sed¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡try£¡¡¡It¡¡would¡¡destroy¡¡you¡£¡¡Did¡¡not¡¡Gandalf¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡the¡¡rings¡¡give¡¡power¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡each¡¡possessor£¿¡¡Before¡¡you¡¡could¡¡use¡¡that¡¡power¡¡you¡¡would¡¡need¡¡to¡¡bee¡¡far¡¡stronger£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡train¡¡your¡¡will¡¡to¡¡the¡¡domination¡¡of¡¡others¡£¡¡Yet¡¡even¡¡so£»¡¡as¡¡Ringbearer¡¡and¡¡as¡¡one¡¡that¡¡has¡¡borne¡¡it¡¡on¡¡finger¡¡and¡¡seen¡¡that¡¡which¡¡is¡¡hidden£»¡¡your¡¡sight¡¡is¡¡grown¡¡keener¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡perceived¡¡my¡¡thought¡¡more¡¡clearly¡¡than¡¡many¡¡that¡¡are¡¡accounted¡¡wise¡£¡¡You¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡Eye¡¡of¡¡him¡¡that¡¡holds¡¡the¡¡Seven¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Nine¡£¡¡And¡¡did¡¡you¡¡not¡¡see¡¡and¡¡recognize¡¡the¡¡ring¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡finger£¿¡¡Did¡¡you¡¡see¡¡my¡¡ring£¿¡¡'¡¡she¡¡asked¡¡turning¡¡again¡¡to¡¡Sam¡£
'No£»¡¡Lady£»'¡¡he¡¡answered¡£¡¡'To¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡I¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡you¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡about¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡star¡¡through¡¡your¡¡finger¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡you'll¡¡pardon¡¡my¡¡speaking¡¡out£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡my¡¡master¡¡was¡¡right¡£¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡you'd¡¡take¡¡his¡¡Ring¡£¡¡You'd¡¡put¡¡things¡¡to¡¡rights¡£¡¡You'd¡¡stop¡¡them¡¡digging¡¡up¡¡the¡¡gaffer¡¡and¡¡turning¡¡him¡¡adrift¡£¡¡You'd¡¡make¡¡some¡¡folk¡¡pay¡¡for¡¡their¡¡dirty¡¡work¡£'
'I¡¡would£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡'That¡¡is¡¡how¡¡it¡¡would¡¡begin¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡stop¡¡with¡¡that£»¡¡alas£¡¡¡We¡¡will¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡more¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡go£¡'
Chapter¡¡8
Farewell¡¡to¡¡L¨®rien
¡¡
That¡¡night¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡was¡¡again¡¡summoned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chamber¡¡of¡¡Celeborn£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡and¡¡Lady¡¡greeted¡¡them¡¡with¡¡fair¡¡words¡£¡¡At¡¡length¡¡Celeborn¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡their¡¡departure¡£
'Now¡¡is¡¡the¡¡time£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'when¡¡those¡¡who¡¡ust¡¡harden¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡land¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡go¡¡forward¡¡may¡¡remain¡¡here£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡£¡¡But¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡stay¡¡or¡¡go£»¡¡none¡¡can¡¡be¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡peace¡£¡¡For¡¡we¡¡are¡¡e¡¡now¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡doom¡£¡¡Here¡¡those¡¡who¡¡wish¡¡may¡¡await¡¡the¡¡oning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡till¡¡either¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡lie¡¡open¡¡again¡£¡¡or¡¡we¡¡summon¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡last¡¡need¡¡of¡¡L¨®rien¡£¡¡Then¡¡they¡¡may¡¡return¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lands£»¡¡or¡¡else¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡long¡¡home¡¡of¡¡those¡¡that¡¡fall¡¡in¡¡battle¡£'
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡silence¡£¡¡'They¡¡all¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡go¡¡forward£»'¡¡said¡¡Galadriel¡¡looking¡¡in¡¡their¡¡eyes¡£
'As¡¡for¡¡me£»'¡¡said¡¡Boromir£»¡¡'my¡¡way¡¡home¡¡lies¡¡onward¡¡and¡¡not¡¡back¡£'
'That¡¡is¡¡true£»'¡¡said¡¡Celeborn£»¡¡'but¡¡is¡¡all¡¡this¡¡pany¡¡going¡¡with¡¡you¡¡to¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith£¿¡¡'
'We¡¡have¡¡not¡¡decided¡¡our¡¡course£»'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'Beyond¡¡Lothl¨®rien¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡Gandalf¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡Indeed¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡even¡¡he¡¡had¡¡any¡¡clear¡¡purpose¡£'
