the fellowship of the ring-第95部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


Celeborn　and　Galadriel。　They　stood　up　to　greet　their　guests；　after　the　mannerof　Elves；　even　those　who　were　accounted　mighty　kings。　Very　tall　they　were；　andthe　Lady　no　less　tall　than　the　Lord；　and　they　were　grave　and　beautiful。　Theywere　clad　wholly　in　white；　and　the　hair　of　the　Lady　was　of　deep　gold；　and　thehair　of　the　Lord　Celeborn　was　of　silver　long　and　bright；　but　no　sign　of　agewas　upon　them；　unless　it　were　in　the　depths　of　their　eyes；　for　these　were　keenas　lances　in　the　starlight；　and　yet　profound；　the　wells　of　deep　memory。　
Haldir　led　Frodo　before　them；　and　the　Lord　weled　him　in　his　owntongue。　The　Lady　Galadriel　said　no　word　but　looked　long　upon　his　face。　
‘Sit　now　beside　my　chair；　Frodo　of　the　Shire！　'　said　Celeborn。　‘When　allhave　e　we　will　speak　together。'　
Each　of　the　panions　he　greeted　courteously　by　name　as　they　entered。　
‘Wele　Aragorn　son　of　Arathorn！　'　he　said。　‘It　is　eight　and　thirty　years　ofthe　world　outside　since　you　came　to　this　land；　and　those　years　lie　heavy　onyou。　But　the　end　is　near；　for　good　or　ill。　Here　lay　aside　your　burden　for　awhile！　'　　
'Wele　son　of　Thranduil！　Too　seldom　do　my　kindred　journey　hither　fromthe　North。'　　
‘Wele　Gimli　son　of　Glóin！　It　is　long　indeed　since　we　saw　one　ofDurin's　folk　in　Caras　Galadhon。　But　today　we　have　broken　our　long　law。　May　itbe　a　sign　that　though　the　world　is　now　dark　better　days　are　at　hand；　and　thatfriendship　shall　be　renewed　between　our　peoples。'　Gimli　bowed　low。　
When　all　the　guests　were　seated　before　his　chair　the　Lord　looked　at　themagain。　'Here　there　are　eight；'　he　said。　‘Nine　were　to　set　out：　so　said　themessages。　But　maybe　there　has　been　some　change　of　counsel　that　we　have　notheard。　Elrond　is　far　away；　and　darkness　gathers　between　us；　and　all　this　yearthe　shadows　have　grown　longer。'　
‘Nay；　there　was　no　change　of　counsel；'　said　the　Lady　Galadriel　speakingfor　the　first　time。　Her　voice　was　clear　and　musical；　but　deeper　than　woman'swont。　‘Gandalf　the　Grey　set　out　with　the　pany；　but　he　did　not　pass　theborders　of　this　land。　Now　tell　us　where　he　is；　for　I　much　desired　to　speakwith　him　again。　But　I　cannot　see　him　from　afar；　unless　he　es　within　thefences　of　Lothlórien：　a　grey　mist　is　about　him；　and　the　ways　of　his　feet　andof　his　mind　are　hidden　from　me。'　　
'Alas！　'　said　Aragorn。　‘Gandalf　the　Grey　fell　into　shadow。　He　remained　inMoria　and　did　not　escape。'　　
　
At　these　words　all　the　Elves　in　the　hall　cried　aloud　in　grief　andamazement。　‘These　are　evil　tidings；'　said　Celeborn；　‘the　most　evil　that　havebeen　spoken　here　in　long　years　full　of　grievous　deeds。'　He　turned　to　Haldir。　
‘Why　has　nothing　of　this　been　told　to　me　before？　'　he　asked　in　the　Elventongue。　
'We　have　not　spoken　to　Haldir　of　our　deeds　or　our　purpose；'　said　Legolas。　
‘At　first　we　were　weary　and　danger　was　too　close　behind　and　afterwards　wealmost　forgot　our　grief　for　a　time；　as　we　walked　in　gladness　on　the　fair　pathsof　Lórien。'　　
‘Yet　our　grief　is　great　and　our　loss　cannot　be　mended；'　said　Frodo。　
'Gandalf　was　our　guide；　and　he　led　us　through　Moria；　and　when　our　escapeseemed　beyond　hope　he　saved　us；　and　he　fell。'　
