IV. Just continue híren
Flipping the book to the correct page cleared Elrond his throat which suddenly felt dry, the things coming to light in the last chapter weighted on his soul and this was only the third chapter they would be reading. He both dreaded and wished to know what will stand further in these books holding as it seemed they future which was about to come and giving them a chance to act in time.
"The next title is Three is Company."
'You ought to go quietly, and you ought to go soon,' said Gandalf. Two or three weeks had passed, and still Frodo made no sign of getting ready to go.
"The longer he stays the more dangerous it will be." said both generals in union.
'I know. But it is difficult to do both,' he objected. If I just vanish like Bilbo, the tale will be all over the Shire in no time.'
"Then let them talk and beside that it is not hard to sneak somewhere without being noticed." stated Elrohir with both hands on his hips, both his brother and Legolas nodding at which both fathers groaned before Elrond looked at Thranduil in shock, the twins doing the same by Legolas.
"You/He also thend/tends to sneak out?" the three asked in shock.
"Of course/Unfortunately." come the replies from father and son.
"The whole staff of the palace and guards spend at least nine times a week with hunting the prince down and getting him back to the palace." Angränor explained while shaking his head in mock sorrow. "We don't even know how he manages to get out most of the time without anyone noticing."
"Legolas, melim chen!" the twins exclaimed as they both tackled the young prince.
"I think with this friendship got my job just somewhat harder to do." said Glorfindel a he watched the trio laughing at the ground.
"I apologize for the difficulty this relationship will cause." Thranduil said to Erestor as he placed a hand on his arm.
"There is no need to concern yourself aran nín, it I have survived thus far then I will manage it also now." Erestor replied while smiling thankfully at the blonde.
"May the Valar help up." Elrond mumbled before continuing.
'Of course you mustn't vanish!' said Gandalf. 'That wouldn't do at all! I said soon, not instantly._If you can think of any way of slipping out of the Shire without its being generally known, it will be worth a little delay. But you must not delay too long.'
'What about the autumn, on or after Our Birthday?' asked Frodo. 'I think I could probably make some arrangements by then.'
To tell the truth, he was very reluctant to start, now that it had come to the point. Bag End seemed a more desirable residence than it had for years, and he wanted to savour as much as he could of his last summer in the Shire. When autumn came, he knew that part at least of his heart would think more kindly of journeying, as it always did at that season. He had indeed privately made up his mind to leave on his fiftieth birthday: Bilbo's one hundred and twenty-eighth. It seemed somehow the proper day on which to set out and follow him. Following Bilbo was uppermost in his mind,
"Only try to not repeat some of his stunts he had pulled on his grand journey." Thranduil said, really sneaking into the enemies camp in the middle of the night, shortly before the battle broke out and then refusing to stay.
"Like befriending a peacock?" Glorfindel asked so silently that no one heard him, which was a good thing, but then someone had hit him on the back of his head. Looking to his side he saw Celebrian flashing him a dark look, fine someone had heard him.
and the one thing that made the thought of leaving bearable. He thought as little as possible about the Ring, and where it might lead him in the end. But he did not tell all his thoughts to Gandalf. What the wizard guessed was always difficult to tell.
"Don't we know it all?" asked the adult elves while raising they gaze to the clear blue spring sky.
He looked at Frodo and smiled. 'Very well,' he said. 'I think that will do – but it must not be any later. I am getting very anxious. In the mean-while, do take care, and don't let out any hint of where you are going! And see that Sam Gamgee does not talk. If he does, I really shall turn him into a toad.'
The elflings snickered at the threat, maybe by his next visit they could ask the old wizard to turn someone into a toad for a few minutes.
'As for where I am going,' said Frodo, 'it would be difficult to give that away, for I have no clear idea myself, yet.'
'Don't be absurd!' said Gandalf. 'I am not warning you against leaving an address at the post-office! But you are leaving the Shire – and that should not be known, until you are far away. And you must go, or at least set out, either North, South, West or East – and the direction should certainly not be known.'
'I have been so taken up with the thoughts of leaving Bag End, and of saying farewell, that I have never even considered the direction,' said Frodo. 'For where am I to go? And by what shall I steer? What is to be my quest? Bilbo went to find a treasure, there and back again; but I go to lose one, and not return, as far as I can see.'
The mood sombered at this again, the poor young hobbit was truly embmarking on a journey which could easily cost him his life in the end even if he manages to fullfil his task.
'But you cannot see very far,' said Gandalf. 'Neither can I. It may be your task to find the Cracks of Doom; but that quest may be for others: I do not know. At any rate you are not ready for that long road yet.'
'No indeed!' said Frodo. 'But in the meantime what course am I to take?'
'Towards danger; but not too rashly, nor too straight,' answered the wizard. 'If you want my advice, make for
Elrond suddenly stopped reading as his gray eyes widened at that what he read there, was this really what he thought, the Valar allowing him to atone his lack in judgement back then.
"Elrond what is it hervenn nín?" Celebrian asked worriedly after the other had not continued reading.
"Wha… I apologize." Elrond said as he finally snapped out of his thoughts.
"Could we now be told what made you step from this plain of existence?" Thranduil asked as he looked at him intently.
"Aya." Elrond said with a faint smile.
Rivendell.
At this all eyes stared wide eyed at both the dark haired lord and the book he was holding.
"Frodo will come here?" asked the twins in excitement, even thought he would have that evil ring with him, they would be meeting the hobbit in real person.
"It seems that I will need to also listen in these books about you." Thranduil said with a groan, but Elrond ignored him.
That journey should not prove too perilous, though the Road is less easy than it was, and it will grow worse as the year fails.'
'Rivendell!' said Frodo. 'Very good: I will go east, and I will make for Rivendell. I will take Sam to visit the Elves; he will be delighted.' He spoke lightly; but his heart was moved suddenly with a desire to see the house of Elrond Halfelven, and breathe the air of that deep valley where many of the Fair Folk still dwelt in peace.
While the noldorin elves smiled happily were four sindarin ones trying not to let they sighs be heard. When was it the last time that they could freely live in they forest? It was already to long ago, they memories about peacefull times faded from the constant strungle for survival.
One summer's evening an astonishing piece of news reached the Ivy Bush and Green Dragon. Giants and other portents on the borders of the Shire were forgotten for more important matters: Mr. Frodo was selling Bag End, indeed he had already sold it – to the Sackville-Bagginses!
Everyone snorted at the obvious lye presented to them.
'For a nice bit, loo,' said some. 'At a bargain price,' said others, 'and that's more likely when Mistress Lobelia's the buyer.' (Otho had died some years before, at the ripe but disappointed age of 102.)
"Miriel, I'm planning on visiting Bilbo this summer in the Sire, care to accompany me to put this 'lovely lady' into her place?" Thranduil whispered to his sister-in-law.
"With pleasure, truly spreading such tasteless rumours about a family member none then less, and only out of jealousy." she replied sneering, she was the kings sister-in-law which gave her a high status even thought her sister was gone, but she never abused it and worked as a dedicated healer.
