>need</b> <b>is</b> <b>near</b> <b>us</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>deep</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>beating</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>slow</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>plain</b>, <b>but</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>down</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>or</b> <b>through</b> <b>thick</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>an</b> <b>answering</b> <b>voice</b> <b>singing</b>:<br>
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<b>Old</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>fellow</b>,<br>
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<b>Bright</b> <b>blue</b> <b>his</b> <b>jacket</b> <b>is</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>boots</b> <b>are</b> <b>yellow</b>.<br>
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<b>None</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>caught</b> <b>him</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Tom</b>, <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>master</b>:<br>
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<b>His</b> <b>songs</b> <b>are</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>songs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>are</b> <b>faster</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>loud</b> <b>rumbling</b> <b>sound</b>, <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>stones</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>and</b> <b>falling</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>light</b> <b>streamed</b> <b>in</b>, <b>real</b> <b>light</b>, <b>the</b> <b>plain</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b>. <b>A</b> <b>low</b> <b>door</b>-<b>like</b> <b>opening</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>Tom</b>'<b>s</b> <b>head</b> (<b>hat</b>, <b>feather</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b>) <b>framed</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>rising</b> <b>red</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>fell</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>faces</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>lying</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>stir</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sickly</b> <b>hue</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>now</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>very</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>asleep</b>.<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>stooped</b>, <b>removed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>chamber</b>, <b>singing</b>:<br>
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<b>Get</b> <b>out</b>, <b>you</b> <b>old</b> <b>Wight</b>! <b>Vanish</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b>!<br>
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<b>Shrivel</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>winds</b> <b>go</b> <b>wailing</b>,<br>
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<b>Out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>barren</b> <b>lands</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>!<br>
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<b>Come</b> <b>never</b> <b>here</b> <b>again</b>! <b>Leave</b> <b>your</b> <b>barrow</b> <b>empty</b>!<br>
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<b>Lost</b> <b>and</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>be</b>, <b>darker</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>,<br>
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<b>Where</b> <b>gates</b> <b>stand</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>shut</b>, <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>mended</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>and</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inner</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>fell</b> <b>in</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>crash</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>trailing</b> <b>shriek</b>, <b>fading</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>an</b> <b>unguessable</b> <b>distance</b>; <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>silence</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b>, <b>friend</b> <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Tom</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>clean</b> <b>grass</b>! <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b> <b>bear</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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<b>Together</b> <b>they</b> <b>carried</b> <b>out</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>Pippin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>barrow</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>severed</b> <b>hand</b> <b>wriggling</b> <b>still</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>wounded</b> <b>spider</b>, <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>heap</b> <b>of</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>much</b> <b>thumping</b> <b>and</b> <b>stamping</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>load</b> <b>of</b> <b>treasure</b>: <b>things</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>silver</b>, <b>copper</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bronze</b>; <b>many</b> <b>beads</b> <b>and</b> <b>chains</b> <b>and</b> <b>jewelled</b> <b>ornaments</b>. <b>He</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>barrow</b> <b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>on</b> <b>top</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunshine</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mound</b>. <b>Raising</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>hand</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>commanding</b> <b>voice</b>:<br>
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<b>Wake</b> <b>now</b> <b>my</b> <b>merry</b> <b>tads</b>! <b>Wake</b> <b>and</b> <b>hear</b> <b>me</b> <b>calling</b>!<br>
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<b>Warm</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>heart</b> <b>and</b> <b>limb</b>! <b>The</b> <b>cold</b> <b>stone</b> <b>is</b> <b>fallen</b>;<br>
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<b>Dark</b> <b>door</b> <b>is</b> <b>standing</b> <b>wide</b>; <b>dead</b> <b>hand</b> <b>is</b> <b>broken</b>.<br>
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<b>Night</b> <b>under</b> <b>Night</b> <b>is</b> <b>flown</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gate</b> <b>is</b> <b>open</b>!<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>great</b> <b>joy</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>stirred</b>, <b>stretched</b> <b>their</b> <b>arms</b>, <b>rubbed</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>about</b> <b>in</b> <b>amazement</b>, <b>first</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>at</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>standing</b> <b>large</b> <b>as</b> <b>life</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>barrow</b>-<b>top</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>at</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>thin</b> <b>white</b> <b>rags</b>, <b>crowned</b> <b>and</b> <b>belted</b> <b>with</b> <b>pale</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>jingling</b> <b>with</b> <b>trinkets</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>wonder</b>?” <b>began</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>circlet</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>over</b> <b>one</b> <b>eye</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>stopped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>closed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>I</b> <b>remember</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Carn</b> <b>D</b>?<b>m</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>us</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>worsted</b>. <b>Ah</b>! <b>the</b> <b>spear</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>clutched</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>. “<b>No</b>! <b>No</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>opening</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>am</b> <b>I</b> <b>saying</b>? <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>dreaming</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b>, <b>Frodo</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Dressed</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b>, <b>sir</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Where</b> <b>are</b> <b>my</b> <b>clothes</b>?” <b>He</b> <b>flung</b> <b>his</b> <b>circlet</b>, <b>belt</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rings</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>round</b> <b>helplessly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>his</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>jacket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>breeches</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>garments</b> <b>lying</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>to</b> <b>hand</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>find</b> <b>your</b> <b>clothes</b> <b>again</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Tom</b>, <b>bounding</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>mound</b>, <b>and</b> <b>laughing</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>danced</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b>. <b>One</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>or</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b>; <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>the</b> <b>horror</b> <b>faded</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>merry</b> <b>glint</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>half</b> <b>puzzled</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b> <b>amused</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>not</b>?”<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>shook</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>, <b>saying</b>: “<b>You</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>found</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>again</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Clothes</b> <b>are</b> <b>but</b> <b>little</b> <b>loss</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>escape</b> <b>from</b> <b>drowning</b>. <b>Be</b> <b>glad</b>, <b>my</b> <b>merry</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>warm</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>heal</b> <b>now</b> <b>heart</b> <b>and</b> <b>limb</b>! <b>Cast</b> <b>off</b> <b>these</b> <b>cold</b> <b>rags</b>! <b>Run</b> <b>naked</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>goes</b> <b>a</b>-<b>hunting</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>whistling</b> <b>and</b> <b>calling</b>. <b>Looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>running</b> <b>away</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>between</b> <b>their</b> <b>hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b>, <b>still</b> <b>whistling</b> <b>and</b> <b>crying</b>:<br>
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<b>Hey</b>! <b>now</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>hoy</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Whither</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>wander</b>?<br>
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<b>Up</b>, <b>down</b>, <b>near</b> <b>or</b> <b>far</b>, <b>here</b>, <b>there</b> <b>or</b> <b>yonder</b>?<br>
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<b>Sharp</b>-<b>ears</b>, <b>Wise</b>-<b>nose</b>, <b>Swish</b>-<b>tail</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bumpkin</b>,<br>
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<b>White</b>-<b>socks</b> <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>lad</b>, <b>and</b> <b>old</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>!<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>he</b> <b>sang</b>, <b>running</b> <b>fast</b>, <b>tossing</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b> <b>and</b> <b>catching</b> <b>it</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>fold</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>: <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>his</b> <b>hey</b> <b>now</b>! <b>hoy</b> <b>now</b>! <b>came</b> <b>floating</b> <b>back</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>shifted</b> <b>round</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>growing</b> <b>very</b> <b>warm</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>ran</b> <b>about</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>lay</b> <b>basking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>delight</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>wafted</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>from</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>winter</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>clime</b>, <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>people</b> <b>that</b>, <b>after</b> <b>being</b> <b>long</b> <b>ill</b> <b>and</b> <b>bedridden</b>, <b>wake</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>unexpectedly</b> <b>well</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>is</b> <b>again</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>promise</b>.<br>
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<b>By</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>returned</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>strong</b> (<b>and</b> <b>hungry</b>). <b>He</b> <b>reappeared</b>, <b>hat</b> <b>first</b>, <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>brow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>obedient</b> <b>line</b> <b>six</b> <b>ponies</b>: <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>five</b> <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>more</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>was</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>old</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>: <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>larger</b>, <b>stronger</b>, <b>fatter</b> (<b>and</b> <b>older</b>) <b>than</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>Merry</b>, <b>to</b> <b>whom</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>belonged</b>, <b>had</b> <b>not</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>given</b> <b>them</b> <b>any</b> <b>such</b> <b>names</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>answered</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>names</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>had</b> <b>given</b> <b>them</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>lives</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>called</b> <b>them</b> <b>one</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>brow</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>are</b> <b>your</b> <b>ponies</b>, <b>now</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>They</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>more</b> <b>sense</b> (<b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>ways</b>) <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>have</b>—<b>more</b> <b>sense</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>noses</b>. <b>For</b> <b>they</b> <b>sniff</b> <b>danger</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>walk</b> <b>right</b> <b>into</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>run</b> <b>to</b> <b>save</b> <b>themselves</b>, <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>run</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>way</b>. <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>forgive</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>; <b>for</b> <b>though</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>are</b> <b>faithful</b>, <b>to</b> <b>face</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wights</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b>. <b>See</b>, <b>here</b> <b>they</b> <b>come</b> <b>again</b>, <b>bringing</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>burdens</b>!”<br>
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<b>Merry</b>, <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>now</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>spare</b> <b>garments</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>soon</b> <b>felt</b> <b>too</b> <b>hot</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>thicker</b> <b>and</b> <b>warmer</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>oncoming</b> <b>of</b> <b>winter</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>does</b> <b>that</b> <b>other</b> <b>old</b> <b>animal</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>, <b>come</b> <b>from</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>mine</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Tom</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>four</b>-<b>legged</b> <b>friend</b>; <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>ride</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>wanders</b> <b>often</b> <b>far</b>, <b>free</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hillsides</b>. <b>When</b> <b>your</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>my</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>smelt</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b>'<b>d</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>take</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>fear</b> <b>away</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b>, <b>my</b> <b>jolly</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>, <b>old</b> <b>Tom</b>'<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>ride</b>. <b>Hey</b>! <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>coming</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>just</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>you</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>; <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>needs</b> <b>a</b> <b>pony</b>. <b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>easily</b> <b>talk</b> <b>to</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>riding</b>, <b>when</b> <b>you</b>'<b>re</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>legs</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>trot</b> <b>beside</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>delighted</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thanked</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>laughed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>so</b> <b>good</b> <b>at</b> <b>losing</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>feel</b> <b>happy</b> <b>till</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>them</b> <b>safe</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>land</b>. “<b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>got</b> <b>things</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>my</b> <b>making</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>singing</b>, <b>my</b> <b>talking</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>walking</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>watching</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>always</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b> <b>doors</b> <b>and</b> <b>willow</b>-<b>cracks</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>has</b> <b>his</b> <b>house</b> <b>to</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>is</b> <b>waiting</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>early</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>something</b> <b>between</b> <b>nine</b> <b>and</b> <b>ten</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>to</b> <b>food</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>last</b> <b>meal</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>lunch</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stone</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>before</b>. <b>They</b> <b>breakfasted</b> <b>now</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>remainder</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b>'<b>s</b> <b>provisions</b>, <b>meant</b> <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>supper</b>, <b>with</b> <b>additions</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>meal</b> (<b>considering</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>circumstances</b>), <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>much</b> <b>better</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>While</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>eating</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mound</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>treasures</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>pile</b> <b>that</b> <b>glistened</b> <b>and</b> <b>sparkled</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>He</b> <b>bade</b> <b>them</b> <b>lie</b> <b>there</b> “<b>free</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>finders</b>, <b>birds</b>, <b>beasts</b>. <b>Elves</b> <b>or</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>creatures</b>”; <b>for</b> <b>so</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mound</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>broken</b> <b>and</b> <b>scattered</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>Wight</b> <b>ever</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>chose</b> <b>for</b> <b>himself</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>pile</b> <b>a</b> <b>brooch</b> <b>set</b> <b>with</b> <b>blue</b> <b>stones</b>, <b>many</b>-<b>shaded</b> <b>like</b> <b>flax</b>-<b>flowers</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>wings</b> <b>of</b> <b>blue</b> <b>butterflies</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>long</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>by</b> <b>some</b> <b>memory</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saying</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>:<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>toy</b> <b>for</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>lady</b>! <b>Fair</b> <b>was</b> <b>she</b> <b>who</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>wore</b> <b>this</b> <b>on</b> <b>her</b> <b>shoulder</b>. <b>Goldberry</b> <b>shall</b> <b>wear</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>forget</b> <b>her</b>!”<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>he</b> <b>chose</b> <b>a</b> <b>dagger</b>, <b>long</b>, <b>leaf</b>-<b>shaped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keen</b>, <b>of</b> <b>marvellous</b> <b>workmanship</b>, <b>damasked</b> <b>with</b> <b>serpent</b>-<b>forms</b> <b>in</b> <b>red</b> <b>and</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>They</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>black</b> <b>sheaths</b>, <b>wrought</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>strange</b> <b>metal</b>, <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>strong</b>, <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>fiery</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>Whether</b> <b>by</b> <b>some</b> <b>virtue</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>sheaths</b> <b>or</b> <b>because</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mound</b>, <b>the</b> <b>blades</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>untouched</b> <b>by</b> <b>time</b>, <b>unrusted</b>, <b>sharp</b>, <b>glittering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>.<br>
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“<b>Old</b> <b>knives</b> <b>are</b> <b>long</b> <b>enough</b> <b>as</b> <b>swords</b> <b>for</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>people</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Sharp</b> <b>blades</b> <b>are</b> <b>good</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b>, <b>if</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>go</b> <b>walking</b>, <b>east</b>, <b>south</b>, <b>or</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>danger</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>these</b> <b>blades</b> <b>were</b> <b>forged</b> <b>many</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b> <b>by</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>foes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>overcome</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>king</b> <b>of</b> <b>Carn</b> <b>D</b>?<b>m</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Angmar</b>.<br>
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“<b>Few</b> <b>now</b> <b>remember</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>Tom</b> <b>murmured</b>, “<b>yet</b> <b>still</b> <b>some</b> <b>go</b> <b>wandering</b>, <b>sons</b> <b>of</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>kings</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>loneliness</b>, <b>guarding</b> <b>from</b> <b>evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>folk</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>heedless</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>his</b> <b>words</b>, <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>vision</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>expanse</b> <b>of</b> <b>years</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>vast</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>plain</b> <b>over</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>strode</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>grim</b> <b>with</b> <b>bright</b> <b>swords</b>, <b>and</b> <b>last</b> <b>came</b> <b>one</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>star</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>brow</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>vision</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlit</b> <b>world</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>made</b> <b>ready</b>, <b>packing</b> <b>their</b> <b>bags</b> <b>and</b> <b>lading</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>new</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>they</b> <b>hung</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>leather</b> <b>belts</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>jackets</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>them</b> <b>very</b> <b>awkward</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>use</b>. <b>Fighting</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>before</b> <b>occurred</b> <b>to</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>adventures</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>their</b> <b>flight</b> <b>would</b> <b>land</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>off</b>. <b>They</b> <b>led</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>mounting</b> <b>they</b> <b>trotted</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>mound</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>gold</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>flame</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>a</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>view</b>.<br>
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<b>Though</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>every</b> <b>side</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>stones</b> <b>standing</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>gate</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>gap</b> <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>through</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>fell</b> <b>away</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>journey</b> <b>with</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>trotting</b> <b>gaily</b> <b>beside</b> <b>them</b>, <b>or</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>on</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>, <b>who</b> <b>could</b> <b>move</b> <b>much</b> <b>faster</b> <b>than</b> <b>his</b> <b>girth</b> <b>promised</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>sang</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>nonsense</b>, <b>or</b> <b>else</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>language</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>an</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>language</b> <b>whose</b> <b>words</b> <b>were</b> <b>mainly</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>and</b> <b>delight</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>steadily</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>soon</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>was</b> <b>further</b> <b>away</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>imagined</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>fog</b>, <b>their</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>at</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>prevented</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>reaching</b> <b>it</b> <b>until</b> <b>after</b> <b>nightfall</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>before</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>line</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>growing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>dike</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>wall</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>boundary</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>kingdom</b>, <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>lime</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>remember</b> <b>something</b> <b>sad</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>much</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dike</b> <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>gap</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>turned</b> <b>due</b> <b>north</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>open</b> <b>and</b> <b>fairly</b> <b>level</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>quickened</b> <b>their</b> <b>pace</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>sinking</b> <b>low</b> <b>when</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>tall</b> <b>trees</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>after</b> <b>many</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>adventures</b>. <b>They</b> <b>galloped</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>furlongs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>halted</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>sloping</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>now</b> <b>dim</b> <b>as</b> <b>evening</b> <b>drew</b> <b>on</b>, <b>wound</b> <b>away</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b>. <b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>point</b> <b>it</b> <b>ran</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>from</b> <b>South</b>-<b>west</b> <b>to</b> <b>North</b>-<b>east</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b> <b>it</b> <b>fell</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>hollow</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>rutted</b> <b>and</b> <b>bore</b> <b>many</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>recent</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>rain</b>; <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>pools</b> <b>and</b> <b>pot</b>-<b>holes</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b>. <b>They</b> <b>rode</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>again</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>we</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>lost</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>two</b> <b>days</b> <b>by</b> <b>my</b> <b>short</b> <b>cut</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>! <b>But</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>the</b> <b>delay</b> <b>will</b> <b>prove</b> <b>useful</b>—<b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>put</b> <b>them</b> <b>off</b> <b>our</b> <b>trail</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>came</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>entered</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>thought</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>of</b> <b>getting</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>; <b>only</b> <b>now</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>did</b> <b>they</b> <b>remember</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b> <b>which</b> <b>pursued</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>likely</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>lying</b> <b>in</b> <b>wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>itself</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>anxiously</b> <b>back</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>setting</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>was</b> <b>brown</b> <b>and</b> <b>empty</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>hesitatingly</b>, “<b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>pursued</b>, <b>tonight</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>not</b> <b>tonight</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b>; “<b>nor</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b>. <b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>trust</b> <b>my</b> <b>guess</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tell</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>east</b> <b>my</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>fails</b>. <b>Tom</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Land</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>his</b> <b>country</b>.”<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>wished</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>to</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>, <b>if</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>did</b>. <b>They</b> <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>forward</b> <b>into</b> <b>lands</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>strange</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>vague</b> <b>and</b> <b>distant</b> <b>legends</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>they</b> <b>longed</b> <b>for</b> <b>home</b>. <b>A</b> <b>deep</b> <b>loneliness</b> <b>and</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>loss</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>reluctant</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>final</b> <b>parting</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>became</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>was</b> <b>wishing</b> <b>them</b> <b>farewell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>telling</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>good</b> <b>heart</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>ride</b> <b>on</b> <b>till</b> <b>dark</b> <b>without</b> <b>halting</b>.<br>
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“<b>Tom</b> <b>will</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>good</b> <b>advice</b>, <b>till</b> <b>this</b> <b>day</b> <b>is</b> <b>over</b> (<b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>luck</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>guide</b> <b>you</b>): <b>four</b> <b>miles</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>come</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>village</b>, <b>Bree</b> <b>under</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hill</b>, <b>with</b> <b>doors</b> <b>looking</b> <b>westward</b>. <b>There</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>inn</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>The</b> <b>Prancing</b> <b>Pony</b>. <b>Barliman</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>worthy</b> <b>keeper</b>. <b>There</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>stay</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>will</b> <b>speed</b> <b>you</b> <b>upon</b> <b>your</b> <b>way</b>. <b>Be</b> <b>bold</b>, <b>but</b> <b>wary</b>! <b>Keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>your</b> <b>merry</b> <b>hearts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ride</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>your</b> <b>fortune</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>begged</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>and</b> <b>refused</b>, <b>saying</b>:<br>
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<b>Tom</b>'<b>s</b> <b>country</b> <b>ends</b> <b>here</b>: <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b>.<br>
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<b>Tom</b> <b>has</b> <b>his</b> <b>house</b> <b>to</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Goldberry</b> <b>is</b> <b>waiting</b>!<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b>, <b>tossed</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b>, <b>leaped</b> <b>on</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>up</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>away</b> <b>singing</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>watched</b> <b>him</b> <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>leave</b> <b>of</b> <b>Master</b> <b>Bombadil</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>caution</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistake</b>. <b>I</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>go</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>further</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>naught</b> <b>better</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>queerer</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>deny</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>this</b> <b>Prancing</b> <b>Pony</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>like</b> <b>The</b> <b>Green</b> <b>Dragon</b> <b>away</b> <b>back</b> <b>home</b>! <b>What</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>they</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>?”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b>. <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>homelike</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Pony</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>inn</b> <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>accounts</b>. <b>My</b> <b>people</b> <b>ride</b> <b>out</b> <b>there</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>all</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>wish</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>. <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>make</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>! <b>Please</b> <b>remember</b> -<b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>—<b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>mentioned</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>, <b>if</b> <b>any</b> <b>name</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>given</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>now</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>off</b> <b>silently</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>Darkness</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>quickly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>plodded</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>downhill</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>, <b>until</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>lights</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>ahead</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>rose</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hill</b> <b>barring</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>mass</b> <b>against</b> <b>misty</b> <b>stars</b>; <b>and</b> <b>under</b> <b>its</b> <b>western</b> <b>flank</b> <b>nestled</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>village</b>. <b>Towards</b> <b>it</b> <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>desiring</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 9<br>
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<b>AT</b> <b>THE</b> <b>SIGN</b> <b>OF</b> <b>THE</b> <b>PRANCING</b> <b>PONY</b><br>
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<b>Bree</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>village</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b>, <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>inhabited</b> <b>region</b>, <b>like</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>empty</b> <b>lands</b> <b>round</b> <b>about</b>. <b>Besides</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>itself</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>Staddle</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>Combe</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>valley</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>further</b> <b>eastward</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Archet</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chetwood</b>. <b>Lying</b> <b>round</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>villages</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>country</b> <b>of</b> <b>fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>tamed</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>miles</b> <b>broad</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>were</b> <b>brown</b>-<b>haired</b>, <b>broad</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rather</b> <b>short</b>, <b>cheerful</b> <b>and</b> <b>independent</b>: <b>they</b> <b>belonged</b> <b>to</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>but</b> <b>themselves</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>more</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>and</b> <b>familiar</b> <b>with</b> <b>Hobbits</b>, <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>Elves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>than</b> <b>was</b> (<b>or</b> <b>is</b>) <b>usual</b> <b>with</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b>. <b>According</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>tales</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>original</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>descendants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>Men</b> <b>that</b> <b>ever</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b>-<b>world</b>. <b>Few</b> <b>had</b> <b>survived</b> <b>the</b> <b>turmoils</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>; <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>returned</b> <b>again</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>men</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b> <b>now</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>had</b> <b>faded</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>Men</b> <b>had</b> <b>settled</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>west</b>, <b>or</b> <b>within</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>lands</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>mysterious</b> <b>wanderers</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>called</b> <b>them</b> <b>Rangers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>knew</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>origin</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>taller</b> <b>and</b> <b>darker</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>believed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>strange</b> <b>powers</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b> <b>and</b> <b>hearing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>understand</b> <b>the</b> <b>languages</b> <b>of</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>and</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>They</b> <b>roamed</b> <b>at</b> <b>will</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eastwards</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>few</b> <b>and</b> <b>rarely</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>they</b> <b>brought</b> <b>news</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b>, <b>and</b> <b>told</b> <b>strange</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>tales</b> <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>eagerly</b> <b>listened</b> <b>to</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>friends</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>many</b> <b>families</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>claimed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>oldest</b> <b>settlement</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>founded</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>was</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>colonized</b>. <b>They</b> <b>lived</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>in</b> <b>Staddle</b> <b>though</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>some</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>itself</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>higher</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>houses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Little</b> <b>Folk</b> (<b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>) <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>terms</b>, <b>minding</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>affairs</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>ways</b>, <b>but</b> <b>both</b> <b>rightly</b> <b>regarding</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>as</b> <b>necessary</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b>. <b>Nowhere</b> <b>else</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>this</b> <b>peculiar</b> (<b>but</b> <b>excellent</b>) <b>arrangement</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b>, <b>Big</b> <b>and</b> <b>Little</b>, <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>travel</b> <b>much</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>affairs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>four</b> <b>villages</b> <b>were</b> <b>their</b> <b>chief</b> <b>concern</b>. <b>Occasionally</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>went</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>; <b>but</b> <b>though</b> <b>their</b> <b>link</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>further</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>riding</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>Bridge</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>now</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>visited</b> <b>it</b>. <b>An</b> <b>occasional</b> <b>Bucklander</b> <b>or</b> <b>adventurous</b> <b>Took</b> <b>would</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Inn</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>night</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>but</b> <b>even</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>less</b> <b>and</b> <b>less</b> <b>usual</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>hobbits</b> <b>referred</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>any</b> <b>others</b> <b>that</b> <b>lived</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Outsiders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>very</b> <b>little</b> <b>interest</b> <b>in</b> <b>them</b>, <b>considering</b> <b>them</b> <b>dull</b> <b>and</b> <b>uncouth</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>probably</b> <b>many</b> <b>more</b> <b>Outsiders</b> <b>scattered</b> <b>about</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>World</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>imagined</b>. <b>Some</b>, <b>doubtless</b>, <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>tramps</b>, <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>dig</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>stay</b> <b>only</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>suited</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b>, <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>, <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>decent</b> <b>and</b> <b>prosperous</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>rustic</b> <b>than</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>distant</b> <b>relatives</b> <b>Inside</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>when</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>much</b> <b>coming</b> <b>and</b> <b>going</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bree</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>blood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>accounts</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>village</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>stone</b> <b>houses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b>, <b>mostly</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>nestling</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hillside</b> <b>with</b> <b>windows</b> <b>looking</b> <b>west</b>. <b>On</b> <b>that</b> <b>side</b>, <b>running</b> <b>in</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>dike</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>thick</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>inner</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Over</b> <b>this</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>causeway</b>; <b>but</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>barred</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>another</b> <b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>comer</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>ran</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>. <b>The</b> <b>gates</b> <b>were</b> <b>closed</b> <b>at</b> <b>nightfall</b>; <b>but</b> <b>just</b> <b>inside</b> <b>them</b> <b>were</b> <b>small</b> <b>lodges</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>gatekeepers</b>.<br>
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<b>Down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>swept</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>inn</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>built</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>traffic</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>roads</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>far</b> <b>greater</b>. <b>For</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>stood</b> <b>at</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>of</b> <b>ways</b>; <b>another</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>road</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b> <b>just</b> <b>outside</b> (<b>he</b> <b>dike</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>former</b> <b>days</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>various</b> <b>sorts</b> <b>had</b> <b>travelled</b> <b>much</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Strange</b> <b>as</b> <b>News</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>saying</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b>, <b>descending</b> <b>from</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b>, <b>when</b> <b>news</b> <b>from</b> <b>North</b>, <b>South</b>, <b>and</b> <b>East</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>hobbits</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>more</b> <b>often</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>Lands</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>been</b> <b>desolate</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Road</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>used</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>grass</b>-<b>grown</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Inn</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>innkeeper</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>important</b> <b>person</b>. <b>His</b> <b>house</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>place</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>idle</b>, <b>talkative</b>, <b>and</b> <b>inquisitive</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b>, <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>small</b>, <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>four</b> <b>villages</b>; <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>resort</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rangers</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>wanderers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>such</b> <b>travellers</b> (<b>mostly</b> <b>dwarves</b>) <b>as</b> <b>still</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>to</b> <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>shining</b>, <b>when</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b>-<b>crossing</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>. <b>They</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b> <b>shut</b>, <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lodge</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>it</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b> <b>sitting</b>. <b>He</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>fetched</b> <b>a</b> <b>lantern</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>surprise</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>gruffly</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>making</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>journeying</b> <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>go</b> <b>further</b> <b>tonight</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Hobbits</b>! <b>Four</b> <b>hobbits</b>! <b>And</b> <b>what</b>'<b>s</b> <b>more</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>by</b> <b>their</b> <b>talk</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>gatekeeper</b>, <b>softly</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>darkly</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>opened</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>ride</b> <b>through</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>often</b> <b>see</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>riding</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>You</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>pardon</b> <b>my</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>what</b> <b>business</b> <b>takes</b> <b>you</b> <b>away</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>! <b>What</b> <b>may</b> <b>your</b> <b>names</b> <b>be</b>, <b>might</b> <b>I</b> <b>ask</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Our</b> <b>names</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>business</b> <b>are</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b>, <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>place</b> <b>to</b> <b>discuss</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>not</b> <b>liking</b> <b>the</b> <b>look</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>man</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>tone</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b>.<br>
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“<b>Your</b> <b>business</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b>, <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>man</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>my</b> <b>business</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>questions</b> <b>after</b> <b>nightfall</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>from</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>to</b> <b>travel</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Brandybuck</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>that</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>fair</b>-<b>spoken</b> <b>to</b> <b>travellers</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b>.”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>right</b>, <b>all</b> <b>right</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>man</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>meant</b> <b>no</b> <b>offence</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>that</b> <b>more</b> <b>folk</b> <b>than</b> <b>old</b> <b>Harry</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>asking</b> <b>you</b> <b>questions</b>. <b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>queer</b> <b>folk</b> <b>about</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>The</b> <b>Pony</b>, <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>you</b>'<b>re</b> <b>oat</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>guests</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>wished</b> <b>them</b> <b>good</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lantern</b>-<b>light</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>man</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>eyeing</b> <b>them</b> <b>curiously</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>clang</b> <b>to</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>rode</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>why</b> <b>the</b> <b>man</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>suspicious</b>, <b>and</b> <b>whether</b> <b>any</b> <b>one</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>asking</b> <b>for</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>party</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Could</b> <b>it</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>Gandalf</b>? <b>He</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>arrived</b>, <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>delayed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>something</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>look</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>gatekeeper</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>him</b> <b>uneasy</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>man</b> <b>stared</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>house</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b> <b>was</b> <b>turned</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>figure</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>in</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>melted</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b> <b>street</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>rode</b> <b>on</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>passing</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>detached</b> <b>houses</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>up</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>houses</b> <b>looked</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>strange</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>stared</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>with</b> <b>its</b> <b>three</b> <b>storeys</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>windows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>sink</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>himself</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>giants</b> <b>taller</b> <b>than</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>even</b> <b>more</b> <b>terrifying</b>, <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>or</b> <b>other</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>course</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>journey</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>finding</b> <b>his</b> <b>first</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>tall</b> <b>houses</b> <b>quite</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>indeed</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tiring</b> <b>day</b>. <b>He</b> <b>pictured</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>standing</b> <b>all</b> <b>saddled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>-<b>yard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>peering</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>upper</b> <b>windows</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>surely</b> <b>aren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>are</b> <b>we</b>, <b>sir</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>exclaimed</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>pans</b>, <b>why</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>we</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b>? <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>homelike</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>recommended</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>expect</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>homelike</b> <b>enough</b> <b>inside</b>.”<br>
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<b>Even</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>looked</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>house</b> <b>to</b> <b>familiar</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>front</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>two</b> <b>wings</b> <b>running</b> <b>back</b> <b>on</b> <b>land</b> <b>partly</b> <b>cut</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>rear</b> <b>the</b> <b>second</b>-<b>floor</b> <b>windows</b> <b>were</b> <b>level</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>arch</b> <b>leading</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>courtyard</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>wings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>doorway</b> <b>reached</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>broad</b> <b>steps</b>. <b>The</b> <b>door</b> <b>was</b> <b>open</b> <b>and</b> <b>light</b> <b>streamed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Above</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lamp</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>it</b> <b>swung</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>signboard</b>: <b>a</b> <b>fat</b> <b>white</b> <b>pony</b> <b>reared</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>hind</b> <b>legs</b>. <b>Over</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>was</b> <b>painted</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b> <b>letters</b>: <b>the</b> <b>prancing</b> <b>pony</b> <b>by</b> <b>barliman</b> <b>butterbur</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>windows</b> <b>showed</b> <b>lights</b> <b>behind</b> <b>thick</b> <b>curtains</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>hesitated</b> <b>outside</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>, <b>someone</b> <b>began</b> <b>singing</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>song</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>cheerful</b> <b>voices</b> <b>joined</b> <b>loudly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>chorus</b>. <b>They</b> <b>listened</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>encouraging</b> <b>sound</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>got</b> <b>off</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b>. <b>The</b> <b>song</b> <b>ended</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>burst</b> <b>of</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>and</b> <b>clapping</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>led</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>them</b> <b>standing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>yard</b> <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>steps</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>bumped</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>fat</b> <b>man</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bald</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>face</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>apron</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>bustling</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>through</b> <b>another</b>, <b>carrying</b> <b>a</b> <b>tray</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>full</b> <b>mugs</b>.<br>
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“<b>Can</b> <b>we</b>—” <b>began</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Half</b> <b>a</b> <b>minute</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>please</b>!” <b>shouted</b> <b>the</b> <b>man</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>, <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>babel</b> <b>of</b> <b>voices</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>of</b> <b>smoke</b>. <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>, <b>wiping</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>apron</b>.<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>little</b> <b>master</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>bending</b> <b>down</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>may</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>wanting</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Beds</b> <b>for</b> <b>four</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stabling</b> <b>for</b> <b>five</b> <b>ponies</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>managed</b>. <b>Are</b> <b>you</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>?”<br>
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“<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>right</b>! <b>Barliman</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>name</b>. <b>Barliman</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>at</b> <b>your</b> <b>service</b>! <b>You</b>'<b>re</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>eh</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>clapped</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>forehead</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>remember</b> <b>something</b>. “<b>Hobbits</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>what</b> <b>does</b> <b>that</b> <b>remind</b> <b>me</b> <b>of</b>? <b>Might</b> <b>I</b> <b>ask</b> <b>your</b> <b>names</b>, <b>sir</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Mr</b>. <b>Took</b> <b>and</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Brandybuck</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>. <b>My</b> <b>name</b> <b>is</b> <b>Underhill</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>now</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>snapping</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>gone</b> <b>again</b>! <b>But</b> <b>it</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>run</b> <b>off</b> <b>my</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>We</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>often</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>party</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>nowadays</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>you</b> <b>welcome</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>crowd</b> <b>already</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>as</b> <b>there</b> <b>hasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>been</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>It</b> <b>never</b> <b>rains</b> <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>pours</b>, <b>we</b> <b>say</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hi</b>! <b>Nob</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>shouted</b>. “<b>Where</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>you</b> <b>woolly</b>-<b>footed</b> <b>slow</b>-<b>coach</b>? <b>Nob</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Coming</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>Coming</b>!” <b>A</b> <b>cheery</b>-<b>looking</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>bobbed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b>, <b>stopped</b> <b>short</b> <b>and</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>interest</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bob</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>? <b>Well</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b>! <b>Double</b> <b>sharp</b>! <b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>six</b> <b>legs</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>six</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>neither</b>! <b>Tell</b> <b>Bob</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>five</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>stabled</b>. <b>He</b> <b>must</b> <b>find</b> <b>room</b> <b>somehow</b>.” <b>Nob</b> <b>trotted</b> <b>off</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>grin</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>wink</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>now</b>, <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>I</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>tapping</b> <b>his</b> <b>forehead</b>. “<b>One</b> <b>thing</b> <b>drives</b> <b>out</b> <b>another</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>that</b> <b>busy</b> <b>tonight</b>, <b>my</b> <b>head</b> <b>is</b> <b>going</b> <b>round</b>. <b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>party</b> <b>that</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b> <b>from</b> <b>down</b> <b>South</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>—<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>strange</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>begin</b> <b>with</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>travelling</b> <b>company</b> <b>of</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>going</b> <b>West</b> <b>come</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>you</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>weren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>I</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>house</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>room</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>wing</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>special</b> <b>for</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>when</b> <b>this</b> <b>place</b> <b>was</b> <b>built</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>floor</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>usually</b> <b>prefer</b>; <b>round</b> <b>windows</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>like</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>comfortable</b>. <b>You</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>wanting</b> <b>supper</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>doubt</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>. <b>This</b> <b>way</b> <b>now</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>way</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>passage</b>, <b>and</b> <b>opened</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>little</b> <b>parlour</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>suit</b>. <b>Excuse</b> <b>me</b> <b>now</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>that</b> <b>busy</b>. <b>No</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>talking</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>trotting</b>. <b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hard</b> <b>work</b> <b>for</b> <b>two</b> <b>legs</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>thinner</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>look</b> <b>in</b> <b>again</b> <b>later</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>anything</b>, <b>ring</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b>-<b>bell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>come</b>, <b>ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>shout</b>!”<br>
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<b>Off</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>rather</b> <b>breathless</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>capable</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>endless</b> <b>stream</b> <b>of</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>however</b> <b>busy</b> <b>he</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b>. <b>They</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>cosy</b> <b>room</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>bright</b> <b>fire</b> <b>burning</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>some</b> <b>low</b> <b>and</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>chairs</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>round</b> <b>table</b>, <b>already</b> <b>spread</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>cloth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>hand</b>-<b>bell</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Nob</b>, <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>servant</b>, <b>came</b> <b>bustling</b> <b>in</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>ringing</b>. <b>He</b> <b>brought</b> <b>candles</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>tray</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>plates</b>.<br>
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“<b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>wanting</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>masters</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>show</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>bedrooms</b>, <b>while</b> <b>your</b> <b>supper</b> <b>is</b> <b>got</b> <b>ready</b>?”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>washed</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>deep</b> <b>mugs</b> <b>of</b> <b>beer</b> <b>when</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>and</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>again</b>. <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>hot</b> <b>soup</b>, <b>cold</b> <b>meats</b>, <b>a</b> <b>blackberry</b> <b>tart</b>, <b>new</b> <b>loaves</b>, <b>slabs</b> <b>of</b> <b>butter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>ripe</b> <b>cheese</b>: <b>good</b> <b>plain</b> <b>food</b>, <b>as</b> <b>good</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>could</b> <b>show</b>, <b>and</b> <b>homelike</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>dispel</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>misgivings</b> (<b>already</b> <b>much</b> <b>relieved</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>excellence</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>beer</b>).<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>hovered</b> <b>round</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>link</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>them</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>whether</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>care</b> <b>to</b> <b>join</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b>, <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>supped</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>Perhaps</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>rather</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>beds</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>pleased</b> <b>to</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>you</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>We</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>Outsiders</b>—<b>travellers</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b>, <b>begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>—<b>often</b>; <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b>, <b>or</b> <b>any</b> <b>story</b> <b>or</b> <b>song</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>in</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>please</b>! <b>Ring</b> <b>the</b> <b>bell</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>lack</b> <b>anything</b>!”<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>refreshed</b> <b>and</b> <b>encouraged</b> <b>did</b> <b>they</b> <b>feel</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>supper</b> (<b>about</b> <b>three</b> <b>quarters</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>'<b>s</b> <b>steady</b> <b>going</b>, <b>not</b> <b>hindered</b> <b>by</b> <b>unnecessary</b> <b>talk</b>) <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>Pippin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>join</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>said</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>stuffy</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>sit</b> <b>here</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>go</b> <b>out</b> <b>later</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>sniff</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. <b>Mind</b> <b>your</b> <b>Ps</b> <b>and</b> <b>Qs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>forget</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>supposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>escaping</b> <b>in</b> <b>secret</b>, <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b>-<b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>very</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>!”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>right</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Mind</b> <b>yourself</b>! <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>lost</b>, <b>and</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>forget</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>safer</b> <b>indoors</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>company</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>big</b> <b>common</b>-<b>room</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>was</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>mixed</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>discovered</b>, <b>when</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>got</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>. <b>This</b> <b>came</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>blazing</b> <b>log</b>-<b>fire</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>beams</b> <b>were</b> <b>dim</b>, <b>and</b> <b>half</b> <b>veiled</b> <b>in</b> <b>smoke</b>. <b>Barliman</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>talking</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>strange</b>-<b>looking</b> <b>men</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>benches</b> <b>were</b> <b>various</b> <b>folk</b>: <b>men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>a</b> <b>collection</b> <b>of</b> <b>local</b> <b>hobbits</b> (<b>sitting</b> <b>chattering</b> <b>together</b>), <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>more</b> <b>dwarves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>vague</b> <b>figures</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>and</b> <b>comers</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>hobbits</b> <b>entered</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>chorus</b> <b>of</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>landers</b>. <b>The</b> <b>strangers</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b>, <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>curiously</b>. <b>The</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>introduced</b> <b>the</b> <b>newcomers</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b>, <b>so</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>that</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>many</b> <b>names</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>sure</b> <b>who</b> <b>the</b> <b>names</b> <b>belonged</b> <b>to</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>rather</b> <b>botanical</b> (<b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>rather</b> <b>odd</b>) <b>names</b>, <b>like</b> <b>Rushlight</b>, <b>Goatleaf</b>, <b>Heathertoes</b>, <b>Appledore</b>, <b>Thistlewool</b> <b>and</b> <b>Ferny</b> (<b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>mention</b> <b>Butterbur</b>). <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>similar</b> <b>names</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Mugworts</b>, <b>for</b> <b>instance</b>, <b>seemed</b> <b>numerous</b>. <b>But</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>had</b> <b>natural</b> <b>names</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>Banks</b>, <b>Brockhouse</b>, <b>Longholes</b>, <b>Sandheaver</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Tunnelly</b>, <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>used</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>several</b> <b>Underhills</b> <b>from</b> <b>Saddle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>imagine</b> <b>sharing</b> <b>a</b> <b>name</b> <b>without</b> <b>being</b> <b>related</b>, <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b>-<b>lost</b> <b>cousin</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>friendly</b> <b>and</b> <b>inquisitive</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>soon</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>some</b> <b>explanation</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>doing</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>given</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>out</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>history</b> <b>and</b> <b>geography</b> (<b>at</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>much</b> <b>wagging</b> <b>of</b> <b>heads</b>, <b>although</b> <b>neither</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>were</b> <b>much</b> <b>used</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>dialect</b>). <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>writing</b> <b>a</b> <b>book</b> (<b>at</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b> <b>astonishment</b>), <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>collect</b> <b>information</b> <b>about</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>living</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>lands</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>a</b> <b>chorus</b> <b>of</b> <b>voices</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b>. <b>If</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>really</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>a</b> <b>book</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>had</b> <b>many</b> <b>ears</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>learned</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>several</b> <b>chapters</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>minutes</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>given</b> <b>a</b> <b>whole</b> <b>list</b> <b>of</b> <b>names</b>, <b>beginning</b> <b>with</b> “<b>Old</b> <b>Barliman</b> <b>here</b>”, <b>to</b> <b>whom</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>for</b> <b>further</b> <b>information</b>. <b>But</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>show</b> <b>any</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>writing</b> <b>a</b> <b>book</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>spot</b>, <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>questions</b> <b>about</b> <b>doings</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>prove</b> <b>very</b> <b>communicative</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>soon</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>alone</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>comer</b>, <b>listening</b> <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>around</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>were</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>talking</b> <b>of</b> <b>distant</b> <b>events</b> <b>and</b> <b>telling</b> <b>flews</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>only</b> <b>too</b> <b>familiar</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>move</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>for</b> <b>lands</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>peace</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>sympathetic</b>, <b>but</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>not</b> <b>very</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>number</b> <b>of</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>into</b> <b>their</b> <b>little</b> <b>land</b>. <b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b>, <b>a</b> <b>squint</b>-<b>eyed</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>favoured</b> <b>fellow</b>, <b>was</b> <b>foretelling</b> <b>that</b> <b>more</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>people</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>coming</b> <b>north</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>near</b> <b>future</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>room</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>found</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>, <b>they</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>They</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>a</b> <b>right</b> <b>to</b> <b>live</b>, <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>loudly</b>. <b>The</b> <b>local</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>look</b> <b>pleased</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>prospect</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>pay</b> <b>much</b> <b>attention</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>concern</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Big</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>could</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>beg</b> <b>for</b> <b>lodgings</b> <b>in</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>holes</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>more</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>who</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>quite</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>chatting</b> <b>gaily</b> <b>about</b> <b>events</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>roused</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>collapse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Town</b> <b>Hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b>: <b>Will</b> <b>Whitfoot</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Mayor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fattest</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westfarthing</b>, <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>buried</b> <b>in</b> <b>chalk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>floured</b> <b>dumpling</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>several</b> <b>questions</b> <b>asked</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>uneasy</b>. <b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>landers</b>, <b>who</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>several</b> <b>times</b>, <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Underhills</b> <b>lived</b> <b>and</b> <b>who</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>related</b> <b>to</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b>-<b>looking</b> <b>weather</b>-<b>beaten</b> <b>man</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>listening</b> <b>intently</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>talk</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>tankard</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>smoking</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b>-<b>stemmed</b> <b>pipe</b> <b>curiously</b> <b>carved</b>. <b>His</b> <b>legs</b> <b>were</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>out</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>, <b>showing</b> <b>high</b> <b>boots</b> <b>of</b> <b>supple</b> <b>leather</b> <b>that</b> <b>fitted</b> <b>him</b> <b>well</b>, <b>but</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>much</b> <b>wear</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>caked</b> <b>with</b> <b>mud</b>. <b>A</b> <b>travel</b>-<b>stained</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>of</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>dark</b>-<b>green</b> <b>cloth</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>close</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>heat</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>he</b> <b>wore</b> <b>a</b> <b>hood</b> <b>that</b> <b>overshadowed</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>watched</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>.<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b>?” <b>Frodo</b> <b>asked</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>to</b> <b>whisper</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>introduced</b> <b>him</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Him</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>answering</b> <b>whisper</b>, <b>cocking</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>without</b> <b>turning</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>rightly</b> <b>know</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>folk</b> -<b>Rangers</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b> <b>them</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>talks</b>: <b>not</b> <b>but</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b> <b>a</b> <b>rare</b> <b>tale</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>the</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>He</b> <b>disappears</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>month</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>pops</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>often</b> <b>last</b> <b>spring</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b> <b>about</b> <b>lately</b>. <b>What</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>name</b> <b>is</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b>: <b>but</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>known</b> <b>round</b> <b>here</b> <b>as</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>Goes</b> <b>about</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>pace</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>shanks</b>; <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>tell</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>what</b> <b>cause</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>to</b> <b>hurry</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>no</b> <b>accounting</b> <b>for</b> <b>East</b> <b>and</b> <b>West</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>say</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>meaning</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rangers</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b>, <b>begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>. <b>Funny</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>ask</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>.” <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b> <b>away</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>demand</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>ale</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>last</b> <b>remark</b> <b>remained</b> <b>unexplained</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>or</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>said</b>. <b>Presently</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>wave</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>nod</b>, <b>he</b> <b>invited</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>over</b> <b>and</b> <b>sit</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b>. <b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b> <b>be</b> <b>threw</b> <b>back</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b>, <b>showing</b> <b>a</b> <b>shaggy</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hair</b> <b>necked</b> <b>with</b> <b>grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>stem</b> <b>face</b> <b>a</b> <b>pair</b> <b>of</b> <b>keen</b> <b>grey</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>called</b> <b>Strider</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>very</b> <b>pleased</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Master</b>—<b>Underhill</b>, <b>if</b> <b>old</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>got</b> <b>your</b> <b>name</b> <b>right</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>did</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stiffly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stare</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>keen</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Underhill</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>stop</b> <b>your</b> <b>young</b> <b>friends</b> <b>from</b> <b>talking</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b>. <b>Drink</b>, <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>chance</b>-<b>meeting</b> <b>are</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>but</b>, <b>well</b>—<b>this</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>queer</b> <b>folk</b> <b>about</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>shouldn</b>'<b>t</b>, <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>wry</b> <b>smile</b>, <b>seeing</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>glance</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>even</b> <b>stranger</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>through</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>lately</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>watching</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>returned</b> <b>his</b> <b>gaze</b> <b>but</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>sign</b>. <b>His</b> <b>attention</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>fixed</b> <b>on</b> <b>Pippin</b>. <b>To</b> <b>his</b> <b>alarm</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>became</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridiculous</b> <b>young</b> <b>Took</b>, <b>encouraged</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>success</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>fat</b> <b>Mayor</b> <b>of</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b>, <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>actually</b> <b>giving</b> <b>a</b> <b>comic</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>party</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>giving</b> <b>an</b> <b>imitation</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Speech</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>astonishing</b> <b>Disappearance</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>annoyed</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>harmless</b> <b>enough</b> <b>tale</b> <b>for</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>local</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>: <b>just</b> <b>a</b> <b>funny</b> <b>story</b> <b>about</b> <b>those</b> <b>funny</b> <b>people</b> <b>away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>; <b>but</b> <b>some</b> (<b>old</b> <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>for</b> <b>instance</b>) <b>knew</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>probably</b> <b>heard</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>about</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>vanishing</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>bring</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>inquiries</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>name</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>fidgeted</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>evidently</b> <b>much</b> <b>enjoying</b> <b>the</b> <b>attention</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>getting</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>quite</b> <b>forgetful</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>danger</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>present</b> <b>mood</b> <b>he</b> <b>might</b> <b>even</b> <b>mention</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>well</b> <b>be</b> <b>disastrous</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b> <b>quick</b>!” <b>whispered</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>ear</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b>, <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>The</b> <b>attention</b> <b>of</b> <b>Pippin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>audience</b> <b>was</b> <b>disturbed</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>and</b> <b>clapped</b>, <b>thinking</b> <b>that</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>ale</b> <b>as</b> <b>was</b> <b>good</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Frodo</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>felt</b> <b>very</b> <b>foolish</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> (<b>as</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>habit</b> <b>when</b> <b>making</b> <b>a</b> <b>speech</b>) <b>fingering</b> <b>the</b> <b>things</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>chain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>quite</b> <b>unaccountably</b> <b>the</b> <b>desire</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>slip</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>silly</b> <b>situation</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>somehow</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>me</b> <b>suggestion</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>from</b> <b>someone</b> <b>or</b> <b>something</b> <b>a</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>. <b>He</b> <b>resisted</b> <b>the</b> <b>temptation</b> <b>firmly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clasped</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>a</b> <b>hold</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>prevent</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>escaping</b> <b>or</b> <b>doing</b> <b>any</b> <b>mischief</b>. <b>At</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>it</b> <b>gave</b> <b>him</b> <b>no</b> <b>inspiration</b>. <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> “<b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>suitable</b> <b>words</b>”, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>: <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>gratified</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>kindness</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>reception</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>venture</b> <b>to</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>my</b> <b>brief</b> <b>visit</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b> <b>to</b> <b>renew</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>ties</b> <b>of</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bree</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>hesitated</b> <b>and</b> <b>coughed</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Everyone</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>song</b>!” <b>shouted</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>song</b>! <b>A</b> <b>song</b>!” <b>shouted</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>on</b> <b>now</b>, <b>master</b>, <b>sing</b> <b>us</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>heard</b> <b>before</b>!”<br>
|
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<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>gaping</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>in</b> <b>desperation</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridiculous</b> <b>song</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>rather</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> (<b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>rather</b> <b>proud</b> <b>of</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>himself</b>). <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>about</b> <b>an</b> <b>inn</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>probably</b> <b>why</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>mind</b> <b>just</b> <b>then</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>full</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>, <b>remembered</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>inn</b>, <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>old</b> <b>inn</b><br>
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<b>beneath</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hill</b>,<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>brew</b> <b>a</b> <b>beer</b> <b>so</b> <b>brown</b><br>
|
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<b>That</b> <b>the</b> <b>Man</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>himself</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b><br>
|
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<b>one</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>drink</b> <b>his</b> <b>fill</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>ostler</b> <b>has</b> <b>a</b> <b>tipsy</b> <b>cat</b><br>
|
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<b>that</b> <b>plays</b> <b>a</b> <b>five</b>-<b>stringed</b> <b>fiddle</b>;<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>he</b> <b>runs</b> <b>his</b> <b>bow</b>,<br>
|
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<b>Now</b> <b>squeaking</b> <b>high</b>, <b>now</b> <b>purring</b> <b>low</b>,<br>
|
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<b>now</b> <b>sawing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>keeps</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>dog</b><br>
|
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<b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>jokes</b>;<br>
|
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<b>When</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>good</b> <b>cheer</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b>,<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>cocks</b> <b>an</b> <b>ear</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>jests</b><br>
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<b>and</b> <b>laughs</b> <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>chokes</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>They</b> <b>also</b> <b>keep</b> <b>a</b> <b>horned</b> <b>cow</b><br>
|
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<b>as</b> <b>proud</b> <b>as</b> <b>any</b> <b>queen</b>;<br>
|
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<b>But</b> <b>music</b> <b>turns</b> <b>her</b> <b>head</b> <b>like</b> <b>ale</b>,<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>makes</b> <b>her</b> <b>wave</b> <b>her</b> <b>tufted</b> <b>tail</b><br>
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<b>and</b> <b>dance</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>O</b>! <b>the</b> <b>rows</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>dishes</b><br>
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<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>store</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>spoons</b>!<br>
|
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<b>For</b> <b>Sunday</b>* <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>special</b> <b>pair</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>these</b> <b>they</b> <b>polish</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>care</b><br>
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<b>on</b> <b>Saturday</b> <b>afternoons</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>Man</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>drinking</b> <b>deep</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>cat</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>wail</b>;<br>
|
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<b>A</b> <b>dish</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>spoon</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>danced</b>,<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>cow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b> <b>madly</b> <b>pranced</b>,<br>
|
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<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>dog</b> <b>chased</b> <b>his</b> <b>tail</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>Man</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>took</b> <b>another</b> <b>mug</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>;<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>he</b> <b>dozed</b> <b>and</b> <b>dreamed</b> <b>of</b> <b>ale</b>,<br>
|
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<b>Till</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>pale</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
|
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<b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>ostler</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>tipsy</b> <b>cat</b>:<br>
|
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“<b>The</b> <b>white</b> <b>horses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>neigh</b> <b>and</b> <b>champ</b> <b>their</b> <b>silver</b> <b>bits</b>;<br>
|
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<b>But</b> <b>their</b> <b>master</b>'<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>and</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>his</b> <b>wits</b>,<br>
|
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<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>rising</b> <b>soon</b>!’<br>
|
||
<br>
|
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<b>So</b> <b>the</b> <b>cat</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>fiddle</b> <b>played</b> <b>hey</b>-<b>diddle</b>-<b>diddle</b>,<br>
|
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<b>a</b> <b>jig</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>wake</b> <b>the</b> <b>dead</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>squeaked</b> <b>and</b> <b>sawed</b> <b>and</b> <b>quickened</b> <b>the</b> <b>tune</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>While</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>shook</b> <b>the</b> <b>Man</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>:<br>
|
||
“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>after</b> <b>three</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>the</b> <b>Man</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>bundled</b> <b>him</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>While</b> <b>his</b> <b>horses</b> <b>galloped</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>rear</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>cow</b> <b>came</b> <b>capering</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>deer</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>dish</b> <b>ran</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>spoon</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Now</b> <b>quicker</b> <b>the</b> <b>fiddle</b> <b>went</b> <b>deedle</b>-<b>dum</b>-<b>diddle</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>dog</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>roar</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>cow</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>horses</b> <b>stood</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>guests</b> <b>all</b> <b>bounded</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>beds</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>danced</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>ping</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>pong</b> <b>the</b> <b>fiddle</b>-<b>strings</b> <b>broke</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>cow</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>dog</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>such</b> <b>fun</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Saturday</b> <b>dish</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>run</b><br>
|
||
<b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>silver</b> <b>Sunday</b> <b>spoon</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>round</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b><br>
|
||
<b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>raised</b> <b>up</b> <b>her</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>She</b>** <b>hardly</b> <b>believed</b> <b>her</b> <b>fiery</b> <b>eyes</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>day</b>, <b>to</b> <b>her</b> <b>surprise</b><br>
|
||
<b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>loud</b> <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>applause</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>tickled</b> <b>their</b> <b>fancy</b>. “<b>Where</b>'<b>s</b> <b>old</b> <b>Barley</b>?” <b>they</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>this</b>. <b>Bob</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>learn</b> <b>his</b> <b>cat</b> <b>the</b> <b>fiddle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b>'<b>d</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>dance</b>.” <b>They</b> <b>called</b> <b>for</b> <b>more</b> <b>ale</b>, <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>shout</b>: “<b>Let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>, <b>master</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>on</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Once</b> <b>more</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>made</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>have</b> <b>another</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>begin</b> <b>his</b> <b>song</b> <b>again</b>, <b>while</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>joined</b> <b>in</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>tune</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>known</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>quick</b> <b>at</b> <b>picking</b> <b>up</b> <b>words</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>pleased</b> <b>with</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>He</b> <b>capered</b> <b>about</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>; <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>cow</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>, <b>he</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. <b>Much</b> <b>too</b> <b>vigorously</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b>, <b>bang</b>, <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>tray</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>mugs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slipped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>crash</b>, <b>clatter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bump</b>! <b>The</b> <b>audience</b> <b>all</b> <b>opened</b> <b>their</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>wide</b> <b>for</b> <b>laughter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>short</b> <b>a</b> <b>gaping</b> <b>silence</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>singer</b> <b>disappeared</b>. <b>He</b> <b>simply</b> <b>vanished</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>slap</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>without</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b>!<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>local</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>stared</b> <b>in</b> <b>amazement</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>and</b> <b>shouted</b> <b>for</b> <b>Barliman</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>drew</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>left</b> <b>alone</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>comer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eyed</b> <b>darkly</b> <b>and</b> <b>doubtfully</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>distance</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>many</b> <b>people</b> <b>regarded</b> <b>them</b> <b>now</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>companions</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>travelling</b> <b>magician</b> <b>of</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>powers</b> <b>and</b> <b>purpose</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>swarthy</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>lander</b>, <b>who</b> <b>stood</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b>-<b>mocking</b> <b>expression</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>them</b> <b>feel</b> <b>very</b> <b>uncomfortable</b>. <b>Presently</b> <b>he</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>squint</b>-<b>eyed</b> <b>southerner</b>: <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>whispering</b> <b>together</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>Harry</b> <b>the</b> <b>gatekeeper</b> <b>also</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>just</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>..<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>fool</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>what</b> <b>else</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>, <b>he</b> <b>crawled</b> <b>away</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>tables</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>comer</b> <b>by</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>who</b> <b>sat</b> <b>unmoved</b>, <b>giving</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>thoughts</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>back</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>How</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>handling</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>sang</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>on</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>jerk</b> <b>to</b> <b>save</b> <b>his</b> <b>fall</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>itself</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>played</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>trick</b>; <b>perhaps</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>reveal</b> <b>itself</b> <b>in</b> <b>response</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>wish</b> <b>or</b> <b>command</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>felt</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>. <b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>looks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>men</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>out</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>reappeared</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>? <b>Worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>anything</b> <b>your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b>! <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>put</b> <b>your</b> <b>foot</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>! <b>Or</b> <b>should</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>your</b> <b>finger</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>annoyed</b> <b>and</b> <b>alarmed</b>.<br>
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“<b>Oh</b> <b>yes</b>, <b>you</b> <b>do</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>wait</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>uproar</b> <b>has</b> <b>died</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Then</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>please</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>word</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>about</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>ignoring</b> <b>the</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>proper</b> <b>name</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>importance</b>—<b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>both</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>eye</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>hear</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>advantage</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>appear</b> <b>unconcerned</b>. “<b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>talk</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>later</b>.”<br>
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<b>Meanwhile</b> <b>an</b> <b>argument</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fireplace</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>trotting</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>several</b> <b>conflicting</b> <b>accounts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>event</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>; “<b>or</b> <b>leastways</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>meaning</b>. <b>He</b> <b>just</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>into</b> <b>thin</b> <b>air</b>, <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>manner</b> <b>of</b> <b>speaking</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>say</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Mugwort</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>puzzled</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b>!” <b>replied</b> <b>Mugwort</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b>, <b>what</b>'<b>s</b> <b>more</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>some</b> <b>mistake</b> <b>somewhere</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>vanishing</b> <b>into</b> <b>thin</b> <b>air</b>; <b>or</b> <b>into</b> <b>thick</b> <b>air</b>, <b>as</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>likely</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>room</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>where</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b> <b>now</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>several</b> <b>voices</b>.<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>should</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b>? <b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b>, <b>so</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>pays</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Took</b>, <b>now</b>: <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>not</b> <b>vanished</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Mugwort</b> <b>obstinately</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>some</b> <b>mistake</b>,” <b>repeated</b> <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>picking</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>tray</b> <b>and</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>broken</b> <b>crockery</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>mistake</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b>! <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>just</b> <b>been</b> <b>having</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>words</b> <b>with</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>comer</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>forward</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>firelight</b>; <b>but</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>backed</b> <b>away</b>,, <b>even</b> <b>more</b> <b>perturbed</b> <b>than</b> <b>before</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>satisfied</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>explanation</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>crawled</b> <b>away</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>tables</b> <b>after</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>then</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>huff</b>, <b>having</b> <b>no</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>for</b> <b>further</b> <b>entertainment</b> <b>that</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>One</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>gave</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>look</b> <b>and</b> <b>departed</b> <b>muttering</b> <b>among</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>or</b> <b>three</b> <b>strange</b> <b>Men</b> <b>that</b> <b>still</b> <b>remained</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>said</b> <b>good</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>was</b> <b>left</b> <b>but</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>who</b> <b>sat</b> <b>on</b>, <b>unnoticed</b>, <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>.<br>
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<b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>much</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b>. <b>He</b> <b>reckoned</b>, <b>very</b> <b>probably</b>, <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>house</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>full</b> <b>again</b> <b>on</b> <b>many</b> <b>future</b> <b>nights</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b> <b>mystery</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>thoroughly</b> <b>discussed</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>what</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>been</b> <b>doing</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>Frightening</b> <b>my</b> <b>customers</b> <b>and</b> <b>breaking</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>crocks</b> <b>with</b> <b>your</b> <b>acrobatics</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>very</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>caused</b> <b>any</b> <b>trouble</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>unintentional</b>, <b>I</b> <b>assure</b> <b>you</b>. <b>A</b> <b>most</b> <b>unfortunate</b> <b>accident</b>.”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>right</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>! <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b>'<b>re</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>tumbling</b>, <b>or</b> <b>conjuring</b>, <b>or</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>, <b>you</b>'<b>d</b> <b>best</b> <b>warn</b> <b>folk</b> <b>beforehand</b>—<b>and</b> <b>warn</b> <b>me</b>. <b>We</b>'<b>re</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>suspicious</b> <b>round</b> <b>here</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> -<b>uncanny</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>understand</b> <b>me</b>; <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>take</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>doing</b> <b>anything</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sort</b> <b>again</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>I</b> <b>promise</b> <b>you</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>getting</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>making</b> <b>an</b> <b>early</b> <b>start</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>our</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>are</b> <b>ready</b> <b>by</b> <b>eight</b> <b>o</b>'<b>clock</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>good</b>! <b>But</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>private</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>has</b> <b>just</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>amiss</b>. <b>When</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>seen</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>come</b> <b>along</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>room</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b>'<b>re</b> <b>willing</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Certainly</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>sank</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>how</b> <b>many</b> <b>private</b> <b>talks</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>reveal</b>. <b>Were</b> <b>these</b> <b>people</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>league</b> <b>against</b> <b>him</b>? <b>He</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>suspect</b> <b>even</b> <b>old</b> <b>Butterbur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fat</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>concealing</b> <b>dark</b> <b>designs</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 10<br>
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<b>STRIDER</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Frodo</b>, <b>Pippin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>made</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>parlour</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>had</b> <b>burned</b> <b>low</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>puffed</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>embers</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>blaze</b> <b>and</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>faggots</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>. <b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>calmly</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>!<br>
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“<b>Hallo</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Who</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>called</b> <b>Strider</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>: “<b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>it</b>, <b>your</b> <b>friend</b> <b>promised</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>talk</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>said</b> <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>hear</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>advantage</b>, <b>I</b> <b>believe</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Several</b> <b>things</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>But</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>my</b> <b>price</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sharply</b>.<br>
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“<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>alarmed</b>! <b>I</b> <b>mean</b> <b>just</b> <b>this</b>: <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b>, <b>and</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>some</b> <b>good</b> <b>advice</b>—<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>want</b> <b>a</b> <b>reward</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>will</b> <b>that</b> <b>be</b>, <b>pray</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>suspected</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>in</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>rascal</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>uncomfortably</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>money</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>All</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>satisfy</b> <b>a</b> <b>rogue</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>spare</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>afford</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>slow</b> <b>smile</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>thoughts</b>. “<b>Just</b> <b>this</b>: <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>me</b> <b>along</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>until</b> <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>indeed</b>!” <b>replied</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>surprised</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>relieved</b>. “<b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>another</b> <b>companion</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>agree</b> <b>to</b> <b>any</b> <b>such</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>until</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>business</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Excellent</b>!” <b>exclaimed</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>crossing</b> <b>his</b> <b>legs</b> <b>and</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>back</b> <b>comfortably</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>senses</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>good</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>much</b> <b>too</b> <b>careless</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>well</b>! <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>reward</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>. <b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>grant</b> <b>it</b>, <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Go</b> <b>on</b> <b>then</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Too</b> <b>much</b>; <b>too</b> <b>many</b> <b>dark</b> <b>things</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>grimly</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>business</b>—” <b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>opened</b> <b>it</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>shut</b> <b>it</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>quick</b> <b>ears</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>lowering</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>disappear</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>hunted</b> <b>many</b> <b>wild</b> <b>and</b> <b>wary</b> <b>things</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>usually</b> <b>avoid</b> <b>being</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>wish</b>. <b>Now</b>, <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>when</b> <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downlands</b>. <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>repeat</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>, <b>but</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>interested</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Please</b> <b>remember</b>, <b>said</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>mentioned</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>, <b>if</b> <b>any</b> <b>name</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>given</b>. <b>That</b> <b>interested</b> <b>me</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>followed</b> <b>them</b> <b>here</b>. <b>I</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>just</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Maybe</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>has</b> <b>an</b> <b>honest</b> <b>reason</b> <b>for</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b> <b>behind</b>; <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>so</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>advise</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>careful</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>interest</b> <b>my</b> <b>name</b> <b>has</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>one</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>angrily</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>learn</b> <b>why</b> <b>it</b> <b>interests</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>an</b> <b>honest</b> <b>reason</b> <b>for</b> <b>spying</b> <b>and</b> <b>eavesdropping</b>; <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>so</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>advise</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>explain</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>answered</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>laughing</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>explanation</b> <b>is</b> <b>simple</b>:<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>Hobbit</b> <b>called</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b> <b>quickly</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>carrying</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>well</b>, <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>that</b> <b>concerned</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>friends</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b>, <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>mistake</b> <b>me</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>rose</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>seat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>scowl</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>take</b> <b>more</b> <b>care</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>secret</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b>. <b>And</b> <b>care</b> <b>is</b> <b>needed</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>. “<b>Watch</b> <b>every</b> <b>shadow</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>Black</b> <b>horsemen</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>Bree</b>. <b>On</b> <b>Monday</b> <b>one</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>; <b>and</b> <b>another</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>later</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>: “<b>I</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>the</b> <b>gatekeeper</b> <b>greeted</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>something</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>press</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>join</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b>? <b>And</b> <b>why</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b> <b>did</b> <b>we</b> <b>behave</b> <b>so</b> <b>foolishly</b>: <b>we</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>in</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>better</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>your</b> <b>going</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>common</b>-<b>room</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>innkeeper</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b>, <b>or</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>he</b>—” <b>began</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>any</b> <b>harm</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>Butterbur</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>like</b> <b>mysterious</b> <b>vagabonds</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>sort</b>.” <b>Frodo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>puzzled</b> <b>look</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>rather</b> <b>a</b> <b>rascally</b> <b>look</b>, <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>not</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>curl</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>lip</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eye</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b> <b>better</b>. <b>When</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>explain</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>song</b>. <b>For</b> <b>that</b> <b>little</b> <b>prank</b>—”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>accident</b>!” <b>interrupted</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>Accident</b>, <b>then</b>. <b>That</b> <b>accident</b> <b>has</b> <b>made</b> <b>your</b> <b>position</b> <b>dangerous</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Hardly</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>these</b> <b>horsemen</b> <b>were</b> <b>pursuing</b> <b>me</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>missed</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>sharply</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>return</b>. <b>And</b> <b>more</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>others</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>their</b> <b>number</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>these</b> <b>Riders</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>paused</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>hard</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b> <b>folk</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>trusted</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>. “<b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>, <b>for</b> <b>instance</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>an</b> <b>evil</b> <b>name</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>queer</b> <b>folk</b> <b>call</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>house</b>. <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>him</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b>: <b>a</b> <b>swarthy</b> <b>sneering</b> <b>fellow</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>close</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Southern</b> <b>strangers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>out</b> <b>together</b> <b>just</b> <b>after</b> <b>your</b> “<b>accident</b>". <b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>Southerners</b> <b>mean</b> <b>well</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>Ferny</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>sell</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>anybody</b>; <b>or</b> <b>make</b> <b>mischief</b> <b>for</b> <b>amusement</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>will</b> <b>Ferny</b> <b>sell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>my</b> <b>accident</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>still</b> <b>determined</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>understand</b> <b>Strider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hints</b>.<br>
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“<b>News</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>An</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>performance</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>interesting</b> <b>to</b> <b>certain</b> <b>people</b>. <b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b> <b>your</b> <b>real</b> <b>name</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>only</b> <b>too</b> <b>likely</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>hear</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>before</b> <b>this</b> <b>night</b> <b>is</b> <b>over</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>that</b> <b>enough</b>? <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b> <b>about</b> <b>my</b> <b>reward</b>: <b>take</b> <b>me</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>guide</b> <b>or</b> <b>not</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>older</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>look</b>. <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>prove</b> <b>useful</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>road</b> <b>after</b> <b>tonight</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>horsemen</b> <b>will</b> <b>watch</b> <b>it</b> <b>night</b> <b>and</b> <b>day</b>. <b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>escape</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>is</b> <b>up</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>far</b>. <b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b>, <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>dark</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>help</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>you</b>? <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>terrible</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>with</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>with</b> <b>pain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>clenched</b> <b>the</b> <b>arms</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>. <b>The</b> <b>room</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>still</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>grown</b> <b>dim</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>with</b> <b>unseeing</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>distant</b> <b>memory</b> <b>or</b> <b>listening</b> <b>to</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Night</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>drawing</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>across</b> <b>his</b> <b>brow</b>. “<b>Perhaps</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>these</b> <b>pursuers</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b>. <b>You</b> <b>fear</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>fear</b> <b>them</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>yet</b>. <b>Tomorrow</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>can</b> <b>take</b> <b>you</b> <b>by</b> <b>paths</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>trodden</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>him</b>?”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>was</b> <b>confused</b> <b>with</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>frowned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b>; <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b>:<br>
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“<b>With</b> <b>your</b> <b>leave</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b>! <b>This</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>here</b>, <b>he</b> <b>warns</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>says</b> <b>take</b> <b>care</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>yes</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>, <b>and</b> <b>let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>begin</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>comes</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>of</b> <b>such</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>something</b>, <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>plain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>like</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>no</b> <b>reason</b> <b>why</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>go</b> <b>leading</b> <b>us</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>some</b> <b>dark</b> <b>place</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>help</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>puts</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>fidgeted</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>uncomfortable</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>reply</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>but</b> <b>turned</b> <b>his</b> <b>keen</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>caught</b> <b>his</b> <b>glance</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>away</b>. “<b>No</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>slowly</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>agree</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>really</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>choose</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b>. <b>You</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b>, <b>but</b> <b>your</b> <b>voice</b> <b>has</b> <b>changed</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>seems</b> <b>right</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b>: <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>why</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>warn</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>care</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>ask</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>you</b> <b>on</b> <b>trust</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>the</b> <b>disguise</b>? <b>Who</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>? <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>know</b> <b>about</b>—<b>about</b> <b>my</b> <b>business</b>; <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>lesson</b> <b>in</b> <b>caution</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>well</b> <b>learned</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>grim</b> <b>smile</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>caution</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>and</b> <b>wavering</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>never</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>now</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>trust</b> <b>me</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>only</b> <b>chance</b>. <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>make</b> <b>up</b> <b>your</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>answer</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>questions</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>. <b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>should</b> <b>you</b> <b>believe</b> <b>my</b> <b>story</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>trust</b> <b>me</b> <b>already</b>? <b>Still</b> <b>here</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>—”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>knock</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>had</b> <b>arrived</b> <b>with</b> <b>candles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>with</b> <b>cans</b> <b>of</b> <b>hot</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>withdrew</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>corner</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>bid</b> <b>you</b> <b>good</b> <b>night</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>, <b>putting</b> <b>the</b> <b>candles</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>. “<b>Nob</b>! <b>Take</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>rooms</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>shut</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>began</b>, <b>hesitating</b> <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>troubled</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>done</b> <b>any</b> <b>harm</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>indeed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>drives</b> <b>out</b> <b>another</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>admit</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>a</b> <b>busy</b> <b>man</b>. <b>But</b> <b>first</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>another</b> <b>this</b> <b>week</b> <b>have</b> <b>jogged</b> <b>my</b> <b>memory</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>saying</b> <b>goes</b>; <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>late</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>You</b> <b>see</b>, <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>asked</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>one</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>in</b> <b>particular</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>that</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>best</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>, <b>knowingly</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>away</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>told</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Underhill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>given</b> <b>a</b> <b>description</b> <b>that</b> <b>fits</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b> <b>so</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b>! <b>Let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>then</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>unwisely</b> <b>interrupting</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>stout</b> <b>little</b> <b>fellow</b> <b>with</b> <b>red</b> <b>cheeks</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>solemnly</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>chuckled</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>indignant</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>much</b>; <b>it</b> <b>goes</b> <b>for</b> <b>most</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>Barley</b>, <b>he</b> <b>says</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>continued</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>glance</b> <b>at</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>one</b> <b>is</b> <b>taller</b> <b>than</b> <b>some</b> <b>and</b> <b>fairer</b> <b>than</b> <b>most</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>a</b> <b>cleft</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>chin</b>: <b>perky</b> <b>chap</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>eye</b>. <b>Begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>it</b>, <b>not</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>it</b>? <b>And</b> <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>he</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>eagerly</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>who</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>. <b>A</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>they</b> <b>say</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>friend</b> <b>of</b> <b>mine</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>: <b>turn</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>ale</b> <b>sour</b> <b>or</b> <b>me</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>block</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shouldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>wonder</b>. <b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>hasty</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>what</b>'<b>s</b> <b>done</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>undone</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>what</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>done</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>getting</b> <b>impatient</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>slow</b> <b>unravelling</b> <b>of</b> <b>Butterbur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>thoughts</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>was</b> <b>I</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>, <b>pausing</b> <b>and</b> <b>snapping</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>. “<b>Ah</b>, <b>yes</b>! <b>Old</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>months</b> <b>back</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>right</b> <b>into</b> <b>my</b> <b>room</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>knock</b>. <b>Barley</b>, <b>he</b> <b>says</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>? <b>You</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>name</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hurry</b>, <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>myself</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>send</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trust</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>? <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>find</b> <b>someone</b>, <b>I</b> <b>said</b>, <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>after</b>. <b>Make</b> <b>it</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>he</b> <b>says</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>letter</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>addressed</b> <b>plain</b> <b>enough</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>producing</b> <b>a</b> <b>letter</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>pocket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>reading</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>address</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>and</b> <b>proudly</b> (<b>he</b> <b>valued</b> <b>his</b> <b>reputation</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>lettered</b> <b>man</b>):<br>
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<b>Mr</b> <b>FRODO</b> <b>BAGGINS</b>, <b>BAG</b> <b>END</b>, <b>HOBBITON</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>SHIRE</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>letter</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gandalf</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>your</b> <b>right</b> <b>name</b> <b>is</b> <b>Baggins</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>letter</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>and</b> <b>explain</b> <b>why</b> <b>you</b> <b>never</b> <b>sent</b> <b>it</b>. <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b>, <b>though</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>taken</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b>.”<br>
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<b>Poor</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>looked</b> <b>troubled</b>. “<b>You</b>'<b>re</b> <b>right</b>, <b>master</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>beg</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b>, <b>if</b> <b>harm</b> <b>comes</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>a</b>-<b>purpose</b>. <b>I</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>safe</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>find</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>after</b>, <b>and</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>spare</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>after</b> <b>another</b> <b>drove</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>a</b> <b>busy</b> <b>man</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>matters</b> <b>right</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>any</b> <b>help</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>give</b>, <b>you</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>name</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>letter</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>I</b> <b>promised</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>no</b> <b>less</b>. <b>Barley</b>, <b>he</b> <b>says</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>this</b> <b>friend</b> <b>of</b> <b>mine</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>coming</b> <b>out</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b>, <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>another</b>. <b>He</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>calling</b> <b>himself</b> <b>Underhill</b>. <b>Mind</b> <b>that</b>! <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>ask</b> <b>no</b> <b>questions</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>not</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>, <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>trouble</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>need</b> <b>help</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>grateful</b>, <b>he</b> <b>says</b>. <b>And</b> <b>here</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b>, <b>seemingly</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>These</b> <b>black</b> <b>men</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>lowering</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>They</b>'<b>re</b> <b>looking</b> <b>for</b> <b>Baggins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>mean</b> <b>well</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>Monday</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>were</b> <b>yammering</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>geese</b> <b>screaming</b>. <b>Uncanny</b>, <b>I</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Nob</b>, <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>two</b> <b>black</b> <b>men</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>asking</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>called</b> <b>Baggins</b>. <b>Nob</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>stood</b> <b>on</b> <b>end</b>. <b>I</b> <b>bid</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>fellows</b> <b>be</b> <b>off</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slammed</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>been</b> <b>asking</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>question</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Archet</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hear</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>Ranger</b>, <b>Strider</b>, <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>asking</b> <b>questions</b>, <b>too</b>. <b>Tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>in</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b>, <b>before</b> <b>you</b>'<b>d</b> <b>had</b> <b>bite</b> <b>or</b> <b>sup</b>, <b>he</b> <b>did</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>did</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>forward</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>much</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>saved</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b>, <b>Barliman</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>with</b> <b>surprise</b>. “<b>You</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>You</b>'<b>re</b> <b>always</b> <b>popping</b> <b>up</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>now</b>?”<br>
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“<b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>here</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>leave</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>offer</b> <b>me</b> <b>his</b> <b>help</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>business</b>, <b>maybe</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>suspiciously</b> <b>at</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>plight</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wouldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>take</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>Ranger</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>who</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>fat</b> <b>innkeeper</b> <b>who</b> <b>only</b> <b>remembers</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>name</b> <b>because</b> <b>people</b> <b>shout</b> <b>it</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>all</b> <b>day</b>? <b>They</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>stay</b> <b>in</b> <b>The</b> <b>Pony</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>go</b> <b>home</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>men</b> <b>off</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Me</b>? <b>Leave</b> <b>Bree</b>! <b>I</b> <b>wouldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>money</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>really</b> <b>scared</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>? <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>queer</b> <b>goings</b> <b>on</b>? <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>these</b> <b>black</b> <b>men</b> <b>after</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>do</b> <b>they</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>sorry</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>explain</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>worried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>warn</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>danger</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>house</b>. <b>These</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>: <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>they</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b>—”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>Mordor</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>From</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>Barliman</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>means</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Save</b> <b>us</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>turning</b> <b>pale</b>; <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>evidently</b> <b>was</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b> <b>news</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>time</b>.” “<b>It</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Are</b> <b>you</b> <b>still</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b>?” “<b>I</b> <b>am</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>. “<b>More</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>likes</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>against</b>, <b>against</b>—” <b>he</b> <b>faltered</b>.<br>
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“<b>Against</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>quietly</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>much</b>, <b>Barliman</b>, <b>but</b> <b>every</b> <b>little</b> <b>helps</b>. <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>let</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b> <b>tonight</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Underhill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>forget</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Baggins</b>, <b>till</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Butterbur</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>they</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>here</b> <b>without</b> <b>help</b> <b>from</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>pity</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b> <b>drew</b> <b>attention</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>The</b> <b>story</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>off</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>heard</b> <b>before</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>our</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>doing</b> <b>some</b> <b>guessing</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>slow</b> <b>pate</b>: <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>others</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>quicker</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>uptake</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>only</b> <b>hope</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>yet</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>not</b>, <b>indeed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Butterbur</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>spooks</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b> <b>spooks</b>, <b>they</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>in</b> <b>The</b> <b>Pony</b> <b>so</b> <b>easy</b>. <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>worry</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>Nob</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b>. <b>No</b> <b>black</b> <b>man</b> <b>shall</b> <b>pass</b> <b>my</b> <b>doors</b>, <b>while</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>stand</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>legs</b>. <b>Me</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>folk</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>keep</b> <b>watch</b> <b>tonight</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>best</b> <b>get</b> <b>some</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>.”<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>called</b> <b>at</b> <b>dawn</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>get</b> <b>off</b> <b>as</b> <b>early</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>. <b>Breakfast</b> <b>at</b> <b>six</b>-<b>thirty</b>, <b>please</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Right</b>! <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>see</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>orders</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>. “<b>Good</b> <b>night</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Baggins</b>—<b>Underhill</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b>! <b>Good</b> <b>night</b>—<b>now</b>, <b>bless</b> <b>me</b>! <b>Where</b>'<b>s</b> <b>your</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Brandybuck</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>anxiety</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>getting</b> <b>late</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>out</b>. <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>something</b> <b>about</b> <b>going</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>breath</b> <b>of</b> <b>air</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>want</b> <b>looking</b> <b>after</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistake</b>: <b>your</b> <b>party</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>holiday</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Butterbur</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>bar</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>quick</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>see</b> <b>your</b> <b>friend</b> <b>is</b> <b>let</b> <b>in</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>better</b> <b>send</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b>!” <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>, <b>with</b> <b>another</b> <b>doubtful</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>shake</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. <b>His</b> <b>footsteps</b> <b>retreated</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>When</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b> <b>that</b> <b>letter</b>?” <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>carefully</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>seal</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>broke</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b>. <b>Inside</b>, <b>written</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>strong</b> <b>but</b> <b>graceful</b> <b>script</b>, <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>following</b> <b>message</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>PRANCING</b> <b>PONY</b>, <b>BREE</b>. <b>Midyear</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Day</b>, <b>Shire</b> <b>Year</b>, 1418.<br>
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<b>Dear</b> <b>Frodo</b>,<br>
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<b>Bad</b> <b>news</b> <b>has</b> <b>reached</b> <b>me</b> <b>here</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>soon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>July</b> <b>at</b> <b>latest</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>return</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>follow</b> <b>you</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>Leave</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>here</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>pass</b> <b>through</b> <b>Bree</b>. <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b> (<b>Butterbur</b>). <b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>meet</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b> <b>of</b> <b>mine</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>: <b>a</b> <b>Man</b>, <b>lean</b>, <b>dark</b>, <b>tall</b>, <b>by</b> <b>some</b> <b>called</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>our</b> <b>business</b> <b>and</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Make</b> <b>for</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>There</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>meet</b> <b>again</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b>, <b>Elrond</b> <b>will</b> <b>advise</b> <b>you</b>.<br>
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<b>Yours</b> <b>in</b> <b>haste</b><br>
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<b>GANDALF</b>. <br>
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<b>PS</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>NOT</b> <b>use</b> <b>It</b> <b>again</b>, <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>any</b> <b>reason</b> <b>whatever</b>! <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>travel</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>! <br>
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<b>PPS</b>. <b>Make</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>real</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>strange</b> <b>men</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>roads</b>. <b>His</b> <b>true</b> <b>name</b> <b>is</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <br>
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<b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>gold</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>glitter</b>,<br>
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<b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wander</b> <b>are</b> <b>lost</b>;<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>old</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>strong</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>wither</b>,<br>
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<b>Deep</b> <b>roots</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>reached</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>frost</b>.<br>
|
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<b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>ashes</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>woken</b>,<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>light</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>shall</b> <b>spring</b>;<br>
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<b>Renewed</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>blade</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b>,<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>crownless</b> <b>again</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>king</b>.<br>
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<br>
|
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<br>
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<b>PPPS</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>sends</b> <b>this</b> <b>promptly</b>. <b>A</b> <b>worthy</b> <b>man</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>memory</b> <b>is</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>lumber</b>-<b>roam</b>: <b>thing</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>always</b> <b>buried</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>forgets</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>roast</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>Fare</b> <b>Well</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>read</b> <b>the</b> <b>letter</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>passed</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Really</b> <b>old</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>has</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>mess</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>deserves</b> <b>roasting</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>got</b> <b>this</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>we</b> <b>might</b> <b>all</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>safe</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>by</b> <b>now</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>can</b> <b>have</b> <b>happened</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b>? <b>He</b> <b>writes</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>into</b> <b>great</b> <b>danger</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>doing</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>about</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>second</b> <b>postscript</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>friend</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>saved</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Would</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Would</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>believed</b> <b>me</b> <b>till</b> <b>now</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>letter</b>. <b>For</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>persuade</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>trust</b> <b>me</b> <b>without</b> <b>proofs</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>. <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b>, <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>intend</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>myself</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>study</b> <b>you</b> <b>first</b>, <b>and</b> <b>make</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>set</b> <b>traps</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>before</b> <b>now</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>you</b> <b>asked</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>admit</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>laugh</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>sake</b>. <b>A</b> <b>hunted</b> <b>man</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>wearies</b> <b>of</b> <b>distrust</b> <b>and</b> <b>longs</b> <b>for</b> <b>friendship</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b>, <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>my</b> <b>looks</b> <b>are</b> <b>against</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>are</b>—<b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>sight</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>with</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>relief</b> <b>after</b> <b>reading</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>letter</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>handsome</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>handsome</b> <b>does</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>say</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>daresay</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>all</b> <b>look</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>after</b> <b>lying</b> <b>for</b> <b>days</b> <b>in</b> <b>hedges</b> <b>and</b> <b>ditches</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>days</b>, <b>or</b> <b>weeks</b>, <b>or</b> <b>years</b>, <b>of</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>you</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>Strider</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>die</b> <b>first</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>sterner</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>look</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>Pippin</b> <b>subsided</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>daunted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>still</b> <b>eyed</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>dubiously</b>. “<b>How</b> <b>do</b> <b>we</b> <b>know</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>speaks</b> <b>about</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>demanded</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>never</b> <b>mentioned</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>till</b> <b>this</b> <b>letter</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>. <b>You</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>play</b>-<b>acting</b> <b>spy</b>, <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>. <b>You</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>real</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>clothes</b>. <b>What</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>?”<br>
|
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“<b>That</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>stout</b> <b>fellow</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>my</b> <b>only</b> <b>answer</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>, <b>is</b> <b>this</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>killed</b> <b>the</b> <b>real</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>kill</b> <b>you</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>killed</b> <b>you</b> <b>already</b> <b>without</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b>—<b>NOW</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>taller</b>. <b>In</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b>, <b>keen</b> <b>and</b> <b>commanding</b>. <b>Throwing</b> <b>back</b> <b>his</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>he</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>hung</b> <b>concealed</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>dare</b> <b>to</b> <b>move</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>wide</b>-<b>mouthed</b> <b>staring</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>dumbly</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>the</b> <b>real</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>fortunately</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>softened</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>smile</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>by</b> <b>life</b> <b>or</b> <b>death</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>save</b> <b>you</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>with</b> <b>hesitation</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>believed</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>letter</b> <b>came</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>I</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>frightened</b> <b>me</b> <b>several</b> <b>times</b> <b>tonight</b>, <b>but</b> <b>never</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>would</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>imagine</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>spies</b> <b>would</b>—<b>well</b>, <b>seem</b> <b>fairer</b> <b>and</b> <b>feel</b> <b>fouler</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>understand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>see</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>look</b> <b>foul</b> <b>and</b> <b>feel</b> <b>fair</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b>? <b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>gold</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>glitter</b>, <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wander</b> <b>are</b> <b>lost</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Did</b> <b>the</b> <b>verses</b> <b>apply</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>then</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>about</b>. <b>But</b> <b>how</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>letter</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>verses</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>name</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>blade</b> <b>was</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>broken</b> <b>a</b> <b>foot</b> <b>below</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>much</b> <b>use</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Sam</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>near</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>forged</b> <b>anew</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, “<b>with</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>permission</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>call</b> <b>that</b> <b>settled</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>your</b> <b>guide</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>rough</b> <b>road</b> <b>tomorrow</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>unhindered</b>, <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>hope</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>it</b> <b>unnoticed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>lost</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>one</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>ways</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b> <b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>road</b>. <b>If</b> <b>once</b> <b>we</b> <b>shake</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuit</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>Weathertop</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Weathertop</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>just</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>about</b> <b>half</b> <b>way</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>It</b> <b>commands</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>view</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>will</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>point</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>follows</b> <b>us</b>. <b>After</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>our</b> <b>journey</b> <b>will</b> <b>become</b> <b>more</b> <b>difficult</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b> <b>between</b> <b>various</b> <b>dangers</b>.”<br>
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“<b>When</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>last</b> <b>see</b> <b>Gandalf</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>, <b>or</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>doing</b>?”<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>looked</b> <b>grave</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>west</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>often</b> <b>kept</b> <b>watch</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>few</b> <b>years</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>busy</b> <b>elsewhere</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>left</b> <b>it</b> <b>unguarded</b>. <b>We</b> <b>last</b> <b>met</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>of</b> <b>May</b>: <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b>. <b>He</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>business</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>well</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>starting</b> <b>for</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>week</b> <b>of</b> <b>September</b>. <b>As</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>your</b> <b>side</b>, <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>proved</b> <b>ill</b>; <b>for</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>some</b> <b>news</b> <b>reached</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>troubled</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b> <b>him</b>. <b>We</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>messages</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>When</b> <b>I</b> <b>returned</b>, <b>many</b> <b>days</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>ill</b> <b>news</b>. <b>The</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>far</b> <b>and</b> <b>wide</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>missing</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>horsemen</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gildor</b> <b>that</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>this</b>; <b>and</b> <b>later</b> <b>they</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>your</b> <b>home</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>Buckland</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>watching</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Road</b> <b>anxiously</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>have</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>—<b>with</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>absence</b>, <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>else</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>hindered</b> <b>him</b>, <b>except</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>himself</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>up</b> <b>hope</b>! <b>Gandalf</b> <b>is</b> <b>greater</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>know</b>—<b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>only</b> <b>see</b> <b>his</b> <b>jokes</b> <b>and</b> <b>toys</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>business</b> <b>of</b> <b>ours</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>his</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>task</b>.”<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>yawned</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>dead</b> <b>tired</b>. <b>In</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b> <b>and</b> <b>worry</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>, <b>or</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>sit</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>silly</b> <b>fellow</b>, <b>Merry</b>? <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>straw</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>slam</b>; <b>then</b> <b>feet</b> <b>came</b> <b>running</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>rush</b> <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Nob</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shut</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>hastily</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>against</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>breath</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>alarm</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>gasped</b>: “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>them</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>them</b>! <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Where</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Here</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>. <b>I</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>indoors</b> <b>for</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>, <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>stroll</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>just</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lamp</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>I</b> <b>shivered</b> <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>something</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>was</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>near</b>: <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>shade</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>just</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lamplight</b>. <b>It</b> <b>slid</b> <b>away</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>horse</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Which</b> <b>way</b> <b>did</b> <b>it</b> <b>go</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>suddenly</b> <b>and</b> <b>sharply</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>started</b>, <b>noticing</b> <b>the</b> <b>stranger</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b>. “<b>Go</b> <b>on</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>explain</b> <b>later</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>off</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>eastward</b>,” <b>continued</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>it</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>almost</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>house</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>.”<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>with</b> <b>wonder</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>stout</b> <b>heart</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>foolish</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Neither</b> <b>brave</b> <b>nor</b> <b>silly</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>help</b> <b>myself</b>. <b>I</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>somehow</b>. <b>Anyway</b>, <b>I</b> <b>went</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>voices</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b>. <b>One</b> <b>was</b> <b>muttering</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>was</b> <b>whispering</b>, <b>or</b> <b>hissing</b>. <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>hear</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b>. <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>creep</b> <b>any</b> <b>closer</b>, <b>because</b> <b>I</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>tremble</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>terrified</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>turned</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>bolt</b> <b>home</b>, <b>when</b> <b>something</b> <b>came</b> <b>behind</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b>... <b>I</b> <b>fell</b> <b>over</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b>, <b>sir</b>,” <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>Nob</b>. “<b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>sent</b> <b>me</b> <b>out</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>lantern</b>. <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>West</b>-<b>gate</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>back</b> <b>up</b> <b>towards</b> <b>South</b>-<b>gate</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>something</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>swear</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>two</b> <b>men</b> <b>was</b> <b>stooping</b> <b>over</b> <b>something</b>, <b>lilting</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>shout</b>, <b>but</b> <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>spot</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Brandybuck</b> <b>lying</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>roadside</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>asleep</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>into</b> <b>deep</b> <b>water</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>says</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>shook</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>queer</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>roused</b> <b>him</b>, <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b> <b>here</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>hare</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>true</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>ugly</b> <b>dream</b>, <b>which</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>remember</b>. <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>pieces</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Breath</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>their</b> <b>horses</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>back</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>secret</b>. <b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>know</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>now</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>visited</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>; <b>and</b> <b>probably</b> <b>that</b> <b>Southerner</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>spy</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>may</b> <b>happen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Bree</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>will</b> <b>happen</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Will</b> <b>they</b> <b>attack</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>?” “<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>here</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b>. <b>In</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>loneliness</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>strongest</b>; <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>openly</b> <b>attack</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b> <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>lights</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>people</b> -<b>not</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>desperate</b>, <b>not</b> <b>while</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>of</b> <b>Eriador</b> <b>still</b> <b>lie</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b>. <b>But</b> <b>their</b> <b>power</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>terror</b>, <b>and</b> <b>already</b> <b>some</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>clutch</b>. <b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>drive</b> <b>these</b> <b>wretches</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>evil</b> <b>work</b>: <b>Ferny</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>strangers</b>, <b>and</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>the</b> <b>gatekeeper</b> <b>too</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>words</b> <b>with</b> <b>Harry</b> <b>at</b> <b>West</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>on</b> <b>Monday</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>watching</b> <b>them</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>shaking</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Stay</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>rooms</b>! <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>sure</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b> <b>which</b> <b>those</b> <b>are</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>rooms</b> <b>have</b> <b>windows</b> <b>looking</b> <b>north</b> <b>and</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>all</b> <b>remain</b> <b>together</b> <b>and</b> <b>bar</b> <b>this</b> <b>window</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>But</b> <b>first</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>fetch</b> <b>your</b> <b>luggage</b>.”<br>
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<b>While</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>a</b> <b>rapid</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b> <b>since</b> <b>supper</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>reading</b> <b>and</b> <b>pondering</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>letter</b> <b>when</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>and</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>returned</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>Masters</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Nob</b>, “<b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>ruffled</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>clothes</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>bolster</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>each</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>imitation</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>head</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>brown</b> <b>woollen</b> <b>mat</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bag</b>—<b>Underhill</b>, <b>sir</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>grin</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Very</b> <b>life</b>-<b>like</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>will</b> <b>happen</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>penetrated</b> <b>the</b> <b>disguise</b>?”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>fort</b> <b>till</b> <b>morning</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Nob</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>his</b> <b>part</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>watch</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>.<br>
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<b>Their</b> <b>bags</b> <b>and</b> <b>gear</b> <b>they</b> <b>piled</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>parlour</b>-<b>floor</b>. <b>They</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>chair</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>shut</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>. <b>Peering</b> <b>out</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sickle</b> <b>was</b> <b>swinging</b> <b>bright</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>shoulders</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hill</b>. <b>He</b> <b>then</b> <b>closed</b> <b>and</b> <b>barred</b> <b>the</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>inside</b> <b>shutters</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>the</b> <b>curtains</b> <b>together</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>built</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>blew</b> <b>out</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>candles</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>settled</b> <b>himself</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>chair</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>They</b> <b>talked</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>still</b> <b>had</b> <b>several</b> <b>questions</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b>.<br>
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“<b>Jumped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>!” <b>chuckled</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>himself</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>blanket</b>. “<b>Very</b> <b>ridiculous</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>there</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b>. <b>The</b> <b>worthies</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>discussing</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>years</b> <b>hence</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>dropped</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 11<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>KNIFE</b> <b>IN</b> <b>THE</b> <b>DARK</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>for</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>darkness</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>Buckland</b>; <b>a</b> <b>mist</b> <b>strayed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dells</b> <b>and</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>bank</b>. <b>The</b> <b>house</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b> <b>stood</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>opened</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>cautiously</b> <b>and</b> <b>peered</b> <b>out</b>. <b>A</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>growing</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>all</b> <b>day</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b> <b>or</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>: <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>brooding</b> <b>threat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>breathless</b> <b>night</b>-<b>air</b>. <b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>stared</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>, <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>moved</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>own</b> <b>accord</b> <b>and</b> <b>close</b> <b>again</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b>. <b>Terror</b> <b>seized</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shrank</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>trembling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>shut</b> <b>and</b> <b>locked</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>deepened</b>. <b>There</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>soft</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>horses</b> <b>led</b> <b>with</b> <b>stealth</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>. <b>Outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>they</b> <b>stopped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>three</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>entered</b>, <b>like</b> <b>shades</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>One</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>one</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>as</b> <b>still</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>stones</b>, <b>while</b> <b>night</b> <b>went</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>on</b>. <b>The</b> <b>house</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>trees</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>breathlessly</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>stir</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>cock</b> <b>crowed</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>cold</b> <b>hour</b> <b>before</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>was</b> <b>passing</b>. <b>The</b> <b>figure</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>moved</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>without</b> <b>moon</b> <b>or</b> <b>stars</b> <b>a</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>blade</b> <b>gleamed</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>chill</b> <b>light</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>unsheathed</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>blow</b>, <b>soft</b> <b>but</b> <b>heavy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>shuddered</b>.<br>
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“<b>Open</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b> <b>thin</b> <b>and</b> <b>menacing</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>blow</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>yielded</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>back</b>, <b>with</b> <b>timbers</b> <b>burst</b> <b>and</b> <b>lock</b> <b>broken</b>. <b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>passed</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>in</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>nearby</b>, <b>a</b> <b>horn</b> <b>rang</b> <b>out</b>. <b>It</b> <b>rent</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>like</b> <b>fire</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>.<br>
