Властелин колец: Две башни
The King of the Golden Hall
’Strangenamesyougiveindeed!ButIwillreportthemasyoubidandlearnmymaster’swill,’saidtheguard.’Waitherealittlewhile,andfwillbringyousuchanswerasseemsgoodtohim.Donothopetoomuch!Thesearedarkdays.’Hewentswiftlyaway,leavingthestrangersinthewatchfulkeepingofhiscomrades.Aftersometimehereturned.’Followme!’hesaid.’Théodengivesyouleavetoenter;butanyweaponthatyoubear;beitonlyastaff,youmustleaveonthethreshold.Thedoorwardenswillkeepthem.’
Thedarkgateswereswungopen.Thetravellersentered,walkinginfilebehindtheirguide.Theyfoundabroadpath,pavedwithhewnstones,nowwindingupward,nowclimbinginshortflightsofwell-laidsteps.Manyhousesbuiltofwoodandmanydarkdoorstheypassed.Besidethewayinastonechannelastreamofclearwaterflowed,sparklingandchattering.Atlengththeycametothecrownofthehill.Therestoodahighplatformaboveagreenterrace,atthefootofwhichabrightspringgushedfromastonecarvedinthelikenessofahorse’shead;beneathwasawidebasinfromwhichthewater.spilledandfedthefallingstream.Upthegreenterracewentastairofstone,highandbroad,andoneithersideofthetopmoststepwerestone-hewnsea,Theresatotherguards,withdrawnswordslaidupontheirknees.Theirgoldenhairwasbraidedontheirshouldersthesunwasblazonedupontheirgreenshields,theirlongcorsletswereburnishedbright,andwhentheyrosetallertheyseemedthanmortalmen.
