Властелин колец: Две башни
The King of the Golden Hall
’Therearethedoorsbeforeyou,’saidtheguide.’Imustreturnnowtomydutyatthegate.Farewell!AndmaytheLordoftheMarkbegracioustoyou!’
Heturnedandwentswiftlybackdowntheroad.Theothersclimbedthelongstairundertheeyesofthetallwatchmen.Silenttheystoodnowaboveandspokenoword,untilGandalfsteppedoutuponthepavedterraceatthestairshead.Thensuddenlywithclearvoicestheyspokeacourteousgreetingintheirowntongue.
Hail,cornersfromafar!’theysaid,andtheyturnedthehiltsoftheirswordstowardsthetravellersintokenofpeace.Greengemsflashedinthesunlight.ThenoneoftheguardssteppedforwardandspokeintheCommonSpeech.
’IamtheDoorwardofThéoden,’hesaid.’Hámaismyname.HereImustbidyoulayasideyourweaponsbeforeyouenter.’
ThenLegolasgaveintohishandhissilver-haftedknife,hisquiverandhisbow.’Keepthesewell,’hesaid,’fortheycomefromtheGoldenWoodandtheLadyofLothlóriengavethemtome.’
Wondercameintotheman’seyes,andhelaidtheweaponshastilybythewall,asifhefearedtohandlethem.’NomanwilltouchthemIpromiseyou,’hesaid.
Aragornstoodawhilehesitating.’Itisnotmywill,’hesaid,’toputasidemyswordortodeliverAndúriltothehandofanyotherman.’
’ItisthewillofThéoden,’saidHáma.
’ItisnotcleartomethatthewillofThéodensonofThengeleventhoughhebelordoftheMark,shouldprevailoverthewillofAragornsonofArathorn,Elendil’sheirofGondor.’
