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knew nothing。 Yet the sound blending with the melody seemed to shapeitself in their thought into words which they only partly understood。 This wasthe song as Frodo heard it：
Snow…white！ Snow…white！ O Lady clear！
O Queen beyond the Western Seas！
O Light to us that wander here
Amid the world of woven trees！
Gilthoniel！ O Elbereth！
Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath！
Snow…white！ Snow…white！ We sing to thee
In a far land beyond the Sea。
O stars that in the Sunless Year
With shining hand by her were sawn；
In windy fields now bright and clear
We see your silver blossom blown！
O Elbereth！ Gilthoniel！
We still remember； we who dwell
In this far land beneath the trees；
Thy starlight on the Western Seas。
The song ended。 'These are High Elves！ They spoke the name of Elbereth！'
said Frodo in amazement； 'Few of that fairest folk are ever seen in the Shire。
Not many now remain in Middle…earth； east of the Great Sea。 This is indeed astrange chance！'
The hobbits sat in shadow by the wayside。 Before long the Elves came downthe lane towards the valley。 They passed slowly； and the hobbits could see thestarlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes。 They bore no lights； yetas they walked a shimmer； like the light of the moon above the rim of thehills before it rises； seemed to fall about their feet。 They were now silent；
and as the last Elf passed he turned and looked towards the hobbits andlaughed。
'Hail； Frodo！' he cried。 'You are abroad late。 Or are you perhaps lost？'
Then he called aloud to the others； and all the pany stopped and gatheredround。
'This is indeed wonderful！' they said。 'Three hobbits in a wood at night！
We have not seen such a thing since Bilbo went away。 What is the meaning ofit？'
'The meaning of it； fair people；' said Frodo； 'is simply that we seem tobe going the same way as you are。 I like walking under the stars。 But I wouldwele your pany。'
'But we have no need of other pany； and hobbits are so dull；' theylaughed。 'And how do you know that we go the same way as you； for you do notknow whither we are going？'
'And how do you know my name？' asked Frodo in return。
'We know many things；' they said。 'We have seen you often before withBilbo； though you may not have seen us。'
'Who are you； and who is your lord？' asked Frodo。
'I am Gildor；' answered their leader； the Elf who had first hailed him。
'Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod。 We are Exiles； and most of ourkindred have long ago departed and we too are now only tarrying here a while；
ere we return over the Great Sea。 But some of our kinsfolk dwell still in
peace in Rivendell。 e now； Frodo； tell us what you are doing？ For we seethat there is some shadow of fear upon you。'
'O Wise People！' interrupted Pippin eagerly。 'Tell us about the BlackRiders！'
'Black Riders？' they said in low voices。 'Why do you ask about BlackRiders？'
'Because two Black Riders have overtaken us today； or one has done sotwice；' said Pippin； 'only a little while ago he slipped away as you drewnear。'
The Elves did not answer at once； but spoke together softly in their owntongue。 At length Gildor turned to the hobbits。 'We will not speak of thishere；' he said。 'We think you had best e now with us。 It is not our custom；
but for this time we will lake you on our road； and you shall lodge with ustonight； if you will。'
'O Fair Folk！ This is good fortune beyond my hope；' said Pippin。 Sam wasspeechless。 'I thank you indeed； Gildor Inglorion；' said Frodo bowing。 _'Elensíla lúmenn' omentielvo；_ a star shines on the hour of our meeting；' he addedin the high…elven speech。
'Be careful； friends！' cried Gildor laughing。 'Speak no secrets！ Here isa scholar in the Ancient Tongue。 Bilbo was a good master。 Hail； Elf…friend！'
he said； bowing to Frodo。 'e now with your friends and join our pany！
You had best walk in the middle so that you may not stray。 You may be wearybefore we halt。'
'Why？ Where are you going？' asked Frodo。
'For tonight we go to the woods on the hills above Woodhall。 It is somemiles； but you shall have rest at the end of it； and it will shorten yourjourney tomorrow。'
They now marched on again in silence； and passed like shadows and faintlights： for Elves （even more than hobbits） could walk when they wished withoutsound or footfall。 Pippin soon began to feel sleepy； and staggered once ortwice； but each time a tall Elf at his side put out his arm and saved him froma fall。 Sam walked along at Frodo's side； as if in a dream； with an expressionon his face half of fear and half of astonished joy。
