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‘I know；' said Frodo。 ‘They were terrible to behold！ But why could we allsee their horses？'
‘Because they are real horses； just as the black robes are real robesthat they wear to give shape to their nothingness when they have dealings withthe living。'
‘Then why do these black horses endure such riders？ All other animals areterrified when they draw near； even the elf…horse of Glorfindel。 The dogs howland the geese scream at them。'
‘Because these horses are born and bred to the service of the Dark Lord
in Mordor。 Not all his servants and chattels are wraiths！ There are orcs and
trolls； there are wargs and werewolves； and there have been and still are manyMen； warriors and kings； that walk alive under the Sun； and yet are under hissway。 And their number is growing daily。'
‘What about Rivendell and the Elves？ Is Rivendell safe？'
‘Yes； at present； until all else is conquered。 The Elves may fear theDark Lord； and they may fly before him； but never again will they listen tohim or serve him。 And here in Rivendell there live still some of his chief
foes： the Elven…wise； lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas。 Theydo not fear the Ringwraiths； for those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realmlive at once in both worlds； and against both the Seen and the Unseen theyhave great power。'
'I thought that I saw a white figure that shone and did not grow dim like
the others。 Was that Glorfindel then？'
'Yes； you saw him for a moment as he is upon the other side： one of themighty of the Firstborn。 He is an Elf…lord of a house of princes。 Indeed thereis a power in Rivendell to withstand the might of Mordor； for a while： andelsewhere other powers still dwell。 There is power； too； of another kind inthe Shire。 But all such places will soon bee islands under siege； if thingsgo on as they are going。 The Dark Lord is putting forth all his strength。
‘Still；' he said； standing suddenly up and sticking out his chin。 whilehis beard went stiff and straight like bristling wire； ‘we must keep up ourcourage。 You will soon be well； if I do not talk you to death。 You are inRivendell； and you need not worry about anything for the present。'
'I haven't any courage to keep up；' said Frodo； ‘but I am not worried atthe moment。 Just give me news of my friends； and tell me the end of the affairat the Ford； as I keep on asking； and I shall be content for the present。
After that I shall have another sleep； I think； but I shan't be able to closemy eyes until you have finished the story for me。'
Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside； and took a good look at Frodo。
The colour had e back to his face； and his eyes were clear； and fully awakeand aware。 He was smiling； and there seemed to be little wrong with him。 Butto the wizard's eye there was a faint change just a hint as it were oftransparency； about him； and especially about the left hand that lay outsideupon the coverlet。
‘Still that must be expected；' said Gandalf to himself。 ‘He is not halfthrough yet； and to what he will e in the end not even Elrond can foretell。
Not to evil； I think。 He may bee like a glass filled with a clear light foreyes to see that can。'
‘You look splendid；' he said aloud。 ‘I will risk a brief tale withoutconsulting Elrond。 But quite brief； mind you； and then you must sleep again。
This is what happened； as far as I can gather。 The Riders made straight foryou； as soon as you fled。 They did not need the guidance of their horses anylonger： you had bee visible to them； being already on the threshold oftheir world。 And also the Ring drew them。 Your friends sprang aside； off theroad； or they would have been ridden down。 They knew that nothing could saveyou； if the white horse could not。 The Riders were too swift to overtake； andtoo many to oppose。 On foot even Glorfindel and Aragorn together could notwith stand all the Nine at once。
‘When the Ringwraiths swept by； your friends ran up behind。 Close to theFord there is a small hollow beside the road masked by a few stunted trees。
There they hastily kindled fire； for Glorfindel knew that a flood would edown； if the Riders tried to cross； and then he would have to deal with anythat were left on his side of the river。 The moment the flood appeared； herushed out； followed by Aragorn and the。 others with flaming brands。 Caughtbetween fire and water； and seeing an Elf…lord revealed in his wrath； theywere dismayed； and their horses were stricken with madness。 Three were carriedaway by the first assault of the flood； the others were now hurled into thewater by their horses and overwhelmed。'
