ready laid before your feet； though you do notsee them。 Good night！ '
The pany now took their leave and returned to their pavilion。 Legolaswent with them； for this was to be their last night in Lothlórien； and inspite of the words of Galadriel they wished to take counsel together。
For a long time they debated what they should do； and how it would bebest to attempt the fulfilling of their purpose with the Ring： but they cameto no decision。 It was plain that most of them desired to go first to MinasTirith； and to escape at least for a while from the terror of the Enemy。 Theywould have been willing to follow a leader over the River and into the shadowof Mordor； but Frodo spoke no word； and Aragorn was still divided in his mind。
His own plan； while Gandalf remained with them； had been to go withBoromir； and with his sword help to deliver Gondor。 For he believed that themessage of the dreams was a summons； and that the hour had e at last whenthe heir of Elendil should e forth and strive with Sauron for the mastery。
But in Moria the burden of Gandalf had been laid on him； and he knew that hecould not now forsake the Ring； if Frodo refused in the end to go withBoromir。 And yet what help could he or any of the pany give to Frodo； saveto walk blindly with him into the darkness？
‘I shall go to Minas Tirith； alone if need be； for it is my duty；' saidBoromir； and after that he was silent for a while； sitting with his eyes fixedon Frodo； as if he was trying to read the Halfling's thoughts。 At length hespoke again； softly； as if he was debating with himself。 ‘If you wish only todestroy the Ring；' he said； ‘then there is little use in war and weapons； andthe Men of Minas Tirith cannot help。 But if you wish to destroy the armedmight of the Dark Lord； then it is folly to go without force into his domain；
and folly to throw away。' He paused suddenly； as if he had bee aware thathe was speaking his thoughts aloud。 ‘It would be folly to throw lives away； Imean；' he ended。 ‘It is a choice between defending a strong place and walkingopenly into the arms of death。 At least； that is how I see it。'
Frodo caught something new and strange in Boromir's glance； and he lookedhard at him。 Plainly Boromir's thought was different from his final words。 Itwould be folly to throw away： what？ The Ring of Power？ He had said somethinglike this at the Council； but then he had accepted the correction of Elrond。
Frodo looked at Aragorn； but he seemed deep in his own thought and made no
sign that he had heeded Boromir's words。 And so their debate ended。 Merry andPippin were already asleep； and Sam was nodding。 The night was growing old。
In the morning； as they were beginning to pack their slender goods； Elvesthat could speak their tongue came to them and brought them many gifts of foodand clothing for the journey。 The food was mostly in the form of very thincakes； made of a meal that was baked a light brown on the outside； and insidewas the colour of cream。 Gimli took up one of the cakes and looked at it witha doubtful eye。
‘_Cram_；' he said under his breath； as he broke off a crisp corner andnibbled at it。 His expression quickly changed； and he ate all the rest of thecake with relish。
‘No more； no more！' cried the Elves laughing。 ‘You have eaten enoughalready for a long day's march。'
‘I thought it was only a kind of _cram_； such as the Dale…men make forjourneys in the wild；' said the Dwarf。
‘So it is；' they answered。 ‘But we call it _lembas_ or waybread； and itis more strengthening than any food made by Men； and it is more pleasant than_cram_； by all accounts。'
‘Indeed it is；' said Gimli。 'Why it is better than the honey…cakes of theBeornings； and that is great praise； for the Beornings are the best bakersthat I know of； but they are none too willing to deal out their cakes totravellers in these days。 You are kindly hosts！ '
'All the same； we bid you spare the food；' they said。 'Eat little at atime； and only at need。 For these things are given to serve you when all elsefails。 The cakes will keep sweet for many many days； if they are unbroken andleft in their leaf…wrappings； as we have brought them。 One will keep atraveller on his feet for a day of long labour； even if he be one of the tallMen of Minas Tirith。'
The Elves next unwrapped and gave to each of the pany the clothes theyhad brought。 For each they had provided a hood and cloak； made according tohis size； of the light but warm silken stuff that the Galadhrim wove。 It washard to say of what colour they were： grey with the hue of twilight under thetrees they seemed to be； and yet if they were moved； or set in another light；
they were green as shadowed leaves； or brown as fallow fields by night； dusk…
silver as water under the stars。 Each cloak was fastened about the neck with a
brooch like a green leaf veined with silver。
‘Are these magic cloaks？ ' asked Pippin； looking at them with wonder。
‘I do not know what you mean by that；' answered the leader of the Elves。
‘They are fair garments； and the web is good； for it was made in this land。
They are elvish robes certainly； if that is what you mean。 Leaf and branch；
