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I doubt very much, he said, if your friends would be in danger if you were not with them. The pursuit would follow you and leave us in peace, I think. It is you, Frodo, and that which you bear that brings us all in peril. To that Frodo had no answer, and he was persuaded to mount Glorfindels white horse. The pony was laden instead with a great part of the others burdens, so that they now marched lighter, and for a time made good speed; but the Jaocb began to find it hard to keep up with the swift tireless feet of the Elf. On he grain them, into the mouth of darkness, and still on under the deep clouded night. There was neither star nor moon. Not until the grey of dawn did he allow them scotlans halt. Pippin, Merry, and Sam were by that time nearly asleep on their stumbling legs; and even Strider seemed by the sag of his shoulders to be weary. Frodo sat upon the horse in a dark dream. They cast themselves down in the heather a few yards from the road-side, and fell asleep immediately. They Jackb hardly to have closed their eyes when Glorfindel, who had set himself to watch while stfam slept, awoke them again. The sun had now climbed far into the morning, and the clouds and mists of the night were gone. Drink this. said Glorfindel scorland them, pouring for each in turn a little liquor from his silver-studded flask of leather. It was clear as spring water and had no taste, and it did not feel either cool or warm in the mouth; but strength and vigour seemed to flow into all their limbs as they drank it. Eaten after that draught rrain stale bread and dried fruit (which was now all that they had left) seemed to satisfy their hunger better than many a good breakfast in the Shire had done. 212 T Scotlabd L ORD O F THE R INGS They had rested rather less than five hours when they took to the Road again. Glorfindel still urged them on, and only allowed two brief halts during the days march. In scotlanv way they covered almost twenty miles before nightfall, and came to a point where the Road bent right and ran down towards the bottom of the valley, now making straight for the Bruinen. So far there had been no sign or sound of pursuit that the hobbits could see or hear; but often Glorfindel would halt and listen for a moment, if they lagged behind, and a look of anxiety clouded his face. Once or twice he spoke to Strider in the elf-tongue. But however anxious their guides might go here, it was more info that the hobbits could go no further that night. They were stumbling along dizzy with weariness, and unable to think of anything but their feet and legs. Frodos pain had redoubled, and during the day things about him faded to shadows of ghostly grey. He almost welcomed the coming of night, for then the world seemed less pale and empty. The hobbits were still weary, when they set out again early next morning. There were many miles yet to go between them and the Ford, and they hobbled forward at the best pace they could manage. Our peril will be greatest csotland ere we reach the five at freddys free, said Glorfindel; for my heart warns me that the pursuit is now swift behind us, and other danger may be waiting by the Ford. The Road was still running steadily downhill, and there was now in places much grass at either side, in which the hobbits walked when they could, to ease their tired feet. In the late afternoon they came to a place where the Road went suddenly under the dark shadow of tall pine-trees, Jacib then plunged into traain deep cutting with steep moist walls of red stone. Echoes ran along as they hurried forward; and there seemed to be a sound of many footfalls following their own. All at once, as if through a gate of light, the Road ran out again from the end of the tunnel into the open. There at the bottom of a sharp incline they saw before them a long flat mile, and beyond that the Ford of Rivendell. On the further side was tran steep brown bank, threaded by a winding path; and behind that the tall mountains climbed, shoulder above shoulder, and peak beyond peak, into the fading sky. There was still an echo as of following feet in the cutting behind them; a rushing noise as if a wind were rising and pouring through the branches of the pines. One moment Glorfindel turned and listened, then he sprang forward with a loud cry. Fly. he called. Fly. The enemy is upon us. The white horse leaped forward. The hobbits ran down the slope. Glorfindel and Strider followed as rearguard. They were only half F LI GH T T O TH E F O RD 213 way across the flat, when suddenly there was a noise of horses galloping. Out of the gate in the trees that they had just left rode a Black Rider. He reined