'Maybe¡¡not£»'¡¡said¡¡Celeborn£»¡¡'yet¡¡when¡¡you¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡land£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡fet¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡River¡£¡¡As¡¡some¡¡of¡¡you¡¡know¡¡well£»¡¡it¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡crossed¡¡by¡¡travellers¡¡with¡¡baggage¡¡between¡¡L¨®rien¡¡and¡¡Gondor£»¡¡save¡¡by¡¡boat¡£¡¡And¡¡are¡¡not¡¡the¡¡bridges¡¡of¡¡Osgiliath¡¡broken¡¡down¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡landings¡¡held¡¡now¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Enemy£¿
'On¡¡which¡¡side¡¡will¡¡you¡¡journey£¿¡¡The¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith¡¡lies¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡side£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡straight¡¡road¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Quest¡¡lies¡¡east¡¡of¡¡the¡¡River£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡darker¡¡shore¡£¡¡Which¡¡shore¡¡will¡¡you¡¡now¡¡take£¿¡¡'
'If¡¡my¡¡advice¡¡is¡¡heeded£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡the¡¡western¡¡shore£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith£»'¡¡answered¡¡Boromir¡£¡¡'But¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡£'¡¡The¡¡others¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡Aragorn¡¡looked¡¡doubtful¡¡and¡¡troubled¡£
'I¡¡see¡¡that¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡know¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do£»'¡¡said¡¡Celeborn¡£¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡my¡¡part¡¡to¡¡choose¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡will¡¡help¡¡you¡¡as¡¡I¡¡may¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡some¡¡among¡¡you¡¡who¡¡can¡¡handle¡¡boats£º¡¡Legolas£»¡¡whose¡¡folk¡¡know¡¡the¡¡swift¡¡Forest¡¡River£»¡¡and¡¡Boromir¡¡of¡¡Gondor£»¡¡and¡¡Aragorn¡¡the¡¡traveller¡£'
'And¡¡one¡¡Hobbit£¡¡¡'¡¡cried¡¡Merry¡£¡¡'Not¡¡all¡¡of¡¡us¡¡look¡¡on¡¡boats¡¡as¡¡wild¡¡horses¡£¡¡My¡¡people¡¡live¡¡by¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Brandywine¡£'
'That¡¡is¡¡well£»'¡¡said¡¡Celeborn¡£¡¡'Then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡furnish¡¡your¡¡pany¡¡with¡¡boats¡£¡¡They¡¡must¡¡be¡¡small¡¡and¡¡light£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡you¡¡go¡¡far¡¡by¡¡water£»¡¡there¡¡are¡¡places¡¡where¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡them¡£¡¡You¡¡will¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rapids¡¡of¡¡Sarn¡¡Gebir£»¡¡and¡¡maybe¡¡at¡¡last¡¡to¡¡the¡¡great¡¡falls¡¡of¡¡Rauros¡¡where¡¡the¡¡River¡¡thunders¡¡down¡¡from¡¡Nen¡¡Hithoel£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡are¡¡other¡¡perils¡£¡¡Boats¡¡may¡¡make¡¡your¡¡journey¡¡less¡¡toilsome¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡£¡¡Yet¡¡they¡¡will¡¡not¡¡give¡¡you¡¡counsel£º¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡you¡¡must¡¡leave¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡River£»¡¡and¡¡turn¡¡westor¡¡east¡£'
Aragorn¡¡thanked¡¡Celeborn¡¡many¡¡times¡£¡¡The¡¡gift¡¡of¡¡boats¡¡forted¡¡him¡¡much£»¡¡not¡¡least¡¡because¡¡there¡¡would¡¡now¡¡be¡¡no¡¡need¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡his¡¡course¡¡for¡¡some¡¡days¡£¡¡The¡¡others£»¡¡too£»¡¡looked¡¡more¡¡hopeful¡£¡¡Whatever¡¡perils¡¡lay¡¡ahead£»¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡better¡¡to¡¡float¡¡down¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡Anduin¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡them¡¡than¡¡to¡¡plod¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡bent¡¡backs¡£¡¡Only¡¡Sam¡¡was¡¡doubtful£º¡¡he¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡still¡¡thought¡¡boats¡¡as¡¡bad¡¡as¡¡wild¡¡horses£»¡¡or¡¡worse£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡all¡¡the¡¡dangers¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡survived¡¡made¡¡him¡¡think¡¡better¡¡of¡¡them¡£
'All¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡prepared¡¡for¡¡you¡¡and¡¡await¡¡you¡¡at¡¡the¡¡haven¡¡before¡¡noon¡¡tomorrow£»'¡¡said¡¡Celeborn¡£¡¡'I¡¡will¡¡send¡¡my¡¡people¡¡to¡¡you¡¡in¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡to¡¡help¡¡you¡¡make¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡the¡¡journey¡£¡¡Now¡¡we¡¡will¡¡wish¡¡you¡¡all¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡night¡¡and¡¡untroubled¡¡sleep¡£'