Just why Mr. Frodo was selling his beautiful hole was even more debatable than the price. A few held the theory – supported by the nods and hints of Mr. Baggins himself – that Frodo's money was running out: he was going to leave Hobbiton and live in a quiet way on the proceeds of the sale down in Buckland among his Brandybuck relations. 'As far from the Sackville-Bagginses as may be,' some added. But so firmly fixed had the notion of the immeasurable wealth of the Bagginses of Bag End become that most found this hard to believe, harder than any other reason or unreason that their fancy could suggest: to most it suggested a dark and yet unrevealed plot by Gandalf. Though he kept himself very quiet and did not go about by day, it was well known that he was 'hiding up in the Bag End'. But however a removal might fit in
with the designs of his wizardry, there was no doubt about the fact: Frodo Baggins was going back to Buckland.
'Yes, I shall be moving this autumn,' he said. 'Merry Brandybuck is looking out for a nice little hole for me, or perhaps a small house.'
The children were already muttering about they dislike for rumours while listening to Elrond reading.
As a matter of fact with Merry's help he had already chosen and bought a little house at Crickhollow in the country beyond Bucklebury. To all but Sam he pretended he was going to settle down there permanently. The decision to set out eastwards had suggested the idea to him; for Buckland was on the eastern borders of the Shire, and as he had lived there in childhood his going back would at least seem credible.
Gandalf stayed in the Shire for over two months. Then one evening, at the end of June, soon after Frodo's plan had been finally arranged, he suddenly announced that he was going off again next morning. 'Only for a short while, I hope,' he said. 'But I am going down beyond the southern borders to get some news, if I can. I have been idle longer than I should.'
He spoke lightly, but it seemed to Frodo that he looked rather worried. 'Has anything happened?' he asked.
This made also the others worried, really, the first book had only shortly started and they had already a great deal of unsettling news to deal with.
'Well no; but I have heard something that has made me anxious and needs looking into. If I think it necessary after all for you to get off at once, I shall come back immediately, or at least send word. In the meanwhile stick to your plan; but be more careful than ever, especially of the Ring. Let me impress on you once more: don't use it!'
Everyone nodded in fierce agrement, if he doesn't use it it will have less power over him.
He went off at dawn. 'I may be back any day,' he said. 'At the very latest I shall come back for the farewell party. I think after all you may need my company on the Road.'
At first Frodo was a good deal disturbed, and wondered often what Gandalf could have heard; but his uneasiness wore off, and in the fine weather he forgot his troubles for a while. The Shire had seldom seen so fair a summer, or so rich an autumn: the trees were laden with apples, honey was dripping in the combs, and the corn was tall and full.
"Ironic how the start of such dark times would bring a rich harvest with itself." Thranduil said with everyone nodding in agreement, this truly was ironic no matter how you looked at it, but also unsettling. It was as if the time of the last feast would be brought to them by the nature.
Autumn was well under way before Frodo began to worry about Gandalf again. September was passing and there was still no news of him.
Galadriel was biting her underlip nervously, it was not like her old friend to take this long when he said that he would back, she hoped that he was well. The others seemed also nervous about the wizard's abstence.
The Birthday, and the removal, drew nearer, and still he did not come, or send word. Bag End began to be busy. Some of Frodo's friends came to stay and help him with the packing: there was Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin, and of course his special friends Pippin Took and Merry Brandybuck. Between them they turned the whole place upside-down.
On September 20th two covered carts went off laden to Buckland, conveying the furniture and goods that Frodo had not sold to his new home, by way of the Brandywine Bridge. The next day Frodo became really anxious, and kept a constant look-out for Gandalf. Thursday, his birthday morning, dawned as fair and clear as it had long ago for Bilbo's great party. Still Gandalf did not appear. In the evening Frodo gave his farewell feast: it was quite small, just a dinner for himself and his four helpers; but he was troubled and fell in no mood for it. The thought that he would so soon have to part with his young friends weighed on his heart. He wondered how he would break it to them.
"It is never easy." Elrond said as he painfully remembered how long it had taken Elros to manage to tell him about his decision and that they will need to part. He had been furious and hurt that he would leave him just like that, it still hurt to be parted and he feared that the past might repeat itself for his sons.
"No they are never." Legolas said sadly as he caught his ada as he gave him a faint smile. Legolas hated it when his ada also rid out with the soldiers to destroy spider nests because there is always a chance that they would no return.
The four younger hobbits were, however, in high spirits, and the party soon became very cheerful in spite of Gandalf's absence. The dining-room was bare except for a table and chairs, but the food was good, and there was good wine: Frodo's wine had not been included in the sale to the Sackville- Bagginses.
'Whatever happens to the rest of my stuff, when the S.-B.s get their claws on it, at any rate I have found a good home for this!' said Frodo, as he drained his glass. It was the last drop of Old Winyards.
When they had sung many songs, and talked of many things they had done together, they toasted Bilbo's birthday, and they drank his health and Frodo's together according to Frodo's custom. Then they went out for a sniff of air, and glimpse of the stars, and then they went to bed. Frodo's party was over, and Gandalf had not come.
A cold fear gripped the hearts of the elves as Elrond fell silent again for a few minutes, Gandalf never wen't back on his word, if he got delayed would he have sent a message. No one dared to think about it what could have happened to the kind and wise Isthari.
"Ada, please continue." Elladan said after a while, they needed to finish reading these books no matter how frightening or worrisome they were to hear. Nodding Elrond did as his oldest wished.
The next morning they were busy packing another cart with the remainder of the luggage. Merry took charge of this, and drove off with Fatty (that is Fredegar Bolger). 'Someone must get there and warm the house before you arrive,' said Merry. 'Well, see you later – the day after tomorrow, if you don't go to sleep on the way!'
Folco went home after lunch, but Pippin remained behind. Frodo was restless and anxious, listening in vain for a sound of Gandalf. He decided to wait until nightfall. After that, if Gandalf wanted him urgently, he would go to Crickhollow, and might even get there first. For Frodo was going on foot. His plan – for pleasure and a last look at the Shire as much as any other reason – was to walk from Hobbiton to Bucklebury Ferry, taking it fairly easy.
'I shall get myself a bit into training, too,' he said, looking at himself in a dusty mirror in the half-empty hall. He had not done any strenuous walking for a long time, and the reflection looked rather flabby, he thought.
After lunch, the Sackville-Bagginses, Lobelia and her sandyhaired son, Lotho, turned up, much to Frodo's annoyance. 'Ours at last!' said Lobelia, as she stepped inside. It was not polite;
"You might reconsider visiting right after we are done with all three books." Miriel said scowling, that woman would get a throughout tongue lashing form her.
nor strictly true, for the sale of Bag End did not take effect until midnight. But Lobelia can perhaps be forgiven: she had been obliged to wait about seventy-seven years longer for Bag End
than she once hoped, and she was now a hundred years old.
"Still no excuse for being rude." said Orophin, Haldir nodded at his younger brother.
Anyway, she had come to see that nothing she had paid for had been carried off; and she wanted the keys. It took a long while to satisfy her, as she had brought a complete inventory with her and went right through it. In the end she departed with Lotho and the spare key and the promise that the other key would be left at the Gamgees' in Bagshot Row. She snorted, and showed plainly that she thought the Gamgees capable of plundering the hole during the night. Frodo did not offer her any tea.
"Good." said all of the adults scowling at Lobelia's more then lacking manners.
He took his own tea with Pippin and Sam Gamgee in the kitchen. It had been officially announced that Sam was coming to Buckland 'to do for Mr. Frodo and look after his bit of garden'; an arrangement that was approved by the Gaffer, though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as a neighbour.
