Властелин колец: Две башни
The King of the Golden Hall
’Youlie,’saidWormtongue.’Andthisswordyourmasterhimselfgaveintomykeeping.’
’Andhenowrequiresitofyouagain,’saidThéoden.’Doesthatdispleaseyou?’
’Assuredlynot.lord,’saidWormtongue.’IcareforyouandyoursasbestImay.Butdonotwearyyourself,ortaxtooheavilyyourstrength.Letothersdealwiththeseirksomeguests.Yourmeatisabouttobesetontheboard.Willyounotgotoit?’
’Iwill,’saidThéoden.’Andletfoodformyguestsbesetontheboardbesideme.Thehostridestoday.Sendtheheraldsforth!Letthemsummonallwhodwellnigh!Everymanandstrongladabletobeararms,allwhohavehorses,letthembereadyinthesaddleatthegateerethesecondhourfromnoon!’
’Dearlord!’criedWormtongue.’ItisasIfeared.Thiswizardhasbewitchedyou.ArenonetobelefttodefendtheGoldenHallofyourfathers,andallyourtreasure?NonetoguardtheLordoftheMark?’
’Ifthisisbewitchment,’saidThéoden,’itseemstomemorewholesomethanyourwhisperings.Yourleechcrafterelongwouldhavehadmewalkingonallfourslikeabeast.No,notoneshallbeleft,notevenGríma.Grímashallridetoo.Go!Youhaveyettimetocleantherustfromyoursword.’
’Mercy,lord!’whinedWormtongue,grovellingontheground.’Havepityononewornoutinyourservice.Sendmenotfromyourside!Iatleastwillstandbyyouwhenallothershavegone.DonotsendyourfaithfulGrímaaway!’
’Youhavemypity,’saidThéoden.’AndIdonotsendyoufrommyside.
