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ay：　what？　The　Ring　of　Power？　He　had　said　something　like　this　at　the　Council；　but　then　he　had　accepted　the　correction　of　Elrond。　Frodo　looked　at　Aragorn；　but　he　seemed　deep　in　his　own　thought　and　made　no　sign　that　he　had　heeded　Boromir's　words。　And　so　their　debate　ended。　Merry　and　Pippin　were　already　asleep；　and　Sam　was　nodding。　The　night　was　growing　old。

In　the　morning；　as　they　were　beginning　to　pack　their　slender　goods；　Elves　that　could　speak　their　tongue　came　to　them　and　brought　them　many　gifts　of　food　and　clothing　for　the　journey。　The　food　was　mostly　in　the　form　of　very　thin　cakes；　made　of　a　meal　that　was　baked　a　light　brown　on　the　outside；　and　inside　was　the　colour　of　cream。　Gimli　took　up　one　of　the　cakes　and　looked　at　it　with　a　doubtful　eye。

'Cram；'　he　said　under　his　breath；　as　he　broke　off　a　crisp　corner　and　nibbled　at　it。　His　expression　quickly　changed；　and　he　ate　all　the　rest　of　the　cake　with　relish。

'No　more；　no　more！'　cried　the　Elves　laughing。　'You　have　eaten　enough　already　for　a　long　day's　march。'

'I　thought　it　was　only　a　kind　of　cram；　such　as　the　Dalemen　make　for　journeys　in　the　wild；'　said　the　Dwarf。

'So　it　is；'　they　answered。　'But　we　call　it　lembas　or　waybread；　and　it　is　more　strengthening　than　any　food　made　by　Men；　and　it　is　more　pleasant　than　cram；　by　all　accounts。'

'Indeed　it　is；'　said　Gimli。　'Why　it　is　better　than　the　honeycakes　of　the　Beornings；　and　that　is　great　praise；　for　the　Beornings　are　the　best　bakers　that　I　know　of；　but　they　are　none　too　willing　to　deal　out　their　cakes　to　travellers　in　these　days。　You　are　kindly　hosts！　'

'All　the　same；　we　bid　you　spare　the　food；'　they　said。　'Eat　little　at　a　time；　and　only　at　need。　For　these　things　are　given　to　serve　you　when　all　else　fails。　The　cakes　will　keep　sweet　for　many　many　days；　if　they　are　unbroken　and　left　in　their　leafwrappings；　as　we　have　brought　them。　One　will　keep　a　traveller　on　his　feet　for　a　day　of　long　labour；　even　if　he　be　one　of　the　tall　Men　of　Minas　Tirith。'

The　Elves　next　unwrapped　and　gave　to　each　of　the　pany　the　clothes　they　had　brought。　For　each　they　had　provided　a　hood　and　cloak；　made　according　to　his　size；　of　the　light　but　warm　silken　stuff　that　the　Galadhrim　wove。　It　was　hard　to　say　of　what　colour　they　were：　grey　with　the　hue　of　twilight　under　the　trees　they　seemed　to　be；　and　yet　if　they　were　moved；　or　set　in　another　light；　they　were　green　as　shadowed　leaves；　or　brown　as　fallow　fields　by　night；　dusk　silver　as　water　under　the　stars。　Each　cloak　was　fastened　about　the　neck　with　a　brooch　like　a　green　leaf　veined　with　silver。

'Are　these　magic　cloaks？　'　asked　Pippin；　looking　at　them　with　wonder。

'I　do　not　know　what　you　mean　by　that；'　answered　the　leader　of　the　Elves。　'They　are　fair　garments；　and　the　web　is　good；　for　it　was　made　in　this　land。　They　are　elvish　robes　certainly；　if　that　is　what　you　mean。　Leaf　and　branch；　water　and　stone：　they　have　the　hue　and　beauty　of　all　these　things　under　the　twilight　of　Lórien　that　we　love；　for　we　put　the　thought　of　all　that　we　love　into　all　that　we　make。　Yet　they　are　garments；　not　armour；　and　they　will　not　turn　shaft　or　blade。　But　they　should　serve　you　well：　they　are　light　to　wear；　and　warm　enough　or　cool　enough　at　need。　And　you　will　find　them　a　great　aid　in　keeping　out　of　the　sight　of　unfriendly　eyes；　whether　you　walk　among　the　stones　or　the　trees。　You　are　indeed　high　in　the　favour　of　the　Lady！　For　she　herself　and　her　maidens　wove　this　stuff；　and　never　before　have　we　clad　strangers　in　the　garb　of　our　own　people。'

After　their　morning　meal　the　pany　said　farewell　to　the　lawn　by　the　fountain。　Their　hearts　were　heavy；　for　it　was　a　fair　place；　and　it　had　bee　like　home　to　them；　though　they　could　not　count　the　days　and　nights　that　they　had　passed　there。　As　they　stood　for　a　moment　looking　at　the　white　water　in　the　sunlight；　Haldir　came　walking　towards　them　over　the　green　grass　of　the　glade。　Frodo　greeted　him　with　delight。