water and stone： they have the hue and beauty of all these things under thetwilight of Lórien that we love； for we put the thought of all that we loveinto all that we make。 Yet they are garments； not armour； and they will notturn shaft or blade。 But they should serve you well： they are light to wear；
and warm enough or cool enough at need。 And you will find them a great aid inkeeping out of the sight of unfriendly eyes； whether you walk among the stonesor the trees。 You are indeed high in the favour of the Lady！ For she herselfand her maidens wove this stuff； and never before have we clad strangers inthe garb of our own people。'
After their morning meal the pany said farewell to the lawn by thefountain。 Their hearts were heavy； for it was a fair place； and it had beelike home to them； though they could not count the days and nights that theyhad passed there。 As they stood for a moment looking at the white water in thesunlight； Haldir came walking towards them over the green grass of the glade。
Frodo greeted him with delight。
'I have returned from the Northern Fences；' said the Elf； ‘and I am sentnow to be your guide again。 The Dimrill Dale is full of vapour and clouds ofsmoke； and the mountains are troubled。 There are noises in the deeps of theearth。 If any of you had thought of returning northwards to your homes； youwould not have been able to pass that way。 But e！ Your path now goes
south。'
As they walked through Caras Galadhon the green ways were empty； but inthe trees above them many voices were murmuring and singing。 They themselveswent silently。 At last Haldir led them down the southward slopes of the hill；
and they came again to the great gate hung with lamps； and to the whitebridge； and so they passed out and left the city of the Elves。 Then theyturned away from the paved road and took a path that went off into a deepthicket of mallorn…trees； and passed on； winding through rolling woodlands ofsilver shadow； leading them ever down； southwards and eastwards； towards theshores of the River。
They had gone some ten miles and noon was at hand when they came on ahigh green wall。 Passing through an opening they came suddenly out of thetrees。 Before them lay a long lawn of shining grass； studded with golden_elanor_ that glinted in the sun。 The lawn ran out into a narrow tonguebetween bright margins： on the right and west the Silverlode flowedglittering； on the left and east the Great River rolled its broad waters； deepand dark。 On the further shores the woodlands still marched on southwards as
far as the eye could see； but all the banks were bleak and bare。 No mallornlifted its gold…hung boughs beyond the Land of Lórien。
On the bank of the Silverlode； at some distance up from the meeting ofthe streams； there was a hythe of white stones and white wood。 By it weremoored many boats and barges。 Some were brightly painted； and shone withsilver and gold and green； but most were either white or grey。 Three smallgrey boats had been made ready for the travellers； and in these the Elvesstowed their goods。 And they added also coils of rope； three to each boat。
Slender they looked； but strong； silken to the touch； grey of hue like theelven…cloaks。
‘What are these？ ' asked Sam； handling one that lay upon the greensward。
‘Ropes indeed！ ' answered an Elf from the boats。 'Never travel farwithout a rope！ And one that is long and strong and light。 Such are these。
They may be a help in many needs。'
'You don't need to tell me that！ ' said Sam。 ‘I came without any and I'vebeen worried ever since。 But I was wondering what these were made of； knowinga bit about rope…making： it's in the family as you might say。'
‘They are made of _hithlain_；' said the Elf； ‘but there is no time now toinstruct you in the art of their making。 Had we known that this craftdelighted you； we could have taught you much。 But now alas！ unless you shouldat some time return hither； you must be content with our gift。 May it serveyou well！ '
‘e！ ' said Haldir。 ‘All is now ready for you。 Enter the boats！ Buttake care at first！ '
'Heed the words！ ' said the other Elves。 'These boats are light…built；
and they are crafty and unlike the boats of other folk。 They will not sink；
lade them as you will； but they are wayward if mishandled。 It would be wise ifyou accustomed yourselves to stepping in and out； here where there is alanding…place； before you set off downstream。'
The pany was arranged in this way： Aragorn； Frodo； and Sam were in oneboat； Boromir； Merry； and Pippin in another； and in the third were Legolas andGimli； who had now bee fast friends。 In this last boat most of the goodsand packs were stowed。 The boats were moved and steered with short…handledpaddles that had broad leaf…shaped blades。 When all was ready Aragorn led themon a trial up the Silverlode。 The current was swift and they went forwardslowly。 Sam sat in the bows； clutching the sides； and looking back wistfullyto the shore。 The sunlight glittering on the water dazzled his eyes。 As theypassed beyond the green field of the Tongue； the trees drew down to theriver's brink。 Here and there golden leaves tosse