Властелин колец: Две башни
The White Rider
’NowIunderstandapartoflastnight’sriddle,’saidLegolasashespranglightlyuponArod’sback.’Whethertheyfledatfirstinfear,ornot,ourhorsesmetShadowfax,theirchieftain,andgreetedhimwithjoy.Didyouknowthathewasathand,Gandalf?’
’Yes,Iknew,’saidthewizard.’Ibentmythoughtuponhim,biddinghimtomakehaste;foryesterdayhewasfarawayinthesouthofthisland.Swiftlymayhebearmebackagain!’
GandalfspokenowtoShadowfax,andthehorsesetoffatagoodpace,yetnotbeyondthemeasureoftheothers.Afteralittlewhileheturnedsuddenly,andchoosingaplacewherethebankswerelower,hewadedtheriver,andthenledthemawayduesouthintoaflatland,treelessandwide.Thewindwentlikegreywavesthroughtheendlessmilesofgrass.Therewasnosignofroadortrack,butShadowfaxdidnotstayorfalter.
’HeissteeringastraightcoursenowforthehallsofThéodenundertheslopesoftheWhiteMountains,’saidGandalf.’Itwillbequickerso.ThegroundisfirmerintheEastemnet,wherethechiefnorthwardtracklies,acrosstheriver,butShadowfaxknowsthewaythrougheveryfenandhollow.’
Formanyhourstheyrodeonthroughthemeadsandriverlands.Oftenthegrasswassohighthatitreachedabovethekneesoftheriders,andtheirsteedsseemedtobeswimminginagrey-greensea.Theycameuponmanyhiddenpools,andbroadacresofsedgewavingabovewetandtreacherousbogs;butShadowfaxfoundtheway,andtheotherhorsesfollowedinhisswath
