said Celeborn； 'the most evil that have been 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 Elven tongue。
'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 we almost fot our grief for a time； as we walked in gladness on the fair paths of 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 escape seemed 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 the fight in the Chamber of Mazarbul； and the fire； and the narrow bridge； and the ing of the Terror。 'An evil of the Ancient World it seemed； such as I have never seen before；' said Aragorn。 'It was both a shadow and a flame； strong and terrible。'
'It was a Balrog of Moth；' said Legolas； 'of all elfbanes the most deadly； save the One who sits in the Dark Tower。'
'Indeed I saw upon the bridge that which haunts our darkest dreams I saw Durin's Bane；' said Gimli in a low voice； and dread was in his eyes。
'Alas！' said Celeborn。 'We long have feared that under Caradhras a terror slept。 But had I known that the Dwarves had stirred up this evil in Moria again； I would have forbidden you to pass the northern borders； you and all that went with you。 And if it were possible； one would say that at the last Gandalf fell from wisdom into folly； going needlessly into the of Moria。'
'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 be with the guide； the followers are blameless。 Do not repent of your wele to the Dwarf。 If our folk had been exiled long and far from Lothlórien； who of the Galadhrim； even Celeborn the Wise； would pass nigh and would not wish to look upon their ancient home； though it had bee an abode of dragons？
'Dark is the water of Kheledzaram； and cold are the springs of Kibil nala； and fair were the manypillared halls of Khazadd？m in Elder Days before the fall of mighty kings beneath the stone。' She looked upon Gimli； who sat glowering and sad； and she smiled。 And the Dwarf； hearing the names given in his own ancient tongue； looked up and met her eyes； and it seemed to him that he looked suddenly into the heart of an enemy and saw there love and understanding。 Wonder came into his face； and then he smiled in answer。
He rose clumsily and bowed in dwarffashion； saying： 'Yet more fair is the living land of Lórien； and the Lady Galadriel is above all the jewels that lie beneath the earth！'
There was a silence。 At length Celeborn spoke again。 'I did not know that your plight was so evil；' he said。 'Let Gimli fet my harsh words： I spoke in the trouble of my heart。 I will do what I can to aid you； each according to his wish and need； but especially that one of the little folk who bears the burden。'
'Your quest is known to us；' said Galadriel； looking at Frodo。 'But we will 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 the West since the days of dawn； and I have dwelt with him years uncounted； for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains； and together 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 mayhap things would have gone otherwise。 But even now there is hope left。 I will not give 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 in knowing what was and is； and in part also what shall be。 But this I will say to you： your Quest stands upon the edge of a knife。 Stray but a little and it will fail； to the ruin of all。 Yet hope remains while all the pany is true。'
And with that word she held them with her eyes； and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn。 None save Legolas and Aragorn could long endure 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 in peace。' Then they sighed and felt suddenly weary； as those who have been questioned 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 speak of your further road for a while。'
That night the pany slept upon the ground； much to the satisfaction of the hobbits。 The Elves spread for them a pavilion among the trees near the fountain； and in it they laid soft couches； then speaking words of peace with fair elvish voices they left them。 For a little while the travellers talked of their night before in the treetops； and of their day's journey； and of the Lord 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。 Anyone would have thought you had a guilty conscience。 I hope it was nothing worse than a wicked plot to steal one of my blankets。'
'I never thought no such thing；' answered Sam； in no mood for jest。 'If you 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 gave me the chance of flying back home to the Shire to a nice little hole withwith a 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 was offered a choice between a shadow full of fear that lay ahead； and something that he greatly desired： clear before his mind it lay； and to get it he had only to turn aside from the road and leave the Quest and the war against Sauron to others。
'And it seemed to me； too；' said Gimli； 'that my choice would remain secret and known only to myself。'
'To me it seemed exceedingly strange；' said Boromir。 'Maybe it was only a test； and she thought to read our thoughts for her own good purpose； but almost I should have said that she was tempting us； and offering what she pretended to have the power to give。 It need not be said that I refused to listen。 The Men of Minas Tirith are true to their word。' But what he thought that the Lady had offered him Boromir did not tell。
And as for Frodo； he would not speak； though Boromir presse