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<b>awake</b>! <b>fear</b>! <b>fire</b>! <b>foes</b>! <b>awake</b>!<br>
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<b>Fatty</b> <b>Bolger</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>idle</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>creep</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>, <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>run</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>perish</b>. <b>And</b> <b>run</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b>, <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b> <b>door</b>, <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>, <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>house</b>, <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>away</b>, <b>he</b> <b>collapsed</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorstep</b>. “<b>No</b>, <b>no</b>, <b>no</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>crying</b>. “<b>No</b>, <b>not</b> <b>me</b>! <b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>!” <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>before</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>babbling</b> <b>about</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>got</b> <b>the</b> <b>idea</b> <b>that</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>some</b> <b>strange</b> <b>invasion</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>lost</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>time</b>.<br>
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<b>fear</b>! <b>fire</b>! <b>foes</b>!<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Brandybucks</b> <b>were</b> <b>blowing</b> <b>the</b> <b>Horn</b>-<b>call</b> <b>of</b> <b>Buckland</b>, <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>years</b>, <b>not</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fell</b> <b>Winter</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>was</b> <b>frozen</b> <b>over</b>.<br>
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<b>awake</b>! <b>awake</b>!<br>
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<b>Far</b>-<b>away</b> <b>answering</b> <b>horns</b> <b>were</b> <b>heard</b>. <b>The</b> <b>alarm</b> <b>was</b> <b>spreading</b>. <b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>fled</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>. <b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>let</b> <b>fall</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>cloak</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>step</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>ran</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b> <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>gallop</b>, <b>went</b> <b>hammering</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>All</b> <b>about</b> <b>Crickhollow</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>horns</b> <b>blowing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>voices</b> <b>crying</b> <b>and</b> <b>feet</b> <b>running</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>rode</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>gale</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>gate</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>people</b> <b>blow</b>! <b>Sauron</b> <b>would</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b> <b>later</b>. <b>Meanwhile</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>another</b> <b>errand</b>: <b>they</b> <b>knew</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>was</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>They</b> <b>rode</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>guards</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>night</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>from</b> <b>deep</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>suddenly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>sound</b> <b>or</b> <b>presence</b> <b>had</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>alert</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b>: <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>tended</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b> <b>brightly</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>or</b> <b>movement</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>soon</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>again</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>dreams</b> <b>were</b> <b>again</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>galloping</b> <b>hoofs</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>curling</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>and</b> <b>shaking</b> <b>it</b>; <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>horn</b> <b>blowing</b> <b>wildly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>opened</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>cock</b> <b>crowing</b> <b>lustily</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>-<b>yard</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>had</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>the</b> <b>curtains</b> <b>and</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>shutters</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>clang</b>. <b>The</b> <b>first</b> <b>grey</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>window</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>had</b> <b>roused</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>, <b>he</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>bedrooms</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>his</b> <b>advice</b>: <b>the</b> <b>windows</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>forced</b> <b>open</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>swinging</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>curtains</b> <b>were</b> <b>flapping</b>; <b>the</b> <b>beds</b> <b>were</b> <b>tossed</b> <b>about</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>bolsters</b> <b>slashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>flung</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>; <b>the</b> <b>brown</b> <b>mat</b> <b>was</b> <b>torn</b> <b>to</b> <b>pieces</b>.<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>immediately</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>fetch</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b>. <b>Poor</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>looked</b> <b>sleepy</b> <b>and</b> <b>frightened</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>closed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>all</b> <b>night</b> (<b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>), <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b>.<br>
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“<b>Never</b> <b>has</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>happened</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>time</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>raising</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>in</b> <b>horror</b>. “<b>Guests</b> <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>beds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>good</b> <b>bolsters</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>! <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Dark</b> <b>times</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>, <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>got</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>leave</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>Never</b> <b>mind</b> <b>about</b> <b>breakfast</b>: <b>a</b> <b>drink</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>bite</b> <b>standing</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>packed</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>minutes</b>.”<br>
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<b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>their</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>were</b> <b>got</b> <b>ready</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>fetch</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> “<b>bite</b>”. <b>But</b> <b>very</b> <b>soon</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>dismay</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b>! <b>The</b> <b>stable</b>-<b>doors</b> <b>had</b> <b>all</b> <b>been</b> <b>opened</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>gone</b>: <b>not</b> <b>only</b> <b>Merry</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ponies</b>, <b>but</b> <b>every</b> <b>other</b> <b>horse</b> <b>and</b> <b>beast</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>crushed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b>. <b>How</b> <b>could</b> <b>they</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>reach</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b>, <b>pursued</b> <b>by</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>enemies</b>? <b>They</b> <b>might</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>sat</b> <b>silent</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>weighing</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>strength</b> <b>and</b> <b>courage</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ponies</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>help</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>horsemen</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>thoughtfully</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>what</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>in</b> <b>mind</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>much</b> <b>slower</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b>, <b>not</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>roads</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>stores</b> <b>that</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>me</b>. <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>count</b> <b>on</b> <b>getting</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>eat</b> <b>between</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>except</b> <b>what</b> <b>we</b> <b>take</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>; <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>plenty</b> <b>to</b> <b>spare</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>delayed</b>, <b>or</b> <b>forced</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>round</b>-<b>about</b>, <b>far</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>direct</b> <b>way</b>. <b>How</b> <b>much</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>to</b> <b>carry</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>backs</b>?”<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sinking</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>but</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>show</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>tougher</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> (<b>or</b> <b>felt</b>).<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>carry</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>two</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>defiantly</b>.<br>
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“<b>Can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>anything</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>of</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>, <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>one</b> <b>just</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>baggage</b>? <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>hire</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>buy</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, <b>doubtfully</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>afford</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>landlord</b> <b>unhappily</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>two</b> <b>or</b> <b>three</b> <b>riding</b>-<b>ponies</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>were</b> <b>stabled</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>yard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b>'<b>re</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>other</b> <b>animals</b>, <b>horses</b> <b>or</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>for</b> <b>draught</b> <b>or</b> <b>what</b> <b>not</b>, <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>very</b> <b>few</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>for</b> <b>sale</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>rout</b> <b>out</b> <b>Bob</b> <b>and</b> <b>send</b> <b>him</b> <b>round</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>reluctantly</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>one</b> <b>pony</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>. <b>But</b> <b>so</b> <b>ends</b> <b>all</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>starting</b> <b>early</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>away</b> <b>quietly</b>! <b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>have</b> <b>blown</b> <b>a</b> <b>horn</b> <b>to</b> <b>announce</b> <b>our</b> <b>departure</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>plan</b>, <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>crumb</b> <b>of</b> <b>comfort</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>crumb</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b>: <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>have</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>while</b> <b>we</b> <b>wait</b>—<b>and</b> <b>sit</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>get</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nob</b>!”<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>three</b> <b>hours</b>” <b>delay</b>. <b>Bob</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>report</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>horse</b> <b>or</b> <b>pony</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>got</b> <b>for</b> <b>love</b> <b>or</b> <b>money</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>neighbourhood</b>—<b>except</b> <b>one</b>: <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b> <b>had</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>might</b> <b>possibly</b> <b>sell</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>half</b>-<b>starved</b> <b>creature</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bob</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>part</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>thrice</b> <b>its</b> <b>worth</b>, <b>seeing</b> <b>how</b> <b>you</b>'<b>re</b> <b>placed</b>, <b>not</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>knows</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>there</b> <b>some</b> <b>trick</b>? <b>Wouldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>the</b> <b>beast</b> <b>bolt</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>our</b> <b>stuff</b>, <b>or</b> <b>help</b> <b>in</b> <b>tracking</b> <b>us</b>, <b>or</b> <b>something</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>imagine</b> <b>any</b> <b>animal</b> <b>running</b> <b>home</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>once</b> <b>it</b> <b>got</b> <b>away</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>an</b> <b>afterthought</b> <b>of</b> <b>kind</b> <b>Master</b> <b>Ferny</b>'<b>s</b>: <b>just</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>increasing</b> <b>his</b> <b>profits</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>affair</b>. <b>The</b> <b>chief</b> <b>danger</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>poor</b> <b>beast</b> <b>is</b> <b>probably</b> <b>at</b> <b>death</b>'<b>s</b> <b>door</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>any</b> <b>choice</b>. <b>What</b> <b>does</b> <b>he</b> <b>want</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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<b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>'<b>s</b> <b>price</b> <b>was</b> <b>twelve</b> <b>silver</b> <b>pennies</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>three</b> <b>times</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>'<b>s</b> <b>value</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>pans</b>. <b>It</b> <b>proved</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>bony</b>, <b>underfed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dispirited</b> <b>animal</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>dying</b> <b>just</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>paid</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>offered</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>another</b> <b>eighteen</b> <b>pence</b> <b>as</b> <b>some</b> <b>compensation</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>lost</b> <b>animals</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>honest</b> <b>man</b>, <b>and</b> <b>well</b>-<b>off</b> <b>as</b> <b>things</b> <b>were</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>; <b>but</b> <b>thirty</b> <b>silver</b> <b>pennies</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sore</b> <b>blow</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>being</b> <b>cheated</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b> <b>made</b> <b>it</b> <b>harder</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>fact</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>side</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>. <b>It</b> <b>turned</b> <b>out</b> <b>later</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>horse</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>actually</b> <b>stolen</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>driven</b> <b>off</b>, <b>or</b> <b>had</b> <b>bolted</b> <b>in</b> <b>terror</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>found</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>in</b> <b>different</b> <b>corners</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b>. <b>Merry</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ponies</b> <b>had</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>altogether</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eventually</b> (<b>having</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>sense</b>) <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Downs</b> <b>in</b> <b>search</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fatty</b> <b>Lumpkin</b>. <b>So</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>care</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>well</b>-<b>off</b>. <b>But</b> <b>when</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>events</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Tom</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ears</b>, <b>he</b> <b>sent</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>who</b> <b>thus</b> <b>got</b> <b>five</b> <b>good</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>fair</b> <b>price</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>work</b> <b>harder</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Bob</b> <b>treated</b> <b>them</b> <b>well</b>; <b>so</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>lucky</b>: <b>they</b> <b>missed</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>never</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.<br>
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<b>However</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>knew</b> <b>his</b> <b>money</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b> <b>for</b> <b>good</b>, <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>bad</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>other</b> <b>troubles</b>. <b>For</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>commotion</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>remaining</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>astir</b> <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>raid</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>southern</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>had</b> <b>lost</b> <b>several</b> <b>horses</b> <b>and</b> <b>blamed</b> <b>the</b> <b>innkeeper</b> <b>loudly</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>known</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>number</b> <b>had</b> <b>also</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>none</b> <b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>'<b>s</b> <b>squint</b>-<b>eyed</b> <b>companion</b>. <b>Suspicion</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>pick</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>horse</b>-<b>thief</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bring</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>house</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Butterbur</b> <b>angrily</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>pay</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>damage</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>shouting</b> <b>at</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Go</b> <b>and</b> <b>ask</b> <b>Ferny</b> <b>where</b> <b>your</b> <b>handsome</b> <b>friend</b> <b>is</b>!” <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>nobody</b>'<b>s</b> <b>friend</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>could</b> <b>recollect</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>joined</b> <b>their</b> <b>party</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>their</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>re</b>-<b>pack</b>, <b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>together</b> <b>further</b> <b>supplies</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>longer</b> <b>journey</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>expecting</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>close</b> <b>on</b> <b>ten</b> <b>o</b>'<b>clock</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>got</b> <b>off</b>. <b>By</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>was</b> <b>buzzing</b> <b>with</b> <b>excitement</b>. <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>vanishing</b> <b>trick</b>; <b>the</b> <b>appearance</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>horsemen</b>; <b>the</b> <b>robbing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stables</b>; <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>least</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>that</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ranger</b> <b>had</b> <b>joined</b> <b>the</b> <b>mysterious</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>made</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>tale</b> <b>as</b> <b>would</b> <b>last</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>uneventful</b> <b>years</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>and</b> <b>Staddle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>even</b> <b>from</b> <b>Combe</b> <b>and</b> <b>Archet</b>, <b>were</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>start</b>. <b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>guests</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>inn</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>or</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b>.<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>had</b> <b>changed</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>road</b>. <b>Any</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>off</b> <b>across</b> <b>country</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>would</b> <b>only</b> <b>make</b> <b>matters</b> <b>worse</b>: <b>half</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b> <b>would</b> <b>follow</b> <b>them</b>, <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>prevent</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>trespassing</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>said</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bob</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>leave</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Butterbur</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>thanks</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>meet</b> <b>again</b> <b>some</b> <b>day</b>, <b>when</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>merry</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>house</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>tramped</b> <b>off</b>, <b>anxious</b> <b>and</b> <b>downhearted</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>crowd</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>faces</b> <b>were</b> <b>friendly</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>shouted</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>held</b> <b>in</b> <b>awe</b> <b>by</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>landers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>shut</b> <b>their</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>away</b>. <b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>with</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>next</b> <b>came</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b>; <b>and</b> <b>last</b> <b>came</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>leading</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>already</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>less</b> <b>dejected</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>approved</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>change</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>fortunes</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>chewing</b> <b>an</b> <b>apple</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>pocket</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>: <b>a</b> <b>parting</b> <b>present</b> <b>from</b> <b>Nob</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bob</b>. “<b>Apples</b> <b>for</b> <b>walking</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>pipe</b> <b>for</b> <b>sitting</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>miss</b> <b>them</b> <b>both</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>notice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inquisitive</b> <b>heads</b> <b>that</b> <b>peeped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>doors</b>, <b>or</b> <b>popped</b> <b>over</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>fences</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>gate</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>kept</b> <b>house</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>thick</b> <b>hedge</b>: <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>house</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>. <b>In</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>sallow</b> <b>face</b> <b>with</b> <b>sly</b>, <b>slanting</b> <b>eyes</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>where</b> <b>that</b> <b>southerner</b> <b>is</b> <b>hiding</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>looks</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>goblin</b>.”<br>
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<b>Over</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>another</b> <b>man</b> <b>was</b> <b>staring</b> <b>boldly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>black</b> <b>brows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dark</b> <b>scornful</b> <b>eyes</b>; <b>his</b> <b>large</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>curled</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>sneer</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>smoking</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>black</b> <b>pipe</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>approached</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>and</b> <b>spat</b>.<br>
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“<b>Morning</b>, <b>Longshanks</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Off</b> <b>early</b>? <b>Found</b> <b>some</b> <b>friends</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>?” <b>Strider</b> <b>nodded</b>, <b>but</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b>. “<b>Morning</b>, <b>my</b> <b>little</b> <b>friends</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>who</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>taken</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b>? <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Stick</b>-<b>at</b>-<b>naught</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b>! <b>Though</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>other</b> <b>names</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>pretty</b>. <b>Watch</b> <b>out</b> <b>tonight</b>! <b>And</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Sammie</b>, <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>treating</b> <b>my</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>pony</b>! <b>Pah</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>spat</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>turned</b> <b>quickly</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Ferny</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>put</b> <b>your</b> <b>ugly</b> <b>face</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>or</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>get</b> <b>hurt</b>.” <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>flick</b>, <b>quick</b> <b>as</b> <b>lightning</b>, <b>an</b> <b>apple</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>hit</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>square</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>nose</b>. <b>He</b> <b>ducked</b> <b>too</b> <b>late</b>, <b>and</b> <b>curses</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b>. “<b>Waste</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>apple</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>regretfully</b>, <b>and</b> <b>strode</b> <b>on</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>The</b> <b>escort</b> <b>of</b> <b>children</b> <b>and</b> <b>stragglers</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>followed</b> <b>them</b> <b>got</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>back</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>-<b>gate</b>. <b>Passing</b> <b>through</b>, <b>they</b> <b>kept</b> <b>on</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>miles</b>. <b>It</b> <b>bent</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>, <b>curving</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>its</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>line</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>rounded</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>run</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>downwards</b> <b>into</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>country</b>. <b>To</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>houses</b> <b>and</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>holes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Staddle</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>gentler</b> <b>south</b>-<b>eastern</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>; <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>away</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>wisps</b> <b>of</b> <b>rising</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>that</b> <b>showed</b> <b>where</b> <b>Combe</b> <b>lay</b>;<br>
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<b>Archet</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>beyond</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>had</b> <b>run</b> <b>down</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>hill</b> <b>standing</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>brown</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>track</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>off</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>and</b> <b>take</b> <b>to</b> <b>cover</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>a</b> “<b>short</b> <b>cut</b>", <b>I</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Our</b> <b>last</b> <b>short</b> <b>cut</b> <b>through</b> <b>woods</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>ended</b> <b>in</b> <b>disaster</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>got</b> <b>me</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>then</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>cuts</b>, <b>short</b> <b>or</b> <b>long</b>, <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>wrong</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>sight</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>down</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>valley</b>.<br>
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<b>His</b> <b>plan</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>understand</b> <b>it</b> <b>without</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b>, <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Archet</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>pass</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>to</b> <b>steer</b> <b>as</b> <b>straight</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>lands</b> <b>to</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>Hill</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b>, <b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>went</b> <b>well</b>, <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>loop</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>which</b> <b>further</b> <b>on</b> <b>bent</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>to</b> <b>avoid</b> <b>the</b> <b>Midgewater</b> <b>Marshes</b>. <b>But</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshes</b> <b>themselves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Strider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>description</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>encouraging</b>.<br>
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<b>However</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b>, <b>walking</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>unpleasant</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>disturbing</b> <b>events</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>before</b>, <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>enjoyed</b> <b>this</b> <b>pan</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b>, <b>clear</b> <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>hot</b>. <b>The</b> <b>woods</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>leafy</b> <b>and</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>colour</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>peaceful</b> <b>and</b> <b>wholesome</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>guided</b> <b>them</b> <b>confidently</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>paths</b>, <b>although</b> <b>left</b> <b>to</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>loss</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>taking</b> <b>a</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>course</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>turns</b> <b>and</b> <b>doublings</b>, <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>off</b> <b>any</b> <b>pursuit</b>.<br>
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“<b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>watched</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>follow</b> <b>us</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>round</b> <b>here</b> <b>well</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>match</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>tell</b> <b>others</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>Archet</b>, <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>better</b>.”<br>
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<b>Whether</b> <b>because</b> <b>of</b> <b>Strider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>skill</b> <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>reason</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>living</b> <b>thing</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b>: <b>neither</b> <b>two</b>-<b>footed</b>, <b>except</b> <b>birds</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>four</b>-<b>footed</b>, <b>except</b> <b>one</b> <b>fox</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>squirrels</b>. <b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>steer</b> <b>a</b> <b>steady</b> <b>course</b> <b>eastwards</b>; <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>peaceful</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>third</b> <b>day</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chetwood</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>falling</b> <b>steadily</b>, <b>ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>entered</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>flat</b> <b>expanse</b> <b>of</b> <b>country</b>, <b>much</b> <b>more</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>manage</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>land</b>, <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>pathless</b> <b>wilderness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Midge</b>-<b>water</b> <b>Marshes</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>ground</b> <b>now</b> <b>became</b> <b>damp</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>boggy</b> <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>pools</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wide</b> <b>stretches</b> <b>of</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>and</b> <b>rushes</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>warbling</b> <b>of</b> <b>little</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>pick</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>carefully</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>both</b> <b>dry</b>-<b>footed</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>proper</b> <b>course</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>fan</b>-<b>progress</b>, <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>their</b> <b>passage</b> <b>became</b> <b>slower</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>dangerous</b>. <b>The</b> <b>marshes</b> <b>were</b> <b>bewildering</b> <b>and</b> <b>treacherous</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>permanent</b> <b>trail</b> <b>even</b> <b>for</b> <b>Rangers</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>through</b> <b>their</b> <b>shifting</b> <b>quagmires</b>. <b>The</b> <b>flies</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>torment</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>of</b> <b>tiny</b> <b>midges</b> <b>that</b> <b>crept</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>sleeves</b> <b>and</b> <b>breeches</b> <b>and</b> <b>into</b> <b>their</b> <b>hair</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>being</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>alive</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Midgewater</b>! <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>more</b> <b>midges</b> <b>than</b> <b>water</b>!”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>they</b> <b>live</b> <b>on</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>hobbit</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>scratching</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>spent</b> <b>a</b> <b>miserable</b> <b>day</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>lonely</b> <b>and</b> <b>unpleasant</b> <b>country</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>camping</b>-<b>place</b> <b>was</b> <b>damp</b>, <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>uncomfortable</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>biting</b> <b>insects</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>abominable</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>haunting</b> <b>the</b> <b>reeds</b> <b>and</b> <b>tussocks</b> <b>that</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>were</b> <b>evil</b> <b>relatives</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cricket</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>thousands</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>squeaked</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b>, <b>neek</b>-<b>breek</b>, <b>breek</b>-<b>neek</b>, <b>unceasingly</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>frantic</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b>, <b>the</b> <b>fourth</b>, <b>was</b> <b>little</b> <b>better</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>comfortless</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>the</b> <b>Neekerbreekers</b> (<b>as</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>called</b> <b>them</b>) <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>the</b> <b>midges</b> <b>still</b> <b>pursued</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b>, <b>tired</b> <b>but</b> <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>close</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>sky</b>: <b>it</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>faded</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>dawn</b>, <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>some</b> <b>hours</b> <b>off</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>risen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b>, <b>gazing</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>Strider</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>distant</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>like</b> <b>lightning</b> <b>that</b> <b>leaps</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>tops</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>, <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>flashes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>against</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>dark</b> <b>figure</b> <b>of</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>watchful</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>into</b> <b>uneasy</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>far</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>fifth</b> <b>day</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>straggling</b> <b>pools</b> <b>and</b> <b>reed</b>-<b>beds</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshes</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>began</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>to</b> <b>rise</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>now</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>The</b> <b>highest</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>separated</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>conical</b> <b>top</b>, <b>slightly</b> <b>flattened</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>summit</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>Weathertop</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>left</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>our</b> <b>right</b>, <b>runs</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>passes</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>foot</b>. <b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>reach</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>noon</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>straight</b> <b>towards</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>mean</b>: <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>get</b> <b>there</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>certain</b> <b>what</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>find</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>surely</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>hoping</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>there</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>hope</b> <b>is</b> <b>faint</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>, <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>pass</b> <b>through</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>doing</b>. <b>And</b> <b>anyway</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>by</b> <b>luck</b> <b>we</b> <b>arrive</b> <b>almost</b> <b>together</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>miss</b> <b>one</b> <b>another</b>; <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>there</b> <b>long</b>. <b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>fail</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>likely</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>It</b> <b>commands</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>view</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b>. <b>Indeed</b>, <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>birds</b> <b>and</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>country</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>us</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>stand</b> <b>here</b>, <b>from</b> <b>that</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>birds</b> <b>are</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>trusted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>other</b> <b>spies</b> <b>more</b> <b>evil</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>looked</b> <b>anxiously</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>fearing</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>hawks</b> <b>or</b> <b>eagles</b> <b>hovering</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>bright</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>do</b> <b>make</b> <b>me</b> <b>feel</b> <b>uncomfortable</b> <b>and</b> <b>lonesome</b>, <b>Strider</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>advise</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>quite</b> <b>sure</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>thing</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>as</b> <b>straight</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>, <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>Weathertop</b>. <b>There</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>strike</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>runs</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>bring</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>and</b> <b>less</b> <b>openly</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b>.”<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>plodded</b> <b>along</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>early</b> <b>evening</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>became</b> <b>drier</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>barren</b>; <b>but</b> <b>mists</b> <b>and</b> <b>vapours</b> <b>lay</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshes</b>. <b>A</b> <b>few</b> <b>melancholy</b> <b>birds</b> <b>were</b> <b>piping</b> <b>and</b> <b>wailing</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>round</b> <b>red</b> <b>sun</b> <b>sank</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>shadows</b>; <b>then</b> <b>an</b> <b>empty</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>soft</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>sunset</b> <b>glancing</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>cheerful</b> <b>windows</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>end</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>stream</b> <b>that</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>to</b> <b>lose</b> <b>itself</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stagnant</b> <b>marshland</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b> <b>along</b> <b>its</b> <b>banks</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>lasted</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>night</b> <b>when</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>their</b> <b>camp</b> <b>under</b> <b>some</b> <b>stunted</b> <b>alder</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>Ahead</b> <b>there</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>now</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusky</b> <b>sky</b> <b>the</b> <b>bleak</b> <b>and</b> <b>treeless</b> <b>backs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>That</b> <b>night</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>a</b> <b>watch</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>, <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>The</b> <b>moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>waxing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>night</b>-<b>hours</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>grey</b> <b>light</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>.<br>
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<b>Next</b> <b>morning</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b> <b>soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>sunrise</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>frost</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>clear</b> <b>blue</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>felt</b> <b>refreshed</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>night</b> <b>of</b> <b>unbroken</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>getting</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>much</b> <b>walking</b> <b>on</b> <b>short</b> <b>commons</b>—<b>shorter</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>than</b> <b>what</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>barely</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>legs</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>declared</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>twice</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b>.<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>odd</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>tightening</b> <b>his</b> <b>belt</b>, “<b>considering</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>actually</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>less</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>the</b> <b>thinning</b> <b>process</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>indefinitely</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>become</b> <b>a</b> <b>wraith</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>such</b> <b>things</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>quickly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>surprising</b> <b>earnestness</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hills</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>They</b> <b>made</b> <b>an</b> <b>undulating</b> <b>ridge</b>, <b>often</b> <b>rising</b> <b>almost</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>falling</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>low</b> <b>clefts</b> <b>or</b> <b>passes</b> <b>leading</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>land</b> <b>beyond</b>. <b>Along</b> <b>the</b> <b>crest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>remains</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b>-<b>grown</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>dikes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>clefts</b> <b>there</b> <b>still</b> <b>stood</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>By</b> <b>night</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>westward</b> <b>slopes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>camped</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fifth</b> <b>of</b> <b>October</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>six</b> <b>days</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chetwood</b>, <b>a</b> <b>track</b> <b>plain</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b>. <b>They</b> <b>turned</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b> <b>southwards</b>. <b>It</b> <b>ran</b> <b>cunningly</b>, <b>taking</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>so</b> <b>as</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>view</b>, <b>both</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>tops</b> <b>above</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>flats</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>. <b>It</b> <b>dived</b> <b>into</b> <b>dells</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hugged</b> <b>steep</b> <b>banks</b>; <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>flatter</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>open</b> <b>ground</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>lines</b> <b>of</b> <b>large</b> <b>boulders</b> <b>and</b> <b>hewn</b> <b>stones</b> <b>that</b> <b>screened</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>almost</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>hedge</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>who</b> <b>made</b> <b>this</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>for</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>along</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>avenues</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>stones</b> <b>were</b> <b>unusually</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>closely</b> <b>set</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>like</b> <b>it</b>: <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>a</b>—<b>well</b>, <b>rather</b> <b>a</b> <b>barrow</b>-<b>wightish</b> <b>look</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>there</b> <b>any</b> <b>barrow</b> <b>on</b> <b>Weathertop</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>barrow</b> <b>on</b> <b>Weathertop</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>on</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>hills</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>live</b> <b>here</b>; <b>though</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>latter</b> <b>days</b> <b>they</b> <b>defended</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>that</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Angmar</b>. <b>This</b> <b>path</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>serve</b> <b>the</b> <b>forts</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>. <b>But</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Kingdom</b>, <b>they</b> <b>built</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>watch</b>-<b>tower</b> <b>on</b> <b>Weathertop</b>, <b>Amon</b> <b>S</b>?<b>l</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>burned</b> <b>and</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>remains</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>tumbled</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>rough</b> <b>crown</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hill</b>'<b>s</b> <b>head</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>once</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>told</b> <b>that</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>stood</b> <b>there</b> <b>watching</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Alliance</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>at</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>learned</b> <b>in</b> <b>old</b> <b>lore</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b>. “<b>Who</b> <b>was</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b> <b>murmured</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>king</b>.<br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>harpers</b> <b>sadly</b> <b>sing</b>:<br>
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<b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>whose</b> <b>realm</b> <b>was</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>free</b><br>
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<b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>His</b> <b>sword</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b>, <b>his</b> <b>lance</b> <b>was</b> <b>keen</b>,<br>
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<b>his</b> <b>shining</b> <b>helm</b> <b>afar</b> <b>was</b> <b>seen</b>;<br>
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<b>the</b> <b>countless</b> <b>stars</b> <b>of</b> <b>heaven</b>'<b>s</b> <b>field</b><br>
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<b>were</b> <b>mirrored</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>silver</b> <b>shield</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>he</b> <b>rode</b> <b>away</b>,<br>
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<b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>dwelleth</b> <b>none</b> <b>can</b> <b>say</b>;<br>
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<b>for</b> <b>into</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>fell</b> <b>his</b> <b>star</b><br>
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<b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>are</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>turned</b> <b>in</b> <b>amazement</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b>.<br>
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“<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>stop</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>stammered</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>blushing</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>learned</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lad</b>. <b>He</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>tales</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>, <b>knowing</b> <b>how</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>always</b> <b>one</b> <b>for</b> <b>hearing</b> <b>about</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>as</b> <b>taught</b> <b>me</b> <b>my</b> <b>letters</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>book</b>-<b>learned</b> <b>was</b> <b>dear</b> <b>old</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>poetry</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>just</b> <b>said</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>pan</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lay</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>The</b> <b>Fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b>, <b>which</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>translated</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>learn</b> <b>that</b> <b>part</b>, <b>it</b> <b>gave</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>shivers</b> <b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b> <b>myself</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Going</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>that</b> <b>name</b> <b>so</b> <b>loudly</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>clear</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>October</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>a</b> <b>grey</b>-<b>green</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>leading</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>northward</b> <b>slope</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>They</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>was</b> <b>broad</b> <b>Concealment</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>possible</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>or</b> <b>spy</b> <b>was</b> <b>observing</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>moving</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>If</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>about</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>flank</b> <b>of</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>sheltered</b> <b>hollow</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>bowl</b>-<b>shaped</b> <b>dell</b> <b>with</b> <b>grassy</b> <b>sides</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>packs</b> <b>and</b> <b>luggage</b>. <b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>three</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>. <b>After</b> <b>half</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>'<b>s</b> <b>plodding</b> <b>climb</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>crown</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>; <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>followed</b>, <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>breathless</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>slope</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>steep</b> <b>and</b> <b>rocky</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>had</b> <b>said</b>, <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>stonework</b>, <b>now</b> <b>crumbling</b> <b>or</b> <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>age</b>-<b>long</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>centre</b> <b>a</b> <b>cairn</b> <b>of</b> <b>broken</b> <b>stones</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>piled</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>blackened</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>with</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>About</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>turf</b> <b>was</b> <b>burned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>roots</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>within</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>scorched</b> <b>and</b> <b>shrivelled</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>flames</b> <b>had</b> <b>swept</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>living</b> <b>thing</b>.<br>
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<b>Standing</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>rim</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>circle</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>prospect</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>pan</b> <b>of</b> <b>lands</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>featureless</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>patches</b> <b>of</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>away</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>glint</b> <b>of</b> <b>distant</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Beneath</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>southern</b> <b>side</b> <b>there</b> <b>ran</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>ribbon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>and</b> <b>winding</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>faded</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>land</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>was</b> <b>moving</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Following</b> <b>its</b> <b>line</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>: <b>the</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>foothills</b> <b>were</b> <b>brown</b> <b>and</b> <b>sombre</b>;<br>
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<b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>stood</b> <b>taller</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>those</b> <b>again</b> <b>were</b> <b>high</b> <b>white</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>very</b> <b>cheerless</b> <b>and</b> <b>uninviting</b> <b>it</b> <b>looks</b>! <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>shelter</b>. <b>And</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>blame</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>not</b> <b>waiting</b>—<b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>ever</b> <b>came</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>round</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>. “<b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>arrived</b> <b>here</b> <b>first</b>. <b>He</b> <b>can</b> <b>ride</b> <b>very</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>when</b> <b>need</b> <b>presses</b>.” <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cairn</b>; <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>flatter</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>, <b>and</b> <b>whiter</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>He</b> <b>picked</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>examined</b> <b>it</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>handled</b> <b>recently</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>marks</b>?”<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>flat</b> <b>under</b>-<b>side</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>some</b> <b>scratches</b>: “<b>There</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>he</b> <b>a</b> <b>stroke</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dot</b>, <b>and</b> <b>three</b> <b>more</b> <b>strokes</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>The</b> <b>stroke</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>G</b>-<b>rune</b> <b>with</b> <b>thin</b> <b>branches</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>sign</b> <b>left</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>though</b> <b>one</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>The</b> <b>scratches</b> <b>are</b> <b>fine</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>look</b> <b>fresh</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>marks</b> <b>might</b> <b>mean</b> <b>something</b> <b>quite</b> <b>different</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Rangers</b> <b>use</b> <b>runes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>come</b> <b>here</b> <b>sometimes</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>could</b> <b>they</b> <b>mean</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>made</b> <b>them</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b><br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>G</b>3, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b> <b>on</b> <b>October</b> <b>the</b> <b>third</b>: <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>three</b> <b>days</b> <b>ago</b> <b>now</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>also</b> <b>show</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>and</b> <b>danger</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>or</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>dare</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>anything</b> <b>longer</b> <b>or</b> <b>plainer</b>. <b>If</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b>, <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>wary</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>feel</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>marks</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>mean</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> “<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>or</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Perhaps</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>myself</b>, <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>danger</b>. <b>There</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>scorching</b> <b>flames</b> <b>here</b>; <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>saw</b> <b>three</b> <b>nights</b> <b>ago</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>sky</b> <b>comes</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>attacked</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>, <b>but</b> <b>with</b> <b>what</b> <b>result</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>here</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>now</b> <b>look</b> <b>after</b> <b>ourselves</b> <b>and</b> <b>make</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>as</b> <b>best</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>far</b> <b>is</b> <b>Rivendell</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>gazing</b> <b>round</b> <b>wearily</b>. <b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>looked</b> <b>wild</b> <b>and</b> <b>wide</b> <b>from</b> <b>Weathertop</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>measured</b> <b>in</b> <b>miles</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forsaken</b> <b>Inn</b>, <b>a</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>journey</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>Some</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>say</b> <b>otherwise</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>reach</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b>'<b>s</b> <b>end</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>or</b> <b>short</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>long</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>me</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>with</b> <b>fair</b> <b>weather</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>ill</b> <b>fortune</b> <b>twelve</b> <b>days</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bruinen</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>crosses</b> <b>the</b> <b>Loudwater</b> <b>that</b> <b>runs</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>a</b> <b>fortnight</b>'<b>s</b> <b>journey</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>.”<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>fortnight</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>lot</b> <b>may</b> <b>happen</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>may</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>silent</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>, <b>near</b> <b>its</b> <b>southward</b> <b>edge</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>lonely</b> <b>place</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b> <b>fully</b> <b>realized</b> <b>his</b> <b>homelessness</b> <b>and</b> <b>danger</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wished</b> <b>bitterly</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>fortune</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>beloved</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stared</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>hateful</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>leading</b> <b>back</b> <b>westward</b>—<b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>home</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>two</b> <b>black</b> <b>specks</b> <b>were</b> <b>moving</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>along</b> <b>it</b>, <b>going</b> <b>westward</b>; <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>again</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>three</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>and</b> <b>clutched</b> <b>Strider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>arm</b>.<br>
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“<b>Look</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>downwards</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>flung</b> <b>himself</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>circle</b>, <b>pulling</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>down</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>threw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>alongside</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>whispered</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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<b>Slowly</b> <b>they</b> <b>crawled</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>peered</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>cleft</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>jagged</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>bright</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>clear</b> <b>morning</b> <b>had</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>overtaken</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>all</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>specks</b>, <b>but</b> <b>neither</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>nor</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b> <b>their</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>something</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b>, <b>far</b> <b>below</b>, <b>were</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>assembling</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>whose</b> <b>keener</b> <b>sight</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>here</b>!”<br>
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<b>Hastily</b> <b>they</b> <b>crept</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>their</b> <b>companions</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Peregrin</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>idle</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>explored</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>dell</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>surrounding</b> <b>slopes</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>spring</b> <b>of</b> <b>clear</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hillside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>near</b> <b>it</b> <b>footprints</b> <b>not</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>old</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>itself</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>recent</b> <b>traces</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>hasty</b> <b>camp</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>some</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>store</b> <b>of</b> <b>firewood</b> <b>neatly</b> <b>stacked</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>old</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Whoever</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>put</b> <b>this</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>here</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b>.”<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>interested</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>discoveries</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>waited</b> <b>and</b> <b>explored</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>down</b> <b>here</b> <b>myself</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>hurrying</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b> <b>to</b> <b>examine</b> <b>the</b> <b>footprints</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>just</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b>. “<b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>have</b> <b>trampled</b> <b>the</b> <b>soft</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>marks</b> <b>are</b> <b>spoilt</b> <b>or</b> <b>confused</b>. <b>Rangers</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>here</b> <b>lately</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>they</b> <b>who</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>firewood</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>also</b> <b>several</b> <b>newer</b> <b>tracks</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>Rangers</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>one</b> <b>set</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b>, <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>by</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>boots</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>one</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>certain</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>booted</b> <b>feet</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>paused</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>thought</b>.<br>
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<b>Each</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>saw</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>a</b> <b>vision</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cloaked</b> <b>and</b> <b>booted</b> <b>Riders</b>. <b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>horsemen</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b>, <b>the</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>else</b> <b>the</b> <b>better</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>viewed</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>dislike</b>, <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>miles</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hadn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>we</b> <b>better</b> <b>clear</b> <b>out</b> <b>quick</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Strider</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>impatiently</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>getting</b> <b>late</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>hole</b>: <b>it</b> <b>makes</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>sink</b> <b>somehow</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>we</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>must</b> <b>decide</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>considering</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>place</b> <b>either</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>better</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>reach</b> <b>before</b> <b>nightfall</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>moved</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>much</b> <b>more</b> <b>likely</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>by</b> <b>spies</b>. <b>All</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>right</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>way</b> <b>back</b> <b>north</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>here</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>is</b> <b>watched</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>cross</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>cover</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>away</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>is</b> <b>bare</b> <b>and</b> <b>flat</b> <b>for</b> <b>miles</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Can</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>see</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>mean</b>, <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>usually</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>used</b> <b>their</b> <b>noses</b> <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>smelling</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>, <b>if</b> <b>smelling</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>word</b>, <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>daylight</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>made</b> <b>us</b> <b>lie</b> <b>down</b> <b>flat</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>saw</b> <b>them</b> <b>down</b> <b>below</b>; <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>you</b> <b>talk</b> <b>of</b> <b>being</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>move</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>careless</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>mistake</b> <b>for</b> <b>three</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>stand</b> <b>there</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>can</b> <b>use</b> <b>men</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>as</b> <b>spies</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>found</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bree</b>. <b>They</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b>, <b>but</b> <b>our</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>cast</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b>, <b>which</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>noon</b> <b>sun</b> <b>destroys</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>they</b> <b>perceive</b> <b>many</b> <b>signs</b> <b>and</b> <b>forms</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>us</b>: <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>most</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>feared</b>. <b>And</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>times</b> <b>they</b> <b>smell</b> <b>the</b> <b>blood</b> <b>of</b> <b>living</b> <b>things</b>, <b>desiring</b> <b>and</b> <b>hating</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Senses</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>sight</b> <b>or</b> <b>smell</b>. <b>We</b> <b>can</b> <b>feel</b> <b>their</b> <b>presence</b>—<b>it</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>our</b> <b>hearts</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>came</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>saw</b> <b>them</b>; <b>they</b> <b>feel</b> <b>ours</b> <b>more</b> <b>keenly</b>. <b>Also</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>sank</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>whisper</b>, “<b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>draws</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>there</b> <b>no</b> <b>escape</b> <b>then</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>round</b> <b>wildly</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>move</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>and</b> <b>hunted</b>! <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>stay</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>draw</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>take</b> <b>this</b> <b>wood</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>set</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>sign</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>little</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>or</b> <b>defence</b> <b>here</b>, <b>but</b> <b>fire</b> <b>shall</b> <b>serve</b> <b>for</b> <b>both</b>. <b>Sauron</b> <b>can</b> <b>put</b> <b>fire</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>evil</b> <b>uses</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b>, <b>but</b> <b>these</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>love</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fear</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wield</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Fire</b> <b>is</b> <b>our</b> <b>friend</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>also</b> <b>as</b> <b>good</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>saying</b> “<b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>” <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b>, <b>bar</b> <b>shouting</b>.”<br>
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<b>Down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lowest</b> <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>sheltered</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>they</b> <b>lit</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>a</b> <b>meal</b>. <b>The</b> <b>shades</b> <b>of</b> <b>evening</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>grew</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>hunger</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>anything</b> <b>since</b> <b>breakfast</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>frugal</b> <b>supper</b>. <b>The</b> <b>lands</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>were</b> <b>empty</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>save</b> <b>birds</b> <b>and</b> <b>beasts</b>, <b>unfriendly</b> <b>places</b> <b>deserted</b> <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>races</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Rangers</b> <b>passed</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>few</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>stay</b>. <b>Other</b> <b>wanderers</b> <b>were</b> <b>rare</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>evil</b> <b>sort</b>: <b>trolls</b> <b>might</b> <b>stray</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>valleys</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>would</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>, <b>most</b> <b>often</b> <b>dwarves</b>, <b>hurrying</b> <b>along</b> <b>on</b> <b>business</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>no</b> <b>help</b> <b>and</b> <b>few</b> <b>words</b> <b>to</b> <b>spare</b> <b>for</b> <b>strangers</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>how</b> <b>our</b> <b>food</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>last</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>careful</b> <b>enough</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>few</b> <b>days</b>, <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>supper</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>feast</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>used</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>two</b> <b>weeks</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>, <b>and</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>more</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>food</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>; “<b>berry</b>, <b>root</b>, <b>and</b> <b>herb</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>some</b> <b>skill</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>hunter</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b>. <b>You</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>starving</b> <b>before</b> <b>winter</b> <b>comes</b>. <b>But</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>and</b> <b>catching</b> <b>food</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>weary</b> <b>work</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>need</b> <b>haste</b>. <b>So</b> <b>tighten</b> <b>your</b> <b>belts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>think</b> <b>with</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tables</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>cold</b> <b>increased</b> <b>as</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b>. <b>Peering</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>land</b> <b>now</b> <b>vanishing</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>into</b> <b>shadow</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b> <b>had</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>wrapped</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>garment</b> <b>and</b> <b>blanket</b> <b>they</b> <b>possessed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>content</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>apart</b>, <b>drawing</b> <b>thoughtfully</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>pipe</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>night</b> <b>fell</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>shine</b> <b>out</b> <b>brightly</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>them</b> <b>tales</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>from</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>many</b> <b>histories</b> <b>and</b> <b>legends</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>good</b> <b>and</b> <b>evil</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>. <b>They</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>how</b> <b>old</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>learned</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>lore</b>.<br>
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“<b>Tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>paused</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>story</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>Kingdoms</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>old</b> <b>lay</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>also</b> <b>does</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>concerns</b> <b>us</b> <b>closely</b>.” <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>staring</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>slowly</b>. “<b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>. <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>is</b> <b>Starlight</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>With</b> <b>Elendil</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>friend</b>, <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b>—”<br>
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“<b>No</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>interrupting</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>tale</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>win</b> <b>through</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b>, <b>told</b> <b>in</b> <b>full</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>days</b>,” <b>begged</b> <b>Sam</b>; “<b>a</b> <b>tale</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>fading</b> <b>time</b>. <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>dearly</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>Elves</b>; <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>press</b> <b>round</b> <b>so</b> <b>close</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, “<b>in</b> <b>brief</b>—<b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>known</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>none</b> <b>now</b>, <b>except</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>that</b> <b>remember</b> <b>it</b> <b>aright</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>told</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>tale</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>sad</b>, <b>as</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>lift</b> <b>up</b> <b>your</b> <b>hearts</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>chant</b> <b>softly</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>were</b> <b>long</b>, <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>green</b>,<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hemlock</b>-<b>umbels</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>glade</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>seen</b><br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>stars</b> <b>in</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>shimmering</b>.<br>
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<b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b> <b>was</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>there</b><br>
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<b>To</b> <b>music</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>pipe</b> <b>unseen</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>stars</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>hair</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>raiment</b> <b>glimmering</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>cold</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>lost</b> <b>he</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>under</b> <b>leaves</b>,<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>river</b> <b>rolled</b><br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>alone</b> <b>and</b> <b>sorrowing</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>peered</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>hemlock</b>-<b>leaves</b><br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>saw</b> <b>in</b> <b>wander</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b><br>
|
||
<b>Upon</b> <b>her</b> <b>mantle</b> <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>sleeves</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>her</b> <b>hair</b> <b>like</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>following</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Enchantment</b> <b>healed</b> <b>his</b> <b>weary</b> <b>feet</b><br>
|
||
<b>That</b> <b>over</b> <b>hills</b> <b>were</b> <b>doomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>roam</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>forth</b> <b>he</b> <b>hastened</b>, <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>fleet</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>grasped</b> <b>at</b> <b>moonbeams</b> <b>glistening</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Through</b> <b>woven</b> <b>woods</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elvenhome</b><br>
|
||
<b>She</b> <b>tightly</b> <b>fled</b> <b>on</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>feet</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b> <b>lonely</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>roam</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>silent</b> <b>forest</b> <b>listening</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>heard</b> <b>there</b> <b>oft</b> <b>the</b> <b>flying</b> <b>sound</b><br>
|
||
<b>Of</b> <b>feet</b> <b>as</b> <b>light</b> <b>as</b> <b>linden</b>-<b>leaves</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Or</b> <b>music</b> <b>welling</b> <b>underground</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>hollows</b> <b>quavering</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Now</b> <b>withered</b> <b>lay</b> <b>the</b> <b>hemlock</b>-<b>sheaves</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>one</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>with</b> <b>sighing</b> <b>sound</b><br>
|
||
<b>Whispering</b> <b>fell</b> <b>the</b> <b>beechen</b> <b>leaves</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>wintry</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>wavering</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>sought</b> <b>her</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>wandering</b> <b>far</b><br>
|
||
<b>Where</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>years</b> <b>were</b> <b>thickly</b> <b>strewn</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>By</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>moon</b> <b>and</b> <b>ray</b> <b>of</b> <b>star</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>frosty</b> <b>heavens</b> <b>shivering</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Her</b> <b>mantle</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>moon</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b><br>
|
||
<b>She</b> <b>danced</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>her</b> <b>feet</b> <b>was</b> <b>strewn</b><br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>mist</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>quivering</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>When</b> <b>winter</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>she</b> <b>came</b> <b>again</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>her</b> <b>song</b> <b>released</b> <b>the</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>spring</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Like</b> <b>rising</b> <b>lark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>falling</b> <b>rain</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>melting</b> <b>water</b> <b>bubbling</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>flowers</b> <b>spring</b><br>
|
||
<b>About</b> <b>her</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>healed</b> <b>again</b><br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>longed</b> <b>by</b> <b>her</b> <b>to</b> <b>dance</b> <b>and</b> <b>sing</b><br>
|
||
<b>Upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>untroubling</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Again</b> <b>she</b> <b>fled</b>, <b>but</b> <b>swift</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b>! <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>called</b> <b>her</b> <b>by</b> <b>her</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>name</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>she</b> <b>halted</b> <b>listening</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>One</b> <b>moment</b> <b>stood</b> <b>she</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>spell</b><br>
|
||
<b>His</b> <b>voice</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>her</b>: <b>Beren</b> <b>came</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>doom</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b><br>
|
||
<b>That</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>lay</b> <b>glistening</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>looked</b> <b>into</b> <b>her</b> <b>eyes</b><br>
|
||
<b>Within</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>hair</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>trembling</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>skies</b><br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>there</b> <b>mirrored</b> <b>shimmering</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b> <b>the</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>fair</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Immortal</b> <b>maiden</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>wise</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>About</b> <b>him</b> <b>cast</b> <b>her</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>hair</b><br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>arms</b> <b>like</b> <b>silver</b> <b>glimmering</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Long</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>fate</b> <b>them</b> <b>bore</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>O</b>'<b>er</b> <b>stony</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>grey</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Through</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>iron</b> <b>and</b> <b>darkling</b> <b>door</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>woods</b> <b>of</b> <b>nightshade</b> <b>morrowless</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>Sundering</b> <b>Seas</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b> <b>lay</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>met</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>away</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b> <b>singing</b> <b>sorrowless</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Strider</b> <b>sighed</b> <b>and</b> <b>paused</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mode</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>ann</b>-<b>thennath</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>but</b> <b>is</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>render</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>Common</b> <b>Speech</b>, <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>rough</b> <b>echo</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>tells</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>of</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Barahir</b> <b>and</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b>. <b>Beren</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>man</b>, <b>but</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>daughter</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thingol</b>, <b>a</b> <b>King</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>young</b>; <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>fairest</b> <b>maiden</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>among</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>children</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>world</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>lands</b> <b>was</b> <b>her</b> <b>loveliness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>shining</b> <b>light</b>. <b>In</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Enemy</b>, <b>of</b> <b>whom</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>was</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>servant</b>, <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>Angband</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>coming</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>made</b> <b>war</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>regain</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silmarils</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>stolen</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>aided</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>was</b> <b>victorious</b> <b>and</b> <b>Barahir</b> <b>was</b> <b>slain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>escaping</b> <b>through</b> <b>great</b> <b>peril</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Terror</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>Kingdom</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thingol</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b> <b>of</b> <b>Neldoreth</b>. <b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>beheld</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>singing</b> <b>and</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>glade</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>enchanted</b> <b>river</b> <b>Esgalduin</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>named</b> <b>her</b> <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>Nightingale</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>language</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>sorrows</b> <b>befell</b> <b>them</b> <b>afterwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>parted</b> <b>long</b>. <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b> <b>rescued</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>dungeons</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>and</b> <b>together</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>great</b> <b>dangers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cast</b> <b>down</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>throne</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>iron</b> <b>crown</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>Silmarils</b>, <b>brightest</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>jewels</b>, <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>bride</b>-<b>price</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>to</b> <b>Thingol</b> <b>her</b> <b>father</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>was</b> <b>slain</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wolf</b> <b>that</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Angband</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>died</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>arms</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b>. <b>But</b> <b>she</b> <b>chose</b> <b>mortality</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>die</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>might</b> <b>follow</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>sung</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>met</b> <b>again</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sundering</b> <b>Seas</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>time</b> <b>walking</b> <b>alive</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>together</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>confines</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>world</b>. <b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>Tin</b>?<b>viel</b> <b>alone</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>kindred</b> <b>has</b> <b>died</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>lost</b> <b>her</b> <b>whom</b> <b>they</b> <b>most</b> <b>loved</b>. <b>But</b> <b>from</b> <b>her</b> <b>the</b> <b>lineage</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>descended</b> <b>among</b> <b>Men</b>. <b>There</b> <b>live</b> <b>still</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>whom</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>foremother</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>her</b> <b>line</b> <b>shall</b> <b>never</b> <b>fail</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>is</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Kin</b>. <b>For</b> <b>of</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>and</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>was</b> <b>born</b> <b>Dior</b> <b>Thingol</b>'<b>s</b> <b>heir</b>; <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>Elwing</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>whom</b> <b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b> <b>wedded</b>, <b>he</b> <b>that</b> <b>sailed</b> <b>his</b> <b>ship</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>seas</b> <b>of</b> <b>heaven</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silmaril</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>brow</b>. <b>And</b> <b>of</b> <b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>Westernesse</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>they</b> <b>watched</b> <b>his</b> <b>strange</b> <b>eager</b> <b>face</b>, <b>dimly</b> <b>lit</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>red</b> <b>glow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>-<b>fire</b>. <b>His</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>shone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>rich</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b>. <b>Above</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>starry</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>crown</b> <b>of</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>waxing</b> <b>moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>that</b> <b>overshadowed</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b> <b>faded</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>story</b> <b>ended</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>moved</b> <b>and</b> <b>stretched</b>. “<b>Look</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>is</b> <b>rising</b>: <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>getting</b> <b>late</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>something</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>dark</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>moonrise</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>stone</b> <b>or</b> <b>jutting</b> <b>rock</b> <b>shown</b> <b>up</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>remained</b> <b>seated</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>watching</b> <b>the</b> <b>moonlight</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>intently</b>. <b>All</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>and</b> <b>still</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>dread</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>speaking</b>. <b>He</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>closer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>came</b> <b>running</b> <b>back</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>felt</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>I</b> <b>durstn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>outside</b> <b>this</b> <b>dell</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>money</b>; <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>something</b> <b>was</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>anything</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>sir</b>. <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>stop</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>something</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>; “<b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b>—<b>away</b> <b>westwards</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>moonlight</b> <b>was</b> <b>falling</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>flats</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>tops</b>, <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>two</b> <b>or</b> <b>three</b> <b>black</b> <b>shapes</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>moving</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Keep</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>with</b> <b>your</b> <b>faces</b> <b>outward</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>Get</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>longer</b> <b>sticks</b> <b>ready</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>hands</b>!”<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>breathless</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>there</b>, <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>alert</b>, <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>-<b>fire</b>, <b>each</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>that</b> <b>encircled</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>or</b> <b>movement</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>stirred</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>break</b> <b>the</b> <b>silence</b>: <b>he</b> <b>longed</b> <b>to</b> <b>shout</b> <b>out</b> <b>aloud</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hush</b>!” <b>whispered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b>?” <b>gasped</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>moment</b>.<br>
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<b>Over</b> <b>the</b> <b>lip</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>dell</b>, <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>they</b> <b>felt</b>, <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>rise</b>, <b>one</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>or</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>one</b>. <b>They</b> <b>strained</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>there</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>:<br>
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<b>three</b> <b>or</b> <b>four</b> <b>tall</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>were</b> <b>standing</b> <b>there</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>. <b>So</b> <b>black</b> <b>were</b> <b>they</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>like</b> <b>black</b> <b>holes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>shade</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>venomous</b> <b>breath</b> <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>thin</b> <b>piercing</b> <b>chill</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>advanced</b>.<br>
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<b>Terror</b> <b>overcame</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>threw</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>flat</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>shrank</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>less</b> <b>terrified</b> <b>than</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>; <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>quaking</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>terror</b> <b>was</b> <b>swallowed</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>temptation</b> <b>to</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>The</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>this</b> <b>laid</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b>. <b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>forget</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>the</b> <b>message</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>; <b>but</b> <b>something</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>compelling</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>disregard</b> <b>all</b> <b>warnings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>longed</b> <b>to</b> <b>yield</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>escape</b>, <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>doing</b> <b>anything</b>, <b>either</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>bad</b>: <b>he</b> <b>simply</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>great</b> <b>trouble</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>turn</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shut</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>struggled</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>; <b>but</b> <b>resistance</b> <b>became</b> <b>unbearable</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>chain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>forefinger</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b>.<br>
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<b>Immediately</b>, <b>though</b> <b>everything</b> <b>else</b> <b>remained</b> <b>as</b> <b>before</b>, <b>dim</b> <b>and</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>the</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>became</b> <b>terribly</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>their</b> <b>black</b> <b>wrappings</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>five</b> <b>tall</b> <b>figures</b>: <b>two</b> <b>standing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>lip</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b>, <b>three</b> <b>advancing</b>. <b>In</b> <b>their</b> <b>white</b> <b>faces</b> <b>burned</b> <b>keen</b> <b>and</b> <b>merciless</b> <b>eyes</b>; <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>mantles</b> <b>were</b> <b>long</b> <b>grey</b> <b>robes</b>; <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hairs</b> <b>were</b> <b>helms</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b>; <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>haggard</b> <b>hands</b> <b>were</b> <b>swords</b> <b>of</b> <b>steel</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>rushed</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Desperate</b>, <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>flickered</b> <b>red</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>firebrand</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>figures</b> <b>halted</b>. <b>The</b> <b>third</b> <b>was</b> <b>taller</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>: <b>his</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>gleaming</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>helm</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>crown</b>. <b>In</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>a</b> <b>knife</b>; <b>both</b> <b>the</b> <b>knife</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b> <b>that</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>bore</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>threw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>forward</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>himself</b> <b>crying</b> <b>aloud</b>: <b>O</b> <b>Elbereth</b>! <b>Gilthoniel</b>! <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>struck</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>enemy</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>cry</b> <b>rang</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>pain</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>dart</b> <b>of</b> <b>poisoned</b> <b>ice</b> <b>pierce</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>shoulder</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>swooned</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b>, <b>as</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>swirling</b> <b>mist</b>, <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>flaming</b> <b>brand</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b> <b>in</b> <b>either</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>effort</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>dropping</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>slipped</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b> <b>and</b> <b>closed</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>hand</b> <b>tight</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 12<br>
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<b>FLIGHT</b> <b>TO</b> <b>THE</b> <b>FORD</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>clutching</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>desperately</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>lying</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>piled</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>burning</b> <b>brightly</b>. <b>His</b> <b>three</b> <b>companions</b> <b>were</b> <b>bending</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>has</b> <b>happened</b>? <b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>king</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>wildly</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>too</b> <b>overjoyed</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>him</b> <b>speak</b> <b>to</b> <b>answer</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>did</b> <b>they</b> <b>understand</b> <b>his</b> <b>question</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>he</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>from</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>vague</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>coming</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>horror</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b>; <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>rushed</b> <b>past</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>He</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>or</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>, <b>crying</b> <b>out</b> <b>strange</b> <b>words</b>. <b>They</b> <b>saw</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>body</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>lying</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>dead</b>, <b>face</b> <b>downwards</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>ordered</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>pick</b> <b>him</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>lay</b> <b>him</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>disappeared</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>while</b> <b>ago</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>doubts</b> <b>again</b> <b>about</b> <b>Strider</b>; <b>but</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>talking</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b>, <b>appearing</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b>. <b>They</b> <b>started</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>drew</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>over</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>knelt</b> <b>down</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rider</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>gently</b>, “<b>nor</b> <b>in</b> <b>league</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>discover</b> <b>something</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>movements</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>think</b> <b>why</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>attack</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>presence</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>.”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>what</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b>, <b>he</b> <b>became</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>concern</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shook</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>sighed</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>ordered</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>to</b> <b>heat</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>water</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>small</b> <b>kettles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>bathe</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>. “<b>Keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>going</b> <b>well</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>warm</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>things</b> <b>better</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>seem</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>five</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>here</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>they</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>resisted</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>off</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>being</b>. <b>But</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>again</b> <b>another</b> <b>night</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>escape</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>only</b> <b>waiting</b>, <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>their</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>is</b> <b>almost</b> <b>accomplished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>fly</b> <b>much</b> <b>further</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>Sam</b>, <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>believe</b> <b>your</b> <b>master</b> <b>has</b> <b>a</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>wound</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>subdue</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>will</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b>!” <b>Sam</b> <b>choked</b> <b>with</b> <b>tears</b>. “<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>despair</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>trust</b> <b>me</b> <b>now</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>is</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>sterner</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>guessed</b>, <b>though</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>hinted</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>prove</b> <b>so</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>slain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>resist</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>his</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>expect</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>and</b> <b>heal</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Guard</b> <b>him</b> <b>well</b>, <b>while</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>away</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>again</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>dozed</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>pain</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>wound</b> <b>was</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>growing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>chill</b> <b>was</b> <b>spreading</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b> <b>and</b> <b>side</b>. <b>His</b> <b>friends</b> <b>watched</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>, <b>warming</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bathing</b> <b>his</b> <b>wound</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>passed</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>and</b> <b>wearily</b>. <b>Dawn</b> <b>was</b> <b>growing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>was</b> <b>filling</b> <b>with</b> <b>grey</b> <b>light</b>, <b>when</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>returned</b>.<br>
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“<b>Look</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>; <b>and</b> <b>stooping</b> <b>he</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>lain</b> <b>there</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>A</b> <b>foot</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>hem</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>slash</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>stroke</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sword</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>only</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>enemy</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>; <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>unharmed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>blades</b> <b>perish</b> <b>that</b> <b>pierce</b> <b>that</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>King</b>. <b>More</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elbereth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>more</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>this</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>thin</b> <b>knife</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>. <b>As</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>raised</b> <b>it</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>its</b> <b>edge</b> <b>was</b> <b>notched</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b> <b>off</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>growing</b> <b>light</b>, <b>they</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>in</b> <b>astonishment</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>blade</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>melt</b>, <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>leaving</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>in</b> <b>Strider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b>. “<b>Alas</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>this</b> <b>accursed</b> <b>knife</b> <b>that</b> <b>gave</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b>. <b>Few</b> <b>now</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>skill</b> <b>in</b> <b>healing</b> <b>to</b> <b>match</b> <b>such</b> <b>evil</b> <b>weapons</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>taking</b> <b>the</b> <b>dagger</b>-<b>hilt</b> <b>laid</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>sang</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>slow</b> <b>song</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>setting</b> <b>it</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>tone</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>words</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>catch</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>pouch</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>belt</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>plant</b>.<br>
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“<b>These</b> <b>leaves</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>walked</b> <b>far</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b>; <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>plant</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>grow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>bare</b> <b>hills</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>away</b> <b>south</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>scent</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>leaves</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>crushed</b> <b>a</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>gave</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>and</b> <b>pungent</b> <b>fragrance</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>fortunate</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>healing</b> <b>plant</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>brought</b> <b>to</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>. <b>Athelas</b> <b>they</b> <b>named</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>grows</b> <b>now</b> <b>sparsely</b> <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>near</b> <b>places</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>or</b> <b>camped</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>known</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>except</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wander</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>great</b> <b>virtues</b>, <b>but</b> <b>over</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>wound</b> <b>as</b> <b>this</b> <b>its</b> <b>healing</b> <b>powers</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>small</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>threw</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>into</b> <b>boiling</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>bathed</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>shoulder</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fragrance</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>steam</b> <b>was</b> <b>refreshing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>unhurt</b> <b>felt</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>calmed</b> <b>and</b> <b>cleared</b>. <b>The</b> <b>herb</b> <b>had</b> <b>also</b> <b>some</b> <b>power</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>pain</b> <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>the</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>frozen</b> <b>cold</b> <b>lessen</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>life</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>raise</b> <b>or</b> <b>use</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>He</b> <b>bitterly</b> <b>regretted</b> <b>his</b> <b>foolishness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>reproached</b> <b>himself</b> <b>for</b> <b>weakness</b> <b>of</b> <b>will</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>now</b> <b>perceived</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>putting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>he</b> <b>obeyed</b> <b>not</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>desire</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>commanding</b> <b>wish</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>enemies</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>remain</b> <b>maimed</b> <b>for</b> <b>life</b>, <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>now</b> <b>manage</b> <b>to</b> <b>continue</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>He</b> <b>fell</b> <b>too</b> <b>weak</b> <b>to</b> <b>stand</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>discussing</b> <b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>question</b>. <b>They</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>watching</b> <b>this</b> <b>place</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>days</b>. <b>If</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>ever</b> <b>came</b> <b>here</b>, <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>forced</b> <b>to</b> <b>ride</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>return</b>. <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>great</b> <b>peril</b> <b>here</b> <b>after</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>attack</b> <b>of</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>meet</b> <b>greater</b> <b>danger</b> <b>wherever</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>was</b> <b>full</b>, <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>packed</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>impossible</b> <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b>, <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>divided</b> <b>the</b> <b>greater</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>four</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>few</b> <b>days</b> <b>the</b> <b>poor</b> <b>beast</b> <b>had</b> <b>improved</b> <b>wonderfully</b>; <b>it</b> <b>already</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>fatter</b> <b>and</b> <b>stronger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>to</b> <b>show</b> <b>an</b> <b>affection</b> <b>for</b> <b>its</b> <b>new</b> <b>masters</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>for</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>'<b>s</b> <b>treatment</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>very</b> <b>hard</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>to</b> <b>seem</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>its</b> <b>former</b> <b>life</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>started</b> <b>off</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>southerly</b> <b>direction</b>. <b>This</b> <b>would</b> <b>mean</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>but</b>. <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>quickest</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>more</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>country</b>. <b>And</b> <b>they</b> <b>needed</b> <b>fuel</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>kept</b> <b>warm</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>, <b>while</b> <b>fire</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>some</b> <b>protection</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>his</b> <b>plan</b> <b>to</b> <b>shorten</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b> <b>by</b> <b>cutting</b> <b>across</b> <b>another</b> <b>great</b> <b>loop</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>: <b>east</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>it</b> <b>changed</b> <b>its</b> <b>course</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>bend</b> <b>northwards</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>made</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>and</b> <b>cautiously</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>-<b>western</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>while</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>across</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>two</b> <b>cries</b>: <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>voice</b> <b>calling</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>voice</b> <b>answering</b>. <b>Trembling</b> <b>they</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>sloped</b> <b>away</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>wild</b> <b>and</b> <b>pathless</b>; <b>bushes</b> <b>and</b> <b>stunted</b> <b>trees</b> <b>grew</b> <b>in</b> <b>dense</b> <b>patches</b> <b>with</b> <b>wide</b> <b>barren</b> <b>spaces</b> <b>in</b> <b>between</b>. <b>The</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>scanty</b>, <b>coarse</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grey</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>were</b> <b>faded</b> <b>and</b> <b>falling</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>cheerless</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b> <b>was</b> <b>slow</b> <b>and</b> <b>gloomy</b>. <b>They</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>little</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>trudged</b> <b>along</b>. <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>grieved</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>watched</b> <b>them</b> <b>walking</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>burdens</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavy</b>-<b>hearted</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>march</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>pain</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>again</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b>. <b>Four</b> <b>days</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>without</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>scene</b> <b>changing</b> <b>much</b>, <b>except</b> <b>that</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>sank</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>since</b> <b>that</b> <b>far</b> <b>cry</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>had</b> <b>marked</b> <b>their</b> <b>flight</b> <b>or</b> <b>followed</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>dreaded</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hours</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>watch</b> <b>in</b> <b>pairs</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>, <b>expecting</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>black</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>stalking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>night</b>, <b>dimly</b> <b>lit</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>cloud</b>-<b>veiled</b> <b>moon</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sigh</b> <b>of</b> <b>withered</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>and</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>once</b> <b>did</b> <b>they</b> <b>feel</b> <b>the</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>present</b> <b>evil</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>assailed</b> <b>them</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>attack</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>lost</b> <b>their</b> <b>trail</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Perhaps</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>some</b> <b>ambush</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>place</b>?<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fifth</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>began</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>rise</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>valley</b> <b>into</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>descended</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>now</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>course</b> <b>again</b> <b>north</b>-<b>eastwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>sixth</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>slow</b>-<b>climbing</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>a</b> <b>huddle</b> <b>of</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>sweeping</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>; <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>river</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>pale</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>thin</b> <b>sunshine</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>they</b> <b>glimpsed</b> <b>yet</b> <b>another</b> <b>river</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>stony</b> <b>valley</b> <b>half</b>-<b>veiled</b> <b>in</b> <b>mist</b>.<br>
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"<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>here</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>now</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>Hoarwell</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>call</b> <b>Mitheithel</b>. <b>It</b> <b>flows</b> <b>down</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ettenmoors</b>, <b>the</b> <b>troll</b>-<b>fells</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>joins</b> <b>the</b> <b>Loudwater</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greyflood</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>water</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>finds</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>way</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b> <b>below</b> <b>its</b> <b>sources</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ettenmoors</b>, <b>except</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>on</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>crosses</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>other</b> <b>river</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>there</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>Loudwater</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Bruinen</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>runs</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bruinen</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>thought</b> <b>how</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>cross</b> <b>that</b> <b>water</b>. <b>One</b> <b>river</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>! <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>fortunate</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>held</b> <b>against</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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<b>Next</b> <b>day</b>, <b>early</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>or</b> <b>riders</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>some</b> <b>rain</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>judged</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>two</b> <b>days</b> <b>before</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>washed</b> <b>away</b> <b>all</b> <b>footprints</b>. <b>No</b> <b>horseman</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>since</b> <b>then</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>along</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>speed</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slope</b>. <b>They</b> <b>dreaded</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>there</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>none</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>made</b> <b>them</b> <b>take</b> <b>cover</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>thicket</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>to</b> <b>explore</b>.<br>
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<b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>back</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>what</b> <b>that</b> <b>means</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>something</b> <b>very</b> <b>strange</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>held</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>showed</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>pale</b>-<b>green</b> <b>jewel</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mud</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>beryl</b>, <b>an</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>stone</b>. <b>Whether</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>set</b> <b>there</b>, <b>or</b> <b>let</b> <b>fall</b> <b>by</b> <b>chance</b>, <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>say</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>brings</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>; <b>but</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>dare</b> <b>not</b> <b>keep</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>without</b> <b>some</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>token</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>in</b> <b>safety</b>, <b>hearing</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>swirling</b> <b>against</b> <b>its</b> <b>three</b> <b>great</b> <b>arches</b>. <b>A</b> <b>mile</b> <b>further</b> <b>on</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>ravine</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>away</b> <b>northwards</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>lands</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>sombre</b> <b>country</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>trees</b> <b>winding</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>sullen</b> <b>hills</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>cheerless</b> <b>lands</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>Road</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>this</b> <b>new</b> <b>country</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>threatening</b> <b>and</b> <b>unfriendly</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>rose</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>upon</b> <b>heights</b> <b>and</b> <b>ridges</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>glimpses</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>of</b> <b>towers</b>: <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>look</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>walking</b>, <b>had</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>gaze</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b>. <b>He</b> <b>recalled</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>journey</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>threatening</b> <b>towers</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>Troll</b>'<b>s</b> <b>wood</b> <b>where</b> <b>his</b> <b>first</b> <b>serious</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>region</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>by</b> <b>chance</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>pass</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>spot</b>.<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>lives</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>who</b> <b>built</b> <b>these</b> <b>towers</b>? <b>Is</b> <b>this</b> <b>troll</b>-<b>country</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>Trolls</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>build</b>. <b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>lives</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Men</b> <b>once</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>here</b>, <b>ages</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>but</b> <b>none</b> <b>remain</b> <b>now</b>. <b>They</b> <b>became</b> <b>an</b> <b>evil</b> <b>people</b>, <b>as</b> <b>legends</b> <b>tell</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>fell</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Angmar</b>. <b>But</b> <b>all</b> <b>were</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b> <b>that</b> <b>brought</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Kingdom</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>end</b>. <b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>have</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>them</b>, <b>though</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>still</b> <b>lies</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>learn</b> <b>such</b> <b>tales</b>, <b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>is</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>forgetful</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Peregrin</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>birds</b> <b>and</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>son</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>heirs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>forget</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>past</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>more</b> <b>things</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b> <b>are</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.” “<b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>often</b> <b>been</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>there</b> <b>once</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>I</b> <b>return</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>is</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>my</b> <b>fate</b> <b>to</b> <b>sit</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fair</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hills</b> <b>now</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>shut</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>behind</b> <b>held</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>Bruinen</b>, <b>but</b> <b>both</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>view</b>. <b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>valley</b>; <b>narrow</b>, <b>deeply</b> <b>cloven</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>Trees</b> <b>with</b> <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>twisted</b> <b>roots</b> <b>hung</b> <b>over</b> <b>cliffs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>piled</b> <b>up</b> <b>behind</b> <b>into</b> <b>mounting</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>pine</b>-<b>wood</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>grew</b> <b>very</b> <b>weary</b>. <b>They</b> <b>advanced</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>pick</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>pathless</b> <b>country</b>, <b>encumbered</b> <b>by</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>tumbled</b> <b>rocks</b>. <b>As</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>they</b> <b>avoided</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sake</b>, <b>and</b> <b>because</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>fact</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>any</b> <b>way</b> <b>up</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>dales</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>two</b> <b>days</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>country</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>turned</b> <b>wet</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>blow</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>and</b> <b>pour</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>seas</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>heads</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>in</b> <b>fine</b> <b>drenching</b> <b>rain</b>. <b>By</b> <b>nightfall</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>soaked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>camp</b> <b>was</b> <b>cheerless</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>any</b> <b>fire</b> <b>to</b> <b>burn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>rose</b> <b>still</b> <b>higher</b> <b>and</b> <b>steeper</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>forced</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>away</b> <b>northwards</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>course</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>getting</b> <b>anxious</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>ten</b> <b>days</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>Weathertop</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>stock</b> <b>of</b> <b>provisions</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>run</b> <b>low</b>. <b>It</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>raining</b>.<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>night</b> <b>they</b> <b>camped</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>stony</b> <b>shelf</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>rock</b>-<b>wall</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>cave</b>, <b>a</b> <b>mere</b> <b>scoop</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>restless</b>. <b>The</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>wet</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>his</b> <b>wound</b> <b>more</b> <b>painful</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ache</b> <b>and</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>chill</b> <b>took</b> <b>away</b> <b>all</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lay</b> <b>tossing</b> <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>and</b> <b>listening</b> <b>fearfully</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>stealthy</b> <b>night</b>-<b>noises</b>: <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>chinks</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b>, <b>water</b> <b>dripping</b>, <b>a</b> <b>crack</b>, <b>the</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>rattling</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>loosened</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>black</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>were</b> <b>advancing</b> <b>to</b> <b>smother</b> <b>him</b>; <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b> <b>of</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>hunched</b> <b>up</b>, <b>smoking</b> <b>his</b> <b>pipe</b>, <b>and</b> <b>watching</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>into</b> <b>an</b> <b>uneasy</b> <b>dream</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>garden</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>dim</b>, <b>less</b> <b>clear</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>that</b> <b>stood</b> <b>looking</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedge</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>he</b> <b>woke</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>rain</b> <b>had</b> <b>stopped</b>. <b>The</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>thick</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>breaking</b>, <b>and</b> <b>pale</b> <b>strips</b> <b>of</b> <b>blue</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>shifting</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>start</b> <b>early</b>. <b>Immediately</b> <b>after</b> <b>their</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>comfortless</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>telling</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>to</b> <b>remain</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>up</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>, <b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>lie</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>reassuring</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>too</b> <b>far</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>back</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>again</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>keep</b> <b>on</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>get</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ettendales</b> <b>far</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>troll</b>-<b>country</b>, <b>and</b> <b>little</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>We</b> <b>could</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>find</b> <b>our</b> <b>way</b> <b>through</b> <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>round</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>too</b> <b>long</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>food</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>last</b>. <b>So</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>or</b> <b>other</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bruinen</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>spent</b> <b>scrambling</b> <b>over</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>They</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>passage</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>hills</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>valley</b> <b>running</b> <b>south</b>-<b>east</b>, <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b>; <b>but</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>their</b> <b>road</b> <b>again</b> <b>barred</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>high</b> <b>land</b>; <b>its</b> <b>dark</b> <b>edge</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b> <b>into</b> <b>many</b> <b>bare</b> <b>points</b> <b>like</b> <b>teeth</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>blunted</b> <b>saw</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>choice</b> <b>between</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> <b>or</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>the</b> <b>climb</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>proved</b> <b>very</b> <b>difficult</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>dismount</b> <b>and</b> <b>struggle</b> <b>along</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>often</b> <b>despaired</b> <b>of</b> <b>getting</b> <b>their</b> <b>pony</b> <b>up</b>, <b>or</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>of</b> <b>finding</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>for</b> <b>themselves</b>, <b>burdened</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>exhausted</b>, <b>when</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>saddle</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>higher</b> <b>points</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>fell</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>away</b> <b>again</b>, <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>distance</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>threw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>shivering</b>. <b>His</b> <b>left</b> <b>arm</b> <b>was</b> <b>lifeless</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>felt</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>icy</b> <b>claws</b> <b>were</b> <b>laid</b> <b>upon</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>and</b> <b>dim</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>go</b> <b>any</b> <b>further</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>to</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>this</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>dreadfully</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>. <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>cure</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>ever</b> <b>get</b> <b>there</b>?”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>because</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>wound</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>so</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>to</b> <b>press</b> <b>on</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>agree</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>tonight</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>master</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>appealingly</b> <b>at</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>His</b> <b>wound</b> <b>was</b> <b>small</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>closed</b>. <b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>white</b> <b>mark</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Frodo</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>touched</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>poison</b> <b>or</b> <b>evil</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>my</b> <b>skill</b> <b>to</b> <b>drive</b> <b>out</b>. <b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>up</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>Sam</b>!”<br>
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<b>Night</b> <b>was</b> <b>cold</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>ridge</b>. <b>They</b> <b>lit</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>fire</b> <b>down</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>gnarled</b> <b>roots</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>pine</b>, <b>that</b> <b>hung</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>pit</b>: <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>stone</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>been</b> <b>quarried</b> <b>there</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sat</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>together</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>blew</b> <b>chill</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>tops</b> <b>lower</b> <b>down</b> <b>moaning</b> <b>and</b> <b>sighing</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b> <b>half</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>, <b>imagining</b> <b>that</b> <b>endless</b> <b>dark</b> <b>wings</b> <b>were</b> <b>sweeping</b> <b>by</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wings</b> <b>rode</b> <b>pursuers</b> <b>that</b> <b>sought</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>dawned</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>; <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>clean</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>rain</b>-<b>washed</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>were</b> <b>encouraged</b>, <b>but</b> (<b>hey</b> <b>longed</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>to</b> <b>warm</b> <b>their</b> <b>cold</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>limbs</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>light</b>, <b>Strider</b> <b>took</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>survey</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>height</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>had</b> <b>risen</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b> <b>brightly</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b> <b>with</b> <b>more</b> <b>comforting</b> <b>news</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>going</b> <b>more</b> <b>or</b> <b>less</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>direction</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b>, <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>way</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>had</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Loudwater</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>view</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>and</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>again</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>through</b> <b>these</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Whatever</b> <b>danger</b> <b>may</b> <b>beset</b> <b>it</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>is</b> <b>our</b> <b>only</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>was</b> <b>much</b> <b>easier</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>expected</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b> <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>less</b> <b>steep</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>ride</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>'<b>s</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>pony</b> <b>was</b> <b>developing</b> <b>an</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>talent</b> <b>for</b> <b>picking</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>sparing</b> <b>its</b> <b>rider</b> <b>as</b> <b>many</b> <b>jolts</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>. <b>The</b> <b>spirits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b> <b>rose</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>better</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>light</b>, <b>but</b> <b>every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>a</b> <b>mist</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>obscure</b> <b>his</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>here</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistake</b>:<br>
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<b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginnings</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b>, <b>that</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>windings</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>below</b> <b>and</b> <b>faded</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>In</b> <b>places</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>overgrown</b>, <b>or</b> <b>choked</b> <b>with</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>stones</b> <b>and</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>time</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>much</b> <b>used</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>strong</b> <b>arms</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>old</b> <b>trees</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>cut</b> <b>or</b> <b>broken</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>large</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>cloven</b> <b>or</b> <b>heaved</b> <b>aside</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>followed</b> <b>the</b> <b>track</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>while</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>offered</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>easiest</b> <b>way</b> <b>down</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>cautiously</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>anxiety</b> <b>increased</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>grew</b> <b>plainer</b> <b>and</b> <b>broader</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>coming</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>belt</b> <b>of</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>it</b> <b>ran</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>slope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>sharply</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>comer</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>comer</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>ran</b> <b>on</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>level</b> <b>strip</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>cliff</b> <b>overhung</b> <b>with</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>stony</b> <b>wall</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>crookedly</b> <b>ajar</b> <b>upon</b> <b>one</b> <b>great</b> <b>hinge</b>.<br>
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<b>Outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>halted</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>cave</b> <b>or</b> <b>rock</b>-<b>chamber</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b> <b>inside</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>Strider</b>, <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>pushing</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>strength</b> <b>managed</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>wider</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>far</b>, <b>for</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>lay</b> <b>many</b> <b>old</b> <b>bones</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>entrance</b> <b>except</b> <b>some</b> <b>great</b> <b>empty</b> <b>jars</b> <b>and</b> <b>broken</b> <b>pots</b>.<br>
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“<b>Surely</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>troll</b>-<b>hole</b>, <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>out</b>, <b>you</b> <b>two</b>, <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>get</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>we</b> <b>know</b> <b>who</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> -<b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>get</b> <b>off</b> <b>it</b> <b>quick</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>coining</b> <b>out</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>a</b> <b>troll</b>-<b>hole</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>long</b> <b>forsaken</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>need</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>But</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>down</b> <b>warily</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>path</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>again</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>level</b> <b>space</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>thick</b> <b>wooded</b> <b>slope</b>. <b>Pippin</b>, <b>not</b> <b>liking</b> <b>to</b> <b>show</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>afraid</b>, <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>with</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>came</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>one</b> <b>on</b> <b>each</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>broad</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>four</b> <b>or</b> <b>five</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>abreast</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>very</b> <b>far</b> <b>before</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>came</b> <b>running</b> <b>back</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Merry</b>. <b>They</b> <b>both</b> <b>looked</b> <b>terrified</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>trolls</b>!” <b>Pippin</b> <b>panted</b>. “<b>Down</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>clearing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>below</b>. <b>We</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunks</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>very</b> <b>large</b>!”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>picking</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>stick</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>scared</b>.<br>
|
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>high</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>shone</b> <b>down</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>half</b>-<b>stripped</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lit</b> <b>the</b> <b>clearing</b> <b>with</b> <b>bright</b> <b>patches</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b>. <b>They</b> <b>halted</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>peered</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunks</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>their</b> <b>breath</b>. <b>There</b> <b>stood</b> <b>the</b> <b>trolls</b>: <b>three</b> <b>large</b> <b>trolls</b>. <b>One</b> <b>was</b> <b>stooping</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>two</b> <b>stood</b> <b>staring</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Strider</b> <b>walked</b> <b>forward</b> <b>unconcernedly</b>. “<b>Get</b> <b>up</b>, <b>old</b> <b>stone</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>broke</b> <b>his</b> <b>stick</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>stooping</b> <b>troll</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Nothing</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>gasp</b> <b>of</b> <b>astonishment</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>even</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Well</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>forgetting</b> <b>our</b> <b>family</b> <b>history</b>! <b>These</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>three</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>caught</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>quarrelling</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>cook</b> <b>thirteen</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>hobbit</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>idea</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>well</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>told</b> <b>it</b> <b>often</b>; <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>fact</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>believed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>now</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>trolls</b> <b>with</b> <b>suspicion</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>magic</b> <b>might</b> <b>not</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>bring</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>life</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>forgetting</b> <b>not</b> <b>only</b> <b>your</b> <b>family</b> <b>history</b>, <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>you</b> <b>ever</b> <b>knew</b> <b>about</b> <b>trolls</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>broad</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>scare</b> <b>me</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>live</b> <b>trolls</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>glade</b>! <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>has</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>bird</b>'<b>s</b> <b>nest</b> <b>behind</b> <b>his</b> <b>ear</b>. <b>That</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>most</b> <b>unusual</b> <b>ornament</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>live</b> <b>troll</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>laughed</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>his</b> <b>spirits</b> <b>reviving</b>: <b>the</b> <b>reminder</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>first</b> <b>successful</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>was</b> <b>heartening</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>was</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>comforting</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>lifting</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. <b>They</b> <b>rested</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>glade</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>their</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b> <b>meal</b> <b>right</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trolls</b>” <b>large</b> <b>legs</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>somebody</b> <b>give</b> <b>us</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>is</b> <b>high</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>finished</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>tale</b> <b>for</b> <b>days</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Not</b> <b>since</b> <b>Weathertop</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>me</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>much</b> <b>better</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>sing</b>. <b>Perhaps</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>could</b> <b>dig</b> <b>something</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>memory</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Come</b> <b>on</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>more</b> <b>stored</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>head</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>let</b> <b>on</b> <b>about</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>how</b> <b>would</b> <b>this</b> <b>suit</b>? <b>It</b> <b>ain</b>'<b>t</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>call</b> <b>proper</b> <b>poetry</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>understand</b> <b>me</b>: <b>just</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>nonsense</b>. <b>But</b> <b>these</b> <b>old</b> <b>images</b> <b>here</b> <b>brought</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>.” <b>Standing</b> <b>up</b>, <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>behind</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>school</b>, <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>sing</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>tune</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Troll</b> <b>sat</b> <b>alone</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>seat</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>munched</b> <b>and</b> <b>mumbled</b> <b>a</b> <b>bare</b> <b>old</b> <b>bone</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>gnawed</b> <b>it</b> <b>near</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>meat</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>by</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Done</b> <b>by</b>! <b>Gum</b> <b>by</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>case</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>he</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>alone</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>meat</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>by</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Up</b> <b>came</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>big</b> <b>boots</b> <b>on</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Said</b> <b>he</b> <b>to</b> <b>Troll</b>: “<b>Pray</b>, <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>yon</b>?<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>looks</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>shin</b> <b>o</b>” <b>my</b> <b>nuncle</b> <b>Tim</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b>-<b>lyin</b>” <b>in</b> <b>graveyard</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Caveyard</b>! <b>Paveyard</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>This</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>has</b> <b>Tim</b> <b>been</b> <b>gone</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>lyin</b>” <b>in</b> <b>graveyard</b>.'<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
'<b>My</b> <b>lad</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Troll</b>, “<b>this</b> <b>bone</b> <b>I</b> <b>stole</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>be</b> <b>bones</b> <b>that</b> <b>lie</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b>?<br>
|
||
<b>Thy</b> <b>nuncle</b> <b>was</b> <b>dead</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>lump</b> <b>o</b>” <b>lead</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Afore</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>shinbone</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Tinbone</b>! <b>Thinbone</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>can</b> <b>spare</b> <b>a</b> <b>share</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>troll</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>he</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>need</b> <b>his</b> <b>shinbone</b>.'<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Said</b> <b>Tom</b>: “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>why</b> <b>the</b> <b>likes</b> <b>o</b>” <b>thee</b><br>
|
||
<b>Without</b> <b>axin</b>” <b>leave</b> <b>should</b> <b>go</b> <b>makin</b>” <b>free</b><br>
|
||
<b>With</b> <b>the</b> <b>shank</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>shin</b> <b>o</b>” <b>my</b> <b>father</b>'<b>s</b> <b>kin</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>So</b> <b>hand</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>bone</b> <b>over</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>Rover</b>! <b>Trover</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>Though</b> <b>dead</b> <b>he</b> <b>be</b>, <b>it</b> <b>belongs</b> <b>to</b> <b>he</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>So</b> <b>hand</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>bone</b> <b>over</b>!'<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
'<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>couple</b> <b>o</b>” <b>pins</b>,” <b>says</b> <b>Troll</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grins</b>,<br>
|
||
'<b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>eat</b> <b>thee</b> <b>too</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gnaw</b> <b>thy</b> <b>shins</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>bit</b> <b>o</b>” <b>fresh</b> <b>meal</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>sweet</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>try</b> <b>my</b> <b>teeth</b> <b>on</b> <b>thee</b> <b>now</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Hee</b> <b>now</b>! <b>See</b> <b>now</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>tired</b> <b>o</b>” <b>gnawing</b> <b>old</b> <b>bones</b> <b>and</b> <b>skins</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>dine</b> <b>on</b> <b>thee</b> <b>now</b>.'<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>just</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>his</b> <b>dinner</b> <b>was</b> <b>caught</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>had</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>naught</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Before</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>behind</b><br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>gave</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>boot</b> <b>to</b> <b>larn</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Warn</b> <b>him</b>! <b>Darn</b> <b>him</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>bump</b> <b>o</b>” <b>the</b> <b>boot</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>seat</b>, <b>Tom</b> <b>thought</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Would</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>larn</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>harder</b> <b>than</b> <b>stone</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>flesh</b> <b>and</b> <b>bone</b><br>
|
||
<b>Of</b> <b>a</b> <b>troll</b> <b>that</b> <b>sits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>alone</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>well</b> <b>set</b> <b>your</b> <b>boot</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>'<b>s</b> <b>root</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>seat</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>troll</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Peel</b> <b>it</b>! <b>Heal</b> <b>it</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>Old</b> <b>Troll</b> <b>laughed</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Tom</b> <b>groan</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>his</b> <b>toes</b> <b>could</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Tom</b>'<b>s</b> <b>leg</b> <b>is</b> <b>game</b>, <b>since</b> <b>home</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>his</b> <b>bootless</b> <b>foot</b> <b>is</b> <b>lasting</b> <b>lame</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>Troll</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>care</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b><br>
|
||
<b>With</b> <b>the</b> <b>bone</b> <b>he</b> <b>boned</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>owner</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Doner</b>! <b>Boner</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>Troll</b>'<b>s</b> <b>old</b> <b>seat</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>bone</b> <b>he</b> <b>boned</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>owner</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
“<b>Well</b>, <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>warning</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b>!” <b>laughed</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>you</b> <b>used</b> <b>a</b> <b>stick</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>your</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>Strider</b>!”<br>
|
||
“<b>Where</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>by</b> <b>that</b>, <b>Sam</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>those</b> <b>words</b> <b>before</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>Sam</b> <b>muttered</b> <b>something</b> <b>inaudible</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>head</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>learning</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>about</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>First</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>conspirator</b>, <b>now</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>jester</b>. <b>He</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>end</b> <b>up</b> <b>by</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>a</b> <b>wizard</b>—<b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>warrior</b>!”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>neither</b>!”<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>probably</b> <b>following</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>track</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>had</b> <b>used</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b> <b>before</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>miles</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>bank</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>point</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hoarwell</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>clung</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>rolling</b> <b>and</b> <b>winding</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>among</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>heather</b>-<b>covered</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>far</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>On</b> <b>it</b> <b>roughly</b> <b>cut</b> <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>much</b> <b>weathered</b> <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>runes</b> <b>and</b> <b>secret</b> <b>marks</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>that</b> <b>marked</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>trolls</b>” <b>gold</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b>. <b>How</b> <b>much</b> <b>is</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>share</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>, <b>Frodo</b>?”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wished</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>home</b> <b>no</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>more</b> <b>perilous</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>less</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>pan</b> <b>with</b>. “<b>None</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Bilbo</b> <b>gave</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>away</b>. <b>He</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>really</b> <b>his</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>robbers</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>lay</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>early</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>As</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>possible</b> <b>course</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b>, <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>left</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>as</b> <b>fast</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>a</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fast</b> <b>westering</b> <b>sun</b>. <b>A</b> <b>cold</b> <b>wind</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>ahead</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>camp</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>that</b> <b>brought</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>fear</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b>: <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>far</b> <b>because</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>windings</b> <b>and</b> <b>rollings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>As</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>they</b> <b>scrambled</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>beaten</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>heather</b> <b>and</b> <b>bilberry</b> <b>brushwood</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>above</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>patch</b> <b>of</b> <b>thick</b>-<b>growing</b> <b>hazels</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>peered</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>bushes</b>, <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>grey</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>failing</b> <b>light</b>, <b>some</b> <b>thirty</b> <b>feel</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoofs</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>fast</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>clippety</b>-<b>clippely</b>-<b>clip</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>faintly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>blown</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>breeze</b>, <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>catch</b> <b>a</b> <b>dim</b> <b>ringing</b>, <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>small</b> <b>bells</b> <b>tinkling</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>sound</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>horse</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>listening</b> <b>intently</b>. <b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>agreed</b> <b>hopefully</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>remained</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>suspicion</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>for</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b> <b>that</b> <b>any</b> <b>sound</b> <b>from</b> <b>behind</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>and</b> <b>unfriendly</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>leaning</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>stooped</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>hand</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>ear</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>of</b> <b>joy</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>rustled</b> <b>softly</b>. <b>Clearer</b> <b>and</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>bells</b> <b>jingled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clippety</b>-<b>clip</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>quick</b> <b>trotting</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>view</b> <b>below</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>horse</b>, <b>gleaming</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b>, <b>running</b> <b>swiftly</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>its</b> <b>headstall</b> <b>flickered</b> <b>and</b> <b>flashed</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>studded</b> <b>with</b> <b>gems</b> <b>like</b> <b>living</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>The</b> <b>rider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>streamed</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>was</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>back</b>; <b>his</b> <b>golden</b> <b>hair</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>shimmering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>speed</b>. <b>To</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>it</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>form</b> <b>and</b> <b>raiment</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rider</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>thin</b> <b>veil</b>.<br>
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<b>Strider</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>from</b> <b>hiding</b> <b>and</b> <b>dashed</b> <b>down</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>leaping</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>heather</b>; <b>but</b> <b>even</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>moved</b> <b>or</b> <b>called</b>, <b>the</b> <b>rider</b> <b>had</b> <b>reined</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>horse</b> <b>and</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>up</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>thicket</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>he</b> <b>dismounted</b> <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>him</b> <b>calling</b> <b>out</b>: <b>Ai</b> <b>na</b> <b>vedui</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b>! <b>Mae</b> <b>govannen</b>! <b>His</b> <b>speech</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>ringing</b> <b>voice</b> <b>left</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b>: <b>the</b> <b>rider</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>folk</b>. <b>No</b> <b>others</b> <b>that</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>world</b> <b>had</b> <b>voices</b> <b>so</b> <b>fair</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>note</b> <b>of</b> <b>haste</b> <b>or</b> <b>fear</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>call</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>urgently</b> <b>to</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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<b>Soon</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>beckoned</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>and</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>who</b> <b>dwells</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hail</b>, <b>and</b> <b>well</b> <b>met</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lord</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>sent</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>We</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>danger</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>reached</b> <b>Rivendell</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>joyfully</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>departed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>nine</b> <b>days</b> <b>ago</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>. “<b>Elrond</b> <b>received</b> <b>news</b> <b>that</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>kindred</b>, <b>journeying</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>land</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Baranduin</b>,* <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>things</b> <b>were</b> <b>amiss</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sent</b> <b>messages</b> <b>as</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>. <b>They</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>were</b> <b>abroad</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>astray</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>burden</b> <b>without</b> <b>guidance</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>returned</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>few</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>that</b> <b>can</b> <b>ride</b> <b>openly</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b>; <b>but</b> <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b>, <b>Elrond</b> <b>sent</b> <b>out</b> <b>north</b>, <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>south</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>turn</b> <b>far</b> <b>aside</b> <b>to</b> <b>avoid</b> <b>pursuit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>become</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wilderness</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>lot</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mitheithel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>a</b> <b>token</b> <b>there</b>, <b>nigh</b> <b>on</b> <b>seven</b> <b>days</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>were</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>withdrew</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>pursued</b> <b>them</b> <b>westward</b>. <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>also</b> <b>upon</b> <b>two</b> <b>others</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b> <b>southward</b>. <b>Since</b> <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>searched</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>trail</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>days</b> <b>ago</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>; <b>and</b> <b>today</b> <b>I</b> <b>marked</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>descended</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>come</b>! <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>further</b> <b>news</b>. <b>Since</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>risk</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>five</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>find</b> <b>your</b> <b>trail</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>ride</b> <b>after</b> <b>us</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>And</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>four</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>, <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>held</b> <b>against</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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<b>While</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>was</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>the</b> <b>shades</b> <b>of</b> <b>evening</b> <b>deepened</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>come</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>sink</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>had</b> <b>darkened</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>between</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>faces</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>pain</b> <b>assailed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>He</b> <b>swayed</b>, <b>clutching</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>arm</b>.<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>master</b> <b>is</b> <b>sick</b> <b>and</b> <b>wounded</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>angrily</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>riding</b> <b>after</b> <b>nightfall</b>. <b>He</b> <b>needs</b> <b>rest</b>.”<br>
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<b>Glorfindel</b> <b>caught</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>sank</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>taking</b> <b>him</b> <b>gently</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>with</b> <b>grave</b> <b>anxiety</b>.<br>
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<b>Briefly</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>told</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>attack</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>camp</b> <b>under</b> <b>Weathertop</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>knife</b>. <b>He</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b>, <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>kept</b>, <b>and</b> <b>handed</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>. <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>shuddered</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>intently</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>written</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>hilt</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>though</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>your</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Keep</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>till</b> <b>we</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>! <b>But</b> <b>be</b> <b>wary</b>, <b>and</b> <b>handle</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>little</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b>! <b>Alas</b>! <b>the</b> <b>wounds</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>weapon</b> <b>are</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>my</b> <b>skill</b> <b>to</b> <b>heal</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>—<b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>more</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b> <b>urge</b> <b>you</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>without</b> <b>rest</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>searched</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>grew</b> <b>graver</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>learned</b> <b>disquieted</b> <b>him</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>chill</b> <b>lessen</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>arm</b>; <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>warmth</b> <b>crept</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>pain</b> <b>grew</b> <b>easier</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>of</b> <b>evening</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>lighter</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>withdrawn</b>. <b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>” <b>faces</b> <b>more</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>measure</b> <b>of</b> <b>new</b> <b>hope</b> <b>and</b> <b>strength</b> <b>returned</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>ride</b> <b>my</b> <b>horse</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>shorten</b> <b>the</b> <b>stirrups</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>saddle</b>-<b>skins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>sit</b> <b>as</b> <b>tight</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>fear</b>: <b>my</b> <b>horse</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>any</b> <b>rider</b> <b>fall</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>command</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b>. <b>His</b> <b>pace</b> <b>is</b> <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>smooth</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>danger</b> <b>presses</b> <b>too</b> <b>near</b>, <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>bear</b> <b>you</b> <b>away</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>speed</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>steeds</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>rival</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>ride</b> <b>him</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>carried</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>or</b> <b>anywhere</b> <b>else</b>, <b>leaving</b> <b>my</b> <b>friends</b> <b>behind</b> <b>in</b> <b>danger</b>.”<br>