'Good¡¡night£»¡¡my¡¡friends£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Galadriel¡£¡¡'Sleep¡¡in¡¡peace£¡¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡trouble¡¡your¡¡hearts¡¡overmuch¡¡with¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡¡tonight¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡the¡¡paths¡¡that¡¡you¡¡each¡¡shall¡¡tread¡¡are¡¡already¡¡laid¡¡before¡¡your¡¡feet£»¡¡though¡¡you¡¡do¡¡not¡¡see¡¡them¡£¡¡Good¡¡night£¡¡¡'
The¡¡pany¡¡now¡¡took¡¡their¡¡leave¡¡and¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡their¡¡pavilion¡£¡¡Legolas¡¡went¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡this¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡their¡¡last¡¡night¡¡in¡¡Lothl¨®rien£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡Galadriel¡¡they¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡take¡¡counsel¡¡together¡£
For¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡they¡¡debated¡¡what¡¡they¡¡should¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡best¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡the¡¡fulfilling¡¡of¡¡their¡¡purpose¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Ring£º¡¡but¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡no¡¡decision¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡plain¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡go¡¡first¡¡to¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡escape¡¡at¡¡least¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while¡¡from¡¡the¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Enemy¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡a¡¡leader¡¡over¡¡the¡¡River¡¡and¡¡into¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¡of¡¡Mordor£»¡¡but¡¡Frodo¡¡spoke¡¡no¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡Aragorn¡¡was¡¡still¡¡divided¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡£
His¡¡own¡¡plan£»¡¡while¡¡Gandalf¡¡remained¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡had¡¡been¡¡to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡Boromir£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡help¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡Gondor¡£¡¡For¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡message¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dreams¡¡was¡¡a¡¡summons£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡had¡¡e¡¡at¡¡last¡¡when¡¡the¡¡heir¡¡of¡¡Elendil¡¡should¡¡e¡¡forth¡¡and¡¡strive¡¡with¡¡Sauron¡¡for¡¡the¡¡mastery¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡Moria¡¡the¡¡burden¡¡of¡¡Gandalf¡¡had¡¡been¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡now¡¡forsake¡¡the¡¡Ring£»¡¡if¡¡Frodo¡¡refused¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡to¡¡go¡¡with¡¡Boromir¡£¡¡And¡¡yet¡¡what¡¡help¡¡could¡¡he¡¡or¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡give¡¡to¡¡Frodo£»¡¡save¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡blindly¡¡with¡¡him¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness£¿
'I¡¡shall¡¡go¡¡to¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith£»¡¡alone¡¡if¡¡need¡¡be£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡my¡¡duty£»'¡¡said¡¡Boromir£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡silent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡sitting¡¡with¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡Frodo£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡read¡¡the¡¡Halfling's¡¡thoughts¡£¡¡At¡¡length¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡again£»¡¡softly£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡was¡¡debating¡¡with¡¡himself¡£¡¡'If¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡only¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡Ring£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'then¡¡there¡¡is¡¡little¡¡use¡¡in¡¡war¡¡and¡¡weapons£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith¡¡cannot¡¡help¡£¡¡But¡¡if¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡armed¡¡might¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dark¡¡Lord£»¡¡then¡¡it¡¡is¡¡folly¡¡to¡¡go¡¡without¡¡force¡¡into¡¡his¡¡domain£»¡¡and¡¡folly¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡away¡£'¡¡He¡¡paused¡¡suddenly£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡speaking¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡aloud¡£¡¡'It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡folly¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡lives¡¡away£»¡¡I¡¡mean£»'¡¡he¡¡ended¡£¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡choice¡¡between¡¡defending¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡place¡¡and¡¡walking¡¡openly¡¡into¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡death¡£¡¡At¡¡least£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡how¡¡I¡¡see¡¡it¡£'
