e centre of all there gleamed awhite flet。 At the feet of the trees； and all about the green hillsides thegrass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars。 Among them；
nodding on slender stalks； were other flowers； white and palest green： theyglimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass。 Over all the sky was blue；
and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long green shadowsbeneath the trees。
'Behold！ You are e to Cerin Amroth；' said Haldir。 ‘For this is the
heart of the ancient realm as it was long ago； and here is the mound ofAmroth； where in happier days his high house was built。 Here ever bloom thewinter flowers in the unfading grass： the yellow _elanor_； and the pale_niphredil_。 Here we will stay awhile； and e to the city of the Galadhrimat dusk。'
The others cast themselves down upon the fragrant grass； but Frodo stoodawhile still lost in wonder。 It seemed to him that he had stepped through ahigh window that looked on a vanished world。 A light was upon it for which hislanguage had no name。 All that he saw was shapely； but the shapes seemed atonce clear cut； as if they had been first conceived and drawn at theuncovering of his eyes； and ancient as if they had endured for ever。 He saw nocolour but those he knew； gold and white and blue and green； but they werefresh and poignant； as if he had at that moment first perceived them and madefor them names new and wonderful。 In winter here no heart could mourn for
summer or for spring。 No blemish or sickness or deformity could be seen inanything that grew upon the earth。 On the land of Lórien there was no stain。
He turned and saw that Sam was now standing beside him； looking roundwith a puzzled expression； and rubbing his eyes as if he was not sure that hewas awake。 ‘It's sunlight and bright day； right enough；' he said。 ‘I thoughtthat Elves were all for moon and stars： but this is more elvish than anythingI ever heard tell of。 I feel as if I was _inside_ a song。 if you take mymeaning。'
Haldir looked at them； and he seemed indeed to take the meaning of boththought and word。 He smiled。 ‘You feel the power of the Lady of theGaladhrim；' he said。 ‘Would it please you to climb with me up Cerin Amroth？ '
They followed him as he stepped lightly up the grass…clad slopes。 Thoughhe walked and breathed； and about him living leaves and flowers were stirredby the same cool wind as fanned his face； Frodo felt that he was in a timelessland that did not fade or change or fall into forgetfulness。 When he had goneand passed again into the outer world； still Frodo the wanderer from the Shirewould walk there； upon the grass among _elanor_ and _niphredil_ in fairLothlórien。
They entered the circle of white trees。 As they did so the South Windblew upon Cerin Amroth and sighed among the branches。 Frodo stood still；
hearing far off_ great seas upon beaches that had long ago been washed away；
and sea…birds crying whose race had perished from the earth。
Haldir had gone on and was now climbing to the high flet。 As Frodoprepared to follow him； he laid his hand upon the tree beside the ladder：
never before had he been so suddenly and so keenly aware of the feel andtexture of a tree's skin and of the life within it。 He felt a delight in woodand the touch of it； neither as forester nor as carpenter； it was the delightof the living tree itself。
As he stepped out at last upon the lofty platform； Haldir took his handand turned him toward the South。 ‘Look this way first！ ' he said。
Frodo looked and saw； still at some distance； a hill of many mightytrees； or a city of green towers： which it was he could not tell。 Out of it；
it seemed to him that the power and light came that held all the land in sway。
He longed suddenly to fly like a bird to rest in the green city。 Then helooked eastward and saw all the land of Lórien running down to the pale gleamof Anduin； the Great River。 He lifted his eyes across the river and all thelight went out； and he was back again in the world he knew。 Beyond the riverthe land appeared flat and empty； formless and vague； until far away it roseagain like a wall； dark and drear。 The sun that lay on Lothlórien had no powerto enlighten the shadow of that distant height。
‘There lies the fastness of Southern Mirkwood；' said Haldir。 ‘It is cladin a forest of dark fir； where the trees strive one against another and theirbranches rot and wither。 In the midst upon a stony height stands Dol Guldur；
where long the hidden Enemy had his dwelling。 We fear that now it is inhabitedagain； and with power sevenfold。 A black cloud lies often over it of late。 In
this high place you may see the two powers that are opposed one to another；
and ever they strive now in thought； but whereas the light perceives the veryheart of the darkness； its own secret has not been discovered。 Not yet。' Heturned and climbed swiftly down； and they followed him。
At the hill's foot Frodo found Aragorn； standing still and silent as atree； but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor； and a light was inhis eyes。 He was wrapped in some fair memory： and as Frodo looked at him heknew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place。 For thegrim years were removed from the face of Aragorn； and he seemed clothed inwhite； a young lord tall and fair； and he spoke words in the Elvish tongue toone whom Frodo could not see_。 Arwen vanimelda； namári。！_ he said； and then hedrew a breath； and returning out of his thought he looked at Frodo and smiled。
