'Your words bring good counsel； Gimli；' said Aragorn。 'We cannot build a house； but tonight we will do as the Galadhrim and seek refuge in the tree tops； if we can。 We have sat here beside the road already longer than was wise。'
The pany now turned aside from the path； and went into the shadow of the deeper woods； westward along the mountainstream away from Silverlode。 Not far from the falls of Nimrodel they found a cluster of trees； some of which overhung the stream。 Their great grey trunks were of mighty girth； but their height could not be guessed。
'I will climb up；' said Legolas。 'I am at home among trees； by root or bough； though these trees are of a kind strange to me； save as a name in song。 Mellyrn they are called； and are those that bear the yellow blossom； but I have never climbed in one。 I will see now what is their shape and way of growth。'
'Whatever it may be；' said Pippin； 'they will be marvellous trees indeed if they can offer any rest at night； except to birds。 I cannot sleep on a perch！ '
'Then dig a hole in the ground；' said Legolas； 'if that is more after the fashion of your kind。 But you must dig swift and deep； if you wish to hide from Orcs。' He sprang lightly up from the ground and caught a branch that grew from the trunk high above his head。 But even as he swung there for a moment； a voice spoke suddenly from the treeshadows above him。
'Daro！' it said in manding tone； and Legolas dropped back to earth in surprise and fear。 He shrank against the bole of the tree。
'Stand still！ ' he whispered to the others。 'Do not move or speak！ '
There was a sound of soft laughter over their heads； and then another clear voice spoke in an elventongue。 Frodo could understand little of what was said； for the speech that the Silvan folk east of the mountains used among themselves was unlike that of the West。 Legolas looked up and answered in the same language。
'Who are they； and what do they say？ ' asked Merry。
'They're Elves；' said Sam。 'Can't you hear their voices？ '
'Yes； they are Elves；' said Legolas； 'and they say that you breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark。' Sam hastily put his hand over his mouth。 'But they say also that you need have no fear。 They have been aware of us for a long while。 They heard my voice across the Nimrodel； and knew that I was one of their Northern kindred； and therefore they did not hinder our crossing； and afterwards they heard my song。 Now they bid me climb up with Frodo； for they seem to have had some tidings of him and of our journey。 The others they ask to wait a little and to keep watch at the foot of the tree； until they have decided what is to be done。'
Out of the shadows a ladder was let down： it was made of rope； silver grey and glimmering in the dark； and though it looked slender it proved strong enough to bear many men。 Legolas ran lightly up； and Frodo followed slowly； behind came Sam trying not to breathe loudly。 The branches of the mallorntree grew out nearly straight from the trunk； and then swept upward； but near the top the main stem divided into a crown of many boughs； and among these they found that there had been built a wooden platform； or flet as such things were called in those days： the Elves called it a talan。 It was reached by a round hole in the centre through which the ladder passed。
When Frodo came at last up on to the flet he found Legolas seated with three other Elves。 They were clad in shadowygrey； and could not be seen among the treestems； unless they moved suddenly。 They stood up； and one of them uncovered a small lamp that gave out a slender silver beam。 He held it up； looking at Frodo's face； and Sam's。 Then he shut off the light again； and spoke words of wele in his elventongue。 Frodo spoke haltingly in return。
'Wele！' the Elf then said again in the mon Language； speaking slowly。 'We seldom use any tongue but our own； for we dwell now in the heart of the forest； and do not willingly have dealings with any other folk。 Even our own kindred in the North are sundered from us。 But there are some of us still who go abroad for the gathering of news and the watching of our enemies； and they speak the languages of other lands。 I am one。 Haldir is my name。 My brothers； Rúmil and Orophin； speak little of your tongue。
'But we have heard rumours of your ing； for the messengers of Elrond passed by Lórien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair。 We had not heard of hobbits； or halflings； for many a long year； and did not know that any yet dwelt in Middleearth。 You do not look evil！ And since you e with an Elf of our kindred； we are willing to befriend you； as Elrond asked； though it is not our custom to lead strangers through our land。 But you must stay here tonight。 How many are you？ '
'Eight；' said Legolas。 'Myself； four hobbits； and two men； one of whom； Aragorn； is an Elffriend of the folk of Westernesse。'
'The name of Aragorn son of Arathorn is known in Lórien；' said Haldir； 'and he has the favour of the Lady。 All then is well。 But you have yet spoken only of seven。'
'The eighth is a dwarf；' said Legolas。
'A dwarf！ ' said Haldir。 'That is not well。 We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days。 They are not permitted in our land。 I cannot allow him to pass。'
'But he is from the Lonely Mountain； one of Dáin's trusty people； and friendly to Elrond；' said Frodo。 'Elrond himself chose him to be one of our panions； and he has been brave and faithful。'
The Elves spoke together in soft voices； and questioned Legolas in their own tongue。 'Very good；' said Haldir at last。 'We will do this； though it is against our liking。 If Aragorn and Legolas will guard him； and answer for him； he shall pass； but he must go blindfold through Lothlórien。
'But now we must debate no longer。 Your folk must not remain on the ground。 We have been keeping watch on the rivers； ever since we saw a great troop of Orcs going north toward Moria； along the skirts of the mountains； many days ago。 Wolves are howling on the wood's borders。 If you have indeed e from Moria； the peril cannot be far behind。 Tomorrow early you must go on。
'The four hobbits shall climb up here and stay with uswe do not fear them！ There is another talan in the next tree。 There the others must take refuge。 You； Legolas； must answer to us for them。 Call us； if anything is amiss！ And have an eye on that dwarf！'
Legolas at once went down the ladder to take Haldir's message； and soon afterwards Merry and Pippin clambered up on to the high flet。 They were out of breath and seemed rather scared。
'There！' said Merry panting。 'We have lugged up your blankets as well as our own。 Strider has hidden all the rest of the baggage in a deep drift of leaves。'
'You had no need of your burdens；' said Haldir。 'It is cold in the tree tops in winter； though the wind tonight is in the South； but we have food and drink to give you that will drive away the nightchill； and we have skins and cloaks to spare。'
The hobbits accepted this second （and far better） supper very gladly。 Then they wrapped themselves warmly； not only in the furcloaks of the Elves； but in their own blankets as well； and tried to go to sleep。 But weary as they were only Sam f