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<b>Glorfindel</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>danger</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>! <b>The</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>would</b> <b>follow</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>bear</b> <b>that</b> <b>brings</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b> <b>in</b> <b>peril</b>.”<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>persuaded</b> <b>to</b> <b>mount</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>'<b>s</b> <b>white</b> <b>horse</b>. <b>The</b> <b>pony</b> <b>was</b> <b>laden</b> <b>instead</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>” <b>burdens</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>marched</b> <b>lighter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>made</b> <b>good</b> <b>speed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>swift</b> <b>tireless</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>. <b>On</b> <b>he</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b>, <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>of</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>on</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>clouded</b> <b>night</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>neither</b> <b>star</b> <b>nor</b> <b>moon</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>of</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>allow</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>halt</b>. <b>Pippin</b>, <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>were</b> <b>by</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>stumbling</b> <b>legs</b>; <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>sag</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>weary</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>dream</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>cast</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>heather</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>yards</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>immediately</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>closed</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>when</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>set</b> <b>himself</b> <b>to</b> <b>watch</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>slept</b>, <b>awoke</b> <b>them</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>and</b> <b>mists</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>were</b> <b>gone</b>.<br>
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“<b>Drink</b> <b>this</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>pouring</b> <b>for</b> <b>each</b> <b>in</b> <b>turn</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>liquor</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>silver</b>-<b>studded</b> <b>flask</b> <b>of</b> <b>leather</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b> <b>as</b> <b>spring</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>taste</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>feel</b> <b>either</b> <b>cool</b> <b>or</b> <b>warm</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouth</b>; <b>but</b> <b>strength</b> <b>and</b> <b>vigour</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>flow</b> <b>into</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>limbs</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>drank</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Eaten</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>draught</b> <b>the</b> <b>stale</b> <b>bread</b> <b>and</b> <b>dried</b> <b>fruit</b> (<b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b>) <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>satisfy</b> <b>their</b> <b>hunger</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>breakfast</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>rested</b> <b>rather</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>five</b> <b>hours</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>still</b> <b>urged</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>two</b> <b>brief</b> <b>halts</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>march</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>they</b> <b>covered</b> <b>almost</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>before</b> <b>nightfall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>point</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>bent</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>now</b> <b>making</b> <b>straight</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bruinen</b>. <b>So</b> <b>far</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>or</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>or</b> <b>hear</b>; <b>but</b> <b>often</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>would</b> <b>halt</b> <b>and</b> <b>listen</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>lagged</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>of</b> <b>anxiety</b> <b>clouded</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>. <b>Once</b> <b>or</b> <b>twice</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>tongue</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>however</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>their</b> <b>guides</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>stumbling</b> <b>along</b> <b>dizzy</b> <b>with</b> <b>weariness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>but</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>and</b> <b>legs</b>. <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>pain</b> <b>had</b> <b>redoubled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>things</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>faded</b> <b>to</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>ghostly</b> <b>grey</b>. <b>He</b> <b>almost</b> <b>welcomed</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b>, <b>for</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>less</b> <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>empty</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b> <b>early</b> <b>next</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>yet</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>hobbled</b> <b>forward</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>pace</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>manage</b>.<br>
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“<b>Our</b> <b>peril</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>just</b> <b>ere</b> <b>we</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>warns</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>swift</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>danger</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Road</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>running</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>downhill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>much</b> <b>grass</b> <b>at</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>walked</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>, <b>to</b> <b>ease</b> <b>their</b> <b>tired</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>late</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>went</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>tall</b> <b>pine</b>-<b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>cutting</b> <b>with</b> <b>steep</b> <b>moist</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>red</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>Echoes</b> <b>ran</b> <b>along</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>forward</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>footfalls</b> <b>following</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>. <b>All</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>gate</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>ran</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tunnel</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b>. <b>There</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>incline</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>flat</b> <b>mile</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>brown</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>threaded</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>winding</b> <b>path</b>; <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>climbed</b>, <b>shoulder</b> <b>above</b> <b>shoulder</b>, <b>and</b> <b>peak</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>peak</b>, <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>fading</b> <b>sky</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>an</b> <b>echo</b> <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>following</b> <b>feet</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cutting</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>; <b>a</b> <b>rushing</b> <b>noise</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>were</b> <b>rising</b> <b>and</b> <b>pouring</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pines</b>. <b>One</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>listened</b>, <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forward</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>loud</b> <b>cry</b>.<br>
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“<b>Fly</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>Fly</b>! <b>The</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>upon</b> <b>us</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>white</b> <b>horse</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>. <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>and</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>followed</b> <b>as</b> <b>rear</b>-<b>guard</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>half</b> <b>way</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>flat</b>, <b>when</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>horses</b> <b>galloping</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>just</b> <b>left</b> <b>rode</b> <b>a</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Rider</b>. <b>He</b> <b>reined</b> <b>his</b> <b>horse</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>swaying</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>saddle</b>. <b>Another</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>another</b>; <b>then</b> <b>again</b> <b>two</b> <b>more</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ride</b> <b>forward</b>! <b>Ride</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>obey</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>reluctance</b> <b>seized</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Checking</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>walk</b>, <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>sit</b> <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>great</b> <b>steeds</b> <b>like</b> <b>threatening</b> <b>statues</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>solid</b>, <b>while</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>land</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>receded</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>mist</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>silently</b> <b>commanding</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>hatred</b> <b>awoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>. <b>His</b> <b>hand</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridle</b> <b>and</b> <b>gripped</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>flash</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ride</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Ride</b> <b>on</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>loud</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>tongue</b>: <b>noro</b> <b>lim</b>, <b>noro</b> <b>lim</b>, <b>Asfaloth</b>!<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>horse</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>sped</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>lap</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>in</b> <b>pursuit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>cry</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>filling</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>with</b> <b>horror</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eastfarthing</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>answered</b>; <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>four</b> <b>other</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>came</b> <b>flying</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>rode</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Frodo</b>: <b>two</b> <b>galloped</b> <b>madly</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>to</b> <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>escape</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>run</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>larger</b> <b>and</b> <b>darker</b>, <b>as</b> <b>their</b> <b>courses</b> <b>converged</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>see</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>behind</b> <b>were</b> <b>falling</b> <b>back</b>: <b>even</b> <b>their</b> <b>great</b> <b>steeds</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>match</b> <b>in</b> <b>speed</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>horse</b> <b>of</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>forward</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hope</b> <b>faded</b>. <b>There</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>no</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>reaching</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>lain</b> <b>in</b> <b>ambush</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>now</b>: <b>they</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>cast</b> <b>aside</b> <b>their</b> <b>hoods</b> <b>and</b> <b>black</b> <b>cloaks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>robed</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>grey</b>. <b>Swords</b> <b>were</b> <b>naked</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>pale</b> <b>hands</b>; <b>helms</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>cold</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glittered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>fell</b> <b>voices</b>.<br>
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<b>Fear</b> <b>now</b> <b>filled</b> <b>all</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>. <b>No</b> <b>cry</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shut</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>clung</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b>'<b>s</b> <b>mane</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>whistled</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>ears</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>bells</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>harness</b> <b>rang</b> <b>wild</b> <b>and</b> <b>shrill</b>. <b>A</b> <b>breath</b> <b>of</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>cold</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>him</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>spear</b>, <b>as</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>spurt</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>horse</b> <b>speeding</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>on</b> <b>wings</b>, <b>passed</b> <b>right</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>foremost</b> <b>Rider</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>splash</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b>. <b>It</b> <b>foamed</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>quick</b> <b>heave</b> <b>and</b> <b>surge</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>struggled</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>stony</b> <b>path</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuers</b> <b>were</b> <b>close</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>the</b> <b>horse</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>about</b> <b>neighing</b> <b>fiercely</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>'<b>s</b> <b>edge</b> <b>below</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>spirit</b> <b>quailed</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>threat</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>uplifted</b> <b>faces</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>of</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>prevent</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>as</b> <b>easily</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>useless</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>uncertain</b> <b>path</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>if</b> <b>once</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>crossed</b>. <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>commanded</b> <b>urgently</b> <b>to</b> <b>halt</b>. <b>Hatred</b> <b>again</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>to</b> <b>refuse</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>foremost</b> <b>Rider</b> <b>spurred</b> <b>his</b> <b>horse</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>It</b> <b>checked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>reared</b> <b>up</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>effort</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>upright</b> <b>and</b> <b>brandished</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>.<br>
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“<b>Go</b> <b>back</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Go</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>follow</b> <b>me</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>! “<b>His</b> <b>voice</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>thin</b> <b>and</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>ears</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bombadil</b>. <b>His</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>and</b> <b>chilling</b> <b>laughter</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>back</b>! <b>Come</b> <b>back</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>To</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>you</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Go</b> <b>back</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>whispered</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>! <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>!” <b>they</b> <b>cried</b> <b>with</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>voices</b>; <b>and</b> <b>immediately</b> <b>their</b> <b>leader</b> <b>urged</b> <b>his</b> <b>horse</b> <b>forward</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>closely</b> <b>by</b> <b>two</b> <b>others</b>.<br>
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“<b>By</b> <b>Elbereth</b> <b>and</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fair</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>effort</b>, <b>lifting</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>neither</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>nor</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>leader</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>half</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>, <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>menacing</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>stirrups</b>, <b>and</b> <b>raised</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>stricken</b> <b>dumb</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>his</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>cleave</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>labouring</b>. <b>His</b> <b>sword</b> <b>broke</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>shaking</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>The</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>horse</b> <b>reared</b> <b>and</b> <b>snorted</b>. <b>The</b> <b>foremost</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>had</b> <b>almost</b> <b>set</b> <b>foot</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>rushing</b>: <b>a</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>loud</b> <b>waters</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>many</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>Dimly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>below</b> <b>him</b> <b>rise</b>, <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>along</b> <b>its</b> <b>course</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>plumed</b> <b>cavalry</b> <b>of</b> <b>waves</b>. <b>White</b> <b>flames</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>flicker</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>crests</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>half</b> <b>fancied</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>white</b> <b>riders</b> <b>upon</b> <b>white</b> <b>horses</b> <b>with</b> <b>frothing</b> <b>manes</b>. <b>The</b> <b>three</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>were</b> <b>overwhelmed</b>: <b>they</b> <b>disappeared</b>, <b>buried</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>under</b> <b>angry</b> <b>foam</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>behind</b> <b>drew</b> <b>back</b> <b>in</b> <b>dismay</b>.<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>his</b> <b>last</b> <b>failing</b> <b>senses</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>heard</b> <b>cries</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>that</b> <b>hesitated</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>a</b> <b>shining</b> <b>figure</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>light</b>; <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>it</b> <b>ran</b> <b>small</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>forms</b> <b>waving</b> <b>flames</b>, <b>that</b> <b>flared</b> <b>red</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>mist</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>falling</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>were</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>madness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>forward</b> <b>in</b> <b>terror</b> <b>they</b> <b>bore</b> <b>their</b> <b>riders</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>rushing</b> <b>flood</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>piercing</b> <b>cries</b> <b>were</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>carried</b> <b>them</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>himself</b> <b>falling</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>and</b> <b>confusion</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>rise</b> <b>and</b> <b>engulf</b> <b>him</b> <b>together</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>enemies</b>. <b>He</b> <b>heard</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Book</b> <b>II</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 1<br>
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<b>MANY</b> <b>MEETINGS</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>lying</b> <b>in</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>slept</b> <b>late</b>, <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>unpleasant</b> <b>dream</b> <b>that</b> <b>still</b> <b>hovered</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>memory</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>ill</b>? <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>ceiling</b> <b>looked</b> <b>strange</b>; <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>flat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>dark</b> <b>beams</b> <b>richly</b> <b>carved</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>while</b> <b>longer</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>patches</b> <b>of</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>listening</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>waterfall</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>am</b> <b>I</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ceiling</b>. “<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>ten</b> <b>o</b>'<b>clock</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>.” <b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>of</b> <b>October</b> <b>the</b> <b>twenty</b>-<b>fourth</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Gandalf</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>up</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>wizard</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>window</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>here</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>lucky</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>here</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>absurd</b> <b>things</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>left</b> <b>home</b>.” <b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>too</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>and</b> <b>peaceful</b> <b>to</b> <b>argue</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>get</b> <b>the</b> <b>better</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>argument</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>fully</b> <b>awake</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>journey</b> <b>was</b> <b>returning</b>: <b>the</b> <b>disastrous</b> “<b>short</b> <b>cut</b>” <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>the</b> “<b>accident</b>” <b>at</b> <b>The</b> <b>Prancing</b> <b>Pony</b>; <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>madness</b> <b>in</b> <b>putting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>under</b> <b>Weathertop</b>. <b>While</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>things</b> <b>and</b> <b>trying</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>his</b> <b>memory</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>arriving</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>broken</b> <b>only</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>soft</b> <b>puffs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>pipe</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>blew</b> <b>white</b> <b>smoke</b>-<b>rings</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Sam</b>?” <b>Frodo</b> <b>asked</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>safe</b> <b>and</b> <b>sound</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b> <b>until</b> <b>I</b> <b>sent</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>some</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>about</b> <b>half</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>ago</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>happened</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>all</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>so</b> <b>dim</b> <b>somehow</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>still</b> <b>does</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>would</b>. <b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>fade</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>wound</b> <b>was</b> <b>overcoming</b> <b>you</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. <b>A</b> <b>few</b> <b>more</b> <b>hours</b> <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>our</b> <b>aid</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>some</b> <b>strength</b> <b>in</b> <b>you</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>hobbit</b>! <b>As</b> <b>you</b> <b>showed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>touch</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b>: <b>perhaps</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>moment</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>held</b> <b>out</b> <b>at</b> <b>Weathertop</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>deal</b> <b>already</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>horrible</b>; <b>and</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>about</b>. <b>How</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>talked</b> <b>long</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>gently</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>hard</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>read</b> <b>your</b> <b>mind</b> <b>and</b> <b>memory</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>worry</b>! <b>Though</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b> “<b>absurd</b>” <b>just</b> <b>now</b>, <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>mean</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>well</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>—<b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>small</b> <b>feat</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>, <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>such</b> <b>dangers</b>, <b>still</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>should</b> <b>never</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>it</b> <b>without</b> <b>Strider</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>needed</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>without</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>delayed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>proved</b> <b>our</b> <b>ruin</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b>; <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>better</b> <b>so</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b>!”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>in</b> <b>good</b> <b>time</b>! <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>supposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>or</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>anything</b> <b>today</b>, <b>by</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>orders</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>talking</b> <b>would</b> <b>stop</b> <b>me</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>and</b> <b>wondering</b>, <b>which</b> <b>are</b> <b>quite</b> <b>as</b> <b>tiring</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>wide</b> <b>awake</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>want</b> <b>explaining</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b> <b>delayed</b>? <b>You</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>soon</b> <b>hear</b> <b>all</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>well</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>only</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>held</b> <b>captive</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>solemnly</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>powers</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>for</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>are</b> <b>greater</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b>. <b>Against</b> <b>some</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>been</b> <b>measured</b>. <b>But</b> <b>my</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>coming</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Morgul</b>-<b>lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>forth</b>. <b>War</b> <b>is</b> <b>preparing</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>knew</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>already</b>-<b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>met</b> <b>them</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Indeed</b> <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>once</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>Servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>arisen</b> <b>again</b> <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>fled</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>only</b> <b>after</b> <b>I</b> <b>left</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>June</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>story</b> <b>must</b> <b>wait</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>saved</b> <b>from</b> <b>disaster</b>, <b>by</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>that</b> <b>saved</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>never</b> <b>quite</b> <b>trusted</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>met</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>Sam</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>doubts</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>glad</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>become</b> <b>very</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>fond</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>word</b>. <b>I</b> <b>mean</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>dear</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>; <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>strange</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grim</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b>. <b>In</b> <b>fact</b>, <b>he</b> <b>reminds</b> <b>me</b> <b>often</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b> <b>were</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>well</b>, <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>just</b> <b>big</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rather</b> <b>stupid</b>: <b>kind</b> <b>and</b> <b>stupid</b> <b>like</b> <b>Butterbur</b>; <b>or</b> <b>stupid</b> <b>and</b> <b>wicked</b> <b>like</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>Ferny</b>. <b>But</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>much</b> <b>about</b> <b>Men</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>except</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>the</b> <b>Breelanders</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>much</b> <b>even</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>old</b> <b>Barliman</b> <b>is</b> <b>stupid</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>wise</b> <b>enough</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thinks</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>talks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slower</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>brick</b> <b>wall</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> (<b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>say</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>). <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>few</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>like</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>race</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>from</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>is</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>at</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b>. <b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>War</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>their</b> <b>last</b> <b>adventure</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>mean</b> <b>that</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>Kings</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>all</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>Ranger</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>Ranger</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>just</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rangers</b> <b>are</b>: <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>remnant</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>people</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>helped</b> <b>me</b> <b>before</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>need</b> <b>their</b> <b>help</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>at</b> <b>rest</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>my</b> <b>only</b> <b>thought</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>here</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>any</b> <b>further</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>just</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>month</b> <b>of</b> <b>exile</b> <b>and</b> <b>adventure</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>want</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>shut</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>reckoning</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>bring</b> <b>the</b> <b>total</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>October</b> <b>the</b> <b>twenty</b>-<b>fourth</b>. <b>It</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>twenty</b>-<b>first</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>twentieth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>talked</b> <b>and</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>is</b> <b>good</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>How</b> <b>do</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>feel</b> <b>now</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>.” <b>Frodo</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>feel</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>: <b>which</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>improvement</b>, <b>but</b>'–<b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b>–'<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>move</b> <b>my</b> <b>arm</b> <b>again</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>coming</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>life</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>cold</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, <b>touching</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b>.<br>
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“<b>Good</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>mending</b> <b>fast</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>soon</b> <b>be</b> <b>sound</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>has</b> <b>cured</b> <b>you</b>: <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>tended</b> <b>you</b> <b>for</b> <b>days</b>, <b>ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>brought</b> <b>in</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Days</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>four</b> <b>nights</b> <b>and</b> <b>three</b> <b>days</b>, <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>exact</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>from</b> <b>this</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>lost</b> <b>count</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>terribly</b> <b>anxious</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>has</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>left</b> <b>your</b> <b>side</b>, <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>night</b>, <b>except</b> <b>to</b> <b>run</b> <b>messages</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>healing</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>are</b> <b>deadly</b>. <b>To</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>very</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>suspected</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>fragment</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>blade</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>closed</b> <b>wound</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>until</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>removed</b> <b>a</b> <b>splinter</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>buried</b>. <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>working</b> <b>inwards</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>shuddered</b>, <b>remembering</b> <b>the</b> <b>cruel</b> <b>knife</b> <b>with</b> <b>notched</b> <b>blade</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>in</b> <b>Strider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hands</b>. “<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>alarmed</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>gone</b> <b>now</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>melted</b>. <b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>that</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>fade</b> <b>very</b> <b>reluctantly</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b> <b>strong</b> <b>warriors</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Big</b> <b>People</b> <b>who</b> <b>would</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>overcome</b> <b>by</b> <b>that</b> <b>splinter</b>, <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>bore</b> <b>for</b> <b>seventeen</b> <b>days</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>would</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>?”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>pierce</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>Morgul</b>-<b>knife</b> <b>which</b> <b>remains</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>succeeded</b>, <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>become</b> <b>like</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b>, <b>only</b> <b>weaker</b> <b>and</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>command</b>. <b>You</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>wraith</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>dominion</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>tormented</b> <b>you</b> <b>for</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>his</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>if</b> <b>any</b> <b>greater</b> <b>torment</b> <b>were</b> <b>possible</b> <b>than</b> <b>being</b> <b>robbed</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Thank</b> <b>goodness</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>realize</b> <b>the</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>danger</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>faintly</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>mortally</b> <b>afraid</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>; <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>known</b> <b>more</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>dared</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>move</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>marvel</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>escaped</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>fortune</b> <b>or</b> <b>fate</b> <b>have</b> <b>helped</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>mention</b> <b>courage</b>. <b>For</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>touched</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>your</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>was</b> <b>pierced</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>because</b> <b>you</b> <b>resisted</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>terribly</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>shave</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>gravest</b> <b>peril</b> <b>while</b> <b>you</b> <b>wore</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>for</b> <b>then</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>half</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wraith</b>-<b>world</b> <b>yourself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>seized</b> <b>you</b>. <b>You</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
|
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>to</b> <b>behold</b>! <b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>could</b> <b>we</b> <b>all</b> <b>see</b> <b>their</b> <b>horses</b>?”<br>
|
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“<b>Because</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>real</b> <b>horses</b>; <b>just</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>robes</b> <b>are</b> <b>real</b> <b>robes</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>wear</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>shape</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>nothingness</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>living</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>why</b> <b>do</b> <b>these</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>endure</b> <b>such</b> <b>riders</b>? <b>All</b> <b>other</b> <b>animals</b> <b>are</b> <b>terrified</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>draw</b> <b>near</b>, <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>horse</b> <b>of</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dogs</b> <b>howl</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>geese</b> <b>scream</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Because</b> <b>these</b> <b>horses</b> <b>are</b> <b>born</b> <b>and</b> <b>bred</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>service</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>servants</b> <b>and</b> <b>chattels</b> <b>are</b> <b>wraiths</b>! <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>and</b> <b>trolls</b>, <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>wargs</b> <b>and</b> <b>werewolves</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>warriors</b> <b>and</b> <b>kings</b>, <b>that</b> <b>walk</b> <b>alive</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>are</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>sway</b>. <b>And</b> <b>their</b> <b>number</b> <b>is</b> <b>growing</b> <b>daily</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>? <b>Is</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>safe</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>at</b> <b>present</b>, <b>until</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>is</b> <b>conquered</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>may</b> <b>fear</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>fly</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>never</b> <b>again</b> <b>will</b> <b>they</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>or</b> <b>serve</b> <b>him</b>. <b>And</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>there</b> <b>live</b> <b>still</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>chief</b> <b>foes</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>wise</b>, <b>lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eldar</b> <b>from</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>furthest</b> <b>seas</b>. <b>They</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>fear</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b>, <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>have</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Blessed</b> <b>Realm</b> <b>live</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>in</b> <b>both</b> <b>worlds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>against</b> <b>both</b> <b>the</b> <b>Seen</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Unseen</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>great</b> <b>power</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>figure</b> <b>that</b> <b>shone</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>grow</b> <b>dim</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. <b>Was</b> <b>that</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>then</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>you</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>: <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Firstborn</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>princes</b>. <b>Indeed</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>power</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>to</b> <b>withstand</b> <b>the</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>: <b>and</b> <b>elsewhere</b> <b>other</b> <b>powers</b> <b>still</b> <b>dwell</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>power</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>of</b> <b>another</b> <b>kind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>all</b> <b>such</b> <b>places</b> <b>will</b> <b>soon</b> <b>become</b> <b>islands</b> <b>under</b> <b>siege</b>, <b>if</b> <b>things</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>is</b> <b>putting</b> <b>forth</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b>.<br>
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“<b>Still</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>sticking</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>chin</b>. <b>while</b> <b>his</b> <b>beard</b> <b>went</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>and</b> <b>straight</b> <b>like</b> <b>bristling</b> <b>wire</b>, “<b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>our</b> <b>courage</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>soon</b> <b>be</b> <b>well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>talk</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>death</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>anything</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>any</b> <b>courage</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>worried</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>and</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>affair</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>keep</b> <b>on</b> <b>asking</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>content</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>. <b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>another</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>close</b> <b>my</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>until</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>finished</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>moved</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bedside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>The</b> <b>colour</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fully</b> <b>awake</b> <b>and</b> <b>aware</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>smiling</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>little</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>But</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>eye</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>change</b> <b>just</b> <b>a</b> <b>hint</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>transparency</b>, <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>especially</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>outside</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>coverlet</b>.<br>
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“<b>Still</b> <b>that</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>expected</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>half</b> <b>through</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>can</b> <b>foretell</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>to</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>. <b>He</b> <b>may</b> <b>become</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>glass</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>light</b> <b>for</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>can</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>look</b> <b>splendid</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>aloud</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>risk</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>tale</b> <b>without</b> <b>consulting</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>But</b> <b>quite</b> <b>brief</b>, <b>mind</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>again</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>gather</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>made</b> <b>straight</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>fled</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>need</b> <b>the</b> <b>guidance</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>horses</b> <b>any</b> <b>longer</b>: <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>visible</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>being</b> <b>already</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>world</b>. <b>And</b> <b>also</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>drew</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>or</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>ridden</b> <b>down</b>. <b>They</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>save</b> <b>you</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>horse</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>were</b> <b>too</b> <b>swift</b> <b>to</b> <b>overtake</b>, <b>and</b> <b>too</b> <b>many</b> <b>to</b> <b>oppose</b>. <b>On</b> <b>foot</b> <b>even</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>together</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>with</b> <b>stand</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.<br>
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“<b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b> <b>swept</b> <b>by</b>, <b>your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>ran</b> <b>up</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>masked</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>stunted</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>hastily</b> <b>kindled</b> <b>fire</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>flood</b> <b>would</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>cross</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>any</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>left</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>. <b>The</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b> <b>appeared</b>, <b>he</b> <b>rushed</b> <b>out</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b>. <b>others</b> <b>with</b> <b>flaming</b> <b>brands</b>. <b>Caught</b> <b>between</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lord</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>wrath</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>dismayed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>horses</b> <b>were</b> <b>stricken</b> <b>with</b> <b>madness</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>were</b> <b>carried</b> <b>away</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>assault</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b>; <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>hurled</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>by</b> <b>their</b> <b>horses</b> <b>and</b> <b>overwhelmed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Their</b> <b>horses</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>perished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>without</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>crippled</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>so</b> <b>easily</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>However</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>fear</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b> <b>at</b> <b>present</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>friends</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>you</b> <b>lying</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>face</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>broken</b> <b>sword</b> <b>under</b> <b>you</b>. <b>The</b> <b>horse</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>guard</b> <b>beside</b> <b>you</b>. <b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>dead</b>, <b>or</b> <b>worse</b>. <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>folk</b> <b>met</b> <b>them</b>, <b>carrying</b> <b>you</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Elrond</b> <b>commanded</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>river</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>valley</b> <b>is</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>power</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>rise</b> <b>in</b> <b>anger</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>great</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>bar</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>captain</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b> <b>rode</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b> <b>was</b> <b>released</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b> <b>so</b>, <b>I</b> <b>added</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>touches</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b>: <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>noticed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>waves</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>form</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>white</b> <b>horses</b> <b>with</b> <b>shining</b> <b>white</b> <b>riders</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>and</b> <b>grinding</b> <b>boulders</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>let</b> <b>loose</b> <b>too</b> <b>fierce</b> <b>a</b> <b>wrath</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b> <b>would</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>wash</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>away</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>great</b> <b>vigour</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b> <b>that</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>snows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>comes</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>: “<b>the</b> <b>tremendous</b> <b>roaring</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>drowning</b>, <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>friends</b> <b>and</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>safe</b>!”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>shut</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>Yes</b>, <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>safe</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>there</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>feasting</b> <b>and</b> <b>merrymaking</b> <b>to</b> <b>celebrate</b> <b>the</b> <b>victory</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bruinen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>all</b> <b>be</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>of</b> <b>honour</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Splendid</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>wonderful</b> <b>that</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>and</b> <b>such</b> <b>great</b> <b>lords</b>, <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>mention</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>should</b> <b>take</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>and</b> <b>show</b> <b>me</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>kindness</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>reasons</b> <b>why</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>smiling</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>one</b> <b>good</b> <b>reason</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b>: <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>finder</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Dear</b> <b>Bilbo</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sleepily</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>him</b> <b>laugh</b>, <b>The</b> <b>cow</b> <b>jumped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>! <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>troll</b>!” <b>With</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>fast</b> <b>asleep</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>safe</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Homely</b> <b>House</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>That</b> <b>house</b> <b>was</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>reported</b>, “<b>a</b> <b>perfect</b> <b>house</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b> <b>food</b> <b>or</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>or</b> <b>story</b>-<b>telling</b> <b>or</b> <b>singing</b>, <b>or</b> <b>just</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>and</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>best</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>mixture</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>”. <b>Merely</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>cure</b> <b>for</b> <b>weariness</b>, <b>fear</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sadness</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>drew</b> <b>on</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>felt</b> <b>in</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>rest</b> <b>or</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>but</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b> <b>for</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b>, <b>and</b> <b>probably</b> <b>for</b> <b>singing</b> <b>and</b> <b>story</b>-<b>telling</b> <b>afterwards</b>. <b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>bed</b> <b>and</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>as</b> <b>useful</b> <b>again</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>ever</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>laid</b> <b>ready</b> <b>clean</b> <b>garments</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b> <b>cloth</b> <b>that</b> <b>fitted</b> <b>him</b> <b>excellently</b>. <b>Looking</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>mirror</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>startled</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>much</b> <b>thinner</b> <b>reflection</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>remembered</b>: <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>remarkably</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b> <b>nephew</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>who</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>tramping</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>uncle</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>thoughtfully</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>last</b> <b>peeped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>looking</b>-<b>glass</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>reflection</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>merry</b> <b>meeting</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>and</b> <b>whistled</b> <b>a</b> <b>tune</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>knock</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b>. <b>He</b> <b>ran</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>awkwardly</b> <b>and</b> <b>shyly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stroked</b> <b>it</b> <b>gently</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>blushed</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>hastily</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hullo</b>, <b>Sam</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>warm</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Meaning</b> <b>your</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>felt</b> <b>so</b> <b>cold</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>nights</b>. <b>But</b> <b>glory</b> <b>and</b> <b>trumpets</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>round</b> <b>again</b> <b>with</b> <b>shining</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fine</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>yourself</b> <b>again</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>Gandalf</b> <b>asked</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>joking</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>ready</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>take</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>sir</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>big</b> <b>house</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>peculiar</b>. <b>Always</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>discover</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>find</b> <b>round</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>sir</b>! <b>Elves</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>there</b>! <b>Some</b> <b>like</b> <b>kings</b>, <b>terrible</b> <b>and</b> <b>splendid</b>; <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>as</b> <b>merry</b> <b>as</b> <b>children</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>music</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>singing</b>-<b>not</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>for</b> <b>much</b> <b>listening</b> <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>got</b> <b>here</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>getting</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>doing</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>taking</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>merry</b> <b>tonight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b>'<b>s</b> <b>content</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>on</b>, <b>guide</b> <b>me</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>corners</b>!”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>led</b> <b>him</b> <b>along</b> <b>several</b> <b>passages</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>many</b> <b>steps</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>garden</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>bank</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>porch</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>looking</b> <b>east</b>. <b>Shadows</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>below</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>faces</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>far</b> <b>above</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>warm</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>running</b> <b>and</b> <b>falling</b> <b>water</b> <b>was</b> <b>loud</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>scent</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>flowers</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>summer</b> <b>still</b> <b>lingered</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>gardens</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hurray</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>our</b> <b>noble</b> <b>cousin</b>! <b>Make</b> <b>way</b> <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Hush</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>porch</b>. “<b>Evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>into</b> <b>this</b> <b>valley</b>; <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>name</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>whose</b> <b>power</b> <b>is</b> <b>again</b> <b>stretching</b> <b>out</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>! <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>fortress</b>. <b>Outside</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>getting</b> <b>dark</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>saying</b> <b>many</b> <b>cheerful</b> <b>things</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>thinks</b> <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>impossible</b>, <b>somehow</b>, <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>gloomy</b> <b>or</b> <b>depressed</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>place</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>sing</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>song</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>occasion</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>like</b> <b>singing</b> <b>myself</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Though</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>more</b> <b>like</b> <b>eating</b> <b>and</b> <b>drinking</b>!”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>will</b> <b>soon</b> <b>be</b> <b>cured</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>shown</b> <b>your</b> <b>usual</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>in</b> <b>getting</b> <b>up</b> <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>meal</b>.”<br>
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“<b>More</b> <b>than</b> <b>meal</b>! <b>A</b> <b>feast</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>reported</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>recovered</b>, <b>the</b> <b>preparations</b> <b>began</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>finished</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>summoned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>ringing</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>bells</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>folk</b>: <b>Elves</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>part</b>, <b>though</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>guests</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>sorts</b>. <b>Elrond</b>, <b>as</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>custom</b>, <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>chair</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>table</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>dais</b>; <b>and</b> <b>next</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>side</b> <b>sat</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>sat</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>before</b> <b>seen</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>of</b> <b>whom</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b> <b>tales</b> <b>spoke</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b>, <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>whom</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>so</b> <b>well</b>, <b>were</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>as</b> <b>lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>dignity</b> <b>and</b> <b>power</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>shorter</b> <b>in</b> <b>stature</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>two</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>white</b> <b>hair</b>, <b>his</b> <b>sweeping</b> <b>silver</b> <b>beard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>broad</b> <b>shoulders</b>, <b>made</b> <b>him</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>some</b> <b>wise</b> <b>king</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>legend</b>. <b>In</b> <b>his</b> <b>aged</b> <b>face</b> <b>under</b> <b>great</b> <b>snowy</b> <b>brows</b> <b>his</b> <b>dark</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>set</b> <b>like</b> <b>coals</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>leap</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>fire</b>.<br>
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<b>Glorfindel</b> <b>was</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>straight</b>; <b>his</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>shining</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>young</b> <b>and</b> <b>fearless</b> <b>and</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>joy</b>; <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>keen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>like</b> <b>music</b>; <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>brow</b> <b>sat</b> <b>wisdom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>was</b> <b>strength</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>was</b> <b>ageless</b>, <b>neither</b> <b>old</b> <b>nor</b> <b>young</b>, <b>though</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>written</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>both</b> <b>glad</b> <b>and</b> <b>sorrowful</b>. <b>His</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>twilight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>set</b> <b>a</b> <b>circlet</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b>; <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>grey</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Venerable</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>king</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>winters</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>hale</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>tried</b> <b>warrior</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fulness</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>and</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>among</b> <b>both</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b>, <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>woven</b> <b>cloths</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>chair</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>canopy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>sat</b> <b>a</b> <b>lady</b> <b>fair</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>upon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>like</b> <b>was</b> <b>she</b> <b>in</b> <b>form</b> <b>of</b> <b>womanhood</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>close</b> <b>kindred</b>. <b>Young</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>. <b>The</b> <b>braids</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hair</b> <b>were</b> <b>touched</b> <b>by</b> <b>no</b> <b>frost</b>, <b>her</b> <b>white</b> <b>arms</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>face</b> <b>were</b> <b>flawless</b> <b>and</b> <b>smooth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>stars</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>bright</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>grey</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloudless</b> <b>night</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>queenly</b> <b>she</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thought</b> <b>and</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>glance</b>, <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>who</b> <b>has</b> <b>known</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>bring</b>. <b>Above</b> <b>her</b> <b>brow</b> <b>her</b> <b>head</b> <b>was</b> <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>cap</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>lace</b> <b>netted</b> <b>with</b> <b>small</b> <b>gems</b>, <b>glittering</b> <b>white</b>; <b>but</b> <b>her</b> <b>soft</b> <b>grey</b> <b>raiment</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>ornament</b> <b>save</b> <b>a</b> <b>girdle</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>in</b> <b>silver</b>.<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>her</b> <b>whom</b> <b>few</b> <b>mortals</b> <b>had</b> <b>yet</b> <b>seen</b>; <b>Arwen</b>, <b>daughter</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>in</b> <b>whom</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>likeness</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b> <b>again</b>; <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b> <b>Und</b>?<b>miel</b>, <b>for</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>Evenstar</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>people</b>. <b>Long</b> <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>mother</b>'<b>s</b> <b>kin</b>, <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>but</b> <b>lately</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>to</b> <b>her</b> <b>father</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b>. <b>But</b> <b>her</b> <b>brothers</b>, <b>Elladan</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elrohir</b>, <b>were</b> <b>out</b> <b>upon</b> <b>errantry</b>: <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>rode</b> <b>often</b> <b>far</b> <b>afield</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rangers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>forgetting</b> <b>never</b> <b>their</b> <b>mother</b>'<b>s</b> <b>torment</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dens</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b>.<br>
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<b>Such</b> <b>loveliness</b> <b>in</b> <b>living</b> <b>thing</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>before</b> <b>nor</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>both</b> <b>surprised</b> <b>and</b> <b>abashed</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>seat</b> <b>at</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>table</b> <b>among</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>folk</b> <b>so</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>suitable</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>raised</b> <b>upon</b> <b>several</b> <b>cushions</b>, <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>very</b> <b>small</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rather</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>place</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>feast</b> <b>was</b> <b>merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>hunger</b> <b>could</b> <b>desire</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b> <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>neighbours</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>first</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>begged</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b>, <b>but</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>told</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>guest</b> <b>of</b> <b>honour</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>now</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>with</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b>-<b>tables</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>dais</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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<b>Next</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>sat</b> <b>a</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>of</b> <b>important</b> <b>appearance</b>, <b>richly</b> <b>dressed</b>. <b>His</b> <b>beard</b>, <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>forked</b>, <b>was</b> <b>white</b>, <b>nearly</b> <b>as</b> <b>white</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b>-<b>white</b> <b>cloth</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>garments</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wore</b> <b>a</b> <b>silver</b> <b>belt</b>, <b>and</b> <b>round</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b> <b>hung</b> <b>a</b> <b>chain</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>and</b> <b>diamonds</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>eating</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Welcome</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b> <b>met</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>actually</b> <b>rose</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>seat</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b>. “<b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>at</b> <b>your</b> <b>service</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>still</b> <b>lower</b>.<br>
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“<b>Frodo</b> <b>Baggins</b> <b>at</b> <b>your</b> <b>service</b> <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>family</b>'<b>s</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>correctly</b>, <b>rising</b> <b>in</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>and</b> <b>scattering</b> <b>his</b> <b>cushions</b>. “<b>Am</b> <b>I</b> <b>right</b> <b>in</b> <b>guessing</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>twelve</b> <b>companions</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>Thorin</b> <b>Oakenshield</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Quite</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>, <b>gathering</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>cushions</b> <b>and</b> <b>courteously</b> <b>assisting</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>seat</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>ask</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>already</b> <b>been</b> <b>told</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>kinsman</b> <b>and</b> <b>adopted</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>friend</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>the</b> <b>renowned</b>. <b>Allow</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>congratulate</b> <b>you</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>recovery</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Thank</b> <b>you</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>very</b> <b>strange</b> <b>adventures</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hear</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>what</b> <b>brings</b> <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>on</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>like</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>happened</b> <b>since</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>came</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>. <b>But</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>inquire</b> <b>too</b> <b>closely</b>, <b>since</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>disposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>politely</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>one</b> <b>for</b> <b>casual</b> <b>talk</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>he</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>forget</b> <b>his</b> <b>troubles</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>equally</b> <b>curious</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, “<b>to</b> <b>learn</b> <b>what</b> <b>brings</b> <b>so</b> <b>important</b> <b>a</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lonely</b> <b>Mountain</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>yet</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>either</b>. <b>Master</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>will</b> <b>summon</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b> <b>ere</b> <b>long</b>, <b>I</b> <b>believe</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>all</b> <b>hear</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>much</b> <b>else</b> <b>that</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b>.”<br>
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<b>Throughout</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>meal</b> <b>they</b> <b>talked</b> <b>together</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>listened</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>apart</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>seemed</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b>-<b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>unimportant</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>had</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b> <b>events</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>regions</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wilderland</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>Grimbeorn</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b>, <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Beorn</b>, <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>sturdy</b> <b>men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>land</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>neither</b> <b>orc</b> <b>nor</b> <b>wolf</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>.<br>
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“<b>lndeed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Beornings</b>, <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>from</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>would</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>have</b> <b>become</b> <b>impossible</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>valiant</b> <b>men</b> <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>open</b> <b>the</b> <b>High</b> <b>Pass</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Carrock</b>. <b>But</b> <b>their</b> <b>tolls</b> <b>are</b> <b>high</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>shake</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>like</b> <b>Beorn</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>over</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>dwarves</b>. <b>Still</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>trusty</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>much</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>days</b>. <b>Nowhere</b> <b>are</b> <b>there</b> <b>any</b> <b>men</b> <b>so</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dale</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>good</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Bardings</b>. <b>The</b> <b>grandson</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bard</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bowman</b> <b>rules</b> <b>them</b>, <b>Brand</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bain</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bard</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>strong</b> <b>king</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>realm</b> <b>now</b> <b>reaches</b> <b>far</b> <b>south</b> <b>and</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>Esgaroth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>people</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b>, <b>good</b> <b>and</b> <b>bad</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>; “<b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>good</b>: <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>been</b> <b>fortunate</b>, <b>though</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>escape</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>times</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>really</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>gladly</b>. <b>But</b> <b>stop</b> <b>me</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>weary</b>! <b>Dwarves</b>” <b>tongues</b> <b>run</b> <b>on</b> <b>when</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>handiwork</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>.”<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>embarked</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>doings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>-<b>kingdom</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>delighted</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>so</b> <b>polite</b> <b>a</b> <b>listener</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>showed</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>to</b> <b>change</b> <b>the</b> <b>subject</b>, <b>though</b> <b>actually</b> <b>he</b> <b>soon</b> <b>got</b> <b>rather</b> <b>lost</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>strange</b> <b>names</b> <b>of</b> <b>people</b> <b>and</b> <b>places</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>before</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>interested</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>that</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>King</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>old</b> (<b>having</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>two</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>fiftieth</b> <b>year</b>), <b>venerable</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fabulously</b> <b>rich</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ten</b> <b>companions</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>survived</b> <b>the</b> <b>Battle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Five</b> <b>Armies</b> <b>seven</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>: <b>Dwalin</b>, <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>Dori</b>, <b>Nori</b>, <b>Bifur</b>, <b>Bofur</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Bombur</b>. <b>Bombur</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>so</b> <b>fat</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>move</b> <b>himself</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>couch</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b> <b>at</b> <b>table</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>took</b> <b>six</b> <b>young</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>to</b> <b>lift</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Ori</b> <b>and</b> ?<b>in</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>largely</b> <b>on</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>the</b> <b>advice</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>But</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>merrier</b> <b>things</b>!”<br>
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<b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>began</b> <b>then</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>people</b>, <b>telling</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>about</b> <b>their</b> <b>great</b> <b>labours</b> <b>in</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>and</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>metalwork</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>rival</b> <b>our</b> <b>fathers</b>, <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>whose</b>. <b>secrets</b> <b>are</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>We</b> <b>make</b> <b>good</b> <b>armour</b> <b>and</b> <b>keen</b> <b>swords</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>again</b> <b>make</b> <b>mail</b> <b>or</b> <b>blade</b> <b>to</b> <b>match</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>dragon</b> <b>came</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>in</b> <b>mining</b> <b>and</b> <b>building</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>surpassed</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>days</b>. <b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>waterways</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>pools</b>! <b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>-<b>paved</b> <b>roads</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>colours</b>! <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>halls</b> <b>and</b> <b>cavernous</b> <b>streets</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b> <b>with</b> <b>arches</b> <b>carved</b> <b>like</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>terraces</b> <b>and</b> <b>towers</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sides</b>! <b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>idle</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>, <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>How</b> <b>surprised</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>changes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Desolation</b> <b>of</b> <b>Smaug</b>!”<br>
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<b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>very</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>rather</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>than</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>towers</b> <b>and</b> <b>palaces</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>the</b> <b>feast</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>and</b> <b>Arwen</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>followed</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>due</b> <b>order</b>. <b>The</b> <b>doors</b> <b>were</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>open</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>across</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>passage</b> <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>other</b> <b>doors</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>further</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>In</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>tables</b>, <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>hearth</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>carven</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>upon</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>walking</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fire</b>” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>hear</b> <b>many</b> <b>songs</b> <b>and</b> <b>tales</b>-<b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>keep</b> <b>awake</b>. <b>But</b> <b>except</b> <b>on</b> <b>high</b> <b>days</b> <b>it</b> <b>usually</b> <b>stands</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>quiet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>people</b> <b>come</b> <b>here</b> <b>who</b> <b>wish</b> <b>for</b> <b>peace</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>always</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>here</b>, <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>round</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>little</b> <b>other</b> <b>light</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>entered</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>seat</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>, <b>elvish</b> <b>minstrels</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>music</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>filled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>with</b> <b>delight</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>fair</b> <b>faces</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>together</b>; <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>firelight</b> <b>played</b> <b>upon</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>shimmered</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>hair</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>noticed</b>, <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>dark</b> <b>figure</b> <b>seated</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>stool</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>back</b> <b>propped</b> <b>against</b> <b>a</b> <b>pillar</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>drinking</b>-<b>cup</b> <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>bread</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>whether</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>ill</b> (<b>if</b> <b>people</b> <b>were</b> <b>ever</b> <b>ill</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>), <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>feast</b>. <b>His</b> <b>head</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>sunk</b> <b>in</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>fold</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>dark</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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<b>Elrond</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>silent</b> <b>figure</b>. “<b>Awake</b> <b>little</b> <b>master</b>. <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b>. <b>Then</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>he</b> <b>beckoned</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>the</b> <b>hour</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>wished</b> <b>for</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>long</b> <b>missed</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>figure</b> <b>raised</b> <b>its</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>uncovered</b> <b>its</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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“<b>Bilbo</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>recognition</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forward</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hullo</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>got</b> <b>here</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>manage</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>well</b>! <b>So</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>feasting</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>honour</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hear</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b> <b>enjoyed</b> <b>yourself</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Why</b> <b>weren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>there</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>why</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>I</b> <b>been</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>before</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Because</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>sat</b> <b>by</b> <b>your</b> <b>side</b> <b>with</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>each</b> <b>day</b>. <b>But</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>feast</b>` <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b> <b>for</b> <b>such</b> <b>things</b> <b>much</b> <b>now</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b> <b>doing</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Why</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>and</b> <b>thinking</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>nowadays</b>, <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>place</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>. <b>Wake</b> <b>up</b>, <b>indeed</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>cocking</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>at</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>twinkle</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>sleepiness</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b>. “<b>Wake</b> <b>up</b>! <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>Master</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>all</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>your</b> <b>feast</b> <b>too</b> <b>soon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>me</b>-<b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>making</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>ever</b> <b>get</b> <b>them</b> <b>right</b>. <b>There</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>singing</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>ideas</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>driven</b> <b>clean</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>head</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>my</b> <b>friend</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b>?”<br>
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<b>Elrond</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>two</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b> <b>and</b> <b>finish</b> <b>your</b> <b>task</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>judge</b> <b>it</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>end</b> <b>our</b> <b>merrymaking</b>.” <b>Messengers</b> <b>were</b> <b>sent</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>friend</b>, <b>though</b> <b>none</b> <b>knew</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>, <b>or</b> <b>why</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>present</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>feast</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>side</b> <b>by</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>came</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>placed</b> <b>himself</b> <b>near</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>talked</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>soft</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>oblivious</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mirth</b> <b>and</b> <b>music</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>off</b> <b>aimlessly</b>, <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>; <b>but</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>steered</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>here</b> <b>without</b> <b>much</b> <b>adventure</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>rest</b> <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>to</b> <b>Dale</b>: <b>my</b> <b>last</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>travel</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Old</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>this</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>written</b> <b>some</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>book</b>. <b>And</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>I</b> <b>make</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>songs</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sing</b> <b>them</b> <b>occasionally</b>: <b>just</b> <b>to</b> <b>please</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>; <b>for</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>they</b> <b>aren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>really</b> <b>good</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>listen</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b>. <b>Time</b> <b>doesn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>here</b>: <b>it</b> <b>just</b> <b>is</b>. <b>A</b> <b>remarkable</b> <b>place</b> <b>altogether</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>all</b> <b>kinds</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b>, <b>from</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>but</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>anything</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>here</b> <b>often</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>deal</b>, <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>closer</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b> <b>these</b> <b>last</b> <b>few</b> <b>years</b>. <b>The</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b> <b>has</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>more</b>. <b>Fancy</b> <b>that</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>mine</b> <b>causing</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>disturbance</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>pity</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b> <b>more</b> <b>sooner</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>brought</b> <b>the</b> <b>thing</b> <b>here</b> <b>myself</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>without</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>trouble</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>several</b> <b>times</b> <b>of</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>getting</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b>: <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>low</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>make</b> <b>mincemeat</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>me</b> <b>tottering</b> <b>about</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b> <b>on</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>do</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>others</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>meddle</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>.” <b>Odd</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>remark</b>, <b>just</b> <b>like</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>after</b> <b>you</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>let</b> <b>things</b> <b>be</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>frightfully</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>safe</b> <b>and</b> <b>sound</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>paused</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>doubtfully</b>.<br>
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“<b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b> <b>here</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>whisper</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>help</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>curious</b>, <b>you</b> <b>know</b>, <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b>. <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>like</b> <b>just</b> <b>to</b> <b>peep</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>reluctance</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>looks</b> <b>just</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>ever</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>just</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>dressed</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>slept</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>hung</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>chain</b>, <b>light</b> <b>but</b> <b>strong</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>it</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>drew</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>To</b> <b>his</b> <b>distress</b> <b>and</b> <b>amazement</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bilbo</b>; <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>himself</b> <b>eyeing</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>wrinkled</b> <b>creature</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>hungry</b> <b>face</b> <b>and</b> <b>bony</b> <b>groping</b> <b>hands</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>music</b> <b>and</b> <b>singing</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>falter</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>across</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>! <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>: <b>sorry</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>in</b> <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>burden</b>: <b>sorry</b> <b>about</b> <b>everything</b>. <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>adventures</b> <b>ever</b> <b>have</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b>? <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>not</b>. <b>Someone</b> <b>else</b> <b>always</b> <b>has</b> <b>to</b> <b>carry</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>it</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>helped</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>any</b> <b>good</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>finish</b> <b>my</b> <b>book</b>? <b>But</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>worry</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>-<b>let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>have</b> <b>some</b> <b>real</b> <b>News</b>! <b>Tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>hid</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>passed</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>a</b> <b>shred</b> <b>of</b> <b>memory</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>music</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>was</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>smiled</b> <b>and</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>happily</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>item</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>tell</b>-<b>aided</b> <b>and</b> <b>corrected</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>by</b> <b>Sam</b>-<b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>interest</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>felling</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>tree</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>pranks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>smallest</b> <b>child</b> <b>in</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>so</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>doings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Four</b> <b>Farthings</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>notice</b> <b>the</b> <b>arrival</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>dark</b> <b>green</b> <b>cloth</b>. <b>For</b> <b>many</b> <b>minutes</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>Ah</b>, <b>there</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>.<br>
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“<b>Strider</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>names</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>Strider</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>heard</b> <b>before</b>, <b>anyway</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>call</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b>?”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>call</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>laughing</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>how</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>introduced</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>why</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>call</b> <b>him</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>The</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>often</b> <b>called</b> <b>that</b> <b>here</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>knew</b> <b>enough</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>d</b>?<b>n</b>-<b>udan</b>: <b>Man</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>, <b>N</b>?<b>menorean</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>lessons</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Where</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>been</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friend</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>weren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>feast</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Arwen</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>Strider</b> <b>looked</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>gravely</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>often</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>put</b> <b>mirth</b> <b>aside</b>. <b>Elladan</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elrohir</b> <b>have</b> <b>returned</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b> <b>unlooked</b>-<b>for</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Well</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>fellow</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, “<b>now</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b>, <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>spare</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>? <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>your</b> <b>help</b> <b>in</b> <b>something</b> <b>urgent</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>says</b> <b>this</b> <b>song</b> <b>of</b> <b>mine</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>finished</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>stuck</b>. <b>Let</b>'<b>s</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b> <b>and</b> <b>polish</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>Strider</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>then</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>left</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>for</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>alone</b> <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>rather</b> <b>forlorn</b>` <b>although</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>were</b> <b>gathered</b>. <b>But</b> <b>those</b> <b>near</b> <b>him</b> <b>were</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>intent</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>music</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>voices</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>instruments</b>. <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>gave</b> <b>no</b> <b>heed</b> <b>to</b> <b>anything</b> <b>else</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>listen</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>the</b> <b>beauty</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>melodies</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>interwoven</b> <b>words</b> <b>in</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>tongues</b>, <b>even</b> <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>understood</b> <b>them</b> <b>little</b>` <b>held</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>spell</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>attend</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Almost</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>took</b> <b>shape</b>, <b>and</b> <b>visions</b> <b>of</b> <b>far</b> <b>lands</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>yet</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>opened</b> <b>out</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>firelit</b> <b>hall</b> <b>became</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>mist</b> <b>above</b> <b>seas</b> <b>of</b> <b>foam</b> <b>that</b> <b>sighed</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>margins</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>enchantment</b> <b>became</b> <b>more</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>dreamlike</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>an</b> <b>endless</b> <b>river</b> <b>of</b> <b>swelling</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b> <b>was</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>, <b>too</b> <b>multitudinous</b> <b>for</b> <b>its</b> <b>pattern</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>comprehended</b>; <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>throbbing</b> <b>air</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>drenched</b> <b>and</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Swiftly</b> <b>he</b> <b>sank</b> <b>under</b> <b>its</b> <b>shining</b> <b>weight</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>realm</b> <b>of</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>long</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b> <b>of</b> <b>music</b> <b>that</b> <b>turned</b> <b>into</b> <b>running</b> <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>chanting</b> <b>verses</b>. <b>Faint</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>ran</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>mariner</b><br>
|
||
<b>that</b> <b>tarried</b> <b>in</b> <b>Arvernien</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>he</b> <b>built</b> <b>a</b> <b>boat</b> <b>of</b> <b>timber</b> <b>felled</b><br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>Nimbrethil</b> <b>to</b> <b>journey</b> <b>in</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>her</b> <b>sails</b> <b>he</b> <b>wove</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>fair</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>were</b> <b>her</b> <b>lanterns</b> <b>made</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>her</b> <b>prow</b> <b>was</b> <b>fashioned</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>swan</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>light</b> <b>upon</b> <b>her</b> <b>banners</b> <b>laid</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>panoply</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>kings</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>chain</b>‚<b>d</b> <b>rings</b> <b>he</b> <b>armoured</b> <b>him</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>shining</b> <b>shield</b> <b>was</b> <b>scored</b> <b>with</b> <b>runes</b><br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>ward</b> <b>all</b> <b>wounds</b> <b>and</b> <b>harm</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>bow</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>dragon</b>-<b>horn</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>arrows</b> <b>shorn</b> <b>of</b> <b>ebony</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>habergeon</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>scabbard</b> <b>of</b> <b>chalcedony</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>of</b> <b>steel</b> <b>was</b> <b>valiant</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>adamant</b> <b>his</b> <b>helmet</b> <b>tall</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>an</b> <b>eagle</b>-<b>plume</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>crest</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b> <b>an</b> <b>emerald</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>and</b> <b>under</b> <b>star</b><br>
|
||
<b>he</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>northern</b> <b>strands</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>bewildered</b> <b>on</b> <b>enchanted</b> <b>ways</b><br>
|
||
<b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>lands</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>From</b> <b>gnashing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Narrow</b> <b>Ice</b><br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>lies</b> <b>on</b> <b>frozen</b> <b>hills</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>from</b> <b>nether</b> <b>heats</b> <b>and</b> <b>burning</b> <b>waste</b><br>
|
||
<b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>in</b> <b>haste</b>, <b>and</b> <b>roving</b> <b>still</b><br>
|
||
<b>on</b> <b>starless</b> <b>waters</b> <b>far</b> <b>astray</b><br>
|
||
<b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Night</b> <b>of</b> <b>Naught</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>never</b> <b>sight</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>shining</b> <b>shore</b> <b>nor</b> <b>light</b> <b>he</b> <b>sought</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>winds</b> <b>of</b> <b>wrath</b> <b>came</b> <b>driving</b> <b>him</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>blindly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>foam</b> <b>he</b> <b>fled</b><br>
|
||
<b>from</b> <b>west</b> <b>to</b> <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>errandless</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>unheralded</b> <b>he</b> <b>homeward</b> <b>sped</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>flying</b> <b>Elwing</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>flame</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>lit</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>more</b> <b>bright</b> <b>than</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>diamond</b><br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>upon</b> <b>her</b> <b>carcanet</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>Silmaril</b> <b>she</b> <b>bound</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>living</b> <b>light</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>dauntless</b> <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>burning</b> <b>brow</b><br>
|
||
<b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>his</b> <b>prow</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b><br>
|
||
<b>from</b> <b>Otherworld</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b><br>
|
||
<b>there</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>free</b> <b>a</b> <b>storm</b> <b>arose</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>of</b> <b>power</b> <b>in</b> <b>Tarmenel</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>by</b> <b>paths</b> <b>that</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>goes</b><br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>boat</b> <b>it</b> <b>bore</b> <b>with</b> <b>biting</b> <b>breath</b><br>
|
||
<b>as</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>death</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>long</b>-<b>forsaken</b> <b>seas</b> <b>distressed</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>from</b> <b>east</b> <b>to</b> <b>west</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Through</b> <b>Evernight</b> <b>he</b> <b>back</b> <b>was</b> <b>borne</b><br>
|
||
<b>on</b> <b>black</b> <b>and</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>waves</b> <b>that</b> <b>ran</b><br>
|
||
<b>o</b>'<b>er</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>unlit</b> <b>and</b> <b>foundered</b> <b>shores</b><br>
|
||
<b>that</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Days</b> <b>began</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>on</b> <b>strands</b> <b>of</b> <b>pearl</b><br>
|
||
<b>when</b> <b>ends</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>the</b> <b>music</b> <b>long</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>ever</b> <b>foaming</b> <b>billows</b> <b>roll</b><br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>wan</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>silent</b> <b>rise</b><br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>lies</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>knees</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>Valinor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Eldamar</b><br>
|
||
<b>beheld</b> <b>afar</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>seas</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>wanderer</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>from</b> <b>night</b><br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>haven</b> <b>white</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>Elvenhome</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b><br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>keen</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>where</b> <b>pale</b> <b>as</b> <b>glass</b><br>
|
||
<b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>Ilmarin</b><br>
|
||
<b>a</b>-<b>glimmer</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>valley</b> <b>sheer</b><br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>lamplit</b> <b>towers</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tirion</b><br>
|
||
<b>are</b> <b>mirrored</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadowmere</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>tarried</b> <b>there</b> <b>from</b> <b>errantry</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>melodies</b> <b>they</b> <b>taught</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>sages</b> <b>old</b> <b>him</b> <b>marvels</b> <b>told</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>harps</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>they</b> <b>brought</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>him</b> <b>then</b> <b>in</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>white</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>seven</b> <b>lights</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>sent</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>as</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Calacirian</b><br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>land</b> <b>forlorn</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>unto</b> <b>the</b> <b>timeless</b> <b>halls</b><br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>shining</b> <b>fall</b> <b>the</b> <b>countless</b> <b>years</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>endless</b> <b>reigns</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>King</b><br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>Ilmarin</b> <b>on</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>sheer</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>words</b> <b>unheard</b> <b>were</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>then</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>kin</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>were</b> <b>visions</b> <b>showed</b><br>
|
||
<b>forbid</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>therein</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>ship</b> <b>then</b> <b>new</b> <b>they</b> <b>built</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>mithril</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>glass</b><br>
|
||
<b>with</b> <b>shining</b> <b>prow</b>; <b>no</b> <b>shaven</b> <b>oar</b><br>
|
||
<b>nor</b> <b>sail</b> <b>she</b> <b>bore</b> <b>on</b> <b>silver</b> <b>mast</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>Silmaril</b> <b>as</b> <b>lantern</b> <b>light</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>banner</b> <b>bright</b> <b>with</b> <b>living</b> <b>flame</b><br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>thereon</b> <b>by</b> <b>Elbereth</b><br>
|
||
<b>herself</b> <b>was</b> <b>set</b>, <b>who</b> <b>thither</b> <b>came</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>wings</b> <b>immortal</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>undying</b> <b>doom</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>sail</b> <b>the</b> <b>shoreless</b> <b>skies</b> <b>and</b> <b>come</b><br>
|
||
<b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moon</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>From</b> <b>Evereven</b>'<b>s</b> <b>lofty</b> <b>hills</b><br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>softly</b> <b>silver</b> <b>fountains</b> <b>fall</b><br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>wings</b> <b>him</b> <b>bore</b>, <b>a</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>light</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>Wall</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>From</b> <b>World</b>'<b>s</b> <b>End</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>yearned</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>afar</b><br>
|
||
<b>his</b> <b>home</b> <b>through</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>journeying</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>burning</b> <b>as</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>star</b><br>
|
||
<b>on</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>a</b> <b>distant</b> <b>flame</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>a</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>ere</b> <b>the</b> <b>waking</b> <b>dawn</b><br>
|
||
<b>where</b> <b>grey</b> <b>the</b> <b>Norland</b> <b>waters</b> <b>run</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>over</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>the</b> <b>weeping</b> <b>sore</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>women</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>maids</b><br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>, <b>in</b> <b>years</b> <b>of</b> <b>yore</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>gut</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>doom</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>till</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>should</b> <b>fade</b>, <b>an</b> <b>orb</b>‚<b>d</b> <b>star</b><br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>pass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>tarry</b> <b>never</b> <b>more</b><br>
|
||
<b>on</b> <b>Hither</b> <b>Shores</b> <b>where</b> <b>mortals</b> <b>are</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>herald</b> <b>on</b><br>
|
||
<b>an</b> <b>errand</b> <b>that</b> <b>should</b> <b>never</b> <b>rest</b><br>
|
||
<b>to</b> <b>bear</b> <b>his</b> <b>shining</b> <b>lamp</b> <b>afar</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>the</b> <b>Flammifer</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>chanting</b> <b>ceased</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>opened</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>seated</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>stool</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>listeners</b>, <b>who</b> <b>were</b> <b>smiling</b> <b>and</b> <b>applauding</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Now</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Bilbo</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>flattered</b>, <b>Lindir</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>tiring</b> <b>to</b> <b>repeat</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Not</b> <b>too</b> <b>tiring</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>answered</b> <b>laughing</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>know</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>never</b> <b>tired</b> <b>of</b> <b>reciting</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>verses</b>. <b>But</b> <b>really</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>answer</b> <b>your</b> <b>question</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>hearing</b>!”<br>
|
||
“<b>What</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>tell</b> <b>which</b> <b>parts</b> <b>were</b> <b>mine</b>, <b>and</b> <b>which</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b>'<b>s</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>easy</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>the</b> <b>difference</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>mortals</b>” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Nonsense</b>, <b>Lindir</b>,” <b>snorted</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>distinguish</b> <b>between</b> <b>a</b> <b>Man</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>Hobbit</b>, <b>your</b> <b>judgement</b> <b>is</b> <b>poorer</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>imagined</b>. <b>They</b>'<b>re</b> <b>as</b> <b>different</b> <b>as</b> <b>peas</b> <b>and</b> <b>apples</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Maybe</b>. <b>To</b> <b>sheep</b> <b>other</b> <b>sheep</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>appear</b> <b>different</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Lindir</b>. “<b>Or</b> <b>to</b> <b>shepherds</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Mortals</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>our</b> <b>study</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>other</b> <b>business</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>argue</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sleepy</b> <b>after</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>music</b> <b>and</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>leave</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>over</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>expected</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>often</b> <b>get</b> <b>asked</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>hearing</b>. <b>What</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>guess</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>smiling</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>You</b> <b>needn</b>'<b>t</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>As</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>fact</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>mine</b>. <b>Except</b> <b>that</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>insisted</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>putting</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>important</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>why</b>. <b>Otherwise</b> <b>he</b> <b>obviously</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>thing</b> <b>rather</b> <b>above</b> <b>my</b> <b>head</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>cheek</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>verses</b> <b>about</b> <b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>affair</b>. <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>right</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>fit</b> <b>somehow</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>explain</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>half</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>began</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>on</b> <b>from</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>dreaming</b> <b>about</b>. <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>understand</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>really</b> <b>you</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>until</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>difficult</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>awake</b> <b>here</b>, <b>until</b> <b>you</b> <b>get</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>;” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>that</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>would</b> <b>ever</b> <b>acquire</b> <b>quite</b> <b>the</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>appetite</b> <b>for</b> <b>music</b> <b>and</b> <b>poetry</b> <b>and</b> <b>tales</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>like</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>food</b>, <b>or</b> <b>more</b>. <b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>off</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>more</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>talk</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>Can</b> <b>we</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>merrymaking</b> <b>not</b> <b>business</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b>, <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>noise</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>withdrew</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>fast</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>still</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>. <b>In</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>delight</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>company</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>tug</b> <b>of</b> <b>regret</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fire</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b> <b>rose</b> <b>in</b> <b>song</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>Elbereth</b> <b>Gilthoniel</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>silivren</b> <b>penna</b> <b>m</b>?<b>riel</b><br>
|
||
<b>o</b> <b>menel</b> <b>aglar</b> <b>elenath</b>!<br>
|
||
<b>Na</b>-<b>chaered</b> <b>palan</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>riel</b><br>
|
||
<b>o</b> <b>galadhremmin</b> <b>ennorath</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Fanuilos</b>, <b>le</b> <b>linnathon</b><br>
|
||
<b>nef</b> <b>aear</b>, <b>s</b>? <b>nef</b> <b>aearon</b>!<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Frodo</b> <b>halted</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>like</b> <b>summer</b>-<b>light</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Near</b> <b>him</b> <b>sat</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Arwen</b>. <b>To</b> <b>his</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>stood</b> <b>beside</b> <b>her</b>; <b>his</b> <b>dark</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>was</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>mail</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>star</b> <b>shone</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>. <b>They</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>together</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>that</b> <b>Arwen</b> <b>turned</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b> <b>and</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b> <b>enchanted</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>syllables</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>song</b> <b>fell</b> <b>like</b> <b>clear</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>of</b> <b>blended</b> <b>word</b> <b>and</b> <b>melody</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elbereth</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>sing</b> <b>that</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>songs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Blessed</b> <b>Realm</b>, <b>many</b> <b>times</b> <b>tonight</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>on</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>led</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>little</b> <b>room</b>. <b>It</b> <b>opened</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>gar</b> <b>dens</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>south</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>ravine</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bruinen</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>while</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bright</b> <b>stars</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b>-<b>climbing</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>and</b> <b>talking</b> <b>softly</b>. <b>They</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>and</b> <b>perils</b> <b>that</b> <b>encompassed</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fair</b> <b>things</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>together</b>, <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bright</b> <b>year</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>knock</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>Begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>putting</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>wanting</b> <b>anything</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>begging</b> <b>yours</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>,” <b>replied</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>time</b> <b>your</b> <b>master</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>Council</b> <b>early</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>only</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>today</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Quite</b> <b>right</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>laughed</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>trot</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>tell</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>night</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Bless</b> <b>me</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>good</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>you</b> <b>again</b>! <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>folk</b> <b>like</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>real</b> <b>good</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>getting</b> <b>very</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>ever</b> <b>live</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>your</b> <b>chapters</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>story</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>night</b>! <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>walk</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>and</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elbereth</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>garden</b>. <b>Sleep</b> <b>well</b>!”<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 2<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>COUNCIL</b> <b>OF</b> <b>ELROND</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Next</b> <b>day</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>woke</b> <b>early</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>refreshed</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b>. <b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>terraces</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>loud</b>-<b>flowing</b> <b>Bruinen</b> <b>and</b> <b>watched</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b>, <b>cool</b> <b>sun</b> <b>rise</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shine</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Slanting</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>thin</b> <b>silver</b> <b>mist</b>; <b>the</b> <b>dew</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>was</b> <b>glimmering</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>woven</b> <b>nets</b> <b>of</b> <b>gossamer</b> <b>twinkled</b> <b>on</b> <b>every</b> <b>bush</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>walked</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>but</b> <b>sniffing</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>with</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>heights</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>. <b>The</b> <b>snow</b> <b>was</b> <b>white</b> <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>peaks</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>a</b> <b>seat</b> <b>cut</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>beside</b> <b>a</b> <b>turn</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>talk</b>. “<b>Hullo</b>! <b>Good</b> <b>morning</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>Feel</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>council</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>anything</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>walking</b> <b>today</b> <b>and</b> <b>explore</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>into</b> <b>those</b> <b>pine</b>-<b>woods</b> <b>up</b> <b>there</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>away</b> <b>far</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>later</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>make</b> <b>any</b> <b>plans</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>and</b> <b>decide</b> <b>today</b>.”<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>talking</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>clear</b> <b>bell</b> <b>rang</b> <b>out</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>warning</b> <b>bell</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>,” <b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>along</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Both</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>are</b> <b>wanted</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>followed</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>winding</b> <b>path</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>; <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>, <b>uninvited</b> <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>forgotten</b>, <b>trotted</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>porch</b> <b>where</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>before</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>clear</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>The</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>bubbling</b> <b>waters</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>foaming</b> <b>river</b>-<b>bed</b>. <b>Birds</b> <b>were</b> <b>singing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>wholesome</b> <b>peace</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>. <b>To</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>his</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>flight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>growing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>already</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>memories</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>dream</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>faces</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>entered</b> <b>were</b> <b>grave</b>.<br>
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<b>Elrond</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>several</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>seated</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b> <b>alone</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b>, <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>travel</b>-<b>worn</b> <b>clothes</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>drew</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>seat</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>presented</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b>, <b>saying</b>:<br>
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“<b>Here</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friends</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Drogo</b>. <b>Few</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>come</b> <b>hither</b> <b>through</b> <b>greater</b> <b>peril</b> <b>or</b> <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>errand</b> <b>more</b> <b>urgent</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>then</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>named</b> <b>those</b> <b>whom</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>met</b> <b>before</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>younger</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>at</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>'<b>s</b> <b>side</b>: <b>his</b> <b>son</b> <b>Gimli</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>several</b> <b>other</b> <b>counsellors</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>household</b>, <b>of</b> <b>whom</b> <b>Erestor</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b>; <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>Galdor</b>, <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>Havens</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>errand</b> <b>from</b> <b>C</b>?<b>rdan</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shipwright</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>also</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>brown</b>, <b>Legolas</b>, <b>a</b> <b>messenger</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b>, <b>Thranduil</b>, <b>the</b> <b>King</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>. <b>And</b> <b>seated</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>apart</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>man</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>noble</b> <b>face</b>, <b>dark</b>-<b>haired</b> <b>and</b> <b>grey</b>-<b>eyed</b>, <b>proud</b> <b>and</b> <b>stern</b> <b>of</b> <b>glance</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>cloaked</b> <b>and</b> <b>booted</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b> <b>on</b> <b>horseback</b>; <b>and</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>though</b> <b>his</b> <b>garments</b> <b>were</b> <b>rich</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>was</b> <b>lined</b> <b>with</b> <b>fur</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>stained</b> <b>with</b> <b>long</b> <b>travel</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>collar</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>white</b> <b>stone</b> <b>was</b> <b>set</b>; <b>his</b> <b>locks</b> <b>were</b> <b>shorn</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b>. <b>On</b> <b>a</b> <b>baldric</b> <b>he</b> <b>wore</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>horn</b> <b>tipped</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>with</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>wonder</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>is</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>a</b> <b>man</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>. <b>He</b> <b>arrived</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seeks</b> <b>for</b> <b>counsel</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>bidden</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>present</b>, <b>for</b> <b>here</b> <b>his</b> <b>questions</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>answered</b>.”<br>
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<b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>and</b> <b>debated</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>need</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b>. <b>Much</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b> <b>of</b> <b>events</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>lands</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>these</b> <b>things</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>heard</b> <b>many</b> <b>rumours</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>was</b> <b>new</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>he</b> <b>listened</b> <b>attentively</b>. <b>It</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>that</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>splendour</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>hand</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lonely</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>were</b> <b>troubled</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>disquiet</b> <b>fell</b> <b>upon</b> <b>our</b> <b>people</b>. <b>Whence</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>we</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>perceive</b>. <b>Words</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>whispered</b> <b>in</b> <b>secret</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>hemmed</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>place</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>greater</b> <b>wealth</b> <b>and</b> <b>splendour</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wider</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>: <b>the</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>called</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>declared</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>and</b> <b>numbers</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>sighed</b>. “<b>Moria</b>! <b>Moria</b>! <b>Wonder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>world</b>! <b>Too</b> <b>deep</b> <b>we</b> <b>delved</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>woke</b> <b>the</b> <b>nameless</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>Long</b> <b>have</b> <b>its</b> <b>vast</b> <b>mansions</b> <b>lain</b> <b>empty</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>children</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b> <b>fled</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b> <b>with</b> <b>longing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>with</b> <b>dread</b>; <b>for</b> <b>no</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>has</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>of</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>kings</b>, <b>save</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>r</b> <b>only</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>perished</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>Balin</b> <b>listened</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>whispers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>resolved</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>; <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>leave</b> <b>willingly</b>, <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>Ori</b> <b>and</b> ?<b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b> <b>south</b>.<br>
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"<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>on</b> <b>thirty</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>news</b> <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>good</b>: <b>messages</b> <b>reported</b> <b>that</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>entered</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>work</b> <b>begun</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>since</b>.<br>
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"<b>Then</b> <b>about</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>ago</b> <b>a</b> <b>messenger</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>from</b> <b>Moria</b>—<b>from</b> <b>Mordor</b>: <b>a</b> <b>horseman</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>who</b> <b>called</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b>, <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>wished</b> <b>for</b> <b>our</b> <b>friendship</b>. <b>Rings</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>give</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>urgently</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>kind</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwelt</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>knows</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>was</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>."<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>troubled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>gave</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>his</b> <b>fell</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>lowered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>sweetened</b> <b>it</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>. “<b>As</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>token</b> <b>only</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>asks</b> <b>this</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>find</b> <b>this</b> <b>thief</b>,” <b>such</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>word</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>get</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>, <b>willing</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>, <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>rings</b>, <b>that</b> <b>once</b> <b>he</b> <b>stole</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>trifle</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>fancies</b>, <b>and</b> <b>an</b> <b>earnest</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>good</b> <b>will</b>. <b>Find</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>three</b> <b>rings</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>sires</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>realm</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>yours</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>Find</b> <b>only</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>thief</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>he</b> <b>still</b> <b>lives</b> <b>and</b> <b>where</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>great</b> <b>reward</b> <b>and</b> <b>lasting</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b>. <b>Refuse</b>, <b>and</b> <b>things</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>so</b> <b>well</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>refuse</b>?"<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b> <b>came</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>of</b> <b>snakes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>who</b> <b>stood</b> <b>by</b> <b>shuddered</b>, <b>but</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>neither</b> <b>yea</b> <b>nor</b> <b>nay</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>consider</b> <b>this</b> <b>message</b> <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>means</b> <b>under</b> <b>its</b> <b>fair</b> <b>cloak</b>."<br>
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“<b>Consider</b> <b>well</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>long</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>time</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>thought</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>to</b> <b>spend</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b>.<br>
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“<b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>.<br>
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“<b>Heavy</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>chieftains</b> <b>been</b> <b>since</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>. <b>We</b> <b>needed</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>fell</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>messenger</b> <b>to</b> <b>warn</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>words</b> <b>held</b> <b>both</b> <b>menace</b> <b>and</b> <b>deceit</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>knew</b> <b>already</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>re</b>-<b>entered</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>changed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ever</b> <b>it</b> <b>betrayed</b> <b>us</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Twice</b> <b>the</b> <b>messenger</b> <b>has</b> <b>returned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>unanswered</b>. <b>The</b> <b>third</b> <b>and</b> <b>last</b> <b>time</b>, <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>says</b>, <b>is</b> <b>soon</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>, <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>ending</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>sent</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>by</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b> <b>to</b> <b>warn</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>sought</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>learn</b>, <b>if</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>, <b>why</b> <b>he</b> <b>desires</b> <b>this</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>this</b> <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>rings</b>. <b>Also</b> <b>we</b> <b>crave</b> <b>the</b> <b>advice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>grows</b> <b>and</b> <b>draws</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>We</b> <b>discover</b> <b>that</b> <b>messengers</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>also</b> <b>to</b> <b>King</b> <b>Brand</b> <b>in</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>We</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>yield</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>war</b> <b>is</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>make</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>may</b> <b>move</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>rule</b> <b>to</b> <b>assail</b> <b>King</b> <b>Brand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b> <b>also</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>hear</b> <b>today</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>in</b> <b>order</b> <b>to</b> <b>understand</b> <b>the</b> <b>purposes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>naught</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b>, <b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>to</b> <b>resist</b>, <b>with</b> <b>hope</b> <b>or</b> <b>without</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>stand</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>learn</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>world</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>! <b>What</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>rings</b>, <b>the</b> <b>trifle</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>fancies</b>? <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>doom</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>deem</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>for</b> <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>called</b> <b>hither</b>. <b>Called</b>, <b>I</b> <b>say</b>. <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>called</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>strangers</b> <b>from</b> <b>distant</b> <b>lands</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>here</b> <b>met</b>, <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>nick</b> <b>of</b> <b>time</b>, <b>by</b> <b>chance</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>seem</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>. <b>Believe</b> <b>rather</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b> <b>ordered</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b>, <b>who</b> <b>sit</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>none</b> <b>others</b>, <b>must</b> <b>now</b> <b>find</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b>, <b>therefore</b>, <b>things</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>openly</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>until</b> <b>this</b> <b>day</b>. <b>And</b> <b>first</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>may</b> <b>understand</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>present</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>begin</b> <b>that</b> <b>tale</b>, <b>though</b> <b>others</b> <b>shall</b> <b>end</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>all</b> <b>listened</b> <b>while</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Power</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>forging</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Second</b> <b>Age</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>A</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>tale</b> <b>was</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>there</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b> <b>tale</b> <b>to</b> <b>none</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>turned</b> <b>t</b>= <b>Elrond</b> <b>in</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>smiths</b> <b>of</b> <b>Eregion</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>with</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>eagerness</b> <b>for</b> <b>knowledge</b>, <b>by</b> <b>which</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>ensnared</b> <b>them</b>. <b>For</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>evil</b> <b>to</b> <b>behold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>received</b> <b>his</b> <b>aid</b> <b>and</b> <b>grew</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>in</b> <b>craft</b>, <b>whereas</b> <b>he</b> <b>learned</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>secrets</b>, <b>and</b> <b>betrayed</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>forged</b> <b>secretly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fire</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>their</b> <b>master</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Celebrimbor</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hid</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>war</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>waste</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>was</b> <b>shut</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>through</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>that</b> <b>followed</b> <b>he</b> <b>traced</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>; <b>but</b> <b>since</b> <b>that</b> <b>history</b> <b>is</b> <b>elsewhere</b> <b>recounted</b>, <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>himself</b> <b>set</b> <b>it</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>books</b> <b>of</b> <b>lore</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>here</b> <b>recalled</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>tale</b>, <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>great</b> <b>and</b> <b>terrible</b>, <b>and</b> <b>briefly</b> <b>though</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>rode</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>passing</b> <b>ere</b> <b>he</b> <b>ceased</b>.<br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>its</b> <b>glory</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>return</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>to</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeps</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>borne</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>wings</b> <b>of</b> <b>storm</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>sons</b>, <b>Isildur</b> <b>and</b> <b>An</b>?<b>rion</b>, <b>became</b> <b>great</b> <b>lords</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>realm</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>in</b> <b>Arnor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>-<b>realm</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>assailed</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Alliance</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hosts</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>were</b> <b>mustered</b> <b>in</b> <b>Arnor</b>.<br>
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<b>Thereupon</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>paused</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>and</b> <b>sighed</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>well</b> <b>the</b> <b>splendour</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>banners</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>recalled</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>glory</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hosts</b> <b>of</b> <b>Beleriand</b>, <b>so</b> <b>many</b> <b>great</b> <b>princes</b> <b>and</b> <b>captains</b> <b>were</b> <b>assembled</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>so</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>as</b> <b>when</b> <b>Thangorodrim</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>deemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>evil</b> <b>was</b> <b>ended</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>remember</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>speaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>thought</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>astonishment</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>stammered</b> <b>as</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>turned</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>age</b> <b>ago</b>.”<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>gravely</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>my</b> <b>memory</b> <b>reaches</b> <b>back</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>. <b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>sire</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>born</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondolin</b> <b>before</b> <b>its</b> <b>fall</b>; <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>mother</b> <b>was</b> <b>Elwing</b>, <b>daughter</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dior</b>, <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>of</b> <b>Doriath</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>three</b> <b>ages</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>defeats</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>fruitless</b> <b>victories</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>herald</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>and</b> <b>marched</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>host</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Battle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dagorlad</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Gate</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>mastery</b>: <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Spear</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b>, <b>Aiglos</b> <b>and</b> <b>Narsil</b>, <b>none</b> <b>could</b> <b>withstand</b>. <b>I</b> <b>beheld</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>combat</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orodruin</b>, <b>where</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>died</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Narsil</b> <b>broke</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>him</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>himself</b> <b>was</b> <b>overthrown</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>cut</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b>-<b>shard</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>the</b> <b>stranger</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>broke</b> <b>in</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>became</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>ever</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>tale</b> <b>was</b> <b>told</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>long</b> <b>been</b> <b>forgotten</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>name</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>believed</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>perished</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruin</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>first</b> <b>realm</b>. <b>Isildur</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b>! <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>indeed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Alas</b>! <b>yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>Isildur</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b>. <b>It</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>cast</b> <b>then</b> <b>into</b> <b>Orodruin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fire</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b>. <b>But</b> <b>few</b> <b>marked</b> <b>what</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>did</b>. <b>He</b> <b>alone</b> <b>stood</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>last</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>contest</b>; <b>and</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>only</b> <b>C</b>?<b>rdan</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>counsel</b>.<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>as</b> <b>weregild</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>father</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>brother</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; <b>and</b> <b>therefore</b> <b>whether</b> <b>we</b> <b>would</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>, <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>soon</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>betrayed</b> <b>by</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>death</b>; <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>named</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>death</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>was</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>what</b> <b>else</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>befallen</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Only</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>did</b> <b>these</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>come</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b>. <b>Small</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b> <b>them</b>, <b>Boromir</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruin</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b>, <b>where</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>perished</b>, <b>three</b> <b>men</b> <b>only</b> <b>came</b> <b>ever</b> <b>back</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>after</b> <b>long</b> <b>wandering</b>. <b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>was</b> <b>Ohtar</b>, <b>the</b> <b>esquire</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b>, <b>who</b> <b>bore</b> <b>the</b> <b>shards</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sword</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>Valandil</b>, <b>the</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b>, <b>who</b> <b>being</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>child</b> <b>had</b> <b>remained</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Narsil</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>light</b> <b>extinguished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>been</b> <b>forged</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Fruitless</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>call</b> <b>the</b> <b>victory</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Alliance</b>? <b>Not</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>so</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>achieve</b> <b>its</b> <b>end</b>. <b>Sauron</b> <b>was</b> <b>diminished</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>His</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b> <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>unmade</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>foundations</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>removed</b>; <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>while</b> <b>it</b> <b>remains</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>endure</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>had</b> <b>perished</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b>. <b>An</b>?<b>rion</b> <b>was</b> <b>slain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>was</b> <b>slain</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>Never</b> <b>again</b> <b>shall</b> <b>there</b> <b>be</b> <b>any</b> <b>such</b> <b>league</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Men</b> <b>multiply</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Firstborn</b> <b>decrease</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>kindreds</b> <b>are</b> <b>estranged</b>. <b>And</b> <b>ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>race</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b> <b>has</b> <b>decayed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>span</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>years</b> <b>has</b> <b>lessened</b>.<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>slaughter</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b> <b>were</b> <b>diminished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>Ann</b>?<b>minas</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Lake</b> <b>Evendim</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>ruin</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>heirs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Valandil</b> <b>removed</b> <b>and</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>at</b> <b>Fornost</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>North</b> <b>Downs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b> <b>too</b> <b>is</b> <b>desolate</b>. <b>Men</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b> <b>Deadmen</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Dike</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>fear</b> <b>to</b> <b>tread</b> <b>there</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arnor</b> <b>dwindled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>foes</b> <b>devoured</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>lordship</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>leaving</b> <b>only</b> <b>green</b> <b>mounds</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>grassy</b> <b>hills</b>.<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>the</b> <b>realm</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>long</b> <b>endured</b>; <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>its</b> <b>splendour</b> <b>grew</b>, <b>recalling</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>it</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>High</b> <b>towers</b> <b>that</b> <b>people</b> <b>built</b>, <b>and</b> <b>strong</b> <b>places</b>. <b>and</b> <b>havens</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>ships</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>winged</b> <b>crown</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>was</b> <b>held</b> <b>in</b> <b>awe</b> <b>by</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>tongues</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>chief</b> <b>city</b> <b>was</b> <b>Osgiliath</b>, <b>Citadel</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Stars</b>. <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>flowed</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Ithil</b> <b>they</b> <b>built</b>, <b>Tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rising</b> <b>Moon</b>, <b>eastward</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shadow</b>; <b>and</b> <b>westward</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Anor</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b>, <b>Tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Setting</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>There</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>courts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>King</b> <b>grew</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>seed</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>tree</b> <b>which</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>brought</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>waters</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>seed</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>tree</b> <b>before</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>Eress</b>?<b>a</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>that</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Uttermost</b> <b>West</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Day</b> <b>before</b> <b>days</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>young</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wearing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>swift</b> <b>years</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>Meneldil</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>An</b>?<b>rion</b> <b>failed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tree</b> <b>withered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>blood</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menoreans</b> <b>became</b> <b>mingled</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>lesser</b> <b>men</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>watch</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>slept</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dark</b> <b>things</b> <b>crept</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gorgoroth</b>. <b>And</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>came</b> <b>forth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Ithil</b> <b>and</b> <b>abode</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>it</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>of</b> <b>dread</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Morgul</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sorcery</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Anor</b> <b>was</b> <b>named</b> <b>anew</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>Guard</b>; <b>and</b> <b>these</b> <b>two</b> <b>cities</b> <b>were</b> <b>ever</b> <b>at</b> <b>war</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Osgiliath</b> <b>which</b> <b>lay</b> <b>between</b> <b>was</b> <b>deserted</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>walked</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>men</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>still</b> <b>fight</b> <b>on</b>, <b>defying</b> <b>our</b> <b>enemies</b>, <b>keeping</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>from</b> <b>Argonath</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>tell</b> <b>is</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>close</b>. <b>For</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ruling</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>knowledge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>were</b> <b>released</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>dominion</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>latter</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>peril</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>, <b>for</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>sorrow</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>found</b>. <b>Others</b> <b>shall</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>finding</b>, <b>for</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>played</b> <b>small</b> <b>part</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>ceased</b>, <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b>, <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>proud</b>, <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Give</b> <b>me</b> <b>leave</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>; <b>for</b> <b>verily</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>come</b>. <b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>well</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>passes</b> <b>there</b>. <b>For</b> <b>few</b>, <b>I</b> <b>deem</b>, <b>know</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>deeds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>therefore</b> <b>guess</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>peril</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>fail</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>.<br>
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“<b>Believe</b> <b>not</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>the</b> <b>blood</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b> <b>is</b> <b>spent</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>all</b> <b>its</b> <b>pride</b> <b>and</b> <b>dignity</b> <b>forgotten</b>. <b>By</b> <b>our</b> <b>valour</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>restrained</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>terror</b> <b>of</b> <b>Morgul</b> <b>kept</b> <b>at</b> <b>bay</b>; <b>and</b> <b>thus</b> <b>alone</b> <b>are</b> <b>peace</b> <b>and</b> <b>freedom</b> <b>maintained</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>, <b>bulwark</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>passages</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>won</b>, <b>what</b> <b>then</b>?<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>that</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>now</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Nameless</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>arisen</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Smoke</b> <b>rises</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>from</b> <b>Orodruin</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b> <b>Mount</b> <b>Doom</b>. <b>The</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Land</b> <b>grows</b> <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>hard</b> <b>beset</b>. <b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>returned</b> <b>our</b> <b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>driven</b> <b>from</b> <b>Ithilien</b>, <b>our</b> <b>fair</b> <b>domain</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>though</b> <b>we</b> <b>kept</b> <b>a</b> <b>foothold</b> <b>there</b> <b>and</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>arms</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>year</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>June</b>, <b>sudden</b> <b>war</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>us</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>swept</b> <b>away</b>. <b>We</b> <b>were</b> <b>outnumbered</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>has</b> <b>allied</b> <b>itself</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Easterlings</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>cruel</b> <b>Haradrim</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>by</b> <b>numbers</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>defeated</b>. <b>A</b> <b>power</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>felt</b> <b>before</b>.<br>
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“<b>Some</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>black</b> <b>horseman</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>moon</b>. <b>Wherever</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>madness</b> <b>filled</b> <b>our</b> <b>foes</b>, <b>but</b> <b>fear</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>our</b> <b>boldest</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>horse</b> <b>and</b> <b>man</b> <b>gave</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>fled</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>remnant</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>force</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b>, <b>destroying</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>that</b> <b>still</b> <b>stood</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>of</b> <b>Osgiliath</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>that</b> <b>held</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>cast</b> <b>down</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Four</b> <b>only</b> <b>were</b> <b>saved</b> <b>by</b> <b>swimming</b>: <b>my</b> <b>brother</b> <b>and</b> <b>myself</b> <b>and</b> <b>two</b> <b>others</b>. <b>But</b> <b>still</b> <b>we</b> <b>fight</b> <b>on</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b>; <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b> <b>give</b> <b>us</b> <b>praise</b>, <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>they</b> <b>hear</b> <b>our</b> <b>name</b>: <b>much</b> <b>praise</b> <b>but</b> <b>little</b> <b>help</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>now</b> <b>will</b> <b>any</b> <b>men</b> <b>ride</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b>.<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>evil</b> <b>hour</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>errand</b> <b>over</b> <b>many</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elrond</b>: <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>ten</b> <b>days</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>all</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>seek</b> <b>allies</b> <b>in</b> <b>war</b>. <b>The</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>weapons</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b>. <b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>for</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>unravelling</b> <b>of</b> <b>hard</b> <b>words</b>. <b>For</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eve</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>assault</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>brother</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>sleep</b>; <b>and</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>a</b> <b>like</b> <b>dream</b> <b>came</b> <b>oft</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>once</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>.<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>dream</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>sky</b> <b>grew</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>growing</b> <b>thunder</b>, <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b> <b>lingered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>remote</b> <b>but</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>crying</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>Seek</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b>:<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>Imladris</b> <b>it</b> <b>dwells</b>;<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>counsels</b> <b>taken</b><br>
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<b>Stronger</b> <b>than</b> <b>Morgul</b>-<b>spells</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>shown</b> <b>a</b> <b>token</b><br>
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<b>That</b> <b>Doom</b> <b>is</b> <b>near</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>,<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b> <b>shall</b> <b>waken</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Halfling</b> <b>forth</b> <b>shall</b> <b>stand</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>understand</b> <b>little</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>father</b>, <b>Denethor</b>, <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>wise</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>. <b>This</b> <b>only</b> <b>would</b> <b>he</b> <b>say</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Imladris</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>far</b> <b>northern</b> <b>dale</b>, <b>where</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Halfelven</b> <b>dwelt</b>, <b>greatest</b> <b>of</b> <b>lore</b>-<b>masters</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>my</b> <b>brother</b>, <b>seeing</b> <b>how</b> <b>desperate</b> <b>was</b> <b>our</b> <b>need</b>, <b>was</b> <b>eager</b> <b>to</b> <b>heed</b> <b>the</b> <b>dream</b> <b>and</b> <b>seek</b> <b>for</b> <b>Imladris</b>; <b>but</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>was</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>and</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b> <b>upon</b> <b>myself</b>. <b>Loth</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>father</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b> <b>leave</b>, <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>by</b> <b>roads</b> <b>forgotten</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>many</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>but</b> <b>few</b> <b>knew</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>more</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>made</b> <b>clear</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>up</b>. <b>He</b> <b>cast</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>table</b> <b>that</b> <b>stood</b> <b>before</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>blade</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>two</b> <b>pieces</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>Broken</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>lean</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ranger</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>weather</b>-<b>stained</b> <b>cloak</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>descended</b> <b>through</b> <b>many</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>from</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>Elendil</b>'<b>s</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Ithil</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chief</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>and</b> <b>few</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>folk</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>it</b> <b>belongs</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>amazement</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>expected</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>demanded</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>belong</b> <b>to</b> <b>either</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>ordained</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>hold</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Bring</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>solemnly</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>time</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b>. <b>Hold</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>will</b> <b>understand</b> <b>the</b> <b>remainder</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>riddle</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>hush</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>shaken</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>shame</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>reluctance</b> <b>to</b> <b>reveal</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>loathing</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>touch</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wished</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>and</b> <b>flickered</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>trembling</b> <b>hand</b>.<br>
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“<b>Behold</b> <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>.<br>
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<b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>thing</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Halfling</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>muttered</b>. “<b>Is</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>doom</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>? <b>But</b> <b>why</b> <b>then</b> <b>should</b> <b>we</b> <b>seek</b> <b>a</b> <b>broken</b> <b>sword</b>?”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>words</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>doom</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>doom</b> <b>and</b> <b>great</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>are</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>Broken</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>that</b> <b>broke</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>him</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>treasured</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>heirs</b> <b>when</b> <b>all</b> <b>other</b> <b>heirlooms</b> <b>were</b> <b>lost</b>; <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>among</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>made</b> <b>again</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b>, <b>was</b> <b>found</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>sword</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>sought</b>, <b>what</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b> <b>ask</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>sent</b> <b>to</b> <b>beg</b> <b>any</b> <b>boon</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>seek</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>riddle</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>proudly</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>hard</b> <b>pressed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>help</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>our</b> <b>hope</b>-<b>if</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>could</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>return</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>past</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>again</b> <b>at</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>stir</b> <b>impatiently</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Evidently</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>annoyed</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>friend</b>'<b>s</b> <b>behalf</b>. <b>Standing</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>up</b> <b>he</b> <b>burst</b> <b>out</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>gold</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>glitter</b>,<br>
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<b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wander</b> <b>are</b> <b>lost</b>;<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>old</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>strong</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>wither</b>,<br>
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<b>Deep</b> <b>roots</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>reached</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>frost</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>ashes</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>woken</b>,<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>light</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>shall</b> <b>spring</b>;<br>
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<b>Renewed</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>blade</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b>:<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>crownless</b> <b>again</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>king</b>.<br>
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<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>very</b> <b>good</b> <b>perhaps</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b>—<b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>more</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>If</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>worth</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>and</b> <b>ten</b> <b>days</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b>, <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>best</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>snort</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>made</b> <b>that</b> <b>up</b> <b>myself</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>whispered</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nadan</b>, <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>ago</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>first</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>about</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>I</b> <b>almost</b> <b>wish</b> <b>that</b> <b>my</b> <b>adventures</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>over</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>when</b> <b>his</b> <b>day</b> <b>comes</b>.”<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>smiled</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>; <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>my</b> <b>part</b> <b>I</b> <b>forgive</b> <b>your</b> <b>doubt</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Little</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b> <b>resemble</b> <b>the</b> <b>figures</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>and</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>stand</b> <b>carven</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>majesty</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Denethor</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b>, <b>not</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>hard</b> <b>life</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>that</b> <b>lie</b> <b>between</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>part</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>count</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>journeys</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>many</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>rivers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trodden</b> <b>many</b> <b>plains</b>, <b>even</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>countries</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rh</b>?<b>n</b> <b>and</b> <b>Harad</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>are</b> <b>strange</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>my</b> <b>home</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b>, <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>. <b>For</b> <b>here</b> <b>the</b> <b>heirs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Valandil</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>long</b> <b>line</b> <b>unbroken</b> <b>from</b> <b>father</b> <b>unto</b> <b>son</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>generations</b>. <b>Our</b> <b>days</b> <b>have</b> <b>darkened</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>dwindled</b>; <b>but</b> <b>ever</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>keeper</b>. <b>And</b> <b>this</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>I</b> <b>end</b>. <b>Lonely</b> <b>men</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b>, <b>Rangers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b>, <b>hunters</b>—<b>but</b> <b>hunters</b> <b>ever</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>; <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>places</b>, <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>only</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>stalwart</b> <b>tower</b>, <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>played</b> <b>another</b> <b>part</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>strong</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b> <b>swords</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>stay</b>. <b>You</b> <b>know</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>your</b> <b>bounds</b>. <b>Peace</b> <b>and</b> <b>freedom</b>, <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>? <b>The</b> <b>North</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b> <b>them</b> <b>little</b> <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>when</b> <b>dark</b> <b>things</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>houseless</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>or</b> <b>creep</b> <b>from</b> <b>sunless</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>they</b> <b>fly</b> <b>from</b> <b>us</b>. <b>What</b> <b>roads</b> <b>would</b> <b>any</b> <b>dare</b> <b>to</b> <b>tread</b>, <b>what</b> <b>safety</b> <b>would</b> <b>there</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>homes</b> <b>of</b> <b>simple</b> <b>men</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b> <b>were</b> <b>asleep</b>, <b>or</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>gone</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>grave</b>?<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>less</b> <b>thanks</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Travellers</b> <b>scowl</b> <b>at</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>countrymen</b> <b>give</b> <b>us</b> <b>scornful</b> <b>names</b>. “<b>Strider</b>” <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>fat</b> <b>man</b> <b>who</b> <b>lives</b> <b>within</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>march</b> <b>of</b> <b>foes</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>freeze</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>or</b> <b>lay</b> <b>his</b> <b>little</b> <b>town</b> <b>in</b> <b>ruin</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>guarded</b> <b>ceaselessly</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>we</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>otherwise</b>. <b>If</b> <b>simple</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>free</b> <b>from</b> <b>care</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>simple</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>secret</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>them</b> <b>so</b>. <b>That</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>task</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>kindred</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>have</b> <b>lengthened</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>has</b> <b>grown</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>changing</b> <b>once</b> <b>again</b>. <b>A</b> <b>new</b> <b>hour</b> <b>comes</b>. <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b> <b>is</b> <b>found</b>. <b>Battle</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>reforged</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b> <b>is</b> <b>found</b>, <b>you</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Halfling</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>perished</b> <b>ere</b> <b>this</b> <b>age</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>began</b>, <b>they</b> <b>say</b>. <b>How</b> <b>do</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b>? <b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>has</b> <b>it</b> <b>passed</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>brought</b> <b>hither</b> <b>by</b> <b>so</b> <b>strange</b> <b>a</b> <b>messenger</b>?”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>I</b> <b>beg</b>, <b>Master</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>Already</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>is</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>to</b> <b>noon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>the</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>strengthen</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>named</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>smiling</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b> <b>now</b>. <b>Come</b>! <b>Tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>your</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>cast</b> <b>your</b> <b>story</b> <b>into</b> <b>verse</b>, <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>tell</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>plain</b> <b>words</b>. <b>The</b> <b>briefer</b>, <b>the</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>shall</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>refreshed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>bid</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>now</b> <b>tell</b> <b>the</b> <b>true</b> <b>story</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>here</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>me</b> <b>tell</b> <b>it</b> <b>otherwise</b>”—<b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>sidelong</b> <b>at</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>—`<b>I</b> <b>ask</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>forget</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>forgive</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>only</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>claim</b> <b>the</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>very</b> <b>own</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>thief</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>me</b>. <b>But</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>things</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>better</b> <b>now</b>. <b>Anyway</b>, <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b>.”<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>some</b> <b>there</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>tale</b> <b>was</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>new</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>listened</b> <b>with</b> <b>amazement</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>actually</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>displeased</b>, <b>recounted</b> <b>his</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>at</b> <b>full</b> <b>length</b>. <b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>omit</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>riddle</b>. <b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>given</b> <b>also</b> <b>an</b> <b>account</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>party</b> <b>and</b> <b>disappearance</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>allowed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>raised</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>told</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friend</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>enough</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>it</b> <b>suffices</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>passed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>your</b> <b>heir</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>him</b> <b>now</b> <b>speak</b>!”<br>
