°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
The¡¡road¡¡now¡¡turned¡¡south¡¡and¡¡went¡¡quickly¡¡downwards£»¡¡running¡¡out¡¡from¡¡between¡¡the¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dale¡£¡¡Some¡¡way¡¡below¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡they¡¡came¡¡on¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡well¡¡of¡¡water£»¡¡clear¡¡as¡¡crystal£»¡¡from¡¡which¡¡a¡¡freshet¡¡fell¡¡over¡¡a¡¡stone¡¡lip¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡glistening¡¡and¡¡gurgling¡¡down¡¡a¡¡steep¡¡rocky¡¡channel¡£
'Here¡¡is¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡from¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Silverlode¡¡rises¡£'¡¡said¡¡Gimli¡£¡¡'Do¡¡not¡¡drink¡¡of¡¡it£¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡icy¡¡cold¡£'
'Soon¡¡it¡¡bees¡¡a¡¡swift¡¡river£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡gathers¡¡water¡¡from¡¡many¡¡other¡¡mountainstreams£»'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'Our¡¡road¡¡leads¡¡beside¡¡it¡¡for¡¡many¡¡miles¡£¡¡For¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡take¡¡you¡¡by¡¡the¡¡road¡¡that¡¡Gandalf¡¡chose£»¡¡and¡¡first¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Silverlode¡¡flows¡¡into¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Riverout¡¡yonder¡£'¡¡They¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pointed£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡them¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡leaping¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡trough¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valley£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡running¡¡on¡¡and¡¡away¡¡into¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡lands£»¡¡until¡¡it¡¡was¡¡lost¡¡in¡¡a¡¡golden¡¡haze¡£
'There¡¡lie¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡of¡¡Lothl¨®rien£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Legolas¡£¡¡'That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡fairest¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡dwellings¡¡of¡¡my¡¡people¡£¡¡There¡¡are¡¡no¡¡trees¡¡like¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡of¡¡that¡¡land¡£¡¡For¡¡in¡¡the¡¡autumn¡¡their¡¡leaves¡¡fall¡¡not£»¡¡but¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡gold¡£¡¡Not¡¡till¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡es¡¡and¡¡the¡¡new¡¡green¡¡opens¡¡do¡¡they¡¡fall£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡boughs¡¡are¡¡laden¡¡with¡¡yellow¡¡flowers£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡is¡¡golden£»¡¡and¡¡golden¡¡is¡¡the¡¡roof£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡pillars¡¡are¡¡of¡¡silver£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bark¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡is¡¡smooth¡¡and¡¡grey¡£¡¡So¡¡still¡¡our¡¡songs¡¡in¡¡Mirkwood¡¡say¡£¡¡My¡¡heart¡¡would¡¡be¡¡glad¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡eaves¡¡of¡¡that¡¡wood£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡were¡¡springtime£¡¡¡'
'My¡¡heart¡¡will¡¡be¡¡glad£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡the¡¡winter£»'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'But¡¡it¡¡lies¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡away¡£¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡hasten£¡¡¡'
For¡¡some¡¡time¡¡Frodo¡¡and¡¡Sam¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡up¡¡with¡¡the¡¡others£»¡¡but¡¡Aragorn¡¡was¡¡leading¡¡them¡¡at¡¡a¡¡great¡¡pace£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡while¡¡they¡¡lagged¡¡behind¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡eaten¡¡nothing¡¡since¡¡the¡¡early¡¡morning¡£¡¡Sam's¡¡cut¡¡was¡¡burning¡¡like¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡head¡¡felt¡¡light¡£¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shining¡¡sun¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡seemed¡¡chill¡¡after¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡darkness¡¡of¡¡Moria¡£¡¡He¡¡shivered¡£¡¡Frodo¡¡felt¡¡every¡¡step¡¡more¡¡painful¡¡and¡¡he¡¡gasped¡¡for¡¡breath¡£
At¡¡last¡¡Legolas¡¡turned£»¡¡and¡¡seeing¡¡them¡¡now¡¡far¡¡behind£»¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡to¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡The¡¡others¡¡halted£»¡¡and¡¡Aragorn¡¡ran¡¡back£»¡¡calling¡¡to¡¡Boromir¡¡to¡¡e¡¡with¡¡him¡£
