They ran on。 The light grew before them； great shafts pierced the roof。
They ran swifter。 They passed into a hall； bright with daylight from its highwindows in the east。 They fled across it。 Through its huge broken doors theypassed； and suddenly before them the Great Gates opened； an arch of blazing
light。
There was a guard of orcs crouching in the shadows behind the great doorposts towering on either side； but the gates were shattered and cast down。
Aragorn smote to the ground the captain that stood in his path； and the restfled in terror of his wrath。 The pany swept past them and took no heed ofthem。 Out of the Gates they ran and sprang down the huge and age…worn steps；
the threshold of Moria。
Thus； at last； they came beyond hope under the sky and felt the wind ontheir faces。
They did not halt until they were out of bowshot from the walls。 DimrillDale lay about them。 The shadow of the Misty Mountains lay upon it； buteastwards there was a golden light on the land。 It was but one hour afternoon。 The sun was shining； the clouds were white and high。
They looked back。 Dark yawned the archway of the Gates under themountain…shadow。 Faint and far beneath the earth rolled the slow drum…beats：
_doom_。 A thin black smoke trailed out。 Nothing else was to be seen； the daleall around was empty。 _Doom_。 Grief at last wholly overcame them； and theywept long： some standing and silent； some cast upon the ground。 _Doom； doom_。
The drum…beats faded。
_Chapter 6_
Lothlórien
'Alas！ I Fear we cannot stay here longer；' said Aragorn。 He lookedtowards the mountains and held up his sword。 ‘Farewell； Gandalf！ ' he cried。
'Did I not say to you： _if you pass the doors of Moria； beware_？ Alas that Ispoke true！ What hope have we without you？ '
He turned to the pany。 ‘We must do without hope；' he said。 ‘At leastwe may yet be avenged。 Let us gird ourselves and weep no more！ e！ We have along road； and much to do。'
They rose and looked about them。 Northward the dale ran up into a glen ofshadows between two great arms of the mountains； above which three white peakswere shining： Celebdil； Fanuidhol； Caradhras。 the Mountains of Moria。 At thehead of the glen a torrent flowed like a white lace over an endless ladder ofshort falls； and a mist of foam hung in the air about the mountains' feet。
‘Yonder is the Dimrill Stair；' said Aragorn； pointing to the falls。 'Downthe deep…cloven way that climbs beside the torrent we should have e； iffortune had been kinder。'
‘Or Caradhras less cruel；' said Gimli。 ‘There he stands smiling in thesun！ ' He shook his fist at the furthest of the snow…capped peaks and turnedaway。
To the east the outflung arm of the mountains marched to a sudden end；
and far lands could be descried beyond them； wide and vague。 To the south theMisty Mountains receded endlessly as far as sight could reach。 Less than amile away； and a little below them； for they still stood high up on the westside of the dale； there lay a mere。 It was long and oval； shaped like a greatspear…head thrust deep into the northern glen； but its southern end was beyondthe shadows under the sunlit sky。 Yet its waters were dark： a deep blue likeclear evening sky seen from a lamp…lit room。 Its face was still and unruffled。
About it lay a smooth sward； shelving down on all sides to its bare unbrokenrim。
‘There lies the Mirrormere； deep Kheled…zaram！ ' said Gimli sadly。 ‘Iremember that he said： 〃May you have joy of the sight！ But we cannot lingerthere。〃 Now long shall I journey ere I have joy again。 It is I that musthasten away； and he that must remain。'
The pany now went down the road from the Gates。 It was rough andbroken； fading to a winding track between heather and whin that thrust amidthe cracking stones。 But still it could be seen that once long ago a greatpaved way had wound upwards from the lowlands of the Dwarf…kingdom。 In placesthere were ruined works of stone beside the path； and mounds of green toppedwith slender birches； or fir…trees sighing in the wind。 An eastward bend ledthem hard by the sward of Mirrormere； and there not far from the roadsidestood a single column broken at the top。
'That is Durin's Stone！ ' cried Gimli。 ‘I cannot pass without turningaside for a moment to look at the wonder of the dale！ '
‘Be swift then！ ' said Aragorn； looking back towards the Gates。 ‘The Sunsinks early。 The Orcs will not； maybe； e out till after dusk； but we mustbe far away before nightfall。 The Moon is almost spent； and it will be darktonight。'
'e with me； Frodo！ ' cried the dwarf； springing from the road。 ‘Iwould not have you go without seeing Kheled…zaram。' He ran down the long greenslope。 Frodo followed slowly； drawn by the still blue water in spite of hurtand weariness； Sam came up behind。
Beside the standing stone Gimli halted and looked up。 It was cracked andweather…worn； and the faint runes upon its side could not be read。 ‘Thispillar marks the spot where Durin first looked in the Mirrormere；' said thedwarf。 'Let us look ourselves once； ere we go！'
They stooped over the dark water。 At first they could see nothing。 Thenslowly they saw the forms of the encircling mountains mirrored in a profoundblue； and the peaks were like plumes of white flame above them； beyond therewas a space of sky。 There like jewels sunk in the deep shone glinting stars；
though sunlight was in the sky above。 Of their own stooping forms no shadowcould be seen。
'O Kheled…zaram fair and wonderful！ ' said Gimli。 ‘There lies the Crown
of Durin till he wakes。 Farewell！ ' He bowed； and turned away； and hastenedback up the green…sward to the road again。
