jrt.fellowshipofring-第93节

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the　old　road　beside　the　river。　They　seemed　to　pick　up　some　scent；　and　they　searched　the　ground　for　a　while　near　the　place　where　you　halted。　The　three　of　us　could　not　challenge　a　hundred；　so　we　went　ahead　and　spoke　with　feigned　voices；　leading　them　on　into　the　wood。
　　　‘Orophin　has　now　gone　in　haste　back　to　our　dwellings　to　warn　our　people。　None　of　the　Orcs　will　ever　return　out　of　Lórien。　And　there　will　be　many　Elves　hidden　on　the　northern　border　before　another　night　falls。　But　you　must　take　the　road　south　as　soon　as　it　is　fully　light。'
　　　Day　came　pale　from　the　East。　As　the　light　grew　it　filtered　through　the　yellow　leaves　of　the　mallorn；　and　it　seemed　to　the　hobbits　that　the　early　sun　of　a　cool　summer's　morning　was　shining。　Pale…blue　sky　peeped　among　the　moving　branches。　Looking　through　an　opening　on　the　south　side　of　the　flet　Frodo　saw　all　the　valley　of　the　Silverlode　lying　like　a　sea　of　fallow　gold　tossing　gently　in　the　breeze。
　　　The　morning　was　still　young　and　cold　when　the　pany　set　out　again；　guided　now　by　Haldir　and　his　brother　Rúmil。　‘Farewell；　sweet　Nimrodel！　'　cried　Legolas。　Frodo　looked　back　and　caught　a　gleam　of　white　foam　among　the　grey　tree…stems。　‘Farewell；'　he　said。　It　seemed　to　him　that　he　would　never　hear　again　a　running　water　so　beautiful；　for　ever　blending　its　innumerable　notes　in　an　endless　changeful　music。
　　　They　went　back　to　the　path　that　still　went　on　along　the　west　side　of　the　Silverlode；　and　for　some　way　they　followed　it　southward。　There　were　the　prints　of　orc…feet　in　the　earth。　But　soon　Haldir　turned　aside　into　the　trees　and　halted　on　the　bank　of　the　river　under　their　shadows。
　　　‘There　is　one　of　my　people　yonder　across　the　stream；'　he　said　‘though　you　may　not　see　him。'　He　gave　a　call　like　the　low　whistle　of　a　bird；　and　out　of　a　thicket　of　young　trees　an　Elf　stepped；　clad　in　grey；　but　with　his　hood　thrown　back；　his　hair　glinted　like　gold　in　the　morning　sun。　Haldir　skilfully　cast　over　the　stream　a　coil　of　grey　rope；　and　he　caught　it　and　bound　the　end　about　a　tree　near　the　bank。
　　　‘Celebrant　is　already　a　strong　stream　here；　as　you　see；'　said　Haldir　'and　it　runs　both　swift　and　deep；　and　is　very　cold。　We　do　not　set　foot　in　it　so　far　north；　unless　we　must。　But　in　these　days　of　watchfulness　we　do　not　make　bridges。　This　is　how　we　cross！　Follow　me！'　He　made　his　end　of　the　rope　fast　about　another　tree；　and　then　ran　lightly　along　it；　over　the　river　and　back　again；　as　if　he　were　on　a　road。
　　　‘I　can　walk　this　path；'　said　Legolas；　‘but　the　others　have　not　this　skill。　Must　they　swim？'
　　　‘No！'　said　Haldir。　‘We　have　two　more　ropes。　We　will　fasten　them　above　the　other；　one　shoulder…high；　and　another　half…high；　and　holding　these　the　strangers　should　be　able　to　cross　with　care。'
　　　When　this　slender　bridge　had　been　made；　the　pany　passed　over；　some　cautiously　and　slowly；　others　more　easily。　Of　the　hobbits　Pippin　proved　the　best　for　he　was　sure…footed；　and　he　walked　over　quickly；　holding　only　with　one　hand；　but　he　kept　his　eyes　on　the　bank　ahead　and　did　not　look　down。　Sam　shuffled　along；　clutching　hard；　and　looking　down　into　the　pale　eddying　water　as　if　it　was　a　chasm　in　the　mountains。
　　　He　breathed　with　relief　when　he　was　safely　across。　‘Live　and　learn！　as　my　gaffer　used　to　say。　Though　he　was　thinking　of　gardening；　not　of　roosting　like　a　bird；　nor　of　trying　to　walk　like　a　spider。　Not　even　my　uncle　Andy　ever　did　a　trick　like　that！　'
　　　When　at　length　all　the　pany　was　gathered　on　the　east　bank　of　the　Silverlode；　the　Elves　untied　the　ropes　and　coiled　two　of　them。　Rúmil；　who　had　remained　on　the　other　side；　drew　back　the　last　one；　slung　it　on　his　shoulder；　and　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　went　away；　back　to　Nimrodel　to　keep　watch。
　　　‘Now；　friends；'　said　Haldir；　‘you　have　entered　the　Naith　of　Lórien　or　the　Gore；　as　you　would　say；　for　it　is　the　land　that　lies　like　a　spear…head　between　the　arms　of　Silverlode　and　Anduin　the　Great。　We　allow　no　strangers　to　spy　out　the　secrets　of　the　Naith。　Few　indeed　are　permitted　even　to　set　foot　there。