'I¡¡am¡¡sorry£»¡¡Frodo£¡¡¡'¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡concern¡£¡¡'So¡¡much¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡this¡¡day¡¡and¡¡we¡¡have¡¡such¡¡need¡¡of¡¡haste£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡fotten¡¡that¡¡you¡¡were¡¡hurt£»¡¡and¡¡Sam¡¡too¡£¡¡You¡¡should¡¡have¡¡spoken¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡done¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡ease¡¡you£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡ought£»¡¡though¡¡all¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡of¡¡Moria¡¡were¡¡after¡¡us¡£¡¡e¡¡now£¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡further¡¡on¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡place¡¡where¡¡we¡¡can¡¡rest¡¡for¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡There¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡can¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡e£»¡¡Boromir£¡¡¡We¡¡will¡¡carry¡¡them¡£'
Soon¡¡afterwards¡¡they¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡another¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡down¡¡from¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡and¡¡joined¡¡its¡¡bubbling¡¡water¡¡with¡¡the¡¡hurrying¡¡Silverlode¡£¡¡Together¡¡they¡¡plunged¡¡over¡¡a¡¡fall¡¡of¡¡greenhued¡¡stone£»¡¡and¡¡foamed¡¡down¡¡into¡¡a¡¡dell¡£¡¡About¡¡it¡¡stood¡¡firtrees£»¡¡short¡¡and¡¡bent£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡sides¡¡were¡¡steep¡¡and¡¡clothed¡¡with¡¡hartstongue¡¡and¡¡shrubs¡¡of¡¡whortleberry¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡level¡¡space¡¡through¡¡which¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡flowed¡¡noisily¡¡over¡¡shining¡¡pebbles¡£¡¡Here¡¡they¡¡rested¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡now¡¡nearly¡¡three¡¡hours¡¡after¡¡noon£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡e¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Gates¡£¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡westering¡£
While¡¡Gimli¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡younger¡¡hobbits¡¡kindled¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡brush¡¡and¡¡fir¡¡wood£»¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡water£»¡¡Aragorn¡¡tended¡¡Sam¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡Sam's¡¡wound¡¡was¡¡not¡¡deep£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡ugly£»¡¡and¡¡Aragorn's¡¡face¡¡was¡¡grave¡¡as¡¡he¡¡examined¡¡it¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡with¡¡relief¡£
'Good¡¡luck£»¡¡Sam£¡¡¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'Many¡¡have¡¡received¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡this¡¡in¡¡payment¡¡for¡¡the¡¡slaying¡¡of¡¡their¡¡first¡¡orc¡£¡¡The¡¡cut¡¡is¡¡not¡¡poisoned£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡wounds¡¡of¡¡orcblades¡¡too¡¡often¡¡are¡£¡¡It¡¡should¡¡heal¡¡well¡¡when¡¡I¡¡have¡¡tended¡¡it¡£¡¡Bathe¡¡it¡¡when¡¡Gimli¡¡has¡¡heated¡¡water¡£'
He¡¡opened¡¡his¡¡pouch¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡out¡¡some¡¡withered¡¡leaves¡£¡¡'They¡¡are¡¡dry¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡their¡¡virtue¡¡has¡¡one£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡here¡¡I¡¡have¡¡still¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡of¡¡athelas¡¡that¡¡I¡¡gathered¡¡near¡¡Weathertop¡£¡¡Crush¡¡one¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡wash¡¡the¡¡wound¡¡clean£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡bind¡¡it¡£¡¡Now¡¡it¡¡is¡¡your¡¡turn¡£¡¡Frodo£¡¡¡'
'I¡¡am¡¡all¡¡right£»'¡¡said¡¡Frodo£»¡¡reluctant¡¡to¡¡have¡¡his¡¡garments¡¡touched¡£¡¡'AII¡¡I¡¡needed¡¡was¡¡some¡¡food¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡rest¡£'
'No£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'We¡¡must¡¡have¡¡a¡¡look¡¡and¡¡see¡¡what¡¡the¡¡hammer¡¡and¡¡the¡¡anvil¡¡have¡¡done¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡still¡¡marvel¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡alive¡¡at¡¡all¡£'¡¡Gently¡¡he¡¡stripped¡¡off¡¡Frodo's¡¡old¡¡jacket¡¡and¡¡worn¡¡tunic£»¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡gasp¡¡of¡¡wonder¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡laughed¡£¡¡The¡¡silver¡¡corslet¡¡shimmered¡¡before¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡like¡¡the¡¡light¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡rippling¡¡sea¡£¡¡Carefully¡¡he¡¡took¡¡it¡¡off¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gems¡¡on¡¡it¡¡glittered¡¡like¡¡stars¡£¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shaken¡¡rings¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡tinkle¡¡of¡¡rain¡¡in¡¡a¡¡pool¡£
