utumn their leaves fall not； but turn to gold。 Not till the spring es and the new green opens do they fall； and then the boughs are laden with yellow flowers； and the floor of the wood is golden； and golden is the roof； and its pillars are of silver； for the bark of the trees is smooth and grey。 So still our songs in Mirkwood say。 My heart would be glad if I were beneath the eaves of that wood； and it were springtime！ '
'My heart will be glad； even in the winter；' said Aragorn。 'But it lies many miles away。 Let us hasten！ '
For some time Frodo and Sam managed to keep up with the others； but Aragorn was leading them at a great pace； and after a while they lagged behind。 They had eaten nothing since the early morning。 Sam's cut was burning like fire； and his head felt light。 In spite of the shining sun the wind seemed chill after the warm darkness of Moria。 He shivered。 Frodo felt every step more painful and he gasped for breath。
At last Legolas turned； and seeing them now far behind； he spoke to Aragorn。 The others halted； and Aragorn ran back； calling to Boromir to e with him。
'I am sorry； Frodo！ ' he cried； full of concern。 'So much has happened this day and we have such need of haste； that I have fotten that you were hurt； and Sam too。 You should have spoken。 We have done nothing to ease you； as we ought； though all the orcs of Moria were after us。 e now！ A little further on there is a place where we can rest for a little。 There I will do what I can for you。 e； Boromir！ We will carry them。'
Soon afterwards they came upon another stream that ran down from the west； and joined its bubbling water with the hurrying Silverlode。 Together they plunged over a fall of greenhued stone； and foamed down into a dell。 About it stood firtrees； short and bent； and its sides were steep and clothed with hartstongue and shrubs of whortleberry。 At the bottom there was a level space through which the stream flowed noisily over shining pebbles。 Here they rested。 It was now nearly three hours after noon； and they had e only a few miles from the Gates。 Already the sun was westering。
While Gimli and the two younger hobbits kindled a fire of brush and fir wood； and drew water； Aragorn tended Sam and Frodo。 Sam's wound was not deep； but it looked ugly； and Aragorn's face was grave as he examined it。 After a moment he looked up with relief。
'Good luck； Sam！ ' he said。 'Many have received worse than this in payment for the slaying of their first orc。 The cut is not poisoned； as the wounds of orcblades too often are。 It should heal well when I have tended it。 Bathe it when Gimli has heated water。'
He opened his pouch and drew out some withered leaves。 'They are dry and some of their virtue has one； he said； but here I have still some of the leaves of athelas that I gathered near Weathertop。 Crush one in the water； and wash the wound clean； and I will bind it。 Now it is your turn。 Frodo！ '
'I am all right；' said Frodo； reluctant to have his garments touched。 'AII I needed was some food and a little rest。'
'No！ ' said Aragorn。 'We must have a look and see what the hammer and the anvil have done to you。 I still marvel that you are alive at all。' Gently he stripped off Frodo's old jacket and worn tunic； and gave a gasp of wonder。 Then he laughed。 The silver corslet shimmered before his eyes like the light upon a rippling sea。 Carefully he took it off and held it up； and the gems on it glittered like stars。 and the sound of the shaken rings was like the tinkle of rain in a pool。
'Look； my friends！' he called。 'Here's a pretty hobbitskin to wrap an elvenprinceling in！ If it were known that hobbits had such hides； all the hunters of Middleearth would be riding to the Shire。'
'And all the arrows of all the hunters in the world would be in vain；' said Gimli； gazing at the mail in wonder。 'It is a mithrilcoat。 Mithril！ I have never seen or heard tell of one so fair。 Is this the coat that Gandalf spoke of？ Then he undervalued it。 But it was well given！ '
'I have often wondered what you and Bilbo were doing； so close in his little room；' said Merry。 'Bless the old hobbit！ I love him more than ever。 I hope we get a chance of telling him about it！ '
There was a dark and blackened bruise on Frodo's right side and breast。 Under the mail there was a shirt of soft leather； but at one point the rings had been driven through it into the flesh。 Frodo's left side also was scored and bruised where he had been hurled against the wall。 While the others set the food ready。 Aragorn bathed the hurts with water in which athelas was steeped。 The pungent fragrance filled the dell； and all those who stooped over the steaming water felt refreshed and strengthened。 Soon Frodo felt the pain leave him； and his breath grew easy： though he was stiff and sore to the touch for 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 can bear it。 My heart is glad to know that you have such a coat。 Do not lay it aside； even in sleep； unless fortune brings you where you are safe for a while； and that will seldom chance while your quest lasts。'
When they had eaten； the pany got ready to go on。 They put out the fire and hid all traces of it。 Then climbing out of the dell they took to the road again。 They had not gone far before the sun sank behind the westward heights and great shadows crept down the mountainsides。 Dusk veiled their feet； and mist rose in the hollows。 Away in the east the evening light lay pale upon the dim lands of distant plain and wood。 Sam and Frodo now feeling eased 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 the fastwaning moon would not be seen till late。 Gimli and Frodo were at the rear； walking softly and not speaking； listening for any sound upon the road behind。 At length Gimli broke the silence。
'Not a sound but the wind；' he said。 'There are no goblins near； or my ears are made of wood。 It is to be hoped that the Orcs will be content with driving us from Moria。 And maybe that was all their purpose； and they had nothing else to do with uswith the Ring。 Though Orcs will often pursue foes for 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 he had heard something； or thought he had。 As soon as the shadows had fallen about them and the road behind was dim； he had heard again the quick patter of feet。 Even now he heard it。 He turned swiftly。 There were two tiny gleams of light behind； or for a moment he thought he saw them； but at once they slipped aside and vanished。
'What is it？ ' said the dwarf。
'I don't know。' answered Frodo。 'I thought I heard feet； and I thought I saw a lightlike 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 out of sight。'
The nightwind blew chill up the valley to meet them。 Before them a wide grey shadow loomed； and they heard an endless rustle of leaves like poplars in the breeze。
'Lothlórien！ ' cried Legolas。 'Lothlórien！ We have e to the eaves of the Golden Wood。 Alas that it is winter！ '
Under the night the trees stood tall before them； arched over the road and stream that ran suddenly beneath their spreading boughs。 In the dim light of the stars their stems were grey； and their quivering leaves a hint of fallow gold。
'Lothlórien！ ' said Aragorn。 'Glad I am to hear again the wind in the trees！ We are still little more than five leagues from the Gates； but we can go no further。 Here let us hope that the virtue of the Elves will keep us tonight 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 land whence we wandered in ages long ago；' said Legolas； 'but we hear that Lórien is not yet deserted； for there is a secret power here that holds evil from the land。 Nevertheless its folk are seldom seen； and maybe they dwell now deep in the woods and far from the northern border。'
'Indeed deep in the wood they dwell；' said Aragorn； and sighed as if some memory stirred in him。 'We must fend for ourselves tonight。 We will go forward a short way； until the trees are all about us； and then we will turn aside from the path and seek a place to rest in。'
He stepped forward； but Boromir stood irresolute and did not follow。 'Is there 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 we must enter the Golden Wood； you say。 But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor； and it is said that few e out who once go in； and of that few none have escaped unscathed。'
'Say not unscathed； but if you say unchanged； then maybe you will speak the truth said Aragorn。 But lore wanes in Gondor； Boromir； if in the city of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien。 Believe what you will； there is no other way for us 。 unless you would go back to Moriagate； or scale the pathless mountains； or swim the Great River all alone。'
'Then lead on！ ' said Boromir。 'But it is perilous。'
'Perilous indeed；' said Aragorn； 'fair and perilous； but only evil need fear 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 upon another stream flowing down swiftly from the treeclad slopes that climbed back westward towards the mountains。 They heard it splashing over a fall away among the shadows on their right。 Its dark hurrying waters ran across the path before them； and joined the Silverlode in a swirl of dim pools among the roots of trees。
'Here is Nimrodel！ ' said Legolas。 'Of this stream the Silvan Elves made many songs long ago； and still we sing them in the North； remembering the rainbow on its falls； and the golden flowers that floated in its foam。 All is dark now and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down。 I will bathe my feet； for it is said that the water is healing to the weary。' He went forward and climbed down the deepcloven bank and stepped into the stream。
'Follow me！' he cried。 'The water is not deep。 Let us wade across！ On the further bank we can rest。 and the sound of the falling water may bring us sleep and fetfulness of grief。'
One by one they climbed down and followed Legolas。 For a moment Frodo stood 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； he felt 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 little food； and Legolas told them tales of Lothlórien that the Elves of Mirkwood still kept in their hearts； of sunlight and starlight upon the meadows by the Great River before the