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‘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 Tree…people。 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 mountain…stream 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 tree…shadows 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 elven…tongue。 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 have been aware of us for a long while。 They heard my voice across the Nimrodel； and knew that I was one of their Northern kindred； and therefore they did not hinder our crossing； and afterwards they heard my song。 Now they bid me climb up with Frodo； for they seem to have had some tidings of him and of our journey。 The others they ask to wait a little and to keep watch at the foot of the tree； until they have decided what is to be done。'
Out of the shadows a ladder was let down： it was made of rope； silver…grey and glimmering in the dark； and though it looked slender it proved strong enough to bear many men。 Legolas ran lightly up； and Frodo followed slowly； behind came Sam trying not to breathe loudly。 The branches of the mallorn…tree grew out nearly straight from the trunk； and then swept upward； but near the top the main stem divided into a crown of many boughs； and among these they found that there had been built a wooden platform； or flet as such things were called in those days： the Elves called it a talan。 It was reached by a round hole in the centre through which the ladder passed。
When Frodo came at last up on to the flet he found Legolas seated with three other Elves。 They were clad in shadowy…grey； and could not be seen among the tree…stems； unless they moved suddenly。 They stood up； and one of them uncovered a small lamp that gave out a slender silver beam。 He held it up； looking at Frodo's face； and Sam's。 Then he shut off the light again； and spoke words of wele in his elven…tongue。 Frodo spoke haltingly in return。
‘Wele！' the Elf then said again in the mon Language； speaking slowly。 'We seldom use any tongue but our own； for we dwell now in the heart of the forest； and do not willingly have dealings with any other folk。 Even our own kindred in the North are sundered from us。 But there are some of us still who go abroad for the gathering of news and the watching of our enemies； and they speak the languages of other lands。 I am one。 Haldir is my name。 My brothers； Rúmil and Orophin； speak little of your tongue。
‘But we have heard rumours of your ing； for the messengers of Elrond passed by Lórien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair。 We had not heard of hobbits； or halflings； for many a long year； and did not know that any yet dwelt in Middle…earth。 You do not look evil！ And since you e with an Elf of our kindred； we are willing to befriend you； as Elrond asked； though it is not our custom to lead strangers through our land。 But you must stay here tonight。 How many are you？ '
‘Eight；' said Legolas。 ‘Myself； four hobbits； and two men； one of whom； Aragorn； is an Elf…friend of the folk of Westernesse。'
‘The name of Aragorn son of Arathorn is known in Lórien；' said Haldir； ‘and he has the favour of the Lady。 All then is well。 But you have yet spoken only of seven。'
‘The eighth is a dwarf；' said Legolas。
‘A dwarf！ ' said Haldir。 ‘That is not well。 We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days。 They are not permitted in our land。 I cannot allow him to pass。'
‘But he is from the Lonely Mountain； one of Dáin's trusty people； and friendly to Elrond；' said Frodo。 ‘Elrond himself chose him to be one of our panions； and he has been brave and faithful。'
The Elves spoke together in soft voices； and questioned Legolas in their own tongue。 'Very good；' said Haldir at last。 ‘We will do this； though it is against our liking。 If Aragorn and Legolas will guard him； and answer for him； he shall pass； but he must go blindfold through Lothlórien。
‘But now we must debate no longer。 Your folk must not remain on the ground。 We have been keeping watch on the rivers； ever since we saw a great troop of Orcs going north toward Moria； along the skirts of the mountains； many days ago。 Wolves are howling on the wood's borders。 If you have indeed e from Moria； the peril cannot be far behind。 Tomorrow early you must go on。
'The four hobbits shall climb up here and stay with us…we do not fear them！ There is another talan in the next tree。 There the others must take refuge。 You； Legolas； must answer to us for them。 Call us； if anything is amiss！ And have an eye on that dwarf！'