"The poor hobbit." said the elflings in sympathy for having that woman near him.
'Our last meal at Bag End!' said Frodo, pushing back his chair. They left the washing up for Lobelia.
There were many grins and sounds of agrement, the parents even held themselves back from scolding them for it because they agreed with they children or wards wholeheartedly.
Pippin and Sam strapped up their three packs and piled them in the porch. Pippin went out for a last stroll in the garden. Sam disappeared.
The sun went down. Bag End seemed sad and gloomy and dishevelled.
"Even the house doesn't want to have her in it." stated Elrohir.
Frodo wandered round the familiar rooms, and saw the light of the sunset fade on the walls, and shadows creep out of the corners. It grew slowly dark indoors. He went out and walked down to the gate at the bottom of the path, and then on a short way down the Hill Road. He half expected to see Gandalf come striding up through the dusk.
The sky was clear and the stars were growing bright. 'It's going to be a fine night,' he said aloud. 'That's good for a beginning. I feel like walking. I can't bear any more hanging about. I am going to start, and Gandalf must follow me.' He turned to go back, and then slopped, for he heard voices, just round the corner by the end of Bagshot Row. One voice was certainly the old Gaffer's; the other was strange, and somehow unpleasant. He could not make out what it said, but he heard the Gaffer's answers, which were rather shrill. The old man seemed put out.
'No, Mr. Baggins has gone away. Went this morning, and my Sam went with him: anyway all his stuff went. Yes, sold out and gone, I tell'ee. Why? Why's none of my business, or yours. Where to? That ain't no secret. He's moved to Bucklebury or some such place, away down yonder. Yes it is – a tidy way. I've never been so far myself; they're queer folks in Buckland. No, I can't give no message. Good night to you!'
Footsteps went away down the Hill. Frodo wondered vaguely why the fact that they did not come on up the Hill seemed a great relief.
A few worried looks were exchanged.
'I am sick of questions and curiosity about my doings, I suppose,' he thought. 'What an inquisitive lot they all are!' He had half a mind to go and ask the Gaffer who the inquirer was; but he thought better (or worse) of it, and turned and walked quickly back to Bag End.
Pippin was sitting on his pack in the porch. Sam was not there. Frodo stepped inside the dark door. 'Sam!' he called. 'Sam! Time!'
'Coming, sir!' came the answer from far within, followed soon by Sam himself, wiping his mouth. He had been saying farewell to the beer-barrel in the cellar.
While the elflings laughed at this shook the mothers they heads in disapproval, strangely was Thranduil also shaking his head. Fine, he didn't deny that he was fond of his wine, but he never drank before he either had trade discussions, lessons to either give or help out by them or to ride out with his men.
'All aboard, Sam?' said Frodo.
'Yes, sir. I'll last for a bit now, sir.'
Frodo shut and locked the round door, and gave the key to Sam. 'Run down with this to your home, Sam!' he said. 'Then cut along the Row and meet us as quick as you can at the gate in the lane beyond the meadows. We are not going through the village tonight. Too many ears pricking and eyes prying.' Sam ran off at full speed.
'Well, now we're off at last!' said Frodo. They shouldered their packs and took up their sticks, and walked round the corner to the west side of Bag End. 'Good-bye!' said Frodo, looking at the dark blank windows. He waved his hand, and then turned and (following Bilbo, if he had known it) hurried after Peregrin down the garden-path. They jumped over the low place in the hedge at the bottom and took to the fields, passing into the darkness like a rustle in the grasses.
At the bottom of the Hill on its western side they came to the gate opening on to a narrow lane. There they halted and adjusted the straps of their packs. Presently Sam appeared, trotting quickly and breathing hard; his heavy pack was hoisted high on his shoulders, and he had put on his head a tall shapeless fell bag, which he called a hat. In the gloom he looked very much like a dwarf.
Most members of the group snorted at this in amusement.
'I am sure you have given me all the heaviest stuff,' said Frodo. 'I pity snails, and all that carry their homes on their backs.'
'I could take a lot more yet, sir. My packet is quite light,' said Sam stoutly and untruthfully.
"In other words, this is similar to the 'I'm fine.' comment with which I get faced so often." said the brown haired healer as she glared at both her king and prince who were both trying to not met her gaze.
'No, you don't, Sam!' said Pippin. 'It is good for him. He's got nothing except what he ordered us to pack. He's been slack lately, and he'll feel the weight less when he's walked off some of his own.'
'Be kind to a poor old hobbit!' laughed Frodo. 'I shall be as thin as a willow-wand, I'm sure, before I get to Buckland. But I was talking nonsense. I suspect you have taken more than your share, Sam, and I shall look into it at our next packing.' He picked up his stick again. 'Well, we all like walking in the dark,' he said, 'so let's put some miles behind us before bed.'
For a short way they followed the lane westwards. Then leaving it they turned left and took quietly to the fields again. They went in single file along hedgerows and the borders of coppices, and night fell dark about them. In their dark cloaks they were as invisible as if they all had magic rings.
No one liked the alliteration to much.
Since they were all hobbits, and were trying to be silent, they made no noise that even hobbits would hear. Even the wild things in the fields and woods hardly noticed their passing.
Everyone was nodding in approval at this.
After some time they crossed the Water, west of Hobbiton, by a narrow plank-bridge. The stream was there no more than a winding black ribbon, bordered with leaning alder-trees. A mile or two further south they hastily crossed the great road from the Brandywine Bridge; they were now in the Tookland and bending south-eastwards they made for the Green Hill Country. As they began to climb its first slopes they looked back and saw the lamps in Hobbiton far off twinkling in the gentle valley of the Water. Soon it disappeared in the folds of the darkened land, and was followed by Bywater beside its grey pool. When the light of the last farm was far behind, peeping among the trees, Frodo turned and waved a hand in farewell.
'I wonder if I shall ever look down into that valley again,' he said quietly.
When they had walked for about three hours they rested. The night was clear, cool, and starry, but smoke-like wisps of mist were creeping up the hill-sides from the streams and deep meadows. Thin-clad birches, swaying in a light wind above their heads, made a black net against the pale sky.
The Wood Elf party shivered at the reminder of the dangerous nets hidden in they home from those gigant spiders, the others gave them sympathetic looks.
They ate a very frugal supper (for hobbits), and then went on again. Soon they struck a narrow road, that went rolling up and down, fading grey into the darkness ahead: the road to Woodhall, and Stock, and the Bucklebury Ferry. It climbed away from the main road in the Water-valley, and wound over the skirts of the Green Hills towards Woody-End, a wild corner of the Eastfarthing.
After a while they plunged into a deeply cloven track between tall trees that rustled their dry leaves in the night. It was very dark. At first they talked, or hummed a tune softly together, being now far away from inquisitive ears. Then they marched on in silence, and Pippin began to lag behind. At last, as they began to climb a steep slope, he stopped and yawned.
'I am so sleepy,' he said, 'that soon I shall fall down on the road. Are you going to sleep on your legs? It is nearly midnight.'
'I thought you liked walking in the dark,' said Frodo. 'But there is no great hurry. Merry expects us some time the day after tomorrow; but that leaves us nearly two days more. We'll halt at the first likely spot.'
