The others of the company went up, although the three elves of the Lorién looked at Gimli with suspicion.

Soon the hobbits, the dwarf and the men fell asleep. Even Aragorn, who hadn't been sleeping peacefully for several days, was able to rest.

Legolas started a discussion with Rùmil, Haldir and Oraphin.

While they were chatting happily, Elenwë moved away and leaned against the railing, several metres away from the merry group.

She contemplated the starry skies, her gaze getting lost between the stars of such delicate beauty.

Haldir finally joined her and joked a little about the night escapades of his childhood.

Elenwë finally laughed at this memory and she was surprised to find that Legolas seemed to be watching their conversation.

There was a regular amused glow on his face.

The morning dawned pale in the east. As she grew older, the light filtered through the yellow leaves of the tree, and he

It seemed to the Hobbits that the first rays of sunshine were shining on a cool summer morning.

A pale blue sky showed through the moving branches.

Looking out through an opening in the south side of the flounder, Frodo saw the whole valley of the Silver Stream stretched out before his eyes like a golden sea of tawny gold gently undulating in the iridescence.

It was still a cool morning when the Company set off again, now guided by Haldir and his brother Rumil.

-Farewell, sweet Nimrodel! exclaimed Legolas.

-I shall return," whispered Elenwë.

Frodo looked back and saw a shimmer of white foam among the grey trunks.

-Farewell, he said.

He felt as if he would never again hear such beautiful running water, forever blending its countless notes into an ever-changing harmony.

They returned to the path that continued along the west bank of the Cours d'Argent, and there they stood for a while, heading south.

There were orca footprints in the ground. But soon Haldir moved aside into the trees, in whose shade he stopped by the river.

-Here is one of mine, across the river, though you can't see him," he said.

He made a call, like a slight bird's whistle, and an Elf came out of a grove of saplings, he was dressed in grey, but his bonnet was thrown back, and his hair sparkled like gold in the morning sun.

Haldir skilfully threw a roll of grey rope over the stream, which the other caught and tied the end to a tree by the river.

-The Celebrant is still strong here, as you can see," said Haldir, "his course is fast and deep, and it is also icy.

We don't set foot as far north as we should, other than when we have to. But in these times of vigilance, we don't build bridges. This is our way of crossing. Follow my lead!

He tied his end of the rope to another tree, after which he ran lightly along this improvised bridge, just like on a road.

-We can follow this path with Legolas," said Elenwë at the time, "but the others don't have this address. Do they have to swim across?

-No, says Haldir, laughing slightly. We have two other ropes. We're going to fix them one on top of the other, one at shoulder height and the other halfway up, holding them, strangers should be able to cross carefully.

With this light bridge made, the Company passed over it, some slowly and carefully, others more easily.

Among the Hobbits, Pippin proved to be the best, for he had a sure foot, he crossed quickly, holding on with one hand, but he did not take his eyes off the bank opposite, nor did he at any time look below it.

Sam dragged along, clutching the ropes and staring at the pale, swirling water.

As if it were an abyss in the mountains.

He breathed with relief on his arrival, safe and sound:

-You can learn at any age! As my old man used to say. But he was thinking about gardening and not about roosting like a bird or trying to walk like a spider. Even my uncle Andy has never done anything like that.

just like that!

The elves smiled and waited for the last ones to pass.

When the Company was finally gathered on the eastern bank of the Silver Stream, the Elves untied the ropes and rolled two of them up.

Rumil, who had stayed on the other side, brought the last one back, threw it on his shoulder, and with a wave of his hand he returned to Nimrodel to resume his watch.

-Now, my friends," said Haldir, "you have entered the Naith of Lorien or the Enclave, as you have entered the Naith of Lorien or the Enclave.

You might say, for it is the land that stretches like a spearhead between the arms of the Cours d'Argent and Anduin la Grande. We do not allow any stranger to spy on the secrets of the Naith. Few people are even allowed to set foot there.

As agreed, I will blindfold Gimli the Dwarf here. The others will be allowed to walk freely for a while.

Gimli did not like the idea at all and cried out:

-The arrangement was made without my consent," he said. I will not walk blindfolded like a beggar or a prisoner! And I am not a spy. My people have never had intercourse with any servant of the Enemy. And we have never harmed the Elves. There is no more chance that I would betray you than Legolas, or any of my companions would.

-I don't doubt it," Haldir sighed. But it is our law. I am not master of the law, and it is not for me to be

possible to disregard them. I have already done a lot by letting you pass the Celebrant.

Gimli was obstinate. Firmly planted on his feet spread out, he put his hand on the handle of his axe:

-I will go forward free, he said, or I will go back in search of my own country, where I am known to be faithful to my word, if I should die alone in the desert.

-You cannot go back," said Haldir sternly. Having come this far, you must be brought before the Lord and the Lady. They will judge you and either hold you back or let you go, as they see fit. You cannot cross the rivers again, and there are now secret sentries behind you who will prevent you from passing. You would be shot before you even saw them.

Gimli drew his axe from his belt. Haldir and his companion lowered their bows.

-The plague be on the Dwarves and their pride! Says Legolas.

Elenwë gave him a disapproving look.

-Come on! said Aragorn. If I am still to lead this Company, you must do as I ask.

It is hard for the Dwarf to be so discriminated against. We shall all be blindfolded, even Legolas and Elenwë. It will be better, although it can only slow down the journey and make it boring.

Gimli had a sudden laugh:

-What a nice bunch of lunatics we'll look like! Will Haldir lead us all with a string, like a string of blind beggars behind a dog? But I shall be satisfied if Legolas shares my blindness.

-I am an Elf and why only me? What do you do with Elenwë? says Legolas, angry in turn.

Elenwë laughed quietly.

-And now let us cry out: plague be the pride of the Elves! said Aragorn. But the whole Company will travel in the same way. Come on, blindfold us, Haldir!

-I shall demand full reparation for any fall or foot strike, if you do not behave properly," Gimli growled, while he was blindfolded.

-You'll have no excuse for it," said Haldir. I will lead you well, and the paths are smooth and straight.

-Alas for the madness of these times! said Legolas. We are all here enemies of the One Enemy,

and yet we have to walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woods under the golden leaves!

-This may sound crazy, says Haldir. We now live on an island in the midst of many perils, and our hands play the bow string more often than the harp.