Legolas at once went down the ladder to take Haldir's message； and soon afterwards Merry and Pippin clambered up on to the high flet。 They were out of breath and seemed rather scared。
‘There！' said Merry panting。 ‘We have lugged up your blankets as well as our own。 Strider has hidden all the rest of the baggage in a deep drift of leaves。'
‘You had no need of your burdens；' said Haldir。 ‘It is cold in the tree…tops in winter； though the wind tonight is in the South； but we have food and drink to give you that will drive away the night…chill； and we have skins and cloaks to spare。'
The hobbits accepted this second （and far better） supper very gladly。 Then they wrapped themselves warmly； not only in the fur…cloaks of the Elves； but in their own blankets as well； and tried to go to sleep。 But weary as they were only Sam found that easy to do。 Hobbits do not like heights； and do not sleep upstairs； even when they have any stairs。 The flet was not at all to their liking as a bedroom。 It had no walls。 not even a rail； only on one side was there a light plaited screen； which could be moved and fixed in different places according to the wind。
Pippin went on talking for a while。 ‘I hope； if I do go to sleep in this bed…loft； that I shan't roll off；' he said。
‘Once I do get to sleep；' said Sam； 'i shall go on sleeping； whether I roll off or no。 And the less said； the sooner I'll drop off； if you take my meaning。'
Frodo lay for some time awake； and looked up at the stars glinting through the pale roof of quivering leaves。 Sam was snoring at his side long before he himself closed his eyes。 He could dimly see the grey forms of two elves sitting motionless with their arms about their knees； speaking in whispers。 The other had gone down to take up his watch on one of the lower branches。 At last lulled by the wind in the boughs above； and the sweet murmur of the falls of Nimrodel below； Frodo fell asleep with the song of Legolas running in his mind。
Late in the night he awoke。 The other hobbits were asleep。 The Elves were gone。 The sickle Moon was gleaming dimly among the leaves。 The wind was still。 A little way off he heard a harsh laugh and the tread of many feet on the ground below。 There was a ring of metal。 The sounds died slowly away； and seemed to go southward； on into the wood。
A head appeared suddenly through the hole in the flet。 Frodo sat up in alarm and saw that it was a grey…hooded Elf。 He looked towards the hobbits。
‘What is it？ ' said Frodo。
‘Yrch！' said the Elf in a hissing whisper； and cast on to the flet the rope…ladder rolled up。
'Orcs！ ' said Frodo。 ‘What are they doing？ ' But the Elf had gone。
There were no more sounds。 Even the leaves were silent； and the very falls seemed to be hushed。 Frodo sat and shivered in his wraps。 He was thankful that they had not been caught on the ground； but he felt that the trees offered little protection； except concealment。 Orcs were as keen as hounds on a scent； it was said； but they could also climb。 He drew out Sting： it flashed and glittered like a blue flame and then slowly faded again and grew dull。 In spite of the fading of his sword the feeling of immediate danger did not leave Frodo； rather it grew stronger。 He got up and crawled to the opening and peered down。 He was almost certain that he could hear stealthy movements at the tree's foot far below。
Not Elves； for the woodland folk were altogether noiseless in their movements。 Then he heard faintly a sound like sniffing： and something seemed to be scrabbling on the bark of the tree…trunk。 He stared down into the dark； holding his breath。
Something was now climbing slowly； and its breath came like a soft hissing through closed teeth。 Then ing up； close to the stem； Frodo saw two pale eyes。 They stopped and gazed upward unwinking。 Suddenly they turned away； and a shadowy figure slipped round the trunk of the tree and vanished。
Immediately afterwards Haldir came climbing swiftly up through the branches。 ‘There was something in this tree that I have never seen before；' he said。 ‘It was not an orc。 It fled as soon as I touched the tree…stem。 It seemed to be wary； and to have some skill in trees； or I might have thought that it was one of you hobbits。
'I did not shoot； for I dared not arouse any cries： we cannot risk battle。 A strong pany of Orcs has passed。 They crossed the Nimrodel…curse their foul feet in its clean water！…and went on down the old road