Властелин колец: Две башни

           Immediatelybeforethetravellersthewidestoftheseglensopenedlikealonggulfamongthehills.Farinwardtheyglimpsedatumbledmountain-masswithonetallpeak;atthemouthofthevaletherestoodlikesentinelalonelyheight.Aboutitsfeetthereflowed,asathreadofsilver,thestreamthatissuedfromthedale;uponitsbrowtheycaught,stillfaraway,aglintintherisingsun,aglimmerofgold.’Speak,Legolas!’saidGandalf.’Telluswhatyouseetherebeforeus!’

           Legolasgazedahead,shadinghiseyesfromthelevelshaftsofthenew-risensun.’Iseeawhitestreamthatcomesdownfromthesnows,’hesaid.’Whereitissuesfromtheshadowofthevaleagreenhillrisesupontheeast.Adikeandmightywallandthornyfenceencircleit.Withinthererisetheroofsofhouses;andinthemidst,setuponagreenterrace,therestandsaloftagreathallofMen.Anditseemstomyeyesthatitisthatchedwithgold.Thelightofitshinesfarovertheland.Golden,too,arethepostsofitsdoors.Theremeninbrightmailstand;butallelsewithinthecourtsareyetasleep.’

           ’Edorasthosecourtsarecalled,’saidGandalf,’andMeduseldisthatgoldenhall.TheredwellsThéodensonofThengel,KingoftheMarkofRohan.Wearecomewiththerisingoftheday.Nowtheroadliesplaintoseebeforeus.Butwemustridemorewarily;forwarisabroad,andtheRohirrim,theHorse-lords,donotsleep,evenifitseemsofromafar.Drawnoweapon,speaknohaughtyword,Icounselyouall,untilwearecomebeforeThéoden’sseat.