'The wind's in the West,' said Sam. 'If we get to the other side of this hill, we shall find a spot that is sheltered and snug enough, sir. There is a dry fir-wood just ahead, if I remember rightly.' Sam knew the land well within twenty miles of Hobbiton, but that was the limit of his geography.
"He needs to brighten his horizon." Elrohir said at which gasps were heard. Looking around in surprise he spotted his ada, Glorfindel and Erestor holding they hearts. "Huh…?" he didn't understand what was wrong and even his siblings were looking at him strangely.
"Elrond, do you think that your son is feeling well?" Glorfindel asked in a shocked tone.
"I will take a look at him right after this chapter." Elrond replied in shock, Elrohir had till now battled any class that had nothing to do with weapon training, in the first months they even needed to drag him into the library and now was he speaking about brightening ones horizon.
"Do you feel alright?" Thranduil asked the dark haired noldo at his side in concern.
"I will live aran nín, this comment was truly unexpected." Erestor replied as he looked at Elrohir who had now crossed his arms in front of his chest in annoyance at the three adults behaviour.
"Ada, just continue seas." Elrohir said in an annoyed tone, what did he say wrong?
Just over the top of the hill they came on the patch of firwood. Leaving the road they went into the deep resin-scented darkness of the trees, and gathered dead sticks and cones to make a fire. Soon they had a merry crackle of flame at the foot of a large fir-tree and they sat round it for a while, until they began to nod. Then, each in an angle of the great tree's roots, they curled up in their cloaks and blankets, and were soon fast asleep. They set no watch; even Frodo feared no danger yet, for they were still in the heart of the Shire. A few creatures came and looked at them when the fire had died away. A fox passing through the wood on business of his own stopped several minutes and sniffed.
'Hobbits!' he thought. 'Well, what next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree. Three of them! There's something mighty queer behind this.' He was quite right, but he never found out any more about it.
The morning came, pale and clammy. Frodo woke up first, and found that a tree-root had made a hole in his back, and that his neck was stiff.
'Walking for pleasure! Why didn't I drive?'
The elflings snickered again, it was now to late for whining about that.
he thought, as he usually did at the beginning of an expedition. 'And all my beautiful feather beds are sold to the Sackville-Bagginses! These tree-roots would do them good.' He stretched. 'Wake up, hobbits!' he cried. It's a beautiful morning.'
"You just can't appreciate it." Legolas said with a little smile as he shook his blonde head, he loved sleeping high up in the trees at home which grew near the palace.
'What's beautiful about it?' said Pippin, peering over the edge of his blanket with one eye. 'Sam! Get breakfast ready for half-past nine! Have you got the bath-water hot?'
Sam jumped up, looking rather bleary. 'No, sir, I haven't, sir!' he said.
While the elflings laughed at the wake up call leaned an amused looking Erestor over to Thranduil.
"Sometimes I need to use similar methods to wake up both of our lords." he whispered to the blonde king who looked interested.
"And may I ask what you say to them to get them to wake up?" Thranduil asked back in curiosity.
"In Glorfindel's case is it enough to act as if a Blarog had appeared, it can be amusing if he grabs his sword and jumps up in bed, he manages most of the time to get himself tangled in the sheets and fall down thinking that he got caught by it. In the case of my lord I usually tell him that the twins had set the kitchen aflame again." Erestor replied with a little laugh, it was not his nature to scare others, but on some days tended those two to sleep in which wouldn't do.
"I never thought that you could be so devious mell nín advisor." Thranduil replied with a grin.
"It is not in my nature, but some things need drastic measures." Erestor replied not noticing the looks they got from some members of the group.
"Why do I don't like the fact that Erestor seems to get along with Thranduil better then he should?" Glorfindel asked Elrond who had stopped for a few seconds in his reading as he had the feeling as if someone would be talking about him.
"Because we will pull the shorter end of the straw if those two band together against us." Elrond replied before continuing with his reading.
Frodo stripped the blankets from Pippin and rolled him over, and then walked off to the edge of the wood. Away eastward the sun was rising red out of the mists that lay thick on the world. Touched with gold and red the autumn trees seemed to be sailing rootless in a shadowy sea. A little below him to the left the road ran down steeply into a hollow and disappeared. When he returned Sam and Pippin had got a good fire going. 'Water!' shouted Pippin. 'Where's the water?'
'I don't keep water in my pockets,' said Frodo. 'We thought you had gone to find some,' said Pippin, busy setting out the food, and cups. 'You had better go now.'
'You can come too,' said Frodo, 'and bring all the waterbottles.' There was a stream at the foot of the hill. They filled their bottles and the small camping kettle at a little fall where the water fell a few feet over an outcrop of grey stone. It was icy cold; and they spluttered and puffed as they bathed their faces and hands.
When their breakfast was over, and their packs all trussed up again, it was after ten o'clock, and the day was beginning to turn fine and hot. They went down the slope, and across the stream where it dived under the road, and up the next slope, and up and down another shoulder of the hills; and by that time their cloaks, blankets, water, food, and other gear already seemed a heavy burden.
The day's march promised to be warm and tiring work. After some miles, however, the road ceased to roll up and down: it climbed to the top of a steep bank in a weary zig-zagging sort of way, and then prepared to go down for the last time. In front of them they saw the lower lands dotted with small clumps of trees that melted away in the distance to a brown woodland haze. They were looking across the Woody End towards the Brandywine River. The road wound away before them like a piece of string.
'The road goes on for ever,' said Pippin; 'but I can't without a rest. It is high time for lunch.' He sat down on the bank at the side of the road and looked away east into the haze, beyond which lay the River, and the end of the Shire in which he had spent all his life. Sam stood by him. His round eyes were wide open – for he was looking across lands he had never seen to a new horizon.
'Do Elves live in those woods?' he asked.
"Nay, since the fall of Doriath are the Gloden Woods and Green Wood the only forests where elves live." Celeborn said, his tone slightly melancholic at the memories of the beautiful forest he had loved so much.
'Not that I ever heard,' said Pippin. Frodo was silent. He too was gazing eastward along the road, as if he had never seen it before. Suddenly he spoke, aloud but as if to himself, saying slowly:
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with weary feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
Elrond and most of the other looked wide eyed at the king who was looking back at them with a raised eyebrow.
"Is there something wrong? I happen to know this rhyme Bilbo had made, he seems fond of making those." he defended himself, Elrond only nodded before continuing again.
'That sounds like a bit of old Bilbo's rhyming,' said Pippin. 'Or is it one of your imitations? It does not sound altogether encouraging.'
'I don't know,' said Frodo. It came to me then, as if I was making it up; but I may have heard it long ago. Certainly it reminds me very much of Bilbo in the last years, before he went away. He used often to say there was only one Road; that it was like a great river: its springs were at every doorstep, and every path was its tributary. "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door," he used to say. "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. Do you realize that this is the very path that goes through Mirkwood,
A new flinch at the name, but there were faint smiles at the little irony of that path.
and that if you let it, it might take you to the Lonely Mountain or even further and to worse places?" He used to say that on the path outside the front door at Bag End, especially after he had been out for a long walk.'
'Well, the Road won't sweep me anywhere for an hour at least,' said Pippin, unslinging his pack. The others followed his example, putting their packs against the bank and their legs out into the road. After a rest they had a good lunch, and then more rest.