'Tell　us　now　the　full　tale！　'　said　Celeborn：　　
Then　Aragorn　recounted　all　that　had　happened　upon　the　pass　of　Caradhras；　
and　in　the　days　that　followed；　and　he　spoke　of　Balin　and　his　book；　and　thefight　in　the　Chamber　of　Mazarbul；　and　the　fire；　and　the　narrow　bridge；　and　theing　of　the　Terror。　'An　evil　of　the　Ancient　World　it　seemed；　such　as　I　havenever　seen　before；'　said　Aragorn。　‘It　was　both　a　shadow　and　a　flame；　strongand　terrible。'　　
'It　was　a　Balrog　of　Morgoth；'　said　Legolas；　‘of　all　elf…banes　the　mostdeadly；　save　the　One　who　sits　in　the　Dark　Tower。'　
‘Indeed　I　saw　upon　the　bridge　that　which　haunts　our　darkest　dreams　I　sawDurin's　Bane；'　said　Gimli　in　a　low　voice；　and　dread　was　in　his　eyes。　
'Alas！　'　said　Celeborn。　‘We　long　have　feared　that　under　Caradhras　aterror　slept。　But　had　I　known　that　the　Dwarves　had　stirred　up　this　evil　inMoria　again；　I　would　have　forbidden　you　to　pass　the　northern　borders；　you　andall　that　went　with　you。　And　if　it　were　possible；　one　would　say　that　at　thelast　Gandalf　fell　from　wisdom　into　folly；　going　needlessly　into　the　net　ofMoria。'　　
‘He　would　be　rash　indeed　that　said　that　thing；'　said　Galadriel　gravely。　
‘Needless　were　none　of　the　deeds　of　Gandalf　in　life。　Those　that　followed　him　　
knew　not　his　mind　and　cannot　report　his　full　purpose。　But　however　it　may　bewith　the　guide；　the　followers　are　blameless。　Do　not　repent　of　your　wele　tothe　Dwarf。　If　our　folk　had　been　exiled　long　and　far　from　Lothlórien；　who　ofthe　Galadhrim；　even　Celeborn　the　Wise；　would　pass　nigh　and　would　not　wish　tolook　upon　their　ancient　home；　though　it　had　bee　an　abode　of　dragons？　
'Dark　is　the　water　of　Kheled…zaram；　and　cold　are　the　springs　of　Kibilnala；　　
and　fair　were　the　many…pillared　halls　of　Khazad…d。m　in　Elder　Days　beforethe　fall　of　mighty　kings　beneath　the　stone。'　She　looked　upon　Gimli；　who　satglowering　and　sad；　and　she　smiled。　And　the　Dwarf；　hearing　the　names　given　inhis　own　ancient　tongue；　looked　up　and　met　her　eyes；　and　it　seemed　to　him　thathe　looked　suddenly　into　the　heart　of　an　enemy　and　saw　there　love　andunderstanding。　Wonder　came　into　his　face；　and　then　he　smiled　in　answer。　
He　rose　clumsily　and　bowed　in　dwarf…fashion；　saying：　‘Yet　more　fair　isthe　living　land　of　Lórien；　and　the　Lady　Galadriel　is　above　all　the　jewels　thatlie　beneath　the　earth！　'　　
There　was　a　silence。　At　length　Celeborn　spoke　again。　‘I　did　not　know　thatyour　plight　was　so　evil；'　he　said。　‘Let　Gimli　forget　my　harsh　words：　I　spokein　the　trouble　of　my　heart。　I　will　do　what　I　can　to　aid　you；　each　according　tohis　wish　and　need；　but　especially　that　one　of　the　little　folk　who　bears　theburden。'　　
'Your　quest　is　known　to　us；'　said　Galadriel；　looking　at　Frodo。　‘But　wewill　not　here　speak　of　it　more　openly。　Yet　not　in　vain　will　it　prove；　maybe；　
that　you　came　to　this　land　seeking　aid；　as　Gandalf　himself　plainly　purposed。　
For　the　Lord　of　the　Galadhrim　is　accounted　the　wisest　of　the　Elves　of　Middle…　
earth；　and　a　giver　of　gifts　beyond　the　power　of　kings。　He　has　dwelt　in　theWest　since　the　days　of　dawn；　and　I　have　dwelt　with　him　years　uncounted；　forere　the　fall　of　Nargothrond　or　Gondolin　I　passed　over　the　mountains；　andtogether　through　ages　of　the　world　we　have　fought　the　long　defeat。　
