Властелин колец: Две башни
Helm’s Deep
Hereandtherealargerblazeleaptup.
’Itisagreathostandfollowsushard,’saidAragorn.
’Theybringfire,’saidThéoden,’andtheyareburningastheycome,rick,cot,andtree.Thiswasarichvaleandhadmanyhomesteads.Alasformyfolk!’
’Wouldthatdaywashereandwemightridedownuponthemlikeastormoutofthemountains!’saidAragorn.’Itgrievesmetoflybeforethem.’
’Weneednotflymuchfurther,’saidÉomer.’NotfaraheadnowliesHelm’sDike,anancienttrenchandrampartscoredacrossthecoomb,twofurlongsbelowHelm’sGate.Therewecanturnandgivebattle.’
’Nay,wearetoofewtodefendtheDike,’saidThéoden.’Itisamilelongormore,andthebreachinitiswide.’
’Atthebreachourrearguardmuststand,ifwearepressed,’saidÉomer.
TherewasneitherstarnormoonwhentheRiderscametothebreachintheDike,wherethestreamfromabovepassedout,andtheroadbesideitrandownfromtheHornburg.Therampartloomedsuddenlybeforethem,ahighshadowbeyondadarkpit.Astheyrodeupasentinelchallengedthem.
’TheLordoftheMarkridestoHelm’sGate,’Éomeranswered.’I,ÉomersonofÉomund,speak.’
’Thisisgoodtidingsbeyondhope,’saidthesentinel.’Hasten!Theenemyisonyourheels.’
Thehostpassedthroughthebreachandhaltedontheslopingswardabove.TheynowlearnedtotheirjoythatErkenbrandhadleftmanymentoholdHelm’sGate,andmorehadsinceescapedthither.
