the food ready。 Aragorn bathed the hurts with water in which athelas wassteeped。 The pungent fragrance filled the dell； and all those who stooped overthe steaming water felt refreshed and strengthened。 Soon Frodo felt the painleave him； and his breath grew easy： though he was stiff and sore to the touchfor many days。 Aragorn bound some soft pads of cloth at his side。
‘The mail is marvellously light；' he said。 ‘Put it on again； if you canbear it。 My heart is glad to know that you have such a coat。 Do not lay itaside； even in sleep； unless fortune brings you where you are safe for awhile； and that will seldom chance while your quest lasts。'
When they had eaten； the pany got ready to go on。 They put out thefire and hid all traces of it。 Then climbing out of the dell they took to theroad again。 They had not gone far before the sun sank behind the westwardheights and great shadows crept down the mountain…sides。 Dusk veiled theirfeet； and mist rose in the hollows。 Away in the east the evening light laypale upon the dim lands of distant plain and wood。 Sam and Frodo now feelingeased and greatly refreshed were able to go at a fair pace； and with only one
brief halt Aragorn led the pany on for nearly three more hours。
It was dark。 Deep night had fallen。 There were many clear stars； hut thefast…waning moon would not be seen till late。 Gimli and Frodo were at therear； walking softly and not speaking； listening for any sound upon the roadbehind。 At length Gimli broke the silence。
'Not a sound but the wind；' he said。 ‘There are no goblins near； or myears are made of wood。 It is to be hoped that the Orcs will be content withdriving us from Moria。 And maybe that was all their purpose； and they hadnothing else to do with us…with the Ring。 Though Orcs will often pursue foesfor many leagues into the plain； if they have a fallen captain to avenge。'
Frodo did not answer。 He looked at Sting； and the blade was dull。 Yet hehad heard something； or thought he had。 As soon as the shadows had fallenabout them and the road behind was dim； he had heard again the quick patter offeet。 Even now he heard it。 He turned swiftly。 There were two tiny gleams oflight behind； or for a moment he thought he saw them； but at once they slippedaside and vanished。
‘What is it？ ' said the dwarf。
‘I don't know。' answered Frodo。 'I thought I heard feet； and I thought Isaw a light…like eyes。 I have thought so often； since we first entered Moria。'
Gimli halted and stooped to the ground。 'I hear nothing but the night…
speech of plant and stone；' he said。 'e！ Let us hurry！ The others are outof sight。'
The night…wind blew chill up the valley to meet them。 Before them a widegrey shadow loomed； and they heard an endless rustle of leaves like poplars inthe breeze。
‘Lothlórien！ ' cried Legolas。 'Lothlórien！ We have e to the eaves ofthe Golden Wood。 Alas that it is winter！ '
Under the night the trees stood tall before them； arched over the roadand stream that ran suddenly beneath their spreading boughs。 In the dim lightof the stars their stems were grey； and their quivering leaves a hint offallow gold。
'Lothlórien！ ' said Aragorn。 'Glad I am to hear again the wind in thetrees！ We are still little more than five leagues from the Gates； but we cango no further。 Here let us hope that the virtue of the Elves will keep ustonight from the peril that es behind。'
‘If Elves indeed still dwell here in the darkening world；' said Gimli。
'It is long since any of my own folk journeyed hither back to the landwhence we wandered in ages long ago；' said Legolas； 'but we hear that Lórienis not yet deserted； for there is a secret power here that holds evil from theland。 Nevertheless its folk are seldom seen； and maybe they dwell now deep inthe woods and far from the northern border。'
'Indeed deep in the wood they dwell；' said Aragorn； and sighed as if somememory stirred in him。 ‘We must fend for ourselves tonight。 We will go forwarda short way； until the trees are all about us； and then we will turn asidefrom the path and seek a place to rest in。'
He stepped forward； but Boromir stood irresolute and did not follow。 'Isthere no other way？ ' he said。
‘What other fairer way would you desire？ ' said Aragorn。
‘A plain road； though it led through a hedge of swords；' said Boromir。
‘By strange paths has this pany been led； and so far to evil fortune。
Against my will we passed under the shades of Moria； to our loss。 And now wemust enter the Golden Wood； you say。 But of that perilous land we have heardin Gondor； and it is said that few e out who once go in； and of that fewnone have escaped unscathed。'
‘Say not _unscathed_； but if you say _unchanged_； then maybe you willspeak the truth said Aragorn。 But lore wanes in Gondor； Boromir； if in thecity of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien。 Believewhat you will； there is no other way for us – unless you would go back toMoria…gate； or scale the pathless mountains； or swim the Great River allalone。'
‘Then lead on！ ' said Boromir。 ‘But it is perilous。'
‘Perilous indeed；' said Aragorn； 'fair and perilous； but only evil needfear it； or those who bring some evil with them。 Follow me！ '
They had gone little more than a mile into the forest when they came uponanother stream flowing down swiftly from the tree…clad slopes that climbedback westward towards the mountains。 They heard it splashing over a fall awayamong the shadows on their right。 Its dark hurrying waters ran across the pathbefore them； and joined the Silverlode in a swirl of dim pools among the rootsof trees。
