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urned to the window again； singing softly。
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen；
of meadowflowers and butterflies
in summers that have been；
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were；
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair。
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter es without a spring
that I shall ever see。
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen：
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green。
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago；
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know。
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before；
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door。
It was a cold grey day near the end of December。 The East Wind was streaming through the bare branches of the trees； and seething in the dark pines on the hills。 Ragged clouds were hurrying overhead； dark and low。 As the cheerless shadows of the early evening began to fall the pany made ready to set out。 They were to start at dusk； for Elrond counselled them to journey under cover of night as often as they could； until they were far from Rivendell。
'You should fear the many eyes of the servants of Sauron；' he said。 'I do not doubt that news of the disfiture of the Riders has already reached him； and he will be filled with wrath。 Soon now his spies on foot and wing will be abroad in the northern lands。 Even of the sky above you must beware as you go on your way。'
The pany took little gear of war； for their hope was in secrecy not in battle。 Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon； and he went forth clad only in rusty green and brown。 as a Ranger of the wilderness。 Boromir had a long sword； in fashion like Andúril but of less lineage and he bore also a shield and his warhorn。
'Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills；' he said； 'and then let all the foes of Gondor flee！' Putting it to his lips he blew a blast； and the echoes leapt from rock to rock； and all that heard that voice in Rivendell sprang to their feet。
Slow should you be to wind that horn again； Boromir； said Elrond。 'until you stand once more on the borders of your land； and dire need is on you。'
'Maybe；' said Boromir。 'But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth； and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows； I will not go forth as a thief in the night。'
Gimli the dwarf alone wore openly a short shirt of steelrings； for dwarves make light of burdens； and in his belt was a broadbladed axe。 Legolas had a bow and a quiver； and at his belt a long white knife。 The younger hobbits wore the swords that they had taken from the barrow； but Frodo took only Sting； and his mailcoat； as Bilbo wished； remained hidden。 Gandalf bore his staff； but girt at his side was the elvensword Glamdring； the mate of Orcrist that lay now upon the breast of Thorin under the Lonely Mountain。
All were well furnished by Elrond with thick warm clothes； and they had jackets and cloaks lined with fur。 Spare food and clothes and blankets and other needs were laden on a pony； none other than the poor beast that they had brought from Bree。
？he stay in Rivendell had worked a great wonder of change on him： he was glossy and seemed to have the vigour of youth。 It was Sam who had insisted on choosing him； declaring that Bill （as he called him） would pine； if he did not e。
'That animal can nearly talk；' he said； 'and would talk； if he stayed here much longer。 He gave me a look as plain as Mr。 Pippin could speak it： if you don't let me go with you； Sam； I'll follow on my own。' So Bill was going as the beast of burden； yet he was the only member of the pany that did not seem depressed。
Their farewells had been said in the great hall by the fire； and they were only waiting now for Gandalf； who had not yet e out of the house。 A gleam of firelight came from the open doors； and soft lights were glowing in many windows。 Bilbo huddled in a cloak stood silent on the doorstep beside Frodo。 Aragorn sat with his head bowed to his knees； only Elrond knew fully what this hour meant to him。 The others could be seen as grey shapes in the darkness。
Sam was standing by the pony； sucking his teeth； and staring moodily into the gloom where the river roared stonily below； his desire for adventure was at its lowest ebb。
'Bill； my lad；' he said； 'you oughtn't to have took up with us。 You could have stayed here and et the best hay till the new grass es。' Bill swished his tail and said nothing。
Sam eased the pack on his shoulders； and went over anxiously in his mind all the things that he had stowed in it； wondering if he had fotten anything： his chief treasure； his cooking gear； and the little box of salt that he always carried and refilled when he could； a good supply of pipeweed （but not near enough； I'll warrant）； flint and tinder； woollen hose： linen； various small belongings of his master's that Frodo had fotten and Sam had stowed to bring them out in triumph when they were called for。 He went through them all。
'Rope！' he muttered。 'No rope！ And only last night you said to yourself： 〃Sam； what about a bit of rope？ You'll want it； if you haven't got it：〃 Well； I'll want it。 I can't get it now。'
At that moment Elrond came out with Gandalf； and he called the pany to him。 'This is my last word；' he said in a low voice。 'The Ringbearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom。 On him alone is any charge laid： neither to cast away the Ring； nor to deliver it to any servant of the Enemy nor indeed to let any handle it； save members of the pany and the Council； and only then in gravest need。 The others go with him as free panions； to help him on his way。 You may tarry； or e back； or turn aside into other paths； as chance allows。 The further you go； the less easy will it be to withdraw； yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will。 For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts； and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road。'
'Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens；' said Gimli。
'Maybe；' said Elrond； 'but let him not vow to walk in the dark； who has not seen the nightfall。'
'Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart；' said Gimli。
'Or break it；' said Elrond。 'Look not too far ahead！ But go now with good hearts！ Farewell； and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you。 May the stars shine upon your faces！'
'Good 。 。 。 good luck！' cried Bilbo； stuttering with the cold。 'I don't suppose you will be able to keep a diary； Frodo my lad； but I shall expect a full account when you get back。 And don't be too long！ Farewell！'
Many others of Elrond's household stood in the shadows and watched them go； bidding them farewell with soft voices。 There was no laughter； and no song or music。 At last they turned away and faded silently into the dusk。
They crossed the bridge and wound slowly up the long steep paths that led out of the cloven vale of Rivendell； and they came at length to the high moor where the wind hissed through the heather。 Then with one glance at the Last Homely House twinkling below them they strode away far into the night。
At the Ford of Bruinen they left the Road and turning southwards went on by narrow paths among the folded lands。 Their purpose was to hold this course west of the Mountains for many miles and days。 The country was much rougher and more barren than in the green vale of the Great River in Wilderland on the other side of the range； and their going would be slow； but they hoped in this way to escape the notice of unfriendly eyes。 The spies of Sauron had hitherto seldom been seen in this empty country； and the paths were little known except to the people of Rivendell。
Gandalf walked in front； and with him went Aragorn； who knew this land even in the dark。 The others were in file behind； and Legolas whose eyes were keen was the rearguard。 The first part of their journey was hard and dreary； and Frodo remembered little of it； save the wind。 For many sunless days an icy blast came from the Mountains in the east； and no garment seemed able to keep out its searching fingers。 Though the pany was well clad； they seldo