Властелин колец: Две башни
The Riders of Rohan
’Butthatisstrangeindeed,’saidAragorn.’Didyousearchtheslain?Weretherenobodiesotherthanthoseoforc-kind?Theywouldbesmall.Onlychildrentoyoureyes,unshodbutcladingrey.’
’Therewerenodwarvesnorchildren,’saidÉomer.’Wecountedalltheslainanddespoiledthem,andthenwepiledthecarcasesandburnedthem,asisourcustom.Theashesaresmokingstill.’
’Wedonotspeakofdwarvesorchildren,’saidGimli.’Ourfriendswerehobbits.’
’Hobbits?’saidÉomer.’Andwhatmaytheybe?Itisastrangename.’
’Astrangenameforastrangefolk,’saidGimli.’Butthesewereverydeartous.ItseemsthatyouhaveheardinRohanofthewordsthattroubledMinasTirith.TheyspokeoftheHalfling.ThesehobbitsareHalflings.’
’Halflings!’laughedtheRiderthatstoodbesideÉomer.’Halflings!Buttheyareonlyalittlepeopleinoldsongsandchildren’stalesoutoftheNorth.Dowewalkinlegendsoronthegreenearthinthedaylight?’
’Amanmaydoboth,’saidAragorn.’Fornotwebutthosewhocomeafterwillmakethelegendsofourtime.Thegreenearth,sayyou?Thatisamightymatteroflegend,thoughyoutreaditunderthelightofday!’
’Timeispressing,’saidtheRider,notheedingAragorn.’Wemusthastensouth,lord.Letusleavethesewildfolktotheirfancies.Orletusbindthemandtakethemtotheking.’
’Peace,Éothain!’saidÉomerinhisowntongue.’Leavemeawhile.Telltheéoredtoassembleonthepath’andmakereadytoridetotheEntwade.’
