'And¡¡begging¡¡yours£»¡¡Sam¡¡Gamgee£»'¡¡replied¡¡Bilbo¡£¡¡'I¡¡guess¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡time¡¡your¡¡master¡¡went¡¡to¡¡bed¡£'
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'Quite¡¡right£»¡¡Sam£»'¡¡laughed¡¡Bilbo¡£¡¡'You¡¡can¡¡trot¡¡off¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡Gandalf¡¡that¡¡he¡¡has¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡bed¡£¡¡Good¡¡night£»¡¡Frodo£¡¡¡Bless¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been¡¡good¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you¡¡again£¡¡¡There¡¡are¡¡no¡¡folk¡¡like¡¡hobbits¡¡after¡¡all¡¡for¡¡a¡¡real¡¡good¡¡talk¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡getting¡¡very¡¡old£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡wonder¡¡if¡¡I¡¡should¡¡ever¡¡live¡¡to¡¡see¡¡your¡¡chapters¡¡of¡¡our¡¡story¡£¡¡Good¡¡night£¡¡¡I'll¡¡take¡¡a¡¡walk£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡and¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡stars¡¡of¡¡Elbereth¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡Sleep¡¡well£¡'
Chapter¡¡2
The¡¡Council¡¡of¡¡Elrond
¡¡
Next¡¡day¡¡Frodo¡¡woke¡¡early£»¡¡feeling¡¡refreshed¡¡and¡¡well¡£¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡along¡¡the¡¡terraces¡¡above¡¡the¡¡loudflowing¡¡Bruinen¡¡and¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡pale£»¡¡cool¡¡sun¡¡rise¡¡above¡¡the¡¡far¡¡mountains£»¡¡and¡¡shine¡¡down¡£¡¡Slanting¡¡through¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡silver¡¡mist£»¡¡the¡¡dew¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡yellow¡¡leaves¡¡was¡¡glimmering£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡woven¡¡s¡¡of¡¡gossamer¡¡twinkled¡¡on¡¡every¡¡bush¡£¡¡Sam¡¡walked¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡saying¡¡nothing¡£¡¡but¡¡sniffing¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡again¡¡with¡¡wonder¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡at¡¡the¡¡great¡¡heights¡¡in¡¡the¡¡East¡£¡¡The¡¡snow¡¡was¡¡white¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡peaks¡£
On¡¡a¡¡seat¡¡cut¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡beside¡¡a¡¡turn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡path¡¡they¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡Gandalf¡¡and¡¡Bilbo¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡talk¡£¡¡'Hullo£¡¡¡Good¡¡morning£¡'¡¡said¡¡Bilbo¡£¡¡'Feel¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡the¡¡great¡¡council£¿'
'I¡¡feel¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡anything£»'¡¡answered¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'But¡¡most¡¡of¡¡all¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡go¡¡walking¡¡today¡¡and¡¡explore¡¡the¡¡valley¡£¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like¡¡to¡¡get¡¡into¡¡those¡¡pinewoods¡¡up¡¡there¡£'¡¡He¡¡pointed¡¡away¡¡far¡¡up¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡Rivendell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡north¡£
'You¡¡may¡¡have¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡later£»'¡¡said¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'But¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡make¡¡any¡¡plans¡¡yet¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡much¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡and¡¡decide¡¡today¡£'
Suddenly¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡a¡¡single¡¡clear¡¡bell¡¡rang¡¡out¡£¡¡'That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡warning¡¡bell¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Council¡¡of¡¡Elrond£»'¡¡cried¡¡Gandalf¡£¡¡'e¡¡along¡¡now£¡¡¡Both¡¡you¡¡and¡¡Bilbo¡¡are¡¡wanted¡£'
Frodo¡¡and¡¡Bilbo¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡wizard¡¡quickly¡¡along¡¡the¡¡winding¡¡path¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡uninvited¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡fotten£»¡¡trotted¡¡Sam¡£
