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‘As was agreed； I shall here blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf。 Theother may walk free for a while； until we e nearer to our dwellings； downin Egladil； in the Angle between the waters。'
This was not at all to the liking of Gimli。 ‘The agreement was madewithout my consent；' he said。 ‘I will not walk blindfold； like a beggar or aprisoner。 And I am no spy。 My folk have never had dealings with any of theservants of the Enemy。 Neither have we done harm to the Elves。 I am no morelikely to betray you than Legolas； or any other of my panions。'
'I do not doubt you；' said Haldir。 'Yet this is our law。 I am not the
master of the law； and cannot set it aside。 I have done much in letting youset foot over Celebrant。'
Gimli was obstinate。 He planted his feet firmly apart； and laid his handupon the haft of his axe。 'I will go forward free；' he said； 'or I will goback and seek my own land； where I am known to be true of word； though Iperish alone in the wilderness。'
‘You cannot go back；' said Haldir sternly。 'Now you have e thus far；
you must be brought before the Lord and the Lady。 They shall judge you； tohold you or to give you leave； as they will。 You cannot cross the riversagain； and behind you there are now secret sentinels that you cannot pass。 Youwould be slain before you saw them。'
Gimli drew his axe from his belt。 Haldir and his panion bent theirbows。 'A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks！ ' said Legolas。
'e！' said Aragorn。 ‘If I am still to lead this pany； you must do asI bid。 It is hard upon the Dwarf to be thus singled out。 We will all beblindfold； even Legolas。 That will be best； though it will make the journeyslow and dull。'
Gimli laughed suddenly。 ‘A merry troop of fools we shall look！ WillHaldir lead us all on a string； like many blind beggars with one dog？ But Iwill be content； if only Legolas here shares my blindness。'
turn。
‘I am an Elf and a kinsman here；' said Legolas； being angry in his
‘Now let us cry： 〃a plague on the stiff necks of Elves！〃' said Aragorn。
‘But the pany shall all fare alike。 e； bind our eyes Haldir！ '
‘I shall claim full amends for every fall and stubbed toe； if you do notlead us well；' said Gimli as they bound a cloth about his eyes。
'You will have no claim；' said Haldir。 ‘I shall lead you well； and thepaths are smooth and straight。'
‘Alas for the folly of these days！ ' said Legolas。 'Here all are enemiesof the one Enemy； and yet I must walk blind； while the sun is merry in thewoodland under leaves of gold！ '
‘Folly it may seem；' said Haldir。 'Indeed in nothing is the power of theDark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all thosewho still oppose him。 Yet so little faith and trust do we find now in theworld beyond Lothlórien； unless maybe in Rivendell； that we dare not by ourown trust endanger our land。 We live now upon an island amid many perils； andour hands are more often upon the bowstring than upon the harp。
‘The rivers long defended us； but they are a sure guard no more for theShadow has crept northward all about us。 Some speak of departing； yet for thatit already seems too late。 The mountains to the west are growing evil； to theeast the lands are waste； and full of Sauron's creatures； and it is rumouredthat we cannot now safely pass southward through Rohan； and the mouths of theGreat River are watched by the Enemy。 Even if we could e to the shores ofthe Sea； we should find no longer any shelter there。 It is said that there arestill havens of。 the High Elves； but they are far north and west； beyond theland of the Halflings。 But where that may be； though the Lord and Lady mayknow； I do not。'
‘You ought at least to guess； since you have seen us；' said Merry。 ‘Thereare Elf…havens west of my land； the Shire where Hobbits live。'
‘Happy folk are Hobbits to dwell near the shores of the sea！ ' saidHaldir。 'It is long indeed since any of my folk have looked on it； yet stillwe remember it in song。 Tell me of these havens as we walk。'
‘I cannot；' said Merry。 ‘I have never seen them。 I have never been out ofmy own land before。 And if I had known what the world outside was like。 Idon't think I should have had the heart to leave it。'
‘Not even to see fair Lothlórien？ ' said Haldir。 'The world is indeed
full of peril； and in it there are many dark places； but still there is muchthat is fair； and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief； it growsperhaps the greater。
‘Some there are among us who sing that the Shadow will draw back and
