Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
AshisstorywasunfoldedofhismeetingwithFrodoandhisservantandoftheeventsatHennethAnnûn,PippinbecameawarethatGandalf’shandsweretremblingastheyclutchedthecarvenwood.Whitetheyseemednowandveryold,andashelookedatthem,suddenlywithathrilloffearPippinknewthatGandalf,Gandalfhimself,wastroubled,evenafraid.Theairoftheroomwascloseandstill.AtlastwhenFaramirspokeofhispartingwiththetravellers,andoftheirresolvetogotoCirithUngol,hisvoicefell,andheshookhisheadandsighed.ThenGandalfsprangup.
‘CirithUngol?MorgulVale?’hesaid.‘Thetime,Faramir,thetime?Whendidyoupartwiththem?Whenwouldtheyreachthataccursedvalley?’
‘Ipartedwiththeminthemorningtwodaysago,’saidFaramir.‘ItisfifteenleaguesthencetothevaleoftheMorgulduin,iftheywentstraightsouth;andthentheywouldbestillfiveleagueswestwardoftheaccursedTower.Atswiftesttheycouldnotcometherebeforetoday,andmaybetheyhavenotcomethereyet.IndeedIseewhatyoufear.Butthedarknessisnotduetotheirventure.Itbeganyestereve,andallIthilienwasundershadowlastnight.ItiscleartomethattheEnemyhaslongplannedanassaultonus,anditshourhadalreadybeendeterminedbeforeeverthetravellersleftmykeeping.’
Gandalfpacedthefloor.‘Themorningoftwodaysago,nighonthreedaysofjourney!Howfaristheplacewhereyouparted?’
‘Sometwenty-fiveleaguesasabirdflies,’answeredFaramir.‘ButIcouldnotcomemoreswiftly.
