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et deserted； for there is a secret power here that holds evil from the land。 Nevertheless its folk are seldom seen； and maybe they dwell now deep in the woods and far from the northern border。'
'Indeed deep in the wood they dwell；' said Aragorn； and sighed as if some memory stirred in him。 'We must fend for ourselves tonight。 We will go forward a short way； until the trees are all about us； and then we will turn aside from the path and seek a place to rest in。'
He stepped forward； but Boromir stood irresolute and did not follow。 'Is there no other way？ ' he said。
'What other fairer way would you desire？ ' said Aragorn。
'A plain road； though it led through a hedge of swords；' said Boromir。 'By strange paths has this pany been led； and so far to evil fortune。 Against my will we passed under the shades of Moria； to our loss。 And now we must enter the Golden Wood； you say。 But of that perilous land we have heard in Gondor； and it is said that few e out who once go in； and of that few none have escaped unscathed。'
'Say not unscathed； but if you say unchanged； then maybe you will speak the truth said Aragorn。 But lore wanes in Gondor； Boromir； if in the city of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien。 Believe what you will； there is no other way for us 。 unless you would go back to Moriagate； or scale the pathless mountains； or swim the Great River all alone。'
'Then lead on！ ' said Boromir。 'But it is perilous。'
'Perilous indeed；' said Aragorn； 'fair and perilous； but only evil need fear it； or those who bring some evil with them。 Follow me！ '
They had gone little more than a mile into the forest when they came upon another stream flowing down swiftly from the treeclad slopes that climbed back westward towards the mountains。 They heard it splashing over a fall away among the shadows on their right。 Its dark hurrying waters ran across the path before them； and joined the Silverlode in a swirl of dim pools among the roots of trees。
'Here is Nimrodel！ ' said Legolas。 'Of this stream the Silvan Elves made many songs long ago； and still we sing them in the North； remembering the rainbow on its falls； and the golden flowers that floated in its foam。 All is dark now and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down。 I will bathe my feet； for it is said that the water is healing to the weary。' He went forward and climbed down the deepcloven bank and stepped into the stream。
'Follow me！' he cried。 'The water is not deep。 Let us wade across！ On the further bank we can rest。 and the sound of the falling water may bring us sleep and fetfulness of grief。'
One by one they climbed down and followed Legolas。 For a moment Frodo stood near the brink and let the water flow over his tired feet。 It was cold but its touch was clean； and as he went on and it mounted to his knees； he felt that the stain of travel and all weariness was washed from his limbs。
When all the pany had crossed； they sat and rested and ate a little food； and Legolas told them tales of Lothlórien that the Elves of Mirkwood still kept in their hearts； of sunlight and starlight upon the meadows by the Great River before the world was grey。
At length a silence fell； and they heard the music of the waterfall running sweetly in the shadows。 Almost Frodo fancied that he could hear a voice singing； mingled with the sound of the water。
'Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel？ ' asked Legolas。 'I will sing you a song of the maiden Nimrodel； who bore the same name as the stream beside which she lived lung ago。 It is a fair song in our woodland tongue； but this is how it runs in the Westron Speech； as some in Rivendell now sing it。' In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began：
An Elvenmaid there was of old；
A shining star by day：
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold；
Her shoes of silvergrey。
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 lindentree。
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 elvenship in haven grey
Beneath the mountainlee
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 elvenstrands
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 Elvenking；
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 Elvenfolk have heard
Of Amroth evermore。
The voice of Legolas faltered； and the song ceased。 'I cannot sing any more；' he said。 'That is but a part； for I have fotten much。 It is long and sad； for it tells how sorrow came upon Lothlórien； Lórien of the Blossom； when the 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 the Elves of Nimrodel's kindred left their dwellings and departed and she was lost far in the South； in the passes of the White Mountains； and she came not to the ship where Amroth her lover waited for her。 But in the spring when the wind is in the new leaves the echo of her voice may still be heard by the falls 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 Elves call Celebrant； and Celebrant into Anduin the Great。 and Anduin flows into the Bay of Belfalas whence the Elves of Lórien set sail。 But neither Nimrodel nor Amroth 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 dwell in the trees； and maybe it is so still。 Therefore they were called the Galadhrim； the Treepeople。 Deep in their forest the trees are very great。 The people 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 thought safer than sitting on the ground；' said Gimli。 He looked across the stream to the road that led back to Dimrill Dale； and then up into the roof of dark boughs above。
'Your words bring good counsel； Gimli；' said Aragorn。 'We cannot build a house； but tonight we will do as the Galadhrim and seek refuge in the tree tops； if we can。 We have sat here beside the road already longer than was wise。'
The pany now turned aside from the path； and went into the shadow of the deeper woods； westward along the mountainstream away from Silverlode。 Not far from the falls of Nimrodel they found a cluster of trees； some of which overhung the stream。 Their great grey trunks were of mighty girth； but their height could not be guessed。
'I will climb up；' said Legolas。 'I am at home among trees； by root or bough； 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 I have never climbed in one。 I will see now what is their shape and way of growth。'
'Whatever it may be；' said Pippin； 'they will be marvellous trees indeed if they can offer any rest at night； except to birds。 I cannot sleep on a perch！ '
'Then dig a hole in the ground；' said Legolas； 'if that is more after the fashion of your kind。 But you must dig swift and deep； if you wish to hide from Orcs。' He sprang lightly up from the ground and caught a branch that grew from the trunk high above his head。 But even as he swung there for a moment； a voice spoke suddenly from the treeshadows above him。
'Daro！' it said in manding tone； and Legolas dropped back to earth in 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 another clear voice spoke in an elventongue。 Frodo could understand little of what was said； for the speech that the Silvan folk east of the mountains used among themselves was unlike that of the West。 Legolas looked up and answered in the same 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 so loud that they could shoot you in the dark。' Sam hastily put his hand over his mouth。 'But they say also that you need have no fear。 They h