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you slowly towardsRivendell。'
‘Who made the flood？' asked Frodo。
'Elrond manded it；' answered Gandalf。 ‘The river of this valley isunder his power； and it will rise in anger when he has great need to bar theFord。 As soon as the captain of the Ringwraiths rode into the water the floodwas released。 If I may say so； I added a few touches of my own： you may not
have noticed； but some of the waves took the form of great white horses withshining white riders； and there were many rolling and grinding boulders。 For amoment I was afraid that we had let loose too fierce a wrath； and the floodwould get out of hand and wash you all away。 There is great vigour in thewaters that e down from the snows of the Misty Mountains。'
‘Yes； it all es back to me now；' said Frodo： 'the tremendous roaring。
I thought I was drowning； with my friends and enemies and all。 But now we aresafe！'
Gandalf looked quickly at Frodo； but he had shut his eyes。 'Yes； you areall safe for the present。 Soon there will be feasting and merrymaking tocelebrate the victory at the Ford of Bruinen； and you will all be there inplaces of honour。'
'Splendid！' said Frodo。 ‘It is wonderful that Elrond； and Glorfindel andsuch great lords； not to mention Strider； should take so much trouble and showme so much kindness。'
‘Well； there are many reasons why they should；' said Gandalf； smiling。 ‘Iam one good reason。 The Ring is another： you are the Ring…bearer。 And you arethe heir of Bilbo； the Ring…finder。'
‘Dear Bilbo！' said Frodo sleepily。 ‘I wonder where he is。 I wish he washere and could hear all about it。 It would have made him laugh； The cow jumpedover the Moon！ And the poor old troll！' With that he fell fast asleep。
Frodo was now safe in the Last Homely House east of the Sea。 That housewas； as Bilbo had long ago reported； ‘a perfect house； whether you like foodor sleep； or story…telling or singing； or just sitting and thinking best； or apleasant mixture of them all'。 Merely to be there was a cure for weariness；
fear； and sadness。
As the evening drew on； Frodo woke up again； and he found that he nolonger felt in need of rest or sleep； but had a mind for food and drink； andprobably for singing and story…telling afterwards。 He got out of bed anddiscovered that his arm was already nearly as useful again as it ever hadbeen。 He found laid ready clean garments of green cloth that fitted himexcellently。 Looking in a mirror he was startled to see a much thinnerreflection of himself than he remembered： it looked remarkably like the youngnephew of Bilbo who used to go tramping with his uncle in the Shire； but theeyes looked out at him thoughtfully。
‘Yes； you have seen a thing or two since you last peeped out of alooking…glass；' he said to his reflection。 'But now for a merry meeting！'
He stretched out his arms and whistled a tune。
At that moment there was a knock on the door； and Sam came in。 He ran toFrodo and took his left hand； awkwardly and shyly。 He stroked it gently andthen he blushed and turned hastily away。
‘Hullo； Sam！' said Frodo。
‘It's warm！' said Sam。 ‘Meaning your hand； Mr。 Frodo。 It has felt so coldthrough the long nights。 But glory and trumpets！' he cried； turning roundagain with shining eyes and dancing on the floor。 'It's fine to see you up andyourself again； sir！ Gandalf asked me to e and see if you were ready toe down； and I thought he was joking。'
'I am ready；' said Frodo。 'Let's go and look for the rest of the party！'
‘I can take you to them； sir；' said Sam。 ‘It's a big house this； and verypeculiar。 Always a bit more to discover； and no knowing what you'll find rounda corner。 And Elves； sir！ Elves here； and Elves there！ Some like kings；
terrible and splendid； and some as merry as children。 And the music and thesinging…not that I have had the time or the heart for much listening since wegot here。 But I'm getting to know some of the ways of the place。'
'I know what you have been doing； Sam；' said Frodo； taking his arm。 'Butyou shall be merry tonight； and listen to your heart's content。 e on； guideme round the corners！'
Sam led him along several passages and down many steps and out into ahigh garden above the steep bank of the river。 He found his friends sitting in
a porch on the side of the house looking east。 Shadows had fallen in thevalley below； but there was still a light on the faces of the mountains farabove。 The air was warm。 The sound of running and falling water was loud； andthe evening was filled with a faint scent of trees and flowers； as if summerstill lingered in Elrond's gardens。
‘Hurray！' cried Pippin； springing up。 ‘Here is our noble cousin！ Make wayfor Frodo； Lord of the Ring！'
'Hush！' said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch。 ‘Evilthings do not e into this valley； but all the same we should not name them。
The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo； but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor；
whose power is again stretching out over the world！ We are sitting in afortress。 Outside it is getting dark。'
‘Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that；' said Pippin。
‘He thinks I need keeping in order。 But it seems impossible； somehow； to feelgloomy or depressed in this place。 I feel I could sing； if I knew the rightsong for the occasion。'
‘I feel like singing myself；' laughed Frodo。 ‘Though at the moment I feelmore like eating and drinking！'
‘That will soon be cured；' said Pippin。 ‘You have shown your usualcunning in getting up just in time for a meal。'
‘More than meal！ A feast！' said Merry。 ‘As soon as Gandalf reported thatyou were recovered； the preparations began。' He had hardly finished speakingwhen they were summoned to the hall by the ringing of many bells。
The hall of Elrond's house was filled with folk： Elves for the most part；
though there were a few guests of other sorts。 Elrond； as was his custom； satin a great chair at the end of the long table upon the dais； and next to himon the one side sat Glorfindel； on the other side sat Gandalf。
Frodo looked at them in wonder； for he had never before seen Elrond； ofwhom so many tales spoke； and as they sat upon his right hand and his left；
Glorfindel； and even Gandalf； whom he thought he knew so well； were revealedas lords of dignity and power。 Gandalf was shorter in stature than the othertwo； but his long white hair； his sweeping silver beard； and his broadshoulders； made him look like some wise king of ancient legend。 In his agedface under great snowy brows his dark eyes were set like coals that could leapsuddenly into fire。
Glorfindel was tall and straight； his hair was of shining gold； his facefair and young and fearless and full of joy； his eyes were bright and keen；
and his voice like music； on his brow sat wisdom； and in his hand wasstrength。
The face of Elrond was ageless； neither old nor young； though in it waswritten the memory of many things both glad and sorrowful。 His hair was darkas the shadows of twilight； and upon it was set a circlet of silver； his eyeswere grey as a clear evening； and in them was a light like the light of stars。
Venerable he seemed as a king crowned with many winters； and yet hale as atried warrior in the fulness of his strength。 He was the Lord of Rivendell andmighty among both Elves and Men。
In the middle of the table； against the woven cloths upon the wall； therewas a chair under a canopy； and there sat a lady fair to look upon； and solike was she in form of womanhood to Elrond that Frodo guessed that she wasone of his close kindred。 Young she was and yet not so。 The braids of her darkhair were touched by no frost； her white arms and clear face were flawless andsmooth； and the light of stars was in her bright eyes； grey as a cloudlessnight； yet queenly she looked； and thought and knowledge were in her glance；
as of one who has known many things that the years bring。 Above her brow herhead was covered with a cap of silver lace netted with small gems； glitteringwhite； but her soft grey raiment had no ornament save a girdle of leaveswrought in silver。
So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen； Arwen；
daughter of Elrond； in whom it was said that the likeness of Lúthien had e
on earth again； and she was called Undómiel； for she was the Evensta