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'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 world was grey。
At length a silence fell； and they heard the music of the waterfall running sweetly in the shadows。 Almost Frodo fancied that he could hear a voice singing； mingled with the sound of the water。
'Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel？ ' asked Legolas。 'I will sing you a song of the maiden Nimrodel； who bore the same name as the stream beside which she lived lung ago。 It is a fair song in our woodland tongue； but this is how it runs in the Westron Speech； as some in Rivendell now sing it。' In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began：
An Elvenmaid there was of old；
A shining star by day：
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold；
Her shoes of silvergrey。
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