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andgroaning： ‘What a place！ What a horrible place！ Just let me get out of thisboat； and I'll never wet my toes in a puddle again； let alone a river！ '
‘Fear not！ ' said a strange voice behind him。 Frodo turned and sawStrider； and yet not Strider； for the weatherworn Ranger was no longer there。
In the stern sat Aragorn son of Arathorn； proud and erect； guiding the boatwith skilful strokes； his hood was cast back； and his dark hair was blowing inthe wind； a light was in his eyes： a king returning from exile to his ownland。
'Fear not！ ' he said。 ‘Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses ofIsildur and Anárion； my sires of old。 Under their shadow Elessar； the Elfstoneson of Arathorn of the House of Valandil Isildur's son heir of Elendil； hasnought to dread！ '
Then the light of his eyes faded； and he spoke to himself： ‘Would thatGandalf were here！ How my heart yearns for Minas Anor and the walls of my owncity！ But whither now shall I go？ '
The chasm was long and dark； and filled with the noise of wind andrushing water and echoing stone。 It bent somewhat towards the west so that atfirst all was dark ahead； but soon Frodo saw a tall gap of light before him；
ever growing。 Swiftly it drew near； and suddenly the boats shot through； outinto a wide clear light。
The sun； already long fallen from the noon； was shining in a windy sky。
The pent waters spread out into a long oval lake； pale Nen Hithoel； fenced bysteep grey hills whose sides were clad with trees； but their heads were bare；
cold…gleaming in the sunlight。 At the far southern end rose three peaks。 Themidmost stood somewhat forward from the others and sundered from them； anisland in the waters； about which the flowing River flung pale shimmeringarms。 Distant but deep there came up on the wind a roaring sound like the rollof thunder heard far away。
‘Behold Tol Brandir！ ' said Aragorn； pointing south to the tall peak。
'Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw； and upon the right is Amon Hen the Hills ofHearing and of Sight。 In the days of the great kings there were high seatsupon them； and watch was kept there。 But it is said that no foot of man orbeast has ever been set upon Tol Brandir。 Ere the shade of night falls weshall e to them。 I hear the endless voice of Rauros calling。'
The pany rested now for a while； drifting south on the current thatflowed through the middle of the lake。 They ate some food； and then they tookto their paddles and hastened on their way。 The sides of the westward hillsfell into shadow； and the Sun grew round and red。 Here and there a misty starpeered out。 The three peaks loomed before them； darkling in the twilight。
Rauros was roaring with a great voice。 Already night was laid on the flowingwaters when the travellers came at last under the shadow of the hills。
The tenth day of their journey was over。 Wilderland was behind them。 Theycould go no further without choice between the east…way and the west。 The laststage of the Quest was before them。
_Chapter 10_
The Breaking of the Fellowship
Aragorn led them to the right arm of the River。 Here upon its westernside under the shadow of Tol Brandir a green lawn ran down to the water fromthe feet of Amon Hen。 Behind it rose the first gentle slopes of the hill cladwith trees； and trees marched away westward along the curving shores of thelake。 A little spring fell tumbling down and fed the grass。
'Here we will rest tonight；' said Aragorn。 ‘This is the lawn of ParthGalen： a fair place in the summer days of old。 Let us hope that no evil hasyet e here。'
They drew up their boats on the green banks； and beside them they madetheir camp。 They set a watch； but had no sight nor sound of their enemies。 IfGollum had contrived to follow them； he remained unseen and unheard。
Nonetheless as the night wore on Aragorn grew uneasy； tossing often in hissleep and waking。 In the small hours he got up and came to Frodo； whose turnit was to watch。
‘Why are you waking？ ' asked Frodo。 ‘It is not your watch。'
‘I do not know；' answered Aragorn； ‘but a shadow and a threat has beengrowing in my sleep。 It would be well to draw your sword。'
‘Why？ ' said Frodo。 ‘Are enemies at hand？ '
‘Let us see what Sting may show；' answered Aragorn。
Frodo then drew the elf…blade from its sheath。 To his dismay the edgesgleamed dimly in the night。 ‘Orcs！ ' he said。 ‘Not very near； and yet toonear； it seems。'
‘I feared as much；' said Aragorn。 ‘But maybe they are not on this side ofthe River。 The light of Sting is faint； and it may point to no more than spiesof Mordor roaming on the slopes of Amon Lhaw。 I have never heard before ofOrcs upon Amon Hen。 Yet who knows what may happen in these evil days； now thatMinas Tirith no longer holds secure the passages of Anduin。 We must go warilytomorrow。'
The day came like fire and smoke。 Low in the East there were black barsof cloud like the fumes of a great burning。 The rising sun lit them frombeneath with flames of murky red； but soon it climbed above them into a clearsky。 The summit of Tol Brandir was tipped with gold。 Frodo looked out eastwardand gazed at the tall island。 Its sides sprang sheer out of the running water。
High up above the tall cliffs were steep slopes upon which trees climbed；
mounting one head above another； and above them again were grey faces ofinaccessible rock； crowned by a great spire of stone。 Many birds were circlingabout it； but no sign of other living things could be seen。
When they had eaten； Aragorn called the pany together。 ‘The day hase at last；' he said： 'the day of choice which we have long delayed。 Whatshall now bee of our pany that has travelled so far in fellowship？ Shallwe turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor； or turn east to theFear and Shadow； or shall we break our fellowship and go this way and that aseach may choose？ Whatever we do must be done soon。 We cannot long halt here。
The enemy is on the eastern shore； we know； but I fear that the Orcs mayalready be on this side of the water。'
There was a long silence in which no one spoke or moved。
'Well； Frodo；' said Aragorn at last。 ‘I fear that the burden is laid uponyou。 You are the Bearer appointed by the Council。 Your own way you alone canchoose。 In