Frodo¡¡caught¡¡something¡¡new¡¡and¡¡strange¡¡in¡¡Boromir's¡¡glance£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡hard¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡Plainly¡¡Boromir's¡¡thought¡¡was¡¡different¡¡from¡¡his¡¡final¡¡words¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡folly¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡away£º¡¡what£¿¡¡The¡¡Ring¡¡of¡¡Power£¿¡¡He¡¡had¡¡said¡¡something¡¡like¡¡this¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Council£»¡¡but¡¡then¡¡he¡¡had¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡correction¡¡of¡¡Elrond¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Aragorn£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡made¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heeded¡¡Boromir's¡¡words¡£¡¡And¡¡so¡¡their¡¡debate¡¡ended¡£¡¡Merry¡¡and¡¡Pippin¡¡were¡¡already¡¡asleep£»¡¡and¡¡Sam¡¡was¡¡nodding¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡was¡¡growing¡¡old¡£
In¡¡the¡¡morning£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡pack¡¡their¡¡slender¡¡goods£»¡¡Elves¡¡that¡¡could¡¡speak¡¡their¡¡tongue¡¡came¡¡to¡¡them¡¡and¡¡brought¡¡them¡¡many¡¡gifts¡¡of¡¡food¡¡and¡¡clothing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡journey¡£¡¡The¡¡food¡¡was¡¡mostly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡very¡¡thin¡¡cakes£»¡¡made¡¡of¡¡a¡¡meal¡¡that¡¡was¡¡baked¡¡a¡¡light¡¡brown¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outside£»¡¡and¡¡inside¡¡was¡¡the¡¡colour¡¡of¡¡cream¡£¡¡Gimli¡¡took¡¡up¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cakes¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡doubtful¡¡eye¡£
'Cram£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡under¡¡his¡¡breath£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡broke¡¡off¡¡a¡¡crisp¡¡corner¡¡and¡¡nibbled¡¡at¡¡it¡£¡¡His¡¡expression¡¡quickly¡¡changed£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡ate¡¡all¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cake¡¡with¡¡relish¡£
'No¡¡more£»¡¡no¡¡more£¡'¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡Elves¡¡laughing¡£¡¡'You¡¡have¡¡eaten¡¡enough¡¡already¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡day's¡¡march¡£'
'I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡cram£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Dalemen¡¡make¡¡for¡¡journeys¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wild£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Dwarf¡£
'So¡¡it¡¡is£»'¡¡they¡¡answered¡£¡¡'But¡¡we¡¡call¡¡it¡¡lembas¡¡or¡¡waybread£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡more¡¡strengthening¡¡than¡¡any¡¡food¡¡made¡¡by¡¡Men£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡more¡¡pleasant¡¡than¡¡cram£»¡¡by¡¡all¡¡accounts¡£'
'Indeed¡¡it¡¡is£»'¡¡said¡¡Gimli¡£¡¡'Why¡¡it¡¡is¡¡better¡¡than¡¡the¡¡honeycakes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Beornings£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡is¡¡great¡¡praise£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Beornings¡¡are¡¡the¡¡best¡¡bakers¡¡that¡¡I¡¡know¡¡of£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡are¡¡none¡¡too¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡deal¡¡out¡¡their¡¡cakes¡¡to¡¡travellers¡¡in¡¡these¡¡days¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡kindly¡¡hosts£¡¡¡'
'All¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡we¡¡bid¡¡you¡¡spare¡¡the¡¡food£»'¡¡they¡¡said¡£¡¡'Eat¡¡little¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡at¡¡need¡£¡¡For¡¡these¡¡things¡¡are¡¡given¡¡to¡¡serve¡¡you¡¡when¡¡all¡¡else¡¡fails¡£¡¡The¡¡cakes¡¡will¡¡keep¡¡sweet¡¡for¡¡many¡¡many¡¡days£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡are¡¡unbroken¡¡and¡¡left¡¡in¡¡their¡¡leafwrappings£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡have¡¡brought¡¡them¡£¡¡One¡¡will¡¡keep¡¡a¡¡traveller¡¡on¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡for¡¡a¡¡day¡¡of¡¡long¡¡labour£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tall¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡Minas¡¡Tirith¡£'