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<b>Then</b>, <b>less</b> <b>willingly</b> <b>than</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>told</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>passed</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>keeping</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>step</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>journey</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bruinen</b> <b>was</b> <b>questioned</b> <b>and</b> <b>considered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>everything</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>recall</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>was</b> <b>examined</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>bad</b>,” <b>Bilbo</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>story</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>hadn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>kept</b> <b>on</b> <b>interrupting</b>. <b>I</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>notes</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>again</b> <b>together</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>whole</b> <b>chapters</b> <b>of</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>ever</b> <b>got</b> <b>here</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>made</b> <b>quite</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>tale</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>story</b> <b>still</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>complete</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>about</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.”<br>
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<b>Galdor</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Havens</b>, <b>who</b> <b>sat</b> <b>near</b> <b>by</b>, <b>overheard</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>speak</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>also</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>The</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>good</b> <b>reason</b> <b>to</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>halfling</b>'<b>s</b> <b>trove</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>debate</b>, <b>unlikely</b> <b>though</b> <b>that</b> <b>may</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>know</b> <b>less</b>. <b>But</b> <b>may</b> <b>we</b> <b>not</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>proofs</b>? <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>ask</b> <b>this</b> <b>also</b>. <b>What</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>? <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>learned</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>among</b> <b>us</b>. <b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>counsel</b>-<b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>the</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b>?”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>questions</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>ask</b>, <b>Galdor</b>, <b>are</b> <b>bound</b> <b>together</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>overlooked</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>answered</b>. <b>But</b> <b>these</b> <b>things</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>clear</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>call</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b> <b>last</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b> <b>of</b> <b>honour</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>matter</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Some</b>, <b>Galdor</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>would</b> <b>think</b> <b>the</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>proof</b> <b>enough</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>halfling</b>'<b>s</b> <b>trove</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>worth</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b>. <b>What</b> <b>then</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nazg</b>?<b>l</b> <b>keep</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Seven</b> <b>are</b> <b>taken</b> <b>or</b> <b>destroyed</b>.” <b>At</b> <b>this</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>stirred</b>, <b>but</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Three</b> <b>we</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b>. <b>What</b> <b>then</b> <b>is</b> <b>this</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>desires</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b>?<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>waste</b> <b>of</b> <b>time</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b>, <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>loss</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>finding</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>gap</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>knowledge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>filled</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>too</b> <b>slowly</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>close</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>closer</b> <b>even</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>. <b>And</b> <b>well</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>not</b> <b>until</b> <b>this</b> <b>year</b>, <b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>summer</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b>, <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>learn</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b> <b>truth</b>.<br>
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“<b>Some</b> <b>here</b> <b>will</b> <b>remember</b> <b>that</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b> <b>I</b> <b>myself</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Necromancer</b> <b>in</b> <b>Dol</b> <b>Guldur</b>, <b>and</b> <b>secretly</b> <b>explored</b> <b>his</b> <b>ways</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>thus</b> <b>that</b> <b>our</b> <b>fears</b> <b>were</b> <b>true</b>: <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>none</b> <b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>our</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>, <b>at</b> <b>length</b> <b>taking</b> <b>shape</b> <b>and</b> <b>power</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Some</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>will</b> <b>remember</b> <b>also</b> <b>that</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>dissuaded</b> <b>us</b> <b>from</b> <b>open</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>against</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b> <b>we</b> <b>watched</b> <b>him</b> <b>only</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>grew</b>, <b>Saruman</b> <b>yielded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>put</b> <b>forth</b> <b>its</b> <b>strength</b> <b>and</b> <b>drove</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>year</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>finding</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>Ring</b>: <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>chance</b>, <b>if</b> <b>chance</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>too</b> <b>late</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>foresaw</b>. <b>Sauron</b> <b>also</b> <b>had</b> <b>watched</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>against</b> <b>our</b> <b>stroke</b>, <b>governing</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b> <b>through</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Morgul</b>, <b>where</b> <b>his</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>servants</b> <b>dwelt</b>, <b>until</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>ready</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>way</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b>, <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>feigned</b> <b>to</b> <b>flee</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>after</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>and</b> <b>openly</b> <b>declared</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>time</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>met</b>; <b>for</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>seeking</b> <b>ever</b> <b>more</b> <b>eagerly</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>. <b>We</b> <b>feared</b> <b>then</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>knew</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>said</b> <b>nay</b>, <b>and</b> <b>repeated</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>before</b>: <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>would</b> <b>never</b> <b>again</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>.<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, “<b>our</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>knows</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>still</b> <b>is</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b> <b>may</b> <b>yet</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>, <b>he</b> <b>thinks</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>not</b>! <b>His</b> <b>hope</b> <b>will</b> <b>cheat</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Have</b> <b>I</b> <b>not</b> <b>earnestly</b> <b>studied</b> <b>this</b> <b>matter</b>? <b>Into</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>it</b> <b>fell</b>; <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>slept</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>There</b> <b>let</b> <b>it</b> <b>lie</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>End</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>gazing</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>porch</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>at</b> <b>whose</b> <b>great</b> <b>roots</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>had</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b> <b>lain</b> <b>hidden</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sighed</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>fault</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>lulled</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>sought</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>sooner</b>, <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>peril</b> <b>would</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>less</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>at</b> <b>fault</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>vigilance</b> <b>the</b> <b>Darkness</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>would</b> <b>already</b> <b>be</b> <b>upon</b> <b>us</b>. <b>But</b> <b>say</b> <b>on</b>!”<br>
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“<b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>misgave</b> <b>me</b>, <b>against</b> <b>all</b> <b>reason</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>this</b> <b>thing</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>long</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>So</b> <b>I</b> <b>set</b> <b>a</b> <b>watch</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>, <b>guessing</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>ere</b> <b>long</b> <b>come</b> <b>forth</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>to</b> <b>seek</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>treasure</b>. <b>He</b> <b>came</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>found</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>alas</b>! <b>I</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>watching</b> <b>and</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>only</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>too</b> <b>often</b> <b>done</b>.<br>
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“<b>Time</b> <b>passed</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>cares</b>, <b>until</b> <b>my</b> <b>doubts</b> <b>were</b> <b>awakened</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>Whence</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ring</b>? <b>What</b>, <b>if</b> <b>my</b> <b>fear</b> <b>was</b> <b>true</b>, <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Those</b> <b>things</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>decide</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>yet</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>dread</b> <b>to</b> <b>none</b>, <b>knowing</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>untimely</b> <b>whisper</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>astray</b>. <b>In</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>wars</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>treason</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>our</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>foe</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>seventeen</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>I</b> <b>became</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>spies</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>sorts</b>, <b>even</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>and</b> <b>birds</b>, <b>were</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>fear</b> <b>grew</b>. <b>I</b> <b>called</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>help</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>watch</b> <b>was</b> <b>doubled</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>opened</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>to</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>the</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, “<b>counselled</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>hunt</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>too</b> <b>late</b> <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>seem</b>. <b>And</b> <b>since</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>fit</b> <b>that</b> <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>heir</b> <b>should</b> <b>labour</b> <b>to</b> <b>repair</b> <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fault</b>, <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>hopeless</b> <b>search</b>.”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>told</b> <b>how</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>explored</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>length</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wilderland</b>, <b>down</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fences</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>there</b> <b>long</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hills</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>never</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>I</b> <b>despaired</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>despair</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>again</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>test</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>finding</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>unneeded</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ring</b> <b>itself</b> <b>might</b> <b>tell</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>. <b>The</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>words</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>: <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>, <b>half</b>-<b>heeded</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>. <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>them</b> <b>now</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Nine</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Seven</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>had</b> <b>each</b> <b>their</b> <b>proper</b> <b>gem</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>so</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>unadorned</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lesser</b> <b>rings</b>; <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>maker</b> <b>set</b> <b>marks</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>skilled</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>see</b> <b>and</b> <b>read</b>."<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>those</b> <b>marks</b> <b>were</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>said</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>now</b> <b>would</b> <b>know</b>? <b>The</b> <b>maker</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Saruman</b>? <b>But</b> <b>great</b> <b>though</b> <b>his</b> <b>lore</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>, <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>source</b>. <b>What</b> <b>hand</b> <b>save</b> <b>Sauron</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ever</b> <b>held</b> <b>this</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>? <b>The</b> <b>hand</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>alone</b>.<br>
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“<b>With</b> <b>that</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>I</b> <b>forsook</b> <b>the</b> <b>chase</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gondor</b>. <b>In</b> <b>former</b> <b>days</b> <b>the</b> <b>members</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>order</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>well</b> <b>received</b> <b>there</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>guest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>City</b>. <b>Less</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>did</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>Denethor</b> <b>show</b> <b>me</b> <b>then</b> <b>than</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grudgingly</b> <b>he</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>search</b> <b>among</b> <b>his</b> <b>hoarded</b> <b>scrolls</b> <b>and</b> <b>books</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>you</b> <b>look</b> <b>only</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>, <b>for</b> <b>records</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>days</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginnings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>City</b>, <b>read</b> <b>on</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>is</b> <b>less</b> <b>dark</b> <b>than</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>care</b>. <b>But</b> <b>unless</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>more</b> <b>skill</b> <b>even</b> <b>than</b> <b>Saruman</b>, <b>who</b> <b>has</b> <b>studied</b> <b>here</b> <b>long</b>, <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>naught</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>well</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>who</b> <b>am</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>City</b>."<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>said</b> <b>Denethor</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>there</b> <b>lie</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hoards</b> <b>many</b> <b>records</b> <b>that</b> <b>few</b> <b>now</b> <b>can</b> <b>read</b>, <b>even</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b>-<b>masters</b>, <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>scripts</b> <b>and</b> <b>tongues</b> <b>have</b> <b>become</b> <b>dark</b> <b>to</b> <b>later</b> <b>men</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>there</b> <b>lies</b> <b>in</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>still</b>, <b>unread</b>, <b>I</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>save</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>and</b> <b>myself</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>kings</b> <b>failed</b>, <b>a</b> <b>scroll</b> <b>that</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>made</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>For</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>march</b> <b>away</b> <b>straight</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>as</b> <b>some</b> <b>have</b> <b>told</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Some</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>maybe</b>,” <b>Boromir</b> <b>broke</b> <b>in</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>know</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Anor</b> <b>and</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>nephew</b> <b>Meneldil</b>, <b>instructing</b> <b>him</b>, <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>committed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>rule</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>Kingdom</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>planted</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>sapling</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Tree</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>brother</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>also</b> <b>he</b> <b>made</b> <b>this</b> <b>scroll</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>seem</b>. <b>For</b> <b>this</b> <b>scroll</b> <b>concerns</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thus</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>therein</b>:<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>an</b> <b>heirloom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Kingdom</b>; <b>but</b> <b>records</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>where</b> <b>also</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>the</b> <b>heirs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b>, <b>lest</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>come</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>great</b> <b>matters</b> <b>shall</b> <b>grow</b> <b>dim</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>after</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>described</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>hot</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>first</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b>, <b>hot</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>glede</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>hand</b> <b>was</b> <b>scorched</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>again</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>free</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pain</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>write</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>cooled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemeth</b> <b>to</b> <b>shrink</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>loseth</b> <b>neither</b> <b>its</b> <b>beauty</b> <b>nor</b> <b>its</b> <b>shape</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>the</b> <b>writing</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>, <b>which</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>was</b> <b>as</b> <b>clear</b> <b>as</b> <b>red</b> <b>flame</b>, <b>fadeth</b> <b>and</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>only</b> <b>barely</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>read</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>fashioned</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>script</b> <b>of</b> <b>Eregion</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>letters</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>for</b> <b>such</b> <b>subtle</b> <b>work</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>language</b> <b>is</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>deem</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Land</b>, <b>since</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>foul</b> <b>and</b> <b>uncouth</b>. <b>What</b> <b>evil</b> <b>it</b> <b>saith</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>trace</b> <b>here</b> <b>a</b> <b>copy</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>lest</b> <b>it</b> <b>fade</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>recall</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>misseth</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>the</b> <b>heat</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>black</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>burned</b> <b>like</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>Gil</b>-<b>galad</b> <b>was</b> <b>destroyed</b>; <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>gold</b> <b>made</b> <b>hot</b> <b>again</b>, <b>the</b> <b>writing</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>refreshed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>part</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>risk</b> <b>no</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>thing</b>: <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>fair</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>precious</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>buy</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>pain</b>.<br>
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“<b>When</b> <b>I</b> <b>read</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b>, <b>my</b> <b>quest</b> <b>was</b> <b>ended</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>traced</b> <b>writing</b> <b>was</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>as</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>guessed</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tower</b>. <b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b> <b>therein</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>known</b>. <b>For</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>first</b> <b>put</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>, <b>Celebrimbor</b>, <b>maker</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b>, <b>was</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>him</b> <b>speak</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>his</b> <b>evil</b> <b>purposes</b> <b>were</b> <b>revealed</b>.<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>my</b> <b>leave</b> <b>of</b> <b>Denethor</b>, <b>but</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>northwards</b>, <b>messages</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>that</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>creature</b> <b>called</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>I</b> <b>went</b> <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>hear</b> <b>his</b> <b>tale</b>. <b>Into</b> <b>what</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>perils</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>alone</b> <b>I</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>guess</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>little</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b> <b>must</b> <b>needs</b> <b>walk</b> <b>in</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Gate</b>, <b>or</b> <b>tread</b> <b>the</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>of</b> <b>Morgul</b> <b>Vale</b>, <b>then</b> <b>perils</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b>. <b>I</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>despaired</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>began</b> <b>my</b> <b>homeward</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b>, <b>by</b> <b>fortune</b>, <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>on</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>sought</b>: <b>the</b> <b>marks</b> <b>of</b> <b>soft</b> <b>feet</b> <b>beside</b> <b>a</b> <b>muddy</b> <b>pool</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>trail</b> <b>was</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>and</b> <b>swift</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>led</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>but</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Along</b> <b>the</b> <b>skirts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dead</b> <b>Marshes</b> <b>I</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Lurking</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>stagnant</b> <b>mere</b>, <b>peering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>eve</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>I</b> <b>caught</b> <b>him</b>, <b>Gollum</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>green</b> <b>slime</b>. <b>He</b> <b>will</b> <b>never</b> <b>love</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>bit</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>gentle</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>ever</b> <b>get</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>marks</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>teeth</b>. <b>I</b> <b>deemed</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>back</b>, <b>watching</b> <b>him</b> <b>day</b> <b>and</b> <b>night</b>, <b>making</b> <b>him</b> <b>walk</b> <b>before</b> <b>me</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>halter</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b>, <b>gagged</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>tamed</b> <b>by</b> <b>lack</b> <b>of</b> <b>drink</b> <b>and</b> <b>food</b>, <b>driving</b> <b>him</b> <b>ever</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>. <b>I</b> <b>brought</b> <b>him</b> <b>there</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>agreed</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>company</b>, <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>stank</b>. <b>For</b> <b>my</b> <b>part</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>never</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>endured</b> <b>long</b> <b>speech</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>weary</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>without</b> <b>profit</b>. <b>For</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>loss</b> <b>agreed</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>which</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>has</b> <b>now</b> <b>told</b> <b>openly</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>mattered</b> <b>little</b>, <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>learned</b> <b>then</b> <b>first</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ring</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>learned</b> <b>also</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>possessed</b> <b>it</b> <b>long</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>small</b> <b>kind</b>. <b>The</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>lengthened</b> <b>his</b> <b>years</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>their</b> <b>span</b>; <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>power</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>wield</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>proof</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>Galdor</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>test</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b>. <b>Upon</b> <b>this</b> <b>very</b> <b>ring</b> <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>here</b> <b>seen</b> <b>held</b> <b>aloft</b>, <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>unadorned</b>, <b>the</b> <b>letters</b> <b>that</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>reported</b> <b>may</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>read</b>, <b>if</b> <b>one</b> <b>has</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>will</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>thing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>That</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b>, <b>and</b> <b>this</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>read</b>:<br>
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<b>Ash</b> <b>nazg</b> <b>durbatul</b>?<b>k</b>, <b>ash</b> <b>nazg</b> <b>gimbatul</b>, <b>ash</b> <b>nazg</b> <b>thrakatul</b>?<b>k</b> <b>agh</b> <b>burzum</b>-<b>ishi</b> <b>krimpatul</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>change</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>astounding</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>menacing</b>, <b>powerful</b>, <b>harsh</b> <b>as</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>porch</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>grew</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>All</b> <b>trembled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>their</b> <b>ears</b>.<br>
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“<b>Never</b> <b>before</b> <b>has</b> <b>any</b> <b>voice</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>utter</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>in</b> <b>Imladris</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>passed</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>company</b> <b>breathed</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>none</b> <b>will</b> <b>ever</b> <b>speak</b> <b>it</b> <b>here</b> <b>again</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Nonetheless</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>ask</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>For</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>soon</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>, <b>then</b> <b>let</b> <b>all</b> <b>put</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>aside</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>thing</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>have</b> <b>declared</b>: <b>the</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>, <b>fraught</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>malice</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>lies</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Years</b> <b>come</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Smiths</b> <b>of</b> <b>Eregion</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>betrayed</b>:<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>rule</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>, <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b>, <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Darkness</b> <b>bind</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>Know</b> <b>also</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>learned</b> <b>more</b> <b>yet</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>loth</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>tale</b> <b>was</b> <b>unclear</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>all</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>was</b> <b>forced</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Thus</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>knows</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>is</b> <b>found</b>, <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>and</b> <b>since</b> <b>his</b> <b>servants</b> <b>have</b> <b>pursued</b> <b>it</b> <b>almost</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>door</b>, <b>he</b> <b>soon</b> <b>will</b> <b>know</b>, <b>already</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>know</b>, <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>speak</b>, <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>sat</b> <b>silent</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>until</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>spoke</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>you</b> <b>say</b>, <b>this</b> <b>Gollum</b>? <b>Small</b>, <b>but</b> <b>great</b> <b>in</b> <b>mischief</b>. <b>What</b> <b>became</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>? <b>To</b> <b>what</b> <b>doom</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>put</b> <b>him</b>?”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>prison</b>, <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>worse</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>suffered</b> <b>much</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>tormented</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>lies</b> <b>black</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>I</b> <b>for</b> <b>one</b> <b>am</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>safely</b> <b>kept</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>watchful</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>. <b>His</b> <b>malice</b> <b>is</b> <b>great</b> <b>and</b> <b>gives</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>strength</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>believed</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>so</b> <b>lean</b> <b>and</b> <b>withered</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>work</b> <b>much</b> <b>mischief</b> <b>still</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>free</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>on</b> <b>some</b> <b>evil</b> <b>errand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Alas</b>! <b>alas</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Legolas</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>fair</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>face</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>great</b> <b>distress</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>sent</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>must</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>told</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>good</b>, <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>here</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>learned</b> <b>how</b> <b>evil</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>company</b>. <b>Sm</b>?<b>agol</b>, <b>who</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>called</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>has</b> <b>escaped</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Escaped</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>ill</b> <b>news</b> <b>indeed</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>all</b> <b>rue</b> <b>it</b> <b>bitterly</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>How</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thranduil</b> <b>to</b> <b>fail</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>trust</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>through</b> <b>lack</b> <b>of</b> <b>watchfulness</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>through</b> <b>over</b>-<b>kindliness</b>. <b>And</b> <b>we</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>prisoner</b> <b>had</b> <b>aid</b> <b>from</b> <b>others</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>more</b> <b>is</b> <b>known</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>doings</b> <b>than</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>wish</b>. <b>We</b> <b>guarded</b> <b>this</b> <b>creature</b> <b>day</b> <b>and</b> <b>night</b>, <b>at</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>bidding</b>, <b>much</b> <b>though</b> <b>we</b> <b>wearied</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>task</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>bade</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>still</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>cure</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>him</b> <b>ever</b> <b>in</b> <b>dungeons</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>, <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>fall</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>black</b> <b>thoughts</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>less</b> <b>tender</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>as</b> <b>old</b> <b>memories</b> <b>were</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>imprisonment</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>places</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>king</b>'<b>s</b> <b>halls</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>come</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Pray</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>interrupt</b>, <b>my</b> <b>good</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>regrettable</b> <b>misunderstanding</b>, <b>long</b> <b>set</b> <b>right</b>. <b>If</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>grievances</b> <b>that</b> <b>stand</b> <b>between</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>are</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>brought</b> <b>up</b> <b>here</b>, <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>abandon</b> <b>this</b> <b>Council</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>continued</b>. “<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>fair</b> <b>weather</b> <b>we</b> <b>led</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>tree</b> <b>standing</b> <b>alone</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>liked</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>we</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>mount</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>highest</b> <b>branches</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>free</b> <b>wind</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>set</b> <b>a</b> <b>guard</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>'<b>s</b> <b>foot</b>. <b>One</b> <b>day</b> <b>he</b> <b>refused</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>guards</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>: <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>learned</b> <b>the</b> <b>trick</b> <b>of</b> <b>clinging</b> <b>to</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b>; <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>very</b> <b>night</b> <b>of</b> <b>summer</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>moonless</b> <b>and</b> <b>starless</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>us</b> <b>at</b> <b>unawares</b>. <b>We</b> <b>drove</b> <b>them</b> <b>off</b> <b>after</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b>; <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>and</b> <b>fierce</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>unused</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>. <b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>battle</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b>, <b>we</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>guards</b> <b>were</b> <b>slain</b> <b>or</b> <b>taken</b>. <b>It</b> <b>then</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>plain</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>attack</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>rescue</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>beforehand</b>. <b>How</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>contrived</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>guess</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>is</b> <b>cunning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>spies</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>driven</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>year</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dragon</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fall</b> <b>have</b> <b>returned</b> <b>in</b> <b>greater</b> <b>numbers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>is</b> <b>again</b> <b>an</b> <b>evil</b> <b>place</b>, <b>save</b> <b>where</b> <b>our</b> <b>realm</b> <b>is</b> <b>maintained</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>failed</b> <b>to</b> <b>recapture</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>We</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>trail</b> <b>among</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>Orcs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>deep</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b>, <b>going</b> <b>south</b>. <b>But</b> <b>ere</b> <b>long</b> <b>it</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>our</b> <b>skill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>continue</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunt</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>to</b> <b>Dol</b> <b>Guldur</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>evil</b> <b>place</b>; <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>well</b>, <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>gone</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>seek</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>must</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>play</b> <b>a</b> <b>part</b> <b>yet</b> <b>that</b> <b>neither</b> <b>he</b> <b>nor</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>have</b> <b>foreseen</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>answer</b> <b>Galdor</b>'<b>s</b> <b>other</b> <b>questions</b>. <b>What</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>? <b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>his</b> <b>counsels</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>need</b>? <b>This</b> <b>tale</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>tell</b> <b>in</b> <b>full</b>, <b>for</b> <b>only</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>has</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>brief</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>bear</b> <b>on</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>resolve</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>chapter</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>yet</b> <b>gone</b>.<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>June</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>of</b> <b>anxiety</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>rode</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>land</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>foreboding</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>still</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>me</b> <b>but</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>near</b>. <b>There</b> <b>messages</b> <b>reached</b> <b>me</b> <b>telling</b> <b>me</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b> <b>and</b> <b>defeat</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>a</b> <b>chill</b> <b>smote</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>save</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>fugitives</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b> <b>sat</b> <b>a</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>I</b> <b>turned</b> <b>then</b> <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>north</b> <b>and</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b>; <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>traveller</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>bank</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>grazing</b> <b>horse</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Radagast</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brown</b>, <b>who</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>time</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>at</b> <b>Rhosgobel</b>, <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>order</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>seen</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b>.<br>
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“<b>Gandalf</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>seeking</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>a</b> <b>stranger</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b>. <b>All</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wild</b> <b>region</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>uncouth</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shire</b>."<br>
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“<b>Your</b> <b>information</b> <b>was</b> <b>correct</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>meet</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>inhabitants</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>now</b>. <b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>? <b>It</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>pressing</b>. <b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>never</b> <b>a</b> <b>traveller</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>driven</b> <b>by</b> <b>great</b> <b>need</b>."<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>an</b> <b>urgent</b> <b>errand</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>news</b> <b>is</b> <b>evil</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>hedges</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>ears</b>. “<b>Nazg</b>?<b>l</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>whispered</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>are</b> <b>abroad</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>secretly</b> <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>moving</b> <b>westward</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>taken</b> <b>the</b> <b>guise</b> <b>of</b> <b>riders</b> <b>in</b> <b>black</b>."<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>then</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>dreaded</b> <b>without</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>some</b> <b>great</b> <b>need</b> <b>or</b> <b>purpose</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Radagast</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>makes</b> <b>him</b> <b>look</b> <b>to</b> <b>these</b> <b>distant</b> <b>and</b> <b>desolate</b> <b>parts</b>, <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>guess</b>."<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>I</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>told</b> <b>that</b> <b>wherever</b> <b>they</b> <b>go</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>ask</b> <b>for</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>land</b> <b>called</b> <b>Shire</b>."<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Shire</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>; <b>but</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>sank</b>. <b>For</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>might</b> <b>fear</b> <b>to</b> <b>withstand</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>together</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>fell</b> <b>chieftain</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>king</b> <b>and</b> <b>sorcerer</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>he</b> <b>wields</b> <b>a</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>fear</b>. “<b>Who</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>who</b> <b>sent</b> <b>you</b>?” <b>I</b> <b>asked</b>.<br>
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“<b>Saruman</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Radagast</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>feel</b> <b>the</b> <b>need</b>, <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>seek</b> <b>his</b> <b>aid</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>or</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>late</b>."<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>message</b> <b>brought</b> <b>me</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>For</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>order</b>. <b>Radagast</b> <b>is</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>a</b> <b>worthy</b> <b>Wizard</b>, <b>a</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>and</b> <b>changes</b> <b>of</b> <b>hue</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>much</b> <b>lore</b> <b>of</b> <b>herbs</b> <b>and</b> <b>beasts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>birds</b> <b>are</b> <b>especially</b> <b>his</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>has</b> <b>long</b> <b>studied</b> <b>the</b> <b>arts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thus</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>often</b> <b>been</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>forestall</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>devices</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>drove</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>Dol</b> <b>Guldur</b>. <b>It</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>some</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>drive</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>Saruman</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Radagast</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>wasted</b> <b>time</b> <b>in</b> <b>looking</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>are</b> <b>running</b> <b>short</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>told</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>you</b> <b>before</b> <b>Midsummer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>this</b> <b>spot</b>, <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>reach</b> <b>him</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>discover</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>seek</b>. <b>I</b> <b>myself</b> <b>shall</b> <b>turn</b> <b>back</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.” <b>And</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>ridden</b> <b>straight</b> <b>off</b>.<br>
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“<b>Stay</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>!” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>need</b> <b>your</b> <b>help</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>help</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>give</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Send</b> <b>out</b> <b>messages</b> <b>to</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>beasts</b> <b>and</b> <b>birds</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>your</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>Tell</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>that</b> <b>bears</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>matter</b> <b>to</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>messages</b> <b>be</b> <b>sent</b> <b>to</b> <b>Orthanc</b>."<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rode</b> <b>off</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>were</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>follow</b> <b>him</b> <b>then</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>ridden</b> <b>very</b> <b>far</b> <b>already</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>as</b> <b>weary</b> <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>horse</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>needed</b> <b>to</b> <b>consider</b> <b>matters</b>. <b>I</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>decided</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Never</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>greater</b> <b>mistake</b>!<br>
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“<b>However</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wrote</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trusted</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>friend</b> <b>the</b> <b>innkeeper</b> <b>to</b> <b>send</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>rode</b> <b>away</b> <b>at</b> <b>dawn</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>long</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwelling</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>south</b> <b>in</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gap</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>open</b> <b>vale</b> <b>that</b> <b>lies</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>northmost</b> <b>foothills</b> <b>of</b> <b>Ered</b> <b>Nimrais</b>, <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>home</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Isengard</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>that</b> <b>enclose</b> <b>a</b> <b>valley</b> <b>as</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>valley</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>called</b> <b>Orthanc</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>Saruman</b>, <b>but</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>has</b> <b>many</b> <b>secrets</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>looks</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>work</b> <b>of</b> <b>craft</b>. <b>It</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>reached</b> <b>save</b> <b>by</b> <b>passing</b> <b>the</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isengard</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>circle</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>gate</b>.<br>
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“<b>Late</b> <b>one</b> <b>evening</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>arch</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>strongly</b> <b>guarded</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>keepers</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>watch</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>told</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>awaited</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>rode</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>closed</b> <b>silently</b> <b>behind</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>afraid</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>no</b> <b>reason</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>rode</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orthanc</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>stair</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>he</b> <b>met</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>led</b> <b>me</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>high</b> <b>chamber</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wore</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>gravely</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>light</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>aid</b>, <b>Saruman</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b>.” <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>title</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>anger</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>indeed</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>scoffed</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>aid</b>? <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>been</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>sought</b> <b>for</b> <b>aid</b>, <b>one</b> <b>so</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>wise</b>, <b>wandering</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>himself</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>business</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>it</b> <b>belongs</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>or</b> <b>not</b>."<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>wondered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>deceived</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>I</b>, “<b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>moving</b> <b>which</b> <b>will</b> <b>require</b> <b>the</b> <b>union</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>our</b> <b>strength</b>."<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>is</b> <b>late</b> <b>in</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>. <b>How</b> <b>long</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>, <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>concealed</b> <b>from</b> <b>me</b>, <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>import</b>? <b>What</b> <b>brings</b> <b>you</b> <b>now</b> <b>from</b> <b>your</b> <b>lurking</b>-<b>place</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>? “<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>forth</b> <b>again</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>. <b>So</b> <b>Radagast</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>."<br>
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“<b>Radagast</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brown</b>!” <b>laughed</b> <b>Saruman</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>concealed</b> <b>his</b> <b>scorn</b>. “<b>Radagast</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bird</b>-<b>tamer</b>! <b>Radagast</b> <b>the</b> <b>Simple</b>! <b>Radagast</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fool</b>! <b>Yet</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>just</b> <b>the</b> <b>wit</b> <b>to</b> <b>play</b> <b>the</b> <b>part</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>set</b> <b>him</b>. <b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>message</b>. <b>And</b> <b>here</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>stay</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rest</b> <b>from</b> <b>journeys</b>. <b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>, <b>Saruman</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>maker</b>, <b>Saruman</b> <b>of</b> <b>Many</b> <b>Colours</b>! “<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>looked</b> <b>then</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>robes</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>white</b>, <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>, <b>but</b> <b>were</b> <b>woven</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>colours</b>. <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>moved</b> <b>they</b> <b>shimmered</b> <b>and</b> <b>changed</b> <b>hue</b> <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>eye</b> <b>was</b> <b>bewildered</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>liked</b> <b>white</b> <b>better</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>White</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>sneered</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>serves</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>beginning</b>. <b>White</b> <b>cloth</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>dyed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>white</b> <b>page</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>overwritten</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>light</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>broken</b>."<br>
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“<b>In</b> <b>which</b> <b>case</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>white</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>I</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>that</b> <b>breaks</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>has</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>of</b> <b>wisdom</b>."<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>as</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fools</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>for</b> <b>friends</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>hither</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>instructed</b> <b>by</b> <b>you</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b> <b>choice</b>."<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>drew</b> <b>himself</b> <b>up</b> <b>then</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>declaim</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>making</b> <b>a</b> <b>speech</b> <b>long</b> <b>rehearsed</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>are</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Middle</b> <b>Days</b> <b>are</b> <b>passing</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Younger</b> <b>Days</b> <b>are</b> <b>beginning</b>. <b>The</b> <b>time</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>is</b> <b>over</b>, <b>but</b> <b>our</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>: <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>rule</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>power</b>, <b>power</b> <b>to</b> <b>order</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b>, <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>good</b> <b>which</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>listen</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>my</b> <b>old</b> <b>friend</b> <b>and</b> <b>helper</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>near</b> <b>and</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>softer</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>we</b>, <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>join</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>. <b>A</b> <b>new</b> <b>Power</b> <b>is</b> <b>rising</b>. <b>Against</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>allies</b> <b>and</b> <b>policies</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>avail</b> <b>us</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>or</b> <b>dying</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b>. <b>This</b> <b>then</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>choice</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b>. <b>before</b> <b>us</b>. <b>We</b> <b>may</b> <b>join</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>Power</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>wise</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>victory</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>rich</b> <b>reward</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>aided</b> <b>it</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>Power</b> <b>grows</b>, <b>its</b> <b>proved</b> <b>friends</b> <b>will</b> <b>also</b> <b>grow</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b>, <b>may</b> <b>with</b> <b>patience</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>direct</b> <b>its</b> <b>courses</b>, <b>to</b> <b>control</b> <b>it</b>. <b>We</b> <b>can</b> <b>bide</b> <b>our</b> <b>time</b>, <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>keep</b> <b>our</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>hearts</b>, <b>deploring</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>evils</b> <b>done</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>but</b> <b>approving</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>ultimate</b> <b>purpose</b>: <b>Knowledge</b>, <b>Rule</b>, <b>Order</b>; <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>striven</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>to</b> <b>accomplish</b>, <b>hindered</b> <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>helped</b> <b>by</b> <b>our</b> <b>weak</b> <b>or</b> <b>idle</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>There</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b>, <b>there</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b>, <b>any</b> <b>real</b> <b>change</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>designs</b>, <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>means</b>."<br>
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“<b>Saruman</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>speeches</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>kind</b> <b>before</b>, <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>of</b> <b>emissaries</b> <b>sent</b> <b>from</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>to</b> <b>deceive</b> <b>the</b> <b>ignorant</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>brought</b> <b>me</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>weary</b> <b>my</b> <b>ears</b>."<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>me</b> <b>sidelong</b>, <b>and</b> <b>paused</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>considering</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>wise</b> <b>course</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>commend</b> <b>itself</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>yet</b>? <b>Not</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>better</b> <b>way</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>contrived</b>? “<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>arm</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>why</b> <b>not</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>whispered</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>not</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Ruling</b> <b>Ring</b>? <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>command</b> <b>that</b>, <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>Power</b> <b>would</b> <b>pass</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>truth</b> <b>why</b> <b>I</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>here</b>. <b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>many</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>service</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>this</b> <b>precious</b> <b>thing</b> <b>now</b> <b>lies</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>? <b>Or</b> <b>why</b> <b>do</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>ask</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>business</b> <b>there</b>?” <b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>this</b> <b>a</b> <b>lust</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>conceal</b> <b>shone</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>Saruman</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>, “<b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>can</b> <b>wield</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>well</b>, <b>so</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>we</b>! <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>it</b>, <b>nay</b>, <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>even</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>learn</b> <b>your</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>unmasked</b> <b>yourself</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>the</b> <b>choices</b> <b>are</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seems</b>, <b>to</b> <b>submit</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>yourself</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>neither</b>. <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>others</b> <b>to</b> <b>offer</b>? “<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>cold</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>perilous</b>. “<b>Yes</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>expect</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>show</b> <b>wisdom</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>behalf</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>gave</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>aiding</b> <b>me</b> <b>willingly</b>. <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>saving</b> <b>yourself</b> <b>much</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>and</b> <b>pain</b>. <b>The</b> <b>third</b> <b>choice</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>."<br>
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“<b>Until</b> <b>what</b> <b>end</b>? “<br>
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“<b>Until</b> <b>you</b> <b>reveal</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>. <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>find</b> <b>means</b> <b>to</b> <b>persuade</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>found</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>despite</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ruler</b> <b>has</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>lighter</b> <b>matters</b>: <b>to</b> <b>devise</b>, <b>say</b>, <b>a</b> <b>fitting</b> <b>reward</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>hindrance</b> <b>and</b> <b>insolence</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>."<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>prove</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lighter</b> <b>matters</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>I</b>. <b>He</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>at</b> <b>me</b>, <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>words</b> <b>were</b> <b>empty</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>took</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>me</b> <b>alone</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>pinnacle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orthanc</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>was</b> <b>accustomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>watch</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>descent</b> <b>save</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>stair</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>steps</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>below</b> <b>seems</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>I</b> <b>looked</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b>, <b>whereas</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>been</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>pits</b> <b>and</b> <b>forges</b>. <b>Wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>were</b> <b>housed</b> <b>in</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>was</b> <b>mustering</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>force</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>account</b>, <b>in</b> <b>rivalry</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>service</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Over</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>works</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>hung</b> <b>and</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>itself</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>sides</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orthanc</b>. <b>I</b> <b>stood</b> <b>alone</b> <b>on</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>escape</b>, <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>days</b> <b>were</b> <b>bitter</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>with</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>but</b> <b>little</b> <b>room</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>to</b> <b>pace</b> <b>to</b> <b>and</b> <b>fro</b>, <b>brooding</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>had</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>arisen</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>assured</b>, <b>apart</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>which</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>lies</b>. <b>Long</b> <b>ere</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Isengard</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>mistaken</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>was</b> <b>ever</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>friends</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>; <b>but</b> <b>still</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>set</b> <b>forth</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>, <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>letter</b> <b>had</b> <b>urged</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>reached</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>began</b>. <b>And</b> <b>both</b> <b>my</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>hope</b> <b>proved</b> <b>ill</b>-<b>founded</b>. <b>For</b> <b>my</b> <b>hope</b> <b>was</b> <b>founded</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>fat</b> <b>man</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>; <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>fear</b> <b>was</b> <b>founded</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>. <b>But</b> <b>fat</b> <b>men</b> <b>who</b> <b>sell</b> <b>ale</b> <b>have</b> <b>many</b> <b>calls</b> <b>to</b> <b>answer</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>fear</b> <b>makes</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>trapped</b> <b>and</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunters</b> <b>before</b> <b>whom</b> <b>all</b> <b>have</b> <b>fled</b> <b>or</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>would</b> <b>falter</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>you</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>walking</b> <b>backwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>forwards</b>. <b>The</b> <b>moon</b> <b>shone</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>hair</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>paused</b> <b>astonished</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>quite</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>came</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>after</b> <b>I</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>late</b> <b>in</b> <b>coming</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>evil</b> <b>plight</b>. <b>And</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>know</b> <b>me</b> <b>will</b> <b>agree</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>such</b> <b>need</b>, <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>bear</b> <b>such</b> <b>misfortune</b> <b>well</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>caught</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>fly</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>spider</b>'<b>s</b> <b>treacherous</b> <b>web</b>! <b>Yet</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>subtle</b> <b>spiders</b> <b>may</b> <b>leave</b> <b>a</b> <b>weak</b> <b>thread</b>.<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>intended</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Radagast</b> <b>had</b> <b>also</b> <b>fallen</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>caught</b> <b>no</b> <b>hint</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eye</b> <b>at</b> <b>our</b> <b>meeting</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>never</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>to</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>more</b> <b>warily</b>. <b>So</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>guessed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>concealed</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>and</b> <b>deceived</b> <b>his</b> <b>messenger</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>useless</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>win</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>honest</b> <b>Radagast</b> <b>to</b> <b>treachery</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sought</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b> <b>good</b> <b>faith</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>persuaded</b> <b>me</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>undoing</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>'<b>s</b> <b>plot</b>. <b>For</b> <b>Radagast</b> <b>knew</b> <b>no</b> <b>reason</b> <b>why</b> <b>he</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>asked</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>rode</b> <b>away</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>many</b> <b>friends</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eagles</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>went</b> <b>far</b> <b>and</b> <b>wide</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b>: <b>the</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>of</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mustering</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcs</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>going</b> <b>hither</b> <b>and</b> <b>thither</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>escape</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gollum</b>. <b>And</b> <b>they</b> <b>sent</b> <b>a</b> <b>messenger</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>these</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>when</b> <b>summer</b> <b>waned</b>, <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>night</b> <b>of</b> <b>moon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gwaihir</b> <b>the</b> <b>Windlord</b>, <b>swiftest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Eagles</b>, <b>came</b> <b>unlooked</b>-<b>for</b> <b>to</b> <b>Orthanc</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>me</b> <b>standing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>pinnacle</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>bore</b> <b>me</b> <b>away</b>, <b>before</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>issued</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>to</b> <b>pursue</b> <b>me</b>.<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>far</b> <b>can</b> <b>you</b> <b>bear</b> <b>me</b>?” <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gwaihir</b>.<br>
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“<b>Many</b> <b>leagues</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ends</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>sent</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>not</b> <b>burdens</b>."<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>steed</b> <b>on</b> <b>land</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>steed</b> <b>surpassingly</b> <b>swift</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>had</b> <b>such</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>haste</b> <b>before</b>."<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>bear</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>Edoras</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>sits</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>halls</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>very</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b>.” <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>glad</b>, <b>for</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riddermark</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rohirrim</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Horse</b>-<b>lords</b>, <b>dwell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>horses</b> <b>like</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>bred</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>great</b> <b>vale</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b>.<br>
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“<b>Are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>trusted</b>, <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b>?” <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gwaihir</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>treason</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>had</b> <b>shaken</b> <b>my</b> <b>faith</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>pay</b> <b>a</b> <b>tribute</b> <b>of</b> <b>horses</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>send</b> <b>many</b> <b>yearly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>or</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>yoke</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>, <b>then</b> <b>their</b> <b>doom</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>long</b> <b>delayed</b>."<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>set</b> <b>me</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>ere</b> <b>dawn</b>; <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>lengthened</b> <b>my</b> <b>tale</b> <b>over</b> <b>long</b>. <b>The</b> <b>rest</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>brief</b>. <b>In</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>evil</b> <b>already</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b>: <b>the</b> <b>lies</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>king</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>warnings</b>. <b>He</b> <b>bade</b> <b>me</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>horse</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>gone</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>chose</b> <b>one</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>liking</b>. <b>but</b> <b>little</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b>. <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>horse</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>like</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>noble</b> <b>beast</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>grieves</b> <b>me</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>many</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>seem</b> <b>worse</b> <b>to</b> <b>learn</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>levies</b> <b>such</b> <b>tribute</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>when</b> <b>last</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Nor</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>swear</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>lie</b> <b>that</b> <b>comes</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>; <b>true</b> <b>and</b> <b>valiant</b>, <b>our</b> <b>allies</b>, <b>dwelling</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>gave</b> <b>them</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>lies</b> <b>on</b> <b>distant</b> <b>lands</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Saruman</b> <b>has</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>under</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Rohan</b> <b>is</b> <b>beset</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>knows</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>there</b>, <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>you</b> <b>return</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>this</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>.” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>buy</b> <b>their</b> <b>lives</b> <b>with</b> <b>horses</b>. <b>They</b> <b>love</b> <b>their</b> <b>horses</b> <b>next</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>kin</b>. <b>And</b> <b>not</b> <b>without</b> <b>reason</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>horses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riddermark</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>fields</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b>. <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>race</b>, <b>as</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>masters</b>, <b>is</b> <b>descended</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>free</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>.”<br>
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“<b>True</b> <b>indeed</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>foaled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>The</b> <b>horses</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>vie</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>; <b>tireless</b>, <b>swift</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>Shadowfax</b> <b>they</b> <b>called</b> <b>him</b>. <b>By</b> <b>day</b> <b>his</b> <b>coat</b> <b>glistens</b> <b>like</b> <b>silver</b>; <b>and</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>shade</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>passes</b> <b>unseen</b>. <b>Light</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>footfall</b>! <b>Never</b> <b>before</b> <b>had</b> <b>any</b> <b>man</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>tamed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>speedily</b> <b>he</b> <b>bore</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>when</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>downs</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>only</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>fear</b> <b>grew</b> <b>in</b> <b>me</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>rode</b>. <b>Ever</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>north</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>gained</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b> <b>day</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>ever</b> <b>before</b> <b>me</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>divided</b> <b>their</b> <b>forces</b>, <b>I</b> <b>learned</b>: <b>some</b> <b>remained</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>borders</b>, <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greenway</b>. <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>invaded</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>. <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>words</b> <b>with</b> <b>old</b> <b>Gamgee</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>words</b> <b>and</b> <b>few</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>shortcomings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>owners</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>abide</b> <b>changes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>he</b>, “<b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>my</b> <b>time</b> <b>of</b> <b>life</b>, <b>and</b> <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>changes</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b>.” “<b>Changes</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>repeated</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b>.<br>
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“<b>Worst</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>bad</b> <b>word</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>live</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b>.” <b>But</b> <b>amidst</b> <b>his</b> <b>talk</b> <b>I</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>left</b> <b>Hobbiton</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>week</b> <b>before</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>horseman</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>rode</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Buckland</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>uproar</b>, <b>as</b> <b>busy</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>hive</b> <b>of</b> <b>ants</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>stick</b>. <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b> <b>open</b> <b>and</b> <b>empty</b>; <b>but</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b> <b>there</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>hope</b> <b>left</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>wait</b> <b>to</b> <b>gather</b> <b>news</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>comforted</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>rode</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>trail</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>many</b> <b>ways</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>loss</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>had</b> <b>ridden</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Bree</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b> <b>I</b> <b>went</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>words</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>innkeeper</b>.<br>
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“<b>Butterbur</b> <b>they</b> <b>call</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>thought</b> <b>I</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>this</b> <b>delay</b> <b>was</b> <b>his</b> <b>fault</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>melt</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>butter</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>roast</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>fool</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>slow</b> <b>fire</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>expected</b> <b>no</b> <b>less</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>my</b> <b>face</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>down</b> <b>flat</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>melt</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>spot</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>alarm</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>really</b> <b>very</b> <b>kind</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>bite</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>barked</b> <b>very</b> <b>little</b>. <b>So</b> <b>overjoyed</b> <b>was</b> <b>I</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>quaking</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>embraced</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>fellow</b>. <b>How</b> <b>it</b> <b>happened</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>then</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>learned</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>before</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>off</b> <b>that</b> <b>morning</b> <b>with</b> <b>Strider</b>.<br>
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“<b>Strider</b>!” <b>I</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>shouting</b> <b>for</b> <b>joy</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>sir</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>so</b>, <b>sir</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Butterbur</b>, <b>mistaking</b> <b>me</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>, <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>They</b> <b>behaved</b> <b>very</b> <b>queer</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>here</b>: <b>wilful</b>, <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>."<br>
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“<b>Ass</b>! <b>Fool</b>! <b>Thrice</b> <b>worthy</b> <b>and</b> <b>beloved</b> <b>Barliman</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>I</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>news</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>since</b> <b>midsummer</b>: <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>worth</b> <b>a</b> <b>gold</b> <b>piece</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b>. <b>May</b> <b>your</b> <b>beer</b> <b>be</b> <b>laid</b> <b>under</b> <b>an</b> <b>enchantment</b> <b>of</b> <b>surpassing</b> <b>excellence</b> <b>for</b> <b>seven</b> <b>years</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>I</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>night</b>'<b>s</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>when</b>."<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>I</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>there</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>much</b> <b>what</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>; <b>for</b> <b>only</b> <b>of</b> <b>two</b> <b>had</b> <b>there</b> <b>yet</b> <b>been</b> <b>any</b> <b>news</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>we</b> <b>heard</b> <b>more</b>. <b>Five</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>threw</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>howling</b> <b>wind</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>shivering</b> <b>and</b> <b>expecting</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>before</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>after</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>clear</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>Captain</b> <b>remained</b> <b>in</b> <b>secret</b> <b>away</b> <b>south</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bree</b>, <b>while</b> <b>two</b> <b>rode</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>village</b>, <b>and</b> <b>four</b> <b>more</b> <b>invaded</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>when</b> <b>these</b> <b>were</b> <b>foiled</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bree</b> <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>Crickhollow</b>, <b>they</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>Captain</b> <b>with</b> <b>tidings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>unguarded</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>except</b> <b>by</b> <b>their</b> <b>spies</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Captain</b> <b>then</b> <b>sent</b> <b>some</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>straight</b> <b>across</b> <b>country</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>himself</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>rode</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>in</b> <b>great</b> <b>wrath</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>galloped</b> <b>to</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>gale</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>reached</b> <b>it</b> <b>before</b> <b>sundown</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>second</b> <b>day</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b>-<b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>there</b> <b>before</b> <b>me</b>. <b>They</b> <b>drew</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>me</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>anger</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>face</b> <b>it</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>closed</b> <b>round</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>besieged</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>S</b>?<b>l</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>put</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b> <b>indeed</b>: <b>such</b> <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>flame</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b> <b>on</b> <b>Weathertop</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b>-<b>beacons</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>.<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>sunrise</b> <b>I</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>and</b> <b>fled</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>more</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>impossible</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>folly</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>at</b> <b>my</b> <b>heels</b>. <b>So</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>trust</b> <b>to</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>to</b> <b>draw</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>off</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>reach</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>send</b> <b>out</b> <b>help</b>. <b>Four</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>did</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>follow</b> <b>me</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>back</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seems</b>. <b>That</b> <b>helped</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>, <b>for</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>five</b>, <b>not</b> <b>nine</b>, <b>when</b> <b>your</b> <b>camp</b> <b>was</b> <b>attacked</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>reached</b> <b>here</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>hard</b> <b>road</b>, <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hoarwell</b> <b>and</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ettenmoors</b>, <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>. <b>It</b> <b>took</b> <b>me</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>fourteen</b> <b>days</b> <b>from</b> <b>Weathertop</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>ride</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>troll</b>-<b>fells</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Shadowfax</b> <b>departed</b>. <b>I</b> <b>sent</b> <b>him</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b>; <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>has</b> <b>grown</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>need</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>my</b> <b>call</b>. <b>But</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>only</b> <b>three</b> <b>days</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>peril</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>been</b> <b>brought</b> <b>here</b>-<b>which</b> <b>proved</b> <b>well</b> <b>indeed</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>that</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>account</b>. <b>May</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>forgive</b> <b>the</b> <b>length</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>happened</b> <b>before</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>broke</b> <b>tryst</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>promised</b>. <b>An</b> <b>account</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b> <b>of</b> <b>so</b> <b>strange</b> <b>an</b> <b>event</b> <b>was</b> <b>required</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Tale</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>told</b>, <b>from</b> <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>last</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>we</b> <b>all</b> <b>are</b>, <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>come</b> <b>any</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>purpose</b>. <b>What</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>?”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>grievous</b> <b>news</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>Saruman</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>trusted</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>our</b> <b>counsels</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>to</b> <b>study</b> <b>too</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>the</b> <b>arts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>, <b>for</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>ill</b>. <b>But</b> <b>such</b> <b>falls</b> <b>and</b> <b>betrayals</b>, <b>alas</b>, <b>have</b> <b>happened</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tales</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>this</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>most</b> <b>strange</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>known</b> <b>few</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>save</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>here</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>alone</b> <b>and</b> <b>singular</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>thought</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>has</b> <b>changed</b> <b>much</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>last</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>westward</b> <b>roads</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>wights</b> <b>we</b> <b>know</b> <b>by</b> <b>many</b> <b>names</b>; <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>many</b> <b>tales</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>told</b>: <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b> <b>remains</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>an</b> <b>outlier</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>northern</b> <b>march</b>. <b>Time</b> <b>was</b> <b>when</b> <b>a</b> <b>squirrel</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>from</b> <b>tree</b> <b>to</b> <b>tree</b> <b>from</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>to</b> <b>Dunland</b> <b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isengard</b>. <b>In</b> <b>those</b> <b>lands</b> <b>I</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>once</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>wild</b> <b>and</b> <b>strange</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>Bombadil</b>, <b>if</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>that</b> <b>walked</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>hills</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>then</b> <b>was</b> <b>older</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>then</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b>. <b>Iarwain</b> <b>Ben</b>-<b>adar</b> <b>we</b> <b>called</b> <b>him</b>, <b>oldest</b> <b>and</b> <b>fatherless</b>. <b>But</b> <b>many</b> <b>another</b> <b>name</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>since</b> <b>been</b> <b>given</b> <b>by</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b>: <b>Forn</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>Orald</b> <b>by</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>names</b> <b>beside</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>creature</b>, <b>but</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>summoned</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>Council</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>Could</b> <b>we</b> <b>not</b> <b>still</b> <b>send</b> <b>messages</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>obtain</b> <b>his</b> <b>help</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Erestor</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>a</b> <b>power</b> <b>even</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Say</b> <b>rather</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>has</b> <b>no</b> <b>power</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>master</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>alter</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>itself</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>break</b> <b>its</b> <b>power</b> <b>over</b> <b>others</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>withdrawn</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>land</b>, <b>within</b> <b>bounds</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>set</b>, <b>though</b> <b>none</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>, <b>waiting</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>change</b> <b>of</b> <b>days</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>step</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>within</b> <b>those</b> <b>bounds</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Erestor</b>. “<b>Would</b> <b>he</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b>, <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>harmless</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>not</b> <b>willingly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>might</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>, <b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>free</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>begged</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>the</b> <b>need</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>given</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>forget</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>most</b> <b>likely</b> <b>throw</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Such</b> <b>things</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>hold</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>most</b> <b>unsafe</b> <b>guardian</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>alone</b> <b>is</b> <b>answer</b> <b>enough</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, “<b>to</b> <b>send</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>would</b> <b>only</b> <b>postpone</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>of</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>We</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>now</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>unguessed</b>, <b>unmarked</b> <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>spy</b>. <b>And</b> <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b>, <b>soon</b> <b>or</b> <b>late</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>would</b> <b>learn</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>hiding</b> <b>place</b> <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>bend</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>power</b> <b>towards</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Could</b> <b>that</b> <b>power</b> <b>be</b> <b>defied</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bombadil</b> <b>alone</b>? <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>not</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>, <b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>is</b> <b>conquered</b>, <b>Bombadil</b> <b>will</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>Last</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>First</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Night</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>Iarwain</b> <b>save</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galdor</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>is</b> <b>right</b>. <b>Power</b> <b>to</b> <b>defy</b> <b>our</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>such</b> <b>power</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b> <b>itself</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>we</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>can</b> <b>torture</b> <b>and</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>What</b> <b>power</b> <b>still</b> <b>remains</b> <b>lies</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>, <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>Imladris</b>, <b>or</b> <b>with</b> <b>Cirdan</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Havens</b>, <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>But</b> <b>have</b> <b>they</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>here</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>to</b> <b>withstand</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>, <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b>, <b>when</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>is</b> <b>overthrown</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>; “<b>neither</b> <b>have</b> <b>they</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>kept</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>by</b> <b>strength</b>” <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, “<b>two</b> <b>things</b> <b>only</b> <b>remain</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>attempt</b>: <b>to</b> <b>send</b> <b>it</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>has</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>craft</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>here</b> <b>possess</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>they</b> <b>who</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>receive</b> <b>it</b>: <b>for</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>ill</b> <b>it</b> <b>belongs</b> <b>to</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>; <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>who</b> <b>still</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b>, <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, “<b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>cast</b> <b>it</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeps</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>lies</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>come</b> <b>true</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>clear</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>crooked</b> <b>path</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>lost</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>but</b> <b>wished</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>so</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>lust</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>oft</b> <b>in</b> <b>lies</b> <b>truth</b> <b>is</b> <b>hidden</b>: <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>safe</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>waters</b>; <b>and</b> <b>seas</b> <b>and</b> <b>lands</b> <b>may</b> <b>change</b>. <b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>our</b> <b>part</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>thought</b> <b>only</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>season</b>, <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>passing</b> <b>age</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>. <b>We</b> <b>should</b> <b>seek</b> <b>a</b> <b>final</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>menace</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>one</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>roads</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galdor</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>Iarwain</b> <b>be</b> <b>thought</b> <b>too</b> <b>dangerous</b>, <b>then</b> <b>flight</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>S</b>‚<b>a</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>fraught</b> <b>with</b> <b>gravest</b> <b>peril</b>. <b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>tells</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>will</b> <b>expect</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>way</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>learns</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>befallen</b>. <b>He</b> <b>soon</b> <b>will</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>unhorsed</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>respite</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>they</b> <b>find</b> <b>new</b> <b>steeds</b> <b>and</b> <b>swifter</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>the</b> <b>waning</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>stands</b> <b>now</b> <b>between</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>march</b> <b>in</b> <b>power</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>coasts</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b>, <b>assailing</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Towers</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Havens</b>, <b>hereafter</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>escape</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lengthening</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Long</b> <b>yet</b> <b>will</b> <b>that</b> <b>march</b> <b>be</b> <b>delayed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Gondor</b> <b>wanes</b>, <b>you</b> <b>say</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>stands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>strength</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>very</b> <b>strong</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>its</b> <b>vigilance</b> <b>can</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>keep</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galdor</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>other</b> <b>roads</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>guard</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Erestor</b>, “<b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>but</b> <b>two</b> <b>courses</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> <b>already</b> <b>has</b> <b>declared</b>: <b>to</b> <b>hide</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>; <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>unmake</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>both</b> <b>are</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>our</b> <b>power</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>will</b> <b>read</b> <b>this</b> <b>riddle</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>?”<br>
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“<b>None</b> <b>here</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>gravely</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>none</b> <b>can</b> <b>foretell</b> <b>what</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>take</b> <b>this</b> <b>road</b> <b>or</b> <b>that</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>now</b> <b>clear</b> <b>which</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b>. <b>The</b> <b>westward</b> <b>road</b> <b>seems</b> <b>easiest</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>shunned</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>watched</b>. <b>Too</b> <b>often</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>have</b> <b>fled</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>last</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>hard</b> <b>road</b>, <b>a</b> <b>road</b> <b>unforeseen</b>. <b>There</b> <b>lies</b> <b>our</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>if</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b>. <b>To</b> <b>walk</b> <b>into</b> <b>peril</b>-<b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>send</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fire</b>.”<br>
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<b>Silence</b> <b>fell</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>fair</b> <b>house</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>out</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>sunlit</b> <b>valley</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>clear</b> <b>waters</b>, <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>dead</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>stirred</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>fingering</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>horn</b> <b>and</b> <b>frowning</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Saruman</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>traitor</b>, <b>but</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>wisdom</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>speak</b> <b>ever</b> <b>of</b> <b>hiding</b> <b>and</b> <b>destroying</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>should</b> <b>we</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>into</b> <b>our</b> <b>hands</b> <b>to</b> <b>serve</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>hour</b> <b>of</b> <b>need</b>? <b>Wielding</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>Free</b> <b>Lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Free</b> <b>may</b> <b>surely</b> <b>defeat</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>most</b> <b>fears</b>, <b>I</b> <b>deem</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>are</b> <b>valiant</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>never</b> <b>submit</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>beaten</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Valour</b> <b>needs</b> <b>first</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>a</b> <b>weapon</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>be</b> <b>your</b> <b>weapon</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>such</b> <b>power</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>. <b>Take</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>forth</b> <b>to</b> <b>victory</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Alas</b>, <b>no</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ruling</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>That</b> <b>we</b> <b>now</b> <b>know</b> <b>too</b> <b>well</b>. <b>It</b> <b>belongs</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>is</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>great</b> <b>for</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>to</b> <b>wield</b> <b>at</b> <b>will</b>, <b>save</b> <b>only</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>have</b> <b>already</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>. <b>But</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>it</b> <b>holds</b> <b>an</b> <b>even</b> <b>deadlier</b> <b>peril</b>. <b>The</b> <b>very</b> <b>desire</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>corrupts</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>Consider</b> <b>Saruman</b>. <b>If</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>should</b> <b>with</b> <b>this</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>overthrow</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>using</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>arts</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>then</b> <b>set</b> <b>himself</b> <b>on</b> <b>Sauron</b>'<b>s</b> <b>throne</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>another</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>would</b> <b>appear</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b> <b>reason</b> <b>why</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>destroyed</b>: <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>danger</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>. <b>For</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>is</b> <b>evil</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>hide</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>wield</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Nor</b> <b>I</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>doubtfully</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>be</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>trust</b> <b>to</b> <b>such</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b>. <b>And</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>ones</b> <b>guard</b> <b>this</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>fight</b> <b>on</b>. <b>Mayhap</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b>-<b>that</b>-<b>was</b>-<b>Broken</b> <b>may</b> <b>still</b> <b>stem</b> <b>the</b> <b>tide</b>—<b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b> <b>that</b> <b>wields</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>inherited</b> <b>not</b> <b>an</b> <b>heirloom</b> <b>only</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sinews</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>test</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b>.”<br>
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“<b>May</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>long</b> <b>delayed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>ask</b> <b>for</b> <b>aid</b>, <b>we</b> <b>need</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>others</b> <b>fought</b> <b>also</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>means</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>be</b> <b>comforted</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>other</b> <b>powers</b> <b>and</b> <b>realms</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>not</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Anduin</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>flows</b> <b>past</b> <b>many</b> <b>shores</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>it</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>Argonath</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Still</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>well</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>strengths</b> <b>were</b> <b>joined</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>powers</b> <b>of</b> <b>each</b> <b>were</b> <b>used</b> <b>in</b> <b>league</b>. <b>Other</b> <b>rings</b> <b>there</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>, <b>less</b> <b>treacherous</b>, <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>used</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>need</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Seven</b> <b>are</b> <b>lost</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b>—<b>if</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>r</b> <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b>; <b>naught</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>since</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>r</b> <b>perished</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>Indeed</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>now</b> <b>reveal</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>partly</b> <b>in</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Balin</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>no</b> <b>ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Thr</b>?<b>r</b> <b>gave</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>son</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>in</b> <b>to</b> <b>Thorin</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>taken</b> <b>with</b> <b>torment</b> <b>from</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>in</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dungeons</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dol</b> <b>Guldur</b>. <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>too</b> <b>late</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>, <b>alas</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>. “<b>When</b> <b>will</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>come</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>revenge</b>? <b>But</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b>. <b>What</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>Rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>? <b>Very</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>Rings</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lords</b> <b>keep</b> <b>them</b>? <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>too</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>Are</b> <b>they</b> <b>idle</b>? <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lords</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>they</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b>?”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>returned</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>hear</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Three</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>ever</b> <b>touch</b> <b>them</b>. <b>But</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>So</b> <b>much</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>hour</b> <b>of</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>now</b> <b>say</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>idle</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>as</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b> <b>or</b> <b>conquest</b>: <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>their</b> <b>power</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>who</b> <b>made</b> <b>them</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>desire</b> <b>strength</b> <b>or</b> <b>domination</b> <b>or</b> <b>hoarded</b> <b>wealth</b>, <b>but</b> <b>understanding</b>, <b>making</b>, <b>and</b> <b>healing</b>, <b>to</b> <b>preserve</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>unstained</b>. <b>These</b> <b>things</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>have</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>measure</b> <b>gained</b>, <b>though</b> <b>with</b> <b>sorrow</b>. <b>But</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>by</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wield</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>will</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>undoing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b> <b>and</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>will</b> <b>become</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>regains</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>better</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>his</b> <b>purpose</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>then</b> <b>would</b> <b>happen</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ruling</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>were</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>counsel</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>know</b> <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>sadly</b>. “<b>Some</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>Rings</b>, <b>which</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>has</b> <b>never</b> <b>touched</b>, <b>would</b> <b>then</b> <b>become</b> <b>free</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>rulers</b> <b>might</b> <b>heal</b> <b>the</b> <b>hurts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>wrought</b>. <b>But</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>will</b> <b>fail</b>, <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>fair</b> <b>things</b> <b>will</b> <b>fade</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>forgotten</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>belief</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>are</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>endure</b> <b>this</b> <b>chance</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Glorfindel</b> “<b>if</b> <b>by</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>dominion</b> <b>be</b> <b>taken</b> <b>away</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Thus</b> <b>we</b> <b>return</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>destroying</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Erestor</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>no</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>What</b> <b>strength</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>finding</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fire</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b>? <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>of</b> <b>despair</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>folly</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>say</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>forbid</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Despair</b>, <b>or</b> <b>folly</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>despair</b>, <b>for</b> <b>despair</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>all</b> <b>doubt</b>. <b>We</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>to</b> <b>recognize</b> <b>necessity</b>, <b>when</b> <b>all</b> <b>other</b> <b>courses</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>weighed</b>, <b>though</b> <b>as</b> <b>folly</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>appear</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>cling</b> <b>to</b> <b>false</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>Well</b>, <b>let</b> <b>folly</b> <b>be</b> <b>our</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>a</b> <b>veil</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>! <b>For</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>wise</b>, <b>and</b> <b>weighs</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>nicety</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>scales</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>malice</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>measure</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>is</b> <b>desire</b>, <b>desire</b> <b>for</b> <b>power</b>; <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>he</b> <b>judges</b> <b>all</b> <b>hearts</b>. <b>Into</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>enter</b> <b>that</b> <b>any</b> <b>will</b> <b>refuse</b> <b>it</b>, <b>that</b> <b>having</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>seek</b> <b>to</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>seek</b> <b>this</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>put</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>reckoning</b>.”<br>
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“<b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>trod</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>very</b> <b>hard</b>. <b>And</b> <b>neither</b> <b>strength</b> <b>nor</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>will</b> <b>carry</b> <b>us</b> <b>far</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>. <b>This</b> <b>quest</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>attempted</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>weak</b> <b>with</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>hope</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>strong</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>such</b> <b>is</b> <b>oft</b> <b>the</b> <b>course</b> <b>of</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>that</b> <b>move</b> <b>the</b> <b>wheels</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>: <b>small</b> <b>hands</b> <b>do</b> <b>them</b> <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>must</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>are</b> <b>elsewhere</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>, <b>very</b> <b>well</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Elrond</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>suddenly</b>. “<b>Say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>plain</b> <b>enough</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>pointing</b> <b>at</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>the</b> <b>silly</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>started</b> <b>this</b> <b>affair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>finish</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>comfortable</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>getting</b> <b>on</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>book</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>just</b> <b>writing</b> <b>an</b> <b>ending</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>putting</b>: <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>lived</b> <b>happily</b> <b>ever</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>days</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>ending</b>, <b>and</b> <b>none</b> <b>the</b> <b>worse</b> <b>for</b> <b>having</b> <b>been</b> <b>used</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>alter</b> <b>that</b>: <b>it</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>coming</b> <b>true</b>; <b>and</b> <b>anyway</b> <b>there</b> <b>will</b> <b>evidently</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>several</b> <b>more</b> <b>chapters</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>live</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>them</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>frightful</b> <b>nuisance</b>. <b>When</b> <b>ought</b> <b>I</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b>?<br>
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“<b>Boromir</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>died</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>lips</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>regarded</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>with</b> <b>grave</b> <b>respect</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>smiled</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>smile</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>old</b> <b>memories</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>my</b> <b>dear</b> <b>Bilbo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>really</b> <b>started</b> <b>this</b> <b>affair</b>, <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>finish</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>well</b> <b>enough</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>starting</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>great</b> <b>a</b> <b>claim</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>part</b> <b>is</b> <b>played</b> <b>in</b> <b>great</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>hero</b>. <b>You</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>bow</b>! <b>Though</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>was</b> <b>meant</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>under</b> <b>jest</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>making</b> <b>a</b> <b>valiant</b> <b>offer</b>. <b>But</b> <b>one</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>your</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>take</b> <b>this</b> <b>thing</b> <b>back</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b> <b>on</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>my</b> <b>advice</b> <b>any</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>part</b> <b>is</b> <b>ended</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>recorder</b>. <b>Finish</b> <b>your</b> <b>book</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>ending</b> <b>unaltered</b>! <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>hope</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>get</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>a</b> <b>sequel</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>.”<br>
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<b>Bilbo</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>known</b> <b>you</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>advice</b> <b>before</b>.” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>As</b> <b>all</b> <b>your</b> <b>unpleasant</b> <b>advice</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>good</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>this</b> <b>advice</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>bad</b>. <b>Still</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>or</b> <b>luck</b> <b>left</b> <b>to</b> <b>deal</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>grown</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b>. <b>But</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b>: <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>by</b> <b>they</b>?”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>messengers</b> <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>sent</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Exactly</b>! <b>And</b> <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>they</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>? <b>That</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>what</b> <b>this</b> <b>Council</b> <b>has</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b>. <b>Elves</b> <b>may</b> <b>thrive</b> <b>on</b> <b>speech</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>endure</b> <b>great</b> <b>weariness</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>only</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>miss</b> <b>my</b> <b>meal</b> <b>at</b> <b>noon</b>. <b>Can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>names</b> <b>now</b>? <b>Or</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>off</b> <b>till</b> <b>after</b> <b>dinner</b>?”<br>
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<b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>answered</b>. <b>The</b> <b>noon</b>-<b>bell</b> <b>rang</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>spoke</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>glanced</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>faces</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b> <b>sat</b> <b>with</b> <b>downcast</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>in</b> <b>deep</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>dread</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>awaiting</b> <b>the</b> <b>pronouncement</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>doom</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>foreseen</b> <b>and</b> <b>vainly</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>might</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b> <b>never</b> <b>be</b> <b>spoken</b>. <b>An</b> <b>overwhelming</b> <b>longing</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b> <b>and</b> <b>remain</b> <b>at</b> <b>peace</b> <b>by</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>side</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>filled</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>words</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>will</b> <b>was</b> <b>using</b> <b>his</b> <b>small</b> <b>voice</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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<b>Elrond</b> <b>raised</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>keenness</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>glance</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b> <b>aright</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>task</b> <b>is</b> <b>appointed</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>, <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>will</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>hour</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>folk</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>arise</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>fields</b> <b>to</b> <b>shake</b> <b>the</b> <b>towers</b> <b>and</b> <b>counsels</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>foreseen</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Or</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>wise</b>, <b>why</b> <b>should</b> <b>they</b> <b>expect</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>it</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>hour</b> <b>has</b> <b>struck</b>?<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>burden</b>. <b>So</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>that</b> <b>none</b> <b>could</b> <b>lay</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>another</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>lay</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>freely</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>choice</b> <b>is</b> <b>right</b>; <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>friends</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>, <b>Hador</b>, <b>and</b> <b>H</b>?<b>rin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>T</b>?<b>rin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>himself</b> <b>were</b> <b>assembled</b> <b>together</b> <b>your</b> <b>seat</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>send</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b> <b>alone</b> <b>surely</b>, <b>Master</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>contain</b> <b>himself</b> <b>any</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>jumping</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>indeed</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>possible</b> <b>to</b> <b>separate</b> <b>you</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>, <b>even</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>summoned</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>council</b> <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b>, <b>blushing</b> <b>and</b> <b>muttering</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>nice</b> <b>pickle</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>landed</b> <b>ourselves</b> <b>in</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 3<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>RING</b> <b>GOES</b> <b>SOUTH</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Later</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>held</b> <b>a</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>in</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>room</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>were</b> <b>indignant</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>crept</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>companion</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>most</b> <b>unfair</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Instead</b> <b>of</b> <b>throwing</b> <b>him</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>clapping</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>chains</b>, <b>Elrond</b> <b>goes</b> <b>and</b> <b>rewards</b> <b>him</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>cheek</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Rewards</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>imagine</b> <b>a</b> <b>more</b> <b>severe</b> <b>punishment</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>saying</b>: <b>condemned</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>hopeless</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>a</b> <b>reward</b>? <b>Yesterday</b> <b>I</b> <b>dreamed</b> <b>that</b> <b>my</b> <b>task</b> <b>was</b> <b>done</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>rest</b> <b>here</b>, <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b>, <b>perhaps</b> <b>for</b> <b>good</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>wonder</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>could</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>envying</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>not</b> <b>you</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>, <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>punishment</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>way</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>been</b> <b>through</b> <b>some</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>times</b>. <b>We</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>meant</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>stick</b> <b>together</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>they</b> <b>chain</b> <b>me</b> <b>up</b>. <b>There</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>someone</b> <b>with</b> <b>intelligence</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>certainly</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>chosen</b>, <b>Peregrin</b> <b>Took</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>in</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>, <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>worrying</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>unnecessarily</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>is</b> <b>decided</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Nothing</b> <b>decided</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>what</b> <b>were</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>doing</b>? <b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>shut</b> <b>up</b> <b>for</b> <b>hours</b>.”<br>
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"<b>Talking</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>deal</b> <b>of</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>everyone</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b>-<b>opener</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>old</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>Legolas</b>'<b>s</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b> <b>about</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>caught</b> <b>even</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hop</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>it</b> <b>off</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>wrong</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>were</b> <b>inattentive</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gwaihir</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>real</b> <b>eye</b>-<b>openers</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b>, <b>were</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>surprised</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>anyway</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, “<b>nothing</b> <b>was</b> <b>decided</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>choosing</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>let</b> <b>off</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>ask</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Elrond</b> <b>will</b> <b>send</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>number</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>reports</b> <b>come</b> <b>in</b>. <b>Have</b> <b>they</b> <b>started</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>scouts</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>sent</b> <b>out</b> <b>already</b>. <b>More</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>tomorrow</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>is</b> <b>sending</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>get</b> <b>in</b> <b>touch</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rangers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>with</b> <b>Thranduil</b>'<b>s</b> <b>folk</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>has</b> <b>gone</b> <b>with</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sons</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>scour</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>long</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>before</b> <b>any</b> <b>move</b> <b>is</b> <b>made</b>. <b>So</b> <b>cheer</b> <b>up</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>probably</b> <b>make</b> <b>quite</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>gloomily</b>. “<b>We</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>just</b> <b>wait</b> <b>long</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>winter</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>helped</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>your</b> <b>fault</b> <b>partly</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>: <b>insisting</b> <b>on</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>birthday</b>. <b>A</b> <b>funny</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>honouring</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>help</b> <b>thinking</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>for</b> <b>letting</b> <b>the</b> <b>S</b>.-<b>B</b>.<b>s</b> <b>into</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>: <b>you</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>wait</b> <b>now</b> <b>fill</b> <b>spring</b>; <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>go</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>reports</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>winter</b> <b>first</b> <b>begins</b> <b>to</b> <b>bite</b><br>
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<b>and</b> <b>stones</b> <b>crack</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>frosty</b> <b>night</b>,<br>
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<b>when</b> <b>pools</b> <b>are</b> <b>black</b> <b>and</b> <b>trees</b> <b>are</b> <b>bare</b>,<br>
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'<b>tis</b> <b>evil</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wild</b> <b>to</b> <b>fare</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>just</b> <b>your</b> <b>luck</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>start</b> <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>out</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flood</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>master</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>stand</b> <b>or</b> <b>fall</b> <b>by</b> <b>him</b>. <b>We</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>unhorsed</b> <b>and</b> <b>unmasked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>less</b> <b>dangerous</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>find</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>meantime</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>forget</b> <b>your</b> <b>troubles</b>, <b>Frodo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>whisper</b> <b>this</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>ears</b>. <b>Someone</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>intelligence</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>needed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>party</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>right</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>great</b> <b>was</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>delight</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>announcement</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>-<b>sill</b>, <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>sitting</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>hat</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>only</b> <b>said</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b> <b>on</b> <b>anything</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>matter</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>, <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>friend</b> <b>the</b> <b>Strider</b>. <b>Which</b> <b>reminds</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>off</b>.”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>long</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>here</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>when</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>.<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>count</b> <b>days</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>quite</b> <b>long</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>think</b>. <b>We</b> <b>can</b> <b>have</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>talk</b>. <b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>helping</b> <b>me</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>book</b>, <b>and</b> <b>making</b> <b>a</b> <b>start</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b>? <b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>ending</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>several</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>are</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>unpleasant</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>that</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>do</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>Books</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>good</b> <b>endings</b>. <b>How</b> <b>would</b> <b>this</b> <b>do</b>: <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>settled</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>lived</b> <b>together</b> <b>happily</b> <b>ever</b> <b>after</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>ever</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>Ah</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>where</b> <b>will</b> <b>they</b> <b>live</b>? <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>often</b> <b>wonder</b>.”<br>
|
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<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>continued</b> <b>to</b> <b>talk</b> <b>and</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>past</b> <b>journey</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>perils</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>ahead</b>; <b>but</b> <b>such</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>virtue</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>that</b> <b>soon</b> <b>all</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>anxiety</b> <b>was</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b>. <b>The</b> <b>future</b>, <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>ill</b>, <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>forgotten</b>, <b>but</b> <b>ceased</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>any</b> <b>power</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>. <b>Health</b> <b>and</b> <b>hope</b> <b>grew</b> <b>strong</b> <b>in</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>content</b> <b>with</b> <b>each</b> <b>good</b> <b>day</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b>, <b>taking</b> <b>pleasure</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>meal</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>word</b> <b>and</b> <b>song</b>.<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>away</b>, <b>as</b> <b>each</b> <b>morning</b> <b>dawned</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>each</b> <b>evening</b> <b>followed</b> <b>cool</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>But</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>was</b> <b>waning</b> <b>fast</b>; <b>slowly</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>light</b> <b>faded</b> <b>to</b> <b>pale</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lingering</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>fell</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>naked</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>A</b> <b>wind</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>blow</b> <b>chill</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Hunter</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>waxed</b> <b>round</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>to</b> <b>flight</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>lesser</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>But</b> <b>low</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>one</b> <b>star</b> <b>shone</b> <b>red</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>night</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>waned</b> <b>again</b>, <b>it</b> <b>shone</b> <b>brighter</b> <b>and</b> <b>brighter</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>window</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>heavens</b> <b>burning</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>watchful</b> <b>eye</b> <b>that</b> <b>glared</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>two</b> <b>months</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>and</b> <b>November</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>by</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>shreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>autumn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>December</b> <b>was</b> <b>passing</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>scouts</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>north</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>springs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hoarwell</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ettenmoors</b>; <b>and</b> <b>others</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>help</b> <b>of</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rangers</b> <b>had</b> <b>searched</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>far</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greyflood</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>Tharbad</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>North</b> <b>Road</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>town</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>east</b> <b>and</b> <b>south</b>; <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>had</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>entered</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>, <b>while</b> <b>others</b> <b>had</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>source</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>Wilderland</b> <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gladden</b> <b>Fields</b> <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b> <b>had</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>home</b> <b>of</b> <b>Radagast</b> <b>at</b> <b>Rhosgobel</b>. <b>Radagast</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>there</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>returned</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>pass</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Stair</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sons</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>Elladan</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elrohir</b>, <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b>; <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>passing</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>country</b>, <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>errand</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>to</b> <b>any</b> <b>save</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elrond</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>no</b> <b>region</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>messengers</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>any</b> <b>signs</b> <b>or</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>or</b> <b>other</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eagles</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>learned</b> <b>no</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>news</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gollum</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>gathering</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>again</b> <b>far</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>horses</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>found</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flooded</b> <b>Ford</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rapids</b> <b>below</b> <b>it</b> <b>searchers</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>the</b> <b>bodies</b> <b>of</b> <b>five</b> <b>more</b>, <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>black</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>slashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>tattered</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>trace</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nowhere</b> <b>was</b> <b>their</b> <b>presence</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>felt</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>.<br>
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“<b>Eight</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>are</b> <b>accounted</b> <b>for</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>rash</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>sure</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>hope</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b> <b>were</b> <b>scattered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b> <b>as</b> <b>best</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>Master</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>shapeless</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b>, <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>begin</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunt</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>has</b> <b>other</b> <b>servants</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>journey</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>pick</b> <b>up</b> <b>our</b> <b>trail</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>careful</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>delay</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b>.”<br>
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<b>Elrond</b> <b>summoned</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>gravely</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>time</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>, <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>soon</b>. <b>But</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>errand</b> <b>being</b> <b>aided</b> <b>by</b> <b>war</b> <b>or</b> <b>force</b>. <b>They</b> <b>must</b> <b>pass</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>domain</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>aid</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>still</b> <b>hold</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>word</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>Sam</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>much</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>with</b> <b>counsel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>foresee</b> <b>very</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>road</b>; <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>your</b> <b>task</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>achieved</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>has</b> <b>crept</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>draws</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>Greyflood</b>; <b>and</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>all</b> <b>is</b> <b>dark</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>meet</b> <b>many</b> <b>foes</b>, <b>some</b> <b>open</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>disguised</b>; <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>find</b> <b>friends</b> <b>upon</b> <b>your</b> <b>way</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>least</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>send</b> <b>out</b> <b>messages</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>contrive</b>, <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>whom</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>world</b>; <b>but</b> <b>so</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>now</b> <b>become</b> <b>that</b> <b>some</b> <b>may</b> <b>well</b> <b>miscarry</b>, <b>or</b> <b>come</b> <b>no</b> <b>quicker</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>yourself</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>choose</b> <b>you</b> <b>companions</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>or</b> <b>fortune</b> <b>allows</b>. <b>The</b> <b>number</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>few</b>, <b>since</b> <b>your</b> <b>hope</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>speed</b> <b>and</b> <b>secrecy</b>. <b>Had</b> <b>I</b> <b>a</b> <b>host</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>in</b> <b>armour</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>, <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>avail</b> <b>little</b>, <b>save</b> <b>to</b> <b>arouse</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>Nine</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>Walkers</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>set</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>With</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>faithful</b> <b>servant</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b>; <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>task</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>labours</b>.<br>
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“<b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>they</b> <b>shall</b> <b>represent</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>Free</b> <b>Peoples</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>World</b>: <b>Elves</b>, <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Men</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>passes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>beyond</b>. <b>For</b> <b>men</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>concerns</b> <b>him</b> <b>closely</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Strider</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>ask</b> <b>leave</b> <b>once</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>your</b> <b>companion</b>, <b>Frodo</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>begged</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>only</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>with</b> <b>Boromir</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sword</b>-<b>that</b>-<b>was</b>-<b>Broken</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>reforged</b> <b>ere</b> <b>I</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>war</b>. <b>But</b> <b>your</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>road</b> <b>lie</b> <b>together</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>miles</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>will</b> <b>also</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>valiant</b> <b>man</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>remain</b> <b>two</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>consider</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>my</b> <b>household</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>good</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>send</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>leave</b> <b>no</b> <b>place</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>in</b> <b>dismay</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>We</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>Frodo</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>because</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>and</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>imagine</b> <b>what</b> <b>lies</b> <b>ahead</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>.<br>
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“<b>Neither</b> <b>does</b> <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>unexpectedly</b> <b>supporting</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>Nor</b> <b>do</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>see</b> <b>clearly</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>these</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>understood</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>dare</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>still</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>, <b>or</b> <b>wish</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>dared</b>, <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>shamed</b> <b>and</b> <b>unhappy</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>Elrond</b>, <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>matter</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>trust</b> <b>rather</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>than</b> <b>to</b> <b>great</b> <b>wisdom</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>chose</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>an</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>lord</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>Glorfindel</b>, <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>storm</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>open</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fire</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>speak</b> <b>gravely</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>in</b> <b>doubt</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>I</b> <b>forebode</b>, <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>free</b> <b>now</b> <b>from</b> <b>peril</b>; <b>and</b> <b>these</b> <b>two</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>thought</b> <b>to</b> <b>send</b> <b>back</b> <b>there</b> <b>as</b> <b>messengers</b>, <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>, <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fashion</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>country</b>, <b>to</b> <b>warn</b> <b>the</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>danger</b>. <b>In</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b>, <b>I</b> <b>judge</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>younger</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>two</b>, <b>Peregrin</b> <b>Took</b>, <b>should</b> <b>remain</b>. <b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>is</b> <b>against</b> <b>his</b> <b>going</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>lock</b> <b>me</b> <b>in</b> <b>prison</b>, <b>or</b> <b>send</b> <b>me</b> <b>home</b> <b>tied</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>sack</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>otherwise</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>follow</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Let</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>so</b> <b>then</b>. <b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>sighed</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>the</b> <b>tale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nine</b> <b>is</b> <b>filled</b>. <b>In</b> <b>seven</b> <b>days</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>must</b> <b>depart</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Sword</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>was</b> <b>forged</b> <b>anew</b> <b>by</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>smiths</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>blade</b> <b>was</b> <b>traced</b> <b>a</b> <b>device</b> <b>of</b> <b>seven</b> <b>stars</b> <b>set</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>crescent</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rayed</b> <b>Sun</b>, <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>written</b> <b>many</b> <b>runes</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>war</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>marches</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>bright</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>sword</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>whole</b> <b>again</b>; <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>shone</b> <b>redly</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>moon</b> <b>shone</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>edge</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>and</b> <b>keen</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>gave</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>name</b> <b>and</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b> <b>And</b>?<b>ril</b>, <b>Flame</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>.<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>walked</b> <b>together</b> <b>or</b> <b>sat</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>perils</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>meet</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>pondered</b> <b>the</b> <b>storied</b> <b>and</b> <b>figured</b> <b>maps</b> <b>and</b> <b>books</b> <b>of</b> <b>lore</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>Sometimes</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>content</b> <b>to</b> <b>lean</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>guidance</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>spent</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>time</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>those</b> <b>last</b> <b>days</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>sat</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>among</b> <b>many</b> <b>tales</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>told</b> <b>in</b> <b>full</b> <b>the</b> <b>lay</b> <b>of</b> <b>Beren</b> <b>and</b> <b>L</b>?<b>thien</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>winning</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Jewel</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>were</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>about</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>small</b> <b>room</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>would</b> <b>read</b> <b>passages</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>book</b> (<b>which</b> <b>still</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>very</b> <b>incomplete</b>). <b>or</b> <b>scraps</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>verses</b>, <b>or</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>notes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>adventures</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>day</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>alone</b> <b>with</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>pulled</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>bed</b> <b>a</b> <b>wooden</b> <b>box</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>the</b> <b>lid</b> <b>and</b> <b>fumbled</b> <b>inside</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>sword</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>you</b> <b>know</b>. <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>safe</b> <b>but</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>smiths</b> <b>could</b> <b>mend</b> <b>it</b>. <b>No</b> <b>time</b> <b>now</b>.. <b>So</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>perhaps</b>, <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>care</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>this</b>, <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b>?”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>box</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>sword</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>shabby</b> <b>leathern</b> <b>scabbard</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>polished</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b>-<b>tended</b> <b>blade</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>Sting</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>little</b> <b>effort</b> <b>deep</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>wooden</b> <b>beam</b>. “<b>Take</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>like</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>, <b>I</b> <b>expect</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>accepted</b> <b>it</b> <b>gratefully</b>.<br>
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“<b>Also</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>this</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>bringing</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>parcel</b> <b>which</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>rather</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>for</b> <b>its</b> <b>size</b>. <b>He</b> <b>unwound</b> <b>several</b> <b>folds</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>cloth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>held</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>shirt</b> <b>of</b> <b>mail</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>close</b>-<b>woven</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>rings</b>, <b>as</b> <b>supple</b> <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>linen</b>, <b>cold</b> <b>as</b> <b>ice</b>, <b>and</b> <b>harder</b> <b>than</b> <b>steel</b>. <b>It</b> <b>shone</b> <b>like</b> <b>moonlit</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>studded</b> <b>with</b> <b>white</b> <b>gems</b>. <b>With</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>belt</b> <b>of</b> <b>pearl</b> <b>and</b> <b>crystal</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>it</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>moving</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>useful</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>mail</b> <b>that</b> <b>Thorin</b> <b>gave</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>from</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b> <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>started</b>, <b>and</b> <b>packed</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>my</b> <b>luggage</b>: <b>I</b> <b>brought</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>mementoes</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>Journey</b> <b>away</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>except</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>expect</b> <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>need</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>, <b>except</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>sometimes</b>. <b>You</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>feel</b> <b>any</b> <b>weight</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>look</b>—<b>well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>look</b> <b>right</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Just</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>myself</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>never</b> <b>mind</b> <b>about</b> <b>looks</b>. <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>wear</b> <b>it</b> <b>under</b> <b>your</b> <b>outer</b> <b>clothes</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>on</b>! <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>share</b> <b>this</b> <b>secret</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>tell</b> <b>anybody</b> <b>else</b>! <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>feel</b> <b>happier</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>wearing</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>turn</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>knives</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Riders</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>ended</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>.<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fastened</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>glittering</b> <b>belt</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>put</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>his</b> <b>old</b> <b>weather</b>-<b>stained</b> <b>breeches</b>, <b>tunic</b>, <b>and</b> <b>jacket</b>.<br>
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“<b>Just</b> <b>a</b> <b>plain</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>you</b> <b>look</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b> <b>now</b> <b>than</b> <b>appears</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>surface</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>luck</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>hum</b> <b>a</b> <b>tune</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>thank</b> <b>you</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>for</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>our</b> <b>past</b> <b>kindnesses</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>try</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>slapping</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>back</b>. “<b>Ow</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>too</b> <b>hard</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>slap</b>! <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b>: <b>Hobbits</b> <b>must</b> <b>stick</b> <b>together</b>, <b>and</b> <b>especially</b> <b>Bagginses</b>. <b>All</b> <b>I</b> <b>ask</b> <b>in</b> <b>return</b> <b>is</b>: <b>take</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>care</b> <b>of</b> <b>yourself</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>. <b>and</b> <b>bring</b> <b>back</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>, <b>and</b> <b>any</b> <b>old</b> <b>songs</b> <b>and</b> <b>tales</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>come</b> <b>by</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>do</b> <b>my</b> <b>best</b> <b>to</b> <b>finish</b> <b>my</b> <b>book</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>return</b>. <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>write</b> <b>the</b> <b>second</b> <b>book</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>spared</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>broke</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>window</b> <b>again</b>, <b>singing</b> <b>softly</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>sit</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>think</b><br>
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<b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b>,<br>
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<b>of</b> <b>meadow</b>-<b>flowers</b> <b>and</b> <b>butterflies</b><br>
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<b>in</b> <b>summers</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b>;<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Of</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>and</b> <b>gossamer</b><br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>autumns</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>with</b> <b>morning</b> <b>mist</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b> <b>sun</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>wind</b> <b>upon</b> <b>my</b> <b>hair</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>I</b> <b>sit</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>think</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>how</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b><br>
|
||
<b>when</b> <b>winter</b> <b>comes</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>spring</b><br>
|
||
<b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>ever</b> <b>see</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b><br>
|
||
<b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>wood</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>spring</b><br>
|
||
<b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>different</b> <b>green</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>I</b> <b>sit</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>think</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>people</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>people</b> <b>who</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>world</b><br>
|
||
<b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>never</b> <b>know</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>while</b> <b>I</b> <b>sit</b> <b>and</b> <b>think</b><br>
|
||
<b>of</b> <b>times</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>before</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>I</b> <b>listen</b> <b>for</b> <b>returning</b> <b>feet</b><br>
|
||
<b>and</b> <b>voices</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>grey</b> <b>day</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>December</b>. <b>The</b> <b>East</b> <b>Wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>bare</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seething</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>pines</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Ragged</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>were</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>overhead</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>low</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>cheerless</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>evening</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>made</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b> <b>at</b> <b>dusk</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>counselled</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>journey</b> <b>under</b> <b>cover</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b> <b>as</b> <b>often</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>fear</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>discomfiture</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riders</b> <b>has</b> <b>already</b> <b>reached</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>wrath</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>now</b> <b>his</b> <b>spies</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b> <b>and</b> <b>wing</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>abroad</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>lands</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>beware</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>took</b> <b>little</b> <b>gear</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b>, <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>hope</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>secrecy</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>battle</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>had</b> <b>And</b>?<b>ril</b> <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>weapon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>forth</b> <b>clad</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>rusty</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>brown</b>. <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>Ranger</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>in</b> <b>fashion</b> <b>like</b> <b>And</b>?<b>ril</b> <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>less</b> <b>lineage</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>bore</b> <b>also</b> <b>a</b> <b>shield</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>war</b>-<b>horn</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Loud</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>it</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>valleys</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>let</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>foes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>flee</b>!” <b>Putting</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>lips</b> <b>he</b> <b>blew</b> <b>a</b> <b>blast</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>echoes</b> <b>leapt</b> <b>from</b> <b>rock</b> <b>to</b> <b>rock</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>voice</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Slow</b> <b>should</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>to</b> <b>wind</b> <b>that</b> <b>horn</b> <b>again</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>until</b> <b>you</b> <b>stand</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dire</b> <b>need</b> <b>is</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Maybe</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>always</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>let</b> <b>my</b> <b>horn</b> <b>cry</b> <b>at</b> <b>setting</b> <b>forth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>thereafter</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>walk</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>forth</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>thief</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>Gimli</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>alone</b> <b>wore</b> <b>openly</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>shirt</b> <b>of</b> <b>steel</b>-<b>rings</b>, <b>for</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>make</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>burdens</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>belt</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>broad</b>-<b>bladed</b> <b>axe</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>bow</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiver</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>belt</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>white</b> <b>knife</b>. <b>The</b> <b>younger</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>wore</b> <b>the</b> <b>swords</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>barrow</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>took</b> <b>only</b> <b>Sting</b>; <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>mail</b>-<b>coat</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>wished</b>, <b>remained</b> <b>hidden</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>bore</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b>, <b>but</b> <b>girt</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>sword</b> <b>Glamdring</b>, <b>the</b> <b>mate</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcrist</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>now</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>breast</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thorin</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lonely</b> <b>Mountain</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>All</b> <b>were</b> <b>well</b> <b>furnished</b> <b>by</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>with</b> <b>thick</b> <b>warm</b> <b>clothes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>jackets</b> <b>and</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>lined</b> <b>with</b> <b>fur</b>. <b>Spare</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>clothes</b> <b>and</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>needs</b> <b>were</b> <b>laden</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>none</b> <b>other</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>poor</b> <b>beast</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>from</b> <b>Bree</b>.<br>
|
||
?<b>he</b> <b>stay</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>had</b> <b>worked</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>of</b> <b>change</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>: <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>glossy</b> <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>vigour</b> <b>of</b> <b>youth</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>insisted</b> <b>on</b> <b>choosing</b> <b>him</b>, <b>declaring</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bill</b> (<b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>him</b>) <b>would</b> <b>pine</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>That</b> <b>animal</b> <b>can</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>talk</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>talk</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>here</b> <b>much</b> <b>longer</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>as</b> <b>plain</b> <b>as</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>could</b> <b>speak</b> <b>it</b>: <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Sam</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>follow</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b>.” <b>So</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>beast</b> <b>of</b> <b>burden</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>member</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>that</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>seem</b> <b>depressed</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Their</b> <b>farewells</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>hall</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>now</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b>. <b>A</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>firelight</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>doors</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soft</b> <b>lights</b> <b>were</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>windows</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>stood</b> <b>silent</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorstep</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>sat</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>; <b>only</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>knew</b> <b>fully</b> <b>what</b> <b>this</b> <b>hour</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>as</b> <b>grey</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>, <b>sucking</b> <b>his</b> <b>teeth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>staring</b> <b>moodily</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>roared</b> <b>stonily</b> <b>below</b>; <b>his</b> <b>desire</b> <b>for</b> <b>adventure</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>its</b> <b>lowest</b> <b>ebb</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Bill</b>, <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>oughtn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>. <b>You</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>et</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>hay</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>grass</b> <b>comes</b>.” <b>Bill</b> <b>swished</b> <b>his</b> <b>tail</b> <b>and</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Sam</b> <b>eased</b> <b>the</b> <b>pack</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>over</b> <b>anxiously</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>stowed</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>anything</b>: <b>his</b> <b>chief</b> <b>treasure</b>, <b>his</b> <b>cooking</b> <b>gear</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>box</b> <b>of</b> <b>salt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>always</b> <b>carried</b> <b>and</b> <b>refilled</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>; <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>supply</b> <b>of</b> <b>pipe</b>-<b>weed</b> (<b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>near</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>warrant</b>); <b>flint</b> <b>and</b> <b>tinder</b>; <b>woollen</b> <b>hose</b>: <b>linen</b>; <b>various</b> <b>small</b> <b>belongings</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>stowed</b> <b>to</b> <b>bring</b> <b>them</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>triumph</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>called</b> <b>for</b>. <b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>through</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Rope</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>muttered</b>. “<b>No</b> <b>rope</b>! <b>And</b> <b>only</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b> <b>you</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>yourself</b>: “<b>Sam</b>, <b>what</b> <b>about</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>rope</b>? <b>You</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>want</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>:” <b>Well</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>want</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>last</b> <b>word</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b> <b>is</b> <b>setting</b> <b>out</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mount</b> <b>Doom</b>. <b>On</b> <b>him</b> <b>alone</b> <b>is</b> <b>any</b> <b>charge</b> <b>laid</b>: <b>neither</b> <b>to</b> <b>cast</b> <b>away</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>to</b> <b>deliver</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>any</b> <b>servant</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>nor</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>to</b> <b>let</b> <b>any</b> <b>handle</b> <b>it</b>, <b>save</b> <b>members</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>then</b> <b>in</b> <b>gravest</b> <b>need</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>free</b> <b>companions</b>, <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b>. <b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>tarry</b>, <b>or</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>, <b>or</b> <b>turn</b> <b>aside</b> <b>into</b> <b>other</b> <b>paths</b>, <b>as</b> <b>chance</b> <b>allows</b>. <b>The</b> <b>further</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>, <b>the</b> <b>less</b> <b>easy</b> <b>will</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>to</b> <b>withdraw</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>no</b> <b>oath</b> <b>or</b> <b>bond</b> <b>is</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>further</b> <b>than</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>. <b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>hearts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>foresee</b> <b>what</b> <b>each</b> <b>may</b> <b>meet</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Faithless</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b> <b>that</b> <b>says</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>darkens</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>not</b> <b>vow</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>who</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>nightfall</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>sworn</b> <b>word</b> <b>may</b> <b>strengthen</b> <b>quaking</b> <b>heart</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>Or</b> <b>break</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Elrond</b>. “<b>Look</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b>! <b>But</b> <b>go</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>good</b> <b>hearts</b>! <b>Farewell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>may</b> <b>the</b> <b>blessing</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>Free</b> <b>Folk</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>. <b>May</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>shine</b> <b>upon</b> <b>your</b> <b>faces</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Good</b> .. . <b>good</b> <b>luck</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>stuttering</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>a</b> <b>diary</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>expect</b> <b>a</b> <b>full</b> <b>account</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>get</b> <b>back</b>. <b>And</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>be</b> <b>too</b> <b>long</b>! <b>Farewell</b>!”<br>
