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Down in the lowest and most sheltered corner of the dell they lit a fire；
and prepared a meal。 The shades of evening began to fall； and it grew cold。
They were suddenly aware of great hunger； for they had not eaten anythingsince breakfast； but they dared not make more than a frugal supper。 The landsahead were empty of all save birds and beasts； unfriendly places deserted byall the races of the world。 Rangers passed at times beyond the hills； but theywere few and did not stay。 Other wanderers were rare； and of evil sort： trollsmight stray down at times out of the northern valleys of the Misty Mountains。
Only on the Road would travellers be found； most often dwarves； hurrying alongon business of their own； and with no help and few words to spare forstrangers。
'I don't see how our food can be made to last；' said Frodo。 'We have beencareful enough in the last few days； and this supper is no feast； but we haveused more than we ought； if we have two weeks still to go； and perhaps more。'
'There is food in the wild；' said Strider； 'berry； root； and herb； and Ihave some skill as a hunter at need。 You need not be afraid of starving beforewinter es。 But gathering and catching food is long and weary work； and weneed haste。 So tighten your belts； and think with hope of the tables ofElrond's house！'
The cold increased as darkness came on。 Peering out from the edge of thedell they could see nothing but a grey land now vanishing quickly into shadow。
The sky above had cleared again and was slowly filled with twinkling stars。
Frodo and his panions huddled round the fire； wrapped in every garment andblanket they possessed； but Strider was content with a single cloak； and sat alittle apart； drawing thoughtfully at his pipe。
As night fell and the light of the fire began to shine out brightly hebegan to tell them tales to keep their minds from fear。 He knew many historiesand legends of long ago； of Elves and Men and the good and evil deeds of theElder Days。 They wondered how old he was； and where he had learned all thislore。
'Tell us of Gil…galad；' said Merry suddenly； when he paused at the end ofa story of the Elf…Kingdoms。 'Do you know any more of that old lay that youspoke of？'
'I do indeed；' answered Strider。 'So also does Frodo； for it concerns usclosely。' Merry and Pippin looked at Frodo； who was staring into the fire。
'I know only the little that Gandalf has told me；' said Frodo slowly。
'Gil…galad was the last of the great Elf…kings of Middle…earth。 Gil…galad is_Starlight_ in their tongue。 With Elendil； the Elf…friend； he went to the landof–––'
'No！' said Strider interrupting； 'I do not think that tale should be toldnow with the servants of the Enemy at hand。 If we win through to the house ofElrond； you may hear it there； told in full。'
'Then tell us some other tale of the old days；' begged Sam； 'a tale aboutthe Elves before the fading time。 I would dearly like to hear more aboutElves； the dark seems to press round so close。'
'I will tell you the tale of Tinúviel；' said Strider； 'in brief – for itis a long tale of which the end is not known； and there are none now； exceptElrond； that remember it aright as it was told of old。 It is a fair tale；
though it is sad； as are all the tales of Middle…earth； and yet it may lift upyour hearts。' He was silent for some time； and then he began not to speak butto chant softly：
The leaves were long； the grass was green；
The hemlock…umbels tall and fair；
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering。
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen；
And light of stars was in her hair；
And in her raiment glimmering。
There Beren came from mountains cold；
And lost he wandered under leaves；
And where the Elven…river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing。
He peered between the hemlock…leaves
And saw in wander flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves；
And her hair like shadow following。
Enchantment healed his weary feet
That over hills were doomed to roam；
And forth he hastened； strong and fleet；
And grasped at moonbeams glistening。
Through woven woods in Elvenhome
She tightly fled on dancing feet；
And left him lonely still to roam
In the silent forest listening。
He heard there oft the flying sound
Of feet as light as linden…leaves；
Or music welling underground；
In hidden hollows quavering。
Now withered lay the hemlock…sheaves；
And one by one with sighing sound
Whispering fell the beechen leaves
In the wintry woodland wavering。
He sought her ever； wandering far
Where leaves of years were thickly strewn；
By light of moon and ray of star
In frosty heavens shivering。
Her mantle glinted in the moon；
As on a hill…top high and far
She danced； and at her feet was strewn
A mist of silver quivering。
When winter passed； she came again；
And her song released the sudden spring；
Like rising lark； and falling rain；
And melting water bubbling。
He saw the elven…flowers spring
About her feet； and healed again
He longed by her to dance and sing
Upon the grass untroubling。
Again she fled； but swift he came。
Tinúviel！ Tinúviel！
He called her by her elvish name；
And there she halted listening。
One moment stood she； and a spell
His voice laid on her： Beren came；
And doom fell on Tinúviel
That in his arms lay glistening。
As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair；
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering。
Tinúviel the elven…fair；
Immortal maiden elven…wise；
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering。
Long was the way that fate them bore；
O'er stony mountains cold and grey；
Through halls of iron and darkling door；
And woods of nightshade morrowless。
The Sundering Seas between them lay；
And yet at last they met once more；
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless。
Strider sighed and paused before he spoke again。 'That is a song；' hesaid； 'in the mode that is called _ann…thennath_ among the Elves； but is hardto render in our mon Speech； and this is but a rough echo of it。 It tellsof the meeting of Beren son of Barahir and Lúthien Tinúviel。 Beren was amortal man； but Lúthien was the daughter of Thingol； a King of Elves uponMiddle…earth when the world was young； and she was the fairest maiden that hasever been among all the children of this world。 As the stars above the mistsof the Northern lands was her loveliness； and in her face was a shining light。
In those days the Great Enemy； of whom Sauron of Mordor was but a servant；
dwelt in Angband in the North； and the Elves of the West ing back toMiddle…earth made war upon him to regain the Silmarils which he had stolen；
and the fathers of Men aided the Elves。 But the Enemy was victorious andBarahir was slain； and Beren escaping through great peril came over theMountains of Terror into the hidden Kingdom of Thingol in the forest ofNeldoreth。 There he beheld Lúthien singing and dancing in a glade beside theenchanted river Esgalduin； and he named her Tinúviel； that is Nightingale inthe language of old。 Many sorrows befell them afterwards； and they were partedlong。 Tinúviel rescued Beren from the dungeons of Sauron； and together theypassed through great dangers； and cast down even the Great Enemy from histhrone； and took from his iron crown one of the three Silmarils； brightest ofall jewels； to be the bride…price of Lúthien to Thingol her father。 Yet at thelast Beren was slain by the Wolf that came from the gates of Angband； and hedied in the arms of Tinúviel。 But she chose mortality； and to die from theworld； so that she might follow him； and it is sung that they met again beyondthe Sundering Seas； and after a brief time walking alive once more in thegreen woods； together they passed； long ago； beyond the confines of thisworld。 So it is that Lúthien Tinúviel alone of the Elf…kindred has died indeed
and left the world； and they have lost her whom they most loved。 But from herthe lineage of the Elf…lords of old descended among Men。 There live still
those of whom Lúthien was the foremother； and it is said that her line shallnever fail。 Elrond of Rivendell is