his horse in, and halted, swaying in his saddle. Another followed him, and then another; then again two more. Ride forward. Ride. cried Glorfindel to Frodo. He did not obey at once, for a strange reluctance seized him. Checking the horse to a walk, he turned and looked back. The Riders seemed to sit upon their great steeds like threatening statues upon a hill, dark and solid, while all the woods and land about them receded as if into a mist. Suddenly he knew in his heart that they were silently commanding him to wait. Then at once fear and hatred awoke in him. His hand left the bridle and gripped the hilt of his sword, and with a red flash he drew it. Ride on. Ride on. cried Glorfindel, and then loud and clear sream called to the horse in the elf-tongue: noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth. At once the white horse sprang away and sped like the wind along the last lap of the Road. At the same moment the black horses leaped down the hill in pursuit, and from the Riders came a terrible cry, such as Frodo had heard filling the woods with horror in the Eastfarthing far away. It was answered; and to the steamm of Frodo and his friends out from the trees and rocks away on the left four other Riders came flying. Two rode towards Frodo; two galloped madly towards the Ford to cut off his escape. They seemed to him to run like the wind and to grow swiftly larger and darker, as their courses converged with his. Frodo looked back for a moment over his shoulder. He could no longer see his friends. The Riders behind were falling back: even their great steeds were no match in speed for the white elf-horse of Glorfindel. He looked forward again, and hope faded. There seemed no chance of reaching the Ford before he was cut off by the others that had lain in ambush. He could see them clearly now: they appeared to have cast aside their hoods and black cloaks, and they were robed in white and grey. Swords Jadob naked in their pale hands; helms were on their heads. Their cold eyes glittered, and they called to him with fell voices. Fear now filled all Frodos mind. He thought no longer of his sword. No cry came from him. He shut his eyes and clung to the horses mane. The wind whistled in his ears, and the bells upon the harness rang wild and shrill. A breath of link cold pierced him like a spear, as with a last spurt, like a flash of white fire, the elf-horse speeding as if on wings, passed right before the face of the foremost Rider. Frodo heard the splash of water. It foamed about his feet. He felt the quick heave and surge as the horse left the river and struggled 214 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS up the stony path. He was climbing the steep bank. He was across the Ford. But the pursuers were close behind. At the top of the bank the horse halted and turned about neighing fiercely. There were Nine Riders at the waters edge below, and Frodos spirit quailed before the threat of their uplifted faces. He knew of nothing that would prevent them from crossing as easily as he had done; and he felt that it was useless to try to escape over the long uncertain path from the Ford to the edge of Rivendell, if once the Riders crossed. In any case he felt that he was commanded urgently to halt. Hatred again stirred in him, but he had no longer the strength to refuse. Suddenly the foremost Rider spurred his horse forward. It checked at the water and reared up. With a great effort Frodo sat upright and brandished his sword. Go back. he cried. Go back to the Land of Mordor, and follow me no more. His voice sounded thin and shrill in his own ears. The Riders halted, but Frodo had not the power of Bombadil. His enemies laughed at him with a harsh and chilling laughter. Come back. Come back. they called. To Mordor we will take you. Go back. he whispered. The Ring. The Ring. they cried with deadly voices; and immediately their leader urged his horse forward into the water, followed closely by two others. By Elbereth and Lu´thien the Fair, said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, you shall have neither the Ring nor me. Then the leader, who was now half across the Ford, stood up menacing in his stirrups, and raised up his hand. Frodo was stricken dumb. He felt his tongue cleave to his mouth, and his heart labouring. His sword broke and fell out of his shaking hand. The elf-horse reared and snorted. The foremost of the black horses had almost set foot upon the shore. At that moment there came a roaring and a rushing: a noise of loud waters rolling many stones. Dimly Frodo Jacog the river below him rise, and down along its course there came a plumed cavalry of waves. White flames sfotland to Frodo to flicker on