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When winter first begins to bite
and stones crack in the frosty night；
when pools are black and trees are bare；
'tis evil in the Wild to fare。
But that I am afraid will be just your luck。'
'I am afraid it will；' said Gandalf。 'We can't start until we have found out about the Riders。'
'I thought they were all destroyed in the flood；' said Merry。
'You cannot destroy Ringwraiths like that；' said Gandalf。 'The power of their master is in them； and they stand or fall by him。 We hope that they were all unhorsed and unmasked； and so made for a while less dangerous； but we must find out for certain。 In the meantime you should try and fet your troubles； Frodo。 I do not know if I can do anything to help you； but I will whisper this in your ears。 Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party。 He was right。 I think I shall e with you。'
So great was Frodo's delight at this announcement that Gandalf left the windowsill； where he had been sitting； and took off his hat and bowed。 'I only said I think I shall e。 Do not count on anything yet。 In this matter Elrond will have much to say； and your friend the Strider。 Which reminds me； I want to see Elrond。 I must be off。'
'How long do you think I shall have here？' said Frodo to Bilbo when Gandalf had gone。
'Oh； I don't know。 I can't count days in Rivendell；' said Bilbo。 'But quite long； I should think。 We can have many a good talk。 What about helping me with my book； and making a start on the next？ Have you thought of an ending？'
'Yes； several； and all are dark and unpleasant；' said Frodo。
'Oh； that won't do！' said Bilbo。 'Books ought to have good endings。 How would this do： and they all settled down and lived together happily ever after？'
'It will do well； if it ever es to that；' said Frodo。
'Ah！' said Sam。 'And where will they live？ That's what I often wonder。'
For a while the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journey and of the perils that lay ahead； but such was the virtue of the land of Rivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds。 The future； good or ill； was not fotten； but ceased to have any power over the present。 Health and hope grew strong in them； and they were content with each good day as it came； taking pleasure in every meal； and in every word and song。
So the days slipped away； as each morning dawned bright and fair； and each evening followed cool and clear。 But autumn was waning fast； slowly the golden light faded to pale silver； and the lingering leaves fell from the naked trees。 A wind began to blow chill from the Misty Mountains to the east。 The Hunter's Moon waxed round in the night sky； and put to flight all the lesser stars。 But low in the South one star shone red。 Every night； as the Moon waned again； it shone brighter and brighter。 Frodo could see it from his window； deep in the heavens burning like a watchful eye that glared above the trees on the brink of the valley。
The hobbits had been nearly two months in the House of Elrond； and November had gone by with the last shreds of autumn； and December was passing； when the scouts began to return。 Some had gone north beyond the springs of the Hoarwell into the Ettenmoors； and others had gone west； and with the help of Aragorn and the Rangers had searched the lands far down the Greyflood； as far as Tharbad； where the old North Road crossed the river by a ruined town。 Many had gone east and south； and some of these had crossed the Mountains and entered Mirkwood； while others had climbed the pass at the source of the Gladden River； and had e down into Wilderland and over the Gladden Fields and so at length had reached the old home of Radagast at Rhosgobel。 Radagast was not there； and they had returned over the high pass that was called the Dimrill Stair。 The sons of Elrond； Elladan and Elrohir； were the last to return； they had made a great journey； passing down the Silverlode into a strange country； but of their errand they would not speak to any save to Elrond。
In no region had the messengers discovered any signs or tidings of the Riders or other servants of the Enemy。 Even from the Eagles of the Misty Mountains they had learned no fresh news。 Nothing had been seen or heard of Gollum； but the wild wolves were still gathering； and were hunting again far up the Great River。 Three of the black horses had been found at once drowned in the flooded Ford。 On the rocks of the rapids below it searchers discovered the bodies of five more； and also a long black cloak； slashed and tattered。 Of the Black Riders no other trace was to be seen； and nowhere was their presence to be felt。 It seemed that they had vanished from the North。
