ay south。
〃That was nigh on thirty years ago。 For a while we had news and it seemedgood： messages reported that Moria had been entered and a great work begunthere。 Then there was silence； and no word has ever e from Moria since。
〃Then about a year ago a messenger came to Dáin； but not from Moria –
from Mordor： a horseman in the night； who called Dáin to his gate。 The LordSauron the Great； so he said； wished for our friendship。 Rings he would givefor it； such as he gave of old。 And he asked urgently concerning _hobbits_； ofwhat kind they were； and where they dwelt。 〃For Sauron knows；〃 said he； 〃thatone of these was known to you on a time。〃
'At this we were greatly troubled； and we gave no answer。 And then hisfell voice was lowered； and he would have sweetened it if he could。 〃As asmall token only of your friendship Sauron asks this；〃 he said： 〃that youshould find this thief；〃 such was his word； 〃and get from him； willing or no；
a little ring； the least of rings； that once he stole。 It is but a trifle thatSauron fancies； and an earnest of your good will。 Find it； and three ringsthat the Dwarf sires possessed of old shall be returned to you； and the realmof Moria shall be yours for ever。 Find only news of the thief； whether hestill lives and where； and you shall have great reward and lasting friendshipfrom the Lord。 Refuse； and things will not seem so well。 Do you refuse？〃
'At that his breath came like the hiss of snakes； and all who stood byshuddered； but Dáin said： 〃I say neither yea nor nay。 I must consider thismessage and what it means under its fair cloak。〃
' 〃Consider well； but not too long；〃 said he。
' 〃The time of my thought is my own to spend；〃 answered Dáin。
' 〃For the present；〃 said he； and rode into the darkness。
'Heavy have the hearts of our chieftains been since that night。 We needednot the fell voice of the messenger to warn us that his words held both menaceand deceit； for we knew already that the power that has re…entered Mordor hasnot changed； and ever it betrayed us of old。 Twice the messenger has returned；
and has gone unanswered。 The third and last time； so he says； is soon to e；
before the ending of the year。
'And so I have been sent at last by Dáin to warn Bilbo that he is soughtby the Enemy； and to learn； if may be； why he desires this ring； this least ofrings。 Also we crave the advice of Elrond。 For the Shadow grows and drawsnearer。 We discover that messengers have e also to King Brand in Dale； andthat he is afraid。 We fear that he may yield。 Already war is gathering on hiseastern borders。 If we make no answer； the Enemy may move Men of his rule toassail King Brand； and Dáin also。'
‘You have done well to e；' said Elrond。 ‘You will hear today all thatyou need in order to understand the purposes of the Enemy。 There is naughtthat you can do； other than to resist； with hope or without it。 But you do notstand alone。 You will learn that your trouble is but part of the trouble ofall the western world。 The Ring！ What shall we do with the Ring； the least ofrings； the trifle that Sauron fancies？ That is the doom that we must deem。
‘That is the purpose for which you are called hither。 Called； I say。
though I have not called you to me； strangers from distant lands。 You havee and are here met； in this very nick of time； by chance as it may seem。
Yet it is not so。 Believe rather that it is so ordered that we； who sit here；
and none others； must now find counsel for the peril of the world。
‘Now； therefore； things shall be openly spoken that have been hidden fromall but a few until this day。 And first； so that all may understand what isthe peril； the Tale of the Ring shall be told from the beginning even to thispresent。 And I will begin that tale； though others shall end it。'
Then all listened while Elrond in his clear voice spoke of Sauron and the
Rings of Power； and their forging in the Second Age of the world long ago。 Apart of his tale was known to some there； but the full tale to none； and manyeyes were turned t= Elrond in fear and wonder as he told of the Elven…smithsof Eregion and their friendship with Moria； and their eagerness for knowledge；
by which Sauron ensnared them。 For in that time he was not yet evil to behold；
and they received his aid and grew mighty in craft； whereas he learned alltheir secrets； and betrayed them； and forged secretly in the Mountain of Firethe One Ring to be their master。 But Celebrimbor was aware of him； and hid theThree which he had made； and there was war； and the land was laid waste； andthe gate of Moria was shut。
Then through all the years that followed he traced the Ring； but sincethat history is elsewhere recounted； even as Elrond himself set it down in hisbooks of lore； it is not here recalled。 For it is a long tale； full of deedsgreat and terrible； and briefly though Elrond spoke； the sun rode up the sky；
and the morning was passing ere he ceased。
Of Númenor he spoke； its glory and its fall； and the return of the Kingsof Men to Middle…earth out of the deeps of the Sea； borne upon the wings ofstorm。 Then Elendil the Tall and his mighty sons； Isildur and Anárion； becamegreat lords； and the North…realm they made in Arnor； and the South…realm inGondor above the mouths of Anduin。 But Sauron of Mordor assailed them； andthey made the Last Alliance of Elves and Men； and the hosts of Gil…galad andElendil were mustered in Arnor。
Thereupon Elrond paused a while and sighed。 ‘I remember well thesplendour of their banners；' he said。 ‘It recalled to me the glory of theElder Days and the hosts of Beleriand； so many great princes and captains wereassembled。 And yet not so many； nor so fair； as when Thangorodrim was broken；
and the Elves deemed that evil was ended for ever； and it was not so。'
‘You remember？' said Frodo； speaking his thought aloud in hisastonishment。 ‘But I thought；' he stammered as Elrond turned towards him； 'Ithought that the fall of Gil…galad was a long age ago。'
'So it was indeed；' answered Elrond gravely。 ‘But my memory reaches backeven to the Elder Days。 E。rendil was my sire； who was born in Gondolin beforeits fall； and my mother was Elwing； daughter of Dior； son of Lúthien ofDoriath。 I have seen three ages in the West of the world； and many defeats；
and many fruitless victories。
‘I was the herald of Gil…galad and marched with his host。 I was at theBattle of Dagorlad before the Black Gate of Mordor； where we had the mastery：
for the Spear of Gil…galad and the Sword of Elendil； Aiglos and Narsil； nonecould withstand。 I beheld the last bat on the slopes of Orodruin； whereGil…galad died； and Elendil fell； and Narsil broke beneath him； but Sauronhimself was overthrown； and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt…
shard of his father's sword； and took it for his own。'
At this the stranger； Boromir； broke in。 ‘So that is what became of theRing！' he cried。 ‘If ever such a tale was told in the South； it has long beenforgotten。 I have heard of the Great Ring of him that we do not name； but webelieved that it perished from the world in the ruin of his first realm。
Isildur took it！ That is tidings indeed。'
‘Alas！ yes；' said Elrond。 ‘Isildur took it； as should not have been。 Itshould have b