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‘Quite right；' answered the dwarf； gathering up the cushions andcourteously assisting Frodo back into his seat。 'And I do not ask； for I havealready been told that you are the kinsman and adopted heir of our friendBilbo the renowned。 Allow me to congratulate you on your recovery。'
‘Thank you very much；' said Frodo。
'You have had some very strange adventures； I hear；' said Glóin。 'Iwonder greatly what brings _four_ hobbits on so long a journey。 Nothing likeit has happened since Bilbo came with us。 But perhaps I should not inquire tooclosely； since Elrond and Gandalf do not seem disposed to talk of this？'
'I think we will not speak of it； at least not yet；' said Frodo politely。
He guessed that even in Elrond's house the matter of the Ring was not onefor casual talk； and in any case he wished to forget his troubles for a time。
'But I am equally curious；' he added； ‘to learn what brings so important adwarf so far from the Lonely Mountain。'
Glóin looked at him。 'If you have not heard； I think we will not speakyet of that either。 Master Elrond will summon us all ere long； I believe； andthen we shall all hear many things。 But there is much else that may be told。'
Throughout the rest of the meal they talked together； but Frodo listenedmore than he spoke； for the news of the Shire； apart from the Ring； seemedsmall and far…away and unimportant； while Glóin had much to tell of events inthe northern regions of Wilderland。 Frodo learned that Grimbeorn the Old； sonof Beorn； was now the lord of many sturdy men； and to their land between theMountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go。
'lndeed；' said Glóin； ‘if it were not for the Beornings； the passage fromDale to Rivendell would long ago have bee impossible。 They are valiant menand keep open the High Pass and the Ford of Carrock。 But their tolls arehigh；' he added with a shake of his head； ‘and like Beorn of old they are notover fond of dwarves。 Still； they are trusty； and that is much in these days。
Nowhere are there any men so friendly to us as the Men of Dale。 They are goodfolk； the Bardings。 The grandson of Bard the Bowman rules them； Brand son ofBain son of Bard。 He is a strong king； and his realm now reaches far south andeast of Esgaroth。'
'And what of your own people？' asked Frodo。
‘There is much to tell； good and bad；' said Glóin； 'yet it is mostlygood： we have so far been fortunate； though we do not escape the shadow ofthese times。 If you really wish to hear of us； I will tell you tidings gladly。
But stop me when you are weary！ Dwarves' tongues run on when speaking of theirhandiwork； they say。'
And with that Glóin embarked on a long account of the doings of theDwarf…kingdom。 He was delighted to have found so polite a listener； for Frodoshowed no sign of weariness and made no attempt to change the subject； thoughactually he soon got rather lost among the strange names of people and placesthat he had never heard of before。 He was interested； however； to hear thatDáin was still King under the Mountain； and was now old （having passed his twohundred and fiftieth year）； venerable； and fabulously rich。 Of the tenpanions who had survived the Battle of Five Armies seven were still withhim： Dwalin； Glóin； Dori； Nori； Bifur； Bofur； and Bombur。 Bombur was now sofat that he could not move himself from his couch to his chair at table； andit took six young dwarves to lift him。
'And what has bee of Balin and Ori and óin？' asked Frodo。
A shadow passed over Glóin's face。 ‘We do not know；' he answered。 'It islargely on account of Balin that I have e to ask the advice of those thatdwell in Rivendell。 But tonight let us speak of merrier things！'
Glóin began then to talk of the works of his people； telling Frodo abouttheir great labours in Dale and under the Mountain。 'We have done well；' hesaid。 ‘But in metalwork we cannot rival our fathers； many of whose。 secretsare lost。 We make good armour and keen swords； but we cannot again make mailor blade to match those that were made before the dragon came。 Only in miningand building have we surpassed the old days。 You should see the waterways ofDale； Frodo； and the fountains； and the pools！ You should see the stone…pavedroads of many colours！ And the halls and cavernous streets under the earthwith arches carved like trees； and the terraces and towers upon the Mountain'ssides！ Then you would see that we have not been idle。'
'I will e and see them； if ever I can；' said Frodo。 'How surprisedBilbo would have been to see all the changes in the Desolation of Smaug！'
Glóin looked at Frodo and smiled。 'You were very fond of Bilbo were younot？' he asked。
‘Yes；' answered Frodo。 'I would rather see him than all the towers andpalaces in the world。'
At length the feast came to an end。 Elrond and Arwen rose and went downthe hall； and the pany followed them in due order。 The doors were thrownopen； and they went across a wide passage and through other doors； and cameinto a further hall。 In it were no tables； but a bright fire was burning in agreat hearth between the carven pillars upon either side。
Frodo found himself walking with Gandalf。 ‘This is the Hall of Fire' saidthe wizard。 ‘Here you will hear many songs and tales…if you can keep awake。
But except on high days it usually stands empty and quiet； and people ehere who wish for peace； and thought。 There is always a fire here； all theyear round； but there is little other light。'
As Elrond entered and went towards the seat prepared for him； elvishminstrels began to make sweet music。 Slowly the hall filled； and Frodo lookedwith delight upon the many fair faces that were gathered together； the goldenfirelight played upon them and shimmered in their hair。 Suddenly he noticed；
not far from the further end of the fire； a small dark figure seated on astool with his back propped against a pillar。 Beside him on the ground was adrinking…cup and some bread。 Frodo wondered whether he was ill （if people wereever ill in Rivendell）； and had been unable to e to the feast。 His headseemed sunk in sleep on his breast； and a fold of his dark cloak was drawnover his face。
Elrond went forward and stood beside the silent figure。 'Awake littlemaster。 he said； with a smile。 Then； turning to Frodo； he beckoned to him。
'Now at last the hour has e that you have wished for； Frodo；' he said。
‘Here is a friend that you have long missed。'
The dark figure raised its head and uncovered its face。
‘Bilbo！' cried Frodo with sudden recognition； and he sprang forward。
‘Hullo； Frodo my lad！' said Bilbo。 ‘So you have got here at last。 I hopedyou would manage it。 Well； well！ So all this feasting is in your honour； Ihear。 I hope you enjoyed yourself？'
'Why weren't you there？' cried Frodo。 ‘And why haven't I been allowed tosee you before？'
‘Because you were asleep。 I have seen a good deal of you。 I have sat byyour side with Sam each day。 But as for the feast‘ I don't go in for suchthings much now。 And I had something else to do。'
‘What were you doing？'
‘Why； sitting and thinking。 I do a lot of that nowadays； and this is thebest place to do it in； as a rule。 Wake up； indeed！' he said； cocking an eyeat Elrond。 There was a bright twinkle in it and no sign of sleepiness t