　　　‘As　was　agreed；　I　shall　here　blindfold　the　eyes　of　Gimli　the　Dwarf。　The　other　may　walk　free　for　a　while；　until　we　e　nearer　to　our　dwellings；　down　in　Egladil；　in　the　Angle　between　the　waters。'
　　　This　was　not　at　all　to　the　liking　of　Gimli。　‘The　agreement　was　made　without　my　consent；'　he　said。　‘I　will　not　walk　blindfold；　like　a　beggar　or　a　prisoner。　And　I　am　no　spy。　My　folk　have　never　had　dealings　with　any　of　the　servants　of　the　Enemy。　Neither　have　we　done　harm　to　the　Elves。　I　am　no　more　likely　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　you　set　foot　over　Celebrant。'
　　　Gimli　was　obstinate。　He　planted　his　feet　firmly　apart；　and　laid　his　hand　upon　the　haft　of　his　axe。　'I　will　go　forward　free；'　he　said；　'or　I　will　go　back　and　seek　my　own　land；　where　I　am　known　to　be　true　of　word；　though　I　perish　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；　to　hold　you　or　to　give　you　leave；　as　they　will。　You　cannot　cross　the　rivers　again；　and　behind　you　there　are　now　secret　sentinels　that　you　cannot　pass。　You　would　be　slain　before　you　saw　them。'
　　　Gimli　drew　his　axe　from　his　belt。　Haldir　and　his　panion　bent　their　bows。　'A　plague　on　Dwarves　and　their　stiff　necks！　'　said　Legolas。
　　　'e！'　said　Aragorn。　‘If　I　am　still　to　lead　this　pany；　you　must　do　as　I　bid。　It　is　hard　upon　the　Dwarf　to　be　thus　singled　out。　We　will　all　be　blindfold；　even　Legolas。　That　will　be　best；　though　it　will　make　the　journey　slow　and　dull。'
　　　Gimli　laughed　suddenly。　‘A　merry　troop　of　fools　we　shall　look！　Will　Haldir　lead　us　all　on　a　string；　like　many　blind　beggars　with　one　dog？　But　I　will　be　content；　if　only　Legolas　here　shares　my　blindness。'
　　　‘I　am　an　Elf　and　a　kinsman　here；'　said　Legolas；　being　angry　in　his　turn。
　　　‘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　not　lead　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　the　paths　are　smooth　and　straight。'
　　　‘Alas　for　the　folly　of　these　days！　'　said　Legolas。　'Here　all　are　enemies　of　the　one　Enemy；　and　yet　I　must　walk　blind；　while　the　sun　is　merry　in　the　woodland　under　leaves　of　gold！　'
　　　‘Folly　it　may　seem；'　said　Haldir。　'Indeed　in　nothing　is　the　power　of　the　Dark　Lord　more　clearly　shown　than　in　the　estrangement　that　divides　all　those　who　still　oppose　him。　Yet　so　little　faith　and　trust　do　we　find　now　in　the　world　beyond　Lothlórien；　unless　maybe　in　Rivendell；　that　we　dare　not　by　our　own　trust　endanger　our　land。　We　live　now　upon　an　island　amid　many　perils；　and　our　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　the　Shadow　has　crept　northward　all　about　us。　Some　speak　of　departing；　yet　for　that　it　already　seems　too　late。　The　mountains　to　the　west　are　growing　evil；　to　the　east　the　lands　are　waste；　and　full　of　Sauron's　creatures；　and　it　is　rumoured　that　we　cannot　now　safely　pass　southward　through　Rohan；　and　the　mouths　of　the　Great　River　are　watched　by　the　Enemy。　Even　if　we　could　e　to　the　shores　of　the　Sea；　we　should　find　no　longer　any　shelter　there。　It　is　said　that　there　are　still　havens　of。　the　High　Elves；　but　they　are　far　north　and　west；　beyond　the　land　of　the　Halflings。　But　where　that　may　be；　though　the　Lord　and　Lady　may　know；　I　do　not。'
　　　‘You　ought　at　least　to　guess；　since　you　have　seen　us；'　said　Merry。　‘There　are　Elf…havens　west　of　my　land；　the　Shire　where　Hobbits　live。'
　　　‘Happy　folk　are　Hobbits　to　dwell　near　the　shores　of　the　sea！　'　said　Haldir。　'It　is　long　indeed　since　any　of　my　folk　have　looked　on　it；　yet　still　we　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　of　my　own　land　before。　And　if　I　had　known　what　the　world　outside　was　like。　I　don'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　much　that　is　fair；　and　though　in　all　lands　love　is　now　mingled　with　grief；　it　grows　perhaps　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　ever　again　be　as　it　was　of　old；　or　the　light　of　the　Sun　as　it　was　aforetime。　For　the　Elves；　I　fear；　it　will　prove　at　best　a　truce；　in　which　they　may　pass　to　the　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　if　there　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　beneath　their　feet　smooth　and　soft；　and　after　a　while　they　walked　more　freely；　without　fear　o