'Soon it bees a swift river； and it gathers water from many othermountain…streams；' said Aragorn。 ‘Our road leads beside it for many miles。 ForI shall take you by the road that Gandalf chose； and first I hope to e tothe woods where the Silverlode flows into the Great River…out yonder。' Theylooked as he pointed； and before them they could see the stream leaping downto the trough of the valley； and then running on and away into the lowerlands； until it was lost in a golden haze。
‘There lie the woods of Lothlórien！ ' said Legolas。 ‘That is the fairestof all the dwellings of my people。 There are no trees like the trees of thatland。 For in the autumn their leaves fall not； but turn to gold。 Not till thespring es and the new green opens do they fall； and then the boughs areladen with yellow flowers； and the floor of the wood is golden； and golden isthe roof； and its pillars are of silver； for the bark of the trees is smoothand grey。 So still our songs in Mirkwood say。 My heart would be glad if I werebeneath the eaves of that wood； and it were springtime！ '
‘My heart will be glad； even in the winter；' said Aragorn。 'But it liesmany miles away。 Let us hasten！ '
For some time Frodo and Sam managed to keep up with the others； butAragorn was leading them at a great pace； and after a while they laggedbehind。 They had eaten nothing since the early morning。 Sam's cut was burninglike fire； and his head felt light。 In spite of the shining sun the windseemed chill after the warm darkness of Moria。 He shivered。 Frodo felt everystep more painful and he gasped for breath。
At last Legolas turned； and seeing them now far behind； he spoke toAragorn。 The others halted； and Aragorn ran back； calling to Boromir to ewith him。
'I am sorry； Frodo！ ' he cried； full of concern。 ‘So much has happenedthis day and we have such need of haste； that I have forgotten that you werehurt； and Sam too。 You should have spoken。 We have done nothing to ease you；
as we ought； though all the orcs of Moria were after us。 e now！ A littlefurther on there is a place where we can rest for a little。 There I will do
what I can for you。 e； Boromir！ We will carry them。'
Soon afterwards they came upon another stream that ran down from thewest； and joined its bubbling water with the hurrying Silverlode。 Togetherthey plunged over a fall of green…hued stone； and foamed down into a dell。
About it stood fir…trees； short and bent； and its sides were steep and clothedwith harts…tongue and shrubs of whortle…berry。 At the bottom there was a levelspace through which the stream flowed noisily over shining pebbles。 Here theyrested。 It was now nearly three hours after noon； and they had e only a fewmiles from the Gates。 Already the sun was westering。
While Gimli and the two younger hobbits kindled a fire of brush… and fir…
wood； and drew water； Aragorn tended Sam and Frodo。 Sam's wound was not deep；
but it looked ugly； and Aragorn's face was grave as he examined it。 After amoment he looked up with relief。
'Good luck； Sam！ ' he said。 'Many have received worse than this inpayment for the slaying of their first orc。 The cut is not poisoned； as thewounds of orc…blades too often are。 It should heal well when I have tended it。
Bathe it when Gimli has heated water。'
He opened his pouch and drew out some withered leaves。 ‘They are dry andsome of their virtue has one； he said； but here I have still some of theleaves of _athelas_ that I gathered near Weathertop。 Crush one in the water；
and wash the wound clean； and I will bind it。 Now it is your turn。 Frodo！ '
'I am all right；' said Frodo； reluctant to have his garments touched。
‘AII I needed was some food and a little rest。'
‘No！ ' said Aragorn。 ‘We must have a look and see what the hammer and theanvil have done to you。 I still marvel that you are alive at all。' Gently hestripped off Frodo's old jacket and worn tunic； and gave a gasp of wonder。
Then he laughed。 The silver corslet shimmered before his eyes like the lightupon a rippling sea。 Carefully he took it off and held it up； and the gems onit glittered like stars。 and the sound of the shaken rings was like the tinkleof rain in a pool。
‘Look； my friends！' he called。 ‘Here's a pretty hobbit…skin to wrap anelven…princeling in！ If it were known that hobbits had such hides； all thehunters of Middle…earth would be riding to the Shire。'
‘And all the arrows of all the hunters in the world would be in vain；'
said Gimli； gazing at the mail in wonder。 ‘It is a mithril…coat。 Mithril！ Ihave never seen or heard tell of one so fair。 Is this the coat that Gandalf
spoke of？ Then he undervalued it。 But it was well given！ '
‘I have often wondered what you and Bilbo were doing； so close in hislittle room；' said Merry。 'Bless the old hobbit！ I love him more than ever。 Ihope we get a chance of telling him about it！ '
There was a dark and blackened bruise on Frodo's right side and breast。
Under the mail there was a shirt of soft leather； but at one point the ringshad been driven through it into the flesh。 Frodo's left side also was scoredand bruised where he had been hurled against the wall。 While the others setthe food ready。 Aragorn bathed the hurts with water in which athelas wassteeped。 The pungent fragrance filled the dell； and all those who stooped overthe steaming water felt refreshed and strengthened。 Soon Frodo felt the painleave him； and his breath grew easy： though he was stiff and sore to the touchfor many days。 Aragorn bound some soft pads of cloth at his side。
‘The mail is marvellously light；' he said。 ‘Put it on again； if you canbear it。 My heart is glad to know that you have such a coat。 Do not lay itaside； even in sleep； unless fortune brings you where you are safe for awhile； and that will seldom chance while your quest lasts。'
When they had eaten； the pany got ready to go on。 They put out thefire and hid all traces of it。 Then climbing out of the dell they took to theroad again。 They had not gone far before the sun sank behind the westwardheights and great shadows crept down the mountain…sides。 Dusk veiled theirfeet； and mist rose in the hollows。 Away in the east the evening light laypale upon the dim lands of distant plain and wood。 Sam and Frodo now feelingeased and greatly refreshed were able to go at a fair pace； and with only one
brief halt Aragorn led the pany on for nearly three more hours。
It was dark。 Deep night had fallen。 There were many clear stars； hut thefast…waning moon would not be seen till late。 Gimli and Frodo were at therear； walking softly and not speaking； listening for any sound upon the roadbehind。 At length Gimli broke the silence。
'Not a sound but the wind；' he said。 ‘There are no goblins near； or myears are made of wood。 It is to be hoped that the Orcs will be content withdriving us from Moria。 And maybe that was all their purpose； and they hadnothing else to do with us…with the Ring。 Though Orcs will often pursue foesfor many leagues into the plain； if they have a fallen captain to avenge。'
Frodo did not answer。 He looked at Sting； and the blade was dull。 Yet hehad heard something； or thought he had。 As soon as the shadows had fallenabout them and the road behind was dim； he had heard again the quick