¡®¡¡¡¨How¡¡far¡¡can¡¡you¡¡bear¡¡me£¿¡¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Gwaihir¡£¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Many¡¡leagues£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sentto¡¡bear¡¡tidings¡¡not¡¡burdens¡£¡¨¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡a¡¡steed¡¡on¡¡land£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡a¡¡steed¡¡surpassinglyswift£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡had¡¡such¡¡need¡¡of¡¡haste¡¡before¡£¡¨¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡bear¡¡you¡¡to¡¡Edoras£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡of¡¡Rohan¡¡sits¡¡in¡¡hishalls£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨for¡¡that¡¡is¡¡not¡¡very¡¡far¡¡off¡£¡¨¡¡And¡¡I¡¡was¡¡glad£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡theRiddermark¡¡of¡¡Rohan¡¡the¡¡Rohirrim£»¡¡the¡¡Horse¡lords£»¡¡dwell£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡are¡¡nohorses¡¡like¡¡those¡¡that¡¡are¡¡bred¡¡in¡¡that¡¡great¡¡vale¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Misty¡¡Mountainsand¡¡the¡¡White¡£¡¡¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Are¡¡the¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡Rohan¡¡still¡¡to¡¡be¡¡trusted£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think£¿¡¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡¡¡
¡¡
Gwaihir£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡treason¡¡of¡¡Saruman¡¡had¡¡shaken¡¡my¡¡faith¡£¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨They¡¡pay¡¡a¡¡tribute¡¡of¡¡horses£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡answered£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡send¡¡many¡¡yearly¡¡toMordor£»¡¡or¡¡so¡¡it¡¡is¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡are¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡under¡¡the¡¡yoke¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡Sarumanhas¡¡bee¡¡evil£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡then¡¡their¡¡doom¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡long¡¡delayed¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡
¡®He¡¡set¡¡me¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡land¡¡of¡¡Rohan¡¡ere¡¡dawn£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡I¡¡have¡¡lengthenedmy¡¡tale¡¡over¡¡long¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡must¡¡be¡¡more¡¡brief¡£¡¡In¡¡Rohan¡¡I¡¡found¡¡evil¡¡alreadyat¡¡work£º¡¡the¡¡lies¡¡of¡¡Saruman£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡the¡¡land¡¡would¡¡not¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡mywarnings¡£¡¡He¡¡bade¡¡me¡¡take¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡be¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡chose¡¡one¡¡much¡¡to¡¡myliking¡£¡¡but¡¡little¡¡to¡¡his¡£¡¡I¡¡took¡¡the¡¡best¡¡horse¡¡in¡¡his¡¡land£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡neverseen¡¡the¡¡like¡¡of¡¡him¡£'¡¡¡¡
'Then¡¡he¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡beast¡¡indeed£»'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn£»¡¡'and¡¡it¡¡grieves¡¡memore¡¡than¡¡many¡¡tidings¡¡that¡¡might¡¡seem¡¡worse¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡that¡¡Sauron¡¡levies¡¡suchtribute¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡when¡¡last¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡that¡¡land¡£'¡¡¡¡
¡®Nor¡¡is¡¡it¡¡now£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡swear£»'¡¡said¡¡Boromir¡£¡¡¡®It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡lie¡¡that¡¡es¡¡fromthe¡¡Enemy¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡the¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡Rohan£»¡¡true¡¡and¡¡valiant£»¡¡our¡¡allies£»¡¡dwellingstill¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lands¡¡that¡¡we¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡long¡¡ago¡£'¡¡