‘Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth；' he said； ‘and here my heartdwells ever； unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still musttread； you and I。 e with me！ ' And taking Frodo's hand in his； he left thehill of Cerin Amroth and came there never again as living man。
_Chapter 7_
The Mirror of Galadriel
The sun was sinking behind the mountains； and the shadows were deepeningin the woods； when they went on again。 Their paths now went into thicketswhere the dusk had already gathered。 Night came beneath the trees as theywalked； and the Elves uncovered their silver lamps。
Suddenly they came out into the open again and found themselves under apale evening sky pricked by a few early stars。 There was a wide treeless spacebefore them； running in a great circle and bending away on either hand。 Beyondit was a deep fosse lost in soft shadow； but the grass upon its brink wasgreen； as if it glowed still in memory of the sun that had gone。 Upon thefurther side there rose to a great height a green wall encircling a green hillthronged with mallorn…trees taller than any they had yet seen in all the land。
Their height could not be guessed； but they stood up in the twilight likeliving towers。 In their； many…tiered branches and amid their ever…movingleaves countless lights were gleaming； green and gold and silver。 Haldirturned towards the pany。
‘Wele to Caras Galadhon！ ' he said。 'Here is the city of the Galadhrimwhere dwell the Lord Celeborn and Galadriel the Lady of Lórien。 But we cannotenter here； for the gates do not look northward。 We must go round to thesouthern side； and the way is not short； for the city is great。'
There was a road paved with white stone running on the outer brink of thefosse。 Along this they went westward； with the city ever climbing up like agreen cloud upon their left； and as the night deepened more lights sprangforth； until all the hill seemed afire with stars。 They came at last to awhite bridge； and crossing found the great gates of the city： they facedsouth…west； set between the ends of the encircling wall that here overlapped；
and they were tall and strong； and hung with many lamps。
Haldir knocked and spoke； and the gates opened soundlessly； but of guardsFrodo could see no sign。 The travellers passed within； and the gates shutbehind them。 They were in a deep lane between the ends of the wall； andpassing quickly through it they entered the City of the Trees。 No folk couldthey see； nor hear any feet upon the paths； but there were many voices； aboutthem； and in the air above。 Far away up on the hill they could hear the soundof singing falling from on high like soft rain upon leaves。
They went along many paths and climbed many stairs； until they came tothe high places and saw before them amid a wide lawn a fountain shimmering。 Itwas lit by silver lamps that swung from the boughs of trees； and it fell intoa basin of silver； from which a white stream spilled。 Upon the south side ofthe lawn there stood the mightiest of all the trees； its great smooth bole
gleamed like grey silk； and up it towered； until its first branches； farabove； opened their huge limbs under shadowy clouds of leaves。 Beside it abroad white ladder stood； and at its foot three Elves were seated。 They sprangup as the travellers approached； and Frodo saw that they were tall and clad ingrey mail； and from their shoulders hung long white cloaks。
'Here dwell Celeborn and Galadriel；' said Haldir。 ‘It is their wish thatyou should ascend and speak with them。'
One of the Elf…wardens then blew a clear note on a small horn； and it wasanswered three times from far above。 ‘I will go first；' said Haldir。 'LetFrodo e next and with him Legolas。 The others may follow as they wish。 Itis a long climb for those that are not accustomed to such stairs； but you mayrest upon the way。'
As he climbed slowly up Frodo passed many flets： some on one side； someon another； and some set about the bole of the tree； so that the ladder passedthrough them。 At a great height above the ground he came to a wide _talan_；
like the deck of a great ship。 On it was built a house； so large that almostit would have served for a hall of Men upon the earth。 He entered behindHaldir； and found that he was in a chamber of oval shape； in the midst ofwhich grew the trunk of the great mallorn； now tapering towards its crown； andyet making still a pillar of wide girth。
The chamber was filled with a soft light； its walls were green and silverand its roof of gold。 Many Elves were seated there。 On two chairs beneath thebole of the tree and canopied by a living bough there sat； side by side；
Celeborn and Galadriel。 They stood up to greet their guests； after the mannerof Elves； even those who were accounted mighty kings。 Very tall they were； andthe Lady no less tall than the Lord； and they were grave and beautiful。 Theywere clad wholly in white； and the hair of the Lady was of deep gold； and thehair of the Lord Celeborn was of silver long and bright； but no sign of agewas upon them； unless it were in the depths of their eyes； for these were keenas lances in the starlight； and yet profound； the wells of deep memory。
Haldir led Frodo before them； and the Lord weled him in his owntongue。 The Lady Galadriel said no word but looked long upon his face。
‘Sit now beside my chair； Frodo of the Shire！ ' said Celeborn。 ‘When allhave e we will speak together。'
Each of the panions he greeted courteously by name as they entered。
‘Wele Aragorn son of Arathorn！ ' he said。 ‘It is eight and thirty years ofthe world outside since you came to this land； and those years lie heavy onyou。 But the end is near； for good or ill。 Here lay aside your burden for awhile！ '
'Wele son of Thranduil！ Too seldom do my kindred journey hither fromthe North。'