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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 lindentree。
Beside the falls of Nimrodel；
By water clear and cool；
Her voice as falling silver fell
Into the shining pool。
Where now she wanders none can tell；
In sunlight or in shade；
For lost of yore was Nimrodel
And in the mountains strayed。
The elvenship in haven grey
Beneath the mountainlee
Awaited her for many a day
Beside the roaring sea。
A wind by night in Northern lands
Arose； and loud it cried；
And drove the ship from elvenstrands
Across the streaming tide。
When dawn came dim the land was lost；
The mountains sinking grey
Beyond the heaving waves that tossed
Their plumes of blinding spray。
Amroth beheld the fading shore
Now low beyond the swell；
And cursed the faithless ship that bore
Him far from Nimrodel。
Of old he was an Elvenking；
A lord of tree and glen；
When golden were the boughs in spring
In fair Lothlórien。
From helm to sea they saw him leap；
As arrow from the string；
And dive into the water deep；
As mew upon the wing。
The wind was in his flowing hair；
The foam about him shone；
Afar they saw him strong and fair
Go riding like a swan。
But from the West has e no word；
And on the Hither Shore
No tidings Elvenfolk have heard
Of Amroth evermore。
The voice of Legolas faltered； and the song ceased。 'I cannot sing any more；' he said。 'That is but a part； for I have fotten much。 It is long and sad； for it tells how sorrow came upon Lothlórien； Lórien of the Blossom； when the Dwarves awakened evil in the mountains。'
'But the Dwarves did not make the evil；' said Gimli。
'I said not so； yet evil came；' answered Legolas sadly。 'Then many of the Elves of Nimrodel's kindred left their dwellings and departed and she was lost far in the South； in the passes of the White Mountains； and she came not to the ship where Amroth her lover waited for her。 But in the spring when the wind is in the new leaves the echo of her voice may still be heard by the falls that bear her name。 And when the wind is in the South the voice of Amroth es up from the sea； for Nimrodel flows into Silverlode； that Elves call Celebrant； and Celebrant into Anduin the Great。 and Anduin flows into the Bay of Belfalas whence the Elves of Lórien set sail。 But neither Nimrodel nor Amroth ever came back。
'It is told that she had a house built in the branches of a tree that grew near the falls； for that was the custom of the Elves of Lórien； to dwell in the trees； and maybe it is so still。 Therefore they were called the Galadhrim； the Treepeople。 Deep in their forest the trees are very great。 The people of the woods did not delve in the ground like Dwarves； nor build strong places of stone before the Shadow came。'
'And even in these latter days dwelling in the trees might be thought safer than sitting on the ground；' said Gimli。 He looked across the stream to the road that led back to Dimrill Dale； and then up into the roof of dark boughs above。
'Your words bring good counsel； Gimli；' said Aragorn。 'We cannot build a house； but tonight we will do as the Galadhrim and seek refuge in the tree tops； if we can。 We have sat here beside the road already longer than was wise。'
The pany now turned aside from the path； and went into the shadow of the deeper woods； westward along the mountainstream away from Silverlode。 Not far from the falls of Nimrodel they found a cluster of trees； some of which overhung the stream。 Their great grey trunks were of mighty girth； but their height could not be guessed。
'I will climb up；' said Legolas。 'I am at home among trees； by root or bough； though these trees are of a kind strange to me； save as a name in song。 Mellyrn they are called； and are those that bear the yellow blossom； but I have never climbed in one。 I will see now what is their shape and way of growth。'
'Whatever it may be；' said Pippin； 'they will be marvellous trees indeed if they can offer any rest at night； except to birds。 I cannot sleep on a perch！ '
'Then dig a hole in the ground；' said Legolas； 'if that is more after the fashion of your kind。 But you must dig swift and deep； if you wish to hide from Orcs。' He sprang lightly up from the ground and caught a branch that grew from the trunk high above his head。 But even as he swung there for a moment； a voice spoke suddenly from the treeshadows above him。
'Daro！' it said in manding tone； and Legolas dropped back to earth in surprise and fear。 He shrank against the bole of the tree。
'Stand still！ ' he whispered to the others。 'Do not move or speak！ '
There was a sound of soft laughter over their heads； and then another clear voice spoke in an elventongue。 Frodo could understand little of what was said； for the speech that the Silvan folk east of the mountains used among themselves was unlike that of the West。 Legolas looked up and answered in the same language。
'Who are they； and what do they say？ ' asked Merry。
'They're Elves；' said Sam。 'Can't you hear their voices？ '
'Yes； they are Elves；' said Legolas； 'and they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark。' Sam hastily put his hand over his mouth。 'But they say also that you need have no fear。 They have been aware of us for a long while。 They heard my voice across the Nimrodel； and knew that I was one of their Northern kindred； and therefore they did not hinder our crossing； and afterwards they heard my song。 Now they bid me climb up with Frodo； for they seem to have had some tidings of him and of our journey。 The others they ask to wait a little and to keep watch at the foot of the tree； until they have decided what is to be done。'
Out of the shadows a ladder was let down： it was made of rope； silver grey and glimmering in the dark； and though it looked slender it proved strong enough to bear many men。 Legolas ran lightly up； and Frodo followed slowly； behind came Sam trying not to breathe loudly。 The branches of the mallorntree grew out nearly straight from the trunk； and then swept upward； but near the top the main stem divided into a crown of many boughs； and among these they found that there had been built a wooden platform； or flet as such things were called in those days： the Elves called it a talan。 It was reached by a round hole in the centre through which the ladder passed。
When Frodo came at last up on to the flet he found Legolas seated with three other Elves。 They were clad in shadowygrey； and could not be seen among the treestems； unless they moved suddenly。 They stood up； and one of them uncovered a small lamp that gave out a slender silver beam。 He held it up； looking at Frodo's face； and Sam's。 Then he shut off the light again； and spoke words of wele in his elventongue。 Frodo spoke haltingly in return。
'Wele！' the Elf then said again in the mon Language； speaking slowly。 'We seldom use any tongue but our own； for we dwell now in the heart of the forest； and do not willingly have dealings with any other folk。 Even our own kindred in the North are sundered from us。 But there are some of us still who go abroad for the gathering of news and the watching of our enemies； and they speak the languages of other lands。 I am one。 Haldir is my name。 My brothers； Rúmil and Orophin； speak little of your tongue。
'But we have heard rumours of your ing； for the messengers of Elrond passed by Lórien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair。 We had not heard of hobbits； or halflings； for many a long year； and did not know that any yet dwelt in Middleearth。 You do not look evil！ And since you e with an Elf of our kindred； we are willing to befriend you； as Elrond asked； though it is not our custom to lead strangers through our land。 But you must stay here tonight。 How many are you？ '
'Eight；' said Legolas。 'Myself； four hobbits； and two men； one of whom； Aragorn； is an Elffriend of the folk of Westernesse。'
'The name of Aragorn son of Arathorn is known in Lórien；' said Haldir； 'and he has the favour of the Lady。 All then is well。 But you have yet spoken only of seven。'
'The eighth is a dwarf；' said Legolas。
'A dwarf！ ' said Haldir。 'That is not well。 We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Da