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to name a single strand of your hair； which surpasses the gold of the earth asthe stars surpass the gems of the mine。 I do not ask for such a gift。 But youmanded me to name my desire。'
The Elves stirred and murmured with astonishment； and Celeborn gazed atthe Dwarf in wonder； but the Lady smiled。 'It is said that the skill of theDwarves is in their hands rather than in their tongues ' she said； ‘yet thatis not true of Gimli。 For none have ever made to me a request so bold and yetso courteous。 And how shall I refuse； since I manded him to speak？ But tellme； what would you do with such a gift？ '
‘Treasure it； Lady；' he answered； ‘in memory of your words to me at ourfirst meeting。 And if ever I return to the smithies of my home； it shall beset in imperishable crystal to be an heirloom of my house； and a pledge ofgood will between the Mountain and the Wood until the end of days。'
Then the Lady unbraided one of her long tresses； and cut off three goldenhairs； and laid them in Gimli's hand。 ‘These words shall go with the gift；'
she said。 ‘I do not foretell； for all foretelling is now vain： on the one handlies darkness； and on the other only hope。 But if hope should not fail； then Isay to you； Gimli son of Glóin； that your hands shall flow with gold； and yetover you gold shall have no dominion。
‘And you； Ring…bearer；' she said； turning to Frodo。 ‘I e to you lastwho are not last in my thoughts。 For you I have prepared this。' She held up asmall crystal phial： it glittered as she moved it； and rays of white lightsprang from her hand。 'In this phial；' she said； ‘is caught the light ofE。rendil's star； set amid the waters of my fountain。 It will shine stillbrighter when night is about you。 May it be a light to you in dark places；
when all other lights go out。 Remember Galadriel and her Mirror！ '
Frodo took the phial； and for a moment as it shone between them； he sawher again standing like a queen； great and beautiful； but no longer terrible。
He bowed； but found no words to say。
Now the Lady arose； and Celeborn led them back to the hythe。 A yellownoon lay on the green land of the Tongue； and the water glittered with silver。
All at last was made ready。 The pany took their places in the boats asbefore。 Crying farewell； the Elves of Lórien with long grey poles thrust themout into the flowing stream； and the rippling waters bore them slowly away。
The travellers sat still without moving or speaking。 On the green bank near tothe very point of the Tongue the Lady Galadriel stood alone and silent。 As
they passed her they turned and their eyes watched her slowly floating awayfrom them。 For so it seemed to them： Lórien was slipping backward； like abright ship masted with enchanted trees； sailing on to forgotten shores； whilethey sat helpless upon the margin of the grey and leafless world。
Even as they gazed； the Silverlode passed out into the currents of theGreat River； and their boats turned and began to speed southwards。 Soon thewhite form of the Lady was small and distant。 She shone like a window of glassupon a far hill in the westering sun； or as a remote lake seen from amountain： a crystal fallen in the lap of the land。 Then it seemed to Frodothat she lifted her arms in a final farewell； and far but piercing…clear onthe following wind came the sound of her voice singing。 But now she sang inthe ancient tongue of the Elves beyond the Sea； and he did not understand thewords： fair was the music； but it did not fort him。
Yet as is the way of Elvish words； they remained graven in his memory；
and long afterwards he interpreted them； as well as he could： the language wasthat of Elven…song and spoke of things little known on Middle…earth。
Ai！ lauri。 lantar lassi súrinen；
Yéni únótim。 ve rámar aldaron！
Yéni ve lint。 yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse…miruvóreva
Andún。 pella； Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári…lírinen。
Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva？
An sí Tintall。 Varda Oioloss。o
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortan。
ar ily。 tier unduláv。 lumbul。；
ar sindanóriello caita morni。
i falmalinnar imb。 met； ar hísi。
untúpa Calaciryo míri oial。。
Si vanwa ná； Rómello vanwa； Valimar！
Namári。！ Nai hiruvaly。 Valimar。
Nai ely。 hiruva。 Namári。！
‘Ah！ like gold fall the leaves in the wind； long years numberless as thewings of trees！ The long years have passed like swift draughts of the sweetmead in lofty halls beyond the West； beneath the blue vaults of Varda whereinthe stars tremble in the song of her voice； holy and queenly。 Who now shallrefill the cup for me？ For now the Kindler； Varda； the Queen of the Stars；
from Mount Everwhite has uplifted her hands like clouds； and all paths aredrowned deep in shadow； and out of a grey country darkness lies on the foamingwaves between us； and mist covers the jewels of Calacirya for ever。 Now lost；
lost to those from the East is Valimar！ Farewell！ Maybe thou shalt findValimar。 Maybe even thou shalt find it。 Farewell！ ' Varda is the name of thatLady whom the Elves in these lands of exile name Elbereth。
Suddenly the River swept round a bend； and the banks rose upon eitherside； and the light of Lórien was hidden。 To that fair land Frodo never came
again。
The travellers now turned their faces to the journey； the sun was beforethem； and their eyes were dazzled； for all were filled with tears。 Gimli weptopenly。
‘I have looked the last upon that which was fairest；' he said to Legolashis panion。 ‘Henceforward I will call nothing fair； unless it be hergift。' He put his hand to his breast。
‘Tell me； Legolas； why did I e on this Quest？ Little did I know wherethe chief peril lay！ Truly Elrond spoke； saying that we could not foresee whatwe might meet upon our road。 Torment in the dark was the danger that I feared；
and it did not hold me back。 But I would not have e； had I known the dangerof light and joy。 Now I have taken my worst wound in this parting； even if Iwere to go this night straight to the Dark Lord。 Alas for Gimli son of Glóin！
'
‘Nay！ ' said Legolas。 ‘Alas for us all！ And for all that walk the worldin these after…days。 For such is the way of it： to find and lose； as it seemsto tho