Властелин колец: Две башни

           ThespearsoftheRidersweretippedwithfireasthelastshaftsoflightkindledthesteepfacesofthepeaksofThrihyrne:nowveryneartheystoodonthenorthernmostarmoftheWhiteMountains,threejaggedhornsstaringatthesunset.Inthelastredglowmeninthevanguardsawablackspeck,ahorsemanridingbacktowardsthem.Theyhaltedawaitinghim.

           Hecame,awearymanwithdintedhelmandclovenshield.Slowlyheclimbedfromhishorseandstoodthereawhilegasping.Atlengthhespoke.’IsÉomerhere?’heasked.’Youcomeatlast,buttoolate,andwithtoolittlestrength.ThingshavegoneevillysinceThéodredfell.WeweredrivenbackyesterdayovertheIsenwithgreatloss;manyperishedatthecrossing.Thenatnightfreshforcescameovertheriveragainstourcamp.AllIsengardmustbeemptied;andSarumanhasarmedthewildhillmenandherd-folkofDunlandbeyondtherivers,andthesealsohelooseduponus.Wewereovermastered.Theshield-wallwasbroken.ErkenbrandofWestfoldhasdrawnoffthosemenhecouldgathertowardshisfastnessinHelm’sDeep.Therestarescattered.

           ’WhereisÉomer?Tellhimthereisnohopeahead.HeshouldreturntoEdorasbeforethewolvesofIsengardcomethere.’Théodenhadsatsilent,hiddenfromtheman’ssightbehindhisguards;nowheurgedhishorseforward.’Come,standbeforeme,Ceorl!’hesaid.’Iamhere.ThelasthostoftheEorlingashasriddenforth.Itwillnotreturnwithoutbattle.’

           Theman’sfacelightenedwithjoyandwonder.Hedrewhimselfup.