Властелин колец: Две башни
The Riders of Rohan
Intheirhandsweretallspearsofash,paintedshieldswereslungattheirbacks,longswordswereattheirbelts,theirburnishedskirtsofmailhungdownupontheirknees.
Inpairstheygallopedby,andthougheverynowandthenoneroseinhisstirrupsandgazedaheadandtoeitherside,theyappearednottoperceivethethreestrangerssittingsilentlyandwatchingthem.ThehosthadalmostpassedwhensuddenlyAragornstoodup,andcalledinaloudvoice:
’WhatnewsfromtheNorth,RidersofRohan?’
Withastonishingspeedandskilltheycheckedtheirsteeds,wheeled,andcamecharginground.Soonthethreecompanionsfoundthemselvesinaringofhorsemenmovinginarunningcircle,upthehill-slopebehindthemanddown,roundandroundthem,anddrawingeverinwards.Aragornstoodsilent,andtheothertwosatwithoutmoving,wonderingwhatwaythingswouldturn.
Withoutawordorcry,suddenly,theRidershalted.Athicketofspearswerepointedtowardsthestrangers;andsomeofthehorsemenhadbowsinhand,andtheirarrowswerealreadyfittedtothestring.Thenonerodeforward,atallman,tallerthanalltherest;fromhishelmasacrestawhitehorsetailflowed.HeadvanceduntilthepointofhisspearwaswithinafootofAragorn’sbreast.Aragorndidnotstir.
’Whoareyou,andwhatareyoudoinginthisland?’saidtheRider,usingtheCommonSpeechoftheWest,inmannerandtoneliketothespeechofBoromir,ManofGondor.
’IamcalledStrider,’answeredAragorn.’IcameoutoftheNorth.IamhuntingOrcs.’