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<b>Many</b> <b>others</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>household</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>and</b> <b>watched</b> <b>them</b> <b>go</b>, <b>bidding</b> <b>them</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>with</b> <b>soft</b> <b>voices</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>laughter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>song</b> <b>or</b> <b>music</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>faded</b> <b>silently</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>and</b> <b>wound</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>steep</b> <b>paths</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cloven</b> <b>vale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>moor</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>hissed</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>heather</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>glance</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Last</b> <b>Homely</b> <b>House</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>strode</b> <b>away</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ford</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bruinen</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b> <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>by</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>paths</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>folded</b> <b>lands</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>this</b> <b>course</b> <b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>and</b> <b>days</b>. <b>The</b> <b>country</b> <b>was</b> <b>much</b> <b>rougher</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>barren</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>vale</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>in</b> <b>Wilderland</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>range</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>going</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>slow</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>the</b> <b>notice</b> <b>of</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>The</b> <b>spies</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>had</b> <b>hitherto</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>empty</b> <b>country</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>paths</b> <b>were</b> <b>little</b> <b>known</b> <b>except</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>went</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>who</b> <b>knew</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>file</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>whose</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>keen</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>rearguard</b>. <b>The</b> <b>first</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>and</b> <b>dreary</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>save</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>For</b> <b>many</b> <b>sunless</b> <b>days</b> <b>an</b> <b>icy</b> <b>blast</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>garment</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>out</b> <b>its</b> <b>searching</b> <b>fingers</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>clad</b>, <b>they</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>felt</b> <b>warm</b>, <b>either</b> <b>moving</b> <b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>rest</b>. <b>They</b> <b>slept</b> <b>uneasily</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>, <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>, <b>or</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>tangled</b> <b>thorn</b>-<b>bushes</b> <b>that</b> <b>grew</b> <b>in</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>places</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>late</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>roused</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>watch</b>, <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>their</b> <b>chief</b> <b>meal</b>: <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>cheerless</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>rule</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>risk</b> <b>the</b> <b>lighting</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>, <b>always</b> <b>as</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>southward</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>that</b> <b>although</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>and</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>creeping</b> <b>forward</b> <b>like</b> <b>snails</b>, <b>and</b> <b>getting</b> <b>nowhere</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>looked</b> <b>much</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>were</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>South</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>they</b> <b>rose</b> <b>ever</b> <b>higher</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bent</b> <b>westwards</b>; <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>range</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>tumbled</b> <b>an</b> <b>ever</b> <b>wider</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>bleak</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>deep</b> <b>valleys</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>turbulent</b> <b>waters</b>. <b>Paths</b> <b>were</b> <b>few</b> <b>and</b> <b>winding</b>, <b>and</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>often</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>or</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>treacherous</b> <b>swamps</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>fortnight</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>changed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>fell</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>veered</b> <b>round</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b>. <b>The</b> <b>swift</b>-<b>flowing</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>and</b> <b>melted</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b>, <b>pale</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b>. <b>There</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>clear</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>stumbling</b> <b>night</b>-<b>march</b>. <b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>reached</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>holly</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>whose</b> <b>grey</b>-<b>green</b> <b>trunks</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>built</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>stone</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>dark</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>shone</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>berries</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>red</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rising</b> <b>sun</b>.<br>
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<b>Away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>lofty</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>stand</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>taking</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>high</b> <b>range</b> <b>rose</b> <b>three</b> <b>peaks</b>; <b>the</b> <b>tallest</b> <b>and</b> <b>nearest</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>tooth</b> <b>tipped</b> <b>with</b> <b>snow</b>; <b>its</b> <b>great</b>, <b>bare</b>, <b>northern</b> <b>precipice</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>largely</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b>, <b>but</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>slanted</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>, <b>it</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>red</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>stood</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>that</b> <b>Men</b> <b>call</b> <b>Hollin</b>; <b>many</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>lived</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>happier</b> <b>days</b>, <b>when</b> <b>Eregion</b> <b>was</b> <b>its</b> <b>name</b>. <b>Five</b>-<b>and</b>-<b>forty</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>crow</b> <b>flies</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>, <b>though</b> <b>many</b> <b>long</b> <b>miles</b> <b>further</b> <b>our</b> <b>feet</b> <b>have</b> <b>walked</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>milder</b> <b>now</b>, <b>but</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>more</b> <b>dangerous</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Dangerous</b> <b>or</b> <b>not</b>, <b>a</b> <b>real</b> <b>sunrise</b> <b>is</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>welcome</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>throwing</b> <b>back</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>and</b> <b>letting</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>light</b> <b>fall</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>are</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>turned</b> <b>eastwards</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>further</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>clear</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>those</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>the</b> <b>range</b> <b>bends</b> <b>round</b> <b>south</b>-<b>west</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>maps</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>you</b> <b>never</b> <b>thought</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b>, <b>sometimes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>remember</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>has</b> <b>a</b> <b>better</b> <b>head</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>thing</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>no</b> <b>map</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>Legolas</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>out</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>deep</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>where</b> <b>our</b> <b>fathers</b> <b>worked</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>the</b> <b>image</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>into</b> <b>many</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>metal</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>into</b> <b>many</b> <b>songs</b> <b>and</b> <b>tales</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stand</b> <b>tall</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>dreams</b>: <b>Baraz</b>, <b>Zirak</b>, <b>Shath</b>?<b>r</b>.<br>
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“<b>Only</b> <b>once</b> <b>before</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>seen</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b> <b>in</b> <b>waking</b> <b>life</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>names</b>, <b>for</b> <b>under</b> <b>them</b> <b>lies</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Dwarrowdelf</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Black</b> <b>Pit</b>, <b>Moria</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>Yonder</b> <b>stands</b> <b>Barazinbar</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b>, <b>cruel</b> <b>Caradhras</b>; <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>him</b> <b>are</b> <b>Silvertine</b> <b>and</b> <b>Cloudyhead</b>: <b>Celebdil</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Fanuidhol</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>, <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b> <b>Zirak</b>-<b>zigil</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bundushath</b>?<b>r</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>divide</b>, <b>and</b> <b>between</b> <b>their</b> <b>arms</b> <b>lies</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b>-<b>shadowed</b> <b>valley</b> <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>forget</b>: <b>Azanulbizar</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>call</b> <b>Nanduhirion</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>making</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>climb</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Stair</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>vale</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b>. <b>There</b> <b>lies</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirrormere</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>rises</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>icy</b> <b>springs</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Dark</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>of</b> <b>Kheled</b>-<b>z</b>?<b>ram</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>cold</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>springs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Kibil</b>-<b>n</b>?<b>la</b>. <b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>trembles</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b> <b>soon</b>.”<br>
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“<b>May</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>joy</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>my</b> <b>good</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>l</b>” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>do</b>, <b>we</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>stay</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>secret</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> –”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>paused</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>where</b> <b>then</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
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“<b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b>—<b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>look</b> <b>too</b> <b>far</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>stage</b> <b>is</b> <b>safely</b> <b>over</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>rest</b> <b>here</b>, <b>not</b> <b>only</b> <b>today</b> <b>but</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>wholesome</b> <b>air</b> <b>about</b> <b>Hollin</b>. <b>Much</b> <b>evil</b> <b>must</b> <b>befall</b> <b>a</b> <b>country</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>forgets</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>if</b> <b>once</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>there</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>race</b> <b>strange</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>silvan</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>now</b> <b>remember</b> <b>them</b>: <b>Only</b> <b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>stones</b> <b>lament</b> <b>them</b>: <b>deep</b> <b>they</b> <b>delved</b> <b>us</b>, <b>fair</b> <b>they</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>us</b>, <b>high</b> <b>they</b> <b>builded</b> <b>us</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sought</b> <b>the</b> <b>Havens</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>.”<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>morning</b> <b>they</b> <b>lit</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>shrouded</b> <b>by</b> <b>great</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>of</b> <b>holly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>supper</b>-<b>breakfast</b> <b>was</b> <b>merrier</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>. <b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>to</b> <b>bed</b> <b>afterwards</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>in</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>restless</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>and</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b>; <b>there</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>out</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>westwards</b>, <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>posed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>listening</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>laughing</b> <b>and</b> <b>talking</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b>, <b>Strider</b>?” <b>Merry</b> <b>called</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>looking</b> <b>for</b>? <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>miss</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Wind</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>miss</b> <b>something</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hollin</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>seasons</b>. <b>No</b> <b>folk</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>here</b> <b>now</b>, <b>but</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>creatures</b> <b>live</b> <b>here</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>times</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>now</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>for</b> <b>miles</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>voices</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>echo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>interest</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>guess</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>reason</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>Is</b> <b>there</b> <b>more</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>than</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>at</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>mention</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>, <b>where</b> <b>people</b> <b>are</b> <b>so</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>heard</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>watchfulness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>had</b> <b>here</b> <b>before</b>.”<br>
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"<b>Then</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>careful</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>bring</b> <b>a</b> <b>Ranger</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>pay</b> <b>attention</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ranger</b> <b>is</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>stop</b> <b>talking</b> <b>aloud</b>, <b>rest</b> <b>quietly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>the</b> <b>watch</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>turn</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>watch</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>joined</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>silence</b> <b>grew</b> <b>until</b> <b>even</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>breathing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sleepers</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>heard</b>. <b>The</b> <b>swish</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>'<b>s</b> <b>tail</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>occasional</b> <b>movements</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>became</b> <b>loud</b> <b>noises</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>joints</b> <b>creaking</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>stirred</b>. <b>Dead</b> <b>silence</b> <b>was</b> <b>around</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>all</b> <b>hung</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>blue</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>rode</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>patch</b> <b>appeared</b>, <b>and</b> <b>grew</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drove</b> <b>north</b> <b>like</b> <b>flying</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b>, <b>Strider</b>? <b>It</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>look</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>whisper</b> <b>to</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>He</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>intently</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>; <b>but</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>for</b> <b>himself</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>approaching</b>. <b>Flocks</b> <b>of</b> <b>birds</b>, <b>flying</b> <b>at</b> <b>great</b> <b>speed</b>, <b>were</b> <b>wheeling</b> <b>and</b> <b>circling</b>, <b>and</b> <b>traversing</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>searching</b> <b>for</b> <b>something</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>nearer</b>.<br>
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“<b>Lie</b> <b>flat</b> <b>and</b> <b>still</b>!” <b>hissed</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>pulling</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shade</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>holly</b>-<b>bush</b>; <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>whole</b> <b>regiment</b> <b>of</b> <b>birds</b> <b>had</b> <b>broken</b> <b>away</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>host</b>, <b>and</b> <b>came</b>, <b>flying</b> <b>low</b>, <b>straight</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>ridge</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>thought</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>crow</b> <b>of</b> <b>large</b> <b>size</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>overhead</b>, <b>in</b> <b>so</b> <b>dense</b> <b>a</b> <b>throng</b> <b>that</b> <b>their</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>followed</b> <b>them</b> <b>darkly</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>below</b>, <b>one</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>croak</b> <b>was</b> <b>heard</b>.<br>
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<b>Not</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>dwindled</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>north</b> <b>and</b> <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>again</b> <b>clear</b> <b>would</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>rise</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>and</b> <b>wakened</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>Regiments</b> <b>of</b> <b>black</b> <b>crows</b> <b>are</b> <b>flying</b> <b>over</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greyflood</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>Hollin</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>natives</b> <b>here</b>; <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>crebain</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fangorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Dunland</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>about</b>: <b>possibly</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>away</b> <b>south</b> <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>fleeing</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>spying</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>also</b> <b>glimpsed</b> <b>many</b> <b>hawks</b> <b>flying</b> <b>high</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>move</b> <b>again</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>Hollin</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>wholesome</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>: <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>being</b> <b>watched</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>case</b> <b>so</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>get</b> <b>over</b> <b>that</b> <b>without</b> <b>being</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>imagine</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b>. <b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>moving</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>right</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Luckily</b> <b>our</b> <b>fire</b> <b>made</b> <b>little</b> <b>smoke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>burned</b> <b>low</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>crebain</b> <b>came</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>lit</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>plague</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>nuisance</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. <b>The</b> <b>news</b>: <b>no</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>move</b> <b>again</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>, <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>broken</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>woke</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>late</b> <b>afternoon</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>because</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>pack</b> <b>of</b> <b>crows</b>! <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>looked</b> <b>forward</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>real</b> <b>good</b> <b>meal</b> <b>tonight</b>: <b>something</b> <b>hot</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>looking</b> <b>forward</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>many</b> <b>unexpected</b> <b>feasts</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>For</b> <b>myself</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>pipe</b> <b>to</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>comfort</b>, <b>and</b> <b>warmer</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>However</b>, <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>certain</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b>: <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>get</b> <b>warmer</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>south</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Too</b> <b>warm</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shouldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>wonder</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>time</b> <b>we</b> <b>got</b> <b>a</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Fiery</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Road</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>here</b> <b>Redhorn</b>, <b>or</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>its</b> <b>name</b> <b>is</b>, <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>it</b>, <b>till</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>his</b> <b>piece</b>. <b>A</b> <b>fair</b> <b>jaw</b>-<b>cracker</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>language</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b>!” <b>Maps</b> <b>conveyed</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>distances</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>strange</b> <b>lands</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>so</b> <b>vast</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>quite</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>reckoning</b>.<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>remained</b> <b>in</b> <b>hiding</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>birds</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b>; <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>westering</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>grew</b> <b>red</b> <b>they</b> <b>disappeared</b> <b>southwards</b>. <b>At</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>now</b> <b>half</b> <b>east</b> <b>they</b> <b>steered</b> <b>their</b> <b>course</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Caradhras</b>, <b>which</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>still</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>faintly</b> <b>red</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>One</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>white</b> <b>stars</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forth</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>faded</b>.<br>
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<b>Guided</b> <b>by</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>they</b> <b>struck</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>path</b>. <b>It</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>remains</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>road</b>, <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>been</b> <b>broad</b> <b>and</b> <b>well</b> <b>planned</b>, <b>from</b> <b>Hollin</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>pass</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Moon</b>, <b>now</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b>, <b>rose</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cast</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>stones</b> <b>were</b> <b>black</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>worked</b> <b>by</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>though</b> <b>now</b> <b>they</b> <b>lay</b> <b>tumbled</b> <b>and</b> <b>ruinous</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>bleak</b>, <b>barren</b> <b>land</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>cold</b> <b>chill</b> <b>hour</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>stir</b> <b>of</b> <b>dawn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>low</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>or</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>pass</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>they</b> <b>faded</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shivered</b>.<br>
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“<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>anything</b> <b>pass</b> <b>over</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>whispered</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>ahead</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>wisp</b> <b>of</b> <b>thin</b> <b>cloud</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>moving</b> <b>fast</b> <b>then</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>.”<br>
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<b>Nothing</b> <b>further</b> <b>happened</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>. <b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>morning</b> <b>dawned</b> <b>even</b> <b>brighter</b> <b>than</b> <b>before</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>chill</b> <b>again</b>; <b>already</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>turning</b> <b>back</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>. <b>For</b> <b>two</b> <b>more</b> <b>nights</b> <b>they</b> <b>marched</b> <b>on</b>, <b>climbing</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>but</b> <b>ever</b> <b>more</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>as</b> <b>their</b> <b>road</b> <b>wound</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>towered</b> <b>up</b>, <b>nearer</b> <b>and</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>third</b> <b>morning</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>rose</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>peak</b>, <b>tipped</b> <b>with</b> <b>snow</b> <b>like</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>but</b> <b>with</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>naked</b> <b>sides</b>, <b>dull</b> <b>red</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>stained</b> <b>with</b> <b>blood</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>look</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>wan</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>now</b> <b>round</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b>-<b>east</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>snuffed</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>Winter</b> <b>deepens</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>quietly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>heights</b> <b>away</b> <b>north</b> <b>are</b> <b>whiter</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>; <b>snow</b> <b>is</b> <b>lying</b> <b>far</b> <b>down</b> <b>their</b> <b>shoulders</b>. <b>Tonight</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>our</b> <b>way</b> <b>high</b> <b>up</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b>. <b>We</b> <b>may</b> <b>well</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>by</b> <b>watchers</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>waylaid</b> <b>by</b> <b>some</b> <b>evil</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>may</b> <b>prove</b> <b>a</b> <b>more</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>course</b> <b>now</b>, <b>Aragorn</b>?”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>overheard</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b>, <b>and</b> <b>understood</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>were</b> <b>continuing</b> <b>some</b> <b>debate</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b>. <b>He</b> <b>listened</b> <b>anxiously</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>course</b> <b>from</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>end</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>well</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>perils</b> <b>known</b> <b>and</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>will</b> <b>grow</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>our</b> <b>delaying</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>Further</b> <b>south</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>passes</b>, <b>till</b> <b>one</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gap</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>trust</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b> <b>since</b> <b>your</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>knows</b> <b>which</b> <b>side</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshals</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Horse</b>-<b>lords</b> <b>serve</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>knows</b> <b>indeed</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b>: <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>secret</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>of</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>! <b>Not</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Say</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>I</b> <b>beg</b>, <b>not</b> <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>decide</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>further</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>weigh</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>minds</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>rest</b> <b>and</b> <b>sleep</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>late</b> <b>afternoon</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>finishing</b> <b>their</b> <b>breakfast</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>went</b> <b>aside</b> <b>together</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>Caradhras</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>sides</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>sullen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>head</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>grey</b> <b>cloud</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>watched</b> <b>them</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>which</b> <b>way</b> <b>the</b> <b>debate</b> <b>would</b> <b>go</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>face</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>pass</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>relieved</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>guess</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>secret</b> <b>way</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>mention</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>fill</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>with</b> <b>dismay</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>abandoned</b>.<br>
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“<b>From</b> <b>signs</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>lately</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>watched</b>; <b>and</b> <b>also</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>doubts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>coming</b> <b>up</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Snow</b> <b>may</b> <b>come</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>speed</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>us</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>two</b> <b>marches</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b>. <b>Dark</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>early</b> <b>this</b> <b>evening</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>leave</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>get</b> <b>ready</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>add</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>advice</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>born</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>know</b> <b>something</b> <b>of</b> <b>journeys</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>places</b>. <b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>meet</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>if</b> <b>no</b> <b>worse</b>, <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>help</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>so</b> <b>secret</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>frozen</b> <b>to</b> <b>death</b>. <b>When</b> <b>we</b> <b>leave</b> <b>here</b>, <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>bushes</b>, <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>should</b> <b>carry</b> <b>a</b> <b>faggot</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>as</b> <b>large</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>bear</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>could</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>more</b>, <b>couldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>lad</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>The</b> <b>pony</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>mournfully</b>.<br>
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“<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>—<b>not</b> <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>choice</b> <b>between</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>death</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b> <b>with</b> <b>good</b> <b>speed</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>; <b>but</b> <b>soon</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>became</b> <b>steep</b> <b>and</b> <b>difficult</b>. <b>The</b> <b>twisting</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>road</b> <b>had</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>places</b> <b>almost</b> <b>disappeared</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>blocked</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>grew</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>dark</b> <b>under</b> <b>great</b> <b>clouds</b>. <b>A</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>wind</b> <b>swirled</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocks</b>. <b>By</b> <b>midnight</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>knees</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>The</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>path</b> <b>now</b> <b>wound</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>, <b>above</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>grim</b> <b>flanks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>towered</b> <b>up</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>; <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>gulf</b> <b>of</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>fell</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>ravine</b>.<br>
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<b>Laboriously</b> <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>slope</b> <b>and</b> <b>halted</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>touch</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>. <b>He</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>white</b> <b>flakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b> <b>settling</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>sleeve</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>. <b>But</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>was</b> <b>falling</b> <b>fast</b>, <b>filling</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>and</b> <b>swirling</b> <b>into</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>bent</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>pace</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>could</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>panted</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>just</b> <b>behind</b>. “<b>Snow</b>'<b>s</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>fine</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>bed</b> <b>while</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>falling</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>this</b> <b>lot</b> <b>would</b> <b>go</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>Hobbiton</b>! <b>Folk</b> <b>might</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b>.” <b>Except</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>moors</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northfarthing</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>fall</b> <b>was</b> <b>rare</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>regarded</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>event</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>for</b> <b>fun</b>. <b>No</b> <b>living</b> <b>hobbit</b> (<b>save</b> <b>Bilbo</b>) <b>could</b> <b>remember</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fell</b> <b>Winter</b> <b>of</b> 1311, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>invaded</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>frozen</b> <b>Brandywine</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>halted</b>. <b>Snow</b> <b>was</b> <b>thick</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>and</b> <b>shoulders</b>; <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>ankle</b>-<b>deep</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>boots</b>.<br>
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"<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>now</b>, <b>Aragorn</b>?”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b> <b>it</b> <b>too</b>,” <b>Aragorn</b> <b>answered</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b>. <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>risk</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>falls</b> <b>heavily</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>south</b>, <b>save</b> <b>high</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>high</b> <b>yet</b>; <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>far</b> <b>down</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>paths</b> <b>are</b> <b>usually</b> <b>open</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>winter</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>contrivance</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>say</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>land</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>govern</b> <b>the</b> <b>storms</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>that</b> <b>stand</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>strange</b> <b>powers</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>allies</b>.”<br>
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“<b>His</b> <b>arm</b> <b>has</b> <b>grown</b> <b>long</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b> <b>draw</b> <b>snow</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>to</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>us</b> <b>here</b> <b>three</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>away</b>.”<br>
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“<b>His</b> <b>arm</b> <b>has</b> <b>grown</b> <b>long</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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<b>While</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>died</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>slackened</b> <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>almost</b> <b>ceased</b>. <b>They</b> <b>tramped</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>furlong</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>storm</b> <b>returned</b> <b>with</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>fury</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>whistled</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>became</b> <b>a</b> <b>blinding</b> <b>blizzard</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>even</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>going</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>bent</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>double</b>, <b>toiled</b> <b>along</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>taller</b> <b>folk</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>much</b> <b>further</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>continued</b>. <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>feet</b> <b>felt</b> <b>like</b> <b>lead</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>was</b> <b>dragging</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>as</b> <b>stout</b> <b>as</b> <b>any</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b>, <b>was</b> <b>grumbling</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>trudged</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>halted</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>agreement</b> <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>words</b> <b>being</b> <b>spoken</b>. <b>They</b> <b>heard</b> <b>eerie</b> <b>noises</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b>. <b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>trick</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cracks</b> <b>and</b> <b>gullies</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>were</b> <b>those</b> <b>of</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>cries</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wild</b> <b>howls</b> <b>of</b> <b>laughter</b>. <b>Stones</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>fall</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>whistling</b> <b>over</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>, <b>or</b> <b>crashing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>beside</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>dull</b> <b>rumble</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>boulder</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>heights</b> <b>above</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>go</b> <b>further</b> <b>tonight</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>those</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>who</b> <b>will</b>; <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>fell</b> <b>voices</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>; <b>and</b> <b>these</b> <b>stones</b> <b>are</b> <b>aimed</b> <b>at</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>untrue</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>evil</b> <b>and</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>things</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>little</b> <b>love</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>two</b> <b>legs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>league</b> <b>with</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>but</b> <b>have</b> <b>purposes</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>world</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>he</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Caradhras</b> <b>was</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Cruel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>an</b> <b>ill</b> <b>name</b>, <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, “<b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>when</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>lands</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>matters</b> <b>little</b> <b>who</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>beat</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>attack</b>; <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>can</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>miserably</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>leaning</b> <b>on</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>shivering</b>.<br>
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“<b>Either</b> <b>stop</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>, <b>or</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>higher</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>rightly</b>, <b>this</b> <b>path</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b> <b>and</b> <b>runs</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>trough</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>hard</b> <b>slope</b>. <b>We</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>there</b> <b>from</b> <b>snow</b>, <b>or</b> <b>stones</b>—<b>or</b> <b>anything</b> <b>else</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>going</b> <b>back</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>storm</b> <b>holds</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>no</b> <b>place</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>up</b> <b>that</b> <b>offered</b> <b>more</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>than</b> <b>this</b> <b>cliff</b>-<b>wall</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>under</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Shelter</b>!” <b>muttered</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>shelter</b>, <b>then</b> <b>one</b> <b>wall</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>roof</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>now</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>together</b> <b>as</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>. <b>It</b> <b>faced</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>it</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>give</b> <b>them</b> <b>some</b> <b>protection</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>northerly</b> <b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>falling</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>But</b> <b>eddying</b> <b>blasts</b> <b>swirled</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>every</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>ever</b> <b>denser</b> <b>clouds</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>together</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>Bill</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>stood</b> <b>patiently</b> <b>but</b> <b>dejectedly</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>screened</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>; <b>but</b> <b>before</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>drifting</b> <b>snow</b> <b>was</b> <b>above</b> <b>his</b> <b>hocks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>mounting</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>larger</b> <b>companions</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>entirely</b> <b>buried</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>sleepiness</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>himself</b> <b>sinking</b> <b>fast</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>hazy</b> <b>dream</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>heating</b> <b>his</b> <b>toes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hearth</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>voice</b> <b>speaking</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>diary</b>, <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>Snowstorms</b> <b>on</b> <b>January</b> <b>the</b> <b>twelfth</b>: <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>report</b> <b>that</b>!<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>rest</b> <b>and</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>answered</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>effort</b>, <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>himself</b> <b>shaken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>painfully</b> <b>to</b> <b>wakefulness</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>had</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>nest</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b>.<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>death</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>halflings</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>useless</b> <b>to</b> <b>sit</b> <b>here</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>goes</b> <b>over</b> <b>our</b> <b>heads</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>save</b> <b>ourselves</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Give</b> <b>them</b> <b>this</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>searching</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>pack</b> <b>and</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>leathern</b> <b>flask</b>. “<b>Just</b> <b>a</b> <b>mouthful</b> <b>each</b>—<b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>precious</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>miruvor</b>, <b>the</b> <b>cordial</b> <b>of</b> <b>Imladris</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>gave</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>at</b> <b>our</b> <b>parting</b>. <b>Pass</b> <b>it</b> <b>round</b>!”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>swallowed</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>fragrant</b> <b>liquor</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>drowsiness</b> <b>left</b> <b>his</b> <b>limbs</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>also</b> <b>revived</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>hope</b> <b>and</b> <b>vigour</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>relent</b>. <b>It</b> <b>whirled</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>thicker</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>blew</b> <b>louder</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>fire</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>suddenly</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>choice</b> <b>seems</b> <b>near</b> <b>now</b> <b>between</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>death</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Doubtless</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>all</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>has</b> <b>covered</b> <b>us</b>, <b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>help</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>any</b> <b>watchers</b> <b>that</b> <b>can</b> <b>endure</b> <b>this</b> <b>storm</b>, <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>us</b>, <b>fire</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>.” <b>But</b> <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>wood</b> <b>and</b> <b>kindlings</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>advice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>it</b> <b>passed</b> <b>the</b> <b>skill</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>or</b> <b>even</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>a</b> <b>flame</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>hold</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>swirling</b> <b>wind</b> <b>or</b> <b>catch</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wet</b> <b>fuel</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>reluctantly</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>himself</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Picking</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>faggot</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>aloft</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>command</b>, <b>naur</b> <b>an</b> <b>edraith</b> <b>ammen</b>! <b>he</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>spout</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>blue</b> <b>flame</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>flared</b> <b>and</b> <b>sputtered</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>any</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>am</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>written</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>is</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>signs</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>can</b> <b>read</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b>.”<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>cared</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>for</b> <b>watchers</b> <b>or</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>were</b> <b>rejoiced</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wood</b> <b>burned</b> <b>merrily</b>; <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>hissed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>pools</b> <b>of</b> <b>slush</b> <b>crept</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>they</b> <b>warmed</b> <b>their</b> <b>hands</b> <b>gladly</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>blaze</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>stooping</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>dancing</b> <b>and</b> <b>blowing</b> <b>flames</b>. <b>A</b> <b>red</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>faces</b>; <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>wall</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b> <b>fast</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>still</b> <b>fell</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>fire</b> <b>burned</b> <b>low</b>. <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>faggot</b> <b>was</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>on</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>is</b> <b>getting</b> <b>old</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b>.”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>any</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>can</b> <b>pierce</b> <b>these</b> <b>clouds</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>circle</b> <b>and</b> <b>stared</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>blackness</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>snow</b> <b>is</b> <b>growing</b> <b>less</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>is</b> <b>quieter</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>wearily</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>flakes</b> <b>still</b> <b>falling</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>revealed</b> <b>white</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dying</b> <b>fire</b>; <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>slackening</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>was</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>creep</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>had</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>fallen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>flakes</b> <b>were</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>larger</b> <b>and</b> <b>fewer</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>a</b> <b>dim</b> <b>light</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>altogether</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>grew</b> <b>stronger</b> <b>it</b> <b>showed</b> <b>a</b> <b>silent</b> <b>shrouded</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Below</b> <b>their</b> <b>refuge</b> <b>were</b> <b>white</b> <b>humps</b> <b>and</b> <b>domes</b> <b>and</b> <b>shapeless</b> <b>deeps</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>trodden</b> <b>was</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>lost</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>heights</b> <b>above</b> <b>were</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>in</b> <b>great</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>still</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>threat</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b>.<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>shook</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. “<b>Caradhras</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>forgiven</b> <b>us</b>.” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>more</b> <b>snow</b> <b>yet</b> <b>to</b> <b>fling</b> <b>at</b> <b>us</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>better</b>.”<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>this</b> <b>all</b> <b>agreed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>their</b> <b>retreat</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>difficult</b>. <b>It</b> <b>might</b> <b>well</b> <b>prove</b> <b>impossible</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>paces</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>ashes</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>fire</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>lay</b> <b>many</b> <b>feet</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>higher</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>heads</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>; <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>scooped</b> <b>and</b> <b>piled</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>into</b> <b>great</b> <b>drifts</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>would</b> <b>go</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>flame</b>, <b>he</b> <b>might</b> <b>melt</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. <b>The</b> <b>storm</b> <b>had</b> <b>troubled</b> <b>him</b> <b>little</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>alone</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>remained</b> <b>still</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>heart</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>could</b> <b>fly</b> <b>over</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>they</b> <b>might</b> <b>fetch</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>to</b> <b>save</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>work</b> <b>on</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>burn</b> <b>snow</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>, “<b>when</b> <b>heads</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>loss</b> <b>bodies</b> <b>must</b> <b>serve</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>say</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>country</b>. <b>The</b> <b>strongest</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>must</b> <b>seek</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>. <b>See</b>! <b>Though</b> <b>all</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>snow</b>-<b>clad</b>, <b>our</b> <b>path</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b>, <b>turned</b> <b>about</b> <b>that</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b> <b>down</b> <b>yonder</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>first</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>burden</b> <b>us</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>reach</b> <b>that</b> <b>point</b>, <b>maybe</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>prove</b> <b>easier</b> <b>beyond</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>furlong</b> <b>off</b>, <b>I</b> <b>guess</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>force</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>thither</b>, <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>tallest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>little</b> <b>less</b> <b>in</b> <b>height</b>, <b>was</b> <b>broader</b> <b>and</b> <b>heavier</b> <b>in</b> <b>build</b>. <b>He</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>they</b> <b>moved</b> <b>off</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>soon</b> <b>toiling</b> <b>heavily</b>. <b>In</b> <b>places</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>was</b> <b>breast</b>-<b>high</b>, <b>and</b> <b>often</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>swimming</b> <b>or</b> <b>burrowing</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>arms</b> <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>walking</b>.<br>
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<b>Legolas</b> <b>watched</b> <b>them</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>smile</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>lips</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>strongest</b> <b>must</b> <b>seek</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>, <b>say</b> <b>you</b>? <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b>: <b>let</b> <b>a</b> <b>ploughman</b> <b>plough</b>, <b>but</b> <b>choose</b> <b>an</b> <b>otter</b> <b>for</b> <b>swimming</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>running</b> <b>light</b> <b>over</b> <b>grass</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>or</b> <b>over</b> <b>snow</b>-<b>an</b> <b>Elf</b>.”<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forth</b> <b>nimbly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>known</b> <b>it</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>boots</b>, <b>but</b> <b>wore</b> <b>only</b> <b>light</b> <b>shoes</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>always</b> <b>did</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>made</b> <b>little</b> <b>imprint</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b>.<br>
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“<b>Farewell</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>!” <b>Then</b> <b>swift</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>runner</b> <b>over</b> <b>firm</b> <b>sand</b> <b>he</b> <b>shot</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>overtaking</b> <b>the</b> <b>toiling</b> <b>men</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>wave</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>turn</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>waited</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>together</b>, <b>watching</b> <b>until</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>dwindled</b> <b>into</b> <b>black</b> <b>specks</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>whiteness</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>they</b> <b>too</b> <b>passed</b> <b>from</b> <b>sight</b>. <b>The</b> <b>time</b> <b>dragged</b> <b>on</b>. <b>The</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>lowered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>flakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b> <b>came</b> <b>curling</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>An</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>went</b> <b>by</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>far</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>coming</b> <b>back</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>reappeared</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>bend</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>labouring</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>,” <b>cried</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>ran</b> <b>up</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>brought</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>She</b> <b>is</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>blue</b> <b>fields</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>wreath</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>hillock</b> <b>troubles</b> <b>her</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>brought</b> <b>back</b> <b>a</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>hope</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>doomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>greatest</b> <b>wind</b>-<b>drift</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>just</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>turn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>our</b> <b>Strong</b> <b>Men</b> <b>were</b> <b>almost</b> <b>buried</b>. <b>They</b> <b>despaired</b>, <b>until</b> <b>I</b> <b>returned</b> <b>and</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>drift</b> <b>was</b> <b>little</b> <b>wider</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>And</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>grows</b> <b>less</b>, <b>while</b> <b>further</b> <b>down</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>coverlet</b> <b>to</b> <b>cool</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b>'<b>s</b> <b>toes</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b>,” <b>growled</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>storm</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>ill</b> <b>will</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b>. <b>He</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>love</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>drift</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>to</b> <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>our</b> <b>escape</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>happily</b> <b>your</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>has</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>Men</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>who</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>doughty</b> <b>Men</b> <b>too</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>say</b> <b>it</b>; <b>though</b> <b>lesser</b> <b>men</b> <b>with</b> <b>spades</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>served</b> <b>you</b> <b>better</b>. <b>Still</b>, <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>a</b> <b>lane</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>drift</b>; <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>here</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>grateful</b> <b>who</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>run</b> <b>as</b> <b>light</b> <b>as</b> <b>Elves</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>how</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>down</b> <b>there</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>cut</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>drift</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>voicing</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>.<br>
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“<b>Have</b> <b>hope</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>have</b> <b>some</b> <b>strength</b> <b>left</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>too</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>bear</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>will</b> <b>make</b> <b>shift</b> <b>to</b> <b>tread</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Come</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Peregrin</b>! <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>begin</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>. “<b>Cling</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>back</b>! <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>need</b> <b>my</b> <b>arms</b>” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>and</b> <b>strode</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>with</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>came</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Pippin</b> <b>marvelled</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>seeing</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>forced</b> <b>with</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>tool</b> <b>than</b> <b>his</b> <b>great</b> <b>limbs</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>now</b>, <b>burdened</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>widening</b> <b>the</b> <b>track</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>followed</b>, <b>thrusting</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>aside</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>drift</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>flung</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>path</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>and</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>crest</b>, <b>sharp</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>shaped</b> <b>with</b> <b>knives</b>, <b>reared</b> <b>up</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>twice</b> <b>the</b> <b>height</b> <b>of</b> <b>Boromir</b>; <b>but</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>a</b> <b>passage</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>beaten</b>, <b>rising</b> <b>and</b> <b>falling</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bridge</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>were</b> <b>set</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>they</b> <b>waited</b> <b>with</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>to</b> <b>arrive</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>returned</b> <b>carrying</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>well</b>-<b>trodden</b> <b>track</b> <b>came</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>leading</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>with</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>perched</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>baggage</b>. <b>Last</b> <b>came</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>carrying</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>They</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>lane</b>; <b>but</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>had</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>touched</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>when</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>rumble</b> <b>there</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>stones</b> <b>and</b> <b>slithering</b> <b>snow</b>. <b>The</b> <b>spray</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>half</b> <b>blinded</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>crouched</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>again</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>was</b> <b>blocked</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>Enough</b>, <b>enough</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>departing</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b>!” <b>And</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>last</b> <b>stroke</b> <b>the</b> <b>malice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>expended</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>was</b> <b>satisfied</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>invaders</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>beaten</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>dare</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b>. <b>The</b> <b>threat</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b> <b>lifted</b>; <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>break</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>grew</b> <b>broader</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>had</b> <b>reported</b>, <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b> <b>became</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>more</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>could</b> <b>trudge</b> <b>along</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>all</b> <b>stood</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>flat</b> <b>shelf</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slope</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>flakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>snow</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>before</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>far</b> <b>advanced</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>place</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>westwards</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>lands</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>tumble</b> <b>of</b> <b>country</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>started</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>legs</b> <b>ached</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>chilled</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bone</b> <b>and</b> <b>hungry</b>; <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>was</b> <b>dizzy</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>painful</b> <b>march</b> <b>downhill</b>. <b>Black</b> <b>specks</b> <b>swam</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>He</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>specks</b> <b>remained</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>below</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>still</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>foothills</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>dots</b> <b>were</b> <b>circling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>birds</b> <b>again</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>down</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>helped</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Whether</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>or</b> <b>have</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>, <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>even</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>knees</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>will</b> <b>we</b> <b>wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>another</b> <b>night</b>-<b>fall</b>!”<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>cold</b> <b>wind</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>down</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>backs</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>wearily</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>slope</b>. <b>Caradhras</b> <b>had</b> <b>defeated</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 4<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>JOURNEY</b> <b>IN</b> <b>THE</b> <b>DARK</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>evening</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>again</b> <b>waning</b> <b>fast</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>very</b> <b>weary</b>. <b>The</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>were</b> <b>veiled</b> <b>in</b> <b>deepening</b> <b>dusk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>spared</b> <b>them</b> <b>one</b> <b>more</b> <b>mouthful</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>miruvor</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>some</b> <b>food</b> <b>he</b> <b>called</b> <b>a</b> <b>council</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b> <b>tonight</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>attack</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b> <b>has</b> <b>tired</b> <b>us</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>rest</b> <b>here</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>where</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>still</b> <b>have</b> <b>our</b> <b>journey</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>errand</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>choice</b> <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>, <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.”<br>
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<b>Pippin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b> <b>brightened</b> <b>visibly</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>mere</b> <b>mention</b> <b>of</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>; <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>hopefully</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>troubled</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>back</b> <b>there</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>how</b> <b>can</b> <b>I</b> <b>return</b> <b>without</b> <b>shame</b>—<b>unless</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>already</b> <b>defeated</b>?”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>right</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>: “<b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>admit</b> <b>defeat</b> <b>and</b> <b>face</b> <b>worse</b> <b>defeat</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>now</b>, <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>must</b> <b>remain</b> <b>there</b>: <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>or</b> <b>later</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>besieged</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>and</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>time</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ringwraiths</b> <b>are</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>enemies</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>only</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>yet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>and</b> <b>terror</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>possess</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ruling</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>master</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>, <b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sigh</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>sank</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>gloom</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>attempt</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b>, <b>when</b> <b>first</b> <b>I</b> <b>considered</b> <b>this</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>try</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>against</b> <b>it</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>been</b> <b>tried</b>.”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>worse</b> <b>road</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>Redhorn</b> <b>Gate</b>, <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>evil</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>leads</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>; <b>a</b> <b>smouldering</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>On</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>a</b> <b>dread</b> <b>fell</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>mention</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>name</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>legend</b> <b>of</b> <b>vague</b> <b>fear</b>:<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>may</b> <b>lead</b> <b>to</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>but</b> <b>how</b> <b>can</b> <b>we</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>lead</b> <b>through</b> <b>Moria</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>darkly</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>ill</b> <b>omen</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Nor</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>there</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>journey</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gap</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>, <b>where</b> <b>men</b> <b>are</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>people</b>, <b>taking</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>followed</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>way</b> <b>hither</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>we</b> <b>might</b> <b>pass</b> <b>by</b> <b>and</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>Isen</b> <b>into</b> <b>Langstrand</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lebennin</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>regions</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>sea</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Things</b> <b>have</b> <b>changed</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>came</b> <b>north</b>, <b>Boromir</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>hear</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>told</b> <b>you</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>? <b>With</b> <b>him</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>business</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>ere</b> <b>all</b> <b>is</b> <b>over</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>near</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>can</b> <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>means</b> <b>be</b> <b>prevented</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Gap</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>is</b> <b>closed</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>while</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bearer</b>.<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>longer</b> <b>road</b>: <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>afford</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>. <b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>spend</b> <b>a</b> <b>year</b> <b>in</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>pass</b> <b>through</b> <b>many</b> <b>lands</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>harbourless</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>safe</b>. <b>The</b> <b>watchful</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>both</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>are</b> <b>on</b> <b>them</b>. <b>When</b> <b>you</b> <b>came</b> <b>north</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>'<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>stray</b> <b>wanderer</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>of</b> <b>small</b> <b>concern</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>: <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>was</b> <b>busy</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>return</b> <b>now</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>member</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>peril</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>remain</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>. <b>The</b> <b>danger</b> <b>will</b> <b>increase</b> <b>with</b> <b>every</b> <b>league</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b> <b>south</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>naked</b> <b>sky</b>.<br>
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“<b>Since</b> <b>our</b> <b>open</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>pass</b> <b>our</b> <b>plight</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>more</b> <b>desperate</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>now</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>soon</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>from</b> <b>sight</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cover</b> <b>our</b> <b>trail</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>I</b> <b>advise</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>go</b> <b>neither</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>under</b> <b>them</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>road</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>will</b> <b>least</b> <b>expect</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>expects</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>may</b> <b>watch</b> <b>all</b> <b>roads</b>, <b>likely</b> <b>and</b> <b>unlikely</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>case</b> <b>to</b> <b>enter</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>trap</b>, <b>hardly</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>knocking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>itself</b>. <b>The</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>is</b> <b>black</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>, <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>liken</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>stronghold</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>alone</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dungeons</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>older</b> <b>and</b> <b>lesser</b> <b>dwelling</b> <b>in</b> <b>Dol</b> <b>Guldur</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>who</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Barad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>r</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>return</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>lead</b> <b>you</b> <b>into</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>coming</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>. <b>If</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>there</b>, <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>prove</b> <b>ill</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>. <b>But</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>were</b> <b>scattered</b> <b>or</b> <b>destroyed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Battle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Five</b> <b>Armies</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Eagles</b> <b>report</b> <b>that</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>are</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>free</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>even</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>that</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>are</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>deep</b> <b>hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>fathers</b>, <b>Balin</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fundin</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>. <b>However</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>prove</b>, <b>one</b> <b>must</b> <b>tread</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>need</b> <b>chooses</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tread</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>look</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>may</b> <b>wait</b> <b>there</b>-<b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>shut</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Good</b>, <b>Gimli</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>encourage</b> <b>me</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>seek</b> <b>the</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>doors</b> <b>together</b>. <b>And</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>through</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dwarf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>head</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>less</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>bewilder</b> <b>than</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>or</b> <b>Men</b> <b>or</b> <b>Hobbits</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>to</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>I</b> <b>sought</b> <b>there</b> <b>long</b> <b>for</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>in</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thr</b>?<b>r</b> <b>after</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>I</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b> <b>alive</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>too</b> <b>once</b> <b>passed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Gate</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>quietly</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>also</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>, <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>enter</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>time</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>enter</b> <b>it</b> <b>even</b> <b>once</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>Nor</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>not</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Who</b> <b>would</b>? <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>question</b> <b>is</b>: <b>who</b> <b>will</b> <b>follow</b> <b>me</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>lead</b> <b>you</b> <b>there</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>eagerly</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>heavily</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>followed</b> <b>my</b> <b>lead</b> <b>almost</b> <b>to</b> <b>disaster</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>blame</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>follow</b> <b>your</b> <b>lead</b> <b>now</b>—<b>if</b> <b>this</b> <b>last</b> <b>warning</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>move</b> <b>you</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>others</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>now</b>, <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>: <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>beware</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>; “<b>not</b> <b>unless</b> <b>the</b> <b>vote</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>company</b> <b>is</b> <b>against</b> <b>me</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>folk</b> <b>say</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b>'<b>s</b> <b>voice</b> <b>surely</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>Moria</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>spoke</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>neither</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>refuse</b> <b>the</b> <b>advice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>I</b> <b>beg</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>vote</b>, <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>slept</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>will</b> <b>get</b> <b>votes</b> <b>easier</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>cold</b> <b>gloom</b>. <b>How</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>howls</b>!”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>all</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>silent</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>They</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>hissing</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>and</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>howling</b> <b>and</b> <b>wailing</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>empty</b> <b>spaces</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>leapt</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. “<b>How</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>howls</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>howling</b> <b>with</b> <b>wolf</b>-<b>voices</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Wargs</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Need</b> <b>we</b> <b>wait</b> <b>until</b> <b>morning</b> <b>then</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b>. <b>The</b> <b>hunt</b> <b>is</b> <b>up</b>! <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>live</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>dawn</b>, <b>who</b> <b>now</b> <b>will</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>journey</b> <b>south</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>trail</b>?”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>far</b> <b>is</b> <b>Moria</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Boromir</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>door</b> <b>south</b>-<b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b>, <b>some</b> <b>fifteen</b> <b>miles</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>crow</b> <b>flies</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolf</b> <b>runs</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>grimly</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>start</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>light</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>wolf</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>hears</b> <b>is</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>orc</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>fears</b>.”<br>
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“<b>True</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>loosening</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>sheath</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>warg</b> <b>howls</b>, <b>there</b> <b>also</b> <b>the</b> <b>orc</b> <b>prowls</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>advice</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>enough</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>breed</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bandobras</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bullroarer</b> <b>in</b> <b>me</b>: <b>these</b> <b>howls</b> <b>freeze</b> <b>my</b> <b>blood</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>ever</b> <b>remember</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>so</b> <b>wretched</b>.”<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>heart</b>'<b>s</b> <b>right</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>toes</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Pippin</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>aren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>etten</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b> <b>stout</b> <b>folk</b> <b>here</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Whatever</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>store</b> <b>for</b> <b>old</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>wager</b> <b>it</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>wolf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>belly</b>.”<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>their</b> <b>defence</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>hill</b> <b>under</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>sheltering</b>. <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>knot</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>and</b> <b>twisted</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>about</b> <b>which</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>broken</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>boulder</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>they</b> <b>lit</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>for</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>and</b> <b>silence</b> <b>would</b> <b>keep</b> <b>their</b> <b>trail</b> <b>from</b> <b>discovery</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>packs</b>.<br>
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<b>Round</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>on</b> <b>guard</b> <b>dozed</b> <b>uneasily</b>. <b>Poor</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>trembled</b> <b>and</b> <b>sweated</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b>. <b>The</b> <b>howling</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>all</b> <b>round</b> <b>them</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>and</b> <b>sometimes</b> <b>further</b> <b>off</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dead</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>many</b> <b>shining</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>seen</b> <b>peering</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>brow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>advanced</b> <b>almost</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>At</b> <b>a</b> <b>gap</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>circle</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>dark</b> <b>wolf</b>-<b>shape</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>gazing</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shuddering</b> <b>howl</b> <b>broke</b> <b>from</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>captain</b> <b>summoning</b> <b>his</b> <b>pack</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>assault</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>strode</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>aloft</b>. “<b>Listen</b>, <b>Hound</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Gandalf</b> <b>is</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Fly</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>value</b> <b>your</b> <b>foul</b> <b>skin</b>! <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>shrivel</b> <b>you</b> <b>from</b> <b>tail</b> <b>to</b> <b>snout</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>within</b> <b>this</b> <b>ring</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>wolf</b> <b>snarled</b> <b>and</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>leap</b>. <b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>twang</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>had</b> <b>loosed</b> <b>his</b> <b>bow</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>hideous</b> <b>yell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>shape</b> <b>thudded</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>; <b>the</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>had</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>its</b> <b>throat</b>. <b>The</b> <b>watching</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>extinguished</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>strode</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>was</b> <b>deserted</b>; <b>the</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>packs</b> <b>had</b> <b>fled</b>. <b>All</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>grew</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>cry</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>sighing</b> <b>wind</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>old</b>, <b>and</b> <b>westward</b> <b>the</b> <b>waning</b> <b>moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>setting</b>. <b>gleaming</b> <b>fitfully</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>breaking</b> <b>clouds</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>started</b> <b>from</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>Without</b> <b>warning</b> <b>a</b> <b>storm</b> <b>of</b> <b>howls</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b> <b>fierce</b> <b>and</b> <b>wild</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>camp</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>host</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wargs</b> <b>had</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>silently</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>attacking</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>every</b> <b>side</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>.<br>
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“<b>Fling</b> <b>fuel</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. “<b>Draw</b> <b>your</b> <b>blades</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stand</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>back</b>!”<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>light</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>wood</b> <b>blazed</b> <b>up</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>many</b> <b>grey</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>spring</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>More</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>followed</b>. <b>Through</b> <b>the</b> <b>throat</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>huge</b> <b>leader</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>thrust</b>; <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>sweep</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>hewed</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>off</b> <b>another</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>them</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>stood</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>stout</b> <b>legs</b> <b>apart</b>, <b>wielding</b> <b>his</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>axe</b>. <b>The</b> <b>bow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>was</b> <b>singing</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>wavering</b> <b>firelight</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b>: <b>he</b> <b>rose</b> <b>up</b>, <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>menacing</b> <b>shape</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>monument</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>king</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>set</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>Stooping</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b>, <b>he</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>a</b> <b>burning</b> <b>branch</b> <b>and</b> <b>strode</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b>. <b>They</b> <b>gave</b> <b>back</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>. <b>High</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>he</b> <b>tossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>blazing</b> <b>brand</b>. <b>It</b> <b>flared</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>white</b> <b>radiance</b> <b>like</b> <b>lightning</b>; <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>like</b> <b>thunder</b>.<br>
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“<b>Naur</b> <b>an</b> <b>edraith</b> <b>ammen</b>! <b>Naur</b> <b>dan</b> <b>i</b> <b>ngaurhoth</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>roar</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>crackle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b> <b>burst</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>and</b> <b>bloom</b> <b>of</b> <b>blinding</b> <b>flame</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fire</b> <b>leapt</b> <b>from</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>top</b> <b>to</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>top</b>. <b>The</b> <b>whole</b> <b>hill</b> <b>was</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>dazzling</b> <b>light</b>. <b>The</b> <b>swords</b> <b>and</b> <b>knives</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>defenders</b> <b>shone</b> <b>and</b> <b>flickered</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>kindled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>flew</b>, <b>and</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>burning</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>wolf</b>-<b>chieftain</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>fled</b>.<br>
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<b>Slowly</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>died</b> <b>till</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>was</b> <b>left</b> <b>but</b> <b>falling</b> <b>ash</b> <b>and</b> <b>sparks</b>; <b>a</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>curled</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>burned</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>stumps</b>, <b>and</b> <b>blew</b> <b>darkly</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>came</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>were</b> <b>routed</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>return</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Pippin</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>sheIthing</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>. “<b>Wolves</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>him</b>. <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b>-<b>opener</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistake</b>! <b>Nearly</b> <b>singed</b> <b>the</b> <b>hair</b> <b>off</b> <b>my</b> <b>head</b>!”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>came</b> <b>no</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>bodies</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dead</b>. <b>No</b> <b>trace</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fight</b> <b>remained</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>charred</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>arrows</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>lying</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>. <b>All</b> <b>were</b> <b>undamaged</b> <b>save</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b> <b>was</b> <b>left</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>ordinary</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>for</b> <b>food</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>eat</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b>!”<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>changed</b> <b>again</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>command</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>power</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>any</b> <b>use</b> <b>for</b> <b>snow</b>, <b>since</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>retreated</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b>, <b>a</b> <b>power</b> <b>that</b> <b>wished</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>moved</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>from</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>turning</b> <b>through</b> <b>north</b> <b>to</b> <b>north</b>-<b>west</b> <b>during</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>failed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>opened</b>, <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>blue</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>depart</b>, <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>tops</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>before</b> <b>sunset</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>reach</b> <b>them</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b>, <b>but</b> <b>our</b> <b>path</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>winding</b>, <b>for</b> <b>here</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>guide</b> <b>us</b>; <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>country</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>once</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>been</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>it</b> <b>lies</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>away</b> <b>south</b>-<b>eastwards</b> <b>to</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>” <b>sides</b> <b>fell</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>seen</b> <b>a</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>bare</b> <b>cliffs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>midst</b>, <b>taller</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>one</b> <b>great</b> <b>grey</b> <b>wall</b>. “<b>When</b> <b>we</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b> <b>I</b> <b>led</b> <b>you</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>starting</b> <b>point</b>, <b>as</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>noticed</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>well</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b>, <b>for</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>several</b> <b>miles</b> <b>less</b> <b>to</b> <b>cross</b>, <b>and</b> <b>haste</b> <b>is</b> <b>needed</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>which</b> <b>to</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>grimly</b>: “<b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>seeks</b>, <b>or</b> <b>that</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>lost</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>All</b> <b>choices</b> <b>seem</b> <b>ill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>caught</b> <b>between</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>the</b> <b>likeliest</b> <b>chance</b>. <b>Lead</b> <b>on</b>!”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>now</b> <b>walked</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>side</b>, <b>so</b> <b>eager</b> <b>was</b> <b>he</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>Together</b> <b>they</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>back</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>The</b> <b>only</b> <b>road</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>to</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>had</b> <b>lain</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>course</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Sirannon</b>, <b>that</b> <b>ran</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>near</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>had</b> <b>stood</b>. <b>But</b> <b>either</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>astray</b>, <b>or</b> <b>else</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>had</b> <b>changed</b> <b>in</b> <b>recent</b> <b>years</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>strike</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b>, <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>miles</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>start</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>passing</b> <b>towards</b> <b>noon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>and</b> <b>scrambled</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>barren</b> <b>country</b> <b>of</b> <b>red</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>Nowhere</b> <b>could</b> <b>they</b> <b>see</b> <b>any</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b> <b>or</b> <b>hear</b> <b>any</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>All</b> <b>was</b> <b>bleak</b> <b>and</b> <b>dry</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>sank</b>. <b>They</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>living</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>bird</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>; <b>but</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>would</b> <b>bring</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>caught</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>lost</b> <b>land</b>, <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>cared</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>on</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>called</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>knoll</b> <b>and</b> <b>pointing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>. <b>Hurrying</b> <b>up</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>channel</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>a</b> <b>trickle</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>brown</b> <b>and</b> <b>red</b>-<b>stained</b> <b>stones</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>bed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>near</b> <b>side</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b>, <b>much</b> <b>broken</b> <b>and</b> <b>decayed</b>, <b>that</b> <b>wound</b> <b>its</b> <b>way</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>paving</b>-<b>stones</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>highroad</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! <b>Here</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>ran</b>: <b>Sirannon</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Gate</b>-<b>stream</b>, <b>they</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>happened</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>guess</b>; <b>it</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>swift</b> <b>and</b> <b>noisy</b>. <b>Come</b>! <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>on</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>late</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>were</b> <b>footsore</b> <b>and</b> <b>tired</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>trudged</b> <b>doggedly</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>rough</b> <b>and</b> <b>winding</b> <b>track</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>turned</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>noon</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>west</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>halt</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>hasty</b> <b>meal</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>frowned</b>, <b>but</b> <b>their</b> <b>path</b> <b>lay</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>trough</b> <b>of</b> <b>land</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>higher</b> <b>shoulders</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>peaks</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>bend</b>. <b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>veering</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>channel</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>, <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>due</b> <b>east</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Rounding</b> <b>the</b> <b>corner</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>cliff</b>, <b>some</b> <b>five</b> <b>fathoms</b> <b>high</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>broken</b> <b>and</b> <b>jagged</b> <b>top</b>. <b>Over</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>trickling</b> <b>water</b> <b>dripped</b>, <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>cleft</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>carved</b> <b>out</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>fall</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>been</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>full</b>.<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b> <b>things</b> <b>have</b> <b>changed</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>mistaking</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>remains</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Stair</b> <b>Falls</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>right</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>steps</b> <b>cut</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>side</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>road</b> <b>wound</b> <b>away</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>with</b> <b>several</b> <b>loops</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>level</b> <b>ground</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>. <b>There</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>valley</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>right</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sirannon</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>beside</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>like</b> <b>now</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>steps</b> <b>without</b> <b>difficulty</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>up</b> <b>them</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>reason</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>drying</b> <b>up</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gate</b>-<b>stream</b> <b>was</b> <b>revealed</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>sinking</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>filled</b> <b>the</b> <b>cool</b> <b>western</b> <b>sky</b> <b>with</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>still</b> <b>lake</b>. <b>Neither</b> <b>sky</b> <b>nor</b> <b>sunset</b> <b>was</b> <b>reflected</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>sullen</b> <b>surface</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Sirannon</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>dammed</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>filled</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>water</b> <b>were</b> <b>reared</b> <b>vast</b> <b>cliffs</b>, <b>their</b> <b>stern</b> <b>faces</b> <b>pallid</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fading</b> <b>light</b>: <b>final</b> <b>and</b> <b>impassable</b>. <b>No</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>gate</b> <b>or</b> <b>entrance</b>, <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>fissure</b> <b>or</b> <b>crack</b> <b>could</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>see</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>frowning</b> <b>stone</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gate</b> <b>stood</b> <b>once</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b> <b>Door</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hollin</b> <b>by</b> <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>is</b> <b>blocked</b>. <b>None</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>I</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>will</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>swim</b> <b>this</b> <b>gloomy</b> <b>water</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b>. <b>It</b> <b>has</b> <b>an</b> <b>unwholesome</b> <b>look</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>edge</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>first</b> <b>thing</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>up</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>path</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>where</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>lead</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>lake</b>, <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>our</b> <b>baggage</b>-<b>pony</b> <b>up</b> <b>this</b> <b>stair</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>poor</b> <b>beast</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>places</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>and</b> <b>steep</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tread</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bill</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b>. <b>And</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Sam</b>! <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Poor</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>useful</b> <b>companion</b> <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>goes</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>him</b> <b>adrift</b> <b>now</b>. <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>travelled</b> <b>lighter</b> <b>and</b> <b>brought</b> <b>no</b> <b>animal</b>, <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>is</b> <b>fond</b> <b>of</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>had</b> <b>my</b> <b>way</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feared</b> <b>all</b> <b>along</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>obliged</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>this</b> <b>road</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>day</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>end</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cold</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>glinting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunset</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>speed</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>, <b>climbed</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>and</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b>. <b>In</b> <b>breadth</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>two</b> <b>or</b> <b>three</b> <b>furlongs</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>widest</b> <b>point</b>. <b>How</b> <b>far</b> <b>it</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>away</b> <b>southward</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>failing</b> <b>light</b>; <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>northern</b> <b>end</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>from</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>stony</b> <b>ridges</b> <b>that</b> <b>enclosed</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>'<b>s</b> <b>edge</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>rim</b> <b>of</b> <b>open</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>They</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>before</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>shore</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>making</b> <b>for</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>northernmost</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>creek</b> <b>that</b> <b>barred</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>stagnant</b>, <b>thrust</b> <b>out</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>slimy</b> <b>arm</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>enclosing</b> <b>hills</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>strode</b> <b>forward</b> <b>undeterred</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>was</b> <b>shallow</b>, <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>ankle</b>-<b>deep</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>file</b>, <b>threading</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>with</b> <b>care</b>, <b>for</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>weedy</b> <b>pools</b> <b>were</b> <b>sliding</b> <b>and</b> <b>greasy</b> <b>stones</b>, <b>and</b> <b>footing</b> <b>was</b> <b>treacherous</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>shuddered</b> <b>with</b> <b>disgust</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>touch</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>unclean</b> <b>water</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>led</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>dry</b> <b>ground</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>side</b>, <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>sound</b>: <b>a</b> <b>swish</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>plop</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>fish</b> <b>had</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>the</b> <b>still</b> <b>surface</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Turning</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>ripples</b>, <b>black</b>-<b>edged</b> <b>with</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>waning</b> <b>light</b>: <b>great</b> <b>rings</b> <b>were</b> <b>widening</b> <b>outwards</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>point</b> <b>far</b> <b>out</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>bubbling</b> <b>noise</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>deepened</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>gleams</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunset</b> <b>were</b> <b>veiled</b> <b>in</b> <b>cloud</b>.<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>now</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>on</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>pace</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>followed</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b>. <b>They</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>strip</b> <b>of</b> <b>dry</b> <b>land</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliffs</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>narrow</b>, <b>often</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>a</b> <b>dozen</b> <b>yards</b> <b>across</b>, <b>and</b> <b>encumbered</b> <b>with</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>rock</b> <b>and</b> <b>stones</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b>, <b>hugging</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>might</b>. <b>A</b> <b>mile</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>holly</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Stumps</b> <b>and</b> <b>dead</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>were</b> <b>rotting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shallows</b>, <b>the</b> <b>remains</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>thickets</b>, <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>lined</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>valley</b>. <b>But</b> <b>close</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b> <b>there</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>still</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>living</b>, . <b>two</b> <b>tall</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>larger</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>trees</b> <b>of</b> <b>holly</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>imagined</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>great</b> <b>roots</b> <b>spread</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Under</b> <b>the</b> <b>looming</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>looked</b> <b>like</b> <b>mere</b> <b>bushes</b>, <b>when</b> <b>seen</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Stair</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>they</b> <b>towered</b> <b>overhead</b>, <b>stiff</b>, <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>throwing</b> <b>deep</b> <b>night</b>-<b>shadows</b> <b>about</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>like</b> <b>sentinel</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>way</b> <b>from</b> <b>Hollin</b> <b>ended</b>. <b>Holly</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>token</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>planted</b> <b>it</b> <b>here</b> <b>to</b> <b>mark</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>domain</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>-<b>door</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>chiefly</b> <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>use</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>traffic</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lords</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>were</b> <b>happier</b> <b>days</b>, <b>when</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>close</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>between</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>different</b> <b>race</b>, <b>even</b> <b>between</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elves</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>fault</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>waned</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>fault</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>both</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>judgement</b> <b>now</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>beg</b> <b>you</b> <b>two</b>, <b>Legolas</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>friends</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>you</b> <b>both</b>. <b>The</b> <b>doors</b> <b>are</b> <b>shut</b> <b>and</b> <b>hidden</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>we</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>better</b>. <b>Night</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>!”<br>
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<b>Turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>While</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>searching</b>, <b>will</b> <b>you</b> <b>each</b> <b>make</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>enter</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>? <b>For</b> <b>here</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>say</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>good</b> <b>beast</b> <b>of</b> <b>burden</b>. <b>You</b> <b>must</b> <b>lay</b> <b>aside</b> <b>much</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>brought</b> <b>against</b> <b>bitter</b> <b>weather</b>: <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>need</b> <b>it</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>nor</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>through</b> <b>and</b> <b>journey</b> <b>on</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>. <b>Instead</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>share</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>carried</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>-<b>skins</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>leave</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>behind</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>forsaken</b> <b>place</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Gandalf</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>angry</b> <b>and</b> <b>distressed</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>flat</b>. <b>After</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Door</b> <b>opens</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>drag</b> <b>your</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>dark</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b> <b>between</b> <b>Bill</b> <b>and</b> <b>your</b> <b>master</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b>'<b>d</b> <b>follow</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>dragon</b>'<b>s</b> <b>den</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>led</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>protested</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>d</b> <b>be</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>short</b> <b>of</b> <b>murder</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>him</b> <b>loose</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>about</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>short</b> <b>of</b> <b>murder</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>'<b>s</b> <b>head</b>, <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>Go</b> <b>with</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>guard</b> <b>and</b> <b>guiding</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>wise</b> <b>beast</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>learned</b> <b>much</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>Make</b> <b>your</b> <b>ways</b> <b>to</b> <b>places</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>find</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>come</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elrond</b>'<b>s</b> <b>house</b>, <b>or</b> <b>wherever</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>, <b>Sam</b>! <b>He</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>quite</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>escaping</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>getting</b> <b>home</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>stood</b> <b>sullenly</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>and</b> <b>returned</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>Bill</b>, <b>seeming</b> <b>to</b> <b>understand</b> <b>well</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b>, <b>nuzzled</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>putting</b> <b>his</b> <b>nose</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>ear</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>burst</b> <b>into</b> <b>tears</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fumbled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>straps</b>, <b>unlading</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b>'<b>s</b> <b>packs</b> <b>and</b> <b>throwing</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>sorted</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>goods</b>, <b>making</b> <b>a</b> <b>pile</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dividing</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>done</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>watch</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>trees</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>blank</b> <b>wall</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>bore</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>into</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>was</b> <b>wandering</b> <b>about</b>, <b>tapping</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>axe</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>was</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>listening</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>ready</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>where</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Doors</b>? <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>any</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Dwarf</b>-<b>doors</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>when</b> <b>shut</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>invisible</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>masters</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b> <b>or</b> <b>open</b> <b>them</b>, <b>if</b> <b>their</b> <b>secret</b> <b>is</b> <b>forgotten</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>Door</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>known</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>Dwarves</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>life</b> <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>round</b>. “<b>Unless</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>changed</b>, <b>eyes</b> <b>that</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>may</b> <b>discover</b> <b>the</b> <b>signs</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>walked</b> <b>forward</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>Right</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>space</b>, <b>and</b> <b>over</b> <b>this</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b> <b>to</b> <b>and</b> <b>fro</b>, <b>muttering</b> <b>words</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>Look</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Can</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>anything</b> <b>now</b>?”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>now</b> <b>shone</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>surface</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hands</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>faint</b> <b>lines</b> <b>appeared</b>, <b>like</b> <b>slender</b> <b>veins</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>running</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>pale</b> <b>gossamer</b>-<b>threads</b>, <b>so</b> <b>fine</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>only</b> <b>twinkled</b> <b>fitfully</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>caught</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>they</b> <b>grew</b> <b>broader</b> <b>and</b> <b>clearer</b>, <b>until</b> <b>their</b> <b>design</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>guessed</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>, <b>as</b> <b>high</b> <b>as</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>could</b> <b>reach</b>, <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>arch</b> <b>of</b> <b>interlacing</b> <b>letters</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>character</b>. <b>Below</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>threads</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>places</b> <b>blurred</b> <b>or</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>the</b> <b>outline</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>anvil</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>hammer</b> <b>surmounted</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>crown</b> <b>with</b> <b>seven</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Beneath</b> <b>these</b> <b>again</b> <b>were</b> <b>two</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>each</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>crescent</b> <b>moons</b>. <b>More</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>than</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>there</b> <b>shone</b> <b>forth</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>star</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>rays</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>emblems</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tree</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>High</b> <b>Elves</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Star</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>F</b>?<b>anor</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>of</b> <b>ithildin</b> <b>that</b> <b>mirrors</b> <b>only</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>moonlight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sleeps</b> <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>touched</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>who</b> <b>speaks</b> <b>words</b> <b>now</b> <b>long</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>recall</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>does</b> <b>the</b> <b>writing</b> <b>say</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>decipher</b> <b>the</b> <b>inscription</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>letters</b> <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>read</b> <b>these</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>words</b> <b>are</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>tongue</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>anything</b> <b>of</b> <b>importance</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b>. <b>They</b> <b>say</b> <b>only</b>: <b>The</b> <b>Doors</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b>, <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>Speak</b>, <b>friend</b>, <b>and</b> <b>enter</b>. <b>And</b> <b>underneath</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>faint</b> <b>is</b> <b>written</b>: <b>I</b>, <b>Narvi</b>, <b>made</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Celebrimbor</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hollin</b> <b>drew</b> <b>these</b> <b>signs</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>does</b> <b>it</b> <b>mean</b> <b>by</b> <b>speak</b>, <b>friend</b>, <b>and</b> <b>enter</b>?” <b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>plain</b> <b>enough</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>friend</b>, <b>speak</b> <b>the</b> <b>password</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>will</b> <b>open</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>enter</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>these</b> <b>doors</b> <b>are</b> <b>probably</b> <b>governed</b> <b>by</b> <b>words</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>gates</b> <b>will</b> <b>open</b> <b>only</b> <b>at</b> <b>special</b> <b>times</b>, <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>particular</b> <b>persons</b>; <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>have</b> <b>locks</b> <b>and</b> <b>keys</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>needed</b> <b>when</b> <b>all</b> <b>necessary</b> <b>times</b> <b>and</b> <b>words</b> <b>are</b> <b>known</b>. <b>These</b> <b>doors</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>key</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>secret</b>. <b>They</b> <b>usually</b> <b>stood</b> <b>open</b> <b>and</b> <b>doorwards</b> <b>sat</b> <b>here</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>shut</b>, <b>any</b> <b>who</b> <b>knew</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>word</b> <b>could</b> <b>speak</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>pass</b> <b>in</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>recorded</b>, <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b>, <b>Gimli</b>?”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>was</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>remembered</b>. <b>Narvi</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>craft</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>kindred</b> <b>have</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>in</b> <b>surprise</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>looked</b> <b>dismayed</b>; <b>only</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>who</b> <b>knew</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>well</b>, <b>remained</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>unmoved</b>.<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>bringing</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>accursed</b> <b>spot</b>?” <b>cried</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>glancing</b> <b>back</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>shudder</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>told</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>once</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>. <b>How</b> <b>could</b> <b>that</b> <b>be</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>how</b> <b>to</b> <b>enter</b>?”<br>
|
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“<b>The</b> <b>answer</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>first</b> <b>question</b>, <b>Boromir</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>, “<b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b>-<b>yet</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>soon</b> <b>see</b>. <b>And</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>glint</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>bristling</b> <b>brows</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>ask</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>use</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>proved</b> <b>useless</b>. <b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>other</b> <b>question</b>: <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>my</b> <b>tale</b>? <b>Or</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>no</b> <b>wits</b> <b>left</b>? <b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>enter</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b>. <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>these</b> <b>doors</b> <b>open</b> <b>outwards</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>inside</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>them</b> <b>open</b> <b>with</b> <b>your</b> <b>hands</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>outside</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>will</b> <b>move</b> <b>them</b> <b>save</b> <b>the</b> <b>spell</b> <b>of</b> <b>command</b>. <b>They</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>forced</b> <b>inwards</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>then</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>undaunted</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>bristling</b> <b>brows</b>.<br>
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“<b>Knock</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>with</b> <b>your</b> <b>head</b>, <b>Peregrin</b> <b>Took</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>shatter</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>allowed</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>peace</b> <b>from</b> <b>foolish</b> <b>questions</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>seek</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>words</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>once</b> <b>knew</b> <b>every</b> <b>spell</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>tongues</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>or</b> <b>Men</b> <b>or</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>ever</b> <b>used</b> <b>for</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>purpose</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>still</b> <b>remember</b> <b>ten</b> <b>score</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>without</b> <b>searching</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>trials</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>needed</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>call</b> <b>on</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>for</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>secret</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>tongue</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>teach</b> <b>to</b> <b>none</b>. <b>The</b> <b>opening</b> <b>words</b> <b>were</b> <b>Elvish</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>writing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b>: <b>that</b> <b>seems</b> <b>certain</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>touched</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>the</b> <b>silver</b> <b>star</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>anvil</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Annon</b> <b>edhellen</b>, <b>edro</b> <b>hi</b> <b>ammen</b>!<br>
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<b>Fennas</b> <b>nogothrim</b>, <b>lasto</b> <b>beth</b> <b>lammen</b>!<br>
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<br>
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<b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>commanding</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>The</b> <b>silver</b> <b>lines</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>blank</b> <b>grey</b> <b>stone</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>stir</b>.<br>
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<b>Many</b> <b>times</b> <b>he</b> <b>repeated</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>in</b> <b>different</b> <b>order</b>, <b>or</b> <b>varied</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>tried</b> <b>other</b> <b>spells</b>. <b>one</b> <b>after</b> <b>another</b>, <b>speaking</b> <b>now</b> <b>faster</b> <b>and</b> <b>louder</b>, <b>now</b> <b>soft</b> <b>and</b> <b>slow</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>many</b> <b>single</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>speech</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>The</b> <b>cliff</b> <b>towered</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>the</b> <b>countless</b> <b>stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>kindled</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>blew</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>stood</b> <b>fast</b>.<br>
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<b>Again</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>approached</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lifting</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>tones</b> <b>of</b> <b>command</b> <b>and</b> <b>rising</b> <b>wrath</b>. <b>Edro</b>, <b>edro</b>! <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>struck</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b>. <b>Open</b>, <b>open</b>! <b>he</b> <b>shouted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>command</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>language</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>threw</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>from</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>bore</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>listening</b> <b>ears</b> <b>the</b> <b>howling</b> <b>of</b> <b>wolves</b>. <b>Bill</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>started</b> <b>in</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>whispered</b> <b>softly</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>run</b> <b>away</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>need</b> <b>him</b> <b>still</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>us</b>. <b>How</b> <b>I</b> <b>hate</b> <b>this</b> <b>foul</b> <b>pool</b>! “<b>He</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>and</b> <b>picking</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>stone</b> <b>he</b> <b>cast</b> <b>it</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>stone</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>slap</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>instant</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>swish</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>bubble</b>. <b>Great</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>rings</b> <b>formed</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>surface</b> <b>out</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>moved</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>.<br>
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“<b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>, <b>Boromir</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hate</b> <b>this</b> <b>place</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b>: <b>not</b> <b>of</b> <b>wolves</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>, <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pool</b>. <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>disturb</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
|
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“<b>l</b> <b>wish</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>get</b> <b>away</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>Why</b> <b>doesn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b> <b>quick</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
|
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>notice</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sat</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>bowed</b>, <b>either</b> <b>in</b> <b>despair</b> <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>anxious</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>The</b> <b>mournful</b> <b>howling</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>was</b> <b>heard</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ripples</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>grew</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>closer</b>; <b>some</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>lapping</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>.<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>suddenness</b> <b>that</b> <b>startled</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>laughing</b>! “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>! <b>Absurdly</b> <b>simple</b>, <b>like</b> <b>most</b> <b>riddles</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>answer</b>.”<br>
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<b>Picking</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b> <b>and</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b>: <b>Mellon</b>!<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>star</b> <b>shone</b> <b>out</b> <b>briefly</b> <b>and</b> <b>faded</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>silently</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>doorway</b> <b>was</b> <b>outlined</b>, <b>though</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>crack</b> <b>or</b> <b>joint</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>visible</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>it</b> <b>divided</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>and</b> <b>swung</b> <b>outwards</b> <b>inch</b> <b>by</b> <b>inch</b>, <b>until</b> <b>both</b> <b>doors</b> <b>lay</b> <b>back</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>Through</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>stair</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>up</b>; <b>but</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>steps</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>was</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>stared</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>after</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>too</b>. <b>Merry</b>, <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>people</b>, <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>track</b>. <b>The</b> <b>opening</b> <b>word</b> <b>was</b> <b>inscribed</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>archway</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>! <b>The</b> <b>translation</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b>: <b>Say</b> “<b>Friend</b>” <b>and</b> <b>enter</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>word</b> <b>for</b> <b>friend</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>opened</b>. <b>Quite</b> <b>simple</b>. <b>Too</b> <b>simple</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>learned</b> <b>lore</b>-<b>master</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>suspicious</b> <b>days</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>were</b> <b>happier</b> <b>times</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>strode</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>his</b> <b>foot</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>lowest</b> <b>step</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>several</b> <b>things</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>something</b> <b>seize</b> <b>him</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>ankle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b>. <b>Bill</b> <b>the</b> <b>pony</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>wild</b> <b>neigh</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>tail</b> <b>and</b> <b>dashed</b> <b>away</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>lakeside</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>hearing</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>cry</b> <b>he</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b>, <b>weeping</b> <b>and</b> <b>cursing</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>swung</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b> <b>seething</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>host</b> <b>of</b> <b>snakes</b> <b>were</b> <b>swimming</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>end</b>.<br>
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<b>Out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>sinuous</b> <b>tentacle</b> <b>had</b> <b>crawled</b>; <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>pale</b>-<b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>luminous</b> <b>and</b> <b>wet</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>fingered</b> <b>end</b> <b>had</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>foot</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>dragging</b> <b>him</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>slashing</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>knife</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>arm</b> <b>let</b> <b>go</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>pulled</b> <b>him</b> <b>away</b>, <b>crying</b> <b>out</b> <b>for</b> <b>help</b>. <b>Twenty</b> <b>others</b> <b>arms</b> <b>came</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>out</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b> <b>boiled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>hideous</b> <b>stench</b>.<br>
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“<b>Into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gateway</b>! <b>Up</b> <b>the</b> <b>stairs</b>! <b>Quick</b>! “<b>shouted</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Rousing</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>horror</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>rooted</b> <b>all</b> <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>he</b> <b>drove</b> <b>them</b> <b>forward</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>steps</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>just</b> <b>begun</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>groping</b> <b>tentacles</b> <b>writhed</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>shore</b> <b>and</b> <b>fingered</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliff</b>-<b>wall</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>. <b>One</b> <b>came</b> <b>wriggling</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b>, <b>glistening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>starlight</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>paused</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>considering</b> <b>what</b> <b>word</b> <b>would</b> <b>close</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>within</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>coiling</b> <b>arms</b> <b>seized</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>swung</b> <b>them</b> <b>round</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>shattering</b> <b>echo</b> <b>they</b> <b>slammed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>. <b>A</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>rending</b> <b>and</b> <b>crashing</b> <b>came</b> <b>dully</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>ponderous</b> <b>stone</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b>, <b>clinging</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>arm</b>, <b>collapsed</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>step</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>darkness</b>. “<b>Poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bill</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>choking</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>Poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bill</b>! <b>Wolves</b> <b>and</b> <b>snakes</b>! <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>snakes</b> <b>were</b> <b>too</b> <b>much</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>steps</b> <b>and</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiver</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stairs</b> <b>trembled</b>, .<b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>open</b>. “<b>Well</b>, <b>well</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>passage</b> <b>is</b> <b>blocked</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b>—<b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>that</b> <b>boulders</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>piled</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>uprooted</b> <b>and</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>beautiful</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>stood</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>something</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>was</b> <b>near</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>that</b> <b>my</b> <b>foot</b> <b>first</b> <b>touched</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>thing</b>, <b>or</b> <b>were</b> <b>there</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>arms</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>guided</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>purpose</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>has</b> <b>crept</b>, <b>or</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>driven</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>waters</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>older</b> <b>and</b> <b>fouler</b> <b>things</b> <b>than</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>places</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>his</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b>, <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>seized</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>first</b> <b>among</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>muttered</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>echoing</b> <b>stone</b> <b>magnified</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>hoarse</b> <b>whisper</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b>: “<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>places</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>! <b>And</b> <b>thither</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>going</b> <b>against</b> <b>my</b> <b>wish</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>will</b> <b>lead</b> <b>us</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>dark</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>shall</b> <b>walk</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Follow</b> <b>my</b> <b>staff</b>!”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>passed</b> <b>on</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>steps</b>, <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>aloft</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>tip</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>radiance</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wide</b> <b>stairway</b> <b>was</b> <b>sound</b> <b>and</b> <b>undamaged</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>steps</b> <b>they</b> <b>counted</b>, <b>broad</b> <b>and</b> <b>shallow</b>; <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>an</b> <b>arched</b> <b>passage</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>level</b> <b>floor</b> <b>leading</b> <b>on</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>.<br>
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“<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>sit</b> <b>and</b> <b>rest</b> <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>eat</b>, <b>here</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>landing</b>, <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>dining</b>-<b>room</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>begun</b> <b>to</b> <b>shake</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>terror</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>clutching</b> <b>arm</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>extremely</b> <b>hungry</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>proposal</b> <b>was</b> <b>welcomed</b> <b>by</b> <b>all</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>steps</b>, <b>dim</b> <b>figures</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>. <b>After</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b>, <b>Gandalf</b> <b>gave</b> <b>them</b> <b>each</b> <b>a</b> <b>third</b> <b>sip</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>miruvor</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>last</b> <b>much</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>need</b> <b>it</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>horror</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gate</b>. <b>And</b> <b>unless</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>great</b> <b>luck</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>need</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>left</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>! <b>Go</b> <b>carefully</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>too</b>! <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>streams</b> <b>and</b> <b>wells</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>touched</b>. <b>We</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>filling</b> <b>our</b> <b>skins</b> <b>and</b> <b>bottles</b> <b>till</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b>.”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>long</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>us</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>depends</b> <b>on</b> <b>many</b> <b>chances</b>. <b>But</b> <b>going</b> <b>straight</b>, <b>without</b> <b>mishap</b> <b>or</b> <b>losing</b> <b>our</b> <b>way</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>take</b> <b>three</b> <b>or</b> <b>four</b> <b>marches</b>, <b>I</b> <b>expect</b>. <b>It</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>forty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>from</b> <b>West</b>-<b>door</b> <b>to</b> <b>East</b>-<b>gate</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>direct</b> <b>line</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>may</b> <b>wind</b> <b>much</b>.”<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>rest</b> <b>they</b> <b>started</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>again</b>. <b>All</b> <b>were</b> <b>eager</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b> <b>over</b> <b>as</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>willing</b>, <b>tired</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>marching</b> <b>still</b> <b>for</b> <b>several</b> <b>hours</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>as</b> <b>before</b>. <b>In</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>staff</b>, <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>just</b> <b>showed</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b> <b>he</b> <b>held</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>Glamdring</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>came</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glinting</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>light</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>from</b> <b>side</b> <b>to</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>walked</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>the</b> <b>short</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>Sting</b>. <b>No</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>blades</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>or</b> <b>of</b> <b>Glamdring</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>comfort</b>, <b>for</b> <b>being</b> <b>the</b> <b>work</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>smiths</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>these</b> <b>swords</b> <b>shone</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>cold</b> <b>light</b>, <b>if</b> <b>any</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>were</b> <b>near</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>went</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>Legolas</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Boromir</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>rear</b>, <b>grim</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>walked</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>passage</b> <b>twisted</b> <b>round</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>turns</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>descend</b>. <b>It</b> <b>went</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>down</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>level</b> <b>once</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>grew</b> <b>hot</b> <b>and</b> <b>stifling</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>foul</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>currents</b> <b>of</b> <b>cooler</b> <b>air</b> <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b>, <b>issuing</b> <b>from</b> <b>half</b>-<b>guessed</b> <b>openings</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>ray</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>staff</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>caught</b> <b>glimpses</b> <b>of</b> <b>stairs</b> <b>and</b> <b>arches</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>passages</b> <b>and</b> <b>tunnels</b>, <b>sloping</b> <b>up</b>, <b>or</b> <b>running</b> <b>steeply</b> <b>down</b>, <b>or</b> <b>opening</b> <b>blankly</b> <b>dark</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>bewildering</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>remembering</b>.<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>aided</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>very</b> <b>little</b>, <b>except</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>stout</b> <b>courage</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b>, <b>as</b> <b>were</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>, <b>troubled</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>mere</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>in</b> <b>itself</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>consulted</b> <b>him</b> <b>at</b> <b>points</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>choice</b> <b>of</b> <b>way</b> <b>was</b> <b>doubtful</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>always</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>final</b> <b>word</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Mines</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>were</b> <b>vast</b> <b>and</b> <b>intricate</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>imagination</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>'<b>s</b> <b>son</b>, <b>dwarf</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>race</b> <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>. <b>To</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b>-<b>off</b> <b>memories</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>of</b> <b>little</b> <b>help</b>, <b>but</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b> <b>and</b> <b>despite</b> <b>all</b> <b>windings</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>whither</b> <b>he</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>falter</b>, <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>towards</b> <b>his</b> <b>goal</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>pause</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>usual</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>were</b> <b>whispering</b> <b>together</b>; <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>waiting</b> <b>anxiously</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b>! <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>if</b> <b>never</b> <b>on</b> <b>one</b> <b>so</b> <b>dark</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>of</b> <b>greater</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>He</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>astray</b>-<b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>any</b> <b>path</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>led</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>here</b> <b>against</b> <b>our</b> <b>fears</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>lead</b> <b>us</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>, <b>at</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>cost</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>surer</b> <b>of</b> <b>finding</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>home</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>blind</b> <b>night</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>cats</b> <b>of</b> <b>Queen</b> <b>Ber</b>?<b>thiel</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>guide</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>fuel</b> <b>nor</b> <b>any</b> <b>means</b> <b>of</b> <b>making</b> <b>torches</b>; <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>desperate</b> <b>scramble</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>light</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>soon</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>grief</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>only</b> <b>many</b> <b>roads</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b> <b>from</b>, <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>also</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>places</b> <b>holes</b> <b>and</b> <b>pitfalls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dark</b> <b>wells</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>their</b> <b>passing</b> <b>feet</b> <b>echoed</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>fissures</b> <b>and</b> <b>chasms</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>floor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>a</b> <b>crack</b> <b>would</b> <b>open</b> <b>right</b> <b>before</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>The</b> <b>widest</b> <b>was</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>seven</b> <b>feet</b> <b>across</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>could</b> <b>summon</b> <b>enough</b> <b>courage</b> <b>to</b> <b>leap</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>gap</b>. <b>The</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>churning</b> <b>water</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>far</b> <b>below</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>great</b> <b>mill</b>-<b>wheel</b> <b>was</b> <b>turning</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>depths</b>.<br>
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“<b>Rope</b>! “<b>muttered</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>knew</b> <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>want</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>hadn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>these</b> <b>dangers</b> <b>became</b> <b>more</b> <b>frequent</b> <b>their</b> <b>march</b> <b>became</b> <b>slower</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>tramping</b> <b>on</b>, <b>on</b>, <b>endlessly</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>” <b>roots</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>no</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>halting</b> <b>anywhere</b>. <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>spirits</b> <b>had</b> <b>risen</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>after</b> <b>his</b> <b>escape</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>draught</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cordial</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>uneasiness</b>, <b>growing</b> <b>to</b> <b>dread</b>, <b>crept</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>healed</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>knife</b>-<b>stroke</b>, <b>that</b> <b>grim</b> <b>wound</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>without</b> <b>effect</b>. <b>His</b> <b>senses</b> <b>were</b> <b>sharper</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>One</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>change</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>soon</b> <b>had</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>more</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>, <b>save</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>case</b> <b>the</b> <b>bearer</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>: <b>it</b> <b>hung</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>chain</b> <b>against</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>whiles</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>weight</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>certainty</b> <b>of</b> <b>evil</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>evil</b> <b>following</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gripped</b> <b>tighter</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>doggedly</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>seldom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>hurried</b> <b>whispers</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>feet</b>; <b>the</b> <b>dull</b> <b>stump</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gimli</b>'<b>s</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>boots</b>; <b>the</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>tread</b> <b>of</b> <b>Boromir</b>; <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>step</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b>; <b>the</b> <b>soft</b>, <b>scarce</b>-<b>heard</b> <b>patter</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>feet</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rear</b> <b>the</b> <b>slow</b> <b>firm</b> <b>footfalls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>stride</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>occasionally</b> <b>a</b> <b>faint</b> <b>trickle</b> <b>and</b> <b>drip</b> <b>of</b> <b>unseen</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b>, <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>imagine</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>something</b> <b>else</b>: <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>faint</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>soft</b> <b>bare</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>never</b> <b>loud</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>or</b> <b>near</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>certain</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b>; <b>but</b> <b>once</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>started</b> <b>it</b> <b>never</b> <b>stopped</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>moving</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>an</b> <b>echo</b>, <b>for</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>it</b> <b>pattered</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>all</b> <b>by</b> <b>itself</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>grew</b> <b>still</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>after</b> <b>nightfall</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>entered</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>going</b> <b>for</b> <b>several</b> <b>hours</b> <b>with</b> <b>only</b> <b>brief</b> <b>halts</b>, <b>when</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>first</b> <b>serious</b> <b>check</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>him</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>dark</b> <b>arch</b> <b>opening</b> <b>into</b> <b>three</b> <b>passages</b>: <b>all</b> <b>led</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>general</b> <b>direction</b>, <b>eastwards</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>-<b>hand</b> <b>passage</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>down</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>-<b>hand</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>way</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>run</b> <b>on</b>, <b>smooth</b> <b>and</b> <b>level</b> <b>but</b> <b>very</b> <b>narrow</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>place</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>uncertainly</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b>. <b>He</b> <b>held</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>finding</b> <b>some</b> <b>marks</b> <b>or</b> <b>inscription</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>help</b> <b>his</b> <b>choice</b>; <b>but</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>kind</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>too</b> <b>weary</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>shaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>expect</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>as</b> <b>weary</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b>, <b>or</b> <b>wearier</b>. <b>We</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>halt</b> <b>here</b> <b>for</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>You</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>! <b>In</b> <b>here</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>ever</b> <b>dark</b>; <b>but</b> <b>outside</b> <b>the</b> <b>late</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>is</b> <b>riding</b> <b>westward</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b>-<b>night</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Bill</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>those</b> <b>wolves</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>him</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>arch</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b> <b>door</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>half</b> <b>closed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>swung</b> <b>back</b> <b>easily</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>thrust</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>lie</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>cut</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b>.<br>
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“<b>Steady</b>! <b>Steady</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>as</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>pushed</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>rest</b> <b>with</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>more</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>passage</b>. “<b>Steady</b>! <b>You</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>inside</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>first</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>cautiously</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>filed</b> <b>behind</b>. “<b>There</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>round</b> <b>hole</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>well</b>. <b>Broken</b> <b>and</b> <b>rusty</b> <b>chains</b> <b>lay</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>and</b> <b>trailed</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>pit</b>. <b>Fragments</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>lay</b> <b>near</b>.<br>
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“<b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>to</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>the</b> <b>guide</b> <b>go</b> <b>first</b> <b>while</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>one</b>.”<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>guardroom</b>, <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>watching</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>three</b> <b>passages</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>hole</b> <b>was</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>a</b> <b>well</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>guards</b>” <b>use</b>, <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b> <b>lid</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>lid</b> <b>is</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>all</b> <b>take</b> <b>care</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>.”<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>felt</b> <b>curiously</b> <b>attracted</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>well</b>. <b>While</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>unrolling</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>and</b> <b>making</b> <b>beds</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>possible</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>, <b>he</b> <b>crept</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>and</b> <b>peered</b> <b>over</b>. <b>A</b> <b>chill</b> <b>air</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>strike</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>, <b>rising</b> <b>from</b> <b>invisible</b> <b>depths</b>. <b>Moved</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>impulse</b> <b>he</b> <b>groped</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>loose</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>it</b> <b>drop</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>beat</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b> <b>before</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>any</b> <b>sound</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>far</b> <b>below</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>into</b> <b>deep</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>cavernous</b> <b>place</b>, <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>plunk</b>, <b>very</b> <b>distant</b>, <b>but</b> <b>magnified</b> <b>and</b> <b>repeated</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollow</b> <b>shaft</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b>? “<b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>relieved</b> <b>when</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>confessed</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>angry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>his</b> <b>eye</b> <b>glinting</b>. “<b>Fool</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>Took</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>growled</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>serious</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>walking</b>-<b>party</b>. <b>Throw</b> <b>yourself</b> <b>in</b> <b>next</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>nuisance</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>be</b> <b>quiet</b>!”<br>
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<b>Nothing</b> <b>more</b> <b>was</b> <b>heard</b> <b>for</b> <b>several</b> <b>minutes</b>; <b>but</b> <b>then</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>depths</b> <b>faint</b> <b>knocks</b>: <b>tom</b>-<b>tap</b>, <b>tap</b>-<b>tom</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stopped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>echoes</b> <b>had</b> <b>died</b> <b>away</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>repeated</b>: <b>tap</b>-<b>tom</b>, <b>tom</b>-<b>tap</b>, <b>tap</b>-<b>tap</b>, <b>tom</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>disquietingly</b> <b>like</b> <b>signals</b> <b>of</b> <b>some</b> <b>sort</b>; <b>but</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>knocking</b> <b>died</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>hammer</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>one</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>Peregrin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>foolish</b> <b>stone</b>; <b>but</b> <b>probably</b> <b>something</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>better</b> <b>left</b> <b>quiet</b>. <b>Pray</b>, <b>do</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>kind</b> <b>again</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>get</b> <b>some</b> <b>rest</b> <b>without</b> <b>further</b> <b>trouble</b>. <b>You</b>, <b>Pippin</b>, <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>watch</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>reward</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>growled</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>himself</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>blanket</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>sat</b> <b>miserably</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>pitch</b> <b>dark</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>on</b> <b>turning</b> <b>round</b>, <b>fearing</b> <b>that</b> <b>some</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>thing</b> <b>would</b> <b>crawl</b> <b>up</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>well</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wished</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>cover</b> <b>the</b> <b>hole</b>, <b>if</b> <b>only</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>blanket</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>move</b> <b>or</b> <b>go</b> <b>near</b> <b>it</b>, <b>even</b> <b>though</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>asleep</b>.<br>