The sun was beginning to get low and the light of afternoon was on the land as they went down the hill. So far they had not met a soul on the road. This way was not much used, being hardly fit for carts, and there was little traffic to the Woody End. They had been jogging along again for an hour or more when Sam stopped a moment as if listening. They were now on level ground, and the road after much winding lay straight ahead through grass-land sprinkled with tall trees, outliers of the approaching woods.
'I can hear a pony or a horse coming along the road behind,' said Sam.
They looked back, but the turn of the road prevented them from seeing far. 'I wonder if that is Gandalf coming after us,' said Frodo; but even as he said it, he had a feeling that it was not so, and a sudden desire to hide from the view of the rider came over him.
A shiver of worry had crept into Elrond's voice as he read the next paragraphs, the other adults also tensed, a strange feeling comming over them.
'It may not matter much,' he said apologetically, 'but I would rather not be seen on the road – by anyone. I am sick of my doings being noticed and discussed. And if it is Gandalf,' he added as an afterthought, 'we can give him a little surprise, to pay him out for being so late. Let's get out of sight!'
The other two ran quickly to the left and down into a little hollow not far from the road. There they lay flat. Frodo hesitated for a second: curiosity or some other feeling was struggling with his desire to hide. The sound of hoofs drew nearer. Just in time he threw himself down in a patch of long grass behind a tree that overshadowed the road. Then he lifted his head and peered cautiously above one of the great roots.
The unsettling feeling grew stronger and even thougt it was a warm day and the sun was shining felt Elrond the cold creeping under his skin as he tried to keep the fear out of his voice and the slight tremble of his hands low.
Round the corner came a black horse, no hobbit-pony but a full-sized horse; and on it sat a large man, who seemed to crouch in the saddle, wrapped in a great black cloak and hood, so that only his boots in the high stirrups showed below; his face was shadowed and invisible.
Gasps of horror filled the garden from the side of the adults for they recogrinaised the rider for that what he was.
"Ringwraith…" Glorfindel growled out and the children suddenly clustered closer together, he was one of the bearers of the nine rigs given to mortal men.
"Now is it without a doubt confirmed that time is running out, the Nine are close to find the ring." Galadriel said in a cryptic voice while the others nodded gravely, they time was running short.
"Seas, don't let them be found." Arwen whispered as she clung to both of her older brothers.
Swallowing hard picked Elrond the book up again to continue, hoping that the situation would still end well for the three hobbits.
When it reached the tree and was level with Frodo the horse stopped. The riding figure sat quite still with its head bowed, as if listening. From inside the hood came a noise as of someone sniffing to catch an elusive scent; the head turned from side to side of the road.
"I don't like the sound of this." Haldir stated as he tried to calm both of his younger siblings who were clinging to him, shivering from fear.
A sudden unreasoning fear of discovery laid hold of Frodo, and he thought of his Ring. He hardly dared to breathe, and yet the desire to get it out of his pocket became so strong that he began slowly to move his hand.
"Don't do it!" the elflings shouted in alarm as if Frodo could hear them, the air was filling with nervous tension.
He felt that he had only to slip it on, and then he would be safe. The advice of Gandalf seemed absurd. Bilbo had used the Ring. 'And I am still in the Shire,' he thought, as his hand touched the chain on which it hung. At that moment the rider sat up, and shook the reins. The horse stepped forward, walking slowly at first, and then breaking into a quick trot.
Frodo crawled to the edge of the road and watched the rider, until he dwindled into the distance. He could not be quite sure, but it seemed to him that suddenly, before it passed out of sight, the horse turned aside and went into the trees on the right.
No one dared to comment for the tension and the strange chill which had befallen them was still wery much present.
'Well, I call that very queer, and indeed disturbing,' said Frodo to himself, as he walked towards his companions. Pippin and Sam had remained flat in the grass, and had seen nothing; so Frodo described the rider and his strange behaviour.
'I can't say why, but I felt certain he was looking or smelling for me; and also I felt certain that I did not want him to discover me. I've never seen or fell anything like it in the Shire before.'
"They were lucky to not have been discovered." Angränor said, he had only once fought against one of those fiends, it made him retreat when backup come, but not for him.
"Aye, it wouldn't have been pretty if they would have been found." said Glorfindel as he remembered his fight against the Witch-King of Angmar, though he disliked that practicular Wraith also for another thing or because another person to be more correct.
'But what has one of the Big People got to do with us?' said Pippin. 'And what is he doing in this part of the world?'
'There are some Men about,' said Frodo. 'Down in the Southfarthing they have had trouble with Big People, I believe. But I have never heard of anything like this rider. I wonder where he comes from.'
"Not hard to guess."
'Begging your pardon,' put in Sam suddenly, 'I know where he comes from. It's from Hobbiton that this here black rider comes, unless there's more than one. And I know where he's going to.'
'To close.' was the thougth going through all they heads.
'What do you mean?' said Frodo sharply, looking at him in astonishment. 'Why didn't you speak up before?'
'I have only just remembered, sir. It was like this: when I got back to our hole yesterday evening with the key, my dad, he says to me: Hello, Sam! he says. I thought you were away with Mr. Frodo this morning. There's been a strange customer asking for Mr. Baggins of Bag End, and he's only just gone. I've sent him on to Bucklebury. Not that I liked the sound of him. He seemed mighty put out, when I told him Mr. Baggins had left his old home for good.
"I can only all to well imagine." Glorfindel said in distaste, his emotions still raging like a storm inside of his soul.
Hissed at me, he did. It gave me quite a shudder. What sort of a fellow was he? says I to the Gaffer. I don't know, says he; but he wasn't a hobbit.
"They aren't even human anymore." Thranduil hissed.
He was tall and black-like, and he stooped aver me. I reckon it was one of the Big Folk from foreign parts. He spoke funny.
'I couldn't stay to hear more, sir, since you were waiting; and I didn't give much heed to it myself. The Gaffer is getting old, and more than a bit blind, and it must have been near dark when this fellow come up the Hill and found him taking the air at the end of our Row. I hope he hasn't done no harm, sir, nor me.'
'The Gaffer can't be blamed anyway,' said Frodo. 'As a matter of fact I heard him talking to a stranger, who seemed to be inquiring for me, and I nearly went and asked him who it was. I wish I had, or you had told me about it before. I might have been more careful on the road.'
'Still, there may be no connexion between this rider and the Gaffer's stranger,' said Pippin. 'We left Hobbiton secretly enough, and I don't see how he could have followed us.'
'What about the smelling, sir?' said Sam. 'And the Gaffer said he was a black chap.'
'I wish I had waited for Gandalf,' Frodo muttered. 'But perhaps it would only have made matters worse.'
"Something tells me that it certainly would have made matters worse." Feanor added in, they could have been caught if they stayed longer.
'Then you know or guess something about this rider?' said Pippin, who had caught the muttered words.
'I don't know, and I would rather not guess,' said Frodo.
'All right, cousin Frodo! You can keep your secret for the present, if
you want to be mysterious. In the meanwhile what are we to do? I should like a bite and a sup, but somehow I think we had better move on from here. Your talk of sniffing riders with invisible noses has unsettled me.'
"It is really better for them to move from there." Celebrian said carefully, hoping that they would be fine, no matter that by they race they already went as young adults, in elven years looked were all three still young children and she hated it when children were in danger.
