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Chapter¡¡12
Flight¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Ford
¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡Frodo¡¡came¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡he¡¡was¡¡still¡¡clutching¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡desperately¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡now¡¡piled¡¡high¡¡and¡¡burning¡¡brightly¡£¡¡His¡¡three¡¡panions¡¡were¡¡bending¡¡over¡¡him¡£¡¡'What¡¡has¡¡happened£¿¡¡Where¡¡is¡¡the¡¡pale¡¡king£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡wildly¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡too¡¡overjoyed¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡him¡¡speak¡¡to¡¡answer¡¡for¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡they¡¡understand¡¡his¡¡question¡£¡¡At¡¡length¡¡he¡¡gathered¡¡from¡¡Sam¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡vague¡¡shadowy¡¡shapes¡¡ing¡¡towards¡¡them¡£¡¡Suddenly¡¡to¡¡his¡¡horror¡¡Sam¡¡found¡¡that¡¡his¡¡master¡¡had¡¡vanished£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡a¡¡black¡¡shadow¡¡rushed¡¡past¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡fell¡£¡¡He¡¡heard¡¡Frodo's¡¡voice£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡e¡¡from¡¡a¡¡great¡¡distance£»¡¡or¡¡from¡¡under¡¡the¡¡earth£»¡¡crying¡¡out¡¡strange¡¡words¡£¡¡They¡¡saw¡¡nothing¡¡more£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡stumbled¡¡over¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡Frodo£»¡¡lying¡¡as¡¡if¡¡dead£»¡¡face¡¡downwards¡¡on¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡beneath¡¡him¡£¡¡Strider¡¡ordered¡¡them¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡him¡¡up¡¡and¡¡lay¡¡him¡¡near¡¡the¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡disappeared¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡now¡¡a¡¡good¡¡while¡¡ago¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Sam¡¡plainly¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡have¡¡doubts¡¡again¡¡about¡¡Strider£»¡¡but¡¡while¡¡they¡¡were¡¡talking¡¡he¡¡returned£»¡¡appearing¡¡suddenly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shadows¡£¡¡They¡¡started£»¡¡and¡¡Sam¡¡drew¡¡his¡¡sword¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡over¡¡Frodo£»¡¡but¡¡Strider¡¡knelt¡¡down¡¡swiftly¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side¡£
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¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡what¡¡Frodo¡¡had¡¡to¡¡tell£»¡¡he¡¡became¡¡full¡¡of¡¡concern£»¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡sighed¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡ordered¡¡Pippin¡¡and¡¡Merry¡¡to¡¡heat¡¡as¡¡much¡¡water¡¡as¡¡they¡¡could¡¡in¡¡their¡¡small¡¡kettles£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡bathe¡¡the¡¡wound¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡'Keep¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡going¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡keep¡¡Frodo¡¡warm£¡'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡got¡¡up¡¡and¡¡walked¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡called¡¡Sam¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡'I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡things¡¡better¡¡now£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low¡¡voice¡£¡¡'There¡¡seem¡¡only¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡five¡¡of¡¡the¡¡enemy¡£¡¡Why¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡all¡¡here£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡they¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡be¡¡resisted¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡drawn¡¡off¡¡for¡¡the¡¡time¡¡being¡£¡¡But¡¡not¡¡far£»¡¡I¡¡fear¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡e¡¡again¡¡another¡¡night£»¡¡if¡¡we¡¡cannot¡¡escape¡£¡¡They¡¡are¡¡only¡¡waiting£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡think¡¡that¡¡their¡¡purpose¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡acplished£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Ring¡¡cannot¡¡fly¡¡much¡¡further¡£¡¡I¡¡fear£»¡¡Sam£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡believe¡¡your¡¡master¡¡has¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡wound¡¡that¡¡will¡¡subdue¡¡him¡¡to¡¡their¡¡will¡£¡¡We¡¡shall¡¡see£¡'¡¡Sam¡¡choked¡¡with¡¡tears¡£¡¡'Don't¡¡despair£¡'¡¡said¡¡Strider¡£¡¡'You¡¡must¡¡trust¡¡me¡¡now¡£¡¡Your¡¡Frodo¡¡is¡¡made¡¡of¡¡sterner¡¡stuff¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had¡¡guessed£»¡¡though¡¡Gandalf¡¡hinted¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡prove¡¡so¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡slain£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡think¡¡he¡¡will¡¡resist¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wound¡¡longer¡¡than¡¡his¡¡enemies¡¡expect¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡all¡¡I¡¡can¡¡to¡¡help¡¡and¡¡heal¡¡him¡£¡¡Guard¡¡him¡¡well£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡am¡¡away£¡'¡¡He¡¡hurried¡¡off¡¡and¡¡disappeared¡¡again¡¡into¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Frodo¡¡dozed£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡his¡¡wound¡¡was¡¡slowly¡¡growing£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡deadly¡¡chill¡¡was¡¡spreading¡¡from¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡to¡¡his¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡side¡£¡¡His¡¡friends¡¡watched¡¡over¡¡him£»¡¡warming¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡bathing¡¡his¡¡wound¡£¡¡The¡¡night¡¡passed¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡wearily¡£¡¡Dawn¡¡was¡¡growing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dell¡¡was¡¡filling¡¡with¡¡grey¡¡light£»¡¡when¡¡Strider¡¡at¡¡last¡¡returned¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡'Look£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡and¡¡stooping¡¡he¡¡lifted¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡a¡¡black¡¡cloak¡¡that¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡there¡¡hidden¡¡by¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡A¡¡foot¡¡above¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡hem¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡slash¡£¡¡'This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡stroke¡¡of¡¡Frodo's¡¡sword£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'The¡¡only¡¡hurt¡¡that¡¡it¡¡did¡¡to¡¡his¡¡enemy£»¡¡I¡¡fear£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡unharmed£»¡¡but¡¡all¡¡blades¡¡perish¡¡that¡¡pierce¡¡that¡¡dreadful¡¡King¡£¡¡More¡¡deadly¡¡to¡¡him¡¡was¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Elbereth¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¡'And¡¡more¡¡deadly¡¡to¡¡Frodo¡¡was¡¡this£¡'¡¡He¡¡stooped¡¡again¡¡and¡¡lifted¡¡up¡¡a¡¡long¡¡thin¡¡knife¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡gleam¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡As¡¡Strider¡¡raised¡¡it¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡near¡¡the¡¡end¡¡its¡¡edge¡¡was¡¡notched¡¡and¡¡the¡¡point¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡off¡£¡¡But¡¡even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡held¡¡it¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡growing¡¡light£»¡¡they¡¡gazed¡¡in¡¡astonishment£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡melt£»¡¡and¡¡vanished¡¡like¡¡a¡¡smoke¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡leaving¡¡only¡¡the¡¡hilt¡¡in¡¡Strider's¡¡hand¡£¡¡'Alas£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡'It¡¡was¡¡this¡¡accursed¡¡knife¡¡that¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡wound¡£¡¡Few¡¡now¡¡have¡¡the¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡healing¡¡to¡¡match¡¡such¡¡evil¡¡weapons¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡what¡¡I¡¡can¡£'
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¡¡¡¡¡¡'These¡¡leaves£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡walked¡¡far¡¡to¡¡find£»¡¡for¡¡this¡¡plant¡¡does¡¡not¡¡grow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡hills£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thickets¡¡away¡¡south¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Road¡¡I¡¡found¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡by¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡its¡¡leaves¡£'¡¡He¡¡crushed¡¡a¡¡leaf¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fingers£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡out¡¡a¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡pungent¡¡fragrance¡£¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡fortunate¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡find¡¡it£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡healing¡¡plant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡West¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡Middle¡earth¡£¡¡Athelas¡¡they¡¡named¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡grows¡¡now¡¡sparsely¡¡and¡¡only¡¡near¡¡places¡¡where¡¡they¡¡dwelt¡¡or¡¡camped¡¡of¡¡old£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡known¡¡in¡¡the¡¡North£»¡¡except¡¡to¡¡some¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡wander¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Wild¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡great¡¡virtues£»¡¡but¡¡over¡¡such¡¡a¡¡wound¡¡as¡¡this¡¡its¡¡healing¡¡powers¡¡may¡¡be¡¡small¡£'
