The Return of the Shadow. Christopher Tolkien

by the road.’

      The singing drew nearer. One clear voice rose above the others. It seemed to be singing in the secret elf-tongue, of which Bingo knew only a little, and the others knew nothing, yet the sound of the words blending with the tune seemed to turn into words in their own listening thought, which they only partly understood. Frodo and Bingo afterwards agreed that the song went something like this:

       Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!

       O Queen beyond the Western Seas!

       O Light to us that wander here

       Amid the world of woven trees!

       Gilthoniel! O Elbereth!

       Clear are thy eyes and cold thy breath!

       Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee

       In a far land beyond the Sea.

       O Stars that in the Sunless Year

       With shining hand by her were sown,

       In windy fields now bright and clear

       We see your silver blossom blown!

       O Elbereth! Gilthoniel!

       We still remember, we who dwell

       In this far land beneath the trees,

       Thy starlight on the Western Seas. ¹⁵

      The hobbits sat in shadow by the roadside. Before long the Elves came down the road towards the valley. They passed slowly and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes.¹⁶ They bore no lights, yet as they walked a shimmer, like the light of the moon above the rim of the hills before it rises, seemed to fall about their feet. They had stopped singing, and as the last elf passed he turned and looked towards the hobbits, and laughed.

      ‘Hail Bingo!’ he said. ‘You are out late-or are you perhaps lost?’ Then he called aloud in the elf-tongue, and all the company stopped and gathered round.

      ‘Well! Isn’t this wonderful!’ they said. ‘Three hobbits in a wood at night! What is the meaning of this? We haven’t seen anything like it, since dear Bilbo went away.’

      ‘The meaning of this, my good Elves,’ said Bingo, ‘is simply that we seem to be going the same way as you are. I was brought up by Bilbo, so I like walking, even under the stars. And I can put up with Elves for lack of other company!’

      ‘But we have no need of other company, and hobbits are so dull,’ they laughed. ‘Come along now, tell us all about it! We see you are simply swelling with secrets we should like to hear. Though some we know, of course, and some we guess. Many Happy Returns of yesterday – we have heard all about that, of course, from the Rivendell people.’¹⁷

      ‘Then who are you, and who is your lord?’ said Bingo.

‘I am Gildor,’ said the Elf who had hailed him. ‘Gildor Inglorion of the house of Finrod. We are exiles, one of the few companies that still remain east of the Sea, for our kindred went back to the West long ago. We are Wise-elves, and the elves of Rivendell are our kinsfolk.’¹⁸

      ‘O Wise People,’ said Frodo, ‘tell us about the Black Rider!’

      ‘The Black Rider!’ they said in low voices. ‘Why do you ask about the Black Rider?’

      ‘Because three Black Riders have overtaken us today, or one three times,’¹⁹ said Bingo; ‘and only a few moments ago one slipped away as you drew near.’

      The Elves did not answer at once, but spoke together softly in the elf-tongue. At last Gildor turned to the hobbits: ‘We will not speak more of this here,’ he said. ‘We think you had better come with us. As you know, it is not our custom; but for Bilbo’s sake we will take you on our road, and you shall lodge with us to-night, if you wish.’

      ‘I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion,’ said Bingo bowing. ‘O Fair Folk! This is a good fortune beyond my best hope,’ said Frodo. Odo also bowed, but said nothing aloud. ‘Rather good luck?’ he whispered to Bingo. ‘I suppose we shall get a really good bed and supper?’

      ‘You can reckon your luck in the morning,’ said Gildor, as if he had been spoken to. ‘We shall do what we can, though we have heard that hobbits are hard to satisfy.’

      ‘I beg your pardon,’ stammered Odo. Bingo laughed: ‘You must be careful of Elvish ears, Odo!’ ‘We count our luck already,’ he said to the Elves; ‘and I think that you will find that we are very easy to please (for hobbits).’ He added in the elf-tongue a greeting that Bilbo had taught him: ‘The stars shine on the hour of our meeting.’

      ‘Be careful, friends!’ cried Gildor laughing. ‘Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the elf-latin.²⁰ Bilbo was indeed a good master! Hail! elf-friend,’ he said, bowing to Bingo, ‘come now and join our company!²¹ You had best walk in the middle, so that you will not stray. You may be weary before we halt.’

      ‘Why? Where are you going?’ asked Bingo.

      ‘To the woods near Woodhall down in the valley. It is some miles; but it will shorten your journey to Buckland tomorrow.’

      They marched along in silence, and passed like shadows and faint lights; for both Elves and hobbits could walk when they wished without a sound. They sang no more songs. Odo began to feel sleepy, and stumbled once or twice; but each time a tall elf by his side put out his arm and saved him from a fall.

      The woods on either side became denser; the trees were younger and more thick, and as the road went lower there were many deep brakes of hazel. At last they turned right from the road: a green ride lay almost unseen through the thicket. This they followed until they came suddenly to a wide space of grass, grey under the night. The wood bordered it on three sides; but on the east the ground fell steeply, and the tops of the dark trees growing in the fold below were level with their feet. Beyond them the low land lay dim and flat under the stars. Nearer at hand there was a twinkle of lights: the village of Woodhall.

      The Elves sat on the grass, and seemed to take no further notice of the hobbits. They spoke together in soft voices. The hobbits wrapped themselves in cloak and blankets, and drowsiness crept over them. The night drew on, and the lights in the valley went out. Odo fell asleep, pillowed on a smooth hillock.

      Out of the mists away eastward a pale gold light went up. The yellow moon rose; springing swiftly out of the shadow, and then climbing round and slow into the sky. The Elves all burst into song. Suddenly under the trees to one side a fire sprang up with a red light.

      ‘Come!’ the Elves called to the hobbits. ‘Come! Now is the time for speech and merriment.’

      Odo sat up and rubbed his eyes. He shivered. ‘Come, little Odo!’ said an elf. ‘There is a fire in the hall, and some food for hungry guests.’

      On the south side of the green-sward the wood drew close. Here there was a space green-floored, but entirely overshadowed by tall trees. Their trunks ran like pillars down each side, and their interlaced branches made a roof above. In the middle there was a wood-fire blazing; upon the sides of the tree-pillars torches with lights of gold and silver were burning steadily without smoke. The Elves sat round the fire upon the grass or upon the sawn rings of old trunks. Some went to and fro bearing cups and pouring drink; others brought food on heaped plates and dishes, and set them on the grass.

      ‘This is poor fare,’ they said to the hobbits; ‘for we are lodging in the greenwood far from our halls. If ever you are our guests at home, we will treat you better.’

      ‘It seems to me good enough for a birthday party,’