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<b>Actually</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>awake</b>, <b>though</b> <b>lying</b> <b>still</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>recall</b> <b>every</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>former</b> <b>journey</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>, <b>and</b> <b>considering</b> <b>anxiously</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>course</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>should</b> <b>take</b>; <b>a</b> <b>false</b> <b>turn</b> <b>now</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>disastrous</b>. <b>After</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>he</b> <b>rose</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>to</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>Get</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b> <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>tone</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>I</b> <b>expect</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>wink</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>do</b> <b>the</b> <b>watching</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>matter</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>muttered</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>smoke</b>! <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>tasted</b> <b>it</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>snowstorm</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>thing</b> <b>that</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>as</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>took</b> <b>him</b>, <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>, <b>shielding</b> <b>a</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>chip</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>gnarled</b> <b>hands</b> <b>between</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>. <b>The</b> <b>flicker</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>showed</b> <b>his</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>nose</b>. <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>puff</b> <b>of</b> <b>smoke</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>who</b> <b>roused</b> <b>them</b> <b>all</b> <b>from</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>sat</b> <b>and</b> <b>watched</b> <b>all</b> <b>alone</b> <b>for</b> <b>about</b> <b>six</b> <b>hours</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>rest</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>watches</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>feel</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>way</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>smell</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>-<b>hand</b> <b>way</b>: <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>foul</b> <b>air</b> <b>down</b> <b>there</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>no</b> <b>guide</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b>-<b>hand</b> <b>passage</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>time</b> <b>we</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>up</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>eight</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hours</b>, <b>not</b> <b>counting</b> <b>two</b> <b>brief</b> <b>halts</b>, <b>they</b> <b>marched</b> <b>on</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>met</b> <b>no</b> <b>danger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>faint</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>light</b>, <b>bobbing</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>will</b>-<b>o</b>'-<b>the</b>-<b>wisp</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>passage</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>wound</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>upwards</b>. <b>As</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>judge</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>great</b> <b>mounting</b> <b>curves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>rose</b> <b>it</b> <b>grew</b> <b>loftier</b> <b>and</b> <b>wider</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>now</b> <b>no</b> <b>openings</b> <b>to</b> <b>other</b> <b>galleries</b> <b>or</b> <b>tunnels</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>was</b> <b>level</b> <b>and</b> <b>sound</b>, <b>without</b> <b>pits</b> <b>or</b> <b>cracks</b>. <b>Evidently</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>struck</b> <b>what</b> <b>once</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>an</b> <b>important</b> <b>road</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>quicker</b> <b>than</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>done</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>first</b> <b>march</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>they</b> <b>advanced</b> <b>some</b> <b>fifteen</b> <b>miles</b>, <b>measured</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>direct</b> <b>line</b> <b>east</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>actually</b> <b>walked</b> <b>twenty</b> <b>miles</b> <b>or</b> <b>more</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>upwards</b>` <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>spirits</b> <b>rose</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>still</b> <b>felt</b> <b>oppressed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>or</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b>, <b>away</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b> <b>and</b> <b>patter</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>a</b> <b>following</b> <b>footstep</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>an</b> <b>echo</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>marched</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>could</b> <b>endure</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>were</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>when</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>to</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>some</b> <b>arched</b> <b>doorway</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>and</b> <b>empty</b> <b>space</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>draught</b> <b>of</b> <b>warmer</b> <b>air</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>was</b> <b>cold</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b>. <b>They</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>anxiously</b> <b>together</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Gandalf</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>pleased</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>chose</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>way</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>habitable</b> <b>parts</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>now</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>side</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>high</b> <b>up</b>, <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>deal</b> <b>higher</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Gate</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>mistaken</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>now</b> <b>risk</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>real</b> <b>light</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>raised</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>instant</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>blaze</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b> <b>of</b> <b>lightning</b>. <b>Great</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>fled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>vast</b> <b>roof</b> <b>far</b> <b>above</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>upheld</b> <b>by</b> <b>many</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>hewn</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>stretched</b> <b>a</b> <b>huge</b> <b>empty</b> <b>hall</b>; <b>its</b> <b>black</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>polished</b> <b>and</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>as</b> <b>glass</b>, <b>flashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>glittered</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>other</b> <b>entrances</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>black</b> <b>arches</b>: <b>one</b> <b>straight</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>eastwards</b>, <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>venture</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>present</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>great</b> <b>windows</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shafts</b> <b>leading</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>reaches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mines</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>them</b> <b>now</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>night</b> <b>outside</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tell</b> <b>until</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>right</b>, <b>tomorrow</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>actually</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>peeping</b> <b>in</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>meanwhile</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>. <b>Things</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>well</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>greater</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>road</b> <b>is</b> <b>over</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>through</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>way</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>that</b> <b>open</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>spent</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>cavernous</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>huddled</b> <b>close</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>the</b> <b>draught</b>: <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>steady</b> <b>inflow</b> <b>of</b> <b>chill</b> <b>air</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>archway</b>. <b>All</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>lay</b> <b>hung</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>hollow</b> <b>and</b> <b>immense</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>oppressed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>loneliness</b> <b>and</b> <b>vastness</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dolven</b> <b>halls</b> <b>and</b> <b>endlessly</b> <b>branching</b> <b>stairs</b> <b>and</b> <b>passages</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wildest</b> <b>imaginings</b> <b>that</b> <b>dark</b> <b>rumour</b> <b>had</b> <b>ever</b> <b>suggested</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>fell</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>short</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>actual</b> <b>dread</b> <b>and</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>There</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>crowd</b> <b>of</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>here</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>time</b> “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>every</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>busier</b> <b>than</b> <b>badgers</b> <b>for</b> <b>five</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>years</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b>, <b>and</b> <b>most</b> <b>in</b> <b>hard</b> <b>rock</b> <b>too</b>! <b>What</b> <b>did</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b> <b>it</b> <b>all</b> <b>for</b>? <b>They</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>darksome</b> <b>holes</b> <b>surely</b>?”<br>
|
||
“<b>These</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>holes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>realm</b> <b>and</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarrowdelf</b>. <b>And</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>darksome</b>, <b>but</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>splendour</b>, <b>as</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>remembered</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>songs</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>standing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>chant</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>echoes</b> <b>ran</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>young</b>, <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>green</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>No</b> <b>stain</b> <b>yet</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>seen</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>No</b> <b>words</b> <b>were</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>stream</b> <b>or</b> <b>stone</b><br>
|
||
<b>When</b> <b>Durin</b> <b>woke</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>alone</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>named</b> <b>the</b> <b>nameless</b> <b>hills</b> <b>and</b> <b>dells</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>drank</b> <b>from</b> <b>yet</b> <b>untasted</b> <b>wells</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>He</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirrormere</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>crown</b> <b>of</b> <b>stars</b> <b>appear</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>gems</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>silver</b> <b>thread</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Above</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>tall</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b><br>
|
||
<b>Of</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>kings</b> <b>in</b> <b>Nargothrond</b><br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>Gondolin</b>, <b>who</b> <b>now</b> <b>beyond</b><br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>Western</b> <b>Seas</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>away</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>fair</b> <b>in</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Day</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>king</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>carven</b> <b>throne</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>many</b>-<b>pillared</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b><br>
|
||
<b>With</b> <b>golden</b> <b>roof</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b> <b>floor</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>runes</b> <b>of</b> <b>power</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>star</b> <b>and</b> <b>moon</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>shining</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>of</b> <b>crystal</b> <b>hewn</b><br>
|
||
<b>Undimmed</b> <b>by</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>or</b> <b>shade</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b><br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>shone</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>hammer</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>anvil</b> <b>smote</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>chisel</b> <b>clove</b>, <b>and</b> <b>graver</b> <b>wrote</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>forged</b> <b>was</b> <b>blade</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bound</b> <b>was</b> <b>hilt</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>delver</b> <b>mined</b>, <b>the</b> <b>mason</b> <b>built</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>beryl</b>, <b>pearl</b>, <b>and</b> <b>opal</b> <b>pale</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>metal</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>like</b> <b>fishes</b>” <b>mail</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Buckler</b> <b>and</b> <b>corslet</b>, <b>axe</b> <b>and</b> <b>sword</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>shining</b> <b>spears</b> <b>were</b> <b>laid</b> <b>in</b> <b>hoard</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Unwearied</b> <b>then</b> <b>were</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>folk</b><br>
|
||
<b>Beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>music</b> <b>woke</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>harpers</b> <b>harped</b>, <b>the</b> <b>minstrels</b> <b>sang</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>the</b> <b>trumpets</b> <b>rang</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>grey</b>, <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>old</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>forge</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fire</b> <b>is</b> <b>ashen</b>-<b>cold</b><br>
|
||
<b>No</b> <b>harp</b> <b>is</b> <b>wrung</b>, <b>no</b> <b>hammer</b> <b>falls</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>dwells</b> <b>in</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>halls</b><br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>lies</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>tomb</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>in</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>still</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunken</b> <b>stars</b> <b>appear</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>windless</b> <b>Mirrormere</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>There</b> <b>lies</b> <b>his</b> <b>crown</b> <b>in</b> <b>water</b> <b>deep</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Till</b> <b>Durin</b> <b>wakes</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
“<b>I</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>learn</b> <b>it</b>. <b>In</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>in</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b>! <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>makes</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>seem</b> <b>heavier</b>, <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>lamps</b>. <b>Are</b> <b>there</b> <b>piles</b> <b>of</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>and</b> <b>gold</b> <b>lying</b> <b>about</b> <b>here</b> <b>still</b>?”<br>
|
||
<b>Gimli</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>Having</b> <b>sung</b> <b>his</b> <b>song</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>Piles</b> <b>of</b> <b>jewels</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>No</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>have</b> <b>often</b> <b>plundered</b> <b>Moria</b>; <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>halls</b>. <b>And</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>fled</b>, <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>dares</b> <b>to</b> <b>seek</b> <b>the</b> <b>shafts</b> <b>and</b> <b>treasuries</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>places</b>: <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>in</b> <b>water</b>—<b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarves</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b> <b>for</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>For</b> <b>mithril</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>wealth</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>jewels</b>, <b>the</b> <b>toys</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>in</b> <b>iron</b>, <b>their</b> <b>servant</b>. <b>Such</b> <b>things</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>here</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>, <b>especially</b> <b>iron</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>delve</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>: <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>desired</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>obtain</b> <b>in</b> <b>traffic</b>. <b>For</b> <b>here</b> <b>alone</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>found</b> <b>Moria</b>-<b>silver</b>, <b>or</b> <b>true</b>-<b>silver</b> <b>as</b> <b>some</b> <b>have</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b>: <b>mithril</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>name</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>name</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>worth</b> <b>was</b> <b>ten</b> <b>times</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>price</b>; <b>for</b> <b>little</b> <b>is</b> <b>left</b> <b>above</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>dare</b> <b>not</b> <b>delve</b> <b>here</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>lodes</b> <b>lead</b> <b>away</b> <b>north</b> <b>towards</b> <b>Caradhras</b>, <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>tell</b> <b>no</b> <b>tale</b>; <b>but</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>mithril</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>foundation</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>wealth</b>, <b>so</b> <b>also</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>their</b> <b>destruction</b>: <b>they</b> <b>delved</b> <b>too</b> <b>greedily</b> <b>and</b> <b>too</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>that</b> <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>fled</b>, <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>brought</b> <b>to</b> <b>light</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>have</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>all</b>, <b>and</b> <b>given</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>tribute</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sauron</b>, <b>who</b> <b>covets</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Mithril</b>! <b>All</b> <b>folk</b> <b>desired</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>beaten</b> <b>like</b> <b>copper</b>, <b>and</b> <b>polished</b> <b>like</b> <b>glass</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>metal</b>, <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>harder</b> <b>than</b> <b>tempered</b> <b>steel</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>beauty</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>common</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>beauty</b> <b>of</b> <b>mithril</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>tarnish</b> <b>or</b> <b>grow</b> <b>dim</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>dearly</b> <b>loved</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>among</b> <b>many</b> <b>uses</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>ithildin</b>, <b>starmoon</b>, <b>which</b> <b>you</b> <b>saw</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>corslet</b> <b>of</b> <b>mithril</b>-<b>rings</b> <b>that</b> <b>Thorin</b> <b>gave</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Gathering</b> <b>dust</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>Michel</b> <b>Delving</b> <b>Mathom</b>-<b>house</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b>? “<b>cried</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>startled</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>silence</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>corslet</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>-<b>silver</b>? <b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>kingly</b> <b>gift</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>told</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>worth</b> <b>was</b> <b>greater</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>value</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>whole</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>everything</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>tunic</b> <b>and</b> <b>touched</b> <b>the</b> <b>rings</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mail</b>-<b>shirt</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>staggered</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>walking</b> <b>about</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>price</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>jacket</b>. <b>Had</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>known</b>? <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>knew</b> <b>quite</b> <b>well</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>a</b> <b>kingly</b> <b>gift</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>his</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>carried</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>Mines</b>, <b>to</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>to</b> <b>Bilbo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bag</b> <b>End</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>while</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b>. <b>He</b> <b>wished</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>back</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b>, <b>mowing</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b>, <b>or</b> <b>pottering</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>or</b> <b>mithril</b>—<b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>deep</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>One</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>guard</b>. <b>As</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>a</b> <b>breath</b> <b>that</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>through</b> <b>unseen</b> <b>doors</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>deep</b> <b>places</b>, <b>dread</b> <b>came</b> <b>over</b> <b>him</b>. <b>His</b> <b>hands</b> <b>were</b> <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>brow</b> <b>damp</b>. <b>He</b> <b>listened</b>. <b>All</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>was</b> <b>given</b> <b>to</b> <b>listening</b> <b>and</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>for</b> <b>two</b> <b>slow</b> <b>hours</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>echo</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>footfall</b>.<br>
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<b>His</b> <b>watch</b> <b>was</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>over</b>, <b>when</b>, <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>archway</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>he</b> <b>fancied</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>two</b> <b>pale</b> <b>points</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>like</b> <b>luminous</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>He</b> <b>started</b>. <b>His</b> <b>head</b> <b>had</b> <b>nodded</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>on</b> <b>guard</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>thought</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>remained</b> <b>standing</b>, <b>peering</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>relieved</b> <b>by</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b> <b>he</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>went</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>dream</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>: <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>whispers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>pale</b> <b>points</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>approaching</b>, <b>slowly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>woke</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>were</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>softly</b> <b>near</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>dim</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>falling</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>. <b>High</b> <b>up</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>archway</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>pale</b> <b>gleam</b>; <b>and</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>arch</b> <b>light</b> <b>also</b> <b>glimmered</b> <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>distantly</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>Good</b> <b>morning</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>: “<b>For</b> <b>morning</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>again</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>right</b>, <b>you</b> <b>see</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>high</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>today</b> <b>is</b> <b>over</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirrormere</b> <b>lying</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>looked</b> <b>on</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>great</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>become</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>dreadful</b>; <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>kindred</b>. <b>I</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>ever</b> <b>came</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>breakfasted</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>tired</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>rest</b> <b>better</b> <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>outside</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>will</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>spend</b> <b>another</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>indeed</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Which</b> <b>way</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>take</b>? <b>Yonder</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>arch</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>yet</b> <b>exactly</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>. <b>Unless</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>quite</b> <b>astray</b>, <b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>above</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Gates</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>road</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>arch</b> <b>will</b> <b>probably</b> <b>prove</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b>; <b>but</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>make</b> <b>up</b> <b>our</b> <b>minds</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b> <b>towards</b> <b>that</b> <b>light</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>door</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>window</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>help</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>comes</b> <b>only</b> <b>down</b> <b>deep</b> <b>shafts</b>.”<br>
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<b>Following</b> <b>his</b> <b>lead</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>passed</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>arch</b>. <b>They</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>corridor</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>along</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>grew</b> <b>stronger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>came</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>doorway</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>flat</b>-<b>topped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>door</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>hinges</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>half</b> <b>open</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>square</b> <b>chamber</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>lit</b>, <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>after</b> <b>so</b> <b>long</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>dazzlingly</b> <b>bright</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>blinked</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>entered</b>.<br>
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<b>Their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>dust</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>among</b> <b>things</b> <b>lying</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorway</b> <b>whose</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>make</b> <b>out</b>. <b>The</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>was</b> <b>lit</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>high</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>wall</b>; <b>it</b> <b>slanted</b> <b>upwards</b> <b>and</b>, <b>far</b> <b>above</b>, <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>square</b> <b>patch</b> <b>of</b> <b>blue</b> <b>sky</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>fell</b> <b>directly</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>room</b>: <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>oblong</b> <b>block</b>, <b>about</b> <b>two</b> <b>feet</b> <b>high</b>, <b>upon</b> <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>slab</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>stone</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>looks</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>tomb</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bent</b> <b>forwards</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>curious</b> <b>sense</b> <b>of</b> <b>foreboding</b>, <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>more</b> <b>closely</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>came</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>slab</b> <b>runes</b> <b>were</b> <b>deeply</b> <b>graven</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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“<b>These</b> <b>are</b> <b>Daeron</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Runes</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>were</b> <b>used</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>written</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>tongues</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>Dwarves</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>balin</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>fundin</b><br>
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<b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>moria</b>.”<br>
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<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>dead</b> <b>then</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>feared</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b>.” <b>Gimli</b> <b>cast</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 5<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>BRIDGE</b> <b>OF</b> <b>KHAZAD</b>-<b>D</b>?<b>M</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>stood</b> <b>silent</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>tomb</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>long</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>visit</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>dusty</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>a</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>they</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>search</b> <b>for</b> <b>anything</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>give</b> <b>them</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fate</b>, <b>or</b> <b>show</b> <b>what</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>another</b> <b>smaller</b> <b>door</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shaft</b>. <b>By</b> <b>both</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>now</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>many</b> <b>bones</b> <b>were</b> <b>lying</b>, <b>and</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b> <b>were</b> <b>broken</b> <b>swords</b> <b>and</b> <b>axe</b>-<b>heads</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cloven</b> <b>shields</b> <b>and</b> <b>helms</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>swords</b> <b>were</b> <b>crooked</b>: <b>orc</b>-<b>scimitars</b> <b>with</b> <b>blackened</b> <b>blades</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>recesses</b> <b>cut</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>them</b> <b>were</b> <b>large</b> <b>iron</b>-<b>bound</b> <b>chests</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>All</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>broken</b> <b>and</b> <b>plundered</b>; <b>but</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>shattered</b> <b>lid</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>there</b> <b>lay</b> <b>the</b> <b>remains</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>book</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>slashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>stabbed</b> <b>and</b> <b>partly</b> <b>burned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>stained</b> <b>with</b> <b>black</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>dark</b> <b>marks</b> <b>like</b> <b>old</b> <b>blood</b> <b>that</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>read</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>it</b> <b>carefully</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>crackled</b> <b>and</b> <b>broke</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>laid</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>slab</b>. <b>He</b> <b>pored</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>without</b> <b>speaking</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>standing</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>gingerly</b> <b>turned</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>written</b> <b>by</b> <b>many</b> <b>different</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>in</b> <b>runes</b>, <b>both</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>script</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>record</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fortunes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>folk</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>on</b> <b>thirty</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>: <b>the</b> <b>pages</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>numbers</b> <b>referring</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>after</b> <b>their</b> <b>arrival</b>. <b>The</b> <b>top</b> <b>page</b> <b>is</b> <b>marked</b> <b>one</b>—<b>three</b>, <b>so</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>two</b> <b>are</b> <b>missing</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>beginning</b>. <b>Listen</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b>!<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>drove</b> <b>out</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>gate</b> <b>and</b> <b>guard</b>—<b>I</b> <b>think</b>; <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>word</b> <b>is</b> <b>blurred</b> <b>and</b> <b>burned</b>; <b>probably</b> <b>room</b>—<b>we</b> <b>slew</b> <b>many</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>bright</b>—<b>I</b> <b>think</b>—<b>sun</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dale</b>. <b>Fl</b>?<b>i</b> <b>was</b> <b>killed</b> <b>by</b> <b>an</b> <b>arrow</b>. <b>He</b> <b>slew</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>blur</b> <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Fl</b>?<b>i</b> <b>under</b> <b>grass</b> <b>near</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>mere</b>. <b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>line</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>read</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>comes</b> <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>taken</b> <b>the</b> <b>twentyfirst</b> <b>hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>North</b> <b>end</b> <b>to</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>in</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>read</b> <b>what</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>is</b> <b>mentioned</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>has</b> <b>set</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>seat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mazarbul</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>Chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>Records</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>guess</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>now</b> <b>stand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>read</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>way</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, “<b>except</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Axe</b> <b>and</b> <b>something</b> <b>helm</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>That</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>end</b> <b>a</b> <b>chapter</b>. <b>After</b> <b>some</b> <b>stars</b> <b>another</b> <b>hand</b> <b>begins</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>we</b> <b>found</b> <b>truesilver</b>, <b>and</b> <b>later</b> <b>the</b> <b>word</b> <b>wellforged</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>something</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>it</b>! <b>mithril</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>two</b> <b>lines</b> ?<b>in</b> <b>to</b> <b>seek</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>armouries</b> <b>of</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Deep</b>, <b>something</b> <b>go</b> <b>westwards</b>, <b>a</b> <b>blur</b>, <b>to</b> <b>Hollin</b> <b>gate</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>paused</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>aside</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>several</b> <b>pages</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>sort</b>, <b>rather</b> <b>hastily</b> <b>written</b> <b>and</b> <b>much</b> <b>damaged</b>, <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>make</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>there</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>number</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>missing</b>, <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>begin</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>numbered</b> <b>five</b>, <b>the</b> <b>fifth</b> <b>year</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>colony</b>, <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>see</b>! <b>No</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>too</b> <b>cut</b> <b>and</b> <b>stained</b>; <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>read</b> <b>them</b>. <b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>do</b> <b>better</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b>. <b>Wait</b>! <b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>something</b>: <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>bold</b> <b>hand</b> <b>using</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>script</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>Ori</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>arm</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>write</b> <b>well</b> <b>and</b> <b>speedily</b>, <b>and</b> <b>often</b> <b>used</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>characters</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>ill</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>to</b> <b>record</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>hand</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>first</b> <b>clear</b> <b>word</b> <b>is</b> <b>sorrow</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>line</b> <b>is</b> <b>lost</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>ends</b> <b>in</b> <b>estre</b>. <b>Yes</b>, <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>yestre</b> <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b> <b>being</b> <b>the</b> <b>tenth</b> <b>of</b> <b>novembre</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>fell</b> <b>in</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b>. <b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>alone</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>mere</b>. <b>an</b> <b>orc</b> <b>shot</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>we</b> <b>slew</b> <b>the</b> <b>orc</b>, <b>hut</b> <b>many</b> <b>more</b> ... <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>east</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b>. <b>The</b> <b>remainder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>page</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b> <b>blurred</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>make</b> <b>anything</b> <b>out</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>read</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>barred</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>can</b> <b>hold</b> <b>them</b> <b>long</b> <b>if</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>and</b> <b>suffer</b>. <b>Poor</b> <b>Balin</b>! <b>He</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>kept</b> <b>the</b> <b>title</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>for</b> <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>five</b> <b>years</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>happened</b> <b>afterwards</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>puzzle</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>few</b> <b>pages</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>page</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>paused</b> <b>and</b> <b>sighed</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>grim</b> <b>reading</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>their</b> <b>end</b> <b>was</b> <b>cruel</b>. <b>Listen</b>! <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b>. <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>taken</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>and</b> <b>second</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>Fr</b>?<b>r</b> <b>and</b> <b>L</b>?<b>ni</b> <b>and</b> <b>N</b>?<b>li</b> <b>fell</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>four</b> <b>lines</b> <b>smeared</b> <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>only</b> <b>read</b> <b>went</b> 5 <b>days</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>lines</b> <b>run</b> <b>the</b> <b>pool</b> <b>is</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>at</b> <b>Westgate</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Watcher</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Water</b> <b>took</b> ?<b>in</b>. <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b>. <b>The</b> <b>end</b> <b>comes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>drums</b>, <b>drums</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>that</b> <b>means</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>thing</b> <b>written</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>trailing</b> <b>scrawl</b> <b>of</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>letters</b>: <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>more</b>.” <b>Gandalf</b> <b>paused</b> <b>and</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>silent</b> <b>thought</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>dread</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>horror</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>pool</b> <b>had</b> <b>sunk</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Watcher</b> <b>was</b> <b>sleeping</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>end</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>raised</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>round</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>a</b> <b>last</b> <b>stand</b> <b>by</b> <b>both</b> <b>doors</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>many</b> <b>left</b> <b>by</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b>. <b>So</b> <b>ended</b> <b>the</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>to</b> <b>retake</b> <b>Moria</b>! <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>valiant</b> <b>but</b> <b>foolish</b>. <b>The</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Now</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>say</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fundin</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>lie</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>fathers</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>this</b> <b>book</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Book</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mazarbul</b>, <b>and</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>more</b> <b>closely</b> <b>later</b>. <b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>better</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Gimli</b>, <b>and</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>interest</b> <b>him</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>grieve</b> <b>him</b> <b>deeply</b>. <b>Come</b>, <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b>! <b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>is</b> <b>passing</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Which</b> <b>way</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Boromir</b>.<br>
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“<b>Back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>our</b> <b>visit</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>room</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b>. <b>I</b> <b>now</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>. <b>This</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>says</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mazarbul</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>twenty</b>-<b>first</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>-<b>end</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>leave</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>arch</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bear</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>south</b>, <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>downwards</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Twenty</b>-<b>first</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Seventh</b> <b>Level</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>six</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>level</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>!”<br>
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<b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b>, <b>when</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>noise</b>: <b>a</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>Boom</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>depths</b> <b>far</b> <b>below</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>tremble</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>at</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>in</b> <b>alarm</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>it</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>again</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>huge</b> <b>hands</b> <b>were</b> <b>turning</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>caverns</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>vast</b> <b>drum</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>an</b> <b>echoing</b> <b>blast</b>: <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>horn</b> <b>was</b> <b>blown</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>answering</b> <b>horns</b> <b>and</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>cries</b> <b>were</b> <b>heard</b> <b>further</b> <b>off</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>feet</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>Trapped</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>delay</b>? <b>Here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>, <b>caught</b>, <b>just</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>before</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>here</b> <b>then</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> ——”<br>
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<b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beat</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>shook</b>.<br>
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“<b>Slam</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>and</b> <b>wedge</b> <b>them</b>! “<b>shouted</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>keep</b> <b>your</b> <b>packs</b> <b>on</b> <b>as</b> <b>long</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>: <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>to</b> <b>cut</b> <b>our</b> <b>way</b> <b>out</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>shut</b> <b>in</b>. <b>Keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>door</b> <b>ajar</b>! <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b>.”<br>
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<b>Another</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>horn</b>-<b>call</b> <b>and</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>cries</b> <b>rang</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Feet</b> <b>were</b> <b>coming</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>corridor</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>clatter</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>drew</b> <b>their</b> <b>swords</b>. <b>Glamdring</b> <b>shone</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>edges</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>set</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>door</b>.<br>
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“<b>Wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>! <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>close</b> <b>it</b> <b>yet</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forward</b> <b>to</b> <b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>himself</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>full</b> <b>height</b>.<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>comes</b> <b>hither</b> <b>to</b> <b>disturb</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>loud</b> <b>voice</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>rush</b> <b>of</b> <b>hoarse</b> <b>laughter</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>sliding</b> <b>stones</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>pit</b>; <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>clamour</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>raised</b> <b>in</b> <b>command</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>boom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>went</b> <b>the</b> <b>drums</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b>.<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>quick</b> <b>movement</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>opening</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>forward</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b>: <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dazzling</b> <b>flash</b> <b>that</b> <b>lit</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>outside</b>. <b>For</b> <b>an</b> <b>instant</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Arrows</b> <b>whined</b> <b>and</b> <b>whistled</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>corridor</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>Orcs</b>, <b>very</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>some</b> <b>are</b> <b>large</b> <b>and</b> <b>evil</b>: <b>black</b> <b>Uruks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>hanging</b> <b>back</b>, <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>there</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>cave</b>-<b>troll</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>or</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>one</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>escape</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>no</b> <b>hope</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>door</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>outside</b> <b>here</b> <b>yet</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>who</b> <b>was</b> <b>standing</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>door</b> <b>listening</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>passage</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>plunges</b> <b>straight</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>stair</b>: <b>it</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>lead</b> <b>back</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>flying</b> <b>blindly</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>just</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>block</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>key</b> <b>is</b> <b>gone</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lock</b> <b>is</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>opens</b> <b>inwards</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>do</b> <b>something</b> <b>to</b> <b>delay</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>first</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>make</b> <b>them</b> <b>fear</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mazarbul</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>grimly</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>And</b>?<b>ril</b>.<br>
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<b>Heavy</b> <b>feet</b> <b>were</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>corridor</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>flung</b> <b>himself</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>heaved</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b>; <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>wedged</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>broken</b> <b>sword</b>-<b>blades</b> <b>and</b> <b>splinters</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>retreated</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>chance</b> <b>to</b> <b>fly</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>blow</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>that</b> <b>made</b> <b>it</b> <b>quiver</b>; <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>grind</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>open</b>, <b>driving</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>wedges</b>. <b>A</b> <b>huge</b> <b>arm</b> <b>and</b> <b>shoulder</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>skin</b> <b>of</b> <b>greenish</b> <b>scales</b>, <b>was</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>widening</b> <b>gap</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b>, <b>flat</b>, <b>toeless</b> <b>foot</b> <b>was</b> <b>forced</b> <b>through</b> <b>below</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dead</b> <b>silence</b> <b>outside</b>.<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>hewed</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>arm</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>might</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>rang</b>, <b>glanced</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>shaken</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>The</b> <b>blade</b> <b>was</b> <b>notched</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>surprise</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>hot</b> <b>wrath</b> <b>blaze</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Shire</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>springing</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>he</b> <b>stooped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>stabbed</b> <b>with</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>hideous</b> <b>foot</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>bellow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>jerked</b> <b>back</b>, <b>nearly</b> <b>wrenching</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>from</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>arm</b>. <b>Black</b> <b>drops</b> <b>dripped</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>blade</b> <b>and</b> <b>smoked</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>hurled</b> <b>himself</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>and</b> <b>slammed</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>One</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>hobbit</b>'<b>s</b> <b>bite</b> <b>is</b> <b>deep</b>! <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>blade</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Drogo</b>!”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>crash</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>crash</b> <b>after</b> <b>crash</b>. <b>Rams</b> <b>and</b> <b>hammers</b> <b>were</b> <b>beating</b> <b>against</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>cracked</b> <b>and</b> <b>staggered</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>grew</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>wide</b>. <b>Arrows</b> <b>came</b> <b>whistling</b> <b>in</b>, <b>but</b> <b>struck</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>harmlessly</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>horn</b>-<b>blast</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>rush</b> <b>of</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>one</b> <b>after</b> <b>another</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b>.<br>
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<b>How</b> <b>many</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b>. <b>The</b> <b>affray</b> <b>was</b> <b>sharp</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>were</b> <b>dismayed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fierceness</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>defence</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>shot</b> <b>two</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>throat</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>hewed</b> <b>the</b> <b>legs</b> <b>from</b> <b>under</b> <b>another</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>sprung</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>Balin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>tomb</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>slew</b> <b>many</b>. <b>When</b> <b>thirteen</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>fled</b> <b>shrieking</b>. <b>leaving</b> <b>the</b> <b>defenders</b> <b>unharmed</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>scratch</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>scalp</b>. <b>A</b> <b>quick</b> <b>duck</b> <b>had</b> <b>saved</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>felled</b> <b>his</b> <b>orc</b>: <b>a</b> <b>sturdy</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>Barrow</b>-<b>blade</b>. <b>A</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>smouldering</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>brown</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>made</b> <b>Ted</b> <b>Sandyman</b> <b>step</b> <b>backwards</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>seen</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b>, <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>troll</b> <b>returns</b>!”<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>retreated</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>had</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>stair</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>a</b> <b>huge</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>chieftain</b>, <b>almost</b> <b>man</b>-<b>high</b>, <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>black</b> <b>mail</b> <b>from</b> <b>head</b> <b>to</b> <b>foot</b>, <b>leaped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b>; <b>behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>his</b> <b>followers</b> <b>clustered</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorway</b>. <b>His</b> <b>broad</b> <b>flat</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>swart</b>, <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>like</b> <b>coals</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>was</b> <b>red</b>; <b>he</b> <b>wielded</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>spear</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>huge</b> <b>hide</b> <b>shield</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b> <b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sword</b> <b>and</b> <b>bore</b> <b>him</b> <b>backwards</b>, <b>throwing</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Diving</b> <b>under</b> <b>Aragorn</b>'<b>s</b> <b>blow</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>speed</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>striking</b> <b>snake</b> <b>he</b> <b>charged</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>and</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>spear</b> <b>straight</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>The</b> <b>blow</b> <b>caught</b> <b>him</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>hurled</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>and</b> <b>pinned</b>. <b>Sam</b>, <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b>, <b>hacked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>spear</b>-<b>shaft</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>broke</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>orc</b> <b>flung</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>truncheon</b> <b>and</b> <b>swept</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>scimitar</b>, <b>And</b>?<b>ril</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>helm</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b> <b>like</b> <b>flame</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>helm</b> <b>burst</b> <b>asunder</b>. <b>The</b> <b>orc</b> <b>fell</b> <b>with</b> <b>cloven</b> <b>head</b>. <b>His</b> <b>followers</b> <b>fled</b> <b>howling</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>went</b> <b>the</b> <b>drums</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b>. <b>The</b> <b>great</b> <b>voice</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b>! “<b>shouted</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>chance</b>. <b>Run</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>lay</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>stair</b>, <b>pushing</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>followed</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>dragged</b> <b>away</b> <b>by</b> <b>Legolas</b>: <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>he</b> <b>lingered</b> <b>by</b> <b>Balin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>tomb</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>bowed</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>hauled</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>door</b> <b>to</b>, <b>grinding</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>hinges</b>: <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>great</b> <b>iron</b> <b>rings</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>but</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>fastened</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>gasped</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>walk</b>. <b>Put</b> <b>me</b> <b>down</b>!”<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>dropped</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>amazement</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>dead</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>.<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>yet</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>time</b> <b>for</b> <b>wonder</b>. <b>Off</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>, <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>, <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>stairs</b>! <b>Wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>minutes</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b>, <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>come</b> <b>soon</b>, <b>go</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Go</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>and</b> <b>choose</b> <b>paths</b> <b>leading</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>downwards</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>leave</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>alone</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>fiercely</b>. “<b>Swords</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>use</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Go</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>passage</b> <b>was</b> <b>lit</b> <b>by</b> <b>no</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>utterly</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>They</b> <b>groped</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>steps</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>except</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>faint</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>staff</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>still</b> <b>standing</b> <b>on</b> <b>guard</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>closed</b> <b>door</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>breathed</b> <b>heavily</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>against</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>peering</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>stairs</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>above</b>, <b>muttering</b> <b>words</b> <b>that</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>sloping</b> <b>roof</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sighing</b> <b>echo</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>catch</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b>. <b>The</b> <b>walls</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>trembling</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b> <b>throbbed</b> <b>and</b> <b>rolled</b>: <b>doom</b>, <b>doom</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stair</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>stab</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dull</b> <b>rumble</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>thud</b>. <b>The</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b> <b>broke</b> <b>out</b> <b>wildly</b>: <b>doom</b>-<b>boom</b>, <b>doom</b>-<b>boom</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>stopped</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>came</b> <b>flying</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>steps</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>well</b>! <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>over</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>struggling</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>met</b> <b>my</b> <b>match</b>, <b>and</b> <b>have</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>been</b> <b>destroyed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>stand</b> <b>here</b>! <b>Go</b> <b>on</b>! <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>without</b> <b>light</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>: <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>rather</b> <b>shaken</b>. <b>Go</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Go</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Where</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Gimli</b>? <b>Come</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>! <b>Keep</b> <b>close</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>what</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>went</b> <b>the</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b> <b>again</b>: <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>sounded</b> <b>muffled</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>following</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>pursuit</b>, <b>neither</b> <b>tramp</b> <b>of</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>any</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>turns</b>, <b>right</b> <b>or</b> <b>left</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>direction</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>desired</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>it</b> <b>descended</b> <b>a</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>steps</b>, <b>fifty</b> <b>or</b> <b>more</b>, <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>lower</b> <b>level</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>moment</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>their</b> <b>chief</b> <b>danger</b>; <b>for</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>descent</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>emptiness</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>blind</b> <b>man</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b>, <b>or</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>more</b>, <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>descended</b> <b>many</b> <b>flights</b> <b>of</b> <b>stairs</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>pursuit</b>. <b>Almost</b> <b>they</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>escape</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>seventh</b> <b>flight</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>halted</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>getting</b> <b>hot</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>gasped</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>down</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>level</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>now</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>left</b>-<b>hand</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>us</b> <b>east</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>very</b> <b>weary</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>rest</b> <b>here</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>ever</b> <b>spawned</b> <b>are</b> <b>after</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>arm</b> <b>and</b> <b>helped</b> <b>him</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>seat</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>step</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>happened</b> <b>away</b> <b>up</b> <b>there</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>asked</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>meet</b> <b>the</b> <b>beater</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>drums</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>myself</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>faced</b> <b>by</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>met</b> <b>before</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>a</b> <b>shutting</b>-<b>spell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>many</b>; <b>but</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>things</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>kind</b> <b>rightly</b> <b>requires</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>broken</b> <b>by</b> <b>strength</b>.<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>I</b> <b>stood</b> <b>there</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>voices</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>: <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>moment</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>burst</b> <b>it</b> <b>open</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>hear</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b>; <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>talking</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>hideous</b> <b>language</b>. <b>All</b> <b>I</b> <b>caught</b> <b>was</b> <b>gh</b>?<b>sh</b>; <b>that</b> <b>is</b> “<b>fire</b>". <b>Then</b> <b>something</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b>—<b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>were</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>It</b> <b>laid</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>iron</b> <b>ring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>perceived</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>spell</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>felt</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>challenge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>counter</b>-<b>spell</b> <b>was</b> <b>terrible</b>. <b>It</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>broke</b> <b>me</b>. <b>For</b> <b>an</b> <b>instant</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>left</b> <b>my</b> <b>control</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>open</b>! <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>Command</b>. <b>That</b> <b>proved</b> <b>too</b> <b>great</b> <b>a</b> <b>strain</b>. <b>The</b> <b>door</b> <b>burst</b> <b>in</b> <b>pieces</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>dark</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>was</b> <b>blocking</b> <b>out</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>backwards</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>stairs</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b> <b>gave</b> <b>way</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>is</b> <b>buried</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>something</b> <b>else</b> <b>is</b> <b>buried</b> <b>there</b> <b>too</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>say</b>. <b>But</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>behind</b> <b>us</b> <b>was</b> <b>completely</b> <b>blocked</b>. <b>Ah</b>! <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>felt</b> <b>so</b> <b>spent</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>passing</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>what</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>? <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>so</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>more</b> <b>delighted</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>life</b> <b>than</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>spoke</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>brave</b> <b>but</b> <b>dead</b> <b>hobbit</b> <b>that</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>carrying</b>.”<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>about</b> <b>me</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>alive</b>, <b>and</b> <b>whole</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>bruised</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>pain</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>bad</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>only</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>are</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>so</b> <b>tough</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>met</b> <b>the</b> <b>like</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Had</b> <b>I</b> <b>known</b>, <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>softer</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Inn</b> <b>at</b> <b>Bree</b>! <b>That</b> <b>spear</b>-<b>thrust</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>skewered</b> <b>a</b> <b>wild</b> <b>boar</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>skewer</b> <b>me</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>caught</b> <b>between</b> <b>a</b> <b>hammer</b> <b>and</b> <b>an</b> <b>anvil</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>breathing</b> <b>painful</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>take</b> <b>after</b> <b>Bilbo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b> <b>than</b> <b>meets</b> <b>the</b> <b>eye</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>.” <b>Frodo</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>remark</b> <b>meant</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>now</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>long</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>spoke</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>keen</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>daylight</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>red</b>. <b>What</b> <b>can</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Gh</b>?<b>sh</b>!” <b>muttered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>meant</b>: <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>levels</b> <b>are</b> <b>on</b> <b>fire</b>? <b>Still</b>, <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>only</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>.”<br>
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<b>Soon</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>became</b> <b>unmistakable</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>by</b> <b>all</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>flickering</b> <b>and</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>passage</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>now</b> <b>see</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b>: <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>sloped</b> <b>down</b> <b>swiftly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>there</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>archway</b>; <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>glowing</b> <b>light</b> <b>came</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>became</b> <b>very</b> <b>hot</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>arch</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>went</b> <b>through</b>, <b>signing</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b>. <b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b> <b>just</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>lit</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>glow</b>. <b>Quickly</b> <b>he</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>some</b> <b>new</b> <b>devilry</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>devised</b> <b>for</b> <b>our</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>now</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>: <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>First</b> <b>Deep</b>, <b>the</b> <b>level</b> <b>immediately</b> <b>below</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Second</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Moria</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>are</b> <b>near</b>: <b>away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>end</b>, <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b>, <b>not</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>quarter</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b>. <b>Across</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b>, <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>broad</b> <b>stair</b>, <b>along</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>road</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>First</b> <b>Hall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>out</b>! <b>But</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>look</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>peered</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>another</b> <b>cavernous</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>loftier</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>slept</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>near</b> <b>its</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>end</b>; <b>westward</b> <b>it</b> <b>ran</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>Down</b> <b>the</b> <b>centre</b> <b>stalked</b> <b>a</b> <b>double</b> <b>line</b> <b>of</b> <b>towering</b> <b>pillars</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>carved</b> <b>like</b> <b>boles</b> <b>of</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>trees</b> <b>whose</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>upheld</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>branching</b> <b>tracery</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>stems</b> <b>were</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>and</b> <b>black</b>, <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>glow</b> <b>was</b> <b>darkly</b> <b>mirrored</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>sides</b>. <b>Right</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b>, <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>two</b> <b>huge</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>fissure</b> <b>had</b> <b>opened</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>fierce</b> <b>red</b> <b>light</b> <b>came</b>, <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>flames</b> <b>licked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b> <b>and</b> <b>curled</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>bases</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>columns</b>. <b>Wisps</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>wavered</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hot</b> <b>air</b>.<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>road</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>upper</b> <b>halls</b>, <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>trapped</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>now</b> <b>lies</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b> <b>and</b> <b>pursuit</b>. <b>Come</b>! <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>lose</b>.”<br>
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<b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>pursuing</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beat</b>: <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b>, <b>doom</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>cries</b> <b>and</b> <b>horn</b>-<b>calls</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b>: <b>the</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>tremble</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>flames</b> <b>to</b> <b>quiver</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>race</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>is</b> <b>shining</b> <b>outside</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>still</b> <b>escape</b>. <b>After</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>sped</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>floor</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>. <b>The</b> <b>distance</b> <b>was</b> <b>greater</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>looked</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>ran</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>beat</b> <b>and</b> <b>echo</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>feet</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>A</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>yell</b> <b>went</b> <b>up</b>: <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>clash</b> <b>of</b> <b>steel</b>. <b>An</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>whistled</b> <b>over</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>laughed</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>expect</b> <b>this</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>fire</b> <b>has</b> <b>cut</b> <b>them</b> <b>off</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>side</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Look</b> <b>ahead</b>! “<b>called</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>is</b> <b>near</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>and</b> <b>narrow</b>.”<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>chasm</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>unknown</b> <b>depth</b>. <b>The</b> <b>outer</b> <b>door</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>be</b> <b>reached</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>slender</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>without</b> <b>kerb</b> <b>or</b> <b>rail</b>, <b>that</b> <b>spanned</b> <b>the</b> <b>chasm</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>curving</b> <b>spring</b> <b>of</b> <b>fifty</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>defence</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>against</b> <b>any</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>that</b> <b>might</b> <b>capture</b> <b>the</b> <b>First</b> <b>Hall</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>passages</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>only</b> <b>pass</b> <b>across</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>single</b> <b>file</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>pack</b> <b>behind</b>.<br>
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“<b>Lead</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>, <b>Gimli</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>next</b>. <b>Straight</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>stair</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>!”<br>
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<b>Arrows</b> <b>fell</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b>. <b>One</b> <b>struck</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Another</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hat</b> <b>and</b> <b>stuck</b> <b>there</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>feather</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>swarming</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b>: <b>there</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>orcs</b>. <b>They</b> <b>brandished</b> <b>spears</b> <b>and</b> <b>scimitars</b> <b>which</b> <b>shone</b> <b>red</b> <b>as</b> <b>blood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>firelight</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>the</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b>, <b>growing</b> <b>louder</b> <b>and</b> <b>louder</b>, <b>doom</b>, <b>doom</b>.<br>
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<b>Legolas</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>set</b> <b>an</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>string</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>shot</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>small</b> <b>bow</b>. <b>He</b> <b>drew</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>of</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>great</b> <b>trolls</b> <b>appeared</b>; <b>they</b> <b>bore</b> <b>great</b> <b>slabs</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>flung</b> <b>them</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>serve</b> <b>as</b> <b>gangways</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>trolls</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>filled</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>with</b> <b>terror</b>. <b>The</b> <b>ranks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>had</b> <b>opened</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>crowded</b> <b>away</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>were</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>up</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>What</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>shadow</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>form</b>, <b>of</b> <b>man</b>-<b>shape</b> <b>maybe</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>greater</b>; <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>power</b> <b>and</b> <b>terror</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>faded</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>had</b> <b>bent</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>rush</b> <b>it</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>fissure</b>. <b>The</b> <b>flames</b> <b>roared</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>greet</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wreathed</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>; <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>swirled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>mane</b> <b>kindled</b>, <b>and</b> <b>blazed</b> <b>behind</b> <b>it</b>. <b>In</b> <b>its</b> <b>right</b> <b>hand</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>blade</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>stabbing</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b>; <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>left</b> <b>it</b> <b>held</b> <b>a</b> <b>whip</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>thongs</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ai</b>! <b>ai</b>! “<b>wailed</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>Balrog</b>! <b>A</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>is</b> <b>come</b>!”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>stared</b> <b>with</b> <b>wide</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>letting</b> <b>his</b> <b>axe</b> <b>fall</b> <b>he</b> <b>covered</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>Balrog</b>,” <b>muttered</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>understand</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>faltered</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>heavily</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>an</b> <b>evil</b> <b>fortune</b>! <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>already</b> <b>weary</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>figure</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>with</b> <b>fire</b> <b>raced</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>yelled</b> <b>and</b> <b>poured</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>gangways</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>raised</b> <b>his</b> <b>horn</b> <b>and</b> <b>blew</b>. <b>Loud</b> <b>the</b> <b>challenge</b> <b>rang</b> <b>and</b> <b>bellowed</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>shout</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>throats</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>cavernous</b> <b>roof</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>quailed</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fiery</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>halted</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>echoes</b> <b>died</b> <b>as</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>flame</b> <b>blown</b> <b>out</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>advanced</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Over</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>recalling</b> <b>his</b> <b>strength</b>. “<b>Fly</b>! <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>foe</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>way</b>. <b>Fly</b>! “<b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>heed</b> <b>the</b> <b>command</b>, <b>but</b> <b>still</b> <b>held</b> <b>their</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>side</b> <b>by</b> <b>side</b>, <b>behind</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>halted</b> <b>just</b> <b>within</b> <b>the</b> <b>doorway</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b>'<b>s</b> <b>end</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turned</b>, <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>their</b> <b>leader</b> <b>to</b> <b>face</b> <b>the</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>alone</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>. <b>Gandalf</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>span</b>, <b>leaning</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>staff</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>other</b> <b>hand</b> <b>Glamdring</b> <b>gleamed</b>, <b>cold</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b>. <b>His</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>halted</b> <b>again</b>, <b>facing</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b> <b>reached</b> <b>out</b> <b>like</b> <b>two</b> <b>vast</b> <b>wings</b>. <b>It</b> <b>raised</b> <b>the</b> <b>whip</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>thongs</b> <b>whined</b> <b>and</b> <b>cracked</b>. <b>Fire</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>nostrils</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>stood</b> <b>firm</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>pass</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>The</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>dead</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>a</b> <b>servant</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Secret</b> <b>Fire</b>, <b>wielder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>flame</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anor</b>. <b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>pass</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dark</b> <b>fire</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>avail</b> <b>you</b>, <b>flame</b> <b>of</b> <b>Ud</b>?<b>n</b>. <b>Go</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b>! <b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>pass</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fire</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>die</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>grew</b>. <b>It</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>forward</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>it</b> <b>drew</b> <b>itself</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>height</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>wings</b> <b>were</b> <b>spread</b> <b>from</b> <b>wall</b> <b>to</b> <b>wall</b>; <b>but</b> <b>still</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>glimmering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>; <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>small</b>, <b>and</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>alone</b>: <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>bent</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>wizened</b> <b>tree</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>onset</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>storm</b>.<br>
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<b>From</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>a</b> <b>red</b> <b>sword</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>flaming</b>.<br>
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<b>Glamdring</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>white</b> <b>in</b> <b>answer</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>ringing</b> <b>clash</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>stab</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>fire</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>fell</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>sword</b> <b>flew</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>molten</b> <b>fragments</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wizard</b> <b>swayed</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>, <b>stepped</b> <b>back</b> <b>a</b> <b>pace</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>again</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>pass</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>bound</b> <b>the</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>full</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>whip</b> <b>whirled</b> <b>and</b> <b>hissed</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>stand</b> <b>alone</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b>. “<b>Elendil</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>shouted</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Gondor</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>after</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>his</b> <b>staff</b>, <b>and</b> <b>crying</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>he</b> <b>smote</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>staff</b> <b>broke</b> <b>asunder</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>A</b> <b>blinding</b> <b>sheet</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>flame</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b>. <b>The</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>cracked</b>. <b>Right</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Balrog</b>'<b>s</b> <b>feet</b> <b>it</b> <b>broke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>upon</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>stood</b> <b>crashed</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gulf</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>remained</b>, <b>poised</b>, <b>quivering</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>emptiness</b>.<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>cry</b> <b>the</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>fell</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>fell</b> <b>it</b> <b>swung</b> <b>its</b> <b>whip</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>thongs</b> <b>lashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>curled</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>knees</b>, <b>dragging</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b>. <b>He</b> <b>staggered</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>grasped</b> <b>vainly</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>slid</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>abyss</b>. “<b>Fly</b>, <b>you</b> <b>fools</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>gone</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>fires</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>blank</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>stood</b> <b>rooted</b> <b>with</b> <b>horror</b> <b>staring</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>pit</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>came</b> <b>flying</b> <b>back</b>, <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>cracked</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>roused</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b>! <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>lead</b> <b>you</b> <b>now</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>obey</b> <b>his</b> <b>last</b> <b>command</b>. <b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>stumbled</b> <b>wildly</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>stairs</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>leading</b>, <b>Boromir</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>rear</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>echoing</b> <b>passage</b>. <b>Along</b> <b>this</b> <b>they</b> <b>fled</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>weeping</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>himself</b> <b>was</b> <b>weeping</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>ran</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b>, <b>doom</b> <b>the</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>mournful</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>slow</b>; <b>doom</b>!<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>ran</b> <b>on</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>grew</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>; <b>great</b> <b>shafts</b> <b>pierced</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b>. <b>They</b> <b>ran</b> <b>swifter</b>. <b>They</b> <b>passed</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>hall</b>, <b>bright</b> <b>with</b> <b>daylight</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>high</b> <b>windows</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>. <b>They</b> <b>fled</b> <b>across</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Through</b> <b>its</b> <b>huge</b> <b>broken</b> <b>doors</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>opened</b>, <b>an</b> <b>arch</b> <b>of</b> <b>blazing</b> <b>light</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>guard</b> <b>of</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>crouching</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>door</b> <b>posts</b> <b>towering</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>were</b> <b>shattered</b> <b>and</b> <b>cast</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>smote</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>the</b> <b>captain</b> <b>that</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>fled</b> <b>in</b> <b>terror</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>wrath</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>swept</b> <b>past</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>heed</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>they</b> <b>ran</b> <b>and</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>huge</b> <b>and</b> <b>age</b>-<b>worn</b> <b>steps</b>, <b>the</b> <b>threshold</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>.<br>
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<b>Thus</b>, <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>hope</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>halt</b> <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>bowshot</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b>. <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>lay</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>lay</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>eastwards</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>light</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>but</b> <b>one</b> <b>hour</b> <b>after</b> <b>noon</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b>; <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>were</b> <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>high</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b>. <b>Dark</b> <b>yawned</b> <b>the</b> <b>archway</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>shadow</b>. <b>Faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>the</b> <b>slow</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b>: <b>doom</b>. <b>A</b> <b>thin</b> <b>black</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>trailed</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>; <b>the</b> <b>dale</b> <b>all</b> <b>around</b> <b>was</b> <b>empty</b>. <b>Doom</b>. <b>Grief</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>overcame</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>wept</b> <b>long</b>: <b>some</b> <b>standing</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>some</b> <b>cast</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Doom</b>, <b>doom</b>. <b>The</b> <b>drum</b>-<b>beats</b> <b>faded</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 6<br>
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<b>LOTHL</b>?<b>RIEN</b><br>
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<br>
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“<b>Alas</b>! <b>I</b> <b>Fear</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b> <b>longer</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>and</b> <b>held</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>. “<b>Farewell</b>, <b>Gandalf</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Did</b> <b>I</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>: <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>doors</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>beware</b>? <b>Alas</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>true</b>! <b>What</b> <b>hope</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>without</b> <b>you</b>?”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>do</b> <b>without</b> <b>hope</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>least</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>yet</b> <b>be</b> <b>avenged</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>gird</b> <b>ourselves</b> <b>and</b> <b>weep</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>! <b>Come</b>! <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b>, <b>and</b> <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Northward</b> <b>the</b> <b>dale</b> <b>ran</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>glen</b> <b>of</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>between</b> <b>two</b> <b>great</b> <b>arms</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>above</b> <b>which</b> <b>three</b> <b>white</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>were</b> <b>shining</b>: <b>Celebdil</b>, <b>Fanuidhol</b>, <b>Caradhras</b>. <b>the</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>glen</b> <b>a</b> <b>torrent</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>lace</b> <b>over</b> <b>an</b> <b>endless</b> <b>ladder</b> <b>of</b> <b>short</b> <b>falls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>mist</b> <b>of</b> <b>foam</b> <b>hung</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>” <b>feet</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yonder</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Stair</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b>. “<b>Down</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b>-<b>cloven</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>climbs</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>torrent</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>, <b>if</b> <b>fortune</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>kinder</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Or</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>less</b> <b>cruel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>he</b> <b>stands</b> <b>smiling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>! “<b>He</b> <b>shook</b> <b>his</b> <b>fist</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>furthest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>snow</b>-<b>capped</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>the</b> <b>outflung</b> <b>arm</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>marched</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>end</b>, <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>lands</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>descried</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>them</b>, <b>wide</b> <b>and</b> <b>vague</b>. <b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>receded</b> <b>endlessly</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>sight</b> <b>could</b> <b>reach</b>. <b>Less</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>below</b> <b>them</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>stood</b> <b>high</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dale</b>, <b>there</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>mere</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>oval</b>, <b>shaped</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>spear</b>-<b>head</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>deep</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>glen</b>; <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>southern</b> <b>end</b> <b>was</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlit</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>its</b> <b>waters</b> <b>were</b> <b>dark</b>: <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>blue</b> <b>like</b> <b>clear</b> <b>evening</b> <b>sky</b> <b>seen</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>lamp</b>-<b>lit</b> <b>room</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>and</b> <b>unruffled</b>. <b>About</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>sward</b>, <b>shelving</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>all</b> <b>sides</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>bare</b> <b>unbroken</b> <b>rim</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>lies</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirrormere</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>Kheled</b>-<b>z</b>?<b>ram</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>sadly</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>May</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>joy</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sight</b>! <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>linger</b> <b>there</b>.” <b>Now</b> <b>long</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>journey</b> <b>ere</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>joy</b> <b>again</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>I</b> <b>that</b> <b>must</b> <b>hasten</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>that</b> <b>must</b> <b>remain</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>now</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>rough</b> <b>and</b> <b>broken</b>, <b>fading</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>winding</b> <b>track</b> <b>between</b> <b>heather</b> <b>and</b> <b>whin</b> <b>that</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>cracking</b> <b>stones</b>. <b>But</b> <b>still</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>that</b> <b>once</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>paved</b> <b>way</b> <b>had</b> <b>wound</b> <b>upwards</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>lowlands</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>-<b>kingdom</b>. <b>In</b> <b>places</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>works</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>mounds</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b> <b>topped</b> <b>with</b> <b>slender</b> <b>birches</b>, <b>or</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>sighing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>An</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>bend</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>hard</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>sward</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirrormere</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>roadside</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>column</b> <b>broken</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Stone</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>pass</b> <b>without</b> <b>turning</b> <b>aside</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dale</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Be</b> <b>swift</b> <b>then</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>back</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>sinks</b> <b>early</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>till</b> <b>after</b> <b>dusk</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>before</b> <b>nightfall</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>is</b> <b>almost</b> <b>spent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>dark</b> <b>tonight</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>without</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>Kheled</b>-<b>z</b>?<b>ram</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>green</b> <b>slope</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>followed</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>drawn</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>still</b> <b>blue</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>and</b> <b>weariness</b>; <b>Sam</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>behind</b>.<br>
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<b>Beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>standing</b> <b>stone</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>cracked</b> <b>and</b> <b>weather</b>-<b>worn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>faint</b> <b>runes</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>side</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>read</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>pillar</b> <b>marks</b> <b>the</b> <b>spot</b> <b>where</b> <b>Durin</b> <b>first</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirrormere</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>look</b> <b>ourselves</b> <b>once</b>, <b>ere</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b>. <b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>nothing</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>forms</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>encircling</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>mirrored</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>profound</b> <b>blue</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>were</b> <b>like</b> <b>plumes</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>flame</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b>; <b>beyond</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>space</b> <b>of</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>There</b> <b>like</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>sunk</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>shone</b> <b>glinting</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>though</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>stooping</b> <b>forms</b> <b>no</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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“<b>O</b> <b>Kheled</b>-<b>z</b>?<b>ram</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>wonderful</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>lies</b> <b>the</b> <b>Crown</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b> <b>till</b> <b>he</b> <b>wakes</b>. <b>Farewell</b>! “<b>He</b> <b>bowed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hastened</b> <b>back</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b>-<b>sward</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b> <b>to</b> <b>answer</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>road</b> <b>now</b> <b>turned</b> <b>south</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>downwards</b>, <b>running</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>arms</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dale</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>way</b> <b>below</b> <b>the</b> <b>mere</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>well</b> <b>of</b> <b>water</b>, <b>clear</b> <b>as</b> <b>crystal</b>, <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>a</b> <b>freshet</b> <b>fell</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b> <b>lip</b> <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>glistening</b> <b>and</b> <b>gurgling</b> <b>down</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>channel</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b> <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>rises</b>.” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>drink</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>icy</b> <b>cold</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Soon</b> <b>it</b> <b>becomes</b> <b>a</b> <b>swift</b> <b>river</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>gathers</b> <b>water</b> <b>from</b> <b>many</b> <b>other</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>streams</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Our</b> <b>road</b> <b>leads</b> <b>beside</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b>. <b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>take</b> <b>you</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>chose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>first</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>flows</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>-<b>out</b> <b>yonder</b>.” <b>They</b> <b>looked</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>pointed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>leaping</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>trough</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>running</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>away</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>haze</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>lie</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>fairest</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>people</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>trees</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b>. <b>For</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>autumn</b> <b>their</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>fall</b> <b>not</b>, <b>but</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b> <b>comes</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>green</b> <b>opens</b> <b>do</b> <b>they</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>are</b> <b>laden</b> <b>with</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>flowers</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>floor</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>is</b> <b>golden</b>, <b>and</b> <b>golden</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>are</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>bark</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>is</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>and</b> <b>grey</b>. <b>So</b> <b>still</b> <b>our</b> <b>songs</b> <b>in</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>say</b>. <b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>were</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>eaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>springtime</b>!”<br>
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“<b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>winter</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>lies</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hasten</b>!”<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>managed</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>leading</b> <b>them</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>pace</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>lagged</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>morning</b>. <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>cut</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b> <b>like</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>felt</b> <b>light</b>. <b>In</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shining</b> <b>sun</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>chill</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>warm</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shivered</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>every</b> <b>step</b> <b>more</b> <b>painful</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>gasped</b> <b>for</b> <b>breath</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>turned</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>them</b> <b>now</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b>, <b>calling</b> <b>to</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sorry</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>, <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>concern</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>much</b> <b>has</b> <b>happened</b> <b>this</b> <b>day</b> <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>such</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>haste</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>hurt</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>too</b>. <b>You</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>spoken</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>ease</b> <b>you</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>ought</b>, <b>though</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>were</b> <b>after</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>now</b>! <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>further</b> <b>on</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>rest</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. <b>There</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Come</b>, <b>Boromir</b>! <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>carry</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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<b>Soon</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>another</b> <b>stream</b> <b>that</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>joined</b> <b>its</b> <b>bubbling</b> <b>water</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>Silverlode</b>. <b>Together</b> <b>they</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b>-<b>hued</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>foamed</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>dell</b>. <b>About</b> <b>it</b> <b>stood</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>trees</b>, <b>short</b> <b>and</b> <b>bent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>sides</b> <b>were</b> <b>steep</b> <b>and</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>with</b> <b>harts</b>-<b>tongue</b> <b>and</b> <b>shrubs</b> <b>of</b> <b>whortle</b>-<b>berry</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>level</b> <b>space</b> <b>through</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>noisily</b> <b>over</b> <b>shining</b> <b>pebbles</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>they</b> <b>rested</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>three</b> <b>hours</b> <b>after</b> <b>noon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>miles</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>westering</b>.<br>
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<b>While</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>younger</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>kindled</b> <b>a</b> <b>fire</b> <b>of</b> <b>brush</b>- <b>and</b> <b>fir</b>-<b>wood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>water</b>, <b>Aragorn</b> <b>tended</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b> <b>wound</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>ugly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>grave</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>examined</b> <b>it</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>relief</b>.<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>luck</b>, <b>Sam</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Many</b> <b>have</b> <b>received</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>this</b> <b>in</b> <b>payment</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>slaying</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>first</b> <b>orc</b>. <b>The</b> <b>cut</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>poisoned</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>wounds</b> <b>of</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>blades</b> <b>too</b> <b>often</b> <b>are</b>. <b>It</b> <b>should</b> <b>heal</b> <b>well</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>tended</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Bathe</b> <b>it</b> <b>when</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>has</b> <b>heated</b> <b>water</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>opened</b> <b>his</b> <b>pouch</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>some</b> <b>withered</b> <b>leaves</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>dry</b> <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>virtue</b> <b>has</b> <b>one</b>, <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>but</b> <b>here</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>still</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>athelas</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>near</b> <b>Weathertop</b>. <b>Crush</b> <b>one</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wash</b> <b>the</b> <b>wound</b> <b>clean</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>bind</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>turn</b>. <b>Frodo</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>reluctant</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>his</b> <b>garments</b> <b>touched</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>I</b> <b>needed</b> <b>was</b> <b>some</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>rest</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>look</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>hammer</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>anvil</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>still</b> <b>marvel</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>alive</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>.” <b>Gently</b> <b>he</b> <b>stripped</b> <b>off</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>old</b> <b>jacket</b> <b>and</b> <b>worn</b> <b>tunic</b>, <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>gasp</b> <b>of</b> <b>wonder</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>laughed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>silver</b> <b>corslet</b> <b>shimmered</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>sea</b>. <b>Carefully</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>gems</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>like</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shaken</b> <b>rings</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>tinkle</b> <b>of</b> <b>rain</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>pool</b>.<br>
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“<b>Look</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friends</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>Here</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>pretty</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>skin</b> <b>to</b> <b>wrap</b> <b>an</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>princeling</b> <b>in</b>! <b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>known</b> <b>that</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>had</b> <b>such</b> <b>hides</b>, <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunters</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>riding</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>arrows</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>hunters</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>gazing</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>mail</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>mithril</b>-<b>coat</b>. <b>Mithril</b>! <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>heard</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>so</b> <b>fair</b>. <b>Is</b> <b>this</b> <b>the</b> <b>coat</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b>? <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>undervalued</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>well</b> <b>given</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>often</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>were</b> <b>doing</b>, <b>so</b> <b>close</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>little</b> <b>room</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Bless</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>! <b>I</b> <b>love</b> <b>him</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>we</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>telling</b> <b>him</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>!”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>blackened</b> <b>bruise</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>right</b> <b>side</b> <b>and</b> <b>breast</b>. <b>Under</b> <b>the</b> <b>mail</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>shirt</b> <b>of</b> <b>soft</b> <b>leather</b>, <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>one</b> <b>point</b> <b>the</b> <b>rings</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>driven</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>flesh</b>. <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>left</b> <b>side</b> <b>also</b> <b>was</b> <b>scored</b> <b>and</b> <b>bruised</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>hurled</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>While</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>set</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b> <b>ready</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>bathed</b> <b>the</b> <b>hurts</b> <b>with</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>athelas</b> <b>was</b> <b>steeped</b>. <b>The</b> <b>pungent</b> <b>fragrance</b> <b>filled</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>steaming</b> <b>water</b> <b>felt</b> <b>refreshed</b> <b>and</b> <b>strengthened</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>pain</b> <b>leave</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b> <b>grew</b> <b>easy</b>: <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>and</b> <b>sore</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>touch</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>days</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>bound</b> <b>some</b> <b>soft</b> <b>pads</b> <b>of</b> <b>cloth</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>mail</b> <b>is</b> <b>marvellously</b> <b>light</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>bear</b> <b>it</b>. <b>My</b> <b>heart</b> <b>is</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>coat</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>lay</b> <b>it</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>fortune</b> <b>brings</b> <b>you</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>safe</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>; <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>chance</b> <b>while</b> <b>your</b> <b>quest</b> <b>lasts</b>.”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>got</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>. <b>They</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>hid</b> <b>all</b> <b>traces</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>again</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>far</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>sank</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>westward</b> <b>heights</b> <b>and</b> <b>great</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>crept</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>sides</b>. <b>Dusk</b> <b>veiled</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>mist</b> <b>rose</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hollows</b>. <b>Away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b> <b>light</b> <b>lay</b> <b>pale</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>lands</b> <b>of</b> <b>distant</b> <b>plain</b> <b>and</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>now</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>eased</b> <b>and</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>refreshed</b> <b>were</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>pace</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>brief</b> <b>halt</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>on</b> <b>for</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>three</b> <b>more</b> <b>hours</b>.<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>Deep</b> <b>night</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>clear</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>hut</b> <b>the</b> <b>fast</b>-<b>waning</b> <b>moon</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>till</b> <b>late</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>were</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>rear</b>, <b>walking</b> <b>softly</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>speaking</b>, <b>listening</b> <b>for</b> <b>any</b> <b>sound</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>broke</b> <b>the</b> <b>silence</b>.<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>no</b> <b>goblins</b> <b>near</b>, <b>or</b> <b>my</b> <b>ears</b> <b>are</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>content</b> <b>with</b> <b>driving</b> <b>us</b> <b>from</b> <b>Moria</b>. <b>And</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>purpose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>else</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>-<b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>will</b> <b>often</b> <b>pursue</b> <b>foes</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>plain</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>captain</b> <b>to</b> <b>avenge</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Sting</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>blade</b> <b>was</b> <b>dull</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>something</b>, <b>or</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>behind</b> <b>was</b> <b>dim</b>, <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heard</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>quick</b> <b>patter</b> <b>of</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>now</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>swiftly</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>two</b> <b>tiny</b> <b>gleams</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>them</b>, <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>they</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>aside</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>.” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b>-<b>like</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>so</b> <b>often</b>, <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>first</b> <b>entered</b> <b>Moria</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>stooped</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>-<b>speech</b> <b>of</b> <b>plant</b> <b>and</b> <b>stone</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Come</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hurry</b>! <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>are</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>night</b>-<b>wind</b> <b>blew</b> <b>chill</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>grey</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>loomed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>an</b> <b>endless</b> <b>rustle</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>like</b> <b>poplars</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>breeze</b>.<br>
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“<b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>! <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>eaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Golden</b> <b>Wood</b>. <b>Alas</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>winter</b>!”<br>
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<b>Under</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>stood</b> <b>tall</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>arched</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>stream</b> <b>that</b> <b>ran</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>their</b> <b>spreading</b> <b>boughs</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>their</b> <b>stems</b> <b>were</b> <b>grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>quivering</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>a</b> <b>hint</b> <b>of</b> <b>fallow</b> <b>gold</b>.<br>
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“<b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Glad</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>to</b> <b>hear</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>! <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>little</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>five</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>, <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>virtue</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>will</b> <b>keep</b> <b>us</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>that</b> <b>comes</b> <b>behind</b>.”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>still</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkening</b> <b>world</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>since</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>folk</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>hither</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>whence</b> <b>we</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>in</b> <b>ages</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>hear</b> <b>that</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>deserted</b>, <b>for</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>secret</b> <b>power</b> <b>here</b> <b>that</b> <b>holds</b> <b>evil</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Nevertheless</b> <b>its</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>now</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>border</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwell</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sighed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>memory</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>fend</b> <b>for</b> <b>ourselves</b> <b>tonight</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b> <b>a</b> <b>short</b> <b>way</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>turn</b> <b>aside</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>and</b> <b>seek</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b> <b>in</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>forward</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>stood</b> <b>irresolute</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>follow</b>. “<b>Is</b> <b>there</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>way</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>other</b> <b>fairer</b> <b>way</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b> <b>desire</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>plain</b> <b>road</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>led</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>of</b> <b>swords</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>By</b> <b>strange</b> <b>paths</b> <b>has</b> <b>this</b> <b>Company</b> <b>been</b> <b>led</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>to</b> <b>evil</b> <b>fortune</b>. <b>Against</b> <b>my</b> <b>will</b> <b>we</b> <b>passed</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shades</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>loss</b>. <b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>enter</b> <b>the</b> <b>Golden</b> <b>Wood</b>, <b>you</b> <b>say</b>. <b>But</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>land</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>few</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>who</b> <b>once</b> <b>go</b> <b>in</b>; <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>few</b> <b>none</b> <b>have</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>unscathed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Say</b> <b>not</b> <b>unscathed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b> <b>unchanged</b>, <b>then</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>speak</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b> <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. <b>But</b> <b>lore</b> <b>wanes</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>if</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>once</b> <b>were</b> <b>wise</b> <b>they</b> <b>now</b> <b>speak</b> <b>evil</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>Believe</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>, <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>other</b> <b>way</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b>—<b>unless</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Moria</b>-<b>gate</b>, <b>or</b> <b>scale</b> <b>the</b> <b>pathless</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>or</b> <b>swim</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>all</b> <b>alone</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Then</b> <b>lead</b> <b>on</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>perilous</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Perilous</b> <b>indeed</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, “<b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>perilous</b>; <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>evil</b> <b>need</b> <b>fear</b> <b>it</b>, <b>or</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>bring</b> <b>some</b> <b>evil</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>little</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>another</b> <b>stream</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>down</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>clad</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>that</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>back</b> <b>westward</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>. <b>They</b> <b>heard</b> <b>it</b> <b>splashing</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>fall</b> <b>away</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>waters</b> <b>ran</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>joined</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>swirl</b> <b>of</b> <b>dim</b> <b>pools</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>roots</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>Of</b> <b>this</b> <b>stream</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silvan</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>made</b> <b>many</b> <b>songs</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>we</b> <b>sing</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>remembering</b> <b>the</b> <b>rainbow</b> <b>on</b> <b>its</b> <b>falls</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>that</b> <b>floated</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>foam</b>. <b>All</b> <b>is</b> <b>dark</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nimrodel</b> <b>is</b> <b>broken</b> <b>down</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>bathe</b> <b>my</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>is</b> <b>healing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>weary</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b>-<b>cloven</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>water</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>deep</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>wade</b> <b>across</b>! <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>bank</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>rest</b>. <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>falling</b> <b>water</b> <b>may</b> <b>bring</b> <b>us</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>and</b> <b>forgetfulness</b> <b>of</b> <b>grief</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>One</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>they</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>Legolas</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>brink</b> <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>flow</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>tired</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>cold</b> <b>but</b> <b>its</b> <b>touch</b> <b>was</b> <b>clean</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>mounted</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>, <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>stain</b> <b>of</b> <b>travel</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>was</b> <b>washed</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>limbs</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>When</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>had</b> <b>crossed</b>, <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>and</b> <b>rested</b> <b>and</b> <b>ate</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>food</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>told</b> <b>them</b> <b>tales</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>still</b> <b>kept</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b>, <b>of</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>starlight</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>meadows</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>was</b> <b>grey</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b> <b>fell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>music</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>waterfall</b> <b>running</b> <b>sweetly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b>. <b>Almost</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>fancied</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>a</b> <b>voice</b> <b>singing</b>, <b>mingled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>sing</b> <b>you</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>maiden</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>, <b>who</b> <b>bore</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>name</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>beside</b> <b>which</b> <b>she</b> <b>lived</b> <b>lung</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>song</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>tongue</b>; <b>but</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>how</b> <b>it</b> <b>runs</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westron</b> <b>Speech</b>, <b>as</b> <b>some</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>now</b> <b>sing</b> <b>it</b>.” <b>In</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>voice</b> <b>hardly</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>rustle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>he</b> <b>began</b>:<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>An</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>maid</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>shining</b> <b>star</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>Her</b> <b>mantle</b> <b>white</b> <b>was</b> <b>hemmed</b> <b>with</b> <b>gold</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Her</b> <b>shoes</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b>-<b>grey</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>star</b> <b>was</b> <b>bound</b> <b>upon</b> <b>her</b> <b>brows</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>her</b> <b>hair</b><br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>sun</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>boughs</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>the</b> <b>fair</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Her</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b>, <b>her</b> <b>limbs</b> <b>were</b> <b>white</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>fair</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>and</b> <b>free</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>she</b> <b>went</b> <b>as</b> <b>light</b><br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>of</b> <b>linden</b>-<b>tree</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>By</b> <b>water</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>cool</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>Her</b> <b>voice</b> <b>as</b> <b>falling</b> <b>silver</b> <b>fell</b><br>
|
||
<b>Into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shining</b> <b>pool</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Where</b> <b>now</b> <b>she</b> <b>wanders</b> <b>none</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>shade</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>For</b> <b>lost</b> <b>of</b> <b>yore</b> <b>was</b> <b>Nimrodel</b><br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>strayed</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>ship</b> <b>in</b> <b>haven</b> <b>grey</b><br>
|
||
<b>Beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>lee</b><br>
|
||
<b>Awaited</b> <b>her</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b><br>
|
||
<b>Beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>sea</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>wind</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>lands</b><br>
|
||
<b>Arose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>loud</b> <b>it</b> <b>cried</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>drove</b> <b>the</b> <b>ship</b> <b>from</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>strands</b><br>
|
||
<b>Across</b> <b>the</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>tide</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>When</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>came</b> <b>dim</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>sinking</b> <b>grey</b><br>
|
||
<b>Beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>heaving</b> <b>waves</b> <b>that</b> <b>tossed</b><br>
|
||
<b>Their</b> <b>plumes</b> <b>of</b> <b>blinding</b> <b>spray</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Amroth</b> <b>beheld</b> <b>the</b> <b>fading</b> <b>shore</b><br>
|
||
<b>Now</b> <b>low</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>swell</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>cursed</b> <b>the</b> <b>faithless</b> <b>ship</b> <b>that</b> <b>bore</b><br>
|
||
<b>Him</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Of</b> <b>old</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>king</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>A</b> <b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>glen</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>When</b> <b>golden</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>in</b> <b>spring</b><br>
|
||
<b>In</b> <b>fair</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>From</b> <b>helm</b> <b>to</b> <b>sea</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>leap</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>string</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>dive</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>deep</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>As</b> <b>mew</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>wing</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>hair</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>foam</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>shone</b>;<br>
|
||
<b>Afar</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b><br>
|
||
<b>Go</b> <b>riding</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>swan</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>But</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>And</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hither</b> <b>Shore</b><br>
|
||
<b>No</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>folk</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b><br>
|
||
<b>Of</b> <b>Amroth</b> <b>evermore</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>faltered</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>ceased</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>sing</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>part</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>much</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>sad</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>tells</b> <b>how</b> <b>sorrow</b> <b>came</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Blossom</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>awakened</b> <b>evil</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>evil</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>evil</b> <b>came</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>sadly</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>many</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>'<b>s</b> <b>kindred</b> <b>left</b> <b>their</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>and</b> <b>departed</b> <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>lost</b> <b>far</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>passes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Mountains</b>; <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>came</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ship</b> <b>where</b> <b>Amroth</b> <b>her</b> <b>lover</b> <b>waited</b> <b>for</b> <b>her</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>spring</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>the</b> <b>echo</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>voice</b> <b>may</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>heard</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>that</b> <b>bear</b> <b>her</b> <b>name</b>. <b>And</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>the</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amroth</b> <b>comes</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>sea</b>; <b>for</b> <b>Nimrodel</b> <b>flows</b> <b>into</b> <b>Silverlode</b>, <b>that</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>call</b> <b>Celebrant</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Celebrant</b> <b>into</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b>. <b>and</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>flows</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bay</b> <b>of</b> <b>Belfalas</b> <b>whence</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>set</b> <b>sail</b>. <b>But</b> <b>neither</b> <b>Nimrodel</b> <b>nor</b> <b>Amroth</b> <b>ever</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>told</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b> <b>built</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b> <b>that</b> <b>grew</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b>; <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>custom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>to</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b> <b>still</b>. <b>Therefore</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Tree</b>-<b>people</b>. <b>Deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>forest</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>are</b> <b>very</b> <b>great</b>. <b>The</b> <b>people</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>delve</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>like</b> <b>Dwarves</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>build</b> <b>strong</b> <b>places</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>came</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>latter</b> <b>days</b> <b>dwelling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>thought</b> <b>safer</b> <b>than</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>that</b> <b>led</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>above</b>.<br>
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“<b>Your</b> <b>words</b> <b>bring</b> <b>good</b> <b>counsel</b>, <b>Gimli</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>build</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b>, <b>but</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>and</b> <b>seek</b> <b>refuge</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>tops</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>sat</b> <b>here</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>already</b> <b>longer</b> <b>than</b> <b>was</b> <b>wise</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>now</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>westward</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>stream</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>Silverlode</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nimrodel</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>cluster</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>overhung</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>great</b> <b>grey</b> <b>trunks</b> <b>were</b> <b>of</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>girth</b>, <b>but</b> <b>their</b> <b>height</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>guessed</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>climb</b> <b>up</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b> <b>among</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>by</b> <b>root</b> <b>or</b> <b>bough</b>, <b>though</b> <b>these</b> <b>trees</b> <b>are</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>strange</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>save</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>name</b> <b>in</b> <b>song</b>. <b>Mellyrn</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>called</b>, <b>and</b> <b>are</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>bear</b> <b>the</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>blossom</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b> <b>now</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>their</b> <b>shape</b> <b>and</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>growth</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>, “<b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>marvellous</b> <b>trees</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>can</b> <b>offer</b> <b>any</b> <b>rest</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>, <b>except</b> <b>to</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>perch</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>dig</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>, “<b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>fashion</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>kind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>dig</b> <b>swift</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>hide</b> <b>from</b> <b>Orcs</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>and</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>branch</b> <b>that</b> <b>grew</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>trunk</b> <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>swung</b> <b>there</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>a</b> <b>voice</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>shadows</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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“<b>Daro</b>!” <b>it</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>commanding</b> <b>tone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>dropped</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>earth</b> <b>in</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>He</b> <b>shrank</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>bole</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>.<br>
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“<b>Stand</b> <b>still</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>whispered</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>move</b> <b>or</b> <b>speak</b>!”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>soft</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>over</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>another</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voice</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>tongue</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>understand</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>speech</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silvan</b> <b>folk</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>used</b> <b>among</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>was</b> <b>unlike</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>answered</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>language</b>.*<br>
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“<b>Who</b> <b>are</b> <b>they</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>they</b> <b>say</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Merry</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b>'<b>re</b> <b>Elves</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>their</b> <b>voices</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>Elves</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>breathe</b> <b>so</b> <b>loud</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>shoot</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>.” <b>Sam</b> <b>hastily</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>mouth</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>say</b> <b>also</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>fear</b>. <b>They</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b>. <b>They</b> <b>heard</b> <b>my</b> <b>voice</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>kindred</b>, <b>and</b> <b>therefore</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>hinder</b> <b>our</b> <b>crossing</b>; <b>and</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>my</b> <b>song</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>they</b> <b>bid</b> <b>me</b> <b>climb</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>Frodo</b>; <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>some</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>they</b> <b>ask</b> <b>to</b> <b>wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>watch</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>decided</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b>.”<br>
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<b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>a</b> <b>ladder</b> <b>was</b> <b>let</b> <b>down</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>rope</b>, <b>silver</b>-<b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>slender</b> <b>it</b> <b>proved</b> <b>strong</b> <b>enough</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b> <b>many</b> <b>men</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>ran</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>followed</b> <b>slowly</b>; <b>behind</b> <b>came</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>trying</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>breathe</b> <b>loudly</b>. <b>The</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mallorn</b>-<b>tree</b> <b>grew</b> <b>out</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>straight</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>trunk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>swept</b> <b>upward</b>; <b>but</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>the</b> <b>main</b> <b>stem</b> <b>divided</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>crown</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>boughs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>among</b> <b>these</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>built</b> <b>a</b> <b>wooden</b> <b>platform</b>, <b>or</b> <b>flet</b> <b>as</b> <b>such</b> <b>things</b> <b>were</b> <b>called</b> <b>in</b> <b>those</b> <b>days</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>called</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>talan</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>reached</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>round</b> <b>hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>centre</b> <b>through</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>ladder</b> <b>passed</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b> <b>he</b> <b>found</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>seated</b> <b>with</b> <b>three</b> <b>other</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>shadowy</b>-<b>grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>stems</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>they</b> <b>moved</b> <b>suddenly</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b>, <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>uncovered</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>lamp</b> <b>that</b> <b>gave</b> <b>out</b> <b>a</b> <b>slender</b> <b>silver</b> <b>beam</b>. <b>He</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b>'<b>s</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>shut</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>tongue</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>haltingly</b> <b>in</b> <b>return</b>.<br>
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“<b>Welcome</b>!” <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>then</b> <b>said</b> <b>again</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Common</b> <b>Language</b>, <b>speaking</b> <b>slowly</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>use</b> <b>any</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>but</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>forest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>willingly</b> <b>have</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>kindred</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>are</b> <b>sundered</b> <b>from</b> <b>us</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>still</b> <b>who</b> <b>go</b> <b>abroad</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>gathering</b> <b>of</b> <b>news</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>watching</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>enemies</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>speak</b> <b>the</b> <b>languages</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>lands</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>one</b>. <b>Haldir</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>name</b>. <b>My</b> <b>brothers</b>, <b>R</b>?<b>mil</b> <b>and</b> <b>Orophin</b>, <b>speak</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>tongue</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>rumours</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>coming</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>messengers</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>passed</b> <b>by</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>home</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Stair</b>. <b>We</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>or</b> <b>halflings</b>, <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>year</b>, <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>any</b> <b>yet</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>. <b>You</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>look</b> <b>evil</b>! <b>And</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>kindred</b>, <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>befriend</b> <b>you</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>asked</b>; <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>our</b> <b>custom</b> <b>to</b> <b>lead</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>through</b> <b>our</b> <b>land</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b> <b>tonight</b>. <b>How</b> <b>many</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Eight</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>Myself</b>, <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b>; <b>and</b> <b>two</b> <b>men</b>, <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>whom</b>, <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>friend</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>Westernesse</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b> <b>is</b> <b>known</b> <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>the</b> <b>favour</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b>. <b>All</b> <b>then</b> <b>is</b> <b>well</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>yet</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>only</b> <b>of</b> <b>seven</b>.”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>eighth</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>dwarf</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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“<b>A</b> <b>dwarf</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>well</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>had</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Days</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>land</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>allow</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lonely</b> <b>Mountain</b>, <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>D</b>?<b>in</b>'<b>s</b> <b>trusty</b> <b>people</b>, <b>and</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Elrond</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Elrond</b> <b>himself</b> <b>chose</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>companions</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>brave</b> <b>and</b> <b>faithful</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>soft</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>and</b> <b>questioned</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>tongue</b>. “<b>Very</b> <b>good</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>this</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>against</b> <b>our</b> <b>liking</b>. <b>If</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>will</b> <b>guard</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>answer</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>, <b>he</b> <b>shall</b> <b>pass</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>blindfold</b> <b>through</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>debate</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>folk</b> <b>must</b> <b>not</b> <b>remain</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>watch</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>rivers</b>, <b>ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>troop</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>going</b> <b>north</b> <b>toward</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>skirts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>many</b> <b>days</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>Wolves</b> <b>are</b> <b>howling</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>'<b>s</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>the</b> <b>peril</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>Tomorrow</b> <b>early</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>four</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>shall</b> <b>climb</b> <b>up</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>stay</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>-<b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>fear</b> <b>them</b>! <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>another</b> <b>talan</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>tree</b>. <b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>refuge</b>. <b>You</b>, <b>Legolas</b>, <b>must</b> <b>answer</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Call</b> <b>us</b>, <b>if</b> <b>anything</b> <b>is</b> <b>amiss</b>! <b>And</b> <b>have</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>on</b> <b>that</b> <b>dwarf</b>!”<br>
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<b>Legolas</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>ladder</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>Haldir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>message</b>; <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>clambered</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>flet</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>breath</b> <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>rather</b> <b>scared</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>panting</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>lugged</b> <b>up</b> <b>your</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b>. <b>Strider</b> <b>has</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>drift</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>burdens</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>cold</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>tops</b> <b>in</b> <b>winter</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>; <b>but</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>drive</b> <b>away</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>-<b>chill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>skins</b> <b>and</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>to</b> <b>spare</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>accepted</b> <b>this</b> <b>second</b> (<b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>better</b>) <b>supper</b> <b>very</b> <b>gladly</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>warmly</b>, <b>not</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fur</b>-<b>cloaks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b>, <b>and</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>But</b> <b>weary</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>easy</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>. <b>Hobbits</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>like</b> <b>heights</b>, <b>and</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>upstairs</b>, <b>even</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>any</b> <b>stairs</b>. <b>The</b> <b>flet</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>liking</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>bedroom</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>walls</b>. <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>a</b> <b>rail</b>; <b>only</b> <b>on</b> <b>one</b> <b>side</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>plaited</b> <b>screen</b>, <b>which</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>moved</b> <b>and</b> <b>fixed</b> <b>in</b> <b>different</b> <b>places</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>.<br>
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<b>Pippin</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>talking</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>hope</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>bed</b>-<b>loft</b>, <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>roll</b> <b>off</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>Once</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>get</b> <b>to</b> <b>sleep</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>i</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b> <b>sleeping</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>I</b> <b>roll</b> <b>off</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>less</b> <b>said</b>, <b>the</b> <b>sooner</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>drop</b> <b>off</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>meaning</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>lay</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>awake</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>glinting</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>quivering</b> <b>leaves</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>snoring</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>side</b> <b>long</b> <b>before</b> <b>he</b> <b>himself</b> <b>closed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>forms</b> <b>of</b> <b>two</b> <b>elves</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>motionless</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>arms</b> <b>about</b> <b>their</b> <b>knees</b>, <b>speaking</b> <b>in</b> <b>whispers</b>. <b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>watch</b> <b>on</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lower</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>lulled</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>above</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>murmur</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nimrodel</b> <b>below</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>fell</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>running</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>.<br>
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<b>Late</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>he</b> <b>awoke</b>. <b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>were</b> <b>asleep</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>were</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sickle</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>gleaming</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b>. <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>way</b> <b>off</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>a</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>laugh</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tread</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>feet</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>below</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>metal</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>died</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>southward</b>, <b>on</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>head</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>hole</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>alarm</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b>-<b>hooded</b> <b>Elf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>looked</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yrch</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>hissing</b> <b>whisper</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cast</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b> <b>the</b> <b>rope</b>-<b>ladder</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>up</b>.<br>
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“<b>Orcs</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>they</b> <b>doing</b>? “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>sounds</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>were</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>falls</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>hushed</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>and</b> <b>shivered</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>wraps</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>thankful</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>caught</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>offered</b> <b>little</b> <b>protection</b>, <b>except</b> <b>concealment</b>. <b>Orcs</b> <b>were</b> <b>as</b> <b>keen</b> <b>as</b> <b>hounds</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>scent</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>said</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>also</b> <b>climb</b>. <b>He</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>Sting</b>: <b>it</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>and</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>blue</b> <b>flame</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>faded</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>grew</b> <b>dull</b>. <b>In</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fading</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>the</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>immediate</b> <b>danger</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>rather</b> <b>it</b> <b>grew</b> <b>stronger</b>. <b>He</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>crawled</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>opening</b> <b>and</b> <b>peered</b> <b>down</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>almost</b> <b>certain</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>stealthy</b> <b>movements</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>'<b>s</b> <b>foot</b> <b>far</b> <b>below</b>.<br>
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<b>Not</b> <b>Elves</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>noiseless</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>movements</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>faintly</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b> <b>like</b> <b>sniffing</b>: <b>and</b> <b>something</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>scrabbling</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bark</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>trunk</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stared</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b>.<br>
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<b>Something</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>breath</b> <b>came</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>hissing</b> <b>through</b> <b>closed</b> <b>teeth</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>coming</b> <b>up</b>, <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>stem</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>two</b> <b>pale</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>and</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>upward</b> <b>unwinking</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>figure</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>round</b> <b>the</b> <b>trunk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanished</b>.<br>
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<b>Immediately</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>came</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>up</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>something</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>tree</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>before</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>an</b> <b>orc</b>. <b>It</b> <b>fled</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>touched</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>stem</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>wary</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>some</b> <b>skill</b> <b>in</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>hobbits</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>shoot</b>, <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>dared</b> <b>not</b> <b>arouse</b> <b>any</b> <b>cries</b>: <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>risk</b> <b>battle</b>. <b>A</b> <b>strong</b> <b>company</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>They</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>-<b>curse</b> <b>their</b> <b>foul</b> <b>feet</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>clean</b> <b>water</b>!-<b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>road</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>pick</b> <b>up</b> <b>some</b> <b>scent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>searched</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>place</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>halted</b>. <b>The</b> <b>three</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>challenge</b> <b>a</b> <b>hundred</b>, <b>so</b> <b>we</b> <b>went</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>with</b> <b>feigned</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>leading</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>.<br>
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“<b>Orophin</b> <b>has</b> <b>now</b> <b>gone</b> <b>in</b> <b>haste</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>dwellings</b> <b>to</b> <b>warn</b> <b>our</b> <b>people</b>. <b>None</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>will</b> <b>ever</b> <b>return</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>And</b> <b>there</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>many</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>border</b> <b>before</b> <b>another</b> <b>night</b> <b>falls</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>south</b> <b>as</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>fully</b> <b>light</b>.”<br>
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<b>Day</b> <b>came</b> <b>pale</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>grew</b> <b>it</b> <b>filtered</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mallorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>sun</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>cool</b> <b>summer</b>'<b>s</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b>. <b>Pale</b>-<b>blue</b> <b>sky</b> <b>peeped</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>moving</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>Looking</b> <b>through</b> <b>an</b> <b>opening</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>lying</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>sea</b> <b>of</b> <b>fallow</b> <b>gold</b> <b>tossing</b> <b>gently</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>breeze</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>young</b> <b>and</b> <b>cold</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>again</b>, <b>guided</b> <b>now</b> <b>by</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>brother</b> <b>R</b>?<b>mil</b>. “<b>Farewell</b>, <b>sweet</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Legolas</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>foam</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>stems</b>. “<b>Farewell</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>never</b> <b>hear</b> <b>again</b> <b>a</b> <b>running</b> <b>water</b> <b>so</b> <b>beautiful</b>, <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>blending</b> <b>its</b> <b>innumerable</b> <b>notes</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>endless</b> <b>changeful</b> <b>music</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>still</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>they</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b> <b>southward</b>. <b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>prints</b> <b>of</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>feet</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>But</b> <b>soon</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>halted</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>under</b> <b>their</b> <b>shadows</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>people</b> <b>yonder</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> “<b>though</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>call</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>low</b> <b>whistle</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>bird</b>, <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>thicket</b> <b>of</b> <b>young</b> <b>trees</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>stepped</b>, <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>grey</b>, <b>but</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>thrown</b> <b>back</b>; <b>his</b> <b>hair</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>like</b> <b>gold</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>sun</b>. <b>Haldir</b> <b>skilfully</b> <b>cast</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>a</b> <b>coil</b> <b>of</b> <b>grey</b> <b>rope</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>bound</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>about</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>.<br>
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“<b>Celebrant</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>a</b> <b>strong</b> <b>stream</b> <b>here</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b> “<b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>runs</b> <b>both</b> <b>swift</b> <b>and</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>We</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>set</b> <b>foot</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>north</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>watchfulness</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>make</b> <b>bridges</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>how</b> <b>we</b> <b>cross</b>! <b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>!” <b>He</b> <b>made</b> <b>his</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rope</b> <b>fast</b> <b>about</b> <b>another</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>ran</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>along</b> <b>it</b>, <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>road</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>walk</b> <b>this</b> <b>path</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>this</b> <b>skill</b>. <b>Must</b> <b>they</b> <b>swim</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>two</b> <b>more</b> <b>ropes</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>fasten</b> <b>them</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b>, <b>one</b> <b>shoulder</b>-<b>high</b>, <b>and</b> <b>another</b> <b>half</b>-<b>high</b>, <b>and</b> <b>holding</b> <b>these</b> <b>the</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>cross</b> <b>with</b> <b>care</b>.”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>this</b> <b>slender</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>made</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b>, <b>some</b> <b>cautiously</b> <b>and</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>others</b> <b>more</b> <b>easily</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>proved</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>sure</b>-<b>footed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>over</b> <b>quickly</b>, <b>holding</b> <b>only</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>kept</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>look</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>shuffled</b> <b>along</b>, <b>clutching</b> <b>hard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>eddying</b> <b>water</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>chasm</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>breathed</b> <b>with</b> <b>relief</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>safely</b> <b>across</b>. “<b>Live</b> <b>and</b> <b>learn</b>! <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>gaffer</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>gardening</b>, <b>not</b> <b>of</b> <b>roosting</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bird</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>of</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>spider</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>even</b> <b>my</b> <b>uncle</b> <b>Andy</b> <b>ever</b> <b>did</b> <b>a</b> <b>trick</b> <b>like</b> <b>that</b>!”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>at</b> <b>length</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>gathered</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>bank</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>untied</b> <b>the</b> <b>ropes</b> <b>and</b> <b>coiled</b> <b>two</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>. <b>R</b>?<b>mil</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>remained</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b>, <b>drew</b> <b>back</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>one</b>, <b>slung</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>wave</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b>, <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Nimrodel</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>watch</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b>, <b>friends</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>entered</b> <b>the</b> <b>Naith</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gore</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>say</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>that</b> <b>lies</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>spear</b>-<b>head</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>arms</b> <b>of</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>and</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b>. <b>We</b> <b>allow</b> <b>no</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>to</b> <b>spy</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>secrets</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Naith</b>. <b>Few</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>are</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>foot</b> <b>there</b>.<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>was</b> <b>agreed</b>, <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>here</b> <b>blindfold</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>. <b>The</b> <b>other</b> <b>may</b> <b>walk</b> <b>free</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>dwellings</b>, <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>Egladil</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Angle</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b>.”<br>
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<b>This</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>liking</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>agreement</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>without</b> <b>my</b> <b>consent</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>walk</b> <b>blindfold</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>beggar</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>prisoner</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>no</b> <b>spy</b>. <b>My</b> <b>folk</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>had</b> <b>dealings</b> <b>with</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>servants</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>Neither</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>done</b> <b>harm</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>likely</b> <b>to</b> <b>betray</b> <b>you</b> <b>than</b> <b>Legolas</b>, <b>or</b> <b>any</b> <b>other</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>companions</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>our</b> <b>law</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>master</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>law</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>set</b> <b>it</b> <b>aside</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>done</b> <b>much</b> <b>in</b> <b>letting</b> <b>you</b> <b>set</b> <b>foot</b> <b>over</b> <b>Celebrant</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>was</b> <b>obstinate</b>. <b>He</b> <b>planted</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>firmly</b> <b>apart</b>, <b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>haft</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>axe</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b> <b>free</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>seek</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>land</b>, <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>true</b> <b>of</b> <b>word</b>, <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>perish</b> <b>alone</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>go</b> <b>back</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>sternly</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>thus</b> <b>far</b>, <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>brought</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b>. <b>They</b> <b>shall</b> <b>judge</b> <b>you</b>, <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>you</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>leave</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b>. <b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>rivers</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>you</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>now</b> <b>secret</b> <b>sentinels</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>pass</b>. <b>You</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>slain</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>saw</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>drew</b> <b>his</b> <b>axe</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>belt</b>. <b>Haldir</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>companion</b> <b>bent</b> <b>their</b> <b>bows</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>plague</b> <b>on</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>necks</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>lead</b> <b>this</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>do</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>bid</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>hard</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>thus</b> <b>singled</b> <b>out</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>all</b> <b>be</b> <b>blindfold</b>, <b>even</b> <b>Legolas</b>. <b>That</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>best</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>make</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b> <b>slow</b> <b>and</b> <b>dull</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>suddenly</b>. “<b>A</b> <b>merry</b> <b>troop</b> <b>of</b> <b>fools</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>look</b>! <b>Will</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>lead</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>string</b>, <b>like</b> <b>many</b> <b>blind</b> <b>beggars</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>dog</b>? <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>content</b>, <b>if</b> <b>only</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>here</b> <b>shares</b> <b>my</b> <b>blindness</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>kinsman</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>, <b>becoming</b> <b>angry</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>turn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>cry</b>: “<b>a</b> <b>plague</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>stiff</b> <b>necks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>shall</b> <b>all</b> <b>fare</b> <b>alike</b>. <b>Come</b>, <b>bind</b> <b>our</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>Haldir</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>claim</b> <b>full</b> <b>amends</b> <b>for</b> <b>every</b> <b>fall</b> <b>and</b> <b>stubbed</b> <b>toe</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>lead</b> <b>us</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>bound</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloth</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>claim</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>lead</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>paths</b> <b>are</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>and</b> <b>straight</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Alas</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>folly</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>days</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>all</b> <b>are</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>Enemy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>walk</b> <b>blind</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>is</b> <b>merry</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woodland</b> <b>under</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Folly</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>seem</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>Indeed</b> <b>in</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>more</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>shown</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>estrangement</b> <b>that</b> <b>divides</b> <b>all</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>still</b> <b>oppose</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>so</b> <b>little</b> <b>faith</b> <b>and</b> <b>trust</b> <b>do</b> <b>we</b> <b>find</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>, <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>dare</b> <b>not</b> <b>by</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>trust</b> <b>endanger</b> <b>our</b> <b>land</b>. <b>We</b> <b>live</b> <b>now</b> <b>upon</b> <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>amid</b> <b>many</b> <b>perils</b>, <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>hands</b> <b>are</b> <b>more</b> <b>often</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>bowstring</b> <b>than</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>harp</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>rivers</b> <b>long</b> <b>defended</b> <b>us</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>a</b> <b>sure</b> <b>guard</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>has</b> <b>crept</b> <b>northward</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>departing</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>already</b> <b>seems</b> <b>too</b> <b>late</b>. <b>The</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>are</b> <b>growing</b> <b>evil</b>; <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>are</b> <b>waste</b>, <b>and</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>'<b>s</b> <b>creatures</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>rumoured</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>now</b> <b>safely</b> <b>pass</b> <b>southward</b> <b>through</b> <b>Rohan</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>are</b> <b>watched</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>find</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>any</b> <b>shelter</b> <b>there</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>havens</b> <b>of</b>. <b>the</b> <b>High</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>far</b> <b>north</b> <b>and</b> <b>west</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Halflings</b>. <b>But</b> <b>where</b> <b>that</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>, <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>may</b> <b>know</b>, <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>ought</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>to</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>havens</b> <b>west</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>land</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>where</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>live</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Happy</b> <b>folk</b> <b>are</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>to</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sea</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>since</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>folk</b> <b>have</b> <b>looked</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>still</b> <b>we</b> <b>remember</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>song</b>. <b>Tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>havens</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>walk</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>them</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>land</b> <b>before</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>known</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>had</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>fair</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>peril</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>dark</b> <b>places</b>; <b>but</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>lands</b> <b>love</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>mingled</b> <b>with</b> <b>grief</b>, <b>it</b> <b>grows</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>the</b> <b>greater</b>.<br>
