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'Who can tell？' said Aragorn。 'But we will put it to the test one day。'
'May the day not be too long delayed；' said Boromir。 'For though I do not ask for aid； we need it。 It would fort us to know that others fought also with all the means that they have。'
'Then be forted；' said Elrond。 'For there are other powers and realms that you know not； and they are hidden from you。 Anduin the Great flows past many shores； ere it es to Argonath and the Gates of Gondor。'
'Still it might be well for all；' said Glóin the Dwarf； 'if all these strengths were joined； and the powers of each were used in league。 Other rings there may be； less treacherous； that might be used in our need。 The Seven are lost to us 。 if Balin has not found the ring of Thrór which was the last； naught has been heard of it since Thrór perished in Moria。 Indeed I may now reveal that it was partly in hope to find that ring that Balin went away。'
'Balin will find no ring in Moria；' said Gandalf。 'Thrór gave it to Thráin his son； but not Thráin to Thorin。 It was taken with torment from Thráin in the dungeons of Dol Guldur。 I came too late。'
'Ah； alas！' cried Glóin。 'When will the day e of our revenge？ But still there are the Three。 What of the Three Rings of the Elves？ Very mighty Rings； it is said。 Do not the Elflords keep them？ Yet they too were made by the Dark Lord long ago。 Are they idle？ I see Elflords here。 Will they not say？'
The Elves returned no answer。 'Did you not hear me； Glóin？' said Elrond。 'The Three were not made by Sauron； nor did he ever touch them。 But of them it is not permitted to speak。 So much only in this hour of doubt I may now say。 They are not idle。 But they were not made as weapons of war or conquest： that is not their power。 Those who made them did not desire strength or domination or hoarded wealth； but understanding； making； and healing； to preserve all things unstained。 These things the Elves of Middleearth have in some measure gained； though with sorrow。 But all that has been wrought by those who wield the Three will turn to their undoing； and their minds and hearts will bee revealed to Sauron； if he regains the One。 It would be better if the Three had never been。 That is his purpose。'
'But what then would happen； if the Ruling Ring were destroyed as you counsel？' asked Glóin。
'We know not for certain；' answered Elrond sadly。 'Some hope that the Three Rings； which Sauron has never touched； would then bee free； and their rulers might heal the hurts of the world that he has wrought。 But maybe when the One has gone； the Three will fail； and many fair things will fade and be fotten。 That is my belief。'
'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 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 noonbell 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 elffriends 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； blushin