'Yes, I think we will move on now,' said Frodo; 'but not on the road -in case that rider comes back, or another follows him. We ought to do a good step more today. Buckland is still miles away.'
The shadows of the trees were long and thin on the grass, as they started off again. They now kept a stone's throw to the left of the road, and kept out of sight of it as much as they could. But this hindered them; for the grass was thick and tussocky, and the ground uneven, and the trees began to draw together into thickets.
The sun had gone down red behind the hills at their backs, and evening was coming on before they came back to the road at the end of the long level over which it had run straight for some miles. At that point it bent left and went down into the lowlands of the Yale making for Stock; but a lane branched right, winding through a wood of ancient oak-trees on its way to Woodhall. 'That is the way for us,' said Frodo.
Not far from the road-meeting they came on the huge hulk of a tree: it was still alive and had leaves on the small branches that it had put out round the broken stumps of its long-fallen limbs; but it was hollow, and could be entered by a great crack on the side away from the road. The hobbits crept inside,and sat there upon a floor of old leaves and decayed wood.
"Those are the best hiding places." exclaimed Legolas happily, not noticing the shadow of melancholic pain flashing over the faces of both his adar and that of Lord Celeborn as they remembered the place hiding them from the Kinslayers, but while they had not seen them were they fully faced with the horror of they dark deed.
They rested and had a light meal, talking quietly and listening from time to time.
Twilight was about them as they crept back to the lane. The West wind was sighing in the branches. Leaves were whispering. Soon the road began to fall gently but steadily into the dusk. A star came out above the trees in the darkening East before them. They went abreast and in step, to keep up their spirits. After a time, as the stars grew thicker and brighter, the feeling of disquiet left them, and they no longer listened for the sound of hoofs. They began to hum softly, as hobbits have a way of doing as they walk along, especially when they are drawing near to home at night. With most hobbits it is a suppersong or a bed-song; but these hobbits hummed a walking-song (though not, of course, without any mention of supper and bed). Bilbo Baggins had made the words, to a tune that was as old as the hills, and taught it to Frodo as they walked in the lanes of the Water-valley and talked about Adventure.
"That hobbit is certainly creative and nay Elrohir, I will not sing it." Elrond said to his son, he would not risk getting a tone false in front of everyone.
"Then let me do it, it was already a while ago since I had the chance to sing something." Elrond and the others turned to Celeborn who had stood up from his place beside Erestor. What he had said was true, they three young wards only wished rarely for a good-night song and being of Sindarin descent he always enjoyed singing and they kin had the voices for it.
After getting the book from his still flabbergasted looking son-in-law and sat back down clearing his throat.
Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
Tree and flower and leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky,
Pass them by! Pass them by!
Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!
Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back to home and bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!
Finishing the song handed Celeborn the book back to Elrond while the children clapped.
"You may continue now Elrond." he sated calmly as he shared a grin with Thranduil.
The song ended. 'And now to bed! And now to bed!' sang Pippin in a high voice.
'Hush!' said Frodo. 'I think I hear hoofs again.'
The good mode which the song brought turned again into tension as they waited for Elrond to continue.
They slopped suddenly and stood as silent as tree-shadows, listening. There was a sound of hoofs in the lane, some way behind, but coming slow and clear down the wind. Quickly and quietly they slipped off the path, and ran into the deeper shade under the oak-trees.
'Don't let us go too far!' said Frodo. 'I don't want to be seen, but I want to see if it is another Black Rider.'
'Very well!' said Pippin. 'But don't forget the sniffing!'
The hoofs drew nearer. They had no time to find any hidingplace
better than the general darkness under the trees; Sam and Pippin crouched behind a large tree-bole, while Frodo crept back a few yards towards the lane. It showed grey and pale, a line of fading light through the wood. Above it the stars were thick in the dim sky, but there was no moon.
The sound of hoofs stopped. As Frodo watched he saw something dark pass across the lighter space between two trees, and then halt. It looked like the black shade of a horse led by a smaller black shadow.
The elflings were already fidgetting on they sitting spot, the tension was slowly growing unbearable.
The black shadow stood close to the point where they had left the path, and it swayed from side to side. Frodo thought he heard the sound of snuffling. The shadow bent to the ground, and then began to crawl towards him.
Most of the adults and children come to the same conclusion that they will need to re-arange some of the sleeping matters due to the high posibility of nightmares.
Once more the desire to slip on the Ring came over Frodo; but this time it was stronger than before. So strong that, almost before he realized what he was doing, his hand was groping in his pocket. But at that moment there came a sound like mingled song and laughter. Clear voices rose and fell in the starlit air. The black shadow straightened up and retreated. It climbed on to the shadowy horse and seemed to vanish across the lane into the darkness on the other side. Frodo breathed again.
Everyone sighed in relief about the fact that Frodo and his friends escaped again and they had a good guess about who is comming.
'Elves!' exclaimed Sam in a hoarse whisper. 'Elves, sir!' He would have burst out of the trees and dashed off towards the voices, if they had not pulled him back.
"I think that would certainly startle them." Celebrian said with a little laugh, the tension was lifting itself again somewhat.
'Yes, it is Elves,' said Frodo. 'One can meet them sometimes in the Woody End. They don't live in the Shire, but they wander into it in Spring and Autumn, out of their own lands away beyond the Tower Hills. I am thankful that they do! You did not see, but that Black Rider stopped just here and was actually crawling towards us when the song began. As soon as he heard the voices he slipped away.'
"It seems as if the Ringwraits don't wish to encounter our kin." Angränor said in s suspicious tone.
"Do you think they wish to hide from us the fact that they are searching for the One Ring?" Feanor asked the general.
"I'm sill not certain, but there is a high chance for it." he answered.
'What about the Elves?' said Sam, too excited to trouble about the rider. 'Can't we go and see them?'
"Really, we aren't some kind of grand attraction." stated Orophin while shaking his head at the hobbits excitement to see elves.
'Listen! They are coming this way,' said Frodo. 'We have only to wait.' The singing drew nearer. One clear voice rose now above the others. It was singing in the fair elven-tongue, of which Frodo knew only a little, and the others knew nothing.
Yet the sound blending with the melody seemed to shape itself in their thought into words which they only partly understood. This was the song as Frodo heard it:
At this Elrond handed the book to his wife for the thought she would like to sing this song. Celebrian only blinked a few times before reading over the song, a smile comming to her face.
Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!
O Queen beyond the Western Seas!
O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees!
Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!
Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the Sea.
O stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sawn,
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown!
O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!
We still remember, we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees,
Thy starlight on the Western Seas.
With the end of the song the remaining tension also faded from the air and a warm calm stepped inside at the thougth of the trio being safe for a while in the mids of the elves. Celebrian returned the book to her husband.
The song ended. 'These are High Elves! They spoke the name of Elbereth!' said Frodo in amazement,
"He got that right, sindarin elves call her a different name." said Celeborn smiling.
'Few of that fairest folk are ever seen in the Shire. Not many now remain in Middleearth, east of the Great Sea. This is indeed a strange chance!'
The hobbits sat in shadow by the wayside. Before long the Elves came down the lane towards the valley. They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes. They bore no lights, yet as they walked a shimmer, like the light of the moon above the rim of the hills before it rises, seemed to fall about their feet. They were now silent, and as the last Elf passed he turned and looked towards the hobbits and laughed.
