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d 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 Ring…bearer？'
'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 Sword…that…was…Broken shall be reforged 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 elf…lord； 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 forged 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 about them was written many runes； for Aragorn son of Arathorn was going to war upon the marches of Mordor。 Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again； the light of the sun shone redly in it； and the light of the moon shone cold； and its edge was hard and keen。 And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril； Flame of the West。
Aragorn and Gandalf walked together or sat speaking of their road and the perils they would meet； and they pondered the storied and figured maps and books of lore that were in the house of Elrond。 Sometimes Frodo was with them； but he was content to lean on their guidance； and he spent as much time as he could with Bilbo。
In those last days the hobbits sat together in the evening in the Hall of Fire； and there among many tales they heard told in full the lay of Beren and Lúthien and the winning of the Great Jewel； but in the day； while Merry and Pippin were out and about； Frodo and Sam were to be found with Bilbo in his own small room。 Then Bilbo would read passages from his book （which still seemed very inplete）。 or scraps of his verses； or would take notes of Frodo's adventures。
On the morning of the last day Frodo was alone with Bilbo； and the old hobbit pulled out from under his bed a wooden box。 He lifted the lid and fumbled inside。
'Here is your sword；' he said。 'But it was broken； you know。 I took it to keep it safe but I've forgotten to ask if the smiths could mend it。 No time now。。 So I thought； perhaps； you would care to have this； don't you know？'
He took from the box a small sword in an old shabby leathern scabbard。 Then he drew it； and its polished and well…tended blade glittered suddenly； cold and bright。 'This is Sting；' he said； and thrust it with little effort deep into a wooden beam。 ‘Take it； if you like。 I shan't want it again； I expect。'
Frodo accepted it gratefully。
'Also there is this！' said Bilbo； bringing out a parcel which seemed to be rather heavy for its size。 He unwound several folds of old cloth； and held up a small shirt of mail。 It was close…woven of many rings； as supple almost as linen； cold as ice； and harder than steel。 It shone like moonlit silver； and was studded with white gems。 With it was a belt of pearl and crystal。
'It's a pretty thing； isn't it？' said Bilbo； moving it in the light。 ‘And useful。 It is my dwarf…mail that Thorin gave me。 I got it back from Michel Delving before I started； and packed it with my luggage： I brought all the mementoes of my Journey away with me； except the Ring。 But I did not expect to use this； and I don't need it now； except to look at sometimes。 You hardly feel any weight when you put it on。'
‘I should look … well； I don't think I should look right in it；' said Frodo。
‘Just what I said myself；' said Bilbo。 'But never mind about looks。 You can wear it under your outer clothes。 e on！ You must share this secret with me。 Don't tell anybody else！ But I should feel happier if I knew you were wearing it。 I have a fancy it would turn even the knives of the Black Riders；' he ended in a low voice。
‘Very well； I will take it；' said Frodo。 Bilbo put it on him； and fastened Sting upon the glittering belt； and then Frodo put over the top his old weather…stained breeches； tunic； and jacket。
'Just a plain hobbit you look；' said Bilbo。 'But there is more about you now than appears on the surface。 Good luck to you！' He turned away and looked out of the window； trying to hum a tune。
'I cannot thank you as I should； Bilbo； for this； and for all our past kindnesses；' said Frodo。
'Don't try！' said the old hobbit； turning round and slapping him on the back。 ‘Ow！' he cried。 ‘You are too hard now to slap！ But there you are： Hobbits must stick together； and especially Bagginses。 All I ask in return is： take as much care of yourself as you can。 and bring back all the news you can； and any old songs and tales you can e by。 I'll do my best to finish my book before you return。 I should like to write the second book； if I am spared。' He broke off and turned to the window again； singing softly。
I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen；
of meadow…flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been；
Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were；
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair。
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter es without a spring
that I shall ever see。
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen：
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green。
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago；
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know。
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before；
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door。
It was a cold grey day near the end of December。 The East Wind was streaming through the bare branches of the trees； and seething in the dark pines on the hills。 Ragged clouds were hurrying overhead； dark and low。 As the cheerless shadows of the early evening began to fall the pany made ready to set out。 They were to start at dusk； for Elrond counselled them to journey under cover of night as often as they could； until they were far from Rivendell。
‘You should fear the many eyes of the servants of Sauron；' he said。 'I do not doubt that news of the disfiture of the Riders has already reached him； and he will be filled with wrath。 Soon now his spies on foot and wing will be abroad in the northern lands。 Even of the sky above you must beware as you go on your way。'
The pany took little gear of war； for their hope was in secrecy not in battle。 Aragorn had Andúril but no other weapon； and he went forth clad only in rusty green and brown。 as a Ranger of the wilderness。 Boromir had a long sword； in fashion like Andúril but of less lineage and he bore also a shield and his war…horn。
'Loud and clear it sounds in the valleys of the hills；' he said； ‘and then let all the foes of Gondor flee！' Putting it to his lips he blew a blast； and the echoes leapt from rock to rock； and all that heard that voice in Rivendell sprang to their feet。
Slow should you be to wind that horn again； Boromir； said Elrond。 'until you stand once more on the borders of your land； and dire need is on you。'
‘Maybe；' said Boromir。 'But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth； and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows； I will not go forth as a thief in the night。'
Gimli the dwarf alone wore openly a short shirt of steel…rings； for dwarves make light of burdens； and in his belt was a broad…bladed axe。 Legolas had a bow and a quiver； and