Властелин колец: Две башни
The White Rider
’Putawaythatbow,MasterElf!’
ThebowandarrowfellfromLegolas’hands,andhisarmshunglooseathissides.
’Andyou,MasterDwarf,praytakeyourhandfromyouraxe-haft,tillIamup!Youwillnotneedsucharguments.’
Gimlistartedandthenstoodstillasstone,staring,whiletheoldmanspranguptheroughstepsasnimblyasagoat.Allwearinessseemedtohavelefthim.Ashesteppedupontotheshelftherewasagleam,toobriefforcertainty,aquickglintofwhite,asifsomegarmentshroudedbythegreyragshadbeenforaninstantrevealedTheintakeofGimli’sbreathcouldbeheardasaloudhissinthesilence.
’Wellmet,Isayagain!’saidtheoldman,comingtowardsthem.Whenhewasafewfeetaway,hestood,stoopingoverhisstaff,withhisheadthrustforward,peeringatthemfromunderhishood.’Andwhatmayyoubedoingintheseparts?AnElf,aMan,andaDwarf.allcladinelvishfashion.Nodoubtthereisataleworthhearingbehinditall.Suchthingsarenotoftenseenhere.’
’YouspeakasonethatknowsFangornwell,’saidAragorn.’Isthatso?’
’Notwell,’saidtheoldman:’thatwouldbethestudyofmanylives.ButIcomeherenowandagain.’
’Mightweknowyourname,andthenhearwhatitisthatyouhavetosaytous?’saidAragorn.’Themorningpasses,andwehaveanerrandthatwillnotwait.’
’AsforwhatIwishedtosay,Ihavesaidit:Whatmayyoubedoing,andwhattalecanyoutellofyourselves?Asformyname!’Hebrokeoff,laughinglongandsoftly.
