‘I do not know；' answered Aragorn； ‘but a shadow and a threat has beengrowing in my sleep。 It would be well to draw your sword。'
‘Why？ ' said Frodo。 ‘Are enemies at hand？ '
‘Let us see what Sting may show；' answered Aragorn。
Frodo then drew the elf…blade from its sheath。 To his dismay the edgesgleamed dimly in the night。 ‘Orcs！ ' he said。 ‘Not very near； and yet toonear； it seems。'
‘I feared as much；' said Aragorn。 ‘But maybe they are not on this side ofthe River。 The light of Sting is faint； and it may point to no more than spiesof Mordor roaming on the slopes of Amon Lhaw。 I have never heard before ofOrcs upon Amon Hen。 Yet who knows what may happen in these evil days； now thatMinas Tirith no longer holds secure the passages of Anduin。 We must go warilytomorrow。'
The day came like fire and smoke。 Low in the East there were black barsof cloud like the fumes of a great burning。 The rising sun lit them frombeneath with flames of murky red； but soon it climbed above them into a clearsky。 The summit of Tol Brandir was tipped with gold。 Frodo looked out eastwardand gazed at the tall island。 Its sides sprang sheer out of the running water。
High up above the tall cliffs were steep slopes upon which trees climbed；
mounting one head above another； and above them again were grey faces ofinaccessible rock； crowned by a great spire of stone。 Many birds were circlingabout it； but no sign of other living things could be seen。
When they had eaten； Aragorn called the pany together。 ‘The day hase at last；' he said： 'the day of choice which we have long delayed。 Whatshall now bee of our pany that has travelled so far in fellowship？ Shallwe turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor； or turn east to theFear and Shadow； or shall we break our fellowship and go this way and that aseach may choose？ Whatever we do must be done soon。 We cannot long halt here。
The enemy is on the eastern shore； we know； but I fear that the Orcs mayalready be on this side of the water。'
There was a long silence in which no one spoke or moved。
'Well； Frodo；' said Aragorn at last。 ‘I fear that the burden is laid uponyou。 You are the Bearer appointed by the Council。 Your own way you alone canchoose。 In this matter I cannot advise you。 I am not Gandalf； and though Ihave tried to bear his part； I do not know what design or hope he had for thishour； if indeed he had any。 Most likely it seems that if he were here now thechoice would still wait on you。 Such is your fate。'
Frodo did not answer at once。 Then he spoke slowly。 ‘I know that haste isneeded； yet I cannot choose。 The burden is heavy。 Give me an hour longer； andI will speak。 Let me be alone！ '
Aragorn looked at him with kindly pity。 ‘Very well； Frodo son of Drogo；'
he said。 ‘You shall have an hour； and you shall be alone。 We will stay herefor a while。 But do not stray far or out of call。'
Frodo sat for a moment with his head bowed。 Sam； who had been watching
his master with great concern； shook his head and muttered： 'Plain as apikestaff it is； but it's no good Sam Gamgee putting in his spoke just now。' ；
Presently Frodo got up and walked away； and Sam saw that while the othersrestrained themselves and did not stare at him； the eyes of Boromir followedFrodo intently； until he passed out of sight in the trees at the foot of AmonHen。
Wandering aimlessly at first in the wood； Frodo found that his feet wereleading him up towards the slopes of the hill。 He came to a path； thedwindling ruins of a road of long ago。 In steep places stairs of stone hadbeen hewn； but now they were cracked and worn； and split by the roots oftrees。 For some while he climbed； not caring which way he went； until he cameto a grassy place。 Rowan…trees grew about it； and in the midst was a wide flatstone。 The little upland lawn was open upon the East and was filled now withthe early sunlight。 Frodo halted and looked out over the River； far below him；
to Tol Brandir and the birds wheeling in the great gulf of air between him andthe untrodden isle。 The voice of Rauros was a mighty roaring mingled with adeep throbbing boom。
He sat down upon the stone and cupped his chin in his hands； staringeastwards but seeing little with his eyes。 All that had happened since Bilboleft the Shire was passing through his mind； and he recalled and ponderedeverything that he could remember of Gandalf's words。 Time went on； and stillhe was no nearer to a choice。
Suddenly he awoke from his thoughts： a strange feeling came to him thatsomething was behind him； that unfriendly eyes were upon him。 He sprang up andturned； but all that he saw to his surprise was Boromir； and his face wassmiling and kind。
‘I was afraid for you； Frodo；' he said； ing forward。 ‘If Aragorn isright and Orcs are near； then none of us should wander alone； and you least ofall： so much depends on you。 And my heart too is heavy。 May I stay now andtalk for a while； since I have found you？ It would fort me。 Where there areso many； all speech bees a debate without end。 But two together may perhapsfind wisdom。'
‘You are kind；' answered Frodo。 'But I do not think that any speech willhelp me。 For I know what I should do； but I am afraid of doing it； Boromir：
afraid。'
Boromir stood silent。 Rauros roared endlessly on。 The wind murmured inthe branches of the trees。 Frodo shivered。
Suddenly Boromir came and sat beside him。 ‘Are you sure that you do notsuffer needlessly？ ' he said。 ‘I wish to help you。 You need counsel in yourhard choice。 Will you not take mine？ '
'I think I know already what counsel you would give； Boromir；' saidFrodo。 'And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning of my heart。'
