Chapter Five: The Island
"He sat upon the bank of the island and let the current wash over his feet. 'I like this place,' he said, turning his head to look at me. I still stood in the shade of the willows. 'I wonder if any herbs grow on this island.
''I have never seen any,' I said, 'but then I do not have an eye for such things.'
"'I have,' he said. 'Would you mind if I looked?'
"'Of course not! But I will warn you, the willows become so dense that it becomes darker the further you go inward.'
"'I do not mind,' he said, and stood up. 'I can adjust to the darkness.'
"We walked into the veiled sanctuary of the willows, where all was dark and quiet and even the insects made no sound. A few years ago I had trimmed back parts of the branches to make a path along the small inlet that came in from the river. I walked into the water, which came up a few inches past my ankles. Déagol walked beside me on the land, his eyes turned downward. Occasionally he would pasue and pcik something growing out of the earth. We did not speak.
"Near the center of the island was a small pool, about as long as seven hobbits lying head to foot and about as deep as one and a half. It was fed by the river, but had no fish because of the shallowness of the inlet. Around the pool flew fireflies, tricked by the darkness into believing that they lived surrounded by perpetual night. They flickered among the branches, illuminating a leaf for mere seconds before abandoning it in blackness.
"Déagol laid down his herbs and sat cross-legged at the pool's edge. The light from the fireflies made his hair shine as they landed upon him. He leaned over and dipped one finger in the water, sending a series of ripples across the water's surface.
"I was unsure of what to say, and so waited in silence. Finally he stood and said, 'Do you think you could teach me to swim in this pool?'
"'Yes,' I said, 'but don't you think my grandmother will be wanting us back?'
"'Yes, we should probably return to the smial and see how she fares,' he said. 'But do you promise me that you shall teach me someday soon?'
"'I promise.'"
