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n exiled long and far from Lothlórien； who of the Galadhrim； even Celeborn the Wise； would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home； though it had bee an abode of dragons？
'Dark is the water of Kheledzaram； and cold are the springs of Kibil nala； and fair were the manypillared halls of Khazadd？m in Elder Days before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone。' She looked upon Gimli； who sat glowering and sad； and she smiled。 And the Dwarf； hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue； looked up and met her eyes； and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding。 Wonder came into his face； and then he smiled in answer。
He rose clumsily and bowed in dwarffashion； saying： 'Yet more fair is the living land of Lórien； and the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewels that lie beneath the earth！'
There was a silence。 At length Celeborn spoke again。 'I did not know that your plight was so evil；' he said。 'Let Gimli fet my harsh words： I spoke in the trouble of my heart。 I will do what I can to aid you； each according to his wish and need； but especially that one of the little folk who bears the burden。'
'Your quest is known to us；' said Galadriel； looking at Frodo。 'But we will not here speak of it more openly。 Yet not in vain will it prove； maybe； that you came to this land seeking aid； as Gandalf himself plainly purposed。 For the Lord of the Galadhrim is accounted the wisest of the Elves of Middle earth； and a giver of gifts beyond the power of kings。 He has dwelt in the West since the days of dawn； and I have dwelt with him years uncounted； for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains； and together through ages of the world we have fought the long defeat。
'I it was who first summoned the White Council。 And if my designs had not gone amiss； it would have been governed by Gandalf the Grey； and then mayhap things would have gone otherwise。 But even now there is hope left。 I will not give you counsel； saying do this； or do that。 For not in doing or contriving； nor in choosing between this course and another； can I avail； but only in knowing what was and is； and in part also what shall be。 But this I will say to you： your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife。 Stray but a little and it will fail； to the ruin of all。 Yet hope remains while all the pany is true。'
And with that word she held them with her eyes； and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn。 None save Legolas and Aragorn could long endure her glance。 Sam quickly blushed and hung his head。
At length the Lady Galadriel released them from her eyes； and she smiled。 'Do not let your hearts be troubled；' she said。 'Tonight you shall sleep in peace。' Then they sighed and felt suddenly weary； as those who have been questioned long and deeply； though no words had been spoken openly。
'Go now！' said Celeborn。 'You are worn with sorrow and much toil。 Even if your Quest did not concern us closely； you should have refuge in this City； until you were healed and refreshed。 Now you shall rest； and we will not speak of your further road for a while。'
That night the pany slept upon the ground； much to the satisfaction of the hobbits。 The Elves spread for them a pavilion among the trees near the fountain； and in it they laid soft couches； then speaking words of peace with fair elvish voices they left them。 For a little while the travellers talked of their night before in the treetops； and of their day's journey； and of the Lord and Lady； for they had not yet the heart to look further back。
'What did you blush for； Sam？ ' said Pippin。 'You soon broke down。 Anyone would have thought you had a guilty conscience。 I hope it was nothing worse than a wicked plot to steal one of my blankets。'
'I never thought no such thing；' answered Sam； in no mood for jest。 'If you want to know； I felt as if I hadn't got nothing on； and I didn't like it。 She seemed to be looking inside me and asking me what I would do if she gave me the chance of flying back home to the Shire to a nice little hole withwith a bit of garden of my own。'
'That's funny；' said Merry。 'Almost exactly what I felt myself； only； only well； I don't think I'II say any more；' he ended lamely。
All of them； it seemed； had fared alike： each had felt that he was offered a choice between a shadow full of fear that lay ahead； and something that he greatly desired： clear before his mind it lay； and to get it he had only to turn aside from the road and leave the Quest and the war against Sauron to others。
'And it seemed to me； too；' said Gimli； 'that my choice would remain secret and known only to myself。'
'To me it seemed exceedingly strange；' said Boromir。 'Maybe it was only a test； and she thought to read our thoughts for her own good purpose； but almost I should have said that she was tempting us； and offering what she pretended to have the power to give。 It need not be said that I refused to listen。 The Men of Minas Tirith are true to their word。' But what he thought that the Lady had offered him Boromir did not tell。
And as for Frodo； he would not speak； though Boromir pressed him with questions。 'She held you long in her gaze； Ringbearer；' he said。
'Yes；' said Frodo； 'but whatever came into my mind then I will keep there。'
'Well； have a care！' said Boromir。 'I do not feel too sure of this Elvish Lady and her purposes。'
'Speak no evil of the Lady Galadriel！' said Aragorn sternly。 'You know not what you say。 There is in her and in this land no evil； unless a man bring it hither himself。 Then let him beware！ But tonight I shall sleep without fear for the first time since I left Rivendell。 And may I sleep deep； and fet for a while my grief！ I am weary in body and in heart。' He cast himself down upon his couch and fell at once into a long sleep。
The others soon did the same； and no sound or dream disturbed their slumber。 When they woke they found that the light of day was broad upon the lawn before the pavilion。 and the fountain rose and fell glittering in the sun。
They remained some days in Lothlórien； so far as they could tell or remember。 All the while that they dwelt there the sun shone clear； save for a gentle rain that fell at times； and passed away leaving all things fresh and clean。 The air was cool and soft； as if it were early spring； yet they felt about them the deep and thoughtful quiet of winter。 It seemed to them that they did little but eat and drink and rest； and walk among the trees； and it was enough。
They had not seen the Lord and Lady again； and they had little speech with the Elvenfolk； for few of these knew or would use the Westron tongue。 Haldir had bidden them farewell and gone back again to the fences of the North； where great watch was now kept since the tidings of Moria that the pany had brought。 Legolas was away much among the Galadhrim； and after the first night he did not sleep with the other panions； though he returned to eat and talk with them。 Often he took Gimli with him when he went abroad in the land； and the others wondered at this change。
Now as the panions sat or walked together they spoke of Gandalf； and all that each had known and seen of him came clear before their minds。 As they were healed of hurt and weariness of body the grief of their loss grew more keen。 Often they heard nearby Elvish voices singing； and knew that they were making songs of lamentation for his fall； for they caught his name among the sweet sad words that they could not understand。
Mithrandir； Mithrandir sang the Elves； O Pilgrim Grey！ For so they loved to call him。 But if Legolas was with the pany； he would not interpret the songs for them； saying that he had not the skill； and that for him the grief was still too near； a matter for tears and not yet for song。
It was Frodo who first put something of his sorrow into halting words。 He was seldom moved to make song or rhyme； even in Rivendell he had listened and had not sung himself； though his memory was stored with many things that others had made before him。 But now as he sat beside the fountain in Lórien and heard about him the voices of the Elves； his thought took shape in a song that seemed fair t