towers

the window on the west 889
slender like. Hard as di’monds, soft as moonlight. Warm as
sunlight, cold as frost in the stars. Proud and far-off as a
snow-mountain, and as merry as any lass I ever saw with
daisies in her hair in springtime. But that’s a lot o’ nonsense,
and all wide of my mark.’
‘Then she must be lovely indeed,’ said Faramir. ‘Perilously
fair.’
‘I don’t know about perilous,’ said Sam. ‘It strikes me that
folk takes their peril with them into Lórien, and finds it there
because they’ve brought it. But perhaps you could call her
perilous, because she’s so strong in herself. You, you could
dash yourself to pieces on her, like a ship on a rock; or drownd
yourself, like a hobbit in a river. But neither rock nor river
would be to blame. Now Boro——’ He stopped and went
red in the face.
‘Yes? Now Boromir you would say?’ said Faramir. ‘What
would you say? He took his peril with him?’
‘Yes sir, begging your pardon, and a fine man as your
brother was, if I may say so. But you’ve been warm on the
scent all along. Now I watched Boromir and listened to him,
from Rivendell all down the road – looking after my master,
as you’ll understand, and not meaning any harm to Boromir
– and it’s my opinion that in Lórien he first saw clearly what
I guessed sooner: what he wanted. From the moment he first
saw it he wanted the Enemy’s Ring!’
‘Sam!’ cried Frodo aghast. He had fallen deep into his own
thoughts for a while, and came out of them suddenly and too
late.
‘Save me!’ said Sam turning white, and then flushing
scarlet. ‘There I go again! When ever you open your big mouth
you put your foot in it the Gaffer used to say to me, and right
enough. O dear, O dear!
‘Now look here, sir!’ He turned, facing up to Faramir
with all the courage that he could muster. ‘Don’t you go
taking advantage of my master because his servant’s no better
than a fool. You’ve spoken very handsome all along, put
me off my guard, talking of Elves and all. But handsome