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“<b>Some</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>among</b> <b>us</b> <b>who</b> <b>sing</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>will</b> <b>draw</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>peace</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>believe</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b> <b>will</b> <b>ever</b> <b>again</b> <b>be</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>aforetime</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fear</b>, <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>prove</b> <b>at</b> <b>best</b> <b>a</b> <b>truce</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>pass</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>unhindered</b> <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>Alas</b> <b>for</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>love</b>! <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>poor</b> <b>life</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>land</b> <b>where</b> <b>no</b> <b>mallorn</b> <b>grew</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>mallorn</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>none</b> <b>have</b> <b>reported</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>thus</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>filed</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>paths</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>led</b> <b>by</b> <b>Haldir</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>walked</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>They</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>and</b> <b>soft</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>more</b> <b>freely</b>, <b>without</b> <b>fear</b> <b>of</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>or</b> <b>fall</b>. <b>Being</b> <b>deprived</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>his</b> <b>hearing</b> <b>and</b> <b>other</b> <b>senses</b> <b>sharpened</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>smell</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>trodden</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>many</b> <b>different</b> <b>notes</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>rustle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>overhead</b>, <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>murmuring</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>right</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>thin</b> <b>clear</b> <b>voices</b> <b>of</b> <b>birds</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>and</b> <b>hands</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>an</b> <b>open</b> <b>glade</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>set</b> <b>foot</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>bank</b> <b>of</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>deepened</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>on</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Naith</b>: <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>over</b> <b>a</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>time</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>, <b>and</b> <b>was</b> -<b>now</b> <b>walking</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>world</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>. <b>In</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>things</b>; <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>things</b> <b>still</b> <b>lived</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>waking</b> <b>world</b>. <b>Evil</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b> <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>there</b>, <b>sorrow</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>known</b>; <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>feared</b> <b>and</b> <b>distrusted</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b>: <b>wolves</b> <b>were</b> <b>howling</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>'<b>s</b> <b>borders</b>: <b>but</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>no</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>lay</b>.<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>marched</b> <b>on</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>cool</b> <b>evening</b> <b>come</b> <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>night</b>-<b>wind</b> <b>whispering</b> <b>among</b> <b>many</b> <b>leaves</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>rested</b> <b>and</b> <b>slept</b> <b>without</b> <b>fear</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>; <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>guides</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>permit</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>unbind</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>climb</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>, <b>walking</b> <b>without</b> <b>haste</b>. <b>At</b> <b>noon</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shining</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>voices</b> <b>all</b> <b>around</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>marching</b> <b>host</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>up</b> <b>silently</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>hastening</b> <b>toward</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>borders</b> <b>to</b> <b>guard</b> <b>against</b> <b>any</b> <b>attack</b> <b>from</b> <b>Moria</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>brought</b> <b>news</b>, <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>reported</b>. <b>The</b> <b>marauding</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>waylaid</b> <b>and</b> <b>almost</b> <b>all</b> <b>destroyed</b>; <b>the</b> <b>remnant</b> <b>had</b> <b>fled</b> <b>westward</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>being</b> <b>pursued</b>. <b>A</b> <b>strange</b> <b>creature</b> <b>also</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b>, <b>running</b> <b>with</b> <b>bent</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>hands</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>beast</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>of</b> <b>beast</b>-<b>shape</b>. <b>It</b> <b>had</b> <b>eluded</b> <b>capture</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>shot</b> <b>it</b>, <b>not</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>whether</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>ill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>southward</b>.<br>
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“<b>Also</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>, “<b>they</b> <b>bring</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>message</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>free</b>, <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>Gimli</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>knows</b> <b>who</b> <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>each</b> <b>member</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>Company</b>. <b>New</b> <b>messages</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>from</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>perhaps</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>removed</b> <b>the</b> <b>bandage</b> <b>first</b> <b>from</b> <b>Gimli</b>'<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b>. “<b>Your</b> <b>pardon</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>bowing</b> <b>low</b>. “<b>Look</b> <b>on</b> <b>us</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>eyes</b>! <b>Look</b> <b>and</b> <b>be</b> <b>glad</b>, <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>dwarf</b> <b>to</b> <b>behold</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Naith</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>since</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Day</b>!”<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>turn</b> <b>uncovered</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>caught</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>standing</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>open</b> <b>space</b>. <b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>mound</b>, <b>covered</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sward</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b> <b>as</b> <b>green</b> <b>as</b> <b>Spring</b>-<b>time</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b>. <b>Upon</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>double</b> <b>crown</b>, <b>grew</b> <b>two</b> <b>circles</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>: <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>had</b> <b>bark</b> <b>of</b> <b>snowy</b> <b>white</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>leafless</b> <b>but</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>shapely</b> <b>nakedness</b>; <b>the</b> <b>inner</b> <b>were</b> <b>mallorn</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>height</b>, <b>still</b> <b>arrayed</b> <b>in</b> <b>pale</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>High</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>towering</b> <b>tree</b> <b>that</b> <b>stood</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>centre</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>there</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>flet</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>hillsides</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>was</b> <b>studded</b> <b>with</b> <b>small</b> <b>golden</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>shaped</b> <b>like</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Among</b> <b>them</b>, <b>nodding</b> <b>on</b> <b>slender</b> <b>stalks</b>, <b>were</b> <b>other</b> <b>flowers</b>, <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>palest</b> <b>green</b>: <b>they</b> <b>glimmered</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>mist</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>rich</b> <b>hue</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>Over</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>blue</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>of</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>and</b> <b>cast</b> <b>long</b> <b>green</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>.<br>
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“<b>Behold</b>! <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Cerin</b> <b>Amroth</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>realm</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>mound</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amroth</b>, <b>where</b> <b>in</b> <b>happier</b> <b>days</b> <b>his</b> <b>high</b> <b>house</b> <b>was</b> <b>built</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>ever</b> <b>bloom</b> <b>the</b> <b>winter</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>unfading</b> <b>grass</b>: <b>the</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>elanor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>niphredil</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>stay</b> <b>awhile</b>, <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>at</b> <b>dusk</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>cast</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>fragrant</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>awhile</b> <b>still</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>window</b> <b>that</b> <b>looked</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>world</b>. <b>A</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>which</b> <b>his</b> <b>language</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>name</b>. <b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>was</b> <b>shapely</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>clear</b> <b>cut</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>first</b> <b>conceived</b> <b>and</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>uncovering</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>endured</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>colour</b> <b>but</b> <b>those</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b>, <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>blue</b> <b>and</b> <b>green</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>and</b> <b>poignant</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>at</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>first</b> <b>perceived</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>names</b> <b>new</b> <b>and</b> <b>wonderful</b>. <b>In</b> <b>winter</b> <b>here</b> <b>no</b> <b>heart</b> <b>could</b> <b>mourn</b> <b>for</b> <b>summer</b> <b>or</b> <b>for</b> <b>spring</b>. <b>No</b> <b>blemish</b> <b>or</b> <b>sickness</b> <b>or</b> <b>deformity</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>anything</b> <b>that</b> <b>grew</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>stain</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>standing</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>round</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>puzzled</b> <b>expression</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rubbing</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>awake</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b> <b>day</b>, <b>right</b> <b>enough</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>for</b> <b>moon</b> <b>and</b> <b>stars</b>: <b>but</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>than</b> <b>anything</b> <b>I</b> <b>ever</b> <b>heard</b> <b>tell</b> <b>of</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>inside</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b>. <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>meaning</b>.”<br>
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<b>Haldir</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>meaning</b> <b>of</b> <b>both</b> <b>thought</b> <b>and</b> <b>word</b>. <b>He</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>feel</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Would</b> <b>it</b> <b>please</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>climb</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b> <b>up</b> <b>Cerin</b> <b>Amroth</b>?”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>lightly</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>-<b>clad</b> <b>slopes</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>and</b> <b>breathed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>living</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>and</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>were</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>cool</b> <b>wind</b> <b>as</b> <b>fanned</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>timeless</b> <b>land</b> <b>that</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>fade</b> <b>or</b> <b>change</b> <b>or</b> <b>fall</b> <b>into</b> <b>forgetfulness</b>. <b>When</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>again</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>world</b>, <b>still</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>the</b> <b>wanderer</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>would</b> <b>walk</b> <b>there</b>, <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>among</b> <b>elanor</b> <b>and</b> <b>niphredil</b> <b>in</b> <b>fair</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>entered</b> <b>the</b> <b>circle</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>Wind</b> <b>blew</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Cerin</b> <b>Amroth</b> <b>and</b> <b>sighed</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>still</b>, <b>hearing</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b>_ <b>great</b> <b>seas</b> <b>upon</b> <b>beaches</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>been</b> <b>washed</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sea</b>-<b>birds</b> <b>crying</b> <b>whose</b> <b>race</b> <b>had</b> <b>perished</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>.<br>
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<b>Haldir</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>on</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>flet</b>. <b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>him</b>, <b>he</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>ladder</b>: <b>never</b> <b>before</b> <b>had</b> <b>he</b> <b>been</b> <b>so</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>keenly</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>feel</b> <b>and</b> <b>texture</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>'<b>s</b> <b>skin</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>life</b> <b>within</b> <b>it</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>delight</b> <b>in</b> <b>wood</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>touch</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>neither</b> <b>as</b> <b>forester</b> <b>nor</b> <b>as</b> <b>carpenter</b>; <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>delight</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>living</b> <b>tree</b> <b>itself</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>out</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>lofty</b> <b>platform</b>, <b>Haldir</b> <b>took</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b> <b>him</b> <b>toward</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>. “<b>Look</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>first</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>still</b> <b>at</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>a</b> <b>hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b> <b>towers</b>: <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>Out</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>and</b> <b>light</b> <b>came</b> <b>that</b> <b>held</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>in</b> <b>sway</b>. <b>He</b> <b>longed</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>fly</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bird</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>city</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>running</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>flat</b> <b>and</b> <b>empty</b>, <b>formless</b> <b>and</b> <b>vague</b>, <b>until</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>it</b> <b>rose</b> <b>again</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>drear</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>power</b> <b>to</b> <b>enlighten</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>distant</b> <b>height</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>lies</b> <b>the</b> <b>fastness</b> <b>of</b> <b>Southern</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>forest</b> <b>of</b> <b>dark</b> <b>fir</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>strive</b> <b>one</b> <b>against</b> <b>another</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>branches</b> <b>rot</b> <b>and</b> <b>wither</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>stony</b> <b>height</b> <b>stands</b> <b>Dol</b> <b>Guldur</b>, <b>where</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>had</b> <b>his</b> <b>dwelling</b>. <b>We</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>inhabited</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>power</b> <b>sevenfold</b>. <b>A</b> <b>black</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>lies</b> <b>often</b> <b>over</b> <b>it</b> <b>of</b> <b>late</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>high</b> <b>place</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>powers</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>opposed</b> <b>one</b> <b>to</b> <b>another</b>; <b>and</b> <b>ever</b> <b>they</b> <b>strive</b> <b>now</b> <b>in</b> <b>thought</b>, <b>but</b> <b>whereas</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>perceives</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>its</b> <b>own</b> <b>secret</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>discovered</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>yet</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>'<b>s</b> <b>foot</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>standing</b> <b>still</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>tree</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>golden</b> <b>bloom</b> <b>of</b> <b>elanor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>wrapped</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>fair</b> <b>memory</b>: <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>beheld</b> <b>things</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>once</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>same</b> <b>place</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>grim</b> <b>years</b> <b>were</b> <b>removed</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b>, <b>a</b> <b>young</b> <b>lord</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>words</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>whom</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b>. <b>Arwen</b> <b>vanimelda</b>, <b>nam</b>?<b>ri</b>?! <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>a</b> <b>breath</b>, <b>and</b> <b>returning</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>smiled</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elvendom</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>dwells</b> <b>ever</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>there</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>roads</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>still</b> <b>must</b> <b>tread</b>, <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>! “<b>And</b> <b>taking</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b>, <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>Cerin</b> <b>Amroth</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>there</b> <b>never</b> <b>again</b> <b>as</b> <b>living</b> <b>man</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 7<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>MIRROR</b> <b>OF</b> <b>GALADRIEL</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>sinking</b> <b>behind</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>were</b> <b>deepening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b>, <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>paths</b> <b>now</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>gathered</b>. <b>Night</b> <b>came</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>uncovered</b> <b>their</b> <b>silver</b> <b>lamps</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>open</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>evening</b> <b>sky</b> <b>pricked</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>early</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>treeless</b> <b>space</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>running</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>circle</b> <b>and</b> <b>bending</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>fosse</b> <b>lost</b> <b>in</b> <b>soft</b> <b>shadow</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>brink</b> <b>was</b> <b>green</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>still</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>Upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b> <b>there</b> <b>rose</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>height</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>wall</b> <b>encircling</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>hill</b> <b>thronged</b> <b>with</b> <b>mallorn</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>taller</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>yet</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>height</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>guessed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>like</b> <b>living</b> <b>towers</b>. <b>In</b> <b>their</b>, <b>many</b>-<b>tiered</b> <b>branches</b> <b>and</b> <b>amid</b> <b>their</b> <b>ever</b>-<b>moving</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>countless</b> <b>lights</b> <b>were</b> <b>gleaming</b>, <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b>. <b>Haldir</b> <b>turned</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.<br>
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“<b>Welcome</b> <b>to</b> <b>Caras</b> <b>Galadhon</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>where</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>enter</b> <b>here</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>look</b> <b>northward</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>round</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>short</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b> <b>is</b> <b>great</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>road</b> <b>paved</b> <b>with</b> <b>white</b> <b>stone</b> <b>running</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>outer</b> <b>brink</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>fosse</b>. <b>Along</b> <b>this</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>westward</b>, <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b> <b>ever</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>up</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>deepened</b> <b>more</b> <b>lights</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>forth</b>, <b>until</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>afire</b> <b>with</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>They</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>bridge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>crossing</b> <b>found</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b>: <b>they</b> <b>faced</b> <b>south</b>-<b>west</b>, <b>set</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>ends</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>encircling</b> <b>wall</b> <b>that</b> <b>here</b> <b>overlapped</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>strong</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hung</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>lamps</b>.<br>
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<b>Haldir</b> <b>knocked</b> <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>opened</b> <b>soundlessly</b>; <b>but</b> <b>of</b> <b>guards</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b>. <b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>passed</b> <b>within</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>gates</b> <b>shut</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>lane</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>ends</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passing</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>through</b> <b>it</b> <b>they</b> <b>entered</b> <b>the</b> <b>City</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Trees</b>. <b>No</b> <b>folk</b> <b>could</b> <b>they</b> <b>see</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>hear</b> <b>any</b> <b>feet</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>paths</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>voices</b>, <b>about</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>above</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>away</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>singing</b> <b>falling</b> <b>from</b> <b>on</b> <b>high</b> <b>like</b> <b>soft</b> <b>rain</b> <b>upon</b> <b>leaves</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>went</b> <b>along</b> <b>many</b> <b>paths</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>many</b> <b>stairs</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>places</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>amid</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>a</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>shimmering</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>lit</b> <b>by</b> <b>silver</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>that</b> <b>swung</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>basin</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b>, <b>from</b> <b>which</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>stream</b> <b>spilled</b>. <b>Upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>south</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>there</b> <b>stood</b> <b>the</b> <b>mightiest</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>its</b> <b>great</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>bole</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>like</b> <b>grey</b> <b>silk</b>, <b>and</b> <b>up</b> <b>it</b> <b>towered</b>, <b>until</b> <b>its</b> <b>first</b> <b>branches</b>, <b>far</b> <b>above</b>, <b>opened</b> <b>their</b> <b>huge</b> <b>limbs</b> <b>under</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b>. <b>Beside</b> <b>it</b> <b>a</b> <b>broad</b> <b>white</b> <b>ladder</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>at</b> <b>its</b> <b>foot</b> <b>three</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>were</b> <b>seated</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>approached</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>grey</b> <b>mail</b>, <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>shoulders</b> <b>hung</b> <b>long</b> <b>white</b> <b>cloaks</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Galadriel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>their</b> <b>wish</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>ascend</b> <b>and</b> <b>speak</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>.”<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>wardens</b> <b>then</b> <b>blew</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>note</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>horn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>answered</b> <b>three</b> <b>times</b> <b>from</b> <b>far</b> <b>above</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>first</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>come</b> <b>next</b> <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>Legolas</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>may</b> <b>follow</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>wish</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>climb</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>accustomed</b> <b>to</b> <b>such</b> <b>stairs</b>, <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>rest</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>he</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>up</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>passed</b> <b>many</b> <b>flets</b>: <b>some</b> <b>on</b> <b>one</b> <b>side</b>, <b>some</b> <b>on</b> <b>another</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>set</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>bole</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>ladder</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>them</b>. <b>At</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>height</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>talan</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>deck</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>ship</b>. <b>On</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>built</b> <b>a</b> <b>house</b>, <b>so</b> <b>large</b> <b>that</b> <b>almost</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>served</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>hall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>He</b> <b>entered</b> <b>behind</b> <b>Haldir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>oval</b> <b>shape</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>which</b> <b>grew</b> <b>the</b> <b>trunk</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>mallorn</b>, <b>now</b> <b>tapering</b> <b>towards</b> <b>its</b> <b>crown</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>making</b> <b>still</b> <b>a</b> <b>pillar</b> <b>of</b> <b>wide</b> <b>girth</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>soft</b> <b>light</b>; <b>its</b> <b>walls</b> <b>were</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>roof</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>were</b> <b>seated</b> <b>there</b>. <b>On</b> <b>two</b> <b>chairs</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>bole</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b> <b>and</b> <b>canopied</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>living</b> <b>bough</b> <b>there</b> <b>sat</b>, <b>side</b> <b>by</b> <b>side</b>, <b>Celeborn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Galadriel</b>. <b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>greet</b> <b>their</b> <b>guests</b>, <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>manner</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>even</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>were</b> <b>accounted</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>kings</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>tall</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>no</b> <b>less</b> <b>tall</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>grave</b> <b>and</b> <b>beautiful</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>clad</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hair</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>deep</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hair</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>was</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>bright</b>; <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>age</b> <b>was</b> <b>upon</b> <b>them</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>depths</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>; <b>for</b> <b>these</b> <b>were</b> <b>keen</b> <b>as</b> <b>lances</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>starlight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>profound</b>, <b>the</b> <b>wells</b> <b>of</b> <b>deep</b> <b>memory</b>.<br>
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<b>Haldir</b> <b>led</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>welcomed</b> <b>him</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b> <b>but</b> <b>looked</b> <b>long</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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“<b>Sit</b> <b>now</b> <b>beside</b> <b>my</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>When</b> <b>all</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>speak</b> <b>together</b>.”<br>
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<b>Each</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>companions</b> <b>he</b> <b>greeted</b> <b>courteously</b> <b>by</b> <b>name</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>entered</b>. “<b>Welcome</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>eight</b> <b>and</b> <b>thirty</b> <b>years</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>; <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>years</b> <b>lie</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>is</b> <b>near</b>, <b>for</b> <b>good</b> <b>or</b> <b>ill</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>lay</b> <b>aside</b> <b>your</b> <b>burden</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Welcome</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Thranduil</b>! <b>Too</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>do</b> <b>my</b> <b>kindred</b> <b>journey</b> <b>hither</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Welcome</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>saw</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>folk</b> <b>in</b> <b>Caras</b> <b>Galadhon</b>. <b>But</b> <b>today</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>broken</b> <b>our</b> <b>long</b> <b>law</b>. <b>May</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>though</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>dark</b> <b>better</b> <b>days</b> <b>are</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>friendship</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>renewed</b> <b>between</b> <b>our</b> <b>peoples</b>.” <b>Gimli</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>low</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>guests</b> <b>were</b> <b>seated</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>chair</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>eight</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Nine</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b>: <b>so</b> <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>messages</b>. <b>But</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>there</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>some</b> <b>change</b> <b>of</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>heard</b>. <b>Elrond</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>gathers</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>year</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>have</b> <b>grown</b> <b>longer</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Nay</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>change</b> <b>of</b> <b>counsel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b>. <b>Her</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>musical</b>, <b>but</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>than</b> <b>woman</b>'<b>s</b> <b>wont</b>. “<b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>set</b> <b>out</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>much</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b> <b>from</b> <b>afar</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>within</b> <b>the</b> <b>fences</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>: <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>mist</b> <b>is</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>are</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Alas</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>shadow</b>. <b>He</b> <b>remained</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>escape</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>these</b> <b>words</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hall</b> <b>cried</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>in</b> <b>grief</b> <b>and</b> <b>amazement</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>are</b> <b>evil</b> <b>tidings</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>, “<b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>evil</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>here</b> <b>in</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>grievous</b> <b>deeds</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>turned</b> <b>to</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>has</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>been</b> <b>told</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>before</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>asked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>tongue</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>to</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>or</b> <b>our</b> <b>purpose</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>weary</b> <b>and</b> <b>danger</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>close</b> <b>behind</b> <b>and</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>we</b> <b>almost</b> <b>forgot</b> <b>our</b> <b>grief</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>walked</b> <b>in</b> <b>gladness</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>fair</b> <b>paths</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>our</b> <b>grief</b> <b>is</b> <b>great</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>loss</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>mended</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Gandalf</b> <b>was</b> <b>our</b> <b>guide</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>led</b> <b>us</b> <b>through</b> <b>Moria</b>; <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>our</b> <b>escape</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>hope</b> <b>he</b> <b>saved</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b> <b>tale</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>:<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>recounted</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>pass</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caradhras</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>that</b> <b>followed</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>Balin</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>book</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fight</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mazarbul</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>bridge</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Terror</b>. “<b>An</b> <b>evil</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ancient</b> <b>World</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>before</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>both</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>flame</b>, <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>terrible</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>Balrog</b> <b>of</b> <b>Morgoth</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>; “<b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>banes</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>deadly</b>, <b>save</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>who</b> <b>sits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>that</b> <b>which</b> <b>haunts</b> <b>our</b> <b>darkest</b> <b>dreams</b> <b>l</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Durin</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Bane</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dread</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>Alas</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>long</b> <b>have</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>under</b> <b>Caradhras</b> <b>a</b> <b>terror</b> <b>slept</b>. <b>But</b> <b>had</b> <b>I</b> <b>known</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>had</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>up</b> <b>this</b> <b>evil</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>again</b>, <b>l</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>forbidden</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>borders</b>, <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>went</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>possible</b>, <b>one</b> <b>would</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>fell</b> <b>from</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>into</b> <b>folly</b>, <b>going</b> <b>needlessly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>net</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b>.”<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>rash</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>that</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>thing</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>gravely</b>. “<b>Needless</b> <b>were</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>in</b> <b>life</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>that</b> <b>followed</b> <b>him</b> <b>knew</b> <b>not</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>and</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>report</b> <b>his</b> <b>full</b> <b>purpose</b>. <b>But</b> <b>however</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>guide</b>, <b>the</b> <b>followers</b> <b>are</b> <b>blameless</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>repent</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>welcome</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>. <b>If</b> <b>our</b> <b>folk</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>exiled</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>who</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>, <b>even</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wise</b>, <b>would</b> <b>pass</b> <b>nigh</b> <b>and</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>upon</b> <b>their</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>home</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>an</b> <b>abode</b> <b>of</b> <b>dragons</b>?<br>
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“<b>Dark</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>of</b> <b>Kheled</b>-<b>z</b>?<b>ram</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cold</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>springs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Kibil</b>-<b>n</b>?<b>la</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fair</b> <b>were</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b>-<b>pillared</b> <b>halls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b> <b>in</b> <b>Elder</b> <b>Days</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>kings</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>.” <b>She</b> <b>looked</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>who</b> <b>sat</b> <b>glowering</b> <b>and</b> <b>sad</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>smiled</b>. <b>And</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>, <b>hearing</b> <b>the</b> <b>names</b> <b>given</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>tongue</b>, <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>met</b> <b>her</b> <b>eyes</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>there</b> <b>love</b> <b>and</b> <b>understanding</b>. <b>Wonder</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>smiled</b> <b>in</b> <b>answer</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>rose</b> <b>clumsily</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>in</b> <b>dwarf</b>-<b>fashion</b>, <b>saying</b>: “<b>Yet</b> <b>more</b> <b>fair</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>living</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>is</b> <b>above</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>that</b> <b>lie</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>!”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>plight</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>evil</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>forget</b> <b>my</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>words</b>: <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>to</b> <b>aid</b> <b>you</b>, <b>each</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>wish</b> <b>and</b> <b>need</b>, <b>but</b> <b>especially</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>folk</b> <b>who</b> <b>bears</b> <b>the</b> <b>burden</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Your</b> <b>quest</b> <b>is</b> <b>known</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galadriel</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>here</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>more</b> <b>openly</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>vain</b> <b>will</b> <b>it</b> <b>prove</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b> <b>seeking</b> <b>aid</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>himself</b> <b>plainly</b> <b>purposed</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>is</b> <b>accounted</b> <b>the</b> <b>wisest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>giver</b> <b>of</b> <b>gifts</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>kings</b>. <b>He</b> <b>has</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>dawn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>years</b> <b>uncounted</b>; <b>for</b> <b>ere</b> <b>the</b> <b>fall</b> <b>of</b> <b>Nargothrond</b> <b>or</b> <b>Gondolin</b> <b>I</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>together</b> <b>through</b> <b>ages</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>fought</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>defeat</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>who</b> <b>first</b> <b>summoned</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Council</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>my</b> <b>designs</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>amiss</b>, <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>governed</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>the</b> <b>Grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>mayhap</b> <b>things</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>gone</b> <b>otherwise</b>. <b>But</b> <b>even</b> <b>now</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>hope</b> <b>left</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>counsel</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>do</b> <b>this</b>, <b>or</b> <b>do</b> <b>that</b>. <b>For</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>doing</b> <b>or</b> <b>contriving</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>in</b> <b>choosing</b> <b>between</b> <b>this</b> <b>course</b> <b>and</b> <b>another</b>, <b>can</b> <b>I</b> <b>avail</b>; <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>knowing</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>and</b> <b>is</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>part</b> <b>also</b> <b>what</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>: <b>your</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>stands</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>knife</b>. <b>Stray</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>fail</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruin</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>hope</b> <b>remains</b> <b>while</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>.”<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b> <b>word</b> <b>she</b> <b>held</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>her</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b> <b>looked</b> <b>searchingly</b> <b>at</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>turn</b>. <b>None</b> <b>save</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>could</b> <b>long</b> <b>endure</b> <b>her</b> <b>glance</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>blushed</b> <b>and</b> <b>hung</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>released</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>her</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>let</b> <b>your</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>be</b> <b>troubled</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Tonight</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>sighed</b> <b>and</b> <b>felt</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>weary</b>, <b>as</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>questioned</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>deeply</b>, <b>though</b> <b>no</b> <b>words</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>spoken</b> <b>openly</b>.<br>
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“<b>Go</b> <b>now</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>worn</b> <b>with</b> <b>sorrow</b> <b>and</b> <b>much</b> <b>toil</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>if</b> <b>your</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>concern</b> <b>us</b> <b>closely</b>, <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>refuge</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>City</b>, <b>until</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>healed</b> <b>and</b> <b>refreshed</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>further</b> <b>road</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>.”<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>night</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>slept</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>, <b>much</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>satisfaction</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbits</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>spread</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>pavilion</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>fountain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>they</b> <b>laid</b> <b>soft</b> <b>couches</b>; <b>then</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>peace</b> <b>with</b> <b>fair</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>voices</b> <b>they</b> <b>left</b> <b>them</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>talked</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>night</b> <b>before</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>tops</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b>; <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>further</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>blush</b> <b>for</b>, <b>Sam</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>soon</b> <b>broke</b> <b>down</b>. <b>Anyone</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>thought</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>guilty</b> <b>conscience</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>wicked</b> <b>plot</b> <b>to</b> <b>steal</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>blankets</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>never</b> <b>thought</b> <b>no</b> <b>such</b> <b>thing</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>in</b> <b>no</b> <b>mood</b> <b>for</b> <b>jest</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>, <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>hadn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>it</b>. <b>She</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>looking</b> <b>inside</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>asking</b> <b>me</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>do</b> <b>if</b> <b>she</b> <b>gave</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>flying</b> <b>back</b> <b>home</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>little</b> <b>hole</b> <b>with</b>-<b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>garden</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>funny</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Almost</b> <b>exactly</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>myself</b>; <b>only</b>, <b>only</b> <b>well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>say</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>ended</b> <b>lamely</b>.<br>
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<b>All</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>, <b>had</b> <b>fared</b> <b>alike</b>: <b>each</b> <b>had</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>offered</b> <b>a</b> <b>choice</b> <b>between</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>and</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>desired</b>: <b>clear</b> <b>before</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>turn</b> <b>aside</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>war</b> <b>against</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>to</b> <b>others</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>, <b>too</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, “<b>that</b> <b>my</b> <b>choice</b> <b>would</b> <b>remain</b> <b>secret</b> <b>and</b> <b>known</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>myself</b>.”<br>
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“<b>To</b> <b>me</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>exceedingly</b> <b>strange</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Maybe</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>test</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>thought</b> <b>to</b> <b>read</b> <b>our</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>for</b> <b>her</b> <b>own</b> <b>good</b> <b>purpose</b>; <b>but</b> <b>almost</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>have</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>tempting</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>offering</b> <b>what</b> <b>she</b> <b>pretended</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b>. <b>It</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>refused</b> <b>to</b> <b>listen</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>are</b> <b>true</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>word</b>.” <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>had</b> <b>offered</b> <b>him</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>.<br>
|
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<b>And</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b>, <b>though</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>pressed</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>questions</b>. “<b>She</b> <b>held</b> <b>you</b> <b>long</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>gaze</b>, <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
|
||
“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>whatever</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b> <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>keep</b> <b>there</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Well</b>, <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>care</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>feel</b> <b>too</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>purposes</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Speak</b> <b>no</b> <b>evil</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>sternly</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>know</b> <b>not</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>say</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b> <b>no</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>a</b> <b>man</b> <b>bring</b> <b>it</b> <b>hither</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>beware</b>! <b>But</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>without</b> <b>fear</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>left</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>And</b> <b>may</b> <b>I</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>forget</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>my</b> <b>grief</b>! <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>weary</b> <b>in</b> <b>body</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>heart</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>cast</b> <b>himself</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>couch</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>soon</b> <b>did</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b> <b>or</b> <b>dream</b> <b>disturbed</b> <b>their</b> <b>slumber</b>. <b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>woke</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>day</b> <b>was</b> <b>broad</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>pavilion</b>. <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>glittering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>remained</b> <b>some</b> <b>days</b> <b>in</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>tell</b> <b>or</b> <b>remember</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>while</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>shone</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>save</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>rain</b> <b>that</b> <b>fell</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>away</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>fresh</b> <b>and</b> <b>clean</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>cool</b> <b>and</b> <b>soft</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>early</b> <b>spring</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>felt</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>thoughtful</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>of</b> <b>winter</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>little</b> <b>but</b> <b>eat</b> <b>and</b> <b>drink</b> <b>and</b> <b>rest</b>, <b>and</b> <b>walk</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>enough</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>little</b> <b>speech</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>folk</b>; <b>for</b> <b>few</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>knew</b> <b>or</b> <b>would</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>Westron</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>Haldir</b> <b>had</b> <b>bidden</b> <b>them</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>and</b> <b>gone</b> <b>back</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>fences</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>where</b> <b>great</b> <b>watch</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>kept</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>tidings</b> <b>of</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>was</b> <b>away</b> <b>much</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>night</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>companions</b>, <b>though</b> <b>he</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>eat</b> <b>and</b> <b>talk</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>he</b> <b>took</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>abroad</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>at</b> <b>this</b> <b>change</b>.<br>
|
||
<b>Now</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>companions</b> <b>sat</b> <b>or</b> <b>walked</b> <b>together</b> <b>they</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>each</b> <b>had</b> <b>known</b> <b>and</b> <b>seen</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>came</b> <b>clear</b> <b>before</b> <b>their</b> <b>minds</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>healed</b> <b>of</b> <b>hurt</b> <b>and</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>of</b> <b>body</b> <b>the</b> <b>grief</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>loss</b> <b>grew</b> <b>more</b> <b>keen</b>. <b>Often</b> <b>they</b> <b>heard</b> <b>nearby</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>voices</b> <b>singing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>making</b> <b>songs</b> <b>of</b> <b>lamentation</b> <b>for</b> <b>his</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>caught</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>sad</b> <b>words</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b>.<br>
|
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<b>Mithrandir</b>, <b>Mithrandir</b> <b>sang</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>O</b> <b>Pilgrim</b> <b>Grey</b>! <b>For</b> <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>loved</b> <b>to</b> <b>call</b> <b>him</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>was</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>interpret</b> <b>the</b> <b>songs</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>skill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>grief</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>too</b> <b>near</b>, <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>for</b> <b>tears</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>for</b> <b>song</b>.<br>
|
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>who</b> <b>first</b> <b>put</b> <b>something</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sorrow</b> <b>into</b> <b>halting</b> <b>words</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>moved</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>song</b> <b>or</b> <b>rhyme</b>; <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>listened</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>sung</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>though</b> <b>his</b> <b>memory</b> <b>was</b> <b>stored</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>others</b> <b>had</b> <b>made</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>and</b> <b>heard</b> <b>about</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>voices</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>his</b> <b>thought</b> <b>took</b> <b>shape</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>song</b> <b>that</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>fair</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>repeat</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>only</b> <b>snatches</b> <b>remained</b>, <b>faded</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>handful</b> <b>of</b> <b>withered</b> <b>leaves</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>evening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>was</b> <b>grey</b><br>
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<b>his</b> <b>footsteps</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>were</b> <b>heard</b>;<br>
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<b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>away</b><br>
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<b>on</b> <b>journey</b> <b>long</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>From</b> <b>Wilderland</b> <b>to</b> <b>Western</b> <b>shore</b>,<br>
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<b>from</b> <b>northern</b> <b>waste</b> <b>to</b> <b>southern</b> <b>hill</b>,<br>
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<b>through</b> <b>dragon</b>-<b>lair</b> <b>and</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>door</b><br>
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<b>and</b> <b>darkling</b> <b>woods</b> <b>he</b> <b>walked</b> <b>at</b> <b>will</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>and</b> <b>Hobbit</b>, <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b>,<br>
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<b>with</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>and</b> <b>immortal</b> <b>folk</b>,<br>
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<b>with</b> <b>bird</b> <b>on</b> <b>bough</b> <b>and</b> <b>beast</b> <b>in</b> <b>den</b>,<br>
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<b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>secret</b> <b>tongues</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>sword</b>, <b>a</b> <b>healing</b> <b>hand</b>,<br>
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<b>a</b> <b>back</b> <b>that</b> <b>bent</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>its</b> <b>load</b>;<br>
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<b>a</b> <b>trumpet</b>-<b>voice</b>, <b>a</b> <b>burning</b> <b>brand</b>,<br>
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<b>a</b> <b>weary</b> <b>pilgrim</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>A</b> <b>lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>throned</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b>,<br>
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<b>swift</b> <b>in</b> <b>anger</b>, <b>quick</b> <b>to</b> <b>laugh</b>;<br>
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<b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>man</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>battered</b> <b>hat</b><br>
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<b>who</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>thorny</b> <b>staff</b>.<br>
|
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<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridge</b> <b>alone</b><br>
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<b>and</b> <b>Fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>Shadow</b> <b>both</b> <b>defied</b>;<br>
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<b>his</b> <b>staff</b> <b>was</b> <b>broken</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b>,<br>
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<b>in</b> <b>Khazad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>m</b> <b>his</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>died</b>.<br>
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<br>
|
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“<b>Why</b>, <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>beating</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b> <b>next</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
|
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“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>Well</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>have</b> <b>another</b> <b>go</b>, <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>say</b> <b>a</b> <b>word</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>fireworks</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Something</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b>:<br>
|
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<br>
|
||
<b>The</b> <b>finest</b> <b>rockets</b> <b>ever</b> <b>seen</b>:<br>
|
||
<b>they</b> <b>burst</b> <b>in</b> <b>stars</b> <b>of</b> <b>blue</b> <b>and</b> <b>green</b>,<br>
|
||
<b>or</b> <b>after</b> <b>thunder</b> <b>golden</b> <b>showers</b><br>
|
||
<b>came</b> <b>falling</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>rain</b> <b>of</b> <b>flowers</b>.<br>
|
||
<br>
|
||
<b>Though</b> <b>that</b> <b>doesn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>them</b> <b>justice</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b>.”<br>
|
||
“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>leave</b> <b>that</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Sam</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bilbo</b>. <b>But</b>-<b>well</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>talk</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>bear</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>bringing</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
|
||
<b>One</b> <b>evening</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>were</b> <b>walking</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cool</b> <b>twilight</b>. <b>Both</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>felt</b> <b>restless</b> <b>again</b>. <b>On</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>parting</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b>: <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>somehow</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>near</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>must</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>now</b>, <b>Sam</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>asked</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>question</b> <b>once</b> <b>before</b>-<b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>a</b> <b>very</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>ago</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>since</b> <b>then</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>indeed</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>They</b>'<b>re</b> <b>all</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b>'<b>re</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>these</b> <b>folk</b> <b>aren</b>'<b>t</b> <b>wanderers</b> <b>or</b> <b>homeless</b>, <b>and</b> <b>seem</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>likes</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>: <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>belong</b> <b>here</b>, <b>more</b> <b>even</b> <b>than</b> <b>Hobbits</b> <b>do</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Whether</b> <b>they</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>, <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>'<b>s</b> <b>made</b> <b>them</b>, <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>meaning</b>. <b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>wonderfully</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Nothing</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>want</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b>. <b>If</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>any</b> <b>magic</b> <b>about</b>, <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>right</b> <b>down</b> <b>deep</b>, <b>where</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>lay</b> <b>my</b> <b>hands</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>, <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>manner</b> <b>of</b> <b>speaking</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>see</b> <b>and</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b> <b>everywhere</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>nobody</b> <b>working</b> <b>it</b>. <b>No</b> <b>fireworks</b> <b>like</b> <b>poor</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>show</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>we</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>days</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b> <b>some</b> <b>wonderful</b> <b>things</b>, <b>if</b> <b>she</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>dearly</b> <b>love</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>some</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>magic</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wouldn</b>'<b>t</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>content</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>miss</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>fireworks</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>bushy</b> <b>eyebrows</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>quick</b> <b>temper</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>voice</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b>'<b>re</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>finding</b> <b>fault</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>often</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>magic</b> <b>like</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>tells</b> <b>of</b> <b>in</b> <b>old</b> <b>tales</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>better</b> <b>land</b> <b>than</b> <b>this</b>. <b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>like</b> <b>being</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b> <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>holiday</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>time</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>understand</b> <b>me</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>, <b>then</b> <b>we</b>'<b>d</b> <b>best</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b> <b>over</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>job</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>never</b> <b>started</b> <b>as</b> <b>takes</b> <b>longest</b> <b>to</b> <b>finish</b>, <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>old</b> <b>gaffer</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>reckon</b> <b>that</b> <b>these</b> <b>folk</b> <b>can</b> <b>do</b> <b>much</b> <b>more</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>us</b>, <b>magic</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>. <b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>when</b> <b>we</b> <b>leave</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>miss</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>worse</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>thinking</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>only</b> <b>too</b> <b>true</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>very</b> <b>much</b> <b>that</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>leave</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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<b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>she</b> <b>came</b> <b>in</b> <b>answer</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>words</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>approaching</b>. <b>Tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b> <b>she</b> <b>walked</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>She</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b>, <b>but</b> <b>beckoned</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<b>Turning</b> <b>aside</b>, <b>she</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>toward</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>Caras</b> <b>Galadhon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passing</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>green</b> <b>hedge</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>an</b> <b>enclosed</b> <b>garden</b>. <b>No</b> <b>trees</b> <b>grew</b> <b>there</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>lay</b> <b>open</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>The</b> <b>evening</b> <b>star</b> <b>had</b> <b>risen</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>shining</b> <b>with</b> <b>white</b> <b>fire</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>woods</b>. <b>Down</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>flight</b> <b>of</b> <b>steps</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>went</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>green</b> <b>hollow</b>, <b>through</b> <b>which</b> <b>ran</b> <b>murmuring</b> <b>the</b> <b>silver</b> <b>stream</b> <b>that</b> <b>issued</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>fountain</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>bottom</b>, <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>pedestal</b> <b>carved</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>branching</b> <b>tree</b>, <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>basin</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b>. <b>wide</b> <b>and</b> <b>shallow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beside</b> <b>it</b> <b>stood</b> <b>a</b> <b>silver</b> <b>ewer</b>.<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>water</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>filled</b> <b>the</b> <b>basin</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>brim</b>, <b>and</b> <b>breathed</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>again</b> <b>she</b> <b>spoke</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>of</b> <b>Galadriel</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>here</b> <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>look</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>still</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>dell</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>lady</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b> <b>was</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>pale</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>look</b> <b>for</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>see</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>awe</b>.<br>
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“<b>Many</b> <b>things</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>command</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>to</b> <b>reveal</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>answered</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>some</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>show</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>will</b> <b>also</b> <b>show</b> <b>things</b> <b>unbidden</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>are</b> <b>often</b> <b>stranger</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>profitable</b> <b>than</b> <b>things</b> <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>behold</b>. <b>What</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>see</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>free</b> <b>to</b> <b>work</b>, <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>For</b> <b>it</b> <b>shows</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b>, <b>and</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b>, <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>yet</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>. <b>But</b> <b>which</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>sees</b>, <b>even</b> <b>the</b> <b>wisest</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>always</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b>?”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>you</b>? “<b>she</b> <b>said</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>this</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>your</b> <b>folk</b> <b>would</b> <b>call</b> <b>magic</b>. <b>I</b> <b>believe</b>; <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>mean</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>seem</b> <b>also</b> <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deceits</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>, <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>magic</b> <b>of</b> <b>Galadriel</b>. <b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>magic</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>did</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>trembling</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>between</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>curiosity</b>. “<b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>peep</b>, <b>Lady</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b>'<b>re</b> <b>willing</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>not</b> <b>mind</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b>'<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b> <b>at</b> <b>home</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>aside</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>seems</b> <b>a</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>been</b> <b>away</b>. <b>But</b> <b>there</b>, <b>like</b> <b>as</b> <b>not</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>only</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>or</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>understand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Like</b> <b>as</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>laugh</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>come</b>, <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>look</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>touch</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>!”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>pedestal</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>basin</b>. <b>The</b> <b>water</b> <b>looked</b> <b>hard</b> <b>and</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>Stars</b> <b>were</b> <b>reflected</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>only</b> <b>stars</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>gasp</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b>. <b>As</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>veil</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>withdrawn</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>grew</b> <b>grey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>sun</b> <b>shining</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>waving</b> <b>and</b> <b>tossing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>before</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>faded</b>; <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>he</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>face</b> <b>lying</b> <b>fast</b> <b>asleep</b> <b>under</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>dark</b> <b>cliff</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>himself</b> <b>going</b> <b>along</b> <b>a</b> <b>dim</b> <b>passage</b>, <b>and</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>an</b> <b>endless</b> <b>winding</b> <b>stair</b>. <b>It</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>urgently</b> <b>for</b> <b>something</b>, <b>but</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>. <b>Like</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b> <b>the</b> <b>vision</b> <b>shifted</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>again</b>. <b>But</b> <b>this</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>close</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>going</b> <b>on</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>waving</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>falling</b>, <b>crashing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hi</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>in</b> <b>an</b> <b>outraged</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b> <b>Ted</b> <b>Sandyman</b> <b>a</b>-<b>cutting</b> <b>down</b> <b>trees</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>shouldn</b>'<b>t</b>. <b>They</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>felled</b>: <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>that</b> <b>avenue</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mill</b> <b>that</b> <b>shades</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>to</b> <b>Bywater</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>get</b> <b>at</b> <b>Ted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>d</b> <b>fell</b> <b>him</b>!”<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>noticed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Old</b> <b>Mill</b> <b>had</b> <b>vanished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>large</b> <b>red</b>-<b>brick</b> <b>building</b> <b>was</b> <b>being</b> <b>put</b> <b>up</b> <b>where</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>stood</b>. <b>Lots</b> <b>of</b> <b>folk</b> <b>were</b> <b>busily</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>red</b> <b>chimney</b> <b>nearby</b>. <b>Black</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>the</b> <b>surface</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b>.<br>
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“<b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>some</b> <b>devilry</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Elrond</b> <b>knew</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>about</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>wanted</b> <b>to</b> <b>send</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>back</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>and</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>away</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>wildly</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>home</b>. <b>They</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>dug</b> <b>up</b> <b>Bagshot</b> <b>Row</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b>'<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>gaffer</b> <b>going</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>bits</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>barrow</b>. <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>home</b>!”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>go</b> <b>home</b> <b>alone</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>home</b> <b>without</b> <b>your</b> <b>master</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>looked</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>you</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>evil</b> <b>things</b> <b>might</b> <b>well</b> <b>be</b> <b>happening</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b>. <b>Remember</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>shows</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>have</b> <b>yet</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>never</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>behold</b> <b>the</b> <b>visions</b> <b>turn</b> <b>aside</b> <b>from</b> <b>their</b> <b>path</b> <b>to</b> <b>prevent</b> <b>them</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>is</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>guide</b> <b>of</b> <b>deeds</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>come</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>magic</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b> <b>thickly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>struggling</b> <b>with</b> <b>tears</b>. “<b>No</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>go</b> <b>home</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b> <b>with</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>or</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>hope</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>get</b> <b>back</b> <b>some</b> <b>day</b>. <b>If</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>seen</b> <b>turns</b> <b>out</b> <b>true</b>, <b>somebody</b>'<b>s</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>catch</b> <b>it</b> <b>hot</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>now</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b>, <b>Frodo</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>Elf</b>-<b>magic</b> <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>content</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>advise</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>you</b> <b>one</b> <b>way</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>counsellor</b>. <b>You</b> <b>may</b> <b>learn</b> <b>something</b>, <b>and</b> <b>whether</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>be</b> <b>fair</b> <b>or</b> <b>evil</b>, <b>that</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>profitable</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>not</b>. <b>Seeing</b> <b>is</b> <b>both</b> <b>good</b> <b>and</b> <b>perilous</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>courage</b> <b>and</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>venture</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>brought</b> <b>you</b> <b>here</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>!”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>look</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>pedestal</b> <b>and</b> <b>bent</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>water</b>. <b>At</b> <b>once</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>twilit</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Mountains</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>dark</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>against</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>A</b> <b>long</b> <b>grey</b> <b>road</b> <b>wound</b> <b>back</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>away</b> <b>a</b> <b>figure</b> <b>came</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>faint</b> <b>and</b> <b>small</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>, <b>but</b> <b>growing</b> <b>larger</b> <b>and</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>approached</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>realized</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>reminded</b> <b>him</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>. <b>He</b> <b>almost</b> <b>called</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>the</b> <b>wizard</b>'<b>s</b> <b>name</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>figure</b> <b>was</b> <b>clothed</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>grey</b> <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b>, <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>that</b> <b>shone</b> <b>faintly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>its</b> <b>hand</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>staff</b>. <b>The</b> <b>head</b> <b>was</b> <b>so</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>face</b>, <b>and</b> <b>presently</b> <b>the</b> <b>figure</b> <b>turned</b> <b>aside</b> <b>round</b> <b>a</b> <b>bend</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b>'<b>s</b> <b>view</b>. <b>Doubt</b> <b>came</b> <b>into</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>mind</b>: <b>was</b> <b>this</b> <b>a</b> <b>vision</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>on</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>many</b> <b>lonely</b> <b>journeys</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>or</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b> <b>Saruman</b>?<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>vision</b> <b>now</b> <b>changed</b>. <b>Brief</b> <b>and</b> <b>small</b> <b>but</b> <b>very</b> <b>vivid</b> <b>he</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>walking</b> <b>restlessly</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>room</b>. <b>The</b> <b>table</b> <b>was</b> <b>littered</b> <b>with</b> <b>disordered</b> <b>papers</b>; <b>rain</b> <b>was</b> <b>beating</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>windows</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>pause</b>, <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>it</b> <b>many</b> <b>swift</b> <b>scenes</b> <b>followed</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>knew</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>parts</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>history</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>involved</b>. <b>The</b> <b>mist</b> <b>cleared</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>sight</b> <b>which</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>before</b> <b>but</b> <b>knew</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>Darkness</b> <b>fell</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sea</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>raged</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>storm</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>, <b>sinking</b> <b>blood</b>-<b>red</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>wrack</b> <b>of</b> <b>clouds</b>, <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>outline</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>ship</b> <b>with</b> <b>torn</b> <b>sails</b> <b>riding</b> <b>up</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>river</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>populous</b> <b>city</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>fortress</b> <b>with</b> <b>seven</b> <b>towers</b>. <b>And</b> <b>then</b> <b>again</b> <b>a</b> <b>ship</b> <b>with</b> <b>black</b> <b>sails</b>, <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>morning</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>rippled</b> <b>with</b> <b>light</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>banner</b> <b>bearing</b> <b>the</b> <b>emblem</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>tree</b> <b>shone</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>. <b>A</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>as</b> <b>of</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>battle</b> <b>arose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>went</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>burning</b> <b>red</b> <b>that</b> <b>faded</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>mist</b>; <b>and</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>ship</b> <b>passed</b> <b>away</b>, <b>twinkling</b> <b>with</b> <b>lights</b>. <b>It</b> <b>vanished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sighed</b> <b>and</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>to</b> <b>draw</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>went</b> <b>altogether</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>as</b> <b>dark</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>a</b> <b>hole</b> <b>had</b> <b>opened</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>into</b> <b>emptiness</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>abyss</b> <b>there</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>Eye</b> <b>that</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>grew</b>. <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>filled</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mirror</b>. <b>So</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>stood</b> <b>rooted</b>, <b>unable</b> <b>to</b> <b>cry</b> <b>out</b> <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>withdraw</b> <b>his</b> <b>gaze</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Eye</b> <b>was</b> <b>rimmed</b> <b>with</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>but</b> <b>was</b> <b>itself</b> <b>glazed</b>, <b>yellow</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>cat</b>'<b>s</b>, <b>watchful</b> <b>and</b> <b>intent</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>slit</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>pupil</b> <b>opened</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>pit</b>, <b>a</b> <b>window</b> <b>into</b> <b>nothing</b>.<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eye</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>rove</b>, <b>searching</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>knew</b> <b>with</b> <b>certainty</b> <b>and</b> <b>horror</b> <b>that</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>many</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>sought</b> <b>he</b> <b>himself</b> <b>was</b> <b>one</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>also</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>him</b>-<b>not</b> <b>yet</b>, <b>not</b> <b>unless</b> <b>he</b> <b>willed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>hung</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>chain</b> <b>about</b> <b>his</b> <b>neck</b> <b>grew</b> <b>heavy</b>, <b>heavier</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>was</b> <b>dragged</b> <b>downwards</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Mirror</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>growing</b> <b>hot</b> <b>and</b> <b>curls</b> <b>of</b> <b>steam</b> <b>were</b> <b>rising</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>forward</b>.<br>
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“<b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>touch</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>softly</b>. <b>The</b> <b>vision</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>cool</b> <b>stars</b> <b>twinkling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>silver</b> <b>basin</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>back</b> <b>shaking</b> <b>all</b> <b>over</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>last</b> <b>saw</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>also</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>afraid</b>! <b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>only</b> <b>by</b> <b>singing</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>even</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>slender</b> <b>arrows</b> <b>of</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>bows</b>, <b>is</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>maintained</b> <b>and</b> <b>defended</b> <b>against</b> <b>its</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>speak</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>I</b> <b>perceive</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>know</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>or</b> <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>that</b> <b>concerns</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>gropes</b> <b>ever</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>my</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>But</b> <b>still</b> <b>the</b> <b>door</b> <b>is</b> <b>closed</b>!”<br>
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<b>She</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>her</b> <b>white</b> <b>arms</b>, <b>and</b> <b>spread</b> <b>out</b> <b>her</b> <b>hands</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>gesture</b> <b>of</b> <b>rejection</b> <b>and</b> <b>denial</b>. <b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Evening</b> <b>Star</b>, <b>most</b> <b>beloved</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>, <b>shone</b> <b>clear</b> <b>above</b>. <b>So</b> <b>bright</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>figure</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>lady</b> <b>cast</b> <b>a</b> <b>dim</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>rays</b> <b>glanced</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>ring</b> <b>about</b> <b>her</b> <b>finger</b>; <b>it</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>like</b> <b>polished</b> <b>gold</b> <b>overlaid</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b> <b>light</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>stone</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>twinkled</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Even</b>-<b>star</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>rest</b> <b>upon</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>with</b> <b>awe</b>; <b>for</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>understood</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, <b>divining</b> <b>his</b> <b>thought</b>, “<b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>who</b> <b>has</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eye</b>. <b>Verily</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>finger</b> <b>of</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>that</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Three</b> <b>remains</b>. <b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>Nenya</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Adamant</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>its</b> <b>keeper</b>.<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>suspects</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>—<b>not</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>now</b> <b>wherefore</b> <b>your</b> <b>coming</b> <b>is</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>footstep</b> <b>of</b> <b>Doom</b>? <b>For</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>fail</b>, <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>laid</b> <b>bare</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>succeed</b>, <b>then</b> <b>our</b> <b>power</b> <b>is</b> <b>diminished</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>will</b> <b>fade</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tides</b> <b>of</b> <b>Time</b> <b>will</b> <b>sweep</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>depart</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>, <b>or</b> <b>dwindle</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>rustic</b> <b>folk</b> <b>of</b> <b>dell</b> <b>and</b> <b>cave</b>, <b>slowly</b> <b>to</b> <b>forget</b> <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>forgotten</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>bent</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>what</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>love</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>land</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>works</b> <b>is</b> <b>deeper</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeps</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>regret</b> <b>is</b> <b>undying</b> <b>and</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>ever</b> <b>wholly</b> <b>be</b> <b>assuaged</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>cast</b> <b>all</b> <b>away</b> <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>submit</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sauron</b>: <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>know</b> <b>him</b> <b>now</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>fate</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>answerable</b> <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>doing</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>task</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>wish</b>, <b>were</b> <b>it</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>avail</b>, <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>been</b> <b>wrought</b>, <b>or</b> <b>had</b> <b>remained</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b> <b>lost</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>wise</b> <b>and</b> <b>fearless</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>ask</b> <b>for</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>great</b> <b>a</b> <b>matter</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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<b>Galadriel</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>clear</b> <b>laugh</b>. “<b>Wise</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>yet</b> <b>here</b> <b>she</b> <b>has</b> <b>met</b> <b>her</b> <b>match</b> <b>in</b> <b>courtesy</b>. <b>Gently</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>revenged</b> <b>for</b> <b>my</b> <b>testing</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b> <b>at</b> <b>our</b> <b>first</b> <b>meeting</b>. <b>You</b> <b>begin</b> <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>keen</b> <b>eye</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>deny</b> <b>that</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>has</b> <b>greatly</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>offer</b>. <b>For</b> <b>many</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>pondered</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>do</b>, <b>should</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>come</b> <b>into</b> <b>my</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behold</b>! <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>brought</b> <b>within</b> <b>my</b> <b>grasp</b>. <b>The</b> <b>evil</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>devised</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>works</b> <b>on</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>ways</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>himself</b> <b>stands</b> <b>or</b> <b>falls</b>. <b>Would</b> <b>not</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>noble</b> <b>deed</b> <b>to</b> <b>set</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>credit</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>taken</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>force</b> <b>or</b> <b>fear</b> <b>from</b> <b>my</b> <b>guest</b>?<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>now</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>it</b> <b>comes</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>freely</b>! <b>In</b> <b>place</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>set</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>Queen</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>but</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>and</b> <b>terrible</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Morning</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Night</b>! <b>Fair</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Snow</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b>! <b>Dreadful</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Storm</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lightning</b>! <b>Stronger</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>foundations</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>All</b> <b>shall</b> <b>love</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>despair</b>!”<br>
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<b>She</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>up</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>wore</b> <b>there</b> <b>issued</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>light</b> <b>that</b> <b>illuminated</b> <b>her</b> <b>alone</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>She</b> <b>stood</b> <b>before</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>seeming</b> <b>now</b> <b>tall</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>measurement</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beautiful</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>enduring</b>, <b>terrible</b> <b>and</b> <b>worshipful</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>she</b> <b>let</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>she</b> <b>laughed</b> <b>again</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lo</b>! <b>she</b> <b>was</b> <b>shrunken</b>: <b>a</b> <b>slender</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>woman</b>, <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>simple</b> <b>white</b>, <b>whose</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>voice</b> <b>was</b> <b>soft</b> <b>and</b> <b>sad</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>test</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>diminish</b>, <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>and</b> <b>remain</b> <b>Galadriel</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>while</b> <b>in</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>return</b>! “<b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>depart</b> <b>for</b> <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>chosen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>tides</b> <b>of</b> <b>fate</b> <b>are</b> <b>flowing</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>ask</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>go</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>which</b> <b>I</b> <b>often</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>to</b> <b>wear</b> <b>the</b> <b>One</b> <b>Ring</b>: <b>why</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>and</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>wear</b> <b>them</b>?”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>tried</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Only</b> <b>thrice</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>set</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>upon</b> <b>your</b> <b>finger</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>knew</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>possessed</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>try</b>! <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Did</b> <b>not</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>rings</b> <b>give</b> <b>power</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>measure</b> <b>of</b> <b>each</b> <b>possessor</b>? <b>Before</b> <b>you</b> <b>could</b> <b>use</b> <b>that</b> <b>power</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>become</b> <b>far</b> <b>stronger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>train</b> <b>your</b> <b>will</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>domination</b> <b>of</b> <b>others</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>even</b> <b>so</b>, <b>as</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b> <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>borne</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>finger</b> <b>and</b> <b>seen</b> <b>that</b> <b>which</b> <b>is</b> <b>hidden</b>, <b>your</b> <b>sight</b> <b>is</b> <b>grown</b> <b>keener</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>perceived</b> <b>my</b> <b>thought</b> <b>more</b> <b>clearly</b> <b>than</b> <b>many</b> <b>that</b> <b>are</b> <b>accounted</b> <b>wise</b>. <b>You</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eye</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>holds</b> <b>the</b> <b>Seven</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nine</b>. <b>And</b> <b>did</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>and</b> <b>recognize</b> <b>the</b> <b>ring</b> <b>upon</b> <b>my</b> <b>finger</b>? <b>Did</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>my</b> <b>ring</b>? “<b>she</b> <b>asked</b> <b>turning</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>Lady</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>To</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>the</b> <b>truth</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wondered</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>were</b> <b>talking</b> <b>about</b>. <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>star</b> <b>through</b> <b>your</b> <b>finger</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>pardon</b> <b>my</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>out</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>my</b> <b>master</b> <b>was</b> <b>right</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b>'<b>d</b> <b>take</b> <b>his</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>You</b>'<b>d</b> <b>put</b> <b>things</b> <b>to</b> <b>rights</b>. <b>You</b>'<b>d</b> <b>stop</b> <b>them</b> <b>digging</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>gaffer</b> <b>and</b> <b>turning</b> <b>him</b> <b>adrift</b>. <b>You</b>'<b>d</b> <b>make</b> <b>some</b> <b>folk</b> <b>pay</b> <b>for</b> <b>their</b> <b>dirty</b> <b>work</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>would</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>how</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>begin</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>stop</b> <b>with</b> <b>that</b>, <b>alas</b>! <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>speak</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>go</b>!”<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 8<br>
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<b>FAREWELL</b> <b>TO</b> <b>L</b>?<b>RIEN</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>night</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>again</b> <b>summoned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>chamber</b> <b>of</b> <b>Celeborn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>greeted</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>fair</b> <b>words</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>departure</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>when</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>continue</b> <b>the</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>must</b> <b>harden</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Those</b> <b>who</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b> <b>may</b> <b>remain</b> <b>here</b>, <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>But</b> <b>whether</b> <b>they</b> <b>stay</b> <b>or</b> <b>go</b>, <b>none</b> <b>can</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>of</b> <b>peace</b>. <b>For</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>come</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>doom</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>wish</b> <b>may</b> <b>await</b> <b>the</b> <b>oncoming</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hour</b> <b>till</b> <b>either</b> <b>the</b> <b>ways</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>lie</b> <b>open</b> <b>again</b>. <b>or</b> <b>we</b> <b>summon</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>need</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>own</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>or</b> <b>else</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>home</b> <b>of</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>fall</b> <b>in</b> <b>battle</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>resolved</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>looking</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>, “<b>my</b> <b>way</b> <b>home</b> <b>lies</b> <b>onward</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>back</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>true</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>is</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>Company</b> <b>going</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>?”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>decided</b> <b>our</b> <b>course</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Beyond</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>intended</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>. <b>Indeed</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>even</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>any</b> <b>clear</b> <b>purpose</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>, “<b>yet</b> <b>when</b> <b>you</b> <b>leave</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>, <b>you</b> <b>can</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>forget</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>. <b>As</b> <b>some</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>well</b>, <b>it</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>by</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>with</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>between</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gondor</b>, <b>save</b> <b>by</b> <b>boat</b>. <b>And</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>bridges</b> <b>of</b> <b>Osgiliath</b> <b>broken</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>landings</b> <b>held</b> <b>now</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>?<br>
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“<b>On</b> <b>which</b> <b>side</b> <b>will</b> <b>you</b> <b>journey</b>? <b>The</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>lies</b> <b>upon</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b>, <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>straight</b> <b>road</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>lies</b> <b>east</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>darker</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>Which</b> <b>shore</b> <b>will</b> <b>you</b> <b>now</b> <b>take</b>?”<br>
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“<b>If</b> <b>my</b> <b>advice</b> <b>is</b> <b>heeded</b>, <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>leader</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.” <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>said</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>looked</b> <b>doubtful</b> <b>and</b> <b>troubled</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>my</b> <b>part</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>may</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>some</b> <b>among</b> <b>you</b> <b>who</b> <b>can</b> <b>handle</b> <b>boats</b>: <b>Legolas</b>, <b>whose</b> <b>folk</b> <b>know</b> <b>the</b> <b>swift</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>River</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>the</b> <b>traveller</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>one</b> <b>Hobbit</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>all</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>look</b> <b>on</b> <b>boats</b> <b>as</b> <b>wild</b> <b>horses</b>. <b>My</b> <b>people</b> <b>live</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brandywine</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>furnish</b> <b>your</b> <b>Company</b> <b>with</b> <b>boats</b>. <b>They</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>light</b>, <b>for</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>far</b> <b>by</b> <b>water</b>, <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>places</b> <b>where</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>forced</b> <b>to</b> <b>carry</b> <b>them</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>rapids</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>falls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>thunders</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>Nen</b> <b>Hithoel</b>; <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>other</b> <b>perils</b>. <b>Boats</b> <b>may</b> <b>make</b> <b>your</b> <b>journey</b> <b>less</b> <b>toilsome</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>counsel</b>: <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>leave</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turn</b> <b>west</b>-<b>or</b> <b>east</b>.”<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>thanked</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b>. <b>The</b> <b>gift</b> <b>of</b> <b>boats</b> <b>comforted</b> <b>him</b> <b>much</b>, <b>not</b> <b>least</b> <b>because</b> <b>there</b> <b>would</b> <b>now</b> <b>be</b> <b>no</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>decide</b> <b>his</b> <b>course</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>days</b>. <b>The</b> <b>others</b>, <b>too</b>, <b>looked</b> <b>more</b> <b>hopeful</b>. <b>Whatever</b> <b>perils</b> <b>lay</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>better</b> <b>to</b> <b>float</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>broad</b> <b>tide</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>them</b> <b>than</b> <b>to</b> <b>plod</b> <b>forward</b> <b>with</b> <b>bent</b> <b>backs</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>doubtful</b>: <b>he</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>rate</b> <b>still</b> <b>thought</b> <b>boats</b> <b>as</b> <b>bad</b> <b>as</b> <b>wild</b> <b>horses</b>, <b>or</b> <b>worse</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>dangers</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>survived</b> <b>made</b> <b>him</b> <b>think</b> <b>better</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>await</b> <b>you</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>haven</b> <b>before</b> <b>noon</b> <b>tomorrow</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>send</b> <b>my</b> <b>people</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b> <b>make</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>wish</b> <b>you</b> <b>all</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>night</b> <b>and</b> <b>untroubled</b> <b>sleep</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Good</b> <b>night</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friends</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Galadriel</b>. “<b>Sleep</b> <b>in</b> <b>peace</b>! <b>Do</b> <b>not</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>your</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>overmuch</b> <b>with</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>tonight</b>. <b>Maybe</b> <b>the</b> <b>paths</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>each</b> <b>shall</b> <b>tread</b> <b>are</b> <b>already</b> <b>laid</b> <b>before</b> <b>your</b> <b>feet</b>, <b>though</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Good</b> <b>night</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>now</b> <b>took</b> <b>their</b> <b>leave</b> <b>and</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>pavilion</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>went</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>, <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>their</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>spite</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b> <b>of</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>they</b> <b>wished</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>together</b>.<br>
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<b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>debated</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>do</b>, <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>best</b> <b>to</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>the</b> <b>fulfilling</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>purpose</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>: <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>no</b> <b>decision</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>them</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>first</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>terror</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>They</b> <b>would</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>a</b> <b>leader</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>and</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>no</b> <b>word</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>divided</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>.<br>
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<b>His</b> <b>own</b> <b>plan</b>, <b>while</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>remained</b> <b>with</b> <b>them</b>, <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>help</b> <b>to</b> <b>deliver</b> <b>Gondor</b>. <b>For</b> <b>he</b> <b>believed</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>message</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>dreams</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>summons</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>hour</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b> <b>should</b> <b>come</b> <b>forth</b> <b>and</b> <b>strive</b> <b>with</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>mastery</b>. <b>But</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>the</b> <b>burden</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>now</b> <b>forsake</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>if</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>refused</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>Boromir</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yet</b> <b>what</b> <b>help</b> <b>could</b> <b>he</b> <b>or</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>give</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>save</b> <b>to</b> <b>walk</b> <b>blindly</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>?<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>alone</b> <b>if</b> <b>need</b> <b>be</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>my</b> <b>duty</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>; <b>and</b> <b>after</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>fixed</b> <b>on</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>read</b> <b>the</b> <b>Halfling</b>'<b>s</b> <b>thoughts</b>. <b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>, <b>softly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>debating</b> <b>with</b> <b>himself</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>only</b> <b>to</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>then</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>little</b> <b>use</b> <b>in</b> <b>war</b> <b>and</b> <b>weapons</b>; <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>help</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>the</b> <b>armed</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>, <b>then</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>folly</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>without</b> <b>force</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>domain</b>; <b>and</b> <b>folly</b> <b>to</b> <b>throw</b> <b>away</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>paused</b> <b>suddenly</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>aware</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>speaking</b> <b>his</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>aloud</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>folly</b> <b>to</b> <b>throw</b> <b>lives</b> <b>away</b>, <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>ended</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>choice</b> <b>between</b> <b>defending</b> <b>a</b> <b>strong</b> <b>place</b> <b>and</b> <b>walking</b> <b>openly</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>arms</b> <b>of</b> <b>death</b>. <b>At</b> <b>least</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>how</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>caught</b> <b>something</b> <b>new</b> <b>and</b> <b>strange</b> <b>in</b> <b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>glance</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>hard</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Plainly</b> <b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>thought</b> <b>was</b> <b>different</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>final</b> <b>words</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>folly</b> <b>to</b> <b>throw</b> <b>away</b>: <b>what</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Power</b>? <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>said</b> <b>something</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>, <b>but</b> <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>accepted</b> <b>the</b> <b>correction</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>thought</b> <b>and</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>heeded</b> <b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>words</b>. <b>And</b> <b>so</b> <b>their</b> <b>debate</b> <b>ended</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>asleep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>nodding</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>growing</b> <b>old</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>beginning</b> <b>to</b> <b>pack</b> <b>their</b> <b>slender</b> <b>goods</b>, <b>Elves</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>speak</b> <b>their</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>and</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>many</b> <b>gifts</b> <b>of</b> <b>food</b> <b>and</b> <b>clothing</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>The</b> <b>food</b> <b>was</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>form</b> <b>of</b> <b>very</b> <b>thin</b> <b>cakes</b>, <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>meal</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>baked</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>brown</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>inside</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>colour</b> <b>of</b> <b>cream</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cakes</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>doubtful</b> <b>eye</b>.<br>
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“<b>Cram</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>breath</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>broke</b> <b>off</b> <b>a</b> <b>crisp</b> <b>corner</b> <b>and</b> <b>nibbled</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b>. <b>His</b> <b>expression</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>changed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>ate</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>rest</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>cake</b> <b>with</b> <b>relish</b>.<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>more</b>, <b>no</b> <b>more</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>laughing</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>enough</b> <b>already</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>day</b>'<b>s</b> <b>march</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>kind</b> <b>of</b> <b>cram</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dale</b>-<b>men</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>journeys</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wild</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b> <b>it</b> <b>lembas</b> <b>or</b> <b>waybread</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>strengthening</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>food</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>than</b> <b>cram</b>, <b>by</b> <b>all</b> <b>accounts</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>better</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>honey</b>-<b>cakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Beornings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>great</b> <b>praise</b>, <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Beornings</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>best</b> <b>bakers</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>of</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>none</b> <b>too</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>deal</b> <b>out</b> <b>their</b> <b>cakes</b> <b>to</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>days</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>hosts</b>!”<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b>, <b>we</b> <b>bid</b> <b>you</b> <b>spare</b> <b>the</b> <b>food</b>,” <b>they</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Eat</b> <b>little</b> <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b>, <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b>. <b>For</b> <b>these</b> <b>things</b> <b>are</b> <b>given</b> <b>to</b> <b>serve</b> <b>you</b> <b>when</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>fails</b>. <b>The</b> <b>cakes</b> <b>will</b> <b>keep</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>for</b> <b>many</b> <b>many</b> <b>days</b>, <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>unbroken</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>leaf</b>-<b>wrappings</b>, <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b>. <b>One</b> <b>will</b> <b>keep</b> <b>a</b> <b>traveller</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>day</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>labour</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>be</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>next</b> <b>unwrapped</b> <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>to</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>the</b> <b>clothes</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b>. <b>For</b> <b>each</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>provided</b> <b>a</b> <b>hood</b> <b>and</b> <b>cloak</b>, <b>made</b> <b>according</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>size</b>, <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>but</b> <b>warm</b> <b>silken</b> <b>stuff</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>wove</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>colour</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b>: <b>grey</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>hue</b> <b>of</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>; <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>moved</b>, <b>or</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>another</b> <b>light</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>green</b> <b>as</b> <b>shadowed</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>or</b> <b>brown</b> <b>as</b> <b>fallow</b> <b>fields</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>, <b>dusk</b>-<b>silver</b> <b>as</b> <b>water</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>cloak</b> <b>was</b> <b>fastened</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>neck</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>brooch</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>leaf</b> <b>veined</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b>.<br>
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“<b>Are</b> <b>these</b> <b>magic</b> <b>cloaks</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>wonder</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b> <b>by</b> <b>that</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>the</b> <b>leader</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. “<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>fair</b> <b>garments</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>web</b> <b>is</b> <b>good</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>. <b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>robes</b> <b>certainly</b>, <b>if</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>mean</b>. <b>Leaf</b> <b>and</b> <b>branch</b>, <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>stone</b>: <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>hue</b> <b>and</b> <b>beauty</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>things</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>twilight</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>love</b>; <b>for</b> <b>we</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>love</b> <b>into</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>make</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>garments</b>, <b>not</b> <b>armour</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>turn</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>or</b> <b>blade</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>serve</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b>: <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>light</b> <b>to</b> <b>wear</b>, <b>and</b> <b>warm</b> <b>enough</b> <b>or</b> <b>cool</b> <b>enough</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>aid</b> <b>in</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>whether</b> <b>you</b> <b>walk</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>stones</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>high</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>favour</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b>! <b>For</b> <b>she</b> <b>herself</b> <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>maidens</b> <b>wove</b> <b>this</b> <b>stuff</b>; <b>and</b> <b>never</b> <b>before</b> <b>have</b> <b>we</b> <b>clad</b> <b>strangers</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>garb</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>people</b>.”<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>their</b> <b>morning</b> <b>meal</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>said</b> <b>farewell</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>fountain</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>were</b> <b>heavy</b>; <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>place</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>like</b> <b>home</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>, <b>though</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>and</b> <b>nights</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>there</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>looking</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b>, <b>Haldir</b> <b>came</b> <b>walking</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>grass</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>glade</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>greeted</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>delight</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>returned</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>Fences</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sent</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>your</b> <b>guide</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Dimrill</b> <b>Dale</b> <b>is</b> <b>full</b> <b>of</b> <b>vapour</b> <b>and</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>of</b> <b>smoke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b> <b>are</b> <b>troubled</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>noises</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeps</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b>. <b>If</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>returning</b> <b>northwards</b> <b>to</b> <b>your</b> <b>homes</b>, <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>. <b>But</b> <b>come</b>! <b>Your</b> <b>path</b> <b>now</b> <b>goes</b> <b>south</b>.”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>walked</b> <b>through</b> <b>Caras</b> <b>Galadhon</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>ways</b> <b>were</b> <b>empty</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>many</b> <b>voices</b> <b>were</b> <b>murmuring</b> <b>and</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>They</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>went</b> <b>silently</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>Haldir</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>southward</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>again</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>gate</b> <b>hung</b> <b>with</b> <b>lamps</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>bridge</b>; <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>city</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>paved</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>went</b> <b>off</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>thicket</b> <b>of</b> <b>mallorn</b>-<b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>on</b>, <b>winding</b> <b>through</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>woodlands</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>shadow</b>, <b>leading</b> <b>them</b> <b>ever</b> <b>down</b>, <b>southwards</b> <b>and</b> <b>eastwards</b>, <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>gone</b> <b>some</b> <b>ten</b> <b>miles</b> <b>and</b> <b>noon</b> <b>was</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>green</b> <b>wall</b>. <b>Passing</b> <b>through</b> <b>an</b> <b>opening</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>them</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>of</b> <b>shining</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>studded</b> <b>with</b> <b>golden</b> <b>elanor</b> <b>that</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>. <b>The</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>ran</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>between</b> <b>bright</b> <b>margins</b>: <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>west</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>glittering</b>; <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>and</b> <b>east</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>its</b> <b>broad</b> <b>waters</b>, <b>deep</b> <b>and</b> <b>dark</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>shores</b> <b>the</b> <b>woodlands</b> <b>still</b> <b>marched</b> <b>on</b> <b>southwards</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>eye</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b>, <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>were</b> <b>bleak</b> <b>and</b> <b>bare</b>. <b>No</b> <b>mallorn</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>its</b> <b>gold</b>-<b>hung</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
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<b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b>, <b>at</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>meeting</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>streams</b>, <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>hythe</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>stones</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>wood</b>. <b>By</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>moored</b> <b>many</b> <b>boats</b> <b>and</b> <b>barges</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>were</b> <b>brightly</b> <b>painted</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shone</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b> <b>and</b> <b>gold</b> <b>and</b> <b>green</b>, <b>but</b> <b>most</b> <b>were</b> <b>either</b> <b>white</b> <b>or</b> <b>grey</b>. <b>Three</b> <b>small</b> <b>grey</b> <b>boats</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>made</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>stowed</b> <b>their</b> <b>goods</b>. <b>And</b> <b>they</b> <b>added</b> <b>also</b> <b>coils</b> <b>of</b> <b>rope</b>, <b>three</b> <b>to</b> <b>each</b> <b>boat</b>. <b>Slender</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>but</b> <b>strong</b>, <b>silken</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>touch</b>, <b>grey</b> <b>of</b> <b>hue</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>cloaks</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>are</b> <b>these</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>handling</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>greensward</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ropes</b> <b>indeed</b>! “<b>answered</b> <b>an</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>. “<b>Never</b> <b>travel</b> <b>far</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>rope</b>! <b>And</b> <b>one</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Such</b> <b>are</b> <b>these</b>. <b>They</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>help</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>needs</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>been</b> <b>worried</b> <b>ever</b> <b>since</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>what</b> <b>these</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b>, <b>knowing</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>about</b> <b>rope</b>-<b>making</b>: <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>family</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>.”<br>
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“<b>They</b> <b>are</b> <b>made</b> <b>of</b> <b>hithlain</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>instruct</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>art</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>making</b>. <b>Had</b> <b>we</b> <b>known</b> <b>that</b> <b>this</b> <b>craft</b> <b>delighted</b> <b>you</b>, <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>have</b> <b>taught</b> <b>you</b> <b>much</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>alas</b>! <b>unless</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>at</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>return</b> <b>hither</b>, <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>content</b> <b>with</b> <b>our</b> <b>gift</b>. <b>May</b> <b>it</b> <b>serve</b> <b>you</b> <b>well</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Come</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Haldir</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>ready</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Enter</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>! <b>But</b> <b>take</b> <b>care</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Heed</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>Elves</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>boats</b> <b>are</b> <b>light</b>-<b>built</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>crafty</b> <b>and</b> <b>unlike</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>folk</b>. <b>They</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>sink</b>, <b>lade</b> <b>them</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>; <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>wayward</b> <b>if</b> <b>mishandled</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>wise</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>accustomed</b> <b>yourselves</b> <b>to</b> <b>stepping</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b>, <b>here</b> <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>landing</b>-<b>place</b>, <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>set</b> <b>off</b> <b>downstream</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>arranged</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b>: <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>one</b> <b>boat</b>; <b>Boromir</b>, <b>Merry</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>in</b> <b>another</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>third</b> <b>were</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>now</b> <b>become</b> <b>fast</b> <b>friends</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>last</b> <b>boat</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>goods</b> <b>and</b> <b>packs</b> <b>were</b> <b>stowed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>boats</b> <b>were</b> <b>moved</b> <b>and</b> <b>steered</b> <b>with</b> <b>short</b>-<b>handled</b> <b>paddles</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>broad</b> <b>leaf</b>-<b>shaped</b> <b>blades</b>. <b>When</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>ready</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>trial</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b>. <b>The</b> <b>current</b> <b>was</b> <b>swift</b> <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>forward</b> <b>slowly</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>bows</b>, <b>clutching</b> <b>the</b> <b>sides</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>back</b> <b>wistfully</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>glittering</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>dazzled</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>field</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tongue</b>, <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>drew</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>'<b>s</b> <b>brink</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>golden</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>tossed</b> <b>and</b> <b>floated</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>bright</b> <b>and</b> <b>still</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>silence</b>, <b>except</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>distant</b> <b>song</b> <b>of</b> <b>larks</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>turned</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>bend</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b>, <b>sailing</b> <b>proudly</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>toward</b> <b>them</b>, <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>swan</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>size</b>. <b>The</b> <b>water</b> <b>rippled</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>breast</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>its</b> <b>curving</b> <b>neck</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>beak</b> <b>shone</b> <b>like</b> <b>burnished</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>like</b> <b>jet</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>stones</b>; <b>its</b> <b>huge</b> <b>white</b> <b>wings</b> <b>were</b> <b>half</b> <b>lifted</b>. <b>A</b> <b>music</b> <b>came</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>; <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>they</b> <b>perceived</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>ship</b>, <b>wrought</b> <b>and</b> <b>carved</b> <b>with</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>skill</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>likeness</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>bird</b>. <b>Two</b> <b>elves</b> <b>clad</b> <b>in</b> <b>white</b> <b>steered</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>black</b> <b>paddles</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>vessel</b> <b>sat</b> <b>Celeborn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b> <b>stood</b> <b>Galadriel</b>, <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>white</b>; <b>a</b> <b>circlet</b> <b>of</b> <b>golden</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>hair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b> <b>she</b> <b>held</b> <b>a</b> <b>harp</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>sang</b>. <b>Sad</b> <b>and</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>voice</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>cool</b> <b>clear</b> <b>air</b>:<br>
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<br>
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<b>I</b> <b>sang</b> <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>of</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b> <b>there</b> <b>grew</b>:<br>
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<b>Of</b> <b>wind</b> <b>I</b> <b>sang</b>, <b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>blew</b>.<br>
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<b>Beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>, <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b>, <b>the</b> <b>foam</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>,<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>strand</b> <b>of</b> <b>Ilmarin</b> <b>there</b> <b>grew</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>Tree</b>.<br>
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<b>Beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>of</b> <b>Ever</b>-<b>eve</b> <b>in</b> <b>Eldamar</b> <b>it</b> <b>shone</b>,<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>Eldamar</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elven</b> <b>Tirion</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>long</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>have</b> <b>grown</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>branching</b> <b>years</b>,<br>
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<b>While</b> <b>here</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sundering</b> <b>Seas</b> <b>now</b> <b>fall</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>tears</b>.<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>! <b>The</b> <b>Winter</b> <b>comes</b>, <b>the</b> <b>bare</b> <b>and</b> <b>leafless</b> <b>Day</b>;<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>are</b> <b>falling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>flows</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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<b>O</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>! <b>Too</b> <b>long</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>upon</b> <b>this</b> <b>Hither</b> <b>Shore</b><br>
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<b>And</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>fading</b> <b>crown</b> <b>have</b> <b>twined</b> <b>the</b> <b>golden</b> <b>elanor</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>of</b> <b>ships</b> <b>I</b> <b>now</b> <b>should</b> <b>sing</b>, <b>what</b> <b>ship</b> <b>would</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>,<br>
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<b>What</b> <b>ship</b> <b>would</b> <b>bear</b> <b>me</b> <b>ever</b> <b>back</b> <b>across</b> <b>so</b> <b>wide</b> <b>a</b> <b>Sea</b>?<br>
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<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>his</b> <b>boat</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Swan</b>-<b>ship</b> <b>drew</b> <b>alongside</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>ended</b> <b>her</b> <b>song</b> <b>and</b> <b>greeted</b> <b>them</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>bid</b> <b>you</b> <b>our</b> <b>last</b> <b>farewell</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>speed</b> <b>you</b> <b>with</b> <b>blessings</b> <b>from</b> <b>our</b> <b>land</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Though</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>our</b> <b>guests</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>bid</b> <b>you</b>, <b>therefore</b>, <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>parting</b> <b>feast</b>, <b>here</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>waters</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>bear</b> <b>you</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Swan</b> <b>passed</b> <b>on</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hythe</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>and</b> <b>followed</b> <b>it</b>. <b>There</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>Egladil</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>grass</b> <b>the</b> <b>parting</b> <b>feast</b> <b>was</b> <b>held</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>ate</b> <b>and</b> <b>drank</b> <b>little</b>, <b>heeding</b> <b>only</b> <b>the</b> <b>beauty</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>She</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>or</b> <b>terrible</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>power</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>she</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>by</b> <b>men</b> <b>of</b> <b>later</b> <b>days</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>still</b> <b>at</b> <b>times</b> <b>are</b> <b>seen</b>: <b>present</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>remote</b>, <b>a</b> <b>living</b> <b>vision</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>which</b> <b>has</b> <b>already</b> <b>been</b> <b>left</b> <b>far</b> <b>behind</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>streams</b> <b>of</b> <b>Time</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b> <b>and</b> <b>drunk</b>, <b>sitting</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>Celeborn</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>again</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lifting</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>he</b> <b>pointed</b> <b>south</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tongue</b>.<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>find</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>will</b> <b>fail</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>barren</b> <b>country</b>. <b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>flows</b> <b>in</b> <b>stony</b> <b>vale</b> <b>amid</b> <b>high</b> <b>moors</b>, <b>until</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>after</b> <b>many</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>it</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>island</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tindrock</b>, <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>call</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b>. <b>There</b> <b>it</b> <b>casts</b> <b>its</b> <b>arms</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>isle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>falls</b> <b>then</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>noise</b> <b>and</b> <b>smoke</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>cataracts</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Nindalf</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Wetwang</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>region</b> <b>of</b> <b>sluggish</b> <b>fen</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>becomes</b> <b>tortuous</b> <b>and</b> <b>much</b> <b>divided</b>. <b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>Entwash</b> <b>flows</b> <b>in</b> <b>by</b> <b>many</b> <b>mouths</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fangorn</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>. <b>About</b> <b>that</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>, <b>lies</b> <b>Rohan</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>further</b> <b>side</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>bleak</b> <b>hills</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>blows</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>there</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>look</b> <b>out</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dead</b> <b>Marshes</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Noman</b>-<b>lands</b> <b>to</b> <b>Cirith</b> <b>Gorgor</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>.<br>
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“<b>Boromir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>any</b> <b>that</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>seeking</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>above</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>and</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>Entwash</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>finds</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshes</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>too</b> <b>far</b> <b>up</b> <b>that</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>risk</b> <b>becoming</b> <b>entangled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Forest</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fangorn</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>little</b> <b>known</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>doubtless</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>need</b> <b>this</b> <b>warning</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Indeed</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>Fangorn</b> <b>in</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>part</b> <b>old</b> <b>wives</b>” <b>tales</b>, <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>tell</b> <b>to</b> <b>our</b> <b>children</b>. <b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>lies</b> <b>north</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>that</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>can</b> <b>wander</b> <b>freely</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>old</b> <b>Fangorn</b> <b>lay</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>realm</b>; <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>many</b> <b>lives</b> <b>of</b> <b>men</b> <b>since</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>visited</b> <b>it</b>, <b>to</b> <b>prove</b> <b>or</b> <b>disprove</b> <b>the</b> <b>legends</b> <b>that</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>distant</b> <b>years</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>myself</b> <b>been</b> <b>at</b> <b>whiles</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rohan</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>it</b> <b>northwards</b>. <b>When</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>sent</b> <b>out</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>messenger</b>, <b>I</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gap</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>skirts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>crossed</b> <b>the</b> <b>Isen</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greyflood</b> <b>into</b> <b>Northerland</b>. <b>A</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>wearisome</b> <b>journey</b>. <b>Four</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>leagues</b> <b>I</b> <b>reckoned</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>took</b> <b>me</b> <b>many</b> <b>months</b>; <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>lost</b> <b>my</b> <b>horse</b> <b>at</b> <b>Tharbad</b>, <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>fording</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Greyflood</b>. <b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>trodden</b> <b>with</b> <b>this</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>way</b> <b>through</b> <b>Rohan</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Fangorn</b> <b>too</b>, <b>if</b> <b>need</b> <b>be</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>despise</b> <b>the</b> <b>lore</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>distant</b> <b>years</b>; <b>for</b> <b>oft</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>chance</b> <b>that</b> <b>old</b> <b>wives</b> <b>keep</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b> <b>word</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>that</b> <b>once</b> <b>were</b> <b>needful</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>wise</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b>.”<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>rose</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>taking</b> <b>a</b> <b>cup</b> <b>from</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>maidens</b> <b>she</b> <b>filled</b> <b>it</b> <b>with</b> <b>white</b> <b>mead</b> <b>and</b> <b>gave</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>Celeborn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>drink</b> <b>the</b> <b>cup</b> <b>of</b> <b>farewell</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Drink</b>, <b>Lord</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>! <b>And</b> <b>let</b> <b>not</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b> <b>be</b> <b>sad</b> <b>though</b> <b>night</b> <b>must</b> <b>follow</b> <b>noon</b>, <b>and</b> <b>already</b> <b>our</b> <b>evening</b> <b>draweth</b> <b>nigh</b>.”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>she</b> <b>brought</b> <b>the</b> <b>cup</b> <b>to</b> <b>each</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>and</b> <b>bade</b> <b>them</b> <b>drink</b> <b>and</b> <b>farewell</b>. <b>But</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>drunk</b> <b>she</b> <b>commanded</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>sit</b> <b>again</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>, <b>and</b> <b>chairs</b> <b>were</b> <b>set</b> <b>for</b> <b>her</b> <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>Celeborn</b>. <b>Her</b> <b>maidens</b> <b>stood</b> <b>silent</b> <b>about</b> <b>her</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>she</b> <b>looked</b> <b>upon</b> <b>her</b> <b>guests</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>she</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>drunk</b> <b>the</b> <b>cup</b> <b>of</b> <b>parting</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>fall</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b>. <b>But</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>, <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>brought</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>ship</b> <b>gifts</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>and</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>now</b> <b>offer</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>she</b> <b>called</b> <b>to</b> <b>each</b> <b>in</b> <b>turn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>gift</b> <b>of</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>leader</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>Company</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>gave</b> <b>him</b> <b>a</b> <b>sheath</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>fit</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>overlaid</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>tracery</b> <b>of</b> <b>flowers</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>of</b> <b>silver</b> <b>and</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>elven</b> <b>runes</b> <b>formed</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>gems</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>And</b>?<b>ril</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>lineage</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sword</b>.<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>blade</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>from</b> <b>this</b> <b>sheath</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>stained</b> <b>or</b> <b>broken</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>defeat</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>is</b> <b>there</b> <b>aught</b> <b>else</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>desire</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b> <b>at</b> <b>our</b> <b>parting</b>? <b>For</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>will</b> <b>flow</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>meet</b> <b>again</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>far</b> <b>hence</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>road</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>no</b> <b>returning</b>.”<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>answered</b>: “<b>Lady</b>, <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>desire</b>, <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>held</b> <b>in</b> <b>keeping</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>treasure</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>seek</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>yours</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b>; <b>and</b> <b>only</b> <b>through</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>this</b> <b>will</b> <b>lighten</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Galadriel</b>; “<b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>left</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>care</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>given</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>should</b> <b>you</b> <b>pass</b> <b>through</b> <b>this</b> <b>land</b>.” <b>Then</b> <b>she</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>from</b> <b>her</b> <b>lap</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>stone</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>green</b>, <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>silver</b> <b>brooch</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>likeness</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>eagle</b> <b>with</b> <b>outspread</b> <b>wings</b>; <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>held</b> <b>it</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>gem</b> <b>flashed</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>shining</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>of</b> <b>spring</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>stone</b> <b>I</b> <b>gave</b> <b>to</b> <b>Celebr</b>?<b>an</b> <b>my</b> <b>daughter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>to</b> <b>hers</b>; <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>it</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>token</b> <b>of</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>hour</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>foretold</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Elessar</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elfstone</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>house</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b>!”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>and</b> <b>pinned</b> <b>the</b> <b>brooch</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>who</b> <b>saw</b> <b>him</b> <b>wondered</b>; <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>marked</b> <b>before</b> <b>how</b> <b>tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>kingly</b> <b>he</b> <b>stood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b> <b>that</b> <b>many</b> <b>years</b> <b>of</b> <b>toil</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulders</b>. “<b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>gifts</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>given</b> <b>me</b> <b>I</b> <b>thank</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>O</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>of</b> <b>whom</b> <b>were</b> <b>sprung</b> <b>Celebr</b>?<b>an</b> <b>and</b> <b>Arwen</b> <b>Evenstar</b>. <b>What</b> <b>praise</b> <b>could</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>more</b>?”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>her</b> <b>head</b>, <b>and</b> <b>she</b> <b>turned</b> <b>then</b> <b>to</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>she</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>belt</b> <b>of</b> <b>gold</b>; <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>she</b> <b>gave</b> <b>small</b> <b>silver</b> <b>belts</b>, <b>each</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>clasp</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>golden</b> <b>flower</b>. <b>To</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>she</b> <b>gave</b> <b>a</b> <b>bow</b> <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b> <b>used</b>, <b>longer</b> <b>and</b> <b>stouter</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>bows</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b>, <b>and</b> <b>strung</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>string</b> <b>of</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>hair</b>. <b>With</b> <b>it</b> <b>went</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiver</b> <b>of</b> <b>arrows</b>.<br>
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“<b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>little</b> <b>gardener</b> <b>and</b> <b>lover</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>gift</b>.” <b>She</b> <b>put</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>box</b> <b>of</b> <b>plain</b> <b>grey</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>unadorned</b> <b>save</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>silver</b> <b>rune</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>lid</b>. “<b>Here</b> <b>is</b> <b>set</b> <b>G</b> <b>for</b> <b>Galadriel</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>also</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>stand</b> <b>for</b> <b>garden</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>tongue</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>box</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>earth</b> <b>from</b> <b>my</b> <b>orchard</b>, <b>and</b> <b>such</b> <b>blessing</b> <b>as</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>has</b> <b>still</b> <b>to</b> <b>bestow</b> <b>is</b> <b>upon</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>keep</b> <b>you</b> <b>on</b> <b>your</b> <b>road</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>defend</b> <b>you</b> <b>against</b> <b>any</b> <b>peril</b>; <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>see</b> <b>your</b> <b>home</b> <b>again</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>, <b>then</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>reward</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Though</b> <b>you</b> <b>should</b> <b>find</b> <b>all</b> <b>barren</b> <b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>waste</b>, <b>there</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>few</b> <b>gardens</b> <b>in</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>bloom</b> <b>like</b> <b>your</b> <b>garden</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>sprinkle</b> <b>this</b> <b>earth</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>may</b> <b>remember</b> <b>Galadriel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>catch</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>only</b> <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>winter</b>. <b>For</b> <b>our</b> <b>spring</b> <b>and</b> <b>our</b> <b>summer</b> <b>are</b> <b>gone</b> <b>by</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>never</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>on</b> <b>earth</b> <b>again</b> <b>save</b> <b>in</b> <b>memory</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>went</b> <b>red</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>ears</b> <b>and</b> <b>muttered</b> <b>something</b> <b>inaudible</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>clutched</b> <b>the</b> <b>box</b> <b>and</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>gift</b> <b>would</b> <b>a</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>ask</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>None</b>, <b>Lady</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>enough</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Galadhrim</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>her</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>words</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Hear</b> <b>all</b> <b>ye</b> <b>Elves</b>! “<b>she</b> <b>cried</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>about</b> <b>her</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>none</b> <b>say</b> <b>again</b> <b>that</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>are</b> <b>grasping</b> <b>and</b> <b>ungracious</b>! <b>Yet</b> <b>surely</b>, <b>Gimli</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>you</b> <b>desire</b> <b>something</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>give</b>? <b>Name</b> <b>it</b>, <b>I</b> <b>bid</b> <b>you</b>! <b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>guest</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>gift</b>.”<br>
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“<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>nothing</b>, <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>bowing</b> <b>low</b> <b>and</b> <b>stammering</b>. “<b>Nothing</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b>—<b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>permitted</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b>, <b>nay</b>, <b>to</b> <b>name</b> <b>a</b> <b>single</b> <b>strand</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>hair</b>, <b>which</b> <b>surpasses</b> <b>the</b> <b>gold</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>earth</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>surpass</b> <b>the</b> <b>gems</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mine</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>ask</b> <b>for</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>gift</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>commanded</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>name</b> <b>my</b> <b>desire</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>and</b> <b>murmured</b> <b>with</b> <b>astonishment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>in</b> <b>wonder</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>smiled</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>skill</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarves</b> <b>is</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>hands</b> <b>rather</b> <b>than</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>tongues</b> “<b>she</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>yet</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>true</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gimli</b>. <b>For</b> <b>none</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>made</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>a</b> <b>request</b> <b>so</b> <b>bold</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>so</b> <b>courteous</b>. <b>And</b> <b>how</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>refuse</b>, <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>commanded</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>? <b>But</b> <b>tell</b> <b>me</b>, <b>what</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>with</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>gift</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Treasure</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Lady</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>, “<b>in</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>words</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>at</b> <b>our</b> <b>first</b> <b>meeting</b>. <b>And</b> <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>I</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>smithies</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>home</b>, <b>it</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>set</b> <b>in</b> <b>imperishable</b> <b>crystal</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>an</b> <b>heirloom</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>house</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>pledge</b> <b>of</b> <b>good</b> <b>will</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>Mountain</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Wood</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>days</b>.”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>unbraided</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>long</b> <b>tresses</b>, <b>and</b> <b>cut</b> <b>off</b> <b>three</b> <b>golden</b> <b>hairs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>them</b> <b>in</b> <b>Gimli</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b>. “<b>These</b> <b>words</b> <b>shall</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>gift</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>foretell</b>, <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>foretelling</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>vain</b>: <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>one</b> <b>hand</b> <b>lies</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>only</b> <b>hope</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>hope</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>fail</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Gimli</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>, <b>that</b> <b>your</b> <b>hands</b> <b>shall</b> <b>flow</b> <b>with</b> <b>gold</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>over</b> <b>you</b> <b>gold</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>no</b> <b>dominion</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>last</b> <b>who</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>last</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>thoughts</b>. <b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>prepared</b> <b>this</b>.” <b>She</b> <b>held</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>crystal</b> <b>phial</b>: <b>it</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>as</b> <b>she</b> <b>moved</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>rays</b> <b>of</b> <b>white</b> <b>light</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>from</b> <b>her</b> <b>hand</b>. “<b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>phial</b>,” <b>she</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>is</b> <b>caught</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>E</b>?<b>rendil</b>'<b>s</b> <b>star</b>, <b>set</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>fountain</b>. <b>It</b> <b>will</b> <b>shine</b> <b>still</b> <b>brighter</b> <b>when</b> <b>night</b> <b>is</b> <b>about</b> <b>you</b>. <b>May</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b> <b>in</b> <b>dark</b> <b>places</b>, <b>when</b> <b>all</b> <b>other</b> <b>lights</b> <b>go</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Remember</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>and</b> <b>her</b> <b>Mirror</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>phial</b>, <b>and</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>shone</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b>, <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>her</b> <b>again</b> <b>standing</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>queen</b>, <b>great</b> <b>and</b> <b>beautiful</b>, <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>terrible</b>. <b>He</b> <b>bowed</b>, <b>but</b> <b>found</b> <b>no</b> <b>words</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>.<br>
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<b>Now</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>arose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Celeborn</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hythe</b>. <b>A</b> <b>yellow</b> <b>noon</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tongue</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>with</b> <b>silver</b>. <b>All</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>ready</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>took</b> <b>their</b> <b>places</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>as</b> <b>before</b>. <b>Crying</b> <b>farewell</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>with</b> <b>long</b> <b>grey</b> <b>poles</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>them</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>stream</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rippling</b> <b>waters</b> <b>bore</b> <b>them</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>sat</b> <b>still</b> <b>without</b> <b>moving</b> <b>or</b> <b>speaking</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>bank</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>very</b> <b>point</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tongue</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>stood</b> <b>alone</b> <b>and</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>her</b> <b>they</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>watched</b> <b>her</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>floating</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b>. <b>For</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>: <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>was</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>backward</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>bright</b> <b>ship</b> <b>masted</b> <b>with</b> <b>enchanted</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>sailing</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>shores</b>, <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>sat</b> <b>helpless</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>margin</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>leafless</b> <b>world</b>.<br>
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<b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>gazed</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>currents</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>speed</b> <b>southwards</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>form</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>was</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>distant</b>. <b>She</b> <b>shone</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>window</b> <b>of</b> <b>glass</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>far</b> <b>hill</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>westering</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>or</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>remote</b> <b>lake</b> <b>seen</b> <b>from</b> <b>a</b> <b>mountain</b>: <b>a</b> <b>crystal</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lap</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>that</b> <b>she</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>her</b> <b>arms</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>final</b> <b>farewell</b>, <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>but</b> <b>piercing</b>-<b>clear</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>following</b> <b>wind</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>voice</b> <b>singing</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>she</b> <b>sang</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>tongue</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sea</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>understand</b> <b>the</b> <b>words</b>: <b>fair</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>music</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>Yet</b> <b>as</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>words</b>, <b>they</b> <b>remained</b> <b>graven</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>memory</b>, <b>and</b> <b>long</b> <b>afterwards</b> <b>he</b> <b>interpreted</b> <b>them</b>, <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b>: <b>the</b> <b>language</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>song</b> <b>and</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>of</b> <b>things</b> <b>little</b> <b>known</b> <b>on</b> <b>Middle</b>-<b>earth</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>Ai</b>! <b>lauri</b>? <b>lantar</b> <b>lassi</b> <b>s</b>?<b>rinen</b>,<br>
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<b>Y</b>?<b>ni</b> ?<b>n</b>?<b>tim</b>? <b>ve</b> <b>r</b>?<b>mar</b> <b>aldaron</b>!<br>
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<b>Y</b>?<b>ni</b> <b>ve</b> <b>lint</b>? <b>yuldar</b> <b>av</b>?<b>nier</b><br>
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<b>mi</b> <b>oromardi</b> <b>lisse</b>-<b>miruv</b>?<b>reva</b><br>
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<b>And</b>?<b>n</b>? <b>pella</b>, <b>Vardo</b> <b>tellumar</b><br>
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<b>nu</b> <b>luini</b> <b>yassen</b> <b>tintilar</b> <b>i</b> <b>eleni</b><br>
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?<b>maryo</b> <b>airet</b>?<b>ri</b>-<b>l</b>?<b>rinen</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<b>S</b>? <b>man</b> <b>i</b> <b>yulma</b> <b>nin</b> <b>enquantuva</b>?<br>
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<br>
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<b>An</b> <b>s</b>? <b>Tintall</b>? <b>Varda</b> <b>Oioloss</b>?<b>o</b><br>
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<b>ve</b> <b>fanyar</b> <b>m</b>?<b>ryat</b> <b>Elent</b>?<b>ri</b> <b>ortan</b>?<br>
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<b>ar</b> <b>ily</b>? <b>tier</b> <b>undul</b>?<b>v</b>? <b>lumbul</b>?;<br>
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<b>ar</b> <b>sindan</b>?<b>riello</b> <b>caita</b> <b>morni</b>?<br>
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<b>i</b> <b>falmalinnar</b> <b>imb</b>? <b>met</b>, <b>ar</b> <b>h</b>?<b>si</b>?<br>
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<b>unt</b>?<b>pa</b> <b>Calaciryo</b> <b>m</b>?<b>ri</b> <b>oial</b>?.<br>
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<b>Si</b> <b>vanwa</b> <b>n</b>?, <b>R</b>?<b>mello</b> <b>vanwa</b>, <b>Valimar</b>!<br>
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<b>Nam</b>?<b>ri</b>?! <b>Nai</b> <b>hiruvaly</b>? <b>Valimar</b>.<br>
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<b>Nai</b> <b>ely</b>? <b>hiruva</b>. <b>Nam</b>?<b>ri</b>?!<br>
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<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! <b>like</b> <b>gold</b> <b>fall</b> <b>the</b> <b>leaves</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>numberless</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>wings</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>! <b>The</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>like</b> <b>swift</b> <b>draughts</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sweet</b> <b>mead</b> <b>in</b> <b>lofty</b> <b>halls</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>, <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>blue</b> <b>vaults</b> <b>of</b> <b>Varda</b> <b>wherein</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>tremble</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>song</b> <b>of</b> <b>her</b> <b>voice</b>, <b>holy</b> <b>and</b> <b>queenly</b>. <b>Who</b> <b>now</b> <b>shall</b> <b>refill</b> <b>the</b> <b>cup</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>? <b>For</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kindler</b>, <b>Varda</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Queen</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Stars</b>, <b>from</b> <b>Mount</b> <b>Everwhite</b> <b>has</b> <b>uplifted</b> <b>her</b> <b>hands</b> <b>like</b> <b>clouds</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>paths</b> <b>are</b> <b>drowned</b> <b>deep</b> <b>in</b> <b>shadow</b>; <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>country</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>lies</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>foaming</b> <b>waves</b> <b>between</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>mist</b> <b>covers</b> <b>the</b> <b>jewels</b> <b>of</b> <b>Calacirya</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>lost</b>, <b>lost</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>is</b> <b>Valimar</b>! <b>Farewell</b>! <b>Maybe</b> <b>thou</b> <b>shalt</b> <b>find</b> <b>Valimar</b>. <b>Maybe</b> <b>even</b> <b>thou</b> <b>shalt</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Farewell</b>! “<b>Varda</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>name</b> <b>of</b> <b>that</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>whom</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>lands</b> <b>of</b> <b>exile</b> <b>name</b> <b>Elbereth</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>swept</b> <b>round</b> <b>a</b> <b>bend</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>rose</b> <b>upon</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>was</b> <b>hidden</b>. <b>To</b> <b>that</b> <b>fair</b> <b>land</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>never</b> <b>came</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>now</b> <b>turned</b> <b>their</b> <b>faces</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b>; <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>dazzled</b>, <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>were</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>tears</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>wept</b> <b>openly</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>looked</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>upon</b> <b>that</b> <b>which</b> <b>was</b> <b>fairest</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>his</b> <b>companion</b>. “<b>Henceforward</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>call</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>fair</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>be</b> <b>her</b> <b>gift</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>breast</b>.<br>
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“<b>Tell</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Legolas</b>, <b>why</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>Quest</b>? <b>Little</b> <b>did</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>chief</b> <b>peril</b> <b>lay</b>! <b>Truly</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>spoke</b>, <b>saying</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>foresee</b> <b>what</b> <b>we</b> <b>might</b> <b>meet</b> <b>upon</b> <b>our</b> <b>road</b>. <b>Torment</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>feared</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>hold</b> <b>me</b> <b>back</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b>, <b>had</b> <b>I</b> <b>known</b> <b>the</b> <b>danger</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>and</b> <b>joy</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>taken</b> <b>my</b> <b>worst</b> <b>wound</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>parting</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>were</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>this</b> <b>night</b> <b>straight</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b>. <b>Alas</b> <b>for</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Nay</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>Alas</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b>! <b>And</b> <b>for</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>walk</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>after</b>-<b>days</b>. <b>For</b> <b>such</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>: <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>and</b> <b>lose</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>those</b> <b>whose</b> <b>boat</b> <b>is</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>running</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>count</b> <b>you</b> <b>blessed</b>, <b>Gimli</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gl</b>?<b>in</b>: <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>loss</b> <b>you</b> <b>suffer</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>own</b> <b>free</b> <b>will</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>chosen</b> <b>otherwise</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>forsaken</b> <b>your</b> <b>companions</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b> <b>reward</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>shall</b> <b>remain</b> <b>ever</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>unstained</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>heart</b>, <b>and</b> <b>shall</b> <b>neither</b> <b>fade</b> <b>nor</b> <b>grow</b> <b>stale</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Maybe</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>; “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>thank</b> <b>you</b> <b>for</b> <b>your</b> <b>words</b>. <b>True</b> <b>words</b> <b>doubtless</b>; <b>yet</b> <b>all</b> <b>such</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>is</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>Memory</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>desires</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>only</b> <b>a</b> <b>mirror</b>, <b>be</b> <b>it</b> <b>clear</b> <b>as</b> <b>Kheled</b>-<b>z</b>?<b>ram</b>. <b>Or</b> <b>so</b> <b>says</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dwarf</b>. <b>Elves</b> <b>may</b> <b>see</b> <b>things</b> <b>otherwise</b>. <b>Indeed</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>that</b> <b>for</b> <b>them</b> <b>memory</b> <b>is</b> <b>more</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>waking</b> <b>world</b> <b>than</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>so</b> <b>for</b> <b>Dwarves</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>talk</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Look</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b>! <b>She</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>low</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>baggage</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>is</b> <b>swift</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>drown</b> <b>my</b> <b>grief</b> <b>in</b> <b>cold</b> <b>water</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>a</b> <b>paddle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>steered</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>following</b> <b>Aragorn</b>'<b>s</b> <b>boat</b> <b>ahead</b>, <b>which</b> <b>had</b> <b>already</b> <b>moved</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>stream</b>.<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>long</b> <b>way</b>, <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>wide</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>waters</b>, <b>borne</b> <b>ever</b> <b>southwards</b>. <b>Bare</b> <b>woods</b> <b>stalked</b> <b>along</b> <b>either</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>any</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>The</b> <b>breeze</b> <b>died</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>without</b> <b>a</b> <b>sound</b>. <b>No</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>bird</b> <b>broke</b> <b>the</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sun</b> <b>grew</b> <b>misty</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>grew</b> <b>old</b>, <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sky</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>white</b> <b>pearl</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>it</b> <b>faded</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b>, <b>and</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>came</b> <b>early</b>, <b>followed</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>starless</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>hours</b> <b>they</b> <b>floated</b> <b>on</b>, <b>guiding</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>overhanging</b> <b>shadows</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>woods</b>. <b>Great</b> <b>trees</b> <b>passed</b> <b>by</b> <b>like</b> <b>ghosts</b>, <b>thrusting</b> <b>their</b> <b>twisted</b> <b>thirsty</b> <b>roots</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dreary</b> <b>and</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>and</b> <b>listened</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>faint</b> <b>lap</b> <b>and</b> <b>gurgle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>fretting</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>tree</b>-<b>roots</b> <b>and</b> <b>driftwood</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>until</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>nodded</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>an</b> <b>uneasy</b> <b>sleep</b>.<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 9<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>GREAT</b> <b>RIVER</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>roused</b> <b>by</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>He</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>lying</b>, <b>well</b> <b>wrapped</b>, <b>under</b> <b>tall</b> <b>grey</b>-<b>skinned</b> <b>trees</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>quiet</b> <b>corner</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>woodlands</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>bank</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>, <b>Anduin</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>slept</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>of</b> <b>morning</b> <b>was</b> <b>dim</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>bare</b> <b>branches</b>. <b>Gimli</b> <b>was</b> <b>busy</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>fire</b> <b>near</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>.<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>started</b> <b>again</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>was</b> <b>broad</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>that</b> <b>most</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>were</b> <b>eager</b> <b>to</b> <b>hurry</b> <b>southwards</b>: <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>content</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>decision</b>, <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>must</b> <b>make</b> <b>at</b> <b>latest</b> <b>when</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tindrock</b> <b>Isle</b>, <b>still</b> <b>lay</b> <b>some</b> <b>days</b> <b>ahead</b>; <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>let</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>bear</b> <b>them</b> <b>on</b> <b>at</b> <b>its</b> <b>own</b> <b>pace</b>, <b>having</b> <b>no</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>hasten</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>perils</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>beyond</b>, <b>whichever</b> <b>course</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>let</b> <b>them</b> <b>drift</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>wished</b>, <b>husbanding</b> <b>their</b> <b>strength</b> <b>against</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>insisted</b> <b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>they</b> <b>should</b> <b>start</b> <b>early</b> <b>each</b> <b>day</b> <b>and</b> <b>journey</b> <b>on</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>evening</b>; <b>for</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>was</b> <b>pressing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>feared</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>been</b> <b>idle</b> <b>while</b> <b>they</b> <b>lingered</b> <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
