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‘Yet all the Elves are willing to endure this chance；' said Glorfindel 'if by it the power of Sauron may be broken； and the fear of his dominion be taken away for ever。'
'Thus we return once more to the destroying of the Ring；' said Erestor； ‘and yet we e no nearer。 What strength have we for the finding of the Fire in which it was made？ That is the path of despair。 Of folly I would say； if the long wisdom of Elrond did not forbid me。'
'Despair； or folly？' said Gandalf。 ‘It is not despair； for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt。 We do not。 It is wisdom to recognize necessity； when all other courses have been weighed； though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope。 Well； let folly be our cloak； a veil before the eyes of the Enemy！ For he is very wise； and weighs all things to a nicety in the scales of his malice。 But the only measure that he knows is desire； desire for power； and so he judges all hearts。 Into his heart the thought will not enter that any will refuse it； that having the Ring we may seek to destroy it。 If we seek this； we shall put him out of reckoning。'
'At least for a while；' said Elrond。 ‘The road must be trod； but it will be very hard。 And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it。 This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong。 Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world： small hands do them because they must； while the eyes of the great are elsewhere。'
'Very well； very well； Master Elrond！' said Bilbo suddenly。 'Say no more！ It is plain enough what you are pointing at。 Bilbo the silly hobbit started this affair； and Bilbo had better finish it； or himself。 I was very fortable here； and getting on with my book。 If you want to know； I am just writing an ending for it。 I had thought of putting： and he lived happily ever afterwards to the end of his days。 It is a good ending； and none the worse for having been used before。 Now I shall have to alter that： it does not look like ing true； and anyway there will evidently have to be several more chapters； if I live to write them。 It is a frightful nuisance。 When ought I to start？
' Boromir looked in surprise at Bilbo； but the laughter died on his lips when he saw that all the others regarded the old hobbit with grave respect。 Only Glóin smiled； but his smile came from old memories。
‘Of course； my dear Bilbo；' said Gandalf。 ‘If you had really started this affair； you might be expected to finish it。 But you know well enough now that starting is too great a claim for any； and that only a small part is played in great deeds by any hero。 You need not bow！ Though the word was meant； and we do not doubt that under jest you are making a valiant offer。 But one beyond your strength； Bilbo。 You cannot take this thing back。 It has passed on。 If you need my advice any longer； I should say that your part is ended； unless as a recorder。 Finish your book； and leave the ending unaltered！ There is still hope for it。 But get ready to write a sequel； when they e back。'
Bilbo laughed。 ‘I have never known you give me pleasant advice before。' he said。 ‘As all your unpleasant advice has been good； I wonder if this advice is not bad。 Still； I don't suppose I have the strength or luck left to deal with the Ring。 It has grown； and I have not。 But tell me： what do you mean by they？'
‘The messengers who are sent with the Ring。'
‘Exactly！ And who are they to be？ That seems to me what this Council has to decide； and all that it has to decide。 Elves may thrive on speech alone； and Dwarves endure great weariness； but I am only an old hobbit； and I miss my meal at noon。 Can't you think of some names now？ Or put it off till after dinner？'
No one answered。 The noon…bell rang。 Still no one spoke。 Frodo glanced at all the faces； but they were not turned to him。 All the Council sat with downcast eyes； as if in deep thought。 A great dread fell on him； as if he was awaiting the pronouncement of some doom that he had long foreseen and vainly hoped might after all never be spoken。 An overwhelming longing to rest and remain at peace by Bilbo's side in Rivendell filled all his heart。 At last with an effort he spoke； and wondered to hear his own words； as if some other will was using his small voice。
‘I will take the Ring；' he said； ‘though I do not know the way。'
