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All that day the pany marched on； until they felt the cool eveninge and heard the early night…wind whispering among many leaves。 Then theyrested and slept without fear upon the ground； for their guides would notpermit them to unbind their eyes； and they could not climb。 In the morningthey went on again； walking without haste。 At noon they halted； and Frodo wasaware that they had passed out under the shining Sun。 Suddenly he heard thesound of many voices all around him。
A marching host of Elves had e up silently： they were hastening towardthe northern borders to guard against any attack from Moria； and they broughtnews； some of which Haldir reported。 The marauding orcs had been waylaid andalmost all destroyed； the remnant had fled westward towards the mountains； andwere being pursued。 A strange creature also had been seen； running with bentback and with hands near the ground； like a beast and yet not of beast…shape。
It had eluded capture； and they had not shot it； not knowing whether it wasgood or ill； and it had vanished down the Silverlode southward。
‘Also；' said Haldir； ‘they bring me a message from the Lord and Lady ofthe Galadhrim。 You are all to walk free； even the dwarf Gimli。 It seems thatthe Lady knows who and what is each member of your pany。 New messages havee from Rivendell perhaps。'
He removed the bandage first from Gimli's eyes。 'Your pardon！ ' he said；
bowing low。 ‘Look on us now with friendly eyes！ Look and be glad； for you arethe first dwarf to behold the trees of the Naith of Lórien since Durin's Day！
'
When his eyes were in turn uncovered； Frodo looked up and caught hisbreath。 They were standing in an open space。 To the left stood a great mound；
covered with a sward of grass as green as Spring…time in the Elder Days。 Uponit； as a double crown； grew two circles of trees： the outer had bark of snowywhite； and were leafless but beautiful in their shapely nakedness； the innerwere mallorn…trees of great height； still arrayed in pale gold。 High amid thebranches of a towering tree that stood in the centre of all there gleamed awhite flet。 At the feet of the trees； and all about the green hillsides thegrass was studded with small golden flowers shaped like stars。 Among them；
nodding on slender stalks； were other flowers； white and palest green： theyglimmered as a mist amid the rich hue of the grass。 Over all the sky was blue；
and the sun of afternoon glowed upon the hill and cast long green shadowsbeneath the trees。
'Behold！ You are e to Cerin Amroth；' said Haldir。 ‘For this is the
heart of the ancient realm as it was long ago； and here is the mound ofAmroth； where in happier days his high house was built。 Here ever bloom thewinter flowers in the unfading grass： the yellow _elanor_； and the pale_niphredil_。 Here we will stay awhile； and e to the city of the Galadhrimat dusk。'
The others cast themselves down upon the fragrant grass； but Frodo stoodawhile still lost in wonder。 It seemed to him that he had stepped through ahigh window that looked on a vanished world。 A light was upon it for which hislanguage had no name。 All that he saw was shapely； but the shapes seemed atonce clear cut； as if they had been first conceived and drawn at theuncovering of his eyes； and ancient as if they had endured for ever。 He saw nocolour but those he knew； gold and white and blue and green； but they werefresh and poignant； as if he had at that moment first perceived them and madefor them names new and wonderful。 In winter here no heart could mourn for
summer or for spring。 No blemish or sickness or deformity could be seen inanything that grew upon the earth。 On the land of Lórien there was no stain。
He turned and saw that Sam was now standing beside him； looking roundwith a puzzled expression； and rubbing his eyes as if he was not sure that hewas awake。 ‘It's sunlight and bright day； right enough；' he said。 ‘I thoughtthat Elves were all for moon and stars： but this is more elvish than anythingI ever heard tell of。 I feel as if I was _inside_ a song。 if you take mymeaning。'
Haldir looked at them； and he seemed indeed to take the meaning of boththought and word。 He smiled。 ‘You feel the power of the Lady of theGaladhrim；' he said。 ‘Would it please you to climb with me up Cerin Amroth？ '
They followed him as he stepped lightly up the grass…clad slopes。 Thoughhe walked and breathed； and about him living leaves and flowers were stirredby the same cool wind as fanned his face； Frodo felt that he was in a timelessland that did not fade or change or fall into forgetfulness。 When he had goneand passed again into the outer world； still Frodo the wanderer from the Shirewould walk there； upon the grass among _elanor_ and _niphredil_ in fairLothlórien。
They entered the circle of white trees。 As they did so the South Windblew upon Cerin Amroth and sighed among the branches。 Frodo stood still；
hearing far off_ great seas upon beaches that had long ago been washed away；
and sea…birds crying whose race had perished from the earth。
Haldir had gone on and was now climbing to the high flet。 As Frodoprepared to follow him； he laid his hand upon the tree beside the ladder：
never before had he been so suddenly and so keenly aware of the feel andtexture of a tree's skin and of the life within it。 He felt a delight in woodand the touch of it； neither as forester nor as carpenter； it was the delightof the living tree itself。
As he stepped out at last upon the lofty platform； Haldir took his handand turned him toward the South。 ‘Look this way first！ ' he said。
Frodo looked and saw； still at some distance； a hill of many mightytrees； or a city of green towers： which it was he could not tell。 Out of it；
it seemed to him that the power and light came that held all the land in sway。
He longed suddenly to fly like a bird to rest in the green city。 Then helooked eastward and saw all the land of Lórien running down to the pale gleamof Anduin； the Great River。 He lifted his eyes across the river and all thelight went out； and he was back again in the world he knew。 Beyond the riverthe land appeared flat and empty； formless and vague； until far away it roseagain like a wall； dark and drear。 The sun that la