The¡¡Elves¡¡next¡¡unwrapped¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡to¡¡each¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡the¡¡clothes¡¡they¡¡had¡¡brought¡£¡¡For¡¡each¡¡they¡¡had¡¡provided¡¡a¡¡hood¡¡and¡¡cloak£»¡¡made¡¡according¡¡to¡¡his¡¡size£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡light¡¡but¡¡warm¡¡silken¡¡stuff¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Galadhrim¡¡wove¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡say¡¡of¡¡what¡¡colour¡¡they¡¡were£º¡¡grey¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hue¡¡of¡¡twilight¡¡under¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡moved£»¡¡or¡¡set¡¡in¡¡another¡¡light£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡green¡¡as¡¡shadowed¡¡leaves£»¡¡or¡¡brown¡¡as¡¡fallow¡¡fields¡¡by¡¡night£»¡¡dusk¡¡silver¡¡as¡¡water¡¡under¡¡the¡¡stars¡£¡¡Each¡¡cloak¡¡was¡¡fastened¡¡about¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡with¡¡a¡¡brooch¡¡like¡¡a¡¡green¡¡leaf¡¡veined¡¡with¡¡silver¡£
'Are¡¡these¡¡magic¡¡cloaks£¿¡¡'¡¡asked¡¡Pippin£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡them¡¡with¡¡wonder¡£
'I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡by¡¡that£»'¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elves¡£¡¡'They¡¡are¡¡fair¡¡garments£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡web¡¡is¡¡good£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡made¡¡in¡¡this¡¡land¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡elvish¡¡robes¡¡certainly£»¡¡if¡¡that¡¡is¡¡what¡¡you¡¡mean¡£¡¡Leaf¡¡and¡¡branch£»¡¡water¡¡and¡¡stone£º¡¡they¡¡have¡¡the¡¡hue¡¡and¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡all¡¡these¡¡things¡¡under¡¡the¡¡twilight¡¡of¡¡L¨®rien¡¡that¡¡we¡¡love£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡put¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡we¡¡love¡¡into¡¡all¡¡that¡¡we¡¡make¡£¡¡Yet¡¡they¡¡are¡¡garments£»¡¡not¡¡armour£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡will¡¡not¡¡turn¡¡shaft¡¡or¡¡blade¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡should¡¡serve¡¡you¡¡well£º¡¡they¡¡are¡¡light¡¡to¡¡wear£»¡¡and¡¡warm¡¡enough¡¡or¡¡cool¡¡enough¡¡at¡¡need¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¡will¡¡find¡¡them¡¡a¡¡great¡¡aid¡¡in¡¡keeping¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡unfriendly¡¡eyes£»¡¡whether¡¡you¡¡walk¡¡among¡¡the¡¡stones¡¡or¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡indeed¡¡high¡¡in¡¡the¡¡favour¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lady£¡¡¡For¡¡she¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡her¡¡maidens¡¡wove¡¡this¡¡stuff£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡before¡¡have¡¡we¡¡clad¡¡strangers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garb¡¡of¡¡our¡¡own¡¡people¡£'
After¡¡their¡¡morning¡¡meal¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡said¡¡farewell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lawn¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fountain¡£¡¡Their¡¡hearts¡¡were¡¡heavy£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡place£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡like¡¡home¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡count¡¡the¡¡days¡¡and¡¡nights¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡there¡£¡¡As¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡white¡¡water¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunlight£»¡¡Haldir¡¡came¡¡walking¡¡towards¡¡them¡¡over¡¡the¡¡green¡¡grass¡¡of¡¡the¡¡glade¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡greeted¡¡him¡¡with¡¡delight¡£
'I¡¡have¡¡returned¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Northern¡¡Fences£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Elf£»¡¡'and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sent¡¡now¡¡to¡¡be¡¡your¡¡guide¡¡again¡£¡¡The¡¡Dimrill¡¡Dale¡¡is¡¡full¡¡of¡¡vapour¡¡and¡¡clouds¡¡of¡¡smoke£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡are¡¡troubled¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡noises¡¡in¡¡the¡¡deeps¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡If¡¡any¡¡of¡¡you¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡o