They drank a little； a clean； cold； sharp draught； and sat down on a mossy
stone； watching the patches of sun on the grass and the shadows of the
sailing clouds passing over the floor of the dingle。 The murmur of the Ents
went on。 It seemed a very strange and remote place； outside their world； and
far from everything that had ever happened to them。 A great longing came
over them for the faces and voices of their panions。 especially for Frodo
and Sam； and for Strider。
At last there came a pause in the Ent…voices； and looking up they saw
Treebeard ing towards them。 with another Ent at his side。
'Hm； hoom； here I am again；' said Treebeard。 'Are you getting weary； or
feeling impatient； hmm； eh？ Well； I am afraid that you must not get
impatient yet。 We have finished the first stage now； but I have still got to
explain things again to those that live a long way off； far from Isengard；
and those that I could not get round to before the Moot； and after that we
shall have to decide what to do。 However； deciding what to do does not take
Ents so long as going over all the facts and events that they have to make
up their minds about。 Still； it is no use denying； we shall be here a long
time yet： a couple of days very likely。 So I have brought you a panion。
He has an ent…house nearby。 Bregalad is his Elvish name。 He says he has
already made up his mind and does not need to remain at the Moot。 Hm； hm； he
is the nearest thing among us to a hasty Ent。 You ought to get on together。
Good…bye！' Treebeard turned and left them。
Bregalad stood for some time surveying the hobbits solemnly； and they
looked at him； wondering when he would show any signs of 'hastiness'。 He was
tall； and seemed to be one of the younger Ents； he had smooth shining skin
on his arms and legs； his lips were ruddy； and his hair was grey…green。 He
could bend and sway like a slender tree in the wind。 At last he spoke； and
his voice though resonant was higher and clearer than Treebeard's。
'Ha； hmm； my friends； let us go for a walk！' he said。 'I am Bregalad；
that is Quickbeam in your language。 But it is only a nickname； of course。
They have called me that ever since I said yes to an elder Ent before he had
finished his question。 Also I drink quickly； and go out while some are still
wetting their beards。 e with me！'
He reached down two shapely arms and gave a long…fingered hand to each
of the hobbits。 All that day they walked about in the woods with him；
singing； and laughing； for Quickbeam often laughed。 He laughed if the sun
came out from behind a cloud； he laughed if they came upon a stream or
spring： then he stooped and splashed his feet and head with water； he
laughed sometimes at some sound or whisper in the trees。 Whenever he saw a
rowan…tree he halted a while with his arms stretched out； and sang； and
swayed as he sang。
At nightfall he brought them to his ent…house： nothing more than a
mossy stone set upon turves under a green bank。 Rowan…trees grew in a circle
about it； and there was water （as in all ent…houses）； a spring bubbling out
from the bank。 They talked for a while as darkness fell on the forest。 Not
far away the voices of the Entmoot could be heard still going on； but now
they seemed deeper and less leisurely； and every now and again one great
voice would rise in a high and quickening music； while all the others died
away。 But beside them Bregalad spoke gently in their own tongue； almost
whispering； and they learned that he belonged to Skinbark's people； and the
country where they had lived had been ravaged。 That seemed to the hobbits
quite enough to explain his 'hastiness'； at least in the matter of Orcs。
'There were rowan…trees in my home；' said Bregalad； softly and sadly；
'rowan…trees that took root when I was an Enting； many many years ago in the
quiet of the world。 The oldest were planted by the Ents to try and please
the Entwives； but they looked at them and smiled and said that they knew
where whiter blossom and richer fruit were growing。 Yet there are no trees
of all that race； the people of the Rose； that are so beautiful to me。 And
these trees grew and grew； till the shadow of each was like a green hall；
and their red berries in the autumn were a burden； and a beauty and a
wonder。 Birds used to flock there。 I like birds； even when they chatter； and
the rowan has enough and to spare。 But the birds became unfriendly and
greedy and tore at the trees； and threw the fruit down and did not eat it。
Then Orcs came with axes and cut down my trees。 I came and called them by
their long names； but they did not quiver； they did not hear or answer： they
lay dead。
O Orofarnl； Lassemista； Carnimnril！
O rowan fair； upon your hair how white the blossom lay！
O rowan mine； I saw you shine upon a summer's day；
Your rind so bright； your leaves so light； your voice so cool and soft：
Upon your head how golden…red the crown you bore aloft！
O rowan dead； upon your head your hair is dry and grey；
Your crown is spilled； your voice is stilled for ever and a day。
O Orofarnl； Lassemista； Carnimnril！
The hobbits fell asleep to the sound of the soft singing of Bregalad；
that seemed to lament in many tongues the fall of trees that he had loved。
The next day they spent also in his pany； but they did not go far
from his 'house'。 Most of the time they sat silent under the shelter of the
bank； for the wind was colder； and the clouds closer and greyer； there was
little sunshine； and in the distance the voices of the Ents at the Moot
still rose and fell； sometimes loud and strong； sometimes low and sad；
sometimes quickening； sometimes slow and solemn as a dirge。 A second night
came and still the Ents held conclave under hurrying clouds and fitful
stars。
The third day broke； bleak and windy。 At sunrise the Ents' voices rose
to a great clamour and then died down again。 As the morning wore on the wind
fell and the air grew heavy with expectancy。 The hobbits could see that
Bregalad was now listening intently； although to them； down in the dell of
his ent…house； the sound of the Moot was faint。
The afternoon came； and the sun； going west towards the mountains。 sent
out long yellow beams between the cracks and fissures of the clouds。
Suddenly they were aware that everything was very quiet； the whole forest
stood in listening silence。 Of course； the Ent…voices had stopped。 What did
that mean？ Bregalad was standing up erect and tense； looking back northwards
towards Derndingle。
Then with a crash came a great ringing shout： ra…hoom…rah！ The trees
quivered and bent as if a gust had struck them。 There was another pause； and
then a marching music began like solemn drums； and above the rolling beats
and booms there welled voices singing high and strong。
We e； we e with roll of drum： ta…runda runda runda rom！
Th