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e toElrond。
In no region had the messengers discovered any signs or tidings of theRiders or other servants of the Enemy。 Even from the Eagles of the MistyMountains they had learned no fresh news。 Nothing had been seen or heard ofGollum； but the wild wolves were still gathering； and were hunting again farup the Great River。 Three of the black horses had been found at once drownedin the flooded Ford。 On the rocks of the rapids below it searchers discoveredthe bodies of five more； and also a long black cloak； slashed and tattered。 Ofthe Black Riders no other trace was to be seen； and nowhere was their presenceto be felt。 It seemed that they had vanished from the North。
'Eight out of the Nine are accounted for at least；' said Gandalf。 'It isrash to be too sure； yet I think that we may hope now that the Ringwraithswere scattered； and have been obliged to return as best they could to theirMaster in Mordor； empty and shapeless。
‘If that is so； it will be some time before they can begin the huntagain。 Of course the Enemy has other servants； but they will have to journeyall the way to the borders of Rivendell before they can pick up our trail。 Andif we are careful that will be hard to find。 But we must delay no longer。'
Elrond summoned the hobbits to him。 He looked gravely at Frodo。 'The timehas e；' he said。 ‘If the Ring is to set out； it must go soon。 But those whogo with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force。 Theymust pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid。 Do you still hold to yourword； Frodo； that you will be the Ring…bearer？'
'I do；' said Frodo。 ‘I will go with Sam。'
‘Then I cannot help you much； not even with counsel；' said Elrond。 ‘I canforesee very little of your road； and how your task is to be achieved I do notknow。 The Shadow has crept now to the feet of the Mountains； and draws nigheven to the borders of Greyflood； and under the Shadow all is dark to me。 Youwill meet many foes； some open； and some disguised； and you may find friendsupon your way when you least look for it。 I will send out messages； such as Ican contrive； to those whom I know in the wide world； but so perilous are thelands now bee that some may well miscarry； or e no quicker than youyourself。
‘And I will choose you panions to go with you； as far as they will orfortune allows。 The number must be few； since your hope is in speed andsecrecy。 Had I a host of Elves in armour of the Elder Days； it would availlittle； save to arouse the power of Mordor。
‘The pany of the Ring shall be Nine； and the Nine Walkers shall be setagainst the Nine Riders that are evil。 With you and your faithful servant；
Gandalf will go； for this shall be his great task； and maybe the end of hislabours。
‘For the rest； they shall represent the other Free Peoples of the World：
Elves； Dwarves； and Men。 Legolas shall be for the Elves； and Gimli son ofGlóin for the Dwarves。 They are willing to go at least to the passes of theMountains； and maybe beyond。 For men you shall have Aragorn son of Arathorn；
for the Ring of Isildur concerns him closely。'
‘Strider！' said Frodo。
'Yes；' he said with a smile。 ‘I ask leave once again to be yourpanion； Frodo。'
‘I would have begged you to e；' said Frodo； 'only I thought you weregoing to Minas Tirith with Boromir。'
‘I am；' said Aragorn。 ‘And the Sword…that…was…Broken shall be reforgedere I set out to war。 But your road and our road lie together for manyhundreds of miles。 Therefore Boromir will also be in the pany。 He is avaliant man。'
'There remain two more to be found；' said Elrond。 〃These I will consider。
Of my household I may find some that it seems good to me to send。'
‘But that will leave no place for us！' cried Pippin in dismay。 ‘We don'twant to be left behind。 We want to go with Frodo。'
‘That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what liesahead；' said Elrond。
‘Neither does Frodo；' said Gandalf； unexpectedly supporting Pippin。 'Nordo any of us see clearly。 It is true that if these hobbits understood thedanger； they would not dare to go。 But they would still wish to go； or wishthat they dared； and be shamed and unhappy。 I think； Elrond； that in thismatter it would be well to trust rather to their friendship than to greatwisdom。 Even if you chose for us an elf…lord； such as Glorfindel； he could notstorm the Dark Tower； nor open the road to the Fire by the power that is inhim。'
‘You speak gravely；' said Elrond； ‘but I am in doubt。 The Shire； Iforebode； is not free now from peril； and these two I had thought to send backthere as messengers； to do what they could； according to the fashion of theircountry； to warn the people of their danger。 In any case； I judge that theyounger of these two； Peregrin Took； should remain。 My heart is against hisgoing。'
‘Then； Master Elrond； you will have to lock me in prison； or send me hometied in a sack；' said Pippin。 ‘For otherwise I shall follow the pany。'
‘Let it be so then。 You shall go；' said Elrond； and he sighed。 'Now thetale of Nine is filled。 In seven days the pany must depart。'
The Sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths； and on its bladewas traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayedSun； and about them was written many runes； for Aragorn son of Arathorn wasgoing to war upon the marches of Mordor。 Very bright was that sword when itwas made whole again； the light of the sun shone redly in it； and the light ofthe moon shone cold； and its edge was hard and keen。 And Aragorn gave it a newname and called it Andúril； Flame of the West。
Aragorn and Gandalf walked together or sat speaking of their road and theperils they would meet； and they pondered the storied and figured maps andbooks of lore that were in the house of Elrond。 Sometimes Frodo was with them；
but he was content to lean on their guidance； and he spent as much time as hecould with Bilbo。
In those last days the hobbits sat together in the evening in the Hall ofFire； and there among many tales they heard told in full the lay of Beren andLúthien and the winning of the Great Jewel； but in the day； while Merry andPippin were out and about； Frodo and Sam were to be found with Bilbo in hisown small room。 Then Bilbo would read passages from his book （which stillseemed very inplete）。 or scraps of his verses； or would take notes ofFrodo's adventures。
On the morning of the last day Frodo was alone with Bilbo； and the oldhobbit pulled out from under his bed a wooden box。 He lifted the lid andfumbled inside。
'Here is your sword；' he said。 'But it was broken； you know。 I took it tokeep it safe but I've forgotten to ask if the smiths could mend it。 No timenow。。 So I thought； perhaps； you would care to have this； don't you know？'
He took from the box a small sword in an old shabby leathern scabbard。
Then he drew it； and its polished and well…tended blade glittered suddenly；
cold and bright。 'This is Sting；' he said； and thrust it with little effortdeep into a wooden beam。 ‘Take it； if you like。 I shan't want it again； Iexpect。'
Frodo accepted it gratefully。
'Also there is this！' said Bilbo； bringing out a parcel which seemed tobe rather heavy for its size。 He unwound several folds of old cloth； and heldup a smal