Властелин колец: Братство кольца
The Shadow of the Past
itwasatanyrateatthatagethatadventurehadsuddenlybefallenBilbo.Frodobegantofeelrestless,andtheoldpathsseemedtoowell-trodden.Helookedatmaps,andwonderedwhatlaybeyondtheiredges:mapsmadeintheShireshowedmostlywhitespacesbeyonditsborders.Hetooktowanderingfurtherafieldandmoreoftenbyhimself;andMerryandhisotherfriendswatchedhimanxiously.OftenhewasseenwalkingandtalkingwiththestrangewayfarersthatbeganatthistimetoappearintheShire.
Therewererumoursofstrangethingshappeningintheworldoutside;andasGandalfhadnotatthattimeappearedorsentanymessageforseveralyears,Frodogatheredallthenewshecould.Elves,whoseldomwalkedintheShire,couldnowbeseenpassingwestwardthroughthewoodsintheevening,passingandnotreturning;buttheywereleavingMiddle-earthandwerenolongerconcernedwithitstroubles.Therewere,however,dwarvesontheroadinunusualnumbers.TheancientEast-WestRoadranthroughtheShiretoitsendattheGreyHavens,anddwarveshadalwaysuseditontheirwaytotheirminesintheBlueMountains.Theywerethehobbits’chiefsourceofnewsfromdistantparts—iftheywantedany:asaruledwarvessaidlittleandhobbitsaskednomore.ButnowFrodooftenmetstrangedwarvesoffarcountries,seekingrefugeintheWest.Theyweretroubled,andsomespokeinwhispersoftheEnemyandoftheLandofMordor.
Thatnamethehobbitsonlyknewinlegendsofthedarkpast,likeashadowinthebackgroundoftheirmemories;butitwasominousanddisquieting.ItseemedthattheevilpowerinMirkwoodhadbeendrivenoutbytheWhiteCouncilonlytoreappearingreaterstrengthintheoldstrongholdsofMordor.TheDarkTowerhadbeenrebuilt,itwassaid.
