Властелин колец: Две башни

           ThereintheHornburgatHelm’sGateErkenbrand,masterofWestfoldonthebordersoftheMark,nowdwelt.Asthedaysdarkenedwiththreatofwar,beingwise,hehadrepairedthewallandmadethefastnessstrong.

           TheRiderswerestillinthelowvalleybeforethemouthoftheCoomb,whencriesandhornblastswereheardfromtheirscoutsthatwentinfront.Outofthedarknessarrowswhistled.Swiftlyascoutrodebackandreportedthatwolf-riderswereabroadinthevalley,andthatahostofOrcsandwildmenwerehurryingsouthwardfromtheFordsofIsenandseemedtobemakingforHelm’sDeep.

           ’Wehavefoundmanyofourfolklyingslainastheyfledthither,’saidthescout.’Andwehavemetscatteredcompanies,goingthiswayandthat,leaderless.WhathasbecomeofErkenbrandnoneseemtoknow.ItislikelythathewillbeovertakenerehecanreachHelm’sGate,ifhehasnotalreadyperished.’

           ’HasaughtbeenseenofGandalf?’askedThéoden.

           ’Yes,lord.Manyhaveseenanoldmaninwhiteuponahorse,passinghitherandthitherovertheplainslikewindinthegrass.SomethoughthewasSaruman.ItissaidthathewentawayerenightfalltowardsIsengard.SomesayalsothatWormtonguewasseenearlier,goingnorthwardwithacompanyofOrcs.’

           ’ItwillgoillwithWormtongue,ifGandalfcomesuponhimsaidThéoden.’NonethelessImissnowbothmycounsellors,theoldandthenew.Butinthisneedwehavenobetterchoicethantogoon,asGandalfsaid,toHelm’sGate,whetherErkenbrandbethereorno.