ere speeding along with little hope of stopping or turning；
whatever they might meet ahead。 Over them was a lane of pale…blue sky； aroundthem the dark overshadowed River； and before them black； shutting out the sun；
the hills of Emyn Muil； in which no opening could be seen。
Frodo peering forward saw in the distance two great rocks approaching：
like great pinnacles or pillars of stone they seemed。 Tall and sheer andominous they stood upon either side of the stream。 A narrow gap appearedbetween them； and the River swept the boats towards it。
‘Behold the Argonath； the Pillars of the Kings！ ' cried Aragorn。 ‘Weshall pass them soon。 Keep the boats in line； and as far apart as you can！
Hold the middle of the stream！ '
As Frodo was borne towards them the great pillars rose like towers tomeet him。 Giants they seemed to him； vast grey figures silent but threatening。
Then he saw that they were indeed shaped and fashioned： the craft and power ofold had wrought upon them； and still they preserved through the suns and rainsof forgotten years the mighty likenesses in which they had been hewn。 Upongreat pedestals founded in the deep waters stood two great kings of stone：
still with blurred eyes and crannied brows they frowned upon the North。 Theleft hand of each was raised palm outwards in gesture of warning； in eachright hand there was an axe； upon each head there was a crumbling helm andcrown。 Great power and majesty they still wore； the silent wardens of a long…
vanished kingdom。 Awe and fear fell upon Frodo； and he cowered down； shuttinghis eyes and not daring to look up as the boat drew near。 Even Boromir bowedhis head as the boats whirled by。 frail and fleeting as little leaves； underthe enduring shadow of the sentinels of Númenor。 So they passed into the darkchasm of the Gates。
Sheer rose the dreadful cliffs to unguessed heights on either side。 Faroff was the dim sky。 The black waters roared and echoed； and a wind screamedover them。 Frodo crouching over his knees heard Sam in front muttering andgroaning： ‘What a place！ What a horrible place！ Just let me get out of thisboat； and I'll never wet my toes in a puddle again； let alone a river！ '
‘Fear not！ ' said a strange voice behind him。 Frodo turned and sawStrider； and yet not Strider； for the weatherworn Ranger was no longer there。
In the stern sat Aragorn son of Arathorn； proud and erect； guiding the boatwith skilful strokes； his hood was cast back； and his dark hair was blowing inthe wind； a light was in his eyes： a king returning from exile to his ownland。
'Fear not！ ' he said。 ‘Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses ofIsildur and Anárion； my sires of old。 Under their shadow Elessar； the Elfstoneson of Arathorn of the House of Valandil Isildur's son heir of Elendil； hasnought to dread！ '
Then the light of his eyes faded； and he spoke to himself： ‘Would thatGandalf were here！ How my heart yearns for Minas Anor and the walls of my owncity！ But whither now shall I go？ '
The chasm was long and dark； and filled with the noise of wind andrushing water and echoing stone。 It bent somewhat towards the west so that atfirst all was dark ahead； but soon Frodo saw a tall gap of light before him；
ever growing。 Swiftly it drew near； and suddenly the boats shot through； outinto a wide clear light。
The sun； already long fallen from the noon； was shining in a windy sky。
The pent waters spread out into a long oval lake； pale Nen Hithoel； fenced bysteep grey hills whose sides were clad with trees； but their heads were bare；
cold…gleaming in the sunlight。 At the far southern end rose three peaks。 Themidmost stood somewhat forward from the others and sundered from them； anisland in the waters； about which the flowing River flung pale shimmeringarms。 Distant but deep there came up on the wind a roaring sound like the rollof thunder heard far away。
‘Behold Tol Brandir！ ' said Aragorn； pointing south to the tall peak。
'Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw； and upon the right is Amon Hen the Hills ofHearing and of Sight。 In the days of the great kings there were high seatsupon them； and watch was kept there。 But it is said that no foot of man orbeast has ever been set upon Tol Brandir。 Ere the shade of night falls weshall e to them。 I hear the endless voice of Rauros calling。'
The pany rested now for a while； drifting south on the current thatflowed through the middle of the lake。 They ate some food； and then they tookto their paddles and hastened on their way。 The sides of the westward hillsfell into shadow； and the Sun grew round and red。 Here and there a misty starpeered out。 The three peaks loomed before them； darkling in the twilight。
Rauros was roaring with a great voice。 Already night was laid on the flowingwaters when the travellers came at last under the shadow of the hills。
The tenth day of their journey was over。 Wilderland was behind them。 Theycould go no further without choice between the east…way and the west。 The laststage of the Quest was before them。
_Chapter 10_
The Breaking of the Fellowship
