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a fair song in our woodland tongue； but this is howit runs in the Westron Speech； as some in Rivendell now sing it。' In a softvoice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began：
An Elven…maid there was of old；
A shining star by day：
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold；
Her shoes of silver…grey。
A star was bound upon her brows；
A light was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair。
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 linden…tree。
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 elven…ship in haven grey
Beneath the mountain…lee
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 elven…strands
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 Elven…king；
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 Elven…folk have heard
Of Amroth evermore。
The voice of Legolas faltered； and the song ceased。 'I cannot sing anymore；' he said。 'That is but a part； for I have forgotten much。 It is long andsad； for it tells how sorrow came upon Lothlórien； Lórien of the Blossom； whenthe 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 theElves of Nimrodel's kindred left their dwellings and departed and she was lostfar in the South； in the passes of the White Mountains； and she came not tothe ship where Amroth her lover waited for her。 But in the spring when thewind is in the new leaves the echo of her voice may still be heard by thefalls 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 Elvescall Celebrant； and Celebrant into Anduin the Great。 and Anduin flows into theBay of Belfalas whence the Elves of Lórien set sail。 But neither Nimrodel norAmroth 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 dwellin the trees； and maybe it is so still。 Therefore they were called theGaladhrim； the Tree…people。 Deep in their forest the trees are very great。 Thepeople 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 thoughtsafer than sitting on the ground；' said Gimli。 He looked across the stream tothe road that led back to Dimrill Dale； and then up into the roof of darkboughs above。
‘Your words bring good counsel； Gimli；' said Aragorn。 ‘We cannot build ahouse； but tonight we will do as the Galadhrim and seek refuge in the treetops；
if we can。 We have sat here beside the road already longer than waswise。'
The pany now turned aside from the path； and went into the shadow ofthe deeper woods； westward along the mountain…stream away from Silverlode。 Notfar from the falls of Nimrodel they found a cluster of trees； some of whichoverhung the stream。 Their great grey trunks were of mighty girth； but theirheight could not be guessed。
‘I will climb up；' said Legolas。 ‘I am at home among trees； by root orbough； 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 Ihave never climbed in one。 I will see now what is their shape and way ofgrowth。'
‘Whatever it may be；' said Pippin； ‘they will be marvellous trees indeedif they can offer any rest at night； except to birds。 I cannot sleep on aperch！ '
'Then dig a hole in the ground；' said Legolas； ‘if that is more after thefashion of your kind。 But you must dig swift and deep； if you wish to hidefrom Orcs。' He sprang lightly up from the ground and caught a branch that grewfrom the trunk high above his head。 But even as he swung there for a moment； avoice spoke suddenly from the tree…shadows above him。
‘_Daro！_' it said in manding tone； and Legolas dropped back to earthin 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 anotherclear voice spoke in an elven…tongue。 Frodo could understand little of whatwas said； for the speech that the Silvan folk east of the mountains used amongthemselves was unlike that of the West。 Legolas looked up and answered in thesame 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 soloud that they could shoot you in the dark。' Sam hastily put his hand over hismouth。 'But they say also that you need have no fear。 They have been aware ofus for a long while。 They heard my voice across the Nimrodel； and knew that Iwas one of their Northern kindred； and therefore they did not hinder ourcrossing； and afterwards they heard my song。 Now they bid me climb up withFrodo； for they seem to have had some tidings of him and of our journey。 Theothers 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 strongenough to bear many men。 Legolas ran lightly up； and Frodo followed slowly；
behind came Sam trying not to breathe loudly。 The branches of the mallorn…treegrew out nearly straight from the trunk； and then swept upward； but near thetop the main stem divided into a crown of many boughs； and among these theyfound that there had been built a wooden platform； or _flet_ as such thingswere called in those days： the Elves called it a _talan_。 It was reached by around hole in the centre through which the ladder passed。
When Frodo came at last up on to the flet he found Legolas seated withthree other Elves。 They were clad in shadowy…grey； and could not be seen amongthe tree…stems； unless they moved suddenly。 They stood up； and one of themuncovered 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； andspoke words of wele in his elven…tongue。 Frodo spoke haltingly in return。
‘Wele！' the Elf then said again in the mon Language； speakingslowly。 'We seldom use any tongue but our own； for we dwell now in the heartof the forest； and do not willingly have dealings with any other folk。 Evenour 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。 Mybrothers； Rúmil and Orophin； speak little of your tongue。
‘But we have heard rumours of your ing； for the messengers of Elrondpassed by Lórien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair。 We had not heard ofhobbits； or halflings； for many a long year； and did not know that any yetdwelt in Middle…earth。 You do not look evil！ And since you e with an Elf ofour kindred； we are willing to befriend you； as Elrond asked； though it is notour 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 Elf…friend 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 spokenonly of seven。'
‘The eighth is a dwarf；' said Legolas。
‘A dwarf！ ' said Haldir。 ‘That is not well。 We have not had dealings withthe Dwarves since the Dark Days。 They are not permitted in our land。 I cannotallow him to pass。'
‘But he is from the Lonely Mountain； one of Dáin's trusty people； andfriendly to Elrond；' said Frodo。 ‘Elrond himself chose him to be one of ourpanions； and he has been brave and faithful。'
The Elves spoke together in soft voices； and questioned Legolas in theirown tongue。 'Very good；' said Haldir at last。 ‘We will do this； though it isagainst our liking。 If Aragorn and Legolas will guard him； and answer for him；
he shall pass； but he must go blindfold through Lothlóri