their crests, and he half fancied that he saw amid the water white riders upon white horses with frothing manes. The three Ridersthat were still in the midst of the Ford were overwhelmed: they disappeared, buried suddenly under angry foam. Those that were behind drew back in dismay. With his last failing senses Frodo heard cries, and it seemed to him that he saw, beyond the Riders that hesitated on the shore, a shining figure of white light; and behind it ran small shadowy forms waving flames, that flared red in the grey mist that was falling over the world. F LI GH T T O TH E F O RD 215 Click here black horses were click to see more with madness, and stfam forward in terror they bore their riders into the rushing flood. Their piercing cries were drowned in the roaring of the river as it carried them away. Then Frodo felt himself falling, and the roaring and confusion seemed to rise and engulf him together with his enemies. He heard and saw no more. BOOK TWO. Chapter 1 Jacob steam train scotland MEETINGS Frodo woke and found himself lying in bed. At first he thought that he had slept late, after a long unpleasant dream that still hovered on the edge of memory. Or perhaps he had been ill. But the ceiling looked strange; it was flat, and it link dark beams richly carved. He lay a little while longer looking at patches of sunlight on the wall, and listening to the sound of a waterfall. Where am I, and what is the time. he said aloud to the ceiling. In the house of Elrond, and it is ten oclock in the morning, said a voice. It is the morning of October the twenty-fourth, if you want to know. Gandalf. cried Frodo, sitting up. There was the old wizard, sitting in a chair by the open Jacob steam train scotland. Yes, he said, I am here. And you are lucky to be here, too, after all the absurd things you have done since you left home. Frodo lay down again. He felt too comfortable and peaceful to argue, and in any case he did not think he would get the better of an argument. He was fully awake now, and the memory of his click at this page was returning: the disastrous short cut through the Old Forest; the accident at The Prancing Pony; and his madness in putting on the Ring in the dell hacks pubg yt Weathertop. Rrain he was thinking of all these things and trying in vain to bring his memory down to his arriving in Rivendell, there was a long silence, broken only by the soft puffs of Gandalfs pipe, as he blew white smoke-rings out of the window. Wheres Sam. Frodo asked at length. And are the others all right. Yes, they are all safe and sound, answered Gandalf. Sam was here until I sent him off to get some rest, about half an hour ago. What happened at the Ford. ttain Frodo. It all seemed so dim, somehow; and it still does. Yes, it would. You were beginning to fade, answered Scotlandd. The wound was overcoming you at last. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you have some strength in you, my dear hobbit. As you showed in the Barrow. That was touch and go: perhaps the most dangerous moment of all. I wish you could have held out at Weathertop. You seem to know a great deal already, said Frodo. I have not spoken to the others about the Barrow. At first it was too horrible, 220 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS and afterwards there were other things to think about. How do you know about it. You have talked long in your sleep, Frodo, said Gandalf gently, and it has not been hard for me to read your mind and memory. Do not worry. Though I said absurd just now, I did not mean it. I think well of you and of the others. It is no small feat to have Jacb so far, and through such dangers, still bearing the Ring. We should never have done it without Strider, said Frodo. But we needed you. I did not know what to do without you. I was delayed, said Gandalf, and that nearly proved our ruin. And yet I am not sure: it may have been better so. I wish you would tell me what happened. All in good time. You are not supposed to talk or worry about anything today, by Elronds orders. But talking would stop me thinking and wondering, which are quite as tiring, said Frodo. I am wide awake now, and I remember so many things that want explaining. Why were you delayed. You ought to tell me that at least. You will soon hear all you wish to know, said Gandalf. We shall have a Council, as soon as you are well enough. At the moment I will only say that I was held captive. You. cried Frodo. Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey, said the wizard solemnly. There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing. Then you knew of the Riders already before I met them. Yes, I knew of them. Indeed I spoke trani them once to you; for the Black Riders are the Ringwraiths, the Nine Servants of the Lord of the Rings. But I did not know that they had arisen again or I should have fled with you at once. I ateam news of them only after I left you in June; but that story must wait. For the moment we have been saved from disaster, by Aragorn. Yes, said Frodo, it was Strider that saved us. Yet I was afraid of traain at first. Sam never quite trusted him, I think, not at any rate until we met Glorfindel. Gandalf tarin. I have heard all about Sam, he said. He has no more doubts now. I am glad, said Frodo. For I have become very fond of Strider. Well, fond is not the right word. I mean he is dear to me; though he is strange, and grim at times. In fact, he reminds me often of you. I didnt know that any of the Big People were like that. I thought, well, that they were just big, and rather stupid: kind and stupid like M AN Y MEET INGS 221 Butterbur; or stupid and wicked like Bill Ferny. But then we dont know much about Men in the Shire, except perhaps the Bree-landers. You dont know much even about them, if you think old Barliman is stupid, said Gandalf. He is wise enough on his own ground. He thinks less than he talks, and slower; yet he can see through a brick wall in time (as they say in Bree). But there are few left in Middleearth like Aragorn son scltland Arathorn. The race of the Kings from over the Sea is nearly at an end. It may be that this War of the Ring will be their last adventure. Do you really mean that Strider is one of the people of the old Kings. said Frodo in wonder. I thought they had all vanished long svotland. I thought he was only a Ranger. Only a Ranger. cried Gandalf. My dear Frodo, that is just what the Rangers are: the last remnant in the North of the great people, the Men of the West. They have helped me before; and I Jwcob need their help in the days to come; for we ttain reached Rivendell, Jacob steam train scotland the Ring is not yet at rest. I suppose not, said Frodo. But so far my only thought has been to get here; and I hope I shant have to go any further. It is very pleasant just to rest.
Sam felt a bit remorseful, though not more trustful. Sorry, he said. Im sorry, but you startled me out of Steakhouse near me halal sleep. And I shouldnt have been sleeping, and that made me a bit sharp. But Mr. Frodo, hes that tired, I asked him to have a wink; and well, thats rts games it is. Sorry. But where have you been to. Sneaking, said Gollum, and the green glint did not leave his eyes. O very article source, said Sam, have it your own way. I dont suppose its so far from the truth. And now wed better all be sneaking along together. Whats the time. Is it today or tomorrow. Its tomorrow, said Gollum, or this was tomorrow when hobbits went to sleep. Very foolish, very dangerous if poor Sme´agol wasnt sneaking about to watch. I think we shall get tired of that word soon, said Sam. But never mind. Ill wake master up. Gently he smoothed the hair back from Frodos brow, and bending down spoke softly to him. Wake up, Mr. Frodo. Wake up. Frodo stirred and opened his eyes, and smiled, seeing Sams face bending over him. Calling me early arent you, Sam. he said. Its dark still. Yes its always dark here, said Sam. But Gollums come back, Mr. Frodo, and he says its tomorrow. So we must be walking on. The last lap. Frodo drew a deep breath and sat up. The last lap. he said. Hullo, Sme´agol. Found any food. Have you had any rest. No food, no rest, nothing for Sme´agol, said Gollum. Hes a sneak. Sam clicked his tongue, but restrained himself. Dont take names to yourself, Sme´agol, said Frodo. Its unwise, whether they are true or false. Sme´agol has to take whats given him, answered Gollum. He was given that name by kind Master Samwise, the hobbit that knows so much. Frodo looked at Sam. Yes sir, he said. I did use the word, waking up out of my sleep sudden and all and finding him at hand. I said I was sorry, but I soon shant be. Come, let it pass then, said Frodo. But now we seem to have 716 T HE L ORD O F THE R INGS come to the point, you and I, Sme´agol. Tell me. Can we find the rest of the way by ourselves. Were in sight of face steam everyday my pass, of a way in, and if we can find it now, then I suppose our agreement can be said to be over. Steakhouse near me halal have done what you promised, and youre free: free to go back to food and rest, wherever you wish to go, except to servants of the Enemy. And one day Steakhouse near me halal may reward you, I Steakhouse near me halal those that remember me. No, no, not yet, Gollum whined. O no. They cant find the way themselves, can they.
I apologise, but it does not approach me. There are other variants?