Elrond raised an eyebrow before commenting.
"It seems as if your friend had embarked on making friends with all remaining elves of Arda." he said while looking at the king.
'Hail, Frodo!' he cried. 'You are abroad late. Or are you perhaps lost?' Then he called aloud to the others, and all the company stopped and gathered round.
"At least will they be now in more safety." Celebrian said, if those elves knew Frodo then it was even better.
'This is indeed wonderful!' they said. 'Three hobbits in a wood at night! We have not seen such a thing since Bilbo went away. What is the meaning of it?'
'The meaning of it, fair people,' said Frodo, 'is simply that we seem to be going the same way as you are. I like walking under the stars. But I would welcome your company.'
Everyone nodded in agrement, they should at least travel together through the night where it is harder to detect the Black Rider.
'But we have no need of other company, and hobbits are so dull,' they laughed. 'And how do you know that we go the same way as you, for you do not know whither we are going?'
'And how do you know my name?' asked Frodo in return.
'We know many things,' they said. 'We have seen you often before with Bilbo, though you may not have seen us.'
'Who are you, and who is your lord?' asked Frodo.
"Ah, I know that name." was the only thing Elrond said.
'I am Gildor,' answered their leader, the Elf who had first hailed him. 'Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. We are Exiles, and most of our kindred have long ago departed and we too are now only tarrying here a while, ere we return over the Great Sea. But some of our kinsfolk dwell still in peace in Rivendell. Come now, Frodo, tell us what you are doing? For we see that there is some shadow of fear upon you.'
'O Wise People!' interrupted Pippin eagerly. 'Tell us about the Black Riders!'
"This will certainly alarm them." Glorfindel said as everyone exchanged nervous glances.
'Black Riders?' they said in low voices. 'Why do you ask about Black Riders?'
"Told you, there is no elf in Middle-Earth beside mayhap the elflings who doesn't know the Nine."
'Because two Black Riders have overtaken us today, or one has done so twice,' said Pippin; 'only a little while ago he slipped away as you drew near.'
The Elves did not answer at once, but spoke together softly in their own tongue. At length Gildor turned to the hobbits. 'We will not speak of this here,' he said. 'We think you had best come now with us. It is not our custom, but for this time we will lake you on our road, and you shall lodge with us tonight, if you will.'
"They will be safe in the night." Arwen said happily at that thought, the others nodded, the other elves would be ready for an attack.
'O Fair Folk! This is good fortune beyond my hope,' said Pippin. Sam was speechless.
"The more I read about this Bilbo the more I think that you have made a good decision about him Thranduil." Elrond said again to the king, he certainly hoped that he also had the chance to met this being.
'I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion,' said Frodo bowing. 'Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo,
Everyone had a faint smile on they lips at the greeting spoken in they language, not many other folk of Middle-Earth tried learning it.
a star shines on the hour of our meeting,' he added in the highelven speech.
'Be careful, friends!' cried Gildor laughing. 'Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue. Bilbo was a good master. Hail, Elf-friend!' he said, bowing to Frodo. 'Come now with your friends and join our company! You had best walk in the middle so that you may not stray. You may be weary before we halt.'
'Why? Where are you going?' asked Frodo.
'For tonight we go to the woods on the hills above Woodhall. It is some miles, but you shall have rest at the end of it, and it will shorten your journey tomorrow.'
They nodded at the idea, the less the traveling time the quicker they will be in a more safer place.
They now marched on again in silence, and passed like shadows and faint lights: for Elves (even more than hobbits) could walk when they wished without sound or footfall. Pippin soon began to feel sleepy, and staggered once or twice; but each time a tall Elf at his side put out his arm and saved him from a fall. Sam walked along at Frodo's side, as if in a dream, with an expression on his face half of fear and half of astonished joy.
The younger elves snorted at this while shaking they heads in amusement.
The woods on either side became denser; the trees were now younger and thicker; and as the lane went lower, running down into a fold of the hills, there were many deep brakes of hazel on the rising slopes at either hand. At last the Elves turned aside from the path. A green ride lay almost unseen through the thickets on the right; and this they followed as it wound away back up the wooded slopes on to the top of a shoulder of the hills that stood out into the lower land of the river-valley. Suddenly they came out of the shadow of the trees, and before them lay a wide space of grass, grey under the night. On three sides the woods pressed upon it; but eastward the ground fell steeply and the tops of the dark trees, growing at the bottom of the slope, were below their feet. Beyond, the low lands lay dim and flat under the stars. Nearer at hand a few lights twinkled in the village of Woodhall.
The Elves sat on the grass and spoke together in soft voices; they seemed to take no further notice of the hobbits.
"They need to go over they plan on as to how to reach the Gray Havens safely now that they know that the Nine are again on they way." said Erestor sombrely, this could difficult they journey if they wanted to travel in the safety of the night and force them to re-adjust they plans.
Frodo and his companions wrapped themselves in cloaks and
blankets, and drowsiness stole over them. The night grew on, and the lights in the valley went out. Pippin fell asleep, pillowed on a green hillock.
Away high in the East swung Remmirath, the Netted Stars, and slowly above the mists red Borgil rose, glowing like a jewel of fire. Then by some shift of airs all the mist was drawn away like a veil, and there leaned up, as he climbed over the rim of the world, the Swordsman of the Sky, Menelvagor with his shining belt.
"It seems your friend had certainly teached his nephew many things about our ways and beings." said Galadriel in a slightly shocked tone for she herself also hadn't encountered a person so willing to learn they ways. It seemed as if she needed to give her son-in-law right, Thranduil had made a wise decision in naming the hobbit Elf-friend.
"He sure did." was Thranduil's only reply as he smiled at the book.
The Elves all burst into song. Suddenly under the trees a fire sprang up with a red light.
"And so much about the three sleeping anytime soon." Elrohir whispered to the others who nodded in agreement, when they had guest they were nearly up all night talking, singing and dancing.
'Come!' the Elves called to the hobbits. 'Come! Now is the time for speech and merriment!'
Pippin sat up and rubbed his eyes. He shivered.
'There is a fire in the hall, and food for hungry guests,' said an Elf standing before him.
"Looks like as if they would get a chance to experience an elven feast no matter if small." Orophin said referring back to the conversation they had not long ago when they were told about Lord Elrond and Lord Glorfindel literally drinking themselves under the table.
"Though I doubt they will find it great to be kept awake." Rumil added in to his older brother's statement.
At the south end of the greensward there was an opening. There the green floor ran on into the wood, and formed a wide space like a hall, roofed by the boughs of trees. Their great trunks ran like pillars down each side. In the middle there was a wood-fire blazing, and upon the tree-pillars torches with lights of gold and silver were burning steadily. The Elves sat round the fire upon the grass or upon the sawn rings of old trunks. Some went to and fro bearing cups and pouring drink; others brought food on heaped plates and dishes.
'This is poor fare,' they said to the hobbits; 'for we are lodging in the greenwood far from our halls. If ever you are our guests at home, we will treat you better.'
'It seems to me good enough for a birthday-party,' said Frodo.
Pippin afterwards recalled little of either food or drink, for his mind was filled with the light upon the elf-faces, and the sound of voices so various and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream. But he remembered that there was bread, surpassing the savour of a fair white loaf to one who is starving; and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits of gardens; he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught, cool as a clear fountain, golden as a summer afternoon.