Gandalf¡¡led¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡porch¡¡where¡¡Frodo¡¡had¡¡found¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡before¡£¡¡The¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡autumn¡¡morning¡¡was¡¡now¡¡glowing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡valley¡£¡¡The¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡bubbling¡¡waters¡¡came¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡foaming¡¡riverbed¡£¡¡Birds¡¡were¡¡singing£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡wholesome¡¡peace¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡land¡£¡¡To¡¡Frodo¡¡his¡¡dangerous¡¡flight£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rumours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡growing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡outside£»¡¡already¡¡seemed¡¡only¡¡the¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡a¡¡troubled¡¡dream£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡faces¡¡that¡¡were¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡them¡¡as¡¡they¡¡entered¡¡were¡¡grave¡£
Elrond¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡others¡¡were¡¡seated¡¡in¡¡silence¡¡about¡¡him¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡saw¡¡Glorfindel¡¡and¡¡Gl¨®in£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡corner¡¡alone¡¡Strider¡¡was¡¡sitting£»¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡his¡¡old¡¡travelworn¡¡clothes¡¡again¡£¡¡Elrond¡¡drew¡¡Frodo¡¡to¡¡a¡¡seat¡¡by¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡presented¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pany£»¡¡saying£º
'Here£»¡¡my¡¡friends¡¡is¡¡the¡¡hobbit£»¡¡Frodo¡¡son¡¡of¡¡Drogo¡£¡¡Few¡¡have¡¡ever¡¡e¡¡hither¡¡through¡¡greater¡¡peril¡¡or¡¡on¡¡an¡¡errand¡¡more¡¡urgent¡£'
He¡¡then¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡and¡¡named¡¡those¡¡whom¡¡Frodo¡¡had¡¡not¡¡met¡¡before¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡younger¡¡dwarf¡¡at¡¡Gl¨®in's¡¡side£º¡¡his¡¡son¡¡Gimli¡£¡¡Beside¡¡Glorfindel¡¡there¡¡were¡¡several¡¡other¡¡counsellors¡¡of¡¡Elrond's¡¡household£»¡¡of¡¡whom¡¡Erestor¡¡was¡¡the¡¡chief£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡him¡¡was¡¡Galdor£»¡¡an¡¡Elf¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Grey¡¡Havens¡¡who¡¡had¡¡e¡¡on¡¡an¡¡errand¡¡from¡¡C¨ªrdan¡¡the¡¡Shipwright¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡Elf¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡green¡¡and¡¡brown£»¡¡Legolas£»¡¡a¡¡messenger¡¡from¡¡his¡¡father£»¡¡Thranduil£»¡¡the¡¡King¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elves¡¡of¡¡Northern¡¡Mirkwood¡£¡¡And¡¡seated¡¡a¡¡little¡¡apart¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tall¡¡man¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡and¡¡noble¡¡face£»¡¡darkhaired¡¡and¡¡greyeyed£»¡¡proud¡¡and¡¡stern¡¡of¡¡glance¡£
He¡¡was¡¡cloaked¡¡and¡¡booted¡¡as¡¡if¡¡for¡¡a¡¡journey¡¡on¡¡horseback£»¡¡and¡¡indeed¡¡though¡¡his¡¡garments¡¡were¡¡rich£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡cloak¡¡was¡¡lined¡¡with¡¡fur£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡stained¡¡with¡¡long¡¡travel¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡collar¡¡of¡¡silver¡¡in¡¡which¡¡a¡¡single¡¡white¡¡stone¡¡was¡¡set£»¡¡his¡¡locks¡¡were¡¡shorn¡¡about¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡On¡¡a¡¡baldric¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡great¡¡horn¡¡tipped¡¡with¡¡silver¡¡that¡¡now¡¡was¡¡laid¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡knees¡£¡¡He¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡Frodo¡¡and¡¡Bilbo¡¡with¡¡sudden¡¡wonder¡£
'Here£»'¡¡said¡¡Elrond£»¡¡turning¡¡to¡¡Gandalf£»¡¡'is¡¡Boromir£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡from¡¡the¡¡South¡£¡¡He¡¡arrived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡morning£»¡¡and¡¡seeks¡¡for¡¡counsel¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡bidden¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡present£»¡¡for¡¡here¡¡his¡¡questions¡¡will¡¡be¡¡answered¡£'
Not¡¡all¡¡that¡¡was¡¡spoken¡¡and¡¡debated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Council¡¡need¡¡now¡¡be¡¡told¡£¡¡Much¡¡was¡¡said¡¡of¡¡events¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡outside£»¡¡especially¡¡in¡¡the¡¡South£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡lands¡¡east¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mountains¡£¡¡Of¡¡these¡¡things¡¡Frodo¡¡had¡¡already¡¡heard¡¡many¡¡rumours£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡tale¡¡of¡¡Gl¨®in¡¡was¡¡new¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡dwarf¡¡spoke¡¡he¡¡listened¡¡attentively¡£¡¡It¡¡appeared¡¡that¡¡amid¡¡the¡¡splendour¡¡of¡¡their¡¡works¡¡of¡¡hand¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dwarves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lonely¡¡Mountain¡¡were¡¡troubled¡£