'Look£»¡¡my¡¡friends£¡'¡¡he¡¡called¡£¡¡'Here's¡¡a¡¡pretty¡¡hobbitskin¡¡to¡¡wrap¡¡an¡¡elvenprinceling¡¡in£¡¡¡If¡¡it¡¡were¡¡known¡¡that¡¡hobbits¡¡had¡¡such¡¡hides£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡hunters¡¡of¡¡Middleearth¡¡would¡¡be¡¡riding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Shire¡£'
'And¡¡all¡¡the¡¡arrows¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡hunters¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world¡¡would¡¡be¡¡in¡¡vain£»'¡¡said¡¡Gimli£»¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mail¡¡in¡¡wonder¡£¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mithrilcoat¡£¡¡Mithril£¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡or¡¡heard¡¡tell¡¡of¡¡one¡¡so¡¡fair¡£¡¡Is¡¡this¡¡the¡¡coat¡¡that¡¡Gandalf¡¡spoke¡¡of£¿¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡undervalued¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡well¡¡given£¡¡¡'
'I¡¡have¡¡often¡¡wondered¡¡what¡¡you¡¡and¡¡Bilbo¡¡were¡¡doing£»¡¡so¡¡close¡¡in¡¡his¡¡little¡¡room£»'¡¡said¡¡Merry¡£¡¡'Bless¡¡the¡¡old¡¡hobbit£¡¡¡I¡¡love¡¡him¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ever¡£¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡we¡¡get¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡about¡¡it£¡¡¡'
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡and¡¡blackened¡¡bruise¡¡on¡¡Frodo's¡¡right¡¡side¡¡and¡¡breast¡£¡¡Under¡¡the¡¡mail¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shirt¡¡of¡¡soft¡¡leather£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡one¡¡point¡¡the¡¡rings¡¡had¡¡been¡¡driven¡¡through¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡flesh¡£¡¡Frodo's¡¡left¡¡side¡¡also¡¡was¡¡scored¡¡and¡¡bruised¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hurled¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡While¡¡the¡¡others¡¡set¡¡the¡¡food¡¡ready¡£¡¡Aragorn¡¡bathed¡¡the¡¡hurts¡¡with¡¡water¡¡in¡¡which¡¡athelas¡¡was¡¡steeped¡£¡¡The¡¡pungent¡¡fragrance¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡dell£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡those¡¡who¡¡stooped¡¡over¡¡the¡¡steaming¡¡water¡¡felt¡¡refreshed¡¡and¡¡strengthened¡£¡¡Soon¡¡Frodo¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡leave¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡breath¡¡grew¡¡easy£º¡¡though¡¡he¡¡was¡¡stiff¡¡and¡¡sore¡¡to¡¡the¡¡touch¡¡for¡¡many¡¡days¡£¡¡Aragorn¡¡bound¡¡some¡¡soft¡¡pads¡¡of¡¡cloth¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡£
'The¡¡mail¡¡is¡¡marvellously¡¡light£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'Put¡¡it¡¡on¡¡again£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡can¡¡bear¡¡it¡£¡¡My¡¡heart¡¡is¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡such¡¡a¡¡coat¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡lay¡¡it¡¡aside£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡sleep£»¡¡unless¡¡fortune¡¡brings¡¡you¡¡where¡¡you¡¡are¡¡safe¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡will¡¡seldom¡¡chance¡¡while¡¡your¡¡quest¡¡lasts¡£'
When¡¡they¡¡had¡¡eaten£»¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡got¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡go¡¡on¡£¡¡They¡¡put¡¡out¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡hid¡¡all¡¡traces¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Then¡¡climbing¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dell¡¡they¡¡took¡¡to¡¡the¡¡road¡¡again¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡not¡¡gone¡¡far¡¡before¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡sank¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡westward¡¡heights¡¡and¡¡great¡¡shadows¡¡crept¡¡down¡¡the¡¡mountainsides¡£¡¡Dusk¡¡veiled¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡mist¡¡rose¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hollows¡£¡¡Away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡east¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡light¡¡lay¡¡pale¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡lands¡¡of¡¡distant¡¡plain¡¡and¡¡wood¡£¡¡Sam¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡¡now¡¡feeling¡¡eased¡¡and¡¡greatly¡¡refreshed¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡go¡¡at¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡pace£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡only¡¡one¡¡brief¡¡halt¡¡Aragorn¡¡led¡¡the¡¡pany¡¡on¡¡for¡¡nearly¡¡three¡¡more¡¡hours¡£
