1. 'There are none now, save
Elrond, that remember it aright as it was told of old.'
2. 'The face of Elrond was
ageless, neither old nor young, though in it was written the memory of many
things both glad and sorrowful. His hair was dark as the shadows of twilight,
and upon it waws set a circlet of silver; his eyes were grey as a clear
evening, and in them was a light like the light of stars. Venerable he seemed
as a king crowned with many winters, and yet hale as a tried warrior in the
fulness of his strength. He was the
Lord of Rivendell and mighty among both Elves and Men.'
3. Elrond went forward and stood
beside the silent figure. 'Awake, little master!' he said with a smile. Then,
turning to Frodo, he beckoned to him. 'Now at last the hour has come that you have wished for, Frodo,' he
said. 'Here is a friend that you have long missed.'
4. 'I remember well the splendour
of their banners.' he said. 'It recalled to me the glory of the Elder Days and the
hosts of Beleriand... I was the herald of Gil-Galad and marched with his
host."
5. 'This only (Denethor) would
say, that Imladris was of old the name among the Elves of a far northern dale,
where Elrond Halfelven dwelt, greatest of lore-masters.'
6. 'But Gandalf has revealed to us
that we cannot destroy it by any craft that we here possess...and they who
dwell beyond the Sea would not recieve it: for good or ill it belongs to
Middle-earth; it is for us who dwell here to deal with it....now at this last
we must take a hard road, a road unforeseen. There lies our hope, if hope it
be. To walk into peril - to Mordor. We must send the Ring to the Fire.'
7. Elrond raised his eyes are
looked at him, and Frodo felt his heart peirced by the sudden keeness of the
glance. 'If I understand aright all that I have heard,' he said,' I think that
this task is apporinted for you Frodo; and that if you do not find a way, no
one will.'
8. 'No indeed!,' siad Elrond, turning towards him with a smile. 'You
at least shall go wtih him. It is hardly possible to separate you from him,
even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.'
9. 'Let him not vow to walk in the
dark, who has not seen the nightfall.'
10. Elrond wore a mantle of grey
and had a star upon his forehead, and a silver harp was in his hand, and upon
his finger was a ring of gold with a great blue stone, Vilya, mightiest of the
Three.
