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For a while the hobbits continued to talk and think of the past journeyand of the perils that lay ahead； but such was the virtue of the land ofRivendell that soon all fear and anxiety was lifted from their minds。 Thefuture； good or ill； was not forgotten； but ceased to have any power over thepresent。 Health and hope grew strong in them； and they were content with eachgood day as it came； taking pleasure in every meal； and in every word andsong。
So the days slipped away； as each morning dawned bright and fair； andeach evening followed cool and clear。 But autumn was waning fast； slowly thegolden light faded to pale silver； and the lingering leaves fell from thenaked trees。 A wind began to blow chill from the Misty Mountains to the east。
The Hunter's Moon waxed round in the night sky； and put to flight all thelesser stars。 But low in the South one star shone red。 Every night； as theMoon waned again； it shone brighter and brighter。 Frodo could see it from hiswindow； deep in the heavens burning like a watchful eye that glared above thetrees on the brink of the valley。
The hobbits had been nearly two months in the House of Elrond； andNovember had gone by with the last shreds of autumn； and December was passing；
when the scouts began to return。 Some had gone north beyond the springs of theHoarwell into the Ettenmoors； and others had gone west； and with the help ofAragorn and the Rangers had searched the lands far down the Greyflood； as faras Tharbad； where the old North Road crossed the river by a ruined town。 Manyhad gone east and south； and some of these had crossed the Mountains andentered Mirkwood； while others had climbed the pass at the source of theGladden River； and had e down into Wilderland and over the Gladden Fieldsand so at length had reached the old home of Radagast at Rhosgobel。 Radagastwas not there； and they had returned over the high pass that was called the
Dimrill Stair。 The sons of Elrond； Elladan and Elrohir； were the last toreturn； they had made a great journey； passing down the Silverlode into astrange country； but of their errand they would not speak to any save toElrond。
In no region had the messengers discovered any signs or tidings of theRiders or other servants of the Enemy。 Even from the Eagles of the MistyMountains they had learned no fresh news。 Nothing had been seen or heard ofGollum； but the wild wolves were still gathering； and were hunting again farup the Great River。 Three of the black horses had been found at once drownedin the flooded Ford。 On the rocks of the rapids below it searchers discoveredthe bodies of five more； and also a long black cloak； slashed and tattered。 Ofthe Black Riders no other trace was to be seen； and nowhere was their presenceto be felt。 It seemed that they had vanished from the North。
'Eight out of the Nine are accounted for at least；' said Gandalf。 'It isrash to be too sure； yet I think that we may hope now that the Ringwraithswere scattered； and have been obliged to return as best they could to theirMaster in Mordor； empty and shapeless。
‘If that is so； it will be some time before they can begin the huntagain。 Of course the Enemy has other servants； but they will have to journeyall the way to the borders of Rivendell before they can pick up our trail。 Andif we are careful that will be hard to find。 But we must delay no longer。'
Elrond summoned the hobbits to him。 He looked gravely at Frodo。 'The timehas e；' he said。 ‘If the Ring is to set out； it must go soon。 But those whogo with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force。 Theymust pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid。 Do you still hold to yourword； Frodo； that you will be the Ring…bearer？'
'I do；' said Frodo。 ‘I will go with Sam。'
‘Then I cannot help you much； not even with counsel；' said Elrond。 ‘I canforesee very little of your road； and how your task is to be achieved I do notknow。 The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains； and draws nigheven to the borders of Greyflood； and under the Shadow all is dark to me。 Youwill meet many foes； some open； and some disguised； and you may find friendsupon your way when you least look for it。 I will send out messages； such as Ican contrive； to those whom I know in the wide world； but so perilous are thelands now bee that some may well miscarry； or e no quicker than youyourself。
‘And I will choose you panions to go with you； as far as they will orfortune allows。 The number must be few； since your hope is in speed andsecrecy。 Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days； it would availlittle； save to arouse the power of Mordor。
‘The pany of the Ring shall be Nine； and the Nine Walkers shall be setagainst the Nine Riders that are evil。 With you and your faithful servant；
Gandalf will go； for this shall be his great task； and maybe the end of hislabours。
‘For the rest； they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World：
Elves； Dwarves； and Men。 Legolas shall be for the Elves； and Gimli son ofGlóin for the Dwarves。 They are willing to go at least to the passes of theMountains； and maybe beyond。 For men you shall have Aragorn son of Arathorn；
for the Ring of Isildur concerns him closely。'
‘Strider！' said Frodo。
'Yes；' he said with a smile。 ‘I ask leave once again to be yourpanion； Frodo。'
‘I would have begged you to e；' said Frodo； 'only I thought you weregoing to Minas Tirith with Boromir。'
‘I am；' said Aragorn。 ‘And the Sword…that…was…Broken shall be reforgedere I set out to war。 But your road and our road lie together for manyhundreds of miles。 Therefore Boromir will also be in the pany。 He is avaliant man。'
'There remain two more to be found；' said Elrond。 〃These I will consider。
Of my household I may find some that it seems good to me to send。'
‘But that will leave no place for us！' cried Pippin in dismay。 ‘We don'twant to be left behind。 We want to go with Frodo。'
‘That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what liesahead；' said Elrond。
‘Neither does Frodo；' said Gandalf； unexpectedly supporting Pippin。 'Nordo any of us see clearly。 It is true that if these hobbits understood thedanger； they would not dare to go。 But they would still wish to go； or wishthat they dared； and be shamed and unhappy。 I think； Elrond； that in thismatter it would be well to trust rather to their friendship than to greatwisdom。 Even if you chose for us an elf…lord； such as Glorfindel； he could notstorm the Dark Tower； nor open the road to the Fire by the power that is inhim。'
‘You speak gravely；' said Elrond； ‘but I am in doubt。 The Shire； Iforebode； is not free now from peril； and these two I had thought to send backthere as messengers； to do what they could； according to the fashion of theircountry； to warn the people of their danger。 In any case； I judge that theyounger of these two； Peregrin Took； should remain。 My heart is against hisgoing。'
‘Then； Master Elrond； you will have to lock me in prison； or send me hometied in a sack；' said Pippin。 ‘For otherwise I shall follow the pany。'
‘Let it be so then。 You shall go；' said Elrond； and he sighed。 'Now thetale of Nine is filled。 In seven days the pany must depart。'
The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths； and on its bladewas traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayedSun； and about them was written many runes； for Aragorn son of Arathorn wasgoing to war upon the marches of Mordor。 Very bright was that sword when itwas made whole again； the light of the sun shone redly in it； and the light ofthe moon shone cold； and its edge was hard and keen。 And Aragorn gave it a newname and called it Andúril； Flame of the West。
Aragorn and Gandalf walked together or sat speaking of their road and theperils they would meet； and they pondered the storied and figured maps andbooks of lore that were in the house of Elrond。 Sometimes Frodo was with them；
but he was content to lean on their guidance； and he spent as much time as hecould with Bilbo。
In those last days the hobbits sat together in the evening in the Hall ofFire； and there among many tales they heard told in full the lay of Beren andLúthien and the winning of the Great Jewel； but in the day； while Merry andPippin were out and