It¡¡was¡¡dark¡£¡¡Deep¡¡night¡¡had¡¡fallen¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡many¡¡clear¡¡stars£»¡¡hut¡¡the¡¡fastwaning¡¡moon¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡till¡¡late¡£¡¡Gimli¡¡and¡¡Frodo¡¡were¡¡at¡¡the¡¡rear£»¡¡walking¡¡softly¡¡and¡¡not¡¡speaking£»¡¡listening¡¡for¡¡any¡¡sound¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡road¡¡behind¡£¡¡At¡¡length¡¡Gimli¡¡broke¡¡the¡¡silence¡£
'Not¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡but¡¡the¡¡wind£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'There¡¡are¡¡no¡¡goblins¡¡near£»¡¡or¡¡my¡¡ears¡¡are¡¡made¡¡of¡¡wood¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hoped¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Orcs¡¡will¡¡be¡¡content¡¡with¡¡driving¡¡us¡¡from¡¡Moria¡£¡¡And¡¡maybe¡¡that¡¡was¡¡all¡¡their¡¡purpose£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡nothing¡¡else¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡uswith¡¡the¡¡Ring¡£¡¡Though¡¡Orcs¡¡will¡¡often¡¡pursue¡¡foes¡¡for¡¡many¡¡leagues¡¡into¡¡the¡¡plain£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡have¡¡a¡¡fallen¡¡captain¡¡to¡¡avenge¡£'
Frodo¡¡did¡¡not¡¡answer¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Sting£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡was¡¡dull¡£¡¡Yet¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡something£»¡¡or¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡had¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡about¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡road¡¡behind¡¡was¡¡dim£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡again¡¡the¡¡quick¡¡patter¡¡of¡¡feet¡£¡¡Even¡¡now¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡swiftly¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡tiny¡¡gleams¡¡of¡¡light¡¡behind£»¡¡or¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡once¡¡they¡¡slipped¡¡aside¡¡and¡¡vanished¡£
'What¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¡'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡dwarf¡£
'I¡¡don't¡¡know¡£'¡¡answered¡¡Frodo¡£¡¡'I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡lightlike¡¡eyes¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡so¡¡often£»¡¡since¡¡we¡¡first¡¡entered¡¡Moria¡£'
Gimli¡¡halted¡¡and¡¡stooped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡'I¡¡hear¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡night¡¡speech¡¡of¡¡plant¡¡and¡¡stone£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'e£¡¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡hurry£¡¡¡The¡¡others¡¡are¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight¡£'
The¡¡nightwind¡¡blew¡¡chill¡¡up¡¡the¡¡valley¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡them¡£¡¡Before¡¡them¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡grey¡¡shadow¡¡loomed£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡an¡¡endless¡¡rustle¡¡of¡¡leaves¡¡like¡¡poplars¡¡in¡¡the¡¡breeze¡£
'Lothl¨®rien£¡¡¡'¡¡cried¡¡Legolas¡£¡¡'Lothl¨®rien£¡¡¡We¡¡have¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡eaves¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Golden¡¡Wood¡£¡¡Alas¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡winter£¡¡¡'
Under¡¡the¡¡night¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡stood¡¡tall¡¡before¡¡them£»¡¡arched¡¡over¡¡the¡¡road¡¡and¡¡stream¡¡that¡¡ran¡¡suddenly¡¡beneath¡¡their¡¡spreading¡¡boughs¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stars¡¡their¡¡stems¡¡were¡¡grey£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡quivering¡¡leaves¡¡a¡¡hint¡¡of¡¡fallow¡¡gold¡£
'Lothl¨®rien£¡¡¡'¡¡said¡¡Aragorn¡£¡¡'Glad¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡again¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trees£¡¡¡We¡¡are¡¡still¡¡little¡¡more¡¡than¡¡five¡¡leagues¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Gates£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡can¡¡go¡¡no¡¡further¡£¡¡Here¡¡let¡¡us¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡the¡¡virtue¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Elves¡¡will¡¡keep¡¡us¡¡tonight¡¡from¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡that¡¡es¡¡behind¡£'
'If¡¡Elves¡¡indeed¡¡still¡¡dwell¡¡here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkening¡¡world£»'¡¡said¡¡Gimli¡£
'It¡¡is¡¡long¡¡since¡¡any¡¡of¡¡my¡¡own¡¡folk¡¡journeyed¡¡hither¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡land¡¡whence¡¡we¡¡wandered¡¡in¡¡ages¡¡long¡¡ago£»'¡¡said¡¡Legolas£»¡¡'but¡¡we¡¡hear¡¡that¡¡L¨®rien¡¡is¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡deserted£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡power¡¡here¡¡that¡¡holds¡¡evil¡¡from¡¡the¡¡la