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To the east the outflung arm of the mountains marched to a sudden end； and far lands could be descried beyond them； wide and vague。 To the south the Misty Mountains receded endlessly as far as sight could reach。 Less than a mile away； and a little below them； for they still stood high up on the west side of the dale； there lay a mere。 It was long and oval； shaped like a great spearhead thrust deep into the northern glen； but its southern end was beyond the shadows under the sunlit sky。 Yet its waters were dark： a deep blue like clear evening sky seen from a lamplit room。 Its face was still and unruffled。 About it lay a smooth sward； shelving down on all sides to its bare unbroken rim。
'There lies the Mirrormere； deep Kheledzaram！ ' said Gimli sadly。 'I remember that he said： 〃May you have joy of the sight！ But we cannot linger there。〃 Now long shall I journey ere I have joy again。 It is I that must hasten away； and he that must remain。'
The pany now went down the road from the Gates。 It was rough and broken； fading to a winding track between heather and whin that thrust amid the cracking stones。 But still it could be seen that once long ago a great paved way had wound upwards from the lowlands of the Dwarfkingdom。 In places there were ruined works of stone beside the path； and mounds of green topped with slender birches； or firtrees sighing in the wind。 An eastward bend led them hard by the sward of Mirrormere； and there not far from the roadside stood a single column broken at the top。
'That is Durin's Stone！ ' cried Gimli。 'I cannot pass without turning aside for a moment to look at the wonder of the dale！ '
'Be swift then！ ' said Aragorn； looking back towards the Gates。 'The Sun sinks early。 The Orcs will not； maybe； e out till after dusk； but we must be far away before nightfall。 The Moon is almost spent； and it will be dark tonight。'
'e with me； Frodo！ ' cried the dwarf； springing from the road。 'I would not have you go without seeing Kheledzaram。' He ran down the long green slope。 Frodo followed slowly； drawn by the still blue water in spite of hurt and weariness； Sam came up behind。
Beside the standing stone Gimli halted and looked up。 It was cracked and weatherworn； and the faint runes upon its side could not be read。 'This pillar marks the spot where Durin first looked in the Mirrormere；' said the dwarf。 'Let us look ourselves once； ere we go！'
They stooped over the dark water。 At first they could see nothing。 Then slowly they saw the forms of the encircling mountains mirrored in a profound blue； and the peaks were like plumes of white flame above them； beyond there was a space of sky。 There like jewels sunk in the deep shone glinting stars； though sunlight was in the sky above。 Of their own stooping forms no shadow could be seen。
'O Kheledzaram fair and wonderful！ ' said Gimli。 'There lies the Crown of Durin till he wakes。 Farewell！ ' He bowed； and turned away； and hastened back up the greensward to the road again。
'What did you see？ ' said Pippin to Sam； but Sam was too deep in thought to answer。
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 Lothlórien！ ' 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： 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。
'Lothlórien！ ' cried Legolas。 'Lothlórien！ 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。
'Lothlórien！ ' 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 Lórien is not yet deserted； for there is a secret power here that h