Властелин колец: Две башни

           IsitknownhowgreatisthehostthatcomesfromtheNorth?’

           ’Itisverygreat,’saidthescout.’Hethatfliescountseveryfoemantwice,yetIhavespokentostoutheartedmen,andIdonotdoubtthatthemainstrengthoftheenemyismanytimesasgreatasallthatwehavehere.’

           ’Thenletusbeswift,’saidÉomer.’Letusdrivethroughsuchfoesasarealreadybetweenusandthefastness.TherearecavesinHelm’sDeepwherehundredsmayliehid;andsecretwaysleadthenceupontothehills.

           ’Trustnottosecretways,’saidtheking.’Sarumanhaslongspiedoutthisland.Stillinthatplaceourdefencemaylastlong.Letusgo!’

           AragornandLegolaswentnowwithÉomerinthevan.Onthroughthedarknighttheyrode,everslowerasthedarknessdeepenedandtheirwayclimbedsouthward,higherandhigherintothedimfoldsaboutthemountains’feet.Theyfoundfewoftheenemybeforethem.HereandtheretheycameuponrovingbandsofOrcs;buttheyflederetheRiderscouldtakeorslaythem.

           ’ItwillnotbelongIfear,’saidÉomer,’erethecomingoftheking’shostwillbeknowntotheleaderofourenemies,Sarumanorwhatevercaptainhehassentforth.’

           Therumourofwargrewbehindthem.Nowtheycouldhear,borneoverthedark,thesoundofharshsinging.TheyhadclimbedfarupintotheDeeping-coombwhentheylookedback.Thentheysawtorchescountlesspointsoffierylightupontheblackfieldsbehind,scatteredlikeredflowers,orwindingupfromthelowlandsinlongflickeringlines.