'And is that the end of the Black Riders？' asked Frodo。
'No；' said Gandalf。 'Their horses must have perished； and without themthey are crippled。 But the Ringwraiths themselves cannot be so easilydestroyed。 However； there is nothing more to fear from them at present。 Yourfriends crossed after the flood had passed； and they found you lying on yourface at the top of the bank； with a broken sword under you。 The horse wasstanding guard beside you。 You were pale and cold； and they feared that youwere dead； or worse。 Elrond's folk met them； carrying you slowly towardsRivendell。'
‘Who made the flood？' asked Frodo。
'Elrond manded it；' answered Gandalf。 ‘The river of this valley isunder his power； and it will rise in anger when he has great need to bar theFord。 As soon as the captain of the Ringwraiths rode into the water the floodwas released。 If I may say so； I added a few touches of my own： you may not
have noticed； but some of the waves took the form of great white horses withshining white riders； and there were many rolling and grinding boulders。 For amoment I was afraid that we had let loose too fierce a wrath； and the floodwould get out of hand and wash you all away。 There is great vigour in thewaters that e down from the snows of the Misty Mountains。'
‘Yes； it all es back to me now；' said Frodo： 'the tremendous roaring。
I thought I was drowning； with my friends and enemies and all。 But now we aresafe！'
Gandalf looked quickly at Frodo； but he had shut his eyes。 'Yes； you areall safe for the present。 Soon there will be feasting and merrymaking tocelebrate the victory at the Ford of Bruinen； and you will all be there inplaces of honour。'
'Splendid！' said Frodo。 ‘It is wonderful that Elrond； and Glorfindel andsuch great lords； not to mention Strider； should take so much trouble and showme so much kindness。'
‘Well； there are many reasons why they should；' said Gandalf； smiling。 ‘Iam one good reason。 The Ring is another： you are the Ring…bearer。 And you arethe heir of Bilbo； the Ring…finder。'
‘Dear Bilbo！' said Frodo sleepily。 ‘I wonder where he is。 I wish he washere and could hear all about it。 It would have made him laugh； The cow jumpedover the Moon！ And the poor old troll！' With that he fell fast asleep。
Frodo was now safe in the Last Homely House east of the Sea。 That housewas； as Bilbo had long ago reported； ‘a perfect house； whether you like foodor sleep； or story…telling or singing； or just sitting and thinking best； or apleasant mixture of them all'。 Merely to be there was a cure for weariness；
fear； and sadness。
As the evening drew on； Frodo woke up again； and he found that he nolonger felt in need of rest or sleep； but had a mind for food and drink； andprobably for singing and story…telling afterwards。 He got out of bed anddiscovered that his arm was already nearly as useful again as it ever hadbeen。 He found laid ready clean garments of green cloth that fitted himexcellently。 Looking in a mirror he was startled to see a much thinnerreflection of himself than he remembered： it looked remarkably like the youngnephew of Bilbo who used to go tramping with his uncle in the Shire； but theeyes looked out at him thoughtfully。
‘Yes； you have seen a thing or two since you last peeped out of alooking…glass；' he said to his reflection。 'But now for a merry meeting！'
He stretched out his arms and whistled a tune。
At that moment there was a knock on the door； and Sam came in。 He ran toFrodo and took his left hand； awkwardly and shyly。 He stroked it gently andthen he blushed and turned hastily away。
‘Hullo； Sam！' said Frodo。
‘It's warm！' said Sam。 ‘Meaning your hand； Mr。 Frodo。 It has felt so coldthrough the long nights。 But glory and trumpets！' he cried； turning roundagain with shining eyes and dancing on the floor。 'It's fine to see you up andyourself again； sir！ Gandalf asked me to e and see if you were ready toe down； and I thought he was joking。'
'I am ready；' said Frodo。 'Let's go and look for the rest of the party！'
‘I can take you to them； sir；' said Sam。 ‘It's a big house this； and verypeculiar。 Always a bit more to discover； and no knowing what you'll find rounda corner。 And Elves； sir！ Elves here； and Elves there！ Some like kings；
terrible and splendid； and some as merry as children。 And the music and thesinging…not that I have had the time or the heart for much listening since wegot here。 But I'm getting to know some of the ways of the place。'
'I know what you have been doing； Sam；' said Frodo； taking his arm。 'Butyou shall be merry tonight； and listen to your heart's content。 e on； guideme round the corners！'
Sam led him along several passages and down many steps and o