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the dim lands of distant plain and wood。 Sam and Frodo now feelingeased 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 thefast…waning moon would not be seen till late。 Gimli and Frodo were at therear； walking softly and not speaking； listening for any sound upon the roadbehind。 At length Gimli broke the silence。
'Not a sound but the wind；' he said。 ‘There are no goblins near； or myears are made of wood。 It is to be hoped that the Orcs will be content withdriving us from Moria。 And maybe that was all their purpose； and they hadnothing else to do with us…with the Ring。 Though Orcs will often pursue foesfor 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 hehad heard something； or thought he had。 As soon as the shadows had fallenabout them and the road behind was dim； he had heard again the quick patter offeet。 Even now he heard it。 He turned swiftly。 There were two tiny gleams oflight behind； or for a moment he thought he saw them； but at once they slippedaside and vanished。
‘What is it？ ' said the dwarf。
‘I don't know。' answered Frodo。 'I thought I heard feet； and I thought Isaw a light…like 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 outof sight。'
The night…wind blew chill up the valley to meet them。 Before them a widegrey shadow loomed； and they heard an endless rustle of leaves like poplars inthe breeze。
‘Lothlórien！ ' cried Legolas。 'Lothlórien！ We have e to the eaves ofthe Golden Wood。 Alas that it is winter！ '
Under the night the trees stood tall before them； arched over the roadand stream that ran suddenly beneath their spreading boughs。 In the dim lightof the stars their stems were grey； and their quivering leaves a hint offallow gold。
'Lothlórien！ ' said Aragorn。 'Glad I am to hear again the wind in thetrees！ We are still little more than five leagues from the Gates； but we cango no further。 Here let us hope that the virtue of the Elves will keep ustonight 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 landwhence we wandered in ages long ago；' said Legolas； 'but we hear that Lórienis not yet deserted； for there is a secret power here that holds evil from theland。 Nevertheless its folk are seldom seen； and maybe they dwell now deep inthe woods and far from the northern border。'
'Indeed deep in the wood they dwell；' said Aragorn； and sighed as if somememory stirred in him。 ‘We must fend for ourselves tonight。 We will go forwarda short way； until the trees are all about us； and then we will turn asidefrom the path and seek a place to rest in。'
He stepped forward； but Boromir stood irresolute and did not follow。 'Isthere 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 wemust enter the Golden Wood； you say。 But of that perilous land we have heardin Gondor； and it is said that few e out who once go in； and of that fewnone have escaped unscathed。'
‘Say not _unscathed_； but if you say _unchanged_； then maybe you willspeak the truth said Aragorn。 But lore wanes in Gondor； Boromir； if in thecity of those who once were wise they now speak evil of Lothlórien。 Believewhat you will； there is no other way for us – unless you would go back toMoria…gate； or scale the pathless mountains； or swim the Great River allalone。'
‘Then lead on！ ' said Boromir。 ‘But it is perilous。'
‘Perilous indeed；' said Aragorn； 'fair and perilous； but only evil needfear 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 uponanother stream flowing down swiftly from the tree…clad slopes that climbedback westward towards the mountains。 They heard it splashing over a fall awayamong the shadows on their right。 Its dark hurrying waters ran across the pathbefore them； and joined the Silverlode in a swirl of dim pools among the rootsof trees。
‘Here is Nimrodel！ ' said Legolas。 'Of this stream the Silvan Elves mademany songs long ago； and still we sing them in the North； remembering therainbow on its falls； and the golden flowers that floated in its foam。 All isdark now and the Bridge of Nimrodel is broken down。 I will bathe my feet； forit is said that the water is healing to the weary。' He went forward andclimbed down the deep…cloven bank and stepped into the stream。
‘Follow me！' he cried。 'The water is not deep。 Let us wade across！ On thefurther bank we can rest。 and the sound of the falling water may bring ussleep and forgetfulness of grief。'
One by one they climbed down and followed Legolas。 For a moment Frodostood 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； hefelt 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 littlefood； and Legolas told them tales of Lothlórien that the Elves of Mirkwoodstill kept in their hearts； of sunlight and starlight upon the meadows by theGreat River before the world was grey。
At length a silence fell； and they heard the music of the waterfallrunning sweetly in the shadows。 Almost Frodo fancied that he could hear avoice singing； mingled with the sound of the water。
‘Do you hear the voice of Nimrodel？ ' asked Legolas。 'I will sing you asong of the maiden Nimrodel； who bore the same name as the stream beside whichshe lived lung ago。 It is a fair song in our woodland tongue； but this is howit runs in the Westron Speech； as some in Rivend