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hhis shining belt。 The Elves all burst into song。 Suddenly under the trees afire sprang up with a red light。
'e！' the Elves called to the hobbits。 'e！ Now is the time for
speech and merriment！'
Pippin sat up and rubbed his eyes。 He shivered。 'There is a fire in thehall； and food for hungry guests；' said an Elf standing before him。
At the south end of the greensward there was an opening。 There the green
floor ran on into the wood； and formed a wide space like a hall； roofed by theboughs of trees。 Their great trunks ran like pillars down each side。 In themiddle there was a wood…fire blazing； and upon the tree…pillars torches withlights of gold and silver were burning steadily。 The Elves sat round the fireupon the grass or upon the sawn rings of old trunks。 Some went to and frobearing cups and pouring drink； others brought food on heaped plates anddishes。
'This is poor fare；' they said to the hobbits； 'for we are lodging in thegreenwood far from our halls。 If ever you are our guests at home； we willtreat you better。'
'It seems to me good enough for a birthday…party；' said Frodo。
Pippin afterwards recalled little of either food or drink； for his mindwas filled with the light upon the elf…faces； and the sound of voices sovarious and so beautiful that he felt in a waking dream。 But he rememberedthat there was bread； surpassing the savour of a fair white loaf to one who isstarving； and fruits sweet as wildberries and richer than the tended fruits ofgardens； he drained a cup that was filled with a fragrant draught； cool as aclear fountain； golden as a summer afternoon。
Sam could never describe in words； nor picture clearly to himself； whathe felt or thought that night； though it remained in his memory as one of thechief events of his life。 The nearest he ever got was to say： 'Well； sir； if Icould grow apples like that； I would call myself a gardener。 But it was thesinging that went to my heart； if you know what I mean。'
Frodo sat； eating； drinking； and talking with delight； but his mind waschiefly on the words spoken。 He knew a little of the elf…speech and listenedeagerly。 Now and again he spoke to those that served him and thanked them intheir own language。 They smiled at him and said laughing： 'Here is a jewelamong hobbits！'
After a while Pippin fell fast asleep； and was lifted up and borne awayto a bower under the trees； there he was laid upon a soft bed and slept therest of the night away。 Sam refused to leave his master。 When Pippin had gone；
he came and sat curled up at Frodo's feet； where at last he nodded and closedhis eyes。 Frodo remained long awake； talking with Gildor。
They spoke of many things； old and new； and Frodo questioned Gildor muchabout happenings in the wide world outside the Shire。 The tidings were mostlysad and ominous： of gathering darkness； the wars of Men； and the flight of theElves。 At last Frodo asked the question that was nearest to his heart：
'Tell me； Gildor； have you ever seen Bilbo since he left us？'
Gildor smiled。 'Yes；' he answered。 'Twice。 He said farewell to us on thisvery spot。 But I saw him once again； far from here。' He would say no moreabout Bilbo； and Frodo fell silent。
'You do not ask me or tell me much that concerns yourself； Frodo；' saidGildor。 'But I already know a little； and I can read more in your face and inthe thought behind your questions。 You are leaving the Shire； and yet youdoubt that you will find what you seek； or acplish what you intend； or thatyou will ever return。 Is not that so？'
'It is；' said Frodo； 'but I thought my going was a secret known only toGandalf and my faithful Sam。' He looked down at Sam； who was snoring gently。
'The secret will not reach the Enemy from us；' said Gildor。
'The Enemy？' said Frodo。 'Then you know why I am leaving the Shire？'
'I do not know for what reason the Enemy is pursuing you；' answeredGildor； 'but I perceive that he is – strange indeed though that seems to me。
And I warn you that peril is now both before you and behind you； and uponeither side。'
'You mean the Riders？ I feared that they were servants of the Enemy。 What_are_ the Black Riders？'
'Has Gandalf told you nothing？'
'Nothing about such creatures。'
'Then I think it is not for me to say more – lest terror should keep youfrom your journey。 For it seems to me that you have set out only just in time；
if indeed you are in time。 You must now make haste； and neither stay nor turnback； for the Shire is no longer any protection to you。'
'I cannot imagine what information could be more terrifying than yourhints and warnings；' exclaimed Frodo。 'I knew that danger lay ahead； ofcourse； but I did not expect to meet it in our own Shire。 Can't a hobbit walkfrom the Water to the River in peace？'
'But it is not your own Shire；' said Gildor。 'Others dwelt here beforehobbits were； and others will dwell here again when hobbits are no more。 Thewide world is all about you： you can fence yourselves in； but you cannot forever fence it out。'
'I know – and yet it has always seemed so safe and familiar。 What can Ido now？ My plan was to leave the Shire secretly； and make my way to Rivendell；
but now my footsteps are dogged； before ever I get to Buckland。'
'I think you should still follow that plan；' said Gildor。 'I do not thinkthe Road will prove too hard for your courage。 But if you desire clearercounsel； you should ask Gandalf。 I do not know the reason for your flight； andtherefore I do not know by what means your pursuers will assail you。 Thesethings Gandalf must know。 I suppose that you will see him before you leave theShire？'
'I hope so。 But that is another thing that makes me anxious。 I have beenexpecting Gandalf for many days。 He was to have e to Hobbiton at the latesttwo nights ago； but he has never appeared。 Now I am wondering what can havehappened。 Should I wait for him？'
Gildor was silent for a moment。 'I do not like this news；' he said atlast。 'That Gandalf should be late； does not bode well。 But it is said： _Donot meddle in the affairs of Wizards； for they are subtle and quick to anger。_
The choice is yours： to go or wait。'
'And it is also said；' answered Frodo： 'Go _not to the Elves for counsel；
for they will say