¡®The¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡Mordor¡¡lies¡¡on¡¡distant¡¡lands£»'¡¡answered¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'Sarumanhas¡¡fallen¡¡under¡¡it¡£¡¡Rohan¡¡is¡¡beset¡£¡¡Who¡¡knows¡¡what¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find¡¡there£»¡¡ifever¡¡you¡¡return£¿'¡¡
¡®Not¡¡this¡¡at¡¡least¡£'¡¡said¡¡Boromir£»¡¡'that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡buy¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡withhorses¡£¡¡They¡¡love¡¡their¡¡horses¡¡next¡¡to¡¡their¡¡kin¡£¡¡And¡¡not¡¡without¡¡reason£»¡¡forthe¡¡horses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Riddermark¡¡e¡¡from¡¡the¡¡fields¡¡of¡¡the¡¡North£»¡¡far¡¡from¡¡theShadow¡£¡¡and¡¡their¡¡race£»¡¡as¡¡that¡¡of¡¡their¡¡masters£»¡¡is¡¡descended¡¡from¡¡the¡¡freedays¡¡of¡¡old¡£'¡¡
'True¡¡indeed£¡'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡¡®And¡¡there¡¡is¡¡one¡¡among¡¡them¡¡that¡¡might¡¡havebeen¡¡foaled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡The¡¡horses¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Nine¡¡cannot¡¡viewith¡¡him£»¡¡tireless£»¡¡swift¡¡as¡¡the¡¡flowing¡¡wind¡£¡¡Shadowfax¡¡they¡¡called¡¡him¡£¡¡Byday¡¡his¡¡coat¡¡glistens¡¡like¡¡silver£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡night¡¡it¡¡is¡¡like¡¡a¡¡shade£»¡¡and¡¡hepasses¡¡unseen¡£¡¡Light¡¡is¡¡his¡¡footfall£¡¡¡Never¡¡before¡¡had¡¡any¡¡man¡¡mounted¡¡him£»¡¡
but¡¡I¡¡took¡¡him¡¡and¡¡I¡¡tamed¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡speedily¡¡he¡¡bore¡¡me¡¡that¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡theShire¡¡when¡¡Frodo¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Barrow¡downs£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡set¡¡out¡¡from¡¡Rohan¡¡onlywhen¡¡he¡¡set¡¡out¡¡from¡¡Hobbiton¡£¡¡¡¡
'But¡¡fear¡¡grew¡¡in¡¡me¡¡as¡¡I¡¡rode¡£¡¡Ever¡¡as¡¡I¡¡came¡¡north¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡tidings¡¡ofthe¡¡Riders£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡I¡¡gained¡¡on¡¡them¡¡day¡¡by¡¡day£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡ever¡¡before¡¡me¡£¡¡
They¡¡had¡¡divided¡¡their¡¡forces£»¡¡I¡¡learned£º¡¡some¡¡remained¡¡on¡¡the¡¡easternborders£»¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Greenway¡£¡¡and¡¡some¡¡invaded¡¡the¡¡Shire¡¡from¡¡the¡¡south¡£¡¡
I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Hobbiton¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡had¡¡words¡¡with¡¡old¡¡Gamgee¡£¡¡Manywords¡¡and¡¡few¡¡to¡¡the¡¡point¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡much¡¡to¡¡say¡¡about¡¡the¡¡shortings¡¡of¡¡thenew¡¡owners¡¡of¡¡Bag¡¡End¡£¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨I¡¡can't¡¡abide¡¡changes£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨not¡¡at¡¡my¡¡time¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡least¡¡ofall¡¡changes¡¡for¡¡the¡¡worst¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Changes¡¡for¡¡the¡¡worst£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡repeated¡¡many¡¡times¡£¡¡