Elrond raised his eyes and looked at him； and Frodo felt his heart pierced by the sudden keenness of the glance。 ‘If I understand aright all that I have heard；' he said； ‘I think that this task is appointed for you； Frodo； and that if you do not find a way； no one will。 This is the hour of the Shire…folk； when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great。 Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it？ Or； if they are wise； why should they expect to know it； until the hour has struck？
‘But it is a heavy burden。 So heavy that none could lay it on another。 I do not lay it on you。 But if you take it freely； I will say that your choice is right； and though all the mighty elf…friends of old； Hador； and Húrin； and Túrin； and Beren himself were assembled together your seat should be among them。'
‘But you won't send him off alone surely； Master？' cried Sam； unable to contain himself any longer； and jumping up from the corner where he had been quietly sitting on the floor。
‘No indeed！' said Elrond； turning towards him with a smile。 ‘You at least shall go with him。 It is hardly possible to separate you from him； even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not。'
Sam sat down； blushing and muttering。 ‘A nice pickle we have landed ourselves in； Mr。 Frodo！' he said； shaking his head。
Chapter 3
The Ring Goes South
Later that day the hobbits held a meeting of their own in Bilbo's room。 Merry and Pippin were indignant when they heard that Sam had crept into the Council； and had been chosen as Frodo's panion。
‘It's most unfair；' said Pippin。 ‘Instead of throwing him out； and clapping him in chains； Elrond goes and rewards him for his cheek！'
‘Rewards！' said Frodo。 'I can't imagine a more severe punishment。 You are not thinking what you are saying： condemned to go on this hopeless journey； a reward？ Yesterday I dreamed that my task was done； and I could rest here； a long while； perhaps for good。'
'I don't wonder；' said Merry； 'and I wish you could。 But we are envying Sam； not you。 If you have to go； then it will be a punishment for any of us to be left behind； even in Rivendell。 We have e a long way with you and been through some stiff times。 We want to go on。'
‘That's what I meant；' said Pippin。 ‘We hobbits ought to stick together； and we will。 I shall go； unless they chain me up。 There must be someone with intelligence in the party。'
'Then you certainly will not be chosen； Peregrin Took！' said Gandalf； looking in through the window； which was near the ground。 ‘But you are all worrying yourselves unnecessarily。 Nothing is decided yet。'
‘Nothing decided！' cried Pippin。 'Then what were you all doing？ You were shut up for hours。'
〃Talking；' said Bilbo。 ‘There was a deal of talk； and everyone had an eye…opener。 Even old Gandalf。 I think Legolas's bit of news about Gollum caught even him on the hop； though he passed it off。'
‘You were wrong；' said Gandalf。 'You were inattentive。 I had already heard of it from Gwaihir。 If you want to know； the only real eye…openers； as you put it； were you and Frodo； and I was the only one that was not surprised。'
‘Well； anyway；' said Bilbo； 'nothing was decided beyond choosing poor Frodo and Sam。 I was afraid all the time that it might e to that； if I was let off。 But if you ask me； Elrond will send out a fair number； when the reports e in。 Have they started yet； Gandalf？'
'Yes；' said the wizard。 ‘Some of the scouts have been sent out already。 More will go tomorrow。 Elrond is sending Elves； and they will get in touch with the Rangers； and maybe with Thranduil's folk in Mirkwood。 And Aragorn has gone with Elrond's sons。 We shall have to scour the lands all round for many long leagues before any move is made。 So cheer up； Frodo！ You will probably make quite a long stay here。'
'Ah！' said Sam gloomily。 'We'll just wait long enough for winter to e。'
'That can't be helped；' said Bilbo。 'It's your fault partly； Frodo my lad： insisting on waiting for my birthday。 A funny way of honouring it； I can't help thinking。 Not the day I should have chosen for letting the S。…B。s into Bag End。 But there it is： you can't wait now fill spring； and you can't go till the reports e back。
When winter first begins to bite
and stones crack in the frosty night；
when pools are black and trees are bare；
'tis evil in the Wild to fare。
But that I am afraid will be just your luck。'
'I am afraid it will；' said Gandalf。 'We can't start until we have found out about the Riders。'
‘I thought they were all destroyed in the flood；' said Merry。
'You cannot destroy Ringwraiths like that；' said Gandalf。 ‘The power of their master is in them； and they stand or fall by him。 We hope that they were all unhorsed and unmasked； and so made for a while less dangerous； but we must find out for certain。 In