Aragorn led them to the right arm of the River。 Here upon its westernside under the shadow of Tol Brandir a green lawn ran down to the water fromthe feet of Amon Hen。 Behind it rose the first gentle slopes of the hill cladwith trees； and trees marched away westward along the curving shores of thelake。 A little spring fell tumbling down and fed the grass。
'Here we will rest tonight；' said Aragorn。 ‘This is the lawn of ParthGalen： a fair place in the summer days of old。 Let us hope that no evil hasyet e here。'
They drew up their boats on the green banks； and beside them they madetheir camp。 They set a watch； but had no sight nor sound of their enemies。 IfGollum had contrived to follow them； he remained unseen and unheard。
Nonetheless as the night wore on Aragorn grew uneasy； tossing often in hissleep and waking。 In the small hours he got up and came to Frodo； whose turnit was to watch。
‘Why are you waking？ ' asked Frodo。 ‘It is not your watch。'
‘I do not know；' answered Aragorn； ‘but a shadow and a threat has beengrowing in my sleep。 It would be well to draw your sword。'
‘Why？ ' said Frodo。 ‘Are enemies at hand？ '
‘Let us see what Sting may show；' answered Aragorn。
Frodo then drew the elf…blade from its sheath。 To his dismay the edgesgleamed dimly in the night。 ‘Orcs！ ' he said。 ‘Not very near； and yet toonear； it seems。'
‘I feared as much；' said Aragorn。 ‘But maybe they are not on this side ofthe River。 The light of Sting is faint； and it may point to no more than spiesof Mordor roaming on the slopes of Amon Lhaw。 I have never heard before ofOrcs upon Amon Hen。 Yet who knows what may happen in these evil days； now thatMinas Tirith no longer holds secure the passages of Anduin。 We must go warilytomorrow。'
The day came like fire and smoke。 Low in the East there were black barsof cloud like the fumes of a great burning。 The rising sun lit them frombeneath with flames of murky red； but soon it climbed above them into a clearsky。 The summit of Tol Brandir was tipped with gold。 Frodo looked out eastwardand gazed at the tall island。 Its sides sprang sheer out of the running water。
High up above the tall cliffs were steep slopes upon which trees climbed；
mounting one head above another； and above them again were grey faces ofinaccessible rock； crowned by a great spire of stone。 Many birds were circlingabout it； but no sign of other living things could be seen。
When they had eaten； Aragorn called the pany together。 ‘The day hase at last；' he said： 'the day of choice which we have long delayed。 Whatshall now bee of our pany that has travelled so far in fellowship？ Shallwe turn west with Boromir and go to the wars of Gondor； or turn east to theFear and Shadow； or shall we break our fellowship and go this way and that aseach may choose？ Whatever we do must be done soon。 We cannot long halt here。
The enemy is on the eastern shore； we know； but I fear that the Orcs mayalready be on this side of the water。'
There was a long silence in which no one spoke or moved。
'Well； Frodo；' said Aragorn at last。 ‘I fear that the burden is laid uponyou。 You are the Bearer appointed by the Council。 Your own way you alone canchoose。 In this matter I cannot advise you。 I am not Gandalf； and though Ihave tried to bear his part； I do not know what design or hope he had for thishour； if indeed he had any。 Most likely it seems that if he were here now thechoice would still wait on you。 Such is your fate。'
Frodo did not answer at once。 Then he spoke slowly。 ‘I know that haste isneeded； yet I cannot choose。 The burden is heavy。 Give me an hour longer； andI will speak。 Let me be alone！ '
Aragorn looked at him with kindly pity。 ‘Very well； Frodo son of Drogo；'
he said。 ‘You shall have an hour； and you shall be alone。 We will stay herefor a while。 But do not stray far or out of call。'
Frodo sat for a moment with his head bowed。 Sam； who had been watching
his master with great concern； shook his head and muttered： 'Plain as apikestaff it is； but it's no good Sam Gamgee putting in his spoke just now。' ；
Presently Frodo got up and walked away； and Sam saw that while the othersrestrained themselves and did not stare at him； the eyes of Boromir followedFrodo intently； until he passed out of sight in the trees at the foot of AmonHen。
Wandering aimlessly at first in the wood； Frodo found that his feet wereleading him up towards the slopes of the hill。 He came to a path； thedwindling ruins of a road of long ago。 In steep places stairs of stone hadbeen hewn； but now they were cracked and worn； and split by the roots oftrees。 For some while he climbed； not caring which way he went； until he cameto a grassy place。 Rowan…trees grew about it； and in the midst was a wide flatstone。 The little upland lawn was open upon the East and was filled now withthe early sunlight。 Frodo halted and looked out over the River； far below him；
to Tol Brandir and the birds wheeling in the great gulf of air between him andthe untrodden isle。 The voice of Rauros was a mighty roaring mingled with adeep throbbing boom。
He sat down upon the stone and cupped his chin in his hands； staringeastwards but seeing little with his eyes。 All that had happened since Bilboleft t