'¡¡¡¨Worst¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡word£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡live¡¡tosee¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡But¡¡amidst¡¡his¡¡talk¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡at¡¡last¡¡that¡¡Frodo¡¡had¡¡left¡¡Hobbitonless¡¡than¡¡a¡¡week¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡a¡¡black¡¡horseman¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Hill¡¡thesame¡¡evening¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡rode¡¡on¡¡in¡¡fear¡£¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Buckland¡¡and¡¡found¡¡it¡¡inuproar£»¡¡as¡¡busy¡¡as¡¡a¡¡hive¡¡of¡¡ants¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been¡¡stirred¡¡with¡¡a¡¡stick¡£¡¡I¡¡cameto¡¡the¡¡house¡¡at¡¡Crickhollow£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡open¡¡and¡¡empty£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡thethreshold¡¡there¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡cloak¡¡that¡¡had¡¡been¡¡Frodo's¡£¡¡Then¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡¡hope¡¡leftme£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wait¡¡to¡¡gather¡¡news£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡forted£»¡¡but¡¡Irode¡¡on¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Riders¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡follow£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡went¡¡many¡¡ways£»¡¡
and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡at¡¡a¡¡loss¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡one¡¡or¡¡two¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡towards¡¡¡¡
Bree£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡way¡¡I¡¡went£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡words¡¡that¡¡might¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡theinnkeeper¡£¡¡
'¡¡¡¨Butterbur¡¡they¡¡call¡¡him£»¡¨¡¡thought¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¨If¡¡this¡¡delay¡¡was¡¡his¡¡fault£»¡¡Iwill¡¡melt¡¡all¡¡the¡¡butter¡¡in¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡roast¡¡the¡¡old¡¡fool¡¡over¡¡a¡¡slow¡¡fire¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡
He¡¡expected¡¡no¡¡less£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡my¡¡face¡¡he¡¡fell¡¡down¡¡flat¡¡and¡¡began¡¡tomelt¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡£'¡¡
¡®What¡¡did¡¡you¡¡do¡¡to¡¡him£¿'¡¡cried¡¡Frodo¡¡in¡¡alarm¡£¡¡'He¡¡was¡¡really¡¡very¡¡kind¡¡¡¡
¡¡
to¡¡us¡¡and¡¡did¡¡all¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡£'¡¡¡¡
Gandalf¡¡laughed¡£¡¡'Don't¡¡be¡¡afraid£¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡bite£»¡¡and¡¡Ibarked¡¡very¡¡little¡£¡¡So¡¡overjoyed¡¡was¡¡I¡¡by¡¡the¡¡news¡¡that¡¡I¡¡got¡¡out¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡whenhe¡¡stopped¡¡quaking£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡embraced¡¡the¡¡old¡¡fellow¡£¡¡How¡¡it¡¡happened¡¡I¡¡couldnot¡¡then¡¡guess£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡you¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡Bree¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before£»¡¡andhad¡¡gone¡¡off¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡with¡¡Strider¡£¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Strider£¡¡¡¡¨¡¡I¡¡cried£»¡¡shouting¡¡for¡¡joy¡£¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Yes£»¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡so£»¡¡sir£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Butterbur£»¡¡mistaking¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡gotat¡¡them£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡took¡¡up¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡Theybehaved¡¡very¡¡queer¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time¡¡they¡¡were¡¡here£º¡¡wilful£»¡¡you¡¡might¡¡say¡£¡¨¡¡
¡®¡¡¡¨Ass£¡¡¡Fool£¡¡¡Thrice¡¡worthy¡¡and¡¡beloved¡¡Barliman£¡¡¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡thebest¡¡news¡¡I¡¡have¡¡had¡¡since¡¡midsummer£º¡¡it's¡¡worth¡¡a¡¡gold¡¡piece¡¡at¡¡the¡¡least¡£¡¡