peace shall e again。 Yet I do not believe that the world about us will everagain be as it was of old； or the light of the Sun as it was aforetime。 Forthe Elves； I fear； it will prove at best a truce； in which they may pass tothe Sea unhindered and leave the Middle…earth for ever。 Alas for Lothlórien
that I love！ It would be a poor life in a land where no mallorn grew。 But ifthere are mallorn…trees beyond the Great Sea； none have reported it。'
As they spoke thus； the pany filed slowly along the paths in the wood；
led by Haldir； while the other Elf walked behind。 They felt the ground beneaththeir feet smooth and soft； and after a while they walked more freely； withoutfear of hurt or fall。 Being deprived of sight； Frodo found his hearing andother senses sharpened。 He could smell the trees and the trodden grass。 Hecould hear many different notes in the rustle of the leaves overhead； theriver murmuring away on his right； and the thin clear voices of birds in thesky。 He felt the sun upon his face and hands when they passed through an open
glade。
As soon as he set foot upon the far bank of Silverlode a strange feelinghad e upon him； and it deepened as he walked on into the Naith： it seemedto him that he had stepped over a bridge of time into a corner of the ElderDays； and was …now walking in a world that was no more。 In Rivendell there wasmemory of ancient things； in Lórien the ancient things still lived on in thewaking world。 Evil had been seen and heard there； sorrow had been known； theElves feared and distrusted the world outside： wolves were howling on thewood's borders： but on the land of Lórien no shadow lay。
All that day the pany marched on； until they felt the cool eveninge and heard the early night…wind whispering among many leaves。 Then theyrested and slept without fear upon the ground； for their guides would notpermit them to unbind their eyes； and they could not climb。 In the morningthey went on again； walking without haste。 At noon they halted； and Frodo wasaware that they had passed out under the shining Sun。 Suddenly he heard thesound of many voices all around him。
A marching host of Elves had e up silently： they were hastening towardthe northern borders to guard against any attack from Moria； and they broughtnews； some of which Haldir reported。 The marauding orcs had been waylaid andalmost all destroyed； the remnant had fled westward towards the mountains； andwere being pursued。 A strange creature also had been seen； running with bentback and with hands near the ground； like a beast and yet not of beast…shape。
It had eluded capture； and they had not shot it； not knowing whether it wasgood or ill； and it had vanished down the Silverlode southward。
‘Also；' said Haldir； ‘they bring me a message from the Lord and Lady ofthe Galadhrim。 You are all to walk free； even the dwarf Gimli。 It seems thatthe Lady knows who and what is each member of your pany。 New messages havee from Rivendell perhaps。'
He removed the bandage first from Gimli's eyes。 'Your pardon！ ' he said；
bowing low。 ‘Look on us now with friendly eyes！ Look and be glad； for you arethe first dwarf to behold the trees of the Naith of Lórien since Durin's Day！
'
When his eyes were in turn uncovered； Frodo looked up and caught hisbreath。 They were standing in an open space。 To the left stood a great mound；
covered with a sward of grass as green as Spring…time in the Elder Days。 Uponit； as a double crown； grew two circles of trees： the outer had bark of snowywhite； and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness； the innerwere mallorn…trees of great height； still arrayed in pale gold。 High amid thebranches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all there gleamed awhite flet。 At the feet of the trees； and all about the green hillsides thegrass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars。 Among them；
nodding on slender stalks； were other flowers； white and palest green： theyglimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass。 Over all the sky was blue；
and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long green shadowsbeneath the trees。
'Behold！ You are e to Cerin Amroth；' said Haldir。 ‘For this is the
heart of the ancient realm as it was long ago； and here is the mound ofAmroth； where in happier days his high house was built。 Here ever bloom thewinter flowers in the unfading grass： the yellow _elanor_； and the pale_niphredil_。 Here we will stay awhile； and e to the city of the Galadhrimat dusk。'
The others cast themselves down upon the fragrant grass； but Frodo stoodawhile still lost in wonder。 It seemed to him that he had stepped through ahigh window that looked on a vanished world。 A light was upon it for which hislanguage had no name。 All tha