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<b>Nonetheless</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b>, <b>nor</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b>. <b>The</b> <b>dull</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hours</b> <b>passed</b> <b>without</b> <b>event</b>. <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>third</b> <b>day</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>voyage</b> <b>wore</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>lands</b> <b>changed</b> <b>slowly</b>: <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>thinned</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>failed</b> <b>altogether</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>bank</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>long</b> <b>formless</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>stretching</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>away</b> <b>toward</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>; <b>brown</b> <b>and</b> <b>withered</b> <b>they</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>fire</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b>, <b>leaving</b> <b>no</b> <b>living</b> <b>blade</b> <b>of</b> <b>green</b>: <b>an</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>waste</b> <b>without</b> <b>even</b> <b>a</b> <b>broken</b> <b>tree</b> <b>or</b> <b>a</b> <b>bold</b> <b>stone</b> <b>to</b> <b>relieve</b> <b>the</b> <b>emptiness</b>. <b>They</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Brown</b> <b>Lands</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b>, <b>vast</b> <b>and</b> <b>desolate</b>, <b>between</b> <b>Southern</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>. <b>What</b> <b>pestilence</b> <b>or</b> <b>war</b> <b>or</b> <b>evil</b> <b>deed</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>had</b> <b>so</b> <b>blasted</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>region</b> <b>even</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>.<br>
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<b>Upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>right</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>was</b> <b>treeless</b> <b>also</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>flat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>many</b> <b>places</b> <b>green</b> <b>with</b> <b>wide</b> <b>plains</b> <b>of</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>On</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>forests</b> <b>of</b> <b>great</b> <b>reeds</b>, <b>so</b> <b>tall</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>shut</b> <b>out</b> <b>all</b> <b>view</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>boats</b> <b>went</b> <b>rustling</b> <b>by</b> <b>along</b> <b>their</b> <b>fluttering</b> <b>borders</b>. <b>Their</b> <b>dark</b> <b>withered</b> <b>plumes</b> <b>bent</b> <b>and</b> <b>tossed</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>cold</b> <b>airs</b>, <b>hissing</b> <b>softly</b> <b>and</b> <b>sadly</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>through</b> <b>openings</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>could</b> <b>catch</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>glimpses</b> <b>of</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>meads</b>, <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>them</b> <b>hills</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunset</b>, <b>and</b> <b>away</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>line</b>, <b>where</b> <b>marched</b> <b>the</b> <b>southernmost</b> <b>ranks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>living</b> <b>moving</b> <b>things</b>, <b>save</b> <b>birds</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>these</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b>: <b>small</b> <b>fowl</b> <b>whistling</b> <b>and</b> <b>piping</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>reeds</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>seldom</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>Once</b> <b>or</b> <b>twice</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>rush</b> <b>and</b> <b>whine</b> <b>of</b> <b>swan</b>-<b>wings</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>up</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>phalanx</b> <b>streaming</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>.<br>
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“<b>Swans</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>big</b> <b>ones</b> <b>too</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>black</b> <b>swans</b>.”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>wide</b> <b>and</b> <b>empty</b> <b>and</b> <b>mournful</b> <b>all</b> <b>this</b> <b>country</b> <b>looks</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>always</b> <b>imagined</b> <b>that</b> <b>as</b> <b>one</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>south</b> <b>it</b> <b>got</b> <b>warmer</b> <b>and</b> <b>merrier</b>, <b>until</b> <b>winter</b> <b>was</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b> <b>for</b> <b>ever</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>not</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>far</b> <b>south</b> <b>yet</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>winter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>sea</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>cold</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>spring</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b> <b>yet</b> <b>have</b> <b>snow</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>away</b> <b>down</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bay</b> <b>of</b> <b>Belfalas</b>, <b>to</b> <b>which</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>runs</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>merry</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>or</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>But</b> <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>above</b> <b>sixty</b> <b>leagues</b>, <b>I</b> <b>guess</b>, <b>south</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Southfarthing</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>Shire</b>, <b>hundreds</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>miles</b> <b>yonder</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>looking</b> <b>now</b> <b>south</b>-<b>west</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>plains</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Riddermark</b>, <b>Rohan</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Horse</b>-<b>lords</b>. <b>Ere</b> <b>long</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>mouth</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Limlight</b> <b>that</b> <b>runs</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>Fangorn</b> <b>to</b> <b>join</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b>. <b>That</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>north</b> <b>boundary</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>; <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>between</b> <b>Limlight</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>White</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>belonged</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rohirrim</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>rich</b> <b>and</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>grass</b> <b>has</b> <b>no</b> <b>rival</b>; <b>but</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>evil</b> <b>days</b> <b>folk</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>dwell</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>or</b> <b>ride</b> <b>often</b> <b>to</b> <b>its</b> <b>shores</b>. <b>Anduin</b> <b>is</b> <b>wide</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>the</b> <b>orcs</b> <b>can</b> <b>shoot</b> <b>their</b> <b>arrows</b> <b>far</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>; <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>late</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b>, <b>they</b> <b>have</b> <b>dared</b> <b>to</b> <b>cross</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>raid</b> <b>the</b> <b>herds</b> <b>and</b> <b>studs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>from</b> <b>bank</b> <b>to</b> <b>bank</b> <b>uneasily</b>. <b>The</b> <b>trees</b> <b>had</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>hostile</b> <b>before</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>harboured</b> <b>secret</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>lurking</b> <b>dangers</b>; <b>now</b> <b>he</b> <b>wished</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>were</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b>. <b>He</b> <b>felt</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>naked</b>, <b>afloat</b> <b>in</b> <b>little</b> <b>open</b> <b>boats</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>of</b> <b>shelterless</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>river</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>frontier</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b>.<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>borne</b> <b>steadily</b> <b>southwards</b>, <b>this</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>of</b> <b>insecurity</b> <b>grew</b> <b>on</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>whole</b> <b>day</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>paddles</b> <b>and</b> <b>hastened</b> <b>forward</b>. <b>The</b> <b>banks</b> <b>slid</b> <b>by</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>broadened</b> <b>and</b> <b>grew</b> <b>more</b> <b>shallow</b>; <b>long</b> <b>stony</b> <b>beaches</b> <b>lay</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>gravel</b>-<b>shoals</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>careful</b> <b>steering</b> <b>was</b> <b>needed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Brown</b> <b>Lands</b> <b>rose</b> <b>into</b> <b>bleak</b> <b>wolds</b>, <b>over</b> <b>which</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>a</b> <b>chill</b> <b>air</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>. <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b> <b>side</b> <b>the</b> <b>meads</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>rolling</b> <b>downs</b> <b>of</b> <b>withered</b> <b>grass</b> <b>amidst</b> <b>a</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>fen</b> <b>and</b> <b>tussock</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>shivered</b>, <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawns</b> <b>and</b> <b>fountains</b>, <b>the</b> <b>clear</b> <b>sun</b> <b>and</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>rains</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>little</b> <b>speech</b> <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>laughter</b> <b>in</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>. <b>Each</b> <b>member</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>busy</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>thoughts</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>heart</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>was</b> <b>running</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>summer</b> <b>night</b> <b>in</b> <b>some</b> <b>northern</b> <b>glade</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>beech</b>-<b>woods</b>; <b>Gimli</b> <b>was</b> <b>fingering</b> <b>gold</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>fit</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>housing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b>'<b>s</b> <b>gift</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>boat</b> <b>were</b> <b>ill</b> <b>at</b> <b>ease</b>, <b>for</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>sat</b> <b>muttering</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>biting</b> <b>his</b> <b>nails</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>some</b> <b>restlessness</b> <b>or</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>consumed</b> <b>him</b>, <b>sometimes</b> <b>seizing</b> <b>a</b> <b>paddle</b> <b>and</b> <b>driving</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>close</b> <b>behind</b> <b>Aragorn</b>'<b>s</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>Pippin</b>, <b>who</b> <b>sat</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>bow</b> <b>looking</b> <b>back</b>, <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>queer</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eye</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>peered</b> <b>forward</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>that</b>, <b>though</b> <b>boats</b> <b>were</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>not</b> <b>as</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>brought</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>believe</b>, <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>far</b> <b>more</b> <b>uncomfortable</b> <b>than</b> <b>even</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>imagined</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>cramped</b> <b>and</b> <b>miserable</b>, <b>having</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>but</b> <b>stare</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>winter</b>-<b>lands</b> <b>crawling</b> <b>by</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>water</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>paddles</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>use</b> <b>they</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>trust</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b>.<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>drew</b> <b>down</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>fourth</b> <b>day</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>looking</b> <b>back</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>heads</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>following</b> <b>boats</b>; <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>drowsy</b> <b>and</b> <b>longed</b> <b>for</b> <b>camp</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>feel</b> <b>of</b> <b>earth</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>toes</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>something</b> <b>caught</b> <b>his</b> <b>sight</b>: <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>he</b> <b>stared</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>listlessly</b>, <b>then</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>; <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>again</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b> <b>any</b> <b>more</b>.<br>
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<b>That</b> <b>night</b> <b>they</b> <b>camped</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>eyot</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>lay</b> <b>rolled</b> <b>in</b> <b>blankets</b> <b>beside</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>funny</b> <b>dream</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>stopped</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Or</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>it</b> <b>wasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>. <b>Funny</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>anyway</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>what</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>knowing</b> <b>that</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>settle</b> <b>down</b> <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>told</b> <b>his</b> <b>tale</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>haven</b>'<b>t</b> <b>seen</b> <b>or</b> <b>thought</b> <b>of</b> <b>anything</b> <b>to</b> <b>make</b> <b>me</b> <b>smile</b> <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>left</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>wasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>funny</b> <b>that</b> <b>way</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>queer</b>. <b>All</b> <b>wrong</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>wasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>dream</b>. <b>And</b> <b>you</b> <b>had</b> <b>best</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b>: <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>log</b> <b>with</b> <b>eyes</b>!”<br>
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“<b>The</b> <b>log</b>'<b>s</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>many</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>. <b>But</b> <b>leave</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b>!”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>Twas</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>as</b> <b>made</b> <b>me</b> <b>sit</b> <b>up</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>log</b> <b>floating</b> <b>along</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>half</b>-<b>light</b> <b>behind</b> <b>Gimli</b>'<b>s</b> <b>boat</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>give</b> <b>much</b> <b>heed</b> <b>to</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>log</b> <b>was</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>catching</b> <b>us</b> <b>up</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>peculiar</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>, <b>seeing</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>floating</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>together</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b>: <b>two</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sort</b> <b>of</b> <b>points</b>, <b>shiny</b>-<b>like</b>, <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>hump</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>near</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>log</b>. <b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>more</b>, <b>it</b> <b>wasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>log</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>paddle</b>-<b>feet</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>swan</b>'<b>s</b> <b>almost</b>, <b>only</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>bigger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>kept</b> <b>dipping</b> <b>in</b> <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>.<br>
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“<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>sat</b> <b>right</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>my</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>meaning</b> <b>to</b> <b>give</b> <b>a</b> <b>shout</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>there</b> <b>when</b> <b>I</b> <b>had</b> <b>rubbed</b> <b>the</b> <b>drowse</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>head</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>whatever</b>-<b>it</b>-<b>was</b> <b>was</b> <b>coming</b> <b>along</b> <b>fast</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>getting</b> <b>close</b> <b>behind</b> <b>Gimli</b>. <b>But</b> <b>whether</b> <b>those</b> <b>two</b> <b>lamps</b> <b>spotted</b> <b>me</b> <b>moving</b> <b>and</b> <b>staring</b>, <b>or</b> <b>whether</b> <b>I</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>senses</b>, <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b>. <b>When</b> <b>I</b> <b>looked</b> <b>again</b>, <b>it</b> <b>wasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>there</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>caught</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>tail</b> <b>of</b>-<b>my</b> <b>eye</b>, <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>saying</b> <b>is</b>, <b>of</b> <b>something</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shooting</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>though</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>myself</b>: “<b>dreaming</b> <b>again</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>,” <b>I</b> <b>said</b>: <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>just</b> <b>then</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ve</b> <b>been</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>since</b>. <b>and</b> <b>now</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>not</b> <b>so</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>make</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>make</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>log</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>and</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>if</b> <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>those</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b>. <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>them</b> <b>away</b> <b>back</b> <b>north</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>reached</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>creature</b> <b>with</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>climbing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Haldir</b> <b>saw</b> <b>it</b> <b>too</b>. <b>And</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>remember</b> <b>the</b> <b>report</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>that</b> <b>went</b> <b>after</b> <b>the</b> <b>orc</b>-<b>band</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b>; <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>remember</b> <b>more</b> <b>too</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>my</b> <b>thoughts</b>; <b>but</b> <b>thinking</b> <b>of</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>and</b> <b>another</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Bilbo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>stories</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>, <b>I</b> <b>fancy</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>put</b> <b>a</b> <b>name</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>creature</b>, <b>at</b> <b>a</b> <b>guess</b>. <b>A</b> <b>nasty</b> <b>name</b>. <b>Gollum</b>, <b>maybe</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>, <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>feared</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Ever</b> <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b>. <b>I</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>lurking</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>, <b>and</b> <b>picked</b> <b>up</b> <b>our</b> <b>trail</b> <b>then</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>that</b> <b>our</b> <b>stay</b> <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>would</b> <b>throw</b> <b>him</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>scent</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>miserable</b> <b>creature</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>hiding</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Silverlode</b>, <b>watching</b> <b>us</b> <b>start</b> <b>off</b>!”<br>
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“<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>we</b>'<b>d</b> <b>better</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>more</b> <b>watchful</b> <b>ourselves</b>, <b>or</b> <b>we</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>feel</b> <b>some</b> <b>nasty</b> <b>fingers</b> <b>round</b> <b>our</b> <b>necks</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>these</b> <b>nights</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>ever</b> <b>wake</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>anything</b>. <b>And</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>leading</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b>. <b>No</b> <b>need</b> <b>to</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>tonight</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>keep</b> <b>watch</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>tomorrow</b>, <b>being</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>luggage</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>boat</b>, <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>might</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>might</b> <b>say</b> “<b>luggage</b> <b>with</b> <b>eyes</b>". <b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>watch</b>; <b>but</b> <b>only</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>promise</b> <b>to</b> <b>wake</b> <b>me</b> <b>halfway</b> <b>towards</b> <b>morning</b>, <b>if</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>happens</b> <b>before</b> <b>then</b>.”<br>
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<b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>dead</b> <b>hours</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>dark</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>shaking</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>a</b> <b>shame</b> <b>to</b> <b>wake</b> <b>you</b>,” <b>whispered</b> <b>Sam</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>you</b> <b>said</b>. <b>There</b>'<b>s</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>to</b> <b>tell</b>, <b>or</b> <b>not</b> <b>much</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>I</b> <b>heard</b> <b>some</b> <b>soft</b> <b>plashing</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>sniffing</b> <b>noise</b>, <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>back</b>; <b>but</b> <b>you</b> <b>hear</b> <b>a</b> <b>lot</b> <b>of</b> <b>such</b> <b>queer</b> <b>sounds</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>river</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>lay</b> <b>down</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b>, <b>huddled</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>blankets</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fought</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>Minutes</b> <b>or</b> <b>hours</b> <b>passed</b> <b>slowly</b>, <b>and</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>happened</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>yielding</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>temptation</b> <b>to</b> <b>lie</b> <b>down</b> <b>again</b> <b>when</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shape</b>, <b>hardly</b> <b>visible</b>, <b>floated</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>one</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>moored</b> <b>boats</b>. <b>A</b> <b>long</b> <b>whitish</b> <b>hand</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>seen</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>shot</b> <b>out</b> <b>and</b> <b>grabbed</b> <b>the</b> <b>gunwale</b>; <b>two</b> <b>pale</b> <b>lamplike</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>shone</b> <b>coldly</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>peered</b> <b>inside</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>and</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyot</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>not</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>yard</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>soft</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>of</b> <b>intaken</b> <b>breath</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>up</b>, <b>drawing</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>sheath</b>, <b>and</b> <b>faced</b> <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>Immediately</b> <b>their</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>shut</b> <b>off</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>another</b> <b>hiss</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>splash</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>log</b>-<b>shape</b> <b>shot</b> <b>away</b> <b>downstream</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>turned</b> <b>over</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>up</b>`<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>whispered</b>, <b>springing</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>felt</b> <b>something</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>your</b> <b>sword</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Gollum</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b>, <b>so</b> <b>I</b> <b>guess</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>about</b> <b>our</b> <b>little</b> <b>footpad</b>, <b>do</b> <b>you</b>? <b>He</b> <b>padded</b> <b>after</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b> <b>through</b> <b>Moria</b> <b>and</b> <b>right</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>Nimrodel</b>. <b>Since</b> <b>we</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>boats</b>, <b>he</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>lying</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>log</b> <b>and</b> <b>paddling</b> <b>with</b> <b>hands</b> <b>and</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>catch</b> <b>him</b> <b>once</b> <b>or</b> <b>twice</b> <b>at</b> <b>night</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>slier</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>fox</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>slippery</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>fish</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>voyage</b> <b>would</b> <b>beat</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>too</b> <b>clever</b> <b>a</b> <b>waterman</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>going</b> <b>faster</b> <b>tomorrow</b>. <b>You</b> <b>lie</b> <b>down</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>keep</b> <b>watch</b> <b>for</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>left</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>lay</b> <b>my</b> <b>hands</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wretch</b>. <b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>make</b> <b>him</b> <b>useful</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>lose</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>very</b> <b>dangerous</b>. <b>Quite</b> <b>apart</b> <b>from</b> <b>murder</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>account</b>, <b>he</b> <b>may</b> <b>put</b> <b>any</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>about</b> <b>on</b> <b>our</b> <b>track</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>passed</b> <b>without</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>showing</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>again</b>. <b>After</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>kept</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>look</b>-<b>out</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>voyage</b> <b>lasted</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>following</b>, <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>very</b> <b>wary</b> <b>and</b> <b>cunning</b>. <b>At</b> <b>Aragorn</b>'<b>s</b> <b>bidding</b> <b>they</b> <b>paddled</b> <b>now</b> <b>for</b> <b>long</b> <b>spells</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>banks</b> <b>went</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>by</b>. <b>But</b> <b>they</b> <b>saw</b> <b>little</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b>, <b>for</b> <b>they</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>mostly</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>and</b> <b>twilight</b>, <b>resting</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b>, <b>and</b> <b>lying</b> <b>as</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>land</b> <b>allowed</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>passed</b> <b>without</b> <b>event</b> <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>seventh</b> <b>day</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>weather</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>grey</b> <b>and</b> <b>overcast</b>, <b>with</b> <b>wind</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b>, <b>but</b> <b>as</b> <b>evening</b> <b>drew</b> <b>into</b> <b>night</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>away</b> <b>westward</b> <b>cleared</b>, <b>and</b> <b>pools</b> <b>of</b> <b>faint</b> <b>light</b>, <b>yellow</b> <b>and</b> <b>pale</b> <b>green</b>, <b>opened</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>cloud</b>. <b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>white</b> <b>rind</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>new</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>remote</b> <b>lakes</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>it</b> <b>and</b> <b>puckered</b> <b>his</b> <b>brows</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>next</b> <b>day</b> <b>the</b> <b>country</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>change</b> <b>rapidly</b>. <b>The</b> <b>banks</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>rise</b> <b>and</b> <b>grow</b> <b>stony</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>passing</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>hilly</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>land</b>, <b>and</b> <b>on</b> <b>both</b> <b>shores</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>buried</b> <b>in</b> <b>deep</b> <b>brakes</b> <b>of</b> <b>thorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>sloe</b>, <b>tangled</b> <b>with</b> <b>brambles</b> <b>and</b> <b>creepers</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>stood</b> <b>low</b> <b>crumbling</b> <b>cliffs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>chimneys</b> <b>of</b> <b>grey</b> <b>weathered</b> <b>stone</b> <b>dark</b> <b>with</b> <b>ivy</b>; <b>and</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>these</b> <b>again</b> <b>there</b> <b>rose</b> <b>high</b> <b>ridges</b> <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>wind</b>-<b>writhen</b> <b>firs</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>drawing</b> <b>near</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>country</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>, <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>march</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wilderland</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>were</b> <b>many</b> <b>birds</b> <b>about</b> <b>the</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rock</b>-<b>chimneys</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>day</b> <b>high</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b> <b>flocks</b> <b>of</b> <b>birds</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>circling</b>, <b>black</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>lay</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>camp</b> <b>that</b> <b>day</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>watched</b> <b>the</b> <b>flights</b> <b>doubtfully</b>, <b>wondering</b> <b>if</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>doing</b> <b>some</b> <b>mischief</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>voyage</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>moving</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>. <b>Later</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b> <b>was</b> <b>setting</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>was</b> <b>stirring</b> <b>and</b> <b>getting</b> <b>ready</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b> <b>again</b>, <b>he</b> <b>descried</b> <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>spot</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>fading</b> <b>light</b>: <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>bird</b> <b>high</b> <b>and</b> <b>far</b> <b>off</b>, <b>now</b> <b>wheeling</b>, <b>now</b> <b>flying</b> <b>on</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>southwards</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b>, <b>Legolas</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>asked</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>northern</b> <b>sky</b>. “<b>Is</b> <b>it</b>, <b>as</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b>. <b>an</b> <b>eagle</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>.” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>an</b> <b>eagle</b>, <b>a</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>eagle</b>. <b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>what</b> <b>that</b> <b>forebodes</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>far</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>mountains</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>start</b> <b>until</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>fully</b> <b>dark</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>eighth</b> <b>night</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b> <b>came</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>silent</b> <b>and</b> <b>windless</b>; <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>east</b> <b>wind</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b> <b>away</b>. <b>The</b> <b>thin</b> <b>crescent</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>had</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>early</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>sunset</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b> <b>above</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>great</b> <b>ranges</b> <b>of</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>that</b> <b>still</b> <b>shone</b> <b>faintly</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>West</b> <b>stars</b> <b>glinted</b> <b>bright</b>.<br>
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“<b>Come</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>venture</b> <b>one</b> <b>more</b> <b>journey</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>. <b>We</b> <b>are</b> <b>coming</b> <b>to</b> <b>reaches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>well</b>: <b>for</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>journeyed</b> <b>by</b> <b>water</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>parts</b> <b>before</b>, <b>not</b> <b>between</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>rapids</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b>. <b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>right</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>reckoning</b>, <b>those</b> <b>are</b> <b>still</b> <b>many</b> <b>miles</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Still</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>dangerous</b> <b>places</b> <b>even</b> <b>before</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>there</b>: <b>rocks</b> <b>and</b> <b>stony</b> <b>eyots</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>keep</b> <b>a</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>watch</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>try</b> <b>to</b> <b>paddle</b> <b>swiftly</b>.”<br>
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<b>To</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>leading</b> <b>boat</b> <b>was</b> <b>given</b> <b>the</b> <b>task</b> <b>of</b> <b>watchman</b>. <b>He</b> <b>lay</b> <b>forward</b> <b>peering</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b>. <b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>grew</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>stars</b> <b>above</b> <b>were</b> <b>strangely</b> <b>bright</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimmer</b> <b>On</b> <b>the</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>close</b> <b>on</b> <b>midnight</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>drifting</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>while</b>. <b>hardly</b> <b>using</b> <b>the</b> <b>paddles</b>, <b>when</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>cried</b> <b>out</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>yards</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>heard</b> <b>the</b> <b>swirl</b> <b>of</b> <b>racing</b> <b>water</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>swift</b> <b>current</b> <b>which</b> <b>swung</b> <b>left</b>, <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>shore</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>channel</b> <b>was</b> <b>clear</b>. <b>As</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>swept</b> <b>aside</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b>, <b>now</b> <b>very</b> <b>close</b>, <b>the</b> <b>pale</b> <b>foam</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>lashing</b> <b>against</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>out</b> <b>far</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>ridge</b> <b>of</b> <b>teeth</b>. <b>The</b> <b>boats</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>together</b>.<br>
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“<b>Hoy</b> <b>there</b>, <b>Aragorn</b>! “<b>shouted</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>boat</b> <b>bumped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>leader</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>madness</b>! <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>dare</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rapids</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>! <b>But</b> <b>no</b> <b>boat</b> <b>can</b> <b>live</b> <b>in</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b>, <b>be</b> <b>it</b> <b>night</b> <b>or</b> <b>day</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Back</b>, <b>back</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Turn</b>! <b>Turn</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>! “<b>He</b> <b>drove</b> <b>his</b> <b>paddle</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>and</b> <b>bring</b> <b>it</b> <b>round</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>reckoning</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>: <b>Anduin</b> <b>flows</b> <b>faster</b> <b>than</b> <b>I</b> <b>thought</b>. <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>close</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b> <b>already</b>.”<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>great</b> <b>efforts</b> <b>they</b> <b>checked</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>and</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>brought</b> <b>them</b> <b>about</b>; <b>but</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>make</b> <b>only</b> <b>small</b> <b>headway</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>current</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>carried</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>and</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>dark</b> <b>and</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>it</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>together</b>, <b>paddle</b>! “<b>shouted</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Paddle</b>! <b>Or</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>driven</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>shoals</b>.” <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>keel</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>him</b> <b>grate</b> <b>upon</b> <b>stone</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>twang</b> <b>of</b> <b>bowstrings</b>: <b>several</b> <b>arrows</b> <b>whistled</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>fell</b> <b>among</b> <b>them</b>. <b>One</b> <b>smote</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>shoulders</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>lurched</b> <b>forward</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b>, <b>letting</b> <b>go</b> <b>his</b> <b>paddle</b>: <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>fell</b> <b>back</b>. <b>foiled</b> <b>by</b> <b>his</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>coat</b> <b>of</b> <b>mail</b>. <b>Another</b> <b>passed</b> <b>through</b> <b>Aragorn</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hood</b>; <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>third</b> <b>stood</b> <b>fast</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>gunwale</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>second</b> <b>boat</b>, <b>close</b> <b>by</b> <b>Merry</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>black</b> <b>figures</b> <b>running</b> <b>to</b> <b>and</b> <b>fro</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>shingle</b>-<b>banks</b> <b>that</b> <b>lay</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>They</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>very</b> <b>near</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yrch</b>!” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>, <b>falling</b> <b>into</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>tongue</b>.<br>
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“<b>Orcs</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Gimli</b>.<br>
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“<b>Gollum</b>'<b>s</b> <b>doing</b>, <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>bound</b>.” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>a</b> <b>nice</b> <b>place</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b>, <b>too</b>. <b>The</b> <b>River</b> <b>seems</b> <b>set</b> <b>on</b> <b>taking</b> <b>us</b> <b>right</b> <b>into</b> <b>their</b> <b>arms</b>!”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>all</b> <b>leaned</b> <b>forward</b> <b>straining</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>paddles</b>: <b>even</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>took</b> <b>a</b> <b>hand</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>moment</b> <b>they</b> <b>expected</b> <b>to</b> <b>feel</b> <b>the</b> <b>bite</b> <b>of</b> <b>black</b>-<b>feathered</b> <b>arrows</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>whined</b> <b>overhead</b> <b>or</b> <b>struck</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>nearby</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>hits</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>but</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>dark</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>-<b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>star</b>-<b>glimmer</b> <b>they</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>offered</b> <b>their</b> <b>cunning</b> <b>foes</b> <b>some</b> <b>mark</b>, <b>unless</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>cloaks</b> <b>Of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>timber</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>wrought</b> <b>boats</b> <b>defeated</b> <b>the</b> <b>malice</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>archers</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>.<br>
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<b>Stroke</b> <b>by</b> <b>stroke</b> <b>they</b> <b>laboured</b> <b>on</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>moving</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>; <b>but</b> <b>slowly</b> <b>the</b> <b>swirl</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>grew</b> <b>less</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>bank</b> <b>faded</b> <b>back</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b>, <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>judge</b>, <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>again</b> <b>and</b> <b>had</b> <b>driven</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>back</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>jutting</b> <b>rocks</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>half</b> <b>turning</b> <b>they</b> <b>thrust</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>all</b> <b>their</b> <b>strength</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>Under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>Of</b> <b>bushes</b> <b>leaning</b> <b>out</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>they</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>drew</b> <b>breath</b>.<br>
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<b>Legolas</b> <b>laid</b> <b>down</b> <b>his</b> <b>paddle</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>bow</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>brought</b> <b>from</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>ashore</b> <b>and</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>paces</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Stringing</b> <b>the</b> <b>bow</b> <b>and</b> <b>fitting</b> <b>an</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>he</b> <b>turned</b>, <b>peering</b> <b>back</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>. <b>Across</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>shrill</b> <b>cries</b>, <b>but</b> <b>nothing</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elf</b> <b>standing</b> <b>tall</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>a</b> <b>mark</b> <b>to</b> <b>shoot</b> <b>at</b>. <b>His</b> <b>head</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>crowned</b> <b>with</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>white</b> <b>stars</b> <b>that</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>black</b> <b>pools</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>now</b> <b>rising</b> <b>and</b> <b>sailing</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>advanced</b>, <b>sending</b> <b>out</b> <b>dark</b> <b>outriders</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>starry</b> <b>fields</b>. <b>A</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>dread</b> <b>fell</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.<br>
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“<b>Elbereth</b> <b>Gilthoniel</b>!” <b>sighed</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b>, <b>a</b> <b>dark</b> <b>shape</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b>, <b>for</b> <b>it</b> <b>moved</b> <b>far</b> <b>more</b> <b>swiftly</b>, <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>blackness</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sped</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>blotting</b> <b>out</b> <b>all</b> <b>light</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>approached</b>. <b>Soon</b> <b>it</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>winged</b> <b>creature</b>, <b>blacker</b> <b>than</b> <b>the</b> <b>pits</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. <b>Fierce</b> <b>voices</b> <b>rose</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>greet</b> <b>it</b> <b>from</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>a</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>chill</b> <b>running</b> <b>through</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>clutching</b> <b>at</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>; <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>cold</b>, <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>memory</b> <b>of</b> <b>an</b> <b>old</b> <b>wound</b>, <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>shoulder</b>. <b>He</b> <b>crouched</b> <b>down</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>to</b> <b>hide</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>bow</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b> <b>sang</b>. <b>Shrill</b> <b>went</b> <b>the</b> <b>arrow</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>elven</b>-<b>string</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. <b>Almost</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>winged</b> <b>shape</b> <b>swerved</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>harsh</b> <b>croaking</b> <b>scream</b>, <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>fell</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>air</b>, <b>vanishing</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>gloom</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>clean</b> <b>again</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>tumult</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>voices</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>cursing</b> <b>and</b> <b>wailing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>darkness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>silence</b>. <b>Neither</b> <b>shaft</b> <b>nor</b> <b>cry</b> <b>came</b> <b>again</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b>.<br>
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<b>After</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>led</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>back</b> <b>upstream</b>. <b>They</b> <b>felt</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>'<b>s</b> <b>edge</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>distance</b>, <b>until</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>small</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>bay</b>. <b>A</b> <b>few</b> <b>low</b> <b>trees</b> <b>grew</b> <b>there</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b> <b>rose</b> <b>a</b> <b>steep</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>decided</b> <b>to</b> <b>stay</b> <b>and</b> <b>await</b> <b>the</b> <b>dawn</b>: <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>useless</b> <b>to</b> <b>attempt</b> <b>to</b> <b>move</b> <b>further</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>. <b>They</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>camp</b> <b>and</b> <b>lit</b> <b>no</b> <b>fire</b>, <b>but</b> <b>lay</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>, <b>moored</b> <b>close</b> <b>together</b>.<br>
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“<b>Praised</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>bow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Galadriel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b> <b>and</b> <b>eye</b> <b>of</b> <b>Legolas</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>munched</b> <b>a</b> <b>wafer</b> <b>of</b> <b>lembas</b>. “<b>That</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>shot</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friend</b>!”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>who</b> <b>can</b> <b>say</b> <b>what</b> <b>it</b> <b>hit</b>?” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>cannot</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>glad</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>came</b> <b>no</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>I</b> <b>liked</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>Too</b> <b>much</b> <b>it</b> <b>reminded</b> <b>me</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>in</b> <b>Moria</b>—<b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Balrog</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>ended</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>whisper</b>.<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>Balrog</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>still</b> <b>shivering</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>chill</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>come</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>something</b> <b>colder</b>. <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> –” <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>paused</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>silent</b>.<br>
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“<b>What</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>think</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>eagerly</b>, <b>leaning</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>boat</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>catch</b> <b>a</b> <b>glimpse</b> <b>of</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>face</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b>—<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Whatever</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b>, <b>its</b> <b>fall</b> <b>has</b> <b>dismayed</b> <b>our</b> <b>enemies</b>.”<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>where</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b>, <b>and</b> <b>how</b> <b>many</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>next</b>, <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>. <b>This</b> <b>night</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>all</b> <b>be</b> <b>sleepless</b>! <b>Dark</b> <b>hides</b> <b>us</b> <b>now</b>. <b>But</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>will</b> <b>show</b> <b>who</b> <b>can</b> <b>tell</b>? <b>Have</b> <b>your</b> <b>weapons</b> <b>close</b> <b>to</b> <b>hand</b>!”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>sat</b> <b>tapping</b> <b>the</b> <b>hilt</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>sword</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>counting</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>fingers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>looking</b> <b>up</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>very</b> <b>strange</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>murmured</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Moon</b>'<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>same</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>Wilderland</b>, <b>or</b> <b>it</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>. <b>But</b> <b>either</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>running</b>, <b>or</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>all</b> <b>wrong</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>reckoning</b>. <b>You</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>remember</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>was</b> <b>waning</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>lay</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>flet</b> <b>up</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>tree</b>: <b>a</b> <b>week</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b>, <b>I</b> <b>reckon</b>. <b>And</b> <b>we</b>'<b>d</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>week</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>last</b> <b>night</b>, <b>when</b> <b>up</b> <b>pops</b> <b>a</b> <b>New</b> <b>Moon</b> <b>as</b> <b>thin</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>nail</b>-<b>paring</b>, <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>had</b> <b>never</b> <b>stayed</b> <b>no</b> <b>time</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elvish</b> <b>country</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>remember</b> <b>three</b> <b>nights</b> <b>there</b> <b>for</b> <b>certain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>seem</b> <b>to</b> <b>remember</b> <b>several</b> <b>more</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>oath</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>never</b> <b>a</b> <b>whole</b> <b>month</b>. <b>Anyone</b> <b>would</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b> <b>in</b> <b>there</b>!”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>that</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>In</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>elsewhere</b> <b>long</b> <b>gone</b> <b>by</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>not</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>, <b>until</b> <b>Silverlode</b> <b>bore</b> <b>us</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>returned</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>that</b> <b>flows</b> <b>through</b> <b>mortal</b> <b>lands</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Sea</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>remember</b> <b>any</b> <b>moon</b>, <b>either</b> <b>new</b> <b>or</b> <b>old</b>, <b>in</b> <b>Caras</b> <b>Galadhon</b>: <b>only</b> <b>stars</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b> <b>and</b> <b>sun</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b>.”<br>
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<b>Legolas</b> <b>stirred</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>boat</b>. “<b>Nay</b>, <b>time</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>tarry</b> <b>ever</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>change</b> <b>and</b> <b>growth</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>and</b> <b>places</b> <b>alike</b>. <b>For</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>moves</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>moves</b> <b>both</b> <b>very</b> <b>swift</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>slow</b>. <b>Swift</b>, <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>change</b> <b>little</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>else</b> <b>fleets</b> <b>by</b>: <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>grief</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Slow</b>, <b>because</b> <b>they</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>count</b> <b>the</b> <b>running</b> <b>years</b>, <b>not</b> <b>for</b> <b>themselves</b>. <b>The</b> <b>passing</b> <b>seasons</b> <b>are</b> <b>but</b> <b>ripples</b> <b>ever</b> <b>repeated</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>long</b> <b>long</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>all</b> <b>things</b> <b>must</b> <b>wear</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>wearing</b> <b>is</b> <b>slow</b> <b>in</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lady</b> <b>is</b> <b>on</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Rich</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>hours</b>, <b>though</b> <b>short</b> <b>they</b> <b>seem</b>, <b>in</b> <b>Caras</b> <b>Galadhon</b>, <b>where</b> <b>Galadriel</b> <b>wields</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elven</b>-<b>ring</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>should</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>said</b> <b>outside</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>, <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Speak</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>! <b>But</b> <b>so</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>, <b>Sam</b>: <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>land</b> <b>you</b> <b>lost</b> <b>your</b> <b>count</b>. <b>There</b> <b>time</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>by</b> <b>us</b>, <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>. <b>The</b> <b>old</b> <b>moon</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>moon</b> <b>waxed</b> <b>and</b> <b>waned</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>outside</b>, <b>while</b> <b>we</b> <b>tarried</b> <b>there</b>. <b>And</b> <b>yestereve</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>moon</b> <b>came</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Winter</b> <b>is</b> <b>nearly</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>Time</b> <b>flows</b> <b>on</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>spring</b> <b>of</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>night</b> <b>passed</b> <b>silently</b>. <b>No</b> <b>voice</b> <b>or</b> <b>call</b> <b>was</b> <b>heard</b> <b>again</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>The</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>huddled</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>changing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b>. <b>The</b> <b>air</b> <b>grew</b> <b>warm</b> <b>and</b> <b>very</b> <b>still</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>moist</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>floated</b> <b>up</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>South</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>distant</b> <b>seas</b>. <b>The</b> <b>rushing</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>rapids</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>grow</b> <b>louder</b> <b>and</b> <b>closer</b>. <b>The</b> <b>twigs</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>drip</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>came</b> <b>the</b> <b>mood</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>soft</b> <b>and</b> <b>sad</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>the</b> <b>dawn</b> <b>grew</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>pale</b> <b>light</b>, <b>diffused</b> <b>and</b> <b>shadowless</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>mist</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>white</b> <b>fog</b> <b>swathed</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>; <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>bank</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>abide</b> <b>fog</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>this</b> <b>seems</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>lucky</b> <b>one</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>get</b> <b>away</b> <b>without</b> <b>those</b> <b>cursed</b> <b>goblins</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Perhaps</b> <b>so</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>hard</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>unless</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b> <b>lifts</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>later</b> <b>on</b>. <b>And</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b> <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>why</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rapids</b> <b>or</b> <b>follow</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>any</b> <b>further</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b> <b>lie</b> <b>before</b> <b>us</b>, <b>then</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>abandon</b> <b>these</b> <b>cockle</b>-<b>boats</b>, <b>and</b> <b>strike</b> <b>westward</b> <b>and</b> <b>southward</b>, <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Entwash</b> <b>and</b> <b>cross</b> <b>into</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>land</b>.”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>can</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>making</b> <b>for</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>yet</b> <b>agreed</b>. <b>And</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>course</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>more</b> <b>perilous</b> <b>than</b> <b>it</b> <b>sounds</b>. <b>The</b> <b>vale</b> <b>of</b> <b>Entwash</b> <b>is</b> <b>flat</b> <b>and</b> <b>fenny</b>, <b>and</b> <b>fog</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>peril</b> <b>there</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b> <b>and</b> <b>laden</b>. <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>abandon</b> <b>our</b> <b>boats</b> <b>until</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b>. <b>The</b> <b>River</b> <b>is</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>be</b> <b>missed</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>holds</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>bank</b>,” <b>objected</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Argonath</b> <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>unmolested</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tindrock</b>, <b>what</b> <b>will</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>then</b>? <b>Leap</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>Falls</b> <b>and</b> <b>land</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>marshes</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>! “<b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Say</b> <b>rather</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>bear</b> <b>our</b> <b>boats</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>Rauros</b>-<b>foot</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>take</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Do</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>, <b>Boromir</b>, <b>or</b> <b>do</b> <b>you</b> <b>choose</b> <b>to</b> <b>forget</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b> <b>Stair</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>seat</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>, <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>kings</b>? <b>I</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>stand</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>high</b> <b>place</b> <b>again</b>, <b>before</b> <b>I</b> <b>decide</b> <b>my</b> <b>further</b> <b>course</b>. <b>There</b>, <b>maybe</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b> <b>some</b> <b>sign</b> <b>that</b> <b>will</b> <b>guide</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>held</b> <b>out</b> <b>long</b> <b>against</b> <b>this</b> <b>choice</b>; <b>but</b> <b>when</b> <b>it</b> <b>became</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>would</b> <b>follow</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>wherever</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b>, <b>he</b> <b>gave</b> <b>in</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>to</b> <b>desert</b> <b>their</b> <b>friends</b> <b>at</b> <b>need</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>need</b> <b>my</b> <b>strength</b>, <b>if</b> <b>ever</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>to</b> <b>reach</b> <b>the</b> <b>Tindrock</b>. <b>To</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>isle</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b>, <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b>. <b>There</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>turn</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>home</b>, <b>alone</b> <b>if</b> <b>my</b> <b>help</b> <b>has</b> <b>not</b> <b>earned</b> <b>the</b> <b>reward</b> <b>of</b> <b>any</b> <b>companionship</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>day</b> <b>was</b> <b>now</b> <b>growing</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b> <b>had</b> <b>lifted</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>decided</b> <b>that</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>should</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>remained</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>. <b>Aragorn</b> <b>hoped</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>by</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>carry</b> <b>both</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>smoother</b> <b>water</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rapids</b>.<br>
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“<b>Boats</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>sink</b>, <b>maybe</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, “<b>but</b> <b>that</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>come</b> <b>through</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b> <b>alive</b>. <b>None</b> <b>have</b> <b>ever</b> <b>done</b> <b>so</b> <b>yet</b>. <b>No</b> <b>road</b> <b>was</b> <b>made</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>region</b>, <b>for</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>great</b> <b>days</b> <b>their</b> <b>realm</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>reach</b> <b>up</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>; <b>but</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>portage</b>-<b>way</b> <b>somewhere</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>if</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>find</b> <b>it</b>. <b>It</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>yet</b> <b>have</b> <b>perished</b>; <b>for</b> <b>light</b> <b>boats</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b> <b>journey</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>Wilderland</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>Osgiliath</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>did</b> <b>so</b> <b>until</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>years</b> <b>ago</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>multiply</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Seldom</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>life</b> <b>has</b> <b>any</b> <b>boat</b> <b>come</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>prowl</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>-<b>shore</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>forward</b>, <b>peril</b> <b>will</b> <b>grow</b> <b>with</b> <b>every</b> <b>mile</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Peril</b> <b>lies</b> <b>ahead</b> <b>on</b> <b>every</b> <b>southward</b> <b>road</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Wait</b> <b>for</b> <b>us</b> <b>one</b> <b>day</b>. <b>If</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>return</b> <b>in</b> <b>that</b> <b>time</b>, <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>evil</b> <b>has</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>befallen</b> <b>us</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b> <b>take</b> <b>a</b> <b>new</b> <b>leader</b> <b>and</b> <b>follow</b> <b>him</b> <b>as</b> <b>best</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>.”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>heart</b> <b>that</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>and</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>climb</b> <b>the</b> <b>steep</b> <b>bank</b> <b>and</b> <b>vanish</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>mists</b>; <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>fears</b> <b>proved</b> <b>groundless</b>. <b>Only</b> <b>two</b> <b>or</b> <b>three</b> <b>hours</b> <b>had</b> <b>passed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>barely</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>day</b>, <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadowy</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>explorers</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>All</b> <b>is</b> <b>well</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>clambered</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. “<b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>track</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>leads</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>landing</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>serviceable</b>. <b>The</b> <b>distance</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>great</b>: <b>the</b> <b>head</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rapids</b> <b>is</b> <b>but</b> <b>half</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>below</b> <b>us</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>little</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>mile</b> <b>long</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>far</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b> <b>becomes</b> <b>clear</b> <b>and</b> <b>smooth</b> <b>again</b>, <b>though</b> <b>it</b> <b>runs</b> <b>swiftly</b>. <b>Our</b> <b>hardest</b> <b>task</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>our</b> <b>boats</b> <b>and</b> <b>baggage</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>old</b> <b>portage</b>-<b>way</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>lies</b> <b>well</b> <b>back</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>-<b>side</b> <b>here</b>, <b>and</b> <b>runs</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>lee</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>rock</b>-<b>wall</b>, <b>a</b> <b>furlong</b> <b>or</b> <b>more</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>We</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>northward</b> <b>landing</b> <b>lies</b>. <b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>still</b> <b>remains</b>, <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>passed</b> <b>it</b> <b>yesterday</b> <b>night</b>. <b>We</b> <b>might</b> <b>labour</b> <b>far</b> <b>upstream</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>miss</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b>. <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>leave</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>now</b>, <b>and</b> <b>make</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>portage</b>-<b>way</b> <b>as</b> <b>best</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>would</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>easy</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>all</b> <b>Men</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>such</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>try</b> <b>it</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Aye</b>, <b>we</b> <b>will</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>legs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b> <b>will</b> <b>lag</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>rough</b> <b>road</b>, <b>while</b> <b>a</b> <b>Dwarf</b> <b>goes</b> <b>on</b>, <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>burden</b> <b>twice</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>weight</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Boromir</b>!”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>task</b> <b>proved</b> <b>hard</b> <b>indeed</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>done</b>. <b>The</b> <b>goods</b> <b>were</b> <b>taken</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>and</b> <b>brought</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>where</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>level</b> <b>space</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>were</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>carried</b> <b>up</b>. <b>They</b> <b>were</b> <b>far</b> <b>less</b> <b>heavy</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>had</b> <b>expected</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>what</b> <b>tree</b> <b>growing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>elvish</b> <b>country</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>made</b> <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>knew</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b> <b>was</b> <b>tough</b> <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>strangely</b> <b>light</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>alone</b> <b>could</b> <b>carry</b> <b>their</b> <b>boat</b> <b>with</b> <b>ease</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>flat</b>. <b>Nonetheless</b> <b>it</b> <b>needed</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>two</b> <b>Men</b> <b>to</b> <b>lift</b> <b>and</b> <b>haul</b> <b>them</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>now</b> <b>had</b> <b>to</b> <b>cross</b>. <b>It</b> <b>sloped</b> <b>up</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>a</b> <b>tumbled</b> <b>waste</b> <b>of</b> <b>grey</b> <b>limestone</b>-<b>boulders</b>, <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>holes</b> <b>shrouded</b> <b>with</b> <b>weeds</b> <b>and</b> <b>bushes</b>; <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>thickets</b> <b>of</b> <b>brambles</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>dells</b>; <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>boggy</b> <b>pools</b> <b>fed</b> <b>by</b> <b>waters</b> <b>trickling</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>terraces</b> <b>further</b> <b>inland</b>.<br>
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<b>One</b> <b>by</b> <b>one</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>carried</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>, <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>toiled</b> <b>and</b> <b>scrambled</b> <b>after</b> <b>them</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>baggage</b>. <b>At</b> <b>last</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>removed</b> <b>and</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>portage</b>-<b>way</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>with</b> <b>little</b> <b>further</b> <b>hindrance</b>, <b>save</b> <b>from</b> <b>sprawling</b> <b>briars</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>stones</b>, <b>they</b> <b>moved</b> <b>forward</b> <b>all</b> <b>together</b>. <b>Fog</b> <b>still</b> <b>hung</b> <b>in</b> <b>veils</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>crumbling</b> <b>rock</b>-<b>wall</b>, <b>and</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>left</b> <b>mist</b> <b>shrouded</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>: <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>it</b> <b>rushing</b> <b>and</b> <b>foaming</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>sharp</b> <b>shelves</b> <b>and</b> <b>stony</b> <b>teeth</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Twice</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>the</b> <b>journey</b>, <b>before</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>brought</b> <b>safe</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>landing</b>.<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>the</b> <b>portage</b>-<b>way</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>ran</b> <b>gently</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>shallow</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>little</b> <b>pool</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>scooped</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>side</b>, <b>not</b> <b>by</b> <b>hand</b>, <b>but</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>swirling</b> <b>down</b> <b>from</b> <b>Sarn</b> <b>Gebir</b> <b>against</b> <b>a</b> <b>low</b> <b>pier</b> <b>of</b> <b>rock</b> <b>that</b> <b>jutted</b> <b>out</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>Beyond</b> <b>it</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b> <b>rose</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>grey</b> <b>cliff</b>, <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>passage</b> <b>for</b> <b>those</b> <b>on</b> <b>foot</b>.<br>
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<b>Already</b> <b>the</b> <b>short</b> <b>afternoon</b> <b>was</b> <b>past</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>dim</b> <b>cloudy</b> <b>dusk</b> <b>was</b> <b>closing</b> <b>in</b>. <b>They</b> <b>sat</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>listening</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>confused</b> <b>rush</b> <b>and</b> <b>roar</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Rapids</b> <b>hidden</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b>; <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>tired</b> <b>and</b> <b>sleepy</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>hearts</b> <b>were</b> <b>as</b> <b>gloomy</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>dying</b> <b>day</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>are</b>, <b>and</b> <b>here</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>pass</b> <b>another</b> <b>night</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>need</b> <b>sleep</b>, <b>and</b> <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>mind</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Argonath</b> <b>by</b> <b>night</b>, <b>we</b> <b>are</b> <b>all</b> <b>too</b> <b>tired</b>-<b>except</b>, <b>no</b> <b>doubt</b>, <b>our</b> <b>sturdy</b> <b>dwarf</b>.”<br>
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<b>Gimli</b> <b>made</b> <b>no</b> <b>reply</b>: <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>nodding</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>sat</b>.<br>
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“<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>rest</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>as</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b> <b>now</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Tomorrow</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>journey</b> <b>by</b> <b>day</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Unless</b> <b>the</b> <b>weather</b> <b>changes</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b> <b>and</b> <b>cheats</b> <b>us</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>good</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>slipping</b> <b>through</b>, <b>unseen</b> <b>by</b> <b>any</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>shore</b>. <b>But</b> <b>tonight</b> <b>two</b> <b>must</b> <b>watch</b> <b>together</b> <b>in</b> <b>turns</b>: <b>three</b> <b>hours</b> <b>off</b> <b>and</b> <b>one</b> <b>on</b> <b>guard</b>.”<br>
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<b>Nothing</b> <b>happened</b> <b>that</b> <b>night</b> <b>worse</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>brief</b> <b>drizzle</b> <b>of</b> <b>rain</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>before</b> <b>dawn</b>. <b>As</b> <b>soon</b> <b>as</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>fully</b> <b>light</b> <b>they</b> <b>started</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>the</b> <b>fog</b> <b>was</b> <b>thinning</b>. <b>They</b> <b>kept</b> <b>as</b> <b>close</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>shapes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>low</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>rising</b> <b>ever</b> <b>higher</b>, <b>shadowy</b> <b>walls</b> <b>with</b> <b>their</b> <b>feet</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hurrying</b> <b>river</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>mid</b>-<b>morning</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>drew</b> <b>down</b> <b>lower</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>began</b> <b>to</b> <b>rain</b> <b>heavily</b>. <b>They</b> <b>drew</b> <b>the</b> <b>skin</b>-<b>covers</b> <b>over</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>to</b> <b>prevent</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>being</b> <b>flooded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>drifted</b> <b>on</b>: <b>little</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>or</b> <b>about</b> <b>them</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>falling</b> <b>curtains</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>rain</b>, <b>however</b>, <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>last</b> <b>long</b>. <b>Slowly</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>above</b> <b>grew</b> <b>lighter</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>clouds</b> <b>broke</b>, <b>and</b> <b>their</b> <b>draggled</b> <b>fringes</b> <b>trailed</b> <b>away</b> <b>northward</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fogs</b> <b>and</b> <b>mists</b> <b>were</b> <b>gone</b>. <b>Before</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>lay</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>ravine</b>, <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>rocky</b> <b>sides</b> <b>to</b> <b>which</b> <b>clung</b>, <b>upon</b> <b>shelves</b> <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>crevices</b>, <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>thrawn</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>The</b> <b>channel</b> <b>grew</b> <b>narrower</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>swifter</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>speeding</b> <b>along</b> <b>with</b> <b>little</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>stopping</b> <b>or</b> <b>turning</b>, <b>whatever</b> <b>they</b> <b>might</b> <b>meet</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Over</b> <b>them</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>lane</b> <b>of</b> <b>pale</b>-<b>blue</b> <b>sky</b>, <b>around</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>overshadowed</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b> <b>black</b>, <b>shutting</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>the</b> <b>hills</b> <b>of</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>, <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>no</b> <b>opening</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>peering</b> <b>forward</b> <b>saw</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>distance</b> <b>two</b> <b>great</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>approaching</b>: <b>like</b> <b>great</b> <b>pinnacles</b> <b>or</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b>. <b>Tall</b> <b>and</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>and</b> <b>ominous</b> <b>they</b> <b>stood</b> <b>upon</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>. <b>A</b> <b>narrow</b> <b>gap</b> <b>appeared</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>swept</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>towards</b> <b>it</b>.<br>
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“<b>Behold</b> <b>the</b> <b>Argonath</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Pillars</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Kings</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>pass</b> <b>them</b> <b>soon</b>. <b>Keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>in</b> <b>line</b>, <b>and</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>apart</b> <b>as</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>! <b>Hold</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>stream</b>!”<br>
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<b>As</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>borne</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>pillars</b> <b>rose</b> <b>like</b> <b>towers</b> <b>to</b> <b>meet</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Giants</b> <b>they</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>, <b>vast</b> <b>grey</b> <b>figures</b> <b>silent</b> <b>but</b> <b>threatening</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>shaped</b> <b>and</b> <b>fashioned</b>: <b>the</b> <b>craft</b> <b>and</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b> <b>had</b> <b>wrought</b> <b>upon</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>they</b> <b>preserved</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>suns</b> <b>and</b> <b>rains</b> <b>of</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>years</b> <b>the</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>likenesses</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>hewn</b>. <b>Upon</b> <b>great</b> <b>pedestals</b> <b>founded</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>deep</b> <b>waters</b> <b>stood</b> <b>two</b> <b>great</b> <b>kings</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>: <b>still</b> <b>with</b> <b>blurred</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>crannied</b> <b>brows</b> <b>they</b> <b>frowned</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>North</b>. <b>The</b> <b>left</b> <b>hand</b> <b>of</b> <b>each</b> <b>was</b> <b>raised</b> <b>palm</b> <b>outwards</b> <b>in</b> <b>gesture</b> <b>of</b> <b>warning</b>; <b>in</b> <b>each</b> <b>right</b> <b>hand</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>axe</b>; <b>upon</b> <b>each</b> <b>head</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>crumbling</b> <b>helm</b> <b>and</b> <b>crown</b>. <b>Great</b> <b>power</b> <b>and</b> <b>majesty</b> <b>they</b> <b>still</b> <b>wore</b>, <b>the</b> <b>silent</b> <b>wardens</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b>-<b>vanished</b> <b>kingdom</b>. <b>Awe</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b> <b>fell</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>cowered</b> <b>down</b>, <b>shutting</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>daring</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>up</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>whirled</b> <b>by</b>. <b>frail</b> <b>and</b> <b>fleeting</b> <b>as</b> <b>little</b> <b>leaves</b>, <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>enduring</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>sentinels</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b>. <b>So</b> <b>they</b> <b>passed</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>dark</b> <b>chasm</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Gates</b>.<br>
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<b>Sheer</b> <b>rose</b> <b>the</b> <b>dreadful</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>to</b> <b>unguessed</b> <b>heights</b> <b>on</b> <b>either</b> <b>side</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>off</b> <b>was</b> <b>the</b> <b>dim</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>The</b> <b>black</b> <b>waters</b> <b>roared</b> <b>and</b> <b>echoed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>wind</b> <b>screamed</b> <b>over</b> <b>them</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>crouching</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b> <b>heard</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>in</b> <b>front</b> <b>muttering</b> <b>and</b> <b>groaning</b>: “<b>What</b> <b>a</b> <b>place</b>! <b>What</b> <b>a</b> <b>horrible</b> <b>place</b>! <b>Just</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>get</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>this</b> <b>boat</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>never</b> <b>wet</b> <b>my</b> <b>toes</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>puddle</b> <b>again</b>, <b>let</b> <b>alone</b> <b>a</b> <b>river</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Fear</b> <b>not</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>voice</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Strider</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>not</b> <b>Strider</b>; <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>weatherworn</b> <b>Ranger</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>there</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>stern</b> <b>sat</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b>, <b>proud</b> <b>and</b> <b>erect</b>, <b>guiding</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>with</b> <b>skilful</b> <b>strokes</b>; <b>his</b> <b>hood</b> <b>was</b> <b>cast</b> <b>back</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>dark</b> <b>hair</b> <b>was</b> <b>blowing</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>, <b>a</b> <b>light</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>: <b>a</b> <b>king</b> <b>returning</b> <b>from</b> <b>exile</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>land</b>.<br>
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“<b>Fear</b> <b>not</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Long</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>desired</b> <b>to</b> <b>look</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>likenesses</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isildur</b> <b>and</b> <b>An</b>?<b>rion</b>, <b>my</b> <b>sires</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Under</b> <b>their</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>Elessar</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Elfstone</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Arathorn</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>Valandil</b> <b>Isildur</b>'<b>s</b> <b>son</b> <b>heir</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elendil</b>, <b>has</b> <b>nought</b> <b>to</b> <b>dread</b>!”<br>
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<b>Then</b> <b>the</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>faded</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>: “<b>Would</b> <b>that</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>were</b> <b>here</b>! <b>How</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>yearns</b> <b>for</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Anor</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>own</b> <b>city</b>! <b>But</b> <b>whither</b> <b>now</b> <b>shall</b> <b>I</b> <b>go</b>?”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>chasm</b> <b>was</b> <b>long</b> <b>and</b> <b>dark</b>, <b>and</b> <b>filled</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>noise</b> <b>of</b> <b>wind</b> <b>and</b> <b>rushing</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>echoing</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>It</b> <b>bent</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b> <b>so</b> <b>that</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>all</b> <b>was</b> <b>dark</b> <b>ahead</b>; <b>but</b> <b>soon</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>saw</b> <b>a</b> <b>tall</b> <b>gap</b> <b>of</b> <b>light</b> <b>before</b> <b>him</b>, <b>ever</b> <b>growing</b>. <b>Swiftly</b> <b>it</b> <b>drew</b> <b>near</b>, <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>shot</b> <b>through</b>, <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>clear</b> <b>light</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>already</b> <b>long</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>noon</b>, <b>was</b> <b>shining</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>windy</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>The</b> <b>pent</b> <b>waters</b> <b>spread</b> <b>out</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>oval</b> <b>lake</b>, <b>pale</b> <b>Nen</b> <b>Hithoel</b>, <b>fenced</b> <b>by</b> <b>steep</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hills</b> <b>whose</b> <b>sides</b> <b>were</b> <b>clad</b> <b>with</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>but</b> <b>their</b> <b>heads</b> <b>were</b> <b>bare</b>, <b>cold</b>-<b>gleaming</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sunlight</b>. <b>At</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>southern</b> <b>end</b> <b>rose</b> <b>three</b> <b>peaks</b>. <b>The</b> <b>midmost</b> <b>stood</b> <b>somewhat</b> <b>forward</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>and</b> <b>sundered</b> <b>from</b> <b>them</b>, <b>an</b> <b>island</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>waters</b>, <b>about</b> <b>which</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>River</b> <b>flung</b> <b>pale</b> <b>shimmering</b> <b>arms</b>. <b>Distant</b> <b>but</b> <b>deep</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b> <b>a</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>sound</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>roll</b> <b>of</b> <b>thunder</b> <b>heard</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>.<br>
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“<b>Behold</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>pointing</b> <b>south</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>peak</b>. “<b>Upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>left</b> <b>stands</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Lhaw</b>, <b>and</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>is</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b> <b>the</b> <b>Hills</b> <b>of</b> <b>Hearing</b> <b>and</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sight</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>kings</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>high</b> <b>seats</b> <b>upon</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>watch</b> <b>was</b> <b>kept</b> <b>there</b>. <b>But</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>said</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>man</b> <b>or</b> <b>beast</b> <b>has</b> <b>ever</b> <b>been</b> <b>set</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b>. <b>Ere</b> <b>the</b> <b>shade</b> <b>of</b> <b>night</b> <b>falls</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>them</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hear</b> <b>the</b> <b>endless</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>calling</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>Company</b> <b>rested</b> <b>now</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>drifting</b> <b>south</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>current</b> <b>that</b> <b>flowed</b> <b>through</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b>. <b>They</b> <b>ate</b> <b>some</b> <b>food</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>they</b> <b>took</b> <b>to</b> <b>their</b> <b>paddles</b> <b>and</b> <b>hastened</b> <b>on</b> <b>their</b> <b>way</b>. <b>The</b> <b>sides</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>westward</b> <b>hills</b> <b>fell</b> <b>into</b> <b>shadow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>grew</b> <b>round</b> <b>and</b> <b>red</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>a</b> <b>misty</b> <b>star</b> <b>peered</b> <b>out</b>. <b>The</b> <b>three</b> <b>peaks</b> <b>loomed</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>, <b>darkling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>twilight</b>. <b>Rauros</b> <b>was</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>voice</b>. <b>Already</b> <b>night</b> <b>was</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>flowing</b> <b>waters</b> <b>when</b> <b>the</b> <b>travellers</b> <b>came</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hills</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>tenth</b> <b>day</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>journey</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b>. <b>Wilderland</b> <b>was</b> <b>behind</b> <b>them</b>. <b>They</b> <b>could</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>without</b> <b>choice</b> <b>between</b> <b>the</b> <b>east</b>-<b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>west</b>. <b>The</b> <b>last</b> <b>stage</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>was</b> <b>before</b> <b>them</b>.<br>
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<br>
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<br>
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<b>Chapter</b> 10<br>
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<b>THE</b> <b>BREAKING</b> <b>OF</b> <b>THE</b> <b>FELLOWSHIP</b><br>
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<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>led</b> <b>them</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>right</b> <b>arm</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>. <b>Here</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>western</b> <b>side</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>ran</b> <b>down</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>feet</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>. <b>Behind</b> <b>it</b> <b>rose</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>gentle</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b> <b>clad</b> <b>with</b> <b>trees</b>, <b>and</b> <b>trees</b> <b>marched</b> <b>away</b> <b>westward</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>curving</b> <b>shores</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lake</b>. <b>A</b> <b>little</b> <b>spring</b> <b>fell</b> <b>tumbling</b> <b>down</b> <b>and</b> <b>fed</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>.<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>we</b> <b>will</b> <b>rest</b> <b>tonight</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>of</b> <b>Parth</b> <b>Galen</b>: <b>a</b> <b>fair</b> <b>place</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>summer</b> <b>days</b> <b>of</b> <b>old</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>no</b> <b>evil</b> <b>has</b> <b>yet</b> <b>come</b> <b>here</b>.”<br>
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<b>They</b> <b>drew</b> <b>up</b> <b>their</b> <b>boats</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>green</b> <b>banks</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beside</b> <b>them</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>their</b> <b>camp</b>. <b>They</b> <b>set</b> <b>a</b> <b>watch</b>, <b>but</b> <b>had</b> <b>no</b> <b>sight</b> <b>nor</b> <b>sound</b> <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>enemies</b>. <b>If</b> <b>Gollum</b> <b>had</b> <b>contrived</b> <b>to</b> <b>follow</b> <b>them</b>, <b>he</b> <b>remained</b> <b>unseen</b> <b>and</b> <b>unheard</b>. <b>Nonetheless</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b> <b>wore</b> <b>on</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>grew</b> <b>uneasy</b>, <b>tossing</b> <b>often</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>sleep</b> <b>and</b> <b>waking</b>. <b>In</b> <b>the</b> <b>small</b> <b>hours</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>whose</b> <b>turn</b> <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>to</b> <b>watch</b>.<br>
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“<b>Why</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>waking</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>your</b> <b>watch</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>; “<b>but</b> <b>a</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>threat</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>growing</b> <b>in</b> <b>my</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>well</b> <b>to</b> <b>draw</b> <b>your</b> <b>sword</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Why</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Are</b> <b>enemies</b> <b>at</b> <b>hand</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>may</b> <b>show</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>then</b> <b>drew</b> <b>the</b> <b>elf</b>-<b>blade</b> <b>from</b> <b>its</b> <b>sheath</b>. <b>To</b> <b>his</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>the</b> <b>edges</b> <b>gleamed</b> <b>dimly</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>night</b>. “<b>Orcs</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>very</b> <b>near</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>too</b> <b>near</b>, <b>it</b> <b>seems</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>feared</b> <b>as</b> <b>much</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>maybe</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>. <b>The</b> <b>light</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sting</b> <b>is</b> <b>faint</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>may</b> <b>point</b> <b>to</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>than</b> <b>spies</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>roaming</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Lhaw</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>heard</b> <b>before</b> <b>of</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>who</b> <b>knows</b> <b>what</b> <b>may</b> <b>happen</b> <b>in</b> <b>these</b> <b>evil</b> <b>days</b>, <b>now</b> <b>that</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>holds</b> <b>secure</b> <b>the</b> <b>passages</b> <b>of</b> <b>Anduin</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>warily</b> <b>tomorrow</b>.”<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>day</b> <b>came</b> <b>like</b> <b>fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>smoke</b>. <b>Low</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>black</b> <b>bars</b> <b>of</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>like</b> <b>the</b> <b>fumes</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>burning</b>. <b>The</b> <b>rising</b> <b>sun</b> <b>lit</b> <b>them</b> <b>from</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>with</b> <b>flames</b> <b>of</b> <b>murky</b> <b>red</b>; <b>but</b> <b>soon</b> <b>it</b> <b>climbed</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>clear</b> <b>sky</b>. <b>The</b> <b>summit</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b> <b>was</b> <b>tipped</b> <b>with</b> <b>gold</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>and</b> <b>gazed</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>island</b>. <b>Its</b> <b>sides</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>sheer</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>running</b> <b>water</b>. <b>High</b> <b>up</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>were</b> <b>steep</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>upon</b> <b>which</b> <b>trees</b> <b>climbed</b>, <b>mounting</b> <b>one</b> <b>head</b> <b>above</b> <b>another</b>; <b>and</b> <b>above</b> <b>them</b> <b>again</b> <b>were</b> <b>grey</b> <b>faces</b> <b>of</b> <b>inaccessible</b> <b>rock</b>, <b>crowned</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>spire</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>Many</b> <b>birds</b> <b>were</b> <b>circling</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>, <b>but</b> <b>no</b> <b>sign</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>living</b> <b>things</b> <b>could</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>.<br>
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<b>When</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>eaten</b>, <b>Aragorn</b> <b>called</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>together</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>day</b> <b>has</b> <b>come</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>: “<b>the</b> <b>day</b> <b>of</b> <b>choice</b> <b>which</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>long</b> <b>delayed</b>. <b>What</b> <b>shall</b> <b>now</b> <b>become</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>Company</b> <b>that</b> <b>has</b> <b>travelled</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>in</b> <b>fellowship</b>? <b>Shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>turn</b> <b>west</b> <b>with</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>wars</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b>; <b>or</b> <b>turn</b> <b>east</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>Shadow</b>; <b>or</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>break</b> <b>our</b> <b>fellowship</b> <b>and</b> <b>go</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>that</b> <b>as</b> <b>each</b> <b>may</b> <b>choose</b>? <b>Whatever</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>done</b> <b>soon</b>. <b>We</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>long</b> <b>halt</b> <b>here</b>. <b>The</b> <b>enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>eastern</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>we</b> <b>know</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>may</b> <b>already</b> <b>be</b> <b>on</b> <b>this</b> <b>side</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>.”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>long</b> <b>silence</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>no</b> <b>one</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>or</b> <b>moved</b>.<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>burden</b> <b>is</b> <b>laid</b> <b>upon</b> <b>you</b>. <b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bearer</b> <b>appointed</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>. <b>Your</b> <b>own</b> <b>way</b> <b>you</b> <b>alone</b> <b>can</b> <b>choose</b>. <b>In</b> <b>this</b> <b>matter</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>advise</b> <b>you</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>not</b> <b>Gandalf</b>, <b>and</b> <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>tried</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b> <b>his</b> <b>part</b>, <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>design</b> <b>or</b> <b>hope</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>for</b> <b>this</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>if</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>any</b>. <b>Most</b> <b>likely</b> <b>it</b> <b>seems</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>were</b> <b>here</b> <b>now</b> <b>the</b> <b>choice</b> <b>would</b> <b>still</b> <b>wait</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>. <b>Such</b> <b>is</b> <b>your</b> <b>fate</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>slowly</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>haste</b> <b>is</b> <b>needed</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>choose</b>. <b>The</b> <b>burden</b> <b>is</b> <b>heavy</b>. <b>Give</b> <b>me</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b> <b>longer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>speak</b>. <b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>be</b> <b>alone</b>!”<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>looked</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>with</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>pity</b>. “<b>Very</b> <b>well</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>son</b> <b>of</b> <b>Drogo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>shall</b> <b>be</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>stay</b> <b>here</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>. <b>But</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>stray</b> <b>far</b> <b>or</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>call</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>sat</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>bowed</b>. <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>watching</b> <b>his</b> <b>master</b> <b>with</b> <b>great</b> <b>concern</b>, <b>shook</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>and</b> <b>muttered</b>: “<b>Plain</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>pikestaff</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b> <b>putting</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>just</b> <b>now</b>.” ,<br>
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<b>Presently</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>away</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>saw</b> <b>that</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>restrained</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>and</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>stare</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b>, <b>the</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>followed</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>intently</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>passed</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>foot</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>.<br>
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<b>Wandering</b> <b>aimlessly</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wood</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>found</b> <b>that</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b> <b>were</b> <b>leading</b> <b>him</b> <b>up</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>. <b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b>, <b>the</b> <b>dwindling</b> <b>ruins</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>road</b> <b>of</b> <b>long</b> <b>ago</b>. <b>In</b> <b>steep</b> <b>places</b> <b>stairs</b> <b>of</b> <b>stone</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>hewn</b>, <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>cracked</b> <b>and</b> <b>worn</b>, <b>and</b> <b>split</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>roots</b> <b>of</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>For</b> <b>some</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>climbed</b>, <b>not</b> <b>caring</b> <b>which</b> <b>way</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b>, <b>until</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>grassy</b> <b>place</b>. <b>Rowan</b>-<b>trees</b> <b>grew</b> <b>about</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>midst</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>flat</b> <b>stone</b>. <b>The</b> <b>little</b> <b>upland</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>was</b> <b>open</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>and</b> <b>was</b> <b>filled</b> <b>now</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>early</b> <b>sunlight</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>halted</b> <b>and</b> <b>looked</b> <b>out</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>far</b> <b>below</b> <b>him</b>, <b>to</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>birds</b> <b>wheeling</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>gulf</b> <b>of</b> <b>air</b> <b>between</b> <b>him</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>untrodden</b> <b>isle</b>. <b>The</b> <b>voice</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>roaring</b> <b>mingled</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>deep</b> <b>throbbing</b> <b>boom</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>and</b> <b>cupped</b> <b>his</b> <b>chin</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>staring</b> <b>eastwards</b> <b>but</b> <b>seeing</b> <b>little</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>. <b>All</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>happened</b> <b>since</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>left</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>was</b> <b>passing</b> <b>through</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>recalled</b> <b>and</b> <b>pondered</b> <b>everything</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>remember</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gandalf</b>'<b>s</b> <b>words</b>. <b>Time</b> <b>went</b> <b>on</b>, <b>and</b> <b>still</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>a</b> <b>choice</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>awoke</b> <b>from</b> <b>his</b> <b>thoughts</b>: <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>feeling</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b> <b>that</b> <b>something</b> <b>was</b> <b>behind</b> <b>him</b>, <b>that</b> <b>unfriendly</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b>. <b>He</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>turned</b>; <b>but</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>surprise</b> <b>was</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>smiling</b> <b>and</b> <b>kind</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>coming</b> <b>forward</b>. “<b>If</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>is</b> <b>right</b> <b>and</b> <b>Orcs</b> <b>are</b> <b>near</b>, <b>then</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>should</b> <b>wander</b> <b>alone</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>least</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b>: <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>depends</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>. <b>And</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>too</b> <b>is</b> <b>heavy</b>. <b>May</b> <b>I</b> <b>stay</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>talk</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>, <b>since</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>found</b> <b>you</b>? <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>comfort</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>there</b> <b>are</b> <b>so</b> <b>many</b>, <b>all</b> <b>speech</b> <b>becomes</b> <b>a</b> <b>debate</b> <b>without</b> <b>end</b>. <b>But</b> <b>two</b> <b>together</b> <b>may</b> <b>perhaps</b> <b>find</b> <b>wisdom</b>.”<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>are</b> <b>kind</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>any</b> <b>speech</b> <b>will</b> <b>help</b> <b>me</b>. <b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>do</b>, <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b> <b>of</b> <b>doing</b> <b>it</b>, <b>Boromir</b>: <b>afraid</b>.”<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>stood</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>Rauros</b> <b>roared</b> <b>endlessly</b> <b>on</b>. <b>The</b> <b>wind</b> <b>murmured</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>branches</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>shivered</b>.<br>
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<b>Suddenly</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>came</b> <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>beside</b> <b>him</b>. “<b>Are</b> <b>you</b> <b>sure</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>suffer</b> <b>needlessly</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>. <b>You</b> <b>need</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>hard</b> <b>choice</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>take</b> <b>mine</b>?”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>already</b> <b>what</b> <b>counsel</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>give</b>, <b>Boromir</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>seem</b> <b>like</b> <b>wisdom</b> <b>but</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>warning</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Warning</b>? <b>Warning</b> <b>against</b> <b>what</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>sharply</b>.<br>
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“<b>Against</b> <b>delay</b>. <b>Against</b> <b>the</b> <b>way</b> <b>that</b> <b>seems</b> <b>easier</b>. <b>Against</b> <b>refusal</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>burden</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>laid</b> <b>on</b> <b>me</b>. <b>Against</b>-<b>well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>must</b> <b>be</b> <b>said</b>, <b>against</b> <b>trust</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>strength</b> <b>and</b> <b>truth</b> <b>of</b> <b>Men</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>that</b> <b>strength</b> <b>has</b> <b>long</b> <b>protected</b> <b>you</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b> <b>in</b> <b>your</b> <b>little</b> <b>country</b>, <b>though</b> <b>you</b> <b>knew</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>the</b> <b>valour</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>people</b>. <b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>changing</b>. <b>The</b> <b>walls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>strong</b>, <b>but</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>not</b> <b>strong</b> <b>enough</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>fail</b>, <b>what</b> <b>then</b>?”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>fall</b> <b>in</b> <b>battle</b> <b>valiantly</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>there</b> <b>is</b> <b>still</b> <b>hope</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>fail</b>.”<br>
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“<b>No</b> <b>hope</b> <b>while</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>lasts</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>Ah</b>! <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>lighting</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Ring</b>! <b>Is</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>strange</b> <b>fate</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>suffer</b> <b>so</b> <b>much</b> <b>fear</b> <b>and</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>for</b> <b>so</b> <b>small</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b>? <b>So</b> <b>small</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b>! <b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>seen</b> <b>it</b> <b>only</b> <b>for</b> <b>an</b> <b>instant</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>House</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elrond</b>. <b>Could</b> <b>I</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>sight</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>again</b>?”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>looked</b> <b>up</b>. <b>His</b> <b>heart</b> <b>went</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>cold</b>. <b>He</b> <b>caught</b> <b>the</b> <b>strange</b> <b>gleam</b> <b>in</b> <b>Boromir</b>'<b>s</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>yet</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>still</b> <b>kind</b> <b>and</b> <b>friendly</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>best</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>should</b> <b>lie</b> <b>hidden</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>.<br>
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“<b>As</b> <b>you</b> <b>wish</b>. <b>I</b> <b>care</b> <b>not</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>may</b> <b>I</b> <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>? <b>For</b> <b>you</b> <b>seem</b> <b>ever</b> <b>to</b> <b>think</b> <b>only</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>power</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>hands</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>: <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>evil</b> <b>uses</b> <b>not</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>good</b>. <b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>is</b> <b>changing</b>, <b>you</b> <b>say</b>. <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>will</b> <b>fall</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>lasts</b>. <b>But</b> <b>why</b>? <b>Certainly</b>, <b>if</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>were</b> <b>with</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b>. <b>But</b> <b>why</b>, <b>if</b> <b>it</b> <b>were</b> <b>with</b> <b>us</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Were</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>Council</b>? “<b>answered</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Because</b> <b>we</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>use</b> <b>it</b>, <b>and</b> <b>what</b> <b>is</b> <b>done</b> <b>with</b> <b>it</b> <b>turns</b> <b>to</b> <b>evil</b>.”<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>got</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>about</b> <b>impatiently</b>. “<b>So</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b> <b>on</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>Gandalf</b>, <b>Elrond</b>—<b>all</b> <b>these</b> <b>folk</b> <b>have</b> <b>taught</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>so</b>. <b>For</b> <b>themselves</b> <b>they</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>right</b>. <b>These</b> <b>elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>half</b>-<b>elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>wizards</b>, <b>they</b> <b>would</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>grief</b> <b>perhaps</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>often</b> <b>I</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>are</b> <b>wise</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>merely</b> <b>timid</b>. <b>But</b> <b>each</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>kind</b>. <b>True</b>-<b>hearted</b> <b>Men</b>, <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>corrupted</b>. <b>We</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>staunch</b> <b>through</b> <b>long</b> <b>years</b> <b>of</b> <b>trial</b>. <b>We</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>desire</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>wizard</b>-<b>lords</b>, <b>only</b> <b>strength</b> <b>to</b> <b>defend</b> <b>ourselves</b>, <b>strength</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>just</b> <b>cause</b>. <b>And</b> <b>behold</b>! <b>in</b> <b>our</b> <b>need</b> <b>chance</b> <b>brings</b> <b>to</b> <b>light</b> <b>the</b> -<b>Ring</b> <b>of</b> <b>Power</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>a</b> <b>gift</b>, <b>I</b> <b>say</b>; <b>a</b> <b>gift</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>foes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>mad</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>it</b>, <b>to</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>against</b> <b>him</b>. <b>The</b> <b>fearless</b>, <b>the</b> <b>ruthless</b>, <b>these</b> <b>alone</b> <b>will</b> <b>achieve</b> <b>victory</b>. <b>What</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>a</b> <b>warrior</b> <b>do</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>leader</b>? <b>What</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>do</b>? <b>Or</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>refuses</b>, <b>why</b> <b>not</b> <b>Boromir</b>? <b>The</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>would</b> <b>give</b> <b>me</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>Command</b>. <b>How</b> <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>drive</b> <b>the</b> <b>hosts</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>men</b> <b>would</b> <b>flock</b> <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>banner</b>!”<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>strode</b> <b>up</b> <b>and</b> <b>down</b>, <b>speaking</b> <b>ever</b> <b>more</b> <b>loudly</b>: <b>Almost</b> <b>he</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>forgotten</b> <b>Frodo</b>, <b>while</b> <b>his</b> <b>talk</b> <b>dwelt</b> <b>on</b> <b>walls</b> <b>and</b> <b>weapons</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>mustering</b> <b>of</b> <b>men</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>plans</b> <b>for</b> <b>great</b> <b>alliances</b> <b>and</b> <b>glorious</b> <b>victories</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b>; <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>cast</b> <b>down</b> <b>Mordor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>became</b> <b>himself</b> <b>a</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>king</b>, <b>benevolent</b> <b>and</b> <b>wise</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>and</b> <b>waved</b> <b>his</b> <b>arms</b>.<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>they</b> <b>tell</b> <b>us</b> <b>to</b> <b>throw</b> <b>it</b> <b>away</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>say</b> <b>destroy</b> <b>it</b>. <b>That</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>well</b>, <b>if</b> <b>reason</b> <b>could</b> <b>show</b> <b>any</b> <b>hope</b> <b>of</b> <b>doing</b> <b>so</b>. <b>It</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b>. <b>The</b> <b>only</b> <b>plan</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>proposed</b> <b>to</b> <b>us</b> <b>is</b> <b>that</b> <b>a</b> <b>halfling</b> <b>should</b> <b>walk</b> <b>blindly</b> <b>into</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>and</b> <b>offer</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>every</b> <b>chance</b> <b>of</b> <b>recapturing</b> <b>it</b> <b>for</b> <b>himself</b>. <b>Folly</b>!<br>
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“<b>Surely</b> <b>you</b> <b>see</b> <b>it</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friend</b>?” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>, <b>turning</b> <b>now</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>again</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>If</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>so</b>, <b>the</b> <b>boldest</b> <b>should</b> <b>pardon</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>not</b> <b>really</b> <b>your</b> <b>good</b> <b>sense</b> <b>that</b> <b>revolts</b>?”<br>
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“<b>No</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>afraid</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Simply</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>glad</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>you</b> <b>speak</b> <b>so</b> <b>fully</b>. <b>My</b> <b>mind</b> <b>is</b> <b>clearer</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Then</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>? “<b>cried</b> <b>Boromir</b>. <b>His</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>were</b> <b>shining</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b> <b>eager</b>.<br>
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“<b>You</b> <b>misunderstand</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b> <b>come</b>, <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b>? “<b>Boromir</b> <b>persisted</b>. “<b>My</b> <b>city</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>far</b> <b>now</b>; <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>little</b> <b>further</b> <b>from</b> <b>there</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>than</b> <b>from</b> <b>here</b>. <b>We</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>long</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>wilderness</b>, <b>and</b> <b>you</b> <b>need</b> <b>news</b> <b>of</b> <b>what</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>is</b> <b>doing</b> <b>before</b> <b>you</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>move</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Frodo</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>You</b> <b>need</b> <b>rest</b> <b>before</b> <b>your</b> <b>venture</b>. <b>if</b> <b>go</b> <b>you</b> <b>must</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>laid</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>hobbit</b>'<b>s</b> <b>shoulder</b> <b>in</b> <b>friendly</b> <b>fashion</b>; <b>but</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>hand</b> <b>trembling</b> <b>with</b> <b>suppressed</b> <b>excitement</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>away</b>, <b>and</b> <b>eyed</b> <b>with</b> <b>alarm</b> <b>the</b> <b>tall</b> <b>Man</b>, <b>nearly</b> <b>twice</b> <b>his</b> <b>height</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>times</b> <b>his</b> <b>match</b> <b>in</b> <b>strength</b>.<br>
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“<b>Why</b> <b>are</b> <b>you</b> <b>so</b> <b>unfriendly</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>a</b> <b>true</b> <b>man</b>, <b>neither</b> <b>thief</b> <b>nor</b> <b>tracker</b>. <b>I</b> <b>need</b> <b>your</b> <b>Ring</b>: <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>know</b> <b>now</b>; <b>but</b> <b>I</b> <b>give</b> <b>you</b> <b>my</b> <b>word</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>desire</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Will</b> <b>you</b> <b>not</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>make</b> <b>trial</b> <b>of</b> <b>my</b> <b>plan</b>? <b>Lend</b> <b>me</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>!”<br>
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“<b>No</b>! <b>no</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>Council</b> <b>laid</b> <b>it</b> <b>upon</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>bear</b> <b>it</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>by</b> <b>our</b> <b>own</b> <b>folly</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>will</b> <b>defeat</b> <b>us</b>,” <b>cried</b> <b>Boromir</b>. “<b>How</b> <b>it</b> <b>angers</b> <b>me</b>! <b>Fool</b>! <b>Obstinate</b> <b>fool</b>! <b>Running</b> <b>wilfully</b> <b>to</b> <b>death</b> <b>and</b> <b>ruining</b> <b>our</b> <b>cause</b>. <b>If</b> <b>any</b> <b>mortals</b> <b>have</b> <b>claim</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>men</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b>, <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>Halflings</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>yours</b> <b>save</b> <b>by</b> <b>unhappy</b> <b>chance</b>. <b>It</b> <b>might</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>mine</b>. <b>It</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>mine</b>. <b>Give</b> <b>it</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>!”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>answer</b>, <b>but</b> <b>moved</b> <b>away</b> <b>till</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>flat</b> <b>stone</b> <b>stood</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b>. “<b>Come</b>, <b>come</b>, <b>my</b> <b>friend</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>softer</b> <b>voice</b>. “<b>Why</b> <b>not</b> <b>get</b> <b>rid</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>not</b> <b>be</b> <b>free</b> <b>of</b> <b>your</b> <b>doubt</b> <b>and</b> <b>fear</b>? <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>lay</b> <b>the</b> <b>blame</b> <b>on</b> <b>me</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>will</b>. <b>You</b> <b>can</b> <b>say</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>was</b> <b>too</b> <b>strong</b> <b>and</b> <b>took</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>force</b>. <b>For</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>too</b> <b>strong</b> <b>for</b> <b>you</b>, <b>halfling</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>cried</b>; <b>and</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>and</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>at</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>His</b> <b>fair</b> <b>and</b> <b>pleasant</b> <b>face</b> <b>was</b> <b>hideously</b> <b>changed</b>; <b>a</b> <b>raging</b> <b>fire</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>dodged</b> <b>aside</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>between</b> <b>them</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>only</b> <b>one</b> <b>thing</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>do</b>: <b>trembling</b> <b>he</b> <b>pulled</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>chain</b> <b>and</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>, <b>even</b> <b>as</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>at</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Man</b> <b>gasped</b>, <b>stared</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b> <b>amazed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>ran</b> <b>wildly</b> <b>about</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>rocks</b> <b>and</b> <b>trees</b>.<br>
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“<b>Miserable</b> <b>trickster</b>!” <b>he</b> <b>shouted</b>. “<b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>get</b> <b>my</b> <b>hands</b> <b>on</b> <b>you</b>! <b>Now</b> <b>I</b> <b>see</b> <b>your</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>You</b> <b>will</b> <b>take</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>to</b> <b>Sauron</b> <b>and</b> <b>sell</b> <b>us</b> <b>all</b>. <b>You</b> <b>have</b> <b>only</b> <b>waited</b> <b>your</b> <b>chance</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>us</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>lurch</b>. <b>Curse</b> <b>you</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>halflings</b> <b>to</b> <b>death</b> <b>and</b> <b>darkness</b>! “<b>Then</b>, <b>catching</b> <b>his</b> <b>foot</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>stone</b>, <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>sprawling</b> <b>and</b> <b>lay</b> <b>upon</b> <b>his</b> <b>face</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>as</b> <b>still</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>curse</b> <b>had</b> <b>struck</b> <b>him</b> <b>down</b>; <b>then</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>wept</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>rose</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>dashing</b> <b>away</b> <b>the</b> <b>tears</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>said</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>cried</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>have</b> <b>I</b> <b>done</b>? <b>Frodo</b>, <b>Frodo</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>called</b>. “<b>Come</b> <b>back</b>! <b>A</b> <b>madness</b> <b>took</b> <b>me</b>, <b>but</b> <b>it</b> <b>has</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>back</b>!”<br>
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<b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>answer</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>even</b> <b>hear</b> <b>his</b> <b>cries</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>already</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>leaping</b> <b>blindly</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>-<b>top</b>. <b>Terror</b> <b>and</b> <b>grief</b> <b>shook</b> <b>him</b>, <b>seeing</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>thought</b> <b>the</b> <b>mad</b> <b>fierce</b> <b>face</b> <b>of</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>burning</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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<b>Soon</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>alone</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>summit</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>gasping</b> <b>for</b> <b>breath</b>. <b>He</b> <b>saw</b> <b>as</b> <b>through</b> <b>a</b> <b>mist</b> <b>a</b> <b>wide</b> <b>flat</b> <b>circle</b>, <b>paved</b> <b>with</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>flags</b>, <b>and</b> <b>surrounded</b> <b>with</b> <b>a</b> <b>crumbling</b> <b>battlement</b>; <b>and</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>middle</b>, <b>set</b> <b>upon</b> <b>four</b> <b>carven</b> <b>pillars</b>, <b>was</b> <b>a</b> <b>high</b> <b>seat</b>, <b>reached</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>stair</b> <b>of</b> <b>many</b> <b>steps</b>. <b>Up</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>chair</b>, <b>feeling</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>lost</b> <b>child</b> <b>that</b> <b>had</b> <b>clambered</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>throne</b> <b>of</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>kings</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>first</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>see</b> <b>little</b>. <b>He</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>world</b> <b>of</b> <b>mist</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>there</b> <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>shadows</b>: <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>was</b> <b>upon</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>here</b> <b>and</b> <b>there</b> <b>the</b> <b>mist</b> <b>gave</b> <b>way</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>many</b> <b>visions</b>: <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>clear</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>under</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>upon</b> <b>a</b> <b>table</b>, <b>and</b> <b>yet</b> <b>remote</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>sound</b>, <b>only</b> <b>bright</b> <b>living</b> <b>images</b>. <b>The</b> <b>world</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>shrunk</b> <b>and</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>silent</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>Seat</b> <b>of</b> <b>Seeing</b>, <b>on</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>, <b>the</b> <b>Hill</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eye</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Men</b> <b>of</b> <b>N</b>?<b>menor</b>. <b>Eastward</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>into</b> <b>wide</b> <b>uncharted</b> <b>lands</b>, <b>nameless</b> <b>plains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>forests</b> <b>unexplored</b>. <b>Northward</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>lay</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>ribbon</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>him</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>stood</b> <b>small</b> <b>and</b> <b>hard</b> <b>as</b> <b>broken</b> <b>teeth</b>. <b>Westward</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>and</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>broad</b> <b>pastures</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Orthanc</b>, <b>the</b> <b>pinnacle</b> <b>of</b> <b>Isengard</b>, <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>black</b> <b>spike</b>. <b>Southward</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b>, <b>and</b> <b>below</b> <b>his</b> <b>very</b> <b>feet</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>River</b> <b>curled</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>toppling</b> <b>wave</b> <b>and</b> <b>plunged</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rauros</b> <b>into</b> <b>a</b> <b>foaming</b> <b>pit</b>; <b>a</b> <b>glimmering</b> <b>rainbow</b> <b>played</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>fume</b>. <b>And</b> <b>Ethir</b> <b>Anduin</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b>, <b>the</b> <b>mighty</b> <b>delta</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b>, <b>and</b> <b>myriads</b> <b>of</b> <b>sea</b>-<b>birds</b> <b>whirling</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>white</b> <b>dust</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>sun</b>, <b>and</b> <b>beneath</b> <b>them</b> <b>a</b> <b>green</b> <b>and</b> <b>silver</b> <b>sea</b>, <b>rippling</b> <b>in</b> <b>endless</b> <b>lines</b>.<br>
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<b>But</b> <b>everywhere</b> <b>he</b> <b>looked</b> <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>the</b> <b>signs</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b>. <b>The</b> <b>Misty</b> <b>Mountains</b> <b>were</b> <b>crawling</b> <b>like</b> <b>anthills</b>: <b>orcs</b> <b>were</b> <b>issuing</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>a</b> <b>thousand</b> <b>holes</b>. <b>Under</b> <b>the</b> <b>boughs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mirkwood</b> <b>there</b> <b>was</b> <b>deadly</b> <b>strife</b> <b>of</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>Men</b> <b>and</b> <b>fell</b> <b>beasts</b>. <b>The</b> <b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Beornings</b> <b>was</b> <b>aflame</b>; <b>a</b> <b>cloud</b> <b>was</b> <b>over</b> <b>Moria</b>; <b>smoke</b> <b>rose</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>borders</b> <b>of</b> <b>L</b>?<b>rien</b>.<br>
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<b>Horsemen</b> <b>were</b> <b>galloping</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rohan</b>; <b>wolves</b> <b>poured</b> <b>from</b> <b>Isengard</b>. <b>From</b> <b>the</b> <b>havens</b> <b>of</b> <b>Harad</b> <b>ships</b> <b>of</b> <b>war</b> <b>put</b> <b>out</b> <b>to</b> <b>sea</b>; <b>and</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>East</b> <b>Men</b> <b>were</b> <b>moving</b> <b>endlessly</b>: <b>swordsmen</b>, <b>spearmen</b>, <b>bowmen</b> <b>upon</b> <b>horses</b>, <b>chariots</b> <b>of</b> <b>chieftains</b> <b>and</b> <b>laden</b> <b>wains</b>. <b>All</b> <b>the</b> <b>power</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>was</b> <b>in</b> <b>motion</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>turning</b> <b>south</b> <b>again</b> <b>he</b> <b>beheld</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>. <b>Far</b> <b>away</b> <b>it</b> <b>seemed</b>. <b>and</b> <b>beautiful</b>: <b>white</b>-<b>walled</b>, <b>many</b>-<b>towered</b>, <b>proud</b> <b>and</b> <b>fair</b> <b>upon</b> <b>its</b> <b>mountain</b>-<b>seat</b>; <b>its</b> <b>battlements</b> <b>glittered</b> <b>with</b> <b>steel</b>, <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>turrets</b> <b>were</b> <b>bright</b> <b>with</b> <b>many</b> <b>banners</b>. <b>Hope</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. <b>But</b> <b>against</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>was</b> <b>set</b> <b>another</b> <b>fortress</b>, <b>greater</b> <b>and</b> <b>more</b> <b>strong</b>. <b>Thither</b>, <b>eastward</b>, <b>unwilling</b> <b>his</b> <b>eye</b> <b>was</b> <b>drawn</b>. <b>It</b> <b>passed</b> <b>the</b> <b>ruined</b> <b>bridges</b> <b>of</b> <b>Osgiliath</b>, <b>the</b> <b>grinning</b> <b>gates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Morgul</b>. <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>haunted</b> <b>Mountains</b>, <b>and</b> <b>it</b> <b>looked</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Gorgoroth</b>, <b>the</b> <b>valley</b> <b>of</b> <b>terror</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>Darkness</b> <b>lay</b> <b>there</b> <b>under</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b>. <b>Fire</b> <b>glowed</b> <b>amid</b> <b>the</b> <b>smoke</b>. <b>Mount</b> <b>Doom</b> <b>was</b> <b>burning</b>, <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>reek</b> <b>rising</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>his</b> <b>gaze</b> <b>was</b> <b>held</b>: <b>wall</b> <b>upon</b> <b>wall</b>, <b>battlement</b> <b>upon</b> <b>battlement</b>, <b>black</b>, <b>immeasurably</b> <b>strong</b>, <b>mountain</b> <b>of</b> <b>iron</b>, <b>gate</b> <b>of</b> <b>steel</b>, <b>tower</b> <b>of</b> <b>adamant</b>, <b>he</b> <b>saw</b> <b>it</b>: <b>Barad</b>-<b>d</b>?<b>r</b>, <b>Fortress</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sauron</b>. <b>All</b> <b>hope</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b>.<br>
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<b>And</b> <b>suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eye</b>. <b>There</b> <b>was</b> <b>an</b> <b>eye</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Dark</b> <b>Tower</b> <b>that</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>sleep</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knew</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>had</b> <b>become</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>gaze</b>. <b>A</b> <b>fierce</b> <b>eager</b> <b>will</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b>. <b>It</b> <b>leaped</b> <b>towards</b> <b>him</b>; <b>almost</b> <b>like</b> <b>a</b> <b>finger</b> <b>he</b> <b>felt</b> <b>it</b>, <b>searching</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Very</b> <b>soon</b> <b>it</b> <b>would</b> <b>nail</b> <b>him</b> <b>down</b>, <b>know</b> <b>just</b> <b>exactly</b> <b>where</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b>. <b>Amon</b> <b>Lhaw</b> <b>it</b> <b>touched</b>. <b>It</b> <b>glanced</b> <b>upon</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b> <b>he</b> <b>threw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>seat</b>, <b>crouching</b>, <b>covering</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hood</b>.<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>heard</b> <b>himself</b> <b>crying</b> <b>out</b>: <b>Never</b>, <b>never</b>! <b>Or</b> <b>was</b> <b>it</b>: <b>Verily</b> <b>I</b> <b>come</b>, <b>I</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>? <b>He</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>tell</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>flash</b> <b>from</b> <b>some</b> <b>other</b> <b>point</b> <b>of</b> <b>power</b> <b>there</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>another</b> <b>thought</b>: <b>Take</b> <b>it</b> <b>off</b>! <b>Take</b> <b>it</b> <b>off</b>! <b>Fool</b>, <b>take</b> <b>it</b> <b>off</b>! <b>Take</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>!<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>two</b> <b>powers</b> <b>strove</b> <b>in</b> <b>him</b>. <b>For</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>perfectly</b> <b>balanced</b> <b>between</b> <b>their</b> <b>piercing</b> <b>points</b>, <b>he</b> <b>writhed</b>, <b>tormented</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>was</b> <b>aware</b> <b>of</b> <b>himself</b> <b>again</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>neither</b> <b>the</b> <b>Voice</b> <b>nor</b> <b>the</b> <b>Eye</b>: <b>free</b> <b>to</b> <b>choose</b>, <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>one</b> <b>remaining</b> <b>instant</b> <b>in</b> <b>which</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>so</b>. <b>He</b> <b>took</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>off</b> <b>his</b> <b>finger</b>. <b>He</b> <b>was</b> <b>kneeling</b> <b>in</b> <b>clear</b> <b>sunlight</b> <b>before</b> <b>the</b> <b>high</b> <b>seat</b>. <b>A</b> <b>black</b> <b>shadow</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>like</b> <b>an</b> <b>arm</b> <b>above</b> <b>him</b>; <b>it</b> <b>missed</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b> <b>and</b> <b>groped</b> <b>out</b> <b>west</b>, <b>and</b> <b>faded</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>sky</b> <b>was</b> <b>clean</b> <b>and</b> <b>blue</b> <b>and</b> <b>birds</b> <b>sang</b> <b>in</b> <b>every</b> <b>tree</b>.<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>rose</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>feet</b>. <b>A</b> <b>great</b> <b>weariness</b> <b>was</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>, <b>but</b> <b>his</b> <b>will</b> <b>was</b> <b>firm</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>lighter</b>. <b>He</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>aloud</b> <b>to</b> <b>himself</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>do</b> <b>now</b> <b>what</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>is</b> <b>plain</b>: <b>the</b> <b>evil</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b> <b>even</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>must</b> <b>leave</b> <b>them</b> <b>before</b> <b>it</b> <b>does</b> <b>more</b> <b>harm</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>Some</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>trust</b>, <b>and</b> <b>those</b> <b>I</b> <b>can</b> <b>trust</b> <b>are</b> <b>too</b> <b>dear</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b>: <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b>. <b>Strider</b>, <b>too</b>: <b>his</b> <b>heart</b> <b>yearns</b> <b>for</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>needed</b> <b>there</b>, <b>now</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>has</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>into</b> <b>evil</b>. <b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>At</b> <b>once</b>.”<br>
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<b>He</b> <b>went</b> <b>quickly</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b> <b>and</b> <b>came</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>where</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>had</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>he</b> <b>halted</b>, <b>listening</b>. <b>He</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>hear</b> <b>cries</b> <b>and</b> <b>calls</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>near</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b> <b>below</b>.<br>
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“<b>They</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>be</b> <b>hunting</b> <b>for</b> <b>me</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b> <b>how</b> <b>long</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>away</b>. <b>Hours</b>, <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>think</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>hesitated</b>. “<b>What</b> <b>can</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b>? “<b>he</b> <b>muttered</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>now</b> <b>or</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>never</b> <b>go</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>get</b> <b>a</b> <b>chance</b> <b>again</b>. <b>I</b> <b>hate</b> <b>leaving</b> <b>them</b>, <b>and</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>without</b> <b>any</b> <b>explanation</b>. <b>But</b> <b>surely</b> <b>they</b> <b>will</b> <b>understand</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>will</b>. <b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>else</b> <b>can</b> <b>I</b> <b>do</b>?”<br>
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<b>Slowly</b> <b>he</b> <b>drew</b> <b>out</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>put</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b> <b>once</b> <b>more</b>. <b>He</b> <b>vanished</b> <b>and</b> <b>passed</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>less</b> <b>than</b> <b>a</b> <b>rustle</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>wind</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>remained</b> <b>long</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>river</b>-<b>side</b>. <b>For</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>they</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>silent</b>, <b>moving</b> <b>restlessly</b> <b>about</b>; <b>but</b> <b>now</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>in</b> <b>a</b> <b>circle</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>were</b> <b>talking</b>. <b>Every</b> <b>now</b> <b>and</b> <b>again</b> <b>they</b> <b>made</b> <b>efforts</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b> <b>of</b> <b>other</b> <b>things</b>, <b>of</b> <b>their</b> <b>long</b> <b>road</b> <b>and</b> <b>many</b> <b>adventures</b>; <b>they</b> <b>questioned</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>concerning</b> <b>the</b> <b>realm</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>and</b> <b>its</b> <b>ancient</b> <b>history</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>remnants</b> <b>of</b> <b>its</b> <b>great</b> <b>works</b> <b>that</b> <b>could</b> <b>still</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>strange</b> <b>border</b>-<b>land</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>: <b>the</b> <b>stone</b> <b>kings</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>seats</b> <b>of</b> <b>Lhaw</b> <b>and</b> <b>Hen</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>Stair</b> <b>beside</b> <b>the</b> <b>falls</b> <b>of</b> <b>Rauros</b>. <b>But</b> <b>always</b> <b>their</b> <b>thoughts</b> <b>and</b> <b>words</b> <b>strayed</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>. <b>What</b> <b>would</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>choose</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b>? <b>Why</b> <b>was</b> <b>he</b> <b>hesitating</b>?<br>
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“<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>debating</b> <b>which</b> <b>course</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>most</b> <b>desperate</b>, <b>I</b> <b>think</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>well</b> <b>he</b> <b>may</b>. <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>now</b> <b>more</b> <b>hopeless</b> <b>than</b> <b>ever</b> <b>for</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>east</b>, <b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>tracked</b> <b>by</b> <b>Gollum</b>, <b>and</b> <b>must</b> <b>fear</b> <b>that</b> <b>the</b> <b>secret</b> <b>of</b> <b>our</b> <b>journey</b> <b>is</b> <b>already</b> <b>betrayed</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>nearer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Fire</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>destruction</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Burden</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>may</b> <b>remain</b> <b>there</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>while</b> <b>and</b> <b>make</b> <b>a</b> <b>brave</b> <b>stand</b>; <b>but</b> <b>the</b> <b>Lord</b> <b>Denethor</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b> <b>his</b> <b>men</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>hope</b> <b>to</b> <b>do</b> <b>what</b> <b>even</b> <b>Elrond</b> <b>said</b> <b>was</b> <b>beyond</b> <b>his</b> <b>power</b>: <b>either</b> <b>to</b> <b>keep</b> <b>the</b> <b>Burden</b> <b>secret</b>. <b>or</b> <b>to</b> <b>hold</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>full</b> <b>might</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Enemy</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>to</b> <b>take</b> <b>it</b>. <b>Which</b> <b>way</b> <b>would</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>choose</b> <b>in</b> <b>Frodo</b>'<b>s</b> <b>place</b>? <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>we</b> <b>miss</b> <b>Gandalf</b> <b>most</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Grievous</b> <b>is</b> <b>our</b> <b>loss</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>Yet</b> <b>we</b> <b>must</b> <b>needs</b> <b>make</b> <b>up</b> <b>our</b> <b>minds</b> <b>without</b> <b>his</b> <b>aid</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>we</b> <b>decide</b>, <b>and</b> <b>so</b> <b>help</b> <b>Frodo</b>? <b>Let</b> <b>us</b> <b>call</b> <b>him</b> <b>back</b> <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>vote</b>! <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>vote</b> <b>for</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>so</b> <b>should</b> <b>I</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Gimli</b>. “<b>We</b>, <b>of</b> <b>course</b>, <b>were</b> <b>only</b> <b>sent</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bearer</b> <b>along</b> <b>the</b> <b>road</b>, <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>no</b> <b>further</b> <b>than</b> <b>we</b> <b>wished</b>; <b>and</b> <b>none</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>is</b> <b>under</b> <b>any</b> <b>oath</b> <b>or</b> <b>command</b> <b>to</b> <b>seek</b> <b>Mount</b> <b>Doom</b>. <b>Hard</b> <b>was</b> <b>my</b> <b>parting</b> <b>from</b> <b>Lothl</b>?<b>rien</b>. <b>Yet</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>come</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>say</b> <b>this</b>: <b>now</b> <b>we</b> <b>have</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>choice</b>, <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>clear</b> <b>to</b> <b>me</b> <b>that</b> <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>I</b> <b>would</b> <b>choose</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b>, <b>but</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>does</b> <b>not</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>follow</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>And</b> <b>I</b> <b>too</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Legolas</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>faithless</b> <b>now</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b> <b>farewell</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>indeed</b> <b>be</b> <b>a</b> <b>betrayal</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>all</b> <b>left</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>goes</b> <b>east</b>, <b>then</b> <b>all</b> <b>need</b> <b>not</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>; <b>nor</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>should</b>. <b>That</b> <b>venture</b> <b>is</b> <b>desperate</b>: <b>as</b> <b>much</b> <b>so</b> <b>for</b> <b>eight</b> <b>as</b> <b>for</b> <b>three</b> <b>or</b> <b>two</b>, <b>or</b> <b>one</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>If</b> <b>you</b> <b>would</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>choose</b>, <b>then</b> <b>I</b> <b>should</b> <b>appoint</b> <b>three</b> <b>companions</b>: <b>Sam</b>, <b>who</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>bear</b> <b>it</b> <b>otherwise</b>; <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b>; <b>and</b> <b>myself</b>. <b>Boromir</b> <b>will</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>own</b> <b>city</b>, <b>where</b> <b>his</b> <b>father</b> <b>and</b> <b>his</b> <b>people</b> <b>need</b> <b>him</b>; <b>and</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>should</b> <b>go</b>, <b>or</b> <b>at</b> <b>least</b> <b>Meriadoc</b> <b>and</b> <b>Peregrin</b>, <b>if</b> <b>Legolas</b> <b>is</b> <b>not</b> <b>willing</b> <b>to</b> <b>leave</b> <b>us</b>.”<br>
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“<b>That</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>do</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>leave</b> <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Pippin</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>always</b> <b>intended</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>wherever</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b>, <b>and</b> <b>we</b> <b>still</b> <b>do</b>. <b>But</b> <b>we</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>realize</b> <b>what</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>mean</b>. <b>It</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>different</b> <b>so</b> <b>far</b> <b>away</b>, <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shire</b> <b>or</b> <b>in</b> <b>Rivendell</b>. <b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>mad</b> <b>and</b> <b>cruel</b> <b>to</b> <b>let</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>go</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>we</b> <b>stop</b> <b>him</b>?”<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>stop</b> <b>him</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>that</b> <b>is</b> <b>what</b> <b>he</b> <b>is</b> <b>worrying</b> <b>about</b>, <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>sure</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>we</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>agree</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>going</b> <b>east</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>doesn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>like</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b> <b>anyone</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b>, <b>poor</b> <b>old</b> <b>fellow</b>. <b>Imagine</b> <b>it</b>: <b>going</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b> <b>alone</b>! “<b>Pippin</b> <b>shuddered</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>the</b> <b>dear</b> <b>silly</b> <b>old</b> <b>hobbit</b>, <b>he</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>he</b> <b>hasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>ask</b>. <b>He</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>stop</b> <b>him</b>, <b>we</b> <b>shan</b>'<b>t</b> <b>leave</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>think</b> <b>you</b> <b>understand</b> <b>my</b> <b>master</b> <b>at</b> <b>all</b>. <b>He</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>hesitating</b> <b>about</b> <b>which</b> <b>way</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>not</b>! <b>What</b>'<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>good</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>anyway</b>? <b>To</b> <b>him</b>, <b>I</b> <b>mean</b>, <b>begging</b> <b>your</b> <b>pardon</b>, <b>Master</b> <b>Boromir</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>added</b>, <b>and</b> <b>turned</b>. <b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>then</b> <b>that</b> <b>they</b> <b>discovered</b> <b>that</b> <b>Boromir</b>, <b>who</b> <b>at</b> <b>first</b> <b>had</b> <b>been</b> <b>sitting</b> <b>silent</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>outside</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>circle</b>, <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>longer</b> <b>there</b>.<br>
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“<b>Now</b> <b>where</b>'<b>s</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b>? “<b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>worried</b>. “<b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>queer</b> <b>lately</b>, <b>to</b> <b>my</b> <b>mind</b>. <b>But</b> <b>anyway</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>not</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>business</b>. <b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>off</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>home</b>, <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>always</b> <b>said</b>; <b>and</b> <b>no</b> <b>blame</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>But</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>he</b> <b>knows</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>find</b> <b>the</b> <b>Cracks</b> <b>of</b> <b>Doom</b>, <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>afraid</b>. <b>Now</b> <b>it</b>'<b>s</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b>, <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>just</b> <b>plain</b> <b>terrified</b>. <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>what</b> <b>his</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>is</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>had</b> <b>a</b> <b>bit</b> <b>of</b> <b>schooling</b>, <b>so</b> <b>to</b> <b>speak</b>-<b>we</b> <b>all</b> <b>have</b>-<b>since</b> <b>we</b> <b>left</b> <b>home</b>, <b>or</b> <b>he</b>'<b>d</b> <b>be</b> <b>so</b> <b>terrified</b> <b>he</b>'<b>d</b> <b>just</b> <b>fling</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>and</b> <b>bolt</b>. <b>But</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>still</b> <b>too</b> <b>frightened</b> <b>to</b> <b>start</b>. <b>And</b> <b>he</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>worrying</b> <b>about</b> <b>us</b> <b>either</b>: <b>whether</b> <b>we</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>go</b> <b>along</b> <b>with</b> <b>him</b> <b>or</b> <b>no</b>. <b>He</b> <b>knows</b> <b>we</b> <b>mean</b> <b>to</b>. <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>another</b> <b>thing</b> <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>bothering</b> <b>him</b>. <b>If</b> <b>he</b> <b>screws</b> <b>himself</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>, <b>he</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>want</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>Mark</b> <b>my</b> <b>words</b>! <b>We</b>'<b>re</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>trouble</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>comes</b> <b>back</b>. <b>For</b> <b>he</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>screw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>up</b> <b>all</b> <b>right</b>, <b>as</b> <b>sure</b> <b>as</b> <b>his</b> <b>name</b>'<b>s</b> <b>Baggins</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>believe</b> <b>you</b> <b>speak</b> <b>more</b> <b>wisely</b> <b>than</b> <b>any</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>And</b> <b>what</b> <b>shall</b> <b>we</b> <b>do</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>prove</b> <b>right</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Stop</b> <b>him</b>! <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>him</b> <b>go</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>.<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>wonder</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>He</b> <b>is</b> <b>the</b> <b>Bearer</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fate</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Burden</b> <b>is</b> <b>on</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b> <b>our</b> <b>part</b> <b>to</b> <b>drive</b> <b>him</b> <b>one</b> <b>way</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>other</b>. <b>Nor</b> <b>do</b> <b>I</b> <b>think</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>succeed</b>, <b>if</b> <b>we</b> <b>tried</b>. <b>There</b> <b>are</b> <b>other</b> <b>powers</b> <b>at</b> <b>work</b> <b>far</b> <b>stronger</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Well</b>, <b>I</b> <b>wish</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>would</b> “<b>screw</b> <b>himself</b> <b>up</b>” <b>and</b> <b>come</b> <b>back</b>. <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>us</b> <b>get</b> <b>it</b> <b>over</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>This</b> <b>waiting</b> <b>is</b> <b>horrible</b>! <b>Surely</b> <b>the</b> <b>time</b> <b>is</b> <b>up</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>The</b> <b>hour</b> <b>is</b> <b>long</b> <b>passed</b>. <b>The</b> <b>morning</b> <b>is</b> <b>wearing</b> <b>away</b>. <b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>call</b> <b>for</b> <b>him</b>.”<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>that</b> <b>moment</b> <b>Boromir</b> <b>reappeared</b>. <b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>out</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>and</b> <b>walked</b> <b>towards</b> <b>them</b> <b>without</b> <b>speaking</b>. <b>His</b> <b>face</b> <b>looked</b> <b>grim</b> <b>and</b> <b>sad</b>. <b>He</b> <b>paused</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>counting</b> <b>those</b> <b>that</b> <b>were</b> <b>present</b>, <b>and</b> <b>then</b> <b>sat</b> <b>down</b> <b>aloof</b>, <b>with</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>ground</b>.<br>
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“<b>Where</b> <b>have</b> <b>you</b> <b>been</b>, <b>Boromir</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Have</b> <b>you</b> <b>seen</b> <b>Frodo</b>?”<br>
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<b>Boromir</b> <b>hesitated</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>second</b>. “<b>Yes</b>, <b>and</b> <b>no</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b> <b>slowly</b>. “<b>Yes</b>: <b>I</b> <b>found</b> <b>him</b> <b>some</b> <b>way</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>hill</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>spoke</b> <b>to</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>urged</b> <b>him</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>to</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Tirith</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>east</b>. <b>I</b> <b>grew</b> <b>angry</b> <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>left</b> <b>me</b>. <b>He</b> <b>vanished</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>never</b> <b>seen</b> <b>such</b> <b>a</b> <b>thing</b> <b>happen</b> <b>before</b>. <b>though</b> <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>heard</b> <b>of</b> <b>it</b> <b>in</b> <b>tales</b>. <b>He</b> <b>must</b> <b>have</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>on</b>. <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b> <b>again</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>he</b> <b>would</b> <b>return</b> <b>to</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Is</b> <b>that</b> <b>all</b> <b>that</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>say</b>? “<b>said</b> <b>Aragorn</b>, <b>looking</b> <b>hard</b> <b>and</b> <b>not</b> <b>too</b> <b>kindly</b> <b>at</b> <b>Boromir</b>.<br>
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“<b>Yes</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>will</b> <b>say</b> <b>no</b> <b>more</b> <b>yet</b>.”<br>
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“<b>This</b> <b>is</b> <b>bad</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>jumping</b> <b>up</b>. “<b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>this</b> <b>Man</b> <b>has</b> <b>been</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b>. <b>Why</b> <b>should</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>put</b> <b>the</b> <b>thing</b> <b>on</b>? <b>He</b> <b>didn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>ought</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b>; <b>and</b> <b>if</b> <b>he</b> <b>has</b>, <b>goodness</b> <b>knows</b> <b>what</b> <b>may</b> <b>have</b> <b>happened</b>!”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>he</b> <b>wouldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>keep</b> <b>it</b> <b>on</b>`” <b>said</b> <b>Merry</b>. “<b>Not</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>had</b> <b>escaped</b> <b>the</b> <b>unwelcome</b> <b>visitor</b>, <b>like</b> <b>Bilbo</b> <b>used</b> <b>to</b>.”<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>where</b> <b>did</b> <b>he</b> <b>go</b>? <b>Where</b> <b>is</b> <b>he</b>? “<b>cried</b> <b>Pippin</b>. “<b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>been</b> <b>away</b> <b>ages</b> <b>now</b>.”<br>
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“<b>How</b> <b>long</b> <b>is</b> <b>it</b> <b>since</b> <b>you</b> <b>saw</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>last</b>, <b>Boromir</b>? “<b>asked</b> <b>Aragorn</b>.<br>
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“<b>Half</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>, <b>maybe</b>,” <b>he</b> <b>answered</b>. “<b>Or</b> <b>it</b> <b>might</b> <b>be</b> <b>an</b> <b>hour</b>. <b>I</b> <b>have</b> <b>wandered</b> <b>for</b> <b>some</b> <b>time</b> <b>since</b>. <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>! <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b>! “<b>He</b> <b>put</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>hands</b>, <b>and</b> <b>sat</b> <b>as</b> <b>if</b> <b>bowed</b> <b>with</b> <b>grief</b>.<br>
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“<b>An</b> <b>hour</b> <b>since</b> <b>he</b> <b>vanished</b>! “<b>shouted</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>try</b> <b>and</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>on</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Wait</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>! “<b>cried</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>We</b> <b>must</b> <b>divide</b> <b>up</b> <b>into</b> <b>pairs</b>, <b>and</b> <b>arrange</b>-<b>here</b>, <b>hold</b> <b>on</b>! <b>Wait</b>!”<br>
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<b>It</b> <b>was</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b>. <b>They</b> <b>took</b> <b>no</b> <b>notice</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>had</b> <b>dashed</b> <b>off</b> <b>first</b>. <b>Merry</b> <b>and</b> <b>Pippin</b> <b>had</b> <b>followed</b>, <b>and</b> <b>were</b> <b>already</b> <b>disappearing</b> <b>westward</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>trees</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>shouting</b>: <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Frodo</b>! <b>in</b> <b>their</b> <b>clear</b>, <b>high</b> <b>hobbit</b>-<b>voices</b>. <b>Legolas</b> <b>and</b> <b>Gimli</b> <b>were</b> <b>running</b>. <b>A</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>panic</b> <b>or</b> <b>madness</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>have</b> <b>fallen</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>Company</b>.<br>
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“<b>We</b> <b>shall</b> <b>all</b> <b>be</b> <b>scattered</b> <b>and</b> <b>lost</b>,” <b>groaned</b> <b>Aragorn</b>. “<b>Boromir</b>! <b>I</b> <b>do</b> <b>not</b> <b>know</b> <b>what</b> <b>part</b> <b>you</b> <b>have</b> <b>played</b> <b>in</b> <b>this</b> <b>mischief</b>, <b>but</b> <b>help</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Go</b> <b>after</b> <b>those</b> <b>two</b> <b>young</b> <b>hobbits</b>, <b>and</b> <b>guard</b> <b>them</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>least</b>, <b>even</b> <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>find</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>this</b> <b>spot</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>find</b> <b>him</b>, <b>or</b> <b>any</b> <b>traces</b> <b>of</b> <b>him</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>return</b> <b>soon</b>.”<br>
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<b>Aragorn</b> <b>sprang</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>away</b> <b>and</b> <b>went</b> <b>in</b> <b>pursuit</b> <b>of</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>Just</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>reached</b> <b>the</b> <b>little</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>among</b> <b>the</b> <b>rowans</b> <b>he</b> <b>overtook</b> <b>him</b>, <b>toiling</b> <b>uphill</b>, <b>panting</b> <b>and</b> <b>calling</b>, <b>Frodo</b>!<br>
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“<b>Come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Sam</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>None</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>There</b> <b>is</b> <b>mischief</b> <b>about</b>. <b>I</b> <b>feel</b> <b>it</b>. <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>top</b>, <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Seat</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Hen</b>, <b>to</b> <b>see</b> <b>what</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>seen</b>. <b>And</b> <b>look</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>as</b> <b>my</b> <b>heart</b> <b>guessed</b>, <b>Frodo</b> <b>went</b> <b>this</b> <b>way</b>. <b>Follow</b> <b>me</b>, <b>and</b> <b>keep</b> <b>your</b> <b>eyes</b> <b>open</b>! “<b>He</b> <b>sped</b> <b>up</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>.<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>did</b> <b>his</b> <b>best</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>keep</b> <b>up</b> <b>with</b> <b>Strider</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ranger</b>, <b>and</b> <b>soon</b> <b>fell</b> <b>behind</b>. <b>He</b> <b>had</b> <b>not</b> <b>gone</b> <b>far</b> <b>before</b> <b>Aragorn</b> <b>was</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>sight</b> <b>ahead</b>. <b>Sam</b> <b>stopped</b> <b>and</b> <b>puffed</b>. <b>Suddenly</b> <b>he</b> <b>clapped</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>to</b> <b>his</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
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“<b>Whoa</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>Gamgee</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b> <b>aloud</b>. “<b>Your</b> <b>legs</b> <b>are</b> <b>too</b> <b>short</b>, <b>so</b> <b>use</b> <b>your</b> <b>head</b>! <b>Let</b> <b>me</b> <b>see</b> <b>now</b>! <b>Boromir</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>lying</b>, <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>not</b> <b>his</b> <b>way</b>; <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>hasn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>told</b> <b>us</b> <b>everything</b>. <b>Something</b> <b>scared</b> <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>badly</b>. <b>He</b> <b>screwed</b> <b>himself</b> <b>up</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>point</b>, <b>sudden</b>. <b>He</b> <b>made</b> <b>up</b> <b>his</b> <b>mind</b> <b>at</b> <b>last</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b>. <b>Where</b> <b>to</b>? <b>Off</b> <b>East</b>. <b>Not</b> <b>without</b> <b>Sam</b>? <b>Yes</b>, <b>without</b> <b>even</b> <b>his</b> <b>Sam</b>. <b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hard</b>, <b>cruel</b> <b>hard</b>.”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>passed</b> <b>his</b> <b>hand</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>eyes</b>, <b>brushing</b> <b>away</b> <b>the</b> <b>tears</b>. “<b>Steady</b>, <b>Gamgee</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>Think</b>, <b>if</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>! <b>He</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>fly</b> <b>across</b> <b>rivers</b>, <b>and</b> <b>he</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>jump</b> <b>waterfalls</b>. <b>He</b>'<b>s</b> <b>got</b> <b>no</b> <b>gear</b>. <b>So</b> <b>he</b>'<b>s</b> <b>got</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>. <b>Back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>! <b>Back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b>, <b>Sam</b>, <b>like</b> <b>lightning</b>!”<br>
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<b>Sam</b> <b>turned</b> <b>and</b> <b>bolted</b> <b>back</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>path</b>. <b>He</b> <b>fell</b> <b>and</b> <b>cut</b> <b>his</b> <b>knees</b>. <b>Up</b> <b>he</b> <b>got</b> <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>on</b>. <b>He</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>edge</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>lawn</b> <b>of</b> <b>Parth</b> <b>Galen</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>where</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>were</b> <b>drawn</b> <b>up</b> <b>out</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>. <b>No</b> <b>one</b> <b>was</b> <b>there</b>. <b>There</b> <b>seemed</b> <b>to</b> <b>be</b> <b>cries</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>woods</b> <b>behind</b>, <b>but</b> <b>he</b> <b>did</b> <b>not</b> <b>heed</b> <b>them</b>. <b>He</b> <b>stood</b> <b>gazing</b> <b>for</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>. <b>stock</b>-<b>still</b>, <b>gaping</b>. <b>A</b> <b>boat</b> <b>was</b> <b>sliding</b> <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b> <b>all</b> <b>by</b> <b>itself</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>shout</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>raced</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>grass</b>. <b>The</b> <b>boat</b> <b>slipped</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>.<br>
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“<b>Coming</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>! <b>Coming</b>! “<b>called</b> <b>Sam</b>, <b>and</b> <b>flung</b> <b>himself</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>, <b>clutching</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>departing</b> <b>boat</b>. <b>He</b> <b>missed</b> <b>it</b> <b>by</b> <b>a</b> <b>yard</b>. <b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>cry</b> <b>and</b> <b>a</b> <b>splash</b> <b>he</b> <b>fell</b> <b>face</b> <b>downward</b> <b>into</b> <b>deep</b> <b>swift</b> <b>water</b>. <b>Gurgling</b> <b>he</b> <b>went</b> <b>under</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>closed</b> <b>over</b> <b>his</b> <b>curly</b> <b>head</b>.<br>
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<b>An</b> <b>exclamation</b> <b>of</b> <b>dismay</b> <b>came</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>empty</b> <b>boat</b>. <b>A</b> <b>paddle</b> <b>swirled</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>put</b> <b>about</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>was</b> <b>just</b> <b>in</b> <b>time</b> <b>to</b> <b>grasp</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>by</b> <b>the</b> <b>hair</b> <b>as</b> <b>he</b> <b>came</b> <b>up</b>, <b>bubbling</b> <b>and</b> <b>struggling</b>. <b>Fear</b> <b>was</b> <b>staring</b> <b>in</b> <b>his</b> <b>round</b> <b>brown</b> <b>eyes</b>.<br>
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“<b>Up</b> <b>you</b> <b>come</b>, <b>Sam</b> <b>my</b> <b>lad</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>Now</b> <b>take</b> <b>my</b> <b>hand</b>!”<br>
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“<b>Save</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>! “<b>gasped</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>drownded</b>. <b>I</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>see</b> <b>your</b> <b>hand</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Here</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>. <b>Don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>pinch</b>, <b>lad</b>! <b>I</b> <b>won</b>'<b>t</b> <b>let</b> <b>you</b> <b>go</b>. <b>Tread</b> <b>water</b> <b>and</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>flounder</b>, <b>or</b> <b>you</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>upset</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b>. <b>There</b> <b>now</b>, <b>get</b> <b>hold</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>side</b>, <b>and</b> <b>let</b> <b>me</b> <b>use</b> <b>the</b> <b>paddle</b>!”<br>
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<b>With</b> <b>a</b> <b>few</b> <b>strokes</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>brought</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>back</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>bank</b>. <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>was</b> <b>able</b> <b>to</b> <b>scramble</b> <b>out</b>, <b>wet</b> <b>as</b> <b>a</b> <b>water</b>-<b>rat</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>took</b> <b>off</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b> <b>and</b> <b>stepped</b> <b>ashore</b> <b>again</b>.<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>confounded</b> <b>nuisances</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b> <b>the</b> <b>worst</b>, <b>Sam</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>.<br>
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“<b>Oh</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>, <b>that</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hard</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>shivering</b>. “<b>That</b>'<b>s</b> <b>hard</b>, <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>without</b> <b>me</b> <b>and</b> <b>all</b>. <b>If</b> <b>I</b> <b>hadn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>a</b> <b>guessed</b> <b>right</b>, <b>where</b> <b>would</b> <b>you</b> <b>be</b> <b>now</b>?”<br>
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“<b>Safely</b> <b>on</b> <b>my</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Safely</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>All</b> <b>alone</b> <b>and</b> <b>without</b> <b>me</b> <b>to</b> <b>help</b> <b>you</b>? <b>I</b> <b>couldn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>have</b> <b>a</b> <b>borne</b> <b>it</b>, <b>it</b>'<b>d</b> <b>have</b> <b>been</b> <b>the</b> <b>death</b> <b>of</b> <b>me</b>.”<br>
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“<b>It</b> <b>would</b> <b>be</b> <b>the</b> <b>death</b> <b>of</b> <b>you</b> <b>to</b> <b>come</b> <b>with</b> <b>me</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>could</b> <b>not</b> <b>have</b> <b>borne</b> <b>that</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Not</b> <b>as</b> <b>certain</b> <b>as</b> <b>being</b> <b>left</b> <b>behind</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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“<b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>am</b> <b>going</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>.”<br>
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“<b>I</b> <b>know</b> <b>that</b> <b>well</b> <b>enough</b>, <b>Mr</b>. <b>Frodo</b>. <b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>you</b> <b>are</b>. <b>And</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>coming</b> <b>with</b> <b>you</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Now</b>, <b>Sam</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>, “<b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>hinder</b> <b>me</b>! <b>The</b> <b>others</b> <b>will</b> <b>be</b> <b>coming</b> <b>back</b> <b>at</b> <b>any</b> <b>minute</b>. <b>If</b> <b>they</b> <b>catch</b> <b>me</b> <b>here</b>. <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>have</b> <b>to</b> <b>argue</b> <b>and</b> <b>explain</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b> <b>shall</b> <b>never</b> <b>have</b> <b>the</b> <b>heart</b> <b>or</b> <b>the</b> <b>chance</b> <b>to</b> <b>get</b> <b>off</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b> <b>must</b> <b>go</b> <b>at</b> <b>once</b>. <b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>the</b> <b>only</b> <b>way</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Of</b> <b>course</b> <b>it</b> <b>is</b>,” <b>answered</b> <b>Sam</b>. “<b>But</b> <b>not</b> <b>alone</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>coming</b> <b>too</b>, <b>or</b> <b>neither</b> <b>of</b> <b>us</b> <b>isn</b>'<b>t</b> <b>going</b>. <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>knock</b> <b>holes</b> <b>in</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>boats</b> <b>first</b>.”<br>
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<b>Frodo</b> <b>actually</b> <b>laughed</b>. <b>A</b> <b>sudden</b> <b>warmth</b> <b>and</b> <b>gladness</b> <b>touched</b> <b>his</b> <b>heart</b>. “<b>Leave</b> <b>one</b>! “<b>he</b> <b>said</b>. “<b>We</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>need</b> <b>it</b>. <b>But</b> <b>you</b> <b>can</b>'<b>t</b> <b>come</b> <b>like</b> <b>this</b> <b>without</b> <b>your</b> <b>gear</b> <b>or</b> <b>food</b> <b>or</b> <b>anything</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Just</b> <b>hold</b> <b>on</b> <b>a</b> <b>moment</b>, <b>and</b> <b>I</b>'<b>ll</b> <b>get</b> <b>my</b> <b>stuff</b>!” <b>cried</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>eagerly</b>. “<b>It</b>'<b>s</b> <b>all</b> <b>ready</b>. <b>I</b> <b>thought</b> <b>we</b> <b>should</b> <b>be</b> <b>off</b> <b>today</b>.” <b>He</b> <b>rushed</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>camping</b> <b>place</b>, <b>fished</b> <b>out</b> <b>his</b> <b>pack</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>pile</b> <b>where</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>had</b> <b>laid</b> <b>it</b> <b>when</b> <b>he</b> <b>emptied</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>of</b> <b>his</b> <b>companions</b>” <b>goods</b> <b>grabbed</b> <b>a</b> <b>spare</b> <b>blanket</b>, <b>and</b> <b>some</b> <b>extra</b> <b>packages</b> <b>of</b> <b>food</b>, <b>and</b> <b>ran</b> <b>back</b>.<br>
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“<b>So</b> <b>all</b> <b>my</b> <b>plan</b> <b>is</b> <b>spoilt</b>! “<b>said</b> <b>Frodo</b>. “<b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>no</b> <b>good</b> <b>trying</b> <b>to</b> <b>escape</b> <b>you</b>. <b>But</b> <b>I</b>'<b>m</b> <b>glad</b>, <b>Sam</b>. <b>I</b> <b>cannot</b> <b>tell</b> <b>you</b> <b>how</b> <b>glad</b>. <b>Come</b> <b>along</b>! <b>It</b> <b>is</b> <b>plain</b> <b>that</b> <b>we</b> <b>were</b> <b>meant</b> <b>to</b> <b>go</b> <b>together</b>. <b>We</b> <b>will</b> <b>go</b>, <b>and</b> <b>may</b> <b>the</b> <b>others</b> <b>find</b> <b>a</b> <b>safe</b> <b>road</b>! <b>Strider</b> <b>will</b> <b>look</b> <b>after</b> <b>them</b>. <b>I</b> <b>don</b>'<b>t</b> <b>suppose</b> <b>we</b> <b>shall</b> <b>see</b> <b>them</b> <b>again</b>.”<br>
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“<b>Yet</b> <b>we</b> <b>may</b>, <b>Mr</b> <b>Frodo</b>. <b>We</b> <b>may</b>,” <b>said</b> <b>Sam</b>.<br>
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<b>So</b> <b>Frodo</b> <b>and</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>set</b> <b>off</b> <b>on</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>stage</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Quest</b> <b>together</b>. <b>Frodo</b> <b>paddled</b> <b>away</b> <b>from</b> <b>the</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>River</b> <b>bore</b> <b>them</b> <b>swiftly</b> <b>away</b>. <b>down</b> <b>the</b> <b>western</b> <b>arm</b>, <b>and</b> <b>past</b> <b>the</b> <b>frowning</b> <b>cliffs</b> <b>of</b> <b>Tol</b> <b>Brandir</b>. <b>The</b> <b>roar</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>great</b> <b>falls</b> <b>drew</b> <b>nearer</b>. <b>Even</b> <b>with</b> <b>such</b> <b>help</b> <b>as</b> <b>Sam</b> <b>could</b> <b>give</b>, <b>it</b> <b>was</b> <b>hard</b> <b>work</b> <b>to</b> <b>pass</b> <b>across</b> <b>the</b> <b>current</b> <b>at</b> <b>the</b> <b>southward</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>island</b> <b>and</b> <b>drive</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>eastward</b> <b>towards</b> <b>the</b> <b>far</b> <b>shore</b>.<br>
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<b>At</b> <b>length</b> <b>they</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>land</b> <b>again</b> <b>upon</b> <b>the</b> <b>southern</b> <b>slopes</b> <b>of</b> <b>Amon</b> <b>Lhaw</b>. <b>There</b> <b>they</b> <b>found</b> <b>a</b> <b>shelving</b> <b>shore</b>, <b>and</b> <b>they</b> <b>drew</b> <b>the</b> <b>boat</b> <b>out</b>, <b>high</b> <b>above</b> <b>the</b> <b>water</b>, <b>and</b> <b>hid</b> <b>it</b> <b>as</b> <b>well</b> <b>as</b> <b>they</b> <b>could</b> <b>behind</b> <b>a</b> <b>great</b> <b>boulder</b>. <b>Then</b> <b>shouldering</b> <b>their</b> <b>burdens</b>, <b>they</b> <b>set</b> <b>off</b>, <b>seeking</b> <b>a</b> <b>path</b> <b>that</b> <b>would</b> <b>bring</b> <b>them</b> <b>over</b> <b>the</b> <b>grey</b> <b>hills</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Emyn</b> <b>Muil</b>, <b>and</b> <b>down</b> <b>into</b> <b>the</b> <b>Land</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shadow</b>.<br>
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<b>Here</b> <b>ends</b> <b>the</b> <b>first</b> <b>part</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>history</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>War</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>second</b> <b>part</b> <b>is</b> <b>called</b> <b>The</b> <b>Two</b> <b>Towers</b>, <b>since</b> <b>the</b> <b>events</b> <b>recounted</b> <b>in</b> <b>it</b> <b>are</b> <b>dominated</b> <b>by</b> <b>Orthanc</b>, <b>the</b> <b>citadel</b> <b>of</b> <b>Saruman</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>fortress</b> <b>of</b> <b>Minas</b> <b>Morgul</b> <b>that</b> <b>guards</b> <b>the</b> <b>secret</b> <b>entrance</b> <b>to</b> <b>Mordor</b>; <b>it</b> <b>tells</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>deeds</b> <b>and</b> <b>perils</b> <b>of</b> <b>all</b> <b>the</b> <b>members</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>now</b> <b>sundered</b> <b>fellowship</b>, <b>until</b> <b>the</b> <b>coming</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Great</b> <b>Darkness</b>.<br>
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<b>The</b> <b>third</b> <b>part</b> <b>tells</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>last</b> <b>defence</b> <b>against</b> <b>the</b> <b>Shadow</b>, <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>mission</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Ring</b>-<b>bearer</b> <b>in</b> <b>The</b> <b>Return</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>King</b>.<br>
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1 <b>As</b> <b>the</b> <b>records</b> <b>of</b> <b>Gondor</b> <b>relate</b> <b>this</b> <b>was</b> <b>Argeleb</b> <b>II</b>, <b>the</b> <b>twentieth</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Northern</b> <b>line</b>, <b>which</b> <b>came</b> <b>to</b> <b>an</b> <b>end</b> <b>with</b> <b>Arvedui</b> <b>three</b> <b>hundred</b> <b>years</b> <b>later</b>.<br>
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2 <b>Thus</b>, <b>the</b> <b>years</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b> <b>in</b> <b>the</b> <b>reckoning</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b> <b>and</b> <b>the</b> <b>D</b>?<b>nedain</b> <b>may</b> <b>be</b> <b>found</b> <b>by</b> <b>adding</b> 1600 <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>dates</b> <b>of</b> <b>Shire</b>-<b>reckoning</b>.<br>
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3 <b>See</b> <b>Appendix</b> <b>B</b>: <b>annals</b> 1451, 1462, 1482; <b>and</b> <b>note</b> <b>at</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>Appendix</b> <b>C</b>.<br>
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4 <b>Represented</b> <b>in</b> <b>much</b> <b>reduced</b> <b>form</b> <b>in</b> <b>Appendix</b> <b>B</b> <b>as</b> <b>far</b> <b>as</b> <b>the</b> <b>end</b> <b>of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Third</b> <b>Age</b>.<br>
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* <b>See</b> <b>note</b>, <b>III</b> 54.<br>
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** <b>Elves</b> (<b>and</b> <b>Hobbits</b>) <b>always</b> <b>refer</b> <b>to</b> <b>the</b> <b>Sun</b> <b>as</b> <b>She</b>.<br>
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* <b>The</b> <b>Brandywine</b> <b>River</b><br>
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* <b>See</b> <b>Note</b> <b>in</b> <b>Appendix</b> <b>F</b>: <b>Of</b> <b>the</b> <b>Elves</b>.<br>
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