May¡¡your¡¡beer¡¡be¡¡laid¡¡under¡¡an¡¡enchantment¡¡of¡¡surpassing¡¡excellence¡¡for¡¡sevenyears£¡¡¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¨Now¡¡I¡¡can¡¡take¡¡a¡¡night's¡¡rest£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡since¡¡I¡¡haveforgotten¡¡when¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡
¡®So¡¡I¡¡stayed¡¡there¡¡that¡¡night£»¡¡wondering¡¡much¡¡what¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡of¡¡theRiders£»¡¡for¡¡only¡¡of¡¡two¡¡had¡¡there¡¡yet¡¡been¡¡any¡¡news¡¡in¡¡Bree£»¡¡it¡¡seemed¡£¡¡But¡¡inthe¡¡night¡¡we¡¡heard¡¡more¡£¡¡Five¡¡at¡¡least¡¡came¡¡from¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡threw¡¡downthe¡¡gates¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡Bree¡¡like¡¡a¡¡howling¡¡wind£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Bree¡folk¡¡arestill¡¡shivering¡¡and¡¡expecting¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡I¡¡got¡¡up¡¡before¡¡dawn¡¡andwent¡¡after¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡
'I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡clear¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡this¡¡is¡¡what¡¡happened¡£¡¡
Their¡¡Captain¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡secret¡¡away¡¡south¡¡of¡¡Bree£»¡¡while¡¡two¡¡rode¡¡aheadthrough¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡and¡¡four¡¡more¡¡invaded¡¡the¡¡Shire¡£¡¡But¡¡when¡¡these¡¡werefoiled¡¡in¡¡Bree¡¡and¡¡at¡¡Crickhollow£»¡¡they¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡their¡¡Captain¡¡withtidings£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡left¡¡the¡¡Road¡¡unguarded¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡except¡¡by¡¡their¡¡spies¡£¡¡
The¡¡Captain¡¡then¡¡sent¡¡some¡¡eastward¡¡straight¡¡across¡¡country£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡himselfwith¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡rode¡¡along¡¡the¡¡Road¡¡in¡¡great¡¡wrath¡£¡¡
'I¡¡galloped¡¡to¡¡Weathertop¡¡like¡¡a¡¡gale£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡reached¡¡it¡¡before¡¡sundown¡¡onmy¡¡second¡¡day¡¡from¡¡Bree¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡there¡¡before¡¡me¡£¡¡They¡¡drew¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me£»¡¡
for¡¡they¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡ing¡¡of¡¡my¡¡anger¡¡and¡¡they¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡face¡¡it¡¡while¡¡the¡¡Sunwas¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡closed¡¡round¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡besieged¡¡on¡¡thehill¡top£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡old¡¡ring¡¡of¡¡Amon¡¡S¡£l¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡put¡¡to¡¡it¡¡indeed£º¡¡such¡¡lightand¡¡flame¡¡cannot¡¡have¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡on¡¡Weathertop¡¡since¡¡the¡¡war¡beacons¡¡of¡¡old¡£¡¡
¡®At¡¡sunrise¡¡I¡¡escaped¡¡and¡¡fled¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡domore¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡find¡¡you£»¡¡Frodo£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilderness£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡wouldhave¡¡been¡¡folly¡¡to¡¡try¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Nine¡¡at¡¡my¡¡heels¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡trust¡¡toAragorn¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡reach¡¡Rivendell¡¡aheadof¡¡you¡¡and¡¡send¡¡out¡¡help¡£¡¡Four¡¡Riders¡¡did¡¡indeed¡¡follow¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡turnedback¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡and¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Ford£»¡¡it¡¡seems¡£¡¡That¡¡helped¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡forthere¡¡were¡¡only¡¡five£»¡¡not¡¡nine£»¡¡when¡¡your¡¡camp¡¡was¡¡attacked¡£¡¡
