Властелин колец: Возвращение короля
The Siege of Gondor
Thathecannotdo,inforcetoassailtheCity,eithernorthofCairAndrosbecauseofthemarshes,orsouthwardstowardsLebenninbecauseofthebreadthoftheRiver,thatneedsmanyboats.ItisatOsgiliaththathewillputhisweight,asbeforewhenBoromirdeniedhimthepassage.’
‘Thatwasbutatrial,’saidFaramir.‘TodaywemaymaketheEnemypaytentimesourlossatthepassageandyetruetheexchange.Forhecanaffordtoloseahostbetterthanwetoloseacompany.Andtheretreatofthosethatweputoutfarafieldwillbeperilous,ifhewinsacrossinforce.’
‘AndwhatofCairAndros?’saidthePrince.‘That,too,mustbeheld,ifOsgiliathisdefended.Letusnotforgetthedangeronourleft.TheRohirrimmaycome,andtheymaynot.ButFaramirhastoldusofgreatstrengthdrawingevertotheBlackGate.Morethanonehostmayissuefromit,andstrikeformorethanonepassage.’
‘Muchmustberiskedinwar,’saidDenethor.‘CairAndrosismannedandnomorecanbesentsofar.ButIwillnotyieldtheRiverandthePelennorunfought-notifthereisacaptainherewhohasstillthecouragetodohislord’swill.’
Thenallweresilent,butatlengthFaramirsaid:‘Idonotopposeyourwill,sire.SinceyouarerobbedofBoromir,IwillgoanddowhatIcaninhisstead-ifyoucommandit.’
‘Idoso,’saidDenethor.
‘Thenfarewell!’saidFaramir.‘ButifIshouldreturn,thinkbetterofme!’
‘Thatdependsonthemannerofyourreturn,’saidDenethor.
