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espied。 It is a place of sleepless malice； full of lidless eyes。 Do not go
that way！ '
'But where else will you direct me？ ' said Frodo。 'You cannot yourself；
you say； guide me to the mountains； nor over them。 But over the mountains I
am bound； by solemn undertaking to the Council； to find a way or perish in
the seeking。 And if I turn back； refusing the road in its bitter end； where
then shall I go among Elves or Men？ Would you have me e to Gondor with
this Thing； the Thing that drove your brother mad with desire？ What spell
would it work in Minas Tirith？ Shall there be two cities of Minas Morgul；
grinning at each other across a dead land filled with rottenness？ '
‘I would not have it so；' said Faramir。
‘Then what would you have me do？ '
‘I know not。 Only I would not have you go to death or to torment。 And I
do not think that Mithrandir would have chosen this way。'
'Yet since he is gone； I must take such paths as I can find。 And there
is no time for long searching；' said Frodo。
‘It is a hard doom and a hopeless errand；' said Faramir。 'But at the
least； remember my warning： beware of this guide； Smjagol。 He has done
murder before now。 I read it in him。' He sighed。
‘Well； so we meet and part； Frodo son of Drogo。 You have no need of
soft words： I do not hope to see you again on any other day under this Sun。
But you shall go now with my blessing upon you； and upon all your people。
Rest a little while food is prepared for you。
'I would gladly learn how this creeping Smjagol became possessed of the
Thing of which we speak； and how he lost it； but I will not trouble you now。
If ever beyond hope you return to the lands of the living and we retell our
tales； sitting by a wall in the sun； laughing at old grief； you shall tell
me then。 Until that time； or some other time beyond the vision of the
Seeing…stones of N甿enor； farewell！ '
He rose and bowed low to Frodo； and drawing the curtain passed out into
the cave。
Chapter 7。 Journey to the Cross…roads
Frodo and Sam returned to their beds and lay there in silence resting
for a little； while men bestirred themselves and the business of the day
began。 After a while water was brought to them； and then they were led to a
table where food was set for three。 Faramir broke his fast with them。 He had
not slept since the battle on the day before； yet he did not look weary。
When they had finished they stood up。 ‘May no hunger trouble you on the
road；' said Faramir。 ‘You have little provision； but some small store of
food fit for travellers I have ordered to be stowed in your packs。 You will
have no lack of water as you walk in Ithilien； but do not drink of any
stream that flows from Imlad Morgul； the Valley of Living Death。 This also I
must tell you。 My scouts and watchers have all returned； even some that have
crept within sight of the Morannon。 They all find a strange thing。 The land
is empty。 Nothing is on the road； and no sound of foot； or horn； or
bowstring is anywhere to be heard。 A waiting silence broods above the
Nameless Land。 I do not know what this portends。 But the time draws swiftly
to some great conclusion。 Storm is ing。 Hasten while you may！ If you are
ready； let us go。 The Sun will soon rise above the shadow。'
The hobbits' packs were brought to them （a little heavier than they had
been）； and also two stout staves of polished wood； shod with iron； and with
carven heads through which ran plaited leathern thongs。
'I have no fitting gifts to give you at our parting；' said Faramir；
‘but take these staves。 They may be of service to those who walk or climb in
the wild。 The men of the White Mountains use them； though these have been
cut down to your height and newly shod。 They are made of the fair tree
lebethron； beloved of the woodwrights of Gondor； and a virtue has been set
upon them of finding and returning。 May that virtue not wholly fail under
the Shadow into which you go！'
The hobbits bowed low。 ‘Most gracious host；' said Frodo； 'it was said
to me by Elrond Halfelven that I should find friendship upon the way； secret
and unlooked for。 Certainly I looked for no such friendship as you have
shown。 To have found it turns evil to great good。'
Now they made ready to depart。 Gollum was brought out of some corner or
hiding…hole； and he seemed better pleased with himself than he had been；
though he kept close to Frodo and avoided the glance of Faramir。
'Your guide must be blindfolded；' said Faramir； 'but you and your
servant Samwise I release from this； if you wish。'
Gollum squealed； and squirmed； and clutched at Frodo； when they came to
bind his eyes； and Frodo said： 'Blindfold us all three； and cover up my eyes
first； and then perhaps he will see that no harm is meant。' This was done；
and they were led from the cave of Henneth Annyn。 After they had passed the
passages and stairs they felt the cool morning air； fresh and sweet； about
them。 Still blind they went on for some little time； up and then gently
down。 At last the voice of Faramir ordered them to be uncovered。
They stood under the boughs of the woods again。 No noise of the falls
could be heard； for a long southward slope lay now between them and the
ravine in which the stream flowed。 To the west they could see light through
the trees； as if the world came there to a sudden end； at a brink looking
out only on to sky。
'Here is the last parting of our ways；' said Faramir。 'If you take my
counsel； you will not turn eastward yet。 Go straight on； for thus you will
have the cover of the woodland for many miles。 On your west is an edge where
the land falls into the great vales； sometimes suddenly and sheer； sometimes
in long hillsides。 Keep near to this edge and the skirts of the forest。 In
the beginning of your journey you may walk under daylight； I think。 The land
dreams in a false peace； and for a while all evil is withdrawn。 Fare you
well； while you may！'
He embraced the hobbits then； after the manner of his people； stooping；
and placing his hands upon their shoulders； and kissing their foreheads。 'Go
with the good will of all good men！' he said。
They bowed to the ground。 Then he turned and without looking back he
left them and went to his two guards that stood at a little distance away。
They marvelled to see with what speed these green…clad men now moved；
vanishing almost in the twinkling of an eye。 The forest where Faramir had
stood seemed empty and drear； as if a dream had passed。
Frodo sighed and turned back southward。 As if to mark his disregard of
all such courtesy； Gollum was scrabbling in the mould at the foot of a tree。
‘Hungry again already？' thought Sam。 ‘Well； now for it again！'
'Have they gone at last？ ' said Gollum。 ‘Nassty wicked Men！ Smjagol's
neck still hurts him； yes it does。 Let's go！ '
‘Yes； let us go；' said Frodo。 ‘But if you can only