'I¡¡reached¡¡here¡¡at¡¡last¡¡by¡¡a¡¡long¡¡hard¡¡road£»¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Hoarwell¡¡and¡¡throughthe¡¡Ettenmoors£»¡¡and¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡north¡£¡¡It¡¡took¡¡me¡¡nearly¡¡fourteen¡¡days¡¡fromWeathertop£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡ride¡¡among¡¡the¡¡rocks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡troll¡fells£»¡¡andShadowfax¡¡departed¡£¡¡I¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡master£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡great¡¡friendship¡¡hasgrown¡¡between¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡I¡¡have¡¡need¡¡he¡¡will¡¡e¡¡at¡¡my¡¡call¡£¡¡But¡¡so¡¡it¡¡wasthat¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Rivendell¡¡only¡¡three¡¡days¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¡and¡¡news¡¡of¡¡itsperil¡¡had¡¡already¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡here¡which¡¡proved¡¡well¡¡indeed¡£¡¡
¡®And¡¡that£»¡¡Frodo£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡my¡¡account¡£¡¡May¡¡Elrond¡¡and¡¡the¡¡othersforgive¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡such¡¡a¡¡thing¡¡has¡¡not¡¡happened¡¡before£»¡¡thatGandalf¡¡broke¡¡tryst¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡e¡¡when¡¡he¡¡promised¡£¡¡An¡¡account¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡¡
bearer¡¡of¡¡so¡¡strange¡¡an¡¡event¡¡was¡¡required£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¡
'Well£»¡¡the¡¡Tale¡¡is¡¡now¡¡told£»¡¡from¡¡first¡¡to¡¡last¡£¡¡Here¡¡we¡¡all¡¡are£»¡¡andhere¡¡is¡¡the¡¡Ring¡£¡¡But¡¡we¡¡have¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡e¡¡any¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡our¡¡purpose¡£¡¡Whatshall¡¡we¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it£¿'¡¡¡¡
There¡¡was¡¡silence¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡Elrond¡¡spoke¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡
¡¡
¡®This¡¡is¡¡grievous¡¡news¡¡concerning¡¡Saruman£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡®for¡¡we¡¡trusted¡¡himand¡¡he¡¡is¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡all¡¡our¡¡counsels¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡perilous¡¡to¡¡study¡¡too¡¡deeply¡¡thearts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Enemy£»¡¡for¡¡good¡¡or¡¡for¡¡ill¡£¡¡But¡¡such¡¡falls¡¡and¡¡betrayals£»¡¡alas£»¡¡
have¡¡happened¡¡before¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡tales¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡this¡¡day¡¡the¡¡tale¡¡ofFrodo¡¡was¡¡most¡¡strange¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡known¡¡few¡¡hobbits£»¡¡save¡¡Bilbo¡¡here£»¡¡andit¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡perhaps¡¡not¡¡so¡¡alone¡¡and¡¡singular¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡thoughthim¡£¡¡The¡¡world¡¡has¡¡changed¡¡much¡¡since¡¡I¡¡last¡¡was¡¡on¡¡the¡¡westward¡¡roads¡£¡¡
¡®The¡¡Barrow¡wights¡¡we¡¡know¡¡by¡¡many¡¡names£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Forest¡¡manytales¡¡have¡¡been¡¡told£º¡¡all¡¡that¡¡now¡¡remains¡¡is¡¡but¡¡an¡¡outlier¡¡of¡¡its¡¡northern¡¡¡¡
march¡£¡¡Time¡¡was¡¡when¡¡a¡¡squirrel¡¡could¡¡go¡¡from¡¡tree¡¡to¡¡tree¡¡from¡¡what¡¡is¡¡nowthe¡¡Shire¡¡to¡¡Dunland¡¡west¡¡of¡¡Isengard¡£¡¡In¡¡those¡¡lands¡¡I¡¡journeyed¡¡once£»¡¡andmany¡¡things¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡strange¡¡I¡¡knew¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡¡Bombadil£»¡¡if¡¡indeedthis¡¡is¡¡still¡¡the¡¡same¡¡that¡¡walked¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡and¡¡hills¡¡long¡¡ago£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡thenwas¡¡older¡¡than¡¡the¡¡old¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡not¡¡then¡¡his¡¡name¡£¡¡Iarwain¡¡Ben¡adar¡¡we¡¡called¡¡¡¡