'It¡¡is¡¡now¡¡many¡¡years¡¡ago£»'¡¡said¡¡Gl¨®in£»¡¡'that¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡disquiet¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡our¡¡people¡£¡¡Whence¡¡it¡¡came¡¡we¡¡did¡¡not¡¡at¡¡first¡¡perceive¡£¡¡Words¡¡began¡¡to¡¡be¡¡whispered¡¡in¡¡secret£º¡¡it¡¡was¡¡said¡¡that¡¡we¡¡were¡¡hemmed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡greater¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡splendour¡¡would¡¡be¡¡found¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wider¡¡world¡£¡¡Some¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡Moria£º¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡works¡¡of¡¡our¡¡fathers¡¡that¡¡are¡¡called¡¡in¡¡our¡¡own¡¡tongue¡¡Khazadd£¿m£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡now¡¡at¡¡last¡¡we¡¡had¡¡the¡¡power¡¡and¡¡numbers¡¡to¡¡return¡£'
Gl¨®in¡¡sighed¡£¡¡'Moria£¡¡¡Moria£¡¡¡Wonder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Northern¡¡world£¡¡¡Too¡¡deep¡¡we¡¡delved¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡woke¡¡the¡¡nameless¡¡fear¡£¡¡Long¡¡have¡¡its¡¡vast¡¡mansions¡¡lain¡¡empty¡¡since¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Durin¡¡fled¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡we¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡it¡¡again¡¡with¡¡longing£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡with¡¡dread£»¡¡for¡¡no¡¡dwarf¡¡has¡¡dared¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡the¡¡doors¡¡of¡¡Khazadd£¿m¡¡for¡¡many¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡kings£»¡¡save¡¡Thr¨®r¡¡only£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡perished¡£¡¡At¡¡last£»¡¡however£»¡¡Balin¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡the¡¡whispers£»¡¡and¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡go£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡D¨¢in¡¡did¡¡not¡¡give¡¡leave¡¡willingly£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡with¡¡him¡¡Ori¡¡and¡¡¨®in¡¡and¡¡many¡¡of¡¡our¡¡folk£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡went¡¡away¡¡south¡£
¡¨That¡¡was¡¡nigh¡¡on¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡while¡¡we¡¡had¡¡news¡¡and¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡good£º¡¡messages¡¡reported¡¡that¡¡Moria¡¡had¡¡been¡¡entered¡¡and¡¡a¡¡great¡¡work¡¡begun¡¡there¡£¡¡Then¡¡there¡¡was¡¡silence£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡word¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡e¡¡from¡¡Moria¡¡since¡£
¡¨Then¡¡about¡¡a¡¡year¡¡ago¡¡a¡¡messenger¡¡came¡¡to¡¡D¨¢in£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡from¡¡Moria¡¡¡£¡¡from¡¡Mordor£º¡¡a¡¡horseman¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡who¡¡called¡¡D¨¢in¡¡to¡¡his¡¡gate¡£¡¡The¡¡Lord¡¡Sauron¡¡the¡¡Great£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡wished¡¡for¡¡our¡¡friendship¡£¡¡Rings¡¡he¡¡would¡¡give¡¡for¡¡it£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡of¡¡old¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡urgently¡¡concerning¡¡hobbits£»¡¡of¡¡what¡¡kind¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡they¡¡dwelt¡£¡¡¡¨For¡¡Sauron¡¡knows£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡was¡¡known¡¡to¡¡you¡¡on¡¡a¡¡time¡£¡¨
'At¡¡this¡¡we¡¡were¡¡greatly¡¡troubled£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡gave¡¡no¡¡answer¡£¡¡And¡¡then¡¡his¡¡fell¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡lowered£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡sweetened¡¡it¡¡if¡¡he¡¡could¡£¡¡¡¨As¡¡a¡¡small¡¡token¡¡only¡¡of¡¡your¡¡friendship¡¡Sauron¡¡asks¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨that¡¡you¡¡should¡¡find¡¡this¡¡thief£»¡¨¡¡such¡¡was¡¡his¡¡word£»¡¡¡¨and¡¡get¡¡from¡¡him£»¡¡willing¡¡or¡¡no£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡ring£»¡¡the¡¡least¡¡of¡¡rings£»¡¡that¡¡once¡¡he¡¡stole¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡but¡¡a¡¡trifle¡¡that¡¡Sauron¡¡fancies£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡earnest¡¡of¡¡your¡¡good¡¡will¡£¡¡Find¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡three¡¡rings¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Dwarf¡¡sires¡¡possessed¡¡of¡¡old¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡realm¡¡of¡¡Moria¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡yours¡¡for¡¡ever¡£¡¡Find¡¡only¡¡news¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thief£»¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡still¡¡lives¡¡and¡¡where£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡great¡¡reward¡¡and¡¡lasting¡¡friendship¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Lord¡£¡¡Refuse£»¡¡and¡¡things¡¡will¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡so¡¡well¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡refuse£¿¡¨
'At¡¡that¡¡his¡¡breath¡¡came¡¡like¡¡the¡¡hiss¡¡of¡¡snakes£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡who¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡shuddered£»¡¡but¡¡D¨¢in¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨I¡¡say¡¡neither¡¡yea¡¡nor¡¡nay¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡consider¡¡this¡¡message¡¡and¡¡what¡¡it¡¡means¡¡under¡¡its¡¡fair¡¡cloak¡£¡¨
'¡¡¡¨Consider¡¡well£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡too¡¡long£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£
'¡¡¡¨The¡¡time¡¡of¡¡my¡¡thought¡¡is¡¡my¡¡own¡¡to¡¡spend£»¡¨¡¡answered¡¡D¨¢in¡£
'¡¡¡¨For¡¡the¡¡present£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡and¡¡rode¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£
'Heavy¡¡have¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡our¡¡chieftains¡¡been¡¡since¡¡that¡¡night¡£¡¡We¡¡needed¡¡not¡¡the¡¡fell¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡messenger¡¡to¡¡warn¡¡us¡¡that¡¡his¡¡words¡¡held¡¡both¡¡menace¡¡and¡¡deceit£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡knew¡¡already¡¡that¡¡the¡¡power¡¡that¡¡has¡¡reentered¡¡Mordor¡¡has¡¡not¡¡changed£»¡¡and¡¡ever¡¡it¡¡betrayed¡¡us¡¡of¡¡old¡£¡¡Twice¡¡the¡¡messenger¡¡has¡¡returned£»¡¡and¡¡has¡¡gone¡¡unanswered¡£¡¡The¡¡third¡¡and¡¡last¡¡time£»¡¡so¡¡he¡¡says£»¡¡is¡¡soon¡¡to¡¡e£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡ending¡¡of¡¡the¡¡year¡£
'And¡¡so¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡sent¡¡at¡¡last¡¡by¡¡D¨¢in¡¡to¡¡warn¡¡Bilbo¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡sought¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Enemy£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡learn£»¡¡if¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡why¡¡he¡¡desires¡¡this¡¡ring£»¡¡this¡¡least¡¡of¡¡rings¡£¡¡Also¡¡we¡¡crave¡¡the¡¡advice¡¡of¡¡Elrond¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡Shadow¡¡grows¡¡and¡¡draws¡¡nearer¡£¡¡We¡¡discover¡¡that¡¡messengers¡¡have¡¡e¡¡also¡¡to¡¡King¡¡Brand¡¡in¡¡Dale£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡afraid¡£¡¡We¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡he¡¡may¡¡yield¡£¡¡Already¡¡war¡¡is¡¡gathering¡¡on¡¡his¡¡eastern¡¡borders¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡make¡¡no¡¡answer£»¡¡the¡¡Enemy¡¡may¡¡move¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡his¡¡rule¡¡to¡¡assail¡¡King¡¡Brand£»¡¡and¡¡D¨¢in¡¡also¡£'
'You¡¡have¡¡done¡¡well¡¡to¡¡e£»'¡¡said¡¡Elrond¡£¡¡'You¡¡will¡¡hear¡¡today¡¡all¡¡that¡¡you¡¡need¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡purposes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Enemy¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡naught¡¡that¡¡you¡¡can¡¡do£»¡¡other¡¡than¡¡to¡¡resist£»¡¡with¡¡hope¡¡or¡¡without¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡stand¡¡alone¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡learn¡¡that¡¡your¡¡trouble¡¡is¡¡but¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡western¡¡world¡£¡¡The¡¡Ring£¡¡¡What¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡do¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¡the¡¡least¡¡of¡¡rings£»¡¡the¡¡trifle¡¡that¡¡Sauron¡¡fancies£¿¡¡That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡doom¡¡that¡¡we¡¡must¡¡deem¡£
'That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡for¡¡which¡¡you¡¡are¡¡called¡¡hither¡£¡¡Called£»¡¡I¡¡say¡£¡¡though¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡called¡¡you¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡strangers¡¡from¡¡distant¡¡lands¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡e¡¡and¡¡are¡¡here¡¡met£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡very¡¡nick¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡by¡¡chance¡¡as¡¡it¡¡may¡¡seem¡£¡¡Yet¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡so¡£¡¡Believe¡¡rather¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡so¡¡ordered¡¡that¡¡we£»¡¡who¡¡sit¡¡here£»¡¡and¡¡none¡¡others£»¡¡must¡¡now¡¡find¡¡counsel¡¡for¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£
