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in Elder Days； in years of yore。
gut on him mighty doom was laid；
till Moon should fade； an orbéd star
to pass； and tarry never more
on Hither Shores where mortals are；
for ever still a herald on
an errand that should never rest
to bear his shining lamp afar；
the Flammifer of Westernesse。
The chanting ceased。 Frodo opened his eyes and saw that Bilbo was seatedon his stool in a circle of listeners； who were smiling and applauding。
‘Now we had better have it again；' said an Elf。
Bilbo got up and bowed。 ‘I am flattered； Lindir；' he said。 'But it wouldbe too tiring to repeat it all。'
'Not too tiring for you；' the Elves answered laughing。 'You know you arenever tired of reciting your own verses。 But really we cannot answer yourquestion at one hearing！'
‘What！' cried Bilbo。 'You can't tell which parts were mine； and whichwere the Dúnadan's？'
'It is not easy for us to tell the difference between two mortals' saidthe Elf。
'Nonsense； Lindir；' snorted Bilbo。 'If you can't distinguish between aMan and a Hobbit； your judgement is poorer than I imagined。 They're asdifferent as peas and apples。'
'Maybe。 To sheep other sheep no doubt appear different；' laughed Lindir。
‘Or to shepherds。 But Mortals have not been our study。 We have otherbusiness。'
'I won't argue with you；' said Bilbo。 'I am sleepy after so much musicand singing。 I'll leave you to guess； if you want to。'
He got up and came towards Frodo。 'Well； that's over；' he said in a lowvoice。 ‘It went off better than I expected。 I don't often get asked for asecond hearing。 What did you think of it？'
‘I am not going to try and guess；' said Frodo smiling。
‘You needn't；' said Bilbo。 ‘As a matter of fact it was all mine。 Exceptthat Aragorn insisted on my putting in a green stone。 He seemed to think itimportant。 I don't know why。 Otherwise he obviously thought the whole thingrather above my head； and he said that if I had the cheek to make verses aboutE。rendil in the house of Elrond； it was my affair。 I suppose he was right。'
'I don't know；' said Frodo。 ‘It seemed to me to fit somehow； though Ican't explain。 I was half asleep when you began； and it seemed to follow onfrom something that I was dreaming about。 I didn't understand that it wasreally you speaking until near the end。'
‘It _is_ difficult to keep awake here； until you get used to it；' saidBilbo。 'Not that hobbits would ever acquire quite the elvish appetite formusic and poetry and tales。 They seem to like them as much as food； or more。
They will be going on for a long time yet。 What do you say to slipping off forsome more quiet talk？'
‘Can we？' said Frodo。
‘Of course。 This is merrymaking not business。 e and go as you like； as
long as you don't make a noise。'
They got up and withdrew quietly into the shadows； and made for thedoors。 Sam they left behind； fast asleep still with a smile on his face。 Inspite of his delight in Bilbo's pany Frodo felt a tug of regret as theypassed out of the Hall of Fire。 Even as they stepped over the threshold asingle clear voice rose in song。
A Elbereth Gilthoniel；
silivren penna míriel
o menel aglar elenath！
Na…chaered palan…díriel
o galadhremmin ennorath；
Fanuilos； le linnathon
nef aear； sí nef aearon！
Frodo halted for a moment； looking back。 Elrond was in his chair and thefire was on his face like summer…light upon the trees。 Near him sat the LadyArwen。 To his surprise Frodo saw that Aragorn stood beside her； his dark cloakwas thrown back； and he seemed to be clad in elven…mail； and a star shone onhis breast。 They spoke together； and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo thatArwen turned towards him； and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar andpierced his heart。
He stood still enchanted； while the sweet syllables of the elvish songfell like clear jewels of blended word and melody。 ‘It is a song toElbereth；' said Bilbo。 ‘They will sing that； and other songs of the BlessedRealm； many times tonight。 e on！'
He led Frodo back to his own little room。 It opened on to the gar densand looked south across the ravine of the Bruinen。 There they sat for somewhile； looking through the window at the bright stars above the steep…climbingwoods； and talking softly。 They spoke no more of the small news of the Shirefar away； nor of the dark shadows and perils that enpassed them； but of thefair things they had seen in the world together； of the Elves； of the stars；
of trees； and the gentle fall of the bright year in the woods。
At last there came a knock on the door。 ‘Begging your pardon；' said Sam；
putting in his head； ‘but I was just wondering if you would be wantinganything。'
‘And begging yours； Sam Gamgee；' replied Bilbo。 ‘I guess you mean that itis time your master went to bed。'
‘Well； sir； there is a Council early tomorrow； I hear and he only got uptoday for the first time。'
‘Quite right； Sam；' laughed Bilbo。 ‘You can trot off and tell Gandalfthat he has gone to bed。 Good night； Frodo！ Bless me； but it has been good tosee you again！ There are no folk like hobbits after all for a real good talk。
I am getting very old； and I began to wonder if I should ever live to see yourchapters of our story。 Good night！ I'll take a walk； I think； and look at thestars of Elbereth in the garden。 Sleep well！'
_Chapter 2_
The Council of Elrond
Next day Frodo woke early； feeling refreshed and well。 He walked alongthe terraces above the loud…flowing Bruinen and watched the pale； cool sunrise above the far mountains； and shine down。 Slanting through the thin silvermist； the dew upon the yellow leaves was glimmering； and the woven nets ofgossamer twinkled on every bush。 Sam walked beside him； saying nothing。 butsniffing the air； and looking every now and again with wonder in his eyes atthe great heights in the East。 The snow was white upon their peaks。
On a seat cut in the stone beside a turn in the path they came uponGandalf and Bilbo deep in talk。 ‘Hullo！ Good morning！' said Bilbo。 ‘Feel readyfor the great council？'
‘I feel ready for anything；' answered Frodo。 ‘But most of all I shouldlike to go walking today and explore the valley。 I should like to get intothose pine…woods up there。' He pointed away far up the sid