him£»¡¡oldest¡¡and¡¡fatherless¡£¡¡But¡¡many¡¡another¡¡name¡¡he¡¡has¡¡since¡¡been¡¡given¡¡byother¡¡folk£º¡¡Forn¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Dwarves£»¡¡Orald¡¡by¡¡Northern¡¡Men£»¡¡and¡¡other¡¡namesbeside¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡creature£»¡¡but¡¡maybe¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡summoned¡¡him¡¡to¡¡ourCouncil¡£'¡¡¡¡
¡®He¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡e£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡
¡®Could¡¡we¡¡not¡¡still¡¡send¡¡messages¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡obtain¡¡his¡¡help£¿'¡¡askedErestor¡£¡¡¡®It¡¡seems¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡a¡¡power¡¡even¡¡over¡¡the¡¡Ring¡£'¡¡
¡®No£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡not¡¡put¡¡it¡¡so£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡¡®Say¡¡rather¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡hasno¡¡power¡¡over¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡his¡¡own¡¡master¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡cannot¡¡alter¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡itself£»¡¡
nor¡¡break¡¡its¡¡power¡¡over¡¡others¡£¡¡And¡¡now¡¡he¡¡is¡¡withdrawn¡¡into¡¡a¡¡little¡¡land£»¡¡
within¡¡bounds¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡set£»¡¡though¡¡none¡¡can¡¡see¡¡them£»¡¡waiting¡¡perhaps¡¡for¡¡achange¡¡of¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡will¡¡not¡¡step¡¡beyond¡¡them¡£'¡¡
¡®But¡¡within¡¡those¡¡bounds¡¡nothing¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡dismay¡¡him£»'¡¡said¡¡Erestor¡£¡¡
¡®Would¡¡he¡¡not¡¡take¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡it¡¡there£»¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡harmless£¿'¡¡
¡®No£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf£»¡¡¡®not¡¡willingly¡£¡¡He¡¡might¡¡do¡¡so£»¡¡if¡¡all¡¡the¡¡free¡¡folkof¡¡the¡¡world¡¡begged¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡need¡£¡¡And¡¡if¡¡he¡¡weregiven¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡soon¡¡forget¡¡it£»¡¡or¡¡most¡¡likely¡¡throw¡¡it¡¡away¡£¡¡Suchthings¡¡have¡¡no¡¡hold¡¡on¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡most¡¡unsafe¡¡guardian£»¡¡and¡¡thatalone¡¡is¡¡answer¡¡enough¡£'¡¡
¡®But¡¡in¡¡any¡¡case£»'¡¡said¡¡Glorfindel£»¡¡¡®to¡¡send¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡to¡¡him¡¡would¡¡onlypostpone¡¡the¡¡day¡¡of¡¡evil¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡far¡¡away¡£¡¡We¡¡could¡¡not¡¡now¡¡take¡¡it¡¡back¡¡tohim£»¡¡unguessed£»¡¡unmarked¡¡by¡¡any¡¡spy¡£¡¡And¡¡even¡¡if¡¡we¡¡could£»¡¡soon¡¡or¡¡late¡¡theLord¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Rings¡¡would¡¡learn¡¡of¡¡its¡¡hiding¡¡place¡¡and¡¡would¡¡bend¡¡all¡¡his¡¡powertowards¡¡it¡£¡¡Could¡¡that¡¡power¡¡be¡¡defied¡¡by¡¡Bombadil¡¡alone£¿¡¡I¡¡think¡¡not¡£¡¡I¡¡thinkthat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡if¡¡all¡¡else¡¡is¡¡conquered£»¡¡Bombadil¡¡will¡¡fall£»¡¡Last¡¡as¡¡he¡¡wasFirst£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Night¡¡will¡¡e¡£'¡¡
¡®I¡¡know¡¡little¡¡of¡¡Iarwain¡¡save¡¡the¡¡name£»'¡¡said¡¡Galdor£»¡¡¡®but¡¡Glorfindel£»¡¡Ithink£»¡¡is¡¡right¡£¡¡Power¡¡to¡¡defy¡¡our¡¡Enemy¡¡is¡¡not¡¡in¡¡him£»¡¡unless¡¡such¡¡power¡¡isin¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡itself¡£¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡we¡¡see¡¡that