Sam could never describe in words, nor picture clearly to
himself, what he felt or thought that night, though it remained in his memory as one of the chief events of his life. The nearest he ever got was to say: 'Well, sir, if I could grow apples like that, I would call myself a gardener. But it was the singing that went to my heart, if you know what I mean.'
The elflings laughed again hearing how overwhelmed the two hobbits were with the elven party and even some of the adults smiled in amusement. It was nice having such light things in the book beside the dark forebondings.
Frodo sat, eating, drinking, and talking with delight; but his mind was chiefly on the words spoken. He knew a little of the elf-speech and listened eagerly. Now and again he spoke to those that served him and thanked them in their own language. They smiled at him and said laughing: 'Here is a jewel among hobbits!'
"Both his uncle and him are certainly special." Miriel said nodding.
"I think we can now all see what you mean." replied Celebrian who had become fond of the two and wished to met with them.
After a while Pippin fell fast asleep, and was lifted up and borne away to a bower under the trees; there he was laid upon a soft bed and slept the rest of the night away. Sam refused to leave his master. When Pippin had gone, he came and sat curled up at Frodo's feet, where at last he nodded and closed his eyes. Frodo remained long awake, talking with Gildor.
They spoke of many things, old and new, and Frodo questioned Gildor much about happenings in the wide world outside the Shire. The tidings were mostly sad and ominous: of gathering darkness, the wars of Men, and the flight of the Elves.
"These are certainly bothersome news." Celeborn said in a sad tone while gesturing with his hand for Elrond to continue as no one other spoke.
At last Frodo asked the question that was nearest to his heart:
'Tell me, Gildor, have you ever seen Bilbo since he left us?'
Thranduil sat straighter at this then he would have also liked to know the answer.
Gildor smiled. 'Yes,' he answered. 'Twice. He said farewell to us on this very spot. But I saw him once again, far from here.' He would say no more about Bilbo, and Frodo fell silent.
The king felt relived at the news because even if it was not much it still calmed his nerves somewhat that his friend was on his way to somewhere safe.
'You do not ask me or tell me much that concerns yourself, Frodo,' said Gildor. 'But I already know a little, and I can read more in your face and in the thought behind your questions. You are leaving the Shire, and yet you doubt that you will find what you seek, or accomplish what you intend, or that you will ever return. Is not that so?'
'It is,' said Frodo; 'but I thought my going was a secret known only to Gandalf and my faithful Sam.' He looked down at Sam, who was snoring gently.
'The secret will not reach the Enemy from us,' said Gildor.
'The Enemy?' said Frodo. 'Then you know why I am leaving the Shire?'
'I do not know for what reason the Enemy is pursuing you,' answered Gildor; 'but I perceive that he is – strange indeed though that seems to me. And I warn you that peril is now both before you and behind you, and upon either side.'
"Aye, the Necromancer can be determined in his pursuits." Angränor said with a dark grin on his lips, his words making the elflings shiver while Glorfindel tried not to snort and the ironical comment.
'You mean the Riders? I feared that they were servants of the Enemy. What are the Black Riders?'
'Has Gandalf told you nothing?'
"Unfortunately not." said Elladan.
'Nothing about such creatures.'
'Then I think it is not for me to say more – lest terror should keep you from your journey. For it seems to me that you have set out only just in time, if indeed you are in time. You must now make haste, and neither stay nor turn back; for the Shire is no longer any protection to you.'
'I cannot imagine what information could be more terrifying than your hints and warnings,' exclaimed Frodo. 'I knew that danger lay ahead, of course; but I did not expect to meet it in our own Shire. Can't a hobbit walk from the Water to the River in peace?'
'But it is not your own Shire,' said Gildor. 'Others dwelt here before hobbits were; and others will dwell here again when hobbits are no more. The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot for ever fence it out.'
'I know – and yet it has always seemed so safe and familiar. What can I do now? My plan was to leave the Shire secretly, and make my way to Rivendell; but now my footsteps are dogged, before ever I get to Buckland.'
'I think you should still follow that plan,' said Gildor. 'I do not think the Road will prove too hard for your courage. But if you desire clearer counsel, you should ask Gandalf. I do not know the reason for your flight, and therefore I do not know by what means your pursuers will assail you. These things Gandalf must know. I suppose that you will see him before you leave the Shire?'
'I hope so. But that is another thing that makes me anxious. I have been expecting Gandalf for many days. He was to have come to Hobbiton at the latest two nights ago; but he has never appeared. Now I am wondering what can have happened. Should I wait for him?'
"I think after this new will they group travel with more haste an caution to reach the Havens as fast as they can." Feanor said with the others nodding.
Gildor was silent for a moment. 'I do not like this news,' he said at last. 'That Gandalf should be late, does not bode well. But it is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.
There were several nodds of agrement to the old saying.
The choice is yours: to go or wait'
Then by the next sentence Elrond started chuckling before reading out loud what amused him so much.
'And it is also said,' answered Frodo: 'Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.'
At this the others also started either laughing or chuckling knowing how true it was.
'Is it indeed?' laughed Gildor. 'Elves seldom give unguarded advice, for advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill. But what would you? You have not told me all concerning yourself; and how then shall I choose better than you? But if you demand advice, I will for friendship's sake give it. I think you should now go at once, without delay; and if Gandalf does not come before you set out, then I also advise this: do not go alone. Take such friends as are trusty and willing. Now you should be grateful, for I do not give this counsel gladly. The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth. Our paths cross theirs seldom, by chance or purpose. In this meeting there may be more than chance; but the purpose is not clear to me, and I fear to say too much.'
'I am deeply grateful,' said Frodo; 'but I wish you would tell me plainly what the Black Riders are. If I take your advice I may not see Gandalf for a long while, and I ought to know what is the danger that pursues me.'
'Is it not enough to know that they are servants of the Enemy?' answered Gildor. 'Flee them! Speak no words to them! They are deadly. Ask no more of me! But my heart forbodes that, ere all is ended, you, Frodo son of Drogo, will know more of these fell things than Gildor Inglorion. May Elbereth protect you!'
'But where shall I find courage?' asked Frodo. 'That is what I chiefly need.'
"Even if things get hopeless, the courage is always there you need only to call upon it." Galadriel said in a kind tone for just like Mithrandir she had also become fond of the little hobbit.
'Courage is found in unlikely places,' said Gildor. 'Be of good hope! Sleep now! In the morning we shall have gone; but we will send our messages through the lands. The Wandering Companies shall know of your journey, and those that have power for good shall be on the watch. I name you Elf-friend; and may the stars shine upon the end of your road! Seldom have we had such delight in strangers, and it is fair to hear words of the Ancient Speech from the lips of other wanderers in the world.'
Everyone shmiled at the book then Gildor spoke the turth and it was interesting to see that now also the nephew bore his uncle's title for it was rare that a mortal gained such respect under they kin to be named thus, leave alone a second member of they close kin also. With this would the young hobbit be welcome under they kin and they would lend him help if in need.
Frodo felt sleep coming upon him, even as Gildor finished speaking. 'I will sleep now,' he said; and the Elf led him to a bower beside Pippin, and he threw himself upon a bed and fell at once into a dreamless slumber.
"This is the end of this chapter." Elrond said as he handed the book to Arwen to read.
To be continued…