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ot yet at rest。'
'I suppose not；' said Frodo。 'But so far my only thought has been to gethere； and I hope I shan't have to go any further。 It is very pleasant just torest。 I have had a month of exile and adventure； and I find that has been asmuch as I want。'
He fell silent and shut his eyes。 After a while he spoke again。 'I havebeen reckoning；' he said； ‘and I can't bring the total up to October thetwenty…fourth。 It ought to be the twenty…first。 We must have reached the Fordby the twentieth。'
'You have talked and reckoned more than is good for you；' said Gandalf。
‘How do the side and shoulder feel now？'
'I don't know。' Frodo answered。 'They don't feel at all： which is animprovement； but'…he made an effort…'I can move my arm again a little。 Yes； itis ing back to life。 It is not cold；' he added； touching his left hand withhis right。
‘Good！' said Gandalf。 ‘It is mending fast。 You will soon be sound again。
Elrond has cured you： he has tended you for days； ever since you were broughtin。'
'Days？' said Frodo。
‘Well； four nights and three days； to be exact。 The Elves brought youfrom this where you lost count。 We have been terribly anxious； and Sam hashardly left your side； day or night； except to run messages。 Elrond is amaster of healing； but the weapons of our Enemy are deadly。 To tell you thetruth； I had very little hope； for I suspected that there was some fragment ofthe blade still in the closed wound。 But it could not be found until last
night。 Then Elrond removed a splinter。 It was deeply buried。 and it wasworking inwards。'
Frodo shuddered； remembering the cruel knife with notched blade that hadvanished in Strider's hands。 ‘Don't be alarmed！' said Gandalf。 ‘It is gonenow。 It has been melted。 And it seems that Hobbits fade very reluctantly。 Ihave known strong warriors of the Big People who would quickly have beenovere by that splinter； which you bore for seventeen days。'
‘What would they have done to me？' asked Frodo。 ‘What were the Riderstrying to do？'
'They tried to pierce your heart with a Morgul…knife which remains in thewound。 If they had succeeded； you would have bee like they are； only weakerand under their mand。 You would have became a wraith under the dominion of
the Dark Lord； and he would have tormented you for trying to keep his Ring； ifany greater torment were possible than being robbed of it and seeing it on hishand。'
'Thank goodness I did not realize the horrible danger！' said Frodofaintly。 I was mortally afraid； of course； but if I had known more； I shouldnot have dared even to move。 It is a marvel that I escaped！'
'Yes； fortune or fate have helped you；' said Gandalf； ‘not to mentioncourage。 For your heart was not touched； and only your shoulder was pierced；
and that was because you resisted to the last。 But it was a terribly narrowshave； so to speak。 You were in gravest peril while you wore the Ring； forthen you were half in the wraith…world yourself； and they might have seizedyou。 You could see them； and they could see you。'
‘I know；' said Frodo。 ‘They were terrible to behold！ But why could we allsee their horses？'
‘Because they are real horses； just as the black robes are real robesthat they wear to give shape to their nothingness when they have dealings withthe living。'
‘Then why do these black horses endure such riders？ All other animals areterrified when they draw near； even the elf…horse of Glorfindel。 The dogs howland the geese scream at them。'
‘Because these horses are born and bred to the service of the Dark Lord
in Mordor。 Not all his servants and chattels are wraiths！ There are orcs and
trolls； there are wargs and werewolves； and there have been and still are manyMen； warriors and kings； that walk alive under the Sun； and yet are under hissway。 And their number is growing daily。'
‘What about Rivendell and the Elves？ Is Rivendell safe？'
‘Yes； at present； until all else is conquered。 The Elves may fear theDark Lord； and they may fly before him； but never again will they listen tohim or serve him。 And here in Rivendell there live still some of his chief
foes： the Elven…wise； lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas。 Theydo not fear the Ringwraiths； for those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realmlive at once in both worlds； and against both the Seen and the Unseen theyhave great power。'
'I thought that I saw a white figure that shone and did not grow dim like
the others。 Was that Glorfindel then？'
'Yes； you saw him for a moment as he is upon the other side： one of themighty of the Firstborn。 He is an Elf…lord of a house of princes。 Indeed thereis a power in Rivendell to withstand the might of Mordor； for a while： andelsewhere other powers still dwell。 There is power； too； of another kind inthe Shire。 But all such places will soon bee islands under siege； if thingsgo on as they are going。 The Dark Lord is putting forth all his strength。
‘Still；' he said； standing suddenly up and sticking out his chin。 whilehis beard went stiff and straight like bristling wire； ‘we must keep up ourcourage。 You will soon be well； if I do not talk you to death。 You are inRivendell； and you need not worry about anything for the present。'
'I haven't any courage to keep up；' said Frodo； ‘but I am not worried atthe moment。 Just give me news of my friends； and tell me the end of the affairat the Ford； as I keep on asking； and I shall be content for the present。
After that I shall have another sleep； I think； but I shan't be able to closemy eyes until you have finished the story for me。'
Gandalf moved his chair to the bedside； and took a good look at Frodo。
The colour had e back to his face； and his eyes were clear； and fully awakeand aware。 He was smiling； and there seemed to be little wrong with him。 Butto the wizard's eye there was a faint change just a hint as it were oftransparency； about him； and especially about the left hand that lay outsideupon the coverlet。
‘Still that must be expected；' said Gandalf to himself。 ‘He is not halfthrough yet； and to what he will e in the end not even Elrond can foretell。
Not to evil； I think。 He may bee like a glass filled with a clear light foreyes to see that can。'
‘You look splendid；' he sai