The Lord of the Rings-指环王(英文版)-第49章

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n；　and　yet　are　under　his　sway。　And　their　number　is　growing　daily。'

'What　about　Rivendell　and　the　Elves？　Is　Rivendell　safe？'

'Yes；　at　present；　until　all　else　is　conquered。　The　Elves　may　fear　the　Dark　Lord；　and　they　may　fly　before　him；　but　never　again　will　they　listen　to　him　or　serve　him。　And　here　in　Rivendell　there　live　still　some　of　his　chief　foes：　the　Elvenwise；　lords　of　the　Eldar　from　beyond　the　furthest　seas。　They　do　not　fear　the　Ringwraiths；　for　those　who　have　dwelt　in　the　Blessed　Realm　live　at　once　in　both　worlds；　and　against　both　the　Seen　and　the　Unseen　they　have　great　power。'

'I　thought　that　I　saw　a　white　figure　that　shone　and　did　not　grow　dim　like　the　others。　Was　that　Glorfindel　then？'

'Yes；　you　saw　him　for　a　moment　as　he　is　upon　the　other　side：　one　of　the　mighty　of　the　Firstborn。　He　is　an　Elflord　of　a　house　of　princes。　Indeed　there　is　a　power　in　Rivendell　to　withstand　the　might　of　Mordor；　for　a　while：　and　elsewhere　other　powers　still　dwell。　There　is　power；　too；　of　another　kind　in　the　Shire。　But　all　such　places　will　soon　bee　islands　under　siege；　if　things　go　on　as　they　are　going。　The　Dark　Lord　is　putting　forth　all　his　strength。

'Still；'　he　said；　standing　suddenly　up　and　sticking　out　his　chin。　while　his　beard　went　stiff　and　straight　like　bristling　wire；　'we　must　keep　up　our　courage。　You　will　soon　be　well；　if　I　do　not　talk　you　to　death。　You　are　in　Rivendell；　and　you　need　not　worry　about　anything　for　the　present。'

'I　haven't　any　courage　to　keep　up；'　said　Frodo；　'but　I　am　not　worried　at　the　moment。　Just　give　me　news　of　my　friends；　and　tell　me　the　end　of　the　affair　at　the　Ford；　as　I　keep　on　asking；　and　I　shall　be　content　for　the　present。　After　that　I　shall　have　another　sleep；　I　think；　but　I　shan't　be　able　to　close　my　eyes　until　you　have　finished　the　story　for　me。'

Gandalf　moved　his　chair　to　the　bedside；　and　took　a　good　look　at　Frodo。　The　colour　had　e　back　to　his　face；　and　his　eyes　were　clear；　and　fully　awake　and　aware。　He　was　smiling；　and　there　seemed　to　be　little　wrong　with　him。　But　to　the　wizard's　eye　there　was　a　faint　change　just　a　hint　as　it　were　of　transparency；　about　him；　and　especially　about　the　left　hand　that　lay　outside　upon　the　coverlet。

'Still　that　must　be　expected；'　said　Gandalf　to　himself。　'He　is　not　half　through　yet；　and　to　what　he　will　e　in　the　end　not　even　Elrond　can　foretell。　Not　to　evil；　I　think。　He　may　bee　like　a　glass　filled　with　a　clear　light　for　eyes　to　see　that　can。'

'You　look　splendid；'　he　said　aloud。　'I　will　risk　a　brief　tale　without　consulting　Elrond。　But　quite　brief；　mind　you；　and　then　you　must　sleep　again。　This　is　what　happened；　as　far　as　I　can　gather。　The　Riders　made　straight　for　you；　as　soon　as　you　fled。　They　did　not　need　the　guidance　of　their　horses　any　longer：　you　had　bee　visible　to　them；　being　already　on　the　threshold　of　their　world。　And　also　the　Ring　drew　them。　Your　friends　sprang　aside；　off　the　road；　or　they　would　have　been　ridden　down。　They　knew　that　nothing　could　save　you；　if　the　white　horse　could　not。　The　Riders　were　too　swift　to　overtake；　and　too　many　to　oppose。　On　foot　even　Glorfindel　and　Aragorn　together　could　not　with　stand　all　the　Nine　at　once。

'When　the　Ringwraiths　swept　by；　your　friends　ran　up　behind。　Close　to　the　Ford　there　is　a　small　hollow　beside　the　road　masked　by　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　Elflord　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　Ringbearer。　And　you　are　the　heir　of　Bilbo；　the　Ringfinder。'

'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　storytelling　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　storytelling　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　lookingglass；'　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　singingnot　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　o