jrt.fellowshipofring-第68部分

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a　few　stunted　trees。　There　they　hastily　kindled　fire；　for　Glorfindel　knew　that　a　flood　would　e　down；　if　the　Riders　tried　to　cross；　and　then　he　would　have　to　deal　with　any　that　were　left　on　his　side　of　the　river。　The　moment　the　flood　appeared；　he　rushed　out；　followed　by　Aragorn　and　the。　others　with　flaming　brands。　Caught　between　fire　and　water；　and　seeing　an　Elf…lord　revealed　in　his　wrath；　they　were　dismayed；　and　their　horses　were　stricken　with　madness。　Three　were　carried　away　by　the　first　assault　of　the　flood；　the　others　were　now　hurled　into　the　water　by　their　horses　and　overwhelmed。'
　　　'And　is　that　the　end　of　the　Black　Riders？'　asked　Frodo。
　　　'No；'　said　Gandalf。　'Their　horses　must　have　perished；　and　without　them　they　are　crippled。　But　the　Ringwraiths　themselves　cannot　be　so　easily　destroyed。　However；　there　is　nothing　more　to　fear　from　them　at　present。　Your　friends　crossed　after　the　flood　had　passed；　and　they　found　you　lying　on　your　face　at　the　top　of　the　bank；　with　a　broken　sword　under　you。　The　horse　was　standing　guard　beside　you。　You　were　pale　and　cold；　and　they　feared　that　you　were　dead；　or　worse。　Elrond's　folk　met　them；　carrying　you　slowly　towards　Rivendell。'
　　　‘Who　made　the　flood？'　asked　Frodo。
　　　'Elrond　manded　it；'　answered　Gandalf。　‘The　river　of　this　valley　is　under　his　power；　and　it　will　rise　in　anger　when　he　has　great　need　to　bar　the　Ford。　As　soon　as　the　captain　of　the　Ringwraiths　rode　into　the　water　the　flood　was　released。　If　I　may　say　so；　I　added　a　few　touches　of　my　own：　you　may　not　have　noticed；　but　some　of　the　waves　took　the　form　of　great　white　horses　with　shining　white　riders；　and　there　were　many　rolling　and　grinding　boulders。　For　a　moment　I　was　afraid　that　we　had　let　loose　too　fierce　a　wrath；　and　the　flood　would　get　out　of　hand　and　wash　you　all　away。　There　is　great　vigour　in　the　waters　that　e　down　from　the　snows　of　the　Misty　Mountains。'
　　　‘Yes；　it　all　es　back　to　me　now；'　said　Frodo：　'the　tremendous　roaring。　I　thought　I　was　drowning；　with　my　friends　and　enemies　and　all。　But　now　we　are　safe！'
　　　Gandalf　looked　quickly　at　Frodo；　but　he　had　shut　his　eyes。　'Yes；　you　are　all　safe　for　the　present。　Soon　there　will　be　feasting　and　merrymaking　to　celebrate　the　victory　at　the　Ford　of　Bruinen；　and　you　will　all　be　there　in　places　of　honour。'
　　　'Splendid！'　said　Frodo。　‘It　is　wonderful　that　Elrond；　and　Glorfindel　and　such　great　lords；　not　to　mention　Strider；　should　take　so　much　trouble　and　show　me　so　much　kindness。'
　　　‘Well；　there　are　many　reasons　why　they　should；'　said　Gandalf；　smiling。　‘I　am　one　good　reason。　The　Ring　is　another：　you　are　the　Ring…bearer。　And　you　are　the　heir　of　Bilbo；　the　Ring…finder。'
　　　‘Dear　Bilbo！'　said　Frodo　sleepily。　‘I　wonder　where　he　is。　I　wish　he　was　here　and　could　hear　all　about　it。　It　would　have　made　him　laugh；　The　cow　jumped　over　the　Moon！　And　the　poor　old　troll！'　With　that　he　fell　fast　asleep。
　　　Frodo　was　now　safe　in　the　Last　Homely　House　east　of　the　Sea。　That　house　was；　as　Bilbo　had　long　ago　reported；　‘a　perfect　house；　whether　you　like　food　or　sleep；　or　story…telling　or　singing；　or　just　sitting　and　thinking　best；　or　a　pleasant　mixture　of　them　all'。　Merely　to　be　there　was　a　cure　for　weariness；　fear；　and　sadness。
　　　As　the　evening　drew　on；　Frodo　woke　up　again；　and　he　found　that　he　no　longer　felt　in　need　of　rest　or　sleep；　but　had　a　mind　for　food　and　drink；　and　probably　for　singing　and　story…telling　afterwards。　He　got　out　of　bed　and　discovered　that　his　arm　was　already　nearly　as　useful　again　as　it　ever　had　been。　He　found　laid　ready　clean　garments　of　green　cloth　that　fitted　him　excellently。　Looking　in　a　mirror　he　was　startled　to　see　a　much　thinner　reflection　of　himself　than　he　remembered：　it　looked　remarkably　like　the　young　nephew　of　Bilbo　who　used　to　go　tramping　with　his　uncle　in　the　Shire；　but　the　eyes　looked　out　at　him　thoughtfully。
　　　‘Yes；　you　have　seen　a　thing　or　two　since　you　last　peeped　out　of　a　looking…glass；'　he　said　to　his　reflection。　'But　now　for　a　merry　meeting！'
　　　He　stretched　out　his　arms　and　whistled　a　tune。