'Now£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡things¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡openly¡¡spoken¡¡that¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡all¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡until¡¡this¡¡day¡£¡¡And¡¡first£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡all¡¡may¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡peril£»¡¡the¡¡Tale¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡told¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡even¡¡to¡¡this¡¡present¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡will¡¡begin¡¡that¡¡tale£»¡¡though¡¡others¡¡shall¡¡end¡¡it¡£'
Then¡¡all¡¡listened¡¡while¡¡Elrond¡¡in¡¡his¡¡clear¡¡voice¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡Sauron¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Rings¡¡of¡¡Power£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡fing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Second¡¡Age¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡long¡¡ago¡£¡¡A¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tale¡¡was¡¡known¡¡to¡¡some¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡full¡¡tale¡¡to¡¡none£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡turned¡¡t¡¡Elrond¡¡in¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡wonder¡¡as¡¡he¡¡told¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elvensmiths¡¡of¡¡Eregion¡¡and¡¡their¡¡friendship¡¡with¡¡Moria£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡eagerness¡¡for¡¡knowledge£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡Sauron¡¡ensnared¡¡them¡£¡¡For¡¡in¡¡that¡¡time¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡evil¡¡to¡¡behold£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡received¡¡his¡¡aid¡¡and¡¡grew¡¡mighty¡¡in¡¡craft£»¡¡whereas¡¡he¡¡learned¡¡all¡¡their¡¡secrets£»¡¡and¡¡betrayed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡fed¡¡secretly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Mountain¡¡of¡¡Fire¡¡the¡¡One¡¡Ring¡¡to¡¡be¡¡their¡¡master¡£¡¡But¡¡Celebrimbor¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡hid¡¡the¡¡Three¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡war£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡land¡¡was¡¡laid¡¡waste£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡of¡¡Moria¡¡was¡¡shut¡£
Then¡¡through¡¡all¡¡the¡¡years¡¡that¡¡followed¡¡he¡¡traced¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¡but¡¡since¡¡that¡¡history¡¡is¡¡elsewhere¡¡recounted£»¡¡even¡¡as¡¡Elrond¡¡himself¡¡set¡¡it¡¡down¡¡in¡¡his¡¡books¡¡of¡¡lore£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡here¡¡recalled¡£¡¡For¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡long¡¡tale£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡deeds¡¡great¡¡and¡¡terrible£»¡¡and¡¡briefly¡¡though¡¡Elrond¡¡spoke£»¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡rode¡¡up¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡ere¡¡he¡¡ceased¡£
Of¡¡N¨²menor¡¡he¡¡spoke£»¡¡its¡¡glory¡¡and¡¡its¡¡fall£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡return¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Kings¡¡of¡¡Men¡¡to¡¡Middleearth¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡deeps¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sea£»¡¡borne¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡wings¡¡of¡¡storm¡£¡¡Then¡¡Elendil¡¡the¡¡Tall¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mighty¡¡sons£»¡¡Isildur¡¡and¡¡An¨¢rion£»¡¡became¡¡great¡¡lords£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Northrealm¡¡they¡¡made¡¡in¡¡Arnor£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Southrealm¡¡in¡¡Gondor¡¡above¡¡the¡¡mouths¡¡of¡¡Anduin¡£¡¡But¡¡Sauron¡¡of¡¡Mordor¡¡assailed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡made¡¡the¡¡Last¡¡Alliance¡¡of¡¡Elves¡¡and¡¡Men£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hosts¡¡of¡¡Gilgalad¡¡and¡¡Elendil¡¡were¡¡mustered¡¡in¡¡Arnor¡£
Thereupon¡¡Elrond¡¡paused¡¡a¡¡while¡¡and¡¡sighed¡£¡¡'I¡¡remember¡¡well¡¡the¡¡splendour¡¡of¡¡their¡¡banners£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'It¡¡recalled¡¡to¡¡me¡¡the¡¡glory¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elder¡¡Days¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hosts¡¡of¡¡Beleriand£»¡¡so¡¡many¡¡great¡¡princes¡¡and¡¡captains¡¡were
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