‘Here is Nimrodel！ ' said Legolas。 'Of this stream the Silvan Elves mademany songs long ago； and still we sing them in the North； remembering therainbow on its falls； and the golden flowers that floated in its foam。 All isdark now and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down。 I will bathe my feet； forit is said that the water is healing to the weary。' He went forward andclimbed down the deep…cloven bank and stepped into the stream。
‘Follow me！' he cried。 'The water is not deep。 Let us wade across！ On thefurther bank we can rest。 and the sound of the falling water may bring ussleep and forgetfulness of grief。'
One by one they climbed down and followed Legolas。 For a moment Frodostood near the brink and let the water flow over his tired feet。 It was cold
but its touch was clean； and as he went on and it mounted to his knees； hefelt that the stain of travel and all weariness was washed from his limbs。
When all the pany had crossed； they sat and rested and ate a littlefood； and Legolas told them tales of Lothlórien that the Elves of Mirkwoodstill kept in their hearts； of sunlight and starlight upon the meadows by theGreat River before the world was grey。
At length a silence fell； and they heard the music of the waterfallrunning sweetly in the shadows。 Almost Frodo fancied that he could hear avoice singing； mingled with the sound of the water。
‘Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel？ ' asked Legolas。 'I will sing you asong of the maiden Nimrodel； who bore the same name as the stream beside whichshe lived lung ago。 It is a fair song in our woodland tongue； but this is howit runs in the Westron Speech； as some in Rivendell now sing it。' In a softvoice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began：
An Elven…maid there was of old；
A shining star by day：
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold；
Her shoes of silver…grey。
A star was bound upon her brows；
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair。
Her hair was long； her limbs were white；
And fair she was and free；
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden…tree。
Beside the falls of Nimrodel；
By water clear and cool；
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool。
Where now she wanders none can tell；
In sunlight or in shade；
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed。
The elven…ship in haven grey
Beneath the mountain…lee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea。
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose； and loud it cried；
And drove the ship from elven…strands
Across the streaming tide。
When dawn came dim the land was lost；
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray。
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell；
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel。
Of old he was an Elven…king；
A lord of tree and glen；
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlórien。
From helm to sea they saw him leap；
As arrow from the string；
And dive into the water deep；
As mew upon the wing。
The wind was in his flowing hair；
The foam about him shone；
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan。
But from the West has e no word；
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elven…folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore。
The voice of Legolas faltered； and the song ceased。 'I cannot sing anymore；' he said。 'That is but a part； for I have forgotten much。 It is long andsad； for it tells how sorrow came upon Lothlórien； Lórien of the Blossom； whenthe Dwarves awakened evil in the mountains。'
‘But the Dwarves did not make the evil；' said Gimli。
‘I said not so； yet evil came；' answered Legolas sadly。 ‘Then many of theElves of Nimrodel's kindred left their dwellings and departed and she was lostfar in the South； in the passes of the White Mountains； and she came not tothe ship where Amroth her lover waited for her。 But in the spring when thewind is in the new leaves the echo of her voice may still be heard by thefalls that bear her name。 And when the wind is in the South the voice of
Amroth es up from the sea； for Nimrodel flows into Silverlode； that Elvescall Celebrant； and Celebrant into Anduin the Great。 and Anduin flows into theBay of Belfalas whence the Elves of Lórien set sail。 But neither Nimrodel norAmroth ever came back。
'It is told that she had a house built in the branches of a tree that
grew near the falls； for that was the custom of the Elves of Lórien； to dwellin the trees； and maybe it is so still。 Therefore they were called theGaladhrim； the Tree…people。 Deep in their forest the trees are very great。 Thepeople of the woods did not delve in the ground like Dwarves； nor build strong
places of stone before the Shadow came。'
‘And even in these latter days dwelling in the trees might be thoughtsafer than sitting on the ground；' said Gimli。 He looked across the stream tothe road that led back to Dimrill Dale； and then up into the roof of darkboughs above。
‘Your words bring good counsel； Gimli；' said Aragorn。 ‘We cannot build ahouse； but tonight we will do as the Galadhrim and seek refuge in the treetops；
if we can。 We have sat here beside the road already longer than waswise。'
The pany now turned aside from the path； and went into the shadow ofthe deeper woods； westward along the mountain…stream away from Silverlode。 Notfar from the falls of Nimrodel they found a cluster of trees； some of whichoverhung the stream。 Their great grey trunks were of mighty girth； but theirheight could not be guessed。
‘I will climb up；' said Legolas。 ‘I am at home among trees； by root orbough； though the