'I　have　returned　from　the　Northern　Fences；'　said　the　Elf；　'and　I　am　sent　now　to　be　your　guide　again。　The　Dimrill　Dale　is　full　of　vapour　and　clouds　of　smoke；　and　the　mountains　are　troubled。　There　are　noises　in　the　deeps　of　the　earth。　If　any　of　you　had　thought　of　returning　northwards　to　your　homes；　you　would　not　have　been　able　to　pass　that　way。　But　e！　Your　path　now　goes　south。'

As　they　walked　through　Caras　Galadhon　the　green　ways　were　empty；　but　in　the　trees　above　them　many　voices　were　murmuring　and　singing。　They　themselves　went　silently。　At　last　Haldir　led　them　down　the　southward　slopes　of　the　hill；　and　they　came　again　to　the　great　gate　hung　with　lamps；　and　to　the　white　bridge；　and　so　they　passed　out　and　left　the　city　of　the　Elves。　Then　they　turned　away　from　the　paved　road　and　took　a　path　that　went　off　into　a　deep　thicket　of　mallorntrees；　and　passed　on；　winding　through　rolling　woodlands　of　silver　shadow；　leading　them　ever　down；　southwards　and　eastwards；　towards　the　shores　of　the　River。

They　had　gone　some　ten　miles　and　noon　was　at　hand　when　they　came　on　a　high　green　wall。　Passing　through　an　opening　they　came　suddenly　out　of　the　trees。　Before　them　lay　a　long　lawn　of　shining　grass；　studded　with　golden　elanor　that　glinted　in　the　sun。　The　lawn　ran　out　into　a　narrow　tongue　between　bright　margins：　on　the　right　and　west　the　Silverlode　flowed　glittering；　on　the　left　and　east　the　Great　River　rolled　its　broad　waters；　deep　and　dark。　On　the　further　shores　the　woodlands　still　marched　on　southwards　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　but　all　the　banks　were　bleak　and　bare。　No　mallorn　lifted　its　goldhung　boughs　beyond　the　Land　of　Lórien。

On　the　bank　of　the　Silverlode；　at　some　distance　up　from　the　meeting　of　the　streams；　there　was　a　hythe　of　white　stones　and　white　wood。　By　it　were　moored　many　boats　and　barges。　Some　were　brightly　painted；　and　shone　with　silver　and　gold　and　green；　but　most　were　either　white　or　grey。　Three　small　grey　boats　had　been　made　ready　for　the　travellers；　and　in　these　the　Elves　stowed　their　goods。　And　they　added　also　coils　of　rope；　three　to　each　boat。　Slender　they　looked；　but　strong；　silken　to　the　touch；　grey　of　hue　like　the　elvencloaks。

'What　are　these？　'　asked　Sam；　handling　one　that　lay　upon　the　greensward。

'Ropes　indeed！　'　answered　an　Elf　from　the　boats。　'Never　travel　far　without　a　rope！　And　one　that　is　long　and　strong　and　light。　Such　are　these。　They　may　be　a　help　in　many　needs。'

'You　don't　need　to　tell　me　that！　'　said　Sam。　'I　came　without　any　and　I've　been　worried　ever　since。　But　I　was　wondering　what　these　were　made　of；　knowing　a　bit　about　ropemaking：　it's　in　the　family　as　you　might　say。'

'They　are　made　of　hithlain；'　said　the　Elf；　'but　there　is　no　time　now　to　instruct　you　in　the　art　of　their　making。　Had　we　known　that　this　craft　delighted　you；　we　could　have　taught　you　much。　But　now　alas！　unless　you　should　at　some　time　return　hither；　you　must　be　content　with　our　gift。　May　it　serve　you　well！　'

'e！　'　said　Haldir。　'All　is　now　ready　for　you。　Enter　the　boats！　But　take　care　at　first！　'

'Heed　the　words！　'　said　the　other　Elves。　'These　boats　are　lightbuilt；　and　they　are　crafty　and　unlike　the　boats　of　other　folk。　They　will　not　sink；　lade　them　as　you　will；　but　they　are　wayward　if　mishandled。　It　would　be　wise　if　you　accustomed　yourselves　to　stepping　in　and　out；　here　where　there　is　a　landingplace；　before　you　set　off　downstream。'

The　pany　was　arranged　in　this　way：　Aragorn；　Frodo；　and　Sam　were　in　one　boat；　Boromir；　Merry；　and　Pippin　in　another；　and　in　the　third　were　Legolas　and　Gimli；　who　had　now　bee　fast　friends。　In　this　last　boat　most　of　the　goods　and　packs　were　stowed。　The　boats　were　moved　and　steered　with　shorthandled　paddles　that　had　broad　leafshaped　blades。　When　all　was　ready　Aragorn　led　them　on　a　trial　up　the　Silverlode。　The　current　was　swift　and　they　went　forward　slowly。　Sam　sat　in　the　bows；　clutching　the　sides；　and　looking　back　wistfully　to　the　shore。　The　sunlight　glittering　on　the　water　dazzled　his　eyes。　As　they　passed　beyond　the　green　field　of　the　Tongue；　the　trees　drew　down　to　the　river's　brink。　Here　and　there　golden　leaves　tossed　and　floated　on　the　rippling　stream。　The　air　was　very　bright　and　still；　and　there　was　a　silence；　except　for　the　high　distant　song　of　larks。

They　turned　a　sharp　bend　in　the　river；　and　there；　sailing　proudly　down　the　stream