‘Warning？ Warning against what？ ' said Boromir sharply。
'Against delay。 Against the way that seems easier。 Against refusal of theburden that is laid on me。 Against…well； if it must be said； against trust inthe strength and truth of Men。'
‘Yet that strength has long protected you far away in your littlecountry； though you knew it not。'
'I do not doubt the valour of your people。 But the world is changing。 Thewalls of Minas Tirith may be strong； but they are not strong enough。 If theyfail； what then？ '
'We shall fall in battle valiantly。 Yet there is still hope that theywill not fail。'
'No hope while the Ring lasts；' said Frodo。
'Ah！ The Ring！ ' said Boromir； his eyes lighting。 'The Ring！ Is it not astrange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt for so small athing？ So small a thing！ And I have seen it only for an instant in the Houseof Elrond。 Could I not have a sight of it again？ '
Frodo looked up。 His heart went suddenly cold。 He caught the strangegleam in Boromir's eyes； yet his face was still kind and friendly。 'It is best
that it should lie hidden；' he answered。
'As you wish。 I care not；' said Boromir。 'Yet may I not even speak of it？
For you seem ever to think only of its power in the hands of the Enemy： of itsevil uses not of its good。 The world is changing； you say。 Minas Tirith willfall； if the Ring lasts。 But why？ Certainly； if the Ring were with the Enemy。
But why； if it were with us？ '
'Were you not at the Council？ ' answered Frodo。 ‘Because we cannot useit； and what is done with it turns to evil。'
Boromir got up and walked about impatiently。 'So you go on；' he cried。
'Gandalf； Elrond – all these folk have taught you to say so。 For themselvesthey may be right。 These elves and half…elves and wizards； they would e togrief perhaps。 Yet often I doubt if they are wise and not merely timid。 Buteach to his own kind。 True…hearted Men； they will not be corrupted。 We ofMinas Tirith have been staunch through long years of trial。 We do not desirethe power of wizard…lords； only strength to defend ourselves； strength in ajust cause。 And behold！ in our need chance brings to light the …Ring of Power。
It is a gift； I say； a gift to the foes of Mordor。 It is mad not to use it； touse the power of the Enemy against him。 The fearless； the ruthless； thesealone will achieve victory。 What could not a warrior do in this hour； a greatleader？ What could not Aragorn do？ Or if he refuses； why not Boromir？ The Ringwould give me power of mand。 How I would drive the hosts of Mordor； and allmen would flock to my banner！'
Boromir strode up and down； speaking ever more loudly： Almost he seemedto have forgotten Frodo； while his talk dwelt on walls and weapons； and themustering of men； and he drew plans for great alliances and glorious victoriesto be； and he cast down Mordor； and became himself a mighty king； benevolentand wise。 Suddenly he stopped and waved his arms。
'And they tell us to throw it away！' he cried。 ‘I do not say _destroy_
it。 That might be well； if reason could show any hope of doing so。 It doesnot。 The only plan that is proposed to us is that a halfling should walkblindly into Mordor and offer the Enemy every chance of recapturing it forhimself。 Folly！
'Surely you see it； my friend？' he said； turning now suddenly to Frodoagain。 ‘You say that you are afraid。 If it is so； the boldest should pardonyou。 But is it not really your good sense that revolts？'
'No； I am afraid；' said Frodo。 'Simply afraid。 But I am glad to haveheard you speak so fully。 My mind is clearer now。'
‘Then you will e to Minas Tirith？ ' cried Boromir。 His eyes wereshining and his face eager。
‘You misunderstand me；' said Frodo。
'But you will e； at least for a while？ ' Boromir persisted。 'My cityis not far now； and it is little further from there to Mordor than from here。
We have been long in the wilderness； and you need news of what the Enemy isdoing before you make a move。 e with me； Frodo；' he said。 ‘You need restbefore your venture。 if go you must。' He laid his hand on the hobbit'sshoulder in friendly fashion； but Frodo felt the hand trembling withsuppressed excitement。 He stepped quickly away； and eyed with alarm the tallMan； nearly twice his height and many times his match in strength。
‘Why are you so unfriendly？ ' said Boromir。 ‘I am a true man； neitherthief nor tracker。 I need your Ring： that you know now； but I give you my wordthat I do not desire to keep it。 Will you not at least let me make trial of myplan？ Lend me the Ring！ '
‘No！ no！ ' cried Frodo。 'The Council laid it upon me to bear it。'
‘It is by our own folly that the Enemy will defeat us；' cried Boromir。
‘How it angers me！ Fool！ Obstinate fool！ Running wilfully to death and ruiningour cause。 If any mortals have claim to the Ring； it is the men of Númenor；
and not Halflings。 It is not yours save by unhappy chance。 It might have beenmine。 It should be mine。 Give it to me！ '
Frodo did not answer； but moved away till the great flat stone stoodbetween them。 ‘e； e； my friend！ ' said Boromir in a softer voice。 'Why
not get rid of it？ Why not be free of your doubt and fear？ You can lay theblame on me； if you will。 You can say that I was too strong and took it byforce。 For I am too strong for you； halfling；' he cried； and suddenly hesprang over the stone and leaped at Frodo。 His fair and pleasant face washideously changed； a raging fire was in his eyes。
Frodo dodged aside and again put the stone between them。 There was onlyone thing he could do： trembling he pulled out the Ring upon its chain andquickly slipped it on his finger； even as Boromir sprang at him again。 The Man