　　　At　that　moment　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door；　and　Sam　came　in。　He　ran　to　Frodo　and　took　his　left　hand；　awkwardly　and　shyly。　He　stroked　it　gently　and　then　he　blushed　and　turned　hastily　away。
　　　‘Hullo；　Sam！'　said　Frodo。
　　　‘It's　warm！'　said　Sam。　‘Meaning　your　hand；　Mr。　Frodo。　It　has　felt　so　cold　through　the　long　nights。　But　glory　and　trumpets！'　he　cried；　turning　round　again　with　shining　eyes　and　dancing　on　the　floor。　'It's　fine　to　see　you　up　and　yourself　again；　sir！　Gandalf　asked　me　to　e　and　see　if　you　were　ready　to　e　down；　and　I　thought　he　was　joking。'
　　　'I　am　ready；'　said　Frodo。　'Let's　go　and　look　for　the　rest　of　the　party！'
　　　‘I　can　take　you　to　them；　sir；'　said　Sam。　‘It's　a　big　house　this；　and　very　peculiar。　Always　a　bit　more　to　discover；　and　no　knowing　what　you'll　find　round　a　corner。　And　Elves；　sir！　Elves　here；　and　Elves　there！　Some　like　kings；　terrible　and　splendid；　and　some　as　merry　as　children。　And　the　music　and　the　singing…not　that　I　have　had　the　time　or　the　heart　for　much　listening　since　we　got　here。　But　I'm　getting　to　know　some　of　the　ways　of　the　place。'
　　　'I　know　what　you　have　been　doing；　Sam；'　said　Frodo；　taking　his　arm。　'But　you　shall　be　merry　tonight；　and　listen　to　your　heart's　content。　e　on；　guide　me　round　the　corners！'
　　　Sam　led　him　along　several　passages　and　down　many　steps　and　out　into　a　high　garden　above　the　steep　bank　of　the　river。　He　found　his　friends　sitting　in　a　porch　on　the　side　of　the　house　looking　east。　Shadows　had　fallen　in　the　valley　below；　but　there　was　still　a　light　on　the　faces　of　the　mountains　far　above。　The　air　was　warm。　The　sound　of　running　and　falling　water　was　loud；　and　the　evening　was　filled　with　a　faint　scent　of　trees　and　flowers；　as　if　summer　still　lingered　in　Elrond's　gardens。
　　　‘Hurray！'　cried　Pippin；　springing　up。　‘Here　is　our　noble　cousin！　Make　way　for　Frodo；　Lord　of　the　Ring！'
　　　'Hush！'　said　Gandalf　from　the　shadows　at　the　back　of　the　porch。　‘Evil　things　do　not　e　into　this　valley；　but　all　the　same　we　should　not　name　them。　The　Lord　of　the　Ring　is　not　Frodo；　but　the　master　of　the　Dark　Tower　of　Mordor；　whose　power　is　again　stretching　out　over　the　world！　We　are　sitting　in　a　fortress。　Outside　it　is　getting　dark。'
　　　‘Gandalf　has　been　saying　many　cheerful　things　like　that；'　said　Pippin。　‘He　thinks　I　need　keeping　in　order。　But　it　seems　impossible；　somehow；　to　feel　gloomy　or　depressed　in　this　place。　I　feel　I　could　sing；　if　I　knew　the　right　song　for　the　occasion。'
　　　‘I　feel　like　singing　myself；'　laughed　Frodo。　‘Though　at　the　moment　I　feel　more　like　eating　and　drinking！'
　　　‘That　will　soon　be　cured；'　said　Pippin。　‘You　have　shown　your　usual　cunning　in　getting　up　just　in　time　for　a　meal。'
　　　‘More　than　meal！　A　feast！'　said　Merry。　‘As　soon　as　Gandalf　reported　that　you　were　recovered；　the　preparations　began。'　He　had　hardly　finished　speaking　when　they　were　summoned　to　the　hall　by　the　ringing　of　many　bells。
　　　The　hall　of　Elrond's　house　was　filled　with　folk：　Elves　for　the　most　part；　though　there　were　a　few　guests　of　other　sorts。　Elrond；　as　was　his　custom；　sat　in　a　great　chair　at　the　end　of　the　long　table　upon　the　dais；　and　next　to　him　on　the　one　side　sat　Glorfindel；　on　the　other　side　sat　Gandalf。
　　　Frodo　looked　at　them　in　wonder；　for　he　had　never　before　seen　Elrond；　of　whom　so　many　tales　spoke；　and　as　they　sat　upon　his　right　hand　and　his　left；　Glorfindel；　and　even　Gandalf；　whom　he　thought　he　knew　so　well；　were　revealed　as　lords　of　dignity　and　power。　Gandalf　was　shorter　in　stature　than　the　other　two；　but　his　long　white　hair；　his　sweeping　silver　beard；　and　his　broad　shoulders；　made　him　look　like　some　wise　king　of　ancient　legend。　In　his　aged　face　under　great　snowy　brows　his　dark　eyes　were　set　like　coals　that　could　leap　suddenly　into　fire。
　　　Glorfindel　was　tall　and　straight；　his　hair　was　of　shining　gold；　his　face　fair　and　young　and　fearless　and　full　of　joy；　his　eyes　were　bright　and　keen；　and　his　voice　like　music；　on　his　brow　sat　wisdom；　and　in　his　hand　was　strength。
　　　The　face　of　Elrond　was　ageless；　neither　old　nor　young；　though　in　it　was　written　the　memory　of　many　things　both　glad　and　sorrowful。　His　hair　was　dark　as　the　shadows　of　twilight；　and　upon　it　was　set　a　circlet　of　silver；　his　eyes　were　grey　as　a　clear　eve