‘What did you see？ ' said Pippin to Sam； but Sam was too deep in thoughtto answer。
The road now turned south and went quickly downwards； running out frombetween the arms of the dale。 Some way below the mere they came on a deep wellof water； clear as crystal； from which a freshet fell over a stone lip and ranglistening and gurgling down a steep rocky channel。
'Here is the spring from which the Silverlode rises。' said Gimli。 ‘Do notdrink of it！ It is icy cold。'
'Soon it bees a swift river； and it gathers water from many othermountain…streams；' said Aragorn。 ‘Our road leads beside it for many miles。 ForI shall take you by the road that Gandalf chose； and first I hope to e tothe woods where the Silverlode flows into the Great River…out yonder。' Theylooked as he pointed； and before them they could see the stream leaping downto the trough of the valley； and then running on and away into the lowerlands； until it was lost in a golden haze。
‘There lie the woods of Lothlórien！ ' said Legolas。 ‘That is the fairestof all the dwellings of my people。 There are no trees like the trees of thatland。 For in the autumn their leaves fall not； but turn to gold。 Not till thespring es and the new green opens do they fall； and then the boughs areladen with yellow flowers； and the floor of the wood is golden； and golden isthe roof； and its pillars are of silver； for the bark of the trees is smoothand grey。 So still our songs in Mirkwood say。 My heart would be glad if I werebeneath the eaves of that wood； and it were springtime！ '
‘My heart will be glad； even in the winter；' said Aragorn。 'But it liesmany miles away。 Let us hasten！ '
For some time Frodo and Sam managed to keep up with the others； butAragorn was leading them at a great pace； and after a while they laggedbehind。 They had eaten nothing since the early morning。 Sam's cut was burninglike fire； and his head felt light。 In spite of the shining sun the windseemed chill after the warm darkness of Moria。 He shivered。 Frodo felt everystep more painful and he gasped for breath。
At last Legolas turned； and seeing them now far behind； he spoke toAragorn。 The others halted； and Aragorn ran back； calling to Boromir to ewith him。
'I am sorry； Frodo！ ' he cried； full of concern。 ‘So much has happenedthis day and we have such need of haste； that I have forgotten that you werehurt； and Sam too。 You should have spoken。 We have done nothing to ease you；
as we ought； though all the orcs of Moria were after us。 e now！ A littlefurther on there is a place where we can rest for a little。 There I will do
what I can for you。 e； Boromir！ We will carry them。'
Soon afterwards they came upon another stream that ran down from thewest； and joined its bubbling water with the hurrying Silverlode。 Togetherthey plunged over a fall of green…hued stone； and foamed down into a dell。
About it stood fir…trees； short and bent； and its sides were steep and clothedwith harts…tongue and shrubs of whortle…berry。 At the bottom there was a levelspace through which the stream flowed noisily over shining pebbles。 Here theyrested。 It was now nearly three hours after noon； and they had e only a fewmiles from the Gates。 Already the sun was westering。
While Gimli and the two younger hobbits kindled a fire of brush… and fir…
wood； and drew water； Aragorn tended Sam and Frodo。 Sam's wound was not deep；
but it looked ugly； and Aragorn's face was grave as he examined it。 After amoment he looked up with relief。
'Good luck； Sam！ ' he said。 'Many have received worse than this inpayment for the slaying of their first orc。 The cut is not poisoned； as thewounds of orc…blades too often are。 It should heal well when I have tended it。
Bathe it when Gimli has heated water。'
He opened his pouch and drew out some withered leaves。 ‘They are dry andsome of their virtue has one； he said； but here I have still some of theleaves of _athelas_ that I gathered near Weathertop。 Crush one in the water；
and wash the wound clean； and I will bind it。 Now it is your turn。 Frodo！ '
'I am all right；' said Frodo； reluctant to have his garments touched。
‘AII I needed was some food and a little rest。'
‘No！ ' said Aragorn。 ‘We must have a look and see what the hammer and theanvil have done to you。 I still marvel that you are alive at all。' Gently hestripped off Frodo's old jacket and worn tunic； and gave a gasp of wonder。
Then he laughed。 The silver corslet shimmered before his eyes like the lightupon a rippling sea。 Carefully he took it off and held it up； and the gems onit glittered like stars。 and the sound of the shaken rings was like the tinkleof rain in a pool。
‘Look； my friends！' he called。 ‘Here's a pretty hobbit…skin to wrap anelven…princeling in！ If it were known that hobbits had such hides； all thehunters of Middle…earth would be riding to the Shire。'
‘And all the arrows of all the hunters in the world would be in vain；'
said Gimli； gazing at the mail in wonder。 ‘It is a mithril…coat。 Mithril！ Ihave never seen or heard tell of one so fair。 Is this the coat that Gandalf
spoke of？ Then he undervalued it。 But it was well given！ '
‘I have often wondered what you and Bilbo were doing； so close in hislittle room；' said Merry。 'Bless the old hobbit！ I love him more than ever。 Ihope we get a chance of telling him about it！ '
There was a dark and blackened bruise on Frodo's right side and breast。
Under the mail there was a shirt of soft leather； but at one point the ringshad been driven through it into the flesh。 Frodo's left side also was scoredand bruised where he had been hurled against the wall。 While the others setthe food ready。 Aragorn bathed the hurts with water in which ath