Властелин колец: Две башни
The Riders of Rohan
’Remember,itisperiloustocutboughortwigfromalivingtreeinFangorn.Butdonotstrayfarinsearchofdeadwood.Letthefiredierather!Callmeatneed!’
Withthathefellasleep.Legolasalreadylaymotionless,hisfairhandsfoldeduponhisbreast,hiseyesunclosed,blendinglivingnightanddeepdream,asisthewaywithElves.Gimlisathunchedbythefire,runninghisthumbthoughtfullyalongtheedgeofhisaxe.Thetreerustled.Therewasnoothersound.
SuddenlyGimlilookedup,andtherejustontheedgeofthefire-lightstoodanoldbentman,leaningonastaff,andwrappedinagreatcloak;hiswide-brimmedhatwaspulleddownoverhiseyes.Gimlisprangup,tooamazedforthemomenttocryout,thoughatoncethethoughtflashedintohismindthatSarumanhadcaughtthem.BothAragornandLegolas,rousedbyhissuddenmovement,satupandstared.Theoldmandidnotspeakormake,sign.
’Well,father,whatcanwedoforyou?’saidAragorn,leapingtohisfeet.’Comeandbewarm,ifyouarecold!’Hestrodeforward,buttheoldmanwasgone.Therewasnotraceofhimtobefoundnearathand,andtheydidnotdaretowanderfar.Themoonhadsetandthenightwasverydark.
SuddenlyLegolasgaveacry.’Thehorses!Thehorses!’
Thehorsesweregone.Theyhaddraggedtheirpicketsanddisappeared.Formetimethethreecompanionsstoodstillandsilent,troubledbythisnewstrokeofillfortune.