'I　it　was　who　first　summoned　the　White　Council。　And　if　my　designs　had　not　　
　
gone　amiss；　it　would　have　been　governed　by　Gandalf　the　Grey；　and　then　mayhapthings　would　have　gone　otherwise。　But　even　now　there　is　hope　left。　I　will　notgive　you　counsel；　saying　do　this；　or　do　that。　For　not　in　doing　or　contriving；　
nor　in　choosing　between　this　course　and　another；　can　I　avail；　but　only　inknowing　what　was　and　is；　and　in　part　also　what　shall　be。　But　this　I　will　sayto　you：　your　Quest　stands　upon　the　edge　of　a　knife。　Stray　but　a　little　and　itwill　fail；　to　the　ruin　of　all。　Yet　hope　remains　while　all　the　pany　istrue。'　　
And　with　that　word　she　held　them　with　her　eyes；　and　in　silence　lookedsearchingly　at　each　of　them　in　turn。　None　save　Legolas　and　Aragorn　could　longendure　her　glance。　Sam　quickly　blushed　and　hung　his　head。　
At　length　the　Lady　Galadriel　released　them　from　her　eyes；　and　she　smiled。　
‘Do　not　let　your　hearts　be　troubled；'　she　said。　'Tonight　you　shall　sleep　inpeace。'　Then　they　sighed　and　felt　suddenly　weary；　as　those　who　have　beenquestioned　long　and　deeply；　though　no　words　had　been　spoken　openly。　
‘Go　now！　'　said　Celeborn。　‘You　are　worn　with　sorrow　and　much　toil。　Even　　
if　your　Quest　did　not　concern　us　closely；　you　should　have　refuge　in　this　City；　
until　you　were　healed　and　refreshed。　Now　you　shall　rest；　and　we　will　not　speakof　your　further　road　for　a　while。'　
That　night　the　pany　slept　upon　the　ground；　much　to　the　satisfaction　ofthe　hobbits。　The　Elves　spread　for　them　a　pavilion　among　the　trees　near　thefountain；　and　in　it　they　laid　soft　couches；　then　speaking　words　of　peace　withfair　elvish　voices　they　left　them。　For　a　little　while　the　travellers　talked　oftheir　night　before　in　the　tree…tops；　and　of　their　day's　journey；　and　of　theLord　and　Lady；　for　they　had　not　yet　the　heart　to　look　further　back。　
‘What　did　you　blush　for；　Sam？　'　said　Pippin。　‘You　soon　broke　down。　Anyonewould　have　thought　you　had　a　guilty　conscience。　I　hope　it　was　nothing　worsethan　a　wicked　plot　to　steal　one　of　my　blankets。'　
‘I　never　thought　no　such　thing；'　answered　Sam；　in　no　mood　for　jest。　'Ifyou　want　to　know；　I　felt　as　if　I　hadn't　got　nothing　on；　and　I　didn't　like　it。　
She　seemed　to　be　looking　inside　me　and　asking　me　what　I　would　do　if　she　gaveme　the　chance　of　flying　back　home　to　the　Shire　to　a　nice　little　hole　with…witha　bit　of　garden　of　my　own。'　
‘That's　funny；'　said　Merry。　'Almost　exactly　what　I　felt　myself；　only；　
only　well；　I　don't　think　I'II　say　any　more；'　he　ended　lamely。　
All　of　them；　it　seemed；　had　fared　alike：　each　had　felt　that　he　wasoffered　a　choice　between　a　shadow　full　of　fear　that　lay　ahead；　and　somethingthat　he　greatly　desired：　clear　before　his　mind　it　lay；　and　to　get　it　he　hadonly　to　turn　aside　from　the　road　and　leave　the　Quest　and　the　war　againstSauron　to　others。　　
‘And　it　seemed　to　me；　too；'　said　Gimli；　‘that　my　choice　would　remainsecret　and　known　only　to　myself。'　
'To　me　it　seemed　exceedingly　strange；'　said　Boromir。　‘Maybe　it　was　only　atest；　an