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¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡daylight¡¡was¡¡full£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡some¡¡hurried¡¡food¡¡and¡¡packed¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡Frodo¡¡to¡¡walk£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡divided¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡their¡¡baggage¡¡among¡¡the¡¡four¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡Frodo¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pony¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡last¡¡few¡¡days¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡beast¡¡had¡¡improved¡¡wonderfully£»¡¡it¡¡already¡¡seemed¡¡fatter¡¡and¡¡stronger£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡begun¡¡to¡¡show¡¡an¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡its¡¡new¡¡masters£»¡¡especially¡¡for¡¡Sam¡£¡¡Bill¡¡Ferny's¡¡treatment¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡very¡¡hard¡¡for¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wild¡¡to¡¡seem¡¡so¡¡much¡¡better¡¡than¡¡its¡¡former¡¡life¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡started¡¡off¡¡in¡¡a¡¡southerly¡¡direction¡£¡¡This¡¡would¡¡mean¡¡crossing¡¡the¡¡Road£»¡¡but¡£¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡quickest¡¡way¡¡to¡¡more¡¡wooded¡¡country¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡needed¡¡fuel£»¡¡for¡¡Strider¡¡said¡¡that¡¡Frodo¡¡must¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡warm£»¡¡especially¡¡at¡¡night£»¡¡while¡¡fire¡¡would¡¡be¡¡some¡¡protection¡¡for¡¡them¡¡all¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡also¡¡his¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡shorten¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡by¡¡cutting¡¡across¡¡another¡¡great¡¡loop¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Road£º¡¡east¡¡beyond¡¡Weathertop¡¡it¡¡changed¡¡its¡¡course¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡bend¡¡northwards¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡made¡¡their¡¡way¡¡slowly¡¡and¡¡cautiously¡¡round¡¡the¡¡south¡western¡¡slopes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hill£»¡¡and¡¡came¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Road¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Riders¡£¡¡But¡¡even¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡hurrying¡¡across¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡far¡¡away¡¡two¡¡cries£º¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡voice¡¡calling¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cold¡¡voice¡¡answering¡£¡¡Trembling¡¡they¡¡sprang¡¡forward£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡for¡¡the¡¡thickets¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡ahead¡£¡¡The¡¡land¡¡before¡¡them¡¡sloped¡¡away¡¡southwards£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡pathless£»¡¡bushes¡¡and¡¡stunted¡¡trees¡¡grew¡¡in¡¡dense¡¡patches¡¡with¡¡wide¡¡barren¡¡spaces¡¡in¡¡between¡£¡¡The¡¡grass¡¡was¡¡scanty£»¡¡coarse£»¡¡and¡¡grey£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thickets¡¡were¡¡faded¡¡and¡¡falling¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cheerless¡¡land£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡journey¡¡was¡¡slow¡¡and¡¡gloomy¡£¡¡They¡¡spoke¡¡little¡¡as¡¡they¡¡trudged¡¡along¡£¡¡Frodo's¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡grieved¡¡as¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡them¡¡walking¡¡beside¡¡him¡¡with¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡backs¡¡bowed¡¡under¡¡their¡¡burdens¡£¡¡Even¡¡Strider¡¡seemed¡¡tired¡¡and¡¡heavy¡hearted¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡the¡¡first¡¡day's¡¡march¡¡was¡¡over¡¡Frodo's¡¡pain¡¡began¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡it¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡¡Four¡¡days¡¡passed£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡or¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡changing¡¡much£»¡¡except¡¡that¡¡behind¡¡them¡¡Weathertop¡¡slowly¡¡sank£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡them¡¡the¡¡distant¡¡mountains¡¡loomed¡¡a¡¡little¡¡nearer¡£¡¡Yet¡¡since¡¡that¡¡far¡¡cry¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡that¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡had¡¡marked¡¡their¡¡flight¡¡or¡¡followed¡¡