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pointed away far up the side of Rivendell tothe north。
'You may have a chance later；' said Gandalf。 ‘But we cannot make anyplans yet。 There is much to hear and decide today。'
Suddenly as they were talking a single clear bell rang out。 ‘That is thewarning bell for the Council of Elrond；' cried Gandalf。 ‘e along now！ Bothyou and Bilbo are wanted。'
Frodo and Bilbo followed the wizard quickly along the winding path backto the house； behind them； uninvited and for the moment forgotten； trottedSam。
Gandalf led them to the porch where Frodo had found his friends theevening before。 The light of the clear autumn morning was now glowing in thevalley。 The noise of bubbling waters came up from the foaming river…bed。 Birdswere singing； and a wholesome peace lay on the land。 To Frodo his dangerousflight； and the rumours of the darkness growing in the world outside； alreadyseemed only the memories of a troubled dream； but the faces that were turnedto meet them as they entered were grave。
Elrond was there； and several others were seated in silence about him。
Frodo saw Glorfindel and Glóin； and in a corner alone Strider was sitting；
clad in his old travel…worn clothes again。 Elrond drew Frodo to a seat by hisside； and presented him to the pany； saying：
'Here； my friends is the hobbit； Frodo son of Drogo。 Few have ever ehither through greater peril or on an errand more urgent。'
He then pointed out and named those whom Frodo had not met before。 Therewas a younger dwarf at Glóin's side： his son Gimli。 Beside Glorfindel therewere several other counsellors of Elrond's household； of whom Erestor was thechief； and with him was Galdor； an Elf from the Grey Havens who had e on anerrand from Círdan the Shipwright。 There was also a strange Elf clad in greenand brown； Legolas； a messenger from his father； Thranduil； the King of theElves of Northern Mirkwood。 And seated a little apart was a tall man with afair and noble face； dark…haired and grey…eyed； proud and stern of glance。
He was cloaked and booted as if for a journey on horseback； and indeedthough his garments were rich； and his cloak was lined with fur； they werestained with long travel。 He had a collar of silver in which a single whitestone was set； his locks were shorn about his shoulders。 On a baldric he worea great horn tipped with silver that now was laid upon his knees。 He gazed atFrodo and Bilbo with sudden wonder。
‘Here；' said Elrond； turning to Gandalf； ‘is Boromir； a man from theSouth。 He arrived in the grey morning； and seeks for counsel。 I have biddenhim to be present； for here his questions will be answered。'
Not all that was spoken and debated in the Council need now be told。 Muchwas said of events in the world outside； especially in the South； and in thewide lands east of the Mountains。 Of these things Frodo had already heard manyrumours； but the tale of Glóin was new to him； and when the dwarf spoke helistened attentively。 It appeared that amid the splendour of their works ofhand the hearts of the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain were troubled。
‘It is now many years ago；' said Glóin； ‘that a shadow of disquiet fellupon our people。 Whence it came we did not at first perceive。 Words began tobe whispered in secret： it was said that we were hemmed in a narrow place； andthat greater wealth and splendour would be found in a wider world。 Some spokeof Moria： the mighty works of our fathers that are called in our own tongueKhazad…d。m； and they declared that now at last we had the power and numbers toreturn。'
Glóin sighed。 ‘Moria！ Moria！ Wonder of the Northern world！ Too deep wedelved there； and woke the nameless fear。 Long have its vast mansions lain
empty since the children of Durin fled。 But now we spoke of it again withlonging； and yet with dread； for no dwarf has dared to pass the doors ofKhazad…d。m for many lives of kings； save Thrór only； and he perished。 At last；
however； Balin listened to the whispers； and resolved to go； and though Dáindid not give leave willingly； he took with him Ori and óin and many of ourfolk； and they went away south。
〃That was nigh on thirty years ago。 For a while we had news and it seemedgood： messages reported that Moria had been entered and a great work begunthere。 Then there was silence； and no word has ever e from Moria since。
〃Then about a year ago a messenger came to Dáin； but not from Moria –
from Mordor： a horseman in the night； who called Dáin to his gate。 The LordSauron the Great； so he said； wished for our friendship。 Rings he would givefor it； such as he gave of old。 And he asked urgently concerning _hobbits_； ofwhat kind they were； and where they dwelt。 〃For Sauron knows；〃 said he； 〃thatone of these was known to you on a time。〃
'At this we were greatly troubled； and we gave no answer。 And then hisfell voice was lowered； and he would have sweetened it if he could。 〃As asmall token only of your friendship Sauron asks this；〃 he said： 〃that youshould find this thief；〃 such was his word； 〃and get from him； willing or no；
a little ring； the least of rings； that once he stole。 It is but a trifle thatSauron fancies； and an earnest of your good will。 Find it； and three ringsthat the Dwarf sires possessed of old shall be returned to you； and the realmof Moria shall be yours for ever。 Find only news of the thief； whether hestill lives and where； and you shall have great reward and lasting friendshipfrom the Lord。 Refuse； and things will not seem so well。 Do you refuse？〃
'At that his breath came like the hiss of snakes； and all who stood byshuddered； but Dáin said： 〃I say neither yea nor nay。 I must consider thismessage and what it means under its fair cloak。〃
' 〃Consider well； but not too long；〃 said he。
' 〃The time of my thought is my own to spend；〃 answered Dáin。
' 〃For the present；〃 said he； and rode into the darkness。
'Heavy have the hearts of our chieftains been since that night。 We needednot the fell voice of the messenger to warn us that his words held both menaceand deceit； for we knew already that the power that has re…entered Mordor hasnot changed； and ever it betrayed us of old。 Twice the messenger has returned；
and has gone unanswered。 The third and last time； so he says；