The woods on either side became denser； the trees were now younger andthicker； and as the lane went lower； running down into a fold of the hills；
there were many deep brakes of hazel on the rising slopes at either hand。 Atlast the Elves turned aside from the path。 A green ride lay almost unseenthrough the thickets on the right； and this they followed as it wound awayback up the wooded slopes on to the top of a shoulder of the hills that stoodout into the lower land of the river…valley。 Suddenly they came out of theshadow of the trees； and before them lay a wide space of grass； grey under thenight。 On three sides the woods pressed upon it； but eastward the ground fellsteeply and the tops of the dark trees； growing at the bottom of the slope；
were below their feet。 Beyond； the low lands lay dim and flat under the stars。
Nearer at hand a few lights twinkled in the village of Woodhall。
The Elves sat on the grass and spoke together in soft voices； they seemedto take no further notice of the hobbits。 Frodo and his panions wrappedthemselves in cloaks and blankets； and drowsiness stole over them。 The nightgrew on； and the lights in the valley went out。 Pippin fell asleep； pillowedon a green hillock。
Away high in the East swung Remmirath； the Netted Stars； and slowly abovethe mists red Borgil rose； glowing like a jewel of fire。 Then by some shift ofairs all the mist was drawn away like a veil； and there leaned up； as heclimbed over the rim of the world； the Swordsman of the Sky； Menelvagor withhis shining belt。 The Elves all burst into song。 Suddenly under the trees afire sprang up with a red light。
'e！' the Elves called to the hobbits。 'e！ Now is the time for
speech and merriment！'
Pippin sat up and rubbed his eyes。 He shivered。 'There is a fire in thehall； and food for hungry guests；' said an Elf standing before him。
At the south end of the greensward there was an opening。 There the green
floor ran on into the wood； and formed a wide space like a hall； roofed by theboughs of trees。 Their great trunks ran like pillars down each side。 In themiddle there was a wood…fire blazing； and upon the tree…pillars torches withlights of gold and silver were burning steadily。 The Elves sat round the fireupon the grass or upon the sawn rings of old trunks。 Some went to and frobearing cups and pouring drink； others brought food on heaped plates anddishes。
'This is poor fare；' they said to the hobbits； 'for we are lodging in thegreenwood far from our halls。 If ever you are our guests at home； we willtreat you better。'
'It seems to me good enough for a birthday…party；' said Frodo。
Pippin afterwards recalled little of either food or drink； for his mindwas filled with the light upon the elf…faces； and the sound of voices sovarious and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream。 But he rememberedthat there was bread； surpassing the savour of a fair white loaf to one who isstarving； and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits ofgardens； he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught； cool as aclear fountain； golden as a summer afternoon。
Sam could never describe in words； nor picture clearly to himself； whathe felt or thought that night； though it remained in his memory as one of thechief events of his life。 The nearest he ever got was to say： 'Well； sir； if Icould grow apples like that； I would call myself a gardener。 But it was thesinging that went to my heart； if you know what I mean。'
Frodo sat； eating； drinking； and talking with delight； but his mind waschiefly on the words spoken。 He knew a little of the elf…speech and listenedeagerly。 Now and again he spoke to those that served him and thanked them intheir own language。 They smiled at him and said laughing： 'Here is a jewelamong hobbits！'
After a while Pippin fell fast asleep； and was lifted up and borne awayto a bower under the trees； there he was laid upon a soft bed and slept therest of the night away。 Sam refused to leave his master。 When Pippin had gone；
he came and sat curled up at Frodo's feet； where at last he nodded and closedhis eyes。 Frodo remained long awake； talking with Gildor。
They spoke of many things； old and new； and Frodo questioned Gildor muchabout happenings in the wide world outside the Shire。 The tidings were mostlysad and ominous： of gathering darkness； the wars of Men； and the flight of theElves。 At last Frodo asked the question that was nearest to his heart：
'Tell me； Gildor； have you ever seen Bilbo since he left us？'
Gildor smiled。 'Yes；' he answered。 'Twice。 He said farewell to us on thisvery spot。 But I saw him once again； far from here。' He would say no moreabout Bilbo