'Eight out of the Nine are accounted for at least；' said Gandalf。 'It is rash to be too sure； yet I think that we may hope now that the Ringwraiths were scattered； and have been obliged to return as best they could to their Master in Mordor； empty and shapeless。
'If that is so； it will be some time before they can begin the hunt again。 Of course the Enemy has other servants； but they will have to journey all the way to the borders of Rivendell before they can pick up our trail。 And if we are careful that will be hard to find。 But we must delay no longer。'
Elrond summoned the hobbits to him。 He looked gravely at Frodo。 'The time has e；' he said。 'If the Ring is to set out； it must go soon。 But those who go with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force。 They must pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid。 Do you still hold to your word； Frodo； that you will be the Ringbearer？'
'I do；' said Frodo。 'I will go with Sam。'
'Then I cannot help you much； not even with counsel；' said Elrond。 'I can foresee very little of your road； and how your task is to be achieved I do not know。 The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains； and draws nigh even to the borders of Greyflood； and under the Shadow all is dark to me。 You will meet many foes； some open； and some disguised； and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it。 I will send out messages； such as I can contrive； to those whom I know in the wide world； but so perilous are the lands now bee that some may well miscarry； or e no quicker than you yourself。
'And I will choose you panions to go with you； as far as they will or fortune allows。 The number must be few； since your hope is in speed and secrecy。 Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days； it would avail little； save to arouse the power of Mordor。
'The pany of the Ring shall be Nine； and the Nine Walkers shall be set against the Nine Riders that are evil。 With you and your faithful servant； Gandalf will go； for this shall be his great task； and maybe the end of his labours。
'For the rest； they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World： Elves； Dwarves； and Men。 Legolas shall be for the Elves； and Gimli son of Glóin for the Dwarves。 They are willing to go at least to the passes of the Mountains； and maybe beyond。 For men you shall have Aragorn son of Arathorn； for the Ring of Isildur concerns him closely。'
'Strider！' said Frodo。
'Yes；' he said with a smile。 'I ask leave once again to be your panion； Frodo。'
'I would have begged you to e；' said Frodo； 'only I thought you were going to Minas Tirith with Boromir。'
'I am；' said Aragorn。 'And the SwordthatwasBroken shall be refed ere I set out to war。 But your road and our road lie together for many hundreds of miles。 Therefore Boromir will also be in the pany。 He is a valiant man。'
'There remain two more to be found；' said Elrond。 〃These I will consider。 Of my household I may find some that it seems good to me to send。'
'But that will leave no place for us！' cried Pippin in dismay。 'We don't want to be left behind。 We want to go with Frodo。'
'That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what lies ahead；' said Elrond。
'Neither does Frodo；' said Gandalf； unexpectedly supporting Pippin。 'Nor do any of us see clearly。 It is true that if these hobbits understood the danger； they would not dare to go。 But they would still wish to go； or wish that they dared； and be shamed and unhappy。 I think； Elrond； that in this matter it would be well to trust rather to their friendship than to great wisdom。 Even if you chose for us an elflord； such as Glorfindel； he could not storm the Dark Tower； nor open the road to the Fire by the power that is in him。'
'You speak gravely；' said Elrond； 'but I am in doubt。 The Shire； I forebode； is not free now from peril； and these two I had thought to send back there as messengers； to do what they could； according to the fashion of their country； to warn the people of their danger。 In any case； I judge that the younger of these two； Peregrin Took； should remain。 My heart is against his going。'
'Then； Master Elrond； you will have to lock me in prison； or send me home tied in a sack；' said Pippin。 'For otherwise I shall follow the pany。'
'Let it be so then。 You shall go；' said Elrond； and he sighed。 'Now the tale of Nine is filled。 In seven days the pany must depart。'
The Sword of Elendil was fed anew by Elvish smiths； and on its blade was traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayed Sun； and