Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
‘Whatwouldyoudoinmyservice?’
‘Ithought,sir,thatyouwouldtellmemyduties.’
‘Iwill,whenIlearnwhatyouarefitfor,’saidDenethor.‘ButthatIshalllearnsoonest,maybe,ifIkeepyoubesideme.Theesquireofmychamberhasbeggedleavetogototheout-garrison,soyoushalltakehisplaceforawhile.Youshallwaitonme,bearerrands,andtalktome,ifwarandcouncilleavemeanyleisure.Canyousing?’
‘Yes,’saidPippin.‘Well,yes,wellenoughformyownpeople.Butwehavenosongsfitforgreathallsandeviltimes,lord.Weseldomsingofanythingmoreterriblethanwindorrain.Andmostofmysongsareaboutthingsthatmakeuslaugh;oraboutfoodanddrink,ofcourse.’
‘Andwhyshouldsuchsongsbeunfitformyhalls,orforsuchhoursasthese?WewhohavelivedlongundertheShadowmaysurelylistentoechoesfromalanduntroubledbyit?Thenwemayfeelthatourvigilwasnotfruitless,thoughitmayhavebeenthankless.’
Pippin’sheartsank.HedidnotrelishtheideaofsinginganysongoftheShiretotheLordofMinasTirith,certainlynotthecomiconesthatheknewbest;theyweretoo,well,rusticforsuchanoccasion.Hewashoweversparedtheordealforthepresent.Hewasnotcommandedtosing.DenethorturnedtoGandalf,askingquestionsabouttheRohirrimandtheirpolicies,andthepositionofÉomer,theking’snephew.
